Eidolon : HP 13/13 | AC 16 (20) T 12 FF 14 (18) | F +4 R +5 W +0 | CMB +4 CMD 16 (FF 14) (can't be tripped) | Init +2 | Perc +5 | Stealth +7 | EA +3 Halfling Summoner [2] | HP 15 | AC 14 (18) T 14 FF 11 (15) | F +3 R +5 W +6 (+2 vs fear) | CMB -1 CMD 12 ( FF 9) | Init +5 | Perc +8 | Spellcraft +5
Sure, as long as we're all healed up. Culsar again offers the use of his wand. If you need healing just roll, I'll deduct charges.
I think the main problem is the narrow passages. I foresaw that in the last fight and rushed in while they were flat-footed hoping people would move in as well instead of getting bottle necked like we did.
A shallow reflecting pool divides the next long chamber, running from one end to the other. The water looks cloudy and stagnant. What must have once been marvelous murals covering both walls are now scorched and ruined, the original subject lost in the destruction. The passageway leading out of this chamber to the south is blocked by a heavy iron portcullis.
As you enter the room and move to examine the portcullis, you catch a glimpse of yourself in the reflecting pool - there you see a horrid, rotting reflection that slowly turns to murder the others in the room. It is a terrifying vision that threatens to send you running in fear. DC 11 Will save vs fear or Frightened for 1d4 ⇒ 4 rounds.
Eidolon : HP 13/13 | AC 16 (20) T 12 FF 14 (18) | F +4 R +5 W +0 | CMB +4 CMD 16 (FF 14) (can't be tripped) | Init +2 | Perc +5 | Stealth +7 | EA +3 Halfling Summoner [2] | HP 15 | AC 14 (18) T 14 FF 11 (15) | F +3 R +5 W +6 (+2 vs fear) | CMB -1 CMD 12 ( FF 9) | Init +5 | Perc +8 | Spellcraft +5
Culsar and the eidolon goes with Skip, thinking no one should go it alone.
As you enter the room and move to examine the portcullis, you catch a glimpse of yourself in the reflecting pool - there you see a horrid, rotting reflection that slowly turns to murder the others in the room. It is a terrifying vision that threatens to send you running in fear. DC 11 Will save vs fear or Frightened for 1d4 ⇒ 2 rounds.
Thomas, roll vs fear for Midnight Lord as well. It seems animals are not immune.
As Picklebrew runs screaming back through the crypt, Thomas moves to the portcullis and looks through. On the far side of the next chamber he spots a winch, but he doesn't see how he might get to it, unless someone can bend the bars or squeeze through.
DC 24 strength check to bend bars (it also might be possible to break them). DC 25 escape artist for a small creature to squeeze through. Or you can look elsewhere for another winch on this side.
However, before Thomas can decide between the options he hears a screeching from beyond the portcullis that steadily grows louder. Dark shapes begin flapping in through the broken light streaming through the bars. Hundreds of bats are swarming, stirred up by Picklebrew's screams!
I've updated the map. Skip and Culsar hadn't gotten quite as far as the other passage before this happens, so I adjusted their position accordingly.
Eidolon : HP 13/13 | AC 16 (20) T 12 FF 14 (18) | F +4 R +5 W +0 | CMB +4 CMD 16 (FF 14) (can't be tripped) | Init +2 | Perc +5 | Stealth +7 | EA +3 Halfling Summoner [2] | HP 15 | AC 14 (18) T 14 FF 11 (15) | F +3 R +5 W +6 (+2 vs fear) | CMB -1 CMD 12 ( FF 9) | Init +5 | Perc +8 | Spellcraft +5
Culsar and the eidolon are helpless against the swarms so they go total defense.
As you enter the room you catch a glimpse of yourself in the reflecting pool - there you see a horrid, rotting reflection that slowly turns to murder the others in the room. It is a terrifying vision that threatens to send you running in fear. DC 11 Will save vs fear or Frightened for 1d4 ⇒ 2 rounds.
The bats swarm out of the far chamber, passing easily through the portcullis. Thomas and Midnight Lord are caught by dozens of gnashing teeth.
Damage on Thomas:1d6 ⇒ 3+Distraction and Wounding Damage on Midnight Lord:1d6 ⇒ 1+Distraction and Wounding Distraction (Ex) Any living creature that takes damage from a bat swarm is nauseated for 1 round; a Fortitude save (DC 11) negates the effect. Wounding (Ex) Any living creature damaged by a bat swarm continues to bleed, losing 1 hit point per round thereafter.
Knowledge Nature DC 6:
This is a swarm.
Swarm Traits: A swarm has no clear front or back and no discernable anatomy, so it is not subject to critical hits or flanking. A swarm made up of Tiny creatures takes half damage from slashing and piercing weapons. A swarm composed of Fine or Diminutive creatures is immune to all weapon damage. Reducing a swarm to 0 hit points or less causes it to break up, though damage taken until that point does not degrade its ability to attack or resist attack. Swarms are never staggered or reduced to a dying state by damage. Also, they cannot be tripped, grappled, or bull rushed, and they cannot grapple an opponent.
A swarm is immune to any spell or effect that targets a specific number of creatures (including single-target spells such as disintegrate), with the exception of mind-affecting effects (charms, compulsions, morale effects, patterns, and phantasms) if the swarm has an Intelligence score and a hive mind. A swarm takes half again as much damage (+50%) from spells or effects that affect an area, such as splash weapons and many evocation spells.
Swarms made up of Diminutive or Fine creatures are susceptible to high winds, such as those created by a gust of wind spell. For purposes of determining the effects of wind on a swarm, treat the swarm as a creature of the same size as its constituent creatures. A swarm rendered unconscious by means of nonlethal damage becomes disorganized and dispersed, and does not reform until its hit points exceed its nonlethal damage.
Swarm Attack: Creatures with the swarm subtype don't make standard melee attacks. Instead, they deal automatic damage to any creature whose space they occupy at the end of their move, with no attack roll needed. Swarm attacks are not subject to a miss chance for concealment or cover. A swarm's statistics block has “swarm” in the Melee entry, with no attack bonus given. The amount of damage a swarm deals is based on its Hit Dice, as shown below.
Eidolon : HP 13/13 | AC 16 (20) T 12 FF 14 (18) | F +4 R +5 W +0 | CMB +4 CMD 16 (FF 14) (can't be tripped) | Init +2 | Perc +5 | Stealth +7 | EA +3 Halfling Summoner [2] | HP 15 | AC 14 (18) T 14 FF 11 (15) | F +3 R +5 W +6 (+2 vs fear) | CMB -1 CMD 12 ( FF 9) | Init +5 | Perc +8 | Spellcraft +5
Culsar decides to go for a swim as well, figuring that's a good idea considering the situation. He'll communicate to the eidolon that reasoning and suggest he follow (if he can).
I've got nothing either, but we're kind of stuck since Thomas is in the swarm. My only hope is to use fire/smoke on their animal instinct to scare them off unless anyone else has a better idea?
Cade will grab whatever consumables are in sight - rags from the catacombs, broken wood - anything to make a larger fire and heavy smoke around the torch. He'll then proceed to move in to try to disperse the swarm around Thomas.
Thomas manages to coerce his wolf into the water and hold it under. Culsar does the same with his eidolon. The bats swarm around the pool for a few moments, looking for fresh blood. Luckily, the water keeps them from getting any more.
Cade looks for rags in the catacombs, but the only ones he finds hang off the diseased zombie corpses. Do you want to mess with them?
Cade: everyone else is in the pool or running from the area. You are alone. If you really want to start a fire, you could douse a corpse in oil and light it pretty easily.
The door can still be closed off between the room with the pool and the room with the zombies, right? If yes, then Cade will do that first. If not, then he'll move out with everyone else to the next sealable section.
@DM Rah - Isn't Kryspi standing behind me in the zombie room? I've been looking at the map - I'm assuming that the positions are current.
@Party - I'm assuming that Thomas can hold his breath for a few rounds. To prevent the bats from finding new targets (assuming Kryspi is behind me), I plan on closing the door to the room to buy some time to try this fire/smoke plan. Once I get enough fire going, I will then open the door and try it out to give Thomas the chance to flee. Of course, I'm open to other ideas but it seems like are choices are leave Thomas and flee or attempt a fight without good equipment.
After a little thought, I see where you're going with this. It's creative, and I like to reward that, so here we go.
Forgot to have Culsar roll vs the pool. Will do so for him to keep things moving. Will vs Fear:1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23 Will vs Fear:1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26
Cade pushes the door closed just as the bats start to swarm towards it. He then runs to a couple of the zombie corpses and sets them on fire, creating smoky BBQ in the catacombs. Skip chases after Picklebrew, both of them ending up in the shrine of resting as the thug Halfling begins to overcome his fear.
Thomas, Culsar, and their pets hide in the pool. Strange images float around them, but their Halfling fearlessness only makes them seem a little silly, like that one time Holgast the Wizard created spooky illusions for a new moon festival.
After a short time Cade opens the door to the catacombs again and the bats fly into the area. Luckily the smoke deters them from hunting more fresh blood and they quickly stream out through the hallways and up the stairs toward the trapped pillar chamber. Soon the sounds of their screeching fades to silence.
Male Halfling Scrollmaster 2 | HP 14/14 | AC 15 T 14 FF 12 | CMD 14 | F +2 R +4 W +4 | Init +3 | Perc +2 | SM +0 | Augment: 5/6 | Tireless Logic: 1/1
Nice work Cade! I thought we were hopeless there for a bit!
Skip comes bounding back into the room. "Well! That worked nicely! Good thing you were able to find something flammable! Without that, I was out of ideas. I'll get some more scrolls of burning hands when we get back, that's for sure!"
