"Bub!" Vug looks surprised at the half-orc's sudden display of swordsmanship. "I didn't know you were an expert f-f-fencer. Well, to the victor go the spoils, if you want," she says, indicating the armor.
"If you don't take it, I will, although my Cat's Breath tonic is protecting me f-fairly well. At least, if you don't count being squished by an owlbear and a giant pig."
Bubba looks at his rapier in amazement. "I didn't either to tell you the truth!"
Bubba examines the armor and determines it is magical.
"Indeed I could use this, but since you can as well Vug, I can't take it." Bubba removes the armor from the corpse and gives it to Vug.
"No, I insist Bub. I f-fully intend to be hanging back with my bow while you're up f-f-front with your sword and whip!"
Valgrim stopped raging as soon as the female grimlock fell, and the feeling of fatigue fell on him, as he recouped his breath. "Thank you Padre, for the healing!"
The only visible exit is the rope bridge and its connecting tunnels.
Assuming he doesn't protest too much, Vug helps Bub put on the new armor.
"I don't like the look of that bridge too much, but if we're going to cross, let's get it over with!"
After the fatigue wears off and with his wounds healed, Valgrim takes lead again and proceeds to walk toward the rope bridge.
You climb the pile of debris and reach for the rope bridge, watching the tunnels closely.
But who is going first? With combined efforts you can help each other up, but it's a precarious position should you be attacked.
The cavern is 25 feet across, so that's the length of the bridge. The top of the pile of debris is right under the far end of the bridge.
Bubba is quite content not to be the first one to climb up onto the bridge.
Vug puts away her bow, draws her sword and winks.
"Wish me luck, F-father -- I'm going over!" Vug says, waiting for Father Feres's blessing.
As Vug nimbly dashes across the bridge, a pair of grimlocks emerge just above you and ready their javelins. Time to roll for initiatives I guess.
Before Vug crosses the bridge, Feres places a blessing on her, granting her a bit of Sarenrae's grace.
When Bubba sees the grimlocks he begins to orate.
Init
As he sees the grimlocks Vulcan quickly guestures, commanding a powerful twisting stream of water to surge forth attempting to knock one of the creatures off the ledge.
Init:
Vug drops her torch and sword and whips out her bow, drawing a bead on one of the grimlocks.
with PBS:
Vulcan's magic sends one of the grimlocks toppling over the bridge. He lands in your midst on the pile of debris, after managing to land on his feet and stop his fall.
Vug puts an arrow in the second one, which looks badly hurt.
Feres (and probably Valgrim) is up, then the grimlocks.
Valgrim tries to put his greataxe into the creature that landed on the rubble.
Valgrim puts the grimlock down. Feres, then the surviving grimlock.
Feres fires his crossbow at the remaining grimlock.
Feres's bolt staggers the grimlock. Clumsily, it tosses a javelin at Vug, then crumples into a heap.
Running steps tell you that a third grimlock escaped down the tunnel further into the mountain. But now at least you can climb the bridge in peace.
What's next?
Vug sheathes her abandoned sword and picks up her torch.
"Come on over, boys! Looks like the coast is clear now."
Valgrim climbs the pile of rubble onto the bridge. "Guess we've lost the element of surprise with that grimlock escaping. Let's wait a little to see if they come to us. This bridge seems pretty defensible."
"Okay Valgrim, we'll see what comes next."
Bubba climbs up onto the bridge with Valgrim.
There is only one tunnel from each side of the bridge. After clambering up with varying degrees of difficulty, you wait for about 10 minutes, but nobody appears. Will you go after the grimlock or do you want to explore the tunnel that leads back?
Vug's mutagen wears off, and she looks a bit uncomfortable. "I don't suppose you want to wait an hour while I stir up a new batch of Cat's Breath tonic..." she asks, without much hope.
"Sure, let's make it a waiting game and see who breaks first. I got no problem waiting an hour. We should be prepared since those blind bastards probably have a platoon waiting for us. Can you brew it up here?"
"I don't mind waiting an hour or so to let you prepare," Feres responds to Vug's request. "In fact, the wait may cause them to waste some expendable resources if they think we're coming after them right now."
"Let's wait then." Bubba uses the time to examine the suit of armor.
The armor is studded leather +1, and if you don't mind the smell, you can use it (it will reshape to fit you).
Some twenty minutes later, you hear running steps (several humanoids approaching) and a fierce roar in broken Common: "Give Rovagug my regards".
Time to roll for initiatives (and to set up a marching order). Single file on the bridge, double if you enter the tunnel.
Vug moans as she is interrupted in the middle of brewing her elixir. "Oh...right in the middle of a chemical reaction. Well, this batch is ruined."
She picks up her bow and prepares for a fight.
init:
Valgrim recommends to stage our stand on the other side of the rope bridge, forcing the grimlocks to come toward us in single file, if that's possible.
Init
Vulcan makes his way up after the others.
The grimlocks are coming from the right.
Valgrim's position on the map is fine. He has his greataxe on the floor at his feet and a loaded sling in his hands, with a readied action to sling the first creature who pops its head out of the tunnel (60' darkvision).
I don't think any of us want to be on the bridge (making a bunch of balance checks), do we?
Vug will be on the far side of the bridge, kneeling (+2 AC vs. ranged attacks).
Yeah, Feres is more skilled at falling than succeeding on Balance checks. How about we set up on the west side of the bridge (squares Q-S 16-17) and fire arrows/bolts at the grimlocks as they appear. Vulcan and/or Bubba could place a Dancing Lights spell in the passage on the other side of the bridge so we can see what we're shooting at.