Thirst - A Ravenloft PbP

Game Master Celestial Healer

Angalia boggles slightly as someone entirely unknown comes into view.

"Getting there, getting there..."

The dark haired man revealed in the webbing begins to flail about weakly before starting to push the webs off him.

Yaaah! Who? Huh?

Unless the queen moves to attack him, Res will delay his action until someone can help free him.

If the Spider does move to attack him. Res attacks the spider with his greatsword 1d20 + 3 - 2 ⇒ (13) + 3 - 2 = 14 for 2d6 + 3 ⇒ (1, 1) + 3 = 5 damage. (-2 for being entangled).

"Hello there. Care to join this battle? There's an enormous spider queen waiting for us to take notice of her. I'll be along as soon as I've finished freeing people."

Attempts to free himself and get up, while also trying to figure out whats going on around him.

Percep 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

The human stranger stands and looks around bewildered.

The queen spider ceases its pursuit of the distant archer in favor of prey nearer at hand.

Bite attack on Res 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 = 20. Hit for 1d6 ⇒ 2 and roll a Fort save.

Res responds with an attack of his own, opening a gash on the spider, but not yet felling the beast.

MAP

Erfan
Spider 1
Eliva
Tiffana
Nathaniel
Angalia
Belanos
Queen Spider
Res

The gnome steps away from the combat and, weighing his options, sends a thrust of his spear towards the wounded queen.

5' step to K13. Attacking the queen: 1d20 ⇒ 20 to hit, dealing 1d6 - 1 ⇒ (2) - 1 = 1 damage.

Another crit threat? Seriously? Lucky spear! 1d20 ⇒ 5 to confirm, dealing an additional 2d6 - 2 ⇒ (6, 1) - 2 = 5 damage if successful.

EDIT: Okay, apparently not THAT lucky.

With another fortuitous strike, Erfan brings down another of the spiders - this time the bloated queen.

The remaining spider continues trying to bite Nathaniel. Clearly, these mindless vermin have no concept of a tactical retreat and fight to the death when threatened. Bite 1d20 ⇒ 14. A miss.

Eliva
Tiffana
Nathaniel
Angalia
Belanos
Res
Erfan
Spider 1

Nathaniel risks glancing around in time to see Erfan stab the larger spider in the abdomen, dropping it to the ground. “Nice work!” he calls, then returns his attention to the spider attacking him – just in time to dodge aside as its mandibles clack together where his leg was a moment ago. “Anybody want to help me over here?”

If the spider is still alive at Nathaniel’s turn:

Eliva moves forward, as her attempt to entire the spider queen after her fails, and takes a shot at the last spider, being careful not to injure her companions. She also takes a look at the new person just freed from the webs, trying to evaluate his capabilities and intentions.

Move to 0-10.
Attack (within 30', enemy in melee): 1d20 + 5 - 4 ⇒ (11) + 5 - 4 = 12
Damage (within 30'): 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3
Sense Motive (if allowed): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16

Eliva's arrow passes wide of the remaining spider.

Tiffana
Nathaniel (posted)
Angalia

Res watches as the queen spider turns toward him and bites into his leg. Fighting back the pain he strikes back with his great sword opening a large wound in the queen's abdomen. He can slowly feel the spider's venom beginning to course through his veins.

Fortitude save: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (11) + 3 = 14

Seeing only one of the fearsome creatures left, and this one bearing down on Nate, the gypsy sorceress drops her crossbow and calling upon the same fiery dreams that haunted her as a child sends forth a fan of flames towards the eight legged horror. "Why don't you join little Ms. Muffet in hell!"

Making sure NOT to catch Nate in the spread cast Burning Hands
Burning Hands(DC15):1d4 ⇒ 3

Reflex 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

Tiffana scorches the remaining spider to a crisp, and it expires pitifully. Meanwhile, Res is relieved to feel the burning pain from the spider bite subside with no lasting effect. The spiders destroyed, Res (with some help) is able to brush off the remaining webbing. The party (presumably) turns its attention to the stranger and the remaining cocooned victim.

"Why don't you join little Ms. Muffet in hell!"

Heh, nice.

Nathaniel breathes a deep sigh of relief as the last spider falls to Tiffana’s magic. He nods in gratitude, before hurrying across to help Res free himself from the last of the webbing. Then he turns his attention to where the stranger is pulling himself free from one of the other cocoons and Angalia is trying to unwrap the last one (that hopefully holds ‘Kani ... or could it be Lenna?).

The ranger stalks over and offers to help either Angalia or the stranger, whoever seems to need assistance most at this point. “Hello,” he says to the man after ensuring it is not Gilbraith, noting his manner of dress and any weapons he might have to hand. He tries to judge the man’s demeanour and intent as best he can in the dark [ooc]Sense Motive: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 = 17. “Who are you? How did you get here? Have you seen about a young woman,” he gives a brief description of Lenna.

Res shakes off the last of the spider web relieved that he was able to resist the spider's poison. He follows Nathaniel to the cocoons and helps Angalia to open the second one. Res delays offering any healing assistance until he can learn more about this new person and see who or what is in the second pod.

The second humanoid figure is indeed 'Kani. Unlike with the first victim, however, 'Kani does not wake up when the webbing is removed. In fact, he appears to be laying horribly still. On close inspection, you see that there may be something in his mouth that might be a clue of some kind.

“Res! Can you do anything for him?” Nathaniel glances over at Tiffana.

"Let me take a look."

Res kneels down beside 'Kani to examine him. Heal: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (18) + 7 = 25 to figure out 'Kani's condition and what happened to him. He carefully inspects 'Kani's mouth and slowly tries to work the object out so that he can inspect if further.

Edited to add missing /dice to my dice expression.

Screaming at the sight of her friend's condition, Tif rushes to his side, cradling his head in her lap as tears well in her orange flecked eyes. Looking up at Res pitiably she whispers, "He's going to be alright.... right?"

Angalia helps the others rip handfuls of spider web off Kani and moves instinctively to Tiffa to comfort her. Equally instinctively, she shakes her head and quells the movement.

"What is that thing Res?"

As the adventurers comfort one another, Res carefully inspects 'Kani's motionless form. He opens the mouth slightly to see what is inside, and is startled when he sees motion. A black spider, less than an inch from end to end, climbs out of 'Kani's mouth and scurries down his chin and neck. Another one follows it, then another, and another, in an ever-increasing stream. A shimmering mass of tiny spiders spews forth from the bard's face, creating a moving, undulating mass of vermin, climbing over one another and spreading across the ground. As the mass of tiny spiders issues forth from their host, 'Kani's body gradually collapses upon itself like a deflated balloon, hollowed out by the parasitic spider hatchlings. The swarm of tiny spiders is seeking out a new food source.

I'm going to put you back into your previous initiative, as an extension of the previous encounter. I also placed you according to how you described your actions (and assumed Erfan and Eliva moved somewhat closer). The black box is the swarm, and blue squares are still webbed. Spider swarm 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (13) + 3 = 16

MAP

Res 20
Spider Swarm 16
Erfan (based on previous readied action)
Eliva 9
Tiffana 7
Nathaniel 6
Angalia 5
Belanos (after Angalia)

Eliva gasps as a swarm of spiders crawls out of Kani's body, and fumbles in her pack with a muttered curse. As her hand closes over her single precious alchemist's fire flask, she calls out "Does anyone have oil? We can coat these monsters in oil and I can set them ablaze with this flask. My arrows will be of precious small use against these creatures!"

Standard action to draw the alchemist's fire. If any allies have oil, she will maintain about 30' between the swarm and herself until a flask or two has been tossed on it. If some oil has been thrown (or no one indicates they have oil), she will come within 10' to throw the oil on the swarm.
Alchemist fire Attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24
Damage (1st round): 1d6 ⇒ 3 (possibly +1 with point blank shot?)
Damage (2nd round): 1d6 ⇒ 2

"Burn them. Now."

Angalia reaches into her own pack and pulls out a precious flask of oil. Keeping one arm around Tiffa, she passes the flask to Eliva.

Or will do on her turn as well as backing away.

I see I wasn't clear in my explanation of Eliva's plan. She will stay within 30' of the swarm but not much closer, using a move action a round. She will ready to throw the alchemist's fire when someone else throws oil on the swarm.

As the alchemist's fire burns for two rounds, that should be time for others to throw oil if they have it.

Ah. In that case, it makes more sense for Angalia to hold the flask out optimistically to someone who goes on an earlier init roll then.

Nathaniel, already shaken by ‘Kani’s apparent senseless death is momentarily frozen in horrified revulsion as the spiders begin swarming out from the man’s rapidly collapsing body.

Ah. In that case, it makes more sense for Angalia to hold the flask out optimistically to someone who goes on an earlier init roll then.

Taking the flask of oil from your pack will be a move equivalent action that you can take on your turn - unfortunately, as you can't act till your turn, no one can take the offered flask before then either.

If it still makes sense on your turn, you could retrieve the flask (move action) and throw it at the swarm (standard action requiring an attack roll) in the one round. If you wanted to you could also make a five foot step.

Rolling a 1 for init sucks ...

Startled as the swarm of spiders erupts from 'Kani's corpse, Res stumbles back about 40 ft to avoid the swarm.

Move to A8 and Res may be developing a spider phobia.

I added more rows and columns to the top and left, so don't be thrown off...

Res dashes back away from the spiders, who move toward a nearer foe - Tiffana and Angalia.

Swarm attack: damage 1d6=3. Roll fortitude saves.

Also, while within the swarm area, you are distracted. You will need a concentration check to cast spells while within the area, or to make certain skill checks, but you can move out of the swarm readily (it can't make opportunity attacks), so it's not likely to be a problem.

I will resolve Eliva's actions once we hear from Erfan. Tiffana and Nathaniel can feel free to post ahead of time.

Erfan
Eliva (posted)
Tiffana
Nathaniel
Angalia
Belanos
Res
Spider Swarm.

MAP

I will resolve Eliva's actions once we hear from Erfan.

...I would also not set my buddies on fire. I would ready an action for when they get out if nothing else.

Celestial GM wrote:

I will resolve Eliva's actions once we hear from Erfan.

...I would also not set my buddies on fire. I would ready an action for when they get out if nothing else.

I'm also assuming you are delaying until after someone throws some oil on them. We'll delay/ready as needed.

Nathaniel’s intention on his turn is to grab Angalia and drag her out of the swarm – that should hopefully leave her free to take both her actions without worrying about distraction or moving away. He’ll cop swarm damage to do so if needs be to do. CH, what actions will that require? I’m assuming a standard action to grab her and then a move action as if encumbered to drag her away?

Erfan simply gazes on in abject horror at the events transpiring. Though his first impulse is to attack the spiders, given their numbers he realizes his spear would be ineffective... and would likely endanger his allies already consumed by the swarm.

There is literally nothing that Erfan can do about this situation other than avoid the swarm. So that's what he's going to do. Ready an action to run away if it comes towards him. :)

Alchemist fire Attack: 1d20+5

Damage (1st round): 1d6 (possibly +1 with point blank shot?)
Damage (2nd round): 1d6

Remember that swarms take +50% damage from area effects and splash weapons. Also good to keep in mind if Tiff has a burning hands spell left.

Angalia’s and Tiffana’s cries of horror and pain (or maybe it is his own voice he hears?) snaps Nathaniel out of his hesitation, as the spiders begin swarming up the womens’ legs. As Tiffana begins to act, Nate casts his axe aside and lunges forward, grabbing Angalia and dragging her bodily out of and away from the swarm.

Drop axe, free action. Standard action (?) grab Angalia. Unmodified d20 roll if anything (CMB check?) is required: 1d20 ⇒ 9. Move action, drag Angalia away from the swarm. I will assume this reduces Nathaniel’s speed to 20 feet. I’ll put him in O5 and Angalia will presumably end up somewhere around N5?
In case I need a Fort save against bites for reaching into the swarm (although he’ll try to grab Ang via bits that are not covered in spiders): Fort: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (13) + 3 = 16

Angalia smiles her thanks at Nat as he pulls her clear and calls out to the gypsy girl.

"Tiffa! Get out of there!"

Res is powerless against the swarm, so he will have to watch as the others do battle. If it comes to his turn in the initiative, he will ready an action to move into position and give a burst of positive energy if anyone falls.

Nathaniel, I'll let you do that.

Tiffana is up, who I hope still has a Burning Hands available. After that will be Angalia. I will treat throwing the flask of oil as a splash weapon. Ranged attack against AC 5 (your attack roll will be 1d20 + 0[BAB] + [Dex modifier]). I imagine we can resolve Eliva's actions after that.

With a look of heartache and horror the girl yanks free of the other womans protective grasp. As her eyes widen at the sight of her friends remains Tif screams, the sound a mixture of rage, fear, disgust, and loss, as she hurls fire at the spider swarm she blames for the death of her only friend in life. "'KAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANIIIIIIIII!!!!"

Burning Hands:1d4 ⇒ 4

I have one more spell after this.

1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13 - hurl oil

The flames have barely left Tiffa's hands before Angalia adds oil to the mix covering the swarm.

I will assume Tiffana moved out of the swarm before casting at it.

Can I get Fort saves from Tiffana and Angalia from the previous attack, by the way? It's probably inconsequential at this point...

Reflex save from the spiders against Burning Hands 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (19) + 3 = 22

Tiffana backs away from the swarming spiders and blasts them with a spray of fire. The spiders cringe protectively, but are still badly damaged. With the field clear, Angalia hurls her flask of oil into the swarm, dousing them, to which Eliva quickly adds a bit of alchemist's fire. Accelerated by the oil, the tiny spiders burn to crisp cinders and smoulder upon the ground.

For both parts of the encounter, you can have 150 xp each, bringing you to 1375 and level 2. In this case, you can level up whenever; I'm not worried about it.

Nathaniel releases Angalia and slumps back, breathing a sigh of relief as the swarm of spiders is crisped. He then looks over at Tiffana, pain and worry etched into his face.

Erfan approaches the still-burning embers of the spider swarm and Kani's remains. He leans forward with intense curiosity, his cherubic face lit by the glow of the fire.

Kn: Nature to determine if these spiders (particularly the big ones) were indigenous to the woods that we should be in, but probably are not anymore. :) 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24

Seeing that the spiders are removed as a threat, Eliva puts her flask of alchemist's fire into her pack for another day. She notices that Res is looking to everyone's health, so she begins to scan the area for other signs of danger.

"I don't know what else might be around in this cursed mist. I hope these creatures have chased off other dangers in their territory, and we might be able to remake camp - and stay secure for the night, at least."

She looks with curiosity at their new companion, but waits for others to keep and eye on him and start that conversation while she looks for approaching danger.

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26

Fort Save:1d20 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9

Yes she steps back. I missed it, did she take any damage from the spiders?

With the spiders a scorched reminder of the horror from moments ago, Tiff collapses to her knees and begins sobbing uncontrollably over the death of 'Kani.

1d20 ⇒ 7 - Fort save. Bitten.

"Tiffa, nothing will bring him back, but we can remember him. Tell me about him so I can make something in his honour."

Fort Save:1d20+1=

Yes she steps back. I missed it, did she take any damage from the spiders?

With the spiders a scorched reminder of the horror from moments ago, Tiff collapses to her knees and begins sobbing uncontrollably over the death of 'Kani.

You took 3 damage from the spiders