Varisian Adventures (Inactive)

Game Master psychicmachinery

"I will a-admit that I'm lost!" Chloe pipes in from the back lines. "But welcome back, yes..." she calls more quietly, the sound perhaps not carrying so well.

"Morin's right, we're the ones trapped in this cave so I'd rather have space to move."

Voting for outside, mainly because I've had bad experiences with groups and breath weapons. :) Tekk would also help Chloe to move around as needed.

She'll just follow. She can find you within six squares, and Tekk moves slowlike due to the armor.

Ok, I've got Tekkis, Chloe, Morin, and Corbyn headed toward the exit. Karozekas and Sarusa, are you guys going as well or staying put?

Ok, I've got Tekkis, Chloe, Morin, and Corbyn headed toward the exit. Karozekas and Sarusa, are you guys going as well or staying put?

Our attacks resolve before we make the decision to move right? I'd still like to try and kill one or both of them before we parade outside.

Karo follows the majority outside. Do we have everyone? I'm beginning to feel a little hemmed in.

Sarusa and Gellig are going outside!

Morin is unable to stab the thrashing worm in the tunnel confines, but Sarusa knocks the beast into the clay and loam cave wall with the force of her cudgel.

However, the creature's fluttering wings do not falter, and it quickly catches up with its clutch-mate as both strive for the surface. Corbyn sends a pair of arrows at the wounded drake, hoping to still its flight permanently before it can gain the air, but a last minute dip in altitude saves it from what might have been a kill shot as the arrow snaps against a stone jutting from the bending wall beyond.

The small, flapping serpents easily navigate the sharp ascent of the tunnel. Landbound, and significantly larger, your efforts are not nearly so swift. After much scrabbling, climbing and crawling, you reach the last slope before surface. Through the grasses above, you can make out streaks of blue sky, a welcome sight after the grime and dark of your recent spelunking.

Of the drakelings, there is no sign.

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13

Corbyn looks around, aiming his bow wherever he sets his sights. With no sign of the Drakes he runs out of the cave to check on Plod.

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18 Urgh.

Morin looks in all directions, his blades held high, and calls out, "Where did they go? And where's mama?"

"Coming, I.. I'm relatively certain." Chloe announces, letting her hands grab about.
"Corbyn, I cannot sense your state... are you okay...?"

Current HP: 4/25

"Corbyn, I cannot sense your state... are you okay...?"

With no sign of the Drakes and the adrenalin rush wearing off, Chloe's words hit Corbyn like a brick wall.

"I need to stop rushing into things and think for a change. If I keep going like this I'm not going to be able to help anybody, especially myself."

Corbyn halts and changes his tone from eccentric to calm. He lowers his bow to his side and walks back to Chloe.

"No I'm not Chloe. The Drakes spit some sort of acidic substance all over me. I have burns all over me that hurt terribly. If I keep going like this I think I might collapse. I could really use some of that special healing magic of yours right now."

"Then come here, if you would...," she singsongs absently, ready to dote as ever. Regardless of the timing, she lays her hands on the hapless ranger and then hums her approval at the results... though she could have done with more.
She'll use another spell slot now, meaning she'll have 5 left. :) 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8
"This would be a-a good time to use a potion. We haven't long... and I imagine... that they will hold our annihilation more important than eating... Plod..."

Perception: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (9) + 12 = 21

"Blood on the wall. There." Sarusa gestures at the fall wall, near the exit of the tunnel. "And some claw marks."

Corbyn clambers out of the hole, looking about frantically for Plod, who raises his head from the tough, bluff-top grasses he is cropping, twitches his ears a few times, and returns to his meal with a non-committal snort. Chloe's ministrations heal some of his wounds, though he is still quite injured.

There is no sign of the small dragonlings.

You guys are about 100 yards back from the edge of the bluff. The shore-side entrance to the caverns below is a 30' drop from the edge of this small cliff. We are out of combat for the time being.

"This would be a-a good time to use a potion."

Current HP: 12/25

Seeing Plod is a sign of relief.
Chloe's magic helps but Corbyns skin is still covered in burns. Never the less, every little bit helps and he feels better than before.

"Thank you Chloe, that feels a little better however I haven't got any potions. I think there are a few in the party loot but I don't want to take more than my fair share. I could maybe do another round with the drakes but I'm still far from feeling complete."

"That was quick."

"Your friends went that way..."

"Bah, if you need some healing, take the potions. I'll not play a miser while a comrade in arms falls at my side."

Looking around, Tekkis flexes his arms and grunts sourly.

"So, we going to head down the cliff for that entrance, or we going to wait for mama to come back with her babies?"

DM, other than the tunnel, is there any kind of defensive position around here, or somewhere to hide?

There are assorted shrubs and a small copse of trees near to where Plod is cropping grass, but that's about as defensive as it gets.

Okay, thanks.

Looking around, Tekk notices the copse of trees.

"If those small ones come back the the mother, then I'm thinking we should fight her here. A couple of us could probably hide in that cluster of trees over there, maybe get the drop on her when she shows up. Reasonable?"

"I can hide in trees, Tekk. Sounds like a fine plan, and much better than fighting a drake in a tunnel, where I can't see and she can fill the hall with sticky goo and get us all. I'm off to the trees."

Morin quick-steps it to the trees, giving Plod a pat as he goes by, and disappears into the trees.

Stealth: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (12) + 14 = 26

"Bah, if you need some healing, take the potions. I'll not play a miser while a comrade in arms falls at my side."

Corbyn does not need to be told twice. He starts rummaging through the party loot and drinking potions to relieve his pain as he finds them.

Potion of Cure Light Wounds: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5
Potion of Cure Light Wounds: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

Corbyn is about to drink the last remaining potion but decides to leave it just in case somebody else needs it more.

Current HP: 24/25

Between Potions Corbyn comments:
"Trees provide good cover from attackers but also provide great cover against arrows. I fear I might be at a disadvantage here."

"If only I could find my Hippogriff. I'd take to the skies and rain arrows upon mine enemies."

Anybody else doing stuff? If not, I'll move it along.

If nobody has anything else to say about me taking potions I say move it along!

Hiding

Ready

Brandishing a shillelagh, scowling. Figuring out a way to flank with Gellig away from the cliff.

"I will st-start the blessing as soon as the monsters are definitely here...,"
Chloe seeks out Sarusa and mutters another prayer before hobbling off to find somewhere to stand and stare at the sky in a useless gesture.

"Its a slim chance but the Drakes might not be our only concern. Throughout the night I was attacked by some sprites not far from here. They ruined some of my belongings and scarred Plod off. It took me the better part of the afternoon to find him. Though if that never happened I probably would have rode right on by and missed you guys. Still, it seems there are threats everywhere around here."

"I wasn't scared! I was merely saving my skin from that pack of bloodthirsty murderers. I'm not above leaving you to fight the battles while I graze in some shady forest. I'd trust you to do the same."

"Plod lives another day!"

Thanks for everyone's patience. Here is the MAP!

As a quick legend, the brownish strip towards the bottom (II - EE) is the shore, 30 feet below your current position atop the cliff. The blue below that is lake water. There are rocks and trees. The reddish/brown area from R65 - X71 is the cave entrance from which you just emerged. Please let me know where you'd like your characters to be by posting here or in the discussion thread. Your characters have the equivalent of 20 rounds before we get back into combat, so if there's stuff you'd like to do in that time, please let me know. If you can't let me know where you'd like to be by the end of the day on Monday, I will place you somewhere not too horrible. As usual, placement of animal companions is helpful. If someone wants to volunteer to run Tekkis during combat, I would appreciate it.

Corbyn & Plod will be in the area of V-60 rummaging for potions in the party loot.

Morin settles into his hiding spot in the bushes near the cave entrance, not sure which direction the mother drake will come to visit him and his friends.

Hiding in the bush near Q63 - stealth roll from above was 26.

Sarusa, grumbling that her Shillelagh will be wasted, goes to G67, with Entangle readied at CL4 with Place Magic. She motions Gellig to move to G70.

"Wait until she lands," she says to no one in particular.

Gellig waits.

Three of the small drakelings emerge from below the cliff's edge, pumping their wings until they are thirty feet above the ground you stand on.

However, their cries are nothing compared to the volume and fury as a drake the size of a horse rises into view. It's shimmering blue-green scales are tipped in mottled yellow and black. Slaver and lake water run from its back, long serpentine neck, and curling maw. It's arm wings are almost fin like, and graceful, but shot through with sickly-looking veins of putrid yellow.

Qarxoosla and her progeny scream their rage and defiance at your intrusion into their home as their wings speed them toward you, hearts set on vengeance and destruction.

Qarxoosla @ II, HH 68 & 69, D3 @ II 85, D1 @ II 76, D5 @ II 70

Tekkis @ R 75, Chloe @ Q 72, Karozekas @ Q 68

Morin remains hidden in the bushes, wondering just what form the drakes' first attack will take - and if they'll survive it.

Any chance of a token or marker of some sort on the map to show the drakes' positions? Makes it a lot easier to figure out what's going on.

The drakes have acted by moving this round, initiative is on you guys now. I'll try to get a map up after I have people's actions.

Karozekas readies the skull bomb and casts a spell.

Cast True Strike, retrieve the skull bomb.

Corbyn's eyes grow wide at the sight of Mother Drake. He abandons the party loot to go on the defense. Raising his bow to his enemies, Corbyn notes the burned skin on his arms from the acid. Even though the potions made him feel better the burns will still likely leave a scar.

"Fall back to the cover of the trees and attack as a unit!"

Corbyn lays down cover fire at the incoming Mother Drake.

Attack w/ Deadly Aim & Rapid Shot: 1d20 + 7 - 1 - 2 ⇒ (19) + 7 - 1 - 2 = 23
Attack w/ Deadly Aim & Rapid Shot: 1d20 + 7 - 1 - 2 ⇒ (1) + 7 - 1 - 2 = 5

Damage: 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8
Damage: 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11

Dex Check: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

Current HP: 24/25
Arrows Remaining: 50

Chloe blinks and then proceeds to give her customary battle prayer before looking around blearily.
"Which way are the trees.. again...?"

With the intention of going back to where she came from earlier, she toddles off in said direction... hopefully.

Sorry about that. You've been ...graced? Um. Cast Bless and move due trees.

"Gah, Chloe, I sometimes forget your condition. Stay where you are and somebody will come and get you.

"Corbyn you dope!"

MAP!

Changed Plod's size. I think he's actually 5'X10' but MapTool doesnt make tokens that size so I just stuck with medium. Also hosting with Google Docs as per Morins Request. All GMPM needs to do is tally the rounds and I'll post the updated maps as soon as I can.

Now lets get this show on the road!!!

Corbyn, thank you kindly. Really appreciate it!

Round 1

While Morin hides and Karozekas readies a bit of an arcane surprise, Chloe fortifies the group and tries to find a safe place. Corbyn's first arrow gashes the flank of the Mother of Drakes, further enraging the winged horror, as two more of her progeny rise from the depths. 8 damage to Qarxoosla, Drakes 4 & 6 have entered the battle.

Tekkis plants himself as a one-man shield wall while Sarusa prepares to call upon the dormant power of lake, earth, and sky.

Round 2

Three of the wyrmlings immediately wing towards you, two of which regurgitate caustic spittle at Tekkis, Corbyn and Plod. Baby drakes stay 30' above the ground unless otherwise noted.

acid damage: 2d6 ⇒ (1, 1) = 2 DC 12 Reflex save for 1/2 damage, and to avoid the ENTANGLED condition.

Tekkis Reflex: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 19
1 point acid damage to Tekkis.

Then Qarxoosla's larger wings bear her forward. Thirty feet above your heads, she returns Corbyn's opening volley with one of her own, coating the ranger and his faithful steed in the burning phlegm of her gullet.

acid damage: 2d8 ⇒ (3, 3) = 6 DC 18 Reflex save for 1/2 damage, and to avoid the ENTANGLED condition.

Morin is up.

We're not really in the positions we last moved to - we're a lot closer together than I think we were. And I don't have a bush to hide in. Both of which are bad with these flying things spitting acid down on us.

Morin continues to hide, hoping the drakes will land and engage in a fair fight, or something that might be mistaken for one.

I'm not optimistic about this. Maybe we should go back down the hole.

But it is a lovely map.

Morin, we'll say there's a bush at PQ 68-69.

OK. I'm still hiding.

So...the 40' radius of Entangle...that doesn't include vertical, does it? I have a readied ground spell and a melee weapon that will un-magick if I drop it...I suck.

40' radius sounds like a sphere to me. If you can get them into a spot where there are plants tall enough to reach them, it will work.