World's Largest Dungeon Dive

Game Master Nairb the Grey

'Well, it's not much of a shot, but better then being in front. Zordlon thinks to himself as he moves to line up another shot, this time with a blunt arrow.

Attack roll: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 81d8 ⇒ 8

Blunt arrow should do full damage, but I'm taking the soft cover penalty.

Byung-He pulls out one of his flasks of oil and prepares it for ignite/hurling.

"I should have tried to prepare for vermin but I didn't think that I might meet such creatures on this journey. Maybe if we give some of our rations we can save ourselves." she thought.

"I'm going back to gather some of our rations to sacrifice to the rats once the fire burns out.' shouted Sayarisha to the others as she moved to the back of the room where the donkeys and the supplies waited.

Zurne loads up a sling stone. "I feel like I should have prepared different spells today," he quips.

Taanimohka opens and lobs a second flask on to the conflagration to buy a little more time for Sayarisha, covering her forehead from the heat with an upraised arm. She wonders just where the smoke will go...

"Aim for the rats not the place they aren't occupying." Byung-He offers unhelpfully as he holds out his prepared flask for someone to grab and hurl at a swarm of rats.

As Taani throws the second oil flask onto the fire it bursts again into happy conflagration. The rats meanwhile squeal in apparent frustration at being unable to approach their prey. The second swarm enters the room and also tries to push towards the fire, but the heat keeps them at bay.

As the fire burns merrily away the smoke wafts up to the ceiling and spreads out across the room. From its dispersal there does not seem to be any immediate place for it to vent. The room will likely fill with smoke before too much longer.

Zordlon shoots an arrow through the flames, but the smoking shaft splinters across the ground just past the swarm, the angle of attack being awkward and making it easy to overshoot.

While Sayarisha rushes back to the pack animals, Unbuegsam and Dornhold look on from the side, gripping their weapons and ready to act.

This is the second full round of the fire burning, so it would be going out this round after Taanimohka's turn if more fuel had not been added to the fire. At this point you guys are on round 1 of 3 before it burns down unless you keep stoking it.

Party is Up!

"Look, we're going to have to either run, or attack these things. We're going to choke before they do," says Zurne. "They aren't stupid enough to run into the fire."

Zurne looks at the map. "And we can't go any other way. Let the fire burn down and fight. I can create water to douse it now."

I specifically bought durable arrows, so they shouldn't be splintering after one use! I can't just go out and buy some more now, can I?

"I would prefer to hit them while they can't hit us" Zordlon chimes in as he shoots another blunt arrow.

Attack roll: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 1 = 101d8 ⇒ 1

Seeing no one listening as they all have their own ideas about how to deal with the rats he sighs and musters his courage. He can do this...they are just rats. Light the oil and hurl it... He hurled the fuse prepared oil at the rat swarm closest to the fire and door praying this would work.

Ranged fire oil splash weapon attack: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 1 = 18
50% chance of fuse not working, low is bad(if you need to reroll this dm go ahead, I did not look ahead on roll): 1d100 ⇒ 58
Fire damage direct hit and 1 fire to all within 5 feet: 1d6 ⇒ 5
Next turn should operate like alchemist fire for 1d6 more.

Mid-Round Update:

Byung-He approaches behind Taanimohka, getting within 20' of the closest rat swarm. (2nd Range Increment; -2 to the attack) as he hurls the flask of oil the rag attached to it bursts to light, making a circle as it swings through the smokey air. The battle shatters into the swarm!

Rat Swarm Red takes 5 points of fire damage, Rat Swarm Purple takes 1 point of damage

The rats chitter in pain as the fire consumes them. Several scramble down to the bottom of the swarm, avoiding the flames and instinctively attempting suffocate what is already on them.

Red Swarm Reflex Save to prevent further damage - DC 15: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 19. This is Red's full round action for next round, but since the fire will still be there and there is nothing else it can do, might as well roll it now.

The attempt is successful and the flames appear to peter out quickly rather than catching and causing further damage.

Meanwhile, Zordlon's second arrow also fails to find its way to damaging the rats.

Zurne, Unbuegsam, Taani, and Sayarisha still have actions if they would like to take them.

Just curious but do swarms not take extra damage from splash weapons?

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.

Good call out, I had forgotten that splash weapons are counted in that...I thought it was just AoE spells like fireball or whatever.

Unbeugsam grips his axe tighter and waits. With booth his hands occupied he can´t do anything but hack at the stray rat that somehow makes it through the fire.

Do I have to have/light a fuse on my final flask of oil if I wish to target a swarm rather than just lobbing it on the uninhabited square? I wasn't aware flasks of oil had fuses...

Copied here for DM and player convenience, you can look it up under equipment too.

A 1-pint flask of oil burns for 6 hours in a lantern or lamp. You can also use a flask of oil as a splash weapon. Use the rules for alchemist’s fire, except that it takes a fullround action to prepare a flask with a fuse. Once it is thrown, there is a 50% chance of the flask igniting successfully.

You can pour a pint of oil on the ground to cover an area 5 feet square, provided that the surface is smooth. If lit, the oil burns for 2 rounds and deals 1d3 points of fire damage to each creature in the area.

Exactly, so you can turn your final flask into an alchemist fire...It takes a full round to prep it and then a standard action the following round to throw it. The worse action economy and chance of failure is offset by the lower price (in theory).

With about two pounds of food from the donkeys in her hands, Sayarisha prepares to move forward and scatter the food behind the fire in the path of the possibly oncoming swarm of rats.

She watches the others as they prepare to attack the swarms of incoming rats.

Taanimohka decides hurling more oil at the rats is a waste of her last vial, and pauses to see what Sayarisha is up to.

The fire in the doorway continues to burn as the rats scramble to extinguish the fire from Byung-He's flask. Seeing no way immediate way around the flames, the second swarm begins to retreat. Perhaps looking for other prey or another avenue of assault?

Smoke continues to pool against the ceiling. Within another round you imagine it will be smokey enough in the room to create some degree of trouble seeing.

Byung-He prepares his second oil flask taking time to carefully insert the cloth fuse.

Welp, got to hit one of these times

Blunt Arrow Attack: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 1 = 111d8 ⇒ 6

Random GM Dice: 1d20 ⇒ 2

The fires continue to burn in the door way, but they are starting to get lower. You think you have one more round to act before they burn out altogether. The rat swarm appears to be getting braver, continuing to inch towards the fire and then back away as the heat discourages their advance. Their angry and insistent squeaks imply a sense of malice.

One more round for the fire to burn out and the rats advance. You can take held actions for when the rats advance next round if you would like.

Carrying an armful of food taken from the donkeys, Sayarisha quickly runs forward and arranges the food in a 5' semi-circle behind the fire in the path of the oncoming swarm of rats.

Byung-He tosses his other oil as everyone seemed to not notice that it was having a significant impact on the rats. His voice was tinged with scared frustration as he stated, "I hope I'm not the only one here capable of splashing rats with fire and oil!"

Ranged fire oil splash weapon attack: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 1 = 17
50% chance of fuse not working, low is bad: 1d100 ⇒ 82
Fire damage don't forget splash bonus: 1d6 ⇒ 1
Next turn should operate like alchemist fire for 1d6 more.

Zurne spreads his hands, then thinks. "If I can get a clear shot.."

If he can move up...

Readied Action Acid Splash Touch attack: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3
for: 1d6 ⇒ 5

"Well, that missed," says the druid wryly.

"Well, if I had any oil, that's what I would be doing!" Zordlon shouts exasperatedly before taking another shot.

Blunt Arrow Attack Third Try: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 1 = 171d8 ⇒ 3

Woo! I think that hits!

Weighing up the benefits of saving an oil flask, Taani decides living now is better than not having oil later...and lights hers, lobbing at the rats...

Ranged fire oil splash weapon attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (13) + 3 = 16
50% chance of fuse not working, low is bad: 1d100 ⇒ 77
Fire damage don't forget splash bonus: 1d6 ⇒ 3
Next turn should operate like alchemist fire for 1d6 more.

Using his long haft Unbeugsam quickly sweeps at the first row of rats.
Attack if possible: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 101d10 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

As the fire slowly burns out, the group makes their final efforts at damaging the swarm before it rushes in.

Byung-He's & Taanimohka's flasks of oil both fly true and ignite upon the swarm.

Floor(1*1.5) = 1; Floor(3*1.5) = 4 - 5 Damage this round, 2d6 fire damage next round unless 2 reflex saves are succeeeded, each negating 1d6.

Zordlon is finally able to get an arrow to find purchase in the swarm, extracting a satisfying sqeak of displeasure. 3 Damage

Unbuegsam swings out with his axe but finds that he is just out of range.

Seeing the fire finally burn down to smolders, the burned and burning rats rush forward, seemingly pushed into a frenzy from frustration.

The creatures begin to crawl up Unbuegsam & Taanimohka's legs. Entering your squares provokes attacks of opportunity, so the remainder of this post goes one of two ways.

After attacks of opportunity are taken if the rat swarm is still there the party is up.

Random GM DICE: 1d20 ⇒ 5

Zurne steps up to the mass of rats. "Now we're having fun," he says drily, and slashes at them with his cutlass.

Cutlass: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 1 = 13
for: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

However, he's careful not to his Unbeugsam, and he misses the rats by a tail or two. "Wily, aren't they," he remarks.

Fort: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23
Feeling the rats sting the dwarf swings his huge axe again.
Attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 91d10 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11

As promised, I am botting Taani's AoO to get things moving forward again.

Wap-Pow!: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 3 = 19 - Hit!
Krunch: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

As they begin to crawl all over you a final blow lands, dealing enough damage to disperse the creatures. They turn and flee.

Unbeugsam, this means you do not take any damage from the rat swarm invading your personal space.

Random GM DICE: 1d20 ⇒ 9

With no enemies present, you all take a few moments to catch your breath as initiative combat officially ends.

Zordlon darts forward, grabbing his arrows from among the dispersing rats.

"Well, that could have gone better. Or worse. How much oil do we have remaining, in case that Hell-rat sends more of his friends after us?"

"I must confess...I used what limited I had on me but it seemed a worthy cause. If this is the only way forward we may not have much choice though."

"As soon as 'tomorrow' begins I'll prep some new spells...but finding oil, that's a limited resource, unless one of us is crafty," says Zurne. "I don't think darkmantle have an oil reservoir. If we run across something fatty, or perhaps a beached sperm whale, we'll be in better luck."

"Or a cave olive tree," he says speculatively. "That'd be nice, to dip bread in."

"I can make many types of medicine with herbs...so should we have a plan for when those rats come back. The arrows and smashing them with fists seemed particularly effective. I think staying spread out too would be good idea..." Byung-He mumbled unsure if his ideas were actually tactically sound as he could barely aim a crossbow and wildly flung his oil into the rats earlier hitting more out of luck and their bulk.

"Well if worst come to worst, we can at least make rat-tatoui!"

"We shall see if these were pack rats indeed," says Zurne, and looks around their nesting area in the next room.

Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (8) + 10 = 18

After dispatching the last of the swarm Taani frowns, indicating she has no more oil. She follows Zurne into the next room, keeping an eye out for danger.

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24

Unbuegsam looks over the bodies of their fallen enemy. There are close to 75 or 100 dead rats here, all sporting various oil burns ranging from minor to grievous. Many of the rats also show minor bite and claw marks from their kin, it appears the swarm is unkind even to its own members.

Zurne and Taanimohka travel further into the room where the rats were originally found. There is not a sign of a rat nest in the room or the adjoining hallway, nor any immediate appearance of the swarm that had retreated. Taanimohka does however make out their trail, heading east out of the room into the hallway and turning the corner to the south.

GM Dice: 1d20 ⇒ 13

Meanwhile, Sayarisha and Dornhold head back to gather the donkeys. The beasts seem unsettled, their ears turning back and rotating as if alert to something approaching. Sayarisha, taking a moment to listen yourself you hear the now familiar tell tale signs of scritching and squeaking in the distance, now coming from outside the room and to the south. It would seem that rat swarm indeed found another way around. In fact, as you listen the first of the rats' shadowy froms begin to peek into view in the darkness beyond the southern doorway.

We will keep block initiative, rats just finished their move to get to where they are, so party is up. Right now Sayarisha and Dornhold are the only ones aware of the threat. Note right now the donkeys are the first in the rat swarm's path.

Dornhold renews his grip on his weapon as he notices the ratswarm approaching from a new direction.

"Lady, take the animals and yourself to safety and alert the others. I will hold the beasts here."

Sayarisha, the animals are eager to go with you, but spooked and flighty. As you gather up their leads make a handle animal check for me to keep them calm. It has been a stressful day for your donkeys.

Handle Animal: 1d20 ⇒ 1

Sayarisha attempted to quickly usher the donkeys into the room where the rats were originally found. She announced to the others, "Friends, the rats are attempting to come in from behind us. I am going to drop some food into the hallway to slow them down. I will bring Dornhold into this room to join us."

Going back out she calls to Dornhold, "Come join us in the other room Dornhold, I am going to sacrifice some food to give us time to gather our forces and come up with some type of defense!"

After Dornhold (hopefully) passes through into the room with the donkeys and the others, she creates a large pile of food and then quickly rejoins the others.

Is there a door we can close?

There is a door there that can be closed as an action. The doors
are noted on the map with the short blue lines.

Byung-He retreats into the room Zurne and Taanmohka were investigating rapidly not wishing to get caught by the rat swarm. "I'll heal any injuries that arise but someone else will need to fight!"

"A closed door is a good defense, although they may be able to get through."

"Sayarisha, bring in the animals and close the door. They may not even follow if we keep going."

Zordlon shakes his head to himself as he moves back, his bow again at the ready

I don't think feeding these things is going to make them stop, not with that devil rat or whatever making them attack us, but I guess it's worth a try.

Unbeugsam rubs his thumb along his axe.
"No worries, fighting is my middle name!"