Haldan unleashes another Shocking Grasp, but this time using the joy buzzer directly onto his person.
"There is something crawling inside of these farmers!"
Sadly, the buzzer misses its target this time. Haldan, despite the awful display, doesn't have any memories jogged.
The lone thing standing lashes out with violence. Off to the side, the mayor and priest begin to approach, shouting encouragement to you to finish it off!
The vermlek goes after Haldan yet again:
for
for
MISS
Round 4:
Enemy: ATK
Charlie: Go
Haldan: Go
Dendillion: Go
Tiny: Go
Chark: Go
Red: 34
Tiny bounds to the far side as fast as his Dwarven legs will carry him before lashing out at the remaining creature.
This time Tiny waits for the perfect moment . the man seems to wobble a bit!
Round 4:
Enemy: ATK
Charlie: Go
Haldan: Go
Dendillion: Go
Tiny: Hit
Chark: Go
Red: 43 (Stunned 1)
Chark hastily slaps a bandage on Haldan...
...before stepping aside to let Charlie or Goliath take her spot opposite Tiny, then raising a shield of force.
"As they say, 'second verse, same as the first'. Perhaps this time..."
Dendillion repeats the familiar musical refrains, bolstering the group's courage before flinging another stone.
Haldan, wounded and recently unconscious, stays down and is too injured to get up with an enemy in his face.
Chark quickly moves to keep Haldan alive while Dendillion's killing blow misses by the thinnest of margins.
Round 4:
Enemy: ATK
Charlie: Go
Dendillion: Miss
Tiny: Hit
Chark: Meds
Haldan: Go
Red: 43 (Stunned 1)
Goliath and Charlie swarm around the worm demon to cut off any chance of escape. "Thanks c..c..Chark!"
Player Status:
HP 17/30
AC 19 (21 w/ shield)
Wooden Shield 5/12; [AC Bonus +2] [Hardness 3] [HP/BT 12(6)]
Hero Points 0/3
Goliath
HP 17/24)
AC 16
Haldan drains the spirit from Hermann to cast Shocking Grasp again.
Charlie's focused efforts are more than a match for the demon worm. The man drops dead, as does the worm within. Aside from the heavy breathing, the graveyard is silent.
Nellyn comes running over with the mayor. They're horrified at the make up of the creatures, "Heroes" the mayore says with as much gravitas as he can muster, "You might be circus performers, but you're also so much more. Please, if you think there are answers at the Hermitage, I beg you to go without delay. Our little town won't survive something like this."
Nellyn has more to add, Here, take these. May they serve you well. You're earned them. Literally." He hands you a gold ring worth 10 gp and a bracelet of dashing.
Charlie grabs ahold of the bracelet and hands them to Tiny. "T..t..t..these may be b..best in your hands." He then looks to the Mayor. "W..we will head there right away."
Tiny chuckles "For certain not very specific definitions of right away." says Tiny as he sits to tend his wounds further before continuing on.
"Yes, absolutely Charlie. In this I think haste is of the utmost importance. Let's be about it now."
"Indeed. It is."
Your destination lies about 12 miles west of town and a bit north, along the coast. The journey to the Hermitage of the Blessed Lightning is a mildly treacherous path descending along sea cliffs. There are no fences or guide rails along the path, which averages 5 feet wide, and the wind is strong enough to deter all but the most determined travellers.
Almost exactly halfway there a buzzing fills the air. A pair of mantises the size of horses land on the path. Their eyes are tinged with a deep purple, and their tactics seem far beyond normal...
Round 1:
Chark: Go
Charlie: Go
Dendillion: Go
Mantises: TBD
Tiny: TBD
Haldan: TBD
(Scout)
(Search)
(Avoid Notice)
(Detect Magic)
(Search)
Chark tends to the wounds of her circus mates while speaking. I had thought to chide you for simply standing by as those ruffians committed crimes, she says, but after seeing what they were capable of, I can't criticize too harshly.
★ ---- ★ ---- ★ ---- ★
Chark is unhappy along the cliff face trail; she does not do heights well. It's not a fear of heights so much as a fear of fallin-- she says, interrupted by the buzz. Oh, by the Healing Light...
She steps away from the edge and sends a blazing band of orange-white fire arcs through the air at Green.
Chark levels a ray which strikes just off of center mass!
Round 1:
Chark: Hit
Charlie: Go
Dendillion: Go
Mantises: TBD
Tiny: TBD
Haldan: TBD
Green: 7
Charlie leaps back as the horse sized insects leap into their path. "Th..they....So Big!" Golaith growls stepping in front of the group to better protect them.
HP 25/30
AC 19 (21 w/ shield)
Wooden Shield 5/12; [AC Bonus +2] [Hardness 3] [HP/BT 12(6)]
Hero Points 0/3
Goliath
HP 24/24)
AC 16
"Well, you know what they say, the bigger they are..."
"...The longer the nightmares will keep me up tonight. Kill these monsters, gents."
Dendillion begins to play a hauntingly beautiful little tune on his lute. The song that come from the instrument evokes emotions of loss, abandonment, and loneliness. And yet, it somehow calls on the soul. And that call is answered when a nine inch tall sprite appears from the nearby bush!
"You again? Now what?" the fey creature asks.
The bard points at the mantis behind them. "Please! Help me stop it from hurting us!"
With a nod it turns a steely gaze towards the large insect. Making a pair of finger gun gestures, two luminous balls of flame fly out toward the mantis!
Though large, the mantises are very quick. Neither Charlie nor Haldan connects with their attacks!
Dendillion's sprite doesn't connect either as the mantises attack with an unnatural fury.
The heavily scarred and determined Goliath draws the shortest straw. It reaches with its legs against the bear:
MISS
for
On the other side, the mantis lashes out without approaching, lunging with its long legs:
for
It drags the sprite to its mandibles:
for
Round 1:
Chark: Hit
Charlie: Miss
Dendillion: Summon
Mantises: ATK
Tiny: Go
Haldan: Miss
Green: 7
Tiny drops into his battle stance as he leaps to protect Dendilion.
The party continues its woes as Tiny can't connect either!
Round 1:
Chark: Go
Charlie: Go
Dendillion: Go
Mantises: TBD
Tiny: TBD
Haldan: TBD
Green: 7
With Goliath grabbed the bear and trainer fight with all they have to bring the giant insect down quickly. Bear teeth and claws rake across the hard chitinous body as a green and clear ichor drips.
HP 25/30
AC 19 (21 w/ shield)
Wooden Shield 5/12; [AC Bonus +2] [Hardness 3] [HP/BT 12(6)]
Hero Points 0/3
Goliath
HP 4/24)
AC 16
With attacks savage enough to likely kill the mantis, the issue is one of aim, not power. Goliath and Charlie alike struggle to hit an open line.
Round 1:
Chark: Go
Charlie: Miss
Dendillion: Go
Mantises: TBD
Tiny: TBD
Haldan: TBD
Green: 7
Dendillion bravely, and perhaps foolishly, stares straight into the uncaring eyes of the giant mantis. With uncharacteristic nerve the bard strums his instrument, letting his customary inspirational tune ring out with verve.
Striking a perfect note, he transitions his sonic performance into a magic that lifts a nearby stone and flings it at the insect before him.
Dendillion bolsters the party for the fight, hoping to give them an edge. He shows off its effects, slamming a stone into the mantis's face.
Round 1:
Chark: Go
Charlie: Miss
Dendillion: Bard fu!
Mantises: TBD
Tiny: TBD
Haldan: TBD
Green: 17
Chark lets fly a sparkling black-blue line of fire from her palm directly at Green.
Chark's ray strikes true! The mantis is clearly and severely effected.
The mantis facing Goliath, however, continues the attack.
for
The enfeebled mantis doesn't let up, which seems odd behavior. It focuses hard on Tiny
MISS
for
MISS
Round 1:
Chark: Ray
Charlie: Miss
Dendillion: Bard fu!
Mantises: ATK
Tiny: Go
Haldan: Go
Green: 17 (Enfeebled 3)
Barely scratched by the now enfeebled mantis Tiny tumbles into position behind the mantis and unleashes a flurry of claws.
Tiny's combined assault drops the mantis on his third powerful blow!
Round 1:
Chark: Ray
Charlie: Miss
Dendillion: Bard fu!
Mantises: ATK
Tiny: Kill
Haldan: Go
Haldan launches a potent card that misses entirely.
"You almost hit me and I'm standing beside you, you ponce."
Haldan's card flies off the ledge!
Round 2:
Chark: Go
Charlie: Go
Dendillion: Go
Mantises: TBD
Tiny: TBD
Haldan: TBD
Goliath falls unconscious to the crushing blow to the bear. He tries to get the oversized insect to release his friend.
HP 25/30
AC 19 (21 w/ shield)
Wooden Shield 5/12; [AC Bonus +2:
Hero Points 0/3
Goliath
HP 0/24; Dying 2)
AC 16
Wharlie's whip fails him as the mantis is too much.
Round 2:
Chark: Go
Charlie: Miss
Dendillion: Go
Mantises: TBD
Tiny: TBD
Haldan: TBD
Chark catches Goliath slump to the ground just as she turns about, and instinctively reaches out her hand. A white haze washes over the bear, stabilizing his wounds. She moves over toward the remaining bug behind Charlie.
With the perfect ringing sound echoing in the ears of the group, the great bard. "It's time to show these things what kind of force music can bring."
He begins by humming an E, and follows this with three chrods: B major, C# minor, and A major. With each chord there appears a magical, floating dart that issues from the lute's soundhole. Finally, the bard plays a E major that removes the restraints and sends the darts towards the green mantis!
Chark yet again moves to save the scarred bear while Dendillion lets his chords form into missiles which strike the foolhardy mantis!
the mantis reaches over Goliath to get to Charlie!
for And it pulls him in to bite!
but misses
It still goes after him with its jaws, relentless in its aggression!
MISS
MISS
But to no avail!
Round 2:
Chark: Magic
Charlie: Miss
Dendillion: Magic
Mantis: ATK
Tiny: Go
Haldan: Go
Mantis: 12
Tiny hustles back this way to reengage the yellow mantis.
Hoping to do better this time, Haldan launches another card.
Haldan's card is much closer, but still off target! Tiny hustles into the fray.
Round 3:
Chark: Go
Charlie: Go
Dendillion: Go
Mantis: TBD
Tiny: TBD
Haldan: TBD
Mantis: 12
As the claw comes Charlie's direction he blocks what he is able to with his shield.
Drawn in so close Charlie begins to bash the edge of his shield into the insects dense chitinous exterior.
HP 24/30
AC 19 (21 w/ shield)
Wooden Shield 4/12; [AC Bonus +2: [Hardness 3] [HP/BT 12(6)]
Hero Points 0/3
Goliath
HP 0/24; Wounded 1)
AC 16
Chark edges forward and conjures up a ball of white-yellow flame in her hand, hurling it at the remaining mantis!
Her concern for Goliath throws off her aim.
The party continues to struggle to connect with the mantis. The insect seems undeterred!
Round 3:
Chark: Miss
Charlie: Miss
Dendillion: Go
Mantis: TBD
Tiny: TBD
Haldan: TBD
Mantis: 12
With the echo of the music still in his ear, he strums a harmonic counterpoint that can literally move you. In this case though he opts to lift a nearby stone, hurling it at the remaining mantis!
He then takes a second to study the mantis, looking to recall anything he might know about the creature.
Dendillion's projectile strikes true! The mantis is distracted by Tiny, and after striking once at Charlie, moves to the dwarf!
for
MISS
Round 3:
Chark: Miss
Charlie: Miss
Dendillion: Hit
Mantis: ATK
Tiny: Go
Haldan: Go
Mantis: 21