Zero's #1-02: The Mosquito Witch (Inactive)

Game Master Super Zero

With Heather's potion in his mouth, Scout rushes to Barak's side.

◈ Stride

Just rolled out worst-case scenario. Even if nobody is able to provide successful first aid, Heather's potion gives Peaches enough HP to outlast the bleed damage--though he looks pretty rough if it comes to that.

Peaches whimpers where he lies as he continues to bleed from the wound where the bloodseeker was torn away from him. He lies still again after Macondi's spell, and once Heather's potion is administered he sits up.

He's no longer aggressive, looking nervous and abashed. Still, he struggles to his feet and barks, tugging at sleeves and cloaks, then running a few steps towards the forest, whining and barking urgently.

Heather rushes up to Peaches and attempts to treat her wound.

Nature/Medicine: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18
Healing: 2d8 ⇒ (1, 2) = 3

"I'm so sorry, dear. You went berserk and the only thing I thought of was to shoot you. Some protector of the wilds I turned out to be!"

Peaches doesn't seem interested in sitting still long enough for Heather to work. Agitated, he keeps pulling her towards the treeline.

Heather follows, Scout by her side.

Following Peaches, the Pathfinders quickly discover Haru nearby, standing and staring blankly, not responding, as a bloodseeker sucks blood from her neck.

The insect looks... bloated.

Heather rushes to Haru and attempts to treat her wounds

Nature/Medicine: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 16
Healing?: 2d8 ⇒ (6, 7) = 13

Macondi follows the rest of the group following the dog farther into the wilds. Seeing the bloated bloodseeker he comments, "Ew. That's gross. The thing is almost as big as my head. And I have a fat head. Barak, you want to squish that one too before it gets any bigger?"

Barak doesn't say anything, he just starts swinging at the bloodseeker.

◈ Gnome Flickmace (reach, sweep): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (3) + 9 = 12
Bludgeoning Damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

◈ Gnome Flickmace 2 (reach, sweep): 1d20 + 9 - 5 ⇒ (13) + 9 - 5 = 17
Bludgeoning Damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

Aztryx stays clear of the flickmace. He tries to see if there's more bloodseekers on Haru and the immediate surroundings.

perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24

Aztryx sees plenty of normal-sized mosquitos, but no more bloodseekers in the vicinity.

Barak pops the creature away from Haru, where the overinflated beast bursts. Heather starts tending her neck wound as Haru snaps into focus. "Huh? What?" she looks a little pale, but otherwise unharmed.

"Peaches! Did you save him? Oh, thank you!"

"He's back where he belongs," Barak says, "but it might be safest for you two to come with us in case there are more of those bloodseekers about. We're looking for some mitflits. Have you seen any?"

"Mitflits? Like gremlins? No, I saw.. I don't know what I saw. I'm not--I don't think I told you, I'm not really a cryptid hunter myself. We're here looking for one of the hunters, a friend of mine who I'm worried about because we never heard from her, and nobody in town knows what happened to her either.

"But.. I'm not--I'm not up to this right now." Haru presses her backpack on Barak. "Take it. As a thank you, and because--I can't use it right now anyway. If it helps you, that's the best I can hope for."

Inside the pack, among assorted traveling gear, are a dagger ("That's cold iron"), two vials of holy water and an empty vial that matches the first two.

"Um, compasses don't work right around here. I remember that. And I remember my compass leading me towards that rocky slope over there and--and there's a door. There's a secret door built into the rock, so somebody must be using a concealed cavern for something. Or at least someone used to. I--I can show you where."

"We're here looking for one of the hunters, a friend of mine who I'm worried about because we never heard from her, and nobody in town knows what happened to her either."

"The lady in the gold armor?"

"There's a secret door built into the rock, so somebody must be using a concealed cavern for something. Or at least someone used to. I--I can show you where."

"Yeah, if you could show us what you found, we'll see about taking over from here."

"Yes, please lead us to the secret door," Barak says. He raises an eyebrow at the cold iron dagger and weighs it in his hand. "I'm most likely to use my flickmace, but it would be nice if someone would be willing to use the dagger in the battle. Does anyone else want it?"

"I normally use magic. But if you think it is important, I'll carry it if no one else wants it."

Heather pulls out her crossbow and loads it.

"Hmmph." Barak considers. "You do usually use magic. Yeah, I'm likely going to be the only one in melee here. Alright, I'll use the dagger in my other hand."

Aztryx trails behind the group, watching the two strays the group picked up - wary that something may go awry.

"Lead the way Haru. We're right behind you"

He clutches his maidenstaff tight.

Haru leads the Pathfinders to rocky ledge, where there is indeed a concealed door. It's not particularly well concealed, but anybody walking past here without closely examining it would be likely to overlook it completely.

The door opens onto what looks like mostly a natural cavern complex, though one that's been modified here and there--a tunnel opened a bit wider, even stairs added to a slope. Most of the work doesn't look recent, but there are several shovels lying around the tunnel.

Shortly, the tunnel opens up into a wider area where, peeking around several visible corners, are small creatures that are decidedly not kobolds. They seem to have heard the Pathfinders coming, and are lying in wait, shortswords and darts in hand, ready to spr--oh. No, they fly into a blind panic.

"Oh NO they're coming to kill us!"
"Of course they are!"
"Gwibble! Where's Gwibble??"
"Save us Gwibble!"
Gwibble seems to be panicking too. As panics go, though, it's a pretty violent panic. A frenzy of stabbing.

The stabbing might even hit something! The quickest of the mitflits scurries forward and jabs Aztryx before yelping and diving for cover again.

The one in the purple hat, who is a little larger and may be the leader Gwibble, throws a dart at Barak. It barely hits him and leaves nothing but a scratch! ...a burning scratch. While Barak is worrying about that, the gremlin casts a spell. The effect isn't dramatic or obvious, but something seems... off, about getting close to him.

They also have a bloodseeker with them. This one seems a little bigger, a little sharper--it's hard to place, but just a little more formidable than the others the party fought.

Red: Stride, Strike, Stride. Hits Aztryx for 2 piercing damage.
Gwibble: Strike, cast a two-action spell. Hits Barak for 2 piercing damage, and also poison. Everyone's favorite. DC 18 Fort save against a poison affliction. On a failure, he suffers first stage and Stage 1 poison damage: 1d8 ⇒ 6 and on a critical failure he goes to Stage 2 poison damage: 1d10 ⇒ 9.

Macondi's turn.

Initiative:
Red Mitflit
Purple Gwibble (bane 5 feet)
Macondi (17/17)
Green Barbed Bloodseeker
Barak Blue (18/20, DC 18 Fort save)
Blue Mitflit
Aztryx (11/13)
Yellow Mitflit
Amperex (15/15)
> Cogswork (18/18)
Heather (32/32)
> Scout (18/18)

"RAWR"

The door opens onto what looks like mostly a natural cavern complex, though one that's been modified here and there--a tunnel opened a bit wider, even stairs added to a slope. Most of the work doesn't look recent, but there are several shovels lying around the tunnel.

"Hah. Finally." Macondi hurries over and picks up one of the shovels.

"Save us Gwibble!"

Gwibble seems to be panicking too. As panics go, though, it's a pretty violent panic. A frenzy of stabbing.

Holding his new battle shovel in his hands and imagining all of the heroic deeds he is about to do with it seems to help keep his mind going in the right direction when battle breaks out and Macondi is surprisingly quick to react. He props his shovel against his shoulder with one hand and casts a spell, reaching out to touch Heather's crossbow and causing some runes to appear on it.

He then pulls out the scroll that Barak gave him and calls out to him, "Hey, bro, do you want your scroll now too?"

◆◆ Magic Weapon on Heather's crossbow, ◆ Draw Scroll

Also, the antidote potions are still active, yes?

The bonus lasts for six hours. You went exploring a few times, but only got lost once. Tail end, but yes.

The bloodseeker buzzes over to Aztryx. It lands on him as its barbed legs hook onto his clothing; it plunges its proboscis into him and drains his blood.
Critical hit to attach, although it doesn't deal damage so it doesn't get anything extra there. It deals 6 damage, and Aztryx is Drained 1 until he receives any kind or amount of healing.

Barak Blue's turn.

Initiative:
Red Mitflit
Purple Gwibble (bane 5 feet)
Macondi (17/17)
Green Barbed Bloodseeker (6 temp HP, attached to Aztryz)
Barak Blue (18/20, DC 18 Fort save)
Blue Mitflit
Aztryx (4/12, drained 1)
Yellow Mitflit
Amperex (15/15)
> Cogswork (18/18)
Heather (32/32, magic weapon)
> Scout (18/18)

Fortitude (E): 1d20 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 7 + 2 = 11
Hero p: 1d20 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 7 + 2 = 23

Barak shakes off the poison. "Yeah, I'd like that magic weapon now." He eyes the Green Blookseeker. "Come at me!"

But we cross-posted! So moving on!

Barak is horrified when the bloodseeker goes after Aztryx instead. "Aztryx, hang in there! Heather and Scout, he's too far away from me. Can you two help him?"

Barak moves up to Gwibble. "Can you do me a favor and die quickly? I have a friend to rescue and you're in the way."

◈ Stride

◈ Gnome Flickmace (reach, sweep): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (7) + 9 = 16
Bludgeoning Damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9

◈ Gnome Flickmace 2 (reach, sweep): 1d20 + 9 - 5 ⇒ (19) + 9 - 5 = 23
Bludgeoning Damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9

I posted Barak's action! Just letting you know, since I also edited my post.

While the shape of the cavern entrance on the map is terrible, I did translate the proposed marching order the best I could. I put the people who were at the front on the outside edges, and the people who were in the back in the middle. Now I did question why the Wizard wanted to be in front closest to the enemy, but that's where he was so I honored it!

As Barak steps up to Gwibble, he feels a sudden glimmer of doubt--just enough to throw off his attack. Is this the effect of his spell? He overcomes it for his next attack.
Moving adjacent to him puts Barak in Gwibble's bane area. The -1 penalty turns that first attack into a miss! The second one definitely hits, though.

Gwibble sputters with rage as Barak hits him.

"There's too many!" says the mitflit in blue, "We're outnumbered! There's like 30 of them!" Nonetheless, he hurries forward to press Barak from the opposite side, when...

[ooc]Were you saving that AoO for Gwibble specifically, or will you take it against the Blue Mitflit?

Aztryx's turn.

Initiative:
Red Mitflit
Purple Gwibble (9 damage, bane 5 feet, Vengefully Angry at Barak)
Macondi (17/17)
Green Barbed Bloodseeker (6 temp HP, attached to Aztryz)
Barak Blue (18/20)
Blue Mitflit
Aztryx (4/12, drained 1)
Yellow Mitflit
Amperex (15/15)
> Cogswork (18/18)
Heather (32/32, magic weapon)
> Scout (18/18)

As much as Barak wanted to save his loving for Gwibble, he removes the Blue Miflit from play with a casual swipe. Then he looks over at Gwibble. "You're next, you know. Don't you think that now would be a good time to monologue about your top secret plans before you die?'

With the Blue Miflit out of the way, this should create a safe spot for Aztryx to retreat to (behind Barak) if he wants to run back through his allies.

The mitflit misjudges Barak's reaction time and is swiftly eliminated in punishment.

Aztryx's turn.

Initiative:
Red Mitflit
Purple Gwibble (9 damage, bane 5 feet, Vengefully Angry at Barak)
Macondi (17/17)
Green Barbed Bloodseeker (6 temp HP, attached to Aztryz)
Barak Blue (18/20)
Blue Mitflit
Aztryx (4/12, drained 1)
Yellow Mitflit
Amperex (15/15)
> Cogswork (18/18)
Heather (32/32, magic weapon)
> Scout (18/18)

Aztryx is shocked by the very fast events, runs through his opponents. He then casts a spell which causes electricity to leap from from his fingers to the latched bloodseeker, and Gwibble.

electric arc: 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7 save versus Reflex DC17
targets green barbed bloodseeker and Gwibble.

◆ stride
◆◆ electric arc

The spark shocks the bloodseeker, but Gwibble is too quick to duck back against the wall and the electricity arcs past him.
Bloodseeker succeeds for half, Gwibble critically succeeds.

The mitflit in the yellow hat moves forward. Seeming to balk as he gets a better look at the party, he whips the dagger in his off-hand into Cogswork and retreats down a different tunnel.

Amperex and Heather's turns.

Initiative:
Red Mitflit
Purple Gwibble (9 damage, bane 5 feet, Vengefully Angry at Barak)
Macondi (17/17)
Green Barbed Bloodseeker (3 temp HP, attached to Aztryz)
Barak Blue (18/20)
Blue Mitflit
Aztryx (4/12, drained 1)
Yellow Mitflit
Amperex (15/15)
> Cogswork (16/18)
Heather (32/32, magic weapon)
> Scout (18/18)

quick question GM Super Zero. Is it possible to do burning hands and hit the green barbed bloodseeker too? I'm not sure as the creature's template is on top of mine

Heather marks the bloodseeker as prey and shoots it.

"Hold very still Aztryx".

Crossbow vs Bloodseeker: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8

Unfortunately Scout happens to bump Heather and she triggers the bolt straight up.

"Scouty, help Barak!"

◆ Mark Bloodseeker as Prey
◆ Whiff
◆ Command Scout

Scout moves to help his new blue friend as he rushes at the other blue thing and attacks.

Jaw vs Mitflit: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18
Piercing?: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

◆ Stride
◆ Bite

I figured out how to access Amperex's sheet, so here goes.

Amperex shoots at the Green Bloodseeker.

Double-Barreled Pistol - BANG!: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20
Piercing Damage: 1d4 ⇒ 4

Then he spends two actions to command his robot. "Go get the Miflits!"

This gives the robot three actions. Cogswork lurches into action!

CLOMP. CLOMP. CLOMP.

The robot moves forward and attacks the red Miflit.

Metal Fist: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15
Bludgeoning: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10

Agile Second Attack: 1d20 + 6 - 4 ⇒ (10) + 6 - 4 = 12
Slashing: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

Aztryx: "You can't aim a cone so it overlaps your space."

Heather's bolt hits only the wall. Scout has more luck, even within the bad luck aura of Gwibble's spell, and manages to scratch the gremlin.

Amperex's shot wings the bloodseeker, which leaks a red fluid that is probably blood but may not be its own blood. Cogswork, meanwhile, crushes one mitflit before pursuing the next.

"They're immune to poison!" Gwibble shrieks. He furiously stabs back at Barak. In his fury he seems just a little stronger than before. He then carefully backs away, eying the gnome mace.
Aaand I just realized I never actually called for a save against the bane spell for you. Rolling that real quick... okay, Barak is not Flat-Footed to Gwibble while in his bane aura, and therefore not subject to Sneak Attack. He does still hit for 5 piercing damage. He's seen Barak use AoO and will therefore Step twice.

Macondi's turn.

Initiative:
Purple Gwibble (11 damage, bane 5 feet, Vengefully Angry at Barak and Scout)
Macondi (17/17)
Green Barbed Bloodseeker (1 damage, attached to Aztryz)
Barak Blue (13/20)
Aztryx (4/12, drained 1)
Yellow Mitflit
Amperex (15/15)
> Cogswork (16/18)
Heather (32/32, magic weapon)
> Scout (18/18)

Macondi hurries over to Barak and casts the scroll on his weapon. "Go get him."

◆ Stride, ◆◆ Cast Magic Weapon from scroll

The Pathfinders seem to have stumbled onto an uncomfortable, but possibly effective, strategy for surviving an otherwise-catastrophic bloodseeker attack: Once its taken all the blood it can can from one target, it willingly detaches itself without needing to be torn away!
Aztryx collapses from the blood loss, but at least he doesn't have a horrible bleeding wound like Peaches did after Barak ripped the bloodseeker away from him.

The overgrown mosquito flits over to Heather next, but she manages to push it away.
5 damage to Aztryx. It then moves into Heather's space and attacks her, but misses.

Barak's turn.

Initiative:
Purple Gwibble (11 damage, bane 5 feet, Vengefully Angry at Barak and Scout)
Macondi (17/17)
Aztryx (0/12, drained 1, dying 1, unconscious)
Green Barbed Bloodseeker (5 temp hp, 1 damage)
Barak Blue (13/20, magic weapon)
Yellow Mitflit
Amperex (15/15)
> Cogswork (16/18)
Heather (32/32, magic weapon)
> Scout (18/18)

Mitflits - roll twice, take the worst?

It's a bane spell. Enemies in the emanation (at this point just adjacent to Gwibble) must make a Will save or take a -1 penalty to attack rolls. Gwibble also has a special ability to treat anyone affected by bane as Flat-Footed.
Actually, I did apply that penalty to Barak once when I shouldn't've and it made a difference. Correcting damage:

Initiative:
Purple Gwibble (20 damage, bloodied, bane 5 feet, Vengefully Angry at Barak and Scout)
Macondi (17/17)
Aztryx (0/12, drained 1, dying 1, unconscious)
Green Barbed Bloodseeker (5 temp hp, 1 damage)
Barak Blue (13/20, magic weapon)
Yellow Mitflit
Amperex (15/15)
> Cogswork (16/18)
Heather (32/32, magic weapon)
> Scout (18/18)

Aztryx collapses from the blood loss, but at least he doesn't have a horrible bleeding wound like Peaches did

"Gah," Macondi exclaims when he notices Aztryx on the ground and looking really pale. "Hang on. I'll be there in just a second."

◈ Stride

◈ Gnome Flickmace (reach, sweep): 1d20 + 9 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 9 + 1 = 12
Bludgeoning Damage: 2d6 + 4 ⇒ (4, 4) + 4 = 12

◈ Gnome Flickmace 2 (reach, sweep): 1d20 + 9 - 5 ⇒ (1) + 9 - 5 = 5
Bludgeoning Damage: 2d6 + 4 ⇒ (1, 6) + 4 = 11

Ack! Those rolls!

Hero Point on first strike: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (11) + 9 = 20

Barak nearly slips before landing a blow. Since he is right next to Gwibble, his snagging strike makes Gwibble flat-footed for everyone else.

With a decisive THWACK Barak's weapon slams Gwibble into the cavern wall, where he crumples.

"Oh no!" shouts the remaining mitflit, "Gwibble! Save me, Skeeter!"
He drives his short sword into the construct's neck, where it probably keeps something important (not that he seems to have hit it. He tries to do that a second time, but Cogswork is too quick for the same trick twice.
He then scurries around the corner.
Strike: Crit for 2 piercing damage. Strike: Critical failure. Stride.

Amperex, Heather, Macondi, and Aztryx's turns.

Initiative:
Macondi (17/17)
Aztryx (0/12, drained 1, dying 1, unconscious)
Green Barbed Bloodseeker (5 temp hp, 1 damage)
Barak Blue (13/20, magic weapon)
Yellow Mitflit
Amperex (15/15)
> Cogswork (14/18)
Heather (32/32, magic weapon)
> Scout (18/18)

Macondi pulls out a second scroll and casts Heal on Aztryx. "No dying on us, OK."

Healing: 1d8 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15

◆ Draw scroll, ◆◆ Cast Heal from scroll

Not only is his wound entirely healed, Aztryx's color seems returned. The healing magic seems to have restored some of his lost blood.

That also removes the Drained condition--that's not normal for the Drained condition, but the ability that inflicted it says any healing cures it.

Amperex, Heather, and Aztryx's turns.

Initiative:
Macondi (17/17)
Aztryx (13/13, wounded 1, prone)
Green Barbed Bloodseeker (5 temp hp, 1 damage)
Barak Blue (13/20, magic weapon)
Yellow Mitflit
Amperex (15/15)
> Cogswork (14/18)
Heather (32/32, magic weapon)
> Scout (18/18)

Let's do this again.

Amperex reloads and shoots at the Green Bloodseeker.

Double-Barreled Pistol - BANG!: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26
Piercing Damage: 1d4 ⇒ 4
Fatal Piercing Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 8

As the Bloodseeker pops, he gives a command to his robot.

"Go get the Miflit!"

Cogswork lurches into action!

CLOMP. CLOMP. CLOMP.

The robot moves forward and attacks the red Miflit.

Metal Fist: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13
Bludgeoning: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11

Barak calls out, "Um, last chance to surrender!"

Amperex's icon is totally adorable! :)

Heather rushes forward, eager to join in the fray. Without getting too close, she calls to Scout.

"Get him, Scouty!"

◆◆ Stride
◆ Command Scout

Scout charges forward and sets up a flank with the remaining mitflit.

◆◆ Stride

The shot hits the bloodseeker. Fluids leak out of it, maybe even some of its own. The insect shortly looks deflated and drops from the air with a SPLAT.

Cogswork doesn't do quite as well.

"Liar! The Mosquito Witch sent you to kill us all as punishment!" wails the mitflit.

Aztryx and Barak's turns.

Initiative:
Macondi (17/17)
Aztryx (13/13, wounded 1, prone)
Barak Blue (13/20, magic weapon)
Yellow Mitflit
Amperex (15/15)
> Cogswork (14/18)
Heather (32/32, magic weapon)
> Scout (18/18)

"Thank you Macondi! You are awesome!"

Aztryx stands up, and casts a spell - causing bolts of force to shoot from his fingers and strike the last mitflit.

magic missile: 2d4 + 2 ⇒ (4, 4) + 2 = 10

◆ stand
◆◆ magic missile (2-action)