"I'll try to take out the big ape quickly, either by covering him with grease or blinding him if I can get a clear shot."
Origen notices Jonagher's arm. He was rubbing his wound before. Perhaps it's more serious than we thought.
"Jonagher, we might want to heal up that arm so that it doesn't interfere with your shooting. Do you have any blessings that might be appropriate, Frik?"
:
"Lots of monkeys screaming in there...maybe twenty or more...and those loud drums again..." he tells everybody, "But I can also hear a man screaming. That must be our boy, Nigel. And that means he's still alive."
"Bran?" Jonagher addresses the big warrior, "You may be our best hope fighting the Tik Taan. I think maybe you should use this jade dagger." He offers the knife to him. "I'm still injured. And I'll probably be more help with the bow in case I need to keep the monkeys away while you and Frik deal with Da'Tunga...and maybe everyone else can focus on getting Nigel out of there. Torden? We'll need you on the drums, for sure, to counter anything the Tik Taan try to do to us. Everyone ready?"
Bran glances down at the jade dagger and then back up at Jonagher. He takes the dagger with a nod and a grin. "Stay behind me and Frik and call out if you are in trouble, alright?"
Bran tucks the dagger in his belt for easy access and tightens his grip on his throwing axe. "With me, Frik! Let's end this now!"And when everyone is ready (having cast any spells and made last minute preparations), Bran opens the door and steps into the room, moving straight ahead (to N10) and looking for the big ape.
- Origen:
- Bran:
- Frik:
- Jonagher:
- Torden:
- Creature #1 (Da'Tunga the Ape):
- Creature #2 (Tik Taan):
- Creature #3 (Nigel)):
- {21} Torden {N13}
- {19} Jonagher {O11}
- {17} Creature #1 (Da'Tunga the Ape) {N7}
- {14} Origen {O12}
- {11} Frik {P10}
- {10} Creature #3 (Nigel) {O6}
- {8} Creature #2 (Tik Taan)
- {6} Bran {N10}
After Frik is done casting various spells, and channeling divine healing from Cayden Cailean, Origen opens the door, Bran steps through, preparing to hurl an axe at the first viable target. He is quickly followed by Frik with his greatsword, and Jonagher with bow ready. Torden starts laying down a solid and familiar tempo, chanting an ancient song from the Jambala Jaeg.
Mock vines cling to the wall of this grand exhibit hall, and huts of grass are strewn about the open area. At the center of this sprawling chamber, a great stone ziggurat rises out of the mist, almost scraping the 50-foot-high ceiling. At the top of the ziggurat, a rail thin elven gentleman is strapped to an altar, his bare chest painted with strange sigils and monkey paw-shaped blots of paint.
As you enter the room, the drumming has reached a fevered tempo, a perfect counter-beat to Torden's. The mists swirl and pulse around the room, in almost hypnotic pattern. The primates in the room have painted themselves in swirls of various colors. They caper and screech, their eyes bloodshot with blood dripping down like tears.
As you prepare to attack, the primates look as one at the group, and a moment of silence is broken by the screeching and loud scattering of 20 some odd primates as they move through the mists. A terrifying howl shatters the simian symphony of panic. A large ape leaps out of the mists and lands on the ziggurat, beating its chest with one massive hand, and staring right at you. Blood dripping from its blood-shot eyes.
"Beware the statues!" Jonagher calls out, "Three of them, moving above us!"
Upon seeing the giant ape then reveal himself--and because he makes such a nice, tempting target perched on the ziggurat--Jonagher immediately fires on the beast with Bran in the hopes of injuring it and driving it away from Nigel.
Torden continues the song as he steps into the room {N1} Since his man Witt has spotted the statues and warned the group, Torden does not pause in his performance to shout at all. He concentrates all of his efforts on drowning out the song to which these beasts sway.
What I should have posted before was as follows:
- Surprise Round
- Torden {N13}
- Jonagher {O11}
- Origen {O12}
- Frik {P10}
- Bran {N10}
- Round 1 Actions
- {21} Torden {N13}
- {19} Jonagher {O11}
- {17} Creature #1 (Da'Tunga the Ape) {N4}
- {14} Origen {O12}
- {11} Frik {P10}
- {10} Creature #3 (Nigel) {O6}
- {8} Creature #2 (Tik Taan)
- {6} Bran {N10}
Mock vines cling to the wall of this grand exhibit hall, and huts of grass are strewn about the open area. At the center of this sprawling chamber, a great stone ziggurat rises out of the mist, almost scraping the 50-foot-high ceiling. At the top of the ziggurat, a rail thin elven gentleman is strapped to an altar, his bare chest painted with strange sigils and monkey paw-shaped blots of paint.
As you enter the room, the drumming has reached a fevered tempo, a perfect counter-beat to Torden's. The mists swirl and pulse around the room, in almost hypnotic pattern. The primates in the room have painted themselves in swirls of various colors. They caper and screech, their eyes bloodshot with blood dripping down like tears.
Torden continues the song as he steps into the room {N1} Since his man Witt has spotted the statues and warned the group, Torden does not pause in his performance to shout at all. He concentrates all of his efforts on drowning out the song to which these beasts sway.
- {21} Torden {N13}
- {19} Jonagher {O11}
- {17} Creature #1 (Da'Tunga the Ape) {N7}
- {14} Origen {O12}
- {11} Frik {P10}
- {10} Creature #3 (Nigel) {O6}
- {8} Creature #2 (Tik Taan)
- {6} Bran {N10}
Torden continues his countersong, while looking around for a viable target.
"Beware the statues!" Jonagher calls out, "Three of them, moving above us!"
He draws back smoothly and fires at the closest idol.{Q9} The arrow sticks out of its arm, sinking into the exotic hardwood with a satisfying thunk. He glances about, ready to move to a better position if one is can be found.
- Ranged attack with shortbow... 19
- Damage,... 1
- Sneak attack damage...6
- Standard Action: Attack Idol; Move Action: Readied to move to a better position.
As you begin to attack, the primates look as one at the group, and a moment of silence is broken by the loud screeching of 20 some odd primates as they stare at you through the mists. A terrifying howl shatters the simian symphony of panic. A large ape leaps out of the mists and lands on the ziggurat, beating its chest with one massive hand, and staring right at Bran. Blood dripping from its blood-shot eyes.
- Move Action: Jump to Ziggurat, Standard Action: Intimidate (Demoralize) Check: vs. 11 for Bran
The large ape beats its chest in a fearsome display attempting to demoralize Bran. While aggressive, its display does not have the intended effect.
Origen fires a bolt at the ape, but it goes wide.
Frik hastily casts a spell, bolstering his allies' will to fight.
Frik takes a step backwards, casting a blessing upon his compaions as he does so. {P11}
Nigel continues gibbering up on top of the ziggurat, and he froths at the mouth.
The Tik Taan caper and manuever around the small grass huts and the screeching simians, attempting to get lost in the chaos.
Bran braces his back leg, and lets loose his throwing axe at the rather large ape.
Bran's axe whistles as it flies true, and digs deep into the ape's chest. Da'Tunga roars!
Bran stalks forward, drawing steel as he moves towards the big ape.
The cacophony of the vile apes almost drowns out Torden's drumming. Origen hears a strange pattern to their howls with a meaning that he doesn't want to understand. He shudders, and he closes his eyes for a moment to clear his head. It steadies him, but he lose sight of the Tik Taan in the horde of crawling, hooting monkeys.
"One of the Tik Taan is headed for Nigel!" Jonagher calls out, "Somebody stop it while we deal with the ape!"
The elf then drops his bow and draws his short sword and light mace, maneuvering around Bran as he engages the beast so he can look for an opening on the ape's unprotected flank.
Continuing his drumming, and wary of moving too close to the great ape, Torden draws a dagger and hurls it at the Tik Tan moving toward the ziggurat.
"HA! A hit!" he calls.
Without missing a beat, Torden hurls a dagger with deadly precision, and it sinks into the idol attempting to climb the ziggurat. Though strangely, it seems to have no effect.
Jonagher draws his weapons, and readies to move into flanking position.
The massive ape stands as tall as he can, and brings both fists down on Bran in a wild and chaotic slam attack. Howling in rage as it does! It connects with one fist, slamming into Bran's chain shirt, but failing to do any damage. It's momentum carries it forward as it rolls around to Bran's left.
- Acrobatics check: vs. DC 26 (Bran's CMD +10)
In response to the ape's movement, Jonagher moves forward to flank the creature.
Origen moves closer to Jonagher, taking care to stay out of the ape's reach.
He says a short incantantion and gestures toward the ziggurat.
As the ape moves past Bran, he brings the dagger across in a vicious slash. The unfamiliarity of this new and ancient weapon pulls of his aim just enough to cause his slash to fall short.
Origen's spell coats the ziggurat in a slimy buttery sheen, and the Tik Taan Idol slips and slides but maintains its balance...for now.
Frik sets his feet beneath him, looks about quickly, and focus' on the ape. He rushes in and swings with a vicious overhand chop of his greatsword. It connects with a solid blow, and cuts a vicious gash in the ape!
Nigel continues to froth at the mouth and screech like a monkey.
The idol starts to dance and caper around, trying to get out of the slippery area, but finds itself sliding and making no progress, though it's wooden legs pump for all their worth.
A second Tik Taan Idol jumps down from higher on the ziggurat and attacks Bran from behind, its wooden fists beating against Bran's chain shirt.
A third Tik Taan Idol comes jumping out of the mists and swipes at Frik with a balled wooden fist, and misses.
Getting attack from two different sides, Bran swings his dagger back, and slashes at the Idol that hit him from behind. His aim pulled off by distraction, he misses.
- vs. DC 14
- vs. AC 14 Da'Tunga
- vs. DC 10
- {21} Torden {N12}
- {19} Jonagher {L10}
- {17} Creature #1 (Da'Tunga the Ape) {M9}
- {14} Origen {M11}
- {11} Frik {N10}
- {10} Creature #3 (Nigel) {O6}
- {8} Creature #2 (Tik Taan #1) {M6}
- {8} Creature #2 (Tik Taan #2) {O9}
- {8} Creature #2 (Tik Taan #3) {O7}
- {6} Bran {N10}
Combat Map as of the end of round 2
"Somebody save Nigel! Now! Before he kills himself!" the half-elf shouts over the drums and monkey screams.
Then, in an effort to hopefully end the threat posed by Da'Tunga, he strikes quickly from behind with a vicious thrust of his short sword.
Torden hears Jonagher's cry and heads toward the ziggurat, though cautious of the TikTan.
Using a spell he mastered, able to cast it while still playing his drum, he endeavors to shake Nigel's mind and prevent him from doing harm to himself or others.
- Torden:
Jonagher leans into his strike as his shortsword slips into the Ape. The Ape bellows in rage once again, and then drops slowly, sliding off Jonagher's now crimson blade. As the ape hits the ground, and rolls slightly, blood begins pumping out of the huge gash in its side.
Da'Tunga's brow creases in his state of unconsciousness, and his body pumps more blood onto the floor.
vs. DC 10
Origen aims carefully with his crossbow, at the dagger held in Nigel's hand, and exhales slowly, building preassure on the trigger as he does so. In a calm moment, Origen looses the bolt, and it flies wide as Origen suddenly sees a frightening demonic simian face in the swirling mists.
"Frik! Get 'im off me!" Bran yells, focusing his attack on T3, hoping to work his way toward Nigel. He slashes at the ape with the strange dagger, vowing to toss it aside and draw familiar steel if he misses.
"Frik! Get 'im off me!" Bran yells...
Jonagher leans into his strike as his shortsword slips into the Ape. The Ape bellows in rage once again, and then drops slowly, sliding off Jonagher's now crimson blade. As the ape hits the ground, and rolls slightly, blood begins pumping out of the huge gash in its side.
"Frik! Get 'im off me!" Bran yells...