Yes! You made it across you look back to see the conquered bri-WHAT IN THE WORLD IS THAT!? Oh god this isn't good, you turn to-WHAT IS THAT!?! Great more insects, more damn mites, and the small space is AWFUL! You need to make some room fast as you aim for the nearest mite 5.
...Also Garhan is really weirding you out when you're this close to him...
Attack Roll:
Damage Roll:
Mite5 Attack Roll:
Mite5 Damage Roll: Counts as 1
Mite9 Attack Roll:
Mite9 Damage Roll:
Giant Whiptail centipede Perception:
Garhan Crit Confirm Roll:
Huey Attack Roll:
Huey Damage Roll:
Tickleback: The giant creature fidgets, obviously anxious to rush into battle, but every time it flinches forward it quickly scuttles back.
Giant Whiptail Centipede: The centipede is currently staring dully at the Kobold that landed on its head, as if trying to come to a particularly difficult decision. Finally it lowers itself to the Kobold's level, reaching out with its feelers. It's getting awfully close to the Kobold now...
Mites: Oh gods, more and more mites are spilling out of the passages beyond, spreading out to exact cruel punishment on all that would oppose them. The two currently attacking you both his home with their daggers, dealing 1 point of damage to both Garhan and Woden!
The ones further away begin to draw long, thin shafts of pale wood, or possibly bone, and maybe mushroom, before starting to load some wicked looking darts into them.
This is just getting better and better.
Garhan: You're currently extremely worried about this situation, with so many of your friends piled up around you and angry, warty fairies stabbing you with dull knives. You grit your teeth and bravely answer your attacker's jab, aiming your dagger at its eye. Unfortunately, you instead plunge it into the creature's shoulder. At least you managed to do some damage?
Mikmek: Mikmek is too busy pretending to be dead to do much of anything else.
Woden: You were really excited about making it across the pit, but now everything is chaos! You really would like some breathing room, Garhan's a little warm, so you bravely attack the mite in front of you with... whatever weapon it is you have currently drawn!
At least you manage to do a little damage to it.
Gird: That thing is way too big! It's bad enough that pretty boy is taller than you, but now there's a monster of a bug just sort of hanging out beneath you! You will not stand for this, and aim at the creature as it inches towards the kobold, but who cares about him. You let an arrow fly, and watch with satisfaction as it sneaks between two of the creepy crawly's chitinous plates.
Only now do you realize that it is probably going to come after you now.
Oomlowt: Just a sec guys, you gotta take a breather. Who knows what could have happened if you fell? Besides, there's not even enough room here for you to use your crossbow on the horde of mites. Maybe you can provide emotional support?
Grabbles: The mite astride the tick smiles evilly as his fellows swarm towards the interlopers. Everything is going splendidly, and soon he may even enter the fray himself!
Huey: You stroll towards the edge of the pit, look down, and seeing the rising centipede, ready your Halberd to use next round, since it isn't quite in reach yet..
"Yeah, take that, you g*d*mn p*ssy!" Gird roars as she knocks back another arrow. In her head, she is much more concerned about the fact that the centipede's quite likely to go after her now.
Attack roll:
Damage roll:
Oh gosh, this blue sea of mites doesn't look nice at all! Darnit...
For a second, Garhan thinks about switching his weapon from dagger to quarterstaff, but he figures now that he feels Oomlowt's scaly - or rather clothing-clad - body against his leg somwhere that there really isn't enough room to effectively swing a staff around, so let's proceed with the dagger.
The mites back there with their dart-guns get Garhan really worried, but the reeality is that he can't really attack them right now... So Garhan proceeds to hit Mite 9 with his dagger.
Well, uh... It's... Really hard to focus when you're pressed against two friends at once.
"Um, excuse me, bigguns," Oomlowt mumbled as he tried to find a way to get between his friends so he could shoot. Finding none, he looked back to the thrashing centipede. "Right, I'll cover the rear then." The kobold readied his crossbow and aimed at the centipede!
"Gah! There's no end to these things!" Woden states in a furious tone.
It's bad enough there's a sea of them, but the cramped space is really messing up his shots...Looks like it's finally time to switch out. You sheathe your bow and reveale your Elven Curved Sword. This will probably give better results in such close quarters.
Attack Roll:
Damage Roll:
Mite5 Attack Roll:
Mite5 Damage Roll:
Mite9 Attack Roll:
Mite9 Damage Roll:
Mite10 Attack Roll:
Mite10 Damage Roll:
Mite8 Attack Roll:
Mite8 Damage Roll:
Mite7 Attack Roll:
Mite7 Damage Roll:
Mite13 Attack Roll:
Mite13 Damage Roll:
Giant Whiptail Centipede Attack:
Giant Whiptail Centipede Damage:
Tickleback: The tick is getting antsier as more blood is drawn. It won't be long before its turn to attack comes.
Giant Whiptail Centipede: The centipede hisses and rises again, its mandibles clacking as it sees its assailant. with the speed of a snake, the titanic arthropod strikes, and Gird can feel the intense pressure of its mandibles through her armor, and it's really uncomfortable, even after the centipede lets go to try again...
Mites: More and more mites are coming from the dark, and they're starting to form a cruel ring around Garhan and Woden. The two nearest the tiefling and elf both attempt to strike with their daggers, but even in the tight quarters, the daggers either miss or sink into armor.
Unfortunately, the mites with slings fare much better, and let loose a volley of small darts, which sink into the flesh of the heroes, dealing three points of damage to each!
Garhan: You're getting awfully worried. This looks even worse than those boars and... well, those boars were pretty bad.
But, putting on a brave face, you attempt to stab your way into a better position... but, you put the sort of over-dramatic flourish that you always do into the strike, and end up hitting the ceiling.
You really need to readjust your bravery for that thing.
Mikmek: Mikmek is feeling a little safer, but is still absolutely terrified of the thing above him. It could totally swallow him whole, he's sure of it.
Woden: You aren't having any of this crap, and switch weapons - which is really hard to do in this cramped space, and it takes you the entire round to do so, because that attack roll wouldn't have helped much.
Gird: That freaking centipede had better have made peace with whatever god it is centipedes worship, because you're going to murder is so dead. Your orc-blood is definitely showing as you seethe and fire another arrow, although this one lands in the ceiling.
Oomlowt: You attempt to get more room on the ledge, but after a few attempts, you decide it's not worth it and turn towards the much larger target in the pit. You sit on the ledge, your adorable, booted feet dangling over the side, and aim at the monster with your crossbow, and fire a bolt into its side, sending flecks of bug-ooze onto your face.
Grabbles: Grabbles is currently debating whether or not he should join the fray with his bloodthirsty mount or not. Give him another Round or two to decide.
Huey: Smiling wickedly, you thrust your halberd at the creature's underbelly, which forfeits a pretty significant dousing of bug juice. Gird will be so thrilled.
Adventuring does have its perks, and all of them are hurting things.
Further ahead, Gird can hear her companions are not having a good time. Pained cries and gleeful mites do not a good combination make. Wheezing from the centipede's bite, Gird looks out across the chasm. Reaching a decision, she garbs her fire wand, and, after a moment of fond fondling, Gird throws it across the chasm to her teammates.
"Look alive, boys! Fire wand incoming!"
Gird then knocks back yet another arrow, and fires. How much more can the freaky-*ss bug take?
Attack roll:
Damage roll:
Throw check:
Pleased with his success, Oomlowt fires another round at the centipede!
Garhan, as he acts before Gird on a round, can't precognitively hear her, so he focuses on his own business.
This is absolutely horrible... Garhan isn't feeling so hot after all those mite attacks, and even more so after accidentally stabbing the ceiling just now!
Well in any case... Using this dagger is the best he can do right now, so Garhan tries another stab at stabbing M9.
Well that was the most troublesome way to take out a sword. Perhaps now you'll actually be able to use it on these damn mites!
Attack Roll:
Damage Roll:
Mite5 Attack Roll:
Mite5 Damage Roll:
Mite9 Attack Roll:
Mite9 Damage Roll:
Mite10 Attack Roll:
Mite10 Damage Roll:
Mite8 Attack Roll:
Mite8 Damage Roll:
Mite7 Attack Roll:
Mite7 Damage Roll:
Mite13 Attack Roll:
Mite13 Damage Roll:
Giant Whiptail Centipede Attack:
Giant Whiptail Centipede Damage:
Huey Attack Roll:
Huey Damage Roll:
Tickleback: The tick is extra fidgety now. If it doesn't get into the fight soon, it won't get to fight at all!
Giant Whiptail Centipede: The titanic vermin clacks its mandibles irritably, but seems mostly unphased by its numerous wounds. It pinpoints Gird in the darkness, and rockets its jaws forward, readjusting the pressure in accordance with her armor. Its chitinous jaws slam into the paladin full force, and there is a sickening crunch of armor and bone yielding to the power of the shelled predator. Gird has taken 13 points of damage and is now dying... again.
Mites: The mites are looking mighty gleeful. So far they seem to have the upper hand, and they really like having the upper hand on just about anything that isn't a mite. Naturally, this makes them attack with more gusto. The ones with the knives both manage to miss or not get through your armor, but the ones with the darts are luckier, and several of the needle-like weapons sink into Woden and Garhan's soft flesh dealing 1 and 3 points of damage respectively! This isn't looking so good.
Garhan: Yikes! That really stings! You don't think you can take more hits like that! But, defiant as ever, you continue the assault with your knife, slashing at the mite in front of you - but you barely miss the creature's ear as it dances around your feet.
Mikmek: Mikmek decides to get up, because the centipede looks distracted, and he really doesn't want to be beneath it if it dies. Thankfully, the centipede is too distracted to attack the Kobold. The Kobold then takes this chance to edge to the side, hopefully far out of the vermin's reach. His eyes dart up towards Oomlowt, fearlessly firing at the creature from the ledge above. If only he could be as great as that Kobold there...
Woden: You finally get your sword out, and a little fed up with all of these puny, blue men stabbing at your ankles, attempt to take them on mano a mano.
Unfortunately, they are much better at moving in the cramped tunnel than you are, and slip away from the righteous wrath of blade again.
Gird: Feeling woozy, and with blurred vision, you begin to slump over. Then you feel a sudden rush of rage and everything goes red. There are images of burning and pillaging in your head, and screaming defiance you pull out the fire wand, and in a shocking moment of clarity considering your condition, don't use it. Instead you toss it across the pit, where it lands next to Oomlowt and by Garhan's feet. Your orcish face twists into a satisfied smile, and the red fades to white.
Oomlowt: You are faring much better than your comrades, but at the same time, you just saw the muscle fall before your very eyes. She'd seemed to have taken a lot of punishment earlier, but Garhan fixed her up! This chittering monstrosity took her out with two crushing bites. This is UNACCEPTABLE!!!
Your bolt sinks nice and deep in the huge vermin's side. That'll teach it.
Grabbles: The mite astride the tick calls out short, whistling (does he have a... GAP in his teeth, wow) orders to his mites. What he is saying, you don't know, and the mites aren't courteous enough to translate. Regardless, he tightly grips the saddle of his mount, and smiles in the direction of Woden and Garhan.
This can't be good.
Huey: You're a little worried about the heavily armored half-orc next to you, and how the monster in front of you made relatively short work of such an obviously powerful foe. Not powerful enough, you guess.
Time to teach this bug a lesson.
Unfortunately, your halberd knocks uselessly against the centipede's thick head armor. Maybe you should have obeyed your first impulse and just walked away...
"Oh no," Oomlowt snarled, "You don't take down the meat shield! FOR GIRD!"
He sure hoped this would work out better than the last time he attacked in a righteous rage.
Woden hears a loud clunk as he looks immediately to his feet, the wand sliding into his view and beside his foot. He bends over and picks it up...this is Gird's....
Woden shoots a look back, seeing Gird's body collapse from the centipede's attack. "GIRD!!!!!!", he bellows across the pit. Tears are welling up in his eyes, with sadness and fury. His grip tightens on the wand, as his gaze shifts to Mite 5. Pure fury is emanating from you as you raises it high, ready to use it's power, waving it at the mites, and the subsequent group behind it.
You won't let her die...at least not in vain...,"THIS IS FOR GIRD YOU DISGUSTING WORMS!!!!"
Ouch... This is bad...
Garhan hears his comrades yell, and turns to see what's going on, seeing Gird fall down all bloody.
"Ahh... No! GIRD!!"
Garhan wants to go and help Gird! He knows he can't, considering there's a huge centipede between them and it's not really the best thing to run on.
But he knows who he can help.
Himself.
It's not cool being this close to dying, and though he knows his witchy powers can't help in healing Woden and Gird anymore... He still hasn't healed himself today.
So Garhan decides to heal himself and hopes the mites won't kill him while he's at it.
Gird tries not to die. Let's see how long this goes on for.
Don't bleed out Gird roll:
Poison roll:
Giant Whiptail Centipede Attack:
Giant Whiptail Centipede Damage:
Huey Fortitude Save:
Huey Constitution to Stabilize:
Woden AoO on Mite5:
Woden Damage:
Garhan AoO on Mite9:
Garhan Damage:
Gird Dex Damage:
Burning Hands:
Grabbles Reflex:
Tickleback Reflex:
Mite9 Reflex:
Mite7 Reflex:
Mite 13 Reflex:
Tickleback: The tick is now feinting forward and back in sheer excitement. If it could drool, it probably would be.
Giant Whiptail Centipede: Moving onto the next nearest enemy, the centipede's red eyes burn into Huey before its mandibles sink into the Sorceror's soft flesh. There's the definite sound of fracturing bone as the man's torso is ruined by the centipede's onslaught. He slumps over and joins Gird in unconsciousness. The centipede chitters its bloody mandibles and turns around to face its next target...
Mites: The mites all back away, even the ones attacking Garhan and Woden, which provoke attacks of opportunity! Unfortunately, the mites scamper away too fast for either of your blades to make contact. They've now made a pretty scary ring around you, and opened a path for the mite and its jittery mount.
Garhan: Well, as long as they're going to give you a brief reprieve, might as well heal yourself. Who knows what will happen next, better to be a little healthier, just in case. Besides, it's not like you can heal the others.
You also get more comfortable, because wow you've got some room to move now!
Mikmek: Mikmek yelps as the centipede twists around. He isn't sure if it will go after him or Oomlowt first, but the thought of it eating him is more than enough cause for him to press himself closer to the wall.
If he makes it through this, he is going to be so very, very lucky.
Woden: Seeing Gird fall over makes you so mad, but you bend over and pick up the wand that had landed at Garhan's feet. Moving into a position that can better envelope the surrounding mites in deserving flame. You take the wand in your offhand and sharply point it at a particularly large cluster of mites. Flames spill out of the end, and envelop the group, and you can hear distinct screaming from at least one. After the flames subside, you see that only one of the mites succumbed to the flame. The rest are unscathed, although, fire is rapidly spreading across their rags, and the tick's saddle is likewise beginning to burn.
Gird: Gird is successfully not dying anymore and is now stable! Unfortunately, she was unable to fend of the poison, and has suffered 1 point of Dexterity Damage.
Oomlowt: That centipede doesn't know who it's messing with. It's messing with Oomlowt, the slayer of foes, the liberator of dogs, and the best-dressed kobold in the Stolen Lands.
That centipede is as good as dead.
You aim your crossbow again, and release yet another bolt [url]I wonder when he will run out.[/url] which sails straight through the giant vermin's eye, sending out more bug juice, and causing the bug to shudder before coming crashing down into the pit, tearing loose a few more knots of the bridge as it falls.
Grabbles: Grabbles is too busy spending this round putting out the fires on his body and on the saddle to do anything more than point wildly at Woden and bark more whistling commands in Undercommon.
Huey: Huey manages to fend off the centipede's venom, but he is unable to stabilize this round, and spirals ever closer to death.
Garhan feels a bit better now that he isn't so much close to dying anymore and now that Woden isn't pressed against him anymore!
Also now that the mites aren't so close either, Garhan decides it's the time to stop pretending he's a melee fighter and do something he's good at - casting some spells.
Garhan hopes the mites won't come hitting him as he concentrates.
Oomlowt was stunned. He... he killed it. He killed the giant monster. ...wow.
Charged with adrenaline and the elation of confidence - a feeling unknown to most kobolds - Oomlowt turned around, stepped out of Garhan's shadow (i.e. took a five foot step to his right) and took aim at the biggest, ugliest mite he could see - the one on top of the tick. He hoped his skill would hold out.
Now she's stable, but the poison is bad!
Ahhh, finally some breathing room. According to Oomlowt, the centipede is down and it seems like Gird is gonna make it. That's a relief if you've ever heard one. You're still in a pinch though, the fire wand is helping a lot thankfully.
You retake aim at the Tick and his rider. Burn you son of a b%&#!.
Tickleback Attack Roll:
Tickleback Damage Roll:
Huey Stabilize Roll:
Gird Dex Damage:
Mikmek Climb:
Tickleback: With a path made for it to charge, the tunnel tick ignores the fires along its saddle that its rider is trying so desperately to put out, and scuttles at Woden, it's fang-like mouthparts flashing. They sink through the elf's armor and into his flesh, locking into place dealing 7 points of damage plus disease. The tick then begins to drain his life blood.
Mites: The mites all begin to cackle as they sidle around behind the tick. If they don't have to do any work, then they will let Grabbles' pet kill their enemies for them. It's great fun to watch, excellent entertainment.
Especially since Grabbles told them to attack the elf, and now there isn't really any point, so they sort of hang back and look extremely menacing.
Garhan: That doesn't look good at all, so you decide to bolster your ranks with a creature from the Outer Planes, and concentrate on attempting to summon the monster, sticking your free hand deep into your spell component pouch while performing the arcane motions that would summon the beast.
You really hope it will be enough to help.
Mikmek: Mikmek is pretty much hyperventilating, because a giant centipede just crashed into a very dead heap not two feet away from him. But in an amazing show of willpower, he swallows his fear and runs out to nab the dagger, before climbing to join Oomlowt on the other side.
These bigmonkeys had come to rescue him, and he wasn't going to abandon them until they were all dead or dying.
And so he scampers up the pit's side, joining Oomlowt on its lip.
Woden: Woden is currently being eaten and cannot really stabilize until it stops.
Gird: Gird takes another 4 points of Dex Damage. Bringing her total Dexterity down to 7.
Oomlowt: This is very not good. Your friends are falling left and right, and there's nothing you can do to stop it! Nothing except shoot more crossbows into the faces of stupid, ugly mites!
Your bolt sails straight into Grabbles' belly, and he looks pretty pained, despite the thick skin him and all the other mites have.
Grabbles: Grabbles coughs as he wheezes out another order, gesturing towards Garhan and Oomlowt. He is going to make the filthy lizard pay for that.
Huey: Huey is still bleeding out.
I have nothing clever to say.
Welp. Good luck ya'll!
Garhan watches in terror as Woden is what seems to be being eaten by the huge insect monster.
"No..."
Garhan whispers weakly.
The tiefling fights back the tears and feels arcane power course through his veins.
A large dog summoned from another plane of existance appears before Garhan, and the witch givers his command.
"Attack that tick!"
Meanwhile, still in the first room, Calanthe has been watching these humanoids fall one after another.
She's been fighting her instincts of self preservance, but she can't stand the thought of Garhan being further in the cave, dying.
At least judging by all the screams and all, it doesn't sound good.
After enough internal struggle, Calanthe lets out an annoyed sound.
Hell, I'm just a goat right now. That boy has a whole life to live. I can't let my fear of dying a couple of times keep me from helping him.
With these thoughts, Calanthe runs at the bridge and attempts to leap across the bridge.
Oomlowt struggled for a moment to remember the undercommon he had learned in his various cri-err, travels.
Intimidate:
Bluff:
Oomlowt then fired another shot at Grabbles.
....Heh...looks like it's the end, hanging around these group of weirdos may have been the most exciting thing in a hundred years to you...
It sucks you couldn't say goodbye...or tell Gird your feelings but...You like to think they already know...Of course they do, they're your comrades after all...
...so long friends...
Tickleback Grapple:
Tickleback Damage Roll:
Huey Stabilize Roll:
Gird Dex Damage:
Mikmek Attack Roll:
Mikmek Damage Roll:
Fiendish Riding Dog Attack:
Fiendish Riding Dog Damage:
Calanthe Fall Damage:
Tickleback: The tunnel tick savagely sinks its fangs deeper into Woden before suddenly relenting and turning its cruel gaze to Garhan...
Mites: The mites hang back, despite their leaders angry screams to attack. They are not going near that tunnel tick until they know it's calmer.
It's kind of really terrifying.
Garhan: You command the dog you just summoned in a burst of fire and brimstone to attack the tunnel tick, something it takes to gladly, it's jaws flashing and teeth crunching as it latches onto one of the vermin's many legs.
Calanthe finally decides to help Garhan, and charges at the pit and prepares for a jump.
Unfortunately, her goat eyes miscalculated the distance in the flickering lamplight, and she falls onto the centipede's head taking 1 point of damage.
Mikmek: Mikmek screams defiance and slashes past the riding dogat the nearest mite with his lent dagger. Unfortunately, he swipes just short, leaving the mite with a strange look on its face.
Woden: Good night, sweet prince. UnU
Gird: Gird is just sort of hanging out in the back unconscious, but at least she isn't getting any more paralyzed.
Oomlowt: Puffing out your tiny lizardman chest, you shout at the mites in Undercommon, because you've totally understood everything they've been saying up until this point. You make a partial fib of how the Swordlords have made an alliance with the Kobold Tribe nearby, implying that the mites would be in a hopeless war soon.
Then you fire your crossbow at Grabbles, and send a bolt straight through his bloated, warty head, causing the mite's mirthful smile to change to shock before he slides off of his mount.
Grabbles: Grabbles is too busy with his brains covering all the mites behind him.
Huey: Huey just keeps on dying, and it's really unfortunate.
Gird lays there like a slug. It is her only defense.
Oomlowt fired his crossbow at the tick. They mite be able to turn this around!
Seeing the mite leader's brains splurt out of its head temporarily brings a smile to Garhan's face.
Under normal circumstances Garhan wouldn't really be happy about anyone dying so horribly, but this mite's pet just almost ate Woden!
Speaking of Woden, Garhan steps closer to the tick, between the monster and Woden. Garhan doesn't know of Woden's unfortunate condition yet... But it's never a bad idea to stand between a friend and a monster, right? So he takes a five-foot step into dead Woden's square, and attack the tick!
Meanwhile, Calanthe shakes her head after the impact.
Damn these goat eyes are a bother sometimes!
Not losing her newly gained battle spirit, Calanthe tries to climb up to the other side of the bridge, to assist her - or rather, Garhan's - teammates in trouble!
Tickleback Attack Roll:
Tickleback Damage Roll:
Tickleback Grapple:
Huey Stabilize Roll:
Mikmek Attack Roll:
Mikmek Damage Roll:
Fiendish Riding Dog Attack:
Fiendish Riding Dog Damage:
Tickleback: Tickleback turns swivels its head to gaze at its master, who lies dead on the floor next to it. it then turns to stare directly at Oomlowt. That isn't good.
Fortunately, there is a large, fiendish dog in the way, so the Tick attacks that to get it out of the way, sinking it's fangs into the dog's face, but not managing to keep a hold on it, and the dog dances away, breathing raggedly and... smiling?
Mites: The mites are all looking from Grabbles' corpse, to Tickleback, to Oomlowt, their ugly faces twisted with complete terror.
They don't know what to do, this is so scary.
Garhan: The dog makes a growling noise creepily close to a laugh before biting at the tick again, fading out of existence as soon as you can hear the crunch of chitin.
You on the other hand moves to protect your friend, you won't have Woden dying on you, it's the least you can do for all of the elf's help earlier! You bravely lash out at the tick, but its shell is too much for your dagger.
Calanthe, meanwhile, manages to clamber out of the pit using some small ledges. she's so skilled.
Mikmek: Mikmek rushes into the square previously occupied by the scary dog and stabs at the tick with Oomlowt's knife! Unfortunately, it barely nicks the bug's shell.
Woden: UnU
Gird: Hangin' in there.
Oomlowt: You yell at the shocked-looking mites to help keep back the tick, and you briefly consider adding in something about "or else", but instead you decide to focus on attacking the tick.
Unfortunately, you miss, gods damn it.
Huey: Stop dying plz?
"BRARGRARGLELRAR!" Oomlowt screamed incoherently. Then he fired his crossbow, unless the tick got him in which case he was probably dead.
Just chillin'
Garhan is so concentrated on this tick thing that he doesn't even realise his uncharacteristically brave goat has made it across the bridge.
Garhan tries another stab at this stabbing!
Calanthe is more than happy about getting across, finally!
Though it seems she can't really get close to the enemies now... Well damn.
Also, she's surprised there were still so many enemies.
Mite10 Attack Roll:
Mite10 Damage Roll:
Mite8 Attack Roll:
Mite8 Damage Roll:
Mite7 Attack Roll:
Mite7 Damage Roll:
Mite13 Attack Roll:
Mite13 Damage Roll:
Mite14 Attack Roll:
Mite14 Damage Roll:
Mite15 Attack Roll:
Mite15 Damage Roll:
Tickleback Attack Roll:
Tickleback Damage Roll:
Huey Stabilize Roll:
Mikmek Attack Roll:
Mimek Damage Roll:
Crit Confirm:
Tickleback Grapple because I don't want to mess with Mikmek's awesomeness:
Tickleback: Tickleback move around to attack the next biggest target, and pounces on Garhan, dealing 9 points of damage as well as pinning the Tiefling beneath it for some blood draining.
come on Garhan, you can live through this we believe in you.
Mites: The mites all nod furiously and bring up their dart guns, firing at Tickleback. They could try to use their Vermin empathy, but they're holding out on the hope that it will kill the intruders.
And they're too scared of Oomlowt to openly disobey his orders.
It's obvious that of the darts that sink into the tick, several cause it to flinch in pain.
Garhan: Garhan is unconscious and trapped under the mandibles of a very angry tunnel tick.
Mikmek: Mikmek charges forward, and leaps at Tickleback, sinking his knife straight into one of its many eyes, causing the giant vermin to make a screeching noise of pain. Mikmek smiles cruelly, he is going to make all of these mites pay, one way or another.
Woden: Gosh, this is so sad.
Gird: Erastil is a cruel master, ain't he?
Oomlowt: You fire again, but again you miss.
The adrenaline rush of this all must be making your hands shake too much or something.
Huey: Huey stop dying, we don't want to you to die!
:<
Oomlowt did his best to calm down for the next strike.
Well damn.
This is not exactly how you planned, right?
Calanthe watches in horror as Garhan is getting seriously chewed by that horrible ugly monster.
Well damn.
This angers the goat greatly.
Calanthe runs to the available square behind the tick and proceeds to attack!
Tickleback Damage Roll:
Mite10 Attack Roll:
Mite10 Damage Roll:
Mite8 Attack Roll:
Mite8 Damage Roll:
Mite7 Attack Roll:
Mite7 Damage Roll:
Mite13 Attack Roll:
Mite13 Damage Roll:
Mite14 Attack Roll:
Mite14 Damage Roll:
Mite15 Attack Roll:
Mite15 Damage Roll:
Huey Stabilize Roll:
Mikmek Attack roll:
Mikmek Damage Roll:
Tickleback: Tickleback sinks his fangs into Garhan and drinks deep, much deeper than he did from Woden. There's a delicious tang in the tiefling's blood it has never tasted before, and so continues to grapple his corpse the rest of the round.
Mites: The mites continue to send volleys of darts at tickleback, although their greatest hopes of him slaying their enemies seem closer and closer to being realized. But they're still terrified of what that kobold with the crossbow can do.
Garhan: noooooooooooo why, he didn't deserve this, he was so bubbly!
Meanwhile, there's a burst of terrible, infernal energy from Calanthe, as her otherworldy powers are revoked, it's unsettling to see from anyone who sees it, and if anyone looked closely enough, it is possible to see the shadow of a fiendish shape rise up before plunging into the ground.
Calanthe is now just a goat. :(
Mikmek: Mikmek stabs at Tickleback again. He is furious for reasons he can't explain,and he is going to make the tick PAY.
He even screams, "For Sootscales, for Rescuers, for OLD SHARPTOOTH!"
Unfortunately, he isn't able to make much of a mark in the tick this time, sort of uselessly striking him with his knife.
Woden: whyyyyyyyyy
Gird: You're still alive thank Erastil.
Oomlowt: You calm yourself, and breathing out aim the crossbow at the tick still sucking on Garhan, fire a bolt, which goes through the wound opened by Mikmek and through the other side. Tickleback shudders and collapses to the ground.
Victory.
Sweet, sweet victory.
Huey: Huey meanwhile spirals ever closer to death, and will probably be dead by the time anyone can try to stabilize him. :(
VICTORY! COMBAT OVER! Now diplomacy with the mites can happen!
Oomlowt stared at the dead tick for a second. Holy crap, he actually killed it. They survived!
Then he saw Garhan and Woden's unmoving forms. No rise and fall in the chest. Blood everywhere. Seems his use of plural was a bit hasty.
The furious kobold looked at the mites and spoke in their tongue.
Over the next hour or so, the mites furtively do as you command. They sullenly give up one of their centipedes, giving it the command to transport the dead and critically wounded of your party. You don't know the first thing about taking care of centipedes, though, so you have no clue how long it will last.
The mites also give up the statue. They don't want to anger the scary sword lords, whoever they are, and wish to be rid of the nasty, little thing.
The statue itself is made of ivory, and depicts a couching Horned Devil, although it is unlikely you know that. When you receive it, Mikmek is overjoyed and cheers, "Death to Tartuk! before hastily covering his snout with his hands.
In any case, the mites let you leave along with the straining centipede bearing the bodies of Woden, Garhan, and Huey, as well as the unconscious form of Gird. Mikmek follows alongside, anxious to continue helping in any way he can. The goat that was formerly Calanthe also follows, out of some half-remembered loyalty.
Furthermore, Oomlowt and Gird both receive 750 experience points for killing the mites and bugs! Furthermore, for "defeating" the other mites, they gain 600 XP each. This brings each of their total XP up from 726 XP to 2076 XP! WELCOME TO SECOND LEVEL GIRD AND OOMLOWT!
As Oomlowt, Mikmek, the goat formerly known as Calanthe, and the centipede carried Gird and the corpses of their former comrades away from the old sycamore tree, the orange kobold turned to his dark grey counterpart. "Why did you scream death to Tartuk?" he asked. "Is that some sort of ritual chant for your tribe or something?"
Welp.
Mikmek looks slightly bashful, and averts his gaze mumbling out a very unconvincing, "Yeah, something like that..."
He then looks down at the statue he has been protectively turning about in his hands, his face scrunched up in concentration, before finally sighing and looking back at you.
"I can't lie to you, not after everything you've done for me." He pauses and takes in a rattling breath, this has obviously been something bottled up for a long time, "Tartuk is the shaman of the tribe, and he's the one who brought us Old Sharptooth and his brutal sacrifices, but nobody likes Tartuk very much. Everyone's scared of him, even the chief, but we don't want to be cursed and die yellow, so we do as he says..."
He let's this sink in before looking at you and tentatively going on.
"...Maybe... we can... give the statue back to the chief instead of Tartuk?"
He then bashfully looks away, as if the very idea was dangerous to think about.
Oomlowt looked at Mikmek with new appreciation. "You want to bypass the authority of an obstructive and power hungry shaman by going straight to the chief?" he asked Mikmek. "That sounds like a dandy idea to me. Holy men get too big for their britches all too often. Let's cut him down to size."
Mikmek looks a lot less glum, "Yes, let's cut him down to size. Yes..." He looks back down at the statue before screeching "Death to Tartuk!" Over and over again while bouncing around the strange traveling company, obviously ecstatic about this new turn of events.
He must really not like this Tartuk character.
Groaning, Gird opens her eyes and looks around. Unfortunately, her first sight it Garhan's glassy stare, eyes open with surprise and pain.
"Holy f*cking sh*it! Oh gods oh gods oh gods" Gird, realizing that she is lashed down, starts thrashing, trying to break free of her bindings. Moving her head, she notices Woden and Huey's prone forms as well. "Oh gods, oh sh*t, oh-oh f*ck, what is-sh*t!" Gird is not doing well, and as she is thrashing she feels a deep stab of pain where the centipede struck her. Forcing herself to calm down, Gird spots the kobolds yipping away in their crazy dog tones. Oh Erastil, was this a trap? Had he planned this? What is going on... Already regretting her outburst, Gird decides there's nothing for it and calls out to her teammate.
"Omelet, what's going on? Why am I tied to a..." Oh gods, why? Are they gonna feed me to the f*cking thing? "big-*ss bug? Why am I tied to a giant bug next to my friend's corpses?!"
Oomlowt spun around the instant he heard Gird's voice. "Gird! You're alive!" he shouted joyfully. He almost ran to hug her but quickly thought better of it. "You, Mikmek, and I are the only ones who survived the fight, you see. And I didn't realize you had survived until just now. When that centipede bit you I, well, assumed the worst."