"Gods! Everyone get back!" Arloric shouts, disgusted at the sight of the maggots, despite his understanding of the cycle.
Because he'd set his sword aside before casting his spell, it didn't change size with him, and he holds it up in one hand in a defensive stance.
The elf will interpose her body inbetween that of Arunshiel and the maggots going into total defense.
Iniative
The maggots bodies pulsate and wriggle with their round mouth agape, ready to gnaw the muscles off their bones. They have rolled pretty well for their initiatives, but they do not go first. Here is the order so far.
[20]--Telerin
[19]--Alexa
[19]--Maggot 1
[19]--Maggot 4
[18]--Maggot 2
[16]--Maggot 3
[15]--Aberus
[11]--Arloric
[7]--Baleon
[2]—Maggot 5
[X]Uriel
[X]Ithilwen
For now, let's say the injured NPCs are a little too bewildered to participate in combat. Their injuries are more than bad. Aravashniel's eyeballs have literally exploded in their own sockets, and the woman has a disfigured leg. The only person capable of joining combat looks like he's enjoyed the soft life far too long. This will also give me opportunity to organize them for your group.
[20]--Telerin
[19]--Alexa
[19]--Maggot 1
[19]--Maggot 4
[18]--Maggot 2
[16]--Maggot 3
[15]--Aberus
[11]--Arloric
[7]—Baleon
[5]Uriel
[2]—Maggot 5
[X]Ithilwen
Alexa recoils from the greasy maggots in disgust before drawing her blade.
"Eugh." She grumbles as she steps forward to skewer one.
Evidently, her disgust is enough that she's forced to avert her eyes from them. Her blade goes wide of its mark.
Telerin, Ithilwen snapped her whip at the worm and connected. It squealed out loudly in protest. It is now your turn.
Telerin you protect Aravashniel with your own body, and he frowns. ”Who do you think you are moving me around like this! Let one of the paladins do it, surely one of them is down here with you.
Squealing out four of the maggots make their move. Leaping from the spider's carapace left them close to you, giving them a slight advantage of closing in. Uriel is the first to get attacked (maggot 1). Bunching up its body tightly it springs, stretching it's long greasy body, at him. It was an easy attack to sidestep.
It looked like one was about to attack Alexa. It bunched up its body just like the maggot attacking Uriel but instead of jumping at her, it stretched open it's cavernous round mouth and sprayed a strong stream of hot green mucus at her, regurgitating its last meal(the spider) all over her. The noise it made was unearthly, and it stank! The puke matted down her hair and managed to leak into all the crevices of her armor and clothing. Before she had a chance to recover another maggot (maggot 3) snapped at her, but she was still too quick and turned her body away easily.
Another attacked Baleon and gnawed on his leg, hoping to get passed his defenses for some yummy meat. It found none.
@Uriel
@Baleon - Flanked
@Alexa
Maggot 4 vomits on you, roll a fortitude save; DC 13 or be sickened for one minute.
[X]Ithilwen: Attacked with a crit: 3 damage to maggot 4
[20]—Telerin: Total Defense, protecting Aravashniel +4AC
[19]—Alexa: Draws her weapon and attacks . A 6 misses.]
[19]--Maggot 1:Takes a 5 foot step above Uriel. It attacks Uriel! A 7 misses.
[19]--Maggot 4:Takes a 5 foot step towards Alexa. It barfs on Alexa! Fortitude Save DC 13, or be sickened for one minute.
[18]--Maggot 2: Takes a 5 foot step towards Baleon. It attacks Baleon! Baleon is flanked. A 8 misses.
[16]--Maggot 3: Takes a 5 foot step towards Alexa. It attacks Alexa! A 10 misses.
[15]—Aberus:
[11]—Arloric:
[7]—Baleon:
[5]--Uriel:
[2]—Maggot: 5
More motion in his peripheral vision caught Aberus's attention and he glanced sideways. There he saw three giant maggots advancing towards them, and more worringly, towards the injured woman on the ground at his feet. "By the gods!" he exclaimed. He left his crossbow and quiver on the ground and said, "Take it in case one of them gets through."
He drew his scimitar---he found the weight of it in his hand strangely comforting---and moved in front of the closest of the, foul-smelling larva to block it's path. From behind him he heard a woman's voice, weak and strained with pain. "I have my own, but thanks."
Baleon swings for the nearest maggot.
Arloric moves down forward and brings his blade down on the maggot, well aware it wouldn't work as well in his oversized paw.
Aberus, moved. The song of his scimitar leaving its sheath sang passed the darkness further into the caverns.
Then there was the whooshing noise of air being displaced as Baleon and Arloric swing their swords. Arloric's sword arched, flickering through the blackness of the cave, and sliced across the mouth of the over-sized larvae(maggot 4). It squealed out in rage, likely a few cuss words in maggot-speak. And then, it just stopped moving. Clear slime oozes out of its wounds. Baleon swung down upon a maggot(maggot 2). At first, he thought he had missed when he felt the tip of his blade meet the ground. There was a strange pause as both man and bug stared at each other. Then the maggot simply fell apart lengthwise, in half.
[X]Ithilwen: Attacked with a crit: 3 damage to maggot 4
[20]—Telerin: Total Defense, protecting Aravashniel +4AC
[19]—Alexa: Draws her weapon and attacks . A 6 misses.]
[19]--Maggot 1:Takes a 5-foot step above Uriel. It attacks Uriel!
[16]--Maggot 3: Takes a 5-foot step towards Alexa. It attacks Alexa!
[15]—Aberus: Moved and drew a weapon
[11]—Arloric: Attacked Maggot 4 with longsword. A 17 hits, and 4 damage is given. It has stopped moving.
[7]—Baleon: Attacked maggot 2,with a greatsword. A 9 hits, and 14 damage is -overkill-. It is obviously dead.
[5]--Uriel:
[2]—Maggot: 5
Arloric covers his right eye with his hand to make sure the maggot's dead.
Alexa flinches as the maggot's vomit sprays all over her boots. The smell is utterly rank, but surprisingly enough it doesn't seem to be the worst thing she's ever smelled.
[dice=Fortitude Save]1d20+1
Alexa flinches as the maggot's vomit sprays all over her boots. The smell is utterly rank, but surprisingly enough it doesn't seem to be the worst thing she's ever smelled.
...and her hair, and her clothes, and her eyes...
...I hate maggots.
Uriel attacks the worm one square up from him.
Uriel swings his mighty weapon with a neat downward slash. The worm, somehow sensing his movements, tucked its head into its end and rolled itself into a coil. This brought its body away from the threat of the swords arc and only the very -very- tip of his blade touches its pallid skin. It is not enough. Uriel only managed to give it a mild abrasion, hardly a scratch. It springs back into a shape.
Now, it's maggot 5's turn, and he turns to face Alexa. Rising up on it's tapered back end it makes a strange, and now, familiar gagging sound. She is already dripping from slime and bits of pre-digested spider bits. She was coated in it. Not only was it in her hair and on her boots it was sliding inside her clothes pooling in all her nooks and crannies. But, here it is again! Maggot five opened it's large tubular mouth and hurled its latest meal all over Alexa. This time, she sucked in a huge gulp of air and held her breath and screwed her eyes shut and waited for the blast. She looked cute with her cheeks puffed out like that.
[X]----Ithilwen:
[20]—Telerin:
[19]—Alexa:
[19]--Maggot 1:
[16]--Maggot 3:
[15]—Aberus:
[11]—Arloric:
[7]—Baleon:
[5]—Uriel:
[2]—Maggot 5:
[X]Ithilwen: Attacked with a crit: 3 damage to maggot 4
[20]—Telerin: Total Defense, protecting Aravashniel +4AC
[19]—Alexa: Draws her weapon and attacks . A 6 misses.]
[19]--Maggot 1:Takes a 5-foot step above Uriel. It attacks Uriel!
[19]--
[18]--
[16]--Maggot 3: Takes a 5-foot step towards Alexa. It attacks Alexa!
[15]—Aberus: Moved and drew a weapon
[11]—Arloric: Attacked Maggot 4 with longsword. A 17 hits, and 4 damage is given. It has stopped moving.
[7]—Baleon: Attacked maggot 2,with a greatsword. A 9 hits, and 14 damage is -overkill-. It is obviously dead.
[5]—Uriel: Attacks maggot 1 with a cold iron bastard sword? An 8 misses.
[2]—Maggot 5: It barfs on Alexa! Fortitude Save DC 13, or be sickened for one minute.
EUGH Ithilwen can't help but gasp, a vaguely nauseated expression on her face as she watches Alexa's graceful figure being covered in semi-digested goo from raven-haired head to booted toe.
I need to relieve some of the pressure she thinks as her legs propel her into melee range, her trajectory describing a wide arc as she moves to flay the creature's bloated flank.
________________________________________________________________
Alexa manages to weather the next maggot's vomiting episode with the same stoic resolve as before.
Not as bad as when Wilhem was born. But... eugh, don't think about it anymore.
She wordlessly stabs at the disgusting beast again, hoping this time it'll pay for puking all over her.
The elf will attempt to move her kinsman further away from the danger while asking in Elven Aravashnial, tell me, what is your speciality in magic? I am an abjurer, a protector of my people
A terrible stench wafted over Aberus as a second maggot regurgitated its stomach contents all over Alexa on his left. The foul odor brought back distant, and unpleasant, memories of growing up. It smells like the slums in Nerosyan. The Diamond of the North had its flaws like any other city. Raw sewage did not quite flow openly in the streets, but the city's resources were spent on towers to defend against attacks by air, not on upgrading the infrastructure in neighborhoods most would rather forget. That was a bad year.
Aberus grimmaced visibly, then pushed back both his nausea and the unwanted reminder of home. He advanced on the maggot closest to him and swung his scimitar, sending the gleaming steel at its disgusting, wriggling form.
Ithilwen rushed to help Alexa tand lunged herself into the melee. Mindful that they can snap at her and the fact that they could spew out their body size in slime, she took a crescent path towards the fray. The drowess made wielding the scorpion whip look easy, with a flick of her wrist and a bit of bicep the spiky weapon lashed out at the maggot (maggot 5). Its barbed tip dug into its side easily and tore out a trail of gelatinous flesh half its length. It shudders and shrieks out in pain, it's whole body shaking in anger.
Alexa felt a little clumsy. The mucus was a weight she was surely not used to and it made everything so slippery. Yet, she keeps her resolve and thrusts out her weapon, stabbing the maggot. A feeling of vindication and satisfaction leaves a warm sensation in her belly when she feels how easily the blade slid through its skin. It felt like knifing into a bratwurst, once the skin popped it was easy cutting. She just didn't get a good swipe at it.
Two of the maggots have turned the contents of their stomachs inside out on you. Uriel and Ithilwen get the terrible surprise Alexa had already received not once, but twice! It's such a terrible stink, and it's just so slimy! It gets everywhere! -- Oh, the humanity of it all!
Even though you are not slimed Aberus it affects you, which is why you missed so horribly. Seeing your comrades get bukkaked like that is being all words imaginable.! And the stink is horrifying to your nostrils, even though it has cleared up your sinuses as the mucus in your nose retreated from the foulness!
Aravashniel growls from both annoyance and pain, and the annoyance of having pain, and holds out his hands. Muttering some arcane words he projects a protecting aura to anyone within 10' feet of him. It gives a +1 to your AC.
[X]----Ithilwen: Moves 20'. Attacks Maggot 5 with Scorpion whip, Arloric provides flanking. A 9 will hit. 3 Damage.
[20]—Telerin: Talks to Aravashniel, asking what school of magic he studied.(free action).
[19]—Alexa: Attacked Maggot...let's say maggot 5. He barfed on her last round and Ithilwen damaged it. So.......1 damage.
[19]--Maggot 1: Barfs on Uriel! Fortitude save DC 13 or be sickened for 1 minute
[16]--Maggot 3: Barfs on Ithilwen! Fortitude save DC 13 or be sickened for 1 minute. -
[15]—Aberus: Attacked with a 1.
[11]—Arloric:
[7]—Baleon:
[5]—Uriel:
[2]—Maggot 5: Flanked.
[X]Ithilwen: Attacked with a crit: 3 damage to maggot 4
[20]—Telerin: Total Defense, protecting Aravashniel +4AC
[19]—Alexa: Draws her weapon and attacks . A 6 misses.]
[19]--Maggot 1:Takes a 5 foot step above Uriel. It attacks Uriel!
[19]--
[18]--
[16]--Maggot 3: Takes a 5 foot step towards Alexa. It attacks Alexa!
[15]—Aberus: Moved and drew a weapon
[11]—Arloric: Attacked Maggot 4 with longsword. A 17 hits, and 4 damage is given. It has stopped moving.
[7]—Baleon: Attacked maggot 2,with a greatsword. A 9 hits, and 14 damage is -overkill-. It is obviously dead.
[5]—Uriel: Attacks maggot 1 with a cold iron bastard sword? An 8 misses.
[2]—Maggot 5: It barfs on Alexa! Fortitude Save DC 13, or be sickened for one minute.
With a heroic effort on her part, Ithilwen manages to force the contents of stomach back down her oesophagus as she's showered in half-disgested spider organs. Her armour manages to prevent most of it from coming in contact with her body, though a cold shiver runs down her spine as she feels the occasional rivulet slide its way down between the leather and the skin of her back.
Coughing up the remains of his last meal, Uriel involuntarily retreats from the horrible stench.
The elf will try to get her kinsman a bit further away from the danger.
Seeing Uriel in distress, Aberus calls out, "Uriel! Sarenrae's grace can help if I can get close enough to lay hands upon you."
Wrenching his blade free of the maggot's twitching carcass, Baleon spits - clearing the taste and scent of the maggot's ichor from his mouth - and stumbles back, his eyes wide and his chest heaving.
A shout to his right brings him wheeling about to see Alexa contesting another of the grubs, despite having to fight through stream after stream of bile.
With a wordless roar, Baleon hurls himself behind his sword again as he cuts for the vermin's mid-section - aiming to split the oozing mass in two.
Growling, Baleon heaves both blade and maggot overhead before swinging away from the group, and sending the squealing the maggot plunging into the darkness, where the sounds of its death throes gradually fade into the gloom.
Baleon then steps in front of Alexa, sword poised to swing at the next grub between him and Ithilwen.
Does not confirm, Ithilwen is safe!....for now.
Even though you are not slimed Aberus it affects you, which is why you missed so horribly. Seeing your comrades get bukkaked like that is being all words imaginable.! And the stink is horrifying to your nostrils, even though it has cleared up your sinuses as the mucus in your nose retreated from the foulness! You do manage to blow both Ithilwen's and Alexa's hair with the strength of your swing.
Arloric looks up the still maggot sensing if it's dead and frowns when he realizes that it still draws breath, bet an ember of its life wafted up and disappeared into the darkness. Then your attention is pulled towards Baleon. His blade arced down and halts midway through the maggot's torso. The wriggling mass writhes and squeals, clawing to escape the blade's bite. Growling, Baleon heaves both blade and maggot overhead before swinging away from the group and plunged the squealing the maggot into the darkness, where the sounds of its death throes gradually fade into the gloom. There's a sickening splat when it lands. Arloric senses it's death. The remaining maggots( 1, 4, and 3) appear unscathed and full of life.
Sickened, Uriel covers his mouth with his free hand and stumbles away gagging.
[X]----Ithilwen:
[20]—Telerin:
[19]—Alexa:
[19]--Maggot 1:
[16]--Maggot 3:
[15]—Aberus:
[11]—Arloric:
[7]—Baleon:
[5]—Uriel:
[X]----Ithilwen: Moves 20'. Attacks Maggot 5 with Scorpion whip, Arloric provides flanking. A 9 will hit. 3 Damage.
[20]—Telerin: Talks to Aravashniel, asking what school of magic he studied.(free action).
[19]—Alexa: Attacked Maggot...let's say maggot 5. He barfed on her last round and Ithilwen damaged it. So.......1 damage.
[19]--Maggot 1: Barfs on Uriel! Fortitude save DC 13 or be sickened for 1 minute
[16]--Maggot 3: Barfs on Ithilwen! Fortitude save DC 13 or be sickened for 1 minute. -
[15]—Aberus: Attacked, and got a 1. -whooosh!
[11]—Arloric: Casted Deathwatch, senses Maggot 4 is not dead, but its life-force is ebbing away.
[7]—Baleon: Attacks with great sword. Hits with a 19. 9 damage.
[5]—Uriel: Failed his fortitude save and withdraws.
[ooc]Aravashniel should be an abjurationist too. And, your innate power could be a bonus for your allies Telerin.
[X]Ithilwen: Attacked with a crit: 3 damage to maggot 4
[20]—Telerin: Total Defense, protecting Aravashniel +4AC
[19]—Alexa: Draws her weapon and attacks . A 6 misses.]
[19]--Maggot 1:Takes a 5 foot step above Uriel. It attacks Uriel!
[19]--
[18]--
[16]--Maggot 3: Takes a 5 foot step towards Alexa. It attacks Alexa!
[15]—Aberus: Moved and drew a weapon
[11]—Arloric: Attacked Maggot 4 with longsword. A 17 hits, and 4 damage is given. It has stopped moving.
[7]—Baleon: Attacked maggot 2,with a greatsword. A 9 hits, and 14 damage is -overkill-. It is obviously dead.
[5]—Uriel: Attacks maggot 1 with a cold iron bastard sword? An 8 misses.
[2]—Maggot 5: It barfs on Alexa! Fortitude Save DC 13, or be sickened for one minute.
Ithilwen bites her lower lip and arches her left eyebrow as she watches her would-be contender succumb to nausea and disgust after getting the same treatment she and Alexa have already suffered. This is not good. This...
She freezes as she feels the hair on the back of her neck suddenly bristle – the distinct sensation of cold steel passing mere inches from her nape. Those vermin are really starting to get on her nerves. "The sooner we finish this, the sooner we can scrub this putrescence off. Alexa, as one!" she says as she manoeuvres around the maggot, marking her words with a crack of her whip.
________________________________________________________________
The cave is alive from the echoing of the whip! Ithilwen has a sense of enjoyment when the feeling of its sharp end skates along the maggot's (maggot 3) back made it up her weapon, into her fingers, and up her arm. Its blood bubbles up from the cut and it bucks like a bronco, screaming out in defiance and anger. Consequently, its snotty blood splashes out over Alexa, Aberus, and a little bit smears on Arloric's knee.
[X]----Ithilwen: Attacks maggot 3. An 11 hits. 3 damage.
[20]—Telerin:
[19]—Alexa:
[19]--Maggot 1:
[16]--Maggot 3:
[15]—Aberus:
[11]—Arloric:
[7]—Baleon:
[5]—Uriel:
[X]----Ithilwen: Moves 20'. Attacks Maggot 5 with Scorpion whip, Arloric provides flanking. A 9 will hit. 3 Damage.
[20]—Telerin: Talks to Aravashniel, asking what school of magic he studied.(free action).
[19]—Alexa: Attacked Maggot...let's say maggot 5. He barfed on her last round and Ithilwen damaged it. So.......1 damage.
[19]--Maggot 1: Barfs on Uriel! Fortitude save DC 13 or be sickened for 1 minute
[16]--Maggot 3: Barfs on Ithilwen! Fortitude save DC 13 or be sickened for 1 minute. -
[15]—Aberus: Attacked, and got a 1. -whooosh!
[11]—Arloric: Casted Deathwatch, senses Maggot 4 is not dead, but its life-force is ebbing away.
[7]—Baleon: Attacks with great sword. Hits with a 19. 9 damage.
[5]—Uriel: Failed his fortitude save and withdraws.
[X]Ithilwen: Attacked with a crit: 3 damage to maggot 4
[20]—Telerin: Total Defense, protecting Aravashniel +4AC
[19]—Alexa: Draws her weapon and attacks . A 6 misses.]
[19]--Maggot 1:Takes a 5 foot step above Uriel. It attacks Uriel!
[19]--
[18]--
[16]--Maggot 3: Takes a 5 foot step towards Alexa. It attacks Alexa!
[15]—Aberus: Moved and drew a weapon
[11]—Arloric: Attacked Maggot 4 with longsword. A 17 hits, and 4 damage is given. It has stopped moving.
[7]—Baleon: Attacked maggot 2,with a greatsword. A 9 hits, and 14 damage is -overkill-. It is obviously dead.
[5]—Uriel: Attacks maggot 1 with a cold iron bastard sword? An 8 misses.
[2]—Maggot 5: It barfs on Alexa! Fortitude Save DC 13, or be sickened for one minute.