The plan, doors and spells
Subject Going in
Mund is all for going ahead.
If Harp stays true to his over-cautious nature, Mund will suggest that the magickers launch all of their magick into the room before retiring. Mund can open and shut the door quickly allowing fireballs, magic missiles, and summoned critters to be cast into the room quickly.
From: Jason
Subject going in
Given the circumstances, Ragnar will voice cautious support for going ahead. If they leave two people in the doorway, the wolves or whatever will have to come to them. In that case, he will suggest that Harp (being the only person left with healing for the day) not be the one in the door. Perhaps Mund and Ran, or Mund and Ragnar (the only reason Ragnar is at all hesitant about putting himself in that position is that he would be the one to use the scrolls if things get messy.)
From: Karl
Subject going in
Salix is all for going ahead. He's getting tired of this unnatural place and wants to return to the woods as soon as possible.
From: Kevin
Subject going in
Harp waits to hear from Salix or Allistair on what they may know of these creatures. He will be reluctant to charge into a room with so many opponents. He will more likely want to draw them into the doorway or hallway where the group would only have to face 2 at a time. He is more than happy to hack at 2 of them while the other 6 howl and bay from behind, waiting their turn to die. Harp also has in the back of his mind that they could try to draw them up to the main room, where they could surprise and surround them by the doorway.
OOC: Mark, I will wait for the knowledge check for Allistair and Salix before we decide what to do.
From: Porter
Subject Going in
Perhaps if we have a couple of strong people manning the doors, we can draw out one at a time and close the door behind it.
Mund reiterates his idea of opening the door quickly, tossing in magick, and closing the door. If we do it with three people (one to open, a second one to do magick, holding his action until it's opened, and a third one (and possibly a fourth) to hold action until the spell is in there, then slam the door shut. Unless the critters in there are holding action at the door as well, they'll have zero chance to respond.
From: Kevin
Subject Going in
OOC: The problem is what magic (if any) will work on them and trying to get them in close proximity to each other.
I want to hear from our more learned friends before we put anything together.
While I know what they are, the characters do not. My personal initial thought is to lure them into the hallway with Ran and Harp up front (most HP and best A/C), with Mund and Ragnar right behind to switch off as needed. Salix, Kal and Allistair behind us up the hallway ready to use magic as needed. If we can peg these things down at A1, A2, B1 and B2, they will not be able to surround us.
From: Randy
Subject Going in
"We should fight them in the hallway. If we have Mund open the door and high tail it down the hall, we can set up with ranged weapons and maybe a fireball. We can keep the door to the main room open and retreat into there if we need to engage in melee combat. Given our current state, we need to take the advantage and whittle down their numbers before they can touch us."
From: Derek
Subject going in
Allistair doesn't really know what these creatures could be. Although, considering that in general each room has been more difficult that the last, he really doubts these are regular wolves. The smell of sulphur is suspicious too... but he can't place it.
"I wonder if we can open the door just enough for one of these creatures to come out and then close the door. Or perhaps just crack the door open enough so that it could stick it's head through but not go all the way through. Mund could stand to the side with an axe and decapitate the thing."
From: Kevin
Subject Going in
IC: Allistair, the problem with that is that the door open in. Mund would have to pull it closed, and if one of those things is in the way, he might not be able to get it closed, and then we would really be in trouble.
Salix, do you have any idea what these things are?
OOC: Karl, I know you are waiting for a knowledge check from Mark, so I am just RP'ing here.
From: Karl
Subject Going in
OOC: He already responded that none of us know.
IC: I have no idea. They sound too big for wolves, but too small for dire wolves. The sulphur smell bothers me. In nature that's usually associated with places of fire from within the earth. Who knows what hellish creatures these may be?
From: Kevin
Subject Going in
OOC: Sorry, did not realize that. Let me work something up.
From: Kevin
Subject The plan
IC: I agree. It reminded me of a tindertwig lighting up, and that's not a smell I like. But, they were not very large - maybe the challenge is the sheer number of them. If we can take them on one or two at a time, I think we will be OK.
OK, I want to use the hallway bottleneck. I want to draw a few of them out of the room and into the hallway, where we can use our swords and bows and the magic types can use what spells they have left. Here is the plan.
Ranthir and Mund will line up just down the hall from the door (i.e. A6-B6). I will open the door and get the creatures attention (because I only carry this crossbow for decoration). I will run back to behind Ran and Mund (B7), with Ragnar waiting next to me (A7). Kal, I want you and Salix behind us and Allistair and Surin behind you. When I come running, Ran and Mund shoot whatever makes it through that door. Once they make it down the hallway, we start hacking away as possible, only allowing 2 of them up front at a time. If we get pushed back to the main room, then those of you behind the front lines get ready to surround them on either side as they come through.
All right?
OOC: Remember, we do not have a huge number of arrows or bolts left (and Harp is pretty useless with his anyway). Ran has a good A/C, good HP and gets 2 attacks a round now. Mund does great damage. Harp and Ragnar will be the backup - they both have good A/C and decent HP.
Lets get it on.
From: Randy
Subject the plan
"Sounds good." Ranthir sheathes his sword and pulls out his crossbow, already loaded.
From: Porter
Subject The plan
OOC: Even though Mund really wants to do this, I'm afraid that we're biting off more than we can chew.
IC: Mund's ready to go.
From: Josh
Subject The plan
OOC: I agree with Porter.
IC: Kal's ready.
From: Mark
Subject The plan
Tasty, chewy adventurer. Food of the gods. Adventurer jerky. :)
From: Jason
Subject The plan
I like the plan. We might also have someone ready at the door to the main room, so if we all run away from these vicious rabbits they can close it behind us.
From: Porter
Subject The plan
OOC: Wait! Before we go on, how do the doors from the main room into the hallway open? Do then open inward or outward? Could we do there what Mund suggested with slamming the door closed?
From: Mark
Subject Doors
So far all of the doors have opened in.
I think.
This is one of those areas where things go the way the DM wants them. :) The group moves at the speed of plot and doors open the way I need them to to make the rooms work. :)
From: Mark
Subject Spells
Are Allistair and Kal going to cast spells? If so which ones?
From: Josh
Subject Spells
Kal's casting Bull's strength on Ran before combat starts, and will let loose w/ a Magic Missle whenever he sees a baddie.
From: Josh
Subject Spells
OOC: It seems like Ran's on the front line. I'm casting it on him if he's on the front line. Otherwise Harp.
From: Derek
Subject Spells
Is it possible for Allistair to cast a web across the door so that these "wolves" might get stuck going through the door without entangling any of his comrades? If possible, he will do so. If not, he still has 6 MM's and he'll use one of those.
From: Porter
Subject Spells
How about casting it across the hallway as soon as the runner (Harp?) is past?
From: Kevin
Subject Doors
I think Surin would be the right person for this. Mark, assumign Ashley has no objection, would you include that.
From: Kevin
Subject The plan
OOC: Boy, 1 simple e-mail causes all this commotion.
Between Harp, Ran, Mund and Ragnar, we have almost 200 HP, most have 20+ A/C, and we do some good damage. If we can keep these things to only 2-4 attacking us at a time, we should be OK. If we were surrounded with 8 of them attacking, that would be an issue, but this is a good plan with what these guys have left.
Ran has been relatively uninvolved the past few encounters, so I thought it would be fun to put our 1 true 6th level fighter up front with our barbarian friend. Harp and Ragnar both have pretty good A/C, and Harp cond do some good damage.
Allistair can web the area where they are to come out if he wants. None of the others are going to complain about slowing these things down, least of all Harp who is running away from them.
From: Ashley
Subject The plan
For waiting at the entry to the main door? Sure, I'm for it -- is there a good way to communicate the fact that you're all going to run away like a bunch of pansies or should I just watch out for it? :P
From: Porter
Subject The plan
Mund suggests that Surin stick around to chuck an axe or two before manning the door.
From: Mark
Subject spells
It would be possible to web across the door, but it would be thin. Casting it to cover the ground would be more effetive. Please give me the coordinates of the squares you want to cover.
What, no fireball?
From: Mark
Subject The plan
Ok from what I understand this is the plan.
Harp will open the door, get their attention and high tail it back to the party, ending up at A8. Ran and Mund will be in the front row. Ran with sword and shield, Mund with axe and shield. Harp and Ragnar will be in the second row, both with sword and shield.
The party is hoping the there will be some distance between Harp and the creatures. If so Allistair is going to web the area shown on the map in yellow. He will do this as soon as Harp is at A7/B7. Kal is going to cast Bull's STR on Ran as Harp makes his move. Surin will see if he can get a throw in with his axes and then retreat to the door at A17/18, preparing to close it behind the party if they retreat back to the main room. Salix is waiting to see what the things are. Ragnar and Harp are backing up Mund and Ranthir.
Let me know if I am missing anything and I will write up the turn tomorrow night.