Moving slowly, no good deed, round 1 actions
Subject Moving slowly
Mund calls back over his shoulder "They want to see the rest of our 'pride'. Let's all go in and say howdy." With that the barbarian starts to move towards the north wall, keeping his back to the east wall and his hand off his axe. Salix follows, talking to Sharpspike as he goes. Just before he enters, Harp whispers to Surin to remain in the hallway. Ran and Harp then follow the first two into the room. Harp moves himself to the far wall and Ranthir takes up position next to Salix. Ragnar, Allistair and Kal follow and soon all seven are lined up against the east wall.
As the party moves slowly into position, Sharpspike answers Salix's questions. "We are rulers of the marshes where we live. Creatures fear us and pay us tribute so that we may let thier younlings live instead of eating them, as is right. I do not know if our marsh has a name, we just call it our marsh."
When they are all in Salix speaks again. "Here we are, as we said. We have kept our word." Sharpspike's response is quick. "I think you have decieved us. I smell halfling on you, thick. You have one of those thieving halflings with you and he is trying to sneak up on us and kill us. You have lied to us and now must die." With this last comment both creatures stand up, 10 feet long and 5 wide. Wings spread from their backs and long tails flick in light, twitching back and forth. Tails that seem to have many pointed ends. Just then Allistair makes a connection in his mind (Knowledge Arcana, DC15, 10+11=21) and he hisses "Manticores."
The party tenses at the threat and hands fly to weapons but are not drawn. They still have the advantage of distance. Or so it seems. The party watchs as the tails snake over the heads of the creatures and as they whip forward, a hail of spikes fly towards the party.
OODM: I will write up the Surprise round tonight.
From: Porter
Subject Moving slowly
OOC: Crap. I was going to write out a round where Mund said something like "Hey, there's one more of us. Surin, come on in here. We said we'd all be in here, so let's do it." I just haven't had time to do it yet this morning.
Also, that was definitely a chaotic act of Harp's.
From: Porter
Subject Moving slowly
OOC: How can they get a surprise round if we're watching them?
From: Mark
Subject Moving slowly
It is only partly a surpirse round. They are going to get one free action but the party will not be flat footed, as far as armor class goes. I am judging this as no one in the party, with the possible exception of Allistair had any idea that the tails could throw spikes. The fact that they thought they had 70 feet or so of clear area and no missile weapons in veiw, in my mind, means that the type of attack is surprising. They(the party) are prepared for danger so that is why they get their DEX bonus and stuff.
From: Kevin
Subject Moving slowly
Harp watches in dismay as the creatures turn on them. How had they know about Surin? They could smell him from that far away? More likely, they had smelled him from when he was nosing around the door. Well, what else was he to do now? Harp watches as the spikes fly toward them, then charges the creatures.
Salix's heart quails. They had almost done it. Why had he said 7 when he knew there were 8? He knew he had meant 7 other than himself, but this creature (Manticore Allistair had called it) was attacking with out the chance to explain things. It was Salix's responsiblity now. The group had relied on him, and now it was his duty to due what he could to protect them. Touching the small acorn symbol on his chest, he calls upon Obad-Hai to send the power of lightning to do the bidding of natures servant. (OOC: Mark, I think he still have Call Lightning, right?).
OOC: Mark, I know that if Salix gets hit, he has to make a concentraction check. Can he cast defensively? I am not as familiar with castin in combat as I should be. I will read up more tonight.
From: Ashley
Subject Moving slowly
Manticore's imaginary!
IC: "Wait! Surin shouts from the hallway. This wasn't going right at all, and Salix's plan would be fried if he didn't do something. "I'm right here! I ain't sneakin' up on nobody! Come now, let's just all calm down and settle this like...like somethin' fair and just. Think about your young, let's not have any fighting!" If this line of conversation doesn't end up going anywhere (even if Salix decides to try to communicate more), Surin will spend the next round finding a nice shadow in the room to sneak into.
OOC: I thought Harp was Neutral good.
From: Porter
Subject Moving slowly
What the hell is wrong with these people? What's so hard about being open and honest? And after I saved that little twerp while were were fighting thouse ghouls. I guess they were right -- you can't trust halflings.
From: Kevin
Subject Moving slowly
OOC: Mark, you can have Salix make an attempt to pre-empt this by trying to explain what has happened. However, if the spikes are flying, he will be angry with himself for failing to make this encounter a peaceful one. If the spikes fly, he will try to cast Call Lightning.
From: Mark
Subject Moving slowly
Any one else want to do/say anything?
From: Mark
Subject No good deed
As the creatures react several voices ring out. Surin, having heard the escalating tensions starts to announce his presence, just as Mund is telling him to come forward. It is all for naught. Sharpspike's (Yellow squares) tail flashes forward and a hail of spikes hurtle towards the party. Allistair screams as his body is riddled with 5 spikes (AC12, 11+8=19, hit, 18+8=26, hit, 6+8=14, hit, 4+8=12, hit, 11+8=19,hit, 1+8=9,miss, damage 33) and he almost collapses from the pain.
Salix fares little better. 3 spikes from Flailtail's tail hit him as he tries to dodge out of the way, 1 crashing in the middle of his chest (AC17, 18+8=26,hit, 13+8=21, hit, 19+8=27, critical threat, critical threat roll, AC17, 20+8=28, critical hit, 5+8=13,miss, 5+8=13, miss, 2+8=10, miss, damage 32) The druid also howls in pain as the spikes pierce his chest and belly.
Round 1 Initiative: Kal (23), Surin (20), Harp (18), Salix (12), Mund (11), Ran (9), Allistair (9), Flailtail (5), Sharpspike (5), Ragnar (5).
OOD: As the map shows they are 55 to 65 feet away. I need actions for round 1.
From: Josh
Subject Round 1 actions
OOC: Mark, I don't know if what I want to do is possible, but it seems it should be. If it's not I'll come up with another turn.
Kal runs forward, hoping the rest of the fighters follow him. If they don't seem to be moving, he'll hold back some, if they advance he'll go as far as they do. (If they go forward he'll go as far as they will, if they're staying back, he's only going 5-10 ft out).
As he's running he casts bulls strength on himself.
From: Josh
Subject Round 1 actions
Actually, to be more complex. If it looks like the fighters are charging, he'll cast bulls strength on himself. If they seem to be holding back he'll magic missle the yellow one.
From: Kevin
Subject Round 1 actions
OOC: Guys, my fault on this. I thought I had made clear how I wanted us lined up and against the wall like the St. Valentine Day Massacre was not what I had envisioned. I had thought we had 4 up front (Ran, Mund, Salix, Harp) with three behind (Ragnar, Allistair, and Kal).
Mark, when we were first supplied, we were given some healing potions. I forget who has those. Any idea of who we gave them too? Does Ragnar have them, or did we parcel them out? Any one else remember.
Have to go finish some work outside. Will write more later.
From: Porter
Subject Round 1 actions
Mund sees his brother and his friend get filled with spikes. They get hurt so bad, Mund is surprised that they're still standing. Mackiers aren't known for their toughness. Mund's first reaction is to protect his Allistair and Salix, but is torn as to how he should best do this. Should he shepherd them out of the room, or should he distract these betrayed creatures by trying to kill them?
"When in doubt, go with your strength." his pappy always used to say. Well, Mund's strength is killing.
Mund summons all his strength, yells "Get out of here you two, I'll distract them!", and charges the creatures, trying to put himself between them and the door.
OOC: If I can, I want to put Mund in D4 so that he gets an AOO if either one tries to go past him to the door.
From: Kevin
Subject Round 1 actions
Harp watches in dismay as his friends are filled like pin cushions. He sees numerous spikes sticking out of Allistair's and Salix's bodies, the pain obviuos on their faces. Cursing his decision to have Surin stay out in the hallway, Harp grabs Allistair and Salix and pushes-pulls them toward the doorway, yelling at Ragnar to follow him and for Ran, Mund and Kal to attack those things.
OOC: Mark, your discretion. Harp will pull Salix with him as he heads toward the door, puhing the druid through it as he gets there. If you let him grab Allistair as he goes by, he will do the same with him. His goal is to get those two on the other side of the door way and to provide as much cover as possilbe for them. He does not want to exit the room because he wants to turn back and attack next round. He will call for Ragnar to look after their wounds.
Salix will writhe in pain, stunned at the sudden turn of events, and will not fight Harp's dragging him along and out of the combat area. He was willing to fight, but this front line stuff was not what he expected.
From: Mark
Subject potions
The party was give 10 potions of CLW at the start. At sometime in the dungeon Ragnar gave every one at least 1 potion and kept the two remaining as well as the scrolls.
I do not recall any one using their potions.
So every one has at least one potion of CLW.
From: Porter
Subject potions
This is correct. We all have a potion.