Wight Investigation, part 4
Log Info
- Title: Wight Investigation Part 4
- Emitter: Williwaw and Whirlpool
- Characters: Barclaiigh, Paenitia, Ravenstongue, Shilde, Skielstregar, Vaera, Lyme
- Place: Alexandros, a Mine
- Time: Tuesday, July 05, 2022, 9:48 PM
- Summary: The disparate party reunites, finding each other on either side of a rock-fall. They move stone with strength and spells. Alas, it is enough of a delay that the ground creaks beneath them and a huge elemental appears to block their path. Skielstregar and Paenitia charge it, dealing significant damage, and leaving the party exposed to two slightly smallar elementals that are striking from the rock, while remaining shielded by it. Barclaiigh attemps a distraction so the others can escape past the one blinded by Cor'lana. This is wasted as the party lingers to shoot and shield each other. Vaera takes down the big one, clearing the way, and Barclaiigh and Paenitia exit and are soon followed by Cor'lana and Vaera. Lyme remains behind to cover the retreat, and Skielstregar stays back to cover Lyme, and then they both leave.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Appearing, in Order =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Barclaiigh 4'5" 202 Lb Mountain Dwarf Male A thick tree-trunk of a dwarf. Wavy auburn hair, loose traveling clothes. Paenitia 3'0" 34 Lb Halfling Female A Lucht knight, dark skinned in bold feathery finery. Ravenstongue 5'0" 99 Lb Half-Elf Female Short half-elf girl with violet eyes and black hair. Skielstregar 7'2" 330 Lb Sith-Makar Male A brilliantly silver scale with fangs and empty eyes. Vaera 7'0" 262 Lb Sith-Makar Female A tall, dark red Makari with a metallic leg. -=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--= -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Under the Dirt somewheres =-=-=-=-=-=-= Shilde 4'4" 160 Lb Khazad-Aul Female Tall for a dwarf, long blonde hair in a thick braid, big blue eyes. -=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--= -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= As the GMs -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Williwaw Wind Mucho Gusto Whirlpool Otyugh I am stinky! -=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=
Previously
The group suffered a cave-in shortly after Shilde had melded back into the ground to try and get more information regarding the tunnelling worm and what was following. Paenitia went off to fly ahead to deliver the warning to Alexandria. A trip that was cut short when the collapse occurred. She ended up on the other side of the cave-in. Unwilling to abandon her comrades, the little Lucht searched for another passage while the group opened up an alternate route that involved traversing a chasm.
Past the chasm, they managed to reconnect with the main passage again on the other side.. where they could reconnect with Paenitia.
Now
So you've made it past what could have been a miserable, lonely death... or, depending on where the flowing water deep, deep, deep within the chasm led... perhaps a swifter way out of the mountain? What would the odds have been?
Regardless, the path across seemed the safer choice, by certain definitions of the word, so through a combination of cat agility and sith stubbornness, you all have gathered safely on the other side, managed to push fallen rubble out of the way to re-enter what you believe, at least according to the map, to be the passage that had brought you down this far. Pushing forward is tricky; much of infrastructure set in place to support the walls and ceiling have collapsed, and with them more and more rubble.. but nothing that has completely blocked off your passage. Visibility is limited to the dust still floating about in the air, but aside from the occasional tremor, things seem stable, for now.
Eventually you reach a section of the mine passasge that is littered with more debris; fallen timbers block the way, though look moveable.
Paenitia is on the other side of those fallen timbers and rock. Unable to have gotten back through, she has been waiting in hopes that the others made it there. She was on the verge of giving up and flying on, the message is important; it must be delivered, but now, peering through, there is a light source in the dust.
Skielstregar rolls a shoulder, looking at the rubble before them. "Thisss one can... try and move thisss out of the way?" he offers as a suggestion, gesturing out towards the pile as his inky halberd drips onto his hand. His breathing is slightly labored from all the hustled moving and running and fighting, but looks ready to keep carting on. "Move it one by one, pull it further into our tunnel ssso we can walk around it?"
A voice comes from the other side of those fallen timbers and rock. High pitched, female and cheery, it's clearly recognizable as the little lucht knight's. "Hola the light! You are the good comrades or the death worm come to get me?"
"Give the answer, yes? I have been ready to give up and fly on but will abide for the good friends." She finishes with a chuckling laugh.
Clearly unhappy with the general state of things, Meowclaiigh walks with his tail curled up under his body, pacing a zig-zag, and bracing against alternating walls as they go. His fuzzy, blunt ears are pressed low and his eyes catch the group's light in yellow-green reflection.
"Feel like I got a worm runnin' through my danged guts," he drawls, voice agitated. He falls down away from the wall and turns quick to look back behind them. "Reckon Ea ain't too happy, y'all'n she's got my belly all bubbly..."
"Orale!" Pothy calls out, and Cor'lana looks equally as happy to hear Dame Paenitia's familiar voice. She goes from anxious and dour to full of cheer, which is perhaps the paladina's whole schtick.
"Dame Paenitia!" Cor'lana calls out. "No, we're not a worm! Just friends! Amigos!"
Cor'lana rubs the side of her head. "I hope that was the word," she says, a little more quietly. "I'd look an absolute fool if I got it wrong."
Vaera slinks through the caverns as the got more and more collapsed, which was slow going as their leg failed to adjust for the uneven and occasionally partially blocked ground. "I've got a few ideas to adjust this thing when I get a chance." The red makari chuffs as she follows along until they reach the blocked passage. "Someone is going to need to answer for why these tunnels are so unstable. Even if there wasn't a giant worm underground, someone was going to die from a cave in."
"Ah, right, the small knight. You did not need to stay back, but it is appreciated. Working to get this cleared from both sides will prove much easier."
This rubble looks clearable. Definitely not like the impassable stuff encountered earlier. Brute manual labour will work, as will other ideas.
"Yes. That is the right word. The passage opens out this way, so you should come to me. And you wish me to help with the clearing of the big rocks." Paenitia answers cheerfully, laughing again. "This I will do, but I am not the miner my uncle and papa are. It sound like you do not have the magic spells to move the earth out of the way? Shape the earth to the nice tunnel. The druids, they cannot turn to badgers?" She muses, "Ah, we will make do. We do not need the slinking badgers."
GAME: Ravenstongue casts Hydraulic Push. Caster Level: 8 DC: 17 GAME: Barclaiigh casts Stone Shape. Caster Level: 7 DC: 18 GAME: Barclaiigh casts Warp Wood. Caster Level: 7 DC: 17
Skiel perks up. "Warrior Paenitia!" he cheers, spirits lifted as he continues to call back. "We are figuring a way at the moment! We jusssst don't want to caussse another cave in in thessse tight ssspaces!"
After some deliberation and deciding as a group, Meowclaiigh pads forward, worming around Vaera on the left, Skielstregar on the right. The fur on his back stands up at an angle and his attention is pulled hither and thither.
Coming to the fore, he settles back on his haunches, dragging a crooked arm down his face and sighing heavily. The druid surveys the damage and then issues a low, rumbling growl that culminates in a hiss. Standing, he bats the larger boulders before falling back down to four legs, watching as the stone shifts and melts, pushing out from the middle of the path towards the walls to form a rough archway and leaving chunks of debris behind.
Next, the braces of timber grow, shrinking back even as they sprout up to further reinforce the passage. Smooth, irregular latticework presses against the stonework walls, groaning mildly as it relaxes away from plasticity.
Cor'lana assists Meowclaiigh's work with an application of a water pushing spell that she's seen used more recently by her betrothed. (The incident involving the spell's usage aboard a ship docked in Alexandria has been buried deep somewhere in her mind and she will not discuss it.)
Pothy complains a little as some water gets on his feathers. "I got my swimsuit wet!" he complains in the voice of a valley girl.
"But Pothy, you're prettier when your feathers are all glossy," Cor'lana says soothingly. She has to placate his nerves.
Vaera isn't helping much with everyone working on magic and clearing the place out. So the red makari makes a decent doorstop when one of the fallen pillars are lifted back into place, where she watches behind them. There still was no guarantee they weren't being followed, or in the path of anything else trying to escape, after all.
GAME: Paenitia rolls strength: (12)+1: 13 GAME: Paenitia rolls 1d20+3: (1)+3: 4 (EPIC FAIL)
The Red Knight and her little Ivory Steed work dilligently from the other size, making some progress. Well, Paenitia does; Ramirezito makes none at all, confused both by his smaller size and accompanying slighter strength. He picks up a rock with a talon, finding the rock far too large for his current grip, and struggles with it.
Skielstregar steps aside and back to be next to Vaera as the others work, him pressing himself against the wall as best he can to stay clear. He keeps a hand held out, holding one piece of lumber in place as his contribution. But really, he just didn't want to get in the way. He glances down the way with Vaera occasionally, but keeps most of his focus on making sure nothing topples.
GAME: Barclaiigh rolls Acrobatics: (11)+2: 13 GAME: Ravenstongue rolls Acrobatics: (6)+2: 8 GAME: Skielstregar rolls acrobatics: (2)+5: 7 GAME: Vaera rolls acrobatics: (14)+4: 18 GAME: Paenitia rolls acrobatics: (2)+0: 2 GAME: Paenitia rolls 1d20+6: (6)+6: 12 (Ramirez Acrobatics) GAME: Paenitia rolls ride+5: (7)+11+5: 23 GAME: Ravenstongue rolls Perception+2: (18)+4+2: 24 GAME: Skielstregar rolls perception: (8)+12: 20 GAME: Barclaiigh rolls Perception: (4)+15: 19 GAME: Vaera rolls perception: (13)+12: 25 GAME: Paenitia rolls perception: (17)+8: 25 GAME: Paenitia rolls 1d20+6: (16)+6: 22 (Ramirez Perception)
Ravenstongue and Skielstregar lose your footing again as the floor beneath shifts and rumbles. The passage behind doesn't collapse.. the magic did its work.. but it's unclear how long it will last. Dust and small rocks fall from the walls and ceiling again, but nothing collapses.
Paenitia almost falls from the saddle as Ramirez struggles to stabilize, she manages to keep herself in the saddle as he manages to keep to his feet.
As you are gathering up, reunited with one of your missing companions at last, the earth beneath, above and beside you rumbles and shakes again. The magically reinforced passage behind you maintains its integrity, for now... if you wished to go back... and the way forward remains clear, though once again the air is filled with dust falling from the compromised walls and ceiling. And amidst it all, you hear the groaning again. Much like the groaning of ship timbers as they bend to accept the stress of the waves, or the massive trees in the forest absorbing the wind.. only, more earthy.
Stone isn't supposed to make that sort of sound, but here it is. The groan reverberates deep inside you, as if trying to realign your heartbeats, or synchronize with the grey matter inside of your skulls.
The sudden shifting of the earth nearly throws Paenitia to the ground, but Ramirez is a creature of the sky and she is used to his reactions to unstable footing, and she is able to keep herself in the saddle.
"Ha! The Earth will not unseat me that easily! She sound the great upset, this groaning is the bad noise. We must get out quickly, quickly." Her crimson armour is fading with the dusting, and it coats her mask. Ramirez makes an unhappy rattle. He is used to a dust of another kind.
"I can take the lead, or the behind," Paenitia says, moving Ramirez forward enough to allow others to pass her, "We should move while the tunnel hold, it will not last longer."
GAME: Barclaiigh casts Air Walk. Caster Level: 7 DC: 19 <OOC> Barclaiigh says, "70mins, Skiel"
"Gott dang..." Meowclaiigh grows increasingly anxious as the mountain continues to complain and dance beneath them. Mountains don't dance. It doesn't matter how handy you are with a hurdy gurdy or sackbut. Auntie always said as much and the big twigs of the Union agreed.
"... gonna see y'all to th'top'n then I'm headin' back fer miss Shilde." The druid announces, only on his feet by merit of having two extra for balance. "Gonna git you off this ol' bumpy floor, mister," he adds, nuzzling into the large makari halberdier long enough to growl and chitter.
GAME: Ravenstongue casts Haste. Caster Level: 8 DC: 19
Cor'lana looses her footing, and a bit of her dignity in the process--and she spends a moment getting back up. She grinds her teeth together. "Okay," she says. "We need to get out of here and fast."
The sorceress weaves a quickening spell around herself and her allies, murmuring the incantation quietly.
Skielstregar throws a few weapons through the passage way made before shoving himself through last, his broadness getting stuck briefly before he spills out in a metallic, clanging sprawl. "Bah," he spits, gathering his things and putting them back in place. "Once we are out of here, thisss one will mossst certainly enjoy /not/ being in a cave agai-"
The earth trembles and shakes. The massive makari steps on a loose piece of ground and upends themselves tail over head and lands once more on the ground with a sound akin to a box of fallen cymbals. And that groaning. That bone shaking groaning...
The Warrior presses a palm against his skull, half risen from a knee as he leans against the wall. His teeth grit. "Nnnghh... thisss... thisss one thinksss we need to leave at hasssste, asss Paenitita sssaysss. Thisss one doess not want to be here if ssssome sssinkhole appearssss."
The silver makari blinks, him looking down to the Meowclaiigh as the air feels as solid under his feet as the rock itself as he's back on his feet. "... thank you, Ssshaman. Ssshe should be... fine? She isss a rock." And then more effects crack off. Oh goodness.
"Do not worry about me, Skielstregar. I am simply aware of the confines of this tunnel, and that there are people better suited for moving the rocks. So I will keep watch to let them work." Vaera chuffs. The earth shaking yet again makes the red makari stumble, but this time they remain upright, as their artifice leg whirrs and digs into the ground with a sound of shattering stone. "Miss Shilde would be best served by not having to worry about looking for you, Barclaiigh. If she is currently an earth elemental, she will find herself in places you can not even think of reaching." The red makari chuffs. "So, we will trust in her to get out of there, and wait for her return."
As you recover from the mountain's latest attempt to toss you around, then settle into a marching order and round the corner, the corridor widens. You have definitely rejoined one ot he major passages and are certainly close to the main hub. From there it ought to be a relatively quick dash to the surface. Only problem is.. it looks like the passage beyond is obstructed by another collapse. You wouldn't be blamed for having sudden sharp feelings of despair and/or a dashing of hope.. perhaps even frustration.
But even as thoughts might turn to cursing the fates, or hopping ahead to formulating yet another alternate route to the surface.. the obstruction moves. Shifts. It still takes up the entirety of the passage beyond, but in part of the stone something akin to.. a.. mouth forms? Another of the groans issues forth, echoing down the passageway, vibrating in the walls.. only this time, the groan erupts into a roar that you're surprised doesn't bring the whole mountain down. A roar powerful enough to set your ears ringing, to induce a faint sense of nausea.
<OOC> Williwaw says, "Knowledge/the planes, I will also accept knowledge/nature with a -5 penalty." GAME: Barclaiigh rolls Knowledge/Nature-5: (20)+13+-5: 28 GAME: Skielstregar rolls knowledge/nature-5: (9)+2+-5: 6 GAME: Vaera rolls knowledge/the planes: (3)+2: 5 GAME: Ravenstongue rolls Knowledge/The Planes+2: (16)+6+2: 24 GAME: Vaera rolls knowledge/nature: (18)+6: 24 GAME: Ravenstongue rolls Knowledge/Nature-5: (6)+13+-5: 14 GAME: Williwaw rolls 1d20-1: (3)+-1: 2 GAME: Williwaw rolls 1d20-1: (14)+-1: 13 GAME: Barclaiigh casts Flame Strike. Caster Level: 7 DC: 19 GAME: Barclaiigh rolls 7d6: (29): 29 GAME: Williwaw rolls 1d20+1: (1)+1: 2 (EPIC FAIL)
"Off th'ground! Much as y'can!" Meowclaiigh yowls at Skielstregar and Paenitia. "It's danged rock all-through so one big ol' hit's better'n wheedlin'." He pads back, bumping into Cor'lana and calls over his shoulder: "Fella can swim through stone like trout'n water. If he vamooshes outta sight..." Well, he doesn't have a suggestion there. Hopefully it doesn't come to that.
"Gonna try'n scare him off--" the druid announces. He stretches out, head pointed towards the cave roof. The yowl he issues conjures a massive vortex of red and white. The glow increases and vomits down a column of heat and wrath, punishing the looming creature and leaving it glowing red-hot.
"Git! Git on home now!"
<OOC> Vaera says, "moving south one square to juuust get in pbs range" <OOC> Vaera says, "full attack!" GAME: Vaera rolls 1d20+11+1+1-2-2: (17)+11+1+1+-2+-2: 26 GAME: Vaera rolls 1d20+11+1+1-2-2: (1)+11+1+1+-2+-2: 10 (EPIC FAIL) GAME: Vaera rolls 1d12+4+1: (12)+4+1: 17
Vaera stops, and takes her thunderbelcher to steady once she recovers from the roar, and the red makari grumbles. "Earth elemental, yes. We don't have time to argue or put things right diplomatically, it's probably too enraged by the worm tearing through the earth to begin with. It's energy will disperse to Ea if we destroy it, or simply return to the planes. Don't bother trying to get behind it, it won't be caught off guard."
So, she attempts to destroy it, with one shot aimed and cracking in the tunnel with a blue flash of light. But the dust kicked up in the air managed to get into the mechanisms of the gears in the weapon, and there is an unpleasant grinding noise for a split second before it is silent.
"Glad I put that safety in, of all the times to stop working." Vaera grumbles.
GAME: Williwaw rolls 1d2: (1): 1 (Ravenstongue) GAME: Williwaw rolls 1d20+14: (1)+14: 15 (EPIC FAIL) (Louey's attack) GAME: Williwaw rolls 1d20+14: (7)+14: 21 GAME: Williwaw rolls 2d6+8: (10)+8: 18
From behind the group, a face forms in the wall, and great sweeping arms of stone reach out towards Ravenstongue, one of them clubbing her but good from behind.
<OOC> Skielstregar says, "hmm, nevermind, based on vaera's pose, going to go for the big guy" GAME: Skielstregar RAGES!, gaining +2 to melee attack/damage/Will saves and 16 temporary HP <OOC> Skielstregar says, "going to get mad and charge it. arcane strike, power attack, furious focus." <OOC> Skielstregar says, "If this hits and the they are subject to mind-affecting fear effects, they are shaken for 4 rounds," <OOC> Skielstregar says, "no save, source on the latter is deathwrought bloodline" <OOC> Skielstregar says, "also will be in the air a bit so if the ground shakes it won't throw skiel off" GAME: Skielstregar rolls weapon25+2+1: (5)+16+2+1: 24 GAME: Williwaw rolls 1d20+19: (6)+19: 25 GAME: Williwaw rolls 2d8+11-4: (3)+11+-4: 10 GAME: Skielstregar rolls damage25+9+2: aliased to 1d10+10+9+2: (3)+10+9+2: 24 <OOC> Skielstregar says, "also I have dr 1/-" <OOC> Skielstregar says, "had 89 to start. idk why it's not taking it out of my temp hp" <OOC> Williwaw will have to note this on paper. <OOC> Skielstregar says, "HP 89 THP 7" <OOC> Williwaw says, "oh yes, that's right. Your temp hp is still full, Skiel. It couldn't AoO." <OOC> Skielstregar salute!
All of a sudden, things happen really quickly. Rock and debris filling the cavern air as Skielstregar hacks and coughs. His halberd raises quickly with a clack into his taloned hand as others lay into the blocking elemental. Deciding quickly as another appears before them, he hunkers down. "Thiss one will try and MAKE it move!"
The air grows chilly.
Dust sticks to the black ichor pouring off of the silvery makari.
And he rockets forth through the air from Meowclaiigh's spell sending him aloft. Skiel levels out, eyes gleaming crimson as spiraling ink trails behind him. "MOVE YOU OVERSIZED PEBBLE!" he bellows, crashing his halberd down into the rock-face with a splash and a crack.
<OOC> Paenitia says, "swift to challenge, spirited charge, likely take an AOO, Ramirez will charge-bite too" GAME: Paenitia rolls weapon3+4-3+1: (12)+13+4+-3+1: 27 (+4 Spirited Charge, -3 Power Attack, +1 Haste) GAME: Paenitia rolls damage3+6+10: aliased to 1d6+2+6+10: (2)+2+6+10: 20 (+6 PA, +10 Cav levels) GAME: Paenitia rolls damage3+6+10: aliased to 1d6+2+6+10: (5)+2+6+10: 23 GAME: Paenitia rolls damage3+6+10: aliased to 1d6+2+6+10: (5)+2+6+10: 23 (66 Damage) GAME: Paenitia rolls 1d20+9+2+1: (2)+9+2+1: 14 (Ramirez Charge - Miss) <OOC> Paenitia says, "will end up at 7,16 I expect"
"You fight only me!" Paenita taunts the rock-monster, pulling her lance from the scabbard, "Quickly Ramirez! Charge!"
It's a short distance, but the one swiftly covered by the small knight and her shrunken mount. Her lance is on point, there's a loud cracking noise as she spears into the creature, demonstrating how to drill into a rock-face.
Ramirez snaps at the looming elemental, once again hampered by his miniaturized stature and misjudging his reach.
"If the way becomes clear, run past, we do not have to stay to defeat the other." The Red Knight calls.
GAME: Ravenstongue casts Glitterdust/Persistent. Caster Level: 8 DC: 20 GAME: Williwaw rolls 1d20+9: (3)+9: 12 GAME: Williwaw rolls 1d20+9: (10)+9: 19
Cor'lana takes a grievous blow from the great arms, crying out as she's hit. "If anyone knows the spell to move earth around, you can use it to stop these things as they're moving through the ground! And don't bother with anything that'd cause it to bleed, be paralyzed, sleep, or be poisoned, because they're immune!" she calls out.
She takes a few steps forward. "But they aren't immune to fairy dust," she growls, and with an incantation and a flicker of glittery dust, it lands on the earth elemental further down the cavern, making it look unfashionably glittery and inconveniently unable to see.
GAME: Williwaw rolls 1d3: (1): 1 (1 Skielstregar, 2 Paenitia, 3 Ramirez) GAME: Williwaw rolls 1d20+23-2: (6)+23+-2: 27 (Huey attack) GAME: Williwaw rolls 2d8+11-4: (6)+11+-4: 13 <OOC> Paenitia says, "I have DR3/- and the next 3 after that are Non Lethal" <OOC> Williwaw says, "12 hp off your temp, Skiel, and you go flying backwards 10' and land prone." <OOC> Williwaw says, "er, 12hp off of your temp hp skiel." <OOC> Skielstregar says, "HP 89 TMP 4" GAME: Williwaw rolls 1d2: (1): 1 GAME: Williwaw rolls 1d20+14: (13)+14: 27 (Deuy attack) GAME: Williwaw rolls 2d6+8: (10)+8: 18 GAME: Williwaw rolls 1d20+14+1: (19)+14+1: 34 (Louey attack) GAME: Williwaw rolls 2d6+8: (7)+8: 15
The huge elemental roars as it suffers blow after blow, almosting seeming to shrink a little under the assault.. as Ravenstongue's magic burst into being and settles up on it, it behins to thrash about almost blindly. A large, flailing fist, seeming to sweep through both air and earth with ease, throttles the floating Sith Makar, sending him flying backwards. As the makari hits the ground, two more large fisted arms.. though not so large as the one blocking your path, sweep out of the wall next to Vaera and Barclaiigh, clubbing them both.
<OOC> Barclaiigh says, "Oof. Well. I will attempt to cast defensively, CLW" GAME: Barclaiigh casts Cure Light Wounds. Caster Level: 7 DC: 16 GAME: Barclaiigh rolls 1d20+7: (8)+7: 15 (Concentration - Fizzles) <OOC> Barclaiigh says, "Gonna move to 7,10. Then move to 6,15. Drawing AoOs from both of the large elementals." GAME: Williwaw rolls 1d20+15: (16)+15: 31 (Duey AOO - hit) GAME: Williwaw rolls 1d20+15: (2)+15: 17 (Louey AOO - hit) GAME: Williwaw rolls 2d6+8: (12)+8: 20 GAME: Williwaw rolls 2d6+8: (6)+8: 14 <OOC> Barclaiigh says, "Bar is going to suggest that Vaera and RT bounce."
Meowclaiigh pauses for a moment, trying to conjure up magic but unable to do so in the press of melee. He sighs, heavily. "Y'all should get ready t'run soon as that bigger feller goes down. I'll keep these fellas distracted."
The druid then begins bouncing off the walls, hopping, yowling, and batting his paws. It draws the elemental's attentions as intended but the shapeshifted Khazadi man takes two brutal hits for his efforts.
<OOC> Vaera says, "move to 6,11, attempt to repair the thunderbelcher with a move action" GAME: Vaera rolls craft/gunsmithing+2: (12)+10+2: 24 GAME: Vaera rolls 1d20+11+1+1-2-2: (9)+11+1+1+-2+-2: 18 (vs touch - hit) GAME: Vaera rolls 1d12+4+1: (12)+4+1: 17
"Piece of mul'niessan mushroom filled crap, shouldn't be surprised it's not working in the slightest bit of a dirty environment." The red makari curses to herself, earning a smack from the wall for her troubles. The hunter reels back, and ducks away from the elemental as she pulls a small metal cylinder out of her belt. She twists the side and it lets out a whistling gout of air that dies off quickly, but it was enough to blow out the dust. Flipped over, and a few drops of oil are applied as well, before everything is pulled back into place.
With just enough time to load the weapon again, she takes aim, and another crack rings out in the cavern, as the main body of the giant elemental splinters and erupts in a cascade of rock shards that clatter to the floor.
"That is one down, it will be safer to retreat with the others dealt with. Mind Barclaiigh and Ravenstongue! Keep them away from the remainder."
GAME: Williwaw rolls 1d20+15: (6)+15: 21 GAME: Williwaw rolls 1d20+15: (12)+15: 27 <OOC> Williwaw says, "She declared it on Huey, which was the first/biggest one." <OOC> Barclaiigh says, "Bar has to pull out. So he'll be doing that on his next turn and casting his other CLW on himself." <OOC> Barclaiigh says, "I need to go to bed." GAME: Williwaw rolls 1d20+6: (14)+6: 20 (Louey attack on Vaera - hit) GAME: Williwaw rolls 1d20+6: (9)+6: 15 (Louey attack on Vaera - hit) GAME: Williwaw rolls 2d6+8: (9)+8: 17 GAME: Williwaw rolls 2d6+8: (3)+8: 11
Even as the largest of the elementals crumbles and explodes, a howl seems to erupt from its core.. and is echoed the two whose arms are the only thing you've seen so far. The one in the back reaches out of the wall again, clobbering Vaera twice with fists of stone.
<OOC> Skielstregar says, "just to clear the air, the big guy is gone, right?" <OOC> Williwaw Strongly recommends hoofing it. THey are slow, you can outrun them. <OOC> Whirlpool says, "And don't forget! There are wights and a purple worm to outrun! ;)" <OOC> Skielstregar says, "vaera is still in the danger zone so we're gonna... stand up (move action)," <OOC> Skielstregar says, "five foot step to 7,13, then hit the one on 8,12, yell at them to get a move on" GAME: Skielstregar rolls weapon25+1: (19)+16+1: 36 GAME: Skielstregar rolls damage25+9+2: aliased to 1d10+10+9+2: (10)+10+9+2: 31 <OOC> Williwaw says, "Alright. It's actually in the wall, so you'll need to roll a total concealment check to hit it." GAME: Skielstregar rolls 1d100: (50): 50 (51-100 to hit - fail) <OOC> Skielstregar says, "skiel to 7,13! turn!"
Skielstregar whirls through the air as he's struck, him landing with a thud before he gets on his feet with a woozy groan. Looking back, his crimson eyes widen as not only Meowclaiigh are clobbered, but Vaera as well with Cor'lana looking none too good either. He snarls on his way up, hopping up into the air to try and slam the sickly halberd into one of the receding limbs of the elemental, but just. Barely. Misses. Scraping off a slice of slate instead of chunk of pure earth.
He turns to the two women in the back, eyes wild as he's hunched over. "GET OUT! NOW! THISSS ONE CAN TAKE IT!" he snaps at them.
<OOC> Williwaw says, "Where to put Lyme." <OOC> Williwaw says, "Lyme got stuck in the debris, finally got his way out." <OOC> Lyme says, "What do I see? :)" <OOC> Williwaw says, "Expedited by the shouting and the yelling and the stuff." <OOC> Williwaw says, "you see arms having reached out and clobbered Vaera." <OOC> Williwaw says, "You have also heard the shouts to run." <OOC> Williwaw says, "The bottom elemental has its AoO back, the top one hasn't gotten its back yet." <OOC> Lyme says, "Okay -- I'm not sure who's who on the map, but that's okay -- I get the jist." <OOC> Lyme says, "I think being a little disoriented is appropriate, too." <OOC> Lyme says, "Arms-grabbing-Verna -- can I smite them? :)" <OOC> Williwaw says, "Attacking the elementals in the wall will require a total concealment roll." <OOC> Williwaw says, "Because they're in the wall." <OOC> Lyme says, "...can't just cut at the visible arms, can I? :)" <OOC> Williwaw says, "They're moving. They didn't grab her, they punched her." <OOC> Williwaw says, "so like, in and out." <OOC> Lyme says, "Ah, okay." <OOC> Lyme says, "Last tactical question: can I hold an attack to time it so I attack when they come out?" <OOC> Williwaw says, "I don't believe the rules specifically cover this, so gonna say yes." <OOC> Williwaw says, "Keep in mind this will potentially leave you behind if everyone else decides to bolt." <OOC> Lyme says, "Someone's gotta cover the retreat" <OOC> Lyme says, "That's what I'll do -- it should involve moving closer to the group -- if I read the map correctly," <OOC> Lyme says, "so I'm... kinda doing that" <OOC> Williwaw says, "Okay! Tell me the square you'd like to move to, should show you a coordinate when you mouse over." <OOC> Lyme says, "7,10?" <OOC> Williwaw says, "That will draw an AoO from the bottom Elemental, But any movement past it would." <OOC> Lyme says, "Doesn't really seem optional. :)" GAME: Williwaw rolls 1d20+15: (1)+15: 16 (EPIC FAIL) (Louey AOO - Fail) <OOC> Paenitia says, "Barc pulled 2 AOOs so that others could run by" <OOC> Williwaw says, "He did. But one of the elementals had its turn, so its AoO refreshed." <OOC> Williwaw says, "Forgot it was actually the top one that got its AoO back, not the bottom one."
A semi-tame oruch appears.
"Quickly! Quickly! This the pointless fight and the other battles lie ahead. The Druid-cat and the red Friend-Dragon have the big wounds. The running back and the waiting at the wall is foolish." Paenitia shouts, spurring Ramirez ahead. "Move, do not stay."
The little knight and her chibi steed fly ahead.
GAME: Williwaw rolls 1d20+15-5: (11)+15: 22 (vs AC 18 - success) GAME: Williwaw rolls 1d20+15-5: (12)+15: 27 (vs AC 18 - success) GAME: Williwaw rolls 2d6+8-5: (3)+8-5: 6 GAME: Williwaw rolls 2d6+8-5: (5)+8-5: 8 <OOC> Williwaw says, "So 12 damage to Skiel." <OOC> Skielstregar says, "HP 81 TMP 0"
The elementals continue to send mighty sweeps through the cavern, their arms moving effortlessly through the stone... though they have yet to fully emerge, they haven't really had any need to yet. One swipes at Lyme, missing... the other deals two clobberings to Skielstregar, though they seem oddly weakened. Perhaps it is due to the fact that he floats in the air?
Cor'lana can read the writing on the wall and between the lines. Being a poet, it's one of her talents--especially the ones that are not actually written, and are actually just earth elementals that are trying to kill her, which is to say that they're not actually lines now, but could be later.
If she lives, that is, and that's the crux of the matter.
So she runs to live another day, following Paenitia's lead.
"Andale! Andale!" Pothy crows.
This earns him another confused look from Cor'lana. "Where'd you even learn those words?" she asks. One of life's greatest mysteries.
<OOC> Williwaw says, "Barc skidaddles as well, casting a cure light wounds on himself." GAME: Williwaw rolls 1d8+5: (2)+5: 7 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Name | CHP (T) | HP | ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Barclaiigh....| 8 | 53 | | (C) Porter....| 45 | 45 | | Lyme..........| 67 | 67 | | Paenitia......| 97 | 97 | | (C) Ramirez...| 67 | 67 | | Ravenstongue..| 25 | 43 | | Skielstregar..| 81+0 | 81 | | Vaera.........| 15 | 61 | | (C) Wyrmere...| 45 | 45 | ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As Lyme emerges from the rubble at the back of the party, elemental arms reach from the wall and swipe at him. They miss. He waits for them to emerge again, to strike, and is predictably rewarded. A second set of flailing fails to grasp him.
The formerly forgotten Sith'makar is not forgotten, with the other elemental waving its arms in the air, managing to connect. The tough hide of the lizardman easily absorbs most of it.
Meowclaiigh cat-rushes down the passage, getting some distance and then sitting down to lick his wounds. Literally. "It's how the spell works in this form." He mewls to no-one. Although Paenitia is clear enough to see and hear, the little knight remains focused on the tunnel behind.
<OOC> Skielstregar says, "withdraw is a full round action that makes the square you're in not AoO'able" <OOC> Williwaw says, "Unfortunately, there are many threatened squares between you and safety." <OOC> Williwaw says, "You will draw one AoO from Dewey." <OOC> Williwaw says, "I would recomend quaffing your potion." <OOC> Williwaw says, "So you need to survive one AoO, and you can get gone." <OOC> Whirlpool says, "Doooo iiiiit" <OOC> Vaera says, "Yeah I'll drink the potion first" GAME: Williwaw rolls 1d20+15: (15)+15: 30 (AOO) GAME: Vaera used a Potion of Cure Light Wounds. GAME: Vaera rolls 1d8+1: (3)+1: 4 GAME: Williwaw rolls 2d6+8: (8)+8: 16
"Vaera is not doing too well, several blows from the earth elementals leaving the red makari shakily on their feet. She grabs a vial from one of the many pockets in her coat, and skewers the cork with one claw to pull it out, before pouring it straight into their maw and turning to retreat, earning another solid hit to their side for their trouble, and a blood soaked cough. But at least they were away, and only moving further south.
"I will be fine, as will the others. So worry about getting out yourselves!" She shouts back.
GAME: Williwaw rolls 1d20+15: (1)+15: 16 (EPIC FAIL) GAME: Williwaw rolls 1d20+15: (19)+15: 34 GAME: Williwaw rolls 2d6+8: (10)+8: 18 GAME: Lyme rolls 1d20+15: (8)+15: 23 GAME: Lyme rolls 2d4+13+6: (5)+13+6: 24 <OOC> Williwaw says, "That hurts it, You take one blow in the exchange as well."
Lyme pauses at the top of the tunnel, waiting, waiting. As one of the elementals comes out of the wall, he snaps a strike in at the oncoming arm. ...one of the oncoming arms. It's a solid hit, but he doesn't have time to appreciate it as he's buffeted by the other fist. Whups.
<OOC> Williwaw says, "Dewey attacks Skiel" GAME: Williwaw rolls 1d20+10: (13)+10: 23 GAME: Williwaw rolls 1d20+10: (13)+10: 23 GAME: Williwaw rolls 2d6+3: (6)+3: 9 GAME: Williwaw rolls 2d6+3: (9)+3: 12 <OOC> Williwaw says, "19 damage" <OOC> Skielstregar says, "62 HP"
The elementals in the walls continue to thrash, one trading a blow with Lyme which costs it dearly... one animated stone falls to the ground in pieces as the arm withdraws back into the wall. The other one's swings, looking more like flailing as it tries to zero in on the floating makari, still manages to clip the not-quite-undead rager, though Skielstregar's position in the air continues to save him from the worst of the creature's damage.
<OOC> Skielstregar says, "I'm going to move to hold turn until Lyme starts to leave and leave with them at the same time, also so this thing focuses on me instead of tag team'ing lyme" <OOC> Lyme is going to bug out now with a disengage.
Skielstregar cringes as he sees Vaera struck once more, and she's flagging. He's about to do something risky- scoop her up and get the hell out of there, but he watches the empty potion bottle in her hand for a brief moment. A nod to her, a chuff that send black ichor out in a spray before he turns back to the creature in the wall. "COME WARRIOR LYME, WE LEAVE!" he bellows out, keeping the halberd poised at the wall as his feet stand on solid air.
He half turns, ready to bolt out with the oruch.
<OOC> Williwaw says, "Alright, due to reach, you both provoke an AoO with a withdraw" GAME: Williwaw rolls 1d20+15: (7)+15: 22 (On Lyme - hits) GAME: Williwaw rolls 2d6+8: (9)+8: 17 <OOC> Skielstregar opens arm for the slap GAME: Williwaw rolls 1d20+10: (8)+10: 18 (on Skielstregar vs AC 19 - miss)
The Forgotten Skiel just barely manages to turn out of the way from another segment of the earthen wall crashing into it. It just kissing the side of the scales on his face as he runs out with Lyme into one of the main tunnels.
"Everyone'sss here! Let'sss go!" he snarls at the group, not dropping his form just yet. Last thing he needs is to be running tired.
Lyme turns, and bolts with Skiel, not-actually-ducking a parting shot from the rocky hand of the elemental. He's going to be sore after that one, that's for sure.
"Pothy have the strangest accent on those words." Paenitia observes cheerfully to Cor'lana, then calls into the tunnel, "Hurry, hurry! They can follow but will not catch us if we are quick. Next time we practice the withdraw as a group. Even the Mad Dogs of Isobar manage that. Ha ha!"
'Ruaaaah...' Ramirez claws at the tunnel floor, fascinated and a little worried at how ineffective his small talons seem.
The elementals surge after you as you pull away. Whatever cause their anger (though you can probably guess) they seem to have fixated on you as intruders, perhaps the cause. But you are fleet.. particularly because of Ravenstongue's fortuitiously cast speed magic.. and it is easy enough to outpace them. You can't be sure, but it seems like after a certain point they give up the chase. Perhaps you leaving is enough for them... or perhaps with your absense and the continued disruptions which angered them to begin with, they have found other prey.
You have survived. So far.
So far. But there is yet further to go, and the message that has become your burden remains yet undelivered.
Combatty
Map
https://www.mipui.net/app/index.html?mid=m72d9j2t4b4
===================== Current Initiative Order - Round 1 =====================
---Init--Name------------AOO-Notes--------------------------------------------
25 Barclaiigh 1
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17 Vaera 1
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>> 13 Louey 1 <<
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10 Skielstregar 1 Flat-footed (0 rnds remaining)
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9 Paenitia 1 Flat-footed (0 rnds remaining)
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7 Ravenstongue 1 Flat-footed (0 rnds remaining)
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1 Huey
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