Dragon's Egg - Act II

[Philip Overby]

I shoot my crossbow down the south corridor. "There's something down there. I'm sure of it."

The battle is the other way, Nod. Don't be completely useless or they'll throw you away again.

I reload my crossbow. "Certainly something down this south corridor..."

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

((Since combat started we're going to our usual 24-hour time frame. I'll post as soon as possible after everyone in the group has gone, or after 24 hrs.

Note, the creature Baldhart knocked down is not stunned. It just got knocked into the shelving and onto its rear)).

((Edited to say it's disarmed. Also, I meant to intimidate the creature but forgot to type that, then got interrupted. Fixed now.))

 

[Sparkie]

War is justified

When it brings Order

To Chaos.

If war brings Chaos,

It is ruin

and shall not succeed.

Psalms of War - Codex 7:262

*****​

Bedlam. Bedlam, and I'm responsible for it.

((The following is edited, thanks to Steerpike's ruling. ))

I push past everyone in my way and stab at the creature Ankari is holding.

http://www.unseenservant.com/Default.asp?do=showone&id=9864

http://www.unseenservant.com/Default.asp?do=showone&id=9865

"Put it out of it's misery," I lament.

 

[Steerpike]

((Just to clarify, unless there is something unusual going on to prevent it (in which case I'll let you know) the general rule is you can move through a friendly square. That's a 5-foot space and you can push past if there's no enemy there)).

 

[Nihal]

((Correction: Burnbright would be in Mauve's place and vice versa. Well, Mauve would be actually more between Burnbright's tile and the one on its right. The not-so-unlucky mage wouldn't allow the girl to be the last one.))


I should make sure someone else is watching the girl, just in case...

I look around for a suitable candidate. All of them seem too eager to fight, but maybe the halfling... He shoots the darkness. I look for an enemy, but I can't see a thing.

Is he serious?! I frown. Okay, maybe not him.

I wait, watching both corridors and again unable to see what is going on in the front.

 

[SeverinR]

[I try to get a clear shot at the bow reptile]


[Won't bother rolling damage, might as well shot with the halfing. Maybe it is close enough to make it flinch, probably not.]
"Who bumped me, I know my shot couldn't be that bad." I grumble with a half smile.

 

[Ireth]

I press forward into the room, seeing the lizardlike creature with the bow, and Baldhart with her back to it. Automatically I move to stand back-to-back with her, not wanting to see her be harmed from behind. If only I could fight and protect at the same time!

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

((It's not a wall, but is there an AC bonus for Cadell focusing his shield toward the archer by the table, like the way "evade" gives +4 AC vs. a single/specified opponent?))

 

[Steerpike]

((It's not a wall, but is there an AC bonus for Cadell focusing his shield toward the archer by the table, like the way "evade" gives +4 AC vs. a single/specified opponent?))

((No. Remember that the shield AC bonus already provides the normal advantage of using a shield. This bonus assumes you are using the shield to defend yourself. Unless something special is going on, the shield AC bonus represents fully the effect of having a shield on defending oneself in combat. If Cadell wants to Evade, he'll get the bonus, but you can't do anything else, including take a move action, in a round where you are Evading, so he will have to wait until next round to Evade)).

 

[SeverinR]

I'm going to press into the room and around into the closest corner to me, remain silent to not draw attention to me.
1. and prepare to shoot again,
2.unless someone engages close combat. Then I will move around behind the reptile. (after my previous shot, I don't trust shooting with any friendlies near the target)

 

[Steerpike]

((I made a new sticky thread for rules discussions and questions. Let's keep the conversations to that new thread if at all possible. I'd rather see OOC commentary in the actual game thread limited to fairly basic issues or comments and not directed to lengthy out of character discussions. Gracias!)).

 

[Steerpike]

((OK, moving on to the next round. Here is the map. Narrative coming shortly. No one act until then )).

 

[Steerpike]

Baldhart rushes the fallen reptile, using her size and fearsome presence to intimidate the creature as she attacks.

Intimidate Save [1d20+1] = 20+1 = 21

The creature doesn't seem cowed, and brings its iron skillet around in a desperate parry that knocks Baldhart's weapon aside.

Ankari yells at everyone to wait, but his cries go unheeded. Rydh moves forward, attempting to skewer the injured creature that Ankari is holding captive. The attack looks to be on target at first, but at the last moment Ankari twists to one side, putting himself between the creature and Rydh's blade. Rydh's attack strikes just as Ankari is turning with the force of the blow, and while the blade scores the surface of Ankari's armor, it does not penetrate.

Aliron fires a shot at the reptile behind the table, missing, and then sprints into the room, moving toward one corner. Darin is right behind him, though instead of taking to the corner, the dwarf rushes around the side of the table, making his way toward the creature at the back.

Nodrick fires an arrow against the stone wall at the bottom of the corridor, breaking it. Burnbright is still holding her torch, looking eager to get into the room as well, but listening to instructions and not moving forward. Mauve keeps an eye on the other corridors.

Matthew assesses the situation in the room, considering his next action.

The creature behind the table reloads, but seems momentarily dumbfounded as its gaze passes over all of those streaming into the room. Finally, it latches on to what it must consider the most immediate target and fires an arrow at Darin:

((Unseen Servant not responding))

The arrow flies wide, clattering in the empty fire pit.

Meanwhile, a tremendous stench fills the room, making eyes water and noses burn. It is emanating from the two reptiles. ((Need CON save this round from Baldhart, Cadell, Aliron, and Darin))

As Mauve watches the two corridors, a flash of motion from the east, just before the corridor disappears around the corner, catches her attention. She has only a split second to register the danger before two of the strange reptiles move just far enough around the corner to throw javelins, the first targeting Mauve, the second Nodrick:

Reptile Attack [1d20+1] = 13+1 = 14 ((Ah, now it's back))

Reptile Attack [1d20+1] = 19+1 = 20

Both javelins strike true, and Burnbright spins around and shrieks as her companions are struck.

((Javelin Damage to Mauve: [1d4] = 1))

((Javelin Damage to Nodrick: [1d4] = 3))

After attacking, the now weaponless reptiles appear ready to bolt to from whence they came.


((People in the hallway are aware of the two new enemies. People in the room are not, though some may have heard a quick shriek from Burnbright)).

 

[Nihal]

Is something...!? I open my mouth to warn them.

Too slow. Pain.

A short, gasping scream leaves my mouth instead. I look down in disbelief, only to see how the javelin easily penetrated my clothes and how I'm bleeding.

No way.

I raise my eyes. They're retreating. They will come back. Everything seems to be happening slowly around me, the girl is screaming, but I don't look at her. I breath.

"Girl, HIDE!"

I need my shield. This wouldn't happen if I had it ready. But I'm too close to everyone to use it, I don't want to hurt them. But I know I must do it. If they charge I'm dead.

I don't want to die!

I hope the girl hid behind them. Somewhere, deep inside, I know it's foolishness, but I stumble a few steps ahead, concentrating, letting the words float in my mind. My voice sounds hoarse when I spell them while drawing a symbol in the air with my free hand.

[1d20+2] = 4+2 = 6 #Spellcast

Yes, I was wrong. It hurts too much and I can't focus, I can't control the magic. My legs feel weak, my arms, heavy.

[1d20+2] = 5+2 = 7 #Spell saving throw

I can't prevent the now wild magic from injuring me. I remember his words, sounding so gentle in this moment of despair. I cling to them, scared.

[1d20+2] = 19+2 = 21 #Spell saving throw

Relief floods me for a second, for I've not seen that place again, not yet.

 

[Sparkie]

I hear the scream. It's Burnbright.

For a moment, I panic. All I can think about is making sure she's safe. I spin and run towards the cries of agony that are echoing in my ears. I run past the freshly bloodied Nod and Mauve as the latter fails to cast her spell. The runaway magic hits me, but I keep running.

At first sight, the The Troggs seem to be shrinking back around the corner. My better sense kicks in then, and I stop running about halfway between them and the wounded.

"Come on you Wild Things!" I shout at our assailants as I pound the corridor wall with my gauntleted left hand. "See if you can move me!"

 

[Ireth]

I keep my back to Baldhart's, though a scream from out in the hallway makes me turn my head quickly. One of the girls... is it Burnbright? I hope she is only frightened, not harmed.

A horrible stench fills the room, clogging my nostrils and making my eyes water. I press my left sleeve to my nose and try to breathe through my mouth, but that only makes me cough and gag on the smell. My guess is that it comes from the lizards, but I cannot be certain. I risk a noseful of the stench to wipe my watering eyes carefully with my stump, knowing I cannot defend Baldhart or anyone else if I cannot see.

((CON check: ))

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

I smell the creature's fear--no, it is not intimidated by me. It should be!

(PRIMAL INSTINCT / CON - "HOLD BREATH FOR EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME")

Who are you to pass gas in my presence, demon! I don't know why Ankari tried to stop the fight, but I no longer care. He is level-headed enough to know it's time to stop underestimating these beasts.

(HIT & DAMAGE)

 

[Ireth]

With my eyes cleared for a moment, I focus on the lizard behind the table; if it fires at me, I can try to evade the blow.

((Booyah! Cadell's certainly better at this than swordplay right now. XD))

 

[Phietadix]

Great, it seeems everyone had forgotten about Burnbright and now we are ambushed from that side. I run past Mauve and Nod and throw a Javelin at one of the lizards.

And see it fall harmlessly to the ground. Great.

 

[Philip Overby]

"See, I knew something was down there!" I shout, pointing with my crossbow. "See, I'm not crazy!"

I fire at the lizard straight ahead of me.

"That wasn't good..."

((OK, I officially hate Rolz now...I'm using the other one...))