Dragon's Egg - Act III

[senseiseth]

Hall

((I'm assuming little fishy dude is dead, at this point in time))

'Thank you for the assist,' I say to Bressel, 'But I feel it would be prudent to make a hasty retreat.' As we begin to leave the site of our hard won battle, I hope my wound doesn't effect my use of the bow.

 

[Steerpike]

((I don't have time for a map this morning, but I suppose we don't absolutely need one for this round, as the fish demons on the stairs are dead and you guys will be able to follow the rest)).


Baldhart steps forward, engaging the fish demon that bit into Hall. She thrusts her sword forward, impaling the creature and using her strength to drive it to the rails. The creature fights to keep its jaws clamped onto Hall who punches the creature in the torso. As Baldhart's sword digs deeper and the creature crashes into the railing, it releases Hall and tumbles, feet over head, into the ocean below.

Liadan fires into the melee below, hoping to hit the fish demon engaging Bressel. Her arrow goes wide and to the right, striking Baldhart on the shoulder. The barbarian woman's armor deflects the arrow harmlessly away.

Keitsumah yells for a retreat and calls for Batos. The wounded wolf runs to her side, and she holds her ground, waiting to see what the group will do.

Aldar sees the large reptile emerge from the water, and also calls for a retreat. As he watches, the reptile moves swiftly in the direction of the stairs and is lost from view. Almost immediately, there is a load crack as something hits the stairs, sending a shudder along the length of the wooden structure, accompanied by a groaning of wood.

Bressel attacks the fish demon in front of him. The hapless creature tries to dodge the vicious arc of Bressel's axe, but he connects with the creature, cleaving it from shoulder to mid-torso. The thing sinks, lifeless, to the ground just as Gisla's blade passes through the air where it just stood, the one-armed woman having rushed to Bressel's side.

It is hard to hear much amid the fighting and roar of the sea, but Keitsumah catches the last part of a hissing chant rising from the rocks just west of the stairs. Following the noise with her eyes, she sees the wounded Fish Demon caster, dripping wet and clinging to a crevasse within the rock. With a flourish, the creature completes its spell.

Fish Demon Caster:



A crack sounds from thin air between Keitsumah and where the bulk of the party fights on the level below. An enormous spider, probably weighing at least five hundred pounds, forms out of a quickly coalescing mist. It occupies the space on the stairs just above where Batos retreated when he backed away from the fish demons. Its multi-faceted gaze is fixed on Bressel, Hall, and Baldhart.

Aliron watches the area below intently, looking for signs of the large reptile. He does not see it again, but he sees the staircase shake when something large impacts it. Numerous fish demon heads emerge from the water directly below him, the creatures moving quickly to the rocks, just as the large reptile dead. An instant later, the sound of claws scratching across naked rock is heard. He also sees the spider appear out of nothing on the stairs.

Too, Aliron sees more fish demons hauling themselves onto the wood of the docks below, their heads craned back toward the stairs where the party fights. A quick count as they scramble from the dark sea tells him there are at least eight that he can see.

 

[Steerpike]

((Adding about the militia men))

The two militia men on the stairs think better of their precarious position and rush back up the stairs toward solid ground.

 

[Ireth]

Liadan

An echoing crack on the stairs makes me jump and turn. An enormous spider has appeared on the stairs below me, right in my line of sight. I set my jaw and raise my flail, then charge toward the beast and strike.

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

What the hell is Liadan fighting?

I make no battle cry ((in case its back is to me))…

((to-hit bonus for back attack not added - 12 if I did get the back))

 

[SomethingToPonder]

"Get up here!" I repeat again.
"The stairs are cracking!"

I take another few wide steps again to the side of the steps so that I can get an even clearer view of the battle. This is not looking good, at least 8 fish demons, The giant spider and whatever the hell that giant demon is in the water.
I try and analyze the situation as best as I can under pressure and with all the noise going on currently.

"Baldhart, Baldhart! Do you Still have the oil? I have a torch, Let's send this spider to hell!"
I turn to face the militia men who are around 10 paces to the side of me and just reaching the top of the stairs, their faces are chalk white.

"Remain calm, Hold fast and we shall defeat these foes, We are your allies, And we are here to defend you against these creatures and also any foe that may come at you from land. I know you are not used to this sort of thing but please understand we are on your side here. Start shooting arrows at that spider now!"

I once again build up my will inside me, This time I feel stronger as I am doing so.
I take aim at the spider, Hopefully if we kill it it will block the path for the fish demons advancing behind it, that is if the stairs dont give way first.

I release my will thrusting with my arms as I do so, The magic missile is a light blue with a hint of silver, and I watch as it glides through the air, devastating the spider as it hits.

((DAMAGE))

 

[SeverinR]

Bressel
With the death of the fishy, the crack of the stairs, Bressel turns and retreats up the stairs quickly.

Aliron
Not sure of targets, so will shoot:
1.rider of sea monster or sea monster if not rider.
2.Caster fish demon if he can see it
3.Fish demon coming out of water, closest to stairs.

normal to hit day arrow [1d20+6] = 1+6 = 7 ;damage[1d8] = 3
((Missed anyway target didn't matter. (Natural 1) (Should be +2 more night arrow, but still a 1 was rolled.)_))
((-First time a blessed arrow missed.-))

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

((Will gladly edit the first line if I hit, but I doubt Liadan's charge means I got its back, and even if I did, does a 12 even hit?))

As I watch my sword deflect off the exoskeleton, I hear Aldar's warning.

I can't save myself for the gnolls, Baldy, if you die here.

"Hang torch over edge! I need to see the flame!"

 

[senseiseth]

Hall

'Well, that's something to linger in my nightmares,' I say has we discover the great spider creature. I see Liadan attacking the fiend by herself. She and Keit risked their lives for mine, I will not let her face the fiend alone.



Damn, a miss, thankfully the others are joining the fray....and I am reminded for my particular fear of spiders... oh joy.

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

Nissa (still inside Baldhart's body)

((Readied action))

As soon as I see fire, I'm out. I know where the oil is. Baldy's purse!

As for the militia men…

((Will continue her turn if Aldar replies))

 

[Keitsumah]

(oh dear god i hate spiders.....)

A spider materializes further down the steps, and as everyone converges upon it I fear that I may have to use a spell to hold back the tide of fish demons, but a bark from Batos quickly diverts my attention. Despite his current condition, he is still ready to fight, and i grab eight goodberries out of my bag to heal him.

(Liadan has 14 if i remember correctly, and that was from the innitial bag of 21, so Keit has... 9 left. And there are six regular)

Batos's muzzle is pasted in blue and black after he wolfs down the berries -literally- then whirls around to spring off of the upper staircase for the water demon on the rocks, his wounds almost gone in an instant.

"B-Batos!!" i yell in alarm, then realize what he's doing. The wolf aims to take out the caster demon so that we don't have to deal with it and its troublesome spells anymore. And if we take him out...

The spider may vanish too!

1D20 => 20 (Drop like a stone)

Batos roars as he lands on top of the hapless demon, using the monster's body as a cushion between him and the stones before lashing out with snapping jaws:

1D8+3 => 6 (Ravage)

(Possible collateral damage to the both of them here but i think at most Batos takes light to medium damage before falling in the water. He'll aim to get back to Keitsu after this... somehow)

"Good boy!" i call down to him, then grab the rail as the stairs wobble dangerously beneath my feet. With the demons swarming up, it may be all that we can do just to hold them off. But if the stairs collapse . . .

"Guys! Get out of there now!" i yell at the top of my lungs. "We can't win this! Not in their domain! We need to move back to land!"

 

[SomethingToPonder]

I dangle the torch over the cliff while making sure my footing is sound.
"Baldhart!, Here, can you see the flame?"

(Will do action upon Legendary's reply))

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

((Need the official word from SP or this doesn't happen. In spoiler tags until I hear confirmation this is legal.))

Spoiler: Nissa time!

Nissa

I see the fire and appear by the torch. "I will take that, thank you."

((Assuming Aldar lets Nissa takethe torch...))

I fly to Baldy's purse on the third level, grab the oil bottle, then fly up over the docks--hopefully, out of the caster's reach. As much as I hate to, I need to burn the way up to the stairs, or Baldy and Hall will have more than just a five-hundred-pound spider to deal with... and they really don't need THAT either!

If I can drop the bottle before the fish demons get to the stairs, I will. I will only hesitate if their approach is slow... if I can time the drop so the first enemy is hit by the flame.

 

[Steerpike]

((New map. Description to follow)).

 

[senseiseth]

((We're gonna need a bigger fish net. ))

 

[Steerpike]

The appearance of the giant spider catches Liadan's attention, and she rushes it, flail raised high above her head. She brings the weapon crashing down on the creatures back tearing a gash into the spider and spatter black-green goo across the deck. The spider pivots toward her, lightning-fast.

Baldhart reaches the spider in mid-turn, her sword thrust a glancing blow across the creature's flank, the tip of the blade sliding off with no visible damage.

Hearing the commotion below, Aldar runs to another portion of the railing where he can see part of the spider below - at least enough to provide a target. Aldar summons magical energy around him in an attempt to cast another magic missile, but something goes wrong. Working with less power than required to make a safe attempt, he draws too much magic and can't harness it. The energy spins around him, crackling out of control, and a spasm of force surges through his body.

((1 HP damage to Aldar))

Bressel rushes past the spider, making toward the top of the stairs as the rickety wood continues to sway after the attack against its supports, and with the weight of so many engaged in combat, plus the added weight of the large spider.

Aliron trains his bow below, looking for targets. He sees the fish demon riding the reptilian creature as it begins another surge toward the stairs. He looses the arrow...but the shot is wide and the arrow embeds itself in the wood of the stairs with a dull thock.

Hall joins Baldhart making his own attack at the spider from her side, but his attack misses the creature as it lunges at Liadan:

Bite Attack [1d20+4] = 3+4 = 7

Liadan twists away from the closing fangs of the spider, noting with some dismay a thick, greasy substance dripping from its maw, the droplets smoking on the wood of the deck.

Batos swallows the berries offered by Keitsumah, then dashes across the deck of the stairs, leaping through the air toward the fish demon caster. The caster raises an arm protectively, attempting to deflect the wolf's bite, but Batos' teeth find purchase and he bites into the creature. The fish demon lets out a hiss of pain and tries to pull free of the animal:

STR Check [1d20+2] = 4+2 = 6

The ferocity of the wolf's attack, combined with the weight of the animal, is too much for the wounded fish demon caster. It loses its hold on the crevasse of rock, and the fish demon and Batos both tumble to the cold waters below.

Gisla makes her way to the narrow space between the spider and the railing, thrusting with her own sword.

Melee Attack [1d20+2] = 10+2 = 12

Her blade is also deflected harmlessly off of the creature. "Goddess curse it!" she growls.

Many fish demons swarm onto the docks, and more of them are now visible in the water, their heads rising and falling with the motion of the ocean waves as they move toward shore. There is another loud crack, and the staircase shudders again, this time one of the timbers securing it to the cliffs coming free, causing the stairs to sway slightly seaward, but not enough to cause any to lose their footing.

The militia men reach the top of the stairs, looking wide-eyed back at the stairs and the swarming fish demons below. "The whole thing's gonna come down!" one yells.

"We ain't fer going back down," the other agrees.

Recovering from his miscast spell, Aldar yells to Baldhart about a torch. Baldhart hears him, even as she engages the spider, his voice carrying down to her from somewhere above.

((Yes, Baldhart has her mana back. There wasn't time to do anything with the torch last round, with both Baldhart and Aldar attacking the spider)).

 

[Ireth]

Liadan

I evade the spider's fangs, and cannot help but notice the venom dripping from them. I do NOT want that getting into my body! I sway as the stairs crack and teeter, then raise my flail again for another strike. How many will it take to bring down the monster?

((Awww yeah!))

 

[senseiseth]

Hall

This is getting bad fast, a spider creature, more fish fiends emerging from the water. Something must be done if we are to survive this ordeal, let alone be victorious. With a cry of "Tyr of Valhalla!" I swing my blade into the creature.





This time my blade meets it's target and I can hear the creature cry in pain. "Come on you bastard is that the best you can do?"

The wood beneath our feet begin to show its further weakening from the ongoing fight. "Let's kill this thing and get out of here! I don't know how much longer this thing will hold us all." I briefly glimpse the militia men standing and watching our struggle. Bloody cowards, I think to myself.

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

((I think Hall inflicted 7 damage - you add +1 for STR and another +1 for weapon specialization.))



Baldhart

I catch a glimpse of the flame... it's all I need to see. I feel the sense of loss. Nissa is no longer inside me.

"Hall, Gisla, Liadan... disengage from this hell-spawn!"

I circle around the spider, positioning myself closer to the stairs and out of Hall's way, if possible.

"My body is your shield. Move!"

I swing, and...

...curse myself for failing to take my own advice.




Nissa

I see the torch. I emerge from the flame.

"I will take that, thank you," I say to Aldar.

I race to Baldhart's purse and remove the bottle. I simply need to light and drop... and I may wish to fly under the stairs and grab that scimitar while the fish demons are distracted... or burning!

Spoiler: Nissa's readied action

If she can move this far, Nissa hovers over the part of the dock that leads to the stairs, intent on bombing the first fish demon to rush into that area. She may err on the side of caution.

I don't know if a WIS check is needed to determine her timing. The way I'm rolling lately, I hope not!

That's a 12 - I forgot to add her level.

 

[SomethingToPonder]

I hand the torch to Nissa with a feeling of hope. Maybe, just maybe we might get out of this one.

"Fly true Nissa, and send those bastards to hell!"
I feel helpless, I cant seem to cast another Magic Missile safely and attempting so now would be pure idiocy.
I turn to face the militia men.
"you there, Fetch me a bow and a quiver of arrows as fast as you can, I recommend getting yourself one as well, We may be able to help from up here. You have a duty to protect your families and village, so make haste. Ohh! and if you see any oil or flammables on your way pick them up too friend!"

I look on helpless at the ensuing battle. Hopefully those men will be back soon!