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Branding's Age of Worms, the 4th Generation
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<blockquote data-quote="hbarsquared" data-source="post: 2842529" data-attributes="member: 4550"><p><span style="color: royalblue"><strong>Chapter Three, Page 10</strong></span></p><p></p><p>Azten stands guard at the top of the stairs, his eyes scanning the hall for any intrusion by the bombardier beetles. Gregor offers to hoist Majakilar onto his shoulders, but Majakilar declines, instead taking the torch and prepares to enter the water first. Gregor lifts Alexi onto his shoulders and the two miners enter the dark water.</p><p></p><p>The water is cold and dirty from the uncountable number of years that it has remained stagnant. Kennth and Owen wait on the stairs at the water's edge as they watch Majakilar's torch waver and the flicker of its reflection off the water's surface. The large chamber is eerily silent except for the sound of lapping waves from Gregor and Majakilar's movement, their small splashes echoing and magnified.</p><p></p><p>They wade around the sort barrier and pass one of the pillars. Glancing at the fixtures attached to the pillar a few feet above the surface, Majakilar notices that they resemble nozzles protruding from the stone. His feet drag through a thick sludge and although he cannot see through the murky water, Majakilar feels a grill beneath his feet, a clogged drain.</p><p></p><p>The water begins to swirl around them, like a large undersea creature was swimming in circles around the two.</p><p></p><p>Majakilar raises his torch above the water, searching its depths as the current pushes him back and forth, threatening his balance. He catches a glimpse of two dark patches in the murk, coelesced from the debris, in the shape of two narrowed eyes a moment before the water wells up in front of him. A wave of dirty water crashes into Majakilar, dousing the torch with a loud hiss and plunging him, Gregor, and Alexi into darknesss.</p><p></p><p>The currents begin to grow stronger, spinning around them in a tightening vortex.</p><p></p><p>OOC -</p><p>Surprise Round</p><p>Water elemental's initiative, +1: rolled 17.</p><p></p><p>17 - Water elemental: Douses torch.</p><p></p><p>Round 1</p><p>Azten's initiative +1: rolled 2 (runoff with Gregor: rolled 9).</p><p>Alexi's initiative +2: rolled 18.</p><p>Owen's initiative +3: rolled 6.</p><p>Kenneth's initiative +2: rolled 6.</p><p>Majakilar's initiative +2: rolled 22.</p><p>Gregor's initiative +1: rolled 2 (runoff with Azten: rolled 10).</p><p>Order of Initiative:</p><p></p><p>22 - Majakilar</p><p>18 - Alexi</p><p>17 - Water elemental</p><p>6 - Owen</p><p>6 - Kenneth</p><p>2 - Gregor</p><p>2 - Azten</p><p></p><p><strong>Thanee</strong><p style="margin-left: 20px"></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px">“Great, just great. Does anyone have any light?”</p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px">Alexi jumps down into the water to free up Gregor's arms, and to get away from the spinning water, which likely won't do them any good.</p><p></p><p><strong>silentspace</strong><p style="margin-left: 20px"></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px">"What the heck was that?" Majakilar yells, backpedalling and trying to get back out of the water.</p><p></p><p><strong>Voadam</strong><p style="margin-left: 20px"></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px">"Back! Back! There is something in the water here! Majak and Alexi, back up the stairs! This way Majak." Gregor will try and bring the others back, his low light vision should be enough to see from the light of the party still on dry land.</p><p></p><p><strong>Azten</strong><p style="margin-left: 20px"></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px">Alerted by the yells of his compatriots, Azten pulls his warhammer out and turns towards the water to see if he can see what is causing the commotion.</p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px">OOC: Darkvision 60', Spot +3, Search +2</p><p></p><p><strong>silentspace</strong><p style="margin-left: 20px"></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px">"You know Kenneth, if we get out of here alive, you're going to have to make some songs about this stuff! I've only heard songs about bandits and orcs and goblins. Eye creatures and eyes floating in the water? Not so much!" Majakilar yells out as bumps into Gregor behind him and feels his friend grab him by the collar and start dragging him back.</p><p></p><p><strong>Mista Collins</strong><p style="margin-left: 20px"></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px">Hearing the yells of the group Owen grows concerned. "What is going on over there?! You guys alright?!"</p><p></p><p>As the torch is extinguished, the waters erupt into frothy chaos, illuminated only by Owen's lamp at the staircase. Waves begin to race back and forth within the chamber, splashing against the low wall and pillars surrounding them on all sides. In the dim light, reflected like a million twinking stars in the crests of the water's surface, Alexi and Majakilar wade through the water in a vain attempt to escape the creature of swirling water. Something beneath the surface pummels Gregor for a moment before a small amount of it seems to coalesce into a dark, missile-like shape and darts at full speed at the retreating adventurers.</p><p></p><p>Owen fumbles with the lamp, holding it high with a shaking hand to help the others see their way back. Kenneth pulls his crossbow from the belt at his side.</p><p></p><p>"Do not fear!" Kenneth says in a loud, strong, voice. "The great hero Bronin once battled the elements themselves and succeeded! We can do the same!"</p><p></p><p>OOC -</p><p>Round 1</p><p></p><p>22 - Majakilar: Withdrew back toward stairs.</p><p>18 - Alexi: Jumped into water. Withdrew toward stairs.</p><p>17 - Water elemental: Attacked Gregor, against AC 10 (flat-footed, no armor): miss. Followed Alexi.</p><p>6 - Owen: Shined light.</p><p>6 - Kenneth: Drew crossbow. Started inspire courage (+1 on attack and damage).</p><p>2 - Gregor: Moved toward stairs, grabbing Majakilar and Alexi, provoked an attack of opportunity from water elemental. Water elemental attacked, against AC 11: miss.</p><p>2 - Azten: Looked.</p><p></p><p><strong>Thanee</strong><p style="margin-left: 20px"></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px">“But first let us get out of the water. Whatever this is, hopefully it won't follow us on land.”</p><p></p><p><strong>silentspace</strong><p style="margin-left: 20px"></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px">"Aye, let's get out of the water! Keep singing Kenneth, maybe we can learn something from this Bronin!"</p><p></p><p><strong>Azten</strong><p style="margin-left: 20px"></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px">I know these things can be defeated in combat, but maybe there is another way. Has anyone seen any sort of valve mechanism? Perhaps this pool can be drained, elemental and all.</p><p></p><p>Alexi glances over her shoulder as she slogs through the dirty water in Majakilar's wake. In that brief glance, she can see a dark shape rapidly approaching, a bullet just beneath the surface with two dark eyes. She turns the corner around the submerged wall as Majakilar lifts himself from the water and Alexi focuses all of her strength into getting to the stairs. She pulls herself from the water just as the water splashes across the steps, the elemental thrashing at its missed opportunity.</p><p></p><p>Beyond the wall, Gregor is still trying to move his bulk through the water. The elemental pauses for a moment at the bottom of the stairs and darts off again in a straight shot toward the large miner. As the rest of the company watches from the stairs, the water elemental leaps over the top of the mostly submerged half-wall, its liquid body clear and translucent in the lamplight, and slams directly into Gregor.</p><p></p><p>He stumbles but remains on his feet, as the elemental seems to disintegrate against him on impact. Gregor takes another slow step through the water.</p><p></p><p>Owen, yelling encouragement to Gregor, notices Kenneth remove a crossbow bolt from his pocket and begin loading his weapon. Owen raises an eyebrow. "What are you going to do? Shoot the water? What good is that?"</p><p></p><p>Kenneth shrugs as he pulls back the crank and the bolt lodges in place. "Brolin fought the elemental of water at the Lake of Crystal Dreams without the help of magic. He used his bare hands and wrestled it to the ground." Kenneth aims his crossbow at the patch of water quickly assembling behind Gregor. "A crossbow bolt should work."</p><p></p><p>Kenneth pulls the trigger. A froth of water suddenly erupts from the surface as the bolt penetrates the elemental. Kenneth turns to Owen with a surprised look and a lopsided grin. "Wow. It did work, he says.</p><p></p><p>Owen stares at Kenneth, mouth agape.</p><p></p><p>Gregor turns to see the elemental wounded by Kenneth's bolt, and he eyes the mace at his side. The water elemental quickly recovers. Gregor lifts his mace high and slams it against the water's surface just as the elemental comes within range. His arms jar with the impact, but the elemental dodged his blow, diving deeper under the surface. Caught off guard, Gregor feels the elemental slam into his backside with the force of a solid club. The elemental splits, flowing past him on both sides, and as he watches in the dim light it once again reassembles. Gregor turns back and hurries past the submerged wall to the safety of solid rock. He manages to reach the stairs, leaving the pursuing elemental behind, swirling in a tight vortex at the foor of the stairs.</p><p></p><p>As Alexi, Majakilar, and Gregor try to catch their breath, the water behind them begins to rise a few feet above the surface, forming a roughly humanoid shape of pure water separate from the murk. Two dark blue, angular eyes narrow in the are that must be the creature's head.</p><p></p><p>"Of course, Bronin didn't defeat the water elemental in the water," Kenneth says, rapidly reloading his crossbow, "He tried to escape, at first, leaving the lake behind. The water elemental followed."</p><p></p><p>The water elemental surged forward, up the stairs, onto the solid rock, and amidst the adventurers in a cyclone of froth and mist.</p><p></p><p>OOC -</p><p>Round 2</p><p></p><p>22 - Majakilar: Moved up stairs, left water.</p><p>18 - Alexi: Withdrew to stairs, left water.</p><p>17 - Water elemental: Moved back to Gregor. Attacked Gregor: miss.</p><p>6 - Owen: Shined light.</p><p>6 - Kenneth: Loaded crossbow. Continued inspire courage (+1 on attack and damage). Attacked water elemental, +4: rolled 20, hit, 7 damage. Water elemental at hp-7.</p><p>2 - Gregor: Attacked water elemental, +6: rolled 15, miss. Moved to stairs, provoking an attack of opportunity from water elemental. Water elemental attacked: hit, 3 damage. Gregor at 9 hp. Left water.</p><p>2 - Azten: Offered advice.</p><p></p><p><strong>Azten</strong><p style="margin-left: 20px"></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px">If Azten finds himself in position to make an attack when the elemental surges up the stairs, he'll do so. Otherwise he will heal if needed.</p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px">OOC: Attack with warhammer: 1D8/ X3, or Cure Light as needed.</p><p></p><p><strong>silentspace</strong><p style="margin-left: 20px"></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px">"Smart fellow, that Bronin! Get out of the water first! Got it," Majakilar says, grinning.</p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px">Drawing a javelin, he throws it into the water, aiming for the eyes</p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px">ooc: +2 javelin (1d6+2)</p><p></p><p><strong>Mista Collins</strong><p style="margin-left: 20px"></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px">"Well if your bolt worked, then my daggers might also!" Owen says as he holds his lantern in his left hand, drawing his dagger with his right and throwing it at the elemental.</p><p></p><p><strong>Thanee</strong><p style="margin-left: 20px"></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px">Left with no other choice, Alexi pulls out her crossbow and loads it with a bolt.</p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px">“So this is some sort of freakish creature made out of water!?”</p><p></p><p><strong>Voadam</strong><p style="margin-left: 20px"></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px">Gregor smashes the water thing again, bringing his mace down sharply as the creature comes up the stairs after him.</p><p></p><p>OOC - This was silly of me. I haven't had the chance to really sit down and roll up the attacks and such for the rest of the encounter, so I've delayed until today. Turns out I didn't need that much time after all...</p><p>Majakilar turns on the slick stairs, struggling to keep his balance, and draws one of his javelins. The water elemental flows up the stairs, two dark eyes focusing on Owen immediately and the lantern he is carrying. The swirling spray soaking everyone on the stairs condenses for a moment around the humanoid figure of the elemental. One of its arms thickens and prepares to barrel into Owen like a battering ram.</p><p></p><p>Majakilar launches his javelin, aiming straight for the creature's eyes. The javelin hits its mark, slowing as it penetrates through the water elemental to land in the dark water in the chamber beyond with a small splash. A loose hole remains between the eyes of the water elemental for a brief moment, which quickly fade as the figure collapses as an inanimate pool of water to cascade down the stairs and back into the murky water.</p><p></p><p>Kenneth lowers his crossbow. "Not quite how Bronin did it, but it seems to have worked just as well."</p><p></p><p>OOC -</p><p>Round 3</p><p></p><p>22 - Majakilar: Readied action to attack water elemental.</p><p>18 - Alexi: Readied action to attack water elemental.</p><p>17 - Water elemental: Moved onto stairs, triggered readied actions. Majakilar attacked water elemental, +3 (+2, +1 inspire courage): rolled 18, hit, 6 damage. Water elemental at hp-13, dying. Water elemental defeated.</p><p></p><p>The others lower the weapons as well when no other creature's, of pulsating eyes or of pure water, appear. Azten takes one last glance down the hall to see that the beetles in the previous chambers seem to not been disturbed and examines Gregor's rapidly blossoming bruise on his back. Gregor waves him away.</p><p></p><p>"So," Kenneth speaks up, "Who wants to go down this time?"</p><p></p><p>OOC - If anyone would like to continue to explore the flooded chamber, go ahead and post your character entering the chamber and what part they might want to take a look at. If you'd rather not, post where you character would like to go next, instead.</p><p></p><p><strong>Azten</strong><p style="margin-left: 20px"></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px">Well. Hmm. </p> <p style="margin-left: 20px">Even accounting for Majakilar's excellent aim, that was easier than I expected. </p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px">too easy...</p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px">In further discussion, Azten would prefer to stay on the dry steps and guard against a beetle incursion and also make sure the only known exit from the room stays open.</p><p></p><p><strong>silentspace</strong><p style="margin-left: 20px"></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px">Majakilar breathes a sigh of relief when the javelin stops the water creature, apparently for good.</p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px">"Aye Azten, the last blow always seems like the easy one! Anyway, seeing as I'm already wet, I'll go in again. Anyone want to hold a torch for me? What do you say Gregor?"</p><p></p><p><strong>Voadam</strong><p style="margin-left: 20px"></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px">Gregor nods and rubs his thigh where the water smashed into him like a hammer "Hopefully it was just one of them in there. As you say, we are already wet so lets make sure it is clear then I'll start ferrying everybody." And so Gregor once again enters the water, mace at the ready this time.</p><p></p><p><strong>Thanee</strong><p style="margin-left: 20px"></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px">“Well, there's still a lot of water left, so let's just hope it remains calm this time,” says Alexi, then she follows Gregor's advice and steps back into the water, to wade over to the other side, her crossbow held ready, just in case. “There seems to be a lot of weird things down here, I wonder what else we will see...”</p><p></p><p><strong>Azten</strong><p style="margin-left: 20px"></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px">As the party splits itself in half again to wade through the water, Azten re-thinks his decision to stay at the door. What am I worried about? The beetles have been quite docile so far. So long as there is not a sliding door to seal this room off if the water starts to rise, it should be safe to leave and help explore the area.</p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px">Besides, I do not want to miss any new wonders...</p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px">OOC: Search door / top of the stairs area for any mechanism that might seal this room off. Search +2, additional +2 if it involves stonework.</p> <p style="margin-left: 20px">If nothing is found, then join the rest of the party investigating the platform, assuming someone will offer to transport him.</p><p></p><p><strong>Mista Collins</strong><p style="margin-left: 20px"></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px">"I have no objections to getting wet. Heck, we are underground and are adventurers!" with a smile to Kenneth Owen continues. "And I'm sure all the heroes you mention have had to get wet or dirty many times."</p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px">And with that Owen steps into the water and starts wading along with the rest of the group with his lantern in one hand and his dagger in the other. "I'll take care of the light source for now"</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="hbarsquared, post: 2842529, member: 4550"] [color=royalblue][b]Chapter Three, Page 10[/b][/color] Azten stands guard at the top of the stairs, his eyes scanning the hall for any intrusion by the bombardier beetles. Gregor offers to hoist Majakilar onto his shoulders, but Majakilar declines, instead taking the torch and prepares to enter the water first. Gregor lifts Alexi onto his shoulders and the two miners enter the dark water. The water is cold and dirty from the uncountable number of years that it has remained stagnant. Kennth and Owen wait on the stairs at the water's edge as they watch Majakilar's torch waver and the flicker of its reflection off the water's surface. The large chamber is eerily silent except for the sound of lapping waves from Gregor and Majakilar's movement, their small splashes echoing and magnified. They wade around the sort barrier and pass one of the pillars. Glancing at the fixtures attached to the pillar a few feet above the surface, Majakilar notices that they resemble nozzles protruding from the stone. His feet drag through a thick sludge and although he cannot see through the murky water, Majakilar feels a grill beneath his feet, a clogged drain. The water begins to swirl around them, like a large undersea creature was swimming in circles around the two. Majakilar raises his torch above the water, searching its depths as the current pushes him back and forth, threatening his balance. He catches a glimpse of two dark patches in the murk, coelesced from the debris, in the shape of two narrowed eyes a moment before the water wells up in front of him. A wave of dirty water crashes into Majakilar, dousing the torch with a loud hiss and plunging him, Gregor, and Alexi into darknesss. The currents begin to grow stronger, spinning around them in a tightening vortex. OOC - Surprise Round Water elemental's initiative, +1: rolled 17. 17 - Water elemental: Douses torch. Round 1 Azten's initiative +1: rolled 2 (runoff with Gregor: rolled 9). Alexi's initiative +2: rolled 18. Owen's initiative +3: rolled 6. Kenneth's initiative +2: rolled 6. Majakilar's initiative +2: rolled 22. Gregor's initiative +1: rolled 2 (runoff with Azten: rolled 10). Order of Initiative: 22 - Majakilar 18 - Alexi 17 - Water elemental 6 - Owen 6 - Kenneth 2 - Gregor 2 - Azten [b]Thanee[/b][indent] “Great, just great. Does anyone have any light?” Alexi jumps down into the water to free up Gregor's arms, and to get away from the spinning water, which likely won't do them any good.[/indent] [b]silentspace[/b][indent] "What the heck was that?" Majakilar yells, backpedalling and trying to get back out of the water.[/indent] [b]Voadam[/b][indent] "Back! Back! There is something in the water here! Majak and Alexi, back up the stairs! This way Majak." Gregor will try and bring the others back, his low light vision should be enough to see from the light of the party still on dry land.[/indent] [b]Azten[/b][indent] Alerted by the yells of his compatriots, Azten pulls his warhammer out and turns towards the water to see if he can see what is causing the commotion. OOC: Darkvision 60', Spot +3, Search +2[/indent] [b]silentspace[/b][indent] "You know Kenneth, if we get out of here alive, you're going to have to make some songs about this stuff! I've only heard songs about bandits and orcs and goblins. Eye creatures and eyes floating in the water? Not so much!" Majakilar yells out as bumps into Gregor behind him and feels his friend grab him by the collar and start dragging him back.[/indent] [b]Mista Collins[/b][indent] Hearing the yells of the group Owen grows concerned. "What is going on over there?! You guys alright?!"[/indent] As the torch is extinguished, the waters erupt into frothy chaos, illuminated only by Owen's lamp at the staircase. Waves begin to race back and forth within the chamber, splashing against the low wall and pillars surrounding them on all sides. In the dim light, reflected like a million twinking stars in the crests of the water's surface, Alexi and Majakilar wade through the water in a vain attempt to escape the creature of swirling water. Something beneath the surface pummels Gregor for a moment before a small amount of it seems to coalesce into a dark, missile-like shape and darts at full speed at the retreating adventurers. Owen fumbles with the lamp, holding it high with a shaking hand to help the others see their way back. Kenneth pulls his crossbow from the belt at his side. "Do not fear!" Kenneth says in a loud, strong, voice. "The great hero Bronin once battled the elements themselves and succeeded! We can do the same!" OOC - Round 1 22 - Majakilar: Withdrew back toward stairs. 18 - Alexi: Jumped into water. Withdrew toward stairs. 17 - Water elemental: Attacked Gregor, against AC 10 (flat-footed, no armor): miss. Followed Alexi. 6 - Owen: Shined light. 6 - Kenneth: Drew crossbow. Started inspire courage (+1 on attack and damage). 2 - Gregor: Moved toward stairs, grabbing Majakilar and Alexi, provoked an attack of opportunity from water elemental. Water elemental attacked, against AC 11: miss. 2 - Azten: Looked. [b]Thanee[/b][indent] “But first let us get out of the water. Whatever this is, hopefully it won't follow us on land.”[/indent] [b]silentspace[/b][indent] "Aye, let's get out of the water! Keep singing Kenneth, maybe we can learn something from this Bronin!"[/indent] [b]Azten[/b][indent] I know these things can be defeated in combat, but maybe there is another way. Has anyone seen any sort of valve mechanism? Perhaps this pool can be drained, elemental and all.[/indent] Alexi glances over her shoulder as she slogs through the dirty water in Majakilar's wake. In that brief glance, she can see a dark shape rapidly approaching, a bullet just beneath the surface with two dark eyes. She turns the corner around the submerged wall as Majakilar lifts himself from the water and Alexi focuses all of her strength into getting to the stairs. She pulls herself from the water just as the water splashes across the steps, the elemental thrashing at its missed opportunity. Beyond the wall, Gregor is still trying to move his bulk through the water. The elemental pauses for a moment at the bottom of the stairs and darts off again in a straight shot toward the large miner. As the rest of the company watches from the stairs, the water elemental leaps over the top of the mostly submerged half-wall, its liquid body clear and translucent in the lamplight, and slams directly into Gregor. He stumbles but remains on his feet, as the elemental seems to disintegrate against him on impact. Gregor takes another slow step through the water. Owen, yelling encouragement to Gregor, notices Kenneth remove a crossbow bolt from his pocket and begin loading his weapon. Owen raises an eyebrow. "What are you going to do? Shoot the water? What good is that?" Kenneth shrugs as he pulls back the crank and the bolt lodges in place. "Brolin fought the elemental of water at the Lake of Crystal Dreams without the help of magic. He used his bare hands and wrestled it to the ground." Kenneth aims his crossbow at the patch of water quickly assembling behind Gregor. "A crossbow bolt should work." Kenneth pulls the trigger. A froth of water suddenly erupts from the surface as the bolt penetrates the elemental. Kenneth turns to Owen with a surprised look and a lopsided grin. "Wow. It did work, he says. Owen stares at Kenneth, mouth agape. Gregor turns to see the elemental wounded by Kenneth's bolt, and he eyes the mace at his side. The water elemental quickly recovers. Gregor lifts his mace high and slams it against the water's surface just as the elemental comes within range. His arms jar with the impact, but the elemental dodged his blow, diving deeper under the surface. Caught off guard, Gregor feels the elemental slam into his backside with the force of a solid club. The elemental splits, flowing past him on both sides, and as he watches in the dim light it once again reassembles. Gregor turns back and hurries past the submerged wall to the safety of solid rock. He manages to reach the stairs, leaving the pursuing elemental behind, swirling in a tight vortex at the foor of the stairs. As Alexi, Majakilar, and Gregor try to catch their breath, the water behind them begins to rise a few feet above the surface, forming a roughly humanoid shape of pure water separate from the murk. Two dark blue, angular eyes narrow in the are that must be the creature's head. "Of course, Bronin didn't defeat the water elemental in the water," Kenneth says, rapidly reloading his crossbow, "He tried to escape, at first, leaving the lake behind. The water elemental followed." The water elemental surged forward, up the stairs, onto the solid rock, and amidst the adventurers in a cyclone of froth and mist. OOC - Round 2 22 - Majakilar: Moved up stairs, left water. 18 - Alexi: Withdrew to stairs, left water. 17 - Water elemental: Moved back to Gregor. Attacked Gregor: miss. 6 - Owen: Shined light. 6 - Kenneth: Loaded crossbow. Continued inspire courage (+1 on attack and damage). Attacked water elemental, +4: rolled 20, hit, 7 damage. Water elemental at hp-7. 2 - Gregor: Attacked water elemental, +6: rolled 15, miss. Moved to stairs, provoking an attack of opportunity from water elemental. Water elemental attacked: hit, 3 damage. Gregor at 9 hp. Left water. 2 - Azten: Offered advice. [b]Azten[/b][indent] If Azten finds himself in position to make an attack when the elemental surges up the stairs, he'll do so. Otherwise he will heal if needed. OOC: Attack with warhammer: 1D8/ X3, or Cure Light as needed.[/indent] [b]silentspace[/b][indent] "Smart fellow, that Bronin! Get out of the water first! Got it," Majakilar says, grinning. Drawing a javelin, he throws it into the water, aiming for the eyes ooc: +2 javelin (1d6+2)[/indent] [b]Mista Collins[/b][indent] "Well if your bolt worked, then my daggers might also!" Owen says as he holds his lantern in his left hand, drawing his dagger with his right and throwing it at the elemental.[/indent] [b]Thanee[/b][indent] Left with no other choice, Alexi pulls out her crossbow and loads it with a bolt. “So this is some sort of freakish creature made out of water!?”[/indent] [b]Voadam[/b][indent] Gregor smashes the water thing again, bringing his mace down sharply as the creature comes up the stairs after him.[/indent] OOC - This was silly of me. I haven't had the chance to really sit down and roll up the attacks and such for the rest of the encounter, so I've delayed until today. Turns out I didn't need that much time after all... Majakilar turns on the slick stairs, struggling to keep his balance, and draws one of his javelins. The water elemental flows up the stairs, two dark eyes focusing on Owen immediately and the lantern he is carrying. The swirling spray soaking everyone on the stairs condenses for a moment around the humanoid figure of the elemental. One of its arms thickens and prepares to barrel into Owen like a battering ram. Majakilar launches his javelin, aiming straight for the creature's eyes. The javelin hits its mark, slowing as it penetrates through the water elemental to land in the dark water in the chamber beyond with a small splash. A loose hole remains between the eyes of the water elemental for a brief moment, which quickly fade as the figure collapses as an inanimate pool of water to cascade down the stairs and back into the murky water. Kenneth lowers his crossbow. "Not quite how Bronin did it, but it seems to have worked just as well." OOC - Round 3 22 - Majakilar: Readied action to attack water elemental. 18 - Alexi: Readied action to attack water elemental. 17 - Water elemental: Moved onto stairs, triggered readied actions. Majakilar attacked water elemental, +3 (+2, +1 inspire courage): rolled 18, hit, 6 damage. Water elemental at hp-13, dying. Water elemental defeated. The others lower the weapons as well when no other creature's, of pulsating eyes or of pure water, appear. Azten takes one last glance down the hall to see that the beetles in the previous chambers seem to not been disturbed and examines Gregor's rapidly blossoming bruise on his back. Gregor waves him away. "So," Kenneth speaks up, "Who wants to go down this time?" OOC - If anyone would like to continue to explore the flooded chamber, go ahead and post your character entering the chamber and what part they might want to take a look at. If you'd rather not, post where you character would like to go next, instead. [b]Azten[/b][indent] Well. Hmm. Even accounting for Majakilar's excellent aim, that was easier than I expected. too easy... In further discussion, Azten would prefer to stay on the dry steps and guard against a beetle incursion and also make sure the only known exit from the room stays open.[/indent] [b]silentspace[/b][indent] Majakilar breathes a sigh of relief when the javelin stops the water creature, apparently for good. "Aye Azten, the last blow always seems like the easy one! Anyway, seeing as I'm already wet, I'll go in again. Anyone want to hold a torch for me? What do you say Gregor?"[/indent] [b]Voadam[/b][indent] Gregor nods and rubs his thigh where the water smashed into him like a hammer "Hopefully it was just one of them in there. As you say, we are already wet so lets make sure it is clear then I'll start ferrying everybody." And so Gregor once again enters the water, mace at the ready this time.[/indent] [b]Thanee[/b][indent] “Well, there's still a lot of water left, so let's just hope it remains calm this time,” says Alexi, then she follows Gregor's advice and steps back into the water, to wade over to the other side, her crossbow held ready, just in case. “There seems to be a lot of weird things down here, I wonder what else we will see...”[/indent] [b]Azten[/b][indent] As the party splits itself in half again to wade through the water, Azten re-thinks his decision to stay at the door. What am I worried about? The beetles have been quite docile so far. So long as there is not a sliding door to seal this room off if the water starts to rise, it should be safe to leave and help explore the area. Besides, I do not want to miss any new wonders... OOC: Search door / top of the stairs area for any mechanism that might seal this room off. Search +2, additional +2 if it involves stonework. If nothing is found, then join the rest of the party investigating the platform, assuming someone will offer to transport him.[/indent] [b]Mista Collins[/b][indent] "I have no objections to getting wet. Heck, we are underground and are adventurers!" with a smile to Kenneth Owen continues. "And I'm sure all the heroes you mention have had to get wet or dirty many times." And with that Owen steps into the water and starts wading along with the rest of the group with his lantern in one hand and his dagger in the other. "I'll take care of the light source for now"[/indent] [/QUOTE]
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