Round 1
The flying monsters swarm the group of heroes, the hum of rapidly beating wings gets louder as they descend:
- One heads to Mystie, but is stopped in its tracks by the alert Bubba, who snatches it from the air and thrashes the 1 foot long creature back and forth until it stops moving, dropping it to the ground, both wings grotesquely bent.
- Two head for Cruendithas, one burned by the acid spell he threw as the nasty critters cleared the rooftop. One connects, barbed legs holding it onto the gnome as it sticks it's nasty straw-like proboscis in deep and starts gulping blood.
- One flits around Hawk, but with little effect--the nimble halfling avoids the creature, leaving it suspended only a foot or two above her head for counterattack.
- Wahyu and Joren are not so lucky, and one of the nasty blighters attaches itself to each of them, immediately beginning a rather nourishing blood draw from their respective victims.
- The last two approach the mounted Dunkel, and Rawhide takes it upon himself to defend himself and his rider. However, Rawhide's back-kick misses, and both creatures find their marks, sinking long proboscis into both horse and rider. For his part, Rawhide does not kick Dunkel out of the saddle, but reaches around with his head and tries to pull the nasty monster off himself by mouth, but with no success.
As they begin to gorge themselves on blood, the little monsters turn darker red in color, and their victims lose a little color. Although, with Wahyu, it's kinda hard to tell. In the background, the shouting has spread to other areas of the stables, and you hear a distinct, "Get it off me get it off me ahhhh!" from around the stable you are in front of. Inside the stable, huge land-bound birds cry out as they peck at the flying monsters, a few have attacked, and at least one is pulled off and crushed in the powerful beak of the exotic mount.
Jonas is the first to respond, and with a piercing whistle that shatters the senses (and body) of the one that had bitten Joren. It falls from the young sorcerer, but not before having done some damage to his vitality. This left Joren to cast his armor spell and draw his crossbow for future use.
[sblock=Combat Stuff]This is my largest combat to date, so I'm getting used to this a bit as we go. Bear with me. Here we go:
Stirge 8: DEAD (mangled by Bubba)
Stirge 7: 5/5 hp
Stirge 6: 2/5 hp - Grappling Cruendithas
Stirge 5: 5/5 hp - Grappling Wahyu
Stirge 4: 5/5 hp
Stirge 3: 5/5 hp - Grappling Dunkel
Stirge 2: DOWN (mortally wounded by Jonas' whistle)
Stirge 1: 5/5 hp - Grappling Rawhide
AC/touch AC = 16 (12 while grappling)
CMD = 9
Mystie: 34/34 hp
Hawk: 26/26 hp
Wahyu: 14/14 hp, -1 CON, Grappled by Stirge 5
Cruendithas: 16/16 hp, -1 CON, Grappled by Stirge 6
Dunkel: 10/10 hp, -1 CON, Grappled by Stirge 3
Joren: 10/10 hp
Jonas: 31/31 hp
(Rawhide: 13/13 hp, -1 CON, Grappled by Stirge 1
Note: Reductions in max hp due to CON loss are accounted for: Dunkel had a 15 CON so he didn't lose any max hp.
Player actions taken (done for now):
Jonas: Action resolved - a 'ringing' success!
Joren: Action resolved, mage armor cast, crossbow drawn
Player actions not taken (your turn to act):
Dunkel: You face a DC 14 concentration check to cast bless if you still wish to do that. You have a +4 to the roll, and would need a 10. You may alternatively perform any of the other actions allowed, at your discretion. See 'Grappled Condition' below.
Cruendithas: You face a CMB or escape artist vs DC 9 to escape the Stirge and move as you've indicated. Also note the stable has rather large agitated birds in it and the stirges can fly in and out with apparent ease. You may also elect for another action--see 'Grappled Condition' below.
Wahyu: You are free to act, but see 'Grappled Condition' below.
Hawk: You are free to act without restriction.
Mystie: You are free to act without restriction.
This should get everyone straight. Once again, sorry for the confusion.[/sblock]
[sblock=Grappled condition]Both the grappler and the victim take -4 Dex, -2 attack rolls, -2 CMB checks (except to grapple or escape). May make no action requiring two hands. May not move. Spellcasting requires concentration check, DC=10+grappler's CMB+spell level.
When grappled, you may escape with CMB or escape artist check against the grappler's CMD (they have a 9) and then act normally. You may also try to grapple the grappler, allowing you to control the grapple. And you can also make one-handed actions, such as taking a weapon and attacking the grappler. More information on Grapple can be found pg 201 of Core Rulesbook.[/sblock]
[sblock=Knowledge Check by Jonas]These are Stirges--more or less giant mosquitos. The two most important things--First, they drain blood and ensuing life essence, making healing difficult. Second, they are filthy, and sometimes carry diseases that they can transmit through their 'bite'.[/sblock]
MAP COMING SOON
[sblock=Init]
