Dr. Si's Curse of the Crimson Throne - Beta Group

The derro opens the door of the cages, and another stirge flaps out. Shrieking in terror, the little blue man pushes against a section of wall that turns out to have been a hidden door. Before he has a chance to enter the tunnel that is revealed behind it, Majenko and Manachan take advantage of his distraction to strike at him.

Manachan's bata strike true, drawing a bead of blood. Majenko's stinger sinks into the back of the derro's neck and it slumps to the ground. The two then confront the airborne stirges, flapping around viciously. Neither aasimar or pseudodragon manage to hit the agile creatures.

Dj'hân's air blast swirls around the inhabitants of the room. The two airborne stirges swoop up and out of the blast, smoking from the wing-tips. The creatures feeding on the corpse, and the corpse, and the table the corpse is on, are all burned and blackened by the blast. The stirges shrivel up into black crispy critters.

The two airborne stirges dive down at Manachan and Majenko. One locks its legs onto the pseudodragon, the two creatures flapping leathery wings in an aerial grapple. Manachan ducks aside as the other swoops upon him.

Meanwhile, nothing approaches down the other tunnel.

[sblock=OOC]
Derro opens cage and tries to flee, provoking AoOs from Manachan and Majenko.

Manachan AoO: 19+3=22, hit for 2 damage.
Majenko AoO: 15+6, hit for 1 damage plus poison. Derro fails Fort save.

Majenko attack on stirge (#4): 9+6=15, miss
Manachan attack on stirge (#5): 8+3=11, miss

Dj'hân fire attack, 2d6=7. Both stirges make their Reflex saves, but the other stirges are dead.

Stirge#4 attacks Majenko: 22 touch attack, now grappled.
Stirge#5 attacks Manachan: 10 touch attack, misses.
[/sblock]

[sblock=OOC]It's possible that both stirges and Majenko have been forced to the ground with their aerial acrobatics. "If you are flying using wings and you take damage while flying, you must make a DC 10 Fly check to avoid losing 10 feet of altitude." Also, "If you are using wings to fly and you collide with an object equal to your size or larger, you must immediately make a DC 25 Fly check to avoid plummeting to the ground". Since they're likely less than ten feet above the ground and they have wings then they're unlikely to suffer damage from the fall.[/sblock]Locked together, the pseudodragon and the stirge fall to the ground in a tangle of wings and limbs. Wrapping his long sinuous tail around the stirge's body, Majenko tries to tear the creature apart with his gnashing teeth and barbed stinger while rolling around on the floor.

OOC: Melee sting +6 (1d3–2 plus poison, Fort DC 14), bite +1 (1d2–2)

Stepping into the room, Dj'hân carries the tumultuous winds forward with him. Cautiously following the movements of the two remaining stirges, the urchin directs the desiccating sirocco to envelop the vicious creatures while leaving the derro and body on the table unscathed.

OOC: Angling to catch the two stirges as described above in a 30-ft line of fire; 2d6 damage; Ref DC 14 half.

When nothing emerges from the tunnel on his side, Edmond slowly advances and peeks into the room, darting his head forward and then back again immediately.

OOC: Expertize and defensive action. NOTE: Edmond should be two squares to the left of his current position (left on the picture, not his left). Step 5' and peek around the corner

Manachan watches in fascination as the little blue man collapses under the power of the Pseudodragon's sting, then diverts his attention to the giant mosquitoes trying to separate him from his divine blood.

[sblock=Actions]Flurry of Blows (with his bata) against one of the stirges.[/sblock]

[sblock=Stat Block] [/sblock]

Ambrus said:

It's possible that both stirges and Majenko have been forced to the ground with their aerial acrobatics. "If you are flying using wings and you take damage while flying, you must make a DC 10 Fly check to avoid losing 10 feet of altitude." Also, "If you are using wings to fly and you collide with an object equal to your size or larger, you must immediately make a DC 25 Fly check to avoid plummeting to the ground". Since they're likely less than ten feet above the ground and they have wings then they're unlikely to suffer damage from the fall.

Click to expand...

OOC: I already rolled for that, although I didn't put it in the OOC details above. A DC 10 isn't hard to beat when one creature has +15 and the other +8. I wouldn't really class the grapple as a "collision" as such, more of a docking maneuvre.

However, it would seem reasonable that if one combatant decided to stop flying, it would drag the whole tangle down to the ground. If you want Majenko to do so, the stirge would not be able to support the weight of both of them (but being stupid would also not let go of potential food). No damage in any case.

[sblock=OOC]I have trouble imagining that two flapping creatures locked together in a grapple could successfully stay airborne for long. The dynamics of flight are tricky enough without being shackled to another flyer, beating wings against each other while working at cross-purposes. Besides, according to the PRD "Grappled creatures cannot move" and "In addition, grappled creatures can take no action that requires two hands to perform." If they can't freely use two hands in a grapple, I don't think it's a stretch to say that they can't also use both wings to fly.

At the very least I'd say that it's worse than a collision because it's a persistent hindrance, likely requiring a successful Fly check from each grappler per round of grappling for the pair to stay airborne.

For that reason I'd be content to assume both creatures have fallen to the ground.[/sblock]

What happens if two fliers try to grapple. Ground it is. (Check at about 1 minute for a spectacular plummet!)

Nice shot. But I wouldn't equate the two. Majenko is a dragon and has SIX not FOUR limbs so he can grapple and fly at the same time which cannot be said for stirge.

That said, I don't think Majenko would WANT to fight in the air since he's more capable then the bird on the ground

Manachan unleashes a rapid flurry of blows with his bata, but only manages to hit the nimble stirge once, batting it away from him. On the ground, Majenko writhes with his stirge, trying to connect with sting and teeth in the rolling melee. His tiny needle-like teeth tear into the stirge but it doesn't let go.

Dj'hân sends another sirocco through the room. Although the flying stirge tries to swoop out of the blast of air, it's cooked corpse drops to the ground. The one attached to Majenko doesn't stand a chance, and the pseudodragon is able to disentangle himself from the charred body with ease.

Meanwhile, down the other tunnel, Edmond cautiously steps forwards... into a hail of crossbow bolts. One embeds in the soft tunnel wall next to him, the other slams into his shoulder. Dark ichor drips from the head, and Edmond feels a moment of nausea.

The culprits are two derro - small blue men with white eyes and hair, three fingers and three toes. They are crouched behind a table on the far side of the room and, after firing their bolts, retreat through a section of wall that opens at their touch.

[SBLOCK=OOC]
Manachan flurry of blows: 17+2=19, hit for 2 damage. 4+2, miss.

Majenko: Sting 2+6=8, miss. Bite 14+1=15, hit for 1 damage.

Dj'hân's cone of fire does 8 damage, enough to kill both stirges even with a successful save.

Majenko's sleep venom, as a Pathfinder poison, allows the derro a save every minute against its effect.

Meanwhile, on the other side, Edmond loses initiative to two derro with readied crossbows.

Derro #1, miss
Derro #2, hit for 8 damage plus poison. Edmond makes Fortitude save.

Derro then move into secret tunnel (leaving the door open)
[/sblock]

Hearing the crossbow fire,(and probably Edmonds grunt from being hit ) Brindom rushes down the corridor to see if he can help the warrior. Noticing the bolts all about he asks, "Are you alright, Edmond?"

[sblock=actions]
move action- move down corridor
standad action- if allowed cast cure light wounds, once bolt is out of shoulder [/sblock]

[sblock=stats]
HP: 37/41
AC: 20 T: 13 FF: 17
Club attack: +1 to hit, 1d6 dmg, critx2, range 10'
[/sblock]

[sblock=spells]
Orisons: Mending, Detect Magic, Create Water, Read Magic
1st lvl: Remove Fear, Cure Light Wounds, Bless, + Protection from Evil
2nd lvl: Restoration,Lesser, Hold Person, + Shield Other
Abilities:
Channel Energy(living): 4/5 (2d6)
Calming Touch: 5/5
Touch of Good: 5/5 [/sblock]