Ambush! (Surprise Round & Round 1)
Krixle rushes toward the west corridor with Daragix following behind at a more cautious pace. Aurix and Zaryz bring up the rear, still closer to the pit than their other two comrades. Krixle has moved about 10 feet into the hall with Daragix about 25 or so feet behind. In an instant, the air around Krixle and Daragix swirls with obfuscating shadows that not even darkvision can adequately penetrate. Flapping sounds fill the air. Two strange monsters detach themselves from the ceiling, from where they had previously lurked unseen, and swoop toward Krixle and Daragix!
[sblock=Monster Pic]
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Despite being surprised -- or perhaps because of the reflexive crouch he drops into -- Krixle is untouched by the creature attacking him. It swoops down, its tentacles flaying, but to no avail. Daragix, however, doesn't prove so fortunate. The other beast slams into Daragix's chest, its tentacles attempting to wrap around his neck and head. Daragix is able to raise his shield just enough to prevent that creature from grappling his head.
Before anyone can react, the beasts renew their assault, and a third one drops from hiding, aiming at Krixle. This time, Krixle is overwhelmed. Both monsters slam into him, their tentacles flailing and tearing. One creature engulfs Krixle's head, its tentacles drawing tight. The other wraps itself around his shoulder, chest, and neck. Although the monsters are small, they are terrifically strong. Bones
crack!, breath rasps from Krixle's lungs, and then the whiptail scout drops to the floor unconscious! Meanwhile Daragix keeps up his desperate defense against his attacker. Its tentacles raise more welts, draw more blood, but the beast fails to get its deadly grip on Daragix.
[sblock=OOC]
Ouch! Krixle got brutalized! The party was surprised by the creatures. The first set of attacks represent the surprise round. The second set represent the monsters' normal actions in initiative order. Zaryz, Daragix, and Aurix still get to act this round. I've amended the
map to show starting positions and the area of
darkness (which imposes a 20% miss chance as normal). The two monsters not shown on the map are grappling/constricting Krixle.
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[sblock=For Zaryz]
Zaryz recognizes the creatures as darkmantles. He pretty much knows everything there is to know about them.
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[sblock=Combat Box]
Initiative Order: Monsters, Krixle, Zaryz, Daragix, Aurix
Krixle: 16 nonlethal, 15 lethal.
Daragix: 8 nonlethal, 4 lethal.
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[sblock=DM's Dice Rolls]
Party Spot Checks (Krixle, Aurix, Daragix, Zaryz):
1d20-1=12, 1d20+6=12, 1d20+2=5, 1d20=15.
Party Initiative Checks (Krixle, Aurix, Daragix, Zaryz):
1d20+4=14, 1d20+1=8, 1d20+1=14, 1d20+1=14.
Monsters Initiative Check:
1d20+4=22.
Monsters' 1st Attack/Damage vs. Krixle & Daragix:
1d20+5=9, 1d4+4=8, 1d20+5=25, 1d4+4=6.
Crit Check vs. Daragix:
1d20+5=10, 1d4+4=6.
1st Monster vs. Daragix Grapple Checks:
1d20=2, 1d20+4=23.
Zaryz's Knowledge Check:
1d20+5=22.
Monsters' 2nd Attack/Damage vs. Krixle & Daragix:
1d20+5=25, 1d4+4=6, 1d20+5=21, 1d4+4=8, 1d20+5=23, 1d4+4=6.
Crit Check vs. Krixle:
1d20+5=18, 1d4+4=6.
Monsters vs. Krixle Grapple Checks:
1d20=13, 1d20-2=9 &
1d20=6, 1d20-2=-1.
Constriction Damage vs. Krixle:
1d4+4=6, 1d4+4=5.
Monster vs. Daragix Grapple Check:
1d20=5, 1d20+4=11.
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