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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Goonalan" data-source="post: 5463427" data-attributes="member: 16069">Fallcrest- Finding DreusSession 12 Part 2And so we come on to the Kruthik's Last Stand, and it's only going to get harder for the PCs, although they of course don't know this yet. The PCs start by checking things out, sneaking forward a little- spying through gaps in the rocks and fungi, the sound of more clicking beyond, obviously more Kruthik, the PCs also spot a nest... or two. A plan, of sorts, is agreed upon, although...The plan to the best of my memory goes a little like this- burn down a bunch of fungi (see where the PCs are positioned on the map below), hold the line here, while other PCs attempt to attack through the holes in the rocks (again see map below). Those confused at this point raise your hand... well, my hands up.<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40504969@N08/5424959095/" target="_blank"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5260/5424959095_cdaf090600.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " data-size="" style="" /></a>Some pre-dead Kruthik.The plan seems to rely on the PCs, err... holding station and wailing on the Kruthik again.Obviously I don't say anything, I just let them do it the hard way- again.And so, here goes- the stand of fungi is incinerated ahead of time by Neb, allowing Resolute, Jeb & Maldor free reign.The Kruthik spot this event and scurry in, surprise lost, the PCs roll initiative- highest is a 12, that's Rogar I believe.The Kruthik Adults go for the Poison Spikes- Neb is crit for 11 damage and ongoing 5 Poison... Here follows the gist of events after, again I'm not going for the full write up.The fighters Resolute, Jeb & Maldor hold until the Kruthik (Hatchlings) close in, then batter them.Rogar moves in to the gap in the rocks, Lion's Den and any that approach (Hatchlings) are instantly obliterated, actually excellent call, he accounts for something like seven of the things in the next two rounds.Bob (Maldor) has to leave the game for thirty minutes.Neb is Clawed some more and almost Bloodied (we're still in the first round). He also fails his Poison save, but he does kill a bunch of Kruthik Hatchlings with his Scorching Burst.Resolute takes a Poison Spike crit.Lots more Kruthik arrive- like another 9 Hatchlings and another Adult.Jeb kills a Hatchling.Resolute kills two Hatchlings, including one with a crit. He also fails his saving throw for ongoing Poison damage.Rogar kicks Kruthik Hatchling arse.Neb targets a bunch of Kruthik Hatchlings and a nest with his Scorching Burst- six targets total including two on the nest, he hits the nest twice- missing everything else.Maldor crits a Kruthik Adult for 21 damage, and then is hit by a Poison Spike.Resolute, Jeb and Maldor are now fighting two Kruthik Adults, and hitting plenty.<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40504969@N08/5424959287/" target="_blank"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5259/5424959287_90652d383f.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " data-size="" style="" /></a>Umm... Kruthik, lots of Kruthik.And for all their efforts the PCs were facing 11 Kruthik Hatchlings and 2 Adults at the start, they're now facing- 12 Kruthik Hatchlings and 4 Adults... and one of the nests is half destroyed.Rogar accounts for many more Kruthik, he holds station with his Lion's Den.Neb lets loose his Scorching Burst, and destroys three Hatchlings, nope he doesn't target the nest...Maldor continues to take Poison damage, scratches a Kruthik Adult or two with his Shared Madness and then fails his saving throw.I drop the bomb, the Kruthik Hive Lord burrows up behind the PCs, a little motivational tool.<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40504969@N08/5424959543/" target="_blank"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5094/5424959543_23dcdc0e5a.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " data-size="" style="" /></a>Big Momma Kruthik.Note in the above picture the nests have yet to spawn more Hatchlings, rest assured another half-dozen, and possibly another Adult will be spawning very soon.Drake is Clawed, from something like full, to 7 HP left.The PCs panic a little.Drake- Umm..... guys.... problem here.Rogar- that's a big ant-lizard-thing!Neb- uh oh.Resolute is Clawed by two Adults for 17 and 9 damage, and down to 5 HP.Resolute- I need some healing here! Jeb Dimension warps in front of the Kruthik Hive Lord, uses his Booming Blade- 10 HP damage, only 150 HP left, and then (genius move) activates his Daily Repulsion Armour and pushes it back one square. Jeb more or less neutralises the Hive Lord from here on in, every time it gets close it's Pushed 1 back as an Immediate Reaction and cannot charge from only one away.Rogar is Clawed by an Adult Kruthik and bloodied, he drops his daily Masterful Spiral and does something like 22 damage to five of the creatures, killing 2 Hatchlings and reducing three of the Adults to less than 7 HP each. With his Ironsoul Flurry he finishes off one of the Adults.Neb- Go Rogar : ) Maldor is Clawed a little and nearly bloodied.Neb Scorching Bursts and destroys a nest and a Hatchling. Concentrating the mind of the Hive Lord.Drake is down to 5 HP before he casts Healing Word on himself, then Lance of Faith kills another Kruthik Adult. Oh and with his new Holy Symbol (Nimbus of Light) all of the PCs (in range) get Temp HP.Maldor- GO DIVINE team!!! Then the Hive Lord decides upon some new tactics, it unleashes a Poison Breath which leaves Rogar bloodied and Jeb just the right side of bloodied.Neb is hit by Poison Spikes and down to 15 HP.Maldor the same, except he's down to 8 HP.Resolute and Rogar fight on, more Lion's Den from the Halfling Monk.Neb is Clawed again and down to 11 HP.Maldor the same, he's down to 4 HP.Then Maldor is Clawed again and down to -1 HP.Then Neb is Clawed again and down to 6 HP.Neb Scorching Bursts, nope not on the nests but on a bunch of Kruthik Hatchlings that have just emerged and are heading for the PCs- he kills three of the four he targeted.Maldor takes ongoing Poison damage -6 HP, fails his save to throw the Poison off '4', and his Death Save '3'.Drake drops Healer's Mercy and all of the PCs are in range- close one.Only Maldor is bloodied now, although that doesn't last long as Drake follows up with a Healing Word on the Elven Avenger, with more Temp HP from his Nimbus of Light.Jeb- GOLDEN!!!The Hive Lord takes some more damage from Jeb.Rogar makes a run for a nest, gets there and goes crazy with a Steel Wind with Ironsoul Flurry- he takes three opportunity attacks en route (all from Hatchlings) and is missed every time. The nest takes three lots of damage- one more destroys it. The Halfling even manages to take down a Hatchling as well.Resolute is Clawed and bloodied again.Neb is Clawed for 18 points of damage- down to 4 HP. He moves up and unleashes another Scorching Burst, the second nest is destroyed, as is another Hatchling just emerging.Maldor is still taking Poison damage, although he's got 20+ HP still, and fails his save again '8'.The Hive Lord has to spend its Action Point to get an attack on Jeb, it misses, with a roll of... '5'.Neb is hit by a Poison Spike for 8 damage and reduced to -4 HP, he's down, and taking Poison damage.Resolute moves up, takes down a Hatchling and punches a newly arrived Adult, he catches another Adult with an Opportunity Attack and damages it also.Rogar Opens the Gates of Battle on the same Kruthik Adult and destroys it doing 25 HP damage with his Ironsoul Flurry.Neb takes 5 Poison damage, -9 HP, throws off the Poison damage, and passes his Death save.Drake makes it to Neb and uses his Healer's Gift- Neb is back up and on 13 HP.Suddenly there's only two Kruthik left, a badly injured Adult and the Hive Lord being continuously Pushed back by Jeb. The PCs not holding off either of the above run and stomp the last nest.The Kruthik flee, both are battered in the process, although the Hive Lord has still only taken 30-something points of damage (from a total of 160). The remaining Adult is destroyed before it can escape.Job done.That was a close call in places, a Level 6 Encounter (PCs Level +4)- Kruthik, Hatchling (Level 1 Minion) x30; Kruthik, Adult (Level 2 Brute) x5 & 'Big Moma' Kruthik, Hive Lord (Level 5 Elite Controller) – note partial XP award only.Obviously if the PCs had played it differently then both of these scenarios would have been at a much lower level, but who am I to say. Maldor and Neb briefly visit the 0 HP and below, but it all comes right in the end.The PCs search the place thoroughly, and discover an old camp site within the caverns, the CSI team gets on and they discover that whoever stayed here hasn't be back for some time, and a pocket knife, partially buried beneath the bed roll, it has some very hard to read initials on it, and has been much used.And that ends the 12th Session of play, it was a terror truth be told with all manner of madness with Skype & Maptools, and life getting in the way.Next Time... Some stats- I like stats.</blockquote>

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