Dragonlance Classics: Dragons of Despair

[GruTheWanderer]

To the best of my knowledge, we have lost Shalimar (and therefore Tanis). I will autopilot him for the remainder of the module, but I won't have him choose directions.

The exposed roots of ironclaw trees twist into the mud and swamp water. Vines, trees, and ferns block vision beyond a few feet. The ground is soaked and spongy. All is in shadow; sun shows only a brief glimmer through the jungle overhead.

Occasionally, ruined items jut from the underbrush: broken foundation stones, shattered urns, ancient carvings.

Ahead, thick vines woven into strong ropes stretch like a long spider web between two sections of land. Each end is knotted around several ironclaw trees. Slimy mosses cover the ropes.

Balance checks coming up. Please include your modifiers to Balance in your next post (armor, skill, ranks). Alternately, you can consider swimming across, although the swamp is less than inviting.

 

[rangerjohn]

OOC: We really need to find an alternative to both of these situtation. In the first Tanis is the leader, not one to autopilot. The second the only one I can see making a balance check under the conditions you describe is Tas. Certainly not Sturm or Caramon. Even Riverwind only has a +3, and thats probably high for the group.

 

[ErichDragon]

Taking one look at the slimy, tangled roots, Sturm knows he will never be able to stay dry.

"I will wade in and guard the flank of those that can make it across, above the water."

Swim +7 with armor

 

[Keia]

"I am not looking forward to this, brother," Raistlin commented as he viewed the terrain, apprehensively. Clearly exhausted, but stubbornly refusing to be the first to tire, Raistlin coughed into a handkerchief then returned it to the folds of his robes.
"Well, we had best get this over with," Raistlin said. What a day not to load levitate.

OOC: Balance +3 (Armor +0, Rank +0, Dex +3)

 

[Sen Udo-Mal]

Flint shakes his head and mutters "No way I be a crossing that..." Balance check unskilled +1 -2 Armor Pen, -1 eek and watches Sturm to see how deep the water is...

 

[Darkwolf]

"I don't like this either Raist. I think the water might be safer though."
Caramon looks at the water and the log and decides that swimming would be easier and follows Sturm out in the water.

Swim check: +12 - 9 for weight = +3

 

[Jarval]

Goldmoon steps forwards onto the rope bridgeway, cautiously edging her way across.

(Balance +2 (0 ranks, +2 Dex))

OOC: If we've lost Shalimar, I think we need to recruit a replacement player for Tanis. Tanis is rather vital if we're following the novels at all.

 

[Jemal]

OOC: What they said about Tanis, I agree with.

IC:
Tas skips out onto the bridge behind Goldmoon and starts working his way across.

(0 ranks, +/- 0 Armour, +4 Dex, +2 synergy from 8 ranks of Tumble = total +6)

 

[GruTheWanderer]

Ok, I'll post a recruitment thread for Tanis. In the meantime, I asked Keia to play both Tanis and Raistlin.

Riverwind, Goldmoon, Tanis, Raistlin, and Tasslehoff start across the bridge while Caramon and Sturm enter the water. Flint lags behind momentarily on the starting shore. His choice proves wise, for the water depth appears unpredictable, sometimes coming up the the shoulders of the taller humans.

Tasslehoff and Tanis make it sucessfully to the far side. Raistlin and Goldmoon have trouble with the slippery vines. Riverwind walks confidently until he hits a weak rope. Overbalancing, he falls from the bridge into the waters.

Unfortunately, it quickly becomes clear that something else lurks in the swamp. Four wraithlike shapes rise from the deep and move to surround the three men in the water.

Actions, please. This will be a quick combat.

 

[Sen Udo-Mal]

Flint will yell a battle cry at the top of his lungs to try and draw the wraith-things to him and away from those wading in the swamp. He will stand fairly close to the edge of the water but will not enter it. If any of them come towards him he will step back away from the water to draw them out (yelling and taunting all the while) and then attack them with axe and shield out. If nothing comes towards him and it looks like they are going to focus on those in the water, Flint will draw one of his +1 hand-axes to try and hit one and make it come after him... Flint is not going into the water UNLESS one of his friends is in dire need, and then he will take some deep breaths and steel himself as best he can...