Enemy Among Us (DM: Stringbean2142, Judge: TwoHeadsBarking)

[CaBaNa]

[sblock=OOC]

Each person grabs under an arm, like a briefcase. The legs drag, unless extra effort is put in to keep them from hitting the ground.

Veruzak wouldn't put in the extra effort to save Lt. Rayn's legs from bruising. His arms, legs, shoulders, ankles, and knees, are all likely to be bruised and stretched. When Rayn is untied, to avoid serious injury, he'll likely need to have each appendage slowly lowered, so the muscles don't snap.


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[Stringbean2142]

[sblock=OOC]Conversations I did not expect upon getting into this game after missing a day.


...

Yep, the intricacies of carrying someone who is hogtied, complete with graphical aids, was on the list! God, I love this game.[/sblock]

The Cabin

When Martelai first descends into the cellar, the gloom conspires to hide what may be there from him. He hears a quick scraping on the dirt floor, and sees the hint of a fallen lump in the center of the cellar floor.

When Atlas lights his sunrod, though, the cellar is cast in sharp relief, the flaring light baishing all shadows. The lump is revealed to be the body of a woman, no obvious signs of violence on her. Her breathing is fast and shallow.

Before Catein can make it all of the way down the steps behind Atlas, a stirring to one side of the stairs draws his attention. The floor is packed dirt and in this spot it almost looked like something has burrowed through it.

Before the warforged can do more than take this fact in, several somethings erupt in a swarm from the floor. The animals, which look like ten-legged spiders but are the size of large cats, slam into Atlas and ride the earthen warrior to the ground. Fast, sharp clicks fill the air as the spider-creatures scramble towards the fallen Atlas, the tips of the foremost legs begining to glow a ghastly, unnatural bluish-pink.

[sblock=Status]This isn't a combat encounter, although it looks a bit like one. The swarm of spider-like beasts has hit Atlas from the side and below and knocked him prone, but not actually attacked yet. No need for a map here; it's basically a box in the cellar.

Swarm
Swarm Attack aura 1; the parasitic swarm makes am overwhelming swarm attack against any enemy that starts its turn within the aura.
HP 37; Bloodied 18
AC 18; Fortitude 14, Reflex 15, Will 12
Immune Psychic; Resist half damage from melee and ranged attacks; Vulnerable 10 against close and area attacks
Overwhelming Swarm +7 vs. Reflex; 1d8 + 4 damage, and the target is immobilized until the start of its next turn.[/sblock]
[sblock=Kendrick]You hear something behind you, deeper into the cabin on the first floor. It's a scurrying sound, like a few small animals moving around in an unseen corner.[/sblock]
[sblock=Martelai]When the tips of the legs start to glow, that arcane energy you have been feeling redoubles in strength.[/sblock]
[sblock=Editted Update]Oh, and for combat advantage, the daft buggers just ambushed the middle of your group. You all have it in spades, except Atlas until he stands up. All but Kendrick are within the aura to start, but stepping back will remove you from the aura after this round.[/sblock]
The Path

On the path to the cabin, both Veruzak and Bell feel a dam burst as some of the arcane pressure that has been building in front of them is released. Lt. Rayn, trussed between them, moans in apparent pain and a bit of fresh blood flows from his nostrils. They're almost to the cabin; they can see the roof. One more bend, and they'll be there...

 

[ScorpiusRisk]

Bell feels the energy roll over her, almost forcing her to trip up.

"Radiant mother of the gods!" She exclaims pushing onward. "Faster! Faster!Cesia! Celia!"

[sblock=Imperia]"Hurry! Quickly!"[/sblock]

 

[Mal Malenkirk]

Kendrick is torn as he sees Atlas in trouble but he realizes things might be worse if the movements he heard from behind materialize themsleves into a new opponent. Beside, Catein was better equipped to take care of a swarm of vermin.

-''Help Atlas, Catein. There is something else back there. I am on it.'' he says calmly to the warforged.

 

[CaBaNa]

Oh good, you're awake. What's your name? Veruzak waits for the answer, then shifts the weight to one hand, and holds up three fingers, How many fingers?

He continues rushing forward, using two hands for Rayn. Not willing to speak much more, for fear of another coughing flt.

 

[Neurotic]

OOC: Can I curse the swarm or I have to curse individuals within?

Martelai looks half expectantly on the body, like it will rise every second. When Atlas is attacked he moves toward the woman, but focuses his power on the swarm. Cold blue light shines down on him carving shining rune in his forehead. At the same time light comes down on the swarm hurting some of it's members.

[sblock=Actions]
Please roll for me, I'm home babysittin and may be slower to post. Thank you.
Move toward the woman
Minor: curse the swarm
Standard: Dire Radiance 3 vs. Ref; 1d6+4 dmg. If swarm moves toward him on it's next turn it is hit with 1d6+4 again. Apply curse damage if hit.
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[skotothalamos]

Catein waves its hands at the swarm as they seem to spread out everywhere. They crawl around on Catein's legs and some of them seem to have figured out how to get inside the chainer. "Aaagh!" it cries as tiny spectral chains explode around Catein in all directions, seemingly grabbing at the spider-things, Atlas, and even Catein in a desperate attempt to remove the swarm. The chains never seem to solidify enough to affect anything, amounting to an ineffectual light show.

[sblock=ooc]
um, is Kendrick with us? I thought he went in on the first floor while Catein, Martelai, and Atlas went into the cellar...

Secondly, it's tough to deal with a swarm (which is most efficiently hit with area attacks) that is adjacent to the entire group without a map. I have no idea where to drop my burst 1 which hits "all creatures" in the burst, so I have no idea who I will potentially hit. I'm just going to assume there's a way to just attack the swarm, since I'm picturing something like this:

..M..
SA..
..C..

I would need a square off to the left of the swarm to not catch at least two of my allies in the burst. If there is no such space, I'll opt to set it to my left so it attacks just me and Atlas. I'll make those rolls just in case.

Swarm vs. Catein: 1d20+7=20 vs Reflex (11); hit for 12 damage. Catein is immobilized!

Grasping Shards on the swarm: 1d20+4=8 vs Fort (14) miss
(vs Atlas: 1d20+4=7 vs Fort (a lot more than 7, I'm sure) miss)
(vs Catein: 1d20+4=12 vs Fort (14) miss)
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[Atriden]

Atlas finds himself in a strange situation but doesn't waste his time thinking more about it, he knew after all that there was something dark in the cellar.
He rises and retaliates against these wrenched spiders with a slam from his shield, making them an easy target for Catein.
[sblock=Actions]
Move action: Stands up from prone
Standard Action: Attacks Swarm with furious smash and hits fort. 20 and does 4 damage, plus he grants Catein +2 bonus to attack and damage rolls on his next attack against that creature.
Minor: Uses perception to discover other hidden threats: got 15
[/sblock]
[sblock=To roadtoad]
Read my actions, you got now a +2 bonus to hit and damage rolls against the swarm. Wait til I have made my turn next round, I will try to move so you can better use your area attacks [/sblock]

 

[Stringbean2142]

[sblock=OOC]Yes, Kendrick's still upstairs. and your mini-map is pretty much what I had in mind, but your burst comment is right; next time, I'll make a map even for something like this. Sorry.[/sblock]
Atlas's counterattack drives the swarm back, several of their bodies crushing from the viscious blow. A strobe of starry fire answers Martelai's call, and several more of the swarm are cooked in their chitinous shells. The remainder of the swarm flees back under the ground, flowing into it like seals diving for the safety of the ocean. They leave behind their crushed and cooked brethren.

Upstairs, Kendrick hears more rustles, followed by the rasping sound of claws on wood. A spider-like creature comes into view, its head beaten in and its front laegs broken. A blue ichor drips from the tips of its broken forelegs, and its erratic movements suggest it's damage to the head has blinded or incapacitated it in some way.

Back in the basement, the three men can see the floor shifting in several spots, as though the spiders are moving around them. Encircling them, perhaps. None seem to circle the woman laying in the middle of the floor.

Out front, Veruzak and Bell have arrived. Lt. Rayn is still moaning, but it's the moans of a man trapped in a nightmare; he is still unconscious to the world around him.

[sblock=Kendrick]I'm letting you take 20 on this Nature check, just because it's a plot point. There is no creature you've ever heard of that looks like this thing in front of you. None. Bringing one back alive to Daunton might be interesting, from a fiscal point of view...[/sblock]
[sblock=Status]Atlas took an aura attack at the start of his turn and ate 12 points of damage. Rolls.

Martelai cursed the swarm (it's treated as a single opponent, so a single curse is all that's needed) and hits for 13 damage. Rolls.

The swarm runs, leaving several bodies behind. You get a success for having bagged dead bodies of the creatures, as you now have something to study.[/sblock]
[sblock=The Investigation]4 SUCCESSES

Clues/Facts:
- Over the last three months, animals and people have gotten progressively more violent on the Isle.
- Veruzak may have found something under the ground...
- Whatever is going on caused two men's brains to explode.
- The bodies of the victims so strange marks on the temple, neck, and ear areas. Bell and Veruzak confirm that the marks are arcane in nature.
- Subterranean spider-like creatures!

Possible Actions:
- Talk with Krill Koll about his episode.
- Talk with the witness that are still around of the events.
- Investigate the bodies of Rand, Mart, and the archers. Arcana, Nature, Heal, or give me a good reason for something else. Different skills may reveal different things.
- Talk with Rayn and the scouts once they have regained consciousness.
- Investigate Hob's cabin.[/sblock]

 

[CaBaNa]

MARTELAI! Veruzak yells, Bell, Protect Rayn. The eladrin drops Rayn and moves towards the only place Martelai could be, rushing past Kendrick. Kendrick.

[sblock=OOC]

Veruzak will move directly to the cellar.

If he makes it there, a perception check on the woman, and then if he still has his standard action... KABOOM!

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