[IC] Industrygothica's "The Hive"

[DrZombie]

"This place is just crawling with ants." The human remarks in a dry tone."I should have brought my big boots"

 

[jkason]

Shaimon Hu'u, barbaric human druid

As the giant ant moves in again on Courage, Shai and his faithful Dyspeer move in and bring the thing down in unison, a near perfect kill. The others are caught open-mouthed with their weapons raised as the thing falls to the ground motionless.

Shai straightens up, a child-like grin on his face. "Good job, Dyspeer," he says, then holds up his warhammer to show the others. "Told you it was good for squashing bugs."

While the last remnants of life are leaving the abominable ant, the party can hear a dragging sound coming from the tunnel, and Dyspeer begins to bark relentlessly. Any who look down the tunnel will see what appears to be the carcass of a dire boar being dragged down into the tunnel. The carcass fills the entire tunnel, and whatever is pulling it from the other side is having a time of it.

"Hush, Dyspeer," Shai hisses, calling the wolf to him. He looks to the others, uncertain as he says, "More bug squishing, maybe?"

 

[Mista Collins]

"If these creatures act like regular ants, we might find a few of these holes in this area. I think it best we hurry forward."

 

[Kobold Stew]

"That boar may be a blessing to us," says Courage, her slender finger poiting at the corpse blocking the path. "Depending on how their tunnells are organized, it may be possible to keep the body between us and any hostile insects. With luck, we may be able to avoid some killing."

Courage picks up her bow, and advances on the dire boar corpse, keeping her axe in hand. If the corpse is budging at all, she will stand there, prepared to follow it on its journey into the cave.

 

[industrygothica]

The tunnel is about 5 feet in diameter, and slopes at a sharp angle down and to the west, in the direction of the tower. You can get down, but it'll take a little effort, and probably both hands.

 

[DrZombie]

"Uhm, guys, do we really want to go down into that tunnel? I'd rather have them come at me in the open."

 

[jkason]

Shaimon Hu'u, barbaric human druid

"Uhm, guys, do we really want to go down into that tunnel? I'd rather have them come at me in the open."

Shai shrugs as he trots back and picks up his dropped bow, stowing it over his shoulder as he, too, moves to behind the boar with Courage.

"In the open, they can encircle us. Maybe this way we can at least block them off if the come in a big group? And this seems to be the only way in, doesn't it?"

 

[industrygothica]

As the group contemplates climbing down the tunnel (which will have to be single-file, at that), the dire boar carcass lurches away from you in one final pull and slides out the other end of the tunnel, landing on the floor of a small cave with a disgusting plopping sound. Another huge ant gazes at you from within, and is apparently what was pulling the thing inward. It quickly begins its ascent back through the tunnel in your direction.

ooc: The and will be at the mouth of the tunnel, but still inside of it at Jonas's initiative. So basically the only way you can get to it is from a direct frontal attack. However, it is crawling upwards, which technically means you all are on higher ground, so I'll give everyone a +1 bonus to attack until it exits the tunnel completely.

** Round 1 **​

12 Jonas Cleighton: delays, waiting for the ant to emerge
11 Tanith Dathius: makes room for the melee fighters
10 Shaimon Hu'u:
10 Dyspeer:
7 Giant ant: emerges from the tunnel
Jonas Cleighton: attacks with his rapier (10+2+6=hit, 5 damage)
6 Courage Bloodstone: attacks with her axe (12+2+7=hit, 3+1=4 damage)

 

[Mista Collins]

Tanith steps aside to allow those who are more capable at melee combat to advance.

 

[DrZombie]

"Get back" Jonas shouts. "Let's surround it as it emerges."
He falls back and takes up flanking position at one side of the exit, holding his rapier at the ready.