[IC] Industrygothica's "The Hive"

[industrygothica]

Courage opens the door and is pushed back by the stench in the room. Excrement covers the walls, and several bales of rotting hay and mounds of bones lie in a heap on the floor. The carcasses of two goats and a humanoid dressed in half-plate armor lie against the far wall. Courage feels an acidic burning in her throat, but it doesn't seem to bother her much.

Two giant bombardier beetles skitter to the back of the cavern as you open the door.

 

[jkason]

Shaimon Hu'u, barbaric human druid

Courage opens the door and is pushed back by the stench in the room. Excrement covers the walls, and several bales of rotting hay and mounds of bones lie in a heap on the floor. The carcasses of two goats and a humanoid dressed in half-plate armor lie against the far wall. Courage feels an acidic burning in her throat, but it doesn't seem to bother her much.

Two giant bombardier beetles skitter to the back of the cavern as you open the door.

Shai draws his bow but holds back. "More bugs? But I think I might actually recognize this kind..."

[sblock=OOC]Know: Nature +10[/sblock]

 

[industrygothica]

Shai draws his bow but holds back. "More bugs? But I think I might actually recognize this kind..."

[sblock=OOC]Know: Nature +10[/sblock]

Shai recognizes the creatures as bombardier beetles (Knowledge: Nature=15), a type of vermin that is known to fiercely defend its home of carrion and offal. He knows that they have type of natural defense, but can't place it, though Courage's raspy cough may have something to do with it.

 

[DrZombie]

"Let me have the front line for this fight, friend,"Jonays says.
"May Heironeous grant me strength."
(cast bull's strength on himself, then charge)

 

[industrygothica]

Jonas moves forward and calls on his newfound faith for strength. Heironeous answers his plea and grants him use of Bull's Strength.



--------------------------------------------
ooc: As it works out, Jonas rolled the highest initiative among the PC's, so nobody has to delay to grant his request.

Round 1

20 Bombardier beetles (2): acid spray vs. Jonas (fort 19+6=pass); vs. Courage (fort 18+9=pass); (only one attacks; the other stays against the far wall)
16 Jonas Cleighton 31/36 (blessed 21 rounds; bull's strength 30 rounds): charges and attacks (14+11+1=hit, 1d8+5=8 damage)
12 Dyspeer 20/29 (blessed 21 rounds): commanded to hold
6 Courage Bloodstone 34/34 (blessed 21 rounds):
5 Shaimon Hu'u 22/32 (blessed 21 rounds; barkskin 276 rounds): casts summon nature's ally I to summon an eagle
3 Tanith Dathius 18/20 (blessed 21 rounds): moves to flank, then attacks (14+2+2+1=hit, 1d4=4 damage)

 

[Mista Collins]

If the opportunity arises, Tanith flanks one of the beetles with her dagger in order to assist a party member.

 

[DrZombie]

Jonas drops his shield and grips his longsword with two hands, trying to cleave the beetle in two.

 

[industrygothica]

Waiting on Courage and Shai before I post Tanith's actions, just to make sure there is something there to flank.

 

[jkason]

Shaimon Hu'u, barbaric human druid

"Let me have the front line for this fight, friend,"Jonays says.
"May Heironeous grant me strength."
(cast bull's strength on himself, then charge)

"No, wait. These aren't part of the hive. They naturally live in this kind of filth. They're only a threat if we--" Shai's voice weakens as Jonas charges, "...threaten their territory."

Sighing, Shai points his finger to his side, holding Dyspeer at bay and hopefully out of range of the beetle's natural defenses.

Instead of loading his bow, he pulls out a sprig of holly. Holding it in the air and waving it up and down something like a fan, he begins an odd, screeching call, his eyes focused on the space just above and behind the beetle who has engaged his friends.

[sblock=OOC]Free action to give Dyspeer the Heel command.

Subbing out Entangle for Summon Nature's Ally I. Summoning an Eagle, which will appear behind the beetle (i.e. flanking if possible) in melee and attack on Shai's initiative next round.[/sblock]

 

[industrygothica]

Jonas charges the giant bug and carves an ooze-spewing hole in its side. Amazingly, it still isn't enough to kill the thing.

A reluctacnt Shai commands his wolf to hold and summons an eagle to appear on the other side of the beetle.

Tanith moves up, and together her and the eagle flank the giant insect. She buries her dagger into the creature, but still it stands.


--------------------------------------------
Round 2

20 Bombardier beetle: attacks Jonas (miss)
20 Bombardier beetle: acid spray vs. Tanith (14+3=pass)
16 Jonas Cleighton 31/36 (blessed 20 rounds; bull's strength 29 rounds): drop his sheild and attacks with two hands (10+7+2+1=hit, 1d8+6=11 damage); bombardier beetle falls to the ground.
12 Dyspeer 20/29 (blessed 20 rounds): commanded to hold
6 Courage Bloodstone 34/34 (blessed 20 rounds): attacks bombardier beetle (16+7=hit, id8+1=7 damage)
5 Shaimon Hu'u 22/32 (blessed 20 rounds; barkskin 275 rounds): directs eagle
5 summoned eagle: attacks bombardier beetle (talons 3+3=miss; 14+3=hit, 1d4=2 damage; bite 7-2=miss)
3 Tanith Dathius 18/20 (blessed 20 rounds): attacks last bombardier beetle (9+2+1=miss)

One bombardier beetle remains, approximately 10 feet behind the other against the far wall.