[LANAI] The Rod of Seven Parts: Into the Crucible

[pallandrome]

Wyleck shrugs, not daring to look away from the source of the sound. "Then he'll wait until he feels it's appropriate. He's not stupid."

 

[CanadienneBacon]

After Wyleck's warning, everyone hears heavy footfalls. The rocks embedded amidst the dirt of the cavern shudder and groan at the impending approach of the apparently large creature. Yssal skitters to the side as a stalactite icicle falls from the low ceiling and narrowly misses skewering his tail. Looking up, Rowan and Wyleck spy an oddity on the cavern ceiling. Several of the stalactites are moving. A cluster of three, in particular, are headed to the southern patch of ceiling directly above Arden's head. Just then, the heavy footfalls cease and are replaced by the sound of labored breathing and the scrape of fur and hide against rock. Judging by the muffled but loud nature of the sounds, something very large is trying to squeeze through a narrow passageway, and whatever it is will come up via the tunnel near where Arden is lying in wait. Dirt clods and shards of rock fall to the cavern floor, shaken loose by the rumbling approach of the creature.

[sblock=Phud]Phud moves all the way up to C10 and sees that the cavern is perhaps a network of caves. The section in which he stands is composed of more rock than dirt. The ceiling is a low 8 feet and there are a bevy of stalagmites littering the floor. Between two of these rock columns, Phud spots a very large creature pass by the tunnel intersection dead ahead. The creature is easily taller than Phud and is forced to stoop to accomodate its hulk in the low cave. Phud catches a glimpse of a hooked beak on the creature's head.[/sblock]

 

[Rhun]

Rowan hisses at his companion, trying to keep his voice low so as not to be overheard. "Hssss...Arden. Look out above you."

 

[Brain]

Arden looks up, expecting to see something that she doesn't want to see. She hunches down and gets ready to roll away.

 

[Guest 11456]

Phud : Male Half-Orc Sorcerer 1

[sblock]Phud moves through the opening and follows behind the creature at what he figures is a safe distance (about 50 feet). He tries to move as stealthily as possible.[/sblock]

 

[hafrogman]

Rhys looks up as Rowan warns Wyleck of the movement above them. As his own eyes swing towards the ceiling, he tightens his grip on his spear and tries to figure out what is up there.

[sblock=ooc]Hmm. . . can you ready a spear against a dive?

enemy

  ^            ^
  |            |
  S            S
  P    --->    P
  E          enEmy
  A            A
  R            R

[/sblock]

 

[CanadienneBacon]

A cluster of three stalactites scuttle another couple of inches across the ceiling and, when centered over Arden, launch themselves in a free fall. The stalactites' brownish-gray icicle-like points fly for Arden, and she has time before dodging to note that the stalactites aren't mere rock at all but creatures well-adapted to their environment, complete with a white underbelly and two small, barely visible eyestalks protruding from their flanks. Thanks to Rowan's timely warning, Arden handily dodges two of the stalactites but a third drops a beat later and mpales itself into her shoulder for 5 points of damage. Arden feels her shoulder go white hot with pain as the creature leaches some sort of acid into the open wound.

Arden had plenty of time to react and got a nice bonus to her AC because of the foreknowledge, but the third stalactite rolled a natural 20 on its attack.

Rhys warns Wyleck of the stalactites scuttling about on the ceiling and then clenches his spear tighter. Pointing the sharp tip of the spear upward at an angle designed to impale anything that drops down from above, Rhys stands his ground, as does Wyleck. Yssal's ears prick and the dog's head whips to the left, to the passageway near Arden. A low growl escapes the dog's throat.

Initiative

Arden 22
Wyleck/Yssal 17
Big creature 17
Rowan 13
Phud 5
Rhys 4
Ceiling creatures 1

 

[Brain]

Arden lets out a quiet but indignant noise. She moves away from the two creatures on the ground, getting next to some of her friends. She then drops her crossbow and tries to get the thing off her shoulder. She gestures frantically, looking for help if she can't get the thing off by herself.

 

[Rhun]

Rowan grabs hold of the thing imbeded in Arden's shoulder, hoping to yank it out before it can do anymore damage.

 

[pallandrome]

Wyleck, counting on Yssal to guard his back, leaps to grab one of the stalagtites that are stuck in the ground with his burning hand, hoping to scorch it before it can escape.