Round 2 Summary, and Round 3
Expecting an attack from the bug-weasel that's eyeing the doorway, Tuggle drops into a crouch and gets ready to avoid anything coming his way. Standing over the gnome as he peers around the doorway, Marduke asks for a rope and prepares to haul himself down off the bridge if one is presented. Across the room, one of the weasels readies itself for an action that never comes -- and the puddle of thick grease coating the bridge vanishes.
Down on the rubble-strewn floor, the ferret-creature in melee with Artemis skitters back out of reach and twirls a small web of magical energy into the barbarian. As it settles over him, Artemis's skin blanches white, his eyes grow wide and frenzied, and he turns to flee.
While the rush of primal fear --
run! hide! run! survive! -- courses through his mind, Artemis somehow manages to keep some of his wits about him: as he hops over the chasm and runs beneath the bridge, he draws a gremlyn grenade from his belt. He flees until he reaches his first obstacle: the wall, very close to Tal.
His attention focused on the towering cube of slime that is about to engulf Tal, Cupric lets fly with
silent sound. Though the ray is invisible, and the sound itself is far too high-pitched for anyone to hear, its effect on the cube can't be missed: it bores a hole through one side, blasting slime out over the floor as it tunnels into the heart of the ooze. The bolt leaves behind a hole too large for the creature to close, and its whole body ripples with the shock.
Laying on the floor looking up at one vast face of the cube, Tal draws on his inner strength and feels a flood of divine vigor pass through his paralyzed frame. He gets a glimmer of hope when Cupric's bolt tears into the cube, but it's over before he's had a chance to enjoy it.
In one sudden lurch, the cube slides its monstrous bulk over Tal's body, engulfing him entirely. Some loathesome internal process draws him up inside the thing, where he is visible to Cupric and Artemis as a dark, vaguely humanoid shape. Unfortunately, it doesn't stop there: a second tasty treat has appeared in front of it, and the cube keeps going -- it tries to swallow Artemis as well.
Acting in instinct alone, the nimble barbarian pushes off from the wall and ducks under the bridge just in time. The cube's great bulk slams into the wall inches from his face.
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OOC:
- With no post from db, Tuggle took total defense for the round (+4 to AC).
- Marduke and the other mandible-mustelid both readied actions for events that never came to pass, so their initiative remains the same for the next round.
- Artemis got a Will save against cause fear's effect: 4 ([3]+1), which failed. It made sense that he could still draw the grenade, almost as a reaction to his panic (lighting and throwing it would have been off limits).
- Divine Vigor (good call!) puts Tal up by +2 Con, and gives him +4 HP. After the 20 he took last round, that bumps him up from 6 HP to 10 HP.
- The cube swept up Tal automatically, as he is paralyzed. Being engulfed did 5 acid damage to Tal, which his resistance soaked up (no damage). When it engulfed Artemis, he normally would have had two options: take an attack of opportunity, and get engulfed automatically, or try to avoid it with a DC 13 Reflex save. Fleeing in fear, he was only able to try and avoid it -- and he got a 13 ([6]+7)!
- Artemis is still frightened (must flee as best as he is able) for one more round. He can pick his way around the cube so as to avoid attacks of opportunity, but his goal is to get away from the weasel ("Sg").
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Round 3
Round 3 map.
Damage taken so far:
Weasel "Sg" = 1
Cube = 32
Artemis = 3 lethal, 4 subdual
Tal = 20, paralysis
48 hour deadline for round 3: 3:15 PM EST on Tuesday, 11/16.
