Under Strange Stars II

[dead_radish]

Al-Khazad, Male Human Ranger 11

"Small one, you'll be the death of me yet." Having drawing weapons almost instinctively when he first saw the chicks, Al-Khazad considers his charges running towards the giant birds. "At the least, try to scare them! They're just babies, they may frighten and run easily. And for the Dune's sake, find cover!" Ignoring his own advice, he charges towards Jagra, to defend the gnome (Move as far as possible, attacking with Frostreaver if possible).

OOC: Stepping in for RJ. Hiya all.

 

[dead_radish]

Double post, good start.

 

[Someone]

Seeing Jagra in danger, Menghil valiantly charges to protect the gnome. He dives between the thing´s legs and strikes with all his might scoring a brutal hit with the curved blade. Blood spills, but it´s only a small cut in the gargantuan mass.

Amira targets the same foe with a ray. Seeing the thing distracted by the spell, Al-Khazad charges too, but is welcomed by the red pit of hunger that´s the bird´s mouth. In a flash of movement, Al-Khazad is lifted, and you only see his legs kicking in the air. The next thing you vaguely see is a furry lightning that runs past Amira and Menghil, jumps into the bird and rips large chunks of flesh in a gory orgy.

In pain, the bird twists his neck, throwing the captain in the air. After a long flight, he crashes into a rock, bounces and finally rests on the floor. From there, he has a new view of the battle, seeing how the rest of the family surround the party. More curious, in the opposite direction he sees a man –long black beard, tattered clothes-, peering out of one of the cracks in the rocks with eyes wide open.

[Curiously, Ashy posted in the OOC thread but forgot to post in this.

Menghil tumbles to help Jagra, hitting hard the bird´s belly (critical, 23 damage). Amira shoots her spell, connecting nicely (6 str penalty) and Al-Khazad also valiantly charges, directly into the thing´s beak (AoO, 13 damage)

Seeing Al-Khazad in danger, Akeeta rages, charges (people, send actions for your cohorts) and rends the bird (47!)

The bird flings Al-Khazad, who travels (man, this dice roller is broken) 60 feet (21 damage) behind enemy lines. The other birds surround the rest of the party, and will be able to attack the next round.

Status: Status is: Jagra 48/53, Al-Khazad 26/69, Amira 40/45, Menghil 58/63) Everyone is Hasted, Amira and Razeem have Mage armor active. One of the birds has 70 damage.

Akeeta and Menghil are fighting against one of the birds. Jagra and Amira are behind them, but cornered against the nest´s edge by the other birds: they could run past them without drawing attacks of opportunity, but the monsters could move or charge them if they keep staying in the open. At the other side of the feathered barrier is Al-Khazad, prone, and further yet is the strange man.]

 

[dead_radish]

*Shaking his head to try and lift the blackness from hitting the rocks, and then the ground. He is pleased that Akeeta has engaged, but worried about pulling her back.*

"Everyone! Withdraw! Find a more defensible position, dammit! You're in middle of a grindstone!" He stumbles to his feet, cursing the distance, and moves closer to the fray, still exhorting his companions to find a better locale. As he does, he uses his wand of CLW on himself.

 

[Zerth]

Amira would not want to fight, but she is cornered and her companions need help. She moves in a position to get as many as possible chicks on a line and shoots a lightning bolt at the gargantuan bird babies.

(OOC: Cast lightning bolt. 7d6 damage, ref DC 19.)

(OOC2: Welcome aboard dead_radish!)

 

[hafrogman]

Menghil 58/63 AC 25

Menghil glances around at the shattered landscape of the plateau as he tries to keep most of his mind on the bird in front of him.

"Where exactly are we supposed to be retreating to, Captain?"

He fights on with his blade in both hands as he waits for an answer while trying to keep the bird of of himself and the others.

[ooc - full attack, two handed grip, fighting defensively. +12/+12/+7; 1d6+8 dmg]

 

[Someone]

The wounded chick endures a bright flak of lightning while Menghil and Akeeta continue attacking him, drawing even more blood. Despite the bird´s massive bult, the dwarf´s blade and the feral woman´s claws force the thing to retreat in pain. Their victory is brief, however, as it´s brothers join the fight. One of them flutter high in the air, landing directly on top of Menghil, who´s nearly crushed, and the other jumps for Amira. Razeem flies to intercept it and the gargantuan monster attacks him instead, pushing the mephit backwards with a violent hit.

[Still no news from Ashy, I think there´s something wrong with his subscription. Can anyone send a private message to him?

Amira fires her lightning bolt, with little success (made save, 7 damage), while Akeeta and Menghil attack (1 crit and 1 regular hit for the dwarf, 1 rend for Akeeta, total damage 34 and 54 )

Al-Khazad stands up and uses the wand (heals 7)

The wounded chick retreats, provoking AoOs from Akeeta and Menghil (13 damage from the dwarf). The other two move in, one stepping on Menghil (natural 20, crit, 45 damage and grappled) while the other goes for Amira. Razeem moves in and the monster attacks him instead (13 damage) but can´t grapple the mephit.

The strange man continues looking at you from the safety of his cave.

Status: Status is: Jagra 48/53, Al-Khazad 33/69, Amira 40/45, Menghil 13/63) Everyone is Hasted, Amira and Razeem have Mage armor active. One of the birds is retreating and has 171 damage.]

 

[Zerth]

Amira is saved by her loyal mephit companion, but the situation is extremely grim. Knowing she wouldn't last long in melee against the bird-horrors, she casts a spell and takes off in the air. She is now out of harm's way, but can the others hold on?

Razeem fights back furiously, but his efforts aren't much against an opponent so great in size. But the gutty mephit doesn't back down yet.

OOC: Cast Fly and move up and out of the chick's reach. Razeem does full attack fighting defensively. With haste, that's three claw attacks at +8 each. AC is 26 (19 + 4 mage armor + 1 haste + 2 fighting defensively). DR 5/ magic & fast healing 2.

 

[dead_radish]

*Al-Khazad peers about, noting that the companions are unlikely to prevail without unacceptable damage.* "There! Move there!" *He points to the cave, where the strange man still watches.* If it's safe for him, it must be safe for us. And maybe he'll provide some information. At the very least, he'll be easier to deal with that three giant baby birds.... "Akeeta! To me, now!" *He then prepares to cover the other's withdrawl, moving to position himself between the birds and the cave, and casting barkskin on himself.*

(OOC: Can I also use defensive fighting here? If so, I do. )

*Akeeta hears Al-Khazad's order, and growls, low in her throat. She is loathe to disengage, but obeys. She takes a last swipe at the beast with her claw, and bounds toward Al-Khazad, attempting to weave her path through the rubble so that the creature cannot strike her exposed back* (OOC: Claw attack, then two move actions, tumbling to attempt to avoid AoO's).

 

[hafrogman]

Hp 33/83

What's left of Menghil tenses all the muscles in his body as he struggles his hardest to lift the claw from his body so that he can flee with the others. He snaps and snarls like a beast in the bird's grasp, muscles tensing furiously. He even sinks his teeth into the tough hide of the bird's leg as he trashes about. Anything for freedom.

[rage, and grapple checks to escape. +15/+15/+10 (this is assuming they count as attacks for the purposes of haste. If not, 1 less.]

Radish, sorry but fighting defensively requires you to be . . . fighting. No swinging at your opponent, no fighting defensively.]