Augury Part I: New Beginnings

[Sneaky_Sable]

Nora'luuu knew they weren't beasts, they were people. Struck dumb from life behind their walls and made soft from a life of having others hunt for them. They brought warriors, Nora'Luuu knew this, but not even the greatest warrior from the snow or the sky could fight all of their battles for them. Father's Bones be broken, he couldn't condemn a group of fools to their doom. Not while he drew breath.

Checking his two curved daggers, and tapping the hilt of his sword, he took another breath of the cold air to steel his courage, his heart beating fast in its prison of bone. He held the breath for a moment, then took off down the stairs. The trail these civil folk left behind was reckless and obvious. He could have tracked them before his eyes ever opened. He hoped.

(click to show/hide)

Nora'Luuu races towards the action. I'll roll initiative when Percival says I'm there.

[Sneaky_Sable]

(click to show/hide)

Initiative:

Rolled 1d20+5 : 16 + 5, total 21

[Flay Crimsonwind]

Meanwhile, Isaac, realizing what they are and how difficult it will be to hurt them, swings where he remembered one being. "If they grab you, tell us! They kill by grappling with their prey!"

(click to show/hide)

Isaac will attack the closest one, from where he remembers it being, hitting on a 7 for 7 damage....
Damn....

Then will take a move action to pull out his vial of torch bug paste.

[sirpercival]

((Battle Map!  This is the original position.  10-foot squares.))



((Willow, I forgot that the one on you was entangled from Snowy's breath weapon, so it actually missed you.  If you want to use that attack as your action (it would hit), you can, or you can do something other than an attack.))

[Shiki]

((1st round of entanglement (fire damage) (1d6=3)

5-foot step to go next to Willow.

Standard action: Entangling breath (yay) in a cone diagonally towards the wall to only hit the middle bastard, DC 14 Ref for half; Fire damage (1d6=2)/2, Round(s) entangled (1d4=1).))

[zook1shoe]

I'll stab it

Rolled 1d3+1 : 1 + 1, total 2

[phaedrusxy]

Hearing Isaac's warning, Legion focuses for a moment, and a whooshing sound followed by the feel of billowing heat makes it sound like a bonfire just appeared where he was last standing.

(click to show/hide)

Legion binds Aym, and bursts into flames due to his Halo of Fire ability.

[sirpercival]

((Sorry for the long wait, guys, RL is cyclically crazy.))

Willow takes a swipe at the darkmantle trying to eat him, and his dagger bites into something.  Hopefully it isn't one of his allies...

Boon looks around, trying to peer through the darkness at his opponent.

Legion concentrates, and bursts into flame.  You can't see him, but you can hear the crackling and popping, as well as feel the heat, so it should be easy not to run into him.

Isaac takes a swing with his sword and misses, hitting only the darkness.  ((And no Mountain Dew for you!))

Snowy maneuvers and breathes at where she can hear one of the darkmantles moving around.

The entangled darkmantle takes another run at Willow, and this time connects for 7 points of damage, wrapping its leathery body around him.  ((DC 8 grapple check, please))

INITIATIVE ORDER
22   enemy B
21   nora'luuu
20   willow
20   boon
20   legion
15   isaac
13   snowy
13   enemy C
>>12   kara
>>12   sorrel
8   enemy A

[skydragonknight]

Kara closes her eyes and listens for a moment.  There. To the right of Boon

She draws the dagger and in the same motion throws it forward, hoping none of her friends are hiding in its path. She did not like throwing into shadows, which make it hard to pinpoint a weak spot.

Attack 1d20+8 : 14 + 8, total 22

Damage 1d3+3 : 1 + 3, total 4

[Garryl]

If the map's still accurate enough, I'll discharge Ritual of Good Hope (for Ritual of Intuition), affecting Kyle, Legion, Boon, and myself. Then 5' step back (and left, no need to trod on Kyle's toes), discharge Ritual Focus, then attack the nearest enemy I can see (or hear, I guess). Rapid Shot means two attacks at +4 for 1d8+3. Immediate action (swift on my turn) to boost the first attack roll by +1.

Attack #1 1d20+5 : 12 + 5, total 17
Damage 1d8+3 : 3 + 3, total 6
Miss chance 1d100 : 29, total 29

Attack #2 1d20+4 : 20 + 4, total 24
Damage 1d8+3 : 4 + 3, total 7
Miss chance 1d100 : 2, total 2

[sirpercival]

Between Sorrel and Kara, two of the darkmantles fall, and suddenly everyone can see again!  The only remaining enemy is attempting to grapple Willow.

INITIATIVE ORDER
22   enemy B
21   nora'luuu
20   willow
20   boon
20   legion
15   isaac
13   snowy
13   enemy C
12   kara
12   sorrel
8   enemy A

[Sneaky_Sable]

Nora'Luuu

From the hallway behind them, where they entered this cavern, there is what can only be described as... a Noise. There's emotion behind it, and one could even say passion.

It was a war cry, and it was accompanied by the patter of paws against stone. Nora'Luuu was in no way trying to be stealthy at all, in fact quite the opposite. He wanted the beasts and monsters in these catacombs to know that he was here.

(click to show/hide)

Closing the distance at a full run will give me 40 move, which can put me almost in the fight.

[zook1shoe]

Rolled 1d20-3 : 17 - 3, total 14

grapple

[sirpercival]

The last darkmantle falls, and you all breathe a collective sigh of relief.  Nora'luuu charges into the middle of the group, brandishing a sword, looking for enemies.

((You can see the exit to this cave on the battle map.))

When you search the room, you find a couple of ancient humanoid skeletons tucked away behind some of the stalagmites.  In a rotted leather pouch you find 30 silver pieces and 4 gold pieces; there's also a canvas-wrapped bundle.  The canvas crumbles to dust as you touch it, revealing 3 sunrods and a flask which is labeled "Alchemicalle Fyre -- Handel Withe Carre!" in an archaic script.

They have weapons as well, which are completely unusable due to age and decay.

[Garryl]

If he isn't needed, Sorrel will take a few minutes (3 to be exact) to refresh his expended rituals. If we're not in any rush, he can also provide some healing through Rit. Good Hope with Rit. of Recovery, turning any lethal damage into half as much nonlethal.

Edit: Legion took 10 and Willow took 5+7, I think, so it's probably a good idea to top up. Especially if that puts Willow at -3.

Edit more:

Remember that Willow did NOT take the first damage, the entangle meant that that attack missed.

Never mind, then.

[zook1shoe]

You see willow crumpled on the floor, with a couple pincer bites on his shoulders and back

[Shiki]

(click to show/hide)

I'm gonna assume zook's post above didn't happen.

"Huh, that's all there is around here or what..? Hmmm." says Snowy, slightly annoyed. She frolics around a bit, continuing deeper into the cave (in that other path) by herself.

[Sneaky_Sable]

Nora'Luuu, finding that the threat has been dealt with, sheathes his longsword along his back. For Willow, he has nothing save a moment of silence. He then proceeds to half-scamper over to the bodies of the Darkmantles, draws one of his daggers, and begins to treat it like any other animal that's been recently killed: Skin it, find the meaty bits, and wrap them in the skin. Having never seen a Darkmantle, it's a good thing there are three. One to try, and two to perfect.

(click to show/hide)

If Willow is up, or remotely not dead-looking, Nora'Luuu will bypass the whole "Moment of Silence for the deceased"

[skydragonknight]

Kara's coin purse jingles a bit as she fastens it back on. It looks slightly bigger. She shoves the other items in Boon's pack.

[sirpercival]

While the rest of the group is recouping and searching, Snowy wanders over to the other end of the chamber.  Ahead of her stretches a long, straight, and narrow passage, continuing to the edge of Snowy's vision.