[Compled] Expedition - Bromric/Demon - 30 April, 1 VC

[Zhym]

Besides, isn't there a closed gate behind us?

[Keehnelf]

Not immediately past Constance, but yes

[Zhym]

Was the water trick a one-time-only thing because Melvin only had the one skin of water, or because it's the kind of thing you only get to try once? IOW, if Melvin could grab Constance's water, could he try again?

[Keehnelf]

He could try it again with Constance's water, so long as the basilisk were still on flat ground. If it's already coming up the stairs, there's basically no chance it would work.

[Zhym]

Cue that up for the round after this one, then, if we live that long.

[Starbeard]

Seadu Erana, man of odds

Also to note--making a fast retreat may be dangerous as Seadu, lit torch in hand, is almost immediately behind Bromric.

Never fear, because that's just what Seadu is doing!

Seadu follows Abi back up the stairs. 'Fighting retreat! Fighting retreat! We need to gain better ground!'

To Abi he asks, 'Do you have a lantern? This open flame is dangerous around Bromric, and we can smash the lantern onto that grimy lizard's face, oil and all.'

(Am I correct in interpreting your descriptions as meaning that there is only room for two characters to fight in melee at the entrance? What about in the stairwell?

[Keehnelf]

In the stairwell, it's possible for one character to hold the way if they so desire, but it's also just wide enough for two to fight abreast.

[Keehnelf]

Combat!

Seadu and Abi flee up the stairs into the darkness, Seadu's torch showing the way along the cramped passage out of the flashing light of the burning chamber below. Martin retreats as well, but somewhat less swiftly than his companions, so he may step in if he is needed against the basilisk.

Bromric lashes out once more with his sword, but once again the uncanny edge is prevented from exerting its full lethality because of the dwarf's insistence (quite rightly, of course) on averting his eyes from the enemy he fights. The blade caroms diagonally off the course spines on the reptile's back. The basilisk strikes out with its bulk as Bromric and Melvin slowly retreat up the stairs, tumbling headlong over the dwarf's shield and nearly knocking him to the ground, clamping its jaws around his shoulder. (Bromric takes 4 damage) The dwarf's shoulder is bleeding freely, copiously even, and as the basilisk retreats it seems as though the possessed dwarf has sustained a wound that would have felled a mortal creature. He seems almost unconcerned with it, however, as he continues to fight.

Basilisk attack [1d20] = 14, damage [1d10] = 4

Melvin attempts a feeble counter on the hulking beast, but his wooden staff merely dings off the monster's head.

Bromric is now just below Constance on the stairs, while Melvin is alongside Constance's statuesque form. Martin is ten feet further up the stairs, while Seadu and Abi are at the edge of the lantern-light above. The basilisk, badly wounded but still advancing, has squeezed into the stairs to pursue the group upward.

Actions and initiative!

[Zhym]

Melvin continues his impression of a blindfolded kid at a piñata party.

Staff, eyes averted (THAC0 19):[1d20-4] = 16-4 = 12 [1d6] = 2

His odds of hitting anything are 1 in 10, but it's better than anything else he can do at the moment.

[Marullus]

Bromric backs slowly up to use Constance's statue for cover, slashing at the beast before him.


Dead man swingin' - [1d20+4] = 4+4 = 8 [1d8+4] = 1+4 = 5
Dead man swingin' - [1d20+4] = 8+4 = 12 [1d8+4] = 3+4 = 7
Webpage timed out, so I got a reroll when refreshing... both sucky rolls posted for posterity.

[Starbeard]

Does Seadu feel as though it would still be dangerous to wield the torch next to Bromric if he switched places with Melvin?
How possible is it to switch positions with someone on the stairway?

[Keehnelf]

He'd be close to Bromric and thus a threat if he switched with Melvin--and two folks can easily switch spots on the stairs.

[Starbeard]

Seadu Erana, man of odds

Feeling that it is his time to clock in for duty, Seadu hands the torch to Abi, along with his remaining flask of oil from his belt. 'If you see an opportunity to set the creature alight, by all means take it. Just don't look at it!'

Eyes studying his shoes, the death priest comes back down the stairs, mace and shield in hand. 'Get clear, Melvin, you can't do any more good up there.'

(next time he gets a chance to attack: No-looking mace attack [1d20-4] = 10-4 = 6, damage [1d6] = 3)

[Zhym]

FWIW, Seadu isn't any more of an offensive threat than Melvin. Same THAC0, same damage. Not that Melvin has any qualms about getting away from the front lines of battle.

[Starbeard]

That's true, but at least he's got the defensive advantage in case the thing gets tired of biting at oily old Bromric.

[Zhym]

True. Assuming we can do it this round:

"If you want to be in the front fighting this thing, more power to you," answers Melvin as he swaps places with the eager cleric.

[Keehnelf]

Not this round as Melvin already declared "attack the basilisk fruitlessly" as his action.

[Zhym]

Fair enough. I didn't know if swapping places with another PC who would also attack fruitlessly would be a suitable substitute for attacking fruitlessly.

[Keehnelf]

Combat combat combat!

Bromric and Melvin are able to attack the monstrous thing, Martin having been pushed back around Constance's still form in the press. He scans up the stairs and makes a quick run for it past Seadu, who stands ready to take either of the others' place as soon as they have fully retreated.

Bromric's sword blow goes wide, striking the stone wall with a flurry of sparks while the basilisk ducks low and advances. The dwarf, still bleeding profusely through the jagged punctures in his armor, but stoic and energetic nonetheless, retreats almost mechanically until he is shoulder to shoulder with the petrified sorceress. Melvin's staff, as before, rebounds on the creature's scaly hide--it seems nearly impervious to such blows.

The basilisk, advancing, keeps low, and lashes out at the dwarf's legs. Perhaps because of the awkward angle due to its four-legged climb up the stairs, or the positional advantage the party has, the bite snaps on open air, Bromric neatly turning the creature's head aside with the bottom of his shield.

Up the stairs, Abi Sadira takes the torch from Seadu and continues to flee upward as fast as she can.

Actions and initiative!

[Zhym]

"If you want to be in the front fighting this thing, more power to you," answers Melvin as he swaps places with the eager cleric.

He backs away, leaving an unoccupied step on the stairs, where he carefully empties almost all of a flask of oil to rest on the step. The rest he drips as a trail as he continues up the stairs.

"I would suggest skipping that step as you ascend," says Melvin.