Chapter 2: The Sinews of War

[Wizard Lizard]

[1d4] = 4
First roll is a 4 so I'm keeping that.

Messy and gnawy
A bed of furry death comes
Rats! Rats everywhere

[coil23]

Horton

[1d6] = 5

[1d6] = 1

[Pulpatoon]

Rat Race, Round 2!

Vanis: 4
Kurt: 4
Hans: 5
Jake: 4
Wikerus: 6
Horton: 5
Shaggy: [1d4] = 2 [1d4] = 3
Mouse: [1d6] = 3 [1d6] = 3
Langston: [1d4] = 3 [1d4] = 1
Brick: [1d4] = 3 [1d4] = 2
Schroff: [1d10] = 8 [1d10] = 9

Lowest numbers: 3+3=6. You are now on rung 8 of the escape ladder.

Rats: [2d4] = 5 Ladder position: 10.

After a rough start, the party finds its pace, and is making good speed, but there is no denying that the cart is slowing you down. The empty wagon shakes and bumps with every grove and bump in the marble floors, and it needs to be wrestled back on track.

Schroff is easily out-stripping the rest of the party, and then running back, barking and nipping at the cart-pushers' heels to make them go faster.

Behind you, you hear the sound of scrabbling claws on wood, as the rats mount the furniture barricade. That's closer behind you than you would have hoped for, this early in the race.

Neither party gets any bonuses or detriments in the next round. Is Wikerus intent on leaving the rest of the party behind? This turn, they were able to keep pace with him, but that may not last.

[mjulius]

Ooops! I had this page open [unrefreshed] and ready to post to when I rushed out the door this a.m.

Now we're rollin'!

Langston: Snakes and Swords: [1d4] = 1 / Snakes and Swords: [1d4] = 4
Brick: Snakes and Swords: [1d4] = 4 / Snakes and Swords: [1d4] = 4

[Pulpatoon]

Only one roll per character, please! The two rolls was a special bonus for Round 2, and is no longer in effect.

[GreyWolfVT]

Kurt Medium Encumbered [1d6] = 5

Hans Medium Encumbered [1d6] = 4

[mjulius]

Langston: Snakes and Swords: [1d4] = 4
Brick: Snakes and Swords: [1d4] = 3

[ChubbyPixie]

Wikerus is terrified, but does not intend to abandon his newfound... friends? Well, companions, he supposes. After nearly tripping over the dog as it runs ahead, then circles back, he realizes he's pulling away from the pack, and slows to let the others catch up a bit. "Double time, double time, fellows! I don't fancy becoming a rat snack!"

Medium Encumbered: [1d6] = 1

[Wizard Lizard]

[1d4] = 3

Vanis keeps running while yelling gibberish about rats and walls.

[Pulpatoon]

Run The Rats, Round Three!

Langston Overton: 4
Brick: 3
Vanis Huckle: 3
Kurt Smithington: 5
Hans Morse: 4
Wikerus Blume: 1
Deet: [1d4] = 2
Schroff: [1d10] = 10
Horton Portencium: [1d6] = 4
Jake Speed: [1d4] = 2
Shaggy Beaker: [1d4] = 1
Mouse: [1d6] = 1

1+1=2
Escape Ladder: 10
Bonus: +9!
New Ladder Position: 19

Rat-race: [2d6] = 6
Pursuit Ladder: 16

Wikerus turns around to check on the progress of his fellows, and collides solidly with Shaggy Beaker. They fall in a tumble, tripping young Mouse. Jake nearly crashes into them as well, but, sewing dummy in sweaty clasp, the young man nimbly leaps over the heap of bodies. Flushed embarrassment at this accident seems to power feet to new fleetness, and the party pulls ahead. The doors to the Library loom ahead!

[ChubbyPixie]

With the library doors drawing nearer, Wickerus attempts to "kick it into high gear."

Medium Encumbrance Run: [1d6] = 5

[Urson]

[1d4] = 1

oops.

[mjulius]

The wind at Langston's heels.

Langston: Snakes and Swords: [1d4] = 4
Brick: Snakes and Swords: [1d4] = 2

[GreyWolfVT]

Kurt Medium Encumbered [1d6] = 2
Hans Medium Encumbered [1d6] = 5

[coil23]

Why is that cart worth more than your lives?, Horton wheezes with exasperation as he continues to run. Leave it and run! He continues to run for the camp.
[1d6] = 3

[Wizard Lizard]

Leave it and run!

That sounds reasonable, thinks Vanis. Actually, now that the idea sprung to mind, it seems a bit absurd to not run away properly.
And just like that, Vanis lets go of the cart and starts sprinting to safety.

[1d6] = 5

[Pulpatoon]

Finish Line!

Shaggy Beaker: [1d4] = 4
Mouse: [1d6] = 3
Langston Overton: 4
Brick: 2
Vanis Huckle: 5
Kurt Smithington: 2
Hans Morse: 5
Deet: [1d4] = 3
Schroff: [1d10] = 1
Horton Portencium: 3
Jake Speed: 1
Wikerus Blume: 5

1+1=2. This can be used to move up or down the ladder. So you choices are:
Escape Ladder position: 21. Exhausted. d6's are now d4s.
or
Escape Ladder position: 17. Skip to the END!
I... I guess that isn't a meaningful choice, and that no one will mind fi I assume you take the second option on your behalf.

Rat-race: [2d6] = 8
Pursuit Ladder: 24. Last Hurdle! Move back 1d6 spaces.
The rats are way behind!

Jake, still catching his peg-legged balance after leaping over the others, last round, nearly trips over Schroff, who is barking and jumping at his heels in canine anxiety.

As Vanis abandons the cart, the team actually picks up speed—it seems it was a case of too many cooks spoiling the broth. Relieved of one more pair of feet to trip over, the four remaining cart-pushers fairly fly over the marble floor!

In the white mist around you, you see darting forms running parallel to you. Rats the size of house cats dart through banks of damp cloud. Ahead, a form looms—rats are leaping together into a shambling hill, ten or twelve feet high—they are forming a giant rat!

The careening cart, unable to turn or slow, batters right through the murine assemblage! White rats fly in all directions, landing stunned in the wake of the cart.

The mist parts, and there, before you, is the entrance to the Library! And across the entrance stands a phalanx of Wooden Soldiers, armed with spears and wooden swords. They split to let you through, immediately reforming behind you, ready for the rats to attack.

A Wooden Officer appears before you, calling, "My gawd, men! What blasted business is this, then? On the offense, are they? Breached the barricade, have they? Tight on your heels, were they? And what was that blasted racket you were making out there? Sounded like you were raising a barn! Lucky for you we chanced to glance over, and saw your pell-mell back to camp."

A Soldier with a spyglass steps out of the mist next to the Officer and reports, "Four giant mice have formed, sir. S-sir... this could be the Mule's Tide breach all ov..."

The Officer cuts him off, "SCHTUM! None of that, then, lad. We'll hold the line."

Turning back to the party, the Officer asks: "Anything to report? Any idea what has the whiskered devils in a lather?"

[Urson]

Jake, panting for breath, stashes his 'waifu' in a safe spot behind the door, then rejoins the folks prepping for the attack. He sets his maul down long enough to really examine the sword he was issued, trying to decide which will serve better in a fight.

[coil23]

Horton desperately looks for any other exits they could use to escape the camp and the coming fray.

[GreyWolfVT]

Kurt joins the soldiers line readying for battle

Hans joins the battle formation looking for an exit during the battle that would be easiest to run for.