Quest #44 "The Ethereal Job"

[OGRE MAGE]

The Ethereal Job
Astronomy Domine
The Dark Rock

Grimble doesn't understand anything suggested from back on the island, having no idea what or where that actually is.

"I will caution you that we are not on your home plane. This is the Ethereal Plane, and though it is tied to your island, and everywhere else, this is a completely different environment than any place you have been before."

He pokes at the bubble surrounding his brother. "This stasis won't last much longer. I think we better try your slow spell once it dissipates, or else Grumble might not make it."

Amun gets more and more restless sitting around waiting, so she moves to investigate the remaining 3 monsters in their egg hatching chambers. As expected, the Xill do not attack on first sight, staying directly in front of their egg hosts. However, in the first chamber they explored, the eggs seem to be hatching, as dozens of the little monsters are rapidly growing behind their guardian. Sending a chill down the normally unflappable woman's spine, the tiny monsters seem to be growing larger before her very eyes.

She quickly returns to warn the others what she has found. "We need to gather our strength and eliminate these things before they grow any larger."

Actions?

Alordan AC3 4/22
Torbath (M3) AC8 -3/18 RM, CL, DM, 1st 2/2 2nd 0/1 (top of backpack/inside helmet) Comet AC:7 4/4 Unconscious
Aliendron AC10 8/17 (CL4) 1st 0/5 2nd 4/4 (MU3) RM, CL, DM, 1st 0/2 2nd 0/1
Feanol (MU3) AC:10 -7/14 RM, CL, DM 0/4 1st 0/2 2nd Unconscious
Amun (F3) AC:2 16/33
Maag AC4 4/20
Theo AC:5 8/13 (Sword)

[Quonundrum]

Andronichishche


He nods in agreement with Grimble. "Yes, hopefully it will revive him enough so he can cough up the poison. I think ..." He stops mid sentence when Amun arrives back from her scouting expedition. "Did you say dozens, and they're growing rapidly?!" Without another word, he retrieves the oil flasks from Feanol (2) and Torbath (4), then moves to the cave entrance, awaiting the others.

[Jernau35]

Maag

"I woz afraid dat dis would 'appen", Maag grumbles. "Let's be gettin' at dem while we 'ave a chance".

Maag takes out one of his own oil flasks. "Wot der yer reckon?? Set fire to der little ones an' kill der big one when it tries to save dem?" he asks Andron.

[Quonundrum]

Andronichishche


He offers 2 flasks of oil to Theo. "Precisely, Mr. Maag. As it will not leave them undefended we should be able to throw these flasks safely from a distance. Then it is just a matter of lighting the oil. Perhaps a thrown torch?"

[jemmus]

Theo accepts the two flasks of oil and hefts them gauge how to use them as missiles. He stuffs one unto his cloak, holds the other in his right hand and his glowing sword in his left.

[ravenn4544]

Alordan grabs his sword and makes ready - for the worst.

[OGRE MAGE]

The Ethereal Job
Astronomy Domine
The Dark Rock

Grimble stays behind with the unconscious.

Following Amun back into the initial chamber they investigated, those present do indeed see something that makes their hearts drop in their chests. Dozens of tiny red 4-armed creatures appear to have hatched from the eggs. Their solo guardian is still standing over them, watching as they devour the remainder of the rotting humanoid egg host. You can almost see them growing larger as you watch from a distance.

A few oil flasks are tossed at the area, some of them hitting the rock walls and splashing down upon the tiny monsters. Their guardian slowly turns to see where the flasks are coming from, raising all four arms in a defiant manner, ready to defend these younglings with its life if it must. So far, it stays where it is in front of the young, gurgling at you in some horrible unknown speech.

Red Xillo.jpg (79.17 KiB) Viewed 178 times

Actions? (rolls for thrown torches?)

xill cave.jpeg (53.52 KiB) Viewed 178 times

Alordan AC3 4/22
Torbath (M3) AC8 -3/18 RM, CL, DM, 1st 2/2 2nd 0/1 (top of backpack/inside helmet) Comet AC:7 4/4 Unconscious
Aliendron AC10 8/17 (CL4) 1st 0/5 2nd 4/4 (MU3) RM, CL, DM, 1st 0/2 2nd 0/1
Feanol (MU3) AC:10 -7/14 RM, CL, DM 0/4 1st 0/2 2nd Unconscious
Amun (F3) AC:2 16/33
Maag AC4 4/20
Theo AC:5 8/13 (Sword)

[jemmus]

Theo, having never thrown a torch before, doesn't benefit at all from beginner's luck.

[1d20]=1

[Quonundrum]

Andronichishche


Lacking a torch, he pours some oil onto a leather flask, lights it and gives it his best ..

[1d20]=9

... which isn't very good.

-1 oil
-1 leather flask

[Jernau35]

Maag

Maag tosses his torch underhand to avoid striking the cavern ceiling.

Random d20 [1d20]=11

+3 attack adjustment for Dex 18

[ravenn4544]

Alordan also tosses a torch in hopes to be rid of these monsters.

[1d20+3]=9+3=12

[OGRE MAGE]

Good thing I didn't ask for the oil throwing rolls.

The Ethereal Job
Astronomy Domine
The Dark Rock

With the opposite end of the floor soaked with oil, the group tries to throw lit torches from the entrance to mixed results. Theo nearly sets himself ablaze, and Andron scorches his own robes, but eventually one of the torches hits the mark. In a flash, the area goes up in flames, burning the guardian monster and most of the tiny offspring as well.

When a few of the little creatures escape the flames, Amun rushes across the room to boot stomp them.

Their dying screams convince the guardian against throwing itself into the fire, instead turning to charge the mass of invaders at the entrance.

Actions?

xill cave.jpeg (54.13 KiB) Viewed 141 times

Alordan AC3 4/22
Torbath (M3) AC8 -3/18 RM, CL, DM, 1st 2/2 2nd 0/1 (top of backpack/inside helmet) Comet AC:7 4/4 Unconscious
Aliendron AC10 8/17 (CL4) 1st 0/5 2nd 4/4 (MU3) RM, CL, DM, 1st 0/2 2nd 0/1
Feanol (MU3) AC:10 -7/14 RM, CL, DM 0/4 1st 0/2 2nd Unconscious
Amun (F3) AC:2 16/33
Maag AC4 4/20
Theo AC:5 8/13 (Sword)

[Quonundrum]

Andronichishche


Rolls the dice and casts Magic Missile at the Xill.

Magic Missile: [_2d4+2]=(2+4)=6+2=8

[ravenn4544]

Alordan watches the little critters burn and crisp. He starts to feel guilty for trapesing in to the caves and killing everything. He thinks of the dead girl, then, and doesn’t feel as bad as he did. It’s distracting his attack tho….

Long Sword Attack [1d20+1]=6+1=7 (THACO=18)

Dagger Attack (off-hand) [1d20-1]=4-1=3

[jemmus]

Theo's long bastard sword whistles through the air.
THAC0 20 +1 Bastard Sword[1d20+1]=4+1=5 S/M [2d4+1]=5+1=6 L [2d8+1]=9+1=10

[Jernau35]

Normally I roll the dice then write Maag's action based on the result. But for most of today my brain has been stuck on "What Maag would do with a 20" And then I rolled...a 20!

Now, most people would say "Well, that's not unusual. Its going to happen every once in a while".

But they're wrong. Clearly, the Dice Roller has started reading minds.

It's a witch. We need to burn it. Burn it now!

Maag

As a habitual frequenter of taverns, Maag has heard many drunken tales. Once, a man spoke to him of a far off monastery full of highly trained and mentally disciplined warriors.

These men and women learned incredible feats of unarmed combat, using an enemies' weight and momentum against them. Each technique had a strange name, such as Crane Kick or Way of the Exploding Fist.

Duly impressed, Maag developed his own technique to thwart a charging opponent. However, not being particularly colorful or imaginative, he simply named his: Kick 'im in der knee den jam yer sword in 'is kidneys when 'e stumbles.

Dragon's Sword (THACO:14) [1d20]=20 Dmg S/M [2d4+7]=5+7=12 Dmg L [2d8+7]=14+7=21

[OGRE MAGE]

He's just kidding Greg and Mods! We aren't burning anything expensive around here, I promise.

The Ethereal Job
Astronomy Domine
The Dark Rock

The fight starts out pretty much normally, with most of the group failing to do any damage to the oncoming monster. That is until Maag remembers an old story he heard back in the tavern. His fond memories give him just the boost he needs, plunging his sword into the torso of the red freak trying to kill them. He shrugs off one attack, while Alordan takes another nick from one of the swords. 2 dam

Upset at himself for not being able to end the pesky bastard in one swing, the group lets out a sigh of relief when Amun stabs her sword through the things back, almost cutting Maag on the front side. As the pair of bloodied fighters yank their tools of the trade out of the beast, it falls to the floor in a red heap with a dull thud.

Any remaining tiny creatures can be squashed under foot, essentially clearing the chamber of threats. The 5 egg laden hosts that remain unburnt are no longer under any kind of protection, though looking upon the dead humanoids that nourish the eggs gives the group a feeling that any one of them could have ended up this way if not for their impressive fighting prowess.

Actions?

Alordan AC3 2/22
Torbath (M3) AC8 -3/18 RM, CL, DM, 1st 2/2 2nd 0/1 (top of backpack/inside helmet) Comet AC:7 4/4 Unconscious
Aliendron AC10 8/17 (CL4) 1st 0/5 2nd 4/4 (MU3) RM, CL, DM, 1st 1/2 2nd 1/1
Feanol (MU3) AC:10 -7/14 RM, CL, DM 0/4 1st 0/2 2nd Unconscious
Amun (F3) AC:2 16/33
Maag AC4 4/20
Theo AC:5 8/13 (Sword)

[Quonundrum]

Andronichishche


Andron picks up one of the tossed lit torches and begins to examine the remaining egg hosts for anything useful. "We should search the other unfortunates and burn the remains. That monster has claimed its last victim. They also seem to have a vocal language, interesting."

After the unpleasant work is completed, he offers Theo another two flasks of oil. "We should deal with the other egg chambers before another batch of these hatches. Mr. Theo, allow me to enhance your strength with a spell."

Casts Strength on Theo.
Strength: [1d8]=1

Bloody hell.

[ravenn4544]

Alordan is glad that it is over. "I'm glad that's over."

He thinks about the gnome behind, and more accurately about the cabin he is in. "We should go check on him soon as I'm not sure how long that thing will stay up before it closes on it's own....."

[Quonundrum]

The cabin already reverted back to a cube. Maag rigged up a net trap in its place.