Expedition: Fingers/The Ghostly Trial - 16 July 2021

[onlyme]

: Initiative [1d6] = 1

[Zhym]

Initiative: [1d6] = 1

Crap.

[Alethan]

Bandy leaves the staff for Allmond and tries to stop Hengeist from bleeding out.

[Marullus]

Fingers nocks another shaft, letting it fly from his enchanted longbow as the first gargoyle begins its dive at Bandy. The arrow strikes true, imbedding itself deep in its stony pectoral. (-7) The gargoyle falters in its dive, giving just the opening that Markd needs to come around and hack deep into its side with his sword. (-3) The beast solidifies into stone as it crashes to the ground, capturing Markd's embedded sword and tearing it from his hands as stony beast and sword tumble together across the ground. (critical fumble: disarm)

The second gargoyle then dives at Markd, now armed only with his golden knife, and grabs him by the shoulders with its talons, again carrying him aloft (-6, crtical hit: grab). Allmond grabs the magic staff of Cathelon and swings at the creature, but misses as it swoops up out of reach.

Bandy hurriedly binds Heingist, ensuring he doesn't bleed out into the grasses of the Yoldessi Plains. The last gargoyle follows the dive path of the first, its talons raking Bandy viciously in the back as he rushes to save the priest. Heingist is bound, (can act in 1 turn/10 rounds) but Bandy falls, bleeding, by his side.


Date: 10:08pm, 19 July 2021
Light: Moonlight (-2)
Effects: None
Injuries: Bandy (dying, bleeding), Hengeist (dying, stabilized), Markd (serious injury)

initiative: them [1d6] = 2
Targeting [1d4] = 2 [1d4] = 3 [1d4] = 2
gargoyles [1d20] = 2 [1d20] = 20 [1d20] = 19
Damage to Markd [1d3] = 2 [1d3] = 1 [1d8] = 3 Damage to Bandy [1d3x2] = 1x2 = 2 [1d3x2] = 2x2 = 4
Allmond (Thac0 19) [1d20+3] = 2+3 = 5 [1d8+3] = 3+3 = 6

[Zhym]

Is Fingers close enough to Bandy to come to his aid?

[Marullus]

Yep.

[Zhym]

Thanks. Just to clarify the death rules to make sure I understand them:

If the character is reduced to -1 HP or lower in combat or via other means, the PC has only three complete combat rounds to be attended to by another character before they are on the quick slide to death, taking -2hp for each full round (-2 at the beginning of the second, -2 additional for -4 at the beginning of the third, then time is up).

Does that mean that Bandy can be stabilized if someone comes to his aid within three rounds, or that he dies in three rounds if no one binds his wounds before then? IOW, does the -2 to HP start this round, or after three complete combat rounds?

If no one comes to his aid this round, Bandy could roll to save vs. death to try to self-stabilize, at the cost of a permanent injury. He has +2 to saving throws from good meals. If the saving throw fails, does he immediately die, or does the three-round countdown above still apply?

Here's what I'm thinking: if we don't manage to defeat the gargoyles in the next two rounds, we're all dead anyway. So maybe we should focus on the fight and save Bandy if there's anyone left to do it.

Thoughts? Counterarguments?

[Marullus]

Aiding Bandy:
Penalties occur at the end of the round in which aid was not offered. So, when this round ends, he takes -2. He has two more rounds, to a total of -6. If that -6 takes them to -10, then they're bled-out and dead. At the end of the three rounds (or earlier at player option), they need to make that Save vs Death. Yes, in Bandy's case as a well-fed hobbit, that means he needs a 4 or better on a d20 to self stabilize, but he'll suffer a permanent injury for it.

Relative positioning:
Since you're doing a fighting retreat, this matters more than usual. Consider that we're on a 4-point number line, for the four rounds of distance to reach the crypt.

(Campfire)
4:
3: Heingist, Bandy, Allmond
2: Markd, Fingers, Sprinkles
1: (Crypt, out of combat)

You can move one step and still attack or bandage. You can move two steps (double speed) if you make a break for it (and incur the -4 AC penalty).

If Markd wins initiative, he acts normally this round. If he loses initiative he can attack but doesn't get to move (he spent that time fighting about being carried.)

Fingers can move back to care for Bandy, or move further and reach safety. Allmond can stand his ground over the bodies or he can make a break for it and also reach safety this round. As an NPC, he'll follow orders given.

[onlyme]

What are Markd's options this round?
2 attacks with dagger s/b ok if that is what he does?
What about reaching for sword, or fighting to clear himself to get to ground? Is that an entire round? Or would he be able to get to sword for 1or 2 attacks?

[Marullus]

If Markd wins initiative AND hits the gargoyle, he's released before getting too high. If he loses initiative, he's high enough to suffer [1d6] falling damage. He can do two attacks with his knife. Once he's on the ground, he can retrieve his sword for one action (not the whole round).

[onlyme]

Markd stabs wildly with his dagger. Dagger of Baudh (+1) (Thac0 16) [1d20+2] = 4+2 = 6 ; damage [1d4+2] = 2+2 = 4, but the shortened blade doesnt find what he needs.
He keeps swinging, hoping to knock himself loose before it gets too bad.
Dagger of Baudh (+1) (Thac0 16) [1d20+2] = 11+2 = 13 ; damage [1d4+2] = 4+2 = 6

if not already... Initiative [1d6] = 4

[Zhym]

Fingers pauses, not sure whether to keep fighting his way back to the tomb or run to Bandy's aid. He wants to help Bandy, but he also knows it will do the hobbit no good if the entire party is killed. The gargoyles have to be destroyed. If Fingers keeps fighting, maybe he, Markd, and Allamond can do it fast enough to save Bandy. Maybe.

He fires another shot while he makes for the cover of the tomb.

'Silmaril' (THAC0 18): [1d20+4] = 1+4 = 5, [1d8+2] = 2+2 = 4

Or maybe not.

[Marullus]

Geez... that's three critical fumbles for your team and two critical hits so far for them. It is NOT helping...

[Zhym]

NO KIDDING.

[Alethan]

Bandy bleeds...

[onlyme]

Markd yells to Allmond to help the little guy in between his struggling.

[Zhym]

Fingers yells back for Allmond to kill the gargoyles. That staff smashing gargoyles to bits is the only way any of us get out of this alive.

That, or the gargoyles stop rolling so well on their morale checks. Speaking of which, why no morale check last round?

[Marullus]

Sorry, it just got missed when I copied. I actually rolled twice (someone died, reroll because under 50% left) in hopes of getting you a break.
Morale [2d6] = 5
Morale [2d6] = 7

[Alethan]

Sorry, it just got missed when I copied. I actually rolled twice (someone died, reroll because under 50% left) in hopes of getting you a break.
Morale [2d6] = 5
Morale [2d6] = 7

Is low bad*? I forget...



*bad for the party, not the monster

[Marullus]

They must roll under their Morale score to not flee, so yes, your party is rooting for high numbers.