Pulling at the Root of Evil

[Magnus]

My math is terrible, particularly with two screaming babies in the background. I edited above to reflect -33.

[Magnus]

Date: Autumn, 432 ca., Campaign Day 4
Time: 08:50
Weather: 55 degrees (underground)
Location: Steading; Dungeon Level
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With sword, claw, and teeth, the party hacks their way through the weakened juggernaut and the blinded hornfeet, thereby taking down the (first wave?) of the dungeon's defenses. Their defeated foes lay in crumbled, bloody piles at their feet. The hallway reeks of musk and charred flesh, especially where the mage's fireball had taken out so many of the party's foes in a single incinerating blast.

The manticores in the chamber before them sat quietly, consuming the panicked hornfeet that came into their clutches; apparently the mongrel savages were just human enough to be irresistible to the fearsome magical beasts.

Again from the chamber, in a south eastern direction, multiple cries for help, both male and female, called out. Some were in the Common Tongue, some in the Old Tongue. The pleas sounded desperate.

The cries for help were drowned out by roarscream of the manticores. The abominations seemed to speak in turn, but from the same mind. Their voice echoed throughout the chamber.

HUMANS! FLESH...GIVE US FLESH AND WE WILL LET YOU LIVE!! GIVE TO UNTO US THE FLESH AND WE WILL SHARE WITH YOU THE WAY TO ESCAPE THIS PLACE!!!

The beasts lay on their haunches, apparently satiated for the moment. Their spiked tails twitched lazily above them. They licked their lips as they waited for a response.

[sulldawga]

Hollis tried to calm himself inwardly, while his heart sank at hearing the pitiful cries of the prisoners. 'At least they're still alive,' he thought to himself.

Shaking his head, he dismissed his wayward thoughts and focused on the task at hand. Once again, he called on the power of the earth spirits to deliver healing to Ser Ethan.

I say we attack them. I wouldn't trust them to keep to any bargain.

Cure Serious Wounds on Ethan: [2d8+1] = 6+1 = 7

[Zhym]

I say we attack them. I wouldn't trust them to keep to any bargain.

Agreed. I'd suggest a wall of flame between the manticores and the prisoners/slaves, but we don't know what's with the prisoners. So maybe just hit the manticores with as much damage as possible? Attack one and summon insects to go at the other?

Gaerys isn't going to go for giving these things any flesh that's not already dead.

[drpete]

Let's try to incapacitate one with insects and blitz the other. I agree that they are being greedy if all this cooked meat isn't good enough for them...

Ethan shakes his head and warns the manticores "return to your cages if you want to live"

[Eulalios]

Kjelti {55/56}

The warrior woman rolls her shoulders and stretches her back like a cat, whirling her claymore backward around her hand so that the blade-tip almost grazes the stone floor before the hilt rolls firmly back into her palm. It's a trick her uncle taught her when she first had her full height, and something she does when she's nervous.

"They've cast all their spines, I think. They're broad as barnsides and hampered by chains, besides. Should we leave them to eat their roast meat?"

[Zhym]

The chains were held by giants that are now dead, and manticores can throw tail spikes for four rounds before they're out. I wouldn't confuse them with puppies just yet.

[Magnus]

The party collects their thoughts and debates a course of action in hushed whispers. The planning is interrupted by a scream:

"Let us out...PLEASE!!! They will kill us!!!" as well as the banging of metal on metal bars.

The party can tell that the sounds are coming from the south east corner of the chamber before them.

Ethan's threat has little effect on the ravenous and apparently quite insane manticores. They retort:

FEED US THE SLAVES, AND YOU WILL BE LEFT TO LET LIVE, HUMAN!

[Zhym]

In that case, I suggest a wall of fire between manticore and prisoners. And attack!

Gaerys attacks the manticores. Rolls later tonight.

[Zhym]

BTW, it sounds like the prisoners are caged. Manticores don't have opposable thumbs. So the manticores may not be able to get at the prisoners without help.

[Computer +1]

Vorsyin would like to lightning one of the manticores. Anyone object?

[NJWilliam]

No objection to lightning bolt, maybe you can get both of them, maybe even a second time with a good rebound?

[drpete]

Ethan is cool with lightning on the manticores. Remember that they almost took him out with their spikes, though. Personally, I liked the wall of fire as a last ditch escape strategy last time.

[Magnus]

[Declare actions, gang, if you are going to attack.]

[Computer +1]

Vorsyin is disgusted at the idea of working with the manticores. He unleashes his lightning spell at them, hoping to quickly kill both.

[Eulalios]

Kjelti takes a defensive posture, shield and blade ready to deflect spikes from herself and from the mage.

[NJWilliam]

Antheris and Blue

Unable to cast spells in his current form, Antheris waits the results of the incantion he hears Vorsyin beginning.
They back up to be out of the way of any tail spikes and possible rebound of the lightning bolt.
After the lightning fires, Antheris snarls and leads Blue in a charge against the nearest manticore.

Antheris, wolverine, THAC0 16, claw, claw, bite: [1d20+4] = 6+4 = 10, [1d20+4] = 19+4 = 23, [1d20+4] = 9+4 = 13 hits AC 6, -7, 3 (without any charge bonus factored in)
Antheris, wolverine, damage, claw, claw, bite: [1d6] = 1, [1d6] = 1, [2d4] = 5

Blue (polar bear) paw, paw, bite (THAC0 11): [1d20] = 15, [1d20] = 13, [1d20] = 8 hits AC -4, -2, 3 (without any charge bonus factored in)
Blue (polar bear) damage: [1d10] = 4, [1d10] = 3, [2d6] = 7 | hug: [3d6] = 12

[drpete]

On the signal of the lightning bolt, Ethan will bound forward and attack. If the one hit by the lightning is still up, he'll attack that one.

To Hit giant (ThAC0 11) [1d20+4] = 18+4 = 22 damage [1d12+4] = 7+4 = 11

To Hit giant (ThAC0 11) [1d20+4] = 19+4 = 23 damage [1d12+4] = 1+4 = 5

[Zhym]

After the lightning bolt and/or insect summoning this round, Gaerys will charge any manticore left standing.

Giantbane (vs. L non-giant): [1d20+2] = 15+2 = 17 Damage: [1d12+2] = 8+2 = 10 (that hits AC -5 including the +2 charging bonus).

[sulldawga]

Hollis will charge the manticore hit by the lightning spell and attack with his mace.

Mace +2 vs. Manticore: [1d20+2] = 8+2 = 10, Damage: [1d6+2] = 6+2 = 8

I forgot to add in the +2 bonus for charging so the roll should be a 12, which hits AC 2.