21. Revisiting the Troglodyte Lair

[Computer +1]

Strom continues to fight and launches another attack at the nearest trog

[1d20+2] = 16+2 = 18
[2d4+3] = 5+3 = 8

I think you rolled that out of character. a hit? Twice in a row?

I didnt want to mention it and jinx it but YEAH!! Two hits in a row is crazy!!

[onlyme]

Yeah, if we can get kendrick back up to fighting, we may have a shot here. The western ranks should be down to 3 trogs after round 4, maybe they'll run away.

[dmw71]

before I declare I need to know positioning. If I were to go over and cure ken would that put me on the front line? or is the front line engaged?

This is a tricky situation, and a lot will depend upon initiative results and which side moves first.

Here is the current map:

Code: Select all

                            _________   / l3
                           /    Fi   \_/ l2/
                          /      Ka*t7 l1 /
                 ________/  ke  Ep St* s3 \
                /  s1 l7 l6Ew       Sh t6* \
               / s2_____l5 Ar*             |
                  /     \  Or* __          |
                         \____/  \___     /
                                     \___/   

Now, I will add my thoughts to how onlyme interpreted the situation:

I would think that if a trog was to reach around Ewell to Kendrick (or his healer), it would either happen before you got there (if they won initiative) or after we attacked.

This is all a matter of timing and how the initiative results play out.

I feel fairly confident that l6 shoud not be around after Ewell's handiwork this time.

This has not happened yet and should not factor into Epsilon's decision making process.

And, there shouldnt be room for another trog to squeeze by. That was the design of our line in the bottleneck.

True... however... the ranks were shifted slightly and Kendrick did put himself in the front ranks (see here: "Let's go with front-line and sword for Ken.").

That said, Fimmion or Epsilon could try to drag Kendrick and have his hand touch his shoulder to see if that would activate his "lay on hands", which would awaken him at the least. (if it worked)

Epsilon and Fimmion are the only two characters not engaged in melee. Either/both of them are free to declare this as their action.

---

This is also why I do not roll initiative until after all actions have already been declared. If, for instance, Epsilon or Fimmion declares that they're going to attempt to move Kendrick, that is what they're going to do. If the trogs win initiative and the trogs do attempt to force their ways into the chamber through the opening created by Kendrick being down, they (Epsilon and/or Fimmion) would most certainly be at risk.

[wolfpack]

Fimmion pull Ken away and towards me.

Epsilon yells as he strikes at a trog.

I figure rather than not atacking for 2 rounds to drag him myself Fim can drag him away and I can attack and heal him next round.

[1d20] = 6
I think I caught strom syndrom

[Rukellian]

Fimmion hear's Epsilon's shout and nods his head in the general direction, showing his understanding of the situation. Holding the torch between his arm and waist, the chef tries his best to quickly pull Kendrick towards Epsilon (using both arms).

[Stonjuz]

Shannigans continues his assualt on t6.
dagger [1d20+3] = 5+3 = 8 damage [1d4+1] = 1+1 = 2
He cries out after missing , "I'm not even supposed to be here today. Kill this thing Strom!!!"

[saalaria]

Kaltar strikes at nearest trog, preferring unheld one but will put held of of misery if he can't reach another:

Mace Action To Hit [1d20] = 6 Dam [1d6+1] = 4+1 = 5

doug can you push up if we get a few down to limit the numbers that can get into the room - ie choke point like in the west?

[dmw71]

...preferring unheld one...

Just an FYI, you actually killed the only held troglodyte (t5) last round.

[Computer +1]

Kaltar strikes at nearest trog, preferring unheld one but will put held of of misery if he can't reach another:

Mace Action To Hit [1d20] = 6 Dam [1d6+1] = 4+1 = 5

doug can you push up if we get a few down to limit the numbers that can get into the room - ie choke point like in the west?

I can try!

[dmw71]

"Fimmion, pull Ken away and towards me." Epsilon yells. The chef hears the shout from the cleric and quickly moves to the fallen warrior. Just as he is about to arrive at Kendrick's side, a troglodyte slipping through the vacancy created by the fallen paladin, spies the mage and attempts to run him through with its javelin, nearly fatally striking him (-3) as Epsilon unsuccessfully attempts to beat the creature away with his staff. Ewell, frustrated a dreaded foe was able to sneak past him, instinctively wants to react at the passing foe but doesn't have time as another creature (l7) is already upon him and capitalizes on the cavalier's distraction to stick him with its javelin (-5).

Player's Handbook > Chapter 9: Combat > Initiative > Multiple Attacks and Initiative
"When the attacks are true multiples--using the same weapon more than once--as in the case of a highly skilled fighter, the attacks are staggered. Everyone involved in the combat completes one action before the second (or subsequent) attack roll is made.

Take, for example, a fighter who can attack twice per round, and say he's battling creatures that can only make one attack. The fighter wins initiative. He makes his first attack according to the rolled initiative order. Then each creature gets its attack. Finally, the fighter gets his second attack."

The young knight decorates the scaly hide of the creature that just struck him with a large gash, and after the beast doesn't immediately drop, follows with a second, equally impressive strike. The creature looks for the will to continue, but succumbs to the damage taken and falls dead. The beast previously facing Aric (l5) turns its attention to O'rek and connects with a glancing blow (-2), while a new creature (s1) makes sure the barbarian doesn't get lonely. "Die beast!" Aric Swiftsword yells as avoids the latest javelin struck in his direction and delivers a serious wound to the new troglodyte. O'rek, too, follows suit with a solid, but non-fatal thumping against his opponent as well.

---

In the northeast corner, another beast (l2) files into the chamber as the creatures act quickly. Kaltar and his beast exchange equally ineffective swings. Strom knocks the first javelin strike against him with his sword, but a second jab manages to sneak past his defenses (-3). Shannigans, the unwilling benefactor of additional swamp creatures as they force their way south into the chamber along the western wall, is simply overcome as he is confronted by a pair of the angry trogs. The first javelin pierces the hobbit deeply (-6) while the second just misses what would have certainly been a fatal blow. The halfling lashes out at the creature that struck him with his dagger but is unable to connect. "Kill these things, Strom!!!" he calls out after missing. The paladin does his best to oblige. Hoping to close off the entrance to this northeast corner, the paladin lashes at the troglodyte currently at the entrance (l2) and catches it with a solid blow, but the creature manages to stay on its feet.

---

Code: Select all

                            _________   / l4
                           /         \_/ l3/
                          /  Fi  Ka*t7 l2*/
                 ________/l6ke Ep  St* l1 \
                / g1 s2    Ew       Sh*s3  \
               /   _____s1 Ar*        t6*  |
                  /     \l5Or* __          |
                         \____/  \___     /
                                     \___/   

---

Rolls (West)
R4 | Initiative (West): Troglodytes [1d10] = 5, Players [1d10] = 5
R4 | l6 vs Fimmion (11+): javelin [1d20] = 14, [2d4] = 3
R4 | l7 vs Ewell (15+): javelin [1d20] = 18, [2d4] = 5
R4 | s1 vs Aric (17+): javelin [1d20] = 12, [2d4] = 4
R4 | l5 vs O'rek (14+): javelin [1d20] = 18, [2d4] = 2


Rolls (East)
R4 | Initiative (East): Troglodytes [1d10] = 9, Players [1d10] = 10
R4 | t7 vs Kaltar (15+): javelin [1d20] = 9, [2d4] = 6
R4 | l1 vs Strom (16+): javelin [1d20] = 9, [2d4] = 7
R4 | l2 vs Strom (16+): javelin [1d20] = 18, [2d4] = 3
R4 | t6 vs Shannigans (15+): javelin [1d20] = 15, [2d4] = 6
R4 | s3 vs Shannigans (13+): javelin [1d20] = 12, [2d4] = 6

---

End of round 4.

Actions?


Note: While I can't edit the rolls themselves, I did manually update the "to-hit" numbers in macros used for the eastern set of roll after forgetting the paladin's aura of protection. In fact, I had originally written up my response as if Shannigans did get hit twice, and did drop, but thankfully found this oversight and adjusted accordingly.

[ravenn4544]

O'rek seems to almost glow with a holy light as he SMASHES the beast that attempted to smite his goodness:

Mace attack [1d20+2] = 20+2 = 22 (THACO=20)

Mace Damage (+1 weapon, +3 str dmg) = [1d6+4] = 1+4 = 5 - but maximum damage of 10hps for the crit!

...but is winded by the constant melee hits and his second blow just can't connect with the thing

Mace attack [1d20+2] = 5+2 = 7 (THACO=20)

holy moly!

[Grognardsw]

Aric hews at the wounded trog, yet it finds the will to block the barbarian's sword.

Bastard sword attack [1d20+3] = 2+3 = 5 Damage [2d8+4] = 11+4 = 15

[onlyme]

Ewell keeps swinging while he watches his newly exposed side.

Roll 20073 was a modified 13 of 18 and damage of 6...

---

longsword to hit (+3 str , +1class bonus): [1d20+4] = 11+4 = 15 , damage1d8 (+4 str bonus): [1d8+4 ] = 4+4 = 8

Attack: 13
Damage: 6

[saalaria]

Kaltar feels the familiar thrill of battle despite the grevious situation the party finds itself in - he attacks again:

Mace Action To Hit [1d20] = 9 Dam [1d6+1] = 3+1 = 4

hmmm...

[Rukellian]

Though the warriors surrounding him have met their fair share of injuries and wounds, the chef was not as prepared. As the enemy javilen pierces into his side and then wrenched out just as quickly, time seemed to slow down dramatically for Fimmion, in that split second of realization of what happened. The sound around him start to get drowned out by a deafening silence, the only sound piercing his ears... his own heartbeat. The torch, now lying at his feet, shines a sickly glow on his hands, his own blood, something he has just witnessed for the first time. Instead of screaming out in pain, he remains hunched over on his knees frozen in place, a blank, almost lifeless look now on his face.

Distant shouts can be heard, calling out his name, but he is unable to reply as blood coughs up out of his mouth.

Given the situation at hand, it would be very unrealistic for Fimmion, a fragile mage by nature, to be able to do much after such an attack. I have to go by that realism and I will not force him to do what I want or what the group wants, I have to take into consideration his sudden traumatic shock, for better or most likely worse. Someone will need to drag him away forcefully from his imminent death, otherwise.... Sorry guys, I don't want to have to do this as well , but my chef is no warrior, and he is not built as such; this seems to be the only logical thing for me to do right now.

[dmw71]

Given the situation at hand, it would be very unrealistic for Fimmion, a fragile mage by nature, to be able to do much after such an attack.

Definitely appreciate the realism!

However, one thing I will add, that I didn't notice until after I posted the latest round actions and was updating the 'Signature' and 'Hit Points' threads, is that Fimmion is 2nd level. When I was typing out my latest update, I had in my mind that he was 1st level with 4 hit points; making the 3 damage near fatal. Given that he actually has 7 hit points, the 3 damage he took wouldn't necessarily incapacitate him physically. He might be terrified into a state of shock by his current situation, but I wouldn't expect him to be helpless at this point.

That said, Fim is your character. Feel free to play him however you feel will be true to his character.

[wolfpack]

knowing at this point the magic of the mage may be our best hope epsilon seeing Fim struck and stunned lets out a blood curddleing scream and lowers his staff for a full on charge of the the trog attacking the mage. Hoping to distract the trog from killing him and snapping him out of his daze.

[1d20] = 8

[Stonjuz]

The halfling darts in fearful retreat to the spot between Epsilon and Strom, hopefully getting lost in their legs, avoiding any trogs.
dag [1d20+3] = 14+3 = 17 dmg [1d4+1] = 3+1 = 4

[Computer +1]

Strom is desperate to end the trog in front of him and he mistimes his attack completely
[1d20+2] = 0+2 = 2

[Zhym]

Strom is desperate to end the trog in front of him and he mistimes his attack completely
[1d20+2] = 0+2 = 2

That's some pretty improbable rolling there!