Part 8: Once more unto the Barrowmaze

[Zorroroaster]

Looking back, Bronn sees Simoni gesticulating down the hall, and his meaning is clear. Hefting his sword, he steps quietly out of the cell, past Simoni and stands shoulder to shoulder with Pyrrhic. He peers down the hall, looking for the first sign of whatever is coming.

[RiotInferno]

Pyrrhic looks over at Bronn, nods and smiles.
He silently unsheaths his longsword and readies himself for the oncoming beast.

[SocraticLawyer]

Peaches loads her sling and makes ready to use it. A look from Claude reminds her that now is not (yet) the time for her Wizard's War Cry. Both wait in silent anticipation instead.

[ybn1197]

As the noise gets louder, it resolves into the sounds of chittering and scratching as a group of giant rats turns the corner. At the sight of your group, they slow as if gauging the situation.

Initiative.

Grigg

Grigg remembers that the portcullis room shows a secret door on the eastern wall. He will search for this, hoping that the latch is the same sort of mechanism as in the first chamber with the skeleton, so that he may discover it before the creature turns the corner.

Roll a d6

Incidently, how did the portcullis gates move? Upwards with silent well greased bearings or screeching of rusty metal unused in ages? It may help decide actions if we know how much noise it'll make moving it again, unless it stayed open of course?

Forcing it up it made a bit of noise, most likely what attracted the giant rats. It does not stay in that position though.

[Stirling]

Grigg

d6 roll = 6 ...is that good or bad? (ID 81736)

Grigg hears the squeaking rats and fervantly tries to find the secret door trigger points. "wave my flaming torch across the bars, it may stop them coming through. " he will say to anyone in the room.

[RiotInferno]

Pyrrhic quickly looks around, assessing the situation.
Is there a door or something to shut to separate us from the rats?

[ybn1197]

Even though the map shows the presence of a secret door, Grigg is unable to find any mechanism to open the door.

The only thing to separate you from the rats would be to enter a room and close the door behind you (or portcullis in the case of the room most of you are currently in.)

[kalstone]

Simoni looks nervously at the rats. "I don't know that I'm too keen on entering a room with no retreat route."

[Zorroroaster]

Bronn stands, resolute.

Initiative: [1d6+1] = 5+1 = 6

[Zhym]

Milo tries to remember if one can use the shadows to hide from rats. "Oh well," he thinks to himself. "There's one way to find out!" He tries to remain motionless and blend into his surroundings, ready to stab a rat from behind once they pass him.

[RiotInferno]

Initiative: [1d6] = 2

[kalstone]

Initiative: [1d6+1] = 3+1 = 4

[Stirling]

Grigg

The portcullis is down presently. How big are the spaces between the bars? Enough for a hungry rabid giant rat to wriggle through?

Hearing the oncoming squealing rodents, Grigg will temporarily give up on searching for secret entrances and stand behind the portcullis with a flaming torch wafted at knee height along the bars, trying to discourage any attempt by the beasts to enter the room. If some try or get stuck trying he will stab them with his longsword.

D6 initiative roll = 3

[SocraticLawyer]

Are we doing individual initiative? If so: Initiative [1d6] = 2

If the rats can't squeeze through the portcullis, Peaches will try to burn them with magic. If they can, she will hide behind Claude.

[ybn1197]

No, the bars are not spaced far enough apart for the rats to enter. They can still their muzzles through and therefore attack anyone who is too close to the bars but there is enough room in the cell for everyone to stand and still not be near the bars.

[Stirling]

Grigg

As he waits behind the portcullis gate, Grigg checks the ceiling and walls for any sign of how the room was used. Any graffiti, stone markings, pottery shards about?

[ybn1197]

Due to the downtime I caused, the giant rats will act last.

Initiative
6. Bronn
4. Simoni
3. Grigg
2. Milo, Peaches & Pyrrhic
1. Giant rats

Grigg, Peaches and Claude are in the cell with the gate down. Bronn and Pyrrhic form the front line in front of 6 giant rats. Simoni is behind Bronn and Pyrrhic. Milo is hiding in the shadows behind Simoni (or at least that is his belief, only the DM knows.)

Grigg - There are shards of pottery scattered in the room. Not many but there are a few.

Actions?

[Stirling]

Grigg

Torch in hand, Grigg will search through the pottery shards for any trinkets left behind. Without finding the trigger for the secret door, he will search the room, staying away from nibbling rat mouths trying to munch through the bars.

[RiotInferno]

Pyrrhic swings his sword in a mighty arc towards the rats.

To hit with Longsword: [1d20+1] = 19+1 = 20, damage: [1d8+1] = 4+1 = 5

[Zhym]

Milo quietly nocks an arrow and looses it at a rat away from melee.

Short bow (THAC0 19): [1d20+4] = 6+4 = 10, [1d6] = 4

Can a thief backstab with a missile weapon? If so, if Milo is in a position to do so that's 14 to hit and 8 damage. If not, hopefully he can still get a position bonus if he managed to get behind any of the rats.