Return To The Ruins (Warlords Palace)

[Ahlmzhad]

Please avoid firing projectiles into a melee. A miss can hit another PC.

That might be the case. Haven't seen it in this game. And as was said this creature seems to be large so there is usually open shots there. I'd say this is a time where it's needed regardless as we are limited in who can engage in melee.

[Karaunios]

I've seen it happen several times in OMs games. Maybe not in this one, but for sure in BSI.

Regardless of the size of the creature, a critical miss is still a critical miss. That's why I said it.

[OGRE MAGE]

I will try to explain the situation before I update.

I asked earlier who wanted to go on which craft and got about 3 IC responses.

When players don't provide an answer to my questions, I am forced to place them wherever it makes the most sense to me. When players who didn't answer my initial question then ask where they are, I seldom feel the need to spend extra time detailing things that you didn't take the effort to respond to in the first place.

Regarding firing into melee.....

We are playing this BtB. You can shoot missiles into melee, but at -2 on the die. Any attempt longer than short range has an equal chance of hitting friend or foe. (I normally make any necessary extra rolls while I am updating to prevent long pauses in the action.)

If it makes sense, targeting the head of a larger enemy is a possible workaround to that rule, (like you did with the pigman) but most certainly not in this case, as the monster is currently in the water and not towering above anyone.

Many times, I feel that not giving you exact locations to where everyone is during combat is an indicator of the confusion of your ever shifting positions of battle. In this case, the rafts are floating around wildly and even spinning in the current. I might also mention that you are currently in the dark, with water splashing all around you. If the lights go out, do you still think you would know exactly where everyone is?

As mentioned in my last update, most of you are not close enough to touch or even attack the monster with a handheld weapon from your rafts at the moment. In situations like this, it is probably best to give me an either/or style action, just in case your specified action is not valid.

I hope all that makes sense.

[OGRE MAGE]

Under The Zakath Desert
Falling Into The River
No Idea On Time Or Day

Unable to get any sort of footing to attack this beast while on the rafts, Taibhse switches weapons, pulling his bow off his shoulder while setting his torch down on the soaking wet raft. Just like Sik's torch earlier, it is instantly extinguished, leaving only Cyrils torch and Magdas lantern yet alight. The chasms gloom of darkness encroaches even closer to the doomed adventurers.

With both rafts still twirling around in the current while those with a pole in hand desperately try to control their movements, steering the crafts with any kind of precision appears nearly impossible. Doing whatever they can, Kain and the others try their best to remain as close as possible to the shoreline. (I am assuming that those of you who cant attack are at least trying to help with the navigation.)

After disappearing under the surface momentarily, Sik eventually pops back up, grabbing for the side of the raft as best he can before eventually pulling himself aboard again. When the monster surfaces to regain its meal, Akhilleus is there to welcome it with his blade, slashing another wound into its rubbery flesh.

Magda sets her pole aside to sling a stone into the dark water, making Kains navigations towards the shore even more difficult. The stone disappears into the water alongside the wayward arrow from the Shamans bow. With her lantern now apparently at her feet, it too topples precariously close to the edge of soaking wet raft.

As Sik pulls himself back onto the raft, Xenos tries to provide a distraction by slashing at the resurfacing monster. His unstable footing causes him to miss the mark initially, but his counter attack is even worse, causing him to slip off the edge of the raft, landing head first into the cold, dark water. In full battle armor, the Warlock is unable to keep himself from sinking like a stone into the depths of this water. Fortunately, as the depth is only about 6 feet this close to shore, it allows him to touch the bottom while still keeping his head barely above the surface so he can breath.

Seeing this, the monster starts to submerge again as well, likely trying to secure an easier meal without all the pain from the sharp blades digging into it. Akhilleus thinks he can get a shot in on it before it disappears, but those on the other rafts are unable to get close enough to attack while they teeter and spin along the surface.

Actions?

Taibhse (Sh2) FA:0(20) AC5 11/11 CT
Xenos (DS3) FA:3 AC5 17/17 CT
Akhilleus (F4) FA:4 AC4 14/35
Kainaxarthos (C3) FA:2 AC6 17/19
Magda (W2) FA:0 AC9 8/8 Sleep Hooded Lantern
Sik (Ba1) FA:1 AC5 9/12
Cyril (Pr3) FA:1 AC8 12/12 CLW, CLW, DM, HP Torch

[The_Wanderer]

Cyril

"Well that was unpleasant. The bowels of this planet sure tend to produce unthinkable horrors."

Cyril keeps his lantern held up high and does what he can to help navigate down the river.

[shaidar]

Xenos

Xenos tries to make his way to shallower water and onto land if he can.

[silifi]

If positioned closely enough, Sik will attempt to pull Xenos to safety

[1d6]=1(Test of Strength)

Otherwise, he will paddle to position the raft so that he can help Xenos onto it.

[Karaunios]

Akhilleus attacks the monster, hoping for a good hit before it submerges to devour his friend.

Broad sword (one-handed) - To hit: [1d20+3]=4+3=7; Dmg: [1d8+4]=1+4=5

But the constant shaking of the raft makes it hard for the mercenary to slash at the creature.

[Ahlmzhad]

Taibhse

Seeing the creature backing off he'll help to get the boat to their target destination.

[Monsieur Rose]

Kainaxarthos

Another splash in the water alerts Kain to more allies overboard even though he can't see the action while navigating the skiff. "Dammit! Who fell?"

He spots the lantern on the deck and calls to Magda. "Magda, grab the lantern before we lose all light. I prefer to see what I'm poling." Kain will grab the lantern if Magda does not.

Kain tries valiantly to keep the skiff near the action, hoping that whoever fell can reach the skiff if needed.

[OGRE MAGE]

Under The Zakath Desert
Falling Into The River
No Idea On Time Or Day

While the monster is submerging, the party tries their best to regroup, with the edge of the gravel beach straight ahead as their attempted destination.

After already losing two thirds of their light sources, the final pair of lanterns are cautiously cradled again.

Xenos remains in the water, also headed for the shore ahead. He stays close and helps by pushing the raft along as best he can.

Before the rafts reach the shore, Kain spots movement in the water again just as the head of Xenos is suddenly yanked below the surface. Clearly this beast has not givin up the idea of an easy meal. Sik quickly grabs for the Warlock's hand that was holding onto the raft. He pulls with all his might, trying to keep his friend from drowning in this sickening deadly tug-of-war. In their fading light, the group can see a tint of crimson rising to the surface of the water as their companion is attacked relentlessly by the many pointy appendages just out of their reach.

Samson-e1569022380678-640x320.jpeg (29.84 KiB) Viewed 486 times

Actions?

Xenos can make me a Test of Constitution, while Sik can give me an Extraordinary Feat of Strength roll.

The others have a choice to either think of some way to help save Xenos, or leap/swim for the shore.

Taibhse (Sh2) FA:0(20) AC5 11/11 CT
Xenos (DS3) FA:3 AC5 9/17 CT
Akhilleus (F4) FA:4 AC4 14/35
Kainaxarthos (C3) FA:2 AC6 17/19
Magda (W2) FA:0 AC9 8/8 Sleep Hooded Lantern
Sik (Ba1) FA:1 AC5 9/12
Cyril (Pr3) FA:1 AC8 12/12 CLW, CLW, DM, HP Torch

[shaidar]

Xenos

Test of CON (1-3): [1d6]=1

[silifi]

Extraordinary Feat of Strength (24%): [1d100]=2

Sik pulls with all of his might.

[Karaunios]

Akhilleus stays focused on the monster. If it comes out of the water for a second, he will try to attack it with his sword, as long as he thinks he's not endangering Xenos or Sik.

[The_Wanderer]

Cyril

"Xenos...!"

He jumps in the water and hooks both arms under the man's arms and around Xenos' chest and tries to help Sik in pulling the warlock to safety.

"I have one remaining healing spell if we can just get to safety."

[Monsieur Rose]

Kainaxarthos

"Watch Ou...oh. Dammit." Kain exclaims as the beast reappears to cause problems. He focuses on getting the skiff to the shore, only turning his head when yet another ally jumps into the water. "Get out of the damn water!"

Kain hopes that when he reaches shore, he can throw a rope to the raft and help stabilize it.

[shaidar]

Xenos

Gurgle!

[OGRE MAGE]

Under The Zakath Desert
Nice Rolls!
No Idea On Time Or Day

Xenos holds his breath as the pointed claws stick him through his armor. Certain this will be his demise, the Warlock is shocked when he feels a strong tug on his arm. With an astonishing strength of the gods, Sik is able to yank the man from the death clutches of the huge slug, not only pulling him from the creatures grasp, but yanking him all the way back up to the raft.

Seeing the thing begin to surface again is all the others need as motivation to swim, leap, or dive towards the gravel at the edge of the shoreline. As they arrive at land again, one of the rafts is grabbed by the oncoming monster, causing those aboard to leap from one craft to the next before they hit dry ground. That raft is pulled away from the shore by the angry beast, still looking for something nutritious to eat.

With Cyrils light source suddenly doused in the water after he jumped in, the lone lantern of Magda only illuminates a small aura of light to see by. Most believe they need to head down the beach to get where they need to go, but nothing can be seen in that direction beyond their limited light.

Actions?

underborea main - Copy (4).jpeg (158.48 KiB) Viewed 458 times

Taibhse (Sh2) FA:0(20) AC5 11/11 CT
Xenos (DS3) FA:3 AC5 9/17 CT
Akhilleus (F4) FA:4 AC4 14/35
Kainaxarthos (C3) FA:2 AC6 17/19
Magda (W2) FA:0 AC9 8/8 Sleep Hooded Lantern
Sik (Ba1) FA:1 AC5 9/12
Cyril (Pr3) FA:1 AC8 12/12 CLW, CLW, DM, HP

[shaidar]

Xenos

Xenos drags himself onto the dry land, coughing and spluttering "Sik, Cyril, thank you, I owe you my life."

[Karaunios]

Akhilleus

"The danger is not over. Let's walk down the riverside untill we can get far from the water.

Magda, can you hold the lantern behind me? I'll go first." The warrior raises his shield and starts walking to the southwest.