The Second Face of Evil

[patransom]

Tex calls out “Ah, Bollocks! More Grimies up here!” Drawing his battleaxe, he gives Grimlock 1 a solid whack with it.

The creature does not look very healthy any more, but counterattacks Tex anyway. It misses.

Grimlock 2 attacks Cyrius. In spite of Tex's warning, he unable to see the blow coming and, therefore, unable to get out of the way. Still, luck is with him, and he receives only a glancing blow from the Grimlock's crude morningstar [3 hp].

Grimlock 3 waits in the corridor for an opening.

OUT OF CHARACTER

For Cyrius' benefit, here are the rules that apply in the darkness atop the ledge: In areas of darkness, creatures without darkvision are effectively blinded. In addition to the obvious effects, a blinded creature has a 50% miss chance in combat (all opponents have total concealment), loses any Dexterity bonus to AC, takes a –2 penalty to AC, and takes a –4 penalty on Perception checks that rely on sight and most Strength- and Dexterity-based skill checks.

 

ACTIVE EFFECTS

Round 1 Evan Prost: rapier readied, 8 bolts left, darkvision 164.9 min, uninjured Marcus Tilsworth: loaded crossbow readied, 3 elemental rays left, 20 bolts left, 1 hp damage Cyrius of the Sudden Blade: empty handed, 14 hp damage Worrel: longbow readied, 112 arrows left, 0 lay on hands left, 22 hp damage Texudus TreeBender: battleaxe readied, 9 arrows left, 14 hp damage Lola: loaded crossbow readied, sunrod dropped at 0425, 30 bolts, 1 channel energy, 5 storm burst left, 12 hp damage Grimlock 1 - 12 hp damage Grimlock 2 Grimlock 3 ---> Full Validation

[tdsprouse]

[ooc]Was Tex not able to move to 0528? I realize that it wouldnt be a '5 foot step' but a regular move action, and drawing a weapon on the move.[/ooc]

Either way, Tex takes another swing at G1.

atk
0

dmg
1

[CGM3]

Lost in the dark, Cyrius will retreat onto the rope bridge (move to 04250). [talk]Quick, Lola, throw me the whip! I mean, the sunrod![/talk]

[kabkal]

Lola picks up the sunrod and sets her crossbow to her side ready to drop the sunrod again if something else needs to be killed.

[ooc]You show Lola does not have the sunrod, I think this is in error based on this line.[/ooc]

Lola will try to get the sunrod up to the darkened area as quickly as she can (toss if able) and then will move up with her sword drawn ready to attack next round if possible.

[smeltdm]

Prost can be heard grumbling something about leaping before looking, then goes silent (stealth) as he attempts to scale the rock pile and make his way up to the ledge.

Acrobatics[dice]0[/dice]

Climb[dice]1[/dice]

Stealth[dice]2[/dice]

[ooc]Not sure Prost can scale rock pile and climb to ledge in one turn (double move). If not will got as far as he can, adjust action on next turn.[/ooc]

[JPetherick]

Worrell looks upward to where his companions are fighting. He will fire his bow if any opponent shows itself.



[ooc]Hold Attack Action

Fire longbow - [dice]0[/dice]

Damage - [dice]1[/dice][/ooc]

[patransom]

Lost in the dark, Cyrius will retreat onto the rope bridge (move to 04250). [talk]Quick, Lola, throw me the whip! I mean, the sunrod![/talk]

Lola picks up the sunrod and sets her crossbow to her side ready to drop the sunrod again if something else needs to be killed.

[ooc]You show Lola does not have the sunrod, I think this is in error based on this line.[/ooc]

Lola will try to get the sunrod up to the darkened area as quickly as she can (toss if able) and then will move up with her sword drawn ready to attack next round if possible.

[ooc]Yep, I missed that. Lola has the sunrod and can throw it this round. However, I need to clarify both her and Cyrius' actions this round, first:

Cyrius finds the rope bridge to be sturdy, but it sways precipitously and the rope has an unnerving tendency to creak and shudder as it bears weight. He can move across the bridge at one quarter his normal speed with a DC 0 Acrobatics check. If he wants to move at half speed, he must make a DC 10 Acrobatics check. Moving at full speed requires a DC 15 Acrobatics check. These checks increase by +5 if Cyrius only uses one hand to steady himself, or by +10 if he uses no hands. Cyrius might as well move at one quarter speed, since he's withdrawing as a full-round action. If he dismisses his mind blade, he will not need a check (since he can't fail DC 0). Otherwise, he will need a DC 5 or 10 check, depending on how many hands he wants free, perhaps to catch the sunrod next round...

Lola can toss the sunrod onto the ledge with an attack roll vs AC 10. Or she can wait until next round and toss it straight up to Cyrius, when he could have an action ready to catch it, if he has a hand free and makes an attack roll vs AC 10.[/ooc]

[CGM3]

Cyrius will dismiss his mind blade and use both hands to hang on (those rocks look hard), moving at quarter speed.

[kabkal]

Since cyrius is moving she will wait until next round to toss.

[patransom]

Round 1

Prost can be heard grumbling something about leaping before looking, then he goes silent as he scales the rock pile. He makes his way to the top and gets ready to climb the wall [I'll keep your previously rolled climb check; since climbing is at 1/4 speed, it will take all of next round to climb up onto the ledge]

Marcus examines the climb and says, “There must be an easier way up there.”

Lost in the dark, Cyrius retreats onto the rope bridge. He discovers that the bridge sways precipitously and the rope has an unnerving tendency to creak and shudder as it bears weight. He dismisses his mind blade to grab hold with both hands as he moves out onto the bridge. “Quick, Lola, throw me the whip! I mean, the sunrod!” he calls out.

Worrell looks upward to where his companions are fighting. He readies to fire his bow if any opponent shows itself.

Tex takes another swing at G1, but is not as successful this time.

Seeing that Cyrius is not quite ready to make the catch, Lola readies to toss him the sunrod as soon as he stabilizes himself.

The Grimlocks advance farther out onto the ledge, surrounding Tex. They all slash at Tex with their morningstars, but the dwarf is too quick for them.

OUT OF CHARACTER

For Cyrius' benefit, here are the rules that apply in the darkness atop the ledge: In areas of darkness, creatures without darkvision are effectively blinded. In addition to the obvious effects, a blinded creature has a 50% miss chance in combat (all opponents have total concealment), loses any Dexterity bonus to AC, takes a –2 penalty to AC, and takes a –4 penalty on Perception checks that rely on sight and most Strength- and Dexterity-based skill checks.

 

ACTIVE EFFECTS

Round 2 Evan Prost: empty handed, 8 bolts left, darkvision 164.8 min, uninjured Marcus Tilsworth: loaded crossbow readied, 3 elemental rays left, 20 bolts left, 1 hp damage Cyrius of the Sudden Blade: empty handed, 14 hp damage Worrel: longbow readied, 112 arrows left, 0 lay on hands left, 22 hp damage Texudus TreeBender: battleaxe readied, 9 arrows left, 14 hp damage Lola: sunrod readied, 30 bolts, 1 channel energy, 5 storm burst left, 12 hp damage Grimlock 1 - 12 hp damage Grimlock 2 Grimlock 3 ---> Validation

[smeltdm]

continuted...Prost, climbing, quietly. Hoping for sneak attack...

[ooc]If you need roll let me know[/ooc]

[JPetherick]

Worrell continues to watch, ready to fire if an opponent presents itself on the ledge above.


[spoiler]Readied Attack - Fire Bow
Attack - [dice]0[/dice]
Damage - [dice]1[/dice][/spoiler]

[Duniagdra]

Marcus will attempt climbing, using all actions needed to reach ledge and begin the climb. I figure a couple rounds.

[patransom]

[ooc]I think I'm waiting for Tex and Cyrius.[/ooc]

[CGM3]

Obviously, Cyrius will is waiting for Lola to throw him the sunrod, at which point he'll free one hand to grab at it.

Base "To Catch" roll: 1d20
[dice]0[/dice]

If his +4 BAB is added, the total is 9 (and a miss!)

If his melee to-hit (+6), missile to-hit (+7), or CMB (+6, this could be considered a maneuver) is applied, he caught it.

And the crowd waits with bated breath for the GM's call...

[tdsprouse]

Tex Fights Defensively, Swinging at G1

atk (@ -4) Ac +2
0

dmg
1

[tdsprouse]

Crit Confirm?
0

dmg
1

[patransom]

Round 2

Prost clambers up the wall and onto the ledge.

Marcus advances to the rock pile, preparing for a climb. However, as he steps onto the loose surface, he trips and falls [failed balance check by 5 or more]. He stands back up, ready to try again if he wants.

Seeing that Cyrius is now ready, Lola tosses the sunrod straight up. Cyrius snatches it, providing him sufficient light to see the grimlocks on the ledge.

Worrell continues to watch, ready to fire if an opponent presents itself on the ledge above.

Tex takes a defensive stroke that catches Grimlock 1 completely off guard and cuts him down [crit doesn't confirm, but 9 hp is still enough to take down the grimlock]

The Grimlocks exchange a series of surprisingly soft grunts, apparently discussing their tactics in some unknown language. Then Grimlock 3 attempts to bull rush Tex. He receives an axe to the face as a result, nearly taking him down [AoO crit confirmed, 13 hp damage!]. He continues with his ill-advised maneuver anyway, bounces off the quite immovable Tex and collapses from the effort [continuing to act at 0 hp costs him another hp, putting him negative].

Seeing how badly that plan went for his comrade, Grimlock 2 decides that discretion is the better part of valor and withdraws, fleeing up the steep corridor into the darkness.

OUT OF CHARACTER

You guys should decide whether to (1) remain in combat time and pursue the Grimlock, (2) regroup and gather everyone together on the ledge before continuing up the corridor, or (3) do something else. I'll point out that the Grimlock is faster than Tex and Prost and has a big headstart on Cyrius, who has to navigate the bridge...

 

ACTIVE EFFECTS

Round 3 Evan Prost: empty handed, 8 bolts left, darkvision 164.7 min, uninjured Marcus Tilsworth: loaded crossbow readied, 3 elemental rays left, 20 bolts left, 1 hp damage Lola: empty handed, 30 bolts, 1 channel energy, 5 storm burst left, 12 hp damage Cyrius of the Sudden Blade: sunrod readied, 14 hp damage Worrel: longbow readied, 112 arrows left, 0 lay on hands left, 22 hp damage Texudus TreeBender: battleaxe readied, 9 arrows left, 14 hp damage Grimlock 1 - DEAD Grimlock 2 - FLED Grimlock 3 - DEAD ---> Validation

[Duniagdra]

Marcus will continue to attempt getting to the top on his own unless another means of getting up there is presented.

[CGM3]

Cyrius remains on the bridge, letting the sunrod illuminate both the tunnel and the rockslide. [talk]Tex, Prost, stay where you are but keep on guard,[/talk] he instructs his two companions. [talk]Lola, Worrel, Marcus, get up here, we should stick together.[/talk]

[smeltdm]

Prost nodes in agreement to Cyrius sugestion, but also comments [talk]We could drop a rope down from here to help with the climb.[/talk]

[tdsprouse]

Tex will move to 0429 and ready an attack against any enemy that closes to melee range.

[CGM3]

Prost nodes in agreement to Cyrius sugestion, but also comments [talk]We could drop a rope down from here to help with the climb.[/talk]

Cyrius can provide the fifty feet of silk rope (and the grappling hook, if needed) he's carrying for that purpose.

[smeltdm]

Getting no response for his aid Prost searches the ledge and the bodies for anything left behind, (untripped traps and the like) after which he takes a position next to Tex @ 0529.
Perception check: [dice]0[/dice]...+2 for traps

[kabkal]

Seeing the battle is over, Lola takes her time to get up to everyone else.

[JPetherick]

Worrell follows Lola up the pile of broken rock to join his companions.

[patransom]

Before anyone can get a rope out, Marcus and Lola manage to scramble up to the ledge. Even Worrel, in his heavy armor, manages to make it up without assistance, after only a couple of minor slips and falls.

In the meantime, Prost searches the bodies, but finds nothing of value. The grimlocks' equipment (morningstars, shields, javelins), although effective, is too crude to be worth much in civilized society.

The tunnel ahead, whence the last grimlock fled, slopes upward into the darkness. Unlike the rough, uneven caverns you have traversed thus far, this tunnel is smooth, possibly from use [in other words, no more difficult terrain for the time being].

ACTIVE EFFECTS

Evan Prost: empty handed, 8 bolts left, darkvision 164.3 min, uninjured Marcus Tilsworth: loaded crossbow readied, 3 elemental rays left, 20 bolts left, 1 hp damage Lola: empty handed, 30 bolts, 1 channel energy, 5 storm burst left, 12 hp damage Cyrius of the Sudden Blade: sunrod readied, 14 hp damage Worrel: longbow readied, 112 arrows left, 0 lay on hands left, 22 hp damage Texudus TreeBender: battleaxe readied, 9 arrows left, 14 hp damage

[Duniagdra]

Marcus will take a middle position

[smeltdm]

Prost will take point, just on the edge of shadow...

[CGM3]

[talk]Before we follow that last grimlock, maybe we should check the other end of this bridge,[/talk] Cyrius suggests. [talk]I assume it leads to the ledge where those first two sniped at us, but it may have something of interest. Of course, some of us should also stay here, just in case he comes back with friends.[/talk]