Cookie bravely smacks the wolf on the muzzle!
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Marcus quickly cobbles together a makeshift bomb as the fiends attack... The gnoll barks an order at the hyena and it flies to obey - lunging headlong towards Jak. The fangs catch only air.
BOOM:
~ The Mushroom Corridor ~ Aerik races down the gallery lined with fungi. Behind him, he hears the scrabble of claws on stone. He runs like a wolf, but the hyena runs like what it is... and it is just as fast. The hyena rushes down the corridor and flies past the Druid, it's head low in a flat-out sprint. It vanishes from Aerik's light and splashes into the deepening water - then stops.
ORDER: MAP: The Black Hand 21|24
On the Smite Question:
The screech of metal sets more than the obelisk in motion... Aerik sprints around the corner and into the East-West passage. He moves so fast, his light can scarcely keep pace as he whips through the darkness. He heads for the southern turn that will lead him to the mushroom gallery... and finds that he isn't the only thing moving fast in the dark corridors. And this one doesn't need light to see. Another thick-boned and long-skulled, fully armored, skeletal hyena stands in the junction. A 10' metal leash drags behind it from the northern passage. It snaps its jaws as it spies the Druid.
PARTIAL ORDER: MAP: Flufficide! DM Only: #1 Init
#2 Init
The deeply wounded Shadow Mastiff lunges at the girl, attempting to sink his fangs into her leg and take her down. He gets a rapier pommel blow across the muzzle for his efforts.
ORDER: Orin, Ushari, Strae, Jofram, Mastiff, Jayse MAP: Step Into the Black Updated 70|70
On-Going Effects:
Good Guys
Panicked - 1 of 4 rnds - Jofram, Vaelos, Filch Bad Guys none DM Stuff: Mastiff #0 - USHARI AC:21
The Dire Rats scamper down the stairs chased by their own panicked squeaks.
ORDER: 63|70 3 1
On-going: ALLIES
Inspire Courage - +2 ATT/DAM ; +2 Morale vs Charm/Fear VILLAINS
The last two surviving Dire Rats flee, making a bee-line for the staircases.
ORDER: 63|70 3 1
On-going: ALLIES
Inspire Courage - +2 ATT/DAM ; +2 Morale vs Charm/Fear VILLAINS
Of the two remaining rats, one slinks around to Jofram's side, delivering an ineffectual snap at his ankle. The other limps away slowly from Jayse, badly hurt.
ORDER: 47|70 2 1
On-going:
ALLIES
Inspire Courage - +2 ATT/DAM ; +2 Morale vs Charm/Fear VILLAINS
@ Jofram AC:26: BITE (20/x2) HIT: DAM: + 1 DR BITE
Rats go squeak and rats go squish as they scurry around the heroes. Jayse crushes them underfoot. Jofram hews them in half. Ushari and her Ally skewer them like shishkabobs. Even Straehan's claws rend the tiny little horrors. Nearly half die yet still they come at the command of their larger cousins. And there is terrible purpose in them, as they gnaw and distract their enemies. Fortunately, none survived to 'round the corners' or provide a vicious set of flanks for the majority of the were-rats. Jayse, swarmed by the small critters, can't defend himself from all of them and receives a sharp nip on the heel from one particularly nasty looking rat.
ORDER: Map UPDATED: Rumble at the Strumpet 41|70 1 1
On-going:
ALLIES
Inspire Courage - +2 ATT/DAM ; +2 Morale vs Charm/Fear VILLAINS
@ Jayse AC:23:
BITE (20/x2) HIT: DAM: + 1 DR BITE BITE (20/x2) HIT: DAM: + 1 DR BITE BITE (20/x2) HIT: DAM: + 1 DR BITE @ Jofram AC:26:
BITE (20/x2) HIT: DAM: + 1 DR BITE BITE (20/x2) HIT: DAM: + 1 DR BITE @ Ushari AC:21:
None @ Straehan AC:25: BITE (20/x2) HIT: DAM: + 1 DR BITE
A flood of charging, squirming, stinking, chisel-toothed rodents swarm over you in a cacophony of squeaks...
A couple of the were-rats squeak and an odd skittering sounds rises up from the staircase to the basement. A carpet of large, vicious, dire rats flows from the stairwell. They swarm under and around their larger compatriots and the furniture, rushing towards your small group by the door. Each one is nearly the size of a halfling child. Their speed is impressive, they easily out-distance the were-rat clan. Like the were-rats, their slavering jaws are filthy. Your skin crawls at the diseases they might carry.
ORDER:
Jayse successfully vanishes and races down the rafter jumping the squeaking swarm. Rodent heads rise and sniff the air. They may not have smelled him until he was already past but they definitely had his scent and their chisel-like teeth and sharpened snouts turned in his direction. Jofram sees the half-open louvred door sway slightly. Possibly Jayse has made it outside.
Ushari & Strae... The redhead puts her hands on her hips as if it might help in unraveling this mystery. "Wait. So if this stalker was following you... how could he sneak into my attic before you came in?" It seems your sincerity has convinced her that there is a stalker but she can't quite puzzle out how he managed to be in the attic. Jayse & Jofram... It seems the large rats are set to defend their territory. As one they scurry off the supplies and onto the rafters. A few creep gingerly onto the ceiling slats. So, you've learned two things:
ORDER: 70|70
rolls:
The Thunderbird clamps down on the goblin only to feel his talon forcibly wrenched open by the tiny fighter. Biter pops loose of the 'fist' as a crash of thunder and a bolt of jagged lightning lashes like a cobra towards him. Biter leaps at the body of the bird, catching onto a ragged feather as the lightning flashes below his feet. The bird screeches and snaps its beak at the monk's head. Rath releases the arrowhead and drops a mere foot - the distance of the rope to where it is wound around his forearm. It isn't much but it is enough to take him below the sharp beak.
ORDER: 99|190
rolls on Biter:
rolls on Rath:
The giant bird screeches, arcs on a single wing, and descends on the small meal that has more fight left in it than it pretends. The talons slam into the small goblin like a battering ram and lock on. Only slightly less intense that the predator's shriek is the roar of thunder rolling among the vortex of clouds. A single flash of lightning tears the sky, arcs past the bird's wing, and lashes the monk. Rath tries to use the bird leg for cover but it does little good.
ORDER: 99|190
rolls on Biter:
STAND: Claws (19+/2x)
HIT: <-CRIT? CONFIRM: No DAM: GRAB v CMD28: rolls on Rath: Lightning
Reflex DC:22 Next Bolt Biter/Rath
The initial pinch of its prey doesn't bother Tweet. Most meals struggle for a few moments. But then there is the burning feeling and the horrid ripping into its belly flesh. The pain is intense. Tweet's avian brain considers that it may not have softened this prey sufficiently - assuming the goblin's small size meant an easy meal. Dropping dangerous prey is almost a reflex action. Tweet's talons piston open and the goblin falls away into the storm. The massive bird pivots to keep the prey in sight and brings its lightning-charged wings together in another explosive thunderclap, blasting Biter sideways. The Goblin tumbles to the end of the rope, about 35' from the monk and the Stone-Biter arrow stuck in the bird's knee-joint.
ORDER: 122|190
Rath and Biter fall fast, but the enormous bird of prey falls faster. In seconds they are engulfed in the storm that presages its arrival. Rain pelts and electricity dances across them. Howling winds come from the bird itself, threatening to push Biter off Rath's back while shoving them both towards the wall of unforgiving rock. Then from the rain, mist, and tumult of clouds comes the winged shadow that eclipses the light, the unearthly shriek, and the huge seeking talons... Rath snaps off a shuriken but it bounces harmlessly off the heavily calloused talon. A blast of wind and rain rocks and blinds him momentarily. When he blinks the water clear, Biter is gone... and the silk rope connecting them is paying out blindingly fast. Water whips off the rope like there is a swordfish running on the end of the line.
ORDER: 174|190
Rath rolls:
READY: Shuriken (20/2x ; 10' increment)
MODS: MW, airborne, range HIT: DAM: Tweet rolls: STAND: Claws (19+/2x) v AC20
HIT: DAM: GRAB v CMD30 (Rage):
The massive eagle-creature tucks its wings further and power-dives at its elusive prey. The beast looms larger and larger to Biter. But so fast is their descent that it can't quite catch them yet. Biter feels the hair on his body stand up. Electricity charges the air. He gets a whiff of ozone as a few drops of rain patter down. It's like standing on the edge of storm about to burst. The eagle shrieks its frustration. The blast of its cry sets Biter's and Rath's teeth on edge as it echoes off the mountainside, starting avalanches of stone as the weak rock trembles and peels away from the face, tumbling down after our heroes. Unused to anything that can elude it in the air, Tweet snaps its wings out and claps them together. Biter can see the pressure wave punch aside the rain-haze around the creature. Thunder tears the sky and a bolt of lightning slashes out like a jagged whip. Biter grasps onto the monk's leather bandolier and kicks his legs free attempting to change their course as the surgically precise bolt (along with its attendant thunderclap) slam Rath in the back. Our heroes tumble briefly before righting themselves. The rain sizzles on the still cooking flesh along the Vudrani's ribs. He grits his teeth and says nothing.
ORDER: 190|190
A winged shadow passes over the falling friends, drawing a set of red eyes upward. Biter sees a large eagle gliding high above them. In the clear sky, a grey storm cloud begins to form above the eagle-like bird. Then it folds its wings with a snap like thunder and dives on the free-falling duo. It plummets very, VERY fast... Biter realises this creature is far larger than he imagined. Its wingspan is probably beyond 40'. The wind rustling its feathers rumbles like thunder and blue sparks of electricity dance along the edges of its tucked wings. It shrieks like a banshee as it stoops on its prey.
ORDER: 170|170
rolls:
A shiny penny comes whipping through the door and bounces off the aardwolf's flanks, causing it to leap at yet another perceived assault. Unfortunately, the blow merely shakes its faltering confidence. Bloody, beaten, and mauled - the aardwolf has had enough. It spins around, shaking the badger loose, tucks its lengthy tail against its bleeding belly and runs out the door, trying to add as much speed as possible despite its near crippled condition. Its yipping and yodels of pain are heard as it streaks out the door and down the road, easily surpassing the impressive run of the indefatigable Flik.
ORDER:
In its small mind, the aardwolf starts rethinking coming after these animals for a meal. It snaps at the badger hoping for a quick meal. BITE v Dodge 12 (-5+2+3):
The 'wolf's jaws snap on Turk's head but his wounds sap the strength from his bite. He does little more than shake the badger vigorously. ORDER: Map: Petshop Boys
Blood springs from the slashed muzzle of the Aardwolf. It blinks at the ferocity of the smaller creature's attack, not sure what to make of an animal that appears to be about 95% teeth and claws.
As Heist is recommending that the ravenous looking badger 'look beyond' them, he happens to look past the badger and spies something else stalk from around a further corner. It raises its narrow muzzle to the sky, sniffing the air. It sees the badger, raccoon, and squirrel and lets out a low gutteral growl. Head down, it lopes forward at a frightening pace, saliva dripping from its powerful jaws. It looks to be interested in fresh meat. It is as big as a large dog with long mottled yellow and black fur. Its back end is whipcord thin and ropey but quickly widens to a powerful chest, neck, and forelegs. Its black muzzle snaps in anticipation as the long, fuzzy tail drags the ground. The three smaller animals size up the situation. The obvious lines of retreat are down one of the cross streets or through the partially-open door to the 'larder' behind them. The nearest tree draws Flik's attention but it is between the dog-creature and himself and he'd have to get past the badger as well. Given how fast the big beast is moving, Flik isn't sure he can make it to the tree in time. In fact, Heist and Turk don't feel confident they can outrun the larger animal either. |