The already giant-sized cavern goes on for a little while and then it opens into an enormously large cavern so deep it is hard to tell how far back it goes.

The center area is marked by pooled water, and there is a rocky shoreline on both the northern and southern sides of the water.  Stalagtites and stalagmites grow in all angles here.

Near the entrance where you stand, you see a rotting corpse.  It is another one of those visperillion giant viper creatures, dead for perhaps a week or two.

You may cross on either the north, the south, or straight through the water.

Borimer moves carefully towards the nearest edge of the water, glancing around at the ceiling and walls for airborne threats.  At the subterranean pond he keeps guard if others move about, wary of the water and anything dangerous lurking within.

Kahan follows behind Borimer, mace at the ready to club any threats which should appear.

"Borimer, be careful of anything that may lie in wait in that water.  If need be I can blast the water with lightning, so be careful to stay out of the pool and keep dry." Tahldar says as he keeps the rear.

OOC:  As I recall lightning will behave like a fireball for area of effect in the presence of water.

Donovan falls into line, "should I help lead?  I can probably take a blow better than such a learned fellow as yourself," he says to Kahan.

Leo continues is slow stealthy scouting along the right side of the cavern, sticking to the shadows and avoiding the water and what might lurk there. He keeps track of the party by pausing ever 100 feet or so waiting to see if he hears their foot steps catching up to him, and will only venture another 100 feet additional if he doesn't hear them on his last check.

Kahan grins a little, dinging his mace against his magical plate mail armor. "I'm a fair bit sturdier than I look. As far as taking a blow, I think our other poorly armored companions would need protecting before myself. Would you mind taking a rear guard position until we find these giants you spoke of? Those visperillions are sneaky and quite deadly." the priest replies, not trying to be rude to anyone as he speaks quietly.

As Leo is tracking along the right side, he suddenly feels a lurch forward as he is plunged waist deep into the sand.  It feels like it is moving all around him, and that's when he realizes it is quicksand.

The party is about 100 feet behind him.  The quicksand is about 20-30 feet from the edge of the water in what appeared to be fairly sturdy land, but apparently the water has some sort of underground deposit or aquifer that has created quicksand along the furthest side.

Borimer does not detect anything strange about the water.  If anything, it appears to be quite clear and clean.  It bubbles up in ripples in the central area as fresh water is pumped to the surface.

"Perhaps we should try to swim?. If there is water there is a chance it came from a passage underwater"

"Can you get out Leogold?  Do you need us to throw you a rope?" Tahldar says as he sees the man get mired in muck.

Borimer takes out his rope and, after securing one end around his arm-stump, he uses his other hand to pull Leo out of the quicksand.

if it seems that the rope is not secure, he will wrap it around his waist instead and then use his one good hand

Leo grabs the offered rope and attempts to not struggle against it or the quicksand to allow Borimer to pull him free.

Leo is pulled out safely.  You are not sure how far the quicksand extends on the south side of the water.  The north side looks rockier and less likely to have much sand.

Shae will walk along the north wall, wary of any traps, secret doors, or other dangers.  She uses her spear to prod around the ground and wall as she goes.

Borimer puts away his rope and resumes his guard duty, keeping en eye on Shae's progress along the north bank.

Redmond realizes that he's smaller than he's been in a long time and takes a position in the back, for now.

Leo attempts to get the sand and water out of most of his gear while the others explore. Pulling his boots off and comically dumping out tons of sand and water.

The northern path appears to be clear.  Shae makes it all the way across without incident.

Borimer moves along the north wall to investigate the eastern part of the cavern, still wary of the water.

Shapfren went too, staying alert for any weird noise coming fro the water and ready to help Borimer should he slip or slide.

Tahldar moves north with the others, keeping his back against the north wall as far away from the water as possible.  As he moves he keeps a wary elven eye out for anything that might lie hidden along the north wall.

OOC:  I'll scan for secret doors as I move along the north wall.  I'll do this as the others investigate the way ahead.

After Leo has gotten most of the water and sand out of his clothing and gear he re-equips and moves to his scouting position following the northern route instead of the dangerous southern route. He is slow and cautious this time, almost like he is concerned about pressure plates and other floor traps. He presses lightly with his foot on each forward step keeping most of his weight and balance on his back leg to avoid any more surprises with quicksand until he makes it to the far side of the cavern and the opening exiting from it.

Everyone makes it back safely to the east side.  The primary difference between the northern and southern shores is that the northen shore was more rocky, with more stalagmites to weave around, so it takes longer to cross.  The south side was more sandy and easy to cross -- up until the quicksand.  You keep these things in mind in case you ever have to make a hasty retreat.

You move forward to the east.  The cave here is the widest you've seen, 50 or more yards wide and half as tall.  After a straight stretch, a slightly narrower cavern breaks out to your right (south).  It is about 20 yards across.  The wide cavern continues forward.

"I'll keep guard if anyone wants to check out the cavern."

Borimer leaves that initial exploration to those more qualified to find something noteworthy.

From what you can see from its edge, it is another tunnel that will lead you to further choices of which way to go.  (It is not a dead end cavern, in other words.)

"What say we continue straight forward for a bit?" Borimer asks his companions.

Hatchman says, "THat sounds good to me."  As a paladin, he will stand up in the front of the group by Borimer.

Kahan follows behind the paladin, glad to have another party member of the faith with them. "Perhaps we should keep track of which way we go, for future reference?" the priest suggests.

"Good idea, maybe you or someone else could do it...I can't really write much these days..." Borimer raises his shield-strapped stump.

You continue forward.  Soon, another tunnel branches off to your right, and just ahead of it is a large, round cavern.  The large round cavern is fairly dark, but you can see that it has another tunnel about 30 feet off the ground that climbs to the southeast.  The ceiling in the round cavern is about 100 feet high, it seems, as it disappears into darkness overhead.

(NOTE: For purposes of clarity, we can call the three right branching tunnels, tunnel 1, tunnel 2 and tunnel 3.  Tunnel 3 is the one that climbs to the southeast.)

OOC: For moving forward, you can turn down tunnel 1 (which was in the last post) or tunnel 2, explore the large round cavern, or try to climb up to the southeast sloping tunnel.


This message was last edited by the GM at 22:25, Thu 19 Sept 2013.

Borimer continues following Leo into the far cavern.

Hatchman follows them, looking around for anything strange in the cavern and seeing if there is any easy way to climb up to the tunnel.

Leo scouts out with the group, but then starts to head back looking at all three tunnels heading out of the area, muttering to himself. "They said they turned right and down at the four caverns, so the one they came down must slope up going back the way they came."

OOC:waiting for GM to confirm if I find what I am looking for.

Leo can only scout out the first two tunnels since the other requires getting up there.

Leo finds that the two tunnels interconnect through a larger cavern that leads to the southwest, like this.

Leo throws up his hands in frustration. "This just doesn't make any sense....at least if that parchment was right. I mean it read right down slope at cavern 4 caverns Which should mean if it was them mapping down that the tunnel we are looking for going out would slope up. Right?" he asks no one in particular looking around at the faces of the group.

Hatchman strokes his thin beard as he looks up and down the corridors, back and forth, bacvk and forth.  He is trying to remember details.

He says, "Actually, we had never traveled into the cavern with the big lake and water.  We were coming up from the south side, just like you.  But I think I remember that we came down from that tunnel up there and then turned left down one of these side tunnels.  That's how we ended up down in that direction.  That being said, if we climb up to the tunnel and go southeast, I think that takes in the direction we came from.  Too bad we didn't leave ropes for ourselves to climb back up."

"Shall we go south west then?  We can always return and try to climb up to the south east tunnel if we have to." Tahldar asks of his group.

OOC:  For the heck of it while we decide which way to go I'll do a quick scan for secret doors in the tiny cavern with the SW and SE exits.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:15, Sat 21 Sept 2013.

"I'm good at climbing, if you want it, I can go there carrying the tip of a rope and secure it for you to go there"

"How about we check out the lower passage first, and then Shapfren can get a rope for us to climb up into the other one?"

Leo responds. "I am fine with that if everyone else agrees."

You find no secret passages.

The very large cavern to the south (with the southwest exit) is similar to the others, with spotted stalagmites and stalactites.  Its exit to the southwest is once again a very large tunnel over twenty feet high and about 50 feet wide.  Otherwise, there is nothing odd about it.

(Not sure if you were going to continue southwest or not.)

Borimer continues forward with the group, heading southwest ever-wary of ambush.

Shapfren advances close to the walls, mandoline in hand, and alert in case Leo makes a noise indicating danger.

You move to the southwest.  The tunnel curves sharply to the south, climbing up huge platforms of natural steps about 5 feet tall each.

Hatchman, Lukas and Donovan indicate that they think they came this way during their time stuck in the caves.

The tunnel eventually straightens out and goes south, where it branches off into large corridors heading west, south, and northeast.  The Hatchman group (let's call it that for now) thinks they went south or west but none are quite certain which at this point.

"How about west first, and if it's a dead end or another intersection, than we check south to continue our map, eventually taking the east passage as well...?"

"I think we should go East first, it is out best chance to escape this cave exploring the places we haven't been in before, which I believe is still the priority"

"East works for me," says Hatchman. "I think going west or south puts us in backtrack mode toward those crazy viper monsters.  I'll go either way, though."

"East is also good,"  Borimer agrees.

Tahldar shrugs in agreement at going east.  He cares little which way they go as long as they keep moving.  He has said little about it, but a growing mustard seed of fear that they will encounter a giant gnaws at his mind.  He wishes for little more at the moment than to be out of the catacombs, the faster the better.

Donovan follows as fast as his little legs can carry him.

OOC: Is he still small?

Leo thinks to himself they should probably travel up each about 100 yards to see if any of them start to rise, but hold his comments and follows the others backwards down the NE passage.

You explore a little further around, and then go to the northeast.

In the main cavern, you see a tunnel heading to the west, and as you circle it around in a counterclockwise direction, you find what appear to be two stone doors, one heading west and one heading south.  The stone doors appear to be enormously heavy, and each is connected to a pulley similar to the one by the pit you crawled out of.  Even use of the pulley appears to require significant strength, and this again gives you the thought of giants.  The pulley and door do not appear to have been used recently.  The south door is somewhat larger than the western one.  The west door is about 10 feet wide by 20 feet tall.  The south door is about 20 feet wide by 15 feet tall.  (So south is wide and squat while the western is tall and thin.)

You continue around to the northeast passage.  This leads to another large, rounded cavern.  There is no other exit from this cavern.

Here, you see even further signs of occupying giants.  There are various blackened firepits on the ground, the walls are black from smoke, and the ceiling itself is at least a hundred feet high with what appear to be numerous small holes like pores leading up. The holes are about five inches wide.  There are also some scattered items like broken wood for tools, a stone box that has some firewood in it, some tattered cloths, and even a large piece of cloth 15' x 15' that might well have served as a blanket for a giant.  As with the other areas, it does not appear that this area has recently been used.

So the possibilities are to look around this room, try to go through the stone door to the west, try to go to the stone door to the south, go west down the tunnel, or backtrack around to the giant stone steps.

The group that was rescued never ventured this far south, so they think they must have gone down the tunnel to the west since they don't remember seeing these types of indicia of giants here.



This message was last edited by the GM at 19:16, Thu 26 Sept 2013.

Shae looks around the campfires to see if she can tell how long it's been since they were used.  She also looks through the dirt and ashes for anything of interest.

As Shae searches, Tahldar examines the walls with his keen elven eyes for any secret compartments.

Donovan looks for tracks.

Borimer turns around and stands at the southwest opening the party just walked through, keeping guard against any incoming danger.

Kahan attempts to figure out whether the party would be able to move the pulleys through combined effort or if they would have to find a different way to get through.

Leo slips back up the tunnel and has a peek about 100 feet down the coridor that heads back west parallel to their original tunnel. just to see what might be there. He does this as stealthy as possible while the others look around for other options.

Leo slips away to explore.  The western tunnel leads to an empty cavern with a passage that curves to the north.  It has similar signs of abandoned camps.

Nothing much is found in the ashes except for what appear to be 3 spear heads carved from stone.  On second look, you realize these are very large arrowheads that must belong to giants.

There are numerous footprints, apparently made by boots, but the size of the prints range from large man to giant sized.  None of them appears fresh.

Tahldar looks around and spots something out of the ordinary as he searches.  On all the walls, as with most walls in this cave system, there are the purple and pink crystals lining the walls to give some light.  On the southeastern wall, one of these long crystals (about 15 feet high and 1-2 inches wide) creates an optical illusion with the wall.  There is actually a long, narrow gap in the wall.  It is about 12-18 inches wide and 5 feet tall, enough for a small sized human with no armor to squeeze through, but too narrow for a giant.  It extends into darkness, but you can't tell how far.  It is a natural part of the wall and not something constructed.

Kahan determines that the pulleys could probably be turned by two strong humans (maybe Borimer by himself), so they do not need to be detoured.  It looks like the doors swing outward away from you and not toward you because they are not flush with the wall but are inset from the other side.

Borimer peers at the wall with the natural optical illusion. "Can you fit in there, Leo?"  He busies himself appraising the pulleys for a moment.  "Maybe..." he murmurs to no one in particular before resuming guard duty.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:17, Fri 27 Sept 2013.

Do we have any other light sources?

Hatchman will light a torch if needed and shine it into the crack to see if he can tell anything about where it leads.

"I've got a lantern."  Borimer lights his hooded lantern and gives it to Hatchman.

The narrow tunnel appears to slope down and to the right (south).  It has a smooth floor that can be walked on sideways by a small person or demihuman.  The tunnel curves out of sight about 10 or 15 feet in.

"I think I should be going ahead this time, if I go climbing I won't risk slipping on that floor, it seems very dangerous should anybody take a wrong step on it" said Shapfren leaving her bow and backpack on the floor to reduce the bulk

"I think you and Leo may be the only ones that will fit...maybe Tahldar, and Shae too, I suppose. Okay, Kahan could possibly squeeze in there."  Borimer considers.  "I'll just...stay here and guard...stuff..."
This message was last edited by the player at 03:13, Sat 28 Sept 2013.

"My thin frame will easily fit, however I will leave the spelunking to those better suited than myself." Tahldar replies to Borimer.

Being small and weak, even for elvenkind, Tahldar knows fully his limits.  Though he suspects there won't be too much trouble in the small path he has found, better it be handled by someone skilled in scouting and the ways of combat.  Both of which he knows little of.  With a puff of pride from his small chest he knows that at least his keen eyes found the concealed passage and that between his superior eyesight and spells he is not a hindrance on the group.

Leo, returns to the group and lets them know what he discovered of the other cavern. "What's going on in here? What did you discover?" He asks as he sees several people standing hear the wall looking at something.

Shapfren begins climbing through and quickly disappears around the bend in the tunnel.

Malissin has been quiet for some time, skulking behind the group.  He is now staring at his hands in quiet contemplation.  The tips of his fingers are purplish with congealed blood.  His lips are also a bluish tint.

A voice can be hard from between the cracks

"Please Send in Thaldar, probably best if he is secured with a rope. I found a nest and I don't have enough fireballs to blast it on my own!!"

Borimer looks at Mal and raises an eyebrow at his sickened expression before Shapfren's voice snaps his attention back to the narrow opening.  He pulls out his rope and offers to secure Tahldar.

"A nest? What kind of nest?" the halfling asks

Tahldar looks aghast at the suggestion as his face turns a shade of white.  For the moment at least he declines Borimers rope offering.

"A nest?  A nest of what Shapfren?" he says reiterating Leogold's query through the crack in the wall.  Continuing he says "In any event I don't know the fireball spell, just lightning.  I do however know the web spell which would help intensify your fireball if you cast it upon it.  But can we just leave it be though?  What harm is it to us?"

Shae looks more intrigued than anything.  She tries to squeeze her small elvish body through the crack, bringing the bat with her if it will come.  "I'm coming down, Shapfren.  Maybe a druid like me can do something about the nest other than blow it to kingdom come."

Like Borimer, Hatchman stays outside, too big to help.  So he'll guard.

Shae begins climbing down.  After getting in a little, she slips on the wet, sloped surface and slides.  You hear a distant splash.

Shae yells back up, "It looks like there are a bunch of eggs here for those winged viper monsters.  What's worse, I think there's one in here with us somewhere."

Turning to Borimer, Tahldar says "Lower me down with a rope.  I'll see what I can do."

As Tahldar is saying this, you all hear a deafening screech that sounds half-bat, half screaming woman.  It emanates from the cavern your companions just climbed down into and echoes throughout the caverns around you.  The shriek will surely attract attention.

And then, just as the screech ends, a hundred bats come flying up through the crack.  You dive for cover as they slam into the walls to escape and then finally disappear down the caverns you just came through a few minutes ago.

Borimer quickly stands back up and hands Tahldar the rope.

"Those eggs may be worth something..."

"I say we dispatch of them will all due haste if possible." Kahan states as he mulls over possible options for burning a large area that is difficult to get to.

"Is everything ok down there!?!" Tahldar shouts loudly down the shaft as he readies the rope around his waist to lower him down.

Tahldar begins to climb down while Borimer holds the rope.  It is a tight squeeze, and you can hear something going on down there, but you can't tell what exactly.

A scream could be heard form the bottom: "Take cover!!"

Donovan tries to grab the rope and lay down to the side of the opening, if he can, in order to help hold the rope in case of attack.

Not liking the sound Shapfren's statement, especially when combined with his earlier intent on casting a fireball, Tahldar says to Borimer "Pull me back up!  Get me outta here!"

Borimer hastily pulls the rope back up, hopefully with Tahldar still attached to it.  Unable to do anything else, the warrior waits for word from his comrades below...

Borimer and Donovan begin reeling Tahldar back in as quickly as possible.  The mage scrambles up because he has not gone too far.

A moment later, you see a brief flash of light within the crack that could only be from a fireball.  A heat wave runs up through the crack and out into the cavern.  Everyone is safe.

Just after that, you notice that something is approaching from the shadowy caverns to the north.
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:44, Fri 04 Oct 2013.

Malissin comes out of his daze. "I better get down there," he says as he begins to put his rock climbing skills to use.  He'll climb down to help Shae and Shapfren.

Borimer steps forward with Hatchman and Donovan to confront this new threat from the northern darkness.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:47, Fri 04 Oct 2013.

Donovan moves to put himself between the group and whatever is coming from the north.

Hatchman draws his sword as a new threat approaches from the north.  "Be ready," the paladin says to Borimer and the others, "there may be more danger in store for us this day."

Hatchman begins to move north, staying close to the eastern wall, so he can get a closer look at the new threat.  His sword has been blackened to avoid any glints, and he is fully ready to take on a battle after so many days of being stuck in these caves.

Tahldar slips out the rope, ready to face the new threat.  Taking a moment to see where his skills might be best put to use he shouts down the shaft "Malissin is coming down.  Do you still need me down there?  Something new threat is coming this way up here too though!"

The new "threat" steps out of the shadows.  You see that it is nothing more than a very thin man with tattered clothes.  His beard and long hair mask his age.  He carries a very crude stone knife in one hand that appears to have been made by chipping its edges out of rock.

When he speaks, his voice is hoarse, as if he has not used it in a long time.  "Who be you?" he says.  "Where you come from?"  He does not appear menacing as much as defensive.  "Why you make so much noise?  You bring them here."

"Who are you...and how have you survived in this place alone, with only a stone knife?" Borimer asks the scrawny man.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:06, Fri 04 Oct 2013.

His hand seems to be shaking, either from weakness or disease.  "They keep me alive," he says. "I escape not long ago.  My name -- Junar.  Who be you?"  He waves the stone knife to point at you but not in a menacing way.

As he gets closer and more visible, you see that he is short, and that he is not human.  He appears to be of Gnomish descent.
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:17, Fri 04 Oct 2013.

"You can call me One-Fist, why did they keep you alive?"

"Food," is all he says.  "They eat my whole family. I last one left of tribe."

While the others question the old man, Tahldar puts the rope back on to be lowered down the hole.  "Borimer please lower me down." he says in a huff once he's ready.

"Oh food, right..."  Borimer drops the subject and then drops Tahldar down into the crevice.

"They all leave here," he says, "because of Visperillion.  It kill many. Eat their young.  It come now too.  Because of noise and call of its baby.  You prepare to fight mother here or run."  He spreads his arms out to indicate the large cavern in which you stand.  "It come soon.  I not stay to die."

He looks around and is listening, trying to hear sounds of an approach.

"I can only assume there is more than one? We already killed one, and it wasn't too tough." the priest states, moving towards the man to see if he needs any medical attention.

"That may have been a young one."  Borimer looks at the man. "You said you wouldn't stay to die, do you know the way out of here?"

"we were on the move, searching for a way out of these caves. Do you by chance no the path out of them?" Leo responded to the agitated newcomer.

Tahldar is being lowered back into the hole by Borimer.

Junar is looking around nervously, as if expecting something to attack him at any time.

"Giants go up," he says, pointing vaguely upward.  "There is no exit.  Must go through them first.  That where I escape from.  No escape now.  No escape."  He is still backing away nervously.  He looks to the right (west) and says, "It coming!  Run!"  He then runs north at a sprint.

Borimer is still lowering Tahldar, but you all look to the northwest.  You don't see anything, but then you remember how the Visperillion creature had a natural invisibility through some sort of camouflage.

OOC:  Tahldar will look for a spot that he can either tie himself to or position himself so he can sit or stand.  This way Borimer won't have to hold me.  Worst case scenario I will cast a fly.  I would cast the spell right off but I'm trying to conserve my spells as best I can.

During the descent, here's what will happen:  Tahlmar must make a climbing check like a rogue, which is probably not that great, or he can walk on the narrow footing, but it is slippery with slime and and water.  Doing the latter requires he make a 1/2 dex check (rounded up) or fall down the rest of the way.  Or he can cast a fly or some other spell. Your call.

OOC:  Tahldar will cast fly as he is surprisingly not that dextrous for an elf and has no skill with climbing.

Tahldar begins casting.

Borimer feels the rope slacken as Tahldar begins to fly.

Borimer moves to the northwest when the rope goes slack, drawing Chianta and readying himself to fight the mother of the young creature just killed in her nest.

Borimer moves even closer to the northwest, still certain that danger lurks...somewhere...and he's probably gonna have to kill it.  At least his comrades are with him.  He whispers to the darkness "Where are you..."

Hatchman follows suit, walking around the cavern and waving his sword to see if it hits something invisible.

You hear a noise coming from the west.  It is not loud, but it could be taken for the shuffling of feet.

Realizing that the incoming threat can most likely see him already, Borimer shifts west and uses his skill at fighting blind to strike at anything within range.  "Show yourself or be destroyed."

Redmond follows, backing up Borimer.
This message was last edited by the player at 05:48, Tue 15 Oct 2013.

Hatchman also chases after the other two, slashing at where he thinks the creature might be lurking.

Kahan pulls out a torch and lights it, moving towards where they suspect the creature to be. Perhaps it will fear flames.

Kahan's light illuminates a large portion of tunnel that seems to be shimmering.

Then, as Borimer and the others approach, the new visperillion spreads its wings and comes into focus.  It sparkles and is disconcerting to see, but it is nearly twice as large as the first one you sought, over 50 feet long.  It is fatter too, and could easily swallow a man whole.  Its talons seem sharper, its nose broader, and its wings more sinewy.

A dozen bats fly from their perch sucking its blood in symbiotic bliss toward you, screeching.  Like the other visperillion, this is a giant snake-like creature with wings.  It has no legs, just taloned claws on the ends of its wings.  It is a creature that can only live in these giant caves, for it is too large to survive in any normal caves.

It squeals at you and hisses violently, a mother coming to protect its young.  You have the feeling it also has other surprises in store.

It has come from the large western tunnel, and you now all stand in the northwest area near that tunnel.

Junar had run, afraid, down the northern tunnel (where you originally came from).

Although he doesn't like killing a creature defending its nest Borimer doesn't hesitate, rushing forward and swinging his ebony blade with precision.

Kahan follows closely behind the warrior, swinging his torch at the beast.

Hatchman tries to see if there is any soft underbelly or tissue that he can aim at, and if so, he swings and stabs with his sword at that point.

Careful aim, if needed.

Redmond moves to attack as well.

RULE CLARIFICATION:

Because Donovan is a ranger, he has a special ability, but others may also try this attack variant if they want; they will just suffer the penalty, while he will not.  From the rulebook regarding fighting with two weapons:

2nd Edition Rules:

A tricky fighting style available only to warriors and rogues is that of fighting with two weapons simultaneously. The character chooses not to use a shield in favor of another weapon, granting him a greater number of attacks, with a penalty to his attack rolls (rangers are exempt from the attack roll penalty).

When using a second weapon in his off-hand, a character is limited in his weapon choice. His principal weapon can be whatever he chooses, provided it can be wielded with one hand. The second weapon must be smaller in size and weight than the character's main weapon (though a dagger can always be used as a second weapon, even if the primary weapon is also a dagger). A fighter can use a long sword and a short sword, or a long sword and a dagger, but he cannot use two long swords. Nor can the character use a shield, unless it is kept strapped onto his back.

When attacking, all characters but rangers suffer penalties to their attack rolls. Attacks made with the main weapon suffer a -2 penalty, and attacks made with the second weapon suffer a -4 penalty. The character's Reaction Adjustment (based on his Dexterity, see Table 2) modifies this penalty. A low Dexterity score will worsen the character's chance to hit with each attack. A high Dexterity can negate this particular penalty, although it cannot result in a positive modifier on the attack rolls for either weapon (i.e., the Reaction Adjustment can, at best, raise the attack roll penalties to 0).

The use of two weapons enables the character to make one additional attack each combat round, with the second weapon. The character gains only one additional attack each round, regardless of the number of attacks he may normally be allowed. Thus, a warrior able to attack 3/2 (once in the first round and twice in the second) can attack 5/2 (twice in the first round and three times in the second).

Obviously, Borimer would not be able to do any two handed fighting at all.

This message was last edited by the GM at 18:48, Wed 16 Oct 2013.

Not unless we get him a locked gauntlet. :P

Or a hook like Captain Hook.  Then he can use the hook as his offhand weapon. :)

i'd prefer a chainsaw :)

ROUND 1
The battle begins as the four companions close in on the giant Visperillion.

Borimer makes two fantastic hits on the creature, splitting open its belly.

It does appear that the underside is slightly more tender than the top.  (AC=1)

Hatchman swings at the soft belly but misses.

Donovan steps forward, slashing with his long sword and short sword together.  One of the swords makes contact with the oncoming claw.

Kahan moves forward with the torch.  The creature does not seem afraid of the torch, but the light of the fire distracts it as it moves its head right and left.  (Result is that it loses 1 of its three attacks this round--its powerful bite and potential swallowing whole.)

The creature strikes out with two claws.  One of the claws hits Hatchman across the arm and shoulder.  (8 hp dmg.)

The bats also swarm to attack and protect their host.  Shae's bat was nearby.  With Shae down in the hole, it joins the fray in a frenzy with the others.

One of the bats sinks its teeth into Donovan's leg.  (3 hp dmg.)  Another manages to bite Borimer in the back of the neck.  (4 hp dmg.)  Both Borimer and Donovan begin to feel the weakening effects of the bat poison almost immediately.  (-1 to hit next round.)

Malissin has stayed behind the group, but he sneaks around in the darkness to try to attack the creature from behind (backstab).

Kahan moves the torch to his off hand and pulls out his mace, swinging his weapon at the visperillion as he attempts to ward off some of the bats with his torch. "We could really use a hand up here guys!" Kahan calls out.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:05, Thu 17 Oct 2013.

Donovan shakes off the pain and slashes at the creature again.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:37, Fri 18 Oct 2013.

Borimer tries to ignore the bat sucking on his neck and the poison seeping into his blood just long enough to take three more swings.

For new players, you may want to read the last post in this thread regarding posting during battles:  link to a message in this game

The short of it is that the more information you give me, the better.  Also, if you choose to do the rolls yourselves, there may be factors you don't know, so feel free to post the die roll results, but not the ultimate results of the action (success or failure).  Typically, players either leave the rolling up to me or roll and then just copy and paste the dice roller results into their move.

If you are doing anything special or want me to take into account a special rule, please post the rule (in a Private Line or your general message) so that you can be sure I apply it properly.

Remember, we DO NOT TURN BACK TIME, so any mistakes that are made in battle are not undone or edited later.  I have only made a handful of exceptions to this rule in the past 15 years or so since starting this campaign.

ROUND 2
A flurry of attacks ensues.  Malissin misses, and Kahan is trying to ward off the bats.  He notices that the bats seem rather aggressive.  His first swings with the torch are successful, but the bats fly away and then sharply turn to fly back at the group.

The creature strikes out with claws and its open maw that can swallow a man whole.  It misses all of its attacks.

Borimer and Donovan also strike out, and Borimer makes a critical hit against the creature's underbelly.  Donovan strikes out once with long sword and once with short sword.  His first swing misses, but his second is also a critical hit, this one nearly severing one of the creature's bat-like wings.

It squawls in screeching pain, rearing up for another attack.

You can tell that this mother visperillion is larger and stronger than the one you fought earlier.  That one must have been a smaller, male variety, and one that is not fighting to protect its young.

The bats also swoop in to attack next round.

Borimer steps in and makes two more slashes at the creature's belly while dodging bats.

Malissin continues to attack from behind.

Kahan continues trying to keep the bats away. The visperillion will have any easy time dispatching the party if they are all weak and poisoned.

Round 3

The creature swings hard and wide at all of you and misses.  Its claws strike the ground, which cause it to look down and lose its concentration.  (Critical miss.)

This opening lets the others get in close.  A flurry of attacks filets the creature, with Borimer striking brazenly smart slashes across its belly and into its eye.

Overpowered and pouring blood, the creature collapses.

Kahan has been shooing away the giant bat creatures.  One of them flies away quickly, slamming into a wall.  (Critical miss.)  Another breaks through his torch swinging, landing a bite on his hand.  (2 hit points.)  It begins to swell, but he doesn't think the poison has affected him.  (Saving throw made.)

Kahan starts swinging his mace at the creatures, apparently giving up on the backup he requested.

Borimer turns his attention to the bats with three swipes of the ebony blade.
This message was last edited by the player at 05:01, Tue 12 Nov 2013.

Malissin goes after the bats as well.

Donovan lashes out at the bats with both blades.

ROUND 4
You find that the bats are hard to hit because of their sonar.  However, both Borimer and Donovan manage to hit and kill two of the bats.

They swoop in violently biting while screeching.  The screech is so offputting that it affects your ability to ward them off and hurts your ears, making them ring and giving you an instant headache.

One of them lands a bit on Donovan's arm.  (3 hp dmg.)  Donovan feels the disease from the bite seeping through his veins.

There are 3 bats left.

Borimer swipes at two more bats while keeping his swearing to a minimum.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:05, Wed 13 Nov 2013.

Kahan keeps on swingin...

Donovan swings at the bats again in a controlled fury of blade strokes while he still could.

ROUND 5

You swing at the bats, hitting with blind fury and making good strikes.  One bat gets in close and sinks its teeth into Malissin's neck.  The rogue cries out in pain as he stabs and kills the creature, but not before he feels its diseased fangs infect him.  (6 hp dmg.  Critical hit.  Malissin is infected.)

Donovan continues to feel the disease run through his body.  (1 hp dmg.)

The bats are all killed except one, and that one goes screeching off into the caves, disappearing and leaving you alone.

----

OOC: Getting things moving here...

You get the group back up to the top.  Donovan and Malissin are infected with a disease from the bats and will slowly being to feel the effects if not cured.

However, even worse is Shapfren, who was infected with poisonous venom from a hatchling visperillion.  (Shapfren loses another 2 hit points from the poison by the time she gets back up to the top of the cave.)  Shapfren's poison will act faster.  (She will lose 1 hit point per minute until cured of poison, though the hit points themselves can be cured through regular methods.)

OOC: All groups please post here now.

Shae, Shapfren and Tahldar relate to the group what happened down in the hole as the sick are being looked at.

OOC: I am now unlocking the thread with the group that went down the hole for everyone to read.

Kahan will begin administering Keoghtem's Ointment onto all infected parties starting with the worst wounded (probably Shapfren?)

This uses three additional treatments of Keoghtom's Ointment.

Shapfren is healed of the poison, plus up to 12 hit points.
Malissin is healed of the disease, plus up to 9 hit points.
Donovan is healed of the disease, plus up to 12 hit points.

However, you notice that Malissin still appears sickly and diseased from whatever is causing his lips and fingers to turn purple.  The Keoghtom's Ointment seems to have no effect on that.

Kahan casts Slow Poison on Malissin. "I have little knowledge in the way of poisons and their treatment. Does anyone else know of how to treat this affliction?" he asks the others.

Tahldar sits and rests a moment as the party heals itself.  The thin limbed mage is unused to physical exertion and the battle with the visperillion and the hatchlings has him a little winded.

Addressing those that battled above he says "Sorry I was unable to help you with what must be the mother visperillion judging by its size.  We had all we could handle below with its underling and hatchlings.  I am virtually out of magic for the day and I even had to resort to using my dagger on the last couple of hatchlings."

Noting Malissin with concern he says "I don't like the look of him.  I am not a healer or herbalist so I cannot help.  I suggest we search out the old man we saw earlier.  Perhaps he knows of a way to alleviate the poison?  Too he may be able provide us with a safe place to rest.  I am loathe to continue as drained as I am, but we may have no choice if we need to search out a cure."

Shae says, "I am well versed on natural poisons and things in nature.  This disease afflicting Malissin is unfamiliar to me."

Borimer cleans off his blade and sheathes it.  He absently rubs the stump of his severed fist.

"We need to get out of here, up to the surface."

Thank you for the healing.  I agree with Borimer, but the old man may be of use.  This disease killed our companion.  We have no idea how to stop it.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:29, Fri 15 Nov 2013.

Hatchman speaks up for the first time in awhile.  "There are two locked doors before us.  They are too hard for the gnome to open.  Maybe they lead to the surface, or to something of significance."

Hatchman studies the doors to see if they can be opened, if they have writing on them, or if they give any clue about what's behind them.

Shae says, "Maybe the giants were locking away something valuable back there.  Or maybe we'll find more of that healing water."

"The healing water is a good idea, though I doubt highly we'll find more of it laying about.  I think we should first find the Gnome as he knows this area much better than we do.  He might be able to help us.  If that doesn't pan out, assuming we have plenty of rope, then I suggest we back track to where we came in and see about lowering Malissin into the chamber with the healing water."