Angel seems relatively un-phased by the signs of struggle. She says, "Looks like someone was here before us and weakened the critters. So... what's the plan from here? Open the iron doors?"

Maverick and Carla are as talkative as ever. That is to say not.

  Matt finds himself wondering if they will even see the ghosts that are supposedly here if they turn up.  "The door seems to be the first, and only play for going past this room.  Trying to cram ourselves in bug tunnels is just asking to get killed."

  He sticks with the others for now.

OOC Style: Matt Initiative for later. 10
Matt's skills can Take-Ten every 'listed in post' thing but the DC 15 Arcana check (I'm aware the lower in post stuff is Nature, not Perc.  But Wis Secondary.  Honestly I'm shocked the DC's aren't halfway up Paragon from Mr. Professional).

"This place is connected to the Shadowfell," Mittens says, looking spooked, "Stay on guard, and keep sharp."

She nocks an arrow and steps into the room cautiously.

Lucky sits down so the children will slide off his back.  Once they do, he stands back up and enters cautiously, following Adam's lead.

Adam steps in, sword at the ready, looking for clues everywhere.  Including the ceiling.

Bag: When the PCs draw close, it's clear that a creature
bled heavily on the pile's southern side. A torn and
bloodstained leather bag lies on the pile, its contents partially
spilled out.

"This might have belonged to the last group to enter here," he says, reaching for it with his free hand.

Just then, A tapping like falling rain warns you of an impending kruthik
attack from the tunnels in the walls!

Angel: 28
Adam Init 21
Sharn Kruthiks: 15
Kruthik Hatchlings: 13
Maverick: 12
Mits init: 12
Matt Initiative for later. 10
Kruthik Young: 6
Carla: 5
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:25, Sat 12 Feb 2011.

Angel turns an ear in the direction of the sounds. "We got company." she says before noticing the Sharns. She fires at the closest one and has her bow ready to fire again should it or the one behind it come directly at the group. Even as she is knocking an arrow, she glances over her shoulder quickly before jogging backward several steps to be in a farther position, yet still in range to killify the enemy.

(Minor: Hunter's Quarry on Sharn 2)
(Standard: Warning Shot v Sharn 2)
 dmg: 11 (Includes quarry)
 If a creature moves into E5 before the start of my next turn, I can make
 a secondary attack against the new target as an immediate action.
(Move: Backward 3 squares)

Sharn 2 HP: 32 - 11 = 21

"That..." Adam says, "Is a lot of giant bugs.  I'll try to hem them in."

He charges in and stabs one squarely in the back!

(( move, charge.  15 damage to kruthik young 1 ))

The first Sharn Kruthik has no idea that Angel has forbidden entrance between the two pillars in front of it, so it dares rush through!  Angel fires expertly and hits it squarely in the leg!  But that doesn't slow it down.  It and the other sharn kruthik rush at her, take flight dodging the opportunity attacks of Carla and Mittens, then land next to Angel to attack!  Angel dodges one, and is just about to get hit by the other when Mittens hollers "DUCK!"  The attack goes high, Angel goes low, and the attack misses!

(( 4 damage to sharn kruthik 1.
Gnashing Horde aura 1; an enemy that ends its turn within the aura
takes 2 damage.

CD Claw (standard; at-will)
+7 vs. AC; 1 d8 + 1 damage, and the target is grabbed. While
grabbing, the kruthik can claw only the grabbed target, and that
target takes 6 damage, instead of 2 damage, from the grabbing
kruthik's 8nashin8 horde aura. The kruthik gains +1 to AC and
Reflex while grabbing a target.

Mits bard feature negated a hit to Angel. ))
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:42, Sun 13 Feb 2011.

The Kruthik Hatchlings swarm around Adam and attack!  Most don't make it through his armor, but two of them chomp at an exposed bit of his ankles!  Two others attack Carla and Maverick, but their attacks are in vain.

(( Gnashing Horde aura 1; an enemy that ends its turn within the aura
takes 2 damage

Claw (standard; at-will)
+5 vs. AC; 4 damage.

-2-4-4 = 10 total damage to Adam. ))

Maverick stabs the hatchling before him in the eye before hopping off it's mid-collapsing corpse to the one next to Carla and stabbing it too. Both of them make screeching sounds as they collapse. With that, Maverick looks from Adam to Angel and back. Adam clearly needs more help. "Carla, help Adam." he says, realizing Angel and Matt are a tad occupied.

(Standard: Basic Melee v hatchling. Hit.)
(Move: To Carla in such a way not to provoke AoO)
(ACTION POINT!)
(Standard: Basic Melee v hatchling. Hit.)

  Matt once again finding himself hoping that Adam does not die a horrible outnumbered death, and himself in a situation where he can't quite drop everything to go aid them just yet.

  Also, the usual crushing guilt for being glad its them instead of him.

  As the Sharn closest to him has their assault against Morbid Archers thwarted, Matt repays it's effort with a WhackAMole slam of his Warhammer before sidestepping and chopping the back of... well, bug equivalent to neck on the second (though in map terms, first) Sharn.  He is less than pleased at his shins being injured after the fact, but knows he's still vastly more well off than Adam is.

  "Be there in a minute Adam.  Don't Die." Great advice Matt.  Just wonderful.

---

  Reaction: Parry and Ripost Vs Sharn 2, Hits. 8 DMG.
  Move: Shift
  Standard: Shield Feint Vs Sharn 1.  Hits, 15 DMG (whoo max),

Matt Marks: Sharn 1.  Sharn 2.
Effects: Matt has +3 To-Hit for next Attack vs Sharn 1.  Matt takes 2 DMG from Sharn Aura.

Giga AoO Reminder: Matt has ridiculous Default AoO.
+13 Vs AC; 1d10+10 DMG.
Shield Feint raises it to +16 Vs. AC;  if Sharn 1 triggers AoO.

Sharn Kruthik 1 HP: 21-8= 13 (Bloodied)
Sharn Kruthik 2 HP: 28-15= 13 (Bloodied)

Matt HP: 46-2= 44/46 S 10/10 V 11
This message was last edited by the player at 05:08, Sun 13 Feb 2011.

"Woohoo!" Mittens steps away from the giant (medium) winged bug!  "Attack me, attack me, neener neener neeener!"

The kruthik next to her raises a claw to try and stop her, but Matt SMASH!  She raspberries at it and continues to the northeast backward to be close enough to Adam to sing him an encouraging song, firing a shot at the other flying kruthik that knocks it out!

(( move AoO interrupted with AoO from Matt and squish bug1.  Shoot and KO Bug1!  Holding off healing Adam for now ))

This message was last edited by the GM at 05:41, Sun 13 Feb 2011.

Two Kruthik Young attack Adam, one charges at Mittens!  All three fail to do any damage.

Carla comes around the corner of the skull pile and holds her fists forward. The kruthik around Adam seem to slink a little just from her doing that. Then she opens her hands and whispers, "boo." and the kruthik young back away, screeching in horror and pain as they catch fire with blueish-white flame. One of the hatchlings collapses from the flame while the other just disintegrates like it was torn atom-by-atom into nothingness. It doesn't even make a sound.

(Move: Duh)
(Minor: Maledictor's Doom on Adam's group.)
 -1 to attacks.
(Standard: Scourge of Heaven vs Adam's group. Hit 2 hatchlings and the 2 young.)
 dmg: 9 and -2 to attacks.
 Maledictor's Doom: Push 1 square due to fear
 Aversion Staff: +2 to Carla's defenses against attacks from Adam's group.

The kruthik that got disintegrated I rolled a crit on.

Kruthik Young 1 HP: 28 - 9 = 19
Kruthik Young 2 HP: 43 - 9 = 34
This message was last edited by the player at 06:46, Sun 13 Feb 2011.

Angel scurries over to the east side of the chamber and slides to a halt before stepping forward and firing at the kruthik that attacked Mittens. "I've got your back, Mittens!" and with that, a THUNK is herd as an arrow burries itself deep in the thing's exoskeleton!

(Move: To J14)
(Minor: Quarry Kruthik Young 3)
(Standard: Basic Ranged v Kruthik Young 3)
 dmg: 18

(Immediate Interrupt prepared: Disruptive Strike)
 Trigger: Ally attacked by Kruthik 3.

Kruthik Young 3 HP: 43 - 18 = 25

"Nice job, everyone!" Adam says, "I guess these things aren't as tough as they look."

He takes out one of the nearest bugs and steps south.  The other bug lashes at him, dealing a flesh wound.

(( Standard: whack a minion.  Move: shift.  Free: take 2 damage from aura. ))

The last remaining hatchling attacks Adam, but is unable to find an opening in his armor.

"Wunna flank with me, Maverick?" Mittens asks with a smile, nocking another arrow.

Maverick takes Mittens' invitation and scurries over to the other side of the Kruthik. Just as the kruthik seems to notice Maverick, he hops over it's would-be attacking leg and stabs it a good one in the back. Having caught it's attention, he is depending on Mittens to kill it before it retaliates on him.

(Move: to H8)
 It's as far as I can move, but even if it wasn't, I'd cause
 AoO moving into I8 from there. However...
(Standard: Acrobatic Strike. So hit.)
 Before or after the attack, you shift 1 square
 dmg: 15 (haha combat advantage)

Young 3 HP: 25 - 15 = 10

  "Just because they aren't as tough as other giant bugs doesn't mean they aren't dangerous.  Good job on the Not Dying thing though Adam."  This said, Matt charges forwards and gets a replay action of 'bounce the bug off the floor' strength impacts.

  The Young Hatchling staggers and skitters in a small circle a bit before getting all aggressively snippy again. "...Someone please nudge that thing to death already."

---

  Move: Duh
  Standard: Charge Vs young 3, hits. 9 DMG.

  Marks: Young 3

Young 3 HP: 10-9= 1

Matt HP: 44/46 S 10/10 V 11
This message was last edited by the player at 05:38, Mon 14 Feb 2011.

"Stupid bug!" Mittens taunts the hatchling next to Adam!

The one Matt attacked tries to take advantage of Mittens' opening, but Matt sees the attack coming and interrupts with a stern THUMP of his hammer on the monster's head!

Mittens sticks her tongue out at the hatchling.  It's head explodes!

(( Viscious Mockery is a ranged attack and draws AoO from young3.  Which draws AoO from Matt.  Which smushes young3.  Viscious mockery CRITS the hatchling! ))

The first kruthik young charges at Carla and claws at her, hurting her badly!  The second attacks Adam, but is unable to penetrate his defenses.

(( 9 damage to Carla! ))
This message was last edited by the GM at 05:50, Tue 15 Feb 2011.

Make that NO damage! Angel saw the bug going for Carla and shoots it with a bolt to what passes as its neck, making it reel from the pain and be off enough to not bite Carla.

For that matter, why stop at one arrow? Angel fires another arrow and says, "Hurry, Carla! Help Adam!" as the bug in front of Carla drops.

(AoO: Disruptive Strike v Young 1. Hit!)
 dmg: 11

Decided to take Angel's turn before Carla's...

(Standard: Basic Ranged v Young 1. Hit!)
 dmg: 10
(Minor: Quarry on the final enemy)

Young 1 HP: 19 - 21 = -2
This message was last edited by the player at 06:06, Tue 15 Feb 2011.

Carla points at the last remaining bug and shakes her finger in warning. Should it decide to harm Adam, it will have a world of hurt coming to it.

(Standard: Offering of Justice.)

If the young attacks, it will take 16 damage.
If it doesn't, it will gain 5 temp HP.

  They were all fighting for their lives against homicidal bugs, so of course Matt had inconsequential things on his mind.  "Huh, so that's what Carla's voice sounds like."  The sound of Darkblue...  Hey, when you talk with text coloring is CLEARLY sound variations.

  Yet more bugs dealt with via Hammertime Autopilot and, hurting their feelings enough to sadface to death, and arrows...  Okay only that first and last could be 'yet more' qualified.  Either way, Matt hurries around to the back of the pillars and seriously indents him some Kruthik shell.

  His efforts are rewarded by more shin scrathings.

---

Move: Duh (to 5M)
Standard: Halfcircle+Panch CHARGE vs Young 2. Hits. 14 DMG.

Marks: Young 2

Effects: Flanking CA to young 2. (Mav, get in here and Sneak Attack this thing in ZE FACE)

Young 2 HP: 34-14= 20

Matt HP: 44-2= 42/46 S 10/10 V 11

Maverick moves northward, seemingly past Adam. Rather suddenly, he pops out next to Adam and stabs the thing HARD! Yes. Shortsword is a rogue's salvation. No sooner does he do that than he ducks back behind the pillar so fast only the quickest eye could have caught him caught that he ducked off to the west again. Although he is in plain sight for Mittens, Carla and even Angel, all that means is they get to see him sneaking for once and it's no wonder he can disappear so readily with skills like that.

(Move: To H5)
 Maverick stealth check 1: 31
(Standard: Fleeting Spirit Strike v Kruthik.)
 shift 2 squares to I6. STAB! Hit.
 dmg: 17
 shift 2 squares back to H5.
 Maverick stealth check 2: 28

Kruthik HP: 20 - 17 = 3