Jake smiles up at Hoal.  "Thanks!"

Time passes and the Dwarves do their best to prepare for an inevitable attack.  Jake passes the time musing aloud about various ideas he has for large scale mining machines and siege works and so forth.  A hush washes over the camp and some shouting can be heard in the distance between the two commanders.  The details of the conversation is hard to hear from this distance, but it's easy enough to catch the gist:

"Get off our land!"

"More like you get off our land!"

"Where do you get off claiming it's yours?!  It's been ours since forever!"

"The Treaty of D.R. blablabla between so-and-so and such-and such."

"Never heard of it.  You're making that up!"

"Search your archives.  It'll be there!"

"Fine!  In the mean time, back off!"

"While you rob my kingdom of it's wealth?!  More like you back off!"

"One step closer and you'll feel the bite of our arrows!"

Back and forth it goes, getting increasingly hostile.  About then, Hoal notices shadows moving about inside the giant hole...  LOTS of them...  and approaching FAST!

---

DC 5 perc check to make out that the shadows are approaching shadows are winged creatures about the size of a cat each.  DC 10 is enough to be able to make out one of them to recognize it as a Stirge.  Can then attempt monster knowledge check DC 15 that doesn't tell you anything terribly useful that isn't common knowledge about Stirges.

DC 15: Stirges are pernicious predators that feast on the
blood of their victims. They make their nests in caves, hollow
tree trunks, or beneath building foundations—dark, dismal
places with easy access to the open air and prey.

http://images.wikia.com/forgot..._Lars_Grant-West.jpg
This message was last edited by the player at 04:37, Wed 22 Feb 2012.

  Hoal suspects the reasonable sounding idea of 'Nobody loots until legalities are confirmed, giant hole isn't going anywhere' would be considered highly unreasonable.

  To be fair, in hindsight Hoal is feeling foolish for not considering subterranean wildlife would have surfaced by now, as seemed to be the sudden case.  "Oh dear, that is quite a large number of Stirges."  He considers the bars of their makeshift cage in the passing chance they are close enough together to keep such creatures out and they can relax whole everyone else is needle beaked to oblivion.

  Probably not.

Actually, the cage was designed with preventing gnome or goblin sized prisoners from escaping, so there's a chance that the small sized stirges can't squeeze through the bars.  So long as non of the stirges are tiny, Hoal and Jake should be safe.  But that's a risky "if."  Chances are there's plenty of tiny ones in that swarm.

"I have an idea for dealing with that swarm," Jake says, "Take me to commander Darthic.  Don't want him angry that you let innocent prisoners get eaten alive, do you?  Prisoners that may be able to turn away the swarm."

"Us Dwarves have a saying," the jailer answers, detaching the key ring from his belt, "'I don't have to outrun the stirges, I only have to outrun you.'"

With that he tosses the key at Jake then runs for his life... which happens to be in the direction of the enemy army.  Jake takes the key and gets to work unlocking the padlock.

"The Dwarf army is faced with a choice," he thinks out loud, "Fight the Warforged first, fight the stirges first, or delay and maybe have to fight both at the same time.  Or maybe....  a temporary truce with the Warforged army to survive the stirge swarm.  The trick is persuading the two sides that their survival depends upon setting aside their differences.  We need to hurry.  Their decision could affect our own survival."

  "Fascinating, such a common saying yet always cited so specifically."  Hoal comments as the jailer flees.  He then calls out "Your armor means you will be slower."   5 speed vs 6 speed can add up.

  "Warforged have no blood.  While I have found in my travels that wildlife will still assault things that will not be a viable food source, the often tipped odds of things not going in one's favor suggest the Stirges will ignore them in this case.  Even if these constructs had any will of their own, they would have no reason to cease their attack."

  PC group of constructs.  Intelligent Cannibals will still try to eat you, Fact.  NPC construct army, mindless blood suckers will ignore them.  At least according to Hoal's expectations.  "Of course, ideas that may not work are certainly better than doing nothing due to cynical assumptions.  I do not suppose the Elves have hidden snipers lurking to watch the failed negotiations?  I'd place better odds on getting Elves and Dwarves to cooperate."

What are the odds that it was a Dwarven saying?  I need to point this out to my Sunday group.  Totally missed that tidbit when I ran this encounter for them.

"Yeah that lack of blood angle had occurred to me too, but if my guess is right, that fact could work in our favor," Jake answers, "I'm guessing a kingdom such as Uthmere wouldn't trust their protection to magical constructs unsupervised by flesh-and-blood commanders... who would be singled out by the stirges.  At least among the Dwarves, the stirges are likely to spread out rather than dogpile commanders specifically.

"If my guess is wrong...   hopefully the Warforged don't know that stirges prefer animal blood to whatever arcane life force keeps them alive..."

This said while rushing toward the front line.  No one bothers stopping the pair.  They're busy staring upward in fear as the cloud of stirges swarms over the tree tops.

---

I could find no game mechanics reason why stirges would not target PC Warforged or Shardmind, so I decided to have them attack both NPC armies equally.  This of course provoked a, "Zwhaaa?" from the players.  I explained.  They head-shaked and shrugged in resigned disapproval.  At least it wasn't brought up specifically when I asked for feedback.

  "While it is not as much as a problem for myself-" This comment made as the Swordmage replaces his sheath and blade (Good old Swordmage Recall), "What did you intend to put to use once we actually reached the combat line?"

  OOC Style:  You just need to remind them that Warforged and Shardmind PC's (and any Undead PCs if it applies) still get poisoned and still get diseases like any other PC race.  Because only NPCs get the default immunities -.-;

"I... I'll make myself as useful as I can without a weapon," Jake answers, "Unless one I can use becomes available."

The pair arrive at the front lines of the Dwarven army.  Darthic is standing at the front with his hand raised in a "hold your fire" pose.  Across the way, beyond the gap between the armies, is an armored commander in a similar pose.  It's clear now that the Dwarves have the advantage of cover among the trees.

---

DC hard to notice that the commander is flesh and blood as Jake predicted.
00:01, Today: Jake rolled 18 using 1d20+7. jake perc check.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:03, Sat 25 Feb 2012.

  Hoal glances about for any Dwarven fatalities or weapons dropped in hopes to run faster by being a few pounds lighter.  Of course, as they are within view of the commander such displays of death and cowardice have all likely been either removed or not attempted in the first place.

  "If you happen to be able to solve this situation without need of a weapon, that is more than good enough for any sane man."

There aren't any fallen soldiers just yet so Hoal isn't able to find any weapons laying around.  Any back line soldiers such as the jailer have joined the mass of front line types so they won't be singled out by the Stirges.

"Excuse me, brave commanders!" Jake shouts, rushing into the open no-man's land between the two armies, "I would like to point out that at present no blood has been shed on either side!  That a great deal of blood is about to be shed by a common foe!  That it's very likely that that common foe will single out the flesh-and-blood commanders of the Warforged army.  And that both sides best bet at survival is to call a temporary truce to unite against the blood-sucking abominations of the pit!

"Show that the well-being of your troops is worth showing the courage of stepping right up to your opponents!  Toe to toe and side by side we can survive this with minimal loss!"

The stirge swarm arcs high and circles above Jake's position, far out of bow range for now.  The two sides commanders seem to be consulting with their seconds to decide their next move.

---

(( 23:04, Today: Jake rolled 16 using 1d20-1. jake diplomacy.  Yay not fail completely! ))

  Hoal supposes that should Jake's hopeful plan go through, it will also mean the commanders of the Warforged will be singled out as targets more easily for after the stirges are dealt with.  Before this is over, Sword Burst is going to be an attack ingrained so well Hoal could perform it in his sleep... Figuratively, he's not a Blaster.

  'I shall be saddened, if not surprised if Jake gets himself killed in the near future.'

Darthic speaks up first.  "The Uthmere army has permission to stand with us for as long as the Stirges are a threat.  Doing so will go a long way toward improving relations between our nations.  They also are welcome to admit that they have no business on our land and run back home!"

The Uthmere commander replies, "We accept your offer to aid us in the defense of Uthmere's land!"

Jake face-palms.  "OK!  OK!  No one is admitting anything by taking the practical path of survival!  I'll be taking cover under the tree canopy.  I hope that if this is the best tactic, everyone else will do so too!"

He returns to Hoal.

"Forward, March!" The Uthmere commander shouts.

The Dwarf army looks even more uneasy at the approach of the opposing army.

"Hold your fire, men!" Darthic commands, "We keep our word!  I will not give the order to attack unless they attack us first!  And if I hear about anyone 'accidentally' attacking them, I'll have his hide!"

The Stirge swarm begins to decend on the Uthmere army!

  "If land claims mattered in this situation, then they would lay down their arms and surrender their lives to the beasts held within the property squabbled over."

  Yup, definitely opening with Daily attack.  He'll probably want the +4 Fire damage to every single other attack he makes from that point on.  Sucks to be whatever is the first bug to get near him or Jake.

  "One would have hoped our being uninteresting in claiming this land for ourselves would have kept us out of this.  Alas."

Jake snorts a chuckle at Hoal's first comment.

"Yeah.  And it looks like the original occupants are just as ready to be violent toward newcomers.  Alas indeed.  Well now that we are involved, let's give it our best shot.  For what it's worth, I'm glad I have your company now that we are."

---

Been putting off setting up combat map.  Effort!  *looks at schedule*  Uh...  maybe by the end of the month?

  "Facing such events with at least one person of intellect is vastly preferable to otherwise, yes."  Hoal somehow doubts his assault aegis will get much practical use with so many potential targets.  More so than usual.

  OOC Style: As much as I love watching you suffer map creation from the comfort of my levitating desk, where ride the saddle of the world...  We are fighting a bunch of BEEEEEES.  You don't need a map for wildly stabbing at a bunch of flying things that's location will be 'next to and/or above you' no matter where you turn.

  Well, unless the armies turn on eachother.  Then we might need some map space.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:20, Fri 16 Mar 2012.

At long last... a map:

https://docs.google.com/spread...3bkluUjZKVWtBTk45OEE

The stirges attack!  The Warforged and Dwarves counter!  Jake and two dwarf marksmen are grabbed!

---

S1 thru 9 v their targets
1d20 +6 +1(chaarge)
W2: 3 + 7 = 10
W1: 1 + 7 = 8
W1: 9 + 7 = 16
D1: 2 + 7 = 9
D1: 15 + 7 = 22 hit!
Jake: 18 + 7 = 25 hit!
Hoal: 10 + 7 = 17
D2: 13 + 7 = 20 hit!
D2: 10 + 7 = 17 hit!

D1 HP: 46-2=44 grabbed (until escape) and takes ongoing 5 damage until it escapes
Jake: 23-1=22 grabbed (until escape) and takes ongoing 5 damage until it escapes
D2 HP: 46-2-4=40 grabbed (until escape) and takes ongoing 5 damage until it escapes
S1 HP: 22-8=14 (marked by W1)
S4 HP: 22-5=17
S8 HP: 22-9=13
This message was last edited by the GM at 05:52, Fri 13 Apr 2012.

"Urk!" Jake gasps when stabbed by giant mosquito, "Catch this one's attention, please, Hoal."

---

Delaying Jake.  Intend to use thundering armor after Hoal's turn.
Jake HP: 22-5=17

  Hoal could consider large bugs beneath his efforts, but that would be stupid and arrogant.  Although, it could still possibly be considered going slightly overboard to bust out an Actionpoint and Daily attack like Hoal opts to do.

  Still, hard to argue with the results (and lucky rolls) as Hoal carefully impales the Stirge clinging to jake and releases a carefully measured explosion inside of it.  Following up with a calm hand gesture as as wave of force and fire slams into the three stirges nearby, slaying and dislodging the one hassling Jake in the process.

  "Hmm, off to a good start.  It would be foolish to expect it all to go so well of course."

---

Action Point; Standard: Burning Blade Vs Stirge 6. 21 Vs AC. Hits. 15 Fire DMG.
Effect: +4 Fire DMG Until End Of Encounter.

Standard: Sword Burst vs Stirge 6 (hits 21 Reflex), 7 (Hits 13 Reflex, not Defense buffed no map), 8 (Hits 22 Ref).
9 Force+Fire DMG.

Minor: Aegis of Assault Mark Stirge 7 (teleport intentions if triggered would be to flank with Jake).

Stirge 6 HP: 22-15-9= -2
Stirge 7 HP: 22-9= 13/22
Stirge 8 HP: 22-9= 13/22

Hoal HP: 25/25 S 8/8 V 6 AP 1.

Jake steps back to be behind Hoal and says, "Wow nice!  Thanks!"

He then grants Hoal a frost aura that attacks Hoal's mark!

---

jake ethereal chill v S7
1d20 +5 >= 13
14 + 5 = 19 ... success

damage
1d8 +5
2 + 5 = 7

S7 HP: 13-7=6

Combat continues between the Dwarfs, Warforged, and the Stirges.  The Dwarf marksman nearest Hoal shoots the stirge latched to his neck point blank with his crossbow.

"Git offa me ya bloody blood sucker!"

One of the stirges next to Hoal flies to his left and tries to latch on, but fails to get through the sword mage's defenses.

---

Lost track of all that happened to NPCs, but it's all indicated in map.  I think.

Jake takes another step back and points at the Dwarf who shimmers with a force shield that blows the stirge that was sucking his blood to pieces!

---

Thundering armor does just enough damage to take out s9!

As expected, Hoal managed to finish off one Stirge while the other remained.  Unexpectedly, it was the near dead Stirge that survived while the more healthy one was reduced to bug bits.

The Swordmage sidestepped to place himself between Jake and the flying pests better.

---

Standard: Sword Burst Vs Stirges.  Vs Stirge 7 Miss (Rolled. A. Three).  Vs Stirge 8, Hit(18 AC). 14 Force/Fire DMG.
Move: Shift to Left.

Marks:  Stirge 7 still Aegis marked, that doesn't turn off until they die or I recast.

Stirge 8 HP: 13-14= -1

Hoal HP: 25/25 S 8/8 V 6

More combat ensues including one of the stirges taking a literal stab with it's rapier-like beak at Hoal, but failing to connect.  Jake makes a force shield appear around the Dwarf being chewed on, and once again a giant mosquito gets blown away!

"It's looking like we might survive this!" he cheers.

---

Miss, ACTION POINT!  CRIT!  s5 dead.

  Prolonging the embarrassing display of Genasi on Stirge violence, Hoal misses the heavily wounded stirge again.  At the very least, both sides are probably thankful one of their respective enemies are being held up.

OOC Swing Miss blah blah.  relisting my HP status on personal principle anyways.

Hoal HP: 25/25 S 8/8 V 6