So, attack the latest problem that has come to their attention... Or try to finish off the one that was already there and had taken a bite out of someone who hasn't done anything to annoy him.

  Let's hear it for easy decisions.  "If you're a giant beetle that has a wide grasp of language as well as your surprisingly advanced cognitive functions, please listen to the Paladin." Better them than him and all that generic self preservation stuff.

  And so Joe ran walked... That doesn't sound so impressive, lets go with 'traveled', yeah.  And so Joe traveled to the aid of Elric, because apparently the Warforged Cleric couldn't stab things with a stick worth a damn.

  Unfortunately, it seemed that Joe's tendency to stab things with sharp objects was also lacking today.  "...This can not possibly end well."

[Move: 6, Standard: Deft Strike +2 tiles, Miss.

22:11, Today: Joe Darkthorne rolled 9 using 1d20+6. Joe To-Hit.  The Dice still hate me more than Elric, Whoo!]

"Thanks, Timo!" she calls out to the paladin after his healing hand touches her shoulder.  How convenient he didn't have to grope her leg for it to work.

Hmm.  Deal with new threat or get more revenge on beetle lips?  Yes.  Yay for easy choices.  Gale moves to the south side of the room and throws a snow-ball at the Fire Beetle.

"Time to chill out, bug!"

22:54, Today: Fire Beetle Gale rolled 19 using 1d20+4. Ray of Frost vs. FB1 (fortitude).   HIT! (OOC: One of these days I'll remember to use the right name in the dice roller. >.>)
22:37, Today: Fire Beetle Gale rolled 7 8 using 1d6+X 5. (target is slowed)

Gale HP: 18
Beetle1 HP: 19

Talking out of turn is permitted, attacking out of turn is not.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:21, Wed 22 Oct 2008.

Round 2.

The first Fire Beetle is mildly angered by the missed attacks of Joe and Elric.  But thanks to divine challenge, it feels a strong compulsion to attack the cat it thought wasn't a threat.  It scurries up to Timothius (provoking an attack of opportunity from Joe) and bites him through the opening in his armor at his knee.

23:52, Today: Mittens, on behalf of Joe Darkthorne, rolled 10 using 1d20+6. AoO vs. FB1 using knife. Miss!


23:40, Today: Fire Beetle rolled 18 using 1d20+5. Take a bite out of cat. Hit!
23:42, Today: Fire Beetle rolled 10 using 2d4+2. Bite damage to Timo.

The second Fire Beetle skuttles up to the nearest enemy, Timothius.  It snaps at his feet, but Timothius manages to dodge the attack!

23:47, Today: Fire Beetle rolled 7 using 1d20+5. FB2 Bite vs. Timo. Miss!

Timothius HP: 17
FB1 HP: 27
FB2 HP: 32

To post this round: Elric, Prathen.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:55, Wed 15 Oct 2008.

Elric's eyes glow with green light for a second as Elric sees both Tim being doubleteamed by both Fire Beetles. Knowing what he must do, Elric hurries into action as he moves towards the injured Fire Beetle while regripping his his Great Spear and saying “By the power of Pelor, your cruelty shall be punished!” as Elric manages to land a mighty blow upon the already injured Fire Beetle causing a ghostly glowing image of the sun to appear on the Fire Beetle as Elric continues to speak, “And Joe will be your punisher!"

Elric then whispers, “Pelor please bathe Timothius with your healing light," as divine light washes over Timothius' wounds, mending the paladin's injuries.

<sub>[OOC: Actions for this round:
Move Action: Move north 3 squares to be close enough to attack FB1 with reach.
Standard Action: Righteous Brand on FB1, hits for 14 dmg and gives Joe a +4 power bonus to hit on FB1 on his next turn.
Minor Action: Healing Word on Tim, heals Tim 6+1d6+3=14 hit points recovered by Tim. (Note: the +3 is from the Healer's Lore Cleric class feature.)

These rolls were originally intended for use with the Fire beetle's original action but with it's action reconned after the rolls were made I sued them for my attack for the round as it would be the same to-hit and damage rolls anyways.

23:27, Yesterday: Elric rolled 14 using 1d10+4. Dmg to FB1, will suck!.
23:27, Yesterday: Elric rolled 25 using 1d20+7. AoO on FB 1 due to move, will suck!.
00:21, Today: Elric rolled 14 using 1d6+9. Healing Words on Tim, Will Suck!.
]</sub>
This message was last edited by the player at 21:28, Wed 15 Oct 2008.

  Joe was probably as surprised by the fact he's been singled out to dole out divine retribution as the Beetle would be if Joe managed to actually hit them.

  "Now, I may wonder about their choice of putting their faith in me..." Joe said to the beetle, because sometimes you don't care if your enemy understands what you're ranting about or not.

  "But I'm going to make it a point that putting their trust in me for no good reason won't be wasted."  This said as he steped up to the Bug that Elric had just done a good job of smacking around, and pointing at it's stupid compound eyed face with his free (so far as a hand with a sling dangling from the fist is free) hand.

  "So do us all a favor and die.  A lot."  And thus,  Joe did try to make the fire beetle die.  A lot.

  It was safe to say, Joe probably wasn't letting Elric down.

[ (Move: 3, Flanking FB1.  Minor: FB1 marked as Quarry.  Standard: Riposte Strike.)
01:05, Today: Joe Darkthorne rolled 7,8,6 using 1d6+3,2d6+2,1d6. Joe, Riposte, Sneak, Hunters. = 21 DMG
01:01, Today: Joe Darkthorne rolled 20 using 1d20+12. Joe To-Hit.

Yes, I would have killed it even without the Hunters.  But I really, REALLY wanted to kill the hell out of it.]

This message was last edited by the player at 09:52, Wed 15 Oct 2008.

Prathen heads forward, taking a running jump to hop over the trap, and when he lands, he strafes to the left, moving until he has a clear line of sight on the beetle.  Once he can properly see it he raises his bow up and pulls back on the string, then lets it go, before shaking his head as the arrow goes wide, and he draws another from his quiver, muttering under his breath as he does.



11:32, Today: Prathen rolled 12 using 1d20+8. Jump Roll.
11:33, Today: Prathen rolled 10 using 1d20+5. Ranged attack roll.

With the first fire beetle dispatched and having been shown the mercy it showed to Gale, Timothius was still somewhat saddened. But as Pelor's warm radiance washes over him, he feels invigorated and has a renewed moral. "Thanks, Pelor." he whispers. "Thanks, Elric!" he yells out before turning to face the next beetle. Once again, he gets in a defensive position and this time, having overheard the "host" once again and at the pressing of that button, Timothius figures this beetle will be as aggressive as the last one and possibly the last bug they will face in this room. Nevertheless, things are so far from what Timothius considers "bad" that he does not bother to Channel Bahamut's Divinity this time.

He crouches like he did last time and stares the Beetle down. He clashes the sword loudly just in front of the Beetle with full intent to miss since the point is to make a loud sound and scare the beetle. He then points at the now-downed beetle with his sword as he takes on a stern countenance and says, "Do not make the same mistake this one did! Surrender!" This was meant to be an intimidation that will turn into a Divine Challenge should the critter refuse to surrender.

(08:09, Today: Timothius rolled 8 using 1d20+2. Intimidation.)
(Luckily, Divine Challenge requires no rolls)

(Current Healing surges left: 9)
This message was last edited by the player at 16:20, Sat 18 Oct 2008.

The Fire Beetle reacts to Timothius' failed attempt at intimidation in the most random way...  it attacks!  (Yes... I realize I'm pushing the envelope with that one.)  With a lunge it snaps at his leg, but fails to even get a pincher full of metal armor.

17:59, Today: Fire Beetle rolled 8 using 1d20+5. Bite vs. Timothius' AC. Miss!

(I've lost track of Timothius' HP and healing surges, but I expect the players to track that sort of stuff.  As for Gale's HP, I'm going to assume she doesn't have to spend a healing surge when Timo healed her?)
This message was last edited by the player at 22:23, Fri 17 Oct 2008.

Gale held off blasting the second beetle to give it a chance to respond to Timothius' command.  Not that Gale has any reluctance to destroy giant bugs like the kitty apparently does, just that she sensed his frustration at having to attack the last one.  Dragon worshiper or no, it's best to stay on the good side of the guy with the giant sword especially given that he's proven himself a dependable ally.  She conjures up an ice-axe behind her back with a halo over her head until the bug attacks Timothius.

"Incorrect!" she tells the Fire Beetle as she hurls her ice-axe at it, "Please try again."

18:19, Today: Gale rolled 22 using 1d20+4. Ray of Frost vs. FB2 (fortitude). Hit!
18:21, Today: Gale rolled 11 using 1d6+5. cold damage to FB2.

Fire Beetle 2 HP: 21
Fire Beetle 2 is slowed (speed = 2) till Gale's next turn.

Gale HP: 18
This message was last edited by the player at 22:25, Fri 17 Oct 2008.

As Elric sees the second Fire Beetle attacking Timothius, Elric feels that this time Timothius should do more than simply try to talk a pest into submission, and so Elric figures he might as well help out as best he can. Elric quickly moves forward before turning to strike at the remaining Fire Beetle with his Great Spear while saying “Pelor would never approve of your unprovoked hostilities. You will regret not surrendering when you had the chance,” as Elric easily lands a solid blow upon the remaining Fire Beetle causing a ghostly glowing image of the sun to appear on the Fire Beetle as Elric continues to speak, “For you should have listened to Timothius' recommendation, but now that time has passed."


_{[OOC:
Move Action: Move 3 Squares North.
Standard Action: Righteous Brand on Fire Beetle 2.
The attack hits for 9 Damage leaving Fire Beetle 2 with 12 hit points left, and Timothius now gets a +4 power bonus to his attack rolls against the Fire Beetle 2 on his next turn.
Minor Action: Unused.
18:58, Today: Elric rolled 9 using 1d10+4. R.B. damage to FB2, Will Suck!.
18:57, Today: Elric rolled 20 using 1d20+7. R.B. attack on FB2, Will Suck!.
]}

  "Now, I've seen trying to prevent 'needless cruelty to nature' before.  And occasionally that works out.   But if you ever start demanding zombies surrender I am going to waste precious time smacking you upside the head.  Just letting you know."

  Joe had iffy priorities sometimes.  But in this case, he may have his slightly more on the straight side.  Also fortunate was the fact Joe could banter and walk at the same time, showcased by circling around the right of Tim and the surviving bug, then rushing past it before lunging towards it's back with his sword....

  And failing to stab anything important.  But on the bright side, at least the thing was surrounded (so far as having only two people on either side counts as surrounded).  "Of course, right about now this bug possibly has more dignity left than I do."

[ (Move: Full six circling around, Flank FB2.  Standard: Deft Strike +2 move, Miss)
  02:24, Today: Joe Darkthorne rolled 11 using 1d20+8. Joe To-Hit.
  Again with rolling a 3.  Let's hope I can manage to hit something without being boosted to 'can only miss if you roll 1' bonus someday.]
This message was last edited by the player at 10:36, Sat 18 Oct 2008.

Prathen watches what the FireBeetle does carefully, and watches the creature get attacked. He takes a couple steps to the left, to get as clear of a shot on the beetle as he can, and then knocks the arrow and fires it at the creature, grinning some as the arrow thunks into the creature's body. He then pulls out another arrow from his quiver, just to be prepared in case another creature pops up. He defently seems to be a silent fighter, unlike the others.

(Total damage, 13, if I did it right. That should be enough to take it into negivites, I think.)



14:51, Today: Prathen rolled 16 using 1d20+5. Ranged Attack.
14:52, Today: Prathen rolled 6 using 1d8+3. Arrow Damage.
14:56, Today: Prathen rolled 7 using 1d8. Hunter's Quarry.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:01, Sat 18 Oct 2008.

The beetle shrieks and falls to the floor lifeless.  The room returns to it's customary silence, the silence broken only by the steady roar of the towering flames.

(Combat is ended for the time being, so initiative scores can be discarded and characters can take short rest (PHB 263) if they so choose.)
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:37, Sun 19 Oct 2008.

Prathen's not the only one ready for more.  Gale looks over to the place where the second beetle appeared and watches for movement.  It doesn't take long for her to be convinced that it's safe enough to relax her guard.

"Not being paranoid," she says softly, "but if everyone could stay where they are, there's a better chance we won't trigger any more infestations."

She conjures a small stool and sits in a contemplative pose much like "The Thinker."  Ouch.  Oh yeah.  Leg still hurts.  She transforms the mirror held by the magic hand into a miniature curtain which she has the hand hold in front of her for a little privacy as she pulls up her dress to take a better look at the wound.  Thanks to Timothius, it looks like it's been healing for a long time and is almost completely gone.

"So you're as much in the dark as the rest of us," Gale asks Prathen rhetorically as she leans over in a futile attempt to get a look at him from around the flames, "If you didn't hear, we were told by a mysterious voice that we're here as part of some test.  No telling how many guesses we get before we fail this test, but so far we've learned that stepping on a certain spot is the wrong answer."

(Assuming no peril in the next 5 minutes, Gale will spend a healing surge to return to full health.)
This message was last edited by the player at 00:34, Sun 19 Oct 2008.

After Elric is convinced that the fight is truly over, the Warforged sits down to contemplate things. “Well we know that there is one spot that draws forth those bugs, so we'll avoid that one from now on. But if that is the wrong spot.. Doesn't that imply there is a correct spot? Also anyone actually know anything about these bugs? Like if they are edible or not... After all while I may not need to eat, the same is not true for the rest of you. I really would not want to have to sit here and watch you all eventually starve to death.”

_{[OOC: Taking a short rest along with everyone else.]}
This message was last edited by the player at 01:03, Sun 19 Oct 2008.

Timothius answers Joe with a rather enthusiastic response, "Undead are NOT natural! How can you even compare the two?!" before he watches the Beetle fall dead from the arrows. He strongly appreciates that Elric is not objecting, but even supporting to some degree Timothius' actions. Timothius can't help but think to himself how true it is that combat really helps one get to know a person. He just hopes he isn't getting to know them only to see them die.

He sits down as per Gale's suggestion and says, "Actually, Elric, there is something useful about these beetles. While they are not edible, their internal organs can be used as a light for up to 12 hours. Kinda like a torch."

(OOC: The book says 1d12 hours, so I'mma roll it.)
(Taking rest with everyone else)
(Current Healing surges left: 9)

Gale re-covers her leg then motions at the floating hand in a dismissive way.  It obediently flies over to the space between Timothius and the fire providing a little shade from the heat of flames..

"That can come in handy," she remarks, "Speaking of torches... You must be roasting sitting that close to the fire.  I think it's safe to swap places with the beetle if you like."

(I plan to make a habit of posting the map link every pose for your convenience.)

http://spreadsheets.google.com...3bxPD0pRQOb52abtQtLQ
This message was last edited by the player at 14:33, Sun 19 Oct 2008.

Prathen makes his way over to the others, putting the arrow he had ready back into his quiver, before he makes his way over to where the two arrows he shot landed, yanking one right out of the carcass of the beetle he slayed, and picking the other one off the ground, checking them both over carefully as he speaks.

"A test you say? I do not recall signing up for any classes."

Elric seems to grin, or at least as much as a warforged can, upon hearing what Timothius has to say regarding the beetles as Elric asks, “Can you retrieve those organs? They will definately be useful, or at least fun... I wonder if used as a hat if they could help someone have a bright idea?”

Then Elric turns to Prathen and says, “I doubt anyone here signed up for anything like this. I still think it is someone's idea of a bad practical joke... those beetles could have hurt someone... so this isn't a prank,” as Elric moves slightly north to be a bit further from the fire to be more comfortable.

_{[OOC: Moved one square north just to get a little farther from the hot fire.]}

  "Oh good, I don't see us having much in the way of problems then Tim.  The last guy I knew who wanted to give large bugs a chance didn't grasp the whole 'zombies are bad' thing.  They particularly didn't like my suggestion that they hit them with their large book of scriptures instead of reading it to them."

  Of course, he could point out that magic and acts of the gods weren't in any more 'natural' either.  But, zombies tended to be incredibly lame as a whole, while today had some pleasant examples of why magic and divinity themselves weren't always bad.  And Elric was starting to shape up to be an example of when they were awesome.  But that just might be Joe's poor excuse for a sense of humor.

  "I think that may be the first time I've heard 'wear their organs as a festive hat' used in a way that wasn't a threat.  As for the food thing, I've had worse.  But then I'd think we may be facing bigger issues if we can't get out of here by then."

  Joe turned to consider the fire, what with it being the only notable hunk of scenery. "...When you're all set, do you think you could angle your mirrors to see what's glowing inside that ring of fire?  That might be able to be done without hitting any more tiles...  And I supposed if you were able to conjure up lasting chalk, we could always mark where we traveled that didn't result in even more hassles."  This last bit of course addressed to Gale.

[Short rest like everyone else.  Though in this case, my stats stay the the same, just refill my Enc Quarry]

"Could have hurt someone?" Gale asks Elric rhetorically as she pinches her blood-stained dress.

"Good idea," she answers Joe.  She stands up and gestures at her mage hand.  The curtain transforms back into a mirror and the hand floats several yards into the air.  She frowns and raises an eyebrow in surprise.

"Impressive," she says, rubbing her chin, "It's a linked portal, a magical doorway to another place.  Even if conjured by a master wizard, they usually close within a minute or two, but this one is still going strong.  I'd wager that this is our only way out besides digging through solid stone with swords and spears."

"As for marking the floor," she continues as she carefully makes her way to the others, stepping lightly before trusting any stone, "my cantrips can be very short lived."  (Her stool vanishes in a puff of smoke as if to prove her point.)  "We'd be better served to char the butt of Mr. Elric's spear to use it as a big pencil or lay one of Mr. Archer's arrows on each stone we can trust."

She re-conjures her stool and sits back down.

"My name's Gale," she says to Prathen, pretending to curtsey while seated, "Nice to meet you."

(23:54, Today: Gale rolled 21 using 1d20+9. Arcana check for giggles. ) Check to see if Gale knows for certain the nature of the blue glowie rather than an educated guess.

http://spreadsheets.google.com...3bxPD0pRQOb52abtQtLQ

(Plan to post a short OOC rant on the cantrip description.)
This message was last edited by the player at 04:26, Tue 21 Oct 2008.

To Elric's suggestion, Timothius giggles. "Sounds like you already are bright, Elric." a beaming smile on his face.

Timothius looks at the fire and looks at the Beetles and then the others. "Well we could stack up Fire Beetle carcasses on the fire. Currently, we only have two. But given how easily we beat them, if we need more, we can continue to step on the "incorrect" tile and slay a few more Beetles... provided they are all equally as aggressive." He gives Joe a sidewards glance. "And vs undead, divine powers do far more damage than a book to the head. Though I won't object if you use your own books to hit them."

So... someone once tried reading scriptures against the undead. It didn't work somehow. Joe told them to use the book instead. Joe survived this encounter and he has 0 XP how? Good thing Timothius currently can't break the 4th wall or he'd question how Joe had such an experience, yet was only level 1 with no experience. Instead, he only questions whether Joe had such an experience at all since it sounds so unlikely.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:23, Tue 21 Oct 2008.

Prathen listens to the conversations going around him, looking to Gale and giving her a polite nod when she introduces herself.  "I am called Prathen." He looks around the room slowly, then turns his gaze onto the fire, frowning a bit. "So the only way out that you can guess at is surrounded by flames?"

Elric glances at his spear and then at the fire, and then at the corpses of the fire beetles before saying, “I'd rather not burn my spear, so why not just use chunks of fire beetle to mark the squares? Or perhaps other remnants of them? And as Timothius said we can probably get more of them if needed, although I don't know how to build a bridge out of fire beetles... but it does look like we need to figure out a way to get to that portal.”

  Oh, Fire beetles.  Duh.  The obvious details you miss when the subject of consideration is trying to bite your legs off.

  "While the combined gang beatdown of single bugs could be dealt with easy enough, I'd admittedly rather see if any of the tiles turned off the fire.  Though failing that, it leaves the question of who has to press the bug button.  And so far as we've seen so far Prathen, it's the only visible exit."