Ben digs the blade of his dagger into the corner of the statue's eyes and begins to work at it to pry the gemstone loose.

A few brief moments later, the statue's legs, being composed of a coiled mass of serpents, comes alive with activity.

Writhing serpents magically boil forth from the statue. Would the heroes have an opportunity to react before being beset on by the serpents?

Magic Writhing Serpents, 12
AC: 6
HD: 2+1, HP: 11


PC       AC    HP    AP  0  1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10   Notes
Ben      7   21/21   2   19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9   Init +2
Eagle    6   25/25   4   18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8
Inas     5   43/43   1   17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7
Rath     3   36/36   3   17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7
Saliq    7   13/13   3   20 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11   Init +2

NPC       AC    HP   AP  0  1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10   Notes
Duvall    4   4/21   0   18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8
Norion    3   36/45  0   17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7


OOC: ROLL for INITIATIVE!!! Anyone tying or beating a 4 may post immediately.

Stage 1: Ben, Eagle, Rath, Saliq
Stage 2: Serpents (4)
Stage 3: Duvall, Inas, Norion
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:57, Fri 09 Aug 2013.

Duvall, in his weakened state, is slow to notice the imminent threat and caught flat-footed.

OOC: Init 1

Norion was still smarting over his inability to pull down the asp-man statue and is also therefore slow to react to the writhing snakes.

OOC: Init 1

Inas was caught unawares when the statue came alive with serpents. He had heard stories of such. But always assumed they were idle chat or tales to scare children.

He stepped back a pace or two, and then began to draw his bowstring.

07:15, Today: Inas Eoinsson rolled 1 using 1d6. Initiative.

Having expected just such an occurrence, Ban uses his position to gouge the things eye out!!!

Sadly the position wasnpt as stable as he had hoped, and he rocked away from the creatures head before he could do any damage.

Luckily he had the rope, and was now hanging on like a rodeo star, yeehaw!!!



00:30, Thu 08 Aug 2013: Ben Scristos rolled 7 using 1d6+2 ((5)).
Init!

00:31, Thu 08 Aug 2013: Ben Scristos rolled 4 using 1d20 ((4)).
To hit
How could I have missed? I had my dagger in the eye socket! Sigh...
This message was last edited by the player at 07:34, Thu 08 Aug 2013.

Saliq reacting quickly, the nimble illusionist drawing the Moonblade and slicing at the wringling mass, though unfortunately with little effect.

"Can you swing and leap away Ben?" He called out to the dangling thief.

---

OOC: 10:51, Today: Saliq Musfara rolled 5 using 1d6+2. Initiative.
10:55, Today: Saliq Musfara rolled 13 using 1d20+1. Attack with Jambiya Moonblade.

"Gah!" Rath, startled, jerks his blade from it's sheathe and nearly throws it across the room, but he recovers his grip quickly enough to take a feeble and ill-aimed swipe in the general direction of the snakes.


06:05, Today: Aldo Rathmus rolled 4 using 1d20. attack snake.  06:01, Today: Aldo Rathmus rolled 4 using 1d6. initiative.

For once Eagle was on his toes, and he follows Saliq into the room, and swats down at the nearest serpent. 'Ben, Ben, Ben. . .' he mutters to himself.

OOC: 10:03, Today: Eagle rolled 4 using 1d8. damage scimitar.
10:03, Today: Eagle rolled 18 using 1d20. attack.

Eagle slashes and wounds a serpent which had coiled up in preparation to attack the illusionist. Unfortunately there is yet life in the magically summoned reptile, and it connects its fangs with Saliq's foot, penetrating through his shoe. Worse, a second snake also strikes the illusionist, also delivering its venomous load!

These serpents are remarkably agile, easily climbing up the statue to strike Ben as well, who is on the wrong end of two fangs himself. Other snakes move out toward Duvall, Rath and Norion.

Rath bats away two serpents and Norion suffers a minor bite, but nothing which presently threatens the stout dwarf warrior. Saliq is also struck twice, and while the fangs are painful, the true threat comes from the snake's poison. Time would tell how Saliq's body reacted.

Despite his best effort to fend off the advance of three snakes, Duvall is bitten by two snakes. The cleric clutches at his throat a moment later, his face turning a sickly white, before collapsing onto the floor. White foam pours out of the poor cleric's mouth and nostrils, as he slips beyond the veil...

OOC: Ben takes 2 points of damage and must make two saves vs poison. Saliq is also bitten twice, takes 2 points of damage and must make two saves vs poison.

Magic Writhing Serpents, 12
AC: 6
HD: 2+1, HP: 11
#1: 11/11 (B), #2: 11/11 (B), #3: 11/11 (B), #4: 11/11 (D), #5: 11/11 (D), #6: 11/11 (D), #7: 11/11 (N), #8: 2/11 (N), #9: 11/11 (R), #10: 11/11 (R), #11: 7/11 (S), #12: 11/11 (S)


PC       AC    HP    AP  0  1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10   Notes
Ben      7   19/21   2   19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9   Init +2
Eagle    6   25/25   4   18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8
Inas     5   43/43   1   17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7
Rath     3   36/36   3   17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7
Saliq    7    9/13   3   20 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11   Init +2

NPC       AC    HP   AP  0  1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10   Notes
Duvall    4   -9/21   0   18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  Dying
Norion    3   35/45  0   17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7




Stage 1: Ben, Eagle, Rath, Saliq
Stage 2: Serpents (4)
Stage 3: Duvall, Inas, Norion

STAGE 3 is UP!!!
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:17, Sat 10 Aug 2013.

Saliq's foot swells up as the serpent's poison begins to course through the illusionist's body. A wave of nausea and weakness washes over Saliq, though he is still able to maintain consciousness...for the moment.

OOC: Saliq takes 2 more damage.

Having seen Duvall succumb to the snakes, Norion senses this situation can turn quite dire in a hurry. The dwarf warrior hacks in a wide arc, hoping to take down two snakes with a single slash.

The axe slices through one snake, nearly felling it; though the follow-up blow is less effective.

OOC: damaged one snake for 9 points

Duvall's body begins to convulse as the poison continues its evil work. And then, stillness.

Deep motes of fog pool at the base of a rocky land of soaring mountains and deep fjords floating atop a crimson blue sea of air. The wind whips at Duvall's back as the man strides over a trail of cloudy staircase toward a gleaming citadel cradled atop a majestic spire: The Champion's Hall!

The cleric had been rewarded for his piety:

Ysgard

OOC: So long Duvall...

Inas rapidly looses two arrows, both aimed at the snake which Norion just wounded. The second shot proves to be true and fells the wounded serpent!

OOC: DM NPC post

The serpents only number 11 now, but the heroes numbers have been cut to six! This is a war of attrition the party can ill afford...

Magic Writhing Serpents, 12
AC: 6
HD: 2+1, HP: 11
#1: 1/11 (N), #2: 11/11 (B), #3: 11/11 (B), #4: 11/11 (N), #5: 11/11 (N), #6: 11/11 (R), #7: 11/11 (N), #8: 0/11, #9: 9/11 (R), #10: 11/11 (R), #11: 4/11 (E), #12: 11/11 (S)


PC       AC    HP    AP  0  1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10   Notes
Ben      7   18/21   2   19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9   Init +2
Eagle    6   25/25   4   18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8
Inas     5   43/43   1   17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7
Rath     3   34/36   3   17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7
Saliq    7    9/13   2   20 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11   Init +2

NPC      AC    HP   AP   0  1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10   Notes
Duvall    4  -10/21  0   18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  Dead
Norion    3   28/45  0   17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7




Round 2

Stage 1: Ben, Eagle, Rath, Saliq
Stage 2: Serpents (4)
Stage 3: Duvall, Inas, Norion

Ben, Eagle, Rath, Saliq are UP!!!
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:07, Mon 12 Aug 2013.

Gritting in teeth against the sudden blaze of pain spreading up from his foot Saliq slashed at the serpent tormenting him. Whether it was his eyes watering or the shake in his hand from the venom in his veins the Moonblade cleaved only air.

---

OOC:
22:39, Today: Saliq Musfara rolled 6 using 1d20+1. Attack with Jambiya Moonblade.

Using his speed and agility Ben swings his body around the statue, keeping the bronze figure as much between him and the snakes as possible, taking only the time to slash out with his long sword.

By some odd coincidence, the flailing blade struck true, chopping a meal-sized chunk of snake flesh out of the creatures flesh!

[Private to GM: 20:41, Sat 10 Aug 2013: Ben Scristos rolled 14 using 1d20 ((14))

20:44, Sat 10 Aug 2013: Ben Scristos rolled 7 using 1d8 ((7)).

FYI, I don't have a dagger, sorry. It must have been my blade, if that's okay with you! (Fingers crossed)]

After being savagely hacked by Ben's sword, one snake loses its coiling grip around the statue's torso and tumbles to the floor below.

Though badly wounded by both sword and its fall, this creature possessed a singular focus and would not easily be deterred from its eternal task: defending the ancient shrine of Yanasa, against would-be defilers and treasure-hunters.

OOC: snake took an additional 3 hp damage from a 10 ft fall
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:27, Sun 11 Aug 2013.

Trying to stay very much on the door side of the melee, Eagle again swipes his sickle at one of the serpents.

22:55, Today: Eagle rolled 3 using 1d8 with rolls of 3.
22:55, Today: Eagle rolled 15 using 1d20 with rolls of 15.

Eagle wounds one of the serpents pressing in against Saliq, the closest enemies to the ziggurat's entrance.

While not enough to slay the creature, it does take its attention off of the illusionist.

Rath sees Duvall Kane fall frothing to the floor and the others sorely pressed, and he feels an edge of panic creep up into his chest. He swings frantically anything scaley that moves and is within reach, and he manages to cut a snake, but at the wrong end.



Hits for 2 damage.

05:54, Today: Aldo Rathmus rolled 2 using 1d8+1 with rolls of 1. damage.  05:54, Today: Aldo Rathmus rolled 17 using 1d20 with rolls of 17. attack.

The ancient shrine is now a frenzy of hissing, leaps and mad dashes to avoid the agitated serpents' strikes. Several companions end up on the losing side of that battle as fang sinks into their exposed flesh, eager to deliver their potent venom.

OOC: Ben is struck once (1 dmg) and must make a save vs poison (+1). Rath is struck twice (2 dmg) and must make two saves vs poison (+1). Norion was also struck. Eagle and Saliq avoided getting hit this round.

Magic Writhing Serpents, 12
AC: 6
HD: 2+1, HP: 11
#1: 1/11 (N), #2: 11/11 (B), #3: 11/11 (B), #4: 1/11 (N), #5: 11/11 (N), #6: 11/11 (R), #7: 11/11 (N), #8: 0/11, #9: 9/11 (R), #10: 11/11 (R), #11: 4/11 (E), #12: 9/11 (S)


PC       AC    HP    AP  0  1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10   Notes
Ben      7   19/21   2   19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9   Init +2
Eagle    6   25/25   4   18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8
Inas     5   43/43   1   17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7
Rath     3   36/36   3   17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7
Saliq    7    9/13   3   20 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11   Init +2

NPC       AC    HP   AP  0  1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10   Notes
Duvall    4   -9/21   0   18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  Dying
Norion    3   35/45  0   17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7




Stage 1: Ben, Eagle, Rath, Saliq
Stage 2: Serpents (4)
Stage 3: Duvall, Inas, Norion

STAGE 3 is UP!!!
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:38, Tue 13 Aug 2013.

Rath is little more than annoyed by the serpents' fangs, and more than a little lucky!


10:40, Today: Aldo Rathmus rolled 18,16 using D20+1,d20+1 with rolls of 17,15.

Inas looses another arrow, this time wounding a snake battling against Saliq. Unfortunately, the ranger's second shot reveals a flaw in his compound bow string. The string snaps before Inas has a chance to release the arrow.

It looks like the ranger will soon join his companions in melee...

OOC: Hit one snake for 2 points of damage.

Norion savages another snake with his battle axe, but comes up a little short of finishing the beast off.

"Gah! Death will find you yet! Take that snake! Fight on lads!" he belts out in an effort to rally his companions.

OOC: Damaged a snake for 10 points of damage.

The score remained the same: Heroes: -1, Snakes: -1; but two serpents now hovered closely to death and perhaps the tide would soon turn?

It was too late for Duvall, but there was life yet in the others!

Magic Writhing Serpents, 12
AC: 6
HD: 2+1, HP: 11
#1: 1/11 (N), #2: 11/11 (B), #3: 11/11 (B), #4: 1/11 (N), #5: 11/11 (N), #6: 11/11 (R), #7: 11/11 (N), #8: 0/11, #9: 9/11 (R), #10: 11/11 (R), #11: 4/11 (E), #12: 9/11 (S)


PC       AC    HP    AP  0  1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10   Notes
Ben      7   19/21   2   19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9   Init +2
Eagle    6   25/25   4   18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8
Inas     5   43/43   1   17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7
Rath     3   34/36   3   17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7
Saliq    7    9/13   3   20 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11   Init +2

NPC       AC    HP   AP  0  1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10   Notes
Norion   3   35/45   0   17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7




Stage 1: Ben, Eagle, Rath, Saliq
Stage 2: Serpents (4)
Stage 3: Inas, Norion

Ben, Eagle, Rath, Saliq are UP!!!
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:02, Tue 13 Aug 2013.