Breaking his gaze down the dark passage, Norion begins to fuss about the chamber, muttering to himself. "Thats right... okay then... if you're sure about that... I remember, ya don't have ta remind me." and such being overheard by people standing near to him.

Today: Norion Ironaxe rolled 238 using 5d100 with rolls of 96,10,19,53,60. DorfChex: slope const slide traps depth.

Norion's keen eyes for stonecraft do not detect any signs of new construction, shifting walls, traps, etc. Furthermore, the dwarf is unable to precisely determine the depth of this cave. There had been so many twists and turns prior to arriving at the Weeping Grotto, that Norion is at a bit of a loss on this point.

Meanwhile, Ben busies himself with the task of searching the smooth stone walls for any signs of hidden or secret doors that are not readily obvious. The thief does not find any.

The torchlight casts strange shadows against the dark walls and the direction of the flame indicates a slight draft issuing forth from the dark tunnel. And then...

First Ben hears it, and pretty soon the entire party makes out the sound of a riot of wings flapping. Getting closer. Echoing through the tunnel...

OOC: Roll Init!

STAGE 1: Ben
STAGE 2: Enemies...but what could they be ??? (5)
STAGE 3: Norion, Ravick, Saliq
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:35, Wed 08 Feb 2012.

"Oh ya... it looks like my lad isn't the only thing thats hungry down here." as Norion readies his shield and glances around to see where the rest of the party is standing.

"Gerdi's friends I assume," Saliq muttered as he readied a throwing-dagger and moved behind Norion. He was no coward but he was unarmoured.

12:45, Today: Saliq Musfara rolled 4 using 1d6. Initiative.

Ben steels himself for combat, armoured or not, he liked to wave his sword around.

OOC: 14:52, Today: Ben Scristos rolled 6 using 1d6. Initiative, or lack thereof.

With the +2 Susprise modifier, that makes a roll of 8.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:08, Wed 08 Feb 2012.

Ravick draws his sword and shield and stands beside Saliq.  "You best remain near me, friend."  He flashes the illusionist a smile.

The sound of fluttering wings begins to fill the cavern, growing louder with each passing second. Soon, a flood of movement can be seen emerging from the gloom of the dark tunnel. The airborne creatures emerge from darkness, revealing a dozen or so tiny bat-like creatures fitted with a long, curved needle-like proboscis.

Norion would be quite familiar with the creature, for they are the bane of dwarven miners everywhere: stirges! Perhaps others as well, regardless of one's familiarity, the companions would soon gain an intimate understanding of these blood-thirsty pests!

The stirge hatchlings flutter forward, filling the chamber in anticipation of a light sup...

OOC: Sularius still needs to roll init (d6 + surprise); however Ben won init so he definitely goes first.

---

6 Stirge Hatchlings: AC 8. HP: 1


PC          AC    HP      AP    Notes
Ben         7    05/06    2     Surprise +2, 1 Stirge attached
Norion      3    12/12    2
Ravick      3    09/09    1
Saliq       7    04/04    3     Surprise +2
Sularius    8    07/07    3     Surprise (4 in 6 nonmetal armor & alone or with elves & halflings)

STAGE 1: Ben, Sularius
STAGE 2: Stirge Hatchlings (Init: 5)
STAGE 3: Norion, Ravick, Saliq
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:43, Thu 23 Feb 2012.

With lighting speed, Ben leaps into action and takes a swipe at the nearest flying critter. Obviously, they are flying just out of the reach of his sword as his intended blow meets nothing but thin air.

OOC: 16:21, Today: Ben Scristos rolled 7,8 using d20,d8. attack and damage stirge hatchling.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:32, Wed 08 Feb 2012.

Eight stirge hatchlings fill into the room and begin flapping around wildly, seemingly disoriented by the torchlight, for they attempt to swoop in against Ravick but always pitch back at odd angles before getting too close.

Ben is not so lucky however, for he finds himself the victim of a tiny stirge. The little blood-sucker latches on and begin drawing blood through its proboscis!

One stirge makes dive at Norion, but is easily rebuffed!

OOC: Ben is hit for 1 point of damage. The hatchlings can be removed with a successful to-hit roll.

Stage 3 is up!
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:56, Wed 08 Feb 2012.

As the stirge comes flying at hit, Sularius slices clean through the wicked creature.

OOC:

17:57, Today: Sularius Alariel rolled 17,7 using d20+3,d8+3. Attack and Damage (long sword).

Cursing in his native tongue (which came across oddly eloquent for the circumstances) Saliq thrust with with dagger but failed to connect with one of the swift flying horrors.

"They are fast as they are ugly," he says shooting Ravick a frustrated smile.


OOC: 16:33, Today: Saliq Musfara rolled 9,2 using d20,d4. Attack and Damage (dagger).

"I hope to make them uglier," says Ravick, his blade biting deep into the hide of the loathsome beast.

OOC:
13:41, Today: Ravick rolled 13,6 using d20,d8. Attack and Damage (Longsword).
This message was last edited by the player at 02:05, Thu 09 Feb 2012.

Ravick and Sularius deftly strike down two of the stirge hatchlings, their grotesque little bodies explode in a spray of red gore. Six remain, one is attached to the back of Ben's buttocks and five hover around Ravick, desperately seeking a way to feed on sweet, half-elven blood.

"Oh no you don't!" shouts Norion as he tries to seperate the stirge which attached itself to Ben.


Today: Norion Ironaxe rolled 11 using 1d20+1.

Two hatchlings now lay splattered in a crumpled, bloody heap on the floor; however six still buzz about like pesky gnats on a warm summer day out on the Withchlight Marsh, hungry for just a little taste of blood.

Five circle around Ravick, while the sixth feverishly works to suck Ben dry...

OOC: Round 2, Stage 1 is UP!.

---

2 Stirge Hatchlings: AC 8. HP: 1
6 have already been slain.


PC          AC    HP      AP    Notes
Ben         7    04/06    2     Surprise +2, 1 Stirge attached
Norion      3    12/12    2
Ravick      3    09/09    1
Saliq       7    03/04    3     Surprise +2, 1 Stirge attached
Sularius    8    07/07    3     Surprise (4 in 6 nonmetal armor & alone or with elves & halflings)

STAGE 1: Ben, Sularius
STAGE 2: Stirge Hatchlings (Init: 5)
STAGE 3: Norion, Ravick, Saliq
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:15, Fri 10 Feb 2012.

Seeing the stirge still attached to Ben, Sularius spins and brings his blade down on top of it, separating the creature from Ben's backside.  He then turns and barely misses connecting with another one buzzing around Ravick.

OOC:

07:40, Today: Sularius Alariel rolled 17 using 1d20+3.
07:40, Today: Sularius Alariel rolled 11 using 1d20+3. Attack Stirge 2nd attack.

Ben is stunned that anyone would attack a stirge with a sword while it was attached to him, but nevertheless is grateful to Sularius for ridding him of the parasite. His own efforts at slaying one of the vermin, however, are ineffective.

OOC: 09:14, Today: Ben Scristos rolled 4,8 using d20,d8. attack stirge with sword.
This message was last edited by the player at 11:03, Thu 09 Feb 2012.

Five stirges now angrily flit about the cavern, spurred into a blood-frenzy by such a large concentration of warm, flowing nectar.

The hatchlings  now seem to have given up on attacking the light-wielder, rather they turn their attention toward there others...

Two buzz around the elven swordmage searching for a chance to feed, but are afforded no luxury. Sularius deftly dances and jukes out of harm's way, keeping the hatchlings at bay. One turns on Norion but likewise has little success piercing the dwarf's stout defenses.

Ben once again is victimized by one of the blood-suckers, for another sinks its needle into the scoundrel's shoulder and begins to feed!

Finally, Saliq is attacked and unable to fight off the buzzing pest. The hatchling lands on the illusionist's left hip and proceeds to take its fill.

OOC: Ben and Saliq take 1 HP of damage and now have a hatchling attached. The other three missed.

Stage 3 is UP!
This message was last edited by the GM at 12:59, Thu 09 Feb 2012.

Ravick prepares to strike at the foul creatures again.  "Have at you, filth!"  Unfortunately, his footing unsure, due to ichor that flows underfoot, and his vicious stroke throws him dangerously off balance.  Eyes agape, the acolyte of the Avandra stumbles and struggles to regain his footing.

OOC:

05:18, Today: Ravick rolled 1,5 using 1d20,1d8. Attack and Melee (Longsword).
 
This message was last edited by the player at 13:21, Thu 09 Feb 2012.

"Ghaaa!" cries Norion as he tries to follow the flight of the stirges.

Then in a cinematic moment of best watched in slow-motion, Norion's axe comes down just as two stirges hover for a split second in mid-air. The resulting mess making him cringe and spraying him with ichor.

After spitting repeatedly to remove the filth from his mouth, "Hmm, that tastes funny."

Today: Norion Ironaxe rolled 12,7,21,4 using d20+1,d8+2,d20+1,d8+2. 2att/rnd: hit, dmg, hit, dmg.

Saliq cried out out in pain as the horriffic thing attatched to him and began sucking. With shaking hand he slashed at it desperately til at last the vile stirge fell away in two pieces. Shuddering in disgust he stomped on the still twitching remains, grinding it into the muck.


OOC:
00:05, Today: Saliq Musfara rolled 13,1 using d20,d4. Attack and Damage (dagger).

The dark cavern is now littered with splattered hatchlings, yet two still remain: one siphoning blood from Ben and the other hovering between Ravick and Sularius.

Odds were definitely in favor of the top-siders now, but the greedy blood-suckers were too stupid to realize it. The stirges that is, not the Stormhavians!

---

2 Stirge Hatchlings: AC 8. HP: 1
6 have already been slain.


PC          AC    HP      AP    Notes
Ben         7    04/06    2     Surprise +2, 1 Stirge attached
Norion      3    12/12    2
Ravick      3    09/09    1
Saliq       7    03/04    3     Surprise +2
Sularius    8    07/07    3     Surprise (4 in 6 nonmetal armor & alone or with elves & halflings)

STAGE 1: Ben, Sularius
STAGE 2: Stirge Hatchlings (Init: 5)
STAGE 3: Norion, Ravick, Saliq

OOC: Round 3, Stage 1 is UP!
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:52, Sat 11 Feb 2012.

In reply to DM Storm (msg #45):

Hoping to redeem himself, Ravick assumes a grim aspect and swings his blade once again.   The blade misses and belches sparks after striking a jagged stalactite.

OOC:

18:59, Today: Ravick rolled 7,4 using 1d20,1d8. To Hit and Melee Damage.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:00, Fri 10 Feb 2012.

In a panic, Ben runs circles around himself trying to dispatch the attached stirge with the blade of his sword before giving up and giving it a healthy whack with the pommel instead.

He is surprised at the efficacy of combat with the blunt end of his sword and wonders to himself why he has never tried it before.

OOC: 09:30, Today: Ben Scristos rolled 15,5 using d20,d8. get it off, get it off!

Sularius swung wildly at one of the stirges, nearly losing his balance as the flying nuisance easily dodged his haphazard attack.

OOC:

12:40, Today: Sularius Alariel rolled 5 using 1d20+3. Attack Stirge.