Time drags on as you sit about playing at cards. Suddenly, everything goes dark for Illianka and Schnicklegulp, as Deepwalker sees four darkmantles drop from the roof, two landing on their heads and wrapping around them.

Illianka grabs hers and rips it off, throwing it to the ground, but Schnicklegulp finds his rather better attached as he struggles to remove it.

Seconds later, the darkmantle that attacked Illianka leaps back at her as she reels in suprise, hitting her again.
Again, she throws it away from her as Deepwalker gets grabbed by another one leaping from behind him, which he throws over his shoulder.
Schnicklegulp manages to hold the darkmantle from crushing his neck but can't remove it.

The final darkmantle seems to be ineffectual, having missed deepwalker altogether on both it's initial and followup attack.

Moments later, four grimlocks run in from the sides of the room.

OOC: 13 damage to Illianka, 7 to Deepwalker, 10 damage to Schnicklegulp and he is grappled.
The party all failed two spot checks and then lost initiative. Ouch.
Illianka gets lucky - the guys grappling her rolled below 5 both times.
Everyone, take your actions.
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:14, Mon 22 May 2006.

Schnickle squeaked in surprise as something dropped over his head and began to squeeze. "Ack!

The skinny gnome let himself go limp, and tried to slide right out of the creature's maw.

OOC:
Standard Action:
16:03, Today: Schnicklegulp Stoneswiper rolled 23 using 1d20+4. escape artist.
Assuming that works...
Move Action: to nearest mushroom and standing underneath.
20ft covered. If the nearest mushroom is 25-30ft away, then manifesting Burst (1pp) to make the distance.

Schnickle dropped out and hit the ground, running as fast he could. He scuttled towards the cover of the nearest giant mushroom, hoping that it's hood would stop any more of the things dropping on him.

Schnicklegulp wriggles free of the darkmantle and dashes under cover.

Badly injured, Illianka takes a cue from Snicklegulp and runs for cover, reaching into her cloak for a dagger as she does so... these were not favourable combat conditions. With a moment's thought, she drew on the power within her, channelling it down to increase her speed. With luck, she would be able to alert the myconids, and perhaps they would be able to help defend their home... [Private to DM Daniel: Actions are:
Swift: Manifest Burst
Move: Draw dagger
Move: Run 50' towards the main part of the Garden.]

PM
[Private to DM Daniel: Deepwalker is concidered large when it comes to grappling according to the powerful build racial trait.  This means that Deepwalker is +12 not +8 when it comes to grapple checks.  Will wait for you to check this out yourself and edit your post.]
This message was last edited by the player at 15:54, Mon 22 May 2006.

I see. The darkmantle had a little more trouble than expected with deepwalker, but still dealt some by slamming into him. See above.

Deepwalker pulls out his Heavy Flail that looks oversized for a person Deepwalker's size.  Wielding such a large weapon doesn't seem to be a problem for Deepwalker as he attacks one of the darkmantles.

Use a move action to set Psionic Focus using Psionic Meditiation Feat.
Expend Psionic Focus on Psionic Weapon Feat.

Rolled 29 to hit for a total of 20 damage(14 from Heavy Flail and 6 from Psionic Weapon Feat).  Didn't think a 13 would confirm the critical.

Schnickle peers out from under his mushroom, and readies his crossbow.


OOC: Still here, just waiting for next round.

Having thrown one of the darkmantles to the ground, Deepwalker turns, drawing his flail and crushing the darkmantle on the ground.

The remaining three darkmantles turn towards Illianka the moment they see her using her powers. As they try to escape, Deepwalker tries to hit one but it moves too quickly for him to catch.
Two of the darkmantles slam into Illianka, one managing to wrap itself around her head and begin suffocating her. The world goes dark for her as the blood to her head is cut off.
Meanwhile, the grimlocks step forward to engage Deepwalker in melee.



OOC: The darkmantles charge at Illianka and one grapples her. She takes 16 damage and falls unconscious. The one of the darkmantles grabs her and begins dragging her away.

Deepwalker readies himself for the fight with the grimlocks.  Tightening his grip on his flail he puts his back to one of the mushrooms and grimly waits for them to come within melee range.

Rolled a 20 for Concentration check to set Psionic Focus using Psionic Meditiation Feat.
Rolled a 13 to hit for 17 possible Damage.

Schnickle aims his crossbow and fires at the creature that is dragging Ilianka away, then hurriedly reloads.

OOC:
Fire xbow at creature dragging Ilianka, then reloading.
13:54, Today: Schnicklegulp Stoneswiper rolled 17 using 1d20+8. crossbow attack.
13:55, Today: Schnicklegulp Stoneswiper rolled 5 using 1d6. damage.

A grimlock dodges out of the path of Deepwalker's flail, but Schnicklegulp's aim is perfect, hitting one of the Darkmantles eyes. It doesn't appear to react, but continues dragging Illianka as it's companions start flying towards Schnick.

Meanwhile, the grimlocks surround Deepwalker. Each of them hefts a rusty battleaxe that appears to have seen far better days, and none of them look to be in good health. However, they converge on him carefully and their attacks come all at once as if they were telepathically coordinated. Deepwalker turns one of the blades with his flail, leaving himself open to the other three to cut into his flesh.

OOC: 19 damage to Deepwalker (who is flanked in two different directions), and Schnicklegulp very nearly killed that Darkmantle.

That critter might not have reacted, but it definitely seemed to be wounded. Thinking he was onto a good thing, Schnickle fired again. The bolt short forth, piercing the creature's hide and killing it outright.

Seeing more of the creatures fly towards him, Schnickle scuttled behind the mushroom stalk, away from their tendrils and teeth.


OOC:
Same again:
18:00, Today: Schnicklegulp Stoneswiper rolled 5 using 1d6. damage.
17:59, Today: Schnicklegulp Stoneswiper rolled 20 using 1d20+8. xbow attack.
I looked up the darkmantle. :) Only 6 HP!
Standard: Attack the one dragging Ilianka again
Move: Seek cover.

Anger glinting in his eyes Deepwalker strikes one of the Grimlocks dropping it.  This immediately gives him the opportunity to stike the one beside it dropping it as well.

Rolled a 31 to set Psionic Focus using Psionic Meditiation Feat.
Rolled 19 to Hit for 19 total Damage (12 From flail + 7 Psionic Weapon)
Rolled 27 to Hit second creature due to Cleave Feat for 17 Damage

As Schnicklegulp kills the darkmantle dragging Illianka, one of the two charging at him breaks off to head towards her again. The final darkmantle charges at Schnick, but he steps behind a mushroom stalk and it flies past (i'ts poor manuverability means you can almost certaintly make an AOO next round if you have a melee weapon out by then. As it stands now, the darkmantle is adjacent to you.)

One of the grimlocks moves carefully around Deepwalker to continue flanking and they both strike in unison, and this time even his training can't stop their axes powering through his defences.

OOC: 15 damage to Deepwalker.


At this point, you see the reason for this attack - a young 'flayer is at the edge of the cavern, looking hungrily at Illianka as it's darkmantle slave drags her towards it. It seems uninterested in actually doing anything to fight, but is instead focused on it's meal.

Seeing the Mind Flayer Deepwalker heaves his flail into one of the remaining Grimlocks smashing it to a pulp.  As the creature falls Deepwalker uses his backswing to hit the last remaining Grimlock.

Rolled 21 to set Psionic Focus using Psionic Meditiation.
Rolled 16 to hit for 22 damage (12 plus 10 for Psionic Weapon)
Using Cleave rolled 22 to hit for 13 damage.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:07, Wed 24 May 2006.

Schnickle huddled behind the stalk, a bolt already in hand. As the creature flew past, tentacles waving, the little gnome jabbed out with the pointed stick.


OOC:
What would you say, improvised siangham? (What is a siangham, anyway?)
10:59, Today: Schnicklegulp Stoneswiper rolled 10 using 1d20+1. bolt attack.
Missed anyway.


Failing to hit the creature, Schnickle gave up on that plan. Ilianka was still out cold. He had to save her. Bolt and crossbow still in hands, he rolled out from under the mushroom, and raced towards Ilianka as fast he could. Faster even.


OOC:
Manifesting Burst. -1 pp, +10ft
Move: 30ft towards Ilianka.

Schnickle, you will be able to attack in melee next round if you charge, but you will be putting yourself dangerously close to the flayer by doing so.

Deepwalker crushes the grimlock's skulls and turns to face the flayer, which steps towards Illianka...

OOC: Our turn again?
Schnickle's a crossbow guy anyway.


"Mind flayer!" Schnickle squeaked as the hideous being loomed out of the shadows.

The gnome skidded to a stop and slammed the bolt into the crossbow, and drew the trigger mechanism back.

Let my aim be true.

Schnickle fired.


OOC:
Move: Load xbow
Standard: crossbow attack with Psionic Shot, expending focus. Firing at flayer.
12:11, Today: Schnicklegulp Stoneswiper rolled 19 using 1d20+8. crossbow attack.
12:12, Today: Schnicklegulp Stoneswiper rolled 11 using 3d6. xbow damage, psionic shot.

Knowing that he's no match for the mind flayer as gravely wounded as he is right now Deepwalker drops his flail and pulls his longbow.  Nocking an arrow he fires at the foul creature.  But in his haste the arrow goes helplessly wide.

Rolled a 3 to hit so didn't bother rolling damage.  Took the -4 penalty for firing into melee.

Schnicklegulp's crossbow bolt slams into the flayer and it flinches, staggers back.

The flayer spreads it's tentacles open and begins the dreaded attack of it's race - the mind blast, but it seems that Schnick is too far away to be affected and Deepwalker shrugs the blast off easily.

Schnicklegulp whooped at his successful hit on the flayer, and dashed towards Illianka again while the creature was distracted.

But the illithid was still there, and it could attack again. So Schnickle reached out to the magical luck of his race, hoping it could help him, and praying to Callarduran as he did so. Little help here, Smoothands?


OOC:
I think I've killed that darkmantle that was dragging Illianka, yes?
Move: Towards Illianka. Should be there now, right?
Standard: Casting Resistance, +1 resistance bonus to all saves, 1 minute.

Curses! I found out that administering a potion is a full-round action. Next round okay?

Cursing with frustration Deepwalker knows the only way he can kill the mind flayer is to engage it melee.  Dropping his bow and retrieving his flail Deepwalker draws on the powers of his mind to heal some of his wounds.

Use Body Adjustment to Heal 12 points of Damage

Panicking, the mind flayer desperately blasts once again, this time stopping Schnick in his tracks.

[Private to Schnicklegulp Stoneswiper: You feel like this battle is just an dream - the reality is that you are back home in bed. Nothing bad could come of this, since you are just dreaming. You are stunned for (gulp) 8 rounds as you believe this.]

Deepwalker steps into melee with the creature.  Swinging his flail he misses in his haste to kill the foul beast.

Rolled a 10 to hit with a 2 point Power Attack so didn't roll damage.