(( I think we've been doing the Strength Spell incorrectly.  Casting time says one turn.  I had been reading that as "one round," but I noticed the difference in nomenclature when Corym was casting Evard's Black tentacles.  Since it lasts for eight hours, I think I'll just start casting it right before we set out for the day.  I rolled for it in the dice roller, and picked up an 8--so I'm currently at 18/10 strength.

ooc: Cast Mirror Image, draw swords, move towards the one closest to me
Initiative: 9
Casting Time: 2
Total:11
Four images are created))

In reply to DM (msg # 40):

With little that can surprise him when he is on Guard Duty as he was right now, he heard the Ankhegs erupting from the ground and turned to face the nearest, crossbow that had been across his lap now pointed at the creature intent on attacking them.

Krackor knew that the monsters loved Horse Meat but conjured or not, the magically created creatures may have come from somewhere else and the group needed them.  He needed them.  So his pointed and fired.

((ooc:  Krackor will Fire his Crossbow at the Ankheg to the South.
Initiative: 6 - 1 reaction = 5 [Dec Reaction is supposed to be fore Initiatives too but can't recall if did that here (it's been Ages since we had a battle]
Weapon speed: 7 - 2 = 5
Total: 10
Modified THAC0: 16 - 3 (non-Proficient) = 19
Attack: 17 + 1 (Dex) +2 (Magic) 20 (AC -1)
Damage: 1 + 2 (Magic) = 3hp))

Torvek sees the ankhegs appears and quickly spring to action.  I'll try to freeze a few of them he says.

Cast Hypnotic Pattern. Casting time: 2 30' cube.  Can I catch all 4 ankhegs in that area? If not, place the area to catch as many as possible
Initiative: 2
Casting Time: 2
Total: 4

09:50, Today: Torvek Ragdar rolled 2 using 1d10-1.  Initiative.

((ooc: [Almareth draws his blades and waits until an ankheg comes into melee with him and will strike with both swords at it.]
Initiative: [18]
Weapon speed: [Longsword (1) 5 and Shortsword (2) 3]
Total: 23 and 21 respectively
Modified THAC0: [13 for both]
Attack: [11 for longsword and 10 for shortsword]
Damage: [2 for longsword and 6 for shortsword]))

Round 1

Kitheras waves a hand and the air around him blurs. When it settles, there are a mass of Kitherases, all looking steely-eyed at the rushing ankhegs. On the other side of the marching line, Corym focuses on the two ankhegs ahead of them, and begins a long, involved chant.

Kora retreats to put herself beside Torvek. Though she's left her two-handed sword behind, until the reflexes of a wizard have had time to take hold, she does have a staff, and looks entirely ready to defend the other wizard. He nods to her once and finishes a quick enchantment. The air around the forward two ankhegs roils and shimmers in a dizzying array of colors. Both of the giant insects freeze, staring into it blankly.

On the left side of the group, Kali charges the ankheg closest to her. She's intent on keeping it off the squishier members of the group. She reaches it as it is pulling itself free from its burrowed concealment, and slams it repeatedly with both of her scimitars. The ankheg hisses in pain and lashes out at her with its mandibles, but she pirouettes away.

Krackor plinks the final ankheg with a crossbow bolt as it rushes towards him. His conjured horse skitters uncomfortably, and he's unable to dodge as the creature's massive mandibles latch onto his waist and begin to squeeze. ((ooc: Krackor, take 13 damage, 3 of which is acid damage.))

Corym finishes his spell, and a seeming forest of black tentacles erupt from the ground around the two ankhegs in the front. Four attack each one. Two bounce off the first ankheg's hard chitin and vanish, but the other two wrap around and begin to squeeze. The other is even unluckier: only one of the tentacles doesn't manage to find a purchase. The two ankheg shake off the effect of the hypnotic pattern, and now are hissing and thrashing in the grip of the tentacles. Almareth looks on, neither of them having moved close enough for him to attack.

((ooc: Round 1 is over. Kali and I did the dice rolling live; she'll be posting formally later today. Actions and initiative for Round 2, please!))

((ooc: Kali runs to attack the one to the North West)
Initiative: 4
Weapon speed: 3
Total:7
Modified THAC0: 7/8
Attack #1: 5
Damage: [3 + 6= 9]
Attack #2: 16
Damage: 7 + 6 = 13
Attack #3 (off-hand): 10
Damage: 5 + 5 = 10))

Kali’s eyes flashed dangerously as she quickly surveyed the battlefield. Everyone around her was focusing their spells on the two in front of the party and so she was not directly needed. Not yet, at least. She glanced over and noted that Kora was flanked by Corym and Krackor, meaning that the fledgling mage was not an immediate concern.

However, in looking over at the final creature, she saw that Kitheras was directly in harms way with no one to easily assist. She dashed over and put herself in between the ankheg and Kitheras.

Kali almost felt relieved as her swords sunk into the creature’s scaly hide and was very pleased with the ichor that gushed from its wounds. She was especially thankful that her Sword of Scolding was going to be directed at the monster, rather than herself. With the last successful hit, the Sword of Scolding’s magically enhanced voice bellowed to the ankheg.

”Come, come, you froward and unable worms!”

Kitheras advances to support Kali and unleashes a flurry of sword strikes towards the underbelly of the beast.

Initiative: 6 (+3 Dex) = 3
Weapon speed: 2
Total:5
Modified THAC0: 8
Attack #1: 6
Damage: 12
Attack #2: 5
Damage: 12
Attack #3 (off-hand): 7
Damage: 11

Seeing Krackor alone facing a monster with a Crossbow, he weaves a spell to remove it from the equation... temporarily. Blacksphere.

Initiative: 3 +2 = 1
Casting Time: 4
Total: 5
Damage: 11
Save vs Spells: If fail, the Ankheg is entrapped within a 10' Sphere of Force. If the save succeeds, the Ankheg is blown out of the sphere, but still takes the full damage.

((ooc:  This is brilliant but with Krackor clamped in the mandibles, anything that affects the Ankheg by "Entrapped within a 10' Sphere" or "blown out of the sphere", will no doubt affect the Dwarf too))

Krackor could see how this was going, held in place also meant he had a clean shot and so used his Devine Blessings, "Old Fire Eye, see through mine as your servant, trapped, unable to defend, lend me your fire so I can protect once more" And thus, molten fire was released from his un-visored eyes straight into the face of the Angheg.

<orange>((ooc: Not sure what bonus you want to give as Krackor really can't miss (barn door)
THAC0 = 16 - Shoots 2 Rays for 8 rounds, can be trained on more than one target.

16:13, Today: Krackor Steelfist rolled 3 using 2d8.
16:13, Today: Krackor Steelfist rolled 9 using 2d8.  Damage: Fire Eyes.

16:12, Today: Krackor Steelfist rolled 19 using 1d20.
16:12, Today: Krackor Steelfist rolled 7 using 1d20.  Attack: Fire Eyes.

I didn't take from the description that you were grappled. DM?

((ooc:  This ^^^^ Pink highlighted bit))

DM, 'Held' or just 'Nipped'?
This message was last edited by the player at 18:59, Thu 21 July 2022.

DM, while you are at it, any chance Torvek could fire a lightning bolt at the ankheg without hitting Krackor (I assume not but checking in case the larger beast gives me a target)

Initiative: 9
Weapon speed: 2
Total:11
Modified THAC0: 6
Attack #1: 18 (AC -12)
Damage: [10 + 8 = 18]
Attack #2: 10 (AC-4)
Damage: 6 + 8 = 14

09:38, Today: Tarron Ianfiel rolled 14 using 1d12+8.  Damage 2. – [roll=1658453934.99607.359800]
09:38, Today: Tarron Ianfiel rolled 18 using 1d12+8.  Damage 1. – [roll=1658453930.44463.359800]
09:36, Today: Tarron Ianfiel rolled 10 using 1d20.  Attack 2. – [roll=1658453780.9781.359800]
09:36, Today: Tarron Ianfiel rolled 18 using 1d20.  Attack 1. – [roll=1658453776.46736.359800]
09:33, Today: Tarron Ianfiel rolled 9 using 1d10.  Initiative. – [roll=1658453630.62531.359800]

Tarron, who had clearly been stunned by the initial attack, sprung into action as he leapt towards the closest enemy. He joined Almareth, but advanced closer to the Ankheg to have an immediate effect.

((ooc: Krackor, you are not grappled. I will let you know explicitly if something like that happens.

Torvek, we're loosened the rules around wizards and moving while spellcasting. You can move half your speed (which is 60') and cast a spell. So yes, you can maneuver so you can hit the ankheg broadside with a lightning bolt without hitting Krackor.))

Tidied Up for ease

Krackor is p'd off that he missed the Ankhegs, so blazes them with his Fire Eyes spell.

((ooc:  Krackor casts Fire Eyes at Ankheg attacking him.
Initiative: 7
Spell speed: 7
Total: 14
Modified THAC0: 16
Attack: Ray 1 = 7 + 1 = 8 (AC 8)
Damage: Ray 1 = 3
Attack: Ray 2 = 19 + 1 = 20 (AC -4)
Damage: Ray 2 = 9))
This message was last edited by the player at 16:12, Fri 22 July 2022.

OOC:  Is there a scale for what is 30' in the map?

With two ankhegs busy fighting tentacles, Torvek decide to help the injured dwarf.  He moves sideway to get a good line of side and unleash a lightning bolt

 
Action: cast Lightning Bolt
Initiative: 2
Casting Time: 3
Total: 5
Damage: 28

17:54, Today: Torvek Ragdar rolled 28 using 9d6.  Lightning Bolt damage.
22:31, Yesterday: Torvek Ragdar rolled 2 using 1d10-1.  Initiative.

Ankheg Battle, Conclusion

Torvek and Corym both turn their focus on the southern ankheg attacking Krackor. Corym tosses a piece of onyx into the air, and a burst of black light erupts just behind the ankheg. It manages to twist aside, only for the rapidly-expanding sphere of force to throw it into the air. It flies directly through Torvek's bolt of lightning and lands in a charred heap.

On their other side, Kitheras charges to Kali's aid, and together they eviscerate the already-wounded ankheg. And to the front of the group, Tarron and Almareth advance on the two ankhegs that were entrapped by the black tentacles. The giant insects are being relentlessly crushed, their shells breaking and limbs twisting, while being waved around in the air like signs at a riot. The two elves put the creatures out of their misery with a couple of precise thrusts. The black tentacles continue to wave and crush the corpses.

((ooc: Well, that's one combat encounter completely shredded. My poor, beautiful ankhegs...

Torvek, the maps don't have precise measurements. This game leans more towards theater of the mind, but that's really hard on a message board without at least some visual reference. Each of the character portraits is 5 feet, and I can give distance estimates if asked. But it's not something we obsessively stress over.))

"Well done everyone!

"Almareth--let's see how many of their plates can be salvaged.  A good armorer can make a fine suit of mail from them.  I'm told the faithful of Silvanus prize such suits. They also have a gland of acid near their mouths.  If they can be removed intact they're useful for creating traps or making our way through rusted locks and hinges."

"Corym and Kali--check the tunnels to see if they've dropped anything valuable along the way."

"Krackor--can you see to setting a perimeter while we go about our work?"

((ooc: Of the four ankhegs, only the one killed by Kali and Kitheras might have shells still in usable condition. Almareth or Kitheras, roll 1d20; on 11 or better, you can harvest enough shells to make one set of armor.

All of them still have their enzyme sacks. Each one requires a Survival check to extract successfully. On a failure, you take 1d4 damage. I assume Corym lets the two doing the rave dance down?

Corym and/or Kali, roll Survival or something equivalent (Intelligence if you don't have anything) to see if you can find any burrows.))

Shells acquired: 15:03, Today: Kitheras Sunblade rolled 19 using 1d20.

Given his priestliness, I get the feeling that Almareth's survival is better than mine.  I'll sing him a bard song to give him a +1 to the roll.
This message was lightly edited by the player at 20:05, Fri 22 July 2022.

Got it! 15:05, Today: Corym Ildroun rolled 5 using 1d20.  Intelligence check (17).

((ooc:  Would this be for Human/Elven sized people or enough smaller bits for a Krackor sized person as well?  Krackor is an Armourer and Weaponsmith of passable skill; Kitheras and Corym know this.

Ankheg Corpse

With several sharp knives and a lot of cursing, the two rangers manage to separate the toughest, and most segmented, parts of the ankheg's hide. Fortunately, both Kali and Kitheras were precise in their strikes and a minimum of the hide is damaged. The end result weighs close to sixty pounds, but you're confident that a skilled armorer has the raw materials to make a suit of armor.

((ooc: The armor can be sized to fit whoever you like. It's an exotic material and therefore more complex than working with iron or steel, so there would be a penalty to the proficiency check.))

Ankheg Tunnels

Two of the areas that the ankhegs emerged from have collapsed beneath their weight and thrashing, but Corym is able to find a third that is still mostly open. The ankheg left behind it a passage roughly six feet in diameter that angles down into the dirt, twisting to and fro. You descend a bit, letting your eyes shift into the heat spectrum, but the tunnel isn't shored up by anything save the tree roots so you don't want to go too far.

You do find what's left of some traveler. The ankheg's acid has eaten away everything organic, leaving behind little more than buttons and buckles, and a small pile of silver coins.

((ooc: You find 220 sp, which you can take if you wish.))

Almareth gets to work on the enzyme sacks. He manages to get the first one, but on the second he damaged himself by accidentally cutting it open, but no quitter, Almareth manages to get the other two as well.

22:23, Today: Almareth Siannodel rolled 3 using 1d4.  failure.

22:22, Today: Almareth Siannodel rolled 9 using 1d20-1.  Ankheg enzyme sack.

22:22, Today: Almareth Siannodel rolled 1 using 1d20-1.  Ankheg enzyme sack.

22:22, Today: Almareth Siannodel rolled 12 using 1d20-1.  Ankheg enzyme sack.

22:20, Today: Almareth Siannodel rolled 2 using 1d20-1.  For collecting ankheg enzyme sacs

Tarron helped where he could. His blade skills were evident and his skill at skinning and foraging from dead animals was also clearly present. He wasn't a professional by any means, but he had technique.

"It's been a long time since I've been accosted by these. They can be deadly to initiates, but easy to deal with if you're experienced." he says. It's about the most he's said in a long time.