Aldous follows Thorg onto the stairs, holding his own lantern high.

[Private to GM: 18:35, Today: Aldous Hack rolled 10 using 3d6.  IQ (approaching the cellar).  Success by 1, if the roll was applicable to me.]

In reply to Aldous Hack (msg # 187):

Tossing the brick into the rats will affect them more directly than hanging it from the rafters

"Who's got the other brick shard?  Let's give it a toss out in the middle of the floor, see if it makes their eyes hurt."

Nodding his agreement Porter tosses his lighted brick to the basement below and then goes about removing his shield from his back.


OOC:
Toss by glowing brick to what looks like an ideal spot then Ready my shield.

In reply to Fisher 'Porter' Black (msg # 190):

The rats clear a 3 yard radius of the blindingly bright brick. You see that the smaller rats are swarming over each other to get out of the way.
This message was last updated by the GM at 15:02, Sat 16 Nov 2019.

Is Bob the Abomination something now visible?

"Wow, nice.  These must not get out in the light much."

In reply to Abomination (msg # 191):

 OOC:do you mean to use "rat bastid" or do we well, and truly have an undead earth elemental loose in the cellar? if that's what the little girl is hearing, she and the bakers could be in big trouble... cant those walk right through earth and stone, and easily get her?

In reply to Hetilda Yurick (msg # 194):

That was a finger slip from Narrator. Corrected.

OOC: How big is this basement.  A 3-yard radius ought to leave most of the floor clear.

In reply to Aldous Hack (msg # 196):

The basement is about 7 yards deep from the top of the stairs, which turn, to one wall, and 5 orv6 yards to either side, although due to the pillars and beams supporting the floor above, much is obscured

https://drive.google.com/file/...JQ/view?usp=drivesdk

Turning to the baker, Kazimir whispers (as to not frighten the girl further):
"My wife is knowledgeable in detecting and warding off evil spirits..Perhaps we could try, and see if the child's fears subside?"

"Come on, Porter, Thorg.  Except for the shadows of the pillars, we've got almost half the floor cleared.  That should give us room to stand and start chopping up the rats."  Following his own advice, Aldous moves down the stair, brushing past Thorg if necessary, to reach the edge of the cleared area.

Still holding his own lantern, he slashes at a convenient rat.

[Private to GM: 18:37, Today: Aldous Hack rolled 10 using 3d6.  Knife, roll to hit (13 -1 for SM).
18:38, Today: Aldous Hack rolled 5 using 1d6-1.  Damage (cutting).]

Thorg starts stabbing at rats too, especially the bigger ones ...



[Private to GM:  20:36, Today: Thorg rolled 9 using 3d6.  Spear Thrust.  by 4
20:36, Today: Thorg rolled 7 using 1d6+2.  Spear Thrust damage.  ]

Black smiles for until Aldous said it it had not occurred to Fisher that they could stand in the space cleared by the brightly glowing brick that Sparky had made for them.  This made him happy and he eagerly followed behind.


OOC:
Sword and shield are Ready.  Follow the others down the stairs to the spot cleared by the light.  Use my shield to cover the backs and flanks of my new friends.  Hack at everything within reach going from biggest to smallest.  Try to leave enough room so people can use a Retreating defense.

He follows the others down and tries to cast ... a thin stream of flame streams from his hand and he turns to cutting up rats with it as they fight to get away.


[Private to GM: 13:19, Today: Sparky rolled 7 using 2d6.  Flame Damage.
13:16, Today: Sparky rolled 4 using 3d6.  Innate attack beam.
13:15, Today: Sparky rolled 13 using 3d6.  Flame Jet 2 hex.]

In reply to Fisher 'Porter' Black (msg # 201):

With two of the larger rats squealing, one
safely at spear point, the other turns to bite at Adolus'arm, doing 1 point cutting before DR, unless dodged.

Sparky perfectly angles his flame jet to clear through two yards worth of rat swarms, nailing about a dozen normal rats in one shot!

Porter notices that the stairs,  which have no risers, are concealing a small horde of normal rats, which are starting to move into your shadow!

"I'll be closin' the door now. Can't risk them surging upstairs!"
Sven closes the door and bolts the door, after all have left the bar.

He moves his flame jet in under the stairs, trying to avoid touching the stairs.

In reply to Sparky (msg # 205):

This would be a shot at -4 to get the jet between the steps, -6 to get under the lowest step.

In reply to Narrator (msg # 206):

Thought he was off the steps...  if he is on the steps, he is singing them...



[Private to GM:   20:19, Today: Sparky rolled 11 using 3d6.  innate attack beam. skill by 2 ...]

Aldous laughs briefly as his leathers turn the rat's bite, and stabs at the rat that tried to bite him.

"Have at thee!"

[Private to GM: 05:06, Today: Aldous Hack rolled 9 using 3d6.  Knife, roll to hit (13 -1 for SM).
05:07, Today: Aldous Hack rolled 5 using 1d6-1.  Damage (impaling).]

Fisher notices the swarm moving and points with his sword.  ”Get 'em!”, he calls out.


OOC:
Move to the closest and most immediate threat.  Swing til its dead.

In reply to Fisher 'Porter' Black (msg # 209):

Fisher's rat dies squealing.
The blast of flame scorches the steps... and flushes two swarms out, one of which moves to attsck porter (damage next round) hit and do 6 or better damage to scatter them.

Thorg picks out a big one and stabs. then swings the edge back trying to cut/crush any smaller rats with the edge.



[Private to GM:   20:22, Today: Thorg rolled 8 using 3d6.  Spear Thrust.  by 5
20:22, Today: Thorg rolled 7 impaling using 1d6+2.  Spear Thrust damage. ]