OOC: When Rob was cited as flanking at short range I thought that meant already in melee. If its some steps away then can she (with editing) use her ranged weapon instead?

Mhari whips up his Mass-Blaster Slug-spitter to his shoulder and shouts, "Rob! Down!"

He pauses to let Rob react then unloads with a spray of Gravity impelled projectiles at both of the Stoney creatures... the sound of the weapon little more than that of grass rustling on the wind ~

'thwip-thwip-thwip-thwip-thwip~'

...the soft sound is in Distinct contrast to the loud impacts of the thousandfold multiplied mass of the metal slugs that sound like the crash of boulders!

'Bo-Bo-Bo-Bo-BOOM!!!'

11:40, Today: Mhari 'Stormbolt' rolled 5 using 1d20.  Trained Medium Ranged - Mass Blaster 'Spray' - 9 Dam, Speed 1lvl of Effort (Cost 3, Edge -2): 1spd. – 5

Being the first time Mhari has ever fired the weapon especially a spray of projectiles.. he somewhat over compensates for the burst... as the weapon has little to no recoil...
This message was last edited by the player at 15:46, Thu 25 May 2023.

Alberic's beam does, in fact, strike the nearest creature, but the energy seems to be absorbed or dissipated by its think hide (or just thick ... matter? substance?).

Mhari's shots tear into the nearest creature, breaking off substantial chunks which scatter on the ground, inert.


OOC:  Ok, here are the relative positions.  The creatures are closing and will be within melee range of Rob by their turn.

<-- exit beastie beastie ... Rob Mhari Alberic ---> broken portal

Rob's turn, and then the creatures' turn.  Then Alberic.
This message was last edited by the GM at 10:18, Wed 31 May 2023.

Rob moves away towards the broken portal.

Rob has room to rush past Mhari and Alberic if she chooses.  The creatures will try to close one the closest human (Mhari or Rob), although only one can maneuver close enough to attack, reaching out with their frigid tentacles.  The party can see ice crystallizing on the surfaces of the passageway as the beasts saunter toward them.

OOC: Mhari or Rob, whoever is exposed, please take 1 point of ambient cold damage and make a Speed defense roll, difficulty 5.

Mhari will perform a slow covering fire withdraw... not to place any of the others at risk but merely to get back out of immediate melee reach of the tentacle creatures ~ just out of the touch of their cold aura. He continues spraying now a close range Burst of Gravitically accelerated projectiles at both beasts with no need to worry over hitting allies... he stands his ground!

08:28, Today: Mhari 'Stormbolt' rolled 5 using 1d20.  Speed Defense Test [Skilled at Defense-Trained] - 2 Levels Effort {Cost 5, Edge 2, Total: 3 Speed}. – 5
Diff: 5 {Tn 15}, Skilled at Defense-Trained {-1Diff}, -2Lvl Effort {-2Diff} - Diff: 2 {Tn6}

08:39, Today: Mhari 'Stormbolt' rolled 15 using 1d20.  Trained Ranged Weapon - Mass Blaster 'Spray' - 9 Dam, Speed 1lvl of Effort (Cost 3, Edge -2): 1spd. – 15
Diff: 3 {Tn 9}, Trained 'Medium' Ranged Weapon {-1Diff}, -1Lvl Effort {-1Diff} - Diff: 1 {Tn3}

Mhari steels himself as the cold and tentacles close in around him only gritting his teeth in determination wordlessly spraying down both creatures with the soft whispers of the Mass blaster's - pulverizing projectile barrage!

'thwip-thwip-thwip-thwip-thwip~'

'Ba-Ba-Ba-Ba-BANG!!!'

Mhari flexes his will as the creatures close in his eyes flaring with an electric incandescent glow as the holy lightning begins to arc around his body his hair writhing in the electric fury while encasing him in its crackling embrace the electric armor creating a glowing nimbus of ravening destructive lightning for anything that dare touch him!

Invoke Electric Armor {Enabler-Not an Action} [4 Int, Edge: -2, Cost: 2 Int]
- +1 to Armor. While electrified, you have an additional +2 to Armor versus electrical damage specifically, and you inflict 2 points of damage on any creature that touches you or attacks you with a melee weapon

Cost: 4 Spd, 2 Int, 1 Cold Damage
- Current Armor: Medium 2pts {+1 Electric Armor}, total: 3 {6 vs Electricity}
This message was last edited by the player at 04:07, Tue 20 June 2023.

Rob tries to shhot the cold creature and misses.

Mhari's blast at the one nearest him (along with the shocking of his armor as it wraps around him) obliterates the creature, sending flying chucks of freezing ... body mass careening down the passageway.  Some of the ricochets deflect Rob's shot and the other freezing beast continues its advance.  Even in death, though, the bitter cold tentacles wrench at Mhari's arm.

OOC: I think Alberic still needs to go from earlier, so let's have him act next.  You can take two actions, Alberic.

Mhari, please take 1 Might damage (that's after your armor is taken into account).
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:44, Tue 20 June 2023.

Alberic twists a dial on his arm and fires off another couple of shots - this time, the laser beam is more intense, and there is the smell of hot solder and sizzling flesh from his arm as he fires...

Sorry - I didn't realise I'd missed a turn! Anyway, if I'm allowed two actions it's two more shots.

08:43, Today: Alberic rolled 9 using 1d20.  Speed Attack - trigger iotum ray. 1 Level of Effort added to damage.

08:43, Today: Alberic rolled 12 using 1d20.  Speed Attack - trigger iotum ray. 1 Level of Effort added to damage.

That costs Alberic 6 Speed. The second one is a hit, I think? Standard damage for the Iotum Ray is 3, so we'll see if the added effort helps to do any more damage than the lost shot.

ROb wastes another crossbow bolt.

======
OOC: 21:24, Sat 10 June: Roberta Shadowprancer rolled 1 using 1d20.  crossbow v cold creature.

Alberic's blasts strike true, gouging black scars in the "hide" of the creature.  As Rob tries to follow with her own volley, the string on her crossbow breaks and the bolt clatters to the cave floor.  The creature, limping a bit, continues its chilly advance.

Still holding at rear guard, the creatures tentacles continue to try wrapping around Mhari.  The depth of the cold of the creature, even without touching it, is like nothing Mhari has ever experienced.

OOC: Mhari, take one point of cold damage.  Please make a defense roll, difficulty 5.

Mhari is displeased that he finds himself the Only combatant threatened and unsupported ... he should have known better than to trust those around him to help in battle much.  So he needed to change the narrative... he back peddles from the tentacled beast letting the Mass-Blaster drop on its sling as he uses his speed and grace to avoid the certain doom getting entangled by the creature certain is!

He will take his efforts to avoid being grabbed first and then draw blue-steel rapier Stormheart and ready his transparent shield focusing on maintaining his footing to begin melee combat...

10:31, Today: Mhari 'Stormbolt' rolled 14 using 1d20.  Speed Defense Test [Skilled at Defense-Trained] - 2 Levels Effort {Cost 5, Edge 2, Total: 3 Speed}. – 14
Diff: 5 {Tn 15}, Skilled at Defense-Trained {-1Diff}, -2Lvl Effort {-2Diff} - Diff: 2 {Tn6}

His scowl deepens as he readies himself to wade into melee ready for battle.. no longer concerned with his companions.. if he gets grabbed he seriously doubts they will be able to save him... that would be a stupid death... he will not go down that way!

If anything the electrified aura of lightning armoring him intensifies as Mhari grits his teeth building his anger.. and fueling his holy lightning ~ A Lghtning Warrior about to be unleashed!

Actions:
Mhari takes no offensive combat actions this turn he is taking action to changing weapons.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:41, Wed 05 July 2023.

The creature's swipe succeeds only in striking the walls of the passage, leaving frost blossoming on the stone.  It continues advancing toward the trio.  Deep gouges in the mass of the creature's body remain from the attacks it has sustained so far.

OOC: Alberic and Rob up now, in any order.

In reply to Immortal Eye (msg # 256):

"I think this hurting me more than it's hurting... it..." Alberic grunt, as the smell of hot solder and burning flesh come from his left arm. With a grimace, he lifts back part of the machinery, allowing a tendril of hot smoke to escape, and blowing into the gap to cool it.

17:42, Today: Alberic rolled 5 using 1d6.  Recovery roll. Recover 5 Points of Speed. That's my 1 action recover roll used!

Rob attaches the Disrupting Module cypher to her sword and moves back a bit from the cold zone.

======
OOC: Is it a full round action to activate a cypher like this?
This message was last edited by the player at 23:41, Sun 09 July 2023.

Mahri being the easiest prey, the remaining creature will press its attack on the valiant Glaive.

OOC: Mhari, please take 1 point of cold damage and make a Speed defense roll difficulty 5.

To clarify, if you all have not yet deduced, all tasks of those within immediate range of the creature are one step more difficult due to the extreme cold in its vicinity.

{OOC: Grr.. this Defense Roll was a miss roll.. I was still typing.. but I'll keep the roll ~ in fairness}

Mhari was back in his element now ~ melee cmbat.. with his shield at the ready it made defending against the beast that much easier.  He always prefered melee over ranged combat... took more courage to face a foe and look them in the eyes.  Always had seemed more 'honorable' to him.

Now his speed and training took over as he rather easily batted the attacks aside with his Transparent PlasShield and moved with a sudden flash of action and speed of lightning that was almost hard to follow with the eye!

09:28, Today: Mhari 'Stormbolt' rolled 6 using 1d20.  Diff: 5, Skilled Defense-Trained {-1Diff}, -2Lvl Effort {-2Diff}, Shield-Asset {-1Diff} - Diff: 1 {Tn3} [Cost 5, Edge 2, Total: 3 Speed]. – 6

Mhari moved or more like he flowed in motion stepping to the side of the hallway then moving so quickly it was almost missed that he.. not so much ran as sprang to the opposite side of the hallway and briefly ran on the wall to move around behind the creature keeping its attention away from the others...

- Obstacle Running (3 Spd): Dur: 1 min, Ignore obstacles that slow movement,
normal speed through {rubble, fences, tables, etc} [including: sliding on a railing, brief run along wall {ENABLER}
[Cost: 3, Edge -2 'Not a roll '; Total: 1Spd]

Now, once again a short distance behind the creature.. he dashed forward faster then the eye could follow to lunge at the creature the only clue that he'd moved being the flashing Stormheart ~ Blue Steel Rapier trailing arcing lightning to indicate he'd re-engaged aggressively and suddenly with the creature ~ Stabbing Deep with the glowing lightning arcing weapon in a calculated gamble to finish the creature with one perfect telling stroke!!!

- Aggression (2 Might) (asset to melee attacks, hindrance to Speed defense, duration of combat or your choice to end it)
- Lunge (2 Might) (You to extend yourself for a powerful stab or smash. Attack is hindered. On hit inflict 4 additional damage. (ACTION)
- Shock (1 Int) - your hands crackle with electricity. Alternatively, if you wield a weapon, for ten minutes it crackles with electricity and inflicts 1 additional point of damage per attack,  Action for touch (ENABLER for weapon)
Extra Effort/2 '5 Might', -1 Edge
[Cost: 9 Might 'Edge -1', 1 Int 'Edge -2'; Total: 8 Might, 0 Int]

Action:
Lunge Attack with Stormheart-Blue Steel Rapier (ACTION)
09:57, Today: Mhari 'Stormbolt' rolled 11 using 1d20.  Lunge Attack with Stormheart-Blue Steel Rapier - Diff 1 {Tn 3}. – 11
Diff: 5 {Tn 15}, Light Bladed Weapons-Trained {-1Diff}, Light bladed Weapon {-1Diff}, Aggression-Asset {-1Diff}, Extra-Effort/2 'Might' [5 Might, -1Edge 'roll'] {-2Diff}; Lunge-Attack hindered {+1Diff/ Spd Defense-While Aggressive} - Diff 1 {TN 3}

Stormheart Damage: Rapier-Light Weapon Dam 2, Combat Prowess +1 Dam, Shock +1 Dam, Lunge +4 Dam; Total: 8 Damage

Total cost: 8 Might, 1 Spd, 0 Int; Cold Dam 1 Might
This message was last edited by the player at 21:10, Thu 20 July 2023.

Rob swiftly moves up and tries to take a chunk out of the cold-creature.

21:44, Today: Roberta Shadowprancer rolled 4 using 1d20.  Heavy sword v cold creature dif 5-1skilled-3effort.
Dam 7 (base 6 +1 cypher)

Having let his systems cool a little, Alberic launches another shot at the final creature.

08:35, Today: Alberic rolled 17 using 1d20.  Speed Attack - trigger iotum ray. 1 Level of Effort added to damage.

Mhari is quite confident that as his rapier plunged deep into the body of the creature and electricity arced and burned from inside, the creature was doomed.  The strikes from Rob and Alberic break off pieces of the collapsing body and it falls inert.  The bone-numbing chill begins to dissipate from the tunnel, although it is still far colder than it was.

For a moment, the only sound, the only movement, is the breathing of the trio of explorers and the faint echoes of the fight diminishing into nothing.

Mhari takes a deep breath of relief... the constant presence of the cold in the fight unprotected by out of season warm clothing was indeed slowly sapping his might.  His hometown of Ghan was not familiar to such temperatures and was mostly tropical most of the year time.. cold was not unheard of but rare... save in the rainy season for a few weeks out of the year or out at sea.

Sheathing his Stormheart he leaned against the wall to catch his breath, "G-give me a moment or two... n-not use to such cold.  Thank you for your assistance!"

Taking Recovery Roll - to Might [1 Action]
18:29, Today: Mhari 'Stormbolt' rolled 6 using 1d6+5.  Mhari Recovery Roll [+5]. – 6

He hefted his Transparent PlasShield onto his shoulder and checked his Mass Blaster Slugspitter... and dutifully reloaded the weapon.

Artifact Depletion Check -
18:32, Today: Mhari 'Stormbolt' rolled 12 using 1d20.  Artifact Depletion roll [Mass Blaster Slug Spitter]. – 12 'Passed'
This message was last edited by the player at 00:09, Tue 25 July 2023.

"That was a mighty hit, Mhari," compliments Rob. "I agree; this may be a good time to take a breather."

======
OOC: Do recovery rolls have to be taken quickest first?

00:29, Today: Roberta Shadowprancer rolled 6 using 1d6+2.  Recovery roll

In reply to Roberta Shadowprancer (msg # 265):

Mhari favored Rob with a somber and self-deprecating smile, "...it was reckless, and cost more effort than was prudent.  I should have switched to melee sooner... I allowed it to sap my strength with its cold effects too long, and I had to drop it in one last blow of desperation or all my strength would have been spent. Fortunately my skill was sufficient that luck prevailed ~ this time. I'll be more wary of complacency in the future... hopefully.  But a win is a win... no one died... thank the Divine for that at least, the Seventh Son of the Seventh Son... lives another day, and so do his comrades!"
This message was last edited by the player at 00:07, Tue 25 July 2023.

Alberic breathes  a sigh of relief as the last creature goes down. "Well done, Mhari. That was a fine blow."

As they get their breath back, Alberic glances down the tunnel. "Should we press on to the portal, then? It's still quite cold... I wonder if there are more of them?"
This message was last edited by the player at 09:40, Tue 01 Aug 2023.

In reply to Alberic (msg # 267):

Mhari nods, "Yes, Let's press on... if the cold persists once we leave this immediate area.. we should light torches.  If there are more of them... I have a cypher that creates a heat weapon.. which might be more effective against them. I did not remember the cypher fast enough to use it in the last fight, but I'm ready now. But now we know they ambush from the ceiling so we should keep wary for such future tactics."
This message was last edited by the player at 10:31, Tue 01 Aug 2023.