Keira kept quiet, staying on the ceiling a few steps in front of the party.

OOC: Keira's plan is to drop down behind them when they attack and hit them in the back. Unless there's too many of them for us to fight.

00:32, Today: Keira rolled 8 using 3d6 with rolls of 2,2,4.  Stealth (14).

Both Aladin and Gurth tried to talk to them, but they didn't listen. Larathiel prepared for trouble, and Keira remained on the ceiling in her shadow form.

The worshippers aggressively moved closer, their weapons still drawn.

[They are now about 5 yards away from you. What do you do?]

In reply to Dragondog (msg # 15):

"Power from the devil, huh. Then may what is right prevail!"

Aladin will ready his weapon and shield, and form up with the others...

Keira's shadow slipped down from the ceiling behind the cultists as they pass under her. Her form shifted back to solid, staff in hand.

Ready staff, move down and leaving shadow form when they pass by, ideally so that Keira is a couple steps behind them. GM can make another stealth roll for Keira if one is needed to do that.

Larathiel prepares to cast and moves her weapon into her hand.

Aladin and Larathiel prepared for the battle to come and Keira moved on the ceiling as a shadow until she was above and beyond the worshippers.

One of the worshippers cast a spell on Aladin, but he shook it off.

The man with the spear gripped it with both of his hands, advanced until he was two yards away from the group and thrusted his spear at Larathiel, and she barely avoided it.

The axe wielder rushed in and swung at Aladin and he avoided the swing.

And the elven swordsman moved towards Larathiel with his elegant elven scimitar in hand, and his swing found it's way home.

[Larathiel lost 7hp, 2/9hp remains. Your speed, move, and dodge are halved.]

[Spellcaster is 5 yards away from the group. Spear is 2 yards away from the group. Axe and scimitar is 1 yard away from group.

Keira is 6 yards away from the group and on the ceiling.]
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:11, Thu 05 Oct 2023.

In reply to Dragondog (msg # 19):

Aladin will move in on the Elven swordsman and attack him, trying to take the pressure off Larathiel, but ready to retreat if he needs to.
This message was last edited by the player at 07:26, Thu 05 Oct 2023.

Keira's shadow slid down the tunnel wall and behind the spellcaster before she took on a physical form once again, her staff held in front of her.

OOC: Going to (stealthy, if possible) move right behind him, but I'm not going to attack. Move and attack maneuver is less than ideal to say the least. If attacked, parry everything I can with my staff (15 for attacks from my front), dodge the rest. Oh, and switch to defensive grip.

Larathiel screams in pain and tries to defend herself.

All out Defense, parry.

Gurth squared up with the axe man.  He stepped forward and swung his axe-hammer at the man.

Aladin closed with the elven worshiper and swung at him, but he avoided Aladin's attack.

Keira slid along the ceiling, down the wall, and along the floor in the shadow form. She then returned to her normal form right behind the spellcaster.

With all the damage Larthiel had taken, she assumed a defensive stance.

Gurth approached the axe wielder and brought him to the ground.

The spellcaster now turned to Gurth and cast another spell. A piece of hot metal about the size of a finger short forth towards the ogre. And despite his best efforts, it penetrated.

The spear wielder redirected his spear to Aladin, but he protected himself with his shield.

The scimitar man turned to Gurth and this time the gladiator was able to avoid the attack.



[Larathiel is at 2/9hp remains. Your speed, move, and dodge are halved.
Gurth lost 3hp and now has 14/17hp remaining.]

[Spellcaster is 5 yards away from the group. Spear is 2 yards away from the group. Scimitar is 1 yard away from the group.

Keira is 1 yard behind the spellcaster.]

In reply to Dragondog (msg # 24):

Aladin turned his attention to the Spear wielding individual who was attacking him, swinging his knobbed club at him as he maneuvered to get behind the elven swordsman...

Keira carefully lined up her strikes, then swung her staff at the back of the spellcaster.

OOC: Should have tried something fancier, even that critical roll of 3 did nothing more than minimal damage. Anyway, switch to normal grip before attacking and parry any incoming attacks I can (parry is 14), including spells if possible per parrying missile weapon in melee range rule.

---

Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
16:28, Today: Keira rolled 12,3 using 3d6,1d6+2 with rolls of 4,6,2,1.  Telegraphic Rapid Strike 1 (attack, damage).
16:28, Today: Keira rolled 3,3 using 3d6,1d6+2 with rolls of 1,1,1,1.  Telegraphic Rapid Strike 2 (attack, damage).
16:29, Today: Keira rolled 9 using 3d6 with rolls of 4,1,4.  Critical.

---

Gurth rushed in at the spear man, moving to his offhand side and getting inside the reach of his spear.   He swung his axe again hoping for the same result as last time but missed.

Larathiel swipes her weapon at the spear wielder, hoping attacks from different directions will overwhelm him.

Aladin swung his club at the spear wielder, but he avoided him.

As the spellcaster was focused on the rest of the group, Keira got two swings in with her staff into the spellcaster's back.

Like Aladin, Gurth went for the spear wielder too. And though he tried to avoid the ogre's swing, he couldn't. And another worshipper was brought to the ground. His spear bounced a couple of times, the tip making metal on rock sounds, before coming to a rest.

Larathiel moved with the men towards the spear wielder, but they dealt with him.

The elf followed Gurth and another swing of his scimitar connected with the ogre for a devastating blow.

The spellcaster turned around and faced Keira. He cast a spell at her, but she knocked his hand out of the way with her staff and it missed.




[Larathiel is at 2/9hp. Your speed, move, and dodge are halved.
Gurth lost 9hp and is at 5/17hp. Your speed, move, and dodge are halved.]

[Spellcaster is 4 yards away from the group. Scimitar is 1 yard away, in the other direction, from the group.

Keira is 1 yard behind the spellcaster, on the opposite side of him than the rest of the group.]

Aladin will move around the elf and swing, his club, but his real purpose is to take his attention away from his friend, as he prepares to dodge the expected return attack.

Keira focused her strikes on the spellcaster, hoping to finally bring him down.

Just keep hitting him until he goes down. Two hits, but no crit as Keira's effective skill is 13. If he tries to retreat, make a step after him.

---

Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
22:32, Today: Keira rolled 12,6 using 3d6,1d6+2 with rolls of 1,5,6,4.  Rapid Strike 1 (attack, damage).
22:32, Today: Keira rolled 5,4 using 3d6,1d6+2 with rolls of 2,2,1,2.  Rapid Strike 2 (attack, damage).

---

Switch to defensive grip after attacking, then parry whatever I can (parry 15).

Larathiel also joins the attack on the Elf with her dueling glaive, wishing she had her more familiar naginata.

The ogre growled in pain after the elf struck him.  He moved towards the elf and tried to get a flanking position on him before he struck again with his axe.


OOC:   All out attack, determined.

Aladin moved around the elf and his club missed its target.

Keira continued her barrage on the spellcaster and though he was able to avoid the first swing of her staff, the second swing connected.

Larathiel swung her polearm at the elf, but he ducked out of the way.

Gurth made a berserker-like swing at the swordsman and by sheer power he brought the elf unmoving to the ground despite his best efforts to avoid the strike.

The spellcaster moved to about the halfway point between them, uttered a prayer and self-immolated in an explosion of heat and fire that engulfed everyone. But ended just before it reached Aladin and barely singed him.

In addition to the unmoving Larathiel on the ground, there were three worshippers in a similar state, while the fourth's body was burned to a crisp.


[Larathiel lost 7hp and is at -5/9hp. She barely failed her HT roll and is now unconscious.
Gurth lost 9hp and is at -4/17hp. Your speed, move, and dodge are halved.
Keira lost 6hp and is at 4/10hp.]

[OOC: Combat is over and you are no longer acting in turn order. What do you do?]

In reply to Dragondog (msg # 34):

Aladin will start healing everyone, starting with the unconscious elf...

Aladin quickly moved to Larathiel, placed his hand on her face, and with the first pulse of healing divine energy she returned to consciousness. And with the second, she was as good as new.

He then continued to Gurth, touched the ogre's hand, and after three pulses of divine healing energy all of his injuries were gone.

And finally, Aladin came to Keira, and touched her face. And with a single divine pulse of healing energy, not a single trace of what the worshippers had done to her remained.

[You are now all back to full hp. What do you want to do?]

"Thank you. That could have gone better." Keira commented as she quickly checked the fallen foes for anything interesting they might have been carrying.

"Where to next? Should we keep going down this tunnel, or go back?"

OOC: I think this is all that we know about these tunnels:

quote:

One tunnel has rubble in it. One led further downwards. One ended in a set of stairs going downwards. One was filled with fear. One was wider than the others. One tunnel was winding left and right. And there is one tunnel that has collapsed.

The two tunnels heading most toward the mystic marker are the one with the stairs and the scary one.

The worshipers went into the tunnel that led to the stairs.

The group went into the winding tunnel.

Any ideas?

Keira took her time going through the stuff the downed worshippers and found a fair bit of stuff. The only thing that remained of any use on the crispy body was his holy symbol.



[OOC: As a reminder, the worshippers may be dead or unconscious. You'd need to examine them to be certain.

I'm assuming that Keira has gathered their belongings, but left their clothes and robes on. If you want to take those too, let me know.]