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Post by Badasterysk on May 28, 2009 9:22:57 GMT -5
Harakhty, Devon, Drog:
Confident that he saw something, but not wanting to draw the attention of the templars, Harakhty wisely calls to someone with a better vantage- twice the height of the giant. Devon, hearing the curious mul and thankful for the interaction, steps to the edge of the balcony- next to the drive-master, who too focused on the mekillots to hear anything. Several of the nearby slaves and soldiers also hear and heed the burnt mul’s call, a few looking to Devon, awaiting her response.
Feeling like a bit of a spectacle, the woman retrieves a nearby spyglass to at least give the appearance of due diligence. Glancing through the lenses, she notes nothing peculiar. Then, for a split second, she spots a dark form skitter quickly over a dune before scrambling out of sight. Then another. And another. The creatures’ speed combined with the spyglass’ telescopic view makes precise identification difficult, though Devon is certain they are some type of insectiod- roughly the size and shape of a kank.
No sooner does the telepath make this connection when Devon’s vision- still focused through the spyglass- detects noting but a jumbled mass of black streaks. Somewhat confused, she quickly lowers the spyglass, relying on her natural vision to sort things.
In the distance, she and the others drawn by Harakhty’s shouts see a swath of black, skittering insects scurry over a distant dune. The mass is so large it is difficult to get an accurate count- the sheer numbers block vision of any of the golden sands of the dunes trampled in their wake. As they pour over the dunes, thier nubers are nearly countless- a swarm if not a plague. Although uncertain of exactly what the creatures are, there is no denying that their path will cross the caravan’s.
“To arms!” comes the validating cry from a Urikite soldier. “Form ranks!”[Assume everyone is alert to the danger (except those inside the argosy- who will be shortly). You have three rounds to prepare. Harakhty and Drog, if you form ranks you’ll have your back to the argosy and a man to your right and left (this will require one of your rounds). If you choose not to form ranks… good luck. Devon may properly identify the creatures through the spyglass with a move action. She is on a 10’ x 5’ balcony, elevated 20’. The soldier and officer quarters are behind her on the second floor of the argosy (those inside are not yet alerted to the danger). Include an initiative.] Dastan, Silver, Dorien, T'chai:
Inside the rhythmically lumbering and stuffy argosy, all are in agreement that an attempt at liberation- any attempt- would be better than continuing to trod through the sandy wastes as a slave. Particularly when the destination is war.
The only apparent, immediate concern is that Dorien’s sister not be left behind…
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Post by TheUdjat on May 29, 2009 7:56:52 GMT -5
When nobody speaks to the contrary, Dorian leans back, satisfied. "Great. It's settled, then. We break out of here, grab my sister, and go." It doesn't seem to be terribly pertinent to Dorian where they're going, or why they're going there, just as long as it isn't here. He seems happy enough to hang around for the ride, however rocky.
"Let's make sure we steal some water on the way out, too," he adds.
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Post by Jolith on Jun 1, 2009 13:01:50 GMT -5
[Initiative @ +1] [dice=20]Total = 11
[Knowledge Check @ +7 - Guessing it's Nature] [dice=20]Total = 26
Her first instinct was to get to her brother. He had always been much more accomplished at fights, and always was there to help her. If he was stuck inside, he wouldn't even know she was in danger. She knew she had to warn him. Pulling out a small crystal from her pocket, she mentally commanded it to search out her brother and to bring him to her. [Commanding her Psicrystal to sprout Self-Propulsion and to search out her brother. This of course, is assuming that I know the wagon that's he's being held in. After he finds her, it's commanded to bring him back to her. Probably will take a while, but better then nothing.]After seeing her little spidery legged crystal crawl away, she quickly puts the spyglass back to her eye. This time trying to focus on the creatures once more try to identifying them, and hopefully remember some form of weakness they have.[rand=49588784996797476092109543002379177289212744278566503605100178155]
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Post by Rojito on Jun 1, 2009 13:13:28 GMT -5
"Food as well, we will not have much time to hunt if we are fleeing from the caravan. Should we perhaps look into getting the other group to either join us... or provide a distraction?" T'chai says, knowing that humans dont form clutches and therefore may not care what happens to anyone else. "Perhaps if we were to use your sister to send the caravan after the others before we disappear... they might decide to hunt one instead of the other."
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Post by TheUdjat on Jun 1, 2009 13:19:39 GMT -5
"Heh, or use the other group for food, right? Kreens..." He has a nice little chuckle over this notion. It's isn't clear whether he's actually against it, however.
When the Kreen's chittering brings him to talking about his sister, Dorian shrugs. "She's not a templar, you know, I don't think she has that much say. Maybe she can coax the mekillot into wandering off somewhere random, preferrably back the way we came, and that'll put them off our tail, but I don't want her sticking around to do anything major."
"So are we doing this, or what? Water, food--weapons, too, no doubt. I'm sure we'll have to kill some of these Urikites to get out of here, which suits me fine. Do we want to assign duties here, meet back up in the dunes?"
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Post by at on Jun 1, 2009 13:41:19 GMT -5
"So are we doing this, or what? Water, food--weapons, too, no doubt." "Do you think they'd give me my lucky scarf back, if we asked them nicely?"Dastan leaned back against the side of the Argosy, "but if we have to go west, perhaps it'd be best to go before half the guard are chasing off in that direction."
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Post by menatkhufu on Jun 1, 2009 14:24:34 GMT -5
Zounds of skittering vermin, their chitin clacking one upon another... it was truly horrific to behold. With nary a bunch of slaves and soldiers around him, Harakhty calculated the possibility of the throng trampling the ill-prepared men.
He tightened the grip on his warhammer, and did as the soldier said, while motioning others to position themselves tighter. It was wise to do so, whatever the outcome was to be, any means of escape was hardly possible with the vermin closing in.
In the following moments, the mul called the favour of his dear element upon himself and those around. "Embrace us in your searing grace", he whispered, and the rays of the Sun glittered on their weapons and skin, giving a sizzling feeling of power to the flesh, encouraging the worthy and stifling the fickle.
"Stay close," he adressed Drog, the half-giant, "let's make sure that we fell twice the others."For initiative @ +1 [dice=20]
Casting Bless upon the coming round. [rand=27446090218267231842751008389853452652247539587606846262756488497]
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Post by Yakumo on Jun 1, 2009 14:26:23 GMT -5
Mulling over what the group needs, Silver overhears the suggestions for weapons, Looking at Dastan she responds to his comical and probably rhetorical question, "Well they might not give anything to you if you asked, but if I asked nicely enough I might be able to get somewhere."
She thinks for a moment, "I imagine I could probably get one or maybe two of the things: Water, food, weapons, scarf, or a twin. Not all of them though. Any suggestions which I should get first? And as for our destination, well we can follow up that other slave's idea, or we can probably get ahead of the giant oven and warn one of the cities....I'm sure there would be a nice reward for that." She smiles thinking about getting paid to do a job again while she waits for a response.
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Post by tork8342 on Jun 2, 2009 1:30:21 GMT -5
hearing the command to form ranks Drog will, making sure he stays close in the line to the mul who's endurance and strength Drog admires and respects. (if not able to or allowed to Drog will Get with some other Half-Giants) Raising his maul to his shoulder he feels a strange sensation.....He's never been in combat, real combat, not knowing how to act, yet something primal was flowing inside him, taking him over, ready to unleash itself apon something or someone at anytime.
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Post by Badasterysk on Jun 3, 2009 10:33:41 GMT -5
Outside:
Spotting the incoming swarm, Devon’s immediate thoughts turn to her brother. Knowing his rough whereabouts, she sends her psicrystal to retrieve Dorian.
As the troops quickly form ranks around the argosy below her, the telepath again peers through the spyglass. This time, no startled by their sudden appearance, Devon takes an exacting look at the unrecognized insectoid, attempting to more specifically identify the vermin. The creatures, appearing kank-like at first glance, are less robust that the beasts of burden-- and less suspicious eyes would have indeed written them off as wild kank. Through her discerning eye and magnifying spyglass, Devon is easily able to make the distinction—these stampeders are not kank, but ants—hundreds of giant ants.
The realization is both a relief and unsettling. In identifying the ants, Devon has also ruled out that these ants are of the mundane sort—they are no psionically endowed like their antiloid cousins. Such a relief is short lived however, as Devon also notes that the caravan is in the path of the marching swarm. And ants are always hungry.
Below the telepath’s balcony, soldier and slave both hustle through the hot sand to take up formation in a large ring around the caravan. Templars and soldiers yell orders while other men howl battle cries and others prepare in their own way. As the formation of tanks is completed, the sounds of readying men dies down, and everyone can hear the growing patter of thousands of chitinous legs as the swarm inevitably approaches.
In the somber, quiet focus of impending battle, Drog hears a confusing jumble of phrases coming from nearby. Looking to his right, the half-giant spots the sunburned mul finishing a peculiar gesture. Then, like a subtle wave, Drog is bathed in a momentary flash of light that seems to give him renewed vigor and focus.
And then, in what seemed to be time speeding up and slowing down at once, the massive swarm of giant ants engulfs the caravan. Chitin mandibles the size of swords clack and battle cries echo. A disconcerting, almost alien howl booms and the argosy lurches in the mekillots’ reaction to the biting invaders.
As the ants close, the caravan guard strikes. Drog swipes with his massive stone maul, cracking an ant’s chitin like glass and sending ichor spraying. Likewise, Harakhty swipes with his stone warhammer. Though not a dramatic as the half-giant’s mighty slam, it is no less effective and caves in the eye of an ant, dropping it to the sand. The mul daren’t celebrate though, as another ant readily takes his fallen brother’s place. Quickly to react, Harakhty manages to block its mandibles with his shield. Drog however, has a much larger area to cover, and one sneaks by to snip him on his lower leg, drawing a small stream of blood. Few are as lucky as these two though, as cries of death screech and the sand begins to soak up blood like a dehydrated animal.[I’ve assumed Drog and Harakhty readied an action to attack in the final round. Drog’s attack: 25, hit; 21 damage- kill. Harakhty’s attack: 21, hit; 9 damage- kill. Ant’s attack on Drog: 16, hit; 3 damage. Ant’s attack on Harakhty: 7, miss.
Drog and Harakhty are next to each other with a man to either side of them (for now). The argosy is at your back. Consider the rest of the spaces to be occupied by ants.
I had Devon delay her action, so she is first in initiative. The ants have yet to reach the second level.] Inside:
Inside the stifling argosy, the small group begins to assemble a plan for escape. As each states what is necessity for an attempt, their thoughts are interrupted as a templar bursts into the holding cell, immediately getting everyone’s attention. “Wake up!” he cries, as if that was what all were doing. “On your feet! Out this door and down the hallway! NOW!”
Unceremoniously and without answering questions, everyone is quickly ushered out of the room. Quizzical looks abound, and the nearest thing to an answer that anybody can get is that the caravan is under attack. In the hallway outside the holding cell, more Urikite soldiers guide everyone down a ten foot wide passage to the opposite end of the argosy. Along the way, Dorian spots something very peculiar—his sister’s psicrystal scampering along the corner of the corridor on wispy ectoplasmic legs. It has apparently spotted Dorian as well, and scrambles to him, nearly leaping to the familiar man.
In moving down the passage, you all pass the door which you normally use to exit the argosy. Outside the open exit, a definite commotion has caused a hefty stir of things. Although none of you can spot anything other than someone from the caravan, battle cries can be heard. Whatever the cause, the caravan is preparing for combat.
Arriving at the far end of the argosy, there are several slaves pulling various equipment from the armory. As quickly as possible, they divvy out equipment. Taking up the proffered armaments, you all struggle to keep you balance as the argosy lurches awkwardly then halts. Equipment in hand, slaves are again ushered back down the hallway, towards the exit.
This process is interrupted as the first equipped slaves reach the exit, where they are met by giant ants. The vermin’s obsidian-sharp mandibles make quick work of the unsuspecting slaves, snapping one man’s body completely in half and cutting off his guttural screams. Having breached the argosy, the giant ants begin pouring inside, and the same sounds of agonizing death can be heard coming from the other side of the argosy— from the other exit. At the moment, you find yourselves pinched between two encroaching waves of ants, seemingly trapped inside the argosy.[Pausing for several things. First, choose gear from the following: - Small or large shield (hardened leather stretched over a bone frame or chitin)*
- One weapon: any obsidian spear, quabone, slodak. carrikal, stone maul, wood mace (any), sling, wooden short sword**, any club, alak, alhulak, or trikal.
* Armor check penalty also applies to saves versus environmental exposure. ** -1 to attack and damage with this weapon due to inferior materials. Each piece of equipment has a 35% chance of being masterwork (1-35 on D100). If an item is masterwork, it has a 10% chance of being enchanted (1-10 on D100 for +1 bonus). Also, I want to give you time to react to the events. You are at the end corner of a corridor. The passage to the exit (where you just came from) is 10’ wide and 40’ long (you are 20’ from the exit and there are stairs to the second level just before that). The other passage is narrower at only 5’ wide and 20’ long. This passage leads to the opposite side of the argosy, which mirrors the larger corridor at 10’ wide by 40’ long (with an exit and stairs at the same interval as the opposite side). Ants are coming at you from both sides. Two may stand side-by-side in the 10’ corridor, while the 5’ wide passage accommodates only single file. Those in the 10’ corridor will have one round before the ants are upon them. Anyone in the 5’ corridor will have two rounds. Figure out who’s where and what your actions are, and roll initiative. Initiatives: Devon 21, Harakhty 6, Drog 6, Ants 3.] Conditions:Harakhty: 19/19 Drog: 13/16, Blessed (+1 attack, damage, fear saves) Devon: 18/18, Blessed (+1 attack, damage, fear saves) Dorian: 18/18 Dastan: 25/25 Silver: 12/12 T’chai: 10/10 _______________________________________ A couple of out of game items: My apologies that there is no map. I’ve been working on it and have been unable to find anything suitable. Also, with seven players, it will save me a ton of time if you can include as many of your rolls as possible in your posts.
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Post by TheUdjat on Jun 3, 2009 11:11:42 GMT -5
[Yeah, a map would help. I'm having trouble picturing this. Though to attempt a rough sketch, is it something like this? ____________ | ______ | | | | | | | | | | | | | [ ] [ ] | | | | | |____| | |__________| The brackets being the exits up and out.] Dorian--that's spelled with an 'a', not an 'e'--grabs up a light chitin shield to strap on his back and an obsidian shortspear. He's no good with the shield, but he's thinking in advance--it could be sold somewhere down the line. For armor, he's better off relying on his own psionic measures--he will summon up a field of inertial armor as soon as he hears about an attack coming. [Well before we get stuck in the hallways, I hope.] Spotting the psicrystal while being ushered out, Dorian quietly scoops it up and listens to whatever it has to tell him--for certainly it was sent with some message from his sister. The little thing has a tendency towards deceit, or at least exagerration, but it values its master well enough, and when it talks about danger and ants, he knows well enough to listen.
As such, as soon as he has the chance, Dorian makes a move towards the stairs up to the second level, just as soon as he has a chance, tugging whichever of his companions is nearest to come along with him. "Now's as good a chance as any," he'll say. "Let's go." After all, surely there are supplies upstairs.
And, more importantly, his sister.
If he can get Silver, Dastan, and the Kreen all to follow him, so much the better. Initiative @ +4: [dice=20] Result: 8, boo. That could've gone better.
When his turn comes around, Dorian will blast as many ants as he can with Energy Missile (Fire), focusing on any between him and the stairwell. He can hit up to 5 of them, no two of which can be more than 15' away for the other. They get a Reflex Save vs. DC 18 for half damage of 3d6+3.
He will also advance towards the stairwell. AC 15. Regardless of his erstwhile companions, Dorian will plow towards the stairs whether he has help or not, ever the reckless soul. "Burn!" he shouts when too many of the critters get in his way, unleashing a barrage of fiery energy wrought from his own will. [Between the Inertial Armor and Energy Missile, that's 4 PP used, leaving him with 15/19 PP][rand=177295478242946563033585021742913371419437156684446183279189091981]
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Post by TheUdjat on Jun 3, 2009 11:44:53 GMT -5
Oh, and you mentioned the more dice rolls the better, so here's the 3d6+3 damage roll for the energy missile: [dice=6] [dice=6] [dice=6] Total: 14+3=17 (and what a sweet roll it is) [rand=97414219280857344971175514935312424036605307986537421553100288545]
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Post by Jolith on Jun 3, 2009 12:51:17 GMT -5
Panic starts to set in. People should could deal with, but hundreds of ants? She felt helpless unsure of what to do, all the while hoping that the soldiers below would be enough to protect her.
If all else failed, she could call out for Drog's help. She knew he would come running, that's if he didn't fall before the ants made it passed the front line. She hoped for his well being.
Trying to regain her composure she took a few quick deep breaths. Succeeding in remaining calm she looked down at the ants and begun manifesting hoping to aid in the fight against the ants. She wanted to try and stir the Mekillot's to action, but sadly they weren't smart enough for her to connect with telepathically. So instead she decided that if she didn't have a protector, she would create one.
Opening a hole to the Astral Plane, pulling and molding ectoplasm, she forms it into a humanoid form. She knew it would take a moment to complete, but as soon as it was finished she would direct it to attack any any that made it through the front line. She wanted no chance that the ants would make it to the second level. Knowing that fighting on the side of the caravan would give the ants the advantage, she made sure to form wings to aid the Astral Construct in it's fighting. Manifesting 2nd level Astral Construct
Medium Construct Hit Points: 31 hp Initiative: +2 Speed: 40 ft (20ft fly [Average]) Armor Class: 18 (+2 Dex, +6 Natural) Base Attack / Grapple: +3 / +4 Attack: Slam +4 melee (1d6+4) Space/Reach: 5ft / 5ft Special Attacks: - Special Qualities: One ability from Menu A (Wings), construct traits, darkvision 60ft, low-light vision Saves: Fort +0, Ref +2, Will +0 Abilities: Str 17, Dex 15, Con - , Int - , Wis 11, Cha 10
Just in case it forms and one of the ants makes it passed the front line, here are the Astral Construct's rolls.
[Astral Construct's Attack @ +4] [dice=20]Total = 23 to hit
[Astral Construct's Damage @ +4] [dice=6]Total = 7 to damage
PP Expenditure: 3 Total PP: 19
[rand=942635832502683759454821949329511507138220089842505437965924708654]
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Post by at on Jun 3, 2009 15:30:44 GMT -5
Dastan grabs a large shield[dice=100] And a sword[dice=100] Well this was different. "The stairs sound like a good idea, perhaps they are afraid of heights". Not used to fighting with a shield he ducks down behind it and runs towards the stairs behind Dorian, throwing the unwieldy slab of chitin into the path of the oncoming insects in the hope of slowing them down. At least he had a sword. Well, a stick, but it looked sharper than the other clubs. Looking back to the Kreen "I don't suppose ...", a bad time for jokes perhaps, "...never mind"Dastan will go fully defensive, AC 23 all told, 24 against the first insect to attack. (10 base, +1 luck, +3 dex, +2 shield, +6 defence & tumble, +1 scout move, and a final +1 dodge against a single target)
When they reach the stairs, or if the insects pin them in, Dastan will drop/throw his shield to impede the ants as best he can. Edit :Masterwork weapon, rolling for enchantment [dice=100] Well that's going to confuse the hell out of Dastan when someone who can detect magic lets him in on it. Either that or it's going to blow up the first time he fumbles with it and snaps the blade off Trust me to pick out the one inferior material weapon to get enchanted up to a +0 Edit 2 : adding Init [dice=20]+6 [rand=6100404925800754684125356031661485781426571830724101830336250801]
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Post by Yakumo on Jun 3, 2009 16:08:56 GMT -5
First things first: Silver has 12 HP (1 point may not seem like much but I don't want to be reckless) Silver will grab a Slodak and a Small Chitan Shield. Slodak - Masterwork if 35 or Below[dice=100] Slodak - Enchanted if 10 or below:[dice=100] Okay, Just Masterwork. Small Chitan Shield: [dice=100] "An attack. It figures there would be an attack, but this will probably work out better than if I had planned it myself," Silver thinks. The yell Templars and the cut down men screaming in agony do not do much for her morale. She quickly grabs a wooden short sword that looks like it wasn't just torn off of a tree and a shield to defend herself if necessary. She wasn't looking so much to fight these things as much as to fight her way out of here. "I need to be ready for this," Silver calms herself for a moment as she waits in the smaller halls out of the way of the initial waves clashing. She takes a deep breath and exhales attempting to focus herself for what is sure to be an arduous task. But she cannot seem to drown out the screams of the wounded and the crashing of weapons. Just leaping into it she makes a break for the stairs at full-tilt jumping, dodging, and tumbling around any slave, ant, templar - friend or foe in her mad dash for the second level.So the slodak is MW. Sliver's Initiative is [dice=20]+5. Spending the first round trying to get Psionically focused. Concentration DC 20 [dice=20]+6 Then she will use her full round trying to get off of the first floor. [rand=1784002072558989643644487427243577307621358778235616968143052835]
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Post by Badasterysk on Jun 3, 2009 17:00:57 GMT -5
[Yeah, a map would help. I'm having trouble picturing this. Though to attempt a rough sketch, is it something like this? ____________ | ______ | | | | | | | | | | | | | [ ] [ ] | | | | | |____| | |__________| The brackets being the exits up and out.] This is damn close, thanks. The stairs leading up are along the outside wall (though still inside the argosy) and are in the space above the outside exit. The north portion of the inner rectangle is actually separate from the rest; it is a small room that is 5' wide and runs horizontally along the inner rectangle (and serves as storage/armory). What remains of the inner rectangle is the slave holding pen, and there is a door to exit the holding at the south end (roughly in the center). I suck for not being able to do this myself. Dorian--that's spelled with an 'a', not an 'e'-- So noted. My bad. First things first: Silver has 12 HP (1 point may not seem like much but I don't want to be reckless) I can't blame you for wanting the extra hit point. I don’t know how I made that oversight.
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Post by tork8342 on Jun 3, 2009 21:24:17 GMT -5
drogs biofeedback will activate. 1 pp for damage reduction 2/ As Drogs first real stike of battle ever lands true and crushes the ant, a thrill of excitement and energy run through him. his mind racing* with thoughts"...this is what battle is....i just killed something.....if i don't kill i will be killed....." witht that he lets out a yell that would turn a normal man's insides to mush with fear**. He begins to swing at the next ant within reach. * ok maybe it was more like a brisk walk than racing but he thought it was alot. **think like chubaka only bigger and with less hair. rolls attack roll [dice=20] +7
Damage assuming i hit [dice=6] [dice=6] [dice=6] +10 [rand=245264194824113431709395544097328839813046072444826564766661236216]
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Post by Rojito on Jun 3, 2009 21:59:18 GMT -5
T'chai will grab an obisdion spear and a large shield. looking at Dorian he says in Kreen, "Get outside, i will find your sister." Then he rushes past everyone and everythign to get outside, preferably on top where he would be able to jump to wherever this 'sister' is. Hopefully she will stand out enough from everyone else to be found. (Init, and Equipment) [init] [dice=20] +4=8
[shield] [dice=100]
[spear] [dice=100] [rand=13868699421866678501335448460594395763206427663276054771467207713]
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Post by menatkhufu on Jun 7, 2009 12:30:18 GMT -5
Though both he and the half-giant put down the giant vermin in a single blow, two others closed upon them in no second. Some of the other slaves were not faring as well, also. He raised his weapon high to smash the other ant, covering himself with the large chitin shield. He strained his mind for some bit of knowledge on giant ants, for all he knew, the mindless vermin feared nothing. It was disheartening -for the common men- to see such a swarm having no end, a hive perhaps. For Harakhty -praise be- it was noon, and if he fell, the element would embrace his remains.
Yet he knew it was not time for the sands to drink his blood. The thought of escaping to the wilds crossed his mind, but there was no opening, no thinning amongst the mass of ants. For now, they had to remain with the Argosy. “Pull the shields up!” He shouted to the slaves next to him and Drog. “They dash for the torso, protect it!”Attack /w warhammer @ +5 (+1 BaB +4 Str -1 inf +1 Bless) [dice=20] Damage +3 [dice=8]
I want to cast Color Spray on the next round. If there are a good number of ants in a 15 ft cone-shaped burst in front of me. [rand=40476633993171773439436711624528246242293369800989500838834804968]
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Post by tork8342 on Jun 7, 2009 17:42:53 GMT -5
oh i forgot i'm blessed so thats another +1 to my attack for a +8= 14 total. sorry about that the last post reminded me.
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