"This room is smaller than it should be. This wall here must be a fake. Check the base for signs of sliding or rotating. Nathros, are you watching the door? I have a sneaking suspicion this is a setup."
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"This room is smaller than it should be. This wall here must be a fake. Check the base for signs of sliding or rotating. Nathros, are you watching the door? I have a sneaking suspicion this is a setup."
Stefan Reinhart
A ghost?, Stefan asks. Let's see about that! He closes in, clutching his holy symbol in one hand and his loaded sling in the other. He tries to pinpoint the sound, and if possible, identify it.
SpoilerThe closest I have for identifying undead is probably my Ceremony skill, so here goes: [roll0]. If it's any use, I need 12 or less to succeed.
Brandon Bor
The stocky young fighter stood guard near Sid, ready to interpose himself between the thief and any threat should one arise.
Nathros looks about for something to prop the door open with; failing that, he sets down his spear and draws his short sword with the expectation of it being more useful for indoors close quarters combat. "Interesting place," he says with a grin.
Sid passes around the large pit and heads toward the false wall. Brandon sticks close. Nathros has propped open the large door with his spear and Jeanne waits near the entrance.
As the pair pass by the pit, a trio of glowing red lights seems to rise out of the pit, and behind it another trio appears. The first lunges forward and in the torchlight the figure appears to be a giant bug! It snaps at Brandon and Sid with a menacing bite, but misses both by a wide margin.
Spoiler
I would normally spoiler any numeric combat information here, such as damage causes or status effect given or removed, but there isn't any here. The foe did win Initiative, but missed on its attack, both of which is probably apparent from the IC text.
You should spoiler your combat details and use the forum dice roller.
Sid "The Sneak" Aimes
Sid fell back with a startled and disgusted "Gah!" as the giant bug attacked. He waved his torch at the thing to keep it back, as he readied his sword, in case the thing tried that again. "Well, at least it's not a ghost! Somebody get this thing!"
O. O. C. --->SpoilerHP: 4 AC: 6 Spells in effect: Nope.
For my combat maneuver, I'll go with a fighting withdrawal. Sid backs five feet towards the west side of the room and will only use this attack before the bug's, if the bug comes after him. Attack ---> [roll0] Damage ---> [roll1] Thac0: 19
Jeanne, glad her suspicions of a setup were false, darts away as far as she can from the bug and allow Nathros room to close in. She fires an arrow at the bug.
Spoiler
When I DM older editions, I calculate "to-hit" by asking the player to roll d20 vs. unmodified THAC0. As DM, I add the opponent's AC to the roll and check their THAC0 to see if they hit. I like this method better because it reduces the math involved. 1d20+modifier+opponent's AC vs. natural THAC0.
[roll0] vs. THAC0 19
[roll1]
Stefan Reinhardt
Nope!, Stefan says. Not a ghost! He lets go of the holy symbol, making it fall back to its familiar place around his neck, so he can use the shield to defend himself instead. Then he fires the readied sling bullet at the first bug as best as he can and then steps a bit back, letting the melee types do their thing.
SpoilerAttack roll, THACO 19, so that means I hit [roll]19-1d20[/roll] (I hope the roller can handle the phrasing). That's assuming there no cover from my allies - I don't really remember if there were any concrete rules for such things in BECMI.
Edit: It couldn't.... I'll roll in the OOC thread.
Brandon Bor
Brandon looked surprised. He tried to figure out what it was he was seeing, then he blurted out, "What, giant fireflies? Sheesh!"
He maneuvered to intercept at least one of the bugs attacking his companions. He released his grip on his bow, letting it fall to the dusty floor, as he drew his sword in order to attack.
SpoilerPardon me, Roland, but Brandon does not have his shield in hand. He was carrying his bow because he was hoping to attack at a distance and thus avoid the danger of melee. Bows take two hands, so his shield was at his back.
Therefore, until he has time to put on his shield, his AC is only 3. Unless you allow him to put on his shield this round, of course.
I do not know if a fighter can draw a sword and attack in the same round. I am rolling as if he can. Please ignore the rolls if he cannot. He'll just attack next round if so.
Brandon's only modifier is his Strength of 14, which gives a +1 to hit and damage.
Attack: [roll0]
Thac0: 19 minus 1 = 18
Damage: [roll1]
Brandon Bor
SpoilerSince my first set of rolls were negated somehow, rerolling.
Attack: [roll0]
Thac0: 19 minus 1 = 18
Damage: [roll1]
Nathros rushes into combat, intent on taking down the beast as quickly as possible:
Spoiler
[roll0]
[roll1]
The bug, now clearly visible as some kind of giant beetle, clambers further out of the pit, Jeanne's arrow digging a deep groove across its back before sticking into the far wall. As the beetle looks in her direction, Nathros and Brandon sink their swords into the beast and it slumps to the ground sliding back a bit into the pit. The second beetle climbs on top of the fallen one, biting at Brandon a bit too early to make contact.
Unflinching, Nathros withdraws his short bladed sword from its ichor flooded sheath and closes grimly with the second beast.
Spoiler
THAC0: 19
Attack: [roll0]
Damage: [roll1]
Stefan Reinhardt
My lady Petra, I pray that the next stone will strike true, Stefan prays to himself, firing another sling stone at the remaining bug.
SpoilerAttack roll (THAC0 19) [roll0]
"These men are afraid of insects? A little fire down that hole and all would be well." Jeanne readies and fires another arrow.
Spoiler
[roll0] vs. THAC0 19
[roll1]
Sid "The Sneak" Aimes
Upon getting out of range of the first beetle, Sid scooted his way as far as he could get towards the west wall. On the way, he dropped his sword and torch to ready his bow. Also, he gasped out at Jeanne, "You're kidding! Are all bugs this big, in elvish countries?"
O. O. C. --->SpoilerHP: 4 AC: 6 Spells in effect: Nope. Thac0: 19
I wasn't sure exactly how big the room was, but he'd at least stop running to keep the thing in range of his bow and eyesight. If the light from the doorway won't give him a view of the thing, he would have dropped the torch near the fight.
Brandon Bor
Brandon whooped excitedly like a boy at play as the first bug fell. He joined Nathros in introducing the second bug to the taste of steel.
Spoiler
Attack: [roll0]
Thac0: 19 minus 1 = 18
Damage: [roll1]
Neither arrow nor sling stone hit their mark and Nathros and Brandon both swing wide with their blades. By the light of Sid's fallen torch, the beetle continues to advance clacking its jaw menacingly.
"Honestly, this is my first real battle but there are worse monsters that prowl a forest than big bugs." Jeanne fires another arrow at the beetle.
Spoiler
[roll0] vs. THAC0 19
[roll1]
Brandon Bor
As his sword swung wide of the bug, Brandon cursed coarsely, using terms he'd heard his older (now married) brothers use when their mother and sisters weren't around to overhear. In just a few seconds of combat, his face had become shiny with perspiration.
While he was concentrating on his swordwork, Brandon's mouth shouted, "Swat you, bug-bug!"
Absently, he wondered who the hell had said something so juvenile.
Spoiler
Attack: [roll0]
Thac0: 19
Damage: [roll1]
Sid "The Sneak" Aimes
Out of range of the bug's attacks, Sid was able to collect himself enough to fire an arrow at the thing. As he did so, he couldn't help emitting a disbelieving, "Heh! Ha!" at Brandon's shout. He shouted a challenge back. "Sure you don't need me to get your mother in here to get it for you, Brandon?"
O. O. C. --->SpoilerHP: 4 AC: 6 Spells in effect: Nope. Thac0: 19
Attack ---> [roll0] Damage ---> [roll1]
Nathros strikes on!
Spoiler
THAC0: 19
Attack: [roll0]
Damage: [roll1]
Stefan fires yet another sling stone. Third time's the charm!
SpoilerTHAC0 19, [roll0]. Damage [roll1].
The beetle takes both an arrow and a slingstone in the side, but it still moves forward to bite Brandon. It's strange mouth connects but is foiled by the young man's sturdy armor. Wounded and stymied, it scuttles backwards into the pit.
Stefan Reinhardt
It's retreating. Strike it before it gets away, Stefan yells while sending yet another stone sailing towards the beast.
SpoilerTHAC0, [roll0]
Edit: damage 1, rolled in the OOC thread.
Sid "The Sneak" Aimes
Encouraged by the bug's retreat, Sid cheered, "Ha, ha! Don't let it get away!" then fired another arrow.
O. O. C. --->SpoilerHP: 4 AC: 6 Spells in effect: Nope. Thac0: 19
Attack ---> [roll0] Damage ---> [roll1]
Brandon Bor
Fired up, Brandon steps forward and attacks again, slicing at the bug with his sword.
"Die, varmint!" he yells.
Spoiler
Attack: [roll0]
Thac0: 19
Damage: [roll1]
Nathros presses his attack on the retreating creature.
Spoiler
THAC0: 19
Attack: [roll0]
Damage: [roll1]
Jeanne reaches for another arrow but instead turns her head and sighs. This battle is won; no need to waste another arrow.
Another round of solid blows and the second beetle slumps beside the first, it's three glowing lights still glowing, albeit slightly more dimly. The bloodied and dead beetles still twitch slightly, but are clearly no longer alive.
The large mill room seems suddenly quiet again.