Toma: the City After the War [IC]

[RS14]

"I wouldn't know. They must have been introduced during the fighting, though, so we best be careful. Do you think we can fight them?"

[XenoGeno]

Urk

Urk smiles at this last comment. "Do we think we can fight 'em? I reckon we can."

[Solophoenix]

Varwann

Varwann adds his opinion.

"I'm afraid my illusions and enchantments aren't very useful against such simple-minded foes"

He then attempts to remove the whistle from the beetle on the floor.

[RS14]

The whistle comes off with a bit of bending of the frame, though the beetle struggles and manages to claw Varwann's hand in the process. With the flaps folded back, however, the whistle becomes perfectly serviceable, although a bit small for creatures much larger than Varwann. It also, oddly enough, has what looks to be a pair of beetle-legs (only the upper segments - the coxa through the femur) mounted just inside the "mouthpiece." With the whistle removed, the beetle starts to make a different sort of sound, a hissing and popping which sounds almost like the crackling of a small, wood fire.

[Chineselegolas]

Kithzin

"Well I know I can crush a few bugs under my feet. A swarm, however, will be interesting" Kithzin said, walking upto the door, inspecting the opening mechanism.

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search - (1d20+6)[11]
Looking for traps in addition to the basic stuff, eg. barred, key, handle, slider. Push or Pull etc.

[Solophoenix]

Varwann

What on earth is going on here

Cautiously, Varwann brings the whistle to his lips and blows on it, keeping a close eye on the beetle.

[RS14]

Kithzin looks, but doesn't find any sign of traps. The door is thin, painted wood, opening outwards (towards the entrance) with a pair of brass doorhandles.

The whistle produces a loud chirp, which slightly airier than that produced by the beetle. Nevertheless, the sound sets the beetle flailing. It throws open its shell with a click in an attempt to right itself, but to no avail. At the end of the corridor, the swarm seems to have heard the noise, because they react to the chirp in a coordinated hail of clicks and thuds against the door. At the top, those which had previously clawed at the small gaps now try to drag themselves through.

[Solophoenix]

Varwann

Interesting...

Varwann tips the beetle right-side-up with the toe of his boot and watches to see where it goes.

[RS14]

The beetle backs up rapidly against the wall, then scuttles down the hall towards the door. It arrives just in time to meet up with two others, who manage to crawl through the gaps in the door. Neither one has a whistle. They stand next to each other on the floor and click at Kithzin as more start to creep through the cracks.

[Chineselegolas]

Kithzin

Reaching into his backpack, Kithzin pulled out a flask of acid, then popping the cork out, up ending it over the insects in front of him. Putting the cork back in in a backing away towards the others, he said "Anyone volunteering to open to door, or shall we just wait till they work there way through which", he said looking at the insect breaking new holes "shouldn't take to much longer"

[Solophoenix]

Varwann

"Probably better to face them gradually, as they come through."

[Snowfall]

Mourdin

Mourdin shakes his head, "They haven't attacked us, we could stand by the wall and see if they just go by."

[Chineselegolas]

Kithzin

"Well other than the one I backhanded earlier, and then those few I just tipped some acid on", as he pointed to where the acid still bubbled. "And the way there were clicking at me. Don't really think they will let me be."

[RS14]

The stream continues to trickle out, while those which contact the acid twitch or try to wipe it from their antennas. Two take to the air and buzz down the corridor; one climbs onto Kithzin's back, while the other bites at Mourdin's face.

With beetles still climbing through the holes, a loud pop comes from the other side of the door. The right-hand door slumps backwards, then falls with a crunch to the floor, where it lies shuddering with hundreds of beetles beneath it. The hinges are bent and glowing red-hot, and the rest of the swarming mass of beetles rushes forwards, in the air and on the ground, engulfing Kitzhin and clawing at his skin (6 damage). More fly down the hall, including five bearing whistles. Three land on Mourdin, while two fly onwards to land on Urk and Lt. Rieman. They begin chirping, and many of the beetles already in the air converge on them.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
OOC:
Roll Initiative.
Swarm: 17

[Chineselegolas]

Kithzin

(1d20+6)[15]

[XenoGeno]

Urk

Initiative: 16

[Snowfall]

Mourdin

initiative - (1d20+5)[15] (15)

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Hmm, can't believe all of this has happened in the span of 1 game day... no time to memorize new spells!

[Solophoenix]

Varwann

Initiative - (1d20+3)[10]

[Ryuuk]

Telma

Initiative: 3 (roll in the OoC thread)

Using one of her arms to block her face, Telma uses the other to fumble though her side pouch. "There's a whole colony!" Having found what she was looking for, she almost drops the small power stone caught off gaurd by their sheer numbers. She focuses and within seconds the light within the stone disappears, along with parts of Telma.

Letting the stone fall to the ground, she advances towards the insects. Trying to swat the beetles away from her view, her falchion leaves her side, even if it did so somewhat sheepishly.

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Standard: Use a power stone of Concealing Amorpha, 20% Concealment
Move: Get closer to the front of the group, without daring to step though the door. Draw her falchion while doing so.

[RS14]

With the swarm already thick on Kithzin, the advancing beetles sweep around him. Many, which must have been on the walls or ceiling to begin with, find solid purchase for their claws on the damaged and cracked masonry of the ceiling, and a thick mass of perhaps 70 marches in this manner down the hall. Oddly, swarm around Kithzin seems most attracted to his gauntlets, and the strange clicking has begun from the beetles around him.

Lt. Rieman will brush the beetle off himself, and move forwards to provide the same aid to Urk. With only three (two unburdened by whistles) having so far reached him by flight, this is not difficult, nor are the beetles on Urk numerous to offer much resistance besides a few painful bites. He calls out to Kithzin: "Try to get away from them; this way!"

Kithzin:

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Kithzin's gauntlets seem to be suddenly warm.
-=-=-=-=
Please include a will save in your next post.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Upon reflection, the collapse of the door does not justify a surprise round, so I'm hoping to simply clarify the actions of the beetles and provide Lt. Rieman's actions. Chineselegolas, please forgive me for including something which I forgot in the previous post. The swarm has completed its actions for the first round, so...

Initiative:
Swarm: 17
Urk: 16
Kithzin: 15
Mourdin: 15
Varwann: 10
Lt. Rieman: 6
Telma: 3

[Chineselegolas]

Kithzin

Slamming his hands together in an attempt to crush some of the insects on them before jumping back making his way towards Lt. Rieman

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will save - (1d20+6)[10]
attack - (1d20+9)[24]
damage - (1d6+3)[5]
tumble - (1d20+12)[14]

[Snowfall]

Mourdin

Mourdin attempts to brush the beetles off of himself and moves to follow the Lieutenant.

[RS14]

Kithzin's motion throws many, though not all, of the beetles from him as he retreats down the hall. He manages to crush a few, though not enough to make a dent in the swarm's numbers. Nevertheless, through the violent clapping, or perhaps merely some innate resistance, Kithzin's gauntlets cool to their normal temperature. Mourdin has similar success, and though a few beetles cling to both him and Kithzin, most of their bites find only the clothing which they have managed to hold onto.

Telma makes good headway along the right-hand side of the corridor, and several more beetles, stunned by falling from Kithzin, are crushed beneath her feet. However, the vast bulk of the swarm, apparently drawn to the beetles shed by Mourdin, cut to the left of the corridor and swarm from the ground up onto Urk, who's chain shirt proves easy to climb. He rapidly feels the effect of their claws and mandibles - though the clicking noise produced by many suggests that they are not attacking fully (2 damage).

Urk:

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Urk's chain shirt abruptly grows warm as he is enveloped by the swarm.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Please include a will saving throw in your next post.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Active:
* Concealing Amorpha, Telma, 4 minutes remaining.
* Magic Vestement, Mourdin, ~2.5 hours remaining.

Initiative:
Swarm: 17
Urk: 16
Kithzin: 15
Mourdin: 15
Varwann: 10
Lt. Rieman: 6
Telma: 3

Map:

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Note 1) that the translucent gray shape indicates the damaged portions of the ceiling, and 2) that the beetles bearing whistles are marked in blue.

[Snowfall]

Mourdin

"For the love of..." Mourdin says as he sees the fire beetles swarm over Urk. Calling out to Heironeous, Mourdin claps his hands together. A translucent cube appears over Urk's head, for an instant refracting the light of the fire beetles into one hundred rainbows, before the 80 pounds of water coming crashing down on Urk's head.

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Create water, 10 gallons, shaped and placed to cover Urk. If these guys are as little as they seem, it should wash some of them off of Urk.

[XenoGeno]

Urk

Urk turns to follow the lieutenant as he notices the continued rise in heat from his chainmail, all while trying to knock off the beetles that have latched on to him.

[Solophoenix]

Varwann

Varwann makes a few swift hand movements and conjures a pattern of swirling, distracting colours in the midst of the beetles.

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Casting Hypnotic Pattern, centred at the top right corner of (1,F). Will Save DC 17

[Solophoenix]

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Forgot to roll for HD affected.

(2d4+5)[8]

[Chineselegolas]

Kithzin

Continuing to back away, Kithzin made his way towards Lt. Rieman, slapping at the remaining beetles on him.

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(1d20+9)[14]
(1d6+3)[6]

[Ryuuk]

Telma

Telma tries to cut through some of the insects, an act that doesn't seem to fruitful on hindsight. Nevertheless, perhaps a little shock to one of the whistler carriers might do something. Attack (Reckless), Damage, Psi Weapon (1d20 9=17, 2d4 4=9, 2d6=3)

Bouncing back from the swing, she tries to head towards the Lt.'s escape route. If she can get between Mourdin or Varwann and the swarm though, she'll hold her ground.

Will Saves: 15,10

...Or would have done so, if not for the swirling mass of colors bursting around her. Her falchion remains at her side and her mind, about to release a psionic resonance, becomes comfortably numb.

[RS14]

Mourdin's spell does instantly wash the beetles off of Urk. Many are swept back into the swarm behind them as the water spreads out over the hall. But steam can now be seen rising from Urk's armor. It has become unbearably hot, and begun to burn his skin [3 points of damage]. Nevertheless, he and Kithzin manage to withdraw down the hallway with Lt. Rieman.

Varwann's pattern explodes in the air ahead, with shifting bubbles of blue and green, and strange shimmering constellations forming and breaking inside. It engulfs most of the swarm, but also catches Telma within its fringe.

Telma:

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-=-=-=-=-=-
Please make two will saving throws. If both less than 17, Telma is fascinated, but if more, she will be able to strike one of the whistle carriers and withdraw. (Fortunately, the approaching swarm is a "potential threat" by RAW, hence the second save).

Even worse, the swarm seems to be uninterested in the patterns and marches on - the whistle carriers sweep to the left, and the swarm seems to reinforce its ranks along the fringe of the pattern.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Active:
* Hypnotic Pattern, Varwann, Concentration+2
* Concealing Amorpha, Telma, 4 minutes remaining.
* Magic Vestement, Mourdin, ~2.5 hours remaining.

Initiative:
Swarm: 17
Urk: 16
Kithzin: 15
Mourdin: 15
Varwann: 10
Lt. Rieman: 6
Telma: 3

Map:

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