The Bottom of the Well (4E)

[Snowbody]

This thread is to keep track of things while the party is split.

Main thread:
http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=189461

OOC thread:
http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=189462

If you're not at the bottom of the well yet, no metagaming!

[Snowbody]

Jarvis successfully jumps out of the barrel and lands on the ledge with surprising ease.

A few seconds later, the barrel stops before it reaches the water.

[Snowbody]

The stream appears to be about 3 feet deep, deeper in places as it's a mix of natural and carved. The stream enters the well area by flowing through a closed grating, that extends all the way from the ceiling to the bottom of the stream.

The ledge next to the stream is 5x10. Even though there's no artificial light, the natural phosphorescence on the walls provides dim light, though vision is quite limited (but Zimelda should be minimally affected). The stream flows out of the well area under the raised portcullis. The ledge continues past the portcullis, but only seems to be around 3 feet wide. Who wants to go swimming!? Also the ceiling is a little low; almost exactly 6 feet. The taller party members will have to bend over.

[SemiteLock]

Jarvis makes mental notes of the width of the ledge, speed of the stream, and location. He decides to look a bit further ahead for where exactly the portcullis is, but doesnt leave the tunnel

Spoiler

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Perception: (1d20+11)[19]

[Snowbody]

The portcullis is right there, hanging above the stream and the 5x10 ledge, right where it narrows to 3'.

--%==
~~%~~#~~

= 5-foot ledge
- 3-foot ledge
~ stream
% portcullis location, currently raised
# fixed grate (closed)

Everything else: solid rock

[Snowbody]

Jarvis can just barely hear sounds echoing down the well. All that seems to carry are vowels.

"..ah.ih..ar..ooo oh ..ay?.ar.i.. ar. .ou o.ay?"

Sounds like Mertes.

[Snowbody]

Stream appears to be going 5 mph (7 feet per second). Fast enough that someone walking in it would have some difficulty keeping his balance.

Anyone walking in the stream will have to roll for Acrobatics (with a lower DC) or Athletics (with a higher DC) or will fall "prone" and be swept away (though probably not as fast as the water is actually flowing). Regaining footing will also be Acrobatics or Athletics, or swim with Athletics.

[Snowbody]

The barrel is then raised again. Jarvis can make out its progress as it ascends.

[Snowbody]

Again the barrel lowers; Jarvis can hear the squeaks of the pulleys approaching, and occasionally Zimelda's head peers over the side. She's in range of Jarvis's telepathy.

[SemiteLock]

Seeing her, Jarvis sends out a mental word or two

Can you hear me Lady Drow? Make sure to give the rope a good tug right before you hit the water. While the current is not to fast, in your armor it would be risky to be in the water. The ledge should be with in jumping distance for you and I will be near to help.

[Snowbody]

Jarvis receives a telepathic reply: "Alright..."

[Snowbody]

The barrel stops short of the water, but within Jarvis's reach. Zimelda looks out at her surroundings and begins to climb out.

[Lycan 01]

Zimelda nods to Jarvis, and then attempts to balance herself in the barrel so she can step out. If possible, she'll try to climb or jump to the nearest ledge, in order to avoid the risk of falling down in the stream. Having her armor completely filled with water did not sound appealing.

Spoiler

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Acrobatics: (1d20+2)[22]
Athletics: (1d20+3)[19]

[Snowbody]

Zimelda also easily makes the jump, landing next to Jarvis. The ledge is kind of crowded now; you could probably squeeze Arjhan in too.

Of course if you squeeze Arjhan in, all three of you suffer squeezing penalties

What's up with all these high rolls? I thought I'd manage to make at least one of you two take a swim!

[Snowbody]

The barrel ascends upwards again, its pulleys squeaking as it does so.

One of the squeaks sounds louder than it ought to.

[Lycan 01]

Zimelda suddenly looks down. "Something touched my foot..."

Spoiler

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Perception: (1d20+3)[12]

Zimelda has Darkvision, if that helps.

[Snowbody]

She spots a small creature with a long tail scurrying down the ledge, just passing the portcullis.

The sound of squeaks starts growing louder. Definitely not the pulleys.

Roll for initiative.

[Lycan 01]

"I think we have a problem..." Zimelda mutters to Jarvis, reaching for her mace.

Spoiler

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Initiative: (1d20+2)[6]

[SemiteLock]

Thank you for the warning, Lady Drow

Init:

Spoiler

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(1d20)[5]

[Snowbody]

A horde of rats swims through the grate, some of them staying in the stream and some of them climbing up onto the ledge where Jarvis and Zimelda are standing. They are extremely agitated, chittering loudly as they move, and swarm around Zimelda, nipping at her heels, but their teeth are unable to get through her armor. Some of the faster rats are around Jarvis's feet, but the bulk of the swarm is still swimming in the stream.

Crunch:
Rats miss Zimelda's AC.

Next up: Zimelda
On deck: Jarvis
In the hole: Rats

Initiatives:
Rats 16
Zimelda 6
Jarvis 5

Monster Status:
Rats: 0 damage

Player status:
Zimelda 24/24 HP, 1 AP, 7/8 surges (6HP each)
Jarvis 20/24 HP, 2 AP, 2 PP, 5/7 surges (6HP each)

AC, Fort, Ref, Will
Rats ??, ??, ??, ??
Zimelda 17, 13, 12, 15
Jarvis 14,11,14,16,

[Snowbody]

Mechanics

Spoiler

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Rat Swarm Initiative:(1d20+6)[16]
Swarm of Teeth attack vs. Zimelda AC: (1d20+6)[11] vs 17
Swarm of Teeth damage: (1d6+3)[8]

[Lycan 01]

Zimelda stares down at the rats for a moment, slightly raising an eyebrow. "Well, that's not very menacing..." she mutters, before swinging her mace in a wide arc across the ground in front of her, trying to smash several rodents out of existence.

Spoiler

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Basic attack: (1d20+5)[12]
Damage: (1d8+4)[6]

[Snowbody]

Before Zimelda can swing her mace, the furious rats are biting at her again.

They're unable to find a weak spot in her armor, and she remains untouched.

She swings her mace, but the rats are too quick, and skitter out of her way.

The barrel, with Arjhan in it, is approaching the bottom. He's probably in range of Jarvis's telepathy.

Crunch:
Rats have Aura 1, free basic attack on anyone beginning a turn within the aura.


Next up: Jarvis
On deck: Rats
In the hole: Zimelda

Initiatives:
Rats 16
Zimelda 6
Jarvis 5

Monster Status:
Rats: 0 damage taken, Aura 1 free basic melee attack on anyone beginning a turn within the aura

Player status:
Zimelda: 24/24 HP, 1 AP, 7/8 surges (6HP each)
Jarvis: 20/24 HP, 2 AP, 2 PP, 5/7 surges (6HP each)

AC, Fort, Ref, Will
Rats: more than 12, ??, ??, ??
Zimelda: 17, 13, 12, 15
Jarvis: 14,11,14,16,

[Snowbody]

Dice rolls

Spoiler

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Swarm of Teeth attack vs. Zimelda AC: (1d20+6)[15] vs 17
Swarm of Teeth damage: (1d6+3)[6]

[Snowbody]

Jarvis and Zimelda hear Arjhan yell up the shaft, "Mertes! Get down quick!"

[Snowbody]

All of a sudden the barrel starts descending much more rapidly, accelerating as it falls. Mertes must have let go of the ropes after Arjhan called up to him.

Arjhan screams "Oh noooo!" as it's clear the barrel is going to hit the water.

[Snowbody]

Arjhan initiative: (1d20+1)[4]

[SemiteLock]

(Safe to assume Im in the aura? Im getting AoO'd no matter what so..)

Now this is an interesting development.

Jarvis takes a couple steps back to get out of range of the rats teeth. When there, he sends out a mental burst at the ones, hopeing to knock them out, causing them to drown.

Spoiler

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Dishearten, placed so the burst wont hit the drow
(1d20+5)[25] against will, if hits target gets -2 to attacks till end of my next turnl
(1d6+4)[10] damage

[Snowbody]

Yep you're in the aura, and as things stand you're getting AoO'd. The only place currently out of range of the rats is to step under the portcullis onto the 3' ledge, and you'd incur penalties there due to your height. I'm resolving this as if you'd stayed put since you had mentioned not wanting to pass the portcullis earlier. If you want me to resolve it as if you'd shifted under the portcullis onto the 3' ledge, let me know.

Before Jarvis can take any action, the rats are upon him, swarming around his feet, but not able to find anything to bite. Apparently they've never encountered a Shardmind before.

Jarvis then prepares his mental burst, targeting the opposite wall so the wave of psychic energy will miss him and Zimelda. The rats, enraged, swarm over him again, this time finding several weaker crystals in his legs and snapping them with their jaws. A few rats also seem to have found crystals they like the taste of, and have locked their jaws down on pieces of his leg, and don't show any signs of wanting to let go.

But the burst goes out, nonetheless, overwhelming the rats' primitive brains. It seems extremely effective, and quite a few of them drop. The swarm shows no signs of dissipating however.

Jarvis follows up his successful attack by prying the rats off himself before they can do any additional damage.

Crunch

Spoiler

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• Rat aura attack misses Jarvis.
• Rat OA hits Jarvis. He takes 5 damage and 3 ongoing damage, applied at the start of his turn. At the end of his turn he can stop the ongoing damage by rolling 10 or better on a d20. I don't think anyone can grant him a save before then.
• Jarvis Dishearten hits rat swarm, it takes 15 damage (due to Vulnerable 5 area) and -2 to attacks until EOnT (Jarvis).

Next up: Arjhan
On deck: Rats
In the hole: Zimelda

Initiatives:
Rats 16
Zimelda 6
Jarvis 5
Arjhan 4

Monster Status:
Rats: 15 damage taken, Aura 1 free basic melee attack on anyone beginning a turn within the aura, -2 to attacks UEONT(Jarvis), vulnerable 5 area

Player status:
Zimelda: 24/24 HP, 1 AP, 7/8 surges (6HP each)
Jarvis: 15/24 HP, 2 AP, 2 PP, 5/7 surges (6HP each), 3 ongoing damage, save ends
Arjhan: 32/32 HP, 1 AP, 7/11 surges (9HP each)

AC, Fort, Ref, Will
Rats: >12, ??, ??, <=26
Zimelda: 17, 13, 12, 15
Jarvis: 14, 11, 14, 16
Arjhan: 20, 15, 14, 13

[Snowbody]

Dice rolls

Spoiler

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Rat swarm aura attack vs Jarvis AC: (1d20+6)[9] vs. 14
Rat swarm aura attack damage: (1d6+3)[7]

Rat swarm AoO vs. Jarvis AC: (1d20+6)[24] vs. 14
Rat swarm AoO damage: (1d6+3)[5]