Jason was unavailable for this session, so the part of Karnak was played by Bruce.
<DM> We left our heroes having dealt with the crypt full of humanoid skeletons, and having reduce said skeletons to little non-wriggly bones.
<DM> And y'all were considering your course of action at this point, with the major options being a) back into goblin country via the barricade rooms you've encountered before and b) straight up to the cell blocks where Karnak sealed in dire rats earlier, and whatever lies beyond.
<Gnaea> . o O ( All that work and no meat to show for it. Hmpf. ) [Silana]
*** BAgame is now known as Liatus.
<DM> Maybe we can find something nice for Gnaea to eat this time.
<Meridius> Does Gnaea like dire rat meat?
* Liatus is feeling very puffed up and important right now, and is ready to kill enemies of the Empire.
* Liatus offers Gnaea a bit of jerky.
<DM> Karnak had fun breaking skeletons and would certainly like to go try breaking some more goblins.
<Meridius> Why don't we go clean up the dire rats just for completeness sake.
<Karnak> "I suppose...." [DM]
* Silana nods. "If we go that way, it would also be good not to chance having them loose behind us."
<Karnak> "Not as much fun, er, not as worthwhile as goblins, though." [DM]
<Meridius> "Depends on what's behind those doors besides the rats."
<Karnak> "True." [DM]
<Karnak> "And maybe we could find the local hero who wasn't thrown in the cell with Ercaius." [DM]
* Liatus notes that we can also clean out the rats one room at a time.
<DM> With the doors chocked shut, true enough.
<Liatus> Rather than having reinforcements arive in the middle of the fight.
<Meridius> "Lets be off, then."
* Meridius sets out in the direction of the rats' lair.
* Liatus gets his sword ready.
<DM> The hallway runs north, with three doors on each side and an opening at the far end to a chamber Karnak didn't investigate earlier. The first room on each side had a rat in it, and so did the last one on the right. The others apparently didn't.
<DM> Karnak is, of course, ready to crown earlier efforts with total victory.
<Silana> "Perhaps before making a commotion here, we should check the room beyond this hallway?"
<11: Liatus> Jason would be displeased if I anounced I was hamstringing Karnak and using him as a sheild while I attacked the rats and took their eps for myself, wouldn't he.
<Meridius> "An excellent idea."
<11: DM> Very likely, yes.
<11: Liatus> :)
* Liatus nods
<DM> Karnak peers ahead, searching at the limits of his vision...
* Meridius moves to examine the room beyond.
## DM rolled 1d20+1 = 21 (20).
<Karnak> "Wait!" [DM]
* Meridius holds.
<DM> The chamber is about the same size as the one with the dragon fountain, and in fact this one has a dragon fountain at its far end. But Karnak spots a trap door in the floor just inside the entrance. He takes a pole and pokes it, swinging the trap door open to reveal a pit underneath.
<DM> The room has one other exit, a door in the west wall, and there's a trap in front of it. That one's been sprung and blocked open with rocks taken from the ambient debris.
<Meridius> "Thanks for the warning, Karnak."
<DM> With this trap sprung, you can step around it into the room without trouble. The dragon fountain mounted on the north wall is the room's only obvious feature, but folks may search.
* Meridius skirts the trap and enters the room.
<Karnak> "Years of study prepared for this service!" [DM]
* Meridius searches.
## Meridius rolled 1d20+2 = 19 (17).
<DM> Karnak also examines the room.
## DM rolled 1d20+1 = 10 (9).
* Silana carefully enters the room, and takes a look around also, tapping at the floor ahead of her with her staff.
<DM> Guess finding traps was what he's good for.
* Liatus also searches
## Silana rolled 1d20+1 = 9 (8).
<Meridius> "Karnak, please check the far door."
## Liatus rolled 1d20+2 = 22 (20).
<DM> Damn.
<DM> This is one searchin' crew today.
<DM> There's an inscription on this fountain, the Draconic for "Let there be death." There are also metallic tubes in the mouth, which there weren't in the other, and they run down to a metallic canister almost entirely buried in the wall. Meridius spots the tubes, and Liatus also sees the canister's mouth.
<DM> Oh, and Listen rolls, please.
## DM rolled 1d20+6 = 22 (16).
## Meridius rolled 1d20-1 = 11 (12).
## Silana rolled 1d20+2 = 14 (12).
* Liatus decides he'll likely not be speaking the trigger word for this fountain anytime soon.
## Silana rolled 1d20+14 = 21 (7).
## Liatus rolled 1d20+3 = 23 (20).
<Silana> (That last Listen roll being for Gnaea.)
<DM> Karnak, Liatus, and Gnaea all agree that something is making scrabbling sounds beyond that western door. Several somethings, in fact.
<Meridius> Is there enough space to either side of that door that we can put a person on either side to flank whatever comes through?
* 11: DM notes for the log: 100 XP for Karnak for catching the one trap.
<DM> Yes. The room's about 30' square, and the door's in the middle of the wall.
<Meridius> And there's a pit trap in front of the door?
<DM> Yes, leaving a foot-wide margin.
<Meridius> Is the trap filled in or can things still fall into it?
<DM> Things can still fall into it. It's a 20' drop to a mess of bones and debris.
<Karnak> "So I could open the door, luring whatever it is out, and then vault over the pit while it falls in!" [DM]
<Meridius> Does the door pull open into our room or push open into whatever's beyond?
<DM> The door pushes in.
<Meridius> "That's one possibility, Karnak, but not the one I had in mind."
<DM> Away from you, that is.
<Meridius> "Karnak, you'll stand near the door on the hinged side to help me with flanking whatever comes through. I'll kick open the door and then back off to the latch side and stab things as they enter. Liatus and Silana, I want you both on the far side of the pit. Anything that gets past Karnak and I and doesn't fall in the pit: kill it."
* Liatus nods.
<Karnak> "Okay. When we see what it is, can I try to get past it, so that we flank it?" [DM]
* Silana nods, going back to take up position, leaning her staff against the wall as she raises and readies her crossbow.
<Meridius> "You shouldn't have to, since they'll have to move between us when they enter the room."
<Karnak> "Okay." [DM]
* Liatus readies his sword and possitions himself ahead of and to the side of Silana, so that she can still aim her crossbow at the door.
<Meridius> (What I'm thinking is, is that Karnak and I should automatically get flanking bonuses and, if whatever they are tries to move past us, attacks of opportunity. Don't know the rules well enough to know if my idea is correct, though.)
<DM> Yes, you're correct.
<Meridius> (So if all goes well we'll have a nice pile of carcasses at the door.)
<DM> :)
<DM> Okay, you may kick when ready.
* Meridius checks on everyone's readiness, and when he's satisfied, kicks open the door and takes up his position.
<11: Liatus> If I may ask, might this plan work better if Karnak and I swap places? I figure Liatus's got a better chance of killing things than Karnak, and if anything gets past, Karnak can keep them busy long enough for someone else to kill it.
<11: Liatus> Nevermind.
<11: Meridius> I was figuring you'd make better protection for Silana.
<11: DM> There's time to settle this before Meridius acts - it's part of "satisfied".
<11: Meridius> In the particular instance, Karnak and Liatus may act as they prefer, so long as everyone is in position by the time I open the door.
* 11: Liatus is fine with things as they are.
<11: Karnak> "I'm doing great now!" [DM]
* Meridius kicks the door open.
<DM> The door flings open and hits something lurking behind it. Out in view, you see two dire rats, and beyond them a BIG one. Dire rats are about three feet long; this one's twice that size.
<DM> Initiative checking time.
## Meridius rolled 1d20+4 = 9 (5).
<DM> For Karnak...
## DM rolled 1d20+2 = 3 (1).
## Liatus rolled 1d20+1 = 19 (18).
<Meridius> This was not a good time for me to get sucky initiative.
<DM> And for the rats...
## Silana rolled 1d20+2 = 19 (17).
## DM rolled 1d20+3 = 13 (10).
<DM> Okay, Liatus and Silana can make ranged attacks, as they might wish.
* 11: Liatus does the Toldyaso Dance.
* Liatus throws a rock at a rat.
<11: Meridius> But only because I'm firin' my six-guns at your feet.
<11: Meridius> Sorry, wrong genre. :)
<Liatus> The big rat.
* Silana takes aim at the big rat...
## Silana rolled 1d20+3 = 18 (15).
<DM> That's a hit!
## Silana rolled 1d8 = 5 (5).
<DM> The arrow sticks quivering in the thing's flank, and it emits what is probably the most distressing shriek you've ever heard. It glares at you.
<Liatus> What's my roll to throw the rock?
<Meridius> 1d20+ranged attack bonus?
<DM> Yup.
## Liatus rolled 1d20 = 1 (1).
<DM> The rock flings backward out of Liatus' hand at the wrong moment.
* 11: Liatus clearly throws like a girl.
<11: Silana> Ow.
<DM> One of the rats stays where it is, guarding the big one. The other charges out. Let's see if it can avoid falling in the hole.
## DM rolled 1d20+5 = 21 (16).
<DM> It can indeed. Odd it goes for Karnak, even for Meridius.
## DM rolled 1d2 = 2 (2).
<DM> The rat lunges at Meridius, fangs bared...
## DM rolled 1d20+3 = 14 (11).
<DM> ..to no avail. Armor is clearly Meridius' friend.
<DM> the door swings back a little bit, and a somewhat dazed looking third "regular" dire rat comes into view. It's also declining to charge.
<DM> Meridius, your turn.
<Meridius> I'll thrust at the rat that attacked me.
## Meridius rolled 1d20+4 = 11 (7).
<DM> Not good enough, alas.
<Meridius> I forgot to add flanking bonus, if I had it.
<11: Liatus> It's like the 3 Stooges
<DM> Oh, yes, add +2 for that. Reroll.
## Meridius rolled 1d20+6 = 10 (4).
<DM> Flanking over on _this_ side, sir.
<DM> Karnak directs a flurry of blows at the thing.
## DM rolled 1d20-1 = 4 (5).
## DM rolled 1d20-1 = 5 (6).
<DM> yes. Well.
<DM> Next round. Silana and Liatus?
<Liatus> I think I'm first.
<Liatus> Or we're tied actually.
<DM> Technically Silana goes first, having higher Dex.
<Liatus> Ladies first then.
* Silana takes another shot at the big one...
## Silana rolled 1d20+3 = 18 (15).
<DM> Another solid hit.
## Silana rolled 1d8 = 4 (4).
* Liatus throws another rock at the big one.
## Liatus rolled 1d20 = 2 (2).
* 11: Liatus facepalms.
<DM> Silana's second bolt leaves the big rat quivering with pain as well as anger.
<11: Liatus> I might as well be telling it jokes.
<DM> The two regular dire rats charge toward Silana.
## DM rolled 1d20+3 = 18 (15).
## DM rolled 1d20+3 = 4 (1).
<DM> One of them cleverly manages to fall in the pit. The other incurs attacks of opportunity from Meridius and Karnak.
<Liatus> Can I try to place myself between the rats and Silana?
* Meridius makes his attack of opportunity on the charging rat.
## Meridius rolled 1d20+4 = 22 (18).
<DM> You'll get an attack of opportunity as it charges past you if it gets that far, Liatus.
## DM rolled 1d20+1 = 15 (14).
<DM> This is about to be an ex-rat, however, I suspect.
## Meridius rolled 1d6+2 = 7 (5).
## DM rolled 1d6 = 1 (1).
<DM> Sure enough. The rat charges out of the door and is immediately gored and its neck broken, and it falls into the pit beside its comrade.
<DM> The big rat and its remaining companion draw back across their room, which is maybe 25' across.
<Meridius> There's still a rat on me, right?
<DM> Oh, wait, I didn't roll damage for the rat that fell into the pit.
## DM rolled 2d6 = 4 (1 3).
<DM> It's barely alive, and will be occupied for a bit climbing out.
<DM> Right now there's one rat in the pit, one dead on the threshold, and one inside with the biggie.
<Meridius> So the rat that was on me did something else? I didn't catch what.
<DM> Whoops, I got carried away. That's right, there _is_ a rat on you, instead of with the big one.
<DM> Sorry about that.
<DM> The one on you makes its next attack.
## DM rolled 1d20+3 = 12 (9).
<DM> Once again, unsuccessfully.
<DM> Now, Meridius' turn.
* 11: DM feels very embarrassed about the unintended multiplication of rats.
* Meridius takes another shot at the rat.
## Meridius rolled 1d20+4 = 20 (16).
<DM> That's another good hit.
## Meridius rolled 1d6+2 = 3 (1).
<DM> The rat's oozing blood but able to still fight on.
<DM> Karnak takes the fight to the big rat, tumbling in and pummeling it.
## DM rolled 1d20+7 = 24 (17).
## DM rolled 1d20+1 = 6 (5).
<11: Meridius> It was easy to see where that was going. :)
<DM> In his best tradition, Karnak gracefully cascades into the room and makes a totally ineffectual attack.
<DM> Next turn. Silana?
* Silana sees Meridius has his rat well in hand, and chooses to fire again at the big one.
<11: Silana> -4 for it being in melee with Karnak, right?
<11: DM> Correct.
<11: Silana> (If you can call having Karnak wave at you being 'in melee' with him...) ;)
## Silana rolled 1d20-1 = 18 (19).
<DM> Another hit!
<11: Silana> That's a 19 on the die, before the modifier. Critical?
<11: DM> Chance of it. Roll again, yes.
<11: DM> I was just looking up the language on that.
## Silana rolled 1d20-1 = 8 (9).
<11: Silana> Nope.
## Silana rolled 1d8 = 3 (3).
<DM> That's a total of 12 hits done to the big rat, and it doesn't look like it can take much more of that.
* Liatus moves around the pit and into the room to attack the big rat.
<Liatus> Can I attack it this turn or do I need to wait til next?
<DM> It's actually beyond your range to move and attack, but you can move into position and be ready to attack next turn.
<DM> The rat engaged with Meridius makes another frantic gnawing attack.
## DM rolled 1d20+3 = 8 (5).
* Liatus moves into the room attempting to distract the big rat with the bright shiney thing that is himself.
<DM> And the big rat leans forward to take a bite out of Karnak.
## DM rolled 1d20+4 = 6 (2).
<DM> Geez, these rats are so out of it.
<DM> Meridius.
<Meridius> Another thrust to the rat that's pestering me.
## Meridius rolled 1d20+4 = 21 (17).
<DM> Blammo!
## Meridius rolled 1d6+2 = 5 (3).
<11: Liatus> Rat on a stick time.
<DM> You cut right through the thing's spine, and it tumbles into the pit.
<DM> Karnak does his thing again.
## DM rolled 1d20+1 = 3 (2).
<11: DM> Darn it, Karnak, not _that_ thing.
<DM> Next round, and Silana leads again.
<11: Liatus> Karnak's thing closely resembles a pro football touchdown dance, apparently.
* With both Liatus and Karnak engaging the big rat now, Silana chooses not to take another shot at it, and instead moves up to peer carefully down into the pit and make certain the rats in it aren't coming back out soon. [Silana]
<DM> There's one badly injured but still alive rat down in there trying to get out.
<Silana> How deep is the pit?
<DM> 20'.
<11: Liatus> Oh, it appears all my rock throws should've been at +1 from my DX12
* Not wanting to waste one of her limited supply of bolts on it, Silana finds one of the rocks Liatus was throwing and drops it on the rat. [Silana]
<DM> Sure. d20 + your ranged bonus if any +2 for the circmstances.
## Silana rolled 1d20+5 = 23 (18).
<DM> Geez. That will do. 1d3 damage.
## Silana rolled 1d3 = 2 (2).
<DM> And that final blow on the head is enough to finish it off.
<11: DM> Wouldn't have mattered, though, BA. None missed by just one.
<DM> Okay, Liatus may now join the fray against the big rat.
* Liatus stabs the big rat.
## Liatus rolled 1d20+2 = 14 (12).
<DM> That hits, barely.
<DM> roll your damage.
<Liatus> Does my +2 attack bonus go to the damage roll also?
<DM> No, damage is as is.
## Liatus rolled 1d6 = 1 (1).
<11: Liatus> what is it today? I keep getting the crappiest rolls possible on any die roll without a modifier.
<DM> The rat turns its attention from Karnak to Liatus.
## DM rolled 1d20+4 = 22 (18).
## DM rolled 1d4+1 = 3 (2).
<DM> Liatus, you take three points of damage from its bite. And make a fortitude save against DC 12.
<DM> (That's a +2 roll for you.)
## Liatus rolled 1d20+2 = 22 (20).
<11: Liatus> SEE!?
<DM> You are _so_ not poisoned by the venom its bite. Possibly you give it a disease. :)
<DM> Meridius, you're up, and there is space for you to engage the big rat.
<Meridius> Will I get flanking bonus from the positioning of the other characters?
* 11: Liatus laughs off the bite and grabs his crotch while telling the rat to blow him.
<DM> Yup.
## Meridius rolled 1d20+6 = 11 (5).
<11: DM> Well, you do have 3 hp of hurt even so.
<DM> And Karnak does his thing again. Let's see if it's the same thing.
## DM rolled 1d20+1 = 19 (18).
## DM rolled 1d6+1 = 3 (2).
<11: Liatus> Holy shit. Karnak hit something!
<DM> Wow, he lands a solid blow and beats the thing to within an inch of its life. It's not quite down, but it looks like _any_ further damage will do so.
<11: Liatus> It bit me. I want to kill it.
<DM> Silana, are you letting the boys have their fun, or trying to interject this round?
<Silana> I'm not going to try to crowd in there, and shooting at it seems silly, so I'll keep an eye out from here, along with Gnaea.
<DM> Sounds good to me. Liatus, act.
* Liatus stabs the rat again.
<DM> Remember that you get +2 for flanking.
## Liatus rolled 1d20+4 = 16 (12).
<DM> That hits.
## Liatus rolled 1d6 = 1 (1).
<11: Liatus> GAH!
<DM> For hate's sake it spits at thee, and then dies.
<11: DM> That's 525 XP into the pool for folks.
<11: Liatus> yay
<DM> As the big rat dies and flops over, you can see that it was the queen rat for this brood. There's a worn spot in the north wall where something dire rat-sized could squeeze up into the rubble field above and beyond the citadel, and there's a ton of junk and several bodies around here.
<DM> Two goblins, one kobold, and one human, the remains of which wear leather armor.
* Meridius starts searching.
## Meridius rolled 1d20+2 = 20 (18).
<DM> Karnak paws through some of the debris. "Rats always hoard treasure."
## DM rolled 1d20+2 = 14 (12).
* Liatus checks the human
* Silana enters the room, with a chuckle at Karnak's comment. "The problem is that their idea of treasure and ours seldom agree." But she starts looking, also.
* Liatus searches the bodies.
## Silana rolled 1d20+1 = 8 (7).
## Liatus rolled 1d20+2 = 22 (20).
<DM> It's a man, who has a gold ring on his finger engraved with the name "Karakas". You will recall that Madam Hucrele said that was the name of the local adventurer who went off with her children.
* Liatus takes the ring as proof of his fate.
<DM> Karakas' gear is still largely intact: five daggers, the studded leather armor, a shortbow and six arrors, a half-full waterskin, a pouch with 17 gp, and a potion.
<Meridius> "How's your bowmanship, Liatus?"
<DM> Mixed in with the other bodies are three gems, 68 gp, and 300 sp.
* Liatus also pockets the gold, silver and gems, as well as the daggers before investigating the potion and waterskin.
<DM> Meepo peers into the room and recognizes the kobold remains. He rushes forward to take some memento and pocket it.
* Meridius turns to Meepo and inquires, "What is that you just took off the kobold body?"
<11: Liatus> The only martial weapon skill i have is for my sword.
<DM> Meepo holds up the embroidery on one sleeve. "Family weave. I show parents and brothers what happened to missing one."
<11: Liatus> If it had been a crossbow, I could've used it, but not a bow.
<Meridius> "Okay."
* Meridius will take the shortbow and arrows, unstring the bow and pack it all into his pilum brace.
<Liatus> Should we take the armor?
<DM> Meridius Carry-All, whatever that would be in Latin.
<Meridius> "I'll take the armor, Liatus. I may be able to refit it for Ercaius' use."
* Liatus nods and tries to make an arcana roll to ID the potion.
<DM> Go for it.
## Liatus rolled 1d20+6 = 13 (7).
<DM> You can't really tell. Something commonplace, probably, but mixed to local recipes.
* Liatus pockets it for later investigation.
<Liatus> Oh, am I able to tell how Karakas died?
<DM> The rats got him.
<DM> Or at least there's no sign of any other contributing factors.
<Liatus> Any sign of his traveling companions?
<DM> Not here, beyond some footprints that may well be theirs.
<11: Meridius> Is one's strength bonus factored in when calculating damage for a shortbow?
<DM> The rats' comings and goings make it hard to tell, of course, but it's at least possible that they got to the northern fountain chamber but not in here with the queen rat.
<Liatus> (Refresh my memory: were there any bodies in the pit traps?)
<11: DM> You have to get a mighty bow, specifically made to allow that.
<DM> Nope.
<11: Meridius> Okay.
<11: DM> (I had to go look it up. :)
<DM> So this leaves you with the fountain, if you want to do anything further with it, and the cells, three of which have rats in them.
<Meridius> "Shall we check the cells and clear out the remaining rats?"
* Liatus suggests checking the cells. If Karakas is here, the bodies of his companions may be in the other cells.
<Silana> "We may as well. And there may be further clues to the missing ones in where they are."
<DM> Liatus isn't going to say "Let there be death"?
* Meridius says to Liatus, "A good thought."
* And nods to Silana as well. [Meridius]
* 11: Liatus thinks this fountain is a trap, and you're trying to kill us all.
<11: DM> Leaving it alone, then?
<11: Liatus> And we can check it after killing the other rats.
<11: DM> Fair enough.
<DM> Okay, three of the cells are open, and have fungus-covered bones and traces of hair in them. Not much else. Each one's about 10' square; so, presumably, are the others.
<Meridius> Would Search rolls be of consequence in those cells?
<DM> Sure.
* Meridius searches the first of three.
## Meridius rolled 1d20+2 = 4 (2).
<Meridius> And doesn't find squat.
<DM> Karnak also searches.
* Silana checks the second cell.
## DM rolled 1d20+2 = 15 (13).
## Silana rolled 1d20+1 = 14 (13).
* Liatus also searches
## Liatus rolled 1d2+2 = 3 (1).
<Liatus> lets try that again
<DM> There are some things here to find!
## Liatus rolled 1d20+2 = 16 (14).
## DM rolled 1d6 = 1 (1).
## DM rolled 1d3 = 1 (1).
<DM> One each silver piece and gold piece, and two small gems.
* Meridius has a crack at the third cell.
## Meridius rolled 1d20+2 = 20 (18).
<Meridius> (Unless someone already searched it.)
<DM> I was spreading the search results around.
<DM> That's the total haul for the three rooms.
<Meridius> Okay.
<Meridius> Onto the first room full o' rats.
<DM> Well, full of rat. Karnak only saw one in each.
* Liatus readies his sword.
<karnak> "I can pull the blocks out of the way, if someone else is ready to hit the rat. I bet it'll want out." [DM]
* Silana reloads and takes up position down the hallway as backup...
<Meridius> "That's how we'll do it, Karnak. You remove the chocks and Liatus and I will stab them."
* Meridius is ready.
* Liatus is also
<DM> Karnak grabs the first block and pulls it out. A moment later a hungry dire rat pushes it open. Those wishing to fight, roll initiative.
## DM rolled 1d20+3 = 14 (11).
## Meridius rolled 1d20+4 = 21 (17).
## Silana rolled 1d20+2 = 13 (11).
## Liatus rolled 1d20+1 = 16 (15).
<DM> Meridius, you first.
* Meridius thrusts at the rat.
<DM> No flanking bonus this turn, though there will be if it lives to next.
## Meridius rolled 1d20+4 = 20 (16).
<DM> I think that suffices. :)
## Meridius rolled 1d6+2 = 8 (6).
<DM> *slice* and the rat falls dead on the spot.
<Karnak> "I'm going to be just that deadly with my BARE HANDS, you watch!" [DM]
<Meridius> Same procedure on the next cell. Will we need to roll initiative again?
<DM> Yes, since fate takes its twists and turns. Karnak pulls out the block, and another rat spills out. Initiative again.
## DM rolled 1d20+3 = 19 (16).
## Meridius rolled 1d20+4 = 6 (2).
## Silana rolled 1d20+2 = 4 (2).
<DM> Liatus should roll, too.
## Liatus rolled 1d20+1 = 7 (6).
<DM> Okay, odd the rat goes for Meridius, even it goes for Liatus. The other one gets an attack of opportunity on it.
## DM rolled 1d2 = 2 (2).
<DM> The semi-starving rat lunges at Liatus' throat. Meridius, you can exploit this before it has a chance to connect.
<Meridius> I will.
## Meridius rolled 1d20+4 = 5 (1).
<Meridius> Or not.
<DM> You're just not that exploitative a guy, I guess.
<DM> The rat bites...
## DM rolled 1d20+3 = 19 (16).
<DM> And connects!
## DM rolled 1d4 = 4 (4).
<DM> Liatus takes 4 points of damage, and must make a DC 12 Fortitude save.
<Liatus> damn it
## Liatus rolled 1d20+2 = 13 (11).
<DM> Once again, you are not poisoned.
<DM> And now you may strike back.
* Liatus stabs it.
## Liatus rolled 1d20+2 = 20 (18).
<DM> Thats' a good stab.
## Liatus rolled 1d6 = 4 (4).
<DM> It's still alive, but not by much.
<DM> Meridius?
## Meridius rolled 1d20+4 = 10 (6).
<DM> At this point you _do_ get the flanking bonus.
<DM> So I'll let you reroll that.
## Meridius rolled 1d20+6 = 17 (11).
<DM> Hit. :)
## Meridius rolled 1d6+2 = 5 (3).
<DM> That finishes it off.
<DM> Liatus, you're down 7 hp out of 12. Do you want to heal yourself before proceeding?
<Meridius> "Shall we move on the third rat?"
<Liatus> Yes
* Liatus asks the imperial presence to heal its servant so that he may continue furthering the safety fo the empire.
<DM> Roll 1d8+2 to see how many hp you regain.
<Liatus> (casting Cure Light Wounds)
## Liatus rolled 1d8+2 = 10 (8).
<DM> That takes you back up to full strength. It appears that the imperial presence is well pleased.
<DM> Now for the third rat. Karnak pulls, and the rat seizes the opportunity to charge out. Initiative time.
## DM rolled 1d20+3 = 21 (18).
## Silana rolled 1d20+2 = 15 (13).
## Meridius rolled 1d20+4 = 10 (6).
<11: Silana> So you know, SuzyQ's home and we just ordered pizza. It's due to arrive in about 20 minutes.
<11: DM> That's fine. We'll finish up this scene and set a course of action for next time.
## Liatus rolled 1d20+1 = 8 (7).
<Liatus> for the love of...
<DM> Okay, once again, odd for Meridius, even for Liatus.
## DM rolled 1d2 = 1 (1).
<DM> This time the rat goes for Meridius. Liatus, an attack of opportunity awaits you.
<DM> The imperial presence nudges Liatus. "Strike, faithful servant."
## Liatus rolled 1d20+2 = 6 (4).
<DM> Alas.
<DM> The rat bites Meridius...
## DM rolled 1d20+3 = 6 (3).
<DM> ...or rather tries to.
<Meridius> Hope he likes the taste of shield.
<11: Liatus> We're like the keystone cops tongiht.
<DM> Silana, if you want to try shooting into the fray, you can; you can also hold your action and see how the others do.
* Silana chooses to hold, just in case.
<DM> In that case, meridius, it's your turn.
* Meridius thrusts at the rat.
<Meridius> Flanking bonus?
<DM> Yup.
## Meridius rolled 1d20+6 = 21 (15).
## Meridius rolled 1d6+2 = 5 (3).
<DM> That skewers it through, and down he goes.
<Liatus> (Do we want to clear the last rat before Dan goes?)
<DM> That was the last of the three.
<Liatus> ah
## DM rolled 1d6 = 2 (2).
## DM rolled 1d3 = 2 (2).
<Meridius> Lets search these cells and then pause the game.
## DM rolled 1d4 = 3 (3).
## Liatus rolled 1d20+2 = 20 (18).
## Silana rolled 1d20+1 = 13 (12).
## DM rolled 1d20+2 = 7 (5).
* Meridius searches.
## Meridius rolled 1d20+2 = 12 (10).
<DM> Karnak searches fruitlessly.
* Liatus is clearly the lord of search tonight.
<DM> But Liatus finds 2 more sp, 2 more gp, and one more small gem.
<Liatus> Any signs of our missing townsfolk?
<DM> And you don't find any other exits - you've clearly framed the eastern edge of the citadel now, leaving only the northwestern part of goblin country and whatever parts of the kobolds' domain you haven't intruded on.
<DM> No signs of anybody dying here in the last few centuries.
* Liatus nods.
<11: DM> 300 XP for those three rats.
<Meridius> "Good work, people. Lets head back to where Ercaius is. I want to offload this armor before moving on."
<Liatus> Do we have time to try the fountain first, or would that take a long time?
<Karnak> "And THEN we can confront the goblins again?" [DM]
<DM> Oh, no, you can check out the fountain quickly.
<Meridius> "Yes, Karnak."
* Liatus stands in the doorway and speaks (Let there be death?) in Draconic.
* Silana stands back, ready to bolt if this goes wrong...
<DM> The fountain groans and wheezes, and the dragon's eyes light up. Foul-smelling smoke emerges from its mouth, filling everything within about ten feet - which is to say that it stops about 5' short of Liatus.
* Liatus readies to bolt if need be.
<DM> And there's a grinding sound, followed by a highly visible pop as the valve on that cannister in the wall breaks.
<DM> The gas stops coming out, and disperses.
<11: Liatus> See! I was right, it was a trap!
<11: DM> Liatus and Meridius divide 150 XP for finding and beating that.
<11: DM> Yes, you were right. :)
<DM> And you can proceed uneventfully back to the former dragon chamber, where Ercaius waits and recuperates.
* Liatus does so.
<Meridius> "Greetings, Ercaius. I've brought you a gift." <shows Ercaius the armor>
<Ercaius> "I believe that I am sufficiently mended in body and soul that I might accompany you, should you wish the companionship of one with some familiarity of both healing and martial arts." [DM]
<Meridius> "That would be welcome."
* Liatus wonders if he can use a bow.
<Ercaius> "Why, thank you, sir, but..." he holds up the vest of the armor, and it falls below his knees. "...it is a trifle long." [DM]
<Meridius> "I have some skill at working with armor, and ought to be able to adjust it to fit you better."
<Liatus> I'm sure we can take it in a little.
<Ercaius> "I have had no training with the bow, I fear." [DM]
<Meridius> "I'll keep the bow, as I may be the only one here who knows how to use it."
<Meridius> "Why don't we settle down to a meal and some rest."
<Ercaius> "I certainly hope that you can shorten the armor rather than trying to lengthen me." [DM]
<DM> And this is a good stopping point, I think.
<Meridius> "I have no experience altering gnomes." :)
* Silana nods. "It would probably be best for both Liatus and me to regain our magic before pressing onward, in any case."
* DM laughs.
<Meridius> How long would it take me to alter the armor to fit Ercaius, and what kind of roll would I need?
<Liatus> can I try again to id the potion?
<DM> I'll have to look that up, Chris.
<DM> And I'll have to look that up, too, BA.
* Liatus nods.
<Meridius> Okay. We'll work it out offscreen, then.
<Meridius> Silana could have a look at the potion, too, I think.
<Meridius> Was there a quiver with the arrows I picked up? If yes, how many arrows will it hold?
<DM> The rules for some of this stuff are spread over a couple of volumes.
<DM> There was a quiver, and it looks like it'd hold 20-30 arrows.
<11: Silana> Okay, time for me to go, but I'll leave this window open and the log running.
<Meridius> Cool. I'll save the rest of my questions for later.
<DM> All right, as always, thanks, folks.
<Meridius> I'll catalog the treasure and XP later and pass the results on to Jason for his page. I'll also get the log up in HTML later.
<DM> Given the way the dice were behaving, I'm surprised that only Liatus took damage. :)
*** DM is now known as Bruce.
<Bruce> Episode 7: our heroes succeed in spite of themselves. :)
<carter@q7.com>