SWAP! Netsuki 2015/04/03(Fri)16:19 No. 632825 ID: 9c7387
File 142810317175.png - (52.17KB , 356x269 , omnomnompup.png )

you are Tanavar for now, you enjoy the breakfast your sister packed, you'd miss home, but right now the sight of the priestess is quite comforting, you still feel bad for the whole bolt to the arm though, but at least this doesn't looks like a lost cause now

it's still a whole hour left before she finishes her meditation, what to do? just remember not to disturb OR endanger her, we don't want to be on her bad side again do we?

Prepare your equipment. Fine tune the crossbow if needed, scavenge for materials to make more bolts, look for armor, etc.

After she's done, ask her if she can make secondary weapons or armor for you.

Go over your current supplies and skills.

Unfortunately you dont know how to construct bolts, there are leftovers frol Lina's hide armor and planks of wood, you are confident enough in stealth and agility being way better than armour, but just in case you grab some of the wolf hide and make a note to ask if you can use them

>>632831
skills depicted in questdis thread :3

>you still feel bad for the whole bolt to the arm though
You need a less fatal way to test if someone is an evil shapeshifter. It's like a witch trial test- if it kills you you're innocent, if you survive you must be a witch. Bad practice.

Could you have touched her with a bolt, instead of shooting?

>what do
Make sure you've got your gear good to go, scout the perimeter? See if there's anything besides the mine to follow up on.

Don't get too close to anything, don't want to start anything before she's prepared.

netsuki 2015/04/03(Fri)18:23 No. 632859 ID: c31ba7
File 142811060177.jpg - (137.31KB , 640x480 , 20150403_191027.jpg )

rolled 17 + 6 = 23

---

Point taken, you don't really know if that'd work, first time you have bolts as fancy as these, worth a shot though.

you are the shadow, you are the wind, you make sure your crossbow is in top shape and stealthily move closer to the mine without losing sight of the barn to both practice skill and to inspect. Thanks to your keen sense of smell you realize the smallest structure is an outhouse, the other one is full of rusty metal scents, also it has a clear sygil of warning scribbled by mercenaries. The scent of decay hangs slightly, the mounds of earth at the right of the mine seem freshly done and they look very recent. Thankfully for you the scent isnt an inconvenience

Not even the birds picking worms in the ground hear as you walk by, after scouting you decide that's enough and you return to guard Lina, you try reading the sheeplex but no use, how much longer can meditation take?

>how much longer can meditation take?
Dunno. Small price to pay to have magic on your side, though. Reassuring to know you're with someone who can heal as easy as she did last night.

(starting tomorrow noon I'm going to be out hiking, mini-hiatus until monday, read discussion thread for more info, wanting to remain productive, might still have chance for one or two updates on saturnday morning depending on activity)

>how much longer can meditation take?
Probably not that much longer; if she was a meditate-all-day type of priestess she wouldn't be out here.

>>632859
Did you have your own camp before you encountered the priestess? Is there anything that could be useful there?

Netsuki 2015/04/06(Mon)11:18 No. 633146 ID: 225ed3
File 142834429104.png - (540.80KB , 1280x800 , scribblescribble.png )

>>633061
not really, among the things you sold to buy the equipment was your tent, bedroll, besides, a coyote doesn't needs campsites! you sleep anywhere

you take a plank of wood and some charcoal you found outside and start scribbling the blue critters you two discussed, glancing over Lina ocassionally you can't help but to wonder a mere sheep lasted this long on such a dangerous place, she's really admirable, not to mention beautiful... more than you'd like to admit out loud perhaps...

Netsuki 2015/04/06(Mon)12:45 No. 633154 ID: 8fc68e
File 142834952355.jpg - (42.36KB , 800x1066 , blue beasts.jpg )

ergh, enough of that, focus Tan, focus!

you finish the sketch and even add a totally hansome depiction of yourself next to the blue beast, the lack of eyes is the thing that seemed most unusual from it, their thick hide covered in coarse blue hairs and ocassional huge warts, the group you found was mostly naked but had remains of clothes or leather in shoulders, ankles, waist etc, however it didn't seemed like a choice of modesty, more like a disctintion of rank maybe? as their leader had the most coverage and it was leather and the weaklings had little to no 'garments' on, their stone axes also had not much of a coherency to them, some huge, others small, and using several kinds of stones, you considered taking one, but with how heavy it was for you, it was more of a bother, and such crude instrument wasn't going to get you a lot of copper pieces

>no bedroll, sleep anywhere
You might change your mind about that once we're underground.

>you can't help but to wonder a mere sheep lasted this long on such a dangerous place
(Well, it's only been a day).

>she's really admirable, not to mention beautiful... more than you'd like to admit out loud perhaps...
Watch the crush, there. You have to keep your eyes open, and can't afford to be distracted, here.

>>633154
Ugly brute, ain't he.

Netsuki 2015/04/06(Mon)17:15 No. 633181 ID: 225ed3
File 142836572709.png - (30.55KB , 261x91 , open.png )

you set aside the drawing and yawn, suddently, a small tremor interrupts your yawn, you get up and look around, the walls of the barn seem perfectly still, looking towards Lina, you notice small pebbles around her vibrating before she suddently opens her eyes, she has a slight glow in her eyes as she looks up straight at you, you insctintively shuffle to cover around your mouth with your scarf as if readying up, but it's mostly you don't want her to catch the slight blush on your cheeks,

she gently places a hand on the ground, causing another slight tremor "thanks Tanavar, now, please leave the barn" her voice sounds smooth and delicate, but this time there's a slight rumble to it, intimidating almost, how can a mere grass nibbler sound this intimidating out of nowhere?

>>633181
That's magic for you, you should probably leave so she can get dressed. (and possibly sneak a peek? Your eyes might be better put to use keeping watch elsewhere though)

>>633181
Sure, but why?

>how can a mere grass nibbler sound this intimidating out of nowhere?
You gotta let go of that latent racism, man. What she was born as has no real bearing on how scary she is, or what she's capable of.

>>633182
tempting as it sounds, you do get the impression this is not a good time for that, you had never seen a magic user -this- close, and while that makes her even more intriguing, there's a bit of lingering fear for the unknown in your insctint, so, yes, better guard elsewhere

>>633183
and she could have asked nicer, right? ... right? could it be something is wrong with her? magic interference...? meditation overload? ... it didn't quite seemed like her usual voice, might be worth to give a peek... just in case, you know, for her safety, nothing else

>>633189
you know it's frowned up in most civilized areas to think that way but you can't help it, coyote packs are full of pride on their status as predators, you'll try and make a mental note to at least tone it down, but can't promise

SWAP! Netsuki 2015/04/06(Mon)21:15 No. 633227 ID: 8fc68e
File 142838014474.png - (450.75KB , 1280x800 , rip and tear.png )

You are Lina again

soon as Tanavar gets out and closes the door, you get up, with a well placed stomp on the floor, a spike of stone emerges by the door, blocking it in place

from hoof to the tip of your head you feel imbued with a pure, warm energy, is this what it feels like to be one with mother earth? well, put aside your feelings, lamb, what matters now is that the earth is being desecrated by foul energies, and someone has to stop them

in a single movement, you tear your dress off, with your hands glowing in a pale orange hue, you drop the remains of the dress over the hide armour, weave, twirl, fiber by fiber, you focus your mend spell, intertwining dress and armour, combining both into a comfortable and yet useful fashion, you make sure it allows you to swing away and move unrestricted, today, there's no stopping you.


as you leave, you notice the chunk of wood where Tanavar sketched the beast, definitely fits what the mice told you, you are about to smash the piece of wood in determination, but out of respect for the fine craft he did, you just set it down and walk towards the door, disbanding the spike you created and opening it, ready to see the sun, probably for the last time in a long time

>>633225
>frowned upon
Well, more than that, you're setting yourself up for failure if you're going to underestimate people that way. It's dangerous, in your profession.

>>633227
Right. Hopefully you don't need to take that armor off soon, as you now lack a dress.

Onwards?

Probably should have put the armor back on first

Netsuki 2015/04/07(Tue)08:43 No. 633248 ID: 225ed3
File 142842138346.png - (651.22KB , 1280x800 , going in.png )

alright, outside, Tanavar is waiting for you, all his gear neatly packed, he just gives a swift nod and pulls out a bolt
"the guys before us marked the tool shed as dangerous, we are better off advancing"

you give him a nod and hand him one of the lamps, you carry a few bottles of kerosene in a small sack behind your back and integrated some flint to the front of your hammer just in case

let's do this, your resolve remains, but as you set one step into the mine you feel a sense of dread, Tanavar glances all around and takes a couple of sniffs

"... mice, coyote, lynx and yes, deer, the trail is at least a day old, if not a little more, I don't smell any blood, nor anything flamable... yet, let's not get overconfident, and, there is a lingering stench of the blue beasts... it wouldn't surprise me if they made this their den with all the mess"

>>633248
Well a pitch black cave/mine would be the perfect place for a group of blind(?) monsters. Try to keep quiet on your way in. Detect magic might help out once you find the room they're in, but it won't work too well through stone.

So... Cautiously advance and explore? Is there more than a single path down, yet?

>>633250
We also have limited castings of detect magic. We can't afford to spam it, unfortunately.

Netsuki 2015/04/07(Tue)10:31 No. 633255 ID: 225ed3
File 142842790833.png - (371.72KB , 1280x800 , into the mine.png )

>>633254
you can barely see beyond the range of the lamp, you only spot an exit to the right, however Tanavar assures you he sees the cave come to a dead end but before that, there's an exit to the left, he turns off his lamp, sugesting you to dim yours, it might make seeing harder but also reduce risk of an ambush, however you don't like the idea of going without light, and it's not like the blind critters will notice anyways, right?

You're going to need light to find your enemies.

>it's not like the blind critters will notice anyways, right?
You don't know everything will be blind.

I'd dim the light. You're traveling with a thief- no reason to throw away stealth.

Check the dead end before proceeding, just in case.

>>633255
I say to the right, we can do the old fashion maze solving trick of following the right wall. Maybe place a bit of stone/wood/whatever you can notice the way you came from though. It wouldn't be good to go in a circle without knowing.
And go with keeping the light up. Just personal preference in my case.

Netsuki 2015/04/08(Wed)08:31 No. 633409 ID: 225ed3
File 142850707907.png - (410.73KB , 1280x800 , hoole.png )

>>633276
sounds reasonable, you follow the right wall... without actually touching it, it turns right... then left and comes to a sudden dead end, the wall here seems quite worked on, you see some glittering rocks, metal maybe? and a pike embeded in the wall, you walk towards it but Tanavar holds your elbow and points down, placing his finger in front of his face motioning for silence, a perfectly round hole sits in front of the wall, almost five foot diameter and with incredibly smooth walls

Leave it alone for now, you don't need a pike.

This looks like a trap. And something was already dragged down there, to judge by the claw marks.

Pity we've got no mirror, or magical way to peer over the edge without getting close. I guess he could try and sneak up on it, but I'm not sure if that's smart.

...I suppose if anything we're down there, you could collapse things on it with earth magic?

Remember the map. This may very well be a dead end. Can Tanavar smell anything in particular from the suspicious pit?

Netsuki 2015/04/08(Wed)10:41 No. 633421 ID: 225ed3
File 142851488782.png - (58.63KB , 367x323 , ohrightthemap.png )

>>633418
(... I had forgotten entirely about that map! I only had the one in my notes but forgot Lina got that one in the other thread, thanks <_< )

you ask Tanavar to inspect the area while you take out the map from your pack


he sniffs around and nods for a moment, backing away from the hole to the corner you came from
"... a coyote definitely marked territory here, and seemed frustrated" he inches closer towards the hole and sniffs the marks "rodent, no doubt, and scared, very scared" he lays down on the floor, running a hand down the border of the hole and takes a quick sniff as close as he can get before crawling back to you

"it's too smooth, I don't detect any trace of blood, and there are no scents from the hole, it seems to go waaay down but I really don't want to risk it"

you take out the map, running a finger over it, you trace the route you took so far, making a note that it needed to be turned upside down for you to read it, it was probably drawn from a perspective from in to outside

>>633421
Explore each area, and scavenge as much stuff as you can. Prepare yourself before going down the corridor with the big "NO!!" sign on the map.

Alright let's leave the hole alone.
Go back to the intersection and go the other way, then take two lefts. Let's see what that branch that heads back towards the cliff face is about.

>>633421
Not a great map. Everything is a dead end, turn back, or no.

But yeah, this hole is such a trap. Back the heck off. Check the next dead end.

Netsuki 2015/04/09(Thu)11:14 No. 633592 ID: 225ed3
File 142860324639.png - (376.46KB , 1280x800 , deaddeaddeadend.png )

rolled 10 = 10

---

>>633432

sounds good, there might be something of interest in that scribbly dead end, so, start walking towards the end, and... ugh

>>633462
that stench, you cover your nose and turn to Tanavar, he has a stern look and steps in front of you "it's not a preety sight, but we came here with a mission, miss"

you walk forward towards the dead end and run across two mice trapped in the wall, they have rough work clothes, the one in the right has a bewildered expression, and both are covered in blood, you hear the buzzing of flies around them, Tanavar walks closer and nods ".. they where mercy killed by the Lynx and Coyote likely, but I doubt they could have trapped the mice like that in stone

>>633592
Damnit. Nothing you can do for these two, but their corpses might make a good distraction. Keep going, but place a lantern here as a marker.

! Netsuki 2015/04/09(Thu)11:22 No. 633597 ID: 225ed3
File 142860375161.png - (104.93KB , 1280x800 , crawlers.png )

both of you look up, you hear a slithering coming from the hallway on the left and Tanavar picks up a scent, looking up, you see a group of four giant centdipe-like critters slowly aproaching

>but I doubt they could have trapped the mice like that in stone
Your master could have, though. Big question why he'd be trapping people, though.

>monsters
Can you do that trick you did before, shoving a spike of earth to block the door? They're on the ceiling- if you shoved them off, they'd fall, and be vulnerable to a free attack.

rolled 19, 18 + 4 = 41

---

>>633600
fight!

you step behind Tanavar and focus your magic strenght in your hands, with a swift twirl, you smash your warhammer in the floor while the other focuses energies up to the roof, focusing on the nearest worm-like critter

it's not like they have much chance of dodging, as they are firmly clinging to the ceeling!

Netsuki 2015/04/09(Thu)16:10 No. 633633 ID: 225ed3
File 142862102565.png - (248.20KB , 625x463 , SMASHexclamationmark.png )

rolled 5 + 2 = 7

---

direct hit! the shockwave travels on the rocks and causes a spike to form directly over the critter, you impact the beast directly in it's middle, making it shriek loudly

Netsuki 2015/04/09(Thu)16:14 No. 633634 ID: 225ed3
File 142862127863.png - (289.39KB , 1280x800 , skreeee.png )

rolled 3 + 1 = 4

---

SKREEE! the critter trashes about in pain, that hit the spot apparently, however it still looks lively, by the time it resumes it's trashing...

Netsuki 2015/04/09(Thu)16:20 No. 633640 ID: 225ed3
File 142862165527.png - (90.29KB , 1148x514 , combatcrawlers.png )

rolled 1 = 1

---

it doesn't falls from the ceeling, but it rather remains hanging from the spike, a large splash of blood gushes down as the wound worsens, leaving it also helpless
(foe1 recives -1hp for a number of turns equal to dice result)

the other worms ignore this and continue their slow advance towards you

damage recived:
L:0
T:0
1:8
2:0
3:0
4:0

>>633640
Could you use terms other than L and T for dice results? Not all of us will understand it. (Me included in those that don't understand)

>>633641
L=lina sheep, T=tanavar coyote, so far only the nearest worm labeled as 1 has recieved damagr, it's pinned to the ceeling since this was surprise round, Lina and Tanavar get to act once before the worms catch up

>>633641
I think that's just totaling damage taken between characters. Lina, Tanavar, and 3 of the worms are unhurt, worm 1 took 8 damage.

>what do
Letting yourselves get backed into a dead end is a bad idea. There's nothing wrong with keeping your distance, but you should be backing towards the entrance, not towards the mouse corpses. Depending on how quickly the worms move, it might already be too late to correct this.

Worm 1 is slowed / pinned in place for the moment. Until it frees itself, that makes worm 2 the most pressing threat. Crossbow or thrown dagger to the face?

Assuming we just cast spike growth, and that we started at full capacity, we're now down to 6 mana.

>>633647
There is still time to move before they catch up

Thorn burst was used, no mana is spent yet, spike growth can potentially hit them all

Lina and Tanavar can move and attack or attack first and move later, unless they use an item or something more complex, if they move they could avoid #2 from reaching them

>>633649
Thorn burst seems pretty effective, and since it has no cost, may as well keep doing it. Unless it's something complex enough to prevent Lina moving, since getting out of the way is good. I don't know that she has any other ranged capabilities though? If it's too complex probably just back off and be prepared to bash.

Tanavar should shoot and then move away.

>>633653
Yeah, these things move slowly, and thorns slow them down further. I see no reason not to kite them, keeping our distance and using conserving mana.

>>633653
Thorn burst is free, it was a lucky shot that this one gets pinned, spike burst costs 2 mana but covers 20 Sq ft it can harm the whole four twice if played right

Netsuki 2015/04/10(Fri)08:59 No. 633719 ID: 225ed3
File 142868153914.png - (228.96KB , 701x605 , aimtanavar.png )

rolled 11 + 4 = 15

---

>>633653
Tanavar steps back slightly as he pulls out a regular bolt, locking it in place, he takes aim at the second critter

rolled 3 = 3

---

(accidentally posted the outcome of the attack in the discussion thread, but it was too good of an outcome not to keep it! roll in >>/questdis/90183 )

the giant worm falls down, emitting a quick skree-ing sound as it flails, the bolt digging further down as it hits the floor

1/2 Netsuki 2015/04/10(Fri)09:58 No. 633724 ID: 225ed3
File 142868512149.png - (414.27KB , 528x754 , hammersmash.png )

rolled 4, 7 + 4 = 15

---

alright! joint efforts! Lina takes aim at the fallen worm, attempting to pin it in place right as it falls

2/2 Netsuki 2015/04/10(Fri)10:08 No. 633725 ID: 225ed3
File 142868570136.png - (216.03KB , 1280x800 , itsnotveryeffective.png )

smash!

either the spike you conjured was made out of too brittle materials or you struck the critter in a particularly strong spot because it seemed to be unaffected entirely, it hisses angrily and lunges at Tanavar, not quite reaching him but it's dangerously close now

worm1 trashes about attempting to free itself, but in the process only bleeds out a little more

worms 3 and 4 quickly slither by closing in

Netsuki 2015/04/10(Fri)10:17 No. 633726 ID: 225ed3
File 142868626692.png - (180.55KB , 1280x800 , crawlersround1.png )

end round 1, you keep backing away, this time towards the door, Tanavar remains in front of you but he doesn't seems to be able to take hits very well...

first worm is pinned helplessly, second was unaffected by your thorn but still has the bolt deeply stabbed on it's side and it's angrily lunging towards the coyote mercenary

damage recived:
L:0
T:0
1:9
2:13
3:0
4:0

round over, tanavar and lina are next again

All right. Swap. Lina, it's hammer time. Get in there and act as the tank so Tanavar can get some sneak attacks in.

Maybe barkskin? I'm not sure if that would be wasting a once a day casting, or if miserliness is setting us up to soak a bunch of damage.

>>633728
Sounds good. I don't think barkskin yet, hopefully we can squeak through without getting bit.

1/2 Netsuki 2015/04/10(Fri)17:36 No. 633790 ID: 225ed3
File 142871256979.png - (365.89KB , 1280x800 , motherearthslove.png )

rolled 12 + 6 = 18

---

>>633728
>>633762

alright, so, magic works against them, but it's not foolproof, you know? it's time to deliver some divine love to these critters

in the face

with a huge swing of a blessed hammer

so you rush in front of Tanavar, asking him to do his stuff as you swing using both hands at worm #2

2/2 Netsuki 2015/04/10(Fri)17:43 No. 633794 ID: 225ed3
File 142871303220.png - (290.52KB , 1280x800 , cracktilde.png )

rolled 7 + 4 = 11

---

>>633790
nailed it! square in the face too, hope that messes up some of it's hideous teeth, gah these things unnerve you to no end!

1/2 Netsuki 2015/04/10(Fri)17:56 No. 633795 ID: 225ed3
File 142871376158.png - (378.05KB , 991x800 , HitEmHigh.png )

rolled 1, 7 + 4 = 12

---

>>633728
CRACK!

splatter~

okay +1 respect to sheep from now on for Tanavar, gooey bug brainbits paint the walls of the mine and he barely dodges a flying piece of antenae, this boosts his resolve, Tanavar doesn't sees much point in beating a dead horse so he tries to be cool as well, aiming his crossbow sideways towards the helpless pinned worm in the ceeling

(due to falling damage, sneak attack bonus, and bleeding, (an average cumulative of +7 plus whatever the shot is) I'll say a positive hit will auto-kill it to avoid pointless dice rolling, unless you guys want the gritty detail?)

rolled 1 + 1 = 2

---

>>633795
... and that's a miss, good job looking cool Tanavar, the bolt smashes to pieces in the cave's ceeling, the worm startled shakes itself free from the spike and falls down to the ground with a loud thud, at least taking some damage from the awkward fall

1/3 Netsuki 2015/04/10(Fri)18:06 No. 633798 ID: 225ed3
File 142871437798.png - (329.64KB , 1280x800 , attackofthethreetans.png )

rolled 19 + 4 = 23

---

too late for anything! third worm lunges at Lina, she manages to react, whipping her shield in front of her face...

Netsuki 2015/04/10(Fri)18:11 No. 633799 ID: 225ed3
File 142871468490.png - (388.09KB , 1280x800 , attackofthethreetansplusfour.png )

rolled 3, 4 + 2 = 9

---

a loud bleat echoes in the mine, the critter bites into her arm right before the shield, the other worm slithers by and rears in before attacking

worm 1 merely squirms in place, it seems very weak but it starts to incorporate with an angry hiss, glaring at Tanavar

3/3 Netsuki 2015/04/10(Fri)18:17 No. 633801 ID: 225ed3
File 142871507998.png - (194.02KB , 1280x800 , crawlersround2.png )

end round 2

the worm bitting on you doesn't seems to want to let go but you shove it away with your shield, giving half a step back, with a twirl, you put your hammer in front of you, you didn't came this far to be eaten by some worm did you? Tanavar shuffles his feet backwards, some valiant predator he is turning out to be!


damage recieved
Lina: 9
Tanavar: 0
1: 11
2: 30 [dead]
3: 0
4: 0

Huh. Those things are bigger than I expected. And hit harder, too.

Lina's down to 15 hp. The worms are capable of doing (at least) 9 damage. A concentrated attack could easily be fatal.

>what do
If we concentrate fire on worm 3, we can probably kill it. (Lina smash it against the wall, follow up with a sneak attack). Then we both move backwards. Worm 1 won't be able to catch up injured, worm 4 will close.

>>633802
That works. Stay to the left so the corner is in worm 1's way in case it has a spit attack or something.

1/4 netsuki 2015/04/12(Sun)12:30 No. 634017 ID: 61d26b
File 142886703686.png - (361.15KB , 800x1280 , linahammersmash3.png )

rolled 13, 3 + 6 = 22

---

Ok this should be easy, you take the chance as the worm edges around the corner and swing your whole body to pin it down full force, aiming at the middle for a wider target,

2/4 netsuki 2015/04/12(Sun)12:36 No. 634019 ID: 61d26b
File 142886736141.png - (366.92KB , 800x1280 , tanavaraim3.png )

rolled 6, 6 + 4 = 16

---

Tanavar shuffles back while he loads the next bolt, he takes aim and fires, no fancy side aiming, its pointless to try to impress her if she ends up dead, as the hammer impacts the critter, he simultaneously shoots at its face trying to discourage it from advancing further

3/4 netsuki 2015/04/12(Sun)12:45 No. 634024 ID: 61d26b
File 142886790163.png - (430.41KB , 800x1280 , hammerhitboltmiss.png )

rolled 7 + 4 = 11

---

Hammer hits dead on, the bolt however snaps in half as it impacts the wall, you roll your eyes and snap a bleat at Tanavar to take it seriously, some mercenary he is turning out to be, you start to retreat and yank him over to safety

4/4 netsuki 2015/04/12(Sun)12:57 No. 634026 ID: 61d26b
File 142886866612.png - (260.30KB , 800x1280 , woundedworm.png )

rolled 5, 16 + 2 = 23

---

A eerie squeal echoes as the third worm starts flailing in agony, you literally hit a nerve there and it starts to twitch in pain and confusion, meanwhile fourth worm attempts to close in, unexpectedly lashing out one of its tentacles at Lina's ankle, however, the flailing of the other worm gets in the way

netsuki 2015/04/12(Sun)13:12 No. 634029 ID: 61d26b
File 142886953193.png - (326.12KB , 800x1280 , end round3.png )

You trip due to the unexpected reach of the worm tentacles but its not yet near enough to bite, in your next turn you either full on attack, cast a spell but stay there or do nothing but get up and run. Worm 3 is busy flailing and worm 1 says f#€& the lot of you and slithers towards the mouse corpses

damage taken
Lina :9
tanavar: 0
1: 11
2: 30 [dead]
3: 17 [very wounded]
4:0

>>634029
How about you grapple its shit, and Tanavar stabs it.

Geeze, so much for an accuracy bonus versus distracted or immobilized opponents. He's missing things that aren't even trying to dodge. Bad luck.

>what do
Ignore worms 1 and 3, they're basically out of the fight for now. Worm 1 might heal if it gets to eat, and corpse desecration is bad, but we have to prioritize protecting the living.

Tanavar, step forward and around and attack worm 4. It's holding / focused on Lina, which means it's either open to attack, or has to relinquish that advantage to deal with you. Either stab / shoot it down, or slash the tentacle holding her.

Lina, thorn burst, straight up from under worm 4. With you forward, Tanavar to the side (attacking down) and worm 3 to the other side, it has nowhere to go, unless it has the foresight to disengage and do a hard reverse.

netsuki 2015/04/13(Mon)05:09 No. 634114 ID: 225ed3
File 142892699694.png - (593.16KB , 1280x800 , linatanavarworm4.png )

rolled 9, 9, 14, 11 = 43

---

>>634050
... that's a thing, good plan, too. (Stuffing all 4 accuracy dice rolls here, Lina's rolls are the first two, Tanavar's rolls are the last two, both have a +4)

You feel the tendrils slither on your ankle and out of reactionyou slam your palm on the ground conjuring a spike, bleating angrily at Tanavar to shoot it good this time

netsuki 2015/04/13(Mon)05:29 No. 634116 ID: 225ed3
File 142892816442.png - (273.82KB , 1280x800 , wormstab.png )

rolled 6, 3 + 4 = 13

---

You feel the worm tug up at your leg roughly as it jerks up from the dual impact, bracing yourself to thr hammer you try kicking at it with your free leg so it lets go

netsuki 2015/04/13(Mon)05:39 No. 634117 ID: 225ed3
File 142892877073.png - (367.11KB , 800x1280 , liftLina.png )

rolled 17, 12 = 29

---

The worm trashes about, it suddently lifts up attempting to yank you up, you try to tug yourself fre and kick at it wildly! (First result is Lina, second is worm, Lina has +2 to her check)

You kick at it repeatedly and the tentacles start to slide, at last it lets go and you fall over with a thud, Tanavar quickly takes your hand and drags you just out of the tentacles' reach, panting, the worm hisses furiously and tries to catch up but only manages to injury itself more on the spike

End round 4
damage taken 
Lina :9 
tanavar: 0 
1: 11 
2: 30 [dead] 
3: 17 [very wounded] 
4:16 [very wounded, pinned, bleeding]

Assuming worm 1 is still far enough away not to bother with (we didn't get a map update this time, and if it's disappeared or closed that changes things) it's time to coup de grâce worms 3 and 4. They're both heavily wounded and partially immobile, one careful tap each should do it. Prioritize 4 first (in case of a miss) since it's closer.

>>634120
Derp right. 1 is examining the corpses, 3 is now weakly twitchingm 4 is flailing but pinned to the spike. So it cant catch up. Its harder to edit the map on the tablet

>>634120
I agree.

netsuki 2015/04/13(Mon)13:26 No. 634198 ID: b64b3b
File 142895680207.jpg - (135.98KB , 800x1108 , 3and4dead_01.jpg )

>>634120
>>634162
Sounds like a plan, neither worm is willing to fight so each of you take it up to dispatch them, you hammersmash #4 full gorce and Tanavar gives it a swift series of stabbings to #3 until it ceases moving. #1 is nibbling away at the mouse corpse leg until it comes off, you can't take much of that sight and smell as you dash off a few feet away from the scene to throw up

>you can't take much of that sight and smell as you dash off a few feet away from the scene to throw up
Well, that's unfortunate. We can't really afford to be wasting food that way.

Lina's being sick, Tanavar, you're up. Shoot the last worm in the back of the head while it's distracted by food. Use stealth to set up the shot.

Netsuki 2015/04/13(Mon)17:56 No. 634253 ID: 225ed3
File 142897301083.png - (256.88KB , 1280x800 , theend.png )

there we go, it wasn't as elegant as you thought it'd be but you dealt with the menaces


huff, okay, time to regain composture, you twitch an ear, in the background you hear a crossbow bolt being fired followed by a loud crunch, not wanting to turn around you wait until you hear Tanavar reasuring you, all four are dead now

slowly, you get up and rub your eyes with a weak smile, though clumsy, you have to admit his help was great, it's good not to be alone, but enough of that, there's a path ahead and you need to go on, even if you clearly don't feel very sure about it

--

Tanavar time~

taking a day long break from this while I organize my thoughts in the Discusion thread, and give updates to Lina and Tanavar who just leveled up, we start on Wednesday taking control of Tanavar who is at the moment more focused and cold minded, or at least should be

critiques and comments welcome there, thanks for all the support <3

Alright, time to rest a little and heal that wound. I'm sure glad thorn burst is a free spell...

>what do
Standard procedure- stab / smack the bodies just to be sure.

Not sure we really want to leave bodies of the mice here for anything else to get into. Not sure we can do much though- we don't have the time to magic them free, drag them outside any bury them. We don't have fire spells.

Maybe we could just sink them the rest of the way into the stone? (Although I'm not sure Lina's earth-shaping is that good). And purify would restore the bodies, not hurry them along, I think.

>>634117
Congrats on being too distracted by the fight to notice the chance to see up (down) her skirt, Tan.

Netsuki 2015/04/15(Wed)08:45 No. 634576 ID: 225ed3
File 142911273312.png - (215.96KB , 1280x800 , thatsalotofworms.png )

you are Tanavar now

>>634269
>>peek up/down
that may or may not have been the reason you kept missing, trying too hard to impress her or being too distracted gawking at her, but that's turning out bad, you have to settle down your feelings, focus, stay cool

while she takes her time to heal her wound, you gaze around, the scent of decay in the mice is bound to attract more, and judging by how much worm#1 was enjoying the rotten leg, it is likely more of these or worse carrion eating critters will come, you start to pile up the worms under the mice and take out one of the bottles of kerosene you packed from the barn, however, would the smoke attract more critters? it might not be a bad thing for you, to use it as distraction, you consider asking Lina but she seems to be spacing out, kneeling on the spot, you're not sure if she's meditating or zoning out

>>632823
Um, what's the air slash ventilation situation, here? You're not gonna choke yourself or us up the oxygen starting a fire, right?

Instead, how about you remove the corpses from the mine? Bury them. Oooooor we could keep going and try to see if we can find survivors before we take care of the dead. I'm partial to the latter, because we shouldn't be wasting time and smoke inside a mine is a bad idea.

>>634601
Seconding going onwards. Dealing with the corpses is a lower priority when the source of the problem still seems to be active.

>>634601
Well the problem with burial is it's a time / labor sink. We have to magic the mice free of the stone or butcher their bodies out of their restraints, we have to drag the bodies out, dig a hole deep enough scavengers won't dig 'em up anyways, and then fill it in again.

>>634596
Which way the smoke is gonna go would impact things. What does your nose / thief skills tell you about the air currents down here?

1/2 Netsuki 2015/04/15(Wed)14:35 No. 634641 ID: 225ed3
File 142913372862.png - (96.08KB , 461x446 , sniffsniff.png )

rolled 17, 16 = 33

---

you remove the wraps from your nose and sniff...

ears flapping at the same time and you try to calculate the direction of the wind, it's not something they taught you at the mercenary guild but it's worth a shot

huh, it's not that hard is it? you smell the damp air from inside the cave blowing past you, and your ears hear it's subtle whistling as it goes by, you almost could dare say there is a distant dripping of water waaay down

the little particles of dust settling from the battle seem to also roll out towards the entrance of the cave but it's a very slow and steady pace

netsuki 2015/04/16(Thu)13:28 No. 634810 ID: 2691c4
File 142921613750.jpg - (171.43KB , 800x1108 , Keepwalking_01(1).jpg )

Hmmm yeah too much risk, too much hassle. Lina finnaly gets up and she informs you that she has a new offensive spell ready, after talking it out. You both agree not to deal with th corpses now .

still shaken, Lina asks you to guide her past the bodies as she closes her eyes and takes a deep breath, with the worms out of the way you slowly help her past the site of the fight. Now th choice is to keep to the right wall or explore the branch with a dead end and a squiggly scribble

>>634810
Squiggly scribble.

Explore the dead ends. We want to make sure creatures are not hiding there to attack from behind later.

Dead ends, first.

>>634816
>>634827
>>634828
What they said.

Netsuki 2015/04/17(Fri)08:10 No. 634951 ID: 225ed3
File 142928341989.png - (255.78KB , 1280x800 , second Deadend.png )

>>634827
>>634828
>>634835

you nudge Lina to open her eyes after you go past the corpses, facing down the hallway, you notice a caution sign placed by mercenaries

"careful with metal equipment"

as you inch closer, everything is coated in a fine red dust, several large critters seem to be slain, way in the bottom of the hallways, outisde of Lina's visual reach, you notice a set of stone bars and several skulls, bones and othersuch scattered all over the place

wait... there is a little squealing coming from the side of the big critters, you notice a small lump moving about

>>634951
>metal equipment
>fine red dust
Rust?

>Squealing
What are we looking at? Child of one of the critters? Rat? Unidentified monsterling?

Ask Lina if she's good with animals (she is). She can go speak with what I assume is a baby.

netsuki 2015/04/17(Fri)15:00 No. 635006 ID: d36a13
File 142930802662.jpg - (98.99KB , 800x1108 , Notas_20150417_161729_01.jpg )

Both approach the large critters carefully in case any springs alive and attack, Lina with readied hammer and you with crossbow pointed. They seem to be flea-like critter , allof them with several slash wounds, you estimate at least several hours long. Aproaching the source of movement you see a smaller one nosing at the dead ones

You turn to Lina and ask if she can do anything, she gently places her hammer down on tge ground a few seconds , then her eyes glow in a pale red, she speaks on a much lower pitch, emmitting little clicks and hisses. Almost like the gentle sound of gravel rolling down a hill

the critter responds with squeals and raspy breaths. After a brief exchange she pulls out a hand axe from her pack and throws it in front of the dog sized flea, turning towards you she smiles "it was just scared and hungry" the flea thing uses its antennae to grip the axe and bring it close to it's maw where it starts nibbling on it, the axe slowly corroding to fine dust

A rust monster!

Well, so long as it doesn't try and eat the gear we're actually using, that's fine, I guess.

I'd almost wonder if it's worth taking with us, but we're going to be fighting monsters, not people with weapons to eat. That, and an untrained wild animal isn't the best to travel with.

>>635006
I don't suppose we could ask what happened here? It's just a baby, so if we bring it with us to possibly bypass any metal obstructions, it should stay out of combat.

Have the little guy wait for you at the entrance to the cave. He might be useful later on - most enemy gear is made of tempered metals, and it's not like there's a metal shortage.

Does it know anything about what went on here?

Netsuki 2015/04/20(Mon)10:25 No. 635478 ID: 225ed3
File 142955074740.png - (143.34KB , 574x557 , LinaRusty.png )

>>635009

shush, the politically correct term is Critter! even 'Mite, how can you call something this cute a monster? you should totally give it a name

>>635043
>>635014
>>635046

Lina talks to it some more but in the end she takes the critter and sets it on her head, the rust mite rubs its antennaes on her horns playfully as she glances over to you "it doesn't knows much, when it arrived everyone was dead, not much of an emotional critter, it's just happy to be fed now"

well, no harm bringing it along, your only concern is your two daggers, as the crossbow is made from a non-steel alloy, so it won't hurt, but if you want to keep him alive, yeah, leaving out of battle is preferred

you wait while Lina plays with the mite and you scoot over to the end of the hallway, there are several remains, the bones look clean and probably some 2 weeks old or so, no real signs of violence... the skull count seems... 5 and fraction, and the 'bars' of stone seem clearly made with magic

>>635478
Doesn't seem like anything more to be done here. Let's go back to the intersection and try the other path.

>shush, the politically correct term is Critter! even 'Mite, how can you call something this cute a monster?
I'd rebut that's not what the monster manual calls them, but I somehow doubt it's a politically correct publication. :p

>no harm bringing it along
From a completely cynical game-play perspective, an adorable pet might be a useful resource in keeping sanity scores up. (Might be double edged if it gets horribly killed, though).

>food?
Well, I guess we just have to hope there's metal in the mine. Not unreasonable if this is it's natural habitat.

>the 'bars' of stone seem clearly made with magic
More work of Lina's master? That's the second example of magical earthen restraints in short order. Why was he locking the mice up to die? Were they possessed or something, and it was the only option besides killing them? He thought he'd be back?

Netsuki 2015/04/22(Wed)08:49 No. 635842 ID: 225ed3
File 142971775376.png - (571.90KB , 1280x800 , handbyhand.png )

alright, enough here, you hear some noises down the hallway, Lina seems to notice them too, as you head over to the hallway, Lina signals to wait and lowers the intensity of her lamp as much as she can

.. it'd be safer if you take her hand, right? as you reach the edge of the bifurcation, you notice the terrain starts angling downards sharply, the intersection suddently starts sloping down, apparently the end of the longer path is an access to a lower level of the mine, in that direction, you hear the disctint grunts of the blue critters you faced earlier... except there seems to be quite a bunch of them

I suggest leaving the cuddlebug behind, telling it to stay put, and coming back after the fighting. No need to get it hurt.

If there's a large group of enemies, we should start off hitting the group with an area spell while they're not expecting it (spike growth, probably. It would also hinder their ability to charge or gang up on us if the terrain is all chewed up). Time it so that Tav opens with a ranged assassinate at the same time or right before the spell goes off for maximum effect.

>>635842
Lina has a trap spell. We can lure them onto that. First though, go scout (alone). Stealth mode activate.

>>635845
Seconded.

Netsuki 2015/04/22(Wed)15:40 No. 635887 ID: 225ed3
File 142974244655.png - (253.68KB , 1280x800 , downthesecondlevel.png )

rolled 10 + 6 = 16

---

>>635856
ok, you leave Lina behind, she inches back to the bifurcation where she leaves another hand axe for the rust baby quietly

you head further down the shaft for the second level, the air feels humid and dense, so far you spot one sitting down, apparently eating? one is smashing it's stone axe on the wall and you spot other three partially around the corner, judging by the grunts, there's one or two more behind, so, 6-7? you make sure to keep to the lower left corner as you slowly make your way in

Netsuki 2015/04/22(Wed)15:45 No. 635888 ID: 225ed3
File 142974273602.png - (335.15KB , 1280x800 , downthesecondlevel2.png )

>>635887
okay, seven for sure, you slowly scoot back, it's not your most silent sneak, but they seem rather distracted and not really the attentive kind

one of them is definitely eating in the corner, and one is probably asleep, now the choice is, have lina cast the spikes directly under them right after your first shot, or cast it on the way and lure them in with your shot?

either way, you backtrack slightly so you can inform Lina of the plan of action

>>635888
Lure them into the trap. She can slam them with those free single spikes too. Maybe tangle one of them with vines if they get past the trap. Gotta work on crowd control in this situation.

The hallway is a better contained space than the room. If you can get them in there, the spikes will be worse.

Assassinate one at range to lure the angry creatures into the hallway, then blast the group with spikes.

1/3 Netsuki 2015/04/27(Mon)18:33 No. 636686 ID: d5d12f
File 143018480089.png - (647.08KB , 1280x800 , sketch1429896453572.png )

rolled 13, 4 + 8 = 25

---

you whisper over to Lina the plan, she nods and informs you that she's going to set the little 'mite back and convince it to stay on the spot

you nod and turn around, preparing crossbow to fire off the first bolt at her signa-whoaaaaaa


you feel a warmth spread on your shoulder, turning around, Lina whispers as her eyes glow "May the blessings of mother earth lead us trough perils and help us heal this mine from it's impurities... and may your shots be true THIS time" she adds with a little grin "... let's show them what we can do, bad boy" she steps back twirling her hammer and holding it above her head, waiting for you to shoot

2/3 Netsuki 2015/04/27(Mon)19:22 No. 636699 ID: d5d12f
File 143018774924.png - (351.92KB , 1280x800 , boomheadshot.png )

rolled 15 + 4 = 19

---

>>636686
zzzzzzzwhhhTOK


the larger figure swings his axe up as the bolt hits straight in the back of it's head, the splatter of blood in the wall indicates the bolt managed to go all the way across, the only noise you hear comes a few seconds after from the two nearest critters, they emmit a sharp shriek of anger as the bigger figure falls down in a bloody mess


o.o guy doesn't has a chance to survive the hit, not even on the lowest damage roll

you prepare your next bolt, giving half a step back, you brace and try to keep the brave appearance as Lina swings the hammer down and though you can sense a slight shockwave under your feet, you don't really notice any change, only under very VERY close attention you notice the razor sharp stone formations covered in a fine sand, okay....

steady.... steady...


"~ Oh Ragar you fool!"

you blink, Lina, behind the corner, taps the hammer on a rock in the floor rythmically with a hip sway

"betrayed and enraged,
you had the chance, but no princess
was quite the same in your heart~!"

her bleating singing voice echoes, the verse cut short by a series of angry hisses and growls from the beasts below

Lina tilts her head up as she continues to sing in time for the beasts to race uphill in a rage, straight towards you

perform check for the song!

3/3 Netsuki 2015/04/27(Mon)19:41 No. 636702 ID: d5d12f
File 143018889635.png - (349.88KB , 1280x800 , OdeToLadgertha.png )

rolled 3, 3 = 6

---

"Oh Ragnar what a fool~!
that sly valkyre was both
your savior and your doom!"

Lina taps the hammer rythmically, the echo of her song starts behaving strangely, the critters seem disoriented, even your ears can't tell where exactley the song comes from with all the echo in the mine, one by one, they rush full speed trough the field of spikes, the first three ones seemingly enraged plow trough most of the spike field until they fall, unable to go on, while the last ones to catch up barely enter the field but in their confusion they seem driven to go on

Lina twirls her hammer over her shoulder as she faces the beasts trapped by the spikes

"Ladgertha, as fair as she is fierce
was your vice and your virtue,
but such is love, oh bold and brave
Ragnar, all in all we know it was worth it!"

with a wide arc of her hammer, she enlarges one of the spikes holding the nearest critter, impaling it as it remains helpless, looking over her shoulder at you, she nods "alright pup, let's dance!"

end round 1 Netsuki 2015/04/27(Mon)19:52 No. 636706 ID: d5d12f
File 143018953257.png - (224.78KB , 1280x800 , endround1.png )

>>636702

... that was massive! but, right, gotta think quick! finish off the ones in front or aim for the ones in back?

Damage taken:
Tanavar:0
Lina:0
Rusty(?):0
1: -dead-
2: 30 -dead-
3: 18 -prone-
4: 12 -prone-
5: 12 _charging_
6: 6 _charging_
7: _charging_

Cast magic and fire bolts until they come into close combat range, and then step back to the right and pummel while you can!

And where did the little guy go?

>>636707
Red spot in the map with antennaes

>finish off the ones in front or aim for the ones in back?
Let the melee fighter worry about finishing off the prone ones close to you. You should be picking off the ones further back charging. We want to use arrows and the terrain to keep the number that can engage her at once limited.

>>636723
Yeah.