Infestation
Log Info
- Title: Infestation
- Emitter: Thurid
- Characters: Aryia, Katsuro, Paenitia, Pasithea, Tommy
- Place: A14 Alexandrai, Noble Quarter
- Time: Monday, May 10, 2021, 1:51 PM
- Summary: A group of adventurers are hired by a noble to clear a nasty infestation out of his horse stables. Some sort of giant vermin have apparently already killed one of his horses, and his househod guard are either unwilling or unable to deal with their infectious stings. Throwing open the doros, the party finds the vermin are giant flies, and maggots. They rush in and close the door so the flies won't escape, and are immediately surrounded. Ovipositors thrust in a sad celebration of mother's day, attempting to insert eggs into the adventurers. As the flies are knocked down, the maggots arrive and attempt to burrow in the warm bodies. This results in some frantic fighting, and fire. Fire good, very good, even if it sets the barn alight. The adventurers prevail, bring the dead horse out to beat and burn it, and then assist in clearing the barn. The young noble responsible walks by with his nose in the air, sniffing derisively.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Appearing, in Order -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Aryia 4'8" 110 Lb Shadow Elf Woman A heavily scarred mul with a lost look about her. Katsuro 5'4" 160 Lb Human Male A small but sturdy Xian man, young and keen-looking. Paenitia 3'0" 34 Lb Halfling Female A Lucht knight, dark skinned in bold feathery finery. Pasithea 3'2" 38 Lb Halfling Female Tall female lucht, willowy, Hair dark as night Tommy 3'4" 30 Lb Halfling Male Breezy halfling (with shoes). -=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--= -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- As the GM -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Thurid 7'1" 249 Lb Giantborn Female Bright-eyed, muscular, blond Giantborn woman. -=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=
Guild work- the staple of alexandrian adventurers, and usually at least a hair more exciting and less sleazy than out and out mercenary contracts. On this particular occasion, a request has been made by one of Alexandria's nobles- aparrently a nasty infestation of overgrown vermin has taken hold in his horses stables, and his household guard are not up to the task of clearing it out. As such, a notice has been posted in the guild, as well as at inns and pubs around the city, seeking able adventurers to come deal with the problem for him.
Up in the noble quarter, most adventurers get given a wide berth- those who live here are accustomed to seeing shining armor, untested by a real battle- or the hardships of the road. However, on arriving at the estate in question they are expected, and invited in by the groundskeeper. Through the servants entrance, that is. The actual noble is no where to be seen. The groundskeeper seems a touch more down to earth than his employer- a human man in his middle years, dressed well but practically for the outdoors with fine but sturdy cordoroy trousers and jacket, sensible boots and a tartan pattern cap on his head. "Good day, well met." he offers the adventurers when they arrive in clearly well-practiced Tradespeak which doesn't quite manage to cover the hints of a more rural accent beneath.
Katsuro is here, and dressed decently, for a commoner. When he took the job for the noble quarter, he was intrigued: He'd never been in one of the estates up here, and he's looking around thoughtfully. The servant's entrance doesn't bother him, and as expected, we've been hired by a chief servant sort. Nobles don't bother about rats, in his experience. "Good day," he replies smoothly. "You have work for us?"
"Well met to you too!" Tommy beams and sticks out a small hand to shake. "We're here in relation to the vermin problem." His smile grows even wider. "As in, the solution to the vermin problem. Not the cause." He looks around curiously. No vermin in sight. Although he realizes he isn't completely sure what vermin he should be looking for. One noble's vermin can be another halfling's pet after all.
One of the adventurers that answered the call was one that felt most out of place in the noble quarter. A heavily scarred mul'neissa with a tattered brown cloaked and equally ratty simple clothes went into the side entrance with the others. She felt out of place for certain, and the let the others speak. With one hand holding a worn journal and a seperate page held against one of the covers, she simply raises a hand in greeting.
Paenitia and Ramirez seem more at home in the Noble quarters than most. They aren't nobles, and more often than not are tilting against corrupt gentry, but the shining white peacock-andalusian mount carrying a child sized knight in red armour seems the sort of fanciful expense a rich lord would indulge an offspring, either to dress up as or command.
Such an impression would be wrong, as the blood coloured armour on the knight and eye-spots on the hippogryph have been joined by actual blood on many an occasion. She salutes the groundskeeper when greeted, "Hola! I am here with the trusted steed and trusty companions to solve your small problem."
Pasithea arrives as the others start the talk. Her staff used like a walking stick. She moves slowly in small spurts of activity and then a pause as she appears to nod off while standinging. She wakes and takes a few more steps and the patern repeats.
She moves about Ramirez's great tail and up along side where the styrups hang. A hand is lifted before she promptly falls fully asleep..standing up.
The groundskeeper takes the offered hand and gives it a firm shake, "Vermin is the right word for them. Nasty little blighters." he says and shakes his head a bit, and then as everyone is here, he gestures for them to follow him as he leads the way around the skirts of the estates gardens towards a dressage field and stable pressed up against the stout wall of the grounds. "Ever heard of botflies? Lay their eggs in all manner of things, usually while they're still breathing. Well, I reckon the young master's horse picked up a sting or two while he was hunting last. Horse took ill on the return, and the veterinarian is away at the summer lodge. There was a terrible racket in the night- the other horses were wild with fear. So I came to take a look, and they near run me down when I opened the gates."
They arrive out front of the large stable, and he stops, turning back to face the adventurers again. "The sick horse- Blue Bonnet- she was already a gonner. These horible maggots came crawling out of her. Big as a cucumber. So we sealed up the barn, rest of the horses are off getting checked out incase they're infected. Household guards took one look and turned the other cheek. One lad near lost his lunch." he shakes his head. "Anyway, don't reckon they'll be much trouble for you lot. And the pays decent enough. I can let you in, whenever you're ready." he thumbs towards the currently shut and barred door to the stable.
Katsuro ewws at the idea of giant bugs that .... ugh. He shakes his head, takes out a scarf and wraps it around his face, so he'll be breathing through it, for what good that does. He draws his shortsword and eyes the stable entrance. "Is there a way we can peek inside and get the idea of where things are without going in?" he wonders. Recon is always important. Sometimes.
Tommy's eyes are wide as he listens. He looks at the door. He clears his throat. He seems at a loss for words. Finally he blurts out, "We'll avenge you Blue Bonnet."
To those that didn't know her, the mul shows a page to everyone in the party. It reads in a scrawling Tradespeak:
"I am Aryia. I canot talk. Ill do my best."
With that out of the way, she frowns at the information, a shudder rolling through her before she takes of her tattered cloak and rips it in a few pieces. She wraps her mouth and nose, and wraps her fists up in the brown fabric. She holds up a thumb as her journal is put away. Ready.
Paenitia squirms around in her saddle and picks out a few things. Her shield, her warhammer. She contemplates a pole-arm and her bow, then decides against. "Ramirez! I dismount."
Her peacock-andalusian extends a wing, and she slides down it to land on her feet with a clank. Her toes briefly dig into the ground, and she pets the foreleg of her mount, "Stay brave Ramirez. I do not wish to hunt bugs in your feathers."
Ramirez appears to understand.
The Red Knight looks around. "I have not fight the bot fly maggots before, only the figurative kinds. Be ready for big flies when we open the door, if they have turn already." She nods to Aryia's note, and seems to recognize the others with her.
Pasithea wakens enough to read the proffered sign and nods almost blankly to it and to the task at hand. One hopes she's got a clue. "Hunting giant.. bugs.. Got it. Likely need ranged as ...well as melee attacks." Well that answers that.
The groundskeeper takes off his hat and runs his hand through his thinning hair before putting it back on and twisting it to make sure its level as he thinks about Katsuro's question. "Shutters are down, but I suppose you could climb up and take a peek." he says, and points up towards the roof of the stable- gaps in the wooden structure are currently barred by slats, though they don't seem to be secured from the outside- they could probably be opened, if one got close enough. They're too small for anything larger than a housecat to fit through. "Or you could just- here." he says, and gestures them closer to the door. He presses his ear up against it, "Can hear buzzing, so I reckon they've started to turn." he says in agreement with Paenitia's assessment.
Katsuro will scramble up to take a peek inside as the grounodskeeper points out the slatted windows. "Just getting a general layout," he explains before climbing down again and rejoining the party at the door.
<OOC> Thurid says, "Climb check, DC12" GAME: Katsuro takes ten on athletics: (10)+8: 18
Tommy creeps up to the door. He gives the groundskeeper an inscrutable gesture. And then without waiting for a response leans the side of his head against the surface of the door, listening.
Paenitia approaches the barn doors. Doors which loom up so far above her. "Do they have the half open, just the bottom part?"
She gazes up at Katsuro, "Could you shoot through the slats?"
"They will not get past me, but they could fly above reach."
Aryia listens to the party's chatter as she tightens the makeshift wraps. Perhaps this would be a bit more straightforward than snake people. She bounces lightly on the balls of her feet in front of the door, ready for whenever the group wishes to move in.
It is theoretically possible to shoot through the slat, the archer would need at least one hand to hold on and avoid falling, unless they had a means to secure themselves up there, it isn't possible. Rope and Pitons would provide enough bracing, or a grappling hook would work. Thrown weapons would be, but there is some height, about twenty feet, so the range would be an issue.
Tommy listens carefully, and then closes his eyes to concentrate even more on what he's hearing. After just a few moments his eyes fly open. He turns to look at the others. "I hear them...I think. There were sounds of buzzing, and something that sounded like... ah... squelching." He dry-swallows and then goes on. "It all sounded pretty far away though, maybe on the far side of the stable. I could throw open the doors, throw a few bolts of electrity in there and then we could close them again and see what happens?"
Katsuro informs the others, "There's some flies the size of cats in one stall, and the mass of them are back out of sight of what I could see from the window." He then climbs down and suggests, "We should probably just burst in and fight everything. But stay by the door in case we need to back out."
Aryia jabs a thumb towards the Groundskeeper and makes shoo-ing motion. No point in keeping non-participants around if that was the plan.
Pasithea continues to nod off, head sinking down and then jerking back upwards. Half asleep she speaks, "Always the nightmare before the waking. Sunlight wakes the dreamer....purrifies the fear. Flame sears away the evil in the waking world."
The groundskeeper nods his head at the shooing motion, "Alrighty, I'll leave you lot to it. Best of luck." a pause, he glances towards Tommy. "Best not burn the place down, mind." he admonishes, before heading off to lean against a woodshed a little ways off, fetching a pipe from somewhere to begin smoking while he leaves the adventurers to it.
There are the big barn doors - it will take some effort to open or close one half of them. There's also the smaller door, which can be opened and closed much more easily.
Paenitia listens to Tommy and Katsuro, then adjusts her bow on Ramirez's saddle, so it's easier for her to grab in an emergency. She also takes down her bardiche and slings it over her shoulder on a strap. "Okay, the side door."
"If we go single file, I go second and use the pole arm. If we stand side by side I use shield and hammer. Be ready with the range and the spells, we will stop them getting by."
Aryia nods at the idea, lining up. She stops by Pasithea, clapping her hands once in front of her to rouse her. Aryia stretches her eyelids open a bit with her fingers, miming staying awake before rolling her shoulders and looking ready to get to smashing bugs.
Tommy digs into a pocket and produces a sling. "I never leave home without it," he asides. He's already close to the doors, and moves over to the smaller side door. He places his hand on the handle and then turns to look at the others. "Is everyone ready?"
Pasi's eye open and she gives Aryia smile and a nod. "All is well."She moves to a place in the line and appears to be ready.
Katsuro finds a place in the middle of the pack, sword ready, though he's palmed a throwing star just in case.
As the door is pulled open, the smell hits first- it smells of decay in there, along with the acrid secretions of the insects themselves, which add an unpleasant metallic tang to the already awful smell of decaying horse. The light from the doorway doesn't reach all the way into the stable, the furthest reaches are shrouded in shadow still. But they light it up enough to see the source of the offensive smell- Blue Bonnet, or what remains of her. She is almost entirely consumed, being barely more than tattered hide wrapped around a skeleton. The hide writhes, though, as the large maggots move about beneath it gleaning what little scraps of flesh remain attached to the bones.
A group of flies- agitated by the light their wings begin to flutter and they turn segmented eyes towards the door. Each of them is bloated, the shape of a bumblebee- though with fly-like mouth parts, and their ovipositors appear to be hollow tubes, an opening about the size of a forefinger- likely for depositing eggs, jutting from their hinds like vicious stingers.
As the stench washes over Paenitia, she sneezes. She almost spits, but that's a bad tactic in a mask. So is rushing in, but she does that, squeezing past Katsuro and running forward with her armour clunking as she does. She draws up beside a loose fence.
It won't be much of a barrier or protection.
She gags out, "Blue Bonnet, you will be avenged."
<OOC> Thurid says, "Botflies move in to surround you, since you have a reach weapon you will be able to make an AoO." GAME: Paenitia rolls weapon9: (20)+5: 25 (THREAT) GAME: Paenitia rolls weapon9: (11)+5: 16 GAME: Paenitia rolls damage9: aliased to 1d8+1: (1)+1: 2 GAME: Paenitia rolls damage9: aliased to 1d8+1: (3)+1: 4
Botflies appear from everywhere, buzzing and surrounding her. Paenitia squeaks, "Not so quick, vengence comes for all!"
As if to emphasize her point, she slices with her bardiche and hits one between the wings. It's solid, and badly wounds the fly but doesn't take it out.
<OOC> Thurid says, "5 attacks at Paenitia." GAME: Thurid rolls 5: (15)+5: 20 GAME: Thurid rolls 5: (6)+5: 11 GAME: Thurid rolls 5: (14)+5: 19 GAME: Thurid rolls 5: (14)+5: 19 GAME: Thurid rolls 5: (16)+5: 21 GAME: Thurid damaged you for 1 points. 31 HP remaining. GAME: Thurid damaged you for -1 points. 32 HP remaining. GAME: Thurid damaged you for 1 points of nonlethal. You have 1 total. GAME: Paenitia rolls fortitude: (8)+6: 14
The flies swarm as soon as Paenitia rushes in, scenting a warm body to lay their eggs in, their veiny transparrent wings begin to flutter rapidly, filling the stable with a noisy droning as they rush over the fences towards Paenitia. Within seconds, they are upon her, their ovipositors repeatedly jabbing at her plate mail, looking for a soft spot, a joint, somewhere they can get through. One manages to find such a joint, and the sting of it piercing Paenitia's skin is followed shotly by an unpleasant sensation, something firm but springy and very slimy pressing against the wound. But the sting is not deep enough, and whatever it is comes loose, falling to rest in some nook of her armor. Unpleasant, but better than the alternative.
GAME: Aryia rolls weapon0: (15)+5: 20 GAME: Aryia rolls 1d6+2: (1)+2: 3
Just as Paenitia runs in, the mul follows suit. She holds her breath as the smell washes over them. One of the flies that was up a little high is given a solid thunk on the side as the shadow elf kicks high. She bounces on her feet, looking around as much as she can to make sure she herself didn't get swarmed.
GAME: Katsuro rolls 1d20+7: (15)+7: 22 GAME: Katsuro rolls 1d6+3+1d6: (1)+3+(5): 9
Katsuro rushes forward as the bugs mob Paenitia. That wasn't quite the plan. But improvisation is the key to theater, and he will improvise. He enters, stage right, coming up behind one of the ones mobbing Paenitia and rams his sword straight through it from behind. No one expects the Alexandrian .... Adventurer's Guild? Well, they do now. But a lot of the people he's stabbed had no idea that Alexandria would pay people a pile of gold to kill them dead.
<OOC> Thurid says, "Pasi will move in and cast magic missile, spreading the missile to hit the two injured bugs." GAME: Thurid rolls 1d4+1: (2)+1: 3 GAME: Thurid rolls 1d4+1: (2)+1: 3 <OOC> Thurid says, "Which drops the one Pae injured and wounds the one Aryia did."
Pasithea yawns, and as part of it loudly murmurs some mystic words while waving. Arcane energy glows around her fingers, and then she points her fingers. The maggot by Paenitia explodes, and the second one near Aryia bubbles but continues to squirm.
<OOC> Thurid says, "Alrighty, cast and roll your touch attack. -4 for melee unless you have precise shot." GAME: Tommy spends ONE use of ELEMENTAL RAY. GAME: Tommy rolls ranged-4: (18)+5+-4: 19 GAME: Tommy rolls 1d6+2: (6)+2: 8
Tommy steps into the stable and swings the door shut behind him. He hadn't quite been prepared for the frenzy of activity, and the buzzing of the flies makes it hard to concentrate. So he falls back to instinct and steps into a lunge, pointing with two fingers at one of the flies. A ray of electricity zaps out and singes into the creature. "Got one!" Tommy crows, doing his best to keep up with his party members.
GAME: Paenitia rolls weapon9: (11)+5: 16 GAME: Paenitia rolls damage9: aliased to 1d8+1: (2)+1: 3
The bot flies are dropping like... flies. Although not quickly enough. Paenitia feels the maggot somewhere in her armour and would like to deal with it, but there are the larger parents to sort out still.
She side steps and swing at another of the buzzing menaces, and hits, but the bardiche blade fails to do serious damage. The fly is wounded but still fying.
<OOC> Thurid says, "#3 goes for Aryia, #4 goes for Katsuro, #1 and #5 go for Paenitia." GAME: Thurid rolls 5: (11)+5: 16 GAME: Aryia rolls Fortitude: (8)+5: 13 GAME: Thurid rolls 5: (4)+5: 9 GAME: Thurid rolls 5: (4)+5: 9 GAME: Thurid rolls 5: (7)+5: 12
The swarm of flies are rapidly thinning out, it's true- but they are undeterred. Those wichin reach of Katsuro and Aryia go for softer-looking meals, with less sturdy shells. One of them plunges its ovipostor into Aryia's chest, and that slimy sensation follows. But again, the sting is not deep enough. A translucent egg, the size of a grape, drops from the wound and tumbles onto the floor, the small shape of an immature maggot writhing within for a few seconds before becoming still. At least it seems they can't survive outside of a host.
The maggots, meanwhile, begin their approach towards the party, moving slowly in pulsating movements, rings of teeth in their circular maws coated in effluvium as they gnash blindly at the air.
GAME: Aryia rolls weapon0: (5)+5: 10 GAME: Aryia rolls weapon0: (20)+5: 25 (THREAT) GAME: Aryia rolls weapon0: (9)+5: 14 GAME: Aryia rolls 1d6+2+1d6+2: (4)+2+(4)+2: 12
A sickly green dashes across her face as she holds a hand on her chest from the wound. She glances down, a look of horror crossing her eyes before she deftly reaches out with a punch. It wiffs. But the backswing knocks it down to the ground, it rebounding for a moment before a boot splatters it onto the floor with a stomp of fury.
GAME: Katsuro rolls 1d20+7: (9)+7: 16 GAME: Katsuro rolls 1d6+3+1d6: (6)+3+(3): 12
Katsuro sees through the fence that one of the remaining flies is still fighting Paenitia, so he wriggles through the fenceposts - they're not designed to prevent a human from slipping through - and comes up behind this fly. It, also, gets a sudden sword from behind. He gives her a thumbs-up, then looks around to see what we may be facing next. It's the yuck.
GAME: Tommy spends ONE use of ELEMENTAL RAY. GAME: Tommy rolls ranged-4: (1)+5+-4: 2 (EPIC FAIL)
Tommy scampers into the stable, electricity still crackling on his fingertips. He steps through the fence so easily he surely must have practiced just such a manuever. He pivots and assumes his lunging position, sending a stream of electricity towards another fly but this time it goes wide. Tommy hesitates, remembering the nice Groundskeeper's admonition about setting the stable on fire, and then looks towards the oncoming creatures.
GAME: Paenitia rolls weapon9: (16)+5: 21 GAME: Paenitia rolls damage9: aliased to 1d8+1: (5)+1: 6
Paenitia's mask grins at Katsuro as she returns the thumbs up. Her masculine mask is always grinning, but her cheerful voice supports its expression in an odd way, "Ole! Good strike my friend!"
With that example to live up to, the little Lucht swings her bardiche in a huge circle, blade dropping then coming up beneath the bot-fly in front of her. This works, it slices clean through. Two halves slop to the ground in front of her.
Paenitia laughs, "The air force is done! It is the ground troops now!"
The maggots continue their slow advance, drips of foul fluids bubbling from their mouths as they approach- slowly, wriggling they way through through the hay that lines the bottom of the stable and between the slats of the horse stalls.
GAME: Aryia rolls weapon0: (8)+5: 13 GAME: Aryia rolls 1d6+2: (4)+2: 6
Aryia steps on the egg as she runs forward, poising a boot back to punt one of the maggots away. Her dilapidated boot misses by a hair, the weird creature's movements not something she's ever dealt with before. She wasn't sure how Paenitia was so chipper about all of this.
<OOC> Katsuro will shuriken #6, that is GAME: Katsuro rolls 1d20+3: (1)+3: 4 (EPIC FAIL)
Katsuro sees no more bugs in easy reach, so he'll step up to the wall between stalls, eying the bugs from between the slats. He throws, but he's miscalculated because of ... bad luck, perhaps, and the shuriken stops 3 inches away in the wood slat between the stalls. Not his best performance.
<OOC> Tommy will stay where he is and try to hit maggot #6 with sling GAME: Tommy rolls ranged: (15)+5: 20 GAME: Tommy rolls 1d3+2: (3)+2: 5
Tommy drops a small stone into place in his sling. Like all Lucht he has more than a passing familiarity with the simple weapon and he doesn't even have to look at what he's doing beyond an initial glance. Instead he peers between the rails on the next fence, sizing up his shot. A quick spin and then a flap as the sling releases, sending the stone POCKing off of the maggot's side. "Don't let them surround you!" he calls out in warning.
GAME: Paenitia rolls weapon9: (18)+5: 23 GAME: Paenitia rolls damage9: aliased to 1d8+1: (4)+1: 5
Paenitia moves up to stand beside Aryia as the maggots are engaged. She stabs downward, a decent strike that wounds it but doesn't kill. She reassures, "I am with you."
<OOC> Thurid says, "Alrighty, Aryia- Two fort saves. Everyone else, one fort save." GAME: Katsuro rolls fortitude: (19)+1: 20 GAME: Paenitia rolls fortitude: (6)+6: 12 GAME: Aryia rolls Fortitude: (6)+5: 11 GAME: Aryia rolls Fortitude: (6)+5: 11 GAME: Tommy rolls fort: (8)+3: 11 <OOC> Thurid says, "Alrighty. Katsuro is fine," <OOC> Thurid says, "Aryia is Nauseated for one turn and sickened for one minute. " <OOC> Thurid says, "paenitia and tommy are sickened for one minute."
The maggots finally finish their slow advance towards the adenvuters, ignoring scorced and sliced hides as they approach. Their flesh is rubbery, and surprisingly durable- where it is cut, sticky pale green ichor seeps from the wounds. Once they are close enough, they begin to pulsate and squirm. Almost in unison, surge runs through each of them, starting at their tails and making its way towards their toothy maws.
They projectile vomit, spraying forth a truly offensive mixture of putrefied horse flesh and their digestive enzymes- the smell is enough to turn any stomach, and it stings the eyes and skin. While Katsuro is made of sterner stuff, most of the party find themselves unable to concentrate coated in the foul goop, and poor Aryia's stomach just can't take it.
At the sight, Aryia gasps, inhaling deeply. And the putrid scent overloads her sense. She doubles over, breakfast hitting the makeshift mask before it was torn away and tossed to the ground. The shadow elf bumbles away, green at the gills and dry heaving.
GAME: Katsuro rolls 1d20+3: (1)+3: 4 (EPIC FAIL)
Katsuro moves back and away from the maggots for a clear shot with his shuriken. He checks his target, draws back, and hurls it. Unfortunately, his aim is a bit off, and the shuriken hits exactly next to the one he threw a few moments ago, through the stall slats. So, his second throwing star is literally a quarter-inch from the first.
<OOC> Thurid says, "Pasi will direct her burning gaze at #6" GAME: Thurid rolls 2: (16)+2: 18
Pasithea opens her eyes, flames consume another one of the maggots.
GAME: Tommy rolls ranged: (7)+5: 12 GAME: Tommy casts Ray of Frost. Caster Level: 3 DC: 14
Tommy steps back, coughing and then gasping for air - which makes it worse since the source of the foulness is now clinging to his own clothes and body. He barely has the wherewithal to direct his stumbling, so that he ends up close to the stable wall. This increases the distance between himself and the nearest other member of the party - and hopefully decreases chances another volley of projectile vomit it's less likely to catch them all. Tommy croaks out the arcane words of power for a spell, sending a ray of freezing energy at the maggot. But it seems the naseau, or perhaps his lack of practice with this particular sort of attack affects his aim and the bolt misses.
GAME: Paenitia rolls weapon9-2: (9)+5+-2: 12
The little Lucht coughs as the vile spray covers her, splashing over her armour and cloak. Droplets fall from her mask, the acrid smell stinging as she inhales. She coughs again, swinging her bardiche, but failing to connect with anything solid.
<OOC> Thurid says, "Alrighty. Paenitia, you get an AoO as the maggots move up. You can take it on either #3 or #1." GAME: Paenitia rolls weapon9-2: (9)+5+-2: 12
As more maggots surround her, she backswings the halberd, again failing and flailing, not connecting at all.
<OOC> Thurid says, "Alrighty. #3 attacks Aryia." <OOC> Thurid says, "#1 and #5 attack Pae." <OOC> Thurid says, "#6 attacks Pasi." <OOC> Thurid says, "#4 attacks Tommy." <OOC> Thurid says, "#2 waddles along." GAME: Thurid rolls 2: (2)+2: 4 GAME: Thurid rolls 2: (13)+2: 15 GAME: Thurid rolls 2: (8)+2: 10 GAME: Thurid rolls 2: (15)+2: 17 GAME: Thurid rolls 1d3: (1): 1 GAME: Thurid rolls 2: (1)+2: 3 (EPIC FAIL)
The maggots, having covered most of the party in their vile emissions, continue to crawl along the ground towards them. Gnashing teeth finally reaching for flesh- though they are slow moving, and lack in reach, so for the most part their teeth find no purchase. Save for Tommy, who feels the circular mouth clamp onto his lower leg with an unpleasant suction, and the needle teeth begin grinding their way through his trousers and then the skin of his leg.
GAME: Aryia rolls weapon0-2: (13)+5+-2: 16 GAME: Aryia rolls weapon0-2: (8)+5+-2: 11 GAME: Aryia rolls 1d6+2-2: (4)+2+-2: 4
Aryia bares her teeth at the grub, a foot raising and crushing down twice at the gross creature. One only connects, her growing more flustered as the small thing just would. Not. Die. She looks to the smiling mask next to her, making sure the one person she knew here was sticking with the job before gulping down bile and trying to stay in the fray.
GAME: Katsuro rolls 1d20+7: (10)+7: 17 GAME: Katsuro rolls 1d6+3+1d6: (6)+3+(5): 14
Katsuro gives up on the throwing stars. Something's up, but he doesn't have time to investigate. Instead, he darts begind the enemy .. not so much lines, but they're kind of in a line. But with their attention facing the other way, he puts his off-hand on the pommel of his shortsword and thrusts it into the maggot on the end, killing it dead.
GAME: Pasithea rolls ranged: (7)+6: 13 GAME: Thurid rolls 2: (2)+2: 4 GAME: Thurid rolls 4: (11)+4: 15 GAME: Pasithea rolls 1d6: (3): 3 GAME: Pasithea casts Magic Missile. Caster Level: 4 DC: 15 GAME: Pasithea casts Burning Gaze. Caster Level: 4 DC: 16
The sleepy sorceress isn't so asleep at the moment. Combat and fear manage to keep her awake even though her eyes,burning with inner fire, are at half mast. She stumbles back a pace or three and refocuses her magical gaze apon the bug that attacked her. Fire bursts from it's side and quickly sets it alight.
GAME: Tommy casts Burning Hands. Caster Level: 3 DC: 15 GAME: Thurid rolls 4: (1)+4: 5 (EPIC FAIL) GAME: Thurid rolls 4: (4)+4: 8 GAME: Thurid rolls 4: (14)+4: 18 GAME: Tommy rolls 3d4: (4): 4
Tommy jerks back, pulling his leg free of the maggot's bite. The last sting of pain makes him fear that he may have left a bit of his own leg behind. He notices how one of the maggots seems affected by fire. A memory flashes through his mind - his beloved Uncle Sam, describing how some monsters can only be hurt by fire. Tommy raises his hand and sends sheets of fire out, catching all three maggots and burning one to a crisp.
GAME: Paenitia rolls weapon9-2: (12)+5+-2: 15 GAME: Paenitia rolls damage9: aliased to 1d8+1: (2)+1: 3
As the flames go up beside her, filling the barn with roasting, popping maggots, Paenitia steps to the side, working the impromptu line. She brings her bardiche down, striking, a blow that leaves it almost dead.
But still wiggling. She's gagging from the scents. Still, she manages cheerful encouragement, "There are more of us than them, we will win. Keep striking my friends!"
<OOC> Thurid says, "#1 attacks Aryia. #5 attacks Paenitia. #2 and #4 attacks Tommy." GAME: Thurid rolls 2: (20)+2: 22 (THREAT) GAME: Thurid rolls 2: (18)+2: 20 (Confirmed) GAME: Thurid rolls 2d3: (4): 4 GAME: Thurid rolls 2: (7)+2: 9 GAME: Thurid rolls 2: (8)+2: 10 GAME: Thurid rolls 2: (1)+2: 3 (EPIC FAIL)
The maggots continue their inexorable advance, bubbling and boiling hides trailing viscous pus and ichor they seek only one thing- fresh meat. Their many-toothed mouths continue to snap at the adventurers. Again, they struggle to find their way through armor and boots. Aryia is not so lucky. One of the maggots manages to latch onto her calf, and its rings of teeth begin to undulate, drawing flesh into its mouth and pulling the creatures head firmly into the wound- it's trying to burrow into her! And worse, it's making some headway.
GAME: Aryia rolls weapon0-2: (8)+5+-2: 11 GAME: Aryia rolls weapon0-2: (12)+5+-2: 15 GAME: Aryia rolls 1d6+2-2: (5)+2+-2: 5
The shadow elf gasps, her bringing up a leg and hiss/coughing in pain. Tears dot her eyes, lips moving quickly. Repeating something silently in a pleading manner. She jams her heel into her calf. Not able to get it completely off.
Aryia cries, flailing at it by this point.
GAME: Katsuro rolls 1d20+7: (2)+7: 9
Katsuro is back in the groove, or thought he was, but he's counted his chickens before they've been parasitized. He thrusts through the slats, but the maggot shifts, and he thumps bodily up against the barrier as his sword wiggles around, trying and failing to stab the maggot.
<OOC> Pasithea says, "Step to the north and burn on 2?" <OOC> Thurid says, "Alrighty." GAME: Thurid rolls 2: (18)+2: 20
Pasithea's eyes drop and she staggers almost back the way she came and when her eyes open another of hte bugs is in her sights. She focuses apon it but alas her eyes droop down and shut at the very last moment and the spell does not take effect.
GAME: Tommy casts Burning Hands. Caster Level: 3 DC: 15 GAME: Thurid rolls 4: (10)+4: 14 GAME: Thurid rolls 4: (18)+4: 22 GAME: Tommy rolls 3d4: (4): 4
Tommy, already once bitten, skips back away from the maggot this time. He raises his hand and sends another sheet of fire at them. It's only after the fact that he blinks and checks the corner. Oh whew - that wasn't the corner where he saw the hay bale earlier.
GAME: Paenitia rolls weapon9: (18)+5: 23 GAME: Paenitia rolls damage9-2: aliased to 1d8+1-2: (1)+1+-2: 0 <OOC> Paenitia says, "I heal it. well it gets at least 1 point"
Paenitia, who has bare feet and somewhat exposed shins, feels great sympathy for Aryia. She swipes at the maggot attempting to burrow into the Mul'niessa's leg. It's a tricky attack with a pole arm, and she's more cautious than viscious. It knocks the creature, but doesn't kill it. "Don't worry, we help." She tries to sound encouraging.
<OOC> Thurid says, "#1 attacks Aryia, #5 attacks Paenitia, #4 attacks Tommy." GAME: Thurid rolls 2: (14)+2: 16 GAME: Thurid rolls 1d3: (3): 3 GAME: Thurid rolls 2: (19)+2: 21 GAME: Thurid rolls 1d3: (2): 2 GAME: Thurid damaged you for 1 points. 31 HP remaining. GAME: Thurid damaged you for 1 points of nonlethal. You have 2 total. GAME: Thurid rolls 2: (20)+2: 22 GAME: Thurid rolls 2: (8)+2: 10 GAME: Thurid rolls 1d3: (2): 2
Aryia is having the worst day- the creature ignores the rain of blows to it as it continues to burrow into her flesh, teeth grinding away at muscle now they have passed the skin- by now, its tiny beady eyes are no longer visible, hidden inside of the wound it continues to tear into her.
While distracted by trying to assist her ally, Paenitia will find herself in a similar situation- the maggot she had turned away from leaping at her and latching onto her own leg just below where the platemail ends, needle teeth cutting a circle of tiny cuts in her flesh- but it fails to latch on and flops to the ground.
Meanwhile, even as he continues to back up, one of the maggots in particular seems to be undeterred by the flames- though its hide bubbles and blackens the same as the others, and now and then the bubbles burst spilling ichor and smoke, it does not slow its advance and bites into his shin, cutting through bootleather and skin alike.
The hay on the floor, wet as it is with the creatures vile secretions, as well as the general damp of the earth does not catch easily- but having been exposed to several gouts of flame, it is beginning to blacken and curl and smoke. Part of the wall behind Tommy's enemies is also scorched and blackened, and though it hasn't ignited, the scent of charred wood is rising from it- even if it is largely overpowered by the smell of decay.
GAME: Aryia rolls weapon0-2: (3)+5+-2: 6 GAME: Aryia rolls weapon0-2: (3)+5+-2: 6
Aryia falls to a knee as pain shoots up her leg. The words of encouragement were nice, but not when one was being eaten alive. She gets a bit hysterical, babbling something in pops and hisses as she desperately tries to hammer fist the grub. Instead she just bludgeons her calf. "G-t -ff -! P-s- g-t -ff!" she sobs.
GAME: Katsuro rolls 1d20+7: (4)+7: 11
Katsuro is still tangles up in the semi-walls separating the areas inside the stable, and when he swings again, he chops a chunk of out the wood, and leaves the maggot unharmed. "Stupid dang *mumblemumble*...."
GAME: Pasithea casts Magic Missile. Caster Level: 4 DC: 15 GAME: Pasithea rolls 1d4+1: (3)+1: 4 GAME: Pasithea rolls 1d4+1: (4)+1: 5
The burning red light fades from Pasi's eyes and she shudders as if bad thoughts had left her mind. Eyes open briefly and find the two nearby with bugs attached to their legs. A hand lifts and eyes close as more of the mystic language tumbles forth and two misty darts of energy form. The darts then shoot forth and about in a crzed pattern before each one finds a home in the latched on critters. The energy bursts and so do the maggots, ending their tiny lives.
<OOC> Tommy will retreat to 6,15 and shoot a lightning ray at #4 GAME: Tommy rolls ranged: (16)+5: 21 GAME: Tommy spends ONE use of ELEMENTAL RAY. GAME: Tommy rolls 1d6+2: (4)+2: 6
Tommy feels the stinging bite and seriously considers wearing armor. He backpedals, holding a hand out behind him to prevent himself from stumbling into a wall or anything else, without having to take his eyes off of the maggot. His hand touches the surface of the large doors much sooner than he anticipated and his next steps take him to one side. His hand slides along the surface before he pulls it back and steps into the stance he uses for his ray. This time the line of electricity hits dead on, shocking the vermin into senselessness.
Just as the last of the maggots are dispatched, the door bursts open, "What did I-" the Groundskeeper begins, holding a pail of water. But as soon as the smell from inside hits him, his words stop and he doubles over, retching violently. He staggers back, and chokes out, "...about fire." muffled by his sleeve covering his lower face.
Paenitia makes another high-pitched cry as the maggot latches onto her shin and starts it's spiral burrowing, only to fall off, then explode from a magic missile. "Thank you Sorceress Pasithea."
"Sir Tommy, back... oh you have handled it." The Red Knight says, turning to look at the barn doors, "Water, can you..."
And then the door bursts open, with the farmer interrupting her thoughts.
"There is still the dead horse to beat, to make sure no more emerge." The Dark Lucht suggets.
Aryia was a bit busy haphazardly yanking free the smolding remains of the grub as the farmer bursts in. The last bits were thrown out, the elf's face pale with pain as she pushes a palm into the open wound.
The pugilist was not having a good time as she lay curled on the floor, clutching her leg and sniffling.
Katsuro winces at the idea of beating the dead horse, but obviously we can't burn it in here. "Maybe we can drag it outside and burn it," he muses, looking around the barn for any more live yuck. He peers into corners, checks for burrows, that sort of thing.
Pasithea startles awake as the groundskeeper makes his camotion. She blinks owlishly at him and then at the others. She sleep-shuffles her way over to Aryia and crouches next to her. "A prayer...at temple and some.. time off the leg.. should see you well." She says encouragingly.
Tommy moves over to the now-open door and takes a few quick breaths. The air is mercifully clean. He eyes the bucket longingly. It looks large enough that if he dunks it on top of himself it would be like taking a bath. But he tears his gaze away and then turns back to the stables, ready to help the rest of the party clean up.
"The wound, I have the healing kit, I can clean this for you." Paenitia says, approaching Aryia, standing beside her curled form. The Dark Lucht is not tall, she only has to tilt her head down a little to face the Mul'niessa with her mask. "You were very strong, these are not the good things to fight. Do you need help to get to Ramirez?"
She looks around, calling after Katsuro, "How go the search? Do you find more?"
Approaching the corpse of the horse, Katsuro will find that it is no longer writhing. It has been almost entirely consumed by its maggoty hosts, it seems, nothing left but quite literally skin and bones- it seems they don't have a taste for either. The Groundskeeper comes in and stares at the scorched wall ruefully, then tosses the pail of water against it. It sizzles lightly, but doesn't steam- the wood if charred but not smouldering. He then retreats back the way he came, to get some fresh air for himself.
It occurs to Paenitia that a thorough cleaning will be in order before medical treatment is advisible. She and Aryia both are still covered in the slowly congealing contents of the maggots' stomachs.
Aryia does her best to keep whatever was left of her breakfast down as the famliar face(mask) of Paenitia and Pasithea check on her. She nods shakily at the advice, stretching her leg out so that Paenitia could clean it.
She limps to help drag the dead horse out, and tosses her ruined cloak into the fire.
"F-k th-s- t-gs," she spits out. Yes. Indeed.
Katsuro shakes his head to Paenitia about finding more. "No," he calls. "But this is pretty gross anyhow," and he will grab the horse corpse by the forehooves and drag it outside, were it can be hurned without risking the structure. The inside of the barn is overhauled with a rake, pulling all the straw aside to make sure there's no burrows or anything.
Tommy nods in approval. He find a rake of his own and tries to help out. He can barely manage the tool. Coupled with his own small stature the unwieldy gardening tool is like a longspear and he only rakes a small patch of the stable in the time it takes Katsuro to cover the entire room.
And Pasithea is found to be fast asleep where she crouched near to the Mul. Leaning apon her staff and snoring softly.
Paenitia cleans Aryia's leg before treating it. Both of them need to remove the drying maggot vomit. It's not going to help their injuries. She also finds the one that feel inside her armour and removes it. That's going to need attention also.
"The barn, he will have to be cleaned fully too, before use again. The maggot sick is all through the straw." The little Lucht gets a rake to help with that, unsure if this is part of the job, and reluctant to even if it is good, honest work. Raking in heavy breastplate is not an easy task.
She turns to the groundskeeper, "My friend, we have done the task as best we can. Blue Bonnet could not be saved. Your barn, he only a bit scorched. Next time, more careful brush down might find the fly eggs."
'Ruaaaah!' Ramirez agrees. He enjoys a careful brush down, perhaps even expects one after this, despite only watching.
"Yes Ramirez, I will not ride you like this. Do not fear." Paenitia laughs.
Once the adventurers start raking out the stables, the groundskeeper gets a reign on his rebelling stomach and gives them a hand. All the hay on the ground, as well as the broken bits of the gates, the body of the horse and of the insects, and the hay bales are all eventually dragged out and built into a pyre. The adventurers are shown to the well, where they can rinse off with pales of cold but mercifully clean water.
"We'll treat the whole place with lye before we move the horses back in, don't you worry." he assures Paenitia.
The adventurers, once at least rinsed down and wounds bandaged, are paid their due and shown off the premises. On the way out, a young man in a blond ponytail wig is on his way back into the place. "Bloody hell, Comwell, you smell like a privy. Go take a bath for heavens sake." he can be heard asiding to the groundskeeper before making his way onwards through the gardens to the manor.
Combatty
===================== Current Initiative Order - Round 5 =====================
---Init--Name------------AOO-Notes--------------------------------------------
23 Paenitia 1
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15 Maggots 1
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13 Aryia 1
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11 Katsuro 1
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8 Pasithea 1
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>> 6 Tommy 1 <<
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<OOC> Thurid says, "Also, I would just like to let everyone know that you have Paenitia to blame for these bad guys. She mentioned giant flies ICly in a plot, and it gave me Ideas XD"
<OOC> Thurid took the idea of numbering the bad guys from Pae. It helps so much with these large groups.