The Pod-Caverns of the Sinister Shroom (Game Thread VIII)

[Breila]

The key is in one of Babushka's jacket pockets...

[Jenara]

"Oh the key, well its somewhere, umm.." Locky looks about randomly.

"Bab has it, silly.." Jerrard responds with a weary laugh. "Here." he says passing it to Sunni, the mage had not moved since he sat down, patiently nursing the Gnome, his eyes full of concern when she wakes.

"Actually the Podmens fingers are like keys too." she looks to the two Gnome's, wondering what they have planned.

[Breila]

Babushka opens her eyes briefly as Jerrard gets the key out of her pocket, smiles up at the mage and goes to sleep again, feeling safe and well cared for.

[JadedDM]

With the key in hand, the two gnomes go off to the waterfall to begin their work. Nestled by the two horses and several dead spiders, the party continues to rest. Jerrard turns on his lantern to study his spells, while Locky quietly prays. Once he has all of his spells, Jerrard turns the lantern back off, conserving the tiny bit of oil remaining.

The gnomes are gone for an hour and a half before Locky spots, in the darkness, two foot long centipedes entering the cavern, likely enticed by the odor of the dead spiders. Jerrard, who is blind, and Babushka, who is asleep, does not notice their arrival.

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First hour - No encounters
Second hour - Encounter!

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x – Rock wall
c – Empty Cage
g - Grinder
L – Locky
J - Jerrard
B - Babushka
H - Black stallion
M - White mare
1-2 Giant Centipedes
S – Dead spiders

(OOC: This was not enough time for Locky to re-memorize all of her prayers, but she did get Remove Curse and all of her second level ones. Jerrard has re-memorized all of his spells. However, he'll need a light to see what's happening. Babushka still suffers the extreme fatigue penalties (-5 to DEX, -4 to STR, -3 to WIS, -2 to CON, -3 to hit, -30% climbing, -50% and movement) and she cannot be magically healed yet.)

[Jenara]

"Jerrard, Two Centipedes coming this way, protect Babs, I will do what I can." Locky casts her cure light wounds (her bonus one) on Jerrard (5hp) before turning back to face the creatures.

Bullet less she will attack them with the pointy end if the get too close.

[Jerrard]

"They are after the spider carcases no doubt." Jerrard whispers to Locky, casting Invisiblity on Babuskha he considers lighting the lantern. Instead he will reach for a fungus torch.
(Which needs a saving throw I assume.)

"There are some creatures coming in the Cavern, but you are Invisible, please do not move my dear." He whispers kissing the Invisible Gnomes Head.

[Breila]

"I will lie still" Babushka whispers back.

Nevertheless, once Jerrard looks away, she carefully takes the knife out of its belt sheath to be able to defend herself if it comes to the worst.

[JadedDM]

Locky and Jerrard both start chanting at once, the former casting a healing spell on the latter. Jerrard doesn't have time to light a torch and cast a spell, so he just casts Invisibility on Babushka first, and she appears to vanish from sight.

The centipedes, realizing there is actually fresh meat in this cavern, make a beeline for the two horses. Both attempt to bite the steeds, but the horses, becoming spooked, rear up and whinny in terror, avoiding the bites.

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Round 1

Initiative Order
Locky (1d10+5): 7
Jerrard (1d10+2): 7
Giant Centipede 01 (1d10): 7
Giant Centipede 02 (1d10): 10

Locky casts Cure Light Wounds on Jerrard (5).
Jerrard casts Invisibility on Babushka.
Giant Centipede 01 attacks the white mare (1d20): 4, miss.
Giant Centipede 02 attacks the black stallion (1d20): 2, miss.

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x – Rock wall
c – Empty Cage
g - Grinder
L – Locky
J - Jerrard
B - Babushka
H - Black stallion
M - White mare
1-2 Giant Centipedes
S – Dead spiders

(OOC: A saving throw for Invisibility isn't necessary, unless Babushka intends to fight it. Actions for Round 2?)

[Jenara]

Locky takes up her Hoopak and steps around the dead spiders, letting loose her final remaining stone, and whatever she can find in her pouches with the second.

1d20+2=8 (forgot the +3) = 11 Hit AC8
1d20+5=14 Hit AC5

1d4+1=2
1d4+1=2
(Ooc: Rolled without the pluses before, thought I'd reroll it,

[Jerrard]

Sword in hand, Jerrard fights the darkness, Mushroom torch in hand he goes to light it, if the creatures get too close. Otherwise he stays in the dark, the invisible Gnome in his lap.

[Breila]

Babushka feels very uncomfortable, just lying there, not fighting, would be bad enough, but her friend playing sitting duck to protect her is even worse...
Nevertheless, true to her promise, she doesn't move.

[JadedDM]

The centipedes continue their assault, one of them biting the black stallion. It suddenly seizes up, completely paralyzed. The mare avoids the attack, however.

Locky then slings a rock at the first centipede, smashing in its head. She loads a random item from her pouches to sling at the second one. It turns out to be a dried up sardine. But it still hits with enough force to incapacitate the centipede.

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Round 2!

Initiative Order
Giant Centipede 02 (1d10): 3
Giant Centipede 01 (1d10): 7
Locky (1d10+11): 15

Giant Centipede 02 attacks the black stallion (1d20): 13, hit. Black stallion saves vs poison (1d20+4): 8, fails. Black stallion is paralyzed.
Giant Centipede 01 attacks the white mare (1d20): 12, miss.
Locky attacks by slinging a stone in her hoopak (11, hit) for 2 damage. Giant Centipede 01 falls. Locky then slings a random item into her hoopak (1d100): 11, a dried sardine that (14, hits) for 2 damage. Giant Centipede 02 falls.

Melee ends.

[Jenara]

"This place is quite horrible isn't it?" Locky asks, treading in the darkness, spearing each creature with her staff to make sure they are dead.

Leaning over the downed horse she tries to look at the wound. "We need some light Jerrard, one of the horses are down."

"Very well." the mage lights a mushroom torch. The cavern filled with ghostly shadows. "Stay here my dear." he says, laying the Gnome on the blanket softly.

Locky heal check, 11 (just). Assume it will be down sometime, can she heal te wound?

[Breila]

With difficulty, Babushka remains behind. Everything in her wants to be close to the stallion, comfort it while Locky sees to it, but she knows that, being invisible, she would only spook the animal and make things worse. But she cranes her neck and strains her ears to follow what is going on.

[JadedDM]

Locky does what she can for the horse, but it will take time for the centipede's paralyzing venom to wear off. She recalls when she was bit herself, and forced to lie there while Babushka told her stories until the feeling returned to her numbed limbs.

Around this point, Wingnut and Sunni return. "Wehavefinishedwiththefirstwaterfallandarereadytostartmovingthehorsesandsayisitjustmeoraretheremoredeadbugsinherethanwhenwefirst-left?" Wingnut says rapidly.