V: The Lower Level

[andrew]

Carefully, you navigate the dark, twisting staircase, at the bottom of which is a long black corridor. You stand at the northern end of a tunnel that stretches out of sight to the south. Twenty feet ahead is a door in the western wall. The walls, the floor, the ceiling, and the flame of the torches set in the wall are all black, yet the light is sufficient, enabling you to see.

It's the noise all around you that commands your attention--the pattering sound of scurrying feet, like hundreds of rats racing behind the walls. The source of the noise is revealed a moment later when you notice a large hole in the ceiling a short distance ahead. Dropping out of the orifice, finding purchase on the floor is a long thin leg, then another, then a bulky body scrambles through, and the hideous beast drops to the floor.

A Spider Demon stands in front of you, its "face" a dizzying array of shifting humanoid faces--human, elven, dwarven, hobbit, and goblin.

Darksmoke welcomes you to the second level of his dungeon with the most powerful foe you have yet to meet on your journey.

 State your intention, and make any appropriate roll.


Darksmoke's Spider Demon

[colbite]

<Zagnar>: We are very welcomed guests indeed! If they don't start serving tea and crumpets then I guess we cue up the battle music and prepare for an entertaining fight!

[khaboom]

"Vile monster!" Khloemar spits as he unleashes a L2 TTYF. "Winip, see if you can sling shot the foul beast while it is stunned."

[khaboom]

(Khaghtchan) Winip watches the spell strike and assuming the monster is not just charging straight through the spell, he fires off a sling shot.

[marionarsis]

"What the devil!" Random shouts. "Or maybe I should say, 'What the demon!'"

Taking his vorpaled shark-toothed sword in both hands he charges into the Spider Demon, and calling up every ounce of his swordsmanship he delivers the most violent, demon-felling swing he can muster, doing max damage. Because he's a bard, and dealing death is what bard's do!

Rd. 1 Spider Demon: 3d6+5 23

23 x 2 (Vorapled Sword)= 46 + 27 personal adds = 73 BOOYAH! 

"Feel the power of the shark."

[mahrundl]

Malutassial fires off a level 1 Take That, You Fiend! at the creature.

[andrew]

Rochin del Graz strikes forward with his dual broadswords

Rochin del Graz: 6d6+30 55

[colbite]

<Zagnar>: I attack! "Die Spider Demon!"

Great Axe (5+3 Dice), Combat Adds: 18

5d6+21: 33 [5d6=5, 1, 2, 1, 3]
orokos.com/roll/414000

(Rolling Doubles Over) [2d6=3, 1] 4
orokos.com/roll/414001

Total = 37

[andrew]

Winip's sling stone is the first to find the mark against the charging Spider Demon, and the bullet noticeably buckles the horrific creature, slowing its charge...somewhat.

The fiery destruction of the wizards' spells slam into the creature, but the horror's momentum is enough to carry it into the party where the swords and axes of Random, Rochin, and Zagnar continue the destruction.

The size of the monster, its horrific appearance, and lightning fast movements are unsettling to behold and troubling to fight against, however, and this natural advantage it presses home, scoring hits against all.

As the next round of attacks begin, the monster has noticeably slowed, as a number of wounds have been dealt to its torso, arms, and legs. Also, due to the monster's size, the narrow space of the corridor, and the closeness of battle, Winip will not be able to reload and use a sling stone. He can withdraw and use a hand-to-hand weapon.


Winip's Missile:

L4SR-DX
Winip's DEX SR to hit: 2d6 2  (Doubles add, roll over) 
Winip's DARO: 2d6 8

Winip's Damage
Winip's Damage: 2d6+36 41
+40 aps

Khloemar:
36 hits TTYF
-8 ST; 14/22
staff -3= 6/36
+12 aps

Mal:
28 hits TTYF
-3 ST; 13/16
staff -2= 14/46
aps +6

Random:
73 hits

Rochin del Graz:
55 hits

Zagnar:
33 hits
(Zagnar, DARO is only on saving rolls, not combat rolls)

Spider Demon:
Spider Demon's Attack: 25d6+80 162
Special: Horrific Appearance and Speed: 3 Spite for every 6 rolled.

RESULT:
Winip: 41 from missile comes straight off monster's CON.

Rest of Group: 225
Spider Demon: 162

Monster takes an additional 64 hits from the power of the wizards' TTYF spells.
The monster's special abilities give it 3 hits per Spite, generating 12 hits this round.
Each PC takes 2 hits.

[colbite]

<OOC>: Sorry. After I posted I realized my error. Not enough sleep I guess. I'll go with that and not the trying to pull the wool over the GM. Must stop typing...

<Zagnar>: "Whack'dee wack! Spider Demon don't come back!"

Great Axe (5+3 Dice), Combat Adds: 18
5d6+21: 43 [5d6=3, 3, 6, 4, 6] +2 Spite
orokos.com/roll/414080
Total = 45

[khaboom]

(Khaghtchan) Winip wades in. "You don't need help, lads, but I want a slice of that beastie!"

[mahrundl]

Malutassial once again fires off a level 1 Take That, You Fiend! at the creature.

"Hit it hard, it is weakening!"

[andrew]

Rochin del Graz attacks, his broadswords whistling through the air...

Round 2: 6d6+30 54

[marionarsis]

Random takes a step back and fires off a TTYF spell. "Crackle and burn! Crackle and burn!" he chants maniacally. 

[andrew]

The skirmish continues with unrelenting fury. The spider-demon stabs and slashes with its front legs while the combined spells of Malutassial and Random rend the air with dire magicks. Blades from sword and axe clang together in desperate attempts to end the threat from another of Darksmoke's dreadful pets.

With a last fit of sudden energy the beast lashes-out one final time, then collapses to the ground, a foul black ichor pooling around it. The threat ended, the party leans against a wall, and catches their collective breath.

Winip's Attack: 38
Winip's sabre attack: 3d6+26 38

Zagnar: 43 (Spite isn't added to combat totals; it's damage a losing side in a combat turn gets on the winning side)

Mal: 28 from TTYF
ST-3=10; Staff -2=12/46; APs +6

Random: 17 from TTYF
ST-6=7; APs+6

Rochin:54

Khloemar: 0

Spider-Demon: 167
Spider Attack Rd. 2: 25d6+80 167
Spite: 3x3=9

RESULT:
Party 180; Spider-Demon 167. The monster takes 45 hits from Mal and Random's TTYF spells, and it dies. 

Based on marching order, the Spider-Demon's hits are allocated as follows:
-Zagnar, Random, Rochin -2 CON
-Khloemar, Mal, Winip -1 CON

Everyone receives +100 aps for winning the combat. 

The hallway continues into the murky blackness ahead, to the south. A door is in the western wall, and farther ahead, you can make out another tunnel running east-west.