Chapter 3: Judged under Open Skies

[KingOfCowards]

"They're foraging. I agree that they don't seem aggressive, but once they find food that may change."
Simon draws his sword, and tosses his knife at the feet of Selde. He'll try to stab at the creature to drive it back.
Normal Stance Attack with Sword [1d20+1] = 5+1 = 6

Food might distract them for only for a time. But I don't see us being set free until we're dead or they are.

[DavetheLost]

"I sure hope they don't change their minds and start thinking we're food"

Desmond redies his dagger just in case and assumes defensive stance.

[PyroArrow]

Tonkioso 'Gizzy' Gizmoebius [Male Clockwork Child Warrior AC 12 : HP 2/ 5]:

Gizzy takes a defensive stance along with the rest of the party.

Looking on his person for any sort of food item to toss as far as he can from the party.

[MonkeyWrench]

MW, should I assume from your description that you have entered a defensive posture?

Yes, Marcus will be in a defensive position.

[Pulpatoon]

Bürd passes hatchets the Maximer, Redmere, and Jack. Simon arms Selde with a knife. Jeb, the remaining unarmed guard moves to take the knife from Selde, but Maximer gives him a murderous look. "Fine," rasps Jeb. "I'll jus' throw the bear at 'em."

Gizzy looks for food, but being a clockwork creature, finds he has stashed none away.

The ants continue to mill and probe, passing their antennae across Marcus' face and Gizzy's arm.

"They're foraging. I agree that they don't seem aggressive, but once they find food that may change."
Simon draws his sword, and tosses his knife at the feet of Selde. He'll try to stab at the creature to drive it back.
Normal Stance Attack with Sword [1d20+1] = 5+1 = 6

Simon swings at an ant, missing it but causing the ant to scuttle backwards. It releases an acrid scent, and the other ants near scurry around in an agitated way. One of the ants steps close enough to the conical depression in the sand, and the edge collapses under its weight. The ant slides down the cone, and is immediately cracked in two by a pair of great mandibles emerging from the sand!

The harpies erupt into cheers!

[PyroArrow]

Tonkioso 'Gizzy' Gizmoebius [Male Clockwork Child Warrior AC 12 : HP 2/ 5]:

Says,

" Oh great, now we got to watch where we step or something pops out of the ground ! "

[mb.]

Bürd grins wildly, "nay Gizz, we got t'drive 'em bugs back int'the pit there! Forward lads, t'gether as a line! Our only hope agin' s'many is t'drive 'em down t'the maw!" Bürd steps boldly forward (hoping the others will join him) whipping out a stone as he does. He points it at the nearest couple of ants, barks some harsh syllables in dwarvish, and flames erupt from the stone!

Burning hands damage: [1d3+4] = 3+4 = 7 How many that affects is up to you Pulp...

[mb.]

Just for clarity Pyro, the arena's round, full of sand, and has a conical pit in the middle. Nothing popped out of the ground - the ant moved too far back, slid into the pit, and at the bottom of the pit is something nasty with mandibles. Think of it as our ally against the ants.

[MonkeyWrench]

Marcus will follow Bürd's lead, stepping forward with his spear and jabbing it at the ants in front of him to heard them to the pit. He makes sure that the bear cub is safe and behind him, all attempts for ant or man to harm the cub get a spear for their trouble...

Initiative: [1d10+2] = 10+2 = 12
Spear: [1d20+2] = 14+2 = 16, Damage: [1d6+2] = 1+2 = 3

[PyroArrow]

Tonkioso 'Gizzy' Gizmoebius [Male Clockwork Child Warrior AC 12 : HP 2/ 5]:

Gizzy will follow along with Marcus & Bürd.

[KingOfCowards]

With Bürd and Marcus leading the way, Simon thrusts his sword into one of the giant ants that was harassing the group.
Attack with Sword [1d20+1] = 18+1 = 19
Sword Damage: [1d8] = 4

[Pulpatoon]

Bürd steps boldly forward (hoping the others will join him) whipping out a stone as he does. He points it at the nearest couple of ants, barks some harsh syllables in dwarvish, and flames erupt from the stone!

Burning hands damage: [1d3+4] = 3+4 = 7

Three giant ants are caught in the arc of flame!
Ant Saving Throws:

[1d20] = 6
[1d20] = 15
[1d20] = 16
All failed! Full seven points of damage!

The ants ignite, burning with a foul chemical tang. They flee across the arena. One falls into the pit. The other two make it to the others side. Other ants come over to investigate, and throw sand on their comrades to douse the flames.

Marcus will follow Bürd's lead, stepping forward with his spear and jabbing it at the ants in front of him to heard them to the pit. He makes sure that the bear cub is safe and behind him, all attempts for ant or man to harm the cub get a spear for their trouble...

Initiative: [1d10+2] = 10+2 = 12
Spear: [1d20+2] = 14+2 = 16, Damage: [1d6+2] = 1+2 = 3

No need to roll initiatve. In BtW, it's a flat number; and in this specific situation, you guys have the drop on the ants, since they were not acting aggressively or defensively when you attacked.

The point of Marcus' spear punctures the hard chitin of the giant ants. This ant rears back and tumbles over the side of the conical pit.

Gizzy will follow along with Marcus & Bürd.

Do you have a roll to go with that?

With Bürd and Marcus leading the way, Simon thrusts his sword into one of the giant ants that was harassing the group.
Attack with Sword [1d20+1] = 18+1 = 19
Sword Damage: [1d8] = 4

With the ants being fairly scattered around the arena, Simon attacks the last ant in the immediate vicinity of the party, stabbing into a flexible joint where its foreleg attaches to its thorax. The ant returns the attack!

Ant Bite:[1d20+4] = 16+4 = 20 Damage:[1d8] = 2
Ant-mandibles close on Simon's shoulder!

Occupied as you are with the ants, you are not able to peer down into the pit to see what is going on in there, but something's thrashing around quite a lot, in it sounds like a lot of sand is getting moved around.

The harpies continue to cheer

[mb.]

Bürd squints at the pit, and with a moment's respite from the threat of ant attack, thanks his axe into the sand, and rummages in his pack, eventually producing a coil of rope. "If wha'ever is down there's intent on displacin' sand, I'm reck'nin' we might be needin' this lads. Keep yer eyes on me back."

Bürd lashes and knots one end of the rope around the sturdiest thing he can find - probably one of the gates?

[DavetheLost]

"Sounds likea good plan Burd. At least as long as you don't ask me to go down in that pit. I'm not ready to become a tasty snack just yet." Says Desmond looking warily around for oncoming ants.

[KingOfCowards]

Simon grabs his shoulder where he was wounded, and continues fighting desperately for his life, despite the conversations going on around him and the cowardly guards huddled against the wall.
Attack with Sword [1d20+1] = 4+1 = 5

[PyroArrow]

Tonkioso 'Gizzy' Gizmoebius [Male Clockwork Child Warrior AC 12 : HP 2/ 5]:

If any Ants come his way:
Barton's Long Sword: To Hit: [1d20] = 11 Damage: [1d8+3] = 1+3 = 4 S/M/L

[MonkeyWrench]

Marcus will make sure to guard the bear cub, never letting the creature leave his side or get out of his sight. If any cultist, person looking to grab the cub, or ant come near him he will lash out with his spear.

Spear: [1d20+2] = 4+2 = 6, Damage: [1d6+2] = 2+2 = 4

[Pulpatoon]

Bürd finds a massive bronze ring bolted to the nearest gate, and threads his rope through it, tying it tight.

Simon grabs his shoulder where he was wounded, and continues fighting desperately for his life, despite the conversations going on around him and the cowardly guards huddled against the wall.
Attack with Sword [1d20+1] = 4+1 = 5

Simon's sword slides off the giant ants chiton, while his friends stay against the wall, waiting for any ants to come near them Finally, Maximer smacks on of his guards on the head and scoffs, "Leave a slip of a boy to face that monster alone? Where's your nerve?"

Sheepishly, the Redmere and Jack move forward. Jeb stays behind to argue with Maximer. "You got th' bearded one's 'atchet. What am I gunna do, charm it to death?"

Redmere attack:hatchet: [1d20] = 14+1 damage: [1d6] = 3
Jack attack: also: [1d20+1] = 8+1 = 9 damage: [1d6] = 4

The two guards circle around the ant and lunge at it from behind. Redmere sinks his hatchet into the ant's neck with a solid crack. The ant ant collapses.

Redmere, looking pleased with himself, brushes sand off his shirt, spits, and says to Jeb, "'Ow's that fer charm?"

Of the dozen ants, two are burnt terribly on the other side of the arena, struggling feebly and half buried in sand by the their companions. One lies dead at your feet. Three have tumbled down the pit. The remaining six are scattered throughout the arena.

Terrible noises emanate from below. Did you know ants could scream? At least, giant ones can.

The sand banks around the conical pit begin to collapse. The sand is crumbling away in the direction of the two cultists. The female cultists begins to scream, but makes no effort to move away.

[mb.]

Bürd strides out to where Simon is (and where I thought at least Marcus and Gizz were, as well as the guards) and drops the coil of rope amongst his friends "th'sand starts fallin' away lads, y'grab ont'that."

He looks around at everyone and raises his voice, "an' all of ye keep close t'nother an' let 'em come t'us! An' when they're comin' push 'em t'ward th'pit!"

Am I understanding correctly Pulp? So far the ants aren't being particularly aggressive unless attacked, and there aren't any particularly near us right now?

[Pulpatoon]

Am I understanding correctly Pulp? So far the ants aren't being particularly aggressive unless attacked, and there aren't any particularly near us right now?

Except for when the ants responded to putting out the fire, their movements have been uncoordinated and exploratory.