VI. Returning to The Mistress

[OGRE MAGE]

Sasha nods her head in agreement, her obvious frustration growing more and more by the minute.

This place sucks! Weve been turned away at every place weve tried to explore. I don't want to go back out in that blazing sun!

The she elf looks around in the foliage for a large frond or leaf to use as a makeshift parasol to block the sun. She then leads the way back to the beach and beyond.

[dmw71]

The group elects to avoid enduring what promised to be difficult terrain, and retreats to the beach again. Sasha, at least, locates a large leaf before returning, which she uses as a makeshift parasol to block the sun, which continues to beat down mercilessly.

Passing the grotto, where the majestic Sefina is no where to be found, the group continues on its eastern passage as it plans to circle the island.

After continuing their path for an uneventful half hour, not spying anything useful or unusually interesting about the island, Sasha, and her elven alertness, hears an unusual lapping sound coming from the water and cautions the group to back away from the shoreline. The warning comes just in time, as a giant, 8-foot wide crustacean scuttles sideways out of the water, approximately 20-feet in front of the group, and begins snapping its pincers. Its beady eyes rest atop stalks as it maneuvers its rust-colored chitinous shell in the party's direction.

GiantCrab.png (232.5 KiB) Viewed 835 times

Actions?



Rolls:
Surprise: Players [1d6] = 5

[Zhym]

"Now that's good eating!" says Pendleton.

"Bingus, I think it's your turn to do the honors."

[OGRE MAGE]

Approximately how far is it from the water line to the treeline please?

[dmw71]

Approximately how far is it from the water line to the treeline please?

There's a good distance between the shoreline and the treeline -- easily 100-yards.

[AleBelly]

DM Edit:
I screwed up, and pressed 'Edit' to copy Bingus' post... but then started to actually compose my update in AleBelly's post, instead of in a new reply. It wasn't until after I submitted it that I caught the error, and I haven't been able to restore this original post.

My apologies.

[OGRE MAGE]

Sasha begins to move away from the others slowly, she heads a few yards in the direction of the jungle with the intention of trying to get behind the creature if it makes a charge at the party.

She tries her luck with her bow as she departs, but the arrow flies wildly.

[dmw71]

I like the simplicity of the Target-20 system, but I always forget to post the opponents AC. I'm also not sure how I feel about always sharing it, as there may occasionally be reasons not to.

Anyway, for the crab, it's thick, hard shell provides it a 3 AC.

[dmw71]

Waiting for Dorin.

[GreyWolfVT]

Dorin the dwarf's mouth begins to water "Now we just need ta boil the thing and find a butter monster." licking his lips and waiting for the magical attack the dwarf takes up his axe and watches the elf sneak off. The Dwarf considers his options deciding it best to not fight the thing head on he tries to head off to the side between the beach and the trees.

[Zhym]

Pendleton tries to keep the other fools adventurers between the crab and himself.

[dmw71]

Round 1
"Now that's good eating!" says Pendleton, before realizing the the giant creature has him in its sights. And Dorin. The giant crustacean scuttles with great agility, advancing on the group quickly, and before they're able to properly react, its left pincer snaps down at Pendleton, catching the wizard in its powerful grasp and lifting the now limp body off the ground. Its right claw targets the Dorin, the dwarven newcomer, and narrowly misses with what would have like been a fatal attack! Dorin, having lunged out of the way at the last instant, attempts to amputate the giant pincer that narrowly missed him moments earlier, but the crab pulls it back in time and escapes harm.

Bingus, without hesitation, backs away while he rolls up his sleeves and cries "Aether saggitus!", producing a bolt that materializes from the air and attacks the huge crustacean, striking it solidly and causing it to lose its grip on Pendleton; the mage comes crashing down into the sand, unmoving, and bleeding profusely. The shot clearly stung the monsterous sea creature, but the creature's hunger wins out over its fear and it elects to keep remain in the battle.

Sasha quickly scatters, circling north, away from the shoreline and towards the forest. She looses an arrow at the giant creature but it deflects harmlessly off its thick protective shell.



Actions?




Rolls:
Initiative: Monsters [1d6] = 3, Players [1d6] = 2
Round 1: Crab's target (1: D, 2: S, 3: P, 4: B): [1d4] = 3
Round 1: Crab's target (1: D, 2: S, 3: P, 4: B): [1d4] = 1
Crab's morale (flees on 8+): [2d6] = 3



Note:

Anyway, for the crab, it's thick, hard shell provides it a 3 AC.

I'm working on the update now and just noticed that they actually have a 2 AC, not 3. Sorry!

[GreyWolfVT]

Dorin trying to keep the crab distracted from Pendleton strikes at the crab again with his axe Battle axe (Lvl 1, +1 str): [1d20+2] = 6+2 = 8 to hit [1d8] = 7 dmg

[OGRE MAGE]

Sasha continues her circle around to the back side of the giant crab. She keeps her distance from the dangerous claws and fires her bow at it again.

Attack w/ Bow (lvl 1 AC2) [1d20+3] = 1+3 = 4 (sorry to whoever that hits)

Looks like another battle that we have no chance of surviving! Damn this oppressive island!

[AleBelly]

Bingus' hands tremble in fear as he sees Pendleton's limp body fall to the sand. He knows he has little chance of harming the aquatic monstrosity with his dagger. "Run!" he cries, heading for the nearest tree that looks climbable.

[dmw71]

"Run!" he cries, heading for the nearest tree that looks climbable.

Per this, the forest is at least 100 yards (or 300+ feet) away.

You're welcome to still run for it, but I just wanted to clarify the distance, which is substantial.

[AleBelly]

Well, Bingus has virtually no chance at harming something with AC 2, so he's going to still run for it, hoping the others follow.

[dmw71]

Round 2
The feisty crab remains offensive, and continues to act quickly. It initially targets Dorin, catching him in its powerful grasp, opening a large wound and leaves the dwarf fighting to remain conscious. Instead of attempting to finish the dwarf off, the giant crab quickly scuttles to its right and violently snaps its other pincer shut on Sasha before the elf is able to distance herself out of its reach.

Bingus turns and successfully flees, and doesn't visually witness what Dorin does, but hearing the pained screams of his companions is enough for the mage to know that bad things are happening behind him.


Actions?




Rolls:
Initiative: Monsters [1d6] = 2, Players [1d6] = 1
Round 2: Crab's target (1-4: D, 5: S, 6: B): [1d6] = 2
Round 2: Crab's target (1-4: D, 5: S, 6: B): [1d6] = 5

[AleBelly]

Having successfully fled, Bingus will look for the nearest tree to climb to provide a vantage point of the terrible giant crab. He will try to watch and see if it retreats, then tend to any wounded left behind.

[dmw71]

Dorin?