Leap of Faith

[Bjorn]

"M'Lady," Bjorn mutters, trying to keep his voice from carrying, "can you make your light stronger?"

[Brian]

Paul: The wall immediately near you is, in fact, vibrating a bit with that noise.  Also, some tiny flakes and chips of rock are sliding down the wall with it.

Bjorn: At your request, she nods, and puts her hands together.  The resultant light floods the room -- which is the size of a football field, just about -- and reveals ... nothing.

The floor is clear, empty of anything moving.  But you still hear that noise.

[Bjorn]

Bjorn quickly studies the room, noting the locations of exits, and whether there are any pillars -- and then, working on a sudden horrible suspicion, looks up.

[Brian]

Bjorn looks up, after seeing that the room has no pillars, and only two exits.  Directly above him, clinging to the wall, is a massive pale lizard-like creature.  Except for the fact that its skin color does not change, it would look something like a cameleon.  A meter long cameleon.  With pretty sharp teeth.

As Bjorn is looking up, he gets to use his full DCV against the creature's attack when it suddenly drops on him.  If it weren't for his finely honed reflexes, the creature would have bit him, and judging by the stench as Bjorn jumps aside and the creature thumps to the ground where he was standing, that mouth isn't too clean, either.

[Brian]

<Brian> We're already in combat time.  Phase 0, no one has held actions.
<Brian> Bjorn is standing adjacent to the wall, there's a huge white lizard between him and the lady.  Behind the lady, touching the wall, is Huitzil, and next to him is Ginrai.
<Brian> Phase 4, speed 3s.
<Brian> That's you, Huitzil.
<Huitzil> I presume that I follow Bjorn's gaze upward and gasp in shock. Then in a panic I take a few steps back and bring up the knife near my face in a ready-to-slash position, looking around and upward to see if any more are around.
<Brian> None come to light immediately.
<Brian> Next speed 3, the lizard.
<Brian> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=5 ]{5}
<Brian> It attacks Bjorn, and hits!
<Brian> roll 2d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 2d6 --> [ 2d6=3 ]{3}
<Brian> roll 3d6 for hit location
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 3d6 for hit location --> [ 3d6=10 ]{10}
<Brian> Bjorn: Center of mass.  You think that lizard chipped a tooth on your chestplate.  It also knocked you back a half-step.  That's, uh, about it.
<Bjorn> <Note to self: wear armour more often.>
<Brian> Phase 6, speed 3s.  Dex order: Bjorn, the lady, and then Ginrai.
Bjorn regains his footing, sidesteps, and charges in at the lizard.
<Brian> What type of attack?  And where are you putting your points from your MA package?
<Bjorn> Defensive Strike, +2OCV, +2DCV.
<Brian> Okay.  Go ahead and make your roll to hit.
<Bjorn> roll 3d6 to hit
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Bjorn ... : 3d6 to hit --> [ 3d6=10 ]{10}
<Brian> You hit, by exact count.
<Brian> Please roll your 1d6 damage.
<Bjorn> roll 1d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Bjorn ... : 1d6 --> [ 1d6=6 ]{6}
<Brian> roll 3d6 for hit location
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 3d6 for hit location --> [ 3d6=13 ]{13}
<Brian> Maximum damage, target area: vitals.  Your blade skims across the armor plate of the lizard's skull, then dips into its neck and pries out an artery.  This thing has thick green blood, and it rushes out of the thing's body in an instant.
<Brian> It collapses to the ground and doesn't move.
<Brian> You hear skittering from all across the room.
Bjorn looks up, quickly, at the roof.
<Ginrai> "Damn, knew it was too good to be true."
Ginrai brings up his staff and, once again, prepares to cast a spell
<Brian> About three more of the lizards drop down from the darkness and plop down land a few meters away.  Their heads sway around and their tongues loll out like they're trying to taste for something.
Huitzil 's eyes go wide. "They are coming," he says in breathless shock, and this is no longer a reference to a book that was never written about the things happening right now.
<Ginrai> "Paul, I'd suggest you put away your knife and start playing some music.  Hopefully it'll have some sort of effect on the battle."
<Bjorn> Are they between us and the exits?
<Brian> They are not immediately between you and the exit, but they're zeroing in on Bjorn and the lady specifically.
<Brian> We'll reset combat time here, and put everyone at phase 0.
<Brian> Everyone (except for the lizards) has a held action.
<Brian> It's worth noting that now that the dead lizard on the floor isn't moving, it's damn near invisible.
<Brian> Dex order.
<Brian> 18s: Huitzil.
Huitzil drops his knife and scrabbles for the lute without looking, his eyes are transfixed on the lizards. When he gets it into his hands, he spins it so that the neck is in his left hand and the strings across his right, and they begin to draw across the strings.
<Brian> What are you trying to do?  Specifically, what kind of music are you going for?
<Huitzil> If my hands know what to do better than me, I won't stop them. If they don't, "Honky Tonk Women."
<Brian> Okay.  Please make a roll (on 3d6).
<Huitzil> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Huitzil ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=12 ]{12}
<Brian> Okay.  The song comes out, a bit shaky at first.
<Brian> Please roll 8d6.
<Huitzil> roll 8d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Huitzil ... : 8d6 --> [ 8d6=36 ]{36}
<Brian> Huitzil's music shifts subtly, and the notes pouring out flood everyone with confidence.
<Brian> Next in Dex order is Bjorn.
<Bjorn> "Run!" Bjorn barks.  "For the exit!"  Rather than following his own advice, though, he moves to get between the lizards and the others, sword held low and wary (+4 to DCV).
<Brian> Okay.
<Brian> Next in dex order, the lady.  She takes a few steps to one side, and readies a mace, but seems reluctant to leave Bjorn behind.
<Brian> Next in dex order, Ginrai.
Ginrai holds onto the staff with one hand and prepares to cast the 'Bolt of Force' spell
<Brian> Ginrai: Make a roll on 3d6.
<Ginrai> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Ginrai ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=9 ]{9}
Brian calculates.
<Brian> What was your target, Ginrai?
<Ginrai> The closest lizard to Bjorn
<Brian> Okay.
<Brian> Please roll 3d6.  Twice.
<Ginrai> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Ginrai ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=12 ]{12}
<Ginrai> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Ginrai ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=13 ]{13}
<Brian> Okay.
<Brian> Mystic energies gather themselves in your hand, and then streak out like a cloud of shimmering electrical sparks before they strike the lizard closest to Bjorn.  It twitches, flails, smells a bit crispy, and then collapses.
<Brian> Phase 4, speed threes.
<Brian> Huitzil: You can take a half-move and continue playing, or you can stop and make a full move, or you can stop, and do something else entirely.
Huitzil 's music didn't do what he wanted it to do, but he thinks it's doing something. He keeps playing, but blends and twists the notes together into a more appropriate song -- I Can't Get No Satisfaction.
<Brian> Nothing visibly (or invisibly, that you're aware of) changes.
<Brian> Next, the lizards.
<Brian> The first live lizard runs up to the first dead lizard, and takes a big bite out of it.
<Brian> The second live lizard runs up to the second dead lizard, and takes a big bite out of IT.
<Brian> Sounds pretty nasty.
<Brian> A couple more 'plops' sound as more lizards drop, though further away.
<Brian> This is gonna get pretty messy soon.
<Brian> Phase 6, speed 2s.
<Brian> First up, Bjorn.
<Bjorn> "Run, you sons of bitches!" Bjorn growls.  "Get to the exit!"  Suiting actions to words, Bjorn backs up in the correct direction, not taking his eyes off the lizards, and not letting anyone get between him and them.
<Brian> Bjorn starts edging towards the far side of the room.  The new lizards are a ways away, but closing in quickly.
<Brian> The lady goes next, and does exactly what Bjorn said -- books towards the exit.
<Brian> Next up: Ginrai.
<Ginrai> I'm behind Bjorn, right?
Ginrai does the same and backs towards the exit
<Brian> Okay.  Phase 8, speed 3s.  Huitzil: This is you.
Huitzil does as told, stepping and then skittering his way toward the far exit, as close to the wall as he can. He keeps playing as best he could, but his fingers stumble a few times as he flees.
<Brian> They do, but no one seems to notice.  As you're all out of the direct line of advancement, the lizards ignore you, and plow towards the fallen pair.
<Brian> A feeding frenzy erupts full force as you make it to the archway.
<Brian> From this distance, though, the lizards are difficult to make out, blending into the stone walls very well.  But they sound upset, all hissing, crunching, and other nasty noises.
<Brian> We'll end combat here, unless you want to go back in and fight some more.
<Bjorn> No thanks.
<Ginrai> Not really
<Brian> Alrighty, then.

[Brian]

You're now returned to the same corkscrewing hallway you came from, though the lady breathes a shaky sigh of relief that no one was harmed, and dims the light of her pendant a bit.

[Bjorn]

"Let's keep going," Bjorn says.  "Most likely, whoever survives won't follows us, but I'd rather not rely on that."

Gesturing at the others to preced him this time, Bjorn takes the rear guard position, splitting his attention between front and rear, and listening intently.

[Huitzil]

Paul follows, clutching the neck of his instrument as tight as he can.

[Ginrai]

Ginrai positions himself on the Lady's right while geturing for Paul to stay on her left.

"I believe we should try to move as fast as possible through this area."

[Brian]

You hoof it, and keep on trucking.

Again, you lose track of time.

But, you don't encounter any more odd rooms, which is probably a good thing.

You don't encounter any more rooms at all, actually, which is kind of an odd thing.

Regardless, your path begins to rise, after a while, and it suggests that you may be drawing near an exit.

[Bjorn]

"If it was this easy," Bjorn says, in a quiet but skeptical voice, "then getting through wouldn't be legendary."

He moves the front of the group, but stops, peering ahead as if he could actually make anything out, and then shaking his head.  Turning back, he whispers, "Slowly and carefully.  Don't suppose anyone has a stick on them?"

[Brian]

The lady looks at Parthipan's staff, but says nothing.

[Ginrai]

"I do, Bjorn," Ginrai whispers back.  "Though I'm wondering why you noticed it and didn't say anything," he asks the Lady.

[Brian]

"I've heard you keep your soul in it," she says dryly.

[Bjorn]

"That being the case," Bjorn says, dryly, "it's probably not the ideal thing to be using to feel out traps."