PBEM - Episode 265. Ambush

Two layers of combat, above ground and underwater made this a pretty damned cool posting turn.

Follows:

TWO HUNDRED SIXTY FIVE

(I/C)

Seeing the other Adept dive into the water, Brednon tapped Wyn, pointed down into the water as he dropped his bow and shrugged out of his pack, drew his sword and mimed stabbing. The elf nodded, giving a thumbs up and pointed to the two other Adepts on the opposite side of the chamber. He drew another of the doubleshot arrows, nocked it in place and fired at the distant Salamander as Brendon dove into the frigid water, sword first. As he released the arrow (<+5 to hit, Orange 5) he could tell it was already going to be too far to the left, so using his elven ability, he sure shotted and corrected the trajectory at the last instant (<+5 to hit, Orange 1 – FUMBLE!) but OVER corrected and realized his arrow might be streaking towards Abraxas! BUT!!! The Heartswood Bow exacted its OWN magic (third time’s the charm…>+5 to hit, Purple/Blue 17) and the arrow actually CURVED in the air as it streaked towards the Adept – and the enchanted arrow dragged another one from his quiver in a spray of silvery light! Both shaft slammed into the Adept (1d6 Damage: Orange 3 and Orange 4 – 7 Damage!), hurting it badly and making it stagger back grimacing in pain on its reptilian face.

Meanwhile under the water, Kovid struggled to keep his fading breath, fumbled at his waist with his right arm as Lyra shifted up to his shoulders, struggling to pull him away from the amphibian menace, and slashed hard (<+4 to hit, -4 underwater combat, Yellow 8), cutting water and robe, but little flesh of his attacker underneath.

The Adept instead held onto the dwarf’s left arm as Lyra had the right side, and both parties PULLED (Combative Str check: Lyra White 18 (over by 10) vs Salamander +2 at home in water bonus Green 6 (Under by 7)) with the dwarf ripped from the cleric’s hands! She tried to kick the beast in the eye (<+0 to hit, -4 underwater combat, White 9) but failed and left only a stream of bubbles rising to the surface. The dwarf was struggling with the superior swimmer, hoping to hold his air 10’ under the water, and the bastard was looking like it was going to strike the dwarf in the chest!

Meanwhile on the surface, seeing the slickery oil and the water to his left, Abraxas let his Scythe fall and made a sudden grab for the Hobgoblin’s weapon arm (>+5 to hit grapple weapon arm, Blue 13), gripping it tight and holding it straight. He then rolled, forcing the hobgoblin to roll over his shoulder, the two of them struggling as the hob released his weapon (Combative Strength check: Abraxas Blue 16 (under by 1) vs Hobgoblin Green 4 (Under by 10)). He did manage to roll the hob with him, but the warrior was stronger than he expected and the two of them were forced into a struggle of dominance, arms folded about each other, knees raised, feet kicking and scrabbling (2nd Combative Str check: Abraxas Blue 9 (Under by 8) vs Hobgoblin White 3 (Under by 11). And when it ended, it was Abraxas on his back, shoulders at the hard edge of the pool, head over the water beneath his hair by a foot, and the Hobgoblin ontop of him, trying to shove him into the pool! Abraxas was slapping the ground with his free hand trying to find purchase on the oily ground but couldn’t get a grip!

And under the water’s surface as Kovid was about to be struck, (Brendon Swim check +10 pirate, -2 weight penalty, Red 2) the Scout finished cutting through the water, arriving there in the nick of time and THRUST with his blade (=+3 to hit, -4 underwater penalty, +2 pirate, Red 14) at the salamander, hitting the beast in the fleshy left side and drawing a line of blood (1d6 Damage: Red 1). The beast was hurt but (1-2 let go, 3-6 don’t – Red 3) refused to let the dwarf go; Kovid’s eyes growing wide with alarm as his reserves of air were at their last minute!

(Initiative: Party Steel 4 vs Enemy Red/Black 2).

Meanwhile in the darkness above, Lannis was sobbing as he ran on, heading east and hoping to find someplace he could hide and ride out the terror he KNEW was chasing him. He bounced off wall to wall, (intersection: 1-4 north, 5-6 East: 3- North!) but when he hit the end of the “T”, he remembered that the Owlbear was in this direction and he did NOT want to stumble into it in the dark. He ran off to the north, hands spread in front of him, frantic to get someplace safe. (Intersection: 1-4 North, 5-6 West: 3- North!) When he felt some air to his left he ran on, ignoring the call in that direction, breath whistling, heart beating. (Intersection: 1-4 North, 5-6 West: 4- North!) He ignored the next passage on his left, cursing the dwarf internally for his mapping, only having a vague idea where he was and where he was going.

(WMC: Red/Black 6) – no!

Time now is Day 7, 3:43 PM

(OOC)

Exciting! 2 adepts left up top – 1 pretty damned wounded. Abraxas rolling on ground with Hob and currently not doing so well. Lannis lost in the dark. Sal under water and hurting but holding Kovid hoping to drown his ass. Lyra and Kovid this is your last minute – have to get to the surface or you both drop to zero hp at the end of your part of the round. Brendon, you have 3 minutes to go.