Nemi was quick to identify the bees' weak spot, and swats another bee out of the air, aiming for the wings. 3 of the bees that attacked are on the ground now, where somehow they seem less intimidating. Horkur is riding his down to the ground anyway but they're still in the air, out of reach. Actually Elric's bee is limping away from the fight, trailing goo out of its abdomen. Elric crushes one of the other bees with his mace, the carapace making a very satisfying crunching noise as he connects. Horkur has trouble getting purchase on the bee and can't effectively swing his weapon, it just glances off the exoskeleton.
Horkur's bee focuses on bucking off Horkur - make a check to hold on, your choice between athletics, acrobatics, or animal handling! The bee got a 13!
The 5th bee, still up in the air, zooms around in an arc and starts to fly away!
(21) Nemi - swatted down another bee
(19) Elric - crushed a bee
(19) Algernon - (new post incoming)
(18) Horkur - missed his grappled bee
(16) Bee 1 (2 damage, grounded) - 4 more damage from Nemi and 5 from Elric is enough to kill it
(16) Bee 2 - stung Elric, swatted down by Nemi, now limping away on the ground
Algernon, you can easily subdue one of the bees trying to crawl away. It buzzes angrily at you as it feebly beats its broken wings. One great compound eye glares at you, and you see yourself reflected in its many facets, but there is a swirling, sparkling purple light moving across the facets. Through your connection to beasts and other animals you get a very distinct impression of animosity, hatred, and evil feeling. This bee is in the thrall of some dark magic that controls it. You are currently at a loss of how to combat that magic, but hey, the campaign has only just begun!
So most of the bees are pretty much out of commission, except Horkur's is still flying and looks pissed, and that 5th bee is starting to fly away, it's about 60' away (in the air) but next round will be much further than that.
As Horkur is bucked off he manages a short scream before hitting the ground with a sound similar to a bag of coin dropping to the earth. "Aaahhhh, ooof."
The wind knocked from his lungs, Horkur gasps for a solid breath as he works to rise from the ground. His wound from earlier re-opened, blood dripping down his arm and off his fingers as he fights to rise.
Nemi calls out to Algernon, "Can you do anything for Horkur? His injuries are grave, he couldn't take another hit." She moves to position herself to shield Horkur from another strike from his bee while making ready for another attack.
Elricmoves over to Horkur too, standing beside Nemi to form a human(oid) shield. As soon as the bee comes into range he will swing with his mace, trying to take it down.
Mace on Bee: 7 to hit (not going to bother rolling damage lol)
Something strange happens. The bee appears ready to charge but then the purple haze in its eyes flares more brightly and suddenly it turns away and flies up into the air, retreating.
We are left with 2 heavily wounded bees crawling away, 1 crushed bee, and 2 flying away. The combat is essentially over as far as initiative order is concerned.
Horkur spits on the ground, the pinkish hue staining the dirt in front of him. "Too much for you to handle Mr. Bee? That's right, fly away while you still can!" He rants, shaking his hand axe as a mother would after kicking her child out of the kitchen for sticking their finger in the beet pie.
He lumbers over to a flower and drops to his seat while leaning his back against it heavily. Taking his hand axe, he lobs it high into the air in a half-attempt to come back down on one of the bees crawling away. While the axe spins through the air he leans his head back and closes his eyes for a quick rest, not bothering to see if it hit.
Attack: 9 Damage: 7
"Need a few minutes to catch my breath, just gonna rest my eyes..."
These attacks are both sufficient to put the bees out of their misery.
( We’ll try exp but I’ll be honest I haven’t rigorously checked what these enemies should be worth, I homebrewed them but they’re not too complicated and somewhat equivalent to other known monsters. )
Award 25 exp each for the ants
Award 50 exp each for the bees
There will be noncombat opportunities to gain exp as well
After hearing the sounds of skittering and splashing cease, Horkur opens an eye and asks the group: "Can we take a short rest, an hour perhaps? Just need some time to lick my wounds a bit.."
Elric is poisoned! Which considering his resistances to poison, is saying something. Don’t worry Elric, you feel like it’ll wear off (for you, it’ll wear off after a short rest).
A short rest can be obtained here. Go ahead and rest up. Sooner or later you’ll have to decide what you want to do next, though.
Note: given the opportunity Nemi will aim for two different ones.
Nemi was quick to identify the bees' weak spot, and swats another bee out of the air, aiming for the wings. 3 of the bees that attacked are on the ground now, where somehow they seem less intimidating. Horkur is riding his down to the ground anyway but they're still in the air, out of reach. Actually Elric's bee is limping away from the fight, trailing goo out of its abdomen. Elric crushes one of the other bees with his mace, the carapace making a very satisfying crunching noise as he connects. Horkur has trouble getting purchase on the bee and can't effectively swing his weapon, it just glances off the exoskeleton.
Horkur's bee focuses on bucking off Horkur - make a check to hold on, your choice between athletics, acrobatics, or animal handling! The bee got a 13!
The 5th bee, still up in the air, zooms around in an arc and starts to fly away!
(21) Nemi - swatted down another bee
(19) Elric - crushed a bee
(19) Algernon - (new post incoming)
(18) Horkur - missed his grappled bee
(16) Bee 1 (2 damage, grounded) - 4 more damage from Nemi and 5 from Elric is enough to kill it
(16) Bee 2 - stung Elric, swatted down by Nemi, now limping away on the ground
(16) Bee 3 (7 damage, grounded) - heavily wounded, staggering away
(16) Bee 4 (grappled by Horkur) - trying to buck Horkur off
(16) Bee 5 - starts to fly away!
Algernon, you can easily subdue one of the bees trying to crawl away. It buzzes angrily at you as it feebly beats its broken wings. One great compound eye glares at you, and you see yourself reflected in its many facets, but there is a swirling, sparkling purple light moving across the facets. Through your connection to beasts and other animals you get a very distinct impression of animosity, hatred, and evil feeling. This bee is in the thrall of some dark magic that controls it. You are currently at a loss of how to combat that magic, but hey, the campaign has only just begun!
Athletics Check: 6 😩
Horkur Beren in Tending the Garden
Geraine Lucineous in Onward Down
Horkur is bucked off the bee and falls about 17 feet to the ground, taking 7 damage!
So most of the bees are pretty much out of commission, except Horkur's is still flying and looks pissed, and that 5th bee is starting to fly away, it's about 60' away (in the air) but next round will be much further than that.
As Horkur is bucked off he manages a short scream before hitting the ground with a sound similar to a bag of coin dropping to the earth. "Aaahhhh, ooof."
The wind knocked from his lungs, Horkur gasps for a solid breath as he works to rise from the ground. His wound from earlier re-opened, blood dripping down his arm and off his fingers as he fights to rise.
Horkur Beren in Tending the Garden
Geraine Lucineous in Onward Down
Nemi calls out to Algernon, "Can you do anything for Horkur? His injuries are grave, he couldn't take another hit." She moves to position herself to shield Horkur from another strike from his bee while making ready for another attack.
(Horkur is 1/14 and Elric 5/9)
Everyone can plan another combat as the remaining bee looks to be getting into position for another dive bomb.
As Horkur wobbles to his feet he sees the bee starting its next dive and prepares to Dodge.
Horkur Beren in Tending the Garden
Geraine Lucineous in Onward Down
Elric moves over to Horkur too, standing beside Nemi to form a human(oid) shield. As soon as the bee comes into range he will swing with his mace, trying to take it down.
Mace on Bee: 7 to hit (not going to bother rolling damage lol)
Nemi readies her shortswords for another attack, positioned to guard Horkur against another attack.
Shortsword 1 Attack: 9 Damage: 5
Shortsword 2 Attack: 6 Damage: 3
Blunt attacks meant to knock out not slash.
Something strange happens. The bee appears ready to charge but then the purple haze in its eyes flares more brightly and suddenly it turns away and flies up into the air, retreating.
We are left with 2 heavily wounded bees crawling away, 1 crushed bee, and 2 flying away. The combat is essentially over as far as initiative order is concerned.
Horkur spits on the ground, the pinkish hue staining the dirt in front of him. "Too much for you to handle Mr. Bee? That's right, fly away while you still can!" He rants, shaking his hand axe as a mother would after kicking her child out of the kitchen for sticking their finger in the beet pie.
He lumbers over to a flower and drops to his seat while leaning his back against it heavily. Taking his hand axe, he lobs it high into the air in a half-attempt to come back down on one of the bees crawling away. While the axe spins through the air he leans his head back and closes his eyes for a quick rest, not bothering to see if it hit.
Attack: 9 Damage: 7
"Need a few minutes to catch my breath, just gonna rest my eyes..."
Horkur Beren in Tending the Garden
Geraine Lucineous in Onward Down
Nemi watches the axe fly by and glances back at the others for any objections before trying to put the other two remaining bees out of their misery.
Shortsword 1 Attack: 19 Damage: 6 to one of the bees (slashing damage this time)
Shortsword 2 Attack: 17 Damage: 1 to the other of the bees (slashing also)
These attacks are both sufficient to put the bees out of their misery.
( We’ll try exp but I’ll be honest I haven’t rigorously checked what these enemies should be worth, I homebrewed them but they’re not too complicated and somewhat equivalent to other known monsters. )
Award 25 exp each for the ants
Award 50 exp each for the bees
There will be noncombat opportunities to gain exp as well
After hearing the sounds of skittering and splashing cease, Horkur opens an eye and asks the group: "Can we take a short rest, an hour perhaps? Just need some time to lick my wounds a bit.."
Horkur Beren in Tending the Garden
Geraine Lucineous in Onward Down
Elric slumps to his knees, still weak from the bee's sting.
"Yes please, if we could rest...I'm feeling a little dizzy"
Elric is poisoned! Which considering his resistances to poison, is saying something. Don’t worry Elric, you feel like it’ll wear off (for you, it’ll wear off after a short rest).
A short rest can be obtained here. Go ahead and rest up. Sooner or later you’ll have to decide what you want to do next, though.
I should mention, you noticed the 2 bees retreated in a Southerly direction.