Luckily, the little creatures didn't have time to bite Zevriel, who immediately reacted by shaking them off every time they climbed (or landed) on him. But he still has them all around him!
The coins erupt beneath Zevriel’s fingers, skittering and snapping like a living tide of bronze. He jerks back with a sharp oath, brushing furiously at his sleeves as the beetle-things claw for bare skin. “Not treasure—bugs!” he growls. He drops into a fighting stance, free hand sliding from the dagger at his belt to the hilt of his twinblade across his back, ready to draw it the instant the swarm closes again. Water churns around his boots as he circles for space, eyes narrowing on the glittering mass. “Watch your hands—these things bite!”
Not only does Zevriel manage to keep the bugs away... even their metallic dust (perhaps slowed by the water) is promptly swept away before it can settle on him.
[[ OOC: Great! Now let's await Ardana and Tarysaa's Initiatives... ]]
Zevriel whips the twinblade free and sends it into a fast, whirling arc. Steel flashes, fanning a protective circle that keeps the glitter-beetles from landing on him. The spin is sure and clean—he feels the rhythm click (Dex 18: +2 AC). Using the motion’s momentum he snaps a short back-cut, but the swarm scatters wide and the strike bites only water (bonus action attack but critical miss).
Blade still humming, he drops low into a guarded stance, eyes tracking every glinting shape. “Stay clear of the pile!” he calls, voice tight but steady, ready to dodge and turn the spinning barrier on any beetle that dares close in again.
Tarysaa watches as the pile of coins starts flitting into the air around Zevriel. Extending her hand, she coaxes one of the coin bugs to land on her palm.
The swarm is so focused on avoiding Zevriel's swift blade that they're caught off guard by the sudden electrical discharge delivered by Tarysaa!
Immediately afterward, Paqen invokes the power of nature, attempting to freeze the insects, while Mival enters, moving to Zevriel's side and attempting to crush the insects one slam after another.
Many insects are literally fried by Tarysaa's hand, and several others remain frozen to death by Paqen's magic.
Mival's slams hit, but they have less effect than they should, as it's difficult to crush many scarabs at once that way [[OOC: Swarm has resistance to that damage]].
Despite everything, more than half of the insidious insects are already dead!
The scarabs seek revenge and renew their efforts to bite Zevriel.
Desperation strengthens the insects' jaws, jaws with an almost metallic consistency, and Zevriel feels several bites on his legs, sending agonizing pain through him.
A few beetles move as the paladin relentlessly brings down her javelin [[ OOC: resistance to that damage type ]], but several are impaled.
Elias moves far enough to see the battered swarm and mocks it curtly, insinuating that it has no value either in money or in battle, weaving magic into his words.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Coin Swarm DC 13 WIS Save vs Elias' Vicious Mockery: 8 If failed, it takes Unable to parse dice roll. psychic damage and has disadvantage on the next attack roll it makes before the end of its next turn.
Coin Swarm DC 13 WIS Save vs Elias' Vicious Mockery: 8 If failed, it takes Unable to parse dice roll. psychic damage and has disadvantage on the next attack roll it makes before the end of its next turn.
Elias's words have further confused and destabilized the unfortunate swarm. The mass of insects has now significantly reduced; it should take little to completely disperse them.
Now Zevriel, Tarysaa, Mival and Paqen are up for Round 2!
Coin Swarm Attack: 8 Damage: 11 (piercing)
Plus Zevriel (whether hit or not) must roll a DC 13 Dexterity saving throw.
Luckily, the little creatures didn't have time to bite Zevriel, who immediately reacted by shaking them off every time they climbed (or landed) on him. But he still has them all around him!
Time to roll for initiative...
Monsters/NPCs Initiatives:
Coin Swarm: 13
Mival: 15
Elias: 4
Paqen: 17
Zevriel Dexterity save 14 and Initiative 14
The coins erupt beneath Zevriel’s fingers, skittering and snapping like a living tide of bronze. He jerks back with a sharp oath, brushing furiously at his sleeves as the beetle-things claw for bare skin. “Not treasure—bugs!” he growls. He drops into a fighting stance, free hand sliding from the dagger at his belt to the hilt of his twinblade across his back, ready to draw it the instant the swarm closes again. Water churns around his boots as he circles for space, eyes narrowing on the glittering mass. “Watch your hands—these things bite!”
|| Oriace - Halfling Bard - Dragon Heist || Valerian - Elf Rogue - Wildnis || b'Reh - Stig Cleric - Humblewood || Rowan - Halfling Giant - Runewarren || Khazela - Spiritfarer Dervish - Tribute || Arista - Frost Sorcerer - Old Keep || Zephirah - Demonic Bard - Sands || Merry - Gifted Surgeon - Short || Marasatra - Blood Mage - Avernus || Lan - Dwarf Dragon - Wuxian ||
Not only does Zevriel manage to keep the bugs away... even their metallic dust (perhaps slowed by the water) is promptly swept away before it can settle on him.
[[ OOC: Great! Now let's await Ardana and Tarysaa's Initiatives... ]]
Tarysaa Initiative: 16
In keeping with Ardana's initiatives this campaign: 6
Round 1
The tricky insects failed to take full advantage of the element of surprise well and now they have to suffer the party's reaction!
Zevriel, Tarysaa, Paqen and Mival are up! Any order!
Combat Stats (those interested can peek):
Initiative Name Status
17 Paqen Undamaged
16 Tarysaa Undamaged
15 Mival Undamaged
14 Zevriel Undamaged
13 Coin Swarm Undamaged
6 Ardana Undamaged
4 Elias Undamaged
Zevriel whips the twinblade free and sends it into a fast, whirling arc. Steel flashes, fanning a protective circle that keeps the glitter-beetles from landing on him. The spin is sure and clean—he feels the rhythm click (Dex 18: +2 AC). Using the motion’s momentum he snaps a short back-cut, but the swarm scatters wide and the strike bites only water (bonus action attack but critical miss).
Blade still humming, he drops low into a guarded stance, eyes tracking every glinting shape. “Stay clear of the pile!” he calls, voice tight but steady, ready to dodge and turn the spinning barrier on any beetle that dares close in again.
|| Oriace - Halfling Bard - Dragon Heist || Valerian - Elf Rogue - Wildnis || b'Reh - Stig Cleric - Humblewood || Rowan - Halfling Giant - Runewarren || Khazela - Spiritfarer Dervish - Tribute || Arista - Frost Sorcerer - Old Keep || Zephirah - Demonic Bard - Sands || Merry - Gifted Surgeon - Short || Marasatra - Blood Mage - Avernus || Lan - Dwarf Dragon - Wuxian ||
Tarysaa watches as the pile of coins starts flitting into the air around Zevriel. Extending her hand, she coaxes one of the coin bugs to land on her palm.
Shocking Grasp To hit: 14 Dmg: 7 lightning
"Can we withdraw safely? Or are we going to spend our 'underwater time' swatting pests?"
Round 1
The swarm is so focused on avoiding Zevriel's swift blade that they're caught off guard by the sudden electrical discharge delivered by Tarysaa!
Immediately afterward, Paqen invokes the power of nature, attempting to freeze the insects, while Mival enters, moving to Zevriel's side and attempting to crush the insects one slam after another.
Paqen's Frostbite: the swarm must pass a DC 14 CON save or take 4 (cold)
Mival's Multiattack:
Left Slam Attack: 24 Damage: 10 (bludgeoning)
Right Slam Attack: 17 Damage: 10 (bludgeoning)
Coin Swarm's CON save: 14
Round 1
Many insects are literally fried by Tarysaa's hand, and several others remain frozen to death by Paqen's magic.
Mival's slams hit, but they have less effect than they should, as it's difficult to crush many scarabs at once that way [[OOC: Swarm has resistance to that damage]].
Despite everything, more than half of the insidious insects are already dead!
The scarabs seek revenge and renew their efforts to bite Zevriel.
Coin Swarm Attack: 23 Damage: 9 (piercing)
Round 1
Desperation strengthens the insects' jaws, jaws with an almost metallic consistency, and Zevriel feels several bites on his legs, sending agonizing pain through him.
Now Ardana and Elias are up!
Combat Stats (those interested can peek):
Initiative Name Status
17 Paqen Undamaged
16 Tarysaa Undamaged
15 Mival Undamaged
14 Zevriel 9 Damage
13 Coin Swarm 15 Damage, Reduced in number
6 Ardana Undamaged
4 Elias Undamaged
Ardana is still holding the javelin, so she tries as best she can (24 to hit, 7 damage) to use it to poke at some of the fake gold coins.
Round 1
A few beetles move as the paladin relentlessly brings down her javelin [[ OOC: resistance to that damage type ]], but several are impaled.
Elias moves far enough to see the battered swarm and mocks it curtly, insinuating that it has no value either in money or in battle, weaving magic into his words.
Coin Swarm DC 13 WIS Save vs Elias' Vicious Mockery: 8
If failed, it takes Unable to parse dice roll. psychic damage and has disadvantage on the next attack roll it makes before the end of its next turn.
Let's retry the damage roll: 2
Round 2
Elias's words have further confused and destabilized the unfortunate swarm. The mass of insects has now significantly reduced; it should take little to completely disperse them.
Now Zevriel, Tarysaa, Mival and Paqen are up for Round 2!
Combat Stats (those interested can peek):
Initiative Name Status
17 Paqen Undamaged
16 Tarysaa Undamaged
15 Mival Undamaged
14 Zevriel 9 Damage
13 Coin Swarm 20 Damage, Reduced in number
6 Ardana Undamaged
4 Elias Undamaged