You Notice while you can make it to the edge, there is no guarantee the swarms will stop. You notice that the locusts are only jumping 10-15 feet high. The only spot in the immediate area is the rock formation that has a spot out of reach. It’s climbable.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Jax perception 9
"We need to find a way to escape these insects" The warforged would say as his red lens pulses rapidly as if to indicate panic. He would quickly spin and fire off another revolver round towards the glowing swarm as he looked around for an escape route.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Salqwyn "Squall" d'Lyrandar / Half-elf Sorcerer
Squall starts running for the rocks yelling at the others “Climb! Get out of their reach and I’ll hold them off.”She gets to the base of the rocks and turns to face the oncoming swarm. As the others pass they see her arm once again aglow with energy as the other get past and the bugs surround d her she once again slams her hands together.
Move to the base of the rocks and hold my spell until the others are past and the bugs are around me the.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
(I’ll allow the command seeing how Virnen did make the check, but Squall should’ve made a perception roll - 1)
Athletics check to climb rock formation
Jax - 16
Tara 6
Lucky 20
Virnen 22
Swarm wisdom save vs Tara - 7
The group begins picking off the swarm one by one as they run to the edge of the rubbery field. Squall takes command and turns her back as the group (presumably) begins to ascend the rocky formation. Virnen swiftly climbs up the jagged edges with relative ease. He throws down a hand to help Tara up. After the attacks both Jax and Lucky they are in the back of the group, and they find it difficult to find the proper handholds underneath where the others feet already are, it takes them slower to get up the rocky edge. Holding onto the sides and ducking behind the rocks. Squall unleashes her spell
Con save 16
Ground save - 12
The thunderclap rumbles and sends a shockwave our from Squall as the vast majority of the swarm collapse on the ground. The ground is able to maintain its integrity at the edge of the rocky ground.
Virnen’s vantage point allows him a bird eye view of the treacherous path they just took. Looking across the field you see huge amounts of swarms spanning as far as his eye can see over the dull warm red glow of the field. Each locust jumping and flying around speedily, never staying in one spot. The gathered bodies surrounding Squall on is the only still and consistent pressure in one spot. Virnen can see very large shadows under the surface moving to where Squall is.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Tara frowns. "We need to try to find the queen. We will never prevail against this many bugs, something I'm sure Jax can support with his calculations. But the bugs follow the Horde nondragon grouping pattern. The queen should be at the center of the swarm's movements, directing them. They should all stem from her, eventually." She scans the bugs, seeing if she can spot where the queen might be from where the bugs stem from and/or their movements.
Perception (same mod if Insight, subtract 2 if Investigation): 10
Jax will struggle to climb the rock face as his smooth metallic fingers seem to provide much less grip against the rock as many of his companions. "Tara is correct... Our odds of survival are dropping rapidly... The situation is quite dire considering how low our odds were to begin with." The warforged would add in his montone voice as his red lens pulses incredibly fast as though it were a red strobe light. Noticing the black figures moving ground, the warforged would fire into the ground from the rock face... trying to hit whatever is moving beneath the surface.
Attack: 22 Damage: 18
(OOC: Just wondering... is grease flammable? also are the swarms still glowing?)
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Salqwyn "Squall" d'Lyrandar / Half-elf Sorcerer
Suddenly the sorceress' arm glows brightly as she cups her hands around her mouth and yells toward the ground ” Κεραυνόκύμα!”Her voice warping into a roll of thunder even louder than the claps she had already produced. Then out of nowhere wind whips around her lifting her into the air. She grabs at the rocks and starts to climb the remaining way to join the others. "Yes, I felt the ground move as well."
Action - Thunderwave DC 14 Con Save : 7 thunder damage Directed under me
Bonus action - Tempestuous Magic : fly 10ft up then climb the rest of the way.
Starting at 1st level, you can use a bonus action on your turn to cause whirling gusts of elemental air to briefly surround you, immediately before or after you cast a spell of 1st level or higher. Doing so allows you to fly up to 10 feet without provoking opportunity attacks.
(Future reference I would allow grease to be flammable, especially since it’s usually a horrendously underused spell. The things are indeed still glowing)
Tara distinctly remembers that the insects they were following were bigger and indeed not the same as the ones you’re facing now (I will do better to differentiate in the future). You were originally following the large flying creatures that were harvesting. These are small and jumping like fleas. Unorganized and not in lines like the others... more like chaotic swarms of buzzing pests. There are no differentiating qualities of any of the insects in sight.
ground dc vs squall - 2
(using Squall’s spell casting modifier in stead of dex save due to using spell to escape) - 12 vs DC 15 or take 3 fire damage
the ground erupts from the force wave as another spraying fountain nears Squall and the proximity of heat burns her on her swift escape up the rocks. The blast explodes from Jax’s rifle as a beam of energy pierced through the ground, sending lava up in a fountain like projection. The Giant shadow under the surface moving towards the location of squall and the growing pile of dead locust bodies are. Seems to be indifferent at the attack.
The rest of the group takes their shots and strike true as more bodies swarm and are ravaging at the side of the tower of volcanic rock, that you now stand.
The waves on the ground ebb and flow as the become larger and larger. The party, now can see this massive large shadow sweep across under the surface.... then the shadow disappears.....
The hectic swarm of locusts stops momentarily as the shadow starts small and grows and grows and grows. The ground bows upward as the swarm tries to disperse and scatter but it’s too late. What seems like a giant rock covered and armored narwhal glowing hot white-orange pierced through the ground with the horn in its head as it thrusts itself upward. Each tooth sharp and jagged at a few feet long each. The yellow eyes dart around at its prey. Engulfing the swarm and swallowing the pile, before it slinks back down through the hole it made. The large circular tear about 30’ in diameter glows dark red as it begins to cool once more. The group hides behind the tiers of stone and hide in the cracks as they hear the splatter of lava coat the stone. Steam rising all around you. Swarm is gone and the shadow moves along. The constant humming has now died down.
(totally not the queen)
Looking our in the distance in the same direction you were walking, the large flying insects continue their journey at the edges of your vision. A deep sigh is had.
Tara takes a slow, shaky breath. "Will have to...check my records...to update my notes later," she says, voice wavering slightly before steadying as her eyes follow the shadow. "For now, we should return to following the larger insects."
Virnen lowers his bow slowly and sinks to the ground. "That....that was....that was close." he says, in an attempt to defuse the tension, but it is clear that he is panicking. The elf's hands, which are wrapped tight around his bow, are trembling and his knuckles are bone white.
The swarm as it dwindles in its number still remains viscous as it charges and bounces towards you. Like fleas on a dog as the swarm is blood crazed.
The swarm engulfs the party as they bite and scratch.
Attack: 12 Damage: 5
(Everyone takes one damage)
Party’s initiative
Perception check DC 15 start of turn:
You Notice while you can make it to the edge, there is no guarantee the swarms will stop. You notice that the locusts are only jumping 10-15 feet high. The only spot in the immediate area is the rock formation that has a spot out of reach. It’s climbable.
Tara Perception: 12
Another roar pulses into the swarm's ears.
DC 13 Wis ST or 7 necrotic damage.
Stella Diamant, Human Rogue 17 (Swashbuckler), The Exploits of Misfit Company
Kat, Medtech, Cyberpunk: Red
Shi, Changeling Bard 4 (College of Spirits), Tyrant's Grasp
Dani, Human Artificer 9 (Armorer), Skulls and Starships
DM, Project Point (Teams Scimitar and Longsword)
Everything Else!
Lucky's Perception 12
Lucky speeds on, taking a swipe as he goes at the newly-glowing little monsters surrounding him.
Attack: 22 Damage: 8
Virnen Perception: 16
Virnen, overwhelmed, tries to shoot another down.
Attack: 14 Damage: 11
Fortune's Founders - An Eberron Tale: Virnen Palaris, Wood Elf Ranger (2)
Jax perception 9
"We need to find a way to escape these insects" The warforged would say as his red lens pulses rapidly as if to indicate panic. He would quickly spin and fire off another revolver round towards the glowing swarm as he looked around for an escape route.
Attack: 26 Damage: 23
Salqwyn "Squall" d'Lyrandar / Half-elf Sorcerer
Squall starts running for the rocks yelling at the others “Climb! Get out of their reach and I’ll hold them off.”She gets to the base of the rocks and turns to face the oncoming swarm. As the others pass they see her arm once again aglow with energy as the other get past and the bugs surround d her she once again slams her hands together.
Move to the base of the rocks and hold my spell until the others are past and the bugs are around me the.
Cast Thunderclap DC 14 Con save : 4 Thunder
(I’ll allow the command seeing how Virnen did make the check, but Squall should’ve made a perception roll - 1)
Athletics check to climb rock formation
Jax - 16
Tara 6
Lucky 20
Virnen 22
Swarm wisdom save vs Tara - 7
The group begins picking off the swarm one by one as they run to the edge of the rubbery field. Squall takes command and turns her back as the group (presumably) begins to ascend the rocky formation. Virnen swiftly climbs up the jagged edges with relative ease. He throws down a hand to help Tara up. After the attacks both Jax and Lucky they are in the back of the group, and they find it difficult to find the proper handholds underneath where the others feet already are, it takes them slower to get up the rocky edge. Holding onto the sides and ducking behind the rocks. Squall unleashes her spell
Con save 16
Ground save - 12
The thunderclap rumbles and sends a shockwave our from Squall as the vast majority of the swarm collapse on the ground. The ground is able to maintain its integrity at the edge of the rocky ground.
Virnen’s vantage point allows him a bird eye view of the treacherous path they just took. Looking across the field you see huge amounts of swarms spanning as far as his eye can see over the dull warm red glow of the field. Each locust jumping and flying around speedily, never staying in one spot. The gathered bodies surrounding Squall on is the only still and consistent pressure in one spot. Virnen can see very large shadows under the surface moving to where Squall is.
The swarm surround Squall and fights back.
Attack: 21 Damage: 3
(squall takes all 3 damage)
Party’s initiative
Lucky attempts to skewer some of the insects that are harrying Squall: Attack: 12 Damage: 8
Hah! Gotcha! So what, we make a stand here, or we run for... wherever? There must be a way to get rid of these little bastards?
Squall feels a sudden surge of motion under her feet.like a wave rolling up and down ..... and another...
Tara frowns. "We need to try to find the queen. We will never prevail against this many bugs, something I'm sure Jax can support with his calculations. But the bugs follow the Horde nondragon grouping pattern. The queen should be at the center of the swarm's movements, directing them. They should all stem from her, eventually." She scans the bugs, seeing if she can spot where the queen might be from where the bugs stem from and/or their movements.
Perception (same mod if Insight, subtract 2 if Investigation): 10
OOC: We're totally about to meet the queen, lol
Stella Diamant, Human Rogue 17 (Swashbuckler), The Exploits of Misfit Company
Kat, Medtech, Cyberpunk: Red
Shi, Changeling Bard 4 (College of Spirits), Tyrant's Grasp
Dani, Human Artificer 9 (Armorer), Skulls and Starships
DM, Project Point (Teams Scimitar and Longsword)
Everything Else!
Virnen tries to get Squall's attention. "Squall get out of there! Something is coming!"
Fortune's Founders - An Eberron Tale: Virnen Palaris, Wood Elf Ranger (2)
Jax will struggle to climb the rock face as his smooth metallic fingers seem to provide much less grip against the rock as many of his companions. "Tara is correct... Our odds of survival are dropping rapidly... The situation is quite dire considering how low our odds were to begin with." The warforged would add in his montone voice as his red lens pulses incredibly fast as though it were a red strobe light. Noticing the black figures moving ground, the warforged would fire into the ground from the rock face... trying to hit whatever is moving beneath the surface.
Attack: 22 Damage: 18
(OOC: Just wondering... is grease flammable? also are the swarms still glowing?)
Queen, repeats Lucky. Okay. Yeah. That makes sense. Where's the queen? He looks around, not quite frantically but getting there. Perception 8
Salqwyn "Squall" d'Lyrandar / Half-elf Sorcerer
Suddenly the sorceress' arm glows brightly as she cups her hands around her mouth and yells toward the ground ” Κεραυνόκύμα!” Her voice warping into a roll of thunder even louder than the claps she had already produced. Then out of nowhere wind whips around her lifting her into the air. She grabs at the rocks and starts to climb the remaining way to join the others. "Yes, I felt the ground move as well."
Action - Thunderwave DC 14 Con Save : 7 thunder damage Directed under me
Bonus action - Tempestuous Magic : fly 10ft up then climb the rest of the way.
Starting at 1st level, you can use a bonus action on your turn to cause whirling gusts of elemental air to briefly surround you, immediately before or after you cast a spell of 1st level or higher. Doing so allows you to fly up to 10 feet without provoking opportunity attacks.
(Future reference I would allow grease to be flammable, especially since it’s usually a horrendously underused spell. The things are indeed still glowing)
Tara distinctly remembers that the insects they were following were bigger and indeed not the same as the ones you’re facing now (I will do better to differentiate in the future). You were originally following the large flying creatures that were harvesting. These are small and jumping like fleas. Unorganized and not in lines like the others... more like chaotic swarms of buzzing pests. There are no differentiating qualities of any of the insects in sight.
ground dc vs squall - 2
(using Squall’s spell casting modifier in stead of dex save due to using spell to escape) - 12 vs DC 15 or take 3 fire damage
the ground erupts from the force wave as another spraying fountain nears Squall and the proximity of heat burns her on her swift escape up the rocks.
The blast explodes from Jax’s rifle as a beam of energy pierced through the ground, sending lava up in a fountain like projection. The Giant shadow under the surface moving towards the location of squall and the growing pile of dead locust bodies are. Seems to be indifferent at the attack.
The rest of the group takes their shots and strike true as more bodies swarm and are ravaging at the side of the tower of volcanic rock, that you now stand.
The waves on the ground ebb and flow as the become larger and larger. The party, now can see this massive large shadow sweep across under the surface.... then the shadow disappears.....
The hectic swarm of locusts stops momentarily as the shadow starts small and grows and grows and grows. The ground bows upward as the swarm tries to disperse and scatter but it’s too late. What seems like a giant rock covered and armored narwhal glowing hot white-orange pierced through the ground with the horn in its head as it thrusts itself upward. Each tooth sharp and jagged at a few feet long each. The yellow eyes dart around at its prey. Engulfing the swarm and swallowing the pile, before it slinks back down through the hole it made. The large circular tear about 30’ in diameter glows dark red as it begins to cool once more. The group hides behind the tiers of stone and hide in the cracks as they hear the splatter of lava coat the stone. Steam rising all around you. Swarm is gone and the shadow moves along. The constant humming has now died down.
(totally not the queen)
Looking our in the distance in the same direction you were walking, the large flying insects continue their journey at the edges of your vision. A deep sigh is had.
What would you like to do?
Tara takes a slow, shaky breath. "Will have to...check my records...to update my notes later," she says, voice wavering slightly before steadying as her eyes follow the shadow. "For now, we should return to following the larger insects."
Stella Diamant, Human Rogue 17 (Swashbuckler), The Exploits of Misfit Company
Kat, Medtech, Cyberpunk: Red
Shi, Changeling Bard 4 (College of Spirits), Tyrant's Grasp
Dani, Human Artificer 9 (Armorer), Skulls and Starships
DM, Project Point (Teams Scimitar and Longsword)
Everything Else!
Virnen lowers his bow slowly and sinks to the ground. "That....that was....that was close." he says, in an attempt to defuse the tension, but it is clear that he is panicking. The elf's hands, which are wrapped tight around his bow, are trembling and his knuckles are bone white.
Fortune's Founders - An Eberron Tale: Virnen Palaris, Wood Elf Ranger (2)
Tara nods, then blinks at Virnen, looking confused by the elf's reaction. She takes a seat next to him. "Are you injured?"
Stella Diamant, Human Rogue 17 (Swashbuckler), The Exploits of Misfit Company
Kat, Medtech, Cyberpunk: Red
Shi, Changeling Bard 4 (College of Spirits), Tyrant's Grasp
Dani, Human Artificer 9 (Armorer), Skulls and Starships
DM, Project Point (Teams Scimitar and Longsword)
Everything Else!