Session Start: Fri Feb 11 18:53:45 2000

*** Now talking in #nightbelow

*** Topic is 'Lions and Tigers and Beetles and... well... Penguins. Oh My!'

<Kat> So, we camped with the house open, yes?

<Saif> Hey All

<Diana> hi

<Amber> hayrow!

*** Xaveus has joined #nightbelow

<Kat> hi

<Amber> hayrow!

<Xaveus> hello

<Kat> Do any one know if there is an update to the Core Rules 2 Expansion?

<Saif> Castinar would

<Kat> That he would

<Saif> I know there is something after the basic core rules, but that might be the "expansion", not the update to the expansion

<Kat> correct

<Kat> It has the option rules books

<Saif> He keeps telling me CR can do PO now. I remain skeptical.

<Saif> BTW, Cast might not make it tonight. He's got the flu.

<Kat> Yes, CR2 can do PO.

<Xaveus> Much improved over orginal core rules

<Saif> It is now 7:00 my time

<Saif> *

<Saif> Roll Call

<Saif> *

<Diana> hi

<Matar> oi

<Kat> here

<Xaveus> yes

<Amber> yoyo

<Saif> *

<Saif> Sane and Nikki?

<Saif> *

<Kat> Some are here in name only. Others may have a macro to say something after several *'s

<Sane> here

<Saif> We'll hold a few for Ari

<Saif> Cast is a probably not, Thengal is a not, Xaveus is for a while

<Sane> brb

<Saif> brb (5 min or so, then we'll get started with or without Ari)

*** Ari has joined #nightbelow

<Amber> hi

<Ari> hi

<Kat> hi

<Xaveus> ho silver

<Ari> hello

<Amber> *we start in a couple of mins.

<Amber> *as soon as safe and sane get back. :)

<Amber> *errr..Saif

<Kat> *I think Saif once told use that Saif is blade.

<Nikki> .

<Kat> * In some strange language he knows

<Kat> Hi Judd

<Nikki> hi

<Sane> sissy elf

<Nikki> ive got this bucket of jurgenville fried bird.. anyone wants some? yummy yummy yum

<Amber> *anyone reading a good book? I'm currantly reading "Galileo's Daughter by Dava Sobel

<Saif> Back

<Saif> So, ready to start?

<Diana> Im just playing baldurs gate, overdose of D&D :)

<Kat> sure

<Diana> yep

<Amber> ya

<Saif> *

<Saif> So, when we were last together the party has just pulled back about a mile fromt he cavern to discuss the situation

<Saif> Sane has suggested that you pull all the way back to a camp spot, set up camp, talk, rest, and recover spells

<Kat> *With the house openned...

<Saif> Any objections to that?

* Diana will offer to use Nap to help the spell casters rememorize spells.

* Nikki never cast any.

<Kat> "Unless you think we have enough arrows. We could get more now."

<Saif> OK, you pull back to about two miles away in a side cavern Castinar belives is safe from the beetles

<Diana> * Diana wants to also trade Lightning bolt in for Fireball.

<Saif> Sane has a proposal for a plan, any comments on that?

* Nikki explains to the rest of the party about her new polymorph self ability

<Saif> * brb again - neither Jamie or Tristan is feeling well, so I'm everybody's feet tonight

<Kat> "Need many more arrows. I have around 200 in the house.

* Diana listens attentively, impressed that Nikki is able to do this always.

<Amber> *Amber doesn't look surprised, Nikki seems to come up with someting new all the time..though she is interested in the process.

* Sane winks at Nikki. <That is magic I can appreciate.>

<Kat> "I can fire 20 arrows pretty quickly." (how does one say, 6 rounds. How long is that.)

* Nikki is concerned by the possibility of being mistaken for something and chopped to bits....

* Amber asks "Can you change to anything living or just people types?"

<Kat> "What can you become? Rather, what are the limits, Nikki?"

<Nikki> "Pretty much anything taller than a hobbit, I think" <g>

<Saif> * Back

<Nikki> "Limits? It hadn't occured to me I might have,.. limits."

* Nikki frowns.

* Amber suggests "Nikki, if you change make sure a patch or two or something is blue, then we will know." and she grins

<Kat> "Just always have Azure with you. Doesn't that make you look blue?"

<Saif> ### Any other spell swaps besides Diana trading a LB for a FB?

<Nikki> "Yes, Kat."

* Nikki swaps MM for Finger of Death.

<Sane> *is anyone going to get Locate Object?

<Kat> *Castinar?

<Nikki> * no one asked. what for? what object are we looking for exactly?

<Amber> journal paper

<Sane> *remember, piece of paper

<Nikki> * fireball is all anyone needs.

<Nikki> brb

<Saif> * strangely enough, "Finger of Death" manifests itself as a small bolt of energy which unerringly strikes its target for minor damage

<Sane> *if we end up bagging all the beetles, then it really won't matter

<Saif> So you want Castinar to take Locate Object?

<Amber> *whats the distance on that spell?

<Sane> *just a suggestion; but, why not? try for the piece of paper deal

<Sane> *good question

<Diana> * like 120 yds

<Saif> Hum, I think last time he said he didn't have it. Let me check.

<Amber> *bow, thank you. Humm..not too bad for distance.

<Kat> *What level spell is that?

<Diana> not sure 2nd i think

<Amber> *I'm an idiot! dont' answer that...I've got it...3rd level

<Nikki> * I think Amber has it.

<Saif> No, Castinar doesn't have that spell

<Amber> *Locate object that is. Also locate animal/plants

<Amber> I'll memorize it instead of repair injury

<Matar> "My concern was in those big guys harder exo-skeletons. I was hoping we could examine one for weak spots - or maybe Cast can point some out?"

<Saif> OK, so Diana swaps a LB for FB, Amber drops Repair and picks up Locate Object, and Ari is working on her spells

<Saif> Anything else?

<Kat> Is it possible to just carry an extra quiver of arrows?

<Saif> probably... checking

<Amber> *spell lasts 8 hours and Amber can detect 110yds. Don't know if spell continues if she does others.

<Saif> Hum, I don't have Katrina down as carrying anything. If you want to be carrying anything other than your weapons and magic items you need to get me an equipment list later this week.

<Matar> "Well since Cast can change into them I thought he might have some ideas... Otherwise when we get the first bunch to poke and prod and crack them open as it were."

<Nikki> detect ll0yds?

<Saif> Anywya, yes, you can have another quiver

<Amber> *errr.locate 60yd + 10yds/L

<Sane> *Saif, same for Sane as for Kat

<Saif> Castinar raises an eyebrow "What, you want me to change into one so you can bang on it to test how hard the carapace is?" he asks with a grin

<Saif> Sane - what? You want another quiver too?

<Sane> *no; equipment list

<Saif> ah, check

<Matar> "Heh, no those were two separate suggestions. I thought you might have some inherent knowledge from changing into one."

<Sane> *Sane doesn't quiver. <g>

<Matar> "We'd keep the banging to a dead one."

<Saif> Castinar shakes his head. "We've gought fire beetles before, but never something as large as what you saw. I'm afraid I don't know how difficult they will be to deal with."

*** Daishi has joined #nightbelow

* Amber says, "If they are as big as you say they are, maybe we can run underneath them, bugs don't bend well, or so it seems to me."

*** Daishi is now known as Armatage

<Armatage> "Yes, but I'd like to examine the small ones for seems or mayhap even an uncovered spot or something."

* Nikki shifts into a blue pudding.

<Armatage> "Eyes and limbs are generally good places to start."

* Armatage gets out a spoon.

* Nikki shifts into a giant beetle.

<Amber> *Amber digs out a spoon.

<Xaveus> PErhaps hammer or flail might work better than sword on this critters.

* Sane winks.

* Amber grins at Sane and then shrugs.

<Amber> *Amber puts spoon away disappointed there isn't a pudding to eat.

<Kat> "Are we going to feather the beetles or rush in and get crushed by them?"

<Saif> ### Last chance for spell changes ###

<Kat> "Ari and Matar know how to fire a bow. They could use a bow against the beetles, also."

<Sane> *So, we rest, rememorize, etc. We head out to enact the plan unless people have suggestions, complaints, additions, subtractions, etc.

* Ari makes face at Xaveus

* Sane stands before the group awaiting a response.

<Nikki> so i figure the little beetles have about 75 hps each and the larger ones have 225 each and are immune to anything below a +3 weapon

<Kat> "More people with bows ready to fire at the beetles, Sane."

<Kat> "Everyone who can."

<Kat> "I know that I can, Shadow, Castinar, Ari, and Matar can, too."

<Sane> (*I sort of implied that.)

<Xaveus> Xaveus shows his pearlly whites to his tutor, although they do appear to be gritted together. VBG

<Sane> *I said that anyone in the first rank could also fire bows

<Kat> "So, does everyone have enough arrows? I only know about how many magical arrows everyone has."

<Sane> *time to load up

<Ari> "You want me to shoot at these things? Forget it. I'll only end up shooting thengal or something

<Saif> So, basic plan then is to put Ari, Matar, Thengal, Xaveus in front row, everybody else behind

<Ari> "Yeah,and I heard front line and bows in the same sentence

<Saif> Sane creates pile of beetle-bait

<Saif> ### NOTE - without something to agument him Sane's max range for his spell is 30' - his infravision distance ###

<Sane> light stones

<Saif> Sane drops lights around beetle bait (perhaps that should be first)

<Sane> ok

<Kat> *yes

<Saif> Party waits for beetles to take beetle bait, plugs away

*** Xaveus has left #nightbelow (Xaveus)

<Saif> Party kills lots of beetles. More beetles come. Party kills more beetles.

<Saif> Something like that, huh?

<Sane> *and we all live happily ever after

<Sane> *exactly

<Saif> * Murphy's Rules of Combat number 5: No plan ever survives contact with the enemy.

<Armatage> except the bettles

<Kat> *we find the rest of the journal and we figure out how to defeat everyone that is causes us troubles.

<Kat> *I guess that could be, we sack Saif's computer.

<Saif> And you set up along the right hand side of the tunnel? How far apart between people on that front row?

<Sane> *front row should answer that

<Saif> And Sane - exactly how far out from the front rank to the closest edge of the beetle bait, and how large is the beetle bait?

<Sane> *beetle bait 40' diameter with rouch, irregular edges

<Sane> Sane will quick fly around droping light stones at the following spots

<Armatage> whats the range on ye old bow?

<Kat> *What kind of bow?

<Armatage> short i think

<Sane> d-f12-13 1 per square

<Kat> * I think normal is 300'

<Sane> *does that make sense?

<Saif> Sane - that's 150'

<Sane> *add column 14 too

<Saif> 150 square feet

<Saif> How far is the closest edge of the 40' diameter beetle bait to the front rank of the party?

<Sane> *are you saying that's a lot or a little?

<Saif> That's a lot. Remember each square here is 50'

<Saif> Once I put a melee map up I'll drop it back down to the normal 10'

<Saif> (a close up view)

<Saif> So 150' is going to be off the map

<Sane> *right; each square 50', each light stone lights up 60' diameter

<Saif> If you just tell me the distance from the party and then how many stones you drop around it and about how far from the outer edge I can easily do it that way

<Sane> *basically I just want to light the place up. We should be able to see at least 60' beyond the far side ofthe beetle bait

<Saif> OK

<Saif> So what's that distance then, party to bait?

<Sane> beetle bait: centered on d,e 13,14

<Nikki> "Sane, is that close enough?"

<Sane> *does that seem like it's too far away?

<Saif> Please ignore the map for a minute. I'm working up a new one right now. Just tell me the distance from party to bait.

<Sane> it's about 60-70 feet away

<Sane> *is that too far, does anyone think?

<Sane> *seems good to me; keeps the beetles off your toes

<Sane> *going once

<Sane> *going twice

<Sane> beetle bait 60' from party

<Sane> light 60' beyond beetle bait

<Saif> Matar and/or Ari - how far apart do you space yourselves along that front row of 4? The entrance at that spot is about 80' wide.

<Amber> *Sane, when should i do Locate Object spell? It takes a turn to cast it.

<Sane> Sane's location after dropping light stones = 40' to left of party

<Armatage> well we wont be able to stop a rush

<Armatage> i'd say 10' or so to limit the effect of an area ability

<Sane> *Amber, you can cast it before we actually start all of this.

<Ari> I want to be close enough so that if I'm in trouble someone can bail me out

<Amber> *okay

<Ari> *Ari fights like a girl

<Armatage> *Ari is a girl

<Ari> *oh. right

<Saif> OK, 10', anchored off of the right hand side of the wall (facing into the cavern)

<Saif> What order? Just randomly I put down M, T, A, X

<Saif> with Matar up next to the wall

<Armatage> nope

* Sane casts Invisibility.

<Armatage> wall, ari, then, x, matar

<Saif> Sane, where you going to hang out?

<Sane> 40' left of left most party member first row. Invisible

<Armatage> or switch xav and ari

<Kat> *good idea, Armatage

<Saif> Sane - that puts you right up against the wall. Go there?

<Sane> sure

<Saif> * So switch Ari and Xaveus or no?

<Armatage> yes plz

<Sane> db, how we gonna do tonight with the dice?

<db> Sane rolled 1d20: [5]

<Armatage> ouch

<Saif> OK, hold on and I'll put a map up and we'll see if we're all happy

<Kat> *I see Castinar is at least here in spirit.

<Kat> *brb

*** Sane changes topic to 'Beetlemania'

<Armatage> 2nd 'rank' should be like wall, amber, shadow, Nikki, Diana, Kat, Cast

<Armatage> with kat and cast behind me to cover the flank if needed

<Saif> OK, map is up

<Armatage> H is hunter?

<Saif> Castinar wants Shadow close to him. I've got Cast anchoring the left hand side behind Matar now

<Saif> H is sHadow

<Armatage> ah

<Saif> Hunter just flies around and chases things

<Ari> K'harn is large form, near Ari

<Kat> *Each square is how big?

<Saif> Also put N and D in the back

<Armatage> hmm thats probably good enuf

<Saif> Each square 10' on new combat map

<Armatage> as long as they can see

<Kat> *So, the light is a 60' raduis, that would make the squ 20'

<Saif> K, K'harn now on map (k) next to Ari

<Armatage> whats the range of fb? will that come into play?

<Sane> *looks good to me

<Amber> *Saif, Amber will cast Locate Object spell before all the map stuff starts. As suggested by Sane.

<Kat> *How many light stones?

<Saif> Ah, sorry, Sane's fault <g> (he mentioned 60' diameter so that's what I put down)

<Sane> *what is it? 90'?

<Amber> *Locate spell for Amber is 110y if thats what your asking.

<Kat> *Continual Light, 60' Radius

<Kat> *120' diameter.

<Saif> K, adjusted

<Saif> only takes 4 stones to light bait and out almost to party

<Sane> *good point <g>

<Saif> So, ready for the stones and bait then?

<Sane> *Amber has a spell first

<Kat> *How well light is the party?

<Saif> Ambient only (not within the radius of the stones)

<Saif> * BTW, when you return it will be at least several hours later. The clicking noises (beetles) are now back to the left again.

<Saif> So do it?

<Saif> Don't do it?

<Nikki> * FIREBALL!

<Kat> *Give the word, Sane.

-> [Sane] PING

<Saif> Must be AFK

* Nikki pours the holy water over the evil altar, destroying it.

<Sane> *Saif, Amber has a spell first

<Nikki> brb

<Saif> The beetles launch a pre-emptive strike, killing everybody (say, how _did_ they get their hands on a tacitcal nuclear missile?)

<Saif> You want to try the spell now?

<Saif> Locate object?

* Amber concentrates on paper, mostly journal sized pieces.

<Sane> *amber?

<Amber> *yes, seems reasonable.

<Saif> Anybody in the party makes an intelligence check and realize you are way out of Amber's range if you want to look in the nest.

<Saif> (Around 500' through solid rock)

<Armatage> its lasts 8 hrs tho

<Saif> Still do it?

<Saif> OK, Amber casts Locate Object

<Amber> Yes, since I can get closer later

<Sane> now begin

<Saif> And she starts scanning around for pieces of paper

<Saif> nada

<Sane> *now I feel muuch better

<Sane> *on with the show

<Saif> OK

<Kat> *only in Nikki's and Ari's backpacks

<Amber> *good, means no wasps around either. :)

<Saif> Sane flies out and drops his light stones near the tunnel

<Saif> There are no beetles over in this area

<Saif> However, the splashing noises do increase right after he drops the stones

<Saif> He then flies back to his location and activates a Spectral Force of a large pile of rotting animals

<Saif> Several in the party think he did far too good a job of reproducing the smell

<Armatage> i slap a mask on real quick while we're waiting

<Saif> * Sane, did you use the spell invisibility or your innate abilit?

<Sane> spell

<Saif> K

<Saif> The party waits

<Saif> it takes about five minutes before anything of interest happens

<Saif> Then a BEETLE waders into view!

<Saif> wanders, even

<Saif> kill it?

<Kat> *WE PEPPER IT WITH ARROWS>>>>

* Nikki panics

<Armatage> i urge the party to hold

<Kat> *kill the first ant, many come to find out what happen to the lead scout.

<Saif> The party watches anxiously as the beetle makes its way towards the rotting pile of Beetle Bait

<Armatage> and slap nikki to calm her down (and the fun of it!)

* Kat will hold firing upon the lone beetle.

<Saif> It waves its antenna around, checking out the motherlode

* Armatage takes careful aim.

<Saif> It then pulls off a nice rotting leg and starts heading back towards the nest

* Nikki shifts into a giant cave bear and slaps Matar back... for the fun of it!

<Saif> * ah, hold on, I thought the front rank all had melee weapons ready. No?

<Saif> * Matar, you have your bow out?

<Armatage> heh thought that was the plan

<Armatage> use bow until/if they charge and then drop it and go to melee

<Saif> OK

<Kat> "How far can it take that? Maybe we should kill it before it get out of range."

<Saif> So, the beetle starts trotting off. Let it go?

<Kat> "Tell me not to fire."

<Nikki> * FIREBALL!

* Kat will prepare to fire at the beetle

* Kat will fire at the beetle to kill it

<Saif> * ok, who stole my pencil?

<Saif> brb, got to go grab another one

<Sane> *it was an illusionary pencil

<Sane> *duration ran out

<Armatage> *nah nikki musta cast a spell

* Ari stops cleaning her ears. "Uh Here

<Amber> computer bug ate it.

<Amber> needed roughage.

<Saif> Kat - normal arrow?

<Nikki> * that was my well worn "hide pencil" spell

<Kat> *normal arrows

<Saif> roll

<Kat> db

<db> Kat rolled 1d20: [10]

<Saif> Ker-thunk!

<Saif> Roll for damage

<Kat> db d6

<db> Kat rolled 1d6: [2]

* Armatage will followup if needed with one of my +5 vorpal arrows of beetle slaying.

<Saif> The arrow sinks into the beetle's armored back. It staggers a bit, but keeps on moving away, picking up a little speed now.

<Saif> Fire again? Anybody else?

<Armatage> or a normal arrow if that happens to be what i have nocked

<Armatage> ooooh me! me! me!

<Saif> roll

<Armatage> db

<db> Armatage rolled 1d20: [3]

* Kat will continue to fire until it is dead

<Saif> Matar's arrow sinks deep into the pile of rotting meat

* Armatage proves once again why he prefers melee.

<Saif> Kat, roll

<Kat> db

<db> Kat rolled 1d20: [20]

<Saif> Ah so

<Kat> db

<db> Kat rolled 1d20: [20]

<Saif> roll follow on

<Kat> db

<db> Kat rolled 1d20: [11]

<Saif> ah so

<Saif> ah hem

<Kat> db d6

<Saif> hold on...

<db> Kat rolled 1d6: [2]

<Amber> *shishkabeetle...

<Saif> Well, in the interest of brevity it is dead from damage alone, no need to mess with the crit hit part (unless you want bragging rights or something <g>)

<Kat> *For this kill, no thanks.

<Saif> Kat sinks an arrow right into the little notch between the beetle's back and head. The arrow drives right through the thing's brain, killing it instantly

<Saif> The party only has to wait two minutes this time before another beetle comes wandering over, antenna waving around

* Armatage notes the spot for latter use.

<Kat> "Now if I could only do that every time, I might have enough arrows."

<Saif> It approaches from a different angle and apparently is unaware of the dead beetle

<Kat> "How many beetles do we think there are?"

<Saif> It does much the same thing - checks the pile out and then pulls off a piece of meat before starting back.

<Kat> "Kill this one too?"

<Saif> Castinar notes "They are not eating the meat. They must be taking it back to the nest."

* Kat prepares to fire at the beetle.

* Armatage wonders why he bothers but nocks an arrow anyway.

<Saif> * BTW, players need to keep track of their arrows here.

<Kat> *keeping track

<Saif> K, Kat and Matar roll. Shadow will as well this time.

<Saif> db

<db> Saif rolled 1d20: [14]

<Armatage> db

<db> Armatage rolled 1d20: [1]

<Kat> db

<db> Kat rolled 1d20: [1]

<Saif> Shadow hits

<Armatage> dang!

<Armatage> db

<db> Armatage rolled 1d20: [13]

<Saif> and laughs at Matar and Kat

<Sane> *sorry, Kat, didn't see the question at first

<Kat> db

<db> Kat rolled 1d20: [13]

<Saif> Matar... hum, that's close... for both...

<Saif> But, they do both manage to BARELY recover

<Saif> db d6

<db> Saif rolled 1d6: [2]

<Saif> The beetle does much the same thing - starts walking away faster. Another volley?

<Armatage> aye

<Kat> db

<db> Kat rolled 1d20: [2]

<Armatage> db

<Saif> roll

<db> Armatage rolled 1d20: [11]

<Armatage> db d6

<db> Armatage rolled 1d6: [6]

<Saif> Matar hits

<Saif> db

<db> Saif rolled 1d20: [5]

<Saif> Shadow misses

<Saif> the beetle is still up

<Kat> *see above?

<Saif> last volley before he is out of the range of lights

<Saif> see above???

<Kat> *did Kat hit with a 2?

<Saif> no

* Nikki casts MM at it

<Kat> db

<db> Kat rolled 1d20: [10]

<Armatage> db

<Kat> db d6

<db> Armatage rolled 1d20: [14]

<db> Kat rolled 1d6: [3]

<Armatage> db d6

<db> Armatage rolled 1d6: [1]

<Saif> Nikki - serious?

<Saif> db

<db> Saif rolled 1d20: [1]

<Saif> db

<Nikki> if they dont kill it

<db> Saif rolled 1d20: [19]

<Saif> Shadow almost fumbles

<Nikki> im back to fast casting again

<Saif> Nikki - you'll need to cast it before they fire to be sure. Cast it or not?

<Saif> Castinar fires as well this round

<Saif> db

<db> Saif rolled 1d20: [13]

<Nikki> cant wait to start until their phase is over?

<Saif> db d6

<db> Saif rolled 1d6: [6]

<Saif> Nikki - beetle might get into shadows by then, only way to be sure is fire now

<Nikki> nevermind. let is bleed.

<Nikki> it

<Saif> k

<Kat> *So, if it's not dead, can Kat fire again?

* Kat fires 3 arrows a round.

<Saif> The combined damage from two arrows and a bolt kills the beetle

<Saif> * just a sec, need to read something...

<Saif> Something interesting happened just before that last volley of arrows hit the beetle

<Saif> The meat in it's mouth disappeared

<Saif> It paused for a moment, almost throwing everybody's aim off. then the arrows hit.

<Kat> *That is strange

<Nikki> *anti magic barrier

<Saif> This time two beetles come wandering over at the same time.

<Saif> One of them stops to investigate the first beetle killed, while the other heads for the pile.

* Kat says, "I got the left one."

* Kat begins to fire arrows upon the left one.

* Armatage fires at the other

<Sane> *spectral force; 110' cube area of effect

<Saif> Shadow will fire at the otehr one as well

<Diana> afk a bit

<Saif> Roll...

<Saif> db

<db> Saif rolled 1d20: [2]

<Saif> Shadow misses

<Kat> db

<db> Kat rolled 1d20: [11]

<Saif> Cast fires at the one Kat is shooting at

<Saif> db

<db> Saif rolled 1d20: [12]

<Armatage> db

<db> Armatage rolled 1d20: [1]

<Kat> db d6

<db> Kat rolled 1d6: [1]

<Armatage> db

<db> Armatage rolled 1d20: [2]

<Armatage> whee!

<Kat> db

<db> Kat rolled 1d20: [12]

<Saif> Matar has a partial fumble and won't be able to fire the rest of this round

<Saif> * hold on, Kat

<Kat> *holding

<Saif> db d6

<db> Saif rolled 1d6: [2]

<Saif> The one Kat and Castinar both hit makes a strange grating sound and then starts running away (first time you've seen one of these beetles run).

<Kat> "Now, there will be more."

<Saif> the other one (beetles not being overly intelligent) walks over to where the first one was to see what is going on

<Saif> So, what do you do?

* Kat continues to fire that the screaming one.

<Saif> It will only take the running beetle one phase to get out of the light

<Nikki> can i hit it?

<Saif> Cast fires at it as well, as does Shadow

<Saif> Nikki - yes

<Amber> *brb afk hubby wants his hosenffer. ;)

<Nikki> does so

<Saif> hosenwhat?

<Saif> Matar?

<Armatage> oh can i?

<Saif> oh, no. sorry <g>

<Armatage> ill fire at the running one

<Armatage> heh

<Saif> forgot

<Sane> *this is a family chat session; don't use words like that

<Saif> K, roll Kat

<Saif> db 2d20

<Kat> db

<db> Kat rolled 1d20: [19]

<db> Saif rolled 2d20: [28] 10 18

<Saif> everybody hits, everybody wins, come, try your luck!

<Saif> Nikki, d20 plz

<Nikki> db

<db> Nikki rolled 1d20: [15]

<Saif> +2, so 11th level. How many is that?

<Saif> 6? or is the limit 5?

<Nikki> lots

<Nikki> :)

<Nikki> i dont think theres a limit

<Kat> * rumor is, 5 is the limit.

<Saif> yeha, 5 is the limit

<Nikki> drat

<Nikki> shoo kat

<Nikki> db 5d4

<db> Nikki rolled 5d4: [12] 3 2 4 2 1

<Saif> OK, so Kat rolls a minor crit, as does shadow

<Kat> *oops, sorry, Nikki

<Nikki> so 17

<Saif> max damage on those, Nikki plasters it with magic missiles, and Castinar plugs it for good measure.

<Saif> Oh, Nikki, d100 plz

<Nikki> db d100

<db> Nikki rolled 1d100: [96]

<Nikki> gm always has to remember everything...

<Saif> K

<Saif> The beetle dies a gory death

<Nikki> i was perfectly happy not surging

<Kat> other beetle... aim and fire

<Saif> The party adjusts their aim and fires away (Matar can too)

<Saif> db 2d20

<db> Saif rolled 2d20: [31] 16 15

<Kat> db

<db> Kat rolled 1d20: [13]

<Armatage> db

<db> Armatage rolled 1d20: [4]

<Armatage> woot!

<Kat> db d6

<db> Kat rolled 1d6: [1]

<Sane> *brb; strange noise outside

<Saif> * sorry, I was just paged, brb (short)

<Sane> *back

<Armatage> * peeping tom?

<Sane> *ax-murderer dealt with

<Saif> * back

<Saif> * popsicle delivered

<Sane> *some critter; didn't see it

<Saif> and we were... oh yes, who hit...

<Saif> Everybody except for Matar

<Amber> *back hosenfeffer...cartoon with bugs bunny and elmer fudd "Cook! Cook! Where's my hosefeffer?"

<Saif> db 2d6

<db> Saif rolled 2d6: [11] 6 5

<Saif> Another dead beetle

<Kat> *Armatage, count those misses, 50% of those arrows can be recovered.

<Amber> *hosenfeffer...bugs was to cook dinner...supposed to be rabbit stew I think. :)

<Saif> But now the beetles seemed to have caughten on to ... paged again hold on

<Armatage> * we've got a magic arrow of quiver refilling - no need on normals

<Sane> *magic arrow of quiver refilling?

<Kat> *That only makes 20 arrows a day.

<Armatage> is it 20 or 30?

<Nikki> brb

<Nikki> afk

<Kat> *I would say 20, but that's Saif's job.

<Saif> back

<Saif> 20 - one quiver-ful

<Saif> full even

<Saif> OK

<Saif> This time three beetles come into view, and Matar can see several more beyond them

<Saif> Hold on, I'm going to update the map

<Kat> *This are Balder's Gate quivers.

<Saif> OK, map is up. Note only Matar can clearly see those beyond the edge of the light

<Saif> Questions?

<Saif> Actions?

<Amber> *pale grey dead ones?

* Sane maintains the illusion.

* Armatage signals that there are 2 more beyond the others.

<Saif> Yes

* Kat wonders what Sane was thinking when he dropped the light stones so close to the group.

<Saif> (dead ones)

<Armatage> "Wait for them to advance halfway or turn to flee before firing."

* Ari changes weapons

<Ari> "Hope I don't shoot myself in the foot. <Better get behind me K'harn>

* Kat will fire at led beetle in n23.

<Saif> This time the beetles go check out the dead before anything else. The one closest to the party checks out the beetle at L24, the other two check out the one at O21

<Saif> So does everybody fire now?

<Saif> Cast and Shadow wait for Matar to fire

* Kat fires when either Matar or Sane gives the word.

<Sane> *Sane turns up the smellometer on the illusion to draw the new beetles. <g>

* Armatage fires at the far ones when the begin to examine the body.

<Saif> The party looses a volley, Cast and Shadow at the near one, Kat and Matar at the closest far one. Ari, which do you fire at?

<Ari> *whatever is closest and I can see

<Saif> OK, Ari fires close as well.

<Saif> Everybody roll

<Saif> db 2d20

<db> Saif rolled 2d20: [19] 7 12

<Armatage> db

<db> Armatage rolled 1d20: [6]

<Ari> db

<db> Ari rolled 1d20: [11]

<Kat> db

<db> Kat rolled 1d20: [19]

<Saif> db d6

<db> Saif rolled 1d6: [4]

<Saif> Matar misses

<Saif> Ari misses

<Saif> Kat hits with a minor crit

<Kat> *is that a roll again?

<Saif> Both of the wounded beetles start to grate

<Armatage> grate?

<Saif> Yes, sounds like they are rubbing something rough together

<Saif> Kat - don't think so, let me double check

<Saif> Hum, thought I had that up somewhere. It's been a while, but I think what I said was 20s you get a possible crit and roll again. 19s do max damage but that's all.

<Saif> I'll have to find that later

<Kat> ok

<Saif> Anyway, once the two wounded ones start grating the others do as well (another has shown up)

<Diana> * you might also define 16 17 and 18 for matar :)

<Nikki> * is this the part about where the plan meets the enemy?

<Saif> Yeah, I know

<Saif> They all turn and start to retreat, continuing to make the grinding noise

<Saif> What do you do?

<Kat> fire

<Saif> * there are 4 in view, 2 wounded, 2 not

<Kat> same one

<Saif> Cast and Shadow do the same. Matar and Ari? Anybody else?

<Ari> shoot it

<Saif> define "it". Same one?

<Saif> Matar? Same one?

<Ari> yes same one please

<Saif> K, roll

<Saif> db 2d20

<db> Saif rolled 2d20: [33] 20 13

<Kat> db

<db> Kat rolled 1d20: [14]

<Kat> db d6

<db> Kat rolled 1d6: [5]

<Saif> Cast scores a crit, which will kill his

<Saif> Kat kills hers.

<Ari> db

<Saif> Ari

<db> Ari rolled 1d20: [13]

<Saif> Ari hits as well

<Ari> db 1d6

<db> Ari rolled 1d6: [2]

<Saif> two more beetles die

<Saif> but one gets out of sight, the other right on the edge of the light

<Saif> Only Kat can fire at the one at the edge - or somebody who hasn't acted.

<Armatage> ya

<Saif> Fire, Kat? Anybody else?

<Kat> yes

<Armatage> sorry hit the can

<Armatage> db

<db> Armatage rolled 1d20: [7]

<Armatage> not that it really matters

<Saif> Matar - Kat killed it... and that misses

<Saif> Kat, roll

<Kat> db

<db> Kat rolled 1d20: [7]

<Saif> hits

<Kat> db d6

<db> Kat rolled 1d6: [3]

<Saif> but doesn't kill it

<Saif> Anybody who hasn't acted want to try something?

* Diana is waiting for big beeteles before casting CE and D3

<Saif> K, the beetles get away

<Saif> Sane, you here?

<Saif> * David seems to think food is more important than the game...

<Saif> The beetles scurry off, grinding all the way

<Saif> After a little less than a minute you hear the general clicking noises around the beetle nest replaced by lots of low-level grinding noises

<Saif> The noise eventually subsides

* Armatage puts his bow away.

<Saif> But then K'harn grows nervous

<Ari> *uh oh

<Saif> She puts her face down near the ground, touching it with her whiskers

* Diana casts Combat Empathy if that warning is conveyed

* Ari swtiches weapons too

<Saif> <The ground grumbles> she tells Ari.

<Saif> Xaveus too senses something.

<Saif> He gets down and puts his ear to the ground.

<Saif> "Sound like they are still making those funny noises, but they are underground now" he tells the group.

<Ari> <What do yo mean grumbles> "Something big is coming our way I think

<Armatage> "Crap! Can these things burrow under us that fast?"

<Saif> K'harn shakes her head <Not like something moving... the dwarf is right, same noise, but underground now... maybe louder>

<Ari> *or its massive amounts of those damn Xorn

<Saif> So, hold your positions?

* Amber looks for a nearby ledge...just in case.

<Kat> "Could have tunnels under us already. Yet, they don't know where to go. Do they?"

<Kat> "They don't really know where we are."

<Diana> * what do you mean they cut the power? their just dumb animals right?

<Diana> * :)

* Armatage runs out and grabs the body of the one Kat critted and drags it back.

<Saif> So, what do you do? (Sane is AFK, so general group consensus - or Matar can take over)

* Amber asks, "Does sound carry thru stone? Our talking may let them know where we are." she looks worried

<Saif> K, Matar now has a relatively intact beetle

<Armatage> "Xav, K'harn let us know if the seem to be directly under us!"

<Ari> "Vibrations..smell..the grinding could be telling them..they know."

<Saif> Xaveus nods and gets back down to listen

<Saif> He then gets an idea and touches the stone, concentrating deeply.

<Armatage> "Ari, Cast help me check this thing out - the rest of ya keep a close eye out."

<Saif> Looking up he says "The stone says there are no tunnels under it, but it is a soft stone."

<Ari> <Keep me posted beloved.> She helps Armatage

<Armatage> we do a close exam of the thing looking for soft spots and/or creases

<Saif> Cast wanders over, ready to lend any assistance he can

<Nikki> sort of vaguel reading but not really here. busy for a few.

* Kat will watch for foes as Armatage and friend get a beetle for dinner.

<Amber> Amber watches and listens to the back trail...

<Saif> The three check out the beetle. they find that it does look quite a bit like a fire beetle, but there are some subtle differences that Ari points out.

<Saif> There don't seem to be any particuarlly weak spots on it. it's entire outer shell is very tough

<Ari> *Deostn Castinar's fin guy go through stone? let him start poking the ground hoping to hit something

* Kat holds back a comment to Amber's quiestion. (Can she do that Saif?)

<Saif> * Yes, it does, but Finslayer wouldn't want to do that

<Saif> Kat - if in doubt make an intuition roll, otherwise just role-play it how you want

<Kat> db

<db> Kat rolled 1d20: [7]

<Kat> she can

<Saif> Xaveus suddenly jumps up and exclaims "What was that!" just as K'harn jumps back a little as well.

<Armatage> how about creases in the plates between top and bottom - or the eyes or anus?

<Amber> *wll I can watch 60' and listen to normal sounds...:) guard duty type thing

<Saif> Everybody else feels a very slight tremble in the ground

<Kat> "I think we woke up the dragon."

<Saif> Matar - the wings are two pieces and cover most of the body. They are the hardest armor. The rest of the beetle is hard as well, although the armor isn't nearly as thick.

<Armatage> "What, he have pet bettles or something?!?"

<Saif> <Big thump!> K'harn then bends over again.

* Amber looks for a nearby ledge again..or a clear path the way they came...

<Amber> *how high is the ceiling in the 'tunnel'?

<Saif> <Sounds like a mineshaft caved in" Xaveus tells the party, and then he listens again.

<Saif> Ceiling is 150' high

* Armatage moves that party back 20' and puts the mage types against the wall/

<Saif> "Interesting!" Xaveus says, "The grinding noises have stopped."

<Saif> The party retreats a short distance down the hallway

<Armatage> "Hut! Hut! Hut!"

<Armatage> "Xav, K'harn anything?"

<Saif> Matar - so in the end you determine that these things don't really have a weak spot that could be easily exploitable (like a Remorazzah or however it is spelled). You could try called shots against some of the joint areas, but the difficulty of hitting such a small area would probably outweigh any benefit of the thinner armor.

<Armatage> righto - was worth a try

<Saif> Xaveus shakes his head and stands up. "It's all quiet now. The grinding, then a big thump, and now nothing."

<Sane> *back and caught up

<Armatage> tho the big ones that may not be such a small target

<Saif> So, what now?

<Saif> Sane - do you continue to hold the illusion?

<Sane> *what are we hearing at present?

<Armatage> "Sane, what next?"

<Saif> it is quiet now

<Sane> *yes, for the moment

* Ari asks in drow with a smile, "Don't suppose either of you care to pop in the ground and take a peek?"

<Saif> K'harn rolls her eyes. Xaveus seems to consider it for a moment.

<Sane> *are there any living beetles in view?

<Saif> Xaveus then takes off his boots and three pairs of socks (well, 3 pair on one foot, two on the other, none of which match).

<Saif> He then stands there with his feet on the ground. "I'll feel them if the come!" he tells Ari.

<Ari> *sounds like him

<Saif> Sane - no, just dead beetles

* Amber takes note to buy X some new socks, or knit some...

<Saif> Sane - drop the illusion?

* Sane who hasn't moved at all even now, moves out to the illusion, listening and watching.

<Sane> *continue illusion.

<Saif> Sane sees and hears nothing

<Saif> * other than illusionary beetle bait and dead beetles

<Sane> any beetles coming up; wait a minute or two

<Saif> Sane waits a couple minutes - nothing

<Sane> *how many did we kill altogether?

<Saif> * who has keen hearing?

<Ari> Ari

<Saif> ah, 6, wounded one

<Kat> me

<Armatage> * I have keen taste!

<Saif> those with keen hearing hear very faint clicks from over by the beetle nest

<Saif> and Matar is dressed well

<Ari> lol

<Saif> so?

<Saif> everybody stays where they are?

<Kat> "Could they be climbing up and over. Why would they be above the nest."

* Sane waits a minute or two? any more beetles?

<Diana> flying?

<Saif> Sane waits a few more minutes

<Sane> *wait; just saw response

<Amber> *baby beetles?

<Saif> Matar finally sees something

<Diana> they have wings

* Sane returns to group; drops illusion.

* Kat moves to c12 against the wall. Is there any ledges up there? Kat will move up to one.

* Armatage wets his pants and cast expeditious retreat before taking off at full speed!

<Saif> Kat - plenty of rough spots, could find a place fairly close to there

<Saif> * Sane - what are you talking about? The faint clicks or loud boom or what?

* Kat will climb up and look and listen for beetles. "Shhh... I can hear them... on the walls?"

<Sane> *saif-nevermind

<Saif> Just as Sane gets back over near the party Matar points into the (what for everybody else is) darkness

<Sane> *above?

-> *Matar* you see a small group of about a dozen rounding the corner and heading in the direction of the party. The one in the center looks.. strange somehow, but you can't see any detail

<Ari> K'harn has no clue as to what it could be?

-> *Matar* they are on the ground

<Saif> Ari - what, the clicking?

<Ari> an opinion on anything she's heard

<Saif> No, everything was muffled or too faint to hear clearly

<Ari> clicking, grinding, Nikki screaming in fear <G>

* Diana will cast Combat Empathy on the group.

* Armatage wonders what it is that he sees already.

<Saif> Matar, you here?

<Saif> ah

* Diana will then follow up with D3

<Saif> Matar - see... oops, it works better when I use /Armatage vice /Matar

<Armatage> ah oops sorry

<Saif> geez, OK, trying it for the third time...

-> *Armatage* You see about a dozen of the beetles (no large ones) round the corner and head towards the party, moving along the ground.

<Diana> # Saif, let me know when Diana casts her spells pleae :)

-> *Armatage* The one in the center looks strange, but you can't make out any detail at this distance.

<Saif> Hold for Matar's bit, then you can cast

<Saif> Matar?

<Armatage> "Sane, there's a dozen of the critters coming this way - all small and on the ground - but there is something weird I can't make out about the one in the center."

<Saif> K, Diana, you cast your spells?

<Armatage> * damn i need a 21" monitor now

<Armatage> * yes he does

<Saif> K, Diana get Combat Empathy and her Defender up and running

<Diana> yes

<Kat> *I have one

<Nikki> * Saif, I'm still stuck on something, Sane or Kat can cast my spells for me.

<Armatage> "Range is about 350'

<Kat> *Nikki transforms into a cave bear and goes into melee.

<Saif> Everybody smiles, looks at each other and feels good. They all make a strange gesture with their hands, forming an "L" with their thumb and pointing finger. (Name the movie in a /msg for 100 XP)

<Nikki> ok

<Nikki> ?

<Diana> hehe no idea

<Diana> usually im good at those

<Saif> Diana - durations on those spells?

<Diana> 6 turns each

<Saif> I thought I was being too vague, but Paul got it

<Amber> *no fair, :) i don't go t movies much any more.

<Diana> hmm? what was it?

<Kat> *That's an old movie

<Kat> *Over 15 years old

<Saif> Big Trouble in Little China

<Diana> ahhh

<Diana> never seen it

<Armatage> dont remember that scene

<Amber> *heard of it, didn't see

<Saif> Good flick - funny

<Kat> *You missed out. Go see it

<Saif> OK, back to the game...

<Sane> *you guys are killin' me

<Ari> Kurt Russel. Excuse me while I drool <G>

<Saif> So what do you do while the beetles approach, besides Diana casting her spells?)

<Sane> *that movie sucked

<Saif> "You know what ole' Jack Burton says... " <G.

<Saif> So just wait for the beetles to show up?

*** Xaveus has joined #nightbelow

<Amber> Amber gets out her sling and some stones

<Kat> *David has no sense of humor. hehe

<Armatage> "How clumped are they?"

-> *Armatage* fairly tight - all within about 30' of each other (ie - not expecting a fireball)

<Armatage> *nikki is afk

<Armatage> * diana can take a shot at it <G>

<Amber> *I'm sure Nikki would say 'Fireball' <G>

<Saif> Hey Xaveus. You don't have any boots on.

<Sane> *right; Saif; if they are close enough together; Nikki will Fireball them.

<Diana> * yeah save nikkis FB for big beatles

<Diana> * diana can FB the small ones

<Saif> So, Diana wants to cook them?

<Xaveus> ok?

<Diana> yes

<Diana> fvrap

<Saif> Xaveus - Not a biggie, you can put them back on now <g>

<Saif> Ok, the beetles get close

* Armatage pays special attention to the fuzzy one.

<Sane> *everyone should be ready with arrows just in case

<Saif> * how close do you let them get in? Into the light? Or to the range of your spell?

* Kat is ready with arrows

<Diana> * I let matar direct

<Diana> * through CE

* Armatage has given up on arrows and is in a sprinters stance.

<Armatage> what range fb?

<Diana> 70 yds i think

<Saif> * Ah, that won't work. Diana still needs to see her target to fire at it. She would know if Matar was close to her intented target area, but she can't get range information from him.

<Diana> * thats fine, i was just wanting timing info

<Diana> * not targeting info

<Saif> OK

<Sane> *just hit'em right when they come into the light

<Armatage> when they get into the light then

<Saif> So Diana fires when she can just see them? Or wait until they reach the edge of the light?

<Diana> * see them

<Saif> OK, got it

<Saif> As they get close you see that they are moving rather slowly, antenna waving around like crazy

<Saif> They are bunched together around one particular beetle in the center

<Amber> *momma?

<Saif> As they get near the light you see that this beetle is quite different from the others

<Saif> it is about the same size, but it appears to be more of a larva than a hard-shelled beetle

<Diana> * briefly, as it goes up in flames! :)

<Xaveus> *ringo?

<Saif> But unlike a larva it has legs and can move like a beetle, it just has a soft, squishy looking body

<Saif> So, Diana, cook them?

<Diana> yep

<Diana> db 6d6

<db> Diana rolled 6d6: [25] 3 6 2 6 6 2

<Saif> You'll be able to get at least half of them in the radius, perhaps more...

<Diana> * cool, decent damage

<Saif> db d3

<db> Saif rolled 1d3: [2]

<Saif> She gets 8

<Saif> db 8d20

<db> Saif rolled 8d20: [100] 17 12 1 15 15 4 16 20

<Saif> checking...

<Saif> oh, good rolls...

<Kat> *Maybe we should wait for Reco and the rest of the roughnecks to clear out this nest of bugs.

<Saif> and

<Saif> db

<db> Saif rolled 1d20: [18]

<Saif> Several things happen in quick succession

<Saif> Diana's fireball cooks an handfull

<Saif> Three or four more are badly burned and start running around in circles grinding noisily

<Sane> *how many go unscathed?

<Saif> Those outside the range of the fireball start to flee, but then

<Saif> the soft one that was in the center is still alive, it starts flopping all around making what sounds like a "whoop" sound (like a crane)

<Saif> the unwounded ones stop and run back to the soft one

<Saif> All that happens very quickly

<Saif> So, what now?

* Diana will prepare to MM the soft one.

* Armatage charges and yells, "Fire!"

<Diana> * next turn

* Kat will fire at the soft one

<Saif> Oh, and the unwounded ones start to grind as well

<Sane> Nikki will fireball the group

<Diana> * no.. save hers for the big ones

<Sane> of beetles that is

<Sane> *ok

<Diana> * have her mm the soft one or something

<Sane> *Ok, Nikki MMs ol' softee

<Diana> * she does 9d6 (more or less) so its probobly better not to waste it on 4

<Saif> OK, so Diana and Nikki both MM the soft one. Kat fires at it as Matar rushes forward. Anything else?

<Saif> Diana and Kat, roll

<Saif> db d20

<db> Saif rolled 1d20: [14]

<Armatage> shad and cast fire too?

* Sane waits intently and gazes around for anything else coming.

<Diana> roll?

<Saif> Nikki gets a good surge

<Saif> db d100

<db> Saif rolled 1d100: [90]

* Ari keeps a watch on Matar in case he needs help, healing-wise

<Diana> ah damage

<Diana> db 3d4

<db> Diana rolled 3d4: [6] 2 2 2

<Kat> db

<db> Kat rolled 1d20: [13]

<Saif> Kat hits

<Kat> db d6

<Saif> db 5d4

<db> Kat rolled 1d6: [3]

<db> Saif rolled 5d4: [15] 4 3 2 4 2

<Saif> Between the MMs and the arrow the squishy one dies (hold on a sec)

<Saif> * BTW, we won't be playing too much longer tonight. I've got drill this weekend.

<Xaveus> * Saif, is the tactical up of this?

<Saif> Matar, what do you run towards? A wounded or unwounded?

<Saif> * not yet, I'll post after this round now that matar is moving forward

<Xaveus> *Thank you

<Armatage> well the squisy one is dead so ill go to the far side of them and attack anything that trys to get past me or comes into reach

<Saif> When the soft one dies all of the remaining beetles freeze in place for a moment (even the wounded ones). There is then another faint rumble through the ground.

<Saif> Then the beetles start running around again

<Saif> When Matar comes pounding up the unwounded beetles close in on him (three of them)

<Saif> Matar strikes first (roll)

<Armatage> db

<db> Armatage rolled 1d20: [19]

<Armatage> db

<db> Armatage rolled 1d20: [10]

<Armatage> hahahaha

<Saif> and kills one

<Armatage> damn bows

<Kat> damn swords

<Saif> Kat, you can take a shot at one on Matar if you want (called, most likely)

<Kat> sure

<Armatage> nah - we got the spell up

<Armatage> that was one of the effect ircc?

<Saif> Yes, but that means only -2 not -4

<Armatage> ah well still

<Saif> Roll, Kat

<Kat> db

<db> Kat rolled 1d20: [9]

<Saif> hits

<Kat> db d6

<db> Kat rolled 1d6: [6]

<Saif> Kat wounds one, but now they attack Matar... speaking of which, how is the katana? Full defensive?

<Armatage> the usual

<Armatage> full d, 1 h

<Saif> K, they try to bite Matar with their huge, nasty teeth

<Saif> db 2d20

<db> Saif rolled 2d20: [27] 10 17

<Saif> but they both miss

<Saif> Matar takes his second attack (wounded or fresh?)

<Armatage> fresh!

<Armatage> db

<db> Armatage rolled 1d20: [14]

<Saif> swoosh

<Armatage> large or normal?

<Saif> splat

<Saif> normal

<Armatage> db d10

<db> Armatage rolled 1d10: [3]

<Saif> kills another one

<Saif> Hold on for a map...

<Saif> K, map has been updated

<Saif> it's hard to see, but the soft beetle is a b with a tiny 1 next to it. It's dead anyway.

<Saif> Questions?

<Kat> Can we see the brave fighter?

<Saif> With ambient light, yes, but not very clearly

<Saif> Intentions?

* Kat will fire at one of the wounded beetles in the light.

<Kat> Target m24

* Diana will hold action and scan the limits of her vision for other targets. (besides 4 wounded beetles)

<Saif> Cast and Shadow will do the same, although Castinar is shaking his head.

* Amber continues to keep an eye and ear towards the back...doesn't want to be ambused.

<Armatage> kills those that are handy

* Sane will fly and land at i26; covering Matar's rear flank.

<Saif> Anybody else?

* Ari will shoot at closet beetle

* Sane will also throw a light stone at approx. p31

<Saif> K

<Saif> Matar, swing, Kat, shoot

<Armatage> db

<db> Armatage rolled 1d20: [7]

<Kat> db

<db> Kat rolled 1d20: [14]

<Armatage> db d10

<db> Armatage rolled 1d10: [6]

<Kat> db d6

<Saif> Matar hits and kills

<db> Kat rolled 1d6: [3]

<Xaveus> Are we still in the 1 square = 50 ft grid?

<Saif> Kat hits and...

<Saif> * no, this map up right now is 10' squares

<Saif> doesn't kill hers

<Saif> Kat, shoot at that one again?

<Kat> yes

<Saif> fire

<Kat> db

<db> Kat rolled 1d20: [9]

<Saif> hits and kills

<Saif> Matar strolls over to another one

<Armatage> db

<db> Armatage rolled 1d20: [9]

<Armatage> db d10

<db> Armatage rolled 1d10: [7]

<Saif> Shadow and Cast and Ari all shoot at a third

<Saif> Ari, roll

<Saif> db 2d20

<db> Saif rolled 2d20: [26] 13 13

<Saif> Matar kills his

<Ari> db

<db> Ari rolled 1d20: [14]

<Saif> And all three hit the last one, resulting in a kill even with low damage

<Saif> So, just as quickly as it started it is all quiet again

* Sane sends <I am moving to cover Matar.>

<Diana> * nothing like a well executed ambush i guess.

<Saif> And in the quiet everybody can now half-hear, half-feel a grinding noise from underground

<Saif> Sane tosses his light stone out

* Armatage grabs the soft squishy one and drags it back to the group

<Sane> *is it getting closer

* Sane returns to have a look at softee

<Saif> No, still diffuse, in fact, kind of hard to tell apart from the general rumble in the cave (water or dragon breathing rumble)

<Saif> The soft beetle looks rather strange. It is a yellowish color instead of the blue-black of the others.

<Saif> Also it's wings are soft (well, like leather, not like metal)

* Armatage tests the toughness of its shell/skin.

<Saif> And part of its head seems to have grown back under the wings

<Saif> * like leather vs like metal for the others

<Saif> easily cut with a sharp blade

<Xaveus> bombadier beetle? VBG

<Kat> *does it look like a good skin to keep?

<Saif> So, what do you do?

<Armatage> after ascertaining that Matar will step back and all Kat to skin it.

<Saif> Kat - no, just thick

<Kat> *Does it taste good?

<Saif> Ari might think so

<Ari> *OH EW!

<Ari> *That was disgusting

<Saif> you like fire beetles

<Saif> this is just a clear one - you get to see what you're eating first <g>

<Kat> *some of these were cooked

<Ari> *Don't tell me out loud anymore <G>

<Saif> So, does somebody cut it open?

* Armatage nudges Kat.

<Sane> *it's like giant insect caviar, in a way

<Kat> If the activity is low, Kat will.

<Saif> Kat cuts it open. There are now beetle guts all over the floor

<Xaveus> *Is Armatage injured?

<Ari> *eeewwwwwww

<Saif> No, nobody has been hurt or injured

* Armatage keeps an eye out for another gorup.

<Saif> * I guess that's kind of redundant, huh? Hurt or injured.

* Kat would like to figure out where is a good spot to hit these things.

<Sane> *how 'bout insulted?

* Ari looks over Kat

<Saif> Kat - no crash courses in entomology here <g>

<Ari> Kat's shoulder tryoing not to get beetle guts on her boots

* Kat asks, "What's this" to Ari.

<Kat> "This taste good?"

* Amber stops guarding the back and examines the regular beetle wing covers. Are they irradescent, hard enough for useful object like a cap or someting?

<Saif> Kat just sees a bunch of guts, not really sure what is what. She does notice that they don't appear to have a heart or lungs

<Kat> "Iron rations suck. So, I don't eat them."

<Sane> *any new beetles appear during all this? sounds getting closer? louder?

<Saif> Amber - they are a matte color, black and blue, and yes, quite hard, but brittle as well.

<Kat> "Thick hide. I wonder if it would make good armor or not."

<Saif> No, no new beetles appear, the grinding sound continues, although fainter now

<Xaveus> Xaveus will go over and crunch a few corpses with "LuLu" looking for perhaps weaknesses in their shell. What crunches the loudest, that sort of thing.

* Kat will try to determine if the skin would be good for armor or not.

* Amber puts a couple away for later experimentation.

<Amber> *wing covers that is, nothing gory.

<Armatage> * adds a whole new level to looting the corpses bit.

<Saif> Kat - probably not, you figure an inch of this stuff would be worth about the same as a layer of leather armor - if you could keep it from drying out.

<Ari> If possible Ari points out the good eating bits to Kat (oh ew)

<Saif> Sane, how long do you let the playing with beetle bodies go on for?

<Sane> 3 minutes at most

<Xaveus> Perhaps in hot butter?

<Sane> *will that be enough

<Saif> OK, about a turn has passed since the beetles first re-appeared

<Kat> "Looks as good as deer hide. It might be too hard to work with."

<Armatage> * better be - we have spells running - lets do them!

<Saif> So, head over to the nest?

<Saif> Normal marching order?

<Armatage> * charge!

<Sane> *Saif, are we stopping here or continuing?

* Diana will urge people to do so, so we dont wast her spells.

<Saif> * We'll stop soon, probably next 10 minutes or so

* Kat stops playing with the dead beetles and goes into the marching order.

<Amber> Ambers ready to go

<Armatage> um we prolly dont want shadow and cast to lead us into the nest

<Saif> Do you take any of the light stones, or do you leave them all there?

<Sane> OK, I think we should keep the same formation we had and move along the wall toward the nest.

* Sane grabs two light stones.

<Armatage> nest to the left or right?

<Sane> to our left

<Saif> So the 4x3x2 formation with Sane doing his own thing?

<Sane> to the right on the map

<Sane> yes

<Armatage> then we want to mirror the formation so im on the outside still

<Saif> OK, the party moves forward

<Saif> They cross the 400' or so to the curve in the wall

<Saif> Matar - check

<Sane> before we go very far...

<Saif> they round the corner and look... but before they go very far...

<Sane> ...Sane will fly forward about 100' and drop a light stone.

<Sane> fly back

<Saif> OK, so the first 100' or so is lit. Keep doing this ahead of the party as they move along?

<Armatage> whats the range on a sling?

<Sane> yes

<Saif> 200' extreme range for a bullet

<Amber> *150-600'

<Amber> *oops, at least that's whats on my char. sheet.

<Armatage> amber could light our way and save sane some flying

<Saif> * going off of C&T with indoor ranges (squares)

<Saif> Ok, the party rounds the corner

<Amber> *ooh, forgot. :)

<Armatage> * this isnt exactly indoors

<Saif> They see the gentle slope leading up towards the cave wall beyond

<Saif> * I don't use the stupid indoor/outdoor range thing ever. One of the stupidest things TSR ever did. All ranges are in 5' squares.

<Saif> not 5 yards

<Sane> *I like the sling light stone idea

<Xaveus> I can help with the light if needed, but only for a little while.

<Saif> As luck would have it, the approx location of the nest entrance is about 200' away from the corner. Anybody want to sling something up there?

<Amber> yes, I"ll do it.

<Saif> Amber slings a light stone up where Castinar believes the nest to be

*** Paura has joined #nightbelow

<Saif> The stone hits, bounces, and then lies there, casting strange shadows

<Saif> The party looks expectantly... but doesn't see the nest opening anywhere

<Amber> *do the shadows move?

<Saif> No, the shadows are stable

<Amber> *phew!

<Kat> *Hi Curt... shhh... We're hunting beetles.

<Diana> * they sealed their entrance?

<Saif> Castinar and Matar both look confused. "It was right up there" Castinar says.

<Ari> "Sane, illusion?"

<Armatage> "Yeah right ranger boy - find them!"

<Diana> * nikki can cast Dig, if we need it :)

<Saif> "Hey, you saw it too, right?" Castinar responds

* Sane tries to determine if it's an illusion.

<Saif> Sane - how do you do that?

<Armatage> "Make sure the area is clear and have Xav chat with the wall."

* Kat quietly giggles, "ranger boy"

<Saif> Xaveus has already talked to the stone today

<Armatage> "I'm guessing all that noise we heard was them closing the door."

<Saif> * checking to make sure beetles weren't tunnling under party earlier

<Sane> *saif--just try to disbelieve it

<Armatage> ah crap! thats once a day?!?

<Nikki> k

<Nikki> whats going on?

<Saif> Sane, d20

<Sane> db

<db> Sane rolled 1d20: [2]

* Amber checks for paper...

<Ari> *Can K'harn tell anything Saif?

<Nikki> * to whoever asked, no dig spell.

<Saif> Amber - nothing, but now there is a 3rd dimension coming into play. it would take you a while to scan everything

<Armatage> "Well he can at least examine the wall to see if he can see anything."

<Amber> *continue checking

<Saif> Ari - no, she still feels vibrations from the ground, but they are still generalized

<Saif> So, what do you do? Sane doesn't detect any illusions or anything.

<Armatage> Check out the wall where we thought the nest was

* Amber mutters something about checking the nest to see if there is a hole in it or opening...

<Ari> "If anyone thinks the door is hidden by magic we could always try to dispel it."

<Xaveus> I can walk through the wall and take a look see.

<Saif> So does the party go up onto the slope to try and find the nest entrance?

<Kat> *Does it look like a caved in wall or like there never was a nest there?

<Armatage> "Hmm this is soft earth... perhaps we could use a create water spell or something on it."

<Sane> Group moves forward slowly.

<Saif> Kat - you would say more chance it was caved in, or perhaps a beach when a river once flowed through here

<Armatage> "I go first and make sure it is actually clear before allowing the others to come up."

<Kat> "Castinar, can you find any tracks that would lead to the nest?"

<Saif> OK, we're going to have to stop here, since if we go much further we'll get into a new phase of this little encounter

<Sane> Matar goes up if all clear group follows. Search area.

<Armatage> "If there is a trap to spring, I want it sprung on me."

<Saif> Any questions before we quit for the night?

<Sane> goodnight all; I'm nearly asleep at the keyboard

<Kat> nope

<Kat> Night, Sane

*** Sane has quit IRC (Leaving)

<Amber> happy Valentines day everyone

<Saif> Well handle the approach either in e-mail or next week at chat

<Kat> Night, Amber

<Saif> Night everybdoy

<Amber> ta ta

<Nikki> Q!

<Kat> Night Saif

<Diana> gnight, live through vday everyone :)

<Nikki> qusteion

<Nikki> what the hell happened?

<Nikki> :)

<Armatage> read the summary

*** Diana has quit IRC (Leaving)

<Kat> Armatage killed them all.

*** Amber has quit IRC (Sometimes.... the Dragons win)

*** Armatage has quit IRC (Leaving)

*** Paura has quit IRC (Leaving)

<Saif> Summary may be slow in coming, I've got drill and then in-laws coming over tomorrow

<Kat> Judd, are you reading the chat?

<Xaveus> Which is worse?

<Kat> Saif, I did get the threads

<Nikki> ya

<Saif> Kat - K, thanks, I couldn't remember if I had sent them to the right address. <g> Most of them were just "Hey, start this again" anyway.

<Saif> Night all

*** Disconnected

Session Close: Fri Feb 11 22:28:14 2000