Makara IC

Steam totally kills that swarm of flying ants. What will Adelinde do if she's maybe feeling challenged at all to top it!?

---

Flying Ant Swarm 3 fails it's save and doesn't die. Then it gets hit with an eldritch blast and dies.

---

Initiative
Steam: 20.3 (W3)
Adelinde: 19.1 (X4)
Small Black Ant 6: 19 (R5)
Large Bull Ant 4: 18.1 (M&N 6&7)
Small Black Ant 10: 18 (B5)
Acid Spraying Ant 6: 17 (A7)
Medium Black Ant 6: 16 (A5)
Medium Black Ant 5: 14 (A4)
Medium Black Ant 4: 13.1 (M4)
Parveth: 12.1 (S2)
Flying Ant Swarm 4: 11.1 (A3)
Small Black Ant 7: 11 (B2)
Ketha: 10.1 (S3)
Small Black Ant 8: 10 (B3)
Flying Ant Swarm 5: 9.1 (A6)
Small Black Ant 11: 9 (B6)
Large Bull Ant 3: 6.1 (K&L 2&3)
Ant Swarm 3: 6 (A4)
Medium Red Ant 2: 3.2 (M2)
Small Black Ant 9: 3.1 (B4)
Small Black Ant 12: 3 (B7)
Acid Spraying Ant 5: 2 (A2)

Info
Ketha: 28/31, Heroism, Temp HP: 5
Steam: 18/24
Parveth: 24/25, Heroism, Temp HP: 5
Adelinde: 23/24

Adlinde taunts the red ant and continues to otherwise not even move.

stuff:

Adelinde's not particularly charming charm works like a charm. Several ants move closer while two ants press upon Parveth, the smaller one missing and the larger massive ant landing a sting of negligible potency upon her. One of the large ants chomps down hard on Ketha before Parveth finishes it off as it attempts to avoid burning to death.

---

Medium Red Ant 2 fails it's save.

Small Black Ant 6 moves from R5 to T5 and misses Parveth.

Large Bull Ant 4 moves from M&N 6&7 to R&S 5&6 and Stings Parveth for 8 piercing damage and DC 12 Con save for 9 poison damage on a fail, half (4) on a success. Parveth succeeds the save. Then it rolls to save for ending it's turn next to the flaming sphere and saves, taking 5 fire damage.

Small Black Ant 10 dashes from B5 to N5.

Acid Spraying Ant 6 dashes from A7 to M7.

Medium Black Ant 6 dashes from A5 to M5.

Medium Black Ant 5 dashes from A4 to M4.

Medium Black Ant 4 crits Ketha for 9 piercing damage then provokes an opportunity attack from Parveth by attempting to move to S2. Parveth hits and deals 8 slashing damage, killing it.

---

Initiative
Steam: 20.3 (W3)
Adelinde: 19.1 (X4)
Small Black Ant 6: 19 (T5)
Large Bull Ant 4: 18.1 (R&S 5&6)
Small Black Ant 10: 18 (N5)
Acid Spraying Ant 6: 17 (M7)
Medium Black Ant 6: 16 (M5)
Medium Black Ant 5: 14 (M4)
Parveth: 12.1 (S2)
Flying Ant Swarm 4: 11.1 (A3)
Small Black Ant 7: 11 (B2)
Ketha: 10.1 (S3)
Small Black Ant 8: 10 (B3)
Flying Ant Swarm 5: 9.1 (A6)
Small Black Ant 11: 9 (B6)
Large Bull Ant 3: 6.1 (K&L 2&3)
Ant Swarm 3: 6 (A4)
Medium Red Ant 2: 3.2 (M2) (vicious mockery)
Small Black Ant 9: 3.1 (B4)
Small Black Ant 12: 3 (B7)
Acid Spraying Ant 5: 2 (A2)

Info
Ketha: 24/31, Heroism, Temp HP: 0
Steam: 18/24
Parveth: 17/25, Heroism, Temp HP: 5
Adelinde: 23/24

Parveth
The wood elf begins sweating, both due to the increasing danger of the situation and the proximity of the literal ball of fire. She makes several swipes at the new ants around her before quickly hopping away from the fire. She looks past the literal ball of fire at the copious amounts of ants still streaming in.
She casts her gaze toward Ketha, looking to her for a lead in what they do next, while saying to the group, "I am no coward, and I am sure you all are quite capable, but that is more ants than I would like to engage in close quarters. If you have a trick up your sleeve, I would appreciate it. If not, tactical retreat?"

That's a couple of ants right there, yup yup:

Parveth cuts down the smaller and but another one and an accompanying swarm come up to replace it.

---

Small Black Ant 6 dies and both other attacks hit large bull ant 4.

Flying Ant Swarm 4 dashes from A3 to M3.

Small Black Ant 7 dashes from B2 to N2.

---

Initiative
Steam: 20.3 (W3)
Adelinde: 19.1 (X4)
Large Bull Ant 4: 18.1 (R&S 5&6)
Small Black Ant 10: 18 (N5)
Acid Spraying Ant 6: 17 (M7)
Medium Black Ant 6: 16 (M5)
Medium Black Ant 5: 14 (M4)
Parveth: 12.1 (T4)
Flying Ant Swarm 4: 11.1 (M3)
Small Black Ant 7: 11 (N2)
Ketha: 10.1 (S3)
Small Black Ant 8: 10 (B3)
Flying Ant Swarm 5: 9.1 (A6)
Small Black Ant 11: 9 (B6)
Large Bull Ant 3: 6.1 (K&L 2&3)
Ant Swarm 3: 6 (A4)
Medium Red Ant 2: 3.2 (M2) (vicious mockery)
Small Black Ant 9: 3.1 (B4)
Small Black Ant 12: 3 (B7)
Acid Spraying Ant 5: 2 (A2)

Info
Ketha: 24/31, Heroism, Temp HP: 5
Steam: 18/24
Parveth: 17/25, Heroism, Temp HP: 5
Adelinde: 23/24

Ketha makes a swift and tricky movement to behead the red ant next to her. She looks onwards to the oncoming horde. It does not take long for her to give an answer. "Tactical retreat." She takes out her axe and shield for protection and moves towards and past her allies...

(Booming Blade Attack Roll (Medium Red Ant 2): 13 (Roll) + 6 (Str) = 19)
(Damage Roll: 6 + 1 5 (Roll) + 4 (Strength) = 15)
(Equipped Handaxe and Shield)
(Moved from S3 to Y3)

A massive hoard of ants charges towards the group. If they weren't ants you'd think they had been emboldened by Ketha's retreat.

---

Small Black Ant 8 dashes from B3 to N3.

Flying Ant Swarm 5 dashes from A6 to M6.

Small Black Ant 11 dashes from B6 to N6.

Large Bull Ant 3 dashes from K&L 2&3 to U&V 2&3.

Ant Swarm 3 dashes from I4 to P4.

Small Black Ant 9 dashes from B4 to N4.

Small Black Ant 12 dashes from B7 to N7.

Some more ants appear at the far left edge of the map, but you can't make them out from here/I'm too lazy to actually add opponents that won't be able to get to you before you've managed to retreat. I do know what they would be if for some reason you guys don't retreat though.

---

Initiative
Steam: 20.3 (W3)
Adelinde: 19.1 (X4)
Large Bull Ant 4: 18.1 (R&S 5&6)
Small Black Ant 10: 18 (N5)
Acid Spraying Ant 6: 17 (M7)
Medium Black Ant 6: 16 (M5)
Medium Black Ant 5: 14 (M4)
Parveth: 12.1 (T4)
Flying Ant Swarm 4: 11.1 (M3)
Small Black Ant 7: 11 (N2)
Ketha: 10.1 (Y3)
Small Black Ant 8: 10 (N3)
Flying Ant Swarm 5: 9.1 (M6)
Small Black Ant 11: 9 (N6)
Large Bull Ant 3: 6.1 (U&V 2&3)
Ant Swarm 3: 6 (P4)
Small Black Ant 9: 3.1 (N4)
Small Black Ant 12: 3 (N7)
Acid Spraying Ant 5: 2 (M2)

Info
Ketha: 24/31, Heroism, Temp HP: 5
Steam: 18/24
Parveth: 17/25, Heroism, Temp HP: 5
Adelinde: 23/24

Steam
Pretty okay with booking it on out of here, Steam attempts to help Parveth by reaching out with an electrically charged hand to the ant in front of her. Its wiggling and waggling is far greater than her ability to handle, and with a huff she just storms away. The fire orb follows her, hopping over the other large ant.

yep:

While Steam's attack didn't land on the massive ant next to her, the flaming sphere seems to have the other one on it's last legs. She doesn't have much time to consider this as she flees and gets raked in the back by pincers as she goes.

---

Large Bull Ant 4 fails it's save vs flaming sphere.

Large Bull Ant 3 takes it's attack of opportunity on Steam. It hits for 6 slashing damage.

Steam concentration checks: 13, pass.

---

Initiative
Adelinde: 19.1 (X4)
Large Bull Ant 4: 18.1 (R&S 5&6)
Small Black Ant 10: 18 (N5)
Acid Spraying Ant 6: 17 (M7)
Medium Black Ant 6: 16 (M5)
Medium Black Ant 5: 14 (M4)
Parveth: 12.1 (T4)
Flying Ant Swarm 4: 11.1 (M3)
Small Black Ant 7: 11 (N2)
Ketha: 10.1 (Y3)
Small Black Ant 8: 10 (N3)
Flying Ant Swarm 5: 9.1 (M6)
Small Black Ant 11: 9 (N6)
Large Bull Ant 3: 6.1 (U&V 2&3)
Ant Swarm 3: 6 (P4)
Small Black Ant 9: 3.1 (N4)
Small Black Ant 12: 3 (N7)
Acid Spraying Ant 5: 2 (M2)

Info
Ketha: 24/31, Heroism, Temp HP: 5
Steam: 12/24
Parveth: 17/25, Heroism, Temp HP: 5
Adelinde: 23/24

Adelinde forms an ice crystal in the shape of a throwing knife in her hand, holding it by the blade before throwing it into the advancing line of ants drawing on afternoons spent plaguing with her brother. The knife explodes into shards soon after impacting while Adelinde herself flees down the tunnel.

Stuff:

Adelinde barely notices her frosty attack kill it's target and leaves before seeing it killed one of the smaller ants as well. Meanwhile ants big and small attempt to take down the only nearby target, Parveth, and both the largest and smallest take bites out of her while she gets only mildly singed from stream of acid. She does have the gratification of kicking an assaulting larger ant into the blazing ball of fire when it attempts to get in on the action and burn to death for it's hubris.

---

Ice Knife hits medium black ant 5. It fails it's save and dies. Flying Ant Swarm 4 fails, Small Black Ant 8 fails and dies, Small Black Ant 9 saves, Small Black Ant 10 saves, Medium Black Ant 6 fails.

Large Bull Ant 4 moves from R&S 5&6 and R&S 2&3 and Bites Parveth for 11 slashing damage.

Small Black Ant 10 moves from N5 to T3 and Bites Parveth for 2 slashing damage.

Acid Spraying Ant 6 moves from M7 to Q4 and uses Acid Spray on Parveth. Parveth succeeds at a DC 10 Dex save and takes 1 (half of 3 round down) acid damage.

Medium Black Ant 6 moves from M5 to S4 and misses Parveth. Then fails it's save from end it's turn next to the flaming sphere and takes 16 fire damage and dies.

---

Initiative
Large Bull Ant 4: 18.1 (R&S 2&3)
Small Black Ant 10: 18 (T3)
Acid Spraying Ant 6: 17 (Q4)
Parveth: 12.1 (T4)
Flying Ant Swarm 4: 11.1 (M3)
Small Black Ant 7: 11 (N2)
Ketha: 10.1 (Y3)
Flying Ant Swarm 5: 9.1 (M6)
Small Black Ant 11: 9 (N6)
Large Bull Ant 3: 6.1 (U&V 2&3)
Ant Swarm 3: 6 (P4)
Small Black Ant 9: 3.1 (N4)
Small Black Ant 12: 3 (N7)
Acid Spraying Ant 5: 2 (M2)

Info
Ketha: 24/31, Heroism, Temp HP: 5
Steam: 12/24
Parveth: 8/25, Heroism, Temp HP: 5
Adelinde: 23/24

Parveth
The wood elf remains behind as her comrades back off, providing something for the ants to circle around rather than just continue to bolt after the squishier members of the group. As they bite and sting at her, she's filled with determination.

Feeling the opening in the blows, she gives one of the ants a swift kick into the fire, and starts like she's going to say a cool line, but then realizes they're ants and non-magically taunting them is sort of a waste. Slightly disappointed, in one smooth motion she stores her swords and tumbles around fire orb, quickly running after the rest of the group. She gives Ketha a nod as she passes, with a rushed "Shall we?" She coughs up just a bit of blood at the end of her invitation.

((Parveth disengages and then leaves the encounter.))

Ketha being the only one left that they can get to, a flying ant swarm and one of the smaller ants begin the process of swarming her.

---

Flying Ant Swarm 4 dashes from M3 to Y3.

Small Black Ant 7 dashes from N2 to Z3.

---

Initiative
Large Bull Ant 4: 18.1 (R&S 2&3)
Small Black Ant 10: 18 (T3)
Acid Spraying Ant 6: 17 (Q4)
Flying Ant Swarm 4: 11.1 (Y3)
Small Black Ant 7: 11 (Z3)
Ketha: 10.1 (Y3)
Flying Ant Swarm 5: 9.1 (M6)
Small Black Ant 11: 9 (N6)
Large Bull Ant 3: 6.1 (U&V 2&3)
Ant Swarm 3: 6 (P4)
Small Black Ant 9: 3.1 (N4)
Small Black Ant 12: 3 (N7)
Acid Spraying Ant 5: 2 (M2)

Info
Ketha: 24/31, Heroism, Temp HP: 5
Steam: 12/24
Parveth: 8/25, Heroism, Temp HP: 5
Adelinde: 23/24

Ketha takes a last swing at the swarm dancing around her with her Greatsword before fleeing to rejoin her teammates...

(Equipped Greatsword)
(Booming Blade Attack Roll (Flying Ant Swarm 4): 19 (Roll) + 6 (Str) = 25)
(Damage Roll: 4 + 2 1 (Roll) + 4 (Strength) = 9)
(Leave Battle)

Ketha manages to cut down a few more bugs before bugging out, though the swarm is still more or less (mostly less) intact as she goes.

The group retreats for a few minutes before they come to the previous intersection where a communication ant and a notable group of ants seems to be waiting for them. As the group approaches, the ants move in their direction and past them, with the exception of the communication ant which turns to face down one of the other tunnels and waggles it's antenna some and there's a bit of magic of some kind going on there. When you finally reach it, you can hear the sound of more ants moving in this direction and the communication ant turns to face you. You get the sudden feeling it wants you to follow it and you can tell this is some kind of magical communication, rather than you interpreting it's behavior (mostly because you're still not any good at understanding ant body language).

It leads you down a tunnel a bit, away from the fighting. On the way you see great numbers of ants of all shapes and sizes go by in a steady stream. The communication ant stops when you're far enough away that you can't hear the ants fighting and you get the feeling it suggest you sit and rest here. About a minute later four small ants come up, one to each of you, each holding some ball in their mandibles. The balls are about the size of an orange and the outside is some gelatinous translucent substance (probably gelatin really), inside of the balls you can see a mixture of red and brown liquid that moves around like mixed together oil and water separating from each other. You then get the feeling from the communication ant that you should ingest these.

---

Each character earned 403 XP.

Once again I'd like you to vote for a choice of ants that will aid you in the next battle. This time it's a purely OOC decision as IC it will just be what is available to aid you, but I figured there's no reason not to let you choose.

1) 1 Large Iron Ant

2) 1 Medium Fire Ant, 1 Communication Ant, 5 Small Black Ants

3) 1 Ant Swarm, 1 Medium Black Ant, 2 Small Jolt Ants

4) 1 Flying Acid Ant Swarm, 2, Medium Black Ants, 5 Small Black Ants

Parveth & Steam (Back at it again together!)
The wood elf and the genasi accept the gelatin ball. Parveth goes to match a questioning look about the orb with Steam, but finds that the cerulean lady is already sticking out her tongue to taste the outside of the ball.

Satisfied that the ball doesn't taste awful, if not particularly impressive either, she moves the ball into one hand before speaking a few arcane words and waving the other hand over it. It wiggles a little under the ministrations, but at the end of the magic seems slightly cleaner and just generally less ant-handled.

Steam grins slightly at the orb, before gingerly biting into it, unleashing the fluids contained within into her mouf.

Parveth sagely waits to let Steam experiment with the orb.

The ginger bite.... accomplishes nothing. The ball just squishes with the motion. It takes a bit of effort to tear it with Steam's manpeople teeth and when she finally does rip it open she's forced to basically attempt to guzzle it down before all the liquid pours down the front of her shirt and more wound up that way than she's particularly happy with. The liquid itself tasted a bit bitter and was incredibly oily. It tingles a bit as it goes down and Steam finds herself almost immediately drowsy to the point of maybe having time to get a sentence out before she passes out.

Steam & Parveth
The genasi quickly sucks in the rest of the gelatin ball as it pops on her. She blinks sleepily as she pats at where it splashed onto her armor, saying, "Aww! I hope this doesn't...," before a massive yawn interrupts her. She works through it and manages, "...stain the-" and falling over asleep with a snore.

Parveth watches her struggle with the orb and then topple over. She watches her for a moment longer, before just slowly turning to the communication ant with a look strongly conveying, "??????"

The communication has already left with the other ants.

Ketha reaches out her free hand and catches Steam by her back as she falls over. Ketha lowers the genasi down carefully before turning her attention to the orb held in her claws, searching for any magic to explain Steam's response to ingesting the orbs contents...

(Arcana Check: 14 (Roll) + 4 (Skill) = 18)

There are indeed slight traces of magic, but you can't really identify what it does.

Parveth
The wood elf sighs, almost not surprised that they're not being told anything. "It would seem we are to rest, then."

She gives Ketha a thankful nod as she turns back to Steam, before moving to check on the genasi's condition, seeing if she can ascertain what the orbs do...besides apparently make a mess and send you to sleep.

((Medicine: 24 = (19) +5))
((Wow, nice job Parveth! Didn't actually roll a 6 or lower like I expected.))

With careful checking of Steam's condition and poking a small hole in and getting a good whiff and just a drop to taste of the liquid Parveth determines it's some mix of oils and chemicals, some of which have been magically altered or enhanced, to cause a humanoid or vaguely humanoid type creature to gain vitality equivalent to a full day's rest in a very short amount of time. There are likely to be some side effects as there would be from taking any potent drug, but Parveth determines they will almost certainly be short term and nothing actually likely to be harmful. Though some amount of impaired judgement is likely, but that is once again to be expected.

Parveth
The wood elf conveys that information, saying, "The queen has been busy since we last saw her. Either that, or she had these already prepared. Possbibly for her..." Parveth trails off, not wanting to discuss the males in the queen's chamber. "Mm. In any case, these seem to be a sort of...reinvigorater. It puts you to sleep and accelerates the operations of your body for...a relatively short time. An hour perhaps, it is tough to gauge without seeing the components. You would likely wake at the end of the time naturally, feeling like you had just finished a long rest over night. This concentration though, the acceleration it effects must have some secondary effects on the body as well...but again, without seeing the components I cannot give a more accurate diagnosis. At a guess, a certain mental fog might persist for a time after waking, your mind having fallen behind your body. Some meditation or a normal night's rest should be enough to reconnect the two, though." Parveth eyes her orb, having capped the small puncture she made in its skin with a finger.

"A certain mental fog?" Ketha repeats asking for clarification...