Post
by waysoftheearth » Thu Jun 05, 2014 5:01 am
| A random encounter was indicated for turn 3.8, so the referee dices to learn what is in store: 1d6=5, so it's something from dungeon table II, 1d20=13 so it's Giant Leeches! These horrors occur in groups of 2-12, so the referee dices again: 2d6=4 and learns that there are 4 of the nasty things. It seems that the leeches inhabit the bilge-way that bisects the sunken plaza, and also that these monsters would rightfully have "felt" the tremors of the players moving about nearby.
Thus the referee decides there is no possibility that the leeches are surprised, but will dice to determine if the leeches will surprise the players. The leeches are as sneaky as thieves in their element, and the players are preoccupied with the dimly lit arch, so they will be surprised on a throw of 3-6. 1d6=4, so the leeches have surprise! The encounter distance will be 1d6=5, so 50ft.
Let us suppose that this 50ft is the distance from the banks of the black water to where the players have positioned themselves.
Leeches only move 3" out of water, so they won't cover the full 50ft in their surprise-turn (turn 3.8.1) so they close to 20ft. In fact, the leeches would only need to cover 40ft to enter combat because melee attacks are considered to have a range of 1"; but as they can't cover 40ft it's a moot point.
We now shift to one-minute combat-turns to play out the remainder of this encounter. The surprise turn (3.8.1) has already passed without the players reacting, so we will move immediately to combat turn 3.8.2. |
Having just organised themselves for the imminent ambush attempt, our band of adventurers suddenly notice a freakish series of halfling-sized, blobs--black and glistening--hauling themselves silently toward them across the plaza! Whatever they are, they must have issued from the dark water, and crept unnoticed toward [p Man,mail+helm,hammer,shield,9,6/6]Vergas[/p] and his group (including [p Man,plate+helm,spear,open hand,12,9/9]Magnus[/p], [p Halfling,mail+helm,dagger,shield,9,7/7]Tumbly[/p], and [p Man,cloak,cat-stick,open hand,12,5/5]Urtzil[/p]) in a broad line. By the time our brothers have noticed the danger, the horrors of the deep are scarcely 20ft away!
[p Man,mail+helm,spear,shield,9,8/8]Arcus[/p], [p Man,mail+helm,hand ax,shield,9,8/8]Biratlan[/p], [p Halfling,leather,short sword,open hand,9,4/4]Potts[/p], and [pp Man,cloak,dagger,lantern,12,4/4]Sullivus[/pp] are some 30ft-40ft further away, laying in wait adjacent to the left archway.
| The leeches have silently covered 30ft distance in the surprise turn (3.8.1). What do you wish to do next combat turn (3.8.2)? |
[f=32]
Golgildir the Elf Medium (MV 12", AC 9, HD 1, hp 1/1, AL N) great cloak,
lantern; spells: color spray; scrolls: sleep, sleep, charm person
Hirelings: Georges;
torch[/f]