Delve the Fifth

[Ebon Hearted Soul]

At Wiglaff's prompting, Franklin fires his sling and ducks behind one of the pillars for cover.

Vesh and his hireling will do likewise with Marco defending Young Aiden & Mona defending Vesh. Vesh shifts his staff to his left hand & pulls a dagger from a sheath to ready it to throw if the beast comes within range before shifting back to his staff.

[kipper]

If Maloof becomes convinced of the reality of the creature, he'll start using his sling from range.

[SneakeyPete]

Grampus asks Ori, Nori and Dori to hide behind some pillars for now.

[Makofan]

Maloof peers piercingly at the bizarre apparition.

((Attempting to disbelieve))

Alas, he can not convince himself against the evidence of his senses

[Makofan]

Hi guys - sorry, I took the weekend off

I did a crude diagram of what I think is going on. Grampus and Wiglaff will fire one shot each from the side, but then those two groups will ease back a bit, so that the worm/snake/insect thing heads straight on to the waiting Rhod and Erik. After combat begins, the east and west will then jump on its flanks. Maloof and Frankin and Vesh(dagger) will all contribute missile fire until the creature is on the front fighters

[acodispo]

That plan is correct as far as I'm concerned. Wiglaff, unarmored at this time, will not join the melee for the first turn but will order Wodan forward.

[kipper]

Maloof is ready!

[Makofan]

The party opens up with ranged fire, even Vesh tossing a dagger, and the monster staggers under the barrage. Maddened, it rushes the front rank of Rhod and Erik, who manage to strike at it first. Erik scores a big wound, and then the monster frenzies! RHod manages to dodge the choking smoke and biting head, but Erik is not so lucky and goes down with his throat ripped out

MECHANICS
Missile Fire

Grampus 13, hits for <1d6>=3 damage
Wiglaff 15, hits for <1d6>=1 damage
Maloof 9, miss
Franklin 17, hits for <1d6>=6 damage
Vesh 19, hits for <1d6>=5 damage

INITIATIVE
Party 6, MOnster 3

Rhod, 4, miss
Erik, 18, hits for <1d6>=5 damage

Monster @Erik 5, 8, 19, 20
Monster @ Rhod 4, 2, 5

Erik is hit twice for 11 damage killing him

WOUNDS
Monster 20 damage taken
Erik, dead

[mushgnome]

"I didn't like Erik at first, but he died a hero!" laments Franklin. He and Sconces take cover behind the nearest pillar.

[acodispo]

Wiglaff watches the melee in consternation, and decides to take a risk. Dropping his bow, he takes up shield, and hand axe, and joins the melee as soon as possible, charging in from the side.

"Charge, Wodan!" he shouts.

Hopefully the dwarves & clerics will join in as well.

The beast should be pretty close to dead, even at 7 hit dice! If we win initiative we should be able to finish it off.