The First Adventure

[acodispo]

"Ants?" confirms Willie, sounding a little shaky. "Well, they couldn't be worse than goat-spiders. ... Could they? I'm willing to press on this way."

[ehiker133]

Dougal nods. "Agreed."

[Tonneau]

"Yes, yes...er...of course", says Potty, disappointed that his revelation was received with somewhat less acclaim than he had hoped.

"Of course there are ants, and Ants..." he mumbles under his breath.

[mushgnome]

Turn 15

Armed with Potty's foreknowledge, the party ambushes 4 black ants!

The poodle-sized ants are traveling east, toward you. They are carrying something in their mouths: bundles of sticks and scrap wood, it looks like.

Our Heroes come around the bend and surprise the ants at melee range! You get a free surprise turn. What now?

[ehiker133]

What is the marching order and who is in the front ranks?

[mushgnome]

The old single-file marching order was:

Willie
Dougal
Chegs
Potty
Tet

But in this wider tunnel, there is room for two abreast. You may use the surprise turn to get organized in whichever battle formation you like. You are prepared and expecting this fight.

[acodispo]

Willie is good-to-go in the front rank. He grits his remaining teeth & gets ready to slay some ants!

Once everybody is lined up, he'll advance into melee range & lay in with his axe.

Maybe Willie & Chegs in front rank, and Tet can use his spear from 2nd rank, if possible?

[mushgnome]

I'd allow a spear attack from the second rank. That's good thinking.

[Ebon Hearted Soul]

"can one of the non-fighters take my torch so I can equip my shield otherwise I'll make do as they are just ants?, asks Chegs as he readies his warhammer.

[Tonneau]

"Er, yes OK" says Potty, relieving Chegs of the torch (and thinking how this will allow him to better search for new fungi).