Immersive Ink

waysoftheearth wrote:
Gerar progress toward the glimmer by his candle light.

The passage soon comes to a T intersection where Gerar could turn either right or left.

Alas, what might have been "gold" turns out to be more macabre. A dessicated, snork body lies strewn across the passage... its clothes would have been considered posh at one time, though now they are filthy. The glamour was merely the shine off a silver belt buckle!

What now?

sirravd wrote:
He searches the body.

waysoftheearth wrote:
Gerar approaches the body to search it {1d6=4} but just as he is about to bend close he notes it twitch. It's alive! He halts just in time as the creature suddenly lurches to its haunches all in a hurry and gives him a threatening hiss!

Its moldy fangs appear as formidable as its breath is terrible, as it sniffs and hisses the air, quickly zoning in on Gerar. It has no eyes! But it comes on all the same...

What to do?

sirravd wrote:
Gerar tries desperately to stab the thing with his shortsword. He bites his tongue to keep from screaming: he doesn't want to attract any more monsters.

waysoftheearth wrote:
{Initiative is rolled; Gerar=5, Monster=4. Gerar attacks d20=14 hits. 1d6=2. Ref rolls its hp; 1d6=5. Monster attacks 1d20=8, miss.}


Gerar pounces on the thing, driving his short sword thoroughly into its chest in a manner which would perforate a Man's heart. But rather than die the thing thrashes alarmingly about, and Gerar narrowly avoids its violent fits.

Candle in one hand, sword in the other, he stands poised...

sirravd wrote:
Another attack to the vile thing. He holds tightly onto the candle, trying to keep it from the monster's reach, but prevent it from moving so violently that it goes out.

waysoftheearth wrote:
{Initiative is rolled; Gerar=3, Monster=6. Monster attacks 1d20=18, hits for 1d6=4, 4 hit points. Gerar attacks d20= hits. 1d6=16, hit for 1d6=6!}


The monstrous thing hisses and snarls, and lunges violently about, catching Gerar off balance and dashing him a cruel scratch down the length of his belly before he slaps its head side-ways with the flat of his blade -- dazing it just long enough to stab his point directly through its quivering wide nostrils and out the back of its skull.

It snorts and gasps once more before collapsing in a dead heap.

Gerar is left to reflect upon the nasty gash down his middle section as his candle sputters and starts in the encroaching dark...

sirravd wrote:
Gerar curses quietly, reeling in pain. He retreats back through the arch into the antechamber and enters another arch.

waysoftheearth wrote:
Gerar doesn't wish to conduct his intended search of the body, now that he's sure (or mostly sure) it's dead? Nor explore the left or right aspects of the T intersection where the nasty surprise lay in wait?

sirravd wrote:
He waits a minute or so to ensure it is not moving. If it isn't, he searches it.