(082) The Darkness Below

[coffee]

Yes, Karl intends to look at the medusa from bow range. He is not up close and he is directing his attention at his target point, i.e., the center of mass.

He will attempt to avoid her direct gaze, in other words, but he does need to look at her 'in general' to shoot her.

[Eris]

Freid is asking Leudigar to direct his throw using his mirror rather than looking directly at the Medusa, same with throwing the torch, if we get that far. He's doing what he can to avoid looking directly at the monster's face and still toss the oil so that it splashes over her.

[ehiker133]

Leudigar will provide such direction, using words like "other side" and "on my side" to avoid confusion with using a mirror to peer backwards and describe directions to someone else...

[Tonneau]

Zax is not having anything get between him and that gold now. He lets the snake-woman taste ax.

[waysoftheearth]

In the ramp room Fried fishes desperately for oil in his pack but comes up empty, while Leudigar and Zem take defensive positions and Karl runs up to the ruin with his bow at the ready and, as soon has he has a bead, draws and looses an arrow...

In the treasure room itself, as Zax takes a few paces toward the loot, the hideous monster comes charging right at him with a furious squeal. He reflexively hurls his belt ax as the snake-women looms between him and the loot... the ax leaves his hand with perfect grace, and strike the horror simultaneously with Karl's arrow; but alas! Zax never sees it hit.

Leudigar, fumbling his mirror to catch the action, half sees the hideous thing rushing up to the ruin and out of sight. It's close. Real close! Surely be upon him in a heart beat!

Eris, I clicked the "Manfried" link in your sig (below every post) to jump to your sheet. No oil mentioned, I'm afraid.

Zax has to see the target to fire at it, so requires a saving throw versus petrification: 1d20=11. That's a lookup... 5th level fighter requires a 12. Erk. Before (1-3) or after (4-6) the ax leaves his hand? 1d6=4, so after. Zax's final attack throw 1d20 (man+1)=20! Well now... 1d6=3 hp damage. That can't kill her even if she has the (unlikely) minimum 4 hp, so Zax is petrified.

Karl has to make more than 1/2 a move to reach a line of sight in the ruin. Therefore, he gets one shot "on the move". But he also has to sight the target to aim, so requires a save versus petrification: 1d20=18, that's a save. Bow shot 1d20 (man+1) = 17, that's a hit for 1d6=1 hp

The ref dices for the medusa's hp 4d6=?

What orders for the next, a possibly decisive, turn folks?

[mgtremaine]

Zem looks at Leudigar, "Say when tracker and my Axe will strike.".

Zem will hold at the threshold as soon as Leudigar gives the word he will raise his shield above his face and strike mercilessly with his axe. I suggest Karl not be between Zem and the Medusa

[coffee]

Karl stands and takes another shot.

Sure, he's pushing his luck, but so are his friends out there.

[ehiker133]

Leudigar's face pales as the tactless gnome goes still. He draws his sword, jaws set.

"We will fight it together, Zem."

Leudigar spins around the corner, trying his best to watch the ground for the creature's presence, swinging his silvered sword and blocking with his fine, long dirk.

[Eris]

Coming up empty of oil, Freid curses and strides forward with shield raised and his sword in his hand. He'll keep his shield up and look for the monster's lower body under the shield. If he gets close enough to strike a blow he'll do it this turn. If not, he'll try again next turn.

[Tonneau]

...surely Zax's experience with far more hideous creatures (his ex-missus) should grant him a +1 to the save? Ah well, at least he leaves a beautiful statue, with one eye pointed at the treasure, one at the foe