WM/Treks/Log 2-6

Narrator: The fifth day out from Polisberg dawns bright and sunny, with light winds blowing. The delvers are on the edge of a forest, roughly due east of the pixie town they spent the night before.
GM: You're basically in a wide clearing, or maybe just a less forested area, about a mile in diameter. You're on the north side of it. There are hills on the west side, and beyond them, the lake/riverlet you walked around yesterday. The forest continues... and continues... and goes on for a while... to the south.
GM: It is the High Holy Day of Chaos, Wisdom, and Insects.
GM: Make of that what you will.
Beltarne: ((I'm gonna make Lemonade out of it!!))
Shelley: Who can understand the quantum mechanics of the bees?
Shelley: OK. I understand our plans for the day are to find the lake and the tower.
Beltarne: So, we already harvested the mana organs and dwarven whetstones from the lizards. We follow the lake/riverlet to the south-ish?
Shelley: Don't ask me which direction we think that is, I have no idea.
GM: I'm willing to fudge the directions but I need some kind of plan that shows more judgment than "whatever the GM thinks we should do to achieve our goals."
Shelley: We go whatever direction the towery thing is in!
Wolfgang: were we going to need to cross or find a good crossing for the river?
Shelley: Um.
Beltarne: We're following the shore of the lake, right?
Shelley: That was I believe on the horizon at some point yes.
Beltarne: because we're going around it?
Wolfgang: I think the plan was to follow the shore in that direction since we basically are going around the whole lake
Shelley: That sounds roughly like where we were going. We're not asking the GM for "Whatever gets us most best closer!" we're asking MARIK that :D
Wolfgang: and Marik was going to try and choose the best side for us
Shelley: But yes, following the lake and eventually considering some sort of crossing of some sort of big puddle was in the future.
Wolfgang: and small detours to fords etc
Marik: "Step lively, you pampered sissies." Heads out to the south, for no reason that the rest of you are entirely sure of.
Shelley: It helps that I never know which direction I'm traveling in or why. *follows, stepping lively and followed by a bunch of unlively battered skeletons*
** Beltarne also steps lively **
** Wolfgang follows **
GM: Right, some of the stooges are pretty running to keep up. They can do that, being machines, but it isn't doing their joints much good.
** Thasos follows Marik, confident that the elf must know where he's going. **
Shelley: (( Apparently sprinting doesn't hurt machines, they just run out of fuel if they use fuel. That whole section of the rules needs serious revision. It hurts my head. ))
Narrator: The delvers head south, hugging the east side of the clearing until they reach the south end and then plunging into the woods. The massive trees tower overhead, nearly blocking out the sunlight on the ground.
Shelley: (( lost connection to Maptools ))
Narrator: They work their way through the crowded trunks. Then the trees open up a bit, and a few pieces of cobblestone and gravel decorate what might have once, long ago, been a path.
Beltarne: "Wonder where this goes?"
Marik: "Lazy oafs, running a road through a perfectly good forest. And then they don't bother to maintain it!"
Wolfgang: "Hopefully where we want to get to"
Shelley: "Probably connected to the tower - if the tower's abandoned, it makes sense that access roads would be."
Beltarne: "That would be nice."
GM: It goes west for a ways, and disappears behind some trees. Also, it goes southeast for a ways, and disappears into the woods.
Beltarne: Which way is the lake shore?
GM: West.
Beltarne: Shall we try west?
Wolfgang: we're heading south, then east, right?
Marik: "If we head south, we'll hit the lake further down."
Wolfgang: west lake = swamp, east lake = river, right?
** Thasos points to the west. **
GM: From what Wolfgang saw, you'll need to head south and east to get around the lake, then west along its south shore.
GM: errr... west and south.
Beltarne: We go the right way along the ruined road!
** Thasos meant southeast. **
Beltarne: With right == southeast
Beltarne: Wait, west and south
GM: ... boy, it'd be great if someone who said they were going to draw a map had drawn a map a bit.
Beltarne: So the road does not go in the right direction
Shelley: I would explore westwards.
Beltarne: And then just follow the shore?
Shelley: In the sense that it might reach the lake and turn south, or lead to an old causeway across the lake, or a dock, or something of interest.
Shelley: The road goes westly.
Beltarne: Seems like we'd be less likely that we'd get lost?
Beltarne: Sounds good to me.
Shelley: Worst case scenario it dead ends in the lake with no interesting features, and we continue following the lake shore anyways, which is what we'd probably have done without it.
Thasos: ((i haven't had time to get working on the map))
Beltarne: Right
GM: Alright, there is a severely crappy map of what Wolfgang saw when he flew around yesterday morning on MapTools.
Beltarne: So we're to the east of the inlet?
GM: Light green is forest, dark green is swamp.
Beltarne: in that small clearing?
GM: orange is road. You're on the road, just south of the clearing.
Beltarne: Or, south of that now, rather
Shelley: Small brown stripe is found road I think.
Shelley: Orange/brown
Shelley: Thing. Yes.
Wolfgang: OK, we should head east, like we were then
Shelley: Southeast road sounds like it's worth investigating, as that's the general direction of the southeast corner of the lake that we need to go around.
Shelley: And might lead to a causeway or path through the swampy bit.
Beltarne: Unless the road starts to wander
Shelley: Well, yes, but at that point we can just go cross country again.
Marik: "Roads make you lost. Stick to the forest."
Beltarne: "I'm inclined to listen to our navigational expert."
** Thasos nods. **
Shelley: "Roads are much less hard on old broken bones and horses."
Wolfgang: "Can we follow the road as long as it goes southeast?"
Wolfgang: "It may have ruins to loot along it"
Ghazeb: "Ghazeb likes this road!"
Shelley: I'm for following the road at least for a ways. I trust your direction sense to tell us when it leads us astray, Marik."
Marik: "I'd rather go south and meet up with the lake. Safer, surer."
** Thasos nods at Marik. **
GM: On the vote, Marik and Ghazeb are split until Marik shows up.
Beltarne: "Road" ((Given Marks statement on how he's playing Marik in MapTools))
Wolfgang: ((is that advice or just him being annoying?))
GM: Who?
Beltarne: ((Me who?))
Wolfgang: "Road unless it detours us past the easternmost shore of the lake"
Wolfgang: ((Marik))
GM: That's me pretending to be Marik.
Beltarne: ((Given, "I'm just playing him as crotchety" I'll take the road and rely on Marik to tell us if it starts to wander off-course.))
GM: Someone tally the count, please.
Beltarne: Three for road
Beltarne: Shelley, me, and Wolfgang
Shelley: Wolfgang, Beltarne?, Shelley, Ghazeb for. Thasos, Marik against?
GM: Including Ghazeb (charismatic) and Shelley (charismatic and hot!)
Wolfgang: road it is
Beltarne: Thasos against.
GM: So the cute people win.
GM: Yeah, Marik is against.
Beltarne: Don't they always?
Shelley: I think Ghazeb likes to think of himself more as "impressive".
Shelley: "Awe inspiring"
Shelley: "Radiant"
Beltarne: I know I attribute my success as an engineer on my stunning good looks
Marik: "Your sissified desire to to walk on a paved road is going to get us all badly injured." Stops, thinks about it. "Well, all of you lot, anyway. I'll just walk home."
Marik: Starts stumping off down the road.
** Thasos doesn't think Ghazeb is that smart, and disagrees with him on general principal. **
** Beltarne follows his highness. **
** Shelley steps lively down the road followed by etc. **
** Thasos shrugs and follows. **
Narrator: The road is badly overgrown, and barely visible in main places. Deer paths and the remnants of secondary roads branch off from it irregularly. Sometimes, it dead ends for no obvious reason, and the delvers must retrace their steps to find a deer path that is actually the road.
GM: Anyone have Area Knowledge: Obsidian Lake?
GM: That's a joke, btw.
Beltarne: No, but Marik has Survival(Europa)
Shelley: Unless you can build a zombie to do that, I can't help :D
Wolfgang: I have Ally: elven GPS
Thasos: ((bio))
Shelley: We follow deer paths and etc!
GM: Progress is slow.
Shelley: Until the Elven GPS goes ding ding ding no longer going in the rough direction of the lake edge, or until random encounter or we get somewhere interesting.
Thasos: ((back))
Shelley: Or night falls!
Wolfgang: we'll bail on the road if Marik really thinks the forest would be faster
Wolfgang: forest*
GM: I mean, you make good time when you're actually on the actual trail. It's all the bits where you backtrack when you realize you got off the road that slow you down.
Beltarne: I'm guessing the road will be faster, since the trees are not as thick here.
GM: For what its' worth, you're mostly heading southeast.
Shelley: That's good, that's the general idea.
Beltarne: And Marik's good at Navigation. so we should mostly not have to backtrack
Beltarne: Hopefully
GM: I'm not sure I'm conveying the fact that there often isn't a road in the direction you're going.
Shelley: There is often a road however.
Shelley: This is an old dead road. You get trees in these, I'm familiar with the concept.
Thasos: yes, but what we think is a road is really a deer path
Beltarne: And we move faster through lighter forest than through dense forest. I was under the assumption that where the road was the forest was less dense.
Shelley: Deer path going in roughly the right direction is still generally better than forging our own path.
Wolfgang: we're leaving it up to Marik to judge if following it is getting us anything, it's his thing
GM: He's sulking because he thinks it would be faster to have ignored the road and just headed south.
GM: I mean, he's still leading and scouting. but speed is slow.
Narrator: The delvers continue through the thick forest.
Beltarne: So the road is not in fact faster, he's not just being curmudgeonly because he hates civilization
GM: Well, could be.
Beltarne: Gah.
GM: Everyone see the thick forest on MapTools? Arrange yourself in a semblance of a marching order.
Shelley: I'm not buying the fact that traveling 1.35x the distance through probably heavier overgrowth would be faster.
Wolfgang: I'm totally willing to abandon it if it's in that bad of shape
Shelley: No. I'm D/Cd
Shelley: Reconnecting very very slowly.
Shelley: OK, I see the map!
Thasos: well think about it... the road isn't maintained at all, it might as well be overgrowth
GM: On this lovely map, we have some dark hexes that you guys mostly think are roads.
GM: Then we have some light green hexes that are clear ground.
GM: There are some medium green hexes (with VBL near them) that are heavy bushes.
GM: And then there are dark green hexes with orange bits and/or VBL - those are trees.
Beltarne: ((Well, he said the forest opened up when we first encountered the road. I had assumed that this was because of the road's foundation and would continue along the road.))
Beltarne: ((Perhaps that assumption was wrong.))
GM: Bushes don't block line of sight, but provide a -2 cover penalty .
Wolfgang: ((I thought so too))
GM: It opened up some.
Shelley: Roadbeds do mean smaller trees - grounds bad.
GM: Just not a lot.
Shelley: So we ARE better off.
GM: These trees are many decades old.
GM: Anyway.
Shelley: So's the tower and road, AFAIK.
** Wolfgang assumes stuff jumps us **
GM: Oh, and since Wolfgang needs at least 9' of clearance to either side and prefers 12', he cannot really be flying in this space.
Wolfgang: how tall are the trees?
GM: 40-50' or more.
GM: With thick canopies that you really can't easily fly through.
Wolfgang: OK
GM: alright, I suck.
GM: Talk amongst yourselves for 5 minutes while I do some setup work.
Shelley: I will go grab food!
Beltarne: I will go grab beer!
Beltarne: And cookies
Thasos: mmm.... fud
Beltarne: Indian Chicken Curry Soup, Beer, and Chocolate Chip Cookies
Beltarne: I actually found a new brewery that seems pretty good
Beltarne: Least, this batch of stuff is tasty
Beltarne: Tap Room No 21 Brewing Company
Shelley: Spaghetti!
Shelley: Back.
GM: Great.
GM: Everyone make Perception -2 rolls.
Beltarne: Per (14) [3d6.skill(14,-2)] => [5,6,2] = 13 vs (12) or less Failure! by 1 
Beltarne: Boooooo
Shelley: Per (12) [3d6.skill(12,-2)] => [1,6,2] = 9 vs (10) or less Success! by 1 
Marik: Perception [3d6.skill(16,-2)] => [4,4,5] = 13 vs (14) or less Success! by 1 
Beltarne: I blame Ghazeb
Ghazeb: Perception [3d6.skill(11,-2)] => [2,6,4] = 12 vs (9) or less Failure! by 3 
Wolfgang: Per (10) [3d6.skill(10,-2)] => [2,1,5] = 8 vs (8) or less Success! by 0 
Marik: "look out! The bushes attack!"
Thasos: Per (11) [3d6.skill(11,-2)] => [4,4,3] = 11 vs (9) or less Failure! by 2 
** Thasos looks around, wondering which ones. **
** Beltarne readies his axe. **
whispering to Beltarne, When you get a good chance to look at these things, you realize they are some kind of animal-plant hybrid similar to crushrooms. They are mildly resistant to magic and nearly immune to arrows. You need special spells that only a druid might know to control them. 
** Wolfgang readies his shield and axe **
GM: Hang on, providing information to people!
** Thasos readies his meteor hammer. **
whispering to Wolfgang, You're not entirely sure what these things are, but you've fought similar kinds of plant demons in the past. If you cut into them too deeply, they'll explode into shrapnel. You need to crush their bones to fight them safely - you'll most likely be immune to the shrapnel, but others will get pretty cut up 
GM: Okay, whispers are out.
Beltarne: "Bah, Marik, your arrows are going to be useless on these. And Shelley, they're likely to shrug off any magicing you try."
Shelley: I have no whispers.
Shelley: And I had success by 1?
Narrator: The bushes explode, as strange, feline forms made of vines and thorns jump out of them.
** Thasos holds up a weight and looks at Beltarne, eyebrow raised. **
GM: If you failed the Perception test, you're at -4 to defend against the initial attacks and are stunned on your first turn.
Shelley: "What about hacking!?"
GM: If you succeeded, you can act. Knowledge of stuff is a different thing.
Beltarne: "Hacking works! Ish!"
Wolfgang: "These look like the exploding demon plants from the siege of Krossis!"
Shelley: What IS the local mana level?
GM: Good question! [3d6] => [4,1,5] = (10)
** Thasos drops is jaw in utter shock at the sight. **
GM: Normal as far as you're concerned.
Beltarne: "Hey, aren't these the things that might be worth money?"
Shelley: I bet it's aspected for plants or something :D
Beltarne: "Today is looking up!"
Thorn Lions: Thorn Lion 2 jumps on Beltarne as a slam from the off-shield flank [3d6.skill(16)] => [3,2,1] = 6 vs (16) or less Critical Success! by 10 [B556]
Beltarne: "Actually I thi- ACK!!!"
Narrator: Beltarne looks to his left, shouting as the creatures rise from the woods to the north, then gets clobbered by a creature from the south.
Thorn Lions: Thorn Lion 3 jumps on Epsilon as a slam from the off-shield flank [3d6.skill(16)] => [3,6,6] = 15 vs (16) or less Success! by 1 
Shelley: It dodges!
Thorn Lions: Thorn Lion 4 jumps on Wolfgang as a slam from the shield front [3d6.skill(16)] => [2,2,4] = 8 vs (16) or less Success! by 8 
Shelley: Dodge (11) [3d6.skill(11,0-1 +2 )] => [4,3,4] = 11 vs (12) or less Success! by 1 
Wolfgang: Block (13) [3d6.skill(13,0+3)] => [2,4,6] = 12 vs (16) or less Success! by 4 
Thorn Lions: Thorn Lion 1 jumps on Thasos as a slam from the shield flank [3d6.skill(16)] => [5,6,3] = 14 vs (16) or less Success! by 2 
Ghazeb: "What?" Blockish [3d6.skill(12,2-2-4)] => [6,6,1] = 13 vs (8) or less Failure! by 5 
Thasos: Dodge (11) [3d6.skill(11,-4)] => [3,4,6] = 13 vs (7) or less Failure! by 6 
GM: Oops, it jumped Ghazeb, not Thasos. Sorry for the confusion.
Thasos: Immovable Stance (16) [3d6.skill(16,0)] => [6,4,3] = 13 vs (16) or less Success! by 3 Includes: +2 from 'Chi Talent'
 1) YOUR TURN NOW:: [29] Ghazeb 
(on deck: [28] Thasos) 
Ghazeb: "ooof!"
Ghazeb: Recovers from surprise.
 2) YOUR TURN NOW:: [28] Thasos 
(on deck: [28] Marik) 
Thasos: ((i can't tell if I'm facing the right way))
Ghazeb: "Watch out! These things are coated in metal eating sap!"
Thasos: ((and i can't select myself to turn))
GM: You're facing NE, and should be more selectable now.
Thasos: attacking #3
GM: You have a -2 on any meteor hammer attacks, as this is pretty much the definition of hemmed in, close terrain.
** Thasos turns and attacks one of the bizarre creatures with his weapon. **
Thasos: Meteor Hammer [3d6.skill(18,-2)] => [1,6,2] = 9 vs (16) or less Success! by 7 
GM: You're going to risk the hammer? okay, whatever.
Thorn Lions: Dodge! [3d6.skill(10)] => [3,4,2] = 9 vs (10) or less Success! by 1 
Shelley: Does it sizzle? :D
Thasos: ((listen to Ghazeb? yeah right))
Shelley: Aww
GM: Hard to say, it doesn't connect.
 3) YOUR TURN NOW:: [28] Marik 
(on deck: [28] Plant Monsters) 
Marik: Turn, step next to the stooges, and put away the arrow he currently has. "That is not going to help."
 4) YOUR TURN NOW:: [28] Plant Monsters 
(on deck: [28] Skeletal Automata) 
Thorn Lions: Thorn Lion 1 uses quills on Ghazeb as a free action! [3d6.skill(14,-2)] => [6,3,2] = 11 vs (12) or less Success! by 1 
then it bites him! [3d6.skill(16)] => [1,6,5] = 12 vs (16) or less Success! by 4 
Ghazeb: Dodge the spines! [3d6.skill(11,2-3)] => [1,1,3] = 5 vs (10) or less Success! by 5 ! Block the bite! [3d6.skill(12,2-3)] => [6,1,1] = 8 vs (11) or less Success! by 3 
Thorn Lions: Thorn Lion 2 uses quills on Beltarne as a free action! [3d6.skill(14,-4)] => [5,3,1] = 9 vs (10) or less Success! by 1 
then it bites him! [3d6.skill(16)] => [4,5,5] = 14 vs (16) or less Success! by 2 
Thorn Lions: Thorn Lion 3 steps in close with Thasos, uses quills on him as a free action! [3d6.skill(14,-4)] => [4,5,4] = 13 vs (10) or less Failure! by 3 
then it bites him! [3d6.skill(16)] => [3,4,1] = 8 vs (16) or less Success! by 8 
Beltarne: ((-4 for failed perception and.....?))
GM: -3 for prone, usually.
Thasos: Acrobatics (15) [3d6.skill(15,0)] => [1,4,2] = 7 vs (15) or less Success! by 8 
Thasos: Dodge (11) [3d6.skill(11,2)] => [2,4,4] = 10 vs (13) or less Success! by 3 
Beltarne: ((and -2 for shield in CC, right?))
GM: Thorn Lion 4 uses quills on Wolfgang as a free action! [3d6.skill(14,-4)] => [6,1,1] = 8 vs (10) or less Success! by 2 
then it bites him! [3d6.skill(16)] => [3,1,5] = 9 vs (16) or less Success! by 7 
** Thasos neatly sidesteps the attempted bite. **
GM: No, but you can't block in close combat.
GM: You do get a -2 penalty on attacks.
Beltarne: ((Right.))
Beltarne: ((Ah, thank you.))
Beltarne: Dodge (11) [3d6.skill(11,-7)] => [3,4,3] = 10 vs (4) or less Failure! by 6 
Wolfgang: can we parry the spines? also, I take it this is a new round for def purposes
Beltarne: That was for quills
GM: You can parry the spines.
Beltarne: Axe * Primary parry [3d6.skill(14,-7)] => [4,3,4] = 11 vs (7) or less Failure! by 4 
Beltarne: Bite
Thorn Lions: Beltarne takes [1d6] => [2] = (2) impaling damage, DR protects, and [2d6+1] => [2,5,1] = (8) cutting damage from the bite and is grappled.
Beltarne: If we don't have the penalty for failing that per roll, the bite parry succeeded.
GM: Yeah, but you totally do have that, plus a -2 penalty for using an axe in close combat.
Beltarne: Okay!
Wolfgang: retreat and parry/block assuming no penalty for the block
GM: However, your armor protects you from being bitten THROUGH, and you only take 4 crushing after your armor but before your tough skin.
Wolfgang: Axe (Kopfen) parry [3d6.skill(14,0+3)] => [3,2,4] = 9 vs (17) or less Success! by 8 
Beltarne: So 3 cr to the torso!
Wolfgang: Block (13) [3d6.skill(13,+1+3)] => [6,3,1] = 10 vs (17) or less Success! by 7 
GM: okay!
 5) YOUR TURN NOW:: [28] Skeletal Automata 
(on deck: [25] Beltarne) 
Shelley: Well. 
Shelley: Epsilon does some topiary work!
Shelley: It looks like I've got a rear hex here.
Shelley: Or at least a side.
GM: Flank, I think.
Shelley: This is Lion 2 I think. Epsilon hacks it with an axe!
Shelley: Axe [3d6.skill(14,0)] => [2,3,6] = 11 vs (14) or less Success! by 3 
Thorn Lions: Lion 3 dodges! [3d6.skill(10,-2)] => [1,6,4] = 11 vs (8) or less Failure! by 3 
Shelley: Axe [2d6+2] => [1,1,2] = (4) cut
Shelley: Boo
Thorn Lions: Doesn't really notice.
** Shelley gestures at A B, G and D "Guard the archer!" **
Shelley: A glancing blow.
 6) YOUR TURN NOW:: [25] Beltarne 
(on deck: [24] Wolfgang) 
** Skeleton guards the archer! **
Skeleton: ***
Beltarne: "Gerrof!!!"
Skeleton: (( "Guard" is Wait until something gets too close ))
 7) YOUR TURN NOW:: [24] Wolfgang 
(on deck: [24] Shelley) 
Beltarne: ((I can't swing in CC with an axe, right?
GM: You're still surprised from the attack.
GM: And swings in CC are enourmously ineffective.
Wolfgang: rapid strike on the one attacking Beltarne
Wolfgang: Rapid Strike [3d6.attack(20,-2-3)] => [2,2,3] = 7 vs (15) or less Success! by 8 [3d6.attack(20,-2-3)] => [5,4,5] = 14 vs (15) or less Success! by 1 
Thorn Lions: Dodge and dodge! [3d6.skill(10)] => [2,1,6] = 9 vs (10) or less Success! by 1 
and [3d6.skill(10)] => [2,1,4] = 7 vs (10) or less Success! by 3 
GM: Hits Beltarne or Beltarne? [3d6.skill(9)] => [3,6,6] = 15 vs (9) or less Failure! by 6 or [3d6.skill(9)] => [2,3,4] = 9 vs (9) or less Success! by 0 
Wolfgang: eh? I took the -2
GM: Yeah, and?
Wolfgang: I thought the 9 or less is ranged only, for melee you just can't fail by the penalty
GM: Read p392. You totally can hit your ally.
Wolfgang: oh, bah
GM: Beltarne, Wolfgang's axe is about to splat you.
Wolfgang: luck on that then
GM: I'll let you use luck to reroll the potential hit on Beltarne.
Beltarne: Right, Parry!
GM: 'kay.
GM: [3d6.skill(9)] => [3,1,5] = 9 vs (9) or less Success! by 0 or [3d6.skill(9)] => [4,6,5] = 15 vs (9) or less Failure! by 6 
GM: But then it thunks into the ground next to your head.
Beltarne: ((I wuv you Wolfgang))
GM: A few hairs from your beard are shaved off.
Beltarne: "Gah!"
 8) YOUR TURN NOW:: [24] Shelley 
(on deck: [29] Ghazeb) 
Shelley: So. Beltarne is Down, Thasos is in close combat, but not down?
GM: Right.
Shelley: And Ghazeb is down.
Shelley: And I'm surrounded.
GM: No, there's space to the NE and N! You have freedom of movement!
Shelley: Ah, the overlapping circles are a little confusing. OK.
GM: Sorry.
Shelley: Heck even SE is open. And Adam is between me and the beast to the S
GM: The squares are worse.
Shelley: I believe you!
Shelley: Shelley turns and bonks Thorn Lion 4 on some readily available portion of anatomy! They're SM +1, I assume? I think I saw that go by...
Shelley: (whacks him with the big ass skull rod!)
GM: Right.
Shelley: Rod * broadsword swing [3d6.skill(15,0)] => [2,5,4] = 11 vs (15) or less Success! by 4 
Shelley: "Bad... cat!"
Thorn Lions: Dodge! [3d6.skill(9)] => [5,1,5] = 11 vs (9) or less Failure! by 2 
Shelley: Rod * broadsword swing [1d6] => [4] = (4) cr
Shelley: I bet it mostly ignores it.
GM: Well, it doesn't seem to like being wapped, but you're not sure if that's a good thing or not.
 1) YOUR TURN NOW:: [29] Ghazeb 
(on deck: [28] Thasos) 
Ghazeb: Punches the lion in the face! [3d6.skill(17,1-4-2)] => [4,3,6] = 13 vs (12) or less Failure! by 1 
 2) YOUR TURN NOW:: [28] Thasos 
(on deck: [28] Marik) 
GM: Make a Perception check to see if you can tell the status of the skeleton's axe.
Thasos: free action?
GM: Sure.
Thasos: Per (11) [3d6.skill(11,0)] => [4,6,6] = 16 vs (11) or less Failure! by 5 
GM: The axe is very, very definitely rusty and covered with sap!
Thasos: blargh
Thasos: move and ready
** Thasos moves to better footing, and wraps his chains around his body to free his hands. **
 3) YOUR TURN NOW:: [28] Marik 
(on deck: [28] Plant Monsters) 
Thasos: DX (16) [3d6.skill(16,0)] => [1,4,3] = 8 vs (16) or less Success! by 8 
Thasos: ((almost forgot the dx roll))
Marik: drops his bow, readies his cloak, fast-draws a knife [3d6.skill(14)] => [1,6,4] = 11 vs (14) or less Success! by 3 
Marik: "I should just walk home."
 4) YOUR TURN NOW:: [28] Plant Monsters 
(on deck: [28] Skeletal Automata) 
Thorn Lions: Thorn Lion 1 uses quills on Ghazeb as a free action! [3d6.skill(14,-2)] => [6,5,4] = 15 vs (12) or less Failure! by 3 
then it bites him! [3d6.skill(16)] => [4,4,3] = 11 vs (16) or less Success! by 5 
Ghazeb: Dodge! [3d6.skill(11,2-3)] => [6,1,4] = 11 vs (10) or less Failure! by 1 
Ghazeb: Luck!
Ghazeb: Dodge! [3d6.skill(11,2-3)] => [6,1,5] = 12 vs (10) or less Failure! by 2 
Ghazeb: Dodge! [3d6.skill(11,2-3)] => [1,1,2] = 4 vs (10) or less Critical Success! by 6 [B556]
Ghazeb: Yeah, take THAT.
Ghazeb: [3d6.crit_unarm()] => [5,6,1] = 12 You trip; make a DX roll to avoid falling at -4 if kicking or twice the normal penalty for a technique that normally requires a DX to avoid injury on even a normal failure (e.g., Jump Kick). [B557] for the lion
Thorn Lions: Don't want to trip! [3d6.skill(14)] => [3,2,5] = 10 vs (14) or less Success! by 4 
Thorn Lions: Thorn Lion 1 uses quills on Beltarne as a free action! [3d6.skill(14,-2)] => [3,5,4] = 12 vs (12) or less Success! by 0 
then attempts to grapple his neck! [3d6.skill(14,2+2-2)] => [3,4,2] = 9 vs (16) or less Success! by 7 
Thorn Lions: oops, that was 2.
Thorn Lions: thorn lion 3 pursues, turns, or turns [1d4] => [3] = (3)
Thorn Lions: Thorn Lion 3 makes a committed attack to turn around and jump on Wolfgang's back, biting for a grapple on his neck (telegraphed) [3d6.skill(14,4+2-5)] => [5,5,4] = 14 vs (15) or less Success! by 1 
Thorn Lions: Does [2d6+1] => [5,1,1] = (7) cutting damage and grapples him by the neck.
Wolfgang: shield wall block on Beltarne
Wolfgang: Block (13) [3d6.skill(13,0+3)] => [2,6,4] = 12 vs (16) or less Success! by 4 
Beltarne: And Parry
Beltarne: -3 prone, -2 axe in CC?
GM: Yes, Beltarne.
Wolfgang: I made it, you're fine
Beltarne: Axe * Primary [1d6+4] => [6,4] = (10) cut
Beltarne: Axe * Primary parry [3d6.skill(14,-5+2)] => [2,5,5] = 12 vs (11) or less Failure! by 1 
Beltarne: And feverish
GM: Take [1d6] => [6] = (6) damage from the quills
Beltarne: There were quills and grapple
Wolfgang: ah, I was on the grapple
GM: Right, and Wolfgang got the grapple.
Beltarne: Okay, so 1 point sneaks through.
Beltarne: HT roll or anything?
GM: For what?
Beltarne: Poison quills, I dunno
GM: No, just stabbing.
Beltarne: Gotcha
Thorn Lions: Lion 4 steps forward, biting Wolfgang's axe arm [3d6.skill(16,-2)] => [6,6,6] = 18 vs (14) or less Critical Failure! by 4 [B556]
Thorn Lions: [3d6.crit_unarm()] => [5,2,1] = 8 You fall down! [B557]
 5) YOUR TURN NOW:: [28] Skeletal Automata 
(on deck: [25] Beltarne) 
Shelley: Oh, I'm so beating on that one.
Skeleton: Epsilon on the other hand...
Wolfgang: I think you were already :)
Skeleton: Steps behind #2 and whacks him! No run-around because he didn't go from front to back.
Skeleton: Axe [3d6.skill(14,+1)] => [6,1,5] = 12 vs (15) or less Success! by 3 
Skeleton: Axe [2d6+2] => [3,6,2] = (11) cut
Skeleton: Presuming it doesn't get defenses from this angle.
Thorn Lions: Dodge! [3d6.skill(10,-2-2)] => [6,6,6] = 18 vs (6) or less Critical Failure! by 12 [B556]
Thorn Lions: ...
Thorn Lions: Damnit!
Skeleton: That's even better.
Skeleton: I like that.
GM: You done?
Skeleton: Yep, none near the goon squad. 11 cut is pretty good.
Skeleton: just was expecting to hear something about what happened.
Narrator: Epsilon steps behind the strange plant beast and slams his axe into the ground, throwing the thing down.
 6) YOUR TURN NOW:: [25] Beltarne 
(on deck: [24] Wolfgang) 
Beltarne: All-Out-Defense(Double)
Beltarne: ###
 7) YOUR TURN NOW:: [24] Wolfgang 
(on deck: [24] Shelley) 
Wolfgang: I assume it let gone when it fell?
GM: Yep, but it's taking up a lot of your space, so you're in close combat between it and Lion 4.
Wolfgang: even after a step?
GM: Where are you going to step?
Wolfgang: into the tree branches
GM: You'd need to evade Lion 3 to get there.
GM: It'd be easier, since its down, but you'll still need to evade.
Wolfgang: OK
Wolfgang: what roll is that?
GM: Contest of DX, you're at +5.
Thorn Lions: Resist Wolfgang's evasion! [3d6.skill(14)] => [2,2,5] = 9 vs (14) or less Success! by 5 
Wolfgang: DX (14) [3d6.skill(14,+5)] => [5,6,5] = 16 vs (19) or less Success! by 3 
Thorn Lions: Gets in Wolfgang's way.
Wolfgang: hmm
Wolfgang: what is the penalty to attack out of the hex?
GM: -4 with the axe, and -1/die swing damage.
Wolfgang: OK, SA on #2
Wolfgang: Signature Attack feint [3d6.skill(20,-4-2)] => [2,5,5] = 12 vs (14) or less Success! by 2 attack [3d6.attack(20,-4-2)] => [3,5,6] = 14 vs (14) or less Success! by 0 
GM: uhm.
GM: rapid strike penalty?
Wolfgang: it's in there
Wolfgang: -3+1=-2
GM: -4 CC penalty, -2 for Beltarne, where's the other -3?
Wolfgang: ack
Wolfgang: forgot -2 for him
Thorn Lions: Tried to tell you.
Beltarne: Hi!
GM: Wolfgang's axe? [3d6.skill(9)] => [4,2,5] = 11 vs (9) or less Failure! by 2 
GM: Misses you entirely!
GM: The lions in the way make it hard to hit the lions.
 8) YOUR TURN NOW:: [24] Shelley 
(on deck: [29] Ghazeb) 
Shelley: Now they're all prone. Hm.
GM: well, except the ones trying to eat Ghazeb and Beltarne.
Shelley: OK. Whack Telegraphically #4 in the face!
Shelley: Rod * broadsword swing [3d6.skill(15,0)] => [4,5,5] = 14 vs (15) or less Success! by 1 
Shelley: er, net -1, so success by 0
Thorn Lions: Dodge? [3d6.skill(10,2-3)] => [3,3,6] = 12 vs (9) or less Failure! by 3 
Shelley: Rod * broadsword swing [1d6] => [3] = (3) cr
Shelley: To the face! Unfh!
Shelley: And step back.
Thorn Lions: Snarls about getting hit in the snout.
 1) YOUR TURN NOW:: [29] Ghazeb 
(on deck: [28] Thasos) 
Ghazeb: Bunch the thorn lion again [3d6.skill(17,1-2-4)] => [6,3,6] = 15 vs (12) or less Failure! by 3 \
 2) YOUR TURN NOW:: [28] Thasos 
(on deck: [28] Marik) 
whispering to Shelley, Can't you cast Deathtouch? 
Thasos: step, fast draw bola, throw it at #3
GM: looks like -1 range, -4 cover penalty.
Thasos: ?
Thasos: should be 0 range
GM: oh, I thought you had moved.
Thasos: from there is 2 yards, right?
GM: Yes, 0 range penalty.
GM: oh, -3 'cause the lion is prone, +1 size.
GM: So what's the plan?
Thasos: moving closer
GM: okay.
** Thasos moves in to attack from the rear. **
 3) YOUR TURN NOW:: [28] Marik 
(on deck: [28] Plant Monsters) 
Marik: Cautiously advances past the stooge.
 4) YOUR TURN NOW:: [28] Plant Monsters 
(on deck: [28] Skeletal Automata) 
Thorn Lions: Thorn Lion 1 uses quills on Ghazeb as a free action! [3d6.skill(14,-4-1)] => [3,6,4] = 13 vs (9) or less Failure! by 4 
then it bites him! [3d6.skill(16,-1)] => [3,6,5] = 14 vs (15) or less Success! by 1 
Ghazeb: Dodge [3d6.skill(11,2-3)] => [1,2,6] = 9 vs (10) or less Success! by 1 
Thorn Lions: Thorn Lions 3, 4 kneel.
Thorn Lions: Lion 2 tries to grapple Beltarne's neck again [3d6.skill(16,2+2-5)] => [2,2,5] = 9 vs (15) or less Success! by 6 (extra arms, big)
Thorn Lions: and hits him with quills [3d6.skill(14,-4)] => [4,2,2] = 8 vs (10) or less Success! by 2 
Wolfgang: Block (13) [3d6.skill(13,0+3)] => [3,1,6] = 10 vs (16) or less Success! by 6 
Wolfgang: shield wall on the bite
GM: can't block while in CC, can't shield wall against people in front of you.
Wolfgang: think that was by enough to get past any penalties
Wolfgang: doh, shouldn't have turned and stuff
GM: Possibly.
GM: Beltarne?
Beltarne: Parry double, I suppose
GM: okay.
Beltarne: On the grapple, what's the combined penalties for the big and extra arms?
Beltarne: -5 for prone and axe....
GM: What do you mean? It gets bonuses to attack, you don't have penalties to defend.
Beltarne: Meh, I'm remembering wrong then
Beltarne: Axe * Primary parry [3d6.skill(14,-5)] => [2,1,5] = 8 vs (9) or less Success! by 1 
Beltarne: Axe * Primary parry [3d6.skill(14,-5)] => [4,5,1] = 10 vs (9) or less Failure! by 1 
Beltarne: And dodge (-3?) for the quills
Beltarne: Dodge (11) [3d6.skill(11,-3)] => [2,4,1] = 7 vs (8) or less Success! by 1 
GM: Dodge at -3 for being prone, yes.
GM: Wow, Beltarne!
 5) YOUR TURN NOW:: [28] Skeletal Automata 
(on deck: [25] Beltarne) 
Beltarne: Indeed!
Shelley: Lion 3 is still alive?
Shelley: It needs a hacking!
Shelley: Axe [3d6.skill(14,+1)] => [2,4,2] = 8 vs (15) or less Success! by 7 
GM: can't dodge, attack from behind.
Shelley: Axe [2d6+2] => [3,5,2] = (10) cut
GM: It collapses in a heap.
Skeleton: The rest of the goon squad follows Marik! Slowly, as they are battered.
 6) YOUR TURN NOW:: [25] Beltarne 
(on deck: [24] Wolfgang) 
Beltarne: Hmmmm.....
Beltarne: MOAR AoD(Double)!!!
 7) YOUR TURN NOW:: [24] Wolfgang 
(on deck: [24] Shelley) 
Beltarne: "Get this damn thing off of me!!!"
Wolfgang: SA on #1, -2 for bel on attack only
GM: Sure!
Wolfgang: Signature Attack feint [3d6.skill(20,0-2)] => [6,1,2] = 9 vs (18) or less Success! by 9 attack [3d6.attack(20,-2-2)] => [3,1,2] = 6 vs (16) or less Critical Success! by 10 [B556]
[4,4,4] = 12 The blow inflicts normal damage, AND victim drops anything they hold--even if no damage penetrates DR. [B556]
Thorn Lions: well, no need to resist feint.
Wolfgang: Axe (Kopfen) [3d6+1] => [1,6,2,1] = (10) cut
GM: Well, Beltarne is freed, but needs to evade to get out of there.
 8) YOUR TURN NOW:: [24] Shelley 
(on deck: [29] Ghazeb) 
Wolfgang: "Get out of there now!"
Skeleton: Just quickly double checking something.
Skeleton: k..
Beltarne: ((I wasn't grappled in the first place, was I?))
GM: Yes, you were at some point, I'm pretty sure.
GM: Yeah, when it bit you.
Beltarne: ((We're just rolling around on the dirt next to each other))
GM: Born Biter ROCKS.
Beltarne: ((Ah. Stupid perks))
** Shelley screams something choking and with far too many consonants, and a coruscating mass of sickly green energy coalesces around the the grinning skull mounted on the end of her "thumping stick". (( Casting Deathtouch, 3 energy for 3d damage, Staff Attunement Perk, Combat Casting for +1 )) **
GM: okay.
Shelley: Deathtouch (Deathly) (16) [3d6.skill(16,+1)] => [3,2,2] = 7 vs (17) or less Success! by 10 for [3] => 3 FP
Shelley: Oh, not quite a crit.
Shelley: And step in!
 1) YOUR TURN NOW:: [29] Ghazeb 
(on deck: [28] Thasos) 
Shelley: ***
Ghazeb: Punch again! [3d6.skill(17,1-2-3)] => [1,1,1] = 3 vs (13) or less Critical Success! by 10 [B556]
Shelley: His ego is going to be uncontrollable after this.
Thorn Lions: Does [1d6] => [6] = (6) impaling damage to Ghazeb's hand with the quills
Wolfgang: so about the same?
Ghazeb: Damage is [1d6] => [4] = (4) with [3d6.crit_hit()] => [1,1,3] = 5 The blow inflicts double damage. [B556]
Ghazeb: "Garrrr!"
Shelley: Impaling to the hand isn't as useful as it sounds.
GM: Yeah, it just hurts, doesn't cripple him.
Shelley: No doubling for instance.
 2) YOUR TURN NOW:: [28] Thasos 
(on deck: [28] Marik) 
** Thasos moves on to the next target. **
GM: There's a tree in your way there...
GM: Well, a tree trunk.
Thasos: i can't move around it?
Thasos: oh i see
Thasos: is there good?
GM: So you basically jump over the thorn lion corpse and step into a bunch of branches?
GM: Great.
Thasos: i don't have many choices
GM: Action?
Thasos: the move was it
GM: okay!
 3) YOUR TURN NOW:: [28] Marik 
(on deck: [28] Plant Monsters) 
Marik: Step into the woods, slash at the thorn lion's back half! [3d6.skill(14,1-4)] => [2,1,2] = 5 vs (11) or less Success! by 6 
Thorn Lions: Dodge! [3d6.skill(10,-2)] => [6,6,6] = 18 vs (8) or less Critical Failure! by 10 [B556]
Marik: Damage is [1d6+1] => [4,1] = (5) cutting.
Narrator: Marik's knife carves deep into the mass of thorns, and its feet give way, dropping it near Ghazeb.
 4) YOUR TURN NOW:: [28] Plant Monsters 
(on deck: [28] Skeletal Automata) 
Thorn Lions: Lion 1 kneels, roaring in frustration.
Thorn Lions: Lion 4 stands, slashes at Wolfgang with claws [3d6.skill(16,-4)] => [2,4,5] = 11 vs (12) or less Success! by 1 
Wolfgang: Axe (Kopfen) parry [3d6.skill(14,0+3)] => [5,5,5] = 15 vs (17) or less Success! by 2 
Thorn Lions: Lion 2 stabs Beltarne with quaills [3d6.skill(14,-4)] => [1,1,3] = 5 vs (10) or less Success! by 5 and bites at his neck [3d6.skill(16,2+2-5)] => [1,1,5] = 7 vs (15) or less Success! by 8 
Wolfgang: ((saves shield wall until after Beltarne defends))
Beltarne: Parry Bite!!!
Beltarne: Axe * Primary parry [3d6.skill(14,-5)] => [3,1,2] = 6 vs (9) or less Success! by 3 
Beltarne: Axe * Primary parry [3d6.skill(14,-5)] => [4,5,1] = 10 vs (9) or less Failure! by 1 
Wolfgang: Block (13) [3d6.skill(13,0+3)] => [2,4,1] = 7 vs (16) or less Success! by 9 
Beltarne: Dodge Quills!
GM: Wolfgang blocked them.
** Wolfgang saves Beltarne from the quills **
Beltarne: Dodge (11) [3d6.skill(11,-3)] => [4,4,1] = 9 vs (8) or less Failure! by 1 
Beltarne: Got it
 5) YOUR TURN NOW:: [28] Skeletal Automata 
(on deck: [25] Beltarne) 
Beltarne: Sorry
Skeleton: Epsilon tries to get around the clusterfrackas!
GM: Sure.
Skeleton: Rest of the goon squad tries to catch up!
Skeleton: ***
 6) YOUR TURN NOW:: [25] Beltarne 
(on deck: [24] Wolfgang) 
Beltarne: Kneel
Beltarne: ###
GM: Uhm.
Beltarne: "You're going to regret tackling me, kitty."
GM: ah, screw it.
 7) YOUR TURN NOW:: [24] Wolfgang 
(on deck: [24] Shelley) 
Beltarne: ((Heh))
Wolfgang: SA again!
Wolfgang: Signature Attack feint [3d6.skill(20,0-2)] => [4,1,3] = 8 vs (18) or less Success! by 10 attack [3d6.attack(20,-2-2)] => [3,6,5] = 14 vs (16) or less Success! by 2 
GM: Who are you going for?
Wolfgang: same one
GM: size doesn't affect the feint, btw.
Wolfgang: #2
Wolfgang: I totally forgot size at all
Thorn Lions: Resist feint! [3d6.skill(16)] => [6,3,5] = 14 vs (16) or less Success! by 2 
Wolfgang: Axe (Kopfen) [3d6+1] => [2,1,1,1] = (5) cut
Thorn Lions: Doesn't bother dodging because doesn't want to fall over.
Wolfgang: ...
Wolfgang: luck that
Wolfgang: Axe (Kopfen) [3d6+1] => [1,3,3,1] = (8) cut
Wolfgang: Axe (Kopfen) [3d6+1] => [2,4,5,1] = (12) cut
Wolfgang: take the 12
Narrator: Wolfgang feints toward the lion's head and shifts as it dodges back, burying his axe in the spine.
Narrator: The lion collapses into a viney heap.
 8) YOUR TURN NOW:: [24] Shelley 
(on deck: [29] Ghazeb) 
** Shelley smites Lion 4 in the torso with a glowing green skull of hopefully pain! **
Shelley: It is insufficiently prone for me to be happy here.
** Shelley crosses her fingers. **
Shelley: It's still SM +1, no significant defense penalties, right?
Shelley: Rod * broadsword swing [3d6.skill(15,+1)] => [2,2,4] = 8 vs (16) or less Success! by 8 
GM: Looks like, but it can't retreat or anything.
Thorn Lions: Dodge! [3d6.skill(10)] => [2,4,1] = 7 vs (10) or less Success! by 3 
Shelley: Well, I still have my green death.
GM: Forever, technically it you discharge with a successful attack.
 1) YOUR TURN NOW:: [29] Ghazeb 
(on deck: [28] Thasos) 
Ghazeb: "Ow!" Acrobatic stand! [3d6.skill(16,-6-4)] => [5,4,5] = 14 vs (6) or less Failure! by 8 
Ghazeb: Luck!
Ghazeb: "Ow!" Acrobatic stand! [3d6.skill(16,-6-4)] => [2,2,3] = 7 vs (6) or less Failure! by 1 
Ghazeb: "Ow!" Acrobatic stand! [3d6.skill(16,-6-4)] => [1,1,2] = 4 vs (6) or less Critical Success! by 2 [B556]
Ghazeb: "Huzzah!"
 2) YOUR TURN NOW:: [28] Thasos 
(on deck: [28] Marik) 
** Thasos moves yet again. **
 3) YOUR TURN NOW:: [28] Marik 
(on deck: [28] Plant Monsters) 
Marik: Cooly steps to the lion's flank, cuts it again! [3d6.skill(14,1-4)] => [1,6,1] = 8 vs (11) or less Success! by 3 
Thorn Lions: Dodge! [3d6.skill(10,-2-2)] => [5,2,5] = 12 vs (6) or less Failure! by 6 
Marik: Damage is [1d6+1] => [3,1] = (4)
 4) YOUR TURN NOW:: [28] Plant Monsters 
(on deck: [28] Skeletal Automata) 
Thorn Lions: Lion 1 stabs Ghazeb with quaills [3d6.skill(14,-4)] => [5,3,3] = 11 vs (10) or less Failure! by 1 and bites at his neck [3d6.skill(16,2+2-5)] => [6,1,3] = 10 vs (15) or less Success! by 5 
Ghazeb: Dodge! [3d6.skill(11,2)] => [5,6,1] = 12 vs (13) or less Success! by 1 
Thorn Lions: Lion 4 attacks Beltarne (1,2), Wolfgang, or Shelley [1d4] => [1] = (1)
Thorn Lions: Lion 4 steps and stabs Beltarne with quaills [3d6.skill(14,-4)] => [3,3,5] = 11 vs (10) or less Failure! by 1 and bites at his neck [3d6.skill(16,2+2-5)] => [4,3,4] = 11 vs (15) or less Success! by 4 
Shelley: quailles? Poor birdies.
Beltarne: So.... I'm defending?
Thorn Lions: Which means Lion 4 is going for Beltarnes's neck from the shield side, yes.
Beltarne: Retreating Parry, -2 for kneeling?
GM: Can't retreat while kneeling.
GM: You can drop prone, though...
Beltarne: Okay, feverish parry it is!
Beltarne: Funny man
Wolfgang: shield wall standing by!
Beltarne: Axe * Primary parry [3d6.skill(14,-2+2)] => [6,6,6] = 18 vs (14) or less Critical Failure! [B556]
Beltarne: Son of a bitch
Wolfgang: Block (13) [3d6.skill(13,0+3)] => [1,1,3] = 5 vs (16) or less Critical Success! by 11 [B556]
GM: what the hell?
Shelley: "Shield wall standing by"
Beltarne: Critical Miss [3d6.crit_miss()] => [5,1,3] = 9 You drop your weapon (& a cheap weapon breaks). [B556]
GM: [3d6.crit_unarm()] => [6,6,2] = 14 You stumble: If attacking, you advance one yard past opponent with them behind you (you are facing away); if parrying you fall down! [B557]
GM: Boy, it got frisky on that one.
GM: ... and Thasos is out of position.
GM: AGAIN.
 5) YOUR TURN NOW:: [28] Skeletal Automata 
(on deck: [25] Beltarne) 
Shelley: So!
Skeleton: It looks like a lion has come to Epsilon! His lucky day!
GM: Yes, yes it has.
GM: -4 for cover, though - branches in the way.
Skeleton: Any cover penalties or anything?
Skeleton: Right.
Skeleton: Eh. It's a skeleton. All Out Attack Determined! Pruning the buuuushes...
Skeleton: Axe [3d6.skill(14,+1-4+4)] => [1,1,4] = 6 vs (15) or less Success! by 9 
Thorn Lions: Improbable dodge! [3d6.skill(10)] => [2,4,1] = 7 vs (10) or less Success! by 3 
 6) YOUR TURN NOW:: [25] Beltarne 
(on deck: [24] Wolfgang) 
Beltarne: Can I just take a ready action to pick the axe up since I'm kneeling, or is it Ready to pick it up and Ready to ready it?
GM: Just 1 ready action.
GM: Reality rules are too slow.
Beltarne: Hmmmmm.... nah, I'm gonna go fancy
Beltarne: Ready to use lanyard to recover, standing as my step
Beltarne: DX (12) [3d6.skill(12,0)] => [3,3,4] = 10 vs (12) or less Success! by 2 
GM: You have a trusty axe!
 7) YOUR TURN NOW:: [24] Wolfgang 
(on deck: [24] Shelley) 
Wolfgang: step and rapid strike, -4 for branches
Wolfgang: Rapid Strike [3d6.attack(20,-4+1-3)] => [5,3,5] = 13 vs (14) or less Success! by 1 [3d6.attack(20,-4+1-3)] => [3,4,1] = 8 vs (14) or less Success! by 6 
Wolfgang: +1 size
Thorn Lions: Improbable dodge! [3d6.skill(10,2)] => [6,4,1] = 11 vs (12) or less Success! by 1 
and [3d6.skill(10,2)] => [4,4,5] = 13 vs (12) or less Failure! by 1 
Wolfgang: Axe (Kopfen) [3d6+1] => [4,6,3,1] = (14) cut
GM: failed both dodges.
Wolfgang: Axe (Kopfen) [3d6+1] => [5,5,2,1] = (13) cut
GM: You really chop it up.
 8) YOUR TURN NOW:: [24] Shelley 
(on deck: [29] Ghazeb) 
GM: The last one is kneeling.
Skeleton: Step over to the last one!
GM: all-out determined attack?
Shelley: As Shelley
** Wolfgang is good at chopping stuff up **
Shelley: Yeah, all out determined attack, DA as expected.
Shelley: What the hell, right?
GM: don't forget the -4 for cover and -2 for Ghazeb in the hex.
Shelley: So no DA at all then!
Shelley: Possibly Telegraphic even!
Shelley: In fact, Committed Attack, Telegraphic.
GM: you should be right on.
GM: okay.
Shelley: -4 for cover, +4 for telegraphic, -2 for Ghazeb, +2 for Committed, +1 for size?
GM: yep.
Shelley: Deathtouch Rod * swing [3d6.attack(15,-4+4-2+2+1)] => [4,4,5] = 13 vs (16) or less Success! by 3 
Thorn Lions: Dodge [3d6.skill(10,2-2)] => [3,3,3] = 9 vs (10) or less Success! by 1 
GM: Hits Ghazeb? [3d6.skill(9)] => [2,6,4] = 12 vs (9) or less Failure! by 3 
Shelley: That would be tragically funny.
GM: I know!
 1) YOUR TURN NOW:: [29] Ghazeb 
(on deck: [28] Thasos) 
Ghazeb: Continue punching the lion! [3d6.skill(17,1-2-4)] => [4,4,1] = 9 vs (12) or less Success! by 3 
Thorn Lions: Dodge [3d6.skill(10,2-2)] => [3,5,1] = 9 vs (10) or less Success! by 1 
 2) YOUR TURN NOW:: [28] Thasos 
(on deck: [28] Marik) 
** Thasos moves through the branches, feeling rather aggravated by now. **
GM: that was 3 steps. all-out attack?
Thasos: yes
GM: okay!
Thasos: ALL-OUT ATTACK: Determined (+4 to hit melee; +1 ranged); move up to 1/2 (forward only); no defend {B365}, Karate * Kick [3d6.skill(13,4)] => [4,2,6] = 12 vs (17) or less Success! by 5 , TELEGRAPHED: attack is +4, defender has +2 defenses
Thorn Lions: Dodge [3d6.skill(10,2-2-2)] => [3,1,1] = 5 vs (8) or less Success! by 3 
GM: DX check or fall over.
Thasos: dodged an attack directly behind him? ARGH!
Thasos: DX (16) [3d6.skill(16,0)] => [5,4,4] = 13 vs (16) or less Success! by 3 
GM: well, you came from the flank, it was a run-around attack, see the relevant page.
 3) YOUR TURN NOW:: [28] Marik 
(on deck: [28] Plant Monsters) 
Marik: ((Am I down HP or FP?))
Beltarne: ((No))
GM: Nope! Just got into the fight, haven't even been attacked yet.
Marik: Extra effort: Strong slash at the lion's back left leg. AoA (Determined) for +4, Leg -2, branches -?
GM: -4 legs.
GM: errr, -4 branches.
Marik: Knife: [3d6.skill(14,+4-4-2)] => [2,1,6] = 9 vs (12) or less Success! by 3 
Thorn Lions: Dodge [3d6.skill(10,2-2-2)] => [2,3,3] = 8 vs (8) or less Success! by 0 
Thorn Lions: King of the world, ma!
Marik: What's the +2 to dodge for? Also, luck.
Thorn Lions: oh, wait, that wasn't telegraphed.
Thorn Lions: shoot.
Thorn Lions: you hit.
Marik: Damage is [1d6+3] => [5,3] = (8) cutting
Marik: ((Downed it even with limb damage limits?))
Narrator: Marik hamstrings a vine in the back of the lion's leg and it topples over. Ghazeb neatly steps out of the way of the toppling corpse, sucking at his bloody hand.
Marik: ((I only point that out 'coz it's up next, so if it's got a chance to still be alive it should get it. :D))
GM: With the critters dead, the fight is over.
GM: You're in a rough patch of semi-road in a forest of towering trees, surrounded by dead lions made of thorns and vines.
GM: What are you up to now?
Beltarne: Looting their corpses!!!
Wolfgang: loot the corpses!
Beltarne: Marik thought these things were worth money, right?
Shelley: Corpse sampling and looting as appropriate.
Wolfgang: maybe Beltarne should patch himself up
** Marik cleans his knife, goes to find his bow, retrieves any specialty arrows he might have fired, then does the sentry thing while he lets the experts figure out what's valuable about thorn lions. **
** Wolfgang thinks the dwarf is leaking **
Beltarne: "Right, anyone want to apply some gauze?"
** Shelley raises her hand. **
Ghazeb: Ghazeb will help!
Shelley: "I am a skilled anatomist!"
Ghazeb: "Ghazeb will help!"
Shelley: "Ghazeb is not an anatomist. He's a... wrestler or something."
Beltarne: "No, ho, lets have Shelley try her hand."
Ghazeb: Ghazeb will confidently apply first aid, bleeding all over the place, unless stopped.
** Thasos inspects the skeletons axes for decay. **
Shelley: First Aid/TL3 (Human) (14) [3d6.skill(14,0)] => [3,2,5] = 10 vs (14) or less Success! by 4 
Beltarne: [1d6] => [2] = (2)
** Shelley stops him with science if necessary. **
Ghazeb: "Ghazeb is a skilled anatomist, since Ghazeb knows where to strike!"
Beltarne: I are healed
Beltarne: First Aid/TL3 (Humanoid) (15) [3d6.skill(15,0)] => [1,5,2] = 8 vs (15) or less Success! by 7 Conditional: +1 from 'First Aid Kit'
Beltarne: On Ghazeb
Beltarne: [1d6] => [3] = (3)
GM: Alright, Beltarne is ... not healed, entirely, but has patched holes and bruises.
Wolfgang: "Your gonna get blood all over it and ruin it unless you bandage yourself"
Thasos: does it look like the sap melts metal?
GM: Binding Ghazeb's wound is only the work of a few more minutes.
GM: Like 20 in total.
Wolfgang: "Also, I don't think the thorns were the vulnerable spot"
** Beltarne gets out the surgery kit **
GM: No.
GM: I mean, no, the sap does not look like that.
Beltarne: "So what are we removing here today?"
Marik: ((Did we have a critical knowledge failure?))
Shelley: (( Ghazeb tried to punch them. ))
Shelley: (( repeatedly. ))
GM: Various bits may be worth something as decorative inlays.
** Thasos scowls at Ghazeb. **
GM: Surgery roll!
Wolfgang: (( and eventually hit with predictable results ))
Shelley: Can I assist?
Shelley: I'm skilled!
Ghazeb: "Ghazeb thinks these are maybe other unholy plant abominations than the ones Ghazeb was thinking of."
GM: Shelley: yes.
Shelley: Surgery/TL3 (Human) (12) [3d6.skill(12,0)] => [2,6,4] = 12 vs (12) or less Success! by 0 
Beltarne: Surgery/TL3 (Humanoid) (12) [3d6.skill(12,0)] => [4,4,6] = 14 vs (12) or less Failure! by 2 
Shelley: I only have a regular kit, so I don't think I get a bonus.
GM: Right.
Beltarne: Also only a regular surgery kit, here.
Beltarne: Or were you talking about first aid?
GM: The wood you planned to get is either somewhat rotten and knotted or splinterized by axes and knives.
** Beltarne sighs unhappily. **
** Beltarne begins packing up his surgery kit. **
GM: Continuing on, you pass vine-entangled rabbit bones that make you think of strangler vines.
Wolfgang: so, bail on the road or stick to it?
Marik: Which seem to be pretty common around here.
GM: Around noon, the road forks - there's a rotten and unreadable sign, with jagged boards pointing north, west, and southeast. They once had writing on them, but are nearly indistinguishable.
GM: The east one says something like "Mhain....ir" and the north one may read "C...D Hav..."
GM: Marik estimates you are due west of the spot on the north shore where you fought the shocker lizards.
GM: And with that slightly enigmatic conclusion, we break for the night!
Marik: ((And we want to be on the south shore?))
Marik: Oh hey!
GM: Yep!
Marik: That gives me time to figure out where we need to go. :P