Chapter Six - Dread Descent

[AdamDaBomb11]

"What would all of you prefer? I can get us across the acidic cloud worry free, but doing so would prevent me from doing it again should some other situation arise. Is 100 yards too far to be holding our breath?"

[Vardaen]

"Ok, hold your breath, wrap yourselves in your cloaks, and get ready to sprint." Daerith takes this creature on his word, and with a generally fleet of foot ability, Daerith expect he at least can cross the cave quickly. "Let's go..." he inhales big, taps Irgzid to lead, then darts into the cave running at a nice clip across the cave, light held up high, the other hand holding his cloak.

OOC

Anyone in the rear with light, cast it, and use it, that gives us 2 light spells to light the way.

Daerith is faster than most, so he stays out front. Gogogogogogo.

I also did a Knowledge check, seems reasonable we should be fine if we run.

[Eilandor]

Abigail draws her rod of withering, and with the other hand casts a light spell upon it as she and Grask are at the rear of the group. "I will hold my breath as well. If anyone gets into trouble, for whatever reason, I will cast a bubble of clean air around your head if need be." Taking a few deep breaths, she waits for the others to go.

[Trogdor]

The group gets ready, holds their breath, and dashes across the room with the burning pools of acid and the acid-filled air, Irgzid in the lead. It's not a pleasant place to be, but for a short time it should be bearable. You can't move as quickly as you'd like because the floor is slippery with small pools of acid, and a spill would definitely not be advisable.

The trip seems like it will be completely uneventful until the group is almost halfway across. That's when a huge blob of black rears up from the shadows and oozes toward the line of adventurers, apparently eager for a meal. It approaches Daerith and Grask, but the group is fast enough to respond before it can attack.

Map

It's all difficult terrain for humanoids because of the drips of acid on the floor.

Initiative

Round 1: Abigail 29, Maclaren 27, Irgzid 22, Grask & Simira 18, Daerith 12, Black Pudding 7, Mamoon 5
Characters in bold have already moved this turn.

Hit Points

Abigail: full
Daerith: 76/91
Grask: 124/124
Maclaren: full
Mamoon: full (I think)
Simira: 80/94

[Vardaen]

"Just run! Run! Our weapons are useless, so are any spells that don't just cause harm! Beware its acidic touch it will melt you and anything you have on you, and for Sasserine's Sake don't make any desert jokes!" Daerith is far too close for comfort to the thing, so he takes his own advice and dashes for the exit, on reaching it he spins and with his hand formed so two fingers are pointing out he speaks an arcane words of power, "Igneus manebus inflatus vetorum!" He just hopes he chamber doesn't burst into flames.

Roll

Hasted Assault Arcana: 1 Arcane Point - Haste Self. Move to exit 1W of the "d" in down. It hasn't acted its Flat Footed, no AoO please. If that's not the case, Acrobatics to avoid AoO for movement.

Scorching Ray: 3 Rays

Sheet Updated

[AdamDaBomb11]

Grask does exactly as Daerith days. He takes a quick step back and runs for the exit to this cavern. Simira follows Grask.

OOC

Grask: Withdraw, NW, then around and to the exit as far as he can get.

Simira: follow Grask but stay out of the blobs reach to be of her ability.

[JohnnyWeird]

Nodding curtly, Maclaren dashes toward the exit.

Action

Running SW as fast as legs can carry me in difficult terrain.

[Eanwulf]

OOC

In Difficult Terrain, we can neither Run nor Charge, and each square costs 2 squares worth of movement to travel through. Puddings are also an asshole Gygax idea of a monster-series carryover. Not much can hurt them and commonly used tactics such as trying to whittle them down physically until there's nothing left usually covers you in acid or destroys your weapons and armor in the process.

@Trogdor - Mamoon is indeed uninjured and is at 130/130 Health. He also as a +5 Initiative modifier and I see that his roll is a 5. Did he roll a 1 or did you jot down his bonus only? Though I'll probably do my best to avoid the encounter, I'll go ahead and hold off from posting until some kind of an answer is given.

For those of you interested, I've only just recently gotten this oven mitt of a bandage set removed from my left hand and am able to start pecking away at the keyboard again unhindered (for the most part). I had an unfortunate accident recently involving an everyday butcher's knife, a crowded kitchen, my hand, and an over-excited St. Bernard who wanted to get past me rather determinedly. Luckily I'm just down to stitches and a moderate amount of stiffness in the digits, it could have been much worse.