(082) The Darkness Below

[Tonneau]

Zax uses the door in the regular manner

[waysoftheearth]

Down the passage, Zax turns the handle and pushes the door inward with an easy creak.

Within, he sees a deep chamber revealed; 50-60ft of it, and 30ft broad. The room is illuminated by eerie, greenish fires burning low in coal pits around the perimeter. The rock walls are an inky green hue, and carved to resemble a draconic rib-cage. However, 'tis the carrion smell that first offends his nose, then the sight of mottled corpses dangling awkwardly through the room like hideous scarecrows, that perturbs his eyes.

"Get them!" hisses a voice at the back, and perhaps 'tis the second hag who scurries into the dark as the corpse-legion turn simultaneously toward Zax, as if to regard him a moment from pebble eyes in listing heads.

With all the thumping on the other door, the ref decides those within won't be surprised. But is Zax surprised? 1d6=4, so no.

Therefore, the encounter distance is 2d4=4", so 40ft.

What orders have you for the imminent combat turn, sirs?

[mgtremaine]

Zem seemed about to speak when the "get them" echoes around. With a grunt of displeasure the Dwarf turns towards the impending combat and moves towards the front line.

[ehiker133]

Leudigar sees that getting more than two of their party members into the melee in the hallway won't happen.

If Zax moves forward into the room, then Leudigar moves with him and says, "Everyone move into the room and form up in line so they can't flank us."

If Zax hesitates, he calls for everyone to move back into the bone room where they can all engage in the fight.

[The Red Baron]

If dopey hears a commotion, he will tuck the goblin ledger into his satchel, and draw his dagger.

He will not engage unless either he is attacked or the whole party moves forth to attack.

[sully]

The Herald shoves his torch toward Dopey and thrusts his holy symbol forward, ordering the undead to retreat.

[Tonneau]

"Ahhrrr!" roars Zax, finally able to vent some frustration, and leaps forward (inasmuchas his gnomish limbs permit) with his pick raised.

He seeks to skewer the old crone, but will happily strike down any wobblies that get in his way

If Zax hesitates, he calls for everyone to move back into the bone room where they can all engage in the fight.

Zax hestiate? Clearly the ranger hasnt been watching the gnome very closely

[flightcommander]

If Akbar is able to enter the room, he'll sight around for a more worthy target before settling on any undead. He won't shoot into any clump of melee combatants, however, for fear of hitting a companion. If it comes to it, he'll draw axe and shield and wade in.

[waysoftheearth]

Seems to me that Zax then Leudigar had a go at the stuck door. Then Zax wandered off (as he does) to the next door while The Herald tried the stuck door. Meanwhile, the rest of the players pretty much kept to the marching order.

So...based on the marching order and recent posts, here is a mud map of probable player disposition at the start of the turn:

  Code:

   #            #
.  #.   .   .   #   .   .   .   .   .   .
   #            #
.  #.   .   .   #   .   .   .   .   .   .
   #            #
.  #.   .   .   #   .   .   .   .   .   .
   #            #
.  #.   .   .   #   .   .   .   .   .   .
   #  \         #                        
.  #.  \.   .   #   .   .   .   .   .   .
   #####+   #####      #====#  <-- Stuck 
.   .  #.(Z).###########.(H)### .   Door.
       #         (L)           #         
.   .   ##  .   .   .(z). (d)   #   .   .
          #################  (G)#        
.   .   .   .   .   .   .  #(W) # Grave .
                           #(F) # |Room  
.   .   .   .   .   .   .  #.(A)# | .   .
                        ###(K)  # V
.   .   .   .   .   .   .   .       .   .

[coffee]

While there is excitement happening up front, Karl will keep an eye on our back trail, so we don't get snuck up on. (He probably won't make it up to the fight anyway.)