Spelunking

[15:40] moritheil: I thought you folks might like to talk, perchance to plan.

[15:40] Damien: I am way behind so can someone update me

[15:40] Matje Moonhollow: ooc perhaps a summary from our great DM on last nights exploits!

[15:41] moritheil: Last night, the group proved that it is a pain in the butt to fight an earth elemental in a stone cave.

[15:41] Matje Moonhollow: ooc Feh

[15:41] Matje Moonhollow: After a fairly uneventful walk from town, the group managed to return to the Lair of Shadows

[15:41] moritheil: After traveling from Ferdham to the lair with no incident, the party dispatched the initial guard with amazing ease.

[15:41] Matje Moonhollow: After a brief encounter at the entrance, where Aerlene dealed a nasty blow with her spear..

[15:41] Damien: OOC: I am sorry for missing the game everyone. Just to get that out of the way

[15:41] Matje Moonhollow: ooc there we go:)

[15:42] moritheil: However, once they were inside, a pile of debris and dust blocked the passage left (to the abandoned temple).

[15:42] moritheil: This rubble fell partly into the second room and cut off some of it. The party was able to squeeze around the rubble and head into the corridor right.

[15:43] moritheil: Kyakusou expended a sleep spell to keep the bats quiet, and the head of the party (which was in single file) had just reached the next set of doors, when an alarm was raised.

[15:43] moritheil: A 15' tall earth elemental had emerged from the rubble at the party's rear!

[15:44] moritheil: Various party members climbed over other party members to escape, and Morena used a Sanctuary spell to keep the elemental at bay.

[15:44] moritheil: Meanwhile, Damien revealed the panel to open the door to the storage room, so the group could move again.

[15:45] moritheil: Unfortunately, the other door at the head of the party opened first, revealing a large zombie with a greatclub.

[15:45] moritheil: It lost its hold on the club due to a terrible swing, but traded blows with Matje for quite some time.

[15:45] moritheil: The other door, meanwhile, was still opening, and Damien rolled under it to move into the storage room first, hoping to create room for people to move.

[15:46] moritheil: Unfortunately, a second zombie was guarding this room, and dealt him a vicious blow.

[15:46] moritheil: At this point there was also a silence spell active on that end of the corridor, due to one of several rocks lying about which had been tossed into the room.

[15:46] moritheil: Terenar and Aerlene gathered rocks and threw them at the other end of the corridor until the silence was lifted from their end.

[15:47] moritheil: Camthalion summoned an owl to distract the zombie attacking Damien, while Damien backed up a bit and activated his bracers. The additional protection allowed him to dodge a second blow.

[15:47] Matje Moonhollow: While the owl kamikazied into the stone wall.

[15:48] moritheil: Matje finished off the zombie opposite him, and peered into the next room to see two more zombies waiting with clubs ready.

[15:49] moritheil: The earth elemental had left from the rear end of the party, so the elf tried to order a general retreat, but the silence at that end prevented Morena from understanding immediately.

[15:50] moritheil: The zombie dealt a punishing blow to Damien despite his defenses, and the elf crumpled to the ground. Yor and Rendan both tried to get at him, but Yor would not let Rendan past.

[15:50] moritheil: A rocky fist shot out of the floor, smashing into Yor, and increasing the sense of general urgency.

[15:50] moritheil: Morena allowed herself to be bull-rushed, and then finally understood the plan.

[15:50] moritheil: People started filing out of the corridor, disappearing around the bend into the hallway.

[15:51] moritheil: Yor dragged the stabilized Damien out with them.

[15:51] moritheil: After enduring some abuse at the head of the column from both the zombie and the earth elemental, Matje followed.

[15:52] moritheil: There followed a bit of a breather, while Morena, Rendan, and Kyakusou cast desperately needed healing spells. Morena relinquished a vial of Cure Light Wounds to Matje, who drank it.

[15:52] moritheil: Unfortunately, this idyllic time was shattered by the appearance (once again) of the earth elemental.

[15:53] moritheil: Since they had been expecting it to come down the corridor instead of out of the earth, the party's ranks were somewhat reversed, but a bit of shouting by Morena alerted them in time to adjust somewhat.

[15:54] *** Matje Moonhollow has left the chat.

[15:54] *** Matje Moonhollow has joined the chat.

[15:54] moritheil: The elemental dealt out more punishing blows to the party, until the party finally formed ranks with the two clerics in front.

[15:54] moritheil: With Sanctuary and Protection from Evil up, the elemental was unable to attack or get too close.

[15:55] moritheil: Gakar summoned a fire elemental, and then a burning sphere, and managed to set the elemental on fire.

[15:55] moritheil: The wizards sent magic missiles hurtling at the enemy, and others fired arrows.

[15:55] moritheil: Eventually, the large elemental sank back into the stone.

[15:57] moritheil: That's more or less it. There are some details like spell expenditures to note as well. When the elemental appeared, Terenar attempted to dispel it, but it was not affected.

[15:57] Matje Moonhollow: HP wise, i dont think Damien is fully healed. Aerlene is also wounded

[15:57] moritheil: Morena used sanc, CLW x3

Rurik used mm x3

Rendan used Spir Weap, CLW x2

Damien used bracers' Mage Armor, Disrupt Undead.

[15:58] moritheil: Kya used CLW x1

[15:58] Matje Moonhollow: Matje used vial of CLW from Morena

[15:58] moritheil: Kya also used one or two disrupt undeads, but that was when the player was controlling him.

[15:59] moritheil: Damien is at 11 hps.

[15:59] Matje Moonhollow: ooc oof

[15:59] Matje Moonhollow: Aerlene is at 19

[15:59] moritheil: Yor is at 17 hps, but will lose some when rage wears off.

[15:59] Damien: OOC: man I am so far behind...ugh

[16:00] Matje Moonhollow: For the next session guys, we are not camping

[16:00] Matje Moonhollow: basically we pick up right after the battle with the elemental

[16:00] Damien: well I need to get Damien's hp up if he is going to be trap hunting

[16:01] Matje Moonhollow: just don't fail on the disarm;)

[16:02] Damien: can't promise anything

[16:02] moritheil: Should I check the CR on "the ceiling falls in on you as a gigantic slab of rock" traps?

[16:02] Aerlene: no need

[16:03] Aerlene: really, that sort of thing is the end of a campaign ;)

[16:03] Matje Moonhollow: Well for future reference

[16:03] moritheil: Not if it's easily bypassed.

[16:03] Matje Moonhollow: Matje is never in the front of the group with Damien;)

[16:03] Damien: I gtg...I'll be back later

[16:03] Matje Moonhollow: I am the rear guard. you know, just for like, future references;)

[16:03] *** Damien has left the chat.

[16:03] moritheil: Matje did make noises about how he shouldn't have been placed in front.

[16:03] Aerlene: yeah, i heard them :(

[16:03] Aerlene: sorry

[16:04] Aerlene: it does show up the importance of leaving clear instructions to your buddy, though

[16:04] Matje Moonhollow: :0

[16:04] Aerlene: otherwise, you really have no recourse for complaint if the character behaves out of character

[16:04] moritheil: It does. Also, the buddy system is shining here. Those who left detailed buddy plans and were played by others got the same experience as those who were here.

[16:05] Aerlene: hooray for the buddy system! :)

[16:05] Matje Moonhollow: I'd say it's sorely lacking actually

[16:05] moritheil: I presume that the presence or absence of 1350 exp will make a strong argument for others to consider using the buddy system, or better yet, actually being present for sessions. (Those who showed up or who left detailed plans to be run by other players got 1350 exp for this session.)

[16:05] Matje Moonhollow: That was hard as hell to run 4 people last night

[16:05] moritheil: Bah, I had to run what, seven?

[16:05] Matje Moonhollow: and at the very end? Mori and I split 10 chars each

[16:05] Aerlene: and dm

[16:05] Matje Moonhollow: and Mori had NPC's

[16:06] moritheil: I want an exp bonus :(

[16:06] Matje Moonhollow: well thats also DM responsibility Mori

[16:06] Matje Moonhollow: actually, i was thinking about it.

[16:06] Matje Moonhollow: I should get 2700xp

[16:06] Aerlene: ...

[16:06] Matje Moonhollow: while Aerlene and Terenar get 1350xp for leaving me info /buddy system

[16:07] Aerlene: not that i want to get rude about it ;)

[16:07] Matje Moonhollow: and Yor, Rurik, Damien, Rendan, Morena get noneya

[16:07] moritheil: Not really. Your benefit is in the fact that they run you while you're not there.

[16:07] Matje Moonhollow: snicker

[16:07] Matje Moonhollow: yeah i know;)

[16:07] Aerlene: what mori said :)

[16:07] Aerlene: i blame my keys

[16:07] Aerlene: they're not doing what they're told :(

[16:07] moritheil: I blame my players.

[16:07] Matje Moonhollow: I blame Leroy.

[16:08] moritheil: Leroy is blameless; he has chicken.

[16:08] Matje Moonhollow: Aerlene missed it.

[16:08] Matje Moonhollow: Damien gets dropped

[16:08] moritheil: No, I think she's laughing.

[16:08] Aerlene: leeeerrroooooooooooooooooooooooy jeeeeeeeeeeeenkiiiiiiiiiiiiiins!!

[16:08] Matje Moonhollow: Rendan tries to squeeze by Yor to get to him to heal

[16:08] Aerlene: oh no :)

[16:08] Matje Moonhollow: the same time Yor tries to squeeze by Rendan to leave the hall like he was ordered.

[16:08] Aerlene: rofl

[16:09] moritheil: "Stick to the plan, Jones!"

[16:09] Aerlene: oh jeez...

[16:09] Aerlene: what the...? leeroy, you are such an idiot...

[16:10] Matje Moonhollow: It's not my fault!

[16:10] Matje Moonhollow: I have chicken!

[16:10] Aerlene: oh, no, it's better than that, isn't it?

[16:10] Aerlene: leeroy, you are just stupid as hell...

[16:11] moritheil: Okay . . . one more thing to mention

[16:11] moritheil: as Matje noted, the kid gloves are slowly coming off.

[16:12] moritheil: Or, as I put it . . . prepare to dig deep.

[16:12] Matje Moonhollow: dig deep....or own graves?

[16:12] Matje Moonhollow: our*

[16:16] Matje Moonhollow: ok

[16:16] Matje Moonhollow: i got up at 2

[16:16] Matje Moonhollow: i need to get things done

[16:16] Matje Moonhollow: i'll be around a little later

[16:16] Aerlene: see ya

[16:16] moritheil: Lies! :P

[16:16] moritheil: Enjoy.

[16:17] moritheil: There is something about this that I don't understand, however. The group is regularly taken for a ride by things well below their equivalent EL.

[16:17] moritheil: Things at or near their equivalent EL can be either a complete breeze, or a nightmare.

[16:17] Aerlene: that's all about cooperation, though

[16:17] Matje Moonhollow: but individually

[16:18] Matje Moonhollow: no i think it says something about the team dynamic

[16:18] Matje Moonhollow: individually, or in pairs

[16:18] Matje Moonhollow: we work together excellently

[16:18] Matje Moonhollow: Cam and I vs. the fire mental and the goblins

[16:18] Matje Moonhollow: or me vs that big group of skeletons that you said was a pretty big test

[16:19] *** Damien has joined the chat.

[16:19] moritheil: Exactly. Why is it that three group members can take on a Medium elemental without breaking too much of a sweat (except for the person who gets incapacitated) but the entire group has severe troubles with a Large elemental?

[16:19] moritheil: It doesn't seem to scale.

[16:20] Aerlene: circumstance had a lot to do with that, though

[16:20] Aerlene: plus, several of the group 'tacticians' were away last night

[16:20] moritheil: Well, I gave Rendan a tactical epiphany. Granted, that was a little late in the scenario.

[16:20] Matje Moonhollow: and the area of encounter

[16:21] Matje Moonhollow: large group is not effective in tight quarters

[16:21] moritheil: It is true that I was flexing a bit of tactical muscle against your party as well.

[16:21] Matje Moonhollow: and how do you think we fared in answering to it?

[16:22] moritheil: What can I say? I hoped to bring it to the next level.

[16:22] moritheil: The group won, which is an improvement on the last time you faced an elemental of similar power.

[16:23] moritheil: The group also freaked out, which is something I thought wouldn't happen since elementals aren't new to you guys, but that can be easily worked on.

[16:23] Matje Moonhollow: the group freaked out because we had 3 actual players

[16:24] Matje Moonhollow: and 10 characters to go through