Though not really much of one as my swords are it.

I will write up combat over the next few days. These bugs are tough but not impossible. I have great faith in your ability to defeat them. Keep in mind that you have an opening round on them as they so far have not detected your presence.

monsters are not necessarily to scale

Languages in Valkana:

As this will come up shortly, there are a number of languages in this world. Within the area you are in, there is a common language called Valka. Everyone speaks it usually although the further away from the city-states, the more dialects can get difficult.

The races all have their own languages as well. So whatever race you are, you speak that race language plus common. Higher INT darkspawn have their own language as well, plus there is goblin, troll, and ogre.

Old languages, which come up if you are searching abandoned ruins and lost cities, are usually either Ancient Saurian Empire (ASE) and Old Elven (OE). There is an old Dwarven and old Orc as well that are mostly pictographs because they were not allowed to have a written language. There was a language called Lagree which was used to describe the melding of magic and tech together. It is very rare and almost never heard anymore as people who knew were hunted down during the chaos wars.

You all have your initial two languages plus one language for every + you have in intelligence. ASE and OE is good to have for at least one party member to know when looking at old instructions or instrument panels.

Ok, the drawing does help a bit and we have now heard from all parties.

I am leaning toward going down with Lum shielding Ry. We get close and he zaps them. Lum hacks the one on right nearest the light and Ninja boy sneaks left to attack that one.

As they are distracting the bugs then M sneaks past to the doors to be ready to lets us in if we can dash down and through. We may not have to kill the bugs if we can get through the doors and close them.

My thoughts are similar. I like the part about Lum and Ry moving close along one wall, and then Ninja-boy can move up the other side and once the lightning strikes, the two sword swingers can do what they do best.

Now as to Mairead sneaking up behind them, I don't see her doing that. To go to the door and possibly there be more of them things come out or to get separated from the group? Besides I think we need to kill these things. We can't run from everything, I don't like the idea of leaving these things behind us and cutting off our only known way out.

No, she would rather stay mobile where she can aid whichever party member she needs to with her heals. She can heal by touch and has a healing aura which works on all allies within 10 yards.

Question for DM: without our flashlights, would there be sufficient illumination from the light and the firebugs, to move down the stairs slowly and make our way closer to the bugs without them spotting us?

So how about we all go right to these spots. Ry casts his chair lighting, then Lum attacks the near one, T attackes the far one.

Of course R casts past Lum, not through him.

Or we go right up the middle and attack the bug heads. Stay away from the fire that way. We stop about two squares from the bug while staying in the dark.

But maybe we should spread out a little. If we are two close they could catch us with a blast of fire possibly and take out several of us.

Also, I'm not sure the heads on the map are exactly as the bugs are positioned, we might want to ask the DM to clarify.

Is this more like what we want?



GM Note - I love the battle plans. Like playing tabletop again

Sounds good to me.

Rhys is willing to try the sneak plan. If the bugs react before he is at 20 yards he will just cast the straight lightning. And after the first spell he will need to just hit one per turn so as to avoid the others with the chain lightning.

I'd put a little space between us to avoid having multiples get caught in the fire. But if the heads are that way, I'd approach as Ody drew it. Fire from one is probably better than attacks from both with mouths and claws. Plus, maybe if Lum swings from the back he'll get a bonus.

On the subject of languages, I'm sure Rhy would know Old Elvish.

The middle plan maybe, but maybe a little more space between the characters so we don't all fry together.

Well let's hear from everyone, yes, no? Other suggestions? Tann?

The light from the doorway gives you an advantage because the FB are in the light and you are not. So you do not need to haul out flashights. As well, everyone has dark vision except for Boo Boo's Character, who is not attempting to attack.

By the way - you have surprise so you will get a free round of attacks. For the sake of fluidity, I will assume the melee attacks will continue as planned but what would the spell casters like to do next? Another spell?

I will need an answer on the languages before you go past the next set of doors.

As for the languages, could Mairead know ASE? Is it possibly something she learned or maybe the Ancient Saurian Spirits taught her.

As for combat. Mariead cast Stone cloak on herself while they were planning. Then she will cast the Hero's might on the party before they get to attacking the bugs, maybe as they move down the stairs.

During combat, she would stay out of the way and firing arcs of the bugs and would wait to heal when needed. If one person is seriously hurt, she would try to touch heal them; if several are hurt she would use her healing aura on those that need it. Moving, she tries to stay mobile yet within healing range,

I'm not sure this is the place to put it, but Rhy will hit with chain lightning once. Then he will either use it again or shift to a straight lightning spell. He'll keep pounding until they are dead.

Other than Old Elvish, I'll get you languages soon.

Do we need to list all our languages now? Do you have a list of all the languages we could possibly know?