MÖRK BORG: Chapter I: Nurse the Rot

[eny]

I converted it to applause!

[Stormbringer]

I'm going to assume Lord Margar took the long way around to the rotunda, and didn't attempt to cross the grating where a spider was spotted lurking earlier (but let me know if I assumed incorrectly).

I storm back to the room with the dead hag, unsheath the sword and crouch down beside the corpse.

“Listen up, blade, and listen well. I could have fled this land and settled somewhere peaceful and safe, but wise Barbarister implored me to show courage and fulfil my aunt’s wishes to find this staff, and so here I am. What have you done, but chasten me at every turn? If your edge was half as sharp as your tongue, I might still have a home. And a family. This is your final warning. Swear that if you must speak to me, it will be to my encouragement, though frankly I’d be content with your silence. Otherwise your legacy will be to spend all eternity wedged hilt-deep up the arse of this unfortunate crone. What say you?”

BLADE OF THE ANCESTORS:
"Oh, this is more like it! Starting to stand up for yourself now, eh? Very well, master; I shall remain quiet. Though I think the time has come to prove what you're truly made of! We have company..."

While Lord Margar has been talking to the sword here in the rotunda, the strange nursery rhyme he heard coming from the dark pit in the north-west has grown strangely louder in his mind.

"There was an old lady who swallowed a fly, I don't know why she swallowed a fly – perhaps she'll die!"

Lord Margar hears the scuttling of many legs behind him on the flagstones. Turning about, he sees a giant, black, many-eyed centipede-thing rearing up behind him, hissing, horrible twitching mandibles dripping with green venom!

• The PCs win the initiative! They may act before the centipede does.

• Lord Margar is on his own in the rotunda, near the corpse of the toothless hag. The centipede is right in front of him.

• All the other PCs are milling around the room where the bomb went off (with the holes in the floor)

• In a combat turn, you have enough time to make an attack (ranged, melee or magical) AND move cross a single room, but no more.

What does everyone do?

[Animalmother]

At the sight of the multi legged horror, Malaiz's gives a strangled squeak. He pulls out his sling and takes aim at the centipedes head.

[Stormbringer]

Presumably a shout for help from Lord Margar has attracted his friends' attention.

From his position in the south-eastern room, Malaiz may lob his sharp stone down the length of the eastern corridor.

Test Presence, Malaiz! (d20 + 1)

[Animalmother]

3
Ah well, worth a go.

[Stormbringer]

Alas, the will is strong, but the angle and distance are poor; Malaiz' stone clatters off the walls of the eastern corridor and falls into the rusty grate in the floor.

Suddenly the hidden giant spider lurking beneath the grate lunges upward, pushing its horrible legs through the gaps in the rusty metal. Thankfully, the grate prevents it from fully emerging.

[eny]

Will my daily morale thingey help here?

[Raid]

I would like to throw my unholy horseshoe at the centipede thing.

[Sly Boots]

Giant will point a long, clammy digit towards the many-legged horror and unleash another spell...

[Wrathbone]

I do indeed call out something that starts as an expletive and ends as a general squeal of panic.

Then I thrust the saucy blade at it with my faltering might.

Assuming that’s a d20 + strength, I roll 19 - 2 = 17!

[Stormbringer]

Will my daily morale thingey help here?

Alas, no, for this creature has no fear. It does not make morale checks.

Your axe-shaped lute might help, though, if swung in an axe-like motion directly at the creature!

But you'll have to get there first.

I would like to throw my unholy horseshoe at the centipede thing.

Test Presence! (d20 + 2)

Giant will point a long, clammy digit towards the many-legged horror and unleash another spell...

Test Presence! (d20 + 1)

I thrust the saucy blade at it with my faltering might.

Assuming that’s a d20 + strength, I roll 19 - 2 = 17!

Fantastic! Because of the quality of your blade, the target to hit for you is 10 instead of 12, but you more than surpassed that.

Now, roll a d6 to see if the blade attacks your enemy...or 'accidentally' hits you!

[Wrathbone]

2

[Stormbringer]

Phew! It stays on target.

Roll d6+1 for damage, then subtract d4 for the creature's rubbery-chitinous hide.

[Wrathbone]

FFS, 1 + 1 - 3 = -1

[Stormbringer]

Your swing is accurate, but painfully weak; it bounces off the arthropod's thick hide.


BLADE OF THE ANCESTORS
"I am saying nothing. Can you hear me saying nothing?"