Annals of the Azlanti

[lostsole31]

R1T14: Natalya follows the others, torch in hand and ready to cast mirror image if there's an enemy in the room. The torch sputters and goes dark, creating only a soft glow around itself, but now the room is dimly lit before lighting up this cross-passageway to normal light. Bessel and Paxre see just fine, but not because their darkvision didn't work. [The former just didn't have his bearings yet, and the latter had trouble seeing the two stealth-mongers.

Paxre seems to be mixed up by some type of pure black creature wrapped around his pure black clothing. If Natalya considers Paxre an enemy, then she just might have cast this spell anyway. She casts her spell, and she senses that she strikes gold as the maximum images (5) whirl around an in and through her. There are now six-ish Natalya Vancaskerkins.

Now that everyone can see this fleshy, octopoidal web constricting Paxre...

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Natalya: This squid-like dark-skinned creature is a darkmantle, a subterranian predator that attacks by dropping onto its prey. It is a magical beast (q.v.).
The Scribe:

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As above, plus - Though small creatures, darkmantles are strong for their size, and make natural grapplers due to their tentacles and cloak-like skin. Typically attacking by dropping from above, a darkmantle that misses will usually fly back up to the roof of its chamber and try again.

Bessel:

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As above, plus - As well as having a natural camouflage that allows them to hide easily in underground caverns, darkmantles can also cause darkness once per day. Darkmantles see easily through this magical darkness through the use of bat-like sonar, though this can be disrupted by the use of the silence spell. This would probably understand why Paxre's great stealth was of no use to him.

R1T13: The Scribe immediately follows behind and he stands next to Bessel. The Scribe and Bessel are now on the front line, followed by Clacky and Dorit, then Natalya. Ichibod is back the way you came.

"Perhaps," says the Scribe, "bombs would be a bad idea with Paxre in its grip. I don't think even your excellent bombardier skill can help. Of course, the way Paxre acted recently...."

End Round 1, Begin Round 2 ...

R2T25: Ichibod, you handily played clearance breech to let the others bye, but now that there in you only see light around the corner. What do you do?

I/S

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Ichibod: 25. READIED ACTION!
Darkmantle: 22. (16:24).
Paxre: 21.
Bessel: 18.
Clacky: 18.9.
Dorit: 17.
Natalya: 14. Mirror image (5).
The Scribe: 13.