Move 345: Still Fighting RopersAloysius and all of his copies cast a spell, throwing a plethora of magic missiles at the roper pulling Azrun. Each seemed to produce an identical number of missiles, which converged to hit the roper with four, two on the strand holding Azrun and two against the pillar's body. Arachne ran past all of the Aloysiuses into the cavern, but as soon as she ran in, she turned around and ran out. Azrun and Echo both chopped at the rope frantically, and right before the monster completely retracted it, they managed to cut him free. The cut strand stuck to Echo's dagger and to Azrun. Azrun stumbled slightly as he was freed, looking a bit worse for the wear. The roper seemed more distracted by Renn, who eased in with his sword to wound the creature again. It retaliated by biting him again, this time considerably harder than before.
Arachne completed her exit from the cavern with a drop and roll, coming up in a sitting postion rubbing herself all over. "Dash it!" she exclaimed, hopping to her feet and looking for her sling. "Can't do _anything_ --"
The roper's tough hide deflected the most recent blow from Blacky's axe. Jana slashed it with her sword. The jaws that had replaced Olaf's hand snapped at the roper holding him again, but again, they were unable to bite through the creature's rocky skin. Olaf took another bite and was really beginning to show the effects of being gnawed on. Blood was flowing freely from the various wounds that he had taken. The roper began moving back with Olaf firmly in tow. It kept its single yellow eye on Blacky and Jana as it crawled towards the wall behind them.
"Olaf, heal yourself, dammit," Jana growled as she whacked at the roper twice more.
Azrun swayed in the non-existant breeze and gathered himself together. He handed his dagger to Echo, "Go put this in the eye of that thing that has Olaf, before it gets away." He looked back to Arachne and started her way, "Arachne, see if you or Aloysius can get a torch going and give me the oil. I'm going to feed it to that critter. I'll meet you half way for the torch once it gets lit." Once he had the oil he staggered back to the roper that attacked the elven priest, "How do you like your stalagmite? Medium well or well done?" Azrun continued forward toward the roper, "We'd best hurry, my joke are getting worse as things go on."
The gnome forgot about the sling. "I found Renn's oil... um -- there!" As she picked up the flask of oil, she asked, "Aloysius, have you a faggot ... and a flame?"
Arachne ran toward Azrun, but slowed as she reached the cavern's edge. She took a deep breath and held the oil flask in front of her in both hands, then, muttering something under her breath, tried to keep going toward the bard.
The Aloysiuses seemed quite focused on the roper as they began yet another spell.
Echo tugged determinedly at her dagger. "I doubt I can take care of it if Jana and Blacky can't," she told Azrun, looking very uncertain.
Renn wrenched his longsword free of the roper and looked around with a fierce expression on his face.
The newly freed Azrun headed back in the direction of the tunnel mouth to meet up with Arachne to get some oil. The gnome hardly looked as though she were paying any attention to Azrun's words. Actually, she looked miserable. As soon as he took the oil from her, and definitely without giving him the courtesy of waiting around for him to finish his sentence, she turned and scurried back to the tunnel. Once there, she looked around helplessly at the Aloysiuses, then shrugged and went to inspect Renn's pack for inflammatory material.
Renn took off across the cavern toward the ledge where Jana, Blacky, and Olaf were fighting, leaving Echo facing the roper alone with her partially stuck dagger. She managed to stab it anyway in a rather skillful move. Unfortunately, it grabbed hold of her arm and ripped through skin and muscle fiercely. The Aloysiuses sent more magical bolts to her aid, but this time, they appeared to have no effect.
The retreating roper was not moving quickly at all, so Jana was able to easily catch up and slice it again with her sword. Renn finished his sprint with an impressive leap up onto the ledge and began praying. He touched Olaf, calling on Correlon's divine healing just as the roper sunk its teeth into the old priest again. Olaf still looked very badly hurt, but he was still alive and conscious. The roper reached the wall and began scooting up, taking its captured prey with it.
Jana kept hacking at the roper. "Dammit!"
"Echo, get back!" implored the Aloysius in a weak voice. All 6 figures of the mage moved forwards a bit towards the roper before beginning another spell.
Blacky attempted to plunge his axe deep into the creature's eye, before it was out
of range."Damnit!" Echo yelped as she grabbed her bloody arm. She took a couple of steps back and pulled something from her belt pouch. She rolled it between her
fingers and started casting.Azrun turned back toward the Roper and ran at it with the oil, "Look out, Echo! I'm going to through as much oil on this monster as I can!" With that said, he uncorked the oil and ran around the roper dousing it with oil.
The Aloysiuses tried the same spell as before against the roper, but again, it did not seem to harm it. Right before the missiles reached the creature, Echo disappeared from sight. Azrun opened the oil Arachne had given him and ran around, pouring oil on the roper. The roper either did not take kindly to it or its appetite had been whetted by tasting Echo and Renn because it grabbed Azrun with its sharp pointy teeth. Arachne pulled a torch and some torch lighting paraphernalia out of Renn's pack and diligently set to work on sparking a flame.
Over on the ledge, the battle to get Olaf out of the roper's clutches continued. Jana slashed it again with her sword, but the stubborn monster, although obviously badly hurt, still refused to die. Blacky tried to hit it, but he stumbled and caught Jana with his axe instead. Luckily, her armor absorbed all impact from the blow. Renn reached for his scrollcase, then cursed softly when he realized it was not there. He began to cast a spell, reaching up to touch Olaf, who was still being taken up the cavern wall, when he finished. He healed him again, but this time, the divine touch was not enough to counteract the effects of the roper's strong jaws. Blood dripped onto the cavern floor as Olaf slumped into unconsciousness; his right hand became visible again as the jaws that had been snapping at the roper disappeared.
"Hey, look out!" Jana yelped as Blacky's axe clanged against her armor. "Grab Olaf!" She whacked twice more at the stubborn roper.
"Sorry, now I'm clumsy AND weak. NOT a good combo." Blacky said as he regained his footing and launched a hand ax at the retreating roper.
The Aloysiuses moved towards the roper as Azrun spread his oil. "Everyone . . . .back!" he urged, although his voice wavered in the attempt. Once he got close to the roper he extended his hand, concentration etched on his face.
Renn readied his longbow and snatched a pair of arrows from his quiver. "Corellon guide my hand," he breathed as he took aim.
Azrun finished pouring the oil out on the roper, but he got bit again. While he was struggling with the rock-like beast, the Aloysiuses created tiny sparks at the end of their fingers and ignited the oil. The oil went up in flames, singeing both Azrun and Aloysius. The roper took more of the damage from it, but it did not seem to be actually on fire itself. In the meantime, Arachne got the torch lit and headed into the cavern. She began scratching herself vigorously with her free hand as soon as she stepped into the cavern.
The roper continued up the wall and took another bite out of Olaf. It seemed to tear off a significant chunk of flesh this time rather than just pulverizing muscle and causing blood loss. Jana tried to cut the roper down, but it was just high enough up that she could not hurt it with her sword. Blacky threw a hand axe, which did hit the roper. It did not embed in it, however, so the weapon came clattering back to the floor. Renn shot an arrow into the roper, finally finishing it off. The dead monster lost its grip on the wall and tumbled down about twenty-five feet. Both roper and priest lay in a mangled heap on the floor. Olaf's black sword hung in the air over everyone's head.
Azrun started back pedaling toward Arachne. When he got to her, he took the torch from her, "Thanks, Arachne. Go on back with Aloysius and get away from whatever is working on you. Jana! I could use a bit of assistance if you don't mind." With that he stood back and let the Roper come to him.
Arachne let him take the torch from her. "Um..." She scratched herself.
"Um..." Looking at the bard, Arachne scratched a little more, then said, "Maybe try the torch in its eye or mouth?" Then she whirled and, glancing at the crowd of Aloysiuses –
"Damn rock," Jana growls. She turns and runs toward the other roper, whacking at it if she can get in past the flames.
Stepping back from the flames, the Aloysiuses waved frantically at the roper, trying to draw its attention.
Renn lowered his bow and slung it back over his shoulder, held a hand to his side and ran to Olaf.
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