A Familiar Adventure Chp 1: Even Humans Get Ticks

[Dustland]

Your paws are sore from the day's march to Tidewater, a small coastal town that your master, Summer, insisted that you two get to before nightfall. In the past it's taken you a day and a half to get from Morgan's tower to Tidewater but Summer insisted you two had to push to cover the distance faster this time.

You don't know why you've run away, which is exactly what it appears you two have done, but you must admit you're happy Summer decided her time at the tower was through. Morgan, the man who smelled of stale wine, devil's grass, and something metallic and sour, never approved of Summer's decision to summon a familiar and was even less pleased to learn it was a dog. You spent your days patrolling the overgrown grounds surrounding the tower, longing for the few hours every evening you'd get to spend with the girl.

You two stop just outside a noisy building that reeks of sweat and ale. "Ok Kerbi, stay out here. I have to find us some work and a room for the night, ok?" (cont.)

[Dustland]

"No, it's not ok, not one bit," you growl as you circle around the girl to block her access to the door. The building, a tavern you suppose, is noisier than a cat in heat and the scents coming off the people (mostly men) entering the place set off every one of your instincts to keep Summer OUT of this place!

A bearded man passes a bit too close to your master and you growl in warning, showing teeth and gripping your weapon strapped to your back. His eyes widen and he jumps back a bit then hurries into the noisy den.

A snap of Summer's fingers returns your attention to her as she commands you with the full force of her will. "Kerbi, stay over there, stop growling, and I'll be right back." Compelled by her command you trot around the corner to the alleyway (which actually has some tasty smells hiding in it!) and circle around a few times, then settle down to watch the door as Summer turns and enters the tavern.

The sun sets and the hour grows late, yet men come and go and the volume of noise rises with no sign of your master's return. Then behind you in the pitch black alley you hear a call...

"Here doggy doggy," in a hissing, squeeky voice followed by squeeks and giggles of other, hidden persons. You may not be able to see them, but you can smell them sure enough...Rats! A dozen or so if you're scenting true (and you usually do). You growl and the squeeks and laughter increase.

"Pretty girl you's got's there doggy. Tasty girl. Come here doggy doggy. Show me how she pets you's," the laughter continues and a rat tumbles from atop some debris and falls into the dim light a few feet in front of you.

Two yellow teeth fill his face as he crouches low, ready to fight, but you can see fear in his eyes at being alone and in the light. You glance back at the darkness and see a dozen sets of beedy eyes flickering in the darkness as the swarm edges closer...

[You may act first as the rat closest to you hesitates after accidently falling at your feet]

[Nestor]

Kerbi is acquainted with rats. He's had to deal with their ilk back at Morgan's Tower many a time, so he knows they are a cowardly lot at heart.

He rolls up to a stand, his paws planted firmly on the ground and his ruff raised. In a growl that makes the dirt itself tremble, he stares down the lone rat. "It's about time dinner was served. I was getting hungry."

His eyes flick up to meet the other rats as his lips pull back to bare his sharp carnivore teeth.

[I don't know if BASH has rules for intimidation, but Kerbi is basically trying to scare the rat pack away. He will try to catch the lone rat to shake down for info, though.]

[Dustland]

[I would say that's covered by Streetwise or Deception, so basicaly a Mind check in Kerbi's case. We'll skip the check because the rat's gonna run regardless.]

The rat hisses at you, filthy yellow teeth snapping at the air as it begins to creep slowly back towards the deeper shadows. As your eyes flick up to meet the swarm, now at the very edge of the dim light, the lone rat takes the opportunity to turn and run with a squeek back into the shadows.

[The lone rat will attempt to dodge any attempt to capture him.]
[bash]3,0,0 = 1360986572 [/bash]

[Nestor]

Kerbi's front paw slams down, trying to catch the rodent before it can get away.

[So I'm assuming I'm rolling for a Grab, which means I get to choose between Brawn and Agility. Gee, what a tough choice. Here's hoping I do this right...]

[bash]3 = 226268055 [/bash]

[Dustland]

Your paw slams down, barely catching the fleshy tail of the rat. His paws scratch frantically at the ground until you grab the scruff of his neck with your other paw and pick him up.

You look back at the mass of rats, expecting them to slink away as country rats would certainly have done. Instead they give out scream/squeak/battle cry that raises the hairs on your back as they charge you, yellow teeth gnashing!

[They split into two groups of 5 and charge each of your flanks. Rather than roll for the Domino effect, for every 10 pts of damage you inflict, another rat will fall.]

Group 1 (5 rats): Attack 41, Damage:
[bash]2,0,0 = 357562107 [/bash]
Group 2 (5 rats): Attack 41, Damage:
[bash]2,0,0 = 494335749 [/bash]

[For every 5 pts they hit you by, you'll take +5 damage.]

[Nestor]

Kerbi has barely enough time to register surprise before the gray wave of raging rodents slams into him.

[OK, still learning here. Am I correct in assuming the "Attack 41" is their attack roll? 'Cause if it is, they certainly hit. If I read the character stats correctly, Kerbi's Defense is x2. Just in case, I'll roll separately against each attack.]

Defend against Group 1:
[bash]2 = 1314785044 [/bash]

Soak against Group 1:
[bash]5 = 1537615514 [/bash]

Defend against Group 2:
[bash]2 = 697425835 [/bash]

Soak against Group 2:
[bash]5 = 1568908970 [/bash]

With a snarl of rage, Kerbi uses his hapless captive as a bludgeon against the horde.

Attack Group 1:
[bash]2 = 722870335 [/bash]

Damage with rat:
[bash]4 = 955308755 [/bash]

[Dustland]

[You got it right; with minions, I don't roll to hit, dodge, nor soak, it's all fixed.]

Ten sets of wicked teeth gnash and snap at you as you feel the press of the rats into your flanks. Tufts of fur get torn painfully from your hide but mercifully the swarm fails to draw blood...yet.

The rat in you paw cracks against the ground as you swing him viciously but fail to connect with any other rats. They are quick and agile! Well, at least the one in your paw is out of the fight.

The rats continue their attack...

Group 1 (5 rats): Attack 41
[bash]2,0,0 = 290634041 [/bash]

Group 2 (5 rats): Attack 41
[bash]2,0,0 = 1314536196 [/bash]

[Nestor]

Kerbi growls in frustration as he tosses the useless carcass away.

Rearing up to a standing position, he unsheathes his glaive from his back. Like a charwoman sweeping the floor, he slashes across the furry mob, trying to scatter them.

[I'm assuming Kerbi can draw and use the polearm in one panel.]

Attack Group 1:
[bash]3 = 704466589 [/bash]

Damage:
[bash]3,0,15 = 1717378861 [/bash]

[Nestor]

[Gah. Forgot to include this in the post, and I don't want to edit it and * up the dice rolls. Am I correct in that Kerbi took no hits? Excuse me for writing this all out, but I am trying to learn the system.

So the first attack was over Kerbi's Defense by 25 (41-16). So that adds to the Damage of 20 for a total of 45. I rolled a Soak of 55, so no hits there.

The second attack was over by 27 (41-14). That's more than 25 but less than 30, so it adds 25, right? Even using the whole 27, though, the total damage is still less than the Soak of 35 I rolled.

Did I read that right? Perspiring minds want to know. ]

[Dustland]

[Don't apologize for asking questions, I'll * up here and there so ask questions! I'm still learning too.]

[The max bonus the rats get to damage is +5/extra rat, so +20 for the full strength group (1st rat doesn't count). So total damages were 40 and 26 which Kerbi soaked. I'll start keeping track of Kerbi's hits at the end of each of my posts to make things easier]

[Dustland]

[Oh and it's +15 damage kills another rat, forgot to factor in Soak, so....]

You swing the glaive in a low arc; the blade carves through the first two rats before the rest of the pack nimbly dodges out of it's path. Just as quickly as they scatter, two waves of teeth and whickers crashes back onto you...

Group 1 (3 rats): Attack 31
[bash]2,0,0 = 1898682032 [/bash]

Group 2 (5 rats): Attack 41
[bash]2,0,0 = 1107871171 [/bash]

Kerbi: 100 hits, 2 Hero Points, 0 Hero Dice

[Dustland]

[Hmmm, that should read whiskers, whicker's not that scary.]

[Nestor]

Kerbi rears back from the multitudinous assault, using the momentum of the swing to bring the blade back around for another strike.

Defend against Group 1:
[bash]2 = 1842780371 [/bash]

Soak against Group 1:
[bash]5 = 2047179385 [/bash]

Defend against Group 2:
[bash]2 = 1186179372 [/bash]

Soak against Group 2:
[bash]5 = 778775306 [/bash]

2nd Attack on Group 1:
[bash]3 = 763622152 [/bash]

Damage from Attack:
[bash]3,0,15 = 433446656 [/bash]

[Dustland]

As you bring the glaive back around for another strike, the eight rats rip and tear at your thick fur once again. Clumps of white fur float in the air but none of the rats seem to be able to deal with your mass of hair....

Until you yelp in suprise when a single rat bites into your hind paw, coloring his teeth red! [1 pt of damage!]

He stops to squeak his victory to his pack mates; you bring the metal capped end of your glaive down on the celebratory rodent, snapping something vital. A flick of your wrist brings the glaive around, catching another rodent across his plump belly. He falls limply to the ground.

Group 1 (1 rat): Attack 21
Group 1 Damage:
[bash]2,0,0 = 634022286 [/bash]

Group 2 (5 rats): Attack 41
Group 2 Damage:
[bash]2,0,0 = 272003524 [/bash]

Hits 99, Hero Points 2, Hero Dice 0