Get your PC into Order of the Stick!
by Acavel the Night Watchman
Just $5,000. Details
here. What character would be the best fit?
2012
by Acavel the Night Watchman
Rumors of my death are unfounded
by The Dungeon Master
I...
...am
....alive
First, swamped. Than, lost interest and needed a break. But now, perhaps, it's time to ressurect one of these beasts?
PF2
by Acavel the Night Watchman
Grell had taken possession of the Citadel of Light. Its protective spells were now down; day by day he cleansed it and rededicated it to Pelor's cause. He had refused all offer of guards or armed support. "No evil thing endures between here and Crystal Downs. And Pelor guides my hand to remake this as a place of the sun's strength. What could threaten me here?"
He hoped to attract worshippers, pilgrims, mendicants, and those in need; he hoped to make the Citadel a place of life after all its years as a place of undeath. But for now he labored alone; the dark reputation of those lands would linger for some time.
For now, the Citadel created a buffer between the lands of the free folk and the orc hills. Krimdar and the dwarves had taken control of the fortified places of Crystal Downs, and could prevent it from being used as a site of orc strength again. But the dwarves had much rebuilding of their own to do in their homelands, and there would be no dwarven army so far away. So, unavoidably, the orcs spread back into their hills. Acavel had been working building diplomatic bridges with them-- through several intermediaries, of course. So long as they believed the devils had done them wrong, and so long as they were weak, such things might be possible. But the Citadel was a good stronghold halfway between their lands and those of the humans and dwarves. Clangeddin's Peak, of course, sat astride the other route-- and it would be many long years before orcs again thought they could challenge that mountain.
And if for now the Citadel was only defended by one man... well, it was a man Acavel had learned to trust.
He hoped Grell would not be late for the coronation. The priest's wind-walking spell was not so quick as Dru's teleportation, but he preferred to travel using Pelor's magic. And he was so dedicated to his work; Acavel could imagine him putting off departure for just a few minutes, and a few minutes more...
PF 2
by Acavel the Night Watchman
Truth be told, Acavel hadn't expected any different an answer from his friend, and had planned accordingly. The High King of the Stormlands was not the Duke of Amn, and the other Stormlands might actually have a harder time accepting a High King if he had begun as Duke of Amn. They would want to enter into the kingdom as equals with Amn, not feeling like they were being incorporated into it.
The High King would be made by popular acclaim after a war, not by heredity alone. In the War of the Flail Bishop had done more than enough to earn that acclaim; but he couldn't take it. Their mission remained more secret than not. The civil war between the orcs and the devils had splintered the Flail Army here in the north, and it was important to keep the orcs believing that their undoing had been the work of devils, not of free folks.
This was made easier by the great victory that had been won at Clangeddin's Peak, and by this Mouthy bard who was spreading the tale of it. The official story was now that the devils had driven the orcs into a disastrous siege, and that the dwarves' victory there (with some outside help) had been the turning point, leading to the falling-out between the orcs and their hellspawn overlords. Acavel made a mental note to go hear this Mouth the Magnificent perform soon; his songs were said to be awe-inspiring. And they were useful, as well as mostly true.
Possible future 2
by Acavel the Night Watchman
Coronation Day; the Daughter-Heir would become Duchess.
Acavel lounged in Bishop's suite, sipping at the cup of dwarven kave of which he'd become so fond. The sun streamed in through the window, bright as it had been almost every day for weeks now.
"I could still fix this, you know," he mused. "It wouldn't take much forgery to 'show' that your father had been secretly married to your mother and that you were the legitimate heir. According to every scrap of prophecy we've heard, it does seem that you are supposed to be the new Stormlord."
Bishop threw a grape at the spy-- hitting him squarely on the bridge of the nose with his uncanny aim. "We have been over this. I endured these past months for her sake; I will not steal her birthright. And I have had quite enough of prophecy, and ancestors, and voices from beyond the grave to last me for quite some time. Let us make our own future now.
"Besides, if I understood those prophecies aright, I am supposed to wed Drusilla, and I can't quite see that happening; can you?" They both laughed. Their wizarding friend had fallen quite firmly in love with the dragonborn elvish knight who had joined them on the final stage of their quest, though Acavel joked that it was the hint of fire about him that really drew her...
PF1 continued......
by Grell Shimmerin Priest of Pelor
Dirty........
everything got so dirty so fast.
Grell awoke with a start, hand flying to his mace by his side.
How did it all go so very wrong, he mused. When did Acavel become so spiteful, so unrelenting, so.........vicious. Not that he could blame him. Grell himself had been on the verge of madness many times over the last few seasons, only to be drawn back by the company of the Lion Brigade. How many times had they saved each other, and possibly the world itself, just for it to spiral so out of control.
Grell groggily stood from his palate beneath the church, stretching out his long aching muscles.
Dirty........need to clean.......
Slowly, he walks to the dirty washbasin they have been washing in for months.
.....no more.
Grell picks up the basin and throws the dirty slimy water across the dingy room. He looks up and whispers, "Pelor, i need you now more than ever." A tear runs down his cheek,"I have not felt your connection for over a summer and cannot figure out why you have abandoned us.." he whimpers lowly.
Something stirs.....
Grells eyes snap open, his arms shake, his tears dry.
He whispers, "Pelor, i have failed you in this time of need. I will fail no longer. I am never giving up on you, or the others again. I realize now what happened. This is MY FAULT. " Grell pumps his chest. "Pelor you WILL grant me this!!! I am no longer a slave to outside forces. I CONTROL MY DESTINY! PELOR GIVE ME STRENGTH!!"
A shimmer of light cascades from grells hands as fresh water leaks from his fingers into the bowl, filling it. Then he fills 3 buckets in the corner, abruptly the water flow stops, much shorter than it should have been.
Grell crumples to the ground, all energy depleted from his body and mind.
AS he drifts off to a dreamless sleep, his last thought is of Acavel. His last word drifting from his lips," Brother....."
In retrospect...
by Acavel the Night Watchman
Possible future 1
Linnam son of Lennis woke up, and scowled. For an instant between his dreams of Hell-- he always dreamed of Hell, and though the dreams could not frighten him, they could sicken him-- and coming fully awake, he'd thought of himself as Acavel the Nightwatchman. He hated when that happened.
He had slept, as always, with his shadowed cloak pulled around himself like a blanket. He adjusted it into a wearable position while he peered out from the alley. He pulled the hat of disguise onto his head and chose a new face for the day, one with human-looking brown eyes. This hid the black pits that he'd worn for so many years now.
The plan for today: don't get caught. Don't get killed. Steal some food for himself, and some for the band of fools in the underground Church of Pelor. He knew that he should leave them to their own devices; eventually he would be caught if he kept returning there. Really, he should leave Amn altogether. Not that there was anyplace to go that the devils didn't rule, but staying still was a bad idea.
Maybe next week. He would try to find them some food today. He started to think about what old debts kept him tied to the sun-worshippers, then shoved the thought angrily aside.
He decided that, for today, he would target the supply store of the Manticore Brigade, in sour memory of a joke about lions from long ago. It didn't really matter who he hit, as long as he varied his targets more or less randomly. He'd long since given up trying to do real damage to the hell-armies' supply chains or logistics. He would still occasionally steal into one or another administrative center to look at plans and organization. A part of him still imagined that someday he'd find the right domino to knock down to do any real damage. That was why he stayed in Amn-- a regional headquarters for the Flail Army that now ruled the world. That, not the stupid sun-worshippers.
He crawled through the shadows, unseen. He left bodies in his wake. It gave him no satisfaction; as likely as not they'd be zombies the next day, and the world would creep that much closer to death.
He found himself wishing for a Stone Brother to appear behind him and shout at him. He wondered and worried where... no, don't think about it.
But the mood was on him. He couldn't stop thinking about it-- remembering the moment of triumph, the morning after Taur'egk's death. They thought they had won such a great victory. And then it had all turned to ash-- so quickly, so stupidly...
OK, gentlemen,
by Acavel the Night Watchman
Who can come up with what I should propose as a contribution to this?
-----------------------------
Call for Abstracts
Dungeons & Dragons and Philosophy
Edited by Christopher Robichaud
The Blackwell Philosophy and Pop Culture Series
Abstracts and subsequent essays should be philosophically substantial but accessible, written to engage the intelligent lay reader. Contributors of accepted essays will receive an honorarium.
Possible themes and topics might include, but are not limited to, the following:
How much of our moral character is in our control? A look at Drizzt Do’Urden in The Forgotten Realms; Environmental ethics and Dark Sun: What’s so wrong about defiling magic?; Sturm Brightblade and the nature of honor in Dragonlance; Goldmoon and the role of faith and ministry in Dragonlance; Evil and corruption in Ravenloft; The morality of punishment in Ravenloft; Planescape: The metaphysics of The Great Wheel; Can we know the future? The metaphysics and epistemology of divination spells; Polymorphing and personal identity: Did my character survive being changed into a frog?; Animal rights: Is it ethical to summon intelligent animals to fight on our side?; Psionics and the philosophy of mind; Necromancy: What’s wrong about using the dead?; Are dragons persons?; Do demons and devils have free will?; What is it like to be a beholder? Philosophy of perception and the Dungeons & Dragons bestiary; I pull out my longsword and attack! When is violence a morally acceptable solution?; Plundering Castle Greyhawk: Property rights and ruins; Roll your save: Objective versus subjective probability in Dungeons & Dragons; Collaborative storytelling and the philosophy of fiction in Dungeons & Dragons; Buxom barbarians: The portrayal of women in Dungeons & Dragons; Lawful good vs. chaotic evil: the moral spectrum in Dungeons & Dragons; Kill the wizard: Spellcasters and the morality of power; The paladin's dilemma: When should the rule of law be respected and when should it be resisted?; Okay, so you all meet at a tavern one day. Adventuring parties and the nature of group cohesion; My god is better than your god: Polite and impolite disagreement in a world of many deities.
Submission Guidelines:
1. Submission deadline for abstracts (100-500 words) and CV’s: January 30, 2012
2. Submission deadline for first drafts of accepted papers: July 30, 2012
Kindly submit abstract (with or without Word attachment) and CV by email to: Christopher Robichaud (cjrobichaud@gmail.com)
Check out the series website: http://andphilosophy.com/
Darn it!
by Acavel the Night Watchman
I had a dream about our lonely little campaign here in which I came up with the perfect way to fix and restart things... and now I've completely forgotten what it was!
and after a long moment of paralyzed indecision on the part of the trolls
by Acavel the Night Watchman
our heroes get a free round to act and finish them off!
i don't believe you
by Drusilla of the Pomaraj
that scott is alive...
Scott's alive!
by Acavel the Night Watchman
Got confirmation. He's just swamped.
Mouth has had a longer night than the main body of the party (i.e. everyone but Brax)-- difference between role-playing time and combat time! If he wants to regroup with them he can do so whenever he wants. Probably by the time he goes to find them they'll be in their quarters.
Not gone dark yet
by Barik son of Ulrik
A) Okay, I've never actually met Scott in real life. Does anyone have non-virtual contact information, ability to look him up physically, or news of his whereabouts?
B) I intend to respond to Jacob's most recent update of Mouth's situation, so bug me if that doesn't happen relatively soon. OOC, I need to remember (and if someone can help me, that'd be great) how much time has passed, and whether Mouth should hook back up with the group or if he should pursue his information-seeking, or both. If it's feasible to get back to the main body of the party and troop them to the dwarf with the weird wife's house to investigate if she's a doppelganger, I want to do that.
This ones for all of you!
by Grell Shimmerin Priest of Pelor
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3KANI2dpXLw
Email
by Grell Shimmerin Priest of Pelor
I emailed scott and havent heard back from him. Im getting a little worried as this is not like him.
This is
by Acavel the Night Watchman
And now for something completely different.
by Grell Shimmerin Priest of Pelor
Barik's down with the plan
by Barik son of Ulrik
Second (or fourth, whatever) burst, same as the first!
(That is, keep on full attacking with same Power Attack, ideally with the troll continuing to miss.)
OK...
by Acavel the Night Watchman
If fighting defensively isn't working, I'll take two jabs without being on the defensive. We need to whittle him down fast to get past the healing.
+16/+11 with flanking bonus, 7d6+4 per hit, AC 22.
Leeeeeeet's get this party restarted
by The Dungeon Master
As penalty and payment for my being so bastardly late on this post, Barik is able to stand as a free action, take a 5' step in, and full attack the troll. Bad ass style.
The following post reflects 3 rounds of activity, which helps bring the inside party into line with those outside.
* * *
Barik comes to his feet without the troll seeing or sensing the dwarf, and is able to get the surprise drop on the beast.
Barik puts in +5 into power attack, and starts to cut in to the troll with a pair of masterwork hand axes. He let's loose with a barrage of attacks at +12x2,+7x2,+2x2 against the AC 21 troll. Three attacks hit for a total of 30 damage (15 after DR).
The troll spins to face Barik, then regrets it, as Acavel let's loose with a volley of sneak attack arrows. One hits for 21 points of damage (16 after DR, or 31 total).
The troll flails at Barik in anger with his claws and a bite attack, but the adroit stone brother is able to dodge all 3 attacks, while then countering with a series of 3 more strikes. Even as the troll heals, Barik does another 16 net points of damage (bringing total net to 42).
Acavel tumbles in, and strikes once with nightshade. The blade is deflected off the thick hide of the beast, who maintains his focus on Barik who he still sees as the greater threat. All 3 strikes miss, again, leaving the beast quite frustrated.
Barik takes advantage of the flanking position to some effect, hitting two more times on his third round of attacks. Although hitting fewer times, his blows are effective, doing 26 (16 net) points of damage. The troll is able to heal some of the damage from the prior round though, and so the tally on the field is -55 hp for the troll.
Acavel, fighting defensively, is unable to connect with the troll, missing on both attacks.
* * *
Next post will include Dru and Grell charging in, and (we hope) the troll cleanup inside the caves.
Yes, that's my plan
by Barik son of Ulrik
Barik's got two and a half reasons for engaging with the troll.
1. To get a flank so Acavel can deal some real damage.
2. To annoy and frustrate the troll (who hopefully will find me extremely hard to hit) so that, like a predator with unusually ornery prey, he'll go away.
2 1/2. There's the off chance of a critical or high damage roll with Power Attack actually getting some damage through.
So yes, toe-to-toe with the Tro'.
Plan
by Acavel the Night Watchman
His him with three sneak attack arrows, then switch to flanking with Nightshade. (Can't flank with a bow-- that is, I can shoot him while he's fighting Barik, but they won't be sneak attacks.)
Once I close to flanking melee fighting I'll fight on the defensive. So, total stats:
First round, bow, +15/ +10/ +10, 7d6+3 per hit
Subsequently, Nightshade: +12/ +7 (flanking bonus +2, defensive penalty -4), 7d6+4 per hit, AC goes up to 24.
Note that if for some reason I don't think I can flank the troll, I keep my distance and keep hitting him with arrows-- if I can't sneak attack, then the bow does more damage. And remember that any crit I roll with an arrow also adds sneak attack damage.
my bad
by The Dungeon Master
Work has been insane for a couple of weeks, and last weekend was totally sucked up by doing taxes.
So, alas, I am seriously delinquent in posting.
I will try to post a few moves, probably on Saturday, in an attempt to catch Barik and Acavel up with the group. Might I assume the MO will be for Barik to engage toe to toe, and Acavel to sneak attack with the bow and then flank with the same?
Re: What the hell!?!?!?
by Grell Shimmerin Priest of Pelor
what the hell?!?
by Drusilla of the Pomaraj
what's going on?
question
by Acavel the Night Watchman
What's the distance from my hidey-place to the troll?
My big fancy upcoming move is to sneak attack it with arrows; am I within range?
Assuming yes, my stats will eventually be
+15/+10/+10 to hit, 7d6+3 damage.
Attack, refs to stats
by Barik son of Ulrik
So, Barik's attack stats are listed in the post I've chained to this one. They indicate that with two (Masterwork) throwing axes, Barik's attacks are +15/+10/+5 (x2 hands, of course) vs. troll, +17/+12/+7 if the troll doesn't see me.
Which means my first strikes are about 50% to hit as-is. I'm inclined, however, to think that each ordinary attack isn't going to be enough to get through the DR+Regen., so I'm going to Power Attack -5 to hit/+5 damage, in the hopes of actually hurting it (and banking on the fairly good chance of a critical out of 6 attacks. It seems to work for fumbles.)
Also, I'll re-mention that Barik's AC vs. trolls is 30, just in case it comes up. ;)
Update: Oops, for my first attack, I already spent a move getting up, so I only get one attack. On the bright side, because of that, it's not two-handed, so it's +17 (+19 if the troll doesn't see me comin'). I'll up the Power attack to +7/-7 as a result.
Barik gets ready to take on a Troll
by The Dungeon Master
Barik is only 5' away, and I'll rule that he was able to draw a throwing axe as part of his move action to stand up. This puts him within a 5' step of the troll, ready to do some serious damage.
Barik, you think the troll's AC is in the high 20s. Let me know your power attack and stats.
- DM
Um, ok...
by Barik son of Ulrik
This troll we're faced with is shaken...has it been injured at all yet?
In terms of weapons, I've got some throwing axes (masterwork, in fact) still on me.
I'm suspicious they won't do enough damage, at least not without critical hits, though. So I eye the orcish axe. If it looks magical, I'm picking it up. If not, I'll just go throwing axe in both hands. I'm mostly there as flank-fodder for Acavel to do the sneaky damage to him, anyway.
It sounds like I'm not close enough to full attack, but I can at least charge in (and it sounds like, since the troll doesn't know I'm there, I can get past its reach).
Just for giggles (and to try to make any damage last), I'll power attack. Whatever Barik thinks will make his first two strikes about 50% likely to hit. (If the troll's AC is too high for that to be possible, then I won't bother with the Power Attack.)
To sum up: Barik's going to attack this troll and threaten as much damage as possible this very turn, and depend on his various AC bonuses to keep him safe until the troll goes down or loses morale and goes away.
barik?
by The Dungeon Master
Barik...come on and post? (I need to catch you and Acavel up to the outside timeline, so...post!)
next steps
by Acavel the Night Watchman
Acavel spends next round restringing his broken bow and the following round sneak-attacking the troll with three arrows.
Acavel goes MIA...Yo, dwarf!
by The Dungeon Master
Acavel, thinking quick on his feet, goes for a "Heroic Bluff".
Side note...he's somewhat far away from the closest stalagmites. I ruled maneuver a DC 30 to really pull off something phenomenal, and the Troll is Large, and so has pretty good line of sight. Acavel rolled a 32.
Acavel takes two steps forward as if charging the troll, readying an action for another impressive fleche attack. With his off hand, he grabs a couple of loose silver pieces from his pouch using quick draw. At the last moment, he tosses the coins at the troll's eyes, crying out: "Stupid beast! Can't catch me! So catch this!"
Slow motion. Zoom in on coin heads. One is an Amnish coin, showing the head of Bishop's grandfather. The other is orc pressed from the forges here in Crystal Downs. Acavel had not noticed this before, but it's marked with Hextor's seal. The coins toss end over end, catching the flickering light from a far off torch. The troll makes as if to swat the coins away. As it's hand passes before his face, the camera zooms back to Acavel's last known location. You see his boots exiting, stage left.
Acavel dives behind the cover of a nearby stalagtite., Midair, he catches a glimpse of Barik, coming to his feet. His friend smiles back, gathering himself to attack. With catlike grace, Acavel lands in a crouch behind rocky cover, and on instantly brings his hard breathing to a full and complete stop. He knows know fear. He hides now with concern, but with grit and determination. thinking through his next move.
* * *
Barik - what's your move. The Troll does not know you're free...yet.
Since you're on the road and can't check
by Acavel the Night Watchman
my AC is 92. :-)
(It's 22.)
"Grasping the intent but not the literal message"
Was the speech too florid? Or does he not seem to understand orcish? or...?
Anyway, confirming something from e-mail, you wrote me that "This area has stal[ag]mites off to the side, creating a decent condition for you to hide."
So to the best of my judgment I could pull off the never-before-attempted-by-me Bluff (+13) followed by Hide (+24) maneuver? If that looks promising, Acavel tries it, and hopes that the puzzled troll spends his round looking for me rather than turning back on Barik.
To ensure it, as a free action before my feint I give a good "Stupid beast! Can't catch me!"
Inside...the drama continues
by The Dungeon Master
New Round
Acavel combine the "fear effect" of the mask with a "bluff" attempt )(in Orcish), in an attempt to scare off the troll handler. With the Mask's eyes glowing bright red, he intones: "As far as I know, you and your creature have not offended against me. The priests must die, and their souls will burn. But if you quietly take your creature to the level below, leaving my servant there where he lies, and hide there for three hours, you will be free to leave, and live. Else, you face my magic, my blade, and my wrath."
The troll-handler either succombs to the bluff, the mask, or both. Grasping the intent but not the literal message, the troll handler starts to stutter, drops his axe, turns, and then flees, leaving Acavel, Barik, and the troll behind.
The troll looks at the troll handler, then back at Acavel, back at the handler, and then at Acavel. Deciding that Acavel looks like a tasty morsel, the beast rushes into action. He covers the ground quickly. However, the rogue is able to dodge the attack, barely avoiding a viscous claw swipe.
(Acavel, can you confirm your AC...I want to make sure I have this right, as I'm on the road...)
Unguarded, Barik is able to get to work on freeing himself. In a tremendous feat of strength, he's able to burst apart a weak chain link! He spends the rest of his action freeing himself, and gaining his feet.
(Barik, your axe and hammer are back in the other room. If you have another weapon, great, otherwise there's an orc axe not 5' from your current position).
staying safe...
by Drusilla of the Pomaraj
Dru intends to let the guardian go in and see who's still alive and kicking. She'll keep advancing, but starts putting some space between herself and the front line folks so she doesn't end up taking fire. If there is a spot she can get some cover an still see what is going on, then she'll take it.
D&D with super-heroes
by Acavel the Night Watchman
Just to check...
by Barik son of Ulrik
I "only" have to make a bust-out-of-chains roll, right? As opposed to before when I had to get like 3 rolls?
Obviously, I try to do that.
One more try
by Acavel the Night Watchman
Once Barik's down, with my remaining action this round, I hit the troll-handler with the standard fear effect (from 30')-- and now he's at -2 on his saving throw.
Next round, if the handler still hasn't been scared off, I'm going to switch to a Bluff. +15 against orcs. Orcish. "As far as I know, you and your creature have not offended against me. The priests must die, and their souls will burn. But if you quietly take your creature to the level below, leaving my servant there where he lies, and hide there for three hours, you will be free to leave, and live. Else, you face my magic, my blade, and my wrath."
If the handler has been scared off, but the troll is standing his ground, my next question: is there a plausible hiding place nearby that I might get to with the Bluff-plus-Hide combination?
ok
by The Dungeon Master
I'm assuming double moves. So 30' base = 60 double it 30 + casting.
Charge
by Grell Shimmerin Priest of Pelor
Grell charges from here on out to get to where he is going, which in an actual charge would be 60' per round, not 30,which is a standard move, not a "charge" move, so unless im just reading wrong,
and i am drunk,
then ill be there in 2.5 rounds instead of 5 rounds.
which really wont matter in which the trolls will still have enough rounds to heal hp.
grell will save the rest of his spells to heal in combat, which is something he is better at anyway.
good day to die either way.
The drama continues!
by The Dungeon Master
Acavel turns his gaze on the quintet moving towards the main mining area in order to unleash the full gaze effect of Taur'egk's Mask of Fear. The skull's eyes grow a brilliant red. In the slow seconds that follow, all the grunts simultaneously drop their weapons. Before they even hit the rock below, they turn on their heels and and begin to bolt deeper into the mines.
The troll and handler both make their saves, but both are shaken (a technical term meaning -2 on just about all his rolls) by the mask's effects. Moreover, the troll handler is concerned (a technical term having more to do with a morale check an NPC needs to make in the face of rather concerning facts on the ground which they are generally paid to face on a daily basis) by the fact that the Nightwatchman has somehow escaped the high priest's deadly blade barrier.
Faced with such conerning facts, the handler takes the most reasonable course of action he can think of.
To the troll: "Leave the prisoner with me, and go kill him. Kill him now! Show no mercy!"
The troll - itself shaken - drops Barik, and starts to take a step forward, but then hesitates. It looks down towards it's handler, and shakes it's head, ending his action roughly parallel to the handler. Both are still 30' away from Acavel (unless he opted to close the distance at all on the pair).
Barik finds himself on the ground, 5' behind the troll and handler, no longer pinned. He attempts a "break" check on the chains this round, but fails.
* * *
Outside:
I am planning to let outside get "ahead" of inside by several rounds in order to close the distances. Grell's base move is 30', and he starts out ahead of the party by some bit. Dru also moves at 30' Bishop and Krimdar move at 20'. The Guardian also moves at 20'.
The questions are these.
Grell will be able to charge over the boulder barrier 5 rounds in (attacking on the standard action of 5th round), if all he does is move with haset. The Guardian can close the distance in three rounds, attaching on the 3rd round. Dru can keep pace, but starts out farther back, and can close the full distance in 6 rounds, or could hang back and lob spells. As they move slower, It will take the warriors 7 rounds.
So...
Do people just want to charge the full way, or is anyone casting any spells first, or alternately is anyone slowing down to let Bishop and Krimdar keep pace.
Please advise!
hey, DM
by Acavel the Night Watchman
it's a dramatic moment; roll some dice for Will saves!
big boy
by Drusilla of the Pomaraj
Dru will send the Guardian in to the fray. I want to get an eye on who is still standing. As soon as he is close enough he let's loose with another round of Crystal spikes, focusing on any trolls still standing.
Dru will keep moving forward with the guarding, but using either him, or nearby rocks for cover, never leaving herself exposed to the bad guys.
woo-hoo!
by Acavel the Night Watchman
OK, then let's give this a shot. I unleash my Cone of Fear on all of them. I hope that Barik, being carried around like a sack of potatoes, isn't looking directly at me. If he is, I try to aim the effect over his head, if it works like that, since he's a few feet lower than all of my enemies' eyes. But I'm willing to use it even if he's affected-- he's tied up, and won't run away from me in a random direction.
Crucially, "A panicked creature must drop anything it holds." So if the troll's affected, he drops Barik.
That's a standard action. If the troll-handler is unaffected (which is to say, only Shaken) the first time, I use my move action to hit him with the Cause Fear effect.
If everybody panics, then I spend my move action moving to Barik.
If the troll-handler is panicked but troll is only Shaken, I'll need an overall accounting (are the grunts affected?) before deciding how to spend my move action.
distance
by The Dungeon Master
You are 30' away. There is the troll handler, 3 grunts, and the troll holding barik
distance?
by Acavel the Night Watchman
How far am I, and how many are they?
Run that damn dog down
by The Dungeon Master
Acavel turns the corner, spots the injured grunt within charging distance, and does not hesitate. The grunt sees him coming, but Acavel has the drop on him. With a second flesche attack in as many rounds, Acavel successfully runs him through with Nightshade. At the same time, the horrid effects of the preist's curse wear off.
The troll-handler turns and sees Acavel coming. He warns his men: "At arms. A tricky one, him, but Darkclaw will be pleased if we are able to bring him this one as well, dead or alive."
Concurrently, Barik's mind is freed of the Hold Person spell. He's still bound and grappled, but is free to act, shout insults, or whatever.
if this grunt
by Acavel the Night Watchman
got hit by Bailin's and my shooting before, I Charge with Nightshade. +14 (blight penalty cancels charge bonus), d6+4 damage (blight cancels favored enemy bonus).
If he's completely uninjured, I close to 30' away and then hit him with Frightening Gaze.
catching acavel up
by The Dungeon Master
Barik makes his save, and could move except for the fact that he's chained and grappled.
Acavel catches up to the grunt, who turns to see him coming. However, Acavel wins initiative, and could move in or charge attack before the grunt's action if desired.
move with the group
by Grell Shimmerin Priest of Pelor
Grell will move in with the group to attack.
I am the one
by Acavel the Night Watchman
I do think that's one of the niftiest effects of Evasion ever, since it doesn't involve jumping out of the way of the danger but rather right through it. Woo, one successful saving through so far.
(By the way, DM, please don't forget Barik's new saving throw every round.)
"When the barrier went up I was still on the ground-- haven't had a chance yet. And I wasn't at all sure I could pull that off. I'll return..."
Acavel sets off at a full run in the direction Barik's been taken. If that brings me into contact with the other grunt, let me know. Otherwise my only focus is on catching up and getting to within 30' of the troll and handler.
Yes
by The Dungeon Master
But I thought things out here had gone pretty well.
Uh, yeah, I agree...with the exception of how things are working out for Barik. That said, it could be worse.
* * *
Outside, I assume (once Grell stops bitching) that he high-steps it for a full move action, along with the rest of the crew.
So, everyone gets 80' to 120' closer this round depending on movement rates.
Let me know your actions next round, including whether you are going to continue to run vs. double move, and/or cast spells.
ummm...
by Drusilla of the Pomaraj
so... maybe I haven't been paying attention...
But I thought things out here had gone pretty well. Bad guys decimate each other- check. we mop up the few remaining ones- check. No one other than the Guardian really takes any damage- check (guardian heals himself)- check. and now we have the last few baddies pinned in. They have cover, but they are trapped between a flaming wall and our area spells. I was at a point where I was saving fireballs for the next group of trolls we run into inside. I figure there will be more, and wasn't going to burn out all my spells on this first encounter. All in all, it's been a little disorganized, but we've done this whole battle with no hand to hand combat being necessary (which from Dru's point of view is the only way against trolls).
From here the Guardian goes in and we head in keeping cover behind the giant.
Command the Guardian to start advancing to where the trolls might still be at full speed. Dru makes sure to turn on the Damage sharing function of the guardian so that if she get's hit it won't be too bad.
"everyone regroup and let's finish this fight and get inside to the others." she says this in a loud whisper. She doesn't want to give away that we have hopefully still invisible friends inside.
If we need it I have plenty of beef you up spells, but again I think we are almost through this thing aren't we?
Acavel pulls a Neo
by The Dungeon Master
(Using his quickdraw feat) Acavel exchanges weaponry, says a silent prayer (those are the traditinoal kind of the Night Watchman), and leaps through the blade barrier.
As Acavel's feat leave the floor, he's able to surpress the sickness of the High Priest's spell during a brief moment of prescience. At that instant, he surpresses his breathing, stills his heart, and in Acavel's mind, the blades simply sloooow doooown.
(And here, I'm reminded, alternately, of several very cool scenes in Inception, as well as a news story I once heard on great atheletes including Larry Bird and Wayne Gretsky. Apparently, the one trait they share in common is their ability to "see" the ball/puck. They describe it as if it's moving in slow motion.)
A moment later, not realizing how and sure he couldn't easily repeat the feat, Acave finds himself landing with catlike grace on the far side of the barrier.
This action simply stuns the orc on the far side of the wall. It's simply the last thing he ever expected. Ever. And Acavel still has a standard action remaining. Before his heart has a chance to take another beat, before he draws another breath, Acavel leaps forward in a flesche attack against the flatfooted orc.
Catching the orc unawares, he score's a sneak attack! Despite the orc's partial cover, Acavel lands a blow which pierces the orc right through the throat, silencing his cries before he has a chance to call for help.
Finally breathing, Acavel lets the orc slip from his blade.
Dumbfounded, Bailin asks: "Now...kind sir, was this all a ruse to get the priest away? If not...well...why by Clangeddin's beard didn't you do that before?"
you are a punk @ss whiny b*tch who needs to learn to read a map and play a 13th level character
by The Dungeon Master
OK, you've pissed me off, so I'm going to rant back.
First, here's the map.
It's the same damn map you've seen for months. 10' per square. The party is 60 off the edge of the map. Learn to read a g-ddamn map and count 10' squares. It's really not that hard.
Also, what's your bitching about this enounter? First of all, it's not me that split up the party, leaving all the high level spell casters back at the ranch.
Oh, yeah, and wait. Outside, you've got two high level bad-ass casters who have a wide variety of area effect spells which simply kick ass against clustered bad guys. It's not my problem if they've left the big guns at home.
Have you looked at 5th and 6th level cleric and wizard spells lately? They don't suck. Try flame strike. Or maybe chain lightning. Worried about the bad guys running away before you get your cool spells in? Try blade barrier in a combo strike with that wall of fire. Works like a charm.
Want to save the bad ass spells? Try fireball. Need to beef it up? Use empowered fireball. They work great against trolls. Need a preistly spells for those inclined towards Pelor? Try holy smite. A couple of those packed in with a fireball or two and all those troll handlers are yesterday's toast, and suddenly you've got a group of unruly trolls ready to go Trolls Gone Wild on their former captors. The math's just not that hard. The troll handlers have hit points in the low 40s...give em a couple of good high level spells (12 dice and a failed save might even do the trick) before they have the opportunity to down a healing potion, and suddenly they're greeting Hextor at his own doorstep.
Worried about being able to close large distances quickly over rough terrain? Try flight. Or air walk. Maybe haste? Expiditous retreat? Perhaps dimension door is more your flavor for moving large groups of good guys into strategic positions. Want overkill? Try teleport, as Dru has it memorized 3 times.
Worried about runing into combat against a group of regenerating trolls? Try some low level spells, like Bears Endurance, or Bull's Strenth. Mabye you're worried about getting hit? Try shield of faith. I hear all these spells last 1 min per level. It's not like you haven't had forever to cast prep spells and plan the combat out before deciding to engage with the enemy.
Oh, yeah, and you have a devistating crystal golemn with you with a DR 10, and a high level paladin NPC along for the ride who's just waiting for the party to close ranks. Oh, yeah, and nobody outside has taken any damage yet.
I don't know a single DM **worth his salt** who wouldn't wipe the ground with a group of high level PCs who didn't bother to think through or prepare for an assault. In terms of DMs we've played with together, John, Jon and Smitty will not hesitate to make dog paste out of a group of cocky PCs who don't do at least some basic homework.
And that's what spell casters do, they plan ahead and cast spells, and help the party by beefing themselves and other up. They have a basic plan. They think through how they're going to close the distance quickly when the rogue shouts for help.
Sheesh. Start playing and quit your bitching.
This rant is officially over.
dude!
by Acavel the Night Watchman
Don't give up; you guys have almost punched through the mouth of the cave and we're going to need you inside.
Inside, I tell Bailin and the other dwarf to keep up covering fire. I grab Nightshade and sheathe the bow, not bothering to restring it (m***f*** fumble)... and then say a silent prayer for a better roll when I try for a Reflex save and succeessful Evasion as I step through the Blade Barrier.
WHAT?
by Grell Shimmerin Priest of Pelor
On the map you said we were 60' away.
YOu really have to do better with those maps or learn how to DM and get us stuff closer to our level.
I know i sound like some little bitch punk but im really getting tired of feeling outnumbered, outflanked, and feeling like you dont really know how to setup a conflict.
Maybe its just the disconnect of internet but its getting real goddamn old having to go against stuff you cant take without having to get lucky or just run away from.
And if it comes down to it, ill just turn into vapor and fly away before i quit this game.
Im near done.
Sorry if i come off like a dick, but thats how i feel at this point.
the point is moot because
by The Dungeon Master
You're too far away to get there. See the original map. You're going to need to move about 250' up the path if you don't want to run over the scree. You took a 30' move. This round on the staightaway you could take a full run as your move action.
Or, if you have some alternate means of transport to move as the crow flies, you can cut the distance quite a bit.
I think i know the answer but...
by Grell Shimmerin Priest of Pelor
So since Dru cast Ice Storm after i went,does this mean, since its 1 round, that it lasts until her next turn, which would mean that i'd have to hold action to get to the trolls area without getting caught in the storm, or are we far enough away that it wont matter, or are you just gonna let it go....or....or....... WELL?!!!? ;)
Another round of havoc
by The Dungeon Master
Inside...
Acavel and Bailin take up missile weapons in an attempt to take down the two grunts.
The first shot hits, and does 5 points of damage. On Acavel's 2nd shot, he fumbles his bow, snapping the string! He seems to have caught Barik's Disease.
Bailin gets off one shot with a crossbow, scoring 3 points of damage. The shot is almost enough to take down the grunt, but not quite.
The grunts are miffed at this unexpected outburst from the prisoners. Prisoners trapped inside powerful blade barriers aren't suppost to start shooting arrows. The injured grunt says to the non-injured one: "Take cover and keep an eye on the beardrats! I'm going for help."
The injured grunt heads out of the Forge while his comrade takes cover, arming himself with his own crossbow.
Meanwhile, Barik gets carted off towards the east.
* * *
Outside, Grell drops the disguise and goes full Pelor on everyone.
As he rushes into the fray, trying to gain ground on the trolls before they fully regenerate, he yells at the top of his lungs.
"BY MY HAND, GRELL, THE AVATAR OF PELOR, FEEL HIS WRATH UPON THEE SCUM OF HEXTORS FLAIL!! I HAVE BATHED IN THE LIGHT OF HIM AND HE BLESSES ME WITH FERVOR! I HAVE SPIT IN THE FACE OF YOUR GOD, AND FOUND HIM WANTING! FEAR ME NOW, FOR I HAVE BECOME VENGEANCE!!"
At the end of the run (30'), he casts Fire Shield.
Meanwhile, Bishop and Krimdar follow suit, taking a double move action (40') to close the distance on the trolls.
At the same time as this happens, Drusilla provides "covering fire"...or, well, "covering ice", by casting Ice Storm. It's centered to catch the trolls. It's not possible to tell how many die (they have full cover), but from the screams, the spell seems to be having some effect.
For now, however, the trolls do not emerge from behind cover.
cleaning up the mess
by Drusilla of the Pomaraj
Dru casts an Ice storm centered to catch the trolls. Not fire damage, but hopefully enough to finish them off
What more is there to say?
by Barik son of Ulrik
Barik silently hopes for rescue.
[I attack, I fumble. I attack, I fumble again. Then I get held, pinned, and chained. I think it's better off all 'round if I keep my comments about this as brief as possible.]
???
by The Dungeon Master
Where is everyone?
line of sight
by The Dungeon Master
Does he have line-of-fire on them from inside the blade barrier?
Indeed you do.
So does Bailin, and although he isn't currently carrying a crossbow, he will retrieve a discarded crossbow from a downed grunt (the grunts who came in with the priest had crossbows).
UPDATE
If you wait a full round, you can have an extra dwarf get armed and you could fire as a trio (just a grunt dwarf, though...long odds on getting in a good shot through the blade barrier against armed dwarves).
If...if...you want to use your standard action this round on a bluff check, and are successful, you could concievably bluff the guards into putting down their guard, allowing you to catch them flat footed. Not an easy check since they're on their toes to begin with, but you get at good roll and I will allow for rollplaying bonuses...
Acavel...
by Acavel the Night Watchman
had an elaborate post action started then noticed those two grunts standing guard. Does he have line-of-fire on them from inside the blade barrier? I know they get a +4 to AC, but if I can shoot them, that's my action. Three arrows distributed as needed to try to kill two grunts, +12/ +7/ +7, d6+3, blight penalty included in both.
If he doesn't have line-of-fire, then it's back to his other plan: a horrified and sickened "I must press on, but will return" to Bailin, grab Nightshade, and hope and pray for one successful saving throw while slipping through the blade barrier (+11 including blight penalty)
Well, it has to end sometime.
by Grell Shimmerin Priest of Pelor
Grell drops the disguise and goes full Pelor on everyone.
As he rushes into the fray, trying to gain ground on the trolls before they fully regenerate, he yells at the top of his lungs.
"BY MY HAND, GRELL, THE AVATAR OF PELOR, FEEL HIS WRATH UPON THEE SCUM OF HEXTORS FLAIL!! I HAVE BATHED IN THE LIGHT OF HIM AND HE BLESSES ME WITH FERVOR! I HAVE SPIT IN THE FACE OF YOUR GOD, AND FOUND HIM WANTING! FEAR ME NOW, FOR I HAVE BECOME VENGEANCE!!"
At the end of the run,(move equivalent only) he will activate his fire shield.
Sitrep
by The Dungeon Master
Inside:
2 grunts inside the forge standing guard. They are currently wielding battle axes but carry crossbows.
Acavel, Bailin, and 3 forge dwarves (amended upon review) are trapped inside the blade barrier. Acavel is sickened until further notice, suffering a -2 penalty on all attack rolls, weapon damage rolls, saving throws, skill checks, and ability checks. Bailin and and Acavel are wounded from battle, where as the 3 dwarves are not.
The priest and his acolytes are heading towards the main cave entrance. The troll-handler and some grunts are just outside of visual range, heading east inside the caves.
Outside:
The enemy has regrouped and taken cover behind the boulders in positions outside the range of the still-raging wall of fire. 3 trolls behind enemy lines, 2 badly wounded and 1 only so-so. All 3 are regenerating. There are 5 handlers, and 9 grunts.
Orcs last round
by The Dungeon Master
The troll and handler held their action until the grunts completed their action. So, the grunts did the legwork to assist in the grapple and chain Barik up, and then the troll and handler made tracks.
I figure a handful of grunts could chain one little dwarf in one round.
Ha. It's almost a bad joke. How many orcs does it take to chain up a dwarf?
Oh, and I guess...
by The Dungeon Master
The blade barrier is probably set back a little bit from where I put it on the map. Roughly the same effect, regardless.
the unholy blight of the dwarven rebellion
by The Dungeon Master
The map here shows the dwarves and acavel relative to the blade barrier and unholy blight. The dwarves had two rounds to rush in to surround the orcs and come to Acavel's aid. Some dwarves would have been bottlenecked in the corridor.
I think the unholy blight would have been able to easily get the bulk of the dwarves. You might make the arguement that a few dwarves actually would have been caught in the north room, outside the effect of both the blade barrier and the unholy blight - both cut off but also alive. (I'm open to it...who doesn't want to take pity on freed dwarf prisoners?) I wasn't moving the pegs on my map each round to keep careful track of movement... If that seeems like the reasonable response, I'll make a luck roll for the random number of lucky dwarves.
That said, the blade barrier spell has a duration of minutes, not rounds, so in combat terms it won't matter.
stay in combat time!
by Acavel the Night Watchman
DM, question about the unholy blight geography sent by e-mail.
Please keep things moving in rounds-- it sounded like a lot of actions Barik's captors took all at once!
Inside the blade cage
by The Dungeon Master
Acavel holds his action until just after the dwarves, before the orcs. As expected, the dwarves rush in as a mob, ripping the orcs off Acavel. In short order, they pulverize the orcs trapped inside the blade barrier with their forge hammers.
Acavel is able to quickly pick the locks on his shackles and stand up this round. He spots Nightshade lying on the ground about 15' away, and can easily retrieve his weapon next round as part of a move action.
Before that, though, he attempts to rattle the priest.
[Laughter] "I have scorned Hextor's wrath to his face, little yutlumbakala, and I've earned it a thousand times over. His true wrath, not your little magic tricks. I have spent more years spitting at Hextor's wrath than you have been alive. His hell could not hold me. When you arrive there for your punishment a few moments from now, give the Old Barbazu regards from he who Watches the Night. Only the sun-priest at your front door has done more to frustrate your fool-god."
This catches the priest somewhat off guard. He replies back, in Infernal, spitting his words: "So, not traitors after all, but agents of the sun. So the Lion Brigade rumors are true. Seeing as you have Taur'egk's mask, I suppose that means the wizard is now dead. Well, the consequence of that will be for a high priest will assume his rightly place as Hextor's Fist in command. No more."
Pauses. Holds fist up, clenching it tight. It is consumed in a black smoke as he speaks his next words.
"Thank you for warning me about the sun-priest outside. I will prepare accordingly. For now, you and your pathetic dwarf friends will FEEL THE HERALD'S WRATH!"
From his fist, the priest calls up an unholy power to smite his enemies. The power takes the form of a cold, cloying miasma of greasy darkness, which extends from his fist. He throws the ball of darkness forward, and it explodes silently inside the blade barrier cage, centered on Acavel and the dwarves.
Everyone inside takes 30 points of damage, Will save for half...
On his Will save, Acavel rolls a 1.
In addition, Acavel is immediately sickened by the slimy rank aftereffects of the spell. For now, Acavel, you are at a -2 penalty on all attack rolls, weapon damage rolls, saving throws, skill checks, and ability checks.
All the Dwarves except for Bailin are immediately slain by the high-priest's spell. Bailin, however, succeeds on his save and is able to both withstand the damage from the spell and shake off the effects of the sickness.
Satisfied, the high-priest barks some commands.
To the troll-handler: "Secure that prisoner there (pointing to Barik), and take him back to a cell. Leave a pair of guards here to keep an eye on those two (pointing to Acavel and Bailin), I'll deal with them later."
"As for this one (Barik), keep him away from the other dwarves. Then come back with a half dozen trolls and handlers. Leave the rest on guard. Double time it."
To the acolytes: "With me. Prepare for battle. Let us bring down this sun-priest. Take no prisoners."
With that, he turns on his heel and heads off (single move action) towards the combat outside with his acolytes.
As for the troll and orcs, they make short work of Barik. With the troll pinning Barik, a pair of orcs are able to secure Barik in chains. His wrists and legs are bound together in a chain and shackles. (Basically, they thread the wrist shackles through the chain connecting the leg irons. This leaves Barik in a bent over position ... It would be very difficult to walk sandwiched over this way, but the troll has him pinned and is carrying him regardless, so this is of no immediate consequence).
With Barik secure, the troll, handler, and remaining grunts head east, back towards the mines. Barik is now not only pinned, but also bound in chains.
Breaking the chains requires (absent lock picking skills) a DC 26 strength check. To attempt this, you need to first break the pin (an opposed grapple check). So, getting free is now a 3 step process - break the pin in order to do anything, break the chains in order to maneuver, and then attempt to break the grapple. All this against a large troll with a 29 strength. The odds are dim.
Barik silently hopes for rescue.
Amendment to the last move (Grell & Krimdar)
by The Dungeon Master
I actually rolled and tallied Grell's attack, but forgot to post it.
Grell launched the Searing Light spell at troll 5, who was charging in to battle. This is the blow that *nearly* but not quite killed it. The troll staggered forward, and Bishop then took it down with a pair of arrows (one to drop it, a second to make sure it stayed dead.
Sorry I missed that.
Krimdar, lacking a useful ranged weapon or any nearby troll to attack, grunts.
Krimdar, too
by Acavel the Night Watchman
also omitted, though maybe he decided to hold off.
sooooo
by Grell Shimmerin Priest of Pelor
My action would be after the trolls have taken cover then? since i didnt see it mentioned in the post where everyone else went?
Not sure of where initiative lies to be honest lol
and then
by Acavel the Night Watchman
Darkclaw and company hear the cries for help, leave us behind, and go run right into the Wall of Fire! Yay!
;-)
Outside - dancing with the trolls
by The Dungeon Master
Drusilla fires off a volley of scorching rays at the on-rushing troll. All three hit the troll squarely in the chest, doing a total of 34 hp of damage to the already wounded troll. It slows briefly, but then doubles down in rage, charging towards the wizard at full tilt.
The guardian then takes a 5' step back, and lets loose with it's crystal spikes, hitting both troll 2 (flanking it) and troll 5 (the charging troll). The volley does 36 points of damage (33 after DR) total, nearly shredding the troll flanking it.
But, it appears that the charging troll is able to weave out of the way, and so only takes half damage (15 after DR). The blast is nearly enough to take it down, but still the beast charges on.
Bishop takes the opportunity to finish the job started by Grell and Dru, firing a pair of arrows at Troll 2 and Troll 5. The arrows all find their mark, and as both trolls are already badly wounded Bishop is able to take them down this round.
On the counterattack, the troll-handlers reconsider the charge, and instead retreat. At the same time, the not-quite-dead Troll 4 recovers, dusts itself off, and retreats with the others. One of the nearby troll handlers gives the badly wounded troll his potion of healing, which the troll simply eats (glass vial and all). By the end of the round, the trolls have taken up defensive positions behind the boulders. The defenders take entrenched positions, seeking full cover in order to regroup and regenerate.
Current status:
3 trolls behind enemy lines, 2 badly wounded and 1 only so-so. There are 5 handlers, and 9 grunts. Their retreat is cut off by Dru's continuing wall of fire. The enemy has taken positions of full cover behind the boulders, essentially hunkering down for the moment. One of the troll handlers is shouting back through the wall of fire for help.
Out of the frying pan, into the Ginsu commercial
by Acavel the Night Watchman
At some point soon I'm going to be trying my Reflex save and Evasion against that Blade Barrier. But not while I'm shackled. And there's nothing I can do for Barik other than hope that he makes his next saving throw.
I'll hold action until just after the dwarves, before the orcs. In the (I hope likely) event that a mob of dwarves can deal with my two grunts, I should be able to pick my shackles and stand up this round. I keep track of where Nightshade has ended up.
If one of the grunts isn't dead, I use the frightening gaze on the survivor, then pick the shackles; standing can wait until next round.
In any case, backtalk, in Infernal-- let's see whether that surprises our priest.
[Laughter] "I have scorned Hextor's wrath to his face, little yutlumbakala, and I've earned it a thousand times over. His true wrath, not your little magic tricks. I have spent more years spitting at Hextor's wrath than you have been alive. His hell could not hold me. When you arrive there for your punishment a few moments from now, give the Old Barbazu regards from he who Watches the Night. Only the sun-priest at your front door has done more to frustrate your fool-god."
"Yutlumbakala" is a contemptuous hellish insult, naming the recipient as worthy only to be punished by low-ranking imps while making graphic reference to the a gruesome kind of torture involving the imps' stinging tails and their willingness to burrow into inappropriate orifices.
I think,
by Grell Shimmerin Priest of Pelor
that another searing light at the trolls is in order.
Next round inside the forge
by The Dungeon Master
Note - I've posted straightforward NPC moves for Barik (ahem) who failed to post actions for the latest round.
* * *
Inside the forge, Acavel finally breaks free of the enchantment holding him in a state of frustrating paralysis, only to find himself unarmed and face down on the forge floor with a 225 lb, sweaty orc on top of him. His legs are bound in chains, with iron clamps around his wrists. The troll-handler has joined the grapple, and is ready and waiting to thread a chain through the wrist irons, as a grunt hurries back with a chain in hand. Acavel takes note that this third orc has also picked up Nightshade. This. Pisses. Acavel. Off.
Fighting for breath, Acavel yells out: "Bailin, strike now-- you and your men are needed!"
Bailin responds: "To arms! Attack!" This round, they charge in, looking armed and dangerous.
Acavel, as a move action, twists his head and tries the Frightening Gaze effect on the troll-handler. The third time's a charm, and he immediately lets go of Acavel's wrists and bolts towards the exit. Acavel growls at the orc holding me: "Your doom is at hand."
Acavel then proceeds to (easily) break the pin, getting his arms free. He's able to twist away from the orc, but not yet stand.
The two adjacent orcs move in to attempt to reengage the grapple. They are, however, both unsuccessful at pinning down the wirey rogue.
To the south, faced with an angry troll, Barik attemts to (a) not fumble, and (b) rally. He's able to land two attacks with Anar's Axe, doing a total of 24 points of damage to the beast (before DR, which, partially to make my life easier, Barik estimates to be DR 3 adamantite). Total damage to the troll: 18 hp.
On the troll's counterattack, it moves into Barik's square and attempts to grapple. Barik takes an attack of opportunity, and scores an additional 15 hp net.
Total damage to the troll: 33 hp.
The troll gets 2 attacks. On the first, the troll gets a hand on Barik, but the dwarf is ready for the attack and is able to beat the grapple! On the troll's second attack, Barik is able to easily sidestep a clumsy grap.
The high priest moves back behind another line of rank-and-file, commanding his troops into action.
Three spiritual flails close in on Acavel this round, attempting to strike. One of them lands a lucky blow, hitting Acavel for 7 hit points of damage.
Three more attack Barik, one hitting for 3 hit points.
Meanwhile, several orcs swarm around Barik, preventing any easy escape while attacking with battle axes. One hits this round for 4 more hit points.
A moment later, Barik feels himself being mentally attacked by a pair of acolytes casting Hold Person spells. He shakes off the first attack, but on a roll of 2 he succumbs this round to the same fate as Acavel, freezing up. He does not look forward to what's about to come...
Before the round's end, the high priest call's upon Hextor's power to bring down an immobile, vertical curtain of whirling blades shaped of pure force. The blade barrier which reaches to the ceiling, and is of sufficient radius to capture Acavel as well as the onrushing dwarves. There is no apparent way past the blades without simply rushing through the deadly force wall. Several dwarves bringing up the rear are caught directly in the blade barrier's deadly midst, and are instantly shredded into tiny chunks of dwarf-spray.
The high-priest calls out: "Lion Brigadiers, dwarf slaves, surrender now! Or face Hextor's wrath!
kinda hoping
by The Dungeon Master
To have Grell and Barik post actions, but if they don't put something up soon I'll probably just keep it moving along.
Maybe I'll assume Barik surrenders.
marco...
by Drusilla of the Pomaraj
where is everyone?
by Grell Shimmerin Priest of Pelor
http://diehardgamefan.com/2011/01/27/rift-planes-of-telara-beta-hands-on-preview/
The above link is a hands on preview i wrote for my friends website, diehardgamefan.com, for the new MMO Rift: Planes of Telara.
The below website is the summation i wrote of the media roundtable i got to attend for diehardgamefan.com with the COO and Executive Producer, Scott Hartsmann, Of the same game.
http://diehardgamefan.com/2011/02/04/scott-hartsmann-talks-about-rift-planes-of-telara/
So now im a published author and member of the gaming media.
Pretty damn cool i think.
hate to say it...
by Drusilla of the Pomaraj
but Krimdar is already visible. I'm pretty sure I cast the invisibility sphere on Barik so my spell casting wouldn't disrupt it.
That being said, Dru fires another volley of scorching ray at the remaining oncoming troll.
She has the guardian take a 5' step back and fire another round of the crystal spikes.
grapple
by The Dungeon Master
Grapple Checks
Repeatedly in a grapple, you need to make opposed grapple checks against an opponent. A grapple check is like a melee attack roll. Your attack bonus on a grapple check is:
Base attack bonus + Strength modifier + special size modifier
Special Size Modifier
The special size modifier for a grapple check is as follows: Colossal +16, Gargantuan +12, Huge +8, Large +4, Medium +0, Small -4, Tiny -8, Diminutive -12, Fine -16. Use this number in place of the normal size modifier you use when making an attack roll.
Starting a Grapple
To start a grapple, you need to grab and hold your target. Starting a grapple requires a successful melee attack roll. If you get multiple attacks, you can attempt to start a grapple multiple times (at successively lower base attack bonuses).
Step 1
Attack of Opportunity. You provoke an attack of opportunity from the target you are trying to grapple. If the attack of opportunity deals damage, the grapple attempt fails. (Certain monsters do not provoke attacks of opportunity when they attempt to grapple, nor do characters with the Improved Grapple feat.) If the attack of opportunity misses or fails to deal damage, proceed to Step 2.
Step 2
Grab. You make a melee touch attack to grab the target. If you fail to hit the target, the grapple attempt fails. If you succeed, proceed to Step 3.
Step 3
Hold. Make an opposed grapple check as a free action.
If you succeed, you and your target are now grappling, and you deal damage to the target as if with an unarmed strike.
If you lose, you fail to start the grapple. You automatically lose an attempt to hold if the target is two or more size categories larger than you are.
In case of a tie, the combatant with the higher grapple check modifier wins. If this is a tie, roll again to break the tie.
Step 4
Maintain Grapple. To maintain the grapple for later rounds, you must move into the target’s space. (This movement is free and doesn’t count as part of your movement in the round.)
Moving, as normal, provokes attacks of opportunity from threatening opponents, but not from your target.
If you can’t move into your target’s space, you can’t maintain the grapple and must immediately let go of the target. To grapple again, you must begin at Step 1.
Grappling Consequences
While you’re grappling, your ability to attack others and defend yourself is limited.
No Threatened Squares
You don’t threaten any squares while grappling.
No Dexterity Bonus
You lose your Dexterity bonus to AC (if you have one) against opponents you aren’t grappling. (You can still use it against opponents you are grappling.)
No Movement
You can’t move normally while grappling. You may, however, make an opposed grapple check to move while grappling.
if...
by Acavel the Night Watchman
as the DM has suggested by e-mail, I make my *next* will save and be free to act, then:
free action, yell, "Bailin, strike now-- you and your men are needed!"
move action: twist my head and try the Frightening Gaze effect on the troll-handler again. If he gets scared off, throw in a free action growl at the orc holding me: "Your doom is at hand."
standard action: Try to break the pin and get my arms free. Oddly, I think my grapple check (BAB + STR, right?) is higher than my Escape Artist, so I go for the straight opposed grapple roll at +12.
(I thought about trying to Intimidate the orc grappling me instead, especially if the fear effect worked on his boss. My opposed Intimidate check is probably better than my opposed Grapple check. But even if ti succeeded, the orc would only be Shaken and could still finish locking me up next round!)
Everybody post your action
by The Dungeon Master
Need actions from the cast o characters this round.
(Oh, Barik, you also noticed some priests casting prep spells this past round...no attack actions, though.)
To Do: Don't Fumble When Fighting High Priests of Hextor
by The Dungeon Master
In response to Darkclaw, but directed to the crowd in general, Barikorc says: "You dare accuse Tau'regk? It is YOU who are betraying him! Kneel to your Lord!"
He 5' steps away from the troll, getting up into the high priest's grill. His first swing with Anar's Axe (with mods) is a 25, and misses as the priest -- now fully cognizant of the situation -- deftly blocks the blow with a large steel shield emblazoned with Hextor's sigil. Barik takes note that the priest is also wearing extremly well made full plate armor which bears similar markings. He thinks, with no small disgust, that the armor appears to be of dwarven make. He also considers that the armor is most likely magically enchanted.
Distracted by these thoughts, he rolls a 1 on his first strike with Maxwell's hammer. (He then rolls a 2 on a dex check to recover from the fumble. Folks, I just can't make this up). The hammer goes flying out of his grasp as Barik loses his footing. He stumbles briefly to a knee, and is forced to spend the rest of the round recovering. Luckily (if you can call it that), he fumbled with the hammer and not the axe, so by round's end the hammer sails back into his hand.
Acavel, on his turn, rolls a *4* to counter the effects of the hold person spell. It's not enough to overcome the acolyte's spell, and so he remains frozen for the rest of the round.
Darkclaw takes another 5' step back as his henchmen surge forward, swapping spots with some grunts. This provides him with some time cast a both cast a spell. "Hextor, bring your shields upon me!" His entire body is encased in an unholy red light. In the following moment, his shield also seems to glow with its own light.
He then commands the troll near to Barik: "Grapple him, pin him, and sqeeze him to unconsciousness. But keep him alive. I want to question him."
The troll uses his full attack action closing the distance on Barik, and attempting to grapple. Barik is able to dodge the troll this round, but the beast has now moved into the adjacent square so getting away next round is going to be a trick.
Then, to the troll-handler and orcs near Acavel: "That one is weak minded, and has fallen to my servant's hold person spell. These imbiciles are no heros. Still, he may have useful information. Disarm him and lock him with those shackles there!"
One of the grunts knocks Acavel to the ground face first, and spends the round relieving Acavel of Nightshade while getting the rogue'ss hands behind his back. The other two spend the full round picking up a pair of the many (many) nearby discarded leg irons and wrist shackles, getting them onto the Nightwatchman. By round's end, Acavel is face down on the forge floor, legs bound and shackled, and wrists pinned behind his back by an orc and clad in irons.
Note -- his wrists are not *yet* bound by chains. Recall that the dwarves had wrist shackles which needed to be separately chained together. Still, he's pinned down to the floor face first. It's certainly not the most graious position he's found himself in. Inside of a round, his pretty confident his writsts will be shackled too.
Meanwhile, the dwarves to the north have not yet been discoverd. They are quitely biding their time.
Given the orders to take the prisoners alive, the spiritual flails do not attack this round.
Cool
by Grell Shimmerin Priest of Pelor
Thats what i thought, thats what my spell list reflects now, so im now accurate in my own records!
con dam
by The Dungeon Master
Yes, you raised Krimdar, and everyone got lesser restorations that needed them.
Heh
by Grell Shimmerin Priest of Pelor
Yeah, i was really just trying to psych myself up by ranting about something that i was probably wrong about LOL
I wasn't too entirely worried since even with my dex its still +11 for a ranged attack. ;)
Im looking at my spell and hp list and was wondering, are we still suffering from our Con Damage. Am i at full spell list or are there a few missing because of the whole ressurection of krimdar thing? did i cast some resto's to cure us of our Con damage?
I kind of lost track of what we did, but if i healed con damage, brought krimdar back, and healed some people, then ill know what spells i dont have since i know why i have them on my spell list that im looking at.
and it was just easier to post a question hoping that someone had a better memory, over trying to re read everything.
oh, sure.
by Acavel the Night Watchman
Orcs, who get a racial -2 to will saves, make their will saves.
Me, no.
This is going to hurt. A lot.
Next round of chaos and destruction
by The Dungeon Master
Drusilla peers around a large rock, quickly ascertains the physical health of the two onrushing trolls (one slightly damaged, and the other all fast-healed up), and decides to unleash 3 scorching rays on Troll 4 doing a total of -46 hit points of damage. From the looks of it, Drusilla guesses that the troll's damage reduction provides no protection against her fire spells.
Bishop follows on by launching 4 arrows at troll 4. The troll falls face first as the third arrow connects. His arrows seem to have a reduced effect on the troll due to its stone-like skin, but the last shot is enough to make the troll stagger and fall face first in the dust.
The second troll just keeps running on, leaving his fallen brother in the dust.
Grell attempts to slow him down with searing light, doing 24 points of damage to the beast. As with Dru's spell, the creatue's DR seems to provide no benefit, and the beast hollers in rage as it continues it charge.
Krimdar - still invisibile - says to Drusilla: "Mistriss Witch, I am goin' to take a defensive staand 10' out down tha' path, at the edge of invisibility circle, and try tah get tha jump on the onrushin' beast. Please dannot retreat fartha back from your spot until I have engaged with tha enemy. I will protect thee."
With that, the Paladin and Defender of the Golden Forge steps out onto the path, holy waraxe held high, ready to smite the enemy.
* * *
Back the mouth of the cave, Drusilla commands the Crystal Guardian to withdraw. It draws 3 attacks of opportunity (unavoidable) as it retreats. All miss, giving the golemn some time to make tracks back towards the party.
One of the troll-handlers orders a pair of trolls to flank the guardian. Drusilla succeeds at maintaining her concentration well enough to allow the guardian to get an attack of opportunity against one of the onrushing trolls. It hits, doing 22 hp of damage before DR.
However, the Guardian's way is now blocked, and it's flanked by two trolls. For now, anyway, the flanking bonus is not enough to allow the trolls to land a blow.
Meanwhile, the 3 remaining original attackers flee down the scree, avoiding the main path. The defenders either take up various positions as noted on the map, or continue their charge down the path and towards the party's position.
* * *
Inside, Acavel attempts to save his life by activating the fear effect on the mask. The troll-handler recoils briefly as the mask's eyes glow red, but is able to shrug off it's effect in order to lay into a power attack!
... Next post: combat inside advances a round
burn baby burn
by Drusilla of the Pomaraj
ok... I think these distances work out...if not, let me know...
Dru is going to let loose with a Scorching Ray. 3 bolts at the two trolls coming on. two bolts at 1, 1 bolt at the other (these guys have all already taken damage right? if not all three bolts at 1).
The guardian is going to beat feet out of there and head back towards me.
Common ground
by Barik son of Ulrik
I think we can all agree that there've been a lot of crappy rolls in this past round.
Barik thinks it's time for a fresh beginning, a new perspective. And Darkclaw's new perspective should be with his head on the ground, looking up at where it used to be attached to his body.
So let's do this full attack thing again. This time, with feeling. And no critical fumbles.
If Barik can take a 5' step and stay up in Darkclaw's grill while getting out of the range of the troll (who will at least have to wait for orcs to get out of the way, or trample them, to get to me), he does. Alternatively, if he can 5' step to make life more difficult for those threatening Acav'egk, he does. If the rolls go well and there's some Cleavin' action/remaining attacks, Barik will direct it at those threatening Acav'egk, if possible.
In response to Darkclaw, but directed to the crowd in general, "You dare accuse Tau'regk? It is YOU who are betraying him! Kneel to your Lord!"
from the depths of time
by dndblog
Updating
Mouth's mission from the other campaign.
Mouth is scheduled for a half an hour of gathering information from the crowd in the Rocky Cliff.
He gets no further information on the four missing refugees. But on a good roll, he learns the following bits and pieces.
- Those nasty orc-squads on giant vultures have been seen before today, though today was their first set of attacks. One fellow swears that he saw them flying in from the east two days ago-- the opposite direction from the oncoming army, and long enough ago that they couldn't be flying back and forth to the army anyways. He thinks that the surface of the whole Peak is sure to be abandoned in the face of those attacks from above. "An wunst they kin swarm all over the Peak itself, whadduz it matter if we kin old the gate? They kin dig down on us from anywhere they like, and they'll have all the time in the world to do it."
- There's great speculation about the current location of Longleg, the commander of the Peak's shadowy force of mountain rangers. The rumor mill here is in general agreement that he and his force did not go to war with the army. Mouth hears a vigorous argument as to whether Longleg's troops are preparing to swoop down on the orcish army in the night; preparing to seize control of the leaderless Peak; in league with the enemy; or long gone, on their way to safer climes.
-Food supplies in the Peak will run low by tomorrow, because the dragon cuts off access to the stores in Dal and Dor. A few drunk fellows are planning, with much bravado, to lead a mission across the High Bridge to Dal in search of food. This is the first Mouth has heard of such a thing. Their friends laugh it off. No one's set foot on the High Bridge in years; for all they know it doesn't go all the way across anymore. Why would dwarves go a mile in the sky instead of traveling safely underground? But more fundamentally: mules and carts can't go over the bridge anyways, and the band of adventurers can't bring back enough food to feed thousands.
-One middle-aged dwarf says that his wife is like a different dwarf the past couple of weeks; not just hostile but not knowing basic things about her home or Peak life. His friends try to buck him up, while making clear that they think the problem is that just she's cut him off from marital relations.
- The senior leaders who are still awake, alive, and available are Prince Ryssa; the party's friend Masten, commander of the Defenders; and Jinda, leader of the Granite Brothers, Osso's order of monks. Jinda isn't on the King's Council; the Granite Brothers are represented there by a lower-ranked Brother, Ergrim. (It's not clear why.) Some think that Ryssa doesn't have enough power to lead, and there are rumors that Masten will seize command for the final defense-- and rumors that Jinda will do so. There's contempt for this human-style politicking; coups are unheardof among dwarves. But the military crowd here does seem willing to say that it'd be better for Masten to just be in charge; "anyone could see that."
-toward the end of the half-hour news starts to trickle in about the invasion, and victory, of the Battle at Khazl Tunnel. Folks are curious about Mouth's relationship to the heroic newcomers who saved the day there. The mood is mixed: a victory's a great thing, and it's terrific news that powerful allies have joined the cause. But the invasion of Khazl Tunnel in the first place is an unprecedented violation of the Peak, and it means that the strategic position aboveground is even worse than we knew.
-Mouth can't find a chance to eavesdrop on the whisperers.
The bar is starting to fill up as word spread of Mouth's performances, and he takes the stage again. On a Perform roll of 4 (plus a bonus of 18) is plenty good enough to spread some cheer and enthusiasm, but doesn't have the transformative effect that his show for the refugees did.
Ranged touch vs. the troll
by The Dungeon Master
The point is academic, since the troll's touch AC is 10, but I believe the rule is that it's a "range" attack against the opponent's "touch AC" - so you add your bab plus dex bonus plus any other bonuses from feats or whatnot that might modify your ranged attack.
Regardless, hitting the troll will be like hitting an oncoming Mac truck.
Let's get Dru and Barik posting, and we'll rally to the next round.
Pfft, acavel
by Grell Shimmerin Priest of Pelor
You may have crappy will but at least you didn't get barely over half damage rolls of a spell that could have gone up to 66 damage. :(
Anywho, Im not taking this lying down, and since these particular offensive spells i have a FEW of,
SEARING LIGHT, at oncoming, already damaged troll. (domain spell)
They have just pissed off the wrong cleric.
210'range(at my level),NO SAVING THROW, 5d8 damage(at my level), if undead(wish trolls were)10d6(at my level),Undead particularly vulnerable to light(again, WISH TROLLS WERE!!)10d8(at my level), Construct would only take 5d6(at my level)
Ranged touch attack--+15 since its just like punching from distance,which im reading benefits me in 2 ways i NEVER knew about, page 275 phb
"A touch spell can score a CRITICAL HIT, just as a weapon can. A touch spell critical threats on a natural 20 and deals double damage on a successful critical hit. "
and being a touch attack i get my strength bonus(to hit, i dont believe for damage, but it really doesnt specify, and where i can crit, id like to argue that i should get it to damage as well, but im sure im just wishful thinking LOL but it at least adds +5 to hit, thus _+15 to touch the mofo. =))
OK
by Acavel the Night Watchman
I use my gaze attack (the standard fear effect, not the cone) on the troll-handler; I hope it works, hope that if he flees in terror the grunts will decide not to stick around, and hope that Bailin decides to come to my rescue in any case.
