Preparations are simple enough for Afina. She checks over her gear and her golem, getting both in order. Asking Elena to get Moonlight and Mei is easy enough, but she soon reappears, back in Afina's room. "Mei's here, but Moonlight's out for the moment. She went with Calleigh, Tryll, Sylvie and Rosa to the Beastlands. By the way, where are you going?"
"I'm going to the prime world Malathas," Afina answers, now in her stars and stripes patterned outfit. "There's a lich there that needs to die so we can impress some new recruits. Hmm, Rosa would've been a good pick too. I suppose I can wait, they won't be long I'm sure..."
"Yes. While we wait, there's something I want," Elena says. "There's upgrades that can give me more than one body. With how busy we are now, I'd really like a second one."
"Well all you have to do is ask," Afina says, as ever eager to do what she can to make Elena's life easier. "I think I remember seeing the schematics for that one, it shouldn't be hard to arrange. I can even start work right now."
"Oh, thank you!" Elena brightens, grinning.
Are you intending to do it right now? If so, check the Aurora upgrades for price and time needed.
yes, loot posted
We'll wait for people to chime in, as work looms for me anyway.
I'll also introduce Emeralda to Crystal and put her in charge of getting those robbers out of trouble with the mercane.
After a few days of working with Elena and cloning her a new body, success. It's hard, long work but Elena glows bright blow before splitting apart, two identical twins standing shoulder to shoulder. "Oh, this is nice," Elena says, as the other hugs the first and then vanishes. "Thank you!"
Then the second re appears, "By the way, there's some fey dropping in. They're expected, they say, it's a bunch of nymphs."
"From the Citadel," Afina nods, smiling at Elena's happiness. It's like she has a sister now! "I'll go and greet them and help them get settled in," she flutters off to do just that.
Afina heads to the Courtyard. Here soldiers are watching as a brigade of unnaturally beautiful women enter. Nymphs one and all, coming in as singles, pairs and occasionally threesomes. Bubble's leading them in and waves at Afina, "Oh there you are, dearie. I like the stars!"
Don't you mean Bubbles?
Fixed. Dur.
"Oh, thank you. It's more of a casual thing than what you last saw me in but I like it," Afina says, flying up over to greet Bubbles. "Come on in, I'll help you all get settled. Have you ever heard of the nymphs of the Butterfly Kinship?"
"It's adorable and daring," Bubbles gushes, turning and whistling, "Come on, ladies! We're off to meet some more nymphs! Time to show them the top beauties in Aurora!"
There's some stiff competition there, but so long as no one gets too catty it should be good for morale. Flying along, Afina leads the water nymphs to where most of the butterfly nymphs tend to hang out. Of course everyone's an individual with their own things going on but she should be able to find a few of them in one place to get the nymph-fest going.
> roll 1d100 some randomness is here, higher the better
<Kobot> Infinite_Ko_Loop rolled 1d100 some randomness is here, higher the better --> [ 1d100=96 ]{96}
You lead them to Queen Ilsenine's court. Here the Ladies of the Butterfly Kinship are there, along with others and Her Majesty, holding cou-"Oh goodness, Deserea!" Bubbles gasps, hurrying over to the ladies, "Look everyone, it's Deserea from that the Wave Prince's bash a few years ago!"
Said nymph has dark blue hair and blinks, before smiling widely, "Bubbles! What are YOU doing in Aurora?!"
Both groups immediately begin to mix, chattering away happily.
On one hand it's great that the two groups of nymphs are getting along. On the other they're not paying homage to her Majesty. But then Ilsenine does seem to be a lot more lax about these things nowadays so she probably won't have to murder anyone over it.
She hopes.
Just in case she'll sidle up alongside Bubbles to quietly point out, "Queen Ilsenine leads our Court here if you wish to pay your respects." Then again as leader of the nymphs at the Citadel of Ten Thousand Pearls Bubbles can possibly stand as an equal to Ilsenine? Still though, better safe than sorry.
"Oh, of course. I have this." Bubbles says, striding on over and bowing deeply to Queen Ilsenine, "Greetings, Your Majesty. We come to aid Aurora's fight to retake Lifasa. At this moment we make no decision on your court of politics, but we hope that no matter what, we get along in peace and amity."
Queen Ilsenine smlies - a tad cold, but she smiles. "We recognize you, Aurora's ways and means have seen fit to inform us of your coming and your identity. On military matters, you will be subordinate to General Afina or General Crystal, as needed."
"As Her Majesty commands," Bubbles smiles, "By your leave, we have a present to the Queen of the Court."
"Very well," Queen Ilsenine says after a moment's pause, "Present it to General Afina."
Bubbles withdraws a stately gown, pixie sized. It is colored white and blue, a regal queen's outfit including pearls and tiny blue gemstones sewn in. "Your Majesty, the colors of the waves are in style in the Citadel of Ten Thousand Pearls right now. Allow me to give you a small measure of marid refinement and sensibilities."
Isn't that Skye's job? Oh well, Afina gives Bubbles an approving smile for her good manners and thoughtfulness as she accepts the gown before she... wait, is she meant to hand it to the Queen or put it aside for later? She didn't really pay attention to this stuff before because it wasn't her job. Well, the Tsunami Lord did give her necklace to the Padisha, so she can manage the same here, walking over and holding out the gown between her outstretched hands towards the Queen.
For what it's worth, you don't see Lady Skye around right now.
Queen Ilsenine nods and murmurs, face hidden by the gown, "Thank you. Lady Skye is indisposed." She then looks over the gown carefully, "We are pleased by this gift," she announces, "Enjoy this court's hospitality."
Afina continues to stand by the throne... holding the gown. No, wait, that's just stupid. "I will have it placed in your suite, your Majesty," she offers, going to do just that instead of standing around like a spare part.
This goes unremarkably - except that both Elenas are waiting for you once you turn around, having put away the gown. "Oh, by the way," they speak in tandem, voices overlapping, "Moonlight's back and ready when you are."
"Aww, am I special enough to get both your attentions?" Afina asks the blue duo. "Ask her to meet me by the front gates while I go collect Smrgol and Mei?"
Elena giggles, both at the same time, "Even Galariel made a joke about twins," she says, "As much as he ever jokes. What about you, do you dream of twins, Afina?"
"You know I'm not a great fan of conformity," Afina replies, peering at the duo. "Maybe if one of you was green...?"
One of them turns sea green. "You know," The green Elena remarks, "The closest to twins before was Hanna and Jaela. Good lurk surviving that if you somehow set it up, though."
"Oh yes," The blue Elena quickly agrees, "Axe and spear, doubly dead."
With that they vanish, chattering away.
Red and yellow... hmm, she did set herself up for that. But as fond as she is of them neither Jaela nor Hanna conform to her preferences even if you handwave the size difference. Anyway, she has a golem and a warlock to round up!
Smrgol's simple to round up, since you created him and all that. Mei's waiting in the entry hall, a slight nod to Afina as she approaches. Moonlight's nearby, watching soldiers come and go. Her arms are crossed, a disinterested look on her face as she waits.
"Hello Moonlight," Afina greets the Lathanderite as she flutters over with Mei and Smrgol. "Did you have a good trip to the Beastlands?"
"Was okay," Moonlight shrugs her shoulders, "We ended up being sidelined while Calleigh and Hamogan had a heart to heart. Oh, and we ran into some wild dire animals, but we charmed and manipulated our way out of it. No real action, no WHAM BAM," She swings her heavy mace about.
Meanwhile, you notice Aurora's gates are opening. Someone's coming in?
"Shouldn't be any shortage of that on this trip, we're off to kill a lich on top of his well fortified mountain fastness," Afina says brightly, glancing over to see who's coming in.
"Yeah, I want to know about that and the plan here," Moonlight says, as you see who comes in. It's Emerelda, carrying a rather small black bag, stitched with silver thread. She looks about slowly, whistling before her eyes come on Afina. "Oh, Afina," she says, "Hello!"
"I'll get to that," Afina promises Moonlight before she waves over at Emerelda. "Hello Emerelda, good to see you again. Everyone this is Emerelda, she's from Lifasa but we only found recently. These are Moonlight, from Lathander's service, Meillarberyl, from the elven Triune, and lastly is Smrgol, a creation of mine."
The brightly painted and feather festooned crystalline dragon booms out a hearty, "GREETINGS!"
"Aaaah!" Emerelda leaps back, hand on her chest. "Aaah, a dragon...no, a golem. Hello?" she offers, then, "I'm not the strongest in combat, so I decided I can do something more useful than that. My gifts lie in finding and refining rare materials, so I'm going to open up a shop about it. I hear that Aurora already has several shops."
"Hiya," Moonlight smiles, "Moonlight, and yeah, my parents admired elves. What can you do?" she grins.
Mei just smiles warmly.
"That's actually a useful gift," Afina says approvingly. "Smrgol here's an ironwyrm golem, traditionally they're made of iron but he was lucky enough to have a shard of crystal provided by Lady Sunnis incorporated into his construction. Rare materials see lots of use in our arms and equipment so I'm sure you'll contribute a lot.
"We're just about to go on a mission so we can't stay, but if you ask for Elena she'll get you set up. You should drop in on the alchemist Grenalous as well - he sells things of interest to fey."
"Thank you. Right now I have some dragon marrow, boiled topaz, frystalline, serrenleaf and a scroll of a spell I made, druid heartweave. If you're interested, come by." Emerelda says.
"Hold some of that dragon marrow back for me? I'll stop by after this mission," Afina says with a smile, letting Emerelda go off before she turns back to the business at hand. "I was only given the bare bones of the situation by our contact with Oak's Pride." She doesn't even register the pun regarding liches and bones until it's too late, but maintains her poker face even after it strikes her. "He's based in a valley atop that world's highest mountains where ley lines are focused. Teleportation, scrying, even flight are impossible, so we'll have to do a lot of climbing to get up those mountains. Luckily even if climbing isn't your forte, Smrgol is more than capable of carrying all three of us if needed," she gives the draconic golem the smile of a proud parent.
"I'm going to gate us to Malathas at one of Oak's Pride's strongholds. We'll get more detailed information there before teleporting as close as we can to the mountains after formulating our plans. But between the four of us I think we're capable of overcoming or avoiding anything the lich Tulthas throws at us and taking him down when we catch him."
Make a post in loot that you want some, so we don't forget.
Moonlight immediately winces and goes, "Boo! You should feel terrible for that!" she scowls, hands on her hips. "A lich, hmmmmmm?" Moonlight considers before nodding quickly, "Yes, he'll have to meet the power of the sun. Get me in there and I can maim him and turn him into nothing more than a skeleton."
Posted, I'll just buy 'em outright and fiddle with them later
"How about you two? Feeling up to it?" Afina asks Mei and Smrgol.
"NO MAGIC CAN THREATEN ME!" Smrgol is of course fully confident.
Mei nods crisply, while Moonlight considers. "I'm up to it," she says.
"Alright, unless any of you have any preparations to attend to lets get to it?" Afina says, flying towards the gates and conjuring forth a Gate to Oak Pride's main stronghold on Malathas.
I made a decent nature check to know about them when they first came up so presumably I can target this decently?
Were you all using the archway?
Just as you're about to go, Moonlight stops. "Wait a moment," she says, "Are we going to a Prime?"
We may as well!"Yes, the prime world Malathas," Afina confirms, before giving Moonlight a concerned look. "You haven't died there, have you?"
Afina: 277/277, heroes feast (CL 20), mind blank (CL 17), fortunate fate (CL 15), planar tolerance (CL 7), greater mage armour (CL 23), moment of prescience (CL 23)
AC 72, spell resistance 38, blindsense 30, immunity to fire, water, earth, cold, disease, poison, fear
Spell charges: 6/10/10/8/9/9/9/8/7/8
"Oh no, I've never died there. I may not look it at all, but I'm as much as spirit as an angel." Moonlight spins on her tip-toes before going on. "I'm strong enough that going to the Prime usually leaves a wound. I don't really care about wounding some lich-forsaken valley we have to clean up anyway, but leaving a wound right by the base of our friends isn't a good idea."
"Oh... I hadn't even thought about that possibility," Afina says, concerned. "Now that you mention it, even taking you to the valley might be a bad idea. What if you affect the ley lines and cause it to radiate out even further? Are there any countermeasures that can be taken against it?"
"Well, I usually cause what's known as sunshine - eternal sunshine within the wound. The bad part is that it's also as warm as a summer's day in it, and when the weather inside and the weather outside don't match, it causes problems. Plus all sunlight and no darkness causes problems to some plants and animals." Moonlight says all that, "I've never caused one around a ley line cluster, so I don't really know.
I know there's a spell that can stop it, but it's an immobile protective circle."
"I don't think it's safe to risk," Afina says reluctantly. "I'm sorry Moonlight, the thought never even occurred to me. My elemental nature should make me safe from causing issues, but I've never really considered the effect of powerful outsiders on primes. We'll have to wait for a planar excursion before we can fight together, I'm afraid."
"Aaaaw!" Moonlight's face falls, then she perks up, "That means I'm going to go bug that cutie Tepen and Vul'lath into making a spell that can help. Something better than that circle." Moonlight nod-nods quickly, slamming a fist into her palm, "On it!"
"I'll look into it myself since I'm going to need it sooner or later," Afina says. "In the meantime lets see if Dana's interested? I did promise to take her somewhere dangerous," she says to Mei before calling on Elena to find out if Dana's around and available.
Elena appears, dressed up like a swashbuckler, down to a big, floppy hat. "Hi, Dana's visiting the lava pools," she says. "Though she'll be getting out shortly."
"Alright, we'll wait for her. That lich isn't going anywhere."
"Right, I'll send her over," Elena makes a face and vanishes. As you wait, Mei smiles at you and reaches out, a couple of fingers patting your shoulder.
Afina wonders what that face was about. Maybe because she didn't comment on the hat? Oh well, she'll compliment Elena's attire next time she sees her. "Even with all the people we have here, finding a group can be hard," she smiles up at Mei. "Probably moreso in the future as more of us have the capability to leave spiritual wounds. That's going to have a big impact on our offensive operations into Lifasa..."
Mei shakes her head quite firmly at that last part.
"You don't think it'll have an impact? Or you agree that it's a bad thing?" She likes Mei but clarification is often necessary.
She nods and then shakes her head, in time to your questions.
"Counting on us having spells to deal with it, or just that we'll only be cancelling out damage already done by the devils?"
Mei clasps her hands together and smiles, before looking upward.
Afina looks upwards as well. So does Smrgol who's been attentively listening in.
All you see above is Aurora's upper limits, the sphere of force (flickering occasionally from the water on it) and the endless expanses of Water above you.
As you do, "Alright, you cock-goblins," Dana booms, "The fuck you want?"
"WHO DARES?!" Smrgol roars at such rudeness to both his draconic magnificence and his exalted creator.
"We want to go kill a lich in his heavily fortified mountain fastness," Afina merely repeats the same line she gave Moonlight, giving Dana a flat look for her rudeness. "Also that one was free, don't do it again." Who knows what their soldiers would think to see their general being disrespected so brazenly, but Afina doubts it's good for morale.
"Yeah, shut the fuck up, Fido," Dana glances at Smrgol, giving him an obscene gesture before she stops at Afina's words. "Fine, fine, decorum and shit. So you want to go kill a lich? I'm for it."
"Good, go get yourself equipped and take a trip through the readiness arch, we'll go as soon as you're ready," Afina says while Smrgol looms over Dana.
Mei blushes and stares sternly at Dana, which rolls right off her like water off a duck's back. She scurries off to the archway and returns, "Ready," she announces.
"Right, we're going to visit the fey who have problems with the lich, they'll give us more information. They're also potential recruits so be nice," Afina says, going to open up a gate as she planned before and then leading the way through.
Afina: 277/277, heroes feast (CL 20), mind blank (CL 17), fortunate fate (CL 15), planar tolerance (CL 7), greater mage armour (CL 23), moment of prescience (CL 23)
AC 72, spell resistance 38, blindsense 30, immunity to fire, water, earth, cold, disease, poison, fear
Spell charges: 6/10/10/8/9/9/9/8/7/7
Smrgol: 459/459, mind blank (CL 17), fortunate fate (CL 15), planar tolerance (CL 7), greater mage armour (CL 5)
AC 56, immunity to magic, fast healing 10
One gate later, the group stands in a forest. The sounds and sights of the sylvan world are all around you. Untamed forest as far as the eye can see, and before you stands a massive tree. It is decorated with windows carved into it, as well as doors. A fortress of nature, a field of ivy and vines before it.
[spoiler]
Mei
HP: 295/295
Spells Active: Mind Blank (CL17), Fortunate Fate (CL15), Planar Tolerance(CL7), Greater Mage Armor(CL5)
Bonuses:
Negative Conditions:
Resources Used:
Dana
HP: 313/313
Spells Active: Mind Blank (CL17), Fortunate Fate (CL15), Planar Tolerance(CL7), Greater Mage Armor(CL5)
Bonuses:
Negative Conditions:
Resources Used:
No guards? Or at least no visible ones... Afina casts see invisibility and if no one appears she'll then go knock on the nearest door at ground level.
[19:56] <@Ebiris> roll 1d8+10 heroes feast temp hp
[19:56] <Kobot> Ebiris rolled 1d8+10 heroes feast temp hp --> [ 1d8=5 ]{15}
Afina: 277+15/277, heroes feast (CL 20), mind blank (CL 17), fortunate fate (CL 15), planar tolerance (CL 7), greater mage armour (CL 23), moment of prescience (CL 23), see invisibility (CL 23)
AC 72, spell resistance 38, blindsense 30, immunity to fire, water, earth, cold, disease, poison, fear
Spell charges: 6/10/9/8/9/9/9/8/7/7
Smrgol: 459/459, mind blank (CL 17), fortunate fate (CL 15), planar tolerance (CL 7), greater mage armour (CL 5)
AC 56, immunity to magic, fast healing 10
Dana strolls on along, and as you all go, the vines and ivy recede away. "Animated vines. Druids?" Dana suggests as you reach the door. You knock on it and it opens, a pixie behind it. A cute female pixie, all red hair, freckles and giggles. "Hiiii! The vines say you're expected! Are you Aurora?"
"Probably," Afina nods to Dana, since a lot of fey have that skillset. When the door opens she nods to the pixie, "Hello yes, I'm General Afina Devilsbane from Aurora. We're here to get some information on Tulthas before we commit to our attack on him."
"Oh right, I was told you might come," The pixie says, giggling after, "You're pretty! I'll take you in!"
Ahh, that's nice. Of course she knows she's fabulous but most people limit their compliments on her appearance to 'cute'. "Thank you for your hospitality," she smiles back, fluttering in and landing since there's no real need to hover around another pixie.
Mei smiles and follows in, while Dana looks disinterested and trots along to.
"Sorry, "the pixie says, "But the big golem thing needs to stay out there."
"Why?" Afina looks back at Smrgol. "He's going to be fighting Tulthas as well."
"DO NOT WORRY ABOUT ME STEPPING ON YOU, I AM VERY FOND OF PIXIES!" Smrgol booms out reassuringly.
"Um, he's a bit large to get in some places," The pixie wilts under the golem's attention.
Well that's fair enough, if unfortunate. "Alright, just wait here Smrgol? We'll tell you all the details when we're done," Afina says, the crystal dragon bobbing his feather festooned head in understanding.
You're lead inside to a library. A small place of wooden shelves and magical light, no candles nor any windows. Here an elf sits, one with pale green hair and sharp eyes with leaves seeming to flash in them. "This is Aurora?" he asks the pixie, who nods and flutters off. "Head Loremaster Honeybrook," he introduces himself.
"Hello, I'm general Afina. With me are majors Dana and Meillaberyl," she introduces the trio, walking over to Honeybrook. "Alain told us the basics but we want to get more details before we go up against Tulthas. What sort of spells he favours, what minions he employs, what traps he prefers. A map of the mountains and valleys around his lair would be helpful as well."
"He's a master of all spells, a generalist of great skill," Honeybrook steeples his hands together, "He usually relies on evocations for simple threads and a quickened spell if that doesn't immediately end the battle. The few who have fought him more seriously report he starts with the spell time stop and variable tactics from there, but usually repeats that spell often for time to summon minions or set traps, or to withdraw."
"So he's a wizard. Great to know," Dana says, "Any signature spells?"
Stopping time is a great technique! But Afina is pretty sure she's better at it than most. "Oh, he's a lich yes? Any clues as to what his phylactery is or where he keeps it?" she asks after Dana's question.
"None. Our divinations fail, but that's expected if it's in his fortress. He's never given word of it, so we're in the dark about it."
Dana sighs at that, "Well, if he's competent, then we'll just have to fucking beat it out of him. Lich beatings for everyone!"
"What about the minions he uses?" Afina asks, agreeing with Dana. If they can't find his phylactery they'll just have to confine him to Aurora's dungeon.
"We know some about them." Honeybrook ticks off a finger, "First, the caves and passes of the mountains are kept by ogre tribes. He's been breeding ogres for centuries now and they're all horrifying brutes and berserkers, far more dangerous than a typical ogre. Secondly are the harpy servants he has aid them. They can't fly there, but they're skilled archers who strike from hidden nests at anyone trying to climb up."
Mei's eyes narrow during all of this.
Dana just scoffs, "Okay, pains in the asses by manageable. These are just the door guards, huh?"
None of it really sounds worse than what they faced at Earthfall what feels like so long ago. "Nothing we can't deal with. Do you have any maps or general outlines of the terrain and fortifications that can help us?"
"No. Most who go don't make it back," Honeybrook confesses, a sour grimace. "The mountains are mostly a mystery to us. We know he breeds rocs with fiends and uses them on missions outside of his base. He has at least a handful of succubus sorcerers who aid him, as well as a quintet of erinyes wizards who do the same. From all reports, they loathe each other but are absolutely terrified of Tulthas."
"Well we'll give them something new to be terrified of," Afina smiles brightly. "Do you have a map showing where these mountains are in the world, or a picture of them? It's easier if I just teleport instead of having to use multiple gates."
'Yes," A map is gotten. It's of four continents, with everything beyond it shrouded in clouds. The northern most one has the mountains, a massive ring of them rising up in all directions. "There," he points.
Afina takes a good look at the map, committing the mountainous location to memory. It won't be good with an ordinary teleport but she'd rather waste that than two of her ninth level slots. "Alright, that's enough. You'll hear from us after we're finished with Tulthas," she tells Honeybrook. "Wish us luck." And with that she goes back out to collect Smrgol and teleport their group to the mountains!
Limited wish to emulate teleport
[18:54] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 1d100 teleport viewed once --> [ 1d100=75 ]{75}
Just barely on target!
Afina: 277+15/277, heroes feast (CL 20), mind blank (CL 17), fortunate fate (CL 15), planar tolerance (CL 7), greater mage armour (CL 23), moment of prescience (CL 23), see invisibility (CL 23)
AC 72, spell resistance 38, blindsense 30, immunity to fire, water, earth, cold, disease, poison, fear, 50% spell failure (1 hour)
Spell charges: 6/10/9/8/9/9/9/7/7/7
Smrgol: 459/459, mind blank (CL 17), fortunate fate (CL 15), planar tolerance (CL 7), greater mage armour (CL 5)
AC 56, immunity to magic, fast healing 10
Thus the four of you appear. Ahead of you are massively tall mountains, rising up like talons from the earth. They spread out far, the forests trailing off ahead and stopping. No treeline here, only sharp and jagged mountains.
Mei looks up at them and nods silently, before climbing onto Smrgol.
Afina likewise settles atop Smrgol's head, the ironwyrm dragon stomping onwards and starting to easily climb his way up the foreboding mountains.
He takes 10 for 67 on all his climb checks
Relevant, does he have a climb spell as well?
He has no special movement modes, just absurdly high ranks/strength
> roll 1d100+10
<Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d100+10 --> [ 1d100=84 ]{94}
> roll 1d100+10 subtables already, my my
<Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d100+10 subtables already, my my --> [ 1d100=93 ]{103}
You begin to climb. Soon the ground below you becomes smaller and smaller as Smrgol climes up 100ft, 300ft, 500ft and then a 1000ft up total. Still barely made a dent when...
Listen checks, all.
[19:25] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+41 Afina
[19:25] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 1d20+41 Afina --> [ 1d20=9 ]{50}
I just noticed Smrgol has PF skills. Doesn't matter for climbing but I'll abstain from any perception type rolls for him and fix it later
That's fine.
> roll 1d20+7 Dana
<Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+7 Dana --> [ 1d20=8 ]{15}
> roll 1d20+4 Mei not the most observant party. Fortunately there's a pixie for that.
<Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+4 Mei not the most observant party. Fortunately there's a pixie for that. --> [ 1d20=7 ]{11}
Afina hears a soft but distinct crack of rock above. Glancing up, she sees a cliff face not far above suddenly collapse, a rockslide rumbling down at the group.
You have time to react thanks to your Listen check, so go.
She might not have her magic but given her elemental nature it's not needed for something as simple as this! Calling upon her connection to air she suddenly manifests tornado force winds on the cliff above to blast those rocks as well as whoever set them falling way off the cliff to sail right over Smrgol's head without tumbling straight down onto him!
Control Winds SLA http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/controlWinds.htm
Any creatures within can make a DC 29 fort save to ignore the wind effect
"....!" Mei makes a wordless expression of surprise, while Dana begins to bring her shield around. But fortunately, your gust of winds are sufficient to blow the rocks away.
She'd hoped it would get an ogre or three as well, but it must have been an automatic trap. "I'll keep an eye out for traps, something must have tripped that," she tells the others, ceasing the storm once its services are no longer required.
taking 10 for 54 on search as we climb from now on
That'll slow you down a tad, okay with that?
Will it? I mean Smrgol's already moving at half speed to climb and I'm just sitting on his head, I figure I can spot stuff like that just as well as if I was moving at half my (significantly faster) speed. But if so it's fine.
A little, for times when you need to stop him to check something suspicious or the like. It's not a big slowdown (and wouldn't be round by round, just occasionally), but worth mentioning.
it's a sacrifice worth paying then, I only have so many helpful SLAs
Done.
> roll 1d100+10
<Serith> Kowork roll for Serith < 36 > [d100=26]
> roll 1d100+10
<Serith> Kowork roll for Serith < 17 > [d100=7]
You're up to about 3000ft. It's extremely tough going. Srmgol has to climb everything and the party has to hold on tight. Afina's wings feel strangely heavy, barely able to twitch and doing nothing to help her fly. Afina can feel the air get thinner as well, a natural ability to simply notice the lack of one of her elements. It doesn't seem to be bothering Mei or Dana, at least not yet.
"Hey Mei," Dana says as Smrgol goes around a sheer cliff face for one with a few indents, able to use that to continue on, "How's that no talking thing? I mean, I don't fucking GET it, even if I fucking know why you do it. Why the hell does the Triune think not saying shit even if you have a mouthful is holy?"
Mei turns and smiles warmly, tapping her forehead several times. She then brings her hands together and bows her head, as if praying.
"Ooooh, so they want you to be listening to them and only them?" Dana says, "Not the type to share?" She grins viciously at that, "Had someone who tried to get me into a threesome one time with another woman. Threatened to drive my rapier right through his cockhole till it hit the hilt. Since hey, if going for another box is fucking okay for me, then getting some hard, long sword's good for him. So I get it, sharing fucking sucks."
Mei blinks slowly throughout the story, turning ever so slightly greenish in color.
Listen check, Afina.
[10:17] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+41 listen
[10:17] <Serith> Ebiris roll for Serith < 47 > [d20=6]
"Would it have been alright if it was with another man?" Afina asks, wondering where Dana's objection to the concept came from.
"Nah," Dana says, "I just don't like sharing. Fucked up shit." As she says this, you hear a rustling above you. Very soft, very faint, only audible due to your supernaturally sharp ears and the wind blowing just so.
"That's the upbringing of a Princess showing," Afina observes idly, looking up towards the source of the rustling. "Trouble up ahead," she warns. "Give it a flame, Smrgol."
Reminder I have see invis up
Smrgol raises his head up along the cliff face and then opens wide to unleash a horrifying gout of flame that immolates everything above them in a 60 foot cone!
[18:09] <@Ebiris> roll 20d10 DC 26 ref half
[18:09] <Serith> Ebiris roll for Serith < 115 > [d10=10,3,9,8,6,2,7,4,6,1,9,3,9,1,7,9,3,10,7,1]
[18:09] <@Ebiris> roll 1d4 recharge
[18:09] <Serith> Ebiris roll for Serith < 3 > [d4=3]
Fires rush out, though you don't see anything burnt by them. You do hear some moving farther up, however.
"Might be farther up. Keep climbing and stay watchful," Afina says, disappointed at the lack of impact.
Mei nods tersely and keeps her gaze peeled upwards. You get up another 150ft or so and come on it. A very well hidden recess, barren of anything but a few feathers.
"Must have scared off one of those harpies we heard about," Afina says, having a look into the recess before dismissing it as empty. Sooner they find some good caverns to go through the better. "Keep going, Smrgol."
"Hold the fucking golem a moment," Dana says, "If it's empty, where the shit did they go?"
"I'm assuming upwards but with enough stealth not to be seen," Afina guesses. "I can see through invisibility and can detect everything within thirty feet of me, wherever they are now it's not here. Still though, might be a hatch or something?"
It'd be too small for Smrgol but Afina climbs off the golem and into the recess to have a look around.
[19:00] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+43 search
[19:00] <Serith> Ebiris roll for Serith < 54 > [d20=11]
The back wall has a door hidden skillfully into it. It's also locked, a keyhole found for it.
"Hidden door, good catch Dana," Afina says, climbing back out and onto Smrgol's head. "Reach in and knock it down?" she asks the crystal dragon who agreeably punches a forelimb straight into the recess to bash the door!
[19:04] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+28 -33pa
[19:04] <Serith> Ebiris roll for Serith < 32 > [d20=4]
[19:04] <@Ebiris> roll 2d8+45
[19:04] <Serith> Ebiris roll for Serith < 51 > [d8=1,5]
Strikes as adamantine so ignores hardness below 20
The door is obliterated, hunks of it flying back in the revealed hall. It's dark ahead, the light not reaching far into it. A narrow tunnel going into the mountain, going 40ft (and into your darkvision) before sloping downward and out of sight. The walls are smoothed and parts of it are replaced by brick and mortar.
"Too small for Smrgol, we'll need to find someplace bigger. But that's probably how the harpies get around and trigger traps," Afina says, leaning over to peer inside. "C'mon, we'll have to keep going upwards."
"Damn," Dana says, as Mei nods again. Up you go.
> roll 1d100+20
<Serith> Kowork roll for Serith < 119 > [d100=99]
> roll 1d100+20 subtablin'
<Serith> Kowork roll for Serith < 39 > [d100=19]
You're around 4000ft up. Even from here, the tops of the mountain are hidden by thick clouds and seem far away yet. They loom over you like the uncaring fingers of Grumbar himself, the claws mercifully hidden by the clouds.
It's at this point that you hear a loud WHUMP from below.
"Brace a moment," Afina tells Smrgol, clinging onto his head and reorienting herself to look downwards past his body.
Mei does the same, while Dana just readies her shield. Out of nowhere and 200ft below you is a giant spider that dwaaaarfs you. It has a maw full of hundreds of black teeth, green drool constantly leaking out. On its back is a saddle where a huge, deformed ogre rides, carrying a giant slab of steel in roughly the shape of a sword. What's worse, the spider's climbing on up after you at a rather fast clip.
I'd roll init, but one action should solve this and I'm guessing it has no ranged attacks.
"Let me handle this," Afina says, exercising her connection to Earth to make the cliffs around their pursuer detach from the surface and tumble downwards, carrying the ogre and spider down in a fatal landslide!
Earthquake SLA used http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/earthquake.htm
The cliff face below you shakes, the spider squealing like a pig as it tumbles off. The ogre screams in terror as the two tumble down out of sight, surely falling to their demise.
"Well damn, nevermind," Dana says, "Fucking pussies can't even handle an earthquake. Weak."
"That probably would've taken us out as well, so be watchful for anyone casting spells around us," Afina says, patting Smrgol's head. "Onwards and upwards."
"Shit, like that'll kill any of us," Dana rolls her eyes.
The thing is Dana's probably right. Bouncing down a cliff would be a lot of small impacts that cumulatively would tear a human or elf to shreds. But as a fey she'd probably be fine unless the mountain had a lot of surface deposits of cold iron. Still, no point being overconfident.
> roll 1d100+20
<Serith> Kowork roll for Serith < 97 > [d100=77]
> roll 1d100+20 endless subtables for the steam pixie
<Serith> Kowork roll for Serith < 70 > [d100=50]
Another 1000ft up, 5000ft or so. The air's even thinner now, but you endure by simply not needing to breathe. As you ascend up, Mei sneezes lightly. Dana glances back, "You okay back there?" she asks.
Mei just nods and rubs her nose, blushing a little bit.
"Shit, even elves piss, fart and hock up snot. Isn't like your prissier than thou attitudes stop basic fucking biology. You have to die to do that." Dana laughs.
> roll 1d20+12 Mei
<Serith> Kowork roll for Serith < 28 > [d20=16]
Mei's gaze isn't on Dana, nor does she react. Instead she's looking ahead and suddenly grabs Afina's shoulder, leaning over Dana and pushing her into Afina as she points at the ground about 30ft ahead.
"Hey, the hell?" Dana grouses, "Is cramming your tits into my back the new way of communicating?"
"Smrgol, stop!" Afina says, looking at where Mei's pointing.
Afina: 277+15/277, heroes feast (CL 20), mind blank (CL 17), fortunate fate (CL 15), planar tolerance (CL 7), greater mage armour (CL 23), moment of prescience (CL 23), see invisibility (CL 23)
AC 72, spell resistance 38, blindsense 30, immunity to fire, water, earth, cold, disease, poison, fear, 50% spell failure (1 hour)
Spell charges: 6/10/9/8/9/9/9/7/7/7
Smrgol: 459/459, mind blank (CL 17), fortunate fate (CL 15), planar tolerance (CL 7), greater mage armour (CL 5)
AC 56, immunity to magic, fast healing 10
You come to a sharp stop and look ahead. There's hidden slits there, noticeable now that they're pointed out. You can see the gleam of metal from just within them.
"Good spot, Mei," Afina says approvingly. "Climb around them, Smrgol," she says, directing the dragon to maneuver his ascent so no one can shoot out those slits at him.
"Geez, someone's overcompensating for something," Dana mutters as you continue your climb. At about 6000ft up, the peaks are still far away. However, there's a large, open cave mouth not far from where you cross. From the looks of it, a river once poured out of it, but it's long since gone dry.
"Ahh, a chance to stretch our legs. Get us into there, Smrgol?" Afina asks, hopping off his head once they're in the cave.
You hop right in. It stretches deep into the mountains and darkness. The passage is well worn, signs of a river that once flowed here. Dana gets off and stretches her legs, "Think this goes all the way through?" she asks. "If it does, it'll be fucking fortified."
"Probably, but at least if something gets a good hit in we don't have to worry about falling all the way down and starting over," Afina says, not really put off by her inability to fly as despite her tiny legs she moves with quite striking speed across the ground, pausing and weaving about as she still checks for traps like she did on the way up.
You barely go 20ft before you notice a trap. A faint, hidden magical aura, spotted by the slightest energy emissions. Anyone who goes any farther will trigger it.
"Trap," Afina points it out. "Of course none of us can disable traps, but Smrgol you're immune to magic so just go through and we'll follow after it's discharged?"
"SUCH FEEBLE MAGICS ARE NO THREAT TO ME!" Smrgol booms, lumbering onwards without fear while Afina moves back a bit more so she's forty feet away from the trap. She gestures for Dana and Mei to do the same.
Dana shrugs and follows, while Smrgol lumbers forward. The moment he crosses over the trap, nothing happens.
"Hmm... alright Smrgol I want you to bash in the rock around there a bit," Afina points to where the trap is anchored, hoping some gross destruction will destabilise it and keep it from triggering when everyone else passes.
Smrgol, being the jolly crystal dragon that he is, is only too happy to comply!
He has absurd strength and damage, he's basically just doing some excavating around the trap to wreck it up
Just for reference, what numbers are we looking at here?
He can make +20 strength checks and does about 100 damage on a bite and 60 on all his other many attacks
This goes uneventfully enough, until a bright flare of magic bursts, momentarily dazzling all of you. It fades, leaving no sign of it having been there.
"Should be safe to go on now," Afina says, advancing and keeping an eye out for further traps. "Good work, Smrgol."
Still taking 10 for 53 on search checks
Mei nods firmly and strides on. Dana follows, "Nice," she says, as you advance. You go down this river for a little time, going another 60ft before your searching find another trap. This time it's a simple tripwire, so thin as to be almost invisible.
"Tripwire, just step over it and you'll be fine," Afina says, directing everyone safely over it, paying special attention to Smrgol given his extra limbs and tail to be considerate of.
"Awful lot of defenses for a cave," Dana remarks, "Damn paranoid wizards."
"It's surprising really," Afina says. "I mean if you had all these traps you'd expect your minions to accidentally set them off now and then. Maybe he just doesn't care?"
"Or it's a fucking diversion," Dana points out, "Let idiots run down here and kill themselves for nothing."
"Expensive diversion, but I suppose it's possible. We won't know until we reach the end."
On you go - and not another 50ft before Afina notices a slight fissure in the floor. Some kind of pit trap, she thinks.
How annoying when she can't fly. "Pit trap," she points it out, using her stone shape ability to fill it in and make a safe passage over it.
Stone Shape SLA http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/stoneShape.htm
And just like that, the pit is filled in. You advance on - and ahead you see a small, mostly dried up lake. It's sunken below the level to feed out into the dry river and no sources of water feed into it, at least above water level. It also seems to be a dead end.
"You might have been right, Dana," Afina concedes grudgingly. "Lets check for any secret passages before we leave though. That giant spider and ogre had to come out from somewhere below, I'm sure this entire mountain is all interconnected somehow."
Taking 10 for 53 on search
You look around - and find a secret door. One against a wall near the lake, set so it only opens from the other side. It might be possible to force and one could just destroy it, of course.
"Ahh, there we go. Smrgol, bash it down?" she asks her dragon, going to step back while he lumbers over and does just that!
[18:33] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+20 str
[18:33] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 1d20+20 str --> [ 1d20=5 ]{25}
Smrgol bashes the door right down. It takes a few tries, but she bulls it open. It leads into a hall with a crude stairway going up.
"Good job. Keep alert for traps, remember," Afina says, taking the lead up those stairs at a sedate and alert pace.
Listen check, Afina. You're the only one who can reasonably make this.
[20:04] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+41
[20:04] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 1d20+41 --> [ 1d20=15 ]{56}
As you begin to walk up the stairs - a bit of a hassle for your size - you hear the softest twang of bowstrings.
"Archers up ahead," Afina warns, preparing to dodge any that come her way. Mei and Dana should be fine behind Smrgol and he can heal any damage they do, which is fairly unlikely to start with. She doesn't increase her pace though since it seems a good way to lure someone into charging into a trap no doubt far nastier than any arrows.
Indeed, Smrgol takes most of the way ahead on point. He goes up a little more before he sees arrows come down at him from above.
> roll 1d20+26
> roll 1d20+26
<Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+26 --> [ 1d20=10 ]{36}
<Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+26 --> [ 1d20=12 ]{38}
> roll 1d20+26
<Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+26 --> [ 1d20=11 ]{37}
AC?
56
Afina: 277+15/277, heroes feast (CL 20), mind blank (CL 17), fortunate fate (CL 15), planar tolerance (CL 7), greater mage armour (CL 23), moment of prescience (CL 23), see invisibility (CL 23)
AC 72, spell resistance 38, blindsense 30, immunity to fire, water, earth, cold, disease, poison, fear, 50% spell failure (1 hour)
Spell charges: 6/10/9/8/9/9/9/7/7/7
Smrgol: 459/459, mind blank (CL 17), fortunate fate (CL 15), planar tolerance (CL 7), greater mage armour (CL 5)
AC 56, immunity to magic, fast healing 10
Arrows rain down on Smrgol, but they all bounce off his hide. They come from 50ft up the stair, a trio of harpies standing they. They have bows at the ready, loathsome and ugly creatures. They're already readying another round of arrows.
Init here. Due to a giant golem hogging the stairs, doing things past him is rather tricky, so bear that in mind.
[17:35] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+29 Afina init
[17:35] <Kobot> Ebiris rolled 1d20+29 Afina init --> [ 1d20=14 ]{43}
[17:35] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+3 Smrgol init
[17:35] <Kobot> Ebiris rolled 1d20+3 Smrgol init --> [ 1d20=20 ]{23}
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+5 Dana --> [ 1d20=18 ]{23}
> roll 1d20+11 Mei
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+11 Mei --> [ 1d20=5 ]{16}
> roll 1d20+8 Harpy 1
> roll 1d20+8 Harpy 2
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+8 Harpy 1 --> [ 1d20=19 ]{27}
> roll 1d20+8 Harpy 3
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+8 Harpy 2 --> [ 1d20=14 ]{22}
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+8 Harpy 3 --> [ 1d20=6 ]{14}
Afina (43) > H1 (27)> Smrgol = Dana (23) > H2 (22) > Mei (16) > H3 (14)
As usual, Afina wins init and opens. Go.
"Flame them, Smrgol," Afina says, not bothering to exercise herself over such feeble opposition.
She holds
Afina: 277+15/277, heroes feast (CL 20), mind blank (CL 17), fortunate fate (CL 15), planar tolerance (CL 7), greater mage armour (CL 23), moment of prescience (CL 23), see invisibility (CL 23)
AC 72, spell resistance 38, blindsense 30, immunity to fire, water, earth, cold, disease, poison, fear, 50% spell failure (1 hour)
Spell charges: 6/10/9/8/9/9/9/7/7/7
Smrgol: 459/459, mind blank (CL 17), fortunate fate (CL 15), planar tolerance (CL 7), greater mage armour (CL 5)
AC 56, immunity to magic, fast healing 10
More arrows follow as Afina waits.
> roll 1d20+26
> roll 1d20+26
> roll 1d20+21
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+26 --> [ 1d20=7 ]{33}
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+26 --> [ 1d20=4 ]{30}
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+21 --> [ 1d20=11 ]{32}
> roll 1d20+16
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+16 --> [ 1d20=12 ]{28}
> roll 1d20+11
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+11 --> [ 1d20=4 ]{15}
But they bounce off Smrgol like raindrops, doing nothing to the oversized golem dragon.
Go Smrgol.
Lumbering thirty feet forward, Smrgol opens wide and belches forth a torrent of raging hot fire over the harpies!
[18:00] <@Ebiris> roll 20d10 DC 26 ref half
[18:00] <Kobot> Ebiris rolled 20d10 DC 26 ref half --> [ 20d10=100 ]{100}
[18:00] <@Ebiris> roll 1d4 recharge
[18:00] <Kobot> Ebiris rolled 1d4 recharge --> [ 1d4=3 ]{3}
> roll 1d20+18 improved evasion H1
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+18 improved evasion H1 --> [ 1d20=19 ]{37}
> roll 1d20+18 improved evasion H2
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+18 improved evasion H2 --> [ 1d20=4 ]{22}
> roll 1d20+18 improved evasion H3
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+18 improved evasion H3 --> [ 1d20=20 ]{38}
The harpies leap back and throw themselves down, avoiding the flames. The second's scorched a bit, but by and large the hazard is evaded. Dana meanwhile waits with her arms crossed, "C'mon, go trample them to death," she calls.
Dana holds.
H2 is up. The going prone stuff is flavor and not actually being prone, just a way of describing the saving throw.
The harpy springs right back up, loosing off a volley of arrows. You can see them a little better now - clad in light leather armor and with quivers of arrow, as well as some other gear. Is that a ring and another has what looks like a bandoleer of potions.
> roll 1d20+26
> roll 1d20+26
> roll 1d20+21
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+26 --> [ 1d20=2 ]{28}
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+26 --> [ 1d20=19 ]{45}
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+21 --> [ 1d20=18 ]{39}
> roll 1d20+16
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+16 --> [ 1d20=18 ]{34}
> roll 1d20+11
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+11 --> [ 1d20=5 ]{16}
For all the good it does, arrows lined with frost bouncing off Smrgol to no effect. Mei likewise waits, arms crossed.
"Die, you stupid invader!" The last harpy cries, fumbling up and managing to get off a barrage of her own, "Why aren't the arrows working?!"
> roll 1d20+26
> roll 1d20+26
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+26 --> [ 1d20=20 ]{46}
> roll 1d20+21
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+26 --> [ 1d20=14 ]{40}
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+21 --> [ 1d20=1 ]{22}
> roll 1d20+16
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+16 --> [ 1d20=19 ]{35}
> roll 1d20+11
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+11 --> [ 1d20=18 ]{29}
> roll 1d20+26 crit threat
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+26 crit threat --> [ 1d20=17 ]{43}
> roll 1d8+7 does not beat DR
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d8+7 does not beat DR --> [ 1d8=7 ]{14}
But it's barely any effect at all.
Go Afina.
Maybe they're not trash after all? Using her slightl nature and natural agility to duck under and around Smrgol, Afina rushes over with her legs a blur, leaping up to bury her blade in the most wounded harpy's throat before kicking off and puncturing her neighbour in the thigh and coming to a stop behind the trio! Or duo by now she hopes.
Using Afame as a swift for +4 dodge AC
[18:18] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+48
[18:18] <Kobot> Ebiris rolled 1d20+48 --> [ 1d20=17 ]{65}
[18:18] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+43
[18:18] <Kobot> Ebiris rolled 1d20+43 --> [ 1d20=8 ]{51}
[18:19] <@Ebiris> roll 1d4+21+6d6+2d6
[18:19] <Kobot> Ebiris rolled 1d4+21+6d6+2d6 --> [ 1d4=4 6d6=19 2d6=9 ]{53}
[18:19] <@Ebiris> roll 1d4+21+6d6+2d6
[18:19] <Kobot> Ebiris rolled 1d4+21+6d6+2d6 --> [ 1d4=4 6d6=30 2d6=11 ]{66}
Afina: 277+15/277, heroes feast (CL 20), mind blank (CL 17), fortunate fate (CL 15), planar tolerance (CL 7), greater mage armour (CL 23), moment of prescience (CL 23), see invisibility (CL 23)
AC 82, spell resistance 38, blindsense 30, immunity to fire, water, earth, cold, disease, poison, fear, 50% spell failure (1 hour)
Spell charges: 6/10/9/8/9/9/9/7/7/7
Smrgol: 459/459, mind blank (CL 17), fortunate fate (CL 15), planar tolerance (CL 7), greater mage armour (CL 5)
AC 56, immunity to magic, fast healing 10
The second is cut deep in her shoulder, twisting out of the way of the kill blow. From the bleeding, you hit something good anyway. The other's sliced across the arm, bringing it up to save her neck. Neither can strike against you, bow and arrows rather than a proper weapon. "Retreat!" The first calls, but runs headlong into Afina.
Afina (43) > H1 (27)> Smrgol = Dana (23) > H2 (22) > Mei (16) > H3 (14)
You can AoO her, Afina. For reference, she's the unwounded one.
[18:31] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+48 I never get to AoO stuff!
[18:31] <Kobot> Ebiris rolled 1d20+48 I never get to AoO stuff! --> [ 1d20=2 ]{50}
[18:31] <@Ebiris> roll 1d4+21+6d6+2d6
[18:31] <Kobot> Ebiris rolled 1d4+21+6d6+2d6 --> [ 1d4=4 6d6=27 2d6=2 ]{54}
A stab right into her guts, making her stop cold. "How?!" she sputters, as...
Smrgol, go.
Rushing forward the rest of the way, Smrgol's crystalline neck snaps out with jaws wide open to bite into the so far untouched harpy!
[18:43] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+28 -33 pa
[18:43] <Kobot> Ebiris rolled 1d20+28 -33 pa --> [ 1d20=19 ]{47}
[18:43] <@Ebiris> roll 2d10+88
[18:43] <Kobot> Ebiris rolled 2d10+88 --> [ 2d10=9 ]{97}
Smrgol barrels against the other two as he gets the one Afina wounded, biting down. Most of her upper body is gone after that, the rest falling to the ground. You can see them clearly now, ugly women with faces twisted with fear and hate.
Mei will take her held action and try and shoot around Smrgol. They have cover thanks to him, granting them +4 AC vs ranged attacks. Relevant since she's going to beam them.
Mei is silent, juking to the side and trying to fire around Smrgol.
> roll 1d20+35 (+1 PBS) Mei
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+35 (+1 PBS) Mei --> [ 1d20=6 ]{41}
Touch AC so that's a formality.
> roll 12d6+5+1d6
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 12d6+5+1d6 --> [ 12d6=43 1d6=1 ]{49}
Afina (43) > H1 (27)> Smrgol = Dana = Mei (23) > H3 (14)
Badly burned already and stabbed, the second takes Mei's beam of holy light right in the face. Her head is gone after that, neck cauterized shut. The harpy's body hits the ground after, not even twitching once. The third harpy, in terror screams, but fumbles for her bow.
Provokes from Afina and Smrgol.
Afina already AoOd this turn and lacks combat reflexes. Smrgol has no such compunctions.
[19:15] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+28 -33pa
[19:15] <Kobot> Ebiris rolled 1d20+28 -33pa --> [ 1d20=9 ]{37}
[19:15] <@Ebiris> roll 2d10+88
[19:15] <Kobot> Ebiris rolled 2d10+88 --> [ 2d10=13 ]{101}
Crunch. Another bite and the last harpy is a memory. All about you are harpy parts, equipment and blood. "Pft, it's like they're expecting clueless mortals," Dana calls.
Free act. Say so IC if you're doing any looting.
"They weren't terrible. Better than most erinyes I've fought, I'd say," Afina gives the now dead harpies a fair appraisal, casting detect magic to see if their equipment is worth salvaging.
I figure we spent long enough climbing/checking for traps that it's been an hour so my magic should be back to normal now. Taking 10 for 53 on relevant spellcrafting.
Afina: 277+15/277, heroes feast (CL 20), mind blank (CL 17), fortunate fate (CL 15), planar tolerance (CL 7), greater mage armour (CL 23), moment of prescience (CL 23), see invisibility (CL 23)
AC 82, spell resistance 38, blindsense 30, immunity to fire, water, earth, cold, disease, poison, fear
Spell charges: 5/10/9/8/9/9/9/7/7/7
Smrgol: 459/459, mind blank (CL 17), fortunate fate (CL 15), planar tolerance (CL 7), greater mage armour (CL 5)
AC 56, immunity to magic, fast healing 10
There's the following intact magical gear
Longbow+1
Longbow+1, frost
Longbow+1
Potion of cure light wounds
Potion of aid
Ring of protection+1
Ring of protection+1
Bracers of resistance+2 (+2 resistance bonus to saving throws)
I'll move this into loot.
Casting floating disc, Afina shifts the magical items onto it for easy carrying before continuing up the passage.
May matter, do you have a bag of holding or similar solution, Eb? Mei and Dana don't.
no, floating disc is Afina's looting vehicle of choice
So noted.
The harpies are dealt with. You continue your trip up, the stairs leading to a narrow door. Much too narrow for Smrgol to get through, no less. It's made of wood with iron band and has a pull ring to open.
"Gonna break down that one, too?" Dana asks, readying her shield.
"Hopefully it's just a bottleneck," Afina says, since if the corridor beyond is too narrow for Smrgol things will be somewhat awkward. "Bash it down, would you?" she asks Smrgol, stepping back so the golem can do its work.
[17:37] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+20 str
[17:37] <Kobot> Ebiris rolled 1d20+20 str --> [ 1d20=11 ]{31}
Afina: 277+15/277, heroes feast (CL 20), mind blank (CL 17), fortunate fate (CL 15), planar tolerance (CL 7), greater mage armour (CL 23), moment of prescience (CL 23), see invisibility (CL 23)
AC 82, spell resistance 38, blindsense 30, immunity to fire, water, earth, cold, disease, poison, fear
Spell charges: 5/9/9/8/9/9/9/7/7/7
Smrgol: 459/459, mind blank (CL 17), fortunate fate (CL 15), planar tolerance (CL 7), greater mage armour (CL 5)
AC 56, immunity to magic, fast healing 10
WHAM! One charge later the door is down. Ahead is a large cavern room, with dozens of little perches starting 20ft up all the way to 60ft up. Most of them are held by harpies, who begin to fire the moment Smrgol makes it through.
> roll 1d20+46 arrow storm
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+46 arrow storm --> [ 1d20=18 ]{64}
"Kill the invader!" One shouts as arrows pepper the golem all over.
> roll 4d8+28
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 4d8+28 --> [ 4d8=9 ]{37}
Dozens of arrows rain down on Smrgol, sheer quantity piercing him. Minor damage but damage nonetheless, the rest of the party able to see little of it.
Init here.
[17:52] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+29 Afina
[17:52] <Kobot> Ebiris rolled 1d20+29 Afina --> [ 1d20=1 ]{30}
[17:52] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+3 Smrgol
[17:52] <Kobot> Ebiris rolled 1d20+3 Smrgol --> [ 1d20=18 ]{21}
Afina: 277+15/277, heroes feast (CL 20), mind blank (CL 17), fortunate fate (CL 15), planar tolerance (CL 7), greater mage armour (CL 23), moment of prescience (CL 23), see invisibility (CL 23)
AC 72, spell resistance 38, blindsense 30, immunity to fire, water, earth, cold, disease, poison, fear
Spell charges: 5/9/9/8/9/9/9/7/7/7
Smrgol: 437/459, mind blank (CL 17), fortunate fate (CL 15), planar tolerance (CL 7), greater mage armour (CL 5)
AC 56, immunity to magic, fast healing 10
> roll 1d20+5 Dana init
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+5 Dana init --> [ 1d20=20 ]{25}
> roll 1d20+11 Mei
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+11 Mei --> [ 1d20=5 ]{16}
> roll 1d20+9 harpies
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+9 harpies --> [ 1d20=9 ]{18}
Afina (30) > Dana (25) > Smrgol (21) Harpies (18) > Mei (16)
Open Afina.
Taking a leaf from Ithea's book as she scampers under Smrgol and into the room, Afina gestures up at the terraces and a strobing arc of lightning jolts out from her hand, blasting one particularly unlucky harpy before a multitude of arcs split off to char those unlucky enough to be in her vicinity! She also hastes everyone because why not?
Chain lightning SLA used
[18:21] <@Ebiris> roll 20d6 chain lightning DC 30 ref half
[18:21] <Kobot> Ebiris rolled 20d6 chain lightning DC 30 ref half --> [ 20d6=72 ]{72}
72 to target Harpy and 36 to 20 harpies within 30 feet of her
Afina: 277+15/277, heroes feast (CL 20), mind blank (CL 17), fortunate fate (CL 15), planar tolerance (CL 7), greater mage armour (CL 23), moment of prescience (CL 23), see invisibility (CL 23), Haste (CL 23)
AC 83, spell resistance 38, blindsense 30, immunity to fire, water, earth, cold, disease, poison, fear, 50% miss chance
Spell charges: 5/9/9/7/9/9/9/7/7/7
Smrgol: 437/459, mind blank (CL 17), fortunate fate (CL 15), planar tolerance (CL 7), greater mage armour (CL 5), haste (CL 23)
AC 57, immunity to magic, fast healing 10
> roll 1d20+18 improved evasion
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+18 improved evasion --> [ 1d20=4 ]{22}
Lightning rips through the harpies, but they largely dodge it skillfully. The shocks are minimal and they move with speed Afina has to reluctantly approve of. As this happens...
Smrgol's up. Dana'll hold since he's in the way. Go.
[spoiler]
Mei
HP: 295/295
Spells Active: Mind Blank (CL17), Fortunate Fate (CL15), Planar Tolerance(CL7), Greater Mage Armor(CL5), Haste(CL23)
Bonuses: +1 attack rolls, +1 attacks, haste movement speed, +1 ref.
Negative Conditions:
Resources Used:
Dana
HP: 313/313
Spells Active: Mind Blank (CL17), Fortunate Fate (CL15), Planar Tolerance(CL7), Greater Mage Armor(CL5), Haste(CL23)
Bonuses: +1 attack rolls, +1 attacks, haste movement speed, +1 ref.
Negative Conditions:
Resources Used:
Smrgol rushes into the room far faster than his usual lumbering gait and belches forth a torrent of flame up the terraces on his left!
[18:46] <@Ebiris> roll 20d10 DC 26 ref half
[18:46] <Kobot> Ebiris rolled 20d10 DC 26 ref half --> [ 20d10=122 ]{122}
[18:46] <@Ebiris> roll 1d4 recharge
[18:46] <Kobot> Ebiris rolled 1d4 recharge --> [ 1d4=3 ]{3}
> roll 1d20+18 improved evasion
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+18 improved evasion --> [ 1d20=4 ]{22}
They're damned fast. You scorch some and make a handful fall back, but you don't take any out. Annoying tough creatures, even as terraces melt under dragon fire. Dana strolls in after that, "Hey cocksuckers!" she shouts, "I'm gonna kill all of you then fuck all your mothers AND your fathers." This prompts arrows to converge on her like she's a moth in front of a fire.
She's holding and basically being arrow bait.
> roll 1d20+31 intimidate
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+31 intimidate --> [ 1d20=6 ]{37}
> roll 1d20+20
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+20 --> [ 1d20=1 ]{21}
> roll 1d20+44 arrow storm
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+44 arrow storm --> [ 1d20=10 ]{54}
Arrows and armor meet, as do shield and arrows. In the end, not a one touches her. Mei follows in after her, firing at a retreating harpy.
> roll 1d20 touch AC, she only misses on a 1
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20 touch AC, she only misses on a 1 --> [ 1d20=1 ]{1}
And there's the 1!
And it misses into the cavern, as...
Afina times.
Their dodging skills are somewhat obnoxious but Afina has attacks that can only be endured and not avoided, and it's one of those she employs now. Slowing her pace she walks further into the lowest level at a positively sedate twenty feet, glancing up at the terraces on her right with her eyes flashing before the harpies on that flank find the moisture painfully expulsed from their bodies!
Horrid Wilting SLA used
[19:23] <@Ebiris> roll 20d6 DC 32 fort half
[19:23] <Kobot> Ebiris rolled 20d6 DC 32 fort half --> [ 20d6=68 ]{68}
It doesn't specify a max number of targets so basically every harpy within a 60 foot wide circle works
Afina: 277+15/277, heroes feast (CL 20), mind blank (CL 17), fortunate fate (CL 15), planar tolerance (CL 7), greater mage armour (CL 23), moment of prescience (CL 23), see invisibility (CL 23), Haste (CL 23)
AC 83, spell resistance 38, blindsense 30, immunity to fire, water, earth, cold, disease, poison, fear, 50% miss chance
Spell charges: 5/9/9/7/9/9/9/7/7/7
Smrgol: 447/459, mind blank (CL 17), fortunate fate (CL 15), planar tolerance (CL 7), greater mage armour (CL 5), haste (CL 23)
AC 57, immunity to magic, fast healing 10
This will wait until the morning, I'm not coherent enough to manage combat right now.
Afina (30) > Dana (25) > Smrgol (21) Harpies (18) > Mei (16)
> roll 1d20+14
<Serith> Ko-TheNitoriEquation roll for Serith < 17 > [d20=3]
Harpies cry out as water is sucked out of their bodies, hideous forms desiccated before your eyes. They scream and struggle, a few so drained they collapse, little more than ancient corpses.
"Attention all harpy bitches!" Dana shouts, "I'm your worst fucking nightmare!" Dana begins to transform, her body becoming rubbery black, hair becoming long tentacles, limbs little more than nightmarish shadows that stretch far too long for her. She grows several feet in height and becomes far thinner, middle body distorted and twisting into itself. A loop that goes on, on, on and on without end, spiraling into oblivion.
With an inhuman cry, Dana charges the wall and starts to climb it. Tentacles lash away stones as they pull her body up, legs running up and snapping into 90 degree angles to let her walk up the wall while keeping the rest of her body oriented like she's climbing.
Form of Doom, 11 PP. Grants frightful presence, which she's invoking now. DC 22.
> roll 1d20+12 vs 22
<Serith> Ko-TheNitoriEquation roll for Serith < 31 > [d20=19]
The harpies hold position despite the damage and the horror that approaches them.
Smrgol's up. Go.
[spoiler]
Mei
HP: 295/295
Spells Active: Mind Blank (CL17), Fortunate Fate (CL15), Planar Tolerance(CL7), Greater Mage Armor(CL5), Haste(CL23)
Bonuses: +1 attack rolls, +1 attacks, haste movement speed, +1 ref.
Negative Conditions:
Resources Used:
Dana
HP: 313/313
Spells Active: Mind Blank (CL17), Fortunate Fate (CL15), Planar Tolerance(CL7), Greater Mage Armor(CL5), Haste(CL23)
Bonuses: +1 attack rolls, +1 attacks, haste movement speed, +1 ref.
Negative Conditions:
Resources Used: 228/239 power points
[/quote]
While less horrifying than Dana, Smrgol still surely cuts an intimidating figure as he rushes over to climb up the terraces he just flamed, getting amidst the harpies and biting at one unlucky enough to have a low-hanging perch!
Taking 10 for 67 on his climb check
[17:36] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+29 -33pa
[17:36] <Serith> Ebiris roll for Serith < 38 > [d20=9]
[17:36] <@Ebiris> roll 2d10+88
[17:36] <Serith> Ebiris roll for Serith < 103 > [d10=9,6]
Afina: 277+15/277, heroes feast (CL 20), mind blank (CL 17), fortunate fate (CL 15), planar tolerance (CL 7), greater mage armour (CL 23), moment of prescience (CL 23), see invisibility (CL 23), Haste (CL 23)
AC 83, spell resistance 38, blindsense 30, immunity to fire, water, earth, cold, disease, poison, fear, 50% miss chance
Spell charges: 5/9/9/7/9/9/9/7/7/7
Smrgol: 457/459, mind blank (CL 17), fortunate fate (CL 15), planar tolerance (CL 7), greater mage armour (CL 5), haste (CL 23)
AC 57, immunity to magic, fast healing 10
Like that, Smrgol climbs right up and bites a harpy in half. Already shocked and wounded, it's top half is a golem snack and its bottom half is excess meat. By now, the harpies are wounded. Some are burnt, some are panicking, others are shocked or fallling back. In general, the mass is bloodied and trapped, firing away wildly at their foes.
> roll 1d20+36 vs all ACs
<Serith> Ko-TheNitoriEquation roll for Serith < 53 > [d20=17]
Misses Dana and hits Mei. Misses Smrgol and Afina, naturally.
> roll 2d8+14
<Serith> Ko-TheNitoriEquation roll for Serith < 17 > [d8=2,1]
Mei gets an arrow in the side, one that falls out after penetrating shallowly into her flesh. She stands resolute and ignores the pain.
Single targeting isn't helping much here, so heavenly endurance for 22 temp HP. Afina, you're up.
[spoiler]
Mei
HP: 278+22/295
Spells Active: Mind Blank (CL17), Fortunate Fate (CL15), Planar Tolerance(CL7), Greater Mage Armor(CL5), Haste(CL23)
Bonuses: +1 attack rolls, +1 attacks, haste movement speed, +1 ref.
Negative Conditions:
Resources Used:
Dana
HP: 313/313
Spells Active: Mind Blank (CL17), Fortunate Fate (CL15), Planar Tolerance(CL7), Greater Mage Armor(CL5), Haste(CL23)
Bonuses: +1 attack rolls, +1 attacks, haste movement speed, +1 ref.
Negative Conditions:
Resources Used: 228/239 power points
Afina can't climb up to contribute to what Smrgol and Dana are doing, so she stands where she is and gestures up at the highest ranks of harpies as a field of writhing fiery tentacles erupt out of the stone, burning and binding the unfortunate archers!
Daltim's Fiery Tentacles
[17:50] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+28 cmb grapple
[17:50] <Serith> Ebiris roll for Serith < 47 > [d20=19]
[17:50] <@Ebiris> roll 1d6+4
[17:50] <Serith> Ebiris roll for Serith < 8 > [d6=4]
8 bludgeoning damage for any that grapples, and 22 fire damage (DC 31 ref half, grappled creatures can't make a save) to any within the 20ft radius area
Afina: 277+15/277, heroes feast (CL 20), mind blank (CL 17), fortunate fate (CL 15), planar tolerance (CL 7), greater mage armour (CL 23), moment of prescience (CL 23), see invisibility (CL 23), Haste (CL 23)
AC 83, spell resistance 38, blindsense 30, immunity to fire, water, earth, cold, disease, poison, fear, 50% miss chance
Spell charges: 5/9/9/7/9/8/9/7/7/7
Smrgol: 457/459, mind blank (CL 17), fortunate fate (CL 15), planar tolerance (CL 7), greater mage armour (CL 5), haste (CL 23)
AC 57, immunity to magic, fast healing 10
Harpies are grabbed and burned, several of them caught by the field and pinned down, made into living torches. At this point there are few survivors and they're dying or worse, the battlefield battered. Ledges are melting, lava trickling down the walls. Corpses are burnt, dried out or simply pulverized by your assaults. The last few are being destroyed by your tentacles, and a few simply lie there, dead or overwhelmed into a faint.
Free act, this was a massacre. There's gear around if you wanna loot.
"Good work everyone!" Afina says, clapping her hands approvingly. "Lets take some time now to grab anything magical and stick it on the disc. Anything you're not sure about bring it my way and I'll have a look."
Mass looting will occur of anything magical, Afina takes 10 for 53 on spellcraft
You loot. Much of it's damaged or lost because of the fiery tactics you used, but you get the following things:
Longbow+1
Longbow+1, keen
Longbow+2
Longbow+1
Leather armor+2
Leather armor+1
Ring of Protection+1
Ring of Resistance+1
Potion of bless
Potion of cure serious wounds
"Alright, we're doing well on all that," Afina says after it's all collated and gathered. "Anyone see any paths out of here while they were climbing all over?"
Nothing that's obvious and Dana says as much, "Emptier than my liquor bottle," Dana grouses, "Which means it's another fucking hidden passage, unless the bone fucker likes stacking harpies up in a dead end like this."
"Doubtful, if this is their living space they'd need tunnels connecting to all the other lookouts and trap spots on the mountainside," Afina says, going to have a look around at ground level and then getting Smrgol to carry her up so she can search further up the walls.
[18:55] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+43 search
[18:55] <Serith> Ebiris roll for Serith < 58 > [d20=15]
One alcove has a hidden door, while there's also one on ground level.
She'll open up the alcove hidden door first in case it's just a hidden cache or something.
It's a shallow closet with another door on the far side. Within lies several baskets full of arrows and a few bows mounted on the wall.
Are the bows magic?
One of them is. You can analyze it if you want.
Of course!
taking 10 for 53 on spellcraft
It's a longbow+1.
Simple, but it goes on the disc anyway! Next she goes and opens the secret door on the ground level.
This door's locked.
"Smrgol, if you please?" Afina steps clear after trying the door. She could search the harpies for a key but why bother?
[20:21] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+20 str
[20:22] <Serith> Ebiris roll for Serith < 26 > [d20=6]
Another door opens by force, a narrow and winding tunnel ahead. It looks to small for Smrgol on a glance, though it's big enough for the rest of you.
Nothing to see here
Okay, minor miscommunication. Still summoning umber hulks?
Yes, I wasn't sure what part was objectionable so I erred on the side of caution. I'll redo my post."It's time we stopped being such courteous guests," Afina declares after getting a look down the too small passageway. "Keep watch for me everyone? This'll take a short while," she says, heading back into the lower level to score out a summoning diagram with a fire from her fingertip, its charred markings glowing pale blue as she imbues a magic circle against evil into it.
Magic Circle Against Evil used as summoning trap, DC 20 spellcraft can't failOnce that's done she begins casting greater planar binding to call forth some helpful excavatars!
Summoning 2 8hd half-fiend umber hulks.
[21:58] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+23 SR
[21:58] <Serith> Ebiris roll for Serith < 41 > [d20=18]
DC 32 will to resist
Afina: 277+15/277, heroes feast (CL 20), mind blank (CL 17), fortunate fate (CL 15), planar tolerance (CL 7), greater mage armour (CL 23), moment of prescience (CL 23), see invisibility (CL 23)
AC 72, spell resistance 38, blindsense 30, immunity to fire, water, earth, cold, disease, poison, fear
Spell charges: 5/9/9/6/9/8/9/7/6/7
Smrgol: 457/459, mind blank (CL 17), fortunate fate (CL 15), planar tolerance (CL 7), greater mage armour (CL 5)
AC 56, immunity to magic, fast healing 10
Make a Spellcraft check. Unrelated to the summoning circle.
[17:36] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+53
[17:36] <Serith> Ebiris roll for Serith < 58 > [d20=5]
Should be +43 so 48
As you begin the summoning ritual, you can detect disturbances in your spell weave. The long casting time gives you a chance to see things are wrong and off, with local interference making summoning twitchy at best. You could proceed, but your spell could be modified or disrupted.
She'll carry on anyway, the binding circle will keep anything unwelcome from being a threat and she really does want something that can bash down the walls around here.
Okay, make another spellcraft check then.
[17:42] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+43
[17:42] <Serith> Ebiris roll for Serith < 45 > [d20=2]
It's difficult and impossible for a lesser spellcaster, but Afina has been tempered greatly. Such variance is able to be controlled and minimized. The two umber hulks that appear are oddly distorted, as if seen through a twisted mirror. But they're intact and appear as commanded.
They are horrible mutant crossbreeds so Afina isn't too fussed about their looks. "I have summoned you here to provide a service in excavation for me lasting no more than one full day. In exchange I will compensate each of you two potions from this selection," she walks over and takes each vial off the magic disc and places them before the summoning circle. "Are these terms agreeable?"
[17:47] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+14 opposed charisma, bonuses may apply depending on how they rate the job/payment
[17:47] <Serith> Ebiris roll for Serith < 24 > [d20=10]
> roll 1d20+1 opposed Charisma
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 12 > [d20=11]
The two chitter and burble to one another, before one replies in Terran, "Acceptable."
Dana watches on, disinterested, while Mei scowls deeply as she watches the creatures like a hawk.
"Good, the potions are yours," Afina says, leaning over and swiping a hand through the diagram to break it, setting the fiendish insectoid horrors loose. "Widen out the path beyond that door so that Smrgol can pass easily. If any danger appears, wait behind Smrgol until it is dealt with." She points at the crystalline dragon so they know who Smrgol is.
The two begin to work and widen. As they begin, Mei approaches and gently tugs on your wing.
"Hm?" Afina looks up towards Mei at that tugging.
Mei points to them and shakes her head vigorously. Meanwhile Dana doesn't seem to care, following along.
"Really?" Afina asks. "They're our only way of getting through this without climbing over the entire mountain, and it's not as if they can be causing mischief elsewhere while I've got them here."
Mei stands firm, shaking her head again.
Dana looks back and rolls her eyes, "Oh, put on your big girl pants and deal. It's not even a real fiend or a fucking devil."
She's not thrilled about it, not by a longshot, but forcing a volunteer to go against her moral codes isn't something that'll end well for them. "No, if she's truly so uncomfortable with it it'll affect our teamwork. That's more important than an easier path through this place." Calling the umber hulks back she says, "Your services are complete, return whence you came."
She's already wasted spells and time on getting them here, she's not going to waste any on killing them.
Like that, the umber hulks are gone. Mei smiles and draws Afina into a hug, while Dana rolls her eyes. "That's great and all, but how in the crusty old goatfuck are we going to continue on now? Go back out and do more climbing?"
This is why she doesn't like inflexible moral codes. At least Mei's cute enough to make it hard to bear a grudge. "That's exactly it. Sorry Smrgol, we'll be relying on you some more," she says as they backtrack, not lingering in that hug.
You return back out. The party clambers on Smrgol and then...
> roll 1d100
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 70 > [d100=70]
You wander up another 1000ft. The air is even thinner up here as...
> roll 1d20 Fort save Mei, only fails on a 1
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 12 > [d20=12]
> roll 1d20 Fort save Dana, only fails on a 1
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 19 > [d20=19]
Still no tops in sight, but about 500ft up, you can see a cleft in the mountain. Some sort of gap, perhaps a natural pass, riverway or the like?
Hopefully it's Smrgol-sized! "Aim for that cleft, Smrgol," Afina points up from atop the dragon's head.
Up he goes. Indeed, you find it to be a narrow, V shaped pass into the mountain. It's colder up here, not quite snow cold, but you're getting up there. The ancient, cracked rock ahead is rough and the mountains above largely cast the way ahead in shadow.
"This looks fine, lets go," Afina says, climbing off Smrgol and checking for traps along the way.
Taking 10 for 53 on search
No traps this way. You go a little distance as...
Spot check, Afina. You're the only one good enough to have a shot here.
[20:17] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+41
[20:17] <Serith> Ebiris roll for Serith < 49 > [d20=8]
You glance up. High above, about 500ft to 600ft up you see the glint of metal on crags far above, the tiny glittering points of arrowheads.
"Back up," Afina says. "This path's a death trap. Climb around and up onto those crags five hundred feet up."
plan is to go back and climb the mountain before getting onto one of the arrow-strewn paths above.
"No shit?" Dana challenges, but follows along. The party goes back out and climbs up another 500ft, angling around. Up here you can begin to advance on what looks like path after path with excellent views below - and what must be hundreds of harpies, all oriented in your general direction. They're over a thousand feet away right now and no one's firing, but they're holding one hell of a line on the party.
"Yep, deathtrap," Dana agrees, peering ahead. She waves and gives them an obscene gesture in the meantime.
A hundred worms are still just worms! "At least this way you can run over and hit them if you like," Afina offers, starting to walk boldly forward on the path. Maybe the harpies will have an attack of good sense? Or maybe a terribly unforseen tornado will pick them up and dash them to bits off the rocks below. Only time will tell!
You begin to advance - and they come. A great hail of faraway arrows, most missing, more prayers than real shots.
> roll 1d20+20 vs all's AC, really just 20 fishing here since even Mei has cover thanks to Dana
<Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+20 vs all's AC, really just 20 fishing here since even Mei has cover thanks to Dana --> [ 1d20=17 ]{37}
But the shots are badly errant, not a one coming close to you all.
And in reply a terribly unforseen tornado appears at the first ranks of harpies on Afina's side of the ravine!
Using Whirlwind SLA http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/whirlwind.htm
Appears 1000 feet ahead of us at the start of the harpy lines and is set to move in a zig-zag pattern crossing back and forth across the ravine to hit harpies on either side, travelling 60 feet each turn. A DC 32 reflex save prevents anything bad happening. If a save is failed they take
[19:13] <@Ebiris> roll 3d6
[19:13] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=8 ]{8}
8 damage and have to make another DC 23 reflex save or be picked up by the tornado, which then drops them as it crosses the ravine so they fall 500 feet down.As elemental forces ruin the archers' day, Afina continues walking forward at a sedate pace so she doesn't leave everyone else behind.
Moving 60 feet forwardAfina: 277+15/277, heroes feast (CL 20), mind blank (CL 17), fortunate fate (CL 15), planar tolerance (CL 7), greater mage armour (CL 23), moment of prescience (CL 23), see invisibility (CL 23)
AC 82, spell resistance 38, blindsense 30, immunity to fire, water, earth, cold, disease, poison, fear
Spell charges: 5/9/9/6/9/8/9/7/6/7
Smrgol: 459/459, mind blank (CL 17), fortunate fate (CL 15), planar tolerance (CL 7), greater mage armour (CL 5)
AC 56, immunity to magic, fast healing 10
There's enough rolling here that I'm just going to take averages, since the harpy reaction is also going to make this somewhat moot.
The tornado sweeps into the harpies, bird-women being taken up and tosses around relentlessly. Some are tossed into the gorge and end up broken bodies hundreds of feet below. Others are tossed about or battered down, while a few endure. Meanwhile, the rest stop firing and start running, retreating as nature's wrath savages their sisters.
Afina just keeps right on walking, her cyclone moving forward at the same pace a thousand feet ahead of her to give the harpies plenty of reason to keep up their panicked flight.
Dana whistles as your foes flee in a panic, "Save some for when we get to the real fights. The lich has to be better than this weak-ass shit."
"Don't worry, as impressive as it looks this tornado wouldn't do a thing against anything bigger than a harpy," Afina says as she continues her leisurely stroll. "I'm getting a lot of use out of my elemental powers that ordinarily wouldn't do much against our usual foes. It's quite relaxing, actually."
The whirlwind will continue for 21 more rounds so she'll maintain her current approach until it dissipates
By the time the tornado ends, the harpies are all gone. Fled into caves or dead far below, bits of gear and bodies littered about. It's several long paths with occasional caves to enter, stretching all along and above the sharp V below. They end far ahead, where a massive fortress sits, blocking the path. It's made of heavy stone and a few hundred feet taller than the highest paths, far enough away where you can't see details yet.
This is probably just a guardhouse too, but they'll clean it out anyway. Not caring enough to go climbing down to loot the dropped bows Afina continues walking bold as you please towards the fortress, practically daring anyone to try and stop her.
Up on the ledges still, back in the V or somewhere else on the walls?
We're going along the ledges
You advance. As you do, you can see great, hulking and ugly beasts manning the towers above. You don't need much knowledge to know ogres when you see them, joined by more harpies. They're readying boulders and arrows, respectively. Getting closer, you can also see murder holes all along the towers and castle, surely with more arrows ready to be fired at you.
Mei looks on and nods, while Dana just grins and readies her shield and rapier.
Maybe it's overconfidence, but shattering their morale and forcing them to flee is in the end more efficient so Afina allows their foes the luxury of the first strike as she advances, inexorable as the tide!
> roll 1d20+21 long ranged attacks are a go
<Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+21 long ranged attacks are a go --> [ 1d20=20 ]{41}
> roll 1d20+21 long ranged attacks are a go crits?
<Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+21 long ranged attacks are a go crits? --> [ 1d20=16 ]{37}
Well that's bad luck.
Arrows largely miss and boulders rain down. "Hah, they can't do jack shi-" Dana looks up, as a boulder flies right at you, perfectly aimed. "Shit!" Pain as all four of you get a boulder hit, landing perfectly on Smrgol's back to smack all of you.
> roll 4d8+10 to all four of you ow
<Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 4d8+10 to all four of you ow --> [ 4d8=20 ]{30}
[spoiler]
Mei
HP: 270/295
Spells Active: Mind Blank (CL17), Fortunate Fate (CL15), Planar Tolerance(CL7), Greater Mage Armor(CL5), Haste(CL23)
Bonuses: +1 attack rolls, +1 attacks, haste movement speed, +1 ref.
Negative Conditions:
Resources Used:
Dana
HP: 293/313
Spells Active: Mind Blank (CL17), Fortunate Fate (CL15), Planar Tolerance(CL7), Greater Mage Armor(CL5), Haste(CL23)
Bonuses: +1 attack rolls, +1 attacks, haste movement speed, +1 ref.
Negative Conditions:
Resources Used: 228/239 power points
"Alright, maybe we deserved that," Afina says, grateful at least it wasn't a cold iron boulder. "No more slow ominous walks, charge!" She hastes everyone before rushing forward three hundred and sixty feet at a ground-devouring pace, Smrgol lumbering a mere two hundred and forty feet at his more ponderous gait.
Afina: 272/277, heroes feast (CL 20), mind blank (CL 17), fortunate fate (CL 15), planar tolerance (CL 7), greater mage armour (CL 23), moment of prescience (CL 23), see invisibility (CL 23), haste (CL 23)
AC 83, spell resistance 38, blindsense 30, immunity to fire, water, earth, cold, disease, poison, fear, 50% miss chance
Spell charges: 5/9/9/6/9/8/9/7/6/7
Smrgol: 444/459, mind blank (CL 17), fortunate fate (CL 15), planar tolerance (CL 7), greater mage armour (CL 5), haste (CL 23)
AC 57, immunity to magic, fast healing 10
"Father fucking assholes!" Dana snaps, "Alright then, get this heap of shit moving!"
Wouldn't Smrgol be immune to haste since he's magic immune? Or is that pace with that favored in?
Magic immunity functions like arbitrarily high spell resistance, and spell resistance can be voluntarily lowered to allow beneficial effects through.
Paste me the text of the ability. Depends a lot on which version he has and how it works.
Immunity to Magic (Ex):An ironwyrm golem is immune
to all spells, spell-like abilities, and supernatural effects,
except as follows. A cold effect slows it (as the slowspell) for 3
rounds, with no saving throw. A fire effect breaks any slow
effect on the golem and cures 1 point of
damage for each 3 points of damage it
would otherwise deal. For example, an
ironwyrm golem hit by a delayed blast
fireball cast by a 15th-level wizard
that would normally deal 52
points of damage instead gains
back 17 hit points. The golem
gets no saving throw against
fire effects.
This probably should have come up before given Awaken Construct is a spell and thus would have failed if he couldn't lower his resistance to let stuff through
I'd assume it wouldn't apply, since the spell as designed is meant to awaken constructs. The majority of those are golems with some flavor of magic immunity, so I'd write that off as a design oversight. No luck on haste, though.
What's that put his speed at?
This isn't a surprise, I even said in the tactical writeup for the golems that NPCs should prioritise buffing the ironwyrm with movement enhancers and it never came up, and he's been rocking greater mage armour and other stuff for this entire run, but alright. Speed 30, so he runs for 120 feet. Dana and Mei are better served moving with their own legs.
Afina: 272/277, heroes feast (CL 20), mind blank (CL 17), fortunate fate (CL 15), planar tolerance (CL 7), greater mage armour (CL 23), moment of prescience (CL 23), see invisibility (CL 23), haste (CL 23)
AC 83, spell resistance 38, blindsense 30, immunity to fire, water, earth, cold, disease, poison, fear, 50% miss chance
Spell charges: 5/9/9/6/9/8/9/7/6/7
Smrgol: 444/459
AC 50, immunity to magic, fast healing 10
So noted, live and learn.
The party sprints ahead, coming closer and closer while magicked. As you do, more boulders and arrows rain down on you.
> roll 1d20+23 long ranged attack is a go
<Rei-chan> Kowork rolled : 1d20+23 long ranged attack is a go --> [ 1d20=15 ]{38}
But easily enough dodged. You're getting closer now rapidly, Afina about 500ft away from the castle.
Go.
[spoiler]
Mei
HP: 270/295
Spells Active: Mind Blank (CL17), Fortunate Fate (CL15), Planar Tolerance(CL7), Greater Mage Armor(CL5), Haste(CL23)
Bonuses: +1 attack rolls, +1 attacks, haste movement speed, +1 ref.
Negative Conditions:
Resources Used:
Dana
HP: 293/313
Spells Active: Mind Blank (CL17), Fortunate Fate (CL15), Planar Tolerance(CL7), Greater Mage Armor(CL5), Haste(CL23)
Bonuses: +1 attack rolls, +1 attacks, haste movement speed, +1 ref.
Negative Conditions:
Resources Used: 228/239 power points
She could use spells to start wrecking the place up but why waste the effort? Afina just keeps right on running, her tiny legs a blur against the ground as she advances on the fortress with perilous speed!
Another 360 feet eaten up, and a mere 120 for the lumbering Smrgol
Dana and Mei follow, "Pick up the pace," she shouts back at Mei, who she outpaces despite being in full plate armor.
You can hear them now, "Fire, fire! More!" Commanders shoulder, as line soldiers hurl more projectiles at the party.
> roll 1d20+27 long ranged attack is a go
<Rei-chan> Kowork rolled : 1d20+27 long ranged attack is a go --> [ 1d20=14 ]{41}
> roll 1d8+7 Mei ow
<Rei-chan> Kowork rolled : 1d8+7 Mei ow --> [ 1d8=8 ]{15}
An arrow grazes Mei, but hardly slows her down at all. You're almost within striking range, a rain of attacks not even coming close to Afina.
Go.
[spoiler]
Mei
HP: 255/295
Spells Active: Mind Blank (CL17), Fortunate Fate (CL15), Planar Tolerance(CL7), Greater Mage Armor(CL5), Haste(CL23)
Bonuses: +1 attack rolls, +1 attacks, haste movement speed, +1 ref.
Negative Conditions:
Resources Used:
Dana
HP: 293/313
Spells Active: Mind Blank (CL17), Fortunate Fate (CL15), Planar Tolerance(CL7), Greater Mage Armor(CL5), Haste(CL23)
Bonuses: +1 attack rolls, +1 attacks, haste movement speed, +1 ref.
Negative Conditions:
Resources Used: 228/239 power points
So once I keep running along this ledge I reach the fortress, but what's in immediate reach? Can I jump straight onto the battlements? Is there a door or gate leading inside? Or is it just walls?[/i[
You're a bit below battlements, but a good jump could get you up there. There's grand gates well below but it's a long fall down. No windows, only murderholes. Most likely there's stairs within if you can get up on the battlements.
Afina's not any more skilled at jumping as she is at climbing, reliant as she is on her wings to get everywhere. But she's moving at an alarming clip and that speed gives her enough of a boost that she launches herself in a flying leap to land amidst the enemy siege weapons on the battlements at the end of her run!
[18:35] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+30 jump
[18:35] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 1d20+30 jump --> [ 1d20=3 ]{33}
Afina just clears it, landing amid them all. You're near four ogres hurling boulders and two harpies. Your enemies are all around you, ready to kill or be killed.
Anything else or was that it?
Yeah it was further than I can charge, I'm done
Afina: 272/277, heroes feast (CL 20), mind blank (CL 17), fortunate fate (CL 15), planar tolerance (CL 7), greater mage armour (CL 23), moment of prescience (CL 23), see invisibility (CL 23), haste (CL 23)
AC 83, spell resistance 38, blindsense 30, immunity to fire, water, earth, cold, disease, poison, fear, 50% miss chance
Spell charges: 5/9/9/6/9/8/9/7/6/7
Smrgol: 444/459
AC 50, immunity to magic, fast healing 10
Dana follows, leaping up in one great vault, landing a little past Afina. She brandishes sword and shield, "Come at me, you craven cuntsuckers!"
She takes 10 + can't fail the roll so irrelevant. Her base Jump is +32, plus she has ample bonuses for her movement speed.
Meanwhile Mei's slower, and as her pace fails to quite keep up, she falls back with Smrgol, using the dragon as cover to advance slower. That puts her a few rounds out, though.
All around you is chaos, as boulders, fists and even a few arrows are used as a melee breaks out amid this tower.
> roll 1d20+25 melee vs Dana and Afina
<Rei-chan> Kowork rolled : 1d20+25 melee vs Dana and Afina --> [ 1d20=11 ]{36}
But the efforts are laughably slow to Afina, like dodging a baby's punches. Dana just ignores them all, everything bouncing off her enchanted armor. Meanwhile the rest of the archers and boulder throwers turn to Mei and Smrgol, trying to get them.
> roll 1d20+25 ranged attack
<Rei-chan> Kowork rolled : 1d20+25 ranged attack --> [ 1d20=3 ]{28}
But with cover it's easily overcome, nothing seriously threatening.
Go.
Dana can finally get to have some fun stabbing and being stabbed, so Afina continues to refrain from anything too devastating and simply darts amidst the forces arrayed here, hamstringing ogres and eviscerating harpies as she goes!
Using Afame as swift for +4 dodge to AC
[19:02] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+49
[19:02] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+44
[19:02] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 1d20+49 --> [ 1d20=17 ]{66}
[19:02] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 1d20+44 --> [ 1d20=5 ]{49}
[19:03] <@Ebiris> roll 1d4+21+6d6+2d6
[19:03] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 1d4+21+6d6+2d6 --> [ 1d4=4 6d6=12 2d6=10 ]{47}
[19:03] <@Ebiris> roll 1d4+21+6d6+2d6
[19:03] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 1d4+21+6d6+2d6 --> [ 1d4=3 6d6=26 2d6=9 ]{59}
Afina: 272/277, heroes feast (CL 20), mind blank (CL 17), fortunate fate (CL 15), planar tolerance (CL 7), greater mage armour (CL 23), moment of prescience (CL 23), see invisibility (CL 23), haste (CL 23)
AC 87, spell resistance 38, blindsense 30, immunity to fire, water, earth, cold, disease, poison, fear, 50% miss chance
Spell charges: 5/9/9/6/9/8/9/7/6/7
Smrgol: 459/459
AC 50, immunity to magic, fast healing 10
Afina darts under the legs of an ogre, slicing its thighs apart as she passes. Then a harpy gets stuck in the stomach, Afina an adorable little whirlwind of pixie violence. Dana's far less adorable and far more violent, grinning as she starts to take apart the minions around her.
> roll 1d20+42
> roll 1d20+42
<Rei-chan> Kowork rolled : 1d20+42 --> [ 1d20=1 ]{43}
<Rei-chan> Kowork rolled : 1d20+42 --> [ 1d20=12 ]{54}
> roll 1d20+37
<Rei-chan> Kowork rolled : 1d20+37 --> [ 1d20=18 ]{55}
> roll 1d20+32
<Rei-chan> Kowork rolled : 1d20+32 --> [ 1d20=17 ]{49}
> roll 1d20+27
<Rei-chan> Kowork rolled : 1d20+27 --> [ 1d20=5 ]{32}
> roll 1d20+37 crit
<Rei-chan> Kowork rolled : 1d20+37 crit --> [ 1d20=3 ]{40}
> roll 1d20+32 crit
<Rei-chan> Kowork rolled : 1d20+32 crit --> [ 1d20=8 ]{40}
> roll 1d6+21
<Rei-chan> Kowork rolled : 1d6+21 --> [ 1d6=1 ]{22}
> roll 2d6+42
> roll 2d6+42
<Rei-chan> Kowork rolled : 2d6+42 --> [ 2d6=5 ]{47}
<Rei-chan> Kowork rolled : 2d6+42 --> [ 2d6=10 ]{52}
> roll 1d6+21
<Rei-chan> Kowork rolled : 1d6+21 --> [ 1d6=1 ]{22}
A nearby harpy now has several holes in her chest and stomach, which do the predictable thing and bleed profusely. She lurches forward, tumbling over the edge as she leaves this mortal life. Meanwhile Smrgol and Mei are almost there - next round.
> roll 1d20 vs Dana and Afina, they're super AC so crit fishing it is
<Rei-chan> Kowork rolled : 1d20 vs Dana and Afina, they're super AC so crit fishing it is --> [ 1d20=8 ]{8}
Meanwhile Dana simply ignores futile strikes hitting her, while Afina is gone before any come close to her. She darts around the battlement, running between legs and leaping between attackers.
> roll 1d20+25 ranged
<Rei-chan> Kowork rolled : 1d20+25 ranged --> [ 1d20=9 ]{34}
While meanwhile more ranged attacks fire, but Mei and Smrgol are able to weave between then.
Go.
It's pretty humdrum, really. Aside from that first lucky salvo nothing here's a threat to her, leaving this as nothing more than a by the numbers slaughter. Dashing around and executing choice victims as she goes, Afina has to focus on the task just so she doesn't get distracted by having her thoughts wander.
[19:38] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+49
[19:38] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 1d20+49 --> [ 1d20=12 ]{61}
[19:39] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+44
[19:39] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 1d20+44 --> [ 1d20=7 ]{51}
[19:39] <@Ebiris> roll 1d4+21+6d6+2d6
[19:39] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 1d4+21+6d6+2d6 --> [ 1d4=3 6d6=24 2d6=8 ]{56}
[19:39] <@Ebiris> roll 1d4+21+6d6+2d6
[19:39] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 1d4+21+6d6+2d6 --> [ 1d4=4 6d6=24 2d6=7 ]{56}
Afina: 272/277, heroes feast (CL 20), mind blank (CL 17), fortunate fate (CL 15), planar tolerance (CL 7), greater mage armour (CL 23), moment of prescience (CL 23), see invisibility (CL 23), haste (CL 23)
AC 87, spell resistance 38, blindsense 30, immunity to fire, water, earth, cold, disease, poison, fear, 50% miss chance
Spell charges: 5/9/9/6/9/8/9/7/6/7
Smrgol: 459/459
AC 50, immunity to magic, fast healing 10
More blood, more violence. Dana keeps on it in the meanwhile as harpies go down, ogres following.
> roll 1d20+39 rapier storm
<Rei-chan> Kowork rolled : 1d20+39 rapier storm --> [ 1d20=8 ]{47}
> roll 1d20+34 rapier storm
<Rei-chan> Kowork rolled : 1d20+34 rapier storm --> [ 1d20=4 ]{38}
> roll 1d20+29 rapier storm
<Rei-chan> Kowork rolled : 1d20+29 rapier storm --> [ 1d20=16 ]{45}
> roll 1d20+24 rapier storm
<Rei-chan> Kowork rolled : 1d20+24 rapier storm --> [ 1d20=9 ]{33}
> roll 1d20+29 rapier storm crit threat
<Rei-chan> Kowork rolled : 1d20+29 rapier storm crit threat --> [ 1d20=11 ]{40}
> roll 1d6+21
<Rei-chan> Kowork rolled : 1d6+21 --> [ 1d6=4 ]{25}
> roll 1d6+21
<Rei-chan> Kowork rolled : 1d6+21 --> [ 1d6=3 ]{24}
> roll 1d6+21
<Rei-chan> Kowork rolled : 1d6+21 --> [ 1d6=4 ]{25}
> roll 2d6+42
<Rei-chan> Kowork rolled : 2d6+42 --> [ 2d6=4 ]{46}
You are surrounded by blood and corpses. The cries of the merely wounded are around you as this battlement is cleared. Others are occupied as Smrgol and Mei approach.
Go ahead, Smrgol.
Pausing a moment so Mei can climb on his back if she wants a lift, Smrgol clambers up onto the freshly cleared battlements!
Taking 10 for 67 on climb
Smrgol climbs right up, Mei hopping off after. As she does, the archers in the distance attack the party once more.
> roll 1d20+25 ranged
<Rei-chan> Kowork rolled : 1d20+25 ranged --> [ 1d20=4 ]{29}
But none come close. Dana tosses her head back, "Fucking incompetents," she mutters, "They act like something to mow down normal soldiers is worth our time."
There's a stairway going down if you care to. On the other side, you can see a long drop to a massive, fortified courtyard.
"Smrgol, go down and take that courtyard, the rest of us will clear the battlements then work our way down from the interior," Afina says, having little fear of splitting her forces against such meagre opposition. That established she takes a running leap onto the next set of battlements to begin slaughtering everyone there as well!
[17:57] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+30 jump
[17:57] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 1d20+30 jump --> [ 1d20=16 ]{46}
[17:57] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+49
[17:57] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 1d20+49 --> [ 1d20=4 ]{53}
[17:57] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+44
[17:57] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 1d20+44 --> [ 1d20=13 ]{57}
[17:58] <@Ebiris> roll 1d4+21+6d6+2d6
[17:58] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 1d4+21+6d6+2d6 --> [ 1d4=3 6d6=24 2d6=8 ]{56}
[17:58] <@Ebiris> roll 1d4+21+6d6+2d6
[17:58] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 1d4+21+6d6+2d6 --> [ 1d4=1 6d6=20 2d6=8 ]{50}
Still using Afame as swift for +4 dodgeMeanwhile Smrgol climbs down the inner wall of the courtyard at a slow but threatening pace!
taking 10 for 67 on climb
Afina: 272/277, heroes feast (CL 20), mind blank (CL 17), fortunate fate (CL 15), planar tolerance (CL 7), greater mage armour (CL 23), moment of prescience (CL 23), see invisibility (CL 23), haste (CL 23)
AC 87, spell resistance 38, blindsense 30, immunity to fire, water, earth, cold, disease, poison, fear, 50% miss chance
Spell charges: 5/9/9/6/9/8/9/7/6/7
Smrgol: 459/459
AC 50, immunity to magic, fast healing 10
Afina is a flurry, cleaving through the opposition as she leaps on over. Dana goes down the stairs in the meanwhile, while Mei hops back onto Smrgol and goes with her.
Quick question, do you wanna run Smrgol here and essentially two scenarios or assume he can take care of it NPCed?
Just assume he'll handle business. I mean if a boss monster or some shit appears we'll see it from up here on the battlements anyway but if it's more dudes at this tier he's just gonna roll over them.
From here it's blood. Blood and battle, Afina baptized in the warm lifeblood of ogres and harpies. The shrill and alluring cries of the harpies do nothing to her, while the clubs, blades and boulders of the ogres are generally ineffective.
> roll 1d20
<Rei-chan> Kowork rolled : 1d20 --> [ 1d20=20 ]{20}
> roll 1d20
<Rei-chan> Kowork rolled : 1d20 --> [ 1d20=14 ]{14}
> roll 1d20
<Rei-chan> Kowork rolled : 1d20 --> [ 1d20=4 ]{4}
> roll 1d20
<Rei-chan> Kowork rolled : 1d20 --> [ 1d20=20 ]{20}
> roll 1d20
<Rei-chan> Kowork rolled : 1d20 --> [ 1d20=19 ]{19}
> roll 1d20
<Rei-chan> Kowork rolled : 1d20 --> [ 1d20=4 ]{4}
> roll 1d20
<Rei-chan> Kowork rolled : 1d20 --> [ 1d20=16 ]{16}
> roll 1d20
<Rei-chan> Kowork rolled : 1d20 --> [ 1d20=17 ]{17}
> roll 1d20
<Rei-chan> Kowork rolled : 1d20 --> [ 1d20=10 ]{10}
> roll 1d20
<Rei-chan> Kowork rolled : 1d20 --> [ 1d20=10 ]{10}
> roll 1d20
<Rei-chan> Kowork rolled : 1d20 --> [ 1d20=20 ]{20}
> roll 1d20
<Rei-chan> Kowork rolled : 1d20 --> [ 1d20=6 ]{6}
> roll 1d20
<Rei-chan> Kowork rolled : 1d20 --> [ 1d20=15 ]{15}
> roll 1d20
<Rei-chan> Kowork rolled : 1d20 --> [ 1d20=12 ]{12}
> roll 1d20
<Rei-chan> Kowork rolled : 1d20 --> [ 1d20=15 ]{15}
> roll 1d20 crit confirm 1
<Rei-chan> Kowork rolled : 1d20 crit confirm 1 --> [ 1d20=17 ]{17}
> roll 1d20 crit confirm 2
<Rei-chan> Kowork rolled : 1d20 crit confirm 2 --> [ 1d20=18 ]{18}
> roll 1d100 vs 51 or higher haste miss chance
<Rei-chan> Kowork rolled : 1d100 vs 51 or higher haste miss chance --> [ 1d100=86 ]{86}
> roll 1d100 vs 51 or higher haste miss chance
<Rei-chan> Kowork rolled : 1d100 vs 51 or higher haste miss chance --> [ 1d100=48 ]{48}
> roll 1d100 vs 51 or higher haste miss chance
<Rei-chan> Kowork rolled : 1d100 vs 51 or higher haste miss chance --> [ 1d100=31 ]{31}
> roll 1d12+10 does not beat DR
<Rei-chan> Kowork rolled : 1d12+10 does not beat DR --> [ 1d12=8 ]{18}
Battlement after battlement passes, the later ones emptying as troops flee. You get a graze on your arm, a sword drawing a little bit of blood. But soon the noise of war becomes the silence of the aftermath. Your foes are in retreat. Smrgol smashes through the battlements below like they are made of paper. Cries from within the castle suggest Dana exacts her toll as well. Mei keeps to Smrgol, picking off foes who threaten him.
Then, abruptly, the castle shakes. A sudden, great wind propels you.
You're being hurtled off the castle by forces unknown. However, your nature as a creature of air helps protect you. You can resist it and possibly stand your ground, or go with ti and largely cushion the fall. The choice is yours.
> roll 1d20 crit confirm 3
<Rei-chan> Kowork rolled : 1d20 crit confirm 3 --> [ 1d20=1 ]{1}
I'll stand my ground. No one shoves Afina around!
Strength check. +5 bonus due to your nature as an earth elemental creature.
[19:09] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+11
[19:09] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 1d20+11 --> [ 1d20=6 ]{17}
Afina tries to stand her ground, but it's too much. She's sent hurling down, a painful collision with the earth incoming.
Any way to stop or mitigate the impact?
Just tumble!
[19:38] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+47 tumble
[19:38] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 1d20+47 tumble --> [ 1d20=12 ]{59}
DC 45 to treat a fall as 30 feet shorter when determining damage (just 1 point off treating it as 40 feet shorter!)
> roll 20d6 still lots of falling over 200ft, so ow
<Rei-chan> Kowork rolled : 20d6 still lots of falling over 200ft, so ow --> [ 20d6=77 ]{77}
Pain. You land on the ground flat, hearing thuds nearby you. There's a terrible rumbling as you recover, the earth shaking and something huge moving.
Using Spell Shield to sac an 8th level slot for -40 damageIdiot, pixies don't stand their ground! She let the ease of their assault thus far get to her head. Springing to her feet, Afina takes in her new location at a glance, marking targets to deal with.
Afina: 247/277, heroes feast (CL 20), mind blank (CL 17), fortunate fate (CL 15), planar tolerance (CL 7), greater mage armour (CL 23), moment of prescience (CL 23), see invisibility (CL 23), haste (CL 23)
AC 87, spell resistance 38, blindsense 30, immunity to fire, water, earth, cold, disease, poison, fear, 50% miss chance
Spell charges: 5/9/9/6/9/8/9/7/5/7
Smrgol: 459/459
AC 50, immunity to magic, fast healing 10
As Afina berates herself, she sees Dana's nearby. She's also getting up from the impact, as is Mei and Smrgol. Ahead, the entire castle is slowly moving, shifting. A head of stone is beginning to rise from the top, as all of it begins to form a body.
Did he make a golem out of a castle? Afina thinks he did. If not, at least it resembles one as its forming. Making such a huge golem isn't impossible, but one that shape shifts between forms is tougher. Not impossible - Afina thinks she could do it with enough stone, time and money. Plus research.
Smrgol takes 77 points of falling damage, as do Mei and Dana.
[spoiler]
Mei
HP: 178/295
Spells Active: Mind Blank (CL17), Fortunate Fate (CL15), Planar Tolerance(CL7), Greater Mage Armor(CL5), Haste(CL23)
Bonuses: +1 attack rolls, +1 attacks, haste movement speed, +1 ref.
Negative Conditions:
Resources Used:
Dana
HP: 221/313
Spells Active: Mind Blank (CL17), Fortunate Fate (CL15), Planar Tolerance(CL7), Greater Mage Armor(CL5), Haste(CL23)
Bonuses: +1 attack rolls, +1 attacks, haste movement speed, +1 ref.
Negative Conditions:
Resources Used: 228/239 power points
But really why would you want to? It just makes more moving parts, more points of wear and tear, and more vulnerabilities. She's quite confident that Smrgol represents a pinnacle of golem-kind and could make short work of this much larger construct in decent time but treating this like a game is what just got her knocked down that big drop anyway. Moving away from the others so they can't all be hit in one grand strike she flings an orb of fire up at the golem's chest to test its defences.
[17:15] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+47 ranged touch
[17:15] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 1d20+47 ranged touch --> [ 1d20=7 ]{54}
[17:16] <@Ebiris> roll 22d6 fire, ignores resistance, 50% vs immune, no sr
[17:16] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 22d6 fire, ignores resistance, 50% vs immune, no sr --> [ 22d6=85 ]{85}
Afina: 247/277, heroes feast (CL 20), mind blank (CL 17), fortunate fate (CL 15), planar tolerance (CL 7), greater mage armour (CL 23), moment of prescience (CL 23), see invisibility (CL 23), haste (CL 23)
AC 87, spell resistance 38, blindsense 30, immunity to fire, water, earth, cold, disease, poison, fear, 50% miss chance
Spell charges: 5/9/9/6/8/8/9/7/5/7
Smrgol: 397/459
AC 50, immunity to magic, fast healing 10
No good - the orb stops when it touches the golem. Dana picks herself up and grins, "Now it's getting fuckin' interesting!"
Mei silently rises, firing off a blast that has as much impact as your own attack.
That just leaves Smrgol who takes a massive bite out of the slowly forming golem's leg!
[21:02] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+50 -11pa
[21:02] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 1d20+50 -11pa --> [ 1d20=7 ]{57}
[21:02] <@Ebiris> roll 2d10+44
[21:02] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 2d10+44 --> [ 2d10=11 ]{55}
Afina: 247/277, heroes feast (CL 20), mind blank (CL 17), fortunate fate (CL 15), planar tolerance (CL 7), greater mage armour (CL 23), moment of prescience (CL 23), see invisibility (CL 23), haste (CL 23)
AC 87, spell resistance 38, blindsense 30, immunity to fire, water, earth, cold, disease, poison, fear, 50% miss chance
Spell charges: 5/9/9/6/8/8/9/7/5/7
Smrgol: 407/459
AC 50, immunity to magic, fast healing 10
Smrgol charges the larger golem, taking a chomp out of its leg. He tears stone and - clockwork? You see gears within the stone, as if parts of it are hollow. The creature stumbles from the bite but begins to rise, forming a crude golem. It's rough but in the shape of a man, staying where it is. Its left leg has a chunk gone, the grinding of gears heard within. Sparks come from it, little rivulets of blue spell-fire spilling out.
Init here.
[17:28] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+29 Afina init
[17:28] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 1d20+29 Afina init --> [ 1d20=7 ]{36}
[17:28] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+3 Smrgol init
[17:28] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 1d20+3 Smrgol init --> [ 1d20=2 ]{5}
> roll 1d20+11 Mei
<Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+11 Mei --> [ 1d20=11 ]{22}
> roll 1d20+5 Dana
<Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+5 Dana --> [ 1d20=2 ]{7}
> roll 1d20-2 castle golem
<Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20-2 castle golem --> [ 1d20=19 ]{17}
Init is Afina (36) > Mei (22) > Castle Golem (17) > Dana (7) > Smrgol (5)
Afina opens.
"Dana, Smrgol, this is mostly yours," Afina says, though she'll try and do what damage she can by running up its already damaged leg and spearing Afame into some of the clockwork gears before bounding off and away!
[18:12] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+49
[18:12] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+44
[18:12] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 1d20+49 --> [ 1d20=12 ]{61}
[18:12] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 1d20+44 --> [ 1d20=2 ]{46}
[18:13] <@Ebiris> roll 1d4+21+2d6
[18:13] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 1d4+21+2d6 --> [ 1d4=1 2d6=6 ]{28}
[18:13] <@Ebiris> roll 1d4+21+2d6
[18:13] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 1d4+21+2d6 --> [ 1d4=3 2d6=9 ]{33}
Afina: 247/277, heroes feast (CL 20), mind blank (CL 17), fortunate fate (CL 15), planar tolerance (CL 7), greater mage armour (CL 23), moment of prescience (CL 23), see invisibility (CL 23), haste (CL 23)
AC 87, spell resistance 38, blindsense 30, immunity to fire, water, earth, cold, disease, poison, fear, 50% miss chance
Spell charges: 5/9/9/6/8/8/9/7/5/7
Smrgol: 407/459
AC 50, immunity to magic, fast healing 10
What does Afame count as to bypass damage reduction?
It's an adamantine/linthrum alloy so I guess adamantine?
Thanks.
Afina strikes true, digging into the gears of the leg and sending a handful down to the ground. Mei meanwhile defends herself, falling back.
She's protecting herself since there's not a lot she can do here. Normally she'd eladrin form here, but no flying hurts that a lot. She'll be reactive in case someone needs healing next round. Golem's up.
The golem lurches forward and slams a fist down at Afina.
> roll 1d20+33 needs a 20 since steam pixie
<Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+33 needs a 20 since steam pixie --> [ 1d20=19 ]{52}
But Afina's already well gone by the time the fist lands, flying to the side and back around.
Dana, but she'll hold and let Smrgol go first. Go.
[spoiler]
Mei
HP: 178/295
Spells Active: Mind Blank (CL17), Fortunate Fate (CL15), Planar Tolerance(CL7), Greater Mage Armor(CL5), Haste(CL23)
Bonuses: +1 attack rolls, +1 attacks, haste movement speed, +1 ref.
Negative Conditions:
Resources Used:
Dana
HP: 221/313
Spells Active: Mind Blank (CL17), Fortunate Fate (CL15), Planar Tolerance(CL7), Greater Mage Armor(CL5), Haste(CL23)
Bonuses: +1 attack rolls, +1 attacks, haste movement speed, +1 ref.
Negative Conditions:
Resources Used: 228/239 power points
[/quote]
He might be a lot smaller, but there's a lot of golematic power packed into his frame as Smrgol demonstrates when he utterly pulverises the exposed leg with a storm of devastating natural attacks!
[18:50] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+50 -11pa bite
[18:50] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 1d20+50 -11pa bite --> [ 1d20=7 ]{57}
[18:50] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+50 -11pa claw 1
[18:50] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 1d20+50 -11pa claw 1 --> [ 1d20=11 ]{61}
[18:50] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+50 -11pa claw 2
[18:50] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 1d20+50 -11pa claw 2 --> [ 1d20=8 ]{58}
[18:50] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+50 -11pa wing 1
[18:50] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 1d20+50 -11pa wing 1 --> [ 1d20=6 ]{56}
[18:50] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+50 -11pa wing 2
[18:50] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 1d20+50 -11pa wing 2 --> [ 1d20=3 ]{53}
[18:50] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+50 -11pa tail
[18:50] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 1d20+50 -11pa tail --> [ 1d20=18 ]{68}
[18:50] <@Ebiris> roll 2d10+33
[18:50] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 2d10+33 --> [ 2d10=13 ]{46}
[18:50] <@Ebiris> roll 2d8+23
[18:50] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 2d8+23 --> [ 2d8=7 ]{30}
[18:50] <@Ebiris> roll 2d8+23
[18:50] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 2d8+23 --> [ 2d8=10 ]{33}
[18:50] <@Ebiris> roll 2d6+23
[18:50] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 2d6+23 --> [ 2d6=7 ]{30}
[18:50] <@Ebiris> roll 2d6+23
[18:50] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 2d6+23 --> [ 2d6=9 ]{32}
[18:51] <@Ebiris> roll 2d8+54
[18:51] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 2d8+54 --> [ 2d8=14 ]{68}
All strikes are adamantine/good/silver and ignore 5 points worth of DR
Afina: 247/277, heroes feast (CL 20), mind blank (CL 17), fortunate fate (CL 15), planar tolerance (CL 7), greater mage armour (CL 23), moment of prescience (CL 23), see invisibility (CL 23), haste (CL 23)
AC 87, spell resistance 38, blindsense 30, immunity to fire, water, earth, cold, disease, poison, fear, 50% miss chance
Spell charges: 5/9/9/6/8/8/9/7/5/7
Smrgol: 417/459
AC 50, immunity to magic, fast healing 10
Blow after blow lands, the golem's leg torn apart. Before it can do anything else...
> roll 1d20-2 vs 15 Balance check
<Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20-2 vs 15 Balance check --> [ 1d20=20 ]{18}
Despite most of its leg being gone, it manages to stay up. Dana meanwhile rushes in, a wobbly punch coming down at her as...
Dana provokes and doesn't care.
> roll 1d20+33 needs a 20 since Dana
<Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+33 needs a 20 since Dana --> [ 1d20=14 ]{47}
> roll 1d20+43 (+2 charge, she's not taking things seriously here yet)
<Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+43 (+2 charge, she's not taking things seriously here yet) --> [ 1d20=20 ]{63}
> roll 1d6+21
<Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d6+21 --> [ 1d6=2 ]{23}
> roll 1d20-2 vs 15 Balance check
<Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20-2 vs 15 Balance check --> [ 1d20=4 ]{2}
Dana's too fast, lunging in and giving that leg a stab. She hits a single gear, struggling to move it with her rapier. But it's enough to make the golem lurch - and tumble flat down, an entire castle's worth of golem falling at the party.
Ref saves.
[19:11] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+42 evasion Afina
[19:11] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 1d20+42 evasion Afina --> [ 1d20=18 ]{60}
[19:11] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+9 Smrgol
[19:11] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 1d20+9 Smrgol --> [ 1d20=19 ]{28}
> roll 1d20+29 Mei hopes for no 1
<Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+29 Mei hopes for no 1 --> [ 1d20=9 ]{38}
> roll 1d20+27 Dana can't wait for that feat to add her shield bonus to Ref+evasion
<Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+27 Dana can't wait for that feat to add her shield bonus to Ref+evasion --> [ 1d20=1 ]{28}
> roll 20d8 Afina none, Smrgol full, Mei half, Dana full
<Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 20d8 Afina none, Smrgol full, Mei half, Dana full --> [ 20d8=90 ]{90}
Smrgol and Dana are alive, but injured and pinned under massive amounts of rock, and thus cannot move. Using spells, SLAs or psionics will require ones without somatic components and also a Concentration check. Mei's pinned but not as bad, so she can manage some movement.
It falls. Afina runs narrowly past the head of the tumbling golem, above it all. Below it crushes her friends, landing on them in a tremendous heap.
[spoiler]
Mei
HP: 133/295
Spells Active: Mind Blank (CL17), Fortunate Fate (CL15), Planar Tolerance(CL7), Greater Mage Armor(CL5), Haste(CL23)
Bonuses: +1 attack rolls, +1 attacks, haste movement speed, +1 ref.
Negative Conditions:
Resources Used:
Dana
HP: 131/313
Spells Active: Mind Blank (CL17), Fortunate Fate (CL15), Planar Tolerance(CL7), Greater Mage Armor(CL5), Haste(CL23)
Bonuses: +1 attack rolls, +1 attacks, haste movement speed, +1 ref.
Negative Conditions:
Resources Used: 228/239 power points
[/quote]
[/quote]
"Well I'm not digging anyone out of that," Afina says dubiously, stopping away from the fallen golem's head. "But I know who can!"
Calling upon her connection to the element of Earth, she calls forth a gang of large elementals to help shift the mass and help her friends escape!
[19:28] <@Ebiris> roll 2d4 large earth elementals via elemental swarm
[19:28] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 2d4 large elementals --> [ 2d4=3 ]{3}Three elementals answer her call and swiftly put their backs into shifting the golem's fallen bulk off of Mei as the currently most accessible.
They're all aiding on her strength check or escape artist check to get out, using their own strength checks
[19:29] <@Ebiris> roll 3#1d20+7 aiding
[19:29] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 3#1d20+7 aiding --> [ 1d20=18 ]{25}, [ 1d20=4 ]{11}, [ 1d20=15 ]{22}Afina: 247/277, heroes feast (CL 20), mind blank (CL 17), fortunate fate (CL 15), planar tolerance (CL 7), greater mage armour (CL 23), moment of prescience (CL 23), see invisibility (CL 23), haste (CL 23)
AC 87, spell resistance 38, blindsense 30, immunity to fire, water, earth, cold, disease, poison, fear, 50% miss chance
Spell charges: 5/9/9/6/8/8/9/7/5/7
Smrgol: 417/459
AC 50, immunity to magic, fast healing 10
You cast and your elementals begin to move the golem - only for it to push up and get up on one knee. It's still going! Dana, Smrgol and Mei revealed. Each is downed, prone and bloodied, but moving. "Fucking shit," Dana grins, "That's the stuff I'm talking about!"
Init, take two.
[19:48] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+29 Afina
[19:48] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 1d20+29 Afina --> [ 1d20=3 ]{32}
[19:48] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+3 Smrgol
[19:48] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 1d20+3 Smrgol --> [ 1d20=18 ]{21}
[19:48] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20-1 elementals x3
[19:48] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 1d20-1 elementals x3 --> [ 1d20=15 ]{14}
Group rolling elementals, they're unlikely to be relevant
> roll 1d20+11 Mei
<Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+11 Mei --> [ 1d20=10 ]{21}
> roll 1d20+5 Dana
<Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+5 Dana --> [ 1d20=10 ]{15}
> roll 1d20-2 Dana
<Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20-2 Dana --> [ 1d20=18 ]{16}
> OOC: Er, golem.
Afina (32) > Smrgol = Mei (21) > Golem (16) > Dana (15) >Elementals (14)
Open Afina.
Alright, time to take that other leg out of commission then? She really misses being able to fly and stab people in the face, but she settles for taking a running leap and levering her blade underneath the golem's kneecap to do some damage before springing off and away!
[20:03] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+49
[20:03] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 1d20+49 --> [ 1d20=3 ]{52}
[20:03] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+44
[20:03] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 1d20+44 --> [ 1d20=13 ]{57}
[20:04] <@Ebiris> roll 1d4+21+2d6
[20:04] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 1d4+21+2d6 --> [ 1d4=3 2d6=3 ]{27}
[20:04] <@Ebiris> roll 1d4+21+2d6
[20:04] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 1d4+21+2d6 --> [ 1d4=1 2d6=10 ]{32}Less mobile than Afina, Smrgol contents himself with savaging the already wrecked leg he's still next to!
[20:04] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+40 -22pa bite
[20:05] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 1d20+40 -22pa bite --> [ 1d20=3 ]{43}
[20:05] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+40 -22pa claw 1
[20:05] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 1d20+40 -22pa claw 1 --> [ 1d20=17 ]{57}
[20:05] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+40 -22pa claw 2
[20:05] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 1d20+40 -22pa claw 2 --> [ 1d20=9 ]{49}
[20:05] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+40 -22pa wing 1
[20:05] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 1d20+40 -22pa wing 1 --> [ 1d20=1 ]{41}
[20:05] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+40 -22pa wing 2
[20:05] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 1d20+40 -22pa wing 2 --> [ 1d20=9 ]{49}
[20:05] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+40 -22pa tail
[20:05] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 1d20+40 -22pa tail --> [ 1d20=1 ]{41}
[20:05] <@Ebiris> roll 2d10+44
[20:05] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 2d10+44 --> [ 2d10=4 ]{48}
[20:05] <@Ebiris> roll 2d8+34
[20:05] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 2d8+34 --> [ 2d8=4 ]{38}
[20:05] <@Ebiris> roll 2d8+34
[20:05] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 2d8+34 --> [ 2d8=8 ]{42}
[20:05] <@Ebiris> roll 2d6+34
[20:05] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 2d6+34 --> [ 2d6=6 ]{40}
[20:05] <@Ebiris> roll 2d6+34
[20:05] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 2d6+34 --> [ 2d6=10 ]{44}
[20:05] <@Ebiris> roll 2d8+76
[20:05] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 2d8+76 --> [ 2d8=8 ]{84}
Afina: 247/277, heroes feast (CL 20), mind blank (CL 17), fortunate fate (CL 15), planar tolerance (CL 7), greater mage armour (CL 23), moment of prescience (CL 23), see invisibility (CL 23), haste (CL 23)
AC 87, spell resistance 38, blindsense 30, immunity to fire, water, earth, cold, disease, poison, fear, 50% miss chance
Spell charges: 5/9/9/6/8/8/9/7/5/7
Smrgol: 352/459
AC 50, immunity to magic, fast healing 10
Afina's flurry of blows devastate the golem's kneecap, as Smrgol further trashes the leg. It buckles again from the abuse as...
> roll 1d20-2 vs 17
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20-2 vs 17 --> [ 1d20=13 ]{11}
> roll 1d4 1 ahead on all of you 2 left 3 right 4 back
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d4 1 ahead on all of you 2 left 3 right 4 back --> [ 1d4=4 ]{4}
With a powerful crash, the golem falls straight backwards. The mountains themselves shake, boulders and stones rolling down the sides towards all around. Dodge!
Ref saves, all.
[17:29] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+42 Afina evasion
[17:29] <Kobot> Ebiris rolled 1d20+42 Afina evasion --> [ 1d20=20 ]{62}
[17:30] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+9 Smrgol
[17:30] <Kobot> Ebiris rolled 1d20+9 Smrgol --> [ 1d20=13 ]{22}
[17:30] <@Ebiris> roll 3#1d20+1 elementals
[17:30] <Kobot> Ebiris rolled 3#1d20+1 elementals --> [ 1d20=19 ]{20}, [ 1d20=11 ]{12}, [ 1d20=7 ]{8}
> roll 1d20+27 Dana
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+27 Dana --> [ 1d20=14 ]{41}
> roll 1d20+29 Mei
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+29 Mei --> [ 1d20=3 ]{32}
> roll 5d6
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 5d6 --> [ 5d6=17 ]{17}
Afina none, Smrgol half, elementals none (rocks just aren't going to easily hurt earth elementals), Dana half, Mei half. Damage reduction applies.
Rocks pelt the party, nothing coordinated as the golem again hits the turf. It's not moving - again. At least for the moment, anyway.
Free act for the second.
[spoiler]
Mei
HP: 125/295
Spells Active: Mind Blank (CL17), Fortunate Fate (CL15), Planar Tolerance(CL7), Greater Mage Armor(CL5), Haste(CL23)
Bonuses: +1 attack rolls, +1 attacks, haste movement speed, +1 ref.
Negative Conditions:
Resources Used:
Dana
HP: 131/313
Spells Active: Mind Blank (CL17), Fortunate Fate (CL15), Planar Tolerance(CL7), Greater Mage Armor(CL5), Haste(CL23)
Bonuses: +1 attack rolls, +1 attacks, haste movement speed, +1 ref.
Negative Conditions:
Resources Used: 228/239 power points
[/quote]
[/quote]
[/quote]
"You elementals, go beat it up," Afina says. "The rest of us lets just keep going?" she suggests, starting to head deeper into the valley that the castle/golem guarded. It's no fun to fight something by hacking away at its ankles.
Afina: 247/277, heroes feast (CL 20), mind blank (CL 17), fortunate fate (CL 15), planar tolerance (CL 7), greater mage armour (CL 23), moment of prescience (CL 23), see invisibility (CL 23), haste (CL 23)
AC 87, spell resistance 38, blindsense 30, immunity to fire, water, earth, cold, disease, poison, fear, 50% miss chance
Spell charges: 5/9/9/6/8/8/9/7/5/7
Smrgol: 352/459
AC 50, immunity to magic, fast healing 10
Dana gets up and follows, wounds already healing. Mei focuses, a flash of light as her own injuries begin to mend.
Mei uses celestial resilience for fast healing 5. Dana has fast healing 2 from her armor. They'll heal on the go.
There is one problem. A massive fallen castle golem blocks the way ahead. One could climb over it, you suppose, but if it gets up again, that could be a problem.
[spoiler]
Mei
HP: 130/295
Spells Active: Mind Blank (CL17), Fortunate Fate (CL15), Planar Tolerance(CL7), Greater Mage Armor(CL5), Haste(CL23)
Bonuses: +1 attack rolls, +1 attacks, haste movement speed, +1 ref.
Negative Conditions:
Resources Used: Celestial resilience
Dana
HP: 133/313
Spells Active: Mind Blank (CL17), Fortunate Fate (CL15), Planar Tolerance(CL7), Greater Mage Armor(CL5), Haste(CL23)
Bonuses: +1 attack rolls, +1 attacks, haste movement speed, +1 ref.
Negative Conditions:
Resources Used: 228/239 power points
[/quote]
[/quote]
[/quote]
[/quote]
My bad, I assumed it was behind us but I guess it's easy to lose track with all the falling over.
"Make sure it doesn't get up!" she tells the elementals, climbing onto Smrgol's back while he scurries over the fallen golem's limbs rather than traversing its entire body.
Obligatory Climb check, Smrgol.
[spoiler]
Mei
HP: 135/295
Spells Active: Mind Blank (CL17), Fortunate Fate (CL15), Planar Tolerance(CL7), Greater Mage Armor(CL5), Haste(CL23)
Bonuses: +1 attack rolls, +1 attacks, haste movement speed, +1 ref.
Negative Conditions:
Resources Used: Celestial resilience
Dana
HP: 135/313
Spells Active: Mind Blank (CL17), Fortunate Fate (CL15), Planar Tolerance(CL7), Greater Mage Armor(CL5), Haste(CL23)
Bonuses: +1 attack rolls, +1 attacks, haste movement speed, +1 ref.
Negative Conditions:
Resources Used: 228/239 power points
[/quote]
[/quote]
[/quote]
[/quote]
[/quote]
[18:23] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+57 climb
[18:23] <Kobot> Ebiris rolled 1d20+57 climb --> [ 1d20=8 ]{65}
Smrgol climbs up the golem. It struggles a bit but offers no meaningful resistance, legs down. Ahead the pass narrows, still passable but rather tight.
Just going on ahead or...?
Yeah, we'll keep going while the elementals pound away on the golem. They'll be joined by 1d3 huge ones after ten minutes if there's anything left by then.
Your companion's wounds heal as you go down the pass. It winds on and on, tighter and tighter. And then, at last - a dead end. A smooth, steep cliff that rises hundreds of feet up, perfectly vertical. The cliffside glistens wetly.
Enough time for those with fast healing to reach max HP.
[spoiler]
Mei
HP: 295/295
Spells Active: Mind Blank (CL17), Fortunate Fate (CL15), Planar Tolerance(CL7), Greater Mage Armor(CL5), Haste(CL23)
Bonuses: +1 attack rolls, +1 attacks, haste movement speed, +1 ref.
Negative Conditions:
Resources Used: Celestial resilience
Dana
HP: 313/313
Spells Active: Mind Blank (CL17), Fortunate Fate (CL15), Planar Tolerance(CL7), Greater Mage Armor(CL5), Haste(CL23)
Bonuses: +1 attack rolls, +1 attacks, haste movement speed, +1 ref.
Negative Conditions:
Resources Used: 228/239 power points
[/quote]
[/quote]
[/quote]
[/quote]
[/quote]
[/quote]
"Greased cliff, huh? Alright lets take a moment," Afina says, tapping both Mei and Dana as she casts resist energy on them to protect from flames, and then she casts planar bubble to surround herself with the traits of fire. She's curious if it cancels out the prime's ley-line traits and makes an experimental effort at flying but the main purpose comes as she stands next to the cliff, the bubble around her starting to boil away the grease... or just set it aflame depending on the type.
Resist Fire 30 for the NPCs, 3d10 fire damage to anything within 10 feet of me.
Afina: 247/277, heroes feast (CL 20), mind blank (CL 17), fortunate fate (CL 15), planar tolerance (CL 7), greater mage armour (CL 23), moment of prescience (CL 23), see invisibility (CL 23), haste (CL 23), planar bubble (CL 23)
AC 87, spell resistance 38, blindsense 30, immunity to fire, water, earth, cold, disease, poison, fear, 50% miss chance
Spell charges: 5/9/7/6/8/8/9/6/5/7
Smrgol: 459/459
AC 50, immunity to magic, fast healing 10
Flames happen. The wall in front of you bursts into flame, the material coating it clearly flammable. No luck on flying, though.
"Grease," Dana says, "Fucking greased wall because that lich isn't enough of a cunt."
[spoiler]
Mei
HP: 295/295
Spells Active: Mind Blank (CL17), Fortunate Fate (CL15), Planar Tolerance(CL7), Greater Mage Armor(CL5), Resist Energy(Fire)(CL23)
Bonuses: Resist fire 30.
Negative Conditions:
Resources Used: Celestial resilience
Dana
HP: 313/313
Spells Active: Mind Blank (CL17), Fortunate Fate (CL15), Planar Tolerance(CL7), Greater Mage Armor(CL5), Resist Energy(Fire)(CL23)
Bonuses: Resist fire 30.
Negative Conditions:
Resources Used: 228/239 power points
[/quote]
[/quote]
[/quote]
[/quote]
[/quote]
[/quote]
[/quote]
"Honestly this is better," Afina says, stepping back and watching the flames spread. "The grease will all burn up and we'll have an unimpeded path upwards."
Going to try to climb up then? Climb check.
[19:26] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+57 climb
[19:26] <Kobot> Ebiris rolled 1d20+57 climb --> [ 1d20=10 ]{67}
It's tough going like this, but you climb, climb and climb some more. After about 400ft, it evens out into a path ahead.
Sensory abilities?
Afina has blindsense 30Afina: 247/277, heroes feast (CL 20), mind blank (CL 17), fortunate fate (CL 15), planar tolerance (CL 7), greater mage armour (CL 23), moment of prescience (CL 23), see invisibility (CL 23), haste (CL 23), planar bubble (CL 23)
AC 87, spell resistance 38, blindsense 30, immunity to fire, water, earth, cold, disease, poison, fear, 50% miss chance
Spell charges: 5/9/7/6/8/8/9/6/5/7
Smrgol: 459/459
AC 50, immunity to magic, fast healing 10
That's odd. Afina can sense wind a bit ahead and below where the path ahead is. Wind, blowing free.
edit: I also have see invis. Which direction is the wind blowing?
Upward, as if that stone wasn't there at all.
"Path ahead's an illusion," Afina says. "Smrgol, flame dead ahead?" Seeing how the fire interacts with the ground should help them disbelieve it.
[17:58] <@Ebiris> roll 1d4 breath recharge
[17:58] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 1d4 breath recharge --> [ 1d4=1 ]{1}
[17:58] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+37 will to disbelieve Afina
[17:58] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 1d20+37 will to disbelieve Afina --> [ 1d20=2 ]{39}
[17:59] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+11 will to disbelieve Smrgol
[17:59] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 1d20+11 will to disbelieve Smrgol --> [ 1d20=1 ]{12}Afina: 247/277, heroes feast (CL 20), mind blank (CL 17), fortunate fate (CL 15), planar tolerance (CL 7), greater mage armour (CL 23), moment of prescience (CL 23), see invisibility (CL 23), planar bubble (CL 23)
AC 72, spell resistance 38, blindsense 30, immunity to fire, water, earth, cold, disease, poison, fear
Spell charges: 5/9/7/6/8/8/9/6/5/7
Smrgol: 459/459
AC 50, immunity to magic, fast healing 10
Afina's eyes see through the illusion. It's a 250ft drop or so into a massive bed of spikes, no floor to cross it. It goes on hundreds of feet ahead, the bottom filled with shiny, sharp metal spikes. Smrgol's not so lucky, unable to do anything about it.
> roll 1d20+29 Dana
<Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+29 Dana --> [ 1d20=7 ]{36}
> roll 1d20+40 Mei
<Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+40 Mei --> [ 1d20=1 ]{41}
"Yep, deathtrap," Dana declares, peering on down and kneeling to take a better look.
Is there a way around it?
Not unless you can fly or want to climb down and try and get through the spike field then climb back up.
I can fly! Normally!
"I DO NOT SEE ANYTHING AMISS!" Smrgol roars in confusion, receiving a pat on the head from Afina.
"Don't worry, just step forward - yes, there. Now curl your claws down, see? Keep a firm hold and pivot, just climb down," she urges, holding on tightly to his back. Mere metal spikes aren't going to do more than scuff Smrgol's underside and they'll be safe raised high on his back so he can just climb down and walk across to climb back up the other side.
Mei looks confused, but as you go through the floor, even Smrgol and Mei can see the illusion fade.
No climb check, this isn't that hard a slope and you can't fail.
"I'll put Smrgol's construction against those spikes any day. Just tuck your legs up high on his back once we reach the ground, you two?"
"Heh," Dana smirks at that as she does so, Mei clinging to Dana's back and going high up as you can. Thus Smrgol climbs down...
Natural AC bonus, Smrgol?
+42
The spikes squeal, bend and break beneath Smrgol's stride. As it does, you hear a voice in your mind. A man's voice, cool and controlled. 'I serve Tulthas. Turn away from your quest and you will be rewarded with his complements and no grudge held.'
Aww, isn't it nice to be up against someone that isn't a loathsome devil? Unfortunately they have to do this to get more people to fight loathsome devils with them. "It's nothing personal, but we're quite committed to your master's destruction," she calls in reply. "Anyone else is welcome to flee."
You get a reply right away. 'Are you sure? We can make it worth your while. You are clearly not natives of this land.'
What gave them away? Well no, to be fair anyone of her current power would be a figure of renown on her own world so it's a fair assumption. "Apologies, but a bargain has been struck and we fey are quite particular about not going back on our deals."
Yes yes, she's an outsider now. But he doesn't know that, and she's not about to let it change the way she leads her life.
"Then you have made your choice. May whomever you follow have mercy on your soul."
"You too!" she calls out before turning to Dana and Mei. "Good talk, I think."
"Someone we're going to have to fucking ruin?" Dana asks.
"Probably," Afina nods, turning her gaze forward once more. "Still, he was pretty civil about things. Better than I'm used to, so credit where it's due."
"It's not more fuckin' devils, so of course it's civilized. Give a devil a shit pile and it'll find a way to dig deeper." Dana growls, "Still going to ruin him, though."
Mei nods strongly at Dana's words.
"Naturally," Afina agrees.
"Good enough."
From here you cross the field of spikes and reach the other side. Climbing up, you find it leads to a continuing path, which reaches a dead end with a cave plunging deeper into the mountain.
Afina climbs off Smrgol once they're back on solid ground, walking a little in front as they descend towards and into the cave...
Afina: 247/277, heroes feast (CL 20), mind blank (CL 17), fortunate fate (CL 15), planar tolerance (CL 7), greater mage armour (CL 23), moment of prescience (CL 23), see invisibility (CL 23), planar bubble (CL 23)
AC 72, spell resistance 38, blindsense 30, immunity to fire, water, earth, cold, disease, poison, fear
Spell charges: 5/9/7/6/8/8/9/6/5/7
Smrgol: 459/459
AC 50, immunity to magic, fast healing 10
Perception for reference then, Afina.
[19:42] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+37 spot
[19:42] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 1d20+37 spot --> [ 1d20=16 ]{53}
Nothing ahead, just a cave. Which you go into, more than large enough for Smrgol. But not far into it you hit against an unseen barrier, rippling into view momentarily. A shimmering barrier, one you've dealt with time and time again - a wall of force blocks your way.
"Aww, should've brought Vanguard or one of the others," Afina says when confronted with this typical defence. But still, Aurora needs its golems for defence so they'll have to make do with copious usage of the disintegrate spell instead. Which is soon in evidence as a green beam shoots out to impact the unseen barrier!
[19:53] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+42 ranged touch
[19:53] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 1d20+42 ranged touch --> [ 1d20=4 ]{46}
Afina: 247/277, heroes feast (CL 20), mind blank (CL 17), fortunate fate (CL 15), planar tolerance (CL 7), greater mage armour (CL 23), moment of prescience (CL 23), see invisibility (CL 23), planar bubble (CL 23)
AC 72, spell resistance 38, blindsense 30, immunity to fire, water, earth, cold, disease, poison, fear
Spell charges: 5/9/7/6/8/8/8/6/5/7
Smrgol: 459/459
AC 50, immunity to magic, fast healing 10
Yep, that's the ticket. The wall of force disintegrates, removed by your spell.
Onwards!
The passage leads onward. As you go along...
> roll 1d20+36 Mei
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 51 > [d20=15]
No need for Dana to roll for various reasons.
Mei begins to cough. A little hack at first, but soon she begins to cough and gag.
"Mei?" Afina turns towards the elf in concern, Smrgol's neck craning around to do the same. "What's wrong?"
Mei coughs more and taps her throat. Dana sniffs, "It is a bit fucking hard to breathe, but I'm fine," she says, "This armor purifies toxins."
NPCs really need to get into the habit of eating a snack now and then so they benefit from Heroes Feast."Oh Mei," Afina shakes her head sadly. "I know you're an ascetic but the food at the mess hall is there to protect you from things like this. I'll take care of it," she walks over and employs a limited wish to mimic the effects of neutralise poison on her.
Afina: 247/277, heroes feast (CL 20), mind blank (CL 17), fortunate fate (CL 15), planar tolerance (CL 7), greater mage armour (CL 23), moment of prescience (CL 23), see invisibility (CL 23), planar bubble (CL 23)
AC 72, spell resistance 38, blindsense 30, immunity to fire, water, earth, cold, disease, poison, fear, 50% spell failure
Spell charges: 5/9/7/6/8/8/8/5/5/7
Smrgol: 459/459
AC 50, immunity to magic, fast healing 10
This is mostly me, I consistently forget about it. I have no problem remembering the arch, though. Chalk this one up to a weird random blindspot.
Mei shakes her head as Afina approaches, hands around her throat, as if being choked. She coughs again.
You can make an K:D check here, Afina.
[spoiler]
Mei
HP: 295/295
Spells Active: Mind Blank (CL17), Fortunate Fate (CL15), Planar Tolerance(CL7), Greater Mage Armor(CL5), Resist Energy(Fire)(CL23)
Bonuses: Resist fire 30.
Negative Conditions:
Resources Used: Celestial resilience
Dana
HP: 313/313
Spells Active: Mind Blank (CL17), Fortunate Fate (CL15), Planar Tolerance(CL7), Greater Mage Armor(CL5), Resist Energy(Fire)(CL23)
Bonuses: Resist fire 30.
Negative Conditions:
Resources Used: 228/239 power points
[/quote]
[/quote]
[/quote]
[/quote]
[/quote]
[/quote]
[/quote]
[/quote]
I don't have that.
Then carry on, thought you did. Mixed you up with another PC.
A pity she can't cast planar bubble on Smrgol, since she made him on Air he'd be sure to provide lots of nice fresh air around him if asphyxiation is Mei's concern. Might even allow flight, admittedly within a tiny radius around him. "Alright, I'm guessing the air here's bad. Back up everyone, we'll just climb over the cave instead."
Afina: 247/277, heroes feast (CL 20), mind blank (CL 17), fortunate fate (CL 15), planar tolerance (CL 7), greater mage armour (CL 23), moment of prescience (CL 23), see invisibility (CL 23), planar bubble (CL 23)
AC 72, spell resistance 38, blindsense 30, immunity to fire, water, earth, cold, disease, poison, fear
Spell charges: 5/9/7/6/8/8/8/6/5/7
Smrgol: 459/459
AC 50, immunity to magic, fast healing 10
In a hurry you make it out, Mei coughing and coughing outside. But she slowly recovers, as Dana considers, "Mine gas. Fucking mine gas, preening asshole. Of course, make a cave that's a poisonous fucking death zone. I'm going to punch that lich right in the fucking withered cock he calls a phylactery."
"Really Mei, I'm disappointed in you for neglecting your health," Afina says, forcing herself to be stern since this has compromised their efforts. What if there's something important in that cave? "The mess hall isn't just for indulging in gluttony, it serves a vital tactical role in keeping everyone fit for all manner of hazards on our missions. Please take more care in the future?"
Mei bows her head and nods to your words. She flushes, posture slumping.
Lecture given, Afina climbs onto Smrgol's back and waits for the others to do the same before asking him to climb up the mountainside above the cave entrance.
Spot again, pixie.
[22:21] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+37 spot
[22:21] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 1d20+37 spot --> [ 1d20=20 ]{57}
You go up another 1000ft or so, climbing higher and higher. As you do, Afina looks up. She can see them - boulders far above, even out of hearing range. Her superior eyesight lets her see them starting to tumble down at you like a tidal wave. Gives you plenty of time to react.
This hasn't worked the last few times, do they think she's going to run out of spells? Three hundred feet farther up a wall of stone erupts out of the cliff-face, built at a slant so it will provide a channel for any rocks rolling down will be redirected off to the side away from their climbing path.
Wall of Stone SLA used, ten feet tall, teen feet wide, thirty feet long.
Wall of Stone, meet boulders. The boulders don't win.
As you're shielded from them Dana holds on and asks, "This is the bullshit I hate in war. It's not about a fight, it's about fucking attrition."
"We're always on the wrong side of that unfortunately. Outnumbered and pushing ourselves against enemy defences." Admittedly if she'd went with the stealth assassination option she could have likely evaded all the defences thus far without anyone noticing she was here... barring her inability to climb, anyway. But to be honest she has more fun crushing everything with a giant golem.
"Yeah, fucking sucks being a small, plucky resistance," Dana growls, "It's fucking horseshit. One of these days I want to face an enemy we overwhelm and outnumber."
"One day..." Afina sighs, losing herself in the happy fantasy of devils being a tiny persecuted minority that she hunts down to the very last...
Afina: 247/277, heroes feast (CL 20), mind blank (CL 17), fortunate fate (CL 15), planar tolerance (CL 7), greater mage armour (CL 23), moment of prescience (CL 23), see invisibility (CL 23), planar bubble (CL 23)
AC 72, spell resistance 38, blindsense 30, immunity to fire, water, earth, cold, disease, poison, fear
Spell charges: 5/9/7/6/8/8/8/6/5/7
Smrgol: 459/459
AC 50, immunity to magic, fast healing 10
As Afina loses herself in happy daydreams about genocide...
> roll 1d20 Mei fort, only fails on a 1
<Serith> Kobrb roll for Serith < 11 > [d20=11]
> OOC: Dana doesn't autofail on a 1, so no need here.
Even higher up. All below is you is tiny lands, nothing to you this high up. Above you see a cave just a bit off your path, if you want to go explore that. Otherwise, more mountain's above you and waiting for you.
"Lets hope this cave is more breathable?" she says, hopping off Smrgol and heading towards it. No sign of whoever knocked those boulders down, huh?
Nope. Either they came from far above, they came from hidden places or magic. Tough to say.
The cave is quite large, but an iron portcullis blocks the way in.
Iron vs ironwyrm dragon is not really a fair contest. "Smrgol, if you would please?" she asks, letting the dragon go wreck it up in satisfying fashion.
[18:59] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+20 str
[18:59] <Serith> Ebiris roll for Serith < 33 > [d20=13]
It really isn't. Mei watches intently as Smrgol shreds the portcullis, leaving behind a gaping hole for you to go through at your leisure. She smiles and pats the golem's back, petting him.
Smrgol makes a sort of crystal-chiming purring noise to show his appreciation for Mei's efforts as Afina steps around him and over the ruins to head into the cave.
Mei smiles and keeps petting Smrgol. Meanwhile it looks like a broad cave. This one looks to be all by hand - the walls are worked minimally, but it still looks starkly different than a natural cave. It goes on for a little ways before it leads to a stairway going up.
Afina takes the lead on up with Smrgol and the others following her, giving her time to spot any traps as they go.
[23:34] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+39 search
[23:34] <Serith> Ebiris roll for Serith < 51 > [d20=12]
The stairs are trapped - they'll simply collapse if you put much weight on them at all. The entire stairway's nothing but a ticket to a fall to who knows where.
"Trick stairs. Really it's just getting petty at this point," Afina says, casting Fabricate to reinforce the stairs with stone from the surrounding walls so that they'll bear up under Smrgol's weight before they head on up.
Fabricate affects 24 10ft cubes of matter, taking 1 round per cube affected. I'll slowly walk up the stairs while reinforcing the areas ahead of us as I go.
Afina: 247/277, heroes feast (CL 20), mind blank (CL 17), fortunate fate (CL 15), planar tolerance (CL 7), greater mage armour (CL 23), moment of prescience (CL 23), see invisibility (CL 23), planar bubble (CL 23)
AC 72, spell resistance 38, blindsense 30, immunity to fire, water, earth, cold, disease, poison, fear
Spell charges: 5/9/7/6/8/7/8/6/5/7
Smrgol: 459/459
AC 50, immunity to magic, fast healing 10
"This is what happens when you're undead. You have too much time to waste on petty challenges," Dana says as you slowly go up.
As you do, your stomach goes queasy for a few moments. It passes right after, as if it never was, save for the faintest taste of bile in the back of your throat.
"Eugh. Did anyone else just feel that?" Afina asks, making a face but keeping her concentration maintained on the magic.
Mei shakes her head, while Dana grins, "Feel what? Riding Smrgol a little fuckin' tightly?"
"No, I felt ill for a moment. Left a nasty taste in the back of my throat. Can you check me for malign magic, Mei? I still need to focus on this spell."
> roll 1d20+28 Spellcraft
<Rei-chan> Kobrb rolled : 1d20+28 Spellcraft --> [ 1d20=13 ]{41}
Mei looks you over then shakes her head, smiling and patting you warmly on the shoulder.
"Still concerning, but whatever it was seems passed and we can't easily back out right now anyway," Afina says, giving Mei a nod of thanks and continuing her work.
"Probably the lich," Dana says, "Trying to pull some weak ass shit."
Ahead the stairway ends and another tunnel. Nearby are a few broken and old skeletons as well as some metal fragments - weapon fragments, perhaps. It goes on quite a ways ahead, a long and wide corridor.
Glad that's over with, Afina continues walking ahead down the tunnel at a sedate pace that lets her carefully survey the area ahead for traps.
[18:26] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+39 search
[18:26] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 1d20+39 search --> [ 1d20=15 ]{54}
Afina: 247/277, heroes feast (CL 20), mind blank (CL 17), fortunate fate (CL 15), planar tolerance (CL 7), greater mage armour (CL 23), moment of prescience (CL 23), see invisibility (CL 23), planar bubble (CL 23)
AC 72, spell resistance 38, blindsense 30, immunity to fire, water, earth, cold, disease, poison, fear
Spell charges: 5/9/7/6/8/7/8/6/5/7
Smrgol: 459/459
AC 50, immunity to magic, fast healing 10
Yep, trapped to the nines. Go much ahead and dozens of traps will trigger, all shooting out some sort of projectile at all of you.
"Lots of traps," Afina says, going to step behind Smrgol. "Flame it, please?" she asks, figuring that should wreck up the mechanisms enough to allow safe passage. And Smrgol hardly needs any encouragement to let loose his fiery breath!
[18:54] <@Ebiris> roll 20d10
[18:54] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 20d10 --> [ 20d10=113 ]{113}
[18:54] <@Ebiris> roll 1d4 recharge
[18:54] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 1d4 recharge --> [ 1d4=2 ]{2}
The way ahead is scorched. Stone melts and traps unseen sizzle, the way ahead now terrifically blackened and burnt.
"See, that's now you solve a fucking trap, not some limp wristed sneak." Dana declares, smacking Smrgol's side as she starts to saunter on ahead.
"I HAVE LEARNED THAT FIRE SOLVES A GREAT MANY THINGS!" Smrgol booms out with an admiring look towards Afina as they continue on, periodically immolating more traps as they go.
You advance on and ahead. Past all of this is another stairway going up, up and up further. Untrapped, no less. When you at last reach the end, a simple stone-carved door awaits you.
Is the door trapped?!
[19:33] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+39 search
[19:33] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 1d20+39 search --> [ 1d20=12 ]{51}
Stunningly, it is not.
Afina opens it up, then!
The door opens and ahead is a massive vista. Below is a sprawling valley, full of greenery and life. It's far below as...
Yet to your blindsense, all you feel are stone walls.
"More illusions," she says, stepping forward and tapping her sword against the glamered walls.
[20:00] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+33 disbelief
[20:00] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 1d20+33 disbelief --> [ 1d20=9 ]{42}
[20:00] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+9 Smrgol disbelief
[20:00] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 1d20+9 Smrgol disbelief --> [ 1d20=15 ]{24}
> roll 1d20+29 Dana
<Rei-chan> Kobrb rolled : 1d20+29 Dana --> [ 1d20=12 ]{41}
> roll 1d20+40 Mei
<Rei-chan> Kobrb rolled : 1d20+40 Mei --> [ 1d20=2 ]{42}
Ahead is a massive cave. 30ft ahead and 10ft to the side is solid ground, then it has a sharp drop on all sides. Far below you can see bubbling green liquid. Far, far ahead and over a massive gap is a similar platform with a door as well.
Unfortunately, Smrgol sees none of them, unable to overcome the illusion.
Mei's eyes widen in shock, while Dana says, "He's an asshole, but I do sort of like it," she admits, "If you fuck up, it gets them. If they see through, they still have a deathtrap to get around."
"I suppose there's inspiration to be drawn from it all," Afina admits. But she's not so private a person as to turn her home into a deathtrap, even if it might deter Crystal from interfering in her lovelife. "Alright Smrgol, just follow my instructions and we'll be fine even if you can't see what's really there," she vaults up onto the confused dragon's back. "Bring your claws up here, that's right. Now pull yourself up and dig into the rock for leverage, you'll be fine..." And so she starts directing Smrgol to climb across the walls to get to the other side, forgoing any platform jumping that would otherwise be required.
[20:23] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+57 climb
[20:23] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 1d20+57 climb --> [ 1d20=9 ]{66}
Afina: 247/277, heroes feast (CL 20), mind blank (CL 17), fortunate fate (CL 15), planar tolerance (CL 7), greater mage armour (CL 23), moment of prescience (CL 23), see invisibility (CL 23), planar bubble (CL 23)
AC 72, spell resistance 38, blindsense 30, immunity to fire, water, earth, cold, disease, poison, fear
Spell charges: 5/9/7/6/8/7/8/6/5/7
Smrgol: 459/459
AC 50, immunity to magic, fast healing 10
As if with your luck, Afina. She'd probably try to get you to have a romantic date in your pit trap.
Climbing across (and all of you holding on) is without incident. Mei pats him every so often as they go, while Dana keeps her eyes peeled. Fortunately, no more trouble as you reach the other side safely.
How about this door, any traps here?
[16:33] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+39 search
[16:33] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 1d20+39 search --> [ 1d20=10 ]{49}
Yep. A tornado blast of wind will buffet you and send you flying as well as anyone on this platform when the door is opened.
Employing her natural affinity for the stone, Afina causes the edges of the platform to rise up, forming a wall behind them so that at worst they'll just be blown against some stone rather than sent careening down into the acid. "Everyone, brace yourselves behind Smrgol, when the door opens we'll be hit with some strong winds. You too Smrgol, dig your claws in tight, then open the door," Afina asks, going to hunker down behind the ironwyrm.
Using stone shape sla for prep
Everyone does so, braced and ready. The blast of wind that comes out is screaming, overwhelming. The only thing that saves you from a fall is the wall, the four of you pressed into it. It goes on for perhaps half a minute until it finally ends, the four of you falling forward. Now that's some wind. Not Shinear quality, but it's good wind nonetheless.
"Good work, Smrgol," she pats the dragon golem on his hindleg as she walks around him and towards the door, checking for more traps or sneaky illusions on the other side of it.
[18:41] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+39 search
[18:41] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 1d20+39 search --> [ 1d20=4 ]{43}
Afina: 247/277, heroes feast (CL 20), mind blank (CL 17), fortunate fate (CL 15), planar tolerance (CL 7), greater mage armour (CL 23), moment of prescience (CL 23), see invisibility (CL 23), planar bubble (CL 23)
AC 72, spell resistance 38, blindsense 30, immunity to fire, water, earth, cold, disease, poison, fear
Spell charges: 5/9/7/6/8/7/8/6/5/7
Smrgol: 459/459
AC 50, immunity to magic, fast healing 10
Nope, just stairs going up, up and further up. Lots of stairs, the way lit with smokeless torches.
"No traps for once," Afina says, starting up the stairs.
"About fuckin' time," Dana grouses as you climb up...and up...and up...and up. The stairs go on for 10 minutes with no end in sight.
Afina takes to scoring chunks out of every fifth step with her sword, just in case they've wandered into a dimensionally twisted staircase that keeps looping back in on itself.
Dana takes one look at it and grimaces, "Yeah, I was wondering the same shit. Stairway to forever, just a loop around and around."
Mei firmly shakes her head and points ahead, taps her chest and keeps going.
"We had things like that back on Lifasa," Afina says, quite familiar with the concept. Still, at least Mei thinks they're on the right track.
Another 20 minutes of climbing follows. No repeat stairs - until at last you come to a door. As you open it, the door opens on its own. A hallway of smooth stone with carpet on the floor, a human-esque construct opening the door, made of wood. It speaks plainly, "The Master wishes to invite you in to talk," it says, "Please follow me."
> roll 1d20 Mei only fails on a 1
<Rei-chan> Koaway rolled : 1d20 Mei only fails on a 1 --> [ 1d20=18 ]{18}
Dana has steadfast determination so she can't fail the save. No point rolling for her.
Unfortunately for the wooden construct, Afina is currently a living conduit to the elemental plane of fire.
[19:32] <@Ebiris> roll 3d10 fire damage
[19:32] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 3d10 fire damage --> [ 3d10=17 ]{17}"There will be no negotiations," Afina replies, raising a hand up towards Smrgol and then pointing at the far lesser construct.
[19:34] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+30 -31pa
[19:34] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 1d20+30 -31pa --> [ 1d20=18 ]{48}
[19:34] <@Ebiris> roll 2d10+53
[19:34] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 2d10+53 --> [ 2d10=9 ]{62}Taking his cue, the dragon stretches his neck forward to bite the thing in two!
Afina: 247/277, heroes feast (CL 20), mind blank (CL 17), fortunate fate (CL 15), planar tolerance (CL 7), greater mage armour (CL 23), moment of prescience (CL 23), see invisibility (CL 23), planar bubble (CL 23)
AC 72, spell resistance 38, blindsense 30, immunity to fire, water, earth, cold, disease, poison, fear
Spell charges: 5/9/7/6/8/7/8/6/5/7
Smrgol: 459/459
AC 50, immunity to magic, fast healing 10
The construct bursts aflame, Smrgol having no problem demolishing it with his bite. Hunks of it rain from his mouth as he chews it, the creature obliterated.
Free act.
Afina then blithely walks onwards, albeit with enough care for traps on the way.
[19:44] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+39 search
[19:44] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 1d20+39 search --> [ 1d20=1 ]{40}
"Any parlay would be a waste of time, we're committed," she says in response to any unasked questions. "Best everyone go in knowing exactly what to expect."
"Are you?" A voice asks from everywhere. The same voice in the previous communication. "My Master wishes to bring you to terms. We will ask again if there is treasure or boons that will satisfy you and turn you away."
"No," Afina's reply is laconic, seeing no further use in explaining the readily apparent situation.
"See this?" Dana draws her rapier, "We aren't stopping until I shove this so far up your Master's bony ass that he gives it a blowjob at the same time!"
"Pity," The man's voice says, "Then will you understand a hundred crossbows, cocked and ready to be fired. Across this world are agents of Tulthas, just now commanded to unleash hell on this world unless a counter-command is given every hour. If not, plagues will come that slaughter cities and raise the dead as plague zombies. Fiends will be summoned and allowed to run unchecked. Assassins will go forth, reaping a harvest of souls to lure the darkest of spirits here to spread destruction. You may be powerful, Afina Devilsbane of Aurora, but my Master owns this world. Press on and even if you triumph, there will be no world left to celebrate your victory."
"Well, you've given me pause at last. Congratulations," Afina inclines her head. "Were this my world I would press on regardless, but it is not and I have no right to make that decision. You have earned a reprieve while I consult with those who seek your Master's death and what price they are willing to pay to see it done."
Smartly turning on her heel, she starts going right back the way she came. "Come ladies, Smrgol. We'll have to retread some old ground, now."
Plans?
We're gonna have to walk/climb aaaaaalllllll the way back we came before gate-hopping back to Oak Pride's fortress, tell them about Tultha's threat and ask them how they want to proceed.
As you go back out, Dana whispers, "Seriously, you're going to fold up at that," she hisses into your ear, "Fuckhole's got to be lying."
"Maybe, but it's not our right to make a decision for this world," Afina replies. "If they consider it worth the risk of calling his bluff, we'll come right back. He's not going anywhere."
Dana's comments are profane but ultimately not aimed at you. You find the trip back uncontested - down, down, down to the ground. When you return to Oak's Pride fortress, the same pixie opens the door. "Hi! You're back already! Did you punch his skull face in?!" Quite cheerfully too, flying around all of you like n erratic butterfly.
"No," Afina says unhappily. "We got quite close but then he made some threats about a dead hand plan that would take effect if he were slain. Considering this isn't our world and we don't know what defences you have in place against such things, I felt it prudent to come back and discuss the nature of the threats that were made."
Afina: 247/277, heroes feast (CL 20), mind blank (CL 17), fortunate fate (CL 15), planar tolerance (CL 7), greater mage armour (CL 23), moment of prescience (CL 23), see invisibility (CL 23)
AC 72, spell resistance 38, blindsense 30, immunity to fire, water, earth, cold, disease, poison, fear
Spell charges: 5/9/7/6/8/7/8/6/5/5
Smrgol: 459/459, mind blank (CL 17), fortunate fate (CL 15), planar tolerance (CL 7), greater mage armour (CL 5)
AC 56, immunity to magic, fast healing 10
"Oooh!" From there the pixie takes you along to Head Loremaster Honeybrook once more.
"Yes?" he asks.
Go ahead and expo here, since what you tell him and how will matter.
"Hello again, Honeybrook. I'm sorry not to report success but given our ignorance of this world I felt it best to come back and consult before making any final steps," Afina says, stopping before the other pixie. "We'd gotten pretty far through the mountains, with a lot of dead harpies to show for it," she gestures at her floating disk full of looted weapons. "A servant of Tulthas contacted us remotely offering terms for us to stay our assault, which were rebuffed both times. The third time however came with a threat, against this world rather than us. We were told that unless a counter command is given every hour, agents of Tulthas all across the world will strike. Plagues will be set on cities, fiends will be summoned and let loose, and assassins will... 'reap a harvest of souls to lure the darkest spirits here'." Speaking as an assassin she's never done that before, but who knows what talents some people have.
"Were this my own world I'd have called his bluff, confident that others can handle his agents. But it's not, and I didn't feel I could unilaterally make the decision for you."
"Good mercy," Honeybrook quails, head buried in his hands, "There's always been whispers of some unspeakable plan Tulthas has. The whispers of madmen and monsters, mocking us. A revenge so terrible the world will burn to ash. Never has anything close to confirmation come."
Dana crosses her arms, "I still bet it's fucking bullshit."
Mei goes forward and rests a hand on the elf's shoulder. She utters one beautiful word, "Celanil." Immediately Honeybrook stiffens up and looks up.
"Oh, I did not fully understand before," he says softly, "A speaker. I apologize," he says, gathering himself. "I ask of you, Afina. Do you think it was a bluff?"
"No," Afina shakes her head. "He spoke of owning this world, and I imagine he's had a very long time unopposed to prepare contingencies beyond the mere physical defences of his redoubt. The method matters too - as he has to actively keep his revenge from occurring rather than it being something he triggers when threatened, it keeps him safe from even surprise attacks so long as the threat is known."
"Triune protect us," Honeybrook whispers quietly, bowing his head again. "I cannot make this decision on my own, nor can one be made fast. Please accept our hospitality for the evening."
"I'll send Smrgol home, then," she says, since the place isn't golem-friendly. He can take their looted weapons away for sale too so they're not left cluttering up the place. "The three of us will be happy to accept your hospitality for now."
Going to do anything but wait?
Just chilling.
A night of rest passes. Come morning, you meet with Honeybrook, "We've decided to suspend the attack on Tulthas," he reports, unhappiness clear on his face. "We need to take steps against his threat before we can strike his lair. Nonetheless, thank you. No one's ever pushed him hard enough to play that card before. Until today, it was an old wives tale. We'd also like you to tell us all you can of his defenses and what you came on."
"That we can do," Afina nods, happy to share her knowledge. "We started climbing the Southern face of the mountains and were beset by a few landslides as well as being attacked by harpies and one ogre that was riding on a giant spider. We found a tiny little cave that concealed a secret passage leading to a gallery full of harpies..." she begins, detailing every trap and encounter witnessed right up until the illusory valley above the giant pit of probably-acid with the wind-gust trap on the door out of it.
Dana adds in a few comments, while Mei listens quietly. When it's all done, "That's something. So many traps and precautions. The labor of lifetimes, all to protect himself. Bastard," Honeybrook murmurs the last word to himself.
"It is impressively paranoid. Makes you wonder why he hasn't sequestered himself in some fastness on the negative energy plane, but I suppose he must have an attachment to this world," Afina agrees. "But as we're no longer able to fulfill our part in slaying him, where does that leave our alliance?"
"Our council thinks well of you," Honeybrook says, "Your discretion was wise. An small force to Aurora, while we attempt to get to the bottom of this threat."
Better than nothing, and it's not as if she really exerted herself to make it happen. "They'll be well taken care of. We'll have a gate made to transport them over from here in say five day's time?" she suggests to give them some time to gather up the force and prepare it.
"Acceptable," he says, "If we can neutralize this threat, we'd like to end Tulthas for good, as we agreed."
"We're willing to commit our resources to the task any time you feel confident in managing the fallout," Afina nods. "For now though, we'll return to Aurora. Until next time?" she bids farewell, heading out and gating home.
He rises first, offering you his hand. "To good relations," he says, "Even if you can barely shake my hand."
Afina narrows her eyes and puts some pressure on as she returns the handshake.
23 strength!
Strength check since that amused me.
[21:05] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+6
[21:05] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 1d20+6 --> [ 1d20=4 ]{10}
A good, solid grasp, but nothing world breaking.
Heading home now?
Yes.
Thread locked, moving you briefly over to Tryll's topic.