DM Carbide's Through a Cracked Mirror: The Dark Road
Game Master John Woodford

I guess I am setting up the chain circle here since apparently we aren't allowed to set up an ambush. :P

Could be a blessing in disguise. Wonder how much damage a Large/Huge Burning tree does?

Sorry about map access; I thought (when Google Docs popped up with the link) that it was set to share with anyone who had the link, but it wasn't. Try the new link HERE.

One other thing--it was kind of late when I put the post together last night, so I missed a couple of important points. First, instead of being Round 1 that should have been on the surprise round, when Rashun and the seugathi are the only ones who can act. Second, based on the spiders' behavior, the party can have taken a round of spellcasting before reaching the clearing. Let me know what (if anything) you have running, and what you do on the surprise round, Rashun.

ETA: The seugathi has concealment on the surprise round, although that will doubtless change as the combat progresses.

I can see the map now. My action should.still be good. Mind Fog doesn't affect vision so Xavier can.still take his shot. ;)

Eretria, nothing comes to mind when you try to remember any spells that might have an effect like the mist you observe. Xavier, you can take that shot after the seugathi's Round 1 action.

I would have cast PoE on Xavier before entering the clearing. On the surprise round I cast PoE on myself.

I would use mage armor.

PoE on Darc

Surprise round:

The hidden seugathi casts a spell that creates a thin mist around Xavier and Rashun, neither of whom are affected by it. Rashun casts a second protection vs. evil. At this point, Rashun, Xavier, and Darc are running protection vs. evil and Eretria is running mage armor.

Round 1:

Initiative order:

Seugathi
Rashun
Darc
Besmarial
Eretria
Sami
Xavier

The seugathi invokes another mystical effect. Rashun and Xavier, DC 18 Will saves, please. Rashun, you're up.

Affected by P vs E. +2 to AC and Saves (overlaps, does not stack with cloak), recieves reroll vs compulsion with +2 Morale vs Seguathy

Will save1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22

Again Xavier feels his mind assaulted.
Sticking to the plan he fires at the Monster
Attack Roll was earlier. Hit 21 AC for 9 damage

Eretria will throw the chain down this round.

Will save:1d20 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 8 = 23
Swift action: Judgement of Sacred Justice +1 (Su) Attack bonus

Attack:1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8
Damage1d8 ⇒ 2

Should probably use your move action to move 30' to a flank eh? At least he gets to more 2 for one spell targets!

For some reason I thought he was up in a tree.. If he is on the ground then I would have put my bow away, and move to just outside of charge range while drawing my sword. To keep things fair I will use the same attack roll when I do attack. [/ooc]

It IS up a tree. But not sure how high. DM tree dimension'splease. Also a Ranger might id if the tree is good for burning. Mentioned moving cause we're grouped together and he can get us in AOE spells.

Darc prays once more "Gragik bluud Gorrum nax Darc." A red hue forms and enters the half-orcs body.

Casts Divine Favor on self, +2 to hit, +2 damage (trait consider caster level 4th.

The seugathi, as far as you can tell, is about twenty feet up. Rashun, the forests in the area of the river confluence are well-watered and lush; it wouldn't be easy to get the tree burning.

Xavier, despite the thick foliage concealing the creature, your arrow strikes true. Rashun, your shot goes wide of the mark.

Map? Xavier prefers to remain at range for as long as possible but wants a clear shot.

Try to find a clear shot! The foiliage covers it.

The map hasn't changed; neither it nor Rashun moved on the surprise round, and it didn't move on its action this round.

Then after his shot in round 2 Xavier will close to N20.

I had forgotten about the map. I will move on my next turn.
perception to see if I can find a better spot to shoot from that is inside or outside of the fog:1d20 + 15 ⇒ (1) + 15 = 16

Round 2-
Xavier skirts outside the boundry, moving from N20 to N16 to the north, hoping to keep the creature's.attention while the others move in and find surrounding positions.

YOU WILL FALL THIS TIME CREATURE! THIS DAY IS YOUR LAST!, he roars defiantly as he fires again.

Ranged Attack1d20 + 9 ⇒ (15) + 9 = 24
Damage1d8 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9

Round 2:
As for that perception check I will say it is in round 2, to keep things simple.

swift action:activate ranger's focus.

Attack:1d20 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11
Damage:1d8 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

edit:I guess all of my good rolls are going to the other PBP game I am in. I keep getting above 15's in that one.

Round 1

Sami charges to the west, in an attempt to surround or flank the beast as best as they can. While rushing to the side, he whirls and looses a bullet from his sling at the beast.

Attack, with range increment penalty1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4
Damage, all nonlethal1d4 + 3 + 1d6 ⇒ (1) + 3 + (3) = 7
Move 40' to the west, then attack

Someone blow that damn fog away, I can't see a damn thing. Oh for the winds of the mountains to blow the stuff away. says a confused and frustrated Darc. He moves to the east, keeping out of range of their quarry's aura.

Moves to W,25 if that still has line of sight to where the beast was last.

The mist is too thin to block line of sight.

Can I see it well enough for magic missile?

Magic Missile ignores cover and concealment. You don't even need line of sight. Fire away

You need to SEE what you are aiming at actually. If its totally concealed then I can which is what I am asking.

Eretia is correct. All "target" spells require that you can see the target.

Passing through, this is what I think Darc has done so far .. preparation round PoE, 1st round Divine Favor, 2nd Round move..

Eretria, you can indeed see it well enough to target it with a magic missile.

With the creature in concealment Eretria doesn't want to waste her scorching ray spell on the chance of missing it so she is going to cast Magic Missile on the creature.

2d4 + 2 ⇒ (2, 4) + 2 = 8

One map-related question: Xavier, what's your current movement? An Agile breastplate is still medium armor, so I don't think you can get to N20 on Round 1.

One other thing--Darc, from where you moved to you don't have effective line of sight on the seugathi. If it were on the ground you could see it, but the green squares mostly represent canopy, and it's low enough to block your view of the creature from where you are. Next round you could be out from under the trees if you wanted, though.

You changed the map and forgot my starting square. Just move me as much as you interperet my move allowing. I.seem to remember the first diagonal in a move is 5ft. The second is ten.

Xavier started in Q25, so his current position is a 20' move away.

Round 1 (final summary):

Seugathi-cast SLA on Rashun & Xavier; no effect
Rashun-fired arrow at seugathi; missed
Darc-cast divine favor on self and moved to the side
Besmarial-rose higher into the air; did nothing else at present
Eretria-set up chain
Sami-moved to the side and fired sling bullet at seugathi; missed
Xavier-advanced, and fired arrow at seugathi; hit

Map as of the end of the seugathi's action at Round 2 is HERE.

Round 2:

Initiative order:

Seugathi-done
Rashun
Darc
Besmarial
Eretria
Sami
Xavier

The seugathi explodes from the tree in a flurry of multiple limbs, floating rather more slowly to earth than one would expect from gravity alone and hitting the ground running full tilt at the party. It gets close enough to Xavier to attack him with its sword, and (in addition) bring him within its aura. DC 20 Will save, Xavier. The protection vs. evil saved you from the sword, though. And its current AC is 17 because of the charge. It's also just out of aura range of Rashun. Darc, you can see it now.

Will save, PfrmE fromAura1d20 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13
Failed. However Confusion rules state a confused char auto attacks the last foe that hit him.

Protection From Evil reroll vs Confusion Command, +2 morale1d20 + 7 ⇒ (15) + 7 = 22
HUZZAH! and I haven't had to use Improved Iron will yet. DEFINATELY gonna buy a wand of Pro frm Evil.

Xavier grimaces as his mind is assaulted once again. Red mist works it's way into his brain and the Seugathi fills his vision. The creature was going to DIE. He drops his bow and 5 ft steps to N20 and attacks with fury.

Two Handed Scimitar, Power Attack1d20 + 9 - 1 ⇒ (17) + 9 - 1 = 25
Damage1d6 + 4 + 2 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 4 + 2 + 3 = 11

I will refer to my magic missile spell previously, I want to make sure its distracted by Xavier before my next attack.

My round 2 actions is here. I am sure I missed though.

Darc fires a bolt from his crossbow ... and reloads.

Ranged L. xBow 1d20 + 4 + 2 - 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 + 2 - 4 = 14 (Divine Favor, Firing into melee) Damage 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9 (Divine Favor)

Fairly disgusted with the situation, Sami nonetheless keeps to the plan and moves futher west to be directly south of the beast, while maintaining his range from the beast. The last thing he would want would be to fall to the creature's aura again and become a liability to his companions. He hurls a bullet from his sling again as he runs, hoping to at least force the creature to divide its attention.

Attack, with range penalty1d20 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6
Damage, all nonlethal1d4 + 3 + 1d6 ⇒ (4) + 3 + (1) = 8

Round 2 (summary and final):

Darc, Xavier jumped the gun with posting and the seugathi attacked him with reach, so you didn't have to take the -4 penalty for firing into melee. With the creature's AC penalty for charging, you hit.

Seugathi-charged Xavier and attacked with shortsword; missed
Rashun-shot seugathi with arrow; missed
Darc-shot seugathi with crossbow; hit
Besmarial-still nothing
Eretria-cast magic missile at seugathi
Sami-fired sling bullet at seugathi; missed
Xavier-attacked seugathi with scimitar; hit

Map at the end of the round is HERE.

Round 3:

Initiative order:

Seugathi-done
Rashun
Darc
Besmarial
Eretria
Sami
Xavier

The seugathi executes its full attack sequence on Xavier, but only the first sword blow connects. Take 6 HP, Xavier.

Xavier will1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17
Fail
Xavier reroll vs Confusion Command1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23

Think I'm doing this right. If the Seugathi doesn't bother to confusion command Xavier, then he fails but confusion spell dictates he auto attacks whomever hits him this round (Seugathi), if the Seugathi DOES try to command him, Xavier gets a reroll vs affects that try to direct his will

The Seugathi continues to assault Xavier but the magic of Rashun's spell continues to protecthim. The creature attacks with It's sword and manages a minor wound.
His mind clouded with rage, Xavier continues to focus on Raw Power swinging his scimitar with Mighty 2 handed blows.
DIIIEEE!!
2 handed Power Attack1d20 + 9 - 1 ⇒ (13) + 9 - 1 = 21
PA Damage1d6 + 2 + 4 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 2 + 4 + 3 = 12

Another magic missile cause the creature isn't close enough yet.

Damage:2d4 + 2 ⇒ (1, 2) + 2 = 5

Darc moves to get a clearer shot at the enemy, as he does he retrieves a dark wooden stick with runes of divine power written in white upon its long and narrowing wand.

Move to V,20 and retrieve wand of bless

I was just about to cast bless. thanks

Xavier is in melee, which gives me a -4 to my attack roll.

After the bless I will charge to N22 and hope to survive the aura

will save:1d20 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14

Darn it.

edit:I dropped the bow as a free action before I charged in.

A couple of things. First, Rashun, remember that you act before Darc, so if you were about to cast bless you can go ahead and do it. Let me know. Second, as I read the descriptions of protection from evil and the seugathi's confusion command power, as long as the spell is running it's incapable of using the power against a protected character. OTOH, the spell won't stop the aura effect. (Since confusion command normally offers no save, there's no save to reroll and that feature of the spell doesn't apply.)

So this thing has a confusion aura, and a confusion spell, but the aura bypasses the PoE? If I am going to go first then I will use bless this round, and charge in next round. I hope 81 is not hit myself in the face next round though.

Normally, the aura acts like a confusion spell (see HERE), with random effects. The seugathi has a special ability, confusion command, that lets it pick the aura result for one person inside of its aura. Since the aura is not a mental command, PfE only adds +2 to your saves against it. OTOH, the way that the confusion command ability is described in the monster writeup, it seems clear that it's a form of mental control...which PfE explicitly protects against, at least from evil creatures. Which the seugathi most assuredly qualifies as. Make sense? Kind of?

Clear as mud. But happy with GM interpretation. So PfmE provides resist +2 vs aura and prevents use of confusion command? If so I am happy with that, since.as long as seugathi focuses on me I will auto attack him back as per confusion spell. Everybody else should stay out. It will only take 1 random action to have us hitting each other non- stop till somebody dies.