DM Carbide's Through a Cracked Mirror: The Dark Road (Inactive)

Game Master John Woodford

I can get behind this plan as it involves me continuing to not be close :D

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?

I got it.

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.

ok

Sami hurls another bullet at the beast, hoping to at least make it glance his way.

Attack1d20 - 1 ⇒ (8) - 1 = 7
Damage, all nonlethal1d4 + 3 + 1d6 ⇒ (1) + 3 + (6) = 10

I forgot the penalty for firing into melee last round, not that it mattered

Round 3 (summary and final):

Seugathi-attacked Xavier; did some damage
Rashun-cast bless on the party
Darc-moved to get a better shot (you have a standard action remaining, if you want to do something else with the round)
Besmarial-drops and casts aid on Xavier (Xavier gets 9 temporary HP)
Eretria-casts magic missile on the seugathi
Sami-fires a sling bullet at the monster, which again flies wide of the mark
Xavier-attacks the seugathi and does some damage

Map after seugathi action at top of Round 4 is HERE.

Round 4:

Initiative order:

Seugathi-done
Rashun
Darc
Besmarial
Eretria
Sami
Xavier

The seugathi moves slightly to the south and does not attack Xavier, instead electing to go completely on the defensive. As I count from where it moved to, Rashun is now just inside its aura. We'll use the save and aura result from last round; the result was to attack the closest creature. There are three equidistant options (seugathi, Eretria, and Xavier), and the dice module has betrayed me :-(.

Rashun, through the haze in your eyes you are filled with hostility towards the monster. You're 30' away and will attempt as best you can to attack it at your action.

Xavier, give me another save vs. the aura.

Hmm

Eretria is going to move to P-28, I believe it is just out of it's range if its not then somewhere near there that isn't in the fog but close enough for scorching ray, without being in its aura.

Casting scorching ray

Ranged Touch: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16
Damage: 4d6 ⇒ (4, 6, 5, 1) = 16

Will save1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12

Imp Iron Will save1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12
Crap.

Darc raises his crossbow and fires at the creature.

Round 4:

Status: Divine Favor, Bless
HP: 38/38 AC: 21/11/20 Conditions: None
Attack xBow 1d20 + 4 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 4 + 2 + 1 = 15
Damage xBow 1d8 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 4 + 2 = 9

Sami loads and hurls another bullet from his sling, wishing with all of his might that he could close to melee with the creature.

Attack1d20 - 1 ⇒ (19) - 1 = 18
Damage, all nonlethal1d4 + 3 + 1d6 ⇒ (4) + 3 + (4) = 11

Rashun, you have a BOW so you have to attack it, you don't have to melee it ;)

Eretria--I'd like to clarify something wrt your action. I believe that on the first round you put the chain down. If you move away from there, the chain is staying behind, and you'll be visible to the seugathi.

Eretria-nudge, nudge, DM did not ask for a will save from you...protected inside the chain? Everybody should remember the plan and note Xavier CAN drop most of you in one round if the confusion makes him target you. Just sayin. ;)
Also, DM just a query? Confusion option chart is:
1–25 Act normally
26–50 Do nothing but babble incoherently
51–75 Deal 1d8 points of damage + Str modifier to self with item in hand
76–100 Attack nearest creature My bold.
If everyone stays far away I will only attack the seugathi if I get the attack option

That's true, although if (e.g.) Rashun put an arrow into you there's a chance you'd attack him regardless of the table result.

All the more reason to stick to the plan ;). I failed the save vs confusion. So I need to see if Rashun hits me. He needs to hit AC21 and he takes a -4 penalty to his roll since I am in Melee with the monster (never thought I'd be HAPPY an.allied shooter did not have Precise Shot...

Oh, he's not attacking you. This round :-).

Oh, SWEET!

The mist and voice scream into his brain until it hurts. All he can see is a monster big, slavering and hungry. But the monster was bleeding...and he knew.it was afraid!
Raghhh!
He steps to the cowering creature and unleashes with Scimitar and Fist somehow with less finesse and more savagery than one would expect of a man using 2 weapons. Onlookers would not see an agile swordsman, they see a tiger!

Blessed Simitar TWF Power Attack1d20 + 7 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (7) + 7 + 1 - 2 = 13
Wpn Spl PA Damage1d6 + 3 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 3 + 4 = 9

Blessed Cestus TWF Power Attack1d20 + 6 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (20) + 6 + 1 - 2 = 25
TWF Cestus PA damage1d4 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 1 + 2 = 4

Confirm Crit Threat?1d20 + 6 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (17) + 6 + 1 - 2 = 22
TWF Cestus PA damage1d4 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 1 + 2 = 7

Xavier, are you going to do bashing or piercing damage with the cestus? It's an either/or.

Piercing- Xavier is in a Rage and wants to rip and.tear flesh.

I am aware I am leaving the chain there, I plan to go back to it but its out of range of the best spell I have against this thing

Thanks for clarifying--just making sure.

I have to remember to grab more personal spells to garnish my saves bonus in the future >_>

I'm gonna have to start pumping 1 of my 3 skill points intoUMD so I can use wands. Xavier said he was gonna study up on magic and he meant it. (Hence the request to swap that bonus feat for focused study racial ability. ;)

Awww, Eretria can be his magic user though :P lol

Yes, but Xavier genuinely likes Eretria beyond conquest. He's making an effort to understand her.

Rashun, you have a BOW so you have to attack it, you don't have to melee it ;)

I am using a bow. What happened was I said I was going into the aura at one point, but you said it was better if you were the only one to deal with the aura so I stuck with the bow. I think the monster coming from the tree put me into the aura anyway so now I have to attack you.

attack:1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8
damage:1d8 ⇒ 4

edit:Yeah for nat 1's. Man my rolls are terrible for this combat.

Actually, Rashun, of the three possible "closest" targets, I rolled that you went after the monster. You still missed this time, though.

Round 4 (final and summary):

Seugathi-dodged and moved to bring Rashun into its aura
Rashun-failed aura save; fired arrow at seugathi and missed
Darc-fired crossbow at seugathi and missed
Besmarial-no action
Eretria-moved up and cast scorching ray at seugathi; hit
Sami-fired sling at seugathi and missed
Xavier-attacked seugathi with scimitar and cestus; hit a glancing blow with cestus

Updated map as of the end of the seugathi's Round 5 action is HERE.

Round 5:

Initiative order:

Seugathi-done
Rashun
Darc
Besmarial
Eretria
Sami
Xavier

The seugathi continues to dodge, and makes another 5' move around the annoyingly persistent fighter. Eretria, Rashun, and Xavier, DC 20 Will saves, please.

Will:1d20 + 7 ⇒ (20) + 7 = 27
YAY FINALLY

That was a good save to have made, Eretria; you're not running prot/evil, so if you'd missed it the seugathi would have been able to make you attack the closest person--Rashun. And that would have taken you into the fog, which might also have been bad.

will save:1d20 + 8 ⇒ (9) + 8 = 17

Luckily for all concerned, the aura of madness surrounding the seugathi only blasts Rashun's mind so that he is unable to take any action at all.

Do I have to continue making saves while in it? I can't remember.

No. It may be academic by the end of the round, though, depending on how well everyone else rolls.

Will save1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24
Phew. Almost failed 5 rounds for Insane

Finally shaking his head clear, Xavier tries to get the message out. Stick to the plan. Stay away and shoot it!!

AC is 22 for full attack. TWF PA Blessed.1d20 + 7 - 2 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 7 - 2 + 1 = 12
Damage1d6 + 2 + 3 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 2 + 3 + 4 = 10

TWF PA Blessed cestus Piercing1d20 + 6 - 2 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 6 - 2 + 1 = 12
Damage1d4 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 1 + 2 = 6

The thing continues to dodge an weave but it has put the trees at it's back.

Eretria fires another ray at the creature before retreating back to the circle again.
Ranged Touch:1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10
Damage:4d6 ⇒ (3, 4, 4, 3) = 14

Darc raises his crossbow and fires at the creature.

Round 5:

Status:
HP: 38/38 AC: 21/11/20 Conditions: PoE, Divine Favor, Bless,
Attack xBow 1d20 + 4 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 4 + 2 + 1 = 21
Damage xBow 1d8 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 4 + 2 = 12

Sami hisses in frustration as one of his best shots misses its mark. He lets fly again, this time unconcerned with merely putting the creature down.

Attack1d20 - 1 ⇒ (4) - 1 = 3
Damage, lethal1d4 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

Sami, don't forget to include the +1 morale bonus to hit from bless.

Round 5 (summary and final):

Seugathi-dodges
Rashun-babbles incoherently
Darc-fires crossbow at seugathi; misses
Besmarial-nothing (his only attack modes would take him into the aura)
Eretria-fires scorching ray at seugathi; misses (BTW, don't forget to take +1 for point-blank shot and +1 for bless.)
Sami-fires sling at seugathi; misses
Xavier-attacks seugathi with scimitar and cestus; misses with both

Updated map as of the seugathi's action is HERE.

Round 6:

Initiative order:

Seugathi-done
Rashun
Darc
Besmarial
Eretria
Sami
Xavier

The seugathi shifts back, still dodging. Rashun, DC 20 Will save.

Sami launches yet another bullet at the creature, throwing a glance at Besmarial before his attack. He's undoubtedly as frustrated as I am with this ranged fighting

Attack...adding the bless this time...oops1d20 ⇒ 9
Damage - lethal1d4 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

will save: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (19) + 8 = 27
My first goal is to move away from the creature to R28

I will then attack.

+1 from divine favor, +1 from bless, +2 from ranger's focus
attack:1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12
damage:1d8 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

Will save1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 19

Crap. One short.
Once again Xavier's mind is overcome...

Darc fires into the sky.

Round 6:

Status:
HP: 38/38 AC: 21/11/20 Conditions: PoE, Divine Favor, Bless
Attack xBow 1d20 + 4 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 4 + 2 + 1 = 9
Damage Flail 1d8 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 4 + 2 = 9

Xavier I think he said we didnt have to keep rolling after we passed?

If the creature is backing away again Eretria will step back out in range(avoiding the fog) and fire another scorching ray. "Creature, You will fall to my magic."

Ranged Touch(including bless):1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22
Damage:4d6 ⇒ (2, 5, 6, 3) = 16

Really? Ok tentative action. GM retcon if needed.

TWF Blessed Power Attack1d20 + 7 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (10) + 7 + 1 - 2 = 16
Damage1d6 + 2 + 3 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 2 + 3 + 4 = 11

TWF Blessed Power Attack1d20 + 6 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (11) + 6 + 1 - 2 = 16
Damage1d4 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 1 + 2 = 5

Eretria's right, Xavier. Once you make a save against the aura, you don't have to save again for another 24 hours. (Which is why Rashun is affected today, after saving in yesterday's fight.)

Round 6 (final):

The evil worm agilely dodges both Rashun and Darc, jaws clashing together in something like laughter. Then Eretria casts her spell. The lance of flame strikes the creature solidly, and it staggers and starts to fall. Although Sami's sling bullet is deflected from its target by apparently-empty air, it is not so fortunate with regard to the fighter's attacks. Unable to dodge (and before its 5 HP fast healing can kick in at the end of the round and bring it back up:-(), Xavier's twin blows strike home. The cestus impact stretches it out in position for a decapitating scimitar strike. As its head and body fall separately to the ground, spewing vile green ichor, the oppressive weight of its aura finally vanishes. (BTW, it had a 17 CON, Eretria's spell knocked it down to -2 HP, and Xavier's attacks took it to -18.)

Congratulations, all. Nice tactics, plus some good rolls in the tight spots. And before I forget, you're now level 5.

That thing was tough. I think it made my "favorite monster" list.

Yeah, I toned down its defenses a little and messed with the aura effects a lot--cut out the SR, and made one save vs. the aura enough to stop it for the day. Also toned down the permanent insanity. I mean, really? Blow five consecutive DC 20 Will saves and that's it; your character basically has to stay in restraints until you find an Cleric7, which for you folks may be kind of tough. In a campaign where you have access to civilization it makes a bit more sense.

Phew! Glad to be alive AND level 5. That things unmodded abilities are rediculous. We would have needed really optimised Will saves for that. I'll be updating throughout the day.
And perusing the ARG options if some are allowed. Questions in the discussion thread

Finally the haze clears from his mind as mercifully, the creatures falls prone from Eretria's spell and Xavier takes off it's head. He takes a steadying breath and looks around as he feels the vitality from the flying helmet's magic fade.

Is everyone alright? Eretria?

Well, you did have some good luck on your side when it opened with the mind fog and both Xavier and Rashun saved---10 on the save vs. its followup confusion spell could have taken out your best combatants. The protection from evil spells are really what saved you through the long haul, though, taking its confusion command ability off the table when Rashun and Xavier were both affected by the aura.

"I am fine." say Rashun with a look of relief on his face.

[ooc]Darc are you going to level up in Oracle or Barbarian? DM Carbide do you mind us making sure our spells don't overlap since we are all spontaneous casters?[/b]