So, the following is predicated on my being able to take a 5 ft flight that would bring me up to 30 ft and hence out of range of both her and the Triceratops (I am assuming that she is something like 15 feet up with 10 foot reach).
Jensal and Haldern both smite the Giant (swift action). Haldern power attacks. Both get a +1 for height advantage.
Both then full attack, and Jensal then takes a 5 ft flight
Haldern:
for
for
for
for
Jensal:
for
for
for
for
Fly check to go 5 feet and hover
Buffs: Haste
Lay on hands - 7 of 10 remaining
51/114 HP
AC 28+1=29 vs Triceratops
AC 28+1+4=33 vs Giant
+1 to hit
Reflex +1 = +12
Buffs: Haste
77/77 HP
AC 31+1-2=30
Reflex +1 = +11
Confident her allies have the upper hand against the nearby giants, Senna focuses on the female giant and her steed. Uncertain of her foe's lineage and resistances, Senna lobs a flaming ember that converts to a weeping black dot in flight. It strikes near the foot of the beast and engulfs the giantess and her steed in a punishing cloud of scourging acid.
The Sorceress ascends the stairs moving closer to bring other spells to bear on the giantess. "Zoarth, what can you tell me about the woman? Is she immune to flames?"
1st Spells (8): xx
2nd Spells (8): xx
3rd Spells (7): xxxxxx
4th Spells (6): xxx
5th Spells (4): xx
Dancing Light (3):
Dragon Breath (1):
Rod of Max (3): xxx
Fire Claws (9):
Stun Fist (3):
Jingasa (1):
Spell Effects:
Mage Armor - 10 hours
See Invisibility - 1 hour 40 mins
Haste - Extra Attack on FULL; +1 ATT Rolls; +1 Reflex Saves; +1 Dodge AC; +30' Move- Rnd 2 of 10
Hmm. This fight looks like it is mostly in hand. I could try and kill the giant but if I fail I'm going to be dead. Seems like a pointless sacrifice under the circumstances
Haldern and Jensal still declare the smite as a swift action. We then both withdraw upwards. Moved on map.
Authion recalls that triceratops possess a Powerful Charge and that hill giants are able to throw enormous rocks, but otherwise have no special offensive abilities other than their immense size and strength.
The giantess and her mount are immolated in Senna's acid but manage to leap aside from the worst of it.
Tathlan and Authion each successfully down a giant.
"Curse you!" cries the giantess as her target soars out of reach. Wheeling her mount about, she pushes her mount to sprint to Tathlan, pulling up short in front of him, steaming.
With a terrible cry, her giant comrade aimes a greatclub blow at Authion.
The cloud giant wizard, sensing victory, fires rays of scorching fire against the giantess, singing her. "Ha! See my defence prove true you abominable invaders!"
”Don’t let the dinosaur cha—“ Authion aborts his warning as it gets out too late to be of any help. Instead he gives a quick command to Dwin to help Tathlan, then Authion continues his blade-dance against another attacker.
<— Crit?
"Lets put her down. In the name of the inheritor"
As a swift action Haldern lays on hands on himself. He then charges the giantess.
Haldern power attacks. Jensal does not. Both have smite up, both get height advantage. Jensal lunges. Note, I am assuming that she is 15 feet up or so which means I end up at 25 ft up.
for (105)
Jensal:
in case somebody attacks Jensal.
Buffs: Haste
Lay on hands - 6 of 10 remaining
71/114 HP
AC 28+1-2=27 vs Triceratops
AC 28+1-2+4=31 vs Giant
+1 to hit
Reflex +1 = +12
Buffs: Haste
77/77 HP
AC 31+1-2-2=28
Reflex +1 = +11
Senna calls upon old elemental allegiances. A roaring column of flames erupts from the sorceress, pours down from the balcony weaving between her allies to strike the giantess and her steed before launching across the room to immolate the final giant.
1st Spells (8): xx
2nd Spells (8): xx
3rd Spells (7): xxxxxx
4th Spells (6): xxx
5th Spells (4): xxx
Dancing Light (3):
Dragon Breath (1):
Rod of Max (3): xxx
Fire Claws (9):
Stun Fist (3):
Jingasa (1):
Spell Effects:
Mage Armor - 10 hours
See Invisibility - 1 hour 40 mins
Haste - Extra Attack on FULL; +1 ATT Rolls; +1 Reflex Saves; +1 Dodge AC; +30' Move- Rnd 2 of 10
Authion successfully guts another giant where it stands.
The giantess dodges the worst of Senna's fire, her mount barely standing as fresh purple muscle is exposed by the lashing fiery snake.
Seeing the decrepit state of the giantess's mount, Tathlan wastes no time in peppering it with crossbow bolts. Once the creature is finished off, he aims for its mistress instead.
Caught between the griffon-knight and Tathlan's flurry of crossbow bolts, a terrifying scream of pain fills the hall as the giantess and her mount bleed from a hundred wounds. She roars her pain to the sky above before, with a terrifying slowness, collapsing back off her dinosaur to the floor. Her eyes finally glaze over as she slips away from her agonies into Phasmara's embrace. Beside her, her mount spasms and shakes twice before its soul too departs this plane.
Stillness and quiet washes over the hall for the first time, pushing back the storm raging above. The battle is done.
Senna leans on the banister, relieved. She looks to Zoarth, "Are there more invaders?" Before he can answer, she rapid-fires the situation and yet more questions. "We found an ice devil or perhaps a demon trying to destroy the misty base of your keep. It fled before we could kill it... but it could return. Why would it try to destroy your home?"
When his third giant victim falls, Authion gives the room a scan as he wipes the blood from his blade, then sheathes it. Not having much to add to Senna's concise report and question, he gives Zoarth a quick, casual salute as he reclaims his bow from the ground.
Then he strides over to Dwin, leaning on the big wolf as it sniffs and begins working at the dinosaur's thick hide with his teeth ... clearly intent on making a partial meal of the slain creature. Authion doesn't seem to be interested in stopping his companion from doing just that, focusing instead on Zoarth's answers as he stoops to search the slain giantess's body and gear.
"Does anybody else require any healing?"
Haldern will use 2 channels or lay on hands, as appropriate
Tathlan swings his crossbow around so that it is stowed safely on his back. He gives the corpses of the giants a cold eye, wondering what their purpose at this fantastic floating palace could be.
He sees Authion is already checking over the body of the war party's leader so he turns his attention to Senna negotiating with the enormous man that is apparently the master of the castle.
When Sir Haldern asks if anyone needs healing he quietly shakes his head "No" to avoid interrupting Senna and the giant.
The giant mage descends from his statue-perch onto the ground, clapping excitedly. "No, no, this is it- my beloved cats would have warned me if more came... there are no more! My castle is saved! Hurrah!" His sky-blue eyes beam as he smiles at you all. "My saviors, I am ever so grateful for coming so selflessly to me in my time of need. So very grateful." He turns to the woman and bows. "As you presumably know, my name is Zoarth, ma'am. As to why they should seek my castle destroyed and my person harmed, I have not one whiff of a clue."
On the Giantess' body, Authion finds and Senna easily identifies a large +1 giant-bane greatsword, a set of large +1 fullplate, 248gp, and a potion of cure serious wounds. The triceratops is also garbed in huge, presumably unusable mundane armor.
The sorceress returns the bow, though on a vastly smaller scale. "Ah. I see your cats didn't relay my introduction at your gate... I am Senna Proviso, Sorceress of Varisia, sometimes called a Daughter of Dragons. We actually came seeking your assistance and expertise, Master Zoarth. Fate clearly has an appreciation for apt timing." She looks to her companions on the level below, "I'll let my companions introduce themselves."
1st Spells (8): xx
2nd Spells (8): xx
3rd Spells (7): xxxxxx
4th Spells (6): xxx
5th Spells (4): xxx
Dancing Light (3):
Dragon Breath (1):
Rod of Max (3): xxx
Fire Claws (9):
Stun Fist (3):
Jingasa (1):
Spell Effects:
Mage Armor - 10 hours
See Invisibility - 1 hour 40 mins
Haste - Extra Attack on FULL; +1 ATT Rolls; +1 Reflex Saves; +1 Dodge AC; +30' Move- Rnd 2 of 10
Authion finishes separating the lootable items from the giantess's body, and he looks up at Zoarth again, dusting off his hands.
"I'm Authion. That's Dwin." He grins, "And like any adventurer worth his salt, I follow where the road leads. Desna smiles on our timing, it seems."
He looks back down at the collected gear. "A pile of gold, a healing draught, a big magical sword good for killing giants," he points at the armor on the dead giantess, "... and some overly large magical full plate. Really only so much we can actually use, though there's likely someone will buy it down the road a ways."
"Greetings. I am Sir Haldern and this is my partner and good friend Jensal. I have the very great honour to be a paladin in the service of The Inheritor. We are glad to have arrived in time to help defeat these evil scum"
"Captain Tathlan Larethaerith of the Fort Ramgate city guard, retired. A pleasure to meet you sir," Tathlan says to the giant, firing off a crisp salute.
"A pleasure, a pleasure." The mighty cloud giant smiles and stretches out a hand; one of over twenty cats which have appeared in the hall jumps into it nad he pulls it up to his shoulder to pet it. "Please, take these blackguards' equipment, they shall not need it in their respective hells. I would offer you the courtesy of my hall but I fear the meatery and feasting room were one of the first few destroyed in their attack."
"Miss Senna, Captain Tathlan, Mister Authion? And Knight Haldern;" he nods at each of you in turn. "May I ask what assistance and expertise I can render unto you? I promise you, you will not find my gratitude wanting."
Authion cuts his eyes over to Senna and Haldern. The elf was smooth with his blade and bow. His tongue ... not so much.
"A few months ago, we were able to defeat a foul necromancer and his undead allies on the Ironbound Isles. Not, unfortunately, without some losses. After putting him into the embrace of Pharasma we went through his treasury. Amongst the normal sort of items, we located a enourmous book, at least by our standards. We identified it as the Book of the Titan, We learned that it can only be used by a powerful mage who is also a giant. Your name came up as a great Giant wizard, one who is known to deal fairly and honourably with humans, We came to see if you would be willing to help us to unlock the secrets of the book. Whether it was sheer chance or a greater force that led us here at the precise moment when we could intervene to stop the attack is a fascinating question. If we were meant to be here at this time then perhaps there is something greater than we realized afoot."
If you want a diplomacy check I'd just take 10 for a 30.
"Hmph, I see..."
"Well, I would be more than happy to help you if I could. I believe I can indeed perform the ritual you need. But I cannot do it while there is some force sending armies of giants against my home. The ritual will take some time, and even if they do not attack again during it, I may lose everything even my life for spending the time while that force was still alive."
"Of course... if someone were to track down this force and deal with them...?"
"What do you know of this force? What is it made up of? How many? Who leads it? And, maybe most importantly, why are they attacking you?"
He shrugs helplessly. "I suspect I know from which area they were recruited, beyond that..."
Senna descends the stairs, saying with a wry smile, "I have no previous engagements... and I'm not overly fond of rampaging hordes targeting a fellow mage. It's bad for business if they think they can attack any of us with impunity."
"Before we agree to track down your enemies, I would like permission to make sure that you are not evil"
Assuming the Giant agrees, he casts detect evil. Assuming that fails to detect evil :
"I have no problems with dealing with your enemies. I am very curious as to why they attacked you. As I said earlier, while I cannot be sure I suspect that some greater power led us here at this time."
Zoarth beams at Senna, and happily permits Haldern to scan him. He detects no evil in the mighty wizard. "The subtle hand in fate is indeed present where we would never expect it to be."
"Now... as I said, I know not who could have sent them. I have no enemies I can think of. But, I believe the giants came from the hills to the north. My ground-bound brothers do not leave a small trail where they tread. It should be simple enough for you to retrace their steps and find their masters."
While the others speak with Zoarth, Tathlan scans the room for anything that may be of interest. He's not much of a scholar, but he takes a good look at the statue to see if it is someone or something he might recognize.
Tathlan recognizes statutes in the Perfectionist style; imaginary figures designed to represent the physical perfection of some attribute.
"How far are those hills? While I don't mind pursuing the trail immediately, I may be pressed to help meaningfully if it comes to many more pitched battles today." She isn't hesitant, just assessing her powers factually.
"At least a few days' travel. I of course would not expect you to find my hidden opponent in less than oh, say, a week."
"So, if we are all agreed, should we head out now? I think that we're sufficiently battle ready to handle any stragglers that we may find."
If everyone agrees, Haldern will act as scout/point by flying a bit ahead of the party looking for trouble, especially giants.["/b]
Senna nods, "Certainly, if we aren't going to run straight into another army." She turns her attention to the giant, "Zoarth, perhaps you should raise the keep until your wall can be fixed. Speaking of which, once we get back, I'd love to find out how you float this castle. That's a trick I'd like to know for when I settle down."
The giant shrugs his immense shoulders. "My beautiful castle, she flies but she does not fly at any great speed- it would take weeks to ascend to somewhere else. And that blasted storm above shows no sign of abating, I dare not take her there."
He grins. "She is as magnificent as thing can be without your beautiful gace, ma'am, my castle. I would be happy to recount my experiences earning and helping create her."
Authion leans back once again on his still-eating wolf, "Senna's magics gave us a serious edge so far. I'm happy to wait for her to recover a bit before heading out," he looks up at Zoarth, "Unless you think there's more urgency than that."
Tathlan clears his throat a little to gain attention. "Excuse me, sir," he says addressing Zoarth. "I am running a little low on crossbow bolts. You wouldn't happen to have any elf-sized ones lying about that I could take? If we're going to track this mysterious enemy for you I expect I'll need quite a few more."
Zoarth nods agreeably. "One of the first few giants to assault my castle carried a few trophies from your brethren- elven bows and bolts. I am sure a few could be salvaged for your use." He looks around at the rest of you. "I have a few stores I would be happy to open to your hunt."
"And, Mister Authion, my guest bedchambers are at your disposal if you wish to rest for the night before leaving." A small cracking sound issues forth from the east and the wizard frowns. "I must go inspect and shore up the damage... excuse me. If you need anything from me, speak to my cats." He strides off, leaving behind a single black tom with green eyes to stare at you all.
To the cat
"Would you please honour us with your name, sir? If it is permitted, I'd like to look around this castle. It seems like a wondrous place to explore."
"Oh, is there somewhere you'd like me to leave Jensal? I assure you that he is quite civilized and won't be a threat to any of you but if you'd prefer for him to stay in a particular area that is also fine."
Muttering to Jensal "You heard that, right? No annoying the cats, please. We're guests here"
To the group:
"So, is everyone ok if we rest the day and then be off early in the morning?"
Authion nods along to Tathlan’s idea, raising his eyebrows in pleasant surprise when Zoarth has some available. He nods again at Zoarth’s generosity, both for gear and a bed.
”Sounds good, master wizard,” Authion says brightly, ”Sleeping in a giant-sized bed in a floating castle.” He gives his teammates a grin, ”This is a first for me.”
As the wizard leaves, Authion gives a sharp whistle. Dwin stops eating to pad over to the elf, who runs his hand roughly through the creature’s thick, gray-and-white fur. ”You think Zoarth has a cook in this castle? I wouldn’t turn down a warm meal before what looks to be a week of rations and fresh kills for meals.”
Senna nods to the paladin, "I'm fine with an early start... and the opportunity to explore this intriguing home." She roams off for a look around and returns some time later with some interesting equipment.
The cat just looks at Haldern with the expression of endless distaste normal for its species.
Zoarth calls over his shoulder, "Occasionally Griffins visit so I've a spot cleared on one of the towers."
The party rest for the night. The only guest quarters you can find have medium-sized doorways and beds sadly, though across from the hall you spot another room with a giant-sized door; it is locked and very dusty. With Zoarth's meatery destroyed in the battle, dinner is cold cuts and vegetables rescued from stores.
"Not exactly what I was hoping," Authion mutters the next morning as he finishes up a quick breakfast, "but better than being smashed flat by a hill giant's club." He looks at the team, "Everyone sleep well? It's likely the last bed we'll see for a while."
The elf, as always, seems ready to set out at a moment's notice.
Tathlan doesn't sleep much during the night, spending a portion of it before bed cleaning his armor and equipment. When he's done that, to the keen observer, it seems like he takes a watch. Apparently he doesn't trust the security of the castle quite as readily as the others.
He does, however, avail himself of the giant's mundane weapon stores, replenishing his supply of crossbow bolts.
In the morning he counts of some of his coin to Senna. "Thank you for your loan, Ms. Proviso. I'm afraid I didn't budget well enough for this excursion," he says with a dour expression.
The retired guard captain nods curtly to Authion when he asks if he slept well, but does not say anything else. After he has settled his loan with Senna he is intent on packing up what the group has and getting on the road.