Suddenly, the thick canvas sheets that separate the western portion of the tower like a ragged curtain are pushed aside and out of the shadows come a pair of horrid crawling hands. They are massive, seemingly those of a giant, with great patches of decaying skin peel from the bones.
They scuttle toward Vermundr like some horrid spiders.
Hit
Success?
Miss
One smashes into him with a clubbing blow and then latches on, controlled by some unseen force and clinging onto him with an iron grip.
Were-Vermundr growls in frustration when he finds his limbs held fast by the supernaturally strong grip of the animated hands. Without a moment of hesitation he leans down and savages the rotting things with jaws that could crush iron.
Vermundr sinks his feral teeth into the putrid flesh of the giant hand. Instantly as his teeth rip the pallid flesh his mouth fills with repugnant, fetid pus. He gags instantly, heaving the filth up like the worst hairball he has ever experienced.
Zed stares after the voice of Vrood, then turns and moves towards Verm. One problem at a time. He's not going anywhere.
Still concentrating and moving slowly...
Constantin continues to reach out with tendrils of mental energy, grasping as though in the dark. One of the minds eludes him, but he begins to sense the thoughts of another;
...stay hidden, stay silent, stay disciplined. As quiet as the grave you will dig for these fools, Acretia...
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Zed runs up next to the assisting hand, crying out. "Enough! No more minions! No more creatures! He brings down his tetsubo with such force it cracks the floor. "Face us Vrood!"
Fuelled by righteous fury, Zed utterly decimates the hand grappling Vermundr. It crumples in a pile of bone and ragged flesh and pus.
Success
Following his mental pull, Constantin moves to the base of the stairs, where he hesitates.
"Someone is waiting to ambush us at the top," he says. "Someone besides Vrood."
Her silhouette still hanging ominously overhead in the thick, swirling fog, Vala’s voice calls down, ”You ran like a coward back at schloss Caromarc, Vrood. There will be no running this time. Not for you, not for any of your ilk. Your life and your purpose will both end here today, and then the rest of your sick cult will follow.” The crackling balls of lightning begin descending down into the tower at this, one down the northern wall and the other the southern, their light throwing jagged, sharp shadows throughout the broken interior. ”Soon, you will see the truth. You’ll know the failure that seals your doom and that of your twisted brethren is yours and yours alone.” Vala pauses for a moment, illuminated by a brief pop of soft blue light. ”You should have left the Lorrimors alone.”
HP: 53/57
Negative Energy Resist 5
AC: 18 (14 T / 16 FF) (includes +3 from bone ward, +1 from haste)
CMD: 17 (includes +1 from haste)
F/R/W: +7/+5/+13 (+2 vs death effects, energy drain, negative energy, & necromancy) (includes +1 from haste)
Monstrous Insight used: 0/7
Flight minutes used: 1/9
Healing Hex targets: haunt, Vermundr, Kaz, self
Bone Ward targets: Hazel, Vermundr, Kaz, Zed, Constantin, herself
Current Wandering Spirit: Bones
Prepared spells
Orisons (4) | DC 15: dancing lights, disrupt undead, identify, read magic
Level 1 spells (4+2+1*) | DC 17: inflict light wounds [ ], know the enemy* [ ], magic missile [X] [ ] [ ] [ ], produce flame (CL7) [ ]
Level 2 spells (4+1+1*) | DC 18: false life* [X], magic missile (toppling) [X], spiritual weapon [X] [X] [ ]
Level 3 spells (3+1+1*) | DC 19: bull's strength (extended) [X], lightning bolt [X] [ ], locate object* [ ], spiritual weapon (toppling) [ ]
Level 4 spells (2+1+1*) | DC 20: ball lightning [X], fear* [ ], greater magic weapon [X], spiritual ally [ ]
Level 5 spells (1+1+1*) | DC 21: dispel evil [ ], lightning arc [X], slay living* [ ]
Ongoing Effects
bull's strength (extended): Vermundr
resist energy (fire): resist 20
Fly skill bonus: +20
ball lightning 1(7/9 rds): 3d6 damage, ref 20 negates
haste (6/9 rds): +1 to hit, +1 AC, +1 ref, +30ft move
Eyes and ears alert, Kaz moves to the top of the stairs.
A hissing voice, like steam escaping, emanates out of nowhere:
"You have been a thorn in our side long enough. Die, now. Acretia, finish these fools!"
Suddenly, as if out of nowhere, a tall lithe creature appears beside Hazel. Her face is a mask of ancient tissue, eyes of charcoal black and her robes are ragged and dusty. When she moves though, it is like water, fluid and smooth and she dashes forward to sweep at Hazel's leg. The priestess doesn't see the corpse-woman coming, but stands firm at the attempt to knock her down.
At the same moment, a thick rolling fog appears in the room. It’s a black and noxious and instant. Within you can hear the screams of the dead and every so often a skull, screaming in agony, will rear up at you. You begin to feel the fog begin to penetrate you, permeate your bodies, and begin draining away your very life-force!
Meanwhile the giant hand lashes out once again at Vermundr.
Hit
Did not confirm
Success?
Vala casts another spell as she gazes into the central core of the tower, her eyes sweeping for some sign of Vrood's whereabouts. She casts another spell, and a shimmering light limns her form, making her stand out more clearly against the mist. "Tick tock, Vrood. Tick. Tock."
As she speaks, the lightning orbs crash downward into the desiccated woman harrying Hazel.
HP: 53/57
Negative Energy Resist 5
AC: 19 (15 T / 17 FF) (includes +3 from bone ward, +1 from haste, +4 from dispel evil)
CMD: 17 (includes +1 from haste)
F/R/W: +7/+5/+13 (+2 vs death effects, energy drain, negative energy, & necromancy) (includes +1 from haste)
Monstrous Insight used: 0/7
Flight minutes used: 1/9
Healing Hex targets: haunt, Vermundr, Kaz, self
Bone Ward targets: Hazel, Vermundr, Kaz, Zed, Constantin, herself
Current Wandering Spirit: Bones
Prepared spells
Orisons (4) | DC 15: dancing lights, disrupt undead, identify, read magic
Level 1 spells (4+2+1*) | DC 17: inflict light wounds [ ], know the enemy* [ ], magic missile [X] [ ] [ ] [ ], produce flame (CL7) [ ]
Level 2 spells (4+1+1*) | DC 18: false life* [X], magic missile (toppling) [X], spiritual weapon [X] [X] [ ]
Level 3 spells (3+1+1*) | DC 19: bull's strength (extended) [X], lightning bolt [X] [ ], locate object* [ ], spiritual weapon (toppling) [ ]
Level 4 spells (2+1+1*) | DC 20: ball lightning [X], fear* [ ], greater magic weapon [X], spiritual ally [ ]
Level 5 spells (1+1+1*) | DC 21: dispel evil [X], lightning arc [X], slay living* [ ]
Ongoing Effects
bull's strength (extended): Vermundr
resist energy (fire): resist 20
Fly skill bonus: +20
ball lightning 1(8/9 rds): 3d6 damage, ref 20 negates
haste (7/9 rds): +1 to hit, +1 AC, +1 ref, +30ft move
dispel evil (1/9 rds): +4 deflection to AC, auto-dispel any one enchantment or evil spell
Feeling the toxic weight of the fog - and hearing Hazel under attack - Kaz darts across the room.
He is relieved to find Hazel through the cloying black fog...and rather alarmed to find himself face to face with her attacker! He rather reflexively lashes out with his silvered blade.
Also,
Overwhelmed by the foulness filling his mouth, Were-Vermundr can do little more than retch and stumble away.
Vala casts another spell as she gazes into the central core of the tower, her eyes sweeping for some sign of Vrood's whereabouts. She casts another spell, and a shimmering light limns her form, making her stand out more clearly against the mist. "Tick tock, Vrood. Tick. Tock."
As she speaks, the lightning orbs crash downward into the desiccated woman harrying Hazel.
[dice=Ball Lightning 1 (Ref DC 21)]3d6
[dice=Ball Lightning 2 (Ref DC 21)]3d6** spoiler omitted **
Feeling the toxic weight of the fog - and hearing Hazel under attack - Kaz darts across the room.
He is relieved to find Hazel through the cloying black fog...and rather alarmed to find himself face to face with her attacker! He rather reflexively lashes out with his silvered blade.
Hit
Fail
As Kazamir dashes further into the tower, he sees the undead creature attacking Hazel at the very last second. Her attention snaps to him and he feels a punishing strike to his ribs as he passes, weakening him significantly.
"I recognize that spell. Stay out of the cloud!" shouts Constantin.
He turns the full force of his psychic might against the assassin as she leaps into battle with Hazel.
(Will save DC 17 for half damage)
Also,
[dice=know/rel]1d20+1d6+17
Success
Hazel steps out of the cloying mist and brings her glowing starknife to bear. It gleams and crackles with holy energy, even in this place of the dead. With consummate skills she thrusts once, twice, thrice into Acretia chest. The first blow is parried but the others strike home and the Wight reels back in pain, a pain she hasn't felt in an age.
She steps forward to retaliate but as she raises her fists she is hit with a concussive blast of mental energy the likes of which she has never encountered. She begins to scream but nothing escapes her lips, instead her head begins to collapse in on itself until it is crushed into nothingness!
Kaz reels under the physical and enervating blow from the Dread Wight, then flinches instinctively away from the hollow rushing noise - a 'noise' that he knows he is not hearing with his ears - an turns just in time to see the devastating effect of Constantin's Mind Thrust.
only besacuse a negative level is involved...
from the SRD:
Blindsense lets a creature notice things it cannot see, but without the precision of blindsight. The creature with blindsense usually does not need to make Perception checks to notice and locate creatures within range of its blindsense ability, provided that it has line of effect to that creature. Any opponent that cannot be seen has total concealment (50% miss chance) against a creature with blindsense, and the blindsensing creature still has the normal miss chance when attacking foes that have concealment. Visibility still affects the movement of a creature with blindsense. A creature with blindsense is still denied its Dexterity bonus to Armor Class against attacks from creatures it cannot see.
So, as an AoO would occur in the square that I am leaving to provoke it - would the 50% miss chance apply?
Either way...Thanks!
For each negative level a creature has, it takes a cumulative –1 penalty on all ability checks, attack rolls, combat maneuver checks, Combat Maneuver Defense, saving throws, and skill checks. In addition, the creature reduces its current and total hit points by 5 for each negative level it possesses. The creature is also treated as one level lower for the purpose of level-dependent variables (such as spellcasting) for each negative level possessed. Spellcasters do not lose any prepared spells or slots as a result of negative levels. If a creature’s negative levels equal or exceed its total Hit Dice, it dies.
Catching sight of Vrood at long last, Kazamir does his best to clear his mind, ready to detect the slightest hint of his opponent's intentions - and counter them.
"" Kazamir calls, his rich baritone still carrying an artic chill at a bellowing shout.
Spectral Hand (73 rounds)(3hp)
Fire Resistance 20 (93 rounds)
Haste (2 rounds)
Con damage: 3
Negative level
Max hp down to 34
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Kaz reels under the physical and enervating blow from the Dread Wight, then flinches instinctively away from the hollow rushing noise - a 'noise' that he knows he is not hearing with his ears - an turns just in time to see the devastating effect of Constantin's Mind Thrust.
** spoiler omitted **
** spoiler omitted **
Catching sight of Vrood at long last, Kazamir does his best to clear his mind, ready to detect the slightest hint of his opponent's...
Hit
Hit
Success
The giant hand scuttles up behind Kaz and even as he is shouting it leaps upon his back and begins throttling him, choking the final word.
"I shall spit your hearts and make you prepare them as a feast!" Vrood hisses.
He casts a spell, and disappears.
Kaz will not try the counterspell.
He will run out of minions. Zed moves to take down the hand.
As the crackling orbs each vanish with a muted snap of eletricity, Vala swoops down and into the hall past Hazel and Kazamir. "Where?! Where is he?! Point!" As Kazamir indicates the far end of the chamber with a nod of his head, Vala wheels around. Her voice is sharp and cold when next she speaks, as she addresses the unseen necromancer. "You wretched coward. You're wise to hide. But why stop there, Vrood? Cower, too!" She then casts another spell and waves of distortion briefly fill the corner of the chamber in front of her.
HP: 53/57
Negative Energy Resist 5
AC: 19 (15 T / 17 FF) (includes +3 from bone ward, +1 from haste, +4 from dispel evil)
CMD: 17 (includes +1 from haste)
F/R/W: +7/+5/+13 (+2 vs death effects, energy drain, negative energy, & necromancy) (includes +1 from haste)
Monstrous Insight used: 0/7
Flight minutes used: 1/9
Healing Hex targets: haunt, Vermundr, Kaz, self
Bone Ward targets: Hazel, Vermundr, Kaz, Zed, Constantin, herself
Current Wandering Spirit: Bones
Prepared spells
Orisons (4) | DC 15: dancing lights, disrupt undead, identify, read magic
Level 1 spells (4+2+1*) | DC 17: inflict light wounds [ ], know the enemy* [ ], magic missile [X] [ ] [ ] [ ], produce flame (CL7) [ ]
Level 2 spells (4+1+1*) | DC 18: false life* [X], magic missile (toppling) [X], spiritual weapon [X] [X] [ ]
Level 3 spells (3+1+1*) | DC 19: bull's strength (extended) [X], lightning bolt [X] [ ], locate object* [ ], spiritual weapon (toppling) [ ]
Level 4 spells (2+1+1*) | DC 20: ball lightning [X], fear* [X], greater magic weapon [X], spiritual ally [ ]
Level 5 spells (1+1+1*) | DC 21: dispel evil [X], lightning arc [X], slay living* [ ]
Ongoing Effects
bull's strength (extended): Vermundr
resist energy (fire): resist 20
Fly skill bonus: +20
haste (8/9 rds): +1 to hit, +1 AC, +1 ref, +30ft move
dispel evil (2/9 rds): +4 deflection to AC, auto-dispel any one enchantment or evil spell
1d20+4 Success
1d20+4 Fail
1d20+10 Success
1d20+13+2
Hazel jabs her starknife into the massive disgusting hand, seeing that Kaz is in desperate trouble. Zed does the same, rushing forward and striking mightily with his tetsubo.
Putrid pus squirts out everywhere, some of it getting on Hazel's face and she staggers and begins retching at how revolting it is.
Meanwhile Vala attempts to inflict upon Vrood some of the fear and uncertainty that she has had roiling in her for seemingly so long. An invisible wave of negative energy rolls out from the potent out professor but as it strikes Vrood's invisible form she gets a brief flash of his cast iron will.
Success
Fail
Success
Hazel jabs her starknife into the massive disgusting hand, seeing that Kaz is in desperate trouble. Zed does the same, rushing forward and striking mightily with his tetsubo.
Putrid pus squirts out everywhere, some of it getting on Hazel's face and she staggers and begins retching at how revolting it is.
Meanwhile Vala attempts to inflict upon Vrood some of the fear and uncertainty that she has had roiling in her for seemingly so long. An invisible wave of negative energy rolls out from the potent out professor but as it strikes Vrood's invisible form she gets a brief flash of his cast iron will.