Elleross Oronar |
forgot we were 80 feet up ! well if that's the case then I will have to cast it from the ground.
He hears corrleon as the strange archer seeks his advice on how to deal with the siege tower, but his mind is occupied elsewhere and he does not immediately respond.
Opening his inner eye he looks about him. The entranceway stood as it always had, the huge murial of Cayden Caileans Ascension beneath his feet and he breathes in a slight smell of honeysuckle and juniper that permeates the air.
Looking upwards he strides up the main staircase, the statues on either side turn their heads to watch him pass and offer a greeting, each in a different language.
Though the battle raged around him, here as always it was calm and ordered and almost timeless.
He had seen nothing first hand of war, but he had read many manuals on Warcraft and strategy and he hoped they would be of some use.
His steps take him up several floors and eventually he comes to a small library.
The doorway is a rich mahogany etched with eleven script that reads
"The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him"
Here the volumes of literature were mostly militaristic and as he sweeps into the room he can smell the old leather and aged parchments.
Moving to the central table he can see the scale model of the siege of castle Gaillard illuminated from above by a floating crystal orb that emitted a steady clear white light.
Sitting himself in one of the deep horsehair padded chairs he reaches for one of the miniature soldiers and the knowledge comes flooding back to him ....
Turning to Corrleon he relays all he knows about the tower, and it's only one potential weakness.
I have a plan to slow it down but I will need to be on the ground. I can see no other way, we need time to deal with this tower.
Please could one of you come and get me. he says and steps off the wall.
The ground seems to leap up at him at an alarming rate and his heart hammers in his chest so hard he fears it will burst.
With a curt motion he casts a swift spell and his descent decreases rapidly as he drifts toward the ground
slight retcon on my action. I will step off, cast featherfall and then cast wall of force from the ground
Elleross Oronar |
also I will relay what I know about the hydras-
these are 7 headed cryohydras. Immune to cold, vulnerable to fire. They can attack 7 times (obviously) and also have 7 breath weapons they can fire at once or staggered between heads. They also have fast healing
To sever a head, an opponent must make a sunder attempt with a slashing weapon targeting a head. A head is considered a separate weapon with hardness 0 and hit points equal to the hydra’s HD. To sever a head, an opponent must inflict enough damage to reduce the head’s hit points to 0 or less. Severing a head deals damage to the hydra’s body equal to the hydra’s current HD. A hydra can’t attack with a severed head, but takes no other penalties.
Corum Mac Roth |
Corum watches Elleross drop from the wall and turns to Sapphire. "I say we get in that thing and smash the wheels up. I can keep any defenders busy while you go for the wheels. What do you say?"
Corrleon Daxio |
my kingdom for an enlarged create pit spell =P
Frowning at the news that any structural weaknesses in the tower are well protected, Corrleon returns the special arrow to his quiver and sighs. "There is little I can do from here, it seems." He looks to Greyston and Lucrezzia, the two being the only ones left of the group who could understand him. "I will try to thin the numbers within the tower's crown. If I can support you better some other way, please let me know."
Turning back to the approaching tower, he begins to let his bow thrum.
Longbow: 1d20 + 14 - 4 ⇒ (17) + 14 - 4 = 27 for: 1d8 + 9 ⇒ (1) + 9 = 10
Longbow: 1d20 + 14 - 5 - 4 ⇒ (7) + 14 - 5 - 4 = 12 for: 1d8 + 9 ⇒ (5) + 9 = 14
HP: 71/84
Cold Resist: 10
AC: 20 (18 T / 12 FF) (includes +1 from haste)
CMD: 21
F/R/W: +16/+14/+16 (includes +1 from haste & +2 from beacon of hope)
Lay on Hands remaining: 11/11
Smite Evil remaining: 3/3
Divine Bond remaining: 0/1
Stormlure remaining: 1/1
Hunter's Cloak minutes remaining: 10/10
Ongoing Effects
Favored Terrain (cold): +4 bonus on initiative, Knowledge (geo), Perception, Stealth, & Survival
Favored Terrain (urban): +2 bonus on initiative, Knowledge (geo), Perception, Stealth, & Survival
Aspect of the Falcon: +3 competence perception, +1 to hit, crits = 19-20/x3
Divine Bond (3/8 minutes): +2/+2
Deadly Aim: -3/+6
Wintry conditions: -4 to hit
Greyston Fenris |
Greyston holds out his hands as Elleross drops but lets out a sigh as the old elf slowly descends. He hesitates for a moment, attempting to take everything in. Then finally agreeing with the Corum for once."We have to get inside he's right, I don't feel like dealing with those Hydras but we may have to take that second entrance near them."
Taking out a flask it drinks it down in one gulp, as the potion takes effect he can feel himself getting lighter by the moment. Casting fly
This is pretty hard deciding what to do, do we see many drakes flying around? I assume us standing about it and raining down hell might attract some of them
Corum Mac Roth |
So, if I hustle, can I get to that lower entrance in one round?
Sapphire |
Sapphire looks to Corum and grins
I think that would work well actually, hold that thought I'll be right back...
She steps off alongside Elleross, floating down to the ground at the same speed as him, blade drawn to ward off anything coming their way.
Once Elleross has cast his spell, she'll grab him and fly back up to the top and drop him off safely, then when Corum is ready, the pair will charge the tower.
Because we're two very entirely mentally healthy and balanced warriors :D
Twitch, twitch ;p
Elleross Oronar |
thank you Sapphire, I was feeling a touch exposed down here Elleross says gratefully as she swoops down to collect him.
I have a plan to try and occupy the warriors at the top of the tower. May give you more of a chance to attack the tower, before you set off I can haste you as well.
if there's a lot of guys on the top of the tower I will likely cast black tentacles on them next round, or I can haste everyone again
Corum Mac Roth |
fly down, dodge the hydras, get into the bottom of the tower, kill everyone while someone breaks the wheels. Simple.
JamZilla |
They are blocking it because it is at the base of the tower they are pushing
Elleros you will not be back on the wall. Sapphire = Move action to step off the wall, immediate to float down with Featherfall, standard to fly over and grab Elleros (you weren't beside eachother on the wall)
The two of you will be at the base of the wall.
Corum Mac Roth |
looks like we have to take the hydra then. How many heads J?
"Sapphire, our blades can take the hydra. Grey, your bombs can burn them. Let's stop that thing!"
JamZilla |
Round 1 - Enemy
Corum flies down beside the tower. He can hear howling barbarians within the structure and as he swoops past, one of the massive hydras turns and screeches at him, snapping out time and again in a storm of teeth and spittle.
Hydra, Corum: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (11) + 8 = 19
Hydra, Corum: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9
Hydra, Corum: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16
Hydra, Corum: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (17) + 8 = 25 Hit
Damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9
Hydra, Corum: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 21 Hit
Damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6
Hydra, Corum: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (17) + 8 = 25 Hit
Damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10
Hydra, Corum: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (9) + 8 = 17
Corum, 25 damage before Damage Reduction
The other continues pressing it's bulk against the tower. Taking the strain on it's own, it's progress is slower and it can only shove the tower a further five feet up the slope, unaware of Elleros' obstacle.
Sapphire, shot 1: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (17) + 10 = 27 Hit
Damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5
Sapphire, shot 2: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25 Hit
Confirm: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12
Damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9
Sapphire, 14 damage
Corrleon, shot 1: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (1) + 10 = 11 Miss
Corrleon, shot 2: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25 Miss
Elleros, shot: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (19) + 10 = 29 Hit
Confirm: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (16) + 10 = 26
Damage: 3d8 + 9 ⇒ (8, 8, 1) + 9 = 26
Elleros, shot 2: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20 Hit
Damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7
Elleros, 34 damage
The three barbarians atop of the tower loose volleys of arrows, once at the walls where the arrows clatter harmlessly off the stonework and twice down at the small figures of Elleros and Sapphire, scoring deadly hits on both as the arrows rain down.
Round 2 - Heroes
Corrleon Daxio |
Corrleon snaps off another pair of arrows, trying to thin the numbers atop the approaching tower.
Longbow (1st): 1d20 + 14 - 4 ⇒ (13) + 14 - 4 = 23 for: 1d8 + 9 ⇒ (2) + 9 = 11
Longbow (iterative): 1d20 + 14 - 4 - 5 ⇒ (12) + 14 - 4 - 5 = 17 for: 1d8 + 9 ⇒ (6) + 9 = 15
HP: 71/84
Cold Resist: 10
AC: 20 (18 T / 12 FF) (includes +1 from haste)
CMD: 21
F/R/W: +16/+14/+16 (includes +1 from haste & +2 from beacon of hope)
Lay on Hands remaining: 11/11
Smite Evil remaining: 3/3
Divine Bond remaining: 0/1
Stormlure remaining: 1/1
Hunter's Cloak minutes remaining: 10/10
Ongoing Effects
Favored Terrain (cold): +4 bonus on initiative, Knowledge (geo), Perception, Stealth, & Survival
Favored Terrain (urban): +2 bonus on initiative, Knowledge (geo), Perception, Stealth, & Survival
Aspect of the Falcon: +3 competence perception, +1 to hit, crits = 19-20/x3
Divine Bond (3/8 minutes): +2/+2
Deadly Aim: -3/+6
Wintry conditions: -4 to hit
Sapphire |
Blur on first arrow: 1d100 ⇒ 35 Ah well, can't dodge them all!
Second arrow misses due to Sapphire's shield
Noting both the barbarian's arrows and the multiple Hydra heads, Sapphire smiles and waves, before uttering an incantation and completely vanishing from view.
Tendrils of mist are scattered and drift apart as something darts through the air towards the tower.
Cast Greater invisibility and fly to where Corum is
AC 26, HP 68/83, 20% miss chance (blur), shield, hasted, arcane pool: 5/6, blade pool:3/3, blade enhancement: 6/10 rounds remaining (+4 flaming, keen), Greater invisibility 9/10 rounds remaining
Greater invisibility, Force hook charge
Elleross Oronar |
He can do nothing but hold up his hands as the rain of arrows falls around them and with a cry of pain he staggers backwards as two arrows find their mark.
The first punches straight through his left shoulder, the arrow sinking almost to its fletchings. The second grazes his thigh, tearing a chunk of flesh with it.
Sapphire! Leave me. Corum will need your help Elleross hisses through the pain
he can't stand up to those hydras on his own he says as he sees the brash warrior engaging the creatures.
I'll give these bowmen something to occupy them too!
Gritting his teeth against the pain he focuses his mind and begins to weave a spell, as he unleashes it the top of the tower explodes in a mass of writhing black tentacles.
tenebris polypus atrium attractatum
black tentacles: 1d20 + 10 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 10 + 5 = 28
Greyston Fenris |
Greyston takes a deep breath and flys up off the wall and towards the Hydra. Moving into attack the others one opposite Corum. "Let's take them down!" He shouts out.
Attack: 1d20 + 16 - 1 ⇒ (9) + 16 - 1 = 24
Damage: 5d6 + 8 ⇒ (5, 4, 3, 1, 4) + 8 = 25
I'd want to be 40 feet from them as in up if needed, I took the -1 for it.
hp = 73/73 AC = 24
Corum Mac Roth |
Corum withstands the assault of the hydra and returns his own bloody assault, hacking at the creature's necks to sever heads before Grey begins bombing them.
1d20 + 23 ⇒ (10) + 23 = 33
Dam 2d8 + 25 ⇒ (4, 8) + 25 = 37
1d20 + 18 ⇒ (9) + 18 = 27
Dam 2d8 + 25 ⇒ (7, 7) + 25 = 39
treat those as sunder attempts J. Not sure how the damage works
Sapphire |
Apologies JZ, missed the nat 20!
HP 56/83
Corum Mac Roth |
hp: 126/136
JamZilla |
Attack of opportunity, Corum: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 8 = 23 Hit
Damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9
As Corum closes in, one of the heads snaps out at him, chomping on the muscle of his arm.
With a roar, the warrior delivers a cross-hand slash that decisively cleaves one of the heads clear from the neck. Bright red blood spews out of the wound, splashing all over the frozen, rocky ground.
Lucrezzia Luzatto |
"The old man said they hate fire? I have that for them, then."
Lucrezzia steps off the wall with a word and rather than dropping like a stone she follows Corum around the left side of the tower. Whip whips at her braids as she moves to get a clear line to the Hydras behind the tower.
Standard Action, cast Fly (Shaman ability). Move, fly 60 feet, dropping about 20' in altitude (so I am under the crenelations of the siege tower) to my current location. Can I see the hydras from here? The intent is to get as high as I need to to see the Hydras, once I do I will cast Flamestrike on them.
JamZilla |
Round 2 - Enemy
Archer 1: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (2) + 12 = 14 Fail
Archer 2: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (6) + 12 = 18 Fail
Archer 3: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (9) + 12 = 21 Fail
The three archers at the top of the tower flail and struggle against the slippery, grasping black tentacles. Choking and straining in their grasp they cannot escape the clutches of Elleros' spell just yet.
Corum reflex: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7 Fail
Corum reflex: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18
Corum reflex: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17 Fail
Corum reflex: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17 Fail
Corum reflex: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10 Fail
Corum reflex: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19
Damage: 12d6 ⇒ (5, 3, 1, 2, 6, 6, 6, 6, 4, 5, 1, 3) = 48 Full damage on this
Damage: 6d6 ⇒ (2, 1, 5, 1, 6, 6) = 21 Half damage here so 10
Corum, 58 cold damage in total. This bypasses your damage reduction, I don't think you have any cold resistance magic on but let me know if I am not remembering something
The hydra decapitated by Corum turns it's remaining heads on him and as one they unleash the fury of a midwinter storm, battering the warrior with a blast of utterly frigid cold.
The other hydra continues to shove the tower inch by inch closer to the wall.
Round 3 - Heroes
Black tentacles damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5
JamZilla |
Corum and Greyston, you need to make Fly checks vs DC 15 - remember armour check penalty comes into play. If you fail you must move at least half your movement rate (30ft)
Corrleon, your rolls of 27 and 23 scored hits on the archers. That was before they were grappled so their armour class will be lowered now.
Corrleon Daxio |
Corrleon grimmaces, stymied by the howling winds and press of bodies atop the approaching tower. He winces too, hearing the sound of one hydra loosing what seems dreadfully similar to a veritable blizzard on its own, and wonders how well the brash and bloodthirsty traveler called Corum can bare up under it. Shaking his head at his new allies' scattered approach to the fight, he continues trying to winnow down the number of forces now bound up within the old elf's spell.
Longbow (1st): 1d20 + 17 - 4 ⇒ (8) + 17 - 4 = 21 for: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11
Longbow (iterative): 1d20 + 17 - 4 - 5 ⇒ (16) + 17 - 4 - 5 = 24 for: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10
Dice haven't been overly kind, so despite them being grappled now I'm still going to drop Deadly Aim; would rather land consistent hits at this point.
HP: 71/84
Cold Resist: 10
AC: 19 (17 T / 12 FF)
CMD: 21
F/R/W: +14/+11/+14 (+2 from beacon of hope)
Lay on Hands remaining: 11/11
Smite Evil remaining: 3/3
Divine Bond remaining: 0/1
Stormlure remaining: 1/1
Hunter's Cloak minutes remaining: 10/10
Ongoing Effects
Favored Terrain (cold): +4 bonus on initiative, Knowledge (geo), Perception, Stealth, & Survival
Favored Terrain (urban): +2 bonus on initiative, Knowledge (geo), Perception, Stealth, & Survival
Aspect of the Falcon: +3 competence perception, +1 to hit, crits = 19-20/x3
Divine Bond (3/8 minutes): +2/+2
Wintry conditions: -4 to hit
Lucrezzia Luzatto |
Lucrezzia chants and calls down fire from the stars, scorching the two hydras. She then hurries back towards the wall, away from the hydras.
Flame Strike: 10d6 ⇒ (6, 6, 5, 1, 3, 1, 4, 1, 4, 3) = 34 Centered on the Red Crosshair with a 10'radius. 25 Fire, and 17 Divine, DC 21 REF for half :)
Sapphire |
Sapphire intones a single word, transforming her body into vibrant lightning and surging through the air, through the hydra still trying to push the tower, and coalescing the other side of the beast, where she begins savagely attacking it, her blade slicing and thrusting.
Spell combat: Storm Step
lightning damage from Storm step: 5d8 ⇒ (4, 4, 8, 4, 6) = 26 Reflex DC 16 for half damage
Swift for arcane strike
Black blade (haste): 1d20 + 15 + 1 + 1 + 2 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (15) + 15 + 1 + 1 + 2 + 2 - 2 = 34
slashing/magic/fire: 1d8 + 7 + 2 + 2 + 1d6 ⇒ (1) + 7 + 2 + 2 + (1) = 13
Black blade (1st): 1d20 + 15 + 1 + 1 + 2 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (18) + 15 + 1 + 1 + 2 + 2 - 2 = 37
slashing/magic/fire: 1d8 + 7 + 2 + 2 + 1d6 ⇒ (5) + 7 + 2 + 2 + (1) = 17
Crit confirm?: 1d20 + 15 + 1 + 1 + 2 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (3) + 15 + 1 + 1 + 2 + 2 - 2 = 22
Crit damage: 1d8 + 7 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 7 + 2 + 2 = 12
Black blade (2nd): 1d20 + 10 + 1 + 1 + 2 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (11) + 10 + 1 + 1 + 2 + 2 - 2 = 25
slashing/magic/fire: 1d8 + 7 + 2 + 2 + 1d6 ⇒ (7) + 7 + 2 + 2 + (2) = 20
AC 26, HP 56/83, 20% miss chance (blur), shield, hasted, arcane pool: 5/6, blade pool:3/3, blade enhancement: 5/10 rounds remaining (+4 flaming, keen), Greater invisibility 8/10 rounds remaining,
flight 8/10 rounds remaining (9/10 mins used)
Greater invisibility, Force hook charge, storm step
Greyston Fenris |
Nice Sapphire.
Grayston attempts to steady himself in the air, as his stomach starts to turn.
Fly: 1d20 + 9 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (14) + 9 + 2 - 2 = 23
He keeps himself upright the scene in front of him is insane as hydra lash out and the screams of war around him break his concentration for a moment. If I stop to think about all this I'll fail, I need to focus. He pushes everything aside and locks onto the hydras again preparing to burn the beasts.
Attack: 1d20 + 16 - 1 ⇒ (7) + 16 - 1 = 22 DC 20 for splash on the other one, and i forgot about entangled/glued save for last one.
Damage: 5d6 + 8 ⇒ (4, 1, 2, 1, 6) + 8 = 22
Attack: 1d20 + 19 - 1 ⇒ (15) + 19 - 1 = 33
Damage: 5d6 + 8 ⇒ (1, 3, 5, 6, 4) + 8 = 27
Attack: 1d20 + 16 - 1 ⇒ (10) + 16 - 1 = 25
Damage: 5d6 + 8 ⇒ (3, 5, 1, 4, 5) + 8 = 26
Sapphire |
10 rounds gone so quickly!? Alas! In which case, Sapphire will use her swift action for hasted assault, so she'll still be hasted but it'll be minus 2 damage per hit due to not having a swift action to spare for arcane strike. No drama :)
Corum Mac Roth |
a couple of questions: Have you calculated that as a cumulative breath weapon attack instead of 6 separate? I have cold resistance 3. So my second question is should I be taking 18 points of damage off - 3 per cold attack?
Elleross Oronar |
black tentacles: 1d20 + 10 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 10 + 4 + 1 = 25
He watches the others fly towards the tower and hopes they can fight their way through to disable the tower and he was acutely aware that he was now stranded and exposed.
if you have some means to get me back on top of the wall I would be grateful! he shouts out to the defenders atop the wall as he glances up at them. [b]
His shoulder felt like it was on fire and yet at the same time a cold numbness was spreading down his arm and he forced himself to make fists with his left hand, gritting his teeth against the pain as he turned his gaze back toward the tower and his friends.
[i] I need to help them ! [/]he thinks and he weaves a protective spell around himself and begins to move along the wall.
mirror image: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4
Casting mirror image , i an image 2 and moving north along the wall to try and see what is happening behind the tower. Im assuming I can't see the hydras from where I am
JamZilla |
a couple of questions: Have you calculated that as a cumulative breath weapon attack instead of 6 separate? I have cold resistance 3. So my second question is should I be taking 18 points of damage off - 3 per cold attack?
I only split it by those you took full damage from and those you took half from due to successful reflex saves, I wasn't aware of the cold resistance so yes, you should get back 18hp
JamZilla |
Sapphire teleports herself and with grace and brutality in equal measure begins hacking at the hydra. The Black Blade sings in the delight of death and the snowy rock around the base of the tower is transformed into a patch of red ten feet across.
From on high Greyston rains down explosions that rock the side of the fortress. The soldiers on the walls pause a moment to yell in triumph and support as the second hydra erupts into flames.
The warriors atop the tower continue to struggle in Elleros' spell and the tower settles back on it's axles, no longer progressing but not slipping back down the slope due to some clever engineering.
Hordes of soldiers begin pouring over the cliff face some distance away and drakes still cricle menacingly. Even without the hydras, the tower remains a threat while it still stands for by sheer numbers they could still get it to the wall.