Seekers of the Grail (Inactive)

Game Master Matt, Garnished Game Designer

At the Wreckage

Round 1
Init: 20

Endrian runs up next to Leon, drawing Sera as he moves to strike the bear.

Charge +2 to hit, -2 to AC

Attack Roll: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (3) + 9 = 12
Damage Roll: 1d8 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12

Would there be any chance of noticing the runes standing right next to it?

Cave

Round 1
Initiative 15

Jevon says, "Ewww." as the rotting bear carcass emerges from the cave. He levels Bertha in its direction and pulls the trigger.

Ranged Touch Attack 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19
Damage 1d12 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9
Move action to reload

"Uhh, I was just joking Eveldine!! Hey that bear is totally covered in magical runes... "

Knowledge (arcana or nature) 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14 on the bear

Whatever Leylyn can tell about the bear she shares.

And Leylyn does what any sensible person does when she come face to face with a bear... She breaks into song!

Bardic Music: Inspire Courage +1

"The other day,(The other day)

I met a bear,(I met a bear)

Up in the woods,(Up in the woods)

A way up there! (A way up there!)

The other day I met a bear,
Up in the woods a way up there!"

Note:
Leylyn being at Initiative count 20, Baster's attack is enhanced as follows (provided he's still around to make his attack, that is !):

cold iron longsword attack: 1d20 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 4 + 1= 20
longsword damage: 1d8 + 3 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 3 + 2 + 1 = 11

Also, Leylyn, bravo for your undead bear summoning soliloquy ;-) !

Just waiting on a few last actions, so far many of you act before the bears so that's good!

Somewhere near the wreck

Ini = 16

Since I was slightly away from camp, either I found the bear, or I run to camp when I hear screams and then I see the bear.

If I found the bear, 5' step cast and hold Shocking grasp. I will release it if struck by the bear, maybe it will think hitting me hurts and decide to go attack someone else.

If the bear found camp, I run to camp and cast shield.

Either way,
"Undead magical bear! Oh, what are those runes, interesting."
K Arcana: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22

At the Wreckage

Round 1
Init: 11

Aldus snaps his fingers and bestows upon Endrian a smidgen of luck.

Fortune on Endrian, Cackle as a move action

OK, when was this mentioned as an 'undead' bear?

Well GM said "dead" eyes and then they have magical runes and previously stated to smell death, so it is very possible though not concrete that they are undead. And why is Leon using flat footed ac? Shouldn't that be only if Leon is unaware or unprepared for the attack? The creature did roar before it charged, though with that initiative...frozen from shock?

Because...

Flat-Footed

A character who has not yet acted during a combat is flat-footed, unable to react normally to the situation. A flat-footed character loses his Dexterity bonus to AC and Combat Maneuver Defense (CMD) (if any) and cannot make attacks of opportunity, unless he has the Combat Reflexes feat or Uncanny Dodge class ability.

Characters with Uncanny Dodge retain their Dexterity bonus to their AC and can make attacks of opportunity before they have acted in the first round of combat.

One of these days I hope to play a game that resembles actual combat. Why in the world do my actual abilities outstrip a fantasy character.

Some people may want to use Knowledge skills sometimes to determine monsters eh?

shrug. If you want it to feel real play Riddle of Steel or Cyberpunk. This isn't supposed to feel real. It's supposed to feel like a legend.

Legends aren't so extraordinary when you can easily do something denied by the rules even to a level 20 fighter, when no one on earth can ever become level 6. Game designers make those mistakes for lack of experience in they are trying to simulate, if only they would research it or get advice from someone experienced.

let's take this to Discussion if you want to continue it.

Sorry, I tend to rant about such things.

This should about cover anything and everything that Leylyn could know about the bear...

Unfortunately no, you sort of rolled low on the one you needed...

Upon reaching Leon, Ithriel spotted the creature. Getting the feeling that this was no natural creature, he thought back to his lessons.

Knowledge: Religion 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17

Round 1 Update

It looks like chaos has ensued at both locations.

The bears, rotting away and slobbering with bile, charge in to attack. The bear at the cave lunges for an attack at Jevon.

Bear @ Cave Attack: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26
Damage: 1d10 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

Meanwhile, the bear bat the wreckage receives a face full of bravery as Endrian cleaves into it.

As for the riposte at the caves, it comes with a flourish of fanciful music, allowing both Jevon and Baster to rend and fire off enough damage to almost incapacitate the bear in one fluid attack.

The bear at the wreckage kindly rips into Endrian as his answer:

Bear @ Wreckage Attack: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16
Damage: 1d10 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13

Looks like someone may need some serious healing...

Tim manages to make it back to the wreckage campsite and has a Shocking Grasp ready to go off.

Round 2 Ladies and Gentlemen!

Reactive Knowledge Check!

Knowledge Religion: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11

I forgot Endrian had Knowledge of the Religious sort.

Also, Endrian falls over.

Stabilisation Check: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5
Fortuned Stabilisation Check: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 1 = 10

Endrian bleeds a little.

Round 2
Initiative: 21

Seeing Endrian go down, Ithriel reacts, "ENDRIAN!!!" The Elven Oracle raised his staff and said, "Nawanwa." and strikes the ground right in front of him. A burst of white energy eminates forth and washes over all within 30 ft.

Channel Energy: 1d6 ⇒ 3

Ignore the last post, that channel changes everything (well not everything).

After being walloped by the bear, Endrian crumples.

Microseconds later, a healing wave of energy rouses him.

Round 2
Init: 20

"May Eveldine Judge you!"

Swinging from the ground, Endrian attempts to take out the bear in front of him.

Attack Roll (Power Attack): 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 1 = 20
Fortune Attack Roll (Power Attack): 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 1 = 14
damage: 1d8 + 9 ⇒ (6) + 9 = 15

If they are evil this attack becomes a 23 to hit and the damage becomes 17.

If they are evil and undead, this attack becomes a 23 to hit and the damage becomes 19.

Was round 1 the surprise round?

Round 2

Leon recovered from his momentary panic and drew his sword and shield, standing over Endrian's fallen form as the bear towered over them. As Ithriel's healing energy washed over him, knitting up the last of the wounds he had taken during the crash, he steeled himself to take the next hit so others wouldn't have to. Seeing Endrian wake, Leon covered his friend with his shield as he rose, stepping to the side to make room.

Driving his sword forward in a powerful thrust, he prayed it would get the beast's attention.

Attack: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12
Damage: 1d10 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

Probably not...

Cave

Round 2
Initiative 15

HP:15/23

Jevon will drop Bertha, and screaming in fury draw his sword for a powerful overhead chop.

Free action rage.
Draw sword and 5' step to advantageous position.
Attack 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14 +2 if flanking.
Damage 2d6 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (2, 6) + 6 + 1 = 15

I swear some of you are bribing the dice rollers...

Cave
Round 1
initiative 10

Standing squarely on his feet in front of the ravenous bear, Baster lets go of his whip, grips his sword's hilt with both hands and strikes sideways at its belly, intent on carving it up.

cold iron longsword attack : 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 6 + 1 = 21
longsword damage (with both hands): 1d8 + 4 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 4 + 2 + 1 = 8

Leylyn's song keeps going. Again, it looks like it magically keeps going without her needing to sing anymore!

"~He looked at me (He looked at me)
I looked at him (I looked at him)
He sized up me (He sized up me)
I sized up him (I sized up him)~

~He looked at me, I looked at him,
He sized up me, I sized up him.~

"Whatever that zombie bear thingy is, it has arcane runies all over it, and it looks like it is burning and hurting it. I have no idea what that's about though."

Leylyn tries to keep a safe distance back and draws and dhoots her shortbow!

Ranged: Mwk Composite Shortbow (str2) 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8 (1d6 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4 / x3) (39 arrows) (Bardic Music)

Don't forget Inspire courage +1 to hit and damage!

It's already added into mine.

I added both bonuses to my "to hit" and to my damages. Such a lovely music delivered by such a lovely muse :-) !

At the Wreckage

Round 2
Init: 11

Aldus rolls back his shoulders and stretches before raising his arms and wiggling his fingers in a wizardly manner at Leon.

Fortune on Leon, Cackle as a move action

I swear some of you are bribing the dice rollers...

You don't want to know how much it is costing me.

Do you know how much those bears cost ME!? Hunh? Do you?

Tim rushes into the clearing and upon seeing the bear between him and the others he decides to charge the bear,
"Kiss your undead hide goodby foul beast!"

Attack with Cestus: 1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 4 + 2 = 16 add 2 more if I get the flanking, which I might need
Damage: 2d6 + 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (2, 2) + (6) + 1 = 11

Last time I checked Pooh would do anything for a pot of honey.

I'm picturing them less like Pooh and more like carebears, what with the symbols on their tummies.

If that hits I would be disappointed to not have any sneak attack dice to include for flanking. I did that once with a rog/sorc, I had surprise so I hit with my fist with a shocking grasp attached and got sneak attack dice too for catching the guy flat footed.

Updating combat tomorrow morning. These bears aren't standing a chance...

Sorry for the wait, I'm actually out of town and I'll be back tonight. Just wanted to know if we should consider Koldir lost to us?

Round 2 Update

Both bears wounded, the individual fighters see that the runes now begin emitting fierce light, burning their anger into the bear's now unmistakable undead flesh.

The rotting bear at the cave attempts to take another person down with it before it dies, this time aiming at Baster.

Bear @ Cave Attack: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23
Bear @ Cave Damage: 1d10 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10

On the other side of the region, Endrian's blow lays low the beast, Eveldine's faith granting his sword enough power to cleave right through the monstrosity.

Then, returning cave-side, Baster and Jevon take the bear down in a flurry of blades and bullets.

"Unnng... hufff !" Baster pants as he bends on his knees, hovering over the bear's cadaver - still, at last -, trying to catch his breath seemingly gone through the bloody gashes the undead beast's claws left in his scale mail armor.

"So... glad... I wasn't alone for this one" the nobleman says to Jevon and Leylyn, as he finally manages to straighten himself up.

He extracts some rag from under his clothes, wipes his bloody sword with it and then tosses it away in disgust, before putting the blade away in its scabbard.

Then he begins to roll his damaged scale mail armor off his back - "Could you give me a hand here, Jevon ?... Thanks." -, undresses to the waist down and proceeds to liberally douse his wounds with the content of a little alcohol flask.

"Huur ! Ugh ! Haaar..."

"[Gasps ! Pants !]... damn... undead claws... can't take any risks !"

He finishes the alcohol flask in one gulp - "truly sorry, Jevon: no more booze left for you, pal !" -, tosses it away and manages to slump and seat himself down on an outcropping of rock at the cave's entrance.

A little pause.

"Well, I believe we've just encountered another one of our hidden enemy's resources, for Hellf$~#'s sake !... Are you able to make some sense of these glowing runes on its hide, Leylyn ?"

"Also, we should probably regroup quickly with our comrades-in-arms at the wreckage site to warn them that this valley's not safe."

As this may slip some people's minds, Knowledge is going to be your friend here, both for determining the bear's runes, the valley itself, etc.

Leon watches the bear fall for only a moment before turning to face the darkness and looking for other threats.

"We need light. Endrian how are you doing?"

Tim releases the spell into the bear while examining it, carefully.
Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25

What did I learn from my K Arcana check? (it was a 22)

Knowledge (geography) 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9 Where the heck are we?
Knowledge (arcana) 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18 Runes on Bear

"Hmm... What is up with you, Mr. Bear, and your crazy magic runes?" Leylyn looks over to Baster and Jevon. "What are you two doing...?" Leylyn stares at the two taking Baster's armor off. She then watches as baster pours booze all over his upper body. "...By Eveldine's beard! Baster, you're trying to tempt me aren't you?! Hahaha!" Leylyn fails to say with a straight face as she giggles at the scene.

Matt: Since we are about to gain a level, can I take the liberty to cast a spell that I'm about to take known? If not, then ignore the spoiler.

Jevon after helping baster, plops onto the ground. He seems winded from the excitement and in pain from the three large claw wounds running from the top of his right hip down to mid thigh. "Glad we left the boyscouts back at the wreck." he says sardonically. "Got any more of that 'healing' for me?" he asks Leylyn with a smirk.

Baster, who stiffly held Leylyn in his arms while she worked magic on him, seems flushed and a little red in the face - probably from the exhaustion...

"<Sweet Eveldine... thank you, Leylyn>" he says, talking in Elven without thinking, while his fingers softly trail over the thin pink lines of scars on his chest - almost completely healed - which replaced the gaping wounds inflicted by the bear's claws.

He clears his throat, inhales deeply, and looks at Leylyn's back in a most peculiar way - acutely aware of his manhood - while she takes care of Jevon.

...

Then he looks at the bear's cadaver, and calms down. He goes picking up his armor, and re-equips himself with it.

"Let us go back" Baster says once Leylyn has finished healing Jevon.

The Seekers get out of the cave, walk a while along the shore of the lake, and then turn to their right to go into the forest, heading for the site of the wreckage.

At Leon's request, Ithriel raises his staff and says, [b]"Kalywandil."[b] His staff begins to glow the brilliance of a torch. He then steps towards Endrian and examines him.

Heal to determine other effects: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (16) + 10 = 26