The Lost City (4e Paragon)

Game Master Rev Rosey

Perception
1d20 + 10 ⇒ (2) + 10 = 12
1d20 + 10 ⇒ (7) + 10 = 17
1d20 + 10 ⇒ (3) + 10 = 13

Perception

1d20 + 14 ⇒ (16) + 14 = 30

1d20 + 14 ⇒ (12) + 14 = 26

1d20 + 14 ⇒ (8) + 14 = 22

Perception
1d20 + 9 ⇒ (14) + 9 = 23
1d20 + 9 ⇒ (19) + 9 = 28
1d20 + 9 ⇒ (2) + 9 = 11

1d20 + 11 ⇒ (17) + 11 = 281d20 + 11 ⇒ (3) + 11 = 141d20 + 11 ⇒ (19) + 11 = 30

Percep 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (19) + 16 = 35
Percep 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (5) + 16 = 21
Percep 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (19) + 16 = 35

Perception 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (2) + 14 = 16
1d20 + 14 ⇒ (13) + 14 = 27
1d20 + 14 ⇒ (10) + 14 = 24

Perception:
1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24
1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14
1d20 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 16

While Nayce and Don remain oblivious, the rest of the party catch hints of a strange buzzing in the air. The noise gets louder and then softer, as though the group are being tracked. Dram catches two brief glimpses of odd flying creatures. They are the size of people and seem to be a mixture of a wasp and a spider. They are like nothing he has ever seen before.

MAP

This is a little tricky, but bear with me. The light green areas are the flat terraces. Dark green areas are the steep slopes up. You can only move two squares at a time to climb them. The olive areas are vines and you can move through those as though they were difficult terrain. They also provide cover.

Place yourselves somewhere on the middle light green strip and roll init.

1d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9
Which direction are we headed?

Don must've been running his mouth to Nayce...

Init: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (14) + 12 = 26

L14 looks good to me, Don has one knife out. He likes gesturing with it. ^.x

Initiative 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14

J14.

"How's it feel to be back in the saddle?" the drow asks Don, while casually drawing his sword.

Initiative

1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16

Greeg cautiously dropped back to the end of the group, providing some protection at both ends of the party. Hr carefully unslung his shield and radied his hammer in case trouble came calling. "Be wary friends, company is coming" he stated brashly.

Ooc - Greeg will place himself so kevaras is at one end of the group and he is at the other. Forming a rough front and back I guess. Is that giving you enough to work with.

@Greeg - plenty.
@Cronin - heading west to east (left to right, right being up, left being down).

MAP

Light green areas are the flat terraces.
Dark green areas are the steep slopes up. You can only move two squares at a time to climb them.
Olive areas are vines and you can move through those as though they were difficult terrain. They also provide cover.

Init so far
Don
Hunters
Gardeners
Greeg
Kevaras
Cronin

Initiative 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25
L15

"They look like insects. Or maybe they're arachnids, with those spidery bits. Certainly some sort of arthropod, though I don't think they're crabs."

Knowledge(Nature) to try and recognise them. 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (7) + 12 = 19

The dwarf has neither seen nor heard of anything like these creatures.

MAP

Light green areas are the flat terraces.
Dark green areas are the steep slopes up. You can only move two squares at a time to climb them.
Olive areas are vines and you can move through those as though they were difficult terrain. They also provide cover.

Init so far
Don
Hunters
Guldarin
Gardeners
Greeg
Kevaras
Cronin

N13, and a Nature check!
1d20 + 18 ⇒ (6) + 18 = 24

Cronin has no idea what these things may be. They look like insects, but he knows of nothing of this size in the present time. The best he can think of is that they may be some rare survival.

MAP

Light green areas are the flat terraces.
Dark green areas are the steep slopes up. You can only move two squares at a time to climb them.
Olive areas are vines and you can move through those as though they were difficult terrain. They also provide cover.

Init so far
Don
Hunters
Guldarin
Gardeners
Greeg
Kevaras
Cronin

N15 for Dram, K15 for Dirt
initiative 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (1) + 15 = 16
Dirt's aura effects Don, Kevaras, and Guldarin +2 to all defenses

Just need Nayce and Andaros.

MAP

Light green areas are the flat terraces.
Dark green areas are the steep slopes up. You can only move two squares at a time to climb them.
Olive areas are vines and you can move through those as though they were difficult terrain. They also provide cover.

Init so far
Don - +2 all defences (Dirt)
Hunters
Guldarin - +2 all defences (Dirt)
Gardeners
Dram
Greeg
Kevaras - +2 all defences (Dirt)
Cronin

I13. Initiative 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (11) + 11 = 22.

MAP

Light green areas are the flat terraces.
Dark green areas are the steep slopes up. You can only move two squares at a time to climb them.
Olive areas are vines and you can move through those as though they were difficult terrain. They also provide cover.

Init so far
Don - +2 all defences (Dirt)
Hunters
Guldarin - +2 all defences (Dirt)
Nayce
Gardeners
Dram
Greeg
Kevaras - +2 all defences (Dirt)
Cronin

Andaros?

Sorry been a bit off the beam healthwise the last few days, should be over it now.

Init roll 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (6) + 10 = 16

Place me at L13 for now.

Hope you're feeling better, Andaros. I took the liberty of putting you at L14 to give you the benefit of Dirt's +2 to defences. L13 is over the cliff.

As the strange insectoids zoom closer through the vines and over the terraces, battle is joined.

MAP

Light green areas are the flat terraces.
Dark green areas are the steep slopes up. You can only move two squares at a time to climb them.
Olive areas are vines and you can move through those as though they were difficult terrain. They also provide cover.

Don - +2 all defences (Dirt)
Hunters (1-3)
Guldarin - +2 all defences (Dirt)
Nayce
Gardeners (1-12)
Dram
Greeg
Andaros - +2 all defences (Dirt)
Kevaras - +2 all defences (Dirt)
Cronin

Don pulls his other knife with a grin, "Just like old times, well with bee-things..."

He flips his blade up on end, hurling it at G3.

Deft Strike
1d20 + 23 ⇒ (14) + 23 = 37 for 1d4 + 15 + 3d8 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 15 + (2, 4, 3) + 3 = 28

He laughs, "Take that, ya bug!"

Don's dagger finds a vulnerable spot and the Gardener explodes leaving a writhing mass of larvae where it fell. The spawn gape hopefully, looking for an easy meal.

In the meantime, the hunters work their way closer to the group, with H2 zooming in to Cronin and grasping at the goliath with surprisingly strong front mandibles.

"bzzzz grzz zrpptpt mzzzl" it comments as its claws bite deep. The creatures are clearly intelligent.

Fly, grab and carry (Ref). On hit target is grabbed.
1d20+19=34 v Cronin. Hits. 3d10+8=20
20 damage to Cronin and he is grabbed.

MAP

Light green areas are the flat terraces.
Dark green areas are the steep slopes up. You can only move two squares at a time to climb them.
Olive areas are vines and you can move through those as though they were difficult terrain. They also provide cover.

Guldarin - +2 all defences (Dirt)
Nayce
Gardener 1
Gardener 2
Gardener 4
Gardener 5
Gardener 6
Gardener 7
Gardener 8
Gardener 9
Gardener 10
Gardener 11
Gardener 12
Dram
Greeg
Andaros - +2 all defences (Dirt)
Kevaras - +2 all defences (Dirt)
Cronin - grabbed by H2
Don - +2 all defences (Dirt)
Hunter 1
Hunter 2 - grabbing Cronin
Hunter 3

"Well they don't seem terribly pleased with us." Guldarin sends a trio of the creatures a token of his displeasure, in the form of holy light."

Hand of Radiance, three targets
G2 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (11) + 17 = 28 vs Ref
G9 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (18) + 17 = 35 vs Ref
G6 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (19) + 17 = 36 vs Ref
1d4 + 9 ⇒ (2) + 9 = 11 radiant damage

Guldarin thoughfully wipes out three more gardeners, filling the area with many, many more desperately hungry larvae looking for hosts.

MAP

Light green areas are the flat terraces.
Dark green areas are the steep slopes up. You can only move two squares at a time to climb them.
Olive areas are vines and you can move through those as though they were difficult terrain. They also provide cover.

Nayce
Gardener 1
Gardener 4
Gardener 5
Gardener 7
Gardener 8
Gardener 10
Gardener 11
Gardener 12
Dram
Greeg
Andaros - +2 all defences (Dirt)
Kevaras - +2 all defences (Dirt)
Cronin - grabbed by H2
Don - +2 all defences (Dirt)
Hunter 1
Hunter 2 - grabbing Cronin
Hunter 3
Guldarin - +2 all defences (Dirt)

"Ugh, so we gotta keep them at distance, unless course you want to be grub food!"

"Good advice," Cronin calls back to Don.

Nayce sends his shadowy noose at one of the gardeners.

Executioner's Noose on G10. 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (16) + 15 = 31 vs Fort. 1d6 + 13 ⇒ (6) + 13 = 19 force damage on a hit.

He has his eye on the hunters, however. Shroud on H2.

Nayce obliterates another gardener and gives H2 due warning of his intentions.

The other gardeners zoom towards the party, showering larvae as they land.

They can make a basic attack doing 10 damage and as a minor once per round use Parasitic Possession (Fort), close burst 1. On hit target loses a healing surge. If the target has no healing surges left, it is dominated by the larva. With unpleasant consequences.
G1 - bursts at Kevaras, Don and Dirt
1d20+19=39 v Kevaras. Hits. Lose a surge.
1d20+19=33 v Don. Hits. Lose a surge.
1d20+19=27 v Dirt. Miss.
G1 attacks Don
1d20+23=39 v Don. 10 damage to Don
G4 attacks and attempts to infest Cronin
1d20+19=25 v Cronin. Hits. Lose a surge.
1d20+23=29 v Cronin. MIss.
G5 v Dram
1d20+19=39. Hits. Lose a surge.
1d20+23=27. Hits. 10 damage to Dram
G7 bursts over Don, Andaros, Greeg
1d20+19=25 v Don. Miss.
1d20+19=29 v Andaros. Hits. Lose a surge
1d20+19=21 v Greeg. Miss.
Attack v Andaros
1d20+23=33 v Andaros. Hits. 10 damage to Andaros
G8 double moves and bursts over Dram
1d20+19=28. Miss.
G11 bursts and attacks Dram
1d20+19=39 v Dram. Hits. Lose a surge
1d20+23=37 v Dram. Hits. 10 damage to Dram
G12 double moves and bursts over Nayce.
1d20+19=26. Hits. Lose a surge.

MAP

Light green areas are the flat terraces.
Dark green areas are the steep slopes up. You can only move two squares at a time to climb them.
Olive areas are vines and you can move through those as though they were difficult terrain. They also provide cover.

Dram
Greeg
Andaros - +2 all defences (Dirt)
Kevaras - +2 all defences (Dirt)
Cronin - grabbed by H2
Don - +2 all defences (Dirt)
Hunter 1
Hunter 2 - grabbing Cronin; one shroud
Hunter 3
Guldarin - +2 all defences (Dirt)
Nayce
Gardener 1
Gardener 4
Gardener 5
Gardener 7
Gardener 8
Gardener 11
Gardener 12

MAP
Summary of the above. For the love of something, please kill these dudes fast. That update has taken me the best part of an hour :D

Surges lost:
1 surge lost by Kevaras, Don, Dram, Andaros, Cronin
20 damage to Dram
10 damage each to Don and Andaros

Light green areas are the flat terraces.
Dark green areas are the steep slopes up. You can only move two squares at a time to climb them.
Olive areas are vines and you can move through those as though they were difficult terrain. They also provide cover.

Dram
Greeg
Andaros - +2 all defences (Dirt)
Kevaras - +2 all defences (Dirt)
Cronin - grabbed by H2
Don - +2 all defences (Dirt)
Hunter 1
Hunter 2 - grabbing Cronin; one shroud
Hunter 3
Guldarin - +2 all defences (Dirt)
Nayce
Gardener 1
Gardener 4
Gardener 5
Gardener 7
Gardener 8
Gardener 11
Gardener 12

"Oh, these fellows pop easily. Going to get quite messy, I think, when we let a few spells loose on them, eh Andaros?"

And that's a hint to leave the bugs to Guldarin and Andaros.

I'll be waiting over here then. *adjusts monocle, sips tea*

Shift to M15
Grasping Tide 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (7) + 16 = 23 vs fort on G11
1d20 + 16 ⇒ (4) + 16 = 20 vs fort on G8
1d6 + 11 ⇒ (1) + 11 = 12 damage, effect: If the target moves out of the area of effect before the end of your next turn it is subject to a secondary attack, 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (3) + 16 = 19 vs ref, target is knocked prone

Dram looks horrified at the bugs and attempts to wash them away with a watery attack.

MAP
Dram flounders as larvae shower around him.

Light green areas are the flat terraces.
Dark green areas are the steep slopes up. You can only move two squares at a time to climb them.
Olive areas are vines and you can move through those as though they were difficult terrain. They also provide cover.

Greeg
Andaros - +2 all defences (Dirt)
Kevaras - +2 all defences (Dirt)
Cronin - grabbed by H2
Don - +2 all defences (Dirt)
Hunter 1
Hunter 2 - grabbing Cronin; one shroud
Hunter 3
Guldarin - +2 all defences (Dirt)
Nayce
Gardener 1
Gardener 4
Gardener 5
Gardener 7
Gardener 8
Gardener 11
Gardener 12
Dram

Greeg rushed over to the hunter attacking his old firend, ignoring the possible attacks he was drawing from the other wasp like creatures near him. He brought his hammer around, hoping to knock the air born creature to the gound so it couldn't drag his friend off to some horrid death in those towers.

Move to base with the hunter attacking Cronin.

Earthgrasp Strike - Standard Melee 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (17) + 17 = 34 vs AC; Damage 1d10 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12; If hit, target is knocked prone. Can't stand up until the end of my next turn. First time it stands up, it takes an additional 1d10 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7 damage.

Please apply penalties as required for the fact it's grappling Cronin.

Current AC = 31, Fort = 28, Ref 25, Will = 26

Crud. Just realised the Hunter moves didn't update properly. Now amended. Doesn't affect anything, but you should be aware that they are now in the correct places.

Greeg takes two OAs from G7 and G11
1d20+23=42 - G7 v Greeg. Hits. 10 damage
1d20+23=28 - G11 v Greeg. Miss.
10 damage to Greeg

Thundering past the gardeners, Greeg swings his hammer into H2, knocking the insectoid off balance and releasing Cronin from its mandibles.

MAP
Dram flounders as larvae shower around him.

Light green areas are the flat terraces.
Dark green areas are the steep slopes up. You can only move two squares at a time to climb them.
Olive areas are vines and you can move through those as though they were difficult terrain. They also provide cover.

Andaros - +2 all defences (Dirt)
Kevaras - +2 all defences (Dirt)
Cronin
Don - +2 all defences (Dirt)
Hunter 1
Hunter 2 - one shroud; prone and takes 7 damage when it gets up at end Greeg's next turn
Hunter 3
Guldarin - +2 all defences (Dirt)
Nayce
Gardener 1
Gardener 4
Gardener 5
Gardener 7
Gardener 8
Gardener 11
Gardener 12
Dram
Greeg

"We've got to pop these things and gather up all the larvae together so I can acid them!"

Andaros pulls out the Dawnblade which flares to radiant life. With a spoken incantation and a gesture lighting erupts from the blade which arcs through G7, H2, and G4.

Lightning Bolt Attack vs. Reflex on G7 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (3) + 14 = 17

Lightning Bolt Attack vs. Reflex on H2 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (5) + 14 = 19

Lightning Bolt Attack vs. Reflex on G4 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (14) + 14 = 28

Damage 2d6 + 11 ⇒ (5, 5) + 11 = 21 Miss: Half Damage

I'm going to use my Wand of Accuracy Power to add 11 pts to my roll on H2 to boost the attack roll to 30

Andaros removes another gardener, leaving Cronin and Greeg standing in an area of gaping larvae. The Hunter proves much quicker than he thought however, just ducking away the lightning, despite the wizard's best efforts. Both goliaths remain stoic in the face of maggoty doom.

Attack v Fort from the larva puddle. On hit, target loses a surge. If no surge available, target is infested.
Targets Cronin and Greeg
1d20+19=20 v Cronin. Miss.
1d20+19=21 v Greeg. Miss.

MAP
Dram flounders as larvae shower around him.

Light green areas are the flat terraces.
Dark green areas are the steep slopes up. You can only move two squares at a time to climb them.
Olive areas are vines and you can move through those as though they were difficult terrain. They also provide cover.

Kevaras - +2 all defences (Dirt)
Cronin
Don - +2 all defences (Dirt)
Hunter 1
Hunter 2 - one shroud; prone and takes 7 damage when it gets up at end Greeg's next turn
Hunter 3
Guldarin - +2 all defences (Dirt)
Nayce
Gardener 1
Gardener 5
Gardener 7
Gardener 8
Gardener 11
Gardener 12
Dram
Greeg
Andaros - +2 all defences (Dirt)

Andaros removes another gardener, leaving Cronin and Greeg standing in an area of gaping larvae. The Hunter proves much quicker than he thought however, just ducking away the lightning, despite the wizard's best efforts. Both goliaths remain stoic in the face of maggoty doom.

You did apply the adjustment I made with the Wand of Accuracy power on the followup post, I take it?

Yes, I did. The hunters are very fast. I was suprised myself when it misssed.

Amidst maggoty goodness, Kevaras remembers one of the million reasons why he left the Underdark.

Valorous Smite on G1.
1d20 + 19 ⇒ (15) + 19 = 34 vs AC.
2d8 + 8 ⇒ (2, 4) + 8 = 14 damage. Probably overkill but…
On Hit: G5, G7, G12, and H1 are subject to divine sanction until the end of Kevaras' next turn.

Kevaras smites the gardener in his face, all the while daring the other bug things to risk flying closer.
___

AC 31; Fort 26, Ref 27, Will 29; Resist 10 fire and necrotic.
99 of 103 HP, 6 of 13 Surges; Initiative +8

Remembering all too well the perils of larvae, Kevaras takes decisive action. Another gardener explodes, leaving a writhing mass in its wake, biting furiously at him, Don and Dirt.

Attack v Fort. On hit target loses healing surge. If no surges left, infested.
Kevaras, Don, Dirt
1d20+19=38 v Kevaras. Hits. Surge lost.
1d20+19=36 v Don. Hits. Surge lost.
1d20+19=31 v Dirt. Hits. Dirt has no surges, so he loses hp to the value of one of Dram's.
Kevaras and Don both lose a surge. Dirt loses a surge of hp.

MAP

Light green areas are the flat terraces.
Dark green areas are the steep slopes up. You can only move two squares at a time to climb them.
Olive areas are vines and you can move through those as though they were difficult terrain. They also provide cover.

Cronin
Don - +2 all defences (Dirt)
Hunter 1 - DS to end Kevaras' next turn
Hunter 2 - one shroud; prone and takes 7 damage when it gets up at end Greeg's next turn
Hunter 3
Guldarin - +2 all defences (Dirt)
Nayce
Gardener 5 - DS to end Kevaras' next turn
Gardener 7 - DS to end Kevaras' next turn
Gardener 8
Gardener 11
Gardener 12 - DS to end Kevaras' next turn
Dram
Greeg
Andaros - +2 all defences (Dirt)
Kevaras - +2 all defences (Dirt)

Is there a way to show the mass or masses of larvae? I assume it's pretty much like a swarm and Kevaras and Dram are in the thick of it?

Cronin swings his halberd in an arc at his recent captor, achieving no direct effect but bolstering himself and his allies. He then transforms into the lightning-wreathed eagle form seen once before, flying in a short burst to outside the field of larvae and casting lightning on several of the gardeners.

I think the pink are the larvae? Acting as such.
Standard: Granite Shield vs H2 Fort 1d20 + 17 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 17 + 2 = 251d10 + 13 ⇒ (1) + 13 = 14
Looks like a miss. Effect: Gain aura 2 TEOMNT, granting self and allies resist all 5 while in the aura.
Minor: Wild Shape.
AP: Fly to N14 as AP effect, free, no OAs.
Storm Beast close blast 3 vs G5, G8, G11 Ref.
1d20 + 15 ⇒ (11) + 15 = 261d20 + 15 ⇒ (3) + 15 = 181d20 + 15 ⇒ (16) + 15 = 312d6 + 8 ⇒ (5, 6) + 8 = 19
Hit G11 for 19 lightning, possible hit on G5. I have +2 to attack the ones I hit TEOMNT.
Move: Shift to M14.

HP 76/96, S 7/9, AP 0.

Drenched in maggots now, Don is quite disgusted by the situation. He growls as he swiftly steps out of the mess. "Alright, let's clear out the north side first, then we can focus fire and keep half the guys out of this mess."

Piercing Strike

1d20 + 21 ⇒ (3) + 21 = 24 vs Reflex
1d4 + 14 ⇒ (4) + 14 = 18 damage

Shift to J 13

Pink squares are indeed the larvae. My fault for not saying as much. Update follows morning my time - been trapped in a particularly long committee meeting. My apologies.