DankeSean, you saw that we are out of the surprise round now, right?
Also, thanks for pointing that out. Clunk's AC is actually 39!
Assuming Cuetz isn't below half health:
Astraden steps under the hastily sculpted stone roof and begins calling on the unfamiliar extraplanar constellations of this time. As she does so, she lets a little of her concentration split off an illusory double of herself.
Casting summon monster vii as a full-round action, and using an action point for an extra move action to cast copycat. [10/13] and [6/7]
Clunk turns to Astraden, aghast. "Would you give up your own thread to shatter the gears of--"
Astraden answers with a blithe expression. "Nah, who are we to say whether the phylactery is supposed to stay here in this time or disappear to the future? You're freaking me out, Clunk, why does a little time travel have you so on edge? Like Eben said, this is a stable time hoop. Viruinne knows us, and I could swear Lashonna knew us in Alhaster, too."
Just a short note to say that I've added the wall of silver to the map (it's the light grey line). The dark gray circle is the area of a one-inch-thick, slightly arched stone shaped ceiling 10 feet above the ground level. The small dots of the same color are 8-inch-thick pillars holding it up. Astraden would have liked to erect this structure over the mysterious box.
"Well, she has done some impressive stuff for someone who looks so young . . ." Astraden says thoughtfully. "Hey, Lashonna, how old are you right now? I think you should go for it," she says with a wink.
"Eben, you mind stabbing me and Clunk with that skin-toughening stick again?" Astraden asks.
Astraden's AC will be 27 (flat-footed 27, touch 14) after use of wand of barkskin (which should now be at [35/50]).
How big is the box by the way? Could two people carry it?
And buff list. Trying some color-coding so it's easier to see which ones are relevant to specific characters:
Greater magic weapon (+4 enhancement) on Tanith's polearm lasts all day.
Magic vestment (+4 armor enhancement) on Clunk's clothing lasts all day.
Communal air walk on Astraden, Carina, Clunk, Cuetzpalli, Eben, Farrukh, and Tanith lasts 3 encounters.
Protection from law, eagle's splendor, owl's wisdom, death ward, and undeath ward on Astraden last 3 encounters.
Death ward on Cuetzpalli lasts 3 encounters.
Death ward on Eben lasts 3 encounters.
Death ward lasts 3 encounters on Farrukh.
Death ward lasts 3 encounters on Clunk.
Invisibility lasts 3 encounters on Farrukh (or until cancelled).
Wall of silver last one encounter. (If we use a map for this combat, I can draw it in on there - otherwise, she'll just put it in a ring around the ledge we're standing on.)
Holy aura and mass bear's endurance on Astraden, Carina, Clunk, Cuetzpalli, Eben, Farrukh, and Tanith last one encounter.
Astraden's hp is [166/166] and AC is 26 after these buffs take effect.
Astraden starts by stone shaping some of the stone from beneath the party's feet into a rough shelter, not sturdy enough to withstand sustained attacks from, say, a dragon, but enough to give cover overhead. She watches the distant red wyrm nervously as she enchants Tanith's weapon and Clunk's robes and begins laying down protections against negative energy, evil, undead and other unpleasant things.
"I guess so. Kind of unfair for them to send us back here just to fight their old wars for them and die. Though, if they did that to all the adventurers that came in search of the Library, it might be kinda effective."
Astraden begins layering protective and enhancing spells over herself and her comrades. "I do think we should be ready for a fight, though. Wouldn't surprise me if some of those worm things could teleport."
Astraden looks similarly shocked. She looks up at the sun, trying to gauge the time, the season, but shakes her head in confusion. There are no reliable landmarks here. Her eyes get big.
"The druids didn't say anything about this being safe. I think we're really in the past. This is crazy. No one get merced or lost back here, all right?"
Fully healed from the power of the fountain/time travel - [134/134].
She'll start casting buffs if they're down - I assume we're going to just try to defend ourselves while standing on the edge of this bluff?
"We found some living flowers that you might have liked too. Unfortunately they all died in a Darl Qethos-related fire. We defeated those guys too, if it's worth any extra points."
"You worry too much, Clunk. We can't stop Kyuss from being unleashed on the world if we don't open up the library." Astraden reflects that Clunk wasn't there when they met Lashonna. "Look, how bad could it be? I really don't think Krathanos will actually manage to track down Olidammara."
Assuming Astraden delays, too. She's famously predictable and quick to go along with authority figures.
Round 4: Viruinne
Ancient sigils spill from Viruinne's toothy maw like living things, massing into a single ring of gleaming arcana. The dragon seems to struggle a moment, its mouth moving as if trying to piece together a sound it cannot hear.
And then it speaks a single word of power, and the howling night twist shakes and flails like a reed in a hurricane.
The magic settles, and it goes still.
"Now, quickly, Carina," the dragon hisses, shuddering in pain, "cut it out."
Astraden feels a faint niggling feeling, as if she should rankle at an accusation made by some cosmic force. But she calls "Off!" to the shadow demons, and approaches the scene of the surgery.
[107/134] after Tanith's healing.
"Just give me a signal and I'll heal," she tells Carina.
Channel positive energy (healing):7d6 ⇒ (4, 1, 4, 5, 3, 2, 6) = 25[1/7] Used at an appropriate point during the surgery, selectively channeling to exclude the night twist, gets Astraden up to [132/134]. If everyone gathers around before that then everyone can benefit. If Farrukh is still injured after Tanith's healing, then she can also burn some spontaneous casting on him.
Good catch DS. I was thinking of communal air walk! Also, I realized the shadow demons should have gotten caught in the cone? Here is also a shadow-aoo: Bite:1d20 + 11 ⇒ (14) + 11 = 25Chaotic, evil:1d8 ⇒ 2Cold:1d6 ⇒ 2
Reflex:1d20 + 11 ⇒ (4) + 11 = 15 Reflex:1d20 + 11 ⇒ (9) + 11 = 20 Reflex:1d20 + 11 ⇒ (1) + 11 = 12 Halved by incorporeality, right? And then energy resistance? So 21 damage to each of them, leaving them at [38/59].
Astraden takes the full brunt of the rain of bile, hair and armor smoking with a bitter smell afterwards. She climbs the hill to join Tanith in healing.
Channel heal:7d6 ⇒ (6, 1, 3, 6, 6, 6, 2) = 30
[82/134] [2/7]
The shadow demon that was closest to Viruinne flits over the battlefield, clawing and bitimg at the Mournful Song, the shadows of its limbs and neck growing improbably long as it reaches for the roots of the tree.
Claw (inspire courage, charge, elevation):1d20 + 11 + 3 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 11 + 3 + 2 + 1 = 36Chaotic, evil (inspire courage?):1d6 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9Cold:1d6 ⇒ 4 Claw (inspire courage, charge, elevation):1d20 + 11 + 3 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 11 + 3 + 2 + 1 = 35Chaotic, evil (inspire courage?):1d6 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8Cold:1d6 ⇒ 2 Bite (inspire courage, charge, elevation):1d20 + 11 + 3 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 11 + 3 + 2 + 1 = 32Chaotic, evil (inspire courage?):1d8 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4Cold:1d6 ⇒ 6Not sure if an incorporeal creature's (touch) attacks count as weapons. Also, due to pouncing, AC down to 16 on the one closest to the dragon for the next round.
One of the ones that hung back seems to listen, briefly, tilting its misshapen head towards Astraden, and makes its own attempt to override the night twist's control over Viruinne.
Caster level:1d20 + 10 ⇒ (4) + 10 = 14
The shadow issues a noise of reproachment at Astraden and then flies at speed across the hill.
The final demon makes a half-hearted incantation and releases another bead of fire at the night twist, only just missing its fellow.
Fireball:10d6 ⇒ (6, 6, 4, 6, 4, 6, 4, 6, 3, 5) = 50CL for Viruinne:1d20 + 10 ⇒ (11) + 10 = 21DC 19 Will and Reflex if that somehow breaks Viruinne's SR - if it doesn't, I believe the spell fails completely.
Astraden finishes the spell with a snatch of Abyssal as Farrukh maybe falls, and draws three distorted shades of herself from underneath her boots.
Summoning three shadow demons and asking them to put one more straw on KC's back f$+* up the night twist.
Two of the shades she flings up into the air, where they release twin pinpricks of white flame that throw up improbably stark and spidery shadows when they collide with the uppermost branches of the Mournful Song.
Fireball damage:10d6 ⇒ (2, 4, 5, 6, 1, 4, 4, 3, 4, 1) = 34CL vs SR:1d20 + 10 ⇒ (2) + 10 = 12CL vs SR:1d20 + 10 ⇒ (5) + 10 = 15DC 18 Will to divide by 5, DC 18 Reflex to divide by 2. Not attacking Viruinne. Fireball damage:10d6 ⇒ (1, 3, 2, 1, 6, 3, 5, 6, 1, 3) = 31CL vs SR:1d20 + 10 ⇒ (10) + 10 = 20CL vs SR:1d20 + 10 ⇒ (16) + 10 = 26DC 18 Will to divide by 5, DC 18 Reflex to divide by 2. Not attacking Viruinne.
The third shadow she flings directly at Viruinne.
And now the question is: Do shadow demons have magic jar or possession (a la Occult Adventures)?
She then runs, clanking, over to Farrukh. "Hey man. Olidammara left a message for you."
On Cuetzpalli: bear's endurance, find the path, owl's wisdom
On Carina: bear's endurance
On Eben: shield of faith
On Astraden: death ward, magic circle against evil, protection from law, shield of faith
On Farrukh: invisibility*
On Clunk: magic vestment
*Should have given him a bonus on his first attack, but deactivated now? He has flight from his shield, right?
Concentration, injured while casting:1d20 + 20 ⇒ (7) + 20 = 27DC 19. Might be missing some spell that buffs concentration.
Astraden gamely continues casting as she breathes in the acid fog and is whisked up the rocky hill.
"Eben, look! It's catching on!" Astraden does her best to mimic Eben's shuffle in time with the tree's undulations, but catches the toe of her boot on a rock jutting out from the rot-slick grass and stumbles. Giving up the attempt, she asks the group in a graver tone, "Do y'all think this is the real Mournful Song? Could it be an illusion?"
The voices of her comrades fades out as Astraden listens, fascinated, to the ghostly music. She hears the rumble of a mine collapse in that song, and the twangs of bows. She stares, transfixed, at Eben's shoes, and the conversation comes slowly rolling back in.
"- you should show your little dance to whoever's doing the singing," she tells Eben.
On Farrukh. Wand of cure light wounds:1d8 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7 Wand of cure light wounds:1d8 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7 Wand of cure light wounds:1d8 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7 Wand of cure light wounds:1d8 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6[0/50] and destroyed.
She then snaps an old wand over her knee to get out the last magic, sprinkling it over Farrukh's claw marks. "That's the last of the wand, so I'll have to start using spells to heal now."
If given fifteen minutes, she will also take a short moment to pray for the remainder of her spells.
Confusion as 4th-level domain spell and a second breath of life.
She also evokes Olidammara's prayer of selective listening.
Communal resist energy (sonic).
"Eben, can you toughen me up?" she also asks, pointing to the barkskin wand.
Astraden is also casting bear's endurance on Cuetzpalli and Carina, shield of faith +4 on herself and Eben, owl's wisdom on Cuetzpalli, death ward on herself, invisibility on Farrukh and protection from law on herself.
Astraden does her best to raise her shield in time, but each time she thinks she's just about dodged an attack, she remembers that her skin only has the toughness of a recently reincarnated orc, or that the ring of protection's subtle force field won't activate at the last minute, or that her armor is not enchanted to meet the blows of monstrous fey. She staggers, but remains upright, bleeding from multiple wounds.
[33/134]
She steps back from the ankou and intones, "Zborovi za otkaz," ending the antimagic field with a swiping motion with her rapier. She then releases a healing burst.
Selective quick channel:7d6 ⇒ (2, 5, 3, 6, 1, 2, 3) = 22[5/7] [55/134] Excludes the three real ankous and the shade to the south, should heal everyone in the party.
Astraden's AC is back up to 30 from aegis and blessing of fervour.
Astraden is choosing the +2 to AC from blessing of fervour, giving her a 27 total, though that's only relevant for the first part of this action...
Astraden attempts to step away from the stifling silence and invokes Olidammara's power with her mask. "Aktivirajte go režimot na teška fantazija!"
She points out the nearest shade to Carina and Eben, now visible despite the encroaching darkness. "See? Just a heron."
Move half speed outside of the silence zone (not sure if the shades threaten, if they take AOOs it's fine) and cast antimagic field. If she does take any AOOs for movement she'll cast defensively, 1d20 + 19 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 19 + 2 = 34.
She then walks back into the fray, drawing her godfather's rapier as she does.
Spending an action point for an extra movement action [11/13]. AC only like 17 when demagicked. Rolling some more CL checks for the second position (counted from furthest west and clockwise as before).
A part of Astraden's subconscious is tempted to give in to the urgings of the shadow-lights, imagining the cosmic joke of a statue that cannot give its madness utterance, but her waking mind is too occupied trying to figure out what the creatures are, and the moment passes. Nor is she particularly impressed by the shadows' own duplicates. "Just so y'all are aware, that there thing's just a sandhill heron out past its migration. Thing probably got stuck here when the whole island got sucked into the demiplane."
I should note that Astraden's AC in her bar here is not updated (nor is her HP). Pre-haste she only had 24 AC (though, that was also while she was flat-footed, so Storm Dragon might have caught it).
Also, as an aside, is it praxis to sum together damage from separate attacks from a shadow conjure before dividing by five for disbelief? In Astraden's case it only makes a difference of one hit point, so I'm fine if it's easier for y'all. As it stands, [124/131]
Astraden steps back from her assailant's frenzied pecks and wingbeats and calls to Olidammara. The magic settles uneasily over Eben's existing group magic, like strong spirits mixing with coffee. As she finishes the spell, she also splits off a duplicate of her own.
Round 1: Five-foot step, blessing of fervour on the whole party, and copycat.
What Knowledge check would be applicable to identify these creatures?
Astraden, being late to bed and late to rise, misses Lashonna's dream. After rising and eating the last of her suspicious hardtack and jerky, she clears her throat and begins her incantations. She gives Olidammara's blessing to Clunk's overcoat, marks out a circle of silver dust around herself, and says a prayer of finding for Cuetzpalli.
Astraden will cast magic vestment on Clunk, magic circle against evil on herself, and find the path on Cuetzpalli to find the quickest route to the forest's center.
"It's not uncommon for planes to have strange time effects. Not weird at all, considering how this place seems designed to resist the passage of time."
New Feat Spell Penetration
(5+2+1)x2=16 hp BAB +1
Fort +1, Ref +1, Will +1
Spellcasting: CL +2 (+4 vs. SR), concentration +2, +1 8th-level spell, +1 7th-level spell, +1 6th-level spell, +1 5th-level spell
Channel damage +1d6
Channel energy +1d6 to undead
Trickery domain copycat +1 round (+2 with robe), master's illusion +1 round (+2 with robe)
2+1+1 skill points in soul warden class: +1 Bluff, +3 Knowledge (religion)
2+1+1+1 skill points in cleric class: +1 Knowledge (religion), +1 Linguistics, +1 Perception, +1 Sense Motive, +1 Spellcraft
New Language Celestial
Harvest +1 use per day
Undead imposition
12 action points
It's been four years since last level up, apparently. Mind completely f#~!ing blown. (Last time we leveled up I was apparently in the middle of moving - not to our current apartment, but to the apartment before that!)
Ability score increase +1 Wisdom
5+2+1=8 hp BAB +1
Spellcasting: CL +1, concentration +1, +1 8th-level spell, +1 7th-level spell
Trickery domain copycat +1 round with robe, master's illusion +1 round with robe
2+1+1 skill points in soul warden class: +1 Knowledge (religion), +1 Linguistics, +1 Perception, +1 Spellcraft
New language Ignan
New spells from channel castingDisrupting weapon, halt undead, searing light. Astraden can now also prepare command undead as a 2nd-level spell.
Corpse whisperer +1
Bonus feat Channel Smite
Harvest +1 use per day
Undead imposition +1 DC, +1 round duration
Eben peeks into his wrapped bundle. "Maybe you're right about that. A skull would be easier to bronze than a rubbery head anyway. You got any spells that will take the meat off?"
"I think so. I've been learning more spontaneous spells, lately. This is one of them."
She places a hand on her holy symbol and another on the carefully wrapped bundle. "Smälta."
With a wet, grinding noise, the ball of cloth diminishes slightly in size.
Channel damage [6/7].
Might be a bit delayed on figuring out new spell prep. Gotta go to bed soon!
"Well that's between me and Lowri then," Astraden says, making a face at Eben. "I think a bone is way cooler than a rotting head."
At camp:
"It's been a while since I paid my respects to Olidammara," Astraden replies to Cuetzpalli. "I could stand to eat and rest some, now that we're not racing against the Vecnans."
"Hey, who put this weird greasy powder in my backpack?" She looks around suspiciously.
Astraden nods understandingly. She goes and picks up a charred, misshapen bone that might have once belonged to Darl Qethos or Zerces the Packlord. "This if for Lowri too. She would love this."
She puts the rapidly disintegrating bone into her backpack.
Astraden observes Carina's exchange with her mother without making any critical comments. She briefly reflects on how strange it must be to have a mom who is an actor in the events of one's life and not just a collection of memories.
Veil :0
Also, Feral, don't forget that Tanith has shield of faith for another 3 minutes or so.
Astraden fist-bumps Cuetzpalli in the shoulder. "Hey, Kord can cast spells, right? He'd be fine with buffing himself, I'm sure. Unless he was fighting some weirdo who didn't have any magic at all."
"Wait, let me do a proper prayer, too. There is a pretty strong deity named Kord/One time he got drunk and in bed with a board/But then when he woke up/His wood was all scuffed/Olidammara helped him get it restored." Astraden takes off her mask and presses it into Tanith's left bicep, leaving a black-and-white tattoo. "Don't worry, it'll wash off."
Astraden stands in a glowing square for 8 rounds and is fully healed!
"Hey, anyone need to be healed after that fight? Eben says it's free to use his magical sunbeams," she says, hooking her thumb back at the beach as she traipses up to the battle scene again.
Bluff to play it cool:10 + 15 = 25Or 27 if good hope is still running.
Sense Motive (bracelet of bargaining):1d20 + 12 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 12 + 4 = 34 Appraise on belt:1d20 + 10 ⇒ (4) + 10 = 14
Astraden finishes sawing through a particularly tough elbow sinew and slips Darl's bracelet onto her wrist. Her eyes widen as she appraises the situation, taking in the available information and sorting it in a way she's been hitherto incapable of. Or so she thinks, at least.
"Eben. He's clearly got something in mind. Spiny's Six, we need to talk."
She picks up Vecna's/Darl's hand inconspicuously and walks down to the beach.
Bluff to act normal:10 + 15 + 5 = 30
Beach:
"So, we've got this evil hand. And Krekie is weakened. It might be 'a bit rude,' but do we actually think she's going to do good things with it?" Astraden makes scare quotes at "a bit rude" with the fingers of the Hand of Vecna. "It's probably the only thing worth as much as Kelmarchen. And I don't really want to see Kelmarchen in the hands of this guy. Even if it would be pretty funny, like Tanith fighting with a butter knife."
"We could offer the Hand up as collateral, and then . . . see what happens from there. What do y'all think?"
"Yeah. Who knows if it works when the bird is dead."
"Not to be a balanced party, but I have hit you guys with friendly fire before, too. Maybe this is just the start of a wonderful friendship between us and Krathanos."
