On a previous thread on this topic, I posted the following rant:
Seriously, what's the point?
Why do we demand to run perfect, Mary Sue PCs? Why are we afraid to run characters with actual low (5 or 6) attributes? Why would Mok simply pick up his stuff and leave the table if asked to create a character he didn't have absolute control over?
What kind of stories are we trying to tell?
Elric had a lousy constitution. Kull was not the brightest bulb on the tree. Frodo's physical strength was no match for any of his foemen. Conan was short-tempered and rash. Those faults and failings made them fun to read about. Give Frodo a Strength of 15 and a Dexterity of 20, and Weapon Focus in shortsword, and see whether that makes his saga any more compelling.
Players think that if their character start with terrific stats, the game will be easier for them. That's ridiculous. As a GM, I know that a party of 2nd-level characters with median stats of 17, and nothing below a 13, are able to face far tougher challenges than a party whose primary stats are 14, and who have some attributes in the 7-9 range. So I respond by pitching tougher challenges at them; the game isn't any easier for the super-human characters, the opposition is just proportionate to their superior selves.
Good GMs don't shove 1st-Level characters into an adventure designed for a 5th-level party, nor vice versa. Look at a module like "Hungry are the Dead"; every encounter in the entire adventure is a battle against undead, and there's no dire time limit. A party with a high-Charisma cleric will have a much easier time than a party made up of, say, enchanters and rogues. The GM, and hence the world, adjusts to provide suitable challenges for the PCs.
The net effect is that super-statted characters handle any given challenge earlier in their career, about 1 or 2 levels before characters with (4d6, drop the low die, arrange in order) stats. So, they step out of the low-fantasy problems ("I need to climb the rope! What are we going to do about food? Look out: it's a hobgoblin!") right away.
Why not just start the campaign at 3rd level?
---
One method I hadn't heard of, but think might work: roll 21 dice, and assign 18 of them to stats as you please. So, if you roll:
For example, 21d6 give you (6, 3, 1, 3, 3, 1, 3, 1, 3, 5, 4, 2, 4, 3, 5, 4, 4, 5, 2, 5, 3). You might pitch the three 1's, and end up with
STR {3, 3, 3} = 9
DEX (3, 3, 2} = 8
CON {4, 4, 4} = 12
INT (3, 3, 2} = 8
WIS {6, 5, 5} = 16
CHA {5, 5, 4} = 14
a perfectly good cleric. This provides the dice some random influence (only one '6' means that the maximum stat is 16), but gives the player a lot of freedom as well.
It scurries up to Rasina and hisses at her There would seem to be a piece of parchment tied to its body.
Spoiler:
"Unto Rasina, staunch ally against the unliving, devotee of aerial flexibility, and mistress of my secret heart, come fond greetings from Richard, the fixed foot of your encompassing journeys.
"I have received word that my holy and noble order has sent me a companion, meaning for me to train him in the ways of battlefield ministry. He arrives here now, and as I am sworn to protect this tomb, he will likely gain but little skills watching me.
"If it be the case that you are still alive, I should send him to you, to further the cause of his education, to provide support for your mission, and to feel the bitterest pangs of envy, so to practice the spiritual exercises that would tame them."
Taking 10 on a Sense Motive roll, if you're actually trying to gain the spirits, you can tell that trying to engage the orc as he's carrying out his gravely wounded and dead companions, would be the wrong time.
If you just want to establish yourself as a lout, so that he under-estimates you, go ahead.
Mikka
Spoiler:
the orc's words hang troubling in your mind. What sort of enclosure would make it 'perilous' to retrieve her, before dusk? Thinking carefully, you sift through an orderly list of the druidic seplls known to you, and come up empty.
Alia, you see a small black lizard, about the size of a squirrel, skitter across the sands, coming from the north. It's moving towards you, with purpose.
Sounds good, I was thinking if we wanted to go back to investigate the tomb where we met the arachnea, checking up on Richard`s Cleric seems reasonable to do (and would be an easy in if Scran wanted to play a Cleric),...
Unless anyone stops them, the orc and human reclaimer will heal the injured dire tigers and, with the assistance of the giant beetle, collect up the bodies of the demons and the female reclaimer, leaving the corpses of the kamadan and the bird.
The human, still a little wobbly on his feet, turns to Artimus. "If you are attacked out here, give a cry, and we shall do what we can to come. But do not enter the green lands without our leave." He looks significantly at Mikka as he finishes his order, and then they all move into the forest.
The orc nods, gravely but resolutely. "We are agreed.
"Our Order does not permit us to swear, on the name of the Shalmlord, nor any other thing, but I give you my word. An hour past sunset, we shall bring the woman here and release her to your care."
He looks at Veren, "The delay is necessary. Retrieving her before then would injure her.
"We would appreciate any contributions you might care to make," he says, gesturing at the corpses of the demonic creature you felled just five minutes ago. His expression turns to irritation and discomfort. "I don't understand why she said that 'warm was sufficient.' The more powerful a creature, the more strength we can draw from it, to turn it to our ends. But a living creature is far more ... useful ... than one even recently dead."
And with that, he casts bear's endurance on the unconscious male reclaimer.
The orc's expression drops from urgency to offense, and he stares hard at Durnast as he draws his scimitar. "Are you trying to tell us our business? After all this?" he asks, wearily.
Veren decides to trust the orc. He moves to L5 and feeds the potion he got from the reclaimer to Mikka. This one probably isn't fortified, but it will have to do...
Actually, it's a potion of bear's endurance. Mikka's Constitution rises 2 points, and she gains 14 temporary hit points.
The orc repeats: "As the acting senior Reclaimer, I speak for the council, and we accept your proposal. If you can deliver to us the monsters you slay, we can put them to use. If you can give us your word on this, we do not need to hold the woman hostage."
Hmm I see the flaw with this, as you need to be able to SPEAK, he he. But isn't Nadeq outside the spell effect?
Hmmm. "Dismissible" is news to me.
Right before Chamomile's action, Nadeq backs up 5', to remove himself from Artimus' proximity, and dismisses the spell.
Spellcraft: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (4) + 11 = 15 The orc recognizes the spell that the goblin casts. He breaks his hold and calls out: "Tanada! Coruum del! Coruum!" Handle animal: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (6) + 14 = 20. The dire tiger appears startled to hear the orc's voice.
Dire tiger: savages Mikka.
Artimus: moves to Mikka's side (the beetle does not attack) and badly misses the smilodon.
Nadeq: still holding
Orc Reclaimer: turns to Veren, suddenly able to speak.
Veren and Chamomile:
Spoiler:
"We agree to your terms! Let me call off Tanada there and we can end this peacefully." He looks ruefully at the body of the female Reclaimer, and his lips curl back in a fierce show of his fangs. "So much blood to be spilt for one woman's arrogance."
Giant beetle: holds its action.
New Round Rasina: Rushes to save Swiftpaws.
Chamomile:
Veren:
Human Reclaimer: stable.
Mikka: stabilizes.
Durnast: Alia:
New Round Rasina: Kills the Kamadan.
Chamomile: After Rasina acts, moves to the smilodon and stings it.
Veren: Drops the dire tiger.
Human Reclaimer: stable.
Mikka: Hits the remaining smilodon with three flame bolts. All three hit, which fairly enrages the animal.
Durnast: Casts glitterdust, making the tiger easier to see but1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17 not blind.
Alia: withdraws to the west. She tries to keep the tiger's attention, but the other biped throwing fire at it is far more interesting.
Swiftpaws: still dying.
Dire tiger: decides to avoid the slushy terrain by jumping at Mikka. It needs to jump 10 feet, from a standing start. (Acrobatics: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (6) + 14 = 20, which does the job.) It roars a tremendous bellow of pain and fury, and pounces:
Left claw: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (19) + 18 = 37; damage 2d4 + 8 ⇒ (4, 3) + 8 = 15
Right claw: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (19) + 18 = 37; damage 2d4 + 8 ⇒ (3, 2) + 8 = 13
Bite: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (12) + 18 = 30; damage 2d6 + 8 ⇒ (4, 5) + 8 = 17
(Well, that's the right attack to not roll a 19 to hit! Mikka, am I correct in thinking that this puts you at -12, with death in two rounds?)
Artimus: you're up.
Nadeq: still holding
Orc Reclaimer:
Giant beetle:
Chris, I didn't see myself on that initiative. I know I'm at the bottom somewhere, just wanted to point out I got missed.
Sorry, old bean; your full attack and lay-on of hands to staunch some of your wounds was noted and tallied, but not acknowleged.
Veren's scream goes without effect, but his attacks all hit, slashing into the dire tiger again and again. The last one is enough to set the beast collapsing at -1 hit points. (Note to Chamomile: without your stinger attack, it would still be up and active!)
Yes, Alia can tell that the nearby dire tiger interpretted the kamadan's last act as an attack, which broke Durnast's spell. It took a round to reorient itself, but it's back to being big and nasty.
You can withdraw through difficult terrain without additional complication. The cat is a savage animal, working without any guidance, in an environment (ice storm, rainbow pattern, sleeping mists) which it really doesn't understand, which just makes it angrier; make either a Bluff check or an Intimidate check to keep its attention focused on you.
When the Kamadan's most recent sleep cloud faded, you and Alia were blinking and staggering to stand up straight. So was the dire tiger caught between you, and its eyes are now focused on Alia.
And yet, by his sacrifice, he's bought Artimus the freedom the paladin might need to act, so it might not be the mark of failure yet.
Nadeq?
The orc issues a silent command to the tiger, which goes unheeded. Presenting an expression of frustration, he looks straight at Artimus. He points to the paladin and then, in no uncertain terms, at the dire tiger over by Alia. He otherwise holds his action.
The giant beetle backs off 5' from Artimus. It's hard to read the expression of a creature botoxed by an enormous exoskeleton, and controlled by little more than a sequence of over-developed nerve ganglia, but it looks a little reluctant and pouty. It holds the rest of its action.
New Round Rasina: Kills the Kamadan.
Chamomile: After Rasina acts, moves to the smilodon and stings it.
Veren: you're up
Male Human Reclaimer: stable.
Mikka: Make a Perception roll, please.
Durnast: Make a Perception roll, please.
Alia: Make either a Perception or Sense Motive roll, please.
Swiftpaws: still dying
Dire tigers: the one by Artimus and Veren has taken a number of attacks. The one by Alia is still only lightly injured.
The haste spell is still in effect, yep. Actually dying and being brought back to life; that would negate the spell, but just dropping unconscious doesn't.
Montegue spends his ki point on AC, rather than healing (they're both swift actions). Montegue's AC is now 31, - 4 against melee attacks for being prone, yes?
Moving 5' to avoid the Attack of opportunity would be a full-round action. Montegue wouldn't be able to stand up till next round.
The smilodon attempts to bite Montegue as the monk struggles to stand, releasing Artimus from its grasp! Attack: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (19) + 18 = 37 ; 2d6 + 8 ⇒ (1, 4) + 8 = 13 Confirmation of critical 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (12) + 18 = 30 (If that's a hit, then add 2d6 + 8 ⇒ (2, 1) + 8 = 11 points of damage.)
Rasina, you don't have a flank with Chamomile, but between the dagger and the bleeding damage, the monster sinks to the ground, blood seeping out of the snakes' mouths.
Chamomile can either move through the forest, which is difficult terrain with all the trees, or else he can fly up 10', zip over the forest canopy, and drop down on the smilodon. Now, getting to O6 is a total of (10 + 50 + 10) = 70 feet of movement, which would be too much for the little guy, except that he's hasted and moves at 90 rather than 60.
The dire tiger (1d20 + 12 ⇒ (18) + 12 = 30 saves against the sleep easily. But it does take double damage. It's still up.
And Nadeq, it's obvious to you that
Spoiler:
the second dire tiger, the one in the ice storm, the one that Durnast mesmerized, has shaken off the effects of the hypnotic pattern. Spellcraft check to determine the reasons why.
Rasina, yes, Acrobatis is the skill to use if a prone character wants to move 5 feet, while remaining prone, as a full-round action. I thought Montegue was trying to stand up, which provokes an AoO. Montegue, was I wrong? What square are you trying to enter?
How would an Acrobatics check allow Montegue to avoid the AoO? It determines the success people to cross narrow surfaces, move through threatened squares, jump high and avoid some of the damage of falls.
Quandary, the way I read Nadeq's post, he first spoke in Goblin, and then tried to attract Chamomile's attention to use telepathy in Abyssal. Re-reading, I still don't think he was speaking in Abyssal.
Montague, how are you avoiding the Attack of Opportunity? Is there a Monk ability or a Feat you're using?
Artimus. Good job. (The extra damage from the critical: 1d8 + 9 ⇒ (6) + 9 = 15 points.)
Durnast pushes past the light-headedness and confusion, catches the gist of what's going on, and casts his spell intothe air, right above the enormous tiger next to Alia. Cascades of all manner of colors pour down upon the combatants, but only the creature is close enough to the effect to be ensnared by its magic.
Will save: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18 - Well that was close. The big cat stares at its own coruscating shadows, and then up at the light, its mind caught in the various designs and shifting patterns ... but it's a delicate thing, that trance. Any clear threat against the creature will break it, and anything the tiger would normally be wary about, such as the approach of a stranger, might do so as well.
--+--+--
Alia lets fly another five arrows at the creature next to Artimus. (The enemy is over 50' away from you, Alia, and there is an enormous beast right next to you, so you have to fire high and let the arc of the arrows bring them down on the distant tiger. That makes things a little tricky, but you don't want to disturb the i]rainbow pattern[/i].) Two shafts strike home, but it's still steady on its feet.
--+--+--
The smilodon in M5 (1-3, Artimus; 4, orc; 5,Veren: 1d5 ⇒ 2) unleashes its full attack against Artimus.
Artimus is held. Next round, it'll get a rake as well.
--+--+--
The Kamadan's snakes snap into the air where it thinks Chamomile is. (There is only partial concealment bonus for invisibility because the pseudodragon is within 5'; the Kamadan has scent and can pinpoint Cam's location)
Snake head 1: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 2 = 21
Snake head 2: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 2 = 15
Snake head 3: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 2 = 12
Snake head 4: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 = 17
Snake head 5: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 2 = 15
Snake head 6: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5
None hit.
The rest of the Kamadan will take a 5' step west (which I cannot show on the map, as I merged some cells) and breathe another cloud of vapors, not quite realizing that Rasina is immune.
Alia, the smilodon, and Mikka, please make a DC 14 Fortitude save.
The smilodon 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (17) + 12 = 29 realizes it's in a cloud of magical vapors, and shrugs off the effects of the Kamadan's breath. It turns away from the rainbow pattern, looking for the cause.
--+--+--
Montegue: you're at 4 hit points, conscious but prone. Veren is standing over you, and the tang of healing potion and alcohol is still on your lips. What actions would most bring honor to you and your employer?
Chamomile:
Artimus:
Nadeq:
Orc Reclaimer:
Giant beetle:
--+--+--
Durnast:
Spoiler:
Reading the description of rainbow pattern, I'm pretty sure that it enraptures targets when it forms, and moving the pattern can get those victims to follow it like a will-o-wisp. If the pattern moves close to new creatures, which were outside its area of effect when cast, they're not subject to the spell's effects.
If the Smilodon PASSES its save, (as a Free Action) Durnast wills the spell effect to move to {F-G,11-12} (covering the Kamadan but nothing else), and maintains Concentration.
First, Durnast can't necessarily tell whether the smilodon makes its save or not. That's a Sense Motive roll, and that's not a free action.
Second, he can move the rainbow pattern next round, if you like. But if he sets the spell over the smilodon and immediately whisks it away, the creature is certain to successfully save.
In other words, you can't keep attacking foes until you find one that fails its save.
--+--+--
Nadeq was yelling in Goblin, and then trying to attract Chamomile's attention. Does Durnast speak Goblin, by any chance?
I'm afraid that's going to take a little more work, Nadeq.
Nothing gives Chamomile the ability to speak Abyssal. You are out of range for the pseudo-dragon's telepathy. And, it looks as if Chamomile has more pressing issues at the moment than initiating contact with Nadeq.
Taking a quick decision Nadeq dispells his silence spell and yell to the orc in goblin...
How are you dispelling the silence spell? There's nothing in the spell description that suggests the caster has any continuing control over its duration.
If you decide to cast dispel magic this current turn, it would work. "You automatically succeed on your dispel check against any spell that you cast yourself."
I had Nadeq Withdraw as a full-round action, which avoids attacks of opportunity for the first 5' of movement, and the dire tigers have a reach of only 5'. (His pufferfish armor, with the poisonous spikes, kept him from being grabbed by the dire tiger last round.) But thank you for poking me to remember that the smilodons are actually 10'-space creatures. Map is updated to reflect that.
The orc
Spoiler:
has been trying to surrender. Come to think of it, he consistently disagreed with his superiors more agressive stances.
Mikka blasts the big cat nearby, drawing its attention.
Previous Round Chamomile: Wakens Durnast and then moves to flank the Kamadan with Rasina.
Artimus: moves to the smilodon and attacks (dodging the giant beetle)
Nadeq: -- not having heard from Ravn, I decided that Nadeq would Withdraw from the smilodon in the ice storm area. (I hadn't noticed Ravn's posting of Nadeq's move to A6; my deepest apologies) Male Orc Reclaimer: gives Veren a flask, and drinks something from an identical one. Looks healthier.
Giant beetle: doggedly pursues Artimus, attacking all the while.
This Round Rasina: Full attack on the Kamadan; the dagger struck well, catching the Kamadan in its (main) throat, a blow that would have been impossible were it not for Chamomile forcing it to split its attentions. It's heavily wounded, but that only makes it more vicious and dangerous.
Veren: moves to M3 and draws a potion of cure light wounds, and feeds it to Montegue's dying form, bringing the monk back from the brink of death.
Male Human Reclaimer: still dying.
Female Reclaimer: still dead
Mikka: you're up Durnast: waking
Alia:
Swiftpaws: asleep and dying
Dire tigers: wounded, both of them
Oh, excellent, then. Yes, the grab will miss Artimus as well.
So the paladin's bade strikes the dire tiger. He pulls it back into position, and sees nothing more than a thin line of red form on its haunches, starting to bleed. The tiger turns to look at you, and its pupils, on eyes the size of grapefruits, dilate. You wanted its attention? The basso profundo growl tells you that you've succeeded.
Nadeq withdraws from his own dire tiger, taking his full turn to move to D2.
--+--+--
The orc (acting with his orc ferocity) realizes that he can't speak. He digs two identical vials out of his pouch. He offers one to Veren and attempts to drink the other himself.
This provokes an attack of opportunity from Veren.
--+--+--
The giant beetle diligently continues its assault on Atimus. It moves through J4 to K5 and attempts yet again to capture the paladin in its steely grip. 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11.
--+--+--
Rasina: You're up.
Veren:
Male Human Reclaimer: still dying.
Female Reclaimer: still dead
Mikka:
Durnast: waking
Alia:
Swiftpaws: asleep and dying
Dire tigers: wounded, both of them
Montegue: dying
The Kamadan: wounded
Chamomile:
Artimus:
Nadeq:
Male Orc Reclaimer:
Giant beetle:
Seeing Montague drop, Artimus looks up at Veren and calls out "***"
Being in a silence area of effect and all.
Artimus wrote:
Before charging the smilodon. Moving through K4 to L5, provoking from the beetle as he goes if it is still interested in fighting with the orc down
The beetle does indeed wheel after Artimus, trying to chomp down on him. 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24; for 2d6 + 3 ⇒ (4, 2) + 3 = 9 hit points, plus, it attempts to grab him as he passes by. 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (11) + 9 = 20, which is enough to keep Artimus grappled.
Artimus wrote:
brings his sword up high over his head, striking down at the creature with his most powerful swing, hoping to distract it from finishing off the fallen monk.
Artimus, do you want to apply that attack to the giant beetle, or attempt to break free before its turn?
To flank the Kamadan, Chamomile has to reveal itself to the creature. (If it can't sense you, it isn't flanked.) Cam doesn't have to drop the invisibility; just calling out would be enough. But it would be able to try and attack you.
How bizarre. I have been consulting a print-out of the dire tiger page at d20pfsrd, from late May, and it lists Improved Critical with both the claws and the bite, and I was typing out a reply that said as much. I just looked up the site again, to make sure, and the site, along with my print bestiary, now agrees with you.
My apologies for the confusion.
So, hey there, scranford, the first claw should have done only 2d4 + 8 ⇒ (3, 2) + 8 = 13 points of damage instead of 24. Montegue folds, unconscious and dying in the desert sands, but if the rest of the party can survive the fight, the monk should life to report back to his superior in Camp.
All that is correct. -- From now going forward, with complex fights, I intend to note everybody's status every time I do an "actions this round" post.
Two other notes:
The beetle is the orc's companion animal, and has stayed on the defensive, protecting its master. Throughout the fight, the orc has been trying to speak to Artimus.
The dire tigers have exhibited loyalty to the reclaimers as a whole, but if they were under any sort of charm effect by either of the human reclaimers, that enchantment is broken.
Do I presume that Chamomile is spending a full round rousing Durnast?
Only the first of Montegue's strikes hits, but it's enough. The fire extinguishes, and standing in its place is an orc wearing hide armor, struggling to remain upright. His eyes roll back and he sinks to his knees.
As one door to the elemental plane of fire closes, another one opens. Rasina deftly dodges Mikka's spell.
The Smilodon right next to Alia: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (16) + 11 = 27; takes 15 points
Swiftpaws (asleep): 1d20 ⇒ 7; takes another 29 points
The Kamadan: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20; takes 15 points
The dire tiger in M7 (1, Artimus; 2 the giant beetle; 3-4, Montegue; 1d4 ⇒ 3) moves to M5, pouncing on Montegue.
The dire tiger in B8 (1-4, Alia; 5 Nadeq; 6, Mikka; 7, Rasina; 1d7 ⇒ 5) recognizes Nadeq from earlier in the day and moves 5' (to C7) to close on the goblin.
The sleet and ice on the ground keep this from being a 5' step, so the move would have provoked an attack of opportunity from Alia, if she'd had a melee weapon at hand. This isn't a charge, so the smilodon can't use pounce, and gets only one attack.
Under other circumstances, Nadeq, we presume that a 1d2 + 23 ⇒ (2) + 23 = 25 is a successful grab, but since you've activated the pufferfish armor, the smilodon get 1d6 ⇒ 3 points of damage from the spines, and 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (14) + 12 = 26 makes his save versus poison.
--+--+--
The kamadan is free from its bond with its deceased mistress, and many other animals would take this opportunity to flee. But the kamadan is a nasty sort, and its natural inclination is to erupt with savagery. Rasina, you take the full force of its attack.
He's a flickering creature of elemental fire, heavily damaged but not yet dropped.
The western smilodon takes a swipe at Alia. 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (13) + 18 = 31; it hits, for 2d4 + 8 ⇒ (1, 1) + 8 = 10 points of damage.
Alia, your arrows take down the female Reclaimer. She reverts to her human mortal self and, demonstrating her belief in the circle of life, dies.
The winds die down, and the upward pressure ceases. As you settle to the ground, an empty bow in your hand, you look to your thigh and see a fresh wound from the dire tiger, now standing in the snows only a foot or two away from you, the size of a bison. You hear a deep growl in its throat as it makes ready to attack.
Perhaps Mikka can take down the smilodon before it can kill Alia.
Alia, you cannot take a 5'-step in difficult terrain, and the ice storm is still creating that condition. But if you wanted to strike at the air elemental herself, situated at the heart of the whirlwind, you could do that without penalty. You would take an Attack of Opportunity from the smilodon.
The druid who became the air elemental does know how to cast spells in her altered form. Alia's drawing her bowsting is the triggering situation for the readied spell the female Reclaimer was holding: Warp Wood. Alia, you need to succeed in a DC 17 Will saving throw, with a +1 modofier due to the bow's dwoemer, in order to get off your attacks.
With the Reclaimers assuming elemental forms, this battle is a lot less chatty than I had originally planned.
As it turns out, a whirlwind does not provoke attacks of opportunity by moving.
I think the map is updated now. Mikka, and Alia. (Alia, even though you've kept your footing, archery from inside the whirlwind would be very difficult.)
Rasina: attacks the kamadan. Two attacks hit; it's still up.
Veren: attacks the fire elemental; you seem to disrupt his fire momentarily; he's flickering, but still up.
Male Human Reclaimer: dying.
Female Reclaimer: cannot seem to lift Mikka, so tries to take Alia out of the fight. Alia, I'll need two Reflex saves from you, to avoid taking damage from the whirlwind, and to avoid losing your footing.
Mikka:
Durnast: asleep
Alia:
Swiftpaws: asleep
Dire tigers:
Montegue:
The Kamadan
Chamomile:
Artimus:
Nadeq:
Male Orc Reclaimer:
Giant beetle:
The Kamadan did in fact include durnast's revised position in its breath attack.
Durnast and Swiftpaws both fold, due to the somnambulent vapors the Kamadan pours forth.
Chamomile tries waking Durnast. Durnast, give me another save, at +2.
Artimus, you'll need to make a Reflex saving throw if you want to avoid being silenced.
Artimus moves over to the orc (not half-orc) reclaimer that Montegue has grappled and attempts to hack away. It would appear that there is no modifier, in any way, to attack a foeman who's wrestling someone else, except that the Reclaimer is denied his Dexterity bonus. All three hits land. The Reclaimer is now covered in wounds and blood from the paladin's sword blows, but he is still kicking.
And Artimus, the Reclaimer female has assumed the form of a great whirlwind of air.
The orc says something to Artimus. (We'll check to see whether Artimus made his saving throw to see if you can tell what the orc says.) He then turns into a small being of elemental fire. Montegue, you can choose to let go as soon as you see him change. The intense fire causes 2d6 ⇒ (5, 2) = 7 points of damage, Reflex save (DC 17) to avoid half of that.
The beetle attacks Artimus. Attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20. If that bite attack hits, the beetle delivers 2d6 + 3 ⇒ (4, 1) + 3 = 8 points of damage, but 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (1) + 9 = 10 fails to grab the paladin in its deadly jaws.
And we're back to the top of the round. Rasina and Veren.
Nadeq: You're right, I'd missed reading Durnast's move. It makes little sense for the smilodon to ignore several other targets and go for him.
Rerolling the target (Alia, Swiftpaws, Rasina; 1d3 ⇒ 1) the smilodon attacks Alia, not Durnast, who is suddenly feeling much better.
Alia: you're right. ice storm doesn't lay down a sheet of ice, but rather deep snow and sleet.
Spoiler:
Hampered Movement: Difficult terrain, obstacles, and poor visibility can hamper movement. When movement is hampered, each square moved into usually counts as two squares, effectively reducing the distance that a character can cover in a move.
...
You can't run or charge through any square that would hamper your movement.
The smilodon intended to charge, still has enough movement to reach you on a single move action, but can only get in a single attack, and doesn't get the +2 attack bonus from charging. this round, Alia takes 10 points of damage from the smilodon.
Mikka, you manage to resist being pulled from the ground, but you still take 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5 points of damage from being buffeted about by the winds. You hit your target with the searing blast! Into which square do you move?
Durnast's horse is not immune to the damage, but the wizard lands easily on his feet. Chamomile is safe from the hail inside the handy haversack, but not from the intense cold. The spell (1d20 ⇒ 20) easily overcomes the pseudo-dragon's spell resistance.
Alia's first volley of arrows kills the falcon, which is good. Mikka, you've seen one of these little birds in action. It had taken out a fire giant in six seconds flat once, slicing it to ribbons. But not this bird. It falls, dead, at Veren's feet, and Alia shifts her attention to its master, who goes down with 56 points of damage.
A smilodon does indeed come bounding out from the south, as your attention is focussed on the reclaimers north of you. It charges into the area of the ice storm and attacks (Alia, Nadeq, Durnast, Durnast, Rasina, Rasina1d6 ⇒ 4) Durnast.
The creature has Pounce, which allows it to charge and make a full attack, including rake attacks if it has them. This must be a special exemption to the requirement that a creature has to initiate a grapple one round, and wait to rake next round.
Durnast, it tries to grab you. It takes a -10 to its CMB roll, in order to avoid gaining the Grappled condition itself (1d20 + 13 ⇒ (6) + 13 = 19. It does not manage to grab you.
Durnast, are you still up?
Another smilodon, recognizably the one that attacked Veren before, comes from deep within the forest and stands at M7, ready to leap onto Veren next round.
Montegue, the nearest Reclaimer is the flat-footed orc in L3. Consider him grappled.
The kamadan, a jaguar with long snakes bursting forth from its neck and shoulders like a serpentine corona, moves out of the forest, to stand at F11. To Durnast's relief, it seems to be no more than a magical animal. It growls softly as the central head breathes, and the scent of jasmine fills the aair in the ice storm's area. Durnast, Chamomile, Alia, Swiftpaws, Nadeq, and Rasina, you each need to make a Fortitude save against magical sleep.
Well, you've never seen someone so inebriated-looking seem so dangerous, spinning around and stumbling this way and that with his blade. Veren's rapier draws blood from both the woman and half-orc before either can put up a coherent defense. The steel scrapes off the beetle's shell, not doing much damage.
The woman gasps at the pain and calls out "Deathmane!" She then spins around and fades from view as a terrible whirlwind forms where she was standing. Mikka, you hear the wind right besides you, almost deafening, and you know that the Reclaimer means to take you out of the fight first. You need to make two Reflex saving throws; the first to avoid damage from the winds, and the second to keep from being picked up bodily and suspended in the air.
The male druid casts his little falcon off at Veren, takes a step away from Artimus, and casts ice storm, centered on D8. Alia, Swiftpaws, Durnast, Chamomile, Nadeq, Rasina, and Mikka take 3d6 ⇒ (6, 1, 6) = 13 points of bludgeoning damage from the hail, and 2d6 ⇒ (4, 2) = 6 points of damage from the intense cold, no save. (The whirlwind takes some damage, as well.) The entire area inside the effect is considered difficult terrain.
The little bird companion darts towards Veren's eyes at the commands of its master. 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (12) + 3 = 15; it misses, but the wing does draw a clear slice through Veren's armor, like a warm knife through butter. It arcs up, 25' in the air, right above Veren, getting ready to plunge down at him.
Mikka and Durnast, you're up, and then there might be tigers.
Also, if we are going to have a minute setup, do you mind if I burn a few lay on hands during that time? I can do it on myself as a swift, but I'd make sure the others were in better shape as well. I don't think artimus has anything else he would have been doing during that time and healing would be a priority.
Very nice map, Artimus. Thanks. When I get back home, I'll sign in and move the red team around as needed.
And feel free to spend that minute doing non-combat spells. (Healing won't alert their suspicions, but if the reclaimers recognize that somebody is casting bull's strength after the fight, they'll think that something's up.
All right. It takes the Reclaimers about a minute to get assembled and to arrive in position before Alia makes her ultimatuum. Bar that in mind for spell durations.
For this, we'll need a map. The boundary between the preserve and the desolation is pretty neatly delineated. The grass is to the south east, and desert to the north west. The squares R4, N5, K6, I7, G9, and F11 are on the boundary.
The Reclaimers and the giant beetle begin in the area around the dead monsters, H1 through L4, as described individually below. The Kamadan and Dire Tigers are not yet on the map.
You can begin anywhere in the area A6 - E11. Veren, if you like, you can be off to the east, in M1 through O3. Rasina, Montegue, and Artimus, you can begin in H1 through L4 as well as the Reclaimers. Or, if you choose, you could have chosen to move back to the rest of the party when the Reclaimers came to gather the monsters' corpses.
Please accounce your starting location when you post your first move.
Durnast, nothing seems to click as to an overriding theme or pattern, but the themes of the peryton and its shadow, and a yeti being driven by its appetites, are common themes. So, whatever their origins, these seem to be "trope creatures." (And they're not demons.)
Artimus reacts like lightning, slaying the foul pig-headed thing with a single blow.
The Reclaimer nods. "I'm impressed, farm-boy. We can make use of this travesty, if we act promptly." With that, the male human who was standing behind her in the trees steps forward, and does the orcish fellow you met earlier this morning, and the great beetle that follows him around. They move to lift the monster's corpse.
"You have won your elf a two-day reprieve." She looks at Veren, ready for his protest.
Interesting note: the dice rolls for my previous entry got re-rolled somewhere along the line, which is why Montague seems to have hit with a 12. The yeti-monster had a AC of 26.
Neither Rasina nor Montegue can react fast enough to get a solid hit off against the caterpillar-pig. Artimus, your Smite still counts against it.
If Artimus doesn't dispatch the thing in one blow, Alia, you'll want to make a Fortitude save.
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