Vissakiel is shocked by the sudden onslaught, but manages to keep his senses about him. Although flight might give them the best chance at survival against these strange dwarven warriors, fleeing blindly through unknown tunnels that must have more traps in them isn't a good option, either.
Deciding to focus on the most dangerous foe, first, the elf steps just out of his closest opponent's reach. Quickly uttering a sibilant incantation, he calls up his arcane energies and unleashes a coruscating ray from his outstretched hand, directing it at the dwarves' armor-clad leader.
Five-foot step away from the dwarf, then casts ray of enfeeblement at the armored guy. (If the armored guy is already down, I'll cast the spell on the nearest dwarf.)
Ray of Enfeeblement (ranged touch): 1d10(18)+2= 20 (woohoo!) Ray of Enfeeblement (strength penalty): 1d6(2)= 2
Spell Resistance (if any) applies. Caster level check: 1d20(6)+1= 7
Fortitude save halves strength penalty: DC 14
(If I'm surrounded and can't cast a spell, I'll swing my staff a the nearest enemy.)
Attack with Staff: 1d20(5)+1= 6 (Looks like the winning streak is over.)
Vissakiel winces and grits his teeth as the pain from Camris's kick shoots up through his leg.
"You little! What was that for?" he hisses. It takes the elf a moment before he can focus on the armored figure and other strange dwarves. As he brings his hand up and prepares to call upon the elemental chill within him and aims a blast of ice at the nearest foe, he tries to determine who the "Maimed One" is.
Initiative: 1d20(13)+2= 15
Ray of Frost (ranged touch attack): 1d20(18)+2
Ray of Frost damage (if any): 2 points of cold damage
Knowledge (arcana): 1d20(3)+6= 9
Knowledge (nature): 1d20(7)+6= 13
Knowledge (religion): 1d20(15)+2= 17 (if the Maimed One is a common religious reference, I should be able to recognize it...otherwise...no.)
No worries. I figured I'd try the second roll in the off chance that some kind of general knowledge (i.e., intelligence check), might reveal info about them...but that limit on untrained knowledge checks is a b***h. I knew it was a long shot. :D
That just goes to show that luck only gets one so far, eh? ;-)
Vissakiel frowns, having no idea what the halfling is talking about. "Is it possible these Hellknights followed you through whatever portal you took to get here?"
How much would Vissakiel know about Hellknights? I doubt there'd be much info from knowledge (arcana), but just in case:
Knowledge (arcana): 1d20(11)+6= 17;
Knowledge (anything else relevant): 1d20(20)+2= 22 (omg...two in one night?! I've NEVER been this lucky with dice!)
Vissakiel turns his head to capture an errant sound. He speaks softly, but his tone is quite urgent. "Someone is coming. They are not kobolds. We should get out of sight."
The elf looks around quickly for the nearest place to hide.
Perception: 1d20(20)+2= 22
Stealth: 1d20(16)+2= 18
I think I might have to go back to using the online dice roller...these rolls are getting hard to believe. I'm usually not this lucky with dice.
"Westcrown? Isn't that in Cheliax? We are far from there, my little friend. It would take you days to get there from the nearest coast...weeks by land, no doubt. How, exactly, were you trying to escape from Westcrown's underground?"
As yet unaware of Khismia's dilemma, Vissakiel continues to focus on Cleo and her dark companion.
"Cleo, I realize that you have just escaped from the kobolds, but would you be willing to accompany us back into their lair? Your knowledge of the place could be valuable. There is greater strength in numbers, as well. Of course, if you are injured or need other assistance, I will understand if you cannot stay."
The sorcerer studies the summoner as he waits for her answer.
Vissakiel watches Cleo and listens carefully to her chant while he waits patiently for the answer to his questions. He gives no outward sign, but he, too, is curious to know more about Cleo's lost companion.
Vissakiel frowns, imagining having to face 12 or more kobolds at once when his aim won't even allow him to take down a single one.
"And when you say that your skin is too smooth for his tastes, what exactly did you mean? That is, other than the fact that he must be absolutely mad." The elf gives the woman a sly wink, but still manages to keep his expression relatively impassive.
Vissakiel raises a questioning eyebrow. "Do you mean that literally? Anything you can tell us about the situation might be helpful in ending the threat of these bandits."
Temporarily ignoring the two women's banter, the pale-skinned elf spares his staff an accusatory look, as though the weapon itself should have learned something from the well-placed strike of Diviha's sword.
He nudges the body of one of the kobolds with his foot, rolling it over and examining it for anything of value while making sure the little beast is actually dead.
Once his work is finished, and the half-elf woman is free of her chains, he turns, simultaneously rearranging his expression from one of malicious disgust to a smile of warm concern.
"I hope that these scaly pests haven't harmed you. Are you alright, Miss...?" Vissakiel leaves the question hanging, unspoken, as he extends his long-fingered hand in a gesture of greeting.
Perception check to search each kobold body:
1: 1d20(10)+2 = 12
2: 1d20(20)+2 = 22
3: 1d20(18)+2 = 20
{Oooh! Paris likes the d20 from the Second Darkness set...and it likes him, too!}
Refusing to trust his poor aim any longer, Vissakiel closes the distance to the kobold and swings his staff as hard as he can at the reptilian creature's head.
Slightly confused by Diviha's constant repetition of porcine meditative chants, Vissakiel sizes up the situation...
Despite his previously poor aim, Vissakiel once more thrusts out his hand, finger extended toward the remaining kobold. A surge of cold rushes out toward the scaly creature.
Touch attack (ray of frost): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7
Damage (if any): 1d3 ⇒ 3
EDIT: OH, FOR CRYING OUT LOUD!
Realizing that the threat of these kobolds will only increase as they delve deeper into these tunnels, the elf decides it's time to invoke his own magical defenses.
Gripping his staff, he concentrates briefly and is enveloped in a field of invisible force.
ROFLMAO!!! (And I don't use that acronym often.)
Wait a minute! I DID post...my action was that lame attempt at a ray attack, remember? Just let me know when it's my turn to roll poorly again. ;-)
In response to Diviha's warning, Vissakiel presses his back against the nearest wall of the tunnel. He watches the girl, hoping to catch some hint of what she has found.
Do we notice any change in Diviha's behavior as she hears these voices? In other words, can we tell she hears something, even though she hasn't said anything to us about it?
Vissakiel nods approvingly at Khismia and Diviha. "Well done! Alas, it appears that I will have no future as a town rat-catcher. I only hope that my skills fare better against the kobolds and their degenerate leader."
Cursing to himself, Vissakiel unleashes another ray of frost.
Ranged touch attack roll: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4
Ray of frost damage: 1d3 ⇒ 2
As for the discussion about critical hits, I am willing to do whatever you decide as DM, Dave. However, for RAW:
PRD wrote:
Spoiler:
Critical Hits: When you make an attack roll and get a natural 20 (the d20 shows 20), you hit regardless of your target's Armor Class, and you have scored a “threat,” meaning the hit might be a critical hit (or “crit”). To find out if it's a critical hit, you immediately make an attempt to “confirm” the critical hit—another attack roll with all the same modifiers as the attack roll you just made. If the confirmation roll also results in a hit against the target's AC, your original hit is a critical hit. (The critical roll just needs to hit to give you a crit, it doesn't need to come up 20 again.) If the confirmation roll is a miss, then your hit is just a regular hit.
A critical hit means that you roll your damage more than once, with all your usual bonuses, and add the rolls together. Unless otherwise specified, the threat range for a critical hit on an attack roll is 20, and the multiplier is ×2.
Exception: Precision damage (such as from a rogue's sneak attack class feature) and additional damage dice from special weapon qualities (such as flaming) are not multiplied when you score a critical hit.
Increased Threat Range: Sometimes your threat range is greater than 20. That is, you can score a threat on a lower number. In such cases, a roll of lower than 20 is not an automatic hit. Any attack roll that doesn't result in a hit is not a threat.
Increased Critical Multiplier: Some weapons deal better than double damage on a critical hit (see Equipment).
Spells and Critical Hits: A spell that requires an attack roll can score a critical hit. A spell attack that requires no attack roll cannot score a critical hit. If a spell causes ability damage or drain (see Special Abilities), the damage or drain is doubled on a critical hit.
Vissakiel hunkers down behind a stalagmite, hoping it is big enough to hide him. He peers around the stone column, waiting to strike with a ray of frost as soon as the first rat comes within range.
"Diviha, if you have a plan, I suggest we implement it forthwith." Even as he speaks, part of Vissakiel's consciousness turns to gathering the arcane power within him, preparing to channel the icy, northern climate through his body to use against his enemies.
Vissakiel smiles playfully, then looks around the room, recalling what he can about giant rats. He is particularly concerned about the possibility that the sighting of three giant rats may indicate the presence of a larger nest. It's also possible they carry diseases.
"If there are only three, then killing them should be fairly easy. Otherwise...." As his voice trails off, the elf looks meaningfully at the stairs and toward the landing where they briefly considered trying out the kobolds' flying contraptions.
Vissakiel tries to get the others' attention. When they are listening, he speaks as softly as he can. "We are not alone. There is a scratching sound coming from the path ahead of us. It sounds like something moving."
As the party moves forward, Vissakiel takes a moment to examine the stalagmite forest. Then, he concentrates the magical energies in his body in his eyes, enabling them to see the subtle ebb and flow of magic around him. He scans the room, looking for signs of any arcane devices or traps.
Perception: 1d20(11)+2=13, then
Casts detect magic and scans the room for one round (longer if auras are present).
Wow! I just realized my post is being edited below all the previous posts! I can read what came before my post while I'm typing! Woohoo!
So what is the plan? Are you going to try the hang gliders or take the stairs.
My vote is for the stairs. I tried to post in-character yesterday, but the site wouldn't let me do it.
The corners of Vissakiel's mouth turn down in a frown. "That does make sense," he says with a slight tone of disappointment. "But these devices do warrant further investigation when we are able."
The elf begins moving toward the stairs, but he stops short after a few paces. He turns his head toward Diviha, then extends his arm out in front of his body. "Mistress," he says with a wink, "I believe you still have the honor of preceding us."
Vissakiel takes a moment to wipe the gore from his staff using the kobold's clothing. Then, he moves over to the niche where the strange items have been hidden.
"Interesting. If I am not mistaken, I believe we have found their mode of transport over the crevasse. I wonder if they are capable of carrying heavier passengers?"
Seeing no one else has moved to kill the kobold, Vissakiel takes a firm grip on his staff and crosses the distance to the wounded creature in a few swift strides.
He plants his foot firmly on the kobold's back, pinning it to the ground. Raising the staff above his head, he practically hisses his words in Draconic. "Taking property is one thing. Denying a living creature its freedom and separating a sentient one from his or her family is something else. Your gods may see it differently, of course. I suggest you bring that up with them."
The elf punctuates each of his last five words by striking the kobold hard on the head. He pauses only to check for any signs of life in its body.
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