A Road Home pbp

[Xabulba]

Your journey to the alpha camp took three weeks by ship from Sharn to a secret landing near Taer Zanathr in Valenar. Three more weeks of fast travel avoiding or bribing Valenar patrols to a position prepared by forward agents between Fort Tronish in Cyre and Fort Griffonclaw in Valenar. Ruing’s Raiders had finally arrived in position and ready to fulfill their orders to disrupt the flow of raw materials into Cyre, crippling their ability to make weapons of war.

The alpha camp was set up without military precision, no military insignias or banners are displayed. The sixty men, women and warforged of Ruing’s raiders wear no uniforms and don’t use military discipline or language. For all outside appearances Ruing’s raiders, an elite Special Forces company of the Breland army, are just one more group of deserters and bandits that have occasionally formed during the course of the without end.

It was a bright clear morning; your squad as well as the others are prepping to head out into Cyre and meet up with the other half of the company under the command of Cpt. Starn Felastur, an old warhorse who had risen from Pvt. To Cpt. In his thirty years of service, had already left in the middle of the night into Cyre. Today’s task is to seize the lightning rail from Gatherhold to Making, take or destroy the raw materials aboard and make the raid look like the Valenar are to blame.
Oddjob 101 is ready to head out with Col. Ruing at the lead when an alarm is sounded; something is approaching fast from the east from within Cyre. Riding quickly to the edge of camp followed by the rest of the company, you look into Cyre and see what looks like a billowing cloud of grey mist rolling towards your position faster than a bird can fly. Ruing calls for a quick retreat away from the approaching cloud but it is already too late. As the mist drifts over the front ranks you briefly hear the muffled sounds of screaming and then nothing. Col. Ruing shouts out words of power and a blue shield of magic spreads to envelope the squad and the nearby soldiers. The grey mist hits the shield with the sound of flesh tearing, and a soul numbing cold. A feeling of weightlessness and euphoria sweep over you as you black out.
Pain throbs throughout your body as you struggle back to consciousness. Somehow everyone covered by Ruing’s shield is sprawled about your camp and just a few yards away is a unmoving wall of mist extending north and south as far as you can see. Around you are the sounds of movement as the others begin to move. Looking to rally the troops you notice that everyone except for the members of Oddjob 101 is a twisted mockery of their former selves. Flesh and armor fused together as if both had run like water and frozen only partially mixed. The mockeries of your former comrade’s look to Oddjob with can only describe as hunger in their eyes and begin to approach. Some of the mockeries burst into flame while others trail a path of frost and they all speak with one voice ”Help me….help me……help me…”.

MAP

Everything right of the the line is Mournland. If you enter you have a chance of becoming lost.
Trees are -2 to Movement and ranged attacks.

Roll for INIT.

[Malick]

Init (1d20+7=10)

Don't forget to add 2 to your init rolls for the pleasure of Malick's company.

"Got us some company. Not the good kind. Anyone else thinking we need to clear the ground a little?"

Malick unslings his halberd and sizes up the situation.

Do we recognise any of these ex-people?

[Xabulba]

Malick wrote:

Do we recognise any of these ex-people?

They were members of one of the regular squads you have worked with on past jobs. You know their names and ranks and have taken more than a few GP off of them playing cards.

Lt. Brenn Galdal
Sgt. Neven Lasser
Sgt. Yanis de'Dennith
Pvt. Malain Conuld
Pvt. Jass Daermor
Pvt. Meri Brandybottom
Pvt. Xosric Kohkod
Pvt. Craiththall Bing

[Typhus Aurelius]

Init: 1d20+7=14 +2 from Malick = 16

[Rennik Ilzander]

Including bonus from Malick: 1d20+7=14.

[Mountain]

Init: 1d20+13=29

Moutain quickly readies himself, head moving almost birdlike as his eyes moves from target to target. He has already discounted his former friends as anything living, his mind quickly and impassively moving them into the same category with the Karrnathi undead.

"Let us deal with the situation at hand, sir, unpleasant as it may be."

[Malick]

"What I like about you, Mountain, is that you're practical."

Looking at the advancing figures he calls out -

"Help's coming. Not so sure what kind."

[Xabulba]

Mountain 29
Lt. Galdal 26
Sgt. de'Dennith 26
Typhus 14
Rennik 14
Sgt. Lasser 13
Pvt. daermor 13
Malick 10
Pvt. Brandybottom 9
Pvt. Kohkod 9
Pvt. Bing 9
Ferdinand ?
Flint ?

[Ferdinand Salatic]

Initiative: 1d20+7=13

"What in Khyber happened here?" Ferdinand readies his tratnyr, lightning already coursing down it.

[Flint Blackblade]

Initiative Check, 1d20+10=29+2 from Malick = 31

[Xabulba]

Flint 31
Mountain 29
Lt. Galdal(cold corpse) 26
Sgt. de'Dennith(cold corpse) 26
Typhus 14
Rennik 14
Ferdinand 13
Sgt. Lasser(flaming corpse) 13
Pvt. daermor(flaming corpse) 13
Malick 10
Pvt. Brandybottom(slavering corpse) 9
Pvt. Kohkod(slavering corpse) 9
Pvt. Bing(slavering corpse) 9

Flint is up.

[Flint Blackblade]

Flint as shocked as any to see his former comrades turn against Oddjob, decides the only course of action is to free them from this gross affliction through a swift death.
Killer's Eye encounter power with Short Sword vs N24 (cold corpse?) then shift one space south to N23.
Killer's Eye, 1d20+16=18 vs cold corpse Ref, 3d6[3W]+3d8[SA]+2d6[Sword]+10[Dex+Arms+Sword]=9+17+11+10=47 damage

[Xabulba]

Flint gracefully slashes open the belly of Lt. Galdal, severely wounding him and deftly steps aside before his entrails spill upon the ground.

Flint 31
Mountain 29
Lt. Galdal(cold corpse) 26 (bloodied)
Sgt. de'Dennith(cold corpse) 26
Typhus 14
Rennik 14
Ferdinand 13
Sgt. Lasser(flaming corpse) 13
Pvt. daermor(flaming corpse) 13
Malick 10
Pvt. Brandybottom(slavering corpse) 9
Pvt. Kohkod(slavering corpse) 9
Pvt. Bing(slavering corpse) 9

Map

Mountain's turn.

[Mountain]

Mountain steadies himself and moves forward to the nearest foe, atempting a simple maneuver to push it back with his shield as he strikes the once-comrade-now-monster with his mace. He lets loose a mechanical roar as he finds a significant opening.

Move to L22, Attack thing in L21 with Tide of Iron, attempting to move it to M20 and shift into its former position at L21. Will Mark if attack hits.

Attack roll: Natural 20+ 5 base+ 2 prof+ 4 str+ 2 enhance+ 1 class = 34 vs. AC

If that's a crit it's 16 physical and 7 electrical damage, plus the movement.

If it's not a crit, I'm quite frightened of these things as I can't hit them without a 20, and deal only 15 physical, plus the movement.

[Xabulba]

The remains of Pvt. Bing explode into fragments of bone and metal when hit by Mountain’s mighty swing killing it instantly.

Lt. Galdal steps forward and envelops Mountain, Malick, Rennik and Flint in an aura of numbing cold freezing them where they stand. Swinging a misshapen fist at Flint barley clipping the nimble shifter doing 7HP damage and an ongoing 5cold (save ends).

Sgt. de’Dennith steps up between Ferdinand and Typhus covering them in its freezing aura and lashing out wildly at Ferdinand and misses.
Everyone is immobilized until the cold corpse’s next turn and receives 5cold damage if you begin your turn next to one. Typhus is double affected and will receive 10cold damage at the beginning of his next turn.

Rolls

Flint 31
Mountain 29
Lt. Galdal(cold corpse) 26 (bloodied)
Sgt. de'Dennith(cold corpse) 26
Typhus 14
Rennik 14
Ferdinand 13
Sgt. Lasser(flaming corpse) 13
Pvt. Daermor(flaming corpse) 13
Malick 10
Pvt. Brandybottom(slavering corpse) 9
Pvt. Kohkod(slavering corpse) 9
Pvt. Bing(slavering corpse) 9(dead)

Map.

Typhus and Rennik your up.

[Malick]

DM

Spoiler:

Just one point - different types of damage don't stack, so Flint is only taking 5 ongoing cold. The damage came from different sources though so he still has to save twice. Welcome to the joyous world of tracking ongoing damage :D

[Rev Rosey]

Malick wrote:

[ooc]DM** spoiler omitted **

DM

Spoiler:

Errmmm ... how embarrassing. I meant Typus, not Flint.

[Typhus Aurelius]

Typhus shifts to M25, draws his rod and calls upon the cold void to blast the corpse of his former ally with the radiance of burning stars.

Dire Radiance vs. Fort: 1d20+13=27, 1d6+10=16 Radiant damage

[Xabulba]

Rev Rosey wrote:

Malick wrote:

DM** spoiler omitted **

DM** spoiler omitted **

Rev Rosey

Spoiler:

Monsters stats state that the cold aura is cumulative (chilborn zombie) so Typhus does take 10hp cold damage.

Typhus you are immobilized so cannot shift, you can still teleport if you are able.

ps. you also take 10hp cold damage.

[Typhus Aurelius]

Xabulba wrote:

Rev Rosey wrote:

Malick wrote:

DM** spoiler omitted **

DM** spoiler omitted **

Rev Rosey** spoiler omitted **

Typhus you are immobilized so cannot shift, you can still teleport if you are able.

ps. you also take 10hp cold damage.

Dagnabit, missed that bit. Same action, no shift. Save: 1d20+1=17

[Rennik Ilzander]

Rennik shudders from the supernatural cold, but undeterred he unleashes a blast of radiant energy at all of the enemies on his western flank.

Takes 5 cold damage.

Color spray, close blast 5 to the west, enveloping the three enemies on that side. (Because it is a close attack, it does not provoke an AOO from the adjacent enemy.)

Against L19: 1d20+14=17 vs. Will, 12 radiant damage if it hits (admittedly unlikely), and dazed if the attack hits.

Against N20: 1d20+14=25 vs. Will, 14 radiant damage and dazed.

Against O19: Natural 1.

If any of them are dazed, that effect is until the end of my next turn.

Link to rolls.

Failed saving throw with a roll of 2.

[Xabulba]

There are no saving throws for either the cold aura or the immobilization.

Thypus –you didn’t say who you are attacking so I’m applying the attack to Lt. Galdal(L23) who is bloodied.
The starlight strikes Lt. Galdal(L23) square in the back melting its flesh which mixes with its trailing viscera. (Not quite re-dead yet.)

Rennik – You send the power infused in your orb at your former friends shattering Pvt. Kohkod like a pane of glass. The flames enveloping Sgt. Lasser(L19) flicker briefly as your magical light washes over him but the light ray misses Pvt. Daermor(O19).

On bursts you roll attacks separately but damage only once. I took the highest damage roll and applied it for the hits.

MAP

Ferdinand is up.

Flint 31
Mountain 29
Lt. Galdal(cold corpse) 26 (bloodied)
Sgt. de'Dennith(cold corpse) 26
Typhus 14
Rennik 14
Ferdinand 13
Sgt. Lasser(flaming corpse) 13
Pvt. Daermor(flaming corpse) 13
Malick 10
Pvt. Brandybottom(slavering corpse) 9
Pvt. Kohkod(slavering corpse) 9(dead)
Pvt. Bing(slavering corpse) 9(dead)

[Celestial Healer]

Xabulba wrote:

There are no saving throws for either the cold aura or the immobilization.

On bursts you roll attacks separately but damage only once. I took the highest damage roll and applied it for the hits.

My bad on those. I see now your post clearly said that the condition lasts until the beastie's next turn. And I had a brain fart on the area attack thing.

[Xabulba]

No prob.

[Malick]

DM

Spoiler:

Oops. Apologies. No intention of toe-treading, just been caught out by damage so often myself.

[Xabulba]

Malick wrote:

DM** spoiler omitted **

Spoiler:

I'll take whatever help I can get, so speak up if you have any questions or notice if I'm misinterpretating rules.

[Ferdinand Salatic]

Ferdinand steps forward and drives his tratnyr into his former ally.

Shift to M23 and using Magic Weapon on the bloodied enemy. 1d20+17=32 vs AC, 1d8+9=12 (Lightning damage, using two hands), adjacent allies gain +1 to attack, +3 to damage.

[Celestial Healer]

I think you are immobilized, Ferdinand.

[Xabulba]

Ferdinand Salatic wrote:

Ferdinand steps forward and drives his tratnyr into his former ally.

Shift to M23 and using Magic Weapon on the bloodied enemy. 1d20+17=32 vs AC, 1d8+9=12 (Lightning damage, using two hands), adjacent allies gain +1 to attack, +3 to damage.

You are immobilized so cannot shift, you can still teleport if you are able.

[Ferdinand Salatic]

Xabulba wrote:

You are immobilized so cannot shift, you can still teleport if you are able.

I am? I didn't realize, in that case I'll attack the one adjacent to me.

[Xabulba]

Ferdinand slashes a deep gash across the chest of the former Sgt. de’Dennith leaving a trail of sparks dancing in the wound causing the creature to drop its guard slightly. Did you also aply the 5HP cold damage.

The flaming body of Sgt. Lasser points a mutilated hand at Mountain and a gout of flame erupts at Mountain striking him in the chest causing 11HP damage. The flames have the unintended effect of unfreezing Mountain and allowing him to move.

Pvt. Daermor throws out his arms sending a wave of force at Rennik that picks him up and throw him back 2 squares and causes 10HP damage. While in the mist you must make a saving throw or become disoriented and move in the wrong direction.

Typhus and Mountain are +1/+3 against K24.

Flint 31
Mountain 29
Lt. Galdal(cold corpse) 26 (bloodied)
Sgt. de'Dennith(cold corpse) 26
Typhus 14
Rennik 14
Ferdinand 13
Sgt. Lasser(flaming corpse) 13
Pvt. Daermor(flaming corpse) 13
Malick 10
Pvt. Brandybottom(slavering corpse) 9
Pvt. Kohkod(slavering corpse) 9(dead)
Pvt. Bing(slavering corpse) 9(dead)

MAP

Malik's turn.

[Malick]

"Want to move along over there, Flint. Would be mighty helpful."

Malick nods at Flint and urges him to shift into a flanking position around the bloodied corpse of Lt Gadal, before stabbing and (likely) missing with his halberd.

Wolf Pack Tactics (AC) v Corpse at M24 (1d20+18=21, 1d10+10=13)
Flint gets a free action shift to flank the chap at M24. Malick gets CA if he does so, but rolling a 3 will win no prizes.

"Going to have to work harder than that, I guess," he adds, as the blow goes wide.

[Rennik Ilzander]

Just as Rennik is truck by the wave of Force, he vanishes from sight.

Fade Away racial power.

[Flint Blackblade]

Flint accepts the shift to M24 from Malick

[Xabulba]

Malick’s halberd swings wide but his rallying cry spurs Flint to break the torpor holding him in place allowing flint to shift into a better tactical position.
The former Halfling Pvt. Brandybottom lurches forward and attempts to grab hold of Ferdinand who easily evades the attempt.
Flint is up.

MAP

Typhus and Mountain are +1/+3 against K24.
Flint 31
Mountain 29
Lt. Galdal(cold corpse) 26 (bloodied)
Sgt. de'Dennith(cold corpse) 26
Typhus 14
Rennik 14 (invisible, in mist)
Ferdinand 13
Sgt. Lasser(flaming corpse) 13
Pvt. Daermor(flaming corpse) 13
Malick 10
Pvt. Brandybottom(slavering corpse) 9
Pvt. Kohkod(slavering corpse) 9(dead)
Pvt. Bing(slavering corpse) 9(dead)

[Flint Blackblade]

I think Typhus was shifted on the map to M24 instead of myself. Also, as I read it, I'm immobilized, taking 5 ongoing cold damage(save ends), and take 5 cold damage for starting adjacent to a cold corpse (cold aura)
Guarded Attack with combat adv. with Dagger, 1d20+18=24 vs AC of cold corpse in M23, 2d4+9+3d8+4=2+9+10+4=25 damage and if the target makes a melee attack against Flint before the SOMNT, Flint can make a secondary attack against it as an immediate interrupt(similar to riposte strike)

Save vs 5 ongoing cold, 1d20=19

[Celestial Healer]

Flint Blackblade wrote:

I think Typhus was shifted on the map to M24 instead of myself.

Yes, you should be there, flanking opposite Malick.

[Xabulba]

Flint strikes hard causing Lt. Galdal to explode in a shower of ice fragments.
Attacking in order of INIT.(attack vs fortitude)
The slivers of ice cut in to Flint, Mountain and Malick causing 7HP damage and slowing you SE.

MAP (fixed)

Typhus and Mountain are +1/+3 against K24.
Malick, Mountain, Flint and Rennik are no longer immobilized

Flint 31 (slowed)
Mountain 29 (slowed)
Lt. Galdal(cold corpse) 26 (dead)
Sgt. de'Dennith(cold corpse) 26
Typhus 14
Rennik 14 (invisible, in mist)
Ferdinand 13
Sgt. Lasser(flaming corpse) 13
Pvt. Daermor(flaming corpse) 13
Malick 10 (slowed)
Pvt. Brandybottom(slavering corpse) 9
Pvt. Kohkod(slavering corpse) 9(dead)
Pvt. Bing(slavering corpse) 9(dead)

Mountain ‘s turn.

[Malick]

"Promised you help, boys. Getting it sorted just as fast as we can. Which isn't so fast, thanks to the late Lieutenant..."

[Mountain]

Freed from immobility by the flames of Sgt. Lasser, but slowed by Galdal's explosive death, Mountain shifts his weight ever so slightly and rushes forth with all the speed he can manage at the closer of the two fiery creatures. His mace arm swings forth with what he hopes will be a ringing blow.

Charge to L20, attacking fire zombie thing in L19 with Ruinous Onslaught. Attempting to slide the thing into L18 with my Charging Strike class ability thing, and Combat Challenging it, if it doesn't die.

Attack Roll: 32 vs. AC

Damage Roll: 21, target dazed until my next turn.

[Xabulba]

With a ring of metal hitting metal Mountain’s strike staggers Sgt. Lasser forcing him to move into the open in a daze.

Ferdinand deftly dodges a swing of Sgt. de’Dennith’s clubbed hand. Home rolled.

Flint 31 (slowed)
Mountain 29 (slowed)
Lt. Galdal(cold corpse) 26 (dead)
Sgt. de'Dennith(cold corpse) 26
Typhus 14
Rennik 14 (invisible, in mist)
Ferdinand 13
Sgt. Lasser(flaming corpse) 13 (marked by Mountain, Dazed)
Pvt. Daermor(flaming corpse) 13
Malick 10 (slowed)
Pvt. Brandybottom(slavering corpse) 9
Pvt. Kohkod(slavering corpse) 9(dead)
Pvt. Bing(slavering corpse) 9(dead)

MAP

Typhus, Rennik and Ferdinand are up.

[Mountain]

Mountain opens his jaw and spans it shut quickly, making a dull clanking noise. He roars over the sounds of battle.

"The ones on fire seem a bit tougher, sirs. Could have just nicked this one, though."

It hadn't felt like a nick, but he wasn't sure exactly how hard the others had hit Galdal.

[Malick]

"Yeah. That's just dandy. Fire and ice. You just keep chopping away Mountain. Where'd Rennick get to?"

[Typhus Aurelius]

Typhus looks coldly at the corpse standing next to him and then throws his head, unleashing a howl that sounds like it was made by the damned themselves.

Howl of Doom: Home rolled, darn IC is down again 15 + 13 = 28 Vs Fort and Damage = 2d6+8 for a total of 12 thunder damage and the target is pushed 2 squares north.

[Xabulba]

Typhus’ howl pushes back Sgt. de'Dennith and the unnatural cold emanating from him.

MAP

Flint 31 (slowed)
Mountain 29 (slowed)
Lt. Galdal(cold corpse) 26 (dead)
Sgt. de'Dennith(cold corpse) 26
Typhus 14
Rennik 14 (invisible, in mist)
Ferdinand 13
Sgt. Lasser(flaming corpse) 13 (marked by Mountain, Dazed)
Pvt. Daermor(flaming corpse) 13
Malick 10 (slowed)
Pvt. Brandybottom(slavering corpse) 9
Pvt. Kohkod(slavering corpse) 9(dead)
Pvt. Bing(slavering corpse) 9(dead)
Rennik and Ferdinand are up.

[Rennik Ilzander]

Suddenly visible, Rennik speaks some arcane words and his orb starts to glow. To the north, illusionary shadows begin to do battle with the undead assailants.

Grasping Shadows, burst 1 centered on I24.
vs I24: 1d20+15=28 vs. Will
vs J23: 1d20+15=18 vs. Will
damage 1d8+9=13 psychic and slowed until the end of my next turn
Shadows writhe in the designated area and continue until the end of your next turn. Any creature that enters the area of the grasping shadows takes psychic damage equal to your Intelligence modifier (5) and is slowed until the end of its next turn.

Rennik then attempts to rejoin his companions out of the mists.

Move to M23. Saving throw = 7. Xabulba, you'll have to tell me what happens.

[Xabulba]

Shadows bloom at the feet of Sgt. Lasser and Pvt. Daermor smothering the flames where they grasp. Sgt. Lasser seems to effected more by the shadows than Pvt. Daermor.
Rennik begins to move forward which causes the mist to billow up and disorientate him and he finds himself farther into the mist than he was before. The mist now obscures his vision and hearing, -2 on ranged attacks and -2 perception.
MAP

Circle = Grasping Shadows (5 psychic, slowed)
Flint 31 (slowed)
Mountain 29 (slowed)
Lt. Galdal(cold corpse) 26 (dead)
Sgt. de'Dennith(cold corpse) 26
Typhus 14
Rennik 14 (invisible, in mist -2Attk, -2Per)
Ferdinand 13
Sgt. Lasser(flaming corpse) 13 (marked by Mountain, dazed, slowed)
Pvt. Daermor(flaming corpse) 13 (slowed)
Malick 10 (slowed)
Pvt. Brandybottom(slavering corpse) 9
Pvt. Kohkod(slavering corpse) 9(dead)
Pvt. Bing(slavering corpse) 9(dead)

Ferdinand is up.

[Rennik Ilzander]

I thought I hit Sgt. de'Dennith and Pvt. Brandybottom. The attack was centered on I24.

[Xabulba]

Oops.

MAP

Shadows bloom at the feet of Sgt. de'Dennith and Pvt. Brandybottom grasping at their feet.
The shadows pull Pvt. Brandybottom down to the ground where he disappears in the inky tentacles.
The shadows pull icy flakes of amor and bone form Sgt. de'Dennith slowing his shambling gate.

Rennik begins to move forward which causes the mist to billow up and disorientate him and he finds himself farther into the mist than he was before. The mist now obscures his vision and hearing, -2 on ranged attacks and -2 perception.

Square = Grasping Shadows (5 psychic, slowed)
Flint 31 (slowed)
Mountain 29 (slowed)
Lt. Galdal(cold corpse) 26 (dead)
Sgt. de'Dennith(cold corpse) 26 (slowed)
Typhus 14
Rennik 14 (invisible, in mist -2Attk, -2Per)
Ferdinand 13
Sgt. Lasser(flaming corpse) 13 (marked by Mountain, dazed)
Pvt. Daermor(flaming corpse) 13
Malick 10 (slowed)
Pvt. Brandybottom(slavering corpse) 9 (dead)
Pvt. Kohkod(slavering corpse) 9(dead)
Pvt. Bing(slavering corpse) 9(dead)