13th Giant Slayer (Inactive)

Game Master Pirate Rob

"I don't think this is the giant we're looking for," observes the half-orc thoughtfully. "That skull thing said he was 'perversely immortal'... this guy just looks dead."

Onward!

"So then, let's head east," Hrarsk says.

"I agree the skull said not to go west. Let us see what lies to the east and hope we don't find what ever ate it's way out of that giant."

Sorry I was getting some technical problems yesterday.

Khel shudders a little at Doug's offhand remark about whatever ate its way out of the giant, then joins the gang as they head east.

Opening to the door to the east...

A portion of this large room has collapsed into a wide chasm to the north. The chamber’s structural integrity remains intact thanks to three support columns that run in a line from east to west. A smaller chamber opens to the south. The settings for hinges in the doorway suggest its intended use for future expansion.

Looking to the the north after opening the door...

A broad rift in the earth opens under the mountain here. A finished room to the south, now exposed by a collapsed wall, suggests that the fissure opened after the tomb’s construction was complete. Numerous chunks of rock and finished stonework lie in heaps on the floor of the chasm. A wooden suspension bridge stretches across the divide to a partially exposed room on the other side.

"Should we cross the bridge then?" Hrarsk asks.

"Spose so," replies the barkeep.

The bridge sways a little bit, but is clearly meant to hold weight much greater than yourselves.

Looking ahead you see that an ornate stone shrine is built into the stone of the room’s north wall, forming a narrow chancel upon which rests an obsidian altar.

Placed near the corners of the room are three columns carved in the likeness of a nude giantess who is skeletal from the waist down and cradles a scythe in her hands. Colored tiles on the floor form a mosaic of a gigantic fly with a death’s head symbol on its back.

Rising from some sort of unholy prayer is a Cyclops wielding a scythe and clad in bone armor, dark power swirling around her hand.
See slide 2 for big picture

Closer to you are a pair of frosty giants, their ancient cold suddenly permeating your bones, and dampening your spirits.

Seeing your intrusion, the Cyclops grimaces, concentrating for just a moment as several mirror images appear.

The next time an attack would hit the cyclops, the attacker has to roll 11+ with another d20 roll: success indicates a hit; failure is a miss that hits one of the mirror images instead, dealing no miss damage but dispelling all the images.

She then says a prayer to Urgathoa and negative energy fills the bridge.
targets: 1d3 ⇒ 3
Doug PD: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (3) + 13 = 16
Khel PD: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (10) + 13 = 23
Fortuna PD: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (4) + 13 = 17

Only Khel is affected as his skin is suddenly covered in the feeling of daggers as slashing wounds appear all over his body.
50 negative energy damage

The Frost Giants then rush forward to attack Doug.
There's enough space on the other end of the bridge to get off, but you'll be engaged by one or both frost giants, your choice.

Ice Covered War Axes: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (2) + 12 = 14
Ice Covered War Axes: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (19) + 12 = 31

The first giant misses, but the second giant gets in a powerful blow!
45 damage

And the first giant also grabs at Doug.
Frost Touch vs PD: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (18) + 11 = 29
Causing ice crystals to begin spreading from his shoulder.
10 cold damage and you are hampered until the end of your next turn (hampered is you can only make basic attacks, Other abilites and movement as normal. Considering a paladin only makes basic attacks, you're in pretty good shape)

Initiative ESCALATION 0
Cyclops Oracle 320/320 {Mirror Image}
Frost Giant R: 210/210 |U: 210/210
Khel 34/90 Staggered
Bethany 63/80
Fortuna 55/86
Doug 43/98 Staggered, Hampered
Hrarsk 93/93

Everybody is up!

Bethany frowns and clears her throat, then sends a riotous burst of sound toward the enemies! "Ohh..."

"Down in the mountain,
Far away from the sun,
Was an old stone sarcophagus,
And its little cyclops one.
'Rise!' said the coffin,
'I rise!' said the one,
So it rose and it towered,
Far away from the sun."

She pauses, realizing her words aren't very inspiring, and decides a second verse is required.

"Oh, down in the caverns,
Far away from the blue,
Lived an ugly old cyclops
And her little giants two.
'Freeze,' said the cyclops,
'We freeze!' said the two,
So they froze and they shivered,
Far away from the blue."

"Buuuuuuut..."

"Down through the tunnels,
Where it's difficult to see,
Came a pair of armèd 'ladies',
And their noble comrades three.
'Slay!' yelled the 'ladies',
'We slay!' called the three,
So they slew all the giants,
Where it's difficult to see!"

Song of Thunder. Hope you liked it.

Targets: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5
Attack vs Cyclops PD: 1d20 + 10 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 10 + 1 = 27
vs Frosty R PD: 1d20 + 10 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 10 + 1 = 21
vs Frosty U PD: 1d20 + 10 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 10 + 1 = 22

Thunder Damage: 7d6 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (6, 3, 5, 3, 2, 5, 2) + 4 + 1 = 31

Forgotten reroll vs Cyclops: 1d20 ⇒ 3
Hrmph.

Frosty R takes no damage, and I guess the cyclops gets her images dispelled but takes no damage. U takes 31.

Caught off guard by the sudden attack, Hrarsk quickly prays for his allies. Mighty Healing: Heal with recovery for Khellirin, Fortuna, and Doug.

He then charges towards the nearest frost giant (U) and strikes it with all his strength.

Attack: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (18) + 10 = 28
Damage (+ magic item, + feat): 6d10 + 8 + 2d8 + 5d8 ⇒ (8, 2, 8, 1, 4, 5) + 8 + (1, 7) + (8, 8, 6, 1, 1) = 68

Awesome song, Bethany! So good! And thanks for the heals, Hrarsk!

Khel knows the ways of giants, and is quite sure the best way to deal with them is to hit them with something hard. He darts past Doug and Hrarsk, feeling the half-orc's healing energy wash over him as he smashes his hammer at the giant grabbing Doug

Move action to get into place, standard to attack red.

Terrain Stunt check: 1d6 ⇒ 1

Heal: 6d8 + 2 ⇒ (3, 2, 8, 7, 7, 1) + 2 = 30

Stunning Hammer, Double Attack: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (11) + 12 = 23
Damage: 6d6 + 10 ⇒ (3, 2, 4, 1, 5, 3) + 10 = 28

Recovery: 6d10 + 1 ⇒ (9, 8, 4, 5, 5, 10) + 1 = 42

"I THINK YOU'LL FIND IT TAKES MORE THEN A BIT OF FROST TO SLOW ME DOWN!" Doug finds himself shouting with his outside voice as he swings to counter the attacking giant.

Melee: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (9) + 10 = 19
Miss=6 damage

"Gleep!" says Fortuna, firing a smoking streak of light from the end of her wand.

No recoveries left for Fortuna. Lightning bolt specifies group or rough line, so I was going to go after the group of enemies at the end of the bridge. If you want line, there's one with the giant on the left and the biggie in the back.

tgts: 1d3 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2
vs Red Fred PD: 1d20 + 4 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 4 + 6 + 1 = 24
vs Blue Lou or cyclops PD: 1d20 + 4 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 4 + 6 + 1 = 30
dmg, miss half: 10d10 + 1 ⇒ (7, 6, 6, 4, 10, 7, 8, 4, 7, 8) + 1 = 68
Both attack rolls are even, so there's 10 electrical ongoing if they hit.

"'Scuse me," Fortuna mutters to Bethany as she pushes past towards the solid ground at the far end of the bridge, "The other end is kinda jammed."

You can still use a recovery even if you're out, it just means you get half healing and take a (cumulative) –1 penalty to all defenses and attack rolls until your next full heal-up.

Do I have to take advantage of Hrask's heals this round, or can I hold off until needed/wanted?

I think you have to use it (or not) immediately.

Mrgh.

Have to take the healing immediately.

Bethany sings an uproarious song of thunder dispelling the Cyclopean images and injuring one of the Frost Giants.

Hrarsk gives a mighty healing prayer and charges into combat, landing a mighty blow on a frost giant.

Khel feels quite a bit better and also charges into combat, landing a fearsome blow on the other frost giant.

Despite the frost building up on him Doug receives a healing blessing but is perhaps hampered more than he expected by the frost that he manages to shake off.
did your damage to blue.

You can do a line or a group, lightning bolt is flexible like that. Also it's about odd/even on the die. Sounds like your prefered Targets are the 2 frost giants so I put the damage on there.

Fortuna fires a lightning bolt that sparks between the two frost giants, staggering one and wounding the other.

50% Frost Chance?: 1d100 ⇒ 57
You are not overly hampered by the ancient cold that these Giants exude.
ESCALATION INCREASES to 1!

The Oracle puts up a new set of images and points a finger at Fortuna and says Die!
Fortuna MD: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (16) + 13 = 29
Fortuna is wracked with pain as black smoke begins pouring from her eyes as she falls unconscious.
70 psychic damage

Since the healing wouldn't have kept Fortuna up, we'll answer the healing question by having her not take it.

The red giant eyes Doug's offensive armor but takes a hack at Khel anyway.
distracted axe: 1d20 + 12 - 4 ⇒ (12) + 12 - 4 = 20
It misses but makes a grab at Khel.
frost touch vs PD: 1d20 + 11 - 4 ⇒ (20) + 11 - 4 = 27

It gets a strong grip on Khel.
Crit! 20 cold damage, hampered until end of turn and staggered. Hampered also doesn't really bother you.

The blueish one takes a swing at Hrarsk
distraced swing: 1d20 + 12 - 4 ⇒ (7) + 12 - 4 = 15
but misses.

Initiative ESCALATION 1
Cyclops Oracle 320/320 {Mirror Image}
Frost Giant R: 114/210 |U: 37/210 Staggered
Khel 44/90 Staggered Hampered
Bethany 63/80
Fortuna --15/86 Unconscious (-1)
Doug 85/98
Hrarsk 93/93

Everybody is up!

So... +3 to maintain my song? ;)

Yup, go for it!

Death save: 1d20 ⇒ 12

Maintain 11+: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9
*facepalm*

Bethany's about to launch into the much-anticipated fourth verse when she sees Fortuna fall, and her concentration falters. "Down... err..." she sings, trailing off. Gathering her wits, she finishes the song with a rousing final verse, aimed directly at the mean cyclops!

"Down near the fissure,
Where the rushing rapids roar,
Sang a tavernkeeper, 'Hey friends,
Someone go help For–
tuna 'cause she's injured...
So go help her now before,
She rolls into the fissure,
Where the rushing rapids ROAR!'"

With the last word she sends a massive yell in the direction of the enemies, causing even the deafest of them to cringe. Final verse deals half damage on a miss.

Targets: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3
vs Cyclops PD: 1d20 + 10 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 10 + 1 + 1 = 32
vs R PD: 1d20 + 10 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 10 + 1 + 1 = 20
vs U PD: 1d20 + 10 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 10 + 1 + 1 = 14

Thunder Damage: 7d6 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (6, 3, 5, 5, 3, 6, 6) + 4 + 1 = 39

I believe that's double for the cyclops (78) and half for the giants (19).

Khel swings his mighty hammers at the badly wounded giant, hoping to take it out of the fight!

Hit whichever one is most wounded, which I think is blue.

Elven Grace Check: 1d4 ⇒ 4

Stunning Hammer, Double Attack: 1d20 + 12 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 12 + 1 = 21 On even roll, when I have more HP than target, target is stunned 1 rd
Damage: 6d6 + 10 ⇒ (2, 1, 2, 4, 6, 3) + 10 = 28

Argrimmosh, Double Attack: 1d20 + 11 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 11 + 1 = 25
Damage: 6d6 + 9 ⇒ (5, 2, 2, 4, 4, 6) + 9 = 32

Hrarsk prays once more for healing, which comes in a burst of light, which also gazes painfully at the cyclops and the remaining frost giant. Sphere of Radiance: Free recovery for Fortuna. Divine Endurance: 30 temporary HP to Fortuna, Khellirin, and Doug. Bless: +1 attack and 2d10 temporary HP to me, Doug, Khellirin.

Sphere of Radiance (MD, cyclops): 1d20 + 9 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 9 + 1 = 27
Sphere of Radiance (MD, red giant): 1d20 + 9 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 9 + 1 = 21
Damage: 7d8 + 2 ⇒ (3, 2, 3, 3, 6, 7, 5) + 2 = 31
Temporary HP: 2d10 ⇒ (9, 1) = 10

The Cyclops speaks a single word of power that echoes deafeningly through the area, drowning out Hrarsk's spell and momentarily stunning the cleric.

Power word stun: Once per day as a free action, the Cyclops can utter a word of power, canceling a single action just taken by a nearby creature with fewer hit points than the Cyclops —whether it was casting a spell, healing an ally, or whatever. The GM can see the results of the action, such as a die roll, before deciding whether to use the power word. The ability and action are still expended as normal.

Which spell did you cancel?

Oh those were three spells reading is hard. lets cancel the sphere of radiance. So no damage and no free healing for Fortuna. Hrarsk: Both bless and divine endurance are ranged spells and will provoke AoOs unless you have something that prevents that, you might want to consider something else. (We'll assume Hrarsk has only spent the standard on sphere of radiance so far and can choose what he likes with his move and quick action)

It looks like Khell took out one of the giants. Does Doug need to make a roll to get to the Cyclops?

Err if Khel takes out the blue giant then Hrarsk isn't in melee and can cast freely.

Doug is in melee with the red giant so you'd either provoke or need to disengage.

Temporary HP don't stack though, right?

Correct, doesn't stack.

Then I'll change my actions to: Sphere of Radiance (cancelled), heal with recovery for Fortuna (for half), and then Divine Endurance (Fortuna, Khellirin, Doug).

bethany mirror image: 1d20 ⇒ 5

Unfortunately Bethany's spell merely takes out the cyclopean images again. At least the giants are injured.

Khel grazes the giant with his first hit and knocks him down into the chasm with his second, getting a very satisfying crash when he hits the ground.

Hrarsk finds himself stunned mid action by a word of power before healing Fortuna and giving his allies some temporary hitpoints.

healing: 6d6 + 2 ⇒ (1, 5, 6, 5, 3, 6) + 2 = 28
halved to 14

Doug tries to get past the red giant.
disengage: 1d20 ⇒ 18

and succeeds at finally engaging the cyclops.

Smite Evil+Escalation: 1d20 + 10 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 10 + 4 + 1 = 17
damage: 6d8 + 8 + 2d12 ⇒ (8, 6, 5, 5, 4, 3) + 8 + (3, 3) = 45
half damage does 22 on a miss

Fortuna staggers to her feet and fires off a stream of magic missiles, trying to help finish off the frost giant.

lvl5MM: 4d6 ⇒ (6, 1, 3, 4) = 14

50% ESCALATION FROST: 1d100 ⇒ 10

The ancient Frost Giant Cold chills you to your bones and the ESCALATION die does NOT increase.

From behind you, the double doors slam against their hinges as Skirkatla enters the fray. The bones sticking out of her form in various places making her undeath obvious.
SK init: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (15) + 15 = 30
"So you're the little ones making so much noise. Now you're going to die."

The Cyclopean Oracle puts up a new set of mirror images, looks down at Doug and swings with her scythe.

dougAC: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (18) + 13 = 31
Connecting 45 damage, good thing you had those 30 temps.

She then grabs Doug by the neck and lefts him off his feet.
You are grabbed. The grabbed foe can’t move except to teleport, pop free, or attempt to disengage, and disengage attempts take a –5 penalty unless the creature hit the Cyclope with an attack that turn.

Skirkatla lumbers forward, engaging Beth and Fortuna. Her axe burns with cold unholy flame as she swings it down at the bard.

BethAC: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (14) + 15 = 29
The axe cuts into Bethany and the unholy cold flame burns, causing Bethany immense pain.
50 unholy damage

Up close Bethany and Fortuna can see that underneath Skirkatla's skin burns an eternal flame, likely the fire that lead to her unlife.

The remaining Frosty finds its self with only Khel to smash and goes after him.
ice covered waraxe: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (11) + 12 = 23
Missing though.!

Initiative ESCALATION 1
Cyclops Oracle 298/320 {Mirror Image}
Skirkatla
Frost Giant R: 81/210 Staggered
Khel 44/90 T30 | Staggered Hampered
Bethany 13/80 Staggered
Fortuna 14/86 T30 | (-1 All Rolls)
Doug 70/98 |
Hrarsk 93/93

Everybody is up!

Man, how many mirror images does this guy have?!

Gonna go with the shield this time on that attack.

Hrarsk prays for Bethany's healing (heal with recovery), while at the same time requesting greater strength in battle (+2d6 damage to melee attacks for me, Khellirin, and Doug). He then raises his sword to strike the remaining giant.

Attack: 1d20 + 10 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 10 + 1 = 28
Damage: 6d10 + 8 + 2d8 + 2d6 ⇒ (2, 3, 8, 9, 4, 7) + 8 + (5, 8) + (1, 1) = 56

+1 to hit the giant

I'm not sure what the shield was, but if Bethany was unharmed, then I'll instead use Bless on me, her, and Doug (+1 attack, 2d10 temporary hit points).

Beth AC reroll: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (12) + 15 = 27

Mirror images: At will, as a move action, a cyclops can create multiple images of itself that make it harder to target. Once the cyclops is staggered, it takes 2d10 damage whenever it uses mirror image, so movement or escape start registering as alternatives.

Man, that's mean. Also, AC of 26 on this guy! :(

Recovery: 6d8 + 1 ⇒ (2, 5, 3, 7, 5, 6) + 1 = 29
HP now 42/80

Bethany grits her teeth and swings her scimitar at the new arrival, her face drawn in a worried grimace. We may not make it out of this one... she thinks to herself, but let's make 'em fight for it.

Attack vs AC: 1d20 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 8 + 1 = 12
Lethal Reroll: 1d20 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 8 + 1 = 15
Bleh. Miss damage: 5.

Move It: One of my unengaged allies can move as a free action, or one of my engaged allies (I recommend Fortuna) can make a disengage check as a free action.

Khel swings both his hammers at the frost giant before him, but his strikes are much less effective than he'd like.

Elven Grace Check: 1d4 ⇒ 3

Stunning Hammer, Double Attack: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (2) + 12 = 14
Damage: 6d6 + 10 + 2d6 ⇒ (6, 3, 5, 1, 6, 1) + 10 + (1, 5) = 38

Argrimmosh, Double Attack: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (9) + 11 = 20
Damage: 6d6 + 9 + 2d6 ⇒ (1, 6, 4, 5, 1, 2) + 9 + (3, 3) = 34

2 misses for 20 damage total.

If you add 2d6 to both misses, it would probably be enough to kill the giant.

Forgot that bonus damage was added to misses also. I got a total of 12 damage on my extra dice from your spell, bringing total damage from the two misses to 32. Thanks, Hrarsk!

Doug decides to negotiate his release with the point of his blade.

Melee: 1d20 + 10 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 10 + 1 = 21
Miss: 6 + 2d6 ⇒ 6 + (6, 5) = 17

Or probably just hit an image.

Likely won't get my update until after midnight tonight.

I think we still need Fortuna anyway, right?

(Thanks for letting us know!)

recovery: 6d6 + 1 ⇒ (6, 6, 3, 1, 3, 1) + 1 = 21 So that's 10 or 11 points for half a recovery and she's at -1 for atk/dmg - offsets wand.

Will use Bethany's disengage.

hold monster: 1d20 + 6 + 4 + 1 - 1 ⇒ (3) + 6 + 4 + 1 - 1 = 13

Don't have access to my book, so I am not sure about Hold Monster, but I think it will work on the injured FG at the end of the bridge near Bethany and Fortuna.

Fortuna staggers to her feet and away from the threatening Frost Giant in a drunkard's walk, then points her wand at it and tries to freeze it in its tracks.

Update will be slower than expected, Our lead barista is in the hospital with pneumonia so I've had to work extra shifts at the cafe, I've got a cold and I'm falling behind on my tax work. Things here may have to sit a day or two more.

Hrarsk gives Beth a hit of healing while he smites the Frosty giant.
Khel's glancing blows then finish off the giant.

It just occurred to me that Fortuna's been poping free, rather than making a disengage check when targeted by Beth's Move it! No need to fix this round, but an important note for the future.

Beth frees Fortuna from Skirkatla, who finds the Frost Giant already down so sticks with the classic Magic Missile, on the Cyclops.

MM: 4d6 ⇒ (6, 3, 2, 1) = 12

Doug glances the cyclops as well.

With the 2 Ancient Frost Giants down the Escalation die increases to 2!

attack vs Doug: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (14) + 13 = 27
The Cyclops swings with its scythe again but fails to connect with Doug.

Skirkatla's wounds begin slowly closing +1 HP as she stares into Beth's eyes to no avail.
She has a defensive ability that only triggers on a natural 1-5 against her.

She once again powers her hand up with foul energy and grabs at Beth.

vsBethPD: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (9) + 15 = 24

Beth crumples to the ground, almost dying in the process.
Additionally the target expends one unused limited trait (a spell, power, or talent with a once-per-battle or daily use, but not magic item powers) of its choice.

Initiative ESCALATION 2
Cyclops Oracle 269/320 {Mirror Image}
Skirkatla 216/220
Khel 44/90 T30 | Staggered Hampered
Bethany -37/80 DS
Fortuna 14/86 T30 | (-1 All Rolls)
Doug 70/98 |
Hrarsk 93/93

Your turn!

Hrarsk moves to hit the skirkatla, along with a prayer for strength. +2d6 damage to me, Doug, and Khellirin. He ends up only grazing it.

Combat Boon: 1d20 + 10 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 10 + 2 = 23
Reroll: 1d20 + 10 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 10 + 2 = 23
Damage: 6 + 2d6 + 2d8 ⇒ 6 + (2, 5) + (4, 1) = 18

Lacking some of his usual foe-pureeing frenzy, Khel plods across the floor and attempts to smash the cyclops with his hammer, though he misses.

Elven Grace Check: 1d4 ⇒ 3

Stunning Hammer, Double Attack: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (11) + 12 = 23
Damage, Hrarsk spell: 6d6 + 10 + 2d6 ⇒ (5, 4, 3, 2, 5, 6) + 10 + (1, 2) = 38 Miss, do a total of 13 damage.

50 damage, right? That would put me at -8, 'cause I was at 42 after the recovery last round. I'll lose Befuddle.

Death Save Regardless (Doug's bonus): 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 1 = 16

Assuming Doug's bonus does apply, I get to recover! Hurray!

Recovery (to be halved): 6d8 + 1 ⇒ (2, 7, 5, 5, 3, 4) + 1 = 27
Puts me at 13/80 with a -1 to all defenses and attack rolls.

Khel: 23 hits the cyclops.

Oh, right, mixed up my targets. So 38 damage. And now I realize I might have done better to go after Skirkatla, but I had the map too zoomed in when I posted.