(3) Legend of the Elder Souls (Inactive)

Game Master mdt

"Whenever damage reduction completely negates the damage from an attack, it also negates most special effects that accompany the attack, such as injury poison, a monk's stunning, and injury-based disease."

I thought Stunning Fist was on a hit (but it's not, it's on damage), so I guess that makes Grab and Trip edge cases that can be reasonably ruled to still trigger when DR stops it.

Typically attempting to maintain a grapple is a standard action, but I guess these guys are nasty.

* * *

Since I understood Withdraw wrong, let's go with the flurry option (I can reroll if you prefer, though my original rolls weren't great, so I'm not picking it because it looks like it'll work well). Amazing Initiative action is now taking a Total Defense, bringing AC to 27 (25 if flanked).

Spending an Arcane Point (leaving me at 4/6) to attempt to parry Puppyface.
Opportune Parry: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (4) + 11 = 15 Not a chance
Total HP 18/51 now. Ouch.

Hmm it seems as if you forgot someone mdt :P No matter, I'll just take my turn now!

Liisa channels her wild side to swiftly move out of the water, fearing that the displacement would reveal her. (She had seen Predator after all!) Then, still in touch with Sel's power (Ouch shouldn't call her that!) she focused on the nearby plantlife and in response to her call it swiftly grew to titanic proportions, all but blocking any movement. Luckily she could still coax it to move out of the way for her friends, but just barely ...

Actions: Swift Predator's Grace (+20' movement for 1 round), Move action to shuffle 5' trough water then 25' more feet on land and lastly a Standard action to activate Flowers in your Footstep.

All movement within 60' of Liisa is now restricted to 5' max per turn (10' for large). All her friends but Johnny are excluded from the effect (sorry friend!)

As this is not an attack Liisa is still Invisible

As I said Lina, it wouldn't matter anyway, you still took a point of damage. 11 - 10 = 1. The DR didn't affect the bite...

Oh I know! I just want to know for future fights.

The patrol goes before anyone else, including Liisa, so backdating

Lina pounds on a dog with her fans, but fails to knock it off it's feet! On the other hand, the heavy pounding seems to have cracked it's spine, so that might also have something to do with it.

The patrol members move again, getting into good archery position!

Escape Artist: 1d20 ⇒ 10
Escape Artist: 1d20 ⇒ 8

The one entangled continues to struggle with the vines!

Two attack Neri, one attacks Lina, and three attack Kong!

Neri: 2d20 ⇒ (14, 2) = 16 One hit
Lina: 1d20 ⇒ 11 One hit
Kong: 3d20 ⇒ (14, 7, 13) = 34 Three hits

Damage, Neri: 1d8 + 2d6 + 5 ⇒ (1) + (2, 5) + 5 = 13
Damage, Lina: 1d8 + 2d6 + 5 ⇒ (1) + (2, 3) + 5 = 11
Damage, Kong: 3d8 + 6d6 + 15 ⇒ (4, 5, 8) + (4, 4, 2, 3, 2, 6) + 15 = 53

EDIT : On looking, Kong probably has partial cover from the ones on the ridge line, so let's roll cover for those hits, low misses.

Cover: 1d100 ⇒ 84
Cover: 1d100 ⇒ 27
Cover: 1d100 ⇒ 64

Nope, all hit

Three arrows fly into Kong and he drops to the ground.

53 drops Kong. Are they getting sneak attack with that 2d6?

I think Liisa's action was from last round, not this one (she hadn't posted anything for the first round of combat). So that may have affected the movement for part of the patrol?

Johnny swears under his breath as most of the humans manage to break free of his web and then take Kong down. In a falsetto he mutters, " 'Let's fight a patrol' she says. 'It'll be easy' she says. And they call me the idiot."

I'm assuming Agile Feet allows me to ignore Liisa's difficult terrain. If not, I can probably bypass it with Dimensional Slide. If not, I have a metamagic rod of reach. So let me know which option I'm using if it's not agile feet.
Sighing heavily, Johnny clicks his heels together and jogs over to Kong, falling prone next to the man. "The others had better keep those damned dogs away." He levels a glare in the general direction of Lina before hissing at Kong, "Damnit man, this ain't no time for sleepin'!" and whacking him lightly.

Cure Mod: 2d8 + 5 ⇒ (5, 1) + 5 = 11

Free action to activate agile feet, move action, free action to drop prone, standard action to cast CMW.

Extra good reason to exclude Johnny from protection: I just remembered he took the Travel domain/is the avatar of the god of travel and trade.

Daichi manifests his armor as he approaches the dog, flanking it with Lina and strikes at it...

to hit: 1d20 + 10 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 10 + 2 = 18
dmg if hits: 1d8 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7

Hmm, could use some more cover between us and the archers.

Kong shakes his head and looks at Johnny, "Thank you. They will pay for that!"

He then stands up and looks at his wounds and some of them close up. He then points at a point in the middle of the soldiers and sleet starts falling.

Move to stand. Standard for healing hex on himself and using Coupled Arcana to activate Wild Arcana to cast Sleet Storm

Healing Hex: 2d8 + 5 ⇒ (5, 7) + 5 = 17

Luna focuses her attention on the wolf for now hoping to at least put one of them down before they had time to inflict any further damage.

To Hit 1: 1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 7 + 1 = 10
Damage 1: 1d4 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 4 + 1 = 6

To Hit 2: 1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 7 + 1 = 9
Damage 2: 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

Sneak Attack: 3d8 ⇒ (2, 3, 3) = 8
Sneak Attack: 3d8 ⇒ (7, 3, 1) = 11

Dear lord that's a lot of 1's...

Yea rngesus was not happy with me

I think Liisa still has her second round action?

Also waiting on me, but I'm super busy. Going to work early today, though, and then get off early, so there's that.

The Shocking Grasp attack may gain a +3 bonus to hit for the enemy having a 'metal weapon'. The shocking grasp attack will target the less injured 'northern' hound regardless of whether the first is dead. Otherwise, Neri focuses his attention on the flanked hound, only the first attack includes the flanked bonus. Swift - Surprise Strike, Full - Spell Combat with Shocking Grasp

Suprise Strike (v. Flat-Footed) v. Flanked Hound: 1d20 + 2 + 11 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 + 11 + 2 = 17
Damage (Physical, Fire): 2d4 + 6 + 1d6 ⇒ (3, 1) + 6 + (5) = 15 (10p, 5f)

Concentration (Shocking Grasp, DC 17): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (8) + 9 = 17

Spellstrike Attack (Possibly more for 'metal'): 1d20 + 11 - 2 ⇒ (20) + 11 - 2 = 29
Damage (Physical, Fire, electric): 2d4 + 6 + 1d6 + 5d6 ⇒ (3, 1) + 6 + (3) + (5, 1, 6, 6, 1) = 32 (10p, 3f, 19e)

Spellstrike Confirm? (Possibly more for 'metal'): 1d20 + 11 - 2 ⇒ (5) + 11 - 2 = 14
Damage (Physical, Fire, Electric - Only if Crit: 2d4 + 6 + 1d8 + 5d6 ⇒ (1, 2) + 6 + (6) + (1, 2, 3, 2, 3) = 26 (9p, 6f, 11e)

Spell Combat: 1d20 + 11 - 2 ⇒ (14) + 11 - 2 = 23
Damage (Physical, Fire): 2d4 + 6 + 1d6 ⇒ (4, 4) + 6 + (3) = 17 (14p, 3f)

Neri looks as though he's contemplating an exit strategy as the arrows and teeth continue to bury into him, but then Kong gives them a great deal of cover - hopefully. He opts for bringing the hounds down to the best of his ability. His sword rings out just in time for his blade to appear fully extended in his arm, and then it's drawn back as his hand weaves runes in the air, causing lightning to crackle down the blade, with two swift strikes lashing out in quick succession.

I think Liisa still has her second round action?

Yah, sorry! Just got thrown out of the loop whit the skipped action and lack of response to that. I'll try and get something up by tonight : )

Liisa advances unhindered trough the rampant growth and further coaxes the plants to grow; but this time also crush and grind their prey.

Move action to move then casting Mythic Entangle (Enemies take 1d6 damage per round!). It is at DC +4 thanks to plant-growth for a total of 21

Sorry, I've been trying to pick back up on the fight, but with the delays, and out of order stuff, I'm having trouble picking up where I left off. What do you say we move to them retreating, and you doing the same? THere's no gems to get, just hunters and dogs.

As probably the least fight-y of the group, I'd be fine with that.

Yeah, these guys were NASTY and Lina has finally learned her lesson that you can't fight dogs the same way you fight people.

fine... a little sad I never got to do much besides cross the water, lol... but i'm sure there will be another chance in the future to lay down soem whoop ass..

Once both sides have retreated, Daichi looks a bit crestfallen. "These patrols are better than we expected them to be, and now they know where we are, generally anyway and will be better prepared for us."

Kong nods to Daichi, "Right so, we go back through and heal up and hit them tomorrow from the dome this time and keep at it. Though I think we shouldn't go through the lizardmen tunnels. Try to keep that exit quite. What do you guys think?"

"That sounds like a plan. We might have to think a bit on those dogs though, there has to be an easier way to deal with them ..." Liisa nods and steals a quick sideways glance at Lina. If any has any experience dealing with rabid dogs, I'm betting on her. Not sure if it would be applicable on these anyhow.

Johnny gives Kong a blank look. "But...why? The only point of attacking the patrol was to get more gems to get stronger. They don't have any gems, therefore what's the point in attacking them?"

"We were to clear the way out of the village remember? We didn't think we could sneak out the whole population with the patrols still around." Liisa reminds

"It seems obvious now that their patrols are very heavy and we can't sneak through them, so we need to try and thin them out now. The only way to break a blockade is to remove the blockaders. I realize they have far more people than we do, but it will take them time to move more into the area. We may be able to thin them out enough that we can get through. If not we keep it up long enough and then stop. Or we cause so much trouble they send someone with a gem. Keep them guessing when and where we are going to hit them. Train for a week or make items. Then start again. Eventually when they are used to it we sneak out the caves."

"No, that's stupid," Lina replies, shaking her head. "We wanted to see how strong the patrols are. The answer: too strong. At least too strong for us to come from this direction. At least, without far better tactics."

Luna passively tended to any wounds she had obtained in the fight more as something to do with her hands than any real medical treatment. "Whatever our next move I agree it's best not to draw any attention to the raptors if we can prevent it, the last thing we need is to bring a fight down there and turn them against us."

"Yeah, you are all right. But I think the next step would be figuring out what those hounds are. Mortal men are easy to fight, but those hounds? I can't help but feel we need to know a bit more ..." Liisa sighed, a bit frustrated by the situation. While she hadn't really like the thought of attacking and slaying patrols, it was better for her peace of mind then attacking and then *not* slaying the patrols - even though they tried their best! "So back across the wall and ask our gems? Or do we have a better idea?"

"Asking the gems can't hurt, but I doubt they will know much unless those hounds have been around for while."

"Worth trying. Maybe the proximity to the wall and new things will jog some memories."

After Neri finishes unporcupining himself, and examining the arrows he shakes his head. "They're new. Though, how new 'new' is is questionable, since we don't really know how old 'old' is. But... they're tied in to hellhounds and they have some sort of ability to avoid terrible terrain. I caught a flash of their teeth - metal, as well. Maybe one of your guys would recognize more of them, but they've been bred for resistance to mundane weapons... just like seemingly everything else. Sorry, Luna. They're also fire resistant, at least for now, but seemed to overload internally once dead... thankfully, they don't go Chernobyl on us. The arrows work specifically on people as far as I can tell. So... Mercurial Hounds and Manhunters this way. I know we could slip by the bad guys pretty easily, but we can't really march the people this way unless they want to take up arms."

Neri leans against a nearby tree, "Honestly, I'm sort of curious why we even expect the other city to still exist. What good do the bad guys gain by keeping the persecuted alive? I mean, we have to check, but..." he trails off.

"I don't know these people you speak of, but we should check on them, yes. If they are in danger, they need to be seen to, rescued and freed from persecution."

Daichi pauses and considers Neri's initial words. "These hounds do pose a problem, don't they - they will make it doubly hard to sneak past any patrols, especially with a rag tag band of non-combatants following us, if they're even willing to do so. Perhaps the others are right and these elders within us might know more and have some sage advice?"

"And they're fast. Way, way too fast, far faster than ordinary humans or hounds. The archers had some excellent equipment, but our ambush was badly planned, and some of that was my fault."

"It's not like taking villagers through here is any better than taking them through the wall." Johnny mutters softly, not sure why some of the group seemed so interested in fighting.

IIRC, both the tree and the wall were roughly the same distance from the town we wanted to looked at.

"People are always a valuable resource and attacking anything takes time and work they've nothing to really gain by wiping them out and a large workforce for leaving them, I doubt the other towns are destroyed."

Kong looks at Johnny and says to him, "We were hoping to get to the village from an unexpected direction that wasn't so well guarded. Now we know that is not the case and our best bet is to try and wear them down some and keep them guessing what we are up to."

He then speaks to the rest of the group, "Why don't we head back to the compound and talk to the gems and then figure out what we want to do for tomorrow."

" 'Wear them down some'? We're a handful of people vs an entire country. Perhaps more. That's like saying 'Let's empty Lake Michigan one bucket of water at a time' in the best case where we can keep attacking them in relatively small groups and they don't wise up and send a whole army at us."

As he speaks, Johnny begins packing up his stuff, which is really more busy-work than anything else since he was already basically packed. "But anyway, sure, let's go talk to our gems. There isn't much of a point hanging around here."

I think we're good to go back to the compounds and let folks chat with their gems about the skirmish! Unless anyone else has something?

"Let's get going then." Kong then turns to Liisa, "Would you mind leading the way again? I still haven't figured out all the twists and turns to get us back home."

"All right! Follow me." Liisa stepped into the tree and walked down the strangely familiar path. Now, do you remember anything about unnatural hounds? Or come to think of it, unnatural things in general. Is stuff like 'real' angels or demons something that we should account for? Or dragons or ... you get the picture I hope! Liisa thought to 'herself' as soon as she felt that they crossed the wall.

Once the groups reaches the compound, Kong talks to his gem

That didn't go as planned. Have you ever seen anything like those dogs before? We need to learn all we can about them. First it's ice wolves and then these dogs what's next? They've perverted nature in all sorts of ways it looks like.

"Selvaria says we ought to ask Johnny about hounds, dogs and the like. She was more of a wolf-type." Liisa notes. "Also, dragons might be a thing..."