he takes the AoOs, but has +4 AC and DR 4/- against evil outsiders, cannot be touched by summoned creatures. He will target the vrocks since they wanna play around.
V: 56/56, W: 74/74, Temp HP 18, AC 17*, Fort +11*, Ref +9, Will +10*, Rage 23/23 , Power 9/9, Psi 7/7, Active Effects: Bull Strength
Raxus looked into the flock of demons surrounding the crusaders with a sneer. He quickly drank a potion and took off toward them.
Rage. Draw potion of fly with Spring-Loaded Wrist Sheathe, Drink potion of Fly, move 60' toward the flock. Activate Quickrunner's shirt for extra move action, move another 60 feet.
How far away are they? I'm hoping 120' of movement will put Raxus in the middle of them. Raxus has a 25' reach and as many AoOs as he wants. I'm going to make them pay for whatever they do next.
Warlord 9 HP 251/251 | AC 46 | T 29 | FF 38 | F +33 | R +34 | W +32 | Init +11 | Per +32 | SR 28
Raxus Half-blood wrote:
Raxus looked into the flock of demons surrounding the crusaders with a sneer. He quickly drank a potion and took off toward them.
Rage. Draw potion of fly with Spring-Loaded Wrist Sheathe, Drink potion of Fly, move 60' toward the flock. Activate Quickrunner's shirt for extra move action, move another 60 feet.
How far away are they? I'm hoping 120' of movement will put Raxus in the middle of them. Raxus has a 25' reach and as many AoOs as he wants. I'm going to make them pay for whatever they do next.
Given they're over 1000 feet away, that will be difficult.
Ugh, been swamped again, and losing steam on this fight, but I'll try to bring it back now that we're in the final phase. Let's streamline this.
Round 6, wrap-up and allies:
Inubrix flies straight up, though the new battle appears to be quite far overhead. (Does anyone remember exactly how far?) Beneath him, two Siabrae surface, dragging the remaining demons in his square screaming and howling down into the lava with whirlpools and tentacles.
Sir Pala Din shoots to pieces one of the Vrocks; Drisquar and the Mystery Crusader manage to take out another. Raxus manages to hit most of the vulture demons at least once as they fly around, spreading around some damage, though not hitting excessively hard.
Illia-... chats. (And possibly teleports up to the swarm?)
Jiator strums his lyre.
Meridian finishes off the last few Babau demons.
Smallest Anaxian prepares a circle of some sort; big Anaxian shoves a Hezrou into the lava, which begins to char and sizzle as it screams in agony, scales blackening. Biggest Anaxian casts a spell that bounces harmlessly off the resilient sphere.
Between attacks of opportunity provoked by falling and shooting and from Vrocks swarming, Sir Pala Din manages to successfully parry beaks and block claws, dodging over a dozen swipes.
Raxus is the other heavy target of attacks, and is torn from every direction at the same time, his size and stockiness making dodging much more difficult. An additional 13 hits for 162 damage after DR, but let me know about any other defensive abilities.
A single hit manages to get through Drisquar's layers of speed and illusion, but barely. 6 damage after DR.
The other crusaders, while less-targeted, are still hit quite a few times, and hard. Gopher takes 4 hits, for 61 damage; Mystery Crusader takes 4 hits, one of them critical, for 69 damage.
And then there are the spores. Branches and vines, small and pointed, sprout from every inch of exposed skin, blistering and cracking as the crusaders take on a sheen of bloody brambles. It is an exceedingly painful process. 13 damage to everyone, as the spore clouds are spread out; spores will continue to do damage each round, but a single holy water explosion should clear them from everyone's skin, and the crusaders should know this.
And then there is the terrible, different demon, the one with the glowing eyes. As it launches an all-out attack against Counterpoint Gopher, its feathers melt and crumble as the disguise spell falters, and in the middle of the swarm of Vrocks the demon Shaorhaz reveals himself. He is not so much taller or more muscular than a man, though his bat-like wings billow out ten feet in either direction, giving him a slightly longer wingspan than the vulture demons dying around him. But his eyes glow with a terrible, enticing light that draws seems to both draw the crusaders' eyes and burn terribly; and in each of his four hands burns a black triangle of flame, sucking the light out of the air around him and leaving tears in the sky that shriek and hiss as he attacks with all four at coordinated, impossible speed.
Gaze attack deals 1 temporary negative level each to Drisquar, Pala, and Mystery Crusader. Gopher successfully saves against another quickened Enervate.
Gopher actually rolled pretty well on his saves! That's only 4 negative levels of drain from the knife attacks. HOWEVER, he also takes 248 damage, spread out across seven attacks—one of them a 73-damage critical hit.
Unless otherwise... And the other crusaders watch in horror as Counterpoint Gopher's body tummbles towards the ground, a thick mist of blood hanging in the air above him.
Shaorhaz smiles, and turns, grinning with an expression of nearly unfathomable hatred. ::WHO ARE YOU!:: he screams telepathically, in a mental voice even louder than that of Hungry Doom, as different pitches and timbres blend together in an echoing chorus that sounds suspiciously like the shouts of a dozen tortured prisoners, ::AND WHY HAVE YOU UNMADE MY LEGIONS? THE FIRST TO SPEAK WILL BE SPARED THE ENDLESS CYCLE OF AGONIZING RESURRECTION AND DEATH I HAVE PLANNED FOR THE REST OF YOUR NUMBER::
D1: No lava in this square; nine figures of various size appear to cast spells, protected by a Resilient Sphere. Two summoned Glabrezu have joined them, one of which is surrounded by 6 mirror images Siabrae 2 has just arrived here, but seems unable to break through the sphere
Party up! Only one band of demons remains in the fortress, though most of you have yet to join the skyward fight against Golarion's nastiest non-royalty demon.
Illia-, we can assume the spheredudes slung a few spells at you that bounced off—but thanks to telepathic link you also do know that the big baddie has just revealed himself.
Meridian glances around at the dead demons and shrugs.
She then turns invisible and stepped into the ether reappearing nearer Shaorhaz.
(That's about all her actions for the turn. She's approximately 100 feet from Shaorhaz opposite the Heroes floating in the air. Being protected by mind blank her invisibility is all but unbreakable.)
"What an insufferable Tw**. " Meridian mentally projects to her companions and whomever else may be listening in.
As always Meridian is only as lady like as she chooses to be in the moment.
Dris lazily steps over Shaorhaz For him, 30ft is like 3, lol seeming to blur slightly as he strikes the demon with an attack that comes from an unexpected angle.
Activating Dimensional Strike causing Shaor to be flat-footed for one attack. 1d20 + 22 ⇒ (9) + 22 = 31 for 1d6 + 11 + 4d6 ⇒ (5) + 11 + (3, 6, 2, 5) = 32.
Meanwhile, Shim will make a Knowledge(Planes) check to learn about what this demon's defenses and potential weaknesses are 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (15) + 15 = 30
This was what Anaxian had been waiting for. He snapped the invisible ring into place above the powerful demon, hanging it in the air with the Immovable Rod. readying my standard action to activate a scroll after the other stuff I've been planning for this happens in sequence. Post pending.
HP 145/145, Temp HP: 15, Stoneskin: 90/90, DR 15/Bludgeon and Magic, AC 24, CMD 13, SR 23, Fort +10, Dex +7, Will +12, Per +26, Stealth +38, Active Effects: Prestidigitation, Read Magic, Dimensional Anchor, Deathwatch, Unseen Servant, Nondetection, Fleshy Facade, Comprehend Languages, Invisibility Alarm, Aura Sight, Arcane Sight, Tongues, Greater Magic Fang, Symbol of Revelation
The Woundwyrm flew in near the swarm, drew two powerful reagents from his component pouch and cast a spell.
Magic Circle Against evil, cast with Dweomer Essence (i'm assuming this guy has spell resistance) and a Quickening Diamond
If this works, he should be all but powerless. No attacks or abilities will be able to penetrate the circle, and he'll be locked in with a dimensional anchor, (which is cast beforehand on the circle, not on him).
Only potential liability is if the Vrocks find the invisible circle hanging in the air. So, I'm going to take steps against that...
This post marks a Swift and Move action. The rest is incoming.
167/167 HP, Temp HP:, DR 10/Magic, Immune to Cold, Electricity and Fire, SR 21, Fort +20, Ref +14, Will +20, Smite 2/2, Blast 3/3, Recon 10/10, 1st level spells 4/4, Active Effects: Smoking Bottle, Evil Aura, Cowardice Aura, Desecrate Aura, Greater Magic Fang, Longstrider, Linebreaker, Ant Haul
Exploding up from the lava below, the Smoking Vessel streaked into place, flapping lazily a short ways above the magic circle, his giant cloud of smoke quickly filling the air around him. He opened his rune-carved armor and swept up his smaller counterpart as he went.
50' radious sphere of smoke around the Circle, to block the Vrock's vision and make it a lot harder for them to find it.
Only moving. I'm not sure how far away the main action was, so I'd rather just play it safe to make sure I can get there.
The smaller Anaxian body took up it's usual place inside the chest of his larger counterpart, his head peeking out of the strange pouch above the chest plate of the armor like some horrible parody of a kangaroo.
Anaxian's Core was built with one goal in mind. Obfuscation. It was a trickster at heart. A liar. A master of disguise. It's existence depended on being able to seem innocuous to any observer. It could make even the most powerful of enchantments invisible, artifacts to seem mundane.
It reached out with it's power and erased the magical aura on the invisible ring.
HP 145/145, Temp HP: 15, Stoneskin: 90/90, DR 15/Bludgeon and Magic, AC 24, CMD 13, SR 23, Fort +10, Dex +7, Will +12, Per +26, Stealth +38, Active Effects: Prestidigitation, Read Magic, Dimensional Anchor, Deathwatch, Unseen Servant, Nondetection, Fleshy Facade, Comprehend Languages, Invisibility Alarm, Aura Sight, Arcane Sight, Tongues, Greater Magic Fang, Symbol of Revelation
Ignore Shaoraaz. Anaxian said to his companions. He is trapped. Powerless. Focus on the Vrocks and other minions.
The Woundwyrm exhaled a cloud of lingering gas into the nearby Vrocks.
Entropic Breath. 30' cone, lingers for 1 minute. As Acid Fog, plus creatures within the cloud make a DC 25 Will save or be Confused.
125 HP, Temp HP:, DR 10/Magic, Immune to Cold, Electricity and Fire, SR 21, Fort +14, Ref +8, Will +12, Active Effects: Aura of Evil, Desecrate Aura, Magic Fang, Longstrider, Prestidigitation, Detect Magic, Read Magic, Deathwatch, Unseen Servant, Nondetection, Fleshy Facade, Comprehend Languages
Alright, as a wrap up, all the Anaxians are now gathered in the same general area defending the Invisible ring, which is anchored in the air by an Immovable Rod.
The circle has an inward facing Magic Circle trapping Sheorhaz. Assuming I beat his Spell Resistance, he is trapped, unable to attack or use abilities though the circle unless the ring is damaged.
There is a 50' sphere of smoke obscuring vision around it.
There is a 40' radius Unhallow spell from Little Anaxian's Darkskull. Within that area, those who do not serve the Crimson Stranger are affected by a Dimensional Anchor effect.
There is a 30' Cone of Acid Fog and Confusion Gas inside the Smoke. Because of the smoke, the Vrocks won't be able to see it until they are in it.
There is a 60' radius Fear aura around Little Anaxian. (DC 23 will or Shaken)
active: see post HP 151/151; AC 28 (26 currently); DR 15/-; FH 14 Psion 5 / Metamorph 7 / Worm that Walks CR+2
Inubrix continues to fly up.
not really sure how high up i have to go but i should be like 200-300ft off the ground at this point. Not intentionally flying into AoOs or obvious dangers.
What is he doing? Meridian thinks to herself as she sees the whirlwind of activity around the demon. Meridian now finds herself staring at a sphere of smoke.
HP 145/145, Temp HP: 15, Stoneskin: 90/90, DR 15/Bludgeon and Magic, AC 24, CMD 13, SR 23, Fort +10, Dex +7, Will +12, Per +26, Stealth +38, Active Effects: Prestidigitation, Read Magic, Dimensional Anchor, Deathwatch, Unseen Servant, Nondetection, Fleshy Facade, Comprehend Languages, Invisibility Alarm, Aura Sight, Arcane Sight, Tongues, Greater Magic Fang, Symbol of Revelation
Scratch the Breath Weapon
The Woundwyrm snatched the Rod out of the air and targeted Sheorhaz with a green ray of mystical energy. This had to work. He burned more powerful reagents and cast the spell thought he rod, hoping to amplify his magic to the point where it could effect the powerful demon.
Aww, shoot. Still overwhelmed. Going to use averages for enemy rolls, and heuristic estimates of space packing.
Round 6, revised: Raxus's swinging arms manage to block and throw most of the rocks, but a few were close enough to begin with that he fails to block their attacks. 65 damage makes it through.
If it's alright, I'll bot Raxus for the round by having him do... something, gunpowder or punching, that wrecks some more Vrocks.
Drisquar, aided by Illia-'s startling appearance, manages to land a clean hit on the demon.
Enemies:
Shaorhaz is no stranger to magic and, while not immediately noticing the Magic Circle, he senses Anaxian's Dimensional Anchor and, confident in his spell resistance, immediately attempts a teleportation... which fails.
The following shriek of anger and betrayal cuts through the air, with not quite the intended effect, as Vrocks begin to wink out of existence. A few seconds after, the remaining few figures on the ground disappear, as the last survivors of the host of demons—creatures not known for their loyalty—disappear, perhaps fleeing to safer parts of the Worldwound.
As smoke blocks his vision, Shaorhaz tears a strip of cloth off of his arms, and out flutter several dozen scraps of paper, each bearing a glowing Symbol of Death; while these are obscured by the billowing smoke, Shaorhaz manages to glance at several, which burst in a blinding white light, attempting to tear the souls away from every nearby creature.
Drisquar and Ellsuana are unaffected (and of course the heavily-shielded Meredian); but every other one of the crusaders falls dead in the air.
[b]Round 7: Party up! Drisquar and Illia- are in melee range of the bound Shaorhaz (though it's somewhat unclear what attacks he can actually still use); Ellsuana, Meredian, and one of the Anaxians are close. Inubrix is still at least 3 rounds' flight away. A dozen Symbols of Death still float in the air around Shaorhaz's circle.
Warlord 9 HP 251/251 | AC 46 | T 29 | FF 38 | F +33 | R +34 | W +32 | Init +11 | Per +32 | SR 28
Illia-, with pretty much every attacky boost she can manage, charges in with Reapy, using Drisquar as a flanking buddy, activating her brave gambit and raging hunter pounce.
Warlord 9 HP 251/251 | AC 46 | T 29 | FF 38 | F +33 | R +34 | W +32 | Init +11 | Per +32 | SR 28
Yes, you would be getting +9 to hit and damage, assuming at least one of my attacks landed. Otherwise just +9 to hit from flanking. Shred him if he's got any HPs left. :P
167/167 HP, Temp HP:, DR 10/Magic, Immune to Cold, Electricity and Fire, SR 21, Fort +20, Ref +14, Will +20, Smite 2/2, Blast 3/3, Recon 10/10, 1st level spells 4/4, Active Effects: Smoking Bottle, Evil Aura, Cowardice Aura, Desecrate Aura, Greater Magic Fang, Longstrider, Linebreaker, Ant Haul
I don't think I can hit that AC so I thought I'd go with just scaring the piddle out of him.
The smoking dragon dropped down to hover above the trapped demon, his otherworldly voice seeming to come from all around, sounding like the dripping hiss of lava.
"How does it feel to be trapped, little demon? When was the last time you knew you were going to die?"
Making sure he's within range of my Aura of Cowardice, so if he was immune to fear, he isn't anymore.
HP 145/145, Temp HP: 15, Stoneskin: 90/90, DR 15/Bludgeon and Magic, AC 24, CMD 13, SR 23, Fort +10, Dex +7, Will +12, Per +26, Stealth +38, Active Effects: Prestidigitation, Read Magic, Dimensional Anchor, Deathwatch, Unseen Servant, Nondetection, Fleshy Facade, Comprehend Languages, Invisibility Alarm, Aura Sight, Arcane Sight, Tongues, Greater Magic Fang, Symbol of Revelation
The Woundwyrm died. Anaxian suddenly felt the peaceful weightless sensation of floating bodiless for a moment before his soul snapped back into his original body, displacing the spirit fragment of his phylactery. HIs scales rippled like a shiver ran through him and the inky blackness in his eyes was replaced with the more familiar purple glow.
I think I lose my Standard action from the spell ending (as if I used my action to shift back to my original body). The rules are a bit unclear. I think I've taken enough actions recently, so I'll call it good for this round.
Calling upon his innate knowledge of anatomy and the body, Dris enhances his strikes to make them more deadly. Swift action to initiate Night's Knife, adding my ranks in Heal(14) to damage
He then disappears momentarily, attacking their foe from another plane entirely. Initiating Resonance Strike, to hit his touch AC
Well, there's some rolls... though it looks like smoke and fear have kept Illia- alive.
Round 7:
"TRAPPED?" Shaorhaz bellows telepathically. "YOU DARE TO CALL ME TRAPPED? My armies are regrouping, and soon, they will teleport back, a legion in ambush..."
Bluff:1d20 + 9 ⇒ (1) + 9 = 10
But there is clear fear in his eyes, and perhaps that is what allows Illia- and Drisquar to ignore his soul-burning gaze for the next few attacks. Illia- lands several solid hits, and Drisquar lands one, though it is a solid blow of force that cuts straight through his hefty barrier against damage. 217 total damage Shaorhaz
But in attacking the large demon, Illia- and Drisquar briefly pass hands, arms, feet, wingtips over the edge of the circle, and Shaorhaz strikes back in four-armed fury, foiled only partially by the smoke. Two hits land against Illia- (though Drisquar is not quite where the demon's massive, swinging tail spike expects), and suddenly, the devil feels extremely weak, as a huge wave of strength is silently ripped from her body.
Illia takes three hits. One is a critical hit enervate for 8 negative levels (effectively reducing max hp by 40); the other two are dagger hits, for 38 and 19 damage after DR. This puts her down to 71/128 hp, though I'm guessing she has a counter to at least one of the attacks.
Shaorhaz is bleeding, his armies have abandoned him, and Meredian's disarmed his fail-safe weapon... but a lucky round of attakcs from him could still kill one or two party members. Round 8, Everyone up!
