Aubrey's Eberron campaign. (Inactive)

Game Master Aubrey the Malformed

maybe he needs lasix.

Just to see if I got the map right - the alcove opening is H4-H11?

Janosz kneels down behind a tree, intently scanning the ravine for enemies.

Put me in H11. Stealth check 12+17=29, Perception 14+15=29. Initiative 11+6=17.

Just to see if I got the map right - the alcove opening is H4-H11?

Janosz kneels down behind a tree, intently scanning the ravine for enemies.

Put me in H11. Stealth check 12+17=29, Perception 14+15=29. Initiative 11+6=17.

I believe the alcove opening is H4-H10. H11 puts you in solid wall. Perhaps I11 which is close to the opening and next to the tree.

I11 is good too.

I'm gonna have to consult a cartographer to get this map settled...

Initiative 1d20+3=19

Trying to make this grid-compatible for my spreadsheet -- I have the following squares available for occupancy within the "side branch": G-H/4, E-H/5, C-H/6, D-H/9, G-H/10. Sound about right?

And the borders of the map on all sides is Climb DC 20 cliffs and the floor, other than the stream, is normal terrain.

Gil wants to be near the center of the party to get the greatest effect with her Invisibility Sphere, if she casts it. Right now, I6 sounds good. How about Basher in I7? Or does he only take instruction from LB?

EDIT: Did not see the last page of posts, so this is redundant, but I think GG and I are on the same track.

Well, Basher is a large warforged so it should be I-J/7-8.

Well, Basher is a large warforged so it should be I-J/7-8.

Yeah, my bad. And should I be including him or the archon in the Haste rather than one of the party?

After re-reading the map description, I'm not really sure of the layout anymore. Is the side passage V-shaped with a "solid center" (i.e. just two thin passages joining at an angle at A 7-8, or is it a large open niche?

Looks like this might need to be mapped properly, and I'm not really feeling up to it right now. Feel free to place LB somewhere to speed things along. I'll try to map tomorrow.

@Janosz: I believe it's an open niche. He was describing the borders of that side passage rather than a pair of smaller passages into the ravine wall.

@LB (and Runzyl and Ezreal): It appears that we might be well served to stand back-to-back (as suggested by the bone knight). How about Ez in the middle by Gil with LB, Runzyl, and the archon completing the perimeter?

Hmm, this alcove is proving controversial. For the avoidance of doubt, the squares you can stand in are: A/7-8, B/7-8, C/6-9, D/6-9, E/5-10, F/5-10, G/4-11 and H/4-11. To be fair, I got lazy while describing it and triangles are hard to get clear on the coordinate system. Hope that helps.

E5 using the tree for cover.
Init 3+3 = 6

Hmm, this alcove is proving controversial. For the avoidance of doubt, the squares you can stand in are: A/7-8, B/7-8, C/6-9, D/6-9, E/5-10, F/5-10, G/4-11 and H/4-11. To be fair, I got lazy while describing it and triangles are hard to get clear on the coordinate system. Hope that helps.

Helps me quite a bit. I was off a bit, but my maps updated now.

@Rodergo: G6 is not adjacent to a cliff wall. Since Ezreal has taken cover behind a tree, what about Rodergo standing amidst the circle of defenders with Gil in H6?

I'm picturing the archon in G-H/6-7 (he is large, right?), Runzyl in G6 (by Jalana and Rodergo), and Lightbringer in J5 (by Gil and Rolund) for our remaining allies' positions.

I'll do that; H6 for me.

What are our archon's powers? Can it make some or all of us invisible? Can it boost us with bless, prayer or something similar?

The archon is medium. I'll cut and paste him to the ooc. Magic Circle against evil is about it

G6 should be fine. If the archon can cast the Magic Circle on other people, I'd appreciate a touch of it about now.

The archon is medium. I'll cut and paste him to the ooc. Magic Circle against evil is about it

Heh, I apparently suggested a position too high on the map for him anyway - he overlapped both Runzyl and Rodergo. How about G7 for him, next to Runzyl and within reach of Rodergo? I assume the Large Basher has reach and would be able to provide protection to the archon's flank.

EDIT: And I believe that would include Runzyl in the Magic Circle effect, as well.

Init: 17.
J5 is fine for LB. We might want to move Jalana back to H7, it’s a more sheltered position.

I rolled up the initiatives for our companions. Here's the list:
Gil: 19
Janosz: 17+, Stealth 29, Perception 29
Lightbringer: 17
Jalana: 12+
Wings-of-silver: 12, Perception 22 (Darkvision & Low-light vision), Magic circle vs. evil
Rolund: 9
Basher: 7 (stats on page 168 of the game thread)
Ezreal: 6
Rodergo: 3
Runzyl: ?
Mud-caked savages: ?

I've put the stats for Basher and Wings-of-Silver on my avatar.

Janosz:

Init: Nat 20 + 4 = 24.

"They're coming", Janosz barks. "From the north, both on the ravine floor and on the cliffs; they all look like they're carrying bows, so be prepared to take the fight to them."

"Here we go....on my mark,.....unleash hell."

Ezreal looks up at the cliff edges above. "No. I think I've been pelted by enough arrows this week." So saying he twists a bit of spiderweb from one of his pouches and webbing explodes above the gulley anchoring in all directions. "If they want in from above they can try to cut their way in."

D-E / 7-8 will cover the whole triangular area. We all have cover from above. If Gil has any wide area illusions with a little duration she can expand that to total concealment if she wants.

Ezreal looks up at the cliff edges above. "No. I think I've been pelted by enough arrows this week." So saying he twists a bit of spiderweb from one of his pouches and webbing explodes above the gulley anchoring in all directions. "If they want in from above they can try to cut their way in."

D-E / 7-8 will cover the whole triangular area. We all have cover from above. If Gil has any wide area illusions with a little duration she can expand that to total concealment if she wants.

Can you use a tree to anchor the web and increase the coverage area?

Gil nods as she sees the results of Ezreal's spell. "Change of plans, my friends. You might do well to make yourself smaller targets." With that, she casts a spell of her own, conjuring up an inky black "smoke" that appears to billow out from her outstretched hands and fill an area north and above the waiting party before crouching down to follow her own suggestion. As she stares at the billowing mass, it continues to flow and move like a living thing.

I don't recall how high the cliffs or trees are. She has 11 ten-foot cubes' worth of illusion, so the inky blackness moves around and through objects in the following squares to a height of 20': I-O/4-5 (6 cubes' worth) as well as filling from 10' to 20' height in G-H/4-5 and G-O/6-7 (which should be the other 5 cubes). Everyone but Ezreal, Janosz, and Basher should be beneath the "cover."

"Basher, wait for my mark."

Web has a 20' radius, so it exactly covers the depth of the little canyon we are in. It is a little wider above it, but it doesn't extend out beyond to any marked trees.

I'm not sure we are in initiative order yet. If we are, Janosz is up.

Janosz creeps forward, looking for a better firing position.

Moving to L10, hiding behind the tree.

We aren't - I'm just being totally lame at delaying, out of sheer laziness, creating these guys' stats. Shame will drive me on.

I can dig that, man.....take your time.

Oh, yeah, no worries. I just didn't want folks waiting on me to get the ball rolling.

Ezreal casts his Web spell, and sticky white strands block any access from above. (Gil, not sure what you decided. The cliffs are about 30' tall. Re your illusion, you can use it to create the roiling cloud of darkness. Concentration requires you to, well, concentrate - casting something else will disturb that concentration. Some illusion spells, however, last a few rounds longer than the period of concentration. You have time to cast it before combat begins seriously.)

Five warriors run up the ravine from the north, dodging between the trees. They are moving very fast. (You can get a single shot off - spell or missile - as they approach, or doing anything else you could do in a standard action. Note, of you are cowering in the side passage you may not actually have line of sight - they will finish their movement just north of where the map stops. Due to their use of the terrain, they get cover as they approach, and they also have 20% concealment.)

Runzyl: 24
Savages: 21
Gil: 19
Janosz: 17+, Stealth 29, Perception 29
Lightbringer: 17
Jalana: 12+
Wings-of-silver: 12, Perception 22 (Darkvision & Low-light vision), Magic circle vs. evil
Rolund: 9
Basher: 7 (stats on page 168 of the game thread)
Ezreal: 6
Rodergo: 3

Are they ridiculously fast (i.e. do they look like they're hasted) or are they just merely guys who know how to run?

Janosz squeezes off a shot after one of the approaching figures.

Attack roll 11=17=AC 28, miss chance % roll 64, damage 6=3=9.

Magic circle prot from evil, centered on Runzyl.

Are they ridiculously fast (i.e. do they look like they're hasted) or are they just merely guys who know how to run?

Janosz squeezes off a shot after one of the approaching figures.

Attack roll 11=17=AC 28, miss chance % roll 64, damage 6=3=9.

They are running very fast.

(Gil, not sure what you decided. The cliffs are about 30' tall. Re your illusion, you can use it to create the roiling cloud of darkness. Concentration requires you to, well, concentrate - casting something else will disturb that concentration. Some illusion spells, however, last a few rounds longer than the period of concentration. You have time to cast it before combat begins seriously.)

Sorry for any confusion. I meant that she had cast it. For continuity purposes, shall we say that Gil is in the process of "creating the cloud" as the locals are rushing forward to as to explain how we saw the fleet ones approach?

Lightbringer begins detecting evil on the group approaching down the ravine.

LB:

Rolund waits for the tribesmen to get closer as he has already drawn his sword.

Runzyl draws Falla Caesenri and steps forward, bringing himself directly into the path of the onrushing warriors.

Without a position I don't know where you have stepped forward to.

Janosz's shot hits one of the onrushing tribesmen but he keeps going.

Also, where is the illusory smoke?

Here is her illusion placement from a few posts up:

I don't recall how high the cliffs or trees are. She has 11 ten-foot cubes' worth of illusion, so the inky blackness moves around and through objects in the following squares to a height of 20': I-O/4-5 (6 cubes' worth) as well as filling from 10' to 20' height in G-H/4-5 and G-O/6-7 (which should be the other 5 cubes). Everyone but Ezreal, Janosz, and Basher should be beneath the "cover."

Stealth 18+3 = 21
AC = 23 with cover (web from above, tree in front)

Vs attacks from above everyone has +4 AC and +2 reflex save.
Gil's illusion gives us all total concealment vs the ones running from the north, and they have concealment vs us. You could disbelieve the illusion especially if she tells everyone to and then target and fire through it. Otherwise you might need to ready actions.

OK, end of the half-round - on to initiative. The tribesmen were last seen running down somewhere around I-M (off the end of the map).

Just to clarify Ither's statement - you all know this is an illusion, so you don't have to disbelieve. You can see it as a shadowy outline and it doesn't provide the tribesmen concealment. You get total concealment until they either pass through it or disbelieve it.

Runzyl.

Also, where is the illusory smoke?

From this post: She has 11 ten-foot cubes' worth of illusion, so the inky blackness moves around and through objects in the following squares to a height of 20': I-O/4-5 (6 cubes' worth) as well as filling from 10' to 20' height in G-H/4-5 and G-O/6-7 (which should be the other 5 cubes). Everyone but Ezreal, Janosz, and Basher should be beneath the "cover."

Ah, should have continued reading. Thanks, Ithuriel.