Bloodsong of the Treeless Lands: Rune Stones Part IV (4e)

Game Master Rev Rosey

Distracted by the great jaws champing around her, Whiteclaw misses.

Absolutely right. You're free to attack while grabbed. Don't forget that escaping is a move action which includes a shift as part of the move if you make it. I'm aware that tactically you might not want to escape, but if you do, it's Athletics v Fort or Acrobatics v Ref to do so.

MAP

Arianwyn - CA v One Who Devours until end Reason's next turn
The One Who Devours - marked by Whiteclaw; cursed by Arianwyn; takes 1d8 cold damage if it moves (se)
Vel
Kia
Reason
Whiteclaw - grabbed until escape

Minor - sustain Black Frost.
2d8 ⇒ (3, 8) = 11 cold damage
Witchfire vs Ref
1d20 + 13 ⇒ (4) + 13 = 172d6 + 9 ⇒ (2, 2) + 9 = 13 fire damage
Dark One's Own Luck
1d20 + 13 ⇒ (12) + 13 = 25
1d8 ⇒ 6 curse damage
The One takes -5 penalty to attack rolls. Move to Q18. Concealment gained.

So 11 cold damage, 17 fire damage and 6 normal damage (if hit)

Arianwyn concentrates on sending a bolt of white flame at the terrifying maw, as he simultaneously crushes dark ice around it.

With the aid of his patron, Arianwyn hurls fire into the gaping jaws that clench relentlessly around Whiteclaw.

Cross off Dark One's Own Luck. You hit with the re-roll.

Teeth grind down into the gnoll, grinding into her.

Clamping Jaws (Ref)- half damage on miss.
1d20+10=27 - One Who Devours v Whiteclaw
2d6+5=11
11hp damage to Whiteclaw

As it does so, the frost fades from the huge body.

1d20+5=18 - Save v Black Frost.

MAP

Vel
Kia
Reason
Whiteclaw - grabbed until escape
Arianwyn - CA v One Who Devours until end Reason's next turn
The One Who Devours - marked by Whiteclaw; cursed by Arianwyn; - 5 to attacks to end Arianwyn's next turn

Hate to be the bearer of bad tidings - he can only make a saving throw if he moves.

Did the One move? I didn't see it happen, but the map doesn't look like I remember . . . Adalram was to fly next to it.

Vel comes up with an old favorite enchantment, scarcely used in recent months, and attempts to enspel the One.

Sleep vs Will. Slowed (se) regardless; on hit, if fails first save, falls asleep. 1d20 + 11 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 11 + 1 = 26

Then, because she is who she is, Vel follows up with a burst of flame.

AP. Fireburst vs Ref. 1d20 + 11 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 11 + 1 = 273d6 + 7 ⇒ (6, 3, 5) + 7 = 21

Revised and amended action for the One Who Devours.

Dropping Whiteclaw as the primeval being moves away from the punishing frost, it grabs at her again.

Uses 1AP: Bite (Ref). Reach 3.
1d20+10=16 - One Who Devours v Whiteclaw
2d6+5=9
9 additional damage to Whiteclaw

MAP

Vel
Kia
Reason
Whiteclaw - grabbed until escape
Arianwyn - CA v One Who Devours until end Reason's next turn
The One Who Devours - marked by Whiteclaw; cursed by Arianwyn; - 5 to attacks to end Arianwyn's next turn

In that case, a move action to keep Adalram next to the One, before Vel attacks. N15.

Gentle shrouds of soporific magic flow from Vel's orb, followed by a more traditional corruscating burst of flame.

MAP

Kia
Reason
Whiteclaw - grabbed until escape
Arianwyn - CA v One Who Devours until end Reason's next turn
The One Who Devours - marked by Whiteclaw; cursed by Arianwyn; - 5 to attacks to end Arianwyn's next turn; slowed (se)and will fall unconcsious if it fails first save.
Vel

At this juncture, it seems timely to remind you of the pictures in Pashira's tomb. Reposted below for convenience. Run any checks you want.

In the first picture, a lone figure viciously scored through, walks across a broad plain, watched from afar by eyes in the darkness.

In the seventh and last picture, the figure stands between the stallion and the mare as the head breathes over him, and he is no longer defaced.

"Of course! Whiteclaw - you must allow it to swallow you! Now we've weakened it, we will be able to retrieve you!" Arianwyn cries.

MAP

Kia
Reason
Whiteclaw - grabbed until escape
Arianwyn - CA v One Who Devours until end Reason's next turn
The One Who Devours - marked by Whiteclaw; cursed by Arianwyn; - 5 to attacks to end Arianwyn's next turn; slowed (se)and will fall unconcsious if it fails first save.
Vel

"Of course! Whiteclaw - you must allow it to swallow you! Now we've weakened it, we will be able to retrieve you!" Arianwyn cries.

"I'm working on it." she says. "It wants to play fetch first."

HP: 60/96
Surges: 13/13
AP: 1/1
Status: Marked The One, Grabbed.

I reckon we should at least Bloody it before Whiteclaw is swallowed.

Agree on bloodying the devourer before Whiteclaw is swallowed. Does the 'viciously scored' bit mean that he devouree must be bloodied first?

Kia thinks back to the pictures and tries to understand exactly what they mean.

If the devourer will not consume Whiteclaw until she is bloodeid, Kia will use an inspring word to keep Whiteclaw healthy until the appropriate moment.

History to 'get' the pictures. 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (9) + 17 = 26

If it will wait until Whiteclaw is bloodied... She can spend a haealing surge + 2d6 + 4 ⇒ (4, 3) + 4 = 11 HP (Kia will use her move action to move to Q15 first in this case)

I'm guessing the check is a standard action, so, if the check fails or reveals that Whiteclaw is in imminent danger of being consumed before the devourer is sufficiently cooked, Kia will use Kinght's move to enable Whiteclaw to break from the grab for a small respite. (If she wants that...)

Apologies for the complexity...

Not to worry on the complexity. This is a tricky set of things to juggle.

Kia's knowledge of history stands her in good stead. Whiteclaw must indeed be bloodied to before she can be consumed. Even more, she has a sudden realisation.

Kia

If I've understood Kia's actions correctly, she now wishes to use an Inspiring Word to keep Whiteclaw alive long enough for you all to bloody the One Who Devours.

MAP

Reason
Whiteclaw - grabbed until escape
Arianwyn - CA v One Who Devours until end Reason's next turn
The One Who Devours - marked by Whiteclaw; cursed by Arianwyn; - 5 to attacks to end Arianwyn's next turn; slowed (se)and will fall unconcsious if it fails first save.
Vel
Kia

knowledge checks are free actions usually

Damn. Always forget that. In which cae, Kia can still take an action.

Kia shoots an arrow at the devourer.

Then has a sudden thought...

"Wait a minute! I think the pictures were implying that, if the devourer is really in danger of dying it will retreat back into the earth, taking Whiteclaw with if it is busy chomping her at the time. I think we need to get it to give her up willingly somehow. Maybe a peace offering...? Once it is weak enough?"

"So... should we get it bloodied first?"

"Saving the world is really complicated."

Paint the bulls-eye 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (15) + 10 = 251d10 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8 vs AC

If that hits, everyone gets +4 to damage to the start of Kia's next turn. If Whiteclaw wants to be dropped, Kia will push the devourer one square away, forcing it to drop Whiteclaw. If she wants to retain it's warm embrace, Kia will not push.

Kia's arrow cannot penetrate the One Who Devours thick hide.

MAP

Reason
Whiteclaw - grabbed until escape
Arianwyn - CA v One Who Devours until end Reason's next turn
The One Who Devours - marked by Whiteclaw; cursed by Arianwyn; - 5 to attacks to end Arianwyn's next turn; slowed (se)and will fall unconcsious if it fails first save.
Vel
Kia

"I suggest we take no actions against it until it swallows Whiteclaw, just to be safe."

Reason then moves forward and does what he can to heal Whiteclaw.

P18. Healing Word: surge + 2d6 + 3 ⇒ (1, 6) + 3 = 10

Whiteclaw positively vibrates with health.

MAP

Whiteclaw - grabbed until escape
Arianwyn - CA v One Who Devours until end Reason's next turn
The One Who Devours - marked by Whiteclaw; cursed by Arianwyn; - 5 to attacks to end Arianwyn's next turn; slowed (se)and will fall unconcsious if it fails first save.
Vel
Kia
Reason

If Kia gave me a surge +11, I'd have been at 95/96, so Reason can save his healing word.

While the other talk, the gnoll hacks away. She figures if she hits it enough, it'll get annoyed and eat her. Simple, gnoll logic.

Keep it marked. Winters Claws vs AC. 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (15) + 12 = 27. On hit: 2d10 + 6 ⇒ (8, 8) + 6 = 22 and slowed until EOMNT.

HP: 95/96
Surges: 12/13
AP: 1/1
Status: Marked The One, Grabbed.

Whiteclaw knocks a substantial chunk out of the One Who Devours, it roars horribly and its movements slow.

MAP

Arianwyn
The One Who Devours - marked by Whiteclaw; cursed by Arianwyn; - 5 to attacks to end Arianwyn's next turn; slowed (se)and will fall unconcsious if it fails first save; slowed to end Whiteclaw's next turn
Vel
Kia
Reason
Whiteclaw - grabbed until escape

Move to N12. Otherwind Stride vs Fort.
1d20 + 11 ⇒ (11) + 11 = 221d8 + 9 ⇒ (7) + 9 = 161d8 ⇒ 4
It's immobilized until end of my next turn. I teleport to T20.

Arianwyn races in, stabs the creature, and disappears in a flurry of autumn leaves.

"Hmm... that's novel." he says with surprise, looking at the foliage that vanishes around him as he reappears some distance away.

The One Who Devours cannot forestall Arianwyn's abrupt arrival and departure and the warlock drives a deep gouge into the leathery flesh, holding the creature in place. It is clearly weakening.

Teeth grind down once more on Whiteclaw.

Clamping Jaws (Ref)
1d20+15=31 - OWD v Whiteclaw. Hits. 2d6+5=16
AP
1d20+15=32 - OWD v Whiteclaw. Hits. 2d6+5=14
30hp damage to Whiteclaw.

Vel's spell winds closer, but the beast is just able to shrug off the worst effects.

1d20+5=11 - saves v falling unconscious.

MAP

Vel
Kia
Reason
Whiteclaw - grabbed until escape
Arianwyn
The One Who Devours - marked by Whiteclaw; cursed by Arianwyn; - 5 to attacks to end Arianwyn's next turn; slowed (se); slowed to end Whiteclaw's next turn; immobilised to end Arianwyn's next turn

Vel tries scoring it with her incendiary force blast.

Incendiary detonation vs Ref, hit for force and knock prone, zone of 2 fire for 2 turns regardless

1d20 + 11 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 11 + 1 = 311d6 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12

Flame surges from Vel's fingers and into the gaping maw. Lit up from within, the great beast topples sideways, teeth still clamped around Whiteclaw as the fire rages around and inside it. To the watchers, it is clear that the beast is losing strength.

I'm not sure if falling prone forces a grab to be broken. It seems logical that it would (since it's forced movement of a kind). Does anyone know for sure?

MAP

Kia
Reason
Whiteclaw - possibly still grabbed until escape
Arianwyn
The One Who Devours - marked by Whiteclaw; cursed by Arianwyn; - 5 to attacks to end Arianwyn's next turn; slowed (se); slowed to end Whiteclaw's next turn; immobilised to end Arianwyn's next turn; prone and taking 2hp fire damage at the start of its turn until Vel's turn after next
Vel

I'm not sure if falling prone forces a grab to be broken. It seems logical that it would (since it's forced movement of a kind). Does anyone know for sure?

Apparently not, if I read the PHB correctly (P290)

Kia sets another arrow to her bow and tries again.

1d20 + 10 ⇒ (3) + 10 = 131d10 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3
N.B. devourer gets +2 to defence because it is prone

22 arrows left

Kia resolves to work on her archery when she gets the time.

A thought... Does anyone have any potions that they could give to Whiteclaw (somehow!) so that she could spend her ingestion time drinking them to maintain health? Perhaps I should have suggested this earlier...

That's how I read it too, but this isn't a situation that crops up very often :)

Excited by the prospect of bloodying the gaping maw, Kia's aim fails her and the arrow lands almost at her own feet.

MAP

Reason
Whiteclaw - grabbed until escape
Arianwyn
The One Who Devours - marked by Whiteclaw; cursed by Arianwyn; - 5 to attacks to end Arianwyn's next turn; slowed (se); slowed to end Whiteclaw's next turn; immobilised to end Arianwyn's next turn; prone and taking 2hp fire damage at the start of its turn until Vel's turn after next
Vel
Kia

I'm fine with my health. It's not hitting that hard, really. It basically did my second by using an AP :) And I can pull an AP trick of my own to burst heal close to 70 percent of my HP, so, I'm not worried :)

HP: 65/96
Surges: 12/13
AP: 1/1
Status: Marked The One, Grabbed.

And you need to be Bloodied before it will swallow you.

Reason waits anxiously for the Devourer to live up to its moniker.

Delay

MAP

Whiteclaw - grabbed until escape
Arianwyn
The One Who Devours - marked by Whiteclaw; cursed by Arianwyn; - 5 to attacks to end Arianwyn's next turn; slowed (se); slowed to end Whiteclaw's next turn; immobilised to end Arianwyn's next turn; prone and taking 2hp fire damage at the start of its turn until Vel's turn after next
Vel
Kia
Reason - DELAYING

Whiteclaw shakes her head. "What a stupid creature, you're too dumb to even eat." she says, as she swings at it.

Thorn Strike, vs AC. 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (4) + 12 = 16, on hit: 1d10 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14 and a 1 square pull which I don't do. Keep it marked.

HP: 65/96
Surges: 12/13
AP: 1/1
Status: Marked The One, Grabbed.

Whiteclaw smacks fruitlessly at the beast, as she comments unfavourably on its mental prowess.

MAP

Arianwyn
The One Who Devours - marked by Whiteclaw; cursed by Arianwyn; - 5 to attacks to end Arianwyn's next turn; slowed (se); slowed to end Whiteclaw's next turn; immobilised to end Arianwyn's next turn; prone and taking 2hp fire damage at the start of its turn until Vel's turn after next
Vel
Kia
Reason - DELAYING
Whiteclaw - grabbed until escape

Eldritch Blast
1d20 + 11 ⇒ (5) + 11 = 161d10 + 9 ⇒ (4) + 9 = 131d8 ⇒ 3

Arianwyn shoots a white beam of light at the creature.

Arianwyn's bolt goes wide, but the One Who Devours takes more damage from Vel's flame. For the first time, it screams as blistering sores appear on its leathery hide.

OWD is bloodied.

Rising once more, the great teeth champ down, grinding into the gnoll.

Clamping Jaws (Ref)
1d20+15=24. Hits
2d6+5=15
15 damage to Whiteclaw - which doesn't quite bloody her.

Save v slowed: 1d20+5=16

MAP

Vel
Kia
Reason - DELAYING
Whiteclaw - grabbed until escape
Arianwyn
The One Who Devours - BLOODIED; marked by Whiteclaw; cursed by Arianwyn; taking 2hp fire damage at the start of its turn until Vel's turn after next

Vel's eyes suddenly gleam with an unaccustomed fervor. Without warning, she draws a dagger and screams, "No! It should be me!" Slashing along her own forearm, she rushes up next to the One Who Devours.

Minor: Draw dagger. Standard: Attack self -- no idea how you want to rule that one. Move: N14

Auto-hit, since you know what you're doing and where to aim. You need to roll the damage though.

As Vel lunges forward, her tattoo flares, strengthening her purpose. Blood drips down her forearm as she gazes longingly into the jaws of the One Who Devours.

MAP

Kia
Reason - DELAYING
Whiteclaw - grabbed until escape
Arianwyn
The One Who Devours - BLOODIED; marked by Whiteclaw; cursed by Arianwyn; taking 2hp fire damage at the start of its turn until end Vel's next turn
Vel

1d4 - 1 ⇒ (3) - 1 = 2

HP: 54/56
Surges: 8/8
AP: 0/1
Status: Crazy as a loon.

Arianwyn looks startled for perhaps the first time in the party's acquaintance, and then sighs.

"Nothing in this life is simple, it seems."

HP: 50/96
Surges: 12/13
AP: 1/1
Status: Marked The One, Grabbed

Reason pinches at the bridge of his nose and winces, shaking his head.

Reason[b] - if you want to act before your next turn comes up anyway, now is the time. Post at will.

[b]MAP

Kia
Reason - DELAYING
Whiteclaw - grabbed until escape
Arianwyn
The One Who Devours - BLOODIED; marked by Whiteclaw; cursed by Arianwyn; taking 2hp fire damage at the start of its turn until end Vel's next turn
Vel

"Get away Vel! We can't do anything significant until it has devoured her. And I don't think you are the right sort of offering."

Kia takes aim at the devourer once more and fires a shot.

Paint the bulls-eye 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (16) + 10 = 261d10 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 1 = 10

"Careful though, we don't want to damage it too much until it has devoured Whiteclaw and spat her out again."

21 arrows

This time, Kia's arrow strikes true, sinking deep into the One Who Devours and guiding the way for her comrades.

+4 to damage rolls on the One Who Devours to start Kia's next turn.

MAP

Reason
Whiteclaw - grabbed until escape
Arianwyn
The One Who Devours - BLOODIED; marked by Whiteclaw; cursed by Arianwyn; taking 2hp fire damage at the start of its turn until end Vel's next turn
Vel
Kia

"No -- it should devour me! Reason, heal Whiteclaw!"

Reason arches an eyebrow at Vel, and continues to wait for the Devourer to clear its throat.

Delaying til after Devourer, or compelling argument.

MAP

Whiteclaw - grabbed until escape
Arianwyn
The One Who Devours - BLOODIED; marked by Whiteclaw; cursed by Arianwyn; taking 2hp fire damage at the start of its turn until end Vel's next turn
Vel
Kia
Reason - Delaying

Whiteclaw keeps swinging. "Stupid creature. You're such a slow eater you have two meals lined up. Well, get to it!"

Thorn Strike, vs AC. 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (19) + 12 = 31. On hit: 1d10 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15. Keep it marked.

HP: 50/96
Surges: 12/13
AP: 1/1
Status: Marked The One, Grabbed

I'm 2 off of blooded, so if Arinwyn could hit me with like a dagger, I'd be at swallow point :)