Council of Thieves

Game Master Mug

"I know I said it before, but this place is really weird."

When Enko peers into the shadowy depths of the mirrors, he realizes he's not looking at a mirror at all, but a portal leading from the Plane of Shadow, only traverse-able by undead or shadow creatures. (Thus why K: religion gave him the info and k:arcana did not. I would also have accepted K: Planes.) This realization grants him the further insight that the shadowy figures moving on the mirror are not reflections at all, but rather the rapidly approaching forms of Shadow creatures -nearly upon you!

Even as you watch the mirror, indeed there are two mirrors in the room, shadowy hands reach out and grasp each side of the mirror, and a shadow head emerges, pulling it's torso behind it. On the opposite 'mirror' in the room, another emerging Shadow creature does the same thing.

I need a Round 1 from everyone, and a Surprise Round post from Enko and Ava (and the two shadow forms) in that order.

Init Round 1

• Corneleous
  
• Enko
  
• Lucon
  
• Sabinus
  
• Caladius
  
• Ava

• Shadow1
  
• Shadow2

Lucon stands in amazement, staring around the strange chamber in silence, mouth hanging open. "This place... is making me dizzy." he says, leaning on his shield. "Do you think we'll have to fight Shadow-Beasts in here? To think the secret was here all along and the mayor did nothing to stop them roaming the streets..." he spits down the stairwell, looking upward as the same gob lands on his pauldron.

He'll make his way toward Ava. "What is it? What have you found?"

erp, ninja'd. I'll let the surprise round resolve first before I post my actions

@Lucon - We can say your post was before/during the shadow beast emergence. I want to do that in order to relay this info...

As Lucon spits down, he notes that gravity does not pull at his spit like he'd have expected. The spit moves slowly down through the empty air of the tower before picking up speed and then landing back on his pauldron. Gravity not so weak you'd want to risk a jump down there for the fun of it, but the difference between gravity inside and outside the tower is notable.

Erp. The only one of my hexes that works against the undead is misfortune!

Enko, you'd know about both those abilities.

Sabinus will follow Enko's directions. He just needs to end up within 30 feet of a shadow to use the misfortune hex.

Lucon's Round 1 action will determine Caladius'.

Knowledge (religion) vs favored enemy: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (12) + 3 = 15

"The mirrors! Break the mirrors!"

Surprise Round
Enko calls out, "Beings from the Plane of Shadow! Make a stand on the East! Sabinus, fly over the stairwell!" Enko runs east, ready to protect the magic-users, speaking as he moves "They are insubstantial to all but magical attacks, and their touch will drain your strength! We must fall back!"

"Augh! They're coming through!" Ava pulls back as the shadows rush towards her, hefting her hammer up and swinging it down at the mirror to try and break it before the shadow can get through completely. The shadows screech as the glass shatters a little, but it's no ordinary material, and seems highly resistant to the hammerblow, even though some damage was done to one of the two mirrors.

Shadow1 fully pulls itself from the mirror to stand before Ava, this wisp of shadow is vaguely humanoid in outline and writhes with unholy life.

Shadow2 also emerges from the mirror to the west, sliding out as silent as death.

**Asmodean Knot**

To be clear, Sabinus follows Enko's direction to stay back, but he isn't going to levitate just yet, since he can only do that once a day...

Round 1
"Muscles, hit the mirror. Let my arcane wonders send these shades back to the underworld!" The viscount calls out triumphantly as he releases an acid dart... and misses them completely.

"Get behind us!" Enko calls out to Corneleous, his eyes rolling towards the martial types to join him in blocking the east passage. He stands in a defensive position, which, unlike the brick-like indomitability of Lucon, appears more like a barely contained feather in a whirlwind.

"The mirrors! Break the mirrors!" Lucon moves as close as he can, readying himself defensively in case Ava leads the shadows out. You had enough to double move to the mirrors, but no straight line to charge. So stopped you short and had you go defensive.

Upon hearing the alarm, Sabinus moves towards where Enko directs. After thirty feet he stops and readies himself for any emerging Shadows, still a little distant from the hallway Enko wanted him, but closer than before.

Seeing the shadows swirl around Ava, Caladius draws his sword and dashes closer to the swarming undead, making it to just outside the secret room containing the mirrors. His eyes flare briefly and the blade of his sword suddenly begins trailing thin wispy tendrils of purple light.

Ava grips her hammer helplessly as the two shadows billow out in front of her, falling back towards where Sabinus was. "Lucon's right!" she shouts, "There's countless more on the way! We have to destroy those mirrors!" I presume you meant where Sabinus was, rather than where he is now? Sorry if I guessed wrong. At least Lucon's there!

Shadow1 chases after Ava, headed towards and attacking the waiting Lucon, and giving Caladius an attack of opportunity. Also getting targeted but not hit by Sabinus's waiting misfortune hex. Attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 131d6 ⇒ 1 Save: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 18 Sabinus, note changed init as I considered your move a readied action.

Shadow2 moves at Caladius, shadow arms swinging. It's fingers just brush Caladius's arm, draining some of the tiefling's strength. Attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 221d6 ⇒ 1 1 Str damage Caladius.

**MAP - Asmodean Knot**

Please post for Round 2. Noted changed init Sabinus.

Init Round 2

• Corneleous
  
• Enko
  
• Lucon
  
• Caladius
  
• Ava
  
• Sabinus

• Shadow1
  
• Shadow2
  

Where exactly are the mirrors? Is it possible to bullrush them back through? Can I target incorporeal creatures with other manuevers (overrun in this case) at all without a magic weapon? How about moving through their squares to the mirror?

Greatsword (AoO, power attack, magic weapon): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11for: 2d6 + 10 ⇒ (1, 6) + 10 = 17

Both mirrors are 15' from Lucon, inside the secret room Ava found on the NW wall of the room. One 'mirror' is against the north wall, the other is on the west wall of the secret room. It is not possible to bullrush them back through, and as for other maneuvers RAW seems to be that they are susceptible to them. Same with moving through their squares, nothing special in RAW about it, so it'd require an overrun or acrobatics check to move through their squares. Same goes for you Caladius, the Shadow you face is standing in the doorway to the room, so need something more than a regular movement to get past it.

In looking at the map now, it's different then when I referenced it while making my post earlier. Then, it looked like it was swiping at me from through the wall and that the "S" (which I presume marks the location of the doorway) was clear.

In light of current circumstances, I feel pretty well stuck, so we'll just waste another swing at the shadow next to me (curse you, dicebot!) and 5-foot step back. Time to kite!

Unless, of course, Lucon is successful in plowing a righteous path! =P

Also, I forgot to add in my favored enemy bonus to the AoO (not that it will likely matter), but +2 to hit/damage!

Lucon is successful, and knocks the shadow in the doorway prone! Caladius, I'll keep you with your original plan if you want.

Round 1 - AoO Resolution

Caladius does miss the shadow with his greatsword when he tried to hit it as it passed by.

oui! original plan ftw!

Correct Sabinus, it made it's save.

Round 2
Botting- The viscount releases another acid dart, this one striking his insubstantial target. 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 181d6 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7

Botting- Enko remains poised defensively, near enough to Corneleous and Sabinus to guard against attack.

Only hesitating a moment, Lucon will attempt to plow through the shadows to the easternmost mirror, bowling past one shadow creature, and in a surprisingly turn, completely bowling over the second one, ending up next to the easternmost mirror.

Grimacing at the shadow's touch, Caladius sidles into the room containing the mirrors and takes a mighty swing, shattering a third of the hard and thick mirror. The shadow still standing swipes at him as he moves into the secret room. The attack is able to land, Caladius unable to avoid a second hit. Attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 181d6 ⇒ 1 (1 Str Damage Caladius)

Ava follows Lucon's lead, following him into the breach. Once arrived, she sets herself in a totally defense mode as well.

Sabinus targets the other shadow with misfortune, the first one resisting the hex, but the second shadow succombs to the hex. 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10

Shadow1 chases after Ava, moving right through the wall next to her. Her defensive posture isn't enough to avoid the shadow trying to touch her, and much of her strength is suddenly gone. Attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 191d6 ⇒ 5 (5 Str damage Ava)

Shadow2 flows upward to stand and attack Lucon, but the hex causes too much difficulty for it, and it misses. I need AoO from Ava, Lucon and Caladius.

**MAP - Asmodean Knot**

Those in the secret room continue to watch as shadows approach from inside the mirrors, each containing another shadow which is nearly ready to emerge!

Please post for Round 3.

Init Round 3

• Corneleous
  
• Enko
  
• Lucon
  
• Caladius
  
• Ava
  
• Sabinus

• Shadow1
  
• Shadow2
  

*EDIT* Sorry for any confusion, I had to be reminded their attacks were touch, not regular attacks. You may proceed.

Are the shadows' attacks touch attacks, Mug? If so, that 18 would have solidly landed.

AoO w/greatsword (power attack, favored enemy): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13for: 2d6 + 10 ⇒ (5, 3) + 10 = 18

Are the shadows' attacks touch attacks, Mug? If so, that 18 would have solidly landed.

Just reread their attacks, and yes they are touch attacks. Whoops! Gotta fix a few things!

Hmm, not sure where my round 2 went to! Thanks for the bot!

I mean round 3 above. Sorry about that.

I am traveling today. Could you direct the Enko-bot to engage the shadows with defensive fighting? He will use Redirection to trip them if they attack. It won't sicken them, but I think they can be tripped.

Round 3
Again a bolt flies at the injured shadow from Corneleous, but now there's too many bodies and the bolt flies wide.

Enko moves carefully along the edge of the bizarre stairs, an abyss at his back, but manages to flank the misfortuned Shadow, and lashes out with a defensive kick. The shadowy thing fails to react to the expertly placed blow. 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 251d8 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8

Lucon, seeing his shield will be useless against the creatures lets it drop to the floor, and gripping his hammer with two hands begins to wail desperately on the mirror, cracking it a bit more than before.

"Stop touching me!" Caladius bellows as he brings his sword around on the same mirror again, causing ripples of broken glass to ripple across the face of it, but not quite destroying it. "Corneleous! Think you could call that blubbery wretch in here to occupy these shadows, maybe?!"

Ava feels the strength torn from her body as the shadowy hands rake through her. She grits her teeth, falling into a defensive position. If she could barely scratch it before, she'd have no chance now.
"I can't stay here!" Ava says. "Lucon, Caladius! It's up to you!" and does her best to retreat tactically to the east, one shadow still swiping at her dodging form -but missing. T-AoO: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 51d6 ⇒ 1

Sabinus, with his useless loaded crossbow in hand, will cackle to maintain the misfortune and step 5 feet forward, to be in position to use the misfortune hex next round on any further shadows to emerge.

Shadow1, having chased off Ava, moves right next to Caladius, seeming eager to attack those hurting the mirrors. T-Attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 131d6 ⇒ 2 (2 Str damage Caladius)

Shadow2 sends shadowly arms reaching towards Lucon, passing through armor to glide icily across his skin. T-Attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 221d6 ⇒ 4 T-Attack2: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23 (Misfortune hexed, taking lower roll... still hits. 4 Str damage Lucon)

**MAP - Asmodean Knot**

Those near the mirrors can see the next wave of shadows nearly upon the portals, surely they'll start to emerge in the next few moments! The eastern mirror is all but broken, but the Shadows seem to be draining more strength from our heroes with each passing second!

Please post for Round 4. Yikes, it's getting real up in here!

Init Round 4

• Corneleous
  
• Enko
  
• Lucon
  
• Caladius
  
• Ava
  
• Sabinus

• Shadow1
  
• Shadow2
  

My kingdom for a cleric! My kingdom for a cleric! I'm sure one of us still had potions of lesser restoration from the Six Trials... but the question is, do we have enough?

We used those all, methinks.

I feel like Caladius should be attacking the shadows seeing as he's the only one bar the Viscount that can hurt them. Also ow ow ow my strength score.

My summons cannot penetrate the shadows' defenses! But my wand can! Can you use one Sabinus?

We are out of potions, yeah. Enko's unarmed strikes count as magic weapons, so they will do half damage (you did count that the other round, yeah Mug?