Round 17, Init 14-
Fondo avoids most of the damage, but finds his mind being sapped of its usual, er, vitality. Shaking his head in bleary disgust, he steps up to the emerging dragon, thrusting Serithtial in her longsword form into the skeleton.
Round 17, Init 19 {U16}
How do we defend against it?
AC 23 Magic Plate Armor w/ fly
CMD 20
BAB +11/+6/+1
Harrow Points: 3
Elemental HP 68/68
Defensive casting = 26 (@15th)
Spell Penetration=19
Holy Water Vials: 10
potion(s) of lesser restoration:3
[b]diamond dust: 2200gps
eye ointment: 3 castings of true seeing
If anyone is poisoned or diseased Charlie will attempt a heal check
The spells/day listed will include the casting (if any) that I made this round
Orisons DC:17 (Create Water, Guidance, Mending, Purify Food and Drink, Stabilize, Mage Hand, Read Magic, Ghost Sound)
First Level: DC:18 (8/8 per day) (Bless, Bless Water, Doom, Ray of Enfeeblement, Remove Fear, Cure Light, Protection from Evil)
Second Level: DC:20 (8/8 per day) (Admonishing Ray,Communal Prot. from Evil, Hold Person, Lesser Restoration, Sound Burst, Cure Moderate)
Third Level: DC:21 7/8 per day) (Create Food and Water, Prayer, Remove Disease, Searing Light, Cure Serious, Dispel Magic)
Fourth Level: DC:22 (6/8 per day)(Minor Globe of Invulnerability, Holy Smite, Neutralize Poison, Restoration, Sending, Cure Critical Wounds)
Fifth Level: DC:23 (4/7 per day)(Break Enchantment, Constricting Coils, Flame Strike, Scry, Telekinesis, True Seeing) (Mass Cure Light Wounds)
Sixth Level: DC:24 (0/7 per day)(Anti-magic Field, Cold Ice Strike, Heal, Heroes' Feast) (Mass Cure Moderate Wounds)
Seventh Level: DC:25 (2/5 per day)(Greater Scrying, Greater Restoration, Reverse Gravity, Spell Turning) (Mass Cure Serious Wounds)
Oracle Revelation: Eldritch Bolt 9/9 times per day. 1d8+7 dam
summon elemental: Twice per day 0/6, 6/6 rounds per day + ring: 6/6 rnds
Sociable Trait6/6 rounds per day
wand CCW 47/50 (+8) (wrist sheath)
wand CSW 6/37 (+5)
wand CLW 28/50
wand lesser restoration 38/50
wand blessings of fervor 18/50 (8 rounds)
Rod of Reach 2/3 per day
2 scrolls of dimensional anchor (Hewards) (Dandi has the third one)
wrist sheath: breath of life scroll (+2 backup, one with Briar)
Weapon equipped = Biting wit (and a MW dagger)
Shield equipped =OMG please don't hurt me
Fondo, the proto-dragon is 10' up, so I'm not sure how you're attacking. Do you have lunge? Reach? If you're flying up the 5' to attack him, you only get one swing. Also, the crystal sphere does limit sound a bit, but not completely so the others would have heard you. What is the bonus and type?
Charlie - I think Nikolya's belt is +4 to con, so +2 to fort save. I think you're stunned. You are also not sure what to do to defend yourself against this creature. Perhaps once it has fully formed you can better gauge it. You may, as may everyone, reroll when the dragon is completely formed as it'll be a whole other creature when it's done cooking.
As Fondo's blade strikes at the dragon, he fails to hit anything of substance even in this state.
However, as his blade courses through the blood and chain, it sizzles and burns and destroys everything in its wake. It even reflects a lighting bolt from its path. It is clear that Serithtial is quite destructive to the formation if not the dragon itself.
Briar stares at the dragon, annoyed by the noise and lightning and silliness.
Dandi, what do you think? I would suggest that Halfblood do his unnatural unmagic circle to quell this beast. What say you?
Dandibee buzzes and hums, a teeny tiny spectral stinger taking the place of her spectral hand
Round 17, Init 18+
AC=27 (+1 Haste)
HP lost = (-43+4-8=-47)(Max HP is same. I forgot I took the bonus CON from the Harrow Point so that balances the loss of the belt. -8 from lightning
Stoneskin 33/150 left
5th (4/day) — teleport(used), teleport, teleport (me +5 others), corrosive consumption (used)
4th (5/day) —dimension door (me +5 others)(used_, monstrous physique II, greater infernal healing(used), greater invisibility, stoneskin (cast immediately before teleporting)
3rd (6/day) —haste, haste, vampiric touch, vampiric touch, daylight, fly (used)
2nd (6/day) —frigid touch, frigid touch, glitterdust (DC 17), glitterdust (DC 17), glitterdust (DC 17)(used), mirror image, scorching ray
1st (7/day) —burning hands (DC 16), chill touch (DC 16), color spray (DC 16), magic missile, shield, true strike, vanish
0 (at will)—dancing lights, detect magic, light, mage hand, prestidigitation (DC 15)
All abilities noted as USED/DAILY ALLOTMENT.
Arcane Pool 8/12
Hasted rounds from armor 2/10
Black Blade Arcane Pool 0/4
Empowered Magic 0/1
Maximized Magic 0/1
Quickened Magic 1/1
Pearl of Power 0/1
Bonuses at level 15:
First Attack to hit = +28
+4 Sword base
Yes ***+1 Arcane makes sword +5, keen, and flaming
+11 BAB
+4 STR
+1 Weapon Focus
Yes ***+4 Inspiration
No ***+2 BoF
Yes ***+1 Haste
Furious focus eliminates power attack penalty
1st Iterative Attack to hit = +20
-5 Iterative
-3 Power Attack
2nd Iterative Attack to hit = +15
-10 Iterative
-3 Power Attack
BoF or Haste Attack to hit = +25
-3 Power Attack
Damage = +26
+4 Sword base
Yes ***+1 Arcane makes sword +5
+6 STR (4x1.5)
+9 Power attack (two-handed)
+2 Weapon Specialization
Yes ***+4 Inspiration
Nikolay pauses a moment to consider what is forming before them and what it's immunities or weaknesses might be.
Charlie squints at the thoughts bouncing in his head. He looks at Briar and Dandi and says, "Alright." He then looks the dragon in the eye and chugs the rest of his whiskey as he casts "The Anti-Magic Thingy" and walks up to the dragon thingy.
Briar waits to see what happens before acting, watching as the anti meets the dragon magic.
This should be interesting...
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As Charlie casts his spell a calming center of quiet surrounds him. The lightning, the chains, even the blood itself fails to pierce the field. Further - blood that passes into the anti-magic, fails to pass out the other side or even fall to the ground.
The dragon seems dimly aware of the sphere and recoils, in as much as it can, as Charlie approaches. He gets right up under the center of the blood sphere and the edges of his sphere twist and pervert the edges of the blood. He has to jump, a little, to encompass part of the blood sphere, but when he does so, everything quiets.
The dragon ceases forming and it’s half-made skeletal form hangs in the air like a marionette without strings, or a master to guide it. The writhing stops, the roaring stops, the chains stop. Everything stops - and the room grows eerily quiet as the last flickerings of lightning echo in the large area.
Everyone is up! While Charlie maintains his position, stretching to the sky, the room is calm.
Round 19, Init 17-
The bee shudders and explodes, turning into Dandi in her original, most basic form. She rolls off of Majenko's poor back and shakes her head. She tries to make the world make sense, but it is slow going.
Tis the antimagic shell, it's like molasses upon my brain. she thinks, only to realize no one else can hear her.
"the antimagic will affect us all, in strange ways. Be careful, my friends. We need to get Charlie closer to the dragon, so it might lose all its magic, and fall, where we can reach it." at least, I hope that makes sense. I think it does, but I think soooo slowly...now.
She crawls closer to Charlie,to help in whatever way she can.
Round 18, Init 17+
When the calm hits, Barael first thinks he's finally and permanently lost his hearing. He looks quickly at the others, hums to himself briefly to hear something expected, then he reaches out and touches Nik. "Hold on, Nik, before you try anything against that thing..."
Barael tries to will only the best for the swordsman.
Round 18
Briar tries to help his companions as best he kind: with his keen elvish mind.
Know (Arcana)
Know (Religion)
Spellcraft
Briar readies a ghost-touched arrow to shoot if the wraith shows up.
Or maybe just prop Charlie up here for eternity - holding back the tide of blood like some little Dutch boy's finger in a dike. You could stop by and bring fresh liquor every so often... he'll be fine.
Briar looks at Nikolay.
@Sward&Charlie, telepathetically: Sward, lift Charlie up a bit higher...to the axis point. We'll need to see what happens there. Or Charlie, if you can move away from there, I could stoneshape you a ramp to walk closer. But hefting first? I really don't have any good ideas...yet.
Charlie, remember that you cannot hear telepathic conversations right now thanks to the anti magic field. Doesn't stop actual speaking of course.
Nikolay enters the antimagic field and lifts up Charlie
"You still there sword?"
If he receives no answer he'll ask out loud.
Fondo flies up and around, taking a double-handed whack at the dragon form from outside Charlie's Nethys-hating shell.
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It'll be debated by scholars for years - did Charlie get hoisted close enough by Nikolay or did Fondo's blade strike true? Hard to know what happened first, but something happened to shatter the magics holding up the dragon.
As it falls, the still brittle bones break and the remnants of flesh fall away. The room is filled with blood and viscera from a once expanding dragon that is no more. Dandilion sees a myriad of scry sensors fade away slowly as the battle comes to a close.
All, for a moment, is quiet...and Charlie falls limp in Nikolay's hands.
As he lowers the old man, he sees he has stopped breathing, and the ashen color of his face and hands is clear. Charlie is dead - having sacrificed himself that the party could succeed. His body fell as the dragons fell, and he is equally gone from this world.
We are out of initiative.
"Charlie..." Barael watches as the body collapses. "What did you...?"
Barael sheathes his blade, fumbles with empty hands, then draws the blade again, looking for the wraith. Looking to strike out at something still. When wraith fails to return, he slowly undoes the weapon cord, and sheathes Black Tooth. He ties the cord around the hilt, occupying himself awkwardly.
"What now? Can you bring him back, like you did for me? Please?" Barael's voice is reduced to something child-like for the moment.
"CHARLIEEEE!!!"
Her molasses brain finally puts together the connections, Charlie's condition and it's magical support of Niko's belt...but it is too late, far far too late as the dear old man falls.
I killed him. Just as surely as if I put the blade in him myself. For once she is grateful to be alone in her head. She kneels beside him, brushing his stringy hair from his face.
"We'll fix it, Charlie. We'll bring you back. Cayden has plenty of revelers for his hall, and we... well, look at us. We need you." Her hair pools on his chest, as still and dead as his own with neither magic nor joy to lend it life.
"What now? Can you bring him back, like you did for me? Please?" Barael's voice is reduced to something child-like for the moment.
Briar looks at the slumped Charlie, immediately understanding, feeling his own Harrow's blessing disperse.
At least we won't have to preserve his body, it's already pickled.
Fondo beams triumphantly until he sees Charlie fall. "Kako...?" He flies toward the older man and, his magic departing him, finds himself falling almost on top of the ashen body. He catches himself short and cradles Charlie's body in his arms, caught up in a tangle of limbs and Dandi's hair. "Pharasma, let him see the world once more, if that is what he truly wants."
"Pharasma, let him see the worl once more, if that is what he truly wants."
Barael restrains his next words, but not easily.
"Of course he wants to!! We've done it, damn it all, and there's going to be celebration the likes we've never seen!! Why would he not want to return for that?! For the claps on the back, for the drinks freely flowing, for the butterfly kisses of pretty barmaids?? He's got to come back, for the... gratitude. He's got to."
This world is far too cruel. I'd understand if he doesn't come back."
Nikolay looks at his useless gloves and their gems.
"I'm sorry friend, but you know that healing magic is not my realm and unfortunately my emergency measures have all failed."
Briar refuses to get too close to the body...the thought of being cut off from magic is too much of a worry.
"He died doing what he loved: up to defeat evil. I cannot check on him until his magic fades, which may take a few hours. And that's fine because we cannot teleport home until the magic fades as well."
Briar has a sit away from Charlie and enjoys the momentary silence.
The only question I have is when we take him to the table, do we place him on it, or under it...as was his usual?
The party shares a moment for Charlie as the low buzz of the anti magic field and the lapping water from a couple levels below are all that is heard.
After a while, Majenko casts prestidigitation and begins to clean the blood and gore from his little body. He then cleans Briar, or at least his shoulder and hair if Briar is opposed, so he has something to sit on and lean against.
He then plays with and admires his new ring, delicately rubbing his tiny fingers along the gemstones.
Can I keep it? Please?
Briar looks at the ring, then really looks at the ring.
There are many items to identify however inside the portable hole and littering the floor and the floor below. Do you have an identify handy?
While waiting for Charlie to become less radioactive Briar gathers the unidentified and surplus magics, casts Identify and examines.
Take 10 Spellcraft = 46.
On examining the Queen (which you do as you strip her), you find her body to be quite desiccated and, having been in the chamber of horrors for a couple rounds, quite damaged. In fact the destruction is so severe you cannot determine that it is in fact the Queen. If you didn’t know any better, you’d say someone stole a long dead and dried out body from some crypt, dressed it nicely, and proceeded to pummel it to hide its identity.
- - -
The gear in the room...
Dagger +1 returning (x5), Ring +2 protection (x5)
Mithral shirt +3 (x5), Trident +1 flaming burst (x5)
Portable Hole
The collected wealth of Korvosa’s royal family (~215,000gp)
Wand of Magic Missiles (CL 9, maximized) (12 charges)
Rapier +2 dancing icy burst adamantine (appears as desired - currently a fan)
Amulet of Natural Armor +5
Bracers of Armor +8
Wrap of Flight (acts as wings of flying in all ways including slot)
Gloves of Dexterity +6 (acts as a belt of Dexterity except slot is hands)
Ring of Major Spell Storing
Ring of Splendid Security (the one Majenko grabbed...)
This extravagant ring is heavy with precious jewels. Even were the ring itself not magical, it would be worth many thousands. As fashions go in and out of style (or as your fancy shifts), you can alter the appearance of your armor, clothing, and even weaponry as you see fit at will as a standard action; this change is illusory and does not affect the actual abilities of gear or weapons (although drastic changes in size are beyond the scope of this ability).
A ring of splendid security’s primary purpose, though, is to grant you protection from harm. As long as it is worn, the ring grants you a +5 deflection bonus to AC, a +5 resistance bonus on saving throws, and spell resistance 22.
Barael bides his time, watching Briar investigate the magics instinctually, watching Dandi cling nearby Charlie's form, watching Fondo embrace the dead. He passes a hand through Dandi's hair, where it arrives on her cheek, then chin. Lifting it, he smiles at her, letting his eyes reassure her that what was once done, can be done again.
Trying to occupy himself further, he requests the queen's weapon from Briar. If the Elf assents, he wills it to look like Andaisin's scythe, then the dagger which wasn't only a dagger, then Shadow's Death, then the Chains of Laori. He settles on a mimicked Black Tooth, only in white instead, before looking at Briar. "Do you mind if I...?" He pantomimes tucking the blade away for himself.
"I'm calling it White Twitch."
Barael bides his time, watching Briar investigate the magics instinctually, watching Dandi cling nearby Charlie's form, watching Fondo embrace the dead. He passes a hand through Dandi's hair, where it arrives on her cheek, then chin. Lifting it, he smiles at her, letting his eyes reassure her that what was once done, can be done again.
Lifting her eyes to Barael, she dredges up a smile. For him. For Charlie.
"It'll be ok." I'll make it ok. Somehow.
She stays with Charlie as the others gather up the queen's trappings.
Briar hands over the Queen's blade, still staring at the ring that Majenko requests.
I'm not sure, Majenko. I would give it to you easily, but others may have other thoughts. We shall discuss.
"We have quite a haul here. This ring...this ring is pure power. Majenko would want it for his service. And there are other items here of power as well. I would ask none of it, as I should have Serithial as per our agreement," Briar looks at Fondo.
"With that I should require nothing else, unless there are items none wish."
As the alcohol slows its progress in the last few pumps, Charlie looks down at Nikolay and points "higher, higher!" As he rises he holds his holy symbol close to his chest. Smiling a tired smile his voice fades as it gives its last, "Get fooked, dragon!"
As his compadres gather around he whispers in the first ear, "Please fill this. I'm not done yet."
"Majenko would want it for his service."
"I can't see denying him that. My vote is giving him something that will likely let him rule the rest of the pseudodragons when we return to Korvosa." Barael can't help but chuckle. "Although he probably has loftier goals, like keeping up with Briar, eh?"
"As for the rest of the items, I'm content with this blade, if it's alright with you all. Might grab me a mithral shirt, maybe. I'd expect we're returning the wealth to Korvosa's coffers. Glad we have ourselves a portable hole."
Barael returns to Dandi's side, content a second time over, and waits for the others to decide on the next course of action.
Fondo cradles Charlie's head in his hands as Briar talks about objects. He looks up at the elf, old and young and incomprehensible. "We'll see to things anon. You'll have the blade if that's Serithtial's true wish. She's not my charge once this day's passed."
He looks admiringly on the rapier that Barael chooses for his own. But I'll have something simpler that more truly bears my mark.
He mutters a few simple arcane words and begins cleaning the gore off of Charlie and himself. "His dying breaths did speak of further draughts. Have we the means to bring him back this day, or shall we carry him within this fancy hole?"
"We'll see to things anon. You'll have the blade if that's Serithtial's true wish. She's not my charge once this day's passed."
Briar looks at Nikolay, then Barael.
"That's not what we agreed to, Varisian. If Seri bites my hand, then I'll stop feeding her...but the Queen's head has rolled. And I expect you to hold true to what was decided."
Fondo rolls his eyes but keeps Charlie's body steady. "I know that Taldane is not your native tongue. Nor is it mine, and yet I've spoken clear enough for you to comprehend: The blade's not mine to keep. And when you take her in your hands, I'll leave to you the choice of whether to respect what she desires. I hope you shall."
"But pray, leave this aside for now, for we've an evil fortress to yet leave behind, and a dead friend whose body lies amid the blood of citizens whose lives we did just save."
"The blade's not mine to keep. And when you take her in your hands, I'll leave to you the choice of whether to obey her wish."
"I look forward to hearing what she will tell me. I shall assume it is easy for you to keep the agreement if you already know the choice is not yours," Briar holds out his hand for the blade.
A look of loathing passes into Fondo's face, and he does not dismiss it with a smile. He does, however, place Serithtial gently on the ground. "You can pick her up if you like. I'll not hand her into your care. May Pharasma claim you soon and usher you beyond these realms." He continues to attend to Charlie's body.
Briar smirks as he goes to claim what was agreed upon, putting it in his 'sack.
I shall mention your thought when I sit next to Pharasma in the Celestial Court, mortal.
He walks out of the Halfblood's antimagics, his skin crawling. Briar looks upon Fondo's attendance of the dead from without.
"You know, Varisian, that Charlie's only course for life again is through my magics. You may think Charlie's death a sorrow, but even death can be commanded through one's mastery of Pharasma's domain. We should be rejoicing...not for Charlie's death, but for our victory."
Dandi turns a look of revulsion upon them both. "The queen is dead, and so is Charlie, and only one of those is a right thing. But Serithiel's purpose has been served this day. If the two of you could just hold it together for a few more hours, you need not ever see each other again!" and I need never be torn by such bickering again.
She watches as Fondo mutters arcane nothings that come to naught within the antimagic sphere. Rolling her eyes, she explains, one more time. "There can be no magic near him. None. It saved us and denies that avenue to perfect his dignity." She rips a small strip from her clothes, and pours water from her skin.
"In this moment, we are no more than the smallest child on the street. There is no magic here, only water and a desire to see our Charlie home again. Embrace it, brothermine. We are once again of the dust and the dirt, and the only magic to call your own this close to Charlie is your smile, if you can find it. "
She quiets again, her focus once more on the dead man next to her. Brushing her hands over his clothing to smooth wrinkles months in the making, she adds to the elf behind her,"Briar,you have the sword. If you would wait until we have Charlie home and whole once more, I would appreciate it. I cannot celebrate until then. It wouldn't be right."
Nikolay has a teleport left in his satchel I think. He can only teleport five, so someone will have to ride in the portable hole with the dead bodies for a few rounds if you chose to leave today. Deyanira is scheduled to come back tomorrow morning if she's not contacted otherwise.
It would occur to the party that Charlie could be raised in Kaer Maga yet today, but finding a properly leveled priest with the spell handy will be a possibly impossible chore in Korvosa. Unless of course the party plans to have their celebrations without Charlie and raise him in a few days when the parties are dying down. heheheh.
Briar smiles at the Waif, climbing into the air to wait.
"Do be a dear and see if the Varisian can unclench his hole long enough to see if there is a large diamond within the Korvosan stash? We shall need a suitable one if Charlie is to be resurrected properly," Briar says, not wanting to dishonor Charlie's sacrifice with tears.
"If we were going to mourn or celebrate, we would drink to him. He would want it that way. Might you check that he has any of that raspberry kelpielager on him? We should toast him."
Majenko hops on Fondo's shoulder (up and down eagerly) and, with permission, dives into the hole. He swims around in the wealth, coins, gems, art objects. He surfaces again and again with large gems, even a few smaller diamonds, but none large enough for the purpose.
"I do believe I saw a gem of enormous worth down below somewhere. You should find it, elf. 'Jenko, let him go." Fondo continues to hold Charlie, waiting for the field to wear off.
Barael watches Briar and Fondo come to terms, then flinches as Dandi denounces the belligerent nature of the conversation. Even now, the queen creates dissonance. Fondo echoes her words even now, baiting Briar like that.
"Speaking of which, Fondo... Majenko, hold off, I'll go myself." Barael flies into the unsearched parts of the Sunken Queen, expecting to find what Ileosa would have had them pick up, at her command. Should he locate the obviously remarkable gem, he looks around for a way to contain it safely, and bring it back with them.
Upon his return, Barael encourages departure. "I'll gladly hold my breath until we arrive in Kaer Maga. Let's not wait any longer than we must. One queen is behind us, let's make it two."
Fondo calls out, "Twas in jest, dear brov. Take care not to touch the thing. Tis evil."
Upon Barael's safe return, he smiles and nods his head. "Tis time to leave this place. Let's bring Charlie back and go which ways that Fate shall tell."