Your lights illuminate the edge of the clearing and the start of the treeline beyond, but you don't see anything. You hear movement slowly drawing closer to the glade but your sweep of the edge of the glade with a clockwise motion doesn't reveal anything. It sounds like the movement is out of range of your light, or staying out of range.
Once the lights have faded, she collects a nearby pebble to magically illuminate, and listens for any sign that the source of the noise has breached the tree-line.
** spoiler omitted **
Like Malthir, Ricter retires for the night. Unlike Malthir, he painstakingly removes his armour before lying down. He look over that the sleeping, armoured figure with obvious respect. He mutters to anyone who happens to be listening.
"Is it minor magic or simple experience that lets him sleep ready for combat? Pharasma knows I've tried it in the past, but I swear it can't be done"
Kip watches as the others retire for the evening, as he gets comfortable for his watch. He looks at Ricter's tent... and back to his bedroll... and back at Ricter's tent. He makes a mental note to purchase a tent when they return to Swordhaven.
It is my understanding that the healing touch of Iomedae, channeled through Malthir's touch, also removes fatigue.
Kip glances at Malthir laying in his armor. I'm not sure that would be enough for me to be uncomfortable for the entire evening... and a terrible sleep.
Lucky for me, this mithril chain shirt of mine is as comfortable as a silk nightgown! Kip says as he pats his chest smiling.
Fenna listens out carefully and hears movement from the west side of the camp, and then the east. Her pebble illuminating the area, she hears a deep growling; and sees three black bears enter the clearing. The noises around her escalate, but she sees no other movement yet. The bears roar, waking up Ricter, Malthir, Casimir, Kip and Kalev with a start.
Cas-
Kip-
Ricter-
Fenna-
Malthir-
Kalev-
BB-
Melianse-
Mad Hermit/Dire Lion-
Bats-
Eagles-
Boars-
Hyena-
Thylacine-
Ordered Initiative-
Thylacines- 22
Black Bears- 21
Nixie- 20a
Kalev- 20b
???- 18a
???-18b
Kip- 14a
???- 14b
Casimir- 13
???- 12
Ricter- 8a
Fenna- 8b
Malthir- 6
???- 4
Map (on init count 20b-
Link
Notes-
Active Effects-
Action-
The black bears charge with surprising speed, two rushing Fenna and one the prone, fatigued Malthir. Both of the bears manage to savage Fenna with their claws, the pair holding her aloft with a paw each, grappling her. Malthir does not fare much better, the bear's claw tearing into his unarmoured face and grappling him too.
(Hit)
(Grappled)
(Hit)
(Grappled, Multiple Grapplers)
(Hit)
(Grappled)
From the west of the camp, five dog-like creatures emerge, snarling in unison. Most of the party recognise them as the fierce Brush Thylacine, local to the Stolen Lands. Right behind them is the Nixie, stroking them like favoured pets. Her eyes alight with ill intent. Arcane power flares from her hands as three bolts of force slam into Kalev.
Yup, magic missile.
[oob]Kalev and Kip are up![/ooc]
Kip jumps up quickly at the sound of the bears growling. Looking about quickly, he is pained to see the Nixie leading a pack of animals against the Guardians. It is unlikely I will ever again be able to convince the Guardians to give the benefit of doubt...
Kip is horrified to see the bears shred into Fenna and grapple the diminutive gnome. Before he can even act, and realizing there isn't much he can do for her at the moment, the force bolts slam into Kalev. Kip curses.
Too many variables! slow? entangle? vanish? enlarge person? mirror image? Gah!
Springing into action Kip shouts, before whirling around and with a word and a gesture conjures his most potent sorcery.
His spell cast, Kip steps closer to the fire.
1- Pass
2-
3-
4-
5-
Check on your behalf vs SR-
Fail!
Kalev, sleeping in his breastplate and with a hand on his trusty weapon, jumps up with a start, shrugging off the pain of the magic attack that hit him.
Seeing the Nixie, he sighs. You have brought doom upon yourself with this attack, he thinks, before uttering a prayer to enhance his weapon.
The Nixie's force continues to arrive in their surprise attack. A swarm of bats appears from the north, flying about 30 feet up in the branches of the dead Dryad's tree. To the north-west, a strangely familiar looking old man in studded leather armour and armed with a short sword and whip lurches into the clearing, leading a massive Lion before him.
You've spent enough time around Bokken- this man looks very similar to him, perhaps a blood relative.
the old man screams, apparently to himself, as he clutches his patchy beard and grey hair.
Kip then slows the Thylacines and fails to slow the Nixie-
Map Update, initiative count 13
My thought will be to try to break the grapple, grab my weapon and then stand...not sure how you would handle the mechnics of it...if this has major penalties I will probably just grab my weapon and attack if I can.
Casimir grabs his sword and jumps to his feet.
Courage, Guardians. This vengeful fey and her wild allies will soon regret her actions!
He quickly scans the battlefield.
Kip, Kalev...better not let that lion pounce on any of us. See if you can slow it down or get something in it's path.
Malthir quickly moves to remove his wound and his tiredness
He then tries to fight off the bears paw
If this breaks the grapple, Malthir will grab his weapon and stand, drawing the AOO.
Creatures and allies of the forest, we have done you no harm. We are known to the fey, to Red-eyes, and to men like Bokken as allies. We do not wish to harm any of you but we will defend ourselves against this unprovoked attack!
Malthir is able to extricate himself from the bear's paws through brute strength, grabbing Liberator and slowly rising from the ground in his heavy plate mail. The bear makes an effort to swing another claw at him, but it bounces harmlessly off the chest plate.
the Nixie screeches in response.
The hermit himself looks a little confused suddenly.
Bokken...?
You fool! A scythe tree did he slaying here - before we hunted it down and destroyed it! Look at the tracks! Casimir hollers, his voice teeming with barely controlled anger.
Ricter's training awakens a second before he does. He snatches his flail and swings it at the nearest beast's flank whilst still beneath his bedroll.
Ricter rears up from his sleeping position, emerges from the tent and slams his flail two-handed into one of the bears savaging Fenna, the heads of the weapon cracking ribs and bruising flesh. The tough bear is wounded by the blow but snarls at the unarmoured man before it.
Fenna struggles weakly against the powerful limbs which bind her, gasping out the words of a prayer and straining her arm to bring her hand to the symbol of Aroden around her throat, "May the Artist's work soothe the rage within these wild creatures."
Fenna manages to cast a spell despite the paw holding her, and a spray of bright colours illuminates the air around the two bears
10 HD
Bear 2 (fail)
Bear 3 (fail)
From the south, a pack of Hyenas rushes into the already crowded glade, snarling and moving closely together as they lick their lips and size up targets.
Ordered Initiative-
Thylacines- 22
Black Bears- 21
Nixie- 20a
Kalev- 20b
Old Man, Lion- 18a
Bats-18b
Kip- 14
Casimir- 13
Eagles- 12
Ricter- 8a
Fenna- 8b
Malthir- 6
Hyenas- 4
Map (on init count 14)-
Overview- Link
Close Up- Link
Notes-
The yellow symbols denote Slowed, the purple Fascinated.
The lion only has normal reach, not ten foot. It is also slowed, although I forgot the state change on the map. Fixed for next update.
Active Effects-
Inspire Courage- +1 to attack rolls, damage rolls, and saves VS charm and fear effects.
Fascinated Bears- Fascinated for concentration +2 rounds.
Lead Blades on Cleft (Kalev's weapon)
Slow round 1 of 6 used after Kip's action.
Action-
The magically Slowed Thylacines slowly move towards Kalev, struggling against the miring magic working to render their advance sluggish. The two unaffected Thylacine charges fearlessly at Kalev.
The bear facing Malthir brings its full fury to bear, flailing with both claws and rearing up on two legs to bite Malthir. Without his trusty shield, the Baron reels from the fresh wounds and struggles to defend himself as the bear continues to batter and scar his face.
(Hit as Malthir hasn't got his shield on yet!)
(Hit as Malthir hasn't got his shield on yet!)
(Hit as Malthir hasn't got his shield on yet!)
The Nixie takes a few steps forward- and in the better light you can see that her form is shimmering and blurring, just like when she was apprehended the previous day. Pointing a hand at Kalev, she whispers words of power although nothing visibly happens...
The spell cast was Daze Monster.
Will Save on your behalf-
Failure, you are Dazed for one round. Link
Please resolve the AOOs provoked by the two Thylacine :). AC14 is what your gunning for, so you can make your own description.
Whatever the spell was, after its cast Kalev seems to stand there staring into space, looking much like the bears on the other side of the camp.
The old man points at Kip-
EAT THE SPELLCASTER, CAT! he shouts, cackling manicly and pointing at Kip. The lion, a huge specimen almost the size of an ogre, attempts to oblige, but is slowed by Kip's spell. It moves towards him and Casimir swiftly despite the miring magic regardless.
Rushing at Kip... The halfling sorceror is overwhelmed by the lions mass as it tears into him, but although he is torn into brutally by the lion's claws, he manages to duck underneath the lion's deadly bite, avoiding being swept up into its jaws... The tough halfling has been severely wounded but his chain shirt appears to have saved him from disembowelment.
Bite (Miss!)
Claw 1 (Miss!)
Claw 2 (Hit)
Rake 1 (Hit)
Rake 2 (Hit, crit threat)
Rake 2 crit? (Hit, crit confirmed...)
The old man moves forward with surprising speed, moving in under Kalev's reach and moving up close to him on the south side. The swarm of bats descends from the trees, swarming all over Casimir, the sword in his hand useless against such numbers.
Swarm damage
This starts taking effect at the end of next round-
Wounding (Ex)
Any living creature damaged by a bat swarm continues to bleed, losing 1 hit point per round thereafter. Multiple wounds do not result in cumulative bleeding loss. The bleeding can be stopped by a DC 10 Heal check or the application of a cure spell or some other healing magic.
Also-
Casimir is not nauseated by the bats attack.
She has cast a daze spell on Kalev!
Feeling a little overwhelmed by the shear number of assailants... and the myriad of possibilities... Kip gestures and speaks a word of power and... vanishes from sight!
With lethal precision and power, Kalev swings his bardiche in a perfect arch as the two Thylacine charges him, hitting both, sending Thylacine body parts flying in all directions.
Casimir curses loudly at the bats surrounding him. Ye gods, have they brought the entire forest down on us?
Everyone, focus your attention on the old man and the nixie. If we can defeat them, hopefully we can chase away some of these animals, he calls out then takes off running past Kip and Kalev, through the mass of snarling slowed Thylacines and up to to the nixie.
He holds his sword high, ready to strike at her slight form.
Last chance...call off you wild friends and surrender, or I WILL cut you to pieces! he growls, his bite wounds still dripping blood.
Casimir manages to dart past one of the Thylacines with an athletic dive but another tries to bite him as he rushes past, the jaws closing only on air. The Nixie snarls at Casimir with just as much vehemence as he directed at her.
The Eagles then descend from the sky, the majority targeting the unarmoured Ricter... Flying above his head they scratch him with their talons, drawing blood.
Hit
Miss
Hit
Miss
Two also descend on both Malthir and Fenna, but their armour is more than enough to protect them from the talons directed their way.
Miss
Miss
Miss
Miss
Map Update-
As soon as I make my way through this darned bear I will be there!
Swift action to heal myself
Full attack the bear with 2 handed pwr attack:
Fenna circles around the fire, heedless of the talons tearing through the air above her, and calls out again in prayer. "I ask that a small portion of the revelations of The Winged Eye be revealed to the tiny minds which would oppose us."
Ricter surges to his feet as the eagles scratch at him
"Kill it Casimir! It's had more than enough chances!"
He then makes a two-handed swipe at the hypontized bear he attacked before, looking to finish it off:
Ricter continues to pummel at the bear
All your main weapons are within your reach as I tried to depict on the map, you may pick them up as part of movement (although this will provoke AOO)
Ricter makes a mighty swing for the bear with his flail, but the true power of the blow is robbed from it by a resistant, invisible force surrounding the bear- it hits into the bear's tough hide but does no real damage. Ricter's second blow is far more direct and he is ready for the force around the bear, slamming through both magical and natural armour and dropping the fascinated bear. Its fellow fascinated bear seems to immediately snap out of whatever magic Fenna put on it and roars in fury at Ricter.
Fenna moves a little to the west, darting around the campfire. The now alert bear takes a swing at her with a paw, which she deflects with her shield while moving. She has similar success with the eagles, although one does slip past her shield and scratch at her face before she wards it off.
Hit
In position, Fenna unleashes a blast of pure color, washing over the old man and narrowly missing Kalev. He seems to grin in delight as the color envelops him and although his face contorts with strain, he is unaffected by the illusion.
Meanwhile, Malthir hacks and slashes at his animal assailant, leaving two deep cuts in the black bear. Despite grievous wounds, it does remain standing.
The hyena pack enters the fray, having decided to pick on the smallest of the group as their prey. They move swiftly into the camp, almost completely surrounding the Oracle- a couple of them stay near their fellows and rush the dazed Kalev instead. They are cunning, waiting until they have a flanking partner when possible
Miss
Miss (no flank)
Hit
Damage
Free trip (fail)
Hit
Damage
Free trip (success)
Miss
Miss (No flank)
Fenna does her best to shield herself from the many sets of teeth, but eventually the Hyena's pack tactics prevail. Fenna is bit twice, the second hyena to bite her dragging her down to the floor where they can attack her with greater ease.
Ordered Initiative-
Thylacines (acted)- 22
Black Bears (acted)- 21
Nixie (acting)- 20a
Kalev- 20b
Old Man, Lion- 18a
Bats-18b
Kip- 14
Casimir- 13
Eagles- 12
Ricter- 8a
Fenna- 8b
Malthir- 6
Hyenas- 4
Map (on init count 20b)-
Overview- Link
Close Up- Link
Notes-
The yellow symbols denote Slowed, the purple Fascinated. Red circle is dying (and also prone) while blue circle is prone.
The lion only has normal reach, not ten foot. It is also slowed, although I forgot the state change on the map. Fixed for next update.
Active Effects-
Inspire Courage- +1 to attack rolls, damage rolls, and saves VS charm and fear effects.
Lead Blades on Cleft (Kalev's weapon)
Slow round 2 of 6 used after Kip's action.
Fenna is prone.
Kalev is fascinated until just before the Nixie's action.
Action-
The remaining Thylacines turn back to defend the Nixie, moving into melee with Casimir, but too slow to bite him yet. Malthir finds himself under assault by a second bear that has moved in to support its fellow beast. Malthir evades both claws (and avoids being grabbed as a result) but is just a little too slow to stop the bear's teeth shattering one of the pauldrons of his plate mail, piercing and bending the steel as the teeth draw blood from underneath. The bear Malthir wounded swiftly retreats back into the forest, leaving a trail of blood as it withdraws.
The Nixie takes a step away from Casimir in preparation to cast but he doggedly sticks to her, mirroring her movement and not letting her create space to safely cast. She sneers at the duelist, apparently confident in her magical abilities.
Do your worst, destroyer! she says, spitting out the last word; and begins to cast.
Remember you have a free metamagic use from Guiding Star :).
Without a word, Casimir lashes out with the blade, feinting a high overhand stroke, but at the last second spinning and cutting upwards from down low instead - the sharp edge of the dueling sword finds the slight form of the fey easily, despite her blurred outline.
- no miss
Casimir's blade does indeed find the Nixie's skin, despite her incredible nimbleness- but a tangible force robs much of the swings power, and when it hits the Nixie her tough skin deflects the blade. Continuing to cast her spell, she finishes and dramatically points a finger at Casimir.
She cast Charm Person on Casimir...
Will save at +5 please.
The Nixie smirks, calling off her Thylacines from attacking Casimir with a wave of her hand.
Stop inspiring your old friends- they mean nothing to you now! Kill the large one with the polearm, he is a threat to all you hold dear...
The Nixie is your new friend, but shes asking you to help her destroy your other friends... Your not sure what to do. You don't want to hurt any of them.
Opposes charisma check-
Failure. Your still charmed so you won't want to harm your new friend or old friends... You drop IC.
Casimir's voice falls silent. You don't know if hes obeying the Nixie's orders but hes stopped his bardic performance.
Kalev steps away from the hyenas, swinging the bardiche in a powerful arch at two of them, hoping to keep them at bay long enough to get over to the Nixie and end the threat she is.
Kalev fells one of the Hyena's threatening Fenna with his first strike but the second blow is a glancing one that doesn't truly harm the creature.
The old man takes a step away from Kalev and lashes out with his whip, wrapping it around Kalev's leg and trying to pull him down to the ground. Although the contact is good, there is little strength behind the pull and Kalev is able to use his powerful frame to yank the whip down, instead tripping Bokken's look-alike.
(Fail by more than ten, tripped himself)
The lion steps in at this moment, testing Kalev's defence with a massive claw. It tears through his shoulder, leaving a nasty wound.
Hit
Damage
The bat swarm switches targets to Malthir, enveloping the Paladin and a nearby Eagle, apparently not caring about collateral damage.
Swarm damage to Malthir
Swarm damage to Eagle
Malthir fort- Success vs Nauseated
Eagle fort- Fail vs Nauseated
You will take one damage at the end of every turn from the bleeding wounds left by the bats until you make a successful heal check or receive magical healing.
Map Update-
Link
Malthir moves towards the lion
And then swings at the Lion two handed
Kalev, move to the flank and kill the lion, you can then get to the more important target, I will try to help Fenna after that.
From the open clearing to the south you hear the word "Shochraos!" spoken aloud followed immediately by a large stroke of lightning that rips through the camp catching the hyenas, to the side of Fenna, and the lion in its path. The smell of ozone and burnt flesh assails your nostrils. After the bright flash fades you spot Kip, still smoking wand in hand, looking on in amazement. Realizing he is now visible again, he looks worriedly at the closest assailants.
Looking very confused, Casimir lowers his sword.
"Forgive me, gentle nixie. I did not mean to hurt you. I was simply startled by this rude awakening. I understand how you must think us monsters, but please...my companions are friends of all creatures of these woods, as am I. I won't let them hurt you, but I won't hurt them either. "
While talking to the nixie, Casimir stands still, clearly uncertain of how to handle the situation. He then looks at his still bleeding wounds, as if seeing them for the first time.
"The bats...they bit me....I'm certain they didn't mean to. Let me just get this bleeding under control, then let us try and stop this terrible misunderstanding."
Curative Touch
K9- pass, half damage
J9- fail, full damage
I9- pass, half damage
Lion- pass, half damage
Most of the Hyena's and the Lion escape the brunt of the lightning bolt, but the already dying one is finished off by the burst of power. Nevertheless, the smell of burnt flesh does linger in the air, with all three survivors bearing wounds.
Now in position to attack, the eagles tear into Ricter with talons and teeth. Without his armour, the deadly birds tear into him, slashing him with several talons and wounding him with many sharp bites, despite Ricter's enhanced agility from the belt he wears. Malthir fares much better in his full plate, but still takes a nasty bite. One of the eagles facing him seems to have been badly affected by the bats, and slowly plummets to the ground beside him, landing awkwardly.
Hit
Hit
Hit
Hit
Hit
Hit
Crit threat
Crit confirmed
Hit
Hit
Hit
Over the mass of frenzied animals, Ricter sees Casimir fall under the Nixie's spell.
"How DARE you dominate one of your rightful rulers!"
He steps forward, oblivious to the birds of prey tearing at his skin. Reaching the edge of the camp fire and swings his flail into the flames sending a burning log sailing straight up into the air.
"THIS is the fate of your precious forest!"
The flail sweeps back and smashes the log in two sending sparks showering in all directions. Two more blindingly fast sweeps and the broken halfs have been smashed into nothing before they reach the floor.
Eagles- 3 rounds shaken (ends on Ricter's turn round 6)
Bear- 2 rounds shaken (ends on Ricter's turn round 5)
Hyenas- 3 rounds shaken (ends on Ricter's turn round 6)
Old Man- 2 rounds shaken (ends on Ricter's turn round 5)
Lion- 1 round shaken (ends on Ricter's turn round 4)
Bats- 2 rounds shaken (ends on Ricter's turn round 5)
Ricter's display of skill and the menace with which he does the deed strikes a primal fear into the many animals around him, as well as the Old Man. Even the lion seems to lose confidence in face of the threat.