DM-Camris' WRATH of the RIGHTEOUS Part 1: The Worldwound Gambit (table 2) (Inactive)

Game Master Camris

Gee, thanks... Xaivan accepts the fine threads with a look of puzzlement. Maybe I can use them as a disguise...

Just to be clear how much was Karthak healed?

"Thanks..." Karthak mumbles to Pollux although the kind of healing he received leaves him somewhat wary.

Each charge heals 10hp over 1 min

"Alright. As Jokum said, let us move on to Aravashniel's home."

Pollux thanks the owners for their help and continues on with the party.

Pushing on you encounter more of those nasty vultures and even a few tiefling looters.

The Librarium of the Broken Black Wing-called " Blackwing" to the locals-has a reputation for containing the most complete record of research on demon hunting in the country. Unfortunately, Blackwing now lies in ruins-all that remains standing is the Librarium's facade and its reinforced great hall.

Curiously, the buildings surrounding Blackwing seem not to have been as damaged-it's as though some force singled out Blackwing for destruction.

When Aravashnial learns of the building's destruction, he becomes despondent, collapsing to his knees in despair.
"No! Gone, they're all gone..."

The front door to the main hall hangs ajar and the brash sound of his voice barking orders to "stack the damn books better!" peals out from within.

Ce-Eshna: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17
Jokum: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 2 = 21
Karthak: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9
Pollux: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12
Xaivan: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

Bad Guys: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24

As you enter you see four librarians surrounded by a makeshift pyre of books, the fifth, a young woman is sobbing as she is forced to pull more ancient tomes from the shelves and pile them higher.

Two tieflings with shortswords keep the bound humans together while a man wearing the armor of a crusader brandishes a mace at the woman. His voice was the one that was heard a moment before.

Order
Bad Guys
Jokum
Ce-Eshna
Pollux
Karthak
Xaivan

Round 1

As the door opens the tieflings each lunge forward grabbing hold of a hostage. Laying their blades at the throats of the helpless men. "Hold men, lets not spoil the fun too quickly. Lay down your arms fools or these whimpering simpletons will die! If you take too long I may just turn my wrath to this woman."

Jokum's blood immediately begins pounding in rage when he sees the bound civilians...particularly the weeping woman. At first he levels the ranseur at them, but when the hostages are threatened, he hesitates, knuckles whitening on the haft of the weapon in anger. His new claws prick his palms...

Oh. Right.

Acting as craven as he can, the huge man throws the ranseur to the floor with a clatter. If that doesn't seem to be enough, he shrugs off his greatsword and bow as well.

"Please..." he says, allowing a note of desperation to edge into his voice, "Please, we don't want any trouble. We were just searching for other survivors...just let these people go, and we'll be on our way...we don't care anything for the books here. Hells below, half of us can barely read..."

He slowly advances into the room, keeping his hands low and to his sides to avoid drawing attention to them. He stops immediately if ordered to do so by someone threatening a prisoner.

Bluff: 1d20 ⇒ 9

Woof. Move action (?) to remove weapon, then another to advance as far as they'll allow.

Karthak follows Jokum inside the room but doesn't seem to share his reasoing as he glares towards the crusader and his enchemen:"You foolish traitor. Do you take us for fools? You will kill them anyway. Or at least you would try to... because you are going to die a traitor's death! Prepare yourselves for judgment, filth!" as he finishes speaking the dwarven inquisitor charges the man!

Charge roll: 1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 6 + 2 = 24
Damage roll: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

Sorry, but I guess by now everyone knows Karthak is not a calm and calculating kind of guy...

Yeah, sort of thought that might happen that way. :P

Order
Jokum
Bad Guys
Karthak
>>Ce-Eshna
>>Pollux
>>Xaivan

Xaivan will move into the room and will fire an arrow at the man behind the woman!

Bow: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (16) + 9 = 25 for Arrow: 1d4 ⇒ 1

Let's not do anything brash or my dwarf friend here will.

Initiative: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9 technically before Karthak

At first, the young witch doesn't seem to understand what is before her. Why are the books all piled on the ground? Don't they know they're more likely to get dirty or soggy this way?

Is the pyre actually on fire, or is it waiting to be lit? I'll assume it's the latter.

The torches then catch her eye, and the pieces come together in a flash. The tiefling men speak pointless words that do not register in Tess's mind; she hears only the frightfully loud sound of the blood pulsing in her ears, and the whispers of the man in her dreams. Men can tear each other apart- there is no real loss, so long as knowledge is preserved...

Her hateful gaze springs forth instantly, and with more ease than it has ever come before. When she manages to speak, her words are viciously forced through clenched teeth.

"We shall see you burn instead! That would be waste far less than this atrocity."

Evil Eye, -2 targeting their attack rolls for 7 rounds, Will DC 15 to reduce to 1 round. Maybe it'll keep them from killing the hostages!

Initiative: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22

Her eyes go cold as she see's the fiendspawn take the hostages. An arrow is loosed before she even has time to consciously recon that she has drawn it, flying for the eye of the nearest.

Attack, hopefully point blank: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17
Damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

deadly aim is active on all attacks and has been accounted for in the bonus on my profile.

A raven lands on the door above her head, cawing raucously drawing her attention and throwing her aim a little.

@Ce-Eshna: your initiative was rolled above, I missed Tess cause she was gone for so long she got pulled off my roller doc.
@ Tess: Getting ready to burn them with the books. Also their actions trigger on any offensive action from you guys so it wont alter the outcome.

Round 1
Jokum -advances slowly dropping the ransuer.

Tieflings- as soon as Ce-Eshna pulls back on her bow the fiends blades slash at the human's throats.

Ce-Eshna -hits the tiefling in the middle (-7hp)

Pollux -(Inspires?)

Xaivan -hits the human gripping the scared woman. (-1hp)

Human (Inquisitor) -Repositions the woman seconds before Karthak can rush him.

Karthak- His charge falls short of reaching the man, but wont be stopped for long.

Round 2 Go

Nothing like the sacrifice of unnamed innocents to reveal the heroes' previously latent abilities!

As the tieflings' blades flash toward the men's throats, Jokum lets out a howl of rage. "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" As the exclamation goes on, it becomes something else, something deeper, louder, more guttural and animalistic. Even as the others watch, Jokum hunches, still howling, his muscles bunching and twisting as though in pain. As he stands--somehow bulkier than he was before--he looks back over his shoulder, revealing a face that has...changed. The pupils of his golden eyes have expanded, his jaw has lengthened and gotten stronger, and the set of his mouth is fierce and uncompromising.

"Rescue the innocent!" he snarls, his voice even more of a growl than usual, and then lopes toward the false crusader. "You die, worm!"

Swift action to use Shifter's Blessing, Form of the Bear, move 15', and attack!

Attack: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18
Damage: 1d4 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8

He lunges at the crusader with a clawed hand, thinking only Rend. Kill!

Shifter's Blessing round: 1/4

Karthak steps back and calls Torag's power!

"Lord of the Forge help this humble servant of yours smite the unrighteous!"

5 foot step back and cast true strike

Xaivan blinks quickly at Jokum as he transforms. Recovering back to the moment, Xaivan will move around to the back of the fight! Double move there since there is too much cover from where I'm at. I'll stow my bow as I move and draw my weapon.

She would have thought that nothing could tear her eyes from the tieflings and the flames they held poised above the books-- but then Jokum, the large man who had remained so stolid in the face of danger.... Jokum was gone. In his place loomed an imposter, a beastial monstrosity who bore only passing resemblance to their gentle guardian.

And for a moment, Tesseract Squires froze in fear. A whimper caught in her throat-- who is he? WHAT IS HE?-- and she felt sure she would bolt like a rabbit or faint dead away.

But the moment passed, and time resumed haltingly (later she would dismiss the notion that an unseen hand had gripped her jaw and turned her head forcibly away from the impossible sight).

The girl's resolve steeled as she brandished her quarterstaff. "Extinguish your flames, you red-fleshed devil's bastards. Or certainly your hides will be used to bind new books to annoint these shelves!" A hateful laughter bubbled through her clenched teeth, as she envisioned the would-be arsonists as the very thing they attempted to destroy.

SA to Evil Eye the other tiefling (targeting attack rolls at -2 again), MA to Cackle. Please roll Will saves for each so I know how long the Hexes last. :D

Round 1: Inspire Courage

Pollux moves just behind Karthak and tries to sink his spear into the nearest enemy closest to Karthak.

Attack(Power Attack): 1d20 + 6 + 1 - 1 ⇒ (20) + 6 + 1 - 1 = 26
Confirm: 1d20 + 6 + 1 - 1 ⇒ (14) + 6 + 1 - 1 = 20

Spear Damage: 1d8 + 6 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 6 + 2 + 1 = 10
Additional Damage(if critical): 2d8 + 12 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (1, 1) + 12 + 4 + 2 = 20

What the actual crap? Three 1s?

Moving in Ce-Eshna tries to knock one of them off their feet

Bullrush expending my wind: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

Who still needs to post?

I do, got wrapped up at a con over the weekend and wasn't able to get online like I had planned. Got volunteeredtold into the masterclass costume contest with my wife so had a lot more work over the con then we had anticipated.

Jokum - The man's sudden transformation catches the villains off guard but the fierce blow fails to land solidly.

Tieflings- Will: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23
Ignoring the fight he takes the time to catch hold of the bound and injured man and slowly drags the blade deep across his throat.
Coup de Gras
Tieflings (-7hp)- Will: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7
He drops the bleeding unconscious body to the ground as his life's blood pools around him. He steps over the body and grabs the next man.
Coup de Gras

Ce-Eshna -The gust does little more than swirl loose pages about their feet.

Pollux -Lunges with his spear No enemies are in your reach on the map. Please correct this.

Xaivan - Maneuvers around the fight getting behind the human.

Human (Inquisitor) (-1hp)- "Beast! Get off. I'll teach you to scratch at a man!
Something about his words leaves no doubt in Jokums mind that this man has challenged him.
heavy mace: 1d20 + 9 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 9 + 2 = 14 Damage: 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12

Karthak- He steps back calling upon righteous power to strike the crusader down.

Round 3 Go

Xaivan takes a step around the corner of a bookshelf and fires an arrow at the enemy to the south of him!

Bow: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (9) + 9 = 18 for Arrow: 1d4 ⇒ 4

Jokum dodges the man's blow and, fiercely but almost silently, circles around, lunging out whenever he sees an opening.

5' shift north (can't move token at the moment because on phone, sorry), full attack!

Attack 1: 1d20 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 8 + 1 = 20
Damage: 1d4 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9
Attack 2: 1d20 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 8 + 1 = 25
Damage: 1d4 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9

EDIT: Shifter's Blessing used: 2/4

Xaivan you stowed your bow earlier

Oh yeah, wrong character. I play too many games sometimes. He will instead move up to the guy and try to twhack him with his morningstar! So that's a 9+3=12 to hit instead. I think I was hoping to get flanking if someone would move into that position for me. If so I'd wait and get that +2 to hit.

Karthak moves near the crusader and smashes down with his hammer:"Die servant of ruin!"

Damage roll: 1d20 + 20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 20 + 6 = 32
Attack roll: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10

SA to Evil Eye the other tiefling (targeting attack rolls at -2 again), MA to Cackle. Please roll Will saves for each so I know how long the Hexes last. :D

Now I'm confused. Who's the woman standing next to Jokum on the battle map?

I believe it's the woman who was being held captive by the villains; she was being forced to build the pyre.

Jokum is correct, Tess saves were rolled above uninjured one got a 23 injured rolled a 7

Cursing in a manner completely unfitting for a well brought up girl her age Ce-Eshna moves into the library and tries to put another arrow in the scum on the left.
Attack: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26
Damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

So... how does the fight proceed? Did Jokum & Karthak lay the villain low? Did Tess and the others manage to save some of the hostages? People want to know and the suspence is thrilling me!!! :P

See new discussion entry

Round 3 ____________________

Jokum of the Breakbones_________
Jokum dodges the man's blow and, fiercely but almost silently, circles around, lunging out whenever he sees an opening.
The knight just barely managed to block Jokum’s first attack, but missed his second. Jokum connects, jolting him for 9.

Xaivan Slingblade______________
He will instead move up to the guy and try to twhack him with his morningstar! I think I was hoping to get flanking…
In either case, Xavian’s attack is parried away.

Karthak Ironbreaker___________
Karthak moves near the crusader and smashes down with his hammer:"Die servant of ruin!"
Karthak lands a tremendous hit, brushing past the knights shield as if it weren’t there. The knight staggered back a step.

Tesseract Squires______________
SA to Evil Eye the other tiefling (targeting attack rolls at -2 again), MA to Cackle. Please roll Will saves for each so I know how long the Hexes last. :D
Will save 1: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 1 = 13 Fail.
Will save 2: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3 Fail.

Ce-Eshna Lightfoot____________
Cursing in a manner completely unfitting for a well brought up girl her age Ce-Eshna moves into the library and tries to put another arrow in the scum on the left. She nails him for 6.

[npc]Pollux____________________
Moves around to attack the knight.
Attack(Power Attack): 1d20 + 6 + 1 - 1 ⇒ (5) + 6 + 1 - 1 = 11 Miss.

Enemies______________________
Recovering, the knight returns roaring his challenge to Jokum.
"Crusader scum! For my dark masters!" He called out to nobody you can see.
Mace attack to Jokum: 1d20 + 9 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 9 + 2 = 28 Hit! for 1d8 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 5 + 2 = 10 magic and bludgeoning damage.
Tiefling 1 targets Xavian.
Shortsword attack on Xavian: 1d20 + 4 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (3) + 4 + 2 - 2 = 7 Miss.
Tiefling 2 drops the body of the librarian and steps into flanking with his buddy, targeting Xavian.
Shortsword attack on Xavian: 1d20 + 4 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (15) + 4 + 2 - 2 = 19 Hit! for 1d6 + 1 + 1d6 ⇒ (5) + 1 + (3) = 9 slashing and precision damage.
The strange woman stepped away from the knight and started untying the surviving librarians.

Round 4____________________

Players take their turn in order of posting. Enemies will go last.

Karthak keeps pressuring the fallen crusader:"Time to die, you scum!" he roars as he swings again

Attack roll: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 16
Damage roll: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

Inspire or bless aren't active aren't they?

Pollux gives a rousing speech, calling his allies to courage.

Pollux inspires this round.

Yee-haw! And, uh, y'know, ouch.

Jokum snarls as the mace catches him in the side, and circles to be between the villain and the woman untying the librarian. With a wordless growl, he swings at the knight.

Attack 1: 1d20 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 8 + 1 = 22
Damage 1: 1d4 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 5 + 1 = 10
Attack 2: 1d20 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 8 + 1 = 11
Damage 2: 1d4 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 5 + 1 = 10

5' shift, full attack!

Round 4____________________

Karthak Ironbreaker_____________
Karthak keeps pressuring the fallen crusader:"Time to die, you scum!" he roars as he swings again. The knight shield blocked him.

Pollux Wardroxan______________
Pollux gives a rousing speech, calling his allies to courage. Pollux inspires this round.

Jokum of the Breakbones____________
Jokum snarls as the mace catches him in the side, and circles to be between the villain and the woman untying the librarian. With a wordless growl, he swings at the knight. He connects once and missed wildly with the other attack.

(npc) Xaivan Slingblade______________
Flank attacks the second Tiefling.
Morningstar flank attack: 1d20 + 3 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 3 + 2 + 1 = 13 Miss.

(npc) Tesseract Squires______________
Steps up and starts cutting the remaining hostage free.

(npc) Ce-Eshna Lightfoot____________
She shoots at the same guy.
Longbow attack: 1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 7 + 1 = 15 Miss.

Enemies______________________ .
The knight continues to work on Jokum.
Mace attack to Jokum: 1d20 + 9 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 9 + 2 + 1 = 25 Hit! for 1d8 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 5 + 2 = 15 magic and bludgeoning damage.
Tiefling 1 targets Xavian.
Shortsword attack on Xavian: 1d20 + 4 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (20) + 4 + 2 - 2 = 24. Hit! for 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4 piercing damage.
Tiefling 2 targets Xavian.
Shortsword attack on Xavian: 1d20 + 4 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (3) + 4 + 2 - 2 = 7. Horrible miss.

The strange woman still untying the surviving librarians.

Round 5____________________

Players take their turn in order of posting, Enemies will go last.

Again and again the inquisitor keeps raining blows against his opponent, determined to end the threat he poses.

Attack roll: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11
Damage roll: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

Yikes! Any chance someone could help me out with some healing? I'm down to 3 hp...

Blood flies from Jokum's side as the mace splits his skin and (from the sound) shatters a rib or so. With a howl, Jokum lunges for the knight's face, closing in on him with Pollux like a pair of hunting wolves.

5' shift to flank.

Attack 1: 1d20 + 8 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 8 + 1 + 2 = 15
Damage 1: 1d4 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 5 + 1 = 10
Attack 2: 1d20 + 8 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 8 + 1 + 2 = 22
Damage 2: 1d4 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 5 + 1 = 7

As he staggers back from the momentum of his attack, he suddenly shakes his head, the light going out of his eyes. He seems almost to deflate, shrinking down to his regular size. He looks around almost groggily, seeming startled.

"Where is...my blade...?" he murmurs.

Shifter's Blessing used up, for today.

On this round Pollux attempts to compound the problems of the knight and blesses his allies.

"Make good on your contract, O' mighty Avernus! Shower us in profane blessing!"

Cast bless

When the DM posts we'll see about healing. I could heal you if needed but I'd prefer if someone else could do it as my spells are also for fighting and the pool is really small

Round 5____________________

Karthak Ironbreaker_______________
Again and again the inquisitor keeps raining blows against his opponent, determined to end the threat he poses. But missed.

Jokum of the Breakbones_____________
5' shift to flank.
Attack 1: 15 Miss.
Attack 2: 22 Hit!
Damage 2: 7
He seems almost to deflate, shrinking down to his regular size.
"Where is...my blade...?" he murmurs.
Shifter's Blessing used up, for today.

Pollux Wardroxan
"Make good on your contract, O' mighty Avernus! Shower us in profane blessing!"
Cast bless

(npc) Xaivan Slingblade______________
Flank attacks the second Tiefling.
Morningstar flank attack: 1d20 + 3 + 2 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 3 + 2 + 1 + 1 = 23 Hit! for 1d6 - 1 + 2d6 + 1 ⇒ (1) - 1 + (6, 3) + 1 = 10 bludgeoning damage. Mace to da face, Tiefling goes down dead.

(npc) Tesseract Squires______________
Cutting the remaining hostage free.

(npc) Ce-Eshna Lightfoot____________
She shoots at the same guy.
Longbow attack: 1d20 + 7 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 7 + 1 + 1 = 19. Hit! for 1d8 + 3 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 3 + 1 + 1 = 8 piercing damage. Tiefling 1 is shot down.

Enemies______________________ .
Rocked by Jokums' hit, the knight throws away his weapon and shield. He falls to his knees and grovels.
"Pleeeese spare me great warrior! I, I know things! I can help you!" He sniveled as he grasped at your ankles.

The strange woman still untying the surviving librarians.

Combat is over; you may act freely.

Sense Motive check: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (7) + 9 = 16

Karthak grunts:"Whatever. We won't kill someone who surrenders but you have better behave yourself until you get a trial... after that I don't see how you can hope to escape the noose..." so saying Karthak takes the manacles he keeps in his backpack and ties the traitor crusader's wirsts.

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 1 = 17

Not quite...

The battle clearly over, Jokum more or less just...collapses. Panting hard, and bleeding from nearly a dozen wounds, he staggers/crawls over to his ranseur and clutches it in his hands. What came over me...? That was worse than it's ever been. He watches Karthak tie the man up carefully, always suspicious, but never overtly hostile to one who's surrendered.

Any healing wands/potions/whatever would be greatly appreciated...but no worries if they're not available.