DM Corerue's Carrion Crown

Game Master DM Corerue

Miss chance, high is better: 1d100 ⇒ 70

Eloise growls as she charges - well, walks quickly - after the attacker, sword leading. If she gets within range, or at least finds the edge of the darkness, she attacks with her black blade!

Attack roll 1d20 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 7 + 2 = 13 for 1d8 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 + 2 = 7 damage.

Sour Heck spins his bodhrán and strikes a deep note from its center. Doom. He steps unhurriedly through the darkness, beating the drum with each step. Doom, doom, doom.

“Think this little fellow will last longer than the monster outside? Doesn’t seem likely, does it? This darkness is spooky, I’ll admit, but nothing would turn my bowels to water faster than having these two swinging their bloody swords at my head.”

In round 2, Sour Heck maintains his Inspire Courage performance and attempts to use Intimidate to demoralize the gnome. The attempt can only work if the gnome can see the bard, but if he’s throwing axes I’m guessing he has darkvision. Party buffs: +2 to attack rolls and weapon damage, +2 morale to saves versus fear and charm effects from Inspire Courage.

Intimidate, using Perform (Percussion) as per Haunted Refrain: 1d20 + 14 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 14 + 2 = 22

Iesha grabs a small item from the area and casts light on it, then gently tosses it toward where she thinks the -gnome?- vanished.

While the darkness doesn't break, the area Iesha chose does get a bit less overwhelmingly...black. In the grey, the gnome (?) steps away from the door, flipping a throwing axe into its grip as it does. This he whips at Eloise, catching her in the leg. She feels a burning sensation where the blade cut in, but it quickly stops.

Throwing Axe: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (12) + 9 = 21
Damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4
Eloise Fort: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15

Begin Round 2: Party is Up!

Peredur and Iesha have low-light vision--are we able to operate normally in the volume of the light spell?

dot

Darkness is a higher Spell Level than Light, thus any place within the Black Circle is still darkness. The enemies' last known position is marked by a semi-transparent square. Perception checks will be needed to notice if he moved or you can take a swing blindly at the square he was in.

Initiative:
1st: Gnome
2nd: Peredur @ 24/44 HP; Eloise @ 41/43 HP; Iesha @ 29/33 HP; Sour Heck @ 41/41 HP

If you are highlighted in Bold, then your turn is up! If you are in Bold and Italics, then you usually have half a turn, need to make a Save or some other such action that is not a full turn's worth of actions.

Peredur closes his eyes in the darkness, the better to listen for the unseen foe, then slashes out with his sword if he detects the gnome's presence.

Perception check to notice movement: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (16) + 15 = 31
Miss chance, hi=hit: 1d100 ⇒ 58
Longsword attack, if applicable, incl. inspire courage: 1d20 + 9 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 9 + 2 = 20
Longsword damage, if applicable, incl. inspire courage: 1d8 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 3 + 2 = 12

Peredur, Sour Heck gave you a bunch of wand heals before we climbed up that I don’t think you put in your stat block. You should be at full HP. Eloise, you may not have deducted the 4 points from getting whacked with an axe.

Sour Heck pauses a moment before acting. “Did you hit him, Peredur?”

Iesha uses the crane as a guide to move into the room, turning at it's end to (hopefully) face toward the door, takes one step forward then slashes with her glaive.

attack-glaive: 1d20 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 1 + 2 = 22 for damage-glaive: 1d10 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 = 11

Miss chancehigh: 1d100 ⇒ 85

Thanks for the reminder re the curing, Sour Heck.

Miss chance, high is better: 1d100 ⇒ 68

Eloise snarls as she lashes out at the Gnome in the dark, her black blade slicing through the magical umbra. "You can't hide forever, you little creep!" she shouts. "Surrender unless you want to be two half-a-Gnomes!"

Black blade attack: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13 for 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3 damage.

“Everybody’s aiming low, right?” Sour Heck drawls.

Sour Heck maintains his Inspire Courage performance, then listens intently to the struggle in the darkness.

Does he hear the gnome move, or grunt in pain?: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 20

If he can locate the gnome, perhaps because someone else has hit it and can report its location, Heck moves to where he’d have a shot at it, drawing a whetted dagger as part of the move action, activates Arcane Strike as a swift action, and then throws the dagger at where he heard the gnome.

Dagger in the dark!: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23
Hits on a high roll: 1d2 ⇒ 2
Dagger damage: 1d4 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10

If he can’t locate the gnome, and no one has hit it, he moves forward and slams the door, possibly blocking the darkness spell’s emanation.

Party buffs: +2 to attack rolls and weapon damage, +2 morale to saves versus fear and charm effects from Inspire Courage.

Stealth: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (8) + 18 = 26

Peredur's sword strikes out in the darkness as he hears the slight breathing of the small creature but the frame of the door gets in the way as he didn't think and he yells at the rest that the gnome is in the doorway, but its hard to aim for the doorway, especially with no sight to rely on.

I think I set up Iesha's character where she wanted. End of the crane (two spaces over) and one step forward (one square north).

She swings her glaive through the doorway, but the creature is too close for the glaive to effectively attack. Reach weapon

Eloise stays at the edge of the doorway, one hand on the wall and the other flicks her blade through the frame, but her aim is off to hit the small creature.

Sour Heck manages to follow the sound of Peredur's blade slamming into the wooden frame and launches a dagger through the air that somehow misses Iesha and catches the gnome in the side, evident to the sightless by the "Oomph."

Handaxe @ Iesha: 1d20 + 9 - 2 ⇒ (6) + 9 - 2 = 13
Handaxe @ Iesha: 1d20 + 9 - 2 ⇒ (10) + 9 - 2 = 17

The group hears a few snaps unbuckling as, shortly after, Iesha feels the sting of two blades hit her body.

Damage: 2d4 + 2 ⇒ (3, 1) + 2 = 6
Sneak Attack Damage: 4d6 ⇒ (6, 3, 1, 5) = 15 Two Fortitude Saves against poison.

Sour Heck finds himself out of the area of darkness as it seems to not reach him as it travels around the corner of the doorway.

Initiative:
1st: Gnome @ 10
2nd: Peredur @ 24/44 HP; Eloise @ 37/43 HP; Iesha @ 12/33 HP; Sour Heck @ 41/41 HP

You guys can alter the map, btw.

Forgot to correct Peredur's HP.

Initiative:
1st: Gnome @ 10
2nd: Peredur @ 44/44 HP; Eloise @ 37/43 HP; Iesha @ 12/33 HP; Sour Heck @ 41/41 HP

How'd I suddenly lose 6 hp? ó_ò

Eloise falls silent and strains to hear something, anything. Maybe the creak of leather armour, the shuffling of feet... the dripping of blood from fresh wounds... and then leaps into the room, sweeping her black blade in a low, murderous arc!

Perception 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 2 = 21

Miss chance, high is better: 1d100 ⇒ 45. PLEASE tell me that great Perception check gives me an edge... ^^;

Black blade attack: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12 for 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9 damage.

Iesha channels energy to heal her comrades.

Channel energy: 3d6 ⇒ (4, 1, 1) = 6

@Eloise: Your stat line says 41/43 HP and the last post by the GM shows the creature hitting you with a throwing axe for 4 damage. Should have been Sneak Attack on the damage, but I think he forgot.'

Eloise misses once more as Iesha heals herself and the magus.

Initiative:
1st: Gnome @ 10
2nd: Peredur @ 44/44 HP; Eloise @ 43/43 HP; Iesha @ 18/33 HP; Sour Heck @ 41/41 HP

“If I just hit one of you heroes in the throat by mistake, say something. Or gurgle something.”

Sour Heck maintains his Inspire Courage performance as a free action.

Spellcraft to realize that if the doorway blocks the Darkness spell, then the edge of the Darkness is in line to the source of the Darkness--hopefully, the gnome.: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21

The bard shifts position again as a move action, pulling his dagger from his boot in the process. He stirs the whetted blade to malevolent whispering with a swift action to activate Arcane Strike, then hurls it at where the spell is emanating from.

A dagger thrown at the heart of Darkness: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 19
Hits on a high roll: 1d2 ⇒ 1
Dagger damage: 1d4 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9

Sour Heck freezes. “Nobody move! I just dropped my last dagger.”

Party buffs: +2 to attack rolls and weapon damage, +2 morale to saves versus fear and charm effects from Inspire Courage.

Since there is no listed type of emanation for the Darkness. I am just ruling that it is a spread effect, so it doesn't hit you because it has to travel around the doorway, but still covers Peredur. But that is fine to try and determine the middle from where you are.

Don't think Peredur can do anything at this point, otherwise I would bot him.

@Iesha: Since you failed to roll the two Fortitude saves, I will roll for you.

Fort-Iesha: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6
Fort-Iesha: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12
Strength Damage: 2d2 ⇒ (2, 1) = 3

Peredur reaches out and feels Iesha in front of him as Sour Heck moves to the other side of the crane, around the Darkness and launches another knife, but he hears it clatter onto the ground in the far room.

Apparently, the gnomish creature decides to cut into its new target in front of him as Eloise feels the brutal hacking of two handaxes into her legs.

Handaxe @ Eloise-12 Blinded AC: 1d20 + 9 - 2 ⇒ (20) + 9 - 2 = 27
Handaxe Confirmation @ Eloise-12 Blinded AC: 1d20 + 9 - 2 ⇒ (17) + 9 - 2 = 24

Handaxe @ Eloise-12 Blinded AC: 1d20 + 9 - 2 ⇒ (20) + 9 - 2 = 27 Wow, srsly?
Handaxe Confirmation @ Eloise-12 Blinded AC: 1d20 + 9 - 2 ⇒ (5) + 9 - 2 = 12

Damage: 3d4 + 3 + 2d6 + 3d4 + 3 + 2d6 ⇒ (3, 4, 4) + 3 + (5, 3) + (3, 1, 3) + 3 + (4, 5) = 41 Two Fortitude Saves from Eloise.

One Fortitude Save from Iesha.

Initiative:
1st: Gnome @ 10
2nd: Peredur @ 44/44 HP; Eloise @ 2/43 HP; Iesha (Poisoned-2/9; 3 Strength Damage) @ 18/33 HP; Sour Heck @ 41/41 HP

sorry...

fort Save: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13

Sigh...

That actually passes! Also, no need to be sorry. We all miss stuff sometimes!

Iesha overcomes the poison barely as her muscles were quickly fatiguing.

Initiative:
1st: Gnome @ 10
2nd: Peredur @ 44/44 HP; Eloise @ 2/43 HP; Iesha (3 Strength Damage) @ 18/33 HP; Sour Heck @ 41/41 HP

Since Peredur is right there, Iesha lightly touches him, useing her other domain power, Touch of Good, which grants him a sacred bonus on attack rolls, skill checks, ability checks, and saving throws of +2 (half her cleric level)for 1 round.

"This should help." she whispers.

Also, if it's been less than 5 rounds since this fight started my Deflection aura is still up: it provides 5 rounds of a +2 deflection bonus to AC and CMD for the group.

I don't know how many rounds the fight has been going on! But, let's say it is less than 5. That would negate the second crit on Eloise for a total of 6 damage back!

Initiative:
1st: Gnome @ 10
2nd: Peredur @ 44/44 HP; Eloise @ 8/43 HP; Iesha (3 Strength Damage) @ 18/33 HP; Sour Heck @ 41/41 HP

Dot...

This is where I would normally delay players, but three players without a post in over 24 hours makes it tough to delay. Is everyone still out there?

Yes. Just waiting on everyone else's actions.I'll definitely channel next round.

Gack! >_<; Fortitude save 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26 and 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15

Sorry, didn't check the forum on sunday at all...

Eloise overcomes the poison coursing through her system from the handaxe wounds.

Initiative:
1st: Gnome @ 10
2nd: Peredur @ 44/44 HP; Eloise @ 8/43 HP; Sour Heck @ 41/41 HP; Iesha (3 Strength Damage) @ 18/33 HP;

Cursing at the pain, Eloise lashes out once more, her blade abruptly shimmering with arcane power -- then takes a step back out of range.
"I could use a bit of healing," she manages to say between clenched teeth.

Burning one pool point for enhancement. Black blade attack 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14 for 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5 damage. Miss chance 1d100 ⇒ 27 Then takes a 5-ft. step backwards, away from the Gnome.

Could Peredur hear the gnome moving?

With your base Perception score, sure!

Peredur dodges into the room to stand between where he thinks the gnome is and Eloise.

Total defense, current AC 20 (+4 for total defense, +2 for deflection aura, base 14 because flatfooted against the gnome)

@Peredur: Total Defense doesn't work while blinded as you are denied your Dexterity bonus to AC, which then means Dodge bonuses to AC don't work either. Also, being blinded means you take another -2 to AC as well, so your AC is 14 while in the Darkness effect, regardless of whether you use Total Defense.

In that case....

The half-elf sidesteps through the door and slashes at where he hears the gnome. "Drop th' spell and surrender, you'll not be harmed further."

Miss chance, hi=hit: 1d100 ⇒ 70
Longsword to gnome, incl. sacred touch and inspire courage: 1d20 + 9 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 9 + 2 + 2 = 18
Well, that was pathetic.

So you're saying we should just try to kill him. Gotcha. :)

Hearing the pain in Iesha and Eloise’s voices, Sour Heck grinds his teeth angrily together and pushes his way up behind Peredur.

“That’s it, you little wretch, you toad’s bastard, you insect, you quivering tumor that your mother squatted out over the privy. Come face a man, if you can without catching a cock in your mouth. I’ve lost breakfasts more substantial than you, you worthless, loathsome, creeping nobody, you freakish outcast from a goblin’s bordello...”

The bard’s voice rises as he warms to his subject, spitting his words into the darkness and pounding his bodhrán in emphasis.

Sour Heck casts Blistering Invective.

Intimidate check on each enemy within 30’ of Sour Heck: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (7) + 16 = 23
Fire damage to demoralized enemies: 1d10 ⇒ 10
In addition to that damage, demoralized enemies must make a Reflex DC 16 save or catch on fire.

Party buffs: +2 to attack rolls and weapon damage, +2 morale to saves versus fear and charm effects from Inspire Courage, which will last 2 more rounds due to Lingering Performance.

Reflex Save: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (19) + 10 = 29

Peredur and Eloise's attacks glance off the wall and such, missing the small menace that is destroying them as Sour Heck tries to goad the creature into revealing itself. He singes the creature with his magic, but the creature easily avoids the flames as it strikes out at Peredur.

Handaxe @ Peredur-14 Blinded AC: 1d20 + 9 - 2 ⇒ (18) + 9 - 2 = 25
Handaxe @ Peredur-14 Blinded AC: 1d20 + 9 - 2 ⇒ (10) + 9 - 2 = 17

Peredur takes a brutal slash from both axes as he feels the blades sink deep into his flesh.

Damage: 2d4 + 2 + 4d6 ⇒ (3, 1) + 2 + (6, 2, 6, 1) = 21

The group hears silence after Peredur's involuntary grunt in pain as the handaxes hit.

Initiative:
1st: Gnome-Shaken @ 10
2nd: Peredur @ 23/44 HP; Eloise @ 8/43 HP; Sour Heck @ 41/41 HP; Iesha (3 Strength Damage) @ 18/33 HP;

Not that it matters, with those rolls, but I'm pretty sure with that Intimidate check that the gnome is shaken and at -2 to hit.

See, I figured out that he was shaken and then forgot to factor it in later. Silly me!

"Any other ideas?" The ranger takes a desultory swing in the gnome's direction, then takes a short step back. At least, he will if Eloise also retreats.

Miss chance, hi=hit: 1d100 ⇒ 16

The silent creature deftly avoids Peredur's telegraphed attack.

Initiative:
1st: Gnome-Shaken @ 20 (Forgot Blistering Invective in the update)
2nd: Peredur @ 23/44 HP; Eloise @ 8/43 HP; Sour Heck @ 41/41 HP; Iesha (3 Strength Damage) @ 18/33 HP;

Iesha curses with an oddly musical and lady-like fluency matching Sour Heck's as she once more channels Shelyn's energy to heal her comrades.

Channel Energy: 3d6 ⇒ (4, 5, 1) = 10

"Move," Eloise suddenly snaps, pushing Peredur and Iesha out of the way -- and then thrusts her empty hand forward. "Ignem iubeo!"

Briefly, flames illuminate the magical darkness as they spray forward from the Magus' gloved hand.

If everyone will stand aside, Eloise fires off a Burning Hands for 5d4 ⇒ (4, 4, 3, 4, 1) = 16 fire damage. Reflex save DC 15 for half.

Reflex: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (18) + 10 = 28

Iesha blasts the area with positive energy, healing her comrades as Eloise bathes the area in fire.

Moved Peredur to the closest open spot, where he can now see in dim light.

Initiative:
1st: Gnome-Shaken @ 20
2nd: Peredur @ 33/44 HP; Eloise @ 18/43 HP; Sour Heck @ 41/41 HP; Iesha (3 Strength Damage) @ 28/33 HP;

"Wake up, my stabby companion," Sour Heck mutters to his longsword, followed by hissing whispers that are hard to hear, and harder to listen to. The blade joins in, sounding bloodthirsty.

Sour Heck activates Arcane Strike as a swift action, then readies an action to stab the enemy if he hears it move into an adjacent space or attack one of the party. He'll take a 5' step as part of that action if he thinks it will help.

Stab with masterwork longsword--readied: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (17) + 8 = 25
Damage with whetted longsword: 1d8 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9

Party buffs: +2 to attack rolls and weapon damage, +2 morale to saves versus fear and charm effects from Inspire Courage, which will last one more round due to Lingering Performance.

Sour Heck-High Hits: 1d100 ⇒ 12

Sour Heck hears the creature move and leaps to strike, but his bloodthristy sword merely clatters around in the doorway.

The tiny beast deftly slides next to Eloise and cleaves into her with one axe while looking to hit Iesha with the other.

Handaxe @ Eloise-12 Blinded AC: 1d20 + 9 - 2 - 2 ⇒ (10) + 9 - 2 - 2 = 15
Damage: 1d4 + 1 + 2d6 ⇒ (3) + 1 + (4, 6) = 14

Handaxe @ Iesha-11 Blinded AC: 1d20 + 9 - 2 - 2 ⇒ (20) + 9 - 2 - 2 = 25 Wow, my dice are rolling too many 20s.
Handaxe Confirmation @ Iesha-11 Blinded AC: 1d20 + 9 - 2 - 2 ⇒ (1) + 9 - 2 - 2 = 6 Whew...
Damage: 1d4 + 1 + 2d6 ⇒ (1) + 1 + (3, 4) = 9

Initiative:
1st: Gnome @ 20
2nd: Peredur @ 33/44 HP; Eloise @ 4/43 HP; Sour Heck @ 41/41 HP; Iesha (3 Strength Damage) @ 19/33 HP;

Peredur will delay until other folks move before acting.

Eloise dodges back from the latest attack, cursing out loud.
"That is IT!" she snarls. "FIRE IN THE HOLD! Tempestas ex sectura!"

Magic fills the air before the group -- followed by the dull roar of falling sand and stone!

Eloise takes a 5-ft. step back and casts Stone Call, aiming it in such a way that the edge of the spell strikes the area where she knows the Gnome to have been but a moment ago, based on its attack, but the party isn't hurt.
Damage to the tune of 2d6 ⇒ (5, 1) = 6 to every creature caught in the spell's area. No saving throw. The spell's area becomes difficult terrain for the next 5 rounds.

Hearing the sound of sharpened axes whistling around his waist, Sour Heck changes his tune. “Silly me, did I say “tumor”? I meant humor, as in a humorous fellow...and of course I meant “wretch” in the nicest possible way...” The bard backs away from the door, opening a path for Peredur to move in and strike.

Sour Heck resumes his Inspire Courage performance and takes a 5’ step away from where he believes the gnome is menacing everyone.

Party buffs: +2 to attack rolls and weapon damage, +2 morale to saves versus fear and charm effects from Inspire Courage.