DM Fflash's Shackled City Campaign

Game Master DM Fflash

Sea Mother's Shrine Round 23

Init: Aushanna, Mangh-Michto, Nemoris, Magma, Nowzai, Sam, Epik, Dalamus

Aushanna watches the party flee with a thin smile and carefully takes aim, firing flaming shots rapidly at the party. She strikes both the armored warriors but Nowzai is able to nimbly dodge out of the way (Rapid fire + Deadly Aim)

The priest wades through the water, his spear held aloft in two hands and engages Epik thrusting out with his spear and calling upon his evil goddess in his croaking voice, a black and purple line of power connecting his weapon to the statue. The paladin staggers under the crushingly unholy blow, his very soul feeling like its torn asunder, his armor crunched and his body spurting blood. (60 points total to Epik this round ... not sure if he had 59 and is down or if he had 59+19 healing and is still moving)

Nemoris fends off the twisting and squirming rope and steps back from it, firing at the devil once again but fails to hit her.

The rest of the party retreats toward the hallways (with the possible exception of Epik ... if that changes anyone's actions, feel free to update here) Note if Epik is still concious he can only move as far as he is shown on the map. If everyone else wants to slow down to his rate to keep him together, we can do that. In that case Nowzai, Sam, and Magma essentially do nothing this round while they wait for Epik and Dalamus to climb the stairs

Map assuming everyone moves

I see two hits for 40+18=58, which means Epik has 1 HP, unless I'm missing something.

If correct, Epik will LoH as a swift action and will continue to withdraw.

3d6 + 4 ⇒ (1, 2, 5) + 4 = 12

Nah, I read the wrong line between you and Magma. Reduce the damage by another 2, I used the wrong type of smite.

I would have stayed in the back of the line as I said I would be the rear guard (hmm guess I said flank, but I did mean rear) so let me know if you can move me to the back of the line and where I was at the rail. Once Nowzai started to move away I would have drank my potion of Protection From Evil

Is Epik caught in some sort of a man-catcher or is it just a normal spear?

Magma said he was rear guard. I don't actually see any Round 23 input from you other than asking about the rope. But, if you wish to be up on the rail, I will move you there.

It is a mancatcher, but Epik is not "caught" in it.

Dalamus is going to continue his retreat, as quickly as he can

Nowzai will retreat with the group, trying to keep as many in his protective area as possible.

Tike, i should be near Epik. As Epik pass me i will Cast Sanctuary.

1d20 ⇒ 5 Save, +9-7 depending on type.

I'll move back to the hallway, and try to stay within Nowzai's protective area.

Should I keep attacking? Which target?!

For the most part, it looks like everyone is retreating. Not entirely sure what Sam is doing. Asked a bunch of questions, but I don't see any actions posted for the past couple rounds.

Magmas trick will break Epik from combat and allow Magma to withdraw safely.

Depending on what Sam does and how far you guys wish to retreat will determine if I stay round by round or switch to narrative. Please advise.

Sorry I am in Denver the next three weeks for training and I have had homework every night so I haven't had time to post.

I am simply making sure Epik makes it out. I am retreating as well, I just wanted to be close to him if he dropped so I could help

Excellent, one question down.

Second question for everyone: how far are you retreating? To the next room? To the edge of the river? Get in the ferry and go back across?

An excellent question... Nowzai is fairly spent on casting resources, though he does have wands on hand if we just want to regroup and try again. Otherwise, recommend we fall back to a defensible camp.

Probably needs to be across the river to be safe.

We should probably go back to the river....We are in condition to take up this fight.

"I think with her ability to teleport, that there may not be any place that is truly safe. I would vote for trying to hold the hallway but in the larger room where that prison is. At least it would be a choke point and harder for her to fly around and snipe up without any return. And if the frog is dumb enough to come up as well, so be it. I will hold the front line until you all can heal up with Magma's wand, but I will retreat is that is the vote of the party."

Sam's blades pulses with black lightning as he speaks

"But I want it known, that I want that devil dead at my feet..."

So current vote:

River far side/camp/rest: Epik, Nowzai
River near side: Dalamus
Entrance room to make a stand: Sam

Magma, Nemoris?

Dalamus is ok with going to the far side of the river..

Far side of the river is fine. i don't know if we can make it that far with the demon hounding us. going across on that boat will probably kill us

Flee!

Magma's trick with holding the line against the priest works as he engages and neatly dodges the pincer staff. This allows Epik to break free and catch up with the fleeing party. The acolyte of Torag casts a warding spell and jogs back following them.

Nemoris covers the party as they flee, firing arrows to keep the devil flying about and not hovering in one place, although she's able to loose a flaming arrow down the hall. Once the archer moves around the corner, she takes flight down the hall after the party.

Nowzai, leading the bunch is able to get the boat stabilized and the party piles in with Magma and Sam leaping in at the last second. Spears fly, splashing in the water and clattering against the boat. Half a dozen kuo-toan warriors have just emerged from the structure like the giant frog vomited them out. The devil comes to the top of the steps and halts, watching the party cross with icy eyes,her black wings flapping rhythmically.

The priest appears under the fallen angel with another kuo-toa, head and shoulders taller, hands bristling with spears. They exchange words for several moments, before the priest spins on his heel, the devil following, as he reenters the structure.

The spear-laden kuo-toa croaks at the other warriors and they form a line. As the party reaches the other side and secures the boat, moving up the switchback path, they see the 7 warriors enter the water and begin swimming across fighting the strong current. It will take them a while to cross.

Anything here or return to your camp location from the previous night?

How heavy is the boat? I think we have to drag it up with us or it's gone later.

It's a 6-man row boat made of wood, so it's pretty hefty. 300 lbs?

How steep is the bank and what not? Basically can we get this pulled up to a camp with or without some check?

Its a switchback path up a cliff. It will slow you to half regular speed which is 8x slower than a full tilt run.

I think we should take the boat with us as well. or at least hide in the bushes away from the beach.

Bushes? Its a cavern underground with 1 pathway in unless you take the river. And you all use a light spell.

HP 63 AC 22

Epik will use 4 of his remaining 6 LoH to heal himself

LoH 1: 3d6 + 4 ⇒ (4, 5, 4) + 4 = 17
LoH 2: 3d6 + 4 ⇒ (6, 2, 3) + 4 = 15
LoH 3: 3d6 + 4 ⇒ (2, 3, 1) + 4 = 10
LoH 4: 3d6 + 4 ⇒ (3, 5, 6) + 4 = 18

Anyone else need healing?

"I think we have to risk the water crossing. If we stay here we'll have to fight the whole lot. If we cross, we may only have to deal with the seven warriors."

Epik shudders at the thought of more underwater fighting.

OOC: What is the stone that Epik has related to removing armor?

The stone allows Epik to call his armor. He can put it on in a movement action as long as its within 30 feet

It doesn't help with removal.

"Let's move the boat away from the shore. If those warriors follow us out of the water, it will be their undoing." Nowzai stands on guard, watching the water with wand in hand.

Epik will strip down his armor prior to boarding the boat.

Epik will be attacked if he does that. Those guys are only a round or 2 behind you.

Magma will help with the boat.

So I think we have 4 fairly strong guys that are ok with hauling the boat up. We need to make any rolls or does this look like it's going to slow us down enough for them to catch us?

They will catch up, Ill just need to figure out where.

We're gonna need a bigger boat

The party quickly disembarks the boat and hauls it up with them, black water dripping as they move up the path, a 30 foot bubble of light in the dark cavern. The phosphoresence light from the building allows you to see the dialogue between the priest and commanding soldier, but once they enter the water, you are no longer able to see them. Nowzai projects that you'll make it to the top of the cliff, but not much farther before they will catch up to you.

Where do you want to stop and fight, how do you want to prepare? You won't be able to see them until about 60 feet away from you. At that point we'll roll initiative and start combat. Until then you can take whatever actions you wish, but depending on how long each of those takes, you may be in the middle of something when they arrive. I'm still hunting for a map template to use, but you're essentially coming up a winding, switchback path cut into a steep rock slope that leads down to the river bank below. The top is the entrance to the major tunnel that brough you here

We should fight at the edge of the cliff to take advantage of the higher ground without being hindered by the slope.

Epik draws his long sword and prepares for combat.

"Epik, Magma and Sama'el up to the front and ready for approach. Nemoris and I will cover with ranged. Dalamus, be ready to flank as they engage in melee." Nowzai looks for a good tactical position about fifteen feet back from the front line.

Recommend the front line stand with 5 ft gaps between...

"Epik, Magma and Sama'el up to the front and ready for approach. Nemoris and I will cover with ranged. Dalamus, be ready to flank as they engage in melee." Nowzai looks for a good tactical position about fifteen feet back from the front line.

Recommend the front line stand with 5 ft gaps between...

Sounds like a plan...

I'll ready my bow and I should be able to shoot without penalty as soon as the warriors are within 110 feet. Not sure what the light situation is, but I'm able to attack up to 330 feet with only a minus 2. Are the priest and commander still visible?

Dalamus needs healing pretty badly.

"Nowzai, I am not doing well....I won't be able to hold the flank long, before I am taken from this mortal plane. I can lend support with my bow from afar, but even then, I may not last very long. Can we not outrun them?"

"I will hold the line with Epik until Magma and Nemoris can heal who ever is wounded with the wands we have. Dalamus, stay to the rear and flank once you are healed and ready."

I will use one round to cast shield on myself, and prepare to attack.

@Nemoris: There are 2 sources of light. One is Nowzai's light on your side, the other is the phosphorescent moss on the fortress. In between is blackness.

You can see 30 feet with Nowzai's light, plus another 30 into the shadows (dimly lit). The commander left with his troops to hit the water and have disappeared into the darkness between the fortress and your location. You won't see them until they are 60 feet away (Dalamus will see them at 120) . The priest has returned inside the fortress along with the devil.

If I get some healing, I can hide in a forward location, wait for them to pass then backstab whomever is at the rear, or the biggest threat.

Epik, do you have any healing for Dalamus?

I'd have guessed that this would have happened before we crossed the water, as Epik asked about healing and was healing himself then. I do have a wand of cure serious, and am happy to use it as well

3d8 + 3 ⇒ (7, 6, 7) + 3 = 23

We can assume healing on the way across in the boat but prep for the fight will need to be done at the top of the path.

LOH for Dalamus:

3d6 + 4 ⇒ (3, 6, 1) + 4 = 14

Need more?

healing surges in the boat
1d6 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

1d6 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

1d6 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

1d6 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

So that is 12 HP while we are in the boat. i will use the wand to get everyone up to full HP

so can i have HP from Everyone

I am good now guys...thanks.

Dalamus will lay in wait for an ambush on the Kuo

Nowzai's at 18 of 39 hp, so will need couple hits from the wand. My magic circle vs evil is still active. In the preparation round, will cast SM2 for a small earth elemental.

Even after those healing surges? I didn't think you got hit that hard. Yikes!