DM Zyren's Heart of Riddles (Inactive)

Game Master Zyrenity

Hearing Winter say the word trap, Corvax sighs in exasperation and then quietly unships his shield as he follows the paladin toward the 'meeting site'. Standing in plain sight to Winter's left, Corvax waits with his hand on the hilt of his sword for everything to go properly pear shaped.

[b]"I have something in mind for this one; position ourselves to prevent a charge, and maybe draw them to us. Perhaps they will confident with their four on us two, in which case they might be in for a new surprise. Stay close...and let us 'play along' with their ambush."[/ooc]

Battle Mat

Positions correct? I'm a bit confused about where everyone wants to be.

That works for me!

Winter starts playing along with the ambush, pretending to challenge the decoys... he readies his sword.

"Say Corvax, just remember to stay close when they come over..."

Kabal turned to Bree and Sable at their news. He wasnt suprised. This deal had a bad smell from the start.

A trap huh. We should catch up with the others then, yah?

Speaking low to Kabal and Bree in Common, "We'll give them a moment before we join the fray, lest more vultures lie in waiting in skies or waters. The question I have is who set this trap? Croat or Saul's adversaries seem the obvious choice, and that is what makes me question it. But those are questions to be asked in a few hours. Prepare yourselves, my friends."

Sebastian likes where he is, but with Winter's plan of drawing attention to himself, he will crawl forward to the 'dummies' (or is he leaving the dummies ;-] ) to give himself some cover (E-3).

The moment Sebastian crawls even closer, the strange figures on the wreck kick into action! Blades are drawn and you're shocked of the speed and agility of these strange humanoids.
Then, as they jump down from the ship, you realize that they are not humans anymore. Shivers run down your spine - these creatures are wererats!

Bree's Initiative1d20 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 2 = 18
Sable's Initiative1d20 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6
Winter's Initiative1d20 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 2 = 16
Sebastian's Initiative1d20 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 2 = 13
Kabal's Initiative1d20 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 2 = 14
Corvax's Initiative1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21
Wererats' Initiative1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18

Rd 1 order

Corvax
Wererats
Bree
Winter
Kabal
Sebastian
Sable

Trying to keep his voice low, Kabal answers

Aye then Sable. We hold this spot. Let them come and face us united.

The mercenary reaches behind him and in a smooth motion brings his shield out and onto his arm as he draws his wicked looking falcata up into the ready position. He scans the area

Perception - 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11

Last one to contract lycanthropy wins!

If Winter's group attacks,

Sable moves to L8 and fires at the bilge rat at J-1 (or the closest enemy within range)

Light Crossbow Attack 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (11) + 3 = 14
Damage 1d8 ⇒ 4

If Winter's group holds their ground, Sable will not fire yet.

Sable creeps, wades, or swims his way to F9

Bree slips into the water and makes her way as silently as possible from L14 to E6.

We were nowhere near where you have us at, but since the gander is going along with it, so will this goose ;)

I'm still not sure the ratio on these squares, so I'm not sure where all she would be within crossbow range from. I'm guessing she moves to M9, so she is above and behind Sable. Her crossbow is what she had out and ready though. And now that I'm looking again, I realize I thought I had the range limit down for the crossbow but it appears I do not... anyway, for the sake of ease:

Bree moves to where she will have the most advantageous shot (M9, if need be) and fires her crossbow. (J-1 or closest in range)
Light Crossbow 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10
Damage1d8 ⇒ 2

Bah! Dang, I guess I'm done with my 20's!

@ Bree - squares are typically 5'. Light crossbow range is 80' or 16 squares.

Aha, thanks love! That is what I had assumed (5') but you know what they say about assuming... :D

Fire away, I'm hoping these suckers close to melee, we won't be moving to intercept, I want them niiiiice and close

Awaiting Rats go...

"Corvax, hold ground, let them come to us - Sebastian, prepare to make room for giants"

Fire away, I'm hoping these suckers close to melee, we won't be moving to intercept, I want them niiiiice and close

Awaiting Rats go...

"Corvax, hold ground, let them come to us - Sebastian, prepare to make room for giants"

Years later, bards retold the legend of how the mighty warrior Winter invented ratball, though in time the sword was replaced with a club and the rats replaced by a more spherical tool...

Why would you ever not continue to use rats? Its Ratball! Imagine the fans in the stands catching stray foul rats, or catching the remains of the ones hit over the centerfield wall 300ft away.

The wererats, telepathically receiving strange ideas of Ratball, kick into a frenzy and run towrads you. Short swords and daggers drawn totally confident in their superhuman abilities.

Rd 1 order

Corvax (resolved)
Wererats (resolved)
Bree (resolved)
Winter
Kabal
Sebastian
Sable

Battle Mat

R1

Winter smiles and steps back F7... seconds later Corvax has become a towering giant, pressing at almost thirteen feet in height filling D&E 6&7.

Domain spell: Enlarge Person on Corvax. 10 rounds.

Gain a +2 size bonus to Strength, a -2 size penalty to Dexterity (to a minimum of 1), and a -1 penalty on attack rolls and AC due to its increased size. Size increases to Large, has a space of 10 feet and a natural reach of 10 feet. ADJUST WEAPON DAMAGE DICE UP A CATEGORY

Not seeing an immediate threat to close to melee with; Kabal sheaths his sword and reslings his shield on his back before pulling out his crossbow.

Oop, missed quite a bit didn't I? And Corvax is massive now!? Oh what fun. AC is currently 17 and HP 22/22. Weapon damage at 2d6+5, 1d6+5. Let the ratsmushing commence.

For a few moments Corvax is extremely confused as to why the entire world appeared to be shrinking, before he cottons on to the fact that Winter had done the same thing to him that he'd done to himself at the Goblin and an almost demonic grin splits his features.
"Hahaha, Winter if I din't think I'd accidenly crush ya I'd hug ya, this is going ta be far too fun."

Round 2 action
Sword Attack against wererat at D5
1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 212d6 + 5 ⇒ (2, 1) + 5 = 8
Shield bash against same rat.
1d20 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 101d6 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10

Be nice if Corvax had somehow presciently decided to silver his weapons today, ah well.

Sebastian may Retcon his rd 1 action.

Rd 2 order

Corvax (resolved)
Wererats (resolved)
Bree
Winter
Kabal
Sebastian
Sable

Corvax strikes at one of the wererats who threaten to surround him and hits it at the shoulder, strangely the blow is far less crucial than the warrior had expected. Squeaking loudly the monster and its friends retaliate.

Wererat attacking Corvax / Dagger 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (13) + 13 = 26
Damage1d4 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

Wererat attacking Corvax / Bite 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24
Damage1d6 ⇒ 5

Wererat attacking Corvax / Dagger 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (15) + 11 = 26
Damage1d4 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

Wererat attacking Corvax / Bite 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19
Damage1d6 ⇒ 4

Wererat attacking Sebastian/ Dagger 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (9) + 11 = 20
Damage1d4 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

Wererat attacking Sebastian/ Bite 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9
Damage1d6 ⇒ 1

Wererat attacking Winter/ Dagger 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (7) + 11 = 18
Damage1d4 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

Wererat attacking Winter/ Bite 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15
Damage1d6 ⇒ 3

The onslaught of the rats is very powerful and swiftly they bring Corvax down!

Battle Mat

Kabal was shocked to see Corvax become a giant and then so suddenly go down under the wererat attacks.

Bah!!! Im going over there.

Despite being trepidicious about the weight of his armor the very angry mercenary dropped his crossbow and jumped in the water to start swimming to the other side.

Swim - 1d20 ⇒ 17

Sable takes a shot at the wererat at E4

Light Crossbow Attack 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6
Damage 1d8 ⇒ 5

Welp, that was short lived.

I was waiting for the Rats to go in round one...and now its round two is that right? Round one they moved, round 2 full attack?

RND 1

From his hiding place, Sebastian does not realize the attack is on until almost too late. He goes to peer around his crate and sees the figures are gone, when suddenly they appear around the corner of his hiding place.

He shifts to the south to give himself some room (5' step to G-3) and tries to explain just how ridiculous a halfman-halfrat looks. (Casts Hideous Laughter DC 14 will at Ratman E-4)

KO or actually dying? Happy to whack a Cure on, but you'd provoke if you stood up... so that might not be a lot of fun, thoughts?

Sorry guys I'm far to exhausted to be creative right now. I posted in the Campfire the results of my trial.

Crossbow shot at F61d20 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8

Still pending opinions, will check again before bed in a couple of hours

Unfortunately, we'll probably have to put a couple of them down (if possible) before you'll be able to take the time to heal him Winter. Maybe some Smite Evil is in order?

Bloody network keeps dropping out. Will at least let him ask for the gamble, he is still Enlarged :p

Then again, if I tag him a heal do you reckon they are just as likely to smash him even worse at this point?

yep, the way they are ganged up around you guys I dont see getting much quarter from them. We gotta make some breathing room for you to work and for him to get up.

LOL yeah I was sort of hoping to have time to use a swift action to get smite up this round, then a swift next for Giant size... wasn't expecting them to be able to one-round Corvax... if I heal then I don't get to hit, and if they are all still there it could get ugly as they pile in...oh well...ATTACK!

R2
Swift action - Smite Evil F6

Attack 1d20 + 3 + 3 ⇒ (13) + 3 + 3 = 19
Damage 2d6 + 7 ⇒ (6, 4) + 7 = 17 - no DR.

5' step back to F8 to try draw them out a bit.

Corvax is at -1

Will save1d20 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9

The rat starts to giggle and then begins to roll on the floor, laughing hysterically.

Meanwhile Winter blasts one of the rats away and ctapults his body into the huddled dummies.

Both Sable and Bree miss and soon the rats push onwards!
While the two not laughing monsters attack Winter, aiming for his vital organs, hatches are opened on the wreck and more of the rats emerge!

Wererat attacking Winter/ Dagger /Sneak 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (3) + 13 = 16
Damage1d4 + 3 + 1d6 ⇒ (3) + 3 + (2) = 8

Wererat attacking Winter/ Dagger / Sneak1d20 + 13 ⇒ (16) + 13 = 29
Damage1d4 + 3 + 1d6 ⇒ (1) + 3 + (6) = 10

Battle Mat

Hmm how can they sneak if I'm not flanked? ;p

By the looks of how quickly they took Corvax down the first time he might not fare too well if he tries to stand up again. On the other hand, he is just a big useless lump at the moment. Oh also, stabilisation check. 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22

Oh sorry the lower one is supposed to be even square lower, will correct it asap.

If he crossed TWO squares instead of stopping as he came in range, do I get my AOO? :p

Kabal came dripping from the water with furious intent and moves (G,8) to help stave off the attack on Winter.

Bah! Come on you flaming ugly bastards! Cut my pal down will you? You'll pay for that in blood!

Attack - 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12

Damage - 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

Sebastian has his sword out as he moves past the ratman. At Corvax's side, he channels a little bit of healing energy into him. Seeing the multitude of cuts and bites on the large man. "Come on. Shake it off. You're a big boy now."

Cure Light Wound -> 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8

I'm not sure how much I'll be able to be on today due to school, so I'm going to post my next several actions which will continue to be shooting at wererats from her current position, unless she needs to move in order to accommodate the others.

Crossbow 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 2 = 22
Damage 1d8 ⇒ 3

Crossbow 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3
Damage 1d8 ⇒ 4

Crossbow 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 2 = 18
Damage 1d8 ⇒ 1

Crossbow 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 2 = 15
Damage 1d8 ⇒ 7

Sable reloads and fires at the new rat (if there is line of sight) at J -3

Lt. Crossbow 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5
Damage 1d8 ⇒ 1

"To the Nine with this!"

Rd 3 order

Corvax (resolved)
Wererats (resolved)
Bree (resolved)
Winter
Kabal (resolved)
Sebastian (resolved)
Sable (resolved)

@ Bree: I take your second roll for crit confirm.

Corvax becomes conscious again and together with Sebastian, Kabal and Winter forms a solid phalanx now.

Bree's bolt is well aimed but does not injure the rat.

Battle Mat

Ratman E-4 gets a Will save DC14 to shake the laughter effect after one round, otherwise it goes the full duration of two rounds (one more) before he can act.

Rd 3 order

@ Bree: I take your second roll for crit confirm.

That's fine, I just typed the first one out then pasted it a few times. I didn't get to look to closely at them earlier, my kid was climbing on me.

R3

HP 18/28

Technical q... If I got sneak attacked last round then that lower creature is at G8. If I didn't get sneaked then he's where he is on my map (G8). Need to know because if hes at G8 I'll be doing one thing, and if G7 then quite another :p

Assuming it is at G8

Winter steps across (to f7) to prevent more of the flanking attacks, grows to giant height, and in return flanks the ratman that was flanking him now its stuck between him and Korvax.

Attack 1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 4 + 2 = 16
Damage 3d6 + 4 ⇒ (4, 1, 6) + 4 = 15

When in doubt about whether two characters flank an opponent in the middle, trace an imaginary line between the two attackers' centers. If the line passes through opposite borders of the opponent's space (including corners of those borders), then the opponent is flanked.
You're flanked by him, where he now is. Or do I miss something?

They have to be opposite, so one front one back, or on opposite diagonal corners.

ABC
DXD
CBA

So A-A, B-B, C-C, or D-D.
At the moment hes B-C... so not flanked as my borders are not opposite each other, they are adjacent.
Flank Diagram.

#1: The fighter and the cleric are flanking the ogre because they can draw a line to each other that passes through opposite sides of the ogre. Both the fighter and the cleric receive a +2 bonus on attack rolls made against the ogre.

#2: The rogue is not flanking the ogre because she cannot draw a line to the fighter or the cleric that passes through opposite sides of the ogre. The rogue cannot draw a line to the sorcerer because the sorcerer is not adjacent to the ogre and does not threaten it.

#3: The goblin and the ogre flank the sorcerer, as they can draw a line between them that passes through opposite sides of the sorcerer's square. If the ogre didn't have reach to the sorcerer, though, he and the goblin would not be flanking her.

Hence why I was asking, because to have been able to flank and sneak me he'd have had to move to G8; which would have triggered an AOO from me :p

You're absolutey right and allowed to make an AoO, sir!

Sweet!

Retcon AOO

Attack 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19
Damage 2d6 + 3 ⇒ (5, 2) + 3 = 10

Then Winter moves per the above and carries out the above attack.

Will save1d20 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9

Rd 4 order

Corvax
Wererats (resolved)
Bree (resolved)
Winter
Kabal
Sebastian
Sable

Bree's bolt goes wide and the rat monsters are able to hit Winter heavy again.

Wererat attacking Winter/ Dagger1d20 + 13 ⇒ (15) + 13 = 28
Damage1d4 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

Wererat attacking Winter/ Bite 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10
Damage1d6 ⇒ 1

Wererat attacking Winter/ Dagger 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (13) + 13 = 26
Damage1d4 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

Wererat attacking Winter/ Bite 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23
Damage1d6 ⇒ 1

Battle Mat