The remaining shades eerily silent float about and reach out to touch Rowan but the dexterous monk dodges all but one. In the distance the another dread reverberation hits the seawall, it doesn't sound like an earthquake but no one's quite sure what it could otherwise be.
Heroism, Perceive Cues, Heightened Awareness, See Invisibility, Barkskin, Freedom of Movement, Echolocation
AC 23 T 13 FF 22| Current HP 39/83| F +10 R +14(trap sense +3) W +11(see profile for conditional modifier)| Init +1| Perc +27 (+32 vs traps, trap spotter, smog sight) Sense Motive:+29+1d6 |Inspiration 10/10
Seeing the first shade go down relatively easily, Kat adjust herself closer to a flank and attacks the next enemy in a hasted flurry, not bothering to study its movements.
M Human Destined Urban Bloodrager 16 | HP 102/148 (118/164) | AC 54 (T31, FF54, CMD60) | F+26/R+28/W+30 (+2 vs fear, +5 vs mind-affecting) | Mv 40' | Init +9 | Per +24| Rage 30/36 | Spells 4/2/1/0 (6/4/3/2) | Active: Heroism, Barkskin, See Invis, Shield, FoM, Long Arm, Dance, Vigor, Tactical, BoF, Legendary
Dervak uses his Pugnacious trait to gain +5' reach as an immediate action. This prevents him from using Arcane Strike, and the enemies have cover, but it lets him get a Hasted full attack (since, with difficult terrain, he cannot 5' step).
Using Fortune and Destined Strike on the iterative to try to compensate for the penalties.
Half-Orc Heavens Shaman 16 (Speaker for the Past) | HP: 150/ 159 4 con damage Init 8 (roll three times) Per: 29 (See Invisibility)| CMB: +13 CMD: 30 | AC:30 T:17 F:26|Saves F:15 R:15 W: 26 (27 aberrations)
Hexes Used:
Fortune:
Healing:
Heaven's Leap: Dervak
Time Flicker:
Speed or Slow Time: 0/2
Mara had a bad feeling about the dread reverberations. She took out a scroll and read it, bolstering her life force.
Retrieving a scroll of False Life and casting it on herself.
False Life temp HP:1d10 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11
I'm presuming that everything is still difficult terrain, and that she can't take a 5 ft step. She plans to cast Heroism on Rowan, as soon as she can do so without provoking an AoO.
Between Kat, Dervak, and Rowan's attacks two of the three remaining shades fall apart. The crowd begins to thin as people find an exit to the cramped quarters. Water from above the seawall steadily increases as another boom shakes the ground.
The last nearby shade is disrupted completely by Rowan's magic fists. This does nothing to stop the increased flow of water nor the regular small earthquakes echoing throughout the city that draws closer and closer. The crowd clears out enough that you could make your way towards the nearby door that leads to the top of the seawall.
Half-Orc Heavens Shaman 16 (Speaker for the Past) | HP: 150/ 159 4 con damage Init 8 (roll three times) Per: 29 (See Invisibility)| CMB: +13 CMD: 30 | AC:30 T:17 F:26|Saves F:15 R:15 W: 26 (27 aberrations)
Hexes Used:
Fortune:
Healing:
Heaven's Leap: Dervak
Time Flicker:
Speed or Slow Time: 0/2
"There's something bigger coming, I think!", Mara said to her companions. She continued to pray for protections for her comrades.
Casting Barksin and Heroism on Rowan (using the metamagic rod), and Remove Fear and Barkskin on herself. After that, she will start using her wand of CLW to heal Rowan.
Heroism, Perceive Cues, Heightened Awareness, See Invisibility, Barkskin, Freedom of Movement, Echolocation
AC 23 T 13 FF 22| Current HP 39/83| F +10 R +14(trap sense +3) W +11(see profile for conditional modifier)| Init +1| Perc +27 (+32 vs traps, trap spotter, smog sight) Sense Motive:+29+1d6 |Inspiration 10/10
Kat follows after the others, drinking her extract of See Invisibility as a precaution.
Gonna leave merciful off for the time being in case there's more of those
I now realize that I had the wrong map up, with Dervak going up it is now correct. Assuming the party follows him, it takes 6 rounds to heal and ascend the stairs.
The steep staircase climbs through the 50 foot tall sea wall. The water pouring down the stone stairs makes the stairs slippery but it is otherwise clear of creatures. As the party nears the top of the staircase they enters a thin green mist composed of very fine particles. The odd particles cling to your skin, hair, and clothes, imparting a slick, waxy sheen. The top of the sea wall is 20 feet wide and made of smooth, worked stone. Narrow decorative crenellations along the north and west sides of the sea wall rise 5 ft high every 15 ft apart. A lake's water has reached the top of the wall, and is now pouring into the city.
The party spies the object of their dream quest. A shade much like the one they fought below holds aloft a green idol beckoning a vast heaving bulk that walks toward Sarnath wading through the lake. It is a vaguely iguana-shaped monster with a beard of writhing tendrils and a long tail tipped with a stinger. Just as the party arrives on top of the seawall a huge wave crashes into it. Large chunks are washed away including the stairs they were climbing moments ago.
Will vs Unspeakable Presence DC 33 Dervak:1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8 Kat:1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20 Mara, foe of the strange:1d20 + 12 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 12 + 1 = 33 Rowan:1d20 + 8 ⇒ (19) + 8 = 27 Theo:1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21 White Rabbit:1d20 + 7 ⇒ (15) + 7 = 22 I know I'm missing bonuses but I don't think anyone is close enough for it to matter.
Seeing the behemoth approach fills you with an unfathomable sense of hopelessness and doom. Mara somehow finds the will to fight through the feeling but the rest of the party cannot help but sink into despair. -4 to all attack rolls, saving throws, ability checks, skill checks, and weapon damage rolls.
The shade holding the idol begins casting a spell, Call Lightning
Round 1 Bokrug Ib Shade Theo and co. <----- Dervak <----- Mara <----- Kat <----- Rowan <-----
Half-Orc Heavens Shaman 16 (Speaker for the Past) | HP: 150/ 159 4 con damage Init 8 (roll three times) Per: 29 (See Invisibility)| CMB: +13 CMD: 30 | AC:30 T:17 F:26|Saves F:15 R:15 W: 26 (27 aberrations)
Hexes Used:
Fortune:
Healing:
Heaven's Leap: Dervak
Time Flicker:
Speed or Slow Time: 0/2
Mara told her friends, "Someone needs to grab that idol!"
Does Mara have any idea whether the Unspeakable Presence is a fear effect? She has a scroll of Remove Fear (and she cast Remove Fear on herself a moment ago).
Note: Haste has expired, sadly. Dervak and Rowan have Heroism +3, although their saves weren't high enough for it to make a difference.
Heroism, Perceive Cues, Heightened Awareness, See Invisibility, Barkskin, Freedom of Movement, Echolocation
AC 23 T 13 FF 22| Current HP 39/83| F +10 R +14(trap sense +3) W +11(see profile for conditional modifier)| Init +1| Perc +27 (+32 vs traps, trap spotter, smog sight) Sense Motive:+29+1d6 |Inspiration 10/10
Sorry, I’m out of it this weekend. Been knocked on my ass sick
Kat advances with the others, even as she feels the hopelessness batter against her. She had never felt like hope was necessary to just get along anyways. She stops near Dervak and takes a moment to study the movements of the Shade.
Move to move, move to study, swift to enter snake style
M Human Destined Urban Bloodrager 16 | HP 102/148 (118/164) | AC 54 (T31, FF54, CMD60) | F+26/R+28/W+30 (+2 vs fear, +5 vs mind-affecting) | Mv 40' | Init +9 | Per +24| Rage 30/36 | Spells 4/2/1/0 (6/4/3/2) | Active: Heroism, Barkskin, See Invis, Shield, FoM, Long Arm, Dance, Vigor, Tactical, BoF, Legendary
The despair is nearly unbearable. Though the Dark Whisper is now gone, Dervak knows what it would say.
That is Bokrug itself, you sanctimonious fool. Your newfound 'honor' will not save you and your friends. With my help you could have pledged yourself to Its service and possibly lived. Now you will all die. And Bokrug will claim your waking bodies as Its mindless thralls.
Male +4 circumstance (Blindness/Deafness/Curse) Human(Varisian) Witch 16 Hp 160/98 AC 27 Initiative +13 Fort +15 Ref +13, Will +15 Perception +26
Theophilus notices his friend, Dervak's, slight hesitation. The gentleman gives him a hug.
Not certain if this is the time, or place; but it seems warranted. Why allow a little thing like a leviathan get in the way.
The shade concentrates a moment and the sticky strands of Theo's web phase through the ghost and they fall loose no longer holding the creature. The Water Lizard continues it's approach to the wall with a crash of waves and thunder now a mere 60 feet away. The doom it brings is oppressive and inevitable. The city of Sarnath has gone silent, no longer fighting it's fate.
Round 2 Bokrug Ib Shade Theo and co. <----- Dervak <----- Mara <----- Kat <----- Rowan <-----
M Human Destined Urban Bloodrager 16 | HP 102/148 (118/164) | AC 54 (T31, FF54, CMD60) | F+26/R+28/W+30 (+2 vs fear, +5 vs mind-affecting) | Mv 40' | Init +9 | Per +24| Rage 30/36 | Spells 4/2/1/0 (6/4/3/2) | Active: Heroism, Barkskin, See Invis, Shield, FoM, Long Arm, Dance, Vigor, Tactical, BoF, Legendary
What is east of the Web? Dervak would like to walk to the square north of Mara, then cast Bladed Dash. He will flash by the Ib Shade, make an unarmed Disarm attempt to grab the idol, and end up on the far side of the web, hopefully putting a bit more distance between himself and the approaching Bokrug. But remaining within 30' of Mara for his next check to awaken.
Dervak pushes the despair out of his mind as best as he can. His life has been nothing but failure and disappointment, yet he may be able to save his friends... he calls upon his arcane power and makes a desperate grab for the idol.
If all that works...:
Unarmed Disarm, True Strike, Guidance, Fatigue, Despair, Heroism, Bladed Dash:1d20 + 12 - 4 + 20 + 1 - 1 - 4 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 12 - 4 + 20 + 1 - 1 - 4 + 3 + 2 = 43 Fortune:1d20 + 12 - 4 + 20 + 1 - 1 - 4 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 12 - 4 + 20 + 1 - 1 - 4 + 3 + 2 = 33 43 CMD should do it. The shade does get an AOO, and if it hits then the damage done counts as a penalty to the attempt. Dervak is AC 19 against incorporeal touch right now. I am assuming the idol is physical enough that Dervak can grab it, and it is not incorporeal like the shade. But just in case, Dervak will use Arcane Strike to make his unarmed attack count as magical. Incorporeal Miss Chance if Needed, High is Good:1d100 ⇒ 100
Guided by his magical insight Dervak grabs the Green Stone Idol out of the shade's hands. It's heavier than Dervak expected but nothing he can't manage, 80lbs. The sea-green statue depicts a muscular iguana with bulging eyes and a beard of tentacles underneath its jaw. It is slimy and wet, constantly dripping with water. The shade's face silently twists in anger as he grabs the idol.
The shade grazes Dervak as he takes the idol and Dervak knows in his heart that he is doomed to be pursued by the shades so long as he holds it.
Round 2 Bokrug Ib Shade Theo and co. Dervak Probably grappled by web Mara Kat <----- Rowan <-----
I don't think it's unclear. It gives you free movement but doesn't say that movement is resolved in any special way so it's resolved like any other movement. For some reason I thought there was another buff going on.
Heroism, Perceive Cues, Heightened Awareness, See Invisibility, Barkskin, Freedom of Movement, Echolocation
AC 23 T 13 FF 22| Current HP 39/83| F +10 R +14(trap sense +3) W +11(see profile for conditional modifier)| Init +1| Perc +27 (+32 vs traps, trap spotter, smog sight) Sense Motive:+29+1d6 |Inspiration 10/10
Kat takes the idol from Dervak. (Usually a move action to take something) then goes into total defensive mode. Only a +4 to AC as I forgot to put two more points in acrobatics >_<
If it moves to try to take the idol, she will use snake style with a net +21+1d6 bonus
The Water Lizard approaches the seawall and everyone starts to feel off. The colors of the sea and city take on strange and impossible hues, the sound of the waves and rain sounds like a discordant orchestra, and the brush of armor and clothes against your skin feels like pressing needles. Kat, Rowan, and White Rabbit lose their minds.
Half-Orc Heavens Shaman 16 (Speaker for the Past) | HP: 150/ 159 4 con damage Init 8 (roll three times) Per: 29 (See Invisibility)| CMB: +13 CMD: 30 | AC:30 T:17 F:26|Saves F:15 R:15 W: 26 (27 aberrations)
Hexes Used:
Fortune:
Healing:
Heaven's Leap: Dervak
Time Flicker:
Speed or Slow Time: 0/2
Mara clutched her human doll and implored, "Daddy, help them clear their minds!" She recited a prayer to calm their confusing thoughts.
Casting Calm Emotions (DC 18 Will) on the party and the Ib Shade.
Calm Emotions wrote:
This spell calms agitated creatures. You have no control over the affected creatures, but calm emotions can stop raging creatures from fighting or joyous ones from reveling. Creatures so affected cannot take violent actions (although they can defend themselves) or do anything destructive. Any aggressive action against or damage dealt to a calmed creature immediately breaks the spell on all calmed creatures.
This spell automatically suppresses (but does not dispel) any morale bonuses granted by spells such as bless, good hope, and rage, and also negates a bard's ability to inspire courage or a barbarian's rage ability. It also suppresses any fear effects and removes the confused condition from all targets. While the spell lasts, a suppressed spell, condition, or effect has no effect. When the calm emotions spell ends, the original spell or effect takes hold of the creature again, provided that its duration has not expired in the meantime.
It's not clear whether confused PCs can voluntarily fail the saving throw. Being mind-affecting, it may not affect the Ib Shade.
Mara is able to return the party to it's senses before Rowan and Kat begin to harm themselves but the quick acting White Rabbit still manages to bloody his paw.
Round 3 Bokrug Ib Shade Theo <----- Dervak <----- Mara <----- Kat <----- Rowan <-----
Male +4 circumstance (Blindness/Deafness/Curse) Human(Varisian) Witch 16 Hp 160/98 AC 27 Initiative +13 Fort +15 Ref +13, Will +15 Perception +26
Theophilus flies over and above his friends. The Witch then casts Dimension Door, transporting them....as far away from this place as possible--in land 680 feet!
He will get inbetween Mara and Kat to provide cover.
Half-Orc Heavens Shaman 16 (Speaker for the Past) | HP: 150/ 159 4 con damage Init 8 (roll three times) Per: 29 (See Invisibility)| CMB: +13 CMD: 30 | AC:30 T:17 F:26|Saves F:15 R:15 W: 26 (27 aberrations)
Hexes Used:
Fortune:
Healing:
Heaven's Leap: Dervak
Time Flicker:
Speed or Slow Time: 0/2
Dimension Door allows you to transport one additional creature (besides yourself) for every three caster levels. So Theo could take two people with him (I would suggest Kat and Rowan). It also requires you to touch those you're bringing with you.
Dervak pops out of existence safe from the Great Old One.
Unfortunately I can't make a good argument to allow a voluntary failed save for calm emotion. Confused causes you to treat everyone as an enemy and the spell is not harmless.
Kat Will vs Calm emotion:1d20 + 5 - 4 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 5 - 4 + 2 = 16 Rowan Will vs Calm emotion:1d20 + 8 - 4 + 3 ⇒ (11) + 8 - 4 + 3 = 18
This means that Theo will not be able to bring Rowan and Rowan still punches himself in the face. But Kat can go, not sure if that changes your action Theo.
Heroism, Perceive Cues, Heightened Awareness, See Invisibility, Barkskin, Freedom of Movement, Echolocation
AC 23 T 13 FF 22| Current HP 39/83| F +10 R +14(trap sense +3) W +11(see profile for conditional modifier)| Init +1| Perc +27 (+32 vs traps, trap spotter, smog sight) Sense Motive:+29+1d6 |Inspiration 10/10
Kat manages to avoid pounding herself thanks to the confusion spell and is dimension doored away. She then proceeds to...pound herself so she wakes up easier.
