Male Human Oracle (FC) 15 Init: +8 Perc: +0 AC:24/14/20 F:+13 R:+14 W:+15 HP:124/124 Freedom of movement, Resist Cold/30, Air Walk 30'
Dren stays by Edmin, watching him from about 20' back. He conserves his last spells and has the wand of CLW out. He still has 5 confusions left and plans to use them if we encounter any remaining leaders. If he is down any HP's Dren will hit him with the wand.
First off, the Hermit's body. There's a 50% chance that he fell on the "apron" and stuck there. Otherwise, he bounced off it and plummeted into the ravine. 1d100 ⇒ 37
An inter-party squabble over the Hermit's stuff is avoided by the fact that he didn't have a lot of stuff -- he was, after all, a hermit. He never had much gear, and he sold or gave away most of it when he retired. He was wearing a magic robe that, upon close examination, turns out to be a Druid's Vestment -- nice enough, but useless to any of you. He had two scrolls that he had kept around, just in case -- Antiplant Shell and Kiss of the First World. Those are druid and druid/bard, respectively, so you'll need a UMD check to cast them.
He also had a couple of ioun stones orbiting his head, but when he fell they either shattered or went skip-skip-ping down into the ravine and fell into the rushing stream.
Okay, so Edmin's in the thick of battle, Dren is behind Edmin, the Judge is cursing over the unimpressive haul from the late Hermit, Jax and Zimu are... flying to the Keep? Do you guys have two Fly spells left?
M DEAD KILLED BY DMDM Lore Warden 2/Arcane Duelist 3
Stats:
HP 4/45; AC 20(25 w def/CE)/16(21)/14; CMD 19; Init +5; Perception +4; Fort +7 (8 vs Poison), Ref +9, Will +3; Fire Res 1; BP 10/12; Spells Lvl 1 3/4 Initiative +5
max the alarm is turned off on the chest, that is the last useful thing Xen did
HP 169/169; AC:37/21/29; Saves: +22/+23/+20; Init +10; Per +28(See Invisibility), CMD 42
Misc:
Effects: Resist Cold 30, Fly 30', Telepathic Bond
Cimu said she had a fly spell left, I assumed she was casting it on either herself or Jax for it. If not, Spider climb lasts for a minimum of 30minutes (level 2 spell, 10m/level, need lv 3 to cast) so Jax has enough left to climb up the tower himself and go into the top.
Cimu said she had a fly spell left, I assumed she was casting it on either herself or Jax for it. If not, Spider climb lasts for a minimum of 30minutes (level 2 spell, 10m/level, need lv 3 to cast) so Jax has enough left to climb up the tower himself and go into the top.
If you have Spider Climb, you can get there. But you have to go across the catwalk, down the wall into the courtyard, across the courtyard, and up the Keep. (You can either go up the outer wall of the Keep, or go inside and go up the stairs. Going up the outer wall is faster, but more exposed.)
Does Zimu have a Fly left? She's used up her bound object spell.
Meanwhile I'm abstracting the combat with Sir Edmin and Sakkarot a little. Sakkarot is a fighter who gets two attacks/round and is able to dish out a lot of damage very fast. Instead of going through every round, I'm just going to say that Sir Edmin kills a bunch of people and gets hit 1d6 times for d8+2 damage each time.
1d6 ⇒ 3
3d8 + 6 ⇒ (1, 4, 8) + 6 = 19
At the end of eight rounds, Sir Edmin's axe is literally dripping with gore, and his armor and face are liberally splashed with it.
Male Human Oracle (FC) 15 Init: +8 Perc: +0 AC:24/14/20 F:+13 R:+14 W:+15 HP:124/124 Freedom of movement, Resist Cold/30, Air Walk 30'
As needed, Dren slips in and out healing Edmin. He will plunge his dagger into the hearts of any men he sees fall but are not dead right away, taking a 10 on heal skill to see if they are still alive.
He hums a tune he heard from Xen as he works...the odd thing is you never see the blood on his dagger, it seems to always be clean...
I can't believe you're here with me
I growing a custom to your screams
As I dismember it's a night to remember
Woah one knife stand
One knife stand
One knife stand
You're blood is oh so warm and red
I watch it drip down from your head
As I dismember it's a night to remember
Woah one knife stand
One knife stand
One knife stand
As I dismember it's a night to remember
Woah one knife stand
One knife stand
One knife stand
Woah one knife stand
One knife stand
One knife stand
HP 169/169; AC:37/21/29; Saves: +22/+23/+20; Init +10; Per +28(See Invisibility), CMD 42
Misc:
Effects: Resist Cold 30, Fly 30', Telepathic Bond
Jax will move across the catwalk, leap onto the wall and go down to the courtyard, use Vanish, and then dash across the courtyard and up the keep wall (only 5 rounds, but he can run at 180 ft per round so should have enough movement to get across the courtyard in those rounds). If he gets shot at more than once or twice, he still has his scroll of shield and a scroll of obscuring mist.
Jax will move across the catwalk, leap onto the wall and go down to the courtyard, use Vanish, and then dash across the courtyard and up the keep wall (only 5 rounds, but he can run at 180 ft per round so should have enough movement to get across the courtyard in those rounds).
How can you move at 180' per round? That Haste wore off a long time ago.
The Magister's laboratory and apartments are unchanged since your fight there. The golem is slumped on the floor outside, motionless; it's odd glowing eyes have gone dark.
A fairly quick search of the Magister's apartment reveals a large metal box under his bed. It's locked. Who has the Magister's keys?
HP 169/169; AC:37/21/29; Saves: +22/+23/+20; Init +10; Per +28(See Invisibility), CMD 42
Misc:
Effects: Resist Cold 30, Fly 30', Telepathic Bond
I wasn't sure if someone else had taken it, so I went and looked..I can't find anyone saying they did. I did put Xen's list on Jax's sheet but never specifically said he took the backpack. I would say it's DM's choice of whether Jax has the backpack (which contains the keys) or not.
M DEAD KILLED BY DMDM Lore Warden 2/Arcane Duelist 3
Stats:
HP 4/45; AC 20(25 w def/CE)/16(21)/14; CMD 19; Init +5; Perception +4; Fort +7 (8 vs Poison), Ref +9, Will +3; Fire Res 1; BP 10/12; Spells Lvl 1 3/4 Initiative +5
M DEAD KILLED BY DMDM Lore Warden 2/Arcane Duelist 3
Stats:
HP 4/45; AC 20(25 w def/CE)/16(21)/14; CMD 19; Init +5; Perception +4; Fort +7 (8 vs Poison), Ref +9, Will +3; Fire Res 1; BP 10/12; Spells Lvl 1 3/4 Initiative +5
Well, I'm okay with Jax having the backpack. So you can open the box if you want to.
Note that the battle is not yet over; you can hear shouting and cries from above you, so there are definitely people up on the roof. There may be soldiers below you as well. Someone could come in at any time.
It is clear, though, that the defenders of Balentyne are losing. Bugbears have occupied more than half of the wall-tops. A few more rounds and the two advancing columns will meet each other at the far side. At that point the bugbears will control the walls and will be able to fire on the courtyard at will.
You don't know what's going on in the belowground level, but more bugbears and goblins are still pouring in across the bridge. With a couple of hundred raging monsters plus Enver down there, it's probably not good.
Raisa and one of her guardian bugbears are down in the courtyard. You see her splat a small knot of defenders with a web spell, then rush over to investigate a small side building to see who might be hiding there. It turns out to be the stables. "Oooooh, horses! Can we keep them?"
When the Judge, who has been strategically remaining behind the rest of the fighting, gets close to the chief:
If you would like to have real fun, rather than pouring out the main gate into town, and whatever meager defenses they have set up, we can go through a long tunnel and come out in the basement of the best inn in town. Of course if you would prefer your troops not destroy the inn so that it can be used, then pouring out the main gate is a better choice.
If you would like to have real fun, rather than pouring out the main gate into town, and whatever meager defenses they have set up, we can go through a long tunnel and come out in the basement of the best inn in town.
Nice suggestion! But since Sakkarot is at the fore of the fighting, it may be a little bit before you catch up to him.
HP 169/169; AC:37/21/29; Saves: +22/+23/+20; Init +10; Per +28(See Invisibility), CMD 42
Misc:
Effects: Resist Cold 30, Fly 30', Telepathic Bond
Jax happily loots the magister's chest (for the party, of course) and then proceeds to the top floor where the whirly alarm was to loot that chest as well (trying the keys).
The chest contains two books. One is obviously a spellbook; it's large, heavy, and bound in the crimson, scaled leather of some indeterminate beast. "The Heart Of All Flame" is written proudly in gold inset letters on the front.
The other book is much smaller; it's a very old, battered thing that with a stained and torn cover, made of aging brown parchment that is clearly on the verge of disintegration. At a casual glance it appears to be written in an unknown alphabet or cipher.
There are also two pouches of diamond dust -- 500 gp value, or enough for two castings of Stoneskin -- and another small leather pouch that jingles encouragingly. Upon examination it contains 150 newly minted gold pieces... Magister Tacitus' last three month's salary, which he has ignored.
Male Human Oracle (FC) 15 Init: +8 Perc: +0 AC:24/14/20 F:+13 R:+14 W:+15 HP:124/124 Freedom of movement, Resist Cold/30, Air Walk 30'
Dren dreams of the golem he could have controlled and snorts angrily...he makes sure a few of the soldiers gain consciousness before he slits their throats.
Be sure to tell Mitra that Dren and the champions of evil send their regards. he whispers to them.
The blade of darkness remains as sharp as the day it was created...
HP 169/169; AC:37/21/29; Saves: +22/+23/+20; Init +10; Per +28(See Invisibility), CMD 42
Misc:
Effects: Resist Cold 30, Fly 30', Telepathic Bond
Jax takes everything carefully, wrapping the older book in any of Xen's clothes that may be in the backpack. He won't open the spellbook. It may be trapped and he hasn't the desire to open it without assistance.
"Cimu's always barking about spellbooks..maybe this will please her."
Male Human Oracle (FC) 15 Init: +8 Perc: +0 AC:24/14/20 F:+13 R:+14 W:+15 HP:124/124 Freedom of movement, Resist Cold/30, Air Walk 30'
You know she is standing over your shoulder...probably salivating right now...
You feel the hot breath and drool drip on to your shoulder...you have smelled/felt it before, it is the excitement that a wizard shows when they find a strange spellbook...
Dren dreams of the golem he could have controlled and snorts angrily...he makes sure a few of the soldiers gain consciousness before he slits their throats.
Be sure to tell Mitra that Dren and the champions of evil send their regards. he whispers to them.
The blade of darkness remains as sharp as the day it was created...
You do realize that the late Commander qualified as a 10 HD creature for purposes of upgrading your blade, right? (No, he didn't have 10 paladin levels. Quite. But he did have 10 HD -- something like an Aristocrat 2/Ftr 1/Paladin 7, or some such.)
There's an attempt to secure the Keep for a heroic last stand. That fails -- the dwarves didn't have time to fix the door seal.
There's an attempt to hold the bugbears in the lower level. That fails, too. Captain Edderly falls there, taking whatever redemption he can.
The bugbears come boiling up out of the lower levels. They find the few remaining wounded in the ground floor of the southern tower (Area 31) and massacre them.
Bugbears are taking head trophies everywhere. Goblins are running around setting things on fire and looking for things to eat.
The Judge follows the rest of the troops across the catwalk. When he gets a chance, he goes up into the raven tower to see what is left there. He makes sure that Morsum leads the way in case anything nasty is left by the old druid.
HP 169/169; AC:37/21/29; Saves: +22/+23/+20; Init +10; Per +28(See Invisibility), CMD 42
Misc:
Effects: Resist Cold 30, Fly 30', Telepathic Bond
Was the box found the one that had the outsider alarm that gave us so much trouble? Xen said he unlocked the box, but we never got a chance to loot or open it. Jax will head there next.
Okay, you're good. The safe is still locked, but the room is empty. There were guards posted there, but they've been called up on the roof for the last-ditch defense of the top of the Keep.
You have 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4 rounds before swarming goblins and bugbears come into this area, rushing upstairs from bloodly slaughter at ground level. The door to get in here is locked again, so you would need to get through that, and then deal with the safe.
-- Incidentally, those guys up on the roof have moved the stone to cover the trap door. They think they're safe up there, at least long enough to fire all their arrows and then kill a bunch of enemies in a last stand.
They're wrong; Sakkarot is going to send Raisa and her bugbear bodyguard spider-climbing up to clear the rooftop. The result is going to be a cage match between four soldiers, two dwarves and an acolyte on one side, and the sorceress and her bugbear on the other.
Zimu can fly up to join the fight if she wants to. Or she can hang out in the lab and gloat over her new spellbook. Either is fine.
M DEAD KILLED BY DMDM Lore Warden 2/Arcane Duelist 3
Stats:
HP 4/45; AC 20(25 w def/CE)/16(21)/14; CMD 19; Init +5; Perception +4; Fort +7 (8 vs Poison), Ref +9, Will +3; Fire Res 1; BP 10/12; Spells Lvl 1 3/4 Initiative +5
Well perhaps she will swing by for a night of goodbye passion if she gets killed…
HP 169/169; AC:37/21/29; Saves: +22/+23/+20; Init +10; Per +28(See Invisibility), CMD 42
Misc:
Effects: Resist Cold 30, Fly 30', Telepathic Bond
Is the chest small enough to simply bring with him? If not, using his new MW thieves' tools, Jax will attempt to open the locks..He'll take off his amulet so he's an obvious tiefling. Since there are windows to that room, Jax can just spider climb his way inside.
1d20 + 12 ⇒ (2) + 12 = 14 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (9) + 12 = 21 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (12) + 12 = 24 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (8) + 12 = 20
Your attempts are not succeeding. Fortunately for you, the alarm seems to have been deactivated. The doors are still locked. There's banging on them, but you still have a little time.
HP 169/169; AC:37/21/29; Saves: +22/+23/+20; Init +10; Per +28(See Invisibility), CMD 42
Misc:
Effects: Resist Cold 30, Fly 30', Telepathic Bond
With that then, Jax will sit on the chest and approach the door, hissing in goblin. "Wait, I've come in through the window, let me open the door and you can ambush the archers above."
Just in case it's not goblins..Jax uses his last arcane point to prepare Vanish and readies an action to cast it as soon as the first human attempts to kill him.
It's goblins under a bugbear sergeant. The goblins immediately want to start trashing the place, setting things on fire and looking for food. The bugbear shoos them to the windows where they can shoot with slings at any defenders they may see.
The bugbear looks you up and down. "You're one of the advance team? Well, either grab a bow or get out."
Female Aasimar Wizard 6 (HP 53/53; AC 18/18/15; CMD 16 Fort +5; Ref +7 Will +8; Init +3; Perception +11; Darkvision 60 ft)
Jax Naismith wrote:
Jax takes everything carefully, wrapping the older book in any of Xen's clothes that may be in the backpack. He won't open the spellbook. It may be trapped and he hasn't the desire to open it without assistance.
"Cimu's always barking about spellbooks..maybe this will please her."
'I'm right here. My PRECIOUS!'
Jax is quite unsure if Cуровую is referring to him but has the rather distinct feeling she is speaking to the spellbook.
