Daedîn once more sends a pair of arrows out into the darkness... and like before, he hears one of them striking stone. But again, after a quick adjustment to his aim, the second arrow strikes something solid once more... a pained grunt hinting that it was indeed the troll!
Tad lines up another ball of flame, and flings it over the front lines, this time striking the troll square in the face. The trolls startled cry is cut off, as the giant creature crumbles to the ground, the smell of seared flesh growing ever stronger in the hallway.
Poor Benny can do nothing but try to keep his head down, unable to see anything through the magical darkness.
Fimbir, Tad, Dynath:
Fimbir takes advantage of the trolls collapse, to move forward and fling a flaming blast of his own, through the space where the troll once was, down the hallway, and into the lab beyond. The derro there sees it coming, but is far too slow to dodge out of the way. He can do little more then shield his jar from the blast as he gets horribly burned. You hear him calling out angrily, though what he's saying is a mystery.
Dynath, seeing the troll down, knows it is only temporary, the flames from Tad's attack only momentarily suppressing its ability to recover. He quickly stands over it, and takes his urgrosh to it with gusto before it does, chopping off a couple of limbs, then thrusting his spear through the creature's head... only the final thrust finally causing it to lie still and cease breathing.
They can only die if killed when their regen is suppressed! One down!
Up ahead, the second troll comes in from the side, its claws swinging in a mighty sweep at Dynath's head. Despite the intense force of the blow, once again, the dwarf manages to duck beneath it, deflecting it upwards. Bits of stone fly off the wall where the claws scrape across. The troll roars in fury, but gets no more satisfaction than that.
The injured derro cries out and the dark motes appear around it once more. He carefully puts down the large jar of brains he was carrying, then moves out of sight to the right... though Dynath spots him popping out from behind one of the bookcases behind the second troll. The other derro lines up another shot with his crossbow, that once again goes well wide of everyone... so much so that you're not even sure who he was firing at.
Mutahir tries to detect the creatures in front of him, and does indeed pick up some evil that direction, though is unable to determine much more than that before a few loud and vigorous chops in the darkness make even that fade from his senses. But just as quickly as it leaves, a second appears, and up ahead you hear a furious roar, and the sound of claws scrapping against metal and then stone, followed by the sound of more crossbow bolts whizzing through the air... though none of them seem to hit anything. Clearly the fight has moved further away, though you can still see none of it.
Perhaps because of the inability to see, Benny, Mutahir, and Daedîn find their auditory senses on high alert... all three of them able to make out the vague sounds of screams, from somewhere up ahead, and off to the left... though its hard to tell if it is sounds of combat, or torture, from where you are.
Daedîn, upon hearing the yells of the troll will fire two more arrows towards the sound of its roar...knowing trolls to be large creatures and Mutahir to be just in front of him, he'll aim higher so as to ensure missing his friends...
Male Gnome Kineticist 5 HP: 46/53, 10nl (burn) | AC: 19 (21 in cities)| T: 14 (16 in citites) | FF: 16 (18 in cities) | CMD: 15 | Fort: +8| Ref: +9 | Will: +0 (+1 vs enchantment) | Init: +4| Perc: +5
I'm going as quick as I can! Fimbir says as he readies another blast. Still, at Muthir's news the gnome gathers energy into himself before releasing it, hoping to speed up getting rid of the troll in their way.
Move action gather power, using it to Empower the blast. It's also Burning again (so if hit, the troll'll need the DC 15 Reflex or catch on fire
Rogue 3/1 Diviner AC 19, touch 15, flat-footed 15(+4 armor, +3 Dex, +1 dodge, +1 size) hp 28 (3d8+3) Fort +3, Ref +7, Will +5; +2 vs. fear Percpetion +12, In +8
Not going to be able to do anything until the darkness goes bye bye
Male Dwarf Ranger 6 | hp 45/51 | AC 22 T 14 FF 18 | CMB +8 CMD 22 | F +7 R +9 W +6 | Spd 20' | Init +7 | Perc +11 (dark 60) Dirty Fighter, Favored Enemy (Humans +2, Magical Beasts +4), Favored Terrain (Mountains +2)
Prepared Spells:
Level I: Lead Blades, Magic Fang
Dynath runs up to make room around the troll and takes a swing with his axe head.
Note my mobility feat adds +4 to my AC against AOOs Attack:1d20 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9 Damage:2d6 + 3 ⇒ (2, 5) + 3 = 10
Daedîn continues to fire arrows into the darkness, using his first shot to hone in the second once more... his patience rewarded by the painful thunk of his arrow hitting troll flesh!
In front of the elf, Mutahir continues trying to use his magical senses to detect the location of the foes in front of them, but can detect nothing at all.
slight edit there, Mutahir, you're detect <aura> ability can only detect moderate strength or higher! So you will detect nothing at all here. Sorry, you didn't mention it worked slightly different!
Fimbir is in his element, lobbing balls of flame down the hallway with gleeful abandon! He takes a moment to gather even more around him, small tendrils of fire licking up his arms and around his hands, before he unleashes yet another blast at the troll. It is precisely aimed, and where it strikes, the troll's flesh too starts to peel and burn, and it cries out in pain and rage as it bats the flames out before they can take hold.
Tad follows Fimbir's more powerful blast, with a smaller one of his own. Insult to injury, as it too strikes the beast and singes off a patch of skin that the gnome's missed. Once again, the small flame reforms in Tad's hand, though it's light does not penetrate the darkness.
All the while, Dynath continues his lone melee assault, ducking beneath the trolls claws, and deflecting its tusks, with ease. It can only howl in frustration as, try as it might, it has no luck coming anywhere near injuring the dwarf... though it does manage to deflect Dynath's blow, before it can do even more damage.
Again, the sounds of crossbows firing and bolts whizzing through the air is heard, but this time, Mutahir's luck finally runs out... or perhaps the derro's finally cashes in... either way, he feels a searing pain in his left thigh, where the bolt strikes (6 damage to Mutahir)! But it doesn't end there, as sudden flashes of pain radiate out from the point of impact indicating some kind of poison on the bolt!
Need a Fort save, DC 14, or take 1d2 ⇒ 1 strength damage.
Dynath and Fimbir:
You're the only ones who can see the second derro, as it launches a bolt at Dynath, though in it's haste it goes well wide. It then turns and moves back along the hallway, keeping the troll between you.
You then see the second derro move further back into the room, using the table he was doing his experiments on for cover, and shooting at your companions in the back, striking Mutahir in the leg!
Tad throws fire at the troll again. This time, the flames do not reappear in his little green hand.
ranged touch attack, into melee:1d20 + 6 - 4 ⇒ (2) + 6 - 4 = 4
Tad's flame goes over the troll's head.
Spell is used up. I'm going to look into whether I can make light with my bonded holy symbol next turn.
Male Gnome Kineticist 5 HP: 46/53, 10nl (burn) | AC: 19 (21 in cities)| T: 14 (16 in citites) | FF: 16 (18 in cities) | CMD: 15 | Fort: +8| Ref: +9 | Will: +0 (+1 vs enchantment) | Init: +4| Perc: +5
I think I'm getting the hang of this! Fimbir says, shortly before his next shot proves him wrong.
If the troll has already dropped, instead Fimbir will move up two squares and, looking around, fire at the wounded red derro to the north Ranged touch:1d20 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 8 + 1 = 11 for fire damage:3d6 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (1, 5, 1) + 6 + 1 = 14
Uh oh. Well if the troll attacks me next, each time he hits with a natural attack he'll take 2 fire damage. Fimbir's skin is hot!
As Mutahir fights off the poison trying to invade his bloodstream, Daedîn sends another barrage of arrows past his ear, into the darkness beyond. Again he manage to catch his target on the second shot, though not enough to stop it.
Tad attempts to duplicate his earlier success with the last of his divine flame, but his final shot proves far less accurate, as it strikes the shelves in behind, shattering a couple of jars sending their mysterious contents spilling out everywhere.
Fimbir follows that bolt with a larger one of his own, once more. Though not nearly as precise as the first few, it proves to be accurate enough! The troll is unable to dodge it in time. Where it strikes, it starts to burn once more, its painful bellow cut off, as it collapses to the fungus-covered ground. Still breathing, but down... for now. Dynath takes advantage of that fact, and quickly moves into the far room, right up to the derro there, his urgrosh threatening.
In response, the small creature steps away circling the table cautiously, yelling something angrily in its foreign tongue, continuing to fire its crossbow at the dwarf. Its shots seem a little desperate now though, and again, the bolt goes well wide.
Not so the second derro though, who shoots Dynath in the back, while the dwarf is focused on its companion! (2 damage to Dynath) The damage is mostly superficial, but a moment after it sinks in, he feels the burning sensation of poison in his veins, revealing the true danger of the derro's weapons.
Need a Fort save, DC 14 (vs poison) from Dynath, or take 1d2 ⇒ 1 strength damage
Dynath and Fimbir:
That second derro, turns and hurries down the hallway to the north, after shooting Dynath.
Rogue 3/1 Diviner AC 19, touch 15, flat-footed 15(+4 armor, +3 Dex, +1 dodge, +1 size) hp 28 (3d8+3) Fort +3, Ref +7, Will +5; +2 vs. fear Percpetion +12, In +8
Now that his flame is used up, the little grippli healer notices that his friends are having trouble because some of them can't see. He takes out his little dagger, and speaks for a moment, then lays his finger on the side of his dagger. The dagger begins to glow, shedding light.
Light spell. Depending on the particular reason for darkness, this might or might not help.
Male Dwarf Ranger 6 | hp 45/51 | AC 22 T 14 FF 18 | CMB +8 CMD 22 | F +7 R +9 W +6 | Spd 20' | Init +7 | Perc +11 (dark 60) Dirty Fighter, Favored Enemy (Humans +2, Magical Beasts +4), Favored Terrain (Mountains +2)
Prepared Spells:
Level I: Lead Blades, Magic Fang
Dynath calls back to Mutahir Doing fine over here, hopefully the darkness will leave when these buggers go down Attack:1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10 Damage:2d6 + 3 ⇒ (6, 5) + 3 = 14
Sorry, guys, this is what happens when the caster is underlevelled for the adventure. If I were level 5 (the tier we're playing), I could cast daylight, which is a level 3 spell, and should be enough.
Swashbuckler 5/Pure Legion Enforcer 4| AC 23 T 16 FF 16 | CMD 21| hp 51| F +5 (D+10) R +12 (D+20) W +6 (D+14) | Spd 30' | Init +6 | SR 18 Vs. Divine
Huh. I thought a Ioun Torch just had a permanent light spell on it. Didn't realize continual flame was a higher level spell. Also, wouldn't it be the wizard spell version since that's the lower level version?
Ooop, ya, for some reason I thought the cleric version was level 2.. Ya, it would be the wizard version indeed! Which still wouldn't have helped here... but what can you do!?
Swashbuckler 5/Pure Legion Enforcer 4| AC 23 T 16 FF 16 | CMD 21| hp 51| F +5 (D+10) R +12 (D+20) W +6 (D+14) | Spd 30' | Init +6 | SR 18 Vs. Divine
EM±GM wrote:
Ooop, ya, for some reason I thought the cleric version was level 2.. Ya, it would be the wizard version indeed! Which still wouldn't have helped here... but what can you do!?
Continual flame says "Counter darkness effect of equal or lower level, so unless it's a heightened darkness, it would have worked. CURSE YOU HINDSIGHT! *Shakes fist angrily at sky*
Rogue 3/1 Diviner AC 19, touch 15, flat-footed 15(+4 armor, +3 Dex, +1 dodge, +1 size) hp 28 (3d8+3) Fort +3, Ref +7, Will +5; +2 vs. fear Percpetion +12, In +8
I think if martial characters are under leveled, it takes longer (more missed attacks, less damage each hit) and is a bit riskier, but things work out. If casters are under leveled, there are just things that can't be done that the adventure assumes PCs can do.
Rogue 3/1 Diviner AC 19, touch 15, flat-footed 15(+4 armor, +3 Dex, +1 dodge, +1 size) hp 28 (3d8+3) Fort +3, Ref +7, Will +5; +2 vs. fear Percpetion +12, In +8
Having access to dispel magic though could make the darkness a non issue
Hearing the remaining troll fall, Daedîn realizes he has few options as aiming high is no longer an option and he does not want to hit his friends...trying to recall the lay of the room before entering he will move 20' to the south...
Double move
ETA: oops, my bad...edited post above...will move back 10' on the map...
Benny decides to sit this one out, the inability to see more then he wants to deal with. Mutahir and Daedîn instead stumble forward through the darkness, the human slowly following the northern wall, nearly tripping over the unmoving corpse of a troll... the elf pushes his way along the southern at a faster pace, slowed greatly by the same dead troll and the slippery fungus that seems to be constantly underfoot! Neither of them sure exactly where the enemy are... or their fellow Pathfinders, for that matter.
You can hear the sounds of Dynath going after someone directly ahead, and the angry sounds of the derro yelling what you can only guess are insults, along with the crashing of glass shattering and random objects falling to the floor. Clearly the dwarf and the derro are engaged in an epic struggle!
There is the sudden 'whoosh' of flames, as Fimbir obviously sends another blast of flame into the darkness, and behind it all, Tad utters a quick prayer to Sarenrae.
Tad, Dynath, and Fimbir:
Dynath continues to harry the derro, chasing the little blue creature around the lab table, though he has problems swinging his urgrosh in the confined space, the derro ducking under the table, and batting random vials and experimental equipment into his path trying to slow him down. Again, it points his crossbow at the dwarf, shooting at him at point blank range. Dynath merely swats at him with his urgrosh, throwing the derro's aim off, as the bolt sticks in the ceiling. Unfortunately for the derro, the crossbow makes a strange clinking sound after he shoots it, the small case inserted in the top suddenly out of ammunition.
It does not seem overjoyed by the sound, and tosses the weapon aside with a look of disgust, only to duck a moment later as Fimbir's flame bolt smashes into the table, setting a number of liquids and papers on fire. Unfortunately, the same table shields the derro from the blast, though he starts to look around with concern.
Tad summons a small ghostly scimitar, that starts to swing at the downed troll, but whatever force animates it takes a moment longer then expected to materialize, and the first blow does little.
Fimbir:
You see the wounded derro, north of you down the hall, on the other side of a strange curtain of yellow filaments, dangling down from the ceiling. It disappears around a corner and out of sight.
Swashbuckler 5/Pure Legion Enforcer 4| AC 23 T 16 FF 16 | CMD 21| hp 51| F +5 (D+10) R +12 (D+20) W +6 (D+14) | Spd 30' | Init +6 | SR 18 Vs. Divine
Mutahir continues to stumble slowly forward, attempting to hold his balance. Hearing the sounds of battle ahead, he hangs to the left, bumping into Daedin for a moment.
Daedîn will try to continue south until he can get free of the darkness...if successful, he'll keep an eye on anything coming out of the darkness and watch the passage beyond...
Oops, sorry about the poisoned comment Dynath... cut and paste, forgot to remove it =) You're fine.
Daedîn finally manages to find his way out of the darkness. Though the area is still dimly lit, he can see a wide set of stairs leading upwards, and a wall of darkness behind him. From somewhere, up the stairs, he can still hear the screams, clearer now.
Back behind him, the fight continues, though not for long. Fimbir's second shot manages to go right underneath the table, slamming into the side of the derro, burning it severely. Before it can recover, Dynath catches up to it, and cuts it down with a few quick slashes and stabs with his urgrosh.
In the hall, the troll starts to regenerate, its wounds slowly closing up, only to have Tad's spiritual scimitar slash new ones open.
At this point, I shall call it. You will easily be able to burn the troll down for good now. You see no sign of the second derro.
Combat Over!
Suddenly, there are no more enemies in sight... though their demise does not cause the darkness to go away, and Mutahir and Bennybeck find themselves still mired in it.
Tad walks over to Bennybeck. He first talks to him, and then gently grips him near the elbow and guides him over to the other side of the zones of darkness. Unless someone else does it first, he also goes back and guides Mutahir to where he can see.
Once the whole party is gathered in the light, Tad looks over his companions and offers to use healing wands and otherwise take care of them. Please roll your own healing. If you don't have your own CLW wand, I'm willing to share a few charges. Sorry, Mutahir, can't help you.
Swashbuckler 5/Pure Legion Enforcer 4| AC 23 T 16 FF 16 | CMD 21| hp 51| F +5 (D+10) R +12 (D+20) W +6 (D+14) | Spd 30' | Init +6 | SR 18 Vs. Divine
No worries, risk of the character, it's why I'm careful about the missions I take.
Mutahir manages to stumble his way into the light in one of the halls before Tad comes back for him, and he grimaces at the wound he's received.
I really must learn how to activate my own wand... Perhaps I will take the time to learn once we are done here. I should not count on having a mage with me.
He shakes his head at his own foolishness, and looks back at the darkness.
Perhaps someone who can see in that ink can go find out what those derro where up to?
Rogue 3/1 Diviner AC 19, touch 15, flat-footed 15(+4 armor, +3 Dex, +1 dodge, +1 size) hp 28 (3d8+3) Fort +3, Ref +7, Will +5; +2 vs. fear Percpetion +12, In +8
Rogue 3/1 Diviner AC 19, touch 15, flat-footed 15(+4 armor, +3 Dex, +1 dodge, +1 size) hp 28 (3d8+3) Fort +3, Ref +7, Will +5; +2 vs. fear Percpetion +12, In +8
