Face the Fire (Dark Sun 4E)

Game Master FabesMinis

Ojal gazes at the pictures, trying to fathom their age and purpose. He hardly hears the discussion going on around him.

1d20 + 9 ⇒ (3) + 9 = 12 - History.

Edit. I don't think he'll discover much.

Yeah, he's got nothing.

Ojal recalls nothing like this being recounted by his tutor or his time at the psionic school in Urik.

Wishing he had paid a little more attention during his ancient history classes instead of trying to probe the mind of the pretty girl next to him, Ojal follows Shamash.

The group carry on down the corridor until it opens into a very large chamber. 10 foot tall statues flank the sides of the room, depicting armoured warriors with feathered wings. Pillars hold up the ceiling. There are inscriptions on the walls.

Ojal looks from the inscriptions to the statues and back again, more and more bewildered that his education has such enormous gaps in it.

"I'm reluctant to appear heretical, but it does seem that Hammanu has been leaving out a great deal of our past. For some good reason, no doubt. I hope for some good reason."

Can he read the inscriptions?

He certainly can.

The potter examines the writing, which seems to be a list of unfamiliar names. They seem to be a memorial to the dead. Inscriptions such as "The Fallen of the Great War" dot the chamber.

History: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (10) + 9 = 19

Ojal ponders aloud. "Great War? When would that have been and against who?"

The references could be to any number of ancient conflicts, but Ojal recalls legends of a time that the old gods warred with the primordial forces of creation, and were destroyed or banished.

"My nur... an old lady told stories like this long ago. Fairy tales, of course."

Ojal sounds more and more doubtful.

Are you proceeding further in? Your light doesn't reach to the other end of the room.

"Stay alert," says Shamash, his weapon drawn as he edges into the chamber.

Monoc follows close behind his dray companion, eyes watchful and alert.

Ojal follows, deep in thought. He has far too many inexplicable gaps in his knowledge of the world for his own comfort.

Considering that both the caverns, and man's brick halls are foreign hunting grounds to him, T'klik lets the others take to the front. He knows where his abilities are best, and it is not here unless they find prey.

The group carries on through the hall, flanked by the giant statues. An archway leads into another chamber, lit by torches. At the far end, some 15 feet away, are two reptiles, guard drakes. They hiss at your approach.

Roll initiative, please.

1d20 ⇒ 14

T'klik, seeing that he has just been brought back to his element, prepares to take down the beasts. If done quick enough, there should be plenty of good meat on them.

Init 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22

They seem to be guarding a set of stone steps that lead upwards into daylight.

Init 1d20 ⇒ 11

Init: 1d20 ⇒ 10

Monoc's scarred face splits in a gruesome grin. "Cousins of yours, Shamash?"

Init: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 1 = 16

Initiative

T'klik 22
Taanak 16
Shamash 14
Guard Drakes 13
1
2
Ojal 11
Monoc 10
Lemris 5

>>>>MAP<<<<

Please place yourselves in the dim light area.

P13.

R13.

Monoc Strides forward to stand near Taanak and Shamash. Q-14

"Does anyone know of these creatures?" Dungeoneering: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (3) + 0 = 3.

Monoc... does not.

Q14

T'klik looks confused at Monoc's question, "They not be related, they different than Dray. You think me cousin to scorpion?" T'klik thinks of what he knows of the drakes.

Nature 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17

Like all other fights, T'klik rushes in to face the two beasts, relying on his clutchmates to be ready to assist him. He rushes forward and strikes out with all his limbs, multiple times. He spins, claws, scratches, and bites. When all is said and done there are many little cuts and marks, and one of the drakes had been scooted closer to the group, like an offering of a target.

First 3 attacks hit, last misses, but of course you still flurry him and shove him.

Taanak seizes the opportunity provided by the kreen and hastily conjures up his scorpion spirit. Minor: Summon spirit companion in Y14.

At the elf's command, the scorpion strikes out against the drake offered by T'klik. Standard: Stalker's strike vs. X14 drake. 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11 vs. Fort. 1d10 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14 damage. Companion now provides flanking until end of my next turn.

With a soft whisper, the shaman coaxes forth another spirit from the soil, which manifests as a soft ball of light hovering just behind the thri-kreen. Minor: Spirit of Athas summoned in W13. Adjacent allies get +1 to all defenses.

Guard Drake - Small Natural beast (reptile)
Melee 1 - their attack does more damage when drake's ally is within 2 squares

T'klik knows from his days as a hunter that many of the softskin tribes use guard drakes (as the name suggests) as guard animals or for hunting. They are more dangerous in numbers.

Taanak calls forth his spirit allies, which further baffle the drakes.

Initiative

Shamash 14
Guard Drakes 13
1
2
Ojal 11
Monoc 10
Lemris 5
T'klik 22
Taanak 16 : Spirit Companion provides flanking (eoTant); Spirit of Athas (adjacent allies gain +1 to defenses)

>>>>MAP<<<<

Charge to W14, attack the one in X14. Melee basic attack, 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14 v AC, damage 1d12 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9.

Shamash moves in close, sword swinging.

Don;t forget +1 for charging and +2 for spirit flanking. Thus 17 vs AC, which hits.

Shamash joins the fray at the bottom of the stairs, which the comrades see lead above into daylight. The dray smashes into an already bewildered drake.

Drake 2 bloodied.

Initiative

Guard Drakes 13
1
2 Bloodied
Ojal 11
Monoc 10
Lemris 5
T'klik 22
Taanak 16 : Spirit Companion provides flanking (eoTant); Spirit of Athas (adjacent allies gain +1 to defenses)
Shamash 14

Oh yeah, they're Level 2 brutes. Drake 1 shifts and attacks T'klik:
1d20 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 7 + 2 = 201d10 + 9 ⇒ (10) + 9 = 19
Drake 2 attacks T'klik:
1d20 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 7 + 2 = 201d10 + 9 ⇒ (8) + 9 = 17
Ouch. Um... 36 damage to T'klik.

The drakes snarl and savage the horrible insect that has been kicking and scratching them.

Initiative

Ojal 11
Monoc 10
Lemris 5
T'klik 22 prone, unconscious (death save needed)
Taanak 16 : Spirit Companion provides flanking (eoTant); Spirit of Athas (adjacent allies gain +1 to defenses)
Shamash 14
Guard Drakes 13
1
2 Bloodied

Monoc strides forward beside Shamash, to deliver his own howling blow against the bloodied drake.

Move to W15. Howl of Fury: (Primal, Thunder, Weapon) One creature. +6 vs. AC. 1d12 + 6 damage. You then howl in a blast 3 that includes the target. Each enemy in the blast, other than the target, takes thunder damage equal to your Constitution modifier (+3).
Attack: 1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 6 + 2 = 28. Damage: 1d12 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8.

EDIT: Crit, and weapon property: High crit - a critical hit deals maximum damage plus an extra 1d12. SO that's 12 + 6 + 1d12 ⇒ 12 + 6 + (6) = 24 damage to D2, and 3 damage to D1.

If D2 is reduced to 0 HP then use Roar of Triumph: (Fear, Primal) Close burst 5. Trigger - your attack reduces an enemy to 0 hit points. Effect - each enemy in burst takes a -2 penalty to all defenses until the end of your next turn.

Monoc strides forward beside Shamash, to deliver his own howling blow against the bloodied drake.

Move to W15.

You can't move round corners in that way. But you can occupy the same square as the spirit of Athas and make the same attack. D2 dead.

Monoc makes his trademark attack against the wounded drake, smashing its skull in. His howl is one of horrible triumph.

Initiative

Ojal 11
Lemris 5
T'klik 22 prone, unconscious (death save needed)
Taanak 16 : Spirit Companion provides flanking (eoTant); Spirit of Athas (adjacent allies gain +1 to defenses)
Shamash 14
Guard Drakes 13
1 -2 to defenses (eoMnt)
Monoc 10

Wow, 1 point shy of insta-dead. T'klik is gonna start waiting for Shamash and Monoc to get into the fight first. Darn me and my good init rolls (and Fabes DM, for always hitting me so hard, lol).

Thanks for saving my first-ever 4E crit :) Much appreciated Fabes, and I'll remember that about corners...

"Maybe someone should help T'klik?" Monoc rumbles as his head clears from the dizzying joy of the kill.

His head still swimming from the recent flurry of world-shattering images, Ojal takes a while to realise that battle has joined. So long indeed, that T'Klik has fallen as well as a drake before he can collect himself long enough to concentrate on the scene in front of him. When he does so, it makes little difference. Firing a futile mental blast at the remaining drake, he moves closer to his fallen comrade.

Not sure where everyone is at this point, but if he can get closer to T'klik without picking up an OA, he will.

Mind Thrust (Will) v Guard Drake 1
1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10. Miss.

Wow, 1 point shy of insta-dead. T'klik is gonna start waiting for Shamash and Monoc to get into the fight first. Darn me and my good init rolls (and Fabes DM, for always hitting me so hard, lol).

Yup, rushing in ahead of the defenders is a great way of having a can of whup-ass opened up upon one. On the other hand, I probably could have marked one of those drakes before my charge, but I was hot and tired and couldn't be bothered to type it out last night. Ah well...

Ojal misses. Lemris uses Excise from Sight against Guard Drake 1

Lemris jogs forward and intones arcane syllables. The drake looks confused.

1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 171d10 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12
Hit. Monoc is now invisible to it until eoLnt.

Initiative

T'klik 22 prone, unconscious (death save needed)
Taanak 16 : Spirit Companion provides flanking (eoTant); Spirit of Athas (adjacent allies gain +1 to defenses)
Shamash 14
Guard Drakes 13
1 -2 to defenses (eoMnt), bloodied
Monoc 10 Invisible to Drake 1 (eoLnt)
Ojal 11
Lemris 5

I go immediately after T'klik's death save.

Taanak inches closer to the battle while summoning up a healing breeze to restore the downed kreen.

Minor: Shift to S13. Minor: Healing spirit on T'klik. Spend a surge. Unfortunately, there are no other wounded allies nearby, so the secondary effect is wasted.

The elf gives his scorpion the command to attack. It assumes an intimidating posture, lashing out with claws and tail, inspiring allies nearby to do the same.

Standard: Watcher's strike vs. Y13. 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7 vs. REF, dealing 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10 damage. Allies adjacent to the spirit gain +1 bonus to attack and +5 to Perception until end of my next turn.

Step up to X14 and let rip on the remaining drake with a 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 6 + 1 = 27 to hit, bearing in mind that its defences are at -2, damage 1d12 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4. With my remaining Minor I'll mark it with my Aegis of Assault.

EDIT: Yay! Another crit. My weapon has High Crit too so damage is 15 plus 1d12 ⇒ 1. EDIT 2: hmph - OK, 16 damage.

Shamash slashes the remaining drake with his obsidian sword.

Minor: Shift to S13. Minor: Healing spirit on T'klik. Spend a surge. Unfortunately, there are no other wounded allies nearby, so the secondary effect is wasted.

I appear to be not at full hp.

Not sure if I go right after healed, or when my turn comes around. If it is right after healed, then all I will do is stand up, and second wind.

I appear to be not at full hp.

Buh? We just finished an extended rest and this is our first combat. Why are you missing HP?

Shamash wrote:

I appear to be not at full hp.

Buh? We just finished an extended rest and this is our first combat. Why are you missing HP?

OK, I obviously forgot to update my character sheet after the extended rest.

T'klik - you need to make a death save, as your turn occurs before Taanak's

Death Save 1d20 ⇒ 5

OK, so, T'klik fails death save. Taanak heals T'klik. Taanak misses Drake. Shamash hits Drake, and kills it.

Taanak revives his fallen ally, in yet another example of the strange bed fellows Athas can make. Shamash guts the last drake, and it dies thrashing on the ground. You can hear silt-runner voices up the stairs, in a commotion.

Initiative

Monoc 10
Ojal 11
Lemris 5
T'klik 22 prone, 1 failed death save
Taanak 16 : Spirit of Athas (adjacent allies gain +1 to defenses)
Shamash 14

"We should press on before the organise. But together," he adds, as the thri'kreen gets up off the floor.

T'klik offers "Or we stay, use room with many stone trees as ambush to what come looking."