Face the Fire (Dark Sun 4E)

Game Master FabesMinis

Ojal would like to remain behind the rocks at L16 please.

T'klik would like to take cover at Q9, leaving the southern rocks for the slower movers and melee-ers.

Et les autres?

Taanak will approach with T'klik, behind the rock at Q10.

H15 for me.

Whilst we're waiting for Monoc, please all roll Stealth checks. We can assume that you are moving slowly enough not to take a penalty. Unless you want to approach quickly, I suppose.

Stealth 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (13) + 9 = 22

T'klik sneaks capably up to a hide site.

Stealth: 1d20 ⇒ 5

It's funny how much a white-skinned dray carrying a seven-foot sword stands out against the landscape.

Stealth: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 1 = 15

Stealth 1d20 ⇒ 13

Ojal does his best to be furtive.

Monoc?

Sorry! G15 for Monoc please. Stealth: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (20) - 1 = 19

Monoc moves silent as the breeze, at one with the desert. Somehow.

I got a 10 for Lemris. That gives you an average Stealth check of 14. This beats the runner's passive Perception. Surprise round ahoy for our brave explorers! Roll initiative!

The group approach cautiously, using the broken terrain to their advantage. The silt runner occasionally scans the area, but seems not to have noticed them. Its concentration seems mainly taken up with the kruthiks.

Initiative 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19

T'klik is eager to take out the Silt runner.

Initiative: 1d20 ⇒ 3

Monoc is no less eager than T'klik, but far less swift.

Init = 1d20 ⇒ 17

Initiative: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 1 = 21

Init: 1d20 ⇒ 13

Ojal's reactions are better than he expected.

>>>>MAP<<<<

Initiative

Taanak 21
T'klik 19
Shamash 17
Hatchlings 13
Ojal 13
Darter 12
Lemris 10
Monoc 3

So, you have a surprise round - remember, you can only take 1 action.

Ho hum. Another 4e rule learned. Not sure any of us are in a great place to effectively use a single action.

Having no effective means of initiating combat, Taanak conjures his spirit scorpion onto the field.

Minor action: Call Spirit Companion in I8. I think that's all I can do, then.

T'klik draws and loads his sling with his secondary arms, transferring it to his primary arms before firing it at the unaware silt runner.

Draw as free 1/turn, load free, Attack standard 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21 vs AC,(range penalty and Combat adv cancel each other), damage 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

Ojal readies himself, looking into his orb and preparing once more to plumb the depths of silt-runner psyche.

Readying Dishearten (Burst 1 within 10) against first target(s) in range. Can I use that centred on G7 now?

Move to I9, ready to charge next round.

Having no effective means of initiating combat, Taanak conjures his spirit scorpion onto the field.

Minor action: Call Spirit Companion in I8. I think that's all I can do, then.

Taanak - you need line of sight to where you conjure the spirit, and the stone columns block that.

Ojal readies himself, looking into his orb and preparing once more to plumb the depths of silt-runner psyche.

Readying Dishearten (Burst 1 within 10) against first target(s) in range. Can I use that centred on G7 now?

Again, you don't have line of sight to G7.

Thought not, but couldn't recall the burst rules. Just the readied action then.

Just need actions from Monoc and Taanak.

Move to E10

Conjure the spirit in N13 then.

Initiative

Taanak 21
T'klik 19
Shamash 17
Hatchlings 13
Ojal 13
Darter 12
Lemris 10
Monoc 3

>>>>MAP<<<<

The silt runner squawks in alarm as two weapon wielding maniacs emerge from hiding and a sling stone hits it.

The elf breaks away from his cover and, accompanied by the ethereal scorpion, rushes the silt runner's position.

Move action: Taanak to J9, scorpion to G6.

At Taanak's command, the scorpion lashes out with its tail at the runner.

Standard action: Stalker's Strike. 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23 vs. Fort to hit, dealing 1d10 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11 damage. The spirit now counts as an ally for the purpose of flanking until the end of my next turn.

With a surge of adrenaline, the elf presses the attack even harder.

Action point. Standard: Wrath of the Burning Sky. 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22 vs. Fort to hit, dealing 1d10 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6 fire damage. Teleport spirit to E5. Still counts as a flank until end of next turn.

T'klik surges forward, winding like the the cobra, ready to strike. Harnessing the fury of the kill, he steps forward into striking range.

Dancing Cobra move to H7, Wasteland Fury to shift 1 sq to G7, unarmed vs the runner, using the scorpion's flank. Attack 1d20 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 7 + 2 = 24 vs AC (combat advantage), damage 1d6 + 4 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 + 4 = 11 (extra +4 from combat advantage), Plus 5 damage from Flurry of blows, not sliding the target.

Ouch. 1 dead runner.

A detached observer might feel sorry for the lone silt runner as it falls to spectral attack and a thri-kreen whirlwind of death. A faint insectile chittering can now be heard in the area, as if from under the ground.

Initiative

Shamash 17
Hatchlings 13
Ojal 13
Darter 12
Lemris 10
Monoc 3
Taanak 21
T'klik 19

>>>>MAP<<<<

Shamash holds position, poised to respond to the now-inevitable assault from the kruthik swarm.

Shamash will ready a Greenflame Blade attack on the next thing to attack him.

Ojal gets to make a readied attack with Dishearten, as kruthik has appeared in range. It has cover. I will then take the hatchling turn when that attack has been resolved.

Dishearten (Will). Burst 1 within 10. On hit target takes -2 penalty to attack rolls to end Ojal's next turn.
1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13 - centred on E7.
In case that hits - 1d6 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12

Ojal turns his mind to the insects, but finds them hard to fathom.

The hatchling makes a piercing squeal and flees back down the hole.

For combat purposes it will not reappear.

More of the strange insect-reptile beasts pore out of the holes, attacking the party.

Attack T'klik
1d20 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11
Miss. Attack Monoc
1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23
5 damage to Monoc
Attack Taanak
1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8
Miss. Attack Ojal.
1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21
5 damage to Ojal
Attack Monoc.
1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10
Miss.

Initiative

Shamash 17 - READIED ACTION
Lemris 10
Monoc 3
Taanak 21
T'klik 19
Ojal 13
Hatchlings 13 Aura 1 - enemy ending its turn in aura takes 2 damage

If it is still alive on his turn, Monoc will charge the bug at E5. Attack 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23 vs AC, damage 1d12 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13. If the target is already dead, redirect to any other target in charge range. If no targets are in range, hold an action to attack first target that appears.

Heads up that I'm about to get on a 27 hour flight from New Zealand to the UK. So no posts from me for a while. After that I'll be on vacation in the UK for 4weeks. Will be able to post most days, but may miss a couple. Happy for anyone to step in as required to keep momentum.

Apologies, I now see I didn't post a map. Oops. Anyway... Monoc had a kruthik next to him, which he has now slain. Lemris casts Beguiling Strands (vs Will):
1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17
5 psychic damage - dead.

Lemris darts from pillar to pillar and multicoloured light overwhelms a kruthik mind.

"Should have never left Urik..." he mutters, "Well, the ever-present threat of death was quite un-nerving. As opposed to this situation..."

Y1 attacks Monoc (vs AC)
1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 232d6 + 6 ⇒ (4, 1) + 6 = 11
11 damage to Monoc

Y2 attacks T'klik (vs AC)
1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 142d6 + 6 ⇒ (4, 6) + 6 = 16

Larger kruthik spill forth from the caves and attack the intruders, one snatching at Monoc's ankles.

Initiative

Shamash 17 - READIED ACTION

Taanak 21
T'klik 19
Ojal 13
Kruthik Hatchlings 13 Aura 1 - enemy ending its turn in aura takes 2 damage
Lemris 10
Monoc 3
Kruthik Young 23 Aura 1 - enemy ending its turn in aura takes 2

>>>>MAP<<<<

Backpedaling away from the nearest threat, Taanak conjures another blast of flame.

Shift to I-10, Wrath of the Burning Sky on kruthik at K8. 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18 vs. Fort to hit, dealing 1d10 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13 fire damage. Teleport spirit companion to J8.

Then, with a quick invocation, he conjures an elemental spirit to aid the thri-kreen.

Spirit of Athas summoned in G7. Adjacent allies get +1 to all defenses.

Taanak incinerates another hatchling, as he calls once more upon the spirits of the world. T'klik recognises that a shard of the planet's life-force has come to aid him.

A hissing boom emerges from the southernmost of the caves as a kruthik the size of a man joins the combat.

Attack Monoc and T'klik with Toxic Spikes (vs AC)
1d20 + 7 ⇒ (17) + 7 = 241d12 + 9 ⇒ (5) + 9 = 141d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 161d12 + 9 ⇒ (1) + 9 = 10
14 damage to Monoc, and he is slowed and taking 5 ongoing poison (se both)

Initiative

Shamash 17 - READIED ACTION

T'klik 19
Ojal 13
Kruthik Hatchlings 13 Aura 1 - enemy ending its turn in aura takes 2 damage
Lemris 10
Monoc 3
Kruthik Young 23 Aura 1 - enemy ending its turn in aura takes 2
Taanak 21
Kruthik Adult 21

>>>>MAP<<<<

I believe that puts Monoc on 1hp currently.

Hey, cool! That Toxic Spike would've hit T'klik (AC 16) if it hadn't been for the spirit! I love it when my seemingly insignificant bonuses actually make a difference!

Shamash decides that maybe he should do something, given that the kruthiks seem unwilling to attack him.

Move action to get to E8. Minor action to mark Y1 using Aegis of Assault. Attack both Y1 and the hatchling in D7 with Sword Burst.

Y1 - 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 13 v Reflex, hatchling - 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5 v Reflex. Damage 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

2 damage to Shamash from aura

Shamash swings his sword but the kruthiks avoid the attack and concentrate on nipping him.

Initiative

T'klik 19
Ojal 13
Kruthik Hatchlings 13 Aura 1 - enemy ending its turn in aura takes 2 damage
Lemris 10
Monoc 3
Kruthik Young 23 Aura 1 - enemy ending its turn in aura takes 2 damage
1 Marked by Shamash
2
Taanak 21
Kruthik Adult 21
Shamash 17

>>>>MAP<<<<

T'klik swings out with three of his claws, while the fourth puts away the sling he had used at first.

Thri-kreen claws, minor, put away sling free.
Hatchlings first
H6 vs AC 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16
F5 vs AC 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12
Young 2 vs AC 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (15) + 7 = 22
damage 1d8 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15
Centered flurry of blows on the hatchling at F5 for 5 damage

After his initial strike, T'klik steps back into the middle of the larger group as a whole, preparing his footing for his next strike.

Shift 1 square to F7

He then begins a winding, swirling dance. Limbs and claws spinning, taking on the aspect of a dun colored whirlwind. Soon the dance expands, and his limbs reach out to strike all the enemies on the field but the biggest one.

Masterful Spiral, close burst 2, each enemy
Hatchlings first
H6 vs Ref 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8
F5 vs Ref 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7
D7 vs Ref 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7
Young 1 vs Ref 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20
Young 2 vs Ref 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14
damage 3d8 + 4 ⇒ (8, 6, 2) + 4 = 20 half on miss,
Assume spiral stance, until the stance ends reach with melee touch attacks increases by 1

Edit: Yuck, used a daily, and may only have hit one. And if the hatchlings are minions, then they don't take the miss damage.

H6 and F5 eliminated (they are indeed minions). Y2 now Bloodied.

T'klik slashes and kicks, sending the hatchlings flying back into their holes, and wounding their older siblings. The reassuring presence of a primal spirit continues to protect him.

Initiative

Ojal 13
Kruthik Hatchlings 13 Aura 1 - enemy ending its turn in aura takes 2 damage
Lemris 10
Monoc 3 slowed, ongoing 5 poison (se both)
Kruthik Young 23 Aura 1 - enemy ending its turn in aura takes 2 damage
1 Marked by Shamash
2 Bloodied
Taanak 21
Kruthik Adult 21
Shamash 17
T'klik 19

>>>>MAP<<<<

Rev is at UK Games Expo, so there will be a brief hiatus. I dislike delaying or taking over PCs when one of them is on the verge of dropping into unconsciousness.

Oops. Can't get close enough to Monoc to activate second wind for him.

Move to J14.
Dishearten (Will), centred on C8 and attacking Y1 and the hatchling.
1d20 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 16 v hatchling
1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21 v Y1
1d6 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8 and any hit take -2 penalty to attack rolls to end Ojal's next turn.

Unable to help Monoc directly, Ojal does his best to eliminate the threats around the goliath.

Lemris tries to activate Monoc's Second Wind.Heal check:
1d20 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4
And fails. AP- Grant Saving Throw to Monoc;
1d20 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 2 = 21
Success - Monoc can now roll a saving throw prior to his turn

Lemris runs up to Monoc and prods him in the kidneys, "Come on!" he yelps.

Initiative

Monoc 3 slowed, ongoing 5 poison (se both) - save to be made now
Kruthik Young 23 Aura 1 - enemy ending its turn in aura takes 2 damage
1 Marked by Shamash, Bloodied
2 Bloodied
Taanak 21
Kruthik Adult 21
Shamash 17
T'klik 19
Ojal 13
Lemris 10