Lucian's spell pushes the planetar back to its home plane. After a few tense seconds it becomes clear that the angel is unable to return. Whether this has broken its compulsion or binding completely is unclear but it is clear that, even if bound to return to this place, it will take some time for the planetar to do so. Hopefully someone else in Heaven will be able to save the planetar from its fate before that is necessary.
---
You move back past the throne chamber to the doors leading the other direction. Beyond, a pair of outrageously sized beds, each over forty
feet long, lie against the far wall of this enormous chamber. A towering stone table flanked by equally oversized chairs sits in the center of the room.
Sitting on one of the beds is a truly gargantuan giant. This giant’s skin is black and pitted, like roughly cast iron, and etched with glowing red runes.
Male Human (Varisian) Oracle (Lore) 8, Evangelist 10 | HP 165/165 | AC:36 T:20 FF:29 CMD: 30 | F+13 R+22 W+24 (+2 vs transmutation) | Init +5 | Per +25 (+4 to determine whether he's surprised), Darkvision 60ft
Lucian addresses a heartfelt prayer to Desna to favor his companions in battle.
You and each of your allies gain a +1 luck bonus on attack rolls, weapon damage rolls, saves, and skill checks, while each of your foes takes a –1 penalty on such rolls.
Giant Slayer 17| HP 241/241 (214/292) |20% MC AC:23 T:15 FF:21 CMD: 41(45) | F+21 R+15 W+12 | Init +2 | Per +27
Nebten looks around sheepishly. Actually Seal has a +6 Str/Con belt that the party found. I typically only update the online sheet when we level, outside of hit points. Sorry about that, I'll be more diligent. Also, I'm putting the Cloak of Res +5 & Belt of St +6 on Thunderpuss. Being on vacation for so long threw me out of rhythm.
"I knew there was a giant through those big doors. Thunderpuss, on me! It's a shame there is only one of them.
Female Suli Paladin 3/ Monk-Un 4/ CoI 10 | HP 181/181 | AC 28 (39)* T 28 (30) FF 24 (35)* | F +22 R +20 W +21* (22) | CMD 48 | Init +4 | Perc +20 | Smite 3/3 Lay on Hands 12/12 Stunning Fist 14/14 Elemental Assault 17/17 Ki Points 13/14 Inevitable Fist 17/17
Miana acrobatics closer to the large giant and aims for a spot right on his shin, punching it. "Guess we should let you enjoy this one...", Miana comments, still a bit unsure how one can enjoy battle as Seal does in these situations.
Acrobatics to Avoid AoO:1d20 + 27 ⇒ (8) + 27 = 35
Swift Action to go into Crane Style
Defensive Stunning PA VS punch @ giant:1d20 + 18 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (5) + 18 + 2 - 2 = 23 Damage on hit:4d8 + 7 + 10 ⇒ (7, 5, 3, 1) + 7 + 10 = 33
[ooc]DC 24 Fort save on hit or stunned 1 round
Rissi knows that, magically crafted and crossbred from taiga and fire giant slaves by ancient wizards, rune giants are anathema to their own kind. Given power to command and magically control other giants, the rune giants themselves served their even more powerful masters, and in so doing granted ancient empires armies of giants to command. In the eons since these ancient empires collapsed, rune giants have persisted as a race of their own, little more than bogeymen, horrors whispered of late at night by superstitious giants. Immune to cold, electricity, fire; their magical runes can flash energy and light; they have enchantment powers.
Lucian offers up a prayer to his goddess as Seal and Miana move in fearlessly. Seal hits the giant hard in its massive leg but Miana's punch is barely felt by the thick-skinned giant leader.
Kufi 17 | HP 208/208 | AC:31 T:18 FF:31 CMD: 36 | Fort +15, Ref +17, Will +14; +1 vs. traps, +4 vs. fear, +1 vs. poison | Init +9 | Perception +27 (+28 vs. surprise, +30 vs. traps)
The wyrm cloaks himself in greater invisibility before advancing.
The giant steps back and slaps a rune on its chest, which then begins to glow. With the light becoming too bright to look at, suddenly sparks start shooting from the giant's chest at Miana and Seal!
In addition, all creatures within 10 feet of the giant (Miana, Seal, Thunderpuss, and Kufieno) must make a DC 24 Fortitude save or be blinded for 1 round.
Kufi 17 | HP 208/208 | AC:31 T:18 FF:31 CMD: 36 | Fort +15, Ref +17, Will +14; +1 vs. traps, +4 vs. fear, +1 vs. poison | Init +9 | Perception +27 (+28 vs. surprise, +30 vs. traps)
Now in position, Kufieno begins his whirlwind of invisible death. During his frenzied attacks, he gives into a certain primal fury and grows teeth as well!
dice:
+2 sadistic short sword, Prayer, Invisible, Haste, PA:1d20 + 18 + 1 + 2 + 1 - 3 ⇒ (14) + 18 + 1 + 2 + 1 - 3 = 33 Arcane Strike, Prayer, PA:1d6 + 9 + 3 + 1 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 9 + 3 + 1 + 6 = 21 plus sneak:2d6 ⇒ (6, 6) = 12 plus -2 AC 1 rd
If it has an abjuration effects up, add +2 to hit and 2d6 + 2 ⇒ (3, 4) + 2 = 9 damage
+2 sadistic short sword, Prayer, Invisible, Haste, PA:1d20 + 13 + 1 + 2 + 1 - 3 ⇒ (3) + 13 + 1 + 2 + 1 - 3 = 17 Arcane Strike, Prayer, PA:1d6 + 9 + 3 + 1 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 9 + 3 + 1 + 6 = 20 plus sneak:2d6 ⇒ (1, 4) = 5 plus -2 AC 1 rd
If it has an abjuration effects up, add +2 to hit and 2d6 + 2 ⇒ (1, 4) + 2 = 7 damage
+2 sadistic short sword, Prayer, Invisible, Haste, PA:1d20 + 8 + 1 + 2 + 1 - 3 ⇒ (13) + 8 + 1 + 2 + 1 - 3 = 22 Arcane Strike, Prayer, PA:1d6 + 9 + 3 + 1 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 9 + 3 + 1 + 6 = 23 plus sneak:2d6 ⇒ (1, 5) = 6 plus -2 AC 1 rd
If it has an abjuration effects up, add +2 to hit and 2d6 + 2 ⇒ (4, 1) + 2 = 7 damage
If 33<flat-footed AC<38, 25 damage plus -2 AC for 1 round
If flat-footed AC=33, 58 damage plus -2 AC for 2 round
If 28<flat-footed AC<33, 83 damage plus -2 AC for 3 rounds
If 24<flat-footed AC<29, 108 damage plus -2 AC for 4 rounds
If 19<flat-footed AC<25, 137 damage plus -2 AC for 5 rounds
If flat-footed AC<20, 162 damage plus -2 AC for 6 rounds
(ACs include -2 AC penalty after first hit)
More if they have abjuration effects in play
Female Suli Paladin 3/ Monk-Un 4/ CoI 10 | HP 181/181 | AC 28 (39)* T 28 (30) FF 24 (35)* | F +22 R +20 W +21* (22) | CMD 48 | Init +4 | Perc +20 | Smite 3/3 Lay on Hands 12/12 Stunning Fist 14/14 Elemental Assault 17/17 Ki Points 13/14 Inevitable Fist 17/17
Reflex:1d20 + 20 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 20 + 2 + 1 = 36
Miana manages to avoid the arcing blast of fire and electricity. Huzzah for monk-iness and evasion! She then pounds on the beast repeatedly, aiming for the same spot to create an opening.
Honestly not sure how this thing will survive Seal's assault, but throwing my numbers out there, too!
The martial members of the party work together and team up against the lone rune giant, taking him down before he really even gets started!
Out of combat!
gear:
+5 full plate, Sihedron ring, masterwork longsword, 3 masterwork spears
For those of you who might be curious about such things, we only have four more encounters (including the final showdown). So we are very close to the end! My Shattered Star game just finished last week so you guys aren't too far behind; you started about 6 months later but they lost 2/4 players in the last section of book 6 and that really slowed them down.
With nothing left on this side of the Pinnacle, you move to the east to explore the other wing. Behind the first door you find a sprawling room with many chambers set about it. You're not sure whether the cells are being used or not, but certainly there are four more giants in this room guarding it: another rune giant accompanied by three cloud giants!
Kufi 17 | HP 208/208 | AC:31 T:18 FF:31 CMD: 36 | Fort +15, Ref +17, Will +14; +1 vs. traps, +4 vs. fear, +1 vs. poison | Init +9 | Perception +27 (+28 vs. surprise, +30 vs. traps)
Showing unusual tactical acumen, Kufieno drops a wall of stone some 60' long and 10' high - not so high that the huge giants cannot climb it, but at least it serves as a passing hindrance to their advance.
The purple cloud giant keeps his razor-sharp wits about him but the others are perturbed by Rissi's spell. Kufieno then simplifies the fight by splitting off two of the cloud giants.
Giant Slayer 17| HP 241/241 (214/292) |20% MC AC:23 T:15 FF:21 CMD: 41(45) | F+21 R+15 W+12 | Init +2 | Per +27
Sealman gives a quick glace at Kufieno. He looks like a child as if somebody snatched away his favorite toys. The giantslayer the slowly turns his head toward the giants left in the room with a large grin developing between his bushy beard.
"Oy, boys. Death is what I'm dealing, payment is your blood. TIME TO FEEL THE PAIN!"
Sealman and Thunderpuss rush the rune giant. Seal's large axe reaches for the rune giant's other knee while Thunderpuss leaps on the giant's belly.
Evade Reach on the Cloud giant, so he'll have to be adjacent to Seal to hit him. LB, RAGE. Taking +2 to Hit/AC/Ref
The green giant hits his head against the wall 1d8 + 12 ⇒ (2) + 12 = 14damage. The pink giant is a little more sensible and uses her morningstar, although it is still not very effective against the massive stone wall.
The other cloud giant floats closer to Miana and swings!
Giant Slayer 17| HP 241/241 (214/292) |20% MC AC:23 T:15 FF:21 CMD: 41(45) | F+21 R+15 W+12 | Init +2 | Per +27
Miss Chance >21%:1d100 ⇒ 55 Miss Chance >21%:1d100 ⇒ 73
Sealman takes two of the three blows. Even with one shot, Sealman feels he won that round. Thunderpuss and Sealman unleash their rage upon the two giant, hoping their screams with make those cower with fear on the other side of the wall.
If Seal takes down the Rune giant, he will continue his attacks on the Cloud giant. Just subtract 2 from his To Hit since he won't be flanking. And Thunderpuss won't attack the Cloud Giant.
Kufi 17 | HP 208/208 | AC:31 T:18 FF:31 CMD: 36 | Fort +15, Ref +17, Will +14; +1 vs. traps, +4 vs. fear, +1 vs. poison | Init +9 | Perception +27 (+28 vs. surprise, +30 vs. traps)
Kufieno cloaks himself in invisibility before gliding closer to the battle.
The green giant hits his head against the wall again for 1d8 + 12 ⇒ (7) + 12 = 19 damage and surprisingly a large portion of the wall suddenly disappears in nothing more than dust! The giant is as shocked as you are until you recognize the Azlanti man in purple robes now standing behind the giant. The man scoffs and hurls a set of brightly glowing sparks at Seal. 25 force damage.
The cloud giant then moves around to block the hole and swings at Thunderpuss:
Nope, not Karzoug. I put the picture up on the map. The left one is Karzoug as you've seen him, the one in the middle with the purple robes is the wizard who just appeared.
Seal easily takes down the first giant, allowing Thunderpuss to charge in on the second one and leave it with gaping wounds across its midsection.
Miana darts under the giant's legs and advances on the wizard!
---
1d100 ⇒ 22
It seems the wounds from Thunderpuss have caught the giant's attention and it swings its morningstar on the cat:
"Good guys? We are the good guys. Preserving and restoring Thasillonian might, that is what is good. And I, Khalib, First Apprentice in Karzoug’s court, shall inherit the throne of greed when the mighty reign of Karzoug comes to an end."
Kufi 17 | HP 208/208 | AC:31 T:18 FF:31 CMD: 36 | Fort +15, Ref +17, Will +14; +1 vs. traps, +4 vs. fear, +1 vs. poison | Init +9 | Perception +27 (+28 vs. surprise, +30 vs. traps)
Kufieno takes to the wing, stretching and flapping his great wings to cross the room at tremendous speed.
The ratfolk flies forward and up with determination.
(Thassilonian)"Your corruption of the Seven Virtues is lamentable, and your existence is too dangerous to be tolerated. May you find better purpose in the next life!"
She snaps off a thin green ray from her fingtertips.
Female Suli Paladin 3/ Monk-Un 4/ CoI 10 | HP 181/181 | AC 28 (39)* T 28 (30) FF 24 (35)* | F +22 R +20 W +21* (22) | CMD 48 | Init +4 | Perc +20 | Smite 3/3 Lay on Hands 12/12 Stunning Fist 14/14 Elemental Assault 17/17 Ki Points 13/14 Inevitable Fist 17/17
Miana flanks with her fellow suli-jann, shaking her head at the new opponent. "Your reign ended thousands of years ago; we shall make sure that both you and your master do not let the evils of your empire return!"
