GM Kiora's Wrath of the Righteous

Game Master Kiora Atua

As Ehren reaches out to touch Ary, she mistakes what he's doing and grins at him, "Perfect, Rocky." then is suddenly surprised by the spellcasting, as she places the potions into his hand after he touches her shoulder. "Oh. Well... that feels kinda nice. What is that, exactly? It feels kinda like the blessings we always got at the start of paladin training."

Valaria shakes her head. "I don't think we have enough ranged power to take these things down before they drop on us," she tells Anevia. "With so few arrows, conserving them my be best."

She nods at Ary. "We'll be right behind you. And if anyone does get grabbed, we'll do our best to pry you free."

"Oh, right! Avi! Anything special about trying to kill them? Like should I bless some weapons while we have a chance?"

Hrut has 20 arrows, though I'm not going to volunteer his goodies for him!

"A little help. I think you'll know what to do with it," he says as he stows the potions, before adding with a weak smile, "To make up for that shoulder, I suppose."

Horgus grumbles, but he isn't about to follow her out to the front of the group, so he stays where he is.

Aravashnial shakes his head. "I've told you what I know."

Ary musses the young man's hair with what's available of her shield arm, with a grin. Despite the fact that she's only two years older. "Don't sweat it, Rocky. I've had worse."

Then turns her attention to Aravashnial, "Thanks much! I'd be lost without all of you guys knowing what's dangerous and what's not."

Edit! Until I looked at the map, I completely forgot light was a thing :p
"Oh, right! Light! If Hrut and I move forward, you guys should have some light back here!" she says, shifting her weight to the 'all ready to go' stance.

Earlier...
To no one specific,

"I have a bow and 20 arrows but I cannot see the beasts, if someone can shoot it and see them they are welcome to them."
-----------
Looking at Ary,

"I am fine with running out there, let me know when you are ready Ary."

Ary/Hrut: Just move your tokens forward, up to your movement speed, whenever you are ready.

Anevia grins. "The dangerous ones are the ones that want to kill you," she offers, cheekily. "Now hurry up we don't have all day...or night...or whatever it is."

"Good call!" she says as Hrut launches himself forward. While he moves a little more forward than she does, she still does her best to occupy the gap to keep the bats-squid-things from swirling in to eat her compatriots.

"It ought to be somewhere around early morning right now," says Markus, crouching down and opening his hands in preparation for spellcasting. The circles under his eyes darken and he feels his skin prickle.

"I'm ready. Go when you want. Though I vote for Anevia taking ten of Hrut's arrows so that she can contribute in ranged combat." At Ary's suggestion, Markus casts light on his quarterstaff's head, so that it emits light. Hrut's shield flickers and then darkens.

Ready action to cast cause fear on whichever darkmantle scores a successful hit on one of his allies. That darkmantle is subject to a DC 16 Will save. Failure means that it is frightened for 1d4 ⇒ 4 rounds. Success means that it is shaken for 1 round.

Anevia nods and takes 10 of Hrut's arrows before he and Ary warily wander into the cavern together. "'ight, ki-...Markus! I'll take your word for it."

Don't forget to deduct these, please, Hrut, unless you refuse.

Li'an and Valaria are both entitled to a move or standard action before combat starts.... Just take these whenever you are online and have a chance, including during your first round of combat if necessary.

Initiative Rolls
Markus: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (12) - 1 = 11
Valaria: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5
Hrut: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 1 = 20
Ehren: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10
Ary: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23
Li'an: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4
Aravashnial: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10
Horgus Gwerm: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (15) - 1 = 14
Anevia Tirablade: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9

Darkmantle 1: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14
Darkmantle 2: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14
Darkmantle 3: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12
Darkmantle 4: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10

Initiative Order

1. Ary
2. Hrut
3. Darkmantle 1
4. Darkmantle 2
5. Markus (Readied Action)
6. Horgus Gwerm
7. Darkmantle 3
8. Darkmantle 4
9. Ehren
10. Aravashnial
11. Anevia
12. Valaria
13. Li'an

Round 1

Ary and Hrut move into the room, both going faster than the darkmantles can react to.

Ary is up.

Slight automation calibration for this round! Ary will take a swing at -any- creature that tries to get past her, prioritizing bringing the things down and keeping them off her allies over defending herself and Hrut. So, until all cloaks have moved, Ary will hold back her last aoo to swing at them, rather than holding the last to bodyguard. :) It shouldn't come up, but just in case!

Readied Aid Another: 1d20 + 5 - 1 ⇒ (17) + 5 - 1 = 21 +3 to hit on Hrut's first swing!

Ary sweeps forward, alongside Hrut, maintaining her vigil over the doorway, shield aloft, and sword off to the side to provide more ample light, she looks to Hrut with a nod, "Hey! We're down here, you oversized throw rugs!" she calls up, attempting to draw their attention to herself.

When they sweep down, she'll try to bat at one of their wings to throw them off balance for Hrut.

Li'an steps forward to the edge of the tunnel to reduce the distance between herself and the group's bait, Ary and Hrut. Drawing Lleuad, she keeps a close eye on the darkmantles as she prepares for combat.

Just moved forward slightly as Li'an's pre-combat move.

Hrut is up.

This is a reminder to myself to update the initiative order for Ary's action when I get home from work and can do so at a keyboard :P

I'm so high-maintenance, aren't I? :)

Valaria edges forward, keeping close to Ary and Hrut so she can jump in at a moments notice.

Just shifted forward for my pre-combat move.

Hrut assumes his battle stance, warhammer in his right hand glowing with Torag infused blessed awesome, his now nonglowing shield in his left ready to defend for when these creatures descend upon us. Looking up, Hrut is ready to attack anything within his reach and defend his party members.

Activate Defensive focus 10', also remember +1AC and will saves within 10'

"Lets get this done with you ugly cave creatures."

Suddenly, the cavern is enveloped with thick, inky darkness that oppresses even the enchanted light coming from Ary's sword, though it does not extend into the tunnel, still illuminated by Markus' weapon.

Valaria and Markus can see one of the closer darkmantles dive down towards Hrut. Charge . Hrut can feel the small, agile creature slam into his back, but fail to do much damage through his heavy armor. Ary hears the attack, but cannot see it to react.

Darkmantle 2 charge slam vs Hrut (Blind): 1d20 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 3 + 2 = 12

Horgus Gwerm is alarmed. "What was that?! Ary?!"

Just as he cries out, Valaria and Markus can see one of the further darkmantles take flight at Ary. Though she cannot see the creature, she can hear it fluttering towards her, and she raises her shield at just the right moment for it bounce away, a wet tentacle grazing her face in the darkness as it does so.

Darkmantle 3 charge slam vs Ary (Blind, Grazed): 1d20 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 3 + 2 = 8

Markus and Valaria can see the final darkmantle move across the ceiling into a more advantageous position in the darkness with its tentacles. Because none of the darkmantles actually harmed Ary or Hrut, the dhampir did not need to expend his spell. What does he do next?

Markus is up. Did not use yours (or Ary's) readied action, so you are assuming your normal position in initiative order.

The darkness negates light and continual flame. Valaria and Markus have darkvision, so they can see just peachy :)

Otherwise the darkness blocks line of sight, as a supernatural cloak of darkness. If you cannot see, then you are considered blind. Blind rules are below, they're extra crunchy..

In addition you cannot use sight to target... particularly important for spellcasting... You don't threaten squares when you are blind, so you cannot take AoOs.

I may or may not be using illumination effects perfectly with RAW (I'm not 100% to be sure) but... I don't care ;D You guys will figure somethin out ez.

PS: Sorry that took so long, multitasking this inbetween other things.

Perception: 1d20 + 4 - 1 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 4 - 1 + 1 = 19 So close! Darn you, grazed! -Guidance!

"Fenwen? More Sunrods!?" Ary calls back, voice breaking. "I can't see anything! Something touched me. Inheritor, something touched my face..."

Given that something touched her face just as the lights went out, Ary's worried they did something to her, or maybe to her sword.

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23

With a startled jump, Hrut moves head back and forth quickly, darkness enveloping his vision, trying to listen as well as possible. Feeling the beads of nervous sweat on his brow run down his face and more run down the back of his neck,

Did something just bump my back? If I cannot see them how can I hit them? I hope I do not hit any of my companions!

"Did you hear that? Aravashnial I think they may have used a shadow trick like Markus did with the light stone earlier, does that sound accurate? Something touched my back but I seem to be okay for now, can anyone else see I cannot see anything! Ary, we need to coordinate movement and attacks so we do not kill each other."

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18
Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8
Spellcraft: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14

"The sunrods won't work on this darkness, we'd need stronger magic," Li'an responded to Ary's call. "I think I can help though, just stay focused and try to defend yourselves!"

Markus furrows his brow - this would be difficult. Only he and Valaria had darkvision amongst the group, so the only two capable of fighting these creatures effectively were they. He calls out, "Ary, Hrut, fall back! If you both move back about fifteen feet, you'll be able to see again. Valaria, take the lead."

Then he reaches out with his hands and concentrates, sending the cold feeling of certain death into the minds of these ambush predators.

Cast cause fear. DC 16 Will save partial. 1d4 ⇒ 1 rounds of frightened on a failure. Targeting the creature directly in front of Ary.

Darkmantle 3 Will Save: 1d20 ⇒ 11

The darkmantle in front of Ary's attitude abruptly switches from fight to flight.

Ehren is up.

Does she think me a child? She doesn't even look that much older than I am! Ehren voicelessly protests as his hair is rustled. He quickly chalks the action down as a loss as the action unfolds.

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24
Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26
Spellcraft: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22
Really? Really?

Ehren looks in the direction of the fight, which has evidently been obfuscated by magical darkness.

"At least one of them is on the ground with you," he calls out, trying not to be completely useless. He was already trusting his ears more than his eyes. The druid reaches out to tap Markus' shoulder, casting on guidance on one of the few of them that could apparently see in the dark.

Ehren knows pretty much everything there is to know about magical darkness! Perhaps he has encountered this before?

Guidance on Markus.

Aravashnial stays still, listening grimly. Anevia groans, sheathing her shortsword in favor of her shortbow.

"Now what?" she asks, unsure of what to do.

Valaria is up.

Valaria grits her teeth. "I can still see them through this little annoyance," she says. "But I've got no way to help anyone else manage. I'll do my best to hold them off of anyone else that's in danger." She steps deeper into the magical cloud, getting into position to attack the nearest creature.

Five-foot step and full attack darkmantle 3.

On-hand Attack: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 2 = 21

Off-hand Attack: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 = 20

There we go!

On-hand Damage: 1d4 ⇒ 2

Off-hand Damage: 1d4 ⇒ 3

Valaria grins as both knives sink into the creature.

The darkmantle squeals, a horrible, high-pitched noise as Valaria slashes cleanly through one of its tentacles.

Darkmantle 3 is grazed.

Li'an is up.

Li'an moved quickly to retrieve her silver scale, knowing she'd be able to put it to good use in this situation. She had to back up a little bit, being at the edge of the sphere of darkness, but she was able to get at her belt pouch and dig it out after a moment.

"Ary, can you take a step back and then stand still?" she asked as she reached out with the scale. She knew she wasn't too far out, so she cautiously reached around until she found her, then focused on applying the same transformation to Ary that she'd used herself.

Move action to retrieve scale, and standard to use Alter Self: Drow on Ary using the scale. I'm assuming I can manage to tag her with it since she's next to me, assuming she'll stand still.

Ary polymorphs into a drow, gaining the ability to see in the darkness around her.

Round 2

Ary is up.

"Oh... I love you, Fen'wen. I..." her voice breaks again. And then she lashes out angrily at the little devils in front of her, sword sliding perpendicular to the ground, before arching upwards. Now that her eyes could suddenly make out what was around her, she could see that the one in front of her was already wounded.

Sword Attack, Blessed, grazed: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23
Damage: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

"There's one opposite from me, and one straight ahead, Hrut." Ary explains. "Val's behind you."

Nice thinking! I'd already forgotten about your clever trickses!

Ary shoves the creature's tentacle aside and hews into it violently, staining her sword with blood.

Darkmantle 3 is wounded.

Hrut is up.

the trickster has tricksy tricks :D

Can't be much of a trickster if I'm just stabby-stabby all the time ;)
Although I'd probably have forgotten the "use on others" clause if Ary hadn't blessed Fen'wen's weapon in the temple fight!

Oh! Don't forget the +2 strength from it, +1 hit/dam extra!

"Let's see what I can do..."

Torag guide my hand...

Enduring crane strike

Attack/Damage #4: 1d20 + 5 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 5 + 1 + 1 = 231d8 + 5 + 1 + 1d6 ⇒ (8) + 5 + 1 + (4) = 18 blessing enhance

heal Ary: 1d6 ⇒ 2

high good: 1d100 ⇒ 80

I'm at work so I can't roll for the dark mantles for a few hours but #4 is on the ceiling. I'm gonna assume you meant #2 unless you chime in before I get home

I'm going off on a limb and assuming 23 is good enough :p, 10/12 hp, -grazed.
As Hrut cleaves into the monster, even in the darkness, she feels her wound start to stitch up, and while she isn't whole, she gets the full range of motion of her shoulder back, and doesn't need to worry quite so much as overextending.

"Wow, Shiny... is there anything you can't do?"

The stunning ferocity of Hrut's blow leaves the darkmantle that assaulted him a brutalized wreck. Undeterred, one of the darkmantles on the ceiling drops down towards Hrut, faster than Ary can react. Thankfully it misses, hitting the cave floor instead.

Darkmantle #1 vs Hrut (Charge): 1d20 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 3 + 2 = 9
Ary Aid Another (AoO #1) @ Hrut (Bless, Alter Self): 1d20 + 5 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 5 + 1 + 1 = 8

Horgus Gwerm is uncomfortable standing at the back of the group, with nothing between him and the yawning darkness ahead of them, so he moves closer towards the center of the group. it does not occur to him to bring Aravashnial with him.

The wounded darkmantle flails about and retreats to the ceiling, coiling its tentacles into itself in an effort to resemble a stalactite.

One of the other darkmantles drops down from the ceiling at Hrut, aiming for his face. Ary sees it coming, but cannot protect Hrut very well from threats directly above him. It wraps itself around Hrut's face, snaking its tentacles around his neck and squeezing, slowly suffocating its prey.

Darkmantle #4 vs Hrut (Charge): 1d20 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 3 + 2 = 21 Hrut has 16 AC blind, then +1 from Torag's magic vestment then +3 from Ary for 20 AC total
Ary Aid Another (AoO #2) @ Hrut: 1d20 + 5 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 5 + 1 + 1 = 13
Darkmantle damage (slam): 1d4 ⇒ 4
Darkmantle grapple: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 1 = 16 Magic Vestment is an enhancement bonus so it does not apply to CMD.
Darkmantle constrict: 1d4 ⇒ 3

Summary: Hrut kills Darkmantle #2. Darkmantle #3 (the wounded/feared one) retreats to the ceiling. Darkmantle #4 hits Hrut, grapples him, constricts him, and also deals 7 damage, grazing him.

Markus is up.

Markus takes a step back and takes Aravashnial's hand, leading him through the people around him more into the core of the group - he shouldn't be in back at all. Then he turns towards the fight again and takes a look at the state of the fight - Hrut is being suffocated, so he tries his fear spell again on the darkmantle that's all over his face.

Same as before, cast cause fear. Two of four spells remaining, and the darkmantle needs to make a DC 16 Will save.

After casting, he sees the gap in the fight and murmurs, "I see an opening. If you let me, I can lead all of the noncombatants through it and into the passage beyond. Everyone link hands."

Darkmantle #4 will save vs Cause Fear: 1d20 ⇒ 12
Fear Duration: 1d4 ⇒ 1

Hrut can feel the darkmantle's grip around his neck slack almost imperceptibly.

Aravashnial frowns slightly, but he allows Markus to lead him onwards. (Horgus, on the other hand, is happy to go anywhere that isn't next to the black cloud of supernatural darkness.)

"A-alright," Anevia murmurs, looking ahead into the dark - even with her experience there was something terrifying about the unknown.

Markus- feel free to place the NPCs as you wish.

Ehren is up.

Left with few options outside of the zone of darkness, Ehren smiles softly and gives Anevia a reassuring pat on the shoulder... a pat that also happens to imbue her with some divine guidance. He looks over his shoulder to check their flank, knowing all too well that it was vulnerable.

Guidance for Anevia! Guidance for everyone!

Anevia grins at Ehren. "Thanks! Okay, let's go, Markus!"

Anevia and Aravashnial are readying move actions to move with Markus on his turn.

Valaria is up.

Valaria keeps up her movement, dancing between Hrut and Ary and slashing at the darkmantle not attempting to grab him, not trusting herself not to hit Hrut in the struggle.

Five foot step and full attack on darkmantle 1.

On-hand Attack: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 2 = 18

Off-hand Attack: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 2 = 12

On-hand Damage: 1d4 ⇒ 2

Off-hand Damage?: 1d4 ⇒ 1

Valaria digs into the darkmantle with both starknives, ripping them out with ruinous force.

3 damage to darkmantle 1.

(Psssst. Bless)

Li'an is up.

"There's no way I'll be able to get to Hrut through the darkness blindly."

Focusing on the scale, she repeated the process, using its ability to polymorph into a Drow. Once the transformation was completed, she scanned the darkness, trying to get a feel for what was going on.

Seeing a space open near Hrut, she stepped out of the tunnel to aid him. "Coming up on your right side Hrut!" she warned as she moved up.

Std Act.: Scale on Self, Move Act: Moving up to beside Hrut.

Markus, Aravashnial, and Anevia walk through the darkness and out the other side...but they inadvertently leave Ehren and Horgus behind in the dark. Without Markus' light, they cannot see.

"Ary? Where are you?" Horgus blubbers in fear.

Ary is currently standing in the darkness - therefore her continual flame is being suppressed.

Round 3

Ary is up.

Gm things spoiler... spooooky.

Aid: 1d20 + 5 + 1 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 5 + 1 + 1 + 2 = 10 Bab/Str/Bless/Alter Self/Flanking. May or may not be a successful aid due to nat 1? If it counts, +3 to attack or CMB to escape grapple (since both gain from +attack!)

Ary provokes an AoO from Squiddle 1 as she moves through the square south of where she is currently.

"Be right out, Horgus, sorry! Shiny needs help!" Somehow, there's actual conviction in her voice; having tasted real terror a moment before, she's even more in tune with trying to make Horgus feel safe... and wondering how Aravashnial is even beginning to handle all this.

Ary moves quickly, shifting around the creatures and past Li'an, before getting into a position to try to peel the thing off of Hrut. "Get... off... SHINY!" Ary says, as she tries to untangle the creature.

So am I still grappled or did he let go, or is it a he will let go sort of a thing?

Aid anothers are considered attacks so they do fail on a natural 1 :3 (Otherwise once you got a +9 bonus I wouldn't make you roll, lol.)

Squiddle 1 vs Ary: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 18
Squiddle smash!: 1d4 ⇒ 1
Grapple?: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13

The darkmantle flicks out a long tentacle at Ary like a whip, leaving a black eye.. but she squirms away before it can latch itself around her face.

You are still grappled until the darkmantle's turn. That was just fluff to show it failing the will save.

Ary takes 1 damage is grazed again :(

Hrut is up.

And... I just realized what Ary did. And I think Ary just did, too. Crazy how moving my light circles does that :p

"Oh. Oh no." she said aloud. "I'm so sorry! I'll be right there! Don't move."

"Get off whatever you are!" Hrut roars at the creature!

CMB: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25

Miss? High good: 1d100 ⇒ 67

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