GM Leinathan's Jade Regent (Inactive)

Game Master leinathan

Oh joy.

Calder steps around and ignores the freezing cold as best he can.
Attack - PA + Inspire: 1d20 + 13 - 2 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 13 - 2 + 1 = 28
Damage + PA + Inspire: 1d12 + 15 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 15 + 1 = 23 +1 Impervious Greataxe

"Back in your grave Vamr!"

"Oh dear," Vashta says, eyes wide as she sees the giant rise.

She thinks for a second, heart racing, before making her decision.

"Hopefully this will slow him down," she says, gesturing toward the new combatant and slicking the surface below his feet.

Then, hoping Calder, Tallak and Nightfangcan deal with that threat quickly, she turns toward the big wolf and moves to get in position to keep it off her companions.

Good ol' grease (DC 14) under the 10-ft. square the giant is in.

Then move (as indicated on map) and turn hypnotic stare on the wolf.

Giant Mummy vs. Grease: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

As the giant rises, Calder and Vashta react quickly - Calder slams his greataxe into the mummy's chest with gusto, and then Vashta creates an area of slippery oil beneath the mummy, causing it to topple to the ground.

Howling with rage, the winter wolf bounds into the burial crypt. It sees its dead giant friend and the burns all over it, and dashes into combat with Clara. Its mouth open wide, it charges at her, leaving a line of rime behind itself.

Mistivir vs. Clara (wounded): 1d20 + 12 - 2 ⇒ (18) + 12 - 2 = 28 Damage: 1d8 + 10 + 1d6 ⇒ (2) + 10 + (3) = 15
Mistivir CMB: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (4) + 14 = 18 Clara CMD 15 = 5 bab -1 str -1 size +4 dex -2 wounded

It grabs onto her ankle, tearing her leg and pulling savagely. Clara topples over, landing on her back as frostbite seeps into the wound.

Mistivir attacks Clara, dealing 12 damage and 3 cold damage. She is wounded and prone. Calder deals 18 damage to the mummy, and Vashta makes it go prone with grease. Tallak is up.

Tallak conjures up some magic and touches his hand to Nightfang's neck, and the tiger's muscles bulge and grow, large arteries seemingly snake through the hide from nowhere, and the massive tiger looks even more dangerous.

It then rips into the Undead giant on the floor between it and Calder.
__________
Tallak Cast Def: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (20) + 10 = 30
Nightfang Bite Attack, Flanking: 1d20 + 13 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 13 + 2 = 20
Nightfang Grab: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (15) + 17 = 32
Damage: 1d8 + 9 ⇒ (7) + 9 = 16
Nightfang Claw 1 Attack, Flanking: 1d20 + 13 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 13 + 2 = 17
Damage: 1d8 + 9 ⇒ (5) + 9 = 14
Nightfang Claw 2 Attack, Flanking: 1d20 + 13 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 13 + 2 = 27
Damage: 1d8 + 9 ⇒ (8) + 9 = 17

So sorry - i know that it's been 5 days. I've been traveling, and with spotty internet, and yesterday I had a long day involving missing a flight.

Tallak increases his mighty mount's strength before urging it forward - it rips and tears into the frost giant mummy, holding on tight with its mouth as well.

Nightfang deals 23 damage to the mummy, which is grazed.

Koya hops lightly down into the crypt room and casts another spell, calling on the Song of Spheres for guidance and aid in the battle.

Koya casts bless. Aiko and Clara are up.

These 10' squares are really crimping my style!

Aiko quickly says to Ameiko, "Thank you," with audible relief as the healing magic washes over her. She leans forward, sword held behind her, and suddenly runs in a rapid blur toward the giant wolf, coming around to encircle it.

Spending 1 ki point to bump my speed to 50'. Unfortunately because of the distance that still isn't enough to get into a flanking position.

+1 mithral wakizashi attack, inspired courage, blessed: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (2) + 11 = 13

Wifff

Don't forget you do have the mesmerist's trick. I have 6/day, so don't hold on to it forever.

I remember, but I doubt the +2 for flanking will convert a '2' into a hit! :D

I will bot Clara when I get home tonight ; sorry for the slowdown, I had a vacation and lots of flights so didn't exactly have the attention span to devote to gaming. Feel free to pre-roll your actions in Discussion if you'd like me to post through them later.

Clara yelps "Auugh!" as the enormous wolf rips a large hunk of flesh off of her already small leg, throwing her to the ground like a rag doll.

Wide-eyed with panic, Clara attempts to drink an emergency fizzy drink.

Clara is prone, and attempting to drink an extract of invisibility, which will trigger an AoO. If she survives that AoO and is still conscious, she'll drink it and go invisible.

Mistivir AoO (wounded): 1d20 + 12 - 2 ⇒ (8) + 12 - 2 = 18 Clara AC 15 (21 - 4 prone - 2 wounded)
Damage: 1d8 + 10 + 1d6 ⇒ (6) + 10 + (4) = 20

Mistivir tears into Clara's arm and shoulder as she pulls a vial of fizzy drink from her belt, though she is able to (barely) retain consciousness and drink it, vanishing from sight.

The frost giant mummy lumbers to its feet, allowing Tallak, Nightfang, and Calder an opportunity to strike at it before it hefts its ancient greataxe and brings it crashing down on Calder.

Frost Giant Mummy vs. Calder (Power Attack, Grazed): 1d20 + 19 - 3 - 1 ⇒ (11) + 19 - 3 - 1 = 26
Damage (Power Attack): 3d6 + 13 + 9 + 1d6 ⇒ (1, 2, 2) + 13 + 9 + (5) = 32

Meanwhile, its aura takes effect - paralyzing fear seeps out of it, filling the hearts of Calder, Tallak, and Nightfang.

Ameiko continues to sing, though she dashes over to where Clara was just now, Suishen in hand and blazing brightly. She has no verbal threats due to her singing, but you can tell that she is angry. She swings hard at Mistivir.

Ameiko vs. Mistivir (Inspired, Bless): 1d20 + 8 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 8 + 1 + 1 = 20
Damage (Inspired, Arcane Strike): 1d8 + 2 + 1 + 1 + 1d6 ⇒ (1) + 2 + 1 + 1 + (3) = 8

Okay, so the mummy's aura of fear activates on its turn. Calder, Tallak, and Nightfang must make DC 19 Will saves or become paralyzed for 1d4 rounds (roll the duration yourself). If you make the save, you get an AoO against the giant for it standing up.

Mistivir deals 20 damage to Clara, sending her into critical condition. Then she becomes invisible. The giant mummy stands up and attacks Calder, dealing 32 damage. Calder is grazed. Ameiko deals 9 damage to Mistivir. Calder and Vashta are up.

Calder
AOO - PA + Inspire: 1d20 + 13 - 2 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 13 - 2 + 1 = 17
Damage + PA + Inspire: 1d12 + 15 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 15 + 1 = 17

Will save + Inspire + 1 vs fear: 1d20 + 2 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 2 + 2 + 1 = 20
Fighters get Bravery which gives Calder the +1 vs fear.

Gritting his teeth against the almost overwhelming dread that threatened to turn his bones to water Calder kept swinging. "Oi Clara. Just in case. 'I told you so!'"

Attack - PA + Inspire - Grazed: 1d20 + 13 - 2 + 1 - 1 ⇒ (7) + 13 - 2 + 1 - 1 = 18
Damage + PA + Inspire: 1d12 + 15 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 15 + 1 = 19

Did it escape the grapple?

Oh shoot, no. Umm, in that case, it would have used its slam attack, dealing a different amount of damage:

Slam (PA): 1d8 + 9 + 6 + 1d6 ⇒ (2) + 9 + 6 + (5) = 22 Audit: Calder takes 22 damage instead of 32. He is still grazed.

Sorry, Tallak!

Tallak Will: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12 1d4 ⇒ 3
Nightfang Will: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5 1d4 ⇒ 2

Vashta's eyes go wide as she sees death looming from two directions, with Tallak and Nightfang frozen in fear and Clara possibly close to death. But with the gnome girl invisible now and two others there to help her, she turns toward the giant.

Dashing up the stairs I'm assuming I can get there with a move action even with what I assume is double movement required, but may have moved too far; I left a red star at my starting position, she turns her stare on the giant again.

"You don't really want to be back, dear, do you? Leaving Pharasma's cradle is too horrible..."

Swift action: maintain hypnotic stare on the giant; -2 to Will saves and atack rolls; possible via psychic inception: The hypnotic stare and its penalty can affect creatures that are mindless or immune to mind-affecting effects (such as an undead or vermin). The mesmerist can also partially affect such a creature with his mind-affecting spells and abilities if it's under the effect of his hypnotic stare; it gains a +2 bonus on its saving throw (if any), and if affected, it still has a 50% chance each round of ignoring the effect. Ignoring the effect doesn't end the effect, but does allow the creature to act normally for that round.

Cast terrible remorse on the giant (DC 18).

Hope that works; undead giants aren't really my strong point here.

Though Calder manages to retain his mind and capitalize on the mummy's moment of weakness, neither of his blows manage to land - the creature has thick natural armor. Meanwhile, both Tallak and Nightfang freeze in fear, with the tiger losing its grip on the giant in the meantime.

Giant Will (grazed, stare, undead): 1d20 + 11 - 1 - 2 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 11 - 1 - 2 + 2 = 15

The giant succumbs to Vashta's spell, losing partial control of itself. It can be seen struggling not to strike itself, holding one arm back with the other arm.

The winter wolf turns, denied its primary target, on Ameiko. It snaps at her with its huge mouth.

Mistivir vs. Ameiko (wounded): 1d20 + 12 - 2 ⇒ (10) + 12 - 2 = 20 Damage: 1d8 + 10 + 1d6 ⇒ (1) + 10 + (1) = 12
Mistivir CMB (wounded): 1d20 + 14 - 2 ⇒ (12) + 14 - 2 = 24

It grabs onto her ankle and drags her to the ground in a heap of blood. She yells with pain.

Koya rushes around the combat, looking frantically for Clara.

I believe I'm flanking the wolf with Ameiko - flanking on large creatures being a little funny - since if she's armed she's still threatening it, even if prone. If not, I'll call for the mesmerist false flanker trick to trigger as a free action.

Aiko's eyes flicker as Ameiko is knocked to the groun. Finally in position to make her strike, she lashes out with her wakizashi. The gleaming sword cuts an arc slightly off the horizontal as she slashes, her whole body turning in a committed cut. Then in a sudden blur she spins, feet almost coming off the ground, and the sword makes an arcing transition and comes back the other direction.

Spending 1 ki point for a bonus attack.

Wakizashi attack #1, blessed, flanking, inspired courage: 1d20 + 9 + 1 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 9 + 1 + 2 + 1 = 30
Wakizashi damage, inspired courage: 1d6 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 2 + 1 = 7
Sneak attack damage: 4d6 ⇒ (5, 3, 1, 6) = 15

Wakizashi attack #2, blessed, flanking, inspired courage: 1d20 + 9 + 1 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 9 + 1 + 2 + 1 = 33
Wakizashi damage, inspired courage: 1d6 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 2 + 1 = 8
Sneak attack damage: 4d6 ⇒ (3, 4, 4, 5) = 16

Wakizashi confirm crit, blessed, flanking, inspired courage: 1d20 + 9 + 1 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 9 + 1 + 2 + 1 = 30
Wakizashi crit damage, inspired courage: 1d6 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 2 + 1 = 8

If everything hits, total of 54 damage.

Nice rolls!

Clara backs away from the wolf and taps her big sister on the hip.

"I'm right here, big sis. Not dead yet." She croaks.

If the wolf is dead now, and the mummy is our last foe, I'll blow invisibility and try to bomb it. Otherwise I'll stay back and draw a potion of CLW.

(Assuming wolf is sushi) bomb vs mummy-critical-range: 1d20 + 9 - 3 - 1 ⇒ (17) + 9 - 3 - 1 = 22
damage: 4d6 + 5 ⇒ (3, 6, 2, 5) + 5 = 21

With a flourish and a pair of frightfully accurate slashes, Aiko opens up the winter wolf and sends it toppling to the ground, beyond dead.

Clara winks back into visibility (prompting a heart-grasping and a heavy sigh of relief from Koya) to hurl another bomb at the frost giant mummy. It explodes, searing him dreadfully.

Aiko deals 54 damage to Mistivir, killing it. Clara deals 31 damage to the mummy. It is wounded.

The mummy struggles against Vashta's spell.

>50 act normally: 1d100 ⇒ 12
Will (wounded, stare, undead): 1d20 + 11 - 2 - 2 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 11 - 2 - 2 + 2 = 14
Self-Damage: 1d8 + 9 ⇒ (7) + 9 = 16

The mummy can't help but feel terrible remorse for its very existence, and bashes itself in the chest. It weakens significantly, and groans.

Ameiko stands up and cures herself, holding a hand to her ankle and sealing over the wound.

Ameiko CLW (grazed): 1d8 + 4 - 1 ⇒ (6) + 4 - 1 = 9

The mummy deals 11 damage to itself. It is critical. Ameiko heals herself for 9. She is no longer grazed.

"Let me help you with that." Calder say as the Giant mummy stars hitting it's self.

Attack - PA + Inspire - Grazed: 1d20 + 13 - 2 + 1 - 1 ⇒ (19) + 13 - 2 + 1 - 1 = 30
Damage: 1d12 + 15 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 15 + 1 = 18

Attack - PA + Inspire - Grazed: 1d20 + 8 - 2 + 1 - 1 ⇒ (8) + 8 - 2 + 1 - 1 = 14
Damage: 1d12 + 15 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 15 + 1 = 28

Vashta launches a starknife toward the giant, but -- wanting to make sure she didn't hit her friends -- sends it flying way too high, over the enemy's head.

Dagger: 1d20 + 7 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (5) + 7 + 1 - 4 = 9
Damage: 1d4 ⇒ 1

Maintaining stare on the giant.
Activating painful stare for Calder, so +3 to his damage.

With Vashta's help, Calder's final blow puts an end to the short unlife of the frost giant conqueror. The mummy's body falls to the ground, de-animated after the Ulfen warrior's powerful blow. A few moments later, Tallak and Nightfang regain control over their bodies. It seems that the tomb has been cleansed of threats.

Combat Over.

Clara staggers on her feet, looking unusually pale. It seems too much of her blood is on the floor and too little in her body.

With a weak smile, she says, "See Calder, just think, we almost missed our chance to meet our first winter wolf. And our first mummy. Now aren't you glad you came?"

Turning to Koya she says, "Sis, you got any channels in ya? I bet a few of us could use the Desna's soothing starlight right about now."

2/45 HP

"Darling, those are opportunities to be missed. Your travels almost ended here," Vashta admonishes.

Unhurt, she reclaims her starknife and begins to look around to see if there's anything else of interest.

Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (6) + 9 = 15

Tallak eventually makes his way to the center of the burial chamber, and says, ”Gather round. I shall tend our wounded and cleanse this cursed land”

Will use Channel to heal the group to full, +1 more time to “cleanse the tomb.” If anyone is hurt significantly more than the others, I will use a cure to close the gap.

He then moves to the winter wolf, and removes his knife and sets to skinning the animal.

If anyone who was involved in the killing of the animal wants it, Tallak is preparing the skull and hide as a White Wolf Cloak which he feels you have earned. If not, he will use it, in so doing officially declare his services as Ameiko’s White Wolf Shaman.

Clara would happily take a hat made of the scraps.

Calder will check the bodies for any equipment, putting it to one side for the spellcasters to examine.

Calder helps Tallak skin the Winter wolf.
Survival (Aid another): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (12) + 10 = 22

When Clara speaks he sighs. "And you almost got your first look from the inside of one as well. Curiosity is fine, but not when the cat gets eaten."

Survival, Calder Aid: 1d20 + 10 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 10 + 2 = 23

Koya and Tallak work together to heal the group, and in no time at all, all of the wounds that they had suffered are but an artifact of the past. Koya puts a hand on Clara's shoulder, concern evident on her face. "I think Vashta's right, C," she says. "I was really worried about you..."

Ameiko, meanwhile, clasps Aiko's hand. "Great job with that worg, Aiko. You really saved my bacon there."

Calder and Vashta search the area for things of interest and gear. While the necromantic scroll burned up, and the giant mummy's gear is all rusted or rotted away beyond use, there are a few useful things.

The frost giant necromancer carried a scroll case containing a scroll of ventriloquism, a scroll of obscuring mist, and a scroll of silent image. He also carried a wand of elemental touch with 6 charges remaining, and a gold-plated astrolabe probably stolen from a human.

The winter wolf Mistivir wore an amulet of natural armor +1.

In addition, there seem to be several interesting fungi and moss growing in here. Perhaps they might be useful for alchemical experiments.

Clarabibulus's Crypt thing soda. It'll reach the parts of you that other fizzy pops don't!

Clara smiles at her sister. "Aww, you're sweet, but it's like great great great grand-daddy Umbilicus always said: You won't discover the recipe for the Ultimate Fizzy Drink by sitting on your tuchas.

"Speaking of which, look at these cool fungi! This one reminds me perhaps of something in the Amanita family--see the spots?--and this one, I've never seen anything like it! Maybe it's time to set up my lab and see if I can make it fizz!"

great great great grand-daddy Umbilicus spoke Yiddish? :)

"Or maybe we should go back and make sure Sandru ... and the others ... are OK?" Vashta suggests.

Aiko holds Ameiko's hand gingerly and says, "I was very worried for a moment. I pulled out all of the stops when I saw you fall down. I'm glad you're all right."

She whips her wakizashi to the side to flick the blood off, then takes a moment to wipe it down before sheathing it.

"Well fought," she says congenially. "And thank you for the healing power, Tallak."

Staying close to Ameiko, she says, "It seems this was not just a random event, but the giant was trying to do something with that scroll. What was this all about? Are we going to run into more giants and zombies and zombie giants down here?"

I'm pretty sure that Yiddish has it's roots in Hebrew, German, various Slavic languages, and Gnomish, yes?

Are you saying we Jews are short and crazy? Actually, that might not be too far off from the truth... :p

Koya shakes her head and shrugs. "I've never heard of undead being very common up here, although they're not unheard of, especially the incorporeal yuki-onni. There's not enough people up here to be necromancers, and the native Erutaki are too superstitious to try necromancy."

Ameiko begins to climb up out of the crypt. "Do you guys want to check out the rest of this place, or... We could go back and sit tight with the others."

"There's more?" Vashta asks. "I guess if we've come this far, we may as well make sure there's nothing else down here. As bad as that was, it might have been far worse if Clara, dear, hadn't wanted to explore."

More adventure, I say!

No no no, I'm saying that we're short, have prominent proboscises, and wear funny hats. Or maybe that's just me. ;-)
.
Going further afield, I just came across this article exploring the ways Jews were an influence on Tolkien's dwarves (including modeling Khuzdul on Hebrew and other Semitic languages). Who knew?

While she carefully finishes gathering her samples, Clara nods in agreement. "It seems a shame to stop now, eh? Especially after finding these marvelous fungi!"

Once done skinning the wolf and cleaning out the interior of its skull, Tallak stores it away to be worked later before joining up with the conversation. ”At this point, we should make sure the rest of this barrow is secure.”

Calder and Tallak do a pretty good job skinning and cleaning the wolf's parts, leaving a nearly-flawless white cloak.

The barrow is full of many dozens of graves, both simple and ornate, for frost giants of all levels of notoriety. How long do you want to spend exploring?

While Calder has no great liking for Frost giants he's not going to disturb their graves. Unless of course the occupant is already up and about.

He also thinks they've wasted enough time and is getting concerned about heading back to rejoin the others. "I wonder if Sandru has been kidnapped again?" He muses thoughtfully.

Significant glance at Vashta. :)

Going further afield, I just came across this article exploring the ways Jews were an influence on Tolkien's dwarves (including modeling Khuzdul on Hebrew and other Semitic languages). Who knew?

I knew!

"Obviously that giant picked up necromancy from someone," says Aiko dubiously. "Let's be on our way and finish exploring this area before anything else stumbles upon us."

I was going to say I don't wear funny hats, but then I did get a pink cat hat last year.

Vashta vacillates as Calder points out the possible problem.

"Surely, dear, he doesn't get kidnapped that often ... does he?"

So there's no other rooms down here? If so, Vashta also doesn't feel the need to disturb graves and would head back. But if it goes deeper, she wants to make sure they're really alone.

There's no tombs that are already open. The giant must have come down here, picked that particular giant, and smashed open the crypt to get to the body.

OK, then, Vashta will head back to make sure Sandru's still OK. And the others too, for that matter. She's not a grave robber.

"Good idea." Calder agrees with Vashta, helping those who need it up out of the crypt. "One of those was enough trouble for a day."

"So shall we set up camp here and wait for the beast outside to pass?" asks Aiko.

Everyone is just fine back in the entrance cavern. Ulf broke out his hneftafl board and is playing with Sandru, and Eglin is brewing some stew. It's only been about half an hour, and Shalelu hops up to greet you as you come back. "Hey," she asks, "Did you find anything down there, or was it just dusty bones?"

It'll be a day before the storm is gone. The creature's control weather lasts a long time. However, nothing is gonna happen. I can move on when three of you say you want to move on to the next thing.