You can see the double doors to the left have been closed. The double doors to the right, leading into the battle hall, remain closed as well. You can see the boar waiting at the fringe of the darkness of its room.
Round: 2, Initiative: 13
Weapon Equipped = Wand cure light wounds
Cold Iron Bullets (2/10), Silver Bullets (10/10)
Conditions = Read Magic (5/30m)
Life Link (3) = Mort, Pillette, Tynan
Channel Energy (0/7) (DC: 15)(Avoid 4) (2d6+1)
Amiable Blunder (1/1) (if Diplomacy failed by >5, reroll to avoid worsening attitude)
Melee Attack: BAB +2, Size +1 Damage: +0
Ranged Attack: BAB +2, Dex +1, Size +1 Damage: +0
Spells (Caster Level 3, Concentration +7)
Once per Day: Arcane Mark,
Zero (14): Create Water, Detect Magic, Light, Mage Hand, Prestidigitation, Spark, Stabilize
First (15): (1/6) Bless, Cure Light Wounds, Diagnose Disease, Liberating Command
Ascaria moves up past the corner so he can see what’s going on - but he leaves plenty of room for the others to back off as needed.
Round 2, Init 9
Sol moves up 10' and...
Round 2, Init 8 - update
AC: 16 (T: 14 FF: 12)
HP: 21/21
Fort +3 | Ref +6 | Will +0
Melee - +3 / Ranged - +6 (+7 Point Blank)
Equipped: Crossbow
Perception +6/ Know (Dungeoneering) +6 / Know (Local) +7 / Sense Motive +4
If Sol moves across the hall and gestures to Pillette, the halfling will follow, moving to get into position behind the right door and try to close it.
Pillette will aim her crossbow at the gap beyond Sol and readies to fire at anything that attacks the Lady with the sunny disposition.
Straight across the hall from your current position, you can smell and see its room, but you can smell it more.
Tynan takes the narrow corridor, following behind the others. Mortimer takes the stairs, then the balcony, following behind Raella. Raella almost makes it to the throne, and the ruby gem that awaits. Ascaria follows the main contingent, trying his best to leave room for passage either way. Solrisa finds her prey waiting in the dark, and moves swiftly to the left door, closing it against the impending charge. Pillette tries her best, but only manages to get behind the right door, before her little legs give out.
The boar takes its cue from the strange woman closing its door, as it rampages down the hallway towards its mark. The left door doesn't seem to provide much cover from the large, tusked beast.
The hallway here is evenly lit by torches at regular intervals, casting light into the main hall, now that the door has been opened.
Round 3, Init 21+
Tynan hurries down the corridor, grabs the edge of the door that Pillette is trying to close, and slams it shut on the beast.
"I hope this holds...
HP:20/22
Saves:F3,R7,W2
AC 17 (19, PoSoF), 21 (23, PoSoF) on AoO; 26/26 HP
BAB = +3 (level 3)
ToHit = 1d20+7
RHit = 1d20+7-2 (-1 to hit, +2 dam on Power Attack)
LHit = 1d20+7-2 (-1 to hit, +2 dam on Power Attack)
Throw = 1d20 + BAB + Dex
Fort+4 (+4 vs inhaled and contact poisons, +2 vs. disease)
Reflex+5
Will+2
Initiative+2
CMD = 20, 18 if flat footed
Round 3, Init 21
Mortimer loads the light crossbow and aims it at the door, hoping it'll open soon and provide him with a barrelling overgrown Hog at which to shoot.
Round: 3, Initiative: 13
Weapon Equipped = Wand cure light wounds
Cold Iron Bullets (2/10), Silver Bullets (10/10)
Conditions = Read Magic (10/30m)
Life Link (3) = Mort, Pillette, Tynan
Channel Energy (0/7) (DC: 15)(Avoid 4) (2d6+1)
Amiable Blunder (1/1) (if Diplomacy failed by >5, reroll to avoid worsening attitude)
Melee Attack: BAB +2, Size +1 Damage: +0
Ranged Attack: BAB +2, Dex +1, Size +1 Damage: +0
Spells (Caster Level 3, Concentration +7)
Once per Day: Arcane Mark,
Zero (14): Create Water, Detect Magic, Light, Mage Hand, Prestidigitation, Spark, Stabilize
First (15): (1/6) Bless, Cure Light Wounds, Diagnose Disease, Liberating Command
Ascaria sees the tall blond get gored. Ouch, that had to hurt! I picked the wrong grouping… again. He considers rushing up to heal her, but in the end decides to wait to see if they fall back into the hallway or draw the dire pig into the large chamber whose doors remain closed - so far.
Round 3, Init 16
Rae rushes to the throne, pressing the red button.
Tynan succeeds in closing the double doors to the Beast's den.
The double doors to the battle hall open deliberately as Raella commands the throne's control.
"Ooh, Pill? Can you lock these, please?" Sol says, mindful of the 'gory' gaping wound on her leg.
Sol delays, waiting for Pillette to lock the doors.
Round 3, Init 9
On second thought, Solrisa tries to lock the door herself. She keeps her weight against her side of the door, trusting others to maintain the other side.
Tynan steps and swings the right door closed, the smell of boar breath slowly leaking into the main hallway. Mortimer readies a crossbow for the boar's impending arrival in the battle hall. Raella brings the doors full open with a simple press of a gem-faceted button. Ascaria delays, expecting doors opening and boars charging. Solrisa takes advantage of the right door closing to slam the bolt into place, securing the double doors against the boar's rage... for now. Pillette readies a crossbow bolt, should the doors prove too weak in the face of tusked slams.
The dire boar attempts to break the door down.
In its impatience, it fails to give itself enough runway to leverage its strength, and the doors hold, for now...
Seeing Sol press against the left door to try and brace it, the halfling lends her little weight to the right side. As the doors rumble, she looks around, seeing who is ready in case the beast bursts through.
"Ummm, if we move back to that southern hall and close the door, if it breaks down these doors, it might go charging into the arena." That was the plan, right?
Spotting Sol's leg, she nods to the door behind them. The arena. That must be where Mort and Rae are, right?
Round: 4, Initiative: 13
Weapon Equipped = Wand cure light wounds
Cold Iron Bullets (2/10), Silver Bullets (10/10)
Conditions = Read Magic (10/30m)
Life Link (3) = Mort, Pillette, Tynan
Channel Energy (0/7) (DC: 15)(Avoid 4) (2d6+1)
Amiable Blunder (1/1) (if Diplomacy failed by >5, reroll to avoid worsening attitude)
Melee Attack: BAB +2, Size +1 Damage: +0
Ranged Attack: BAB +2, Dex +1, Size +1 Damage: +0
Spells (Caster Level 3, Concentration +7)
Once per Day: Arcane Mark,
Zero (14): Create Water, Detect Magic, Light, Mage Hand, Prestidigitation, Spark, Stabilize
First (15): (1/6) Bless, Cure Light Wounds, Diagnose Disease, Liberating Command
Ascaria, seeing the doors open, backs back up (double move, mostly) to prepare the ranged-onslaught in the battle arena. He does linger a bit so Sol can catch up and be healed next round… just in case.
Round 4, Init 21+
Tynan moves to hold the second door closed, and tries to assist Sol in locking it.
"That should hold it for a while. Let's gather the others and keep moving."
"Sol, we need to move back across the hall. This isn't working."
HP:20/22
Saves:F3,R7,W2
Round 4, Init 23
Seeing Tynan intent and locking the doors being bashed by the boar, Pillette will assist as she can.
AC: 16 (T: 14 FF: 12)
HP: 21/21
Fort +3 | Ref +6 | Will +0
Melee - +3 / Ranged - +6 (+7 Point Blank)
Equipped: Crossbow
Perception +6/ Know (Dungeoneering) +6 / Know (Local) +7 / Sense Motive +4
Round 4, Init 9
Solrisa returns down the hallway to go find Ascaria. She disengages her shield and stows it as she moves.
"Ascaria? May I borrow the wand? That boring boar got me good," Solrisa says.
AC=18
HP=10/28
Right hand =
Left hand =
LoH 1/3 used
Quik Shirt 1/1 used
[ dice]1d20+5+1[/dice] to hit (+bless)
[ dice]1d8[/dice] damage.
round 4, Init 16
Rae, realizing she dropped her bow back at the corner, side steps to the nearest archer to grab his. He doesn't need it anymore. She then readies to shoot the boar if he comes into sight.
AC 17, 21 on AoO; 26/26 HP
BAB = +3 (level 3)
ToHit = 1d20+7
RHit = 1d20+7-2 (-1 to hit, +2 dam on Power Attack)
LHit = 1d20+7-2 (-1 to hit, +2 dam on Power Attack)
Throw = 1d20 + BAB + Dex
Fort+4 (+4 vs inhaled and contact poisons, +2 vs. disease)
Reflex+5
Will+2
Initiative+2
CMD = 20, 18 if flat footed
Round 4, Init 21
Sounds of stampede and subsequent possible goring finally register in Mortimer's tiny brain.
What just happened? What was that?!
He looks around in a bit of panic.
Where is everyone?
Everyone else, please come up the stairs behind me!
Turning to Rae he says more quietly, "Rae, please shut the door when the Big Pig Thing enters..."
He levels the loaded light crossbow toward the open double doors.
Ascaria double moves, imagining the maiden's retreat, and planning ahead. Pillette and Tynan move back into the safety of the narrow corridor. Mortimer taunts from the rafters, and Raella grave robs a rather nice bow to ready her own attack. Solrisa hunts for a gnome, limping lithely as she drips blood down the hallway.
The boar takes another, half-hearted swipe at the door.
At this point, it sounds as if the boar has given up, resigned to its confinement once again.
Round: 5, Initiative: 25
Weapon Equipped = Wand cure light wounds
Cold Iron Bullets (2/10), Silver Bullets (10/10)
Conditions = Read Magic (10/30m)
Life Link (3) = Mort, Pillette, Tynan
Channel Energy (0/7) (DC: 15)(Avoid 4) (2d6+1)
Amiable Blunder (1/1) (if Diplomacy failed by >5, reroll to avoid worsening attitude)
Melee Attack: BAB +2, Size +1 Damage: +0
Ranged Attack: BAB +2, Dex +1, Size +1 Damage: +0
Spells (Caster Level 3, Concentration +7)
Once per Day: Arcane Mark,
Zero (14): Create Water, Detect Magic, Light, Mage Hand, Prestidigitation, Spark, Stabilize
First (15): (1/6) Bless, Cure Light Wounds, Diagnose Disease, Liberating Command
Ascaria, seeing the full impact of the boar on Sol, shudders, and does his job (standard).
He then hands the wand to Sol (move).
Round 5, Init 9
"Oh, thank you, Ascaria!" Sol coos as she takes the wand and repeats Ascaria's invocation.
healing
AC=18
HP=21/28
Right hand = unequipped shield
Left hand =
LoH 1/3 used
Quik Shirt 1/1 used
[ dice]1d20+5+1[/dice] to hit (+bless)
[ dice]1d8[/dice] damage.
Seeing both sides of the hallway battle retreat from each other, Mortimer lowers the loaded light crossbow and can't help but notice a badly mauled Solrisa.
First Raella, now her...
"Are you going to be all right? Why did you run off to confront It like that? Didn't you hear Raella's warning?" he asks Solrisa gently. "We have to be more careful -- stick together as a group and focus on one approach at a time," he trails off, trying to think ahead.
We could have just let It wander into the arena. Now it's locked up where we were going to search for signs of Kendra. He searches the faces of the party members in an attempt to glean what they might be thinking. Are we too tired? Do we need rest and food anyway?
He looks carefully at Solrisa. She really doesn't look well...
Seeing that the door seems to be holding, Tynan quietly heads into the main corridor once again.
Pillette hit Kendra with a bolt. Maybe she's unwillingly leaving a blood trail for me to follow...
Tynan begins scanning the floor for any signs of passage back toward the lift room.
"We need to find the other one, the woman who left. She isn't happy we hurt her friends, so she is likely to warn any others in this cult." ]Especially the half-breed who was likely the father of her potential brood.
Blood, not so obvious, but for the light straw, dust, and dirt on the floor recently kicked up by the boar, you can tell that a smaller set of prints that linger at the double doors of the boar, then proceed through the double doors to the west, now closed in front of you.
"What? What happened. It was supposed to come in here!" She glowers, but goes off in search of her sister so they can go find Kendra.
Tynan quickly returns to Pillette.
"She headed this way, back towards the lift. Let the others know while I go listen at the double doors... they've been closed again. Tell them we may need to be prepared for another ambush."
Tynan returns to the double doors, and listens for any activity beyond them.
"What? What happened. It was supposed to come in here!"
"Your sister happened, Raella," he says quietly. "She got hurt pretty badly trying to lock the giant pig back up behind the northern set of doors."
"Your sister happened, Raella," he says quietly. "She got hurt pretty badly trying to lock the giant pig back up behind the northern set of doors."
"Is she ok?" She stops, as if checking her own wholeness. "She's ok now. I would know if she wasn't." None the less she moves in search of her sister, and then onward to find that monster loving woman that ran away.
You hear a light shuffling of feet just to the right of the door, as you're facing it.
Tynan stands in front of the double doors leading to the west and back towards the central elevator room. The others converse, and renew purpose to search for Kendra, who appears to no longer haunt the hallways.
"Is she ok?"
"Not completely," he says quietly, pointing to Sol's still bleeding leg."If she'd stayed with us or in the narrow corridor here, she might not have gotten hurt at all, and we'd have been on our way after Kendra sooner."
Ascaria, feeling a little naked without his wand, rushes forward to see where the woman disappeared to.
We've really got to get another of these wands!
Tynan moves back to the narrow corridor, and waits for the rest to join him. When everyone has gathered, he quietly speaks.
"I found signs of Kendra heading toward the lift chamber, and as I suspected, there is an ambush set for us just behind the double doors in that direction. I heard a quiet movement to the right side of the door, so be prepared for an attack from that direction."
"If she'd stayed with us or in the narrow corridor here, she might not have gotten hurt at all, and we'd have been on our way after Kendra sooner."
Sol smiles at Mort, a smile of patience and understanding.
"Oh Mort! I'm not afraid of a little booboo...but if such things worry you, just stand behind us. My sister and I will protect you!" Sol says earnestly trying to protect the big man from his fear of blood.
Sol turns to her sister.
"Oh, I had to close the other doors. The beast is trapped for a bit. Rae, I think we could wait on either side of the door for the beast to break through then we could pound it good. Did you want to guard the door with me while Tynan and Pillette go after the priestess?"
"Yeah, I see that now." Her mouth twists as she swallows her frustration, again. At least she is ok. "Yeah, I think we all need to go together, Sol. Tynan and Pillette probably need our help."
"Sol, Mort's plan was better. We need to kill that beast eventually, and see what lies beyond it - even if it's only a lair. We should avoid injury rather than embrace it."
"But for now, let's ignore it and press on to the priestess."
He listens to Tynan's warning. "Well let's get it over with. We need to get through those doors and stop the priestess from spreading their cult further. Let's go!"
Ascaria taks up his position near, but back of the doors and takes out his sling. He waits for the party to get into position and open the doors.
"Oh Ascaria! I didn't have a plan," Sol laughs off Ascaria quirky statement.
Sol walks down the hallway towards Tynan, healing her boo-boo as she goes.
Healing
Healing
She offers the wand back to Ascaria when finished, but is also happy to carry it too. She puts on her shield again.
The group gathers in the main hallway. To the north, the sound of a restless boar clomping around. To the east, a battle hall that seems to thrum with the recent conflict. To the south, the narrower hallway that recently frustrated the beast. And to the west, the double doors, now closed, that lead out, towards the central chamber, and the elevator just beyond...
As Tynan indicates the presence of others on the other side of the doors, as Raella steps forward, ready to take the lead, the right door opens, whether by Raella's hand, or another's.
The hallway immediately dims. Raella and Solrisa disappear into a darkness that seems to extinguish the torchlight on this side of the double doors.
Round 1, Init 24
With his short sword gripped tightly in his right hand, Tynan follows the wall to his left forward toward the door, stopping when he feels it in front of him.. He listens intently in the darkness, trying to make out any sounds made by Kendra and her minions.
HP:20/22
Saves:F3,R7,W2
AC 17 (19, PoSoF), 21 (23, PoSoF) on AoO; 26/26 HP
BAB = +3 (level 3)
ToHit = 1d20+7
RHit = 1d20+7-2 (-1 to hit, +2 dam on Power Attack)
LHit = 1d20+7-2 (-1 to hit, +2 dam on Power Attack)
Throw = 1d20 + BAB + Dex
Fort+4 (+4 vs inhaled and contact poisons, +2 vs. disease)
Reflex+5
Will+2
Initiative+2
CMD = 20, 18 if flat footed
"Oh Mort! I'm not afraid of a little booboo...but if such things worry you, just stand behind us. My sister and I will protect you!"
Huh?! Wait... She thinks I'm afraid? That's... amusing.
"Yeah, I think we all need to go together, Sol. Tynan and Pillette probably need our help."
"Agreed."
"Well let's get it over with. We need to get through those doors and stop the priestess from spreading their cult further. Let's go!"
"Agreed."
"Oh Ascaria! I didn't have a plan."
Mortimer turns to address Sol.
"That gore was more than a -- " what did she call it?! " -- 'booboo', and I'm not at all worried about getting hurt. It's going to happen. Believe me, I'm prepared. But I do like to pick my battles. I don't want to throw my life away fighting a giant pig if it can be avoided -- and I think it easily could have been avoided. I'd rather stay healthy as long as possible to be able to protect everyone and vanquish the bigger threats -- the things that are truly evil -- like Thedrick and Kendra. It's called self-preservation. Sometimes it's more efficient for a warrior to let go of the smaller stuff."You seldom ever get them all anyway. In any fight, take out the biggest threat. Many times everyone else on the their side gets disheartened and surrenders, or tries to run.
The hallway immediately dims. Raella and Solrisa disappear into a darkness that seems to extinguish the torchlight on this side of the double doors.
I don't recall anything like this before. What fresh Hell is this?
Round 1, Init 14+
AC: 16 (T: 14 FF: 12)
HP: 21/21
Fort +3 | Ref +6 | Will +0
Melee - +3 / Ranged - +6 (+7 Point Blank)
Equipped: Crossbow
Perception +6/ Know (Dungeoneering) +6 / Know (Local) +7 / Sense Motive +4
The halfling's eyes widen as the corridor dims. Oh no. If this is that darkness again... Without my mistress here, there is nothing I can do. Oh for a potion or Her accomplished hand!
"No! We need light." Probably powerful light. Perhaps more powerful than we have.
She turns and runs into the arena. I'm going to get the sunrod. That could help, right? Yes, that's why I'm running. Sure it is!
"I don't want to throw my life away fighting a giant pig if it can be avoided -- and I think it easily could have been avoided. I'd rather stay healthy as long as possible to be able to protect everyone and vanquish the bigger threats -- the things that are truly evil -- like Thedrick and Kendra."
Sol beams back at Mort's compliment.
"Oh, thank you, Mort! I did exactly that! I locked it away quickly before anyone was seriously hurt!" Sol smiles happy that someone noticed how quickly the beast was re-caged. "Now, let's go get that other priestess!"
Round 1, Init 14
Solrisa moves back and waits, uncertain what to do about the darkness.
"Rae, did you want both of us to go in and look about?"
"I think we have to, Sis." Rae says with a grimace. Sword drawn, she wades in to the room.
AC 17, 21 on AoO; 26/26 HP
BAB = +3 (level 3)
ToHit = 1d20+7
RHit = 1d20+7-2 (-1 to hit, +2 dam on Power Attack)
LHit = 1d20+7-2 (-1 to hit, +2 dam on Power Attack)
Throw = 1d20 + BAB + Dex
Fort+4 (+4 vs inhaled and contact poisons, +2 vs. disease)
Reflex+5
Will+2
Initiative+2
CMD = 20, 18 if flat footed, (22 if using improve grapple)
"I locked it away quickly before anyone was seriously hurt!""
"No Solrisa, not quickly enough, and YOU were seriously hurt. You did a reckless thing. You need to take better care!" he admonishes, all gentleness gone from his tone.
Round 1, Init 14-
Turning his attention to the open door Darkness he says -- with a tiny bit of frustration bleeding through in his tone, "I'm going to go in and try and see if I can see just what it is I'm not seeing .. from here."
He fumbles along, groping in the darkness hoping his Ioun Torch might disperse some of it, and and tries to relocate Raella by shape.
"It's me, Mort. Pardon me, excuse me, stick with me," he tries to align himself with her back to back, looking for an enemy.
for
for
Tynan moves to the door, prevented from entering the next room due to the darkness. Raella swings blindly in the darkness, Mortimer's Ioun Torch barely able to suppress the darkness through the doorway. Pillette retreats to the battle hall, aiming to retrieve her sunrod. Solrisa studies the darkness from a distance. Mortimer never loses sight of Raella, as his Ioun Torch manages to negate the Darkness, allowing the torchlight from the wall to extend 20'. He watches Raella swing hard and miss wide. He is able to hear the courteous door opener, behind the door. Mort lays into the door, hoping to strike the guy, but fails to connect, as the force dampens into shoulder meat.
Cultist and tiefling surround Raella. The cultist is the first to move, swinging rashly, without strategic coordination with the tiefling guard.
A short moment later, the tiefling slips into flank.
Ascaria does indeed take the wand back from Sol when she has finished with it. ”Thanks, glad to see you’re in top shape.” he grins. He studies Sol for a moment, and seemingly satisfied, carries the wand in his left hand, loaded sling in his right.
Round: 1, Initiative: 3
Weapon Equipped = CLW wand, torch
Cold Iron Bullets (2/10), Silver Bullets (10/10)
Conditions = Read Magic (10/30m)
Life Link (3) = Mort, Sol, Tynan
Channel Energy (0/7) (DC: 15)(Avoid 4) (2d6+1)
Amiable Blunder (1/1) (if Diplomacy failed by >5, reroll to avoid worsening attitude)
Melee Attack: BAB +2, Size +1 Damage: +0
Ranged Attack: BAB +2, Dex +1, Size +1 Damage: +0
Spells (Caster Level 3, Concentration +7)
Once per Day: Arcane Mark,
Zero (14): Create Water, Detect Magic, Light, Mage Hand, Prestidigitation, Spark, Stabilize
First (15): (1/6) Bless, Cure Light Wounds, Diagnose Disease, Liberating Command
Ascaria drops his sling (free), takes a 5’ step, pulls the torch off the wall (move), and tosses it into the room (standard) to (hopefully) provide light to the combat within.
(cover, distance)
Like a candle on a very hostile cake, the gnome tosses the wall torch into the room as if he's done it for 50 years. The room is no longer shrouded in darkness like an old man's bedquarters...
Round 2, Init 14+
AC: 16 (T: 14 FF: 12)
HP: 21/21
Fort +3 | Ref +6 | Will +0
Melee - +3 / Ranged - +6 (+7 Point Blank)
Equipped: Crossbow
Perception +6/ Know (Dungeoneering) +6 / Know (Local) +7 / Sense Motive +4
Trying to calm herself from the terror that is the dark, the halfling steps forward and picks up the glowing sunrod.
She takes a deep breath, steadies herself, and turns to head back towards the potential abyss.