HELL'S REBELS ala Fabian (Inactive)

Game Master Fabian Benavente

Brother Hawthorne watches as Hob mauls the guards, but with one still standing, he moves to flank that one with Hob's assistance, and swings his saps at the opponent...

Sap Hit: 1d20 + 8 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 8 + 4 = 23
Sap Damage: 1d4 + 4d6 + 1d6 ⇒ (2) + (6, 4, 2, 3) + (3) = 20

Sap Hit: 1d20 + 8 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 8 + 4 = 19
Sap Damage: 1d4 + 4d6 + 1d6 ⇒ (4) + (2, 5, 4, 3) + (2) = 20

The guard drops to the ground, and Hawthorne turns to figure out which opponents need to be handled next.

I think that Elsbeth can get all 4 of the guards on 2nd floor in a 30ft cone. If she can't, she'll get as many as possible (ie 3).

The cleric easily stayed out of reach of the soldiers considering she was hovering on air. She began to speak the divine words that caused grey smoke to seep from her facial orifices which she exhaled towards the guards on the second floor.

Casting Hallucinogenic Smoke; Fort save or be nauseated for 8rounds, if make the save then just sickened for 1d4 rounds.

Nauseated is a horrible condition, they won't even have the cool porcelain of a commode to press their cheeks against to make themselves feel better.

Rizolla, safely invisible again and with a spear sticking out of her, flew to one side so she could line all four of the ballista operators up and then once more cast. A bolt of lightning shot out once more and slammed into all four of the operators.

light bolt dc 19 ref: 8d6 + 16 ⇒ (5, 6, 2, 4, 1, 1, 2, 3) + 16 = 40

Alright, moved things around little so the first guy lived - hope that isn't problematic. You can switch who the first guy is, if necessary. Or do something different.

Hob grunted as his defences slowed the ballista bolt, the massive siege projectile catching in his ribs like a halfling's arrow. Hob attacked again, but the power behind his attacks ebbed. Though intended as a mercy, the effect was anything but. Deprived of the smith's attempt to push himself, his body's unnatural instincts kicked in fully. The first claw - still glowing red with unearthly power - closed around a head. Closed with vicelike power, the skull beneath creaking. A gout of crimson poured from under the iron-dark fingers. The hand lifted the head - and the whole body, jerked, and dropped the man in eerie silence.
Another claw slammed through the chest of the man Hawthorne faced, striking from behind, then grabbed the body back to be decapitated by the red-chisel teeth of the monstrous Smith.
The first man, jaw cracked in two, and with a flood of red covering the front of his armour, stumbled to his feet, leaning on his halberd a much as wielding it.
The Hag-Hob spat the mans head towards the newcomers. Screams for their surrender were lost in the silence, looking only like the blood-sprayed screams of some vicious monster, as he snapped the ballista bolt from his chest and strode forward.

Turn 327 - Spitting out the Head

Read the OOC.

Questions, comments, and/or suggestions?

Game on!

Oh, for the record, Hob is carrying a Victor's Belt, which has the following up its sleeve: 'Whenever the wearer takes an amount of damage equal to at least half his current hit points in a single round, there is a 50% chance that the belt activates its rage ability automatically as an immediate action'
Hob finally felt the rage coming. He pushed forward, towering over Hawthorne. One. Two. The giant claws swung out like scythes. Rage powered the attacks, but better rage than the killer instincts from the Hag's body.
attack: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (10) + 12 = 22damage: 1d6 + 11 ⇒ (6) + 11 = 17
attack: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (9) + 12 = 21damage: 1d6 + 11 ⇒ (2) + 11 = 13
attack: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (19) + 12 = 31damage: 1d6 + 11 ⇒ (4) + 11 = 15

Oh, pretty sure the Ablative Barrier has only converted 10. Also, the Arcane Eye (4th) has already been cast.

Perception: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (19) + 14 = 33

Flurry, unarmed: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (6) + 15 = 21
Flurry, unarmed: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (1) + 14 = 15
Flurry, unarmed: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (8) + 9 = 17

Damage, flurry, lethal: 1d10 + 1d6 + 1d4 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (2) + (2) + (1) + 1 + 1 = 7

Well, at least one good roll here...

The monk dodged and spun in the midst of a group of enemies, nudging swinging weapons to deflect the strikes just enough to pass his body. All the acrobatics meant he had little focus left to spare for offense, this all but one of his own strikes were absorbed by armor. But from what he could see, they were definitely winning the battle. But then, a wind carried a distant bestial screech to his ears.

"Something comes," Eirik said in a conversational tone, not wishing to give hope to the remaining enemies that he was concerned. "And it sounds big and angry. We might want to move the battle inside."

Hob saw Eirik's lips move - but had no idea what the man said. Still - he seemed little concerned.
Hope you're feeling better!

Little is the effective word... far from normal. I doubt it's anything worse than the common cold, and the individual symptoms aren't all that bad, but I have pretty much all of the symptoms that one can get, and when you add everything up, it leaves one pretty much knackered.

Assuming Hob just destroyed the last two guards on us.

Brother Hawthorne moved to the west, and tumbled behind the guard Eirik was fighting...

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (13) + 14 = 27

... swinging his sap at the opponent as he came to a stop...

Sap Hit: 1d20 + 10 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 10 + 4 = 27
Sap Damage: 1d4 + 4d6 + 1d6 ⇒ (1) + (6, 1, 1, 4) + (5) = 18

...the twin thumps as the sap hit the guard and the guard hit the floor were a welcome reminder that Hawthorne was no longer inside the silent area.

Acrobatics around to the right to get behind and flank.

If I hear from 'the gals', I may be able to recap tonight...

Even though the other guard isn't nauseated, he should still be sickened for... rounds: 1d4 ⇒ 2

Elsbeth maneuvered herself on to the second floor. Once her feet touched ground, she runs at the sickened guard in order to push him over the wall. The benefit for her was that she didn't care if she went over with him as well.

CMB: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (13) + 9 = 22
CMB: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20

Will try to bullrush the sickened guard over the wall.

While most of the guards up on the ballistae had been dealt with Rizolla was loathe to let them regroup. Seeing that Elsbeth was up to something the sorceress let her companion finish what she was doing and then quickly chanted and wreathed her hands in electricity before swooping in at the nearest soldier on the wall from just over his head.

shocking grasp with height: 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 5 + 1 = 165d6 + 10 ⇒ (4, 4, 3, 1, 6) + 10 = 28

Turn 328 - Something Comes

Read the OOC.

Questions, comments, and/or suggestions?

Game on!

Elsbeth dives over the wall into the air and positions herself so that Hob is within thirty feet of her. She also yells at Rizolla to move closer to her. She then selectively channels energy through her holy symbol and into her allies, healing some of their wounds.

Elsbeth has selective channeling so she can choose who not to heal. She won't include the two guards on C2. The others don't matter because they're healthy anyways but I don't think they'll be in her radius. So she should get herself, Hob, Hawthorne, Eirik, and Rizolla (if she moves)

channel energy/heal: 4d6 ⇒ (2, 6, 6, 2) = 16

She then motions to Hob to move towards the door and out of direct line of the ballista.

Elsbeth: you rule!
perception: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (17) + 12 = 29 cruel dice...

Hob wasted no time in following Elsbeth's signed orders. Quickly he started moving - sprinting - and slammed into the wall to the guard's right as Elsbeth's healing energy bathed him. Finally out of the silent zone his lips all but blurred as he called out command words. The cord bracelet on his right arm sizzled and blackened as the strand of vampire hair wrapped in layers of human hair ignited.
Hob's claws changed from glowing forge-red to an unhealthy looking green. He lashed out, only to have the guard in question dodge aside with practised ease.

Move: Move 40ft. Aiming to end up 10ft (so out of AoO range, but in melee range) from the guard Eirik is fighting. I'm assuming said guard is still up.
Standard: Cast Vampiric touch.
touch attack: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (1) + 12 = 13 damage: 4d6 ⇒ (5, 5, 2, 4) = 16
The moral is; don't make fun of the dice giving you a 17...

Perception: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (12) + 14 = 26 Close, but not good enough

Going for nonlethal since we wanted prisoners if we could get some, and it seems like these two fellows are going down anyways.

Belatedly realizing the blacksmith was still in the zone of enchanted silence and couldn't have heard his warning, the monk waved a hand to the giant, gesturing him to hurry inside the keep while dodging the increasingly desperate blows of the surviving enemies.

The monk dodged yet another halberd swing, pinned the weapon's blade on the pavement by stepping on it and kicked the guard in the chin once, twice, staggering the man and driving him back towards the keep's gates.

Melee, flurry: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (17) + 15 = 32
Melee, flurry: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (8) + 14 = 22
Melee, flurry: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (3) + 9 = 12

Damage, flurry, nonlethal: 1d10 + 1d6 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (7) + (1) + 1 + 1 = 10
Damage, flurry, nonlethal: 1d10 + 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (4) + (6) + 1 = 11
Damage, rend: 2d6 ⇒ (1, 6) = 7
Demoralize: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (2) + 13 = 15 Forgot all about this once again, free with every rend.

@Fabian: I believe the healing cures equal lethal and non lethal, so 16 damage and 16 non-lethal.

Needing to get away from the guards on the balcony Rizolla began casting a spell in such a way that she would stay just outside of the reach of the soldiers on the wall and as soon as the last words were uttered she vanished. Now safe from reprisal Rizolla flew over and dropped down towards the courtyard and was in the perfect spot to be healed when Elsbeth channeled divine energy.

cast defensively invis dc 19: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (14) + 14 = 28

I'm moving south one saquare after becoming invisible and dropping down to the courtyard staying 10 feet up in the air.

I'll wait for Brother Hawthorne and then unleash the kraken move things along. :)

Was I not able to get behind the guard and flank with Eirik?

Hob hit the wall. That means you should have flanking on the guy in front of Eirik once that happens.

Was I not able to get behind the guard and flank with Eirik?

Hob left one 'almost dead' so I had you finish him off and then move towards Eirik.

Is this your question?

Brother Hawthorne adjusted his position, so that he could flank with Hob and laid into the guard...

Sap Hit: 1d20 + 8 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 8 + 4 = 20
Sap Damage: 1d4 + 4d6 + 1d6 ⇒ (2) + (1, 6, 1, 1) + (3) = 14

Sap Hit: 1d20 + 8 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 8 + 4 = 19
Sap Damage: 1d4 + 4d6 + 1d6 ⇒ (2) + (1, 1, 1, 5) + (6) = 16

One of his saps gave a satisfying crunch as it bit into the enemy.

Perception: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (2) + 13 = 15

I don't think she'll make it but forgot the perception check...

perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (10) + 9 = 19

Turn 329 - Burst of Healing

Read the OOC.

Questions, comments, and/or suggestions?

Game on!

The sudden appearance of the wyvern was a serious problem for them. Still it wasn't insurmountable, especially if they could clear out the ballistae operators, which she was ready to do. The most problematic thing was that the great dragonkin was now chewing on Hawthorne. She just hoped the halfling could survive long enough for her to help him. Sadly she knew only a little about wyverns, namely what they were called, and nothing more helpful than that. Flying up and around so the wyvern would be on the opposite side of the keep from her Rizolla lined up another attack on the men on the parapet with the ballistae and let loose yet another lightning bolt into them.

Knowledge (arcana): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13

lightning bolt dc 19: 8d6 + 16 ⇒ (4, 2, 2, 1, 6, 4, 2, 4) + 16 = 41

Don't know if you've considered this but the ballistae have been getting hit by the lightning bolt as well, how badly are they looking after the 3rd one hits them? Hoping they will be totaled soon.

Hmm - Hob has a 10' reach. Did the Wyvern pass through that space? If so, I think Hob gets an AoO (though the rider almost certainly has Mounted Combat to ignore it)
claw: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (2) + 12 = 14 Edit. Sigh. Never mind.

knowledge (arcana): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (17) + 9 = 26
Hob roared as the halfling was plucked from his side. "Wyvern!" he shouted.
Is this enough to know what it reach is, and whether it could likely do another pass next round? Going to make a big difference to his actions whether he has some prep time, or needs to brace for the next round. Note just whether it could, obviously can't know whether it will.

Perception: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (4) + 14 = 18 Just enough...

Anyway, this is a most irritating enemy... Eirik would like to deal with the remaining guards first... you mentioned earlier that the ballista platform was 30' from the courtyard... if Eirik did an accelerated climb he'd be able to climb 25' per round, and if you allow his height as starting point... that'd be just enough. I assume AC 25 would suffice, as DC 30 involves things such as overhangs and generally stuff more challenging than mere sheer stone walls...

Would like your ruling if this is feasible. Alternative would be to spread out and ready action to hit if the enemy gets in range, but I believe you can only ready stanrard actions so only one attack that way...

Climb: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (20) + 11 = 31

LIGHTNING BOLT
I have not yet considered the bolts and the ballista. I don't know how wide the bolt is and at one point I even considered not being able to line more than two guards. But that wouldn't have been fair because we hadn't discussed that before hand.

I think you are right though with the weapons starting to break, I'll start adding penalties to the ballistas.

FLY BY ATTACKS
I can't see an AoO being applied if someone has the fly by attack feat. It just doesn't seem right, otherwise the flyer would get hit lots of times even if it was just one person that he is attacking.

CLIMBING
I would allow Eirik to get up to the second floor (ballistas) in one round. Be careful up there because there's lightning. :)

KNOWLEDGE
Hob and Eirik know that the wyvern will NOT be able to attack next round but will try the same tactics in the round after next.

More questions?

Game on!

Hmm, interesting, I always thought fly by attack said it avoided AoOs but it doesn't. The trick to it then is to think 3d and come down into the right square to do what it wants and not provoke from more than one creature on the way. I think it's intended to provoke as it allows a standard action to be taken in the middle of the movement, not an attack like spring attack or rideby attack do. Still, up to you Fabian.

Hmm, interesting, I always thought fly by attack said it avoided AoOs but it doesn't. The trick to it then is to think 3d and come down into the right square to do what it wants and not provoke from more than one creature on the way. I think it's intended to provoke as it allows a standard action to be taken in the middle of the movement, not an attack like spring attack or rideby attack do. Still, up to you Fabian.

Trust me. I was looking forward forward to introducing Lucian and his wyvern mount because of the story factor (cool factor) but I am not looking forward to arbitrating a 3D fight.

So we'll have to handwave a lot of this stuff and you'll have to trust me that I am being fair.

Like ride by attacks, I don't think fly by attacks should provoke AoOs. We could think of Lucian doing a ride by attack instead of the wyvern doing a fly by attack.

I'm also only allowing the rider to have a standard action and not a full round action where it could be argued that he could have a full round action.

That being said, the antidote to fly by attacks is the readied action as someone already mentioned above.

I appreciate your thoughts and comments as they have made me change my preconceptions more than once so don't be afraid to speak up.

Questions?

Game on!

Another good antidote would be to take the battle indoors like Eirik was urging; good luck doing flyby attacks inside the citadel ;^)

But failing that, I think Eirik will climb up and engage the people up there, might take their minds away from the ballistas too. Thus freeing our mages to nuking the flying pest. But if you want to move inside (I assume the door's open since more and more guards have been coming out from there and I doubt any took the time to stop and lock the door after them), Eirik's very much game to follow the others inside. But, assuming no such order is given and people want to try playing outside a bit more...

The wyvern raider's appearance explained the earlier screech... and came almost as a relief as Eirik had been imagining coming face to face with the blue wyrm who had reputedly been seen visiting the city on several occasions now. But dealing with this slightly lesser dragonkin would not be very simple either, for him at least.

"Get in or get flush against the wall!" Eirik urged the others, assuming the rider would findit difficult to take his mount down to attack anyone within a wingtip's reach of the unyielding stone walls of the citadel. "I'll try to deal with the people upstairs!"

The monk took a running start and launched himself halfway up the wall, his fingers and toes finding purchase on the weather-beaten stone with relative ease. Almost as quickly as a regular man might have walked the distance along level courtyard, the fat monk squrried up the sheer wall, tumbling forward over the battlements to land in the midst of the surprised guards.

Hmm - sorry about all the questions. Can Hob climb without losing his touch spell? Is there a penalty?

You can RaW I believe, long as you get there within CL rounds.

Hmm - sorry about all the questions. Can Hob climb without losing his touch spell? Is there a penalty?

Yes, I don't like that if you touch someone accidentally the spell goes off.

By not touching your target in the round the spell is cast you lose the 'free action' of touching someone so you will now have to use a standard action to either do a melee touch (against touch AC) or a claw attack (against regular AC) to discharge the spell.

No penalties to do anything else but no spellcasting either or you lose the 'held charge'.

No worries about questions; I like them. :)

Game on!

Ok then, here's another...what's this challenge thing all about? I didn't think much of it until you made a point to highlight it on the guys health status in the recap.

You can RaW I believe, long as you get there within CL rounds.

Not sure what you mean by 'CL rounds' but I think we are saying the same thing.

Ok then, here's another...what's this challenge thing all about? I didn't think much of it until you made a point to highlight it on the guys health status in the recap.

Its a class ability for Lucian, the cavalier, which is similar to what smite evil is for a paladin.

And that wyvern is not just a run-of-the-mill wyvern, it's his cavalier mount.

The fact that he feeds it halflings as treats is purely coincidental. :)

Game on!

Ok then, here's another...what's this challenge thing all about? I didn't think much of it until you made a point to highlight it on the guys health status in the recap.

He taunted you! So you cannot attack anything except him 'till the effect wears off ;^)

Yeah, we're saying the same thing Fabian.

Elsbeth Wright wrote:

Ok then, here's another...what's this challenge thing all about? I didn't think much of it until you made a point to highlight it on the guys health status in the recap.

He taunted you! So you cannot attack anything except him 'till the effect wears off ;^)

No, not really. You are free to act as you want but Lucian did pronounce his allegiance to Asmodeus.

Did you guys notice that that senior officer hasn't taken any damage while all the grunts saboteurs are hurt.

Funny that. :)

Ok, so here's my question. That wyvern swept in and bit me and grabbed. No problem there. However, unless the wyvern took a -20 on his grapple check, he too gains the grappled condition and can't choose to fly off with me in his mouth.

There are other threads on this, but here is one that sums it up.

Let me know how you want to handle this, and I'll accept your ruling.

Fly By Attack can definitely provoke. Ride By Attack does not. It is possible that both happened here, but the Wyvern had to use FBA to attack, grab, and run.

It isn't the attacking that provokes, it's the movement.

There are threads on this one as well, but we can play it however Fabian rules it.

I think you guys convinced me that fly by attack does provoke while ride by attack does not provoke so if the wyvern attacks then it provokes.

I'll do this if any other opportunity presents itself.

I also saw the wyvern gets the grappled condition and could not fly away by RAW. However, I made the call that since: a) it is its mouth and not its wings or anything else that would hinder its movement and b) the size difference between it and the halfling, it could fly away with a small PC.

Questions (everyone please feel free to chime in; you know I listen to you all):

1) Does Hawthorne get a 'sneak attack' if he decides to attack?
Per RAW, I think the answer is no but I'm inclined to let this occur since the wyvern is not really thinking about dodging its prey.

2) How do we rule if the wyvern decides to drop Hawthorne? What would be action for Hawthrone to hang on?

So... actions from Rizolla (lightning bolt at initiative count 11) and Eirik (climbing at initiative count 12).

Others...

Elsbeth gritted her teeth in pain and anger. Asmodeans stood for everything she detested. As Lucian flew away on his wyvern, she raised her palm and let a blast of divine light loose at the man's back.

I'm assuming he's still within 180ft of her.

Casting searing light which is a ranged touch attack

ranged touch: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15 She'll use her action point if necessary to make sure that it hits
damage: 4d8 ⇒ (8, 1, 8, 1) = 18