JaceDK's Realm of the Fellnight Queen (Inactive)

Game Master Jacob Trier

As both Caelin and Alarien hack away their individual columns, neither of them are able to determine if the Queen is hiding within. Caelin cuts deep gourges in the living bark, while Alarien barely scratches the surface. Neither of them break through to the hollow interior.

By now, no one is surprised when Taecuss weaves regular conversation into his ongoing arcane performance. He quickly feeds in the words "Do we run before she gets reinforcements?"

"Unless we can magically move to the wardstones, maybe with the help of the staff, or perhaps the mirror, we won't be able to run fast enough. Our magical enhancements will wear off, and we'll be too weak."

And now a break for commercials...

I wrote stuff, and other people paid me for it and stuck it in a book.

Thank you for your attention. Carry on.

Did my detect evil thing give any results?

Yes, there is definitly evil in the room.

Another commercial break

Sweet

- Storming the Fellnight Throne -

Meycho continues to focus his detection spell, and clearly feels the presence of evil in the room. He will need to concentrate more to determine the exact location, though.

The sound of frantic commotion is heard from beyond the double doors you came in through. A moment later, the doors fly open and three enlarged spriggans burst into the throne room. The leading one swings a thorn-covered fist at Goodluck, while another hurls a thorn dart at him. Both miss. The last one, unable to get a clear shot, stands ready to rush forward.

Round 6

From inside a column somewhere, the Queen's voice says You are a singing bufoon, Taecuss dyn Bru. I won't even have to turn you into a songbird to keep you as a pet. Despite the tense situation, Taecuss somehow find words oddly amusing. Tae, make a Will save. Add +4 and any modifiers vs enchantment and mind-affecting effects.

Initiative:
Rhoswen - 22 (acted)
Caelin - 18
Goodluck - 15
Taecuss - 12
Alarien - 11
Meycho - 10
Spriggans - 9

MAP

Perception 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (5) + 12 = 17

Edit:
"There!" He cries, pointing at the column in H23.

Will save 1d20 + 7 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 7 + 4 + 2 = 28

Taecuss spell-trained mind easily withstands the Queen's enchantment.

Can Goodluck see the Queen in the column pointed out by Taecuss And would that activate his readied action?

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (20) + 8 = 28

Can Goodluck see the Queen in the column pointed out by Taecuss And would that activate his readied action?

[dice=Perception]1d20+8

No. Regardless of whether or not any of you spot the right column, an unbroken column still grants total cover, and thus you can target anyone inside.

"Goodluck!" Caelin yelled in alarm.

Caelin will delay

"Yes, friend, I have them..." the Mwangi man responded, turning to deal with the new threat.

He moved his barnacled body next to another pillar and put up another ice wall between himself and the newly arrived spriggans.

5-ft step to L21 and cast wall of ice in vertical plane from J17 to P23. That's 9 squares, or 45ft. I get 10x10 per level or 800sqft. 800sqft/45ft=17.78ft of height. It's 8 inches thick, and thus has 24hp for each section.

"That should buy us a few moments!"

Satisfied, Caelin stepped towards the pillar indicated by Taecuss. Using his long legs and longer sword, he reached out to swack the pillar with all his might.

Taecuss spends more precious seconds probing the staff with his will, trying to understand the power that it holds. Almost unaware that he is doing it, his arcane performance continues to hum in his voice, fueling the combat prowess of his allies.

Edit: How high is the ceiling in here?

Move action, rise 30’ up, standard action to identify the staff (takes three rounds, so two of three), free action to maintain the performance.

For all allies: Inspire Courage:+2 morale bonus vs. charm and fear effects, and a +2 competence bonus on attack and weapon damage rolls.

Hit points 59/59, Spells available: five 1st, three 2nd, two 3rd, 19 rounds of performance.
See Invisible, Ant Haul, Longstrider, Protection from Evil, Fly

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11

Alarien glances over her shoulder and hesitates. Delay.

As Goodluck block the spriggans access to the throne room, Caelin hacks away at the column. By the second strike, the column shatters revealing a hollow, but empty interior.

In the mean time, Taecuss flies up to the roof of the throne room, floating all the way up among the living plants.

Meycho?

Yeah, we're waiting for Meycho, plus I've been using every free moment working towards meeting a freelance deadline. I'll move us along.

Meycho maintains his concentration, and the general sense of evil seems to solidify and focus. He points to one of the columns closest to the throne.

"There. I sense a strong evil presence within that column. It must be the queen!" He rushes over to stand next to the column.

Meycho indicates the column at L25, and moves to M24. Alarien can come off delay if she wishes.

Alarien moves to hack at the latest column to hide the Fellnight Queen.

Alarien comes off of delay and moves to K25, then standard action to attack.

1d20 + 16 ⇒ (20) + 16 = 36
Crit confirm, in case inanimate objects are crit-able, like constructs are: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (17) + 16 = 33
1d8 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14
crit damage: 1d8 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14

HP 57/57 (+13 temp.); AC 19; Barkskin +2, 30 minutes; Bull's Strength, 8 minutes; Mirror Image, 8 minutes; Aid (1d8 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13 temp. hp), 8 minutes; Divine Favor 6/10rds.; Master's Illusion 1/8 rounds, prayer 1/8 rounds; inspire courage +2

Correction: Prayer's duration count is currently 3/8.

Unfortunately, objects are immune to crits, so Alarien fails to break through the column. She does damage it some, though.

Updated map - destroyed columns marked in red, damaged in orange

I'll post the next round in a new post.

- Storming the Fellnight Throne -

Round 7

From inside the column that Meycho and Alarien are standing by, the Queen calls out: "You tamper with forces you should not meddle with, Taecuss dyn Bru. I suggest you lay my staff down upon my throne, then head downstairs to join the festivities in the dance hall instead. That would suit you better." Taecuss, make a DC 20 Will save (compulsion) or do as the Queen suggests.

Initiative:
Rhoswen - 22 (acted)
Caelin - 18
Goodluck - 15
Taecuss - 12
Alarien - 11
Meycho - 10
Spriggans - 9

MAP

She's moved to that column, Meycho yells, indicating another column.

Column in H25. Maintains concentration.

Will save 1d20 + 7 + 2 + 2 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 7 + 2 + 2 + 4 = 27

Whew!

That is +7 class/resistance, +2 elven racial, +2 morale, and +4 well-versed class feature.

I'll post his action a little later.

Trying to stay as close to as many columns as he could, Caelin lunged towards the one Meycho indicated, trying to break it open for Goodluck and the others.

Move to H23, and attack action using lunge to column at H25.

sword: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (7) + 12 = 19
damage: 3d6 + 16 ⇒ (1, 1, 6) + 16 = 24

Taecuss spends even more precious seconds probing the staff with his will, feeling he is close to unlocking it. In an absent minded fashion, his arcane performance continues to hum in his voice, fueling the combat prowess of his allies.

”Nice try, Nigh-Fallen Queen. It will take more than that to convince me!”

Standard action to identify the staff (round three of three). Spellcraft 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (13) + 9 = 22.

Free action to maintain performance.

For all allies: Inspire Courage:+2 morale bonus vs. charm and fear effects, and a +2 competence bonus on attack and weapon damage rolls.

Hit points 59/59, Spells available: five 1st, three 2nd, two 3rd, 18 rounds of performance.
See Invisible, Ant Haul, Longstrider, Protection from Evil, Fly

Caelin hacks all the way through the exterior of the column, revealing the hollow space within - and Queen Rhoswen!

Meanwhile, Taecuss finishes his study of the Crook of Cildhureen.

"Ah, we've found you again, witch! If you won't fly, maybe you'll hop!" Goodluck yelled maliciously, as he tried once again to turn her into a frog.

Punative Transformation, DC 19 Fort then Will, no spell resistance.

The Queen looks at Goodluck with wild eyes. "NO! You will NOTenspell me in my own palace! she shrieks, her voice laden with the fury of a raging thunderstorm.

Henceforth, let this battle be known as the Battle of Epic Saves.

Alarien and Meycho left to act.

Alarien turns on her heel and rushes the opposite direction again. Wordlessly, she lashes out again with her newly-acquired feybane blade.

Move to I25.

1d20 + 16 ⇒ (16) + 16 = 32
1d8 + 12 ⇒ (2) + 12 = 14

HP 57/57 (+13 temp.); AC 19; Barkskin +2, 30 minutes; Bull's Strength, 8 minutes; Mirror Image, 8 minutes; Aid (1d8 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13 temp. hp), 8 minutes; Divine Favor 7/10rds.; Master's Illusion 1/8 rounds, prayer 4/8 rounds; inspire courage +2

Alarien's enchanted blade cuts through both the Queens natural elusiveness and her magical wards, and draws a long crimson gash on her left arm.

For the first time in hundreds of years, Rhoswen is physically harmed. Somewhere in the midst of all her fury, a new feeling makes an unwelcome appearance. Fear!

- Storming the Fellnight Throne -

Round 8

The Queen turns to the elf cleric who dared cut her. She hisses the words of a spell and reaches out to touch Alarien. Her touch feels like the prick of a thorn, and the skin around the touched area reddens and aches. Alarien feels poison try to work trough her system, but her body seems to just barely manage to fight off the effect. Alarien, please confirm that your current Fort save is +7

Sensing the futility of using the columns to hide in, the Queen steps out from her current position to stand next to Alarien.

Initiative:
Rhoswen - 22 (acted)
Caelin - 18
Goodluck - 15
Taecuss - 12
Alarien - 11
Meycho - 10
Spriggans - 9

MAP

Round 8

"Ah, poor play queen! I have unlocked the secrets of your precious crook. Alas, we shan't need it to end your reign, but you can be assured we will put it to good use later!"

With that, he reaches over his shoulder and slides the staff into his magical backpack, and then draws forth another scroll of true strike. As he does so, he maintains his endless song and drops a little toward the queen. 5' step to K24 and only 25' up now.

For all allies: Inspire Courage:+2 morale bonus vs. charm and fear effects, and a +2 competence bonus on attack and weapon damage rolls.

Hit points 59/59, Spells available: five 1st, three 2nd, two 3rd, 18 rounds of performance.
See Invisible, Ant Haul, Longstrider, Protection from Evil, Fly

Fort save should actually be +8. Prayer adds a +1 bonus to saves. Also, I do have Mirror Image active. Apparently I forgot to roll the number of images though. Fixing that now: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6.

Caelin let out a garbled curse of triumph as the Queen emerged from the column and stood nearby.

Stepping over and lunging towards the dark fey, he thrust with all his might.

Caelin let out a squawk for Aumgwe, and then realized, with horror, that he hadn't seen the bird (nor Falling Star) since entering the Queen's chamber.

Goodluck's heart rose at Taecuss's words of confidence. He pressed his attempt to transform the Queen, feeling victory was close.

But he tried to keep a bit of worry from his face...he was getting weaker and if she didn't succumb soon, he'd have to try a different tactic.

"Not bird nor a frog, Queen? Then how about a sloth!"

Goodluck moves to keep the Queen withing 30' and uses his 3rd Punative Transformation. DC 19 Fort then Will

"The Unquenchable Fire take you if you think that will stop me!" Alarien says, shaking off the effects of the spell as she circles around the fey queen. Slashing and jabbing, she slowly works Rhoswen's guard wide.

Five-foot step to I26, full attack.

1d20 + 16 ⇒ (14) + 16 = 30
1d8 + 12 ⇒ (4) + 12 = 16

1d20 + 11 ⇒ (4) + 11 = 15
1d8 + 12 ⇒ (6) + 12 = 18

Underestimating Caelin's extended reach, Queen Rhoswen failed to evade the elven ranges' attacks in time, and both slashes cut deeply into her slender body.

Gasping from the pain, it took all her effort to stave off Goodluck's third attempt to transform her. She withstood the transformation, but it cost her dearly.

Taking advantage of her distracted state, Alarien pushed her attack, and sank her fey-bane blade into the Queen's chest. With a scream, the Fellnight Queen collapsed, her blood forming a rapidly expanding pool on the throne room floor.

CONGRATULATIONS!! You have finally defeated the Fellnight Queen. Nice teamwork, gang.

Caelin let out a squawk for Aumgwe, and then realized, with horror, that he hadn't seen the bird (nor Falling Star) since entering the Queen's chamber.

Both birds have been following their respective owners all along. I just didn't pay that much attention to them, since neither of you had them perform any actions other than the occasional perception check.

I must say that considering how much Rhoswens abilities and spells are focused on Save-or-Suck, it was amazing to see everyone she targeted make their save. Every. Single. Time. Especially considering how she wiped the floor with you in the nightmare sequence. Of course, the same is true for her. If not for the sharp blades of Caelin and Alarien, her and Goodluck would still be playing rocket tag with their transformation spells.

Yeah, good saves all around. Buffs and luck...I'll take it.

Taecuss speaks quickly. "There's still spriggans out there. Do we take her body with us? Could they raise her?"

Then he pauses and speaks again slowly. "Oh, and I lied.I didn't figure otwhthstfdzz." He trails off in a mumble.

Yeah, good saves all around. Buffs and luck...I'll take it.

It definitly helped that you took proper precautions, and knew what to expect. Which was precisely the point of the nightmare scene.

The queen lies bleeding and motionless. Her enchanted mirror shows the fighting that is still raging in the forest around Bellis. Rather than a single major battle between massive armies, dozens of minor skirmishes are in progress among the trees.

You can hear the sound of spriggans hacking away at Goodluck's wall of ice.

There is a stair to the North that leads up. That's about the only exit from the throne room that isn't blocked right now.

Caelin stepped over and gave the Queen a final, beheading blow. "We won't take all of her", he answered grimly.

"If we can find a large enough window, we can climb and fly down," he suggested.

Goodluck winced slightly at Caelin's swift blow, but then ran over to help. He picked up the head and wrapped it in the Queen's own cloak for transport.

"And the anti-plant shell might give us time for a climb, he suggested, nodding towards Taecuss scroll cases.