KC's Age of Worms

Game Master Kobold Catgirl

"Didn't they say we were allowed to form alliances? We should at least work with Korush part-way. He's a pretty cool guy."

Just remember the range limit on shield other.

"Fly? That's new alright", Tanith laughs.

The Bloodbath is a one winner free for all right?

It is, but it's generally expected that you will work with another team, since a 6 team free-for-all gets messy if it's a true free-for-all.

Essentially, it's a Team Royal Rumble?

5-team, technically, but what Rynjin said.

"So... given that the three elven ladies don't look like bruisers, and their name is 'Arcane Auriga'... I'm going out on a limb and saying they're all wizards or sorcerers. We should try and shut them down fast."

"Rennida's an archer. At least according to Tigri from the Teeth of Kord. She got shot by an arrow laced with acid last year."

"I've prepped several extracts for this: one for resisting energy, one to go invisible, one to see invisible targets (probably going to either Farrukh or Tanith), two of shielding, one to improve my aim with bombs, and a couple of extracts of healing in case I'm separated from Astraden."

"I don't suppose you could cook up another of those special ones you gave me the other day. The one with the hair in it", Tanith asks recalling the bizarre ingredients.

"A shielding extract would be good too."

Carina shakes her head. "Sorry--I used up all the flasks for that. The shield extracts, on the other hand, I can help you with."

"And honestly, I'm not convinced you really need it anyway."

She pats her belt and her eyes widen. "Oh! I almost forgot--I got myself a new extract formula from that drow's book." She pulls out a flask filled with a purplish-pink fluid. "It's supposed to protect me from incoming arrows, bolts, or the like."

"I'll probably be flying as well. Want me to handle haste, Eben? It will lower the number of pits I can create."

"Well, hmm..." Eben ticks off spells on his fingers, muttering to himself. "Actually, no, I think I can handle it. The only spell I'd need that's equally draining is good hope, and I should be able to cast both of those and still have a little left over. Save your magic for pits."

KC, how will pre-combat buffs work? I assume we'll have a quiet minute to cast our minute/level and 10 minute/level spells before the fight starts?

There will be some time. You can try asking around to get an exact figure.

Eben goes in search of Palemon Nodor– or, failing him, someone suitably official-looking– for answers to his tactical curiosity.

Diplomacy (gather information): 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (5) + 21 = 26

"Will we have any time before entering the arena to get some spells cast in advance? And, if so, about how long will it be after entering before the fighting begins, what with introductions and other formalities?"

Wasn't sure what the time we ate was last night, but Astraden would've prepared the following at her normal time.

"We shoud definitely try to save Badland's Revenge for last. Joren is a cool guy. Maybe us, Sapphire Squad, and them against the other two teams at start, if we can wrangle it. Farrukh, you wanna talk to Korush about it?" Astraden seeks out the gnolls and tries to convey her wish for (temporary) peace.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (14) + 3 = 17

Palemon raises an eyebrow. "While you are in the arena, the announcer will begin introducing teams. This takes two minutes. You will also start out fairly far from each other."

As he finishes, a shout comes from up above. A warden runs down, gleefully clutching his wager ticket. "Final Phoenix won! Great fight, too—real close, right up until the end."

Palemon rolls his eyes. "And I must go. Doubtless the fools are horrendously injured after such an extended battle."

Wasn't sure what the time we ate was last night, but Astraden would've prepared the following at her normal time.** spoiler omitted **

"We shoud definitely try to save Badland's Revenge for last. Joren is a cool guy. Maybe us, Sapphire Squad, and them against the other two teams at start, if we can wrangle it. Farrukh, you wanna talk to Korush about it?" Astraden seeks out the gnolls and tries to convey her wish for (temporary) peace.

[dice=Diplomacy]1d20+3

Joren snorts. "Us, ally with you? I have heard of your group. We will never make it to fight Auric if we allow ourselves to be slowed down by Spiny's Six. And we must reach Auric."

Okay, so, 10 minute/level spells can be cast anytime beforehand. 1 minute/level spells we might want to cast on the lifts on the way up- sounds like we'll still get at least five minutes use out of them.

After his query to Palemon, Eben approaches Astraden in time to hear the Badland's leader reject her. He approaches himself and says to her, in a stage whisper intended to reach Joren's ears, "Astraden, what are you doing? Gnolls are stronger than kobolds! I thought we were going to ally with a weak group that would otherwise distract us by picking away at us bit by bit, so that by the time we finish them, we're unable to handle a strong group! Isn't the idea to save the weak groups for last?"

Diplomacy? Auto-aid.

Just count yourself lucky Charisma is an easy dump stat for game developers.

Joren clearly overhears. He seems to weigh this for a moment, then a slow smile creeps across his face. He punches Astraden in the shoulder. "Hey. You know, on second thought, we'll...save your group. You seem okay. Besides, my buddies here are eager as hell to gut some elves."

Farrukh runs off to find Korush.

"Hey, Korush. We're friends, right? What do you say the Sapphire Squad and Spiny's Six team up to take down the other teams? We're getting Badlands Revenge to help out too, even the playing field a bit."

Korush strokes his chin, considering. "Hm...well, I do like your group, don't get me wrong, but Draconic Brood has already made persuasive overtures. Let me think."

Make a Diplomacy check. He's Friendly, so it's DC 10.

Hoo boy. Wait!

Farrukh changes his variable skill Ioun Stone to make him better at Diplomacy, and Takes 10.

Korush thinks a moment, then smiles brightly. "I'll tell you what, Farrukh, I have a good feeling about you and your team. Maybe you'll surprise me. Worst case scenario, the fight's a little bit more challening!" He extends a hand to shake. "It's a deal. Korush, genie of the Material, shall fight with you."

Meanwhile, a battered-and-bloodied Final Phoenix is making its way down the stairs. Korush looks over, head tilting. "Looks like their alchemist didn't make it. Tough luck. Wonder if they'll be able to afford the raise?"

10:00 am

Not long after, the party is called up along with the four other groups. Everyone is fully armed, and Joren is accompanied by an enormous dire badger that has apparently been kept up above until now. The trip up is tense, and none of the others are eager to talk. Even Korush has shut up for once. Spiny's Six is the last group in the lift, and the warden gives them a sympathetic look as they ascend into the Free City Arena.

Last night, the arena was packed in the interior. The unlit stands were empty and quiet.

This morning, things are a little bit different.

Roaring applause greets Spiny's Six as they step off the lift. Ten thousand spectators sit in the stands, each cheering on their favorite team in an indistinct cacophony of exhilaration.

Unsurprisingly, not too many are cheering for Spiny's Six. Eben might notice a burly blacksmith; Tanith might notice a bunch of merry Kordians; Carina might notice the elf rescued from the doppelganger prisons; Rodrigo might notice one or two familiar faces from the Guild of Thieves (though the latter aren't so much cheering as looking at him with murderous "We bet on you, don't screw this up" expressions) but the majority either don't know of Spiny's Six or have probably heard certain spurious rumors.

Spiny's Six is quickly ushered into the fifth corner of a pentagon formed by the other four groups.

"Introducing..." booms a magically-enhanced voice throughout the stadium, "...the masterful archers whose deadly aim is matched only by their deadly feminine wiles, the all-elf team, ARCANE AURIGA!" The elves raise their hands as the crowd screams its jubilation.

"Hailing from the monstrous Badlands of the Vesve Forest, these brutal hyenamen's serrated poleaxes know only one master, and that is their hunger for blood! Here fighting alongside their equally primitive, frothing human savage, for the very first time, BADLANDS REVENGE!" The stands ripple, releasing howls of excitement. Joren and his gnolls do not seem to react, though the badger looks around sharply, still clearly adjusting to the bright sun above.

"The dazzling cavaliers from Ket are famed for their skill with the blade, but here they are mastered by something not entirely of this world—the so-called 'genie of the Material', Korush, whose swift wit cuts alongside his swift blade. I give you...THE SAPPHIRE SQUAD!" Korush and his group eagerly milk the crowd for all its worth, raising their arms and encouraging louder and louder reaction—and indeed, the hollers and cheers from the stands are the loudest yet. The Sapphire Squad seems to have a particularly large female fan following.

"And for the fourth year and counting, crawling their ways up from the deeps of the foul lands below, the foul-smelling and foul-tempered scions of the chromatics led by Mother Miskiota, THE DRACONIC BROOD!" It seems almost half the crowd is on their feet, shrieking out names—Mother Miskiota, the Batty Bekbek Bros, Ugly Ug, and one that can't even be made out. The group hasn't seen much of Draconic Brood, but they realize now that they've probably smelled them. Draconic Brood is comprised of three troglodytes and two cloaked kobolds with daggers. One of the troglodytes, Mother Miskiota, is much larger than the rest and wields a pair of klars crafted from owlbear skulls.

"And last...but not least...we have a completely new group, archnemeses of the Kobold King and his fearsome—is this right? Okay...—concu...kobolds...SPINY'S SIX!"

A few guys in the back yell "Yeah!"

While this is happening, you have two minutes to prepare. Begin listing buffs. I'll post what the other four groups are doing, and a map, shortly.

Tanith tries to not let Eben's machinations and the resulting lack of attention from the crowd discourage him. He cheers and waves to those few yelling their appreciation.

No group buffs really. Tanith will put up iron skin and activate his good blessing when we're within the last couple rounds of prebuffing time.

Edit: And drink that shield extract.

Carina hands off a shield extract to Tanith and her other one to whoever needs it the most before handing off her see invisibility extract to Farrukh. She then knocks back her extracts of Protection from Arrows and Bomber's Eye.

Drinking the bomber's eye extract just before the fight begins.

Farrukh downs the See Invisibility Extract.

Eben spends the walk to their position on the arena floor, and the first minute or so of the introduction, doing his best to play to the growd in his own special fashion. As he walks along, he takes out his (non-masterwork and non-marked) deck of cards and one by one, uses mage hand to levitate individual cards to the crowd. (The total range of the spell being 45 feet means he can only 'gift' front row spectators this way, but it's something.) He makes a point of reserving cards in the hearts suit- especially face cards- for particularly winsome women and men.

Once in their 'base' position and he's out of heart cards, he stows the remaining deck and begins the serious prep work. "I believe in us, seize the moment when it comes, all the arrows in the world, nimble nimble, dance like a cat."

As the fight draws closer, he keeps his bow in its quiver, but draws out his glass rod. He delays a few seconds, then casts another spell, splitting into several separate Ebens.
Mirror Image: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5
In the last possible second before the fight, he draws a wand from his belt, waves it over his back at his quiver, then tucks it back in.

Starting from the one-minute mark: good hope, moment of greatness, abundant ammunition, and cat's grace. Two or so rounds before the match, he casts mirror image, then draws his gravity bow wand. He uses it and sheathes it in the last prep round. Assuming the fight starts exactly a minute after I start casting, then good hope lasts 70 rounds, moment of greatness lasts 71, abundant ammunition lasts 72, cat's grace lasts 74 on Eben and 75 on Astraden. Mirror image lasts 88 rounds and gravity bow lasts 9.

Map updated ("ROUND ONE"). The NPC buffs may take a bit longer—I'm going to be busy tonight.

the ROUND ONE link goes nowhere.

Damn size limits. Fixed.

Does anyone else especially want the second shield extract? Farrukh and Astraden have shields, and Rodrigo and Carina will be flying, so I wouldn't object to some extra AC protection against whatever we deal with on the ground.

Carina, I think you actually need the shield extract the most.

Astraden spends the last minute conjuring a thick layer of protections on her friends. She feels her heart pumping faster, both from the danger approaching and from the divine power of Olidamarra flowing through her lips, hands, and mask.

You want it, Eben? Otherwise I'm cool with drinking it.

Eben makes a small "Ooh." of surprise as his feet float a bit off of the ground.

Yeah, if I'm off the ground I withdraw my request for shielding. I want to save some 2nd level slots for gallant inspiration, if needed, but I could probably cast another cat's grace on anyone who wants another few points of AC.

Carina drinks the last shield extract, and chases it with her extract of fly.

Oh, huh, for some reason assumed Astraden had armor that wouldn't allow her additional dex bonus, but mithral chainmail? And an normal dex of 10? Pff. Easy call.

The floating Eben returns the favor and repeats his 'nimble. nimble' spell while placing a hand on Astraden.

+4 Dex is yours. I'll put it in right after Eben's own cat's grace in my countdown.

During the brief time he's not laying down spells alongside Astraden, Eben nods to the south. "So both the groups we made deals with aren't exactly near us. Who do we move on first, elves or... oh, yeah, of course they placed us in with kobolds, are we obligated to act scared of them or something? Anyway, Elves or dragons?"

"Thanks, Eben!"

Astraden shouts to her friends over the roar of the crowd, "Elves?" As the announcer shouts her group's name, she completes her spells, finishing with the soul magic that conjures her illusory duplicate.

"We should probably tackle the elves first. It doesn't matter if they're archers or mages - both are too dangerous to let them run wild. Just try not to kill any of them. They were the less crazy of the two groups Red and I talked to last night."

"Definitely the elves."

"Okay. I'm casting haste with this," he shakes the rod, "as soon as we get the go. Don't go running off until you feel wired."

Extremely busy today, this will probably be my only post. Rodrigo casts fly as late as possible before the fight begins. He'll also cast an ablative barrier on himself.

During the announcements, Spiny's Revenge can see the other groups preparing similarly.

In Arcane Auriga, all four elves are drinking potions and casting spells upon themselves and their bows. Rennida's form shimmers, then expands into 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4 images of herself, shifting amongst each other. She turns and eyes the cavaliers balefully, one hand gripping her glowing bow, the other fingering what looks like a spell component pouch.

In the Sapphire Squad, Korush immediately begins rapidly summoning horses. Four, to be precise. His mercenaries mount in practiced maneuvers as soon as the creatures appear. With this done, he begins applying a wand, causing everyone's image to glow and blur—though not quite to Rennida's extent—as the mercenaries drink potions.

Among Badlands Revenge, Joren is hurriedly feeding potions to his badger and himself. The gnolls drink a couple as well. No effects are particularly obvious from this distance.

And among Draconic Brood, "Mother Miskiota" and the other two troglodytes begin casting spells upon each other. Their scales seem to turn darker and chitinous. They finish off drinking potions. Meanwhile, the two kobolds cast spells upon themselves, conjuring little spinning shields in front of them.

Combat will start tomorrow.

Astraden opens the fight by running towards the elves and calling on Olidammara's luck for her friends and allies.

Prayer with as many of the enemies as I can catch, designating Sapphire Squad and Badlands' Revenge as allies.

Initiative (clockwise from DB): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 91d20 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 1 = 161d20 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 = 201d20 + 11 ⇒ (17) + 11 = 281d20 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

Order: Arcane Auriga - Sapphire Squad - Badlands Revenge - Draconic Brood - Spiny's Six

Block Initiative makes its triumphant return.

Round 1: Arcane Auriga

The party hears the announcer's voice blaring overhead as the battle begins. "And we're off! The fair Lady Rennida appears to be already casting a spell—her team is swift as ever—and...by Moradin's thunder, she's created a massive pit! Right between herself and the Sapphire Squad, and those horsemen do not look happy about it! That's going to cut up their swagger a little, I daresay!

"And now she's giving orders—yes, these elves are known for their synchronicity, and here they seem to be concentrating on—"

"Leftmost rider, then rightmost!" Rennida orders. "Krinasa, the summoner!"

On Cavalier: 1d20 + 30 ⇒ (3) + 30 = 331d20 + 30 ⇒ (14) + 30 = 441d20 + 30 ⇒ (12) + 30 = 421d20 + 30 ⇒ (4) + 30 = 34 Blur: 4d100 ⇒ (25, 78, 57, 8) = 168 Damage: 2d6 + 6 ⇒ (4, 3) + 6 = 132d6 + 6 ⇒ (2, 5) + 6 = 132d6 + 6 ⇒ (5, 1) + 6 = 122d6 + 6 ⇒ (5, 5) + 6 = 16 26 and up: 1d100 ⇒ 72
On Eben: 1d20 + 30 ⇒ (7) + 30 = 37 Damage: 2d6 + 6 ⇒ (3, 6) + 6 = 15

Eben notices one of the elves—"Krinasa"—seeming to close her eyes, but the arrow flies no less accurately, neatly bypassing his illusions. He feels it sink into the flesh of his thigh. "—and MacTeague is hit! Yes, the real one! An amazing shot! Yes, word is that humble wordsmith is quite a potent summoner, and this seems like smart strate—

"—oh, and that cavalier is down! Korush has already lost one of his men. He is still in his saddle, but he has slumped! Four arrows in his chest! Those elves are out for blood!"

Knowledge (arcana).

Round 1: Sapphire Squad

"Oh-ho-ho, and this is giving Korush pause," the announcer declares. "His cavaliers are already circling around, and—ooh, the poor cavalier has been roughly removed from his saddle by Korush! Yes, Korush looks annoyed! He's taken control of that horse and is now riding straight at the elves, heedless of the pit!

"It's a close call...can he skirt the edge??"

Fast Mount: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (14) + 14 = 28
Horse Reflex Save: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10
Fast Dismount: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (19) + 14 = 33
Korush Reflex Save: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (18) + 13 = 31
Damage: 4d6 ⇒ (1, 4, 2, 4) = 11

"NO! NO IT CANNOT! Korush has leaped clear, but that horse is in and Korush is left on the ground, humiliated! Oh, he looks even angrier! He looks so tiny, and impotent! He's looking up towards me now, and—let's check in on Badlands Revenge, folks."

Round 1: Badlands Revenge:

"And the gnolls are already rushing after those little kobolds! They must have heard that the Bekbeks do not like being caught in—"

Gnoll Charges: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (8) + 12 = 201d20 + 12 ⇒ (12) + 12 = 241d20 + 12 ⇒ (15) + 12 = 27
Damage: 3d10 + 30 ⇒ (8, 7, 10) + 30 = 55

"—DEAD! No mistaking it, tiny neck severed and everything! That kobold didn't even have the chance to react!" The crowd rumbles with shock as the kobold's corpse falls to the ground, hacked by three separate blows. "Oh, gods. Those monsters were hired for sheer hack-and-slash potential, and they live up to the hype! The Batty Bekbek Bros are now singular!

"And here comes Joren and...Scrim-in-aduro, his badger companion. Man, try saying that three ti—Joren has just hurled a ball of fire over his gnolls' heads! Tricky shot..."

Ranged Touch: 1d20 + 9 - 4 ⇒ (7) + 9 - 4 = 12 Damage: 1d6 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7

"...but it hits! Bekbek is singed. A bit lackluster considering his gnolls' opening, really. Not sure what his beast is doing—that badger is just sniffing the air, ignoring Joren's orders to attack completely! Totally bizarre!"
Knowledge (arcana).

Round 1: Draconic Brood:

"Well, those monsters do not look happy. Bekbek is drinking a potion, and—okay, I can't see him anymore. Can anybody see him? Darn it, it makes my job so much harder when—" Those who have See Invisibility (Farrukh, I believe) can see him just fine. He's circling around the gnolls, Stealthing remarkably swiftly.

"Those troglodytes are moving very quickly—their primitive ranger magic serves them well, of course—and one of them is risking a hit so they can net a flank! Lizard against hyena!"

AoO: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (5) + 10 = 15
Claws: 1d20 + 11 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 11 + 2 = 231d20 + 11 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 11 + 2 = 15 Damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

"One of them lands a shallow slash, but that gnoll is tough! Mother Miskiota moves in. The troglodyte leader is taking a hit as well so she can slash brutally with one of those klars of hers!"
AoO: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (16) + 10 = 26 Damage: 1d1 + 10 ⇒ (1) + 10 = 11
Klar: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (11) + 13 = 24 Damage: 1d6 + 9 ⇒ (6) + 9 = 15

"She takes a graze on her cheek from the gnoll and responds in the only language both their kinds are fluent in! I can tell she held back on that—knocking that gnoll back in this case would be a bad move, considering that bloody halberd, and Mother Miskiota's always shown some brains—for a troglodyte—in the four years we've known her."

Round 1: Spiny's Six

"Now, let's see what Spiny's Six is up to. The rookie team's been slow on the draw here, but...well, let's see what they can do."

Feel free to roll Spellcraft/Know (arcana) on any obvious spell effects. I marked a few as identifiable, but I may have missed one or two. Remember the distance penalties, but you can ignore the first -2 in penalties thanks to the announcer's descriptions.

Working as per Astraden's revised instructions: Dispel Magic on Rennida.

CL: 1d20 + 8 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 8 + 5 = 18 Action Point: 2d6 ⇒ (2, 5) = 7

"Here Limhaare is moving forward—is that half-orc hoping to force the archers into a melee? I...ah! Oh, my! Rennida's mirror images have been dispelled! Look at the surprised look on that elf's face! She's probably wondering who taught that half-orc magic! No offense to our half-orc viewers, of course!"

Dispel: Mirror Image is successful.

"And is it just my imagination, or is there a haste spell working there? Their summoner, Eben MacTeague, isn't letting that arrow in his leg slow him down! Spiny's Six is off to a lucky start, but can they maintain that streak?"

"Summoner...?" Eben says uncomprehendingly while an arrow closes in on him. "DAMMIT!" he curses as he takes first blood for Spiny's Six. "Okay, yes, ELVES FIRST." He waves his glass rod around the group while hastily muttering and pressing a button. With a tinkling crack, the group is affected by haste. Eben doesn't even look around, as he drops the rod to the sand and begins climbing steps made out of air.

Using 30 feet of movement to move 15 feet up and 15 feet forward.

Once well off the ground, he begins running forward and west, grabbing his bow from his quiver as he goes. He reaches a spot for a comfortable shot and takes aim at the now-singular Rennida. After firing, he bends and twists in the air, providing a narrow and moving profile to shoot back at.

shortbow+good hope+haste: 1d20 + 13 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 13 + 2 + 1 = 19
damage?: 1d8 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 + 2 = 11

Cast haste as a swift action, drop rod as a free action, use 60 feet of movement, draw bow as part of movement. Shoot at Rennida as standard action, activate Dance of 23 Steps as free action.

Good hope lasts 70 rounds, moment of greatness lasts 71, abundant ammunition lasts 72, cat's grace lasts 74 on Eben and 75 on Astraden. Mirror image lasts 88 rounds and gravity bow lasts 9. Haste lasts 8 rounds.

Mirror image has 5 images remaining, Eben's AC is 25 while haste & dance of 23 steps are active.

Oh sure, roll poorly for our Initiative AND have our allies act like morons...Also, Neither Korush nor his horse should have had to roll a Reflex save from what I see. It wasn't cast ON them, so unless they ENDED their turn adjacent to the pit, they should have been just fine. And why would he choose to end his turn next to the pit if his horse sucks that bad?

"Tanith, I'm going to try to foul those nearest archers. Come with me so I don't get pincushioned."

Farrukh moves fast with the quickness 60 70 feet, then swings his Klar at the Rennida directly in front of him.

Bash Haste Good Hope Favored Target Invisibiity: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (11) + 20 = 31

Damage: 1d6 + 16 + 2d6 ⇒ (3) + 16 + (4, 1) = 24

And a DC 31 Bull Rush vs her Flatfooted CMD should send her tumbling right into yon pit.

Good lord. The elves have a +30 to hit with their bows? Yes, KILL THE ELVES FIRST indeed.