KC's Age of Worms

Game Master Kobold Catgirl

OK, in interests of expediting my post: if I can move back to be unsquozen, the only difference it'll make is that I'll use Rapid Shot. (And if I don't move back, then we get to find out whether this thing has Combat Reflexes of not.) So:

Eben tries stepping back to avoid the demon's sword while he takes aim and shoots at it. It's questionable on whether or not he manages to do so.

Activating Dance of 23 Steps before firing.

Manyshot+good hope+PBS+haste-squeezing: 1d20 + 14 + 2 + 1 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (5) + 14 + 2 + 1 + 1 - 4 = 19
damage+good hope+Arcane Strike+PBS: 2d8 + 4 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (8, 8) + 4 + 4 + 2 = 26

Hasted shot+good hope+PBS+haste-squeezing: 1d20 + 14 + 2 + 1 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (20) + 14 + 2 + 1 + 1 - 4 = 34
damage+good hope+Arcane Strike+PBS: 1d8 + 2 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 2 + 2 + 1 = 9

Iterative+good hope+PBS+haste-squeezing: 1d20 + 9 + 2 + 1 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (17) + 9 + 2 + 1 + 1 - 4 = 26
damage+good hope+Arcane Strike+PBS: 1d8 + 2 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 2 + 2 + 1 = 7

If I'm not squeezing, then I use Rapid Shot, which means all three above shots get a +2 to them. (Trading the -2 Rapid Shot penalty for the -4 squeezing.)

Rapid Shot+good hope+PBS+haste-Rapid Shot: 1d20 + 14 + 2 + 1 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (10) + 14 + 2 + 1 + 1 - 2 = 26
damage+good hope+Arcane Strike+PBS: 1d8 + 2 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 2 + 2 + 1 = 9

Free actions: continue Dirge of Doom. Possible 5-foot step, activate Dance of 23 Steps. Full attack the demon.

Moment of greatness lasts 78 rounds, good hope lasts 77 rounds, cat's grace on Astraden lasts 70 rounds, Mirror image lasts 69 rounds, cat's grace on me lasts 68 rounds.

AC is 26/17/18 with Dance of 23 Steps active. (And a possible -4 to that if I'm still squeezing.) Mirror image has 3 images remaining.

Oh, sorry, I didn't see your post until now. You can move into that spot, but you remained threatened (and Carina and Astraden remain squeezed).

As a small tip, Tanith might want to start moving out, whether or not he grabs Carina, so people can get out of the strategic chokehold the demon has put you in.

Crit?: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (5) + 16 = 21

Eben sinks three arrows into...

1d7 ⇒ 21d6 ⇒ 31d5 ⇒ 2

Copies of the demon. Now, only four demon images remain, including whichever one is the true demon.

Rodrigo and Tanith are up.

I didn't have an action to cast haste AFAIK. I also need to save against the gaze again presumably.

Fort save: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11

So I'm paralyzed again, right?

In a burst of motion Tanith darts to grab the immobile Carina and then carries her away from the frantic melee.

Spending a Ki point for AC as well.

Rodrigo, we can assume you were able to close your eyes as your paralysis started to end.

I might change my actions if Rodrigo's able to get Carina clear.

Technically, Eben asked Rodrigo to cast haste before we got up here and Rodrigo got paralyzed, so he'd probably have been able to if he wanted.

Hearing arrows flitting past her, yet hearing no screams of pain from Eben, Astraden wheezes, "Rodrigo, you can get out!"

That's what I thought he'd done, cast it as we were ascending.

So: confirmed. Eyeballs doesn't have CR. Provoke as needed.

KC, shouldn't there only be three demons remaining? Adjusted for not squeezing, my first shot becomes a 21, which since it seems this thing has a 26 (at the most) AC, is within 5 of its actual AC and should pop an image as well.

Ah, you're correct. I forgot about that "5 or less" rule.

Waiting on Rodrigo's action, as he shouldn't be paralyzed.

A) Did I have an action between DDooring onto the pillar and getting paralyzed? B) Won't I need to open my eyes to target the DDoor spell now?

If the answer to A is yes, then everyone is hasted.

If the answer to B is somehow no, I will DDoor Carina and myself wherever she wants to go. I have a bunch of baby stuff to handle today, so no real post, sorry.

Teleportation spells don't require line of sight.

Yay! Then we're just waiting on Tanith.

Sweet.

With Carina a relatively safe distance from the demon, Tanith allows his divine rage to bubble to the surface. After unleashing a fearsome roar, the big man steps into a better position and releases the grip on his poleaxe long enough to deliver a crushing combo with his hunter-enhanced fist.

Using a blessing for strength surge. Rage.

Flurry: 1d20 + 15 - 3 + 2 + 1 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 15 - 3 + 2 + 1 + 3 + 2 = 31
Damage: 1d8 + 9 + 6 + 2 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 9 + 6 + 2 + 1 + 2 = 26

Flurry: 1d20 + 15 - 3 + 2 + 1 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 15 - 3 + 2 + 1 + 3 + 2 = 30
Damage: 1d8 + 9 + 6 + 2 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 9 + 6 + 2 + 1 + 2 = 27

Iterative: 1d20 + 10 - 3 + 2 + 1 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 10 - 3 + 2 + 1 + 3 + 2 = 21
Damage: 1d8 + 9 + 6 + 2 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 9 + 6 + 2 + 1 + 2 = 25

Haste: 1d20 + 15 - 3 + 2 + 1 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 15 - 3 + 2 + 1 + 3 + 2 = 27
Damage: 1d8 + 9 + 6 + 2 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 9 + 6 + 2 + 1 + 2 = 22

This should be before Eben so you might need to juggle the mirror image rolls a little.

Why before Eben? If you wind up whiffing a bunch of images and my arrows hit home, they do pretty much nothing. If my arrows go first and up your chances of hitting from 1-in-7 to 1-in-3, your fists smack the demon around quite a bit.

I might have misunderstood but I thought the plan was to get the demon trained on Eben once he's confused because he's got the most hp. To do that Eben needs to be the last one to attack him.

That's fine (albeit horrifying that suddenly I become the default tank...), but the demon's not confused yet. It would become confused next turn when it can't full attack Carina, so the 'confused creature focuses its next attack on anyone who attacks it' clause wouldn't come into play until then. (And won't, even in that case, because the confusion lasts only one round.) There is the 25% chance it attacks the nearest creature, but there's no 'last creature that attacked it' ruling there. Basically, there's no point in keeping Eben's shots til last here, that would be just minimizing the effects of a much stronger attack. (i.e., hamfists.)

Ah, ok. In that case Eben should definitely go first. That said this plan has a 1/4 chance of getting someone killed. If it rolls act normally or attack nearest creature it'll kill Astraden or Tanith.

A one in two chance, actually. :)

Rodrigo teleports Carina to the back of the room, under the floating sarcophagus, where it looks clear of enemies.

1d3 ⇒ 1 1d2 ⇒ 2 1d2 ⇒ 1

Tanith smashes apart the last two images, landing a brutal hit to the gut between his first and third strikes. The demon stumbles back, looking...not exactly badly injured, but efficiently startled. As the final illusion fades, Tanith punches it in the face.

No images remain.

Round 3: Demon

The demon's eyes bug out of their...demon as it finds itself seized in a compulsion, overcoming the innate magic resistance. Unable to reach Carina despite its best efforts, it begins to claw at its skull. "Memories of deeds..." it hisses. "Get out of my head, trickster! I will yet end you!"

Confusion: 1d4 ⇒ 3

Damage: 1d8 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11

Its hide proves impervious to its own fevered assault.

Round 3: You are up!

Almost forgot: Need another round of saves against the gaze attack from Astraden, Eben and Tanith! 1d100 ⇒ 41 And Carina, assuming she's sticking with her "avert eyes" strategy for this round. Fort DC 18 or be paralyzed for 1d4 ⇒ 1 rounds.

Farrukh keeps trying to play wall-ball with the demon's head.

Slash: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (10) + 14 = 24
Damage?: 1d6 + 15 ⇒ (6) + 15 = 21

Bash: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (11) + 16 = 27
-Miss

Bash Haste: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (13) + 16 = 29
Damage: 1d6 + 16 ⇒ (6) + 16 = 22

Bash Iterative: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (11) + 11 = 22
-Miss

Action Point Bash: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (16) + 16 = 32
Damage: 1d6 + 16 ⇒ (1) + 16 = 17

Concealment: 10d100 ⇒ (75, 91, 49, 14, 58, 94, 24, 14, 26, 99) = 544

"I forgot how hard this whole 'fighting blind' thing is."

That's fine (albeit horrifying that suddenly I become the default tank...), but the demon's not confused yet. It would become confused next turn when it can't full attack Carina, so the 'confused creature focuses its next attack on anyone who attacks it' clause wouldn't come into play until then. (And won't, even in that case, because the confusion lasts only one round.) There is the 25% chance it attacks the nearest creature, but there's no 'last creature that attacked it' ruling there. Basically, there's no point in keeping Eben's shots til last here, that would be just minimizing the effects of a much stronger attack. (i.e., hamfists.)

Not sure WHEN the demon gets confused - as soon as the conditions are broken, or on its turn - but to be safe, we might want to have Eben be the last one to attack it, as he currently has the most HP of the group that still has actions left.

Anyway . . .

Astraden is tempted to look and see the result of her planning, but keeps her eyes shut and touches her holy symbol. A wave of buoying emotions washes over the priestess and her friends, closing the hole in her gut but not repairing the damage to her entrails. "Finish it, Tanith!"

Channel positive energy (healing): 6d6 ⇒ (5, 3, 4, 2, 4, 5) = 23 [0/6] [69/73] Excluding demon.

Round 3: Channel positive energy (standard action). Air walk on Astraden lasts 684 rounds, magic circle against law on Tanith lasts 698 rounds, daylight on Eben's arrow lasts 699 rounds, comprehend languages lasts 758 rounds, and copycat lasts 3 rounds.

I hate to be a party pooper, but you need to be able to see who you're excluding to exclude them. Source.

Fortitude+good hope: 1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 6 + 2 = 21

Eben once again manages to shrug off the effects of the demon's gaze. Moreover, he positively crows as his magic actually succeeds in making the demon effectively useless, albeit temporarily. "That's nothing, demon, wait and see what I have in store for you next!" He lets his bow fall to the ground and (quite uncharacteristically) pulls forth his longsword. "O, Sword of Guile, I've already flayed this fiend's mind, now it's your turn to flay it's flesh!" He flourishes the blade dramatically while adopting a dueling pose.

Using Aid Another to boost Tanith's AC.

attack AC 10+good hope: 1d20 + 9 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 9 + 2 = 30

He manages a series of impressive looking swipes through the air between the demon and Tanith, although none actually touch the demon itself. His footwork is, as always, more impressive than the actual sword work.

Free actions: drop bow, continue Dirge of Doom. Move action: draw sword. Standard action: Aid another. Free action: activate Dance of 23 Steps.

Moment of greatness lasts 77 rounds, good hope lasts 76 rounds, cat's grace on Astraden lasts 69 rounds, Mirror image lasts 68 rounds, cat's grace on me lasts 67 rounds.

AC is 26/17/18 with Dance of 23 Steps active. Mirror image has 3 images remaining.

Fortitude Save (Sickened, Shield Other, Good Hope): 1d20 + 8 - 2 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 8 - 2 + 2 + 1 = 14
AP Boost?: 2d6 ⇒ (3, 4) = 7 Final Result: 18! Yay!

Carina nearly freezes up again, but forces herself to move, defying the demonic creature's will. "Thanks, Rodrigo."

Round 3: Actions
Move Action: Crawl out from under the sarcophagus, pulling out my crossbow as I move (if that's allowed)
Standard Action: Shoot at the demon (if allowed); this time, I'm closing my eyes!

She starts crawling out from under the sarcophagus, bringing her crossbow to bear and closing her eyes.

Here goes nothing...

She aims at where she hopes the demon is and fires the crossbow!

Miss Chance?: 1d100 ⇒ 86

Ranged Attack (PBS, Precise, Good Hope, Sickened): 1d20 + 10 + 1 + 1 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (13) + 10 + 1 + 1 + 2 - 2 = 25
Damage? (PBS, Good Hope): 1d8 + 1 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 + 2 + 1 = 7
Nonlethal Damage?: 1d6 ⇒ 5

The bolt strikes the demon's hide. It seems to take on a porous consistency before slipping back out, leaving the demon unharmed. Meanwhile, Farrukh manages two shallow cuts on the demon's form.

Tanith and Rodrigo are up, and Astraden needs to clarify her action.

Uhhhh.....fudge. Can't see anything. Hope you guys know what to do..

Rodrigo casts his mental net to the good aligned planes and yanks as many soliders of Nirvana as he can to their location.

Summoning 1d3 ⇒ 2 Bralani Azatas.

The azatas fly over to the demon and begin attacking it. They close their eyes first, seeing that the others aren't looking at the demon, and being trained in such combat.

Attacks on demon: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (20) + 13 = 331d20 + 13 ⇒ (18) + 13 = 311d20 + 13 ⇒ (7) + 13 = 20
Confirm crit #1: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (1) + 13 = 14
Confirm crit #2: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (11) + 13 = 24
Miss chances: 1d100 ⇒ 11d100 ⇒ 1001d100 ⇒ 38
Miss chance rerolls: 1d100 ⇒ 921d100 ⇒ 81
Damage#1: 1d6 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12
Damage#2: 2d6 + 16 ⇒ (5, 3) + 16 = 24 (if crit)
Damage#3: 1d6 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11

Carina, you don't need to crawl—the sarcophagus is ten feet up.

Oh.

Logically, the azatas should need to save at least the first round, since they can't see that the party's eyes are shut without seeing the demon's eyes. You could just order them to close their eyes, though, so we won't worry about it too much.

The azatas surround the demon. Rodrigo can't see what they're doing, but he hears one of them exclaim, "Master, this demon is all-but immune to our assault! Loathe as I am to recommend the metal, you will need cold iron to significantly damage this creature."

"Surely someone in your party knows that," adds another bralani, somewhat waspishly.

Tanith/Astraden are up.

Fortitude (good hope, moment of greatness): 1d20 + 8 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 8 + 2 + 2 = 32 COME. ON.

"Wait, I've got a cold iron dagger!" Astraden exclaims.

"Not to worry! The Sword of Guile can transform itself into any metal, as needed!" Eben calls out, quite loudly.

Bluff check to make the demon think I'm the bigger threat of the peeps surrounding it:

Bluff+good hope: 1d20 + 22 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 22 + 2 = 30

"But my dagger is better!"

Bluff to send secret message (good hope): 1d20 + 12 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 12 + 2 = 19

Astraden, are you still channeling?

Fort: 1d20 + 12 + 2 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 12 + 2 + 6 + 2 = 34

With the demon suitably distracted, Tanith turns up the pressure.

Using the same stuff as last round.

Flurry: 1d20 + 15 - 3 + 2 + 1 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 15 - 3 + 2 + 1 + 3 + 2 = 38
Damage: 1d8 + 9 + 6 + 2 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 9 + 6 + 2 + 1 + 2 = 25

Flurry: 1d20 + 15 - 3 + 2 + 1 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 15 - 3 + 2 + 1 + 3 + 2 = 25
Damage: 1d8 + 9 + 6 + 2 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 9 + 6 + 2 + 1 + 2 = 21

Iterative: 1d20 + 10 - 3 + 2 + 1 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 10 - 3 + 2 + 1 + 3 + 2 = 16
Damage: 1d8 + 9 + 6 + 2 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 9 + 6 + 2 + 1 + 2 = 23

Haste: 1d20 + 15 - 3 + 2 + 1 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 15 - 3 + 2 + 1 + 3 + 2 = 26
Damage: 1d8 + 9 + 6 + 2 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 9 + 6 + 2 + 1 + 2 = 26

Yes.

Be back in around six hours—will get up the next round post then.

FAKE EDIT: Ugh. Thought I posted this six hours ago. Well, I'll just write up the next round momentarily.

See you in four hours . . .

Things happened. Very sorry about that.

Tanith strikes the demon for two solid hits as Astraden heals the party.

Round 4: Demon

The demon snarls, breaking free of Eben's compulsion. It releases three eyebolts at the bard and strikes out at Tanith. "Madness, memory. Let us test your mind, archer. Will you bend? Or break?"

This time, it does not bother with its claw—it just grips the longsword in both hands and hacks brutally at the brawler.

Longsword @ Tanith: 1d20 + 22 - 2 ⇒ (13) + 22 - 2 = 331d20 + 17 - 2 ⇒ (12) + 17 - 2 = 271d20 + 12 - 2 ⇒ (8) + 12 - 2 = 18
Damage: 1d8 + 10 + 2d6 ⇒ (7) + 10 + (4, 1) = 22 Take 22 damage, Tanith.

Eyebolts @ Eben: 1d20 + 24 - 2 ⇒ (16) + 24 - 2 = 381d20 + 24 - 2 ⇒ (16) + 24 - 2 = 381d20 + 24 - 2 ⇒ (8) + 24 - 2 = 30 Damage: 6d8 ⇒ (1, 6, 3, 1, 2, 3) = 16 What a roll. Take 16 damage, Eben, and make three Fortitude saves, DC 25. If you fail one, you are Sickened from fear for 1 hour. If you fail two, you are Sickened for an hour and also Panicked for 1d4 ⇒ 4 rounds. If you fail three, you are unconscious for 1d4 ⇒ 4 hours or until receiving healing attention. This is a fear effect.

Round 4: You are up! Tanith, Astraden, and Eben, give me Fortitude saves vs. gaze, DC 18. Failure indicates paralysis for 1d4 ⇒ 1 rounds.

Eben flinches as the eyebeams strike him. I assume my initial pessimistic prognosis was accurate and this thing just sees through mirror images?

Fortitude+good hope: 1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 6 + 2 = 21
Fortitude+good hope: 1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 6 + 2 = 17
Fortitude+good hope: 1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 6 + 2 = 18

Absolute horror crosses his face. He looks like he might throw up. Then he drops his sword and looks to be ready to run away. Then he just collapses, groaning, and retreats into sweet oblivion.

Apparently the answer to the demon's question was 'break'.

Moment of greatness lasts 76 rounds, good hope lasts 75 rounds, cat's grace on Astraden lasts 68 rounds, Mirror image lasts 67 rounds, cat's grace on me lasts 66 rounds.

Mirror image has 3 images remaining.

Also, dirge of doom comes to an end starting now. :-(

KC confirmed at the start that the demon has True Seeing.

"Stop doing that!"

Concealment: 8d100 ⇒ (10, 39, 37, 24, 89, 38, 60, 29) = 326

Aaaaaaaargh

Bash Haste: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (9) + 16 = 25
Damage?: 1d6 + 16 ⇒ (1) + 16 = 17

Bash Iterative: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (16) + 11 = 27
Damage: 1d6 + 16 ⇒ (2) + 16 = 18

So can you tell me how much of my damage has been getting through per swing, roughly? Most? Half? Less?

Fortitude (good hope): 1d20 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 8 + 2 = 15 F$!~ it.

Astraden goes stock still.

Round 4: No actions. Air walk on Astraden lasts 683 rounds, magic circle against law on Tanith lasts 697 rounds, daylight on Eben's arrow lasts 698 rounds, comprehend languages lasts 757 rounds, and copycat lasts 2 rounds.

Farrukh slashes blindly as he hears Eben fall. One strike comes very close, but he feels a familiar mystical deflection knock his blade just barely away. It feels a lot like Astraden's protection from law spell.

Significantly less than half of your damage has been getting through. On average, you're dealing about five damage per hit. And yes, the demon cast true seeing while you guys were preparing to fight.

Round 4: Tanith, Rodrigo and Carina are up.

"I'm not getting through this thing's skin hardly at all! This fight may be a lost cause, at least for now!"

Fort: 1d20 + 12 + 2 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 12 + 2 + 6 + 2 = 39

Is the rallying shield out and is the paralysis fear too? I'm otherwise open to suggestions.

The gaze paralysis is not a fear effect. All saves against the eyebolts, including the unconsciousness, are. Eben actually should have made the first save, assuming he hasn't been counting the shield's +4 bonus.

Oh, yeah, rallying has been out since we got up here. I forgot to remind folks about it when they got hit, sorry. It won't stack with good hope but a +2 is still something.

I'm beginning to feel like this is the demon lord of status effects :(

Oh, then Eben is still affected.