The Library of Last Resort is your last chance to find the resting place of Dragotha's phylactery. But you aren't the only people looking for it.
Loot Sheet.
GM Notes.
*=temporarily buffed Human Bard 15/Ranger 1 — 79/119 hp — AC 36*/24*/24* (6 mirror images)—CMB +15, CMD 32*— Fort +14, Ref +*20, Will +12 — Spells 3/3 5th, 1/4 4th, 0/5 3rd, 4/6 2nd, 3/6 1st — Panache 3/3— Performance 36/40— Perception +19 — Init +4— Action Points 13/13—
Daily magic item use:
Bracers of falcon's aim 3/3, Lesser rod of quicken spell 3/3, rod of extend spell 2/3, Forzamele 3/3
"Yeah, not gonna lie, this is embarrassing for me on a personal level as an illusionist..." Eben acknowledges as he clicks his rod and splits off 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6 extra Ebens. Quickened mirror image. He then speeds his way to open up a direct path between him and Zyrxog. "Aside from that though? Glad this worked out the way it did. There was some indecision on whether to take you or Darl out first, and you appearing without him makes it simple. Personally, I might have gone for him, but now... my voice gets to be the LAST THING YOU EVER HEAR." The air ripples with Eben's last few words, as they sounds take tangible form and rip through the air at the mind flayer.
Quickened casting of mirror image, move along the blue line, standard action to cast deafening song bolt at Zyrxog, using him for all three bolts. Not to be too pedantic, but just a reminder: deafened means 20% chance of spell failure on spells with verbal components.
Haste lasts 13 rounds on everyone.
Good Hope lasts about 138 rounds on everyone.
Everyone is under the effects of Inspire Courage, and will continue to be for 2 rounds after Eben stops performing for any reason.
Greater invisibility is on Farrukh for 26 rounds.
Eben is personally buffed by 6 mirror images, cat's grace, gravity bow, and shield, likewise lasting about 138 rounds.
Eben and Cuetzpalli both have +3 greater magic weapon cast on them.
Astraden grunts as the minotaur swipes at her, dodging far enough to just take a deep nick to the shoulder instead of the neck. She gets into the flow of dodging his greataxe, then, though she's clearly not fast enough to keep it up for long. She doesn't notice when in the middle of this fury, the minotaur swings his horns at her as well - goring her arm and almost swinging her back into the jaws of Krathanos before she wrenches free.
[68/123]
"I'm okay!" She yells back to Cuetzpalli, though he's only a few feet away. "Can you help me with this guy?"
As Eben moves forward, those faint lingering images of Sabir Sinfire come to life, slashing brutally at his mirror images but failing to hit the real bard.
Zyrxog lets out a gurgling hiss as the bolts strike him through his wards and shatter his unnatural fortitude, clutching the slits on either side of his head in pain.
~ Let us... compromise. Why don't we ensure those will be the last words you will ever utter? ~
From down south, a command in a deep, resonant voice rings out.
"Now."
And Darl Qethos steps out of solid stone with a thin, sardonic smile. Walking atop the air with just the same ease as Astraden, he raises his hand and calls out coolly, "I appreciate the effort, but we would really have rathered you mute him."
He claps his hands. "Burn the evidence."
Sheets of roaring flame surge through the area, incinerating all plant life and scorching the earth to converge on the entire party, including the invisible Krekie and Clunk.
Everyone, make Reflex saves. Some of you really need to make this save.
After Rolling:
If you rolled lower than an 27, you take 18d6 ⇒ (5, 4, 1, 5, 2, 3, 1, 4, 1, 1, 1, 5, 2, 6, 6, 4, 5, 4) = 60 fire damage and catch on fire, taking 4d6 ⇒ (2, 4, 1, 6) = 13 fire damage each round at the start of your turn until the flames are extinguished. Extinguishing the flames is a full-round action that requires a DC 20 Reflex save.
A successful save halves the damage and negates catching on fire.
"YAH!" The pounding of phantom hoofbeats rises from the south, and the great efreeti and his nightmare flicker into view as he swings his falchion down towards the isolated Eben, eyes shut tight. His mount blows out billowing plumes of choking smoke around Eben, and his laugh booms out across the chasm. "Lost your way, little comedian?"
Smoke from the nightmare grants concealment as Obscuring Mist, obscuring Eben from view. Of course, this is something the efreeti has trained to handle.
The efreeti and his mount are about 25 feet from sea level but just a couple feet off the ground. (So technically, I should have given him an elevation bonus, so if a 54 hits but a 53 misses...)
Darl is 30 feet above sea level and above the ground.
The horned devil is 50 feet above sea level and 20 feet off the ground.
Everyone else is 15 feet from sea level, meaning they're level with the party.
*=temporarily buffed Human Bard 15/Ranger 1 — 79/119 hp — AC 36*/24*/24* (6 mirror images)—CMB +15, CMD 32*— Fort +14, Ref +*20, Will +12 — Spells 3/3 5th, 1/4 4th, 0/5 3rd, 4/6 2nd, 3/6 1st — Panache 3/3— Performance 36/40— Perception +19 — Init +4— Action Points 13/13—
Daily magic item use:
Bracers of falcon's aim 3/3, Lesser rod of quicken spell 3/3, rod of extend spell 2/3, Forzamele 3/3
Yes, two images go down to Carina's mom.
Reflex+haste+good hope:1d20 + 20 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 20 + 1 + 2 = 33
Five different Ebens get a little well done, but not totally crispy. To Darl, when he appears, he replies, "Well, he's telepathic, it's not like silencing him would actually shut him u....AH!" he gets cut off by an effreeti appearing out of thing air, and, worse, and efreeti appearing out of thin air that knows the trick to get around mirror images. The falchion hurts. A lot.
Cuetzpalli struggles to hit the minotaur's true form through his illusions, but the minotaur's sneer drops away as Kelmarchen sinks into his side in a bloody, brutal blow. Those fickle winds swirling around him do nothing to absorb such a blow.
One hit for 61 damage, and one image destroyed. The rest of the attacks are absorbed by displacement.
Farrukh is up!
Astraden:
The spell cast was fire storm, an eighth-level cleric spell.
He also gets an extra +2 bonus to all of these attacks, and attacks Flatfooted AC, if Darl can't see him due to the Greater Invisibility.
If Darl is Still Alive:
Farrukh draws on his exceptional speed and slashes at the fire-slinging maniac, aiming to steal his life force.
Using my extra Standard action from God of the Hourglass to us eTime Thief's Talons, giving me +30 damage to an attack and healing me for the damage dealt if it hits.
His protection from AoOs is being invisible; you can't AoO a target with Total Concealment. As for how he's moving 100+ feet, I thought Darl was 30 feet up and 30 feet back, so 60 ft. of movement would get me there. I don't know what image he is on the map so I was just going by the post a bit above. If I need extra movement, ignore both of the spoilers, I'll just use my extra Move action to move an extra 60 feet.
Dark is 30 feet above the ground, not thirty feet away. On the map, he's the blue-cloaked individual, matching the art. He's almost directly south of Clunk and about 100 feet down.
To clarify, the woman with Carina's old art is not-Carina, the red-skinned tusked guy is the efreeti, the other tiefling is Sabir Sinfire, the scaly guy is the horned devil, and the blue-hooded man is Darl Qethos. I figure Zyrxog, the minotaur and the nightmare go without saying.
Also, I misunderstood Wind Walk. Bear in mind it gives you no real combat flight--you're under a gaseous form effect while it's active. If this completely screws the party over, I'm okay handwaving it, since I didn't know myself.
Sabir's after-images do not swing at Farrukh as he passes. Evidently, she has no ability to detect him, though Farrukh feels eyes on his back all the same.
I move 90 as a Swift, and 90 as a Move, (Fly+Haste) then full attack. God of the Hourglass gives me an additional Move or Standard every turn, and Tactical Rush lets me move up to my speed as a Swift once per combat.
Gotcha! Well, that's enough fiddle-faddling. You got him fair and square. You don't get that +2, by the way. He does seem to see you. His AC is 19, though, so... I believe that's 132 total damage?
Surprised by Farrukh's speed, Darl Qethos snarls in pain as Farrukh's blades rip into him, carving through his, as Krekie mentioned, meager defenses. He staggers, but remains standing. The winds whip around him as he regards Farrukh with fury. The Hand of Vecna begins to crackle with violet energies.
No problem. I tagged Cuetz as the third target since he has the weakest defenses of us frontliners, and you make a really good target if I need to use the immediate action "move to one of your wards" power to get into combat easier.
Sorry Eben, you're just way more self-sufficient. =p
Krathanos is hissing in pain, patting down small fires on his person. Hearing Astraden's comparatively tiny cries of pain, though, he casts her a sly grin. "Hm... well, burning Ysgard just doesn't sound like any fun if you aren't there to watch, now, does it? HA!"
He reaches one enormous hand down, and a spark of healing flickers and crackles as it hits Astraden's shoulder.
Moving quickly for a man of his size, Tanith manages to hit the deck avoiding the worst of Darl's conjured flames. He grunts a second time when the pain of Carina's burns hit him through their magical bond.
As the chaos of the battle unfolds around him, the big man scrambles to his feet. He steps over shielding Carina with his body and swiftly mutters a prayer to Kord seeking the Brawler's aid. Tanith's prayers are answered in the form of a small fox person, tiny amidst the smoke and shadows cast by the efreeti menacing the bard.
"Help out Eben!" Tanith barks quickly before turning his attention on the minotaur battling Cuetzpalli.
Stepping over. Swift action to summon a vulpinal somewhere near the efreeti, ideally on the left so it's outside the cluster we have going on now. Tanith full attacks the minotaur.
Despite the violence raging around it the celestial has a serene expression on its vulpine features. Its hand glows with power as it enters the melee to protect the bard.
The vulpinal casts dispel evil outside the efreeti's reach and then walks into melee range. I'm sure it has reach so he'll provoke.
If the vulpinal isn't pasted by the AoO and the touch hits and beats any SR, the nightmare needs to make a will save (DC 18) or be banished back to wherever nightmares come from. If the vulpinal took an AoO and lives he'll use a swift to lay on hands himself.
*=temporarily buffed Human Bard 15/Ranger 1 — 79/119 hp — AC 36*/24*/24* (6 mirror images)—CMB +15, CMD 32*— Fort +14, Ref +*20, Will +12 — Spells 3/3 5th, 1/4 4th, 0/5 3rd, 4/6 2nd, 3/6 1st — Panache 3/3— Performance 36/40— Perception +19 — Init +4— Action Points 13/13—
Daily magic item use:
Bracers of falcon's aim 3/3, Lesser rod of quicken spell 3/3, rod of extend spell 2/3, Forzamele 3/3
"Hey..." Eben mutters through a mouthful of blood as he attempts to keep one of his lungs from falling out, "Thanks, fox guy, but Y'd'need t'do that, m' self-sufficient..."
Displacement/Mirrors:1d100 ⇒ 451d100 ⇒ 701d100 ⇒ 56 1d6 ⇒ 61d6 ⇒ 1 AoOs:1d20 + 22 ⇒ (4) + 22 = 261d20 + 30 ⇒ (7) + 30 = 37Damage:2d6 + 10 ⇒ (3, 2) + 10 = 152d6 + 17 + 1d6 ⇒ (1, 2) + 17 + (5) = 25So, subtract 10 from the efreeti's damage, total of 30. to the vulpinal. He's fine. Will Save (protection from good):1d20 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 7 + 2 = 26
Tanith manages to land two powerful blows, but on his second he finds his axe meets only wisps of illusion. The fox-celestial, who probably isn't an otherworldly ambassador greatly inconvenienced by this diversion, manages to withstand two brutal hits to impart his spell of dispelling. The cauchemar gives an inhuman, inequine shriek, its form flickering, and briefly, it seems like the spell might work. But maintaining contact pulls at the vulpinal's new wound, forcing him to pull back before the magic is complete.
Round 1: Displacer Beasts
Snarling and spitting, the compelled displacer beasts race to join the battle, in a very useful and not redundant way.
Round 1: Not-Carina
The masked figure stares hard at the battle, then at Zyrxog, who seems to be having some sort of mental conversation with her. She rolls her eyes and deliberately turns away.
"Rin," the older tiefling woman says sharply.
The masked figure snorts, looks between the two, and nods. She steps to the side. As she does so, Sabir Sinfire's form blurs again before reappearing beside her probably daughter--just in time to earn a syringe in the arm. She mutters something in the tongue of devils as the woman's skin seems to harden to something like crimson jasper.
Infernal:
"That worthless thing doesn't get to boss me around, Sabir. He is deafened, right?" Pause. "Well, it's not exactly as though he's long for this world after we're done here."
So, on the minotaur, that's one hit for 30 damage, and one image destroyed (there are 4 remaining). The rest of the attacks are absorbed by displacement. He's taken a total of 91 damage.
Astraden winces as the titanic magic, more primal and indifferent to humanoid pain than clerical healing, knits her shoulder back together. "Thanks. I think I'd see it if I were dead too, though," she tells the terrible talking lizard. [123/123]
She peers at Zyrxog through the agitated form of the giant angry bull man, then shrugs and lobs a spell at him.
Casting defensively (good hope):1d20 + 19 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 19 + 2 = 40Dispel magic:1d20 + 15 ⇒ (18) + 15 = 33Successful, if the minotaur doesn't have one of those spellbreaker feats. Using the targeted dispel on a person option.
She then steps back and raises Olidammara's mask to pulse out a couple of healing bursts.
Channel positive energy, healing everyone but the minotaur, Zyrxog, and any other of our enemies (don't think any of the others have been injured?):7d6 ⇒ (6, 1, 5, 2, 4, 4, 4) = 26And again:7d6 ⇒ (4, 3, 1, 4, 2, 3, 2) = 19Using an action point for an extra move action [9/12] and using four channel uses to Quick Channel twice [3/7]. 45 healing each to all party members save the vulpinal and Farrukh.
Astraden's magic strikes the mind flayer and consumes a powerful spell--with some difficulty, as the spell is wily and tenacious, cast with great skill. The strange winds around him die down.
Round 2: Horned Devil
The horned devil grins down at the party, and with a humming whine, disappears.
And with a matching tone, he teleports right next to Carina and Tanith, grinning down at them and slowly spinning his spiked chain.
Carina and Tanith must both save against the horned devil's fear aura, DC 23 or be panicked for 15 rounds, shaken for 1 round on a success.
*=temporarily buffed Human Bard 15/Ranger 1 — 79/119 hp — AC 36*/24*/24* (6 mirror images)—CMB +15, CMD 32*— Fort +14, Ref +*20, Will +12 — Spells 3/3 5th, 1/4 4th, 0/5 3rd, 4/6 2nd, 3/6 1st — Panache 3/3— Performance 36/40— Perception +19 — Init +4— Action Points 13/13—
Daily magic item use:
Bracers of falcon's aim 3/3, Lesser rod of quicken spell 3/3, rod of extend spell 2/3, Forzamele 3/3
Bear in mind, T & C, that Astaden's rallying shield grants a +4 morale bonus on that fear save- this supersedes the +3 you'd normally get from Eben's inspire courage.
I also have some limning arrows (that are seeking arrows on top of that), I'm just not quite in a safe position to make use of them yet.
*=temporarily buffed Human Bard 15/Ranger 1 — 79/119 hp — AC 36*/24*/24* (6 mirror images)—CMB +15, CMD 32*— Fort +14, Ref +*20, Will +12 — Spells 3/3 5th, 1/4 4th, 0/5 3rd, 4/6 2nd, 3/6 1st — Panache 3/3— Performance 36/40— Perception +19 — Init +4— Action Points 13/13—
Daily magic item use:
Bracers of falcon's aim 3/3, Lesser rod of quicken spell 3/3, rod of extend spell 2/3, Forzamele 3/3
Hey, KC, I have an idea for an addendum to Clunk's next action, since I don't think he normally makes use of swift actions anyway. It's a very non-Clunk sort of plan, so I'd justify it by having the idea originate from Eben. Since Forzamele speaks Infernal:
As he's trying to figure a way around the flaming giant on a nightmare that is trying to kill him, Eben barely notices the conversation between Sabir and NotCarina. Forzemele does, however, and relays a translation of their conversation to him. He immediately thinks of something to do with that information, and even if there's nothing he can personally do with it, there are others who might. A moment later Clunk hears Forzamele's 'voice' in his mind: Friend kolyarut, Eben wished me to ask if you might use your mindbending power on the minotaur; perhaps suggest that Zyrxzog is aware of the impending doublecross, and it would be best to strike him down now instead of waiting...
Displacement:1d100 ⇒ 69Nice, that's a miss on the AoO.
The horned devil Nalhazarrath swipes at Carina with his terrible spiked chain, but hits a mirror image instead. Nalhazarrath roars as the bombs go off, blasting him badly. His infernal healing seems to slow.
In the future, try to remember to roll for the missed bomb--you never know where one will land! But I honestly can't be bothered either, so we'll call it a wash.
Round 2: Clunk
Carina sees Clunk seem to briefly to consider Forzamele's suggestion. It is unlikely to work, but costs little to try.
"Minotaur." The kolyarut flickers back into being, his voice ringing with insidious power. "The mind flayer is an inevitable threat. Would it not be better to strike him down while he is distracted and vulnerable?"
In the throes of his rage, the minotaur blinks rapidly. He growls under his breath, "S-S-Stupid tricks. Nice try, clockman."
Will Save (aegis):1d20 + 15 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 15 + 2 = 24
Clunk didn't wait to see if the spell would work, however--he's already advancing to attack Zyrxog. He hacks into Zyrxog with two brutal blows.
Astraden's bloody form falls, but it seems no chances are being taken, for the minotaur snorts and suddenly lunges for the falling cleric, impaling her body upon his horns.
He gives Cuetzpalli a feral grin. "No more healer."
Round 2: Zyrxog
Zyrxog stares the party down as the blur effect on him fades. ~ What you could have accomplished had you accepted my offer, ~ he whispers in their minds, and unleashes a blast of pure mental energy, capturing Cuetzpalli, Astraden, Tanith, Carina and Krathanos in the burst--along with the minotaur and devil.
The minotaur's greataxe falls from his hands and clatters to the ground, followed by the devil's spiked chain--and then Krathanos's titanic maul. All three sway, incapacitated by the effect.
Cast Defensively:1d20 + 22 ⇒ (16) + 22 = 38
I did warn him, Clunk rumbles mentally to Forzamele.
Everyone affected (Cuetz, Astraden, Tanith and Carina), I'm gonna need a Will save. This is not a mind-affecting effect. Don't forget Aegis, which doesn't stack with Good Hope. You know what Mind Blast does.
After Rolling:
If you rolled a 28 or lower, you are stunned for 1d4 ⇒ 2 rounds. You drop any weapons you are holding and can take no actions.[/ooc]
Krathanos Save:1d20 + 21 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 21 + 4 = 27 Minotaur/Devil Saves:1d20 + 15 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 15 + 2 = 191d20 + 13 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 13 + 4 = 26
Zyrxog can't use this ability for 1d4 ⇒ 4 rounds.
Sabir swears. She races forward, leaving behind blurry copies of herself once again as she goes, coming to a stop before Tanith. She calls something to the other tiefling, then swings her guisarme in a wide, bewildering arc. The copies of her follow suit, striking at Eben, Cuetzpalli and Eben. She doesn't bother attacking Astraden's (likely) prone form, either out of some sense of mercy or simple disinterest. She still isn't looking at Carina.
Infernal:
"Rin, follow me! Quickly!"
Hammer of the Immortal @Eben, Cuetz, Eben:1d20 + 23 ⇒ (1) + 23 = 24If that hits (feel free to roll your own miss chance--remember, high is good for PCs--, you take 2d4 + 9 ⇒ (3, 3) + 9 = 15 slashing damage, take a -4 penalty to AC and CMB until your next turn, and are immediately subjected to a Trip attempt. If it misses, ignore the following trip attempt.
At the last second of her strike, though, she unintentionally catches Carina's eye. Her stance falters, just for a moment. She stumbles, and all three strikes go completely wide. She tears her gaze away, beckoning furiously to Not-Carina.
Init Order:
Init Order:
Astraden
Horned Devil (Stunned for 2 rounds)
Carina/Clunk
Zyrxog/Sabir Sinfire, and also the Minotaur (Stunned for 2 rounds)
Krekie/Eben
Darl Qethos/Cauchemar Nightmare/Efreeti
Farrukh/Cuetzpalli
Krathanos (Stunned for 2 rounds)
Tanith
Displacer Beasts/Other Carina
Round 2: Farrukh and a possibly-stunned Cuetzpalli are up!
Speaking of Aegis, I mentioned this in the Discord, but Astraden's probably still up. I always forget about that thing. Actually, I don't think anyone's gaining the Aegis. Farrukh's more than thirty feet away. So, yeah.
44 for 28 sword 7 holy, 48 for 57 sword and 5 holy, 30 for 57 sword and 5 holy, 32 for 55 sword and 11 holy.
Miss chances:1d100 ⇒ 881d100 ⇒ 341d100 ⇒ 981d100 ⇒ 831d100 ⇒ 641d100 ⇒ 471d100 ⇒ 801d100 ⇒ 33 Should be all hits taking the higher roll of each pair for Blind Fight
Bodyguard (Infinite Step):1d20 ⇒ 10Successful Aid boosts his AC by 2, causing Attack #3 to miss.
Sabir's blurry image lashes out to parry some of the blows, narrowly stopping Cuetzpalli's holy blade from decapitating the minotaur outright. All the same, the minotaur is left panting, covered in blood, barely still standing.
I think you typoed that first damage. I have 55, 62 and 66. Applying his DR for 53, 60, 64. Total of 177 damage.
