KC's Age of Worms

Game Master Kobold Catgirl

I'm confused why Tanith is even taking an AoO. He has reach too.

I assumed it was so that the others could move in more easily.

The fact is, Tanith, whether I give the AoO to you or Cuetzpalli, I'm giving it to someone who didn't want it and didn't plan for it. sIf you have a way around this problem, I'm all ears.

For some reason I'd assumed it has more reach than him.

Ultimately I'm not going to take an AoO and a full attack. If someone isn't taking the AoO, Tanith will remain in delay.

Right. Someone's got to suck up the damage but I'm trying to spread it out.

I moved everyone back a square and put Tanith back at the entrance. No AoOs were taken. Let's move on.

Thanks. That turn hurt enough on its own. A surprise 19 damage wasn't helping.

I'm open to suggestions here guys.

For the record, I was willing to eat the AoO as long as it left me in a non-crappy spot at the start of next turn. :)

Eben reaches into his spell pouch once more, again pulling out a small pat of butter. He molds it in his hands a moment, brings it to his mouth and breathes on it while whispering. (Those listening closely might hear the words please, please, please inserted into the incantation...) Then he throws it into space, sending it flying through the air to coat the ground at the monstrosity's feet. Before he's even seen the success or failure of the spell, he's off and running out of the tunnel.

Standard action: cast grease on the 10-foot space the Ebon Aspect occupies, free action: use an AP to emulate Spell Focus: Conjuration, boosting the grease DC to 15, move action: run like the dickens through the monster's reach. (If you want to just use the previous rounds AoO on me to make things simpler, go ahead.)

Heroism lasts, oh, let's say it's been half an hour since the last countdown, so 184 rounds on Spiny, 185 on Tanith and 408 on Farrukh, vanish lasts 3 rounds on Farrukh, cat's grace lasts 49 rounds on Eben

There's no need to provoke the AoO. Assuming Tanith can land the grapple, you and everyone else is clear to run past this turn.

The moment the patch of conjured grease appears beneath the beast’s feat, Tanith drops his poleaxe and lunges forward. Despite the freely bleeding wounds he’s suffered, he grabs for one the heavily muscled limbs and holds on tight, praying that Kord grant him the strength to hold it down just long enough…

Grapple (heroism and blessing): 1d20 + 11 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 11 + 2 + 2 = 28

It’ll be +4 higher if the grease landed.

I may spend an action point as well if the grease did not land.

Well, I do want Eben to move this turn as well, and I can't split my actions up, so... let's say Tanith readied his action to try the grapple, then. So, grease goes off, you try and grapple, if it works, great, I move without being AoO'd, but otherwise Eben still moves and provokes so everyone else can get out of the tunnel. Is that an acceptable workaround, KC? (I might be feeling a little guilty for confusing things with my action last turn and feel in need of a penalty AoO as punishment, so there's that too...)

Sure, that works. We'll say Tanith readied.

Reflex Save: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (20) + 8 = 28

The Ebon Aspect easily remains standing.

Bummer. Tanith will try the grapple. Does it land?

Tanith grabs the limb with fierce strength. The Aspect struggles, and for a moment, it seems like it will be enough. But it manages to just barely wrench out of his grip.

AoO on Eben: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (10) + 11 = 21

It lunges past Tanith, but the wrestler's immense girth, more than anything, shields the bard from another painful bite.

Farrukh, Astraden, Zalamandra and Cuetzpalli (likely to be NPCed) are up.

That should actually be +2 higher. My sheet's a bit out of date. Is 30 enough?

Suddenly, Tanith realizes that he hasn't been shaken off after all.

Aspect is now grappled. Move as you will.

Round 2: Actions
Standard Action: Shoot the thing again!
Move Action: Reload!
Free Action: Knowledges: just what the hell is this thing?!

Zalamandra aims her crossbow at the beast Tanith is grappling and fires!
Attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21
Damage (If It Hits): 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

As she reloads, she racks her brain--was this thing some sort of magical construct? A demon? What?

Knowledge (Arcana): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18
Knowledge (Planes): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7
Oh, please tell me I'm not about to lose Tanith as well...

He'd be a decent warrior if he had a better head for numbers...

Tanith holds on tight and braces for the beast's retribution.

Spending an action point for diehard.

Behind three tall people and shooting around a corner. It's times like these that I think cover not being able to stack is pretty ridiculous. XD

Zalamandra lands a shot. Oddly, her magically-enhanced bolt seems to have had much more effect than Tanith's bardiche—or it at least seems to have been less impeded.

Zalamandra believes this to be the strange "Ebon Aspect" Grallak Kur spoke of!

"Try hitting it with magic weapons! My bolt seems to have worked!" She calls out, frustrated at not having any idea of its weaknesses.

You got it!

Farrukh moves in and swings at it.

2d100 ⇒ (54, 2) = 56

1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 21

1d6 + 9 ⇒ (5) + 9 = 14

My weapon is magic due to Magic Weapon BTW, so if it's DR/Magic (and not DR/Magic and Piercing, because that would make me sad) it would bypass it.

Would the Aspect be denied its DEX bonus to AC because its being grappled? Because then Farrukh can sneak attack it. Or is that only when its pinned?

Grappled is -4 dex. Pinned is flatfooted and -4 AC.

Thanks to the noise Tanith and the Aspect are making as they grapple, Farrukh is able to find an advantageous position. It helps that the Aspect is too occupied to lash out at the blinded slayer.

Farrukh's scimitar is also impeded by its strange protections, but he puts a bit of extra weight behind it and cuts a deep gash in the Ebon Aspect's side.

Cuetzpalli and Astraden are up.

Magic Weapon went down about a minute ago, sorry. Identifying items takes a while.

Would the Aspect be denied its DEX bonus to AC because its being grappled? Because then Farrukh can sneak attack it. Or is that only when its pinned?

No, it wouldn't, though the invisibility would make it Flatfooted.

Point is moot though, since you can't Sneak Attack things with Concealment. Which everything does against me. I also can't use my Favored Target.

Magic Weapon went down about a minute ago, sorry. Identifying items takes a while.

It only takes 3 rounds per item, and the spell was up for 5 minutes. Seems to be a time gap there.

There were a lot of items being identified and you spent a bit of extra time talking and fighting. Also:

Taking 20 for Perception: 20 + 4 = 24

I counted roughly 70 rounds, not counting general chatter. 2-3 rounds before combat, nine rounds of fighting, ten rounds of searching, fifteen rounds of identifying the initial set, thirty-nine rounds of identifying the potions.

=/

It's always SOMETHING.

I actually went over it with Gark yesterday when determining how many times to roll the percentage die, and he pointed out I was doing it totally wrong as well. I'd been counting Zalamandra's and Astraden's combined Spellcraft checks as if they stacked for time purposes, which made it seem more like nine minutes. Time is hard. :I

Astraden moves up, drawing a dagger and flinging it at the beast.

Dagger (shooting into melee, ranged increment): 1d20 + 3 - 4 - 2 ⇒ (16) + 3 - 4 - 2 = 13 Not accounting for cover, or its AC penalty.
Damage: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

Round 2: Movement (move action), draw weapon as part of movement (free action), and attack (standard action). Nondetection lasts 2250 rounds and copycat lasts 4 rounds.

Astraden's dagger doesn't even come close.

Taking advantage of the Aspect's distraction, Cuetzpalli and Spiny move into position to flank. He swings his enchanted greataxe as Spiny lunges at the beast.

PA Greataxe;Damage: 1d20 + 9 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 9 + 4 = 201d12 + 11 ⇒ (11) + 11 = 22
Bite;Damage: 1d20 + 8 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 8 + 4 = 181d6 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 5 + 2 = 10

The pair use their experience fighting together to great effect, both landing hits. Cuetzpalli in particular manages a devastating blow that would cut through most men like tinfoil.

Bottom of Round 2.

The Ebon Aspect reels from this barrage, looking genuinely injured, and releases a shriek. Its shriek seems to contain a second familiar sound: The deranged cries of Grallak Kur.

"All will fall before the Aspect!"

"My lord, break his bones!"

The Aspect's eyes flash amber as it is consumed with a fierce rage, and it rips into Tanith. Its wounds seem to be healing before the group's very eyes.

Claw;Claw;Claw;Bite: 1d20 + 16 - 2 ⇒ (3) + 16 - 2 = 171d20 + 16 - 2 ⇒ (18) + 16 - 2 = 321d20 + 16 ⇒ (10) + 16 = 261d20 + 15 ⇒ (10) + 15 = 25
Damage: 1d4 + 15 ⇒ (4) + 15 = 191d4 + 15 ⇒ (2) + 15 = 171d4 + 15 ⇒ (4) + 15 = 191d8 + 15 ⇒ (7) + 15 = 22

It rips into Tanith twice with brutal blows, and Tanith passes out. The physical embodiment of the three faces of evil throws Tanith's mangled body aside and lets out a howl of triumph.

It turns to Cuetzpalli and sinks its teeth into the barbarian's shoulder.

Retcon: Remembering that bears Aspects don't eat carrion, Tanith plays dead. Tanith takes 36 points of damage, and Cuetzpalli takes 22 41.

Diehard claims almost claimed another victim. A reed before the wind lives on, while mighty oaks do fall.

If I'd have known it had some sort of smite running I wouldn't have used diehard. Tanith would go down after the 36.

Edit: It looks like we've sorted it out.

Overwhelmed by the deific creature's power, Tanith stares in disbelief at the huge gashes torn in his torso. Like a mighty oak, he crashes to the ground alongside his weapon. His blood rapidly pools around him.

-13

Knowledge (religion): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (12) + 9 = 21 To know weaknesses.

Astraden steps forward and appraises the creature. She summons the motes of light around one hand, mouths the verbal components, and lets a blinding burst of light fly at the Aspect. Trying not to look at Tanith's ravaged form, she draws her rapier.

Searing light touch attack (shooting into melee): 1d20 + 3 - 4 ⇒ (11) + 3 - 4 = 10
Damage: 2d8 ⇒ (8, 5) = 13

Round 3: Five-foot step (no action), cast searing light (standard action), and draw rapier (move action). Nondetection lasts 2249 rounds and copycat lasts 3 rounds.

"YOU SON OF A WHORE!" Eben screams as Tanith falls to the Ebon Aspect. Tears blurring his eyes, He still keeps enough composure to step into the best possible shots he can make.

shortbow+PBS-Rapid Shot: 1d20 + 9 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (17) + 9 + 1 - 2 = 25
damage+PBS+Arcane Strike: 1d6 + 2 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 + 1 + 2 = 8

shortbow+PBS-Rapid Shot: 1d20 + 9 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (1) + 9 + 1 - 2 = 9
Bah. And DAMN.

Round 3
five-foot step to the northwest, swift action: activate Arcane strike, full attack using Rapid Shot.

Heroism lasts 183 rounds on Spiny, 184 on Tanith and 407 on Farrukh, cat's grace lasts 48 rounds on Eben

Edit: Oh. Well, if Tanith's not a mangled, armless corpse, then Eben's not crying. He's still a bit pissy, though.

"What the hell just happened?"

Farrukh swings at the big monster, oblivious to Tanith's plight. Noticing his sword has little effect on its own, he tries swinging both sword and shield at it.

1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8

1d20 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8

Am I even surprised at this point?

Retcon put in the edit. Tanith takes 36 and Cuetzpalli takes 41 (Aspect gets its last claw attack with Tanith out of the way).

Tanith collapses, bleeding from grievous wounds. Cuetzpalli remains standing—but only just.

Astraden, roll a Spell Resistance check.

Eben's bolt hits dead-on, but the creature's resistance to nonmagical attacks seems to have been strangely enhanced by the bloodthirst of Erythnul. Not even Eben's enchanted strike is having any effect.

Caster level (action point): 1d20 + 5 + 1d6 ⇒ (9) + 5 + (5) = 19 4/7 APs

[dice=Knowledge (religion)]1d20+9 To know weaknesses.

Astraden struggles, but finds a hidden reserve of strength and manages to send the beam of light past the foul monstrosity's defenses to strike it right between the eyes. It reels, clearly seriously injured.

Astraden can't stop herself from glancing down at Tanith. She notices his chest slightly rising and falling. "He's alive! And that thing only has a little bit of rage left. Let's take it down!"

Round 2: Actions
Move Action: Move behind Astraden
Standard Action: Throw four Magic Missiles up that rat bastard's ass!

Seeing Tanith fall is the last straw. Tanith Creed, one of the strongest men Zalamandra's ever met, was NOT going to die here. Not if SHE had anything to say about it.

She steps forward, stopping behind Astraden.

She screams in a language born from Hell. She extends her middle finger.

And she fires four bolts of magical force.

Spell Resistance Check: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 19
Magic Missile Damage *Action Point!: Spell Boost!*: 4d4 + 4 ⇒ (2, 1, 2, 4) + 4 = 13

Stabalize: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (12) + 3 = 15

The big man’s already shallow breathing becomes weaker.

-14

If someone will tell Farrukh what's going on he can try and shove a potion down Tanith's gullet next turn.

Tanith can spend an AP to stabilize, and we'll be getting AP refreshes after this I think...

"Farrukh! Tanith's down! He needs help!" Zalamandra calls out after her missiles hit their marks.

I'm planning to cast cure moderate on him, but if you want to take the AOO it'd be appreciated :o

You can't flank while blinded, right?

5-foot step, defensive cast CMW. Boom! Healed Kordite! :)