Luke's Shards of Sin (Inactive)

Game Master Luke

By the time Lawson gets to the corner the shuffling has turned to footfalls, multiple runners beating feet down the tunnel in a hasty retreat. He gets a quick glimpse of a swinging light, then it's gone around some unseen bend.

As the elves enter the room they can see the source of the water sound, a devil-faced fountain mounted on the left-hand wall in the room ahead. Water dribbles from its grinning mouth into a basin. Valai picks up the faint aura of the magic involved, distinct against the backdrop of the monument's magical noise.

"S&+&. They've heard us. Move quickly before they can set up an ambush!" Lawson said as he moves down the hall after the running noise, careful not to outpace his light.

Rommin is running right along side Lawson now, sunrod in one hand and longsword in the other.

Amadia follows close behind.

Woohoo! We need a bloody fight!

The group rushes down the dark tunnel after the lost light, ignoring a side tunnel to the right in the process. Lawson and Rommin are hard on the heels of the fleeing tower girls as they round a corner and bound down a steep flight of stairs. The chamber at the bottom is lit by a single torch on the far wall but Rommin's sunrod banishes all shadows from the room. One of the two girls whips around to face you in the middle of the room, short sword in her hand pointed at Rommin as she gives ground.

"Get Karisa!" she shouts at the other girl, "Go!"

"Alarm," she cries out, as she steps forward to engage the first person down the steps.

New battlemap in the house!

Initiative rolls and first round actions.

Init: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23

Amadia double moves to try and cut off the retreating girl, or at least move into a position to throw a bomb that wouldn't interfere with the party.

Init: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 3 = 20

Lawson breaks into a charge running straight at the woman standing her ground (X12, Y9) and stabbing out with his blade.

"I'll go high Rom!" He shouts as he breaks into a sprint.

Shortsword Attack: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17
Shortsword Damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

Initiative 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 2 = 13

Rommin follows in Lawson, staying low to surround one of the women.

Double move to X12 Y11.

Can't get in to see the map; apparently I don't have permission.

Initiative 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

Valai cautiously moves up and, although she stays out of melee range, she aims her sword at the latest Tower Girl to appear and snaps off the Word for one of her cantrips.

Acid Splash! Ranged touch attack 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 2 = 14 for 1d3 ⇒ 1 damage.

Valai, sending you a PM on the permission thing.

Going to DMPC Afli's first round and set us up for tomorrow's post by resolving round 1.

Initiative order:
Amadia, Lawson, Tower Girls, Rommin, Afli, Valai

Posting the first half-turn to get to Rommin's turn... We'll call the two tower girls 'scrunch face'(13,8) and 'green bandana'(12,10) to match their icons on the map. 'Green bandana' has turned to face the rush and 'scrunch face' has been told to run.

Lawson has to charge to cover the distance to the stated square with 'scrunch face' as his target girl, and provoke an AOO from 'green bandana' (with -2 to AC) by exiting square (11,9).

The advancing tower girl twirls to counter Lawson's rush but fails to connect. Lawson's reckless charge buries his target under a flurry of quick blows, one of which draws blood.

That's where things turn bloody. 'Green bandana' takes a 5' step to (11,10) to flank Lawson, and proceeds to confirm a critical strike (w sneak attack), doing 15 hp of damage. 'Scrunch face' then takes advantage of the same flanking to hit as well (w sneak attack), doing 8 hp damage. Lawson is at -5 hp and bleeding out...

The two girls act in practiced tandem to surround Lawson, one overwhelming his defenses from the front while the other darts in for the hamstring. Both blades come back bloody and the rogue is taken down. One of the girls turns to run as Lawson falls.

On a positive note, Rommin can cover the distance to 'green bandana' with a single move action, if you want to roll an attack.

I'll just pass, unable to do anything with Lawson busy dying and in range of my splash damage.

DMPC rolling Rommin's first round attack since the enemy is in range...

Rommin's attack fails to connect. Afli positions himself to aid Rommin's melee with his whip. Valai's glob of acid strikes the remaining enemy combatant in the arm scoring a minor burn.

The map is up to date at the end of round 1 now. Please post round 2 actions.

Nothing chances Amadia's position, still unable to hit the fleeing one, and cannot hit the other one without executing Lawson.Passing as usual.

Lawson can roll to stabilize. DC 10 Constitution check with a -4 to the roll (-5 hp + 1 CON bonus).

Scrunch face darts around the corner and is lost. Exit northeast corner of the map.

Rommin's opponent makes a weak attempt, sizing up the dangerous looking soldier. Rather than press she twirls away, dancing back toward the tunnel behind her. Missed her attack, then tumbled away to (12,13).

Initiative order:
Amadia, Lawson, Tower Girls, Rommin, Afli, Valai

Perception 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18

Rommin runs along with her, trying to cut her retreat off.

Move to 10/14, then 11/14.

And then he lashes out again with his sword, letting the sunrod drop to the ground so he can use both hands on the strike.

To hit 1d20 + 5 - 1 ⇒ (3) + 5 - 1 = 7
Damage 1d8 + 4 + 3 - 1 ⇒ (4) + 4 + 3 - 1 = 10

Alas, his lack of recent practice with the longsword shows in his wide swing.

Valai quickly makes her way over to Lawson and administers a curative potion to save his life.

"Keep them off me!" she orders the others while she gently rubs Lawson's throat, making him swallow.

Potion of CLW for 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Lawson's distressed breathing stabilizes but he remains unconscious. Afli moves to cover Valai's flank, dropping the whip and pointing his loaded crossbow at the northern arch. Readied action to fire at first target entering the fray through the north entry (where scrunch face ran off).

Init
Amadia, Lawson, Tower Girls, Rommin, Afli, Valai

Oh, she moved thank god.

Seeing her enemy step lightly away from Lawson, Amadia steps foward, and hurls a bomb in her general direction.

Ranged Touch: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24
Damage: 1d6 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7

Interpreting Amadia's instructions as liberally as possible. The remaining tower girl is in melee with Rommin in the south part of the room, beyond the first range increment of the bomb. The other girl has disappeared down the hall (NE) so is no longer a valid target. Given the girl's strike and move tactic, you could reasonably delay until after her next strike at Rommin, when she tumbles away. Moved you up so the range penalty goes away...

Green bandana runs out of luck just as her friends start to arrive. She attacks Rommin but fails to connect or gain any ground, then wheels in a sadly familiar pattern opening her guard to the fighter. Failed Acrobatic check provokes AOO from Rommin, then she moves and gets nailed by the hot sauce.

More girls are entering combat. Two from the south tunnel (11,16) & (10,19) and the first of another group coming in from the northeast(17,2).

Init
Lawson, Tower Girls*, Amadia (readied bomb - rolled), Rommin, Afli, Valai

* AoO to resolve

Much appreciated, would have moved my character myself on the battlemap, but don't seem to be able to. I guess I was confused about my action since on the battlemap green bandana had moved far away from Lawson, so I assumed she had moved and there was no need to ready an action. I think I read that map wrong.

I helped confuse things by forgetting to post a map update I'd made locally. I think it's likely to come out the same anyway. Between Rommin and you she's toast.

Valai holds her scroll up in front of her and chants the words written thereon. A wave of magic rolls over the newly arrived enemies...

One casting o Sleep.

As the one woman flees, Rommin lashes out at her with his longsword.

To hit 1d20 + 5 - 1 ⇒ (1) + 5 - 1 = 5
Damage 1d8 + 4 + 3 - 1 ⇒ (3) + 4 + 3 - 1 = 9

He misses badly, but tries to make up for it by blocking one of the passages into the room.

Step to 11-15 and swing at the woman approaching there.

To hit 1d20 + 5 - 1 ⇒ (3) + 5 - 1 = 7
Damage 1d8 + 4 + 3 - 1 ⇒ (5) + 4 + 3 - 1 = 11

As he grows frustrated, small wisps of white mist can be see appearing and disappearing near him, moving in lazy circular motions. The same mist can be seen starting to cloud his eyes as well.

Sorry Rommin, I totally called that out on you. Bad karma for me...

The flames from Amadia's bomb leave the tower girl scorched but standing. She turns back short of the dark archway, patting out the last of the fire and sizing up the group clustered around the fallen rogue.

You ladies are playing for the wrong team, she says.

Rommin's new opponent catches a glimpse of the change in his eyes. What the hell are you? she mutters, ducking under his savage lunge and shying away.

Afli reaches out and touches Lawson on the shoulder, muttering an incantation under his breath, but watching the northern arch throughout. The spell completes and healing energy floods into Lawson body. Lawson is healed for 6 hp, restoring him to 4, and to consciousness.

Drawing his rapier, the halfling calls out More coming from the north!

With her superior elven eyesight (well superior to all but Amadia), Valai can see two more girls coming up the hall beyond Rommin. They're just far enough beyond to avoid catching Rommin in the enchantment. As the trailing phrase of the spell is read, one of the two goes down like a sack of potatoes.

Init
Lawson, Tower Girls, Amadia, Rommin, Afli, Valai

Welcome back to the fight Lawson! You're prone and only have 4 hp, but you're awake and likely pissed.

You ladies are playing for the wrong team

Is she coming onto me?

That's a sense motive check. :)

When viewing the map, there's another girl just off the map to the south that Valai sees, and there are sounds of more coming from the north that Afli and likely Amadia have heard.

Sense Motive: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (2) - 1 = 1

=]

Groaning from the extent of his injuries, Lawson remembers the slip in his guard. Then nothing but pain. Getting up, he whispers thanks to Valai and Afli and moves to help Rommin, no longer confident of his abilities to stand against someone alone.

Alive! Moving to X10, Y15.

Valai readies her scroll of Colour spray...

well with a roll like that...

You do sense something suggestive in the way she beats out the flames, yes. Like she's trying to find the sweet spot between 'I'm available' and 'I'm going to kill you and all your boyfriends'. She pauses there, possibly struggling with the urge to run.

The girl who resisted Valai's spell twists around her fallen companion without giving a thought and takes up the flank of Rommin's opponent. Despite their combined efforts, neither is able to gain any advantage on Lawson or Rommin.

Two more girls enter from the north, and now there's the unmistakable sound of more - someone giving orders, and the scrabbling of small clawed feet coming your way.

Init
Lawson, Tower Girls, Amadia, Rommin, Afli, Valai

I'm unable to move my character, so assume I move and throw a bomb at one on far right.

Bomb: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25
Damage: 1d6 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9
Critical Confirmation: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6

Yeah, Amadia - you aren't missing anything - it's just an image and not a VTT. I haven't explored the possibility of embedding a control rather than just a multi-layered image. So you can't move anything around or draw lines.

Moving you to (12,9) , next to Valai and assuming we're talking about the one at (14,6) as your target.

The girl is badly burned by the explosion and she screams out her pain.

Let me know if you meant another square or target.

That squares's perfect thanks! Yes, that was the target I was aiming for =]

The instant the next wave comes in, Valai casts Colour Spray and blasts them with the multicoloured lights.

As Rommin loses himself in the fight with the Tower Girls, he also loses check on the voices that haunt him, and they take advantage. White misty motes of light multiple around Rommin, moving vaster and growing brighter. His brown eyes go white, misted over completely. With mechanical precision, he presses his attack.

Rommin is now raging. He swings at the Tower Girl is 11-16.

To hit 1d20 + 5 + 2 - 1 ⇒ (1) + 5 + 2 - 1 = 7
Damage 1d8 + 4 + 6 - 1 ⇒ (2) + 4 + 6 - 1 = 11

While he strikes at her, some of the motes fly from their orbit around Rommin, striking at the Tower Girl in front of Lawson.

Unfortunately, his struggles with the spirits cause him to miss horribly, slamming the silver laced longsword into the wall.

Slam attack, negative energy damage.
To hit 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14
Damage 1d4 ⇒ 1
Round of 1 of 9 rage used, armor class is now 15.

Rommin's opponent evades his flailing attacks and stands firm, if a little freaked.

Seeing the scroll come out, Afli scoots under the wizard's gaze and tries to secure the party's flank by focusing on the tower girl you chased down here. He charges at her, little rapier stabbing out bravely. Scores a hit for 1 pt of damage.

Interpreting Valai's instruction as delay and cast as the noisy folks around the corner come into sight - first chance to catch more than one in the arch. Also took the liberty of moving to put the arch in range of the spell.

Init
Lawson, Tower Girls, Amadia, Rommin, Afli, Valai (delayed on tower girls)

Following Rommin with his attack, Lawson strikes out with both his shortswords at the Tower Girl.

Shortsword MH Attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10
Shortsword MH Damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

Shortsword OH Attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9
Shortsword OH Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

Lawson's attacks fail to land, but the attackers from the south are effectively blocked from entering the room. Both tower girls to the south miss with their attacks and stand their ground. Stunningly bad rolls all the way around!

One of the closest tower girls (12,5) steps in to attack Valai as the scroll's spell is delivered, but her attack is turned by the magical enchantments surrounding the wizard. The closing phrase completes and the arch is filled with magical light just as a crowd comes around the corner. Both the new attacker and the first two around the corner are caught in the effect.

I created a temporary page representing the girls position after first action, at the time of Valai's spell.

The mob coming around the corner is a mix of tower girls and rats - dog-sized monsters with twisted, bulging rat faces. Leading from the rear is a second lycanthrope, a short sword clutched in her misshapen hand. She screams in rage as she comes into the room, sending her pack into a frenzy.

The blinding illusion flashes through its cycle, leaving one of the girls and a huge rat sprawled on the floor. Marked knock-out victims with big red xs. The rest of the crowd floods through the arch filling the room with chaos. Battlemap updated to the end of the tower girls turn.

Afli' tower girl opponent misses him, but one of the rats leaps at him from behind, surrounding him with foes.

One of the girls darts in to attack Amadia and scores a hit. 2 hp.

Init
Lawson, Tower Girls, Amadia, Rommin, Afli, Valai

Amadia moves up and throws a bomb at the nearest cluster of enemies, hoping the splash radius will deal maximum damage.

Bomb: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21
Bomb Damage: 1d6 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8

I cannot help but feel the map is delayed like a full turn, I don't know how I got attacked when the battlemap shows nothing in melee range, and its difficult to make an action when I don't know if I am provoking, or who is the more significant target. I legitimately feel like I'm making my actions blind atm.

Sorry to be frustrating, Amadia :( Is it possible your browser is caching an old version of the page? If you view the battlemap right now, you should see an enemy at (11,9). The temp page I put out there (page titled 'Valai spell') was only to illustrate the tower girls in mid-move. There *is* a stray arrow on that map indicating your attacker was headed in a different direction - that was a goof. But make sure you're looking here for a current view of the battle. If it doesn't match the verbal description, try refreshing the page.(?)

Looking at that map, (9,9) offers you a 5' step to get your attacker out of your face. The wererat at (14,5) offers a target that is out of danger for splashing Valai, and has two adjacent rat allies to boot. She's more than 20' away, so you'll take a range penalty if you choose her.

EDIT: fixed the link. it's like, ironic or something...

Ah, thanks I can see current map now, might have been my browser.

Can I throw a bomb at 14"11 (I think) after 5 foot stepping and still hit the target while unleashing splash damage on the creatures around it.

(14,11) is Afli. The girl directly in front of you is the one you just roasted, so she's running on fumes already.

Oh, stupid me, yep, I'll just 5 foot and nuke the girl dumb enough to take a swing at me.

The girl in front of Amadia crumbles in a hideous scream as the second bomb strikes her head. The room is starting to smell distinctly unpleasant.

Rommin strikes down the combatant in front of him with a furious blow. Seeing the flood of new enemies entering the opposite side of the room he twists by the burning tower girl and puts himself back into the center of the melee Moving to (11,8), provoking an aoo from the girl in (10,16) which misses.

Afli sidesteps around the combat to close his flanks, striking out with his own rapier, but failing to connect with the rat. 5' step to (13,10) coupled with a bad attack roll.

Init
Lawson, Tower Girls & Rats, Amadia, Rommin, Afli, Valai