Magnimar Special Investigations Unit One (Inactive)

Game Master Nazard

"We need Laya in here," Heward mutters. He stands, steps to the door, and opens it. "Laya! Garidan and Awgin need you."

Aid another would be good strategy, but Laya's a sure bet.

But you don't lose anything by trying, and it may take a few rounds for Laya to get to you.

Quite content to aid Heward...

Barring being trodden on or something it looks like, with his current rate of decline, Garidan stabilizes on his second roll above. I also noticed that those ten rolls averaged 8.7 on a d20: come on dice-bot, throw us a frickin' bone! :)

On the other hand, Heward opening the door means he would see the table blocking the way, and keeping Laya out. He might decide that moving it would be a better idea.

So as we seem to be stagnating with every player waiting to see what the other player is going to do, I'll move things along slightly...

Heward moves to open the door to call to Laya, only to find the door open into him on its own. Backing up, he sees a large table blocking the way, and a few wisps of Laya's hair bobbing about behind the table. He also hears her voice, talking about the enjoiner being in her pack and that someone should use some detection magic to confirm. As surreptitiously as possible, he shoulders the table out of the way of the door, revealing Laya's back as she heads back to the top of the stairs, holding up her pack to...someone. Heward then hears a man's voice casting a spell.

Seeing Laya currently engaged in dialouge with somebody, presumably Veristan himself, Heward turns back to tend to Awgin (with Calatin's help), just as the ranger shrinks back down to his normal size.

Heal 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 1 = 14
With Calatin's aid, he succeeds in resetting Awgin's dislocated shoulder which was cutting off his air supply. Awgin's features resume their normal colour, although he is still unconscious, but breathing more easily. Together, he and Calatin move to tend to Garidan, only to find that he has already stabilized on his own, yet remains unconscious.

"You've got about twelve seconds to jump him before he turns me into goo," Laya hisses at those inside the library. "I can't delay him any longer."

... just as the ranger shrinks back down to his normal size...

We've had ten rounds already? ::sigh:: - there goes my last contribution to combat... But at least I got first blood... or first 'chip' I guess... in on the elementals... ;)

Lying unconcious, Garidan dreams...

Heward snatches up his halberd and hustles to the doorway. "C'mon, Calatin."

Nazard, I guessyou'll set the scene when we arrive.

Calatin Initiative: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10
Auriel Initiative: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 2 = 19
Laya Initiative: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (14) + 0 = 14
Heward Initiative: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9
Wisp Initiative: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11
Veristan Initiative: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23
Taverson Initiative: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 1 = 15

Heward and Calatin come to the door to see a bald, orange-skinned man seemingly sitting on the wall ten feet up, his crossbow trained at Laya. The eidolon is enormous and is watching Sir Taverson, Stafford's guard captain. Markiv is lying still on the foot of the staircase. You just manage to catch a glimpse of Auriel peering out around the edge of the front door.

As you move into view, Veristan's eyes twitch towards you, and a large smile creeps across his face. "You lie, halfling. You do not have the fragment in your pack, but one of them has it. I'm guessing the fat one. Wisp! Get up here and kill the fat one!"

He then unleashes his crossbow at Laya.
Attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20
Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 1
The bolt flies true, but Laya was expecting it so almost completely dodges aside, the bolt's tip just grazing her cheek instead of skewering her skull. Veristan curses then reloads his crossbow.

Up next: Auriel, Taverson, Laya

MILLIS MANOR GROUND FLOOR MAP UPDATED
MILLIS MANOR SECOND FLOOR MAP UPDATED

Auriel dashes into the room, stopping at Taverson's elbow. "Taverson," she whispers, "there's a magic crossbow in the library. Get to it! Hey!" she suddenly shouts at the summoner, trying to command his and his snake's attention. "What's with the orange skin? Prestidigitation gone wrong, or an ill-fated attempt to look like you spent the summer at a seaside resort?"

Move to AE 19; Perception DC 15 + distance modifiers to overhear her whisper; Begin bardic performance: disappearing act (DC 13 Will save or enemies treat Taverson as invisible)

Veristan Will: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17
Wisp Will: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

Taverson glances at Auriel, with no idea what she's doing, mutters something about being busy, then brings his sword down on the snake.
Attack:1d20 + 9 ⇒ (8) + 9 = 17
Damage: 1d8 + 9 ⇒ (6) + 9 = 15

Veristan lets out a yell as Taverson severs Wisp's head from its body, and the eidolon melts into smoke. Then Taverson turns and bolts up the stairs towards the library.

Up next: Laya, Calatin, Heward

"Not in pack?" Laya says. "Really? You know, I must have left it in my other pack. Back in a jiff." She ducks into the library.

"May Lady Pharasma grant you time before you stand in judgement," she says to the unconscious forms on the floor and channels energy.

Move to T18. Channel: 1d6 ⇒ 3

Hmm. Think I'm close enough to Orange Boy to deliver a burning hands... (will move if necessary).

1d4 ⇒ 4

Veristan Reflex: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 2 = 21

Veristan's feet are singed slightly by the spell. "You like fire, do you?" he snarls.

This won't work but Heward dosn't know that.

Heward smiles and reaches back for a javelin from the long quiver slung over his shoulder. Three short steps take him up to the edge of the stairs and he lets the small spear fly.

1d20 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 2 = 14 ... damage 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

Any chance of hooking Veristan with the halberd?

This won't work but Heward dosn't know that.

Heward smiles and reaches back for a javelin from the long quiver slung over his shoulder. Three short steps take him up to the edge of the stairs and he lets the small spear fly.

1d20+2 ... damage 1d6+3

Any chance of hooking Veristan with the halberd?

The halberd doesn't have reach, so no. He'd need some way of getting up higher.

The javelin flies at the man, loses momentum, and drops to the floor clattering down the stairs.

ROUND 2

Veristan begins casting a spell.

Up next: Auriel, Taverson, Laya, Calatin

"Hey! Hey! I'm talking to you!" Auriel continues to try to hold the summoner's attention until someone has a chance to use the crossbow. "I asked about your skin? 'Orange' you listening to me?" she asks desperately. I presume she's unaware the summoner made his save so she'll maintain her performance. Cast hideous laughter on Veristan Will DC 14

Will save: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

Veristan looks at Auriel for a moment, then breaks out into raucous later, losing his spell.

Taverson continues up the stairs and heads into library.

Up next: Laya, Calatin

By the way, on of the reasons the bad guys' saves are there in the combat stats is so that players can roll their saves for them to adjucate and resolved their own spells without having to wait for me. It speeds up combat a bit to not have to wait for me, and gives you narrative power over your own spell results. If you come up with a reaction that the NPC would not give, i'llfixit.

"Oh, almost forgot!" Laya calls out to the others, not realizing she's too late to warn Heward. "He's protected against missile attacks!"

She then turns her attention back to the unconscious party members. "May the Lady of Graves grant you just a little more strength."

Channel energy: 1d6 ⇒ 6
Woot! That should have Garidan back up again and Awgin at exactly 0.

Garidan and Awgin both regain consciousness. They are prone and empty-handed, and in the initiative order just after Laya. Whoever has the better initiative modifier between the two goes first.

Looks like Awgin. Go, Dax.

Awgin gets up shakily and scrambles for his weapon (which is out of reach because he was taller when he dropped it).

Peering around bleary-eyed for a moment Garidan mutters,

'Did anyone get the number of that cart?'

... before smiling at Laya,

'My thanks to you and your goddess both!'

Then he'll retrieve his long-spear. If possible he'll toss the reach weapon over to Heward, calling out, 'Get him!' as he does so. If not in a position to do that, he'll instead clamber to his feet taking the remainder of his action.

In any case, he'll shout over to Veristan in Shoanti,

Veristan laughs hideously at Garidan's insults (or perhaps still at Auriel's spell).

Up next: Calatin, Heward

"I am not wedded to fire..." mutters Calatin, as he lets rip with his old favourite, the frost ray...

1d20 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (7) + 1 - 4 = 4

Damage: 1d3 ⇒ 2

Nazard, was Garidan able to toss the longspear to Heward?

Hmmm...prone position, twenty feet away, past a fat wizard, through a doorway, over a table...I'm going to have to rule that Garidan realized that that wasn't going to work, and got up instead. Heward can ready an attack for when Garidan gets the spear to him, however.

Of course, if Heward is feeling adventurous, there is the four-foot tall marble balustrade that runs along the edge of the balcony... The six-inch wide banister has an Acrobatics DC of 15...

Heward would have pushed the table out of the way when he stepped out of the library????

Heward stands with his hand reaching back for for a second javelin. That won't work. He swivels his eyes back into the library looking at the longspear lying on the floor.

I'll wait for that long spear then.

I have a rogue who would be completely on that, but Heward's style is more grounded.

ROUND 2

Veristan continues to howl with laughter, until just before Auriel's turn.

Up next: Auriel, Taverson, Laya

"Way to take advantage of an opportunity, guys," Auriel grumbles as the Shoanti's laughter fades and he is still very much uninjured on the wall. Seeing that Taverson has made it into the library, she decides she's had enough of Veristan's attention and steps over Markiv's crumpled form with a fleeting pang of apologetic sympathy that no one's making more of a fuss over him. She dashes up the stairs, hopping over or slipping around the table if it's still in the way Acrobatics 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9 maybe anyway depending on how much of an obstacle it is and enters the library. "Crossbow over there, Taverson," she points out to the head of Stafford's security.

Taverson grabs the crossbow and fumbles a bolt from the quiver next to it into the bow. He turns back towards the door.

With Garidan and Awgin conscious, Laya rushes from the room and to Markiv's side. Unfortunately, it takes her a double move to get there, so she can't do anything else right now.

Wisp is gone, and Veristan is on his own (unless the DM is about to spring something else upleasant upon us)! Awgin, Garidan, Calatin, Heward delaying until someone weapons him.

... Heward can ready an attack for when Garidan gets the spear to him, however.

Readying would be a little insane, since there's no reason Heward would be wanting to interupt Garidan trying to hand him the spear, and no reason he'd want to limit his potential action so much. A simple Delay - where he still gets his full action once he has the spear, and has the option of jumping back into the flow of activity before then if something interesting happens - seems more like what the chap is doing... IMHO, of course... ;)

As soon as he's able, Garidan heads to Heward's side move action, hands off the spear I'll assume free action, maybe swift?, then asks the tribal spirits to offer Heward some guidance as the watchman attempts to strike down their odious foe standard action to cast a guidance cantrip on Heward.

Make that Awgin, Garidan, Heward, Calatin then.

Awgin finally makes it to his flail and picks it up.
Awgin is Staggered so only gets a move action.

Awgin retrieves his flail. Garidan moves up and hands Heward his longspear, then receives a guidance spell with it.

Up next: Heward, Calatin, Veristan

Heward drops his halberd and takes the longspear as a grin spreads across his face. "Thanks." He whirls toward Mikobar. "Let's see how you deal with this."

Heward steps forward and down a few stairs to minimize his distance to Veristan. Then he jump lunges and drives the spear toward the wallcrawling caster.

Longspear attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 18 ... damage 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8

The spear bites deeply into Veristan's thigh, releasing a flow of blood which drips down his leg and runs along the length of the spear.

Indeed, Heward's borrowed spear bites deeply into Veristan's thigh. The summoner glares at Heward in hatred and rage.

Up next: Calatin, Veristan, Auriel, Taverson

Muttering under his breath, Calatin points his finger once more...

1d20 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (7) + 1 - 4 = 4

.. but to no avail... no frosty bits just yet! (Darn die roller!)

Technically, since he's more than 5 feet away from the nearest ally, you don't have the -4 penalty for firing into melee. Still misses though.

ROUND 3

Veristan slowly withdraws up the wall out of range of Heward's new spear. That's all he does this round however, so as not to provoke from Heward.

Up next: Auriel, Taverson, Laya, Awgin

Auriel moves to the window to see how far down the jump is and if there are any likely footholds for climbing down, if worse comes to worst.

Heward has a what? Nine or ten foot vertical reach, is standing on stairs, and is using an eight foot long spear... And spider-boy still has room to climb up, out of reach? This place is frickin' huge! With his 'protection from anything we can chuck at him' spell up, I'm rapidly running out of ideas as to what to do next... I guess I'll await Garidan's next turn and see what happens in the mean time...

Guess I should have included a Perception check with that last action. 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7 Obviously too dark for for her to see much. :P

Auriel, what window are you looking down?

@Garidan: Sorry, I haven't done a good job of describing this place, or updating the map. Heward can normally attack the five-foot cube above him (Veristan is one square to the north of Heward). The spear lets him attack two cubes, or fifteen feet up, which is the height of the ceiling in this open foyer/hall. Veristan is that far up against the ceiling. He has now moved along the wall out over the stairs, which makes him two squares north and three up, a distance of roughly twenty feet (without breaking out the trig). Heward can take a five foot step north, but that will take him partially down the stairs, which therefore lowers him again out of reach. I assume Garidan is out of enlarge persons?

Taverson takes aim at Veristan, but doesn't pull the trigger. Veristan pays the bowman no mind.

Up next: Laya, Awgin, Garidan

Auriel, what window are you looking down?

Let's say the one in U 20, the east one. I assume those are windows. Didn't the owl fly in and out of one?

Awgin moves to support Heward only to find that the villain is out of reach.

Laya examines Markiv, hoping she's not too late, but fearing the worst. If he's still alive, she casts cure light wounds on him.

Convert detect evil to cure light wounds: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

If she's too late, she takes no further action this round.

Ah - he moved across too - that's a lot clearer, thanks! In that case...

Watching Veristan scurry away, Garidan grabs the handy-dandy table they have nearby and moves it so that Heward can jump up onto it and continue impaling the bad guy!

'Get on this to reach him!' Garidan says as he moves the table into position.

And yes - Garidan only has an 'open' level one spell slot at the moment - not really knowing what to expect... but I doubt Veristan is going to abide by a 'time out' whilst he fills it... ;)

Using the table will allow Heward to reach the man, though it will require a DC 5 Acrobatics check for him to make an attack from it.

Laya finds that Markiv is dead.

Up next: Calatin, Heward, Veristan, Auriel.