Motteditor's Reign of Winter PBP (Inactive)

Game Master motteditor

Whoops! I'd thought I'd gone. Sorry folks!

Sighing, Malavarius raises his staff and calls forth another protective curtain of shimmering light. Meanwhile, Zeno's face falls as everything explodes into violence around him.

Nadya and Pems appear in the aerie to see Hektir swinging wildly at the crows flapping around him, his blade catching nothing but air. Tsin has more luck, her blade catching a couple ravens and slamming them into the ground before she back away from the remaining birds. Can't really cleave as it's considered a single foe; they also take half damage from weapons as there's not really a single body to attack.

Mal summons his protective aura as Quinn rushes forward, his blade catching the blue-skinned beauty and drawing blood even as she soars 20 feet up into the sky, well out of his reach.

I moved you forward to cover your allies, Mal, but not sure you actually wanted to do that. Let me know and I can move you back; no AoO against the woman as she used a withdrawn action.

The ravens continue to flap around Hektir, talons and beaks ripping into his flesh as the endless cawing threatens to drive him mad even if he should survive their assault. 5 hp; DC 14 Fort save or be nauseated 1 round

Round 2

Quinn sheathes his sword and draws his crossbow as he shifts away from the swarm of birds and focuses on the queen bee. "Call off your friends, we'll let them live, I promise you!"

shift direct north, exchange weapons

The move is good, you read my intent correctly. =) What are your thoughts regarding my spoilered question about swarms?

Seeing the woman take flight, Malavarius turns to Zeno, beak still slack. "I'm so sorry, Zeno. You're not going to like this next part very much, I would guess. She's obviously in league with the witches and she's turned your black-feathered cousins against poor Hektir." The old man then produces a familiar wand from his sleeve and points at the flying lady, "Piddlespot!"

Scorching Ray: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 = 20for: 4d6 ⇒ (2, 3, 4, 4) = 13

Round 3, Init 24

Hektir continues to whirl his scimitar around, trying both to slice through the ravenstorm while trying to get bits of raven out of his eyes.

"My eyes! My beautiful eyes! Oh what will Nadya gaze into lovingly!!!"

1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15 to hit;
1d6 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7 damage;
1d100 ⇒ 70 high = hit.

HP:26/33

Round 2, Init 16

Tsin studies the unkindness of ravens, and gains a slight bit of confidence in striking a second time, as Hektir continues to tease the blackbirds with his aqueous humor. She steps up 5' to swing again.

MW Cold Iron Longsword: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20 for 1d8 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8 damage

"Mal, is there something more effective here? From my previous experience, I can throw a bit of acid, but it feels weak and ineffectual."

"I can't imagine those birds would like having alchemist's fire thrown on top of them. Hektir will understand, I'm sure."

Hmm. James hasn't posted in either game I'm running in a while; I'm hoping it's just holiday busy-ness and everything's OK, but I'll DMPC him for the moment...

Quinn pulls his crossbow as Pems grabs his sling and a cold iron bullet.

On the other side of the room, Hektir feels his blade his a couple bodies, and hears more dull thuds as Tsin knocks more from the air, nearly half their birds' bodies littering the floor.

Mal's wand blast hits the woman full force, and she cries out in pain, skin blistering in the heat. She holds up a wooden holy symbol, though, and you can suddenly see her wounds begin to close, some of the birds also finding new life and flapping back into the air. She cries out in a language only Zeno understands, but the meaning is clear enough moments later as the birds abandon their attack on Hektir and move toward Mal and Tsin both of whom can get an AoO before taking 1 hp damage and giving me DC 14 Reflex and Fortitude saves to avoid being blinded and nauseated respectively; I'm also going to rule that they provide cover for the sylph.

Nadya calls out in Skald -- "Fortell meg hvor min datter er, tispe, og jeg lover at vi skal la deg leve!" -- as she pulls her bow tight, and arrow aimed at the woman.

Round 3, init 9

Quinn takes aim at the pretty woman and sighs, "Can't even one of you wintery brats work with us? You could have lived."

light crossbow: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25
dmg: 1d8 ⇒ 5

possible crit: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10
dmg: 1d8 ⇒ 5

Round 4, Init 24

Hektir follows the sounds of the ravens and continues to flail while flailing.

"My eyes! My beautiful eyes! Luscious Lealla Lee Lumplepecker said they where my best quality."

1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7 to hit;
1d6 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6 damage;
1d100 ⇒ 88 high = hit.

Round 4, Init 16

AoO: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12 for 1d8 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13 damage

Tsin lashes out madly as the birds shift around her.

Reflex Save v DC 14: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 = 17
Fortitude Save v DC 14: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (7) + 9 = 16

She shifts her head low into her Cloak, and manages to avoid raking talons. She attempts and fails to return the favor.

MW Cold Iron Longsword: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9 for 1d8 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7 damage

She backs up 5', to avoid the flock. I suggest you do the same, Mal, but I'll not open my mouth to say so. Too much shit being kicked up. Too little being kicked.

no weapon equipped, so no AoO from me
Reflex Save (DC 14): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 2 = 12
Fortitude Save (DC 14): 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 1 = 21

"What the devil? Blasted birds! Oooof!" Malavarius grunts as a raven's wing bats his hat from his head and then cries out a moment later as another of the large birds clips him across the eyes. He stumbles free from the avian cloud, a baggy sleeve held up to over his eyes. "One of you burn these blasted birds to a crisp already, won't you?!"

Move Action: stumble one square up and to the right, can't 5-foot step due to the blindness though

@Mott: What's the duration for the blindness/nausea if we fail the saves?

You don't know duration on blindness, but it's longer than the fight if you don't try to do anything about it. Nausea is 1 round.

Pem's stone flies wide, but Quinn's bolt hits the sylph, her eyes widening in pain.

She calls out to her god again, and the sound of roaring wind fills the aerie.

Below, Hektir swings wildly, hitting nothing, as Tsin does the same, her vision obscured by her cloak protecting her eyes. Mal retreats as the birds continue after Tsin, again raking at her few spots of exposed flesh. 1 hp; DC 14 Reflex and Fortitude saves to avoid being blinded and nauseated respectively

Round 4, init 9

spellcraft: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9

Unaware of her spell effect, Quinn aims and fires again at the bird master. "Call them off, you can still live through this!"

light crossbow: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20
dmg: 1d8 ⇒ 3

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (13) + 12 = 25

"Bah! Arrows and bolts won't be much good after she finishes that particular spell, wind will just brush them aside. Blasted slyphs! Someone help me! I can't see a thing!"

Not really a whole lot I can do besides fire a wand blindly with a 50% miss chance. It doesn't strike me as worth the risk as far as charges go, but if you guys feel otherwise let me know and I'll send some rays lancing through the room.

Pems looks about with wild eyes as the birds race about. He steps up behind Tsin and lays a ward upon her, granting her +2 deflection to AC and +2 resistance to saves!

Round 5, Init 16

Reflex Save v DC 14, or Blinded: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 2 = 13
Fortitude Save v DC 14, or Nauseated: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (9) + 9 = 18

I'm thinking Pems' beneficial boosts come too late...

Tsin screams in pain as her eyes suffer the same stings as Hektir and Mal. She continues to lash out at the flock.

MW Cold Iron Longsword: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (20) + 7 = 27 for 1d8 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11 damage
Miss Chance, High Good: 1d100 ⇒ 11

Bloody hells

Round 5, Init 24

Hektir chases the swarm and hacks away, still angry.

"My eyes! My beautiful eyes! How will anyone see my inner beauty!? My soul!?"

1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23 to hit;
1d6 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5 damage;
1d100 ⇒ 37 high = hit.

Quinn's bolt goes flying up into the ceiling of the large chamber, slamming into the icy roof.

Pems rushes toward Tsin, moments too late, as the swordswoman swings wildly as the noisy birds whirling around her, unknowingly imitating Hektir doing the same thing a few feet away.

"This is madness," Nadya snarls, dropping her bow and pulling out her axe after seeing Quinn's bolt.

"Do something to help them!" she calls to the cleric and rushes toward the birds, weapon flashing in the cold light before spraying bird blood across the floor. Before she can do anything else, though, the sylph calls out to her goddess again and Nadya's body suddenly stiffens, though moments later she begins to move normally again. Figures; when *I* use hold person, I make the save...

The birds continue their assault, moving to encompass Pems who can get an AoO. 4 hp, plus saves please.

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (5) + 12 = 17
"Eh? What's that?! More spells? I can't hear it over all that squawking! Oh... blast and bebother slyphs and their crows!" Malavarius points the wand up toward where he heard the spellcasting coming from and blindly calls out, "Piddlespot!"
Fire burns through the air and a few moments later he asks, "Did I get her? What happened?!"

Scorching Ray: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6for: 4d6 ⇒ (3, 1, 4, 5) = 13
Miss Chance (1-50 miss/51-100 hit): 1d100 ⇒ 51

Reflex Save v DC 14, or Blinded: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (17) + 7 = 24
Fortitude Save v DC 14, or Nauseated: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23

AoO: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22 for 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7 damage!

Round 6, Init 24

Hektir chases the swarm and hacks away, still angry.

"Nadya! Remember me for my eyes! My eyes!"

1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8 to hit;
1d6 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10 damage;
1d100 ⇒ 83 high = hit.

Round 5, init 9

Quinn curses as the wind batters his bolt, then loads another and turns it towards the birds. "You can't stay protected forever, you can still surrender and save your flock!"

light crossbow: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13
dmg: 1d8 ⇒ 3

daily abilities remaining: door sight 1/6, touch of chaos 3/6, channel 2/6, 2nd 1/3, 1st 2/4

Round 6, Init 16[/ooc]

Assuming no need for Reflex Save as already Blinded
Fortitude Save v DC 14, or nauseated: 1d20 + 9 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 9 + 2 = 15 Thank you, Pems

Tsin catches herself for a moment, realizing that Pems is somewhere nearby. She changes her swings to chest-high slashes, hoping to avoid accidental axing of the halfling.

MW Cold Iron Longsword: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17 for 1d8 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7 damage
Miss Chance, High Good: 1d100 ⇒ 10

This is for the birds...

The birds fly easily around Quinn's bolt, even as they also avoid the blinded Tsin and Hektir's wild swings and the sylph dodges Mal's blast from the wand.

Pems, still able to see, catches a bird as they flock over him, but can't hit them a second time before he backs out of the swarm. Nadya, pulling a pick to go along with her axe, growls as her efforts to bat the ravens out of the sky prove fruitless.

The birds follow the halfling though some continue to claw and peck at Tsin. 1 hp to both; plus Fortitude saves and a reflex save for Pems

Above, the sylph casts again and there's a sudden explosion of noise in the aerie, seeming buffeting Nadya, Mal and Quinn with waves of sound. 2 hp; Fort save DC 14 or be stunned 1 round

Boy, my damage rolls have been crappy...

Round 6, init 9

fort save: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20

Quinn staggers from the blast, but maintains his wits and fires again at the swarm of birds.

light crossbow: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26
dmg: 1d8 ⇒ 1

"Come down here dear, and surrender like a good girl, no sense in dying when we'll let you live." Trying to clear the ringing from his ears, he listens for the wind to stop and give him a clear shot at the flying lady.

possible crit: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22
dmg: 1d8 ⇒ 8

Round 7, Init 16

Tsin continues to writhe within the feathered vortex, keeping her mouth shut, and grunting her displeasure at the flock seems to have no end to it. She pushes through as best she can. Her eyes matter with mucus.

Fortitude Save v DC 14, or nauseated: 1d20 + 9 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 9 + 2 = 14

Such is our command. Bird droppings, troll blood, red ice. To what else do we have to look forward?

MW Cold Iron Longsword: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9 for 1d8 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10 damage

In utter frustration, Tsin takes a step backwards, sensing Hektir's musk.

Round 7, Init 24

Hektir chases the swarm and hacks away, still angry.

"I'm done with these birds!"

1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26 to hit;
1d6 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8 damage;
1d100 ⇒ 81 high is good.

Pot Crit:
1d20 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 16 to hit;
1d6 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8 damage;

Fort Save: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9

"For all th- arrGGGhhGHGHgghghg!" Malavarius doubles over, holding his hands to ears.

Quinn's bolt skewers several birds, scattering others into the path of Hektir's blade, the blind tracksmage landing a blow that slashes several of the creatures from the sky.

Tsin swings wildly, but the flock is rapidly thinning, and her blade hits nothing, as does Pems, who's more concerned with protecting his eyes from the murder of crows.

"Enough the woman," calls out in Common as the wind around her dies down and she holds up her holy symbol, her wounds knitting closed. "This gets us nowhere! I will surrender if you will let me and my birds leave in peace."

"What's that? Who said that? Was that her? Blast it, Zeno, help an old man!"
"Yes, yes! It's her! Now stop flailing about before you blast someone into cinders!"
Malavarius turns and looks up toward the ceiling, but to the wrong corner and loudly addresses no one, "Yes! That sounds quite fine, thank you very much. A fine thing to meet someone with some measure of reason and level-headedness in this frosty tower, don't you know."

Zeno, for his part, goes quiet as he slips into slack-beaked staring once again.

The wind whips less fiercely about her head, and Tsin takes this a sign. "Yes, a surrender! She will be the first to strike out against us, and the first to stop the aggression." Tsin wipes at her eyes, half-expecting her vision to return fully.

"She likely brings the witches word about what her birds see, so silencing the receiver of messages is just as good to me as killing the messenger."

Pems keeps his spear ready, but calls out. "We don't need any more enemies! If she's willing to leave, let her go." In Skald he calls "We accept your surrender and conditions. We have no wish to harm you or your birds! We seek this woman's child as well as the witch in charge! Do you know of them?"

"Finally, a person with wisdom!" Quinn sheathes his weapon and beckons her to land, "My good Lady, you have my assurance that we will hold good to the bargain and let you live if you surrender peacefully. You can see that our own companion has a bird for a friend, and well, for my part I'm also a friend of that bird!" Quinn looks at her triumphantly, as if he's made a point that can't be argued with, "Land, good Lady, and share this Sherry with us! Hektir won't bite, hopefully. Please, just tell us what you know of this woman's child?" Quinn gestures to Nadya, hoping he been persuasive.

diplomacy: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15

Hektir quells his rage long enough to give diplomacy a chance.

Malavarius continues to stumble and flail about a bit, his quarterstaff whizzing through the air as he swings it too high to find any furniture, but high enough to accidently crack some human-sized folk in the head. At Zeno's cry, however, the addled wizard lowers his staff before anyone is inadvertently concussed.

Zeno shakes his head at his wizard then turns his wide-eyed gaze back to the sylph.

The bird-keeper seems to ignore Quinn's entreaty, keeping a safe distance in the air. She channels again, her power healing more of her birds and her own wounds.

"I have only recently been at the tower, I'm afraid," the woman says. "I think I might remember seeing a child when I first arrived, but I have not seen her in several weeks. I'm sorry but I don't know what happened to her."

"Oh no," Nadya cries, choking back a sob.

2d6 ⇒ (3, 3) = 6

Tsin tries to face the sylph as best she can hear above the settling birds. "To whom do you report, and are they here at present? We require an answer about the girl, and it must be from them." If only my eyes were able...

Pems pales. "Do you recall where you saw the child last? We might be able to find details there."

Hektir continues to quell his rage long enough to give diplomacy a chance.

"I give my reports to Radosek. I believe he is here, in his chambers another level up. As for the girl, she was kept in a bedroom near the dining room."

"We will check there, and with this Radosek. Thank you for your help."

Zeno flits up to the slyph, glancing shyly from his left to his right. "Ummm, hello. I'm- I'm Zeno. Do you, do you really take care of all these birds?"
Interest and a bit of self-consciousness sound plainly in the thrush's voice.

"Why, yes, yes I do," the sylph replies. "I think we are friends. They tell me what they see and I listen and talk to them in return. Would you like to be friends?"

Zeno nods pleasantly at the nice lady. "Do- do you have a name?"

"Of course. I am Jairess Sonn," she says with a smile.

Hektir holds his blade, giving diplomacy a chance to work.

My eyes, my beautiful eyes.

At Hektir's whining, Nadya wipes the tears from her face and moves closer to the tracksmage. Pushing his hands away, she takes a close look.

"They look like they should heal in a few days at most, but there is nothing I can do. Do you have magic that can fix this?"

She does the same for Tsin, but smiles as she finally comes to Mal.

"You do no look as bad. You I can fix." She pulls out a small kit and sew a few sutures in the old man's face, seemingly enough to restore his vision!

Heal: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17
Heal: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10
Heal: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24

And speaking of magic: You can all get another level!

Malavarius blinks a few times once Nadya's finished her work and beams brightly as the room comes into focus once more. He kisses her on the forehead in a grandfatherly way and trumpets, "Bless you child, you've heartened a very old man. Ah, but you're a wonder." He tucks the wand back into one of his sleeves, then looks around, his beard swaying with the motion. "Zeno? Blast it all, Zeno, where have you gotten to? Ah! There you are!"
Zeno looks around groggily before looking down at the wizard a moment later, "Hmmm? What? Oh, yes. You. Malavarius, did you know she takes care of all these birds?!" He flits down excitedly to land on the wizard's staff. "Do you think when we're done I could come back here? Jairess seems nice!"

"Ah...come on!" Hektir spits, trying to get his eyeballs back in their sockets. "Can't someone stick them back in?"

Hektir looks turns to Quinn.