When they start to advance, she will begin to cast an enlargement spell on Ahto. She would show them to fear and respect this ruler far more than Mather Nithra.
F Changeling (Green-Born) Ranger 6 | HP 47/47 | AC: 20 (13 tch, 17 ff) | CMB +8/+3, CMD +21 | F +6, R +8, W +4 | Init +3 | Darkvision 60 ft, Perc +11, SM +2
Initiative:1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4+2 if this counts as forest for Favored Terrain
Storm Initiative:1d20 + 3 ⇒ (19) + 3 = 22
What a shame. Hopefully they won't have to kill all of the gnomes before they can get to the evil fey driving them. Katrine touches her carved wooden holy symbol and utters a spell of enhancement, laying her hand on Storm's head. The wolfdog's teeth briefly glow green.
Casting magic fang on Storm. Storm will hold his action until Katrine is done casting.
Female Gnome NG Investigator 4/Hunter 2 (Cryptid Scholar) hp 39/39 | AC 15* (t14;f12 *+1 AC vs traps) | CMD 16 (ff13) | F* +5 R*** +10 W** +6 (*+2 illusions **+1 if animal within 30' *** +1 vs traps) | Init +3 *Perc +6 (Darkvision)
Aren't most of us one size category down, GM?
"If we seek out the shadowy fey figures on the periphery and take them down first," Wonky reasons logically, "we may have a chance at saving these dominated souls yet."
Initiative:1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22Both Doo-dad and Sprocket will act on Wonky's turn.
GM:
Sprocket is a bodyguard, and thus has the Tenacious Guardian and Intercept Blow feats when adjacent to Wonky.
On her turn, Wonky's vision turns bird-like while Sprocket grows even burlier just before the gnome winks out of sight.
Using a swift action to grant Wonky the aspect of a falcon (+4 to Perception) and Sprocket the aspect of a bull (+2 to Strength). Yes, they both can happen at the same time and as the same swift action. On her turn, Wonky will cast invisibility and get out her bow.
Pelipe, VV, and Wonky are all smaller. Katrine and the dogs are normal. Ahto was normal, but Pelipe is enlarging him, so he will be large-sized if that clarifies. Also, GM, for those of us who are smaller, we have a higher dex, so add one to all of our initiatives.
Thank you for the reminder about the bonus to initiative. For some reason, I thought Pelipe had cast Enlarge Person to counter the shrinking on more than just Ahto.
Wonky and Katrine work their magic, ensorcelling their good boys into ferocious boys.
The smaller fey seem to watch and wait for now, lurking in the shadowy undergrowth.
The twigjacks and tooth fairies delay until after the enslaved gnomes.
The larger fey, which Wonky readily recognizes as nochleans, each cast a spell. One of them uses its magic to vanish, although those still inside the hollow tree can now hear it behind the tree. The other one calls down a magical slumber upon Ahto, inadvertently catching the lurking Vixen in its lull.
Ahto and Vixen need to make DC 13 Will Saves against Sleep.
I'll wait to see if they make their saves because that will affect what the other evil fey do.
The gnomes rush forward, with two of them charging Ahto to assault him with their simple spears.
Ahto takes 2 damage if a 14 hits, and another 5 damage if a 13 hits.
The other fey move around to flank, with the winged ones flying up out of reach, except for one who uses her rusty pliers to goad the gnomes forth, and the ones that look like wooden effigies approaching more cautiously.
The Vixen assumes Mather Nithra is the one yelling. She decides to startle him!
Startling Appearance:
At 5th level, a vigilante learns to use the element of surprise to his advantage, startling foes that are unaware of his presence. Whenever a vigilante with this ability attempts an attack against a foe that is completely unaware of the vigilante’s presence (usually due to Stealth or invisibility), the foe is treated as flat-footed for the rest of the vigilante’s turn (uncanny dodge or a similar ability prevents this effect unless the vigilante is at least 4 levels higher than the foe with uncanny dodge). The foe also takes a –4 penalty on attacks made against the vigilante until the start of the vigilante’s next turn.
Acro:1d20 + 15 ⇒ (6) + 15 = 21
“Eat THIS, Mather F+*$ra!” VV shouts, taunt kinda ruined by her squeaky little-girl voice.
The Vixen punctuates her sudden, dramatic, perhaps vulgar entrance by delivering an arrow that picks out the real Mather Nithra from among the many blurring and shifting duplicates hovering around him. The shrinking spell upon the Vixen means that her arrow is perfectly sized to stick in the evil grig's insect-like flank.
Ahto swings Burden, but the magic blade cuts only empty air as the gnomes cower and recoil upon watching him grow to enormous size from the influence of Pelipe's magic.
Round 2 "He has cast a mirroring spell. Either hit the right one, or dispel the effect. You may miss if you swing at him!" she explains.
I can't be sure which figure Mather is, so I'm not targeting him just yet, but I'd like to, or move closer to him this round so I'm within 30ft. For now, she'll boost Ahto some more.
From what Pelipe can tell, the only culprit here is Mather, so she focuses in on him, but in seeing Ahto miss the nimble gnomes, she figures she can strengthen him; make him deadlier; cause his weapons to connect.
(Using Powerful Change: Casting Bull's Strength on Ahto +6 enhancement to Str. 1 AP used.)
"I wish he could just overrun right past them and hit Mather."
F Changeling (Green-Born) Ranger 6 | HP 47/47 | AC: 20 (13 tch, 17 ff) | CMB +8/+3, CMD +21 | F +6, R +8, W +4 | Init +3 | Darkvision 60 ft, Perc +11, SM +2
Flying enemies, ugh. While Katrine should be able to shoot them, her companion is another matter. But... it looks like they're not too high. Storm might be able to make that jump. She points to the flying fey closest to her. "Storm, attack!" The wolfdog snarls and leaps!
While Storm gets to chomping, Katrine casts her other favorite spell on her longbow. These are going to be difficult targets to hit, so when she does hit, she wants it to hurt.
Storm, similarly boosted by Katrine's magic, runs up the side of trunk and snatches the offending fey in his jaws. When the dog lands back down on the ground, he drops the dead creature at his master's tiny feet as she casts her next spell.
Wonky can still act in Round 2 before the enemies act.
Pelipe utilizes the cover of the giant root to hide her from Mather and his flunkies as she seeks to wrap around behind them and get in range of blasting their leader.
Moving 30ft and taking cover behind a root. Kneeling +2AC vs ranged.
Female Gnome NG Investigator 4/Hunter 2 (Cryptid Scholar) hp 39/39 | AC 15* (t14;f12 *+1 AC vs traps) | CMD 16 (ff13) | F* +5 R*** +10 W** +6 (*+2 illusions **+1 if animal within 30' *** +1 vs traps) | Init +3 *Perc +6 (Darkvision)
Wonky gives a simple order to her canine friends.
"Marbh am fear leis a' ghuth sgàineadh."
Gnome:
"Kill the one with the hoarse voice."
Before Doo-dad surges away, the gnome touches him briefly, enchanting his natural attacks with primal magic.
Cast magic fang on Doo-dad. Move. Still invisible. Both dogs have 40 ft movement speeds (double moves) and take two different routes towards their target, avoiding any other creatures (trail marked on the map).
Of the Nochleans, the one behind the tree casts a spell upon itself. It then sidles up to the tree and begins scaling its surface like a lizard or spider. It crawls up and slides through one of the gaps in the trunk, now hanging about 25 feet above Katrine.
The other Nochlean attempts to unleash its sleep magic again, this time targeting Sprocket before the dog can reach its master.
Sprocket needs to make a DC 13 Will Save to avoid falling asleep.
"Damn you, biggin!" Mather Nithra hisses at Ahto, towering across this battlefield. "I'll bring you down to size. I wonder what it is that you're afraid of!"
The grig invokes a spell aimed at Ahto.
Ahto:
Mather's spell creates an illusion of the most terrifying creature Ahto can imagine, which only he can see. You must first make a DC 21 Will Save to disbelief the spell, which has the fear, emotion, and mind-affecting tags, so I believe you get some bonuses to the save. If you fail the Will Save, you must then make a DC 21 Fort Save. On a successful save, you take 3d6 damage; on a failed save...you die from fear.
Spellcraft DC 19:
Mather Nithra is casting Phantasmal Killer, a dangerous spell capable of outright slaying its target if they succumb to the frightful illusion of their worst fear.
I want to see if Ahto makes his save(s) before the rest of the enemies act because this outcome will have a very big effect on things.
The hair pricks up on Ahto's arms and neck, and he grits his teeth against the pain of some unseen foe.
Most of the half-bleached gnomes take this opportunity to lunge for Ahto, falling upon him with spears and clubs. Another turns to attack Pelipe, although only grazing her with his weapon.
Ahto takes 10 damage from Mather's spell and 12 damage from the gnomes' attacks. Pelipe takes a whopping 1 damage from the gnome attacking her.
The twigjacks move in from the flanks. Two of them unleash a hail of sharp slivers, showering both Ahto and Pelipe as well as the gnomes standing in the way, regardless of their coerced service to their master. The third twigjack sneaks up behind Pelipe and jabs at her with his spear.
Pelipe takes 9 damage from the one Twigjack's sneak attack. Pelipe and Ahto also need to make DC 14 Reflex Saves against the other two Twigjack's Splinterspray abilities. One deals 8 damage to Ahto, and the other deals 15 damage to Pelipe, but successful saves cut that damage in half.
One tooth fairy flies around to flank Ahto, while the other two lunge for the Vixen and Sprocket, but their cruel pliers are easily evaded by their targets.
(*Mind-Buttressing Armor*) Male Human Inquisitor of Abadar (Sin Eater) 6 l AC 20 T 11 FF 19 l HP 49/49 l F +5 R +2 W +7/+9* l Init +2 l Perc +11
Reflex Save:1d20 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 1 + 1 = 16
(Changing Judgments to Healing (2 hp/round) and Purity (+1 saves). Also activating Bane (fae) ability.)
Ahto reels against the psychic and physical assault against him. He calls upon Abadar to steel his resolve, and comes quickly to the realization that mercy will result in his death, and likely those of his companions.
"I offered you mercy, and you rejected it. Now, I offer you what you have sown with the betrayal of your people, the Headsman's Justice!"
Ahto swings at the Tooth Fairy, if possible, hoping to terrify the bleached ones one last time before he has to resort to killing them.
Splinterspray Reflex Save:1d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9Well, there is half her life. -15hp. The other hits reflect off of her shield and magical spell.
She moves in defensive form through the battlefield, taking cover by the root. Soon, the forces of Mather set upon her. She is no grand warrior in armor, but a maiden in adventuring gear, huddling, trying to find safety from the battlefield. Instead, they set upon her, swinging and trying to gash at her. Then a violent spray of splinters tears into her flesh. A scream can be heard as she bloodily runs. Since they are upon her, she cannot cast now to hide with her vanishing spell, all she can do is run toward safety and the Vixen. Her beautiful new clothes are ruined, shredded, and covered in blood. She doesn't look very well off.
The Vixen hopefully knock out her foe. But she says to Pelipe either way, “What kind o’ magic ya got? Anything that turns six Mather Nithras back into one, or make me hard to hit or stronger… that’ll help.”
Knowing Pelipe is worried and needs direction, she settles on, “Make me strong. I’ll grab him!” Requesting Bull’s Strength, if you know that one, Pelipe.
A mighty swing from Burden leaves the winged fey creeping up on Ahto cut into two vile, sizzling halves.
Similarly, Storm snatches and shakes one in his jaws before flinging it, lifeless, against the inner walls of the hollow tree.
Katrine's arrow sticks in the creeping, crawling medium-sized fey's shoulder. The wound and the foe alike hiss in response to the bite of cold iron.
The Vixen's kick brings down the last of the winged fey, leaving it incapacitated with the fey equivalent of a concussion.
Wonky and her hounds can still act.
Also, because you're quickly turning the fight against Nithra's gang, one of you can use a free action to make another Intimidation or Diplomacy check to convince the gnomes to stand down. Because of how you've absolutely demolished the tooth fairies, I'll also allow a second person to make an Aid roll to the effort as a free action.
(*Mind-Buttressing Armor*) Male Human Inquisitor of Abadar (Sin Eater) 6 l AC 20 T 11 FF 19 l HP 49/49 l F +5 R +2 W +7/+9* l Init +2 l Perc +11
"This is your last chance!" Ahto says, fixing the bleached gnomes with a steely glare. "I know Nithra is threatening you, but if you continue to obey him, your lives are forfeit. Now is the time to turn the tide of battle. Turn your weapons against your oppressor! Join us!"
The gnomes' surrender is punctuated as the remains of the tooth fairy that Ahto cleft in twain explode into a cloud of sparkling white dust that, even from a distance, smells nauseatingly sweet.
The tooth fairy inside the hollow tree that Storm bounded up and snatched, then tossed like a chewed up rag doll, explodes into a similar such plume.
Storm Fort Save vs Tooth Fairy Death Throes DC 10:1d20 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12
The third slain tooth fairy, sitting at Storm's paws, finally explodes in kind. The sickly sweet, sparkling powder clings to the dog's fur. Storm yowls, clearly hating the smell, but he manages to avoid being outright sickened by the odor.
I almost forgot about the tooth fairies' Death Throes ability. Of course, only one of them died within 5 feet of anyone, so it did not make much of a difference.
I'll give Wonky a little bit more time to post, but if they're not able, I'll do my best to autopilot.
Female Gnome NG Investigator 4/Hunter 2 (Cryptid Scholar) hp 39/39 | AC 15* (t14;f12 *+1 AC vs traps) | CMD 16 (ff13) | F* +5 R*** +10 W** +6 (*+2 illusions **+1 if animal within 30' *** +1 vs traps) | Init +3 *Perc +6 (Darkvision)
Will Save, Sprocket:1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14
Good Boy Sprocket shakes his head irritably at the slumber effect, but keeps his feet and charges at his ordered target. Doo-dad comes arcing around from the side - the two dogs attack Nithra in pack-fashion.
Doo-dad does not charge straight. He takes an arc towards the west of the map to come at Nithra.
Sprocket and Doo-dad bark in confusion as their foe vanishes as they chomp their jaws upon him. Mather Nithra cackles in delight as the dogs are foiled by his magic illusions.
Both dogs hit mirror image duplicates.
One of the Nochleans hustles through the undergrowth to protect his boss against the offending hounds. Meanwhile, the one inside the tree crawls along the the inner bark of the tree. It reaches out for Storm with one of its clawed hands and seizes the dog by the throat.
Assuming a 25 hits, Storm takes 4 damage and is grappled, as the free grab roll was a nat 20.
Mather Nithra moves like a capering jester, evading the dogs' chomps as they try to catch him while he moves away from them. The wicked grig unleashes a pair of fiery beams, one aimed at each dog. Sprocket hunkers down, his shorter stature protecting him; however, Doo-dad whimpers as he is burned by the spell.
Assuming an 11 misses Sprocket's Touch AC and a 22 hits Doo-dad's, Nithra deals 9 fire damage to Doo-dad.
The small Twigjacks convene upon Ahto. One of them first comes at him from the east, while the other two charge from the west jab their spears into his back as their kin distracts him.
I would assume that Ahto's reach allows him to get at least one AoO against the Twigjacks.
The first one has a 20 to hit for 2 damage; the second has a 24 to hit for 12 damage (with sneak attack); the third has an 18 to hit for 8 damage (also with sneak attack).
Although in pain, she will hobble up next to the Vixen and cast upon her. While VV may have felt empowerment by bull strength-styled spells before, this one is different. She may not look or seem much stronger or different, but every muscle in her body screams for action.
+6 to strength. 1 use of her pool used. So it'd be a +3, not a +2 there. :)
A mighty, reflexive swing of Burden means that Ahto entirely disrupts the wooden fey's onslaught. The one from the east is cut down like cordwood, and thus Ahto is able to turn in time to confront and defend himself against the two from the west.
The Vixen puts Pelipe's magic to good use. She picks a target that proves to be the real Nithra and grips the grig.
It is amusing that, with Pelipe's buff, the Vixen's grapple check is twice Nithra's CMD. Furthermore, since Nithra's size is tiny, compared to the Vixen's present small size, I also find the potential grapple arrangements hilarious.
Same here! VV is kinda cute like this! (Now we just need enlarged Ahto lurching over the scuffle!)
_
And yes, 27 (-1 STR for small, +3 STR from Pelipe!)
“Wonky, I got the real deal here—can ye sic yer dogs on the fakes?”
Not sure that’s a legal move, but if you see a mirror image being grappled, I assume the others are writhing on the ground, so the dogs need only chomp an image not being grappled.
_
But another interpretation is the images overlap and they might bite the real bug-butt.
_
Either way is helpful, come to think of it.
Female Gnome NG Investigator 4/Hunter 2 (Cryptid Scholar) hp 39/39 | AC 15* (t14;f12 *+1 AC vs traps) | CMD 16 (ff13) | F* +5 R*** +10 W** +6 (*+2 illusions **+1 if animal within 30' *** +1 vs traps) | Init +3 *Perc +6 (Darkvision)
Doo-dad crumples with a whimper at the fiery blast, but Sprocket evades the attack and turns in feral irritation to the strange scent coming up behind it and reflexively lashes out at the nochlean in the tree.
F Changeling (Green-Born) Ranger 6 | HP 47/47 | AC: 20 (13 tch, 17 ff) | CMB +8/+3, CMD +21 | F +6, R +8, W +4 | Init +3 | Darkvision 60 ft, Perc +11, SM +2
Storm yelps as the nochlean grabs him by the throat. The wolfdog attempts to wriggle free of the fey's hold, unable to bite with his enemy's hands around his neck.
Female Gnome NG Investigator 4/Hunter 2 (Cryptid Scholar) hp 39/39 | AC 15* (t14;f12 *+1 AC vs traps) | CMD 16 (ff13) | F* +5 R*** +10 W** +6 (*+2 illusions **+1 if animal within 30' *** +1 vs traps) | Init +3 *Perc +6 (Darkvision)
Is there a reason you rolled Sprocket's bite damage again for him, GM? It's included in Sprocket's attack line - he did 16 pts of damage last turn. And a '19' does not hit Sprocket.
Sprocket fends off the weird creature's attacks, then lunges again at its face, intent to bring it down.
With Doo-dad's burns noticeably less red and the canine's breathing more stable, the gnome pads around the Doo-dad side of the grappled Vixen-Nithra combo.
In flanking position with Vixen. Wonky is still invisible.
Pin:1d20 + 11 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 11 + 5 = 33 A Pinned Creature...
• cannot move and is denied its Dexterity bonus, but is not flat-footed.
• can always attempt to free itself, usually with a Combat Maneuver or Escape Artist check.
• can take verbal and mental actions.
• cannot cast any spells that require a somatic
or material component.
• who attempts to cast a spell or spell-like
ability must make a concentration check (DC 10 + grappler’s CMB + spell level) or lose the spell.
• Pinned is a more severe version of Grapple, and their effects do not stack.
Is there a reason you rolled Sprocket's bite damage again for him, GM? It's included in Sprocket's attack line - he did 16 pts of damage last turn. And a '19' does not hit Sprocket.
I read the attack line wrong. I thought the damage roll was the attack roll and that the damage roll was missing. Sorry. I've corrected the damage on the nochlean. Also, thank you for clarifying whether the attack would hit Sprocket. The good boy remains undamaged and ungrappled.
F Changeling (Green-Born) Ranger 6 | HP 47/47 | AC: 20 (13 tch, 17 ff) | CMB +8/+3, CMD +21 | F +6, R +8, W +4 | Init +3 | Darkvision 60 ft, Perc +11, SM +2
Storm lets out a strangled whimper, still trying to free himself from the evil fey's grasp.
Combat Maneuver check:1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20
Katrine snarls a foul curse in Sylvan and fires another arrow at the nochlean. This is exactly what she was afraid of, fey are tiny targets and she hasn't trained for them.
Sprocket continues to gain the upper hand in his struggle against the taller fey, chomping on his long limbs with his sturdy jaws.
Nearby, the Vixen outmaneuvers Nithra and not only keeps him in her grasp but also manages to pin the wicked little creature against the dirt and grass of his own glade.
With a mighty downward swing of Burden, Ahto renders the penultimate wooden fey naught but splinters that shower harmlessly across the undergrowth.
Storm breaks free from the crawling fey's grasp. The dog briefly looks towards Katrine for reassurance before again facing his cruel foe.
"I have no rope for him, Vixen, but what I do have is something like this!" she answers, quickly pulling out violin strings she uses for replacing her broken strings. While they likely wouldn't be as comfortable as rope, she really doesn't care at this point. The small creature's arms also make it much more effective of a 'rope' than rope would be, due to its metal nature.
As she finishes helping VV bind him, she spins around to the rest of the battle. There, she can see Ahto still fighting and the dog down.
"I can go cast something on the dog, but I may get hit. Oh...I'm not feeling well."
The toil of the battle can already be seen on her face. Her fair, creamy skin begins to have a pale look to it as she is suffering from great pain.
@Pelipe - It would be a move action to retrieve the violin strings, and you could use your standard action to tie up Nithra while the Vixen pins him. Does that sound good?
The enslaved gnomes flee the battlefield, but they remain on the very periphery of the glade, eager to watch their tormentors meet their doom.
Inside the tree, the nochlean turns from Storm and now lunges for Katrine with its claws, seeking revenge for the arrow in its side. Though it rakes her with its claws, the huntress keeps the fey from seizing her in its grasp.
Katrine takes 5 damage from a non-confirmed nat 20.
The other nochlean likewise turns its attention from Sprocket and tries to free its master from the Vixen's clutches. Although the fey leaves the Vixen with some scratches across her back that she'll have to explain to Ash upon returning home, she also twists aside to keep herself from being grappled while keeping Nithra pinned.
If a 20 hits, the Vixen takes 5 damage.
Pinned to the soil by the Vixen's knee, Nithra attempts to twist around to deliver some mischievous magic via touch. Unfortunately for the evil grig, he is not able to muster the concentration to complete the effect.
Nithra fails his Concentration check for his spell-like touch ability.
The last of the twigjacks unleashes another shower of sharp slivers upon Ahto.
The Splinterspray ability deals 16 damage, but Ahto can make a DC 14 reflex save for half.
