Red Hand of Doom [E6] (Inactive)

Game Master Aldizog

As Bran becomes visible over the top of the ridge, the dragon changes course, swooping down some ten feet, passing directly above Bran in a strafing run as it opens its maw and lets out a giant cloud of acid, along with an inhuman wail.

Angling its wings, it turns north again, flying back towards the gorge.

Acid damage to Bran, Ref DC 17 for half: 6d6 ⇒ (5, 6, 5, 6, 4, 4) = 30

Iris, Lavinia & Zelligar are up.

Standing alone on the top of the tower, Iris notes that there's a barrel of arrows up here, which has a signal horn lying beside it.

There's also a wooden stand near the dragon's resting spot, displaying four vials stopped with corks. Two of them contain opaque milky liquid, one is completely clear like water, and the last looks like tea with a bit of chopped up leaves that haven't been filtered out.

I marked the vial stand on the map.

Those are some hot dice!
Since Bless is a 50' burst, is there a place Zelligar can reach with a move so he can include Bran in the area of effect?

I moved your icon to a spot. It'll take up all your 30ft. of movement to get there, but you can.

Zelligar moves and casts Bless, catching himself, Tal'ariel, and Bran.

As the dragon flies by, Tal'ariel tries to identify relevant combat abilities. Knowledge (arcana): 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (7) + 12 = 19.

You know the same things as Zelligar. Dragons are smart, and learn to cast spells when they get older. That one looks like it might be old enough. Green dragons live in forests, and breathe acid, which they are also immune to.

Iris takes note of the potions and the horn for her return trip. First she plans on taking out the archer in the adjacent tower. She runs and leaps across the gap stopping right next to the archer so as to corner him.

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (4) + 19 = 23 (long jump, DC to clear 20 feet is 20)
Bluff: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (14) + 10 = 24

Iris is still holding her rapier and is ready to take an AOO on the archer.

Can I have my sprite loosen my bindings enough to cast a spell? I would like to cast web between the dragon's wings.

Reflex: 1d20 + 7 - 1 ⇒ (9) + 7 - 1 = 15 Thats going to singe a little.
The acid washes over him but the shield from Zelligar holds out, absorbing a chunk of it.

Voltron Bran
Fly
Martial Flexibility, Dedicated Adversary, 1/10 Rounds
Barkskin, +2 AC
Protection From Energy (Acid), 30/60
Enlarge Person

He's 40 feet up from me, however at a 60 foot fly (12 spaces) and a charge (24 spaces), and then half for ascending (back to 12 spaces) I can get an Apprehend in due to the extra 5 feet from Enlarge's reach. I'll be far out of range at that point though and it relies on possibly making a DC20 Fly Check at a +6 (+4 Good, +3 Dex, +2 Caster Level, -1 Dex (Enlarge), -2 Size (Enlarge). Thoughts?

I don't think you need a fly check to charge, do you? You're ascending at less than a 45 degree angle, and you're comfortably less than 24 squares away combining both distance and height, so you could just charge and grapple with your Apprehend ability. Don't forget you are Blessed.

I'm pretty sure Tal'ariel is right, no Fly check needed in this case.

I shouldn't forget to protect myself in this battle since I'm a bit squishy, so Lavinia will be changing her action to casting Mage Armor upon herself and accepting the knife given.

The other prisoners pretty much just cover in the cage. "Don't, they'll shoot us!" one of them, a somewhat podgy looking man in his late twenties hisses at Dai and Lavinia as they reveal weaponry and start casting spells.

Tal'ariel is up.

I sure hope Bran can do this, thinks Tal'ariel, as the epic confrontation begins. The elf starts moving toward the bridge as a wand springs into her hand and she puts up a shield of force to defend herself.

Moved, swift action to draw Shield wand, standard action to cast Shield.

"Oi! You! Get that knife out of the cage! You! Siddown and Shuddup!"

The hobgoblins assembled on the ground near the tents and the cage notch their longbows and shoot a few arrows in there at the prisoners, trying to calm down what's looking like a break-out attempt. Lavinia and Dai are the only ones not actively cowering, trying to avoid looking like they're trying to escape, and so the hobgoblins choose them to make an example of.

The biggest one of them doesn't really seem to be doing anything but bellowing orders and holding the standard, a red gauntlet gripping a yellow disk on a white field. Unlike his minions, he has a crossbow hanging from his belt.

Longbow 1 vs Dai: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (9) + 8 = 17
Longbow 2 vs Dai: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26, Damage: 1d8 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13
Longbow 3 vs Lavinia: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (17) + 8 = 25, Damage: 1d8 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16
Longbow 4 vs Lavinia: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (20) + 8 = 28 See attempt at crit confirm and damage at the bottom of this post.

Both Dai and Lavinia have cover from the bars of the cage, giving them +4 AC.

Atop the bridge's towers, Iris' ruse has come to an end. Instead of trying to shoot at her in melee, the hobgoblin instead unsheathes his sword and takes to hacking at her with it, while the archers on the nearby towers do their best to put arrows into the apparent traitor goblin.

Longsword 6 vs Iris: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17
Longbow 7 vs Iris: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8
Longbow 7 vs Iris: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

Dai and Bran are up. Dai is still stuck in the cage with Lavinia and the rest of the prisoners.

Longbow 4 vs Lavinia, Crit attempt: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (11) + 8 = 19, Confirm failed, damage: 1d8 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13

Iris exclaims, "What? Traitors! Ozzyrandion will hear about this!" Unable to keep a straight face, she bursts out laughing.

Dai grunts as the arrow pierces his flesh. He kicks out at the wooden bars of the cage in an attempt to break free.

Attack: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23
Damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

Attack: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20
Damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

Dai's kicks first bends, then causes one of the branches that make up the bars of the cage to break. The resulting gap isn't quite large enough for him to fit his head through, and he'll have to break another bar to get free.

Still need Bran's action.

Bran sees the dragon, and most importantly he sees his opportunity; the adrenaline pumps through his body and he lets out a howl. Flying at top speed he attempts to hurl his massive weight against the flapping wings of Ozzyrandion, hoping that the dragon will not be expecting such brash attacks.

Apprehend: 1d20 + 12 + 2 + 2 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 12 + 2 + 2 + 1 + 1 = 33
+12 in Rage, +2 Charge, +2 Dedicated, +1 Bless, +1 Str (Enlarge), +1 Bless, and the size Bonus washes out with the penalty.
If successful...

He grasps the dragon midflight and the wrestler whirls around its neck, strangling it before going into a hold.

Raging Grappler Damage: 1d6 + 2d6 + 10 ⇒ (4) + (3, 4) + 10 = 21

"You're not getting away so easily!"

Voltron Bran
Rage, +4 Str, +4 Con, -2 AC, +2 Will (1 Round)
Charge Penalty (-2 AC)
Hand in use Grappling (-2 AC)
Challenging Ozzy (+1 Damage, can Grapple after a Full Round)
Fly
Martial Flexibility, Dedicated Adversary, 2/10 Rounds
Barkskin, +2 AC
Protection From Energy (Acid), 30/60
Enlarge Person

CMD to break is currently... 25
22 + 4 (Grapple Specific) + 2 (Rage) - 2 (Rage AC) - 2 (Charge) + 1 Str (Enlarge) - 1 Dex (Enlarge) + 1 CMD (Size)

Ozzyrandion roars with pain and indignation, and desperately flaps his wings to stay airborne despite suddenly being intertwined with a wrestler.

Fly to hover?: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23

Half-turning in the air to coil around Bran, the dragon tries clawing the annoying human to death with its fairly impressive array of natural weaponry.

bite: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12
claw: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26, 1d8 + 11 ⇒ (5) + 11 = 16
claw: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15
wing: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6
wing: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5
tail slap: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11

How pathetic. Iris, Lavinia & Zelligar are up.

Lavinia cries out in pain as she is pierced by two of the arrows. Angered, she lashes out with a spell.

If I'm reading the map right, can Lavinia cast Thorny Entanglement under the 3 hobgoblins 3 squares below her on the map? Centered to get as many of them as possible? Most specifically, whoever shot her. Spell DC check 18

"Bran! Drag him towards me!"
Zelligar moves towards Bran (think I did it right, assuming that changing elevation is difficult terrain) and activates his Deflection Aura (+2 deflection AC/CMD, 20' radius, will last 5 rounds).
This will help against full attacks or against him trying to break the grapple. Of course, Bran can try to pin the dragon instead. Just trying to help the CMD.
Also, there is no size penalty to your CMB from Enlarge; just a bonus. You use the "special size modifier" of +1 instead of the normal size modifier of -1. Large and Huge monster CMBs confirm this; an ogre, for example, has CMB 2 points better than its attack roll (since it loses the -1 and gains a +1).
Lavinia, dropping prone might be a good idea.

Iris steps away from her assailant and draws a potion with such godlike speed that is seems to appear in her hand as if by magic. She gulps down the contents of the vial, then smashes it on the floor between them. "Haha!"

Sleight of Hand: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (20) + 13 = 33 plus Quick Draw

Protection from Evil: 0/10 rounds

Lavinia attempts to Slumber one of the hobgobs that shot her.

will save dc 17

Willpower: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (5) + 0 = 5 Lavinia forms a miasma of sparkly green dust out of nowhere, and gently blows it towards one of the hobgoblins who shot her. He breathes it in, and collapses in a heap of muscle, armor and weaponry, snoring gently on the ground.

The prisoners continue to cover as far towards the back of the cage as they can get. The fat guy has her hands folded in front of his face, probably in prayer.

New round, Tal'ariel is up.

Forgot to add duration of the slumber, it's 5 rounds (1 per level) unless someone takes a standard action to rouse it.

Tal'ariel continues heading forward until she's on the main road. As she moves, she draws her sword. Calling on the sword's power, she invokes magics to make her move swiftly so she can close the gap to the bridge. Expeditious Retreat.

Near the cages, the archers continue to shoot at the rebellious captives. Their leader, the one carrying the standard, walks over to the one sleeping, and kicks him awake.

Arrow vs Dai, cover gives +4 AC: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16
Arrow vs Dai, cover gives +4 AC: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 21
Arrow vs Lavania, cover gives +4 AC: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18

Atop the tower, the hobgoblin has his eyes focused on what Iris is doing with her sword, and seems not much impressed with her trickery. He circles around so he's standing between her and the stairs, and swings at her with his sword once more.

Sword vs Iris, PfE applies: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9

An arrow comes flying towards her from one of the other tower, but the hobgoblin on the southeastern tower has decided to lend his aid to Ozzyrandon's fight, instead of trying to shoot the halfling.

Arrow vs Iris, PfE applies: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (19) + 8 = 27, 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8
Arrow vs Bran: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18, 1d8 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9

As Tal'ariel steps onto the road, one of the hell hounds looks up, licks its bloody chops and leaps at her, fangs bared in anticipation of its next meal.

Charge: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20

The other hell hound comes barreling full tilt across the bridge, apparently wanting to get in on the action.

Dai again swings at the wooden bars, trying to make a hole large enough for them to escape.

Attack: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9
Damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10

Attack: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19
Damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8

Dai almost fumbles the strike, but luckily, wooden bars are not much of a moving target. With two bars out of the way, Dai can shoulder through the gap to get out of the cage.

You can also keep hiding inside the cage, to have cover.

I will wait until my next turn, then exit to attack whatever hobgoblin is closest.

Bran looks down at the ground while tussling, and reaches a conclusion that the fall would cause both him and the dragon significant pain. The exertion and the heat of the beasts claw across his chest gives him a moment's pause. How long can I actually do this? An arrow flies right by him and he decides that he may not have that much time and must make it count.

"I wonder if those scales of yours can soften our fall!" Its an idle threat but he knows that it could turn from threat to reality if he doesn't maintain the magical flight.

Hover: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 16

Grapple (Maintain): 1d20 + 28 ⇒ (2) + 28 = 30 Moves to pin, trying to get the dragon as underneath him as possible
Pin Damage, Strangler: 2d6 ⇒ (1, 3) = 4

The maneuver is difficult, but his legs squeeze around the dragon and he manages to hold all of its major limbs down. Miraculously he manages to keep ahold of the flight and stabilizes himself.

Two close calls.

Conditions
Rage, +4 Str, +4 Con, -2 AC, +2 Will (2 Rounds)
Hand in use Grappling (-2 AC)
Grapple (Pin) (-2 AC, lost Dex)
Challenging Ozzy (+1 Damage, can Grapple after a Full Round)
Fly
Martial Flexibility, Dedicated Adversary, 3/10 Rounds
Barkskin, +2 AC
Protection From Energy (Acid), 30/60
Enlarge Person

Some Maths

Bran is suddenly carrying a lot of weight. He squares himself for it, bracing himself against the air as best he can. For a brief moment, it seems as if the flight spell might hold, but then he's plummeting hard towards the ground with a dragon beneath him.

The pair of them land with a mighty crash, sending dirt and rocks tumbling everywhere.

Nonlethal damage for both of you: 1d6 ⇒ 4
Lethal damage for both of you: 7d6 ⇒ (1, 1, 4, 3, 6, 5, 2) = 22
Extra lethal damage for Ozzy: 2d6 ⇒ (5, 2) = 7

The dragon roars with pain, and struggles to reverse Bran's death grip.

CMB, vs DC 27?: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (4) + 15 = 19

Zelligar watches in awe as Bran grapples the dragon, plummets to the ground with it, and retains his mighty grip after the impact.

He takes a single move to catch Bran within the Aura of Deflection, then unleashes his staff at the archer in the southeast tower.
Magic Missile: 2d4 + 2 ⇒ (4, 2) + 2 = 8

Trying to not get distracted by the epic aerial wrestling match going on, Lavinia attempts to slumber the other hobgoblin that shot at her, DC 17

Seeing no quick and easy victory vs. this hobgoblin, Iris decides to waste no more time with him. She leaps across the gap to the other tower. Along the way to help the prisoners escape, she uses her quick hands to stash three of the potions on her person. She drinks the fourth, the clear potion.

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (4) + 19 = 23 jump across the gap DC 20

Mobility: AC 29 vs AoO
Protection from Evil: 1/10 rounds in effect
Clear Potion: 0/y rounds in effect

You're looking at a standard action to drink the potion, and a move action to pick up the rest of them. With your movement included,
that'd be a move action to move, a standard action to drink, and a move action to pick up potions. In other words, you're overdoing the actions there.
Edit: Also, you're looking at a double move, not a single move. Even with 30ft. speed, there's still more than 6 squares from your prior position to there. You can get to the potion stand, but you can't drink from one of them or pick them up.

The hobgoblin swings at her as she retreats, but misses horribly.

1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8

Will save vs hex: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (3) + 0 = 3

Lavinia's hex sends a second hobgoblin deep into slumber.

The prisoners continue to cower in the back of the cage, but the girl and the fat guy is watching Dai and the hole in the cage he's made intensely.

New round. Tal'ariel goes first.

The elf was startled that the hell hounds were able to close the gap so quickly. At least the one that charged her might have left itself a little more exposed. Tal'ariel steps toward the hellhounds and strikes fearlessly at both.

Cleave vs Charging Hound, Bless: 1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 7 + 1 = 24; Damage: 1d10 + 10 ⇒ (6) + 10 = 16
Cleave vs Running Hound, Bless: 1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 7 + 1 = 24; Damage: 1d10 + 10 ⇒ (9) + 10 = 19

AC=21 due to Cleave.

Did the second hound just do a double move, or did it run? If it ran, how long does the loss of Dex to AC apply?

I figured Quick Draw and/or a special use of Sleight of Hand might enable her to grab the potions in the same round. So she needs a wand of Expeditious Retreat and the Quick Sheath feat and maybe a time stop item.

Crashing a dragon into the ground is the sort of thing that garners attention. From all the towers, arrows come flying towards Bran, as he's pinning down their leader.

Arrow vs Bran: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13
Arrow vs Bran: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8
Arrow vs Bran: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12

On the ground, the hobgoblins are shooting at Dai and Lavinia. The sergeant keeps rousing the troops as they fall asleep to Lavinia's magic.

Arrow vs Dai(cover for +4 ac): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (19) + 8 = 27, 1d8 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13
Arrow vs Dai(cover for +4 ac): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (19) + 8 = 27, 1d8 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13
Arrow vs Lavinia(cover for +4 ac): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16

Meanwhile, the hounds do their best to savage Tal'ariel to bits.

Bite: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23, 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7+Fire: 1d6 ⇒ 3
Bite: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22, 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2+Fire: 1d6 ⇒ 2

Rolling sneak damage against the running hound -- good catch, Zelligar.

Sneak Damage: 2d6 ⇒ (6, 3) = 9

Moving swiftly from the cage, Dai sprints to the tent that holds their weapons. He hopes some of the guards follow him into the tent and stop firing of the prisoners.

He will close the tent flap if it is open so the archers cannot see him.

As Bran falls to the floor an arrows pierces him, though thats the least of his worries. The incoming ground is a much more pressing issue and he struggles to get the dragon below him in time to absorb some of the fall.

With a crash he hits the floor facedown but weakly gripping a grounded and prone Ozzy...

Maintain Grapple, Choosing Damage: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (1) + 20 = 21 Prone Penalty; not counting the Strangler Flank for now.

Oh damn. How did he...?

The dragon slips from his grasp and Bran prepares for an onslaught on the floor, knowing that standing up will spell his doom whether from the arrows or the hungry jaws of the dragon.

Martial Flexibility for Monkey Style, entering as a Swift Action

Conditions
3 Nonlethal Damage Reduced from DR
Rage, +4 Str, +4 Con, -2 AC, +2 Will (2 Rounds)
Challenging Ozzy (+1 Damage, can Grapple after a Full Round)
Fly
Martial Flexibility, Monkey Style, 1/10 Rounds No prone penalties to AC or to Attack Rolls, can stand up as a Swift (DC20 Acro) or Move without provoking.
Barkskin, +2 AC
Protection From Energy (Acid), 30/60
Enlarge Person

The dragon's eyes gleam with pleasure as Bran fumbles his grip, and sets about tearing him to pieces.

Bite: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (12) + 9 = 21
Claw: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (20) + 9 = 29
Claw: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (4) + 9 = 13
Wing: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14
Wing: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5
Tail: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16

Claw, confirm: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (18) + 9 = 27

Critical Damage: 2d8 + 10 ⇒ (3, 2) + 10 = 15

Zelligar will move due west of Bran (if someone can get that for me) and sacrifice Sound Burst to heal him.
CMW: 2d8 + 5 ⇒ (3, 7) + 5 = 15
Bran took 14 from the dragon after DR, so now back up to 22, and all the non-lethal damage is gone
Round 3 of deflection aura starts now.