Red Hand of Doom [E6] (Inactive)

Game Master Aldizog

Shishka looks around for where any signs of the goblins gaining some victory.

Others need help! lets go this way.... she stars to head off toward a sound of a skirmish....wait maybe this way, she decides to change her mind and go a different way that seems a little less dangerous.

Tal'ariel sees her wounds almost fully healing from the cold touch of Seltazar. "Thank you, friend. Your magics are unusual . . . but effective. Let this foe come, we will be ready for them." Tal'ariel casts a rather long spell, and at the end of it, Bran doubles in size!

Casting Enlarge Person. I'm also a little bit at a loss of what we should be doing; I sort of just assumed we are prepping for the next wave.

Four hobgoblins appear at the edge of your sight, marching in lockstep with shields raised.
Remember it is sometime in the middle of the night; there is faint light from fires or from the moon to see them by.
Everybody may act, then the hobgoblins.
Tal'ariel's spell will complete immediately before her action, so if Bran wants to wait for it to take effect before he acts, he can do so.
This is now round 5 of 6 for the Haste spell. The hobgoblins appeared right at the end of round 4.

Seltazar gives the other elf a weak smile but says nothing in response. Instead he looks toward Bran and his eyes go distant, as if he's looking far away. Except he's looking through Bran. Suddenly in the elf's mind, there are two Brans, two paths that can be taken. And Seltazar could nudge one or the other into reality. Seltazar starts to chuckle under his breath ominously. The power to change the future is almost intoxicating.

If only the others knew the power he held. They would laugh too. Or scream.

Use Fortune Hex on Bran. Then Cackle, extending its duration through the end of Seltazar's next turn.

Edit: Instead of making a fly check to hover, I just took a diagonal-down 5ft step and landed.

As long as Bran is within 35 feet, he will get the benefit of the spell. Of course, if you don't think it's a benefit, let me know and I'll call it off.

Heeding Seltazar's warning the Druid holds his ground and prepared for the approaching enemy. With his gaze focused down the dirt road he cast a spell, his skin becoming as hard as a gnarled old oak.

Cast barkskin: current AC 23

After healing Tal, Mikail readies her sword and shield to move against the approaching hobgoblins. Once they are in range, she attacks!

Tried to update last night but the servers had died.

Bran pulls out a potion of barkskin and drinks it. I wonder if the druid made it out of all this. The taste is bitter as it goes down his throat and he looks at Tal, "I'll stay nearby for your spell." He doesn't know if the words go through to her while she is casting it, but he gives a smile anyway.

Shishka advances a little closer, and has another shot teleport to her weapon's second barrel. her gun now fully loaded.

The hobgoblins form into a block and continue advancing on you. They are slowed by their armor, but even more than that seem to be approaching cautiously, in a shield wall formation with swords raised.

Single move and, as you can probably tell, readied actions by the hobgoblins. You guys are all up!

Finishing her lengthy spell to enlargen Bran, Tal'ariel follows up with a much quicker spell, which causes her arms to become unusually long. Her sword has far more reach as a result.

Casting Longarm. Gain reach 10 feet. Still have a move action which she may use if the party advances, though I rather like waiting and peppering them from afar.

With the new size I can attempt to pull them out of formation, and wail on one but I can hold back if you like. It may be seconds to us but there is a burning town.

@Bran--if you've got some tricks, go for it.

Thom holds his ground waiting for the hobgoblins to draw closer.

Shishka advances a little closer, Hey guys, we can take these blokes, besides if Plan A doesn't work, we got like 25 more letters

Begin inspire courage

So I assume Mikail is still readying an attack.
Seltazar, anything?

Sorry, long day.

The elf continues his ominous chuckling, its slow staccato coloring the phrase of his spell.

Cackle to extend Fortune once more and recast Haste.

Bran moves with his larger form a small bit, focuses on the enemies at hand, and readies an attack with his still held great ax.

Martial Flexibility for Dedicated Adversary (Goblinoid, Hobgoblin)
Readies an attack with the enlarged great ax

Yes she is readying her attack as soon as they get into range.

Tal'ariel uses her move action to join Bran on the front line.

I moved Mikail into line with Bran and Tal'ariel based on your description; otherwise the hobgoblins would never get into range with her.
As soon as Seltazar begins his spell, another voice starts chanting. Before Seltazar can finish, a bolt of lightning blasts down the road with a Cracka-BOOM striking Bran, Seltazar, and Thom.

An unarmored hobgoblin appears, with the telltale shimmer of Invisibility ending, then steps behind the block of soldiers.
Lightning Bolt DC 18: 8d6 + 8 ⇒ (4, 2, 5, 4, 3, 3, 6, 3) + 8 = 38
Reflex saves for half, and Concentration check from Seltazar.
He shouts something, and the soldiers move to protect him.

Hobgoblins moved and readied. They seem to be content to let him pick you all off...

Party is up.
I believe the Haste does apply to the Reflex saves against the Lightning Bolt, but then it ends and does not apply to this round's actions (unless Seltazar makes his Concentration check to cast it again).

Thom is almost knocked off his feet as the lighting bolt goes through him.

REF: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15

Will wait and see if Seltazar makes his concentration check before I act

Damn, that's a serious lightning bolt! Any chance he fried his own guys, or were they out of the way at the time?

No, they were not in the way at the time. Redeployed to cover him on their turn.
The nastiness, well, he's clearly got a Draconic bloodline. Blue scales and claws. It's sort of a theme with the Red Hand. So that's +1/die. And Spell Specialization seemed like a reasonable feat.
@Thom, you have some electricity resistance, don't you?

Good catch. Yep ER 5, adjusted damage taken.

Bran sees the bolt but its too late, he only narrowly starts his dodge.
Reflex: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 21
He succeeds however, with some of the lightning getting absorbed into his mithral.

With a burning rage he looks at the hobgoblin captain, "A cowardly ambush! Both the town and now!" He lets his blood pump and enters a rage. "I'm going in! Kurgess watch this!" Bran rushes toward the caster, the knowledge of the fallen samsaran and the dangers of the sorcery spurring him onward.

What would it take to leap the hobgoblin frontline as a part of a charge and hit the back with a massive great ax swing? 4 DC per foot jumped (if high). Long jump is 1 DC per foot. Figured I'd ask before rolling. Not actually holding mechanically, just waiting to know what the play is and if that haste resolves.

The lightning shot definitely was a shocker. in response Shishka moves toward some cover and a little closer looking to hide from that wizard.

as she moves she pulls out one of her grenades.

stealth: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (8) + 11 = 19

its a move action to light the fuse and has a 1d3 round delay fuse delay: 1d3 ⇒ 1 --- Well that will be fast. so she will have to throw it next round, definitely. she will be aiming to get into the center of the group.

@Bran: You can certainly do that. Very cinematic, and you have both Fortune and Darechaser to help.
I'm using the 3.5 rule that a long jump has a maximum height, at its midpoint, equal to one-quarter its distance.
So a 40' jump would have your feet 10' above the ground at its midpoint.
A 30' long jump will let you clear the hobgoblins (but take AOOs) and a 40' jump will put you above the reach of their swords.

I doubt the Haste spell will resolve, so will just move and take my turn. If Haste does resolve, Tal'ariel will probably move closer.

"Scatter!" cries Tal'ariel as the enemy wizard suddenly appears firing lightning bolts. "No more disappearing tricks from you!" Tal'ariel conjures a burst of glitter that hits all of the visible enemies. She then slides westward along the map.

Cast glitterdust and move. Will DC16. There's exactly one spot I can cast it that'll hit all the enemies, so if there are any more invisible baddies maybe they become visible too.

I'll post my action later tonight. Just getting the rolls in.

Reflex: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15
Concentration: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (1) + 11 = 12

Thom rushed forward at his normal lumbering pace.

double move

The lightning courses through Seltazar and the elf staggers on his feet, his spell-chuckle turning into a cough and a sputter. Blackened, and hair standing wildly on end, Seltazar stumbles a step forward and watches the enemy caster warily, hands reaching down toward the earth with palms open.

Cackle once more and prepare a dispel magic counterspell if that enemy tries to cast another spell. Since you can free/swift as part of a prepared action, I should be able to use conduit surge here if he triggers the action. I'll mark the spell and ability off if he does. Also ow. My everywhere hurts.

Conduit Surge: 1d4 - 1 ⇒ (1) - 1 = 0
Dispel Magic: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23
Fort Save: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26

Bran enters a rage and shouts out his dare to the heavens. With a running start the enlarged man moves with great alacrity and jumps, further than he has ever jumped before.

Entering an adrenaline rush to allow for dares

Acrobatics, Dare: 1d20 + 1d6 + 11 + 4 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (13) + (3) + 11 + 4 + 7 + 1 = 39 No! I think thats 3 AoOs assuming they aren't blinded.
Acrobatics, Fortune: 1d20 + 11 + 4 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 11 + 4 + 7 + 1 = 27

Great Ax: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (15) + 18 = 33
Damage: 3d6 + 12 ⇒ (2, 6, 5) + 12 = 25

Tal'ariel casts her spell, and a burst of dazzling golden glitter rains down on the hobgoblins.
Grunt DC 16: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4
Grunt DC 16: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 12
Grunt DC 16: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10
Grunt DC 16: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (14) + 3 = 17
War Adept DC 16: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21

Three of the warriors are blinded by the spell. The fourth shakes his head and clears his eyes, as does the caster. The caster suddenly looks very uncomfortable, realizing his escape plan has been thwarted.

Bran: don't you get +1/2 your cavalier level to Jump checks, minimum +1? That should make it a 40, I think.
+6 ranks, +3 class skill, +2 Dex (Enlarged) is +11. The +4 is from 40' move. The +7 is Strength to Acrobatics checks to jump (Order of the Hammer). The +1 is Adrenaline Rush.
But the Order of the Hammer bonus to Jump checks is always at least +1, even if you have only 1 level in the class.

With a mighty leap, Bran soars over the heads of the blinded hobgoblins,and the outstretched sword of the last one. As he comes down next to the sorcerer, the startled hobgoblin lashes out with a claw desperately.
AOO: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21
Think that hits because of charging
Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 5
His claw just scratches Bran. And DR applies. The ground shakes as the warrior lands, and his axe sinks deep into the hobgoblin. It reels, but is still up.

Mikail can still act, then the enemies.

Sorry work the last few days have been busy!

Seeing the enemy is simply acting as a shield for their caster, Mikail moves forward and engages the now-blind hobgoblins.

Attack: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (14) + 9 = 23
Damage: 2d8 + 4 ⇒ (6, 2) + 4 = 12

Forgot the +1 minimum! Aha! Because I succeed only because of the dice, I will daring finish so I can end my Rush without fatigue.

Mikail strikes one of the hobgoblins. He attempts to strike her back, but fails.
Longsword Red: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10
Don't even need to roll the miss chance on that one.
He then attempts to clear his eyes.
Will DC 16: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

The caster would have liked to go invisible, but he can't. He snarls in Common, "Taking you with me."
He begins casting a spell and electricity crackles from his talons.
Concentration DC 21 to cast defensively: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (16) + 12 = 28
As the bolt begins to form, the hobgoblin's spell fizzles out, quelled by Seltazar's magic.

Panicked, he shouts:

One of the hobgoblins actually manages to strike Bran.
Both then try to shake off the blindness.
Will DC 16 Blue: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 3 = 20
Will DC 16 Green: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

The first one had actually provoked from Mikail as it moved:
Mikail AOO on Blue: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (11) + 9 = 20
Damage: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9

The last soldier, not blinded, also attacks, flanking with the sorcerer.
Longsword Orange, Flanking: 1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 6 + 2 = 24
Damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

Bran takes 8 points of damage (after DR) from the two attacks.
Mikail has dealt 12 damage to Red, and 9 damage Blue.
Red and Green are still blinded.
Bran has dealt 25 damage to the caster.

Party is up!

With Bran breaking through the hobgoblin's lines Thom steps forward and smashes his cudgel in quick succession at the closest hobgoblin.

Attack Red: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (8) + 10 = 18
damage: 2d6 + 4 ⇒ (6, 4) + 4 = 14

Attack Red: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (7) + 10 = 17
damage: 2d6 + 4 ⇒ (1, 2) + 4 = 7

Effcts: Haste, Shillelagh, Barkskin AC 23

"Your terror ends now."

Bran drops the giant great ax and smashes his fists together before going for a grapple on the sorcerer.

Grapple: 1d20 + 15 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 15 + 2 + 1 = 25
Raging Grapple Damage: 1d6 + 2d6 + 9 ⇒ (3) + (1, 4) + 9 = 17 Nonlethal, in case we need to get some more information.

He tries to grab the hobgoblin from the neck and pulls him in close, hopefully crushing him.

CMD to break out: 28

The elven swordswoman advances and begins her furiously fast assault on the nearby hobgoblins within her reach.

Move, then cleave. Targeting green then blue. Should get sneak attack because enemies are either flanked or blinded. If blue (or green) goes down, that'll trigger cleaving finish, targeting red.

Cleave vs Green: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (17) + 9 = 26; Damage+Sneak+Holy Strike: 1d10 + 10 + 3d6 ⇒ (9) + 10 + (6, 3, 4) = 32
Cleave vs Blue, Flank: 1d20 + 9 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 9 + 2 = 23; Damage+Sneak+Holy Strike: 1d10 + 10 + 3d6 ⇒ (2) + 10 + (5, 6, 6) = 29
Cleaving Finish against Red?: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (11) + 9 = 20; Damage+Sneak+Holy Strike: 1d10 + 10 + 3d6 ⇒ (7) + 10 + (6, 6, 5) = 34

Mikail continues to pummel the blinded hobgoblin (red) before her.

Attack: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (8) + 9 = 17
Damage: 2d8 + 4 ⇒ (4, 2) + 4 = 10 (using vital strike)

Thom's first swing manages to connect with Red due to the soldier's blindness, and it drops the hobgoblin to the ground.
Tal'ariel's Curve Blade easily slices through Green and Blue, dropping them both.
Mikail no longer has a target (so can change her action).
Bran grapples the sorcerer, and while his grip does injure the caster further, he remains conscious.

Sorcerer has taken 25 lethal damage and 18 non-lethal.
Bran should do 1d8 unarmed when Enlarged, so I'll just add 1 point there.

Shishka and Seltazar may act.

While Bran has Improved Unarmed Strike (from Constable), he actually should be doing 1 less than I put. He doesn't get the damage dice increase of a Brawler or Monk (as Strangler trades it out), and still uses a 1d3 -> 1d4 when large. I'll fix that on his sheet as I forget that US are 1d3 (not d4).

Can she move to strike at the sorcerer?

You can. I'll apply the attack roll from before.
Mikail moves up and strikes at the sorcerer. Her sword nears his neck but is deflected by his magical wards.
Just missed with his -4 Dex for being grappled. I don't think Bran provides a flanking bonus when grappling; that's a higher-level Strangler ability that he doesn't have.

Shishka moves a little closer but soon realizes her bomb will do more harm than good so she tucks it away for another day.

you guys do remember bard inspire? if not that's ok, it will linger for another 2 rounds

bard song stop as most of the bad guys are down.

Shishka just makes ready with her pistol, then gets an idea, she pulls out her grappling hook and readies to fire.

it takes a full round action to fire it so will have to wait till next round (if there is anything left)

Seeing that his new companions have things relatively well in hand, Seltazar scowls. Doing "the right thing" is downright painful. I should've stayed in my room.

The elf calls upon his cold magic to heal himself and then flies over behind a nearby tree.

Healing Hex on myself then move using fly. Fortune should last one more turn.

Healing Hex: 2d8 + 6 ⇒ (7, 2) + 6 = 15

Sorry, was busy yesterday.
The sorcerer tries to cast a spell, despite Bran grappling him.
Concentration DC 10+CMB+Spell Level, or 31: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (19) + 12 = 31
Miraculously, he makes it.
He also tries to cast defensively, so Mikail can't hit him.
Concentration DC 21: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (20) + 12 = 32
Luck is with him...
Lightning Bolt!, going off Northwest to hit Bran but not hit his ally.
Damage to Bran, Ref DC 18 for half: 8d6 + 8 ⇒ (2, 1, 1, 2, 2, 5, 4, 2) + 8 = 27

The other hobgoblin attacks Bran, trying to put him down. Despite grappling the sorcerer and taking a lightning bolt to the face, Bran is able to knock away the sword.
Longsword: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9

Party is up!

Angry that she could not stop the hobgoblin sorcerer from blasting Bran, Mikail swings at the creature again.

Attack: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (14) + 9 = 23
Damage: 2d8 + 4 ⇒ (1, 3) + 4 = 8