SR's - Great Southern Isles (PbP) (Inactive)

Game Master stormraven

Naladoria sighs, "We had hoped you'd join us; you are all tremendous assets. Had you chosen to walk away, well, it would have been a disappointment but we could live with that. But you have each chosen to fight us... we can't let you do that."

One last initiative roll please, gentlemen.

Initiative 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17

Initiative 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21

Initiative 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16

Initiative: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26

Initiative 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (2) + 9 = 11

1d20 + 8 ⇒ (17) + 8 = 25

Jayse, that was a non-heroic Init roll... gimme another one, please.

1d20 + 9 ⇒ (13) + 9 = 22

Naladoria moves quickly. The mist that seems to comprise the lower half of her body coils and twists into separate arms or tentacles almost like a misty octopus and her hands rise to do something. Fast as she is, the Ranger is a shade quicker...

Round: 1

ORDER: Jofram, Naladoria, Orin, Jayse, Ushari, Straehan, Isolde

MAP: FINALE

Ja's HPs: 70|70 - STR: 16/22 | CON: 14/14
Jo's HPs: 51|79 - STR: 10/16 | CON: 7/14 - New Max HP: 51
Ov's HPs: 72|72 - STR: 10/16 | CON: 14/14
Uv's HPs: 38|52 - STR: 07/13 | CON: 9/13 - New Max HP: 38
St's HPs: 45|60 - STR: 06/10 | CON: 11/14 - New Max HP: 46

Nala Initiative 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (16) + 9 = 25

At the first sign of Naladoria's seemingly hostile movement, Jofram sends a quartet of missiles careening towards her.

Jofram's chant heartens his colleagues as he sends a hail of arrows at the Avatar. But good as Jofram is, his shots fail to hit their mark. His final arrow, closest of all to the mist-shrouded Goddess, is caught and snapped in half by a tentacle of fog before it gets within 5' of her. What is very clear to Jofram from his opening salvo, this Avatar of a fallen Goddess will be difficult to hit...

She doesn't have Snatch Arrows, I'm just taking liberties there in the description.

The Goddess completes her gesture and thin trails of purple electricity drain from Jayse, Jofram, Ushari, and Straehan. They don't feel worse, only lessened.

Gestalt - Gone

Naladoria looks contemplative as she pulls something like a glowing shortspear from her misty skirts. She spins the weapon in a dizzying array of martial maneuvers ending with the spear held low in her other hand. She clearly knows how to use it. She gives the heroes one last chance, "I'd rather not destroy you. Join us and you may yet find a place in our kingdom." With your divinely enhanced senses, it seems clear she expects your refusal but makes the offer nonetheless.

SWIFT: Banish Gestalt
MOVE: Draw Weapon
FREE: Chat
STAND: READY a surprise

Round: 1

ORDER: Jofram, Naladoria, Orin, Jayse, Ushari, Straehan, Isolde

MAP: FINALE

Ja's HPs: 70|70 - STR: 16/22 | CON: 14/14
Jo's HPs: 51|79 - STR: 10/16 | CON: 7/14 - New Max HP: 51
Ov's HPs: 72|72 - STR: 10/16 | CON: 14/14
Uv's HPs: 38|52 - STR: 07/13 | CON: 9/13 - New Max HP: 38
St's HPs: 45|60 - STR: 06/10 | CON: 11/14 - New Max HP: 46

Heads up, Im at Notre Dame today and my battery life is low, so I won't be able to post for a while. Ideally, I'd like to flank and hit her and go for a grapple attempt. I also still have black tentacles.

Seeing her so easily avoid Jofram's arrows, Jayse knows he's going to need every trick he can pull to threaten their former benefactress. As he drops into his fighting stance, he digs deep, letting his black stone guide his throw even as he releases his mindblade at the goddess. As he steps back, hoping to narrow her tactical choices, his mindblade once again materializes in his hand, already instilled with some of his mental strength for another assault.

"I don't know that we can win this one, guys. Strae, Orin, you guys have any helpful info? Isolde, is she even beatable here? Any suggestions?"

SWIFT: Dragon Style
HERO POINT: Cast True Strike through stone
STANDARD: Throw Mindblade (3 range increments)
FREE: manifest blade
MOVE: Imbue Psychic Strike
FREE: 5' step backwards into DR.24 (if the beach is difficult terrain, ignore this)

Okay, Nala only takes up 5' on the map, do her tentacles look to reach further? If so, what does Jayse estimate her reach at? How many attacks does she look to have? Tentacles?
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Also, the Stoneskin spell never got used up (that I saw), and has a duration of 70 minutes.. is it still active? Cause if not, then I don't see how Heroism could be, either. Let me know on this.
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@ Orin, let's spread out and see what she does at range, first.

Orin half turns to the gnome while trying to keep an eye on Naladoria.

Strae, I don't suppose I could borrow that rod?

Usahri does not waste any time here. She calls on her deity to blast Naladoria with her last offensive spell in her arsenal. Even as it flies from her hand, she is on the move...

"Isolde! we are still bearing the scars of our battles in the Shaudran ruin! Can you help us?"

STAND: Cast Spear of Purity at her.
Ranged Touch 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (7) + 10 = 17; Damage 3d8 ⇒ (6, 6, 4) = 16
CL check 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (17) + 7 = 24.
MOVE: Draw Rapier and Heal scroll.
FREE: Talk/Beg.

OK, with casting that spell Usahri is out of offensive spells. Plus she is down to one channel so she will save that for her rapier. Now judging high Nala's AC must be, I think she will have a hard time hitting her so if she helps in melee it will be by AA actions.
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BTW Ushari has both the Heal and Breath of Life scrolls, along with the wand of Cure Crit wounds. Her plan next round is to cast Heal on someone (Jofram, most likely) and then use the wand/scroll to keep the rest of you alive. If anyone wants the heal scroll cast on them, Usahri is more than willing to listen..
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Dang, I REALLY wish we had healed up before summoning the Nala-b#!&*. But hey who woulda guessed she was behind it all?

The mindblade whickers through the air, striking the goddess solidly in the chest. She pulls the blade free even as it disperses. Blood drips from the wound.

1. Nala is a medium creature (at the moment), but you have no idea how far her misty 'tentacles' can stretch or how many attacks it/they might give her. The mist extends a variable distance from her. Judging by the consistent mass of it - the misty arms have a reach of 10' minimum.
2. The beach is not difficult terrain.
3. The spell was Stoneskin, Communal, and its duration was split up among all participants - so 18 minutes for each person. From the time of the battle, the rounds of healing, the searching of the room, packing up the treasure, unlocking the door, retrieving the boat, rowing back to shore, and doing the whole summoning and conversation - the time has expired.

Ushari launches her mystic spear at the Goddess. Naladoria neatly sidesteps the bolt even as her innate divine protection SR dissipates the holy weapon.

Orin, I'm assuming you are on delay until...

The gnome scrambles over to the witch and slaps the Rod into his hand. "I hope you've got a good trick in your bag for this."

Strae looks to Jayse, wracking his brain for an answer - and comes up blank. "I've got NO idea how to beat her, Jayse."

MOVE: Cross to DT23
STAND: Hand Rod to Orin
FREE: ID Naladoria's weaknesses

Knowledge: Planes 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (18) + 12 = 30

The Oracle nods to Ushari then looks over the battlefield, the wounded, and especially their opponent. She touches Jayse with a spell that restores his drained strength entirely. She says quietly, "This creature is beyond my knowledge. I might be able to learn more but it will take time that I fear we don't have."

She has a special ability that will allow her a decent shot at finding out more but it will take d6 rounds of her in a trance.

Isolde moves over to Jofram, Ushari, and Straehan preparing the same spell again.

FREE: Heal Check to determine how to help
FREE: ID Naladoria
STAND: Cast Restoration on Jayse (STR)
MOVE: To the other wounded

Round: 1

ORDER: Jofram, Naladoria, Jayse, Ushari, Straehan, Orin, Isolde

MAP: FINALE <-- updated

Ja's HPs: 70|70 - STR: 22/22
Jo's HPs: 51|79 - STR: 10/16 | CON: 7/14 - New Max HP: 51
Ov's HPs: 72|72 - STR: 10/16 | CON: 14/14
Uv's HPs: 38|52 - STR: 07/13 | CON: 9/13 - New Max HP: 38
St's HPs: 45|60 - STR: 06/10 | CON: 11/14 - New Max HP: 46

Heal Check 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11
Know Planes 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (16) + 16 = 32

Orin takes the rod, studying the goddess for a weakness. Failing to comprehend her nature, he (uses RPG/Pokemon knowledge) blasts a lightning bolt in her direction, hoping the electricity will dissipate her watery form.

Free: Knowledge (Planes) 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (5) + 17 = 22

5 ft move to DS 24

Swift: Arcane Armor Training

Standard--Maximized Lightning bolt at Naladoria, 42 damage, RS DC: 20 for half damage.

CL Check to overcome spell resistance 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (20) + 7 = 27

Huzzah! I hope that succeeds!

Move Action: Draw bow

Orin's spell penetrates the Goddess' divine shielding. Naladoria sidesteps the lightning bolt, catching a fragment of its power as small arcs of the electricity dance down her side. The Witch draws his bow.

Nala lets her Ready Action expire.

Round: 2

ORDER: Jofram, Naladoria, Jayse, Ushari, Straehan, Orin, Isolde

MAP: FINALE <-- updated

Ja's HPs: 70|70 - STR: 22/22
Jo's HPs: 51|79 - STR: 10/16 | CON: 7/14 - New Max HP: 51
Ov's HPs: 72|72 - STR: 10/16 | CON: 14/14
Uv's HPs: 38|52 - STR: 07/13 | CON: 9/13 - New Max HP: 38
St's HPs: 45|60 - STR: 06/10 | CON: 11/14 - New Max HP: 46

Reflex vs DC:20 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (16) + 13 = 29 1/2 DAM
DAM: 21 - 15 = 6 Resist Electricity

"Um... guys. She just shrugged all that off... anyone have any great ideas?"

I'm assuming it's not abusing ooc info if I translate the tiny reduction in her green bar on the map into Jayse's information. Let me know if that's a no-go, Stormraven.

Run?

"Beg her for forgiveness?"

Guys? We HAD our chance.

I'm assuming it's not abusing ooc info if I translate the tiny reduction in her green bar on the map into Jayse's information. Let me know if that's a no-go, Stormraven.

That's not an abuse. I expected you to use the map info as well as all the other open info about Nala to your benefit... otherwise I wouldn't have posted it openly.

Jofram, you are up.

"Discretion is the better part of... something, something..."

Jofram continues his flurry of arrows, attempting to distract the misty deity while his friends strategize.

"Whatever we do, we better figure it out quickly!"

The arrows come so fast and furious from Jofram's bow, it sounds like a swarm of angry hornets. Those arrows the adroit Goddess doesn't dodge, merely bounce off her armor-like skin.

Naladoria.. UP.

WARNING: In-coming FOP (Flurry of Posts), please wait to respond.

Naladoria makes a gesture... and you realise why Sea Goddesses are dangerous opponents on the shores of an inland ocean. The sea rises up to quickly reclaim the half-moon-shaped beach, the entire beach, all the way to the bluffs. The water slaps against the bluffs and you find yourselves standing hip deep in cold, briney water.

Then the Exiled Goddess raises her arms and calls to the water, crooning to it in a language both melodic and authoritative. In the distance behind her, you see the black Shaudran Cube launch into the air... Or rather, you think it shot upwards until it dawns on you - it hasn't risen so much as the entire lake level has dropped. In another moment, your sight of the Cube, the lake, the furthest shore, and even the mountains far beyond it are eclipsed by a truly epic wave rising up behind Naladoria and rolling towards shore. The length of the massive tidal wave would be lost to sight past the edges of the bluff were it not for the fact that the wave is taller than them. At a horrifying guess, the wave is 300' across and somewhere near 50' tall.

The tsunami smashes against the sheltering bluffs and thunders through the ring of trees. Rock is sundered, split, and crushed. Ancient oaks snap and explode in splinters. The gargantuan wave continues unabated, funneling into the cove towards the beach - towards you. Whatever words you might have shared with your friends are lost in the water's roar - the bone-shattering scream of an Abyssal Lord.

Nala laughs as the wave overtakes her - slamming the sure-footed Sea Goddess so hard she is almost tumbled. The wave doesn't slow any - not for God nor man. It rolls up the beach at you. The sunset behind you causes the 50' wall of blue turbulence to glitter in flecks of red and gold. Then the wave strikes you...

SWIFT: Cast Quickened Control Water (Sp)
STAND: Cast Tsunami (Sp)

You expect turbulence, drowning, pain, and (most likely) a brutal, pummeling, death. So it comes as a surprise when the wave slams against an unseen force, a hemisphere that shields you from the killing wave which rolls over and past your group to smash and devastate the bluffs behind you.

Your confusion is answered by a light laugh above you. A woman in a golden gown floats slowly down. As her delicate slippers threaten to touch the water, the sea retreats away from her. She lightly lands on the soaking sand. She is a pretty, long-haired brunette with flashing eyes and a mischievous grin just a few inches taller than Ushari. She is real and oddly unreal. Some of her features are ill defined, almost as if they are a vague idea that hasn't been fully fleshed out.

Knowing Ushari's tendency to take a knee before deities, she quickly sidles next to the blonde and wraps a supporting arm around her waist, keeping her up. For Ushari, who doesn't need an introduction to know this Goddess, the woman feels like coming home. Bebhinn whispers conspiratorially to the cleric, "Keep standing, dear. It's never good to look weak in front of evil divines." She raises her warm, pleasant voice and addresses the remaining heroes. "Good afternoon, gentlemen. It's a pleasure to meet you all. I'm sorry if my arrival was a bit late. On behalf of... us... thank you for your loyalty to our people and our world." She gives a playful wink, "Now, if you'll excuse me for just a moment, I should really chat with the Exile."

Naladoria, looking little worse for the battering of the wave, bears a brittle smile on her face. "Exile no longer, child. Do you think, even with the help of these people, that you can stand against me? I was..."

Bebhinn interrupts with a wave of her hand, the other still wrapped around Ushari, "I know, I know... You're old and cunning. I'm young and inexperienced - granted. Truth to tell," She gives Ushari a smile and then turns her attention back to Naladoria, "This is my first intercession... so I'd probably be easy pickings for a tough, old, hag like you." She smiles broadly, "But unlike your 'sink or swim' brethren, mine wouldn't let an inexperienced, young Goddess - like me - go without a chaperone... several actually."

She points a slender finger skyward. Among the clouds floating by you see the vague shapes of four faces. Their features are impossible to make out but it seems certain they are divines and their attention seems to be focused on the small strip of beach.

Naladoria's eyes glitter with malice as she regards the sky before turning her attention to Bebhinn. "They may not be quick enough to save you, child."

Bebhinn nods, but doesn't seem to entirely agree with Naladoria's estimation. Nevertheless, her response is polite. "Perhaps... but do you really want to take that chance? And is killing these mortals or me worth that much to you? I'd think after that long in the Void, you'd want to enjoy your freedom a bit before losing it... again."

Naladoria mulls it over while watching the clouds. She nods to Bebhinn, "Another time, child." She turns to the heroes, "We'll be coming for you as well." The Goddess recedes like the tide and vanishes into the sea foam.

COMBAT OVER

Bebhinn sighs and releases Ushari, "Well, that was interesting." She kisses the cleric on the forehead. Ushari feels the vitality returning to her limbs.

Ushari's HP, STR, and CON are restored in full.

Somewhere between coy and flirtatious, Bebhinn approaches each man, says "Thank you", and kisses him on the lips. They find their wounds mended.

Jayse experiences no change but a nice kiss.
Jofram's HP, STR, and CON are restored in full.
Orin's STR is restored in full.
Strae's HP, STR, and CON are restored in full.

The Goddess looks you over, to ensure you are all fully healed. Satisfied, she turns serious, "Just so we understand each other... you owe us nothing. You could have decided to work with Naladoria and her people and lived. Instead, you chose to give up some of your power and possibly your lives to stay true to your hearts and values. In so doing, you have done us a favor. So we are even, got it?"

She smiles as if she knows a great secret. "Having said that... how would you like a job?" Bebhinn laughs.

Feel free to post.

Despite the enormity of the situation, Jayse can't help himself, "I don't know.... the last gig didn't turn out so well..."

Its' clear he's still trying to catch up to the events of the last thirty seconds.

O.o

Bebhinn takes the comment soberly, sort of. "I can appreciate that... It would be a job you've kind of already volunteered for when you told that old Fishwife that you would stand against her. Only this time, we'd have your back." She gives Jayse a winning, dimpled, smile. "Still, it's your choice and there is no 'or else' implied in our offer."

Isolde wrings the salt water from her skirt and seems more than satisfied with the results - whether those are the results of the day's events or her skirt, you can't say. Though she looks blackly on the destroyed ring of trees and the ruined bluffs.

If Jayse shows signs of being knocked off-kilter, Ushari has been completely bowled over spiritually, if not physically. She reflects that it is not every day your deity PERSONALLY intercedes on your behalf.

Thank you, Bititorium. Thank you for allowing me to make the RIGHT choice.

She wipes the sea spray from her face and turns to her Goddess. "Songstress, you KNOW what my answer is."

The Goddess smiles, "Well, I imagined you'd make that choice but it wasn't a certainty... and you can serve in other ways, if you prefer."

Ushari returns her Goddess' smile but she replies with a note of seriousness, "No, I think I have found my path, the path that will keep Despair's Daughter at bay." She sighs softly, "I...I know I can never banish that part of me as we are inseparable". The smile returns to her face as she adds, "Walking with you keeps her from...screaming in my ears, if you know what I mean."

Bebhinn looks earnest for a moment. "We all have a past and a future... the only question is how much we let one dictate the other." The brunette shrugs off the thought and laughs lightly while sketching doodles in the sand with the toe of her slipper. "If taking the battle to Naladoria's servants keeps your inner demons at bay, so much the better. We need the help. The others are hesitant to speak with mortals directly, so assembling the heroes of Miir will take time."

She waves a hand as if to dismiss all sorts of tedious tasks, "There will be dreams, prophecies, portents, and omens a-plenty for months to come... just trying to lead their champions here. In the meantime, the folks of the Isles will be on their own - mostly. It seems, we've been neglectful about inspiring heroes of the faith in the Isles." She glances at the Oracle, "No offense intended."

Isolde snorts, as if the notion of her being offended is impossible.

Boom - 7k posts!

As the wave rushes toward him, Orin has a quick moment to think about his life. Contrary to the notion that his "entire life would flash before his eyes", only one thought rises to the surface of his mind-- Alone--I'll die here, alone, and no one will mourn my passing.

The thought fills him with dread, but he stands fast, all other options exhausted. When the divine assistance arrives it is as if in a dream. Orin listens to the verbal duel and then Bebhinn's offer with intense interest, feeling a sense of renewed purpose in his life.

Thank you for intervening--you saved our lives and thwarted a great evil. I am honored by your offer and I accept. I hope that I can help in some small way in this struggle for the Isles.

Bebhinn graces the Witch with a warm smile, "Doubly blessed is he who saves his neighbor with no thought for himself. You will find us appreciative of your aid."