Samnell's Gestalt, Mythic Wrath of the Righteous (Inactive)

Game Master Samnell

Sorry, busy couple of days.

Is Blink still stealthing her way down?

Yes, always with the stealth: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (7) + 19 = 26

I'm sure your caution is entirely unfounded.

Mino ACs: 23, T10, F20

Surprise!
Blink descended into a dank hall that held a table with shackles attached and scattered implements of torture. The aura of evil hung in the air like a physical thing, almost a dull force pressing back on her senses. She smelled the tang of fresh blood. Still, the room appeared empty until she went two paces in. Then four hulking minotaurs faded into view around her, their great nostrils flaring and huge, bloody axes in their hands. The first seized her with an open hand and Blink felt a fever rush through her body, weakening her joints and threatening to cloud her vision. The second spoke a blasphemy and the menace that had pressed against Blink became a bludgeon that nearly drove her to her knees before she fought it off. The third screamed an abyssal battle cry and swung its axe with wild abandon, nearly cutting her in half as the fourth shoved by and rushed up the steps to meet the other crusaders.

And that was surprise.

Blink has blinding sickness. She needs a save every day or she takes 1d4 str. If she takes 3 or more str in a day she needs to save again or be blinded.

Order is Galin, Theran, Minos, Blink, Steave. Galin & Theran are up!

Galin cries out as the minotaurs appear, pulling out his bow and shooting a lone arrow at the closest one as he attempts to quickly pray for their survival. Fervored Divine Favor.
Attack: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (14) + 20 = 34
Damage: 1d8 + 12 ⇒ (2) + 12 = 14

Seeing Blink go down, the veteran crusader tumbles past the charging Minotaur and shield bashes one the three with two hands.

Swift to cast Grace
move 30 ft

Mythic power attack 1 round of 10

power attack: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (3) + 13 = 16
if hit, magic, piercing damage: 1d6 + 11 + 9 ⇒ (5) + 11 + 9 = 25

Mino ACs: 23, T10, F20

Round 1
Galin cries out as the minotaurs appear, pulling out his bow and shooting a lone arrow at the closest one as he attempts to quickly pray for their survival. His arrow lodged in a chink in the minotaur's armor, but it drew enough of a pained growl for Galin to tell he'd struck flesh beneath.

Seeing Blink go down, Steave tumbles past the charging Minotaur and shield bashes one the three with two hands. Alas, his shield hit unyielding breastplate with a loud clang. With it briefly out of position, the minotaur struck for all the advantage was worth. Twice his huge axe slashed Steave before he got his shield in the way of the third blow. It collided with the metal with such force that it sent a shiver down the crusader's arm.

The second minotaur made a strange gesture, slapped his breatplate, and the dim light of the dungeon faded to pure blackness all about them, engulfing Steave, Blink, and the minotaurs below in darkness. The third hooked Steave's shield around the blade of his axe and yanked it from the crusader's hands.

The fourth, climbing the steps still further, spoke a blasphemy and the roiling evil of Drezen descended this time upon Galin and Theran. Both proved steadfast, resisting its vile blight and emerging from the unholy miasma only a little worse for wear.

Blink has blinding sickness. She needs a save every day or she takes 1d4 str. If she takes 3 or more str in a day she needs to save again or be blinded.

Order is Galin, Theran, Minos, Blink, Steave. The Party is up!

I think Steave’s incorruptible saves him 15 hp

Galin's lips begin to move, no sound escaping, as he draws and fires yet more arrows at the minotaurs. Fervored Weapon of Awe.

Attack: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (5) + 18 = 23
Damage: 2d8 + 28 ⇒ (1, 1) + 28 = 30

Attack: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (10) + 18 = 28
Damage: 2d8 + 28 ⇒ (6, 1) + 28 = 35

Attack: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (10) + 18 = 28
Damage: 1d8 + 14 ⇒ (6) + 14 = 20

Attack: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (9) + 13 = 22
Damage: 1d8 + 14 ⇒ (2) + 14 = 16

100 -95 +15 = 20 HP

Steave grits in pain as the minotaur's slashes break bones and open wounds. He counterattacks in the face of certain death, especially with those rolls.

swift smite evil AC 31 vs. smite 26 +5
Mythic power attack 2 round of 10

unarmed flurry 1 +smite: 1d20 + 12 - 2 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 12 - 2 + 5 = 18
if hit, damage +pa +smite: 1d8 + 6 + 6 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 6 + 6 + 7 = 22

unarmed flurry 2 +smite: 1d20 + 12 - 2 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 12 - 2 + 5 = 23
if hit, damage +pa +smite: 1d8 + 6 + 6 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 6 + 6 + 7 = 26

unarmed extra +smite: 1d20 + 7 - 2 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 7 - 2 + 5 = 15
if hit, damage +pa +smite: 1d8 + 6 + 6 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 6 + 6 + 7 = 24

Crying out as the various ferocious attacks obliterated her health, Blink jumped out of the close combat as quickly as she could. Glaring at the one that had just axed her, she waved a hand at the thing and opened a pit beneath its feet.

It'll need to make a DC 16 Reflex Save or enjoy the fun of Create Pit.

I think Steave’s incorruptible saves him 15 hp

It does. I'll fix it when I resolve.

Theran?

Bumping for Theran.

Sorry for taking so long. Been hectic.

Mino ACs: 23, T10, F20

Round 1
Crying out as the various ferocious attacks obliterated her health, Blink jumped out of the close combat as quickly as she could. Glaring at the one that had just axed her, she waved a hand at the thing and opened a pit beneath its feet. The minotaur leaped clear, but in doing so put the pit between itself and her.

Steave grits in pain as the minotaur's slashes break bones and open wounds. He counterattacks in the face of certain death, but only one of his strikes broke through the minotaur's guard.

Galin's lips begin to move, no sound escaping, as he draws and fires yet more arrows at the minotaurs. Thrice his arrows struck home and the minotaur howled in pain and rage.

Theran flew into a holy rage at the fiend before him, swinging his earthbreaker in vicious arcs. One connected solidly, crushing bone and staggering the minotaur on the stairs. It half-raised its axe for a strike before collapsing.

Below, one minotaur threw open its arms wide and rushed at Steave. He drove his fist straight up into its jaw and stalled its charge then and there. The other descended upon Steave an instant later, seizing him in its huge arms while the third rushed around Blink's pit and did the same to her.

Steave, Blink, and Minos 2 and 3 are grappled.

Blink has blinding sickness. She needs a save every day or she takes 1d4 str. If she takes 3 or more str in a day she needs to save again or be blinded.

Order is Galin, Theran, Minos, Blink, Steave. The Party is up!

Golden energy begins to crackle up and down his bow as Galin nocks and fires yet more arrows into the fray, switching his target to the minotaur hugging Blink. Sacred Weapon activated.

Attack: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (19) + 18 = 37
Damage: 2d8 + 2d6 + 28 ⇒ (1, 3) + (3, 5) + 28 = 40

Attack: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (17) + 18 = 35
Damage: 2d8 + 2d6 + 28 ⇒ (4, 6) + (2, 4) + 28 = 44

Attack: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (5) + 18 = 23
Damage: 1d8 + 1d6 + 14 ⇒ (6) + (4) + 14 = 24

Attack: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (8) + 9 = 17
Damage: 1d8 + 1d6 + 14 ⇒ (1) + (2) + 14 = 17

Blink was having none of this 'being grappled' business, and simply vanished out the creatures arms and back up the stairs. She was a little surprised that the bulky minotaurs had managed to dodge the pit, but that was an issue for another day.

With a flick and a word she cast a spell on Staeve, granting him Haste.

Grabbed by a minotaur, Steave kicks and strikes him.

smite evil AC 31 vs. smite 26 +5
Mythic power attack 3 round of 10

unarmed flurry 1 +smite +grappled: 1d20 + 12 - 2 + 5 - 2 ⇒ (20) + 12 - 2 + 5 - 2 = 33
if hit, damage +pa +smite: 1d8 + 6 + 6 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 6 + 6 + 7 = 25

unarmed flurry 2 +smite +grappled: 1d20 + 12 - 2 + 5 - 2 ⇒ (4) + 12 - 2 + 5 - 2 = 17
if hit, damage +pa +smite: 1d8 + 6 + 6 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 6 + 6 + 7 = 22

unarmed extra +smite +grappled: 1d20 + 7 - 2 + 5 - 2 ⇒ (9) + 7 - 2 + 5 - 2 = 17
if hit, damage +pa +smite: 1d8 + 6 + 6 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 6 + 6 + 7 = 25

Theran?

Theran?

Last call for Theran.

It's been a month since he posted, either with this character or on his main account. We may have to move on without him.

It's been a month since he posted, either with this character or on his main account. We may have to move on without him.

I was just about to check that myself. Seems so. :(

Just as I start to get back on top of stuff, my allergies become horrific. Who had the brilliant idea of making people out of meat? You never see a rock get sick...

Mino ACs: 23, T10, F20

Round 2
Blink was having none of this 'being grappled' business, and simply vanished out the creatures arms and back up the stairs. She was a little surprised that the bulky minotaurs had managed to dodge the pit, but that was an issue for another day. With a flick and a word she cast a spell on Staeve, granting him Haste.

Grabbed by a minotaur, Steave kicks and strikes him. With the creature's thick arms about him he could only get the leverage for one blow but the hero of the first crusade made it count and drew a pained growl from his captor.

Golden energy begins to crackle up and down his bow as Galin nocks and fires yet more arrows into the fray, switching his target to the minotaur hugging Steave. Two arrows sprouted from its back and then its head and the huge creature collapsed, releasing Steave as it fell. Galin adjusted his aim and a third arrow feathered a hitherto unharmed minotaur.

Theran ducked down and charged the chamber. In a breath he'd descended the steps and come up in reach of the minotaur Blink had just left empty-handed. He took a staggering blow from the minotaur's axe and tried to follow through with a return strike, but the force of the huge creature's hit knocked him back at just the wrong moment so his earthbreaker clashed on armor instead of abyssal flesh. The minotaur tried to seize him, but the last of Clan Silverlight brought his earthbreaker up into the creature's groin, bringing its grapple to a sudden, painful stop.

Blink has blinding sickness. She needs a save every day or she takes 1d4 str. If she takes 3 or more str in a day she needs to save again or be blinded.

Order is Galin, Theran, Minos, Blink, Steave. The Party is up!

Galin unleashes a flurry of still-crackling arrows at the minotaur attacking Steave, riddling it with burning holes before turning his attention to the only remaining enemy.

Attack: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (11) + 18 = 29
Damage: 2d8 + 2d6 + 28 ⇒ (4, 2) + (2, 3) + 28 = 39

Attack: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (20) + 18 = 38
Damage: 2d8 + 2d6 + 28 ⇒ (7, 6) + (4, 1) + 28 = 46
Crit Confirm: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (6) + 18 = 24
Crit Damage: 6d8 + 6d6 + 54 ⇒ (8, 4, 8, 3, 4, 5) + (2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 5) + 54 = 101

Attack: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (17) + 18 = 35
Damage: 1d8 + 1d6 + 14 ⇒ (4) + (4) + 14 = 22

Attack: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (2) + 13 = 15
Damage: 1d8 + 1d6 + 14 ⇒ (6) + (2) + 14 = 22

Steave steps up and wails on the next minotaur.

swift smite evil AC 31 vs. smite 26 +5
Mythic power attack 4 round of 10

unarmed flurry 1 +smite: 1d20 + 12 - 2 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 12 - 2 + 5 = 29
if hit, damage +pa +smite: 1d8 + 6 + 6 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 6 + 6 + 7 = 24

unarmed flurry 2 +smite: 1d20 + 12 - 2 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 12 - 2 + 5 = 34
if hit, damage +pa +smite: 1d8 + 6 + 6 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 6 + 6 + 7 = 22

unarmed extra +smite: 1d20 + 7 - 2 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 7 - 2 + 5 = 17
if hit, damage +pa +smite: 1d8 + 6 + 6 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 6 + 6 + 7 = 25

Still in no shape to fight, Blink cast Haste on Galin as well.

Mino ACs: 23, T10, F20

Round 3
Still in no shape to fight, Blink cast Haste on Galin as well.

Steave steps up and wails on the next minotaur. He landed multiple powerful blows with his bare fists, driving the minotaur to the ground with hard muscle and unyielding force.

Galin unleashes a flurry of still-crackling arrows at the final minotaur, riddling it with burning holes. It fell, leaving the torture chamber silent once more.

Blink leaned against the wall. "I feel terrible." She paused, considering. "Again."

Galin sighs in relief as the minotaurs hit the ground, before considering Blink's wounds. That does seem to be a recurring theme of the last few days. Do you need to rest before we continue any further?

"Weak. Wounded. I think I'll be OK if I can get the worst of my injuries treated." She shrugged tiredly.

"I could do for a rest as well." The veteran crusader agrees.

Battered but victorious, the crusaders withdrew to their camp outside Drezen for the night.

And there they would meet a couple of new faces come, say, Xmas. :)

At their camp, the crusaders find a pair of new arrivals.

No sense waiting up. Go go go, new PCs! :)

Valissa didn't speak at first as the crusaders returned to camp - she was staring at the walls of Drezen, and nodded slightly when she was done looking at whatever she'd seen. "The fighting has intensified in the south, but Queen Galfrey wanted to give as much help as possible to your efforts here." she explained. She rarely bothered with too many niceties - there was a war to fight, after all. "I'm Tactician Valissa." A recognizable name in the war for those who paid attention to such things, though not for heroic deeds. Rather, there were two things that tended to stick out in the minds of others. First, she'd advised commanders up to and including the Queen... and second, she'd been doing it since nearly the start of the war, which was now several crusades ago. In all that time, she hadn't seemed to age a day. That was a sharp contrast to the queen's regular need for youth-inducing elixirs. "What's the situation here?"

"The upper levels are clear," Blink responded as she sat down and stretched her legs out tiredly, "And we've explored the first level of the dungeon. Unfortunately, the enemy has apparently pulled back its defenders to the next level. There were some especially vindictive minotaurs." Rubbing her eyes for a moment, she added, "We also recovered the banner, the Sword of Valour, but can't do much with it until the fortress is fully in our hands."

Valissa perked up at the news. "Well, now. That's an excellent start. Can you sketch out what you know of their defenses? I may be able to come up with a few ways to... limit their effectiveness." she glanced back towards the imposing fortress. "Preferably without bringing the whole place down..."

"The upper levels are clear," Blink responded as she sat down and stretched her legs out tiredly, "And we've explored the first level of the dungeon. Unfortunately, the enemy has apparently pulled back its defenders to the next level. There were some especially vindictive minotaurs." Rubbing her eyes for a moment, she added, "We also recovered the banner, the Sword of Valour, but can't do much with it until the fortress is fully in our hands."

That was actually a mythic mimic you had to kill dead. The real Sword of Valor is still in Drezen. Somewhere. :)

Ooops, sorry. For some reason my brain is skipping details at the moment. Just pretend she mentioned the horrible mimic instead.

Blink nodded and drew what she'd seen in a rough outline, noting what remained of the defences and damage to the structure and defences of the building.

"Hmm... I'm going to assume there's a reason you couldn't occupy the floors." she glanced up at the injured heroes, noting the visible wounds on display. "I don't want to give them too much time to get back on their feet or seize the initiative - or benefit from any reinforcements. Their ability to teleport armies around has been no end of trouble since this whole mess started, and the Queen's trying to keep their attention right now, but that won't last forever. If we get you healed up, do you think we can push in and finish them off?"

Galin shrugs, We've been clearing floors as we go, but for our safety we retreat back to camp every night rather than rest in a place we haven't fully explored. For all we know, the enemies remaining have ways around the keep that we don't know about, and until they've all been eliminated I don't consider any part of the fortress safe.

I'm not sure about clearing out the rest of the fortress in one day, it but we can certainly try.

The veteran crusader approaches the elite team after touring the troops. Steave Rojerz stands tall and unwavering with short blonde hair and bright blue eyes. He dresses as a simple crusader in veteran heavy leather gauntlets and breeches, sturdy leather boots, and a heavy gray woolen overtunic. His helm exposes his face below his nose and is blue with a white A for Andoran emblazoned on its forehead. His suit of mithral chainmail is also primarily blue with a matching white A on his chest and accents of red and white. He wears a veteran leather harness over his armor that includes his backpack which sits in the small of his back above a leather pocket-filled belt holstering a cold iron longsword. A distinctive circular, heavy darkwood shield is painted red, white and blue with a white, cold iron, spiked star in its middle. The shield is carried on the harness in the middle of his shoulder blades, and gray woolen hooded cloak is secured to the outside of his backpack.

"Hello, Valissa. Glad to see you finally made it into the field." His perfectly straight white teeth are almost blinding from his genuine smile, with a twinkle in his sapphire bright blue eyes.

"Captain Andoran." Valissa said without missing a beat. "I'm pleased to see you've lent the efforts here your aid. This force has accomplished a great deal, but much remains to be done." she smiled slightly. "And I must say, I'm rather looking forward to helping drive this spearpoint into the demons' heart."

Nearby, another crusader had been... dancing. Her helm, her pack, and her shield sat a few paces away, but aside from that she was fully armored. Still, in spite of the armor she was graceful and practiced in her movements. Her head was tilted back staring up at the stars as she slowly spun and wheeled, weaving and stepping. Her long dark hair tumbled back behind her and her face wore a contented smile.

Anyone with a rank or two in knowledge religion would recognize the dance ritual, and the colors and symbols the new crusader wears as belonging to Desna. Definitely strange heraldry among the Iomedean crusade.

When she was done she picked up her equipment and joined the conversation.

"Glad we finally caught up with you. Looks like you've already made pretty good progress here. I'm Hope. The queen sent me to help."

Hope is extremely attractive. Her features are Varisian features, with black hair and eyes, black lacquered armor accented by the silver gleam of Mithril, and a purple tabbard bearing the butterfly wings of desna behind a downward facing sword. Her shield is shaped quite a bit like like a Desnan starknife.

Pinned to her tabbard are insignias marking her as a Knight, a Medic, a Chaplin, and an Arcanist. She also bears the Righteous Medal of Clarity, a high honor awarded to those who deliver crucial information to the leaders of the Crusade. In spite of all that, she bears no military rank.

Visually, Valissa has an appearance in her profile if you wanna see that. ^^

"Hi Hope. I'm Steave. Welcome to a front." The veteran crusader greets the new knight of Desna.

The crusaders spend a mostly uneventful night in the camp outside Drezen, troubled only by the Worldwound's strange winds and nightmare sky. Those spent the night sounding like agonized screams and full of clouds that resembled leering, demonic faces.

She'd have preferred to go in the same day, but... well, it was what it was. As was her habit, she spent the first bit of the morning looking around for potential problems...

Perception: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (1) + 13 = 14

...before pulling out a piece of chalk and tracing a symbol on the ground for her first ritual of the day, blindfolding herself and lighting a bit of incense. <"Come, Ubro. A healer's touch will be needed this day.">

Bind Ubro (DC 17): 1d20 + 12 + 1 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 12 + 1 + 2 + 2 = 24 +2 from having same alignment, another +2 for being good. He's easy to work with that way. XD Taking his Vestigal Boon and losing Sand Skin.

She'd have preferred to go in the same day, but... well, it was what it was. As was her habit, she spent the first bit of the morning looking around for potential problems...

[dice=Perception]1d20 + 13

...before pulling out a piece of chalk and tracing a symbol on the ground for her first ritual of the day, blindfolding herself and lighting a bit of incense. <"Come, Ubro. A healer's touch will be needed this day.">

[dice=Bind Ubro (DC 17)]1d20 + 12 + 1 + 2 + 2 +2 from having same alignment, another +2 for being good. He's easy to work with that way. XD Taking his Vestigal Boon and losing Sand Skin.

A thorough look about camp revealed no new menaces. A few of the soldiers had suffered ordinary mishaps: falls, broken bones, scraps, things of that sort, but nothing external or to be much concerned about.

The spirit rose from the seal and inhabited Valissa.

After ensuring there were no problems with Ubro, Valissa moved on to continue her pact with Jehotek, a somewhat more powerful spirit. After swapping the seals for the ceremony - each spirit had its own - she swirled a bit of holy water around in a vial and chugged it. A moment later, holy water streamed down her face as golden light briefly enveloped her and a voice called out something in Celestial.

Bind Jehotek (DC 21): 1d20 + 12 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 12 + 1 + 2 = 35 ...A little excessive, really, but acceptable. XD She doesn't get as many bonuses for this spirit, but having had him the day before, made holy water for the ceremony then. Pactmakers get a LOT of potential modifiers to binding checks.

Refilling the vial, Valissa passed her hand over it, and it glimmered slightly as the power of Jehotek transformed it into blessed water she could used for the next ceremony. She broke apart some rations into six pieces a moment later, and each glowed as her hand passed over them.

"Here." she told everyone who'd be involved in the main assault. "Eat these before the main fight begins - for the next seven minutes or so after you do, it will give a blessing to your aim and your courage. It'll last a whole day if you let Jehotek affect you a bit more, but I don't recommend that."

The blessed rations provide the effect of a Bless spell (a +1 morale bonus on attack rolls and on saving throws against fear effects) for 7 minutes. The power vanishes in 24 hours, so use it or lose it.

"What do you mean by let Jehotek affect us more?" Hope asked.

Galin nods and takes the portion he is passed, Thank you, but who is Jehotek?