Shadowborn's Wounded Earth (Blue Group) (Inactive)

Game Master Jeff Lee

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 1 = 14

The blotchy goblin shakes his head.

"No. Ronk helps you with spell. If you kill master, Ronk knows you are powerful and will go back to tribe and bother you no more. If master wins, Ronk will beg for mercy. If Ronk is lucky, he lives and does not become walking corpse."

If the group is going to rest while waiting for your opponents to arrive, let me know where you're going to set up camp, watch list, etc.

"All right. I suggest we set up camp on the second floor- Gendo and I will alternate watch duties on top of the tower while Jon and Will rest up and recover magical... power.... or whatever it is you guys need to do to cast spells again."

I look up at Auric.

I'll take first watch.

I get up and move to Ronk, holding up my hands palms up and to the sides, I am going to get you out of the barrel and then the three of us can go to the top of the tower.

I proceed to get him out of the barrel and take him up to the top of the tower. Though he seems compliant, I am very wary.

While we wait, you can get some sleep.

"Ronk hate barrel..."

The sorcerer makes no attempt to struggle as you free him and escort him upstairs.

You'll have time to rest with no interruptions, so any daily abilities will be considered full, and Jon can prepare spells as he chooses. William will be at full capacity and raring to go. I'll get the ball rolling on Monday.

The night passes, with Auric and Gendo taking watches on the top floor of the tower. Ronk snoozes in his bonds, his bulbous, blotchy head resting on his chest.

In the gray light of predawn, Gendo sees a steady green light in the distance, waving slowly, back and forth, in a long arc.

I first wake Auric by kicking the bottom of his feet until I see him stir.
Auric, the signal,[b] I gesture out the window, as I move to wake Ronk.

Shaking Ronk, I project my voice at Ronk, while unbinding his hands, [b]Wake up Ronk. WAKE. UP. I see a green light in the distance.

Before releasing his hands, Ronk, it's time to do your part. I release his hands pointing to the green light out the window.

Auric snorts into consciousness, quickly grabbing the recently recovered sword and his shield. He descends to where Will and Jon are sleeping and shakes both awake.

"Positions, guys. It's almost showtime."

Then, he runs downstairs and tries to find a concealed position around the barricade after making an opening for the necromancer to enter.
Stealth: 1d20 - 4 ⇒ (13) - 4 = 9

Uh... do I have time to take 10 or 20?

"Ah, let us begin, then." Jon moves to join Auric behind the barricades.

Taking 10 for Stealth is acceptable. Not enough time for a take 20, as he's not that far off.

Gendo unties Ronk's hands and hauls him to his feet, where he can see the signal light through the window. (Luckily for him, this tower was crafted by dwarves so he doesn't need a box to stand on.) Wide-eyed and with shaking hands, the goblin slurs a word and gestures. Nothing happens. He looks quickly at Gendo, face a picture of panic, pointing at the hole in his face. Looking back out the window he tries again, but with no success. Finally, on the third time, the syllable trips off his tongue properly, and a bright flash erupts outside. Gendo sees the light begin to approach. After a few moments the image of a figure wrapped in a hooded robe coalesces in the dim light, a gnarled staff clutched in one hand. The figure moves slowly, using the staff as an aid.

Meanwhile, Jon and Auric move downstairs, pull a few barrels away from the doorway, allowing just enough room for a human to slip through, and position themselves for the attack. William follows them down, crouching on the stairs leading up to the second floor, bow in hand.

Here's the map of the tower. Go ahead and give me your starting positions. As I recall, the three of you were going to be on the first floor awaiting his entry, and William was providing support from above as necessary.

F-15, please!

So the bottom is the first floor and the top is the second? I'll be in F19, so Jon and I can flank him once he comes in.

Actually, the top one is the first floor, and the bottom one was the basement. Second and third floors I'll put on if someone wants to either start there or move there during the combat. William's position in F3 puts him at the highest point possible on the stairs up to the 2nd level.

In that case, I will hunker down at E7.

I would start push myself in the corner as far as possible in square B7. Before I go downstairs, I'd tell Ronk to stay up here and wait to see what the outcome is.

Ronk cowers where he stands, as Gendo moves down to the first floor and sets himself for the confrontation. Jon can technically take the same square as William, as there is a hollow under the stairway he can stand in. Jon and Auric move into position.

The tense minutes you wait seem to stretch on forever. Finally, you hear the sound of steps outside the door. A murmur of surprise and annoyance, then a scratchy voice raises enough for Auric and Gendo to make out "...goblins, blocking off the blasted door."

A figure swathed in black robes squeezes through the opening in the barricade, balancing on a gnarled staff. He is perhaps six feet in height, but appears shorter due to stooped posture. An audible wheezing of breath comes from the deep cowl. A sour stench of decay, faint but discernable, seems to waft from the figure.

Surprise round:

Initiatives:

Gendo 22
Auric 21
William 17
Jon 16

Map

...A sour stench of decay, faint but discernable, seems to waft from the figure...Ummm, I've got a really, REALLY bad feeling about this...I hope we don't regret this

Following the plan, I attempt to grapple Varras, by cinching my arms around him in a bear hug.

Grapple attempt: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 2 = 12

Auric wrinkles his nose and steps in to assist.
Grapple-Aid Another: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16

While closing in, he takes the necromancer's measure.
Perception:1d20 + 3 ⇒ (19) + 3 = 22
Also using Detect Evil if I can.

Jon will step up to stand beside the necromancer, readying his scythe to attack if need be.

Auric won't be able to do the detect evil along with the grapple, because he can only take a standard or move action this round, so I'm going with the grapple.

Surprise Round:

Gendo and Auric jump the black-robed figure upon its entrance. As Gendo grabs him in a clinch, Auric comes from the other direction, throwing an arm around the neck from behind. As he does so, the figure's cowl slips back, revealing a human male, his head and face masked with soiled bandages. They wrap about the middle of his face, their tight fit and dark stain showing that the man has no nose. Target grappled

William, from his perch, shouts "That's it, lads! That little bookworm is no match for your strength and skill. Have at 'em! Tie him in knots!" Inspire courage activated.

Jon moves out from under the stairs, striding over to stand before the grappled figure, scythe gripped tight and ready for action.

Map

Auric bears the necromancer down in an attempt to pin him (or, if Gendo beats him to it, tie him up once he is pinned).

Grapple: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20

I will attempt to pin Varras, trying to prevent him from speaking if possible while doing so.

Grapple: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10

Crap. Maybe Gendo can take some lessons from the 49ers!!! WOOT!!!

Initiative:

Gendo 22
Auric 21
Varrus 20
William 17
Jon 16

Round 1:

Gendo reaches up to cover the necromancer's mouth as Auric uses his strength and weight to bear the man down. The two warriors have the mage handily pinned on the ground, his struggles useless against his more capable opponents. There is a momentary thrill of triumph as the only show of resistance comes from the defiance burning in his dark eyes.

Then Varrus turns his head, spitting words of power and suddenly Gendo and Auric fall to the floor as the man beneath them vanishes.

William looks astonished, but is an accomplished enough performer to keep up his oration. "He flees, friends! Take heart in the enemy's cowardice! We shall prevail!"

Jon's action pending.

Jon scans around him, unable to see his enemy. He backs up and keeps his eyes open, readying an attack if the fiend shows back up!

Attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13
Damage: 2d4 + 4 ⇒ (3, 2) + 4 = 9

Finish Round 1:

Jon whirls around, looking for the opponent, but finds nothing in the room aside from his three companions.

Perception checks, all around.

Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 3 = 19

I guess this is also a good time to ask- did we regain any HP during our rest?

Yes, standard for an 8 hour rest.

Auric can just make out the slurred whispers of Ronk's voice upstairs.

Silently, Auric points up toward the top of the tower and starts climbing the stairs as fast as he can, pulling out the duke's sword and his shield.

Also taking a swift action to use Lay on Hands on myself-
LoH: 1d6 ⇒ 6

Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (20) + 10 = 30

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 20

Seeing Auric's gesture, Jon will also head up the stairs to find the Necromancer.

Jon also hears Ronk's whispering. Gendo's keen hearing actually makes out the necromancer's rasping, and he makes out Ronk's "No kill Ronk." pleading.

Round 2:

The group moves quickly up the stairs, with Gendo, Auric, and Jon overtaking William in the move. William keeps up his inspiring oratory on the way. Pounding along at a run, the party ends the round on the stairs leading up to the third floor. At this point everyone but the height-challenged William can see their quarry.

The necromancer stands against the east wall, staff held before him at waist height, parallel with the floor. Ronk, still tied up except for his hands, has crawled into the southeast corner. He sits there cowering, eyes fixed on the confrontation.

"I don't know who you are," Varrus rasps, "but meddling in my affairs will bring you nothing but pain."

Map
Second and third floors on the bottom. There are no railings on the stairways, they simply rise to the level above. Jon effectively has cover as only part of his body rises up to the third floor, and William is below the floor level.

Auric rounds the stairs after Gendo, spreading out to get around the necromancer.
Move to N23- if I make a diagonal move I should be able to make it in a 30 foot move.
"When your affairs don't involve slaughtering a monastery for a vile tome and cutting loose your insane apprentice to raise our dead relatives, we'll stop meddling. But seeing as you've gone and done that stuff, Ba'al's wrath shall fall upon you!"
Once I'm in position, I'll use my smite evil on Varrus- with the Duke's sword.

Smite Evil: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (17) + 7 = 241d8 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8
+2 deflection bonus to my AC vs. Varrus- leaving me with an 18 normal AC and a 12 touch AC.

Jon moves to M-25, and slashes his scythe at the necromancer's staff, attempting to sunder it.

No Improved Sunder, so Attack of Opportunity time!

Attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5
Damage: 2d4 + 4 ⇒ (2, 3) + 4 = 9

As I charge at Varras, Pain? PAIN! YOU PATHETIC, WORTHLESS EXCUSE OF INTELLIGENCE!!!

I drive my right hand into Varras in a stiff, straight forward palm-heel strike [Stunning Fist].

Unarmed Attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24
Damage if hit: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7
Fortitude DC if hit: 13

[edit] Crit confirmation: Unarmed Attack 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 17
Crit damage if confirmed: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

Stunning Fist attack on Varras (for some reason the map won't load for me here at work. I don't want to hold things up.

Initiative:

Gendo 22
Auric 21
Varrus 20
William 17
Jon 16

Round 3:

Gendo roars and moves in on the necromancer, solidly striking him in the chest with his attack. Ribs can be heard breaking. However, Varrus shrugs off the stunning effect. No critical on the attack.

Auric moves and strikes, slashing Varrus' arm. The slice in his sleeve reveals a thin arm covered in pustules and open lesions. As the blade slices flesh, the edges of the wound blacken from the intense cold of the weapon. Cold Damage:1d6 ⇒ 5. 14 damage total.

Set back on his heals from the ferocity of the attacks, Varrus ducks and weaves, intoning a spell without drawing attacks from Gendo or Auric. His body dissolves into a whirl of white mist, which flows out the narrow window behind him. Auric and Gendo may take attacks of opportunity as the mist retreats. I'll allow for Jon to alter his action, given that the opponent is currently out of reach.

William continues to exhort his allies and boost their confidence. "He continues to flee! For all his magic, he's nothing but a coward. Onward, friends!" William turns and moves back down the stairs, hoping to catch the wizard at the bottom.

Attack of Opportunity w/smite and magic sword: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 101d8 + 6 + 1d6 ⇒ (4) + 6 + (2) = 12

"Will, Jon- any suggestions on how we can pin him down while he's a gas?"

"I know no way! My prayers require a physical form to work! We must follow, as best we can, and hope that his powers have a brief duration!" Jon follows the mist down the stairs, keeping his eyes peeled.

AOO: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10
Damage if hit: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

I give chase as well.

Letting out a frustrated sigh, Auric runs downstairs with the rest.

Auric and Gendo lash at the insubstantial cloud without effect, and it flows out the window and out of sight.

Round 4:

The group pounds its way back downstairs, reaching the first floor again. On the way down, William says "I know of no way to contain him, but the baron's sword should still be able to harm him, even in that form. Some spells should harm him as well."

Map

Auric looks about for where the necromancer could have fled to, calling upon Ba'al's gifts to grant him divine insight.
Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11
Using detect evil as a move action- facing the direction of the window he fled from.

I take a moment to try and discern cloud-form Varras from our surroundings.

Perception Check: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (6) + 11 = 17

Just checked, keep forgetting my Perception is +11 not +10

Round 5:

Gendo peers around the first floor, but does not see the necromancer's misty form. I'll delay you down in initiative since all you did was make a perception check.

Auric concentrates a moment, appears to note something, and then moves outside. He sees necromancer's form as it glides over the snow, headed for the chasm.

A shout to the rest of the group brings them outside.

Map

Is the bridge we're standing on much higher than the space Varras-gas is occupying? As in, do we need to put extra movement into clearing the bridge? Second question- how scalable is this cliff?

The railing in front of Auric's square arcs into the ground at that point, so it counts as an obstacle. Double movement into the next square, or a DC 12 Acrobatics check to jump/vault it as part of a move. The cliff is a natural rock wall (DC 15 Climb check). However, it's a long way down...

Auric steps over the railing, but does it without rushing- now is not the time to slip and fall in the ice. He pushes forward and swings once more at the gaseous necromancer with the Duke's blade.
20 foot move to G5, swing with the sword!

Duke's sword w/smite evil vs. Varras: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 261d8 + 6 + 1d6 ⇒ (6) + 6 + (3) = 15

Nudge.

Apologies. See the discussion thread for details.

Assuming no one else has a pertinent action for the round...

Round 6:

Auric clambers over the railing, strides forward, and thrusts the icy blade into the flowing patch of mist. It seems to snag and tear as if the mist were cloth, and the gaseous mass writhes and recoils from the sword.

Then the mist flows away, curling over the edge of the chasm and drifting down the side of the cliff.