Marcus Braun |
Will Save: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9
I'm assuming that fails, so I'm going to see what happens before I take my move, as the result might affect it.
Also, this thing can only threaten if it's in my square, right? So if I 5ft move back and grapple him, he'd get no AoO and wouldn't be able to attack me unless he breaks the grapple (if I succeed), right?
stormraven |
Marcus - You can spend a Hero Point for a +4 on that roll and that would allow you to save.
If you do not have Improved Grapple, grab, or a similar ability, attempting to grapple a foe provokes an attack of opportunity from the target of your maneuver.
Grappling - The rules say nothing about grappling being slaved to the rules about AoOs related to movement and reach. Moreover, I'd point out that grappling requires you to physically contact your opponent - which means your hands and arms are in range of the creature. With combat being abstract and 'hit locations' not being a factor... you are therefore in range for an attack. So as far as I'm concerned you can't grapple someone with your arms, from range, and avoid the AoO. Going the other way - any giant, etc. would always grapple a smaller creature because it would allow them to circumvent the AoO and every subsequent shorter range melee attack merely by holding the PC at range. To me, that is outside the spirit of the game and reality. If you are holding someone - they can hack at your arms - simple as that.
stormraven |
Well, you're still alive, but you won't be happy.
An odd emotion floods Marcus' mind. He collapses on the floor shrieking with manic laughter. He finds the doll and the senseless slaughter in the house utterly hysterical. He laughs so hard, blood begins to run from his nose.
Marcus is prone, laughing, and incapable of any action. You can attempt to end the effect by making a save next round as a full round action. Failing that, you can attempt the save the round after that, etc. Until you make the save, every full round spent laughing will damage you. You will literally laugh yourself to death. This is a variant of Hideous Laughter.
Round 3
INIT: Aerik, Ez, Jak, Doll, Marcus, Galt
Ezekiel Druiminn |
Round 3
AC17 FF14 T13 CMD18
F/R/W 5/6/2
1st Level Infusions 1+1/day:
Extracts: Cure Light Wounds, 1 open
Second Wind:
TDW:
Bombs 6/day: x
Mutagen (Strength):
Horror Points:
Hero Points: 2
EFFECTS
Missed that part on the move. Figured Zeke wouldn't have moved too far away though so fine with no movement.
Seeing Father Galt, Ezekiel puts the girl down, "Run to Father Galt, stay with him. Go!" Sending the girl off, he then retrieves an explosive from his satchel and flings it into the room, aiming towards the far corner. "Please let it fear fire."
Move to set down Rynn, Standard to bomb. Target is intersection of AL/AM and 0/1. 5 splash damage to the doll, DC 15 reflex for half.
Attack: 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 5 + 1 = 9
Jak Howell |
Does Jak have any idea what this thing is?
Know: Arcana/Planes 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26
"It's just a doll!" Jak shouts as he wracks his brain for what the hells this thing is, "We can do this!"
R3
Standard to Inspire Courage
AC 17 T13 FF14
CMD 17 FF 14
Fort +2 Reflex +6 Will +4
---> +3 vs. Fear (Courageous + Inspire Courage)
Horror Points: 0
Conditions/Effects: Inspire Courage +1
stormraven |
Seeing a face she recognizes, Rynn sprints down the hall to the priest. Ez hurls a flask that detonates in the corner of the room, blasting the window out and smashing the bed. Flames catch and the doll's outfit chars. It appears the creature isn't entirely immune to fire. The smoking doll carves the air with its kitchen knife in the alchemist's direction.
Reflex v DC15: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9
Doll Golem
It is an unnatural construct that is sometimes mindless (as with other constructs) and sometimes animated by a dark spirit. It is impossible to tell which this is. At their most benevolent, Doll Golems are created as guardians for young children by the extremely wealthy. As you have seen - they can be put to darker uses.
AC:18
CMD: Good - It is relatively agile and far stronger than a normal man.
HP: Good - particularly given their defenses
Attack: 2 weapon strikes or 1 bite that causes a fatal form of Hideous Laughter
Defenses: DR 5/Magic, construct traits, immune to nearly all magic, spell-like, and supernatural abilities EXCEPT Fire does 1/2 damage, Warp Wood slows it, and Dispel Magic causes it to go catatonic for 5 rnds.
Other Abilities: It is very fast - Move 60' and can Spider Climb at will.
It is skilled at leaping and stealth.
INIT: Aerik, Ez, Jak, Doll, Marcus, Galt
Jak Howell |
It's immune to (nearly) all magic but magic weapons bypass it's DR?
And yah… it's a shame Jak never learned where all those stories came from...
"S@@&! Doll Golem! Someone made it damn fast! Damn Tough! And all but immune to magic! Fire will kinda work!"
I hope that's not too much for a reactive free action speech.
Marcus Braun |
Yeesh, that's brutal. This enemy (though he is kicking our butts) is cool. I like the little guy, too bad I'm going to have to smash him into kindling. SR, my turn was after the doll's. This round, I just laugh and don't get a save until next round, or was I supposed to save this round? If needed, here it is.
Will: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24
Villainous Construct |
Debris litters the little girl's bedroom as flames lick the bed and the scorched corner from Ez's bomb. Smoke puffs into the hallway. The blade-wielding doll owns the room, suddenly empty of opponents save the cackling lumberman. It casts its black eyes and blank smiling head about, as if weighing its options.
The ranger's laughter is summarily cut short, as the silk-clad horror springs onto his chest and buries its blade in his throat with a single powerful thrust. Marcus to -1 HP From the doorway, Ez and Jak see Marcus' body slump. The doll backflips off the body, scampers to the wall, then up it like a spider, across to the blown out window, and outside. It vanishes from sight as it heads down the wall outside - moving farther and faster than a man could.
STAND: Stab
MOVE: Leave
HIT: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (11) + 10 = 21
DAM: 1d6 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12
Seeing the reactions of the witnesses and hearing the ominously ended laugh, Galt leaves the girl and pushes into the room, hoping to help. He channels the power of his god. It heals Aerik fully and brings Marcus to weak consciousness.
Heal: 1d6 ⇒ 5
INIT: Aerik, Ez, Jak, Doll, Galt, Marcus
Marcus, you can act as you are awake and the spell effect is gone. The doll has gone out the window and down the wall... how far is the question. We'll stay in combat rounds for the moment.
A's HPs: 24|24
E's HPs: 18|18
J's HPs: 19|19
M's HPs: 4|25
stormraven |
Jak Howell |
Agreed.
"Thank you, Father Galt. Your timing is excellent. Now, let's get the hells outta here. We can't keep up with it and we apparently can't make a dent in it."
On Jak's turn, he makes for the stairs (collecting the girl in the meantime), readying actions to trip with his whip should the doll (or another threat) emerge. Inspire should continue running for another 2 rounds due to Lingering Performance, and it stays up an additional 1d4 ⇒ 1 rounds on Jak after that.
"Protect the girl and keep your eyes peeled."
stormraven |
~ Round 4 ~
Our heroes cautiously move back down the hall, wary of the possibility that the hellbound doll is laying in wait. They scoop up little Rynn Pegason and guard every doorway as they move past. They pass the drowned housekeeper. Galt follows along attempting to heal Marcus' grievous wounds.
CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4
~ Round 5 ~
They descend the stairs and scan every corner of the room for any hint of the jingle-toed devil. Nothing moves or threatens the group as they head for the front door.
CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7
~ Round 6 ~
Galt exhausts his last spell as our heroes step off the porch. Many of the local farmers stand in small groups along the road or on their porches - some bearing weapons - looking fearfully at the house. Some gasp at the sight of the blood-soaked girl.
CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4
From around the far side of the house, a small, smoking, and brightly clad figure appears and cartwheels into the street, heading back towards town. It moves with impressive speed, easily twice as fast a man. It rolls and tumbles past or through a couple of different groups of farmers - ignoring them.
~ Round 7 ~
OK, you have about 50' of open space between your group and the doll. GO.
INIT: Aerik, Ez, Jak, Doll, Galt, Marcus
M's HPs: 19|25
Aerik Wynn |
"This foul creature will not escape to harm anyone else..."
Aerik's voice trails off as he murmurs an incantation. The grass elongates and lashes out at the doll, attempting to hold him fast.
Cast Entangle centered 20 ft past the doll. This should let us approach within 20 ft without risking getting stuck.
Jak Howell |
Jak is only a second behind Aerik in action. He steps clear of the group, drops his whip, draws his bow, nocks an arrow, focuses, and looses.
Round 7
FREE: 5' step in a direction that will allow him to fire without dealing with cover
FREE: drop whip
MOVE: draw bow
SWIFT: Arcane Strike (weapon considered magic for overcoming DR)
STANDARD: fire
.
Shortbow 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10
---> Damage 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2
AC 17 T13 FF14
CMD 17 FF 14
Fort +2 Reflex +6 Will +4
---> +2 vs. Fear (Courageous)
Horror Points: 0
Conditions/Effects: None
SIGH
Ezekiel Druiminn |
Round 3
AC17 FF14 T13 CMD18
F/R/W 5/6/2
1st Level Infusions 1+1/day:
Extracts: Cure Light Wounds, 1 open
Second Wind:
TDW:
Bombs 6/day: xx
Mutagen (Strength):
Horror Points:
Hero Points: 2
EFFECTS
Ezekiel moves forward 30' and tosses an explosive at the doll.
Attack: 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 5 + 1 = 20
Damage: 1d6 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 4 + 1 = 7
Marcus Braun |
I had intended to stow my axe and draw my shield as we move through the house. If that's ok...
Marcus advances towards the entangled doll, sliding an axe from its holster and hurling it end-over-end.
Move up 30 ft while drawing throwing axe
Throwing axe, 2 range increments: 1d20 + 4 - 2 ⇒ (3) + 4 - 2 = 5
Damage, whetstone: 1d6 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 4 + 1 = 6
stormraven |
Jak's arrow deflects off a binding root and flies past the doll thrashing against the entwining plants. Ezekiel's lobbed bomb drops onto the creature. The explosion blasts paint off its inhuman face.
The doll drags itself forward with effort, through the heart of the entanglement. Even slowed, it's progress through the hazard is impressive. In another round, it will be on the far edge of the spell. Its knives slash tirelessly at the plants.
Young Rynn, seeing neighbors she knows, runs to them and safely away from the danger. A few townsfolk are caught helpless in the entanglement. But others grab their weapons tightly, stand together in tight clusters, and wait nervously on the far edge of the spell... ready to defend their town against the strange, small figure.
Galt blasts Marcus with more healing energy but it is of small help.
Marcus rushes forward and hurls his axe. The grasping vegetation skews his shot. The axe buries itself in the ground.
~ Round 8 ~
INIT: Aerik, Ez, Jak, Doll, Galt, Marcus, Locals
Channel: 1d6 ⇒ 2
M's HPs: 21|25
OK, looks like things are getting complex enough to need a map. The only difficult terrain is the whitish area that indicates the zone of the entanglement. The Doll is moving East along the road into town. The large Commoners represent four-packs of locals.
Jak Howell |
Jak moves forward and to his right, clearing archery lane as he draws, focuses, and looses a second arrow.
"Anyone know a way to cut this thing off?" Jak looks beyond the manic doll, "YOU FOLKS NEED TO COME OVER HERE!"
Round 8
Move to AP.14.
Swift for Arcane Strike (arrow considered magic)
Standard to shoot
.
Shortbow 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12
---> Damage 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6
AC 17 T13 FF14
CMD 17 FF 14
Fort +2 Reflex +6 Will +4
---> +2 vs. Fear (Courageous)
Horror Points: 0
Conditions/Effects: None
Ezekiel Druiminn |
Round 4
AC17 FF14 T13 CMD18
F/R/W 5/6/2
1st Level Infusions 1+1/day:
Extracts: Cure Light Wounds, 1 open
Second Wind:
TDW:
Bombs 6/day: xx
Mutagen (Strength):
Horror Points:
Hero Points: 2
EFFECTS
Ezekiel begins to circle around the undergrowth, "Run, get away from it!"
Double move to AU21
stormraven |
I'll double-check my settings in MapTools and move you if it looks kosher.
Yep, it looks like my settings got flipped so that all diagonals counted as 5' instead of the alternating 5'/10'/5'... so your position and count are correct.
Aerik Wynn |
"I'll slow it down as best I can!"
Aerik burns Faerie Fire to spontaneously cast Summon Nature's Ally I. On my next turn a dog will appear next to the hell-doll. I believe I'm also afforded a 5 ft step, and if so, I will take it to move 5 ft closer.
Villainous Construct |
Aerik casts his summons and advances slowly concentrating on summoning aid. Ezekiel races around the south side of the entangling field, trailed by Father Galt.
The Doll trudges forward relentlessly. Binding vines are pulled out by the roots as the vicious little construct continues on its course, slowed but not stopped. It reaches the far end of the difficult terrain.
~ Round 8 ~
INIT: Aerik, Ez, Jak, Doll, Galt, Marcus, Locals
Marcus Braun |
Sorry for the delay--super busy yesterday
Marcus draws another throwing axe as he crashes into the overgrown vines, trying to close the distance with the doll.
Draw axe as I attempt to double move to AL 20, 30 ft to the right.
Reflex: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7
I assume that it only wastes one of my move actions when I enter the area of the spell and get entangled and have to stop, so I will then use my other action to try to break free. Am I right about that?
Strength check to break free: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12
Aaaaand, it doesn't matter ;-)
stormraven |
You are correct, both in terms of your possible actions and their regrettable outcomes. :p
The Ranger lunges into the writhing plants, hoping to catch up to the menacing doll. But the Druid's spell is pernicious. Weeds trip Marcus up and plants hold him fast, just within the edge of the field. He thrashes at them with his axe but for every root he cuts, two spring up to take its place.
NEXT Up... local yokels.
Nameless Normal |
One group of farmers heeds your warnings and hustles into the fields near Ezekiel and Father Galt. The others look over their shoulders and see the unprotected town behind them... filled with the aged, the young, and the infirm. Trembling, they decide to defend their homes and their people.
They close in and strike at the foul doll before it gets clear of the entangling vines - slashing at it desperately with their scythes. Their blades all but bounce off the creature when it doesn't dance around their blows.
~ Round 9 ~
INIT: Aerik, Ez, Jak, Doll, Galt, Marcus, Locals
Farmer #1 HIT: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 13
Farmer #1 DAM: 2d4 + 2 - 5 ⇒ (1, 4) + 2 - 5 = 2 DR
Farmer #2 HIT: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8
Farmer #2 DAM: 1d20 + 1 - 5 ⇒ (17) + 1 - 5 = 13
Farmer #3 HIT: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 1 = 12
Farmer #3 DAM: 1d20 + 0 - 5 ⇒ (7) + 0 - 5 = 2
Aerik Wynn |
Aerik completes the spell, and a dog appears in AM-29, savagely biting at the doll...
Attack with Flank: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23
Dmg: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5
He then concentrates to dismiss the entangling roots, freeing everyone in the area (Std. Action).
"Get away from the doll! NOW!!"
The normally quiet druid roars at the townsfolk as he closes the distance between himself and the foe. (Move Action to AN-14)
Dang! So close to the crit the dog needed to actually penetrate his DR! :(
stormraven |
The roots and plants cease their restless movements, releasing Marcus and the tiny golem. A large hound suddenly winks into existence and lunges at the doll from behind. It savages the bit of china and fabric with its fangs but doesn't manage to break the surface.
Next UP... Doll
Villainous Construct |
There is a moment of silence as the Doll's smiling head slowly rotates 360 degrees - absorbing the tactical situation. Then the malice of its manufacture becomes clear. Tiny china hands spin the two kitchen knives and it spring amid the hapless farmers, slashing bloody paths of agony.
But perhaps the Gods watch over men of the land. Against all odds, one farmer manages to raise his weapon in time to block the doll's blade with his scythe's shaft. The other farmer is neither blessed nor lucky. Before he can shriek, a horrific slash is laid across his belly and he quickly drops from shock, pain, and blood loss - the doll lands on his barely moving chest.
~ Round 9 ~
INIT: Aerik, Ez, Jak, Doll, Galt, Marcus, Locals
HIT: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (1) + 10 = 11
DAM: 1d6 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12
HIT: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (16) + 10 = 26
DAM: 1d6 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9