Sleeper in the Tomb of Dreams

Game Master FabesMinis

"Indeed. He may have answers he would be willing to tell us in exchange for freedom."

"Oh. Yes. By all means. Let's all go rushing into an obvious trap!" Manny mutters, then looks around.

"Well, what are we waiting for? Let's get to the fun part!" He cackles gleefully.

Anyone approaching the man? (he's currently about 50 feet away from you -ish.

Hadarai smirks at Manny's comment about a trap.
"Yeah, but I'm not leaving a random stranger on our rear flank. Trap or no, I guess we have to go have a little talk."

Hadarai will lead the group down the hall towards the mysterious man.
Shield raised high, sword out, but low and as unthreatening as a drawn flaming longsword can be... lol

I also make sure everyone is following us (I'm assuming the dragonborne siblings and Manny are following me -- hopefully everyone else is too) -- the cultists know we're here, we blew down a door, raided their treasure room, tripped a few scying eyes... if it's a trap, it's a trap and they've had plenty of time to set one up. At least it won't be unexpected! :)
Let's see if the guy can help us.

Gliding down the hall, Hadarai motions to the other cell-doors as he passes. He whispers to the nearest person behind him, "Let's make sure we check these."

Provided the cell doors are locked and nothing is going to jump out behind us, as Hadarai nears the room, he'll call out to get the man's attention, "May Corellon's blessings strengthen you."

I'm also checking for danger as we travel down the hall...
Perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (17) + 11 = 28

Each of the tiny cells has a locked wooden door with a small barred window. There’s nothing inside but some scattered human bones and the rusty remains of manacles attached to the walls.

After Hadarai has called out, the man's muttering stops, and he is silent.

Assist in Diplomacy
1d20 + 12 - 1 ⇒ (3) + 12 - 1 = 14

Were any of his mutterings making any kind of sense?

Not that you could hear.

Remember, everyone gets +3 Diplomacy and +2 Intimidate for being within 3 squares of me.

Otto raps on the wooden door. "Hey, buddy. Say something, would you? We're here to get some artifacts back, not to hurt you."

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (7) + 16 = 23

He’s stripped to the waist, and his back is a bloody mess of lacerations. He has clearly been whipped. The man is just sitting there rocking back and forth and resumes wordlessly babbling. Long chains are attached to the arms he holds limply by his sides. In front of him stands a lectern upon which lies a large open book. Its pages are covered in messy crimson writing that must be blood. The moaning man suddenly shakes his head vigorously as if denying something, and you notice that his eyes have been torn out and his worn face bears cuts around them.

At Otto's words, he slowly stops babbling and asks in a hesitant tone, "Who... are... you?"

Akahale looks horrified.

"There is an unhealthy obsession with blood and blindness," he mutters. Raising his voice, he speaks slowly and clearly to the man.

"You appear to be in need of help. We are capable investigators and can offer assistance and healing."

Is there any way to tell whether this is self inflicted or if he was a willing participant? Maybe Akahale's paranoia has taken hold of me, but I'm curious if we are interrupting his work or about to rescue him.

Give me an Insight check please, Hadarai (and Hadarai only).

"You will.. help... me? Unchain...me... please..." he replies to Akahale.

"we should close that book first. He maybe chained for a good reason. We should be very careful. there is no telling if any curses have been placed upon this poor soul."

Insight: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (10) + 11 = 21
(I'm trained in it, if that helps/matters)

MAnny looks, disturbed, clearly horrified at what has been done to/(by?) the man. He is so upset that the most unusual thing happens.

He has nothing to say about it,...

"You will.. help... me? Unchain...me... please..." he replies to Akahale.

"Forgive our suspicion, but we are in an area of considerable evil. Who inflicted these wounds on you?"

Akahale makes no move to get any closer, even though he longs to look at the bloodstained book.

Hadarai

As Akahale addresses the man, he looks up and cries out, "You! I know you! You’re no friend to Volkanth. You’re one of them! One of those the Sleeper told me!” At this he points to the book and then starts straining against his chains and screaming.

Roll initiative! And yes, you're all within 10 squares of Grafire.

Init: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11

Taken aback by the screams of the tortured man, Manny recoils,...

Initiative: 1d20 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 3 + 2 = 17

>>>>MAP<<<<

Please indicate where you are in the red zone. And yes, those are open iron maidens! All the torture equipment can be used as cover.

I was cautiously approaching the man, so I'll be adjacent and diagonal to him.
Which way is north? Up?

Since I was also talking to him, I'll be one square below him. Initiative: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17

As far away as possible.
1d20 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13 - init

Init - 1d20 + 7 - 1 ⇒ (4) + 7 - 1 = 10
I would be posted guard near the entrance to the cell

Near the doorway(left of the door, next to the iron maiden) cowering, I mean reccoiling! in disgust! ;)

Sorry Hadarai, yes, North is up. And so it begins...EDIT!!
>>>>MAP<<<<
Initiative

Otto 17
Hadarai 17
Akahale 13
Foulspawn Berserkers 12
1
2
Manny 11
Seer 10

As the man screams, impossibly massive amounts of fluid shoot forth from his blinded eyes sockets (which you can now see are stiched in the sickle symbol you've seen before). The fluid coalesces into the form of two horrid, leering humanoids.

I'll put Shae in later.

Backpeddling firmly down the corridor, Akahle mouths a curse and blasts at the madman.

Move 5 squares south (or as far as he can when it's his turn).
Gain concealment.
Curse S
Eldritch Blast (Ref)
1d20 + 14 ⇒ (9) + 14 = 23
1d10 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16 - power damage, plus 1d8 ⇒ 8 curse damage
24 damage

>>>>MAP<<<<

Initiative

Shaeryyn 19
Otto 17
Hadarai 17
Foulspawn Berserkers
1
2
Manny 11
Grafire 10
Seer 10
Akahale 13

Akahale hits.

The man screams in agony as the warlock shoots him.

"That's how you want to play, then? Then let's play!" Otto scythes through the three cultists.

Shift one square up and to the right and use Demorilizing Strike, using 2PP, 4 remaining.(Close burst 1 against S, B1, B2, fear effect target takes -5 to all defenses until the end of my next turn): 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (15) + 14 = 291d20 + 14 ⇒ (3) + 14 = 171d20 + 14 ⇒ (4) + 14 = 181d10 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17

Also, minor action, using my Goggles of Aura Seeing on the seer because why not? (Encounter, minor, range 10, tell current/total HP of target, diseases/poisons affecting target, diseases/poisons it can attack with)

"That settles it... Corellon protects us." Hadarai raises his flaming sword high and imparts his holy wrath into the blade, commanding his enemies to pay attention to him. Then he brings it crashing down on the seer.

(standard) Valorous Strike vs Seer: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (9) + 14 = 23 vs AC ( a reduced AC I'm guessing from Otto), damage: 2d8 + 8 ⇒ (5, 1) + 8 = 14, either way ALL ENEMIES within 3 spaces are marked by my sanction till end of my next turn.
(move) Shift 1 square west (the space Otto used to be in)

My Mark (sanction or challenge): -2 to attack and takes 8hp damage if he doesn't include me in an attack.

Well, here's the thing Otto... the Berserkers' have an Aura 1 that means you have to attack a random target. 1 - Seer; 2- B1; 3- B2; 4- Hadarai. So respectively, your 1st, 2nd and 3rd attacks:
1d4 ⇒ 31d4 ⇒ 41d4 ⇒ 1
Attack 1 hits B2; Attack 2 misses Hadarai, and Attack 3 hits the Seer. Seer now Bloodied. And Otto, Demoralizing Strike is all creatures in the burst (not all enemies), so you would also attack Hadarai. I'll roll for that and the randomising.
1d20 + 14 ⇒ (10) + 14 = 241d4 ⇒ 3
So that hits B2.

As Otto moves to attack the strange humanoids, his mind is overcome with confusion and berserk fury, and he lashes out at random. Hadarai ducks his friend's attack and slashes the Seer, wounding him badly.

One of the horrid humanoids makes a break for it and heads for the weakest of the herd, in this case Manny (or, at least, the perceived weakest). The other concentrates on Otto. Holy light sears both of them.

B1 moves - Otto can make an OA if he wishes, but remember the randomise effect. Charge vs Manny:
1d20 + 15 - 2 ⇒ (17) + 15 - 2 = 301d10 + 9 ⇒ (1) + 9 = 10
Manny takes 10 damageB2 attacks Otto
1d20 + 14 - 2 ⇒ (1) + 14 - 2 = 131d10 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

Initiative

Manny 11
Grafire 10
Seer 10 marked by Hadarai, -5 to defenses (eoOttont)
Akahale 13
Shaeryyn 19
Otto 17
Hadarai 17
Foulspawn Berserkers
1 marked by Hadarai
2 marked by Hadarai

>>>MAP<<<

Please note the Berserkers' aura 1 - any creature that makes a melee attack, it targets a random creature within its reach. They are also immune to fear.

To add to his woes, the Seer is cursed.

"Hey, what are you,...?!? OW! Getawayyouuglymug!" MAnny babbles as he steps away from the creature. The mage looks at his disheveled robe, now stained with the red of his own blood.

"You,... you,... you TORE my ROBE!" He declares, very loudly, and very angrily. He slowly, ominously raises his orb and staff, and his eyes gleam with a cold blue light.

"Somebody needs a time out!" He says with finality, and a frozen blue aura settles around his attacker, causing frost to form on him and a blue frozen haze to condense around him,...

5' step away, using Wiz Encounter 1 power, Conduit of Ice, vs Ref, 2d8+10 dmg, creates a zone of sudden cold in Burst 2 around the target, until the end of my next turn. The zone moves with the target. The zone is difficult terrain, and any enemy that ends it's turn in the zone takes 5 dmg.

ranged att vs Ref, cold dmg if hit:
1d20 + 11 ⇒ (4) + 11 = 152d8 + 10 ⇒ (1, 1) + 10 = 12

Current status, HP:45, (damaged but NOT bloodied), Used Encounter 1 pwr

A miss, I'm afraid, Manny. Paging Grafire.

Initiative

Grafire 10
Seer 10 marked by Hadarai, -5 to all defenses (eoOttont), cursed
Shaeryyn 19
Otto 17
Hadarai 17
Akahale 13
Foulspawn Berserkers
1 marked by Hadarai
2 marked by Hadarai
Manny 11

Please note the Berserkers' aura 1 - any creature that makes a melee attack, it targets a random creature within its reach.

Got to keep things moving - taking Grafire's turn.

The dragonborn captain moves to intercept one of the horrific beings. The seer cries once more, and horrible twisting of space occurs as further vile fluid erupts from the welts on his back, forming into three smaller, but equally horrible humanoids. They each have four arms, bear wicked knives and grin nastily in a permanent leer.

The horror is increased when one of the cell doors bangs open and a broken skeleton emerges, defying life and death...

Shaeryyn notes the arrival of the berserker with her usual detachment and fires another magical arrow at the seer to shut him up finally.

Grafire - Wolf Pack Tactics vs B1. Randomised hit: 1 - B1; 2 - Manny.
1d20 + 13 ⇒ (9) + 13 = 221d10 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 81d2 ⇒ 1
Grafire misses. Shaeryyn fires MM at Seer. Seer dead.

Initiative

Foulspawn Manglers 18
1
2
3
Otto 17
Hadarai 17
Akahale 13
Foulspawn Berserkers 12
1 marked by Hadarai
2 marked by Hadarai
Manny 11
Grafire 10
Tortured Skeleton 9
Shaeryyn 19

Please note the Berserkers' aura 1 - any creature that makes a melee attack, it targets a random creature within its reach.

M3 - Dagger Dance (makes four dagger attacks and shifts 1 square after each. Attacks vs Manny, Shaeryyn, Hadarai (with CA) (and randomised (doh) 1 - B2, 2, Otto, 3, Hadarai), Hadarai.

M2 - dagger dance vs Manny, Shae, Otto (with CA), Shae

M1 shift, then dagger dance vs Manny, Hadarai (with CA), Otto (with CA), Shae.

TOTAL DAMAGE - Manny: 11, Shaeryyn: 20, Otto: 13

The new arrivals caper with wild abandon, their bony knives slashing all and sundry to horrid effect.

>>>>MAP<<<<

Initiative

Otto 17
Hadarai 17
Akahale 13
Foulspawn Berserkers 12
1 marked by Hadarai
2 marked by Hadarai
Manny 11
Grafire 10
Tortured Skeleton 9
Shaeryyn 19
Foulspawn Manglers 18
1
2
3

Please note the Berserkers' aura 1 - any creature that makes a melee attack, it targets a random creature within its reach.

I am back, brutal work week. Great job moving Manny exactly what I would have done.

Shout out to Otto and Hadarai. If I haven't heard in the next couple of hours, I'll delay them.

DSA 1 thanks to fall of Seer.

Confronted by a clear case of perverted energy, Akahale's response is immediate, tetchy and hopefully effective.

Curse incoming skellie.
Spiteful Glamour (Will) v incoming skellie
1d20 + 12 ⇒ (10) + 12 = 22
1d12 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16 - psychic damage
1d8 ⇒ 6 - curse damage
If he can back up to gain concealment, he will, otherwise he'll probably belch at the thing.

My marks fade on the Berserkers... they only lasted a turn

"Get behind me!" Seeing his arcane friends in trouble, Hadarai slides closer to Shae and commands the Manglers' attention.

(move) Shift diagonally Southeast to the space between Shae and the Manglers.
(minor) Divine Challenge Mangler1 (he's marked now)
(standard) Ardent Strike vs Mangler2: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (6) + 14 = 20 vs AC,
if that by chance hits: 1d8 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14 Radiant and Fire damage (if it matters) - and he would also be marked now (but only on a hit).

My Mark (sanction or challenge): -2 to attack and takes 8hp damage if he doesn't include me in an attack.

What is the group's health state? I've got a few heals (minor ones and dailies), definitely not as good as Otto's or Grafs. But any little bit may help :)

Hit and drop. Guess that gives you DSA 2 now.

Akahale makes contact with whatever fragile intellect remains in the undead form. He gets impressions of toture and pain before the skeleton's skull explodes and it drops to the floor.

Yup. DSA 2.

Hadarai moves to defend his fellow eladrin, and is parried by the many knives of the new cackling foes.

Initiative

Otto 17
Foulspawn Berserkers 12
1
2
Manny 11
Grafire 10
Shaeryyn 19
Foulspawn Manglers 18
1 marked by Hadarai
2
3
Hadarai 17
Akahale 13

B1 shifts E and attacks Manny w/ greatsword
1d20 + 14 ⇒ (3) + 14 = 171d10 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7
B2 attacks Otto
1d20 + 14 ⇒ (17) + 14 = 311d10 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14

The berserk horrors continue their assault.

Initiative

Otto 17 DELAY

Manny 11
Grafire 10
Shaeryyn 19
Foulspawn Manglers 18
1 marked by Hadarai
2
3
Hadarai 17
Akahale 13
Foulspawn Berserkers 12
1
2

14 damage to Otto.

Hadarai please heal Otto I will get Manny. Manny must either shift or be shifted out to the hall way behind Grafire. So if he cant shift I will use wolf pack tactics. My post will be for action as if Manny shifts out in to the hall way.

Lions Roar on M1 - 1d20 + 13 + 2 - 1 ⇒ (20) + 13 + 2 - 1 = 34 - +2 flanking with Hadarai added
Damage - 2d10 + 5 ⇒ (10, 8) + 5 = 23
- snap a crit - damage 25 + 1d8 ⇒ 1

Battle Ax of Terror - Free action - M1 now has a -2 to all defenses [SE]

Manny can use 1 heal surge +3hp bonus

Wow, I get sick a coupla days and I miss how many posts? Sorry, was sick last 2 days with stomach bug. I hate bugs.

Manny faces his attacker with defiance, and cries the battle-cry of magi everywhere. He screams like a girl. A young, high-pitched girl. With deftness born of panic and pain, he activates his magic cloak, steps to the side to give his large ally easier access, and fires a spell from the hip, a magic bolt that slaps his attacker with a bolt of force.

So, minor to activate cloak, 1/2 dmg from all attacks for a round, step to side as Gra said, and if clear, will fire a magic missile at the last attacker, auto-hit & 11gmg if memory serves?

perfect Manny. Now you get to use a heal surge +3hp.