The 5th Mendevian Crusade (Inactive)

Game Master Brian Minhinnick

Cinderfang knows that no normal elephant would fit that description, this is some unnatural beast.

@ Cinderfang - Yeah, you can, but it would slow the party to 10 feet/round. The only person who needs to make saves is Nathaniel. Which he already made.

oh, then never mind! :-)

"I'm not sure WHAT that thing is... But I can assure you it is not natural, not of our world."

He casts Longstrider on himself (6 hours).

"How do we wish to handle this beast? Slay it? Avoid it?

"Depends, we could just avoid it but then it will be a problem later if we desire to take this area. We should have the element of surprise if we decide to slay it, but could there be a possibility of using the beast? It could have been a natural animal once and been affected by the wound. Regardless I think we should come to a decision fast while it is still dormant."

Barek shrugs. "The wound can have an effect on those near it. I am a product of the same. I say, if it's a demon, we kill it. If it's not, we tame it. If we can't tame it, we'll have to kill it. The Wound does not breed docility."

"It's the Druid's call. He knows more about this kind of thing than me"

Rosa takes a long hard look at the trees and the Lump.

"It looks like it's been warped, So I have no idea what it it, but I can guess at how it will fight, That things going to charge, temple and gore. Attacking it from the air is better, if our fighting it on the gound you better run fast or be on some thing that runs fast or its just going to stomp all over you. Once we p**** that thing off its going to run us down, So our options? "

She soulds like she has done this a 1000 time, it cold and methodical and to no one really as if she's talking out of habbit before a fight.

"Stopping its movement, magic or obstacle in its path?, Magic, sleep, illusion or greece now greece would be good. But if we Bunch up to fight it, it will, nock us down, So how to take away its movment? huum other option, pull it out and head into the very trees its in, use them as cover, harder to hit us if we are in trees, movemnet stopped. That could work, pull it out with the flyer and then we head into the tress once in them, wait for it to come back and ambush. hit it from the only cover, option bug off and let it be can mark that place 'to be dealt with' on the next trip hummm."

She seems to rember the others,

"I vote we head into the trees and attack, use the trees to stop it running us down. We can even pull it out to the other side wth the flyer to have a look see 1st and give us change to get into the trees."

GM How big are the trees can we get into them

"We need to remember that this creature has killed, and if we do not stop it now it will likely kill again. Those bones may not necessarily be from animals. I also have a spell of Hasting to offer the party, it may be of use."

Rosa looks at Nathaniel in puzzlement as if what he has said has no meaning to her what so ever then says, then She looks back at the trees

Cinderfang considers for a moment. "We cannot tame something like that. It is not simply wild, it is... something else. I have a spell that causes sharp spikes to grow from the earth, which will damage it's feet and slow it down. This should allow us to mitigate it's ability to run us down. We will want to damage it from range and wait until it leaves the patch, as it will do the same to you if you are close. Once it is hobbled and comes at us, we can encircle it and take it down."

I'm talking about Spike Growth

"We'll we best go have a look, lets head up to the trees and see what its upto any one comming?"

GM casting PFC and Copy Cat and if I can use the tress as cover from line of sight, I want to get to the tree line with out being seen I will try. looking at going to Q 21. GM how thick are the trees, do they hid you. If any one wants to stop Rosa say so, she will hold.

"Hold on a moment Rosa." He notes to the giant.

"Nathaniel do you think you could get the beast to give chase while in the air?"

"I got an idea depending on few things. Cinderfang how close do you need to be to cast that spell? I was thinking that combining that with the use of trees as Rosa suggested we could be mobile enough to take it out with it never getting close enough to attack anyone. Especially if Nathaniel could lure it in to the opposite direction. Regardless I at least cannot attack it from this distance, so I guess we do indeed need to get closer."

Rosa holds

"I can reach roughly 150ft with that spell."

@DM- are we within range right now?"

Rosa, the trees only provide cover from the air. They are *like this*. There are enough of them, along with thorn bushes to make it difficult terrain on the ground. But if you walk up, and it opens its eyes, it will easily see you. There are no more trees than the grove drawn on the map.

Cinderfang, the **MAP** is gridded off into 5' squares. You are 145' feet from the elephant right now.

Any future questions about range and location should be pretty easily answered by looking at the map (that's why it's there). If you can't make something out, go to view->200% for a larger view. If you still can't tell, then ask.

Knowledge (Planes) Rosa 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (20) + 12 = 32
Knowledge (Planes) Viorel 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13
Knowledge (Planes) Barek 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (17) + 11 = 28

"I should be able to attack it, and then flee. I can make myself bright and noticeable. Should I lure him towards you, or away?"

Thanks GM that helps a lot with understanding thing

"So we kill this fiendish elephant from the great abyss, any thing to slow it downs will work, We need to set a stap, our flyer can pull it out and we jump it when it gets close. Do not worry about me I can make myself unseen. Once we are in it, its a matter of droping a leg or such, then we can stand off and shoot the thing to death. what do you think"

He decided to first respond to Nathaniel. "We are still planning, so stay put for a moment longer."

Well I guess it is better to not get too complicated. How about Nathaniel lures it in the opposite direction from us further in to the undergrowth and trees to slow it's movement towards us, assuming it can't just ram those things down. I can cast a minor spell some over 150 feet, hopefully turning it's attention to us and it will attack us. As it approaches Cinderfang unleashes his spell further slowing it down. While it is coming everyone pelts it with ranged attacks hopefully slaying it before it comes near enough if not changes weapons. But first I suggest we go to about halfway from here to the point where Nathaniel is so the spell ranges can affect it. Other alternative is that others remain here while myself and Cinderfang go there and after casting the spells make a run for it back here, to maximize the distance. There is a risk that it will not take Nathaniel as bait and we are closer than before the beast. Does that sound about right?

[b][bigger]"I agree we pull if off and head for the trees being in the open with that thing is not my idea of fun. Then we pull it back. Lets move up"[b][bigger]

"I like that plan, let's do it," Cinderfang says. "After casting my spell, I will not be able to attack it until it is time to close. Ready your weapons."

"Barek you take one side of the trees ill take the other. Let get in place every one"

Rosa gets her sword ready can gets low running bent over, one the flyer is way.

Not sure I really followed that plan. So here's what we're gonna do. Once you're in place, you all get a surprise round, that is, one standard action. Then we'll start on the initiative.

Torin 22
Viorel 21
Barek 12
Nathaniel 10
Cinderfang/Sun Eater 7+
Rosa 7-
Elephant 3

So, tell me what square you want to be in before the surprise round starts.

Please label combat posts with this:

Round XX
Initiative XX

Since everyone acts before the elephant, you can go ahead and give me your surprise round action and your first round actions. I'll summarize afterward.

Map

GM, I think i've already cast mage armor on myself, if not I do it now.

Nathaniel stays carefully put, watching his companions get into position.

I am still not convinced this plan will work...
You have my powers of flight. Our enemy is tied to the ground. We will survive.

After they have moved, I will circle around the elephant, maintaining the same distance, occupying square 35A.
From what I can gather of the plan, I attack and draw the elephant into the undergrowth, and then they attack and lure it towards them.

GM Nath with head over and do a pull we will move into the trees and then he will head back to us, we will shoot it has it comes back, then once its close hand to hand, the idea is to use the trees to stop the thing from bull rushing us and or trampaling. what slows us slows it. So one it move we head into the trees, we need to see if it heads to 35A 1st, your move GM

Please see example post of what I want above. If you can't describe it in that manner it's not going to happen.

I want to be in square 35A
Pre-Surprise Round
Initiative 10

The sky-coloured blob that is Nathaniel taps himself, and then circles around the elephant.

Move action to square 35A
Standard action: Mage Armor on self

Acknowledged, map updated.

Pre-Surprise Rounds
Initiative 7

Rosa is holding in place low until it moves, she can make the ground to the trees once its moved, but shes to big to get close

Actions Casting protection from Chaos (30 rounds) and Shield of faith (30 rounds), Copy cat 8 rounds, (I did say I was doing this).

K, all that pre combat. No problem, holding position acknowledged.

Pre-surprise Rounds
Initiative 21
Move to 13V
Cast Extended(by rod 2/day left) Mage armor on self(12hours)
Cast Mage armor on Sun-Eater and Cinderfang

Viorel twists his wrist and a rod flashes in to his hand from it's hiding place in the sleeve. He makes the arcane gestures and is wrapped in the armor made of force. Viorel repeats the process with the shaman and his companion, this time not calling upon the rods power. After having cast the protective spells he moves in position.

Surprise Round
Initiative 21
Nothing

I hope I did not underestimate the beast. I guess it is somewhat lucky that our first fight is not against a clever prey and we had the time to prepare. Will see how good we work together.

Round 1
Initiative 21
Ready action, to cast Magic missile on the elephant if it moves further in to the forest following Nathaniel.

Viorel keeps a close eye on the elephant readying himself to cast the spell according to plan.

5 or 4 1st level/day remaining depending if ready action works.

Cinderfang pulls out a wand, touches it to Sun-Eater with a simple glow, then drops down to all fours, groaning as his body grows, morphs, and distends into the shape of a Cinderlands crimson-colored Dire Tiger. He then lets out a serious of grows and systematic pouncing and swiping motions that lead to his muscling further rippling and cording, thickening. He slowly and quietly makes his way up the field

Cinderfang uses his Wand of Magic Fang on Sun-Eater, Wildshapes into a Dire Tiger, and casts Aspect of the Bear on himself.

Aspect of the Bear

I want to be in R17, Sun-Eater in U11
Surprise Round
Initiative 7+

Readied Standard action to cast Spike Growth if the Elephant reaches any square adjacent to 31E, or if it turns from pursuing Nathaniel.

Modified Stats as Dire Tiger

Updated Sun-Eater stats

Updated Memorized Spells

Rosa waits to see how this will go, the sword by her said says lightly

"Сакам да рипувате телото на тој демон, се чувствуваат својот живот проток во мене, кога Роса кога за I хранат.

"Soon, soon be ready when we move, This I hope will be shot and fast"

Rosa get a good grip on her sword and waits, still as a rock, I hunt has started.

Okay just waiting on Barek and Torin to tell me where they want to be, and what they're gonna do in the surprise round (if anything). After they do that, Nathaniel can do whatever he's gonna do to set this off.

Map Relink

GM change of location as I see Cinderfang change into some thing more my size and move up, Im going to move to S9/11 and hold there saying before I go.

"Do not string yourself's out in a line for it to charge make a line and advance"

I want to be in P11.

Surprise Round
Init:22

Casts

Round:
Init:22

Casts

"I have a bad feeling about this..."

Just waiting on Barek now. What spell/attack are you going to use to 'pull' it Nathaniel? If it's an attack roll it now. That way I can get the combat moving as soon as Barek posts.

I am considering moving close to it and trying to coup-de-grace it. It is asleep, and I am silent and camouflaged.

You'd have to beat its perception with a stealth check. Also, though you can make yourself look like the sky with your hat of disguise, it doesn't add anything to stealth.

Okay... Does it still get to make a perception check if it is asleep? Particularly as I will be flying silently?

Yes. You'll have to penetrate a canopy of leaves silently to get within reach. It takes the standard -10 penalty to perception checks because it's asleep, but as long as your heart is beating and you're breathing you're never completely silent.

Ahhh I see, good point. Very well, I will post my round action soon

Pre-surprise round:
Lower myself down to a height whereby I can move towards the elephant without interference from the trees.

Surprise Round
Initiative 10

Nathaniel's form changes to become a shifting array of bright lights emitting a wordless howl, as he charges through the air at the elephant swinging his blade.

Full-round-action charge to square F29.
Attack (Charge, Higher Ground, Power Attack) 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (3) + 13 = 16
Damage 2d4 + 15 ⇒ (1, 2) + 15 = 18
AC: 29

I'll wait about 8 hours for Barek to chime in, if he doesn't I'll place him somewhere reasonable and get the surprise round started.

Sorry bout that. Thought I had already posted. On a tablet now, so forgive any bad formatting.
Pre surprise. Start at V19.
Surprise round: fire bow. Please roll for me. I'll be at a proper computer tomorrow.

Good to see your still here Barek

Rosa looks on as every one gets in place.
"come on lets have at it"

Initiative Repost:
Torin 22
Viorel 21
Barek 12
Nathaniel 10
Cinderfang/Sun Eater 7+
Rosa 7-
Elephant 3

Surprise Round

Everyone gets into position and waits for Nathaniel's attack to trigger the battle. While waiting for Nathaniel, Torin calls down a divine blessing on everyone near him (Bless, marked next to map). Barek readies an arrow in his bow, waiting for Nathaniel's signal. The elf lowers himself slowly through the foliage until he is hovering ten feet off the ground. under the canopy. He then zooms forward with a powerful shout appearing to be a shifting array of lights bearing a falcion. He brings the blade down in an arc at the same moment that the elephant's eyes snap open and it rolls to the side trumpeting loudly. The sword glances harmlessly off its hide (missed). Barek pulls back his thick composite bow and sends an arrow towards the angrily awoken beast.

Attack 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (15) + 11 = 26
Damage 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9

The arrow splinters against its black hide harmlessly. Cinderfang raises a paw, ready to call forth a spell should it be necessary.

End Surprise Round

----------

Round 1
Initiative 22

Torin again speaks a brief prayer, and his ranseur begins to glow with a bright golden light.

Initiative 21

Viorel raises his hands, ready to cast a spell.

Initiative 12

Barek draws another arrow and readies it to fire should the elephant follow Nathaniel.

Okay, Nathaniel. You're up, what are you doing in round 1?

Map

Round 1
Initiative 10

Still shining bright colours at the elephant, Nathaniel swipes again with his Falchion and then retreats backwards.

Standard action: Attack elephant
Move action: Move to -A 37
Attack (Higher Ground, Power Attack) 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (3) + 11 = 14
Damage 2d4 + 15 ⇒ (2, 1) + 15 = 18
AC: 31