As several of the mouths grab onto him and somehow drain him of vitality, Brother Guiness heeds the advice of Aldhranhald, grabbing the shaft of his hammer and trying to work the edge of his shield under the scrabbling mouths. Offering a quick prayer to Cayden Caylean for success, he gathers himself and attempts to violently thrust the aberration off of him--but is it enough?
| Active Conditions: 1 CON damage.. | Current Buffs: none.
"Father! Is that you?" Gansu shouts, looking around in a panic. He looks at Boudacia and his eyes go wide. "Stop it! I said STOP IT!!!" Gansu swings his nodachi wildly, barely missing the little witch/bat.
Do we get a new save every round? Or is that it for a while?
"This battle ground favors the beast, we must beat a hasty retreat to more favorable ground!" Aldhranhald yells, as he releases his bow with one hand to cast a quick cantrip. A small orb of acid flies from his fingers at the amorphous creature.
After watching the acid do little damage, Aldhranhald follows his own advice and exits the room moving as far and fast as his legs will carry him.
Since the square he landed in is difficult terrain, that's as far as he can move, I believe... If Boudacia and Gansu can't recover from this confusion, it would be best for us all to be as far away from them as possible. I know that sounds harsh, like we're leaving them to their fate, but logic dictates that three of us surviving gives the entire team a better chance to survive. Point being, if we stick around and all die, then we're all dead. If three of us survive and escape there are ways we can bring Boudacia and Gansu back to life. Assuming there are parts of them left to bring to a cleric. ;) I didn't realize until just now that Aldhranhald is very much akin to a Vulcan in the Star Trek universe, ruled by knowledge and logic.
:D
Brother Guiness stands his ground, holding tightly to his magic Warhammer. A stray thought passes through his mind as he prepares for the strange creature’s next onslaught...”What in Hades is going on back there!?”
Nodding quickly at Aldhranhald as he leaves the room, BG growls, ”I will cover our retreat.”
BG manages to break free from the creatures hold and step away from it.
Gansu and Boudacia suddenly come back to their senses and are no longer confused, and Boudacia suddenly starts understanding what people are saying. All effects from failed saves have worn off.
Aldhranhald's acid orb sizzles slightly as it hits the creature.
The horrid creature suddenly spits out a stream of ... liquid? at the dwarf's face. Free action.
Ranged touch attack:1d20 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 16
It gets right inside the visor of BG's helmet. I need a Fort save from BG please.
Then the creature moves forward 5 ft and it tries to take several bites out of the tough dwarf. Full round action.
I read up on ability damage, and 1 point of Con damage doesn't have an affect yet... "For every 2 points of damage you take to a single ability, apply a –1 penalty to skills and statistics listed with the relevant ability." A small point of light in a very dark situation for Guiness.
Now why can't I save that 20 for escaping the grapple! Not that I'm complaining, though! Note that BG has acid, electricity, and cold, if that matters.
BG has once again - for about the millionth time - made me aware of my error. I listed the Current Initiative incorrectly, so here it is gain, hopefully correct this time!
Ability Damage If you read the section: "Ability Damage: Damage to your Constitution score causes you to take penalties on your Fortitude saving throws. In addition, multiply your total Hit Dice by the Ability Damage penalty and subtract that amount from your current and total hit points. Lost hit points are restored when the damage to your Constitution is healed. See Ability Score Damage below." you will see where it says you lose the HP right away and affects any saves, skills, etc, right away. The way I have always understood it, is that if the damage makes your bonus drop to a lower number, then the effect is applied right away. If it does not drop your bonus, then it has no immediate effect.
Ability Damage If you read the section: "Ability Damage: Damage to your Constitution score causes you to take penalties on your Fortitude saving throws. In addition, multiply your total Hit Dice by the Ability Damage penalty and subtract that amount from your current and total hit points. Lost hit points are restored when the damage to your Constitution is healed. See Ability Score Damage below." you will see where it says you lose the HP right away and affects any saves, skills, etc, right away. The way I have always understood it, is that if the damage makes your bonus drop to a lower number, then the effect is applied right away. If it does not drop your bonus, then it has no immediate effect.
Your bolded text is exactly right. Note that it refers to the “Ability Damage penalty”. Later on in the same page, it defines this Ability Score penalty...
”Ability Score Damage
Diseases, poisons, spells, and other abilities can all deal damage directly to your ability scores. This damage does not actually reduce an ability, but it does apply a penalty to the skills and statistics that are based on that ability.
For every 2 points of damage you take to a single ability, apply a –1 penalty to skills and statistics listed with the relevant ability. If the amount of ability damage you have taken equals or exceeds your ability score, you immediately fall unconscious until the damage is less than your ability score. The only exception to this is your Constitution score. If the damage to your Constitution is equal to or greater than your Constitution score, you die.”
This means, of course, that you need 2 points of ability damage to take a -1 Ability Score penalty, which has all the effects quoted above. Since BG only has one point of Ability Score damage (so far), he does not yet have an Ability Score penalty. I thought this was kind of weird, especially since is is different than ability drain, but most people in PFS use it this way. Now, Stormstrider, If you want to houserule it differently, I am cool with it.
Boudacia shakes her head in confusion, uttering "What in the seven hells?" Then she sees what the monstrosity is trying to do to Brother Guiness, whereupon one, and probably only one, thing is clear to her, being:- That has to stop! Boudacia focuses her slumber hex on the gibbering mouther, hoping to aid her friend.
| Active Conditions: 1 CON damage.. | Current Buffs: none.
Gansu's eyes go wide as he sees Boudacia for what she is. He looks stricken and glances at the blade in his hands. "Forgive me..." he says to Boudacia.
Then he hears the bizarre creature attack Guiness. "Coming, Brother!" he shouts, and races into the room, nodachi held high.
Just move 20' and attack. If the critter is grappling Guiness I believe it gets a penalty to AC.
The lightning strikes the Gibbering Mouther burning it badly!
Now, this brings up a question in my mind: Electricity travels right? So would BG not also get shocked? This is not covered in the spell description and I am not going to impose such a thing at this time, but I reserve the right to change my mind in future encounters if I discover something that proves it would or some such. Thoughts?
Gansu then rushes in and slices into the ugly creature cutting deeply.
Now, this brings up a question in my mind: Electricity travels right? So would BG not also get shocked? This is not covered in the spell description and I am not going to impose such a thing at this time, but I reserve the right to change my mind in future encounters if I discover something that proves it would or some such. Thoughts?
I don't think there is anything covering this specifically in the rules, but I expect that--as a nod to physics--if the creature struck is more or less conductive, you maybe could do the equivalent of splash damage to a creature it is maintaining contact with through grappling. In this particular instance, BG has electricity resistance 5, so it is likely a moot point...just my 2 cents worth.
Also, I think Boudacia has already gone with her slumber hex which, unfortunately, did not put the grotesque monster to sleep.
I have acted yes. On electricity damage, an electrical current will tend to flow toward the earth. Also being in metal armour or wet will make it more likely you will be damaged by electricity. I don't know in detail exactly what will happen with electricity in all situations. It is complicated. What I would do is stick with the rules, being realistic about electricity is too complicated and you need to be better at physics than I am to get it all right.
Folks, I'm sorry. I don't know what is going on with me making all these mistakes about initiative and stuff. It is not like me to make so many mistakes! I make mistakes, ABSOLUTELY! just not normally this many and so close together. Especially considering in this case I had responded to Boudacia's hex! Yikes! Maybe t has something to do with being unemployed and all this 'free' time I have on my hands. *** They are doing the background check still ... the lady at the workplace thought I would hear something by this past Friday, but nothing yet.
CURRENT INITIATIVE:
Block 1:
Aldhranhald, & Brother Guiness
Followed by:
Block 2:
Weird creature
Block 3:
Gansu, Sama, & Boudacia
I think I got it right this time? I sure hope so. Starting to feel like I'm losing my mind!
| Active Conditions: 1 CON damage.. | Current Buffs: none.
The All-Seeing Eye. wrote:
Now, this brings up a question in my mind: Electricity travels right? So would BG not also get shocked? This is not covered in the spell description and I am not going to impose such a thing at this time, but I reserve the right to change my mind in future encounters if I discover something that proves it would or some such. Thoughts?
A D&D 3.5 DM of mine used to say: "Spells don't follow the rules of physics. They follow the rules of game mechanics."
The All-Seeing Eye. wrote:
Gansu then rushes in and slices into the ugly creature cutting deeply.
Realizing that his friends have no chance of escape while the creature grasps their dwarven friend, and therefore pulling it to a more suitable battle ground is impossible, Aldhranhald does the most good he can think of. He races to a position behind Gansu and Brother Guiness and expends a charge from the group's curing wand, slapping his hand across Brother Guiness's back to let the healing magic flow into him.
Ah, yep, that was my bad. I added my caster level bonus, not the wand's. So it would have only been 2 HP... Even worse. That feels like a wasted round's worth of actions... UGH!
Edit: We are currently witness to the inescapable truth of this game, that consistently poor dice rolls can lead to a TPK just as easily as anything else...
Sorry my good players! Internet is out (and probably gone for a while) at the house. The renter that pays for the Wifi, has not been home in over a week, the landlord can't get a hold of him, and we have no idea where he is. Considering his drinking/drunk history, I suspect either a hospital or maybe eve a morgue. I hope not, but ... . So anyhow, I'm at the public library today trying to catch up on this at least. Thanks for saying/realizing that this is not the norm for me! I do try to keep up on here. I will try to come to the library every day, but no guarantees. - Please see post in Discussion as well!
Gansu realizes that his sword did not do as much damage as it should have.
BG struggles to get out of the creatures grasp, but is unable to do so!
The horrendous creature tries to continue holding onto BG,
and it almost looses its grip, but does not, and so then proceeds to engulf BG completely! (Pay attention to THIS damage!
Engulfing damage + 2 Con damage!:6d4 ⇒ (1, 2, 3, 1, 3, 1) = 11Lucky! 3 one's! On the low side.
So that's a total of 3 Con damage so far! Now the - to HP and other things definitely applies! Good thing this is the dwarf! Other characters would be dying or dead at this point! The protector is doing his job! ... sort of?!? ;-D
While engulfing the dwarf, the Mouther also spits some ooze at Gansu's face, Free action, at will.
Ranged Touch attack:1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15
hitting Gansu right in the eyes! Fort save please Gansu!
CURRENT INITIATIVE:
Block 3:
Gansu, Sama, & Boudacia *** But that Fort save for Gansu needs to be resolved before you take any actions Gansu.
| Active Conditions: 1 CON damage.. | Current Buffs: none.
The All-Seeing Eye. wrote:
Gansu realizes that his sword did not do as much damage as it should have.
"Strange... some creatures seem to recover quickly from the wounds from some types of weapons and not others. This one does. That ability needs a name... I think I will call it... 'Damage Reduction.' Catchy, yes?"
The All-Seeing Eye. wrote:
While engulfing the dwarf, the Mouther also spits some ooze at Gansu's face, hitting Gansu right in the eyes! Fort save please Gansu!
Boudacia moves forward to where she can see the monster, yells "Get Brother Guiness out of that thing! This should make that easier."then employs the Misfortune Hex on the Gibbering Mouther.
Misfortune (Su)
Effect: The witch can cause a creature within 30 feet to suffer grave misfortune for 1 round. Anytime the creature makes an ability check, attack roll, saving throw, or skill check, it must roll twice and take the worse result. A Will save [DC 16]negates this hex.
In answer to BG's question about the ranged attack provoking an AoO: The Mouther's "Spittle" attack is an extraordinary ability and as such per The Attacks of Opportunity chart it does not provoke an AoO.
The spittle blinds Gansu!
[dice=Blinded for how long?]1d4[/dice] Round - Lucky!
Mouther's Will save vrs Misfortune Hex:1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10
And the Mouther feels less 'lucky'!
CURRENT INITIATIVE:
Block 3:
Gansu, & Sama
Gansu, please don't forget that the Mouther now has Concealment against you, so if you try to attack it please roll your miss chance. I'll go ahead and say high (51-100) hits.
| Active Conditions: 1 CON damage.. | Current Buffs: none.
The All-Seeing Eye. wrote:
In answer to BG's question about the ranged attack provoking an AoO: The Mouther's "Spittle" attack is an extraordinary ability and as such per The Attacks of Opportunity chart it does not provoke an AoO.
GM: Extraordinary abilities that count as nothing else do not provoke. But abilities that allow attacks (such as this one) also count as that type of attack. The ability appears under "attacks" and in the description the word "attack" is used. A ranged attack roll was made. So normally this would provoke since it is a ranged attack as well as an extraordinary ability.
GM: Extraordinary abilities that count as nothing else do not provoke. But abilities that allow attacks (such as this one) also count as that type of attack. The ability appears under "attacks" and in the description the word "attack" is used. A ranged attack roll was made. So normally this would provoke since it is a ranged attack as well as an extraordinary ability.
I was not aware of this & just went by the chart. But I see you are correct, so let's backtrack and take that AoO before your blinded Gansu, since this could potentially make a huge difference in the game!
| Active Conditions: 1 CON damage.. | Current Buffs: none.
As the creature spits at Gansu, he tries to exploit the creature's momentary vulnerability, swinging his nodachi...
AoO Nodachi -1 power attack:1d20 + 7 - 1 ⇒ (12) + 7 - 1 = 18...might be a hit since the critter is grappled... Damage +3 power attack:1d10 + 6 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 6 + 3 = 15...also this is cold iron if that matters.
For the record though this won't actually prevent the attack from hitting or anything, unless I manage to kill the thing with this hit (which I doubt).
Oh my! I have mixed feelings: Using an actual video clip from Star Trek - I find it hilarious and yet at the same time I greatly dislike it ... . *** Well, obviously BG missed. Let's see if Aldhranhald somehow comes up with a miraculous save on his turn! No pressure my friend! ;-P Otherwise BG may well have breathed his last! I sincerely hope not! As frustrating as it can be to not be able to hit him in battle, I do like the character. If not we shall certainly need to raise our mugs in a toast to the Dwarf.
Under his breath, watching the monstrosity engulf his dwarven friend, Aldhranhald mumbles, "Damnit. This is exactly what I wanted to avoid." Then louder to the group, he says. "This foe outmatches us!" He then dashes out into the hallway, appearing, to his party as though he might be escaping. Arriving at the statue that he plugged up to prevent gas from escaping, he looks to see if there is some canister, some container that houses the gas in liquid form. If so, he may be able to create a makeshift bomb out of the liquid gas and drop it into the monster's amorphous body.
Double move, which I'm fairly certain gets me to the square I moved my icon to. Then knowledge check, using another inspiration use, to do exactly what I narrated. Here's hoping...
Aldhranhald realizes the poison gas is probably in a liquid form inside the 'vase' of the statue and the neck of the vase is too small to get a hand through it. Being that the statue is solid stone ... he does not find a way to remove it.
Gibbering Mouther's turn!
Being engulfed causes automatic damage to the dwarf and the creature still gets to take any normal actions.
Engulfed damage + 2 Con damage!:6d4 ⇒ (4, 1, 4, 2, 4, 4) = 19MAX damage on 4 die!!! Youch!
With the -5 now to Con I believe that makes BG dead. Sorry folks. He does already have a backup character made. If you haven't seen his AWESOME stat rolls feel free to look at the last post in character creation!
Gansu's vision clears just in time for him to see the horrendous creature's multiple mouths lunging at him!
Rolling twice (taking the lowest) for each attack (6 bite attcks!) since it is still under the effect of Boudacia's misfortune hex!
I must say, this was GREAT timing for Boudacia's misfortune hex to be active! 6 bite attacks, 2 grapple attempts, and the spittle attack! NINE rolls that had to be made twice and take the lowest one! If not for the Hex Gansu would have been bitten 3 more times, taking 3 more grapple checks AND Boudacia would risk being blinded!
[b]CURRENT INITIATIVE:
Block 3:
Gansu (plus an AoO!), Sama, & Boudacia
Followed by:
Block 1:
Aldhranhald, & Brother Guiness Dead or dying?
Mouths everywhere, biting, chewing, draining blood, the armor providing no protection against this terrible foe. Brother Guiness struggles violently, valiantly but ultimately in futility to escape the onslaught. Weakened and injured, BG gives one last spasm and goes limp.
In the chaos of the battle it is impossible to tell if your stalwart companion is still breathing, but there is no doubt that he is no longer actively struggling to break free...
Question: I know Boudacia's hex only lasts the 1 round, and it is technically Boudacia's turn now, so it has been 1 round, but Boudacia has not acted yet, so does it still have to roll twice? I'm thinking that since it has been 1 round, that has worn off right?
| Active Conditions: 1 CON damage.. | Current Buffs: none.
"Guiness!" shouts Gansu. He carves at the body of the Mouther, trying to cut Guiness loose. He places his hands on Guiness, trying to lay on hands... but to no avail.
He slowly stands, quietly looking down at Guiness' body. He stands there for a few moments.
After a while he snaps out of his reverie. He turns to the others. "Pass me one of those cloaks. We can use it as a shroud."
He kneels down and begins cutting away the bits of Gibbering Mouther still around Guiness' corpse, and cleaning off the gore and slime off of Guiness' body.
From the air near Gansu, the faint chuckling of a cold-hearted voice can be heard. Gansu frowns in irritation. "Anata wa shizukadesu!" he whispers, and focuses again on his work. The chuckling continues for a moment longer before fading away.
