The Ironfang Invasion: Fangs of War

Game Master vayelan

Move
Standard: Give everyone with 30ft Improved Feint Partner

"All right lets continue doing what's worked in the past. Confuse the hell out of them and take advantage of it."

Red reflex vs Burst: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (9) + 10 = 19
Orange reflex vs Burst: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (18) + 10 = 28

The hulking foes hunch over to shield their eyes from the explosion of light behind them, sparing them from the brunt of the radiance. However, the energy sears away the fur upon their backs and burns them like the unyielding sun.

Esperanza's feint would have succeeded if the greater barghests weren't trained in Sense Motive. As it stands, the feint DC on them is 26 rather than 23.

Even though her target does not fall for her feint, he does fall to Esperanza's glaive. Her latest strike eviscerates the enemy between her and Thorek.

Dazzled by Daria's spell, the remaining barghest lumbers forward to lash out at the nearest figure he can make out - which turns out to be Lily!

Red bite vs Lily: 1d20 + 16 - 1 ⇒ (18) + 16 - 1 = 33
Damage: 1d8 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10
Red claw 1 vs Lily: 1d20 + 16 - 1 ⇒ (4) + 16 - 1 = 19
Red claw 2 vs Lily: 1d20 + 16 - 1 ⇒ (4) + 16 - 1 = 19

Lily takes 10 damage, assuming that a 33 hits. Otherwise, I believe the Dazzled penalties spare her from the claw attacks.
The party can act again.

With a shout, Thorek charges in to Lily's defense, bringing his dorn-dergar down in a heavy overhead swing.

Charge: 1d20 + 12 + 2 - 2 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 12 + 2 - 2 + 3 = 35 Damage: 1d10 + 18 ⇒ (4) + 18 = 22
Crit Confirm?: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (8) + 15 = 23 Crit?: 1d10 + 18 ⇒ (9) + 18 = 27

Daria's spell causes the plant life within the decimated town to erupt from the ash-strewn streets and attack the troops within, as though seeking vengeance for the slaughtered residents of Ecru. The majority of the troops manage to avoid being seized by the vines and creepers, but the plant life ensures that their mobilization is slowed.

Meanwhile, outside the gates, Thorek's latest, mighty charge cracks the barghest's bones and leaves the creature barely able to stand.

Lily and Esperanza can still act before the enemies.

Thorny Entanglement single attack with thrown thorns: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (12) + 12 = 24
Single attack damage: 2d6 ⇒ (4, 3) = 7
Automatic damage for ending turn in area of effect: 2d6 ⇒ (3, 1) = 4

Weirdly, non-humanoids are harder to feint, so I take a -4 on my Bluff checks to feint against them. I'm not sure what the rationale is there (especially since I'm technically not a humanoid either), but it's what they wrote.

Esperanza advances just a step and delivers two quick, efficient strikes with her glaive, neatly severing the monster's head with her follow-up. She gives Lily an inquisitive look before turning back to the gates.

Glaive attack #1 (w/ PS): 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (11) + 14 = 25
Slashing: 1d10 + 13 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 13 + 7 = 30

Glaive attack #2 (w/ PS): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (20) + 9 = 29
Confirm? (w/ PS): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (4) + 9 = 13
Slashing: 1d10 + 13 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 13 + 7 = 26
Glaive crit bonus damage (w/ PS): 2d10 + 26 ⇒ (2, 6) + 26 = 34

Five Foot Step
feint: 1d20 + 15 - 4 ⇒ (15) + 15 - 4 = 26

Also that is weird as all hell. I get you get a penalty for feinting non sapient creatures but as you said even tieflings aren't humanoid in this edition.

Lily just kind of wide eye shifts back a bit from the creature. "What? You feint. I feint. Thorek can't but he can take advantage of it. It just requires me to be behind you helping but in this case it didn't work as well as I wanted," she says while knocking an arrow and fires a distracting shot towards the enemy.

Hahah!!! That makes it and provokes from Esperanza. Lily wasn't in range for Thorek. :(

With an opening provided by Lily's mesmerizing distraction, Esperanza leaps into a frenzy of swings that first disembowels the barghest before decapitating him and ending his misery.

From above, Daria sees the first volley of thrown thorns from her spell bounce off the thick armor of the phalanx troops or get absorbed by the mail underneath. Nevertheless, mustering in the midst of the enchanted plant life means they suffer inevitable strain and pain.

The thrown thorns miss by one.

The phalanx marches towards the gate, magical thorns be damned, and with spears and shields at the ready, the hobgoblin soldiers prepare to confront the intruders.

The party is up again.

Hoping the Thorny Entanglement will continue to slow (or even stop) the phalanx’s advancement, Daria notes that the unit has now become closely packed and cohesive. She calls down holy fire in a vertical column, enveloping the tightly-packed creatures!

Thorn Attack: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (4) + 12 = 16
Thorn Damage: 2d6 ⇒ (1, 4) = 5
Auto-damage for in the thorns: 2d6 ⇒ (2, 4) = 6
And still DC 18 reflex save or entangled, otherwise difficult terrain.

Flame Strike, DC 19 Reflex for half, 20’ diameter: 7d6 ⇒ (4, 2, 1, 2, 5, 2, 1) = 17

Perception watching the rest of the compound react: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (2) + 19 = 21

"Once more unto the breach, my friends." Thorek sprints to the top of the wall, standing on thin air and staring wrathfully down at the assembled Ironfang phalanx.

Double Move, ending 15ft in the air. Spending a second Fervor point for Swift Shield of Faith, boosting him to AC30 (AC32 vs goblinoids or aberrations)

As best I understand the spell, the entangle and auto-damage are ground-based, but the thrown thorns are within 15’ of any portion of the entanglement effect. This should allow you attack from above with the air walk without entangle or auto-damage, but you would still be targeted by the thrown thorns.

I'm not overly worried about the thrown thorns, since with ironskin they only hit me on a nat 19 (18 for Thorek), but what's the boundary of the difficult terrain?

"Thanks for the help, Lily," Esperanza says, pivoting to follow after Thorek. "You're a gem!"

Double move as well, to stand next to Thorek.

Thorny Entanglement is a 80 foot diameter spread, so it covers a lot of the courtyard, but I am on my phone away from my computer this week and didn’t try to draw it. The intent was to hinder them from grouping up and slow them down with entangle and difficult terrain, with the effect stopping on the inside of the wall. I am hoping that either ranged attacks or air walking above the enemy and melee attacking down on them (especially with reach) might work well, as staying off the ground level should keep you from being entangled (almost like Daria planned for this…)

I wonder if it might be better to just wait for the spell to wear them down instead of trying to fight them while everyone is being pelted with thorns.

Phalanx Troop Reflex vs Entanglement: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16
Phalanx Troop Reflex vs Flame Strike: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (20) + 8 = 28

The Ironfang phalanx troopers raise their shields to protect themselves from the pillar of flame that Daria calls down upon them. This seems to leave them vulnerable for a crucial moment, as the grasping plant life grabs the legs and arms of many of the soldiers at the rear of their formation.

The troop is now entangled. The unit made its save against the flame strike, so it takes half damage; however, its vulnerability to area effect damage means it takes +50% damage, so it ultimately takes 12 damage from the spell.

Daria, when you get a chance, just pinpoint the center of the Thorny Entanglement's area. You don't need to add a marker for the entire area of effect.

On my phone with Google slides not wanting to let me update it. Center a few squares northwest of P3 so that the extent stops at the gate entrance (currently just under Thorek and Esperanza). The idea was to provide a barrier all the way to the wall in the direction of the fighter-types.

Thank you. I've placed a token to mark the center of the spell's effect which should keep Thorek and Esperanza, in their current location, out of the entangling effect.

Lily can still act before the troop.

Thorek and Esperanza are currently 15ft in the air, correct?

Thrown Thorns vs Thorek: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (8) + 12 = 20
Thrown Thorns vs Esperanza: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (12) + 12 = 24

Thrown Thorns vs Troop: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (8) + 12 = 20
Auto Thorn Damage on Troop: 2d6 ⇒ (6, 1) = 7

The thorny plant life hurls its barbs at Esperanza, Thorek, and the troopers, but to no effect.
Of course, as they grasp and tighten upon the troopers, they continue to bruise their limbs.

Seeing their foes standing atop midair, rather than simply panicking or staring in awe, the disciplined Ironfang troops simply respond to the situation. They shoulder their shields and drop their spears, replacing these arms by drawing their bows.

They unleash a volley of arrows upon the airborne enemies.

Reflex: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26

With a defiant shout, Thorek spins his dorn-dergar into a whistling blur, shattering or turning aside many of the arrows.

Reflex: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (17) + 14 = 31

Esperanza, quite literally dancing on air, simply steps out of the way of most of the deadly projectiles hurled her way.

Thorek and Esperanza do their best to evade the dozens of arrows suddenly filling their field of view as the phalanx troopers try to shoot them out of their air. The ones they cannot dodge, the duo hope that their trusty armor can protect them from the worst potential injuries. Nevertheless, weathering a volley from Ironfang elites is a painful experience.

Esperanza and Thorek make their saves against the first three volley lines but fail the saves against the fourth.
Esperanza takes a total of 30 damage, and Thorek takes a total of 32 damage.

Lily still has actions she can take, but the rest of the party can also take its next turn's actions.

With a chanted battle-prayer, Thorek's injuries close up almost as quickly as they're opened. Each footfall leaving a ripple of air like a heat shimmer, the dwarf runs as though to go past the phalanx, before descending down with a powerful sweep of his weapon.

Fervor Point cast CSW; move (15ft up) then come down to hit them.
Swift Cure Serious Wounds: 3d8 + 9 ⇒ (5, 1, 7) + 9 = 22
Attack #1: 1d20 + 15 - 2 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 15 - 2 + 1 = 30 Damage: 1d10 + 18 ⇒ (3) + 18 = 21

Seeing Esperanza take serious arrow damage, Daria flies over to and below her , though she keeps the compound wall between herself and the deadly arrow fire. Casting a healing spell, she touches her friend and heals some of her wounds.

Thorns attack: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (16) + 12 = 28
Damage: 2d6 ⇒ (6, 1) = 7

Autodamage if in the entanglement: 2d6 ⇒ (4, 5) = 9

Cure Moderate Wounds: 2d8 + 7 ⇒ (4, 6) + 7 = 17

A thrill of fear runs up Esperanza's spine as the waves of arrows take their toll, but Daria's spell restores her courage as much as it closes her wounds. She rushes forward with her glaive, cutting a swathe through the hobgoblin formation.

Glaive attack (w/ PS): 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (13) + 14 = 27
Slashing: 1d10 + 13 + 7 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 13 + 7 + 7 = 30 Spending a panache point to double the damage from precise strike.

Lily rushes up the battlefield and says,"Great not much I can do about that. I can try and stave off some of their attacks but Im going to become less of a target first."

Lily then carefully pops out of existence.

Double Move
Cast invisibility

Thorek and Esperanza cut through the heavily armored hobgoblins as though scything wheat, but their remaining ranks stand firm.

The hobgoblins unleash another volley before raising their shields and assuming a defensive stance.

Esperanza takes 22 damage and Thorek takes 20 damage from the Volley. The troop then uses its Close Ranks (ex) ability as a move action, doubling its shield bonus to AC and gaining DR 5/- at the cost of having its speed reduced to 5 feet. This lasts until the beginning of its next turn.

The party is up again.

Perdeption: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (17) + 19 = 36

”There is a floating cloud of some kind approaching from the Southeast,” says Daria, poking her head above the wall to look into the encampment. What type of knowledge skill should she roll to ID it?

Seeing how deadly this phalanx is, Daria uses her second Flame Strike to try and thin down their numbers before then shoot again.

Flame Strike, DC 19 Reflex for half: 7d6 ⇒ (1, 3, 5, 3, 6, 6, 4) = 28

As the phalanx locks shields, Thorek nods to himself. "Time to change tactics," he murmurs, before another chanted battle-prayer causes thick grey mist to roil up from the ground. Hidden from sight, the dwarf moves across the to pop out the other side.

"They're a tough bunch! I wish Gaius was here, a good combat wizard'd make quick work of the lot. Any sugge--?" As Daria calls down another pillar of fire, the dwarf grins. "Aye, that'll do."

Thorn attack: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (13) + 12 = 25
Thorn Damage: 2d6 ⇒ (3, 5) = 8

Autodamage in the Entangle: 2d6 ⇒ (4, 4) = 8

(DR applies)

Having pointed it out, but not having the skill to identify it, Daria hopes her warning may allow someone else more knowledgeable to be able to identify it.

Guess which skill none of us have! :D

Following Thorek's example, Esperanza retreats behind the relative safety of the gate tower, and quaffs a healing potion held by her tail.

CLW Potion: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9

Move action to move, swift action to retrieve the potion, standard to drink it. I think I should have improved or total cover from the troop where I am, but correct me if not. That's definitely my goal, at least.

Troop Reflex vs Flame Strike: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18

Daria's magic, both fiery and botanical, tears through the hobgoblin phalanx despite their wall of steel. Few of them appear still battle ready, and their morale seems to hang on by a thread.

The troop is literally at 1 HP. Lily can still act; can she break the troop's morale before they get to unleash another volley?

I'll bot Lily a little later tonight when I have more time to look through her stats and make the post.

Fortunately, I found the botting macro Lily provided some time ago. I just have to tweak some of the numbers that haven't been leveled up. I'll also have to tweak it since she's invisible and, I think, should have a second attack at this point.

Swift: Stare at closest sentient enemy within 30 ft
Full-attack action with PBS

Shot 1: 1d20 + 10 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 10 + 2 + 1 = 23
Damage: 2d6 + 3 ⇒ (6, 1) + 3 = 10
Shot 2: 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 5 + 1 = 11

With the remaining troopers held firm by the grasping plants, they present clear targets for Lily. She emerges from invisibility with her eyes affixed upon the sergeant leading the phalanx - and she lets fly an arrow that just manages to pierce his thick armor. Seeing this last bit of leadership in their ranks felled breaks the remaining resolve of the phalanx, and they begin to scatter...at least as much as the thorny plants will allow.

Meanwhile, the gaseous creature pointed out by Daria picks up speed, flying towards the old church. At the doors, it howls and blows like a gale in a strange voice.

Floating a CSW poultice over to Esperanza’s tail out of her Polymorphic Pouch (2d8+8 healing), Daria says, ”Looks like the alchemists are being warned. Heal quickly and I will set their lab on fire from a distance.”

Another Fervor Point to Swift cast Cure Moderate Wounds
CMW: 2d8 + 9 ⇒ (5, 4) + 9 = 18 Only 12dmg remaining.

"What do you need from us, Daria?" the dwarf calls out, still lurking near the concealing mists his magic had conjured.

Esperanza gratefully accepts the potion and drinks it in a single gulp. She breathes a sigh of relief as more of her injuries are closed by the magical healing.

Cure Serious: 3d8 + 8 ⇒ (4, 6, 5) + 8 = 23

She leans out from cover and calls out to Lily. "An excellent shot! Be ready for the counterattack!"

Daria replies, ”I don’t know what that cloud is, but assuming it has warned the alchemists in the burned out church, I am going to drop a ball of flame into the middle of their lab, hopefully before they can prepare too much. I will leave the entangle in place to try and slow them down.”

Having already used her actions this round to get the potion for Esperanza, Daria is planning to drop a flaming sphere into the alchemy lab next round.

Thanks for the botting. Lily is practically useless besides firing her bow in this case. Technically speaking I need to be able to target the group which means feinting, and staring doesnt work.

"Thanks..Not much I can do besides fire my bow in this case."

Whilst flying above the burned-out church turned ad-hoc alchemical factory, Daria can hear a rattling cacophony of glass and metal as something large lumbers towards the entrance. The doors are thrown open by the construct inside, a rickety construction of glass tubing, metal, and wood convey the brain and two eyes afloat in this figure’s glass skull.

The golems march to the entrance and open the door. The alchemists gather their gear and prepare to enter the fight.
The party can act again, including Daria's flaming sphere drop.

"What in all the slagging Hells is that thing? It's got eyes floating in it, for f%$*'s sake!" Disgust is thick in Thorek's voice, but he advances on the alchemical depot regardless.

Run action! Still 15ft in the air though.

Daria does indeed conjure a Flaming Sphere right in the middle of the thickest of the fumes in the alchemist lab. She then flies away behind the others and watches for that strange cloud again.

Flaming Sphere Fire Damage: 3d6 ⇒ (6, 5, 3) = 14

Perception: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (6) + 19 = 25

"At least they've been keeping themselves entertained!" Esperanza replies, her tone artificially light. She dashes through the air after the dwarf.

Double move.

As Esperanza and Thorek walk across the air, suspended magically above the writhing mass of thorny vines below, the animated plant life hurls its barbs at the pair. Perhaps owing to the angle, a few thorns manage to get beneath Thorek's armored plates.

Being 15 feet in the air would mean that Esperanza and Thorek would be in range of the Thorny Entanglement during their move. I believe a 20 vs Esperanza would miss, but if a total of 30 hits Thorek, then he takes 9 damage.

Daria drops her flaming sphere upon the alchemy lab, but the canvas tarp strung across the otherwise open roof of the burned out church interrupts the fire bombing. The tarp catches fire and begins to burn away, but for now none of the fumes within the lab catch fire.

Each attack that deals fire damage within the area of the lab has a 50% chance of causing an explosion. I rolled, but no combustion for now.

Daria, can you place your token on the map (or indicate where you're current located)? This will affect how the enemies act on their turns.

Since she can manifest the Flaming Sphere anywhere within 170 feet, I didn’t think the tarp would be an issue (just manifest it in exactly the right location), but I totally get it as flavor text with the 50% chance. I will move Daria on the map in a few minutes when I can get to my computer.

Moved into position. With 100 ft move speed in her air elemental, she follows from a bit of a distance, using some the wall as cover but staying just out of range of her thorny entanglement. Note that the entangle is a 40' radius, so an 80' diameter. I changed the marker to reflect that given her original guidance that it should fill the courtyard up to the outside wall (as it was intended to harry the phalanx). Feel free to adjust as you see fit, DM, but Daria is going to do a more cautious approach and stay out of thorn range.

Thank you for the clarification. I had it strike the tarp because you originally said you were going to drop the flaming sphere, so I was a bit confused. Even if you have it appear inside the lab proper, I think I'll still have the sphere burn away at the tarp.

The gaseous creature flies over the creek, either intending to pursue Daria or Lily, or perhaps aiming to flank Esperanza and Thorek.

The bizarre constructs shamble out of the burned out church and hurl roiling bombs at the two front-line warriors. The one aimed at Esperanza goes off course and falls down into the creek at the bottom of the ravine. When it strikes the rocks within the water, it explodes and flash freezes the creek's surface, leaving glittering ice crystals upon the rocks and steep sides of the ravine.

The other bomb, unfortunately, strikes Thorek square on the breastplate of his plate armor. It explodes into a crash of electricity that courses, painfully, through his dwarven limbs.

Assuming a ranged touch attack of 22 hits Thorek, he takes 33 electricity damage from the alchemical golem's Bomb (Ex) special attack.

With the tarp above the lab burning away, Daria sees the hobgoblin alchemists inside hastily downing tinctures of some sort. They immediately begin to move much more quickly and hurry to flee the premises before the flaming sphere can detonate their work.

The hobgoblin bombardiers drink extracts of Haste and exit the building.
The party is up again.

Daria floats a bit away (5 foot step) and rolls the flaming sphere all around the flammable alchemy fumes, ending up by smacking it into the backside of the hobgoblin still in the building. She then casts a powerful spell, causing a Wall of Thorns to spring into being, encasing the automatons and the bombers alike in spiky thorns (brown outline).

Thorek and Esperanza should still be able to hit with their reach weapons from in front or from above.

Flaming Sphere Fire Damage, DC 17 Reflex Negates: 3d6 ⇒ (6, 1, 6) = 13

A wall of thorns spell creates a barrier of very tough, pliable, tangled brush bearing needle-sharp thorns as long as a human’s finger. Any creature forced into or attempting to move through a wall of thorns takes piercing damage per round of movement equal to 25 minus the creature’s AC. Dexterity and dodge bonuses to AC do not count for this calculation. (Creatures with an AC of 25 or higher, without considering Dexterity and dodge bonuses, take no damage from contact with the wall.)
You can make the wall as thin as 5 feet thick, which allows you to shape the wall as a number of 10-by-10-by-5-foot blocks equal to twice your caster level. This has no effect on the damage dealt by the thorns, but any creature attempting to break through takes that much less time to force its way through the barrier.
Creatures can force their way slowly through the wall by making a Strength check as a full-round action. For every 5 points by which the check exceeds 20, a creature moves 5 feet (up to a maximum distance equal to its normal land speed). Of course, moving or attempting to move through the thorns incurs damage as described above. A creature trapped in the thorns can choose to remain motionless in order to avoid taking any more damage.
Any creature within the area of the spell when it is cast takes damage as if it had moved into the wall and is caught inside. In order to escape, it must attempt to push its way free, or it can wait until the spell ends. Creatures with the ability to pass through overgrown areas unhindered can pass through a wall of thorns at normal speed without taking damage.