The Lost City (4e Paragon)

Game Master Rev Rosey

"I'm sorry to do this while you're lucid, sir. But there seems no point in waiting. And this won't actually hurt." A wind starts whipping around the goliath and he strikes with his halberd, sparks flying as it meets Holdred's axe.

Minor: Shield of Gales
TEOE, gain +2 power to all defenses. When enemy ends turn adjacent, slide enemy 1 sq as free action.

Standard: Iron to Glass vs Ref 1d20 + 18 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 18 + 2 = 27
On hit, TEOE, target takes -4 to melee damage. Whenever target hits with melee attack, the penalty worsens by 2 to -10. On miss, halve the effect.
That's actually a ranged symbol attack, but does not provoke.

Save vs immobilized 1d20 ⇒ 3

52hp after aura/resist/vuln. Immobilized.
+1 to melee damage, +2 to defenses TEOE
When enemy ends turn adjacent, slide enemy 1 sq as free action.

"How thoughtful of you. Most effective."

Holdred's approval is palpable as he narrowly fails to get out of the way.

MAP

Holdred's aura - enemies in aura gain vul 10 fire. Enemies ending turn in aura take 10 fire damage.

If dazed, stunned or dominated, Holdred does not lose any of his actions, but does maintain control over how to use them.

Greeg - in aura
Nayce
Holdred, King of Avarosh - immobilised to end Cronin's next turn; marked by Greeg; dazed to end Greeg's next turn; DC by Kevaras; -4 melee damage to EoE (rises to max -10 whenever he hits
Guldarin
Kevaras
Don - readied Deft Strike
Cronin - used AP; +1 melee damage to EoE; +2 all defenses to EoE; immobilised (se); slides adjacent enemy one square as free action (EoE); in aura

I forgot to mention on my turn that Greeg's mark on Holdred, King of Avarosh was superseded by my divine challenge on His Majesty.

Init list amended below - I forgot to take off the immobilisation as well.

MAP

Holdred's aura - enemies in aura gain vul 10 fire. Enemies ending turn in aura take 10 fire damage.

If dazed, stunned or dominated, Holdred does not lose any of his actions, but does maintain control over how to use them.

Greeg - in aura
Nayce
Holdred, King of Avarosh - dazed to end Greeg's next turn; DC by Kevaras; -4 melee damage to EoE (rises to max -10 whenever he hits
Guldarin
Kevaras
Don - readied Deft Strike
Cronin - used AP; +1 melee damage to EoE; +2 all defenses to EoE; immobilised (se); slides adjacent enemy one square as free action (EoE); in aura

Greeg didn't know how to tackle thus fight. Usually he was all noise an d yelling, trying to make sure his opponents kept their focus on him rather than his companions. More importantly, his enemies usually spent their time trying to kill him rather than talk politely and encourage his attacks.

He whinced slightly at the burns the kings fiery blood dealt him, but it really wasn't much worse than the magma chambers he visited at home when he wanted some solace.

"Nothing personal your Kingness, but I'm thinking the sooner we send you off to rest properly the better we'll all be eh! Also, you might be happy to know that your decendants no longer serve the giants in slavery. They threw their shackles off finally and now live free to craft and mine as they see fit." He shrugged a little in confsion at the way even his talk had become more polite around this spirit. Almost shily he added "Just thought you'd want to know before going off to your final rest"

Then he swung his hammer

Earthgrasp Strike - Standard Melee 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (14) + 18 = 32 vs AC. Damage 1d10 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9; If hit, target is knocked prone. Can't stand up until the end of my next turn. First time it stands up, it takes an additional 1d10 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13 damage.

Smiling as his hammer finally came to land a blow he could feel solidly, the Goliath turned his attention to keeping his best friend alive as well. He drew on the power of natures stone, shifting the ground beneath Cronins feet. The earth slid his friend back and out of danger from this rather congenial spirit, showering the cleric in a cloud of earthy debris that made him harder to hit as well.

Shield of Stone - minor daily, close burst 5: One ally within the burst is slid 5 squares and +2 to all defenses, resist 5 all damage until end of my next turn. Using this one on Cronin, and will let him decide where he ends up if it is alright with you Rav.

As Cronin left the danger zone, the big Guardian continued to channel the power of the earth into his own body, hardening his skin and turning his already rugged countenace even more craggy and stone like.

Stone's Endurance - (Racial Feature). Minor Action. Gain Resist 14 till end of next turn

I won't bother marking him at this stage. Letting Kevaras do that instead otherwise we'll just be playing tag team marker all day.

"Thank you!"

I would guess the two +2s are both power bonus and don't stack, but the slide and resist still help

Sorry for delay. Got struck by lightning and connection flopped.

Holdred topples cheerfully under Greeg's ministrations and just manages to thank the goliath before his elemental curse takes over again.

"Excellent news and well struck, lad."

MAP

Holdred's aura - enemies in aura gain vul 10 fire. Enemies ending turn in aura take 10 fire damage.

If dazed, stunned or dominated, Holdred does not lose any of his actions, but does maintain control over how to use them.

Greeg - in aura
Nayce
Holdred, King of Avarosh - prone and can't stand up before end Greeg's next turn; DC by Kevaras; -4 melee damage to EoE (rises to max -10 whenever he hits
Guldarin
Kevaras
Don - readied Deft Strike
Cronin - used AP; +1 melee damage to EoE; +2 all defenses to EoE; immobilised (se); slides adjacent enemy one square as free action (EoE); in aura

"They make a really mean beer too." Don adds, admittedly.

Forgot to change init list. Nayce is up.

Don's comment brings a big grin of approval to Holdred's face.

"Maybe you're not so bad. Got good taste there..."

MAP

Holdred's aura - enemies in aura gain vul 10 fire. Enemies ending turn in aura take 10 fire damage.

If dazed, stunned or dominated, Holdred does not lose any of his actions, but does maintain control over how to use them.

Nayce
Holdred, King of Avarosh - prone and can't stand up before end Greeg's next turn; DC by Kevaras; -4 melee damage to EoE (rises to max -10 whenever he hits
Guldarin
Kevaras
Don - readied Deft Strike
Cronin - used AP; +1 melee damage to EoE; +2 all defenses to EoE; immobilised (se); slides adjacent enemy one square as free action (EoE); in aura
Greeg - in aura

Nayce surrounds Holdred with shadowy menaces that taint the dwarf king's mind.

Echoing Threat 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (20) + 19 = 39 vs Will. 1d10 + 14 ⇒ (9) + 14 = 23 damage on a hit and at the end of its next turn, the target takes 10 psychic damage if any creatures are within 2 squares of it.

1 shroud on Holdred.

Nayce does his bit to batter down Holdred's elemental curse, but his blazing majesty loses control.

Flame erupts around him, engulfing Greeg and then expanding to bring Don and Cronin into his aura.

Conflagration (minor v Ref). Close burst in aura. On hit ongoing 10 fire. Miss half damage. Effect, aura increases by one.
1d20+17=30 v Greeg. Hits. 3d6+12=21 fire
21 fire damage and 10 ongoing fire (se) to Greeg

Unable to rise, Holdred slams his axe into Greeg's ankles.

"Sorry about this lad. It may hurt. Bit less than it would have."

The goliath has cause to be grateful for Cronin's earlier efforts as Holdred's instincts take over. Don too, reacts instinctively.

Deft Strike triggers Don.

Double Slash (AC). Greataxe twice.
1d20+21=40. Hits. 3d10+3=21
1d20+21=37. Hits. 3d10+1=14
35 damage to Greeg

56 total damage to Greeg plus 10 ongoing fire (se). Ouch.

MAP

Holdred's aura - enemies in aura gain vul 10 fire. Enemies ending turn in aura take 10 fire damage.

If dazed, stunned or dominated, Holdred does not lose any of his actions, but does maintain control over how to use them.

Guldarin
Kevaras
Don - readied Deft Strike; in aura
Cronin - used AP; +1 melee damage to EoE; +2 all defenses to EoE; immobilised (se); slides adjacent enemy one square as free action (EoE); in aura
Greeg - in aura; 10 ongoing fire (se)
Nayce
Holdred, King of Avarosh - one shroud; prone and can't stand up before end Greeg's next turn (13 damage when he does); DC by Kevaras; -6 melee damage to EoE (rises to max -10 whenever he hits

Don sees his chance for a well timed flank...even if its at Greeg's expense sadly. His blade flickers as he slips in close, planting an expert stab into the king's back.

Deft Strike

1d20 + 25 ⇒ (20) + 25 = 45 Muahahaha! Feel the pain.

for 49 dmg + 3d10 ⇒ (3, 8, 10) = 21

The king takes 3d10 ⇒ (3, 5, 2) = 10 more at the start of his next turn.

He laughs wildly as the blade sinks home, his other knife going in turn. "Left yourself open!"

Offhand MBA

1d20 + 22 ⇒ (18) + 22 = 40 Crit number two

46 + 3d6 ⇒ (6, 6, 1) = 13 Wraithblade adds in Sneak Attack even if its already used, if you happen to crit with it.

Total damage
129 + 10 on the start of next turn.

Apparently Don had to up his game to show up Nayce...

Obviously pleased with himself, Don beams a sinister, slasher smile at the king. "A bit of payback." He motions to Greeg with his bloody blade. "That's my bud over there."

Overlooked my crit! Actual damage is 3d8 + 24 ⇒ (4, 3, 5) + 24 = 36

Lets hear it for the Strikers, ladies and gents!

I'll wait till the bloody chunks stop spattering me before I take an action.
Ah, is the off-hand attack by Don actually a crit with an 18?

Doublechecking just to ensure that, Daggermaster shouldn't have any issues with the 18+ crits on offhand...let me see...

Dagger Precision (11th level): When you use a rogue or a daggermaster attack power with a dagger, the power can score a critical hit on a roll of 18–20.

Yes, yes it is a crit. Thanks for asking though, Guldarin. I wouldn't want to accidentally overdo it.

Big night for high rollers, I have to admit.
Hmm. Holdred needs to take damage from Kevaras as well for the Divine Challenge.

"Think you got something vital there, good work. Shouldn't be long now." rasps Holdred as Don's dagger drives home.

"Sorry about the reflexes," he continues as his curse flares reflexively around Don's knees.

Immediate Reaction (Fort). Melee attack hits. On hit target is immobilised (se)
1d20+17=36 v Don. Hits. 2d6+11=23 fire damage
33 damage (inc vul) to Don.

MAP

Holdred's aura - enemies in aura gain vul 10 fire. Enemies ending turn in aura take 10 fire damage.

If dazed, stunned or dominated, Holdred does not lose any of his actions, but does maintain control over how to use them.

Guldarin
Kevaras
Don - in aura; immobilised (se)
Cronin - used AP; +1 melee damage to EoE; +2 all defenses to EoE; immobilised (se); slides adjacent enemy one square as free action (EoE); in aura
Greeg - in aura; 10 ongoing fire (se)
Nayce
Holdred, King of Avarosh - one shroud; prone and can't stand up before end Greeg's next turn (13 damage when he does); 10 damage from Don start next turn; DC by Kevaras; -6 melee damage to EoE (rises to max -10 whenever he hits

Objection? Its during his turn, he can't use an immediate action I think?

Also if I bloodied him, I get another freebie. Free action so its usable I think? I know I can't use minors on readied actions, but everything's been free so far.

You haven't bloodied him. Pretty sure he can use an immediate reaction as a reaction to something you do to him at any time - the name at least implies it :) Happy to be proved wrong.

Challenge accepted!

Source: DnD Compendium.

Someone Else’s Turn: A creature cannot take an immediate action on its own turn. The action interrupts some event on another creature’s turn or responds to that event.

Objection accepted. Don can have his 33hp back and he isn't immobilised.

Flustered, the bandit adds with irritation, "You know, most people die when I slit their throat..."

Thought I'd mention I have DR 14 up against all damage at the moment. That should mean I ignore the ongoing damage completely and take 14 damge off every strike on me. By my calculations that,s 32 less damage from the attacks and ignore ongoing damage completely. Let me know if that's wrong please, then I'll update my hp appropriately. Cheers

Holdred needs to take damage from Kevaras as well for the Divine Challenge.

That's 12 radiant damage from Divine Challange.

"Excuse me, your majesty, but do you have any particular wishes concerning what we should do with your body after we disanimate it, it seesm rather improper to just loot it and leave it for scavengers, not that I have any particular dislike for scavengers who perform a useful function but it really doesn't seem proper to leave a dwarf king to them."

Hit the Weak Spot, 1d20 + 18 - 2 ⇒ (13) + 18 - 2 = 29 vs Ref, 2d8 + 9 ⇒ (8, 7) + 9 = 24 radiant damage and the targets resistances are reduced by 9 and vulnerabilities are increased by 4 teomnt

@Greeg - oops. Forgot about your DR. You are in the aura, which gives you vul 10 to fire damage, so it now looks like this:
31 fire damage from Conflagration (inc vul), less 14 = 16 fire
20 ongoing fire with vul less 14 = 6 ongoing fire
35 untyped less 14 = 21
End of turn 20 fire with vul less 14 = 6
Total damage to Greeg = 49 - still bad, but not as horrific as it would have been without the DR.

Holdred stares up at Don.

"That was my kidney, you fool, not my throat."

His majesty flinches slightly as Kevaras's divine power kicks in.

MAP

Holdred's aura - enemies in aura gain vul 10 fire. Enemies ending turn in aura take 10 fire damage.

If dazed, stunned or dominated, Holdred does not lose any of his actions, but does maintain control over how to use them.

Guldarin
Kevaras
Don - in aura
Cronin - used AP; +1 melee damage to EoE; +2 all defenses to EoE; immobilised (se); slides adjacent enemy one square as free action (EoE); in aura
Greeg - in aura; 10 ongoing fire (se)
Nayce
Holdred, King of Avarosh - one shroud; prone and can't stand up before end Greeg's next turn (13 damage when he does); 10 damage from Don start next turn; DC by Kevaras; -6 melee damage to EoE (rises to max -10 whenever he hits

@Greeg - oops. Forgot about your DR. You are in the aura, which gives you vul 10 to fire damage, so it now looks like this:

31 fire damage from Conflagration (inc vul), less 14 = 16 fire
20 ongoing fire with vul less 14 = 6 ongoing fire
35 untyped less 14 = 21
End of turn 20 fire with vul less 14 = 6
Total damage to Greeg = 49 - still bad, but not as horrific as it would have been without the DR.

Not quite that bad yet. I think you have him taking the ongoing twice, but ongoing doesn't stack, nor has it happened yet, since it takes effect at the start of Greeg's turn. You also added two sets of damage from the axe before taking the resistance. Finally, and I don't think this makes a difference in this case, what actually happens is the vulnerability and resistance cancel each other out at the character level, meaning he has resist 4 fire, resist 14 everything else.

Conflagration: 21-4 = 17
Axe Strike 1: 21-14 = 7
Axe Strike 2: 14-14 = 0
And he now has ongoing 10-4 = 6.
So 24 damage, and net 6 ongoing (that hasn't damaged him yet).

He takes the aura damage at the end of his turn, but you are, of course, quite right about the ongoing as well as my miscalculation of it. Listen to Cronin, not you hapless GM :)

The paladin steps next to the beleaguered warden (move to P14), throws his dagger at the monarch…

Ranged Basic Attack: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (6) + 16 = 22 vs AC.
1d4 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10 damage.

…heals the goliath with a healing hand…
Minor Action: Lay on Hands.
Greeg regains HP equal to his surge value.
Kevaras has Resist 3 until SONT.

…and catches the dagger as it returns.

Takes 10 fire damage at end of turn.

Don sputters, he was getting ahead of himself, "The INTENT was the same!" A bit more aggrivated due to the fire, and the rebuttal that made him look a bit foolish, Don sweeps his blade into the king's side as he lays there.

Low Slash
1d20 + 25 ⇒ (20) + 25 = 45 Muahahaha!!!!

59 damage + 3d10 ⇒ (10, 4, 1) = 15 and another 3d10 ⇒ (3, 6, 5) = 14 at the start of his turn. The king is also slowed USOMNT.

Offhand MBA
1d20 + 22 ⇒ (10) + 22 = 32 for 1d4 + 14 ⇒ (4) + 14 = 18 more.

Don adds a swift kick rolling the king over against the wall. Flavor text for low slash's effect. Moved him down and right one, can't edit at work. then hefts his spare knife, tossing it at the bugger for extra insult...and injury.

Deft Strike I AM BECOME CRIT, DESTROYER OF SOLOS
1d20 + 25 ⇒ (20) + 25 = 45

Again, this is my offhand attack so I get my sneak attack damage again.

56 + 3d10 ⇒ (8, 6, 7) = 21 and another 3d10 ⇒ (8, 1, 10) = 19 at the start of his turn.

Total damage if the MBA hits
168 + 33 more at the start of his turn.
I swear, this is the luckiest I've been in a PBP EVER.

Don retreats out of the aura afterwards. will declare where when I can see the map better at home

He mutters something about dwarves that talk too much as he stalks away.

and then sings the next chorus of 'We built Crit City' with Norrin in a pub somewhere...

edit:forgot +6 damage per crit due to giant's ring, missed that for my first two crits this game too, but I can live with forgetting that bonus

Holdred takes a moment to respond to Guldarin's question.

"Very good of you to ask. Ideally, I'd like to be returned to my homeland and my castle, but it's quite possible neither exist any longer. If you can find Avarosh, that's where I'd like to be buried. I might even have grateful descendants, but I wouldn't count on that."

Guldarin's attack takes effect, followed by a piffling attack from Kevaras and a veritable rain of blows from Don.

"That's better, lad."

His Majesty smiles beatifically and drops to the floor, a proper corpse once more. As he collapses, his voice can just be heard offering a final piece of advice.

"Ollosendre would be grateful for rest, but Iji is a lun..."

OUT OF COMBAT

>.> That was something...I really didn't expect to drop him, I sort of feel bad about that, but the dice went well for me.

Don's rue demeanor fades after a few moments, a strange somber look on his face. He explains to no one, "......He was trying to kill us, you know!" The bandit turns his back to the group, oddly wrestling with the king's death.

"Yes. Yes, he was." Cronin drops to one knee by the king's corpse, his halberd in one hand. "Ollosendre. Iji. Three Sigils -- in the Study, the Blood Chapel, and the Dragon Chapel. All guarded. Then we can bypass the portal and get the next Key."

Cronin starts searching the body, including inspecting the arms and armor. "I think he would have wanted us to take anything that would help.

"And we have stairs and statues. Next idea?"

EDIT: How are we on XP? I know it's only been one big fight since the last level, but curious.

"You should never regret putting the undead to rest," Nayce says grimly.

Cronin's instincts prove correct. Holdred's gloves and boots prove to be interesting.

I nominate Nayce for the Belt. The hands would be good for anyone in a melee position, in theory the ones with less surges to work with.

The boots (not belt) were on my wishlist, but I'd enjoy either of them -- and I have nothing in either slot at the moment. I'm slightly confused, though, by Don's coment -- why would the gloves be better for melee characters?

yeah I meant boots, was typing at work, and ehh the gloves would've been better for this fight at least in melee, if there's more auras in the future too, and the fact that melee chars have a bit worse chance of being AOEd when we cluster to flank, or even get maneuvered into firezones. That's what my thought was.

Ah, I understand. But I also see fire as something that gets thrown at range a lot. Part of my reaction, too, was that the boots let one escape from melee when bloodied, with the free long shift often being less useful for characters on the periphery.

I'm mostly melee, so I'm good either way, if it falls that way.

Nayce is very mobile and has all sorts of ways of getting out of tricky situations. I think it's fine with Cronin, especially since it was actually on his wishlist.

Greeg was slightly disatisfied at the end of the fight. He had known the king was a mighty warrior, and he had a noble spirit to back that up. The fact he had been used in this way by whatever powers ran this place left the Goliath a little hollow inside.

He watched as the others picked over the king, hoping to turn his tragedy to something brighter with whatever gear he was carrying. The Warden shook his head at the stuff, and went to stand guard in the far end of the room in case any other wandering spirits found their way in.

He had been saved twice by Don in that fight as far as he could tell. And then Kevaras had healed him of his wounds as well. The Goliath was troubled by how little protecting he seemed to be doing and how much others were having to bail him out of trouble.

He sighed, kissed his hammer and swore an Oath to the mother spirits to try harder from this point. Then he began to wonder when they'd be eating again.

Greeg came out of that surprisingly chipper. No healing surges spend thanks to Kevaras' lay on hands and Don saved him a huge swathe of damage in round 1. My thanks to all who kept him upright :). I don't need to gear, but will use the gloves if no one else claims it. I think I have more surges than most and a few abilities that can protect me and keep my hitpoints up, so someone more fragile may want them for the fire protect.

I do love Greeg. He's a sweet natured version of the Hulk without the anger management issues. Don's growing conscience is getting to me as well. Add in Keveras the domesticated drow, Cronin the realistic cleric, Nayce's silent resignation and Guldarin's perpetual struggle to see sense in things that don't make sense and you have a wonderful party.

@ Cronin - you'll hit level 15 at the end of the Forbidden Archive.

"Avarosh, Avarosh? Don't think I know that one, but I'm sure someone will, and I can always ask Moradin next time I'm talking to him to send me a sign. Now, let's see." Guldarin drops his pack, pulls out his holy symbol, and starts praying in Dwarvish over the remains of the King.

Don spends a few minutes on the other side of the room, his arms crossed leaning against a wall. His eye looks up once as Guldarin does his burial rites, then looks away.

"And we have stairs and statues. Next idea?"

Taking the Boots, thanks.

History check from someone to identify Avarosh and its possible whereabouts.

History, 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (17) + 17 = 34

Guldarin prayers spark a long-forgotten memory. Avarosh was a dwarven kingdom based precariously on the edge of the elemental plane of fire and notorious for the magnificent gems and magic items it produced. According to the dwarven records, the kingdom was subsumed into City of Brass as a colony following the fall of its last king - presumably Holdred.

"Well that'll be an interesting trip for some day, never been there and I daresay I'll have to buy something more fire resistant to wear, maybe in scarlet and gold although I'm not sure that those colours particularly suit me but I'm told they're appreciated by some of the residents. Or maybe that was somewhere else."

Cronin saunters over to inspect the SE statue.

Perception 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (6) + 13 = 19