Jeevika, are you okay with being hit? I could use Divine Interference again, if you'd like.
Unfortunately, I'm out of range. I was just within thirty feet last time. Besides, the red cloud giant is basically out of combat for three rounds. As per FRIGHTFUL ASPECT, he is now frightened and must run away from Jeevika to the best of his ability for three rounds. No save.
@Thron: Are the cloud giants wielding magic weapons? Thanks to FRIGHTFUL ASPECT, Jeevika currently has DR 10/Magic.
Thron and CDL, thanks for playing Z last round!
I'm on R20 now. Just posted in Apollonia and (gods willing) about to post here and in Legacy.
If all that extra stuff hits, Zoli just did an extra +237 damage. Yeah, that's all extra damage!
Will post Jeevika's actions later. I need to think through her many, many options.
Not that it likely matters, but I made a slight error with my Zoli math. In her most recent post, I saw that Zoli did not add her precision damage to her crit damage, so I went to check the rules. It would seem that I was mistaken and added precision damage to my Zoli rolls. I thought that only precision damage from extra dice (e.g. sneak attack) wasn't added to crits. In actuality, no form of precision damage is added to crit damage.
In other words, subtract -32 damage. Assuming Zoli got all those hits, she only did a meager extra... +205 extra damage.
Looks like I can finally post here.
@Ryli: Would it be possible for you to Heal Eugeni this round? We really can't afford for him to drop. I feel like I'm in a better position to support Zoli and you're in a better position to support Eugeni. Olympus grappling Khalib could effectively neutralize him. In fact, maybe have the elementals grapple him to keep him from casting? Being an arcane caster, Khalib's CMD probably isn't particularly high, and you've got four of these guys, who have those augmented stats to boot...
What magical auras do I see around Khalib? I should be able to identify pretty easily whether he has a freedom of movement active, which would make your plan moot.
Also I'd like to know if he has see invisible running or the like, to know whether going invisible would be worthwhile.
I can roll spellcraft if you want, but pretty sure I can't fail at this point.
I need a CL check from you for that Eugeni, using the level which you cast Arcane Sight on yourself initially.
I believe it's Greater Arcane Sight that lets you identify individual spells; regular just lets you identify the school of their aura. Granted, you might be able to then roll Knowledge: Arcana to identify an ongoing spell effect?
Also, Ryli could just have one or two of her guys try to grapple him and see if it takes. According to Thron, they hit him, but no damage was done...
What level were we when I was reborn as an arcanist? I think that's when I cast that stuff. It's hard to tell because the stat bars and profiles update retroactively.
You're right about arcane sight, Jeevika. Even knowing the schools and strengths of whatever he has going on could be useful though.
He can’t retroactively boost his CL. That spell has long since been cast. As for your result: you see no auras on him.
I meant if Eugeni boosted his CL at the time he originally casted the spell.
@Thron: Ryli claimed the Ring of Evasion from Ghlorofaex's treasury.
Edited last post to show rune giant is down.
Well, I guess I'm done considering my options for this round. Thanks for unrequired DMPC?
Also, can I get the feat that gives my summoned t-rexes over 232 HP?
I'd love to be able to drop a 7th level spell slot and come out with an extra combatant for our team that has the HP of a typical CR 20 creature.
I understand that we would face roll things as written, but buffing a summon like that feels real cheap and weird to me.
It's not some unique creature we've never encountered before, it's a summon. If he/they can just summon creatures with ridiculous made up buffs to make them "challenging" then the world like stops making sense to me.
Okay, I'm done complaining now. I'll try to trust you not to TPK us without a deus ex machina.
@Thron: After thinking it over, I'm inclined to agree with Eugeni about the Max HP on summons.
@Eugeni: As compensation for last round, I will try to free you this one (or next one). A Miracle should free Eugeni.
If not, well...
We're in a pickle.
@Ryli: Could you give me some cover for this? This war on two fronts approach to the battle is slowly killing us. We need to focus on neutralizing Khalib immediately. He has been keeping you and Eugeni from fighting the army. As powerful as Zoli is, she can only neutralize one enemy at a time, and when one drops, another falls from the ceiling to take their place. If you and Eugeni were able to focus on them, we'd have more summons and most likely a much thinner crowd.
First, I will need a Wall of Lava to cover the doorway. Make it as thick as you can. It should be enough to stall the enemy army for a round or two or maybe even three. In order to avoid being sniped while casting, I would consider relocating somewhere you have cover (like where I've put the pink square on the map, which gets out of range of most enemies sans Rexy, who can likely be killed by Zoli, Olympus, or an elemental; just cast defensively).
As for neutralizing Khalib, could you have one (or two if the first attempt fails epically) of your elementals attempt to grapple him? If he has Freedom of Movement up, we can still adjust; for example, Jeeves could attempt to dispel his Freedom of Movement and then you send in Olympus? If not, well, he's grappled. Moreover, Freedom of Movement isn't a wizard/sorcerer/arcanist spell.
If nothing else, could you at least get Olympus on his case? He's been sitting around for three rounds.
@Zoli: Assuming Ryli gets that wall up, my recommendations for you would be to either kill Rexy or activate your Celestial Armor's flight and move to engage Khalib. Thanks to your sword, he can't turn you into stone, and you have good saves and a reroll.
Sounds like a good plan given the circumstances. If I get free and he's not dead I will battering blast him and then power word stun him. Hopefully he will be neutralized at that point. He's clearly been buffed by someone whose CL is so high that we need an extremely good roll to dispell, so that's probably a waste of time. We'll see what his defenses look like soon enough.
That plan SGTM*.
And I'll weigh in that--given a party where we allow things like extremely optimized Battering Blasts--I think it's reasonable to also maximize HP for summons, at least in epic battles. I'm really really happy to be in a battle that's making us sweat. It's been a while!
Sure, many of our foes we should be able to easily best at this level, but this feels to me like an encounter we'll have to be really smart about to beat, which I like. (Along those lines, thanks CDL for driving much of the strategy suggestions.)
EDIT:
*Sounds Good To Me
Before anyone posts, I have made an important discovery; Eugeni might not be a statue!
Khalib, meanwhile, flies straight up out of the whirling elemental, and looks over the battlefield. He narrows his eyes at Eugeni, and weaves an incantation of his own! Eugeni's body takes on a greyish hue, and his movements slow to a stop as he becomes petrified!
As per Ryli's Roll20 post and the Huge Air Elemental entry, their Whirlwind is fifty feet tall.
In the Fly spell, there's an interesting tibit...
The subject can fly at a speed of 60 feet (or 40 feet if it wears medium or heavy armor, or if it carries a medium or heavy load). It can ascend at half speed and descend at double speed, and its maneuverability is good.
Depending on how high he was originally (it's not exactly stated, but it wasn't enough for the Wall of Force and Whirlwind to be ineffective at blocking him), it appears that Khalib might have required two move actions to fly "straight up out of the whirling elemental" as described, especially if he is using the slower Overland Flight version of Fly like Eugeni.
This spell functions like a fly spell, except you can fly at a speed of 40 feet (30 feet if wearing medium or heavy armor, or if carrying a medium or heavy load) with a bonus on Fly skill checks equal to half your caster level.
Hence no time to cast Flesh to Stone...
I said my two cents. I understand buffing the main baddies and minions, but it just feels weird to do that to summons to me since the spells are meant to create a combatant significantly weaker than the summoner. I'm not asking for retcons or anything really, just expressing my opinion on the matter.
Should I wait for the stone to flesh ruling before taking my actions?
Should I wait for the stone to flesh ruling before taking my actions?
Good question. I think it'd be alright if you waited, but your part of the plan is also mostly independent of Eugeni being a statue... I'm inclined to say that we can wait.
Chatted with Thron. He was high enough up. No retcon needed. We can proceed.
I suppose a second go with the Whirlwinds is a good alternative to grappling. Will you be still getting that Wall of Lava up?
Edit: Oh, nice! He failed the sixth roll, so you've got him!
@Zoli: If you take a 5-foot step toward where the green X by Olympus is, you'll be able to full-round attack Khalib.
Awesome. Full stack coming today!
Looks like I missed yall earlier, but hopping on r20 now.
@Thron: Just double checked, and only total concealment negates AoOs. That said, due to the Whirlwind, Olympus would be able to see any of the lamias at any point.
Anyway, time for suggestions!
@Ryli: Mind clearing up the Whirlwind? Eugeni needs line of sight to cast.
As for actions, how about setting the air elementals on the lamias and casting Animal Growth (out of sight from the storm giants of course) on Olympus, who then attacks the storm giants, the lamias, or Ameiko?
@Eugeni: I don't have anything specific for spells for this round, but for his move action, Eugeni definitely needs to:
1) Fly out of melee range.
2) Keep out of the line of the sight of the storm giants so they don't disrupt his casting via zapping. Unlike Ryli, you don't have Evasion.
@Zoli: I think you need to update your math a little. Your BAB and Precision damage is only +15; you have sixteen levels in swashbuckler, so they should be +16.
For actions, either full-round attack Ameiko or one of the storm giants.
I think I'm just going to go invisible?
Great idea. I'd do it while the Whirlwind is still up then.
I want to use my breath weapon, but Zoli, Olympus and/or Jeevika are in the way.
Ideas? 60' cone...
I think I can hit them all if you guys clear the way, or are willing to be in it and save vs temporary petrification.
As an elemental, Ryli's immune I think, so its just Olympus that you'd be hitting, unless you can avoid him.
Olympus and Zoli
Unlike in 3.5, I don't think Ryli would be immune to petrification; in Pathfinder, she only looks like an elemental. That said, she isn't in Eugeni's proposed like of effect/fire. For what it's worth, I'll be relocating Jeeves.
Zoli just moved!
EDIT: Note, Eugeni, if you don't manage to petrify Ameiko you'll want to back up because at this point she could 5' step and full attack you.
Yar.
I would love the +6 headband of wisdom, and the +6 belt of Strength and Con for Olympus.
Could I have the +6 Belt of Strength and Constitution instead? In exchange, I'll give Olympus my +4 Belt of Strength and Constitution.
You can have the +6 Headband. I'll already upgraded to a +6 last downtime.
Lurkinating
Jeevika, that's fine.
Posting this so I don't forget: I need to cast shapechanger's gift greater on myself at the start of our next push, then change into a gargoyle. Also hit myself with shield, displacement and then when we get into a fight use my Power of Giants ability and cast iron body. Eugeni has too much shiz going on, and always forget half my abilties.
As a similar aside, just before we make our next push, Jeevika will be casting all her ten minute per caster level buffs while receiving Ryli's Barkskin and Elthariel's Negate Aroma. Right after preparing spells, while her prayer beads are active, she will cast all the hour per caster level spells and use Vindicator's Shield. For both sets of her buffs, Jeeves will briefly use the Orange Prism Ioun Stone.
Gonna be lurking basically all day. Come hang out with me folks!
Lurking again.
So that took me about two hours to write (so please excuse any typos), and the overall rolls are solid; a 34 is probably good enough for 90% of Diplomacy checks. As Jeevika acknowledges, she also doesn't have any miracle tricks to boost her rolls from good to ridiculous. So we (me, Jeeves, and Ellie) tried to compensate for the decent roll-playing with some amazing role-playing.
Even if she has the lower roll, I truly think Elthariel is the MVP here. I struggled to write something coherent for Jeevika, and I think that shows a little. Ellie? I hope I captured her character well. I just imagined her seeing her good friend trying so hard and realizing that poor Jeeves needs some help, so she collects herself and just... talks from the heart. Boom. She manages to lay out a great, concise argument that I think would make Argor Constantine proud.
(Favorite Line: "His underlings were very petty individuals; I bet they learned from the master.")
In a nutshell, the Rangers' argument is that Karzoug is a petty but powerful man who likely won't take the trio's actions very well. He might be stuck in stasis right now, but he has manifested in some capacity before (Mokmurian and the Runeforge statue), and he's about ready to return. Erasmus, Zanderous, and (given that he can throw out Sending) Xam are powerful individuals, but so is the Claimer. As shown by what's happened to Elthariel's group and the Rangers, very bad things can still happen to powerful people.
Could Erasmus and Zanderous handle something awful happening to their brother? How would Erasmus feel if something happened to Xam? I know that these two aren't good men, but they at least appear to think something of their family...
Meanwhile, the Varisian Rangers are pretty trustworthy people. Erasmus and Zanderous almost certainly stand to gain more by working with them. All they want is for these two wizards to go home in peace and leave them and Ameiko alone. If they agree to those terms, Erasmus and Zanderous (probably) lose nothing, and they might even stand to gain something in return...
As for Karzoug, he may be a buffoon, but he's a petty and powerful buffoon with a lot of resources. I bet he kept many of his best tricks hidden from Erasmus and Zanderous just in case...
And I think Erasmus and Zanderous are smart enough to realize that.
One more thing to add.
Speaking as a player, I really enjoy getting the chance to resolve a conflict through diplomacy. Far too often, Paizo just says "Even against hilariously overwhelming odds, this character gleefully fights to the death!" For this campaign, I think the diplomatic option has only happened twice: in Book 3 with those three sisters and in Book 5 with Lord Humongous. It'd be cool if we got one last change for the peaceful route to work before the big showdown with Karzoug.
On R20 now.
Am I too late? ;-)