Variel's WotR

Game Master Neltji

Since Ryu's attack was for 9 damage, and Garith's confirmation did 9 damage, i'd say Garith's crit would have done it and Ryu would have aimed for the scythe guy. but ether way one glaive down!
--Var, sorry for missing that damage...

Ryu hits hard but does not find a weak enough junction in the armor to get full effect of his attack. Not confirmed

Through the efforts of Sir Garith a hole was made allowing the others to take up better positions for the fight ahead. Pakak aids Ryu in defense, Oriana protects herself and moves into melee, Ryu stabs one, Sir Garith drops a foe, Maelchar is ready to use his reach and Zeriax punishes them with range attacks. Garith is in P:18 Oriana so had you go next to him.

Outnumbered and without the bottleneck holding them you at bay the 2 split apart. The man with the scythe takes a swing at the holy warrior who dared to sweep into the room with nary a scratch caused to him. The swing is potent and well aimed as it clips Sir Garth on the hip drawing blood for 7 damage. The glaive wielder likewise steps back to bring his reach to bear. The long reach of the glaive confounds him as the back end of the shaft hits the floor before the strike can land almost making him drop the glaive.

Good guys up...

combat map

Ryu will swing around to M:16 to take a swing at the scythe-guy and set up someone for a flank.

Attack with rapier -
1d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9

If it hits -
1d6 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

EDIT: As a free action he'll yell -

"Whatever, bich! I missed on purpose! Ha ha!"

Someone take the flank and drop this scum!

Trusting the archer should be able to shoot over him, Pakak moves and then sends forth a ray of frost.

Moving to R18, firing at the guy at N17
Ray of Frost Ranged Touch; 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 2 = 22
dmg: 1d3 ⇒ 1

Whoa! Possible crit. To confirm: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6
dmg if crit confirmed 1d3 ⇒ 1
Edit: Okay, no crit

Oriana takes a 5ft step to O:19 and attacks the one with the glaive at N:20, calculating that her cousin Garith will move to flank with Ryu on the enemy holding the scythe.

Attack with +1 morningstar: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20
Damage, if hits: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

Garith steps up to O:18 and, dropping his scimitar, lays into the Scythe wielder, taking a swing with his shield and then delivering a swift punch with his spiked gauntlet.

Bash: 1d20 + 6 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (16) + 6 + 2 - 2 = 22
for 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

punch: 1d20 + 6 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (13) + 6 + 2 - 2 = 19
for 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3 Spiked gauntlet being an armed attack dealing Piercing damage

Maelchar moves to P20 and uses his lucerne hammer to swipe at the foe in N20.

to hit: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 1 = 20
dmg if hits: 3d6 + 1 ⇒ (4, 4, 3) + 1 = 12

As his companions step inside and take up their spots in the room, Zeriax moves forward also, so that he has a better line of sight to the armed ones inside.

Moving to Q18 - 10' so no flurry :/

Attacking the one in N17:

Bow Attack on N17: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 1

My rolls are really all over the place...

Garith how are you getting a +6 to attack? I see 3 str, 2 bab, 2 flank and -2 twf?

The combined attacks from Oriana and Maelchar drop the last glaive wielded while the flank from Ryu allows sir Gartih to hit with both shield and gauntlet. Pakak joins the fray hitting the fool with the scythe. Between the damage from the last hit and the three new hits on him, he drops to the floor dead. Zeriax steps up to shoot but holds his arrow as to not lose it as he sees the bodies area all down already.

On the bodies you find a total of 2 MW glaives, 1 MW scythe, 3 MW chainshirts, 3 daggers, 2 unholy symbols of Baphomet, 1 unholy symbol of Deskari, 30gp, 3 scrolls of cause fear, 3 scrolls of cure light wounds, and 3 scrolls of comprehend languages.

My bad, it's only a +5, 3str, 2bab, flank/twf. think it was a typo on my part. does the 17 still hit?

"Let us destroy these unholy symbols and clear out. That said, their armor appears of high quality. Ryu, Oriana, would you like to take a few minutes to done this fine chain? It does not radiate evil as they did in life." Garith asks after detecting Evil, post removal of the unholy symbols. He takes a moment after removing the armor to Prey over it as it was worn by evil clerics.

Yes the 17 hit as the AC was 16. Ryu missed the confirm by 1 to have both of you drop guys in 1 round.

"I run low on spells of import," The dwarf says simply, "I say this not to say we shouldn't press on, but to let you know I will be less and less useful as we continue."

"Master Pakak, your abjurations and support are highly valued, even without truly reality warping feats of arcane prowess. Every contribution makes a difference my friend." Garith says with a smile after dealing with the dead.

"Should we try the ladder, or trace back and check the other door, even if just to glimps what is down that way before further exploring." Garith inquires.

"Thank you, Garith, but I DO wish I could warp reality just a little..." He pauses, "For the good, of course."

That might be dwarven humor

As to which direction, he's less sure.

"Let us destroy these unholy symbols and clear out."

"Hell yeah; only thing is - you got a notion on how we do that best?"

"I don't know how to destroy those things, but if you know how, I'll give you a hand," he adds.

"Ryu, Oriana, would you like to take a few minutes to done this fine chain? It does not radiate evil as they did in life."

Ryu eyes it uncertainly.

"Hard to say..."

"If I'm wearing it normal, no worries, you know? But if I start to rage, will it hold me back? If it's all good, I'll wear it straight up!" he says a bit speculatively.

"I run low on spells of import," The dwarf says simply, "I say this not to say we shouldn't press on, but to let you know I will be less and less useful as we continue."

Ryu turns a stern glance to Pakak.

"Stow that kind of talk, stonekin-san!"

"There ain't a time I can think of that you'll be less useful, brother," he says seriously, clapping the dwarf on the back.

"Mmmph, perhaps you lack some imagination then," Pakak says to his claykin but if the dwarf is trying to be truly offended, he failed. There might be a smile hiding under his whiskers even...hard to tell.

"Ryu, Oriana, would you like to take a few minutes to don this fine chain? It does not radiate evil as they did in life." Garith asks after detecting Evil, post removal of the unholy symbols. He takes a moment after removing the armor to pray over it as it was worn by evil clerics.

"Thank you, cousin."

Taking the fine chainshirt from Garith, Oriana swiftly removes her studded armor and dons the chainshirt, ready for the next encounter. She stows her old armor in her pack.

Not sure if we're going by 1 minute to remove the studded leather and 1 minute to hastily don the chainshirt...I suppose if someone helps her, it'll cut the time by half...

Ryu nods appreciatively at Oriana.

"Looks good on your, Angel," he says with an impressed look.

I read your previous entry, Ryu, and it sounded like you accepted the chainshirt but you haven't don it yet (because you want to know if you can rage in it), correct?

"Thank you, Ryu Tadamasa. It is good that you have such armor as well, for you are generally first in the fray and it will useful in battle."

I can rage in it; I think - but if I wear the chain shirt I can only apply +4 to my dexterity fr AC. So my AC would remain the same while raging - a total of 18. On the other hand, if I wear the Studded Leather my normal AC would only be a total of 17; but while raging it would go up to 19.

That said, it may be better for me to wear the Chain Shirt after all. I lose a+1 to AC while raging, but I have a +1 to AC at all times otherwise, so it sounds like a good plan to just wear it.

That said...

After thinking about it, Ryu will also don the armor, too.

"Yeah, the thing is - I'm not really wearing the armor; the armor wearing me," he says with a grin.

There's no reason the armor woud affect your rage and the max dex bonus is 4 vs 5 so there's no loss as far as AC goes in the long run as both max out at +8 cause studded leather caps out at +5 dex and you have a higher Non-raging AC.

True Garith and it opens the possibility of using rage for str or con as dex is maxed out.

which direction? North up the ladder, east through the door in the room you are in, or back south to go east where Zeriax heard silence in the room prior?

Looking at the unholy symbols you are pretty sure you can just take your weapons to them to damage them beyond use. If that would attract the attention of the gods though is uncertain.

There's no reason the armor woud affect your rage and the max dex bonus is 4 vs 5 so there's no loss as far as AC goes in the long run as both max out at +8 cause studded leather caps out at +5 dex and you have a higher Non-raging AC.

Garith, I'm good via wearing the armor. Also, I can still use Rage with the armor and enjoy all the benefits of rage, except bonuses to AC over +4.

Via the armor rules: Dexterity bonuses in excess of this number are reduced to this number for the purposes of determining the wearer's Armor Class. Heavier armors limit mobility, reducing the wearer's ability to dodge blows. This restriction doesn't affect any other Dexterity-related abilities. That said, I can still use it for purposes of Weapon Finesse (for example); as well as skill checks, saves and Initiative bonuses (which should reshuffle me to a slighter higher initiative when I rage).

As they have entered on room already, Gabryjel will look around the room and decides to keep going.

"We already came this far, I'm ready to move on."

His weapon loose in his hands, he hangs a left and heads through the door in N:25.

While he has a big heavy weapon out, Maelchar crushes the holy symbols to the evil deities without real fear of retribution. When he's done, he smiles and winks at Garith. "There, that's taken care of... shall we continue on? I think we should finish clearing this level before we go upwards though."

if you raise your dex AFTER initiatives are rolled and determined, I don't think that moves you in the init order - losing dex, like to an attack that drains dex, doesn't move you in the init order, so the opposite should hold true as well.

if you raise your dex AFTER initiatives are rolled and determined, I don't think that moves you in the init order - losing dex, like to an attack that drains dex, doesn't move you in the init order, so the opposite should hold true as well.

As far as I can tell, it's a gray area.

In the first place we've all used "Group Initiative" to determine who goes first - us vs. them. Than we determine who in the party goes first simply by posting order so we don't slow down combat.

I've played games for a long time, and if players take turns based on their own personal initiative than having either a higher or lower Dexterity which fluctuates in combat always defined when a player can or can't go. However, it's typically so minimal that it almost never matters. Meanwhile, in some cases I've even seen GM's make players roll Initiative each round to reflect Circumstantial bonuses such as a higher or lower initiative.

Of course, in a game when we each go by group and each player goes first based on if they have a chance to post, it's pretty much completely different. For example, if your Initiative dropped by 10 points in the game, you'd still go before me if you happened to post before me.

However, I was merely putting it up there to cover all the potential bases. Naturally the final say is up to the GM, of course.

As Maelchar continues to talk to Garith, Ryu continues to explore the room beyond the east doorway...

Maelchar has no trouble smashing the holy symbols to bits and pieces. After the final blow a piece of one of the holy symbols breaks off and flies through the air hitting Maelchar in the cheek and scratching him drawing a faint trickle of blood. The odds of that happening are so slim that you wonder if something else caused it to happen that way. As it is just a scratch though nothing more is made of it. No hp loss

Ryu and Oriana don their new armors to better prepare themselves for the rest of the den of mongrelmen. The time it takes drops the active spells up that Pakak and Oriana had cast.

After his new armor is on Ryu heads to the eastern foor and swings it wide open. A muted roar echoes down the walls of this hallway. Near the eastern end, the worked stone gives way to natural cave walls, just before the hall ends at an open shaft going down. Hanging over the edge of the shaft is a knotted rope-the other end tied to an iron spike driven in to the ground next to the shaft.

new map

Ryu shrugs at the presence of the cavern with the spike and rope.

He turns from the door back to this companions and shuts it behind him.

"Nothing down there but a steep tunnel and rope," he says to the others.

"And I thin there was something down the pit roaring. Whatever, right?" he says shrugging with a wide grin.

He turns and heads south toward the room that Zeriax had mentioned before.

He pauses at the door, expecting a trap, and turns to his companions.

"Banzai, savvy?" he says with a wink.

He moves to U:21 and swings the door open; his back pressed against the wall for cover.

"Helloooo biches; you ready to party?" he says with a cheerful voice as he peeks around the corner, his sword loose in his hands.

DM Var, Oriana had moved to O:19 at last round, but the current map has her at P:18 for some reason. Thanks.

Oriana listened to Ryu disclose his findings in the other cavern. When he closed the door and changed directions, toward the other closed door, she wondered silently why he would not investigate the sound/roar he had heard from the pit. She let the thought go as she moved back through the opening she had come through, following behind Ryu, preparing herself for what lay beyond the door there.

Oriana moved to W:20, morningstar in hand.

Maelchar wipes the streak of blood from his cheek with a minor wince of pain. Waiting patiently for the others to don their new armor, the weapon in his hand shrinks away to nothing and he finishes the wait weaponless.

"Shouldn't we check out what's down that rope before we move on?" he wonders aloud. When the others don't listen to him, he takes that in stride and waits for a commitment to a new direction. When they go to the other room, he moves as well, stopping at V18, waiting for the door to be opened.

She moved back through the opening she had come through, following behind Ryu, preparing herself for what lay beyond the door there.

Ret-con with Oriana

Seeing that she is following, he keeps walking but talks to her over his shoulder as he quickly moves south.

"Best thing for tomb-raiding, Angel - you take each floor, one at a time. We head up or down, we may get lost if we have to backtrack."

"Also, don't want to head down a rope or up a ladder only to find something coming up or down after us as we're climbing, right?"

"Gods damn, Angel, it's a pain to fight when you're climbing, be it on ship's rigging to a rickety ladder."

"So we get a floor cleared, than we can we can go up or down, neh?" he says with a wink to her.

"Shouldn't we check out what's down that rope before we move on?"

Ret-con with Maelchar

"Oh come on, mellow out, Mal," he says with a pleasant voice.

"Didn't you hear me give Angel the rundown just now? Hell brother, you got to listen to folks, savvy? I mean, the gods gave you two ears and one mouth for a reason, right?" he says with a grin as he moves south.

"Besides, what's the plan? We all climb down the rope? Well, what if we all start climbing the rope there and on the way down maybe we find it's chopped from above by them we don't get first now and we take a long fall to a fast death."

"While I'm thinking on it, if there's no one in the south room, I'd pick the ladder next. It's safer to climb and easier to handle."

"But worst case scenario is that we all die horribly; but what the hell neh boss? I mean, we all gotta go sometime, and today's a good day to die, savvy?" he adds as he takes up his position and swings the door open.

And back to U:21 with door opened and peeking around for partial cover.

sigh, since my post came first, there's no way I could have heard you talk to Oriana before I spoke

"Maybe should have pulled the rope up though so nothing could climb up behind us while we check out this other room first, eh? Just a thought."

He takes up his position outside the door about to be opened... ready to react to whatever might be inside. (not a readied action, of course, since we're not in combat, just saying he's alert and aware of what's around him.)

Oriana observes him with her keen, golden eyes and nods her head once, and then quietly responds,"I will abide by this plan of yours, Ryu Tadamasa. We will investigate the ladder and pit after we have finished, here."

Her eyes light on her brother, Mael, and she notes his words to Ryu with another nod. Maelchar's suggestion that the rope should have been lifted so nothing could climb out of the pit was a sound one. But it did not matter now as they had moved away. She gives a silent pray, Iomedae, may whatever creature lies within the pit not stumble up and out.

Oriana is ready to react, as well, once Ryu opens the door.

sigh, since my post came first, there's no way I could have heard you talk to Oriana before I spoke.

"Maybe should have pulled the rope up though so nothing could climb up behind us while we check out this other room first, eh? Just a thought."

More Ret-con.

Ryu's eyes widen in surprise.

"Hell Mal, that's a pisser of an idea," he says enthusiastically and with a wide smile.

"You want to go haul up the rope while I head south than move up fast to offer cover?"

"You don't even need to haul it far; just about twenty feet of length than coil the rope around the spike. Unless whatever's below can jump up to reach twenty feet, they won't be able to climb it."

"Nice job with the idea," he adds.

I'm sorry, Mal. For some reason when I saw your post about me and Oriana not listening to the comment you made after we already posted, I thought you meant that meant that you wanted me and Oriana to ret-con your words before we continued. Oh well, sorry about that, I just got completely confused about your post is all.

Oh well, it's all good now, though :)

"Hold on here... wait for me to get back." Maelchar heads to the hole and pulls the rope up about 20-30 feet and ties it off around the spike... then heads back to V18, unless the door was opened before he returned.

Oriana watched Mael's form as he began moving away to deal with the rope. "Be careful, brother" she whispered after his form, then waiting for his return.

"I will abide by this plan of yours, Ryu Tadamasa. ."

Ryu turns from the door just before he opens it, offering her somewhat surprised look.

"Damn, Angel, you talk just like a poxing daimyo sometimes, you know?" he says.

"I mean, you know, kind of all poetic with your lingo. I like it!"

He thinks a moment.

"Hail the sword kami -"
"Heart blooms; like blood in battle"
"Behold - Tetsu-ko"

"I like poetry, too, Angel," he adds with a sly grin.

Pakak merely observes for now, as his services are more needed to stay near their charges.

Oriana was somewhat taken aback by Ryu's reference to her poetic expression. She had never heard anyone speak of her oratory in such a fashion, for she often spoke sparingly and with a straight tact.

"Poetry is something So'rien is most passionate about, Ryu Tadamasa. My words are not eloquent like his."

Upon hearing him recite a quick verse, Oriana responded in equal quiet manner, "I will remember your fondness for poetry."

She often spoke sparingly and with a straight tact...

Ryu grins at her.

”Poet or Kensai”
”Use skill sparingly; Perfect - ”
”If they find their mark…”

”Passion ain’t nothing but a window to the soul and I figure poetry ain’t nothing but the brains to open the window a little, Angel,” he adds.

Obviously the tall human was not going to let the subject drop until she contributed poetry of her own, even as they waited for Maelchar to return and the others to proceed to the lower, original cavern where they stood so Ryu could open the door.

"Many things can open the window to the soul. I would suggest daily prayer and dedication, Ryu Tadamasa." But behind the fixed, golden gaze, there was a hint, a spark of jest, if one looked closely enough.

"Only you would think to recite poetry at such a time. So be it. I shall reply in kind this once, and, then we must concentrate on the task at hand, Ryu Tadamasa."

Oriana's mind moved to a earlier time, when a young male acolyte at the Temple, told her stories and read her poems written by great bards throughout the centuries.

Her words were softly spoken and precise for this was her first deliverance of such lines, and she wondered if she would remember them whole.

"The vessel is an incomplete gift, neither empty nor full. It is longing for its rightful counterpart, for then it will not easily break."

Then she looked across the space to observe if Mael was fastly approaching and fixed her stance in case it was time to discover what lay beyond the door.

When Maelchar makes the decision to double back and pull the rope out from the well in the previous room, Zeriax does not say a word, but follows him closely, keeping watch over their surroundings.

When they approach the hole, he looks down and listens momentarily.

Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (18) + 9 = 27 <- (+10 vs. Traps / +11 vs. Evil Outsiders)

Next actions will probably depend if there is anything to be seen or heard, but:

He then offers his assistance in pulling the rope up.

More ret-con until door is opened

As the door poises precariously on its hinges, ready to swing open and reveal danger or nothing at all, Ryu feels the eternity between breaths that can last when life is immortal or sudden death inevitable.

For him, time stands still – even the split second between action and death or between the peaceful, perfect pause before all calamity pours forth is enormous.

He knows that in such moments of time, that in hair’s breath before certain doom and the ever-present now that hangs on the edge of life is better able to taste life more completely.

And in the time to suckle at life’s bounty, there is always time for poetry…

”Empty vessels needed to be filled, eh? Hell, yeah – I hear you, Angel!” he says with a wink.

Thinking a moment, he responds to the sentiment of filling an empty vessel.

”Sword; Sheath – Yin and Yang”
”Beautiful; but incomplete”
”If they are alone”

”A sheath is complete”
”Yet not; unless it is filled”
”Empty? Serves no purpose!”

”Yet warriors know;”
”Their swords may be sheathed better”
”In an enemy…”

”Life is movement; movement is action; battle is action and movement that forces us to live each moment best, for it may be our last.”

”So battle is poetry, Angel. As for me? Hell, I’m just keeping up the momentum as we keep on swinging, savvy?” he adds with a grin.

Pakak is developing a silent appreciation for Zeriax. There's something almost dwarf like about the fellow's stoicism. He is... grounded. Yes, that was the word.

Looking to the three charges, he asks, "Are you all well?"

Ryu turns his head and glances at Pakak toward the rear.

Stonekin's right; duty first - no chit-chat.

That said, he presses his lips together and waits by the door and will simply remain silent until something is revealed...

So we checked out the east facing door in the north room after the sleeping-bags. THere is a ladder going up in that room, and a rope going down.
confirming that the area J/K:18 is that the rope ladder?

We are now looking at the east-facing door in the sleeping bag room, right?

Positions for this? Garith can take point and be in front opening the door with Ria, Mael, and Ryu right behind so they have minimum movement to get into the frey. Then Zeriax and Pakak, pakak could be farther back with the civilians if he wants? That work? Garith can open the door once people agree, of offer other ideas.

"Are we prepared?"

Garith: here's a quick update -

Ryu moved to hide in the corner of the doorway to open it U:21 - he opened the door to check it for hostiles.

At the same time, Oriana moved to offer protection to Ryu when he went to the door at W:20.

As we advanced to the door and Maelchar pulled up the rope, he moved to offer us aid to V:18 (assuming that nothing climbs out of the shaft).

Zeriax offered Mal protection at the shaft with his bow; he stated that his final Coordinates were dependent on what (if anything) was on or near the shaft.

With little to offer at this time specifically, Pakak remained at his current position to offer protection/ease to the nobles we were guarding.

Although things were moving fast, at this point we than engaged in a little social RP via "Ret-con" for when the GM advanced the map.

At this point if you're at V:20 that puts you between Oriana and Ryu when he opens the door. Mael is 10 feet to the west of the doorway.

In "In-Game" RP the action is moving pretty fast right now, although during this time, Ryu's blabbing some haiku to inspire himself into a zen-like trance for when/if he needs to rage.

But again, he's up for any social RP if you'd like :)