Variel's WotR

Game Master Neltji

Ryu watches the cultists; his eyes narrow.

Willpower save
1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22

As he is adjacent to the cultists, he decides to show them rage.

Attack against cultists - adding Rage via Dexterity and Bonus to being adjacent to more than one enemy
1d20 + 2 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 2 + 6 + 1 = 22

If it hits -
1d6 + 2 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 2 + 6 = 12

sorry about last night's roll - I mistyped it and fell asleep... here we go again:

will save: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6
will save: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24

Using my one time boon of roll twice, take the better roll...

Maelchar shakes off the effect of the hold spell and takes a step forward to attack the cultists again, keeping them at reach with his hammer.

to hit: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15
dmg if hits: 1d12 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

Sorry everyone, I fell asleep myself putting my 3 year old to bed and woke up this morning still there. Took me a minute to realize what happened. Anyways...

Believe me, I know exactly what that is. It happened with my oldest one, and now we have a repetition with the youngest - Daddy goes to put the girls to sleep, and doesn't reappear until next morning :D

Maelchar and Ryu both drop their opponents leaving just the one still standing.

Pakak frowns as he sees a spell being cast on his friends. I dare not use a fire spell so close to these treasures.

Spellcraft to identify the spell just cuz 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (6) + 9 = 15

A beam of light streaks forth and then forks, splitting into two and striking two different foes. If he can, he'll seek to strike ones already wounded. If he hits the cultist that cast the spell, so much the better.

Magic Missile #1 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3
MM #2 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

will: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21
"Fool," Garith says
Taking a 5' step and attacking
Radiance: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18
For 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5
And a bash for good measure
Bash: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13
For 1d3 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Oriana runs forward and attacks the remaining cultist with her magical morningstar.

Attack with +1 morningstar: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26
Damage, if hits: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

Confirm crit: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21
Additional damage, if hits: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11

As if on cue after Ryu and Maelchar drop a foe each, the third healthy one is pummeled quickly by a magic missile, a slash from a glowing sword, and a massive bash to the head from a Morningstar.

Looking around you see that the combat was over so quickly that it did not raise the notice of any others that may be nearby

On the three bodies you find a total of 3 studded leather armors, 3 glaives, 3 holy symbols of Baphomet, 36 gp in coins.

note to self...So much for the random encounter of three level 3 clerics. Must do better next time. Only 1 spell used and 1 round of rage expended...

Oriana wiped her magical morningstar clean and turned her attention to her kinsman, Garith; her voice low,

"Cousin, sunder those evil holy symbols with Radiance before we continue."

She moves the side lest shards hit her.

"Aye" Garith says with a nod and slashes through the unholy symbols. "Let us collect their coin and be off."

"Perhaps we should not hang back quite so far," Garith says. "Or if there is a threat, Zeriax, if you signal us we can attempt to advance more quietly. If they come for us and miss you you can take the foe by surprise from behind and flank them as they ready for our frontal assault?" garith inquires.

Ria, what teamwork feat do you have on right now?

I'll try to get the loot list updated this week, if not sooner. Going to note what we could sell off. And flag anything beyond the max we can get from the community so we know how much we would be donating.

I have Precise Strike right now as my teamwork feat. I can swap it for something else (3 times a day).

Onward to the library then? Or anything else you want to do before you get there?

Where is the Zeru residence in relation to us and the library?

I will update the map later but for now their home is nw of L.

With the deaths of the cultists from the massive damage no new information can be gleaned about the state Kenebras is in. Without much more to do then the group continues on its way to the Blackwing Library. The rest of the trip is uneventful and you make it in good time.

Unfortunately, Blackwing now lies in ruins-all that remains standing is the Librarium's facade and its reinforced great hall. The majority of Blackwing has crumbled to rubble, with only the main hall still standing, its vaulted ceiling sturdy enough to keep this fragment of the whole intact. Curiously, the buildings surrounding Blackwing seem not to have been as damaged-it's as though some force singled out Blackwing for destruction.

When word of this description is relayed to Aravashinal, he collapses in a heap next to one of the standing buildings nearby. All of our work and all of my friends and companions gone. Men and women I have spent years studying with, training with, and protecting the city with, all gone. Surely Kenebras is doomed indeed. He refuses to get up and enter the Library with you until you have cleaned out he bodies of the dead as he does not want to stumble upon one and without his sight not know who it is. The torment would be too much for him.

The front door to the main hall hangs ajar and the brash sound of a male voice barks orders, Stack the damn books better! Poking your head in you see a man issueing orders to what appears to be a librarian digging in the corner of the rubble. In the center of the room 5 more librarians lie tied and gagged on the floor surrounded by three tieflings. The tieflings each have a shortsword out and pointing towards one of the bound librarians.

man issuing orders

map of what is left of the library

Map of Kenebras with Zeru Household listed in the North

Seeing the tieflings standing guard over the bound librarians, Maelchar immediately forms his weapon and casts lead blades on it, moving forward when Garith does)

I should have also indicated that you have a surprise action as they do not see you yet. Maelchar, I will take this as your surprise action as it is a swift and a standard. As this is a bit more extensive I will roll init for everyone once I get surprise rounds for people. Also since I did not get an update last night, the bonus reroll will extend till your first round in the combat. I must be getting soft in my old age.

DM Variel, what time is it in game at present? Are we still in the night (when we ate and left the Descendants to reach the surface)? I'm wondering because of spells etc.

It is about an hour before sunset. Last I saw people wanted to press on before they slept.

"Perhaps we should not hang back quite so far," Garith says. "Or if there is a threat, Zeriax, if you signal us we can attempt to advance more quietly. If they come for us and miss you you can take the foe by surprise from behind and flank them as they ready for our frontal assault?" garith inquires.

"I will do so friend Garith - it will probably cause us to lose some of the surprise effect, but we are definitely safer in numbers, as the city seems completely overrun with cultists, and who knows what else"

Looking at the dead corpses, he adds - "We really should try to take one of our opponents alive - I am sure there is much information that can be garnered, which may prove invaluable to us"

----------------------

As they move further along to the Library, Zeriax maintains his routine, the group now in a tighter formation. As the situation inside the room is identified, the monk attempts to relay it to his companions as silently as possible, lifting four fingers up, and mmaking a "throat slice gesture". Then he adds in a whisper - "They have captives" - stringing his bow, and nocking an arrow.

"Can one of us free the hostages while the other distracts?" Pakak whispers back

Glancing down at his armor, taken from a dead foe, Garith supposes this may be a time for guile. Using the power of his scale, Garith transforms into a wicked looking tiefing, hornes, red skin and yellow eyes.

Making a signal for the others to hide, Garith prepares to enter, whispering, "I'll try and send them out to you" with a vicious fanged grin.

I got the +7 to bluff and alter self makes me look like a tiefling. I'll tell em. There's some crusaders outside that somehow managed to survife the attack. Send the tiefling out after em.

Var, should I post what garith says or wait till the others act?

Not only you look like a tiefling, you have +2 to STR, right? Alter Self is sooooo cool ;)

With Garith's transformation into a tiefling, Oriana moves to hide and be ready to attack with her magical morningstar as the enemy passed. Or if Garith ordered her so, she would slip in to free the librarians and remove them from danger while the others fought the tieflings.

So wait a minute, the lawful good paladin is being deceitful and lying to further his cause? Wow... Go ahead and post your action Gartih but it won't happen till after the others finish their surprise round.

Also is no one takes any overt actions against the tieflings inside of the cavalier then they will not notice your presence. As such even if they go before you in Init they aren't doing anything as there is nothing to alert them.

its the best kind of lie too. The truth.

Garith gives his team a signal to get ready for an ambush, and once they clear the doorway he enters, saying, "there's a crew of crusaders wanderin' rount out there. Gotta get out there ta attack. I can stay here with the prisoners, but I'm in no condition to fight em." pointing to the door, breathing hard and looking harried.

FYI - Ryu would have likely attacked, but as of now he is "holding action" until he gets the tip from Garith on what he (Ryu) is supposed to be doing. For now, as there is a plan, he will simply wait for orders.

As it is truth I will allow either a diplomacy or bluff check to try and get them to do what you want them to do Garith.

Gogo master bluffer :D

diplomacy: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (18) + 9 = 27
Since I got an even better dip than bluff, even with the scale's bonus.

Ryu, garith indicated that he'd try to get the enemy outside for an ambush by the party so good guys should try to prep for ambush!

Okay, Ryu will move to K:4 with his weapon ready and (if possible) will Take 20 on a stealth check to hide. If that is not possible, he will Take 10 for net of 17 for stealth.

Zeriax moves away from the door, to take a more distanced position, in case the ruse is successful.

I am on the same boat as Ryu - moving away, trying to find a place to hide that does not put me further than 30' away from the entrance if there is any - O:4 or O:3 - something like that. Not sure if we can take 10 or 20 in this situation, if yes it is a 18 or 28 for Zeriax's stealth.

I am on the same boat as Ryu...

Actually, Zeriax - given the situation, I'd say it was a ship, not a boat... oh wait; you meant that metaphorically. My bad ;)

Daughters fourth birthday tomorrow and party tonight so will get a post up and a new map once she gets to sleep tonight. May be a bit later than usual though.

Happy Birthday to your eldest. :)

As there would only be a short time till they come out the door taking 20 would take too long so you get the take 10 result.

Garith, under the guise of a fellow tiefling, enters the library with the perfect poise and attitude of one who wishes to spread mayhem and death among the weak and inept. Chaleb doesn't even bother to questions you so thrilled is he with the news that he can prey upon crusaders at a time like this. Excellent, spilling their blood will only hasten the inevitable meeting I will have with the demons. Once I meet with them, they will grant me their power to continue to spread destruction in their name. Quickly then, pointing to two of the tieflings, grab your crossbows and prepare to fire from the entrance while I engage them in melee. pointing to the last and to Garith You shall join me outside moving to flank positions. Hurry now positions and tie up that last librarian!!

As the tieflings rush to do his bidding, Chaleb picks up a small banner resting on the ground. Hanging it against the bookshelves he turns to draws his heavy mace positioning himself by the front door. Seeing that the tieflings are ready, he throws the door open looking for the nearest foe he can engage. There before him is Ryu crouched low to avoid detect but not good enough to hide from his piercing gaze.

Surprise round Bad guys rolled higher
Laughing at the ineptitude before him, Chaleb announces, Fools, how dare you think to outwit me and my clan of tieflings. You thought you could spy on me but I knew you were there. I was told of your presence and have come to destroy you all. Flee now before I make sport of you and sacrifice you to the dark gods above.

Dazzling display intimidation check on all result of 28 vs 10+HD+wis mod. Everyone but Sir Garith is sshaken for 3 roudns + the surprise round.

Good guys up surprise round actions only

library fight new map. Grey brick is rubble and impassible.

Maelchar takes a 5' step forward and attacks the fellow threatening Ryu.

to hit: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (13) + 3 = 16
dmg if hits: 3d6 + 3 ⇒ (2, 6, 6) + 3 = 17

Surprise Round

Oriana takes a 5 ft step to K:7 and attacks the tiefling at J:6.

Attack with +1 morningstar: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9
Damage, if hits: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

but her aim is awry.

which round should i go on? Enemy or Good Guy? Do i take a surprise action?
Among the enemy is Garith wearing the face of a tiefling, standing with a scimitar drawn, ready to fight!

If I get to go in this surprise round

Zeriax wrote:

I am on the same boat as Ryu...

Actually, Zeriax - given the situation, I'd say it was a ship, not a boat... oh wait; you meant that metaphorically. My bad ;)

Hehe... Let's hope it is a smooth sailing then :D

I am assuming we are entitled a surprise round action:

Zeriax takes careful aim, and lets fly a single arrow at the foe face to face with Ryu - Cut the head, and the body will die - he remembered his master's words, even though pertaining to an unrelated matter they applied perfectly.

Longbow Attack w/ PB Shot and Deadly Aim: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23Damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10

If the leader is an outsider, and evil, Zeriax favoured enemy would kick in, making the results 25 to hit and 12 damage

Ryu shrugs at their efforts to intimidate him.

Despite their bluster, he is not impressed.

Free action Ryu will rage and move to J:5 and attack the guy at J:6.

1d20 + 11 ⇒ (20) + 11 = 31

If it hits -
1d6 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11

EDIT: Confirm Critical -
1d20 + 11 ⇒ (9) + 11 = 20

If it hits -
1d6 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10

nice crit and a good time for it

Correction to my hit numbers above: should be -2 due to being shaken.

Ryu, you can not take a move action and an attack in the surprise round. Also a 5ft step is not allowed going through a hard corner. Thus you are able to move into the library at this time and can keep you attack roll for round 1.

Garith your actions are acceptable and will resolve then the tieflings take their turn on round 1 still allowing you to use the readied action with them flat-footed. However Ryu's entrance will change things a bit as you will see.

Surprise round recap
Maelchar takes a step forward and uses his reach with the Lucerne hammer to take a swing at the cavalier. However the man's armor protects him from the blow. Oriana steps up a pace as well and swings at the tiefling in the doorway. Not expecting such a hasty attack the tiefling barely avoids the attack through sheer luck. Zeriax has better luck and pierces the amored man with a well placed arrow inspite of being shaken at the man's words and threats. Moving into a position to capture the doorway Ryu opens himself up for a attack by the man but the heavy mace fails to connect with you. Pakak brings up his protective aura shielding those within 10 feet of himself from harm. Tiefling Garith bides his time as he waits for the other tieflings to act to gain the surprise on them.

Top of Round 1 bad guys.
Seeing Ryu advance into the library, Chaleb and the tieflings target him exclusively hoping to neutralize the threat before focusing on the others. Those with crossbows drop them and draw shortswords. Each of them take a step to the side to set up flanking for everyone. The pain starts with Chaleb as he brings the heavy mace down with much force shattering Ryu's arm. (12 damage dealt) This is closely followed up by the 3 tielfings all attacking in concert. One of them manages to slip a blade into an exposed area and hits the chest cavity with the well located blow. (11 damage dealt due to sneak attack)

Garith uses the opportunity to switch the palying field around throwing mayhem into the tieflings ranks. He hits the tiefling for 6 damage and now is a threat for that must be dealt with.

Bottom of round 1, all good guys up including Garith as it was a readied action...
Ryu you can keep your attack if you want from before if you like. However I need to know how you are getting +11? +3bab, +6dex due to rage, +1crowd control, -2shaken, -1 power attack

library map, bottom of round 1

Maelchar casts Protection from Evil once per day SLA and prepares to attack again next round.

sigh, mice and men and all that i guess...
Since i didn't get to make an AoO, can i keep my re-roll? maybe use it for my first attack here?
Garith will lay into the tiefling between he and Ryu with as much force as possible

slash: 1d20 + 7 + 2 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (4) + 7 + 2 + 1 - 2 = 12 attack+flank+celestial crusader-TWF
for 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9

bash: 1d20 + 7 + 2 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (16) + 7 + 2 + 1 - 2 = 24
for 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

then he takes a 5' step into the building to i:6 opening the flank for someone else while Ryu attacks the leader. that was your target right?

As a swift action, Oriana pronounces the Justice Judgment (in conjunction with Judgment Surge feat).

She takes a 5 ft step to J:7 and now flanking with Ryu attacks the same tiefling as before at J:6.

Attack with +1 morningstar: 1d20 + 5 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 5 + 2 + 2 = 21 (+2 for flank, +2 for Justice Judgment with Judgment Surge)
Damage, if hits: 1d8 + 4 + 1d6 ⇒ (1) + 4 + (6) = 11 (additional 1d6 re Precise Strike if successful melee attack)

Wow, where to begin!

First - I'd like to see a copy of the rule that says something about "hard corners". I've never seen nor heard of that rule; so I'd kind of like to see a copy of it so I can understand the game better before I take combat actions in the future, especially as this rule has created a fail for my character in a "Surprise Round".

As it stands, the library has a set of "Double Doors". The doorway covers grid 5/6, so he moved through the open doorway. And of course, I'm still having trouble with this "hard corner" rule; but I would like to see it for the future.

Second, as it's impossible to move and attack for some reason via a 5 foot step, I wouldn't have moved and attacked, and I wouldn't have moved at all. There would be no purpose in moving into the library if i can't do anything, because it simply would have opened my up for attacks, so if I wasn't able to attack, I wouldn't have moved on the enemies "Surprise Round" - because that would really have made it a "Surprise Round" for the enemy if moving five feet does nothing but opens me to an attack.

That said, the attacks wouldn't have been able to hit me, because I wouldn't have been standing there.

Also, when I looked at the map I didn't realize that the guy at K:5 was a bad guy. If I had, I would have used my Readied Action to hit him when he stepped through the door - because that's literally what Ryu's plan was - to use his Readied Action to ambush an enemy who came through the door (I stated in an earlier posting).

In this case, it would have been the enemy at K:5 - and Ryu wouldn't have needed to move, he would have taken his readied action on the surprise round and simply hit the guy before the guy could get his "surprise round" roll and use a "Full Action" to try dazzling display.

Since that action would have happened before the guy had a chance to use a Full Round Action in a Surprise Round (I'm still unclear how he is able to use a Full Round Action in a surprise round, though) it probably would have interrupted his ability to use that power via an AoO, and I believe that Mal could have done the same thing, because if an enemy wants to use a Full Round action while in Melee range without actually attacking I think it kind of opens them up for an AoO.

This is going to take a bit of ret-con, unfortunately, but the whole business about the "hard corner" rule - coupled with the nuance of a surprise move not allowing me to swing the sword that I had out and ready for an ambush; coupled with the fact that the enemy was able to make a Full Round Action on his surprise move really threw the action for a loop... sorry, it's just all very confusing.