He lashes out with his now enchanted sword.
[Morning, Thistletop, 8th Day After Goblin Raid, Round 2, Thistletop Level One]
Hakak shrugs off the effects of the hound’s bite. But his attack fails to connect, as his foe cavorts about in a fury above his head.
Nich also suffers no other effects from the bite, and lands a blow. However, the beast’s hide is hardly nicked.
Hakak’s hound reaches down and tears into the half-orc again (13 hp dmg). Its tail whips out fast like a snake, curls about Hakak’s ankle and sends the warrior crashing to the floor. The second hound reaches down to Nicholae with a snapping maw, but ends up with a shield slammed up against its face.
Selia fires another arrow, which goes right to the beast’s heart. Amazingly, it bounces off the animal’s hide, leaving no more wound than a bruised dimple. The hound howls in surprise anyway.
Astonished at your plight, Jubrayl calls upon the power of his god. With divine strength, he lands a mortal blow upon your opponent. The hound still fights, but the fell light in its eyes is dimmed and its feral face is drawn by fear.
Ned and Lleidr are still running; at this point, they’re up the steps and are running past the horse stabled in the goblin’s courtyard.
NOTE – no image update since the tokens haven’t moved (with the exception of Ned and Lleidr).
The priest calls on the blessings of his goddess as he strives to land another blow on the beast he hit before.
Attack
Damage
Confirmation
Attack
Damage
"So, this is the 'jogging' thing all you kids are into." Ned says to Lledr, huffing and puffing up the stairs, "I'm not sure I see the appeal."
[Morning, Thistletop, 8th Day After Goblin Raid, Round 2, Thistletop Level One]
Sprawled upon the ground, Hakak carefully lifts himself up, assuming a defensive posture (no action received; AoOs miss). Swinging his axe, the half-orc delivers a terrific swipe of his axe, but the uncanny hides of these creatures absorb much of the damage.
Nich hews the head off his opponent. Its body crumples to the ground and begins to dissolve in a black mist, disappearing into the shadowed buttresses above you.
Seeing its companion perish, the remaining hound turns on Nicholae, its eyes glowering with murderous rage. Its muzzle smashes into Nich, getting under his shield, delivering a terrible wound (10 hp dmg), and knocking the cleric to the ground.
Jubrayl runs into the unholy chapel to engage the hound. His axe swing is too slow to catch the beast.
Selia runs up behind Nich, bestowing a holy touch. Nicholae feels some strength returning.
Lleidr and Ned have both run atop the nearest guard tower, when the panic subsides. Both take a deep breath, wiping the sweat off their brows. Your legs are still wobbly, but the terror has passed.
Selia restored 7 hp to Nich
Yeah, sorry, I assumed axe at first, but then re-calc'd your damage based on your sword and then forgot to edit the description. So even though I said 'axe', it really was your sword. sorry about that.
Nicholae stays on the ground and takes Full Defense, trying to hide under his shield.
"So...Nice view from up here, eh?
Ned will start back towards the battle as fast as he can on his wobbly legs
Lleidr will take a second to take in the view, the deep blue of the sky, the smell of the ocean breeze wafting through his hair, the far off call of gulls...and then follow after Ned.
[Morning, Thistletop, 8th Day After Goblin Raid, Round 2, Thistletop Level One]
Hakak’s sword smashes into the hound’s hide. Its corrupted flesh resists the blade, leaving a smaller wound than you’d usually expect.
Nich deftly uses his shield to fend off the beast’s ravages.
Snarling and yipping, the black hound hammers against Nicholae’s shield, but to no effect.
Jubrayl’s axe rips into the hound’s flank, who lets loose with a horrific yell.
Selia takes out her crossbow and moves into the chapel.
Lledir and Ned are about 1/3 of the way back.
Nicholae seeing that the creatures are focused on him and not his allies, continues to take full defence under the shield.
"So...more jogging. Still not enjoying it."
Lleidr will continue to make his way back to the group as quickly as possible.
[Morning, Thistletop, 8th Day After Goblin Raid, Round 5, Thistletop Level One]
Hakak’s swing proves a bit slow for the beast, while Nicholae still clutches his shield for protection.
Again, the beast’s fangs rake the Nich’s shield, but otherwise, the cleric is unarmed.
Jubrayl’s axe bites deep, eliciting a gush of black ichor from a new wound, which spatters the stone floor. The unnatural gore puddles and then evaporates in a dark fog. The beast appears terribly wounded.
Selia fires another crossbow bolt, but to no effect.
Lleidr and Ned reach the bottom of the staircase, and are looking into the map room. The southeastern door has just shut in front of you. There’s the faint sound of quickened footfalls beyond, but those fade away.
NOTE – refer to the prior image; no movement was done.
"Hey wait up! We're on our way!
Lleidr will ponder why they shut the door after them, anything to distract him from the stitch in his side all this running has given him and the nausea it's threatening to cause. But he'll keep pumping his short legs in an effort to keep up with Ned.
I need actions from Hakak and Nich to proceed ,but my guess is that Nich will keep using full defense while prone.
Indeed.
[Morning, Thistletop, 8th Day After Goblin Raid, Round 6, Thistletop Level One]
Hakak delivers a killing blow to the emaciated wolf-like beast, and its flesh dissipates into the same type of foul mist as its brother. NOTE – let’s assume Nich stands up now.
From outside the chapel, you all catch a glimpse of a small group dressed in matching cloaks in a near run, passing by the double doors. The cloaked figures go straight south.
Crossbow at the ready, Selia runs outside the chapel, shouting, “Stop! Who are you?”
Jubrayl follows, and stands ready to attack, should they come near.
leidr and Ned are close to rejoining the party, but as they near the chapel, both spy a group of identical cloaked figures yanking upon the same handle on the door lying at the end of the south passage.
Nicholae gives chase.
Halt!!!
Lleidr will duck into the corridor to the east to get out of Ned's way.
Nich, you can reach this group of identically cowled humans, all apparently dark skinned humans, of a lithe female shape. They're opening the door, intent on pushing through.
"So sorry," comes a single voice, although the mouths all move in unison. "I don't think my boss wants me to stick around with you lot."
Nich has a free attack, if you wish to take it.
The women look like this.
And, i forgot to mention, they're followed by a small, white cat.
Knowledge religion
To Fight is one thing, striking fleeing figures with no understanding is wrong and yields no favour with The Inheritor.
Who or what are you?
Nich, you are unaware of any religious significance to this group's appearance or behavior.
They run in unison across the first room you explored, stopping in front of the middle door on the south wall. Once again, the group simultaneously reaches for the door handle.
"Orik," a single voice cries out. "Orik, get up here. We have company. Hound-killing company!" In perfect synchronization, the group cranes their necks backwards and their faces all betray an identical grimace of apprehension and fear.
NOTE - So, that's the NPCs' actions. Next up are Ned, Lleidr, Selia and Jubrayl. And, then a new round, with Nich and Hakak acting.
"Seriously, you're weirding me out. Um, so who's coming?"
You're not sure what magical effect is at play here, if any.
Lleidr will make his own Spellcraft roll
then ready the FoE (free action), enhance it with Arcane Strike (swift action), and make a double move, 7 squares south and 1 square southeast (no roll to move through square with ally in it) to end up adjacent to the fleeing woman.
Arg will then use his move action to change from tattoo to animal form and attempt to grapple the cat following the woman.
As the monkey grabs the cat, Lleidr will say in his most threatening voice, "Give up now, or the kitty gets it!"
[Morning, Thistletop, 8th Day After Goblin Raid, Round 8, Part 2, Thistletop Level One]
Lleidr races down the hall, and his diminutive primate familiar snatches up the lady’s hissing cat. The spell in effect appears to be Mirror Image.
Selia does a double move into the room with Lleidr.
Jubrayl takes a 5’ step, then moves into the room, also next to the cloaked mystic veiled in illusion. He readies a strike should she act with hostile intent.
Hakak, Nich, you’re next!
Nicholae moves to flank with Jubrayl... Stand still, offer no violence and let us know if you be friend or foe.
[Morning, Thistletop, 8th Day After Goblin Raid, Round 9, Part 1, Thistletop Level One]
As Hakak and Nich sprint into the chamber, the cloaked ladies in perfect unison open the door, and attempt to run down the hallway. Nich and Jubrayl each get an attack of Opportunity.
Jurbayl attempts a grapple (which triggers an AoO from the lady). Several daggers appear from multiple cloaks as the paladin reaches out (1 hp dmg). His arms reach out and his hands latch onto thin air, causing one of the figures to vanish.
Nich – free AoO if you wish to take it
Nicholae attempts a non lethal strike.
Lleidr is adjacent to the mystery woman as well, and has the FoE readied. Unless there's something I'm missing, he'll take an AoO on her as she flees.
oh yeah, you're right. Sorry, Lleidr.
Yes, the grapple removed one of the images.
[Morning, Thistletop, 8th Day After Goblin Raid, Round 9, Part 1 epilogue, Thistletop Level One]
Nich's strike falls short, however, Lleidr’s dagger pierces the veil of illusion masking your prey; now only 3 cloaked women remain. With the door swung wide, the ladies run down a passage and disappear around a corridor. A single voice continues to shout, “Orik! Orik, hurry, the hounds are dead and their killers are here.” From the gloom, you hear fists pounding on a door. Arcane light emanating from the women spills across the corner.
I need actions from Selia, Jubrayl, Lleidr and Ned.