A Push of the Fates.... Zakhara... You Jewel!

Game Master Insnare

Is Zairiah the openning salvo, so I can get this combat going. I can just roll for REs...

Yes. Zairiah drawing first blood (and Fadilah doing the same magically), and the sheikh blocking the way forward is the plan.

As long as they both agree.

Naturally, of course. I also believe most of us have compelling reasons to do this: wealth (those two eyes are gemstones that cost 3,000 each, with potential to value higher if sold well), suppression of evil (any wanderer will cause more sacrifices and unnecessary deaths), suppression of chaos (this idol will be a centerpiece for evil anti-enlightenment cults), and the adventurers' natural inclination for completionism (closing every loose thread).
I just don't want to be the only guy who is pushing the party to a possible doom/TPK

I get it. I think Paritosh wrote it succinctly which makes sense, the paladin going in half cocked because the evil statue... people can get behind the fervor and bailing out the character but the plan to put a good deal of people at risk in a confined space is another matter. I was just checking your use of the camel which would not work in these spaces and the rod which as the group discussed not too long ago. But if you want to swing the sword and see what happens I am cool about that too.

I understand his point, but the smaller space puts more constrains on Ibn Taaib's behavior (both in ability to kite as well as camel use).
He is paladin but also a sheikh, so he must balance fervor with responsibility of protecting the party.
In other words, Lawful Good not Lawful Stupid.

Oh there will be piñata charging, but it will be on a later stage. Partosh can still sit this one out, I’m not sure he can contribute in any way.

My hero!!! Sheikh Ibn Taaib al-Ghurabi Piñata-bane!

If it is only herself and Fadilah fighting, Zairiah is likely to walk away. She isn't going to fire the first shot and endanger the party... she's there to back up the crazy people, not to start the insanity herself. She's honestly scared of getting the whole group killed. If someone else starts it, she will try to help from a distance, but if it is up to her to begin it, then she'll go pack up her camel and get out.

That is what I had figured. Fadilah, might want to drop ice on the statue first. Sheikh, if you want to use your original roll, you can start it off.

Go get that piñata!!!!

Ibn Taaib considers the expression in Zairiah’s eyes, and a grimness crosses the sheikh’s countenance. He walks with the weight of possible doom, the sound of his riding boots echoing in the dark halls. The ghul statue was alive; it was too lifelike to serve as a statue at all.

And like all things alive, it could be killed.
Thoughts of his family and clansmen far to the south flashed before his eyes; his blind uncle, his humble older brother, his children—his late wife.
A red sash made of her hijab flew in the wind, tied to his belt, giving him courage.

The bronze blade of sultans rang as it was drawn from its sheathe, joining the charging footsteps, as the sheikh shouted in his deep authoritative voice, “Ila al-Mawt!”

Shield first, he stopped with a heavy foot, swinging his sword with a twist of his body, crashing the enchanted blade against the heretical idol with all his might.

With Sheikh charging in, Paritosh will raise his khopesh and follow shortly after.

Fadilah frowns and holds forth her staff, concerned that constructs like this are usually immune to most magic.

Having recently used one of these in an adventure, I kinda know what we are in for, and hopefully nobody minds rolling new characters if they don't run away quickly enough.

So are you going to drop an ice storm or…
It doesn’t allow a save, so it’ll probably help at least a little.

I'll drop whatever spell you want; the death idol is immune.

I posted something in our discussion tab. Please let me know your thoughts.

Nura sighs and shrugs. Paladins... She hefts her magical scimitar and wades into the thick of things.

THAC0 16: 16 - 1d20 ⇒ 16 - (16) = 0 Damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10

Zairiah shoots at the statue, trying to support the efforts of their new companions, but is very ready to switch tactics or run if the front line is killed or taken over by the evil entity that killed the first expedition.

Zairiah keeps Nura and Fadilah in sight so that they can signal to each other if it is time to bail.

The language of the party is Midani.

The sheikh goes in to attack the statue and misses and Nura hits with her sword saying, "This does not taste as good as blood."

The sheikh's sword says to him in Chun "Let me dance and I have this."

Zairiah looses one of her arrows but it goes wide.

Initiative: Party 1d10 ⇒ 1, Enemy 1d10 ⇒ 2

Round 1

The statue attacks the sheikh 5 - 1d20 ⇒ 5 - (14) = -9 hit 4d8 ⇒ (6, 1, 2, 8) = 17

Party

Sheikh, give me a saving throw vs Charm.

Are you sure it missed? I had a roll of 14, and with my Thac0 of 16, charge, and Frackit's bless, I should have a result of -1 (before counting the enchantment on the sword).
I also apparently didn't roll for my scimitar.

Damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

Just in case, I'll roll my attack again.
Attack: 16 - 1d20 - 2 - 1 ⇒ 16 - (10) - 2 - 1 = 3

Save, above 14: 1d20 ⇒ 18

Ok, let me clarify, you hit the target but it did not damage the statue. I am on my way to work this morning. I hope you don't mind

At this point, I will let the surprise out of the bag regarding your sword. It is a Dancing Scimitar. Since Fadilah enchanted it, now starts at a +2 and over the course of 4 rounds it goes up to for this fight +5, the good news is next round and the next 3 it will be magical enough to damage it.

Thanks for the heads up! So it's a +2 dancing sword. It's a good thing we used that enchantment. Now I only need to survive the next round to use it!
How can I let my sword 'dance'?

Actually it is a +1 dancing sword but with the enchantment it starts off at +2. You can let the sword go and it will attack and you can withdraw so the statue would have to move to attack you.

Frackit waits for it to move and moves to get around to a side the statue can't really see him. Getting close Frackit takes a swing

THACO 18: 18 - 1d20 - 3 ⇒ 18 - (13) - 3 = 2
Damage: 2d8 + 6 ⇒ (5, 3) + 6 = 14

Round 2; 3/2 attacks
Ibn Taaib reels from the tremendous strength of the moving idol, feeling the impact nearly crush his shoulder. In his rage, it is as if he doesn't care that the blow could've nearly decapitated him. (That hurt!)
He senses the darkness that gripped the previous expedition trying to take over him, but resists (natural 18 as my above post).

"Let me dance and I have this."

As his sword speaks to him, he looses his grip on it, recollecting an ancient Chun prayer to urge it forward (letting go of the sword).

Religion, roll under 14: 1d20 ⇒ 8

He speaks the ancient prayer, bidding the sword to serve in destroying the intruding statue.

He withdraws a short distance to restore his health and to lure the lumbering enemy forward, laying his sword-hand on his shoulder. A brilliant spark of golden light radiates from the spot, and he feels his strength return (lay on hands to heal self +8 hp). He swings his open hand, light dissipating as thousands of tiny fireflies, and the bronze sword moves as if wielded by an invisible assailant or by the power of his mind, slashing and hacking at the heretical idol (attack time; 3/2).

Attack 1 with +3 weapon: 16 - 1d20 - 3 - 1 ⇒ 16 - (12) - 3 - 1 = 0
Damage: 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7
Attack 2 with +3 weapon: 16 - 1d20 - 3 - 1 ⇒ 16 - (18) - 3 - 1 = -6
Damage: 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9

He taunts the idol, readying himself to charge back into the fray (in the next round).

I know you are excited but please wait until the other players have had their turn and the initiative for the next round has been rolled.

Zairiah shoots again.

Attack (Magic Shortbow): 16 - 1d20 ⇒ 16 - (20) = -4
Damage (Sheaf Arrow): 1d8 ⇒ 7

Zairiah feel free to roll your crit damage

Ok, I just got home and man today has been a rough'n. I just read the text on Dancing swords and it is a bit contradictory. It says in one paragraph that the wielder has to attack with it for four rounds before letting it dance and then the next says they can let it dance after using it for one round. Of course once you let it dance for four rounds you have to attack with it for four rounds before it can dance again. I apologize I think my last post was inadvertantly curt which was not my intention. I was messaging from my cell phone while my crazy students are doing everything you possibly could believe to distract me during my break. teenagers. As the GM, I like the second paragraph better than the first and I think it is funner letting you let it dance after your first attack, I mean a dancing sword that has to wait to dance, really does not want to dance. I mean this sword has not had any dance partners in four hundred and one years and May Azaltin live forever.

Paritosh moves in and attacks...

Khopesh Attack: 17 - 1d20 - 2 - 1 ⇒ 17 - (3) - 2 - 1 = 11 Factor: 9; 3/2
Khopesh Damage: 2d4 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (4, 4) + 4 + 2 = 14 Type: S

Oops, sorry.

Crit Damage (Sheaf Arrow): 1d8 ⇒ 5

Brings the total to 12 (plus whatever bonus from the bow being magical).

Nura swings again, trying to strike the statue. As this is round 2 and she is a specialist, she will take her extra attack.

THAC0 16: 16 - 1d20 ⇒ 16 - (14) = 2 Damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9
THAC0 16: 16 - 1d20 ⇒ 16 - (18) = -2 Damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

Fadilah sends her gen out hurriedly for another spell.

Fetch spell: Strength (<=60%): 1d100 ⇒ 96
Fetch time: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5 rounds

While her gen is gone, she tries to blast the statue once more with her staff, then realizes the futility as it is immune to all of her magic and she just waits for the battle to play out.

I have no powers or weapons that can affect this, and with my gen gone for the whole fight on a failed attempt to fetch a spell, there is nothing more that I can do, so I'm gonna sit this one out.

[ooc] I set up the initial attack as a surprise round. So I do not think 3/2 counts during the surprise round start. [ooc]

Fadilah tries water blast and it has no effect. Paritosh's khopesh misses broadly but Zairiah, Nura, Frackit and the Sheikh all hit.

Abdalla attacks the statue as well 13 - 1d20 ⇒ 13 - (17) = -4 hit doing 1d6 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6 damage.

Initiative Party 1d10 ⇒ 9, Enemy 1d10 ⇒ 1

Round 2

Party

So we do not count the second attacks from the sheikh and Nura?

You can keep the rolls for round 2.

Those were some nice rolls, hopefully there will be 4 hits between the two of you. From a narrative point of view, those who wanted to attack would be able to get one off before initiative as a surprise round. We just had round 1 and then now it is round 2.

"Come on you statue! Succumb to my efforts!!"

Paritosh attacks twice this round...

Khopesh Attack: 17 - 1d20 - 2 - 1 ⇒ 17 - (12) - 2 - 1 = 2 Factor: 9; 3/2
Khopesh Damage: 2d4 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (4, 4) + 4 + 2 = 14 Type: S

Khopesh Attack: 17 - 1d20 - 2 - 1 ⇒ 17 - (15) - 2 - 1 = -1 Factor: 9; 3/2
Khopesh Damage: 2d4 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (4, 3) + 4 + 2 = 13 Type: S

Did someone say there was a Bless up or something? I have accounted for no buffs in those attacks.

Round 2

Zairiah shoots at the creepy statue again.

Attack (Magic Shortbow): 16 - 1d20 ⇒ 16 - (9) = 7
Damage (Sheaf Arrow): 1d8 ⇒ 5

Frackit pants an takes another swing. It was very hot here.

Whackit stick: 18 - 1d20 - 3 ⇒ 18 - (5) - 3 = 10
Smash it: 2d8 + 6 ⇒ (2, 1) + 6 = 9

Nura maneuvers into position to strike again.

Thac0 16: 16 - 1d20 ⇒ 16 - (5) = 11 Damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

We just need the Sheikh's second attack for round 2.

Its ok, I just did the math.

Nura hits one time and Paritosh hits but it does not look like he did any damage and Zairiah hit as well but the Sheikh brings down his new dancing sword with his first swing and then the statue crumbles to the ground with the two rubies rolling down to his feet before he can follow up with his second swing.

Combat Over

"That was easy," Nura comments. "Too easy!"

"Anyone badly hurt?" Frackit says as he looks around and puts the Rod back into the hands of someone else.

Abdalla says, "I am ok. This Sheykha thanks your Sheikh. Is there anything else before we go back to camp?"

”Return, o blade of kings,” Ibn Taaib says in Chun, as the sword flashes once more in the air, sheathing itself at the sheikh’s side. He stands up, giving a small sigh, picking up the two ruby eyes.

4d8 on a hit with 5 Thac0 and such high AC? We really are fortunate we were not picked off one by one.

“We were fated to win, though I do not tempt Her. That strike could have slain any of us.” he says, presenting the rubies to Frackit and Zairiah. “I have no talent in gem-lore. Sir Frackit, I believe it is within thy talents to assess the value of this, and Lady Zairiah, it is in thy talent to maximize benefit of it.”

He hands the gems over, and turns to observe the destroyed statue for a while.

I liked Fadilah’s end-of-dungeon speech. If we’re all agreed, we can continue from that post (sort of retcon it to be after the fight).

Paritosh swaggers about a bit, "the might of the desert in my blow, to be sure. Now then, was there aught that needs handled here? I do hope the Sultana was able to away from the place safely."

Paritosh swaggers about a bit, "the might of the desert in my blow, to be sure. Now then, was there aught that needs handled here? I do hope the Sultana was able to away from the place safely."

"I do not believe so; all the Eleven Baneful Gates are destroyed: Death's Gate with the statue, Gate of Lions with the soldiers, Gate of Forgetfulness with the flowers that will doubtless fade in time, Gate of Piety with the imam, Vanity's Gate with the mirrors, Gate of Gluttony with the feast, Gate of Violence with the other two statues, Gate of Avarice with the false coins, Gate of Knowledge with the scrolls, Gate of Profane Love with the..." Ibn Taaib pauses, noticing Paritosh. "'Sultana', and the Gate of Sacred Love with the scroll and Revelation. We have all done very well. I thank thee all."

Frackit grabs one of the gems and then hands the other to Zairiah."Here I believe we can sell that wholesale. I'll try to see what I can do with this one. I wanna maximize what can be done with it. Maybe turn it into a unique piece?" He says stroking his mustache his mind whirling.