GM Dak - Shattered Star 2

Game Master Dakcenturi

Verris looks at Davor in surprise as it looks like the half-orc is going to retreat. She joins her other companions in attacking the goblins who are attacking them. She pulls her bow to her cheek and releases at the purple goblin in the rafters. She nods over at Davor as he rejoins the fray.

Attack (Longbow): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26
Damage (Longbow): 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Gurk looks back between the two forces repeatedly, looking more and more distressed. As the weapons fly about, he quietly mutters to himself, "Longshanks be friends, but queen be friend. Why they must fight? Gurk no know who to stab."

"Stab the bloody stirges! they're no one's friends!"

... and probably denied Dex while attached...

Is Gurk still delaying or listening to Davor?

Delaying

Gurk continues to press up against the wall uncertain what to do. Davor skewers one of the large bugs as it slides off his trident, dead on the ground. Verris launches a well placed arrow that strikes one of the goblins up in the rafters, but it isn't enough to bring the little monster down.

She intones more arcane words as a glo of acid flies from her hand toward Verris.

RT: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15
Damage: 1d3 ⇒ 1

The acid clips Verris's arm and burns at her flesh a bit.

Round 3
> Adistan/Bixby/Lexi, Enemy-G/Enemy-S, Gurk/Verris/Davor, Enemy-N

Temmer grunts as two of the arrows hit him but turns and after a moment of observation chops at the stirge attached to Davor, which he hadn't noticed from his vantage point behind the man.

"You may be right!" he mutters. "We may need to retreat."

Cutlass (power attack): 1d20 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 4 + 1 = 13 Maybe, if it's considered grappled?
Damage: 1d6 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 4 + 1 = 6

Although she's itching to show off how dangerous she is with a crossbow in her hands, Lexi holds off firing for the moment. Her eyes widen when she, too, finally notices the multi-legged monstrosity clinging to poor Davor. Then she again steels herself for battle.

"No retreat!" she snarls (in an unimpressive, kittenish sort of way). "These things are nothing compared to how savage Lady Sheila can get when things don't go the way she's preordained them to!"

With her loaded crossbow intermittently targeting Adistan and then Davor, the aasimar girl chants a sing-songy spell: "Never fear...Lexi's here! Adistan's wounds all disappear!"

Alas, Lexi's magic proves as unpredictable as the girl herself, healing minimal damage.

"Dang!" Looking briefly into Adistan's eyes, the kooky aasimar explains, "I think your name has too many syllables for the magic to flow smoothly and properly...."

Amelexis cure light wounds (Adistan): 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

"You may be right!" he mutters. "We may need to retreat."

"Say that louder, so that everyone can hear... throwing that 'C' word around is more likely to encourage the whole team in getting killed rather than do the smart thing."

Hoping to keep the enemy focused on something else, Bixby sends this illusion goblin into melee. Screaming like a mentally-deranged green menace, it slashes with a dogslicer.

Bixby casts daze on the fugitive spellcaster they have been searching for.

"It didn't have to be this way! Authorities are on their way!"

Daze, DC 14 Will

Adistan swings at the remaining bug creature but just misses as its small size helps it to avoid his strike. Bixby attempts to daze Natalya, while he sends his illusion to try and fight the bug creature as well.

Will: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 2 = 21

Natalya shakes off the spell from Bixby and glares at him, having a good idea at what he attempted.

Lexi moves to Adistan and tries to heal him, but only closes a little of his wounds. Natalya shouts to the goblins "Take out the archer!" as they all turn their attention toward Verris. The two behind the crates work on reloading their crossbows.

Attack-P: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14
Damage: 1d4 ⇒ 3
Attack-B: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21
Damage: 1d4 ⇒ 1
Attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8
Damage: 1d4 ⇒ 4

Only one of the goblins manages to hit Verris and it barely leaves a scratch.

The stirge tries to stay latched onto Davor and suck his blood.

Grapple: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (2) + 11 = 13

Luckily as Davor tries to shake the thing off, it comes loose and flies near his head looking for another place to latch on.

Round 3
Adistan/Bixby/Lexi, Enemy-G/Enemy-S, > Gurk/Verris/Davor, Enemy-N

Attacking stirge with leftover attack on next target if first attack takes it down

Trident: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26 for 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6 dmg
Bite: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (16) + 0 = 16 for 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4 dmg

========

confirm crit: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12 for 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8 dmg

Verris narrows her eyes in annoyance as Natalya clips her with the acid, hissing as it burns her a little. The pain distracts her somewhat and she barely manages to move out of the way of one of the goblins arrows, gaining a shallow gash as one of the arrows clips her as it passes.

She fires once more at the purple goblin, determined to narrow the number of enemies they were facing and maybe force Natalya into talking with them.

Attack (Longbow): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17
Damage (Longbow): 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

Growing quite distressed, Gurk finally lights up as the perfect to stop the fighting comes to him. This be why Gurk be thinker. Reaching into his pack, he pulls out a set of flint and steel and begins to spark the wood near him, hoping to set the place ablaze.

Davor takes out the last Stirge and then looks around for something else to attack. However, there isn't anyone easily accessible. Without a reach weapon he can't get to the people in the rafters and the goblins on the ledge at the opposite side of the room, would require jumping down in the muck and climbing back up to the ledge on the other side of the room.

Verris lands another well placed arrow, killing the goblin in the rafters as he falls back and you hear a muffled splash from the adjacent room.

Gurk begins trying to light the building on fire for some purpose that apparently makes sense in his little goblin head, but it is slow going without any sort of kindling.

Natalya watches Gurk with amusement before launching another glob of acid at Verris.

RT: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23
Damage: 1d3 ⇒ 2

The acid hits Verris again, burning her skin even further.

Round 3
> Adistan/Bixby/Lexi, Enemy-G/Enemy-S, Gurk/Verris/Davor, Enemy-N

"You could try calling me Temmer," Temmer suggests to Lady Dusk as he rushes to the stairs, ascending them with cutlass clenched in his teeth. Looks like a move action to get to the stairs and then probably another to climb them.

BATTLE NOTES: hp 9/9; last round for naturalist bardic performance vs. goblins

"Gurk--no! Bad Gurk!" Lexi lectures the goblin like he's some wayward child. Though she knows she's more likely to hit one of the goblins with her crossbow volley (thanks to her innate knowledge about how to fight the little creatures), Lexi realize who the true threat and troublemaker here is.

"You're mean!" she yells up to Natalya before taking aim at the double-crossing double-agent.

Shoot her in the leg.... Don't kill her....

Amelexis Dusk light crossbow: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 12 for piercing damage: 1d8 ⇒ 8 (19-20)

As she reloads her crossbow, Lexi yells up to Natalya, "We were supposed to become good friends!"

Ok, so to clarify the map some, first there aren't any stairs, there is a ladder where Adistan has gone. Second, there isn't enough of a ledge along the northern wall to walk across, you would fall into the muck below. You aren't sure if there is a ledge in the other room, since you can't see in there except for that one opening in the wall.

So with all that said, for Adistan to get over there he would either need to open the door into the next room (hoping there is a ledge to walk across) or jump into the muck climb back up to where the goblins are and then try to climb up the ladder.

My bad if the map was not clear.

So with all that said, for Adistan to get over there he would either need to open the door into the next room (hoping there is a ledge to walk across)

Which door?

Whoops, sorry. Looked like I could go around on the ledge and then up the ladder (which is what I meant when I said stairs, because I totally know the difference!). Moved my "fig" back and will do the following instead.

Temmer drops his cutlass and pulls out his shortbow, snapping off a shot at the attackers above. Target a wounded goblin if there is one; if not, I guess yellow.

Shortbow: 1d20 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 3 + 1 = 18
Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 2

Bixby causes the illusory goblin to run to the ladder and begin climbing up it.

He focuses on impeding another goblin.

"Gurk, you have proven your treachery! I had said this the entire time!"

Cast daze on Green, DC 14 Will

Door is under white goblin. Bixby same issue as with Adistan above for your illusion unless you want him to 'run on air'

Will: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (20) - 1 = 19

Adistan takes a shot at the yellow goblin, the arrow flies true but only causes a minor injury. Lexi reloads her crossbow and takes a shot at Natlya, but misses as the bolt sticks into one of the rafters instead. Bixby uses is arcane powers to briefly daze on of the goblins about to take aim with his crossbow.

The goblins unleash another volley of arrows, though this time it isn't quite as coordinated. The yellow goblin aims for Adistan to return the favor, while the rest maintain their focus on Verris as per Natalya's instruction.

Attack-B: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 18
Damage: 1d4 ⇒ 1
Attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20
Damage: 1d4 ⇒ 2

Attack-Y: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 2 = 16
Damage: 1d10 ⇒ 2

Verris gets hit by one of the arrows, while Lexi's inspiration allows her to just barely doges the other. Adistan avoids the bolt from the yellow goblin.

Round 3
Adistan/Bixby/Lexi, Enemy-G, > Gurk/Verris/Davor, Enemy-N

Davor sidesteps over the dead goblin on his right and launches a javelin at the blue goblin.

Javelin: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (19) + 3 = 22 for 1d6 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9 piercing dmg.

This not be good goblin hut, Gurk realizes as the sparks don't immediately catch. Good goblin hut take fire fast. Pulling out a torch to aid his arson, Gurk attempts to light it in all the chaos.

A goblin arrow thuds into Verri's shoulder, managing to just pierce her armour but still draw blood. She grits her teeth as she feels the blood trickling down her side and raises her bow for another shot, firing at the non-tinted and final goblin she can see in the rafters.

Attack (Longbow): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (20) + 7 = 27

Damage (Longbow): 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

Confirm Crit?: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14 Don't think that'll be enough :(

Extra Damage?: 2d8 + 2 ⇒ (4, 4) + 2 = 10 Just in case!

Davor and Verris take out two more of the goblins, while Gurk lights up his torch and continues to try and light the building on fire.

Natalya glares at you all and pulls out a copper-looking metal shard. She holds it up in the air and yells "You come here to destroy my kingdom! I told you to leave. If my kingdom is to fall to ash, I will let the fires consume you as well!"

She points the shard toward the ceiling and then the walls, as flames shoot out and catch the ceiling and walls on fire, the fire begins to spread quickly moving down the walls. At this rate, it seems like it will only be a matter of minutes before the old building burns up and collapses. You can smell the burning wood and feel the heat from the spreading flames.

The flames are coming down the walls and are just above head height at this point.

Round 4
> Adistan/Bixby/Lexi, Enemy-G, Gurk/Verris/Davor, Enemy-N

Amelexis's strange blue eyes widen even more as Natalya decides to burn her 'kingdom' to the ground rather than return to speak with Lady Heidmarch. "I can see why you like her," Lexi quips to Gurk. "She's a kindred--or should I say kindling--spirit!"

Giggling to herself despite the spreading inferno, Lexi then takes a moment to heal Verris so her fellow aasimar can keep the heat on the goblins and/or Nutty Natty. For whatever reason, this time her magic is powerful, fully healing Verris's wounds.

cure light wounds (Verris): 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9

Bixby can't figure out what power she used to ignite the building.

"If you have such magical power at your grasp, why didn't you just burn us up?" he exclaims as he targets her with another spell.

spellcraft: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 1 = 10

Cast Daze, DC 14 Will

"This is madness!" Temmer calls out. "We weren't looking for a fight and you're going to kill us all!"

Nonetheless, with Lady Dusk's insights looking their effectiveness, he studies the goblin he's exchanging fire with and launches another arrow toward it.

Shortbow: 1d20 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 3 + 1 = 24
Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

Will: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 2 = 13

Adistan takes out the yellow goblin with a well placed arrow. Bixby casts his spell at Natalya again, this time it seems to have taken hold as she just stares at the flames for a moment. Lexi touches Verris as a healing energy washes over her wounds sealing them completely.

The last remaining goblin pokes his head up and grins wickedly as he sees the flames engulfing the building. He takes aim with his crossbow at Verris once again.

Attack: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 2 = 21
Damage: 1d10 ⇒ 10
Crit?: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9
Damage: 1d10 ⇒ 6

It is a good thing Lexi had healed Verris as the bolt nearly pierces her heart, luckily it is a bit to the left and just hurts really bad.

Round 4
Adistan/Bixby/Lexi, Enemy-G, > Gurk/Verris/Davor
Round 5
Adistan/Bixby/Lexi, Enemy-G, Gurk/Verris/Davor, Enemy-N

"This be why we friends!" Gurk cackles, seeing the queen assist his efforts to stop the fight. "Now we stop fight to get out. No more fighting for you longshanks!"

With his mission accomplished, Gurk starts to rush out to watch the beautiful scene. He leaps lightly onto the board and also dances across as he imagines the wonderful fire to come. And longshanks think fire bad.

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (20) + 8 = 28

Moving on out to the outside now that he believes the fight will stop.

Bixby is becoming increasingly agitated by the situation.

He casts daze on the last goblin. DC 14 Will

"I don't think we can get across to fight her now--there's not a way across, and the building's going to get dangerous fast! Not only that, but that criminal arsonist Gurk fled the scene of this ambush he set up for us, and he's either bringing more of his friends or preparing to stab us from behind!"

I'm loving the interaction with Gurk! I had planned to play as ultra-paranoid anyway, but he's given me NO reason to trust him! ;P

Verris feels a hand placed on her back, followed by a warm rush of healing energy flooding her body. Her wounds close up and the myriad pains around her body fade away. Looking back, she sees Lexi behind her and smiles in thanks. Just as she turns back to focus on the last remaining goblin, a crossbow bolt thuds into her chest penetrating deeply through her armor, narrowly missing her heart.

Darkness creeps in at the corners of her vision as she struggles to keep her consciousness. She raises her bow to fire one last time at the final goblin before moving to leave the now dangerously burning room. When she exits through the door she places her back to the wall, out of sight of their assailants and panting heavily due to the severity of her wounds.

Attack (Longbow): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16

Damage (Longbow): 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8

Before Bixby can even cast his spell, Verris puts down the last of the goblins with a well placed shot.

Other than Natalya who is currently dazed, there are no other visible enemies

Verris, you wouldn't be able to back up against the wall unless you jump down into the muck below. The only other option is standing on the beam.

Lexi returns Verris's smile, obviously already quite fond of her fellow aasimar. When the crossbow bolt takes her heroine in the chest, though, Lexi's mouth drops open in shock and consternation. When Verris not only survives the dastardly attack but fires back at her attacker, Lexi's eyes reflect unabashed admiration...before narrowing in anger and vengeance.

Once Verris has made it to safety, Amelexis turns to Adistan, though she also speaks to Bixby and Davor. Her eyes also nervously flit to the burning section of the building.

"What do you say--can we take her? I think we can! After all, she's just a lone human, a spellcaster, sure, but that means little armor. Plus we have the numbers, leaving her vulnerable to flanking! Stab her and she'll bleed! Punch her and she'll at least bruise! C'mon, she's as scrawny as me!"

Amelexis Dusk Knowledge (local--humans) Check: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13

Bardic performance (naturalist; humans) to give the +1 insight bonuses to AC, attacks, and saves against any spell-like effects Natalya might possess; there's NO bonus against her regular spells. For her move action, Lexi will either start toward the door across the room or retreat, depending on what the party leaders decide.

Davor nods at Amelexis, and launches another javelin. This time against the human they're after.

Javelin: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11 for 1d6 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10 piercing dmg. vs. Flat-footed AC if she's balancing on the rafters, as per Acrobatics

Davor then takes a step towards the exit to the west in case the group decides to retreat.

Welcome back, Davor! I'm not sure I've ever been so happy to see someone post!

Temmer grimly makes his way across the room, not planning to leave Natalya here for the flames.

"Get out everyone!" he calls, grabbing his cutlass and stowing both his weapons. "I'll get her!"

So, that's probably a full round, in case that matters, then I'm trying to get to Natalya. I'd rather not go in the muck if I can avoid it, so I guess open the door and hope that'll let me avoid it.

After the place starts to go up in flames Gurk runs out of the building and finds a spot to try and admire the fire. Verris drops the last remaining goblin and then moves toward the door ready to retreat.

Just putting you on the beam for now, you need to acrobatics to get across or jump into the muck and then climb out the other side.

Davor tosses a spear at Natalya but it misses.

She isn't crossing, she is essentially just standing there not actively using acrobatics so I don't believe the flat footed effect applies. Even so it would miss.

Adistan draws his blade as he moves toward the door to open it. On the other side, the floor of the room is gone and there is no ledge whatsoever to cross on. Lexi bolsters her companions once again.

Round 5
Adistan/Bixby/Lexi, Enemy-G, > Gurk/Verris/Davor, Enemy-N

Davor shakes his head, "Temmer! no nasty biotch is worth losing your life! get your arrrrse outta here!"

The large half-orc then utters some strange words under his breath, and Amelexis' crossbow becomes cold to the touch, and the area where the bolts get loaded become rimed with frost. He says to her, "Stick around for a moment. That'll help ya cover Temmer's retreat. He just doesn't know that he'll be retreating yet, his pride sometimes get the best of him. That, and he's dam stubborn..."

Ice Strike (ACG 68): You can touch one weapon and enhance it with power of water for one minute. It deals an additional 1d4 cold damage with each strike. This damage doesn't stack with the frost or icy burst weapon special ability.

Davor then utters another strange word, and everyone near him momentarily hear the faint sound of distant rats scurrying in the distance... the big half-orc's steps then become unnaturally light, and he heads back outside across the beam effortlessly!

Agile Feet (ACG 68): As a swift action, you gain increased mobility. For one round, you can ignore all difficult terrain (including magical terrain) and take no penalties for moving through it.

Gurk grins widely as he looks up at the building from the outside. Gurk be so smart. Save both pathies and queenie. Gurk be getting lots of shinies and food.

Holding for now.

Can Gurk see any flames or smoke on the outside of the building, by chance?

BATTLE NOTES: hp 9/9; naturalist bardic performance (humans) activated (expires middle of Round 8 unless maintained); Ice Strike on crossbow (expires Round 15).

"Neat!" Amelexis says of the magical enhancement Davor puts on her crossbow, raising the loaded weapon dangerously close to her own face so she can enjoy a bit of icy relief from the heat of the raging inferno nearby. Although she nods to the half-orc, her words don't seem to be in full agreements with Davor's proclamation.

"Or maybe he feels he pretty much owes Lady Heidmarch his life--as I do--and can't bear to let her down. Besides, I don't buy that Natalya's suicidal-crazy; I bet there's another exit nearby."

With that, Lexi moves behind Adistan, her crossbow again pointed toward the renegade in the rafters.

@GM Dak: Is there a ceiling in the room beyond the door? Will Lexi be able to keep shooting at Natalya from there?

No smoke or fire outside that Gurk can see. like the rest of the place the ceiling is just open rafters.

"Bah!" Bixby yells. "This is going to be the death of me! I could twist my ankle, there could be a monster in that muck, or this building could fall down! Those are all possible, but the one thing we know is there's a traitorous goblin behind us! I'm going for it!"

With that said, the gnome summons all his courage and takes a massive running leap over the pit. His illusion gives a slow clap as Bixby amazingly sticks the landing on the far side.

"Hey! I made it!" he exclaims, as surprised as anyone.

acrobatics: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 2 = 22

@GM Dak: Oops...thought there was a small ledge on the other side of the door. Placing me on the beam was fine though.

Verris is conflicted as to what she should do. She is badly injured and the building she is in is on fire and yet some of her companions are still inside and in danger. She waits to see what happens with her companions and Natalya before she leaves.

@GM Dak: How bad is the fire in the room?

So Verris is delaying then? The fire is pretty bad, by your best guess you would give it 3-5 rounds before it engulfs the place at the current pace.

Essentially, yes. She doesn’t want to leave her companions behind in the fire where they could get injured or killed when she could’ve helped prevent it.

Gurk stands out side hoping to watch the fire consume the building, but he hasn't noticed any flames or smoke yet. Verris stands just outside the door waiting on the others before she retreats, just in case they need her assistance. Davor enhances Lexi's crossbow with a brief magical enhancement as frost forms on her bolts, then makes his way outside to join Gurk.

Acrobatics DC20: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (18) + 15 = 33

With a wry grin Natalya shouts out "You are fools and you will die here!" As she jumps down from the rafters behind Adistan, pulling out her shortsword in the process.

Attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17
Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

Luckily for Adistan, Lexi's magical performance is enough to just barely keep the blade from cutting into him.

Round 5
Adistan/Bixby/Lexi, Enemy-G, Gurk/Davor, Enemy-N, > Verris
Round 6
Adistan/Bixby/Lexi/Gurk/Davor, Enemy-N, Verris

Bixby/Lexi feel free to adjust your actions and Verris, I moved you to the end of Round 5 to account for your delay if you want to act.

As Gurk waits, he realizes that most of the longshanks aren't coming. Stupid longshanks! Even goblins know no stand in fire for long! "Hey, longshanks! Come out and stop hurting other longshanks! Fire make friends!"

Otherwise, still holding.

Temmer grimaces as he studies his newest foe and then brings his cutlass to bear. If he can knock her out, she should be easy enough to retrieve.

"This is madness, Vancaskerkin!" he says. "Finish you business with Lady Heidmarch and you can go afterward!"

Cutlass: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 17
Damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

Okay, retcon in light of her new position.

Bixby moves into the corner, where he can catch her with the edge of a spell. A spray of color competes with the fiery walls for pyrotechnic brilliance.

Cast Color Spray, DC 17 Will. From the corner, I should be able to hit her and no one else. Also, if there's a way to enlarge the token from 1 square, someone may need to explain to me how that is done.