Philetius drops his wand of longarm into his hand from the spring loaded sheath, taps himself with it, then drops it, rages and moves up.
He now has 20ft reach with his hammer and will take AoO on anyone moving toward the group, and on Blue if he tries to get up. He has combat reflexes, so 4 AoO/rd
Arie D'Nostica. CG Female Kitsune (Appears to be a Varisian human most of the time) Bard 9 CG bard 9 | HP 66/66 | AC 21 FF 15 Touch 17 | CMB +7 CMD 22 | F+7 R+12 W+8 |Init +4 | Perc +7 SM +20 Speed 30' Spells: 0: 6 1)5 2)4 3)4 | Conditions: none
Arie begins to weave a tale concerning the lesser qualities of Hill Giants and their parentage...
"Ah! Hill giants! This reminds me of an old story, a troupe of acrobats was wandering through Cheliax when they were accosted by a group of Hill giants. A nasty, smelly and mean group they were. Fortuantely, they were slow and clumsy. The leader of this troupe hatched a quick and clever plan..."
Inspire Courage. +2 Morale bonus on saves versus charm and fear, +2 competence bonus on weapon attack rolls and damage.
Arie then moves up slightly to keep the party in range of any reactions she may take...
On the charge Rogar's AC is 28 against the giant, then 30 as long as Rogar faces a single foe, if he's the only one threatening his target he also get +1 to damage. Rogar also has DR 2/-
Seldanna moves a little closer to the site of the caravan, casting her gaze towards the biggest, ugliest and most dangerous looking of the hill giants. Her eyes take on a chilling look as she raises her hands in the sign of a hex and gestures towards the big brute.
Seeing his target drop, Keos switches targets to blue...his first arrow pierces the prone giant's heart, killing him instantly, while the ranger's second arrow sinks deeply into the yellow giant's vitals...
COMBAT! Round 2: The bold may post!
Inspired Courage: +2 to hit/damage
Keos & Mordiskitos
Seldanna
Momoko
Hill Giant Barbarian (-38, asleep)
Philetius
Rogar (-26)
Arie
Hill Giants (yellow -53 & confused, orange confused, blue dead)
GM, assuming the giants attempt to move up and provoke, I will try to trip both initially, then if that succeeds, will take an AoO on both when they stand up. As both are confused and have been hit, Orange should be coming after me and Yellow should be going after Keos. I think trip adds weapon enhancement to the check as well as weapon focus, so +1, Furious (+2 while raging), Weapon Focus = +4. Philetius does not have Improved Trip, but they will be 20ft away when the attempt is made, so cannot reach him to take an AoO.
If they come after you, I'll use those rolls...but there's a 50% chance they either stand there babbling or they attack themselves...either way should be a win-win for the party...
If they come after you, I'll use those rolls...but there's a 50% chance they either stand there babbling or they attack themselves...either way should be a win-win for the party...
Putting rules discussion into the discussion thread.
"This seems relatively under control." Momoko muses. She moves forward a bit and stands at the ready incase she needs to stop a rampaging giant.
Readied Action:
Mind Thrust IV on the next giant to move within 45ft of Momoko.
Mind Thrust IV: 10d8 damage and fatigue for 1 round if the target fails its Will Save. If target succeeds, half damage and negate fatigue. DC25 Will Save. Mind Thrust Damage:10d8 ⇒ (1, 8, 6, 8, 1, 1, 7, 8, 1, 6) = 47
I’ll go ahead and call this one...no matter what Arie does, Philetius will take out the two hill giants...
The confused hill giants snarl and start to advance menacingly but Philetius trips them both and then makes quick work of the two brutes, smashing each on the head with Tim as they try to rise...
Philetius drops his rage and smiles as he smacks each of the giants again on the head for good measure. Well, that was bracing! Nothing like a quick skirmish to get the blood flowing. Thanks Tim! You did good work. These brutes have anything worth taking?
He casts a quick spell on himself, then starts rifling through the bodies and the campsite, using Detect Magic to aid in his search.
Perception:1d20 + 13 ⇒ (16) + 13 = 29 Cure Light Wounds:1d8 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7
As you search through the campground and the giant corpses, the only things of value you find are a large set of chainmail, a fine looking great club, a ring, and a cloak...
Philetius detects magic on the club, ring, and cloak.
Survival DC25:
You find a quiver of arrows in the wreckage; you also note claw marks on the wagons inconsistent with either humans or giant combatants.
Survival DC30:
You discover a single pair of bird-like talon prints on the ground near a corpse.
Heal DC18:
Among some ashes, you identify a cadaver as a happy skeleton, its skull crushed in from a mighty blow.
Ring, Cloak, Club Spellcraft on the Ring:1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23 Spellcraft on the Cloak:1d20 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11 Spellcraft on the Club:1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15
Ring looks interesting. Probably sell cloak and club unless anyone else wants them?
He tosses the cloak and the club into his backpack and studies the ring.
"Interesting. If you look here you can see quiver of arrows in the wreckage, as well as claw marks on the caravan itself. No giant or human would be capable of this kind of damage specifically." She then looks at the Happy(?) skeleton. "At least it enjoyed its last moments before its skull got crushed in."
heal check:1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16 survival check:1d20 + 15 ⇒ (19) + 15 = 34 spellcraft on cloak:1d20 + 14 ⇒ (9) + 14 = 23 spellcraft on club:1d20 + 14 ⇒ (7) + 14 = 21 " I discover a single pair of bird-like talon prints on the ground near a corpse, probably from harpies.....i hate harpies"
Ring of don't hit me. I have one of those already. Anyone need it?
Philetius hears Keos say something about harpies and pulls out his earplugs and puts them in, then gets his smoked goggles and puts them on.
BETTER SAFE THAN SORRY. EVERYONE READY FOR HARPIES? CHALDIRA WILL ONLY PROTECT YOU IF YOU PROTECT YOURSELF. With the earplugs muffling his hearing, he is shouting.
As I guess you surmised, I either had a senior moment or spell-check struck again...should be harpy skeleton...
Arie and Keos identify the remaining magical items as a cloak of resistance (+1) and a +1 great club.
As it seems you have found all items and clues from the caravan wreckage, you look to the horizon and see the Storval Stairs awaiting, about 500 feet due north...
I’ll move us forward either later tonight or in the morning (I’m on EST), so you can heal up and prep if needed...
Momoko will spend one 1st level spell slot to patch up Rogar, allowing her to recover 1 Phrenic Point.
Cure Light Wounds:1d8 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6
While not an impressive amount, Momoko also feels refreshed and empowered.
Male Human (Taldan) Fighter 10 - HP: 104/104 - To hit +24/+16 (2d6+17+9) - AC: 29 (30* if adjacent to a single foe) /T: 16 /FF: 26 - Perception +2 - F: +14 / R: +10 /W: +12 - CMB +18(25) - CMD +34(38) - Speed 30 - Init. +6 - DR 2/-
Yes, I forgot to mention that Rogar has his own wand of clw with 34 charges left. So he actually just needs someone willing to help with using it, no need to waste your own healing for these minor bruises!
After finishing your search and healing up, you make your way towards the daunting and legenday Storval Stairs...
The ancient ruins at the base of the stairs lurk in the perpetual shadow of the monstrous cliffs known as the Storval Rise. The stairs form a fifty-foot-wide cleft cut deep into the cliff The stairs bear the weight of the millennia lightly; though rounded with age and cracked in a few places, they remain level from end to end. Each ponderous two-foot-deep step stretches two feet upwards. Massive landings flanked by monstrous structures obscure the top of the stairs from the bottom. The angle of the sun means shadows blanket the entire length of the Stairs, and will probably do so all day except for a short period around midday.
Massive statues flank the stairs; they rise three hundred feet above the base of the stairs and proudly looking out over the surrounding countryside as if standing guard. Each statue holds an immesne tome in one arm and a deadly looking glaive in the other.
On either side of the statues, buildings carved directly out of the cliff face rise from the valley floor. The gargantuan proportions of the structures make it difficult to judge their height. They rise nearly to the top fo the plateau, four hundred feet above the valley.
Knowledge (History) DC20:
You recognize the statues as representing Karzoug, the Runelord of Greed.
MOVEMENT ON THE STAIRS: The stairs are built for giants; each step is 2 feet high and 2 feet deep. The stairs counts as extremely difficult terrain for the purposes of ascending or descending; movement by Medium or smaller creatures costs 3 squares of movement per square traveled, or 4 squares of movement per diagonal square traveled. Medium and smaller characters cannot charge or take a 5 -foot-step up or down the stairs. This applies to any encounter on the stairs, not just in this area. Large or larger creatures treat the stairs as just difficult terrain.
So he actually just needs someone willing to help with using it, no need to waste your own healing for these minor bruises!
Yeah, I'll still do my cure light wounds because it is how Momoko recharges phrenic points.
"Perhaps now is the time to link us together." She chooses Rogar, Seldanna, Aerie and herself and utilizes her power to create a Telepathic Bond.
Now then, shall we scout it out with flight? She asks through the Bond.
Telepathic Bond:
Targets you plus one willing creature per three levels, no two of which can be more than 30 ft. apart
Duration 10 min./level (D)
Saving Throw none; Spell Resistance no
DESCRIPTION
You forge a telepathic bond among yourself and a number of willing creatures, each of which must have an Intelligence score of 3 or higher. Each creature included in the link is linked to all the others. The creatures can communicate telepathically through the bond regardless of language. No special power or influence is established as a result of the bond. Once the bond is formed, it works over any distance (although not from one plane to another).
If desired, you may leave yourself out of the telepathic bond forged. This decision must be made at the time of casting.
Continuing to yell, Philetius surveys the stairs before him. LOOKS LIKE THE STAIRS WE CAME HERE FOR. LOOK PRETTY STEEP TO ME. I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND USE MY SCROLL.
Philetius reaches into his pack and pulls out his scroll of air walk and casts it on himself.
DC 8 Caster Level check:1d20 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 16
He then pulls out his Longarm wand, taps himself with it, then puts it back in the spring loaded wrist sheath.
Male Human (Taldan) Fighter 10 - HP: 104/104 - To hit +24/+16 (2d6+17+9) - AC: 29 (30* if adjacent to a single foe) /T: 16 /FF: 26 - Perception +2 - F: +14 / R: +10 /W: +12 - CMB +18(25) - CMD +34(38) - Speed 30 - Init. +6 - DR 2/-
"If needed I can activate an enchantment and fly to scout ahead. I'd like not to use it unless we are in need though. It requires a day to recharge" Rogar answers Momoko's thoughts.
"Hmmm, those statues look to represent Karzoug, the Runelord of Greed." Seldanna mutters, almost as if to herself.
"Flying? Yes, I am able to fly with you to the top if you wish." the witch replies through the bond. "I prefer to use my hexes for short bursts, however. I guess it shouldn't take long to get up there."
"CAAAAAW! I fly too! CAAAAAAW! I'm a bird!" Lonan adds helpfully, flapping up around his mistresses his head as she raises a hand in frustration to fend him away.
From your last posts, I assume you start to slowly climb up. From here on out, you can let me know where you're heading and/or what you're keeping an eye on and move your icons accordingly...
You start the arduous climb up the steps and, after several minutes, although it feels longer, you reach the first, and smaller, landing...just ahead it appears to open up to a much larger landing...
MOVEMENT ON THE STAIRS: The stairs are built for giants; each step is 2 feet high and 2 feet deep. The stairs counts as extremely difficult terrain for the purposes of ascending or descending; movement by Medium or smaller creatures costs 3 squares of movement per square traveled, or 4 squares of movement per diagonal square traveled. Medium and smaller characters cannot charge or take a 5 -foot-step up or down the stairs. This applies to any encounter on the actual stairs...
Philetius will move slightly ahead of the group. Still wearing his earplugs and goggles giving him a total of -9 to perception, he will take a look around for any enemies or anything of interest nearby.
Perception:1d20 + 13 - 9 ⇒ (2) + 13 - 9 = 6
Arie D'Nostica. CG Female Kitsune (Appears to be a Varisian human most of the time) Bard 9 CG bard 9 | HP 66/66 | AC 21 FF 15 Touch 17 | CMB +7 CMD 22 | F+7 R+12 W+8 |Init +4 | Perc +7 SM +20 Speed 30' Spells: 0: 6 1)5 2)4 3)4 | Conditions: none
Arie stays with the main group, keeping an eye out for trouble. Having been attacked from above before i similar terrain she makes sure to look up from time to time...
Momoko will begin to fly up the stairs utilizing her Fly spell, but also will cast Invisibility Sphere to go unseen. She keeps in touch with everyone through the Telepathic Bond.
Philetius doesn't see much as he moves up but he's blown away by the Majesty of the stairs. From the smaller landing, neither Arie nor Rogar can sense an ambush by air or by stairs. Keos can see a bit of smoke rising from the northeast and Mordiskitos wrinkles his nose as he appears to smell something foul and his ears perk up as he obviously hears something odd from that direction as well...
Momoko comes to hover over the larger landing and she sees much:
The stairs cut deep into the cliff at this point, and walls tower fifty foot or more overhead on either side. A massive landing, fifty feet to a side, offers a brief respite from the relentless climb. To the north and south, large hewn caverns with elaborate facades plunge deep into the solid bedrock of the cliff, three to the north and one to the south. Though the sun shines in the sky above, the landing is in the shadow of the walls towering on either side.
A macabre scene of torture and ruin defiles the landing. Flies swarm around four human-sized corpses held vertical by impaling stakes. Another lifeless body is suspended twenty feet above the landing, its limbs dislocated by the merciless pull of taut ropes affixed to hooks in the walls.
A pair of tortured hill giants completes the display. One is barely alive; she is hog-tied, and lurches and convulses as she tries to free her broken limbs from the sturdy ropes. Her companion is similarly bound, but is dead, with vultures picking the meat from his bones. The wreckage of several wagon beds lies near the northern caverns.
Oily black smoke pours from the large central opening on the north side of the landing, carrying the putrid smell of burnt hair and decomposing flesh. A loud whimpering sound and a man's terrified scream fills the air from the cave.
Momoko also notes another smaller landing, with little of no telling, to the east...
Knowledge (Local) DC15+:
You identify one of the impaled corpses as a Shoanti of the Hawk Clan by his distinctive tattoos.
