Tyrant's Grasp

Game Master Kumakawa

Tim, it looks like the hall is a little more than 5 ft wide, as there is like half a square to the north. Could Vyr or Red squeeze by using that space, maybe using acro (for Red I mean, Vyr is -2)?

Yeah, if we can use that extra space to get by, I would use acro to try to avoid the aoe

Resistances and Immunities, please.

"Cayden's tarnished tankard! Everything here has it out for us."

Willard lets out a low whistle and a glowing hawk pops into existence above the esobock.

Celestial Hawk Attack
bite: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (11) + 3 = 14 for b/s/p: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3
talon: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4 for s/p: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3
talon: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5 for s/p: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

Decided what my character needed was more swearing.

The hall is wide enough to squeeze past for a flank. Unfortunately for Red, a 13 won't beat his CMD. The esobok is immune to death effects, disease, and poison, and resists cold and electricity 10. Willard's swearing is a boon to us all.

The hawk can't seem to scratch the psychopomp's tough hide. It lashes out with a bite as Red goes past.

bite: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18
1d6 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

"Whats going on up there. I cant see. Make some room."

Vyr shifts towards the planar creature once Red has moved, and brings his ectoplasmic blade down.

ectoplasmic longsword w/ flank: 1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 5 + 2 = 13
slashing dmg: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10

“Made some room for one of you up here,” he calls down in response to Anne-Lise.

Annalise will scramble up the ladder and try to assist with the next attack

Claw assist: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (16) - 2 = 14

I hate to do this, but if the first one would count as an attack from invisibility, I think the total D won't apply, and it would just barely be a hit :-( I'm totally open to being wrong, though :-)

Yar, I was trying to cut you some slack after that previous fight, but since you insist, I'll roll damage for that hit. The AoO still misses because he takes the attack in your initial square, before you were squeezing.

bite damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

~~++~~Initiative~~+~~

Bad
Annalise -1
Red -6
Vyr -8(aided on attack)
Willard

>>>map<<<

The esobok tries to bite Vyr.
1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20
1d6 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8

grab: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15

Then slashes at Red
claw 1: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23
1d4 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

claw 2: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9

Vyr redoubles his efforts!

ectoplasmic longsword w/ flank and aid: 1d20 + 5 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 5 + 2 + 2 = 12
slashing dmg: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10

christ

Willard's hat pokes just above the ladder's top, and he encourages the bird to keep attacking.

Celestial Hawk Attack
bite: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5 for b/s/p: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4
talon: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6 for s/p: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4
1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21 for s/p: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

Red flurries (trying to stun the psychopomp on the first attack if possible)

fistVsFlatfooted: 1d20 + 7 - 1 ⇒ (3) + 7 - 1 = 9

elbowVsFlatfooted: 1d20 + 7 - 1 ⇒ (9) + 7 - 1 = 15 unlikely for damage: 1d6 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 1 + 2 = 8

Annalise will step back and activate the wand to treat Vyr's wounds
Cure light wounds: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

Alex, what makes him flat-footed? Are you thinking of the 2e rules for flanking? (Either way that's a hit.)

Willard's hawk scores a hit, though it seems like not all the damage gets through. The same goes for Red's last strike.

It lashes out in pain, trying to bite Vyr and slashing at the hawk:

bite: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19
1d6 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5
grab: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 16

claw: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17
1d6 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

claw: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14
1d6 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

~~++~~Initiative~~+~~

Bad -8
Annalise -1
Red -6
Vyr -4
Willard

>>>map<<<

I thought that's what 1e flanking did and in 2e it's just the flat -2 to AC or something. I can't keep anything straight at this point

1e gives you a +2 to hit. 2e makes them flat footed, which is a -2 to AC. It's much of a muchness in this fight. But I feel you. I used to know this stuff cold. Now I'm looking up CRB basics.

Red flurries away and attempts his final stunning fist of the day on the first strike.

fistvsflatfooted: 1d20 + 7 - 1 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 7 - 1 + 2 = 27 for damage: 1d6 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 1 + 2 = 6 and fort save 14

kneevsflatfooted: 1d20 + 7 - 1 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 7 - 1 + 2 = 11

fort save: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11

The esobok looks pretty stricken.

Vyr grits his teeth and tried to keep up with Red’s assault.

ectoplasmic longsword w/ flank: 1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 5 + 2 = 23
slashing dmg: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12

Woot! first successful stunning fist!

Woot! first successful stunning fist!

possibly in the history of 1e

Luckily it is recorded for posterity!

The hawk continues to attack the psychopomp.

Celestial Hawk Attack
bite: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (19) + 3 = 22 for b/s/p: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4
talon: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 3 = 20 for s/p: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4
talon: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 13 for s/p: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

Annalise will press the stunning advantage and savage this creature with her amazing manicure
Claws: 1d20 - 2 + 2 ⇒ (14) - 2 + 2 = 14 for Slashing: 1d4 - 2 ⇒ (2) - 2 = 0
Claws: 1d20 - 2 + 2 ⇒ (9) - 2 + 2 = 9 for Slashing: 1d4 - 2 ⇒ (3) - 2 = 1

~~++~~Initiative~~+~~

Bad -26
Annalise -1
Red -6
Vyr -4
Willard

>>>map<<<

The esobok, having suffered a real flurry of wounds, stands there reeling. Vyr escapes from its slack jaws. Finish it!

Sorry, guys. What I should have said was: let's hand waive the rest of this fight. It's near death and stunned and can't add anything to the narrative.

Out of initiative

This long room atop the gatehouse has several narrow arrow slits to the north and south. Each is 2 feet high and only a few inches wide. The room is bare except for a ladder descending from an alcove at the room’s eastern end. A low door stands in the center of the north wall, with a small, square window at the typical eye level for a human. The window is inset with a small metal grill, which has been stuffed with humanoid teeth.

Looking through the arrowslits to the north, you can see a keep, whose wall is similarly vented by narrow windows. A long walkway connects the two.

"One of you charmers should see if we can communicate with someone over there. That's a long bridge with no cover from those arrow slits."

How is everyone doing? Should we rest?

Annalise turns to the rest of the group
"Lets get you all looking presentable before we attempt this parlay"

For Vyr
CLW wand: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5
For Red
CLW wand: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

I'm ready to go on.

"Never had much of a way with people, myself. Now, if we have to negotiate with a giant fungus, I'm your man."

"so we're left with just proceeding with caution in total defense and then trying to break the door down?

"I suppose the danger in calling out is if they do not wish to parlay, then we've made our journey across that bridge harder."

"I don't know if there is any way across without drawing notice. I assure you, I can be exceptionally charming"
Annalise says, flipping her hair

So, what's the consensus? Moving across the walkway and maybe battering down the door? Or calling out to them?

if we choose the battering down the door, I can try to pick the lock if we luck out and no one seems to see us while we approach. If Annalise wants to give some diplomacy a go, I'm fine with that. otherwise it sounds like we're heading across and hoping for the best

"Let her highness give it a go. My luck, it'll just alert them and make it all harder, but our luck has to change at some point, right?"

nudge, nudge

botting

Annalise calls out, "Hello there! I am Annalise Willblund of the Ustalav Willblunds. I come to resolve the conflict you have with the prince downstairs. With your permission, my manservant is going to cross this walkway. Please don't shoot!

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (16) + 9 = 25

Annalise opens the door a crack, staying behind it, and gestures for one of you to go through.

^ that

Vyr gives Red a significant look, and does the "after you" universal gesture.

Red obliges, moving slowly and warily total defense

Several arrows appear at the arrowslits.

Halt! cries a diminutive voice. None shall pass, by decree of Her Majesty, Queen Carnassial. Turn back the way you came or be prepare to surrender your teeth and your lives!

>>>map<<<

Believing that an arrow drawn by someone on the other side of the arrow slits couldn't be angled enough to target the area directly in front of the door, Red dashes to the door and crouches below its window it has a window, right?.

He pulls out his thieve's tools, making sure that his compatriots can see them, and begins working on the lock (after trying the handle first).

feel free to interrupt my actions if appropriate or to tell me that some of them have to wait

Red's dash seems to catch the guards unaware. A cry of, "Treachery!" goes up from inside the keep and a volley arrows hiss past him. Some clatter through the open windows on the south side of the bridge, showering the other heroes with a spray of splinters.

Red, safely tucked against the door, sets to work on the lock. Working under pressure seems to have gotten to him, though, and the lock resists his attempts to pick it.

You can retry skill checks to disable locks, but each attempt is a full round action.

Initiative

Red
An Unknown Number of Bad Guys
Vyr
Annalise
Willard

>>>map<<<

Undaunted, Red tries the lock again.

~~+~~Initiative~~+~~

Red
Bad Guy 1
An Unknown Number of Bad Guys
Vyr
Annalise
Willard

A flash of light, as from spellcasting, can be seen within the opposing arrowslits.

What happens next will depend on Red's save

>>>map<<<

Will: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10

zzzzzzzz

Red slumps to the ground, dropping his thieves' tools. As he does, the door swings open suddenly and a tooth fairy flies out, pliers at the ready.

Teethies! he cries as he sets to work prizing an incisor from Red's slumbering jaw.

1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18
1d4 - 1 + 1d6 ⇒ (4) - 1 + (1) = 4

Red wakes up in shocking pain as a tooth comes away.

~~+~~Initiative~~+~~

Red -4
Bad Guy 1
Bad Guy 2
Bad Guy 3
Vyr
Annalise
Willard

>>>map<<<

Grumbling to himself, “Why can’t anything be easy?!” Vyr will cast shield on himself and then starts the journey across the bridge.

"Wait! Please forgive my servant's impetuousness. We have come to treat with the rightful queen of this castle. We bring an offering for her."

Annalise will shout, holding up the tooth they got from the king, still hoping Diplomacy might get them across this bridge.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (10) + 9 = 19

She will ready to pull out her crossbow if hostilities continue

Willard will move over and send the celestial eagle that has been lounging around to attack the first fairy. (Unless they seem amenable to Annalise's request.)
bite: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9 for b/s/p: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

Bird sticks around for 2 minutes--I think we are still in that timeframe.