GM Jhaeman's "Dawn of Flame, Chapter Four: The Blind City" (Inactive)

Game Master Jhaeman

With the battle well and truly joined, the undisciplined cultists began flailing away at anyone within reach!

Red is doing a full attack on Jin, Yellow a full attack on Hani, and Blue a full attack (one on Zharis and one on Tulgram).

Jin is hit once for 20 S, Hani is hit once for 18 S, Zharis hit once for 18 S, and the attack on Tulgram missed.

Initiative (Round 4)

Hani
Xylian
Cultists?
Tulgram
Zharis
Jin

Bold should go!

Jin returns the favor, full attacking the red "cultist":

Aurora Storm Doshko vs. Red’s EAC: 1d20 + 12 - 4 ⇒ (19) + 12 - 4 = 27
Electricity damage: 2d8 + 13 ⇒ (1, 5) + 13 = 19

Aurora Storm Doshko vs. Red’s EAC: 1d20 + 12 - 4 ⇒ (16) + 12 - 4 = 24
Electricity damage: 2d8 + 13 ⇒ (5, 1) + 13 = 19

Some peculiar damage rolls there

Zharis attacks Blue again.

Attack (Tactical Dueling Sword): 1d20 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 7 + 2 = 13 (2 for flank)
Slashing Damage: 1d6 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14

Unfortunately missing.

Zharis swings too high, but Jin has the measure of his foe and lands two powerful blows with his crackling doshko! The foe staggers and nearly drops, pure hatred keeping him on his feet. "I'll take you with me," he promises, beginning to glow with reddish light. Seeing this, another cultist shouts "Takar, not yet! We're too close!"

Zharis' attack missed, but both of Jin's attacks hit and Red is nearly finished.

Tulgram is up.

Tulgram digs the pincers of his capture pole even deeper into one of the cultist's arms, eliciting a cry of pain!

Botting Tulgram as continuing to attack Blue. The attack hits.

Merciful Capture Pole vs Blue KAC: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (11) + 11 = 22
damage: 1d8 + 13 ⇒ (5) + 13 = 18

Initiative (Round 5)

Hani
Xylian
Cultists?
Tulgram
Zharis
Jin

Bold should go!

Hani continues to desperately hit these cultists.

attack vs. red KAC: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21
damage, B+So: 1d6 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10

Hani also squares up against the enemy to his right (yellow).

Using move action to calibrate defense against any attack from yellow (+1 shield bonus to AC).

Xylian fires off another blast of ice, but the chaotic melee makes it nearly impossible to hit anything. ~~ Hani is in danger. Again. ~~ The telia does seem to have an inexplicable way of drawing enemy fire. Racism, no doubt. Cultists are always racist.

Overcharge and shoot Red or Combat Tracking and shoot Yellow if Hani drops Red.
Ice Carbine vs Red KAC (Ignores up to 4 AC from cover): 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (8) + 11 = 19
P + C Damage: 1d8 + 1d6 + 6 ⇒ (8) + (1) + 6 = 15

That ability to effectively ignore soft cover makes a big difference!

Effectively a +8 to Dex if Hani something is blocking Xylian's shot, which is like 98.3% if the time :P Not enough to overcome these terrible rolls, though!

Hani's gauntlet fist drops flat the cultist who just threatened him! The foe's glowing hammer disappears as he hits the ground.

An instant later, Xylian somehow lands an icy blast on another cultist, as Jin and Hani dance in his way.

Hani's attack hit and took out Red.

Xylian actually hit Yellow *exactly*.

"I'll take care of that ice-blasting freak!" shouts one of the cultists. Flames dance across his body as he rushes into the hallway right at Xylian!

Meanwhile, the other cultist, sensing that Hani is almost finished, snarls and redoubles his attacks! His glowing hammer knocks the telia down and then catches Zharis on the backswing!

Yellow provokes an AoO from Hani and from Jin. However, Yellow is using a special ability that gives them concealment (a 20% miss chance) against these attacks. In addition, his movement leaves a trail of fire behind (represented by the red suns on the map)--you can move into these squares, but you will take damage if you do so.

Xylian, unless Yellow is dispatched by the AoOs, you get hit and take 19 S.

Blue does a full attack. The first attack takes Hani down to 0 HP (on your turn, you can spend RP to stabilize).
The second attack hits Zharis and does 16 S.

Initiative (Round 5)

Hani (dying)
Xylian
Cultists
Tulgram
Zharis
Jin

Bold should go!

Jin takes the AoO:

AoO Aurora Storm Doshko vs. Yellows’s EAC: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (2) + 12 = 14
Electricity damage: 2d8 + 13 ⇒ (1, 5) + 13 = 19

But all the fire on the floor distracts him. He goes for the full attack again:

Aurora Storm Doshko vs. Yellow’s EAC: 1d20 + 12 - 4 ⇒ (19) + 12 - 4 = 27
Electricity damage: 2d8 + 13 ⇒ (8, 1) + 13 = 22

Aurora Storm Doshko vs. Yellow’s EAC: 1d20 + 12 - 4 ⇒ (13) + 12 - 4 = 21
Electricity damage: 2d8 + 13 ⇒ (2, 1) + 13 = 16

"Remarkable effort, but you are clearly outmatched." Jin recognizes the weight behind the enemies attacks.

As a final act of defiance, Hani strikes out at the cultist as he moves away.

AoO on yellow: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21
damage: 1d6 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13

Hani then drops, succumbing to the injuries inflicted by the cultists.

Blue needs to be taking 1d6 electricity damage every time he hits me in melee. That's twice now I believe, so rolling below:

Electricity damage from touching Zharis' armor: 2d6 ⇒ (2, 6) = 8

Zharis sees Hani collapse, and swings her sword at Blue again, hoping to hit him even without the flanking advantage so he can't do any more damage to Hani.

Attack (Tactical Dueling Sword): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23
Slashing Damage: 1d6 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11

Merciful Capture Pole: 1d20 + 11 - 4 ⇒ (19) + 11 - 4 = 261d8 + 13 ⇒ (7) + 13 = 20 (piercing vs KAC; non-lethal dmg)
Merciful Capture Pole: 1d20 + 11 - 4 ⇒ (3) + 11 - 4 = 101d8 + 13 ⇒ (4) + 13 = 17 (piercing vs KAC; non-lethal dmg)

Duergar is concentrating on doing his job of laying opponents face down on the floor. He does it mechanically, as if working up a sweat at the machine in the workshop. Take one alive! We'll find out who's behind this and then we'll sell the a&+&%#~ to laboratory perverts from the Diaspora for experiments, bhahaha! It seems that a gray-skinned can't get used to the fact that you don't sell intelligent beings...

Jin's first attack goes high as the blazing cultist rushes past him, but the kanabo connects with two powerful blows once his foe is standing still!

Zharis and Tulgram continue the furious melee against the other cultist--the man is barely able to keep his feet!

Jin's AoO misses Yellow. Hani's AoO hits Yellow (I rolled the miss chance dice below), but isn't enough to drop him, so Xylian, you will take the damage in my previous post.

Jin's regular attacks both hit, and Yellow wouldn't be able to stand another barrage like that.

Zharis' attack and one of Tulgram's hit Blue--factoring in Zharis' electrical armor damage, one more hit will take him out.

Initiative (Round 6)

Hani (dying)
Xylian
Cultists
Tulgram
Zharis
Jin

Bold should go!

@Hani: You can spend one RP to stabilize on your turn, and then on a subsequent turn can spend another RP to become conscious if you want.

Hani will use an RP to stabilize himself.

The slippery racist manages to snake past the ever stalwart Hani and Jin, but their attack does not overcome the protective properties of Xylians' armor. He allows the impact from the attack to push him back and out of range of the attacker, and he replies with another frost icecicle.

Guarded Step East, Shoot yellow.
Ice Carbine vs Red KAC (Ignores up to 4 AC from cover; Coordinated Shot): 1d20 + 11 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 11 + 1 = 19 Nice job Jin :P
P + C Damage: 1d8 + 1d6 + 6 ⇒ (3) + (6) + 6 = 15

Xylian blasts his nemesis again, but the stalwart foe is somehow still on his feet!

Another hit like that will take out Yellow.

"All will consumed!" shouts one of the cultists in what must be a form of call-and-response worship, because the other one replies "In flame and darkness forevermore!" Suddenly, a burst of intense heat crashes out of each of them like a wave!

Each cultist has gone supernova.

Zharis and Tulgram, you each take 23 F (DC 14 Reflex halves).

Hani, since you were already at zero HP, you automatically lose 1 RP and are again Dying. (And can I get you to update your tagline to show: 0 SP, 0 HP, and 4 RP? Thanks!)

Jin and Xylian, you take 22 F (DC 14 Reflex halves).

Initiative (Round 6)

Hani (dying)
Xylian
Cultists
Tulgram
Zharis
Jin

Bold should go!

Merciful Capture Pole: 1d20 + 11 - 4 ⇒ (10) + 11 - 4 = 171d8 + 13 ⇒ (2) + 13 = 15 (piercing vs KAC; non-lethal dmg)
Merciful Capture Pole: 1d20 + 11 - 4 ⇒ (8) + 11 - 4 = 151d8 + 13 ⇒ (1) + 13 = 14 (piercing vs KAC; non-lethal dmg)
Darn! Looks like the bid failed.
UPDRef: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (10) + 9 = 19

Reflex Save: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16 (pass)

They went "supernova" but they aren't dead? I totally thought they were suiciding.

Zharis really hates the smell of burnt fur, and it further angers her that it is her own. How was she going to look in her documentary? Well, dramatic at least... try to think of it like the show. She would have to overplay it, but then be back to on-the-mend self in the next episode, then back to perfect in two... wiser and better.

She shook herself out of her reverie and swung her sword especially forcefully at Blue, shouting dramatically...

For Hani!

...since the audience probably thought he was dead at this point.

Attack (Tactical Dueling Sword): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8
Slashing Damage: 1d6 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10

She completely missed though, having borked her timing because she was imagining the perfect shot. Oh well, she'd have to scrub that scene. Too embarrassing. She almost landed on her face. Take two.

As the flame washes over them, Tulgram and Zharis try to finish off their badly-wounded opponent, but can't land a solid hit!

Both of Tulgram's attacks & Zharis' attack missed.

Jin is up.

@Zharis: When they were all together, the one that was about to supernova (a solarian power) would have harmed both his allies (but he got dropped just in time). Now that the two remaining are spread out, they're not harming each other.

Reflex save DC 14: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

"So be it." Jin kills the yellow cultist:

Aurora Storm Doshko vs. Yellow’s EAC: 1d20 + 12 - 4 ⇒ (14) + 12 - 4 = 22
Electricity damage: 2d8 + 13 ⇒ (8, 2) + 13 = 23

Aurora Storm Doshko vs. Yellow’s EAC: 1d20 + 12 - 4 ⇒ (12) + 12 - 4 = 20
Electricity damage: 2d8 + 13 ⇒ (6, 5) + 13 = 24

Incoherent screams fill the air as Jin's electrically-charged doshko kills one of the cultists outright!

Both of those attacks hit, and Yellow is down for the count.

Initiative (Round 7)

Hani (dying)
Xylian
Cultist
Tulgram
Zharis
Jin

Bold should go!

Hani once again stabilizes himself, spending an RP. Down to 3/6.

All the flame melts Xylian's icicle... Depression.

Move 20'. Overcharge and shoot bad guy.
Ref: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (7) + 11 = 18
Ice Carbine vs KAC (Ignores up to 4 AC from cover): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (1) + 9 = 10
P + C Damage: 1d8 + 1d6 + 6 ⇒ (6) + (4) + 6 = 16

A grim smile crosses the last cultist's face as Xylian's icy blast melts from the residual heat of his fiery aura.

"Entropy may swallow me first, but you cannot outrun it forever!" shouts the foe, swinging his glowing hammer with wild abandon.

Full attack--one on Tulgram and one on Zharis. Both attacks miss!

Initiative (Round 7)

Hani
Xylian
Cultist
Tulgram
Zharis
Jin

Bold should go!

So, if his attack missed, do we say that he didn't touch my armor, or does a melee attack count as a touch?

Keeping her audience in mind, but trying to focus on the actual battle this time, Zharis swings again.

Attack (Tactical Dueling Sword): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26
Slashing Damage: 1d6 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12

Zharis grinned as her swing connected. That was a good one.

Watch me. Zharis says dramatically in response to her defeated foe, making sure she presented a good angle to the camera. Her expression said that sure she was burnt and physically exhausted from the pain, but her spirit remained undaunted.

She felt in her pocket for the camera remote, and made sure she got a close-up of that one.

The cultist is laid low by Zharis' blade, providing a perfect opportunity for a dramatic pose!

We are off Initiative. A tough battle, but good work everyone! Please don't forget to update your taglines if you took damage during the fight and/or expended resources.

That's a perfect place to stop for our holiday break. I'll award you XP for this and the robot battle in the Discussion thread. I'll be back on January 2. Happy holidays!

"Untrue. Magic violates the laws of thermodynamics. Entropy is hardly a problem." Xylian says blandly as the last baddie falls. He reloads his carbine. "Hani, are you injured?"

Those guys were tough.

"I'm going to need some major recovery time here. I'm lucky I have friends like all of you, otherwise, I'd be dead."

Hani will spend an RP to give himself 1 HP. Then he'll use a serum, and then spend one more RP and take 10 minutes of rest to get his SP back.

serum: 1d8 ⇒ 4

So let me examine your wounds. Damn, there's more burn left from Hani than Hani himself. Okay, now we'll anoint you with a special ointment...

Medicine: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (16) + 18 = 34
Hani and Tulgram gets 12 hp; any extra healing will go to the SP if HP are at the maximum (which will I use). I haven't treated the others yet, as it only works once per 24 hours per creature.

Tulgram's special ointment cures some of the worst of Hani's burns.

@Everyone: This is a good occasion to decide via role-playing whether you want to stay and rest for 10 minutes, go as a group somewhere else, or temporarily split up so the most wounded will be out of harm's way.

As Hani catches his breath, he rethinks his desire for a rest. "We may need to keep moving here. Our friends could be in trouble. I may have to stay out of the thick of things if there's going to be trouble again."

Hani quaffs one more healing serum, then follows the others out of this area.

Mk I serum: 1d8 ⇒ 1

Although wounded and exhausted, the team decides they need to keep moving.

Okay folks, where to?

Serum: 5d8 ⇒ (1, 6, 7, 5, 4) = 23

Tulgram consistently makes 5 injections into Hani's neck. That's better! But really don't get into the mess... Aye, now let's go! To save bloody aberration and yerr bloody friend! No one will take away from me the humanoid resource that will help me become a famous scientist! Hah!

And duergar confidently goes forward.

GM, I've drawn a red line on the map as I'm supposed to lead the comrades. Comrades! If I didn't understand something and there is a shorter way - correct it.

Zharis moves forward with the others as Tulgram leads the way. She somewhat regrets not looting everything as they go forward, but if it might make a difference in saving Nib, she could look past the opportunity... not without some regret however.

She did a long pan of the hallways they were passing and then a close-up on her regretful look, showing the audience that she really *wanted* to explore more, but more importantly, they needed to save their friend.

Tulgram's chemical concoctions help keep his allies going!

Moving through a door marked “Employees Only”, the expedition team find themselves staring down a long hallway. Inside, a few of the ceiling lights glow steadily but most flicker on and off, adding to the eerie feel of the abandoned clinic. Halfway down the corridor, along the northern wall, is a sturdy door marked "Emergency Exit." Two doors are spaced along the corridors southern wall, while a final door stands on the far east end of the corridor.

I'll pause for a second to see whether there are any changes to the plan--if not, I'll continue you toward the east as the drawn route indicates.

Please feel free to rearrange your marching order--I just dragged the tokens over.

@Tulgram: Good work! Just the usual reminder to make sure to remove those serums from your inventory.

Yep! I try to do it right away and this time was no exception .)
Perception: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (3) + 15 = 18 - any traps btw

The door at the far end of the corridor leads to a small warehouse full of tall metal shelves. Supplies at the floor level are gone, but several racks hold pallets wrapped in sheets of translucent plastic on their upper shelves.

In addition the corridor door, two other doors stand on the west wall. One is labelled "Refrigeration", while the other has the universal Pact Worlds symbol for "Restroom."

To the east are a set of enormous bay doors--they're open and reveal a loading ramp.

An alcove to the southeast contains another door between two shelves labelled “Lab”.

I'll again pause briefly to see if you want to do anything in this room before continuing on your drawn route.

Tulgram's eyes sparkle slyly when he sees the word "Lab". Just a second. Maybe there's something there for Hani and all of us. He's obviously going to look in there.

Engineering: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23

Aye, and be gentle. The storage racks look unbalanced and potentially dangerous if disturbed.

Jin approaches the open bay doors from the south, looks around the corner to see what's outside:

Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (19) + 10 = 29

Hani looks for something to brace the shelves so the goods on them can be properly searched.

engineering: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (17) + 18 = 35

As Hani and Tulgram carefully examine the storage racks, Jin walks to the southeast to peer outside. But the southeastern alcove has been trapped! Three short beeps indicate a motion sensor has been triggered, which in turn sets off a small, carefully placed explosive, which tips over one of the heavily-laden shelves on Jin!

@Jin: The trap inflicts 38 B. You get a DC 17 Reflex save for half damage, and a +2 bonus on the save because you've already been alerted to the unstable shelving.