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The stone walls turn to heavy timbers as this tower climbs above the longhall. This landing is dark, illuminated only by what little light spills from the room below. A steep, narrow stair lacking any railing rises through an opening in the ceiling 20 feet above. Beyond this stair, a door opens into a side room.
”Moose don’t like stairs too much, I’ll tell you that,” Mukluk says, huffing his way to the top. He will examine the door and open it when others are ready.
Perception
The door opens to the upper balcony of the main hall - currently empty. Well, there are of course ravens fluttering about and caw-ing, but not a swarm exactly... though they do seem to be thickening.
Durgan checks the door to the side room from the landing, then opens it.
Durgan hears the sounds of someone with a very deep voice talking quietly through the heavy door. He can't hear any responses, so either the other voice doesn't carry as much, or the deep voice is alone. Hard to know...
"We're ready, once you've caught your breath."
Mukluk doesn’t push Stormy away too fiercely. Although he isn’t too annoyed by the forced tonguebath, he believes that Moose might get jealous, and wants to avoid Moose getting nippish and peckish.
”I’m okay, Stormsy. I’m okay, just let me alone for a moment.”
Mukluk catches his breath and moves up with the party, wand in hand.
Durgan re-casts Shield (2 encounters).
"I am best protected for now."
Once everyone is ready he opens the door.
This chamber reeks of stale wine, rank sweat, and wild animal spoor. A rough bed sits at the far end, and a pot-belly stove rests between the windows, next to a coal bucket. Across from the stove is a small table holding several empty wineskins and a small oaken statuette.
Also in this chamber is an enormous man, draining a wineskin, and scratching his balls. When he sees the door open, he reacts more quickly than you’d expect - grabbing an axe from and end-table, rising, and changing form!
As he stands, fur covers his body and he grows even taller and more brutish!
In their humanoid forms, werebears tend to be muscular and broad-shouldered, with stark facial features and dark eyes. Their hair is usually red, brown, or black, and they look like they are used to a lifetime of hard work. Normally by far the most benign of common lycanthropes, werebears are shunned by most normal folk, who fear and mistrust their animal transformations. Most live as recluses in forested areas or in small family units among their own kind. From his countenance, this one is far from the normally good breed.
- - -
Know (Local)
”Oh beware! It be a werebear right there,” Mukluk warns, noting the obvious change and explaining what might work best against it.
He ponders his action as others act first.
Mukluk knows they're resistant to non-silver weapons. Very resistant (DR 10/silver).
Durgan takes a step back and casts Bull's Strength (2 encounters).
”It’s hide is that tough?” Kisaiya draws her Warhammer and calls upon her divine bond to empower it, taking the hammer in two hands. She is antsy, unused to fighting like this since she lost her eye and got cut down to eight fingers, but she will do what needs to be done. She nods at Durgan and holds her ground, waiting for their foe to advance.
HP: 49/49
AC: 21/12/19
Saves: F7/R4/W7
Hero Points: 2
Smite Evil Used: 0/2
Lay on Hands Used: 0/4
Divine Bond Used: 1/1
Second Chance
Spells/Effects Active:
[ dice]1d20+10[/dice] to hit;
[ dice]1d8+7[/dice] damage.
Round 1
With a ranged battle starting, Mukluk will lay down a Grease just inside the door to hopefully prevent any angry charges from the werebear.
He then scuttles out of the way.
Durgan steps back and buffs further. Rory throws a flask of alchemy fire, doing a little damage and filling the chamber with the smell of burning fur. Kisaiya draws a warhammer (silver?) and makes ready for the fight. Mukluk greases the floor. Ameiko sheaths her rapier and draws her new bow.
The werebear takes a 5’ step to get a clean shot on Kisaiya…
vs DC 10
He doesn’t advance, nor does he fall. Actually I think he does fall for failing the acrobatics by 5. So he gets up (move) and continues...
He grabs a hand ax off the nearby table.
You see one more ax on the table.
Round 2
Mukluk back in for a ranged attack before things get melee. Mukluk does not want the right to bear arms.
touch hit; (-combat)
fire damage
[ dice=Trepanator]1d20+2[/dice] to hit;
[ dice]1d6[/dice] cold iron piercing damage
[ dice=MuleBite]1d20+4[/dice] touch to hit;
[ dice=Divine]1d4+2[/dice] damage
[ dice=MuleKicks]1d20+4[/dice] touch to hit;
[ dice=Force]1d4[/dice] damage
[ dice=Divine Mule Piss]1d20+4+1[/dice] touch to hit;
[ dice]1d4+2[/dice] divine fire
touch to hit;
acid
touch hit;
fire damage
AC: 12/12/10 + 1 w/shield
Fort/Ref/Will: +2/+3/+9 +2 vs spells, poison
HP: 27/27
Resist 5 cold/acid
Focus: 0/3
Hero Points: 0/3
Speed: 20'
Luck? 0/1 used
MuleFire: 0/7 used
Durgan calls on the power of Abadar to protect the party, activating his Deflection Aura.
Kisaiya follows Rory’s lead and pulls out her remaining alchemist’s fire and chucks it at the lycanthrope.
HP: 49/49
AC: 23/14/21
Saves: F7/R4/W7
Hero Points: 2
Smite Evil Used: 0/2
Lay on Hands Used: 0/4
Divine Bond Used: 1/1
Second Chance
Spells/Effects Active: Aura of Deflection, divine bond (+1)
[ dice]1d20+10[/dice] to hit;
[ dice]1d8+7[/dice] damage.
Durgan further protects the party. Rory throws another alchemical fire, barely hitting as the flask bounces off the door frame, but connects. Kisaiya further enrages the werebear with fire! Mukluk launches a scorching ray, but merely impacts the door frame. Ameiko has no shot, so she delays, ready to attack when the werebear shows himself.
The werebear takes a 5’ step to get a clean shot on Kisaiya…
vs DC 10
He drops the hand axe (free) and swings with his battle axe, a bite, and a claw all at Kisaiya. The doorway gets in his way, as it does with all of you.
Frustratingly, the creature can't connect effectively fighting through the door.
Durgan casts Guidance on himself.
Round 3
Mukluk tries again to get his wand to aim properly, thinking that Moose would be embarrassed by the wand's shooting so far.
touch hit; (-combat)
fire damage
He steps aside. "I guess I need Moose to look at this wand. It's not firing straight at all."
[ dice=Trepanator]1d20+2[/dice] to hit;
[ dice]1d6[/dice] cold iron piercing damage
[ dice=MuleBite]1d20+4[/dice] touch to hit;
[ dice=Divine]1d4+2[/dice] damage
[ dice=MuleKicks]1d20+4[/dice] touch to hit;
[ dice=Force]1d4[/dice] damage
[ dice=Divine Mule Piss]1d20+4+1[/dice] touch to hit;
[ dice]1d4+2[/dice] divine fire
touch to hit;
acid
touch hit;
fire damage
AC: 12/12/10 + 1 w/shield
Fort/Ref/Will: +2/+3/+9 +2 vs spells, poison
HP: 27/27
Resist 5 cold/acid
Focus: 0/3
Hero Points: 0/3
Speed: 20'
Luck? 0/1 used
MuleFire: 0/7 used
Kisaiya focuses entirely on her defenses, counting on their strategy of turtling-up to win the day.
HP: 49/49
AC: 27/18/21
Saves: F7/R4/W7
Hero Points: 2
Smite Evil Used: 0/2
Lay on Hands Used: 0/4
Divine Bond Used: 1/1
Second Chance
Spells/Effects Active: Aura of Deflection, divine bond (+1), total defense
[ dice]1d20+10[/dice] to hit;
[ dice]1d8+7[/dice] damage.
Durgan improves himself, and prepares for the fight. Rory readies an attack, that triggers, but other than moving up slightly, he has no effect. Kisaiya takes total defense. Mukluk does his best to shoot, but cannot quite get the fire on target. Ameiko doesn’t have a great shot - but she takes it.
The werebear howls and thrashes about, trying to pierce the shell.
He roars with delight at the blow, and the new arrivals.
However, fresh attacks suddenly come in, as previously invisible ninja make themselves apparent as they strike Mukluk!
They grin as their weapons dig deep into dwarven flesh.
Round 4
"MOOSE! THEY GOT ME MOOSE! SAVE ME!! MOOOOOOSE!!!" Mukluk cries as he gets jacked in the back the ninjas. He does step back, and offers a glittering cloud of glittery dust to glitterblind the group, and also identify any others that might invisible.
[ dice=Trepanator]1d20+2[/dice] to hit;
[ dice]1d6[/dice] cold iron piercing damage
[ dice=MuleBite]1d20+4[/dice] touch to hit;
[ dice=Divine]1d4+2[/dice] damage
[ dice=MuleKicks]1d20+4[/dice] touch to hit;
[ dice=Force]1d4[/dice] damage
[ dice=Divine Mule Piss]1d20+4+1[/dice] touch to hit;
[ dice]1d4+2[/dice] divine fire
touch to hit;
acid
touch hit;
fire damage
AC: 12/12/10 + 1 w/shield
Fort/Ref/Will: +2/+3/+9 +2 vs spells, poison
HP: 27/27
Resist 5 cold/acid
Focus: 0/3
Hero Points: 0/3
Speed: 20'
Luck? 0/1 used
MuleFire: 0/7 used
"Kisaiya, we need to lure him out! I can't fight in that Grease."
Durgan casts Guidance on Kisaiya.
"Kisaiya, we need to lure him out! I can't fight in that Grease."
”Or close the door,” Mukluk offers an idea that may or may not be helpful.
Kisaiya grunts but does not falter. She knows how lucky the bear had to be to get that shot, and she is very good at healing herself.
She eyes the ninja blocking them in response to Durgan. ”I’ve got nowhere to move at the moment. Gimme a moment.”
She winds up a powerful swing on the ninja up in her face.
HP: 40/49
AC: 23/14/21
Saves: F7/R4/W7
Hero Points: 2
Smite Evil Used: 0/2
Lay on Hands Used: 1/4
Divine Bond Used: 1/1
Second Chance
Spells/Effects Active: Aura of Deflection, divine bond (+1)
[ dice]1d20+10[/dice] to hit;
[ dice]1d8+7[/dice] damage.
Durgan casts guidance on Kisaiya. Kisaiya draws first blood on the ninja, wounding yellow. Mukluk retreats before trying to blind their new foes. Rory delays until there’s an opening, and launches into battle. Storm hits and drags his opponent down, only to be slain by Rory a moment later. Ameiko switches back to her rapier, now that there are more foes (move to put away bow move to draw rapier).
vs DC 19
vs DC 19
vs DC 19
The were bear continues to thrash at Kisaiya.
He roars in bloodlust as he strikes again, this time very deeply indeed.
Pink, blinded, stabs wildly at Storm, unable to 5' step to a more advantageous position.
You hear the caw of a particularly loud angry raven from up the stairs - answered by a swarm of others.
Pink tries to fend off the blindness!
vs DC 19
...and does!
Kisaiya feels punished a little for the hubris of relying upon her healing powers. She reminds herself to pray to the Empress of Heaven later in forgiveness. For now, she heals herself some and steps out of the bear’s reach around the corner.
With how hurt she is, she pulls out the wand and taps herself with that, too.
HP: 16/49
AC: 23/14/21
Saves: F7/R4/W7
Hero Points: 2
Smite Evil Used: 0/2
Lay on Hands Used: 2/4
Divine Bond Used: 1/1
Second Chance
Spells/Effects Active: Aura of Deflection, divine bond (+1)
[ dice]1d20+10[/dice] to hit;
[ dice]1d8+7[/dice] damage.
Durgan continues to avoid the Grease and wait for the werebear to move up. He casts Guidance on Mukluk .
Round 5
Mukluk, somewhat out of danger if you fail to recognize how many ninjas and bears are around him and want him disemboweled at the moment, fires his wand at the aggressive bear.
”C’mon Moose! Let’s do this right!”
touch hit;
fire damage
[ dice=Trepanator]1d20+2[/dice] to hit;
[ dice]1d6[/dice] cold iron piercing damage
[ dice=MuleBite]1d20+4[/dice] touch to hit;
[ dice=Divine]1d4+2[/dice] damage
[ dice=MuleKicks]1d20+4[/dice] touch to hit;
[ dice=Force]1d4[/dice] damage
[ dice=Divine Mule Piss]1d20+4+1[/dice] touch to hit;
[ dice]1d4+2[/dice] divine fire
touch to hit;
acid
touch hit;
fire damage
AC: 12/12/10 + 1 w/shield
Fort/Ref/Will: +2/+3/+9 +2 vs spells, poison
HP: 27/27
Resist 5 cold/acid
Focus: 0/3
Hero Points: 0/3
Speed: 20'
Luck? 0/1 used
MuleFire: 0/7 used
Durgan casts guidance on Mukluk. Kisaiya steps out of the way and tries to heal a bit. Cover is a thing, but as he’s no longer in melee, Mukluk hits the giant bear causing even more burned fur smell! Rory and Storm slash pink twice and drop him to the ground. Ameiko following Durgan’s lead, and hampered by Mukluk’s grease, starts up her inspiration again (+1) as she otherwise waits for an opening.
The werebear hesitatingly, without a target, takes a 5’ step on the grease to the door. He does not look healthy.
vs DC 10
His battle axe bites a third time, though his claw just misses.
Pinky gets up provoking multiple attacks from Rory, Storm, & Kisaiya... He doesn't want to, but the presence of the bird behind him obligates him...
Pinky presses Kisaiya, seeing how wounded she is. Not sure flank applies so I'll leave it out.
...and he hits anyway! Kisaiya crumples up on the floor, bleeding...
Lastly a bird, with a distinct red feather (image) appears flying down the stairs, escorted by three airy wisps. These cloud-like creature have dark hollows reminiscent of eyes and a mouth, and a howling wind whips it into ominous shapes. They are small, but mighty!
Air elementals are fast, flying creatures made of living air. Primitive and territorial, they resent being summoned or doing the bidding of mortals, and much prefer to spend their time on the Plane of Air, swooping and racing through the endless skies.
- - -
Double moves all around. The elementals are 5’ up flying along the ceiling.
"Finally!"
Durgan steps up and attacks, cracking the werebear hard across the face.
"Rory - heal Kisaiya if you can! You are more powerful than that wand!"
Round 6
Mukluk look at the new quartet of foes. He doesn’t have a good grasp of the swirling bits, but he knows a birb when he sees one. Even if it might be a strange birb.
Know (Arcana) - weird birb
He offers his best earthy burny spell at the blue elemental, hoping that splash does its thing and splashes a lot of the bad things around it.
Ranged touch
fiery lava damage
Round 1
Round 2
Round 3
And he moves out of the squoozen state.
[ dice=Trepanator]1d20+2[/dice] to hit;
[ dice]1d6[/dice] cold iron piercing damage
[ dice=MuleBite]1d20+4[/dice] touch to hit;
[ dice=Divine]1d4+2[/dice] damage
[ dice=MuleKicks]1d20+4[/dice] touch to hit;
[ dice=Force]1d4[/dice] damage
[ dice=Divine Mule Piss]1d20+4+1[/dice] touch to hit;
[ dice]1d4+2[/dice] divine fire
touch to hit;
acid
touch hit;
fire damage
AC: 12/12/10 + 1 w/shield
Fort/Ref/Will: +2/+3/+9 +2 vs spells, poison
HP: 27/27
Resist 5 cold/acid
Focus: 0/3
Hero Points: 0/3
Speed: 20'
Luck? 0/1 used
MuleFire: 0/7 used
Kisaiya hits with her AoO! Storm and Rory also step up with devastating blows! Sadly, pink falls before his strike lands. On the upside, Kisaiya is still standing!
Mukluk knows the bird is a NE Small magical beast (augmented animal), but little else. Druidic magic for sure - an awakened raven!
vs DC 17 for 3hp
vs DC 17 for 3hp
vs DC 17 for 3hp
Kisaiya heals herself some more and breathes easier now that the bear is down. She heals herself again with the wand then holds the front with Rory, waiting for another to come forward into the kill zone.
HP: 13/49
AC: 23/14/21
Saves: F7/R4/W7
Hero Points: 2
Smite Evil Used: 0/2
Lay on Hands Used: 3/4
Divine Bond Used: 1/1
Second Chance
Spells/Effects Active: Aura of Deflection, divine bond (+1), inspire courage
[ dice]1d20+10[/dice] to hit;
[ dice]1d8+7[/dice] damage.
Durgan steps up and gets into the fight with aplomb - dropping the werebear! Kisaiya heals up a bit while Mukluk casts another overly complicated spell - but to good effect! Rory steps back and heals Kisaiya as Storm chomps down on an elemental. No crit though as they seem immune. Ameiko, unsure why everyone keeps backing away from battle, steps up and swings on an elemental a well.
(inspire)
(inspire)
She hits, and green flashes from existence - a few wispy clouds descending from the air all that's left.
The orb! It burns!
vs DC 17 for 7hp
vs DC 17 for 3hp
With a few whistles and caws, the bird seems to guide the others to action.
Purple whips out a blowgun and shoots Ameiko.
plus Fort DC 20 poison
vs DC 20
Though hit, Ameiko resists the poison (delay poison on her as well I assume).
The elementals slide a little into better positions, though none take the bait and close in. Two attack Ameiko.
Both elementals fail to harm Ameiko.
The bird summons its own fire, crackling with power around its talon. It hurls the flame at Ameiko from the air!
"Ouch! It burns!" Ameiko is less pleased by that outcome as she's scorched a bit by the flame.
Fresh fire appears in the bird's little talon. It seems to shriek with joy and chuckles. You hear an answering cry from above as dozens, nay hundreds, of ravens also enjoy the moment.
"Ameiko, fall back past me!"
If Ameiko withdraws to the square south of Durgan, then Durgan will move up to where she was and strike at an elemental.