Hearing something moving, but unable to see it, Day tapped Levn on the shoulder to get his attention, pointed in the direction of the sound, and then, holding one of his magical rods in one hand, cast a spell.
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Unfortunately, Day doesn't have any Glitterdusts left. That said...
Wow! Missed Karl's post by 5 minutes. Oops!
Sorry. Not getting updates again. This is where I'd normally post the meme of the little girl asking, "why not both?" We've got 2 melee (including NPC Levn), 2 casters. Send Levn and Day one way, Bas and Kellen the other?
I feel like "forting up in the kitchen" is just begging for a Fireball breakfast. At the same time, if we can find a different path in, we might have a better chance at surprising him. Or, given how far we've fallen off of this game, perhaps an off-screen retreat back to the village to prepare for when the madman comes flying in looking for retribution on the innocent, so that the heroes can thwart him in a long-delayed, straight-to-VHS-video sequel might be appropriate...
My plan at the moment is for Day to prep another Toppling MM. If the Sorc has Shield, that'll be a big fat waste of a spell slot, but it's really the only offensive 1st-level spell he has. Grease might knock him on his butt, the MM might knock him down, Pyrotechnics is a great AoE debuff, but it's not smart, so if Day starts the fight with it, we'll have to wait for him to stagger out of it to take advantage of the debuff. During which time, he *might* blindly throw Fireballs at us. Which, I suppose, if we're hiding properly, isn't a terrible way to go. (Smoke Cloud option: A stream of smoke billows out from the fire, forming a choking cloud that spreads 20 feet in all directions and lasts for 1 round per caster level. All sight, even darkvision, is ineffective in or through the cloud. All within the cloud take -4 penalties to Strength and Dexterity (Fortitude negates). These effects last for 1d4+1 rounds after the cloud dissipates or after the creature leaves the area of the cloud. Spell resistance does not apply.) So as long as his Fort save isn't awesome, we'd get at least 2 rounds of "easier to knock down and/or avoid attacks from" on him. Other than that, Day can chuck his dagger and/or pew-pew with Ray of Frost.
Daymar nodded, though when he spoke, it was clear that his injuries were beginning to take a toll on him, now that the immediacy of combat wasn't distracting him from them. "With a few moments to prepare, I can ready another spell," he said, "though I will admit that most of my combat-effective spells have been spent."
We had a good run of rolls with the snake and him failing to make his concentration checks to cast while grappled. But yeah, the reasoning is sound. With Bas and Levn running, we just didn't have the guns to kill him fast enough. He DID just threaten to hit the fort - but my guess is he'll wait until he can rest and hit it tomorrow. So regrouping and hitting him again before he can do that seems like a good plan. Even though Day is *also* short on spells, Bas and Levn have "at-will" hurty-poke-and-slash powers...
It doesn't make me feel better knowing he can just keep popping fireballs forever...
Neither of us is a melee fighter - Daymar is a mage himself, so... That said, I can have another snake on the board in 2 rounds (if we survive that long). OR we can play hide and seek for 5 rounds and try again with all 4 of us (unless he teleports out or something).
Daymar tucked his head beneath his arms and turned into the wall behind him as the fireball detonated, and though he was badly burned, he managed to avoid the full force of the spell. Almost immediately after the burning flames, Daymar felt the cooling wave of Kellen's healing energy wash over him. It was enough to keep him on his feet - barely. In the roar of flames and the moment of peaceful silence that followed, Daymar saw multiple versions of the future play out in his mind.
Ignoring most of them, Daymar chose one path. One he hadn't been able to see the end of, but the only one that didn't end immediately with fiery death for all of them. With heat-blistered fingers, Daymar managed to pull a small dart from the pouch at his belt. With a mouth sucked dry of all moisture, he rasped words of power. Then he flicked the dart at Vardak's prone form. As it left his fingers, the dart elongated, magically transmuting into a green, glowing arrow that streaked towards the madman on the floor.
Even as the magical acid began to burn, Daymar ducked around the corner into the hallway with Kellen.
Spells in Effect:
Acid Arrow on Vardak: 3/3 rounds remaining
Haste on Day/Alfric/Kell: 9/12 rounds remaining Mage Armor (On Daymar): has a 6-hour duration, so I'm assuming it's still up. Heightened Awareness: Has a 120-minute duration when Extended (Which is what he used his first Extend on, NOT Mage Armor). I assume it hasn't been 2 hours yet. With Haste and Mage Armor, Day's AC is 18/11/14
"Alfric is down," Daymar noted calmly to Kellen - the only one of the two of them who could actually do anything about it. "So it would seem we're removing allies from the board." With a word and two pointing fingers, Daymar sent green-white bolts of energy once again streaking across the space between himself and his opponents. Two flew at the bloody barghest as it crouched over the fallen Alfric, but the third flew directly at the mage across from him.
Even as the magic bolts flew from his fingers, Daymar was stepping back to keep an eye on both the barghest and Vardak. Calmly, he slipped the small pearl back into the folds of his garments.
Spells in Effect: Haste on Day/Alfric/Kell: 10/12 rounds remaining
Mage Armor (On Daymar): has a 6-hour duration, so I'm assuming it's still up. Heightened Awareness: Has a 120-minute duration when Extended (Which is what he used his first Extend on, NOT Mage Armor). I assume it hasn't been 2 hours yet. With Haste and Mage Armor, Day's AC is 18/11/14
Daymar managed to duck under the worst of the fiery blast, though he still had soot stains on his face and in his white hair, and a look of irritation crossed his face. His eyes glazed for a moment as he took a look into the future, then sharpened as he returned to the present, stepping to one side and clearing his field of fire.
"I doubt that," he said, and fished a small pearl from one of his pockets. He sent an effort of will into the gem, and felt it respond, reaching back to the past and refreshing his memory in an instant.
Spells in Effect:
Just went back to see what options Day had used, and realized that I had active spells wrong. Updated here:
Glitterdust (on Barghest): Ended last round. Haste on Day/Alfric/Kell: 11/12 rounds remaining Summoned Snake: 3 of 6 rounds remaining, unless it's dead (which it probably is) Mage Armor (On Daymar): has a 6-hour duration, so I'm assuming it's still up. Heightened Awareness: Has a 120-minute duration when Extended (Which is what he used his first Extend on, NOT Mage Armor). I assume it hasn't been 2 hours yet.
Now that Vardak was safely on the ground, the snake set to properly constricting the pinned wizard, even going so far as to sink its teeth into his neck.
Daymar took advantage of the moment to glance over and see if he could be of help to his companions. Seeing that Vardak was still (for the moment) held fast, Daymar drew forth one of his magical rods, and set to enhancing his companions' effectiveness.
Haste effects::
When making a full attack action, a hasted creature may make one extra attack with one natural or manufactured weapon. The attack is made using the creature’s full base attack bonus, plus any modifiers appropriate to the situation. (This effect is not cumulative with similar effects, such as that provided by a speed weapon, nor does it actually grant an extra action, so you can’t use it to cast a second spell or otherwise take an extra action in the round.)
A hasted creature gains a +1 bonus on attack rolls and a +1 dodge bonus to AC and Reflex saves. Any condition that makes you lose your Dexterity bonus to Armor Class (if any) also makes you lose dodge bonuses. All of the hasted creature’s modes of movement (including land movement, burrow, climb, fly, and swim) increase by 30 feet, to a maximum of twice the subject’s normal speed using that form of movement. This increase counts as an enhancement bonus, and it affects the creature’s jumping distance as normal for increased speed. Spells In Effect:
Glitterdust (on Barghest): I believe that 19 ends the blinding effect, but it's still Glittery for another round.
Haste on Day/Alfric/Kell: 12/12 rounds remaining Summoned Snake: 4 of 6 rounds remaining Mage Armor (On Daymar): has a 12-hour duration, so I'm assuming it's still up
"I will keep the wizard occupied," Daymar said to the others, "concentrate on the creature! It will remain blind only for a few more seconds!" With that, Daymar moved to put distance (and Alfric) between himself and the Barghest, and turned his attention to the snake-wrapped wizard. It irritated him that his opponent was still standing, so he spoke a word of power, and three green-white darts of energy flashed through the air to strike Vardak - missing the coils of the snake as it strove to squeeze the mage further.
;
Spells in Effect::
Glitterdust (on Barghest): 2 of 3 rounds remaining.
Summoned Snake: 5 of 6 rounds remaining Mage Armor (On Daymar): has a 12-hour duration, so I'm assuming it's still up
Man, Day doesn't have any spells that counter fear. Gonna have to fix that. We'd be screwed if Alfric had also failed that save (and if the python wasn't effective!). I don't even think Kell has a spell to counter fear right now... Yikes!
Daymar felt... something wash over him, originating from the wizard on the dais. There was emotion there, which was always an odd sensation for Daymar. He was familiar with emotion, and did feel them - just not always as others did. Rather that give in to the rising tide of irrational fear, Daymar's mind did what it usually did, and he found himself spending a precious few moments examining how the spell was working on him. He observed the brief surge of emotion, questioned it, challenged it, and learned from it.
Then, he dismissed it.
The brief moments of distraction hadn't required all of Daymar's attention, and he managed to complete his own spell even as he was clearing the sense of fear from his mind and body. Thus, a 7-foot long anaconda, shimmering with Celestial energy, appeared above the opposing spellcaster, and fell upon him.
As soon as the animal made contact with another creature, it lashed out, mouth clamping down and coils immediately seeking to constrict its prey.
Then, even as the snake began its quest to remove one of the group's opponents from effectiveness, Daymer turned to the other. One hand pulled the scroll from the spring-loaded case at his belt - he frowned, noticing the hand trembling slightly. No doubt a residual effect of the surge of adrenaline the fear affect had caused in his body. Dismissing the tremor as immaterial, Daymar began reading from the scroll. As he finished pronouncing the words of power, Daymar pointed to the corner of the room nearest the barghest. A rush of golden, glittery motes streaked from Daymar's finger, struck the wall in the corner, and burst into a cloud of glittering dust that painted everything it touched - walls, floor, door, and the bargest, in glittering gold motes of light.
Spells in Effect: Glitterdust (on Barghest): 3 of 3 rounds remaining.
Summoned Snake: 6 of 6 rounds remaining Mage Armor (On Daymar): has a 12-hour duration, so I'm assuming it's still up
Day will miss his "little brother," but it's possibly time to let him fly the nest alone...
"Yes," Daymar said almost immediately after laying eyes on the creature," "Flesh golem, as I suspected. Fascinating concept, but far too much overlapping with necromancy for my tastes. From what I've studied they're very tough, strong enough to take on a group of people like us, maybe even stronger. Most creators craft them with eyes that can see as well as an elf or a dwarf in the dark. They can hit very, very hard. But most constructs tend to take their instructions quite literally. Thus my admonition to not cross the threshold."
Daymar followed the others around the corner. Recognizing the magical laboratory of a practitioner when he saw one, was both immediately curious and very aware of the possibility - nay, likelihood of traps and other security measures. Nevertheless, he was Daymar, and the curiosity rendered the additional knowledge almost irrelevant. Though he was no longer concerned with stealth, Daymar did stop short of actually entering the workshop, instead turning his fascinated gaze on the figure. "Fascinating," he murmured. "It is likely a construct of some kind, best not to cross the threshold just yet."
"How droll," Daymar said, then pointed at the appropriate target. With a word and a snap of his fingers, a spark of flame magically appeared.
"A teleportation room," Daymar said, indicating the paintings. "These paintings are detailed enough to allow someone who had never been to any of these cities to travel there as surely as if they were looking down on the place directly. Assuming they were a powerful enough mage, that is." It was only after those words that the elf seemed to realize there was anything else going on in the room. He blinked. The others were already moving on to the next area. Daymar shrugged, gave the statues another thoughtful look, and then followed along, thinking.
Daymar simply shrugged. It seemed more likely they'd get more information if they let the goblin live - or at least let it believe that would be the case - but his people didn't generally consider goblins with any more fondness than, say, an infestation of termites.
Daymar could speak and understand an even dozen languages (thirteen, if one considered the noises that came from Orcish mouths a language), but the goblin tongue was not among them. "Go where?" Daymar asked the little creature, though his interest was slight - only just less slight than his expectation of an intelligible answer.
Daymar gave the goblin his best mind-reading stare.
Daymar frowned and looked around the room. With a gesture, he brought up his magical vision, which he turned onto the chair and the rest of the secret room.
Daymar managed - barely - to refrain from simply blurting out his discovery to the room at large. Instead, he moved to stand next to Levn and Kallen, to whom he spoke in a low voice. "The western wall is an illusion," he said, "one that I cannot pierce with mundane sight. I know the spell involved, and it requires no small amount of skill. It is, in fact, somewhat beyond my own skills to this point, though I have some theories..." He waved away the distraction and shook his head. "The point is, someone with a mastery of magic that is at least slightly stronger than my own has created an illusory wall that I cannot see through. Physical objects and creatures should be able to pass through it with no issue, but we will not be able to see through it. The caster, however, can. So we may be under observation. We may wish to pass through the wall rather suddenly, in an attempt to surprise whoever is on the other side. On the other hand, we cannot know what is on the other side, so perhaps more caution would be in order."
Once the creature was down, Daymar summoned up his magical sight, and began investigating the room they'd first encountered the beast in. He looked beyond the remnants of his own dweomer, searching for anything that the barghest might have been guarding, hiding, or reporting through. Once he'd fully examined the small room, he moved on into the dining room.
Daymar followed a bit more slowly than Basdemar. He most assuredly didn't go charging into the room. Instead, he stood at the doorway, eyeing the sparkling evidence of his handiwork with a bit of surprised satisfaction, while also letting his gaze drift forward into a vision of the next few seconds...
Then he let fly with three more of those green-white burning darts of magical force. They flew unerringly under the table and into the center of the golden outline.
"Has it escaped?" Daymar asked from his position at the rear of the column. He didn't sound worried. More... interested. At any rate, he followed along, doing his best not to crowd the hallway, and keeping his eyes open for potential threats from behind.
"They do not regenerate," Daymar said, "but they do have access to magical powers, and I would expect that it could find healing somewhere, I suppose. We had probably best not leave it too much time to itself."
Daymar quirked an eyebrow at Levn's advice - clearly, Daymar had already given that advice, if one was intelligent enough to understand what all of the information he'd given them implied. Still, sometimes people needed things outlined for them, he supposed. Which reminded the elf. He stepped up behind Levn, to where he could see into the room Basdemar had escaped, pointed his fist at it, spoke a few words of power, and sent a glittering ball of golden dust shooting from his ring. The ball streaked into the room, leaving a glittery trail behind it, until it exploded and coated the entire room in golden, glittering dust.
"So... what then? Just WAIT for it?" Snarled Alfric, wanting badly to take SOME kind of action. "Block the door," Daymar said, "and also be alert in case it teleports into this room to hit us from behind. I'll do my best to counter it."
"Did I mention invisibility? Day asked, conversationally. "They can turn invisible."
"Oh," Daymar said, almost offhandedly, "they're highly resistant to non-magical forms of damage, as well." Unable from his new position to see into the room where Bas was fighting, even if Kellen hadn't been standing in the way, Daymar instead simply muttered something in the Elvish tongue, and tapped the pocket of his Haversack. A scroll poked out of the flap, and he unrolled it, preparatory to casting from it.
"They're shape-changers," Daymar warned his companions, "they can also use enchantment magics - though I believe I should have protected you from that - levitate, and use a limited form of teleportation. Oh, and they are deucedly difficult to knock down." |