Ethana Minara's page

Indeed. It was fun while it lasted, but I think it was always meant not to be.

Thanks for the good game, though!

I know it's just a typo, but I can't get the image of a half puffin-half buffalo out of my head.

Ethana shrugs, and floats onto one of the offered horses, laying her hand on its neck, "Onward and upwards, then?" she asks.

Ethana shrugs, "It's basically what I'm already doing. I'm in."

Ethana narrows her eyes, "And if we want to leave?" she asks, cautions but not outright hostile to the idea.

Ethana touches down in the courtyard not long after Ktinos arrives, having avoided most of the bustle of the city by wind-hopping between rooftops. When she arrives, she doesn't have her spear with her, merely her (clearly recently-repaired) shield slung across her back, with a white and brown-spotted owl perched on the rim. "I got your invite. You think you have a lead?" she asks, not one to mince many words.

Posting to my games- Sorry I've been a bit absent from the boards lately, I've been busy at a summer research program, and it's picking up a lot as I near the end.
Also, in a little over a week, I'm going to be out of the country for three weeks. While I'll still try to keep everything updated, it'll be at odd hours and I may not be able to check for a couple of days at a time. So, bot me if needed in combat, and in about a month, I'll be back to my normal posting rate and schedule.

The next morning, Ethana rises with the sun, as she always did, and spends an hour training and preparing spells, enchanting her spear and herself for combat. Then, she looks at the note Lady Zal had given them, and heads to the Floodmarket, stopping by to redeem it for value first. Then, assuming there's nothing on fire, heads to the Pharossi base of operations to see if there's anything urgent that she needs to take care of.

Going to sell my current Cloak of Resistance and get a +2 version, then also get an Amulet of natural armor and a Ring of deflection (both +1

As the ceremony concludes, Ethana finds herself physically refreshed, but still in dire need of quiet time in meditation and prayer. She bids farewell to her compatriots, and as she passes Ktinos, pats his shoulder, "Like I said, welcome to the Pharossi. You'll fit right in."

With that, she makes her way back to her apartment, a small, two-room affair on the roof of a building in Kamsiodos. It didn't have stairs leading to it, but that was fine by Ethana's standards. It wasn't much, but it was all she needed. Her helmet flew from her head, morphing into an owl, perched on a stand near her bed's headboard. Finding herself reinvigorated from the ceremony as well, Ethana pulled out her spellbook, and tells her familiar, "Remind me to learn a few fire spells. And a few area-effect harmful spells." The owl nods, and Ethana returns her attention to her ruined shield, hanging on its peg on the wall. She spends a few minutes flipping through the pages of her book, until she settles on the right spell, summons her magic, and bends the woven strands of quintessence in the shield, watching as the shield un-melts, straightening as her magic runs throughout the metal and undoes the damage done to it by the corrupted trees.

Casting Make Whole to restore my shield.

Once her shield is fixed, and she's done her daily maintenance for her gear, Ethana makes herself dinner- primarily a large salad, and meditates on the roof until nightfall, watching the city below slowly die down in business as the sun sinks into the horizon and the stars come out. Then, she returns to her bed, ready for an early morning.

Ethana stays to watch the growing rites, leaning on her spear at the edge of the courtyard.

Ethana gives a respectful bow to the hero-god, "Thank you, aristo." We seek to help protect the city, and all those within it. She weakly coughs, "Is your high priestess in the temple currently? I... could use some healing." she asks.

With a nod from the hero-god, Ethana makes her way off to the inner courts in search of her.

Ethana nods in thanks at Ktinos' help, "Give me a day to rest up. I'm tapped for today. Whatever the conspiracy is, it can wait until tomorrow. I need to visit a temple tonight." she insists.

Knowledge (nature: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (20) + 10 = 30

Ethana looks over the foul garden, "None of it is worth sparing. Burn it all." she tells the cat, doing her best to utilize what magic she did have to lessen the load on her legs, flying just an inch off the ground for a few paces, then landing, then flying again, catching herself each time on her spear.

Ethana slowly staggers to her feet, "Please tell me one of you is still in a shape to fight, because if we're ambushed on our return, I won't be of much help." She supports herself with her spear, and slings her nearly-ruined shield onto her back, and starts limping out of the chamber behind Ktinos.

All of you guys are heartless, just to let you know. Leaving Ethana collapsed on the ground without even a word to check on her? Honestly...

It's almost like you all know exactly how badly I'm hurt, and that I'm perfectly capable of getting up and walking out of there relatively fine, if I weren't being so dramatic.
...or something.

Out of curiosity, did we ever figure out how we wanted to do level ups/Mythic? Do we just want to level up with each GM rotation?

Ethana half-rouses from her collapsed position as the energy swirls once again. She reaches for her magic, hand closing over her holy symbol necklace, and feebly tries to end whatever magic is being worked in the room, but finds her own grip on her self so weak that she can't even get the spell to move past the ends of her fingers.

Dispel Check: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7

Using my bonded item to cast Dispel Magic.

Looking at the notebook (under Organization), Lady Zal/GM Panic is next on the list.

Will DC 25: 1d20 + 10 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 10 + 1 + 2 = 24

As the wave clears, Ethana's knees buckle and she falls to the ground, her own legs unable to support herself as she collapses, dark wisps of steam trailing from her.

Who knew that touch attack flurry-smites would deal a lot of damage?

"Okay, here goes nothing." Ethana says, "Diaphora, give me strength." She takes a deep breath, and smashes the crystal with her spear, simultaneously brandishing her shield and erecting an invisible dome of force around herself and the crystal.

Damage: 1d8 + 16 + 2d6 ⇒ (7) + 16 + (2, 3) = 28 The 2d6 is elemental damage

Using Emergency Force Barrier to trap the crystal inside with me, should it explode, and trying to smash it.

Seriously. I'm glad I'm not trying to keep pace with damage output with Ethana, because I don't stand a chance (I'm going a lot more, ironically enough, with a defense and protection-based strategy) against that.
Perception: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (17) + 17 = 34

Ethana floats to the floor and allows herself to become visible again.
"I'm glad that's over. Actually..." she glances at the crystal, "Anyone else seeing that?"

Knowledge (arcana?): 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (10) + 17 = 27
Would breaking the crystal help or make it worse?

I'm also invisible, so there's a decent chance it just flat-out missed me to begin with.

Miss Chance (high hits): 1d100 ⇒ 73
Never mind. In any case, Ethana would probably have just moved out of the way, per Overrun allowing that. In this case, there's nothing that she really needs to keep it from reaching, so far as she can tell.

As the tree charges through the space beneath her, Ethana steps to the side, allowing it to pass, but not without trying to stab it along the way.

AoO: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (1) + 20 = 211d8 + 1d6 + 16 ⇒ (1) + (3) + 16 = 20

It completely misses, but does keep her airborne. She keeps her invisible influence present, helping everyone attack, but tries to attack the treant below her (#2), completely failing in her attempt.

Longspear: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (2) + 20 = 221d8 + 1d6 + 16 ⇒ (4) + (4) + 16 = 24
Haste: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (4) + 20 = 241d8 + 1d6 + 16 ⇒ (5) + (2) + 16 = 23
Itenerative: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (8) + 15 = 231d8 + 1d6 + 16 ⇒ (5) + (2) + 16 = 23

That was pathetic. Still, regained a Tension.
Swift: Maintain free flanking tactic
Full-round: full attack.
Currently Invisible and flying.

Blast. Ah well, I'll just fix it later. Ethana thinks to herself as she looks at her shield, invisibly stabbing the nearer tree-creature as it unknowingly leaves itself open.

AoO: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (10) + 20 = 301d8 + 1d6 + 16 ⇒ (1) + (6) + 16 = 23

Then, she takes to the sky, stabbing down at the creature as she does, and directing her allies on the best way to attack these creatures.

Spear, flanking, high ground: 1d20 + 23 ⇒ (5) + 23 = 281d8 + 1d6 + 16 ⇒ (8) + (6) + 16 = 30
Tension Bonus attack, flanking, high ground: 1d20 + 23 ⇒ (8) + 23 = 311d8 + 1d6 + 16 ⇒ (4) + (1) + 16 = 21

5-foot step into the air
Move action: start tactic (free flanking!)
Standard: Attack
Swift: Spend 3 Tension (resetting me to 0) to make an additional attack.

I don't think my shield takes damage from the attack, honestly. Unless it was specifically targeting the shield, my talent basically just lets me use my shield to block magical attacks as well as physical ones. I mean, if that's your ruling, I can live with that, but it would make the ability far less useful.

Yes, it's a +2 heavy steel shield. Hopefully I'll soon be able to pick up evasion.
Actually, I just realized I already have it, to an extent: Spending Martial Focus as an Immediate action to block the lightning bolt spread attack on my shield, which grants myself, Menira (my familiar, who I do technically need to roll for), and anyone behind me within a 25-foot cone, a +5 on the reflex save and evasion.
Menira Reflex DC 16: 1d20 + 3 - 1 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 3 - 1 + 1 = 19
Menira Reflex DC 17: 1d20 + 3 + 5 - 1 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 3 + 5 - 1 + 1 = 23

Ethana snaps her head to the sides, and curses mentally that they had to be immune to lightning. Still, she doesn't let that stop her, and she invisibly steps closer to the treant, as her familiar works to point out areas of weakness, and

Actions! I always forget how complex she is.
Ethana:
5-foot step
Swift action: Already used
Standard action: Spear attack
Move action: Expend second focus for Patrol (extend threatened area to what's shown on the map, I can move to attack anywhere within that area, up to 70 feet basically)
Minara:
Move action: Restore Martial Focus to Ethana
Standard action: Restore Martial Focus to Ethana
And then my tactic ends, due to using my swift action elsewhere.
AC: currently 28 +4 with shield.

Spear Attack v. #1, Risky Strike, etc., v. flat-footed: 1d20 - 1 + 21 ⇒ (14) - 1 + 21 = 341d8 + 1d6 + 16 ⇒ (8) + (5) + 16 = 29
+1d6 fire if that does anything.

Knowledge (nature) DC 23: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (18) + 12 = 30
Knowledge (religion) DC 23: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (5) + 19 = 24

Reflex DC 16: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (9) + 10 = 19
Reflex DC 17: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (12) + 10 = 22

Ethana, blinking spots from her eyes, still manages to block the worst of the lightning with her shield, and grits through the rest, and manages to avoid the second lightning spiral.

Is the save for half damage or none? Attacks coming later.

Reflex DC 20: 1d20 + 10 + 1 - 1 ⇒ (6) + 10 + 1 - 1 = 16

Ethana blinks rapidly as her eyes are overwhelmed with light, unable to shield them in time.

Ethana invisibly runs up to the seed and grabs it.

75-foot move speed, I can make it there really quickly, but as I don't imagine it'll be quite that easy, I'll save the rest of my actions for whether or not that actually works.

Oops. Missed that. In that case.... Casting Greater Invisibility on myself

Ethana vanishes, golden light cascading around her as she becomes invisible.

Perception: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (5) + 17 = 22
"I'm trying! Everyone, hurry!"

Surprise round: Cast Haste on everyone.

Initiative: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23

Ethana, as they prepare to rush in, raises her spear, and ignites it, ready for anything.

Knowledge (religion): 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (17) + 19 = 36
Knowledge (nature): 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (5) + 12 = 17

Adding, through Warrior Spirit and Arcane Pool, Flaming, Frost, and Speed

I could probably use healing. 3 strength damage isn't crippling, but it isn't fun either. How long does the -4 to attack last?

Ethana, starting to recover, pants heavily, "Hurry... we must... continue before our quarry escapes."

Fort DC 19: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (9) + 10 = 19
Fort DC 19: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (18) + 10 = 28

"Yeah, but you might... run out of blood... first." Ethana comments, her voice growing weaker as poison keeps coursing through her veins, her sluggish response to the spider's opening clearly showing

Spear AoO: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (4) + 18 = 221d8 + 12 ⇒ (1) + 12 = 13

Spear Attack: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (3) + 18 = 211d8 + 12 ⇒ (1) + 12 = 13
Spear Attack: 1d20 + 18 - 5 ⇒ (16) + 18 - 5 = 291d8 + 12 ⇒ (3) + 12 = 15

"Agreed." Ethana breathlessly agrees, catching a spider on her shield that lunged for them, but staggering as one manages to land a hit on the real her, feeling an impressive amount of strength drain away from her as she sluggishly tries to kill the spiders still around her.

Fort DC 19: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (12) + 10 = 22

Spear: 1d20 + 22 - 4 ⇒ (7) + 22 - 4 = 251d8 + 13 - 1 ⇒ (5) + 13 - 1 = 17
Spear: 1d20 + 22 - 9 ⇒ (15) + 22 - 9 = 281d8 + 13 - 1 ⇒ (8) + 13 - 1 = 20

I think I'm out of AoOs for this round, actually.

Ethana keeps up her relentless defense, blocking spiders every time one tries to strike, but as a result misses a few potential retaliatory attacks. That doesn't stop her from attempting to spear the closer spiders.

Longspear, flanking, etc.: 1d20 + 22 ⇒ (3) + 22 = 251d8 + 13 ⇒ (3) + 13 = 16
Longspear, flanking, etc.: 1d20 + 22 - 5 ⇒ (4) + 22 - 5 = 211d8 + 13 ⇒ (5) + 13 = 18

I just have no luck with the dice, do I?

I think that's the AoO that would provoke- I don't know about your particular getup, but for me at least, I can't (yet) make AoOs adjacent to me- it's just not a threatened area.

AoO: 1d20 + 22 ⇒ (12) + 22 = 341d8 + 13 ⇒ (4) + 13 = 17
AoO: 1d20 + 22 ⇒ (1) + 22 = 231d8 + 13 ⇒ (2) + 13 = 15

Sorry Gosor, no crits from my end.

Darn it. I double-checked it and still missed something on my stat bar: I have 3 Mirror Images active. I guess I'll roll for them- a 1 hits.
1d4 ⇒ 11d4 ⇒ 2
Okay, so the first one gets through, and looking at the rolls, it looks like it's the second attack that I get poisoned on? So, 8 damage, no poison, lose one image?
Also, with Combat Reflexes, I think I should have gotten AoOs on spiders that tried to get close.

Ethana mutters something as the first spider bites her, shaking it off, and snaps her head around as one of her illusionary selves is destroyed.
Still, she couldn't help but feel a quiet thrill. This feeling, with her magic coursing through her in the heat of battle, was one she relished.

She kept her guidance going- they needed all the help they could get, surrounded like this- and tried to kill the spider that had successfully bitten her, the butt of her spear moving with supernatural quickness as she tried to stomp it into bug guts.
Remember, everyone gets flanking bonuses from Ethana

Adjacent Attack, Tunnel Penalty, Longspear: 1d20 + 22 ⇒ (9) + 22 = 311d8 + 13 ⇒ (1) + 13 = 14
Adjacent Attack, Tunnel Penalty, Longspear Itinerant: 1d20 + 22 - 5 ⇒ (6) + 22 - 5 = 231d8 + 13 ⇒ (3) + 13 = 16
In the likely event the spider is still alive, her helmet summons a spark of its own magic, and a few weak flames erupt from in front of where Ethana's mouth would be, engulfing a few of the spiders.

Cassisian Angel Breath attack (15 foot line, Ref DC 12 half): 1d6 ⇒ 5

Not going to bother rolling for AoOs, Ethana will focus on defense, using them all to Shield Block, giving her and those she's next to essentially a +4 to AC.

Sorry, busy weekend.

Ethana casts her spell, then waits slightly impatiently for Astrapios, mindful of her mental timers as her spells slowly run their course, then follows quickly as they move forward.

Stat bar updated, buff breakdown in new post. I also didn't use a single spell slot above 2nd. I'm not sure if that's good or bad.

As they enter, Ethana has a wash of magic flow over her, forming an aura-nimbus of light as her very being is suffused with magical energy, form rippling into one that looks more human, but with very pale skin. She, and a multitude of matching illusions of herself, turns to look at the group, eyes glowing, "Let's go."

Okay, so this is kind of the exact scenario that Ethana is awesome at- buff time!
Cast upon enter: Heightened Awareness (+2 to perception, knowledge), Alter Self (into Dhampir, +2 Strength, gain Darkvision 60 feet, no other abilities), Blade Tutor's Spirit (reduce penalties from Risky Strike, etc. by 2, to a minimum of 0), Mirror Image (for 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3 copies), and Resist Energy (fire).

Net result: Fire Resist 20, Bonus to Perception (gaining Darkvision), Strength, Have mirror images, and reduce attack penalties. All of those will last at least 8 minutes, or over an hour for a few of them.
Also, I get a +2 to AC against evil creatures and +1 to saves (from my familiar) against evil creatures until one of them lands a hit on me or I fail a save.

Does that include spears? They are mostly a stabbing instrument after all.

Ethana turns to her more subtle companions, "Anyone want to do some recon? I can turn you invisible if you can't on your own."

Ethana moves up behind the woman, ready to incapacitate her if she does break free.

Just a note- Ethana will generally block with her shield anything that attacks her- it’s a +4 bonus to AC, but takes an AoO, so it’s not permanent (yet) and can be exhausted.

I don’t know if that would make an impact on if the spider hit or not.

Ethana, as her allies leave her to defend, plants her feet and focuses on her goals. First, she prepares to push back any spiders that get too close. Then, summoning magical energy, the tip of her spear bursting into blazing flames as the haft crackles with lightning. Finally, she attacks the closest spider to her with the enchanted spear.

Flaming Shock Risky Strike Spear v. magical beast: 1d20 + 18 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 18 + 1 = 291d8 + 16 + 1d6 + 1d6 ⇒ (3) + 16 + (3) + (4) = 26
Free Bull Rush on Hit: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (9) + 17 = 26

Move action: change tactic to Deadly Herdsman (get free Bull Rush or Reposition on all attacks)
Swift Action: Enchant Weapon with Arcane Pool
Standard: single attack (possibly including 5-foot step)

Initiative: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21

Ethana, as always, springs into action, flying through the air and standing over the fallen man, preparing to defend him, friend or foe.

Move action: move 20 feet through the air.
Swift action: Maintain tactic (free flanking)
Standard Action: Patrol (increase Threaten area, attacks against allies provoke an AoO

Again? We really must be on the right track. Ethana thinks, spotting the incoming incursion.
As they brace for impact, she adjusts her implicit directions towards combat (Any 2 people that threaten the same target count as flanking)

Without knowing the exact nature of their adversaries, she doesn't bother enchanting her spear, instead flying forward and assuming a protective, bracing stance.

Increasing my Threatened Area so that any square (except those next to me) within 20 feet I can make an attack against. Hopefully, that will help stop a charge.

With my lack of most magic items (gloves of dueling are awesome, but are something like half my WBL), Astrapios' buff increases saves by +3 and AC by the full 4.

Ethana unleashes a quick flurry of blows, trying to finish off the spider.

Elysian Bronze Spear Risky Strike, v. Magical Beast, flanking (automatic), Haste: 1d20 + 24 ⇒ (2) + 24 = 261d8 + 18 + 2d6 ⇒ (3) + 18 + (5, 5) = 31

Haste attack Elysian Bronze Spear Risky Strike, v. Magical Beast, flanking (automatic), Haste: 1d20 + 24 ⇒ (8) + 24 = 321d8 + 18 + 2d6 ⇒ (5) + 18 + (3, 2) = 28

Elysian Bronze Spear Risky Strike, v. Magical Beast, flanking (automatic), Haste: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (14) + 19 = 331d8 + 18 + 2d6 ⇒ (8) + 18 + (1, 4) = 31

Sorry, busy weekend+complex character=hard to post. Anyway....
Ethana struggles against the webs, slipping out with a bit of difficulty.
Escape Artist: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23
Is it a Standard or Move action to get free? If it's a Standard, the following would require Martial Focus to be expended. However, it would also be regained immediately by Minara (familiar) taking a move action (thanks to Focusing Tactics). Also, changing tactic to automatic flanking.

Once free, she allows herself to drift down, and prepares to strike at the spiders as soon as they attack.

Using Patrol to increase my threatened area to be a 25' bubble around me, and I can move up to my speed to take an AoO, and an enemy attacking an ally Provokes.
Oh, and just for good measure: any two people threatening the same enemy now count as flanking. Have fun!
Spheres of Combat are awesome.

Wait, how did I get entangled? I’m confused.

K (arcana) DC ?: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (7) + 17 = 24
Assuming that's enough.

"Watch out for the poison! It attacks body and mind." Ethana calls out to her allies as she dismounts, leaping into some of the lower branches, unable to reach the spiders in a single bound. Perched in the trees 20 feet off the ground, she draws her spear and lets the tip ignite with magical power as she winds up for a leaping attack.

Move 20 feet (half of 40) up in the air.
Swift to maintain Tactic (+10 feet move speed to everyone)
Standard for Warrior Spirit (gaining Bane (magical beast), Wounding)

I can also give everyone +10 feet move speed. Sorry, kept forgetting to mention.