Harkon Dross's page

~at the conclusion of the battle~
As Grelthe strikes down the floating shade, Harkon steadies his sword on the ground and feels his enchantments and boons begin to fade. Shrinking back to normal size, he gazes about the room [using detect evil] and cringes with what he sees.
"This room shall still require a thorough consecration, but we are in no condition to provide that today." As he sees Grelthe's reaction to our fallen comrade, he offers to use what little magic he still possesses this day to reverently move her body as we begin the trek back to the Ferry using consume spells to convert his last second level spell to reservoir points and then using them to cast floating disk with still metamagic (to avoid the miscast chances) to carry her back with us. He also expends any uses of his Lay on Hands to heal injured companions before the trip in case we come across anything.

He is then struck with another shock of reality and casts detect magic about the room to find and remove any magic items so they cannot be reclaimed by the evil minions of Orcus. If necessary, he will enlist the aid of some of his companions to complete this task.

~upon returning to the Ferry~
Harkon steps aside to allow the grieving party members perform last rites for our fallen member. He does work in the background to summon a priest of sufficient power to cast Consecration so the temple may be cleansed when the team gets a chance to return to the Dungeon.

I am a grandparent...I has plenty o patience...

DM Choon, this is undoubtedly one of the best games I have played in. I believe you sell yourself short a tad, but I completely understand the current situation. Would you consider a long term hiatus instead of an outright cancellation?

Sweat running down his brow, Harkon pauses and leans on his sword, point down on the ground, "That my friends is how you vanquish E-vil!" he then sports a lopsided grin and begins looking around and inquiring as to who could use with a little healing or possibly a minor restoration.

He has the ability to lay on hands at 4D6 up to four more times, or two bursts at the same amount. Likewise he can sacrifice one use of LoH to burst his Nimbus to grant a single lesser restoration to all within the range, but it can only affect any one person once a day.

Calling upon his faith in Gorum to resist the Crushing Doom,

RESIST!: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (19) + 12 = 31

He then smiles and concentrates briefly as he whispers a prayer to Gorum and channels energy to harm the undead:

Channel: 4d6 ⇒ (2, 3, 1, 2) = 8

He points his sword at the creature "You have no faith, shade. I shall destroy you one way or another." And with the other hand he reaches over and heals Emily again:

Lay on Hand: 4d6 ⇒ (2, 5, 2, 2) = 11

I would very much like to strike at the creature, but it is now a standing jump and brings the DC back up around 40, sigh, I had to make a concession somewhere in the build...at least the dice roller gave me a good result for the save, but those have got to be the lowest lay on hands results ever

OMG, what is with the dice roller lately? It is giving out so many 1s

Since the last spell worked, lets try another one...

Harkon eyes the shade like creature, "Damn you foul beast, come down here where I can SMITE you!" He then casts Burst of Radiance right on top of it:

Does it work?: 1d100 ⇒ 11 15 or less it fails

...and it fails! Curse that creature! Harkon will move to Emily and attempt to Lay on Hands to her:

Heal Emily: 4d6 ⇒ (6, 2, 1, 3) = 12

He then turns and beckons forth the enemy menacingly since he has been completely unsuccessful at anything else vs. it

In discussion was noted Harkon could not complete part of his last set of actions, so instead of moving and attacking, he is casting a spell Mirror Image

Spell Failure Chance: 1d100 ⇒ 50 15 or less it fails

since it worked, # images: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

I have been plagued with an overabundance of 1s on the boards lately, le sigh

I checked the DC, +4 per foot, so that is a check of 40 for 10 feet, so impossible for me at this time. Will just risk casting a spell instead...

since he is not invisible, I can let the Smite stand, otherwise I can just lay on hands again...

I am not surprised it is floating in the air, I just did not remember. Did it go invisible the same time as the priests? I had assumed the priests died from the fireball. If it is invisible, I am unable to activate smite and will need to retcon that action. If it is visible and I am misunderstanding the last game entry, then the smite can stand, but I have no way to reach him at 30 feet (even if I maxed an acrobatics roll, it will not be enough to achieve the height needed) Although, if I am double my size and have a 10 foot reach, I only need what, 10 feet of actual jump....what say you? Keep as is and make an acrobatics and hope I get lucky?

Reflex save: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (15) + 10 = 25 is an odd half damage rounded up or down? taking 12 until decided

Harkon takes a quick moment to study the creature to determine its nature and if the magic missiles were blocked by a spell or something else:

Knowledge Religion: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (13) + 12 = 25
Spellcraft: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (4) + 11 = 15

"Will the threats in this room never cease? Time to die shade, permanently! With Gorum's last breath, I smite thee!"

Harkon uses a swift action to activate his final SMITE EVIL for today and charges the incorporeal thing that is causing so much havoc. In order to get the charge bonus, I had to move right on top of the bad guy, so if he has reach he gets an AOO.

Smiting CHARGE!: 1d20 + 11 - 1 + 2 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 11 - 1 + 2 + 6 = 33 PA, large, charge, smite

SMITE!: 3d6 + 17 + 2d6 + 16 + 2d6 ⇒ (2, 1, 5) + 17 + (4, 2) + 16 + (3, 6) = 56 PA, bane, smite (-8 if not evil), holy

nuts, I was kinda hoping for a crit to seal the deal on this guy, but that is still alot! I was pretty sure this thing was undead, so minus 2 to both of the above if not

seven....and it shows, but there are five PCs and an NPC and the NPC just died.

Well, in my other game our group just entered this room. On round one, my Arcanist rolled a 1 on her WILL save to prevent the cone of silence and is now completely combat ineffective. The results will probably be polar opposite of how we are doing here.

My shifts have become unstable, as in not easy to keep straight...one of these days I am gonna show and they will be like what are you doing here, not your day....

plus my grandkids are coming for a visit since school is out...

Do we know what the circle is on the map?

With the head priest dying on the floor in front of him and the tentacles dispelled Thanks Vuzi! , Harkon casts a shield spell using his last reservoir point to metamix the still metamagic and avoid the miscast chance for his armor and costing him a second level spell. He can be heard clearly saying the activation phrase: "Fethos", then moves to interpose himself between the remaining priests and Emily. his new AC is in parenthesis

"Hello boys, I am baaaack and this cat is under my protection. What, have you not renounced your paltry god and surrendered to me? I have ended your high priest, the evil of this 'temple' will not last the day. Surrender is your only chance to earn our mercy." Harkon sneers the word temple.

Can one declare power attack for the round if you do not actually attack during your place in initiative? Just need to know which combat line to use if I set off any AOOs while I am protecting Emily.

oooh, and I can now see the blue square...whatzit?

and Harkon uses his swift action to lay on hands, he waited until he got in front of the priests so they saw him do it.

Lay On Hands: 4d6 ⇒ (3, 5, 4, 3) = 15

Harkon gives a wordless ouch, and gives chase after the high priest by opening one more crack in the universe and stepping through to the edge of his vision and the same side he sees the priest retreat around the statue, then closes the gap once he is within sight again (move action).

Assuming he clears the cone of silence, Harkon begins to threaten the high priest with his impending demise, "ENOUGH! Your reign of terror ends here priest!" he shouts derisively (completely ignore this statement if he cannot hear himself yet). He then proceeds to pummel the high priest:

ENOUGH!: 1d20 + 9 + 2 + 1 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 9 + 2 + 1 + 6 = 28 PA+holy+nimbus+smite

End the high priest: 3d6 + 15 + 2d6 + 1 + 8 ⇒ (4, 3, 3) + 15 + (3, 3) + 1 + 8 = 40 PA+holy+nimbus+smite

Then, as a sift action, Harkon Lays on Hands to heal himself

LOH: 4d6 ⇒ (6, 4, 3, 2) = 15

The dice were kind this round!

Here is to praying they are as kind this round!

Harkon feels the strength of his deity flow through him as he strikes down two of his three assailants! The third sees his strength begin to fade and attempts to sneak past him unopposed to stand once again between him and his quarry. Apologies, Harkon has a total of 3 AOOs, the initial 1 and 2 for his DEX mod from combat reflexes

AOO vs moving priest: 1d20 + 9 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 9 + 2 + 1 = 22 PA+holy+nimbus

take this!: 3d6 + 15 + 2d6 + 1 ⇒ (3, 2, 6) + 15 + (1, 5) + 1 = 33 PA+holy+nimbus

Then Harkon feels the spirit crushing spell and tries to resist

WILL save: 1d20 + 12 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 12 + 1 = 31 base save+nimbus

He shakes off the puny attempt and decides ENOUGH of these unholy minions, I am going to destroy that priest NOW! all in his head cause...SILENCE!, I kill you... Harkon activates his dimension slide ability and steps through a crack only he can see and exits next to the high priest with vengeance in his eyes swift action SMITE! target the high priest.

SMITE!: 1d20 + 9 + 6 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 9 + 6 + 2 + 1 = 25 PA+Smite+holy+nimbus

Vengeance!: 3d6 + 15 + 8 + 2d6 + 1 ⇒ (2, 3, 1) + 15 + 8 + (3, 2) + 1 = 35 PA+Smite+holy+nimbus

EDIT: I almost forgot to smite!

Oooh, do not forget the +1 morale bonus if within my nimbus (30 feet from me), I know I did last night...

Harkon has just enough Dex to get the two AOOs on the normal priests:

Attack of Opportunity: 1d20 + 9 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 9 + 2 = 12 power attack in effect for the whole fight and holy is running on his sword (did not matter for this one anyway)
Attack of Opportunity: 1d20 + 9 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 9 + 2 = 15 doubtful, but just in case:
damage: 3d6 + 2d6 + 15 + 2 ⇒ (2, 2, 3) + (4, 3) + 15 + 2 = 31

As the priests take turns trying to throw Harkon form the steps, he lashes out with his "holy" sword, but his size and position make the swings a little awkward.

As Grelthe is shoved from the steps into the lava, she is the only one who can see Harkon as he watches helplessly from his vantage point having just used what little reaction he had on the bumbling priests. Still in the cone of silence, no sound escapes his lips, but she can clearly read them:

His face hardens; he can barely make out the high priest. He has cover from one of the priests in front of him, engage obstacle removal:

DIE! priest: 1d20 + 9 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 9 + 2 = 30
Confirm?: 1d20 + 9 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 9 + 2 = 23 Maybe?
DIE!: 3d6 + 2d6 + 15 + 2 ⇒ (3, 6, 4) + (2, 3) + 15 + 2 = 35
DIE some more!: 3d6 + 15 + 2 ⇒ (6, 5, 1) + 15 + 2 = 29 Just in case.

If the priest does not go down, follow up with second attack, if he does, then direct it into the other priest behind him.

Second attack: 1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 4 + 2 = 26 (Oh, good lord! Someone is gonna die)
Confirm?: 1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 4 + 2 = 21
Take that!: 3d6 + 2d6 + 15 + 2 ⇒ (6, 2, 5) + (4, 3) + 15 + 2 = 37
And this!: 3d6 + 15 + 2 ⇒ (3, 2, 5) + 15 + 2 = 27 maybe?

Harkon punishes the priests for what the high priest did to Grelthe, despite his bungled AOOs.

Unable to cast spells in silence, Harkon gambles his faith will assist his inability to see in this magical darkness. Concentrating, Harkon calls out to his god for additional aid:

"Lord Gorum, here my plea! My companions and I have located a den of utter evil. One has already paid the ultimate price and the evil priests have used the aid of their god to render my senses mute and blind. My strength still prevails, but the silence and sightlessness prevents me from carrying your mighty justice to them. Grant me a Nimbus to bring forth the strength of your light so that I may crush them and cleanse this evil place!" standard action and a lay on hands use to create the Nimbus of Light for 30 feet, allies within the sphere gain +1 morale bonus to AC, to hit, damage and fear saves

Harkon then requests the blessing for healing himself as a swift action second lay on hands use

Lay on Hands: 4d6 ⇒ (6, 5, 4, 6) = 21

As he is surrounded, there is no move action to take.

Did a little research this week, I see no spell for greater darkness, I assume that is a 5E remnant and we really got hit with deeper darkness. That rules out the lava as being remotely helpful. Research shows that the divine bond only gives torch light, which is not enough to overcome deeper darkness. So, I have only one other light trick to try, could I have a ruling on the light level provided by the Nimbus of Light ability from the Warrior of the Holy archtype:

She can spend a use of her lay on hands ability to call upon the power of her faith as a standard action. This causes a nimbus of light to emanate from the warrior of the holy light in a 30-foot radius. All allies in this area (including the warrior of the holy light) receive a +1 morale bonus to AC and on attack rolls, damage rolls, and saving throws against fear as long as they remain in the area of light. This power lasts for 1 minute.

Would the Nimbus of Light produced be brighter than normal light? As this is a character created at an advanced level, I do not have a play reference to point to for this answer, but perhaps the character has already experienced the event to make a judgement? Essentially, if he thinks it will work, he will try it in order to see, otherwise, if he does not think it will work, he will cast a defensive spell, defensively, since he is unable to see to move anywhere and he is keenly aware of the lava below.

Will Save: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (9) + 12 = 21

Man, even with the high save bonuses, I sweat these everytime...

Hhrrmmm

New question on the darkness effect, when Harkon summoned his bonded weapon spirit, the weapon began to glow as a torch, is it completely extinguished by the magical darkness? And the glow from the molten lava below? It will help define my next action.

Has Harkon entered a cone of silence at his new location?

Ran the gamut with ours, easy as pie, then record setting weight at the hospital and broke a clavicle, then late but just in time to make me late to my own conference instead of waiting until it finished and then went in after him...

Good luck!

As soon as Amari unloads on the priests, Harkon executes his next assault. He opens up with using his swift action to Lay Hands upon himself to remove the stench of the dead demon from his person.

Lay on Hands: 4d6 ⇒ (3, 2, 4, 1) = 10

Then, he calls forth his celestial spirit to aid him in his quest to destroy the evil priests and cleanse the evil from this chamber. standard action to activate divine bond on his weapon using the +2 equivalency to add the Holy quality to his weapon for 1 minute

He then makes a rude gesture to the lesser priests surrounding him as he uses a reservoir point to activate dimension step and moves as far up the stairs toward the high priest as he can get and then uses his remaining move action of 25 feet to get as close to the top as possible and be right on tip of the high priest. if he does not have enough movement to achieve the spot I have placed him, kindly move him back to his maximum range of 65 feet from the starting position.

Harkon will rely on an AOO if the priest moves away or casts a spell:

"Amari, I am going to help Grelthe and we can meet back here once the high priest is dealt with!"

Congrats! I would not make any plans for the next couple of days, children have a habit of disrupting them starting at birth...

demon damage: 1d8 ⇒ 2

As I understand negative levels, you do not actually lose the levels, you just take the cumulative -1 to everything you try to do, plus the HP and spell casting bit.

Harkon feels vindication with the destruction of the demon, however, that is short lived as first he is assaulted by an acolyte, then he feels the overwhelming pressure of a dispel upon his person. Harkon can feel the loss of the Blessing of Fervor granted by his ally, but his strength prevails and the enlargement magic remains! Harkon loses two points of AC and incurs a -1 to attack as long as he remains enlarged

Fortitude Save: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (2) + 13 = 15

Harkon reels from the last vestige of evil emanating from the death throws of the demon...

I am unsure if the third level Paladin ability to protect against any disease even supernatural ones, applies to this effect. DM, please provide guidance on damage taken for the failed save

"Amari, have you got this? I am going to help Grelthe..."

After landing a telling blow, Harkon is wounded gravely from one of the evil minions behind him. Then, the cowardly demon teleports back to the other side of the battle! Do I get an attack of opportunity or did he use his spell like ability defensively?

Slightly frustrated he was unable to hold the demon away from his allies, but still in control of the initiative, Harkon gathers his nerve and his will by continuing the Blessing of Fervor for AC and attack bonus, then activates his lay on hands ability as a swift action to heal himself

Lay On Hands: 4d6 ⇒ (2, 3, 5, 3) = 13

He then reverses his move across the room back the way he came dimension stepping through the center of the room and then moving the remainder of his move to come within range of the demon once again and continues his holy assault

SMITE!: 1d20 + 10 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 10 + 6 + 2 = 38 (to hit, smite, BoF)

confirm?: 1d20 + 10 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 10 + 6 + 2 = 20 ARGH!, kinda wish I had an auto confirm ability right now!

damage: 3d6 + 16 + 16 + 2 ⇒ (6, 1, 6) + 16 + 16 + 2 = 47 (STR+PA, smite, BoF)

The SMITE! effect defeats any DR and grants an AC bonus vs the demon of 6 and BoF cancels out the enlarge AC penalties. Harkon prepares to use his combat reflexes against the fleeing priests.

Vuzi?

Cool, once Vuzi sets her actions, I will continue my assault on the demon

If I counted the squares right, I got just enough movement to get there without drawing any AOOs and make another smite, or I can get the "high" priest and keep him from doing any more damage...

Eh, it happens, in my home game today, I killed one PC and almost killed two more (they were both on death's door).

At least Vuzi gets to do something now while I figure out my next target...

Also, my ability gives whatever feat I have active to EVERYONE within 30 feet, so you can be flanking with anyone ave get the bonus. :)

Awww, I gotta spend an action type to do that, tear...

Ack! Sorry I didn't see we had started up again, and now it's been so long I have to reacquaint myself with Grelthe's abilities, LOL.

I probably should have taken Harkon's offer of enlarge person, but honestly I just missed it somehow, wasn't paying enough attention. *shrug* Oh well.

I cast communal Protection from Evil before the trapped door so it should be good for 2 minutes (level 8 divided by 4 people), but if I need to recast it I would definitely do that before entering the door. As well as start singing, yes.

Also: is Zadira still considered my ally? Because I took overprotective as a drawback. It does specify if my ally "falls unconscious from hit point damage" but it seems like falling into lava would make her dead dead? GM call.

The stairs look like they are about 10 feet long on the map, but you said they rise 30 feet? So for movement we should then count it as 30, right?

No, I have zero AOE capability. :(

As a reminder, you and I both have Outflank, just in case it comes up...

You step through time and space to confront your foe. You strike true and you feel demon flesh give way before your strike! But the beast doesn't fall. Not even close. I just... Looks At You. It's eyes look hungry.

Cause he leaves em speechless

I think I got it, there is no save button, so I assume it is live.

Saves, in order:

Will save: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (8) + 12 = 20
Will save: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (20) + 12 = 32
Will save: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (19) + 12 = 31
Will save: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (10) + 12 = 22

Spellcraft to ID spells:

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (20) + 11 = 31
Spellcraft: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (4) + 11 = 15
Spellcraft: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (18) + 11 = 29
Spellcraft: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (13) + 11 = 24

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (17) + 11 = 28

Knowledge Planes to ID the demon:

Knowledge: Planes: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (12) + 12 = 24

Nice! I think I got it all except for IDing one spell

As Harkon enters the room and begins to scan for threats and contents of the room, he takes in the horrid scene. When he spots the demon on the far side of the room, he knows the special danger it represents and while a room full of priests is dangerous, an unchecked demon is worse. Trusting in his new allies, Harkon hastily moves toward the quad staircase as if he would be attacking the high priest see what I did there? but before he begins to ascend, he disappears from sight only to reappear on the far side of the room near the demon.

The palpable evil within this room is oppressive, so Harkon channels his holy retribution into vengeance and pushes through it. With a roar, Harkon takes a mighty slash at the creature invoking the special power of his patron deity, "By Gorum I SMITE thee! You will be returned to the hell from which you spawned for mighty Gorum has granted me the strength to destroy such a foul abomination as you!"

Harkon crosses the room activating Dimensional Slide with a reservoir point as a part of movement to increase his movement 40 feet, crossing the stairway barrier and approaching to 10 feet of the demon to take advantage of his large size. Once there, he uses his swift action to activate Smite Evil and makes a single attack using power attack:

Smite Evil + Power Attack: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (17) + 17 = 34 temp strength included, a 19 or 20 here would have been epic, but at least I should still hit
Damage: 3d6 + 34 ⇒ (4, 3, 6) + 34 = 47 enlarge increases the die code for his weapon and with smite in effect, I am assuming the demon to be an evil outsider, it doubles his damage bonus for it (-8 if not)

EDIT: if Blessing of Fervor is still in effect, Harkon selects the AC option for this round.

Burst of Radiance is the best that Harkon can do, most of his spells are geared toward personal improvement. Could blind them if they fail a save and they are evil (bet they are)...cannot cast spells on what you cannot see...

I think only Amari took the spell from me as I review the note that I updated my stat line a few posts ago. Kinda wish I had put up my Mirror Image too, but oh well.

I just figured out how to get the map...damn, since I am large, if I am counting the squares correctly, I can make a move action (using dimension slide) and engage the demon with a smite attack (assuming I survive all of the saves I need to make). Harkon will shout out his intention before he moves if we want to concentrate on the priests first.

Going a little stir crazy as my home game has been on hiatus due to other commitments with too many of the players...jonesing for a game lately...

So, are we backing away to look for a way in on another level? Could take considerable time, but, we spent that in the side trip to restore our party members already. I suppose it is also possible the missing members could be in a cage somewhere else other than where they were taken from...

I am good either way.

Stat line updated for spell casting, Amari is enlarged using a reservoir point for +2 level casting (caster level 8) and using the Blessing of Fervor for extended metamagic, bringing the grand total to 16 minutes!

Nothing ventured, nothing gained...party decision:

Do we continue the rescue knowing that there is no way back, or duck out now and find a contingency way in?

My vote, we are on a rescue and as prepared as we wanted to be anyway.

Wow, we got some cool abilities that can be mixed together for some nice results

Ima wait for the Blessing of Ferver spell to take effect so I can use the option of metamagic extends for the spells I cast on others, anyone want to go big? If not, I am larging up and we can find out who is on the other side of the door...

I have nothing to help Amari with the trap, but if one of my fellow Paladins can cast guidance at least, it will help...(I gave up divine spells for other abilities)

The rest of us can wait around a corner so if he does set it off, we only have to worry about one PC making a save instead of the whole team again.

Anyone else have any helpful suggestions? I am off to work until late tonight (second shift, it is why I post so late...)

The weight of his armor is burdening, but he sweats through the ache. His blade is sharp, but his spells are sharper, so he must keep a level head to bring them to bear against his enemies (Harkon will deny the song in order to maintain his ability to cast his arcane spells).

His faith ever strong, Harkon nonetheless accepts Grelthe's blessing of protection from evil.

"Ah, the cursed door, at last! We should all prepare, for beyond this portal lies the enemies we seek. Among them, priests of the vile Orcus church, the stench of the undead, and, if memory serves, at least one grotesque fiend. This shall be the ultimate test of our strength and a worthy battle indeed to inspire mistress Grelthe's next raging ballad! I have a spell which will enlarge a person, should anyone reap the benefit before we attempt to enter this dread portal."

Once all have claimed a spell, should they choose, Harkon will cast Enlarge Person on himself (lasts for four minutes).

Well, that is pretty much a full day, lets move on
"Not that long I am afraid," responding to Vance. "Maybe after we take a crack at the rescue and we have a hard time of it. It seems most of us are fired up to go rescue our companions after so long apart."

Did anything ping as magic? might stop for a quick looksee if so...