Illiam Taal's page

Awesome game, guys.

Illiam leaves his hiding place to check on the kobold. Seeing, its outline not moving in the pit, drops his light stone, leaving it behind for Kairon, then he runs to go help the others. He gets as far as Chillel, and says to her The boy will be fine. Kairon's with him. Let's take care of the king.

He'll drop the light stone on the altar if possible as a free action, otherwise Kairon will have to go around to retrieve it.

The aether elemental senses that the kobold has stopped moving, and goes to seek another target. It flies up and over the sphere and uses a telekinetic maneuver to attempt to strip away the kobold's weapon. It gets a 23 if you'll accept the roll that I accidentally put in the discussion thread. If not, it's probably going to be lower...

Once it has done this, it fades away.

Well, that's embarrassing. I guess I ended up in the wrong tab when I was switching back and forth with the map...

Almost forgot the elemental...

The aether elemental senses that the kobold has stopped moving, and goes to seek another target. He flies up and over the sphere and uses a telekinetic maneuver to attempt to strip away the kobold's weapon.

Disarm: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23

Once it has done this, it fades away.

He'll drop the light stone on the altar if possible as a free action, otherwise Kairon will have to go around to retrieve it.

Illiam leaves his hiding place to check on the kobold. Seeing, its outline not moving in the pit, drops his light stone, leaving it behind for Kairon, then he runs to go help the others. He gets as far as Chillel, and says to her The boy will be fine. Kairon's with him. Let's take care of the king.

I imagine all that would kick up enough dust that when Illiam's turn comes around again, he'll be able to look down into the pit and see the outline of a kobold that isn't moving. Would the GM agree?

DC16

The conditions for breaking invisibility aren't entirely clear here. I'd say it's the GM's call. Also...

As the pit opens up, Illiam listens carefully for the sound of a creature either falling into it or hastily dodging to one side.

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24

As Kairon rounds the corner, Illiam whispers. I have a key. The skeleton key, which we've already established opens the lock, should still be in Illiam's hand since he was keeping it ready, so I think he can drop it to the ground, thereby making it visible, as a free action, right?

Seeing no other enemies, the elemental telekinetically lifts the bloody elven corpse off the altar and hurls it in the direction of the invisible kobold.

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 241d8 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8
Miss Chance: 1d100 ⇒ 28

The body flies toward the kobold, missing him, but landing in his square (and splattering enough blood to give us something to aim at?)

Seeing the body flung by the elemental's telekinesis is enough for Illiam to deduce that there is an unseen enemy in the general area, and that's all he needs. He clutches his anytool and speaks arcane words that he has never spoken before, causing a pit to open in the ground in front of him.

I mean, if you want to be gross about it, there's a dead elf body that's darn near ripped in half sitting on the altar. The elemental could throw that and get viscera and blood all over the invisible kobold... :D Morbid... Macabre... Yet probably effective. If it overcomes the 50% miss chance. :)

Ah, good point. The elemental can throw bodies, and that one will automatically fail its fort save...

I find your logic sound and convincing. :D Now the problem becomes one of tools at hand... There's not much within the elemental's direct "reach" that will make a good improvised dust of appearance. That I can think of anyway.

Edit: Clarification. By that I mean, that since neither Kairon or Illiam are aware of the other invisible creature, they can't really voluntarily give up an attended object for the purposes of making it appear. You know? Which means that the elemental would be attempting to take someone else's attended object, just to make another attempt to cover the invisible kobold with that object afterwards. Odds don't look great...

Are there at least loose rocks on the ground? I figure it could pick one up telekinetically and try to hit the kobold with it, leaving the rock telekinetically floating in the air in that square...

In keeping with character motivations and goals, I think Kairon's set of actions -- at least in terms of intent -- are already indicated. Act to help and secure the child. I'll hold off till sometime tomorrow before posting said actions. Currently in a bit of a crisis.

Are you sure? Illiam did beat the DC to pass a secret message, so Kairon should understand that he's standing in front of an illusion, and that the boy is really behind the altar...

Keep in mind that Illiam hasn't even been made aware that there is another invisible creature. The elemental doesn't necessarily have to outline it for him (though I still think that it is smart enough to understand that that would be ideal), but even making a sound would be more useful than the damage it can do.

I wasn't thinking of communicating with it. Elementals aren't geniuses, but they're also not animals. I was thinking that it would be smart enough to figure out that its best chance of carrying out its imperative to damage the kobold was to reveal its location so that others can attack it. Especially given that it CAN'T actually see the kobold. Blindsense allows it to locate the kobold, but the kobold still has total concealment (50% miss chance) against it. By trying to make the kobold visible, it is also helping itself attack it. It has two turns left before it disappears. If each has a 50% miss chance, only one of them is likely to hit. If it instead uses one turn to outline the creature so that the next attack will hit (or at least not miss because of concealment), it's not doing any worse than attacking blindly, plus it allows its allies to attack. I think that logic is within its abilities.

Btw, containers of paint would be IDEAL. Maybe for making ceremonial markings?

Might need an answer to my question in discussion before either of us can go...

Is there anything movable in area 33? There's an altar, so you would think there might be other ceremonial whatnots lying around. Ideally, jars containing some kind of powder, but a liquid should work. too. Clay pots? Tapestries on the walls? Loose chains/shackes that were previously used to restrain Tyran?

The elemental can tell what square the bombardier is in, but I'm thinking that rather than attacking him with a 50% miss chance (especially if you're going to ALSO give him a reflex save in addition to requiring an attack roll against him), the most useful thing it could do is try to reveal his location. Even throwing something to the ground in his square would give Illiam and Kairon an area to target. Unfortunately, I although the entry describes an aether elemental as being made of "unusual multicolored material," I don't think it actually has the ability to become visible...

We previously established that Illiam has his blanket strapped to his backpack. Does Kairon have anything loose like that that the elemental could grab with his telekinesis and try to throw over Tikan as if it were a net?

Illiam thinks for a moment. Kairon showing up was not part of his plan. Best he can tell, there are two kobolds coming, but Illiam has no way of knowing if they understand Common and does not want to give away his presence or the fact that the boy is an illusion. If they do understand common, using the word "Illusion" could give it away completely. He considers his phrasing carefully. He does his best imitation of Kairon's own voice in hopes that they will not realize there is another creature here, saying in a loud whisper Hey! Dummy! Get behind the altar!

Bluff to convey secret message: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (12) + 10 = 22

If the attack hits, Kairon will know that there is something in that square. You can 5-foot step back and attack into it with a 50% miss chance.

Too bad you don't have a Burning Hands left today. That would be really useful about now...

As Illiam's spell is completed, another aether elemental blinks invisibly into existence in the mouth of the passageway.

The elemental immediately notices something amiss. It is not the only invisible creature in this passageway. Just past where it senses an invisible creature, it can see another visible one. It reaches out with its telekinesis to grab the visible creature and hurl it in the direction of the invisible one.

Telekinetic Throw: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 181d8 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7
Miss chance (51-100 hits): 1d100 ⇒ 79

As the Elemental does this, Illiam muters arcane words and traces out a human form on the palm of his hand with his finger. An exact duplicate of Hollin appears on the other side of the altar (the black-bordered one), lying chained and unconscious, his chest slowly rising and falling.

Eh. Slightly above average.

Actually, the average roll for a d4 is 2.5, so that's exactly average damage. Math.

From his cover behind the altar, Illiam begins casting Summon Monster II, using the wand's final charge.

The sphere is blocking the bombardier and queen from getting to you. It has a 10 minute duration, so 9 minutes and change left. Assuming you don't manage to silence the king before he can react, I expect the bombardier and possibly the queen to come try to kill the boy. I'll have to take care of them on my own, but I'm ready for them. If something is going to happen, it would be nice if it happened before my invisibility runs out...

There's no "long way around". The other side is even more thoroughly blocked. Unless you're talking about climbing over the sphere. With a rope thrown over, that would probably be possible.

As if to relate the truth of his words, Merlokrep squeezes past the resilient magical sphere of force to open the way to the adjoining passages and calls out to his last remaining soldier, the alchemist bombardier

Is there room for any of our medium creature members to squeeze through?

Illiam continues to hold position.

I think that's the way it's going to have to go, but it's not going to happen if we try to get the characters to agree to do it. I think one of you is going to have to force the issue by attacking without the other characters agreeing to it. This might even provide a plausible reason for the group to break up after this, thus ending the adventure.

The only question is, which shall it be, fire or ice?

Illiam isn't the murdering type, but he does want loot. He'd at least try to swipe some stuff on the way out.

But we don't know if it was him or the other guy casting it, and didn't you say that it took multiple castings to give them enough combined strength to move the boulder? They might not have enough people to cast it on anymore.

That's OOC knowledge, though...

I wonder if they still have the ability to cast bull's strength (or whatever spell they were using to allow them to move the boulder over the entrance). We could always make a show of leaving peacefully, then place the boulder back there, presumably leaving nobody below capable of moving it. Turn the whole underground area (back) into one big tomb. That would probably be more cruel than just slaughtering everyone outright, though...

Illiam leaves the boy's manacles locked for now, but keeps the key handy in case he needs to unlock them in a hurry. Sensing that talks may break down suddenly, Illiam takes up a position next to the boy where he has cover behind the altar and pulls out the summoning wand, ready to use its final charge to defend himself...

...and also Hollin, of course. :P

Btw, out of character, I think it's probably better not to leave Merlokrep alive. Illiam would agree, but for different reasons (he wants to do some looting!)

Illiam can't get Hollin past the bubble with him, and his invisibility will run out before the bubble does. He has one Vanish prepared, but that won't get him AND Hollin past anyone. Illiam can defend Hollin if something goes down, but sneaking him out is out of the question.

Illiam stealthily inspects the room using Detect Magic particularly looking for traps or alarms, and ensuring that he doesn't wake the boy yet.

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21
Stealth: 1d20 + 14 + 20 ⇒ (6) + 14 + 20 = 40

Then, assuming he doesn't find any traps or alarms, he takes out his skeleton key to try it in the lock on the boy's manacles, using his skill as a pickpocket to avoid waking him as he does so.

Sleight of Hand: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (16) + 12 = 28
Disable Device (skeleton key): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (20) + 10 = 30

I don't actually want to take the manacles off yet, just ascertain whether the skeleton key works on them to see what my options are.

I moved the elementals off the map because their summons would have run out by now. We're assuming that everything caught in the bubble with them is dead by now, right? The bubble itself lasts 10 minutes, so unless Goruck digs out a tunnel, even if we come to an agreement, the rest of you won't be able to get to Hollin until then, and I don't think I'm going to be able to sneak him out (My shift ability is self-only).

As for Illiam, I still have a vanish spell that I can use to sneak him back out or to hide his presence when the rest of you come down the tunnel (since finding one of us already in there might make an already unstable truce fall apart).

If you DON'T reach an agreement, and the bombardier comes to kill Hollin, I can use the vanish spell to hide him. With the wands and spells I have left, I shouldn't have much trouble fighting him. I don't know Vreggma's stats, but since she wasn't waiting in the throne room to help attack us, I doubt she's much of a threat. I suspect you guys will have more trouble fighting the king than I will with the two of them.

That gives Illiam enough time to reach Hollin (or at least where his icon is). Does he run into anything along the way?

Illiam hops invisibly across the oil...

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8

And almost falls, but manages to regain his balance.

Am I going to need an acrobatics check to move across that oil? Maybe a bluff or stealth check to make it look like my light is coming from the other side of the bubble?

Doesn't Illiam still have a stone with Light cast on it? I would have assumed that if he was maintaining his invisibility, he would have had Kairon refresh the Light spell when he got back to them, before the summoning. Failing that, Illiam does have some candles, and flint/steel to light one.

Do we have any idea where we can find a matron? Beyond where their is a load of black on the map. And I think we have some conflict with Dolok brewing. Mass murder of juveniles, even Kobolds...

The hatchery, Area 26, according to Kerrdremak.

Chillel, since you're the only one who speaks Draconic and ISN'T currently sneaking around invisibly, you should probably be the one to go find a matron, unless you want to just try to Slumber hex and CdG his ass. If that's the plan, I would appreciate at least a couple more rounds of stalling first, in case he makes his save. Have we established whether he would know that he had been attacked in that case? If he does, and he calls out to his bombardier buddy, things might get a bit interesting for Illiam. Maybe at least pretend to go looking for one of them as a stalling tactic (that might even result in him moving far enough from the bubble for you guys to gank him without the others hearing)?

Using the distraction of the muffled noises from inside the bubble and the fact that Merlokrep's attention is on his party members, Illiam looks for an opening to slip behind him unnoticed far enough to shift past where the passage is blocked.

Stealth: 1d20 + 14 + 20 ⇒ (14) + 14 + 20 = 48
Acrobatics: 1d20 + 3 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 3 + 3 = 23 Using Adaptable Luck here.

At least. If the bottom of the sphere is at ground level, there should be room for Illiam to go under the edge of it. More likely, the bottom of the sphere is 5ft into the ground, making the top 15ft off the ground.

Yes, 30' ceilings and the sphere is only 10' diameter.

10' radius.

You could probably make a hole for Illiam to get through pretty easily, not sure about anyone else...

Another idea, I don't know if Chillel has an touch spells prepared, but Athena could get past the sphere to deliver one pretty easily...

Yeah, my thinking is that Illiam is probably the ONLY one in the party with any way of getting past the sphere, so he really needs to try to do that. If it becomes necessary, it will be VERY necessary.

Btw, if I can beat "Tikan" to the boy, I can cast vanish on him. It will only last 3 rounds, but I figure that should be enough for Tikan to see that he's not there and leave to report that to the king.

Illiam moves forward to just outside Merlokrep's view, then carefully and stealthily moves over the grease, past Kairon, then shifts to the side, out of the grease, to prepare to attempt to sneak past Merlokrep.

Stealth: 1d20 + 14 + 20 ⇒ (2) + 14 + 20 = 36
Acrobatics: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23

Will need to wait until next turn to try to get past him anyway, since I don't have enough movement.

Btw, I decided to target a square instead of a creature because of what happens if the attack roll misses, which is described in the telekineticist "foe throw" ability, which seems to be intended to be the same ability that the elementals have (which explains the fort save part).

If Illiam is invisible, could he move into Merlokrep's square so that he can shift to the diagonally-adjacent square and get past the bubble (would it be reasonable to assume that his invisibility is already active from his scouting mission, or did we decide to skip that?)?

My secondary plan involves using that create pit spell to allow someone to bypass the blockage, but that one won't work without Merlokrep seeing it and trying to interfere.

Hoping Kairon's plan works, but if he's only successful in delaying matters, I want to be able to make use of that time.

There's also one more charge left on the summoning wand. Eagles have already proven effective against bombardiers, and wouldn't have trouble bypassing the sphere.

Looks like those all landed, so the fourth elemental throws down the bead of force in the middle of the group.

Bead of force damage: 5d6 ⇒ (1, 6, 3, 5, 4) = 19

The elementals then use their telekinetic throw against any kobolds still alive inside the sphere for the next two rounds.

Guess I'll just jump in...

After Illiam explains his plan, he and Kairon, Chillel and Dolok each take a turn with the wand of Summon Monster, creating four aether elementals with instructions use their kinetic throw ability to throw the outlying kobolds at the ceiling above the middle of the group (just targeting a square, so AC5, plus extra falling damage?), trying to get everyone into a 10ft radius. The last elemental is then to drop the Bead of Force in the middle of the group, trapping all of the kobolds inside while the elementals continue to attack.

Telekinetic throw: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 81d8 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7
Telekinetic throw: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 241d8 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8
Telekinetic throw: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 151d8 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10

Target the bombardier first, then the slurk rider, then the slurk itself. DC12 to resist being thrown.

Fort save: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7 not sure about this bonus, but the others should be correct...
Fort save: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10
Fort save: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7