Aubrey's Eberron campaign. (Inactive)

Game Master Aubrey the Malformed

Ezreal:

Helkashtai looks at Ezreal and smiles. She then turns to Prince Kor. "I'm sure agree, Prince Kor, that these shards are far too important to leave in the possession of these ruffian adventurers. I suggest to confiscate them for the state of Breland and we can discuss arrangements for their disposal in private."

Perception, DC 22:

Spellcraft, DC 22:

Perception: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (17) + 16 = 33

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 22 ⇒ (6) + 22 = 28

"I'm sure the assembled agrees that trying to enspell a member of the nobility constitutes an aggressive action. She is trying to use a charm to sway you to her argument."

Helkashtai waves at her men in annoyance. They reach for their weapons - and begin to grow.

Now those initiative checks finally come in useful. Map incoming. this will be quite complicated as there are lots of NPCs milling around.

Map.

The chamber itself is quite simple - an open space with no difficult terrain. The little side chamber by the entrance is where the technicians run the magical gubbins to make all this happen.

A word on the NPCs. PK is Prince Kor, LM is Lieutenant Meira and RC1, RC2 and RC3 are Redcloak soldiers. LD is Lady Desdamora. Sel is Selkatiri and Hav is Havakhad. hel is Helkashtai and I've sure you remember HC is the Horned legion Commander and H1, H2 and H3 are his sidekicks. T1, T2 and T3 are the technicians.

Please place yourselves. If you have been addressing the assembled leaders, you need to place yourselves somewhere in the middle between the daises. I've stated who is on which one, more for flavour than effect. You can stand on a dais if you want or move across one with no problem.

N12 for Haladon

Initiative:
16 Kazadar
15 Gil
13 Janosz
10 Haladon
5 Rodergo
4 Ezreal
? Others

N10

M13 for Rod.

Remember that Rod and/or Kaz healed everyone up in the tent and/or at the embassy.

Considering she was facing Helkashtai when she tried to charm the prince and saw the attempt, I think it makes sense for her to be near Prince Kor. If this would not be diplomatically allowed, let me know, but I think L11 makes sense. L12 if that would have been frowned on.

M13 for Rod.

Remember that Rod and/or Kaz healed everyone up in the tent and/or at the embassy.

Including yourself, aye? Your status line still indicates damage.

I'm in I9.

Father Rod wrote:

M13 for Rod.

Remember that Rod and/or Kaz healed everyone up in the tent and/or at the embassy.

Including yourself, aye? Your status line still indicates damage.

Ah yeah ... now that we're going into a fight its probably about time I actually updated my character sheet ...

I've got a little bit of prep to do, plus we are still waiting on Ez for a position.

L12

Just as an aside, I've got the NPC stats on this page. You might be called upon to run them (depending on whether they decide to attack you or help you). One set of stats left to go.

Right, here we go. This will be complicated. I was going to kick this off last night, but a transport disaster meant I didn't get home until nearly 9.00pm.

Anyhoo...

NPC initiatives
Helkashtai 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 2 = 22
Horned Legion Commander 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19
Horned Legion Infiltrators 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (14) + 9 = 23
Selkatiri 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16
Havakhad 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (10) - 1 = 9
Lieutenant Meira 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23
Redcloak Soldiers 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 18
Price Kor 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12
Technicians 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 21
Lady Desdamora 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 2 = 12

Welcome to the mother of all initiative charts. I think we need to get used to the idea that this won't be a fast-moving combat. I'm also going to slightly amend the order, so the Horned Legion dudes all go after Helkashtai.
Initiative:
23- Lieutenant Meira
22+ Helkashtai
22- Horned Legion Infiltrators
21 Technicians
19 Horned Legion Commander
18 Redcloak Soldiers
16+ Selkatiri
16- Kazadar
15 Gil
13 Janosz
12+ Prince Kor
12- Lady Desdamora
10 Haladon
9 Havakhad
5 Rodergo
4 Ezreal

Now, Selkatiri and Havakhad are both on your side, and you may control them (and take their turns when they come up). Selkatiri is basically a melee basher while Havakhad is a healer with some minor offensive powers.

The others are not currently commanded by you. it's sort of up to you the get people on side by your actions in the combat - if you convince them, you control them. Obviously, you'll obviously have a tricky time getting Helkashtai and her chums on your side. However, the others may be persuadable with varying levels of difficulty.

For the DM

The shifter woman warrior immediately moves forward and interposes herself between the prince and the group, drawing her axe and shield as she goes. She snarls like a cat, revealing long deadly fangs.

LM moves and readies an action.

Helkashtai shouts out to her cohorts, "Protect the prince. Don't let those killers near him!"

Perception DC 21 or Spellcraft DC 21:

Sense Motive DC 31:

The Horned Legion move forwards and attack, shielding their leader with their bodies.

HC moves up to Kaz and attacks him. H1 attacks Hal. H2 and H3 attack Rod.
HC 1d20 + 32 - 2 - 4 ⇒ (6) + 32 - 2 - 4 = 32 to hit, damage 8d6 + 20 + 8 + 1d4 ⇒ (1, 3, 6, 3, 5, 5, 4, 6) + 20 + 8 + (1) = 62
H1 1d20 + 21 - 3 ⇒ (6) + 21 - 3 = 24 to hit, damage 2d6 + 11 + 6 ⇒ (6, 5) + 11 + 6 = 28
H2 1d20 + 21 - 3 ⇒ (18) + 21 - 3 = 36 to hit, damage 2d6 + 11 + 6 ⇒ (4, 5) + 11 + 6 = 26
H3 1d20 + 21 - 3 ⇒ (7) + 21 - 3 = 25 to hit, damage 2d6 + 11 + 6 ⇒ (6, 2) + 11 + 6 = 25

The technicians run out from their room. "Drop your weapons! Stay back from the prince." With a flurry of fingers, one conjures a web to ensnare the attackers.

OK, the web is now marked on the map. If you are caught in it (you will have turned dark purple) DC 16 Reflex save to avoid the immediate effects.
Saves:
Helkashtai 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22
HC 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (6) + 9 = 15
H1 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (8) + 11 = 19
H2 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (2) + 11 = 13
H3 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (18) + 11 = 29
Lieutenant Meira 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (15) + 11 = 26

The Redcloak soldiers press forward to protect their officer and their prince.

Initiative:
23- Lieutenant Meira
22+ Helkashtai
22- Horned Legion Infiltrators (H2 stuck in the web)
21 Technicians
19 Horned Legion Commander (stuck in the web)
18 Redcloak Soldiers
16+ Selkatiri
16- Kazadar
15 Gil
13 Janosz
12+ Prince Kor
12- Lady Desdamora
10 Haladon
9 Havakhad
5 Rodergo
4 Ezreal

OK, it's Selkatiri, then Kaz, then Gil, then Janosz next.

Map updated.

SELKATIRI
50 move speed can get Selkatiri to Q9 in a move, then comes an unarmed strike 2/Scorpion Style. If Helkashtai is wielding a weapon, particularly a staff or something that would be likely magical, Seklatiri will attempt a disarm instead.
acrobatics to avoid AoOs: 1d20 + 25 ⇒ (6) + 25 = 31

EDIT: oh it should be noted that Selkatiri doesn't provoke an AoO for disarm. i didn't specify it in the post above and missed the edit window.

HC's attack misses Kaz due to Kaz's extra AC against the giant subtype.
reflex dc 16 vs web: 1d20 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 7 + 2 = 24

"YES, GET THE PRINCE TO SAFETY!" Kazadar bellows. Turning his back to the Prince, he makes a show of raising his shield to defend them against the giants before shouting "DOL ARRAH'S FLAME!"

Kazadar defensively casts Fire Shield (warm) on himself, and he is engulfed in bright red flames. those melee attacking me take 1d6+11 fire damage, no SR. Also raises the light level by one within 10ft of me, not that i suspect that will matter.

concentration DC 23: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (10) + 18 = 28 spell occurs without provoking AoO

Gil's turn

Ezreal hasn't made the map yet. (L12)
Reflex vs Web DC 16: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (11) + 11 = 22

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 22 ⇒ (5) + 22 = 27

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (11) + 15 = 26

"Lady Desdamora! Steel yourself - she's turning her bewitching gaze on you!"

Gil-Swashbuckler casts haste. She can affect 12 and I believe all twelve of the party members and neutral individuals are within 30' of everyone else, so she should be able to speed up the non-bad guys on the left side. The technicians and Lady D are excluded.

"Prince, if I may respectfully suggest you move back from the webbing - do you have an escape route from this room? As importantly, would the Riedran know of it?"

Gil will move ten feet 'left' to J11

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22
Sense Motive: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (4) + 21 = 25
Reflex: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (20) + 9 = 29

H2 hits Rod, H3 misses.

“Keep THOSE killers back from the Prince!” yells Rod, gesturing towards the horned legion. “And beware Lady Desdamora, the Riedran may have charmed her. Uck, get these webs off – oof, ow!”

Janosz.

Perception: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 = 20
Sense Motive: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (14) + 18 = 32
Reflex: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (8) + 10 = 18

Selkatiri's move provokes an AoO from HC (the Acrobatics check wasn't high enough to avoid it).
1d20 + 32 - 2 - 4 ⇒ (20) + 32 - 2 - 4 = 46 to hit, damage 2d6 + 20 + 8 + 1d4 ⇒ (1, 1) + 20 + 8 + (4) = 34
Ack! A crit.
1d20 + 32 - 2 - 4 ⇒ (18) + 32 - 2 - 4 = 44 to confirm, extra damage 2d6 + 20 + 8 ⇒ (6, 2) + 20 + 8 = 36
OK, that's about 30 more points of damage that she has hp, so that's Selkatiri dead. So much for that ally.

As Selkatiri closes on Helkashtai, the ogre mage warlord cuts her down with a single blow.

Re Kaz's Fire Shield, as a mildly helpful side-effect, he can move through the Web at no penalty.

Initiative:
23- Lieutenant Meira (Hasted)
22+ Helkashtai
22- Horned Legion Infiltrators (H2 stuck in the web)
21 Technicians
19 Horned Legion Commander (stuck in the web)
18 Redcloak Soldiers (Hasted)
16- Kazadar (Fire Shield, Hasted)
15 Gil (Hasted)
13 Janosz (Hasted)
12+ Prince Kor (Hasted)
12- Lady Desdamora
10 Haladon (Hasted)
9 Havakhad (Hasted)
5 Rodergo (Hasted)
4 Ezreal (Hasted)

Janosz.

Map updated.

I'll post my actions a little later today. Are kalashtar considered 'human' for Favoured Enemy purposes?

No. If you are talking about Helkashtai, she isn't a kalashtar anyway, she is an Inspired, and they don't count as human either.

dang, didnt mean to get Selkatiri killed but their whole sctick was melee and a crit like that plus low rolls to avoid AoO meant that NPC was cursed.

It surprises me that kalashtar aren't humans, not that it should matter here. That the Inspired are not human is less surprising.

Janosz steps back and starts pumping arrows into the Inspired telepath.

5' step to I5 before unloading on Helkashtai. I'm using Rapid Shot, Manyshot, Deadly Aim (-3 penalty to hit included below) and, crucially, Clustered Shots.
Attack 1: 13+17+1(haste)=AC 31, damage 2d8+22+2d6 fire+2d6 electricity = 34+10 fire +6 electricity.
Attack 2: 10+17+1=AC 28, damage 1d8+11+1d6 fire+1d6 electricity = 15+3 fire + 5 electricity.
Attack 3: 19!+12+1=AC 32, confirm roll 12+12+1+5(action point)=AC 30, damage 1d8+11+1d6 fire+1d6 electricity = 16x3=48+5 fire+2 electricity.
Attack 4: 11+7+1=AC 18, damage 1d8+11+1d6 fire+1d6 electricity = 13 +3 fire + 5 electricity.
Attack 5 (bonus from Haste: 10+17+1=AC 28, damage 1d8+11+1d6 fire+1d6 electricity = 17 + 5 fire + 4 electricity.

I have scratched one Action Point. Next up: Prince Kor.

Prince Kor and Lady Desdamora

Sorry for the silence - been a funny week. Janosz can't reach I5 with a 5' step (which is part of the wall anyway) - assume this is a mistype, so I've put him in I8.

Standing behind her giant bodyguards, hitting Helkashtai requires some tricky shooting from Janosz. She winces as one of the arrows hits home, but she is not incapacitated.

Prince Kor draws his sword, then turns to Lieutenant Meira. "We must seize those shards for Breland," he intones.

Lady Desdamora draws her rapier and buckler and backs up to the wall, unsure how things will pan out.

Map updated.

Haladon.

Rodergo rolls his eyes. "Fantastic. Has she ensorcelled Prince Kor or is he just royally stupid?" he mutters. "As if Meira wasn't just looking for an excuse anyway ..."

A Sense Motive check should reveal the answer.

If I can make it now without spending an action: Sense Motive: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (2) + 21 = 23

Uncanny rolling there.

Rod:

Taking a moment to puzzle the prince's actions, Haladon utters a quick prayer and is rewarded when a lance of silver flame springs in his hand. Haladon quickly turns it against the Horned Legion Commander.

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (5) + 18 = 23
Swift Action: cast light lance thanks to Battle Blessing feat. No AoO.
Full round action: attack Horned Legion Commander.
Attack 1 (haste): 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (16) + 19 = 35.Damage: 1d8 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14 plus 2d6 ⇒ (4, 2) = 6 holy.
Attack 2: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (14) + 19 = 33.Damage: 1d8 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16 plus 2d6 ⇒ (1, 5) = 6 holy.
Attack 3: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (4) + 14 = 18.Damage: 1d8 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9 plus 2d6 ⇒ (2, 4) = 6 holy.
Attack 4: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (10) + 9 = 19.Damage: 1d8 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9 plus 2d6 ⇒ (5, 5) = 10 holy.

Havakhad

Haladon's magical lance strikes the ogre mage warlord twice, its light scorching his flesh.

Havakhad hobbles over Janosz. "I know you don't trust us, but I'm going to do my damnedest to keep you upright in this fight."

Manifests Fortify, increasing all of his saves by 2 for 1PP cost.

Rod.

Map updated.

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (11) + 19 = 30

"Redcloaks! The prince has been enspelled by the Inspired mind-witch. Keep him safe while we deal with her and her minions."

Janosz nods quickly at Havakhad. "We'll avenge your assistant. She did not deserve that."

I'm sure Kor's charmed - the Sense Motive check is just to double check.

Rodergo, then Ezreal

"Right you are Janosz, that b*tch has charmed the Prince ... I don't know what you ever saw in her ... "

Rod will delay until after Ezreal has acted - assuming Ez plans to move, Rod may end up taking his space.

"I don't know what you ever saw in her ... "

Yeah, right. Like Rod never saw anything in the red-hot chick with the purple hair.

Rod just assumes that Janosz would be more discerning than himself ... or go for someone a bit more 'rustic' looking.

If I remember correctly, Janosz suspected that she was some sort of vampire after the party. Why else would she have been so interested in him?

"Frogshanks, Haladon, Kazadar! Full assault on the giant commander!"
That said, Ezreal sweeps one hand along one side of the room calling up a wall of force to reduce the active combatants and moves back to give himself more casting room. Next to Gil and keeping his voice low the mage asks, "Can you flip one of the other giants or take it out of the fight? If she is going to turn the Prince and others, return the favor. Ignore the far one. He is out for now."

Wall of Force to remove H3 from the fight, 14/15 line.
Move to J10.

Meira

Rod will act once Ez does (before Meira); having said that, I don't really know that he can do much right now. He can't really stand here and take hits from the two giants who are still within reach with their polearms (H1 and H2) or risk AoOs from them. If he takes a 5 foot step to L12 I can catch Prince Kor in a Magic Circle Against Evil and give him another chance to save against the charm effect. Anyone got any better ideas?

It would be a save with +4 (+2 resistance bonus and the retry +2 bonus) but I still doubt he makes it. I thought about it too though. A targeted dispel might be more effective if you can penetrate her CL.
Otherwise, protection from energy on yourself vs the inevitable freezing blasts? Or pile on to drop the commander fast with flame strike?

Btw- they can't AoO you if you are un-entangled want to move more, because the web is providing you cover and it prevents AoO's.

Ah, forgot about the web actually. I thought the extra save might have a better shot than a dispel, but yeah, maybe not.

Ok, Rod steps out of the web into L14, then moves to J13, and casts Dispel Magic on Prince Kor, trying to target whatever charm effect is upon him. Caster Level check: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (20) + 11 = 31

Rodergo steps out of the web and casts a spell that he hopes will free the Prince from Helkashtai. “Lieutenant Meira, I know you feel you have little reason to trust one such as I, but please believe me when I say that your Prince was charmed by that Riedran witch – her and the giants are the enemy here, not us! Prince Kor, if I have freed you from her influence, please let your guards and the Lieutenant know, and have them get you to safety!”

Don’t have time for a diplomacy check, hopefully Meira listens to reason.

FYI, Haladon's probably dropping the following round. He's in range of all attackers, has a low AC, and he's hurt. A combination of cone of colds and full round attacks will put him down.

Just saying so as not to waste healing on him because it probably won't make a difference. Drop a flame strike on the commander but you'll have to beat his SR and if he's part monk, he might have evasion.

Eek, sorry, didn't realise you were so low. But yeah, I probably can't heal you enough in one round to keep you on your feet against concentrated attacks. My flame strike did virtually nothing last fight (although at least the roll above probably would have overcome their SR), and I thought it important to not have Meira and the Prince's men attacking us too if possible.