Wrath of the River King

[pat512]

Divers:

Spoiler:

Elias, please add 10 init rolls to your profile ASAP

You count the ripples, and there are at least a dozen creatures gathering beneath the water.

See map from profile. Blue is river, tan is mud, white is grass. The divider between mud and grass is a low cliff, and takes an extra square of movement to cross. The mud is slippery, slimy terrain. Whenever you move into a tan square, you must make a DC15 Athletics or Acrobatics check or end your movement in that square.

Divers Nature DC15:

Spoiler:

Eel hounds are fey river hounds that attack in massive packs of wriggling, darting forms. They move quickly
both in land and in the water. They prefer to bring aquatic prey up onto dry land and vice versa, to kill by suffocation when they can. Eel hounds like marshes, rivers, and beds of seagrass and reeds. They mate in spring, a time when the female protect a litter of small, almost legless young.

DC25:

Spoiler:

The leaders of a group of eel hounds can use their spit to create a slick area and push foes into the water. They are
vulnerable to cold iron, and their baying can generate a killing frenzy among the fey. Th eir stealth and ambush attacks are often in the service of a powerful river troll, lorelei, or eladrin.

[JZ's Bren]

Despite the odds, Bren's stoic expression betrays no fear.

Nature : 1d20+1=3

Guys, should we try to get on top of the cliff? Pat, will we get combat advantage if we hold a line on the ridge?

Also, I'll figure out the number of surges I have left by tonight.

[Catriana Windrunner]

In the mill:

Spoiler:

"Well, we are going to deal with the River King. But why would you need protection from him ? You're not Froderick's son, so who are you ?

Diplomacy (1d20+19=31)

[Elias]

Divers

Spoiler:

1d20+9=23 "Bren, Eglantine, look out; these eel-hounds will try to drag you under the water. Don't let them gang up on you!"

Init rolls added

[Scáthach "Shadowed One"]

Divers

Spoiler:

Fish-dogs... do I eat them or not?

[JZ's Bren]

Pat

Spoiler:

At the end of last combat I was down to 5 hp, counting the 11 temporary points I gave myself through Unstoppable. So in real hit points was really at -6.

I would have had to spend exactly 5 surges to get back to full (54 hp).
That plus the Second Wind I took and Yomi's Blessing means I have spent a total of 7 surges so far.

I have 5 surges left.

[pat512]

Divers:

Spoiler:

Bren, yes, CA from the ridge.

The eelhound leader swims toward shore and lets out an eerie howl, lashing the other hounds into a frenzy and frightening the humanoids Will attack against all w/in 5, so all -- everyone but Scathach is dazed, save ends.

Elias, Eglantine, hounds

Baying vs Bren, Eggers, Elias, Scathach (1d20+9=25, 1d20+9=17, 1d20+9=25, 1d20+9=12)

Mill:

Spoiler:

"The miller is my father! He struck a bargain with the River King, but broke that bargain somehow. That’s what brought the fey back here; they think that the land is theirs again."

[JZ's Bren]

Divers:

Spoiler:

The fighter struggles to stay on his feet.

"Get up the slope! Don't let them drag you in!"

[Elias]

Divers

Spoiler:

"As I pointed out, it would indeed be nasty." Elias says calmly.

[Eglantine Prakseda]

Divers

Spoiler:

Not taking her eyes off the river and the moving shapes, Eglantine pulls rope from her backpack and passes it to Bren and Elias.

"Up on the bank. We need to keep together."

moving to N4. Hoping that using the rope as a handhold will help the others get up the bank more easily. Athletics check to get off mud bank Athletics to get off muddy bank (1d20 8=20)

[Catriana Windrunner]

Pat

Spoiler:

"We'll help you and your father. Is there anything else we should know before we go deal with this River King ?"

[pat512]

Divers:

Spoiler:

In case I didn't emphasize it enough, the three of you are dazed. Elias and Eglantine each get to act before the hounds, but just one action.

Mill:

Spoiler:

Read Catriana's last to me, it should have been to all at the mill.

"Will you help my mother? She's lost in the Feywild. I know that to get to the Feywild, you have to swim in the millpond."

[Eglantine Prakseda]

Divers

Spoiler:

Just the rope then. No attempt to move.

[Catriana Windrunner]

In the mill:

Spoiler:

"Where in the feywild can we find your mother ? I presume she's somewhere near the River King, but anything more specific would really help us help you".

[Cyrus the Mentalist]

In the mill:

Spoiler:

To Yomi and Catriana. Can we leave this young man here to fend for himself?

[Catriana Windrunner]

In the mill:

Spoiler:

To Cyrus and Yomi: "I think we should ask him that. He's old enough to decide for himself."

[pat512]

Elias?

Mill:

Spoiler:

"I don't know where she is. The old river woman who took her was here with some big goblins. I hid in a grain bin until she went away. Then, when I came out, I saw the last of the goblins disappearing into the millpond.

"And you can't take me anywhere. If you can't find my mother, I'll look for her myself!"

[JZ's Bren]

Divers:

Spoiler:

If I may suggest that we form a line at the edge of the grass. M6,N6,N7,O8 for example. That way we'll get CA over the lizards. Or should we get back as far away from the shore as possible?

[Elias]

Divers

Spoiler:

Athletics checks - Elias 18, Scáthach 28. Both take a move action to O7 and O8 respectively.

"Come on, old friend." Elias says to the cat and clambers up the bank. Scáthach leaps up in one elegant bound. "You make it looks so easy," Elias comments wryly.

[Catriana Windrunner]

In the mill:

Spoiler:

"Don't worry boy, we'll find your mother. If you're so anxious to find her, I think you'll have better chances of doing that together with us."

[Yomi]

Mill

Spoiler:

"Boy, can you describe your mother to us?"

Copy, Pat.

[pat512]

Divers:

Spoiler:

Whipped into a frenzy, the eelhounds swarm the beach, some slipping in the mud, but most managing to surround Bren, but his heavy armor is proof against most of their attacks. There bodies are such that they simply climb over each other on the attack.

They are able to shift after a bite attack, as long as they stay adjacent to the enemy they tried to bite. 7hp each to Bren, Eglantine, and Scathach

[pat512]

Mill (please remember spoilers):

Spoiler:

Flax glares at Catriana -- "I can survive better in they Feywild than they can," with a gesture at Cyrus and Yomi. His description of his mother leaves somewhat to be desired, but you think you'd recognize her.

[Catriana Windrunner]

In the mill:

Spoiler:

"Of course you can. But there is safety in numbers. With your knowledge of the feywild and our protection we could do rescue your mother and be back here to save you father as well."
Catriana is trying to take the boy with the party, as he'd be more safe that way than if he'd go alone. If anyone objects, please notify.

[Cyrus the Mentalist]

in the mill:

Spoiler:

"There are both advantages (He apparently knows the feywild) and disadvantages (we have to protect him when we run into trouble) of bringing the young man with us. Yomi, what do you think? Once we decide let's get going and dive into the pond."

[JZ's Bren]

"Die, spawn of hell!" yells Bren. He swings his double-headed axe into the throng of lizard-hounds.

Save against daze: 1d20=12

Standard : Cleave on H1
1d20+10=22 vs. AC

Note that I am including my +2 weapon proficiency in the hit roll now, something I neglected to do previously.

Damage 1d12+5=8

If I hit H1, I choose H2 to take an extra 4 damage.

I take an Action Point

Standard : Cleave on H1
1d20+10=22 vs. AC

(Forgot to add +3 from action surge)

Damage 1d12+5=8

(Identical results - that's weird)

If I hit H1, I again choose H2 to take an extra 4 damage.

If H1 dies, I try to move to L7 then M6.

Athletics 1d20+11=27 vs DC 24

[Eglantine Prakseda]

Divers

Spoiler:

Eglantine's replacement is waiting in the wings, I think the poor lass is going down. Forgot to post her save last turn, so at least she's not dazed any more.

Save v Daze (1d20=14)

[JZ's Bren]

Divers:

Spoiler:

Sorry for not putting my last post in spoilers :P

[pat512]

Divers:

Spoiler:

Bren -- these are minions, so you're taking down two at a go. h1 and h2 fall to your first blow, then your action point fells two more. But your save against daze is at the end of your turn, so no movement available. Which two more do you want to demolish?

[JZ's Bren]

Divers

Spoiler:

I'll take out H4 and H6.

[pat512]

Divers:

Spoiler:

Bren lays about with his axe, mowing down eelhounds. The eelhound leader, seemingly unfazed, spits a jet of viscous liquid at Eglantine -2hp, making a section of the mud even slipperier than before, and Eglantine slides down toward the water amidst the surviving hounds.

Eglantine and Elias are up -- Elias, please make your save vs daze from last turn.

[Elias]

Divers

Spoiler:

Rolled 18, sorry I missed that! Circling Strike 19 vs AC on H10. Scáthach shifts to N7 as part of the power before the attack. As a move action, Scáthach shifts to M8. Elias shifts to N8 if hound is killed, N7 if hound is not killed.

Elias looks on in concern as Eglantine is mobbed; confident Bren can handle himself, Elias shouts to Scáthach, "Help Eglantine!". Rushing like a shadowy vision, the cat is there, growling at the beasts menacing the acrobat, as Elias cuts at a hound with his sword.

[Eglantine Prakseda]

Divers

Spoiler:

Athletics checks to get to N7 using Fox's Gambit shift power (1d20 8=11, 1d20 8=27, 1d20 8=22) Fox's Gambit: melee. +10 v AC; 1d4+4 damage. Negates any marks made by target and target may not mark another until end of Eglantine's next turn. May shift up to 3 squares.

v AC on h8 (1d20 10=22, 1d4 4=5)

Skidding and sliding through the slime, Eglantine scrambles towards Elias, lashing out at h8 as she tries to get to dry land.

[pat512]

Eglantine Prakseda wrote:

Divers ** spoiler omitted **

Spoiler:

The eelspit/slime is even slicker than the mud of the riverbank. On Eglantine's first attempt to move toward the ridge, slips and falls, sliding back toward the river.

After her first action, which I'll interpret as a move, Eglantine is in the space she started in, but prone. Standard and minor remaining.

With the boards being flaky, I'll give Yomi a bit more time. It's only just been 24 hours since he was invoked.

[Eglantine Prakseda]

Divers

Spoiler:

IC just collapsed on me to put the cherry on the cake.

Realising she may be about to run out of luck, Eglantine stabs hard at the nearest eelhound, hoping to take at least one with her to the afterlife.

Home rolled. 1d20+6=20 v AC.

Not much left in my locker. Used AP and daily teleport power. 9hp, hip deep in slime. Minor action consists of fervent prayer to Corellan and any other deity that might be listening.

[pat512]

Divers:

Spoiler:

Eglantine, slashing desperately from her poorp osition kills one of the eelhounds, even as Elias and Scathach maneuver to doom another.

Elias, do you want to revise your/Scathach's move action now that you've seen the effects of the spit?

[Yomi]

Cyrus the Mentalist wrote:

in the mill:

** spoiler omitted **

Mill

Spoiler:

"Can you defend yourself, boy? If you can't, then you'd better stay behind."

[pat512]

Mill:

Spoiler:

The boy looks a bit panicky. "I can't fight the fey!"

Into the pond with y'all now? Two ayes have it. Or something else?

[Catriana Windrunner]

Mill:

Spoiler:

"So what will you do? Stay here? You don't have many options", Catriana tells the boy.
Catriana will enter the pond only after she heals up (at least one short rest), preferably completely.

[Elias]

Divers

Spoiler:

No, I'm fine with what I've decided. It took me ages to work it out! :D

[pat512]

Catriana Windrunner wrote:

Mill:

** spoiler omitted **

Spoiler:

"I'll be fine, I've managed this long -- until you broke down the door! Please, just go find my mother!"

Divers:

Spoiler:

Elias and Scathach, please both make Acrobatics checks to stay upright in the slick spot.

[Scáthach "Shadowed One"]

Divers

Spoiler:

Elias got 30, Scáthach got 19.

[pat512]

Divers:

Spoiler:

The eelhounds continue to swarm the small band, slithering over each other as they bite, but most of them unable to get a flanking position thanks to the ranger's tactics.

Two hits on Bren, -14hp, one hit on Eglantine, -7hp

Divers EDIT:

Spoiler:

Bren's turn

[Catriana Windrunner]

In the mill:

Spoiler:

Catriana promises the boy "We will find your mother and bring her back, just take care of yourself here on the meantime". Turning to her comerades, she says "Cyrus, Yomi - Let's take a short rest before we dive in. We're still wounded from the earlier fight and it wouldn't help much if we just jumped in". Catriana leaves the mill, sits on a large rock next to the lake and starts singing an old tale about heroes and goblins. At the same time she examines the silver circlet she got from the villagers who buried the satyr corpses.

[Elias]

Divers

Spoiler:

"most of them unable to get a flanking position thanks to the ranger's tactics" - sweet Melora it actually worked! Never thought I would see the day when I actually used tactics that worked!

[Yomi]

FYI: no more wi-fi in the office, posting time substantially reduced, please bear with me.

In the mill

Spoiler:

Yomi agrees to the plan.

[JZ's Bren]

Divers

Spoiler:

Standard : Cleave on H3

1d20+10=11 vs AC, 1d12+5=15 damage

4 damage on H7 if I hit (yeah, right)

(My current HP is 33 ; 5 surges left)

[Cyrus the Mentalist]

In the mill:

Spoiler:

I'm ready when you're rested Catriana.
Athletics Check for later use, 1d20+1=13

[pat512]

Divers:

Spoiler:

The eel hound leader lunges out of the water at Bren, taking a chunk out of his leg -13hp. At this, the other eelhounds slip and slither in and around Bren.

Bren, you've got a condition which will soon come clear, save ends.

Order is critical now -- Elias? You and Scathach are both upright and in the spittle area. A move into the spittle area requires DC14 Acrobatics to stay upright. A move into any other mud area requires DC15 Athletics or Acrobatics to keep moving.

[Catriana Windrunner]

In the mill:

Spoiler:

Rules question. Does the bardic power "Song of rest" stack upon magical heals as well, or only regular use of surges? I figured it's quite useless if it doesn't stack, as you can just rest 2-3 times and heal everyone using the magic type, which is more efficient.