The Library of Last Resort is your last chance to find the resting place of Dragotha's phylactery. But you aren't the only people looking for it.
Loot Sheet.
GM Notes.
Despite lacking his invisibility, Eben lands two arrows in the wormcaller's stomach. The creature flinches—they seem extremely effective, and Cuetzpalli and Carina can see worms falling dead from where the silver arrows struck.
Round 6: The Harbinger
Confronted with a lone sightless warder, the Harbinger raises its hand towards Farrukh. ~ I am reluctant to seek to interfere with prophesied heroes. As one bearing markedly little significance in the portents to come, I know well the dangers of reaching in and pulling at stubborn strings. But I am actually rather unsure how YOU made it this far at all. ~ It raises its four left arms and four right arms together and, combining each set, creates two blasts of black energy.
"Luck, pluck, and a whole lot of SKILL." Farrukh replies, time flickering for an instant as the bolts seemingly disappear before they hit Farrukh and reappear behind him, splashing harmlessly against the wall.
Using Temporal Body Adjustment as an Immediate. This lets me remove any one negative Condition affecting me (in this case, being Energy Drained). Technically this means the bolts hit me, take effect, and then I remove their effect afterward, but every time I use Riven Hourglass Maneuvers I can't help but think of JoJo, and much like King Crimson this power JUST. WORKS.
Also it's really disheartening seeing this guy straight blow past three different layered spell failure defenses. I mean yeah he's an 18th minimum level spellcaster, but still.
Couple of quick Channels to top everybody off? Looks like her only offensive spell is Confusion, I doubt SMIV would do anything useful, and her getting close enough to cast Death Ward on Farrukh seems a bad idea.
Could combine the two ideas. Quick Channel as a Move, Ready to Channel Harm if the Harbinger goes to cast. Worst case scenario he passes his save and still eats half of 6d6 damage, probably enough to disrupt his spell.
Channel only has a 30' radius, remember. I can start getting into position this round.
Astraden redirects the statues yet again, sending the majority towards the wormcaller and out of Eben's way. She moves towards the Harbinger, squeezing her eyes shut as she gets close to the nagas.
Round 6: Redirect animated objects (move action) and movement (move action). Communal air walk lasts 79 rounds on Carina, Zalamandra, and Cuetzpalli and 179 on Farrukh, Tanith, Eben, and Astraden. Death ward lasts 100 rounds on Zalamandra and 101 on Cuetzpalli. Magic circle against law lasts 1182 rounds on Astraden. Magic circle against evil lasts 1183 rounds on Farrukh. Communal resist energy (fire) lasts 84 rounds on Farrukh, Eben, and Carina and 184 rounds on Astraden, Cuetzpalli, Tanith, and Zalamandra. Communal resist energy (electricity) lasts 85 rounds on Farrukh, Eben, and Carina and 185 rounds on Astraden, Cuetzpalli, Tanith, and Zalamandra. Bear's endurance lasts 107 rounds on Carina and 108 rounds on Cuetzpalli. Shield of faith lasts 108 rounds on Astraden, 110 on Eben, 112 on Zalamandra, and 113 on Cuetzpalli. Animate objects lasts 7 rounds. Copycat lasts 7 rounds.
The worm nagas struggle against the dark tentacles. The one in the middle seeks to squirm free, while the ones on either side hack up globs of green energy towards Astraden.
Ranged Touch (FF):1d20 + 9 ⇒ (8) + 9 = 171d20 + 9 ⇒ (5) + 9 = 14Looks like at least one of those just might hit her Touch Blinded AC. If so, she takes 1d4 ⇒ 11d4 ⇒ 3 negative levels. CMB Escape:1d20 + 14 ⇒ (19) + 14 = 33
The middle naga wriggles free and crawls toward Astraden.
Round 7: Farrukh, Carina, Eben and Cuetzpalli are up!
Farrukh, roll 1d100. If it's a 10 or less, Farrukh loses a move action trying to work out exactly which square the Harbinger is in.
Mechanically, or thematically? Mechanically, that's what the Feat Weapon Versatility does. Was specifically made to fight undead. Thematically, the blade part is only a small bit of the shield. I still have the "skull" part that's not sharp at all to whack him with.
*=temporarily buffed Human Bard 15/Ranger 1 — 79/119 hp — AC 36*/24*/24* (6 mirror images)—CMB +15, CMD 32*— Fort +14, Ref +*20, Will +12 — Spells 3/3 5th, 1/4 4th, 0/5 3rd, 4/6 2nd, 3/6 1st — Panache 3/3— Performance 36/40— Perception +19 — Init +4— Action Points 13/13—
Daily magic item use:
Bracers of falcon's aim 3/3, Lesser rod of quicken spell 3/3, rod of extend spell 2/3, Forzamele 3/3
Waiting to see if there's a wormcaller left to shoot at before I make my move; otherwise, I'm going to re-glitterdust the Harbinger.
Actually, screw it; if Carina's bombs didn't do the trick, Cuetz's sword almost certainly will.
Eben sees the wormcaller situation is well in hand (possibly with more than a bit of overkill), so instead air-runs a few feet north and west to get a view of the situation inside the entrance chamber. "Oh... ick," he says, blanching at the sight of all the worm nagas. "That's gonna make getting in close kinda rough..." he blinks a few times, reassuring himself that he's yet outside the area of influence of their baleful gaze. "Okay, well, first things first... HEY FARRUKH, THAT PATCH OF AIR YOU'RE SWINGING AT HAVE A HARBINGER IN IT?" Since Farrukh's klar seems to meet some resistance, Eben takes that as an affirmative and re-casts Cuetzpallis' expired spell.
Except, this time, it being cast by a bard with a lot more pizazz, it's in a mixture of hot pink and acid green sparkles.
Casting glitterdust in the fuschia box around the Harbinger. DC 17 Will save to avoid blindness, though I'm sure that won't be an issue for him.
And, in the meantime, he begins a chirpy patter that somehow keeps drawing the eye back to himself rather than the battlefield. "Lookit the bard, don't lookit the worms; lookit the sparkles, don't lookit the squirms..." Using an AP to begin a Distraction performance; it actually does nothing for us unless more illusions show up, but it's the only performance I (currently) have that affects all allies within 30 feet. This way, if anyone needs to get through the forbiddance effect and fails their save, I can use saving finale on that person for a reroll.
Actually, after finishing typing that up, I'm not sure I can do it. Am I mistaken in thinking we used to be able to spend an AP for an extra move action as long as it wasn't combined with a full attack? If so, what I just did is legal, otherwise, subtract the performance.
Move 20 feet, cast a spell (standard action, begin Distraction (move action), begin Dance of 23 Steps (free action).
Greater invisibility lasts 5 rounds, mirror image lasts 105 rounds, weaponwand lasts 96 rounds, moment of greatness lasts 97 rounds, good hope lasts 98 rounds, eagle's splendor lasts 99 rounds, cat's grace lasts 100 rounds, weapon of awe lasts 61 rounds, aspect of the falcon lasts 22 rounds, gravity bow lasts 3 rounds.
AC is 36/24/23 while haste (+1 dodge), shield (+4 shield), shield of faith (+3 deflection), and Dance of 23 Steps (+4 dodge), are in effect. Mirror image has 6 images remaining.
Astraden recoils backwards as the globs of energy hit her. The muscle on her frame seem to melt away, leaving only diseased-looking skin and jutting bones. At the same time, she develops a splitting headache that leaves a ringing noise in her ears. "Dammit, what did you do to me?!" she curses.
Aaand there goes the plan of dispelling the Harbinger's s*$@. By the by, Astraden should be ca. 15 feet above that naga unless it's flying.
The wormcaller's shattered, scorched remains rain down upon the Sea of Worms as Cuetzpalli turns and rushes north towards the glittery Harbinger.
Moving half speed, to avoid having to roll Acrobatics.
Will:1d20 + 15 ⇒ (6) + 15 = 21 Eh, I think he'd spend an AP on this. AP:2d6 ⇒ (4, 2) = 6Ooh, so close. Saving Finale?:1d20 + 15 ⇒ (3) + 15 = 18
So, I assumed he'd use an AP, but it was too low. Then I assumed Eben would use his Saving Finale, but that was too low as well. I have three questions: First, anyone object to those assumptions? Second, anyone have any other methods to increase Cuetzpalli's bonus or let him reroll again? And third, what is up with the RNG on this post?
Well, in an emergency Zalamandra can teleport him next to the Harbinger, but I don't have any way to give him an extra save. The question of whether to use the AP and saving finale is probably one Jelani can answer when he gets back? I doubt he's going to metagame it, especially since we get an AP refresh after the fight.
Cuetzpalli runs against what looks like an invisible barrier. North of him, Farrukh begins bashing into the Harbinger with the mithral spinosaurus skull, crunching multiple rib bones. But his fingers are beginning to feel practically fused to the frigid metal—the fingers he can still feel, that is. The numb chill is filling his entire body.
The Harbinger releases a strange rattling sound from its beak. It flies around Farrukh and raises all eight arms, firing off waves of myriad colors. Farrukh is struck by a line of gleaming violet light, and suddenly all of reality itself seems to...bend.
Zalamandra runs forward and holds up an open palm, calling, "Sluta!"
Caster level:1d20 + 10 ⇒ (15) + 10 = 25DC 17 Will save or be immobile if that hits. If the effect takes hold, she's going to tell Farrukh to back off for a minute. [2/7]
Round 7: Movement (move action) and cast halt undead (standard action). Mage armor lasts 4794 rounds and detect scrying 13194 rounds on Zalamandra. Shield lasts 91 rounds. Mirror image lasts 92 rounds. Fly lasts 94 rounds on Zyrxogurine, 96 rounds on Allustatue, and 97 rounds on Carina. Haste lasts 5 rounds on everyone except Cuetzpalli. Evard's black tentacles lasts 8 rounds. Halt undead lasts 10 rounds.
Quick Selective Channel positive energy (healing):5d6 ⇒ (3, 3, 2, 2, 1) = 11Excludes all three nagas. [4/7] EDIT: Forgot that energy drain reduces level-dependent stuff too. Only get 5d6! [74/74]
Astraden steps back, releasing a healing burst that somehow warps over the nagas and heals only herself, Farrukh, Cuetzpalli, and Eben. "Farrukh, I really hope you're as far away as you sound right now!"
She points her hand towards a point that's sort of in the center of the nagas, reciting, "Cháos réei mésa apó esás, kai i_ éxodos tou eínai kakó!"
The flying animated objects wait around, their remaining target having disappeared from their senses. The Raknian statue continues trying to catch itself/climb.
Round 7: Quick Channel/Selective Channel positive energy (move action), five-foot step (no action), and cast DC 18 confusion that catches all three nagas (standard action). Communal air walk lasts 78 rounds on Carina, Zalamandra, and Cuetzpalli and 178 on Farrukh, Tanith, Eben, and Astraden. Death ward lasts 99 rounds on Zalamandra and 100 on Cuetzpalli. Magic circle against law lasts 1181 rounds on Astraden. Magic circle against evil lasts 1182 rounds on Farrukh. Communal resist energy (fire) lasts 83 rounds on Farrukh, Eben, and Carina and 183 rounds on Astraden, Cuetzpalli, Tanith, and Zalamandra. Communal resist energy (electricity) lasts 84 rounds on Farrukh, Eben, and Carina and 184 rounds on Astraden, Cuetzpalli, Tanith, and Zalamandra. Bear's endurance lasts 106 rounds on Carina and 107 rounds on Cuetzpalli. Shield of faith lasts 107 rounds on Astraden, 109 on Eben, 111 on Zalamandra, and 112 on Cuetzpalli. Animate objects lasts 6 rounds. Copycat lasts 7 rounds. Confusion lasts 8 rounds.
By the way, Cuetzpalli, you're behind the violet line (because the Harbinger moved), but you still can't move closer.
Round 8: Worm Nagas
The naga advances forward and lunges at Astraden again. Provokes an AoO from Tanith, since it's difficult terrain.
Bite:1d20 + 12 ⇒ (18) + 12 = 30Daage:2d6 + 7 ⇒ (4, 3) + 7 = 14And make a Fortitude save vs. poison.
After Rolling:
If you rolled less than 22, you are paralyzed for 1 minute and poisoned. Otherwise, you're good.
One of the nagas slithers forwards and lunges at Astraden. The other on the left begins to pulsate with a fell red light, struggling to work some wicked magic in spite of the tentacles gripping it.
Touch Attack @Astraden:1d20 + 12 ⇒ (13) + 12 = 25If that hits, make a Fortitude save vs. necromancy (death). Death Ward grants a +4 bonus on this save.
After Rolling:
If you rolled at least a 21, you take 3d6 + 10 ⇒ (4, 1, 3) + 10 = 18 damage. Otherwise, you take 12d6 + 10 ⇒ (4, 1, 1, 3, 4, 4, 6, 4, 4, 5, 3, 5) + 10 = 54 damage. Astraden is illuminated in greenish light for a moment as her very life force shrivels and struggles to remain within him.
Concentration:1d20 + 15 ⇒ (9) + 15 = 24I believe that narrowly fails, so the naga fails to get its spell off in the grapple.
Round 8: Farrukh/Carina/Cuetzpalli/Eben are up!
Eben and Cuetzpalli, if you have your eyes open, make Will saves against the gaze.
After Rolling:
If Eben rolled at least a 21, he's good. If Cuetzpalli rolled at least a 22, he's good. Otherwise, you are affected by feeblemind.
The archon can't cast that on Farrukh without getting through the Repulsion aura. It's a Touch spell. I'm not actually sure it has the movement—you should really try to mark this stuff on the map.
"Any of you guys have a plan? If I hit him much more I'm going to freeze myself to death!"
Farrukh reluctantly opens his eyes and takes up a defensive stance.
Will vs Nagas:1d20 + 12 ⇒ (19) + 12 = 31
Full Round action: Activate Defensive Focus. My threatened area increases to 15 feet, and that area is entirely difficult terrain (so the Harbinger cannot 5 ft. step away from me, though your call on whether HE knows that). More importantly, I regain 4 of my maneuvers: Temporal Body Adjustment, Time Thief's Talons, Steel Shell, and Defensive Shell.
Also, I 5 ft. step over a bit.
Also, last round was the last round of my Armiger's Mark (I thought it would be the end of THIS round that was it). Can we assume I re-upped that on one of the strikes from last round?
That was probably an error. If you really want, we can retcon away Farrukh getting that aid, but again, this wouldn't have happened if you'd had a figure on the map to begin with. :P
"Yeah, I've got a plan! Just -" Astraden's cut off by the stinger jabbing her in the abdomen and freezing her flesh. Then the second naga's power lights her up, and her flesh shrivels even further than before, scraps of skin and putrid-smelling flesh falling from her hands and face as she's surrounded in a terrible green light.
I think a good plan would be getting back on the other side of the nagas. Even if I wasn't paralyzed, I can no longer channel to heal you.
Does anyone have remove paralysis prepared? Astraden's got a scroll in her pack if not.
That was probably an error. If you really want, we can retcon away Farrukh getting that aid, but again, this wouldn't have happened if you'd had a figure on the map to begin with. :P
This decision is important. If I only have 11 HP instead of 28, then I'm not sticking around to try and AoO the guy and kill myself doing it.
Okay, I don't know when Farrukh moved or when the repulsion went up but if it's not possible the archon will move back and hit Astraden with the aid. I'll put something on the map later. I'm posting from my phone currently.
