Dame Morbid's Tourney, Team 2

[Inyssius Tor]

The DM is startled at how fast things can move when you're controlling all of the monsters and half of the PCs all by yourself, and hoping the remaining players are having some fun with this despite that. It's great to see you back, Rumplestiltskin! Now I definitely won't disintegrate you via DM-fiat hellfire, and all you have to worry about is getting disintegrated via normal hellfire.

The two arcanists at the molten spire are making excellent progress, with much loud chanting and suitably theatrical gestures; as spiral chains of spell-diagrams flash up and down the sides of the volcano, the casters begin to develop a suspicion that Dame Morbid's spell was designed so that the most obvious way to dispel it would also be by far the most dramatic.

The creature--or creatures--within the boiling lava still lash frenziedly about, trying to break the chains that bind it (them?) to the spire, but the now-cooling molten rock has solidified to the point where it won't immediately flow over the adjacent Candle Jack.

It can still pack a punch, though. Candle Jack dances out of the way of not one but two massive burning projectiles, but a third one lands near Gryllik-- breaking apart on impact, three more flamelings rolling out from the rubble.

As one, the combatants turn to attack the bloodied thing, hacking at it and delivering huge gashes in its chest and back. Wounds oozing blood-red fire, it leaps into the air; though larger, it remains agile on the wing, whirling around the three combatants and slashing repeatedly at them with both claws before landing behind the rock scorpions ten feet away. The other bat wheels toward the arcanists, brushing against them with flaming wings and serrated tail.

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Malaphakt gets hit twice for 18 fire damage (13 with resistance); four other attacks against the rest of you miss completely. Flamelings nip at Gryllik and Alarius with adorable little razor-sharp claws, dealing 5 damage each.

Candle Jack: if you roll high on an Arcana check, you could use it to make the lava flow around you instead of over (and, shortly thereafter, through) you--giving you a safe and conveniently-near-the-spire place to practice your eldritch mumbo-jumbo.

Alarius: Got it. Cool.

[Mando Knight]

Malaphakt gets hit twice for 18 fire damage (13 with resistance); four other attacks against the rest of you miss completely. Flamelings nip at Gryllik and Alarius with adorable little razor-sharp claws, dealing 5 damage each.

Mal was hit by the Augmented One, right? And that one is the beastie at F-10, right? If both of those conditions hold true, then I use my Vengeful Greatspear's Encounter Power (free action), to gain a +2 power bonus to attack rolls and a +1d10 bonus to damage rolls against that villain.

Alarius: Got it. Cool.

That's Al's job. Messing with effects to give his allies the greatest tactical advantage.

[Inyssius Tor]

Initiative order, in case people have forgotten: Alarius, Gryllik, Djelekh, Jack, Malaphakt, and the DM again. Posting out of order (at least a little) is generally considered acceptable practice.

Due to the massive downtimes, I'm willing to move to a different forum (Myth Weavers?) if everyone in a team tells me that they would like that. Just a thought.

[Mando Knight]

Standard: Wolf Pack Tactics. Malaphakt can shift one square.
Attack: Against the fire bat, assuming that it hit Malaphakt in the last set of attacks (thus triggering the Vengeful Greatspear's effect) [roll0] vs. AC
Damage: [roll1].

Move: Knight's Move. Malaphakt can take a move action as a free action.

"Malaphakt! Get into position!"

[Mando Knight]

Messed up rolls by previewing before posting, and then the forums fell asleep...

Attack: (1d20+12)[23] Does that hit? Because...
Damage: (2d10+7)[27] Max damage!

[Inyssius Tor]

Alarius's strike punches through one of the fire-thing's wounds, and out the other side--the audience cheers wildly and the ground shakes alarmingly, as the bat is consumed by blood-red fire.

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Malaphakt will shift to D-8. Gryllik, waitin' on you.

[Boddan]

Gryllik: apologizes
12/50 AC23 Fort17 Ref17 Will16 11/13 Surges
Resist Force 10


The paladin turns his attentions to the fodder around he and his.

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Back to back out of town work. Sorry! Still out here but finally got a signal on ye ole blackberry.

The lavaling in E-10

Valiant Strike: (1d20+12)[29] vs AC
For (1d8+9)[13] + (1d6)[4]

[Inyssius Tor]

As the melee combatants destroy two more of the team's ambulatory enemies, Djelekh continues to focus on his stationary foe. "Jack, I can't hold that evocation much longer...!"

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Move: to K-12, hoping to avoid the lava flow.
Standard: Arcana time! - (1d20+12)[18]

Gryllik, no problem. The forum's been down for 64 of the last 72 hours.

[Rumplestiltskin]

Candle Jack, trying to put out this giant candle...
20/37; AC 19, Fort 13, Ref 18, Will 19; Surges 6/6
Status: Concealed

As the firebat flies to attack him, Jack decides to make it have to choose between targets, and flaming claws find only air as he touches his nose and winks out of existence.

Though he sees the possibility for a safe area, Jack would rather shut this thing down, since it is beginning to annoy him. He waves his hand back and forth across his candle as he tries to snuff out the giant volcano.

Then he skips backwards a bit to be a slightly safer distance from the volcano and firebat, giggling at his success, as he moves far enough, he takes on bizarre faerie geometries (concealment).

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Free Action: When first firebat dies, activate pact boon to teleport to N8.

Standard Action: Arcana [roll0]

Move Action: Move back to M5, so as to gain concealment and be away from the cano a bit.

[Boddan]

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Jack's Arcana roll was a 29 before he edited ze post.

Arcana-masta.

[Inyssius Tor]

Malaphakt and Gryllik smash two more flamelings to dust--and the last fire bat retaliates, swooping past Candle Jack--as the arcanists continue to focus on the volcano. Candle Jack's outer madness must conceal mighty secrets, for the beast within howls with rage (like the rumbling of a great earthquake) but is held bound by his will.

Well, mostly. Djelekh's concentration wavers. Just one moment, is all--a tiny lapse. But the volcano-thing takes full advantage of it, hurling huge chunks of rock in his direction as the lava flows toward him... and then through him.

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Djelekh takes 31 damage; he is now prone, unconscious, and bleeding (at 4 points away from death). And lying in a pool of lava.

Gryllik, you hit. (Thanks for the Arcana value.)

[Rumplestiltskin]

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Just out of curiosity, and while I'm waiting for the others to post, does all this Arcana business look like it is doing anything other than protecting Jack?

It's no big deal, I'm just the teeniest confused as to what, exactly, my checks are doing. Are they actually shutting down the Cano, so that it will stop? Or are they just keeping some kind of boss dude in check until everyone can deal with what they have for now?

[Boddan]

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Is this your way of removing Dj from the campaign? =) Cremation via sentient volcano?

[Inyssius Tor]

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Gryllik: Well, I hadn't quite planned that, but it looks like it'll do...

Candle Jack: The Arcana checks are shutting down the volcano, yes. If you're really unlucky with the checks, then you get to deal with the boss dude.

EDIT: Oh, and next up - Alarius, Gryllik, Djelekh, Jack, Malaphakt, Gryllik, and the DM again.

[Boddan]

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Ima delay until after Mal goes to see if he can take out both those Lavalings and free me up to get the firebat off of Jack.

Is the volcano slope difficult terrain?

[Inyssius Tor]

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Nope.

logloglog

[Mando Knight]

(Thanks for the PM, Inyssius. For some reason the thread was marked as read on my subscriptions page...)
Alarius
HP 27/45 Surges 7/7
AC 20 Fort 18 Reflex 17 Will 15
Resist 10 Force

Alarius points his greatspear at the flameling at E-9, shouting to Gryllik "Take that one down now!"
Commander's Strike: Gryllik can make a basic attack against the E-9 flameling, dealing an extra 4 damage on a successful hit.

Feeling that his current position is the most tactically useful, he stays put, not taking any Move or Minor actions.

[Boddan]

Gryllik: Smash!

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Free Basic Attack on E-9 Lavaling:
(1d20+9)[14] vs AC
for (1d8+13)[19] + (1d6)[2]

Squish?

EDIT: Bollocks

[Rumplestiltskin]

Candle Jack
20/37; AC 21, Fort 15, Ref 20, Will 21; Surges 6/6
Status: Concealed

"Take your time good sir knight, this whole affair should be quickly a right!" Ohh, that was bad..., he thinks. Jack dances about as though he doesn't even notice the fire bat, and with a three step shuffle, winks out of existence and appears back by the edge of the volcano, surrounded by odd faerie geometries.

He cackles loudly in the face of the giant flame beast. "Jack be nimble, Jack be quick, Jack is tired of this giant candlestick!" Much better.

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Move Action: Ethereal Stride to N-8, gaining +2 to all defenses and concealment.

Standard Action: Arcana check (1d20+13)[27]

[Inyssius Tor]

Malaphakt dodges to the side, swinging his blade in a deadly arc.

Move: to E-8.
Standard: Cleave, vs. flameling in D-9 - (1d20+8)[12].

...or not so deadly.

[Inyssius Tor]

Djelekh burns. If a corpse remains, under that waterfall of molten rock - you can't see it.

[Boddan]

Gryllik
12/50 AC23 Fort17 Ref17 Will16 11/13 Surges
Resist Force 10

Gryllik snarls as he chops down at another lavaling!

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Valiant Strike on E-9 Lavaling

(1d20+11)[23] vs AC
for (1d8+9)[12] + (1d6)[2]

[Inyssius Tor]

The last two lavalings skitter on, clawing at the combatants with their razor-sharp claws!

Meanwhile, Candle Jack continues his assault on the volcano, which retaliates--another molten projectile streaks past him, and lava begins to flow in his direction. Fortunately, he is able to leap back before it can burn his pajamas off.

One more (possibly final) molten rock smashes into the remaining bat, which was wheeling toward the fighters. It collapses to the ground, claws elongating and magma flowing over its hide.

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Five damage to Alarius! Candle Jack, you are a lucky guy! Next up: Alarius, Jack, Malaphakt, and Gryllik...

[Inyssius Tor]

Malaphakt feels the rage!

Shift to D-8
Twin Strike the tiny little flameling! - (1d20+10)[15]
Twin Strike the tiny little flameling again! - (1d20+10)[23]

[Rumplestiltskin]

Candle Jack, if you're feelin what he's feelin, c'mon.
20/37; AC 19, Fort 13, Ref 18, Will 19; Surges 6/6
Status: Concealed

Hooting with laughter at the cacaphony of fire and rock, Candle Jack points a hand at the feeling back and laughs even harder. He eases himself around the lava and once again finds himself staring into a molten abyss. Hooray!

"Well, I am just taken aback! No one, but no one, spews lava at Candle Jack!"

The little gnome quickly pulls back his sleeves and holds both his arms out towards the portal. Arcane symbols pour around his head and mouth as he strains against the force of the giant beast. Fey winds whip his clothes around him in all directions.

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Move Action: Move to O-10, gaining concealment.

Standard Action: Arcana (1d20+13)[29]

[Mando Knight]

Alarius, seeing that this is the most tactically sound position for him to assume, stays put.
HP 22/45, Surges 7/7, value 11
AC 20 Fort 18 Ref 17 Will 15
Resist 10 Force

He assumes a defensive position, back-to-back with Gryllik, taking a deep breath to focus his pain towards productive means.
Standard Action: Second Wind
HP: 22->34, AC 20->22, Fort 18->20, Ref 17->19, Will 15->17, Surges Remaining 7->6

[Boddan]

Gryllik: seeks revenge
12/50 AC23 Fort17 Ref17 Will16 11/13 Surges
Resist Force 10

Following Djelekh's demise atop the burning mound, Gryllik strides purposefully towards the newly converted bat. He snarl's defiantly at the volcano hopeing the powers within can see him.

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Move: to F-6

Standard: Piercing Smite on bat (encounter is almost over I reckon so Ima toss out some dmg... hopefully)
to-hit (1d20+9)[29] vs AC
for (2d8+7)[18] + (1d6)[3]

Minor: Divine Challenge ye ole Bat; Marked

[Boddan]

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Critical

So either 29 if the D6 is maxed or 26 if not

[Boddan]

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Ack, sorry for flooding with posts.

The first D6 is from the sword ability: I do +D6 dmg when bloodied. as I understand it that's maxed.

Heres the normal additional dmg for magical weapon crits that's not maxed.

(1d6)[2]

31 Total

Sorry again!

[Inyssius Tor]

Wielding his longsword with battle-honed finesse, Gryllik delivers a powerful thrust to the fiery creature. The blow nearly severs one of its wings; blood-red fire flows freely from the bat-thing's wound as it staggers toward him with talons outstretched. It stabs him once in the shoulder, at a weak point in his plate, but Gryllik deflects the other blow. The creature shifts past him--then, as a peal of thunder rolls from the burning spire, claws at Malaphakt in desperation-crazed fury... And Gryllik's god extracts his price. With a muffled krakoom, like an echo of the volcano's cry, Kord's vengeful thunder tears the beast apart.

At the volcano's peak, Candle Jack's ritual reaches its climax. Chains of eldritch fire flash around the volcano, forcing a halt to the lava's advance. As they close in, the beast inside the spire lashes furiously against its bindings with strength born of desperation, hurling projectiles--soon deflected--at the mad warlock. Summoning the last vestiges of its power, it surges free of the spire at last, huge wings unfurling, sharklike maw open wide. It lets out another thunderous roar--turning mournful at the last, as the binding spell tightens and Candle Jack's rhyming incantation grows more resolute. Four long, muscled arms tighten against its chains, to no avail. Amidst the echoes of its cry, the creature is dragged down through the sinking volcano.

As the caldera seals closed behind it, lava beginning to cool, the crowd erupts with applause. The sound is as deafening as the volcano beast's roars. As the noise of the crowd washes over you, a door which you hadn't noticed before opens in the west wall. A young medic steps out, descending along a cunningly concealed staircase into the arena.

Shouting hesitantly over the noise, he manages to convey his instructions to escort you up those stairs; that said, he walks toward the center of the arena and crouches beside the cooling lava.

Clearly, the young man is in no great hurry; and the crowd is hungry for more.

(Victory dance time! You wouldn't have much trouble hitting the one tiny remaining scorpion, by the way, weakened by the death of its master as it is. When two or three of you head upstairs, we'll cut to the waiting area.)