Eyes of the Lich Queen IC

[TekHed]

Shard waited until the rope stopped moving so much indicating Grimmgang was aboard. Focusing itself inward, space folded in on itself until it was standing on the mid deck. Shard looked for the nearest target...



Buffs 'n' Stuff:

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Longstrider (4 hours): Speed is now 40
Onyx (Ebon) Eyes (40 minutes): See in natural and magical darkness
Bears Endurance (4 minutes): +4 Con, +2 Fort Saves, +14 HP
Force Screen (3 Minutes): +4 AC
Psionic Protection from Evil (3 Minutes): +2 AC/Saves vs. Evil (let me know if/when this would apply when rolling attacks)
Sword Charged for +2d6 Damage
Total PP Spent: 7

[MoleMage]

After sensing Shard leave the boat, Daiya focuses on her new, unexplainable, Dragonmark and teleported onto the deck, sword in hand, and immediately felt out the locations of her allies and enemies.

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Buff: Arcane Sight, 7 minutes.
Blindfolded, using Tremorsense and Blindsense.
Using Tremorsense to attempt to feel below deck.

[Postmodernist]

As they approached, Xaxhan futzed with the die in his pocket which was the focus for his spell. He summoned his reserves of luck, and then set out on the rope. As he reached the halfway point, he invoked the magic in his anklet and teleported aboard.

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Climb roll (1d20+4)[11]

[Sallera]

Daiya manages to get the boat to slow gracefully as it approaches the Laughing Lady, but an unexpected swell still causes it to knock noisily against the side of the ship. A face peers down from the forecastle, a rough-faced man with long, coarse black hair; although he doesn't appear to see you, he frowns, shouting something in a language none of you recognize. A short exchange follows in the same tongue as Grimmgang begins to clamber aboard; the man seems to be conversing with someone on the other end of the ship.

As Grimmgang rolls silently over the railing, it does not seem that his arrival is noticed; Daiya's feet likewise drop half an inch onto the wood without a sound as she slips across the space between the boats. Shard's chiming arrival a second before, however, is less stealthy, and the changes to the colour of the surrounding lighting are difficult to miss in the stark moonlight. Xaxhan's hands nearly slip on the wet rope, but a swift grab gets him a hold on a fraying knot, and he manages to slip up to join the others as a sharp shout and a pointed finger indicate your position.

Your foes are a motley and savage-looking lot, showing little uniformity in either their dress or appearance. Two women with their hands on the hilts of cutlasses stand on the far side of the deck; although one's hair is dyed blue and the other's remains brown, they could well be sisters. Closer to you, a dwarf in leather armour is quicker on the uptake; he already holds knives in both hands. Atop the aftcastle, an odd pair in similar tight-fitting clothing look down in your general direction; a human male in bright red and gold colours, and a hobgoblin female in dun browns and blues. Neither holds a weapon yet, although both have knives at their belts. The forecastle holds a thickset man with a heavy bow across his back, and the greasy-looking man pointing you out stands on the stairs, clad in loose-fitting greys.

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Surprise round failed.
Initiative:
Shard
Daiya
Xaxhan
Enemies
Grimmgang

[Postmodernist]

Xaxhan intones a single syllable, a low, resonant diphthong that seems to linger interminably in his mouth. As reverberates across the deck, pinkish wisps coalesce around his targets, tendrils of light seemingly grasping them for a moment before fading. The bard smiled invisibly, hopefully, his spell would grant his allies victory.

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Cast Slow, catching C 1,2,3, H and J. DC 18 Will saves.

[TekHed]

Shard waited, delaying just long enough to coordinate it's strike with it's allies.

[MoleMage]

Daiya wastes no time upon arriving, acting based on Grimmgang's assessment that they should hit hard and fast by striking at the nearby armed dwarf with her sword, releasing the spell stored within in the hopes of taking him out while his allies still reached for their weapons.

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(1d20+12)[32] To hit invisibly.
(2d4)[4] Miss on 2.
(1d10+5)[8]
(4d8+7)[31] Inflict Critical Damage, fort half DC 18

[Sallera]

The dwarf nearly disintegrates as Daiya's sword cleaves into him, the disruptive magic tearing a path for the blade through the entire width of his body, and he collapses to the deck in two pieces. The brown-haired sister and the hobgoblin appear to succumb to Xaxhan's magic, their movements artificially dulled.

The blue-haired girl utters an unprintable curse, reaching for a vial at her belt. "It's special time, Nat." Downing the liquid in one swift motion, she levels her cutlass at Daiya, the blade appearing in her hand almost too fast for the eye to follow. Her sister follows suit, although Xaxhan's suppressing magic means she only has time to take a similar potion in hand as she draws her own sword.

"With that I can only agree," mutters the greasy-haired man. Taking several steps back from Xaxhan, he drinks the contents of a vial he had concealed in his hand, and grows to a prodigious height.

The archer draws his bow, taking a step closer and releasing a green-fletched arrow at Xaxhan with the single word, "Drown." The hobgoblin simply lets out a deep breath and vanishes from sight.

The red and gold-clad man smiles, slowly raising his arms to the sides, then brings them together with a loud clap and a wordless shout, both sounds nearly drowned out by the massive thunderclap that echoes above your heads, a shockwave of sound and force rushing over you.

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Xaxhan, you can't quite include C3 in the spell; the targets have to all be within 30ft of each other. Only J makes his save.

Archer's attack on Xaxhan: (1d20+6)[16]
Damage: (1d8+4)[8]
If the attack hits, make a DC17 Will save or be teleported up onto the railing of the ship, prompting a Balance check at DC20 not to fall ((1d2)[1]; 20ft into the water/prone onto the deck).

Everyone must make a DC18 Will save or be stunned for one round, a DC18 Fort save or be deafened for one minute, and a DC18 Reflex save or be knocked prone.

H4/I4 are small boxes, and function as a low wall. The black circles are the masts, and grant partial cover to anyone on the other side of one (the squares themselves are not passable, however.) K4 is just the hatch to belowdecks, currently closed; it does not affect movement.

[TheFallenOne]

The close-standing sisters were a tempting target for a one-two strike with axe and hammer to bring down their numbers, but the most obvious threat right now was the caster, so Grimmgang, still under the cover of Xaxhan's spell, sneaked up the stairs to the sterncastle. He knew the vanished hobgoblin was still there, but that was well enough; he was confident in his ability to sense her, and she'd likely waste her brief advantage by targetting him.

Once he stood in the back of the caster, he brought his axe about in a wide arc with a brutal chop at the man's neck.

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Move to O3. Should Scent the gobbo once adjacent.

Mountain Hammer
Dwarven Waraxe - (1d20+10)[15] vs FF
Slashing damage - (1d10+4)[9] + Maneuver damage - (2d6)[8] + Skirmish damage - (2d6)[12]

I delay long enough for Xaxhan to act.

edit: if the goblin isn't in N3 anymore I take that square instead

[Postmodernist]

Xaxhan gaped as Daiya's blade tore the dwarf that had been standing before him asunder, blood spattering his face and breastplate. He'd never before seen the lady knight wield her enormous sword with such ferocity. The bard snapped back to attention immediately though, as an arrow from whistled just past his left shoulder. A moment later, he was struck by thunderclap, his ears ringing with painful tinnitus.

Shaken but unharmed, the bard moved to aid his comrades. Mandolin in hand, he asked for the blessing of his ancestors' frozen breath to descend upon their blades. He buoyed the enchantment with a quick spell, though it was disorienting to cast it without the benefit of sound. He quickly touched the crest which hung upon his chest, and moved to take cover, unsheathing his sword as he walked.

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Swift: cast Inspirational Boost. 20% Fail chance (20 or lower) (1d100)[66] Standard: Activate DFI. Immediate after this action is complete: activate Badge of Valor. Move to K4, drawing sword as part of movement, dropping mandolin and activating Harmonizing Crystal Echoblade. If Inspirational Boost works, 4d6 cold damage for everyone, otherwise 3d6.

[TekHed]

The blast hit Shard full-on, knocking it down but fortunately doing no other real damage.

Taking a moment to compose itself and stand, Shard concentrated, growing several dagger-length spikes of crystal over it's (invisible) body, which then broke off to float around it's head in a halo of razors.

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Immediate Action: Add +4 to saves.
Move Action: Stand
Standard Action: Cast Cloud of Knives (duration: 4 rounds)

I was going to use a free action to use one of the Knives, but the wording of the spell says it happens at the beginning of my turn, and so can't do it right after casting. Should have 4 rounds of using it though, and am still invisible.

[MoleMage]

Daiya whirls after slicing through the Dwarf, stepping over his torso and extending her hand to release a pair of heat beams at the cutlass-wielding sisters.
"Think you can slow down the archer and big guy, Xax?"

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5ft step to H3, fire a Scorching Ray, one ray per sister.
(1d20+11)[29] Touch on C2
(2d4)[3] Miss on 2
(4d6)[10] Fire Damage

(1d20+11)[19] Touch on C3
(2d4)[5] Miss on 2
(4d6)[9] Fire Damage

Still have my Bastard Sword in hand. No spell stored anymore.

[Sallera]

Grimmgang's axe bounces off an invisible force, recovers midway, and hits another just an inch shy of the man's neck. "Ah... that won't do at all." Somewhat shaken, the man nonetheless flicks his fingers through a steady dance and fills the air with a burst of sparkling motes. Beside him, the hobgoblin briefly fades into view once more, then out again before coming sharply back into focus as a shuriken flashes across the short distance.

Shard's invisible presence is still fairly evident through the chiming of his movements, but the pirates seem to be focusing on more immediately threatening targets, and while Xaxhan moves behind cover, Daiya's spell strikes both sisters squarely. The blue-haired woman's burn begins to heal almost as soon as it appears, however, and she grins and vaults onto the crate, slashing downward with wild abandon. The other drinks the potion she has in hand, and her own wound begins healing as well.

Repeating his earlier sentiment, the stolid archer fires a shot at Daiya, and the long-haired giant moves forward, reaching over the rail to try and pin her to the ground.

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Grimmgang is hit by a Glitterdust; Will DC16 to avoid blindness.

Attack on Grimmgang: (1d20+8)[25]
Damage: (1d2+1)[2] + Fort DC13 or fall unconscious
Attack on Grimmgang: (1d20+8)[25]
Damage: (1d2+1)[3] + Fort DC17 or 1 Str drain Slow

Attack on Daiya: (1d20+5)[18]
Damage: (1d6+5)[8]

Attack on Daiya: (1d20+6)[24]
Damage: (1d8+5)[13]
If the attack hits, make a DC17 Will save or be teleported up onto the railing of the ship, prompting a Balance check at DC20 not to fall ((1d2)[1]; 20ft into the water/prone onto the deck).

Touch attack on Daiya (excepting the unlikely case where she is no longer on the ship): (1d20+6)[20]
Opposed grapple check: (1d20+13)[28]
Damage: (1d8+5)[13]

[TekHed]

Seeing that the time had arrived for it to act, Shard concentrated once more, drawing from it's own life-force...this necromantic energy flowed from it's blue-glowing core out into it's blade, turning the weapon's usual cerulean sheen into a cold crimson light.

Xaxhan felt shard brush past him as it jockeyed into position near one of the ship's masts. A flash of red and blue light and the sounds of crashing crystal accompanied Shard's dramatic entrance to visibility, but the pirate barely had time to register the beauty before a heavy blade of dense, psychic and magically charged mineral cleaved into her. Wasting no time, Shard followed it's assault with one of the four floating razors flitting about it's crown.

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Annoyed that Xaxhan decided to get in the way of Shard charging.

Swift Action: Cast Blade of Blood (Diamond) Spell Failure: (1d100)[61]
Move action: to J5
Standard Action: Mountain Hammer C2: (1d20+11)[29] (includes +2 from Invisibility, which will then drop, and the attack ignores Dex bonus to AC (Edit! Ooh! 1 away from a crit, damn!)
Damage: (4d6+4)[23] Slashing+(4d6)[14] Cold+(3d6)[11] Blade of Blood (Note: Shard voluntarily took 5 points of damage to empower the spell)
Free Action: Release Dagger at C2: (1d20+8)[19]
Damage: (1d6+1)[5] Piercing +(4d6)[14] Cold

3 Rounds left Cloud of Knives.
Minutes left on other buffs.

[Postmodernist]

Xaxhan summons a sphere of nullifying energy and directs it at Grimmgang and the human clad in red and gold. He then advances, his blade still humming with song, toward the hapless spellcaster.

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Cast an area Dispel Magic toward the southeast edge of the boat that just catches both Grimmgang and the caster. Not sure how many spells are in the area, but it's 1d20+7 vs. 11+ caster level for each spell hit. Move to M5, flanking the caster.

[TheFallenOne]

When his axe was stopped by an invisible force Grimmgang suppressed a curse, but when the glowing motes of light got into his eyes and blocked his vision he didn't bother anymore and let out a frustrated groan. At least whatever small arm the goblin attacked him with bounced harmlessly off without piercing his skin. Forcefully closing his eyes and suppressing the urge to rub them, he let his other senses guide his movement and struck at where they located the accursed caster.

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Wolf Fang Strike
Dwarven Waraxe - (1d20+8)[25]
Slashing damage - (1d10+4)[8] + cold damage - (4d6)[16] Concealment - (1d100)[90]
Hammer - (1d20+6)[24]
Piercing damage - (1d4+1)[5] + cold damage - (4d6)[16] Concealment - (1d100)[2]

edit: why do I keep forgetting about this? Activate Mithralmist

[MoleMage]

Finding herself in the grasp of a giant after an arrow shunted her to the railing, Daiya suppressed a groan of pain, instead releasing a string of words and trying to bind the overgrown man holding her.

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Still Hold Person, DC 17.

[Sallera]

Shard's flung razor thunks harmlessly into the mast, revealing him, but it is not nearly enough to save his target; the massive blade tears her apart, and this wound will not heal. As Daiya vanishes, her sister takes the opportunity to turn around with a furious screech, dancing across the crates and swinging her sword two-handed at Shard's neck.

Grimmgang's blind swing finds flesh instead of force this time, and he can hear the mage collapse to the deck in front of him, the scent of fresh blood present but muted. The hobgoblin fades from view again, reappearing a few feet away as she flings another metal star at Xaxhan.

Daiya's oversized opponent shrugs off the mental assault, forcing her to the ground and twisting her arm behind her back. "Not today. Keep your mouth shut until we start asking questions." The archer beside him sidesteps to get a better view, ignoring the melee below and aiming a pair of faintly glowing, orange-fletched arrows at Xaxhan.

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Shard, you have to use the Cloud at the beginning of your turn. Not that the miss mattered.

Attack on Shard: (1d20+4)[22]
Damage: (1d6+7)[9]

Attack on Xaxhan (flatfooted): (1d20+10)[29]
Damage: (1d2+1)[2] + Fort DC17 or 1 Str drain
Attack on Xaxhan: (1d20+4)[16]
Damage: (1d8+5)[12] + (1d4)[1] dessication
Attack on Xaxhan: (1d20+4)[11]
Damage: (1d8+5)[9] + (1d4)[3] dessication

Opposed grapple check against Daiya (pin and prevent speech): (1d20+11)[14]
Opposed grapple check against Daiya (damage): (1d20+11)[17]
Damage: (1d8+5)[12]

[TheFallenOne]

The familiar thud of a human body hitting the ground confirmed the caster was down, but with the blasted spell still hurting his eyes Grimmgang didn't quite feel like celebrating yet. He could feel the hobgoblin slightly shifting her position, so he spun in place, taking a moment to adjust to his handicapped sight as he aimed a horizontal cut at where he could feel her presence.

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regain maneuvers
Dwarven Waraxe - (1d20+9)[11] +1 by the power of racial enmity
Slashing damage - (1d10+4)[5] + cold damage - (4d6)[20] Concealment - (1d100)[97]

[TekHed]

Shard's glowing shield of force moved to intercept the attack of the furious blue-haired woman, the menacing giant face upon it rebuking her with a firm "NO!" as her blade was deflected.

Then the crystal knight vanished before her eyes, leap-frogging through space to appear behind her, and turned it's attention to the goliath grappling it's friend.

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Free: Dagger at C3: (1d20+9)[19]
Piercing: (1d6+2)[3]+(4d6)[20] Cold
2 Rounds remaining on CoK

Swift: Spend 2 PP: D-Hop to H3 (Just realized the big guy doesn't threaten while grappling so C3 doesn't get a flanking bonus on Shard! )

(Jeremy) Iron(s) Guard's Glare at R and C3 (not sure if the penalty affects grapples...?)

Free: Spend 2 PP to charge Sword

Standard: Swing at the big guy:
Stone Bones: [roll[1d20+10[/roll]
Slashing:(4d6+5)[21]+(4d6)[13] Cold

If it connects: Shard Gains DR 10/Adamantine for 1 round

Round 1(1d20+9)[19] Vanguard Strike
Round 1(1d6+2)[3] Shield Block
Round 2(4d6)[20] Mountain Hammer
Round 3(4d6+5)[21] Stone Bones
Round 4 Crusader's Strike

[Postmodernist]

Xaxhan smiled as he heard Shard tear through one of the sisters, and his grin widened as Grimmgang blindly tore through the mage standing before him. He stole a glance behind when two more arrows whizzed past him, and saw Daiya crawl out from beneath the giant's massive hands. His pleasure was short lived though, as a bright line of scarlet opened across his forearm, the reappearing hobgoblin the obvious source. The bard let out a curse; though the pain was minimal, he could feel weakness seeping into his body. Poison.

He stayed where he was, keeping his assailant between himself and Grimmgang, and then summoned an explosion that enveloped both the giant and archer, possibly catching the enraged sister as well. Motes of light shimmered in the dim evening illumination, hopefully blinding both of his foes. Daiya might have been caught in the blast, but she was already blind.

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Cast Glitterdust, centered on the south-eastern corner of F3, which actually should snag A, C3, and R. Remain flanking with Grimmy.

Deafness spell failure on 20 or below: [roll01d100[/roll]

[MoleMage]

Breaking the giant wrestler's grip on her wasn't easy, but Daiya's combat experience made up for much of the strength difference, and she managed to leverage her way free as he attempted to hold her down. Immediately after that, she felt a brief burst of magic, and glittering dust that shone through even her blindfold covered her. Ignoring the new distraction that presented, took a fighting stance again, sword at the ready.

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(1d20+9)[16] Arbitrary save is arbitrary.
I can't see a thing! Oh no, what a nightmare!

[Sallera]

Grimmgang's blind swing goes wide, but Daiya deftly evades the blinded giant's grip, and Shard's blades finish off the two sailors below. Clearly weighing her chances, the hobgoblin spreads her hands and calls out, her speech affected oddly by the slowing magic. "Enough. We, surrender." Frowning, she shakes her head and tries again, adapting to the spell's effects. "The ship is yours. Alec and I will submit to binding and walk the plank." The archer says nothing, simply lowering his bow - although he does not drop it, clearly awaiting your response.

[Postmodernist]

Xaxhan lowers his sword slightly and looks around the body-strewn deck. The giant's body lay crumpled on the deck, the sisters limp forms twisted about hideously. The magician's red and gold robes were almost entirely red now, and the dwarf was little more than a puddle of gore seeping through the planks of the ship. His comrades had dispatched their foes almost instantaneously. Though it had seemed interminable, Xaxhan would wager that fewer than thirty seconds had passed. He felt momentarily sick; initially he thought it was from the violence, but he then realized it was the poison which had begun to take hold.

"Drop your weapons and surrender. You'll be bound, and we'll find a fair and honorable course of action." Xaxhan looked at his wound. "I'll vote for leniency if you provide the antidote for whatever toxin you just stuck me with."

[TheFallenOne]

"Ah, finished the rest off already, eh?" Grimmgang was rather glad not having to keep fighting like this and finally gave in to the urge to rub his eyes. Some moments later the spell subsided at last and he could see again, blinking heavily. A short look over the deck showed him the other Cloudreavers had been well and truly taken care of. "Well, plenty of rope around on a ship. Be lucky I'm a soldier and not a pirate. We don't go around cleaving prisoners in two." At the last sentence he gave Shard a particularly nasty look.

[TekHed]

"Do not glare at me like that Dwarf. That Claw seemed to be going for it's crossbow... Incidentally, perhaps it would be best not to use names if we plan on letting these slavers live. We are distinctive enough as is. I cannot recommend we give them the possibility of escape while our mission is yet in progress..."

[Sallera]

The hobgoblin complies, slowly extracting from various pockets several shuriken, a pair of kama, and five small knives, and dropping the lot onto the deck. The archer shrugs and follows suit, setting down bow, quiver, and a sheathed cutlass.

"It is shadow essence," she states in a disinterested tone. "There is no antidote. Either your lifeforce is strong enough to suppress it, or it is not."

[TheFallenOne]

Grimmgang brought forth one of his antidotes and tossed it to Xaxhan. "Not specific to that poison, but it helps. And I was there, you big hunk of crystal. Nevermind what a simple crossbow is supposed to do against you." He took some ropes and began binding the hobgoblin. "We'll keep you under wraps for now, once we've done our thing you can take a dive far as I'm concerned. And without ropes or weights. Whatever is that supposed to be, a sick test of skill?"

[Sallera]

The woman smiles ever so slightly, raising an eyebrow. "Ithinkyouare - I think you are underestimating the difference between us and soldiers. For most people, it is simply death. And amusement."

[TheFallenOne]

"And I think you are underestimating how many of your ilk I have cut down. So better watch it, I'm no murderer, but there is such a thing as execution for crimes of a certain severity."