Fortuitous Findings in Foraging: A Study, Part II

[TheOasysMaster]

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Prepare action to use Empty step as an immediate reaction to go ethereal in the case of an attack against me.

You mean a Swift Action, right?
I don't know how I feel about a Swift Action being triggered by an attack, rather than damage dealt...

[Todash]

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Up to you. RAW is;

You can take a swift action any time you would normally be allowed to take a free action

and that is the main purpose of the spell.

[TheOasysMaster]

A terrific blow to the top of the troll's head causes it to take a step back, giving Marros the opportunity to shatter the troll's weapon.
A strike to the haft, splinters the head from the handle...
Yet another strike shatters the troll's nose.
There is a thud as it drops the battle-axe, clutching its face.
Striking at air, Marros hears the troll shuffling and another punch makes a gagging sound as he connects with a nerve center.
More flying fist bounce of the troll's formidable bulk, until
The troll growls as it reaches out, with a meaty hand, grasping Marros in a sure grip, and slamming him repeatedly into the nearby wall.
"You tahk to nuql!"
Another bunch forces the troll to release him the spoiled nerves send the trolls arms into a state of numbness.
Lashing out with his leg, Marros finds the troll's bulk to be too great to topple, and vanishes onto the Ethereal Plane...

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(1d20+22)[29] Save vs. Stunning Fist, Success
(1d20+11)[30] Opposed Roll, Success

(1d20+31)[38], Hits
(1d6+10)[11], Damage to Marros

*rocky theme*

No.

How many orcs does Alex see and where are they in relation to him? Are they at the courtyard or are they on the walls?

Map is here!

(1d20+14)[18] Kurjan's Dispel Check

(1d20+15)[21] Ranger 1s Attack Roll
(1d6+5)[11] Range 1s Damage Roll
(1d20+15)[21] Ranger 2s Attack Roll
(1d6+7)[10] Range 1s Damage Roll
(1d20+10)[23] Ranger 2s Attack Roll
(1d6+7)[13] Range 1s Damage Roll
(1d20+15)[29] Ranger 3s Attack Roll
(1d6+2)[4] Range 1s Damage Roll

Arrows sail out to greet the emerging orcs.
"This isn't good..."
An orc in filthy black robes makes itself visible as it quickly attempts to counter Therandil's casting, but isn't fast enough to stop the barrage of force from smashing into the druid.
Kurjan screams angrily as he uses his own magic to lift himself high into the air, glaring at the sorceror.

[Todash]

Catching his breath on the Ethereal plane, Marros takes a moment to heal the gaping wound on his back. As he gets it halfway closed he staggers as weariness overtakes him, and the wound remains half open. Looking around the room, he hovers slightly higher, following the large murky shape that is his troll adversery, readying a strike from above...

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Using up the last of my wholeness, HP updated, move action to hover above the troll and prepare to strike when I pop out again. Let me know if I should simply proceed to the attack.

[Todash]

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Actually, can he see the general layout of the room from the ethereal? The door, hallways, ecits etc?

[TheOasysMaster]

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Actually, can he see the general layout of the room from the ethereal? The door, hallways, ecits etc?

First, he's gotta deal with ghosts.

[Todash]

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First, he's gotta deal with ghosts.

I....that doesn't even.....

Every round I'm shuffling...

[Valwyn]

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Map is here!

Now we can fully appreciate just how screwed we are.

Alex watches for a second as the orcs swarm into the courtyard, focusing their efforts on the Therandil and the sheriffs. An orc in particular stood out, a caster of some sort, and possibly the one who had helped the druid last time. They needed to take him out quickly, but he was too far away from the thief.

Should he pounce on the orcs bellow him? No, even if he managed to take two of them down at once, the third and the druid would soon be upon him. Instead he turns towards the adjacent building, running on the wall and climbing onto the rooftop.

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Double move towards the roof behind Kurjan. If possible, he will end his move behind him.

In case an Atheltics or Acrobatics check is needed (or makes things faster) assume he takes 10 for a 30 and 35 respectively. That should pretty much auto-succeed anything.
Also remember that Alex takes no penalty on accelerated movement and he is not flat-footed when climbing or balancing.

[TheOasysMaster]

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Using up the last of my wholeness, HP updated, move action to hover above the troll and prepare to strike when I pop out again. Let me know if I should simply proceed to the attack.

Nah.

Actually, can he see the general layout of the room from the ethereal? The door, hallways, ecits etc?

I....that doesn't even.....

Yup.

(1d20+11)[25] Ghost Prisoner's Stealth Check
(1d20+23)[29] Ghost Lord's Stealth Check
(1d20+33)[36] Marros' Perception Check
(1d20+33)[46] Marros' Perception Check

(1d20+4)[17] Ghost Lord's Initiative Roll
(1d20)[5] Ghost Prisoners' Averaged Initiative Roll
(1d20+7)[25] Marros goes first

(1d20+14)[25] Fortitude Save vs. Ghost Lord's Horrific Appearance, Success!
(1d4)[3] Strength Damage
(1d4)[4] Dexterity Damage
(1d4)[3] Constitution Damage
(1d20+14)[28] Fortitude Save vs. Ghost Lord's Corrupting Gaze, Success!
(2d10)[13] Damage
(1d4)[2] Charisma Damage
(1d20+14)[20] Fortitude Save vs. Ghost Lord's Corrupting Gaze, Success!
(2d10)[14] Damage
(1d4)[1] Charisma Damage

(1d20+14)[17] Fortitude Save vs. Ghost Prisoner 1's Horrific Appearance, Fail
(1d4)[4] Strength Damage
(1d4)[1]Dexterity Damage
(1d4)[2]Constitution Damage
(1d20+12)[26] Ghost Prisoners 1's Corrupting Touch Attack Roll
(1d6+3)[8]
(1d20+14)[19] Fortitude Save vs. Ghost Prisoner 2's Horrific Appearance, Success
(1d4)[2] Strength Damage
(1d4)[4]Dexterity Damage
(1d4)[2]Constitution Damage
(1d20+12)[32] Ghost Prisoners 2's Corrupting Touch Attack Roll
(1d6+3)[6]
(1d20+14)[25] Fortitude Save vs. Ghost Prisoner 3's Horrific Appearance, Success
(1d4)[1] Strength Damage
(1d4)[4]Dexterity Damage
(1d4)[3]Constitution Damage
(1d20+12)[22] Ghost Prisoners 3's Corrupting Touch Attack Roll
(1d6+3)[5]
(1d20+14)[29] Fortitude Save vs. Ghost Prisoner 4's Horrific Appearance, Success
(1d4)[2] Strength Damage
(1d4)[3]Dexterity Damage
(1d4)[1]Constitution Damage
(1d20+12)[24] Ghost Prisoners 4's Corrupting Touch Attack Roll
(1d6+3)[7]
(1d20+14)[19] Fortitude Save vs. Ghost Prisoner 5's Horrific Appearance, Success
(1d4)[3] Strength Damage
(1d4)[2]Dexterity Damage
(1d4)[2]Constitution Damage
(1d20+12)[22] Ghost Prisoners 5's Corrupting Touch Attack Roll
(1d6+3)[6]
(1d20+14)[15] Fortitude Save vs. Ghost Prisoner 6's Horrific Appearance, Fail
(1d4)[4] Strength Damage
(1d4)[4]Dexterity Damage
(1d4)[4]Constitution Damage
(1d20+12)[26] Ghost Prisoners 6's Corrupting Touch Attack Roll
(1d6+3)[5]

Snapping onto the Ethereal, the monk instantly realizes he's not alone.
The ghost appear to have followed him, and this time, he quails beneath their horrific visages.

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Marros takes loses 8 Strength, 5 Dexterity and 6 Constitution.
No surprise round. He wins Initiative.

[Todash]

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So, is there any information on the room that I was in? any sign of a possible exit to the outside? Do I know if I'm on the surface yet? Otherwise....

As the troll faded from his view, and his wounds healed, Marros heard that dreadful moaning surrounding him..the ghost's had followed him! Through tunnels, and across great distances, they had tracked him down somehow!

Readying himself to strike, his eyes widened at the terrible sights before him. The ghosts were everywhere, moving in a blur he dodged and floated in between their reaching arms, but it wasn't enough... his strength fled him at the terrible sight of these tortured souls...how could he fight that which he could not even look upon? He must get out, he must GET OUT, HE MUST GET OUT!

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DDoor 960 feet straight up. If he is still somehow still underground, he will use his last ethereal and Ddoor again.

[A_S]

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Where's Harley?

Therandil grins as he recognizes the one who must be the spellcaster who had helped to thwart him the last time, and turns his attentions toward him.

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Move: Another 50 feet straight up.
Standard: Arcane Fusion to cast Orb of Force and Magic Missile on Kurjan.
touch attack - (1d20+12)[29]
orb damage - (10d6)[33]
missile damage - (5d4+5)[17]

I will cast Wings of Flurry as an immediate action to protect myself in response to any spell cast against me by either Kurjan or the druid (assuming it allows a saving throw or requires line of effect, as determined by my spellcraft check against it).

[TheOasysMaster]

The rangers steady themselves as the orcs charge toward them.
Firing furiously, they quickly are forced to switch to melee weapons as the orcs beset them on all sides, but skill looks like it will carry the day...
Until the bear sweeps in, knocking orcs aside to slash at the rangers.
Alex hear's footsteps moving ahead of him across the roof, and realizes that Harley had the same idea...
...well, not exactly the same.
Kurjan, perhaps sensing movement behind him, changes course, avoiding aerial attack, and letting Harley plummet below.
The barrage of force slams into the orc necromancer, drawing blood.
A large spectral hand appears next to the necromancer, "You killed my son!"

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So, is there any information on the room that I was in? any sign of a possible exit to the outside? Do I know if I'm on the surface yet? Otherwise....

Where's Harley?

About.
He's auto-succeeding all Acrobatics Checks...
(1d20+17)[32]
(3d6)[14] Falling Damage

(1d20+14)[19] Kurjan's Dispel Check
Auto-succeeds to cast defensively.

The Dimension Door lifts Marros high into the Ethereal Plane, well above the surface, where he can see a construction of some sort atop a mountain beneath him.
He sees a city in the distance...
Fair Veronia?

[Todash]

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Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!

Grunting as he shifts out of the ethereal once more, the wind starts to blow, billowing his cloak, as he begins drifting slowly down. Looking around he tries to gain his bearings. Bloodstone keep? The abandoned fortress?

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Perception to see if he can tell whats going on down there. Currently feather falling with my cloak.

(1d20+33)[51]

[Valwyn]

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How far is Kurjan from Alex? Could Alex reach him with a jump?

[A_S]

"You killed me, buddy."

Therandil swoops in for another barrage.

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For my next round of actions (not sure if we're on yet):

Standard: Arcane Fusion to cast Orb of Force and Magic Missile on Kurjan.
touch attack - (1d20+12)[28]
orb damage - (10d6)[38]
missile damage - (5d4+5)[22]

Move: Fly toward Kurjan until I'm adjacent to him

Will use Wings of Cover to protect myself against Kurjan or the druid again, as last time.

[TheOasysMaster]

Controlling his descent toward the Keep, even Marros's glare finds it hard to sort out the actions...
A pair of flying spellcasters, a large bear surrounded by orcs and other warriors...
A battle.

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How far is Kurjan from Alex? Could Alex reach him with a jump?

He's thirty feet above him. No.

The orc spits in anger, "Self-defense isn't murder-Qowarjhy fhetl!"

[Valwyn]

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He's thirty feet above him. No.

Orly?

It seemed that after Harley's failed attempt at an attack from above, the orc had decided to move beyond what anyone on the roof could reach. Of course, the orc didn't know that he wasn't the only one with tricks up his sleeve.

Preparing his blades, Alex pictures himself directly above the flying orc. "Yip yip." Unnoticed, he vanishes from the roof as he is teleported only a few few above the spellcaster.

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Standard action: using three charges from my Dimension Stride Boots to teleport 40 ft away, right above Kurjan (if I can teleport just 5 above him, I do that, if not, I show up 10 above him).

If possible, Alex will position himself so that his weapons are aimed at the orc as he falls, sort of a falling charge.

Rapier Attack 1: (1d20+21)[38]
Rapier Damage 1: (1d6+9)[15] + (1d6)[4]
Sneak Attack 1: (5d6)[18]

Offhand: Shortsword Attack 1: (1d20+20)[21]
Offhand: Shortsword Damage 1: (1d6+8)[10] + (1d4)[1]
Sneak Attack 1: (5d6)[15]

Edit: of course, I had to roll a 1. At least my main hand hit.

[Todash]

What is going on down there? Unclasping his cloak, he begins to fall faster, wind whistling through his ears. As he does he triggers his healing belt, directing the flowing energy through his bracers, restoring his vigor.

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Falling 150 feet this round, 300 the next. Triggering Healing belt for (4d8)[15] healing, filtering through caduceus bracers to restore ability damage (1point per 5 healing) and eating the remainder. Edit: 2 Con/1 Dex restored.

Perception to get a closer look at the battle while I fall. (1d20+33)[43]

[A_S]

"It's not?" Therandil responds to the orc. He pauses for a moment as his spell goes off, trying to remember if his mother ever taught him anything about that distinction...but he can't think of anything.

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On further consideration, Therandil should maybe be neutral...the way I'm playing him, which I hadn't really planned out in full ahead of time, he's got some good-leaning moral intuitions, but he missed out on a few crucial lessons about what is and is not okay within the ethical framework of a civilized society. This tends to lead him to a few...lapses. Thoughts?

[Valwyn]

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Thoughts?

Neutral seems right to me. Under the influence of the PCs and/or NPCs he might turn towards a more defined alignment, but as far as I've seen, Therandil doesn't seem to have a particularly strong personality, he just goes with the flow. Mind you, I like the way he turned out.

[TheOasysMaster]

From above, Marros sees one of the spellcasters, an orc by sight scream in rage.
A terrific black bolt of lightning sears down from the sky, reflecting off the other sorceror's magical protections, and throwing warriors below in all directions.
The massive bear laughs cruelly, revealing itself to be more than just an animal.
Another player comes into play as a rapier bearing man appears from nowhere, slashing at the orc in a controlled fall.
Curious.
The orc, looking at shimmering wings of force surrounding the other spellcaster, points at the wound across his chest, then at the man who'd made it as a pair of trolls emerge from the buildings of the keep.
Marros even recognizes one of them...
From up here, he can see its limping across the courtyard, streaming blood.
The spectral hand lashes out, reaching for the rapier-bearing man...

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(5d6)[15] Lightning Damage
Therandil gains a Negative Level
(1d20+15)[29] Therandil's Reflex Save
(1d20+18)[21] Kurjan's Touch Attack Roll
(1d20+10)[24] Alex's Fortitude Save

...below, Harley pushes an orc away with his knife hand, sweeping it in half with a casual swing from his axe.
Shudu's.
He looks up and sees Alex twisting from the orc's spectral hand.
"Emzohimt worn! E hovij len!"
The orc rises away from Alex, scowling down at the thief, but quickly places his attention back on Therandil.
"E'hh zimj you to lihh!"
He kicks another orc's feet out from underneath of it, and buries his dagger behind its ear.
"I'm getting too old for this..."

[Todash]

An Orc necromancer...the zombies...the ghosts...all of this is by his hand. Marros narrows his eyes as the wind whistles by. Slowly, assumes a serene stance, pressing one hand forward as he rockets downward...refastens his cloak, and before the cloak's magic can kick in, he vanishes....

Wrath of Heaven Palm Strike! and appears directly above the flying orc, and lashes out with all the power of his fall.

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Ddoor, directly above the Orc, flash of sunset to flurry, Quivering Palm, and Stunning fist.

Quivering Palm:
(1d20+31)[39] Touch attack, if strike deals damage I can slay him as an immediate action (DC 25 fort saves) and I do immediately
(4d6+25)[41](1d6)[4]fire(1d4)[2]force

Stunning Fist:
(1d20+31)[41] Touch attack DC 25 Fort to avoid Stun and 6 rounds of nausea
(4d6+25)[37](1d6)[1]fire(1d4)[1]force

Normal strikes;
(1d20+31)[39]
(4d6+25)[39](1d6)[5]fire(1d4)[4]force

(1d20+31)[33]
(4d6+25)[40](1d6)[3]fire(1d4)[1]force

(1d20+31)[34]
(4d6+25)[37](1d6)[2]fire(1d4)[3]force

(1d20+31)[41]
(4d6+25)[36](1d6)[6]fire(1d4)[4]force

[Valwyn]

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From up here, he can see its limping across the courtyard, streaming blood.
The spectral hand lashes out, reaching for the rapier-bearing man...

Wait, what's going on? I hit him and keep falling, then he casts something at me (which as far as Alex can tell did nothing), and I finish the round on the ground?

[TheOasysMaster]

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I finish the round on the ground?

All right so far.
How could Alex finish on the ground? He's got feather fall?

[Valwyn]

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How could Alex finish on the ground? He's got feather fall?

Yes, his ring of feather fall +3. If the ring would have stopped him from "charging" at the orc by falling too slowly, he still had a move action last round he didn't use. He could take the ring off.

I'm just trying to see what is Alex's situation right now.

[A_S]

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Also slightly lost. Does Therandil have actions pending, or are we still in the round where he was bantering?

[TheOasysMaster]

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Okay, with Marros entering combat, he'd get a surprise round, then it'd be new Initiative...

If the ring would have stopped him from "charging" at the orc by falling too slowly, he still had a move action last round he didn't use. He could take the ring off.

Yeah, he delivered his attack...

I'm just trying to see what is Alex's situation right now.

10 ft. below

Also slightly lost. Does Therandil have actions pending, or are we still in the round where he was bantering?

Yes, he's got actions.
And the wolf killed Therandil, not the orc.

Ddoor, directly above the Orc, flash of sunset to flurry, Quivering Palm, and Stunning fist.

I don't think you can make a Flurry Attack after Flash of Sunset...

[Todash]

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Flash of Sunset is what causes the flurry.

To use this maneuver, you must move adjacent to a foe using a teleportation effect, such as the dimension door spell or the monk's Abundant Step class feature. You gain a bonus standard action which can only be used to take an attack against that foe. You may flurry with your attack if you wish. This extra action is an exception to the standard rules for dimension door, which state that you may not take any actions after using a dimension door.

[TheOasysMaster]

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You may flurry with your attack if you wish. This extra action is an exception to the standard rules for dimension door, which state that you may not take any actions after using a dimension door.

Okay!
(1d2)[2], a 1 misses, 2 hits
(1d2)[1], a 1 misses, 2 hits
(1d2)[1], a 1 misses, 2 hits
(1d2)[2], a 1 misses, 2 hits
(1d2)[2], a 1 misses, 2 hits
(1d2)[2], a 1 misses, 2 hits

Initiative Rolls
(1d20+12)[27] Harley
(1d20+10)[13] Holly
(1d20+5)[19] Maimed Troll
(1d20+5)[6] Brute Troll
(1d20+4)[22] Rangers
(1d20+2)[20] Orcs
(1d20+4)[15] Rangers

[TheOasysMaster]

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(1d20+20)[29] Fortitude Save