Guildmage [IC]

[Chambers]

The aberrations ghoulish hide absorbs the energy from your spells and toughens as swords strike it, and you see not only your own attacks having no effect but the monsters ghoul body continue to slowly repair itself. It lashes out at Jarl and Riley with a whirlwind of flailing tentacles but the halfling and dwarf easy dodge out of the way.

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That was a disappointing round for all involved.

Round 5.

Jarl and Elise take 5 Necrotic damage at the start of their turn (Riley has resistance)


1st: Flavius, Valen, Jarl, Elise, Riley (in any order)
2nd: Monster

Combat Map

[NecroRebel]

Elise

With Flavius conscious again, Elise backs further into the tunnel, wanting to avoid the lash of the creature's withering presence.

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Minor to sustain Sun's Illumination, standard to use Primordial Storm at G8, and move back to -B9.

Attack vs. Reflex - (1d20+22)[31] Includes CA
Damage if hit - (2d6+22)[32] lightning/thunder, slide it 2 to G9-J12, and at the start of its next turn it takes 5 fire/cold damage.

Status:

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Character Sheet
Health: 97/102
Bloodied: 51
Surges Remaining: 7/8
Surge Value: 25
AC: 28
Fort: 23
Ref: 26
Will: 32
Resists: 10 Lightning, 10 Thunder

Conditional Bonuses:
+1 speed while flying
-5 attack, half damage against allies with arcane powers
+3 attack on action points
+2 to saving throws when out of action points
When dazed/stunned, may make a saving throw to end effect at start of turn
Ignores resistances up to own resist value

Encounter/Daily Powers:
Shadow Claws
Use Vulnerability
Swirling Stars
Thunder Bomb
Wind Burst
Primordial Storm
Narrow Escape
Feather Fall
Sun's Illumination
Howling Hurricane
Prismatic Lightning
Deep Shroud
Arcane Empowerment
Zephyr Wings

Item Powers:
Feyweave Robe of Bloodwalking +4
Quickbeam Staff of the War Mage +3
Torc of Power Presevation +3
War Ring
Antipathy Gloves
Bridle of Conjuration
Restful Bedroll

[Reverent-One]

Jarl

Stepping forward as Elise blows it back, Jarl avoids another swinging tentacle with ease, pressing the attack.

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Move:Shift To E10
Standard: Attack with Lady Luck Smiles
Attack vs AC:(1d20+23)[34]
Damage:(2d10+9)[2][1](12) EDIT: I treat all weapon dice rolls of 1 or 2 as 3's, so 15 damage.
On hit: until the end of my next turn, whenever an ally within 5 squares of me makes a ranged or melee attack, they can roll twice and use either result.

Jarl Bladeguide, Dwarf Swordmage, Captain of Fortune
Init +7 HP 115/121 Bloodied 60 Healing Surge 30 (3 used /11)
AC 34 Fort 28 Reflex 28 Will 27

[PChubby]

Riley

"Good idea, calling in a favor from lady Avandra may turn the tide."

The halfling closes on the profane creation with a renewed enthusiasm. A flash of light flickers as he stabs at a rancid tendril.

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Move: F10

Standard: MBA (+2 to Jarl's next attack if it hits: Song of Serendipity)
Attack: (1d20+22)[26] vs Ref (CA/radiant cancel out)
Extra Roll: (1d20+22)[30]
Damage:(1d4+12)[16] radiant

Free (if it hits): Low Blow: Dazed till EONT

Conditional Immediate Action: Strikebacks if it attacks

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Riley the Raven, Halfling Bard (Skald), Guildmaster Thief
Init +14 HP 104/110 Bloodied 55 Healing Surge 27 (1 used /8)
AC 35 Fort 28 Reflex 33 Will 31 Speed 6
Str 11 (0) Con 13 (+1) Dex 22 (+6) Int 11 (0) Wis 11 (0) Cha 22 (+6)

Condition: none

Active Auras:
Skald's Aura
Song of Serendipity

Encounters:
Dimensional Step
Echoing Weapon
Guild Beatdown
Low Blow
Mantle of Unity
Moment of Escape
Revitalizing Incantation
Second Chance
Shifty Direction
Words of Friendship
Urge To Victory

Dailies:
Anthem of Aggression
Cautionary Tale
Disruptive Words
Scathing Rebuke
Song of Solidarity
Song of Sublime Snowfall

Items:
Backlash Tattoo
Strikebacks

[Dacia Brabant]

Valen

"Indeed," the dark warrior nodded, then with a piercing look at the hideous thing yelled out, "To the fight!"

Valen blinked over to Elise's right flank and, oddly, could be seen to shut his eyes suddenly. A perfect image of the abomination then appeared in his mind's eye, now wreathed in indigo light from an unseen source, which the warlock mentally focused in an attempt to burn away the monster's will.

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To kick things off, I'll place a second Assassin's Shroud on the target.

As a move action, Valen will teleport to C11, maintaining concealment and combat advantage.

As a standard action, he attacks with Trust in the Guide Star, vs. Will.
(1d20+19)[38]
(1d20+19)[33]
Hit: (2d10+15)[26] radiant damage + (2d8)[12] curse damage + (2d6)[5] from invoking both shrouds if the attack hits. It probably doesn't matter for this fight, but this attack ignores all vision penalties to hit except total concealment and allows targeting invisible enemies as though they were visible.

Statblock:

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Valen Darkstar, Swordmage|Warlock/Assassin/Student of Caiphon:
HP: 93/111. SU: 5/9. Bloodied: 55. SV: 27.
AC: 28. Fort: 28. Ref: 30. Will: 29.
Condition: Concealment (Shadow Walk).

[Shadow_Elf]

Flavius
Though it is not one of his draconic spells, which have more punch, Flavius opts to take advantage of Jarl's set-up dweomer and fires a bolt of phantom magic at the brute.

Standard Action: Phantom Bolt, @ Monster

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vs. Will: (1d20+22)[42] incl. CA
vs. Will: (1d20+22)[35] incl. CA

Takes better of two attack rolls.

Hit: (1d8+10)[11] psychic damage and slide it up to 2 squares if anyone wants me to.

[Chambers]

The aberration recoils from the successive attacks against. Spell and blade find purchase against it's undead hide and it's pushed back further into the chapel. Black ichor oozes out from a dozen wounds on its spellstitched body and the fungus floating in the air seems to become agitated by something in the blood, growing in size and potency. The aberration whips its tentacles around in a desperate flurry and Jarl and Riley are covered in the black gore, their senses recoiling at the stench. Some of the goo flies across the cavern and strikes Flavius, the now familiar blood clinging to his body.

As the black gore quickly spreads over Jarls body and enters his mind his vision goes black for a moment and vertigo threatens to overwhelm him. Shaking it off he opens his eyes and see a badly wounded earth elemental crouching before him in a deep cavern under the dwarfhold. Orcs stand next to him and behind him, attacking the elemental with sword and spell. It stomps its foot and small rocks tumble from the cavern, falling over the orcs and Jarl indiscriminately.

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Riley, Jarl, and Flavius take 37 psychic damage (reduced by 11) and are Dazed (save ends). Jarl is Dominated (save ends).

Due to how we're doing initiative I'll allow someone to try and Heal check Jarl to shake off the Dominate, but only after he's gone at least once.

Round 5

The aberrations aura strengthens. Anyone within 5 of it takes 10 necrotic damage at the start of their turn.

1st: Flavius, Valen, Jarl, Elise, Riley (in any order)
2nd: Monster

Current Effects: Resist Psychic 11 (all party members), Jarl is Dominated (save ends). The aberration is bloodied.

Combat Map.

[NecroRebel]

Elise

Elise swears softly at her comrades' afflictions, the thunder flowing through her warding off the creature's assault on herself. "Back! Fall into the darkness which spawned you!" she says, drawing together a cloudy orb which she throws at the monster.

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Minor to sustain Sun's Illumination, standard to use Dragonfrost on the thing, and move to use Dominant Winds on Valen (Valen can fly 5 as a free action).

Use better of the 2 attack rolls due to Jarl's attack.
Attack vs. Fortitude - (2d20+22)[39] Includes CA
Attack vs. Fortitude - (2d20+22)[53] Includes CA Disregard, I screwed up. Was trying to do 2d20b1+22, but that doesn't work, and I failed to switch it to 1d20 when I changed it.
Damage if hit - (1d8+13)[17] cold damage and push 2 to I9-M12.

Status:

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Character Sheet
Health: 97/102
Bloodied: 51
Surges Remaining: 7/8
Surge Value: 25
Action Points: 0
AC: 28
Fort: 23
Ref: 26
Will: 32
Resists: 10 Lightning, 10 Thunder

Conditional Bonuses:
+1 speed while flying
-5 attack, half damage against allies with arcane powers
+3 attack on action points
+2 to saving throws when out of action points
When dazed/stunned, may make a saving throw to end effect at start of turn
Ignores resistances up to own resist value

Encounter/Daily Powers:

Shadow Claws
Use Vulnerability
Swirling Stars
Thunder Bomb
Wind Burst
Primordial Storm
Narrow Escape
Feather Fall
Sun's Illumination
Howling Hurricane
Prismatic Lightning
Deep Shroud
Arcane Empowerment
Zephyr Wings

Item Powers:
Feyweave Robe of Bloodwalking +4
Quickbeam Staff of the War Mage +3
Torc of Power Presevation +3
War Ring
Antipathy Gloves
Bridle of Conjuration
Restful Bedroll

[PChubby]

Riley

In the midst of the fray, an otherworldly voice echoes on the fringe of the Riley's senses. Time seems to slow as an undulating purple flare urges him to action. Riley stabs at the blighted abomination and with a wince of pain, realizes the cost of this being's assistance. Time returns to normal as the alien voice fades into silence.

"What the hell?"Riley says as he flings some ichor off his hand. He wobbles back and forth as he strains to focus on the situation at hand. "Careful, Jarl has the same crazy look Flavius did a second ago. Come on Jarl fight through it, you're a son of earth and stone not some beardless whelp." Riley blinks a few times and slices at the creature again.

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No aura damage
5 Caiphon's Intercession
37 damage from attack

Caiphon's Intercession attack: (1d20+22)[37]vs ref dmg:(1d4+12)[16] radiant; 5 ongoing radiant (save ends) if it hits.

Standard: MBA (+2 to Valen's next attack if it hits: Song of Serendipity)
Attack: (1d20+22)[41] vs Ref (CA/radiant cancel out)
Damage:(1d4+12)[16]

save vs Dazed: (1d20)[13]


Conditional Immediate Action: Urge to Victory: Jarl can still make a MBA after his turn since Riley made the save vs Dazed.

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Riley the Raven, Halfling Bard (Skald), Guildmaster Thief
Init +14 HP 62/110 Bloodied 55 Healing Surge 27 (1 used /8)
AC 35 Fort 28 Reflex 33 Will 31 Speed 6
Str 11 (0) Con 13 (+1) Dex 22 (+6) Int 11 (0) Wis 11 (0) Cha 22 (+6)

Condition: Dazed

Active Auras:
Skald's Aura
Song of Serendipity

Encounters:
Dimensional Step
Echoing Weapon
Guild Beatdown
Low Blow
Mantle of Unity
Moment of Escape
Revitalizing Incantation
Second Chance
Shifty Direction
Words of Friendship
Urge To Victory

Dailies:
Anthem of Aggression
Cautionary Tale
Disruptive Words
Scathing Rebuke
Song of Solidarity
Song of Sublime Snowfall

Items:
Backlash Tattoo
Strikebacks

[Shadow_Elf]

Flavius
While Jarl's dweomer lasts, Flavius chooses to fire another bolt of phantom energy.

Standard Action: Phantom Bolt

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Attack: (1d20+22)[40] vs. Will
2nd Roll: (1d20+22)[28] vs. Will
Hit: (1d8+10)[17] damage + slide 2.

[Reverent-One]

Jarl

"Orc rabble! Get out of here or I'll send off to see your ancestors myself." He warns as he swings at the one next to him, his spell surrounding it.

His blade goes wild though, and as he readies himself, his vision clears and he sees his allies around him once more.

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Booming blade on Riley
Attack vs AC: (1d20+23)[26]
Damage: (1d10+9)[19]

Saving throw: (1d20)[20]

Jarl Bladeguide, Dwarf Swordmage, Captain of Fortune
Init +7 HP 89/121 Bloodied 60 Healing Surge 30 (3 used /11)
AC 34 Fort 28 Reflex 28 Will 27 Speed 5

[Dacia Brabant]

Valen

Valen smiled darkly as his Master claimed a portion of the abomination's undead soul in exchange for a bit of Riley's life force. His smile quickly turned to a look of dismay at the psychic poisoning of Jarl's mind, but the dwarf appeared to fight it off quickly.

He levied another curse upon the monster and called forth yet another unnatural beam of radiance before blinking back further into the passageway.

"Let it come to us! It will only wound itself if it pursues us," he said.

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Minor action to recurse the monster (Bloodied Boon consumes it).
Standard action to use Dire Radiance on it. +2 from CA and +2 from Riley's hit, fear/radiant cancel each other. Not sure if the roll-twice power is still in effect now, if it is I'll just roll again.

Vs. Fort: (1d20+23)[39]
Hit: (1d6+15)[16] radiant damage + (2d8)[8] curse damage and if the target moves nearer to me on its next turn it takes an additional (1d6+15)[19] radiant damage.

Move action to teleport 3 squares back to -A10.

Statblock:

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Valen Darkstar, Swordmage|Warlock/Assassin/Student of Caiphon:
HP: 93/111. SU: 5/9. Bloodied: 55. SV: 27.
AC: 28. Fort: 28. Ref: 30. Will: 29.
Condition: Concealment (Shadow Walk).

[Chambers]

Blasted back by spells, the aberration's body quivers and shakes in an unsettling manner. It surges forward, the ghoul arms and hands attached to it's skin finding purchase among the slick floor and grabbing onto the cave walls to propel it forward. The disgusting aberration lifts itself off the ground and it's undead body squeezes itself like a rubbery wineskin against the cavern ceiling as it passes over Jarl and Riley, landing on the ground with a thud and careening straight towards Valen.

It's tentacles whip towards him and lacerate his body and Elise and Flavius can see spores left behind on him bloom and their rotten fragrance drifts up towards his face, the unlucky swordmaster inhaling it. As the odor seeps into his brain Valen is gifted with sudden wisdom; the aberration is not a creature to be feared, but praised and worshiped for it's cosmic power and insight.

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Round 6

All within 5 take 10 necrotic damage at the start of their turn.

The aberration effectively phased past Jarl and Riley, though they can still make opportunity attacks. Due to the nature and construction of its body it doesn't take any penalties for squeezing.

Valen takes 32 psychic damage and is Dominated (save ends)

1st: Flavius, Valen, Jarl, Elise, Riley (in any order)
2nd: Monster

Combat Map.

[NecroRebel]

Elise

Elise swears again, more loudly, as the creature surges into the passage that she had hoped would protect her from it. "Back!" she cries, desperately, the skylit portal shifting to illuminate further down the hall, "If not into darkness, then into light!" gathering and throwing a second orb.

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Minor to sustain Sun's Illumination, move to move the zone 3 to D9-I13, and standard to use Dragonfrost again.

Attack vs. Fortitude - (1d20+20)[25]
Damage if hit - (1d8+13)[21] cold and push 2 back down the hall.

If I'm hit by an attack this turn, I'll use Narrow Escape as a reaction to take half damage and teleport to -D3.

Status:

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Character Sheet
Health: 92/102
Bloodied: 51
Surges Remaining: 7/8
Surge Value: 25
Action Points: 0
AC: 28
Fort: 23
Ref: 26
Will: 32
Resists: 10 Lightning, 10 Thunder

Conditional Bonuses:
+1 speed while flying
-5 attack, half damage against allies with arcane powers
+3 attack on action points
+2 to saving throws when out of action points
When dazed/stunned, may make a saving throw to end effect at start of turn
Ignores resistances up to own resist value

Encounter/Daily Powers:

Shadow Claws
Use Vulnerability
Swirling Stars
Thunder Bomb
Wind Burst
Primordial Storm
Narrow Escape
Feather Fall
Sun's Illumination
Howling Hurricane
Prismatic Lightning
Deep Shroud
Arcane Empowerment
Zephyr Wings

Item Powers:
Feyweave Robe of Bloodwalking +4
Quickbeam Staff of the War Mage +3
Torc of Power Presevation +3
War Ring
Antipathy Gloves
Bridle of Conjuration
Restful Bedroll

[Reverent-One]

Jarl

As it charges past him, Jarl takes a swing at the creature. Then as it is focuses on attacking Valen with it's flailing tentacles, Jarl's magic teleports him back in front of it, giving him an opening he immediately exploits.

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Off turn actions first:
Opportunity attack: [roll]1d20+21[roll] vs ac
Damage:(1d10+9)[14]

Then teleport to -A9 (between the creature and Elise, beside Valen), attack with Blastback swipe
Attack: (1d20+21)[38]
Damage:(1d10+9)[12] thunder damage and push the target 2 squares
Not including CA from the zone since Elise hadn't moved it by this point

Gain 8 THP from Vigorous Assault feat, which I will promptly lose from the aura, but still.

He catches a quick breath, his sword weaving defensive forms in front of him, guarding Elise as well. That's all it takes for the dwarf to get back into the fight though, trying to hold it gaze on himself once more.

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Lose THP and 2 actual HP from the aura.
Minor: Second Wind, granting me +6 to all defenses thanks to my second wind and weapon, and +2 to all of Elise's defenses thanks to the Defensive surge feat
Move: if necessary (if I hit earlier) to B2
Standard: attack with booming blade
Attack vs Ac:(1d20+23)[37]
Damage:(1d10+9)[10] EDIT: 12 damage since that's the minimum for weapon attacks
On hit, if the target starts it's turn adjacent to me and moves away, it takes (1d6+3)[9] thunder damage. Also on a hit, it treats all squares adjacent to either me or one of my allies as difficult terrain (White Lotus feats).

Status:
Jarl Bladeguide, Dwarf Swordmage, Captain of Fortune
Init +7 HP 117/121 Bloodied 60 Healing Surge 30 (4 used /11)
AC 40 Fort 34 Reflex 34 Will 33 Speed 5
Defenses boosted by Second wind and Defensive Weapon: +6 total

[Dacia Brabant]

Valen

Valen cringes under the abomination's onslaught as even his most powerful magicks fail to protect him from falling under its sway.

"Fools!" he screams as he lashes out at Jarl with his dark blade. "This is an Ancient One, come to unveil the mysteries of the cosmos! Behold its majesty and despair!"

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Eldritch Strike on Jarl (sorry!), with CA and +4 weapon vs. AC.
(1d20+24)[27]
Hit: (1d8+11)[17] damage and slide up 1 square.

Save vs. dominate: (1d20)[13]

Statblock:

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Valen Darkstar, Swordmage|Warlock/Assassin/Student of Caiphon:
HP: 67/111. SU: 5/9. Bloodied: 55. SV: 27.
AC: 28. Fort: 28. Ref: 30. Will: 29.
Condition: pending saving throw.

[PChubby]

Riley

As the behemoth maneuvers over him and Jarl, Riley seizes the chance to strike.

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Opportunity Attack
Attack: (1d20+22)[33] vs Ref (CA/radiant cancel out)
Damage:(1d4+12)[14] radiant

Once the beast has repositioned, Riley gives a nod to Jarl. "I don't like being on opposite sides of this thing. Let's see if we can regroup." The halfling navigates the rubble at the tunnel entrance and slices at the back of the beast.

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No aura damage

Standard: MBA (+2 to Jarl's next attack if it hits: Song of Serendipity)
Attack: (1d20+22)[42] vs Ref (CA/radiant cancel out)
Damage:(1d4+12)[14] radiant

on hit:
free action: Dimensional Step
Extra [w]damage: (1d4)[1]
Riley & Jarl teleport to -A9 & -A8 and Jarl can make a MBA as a free action

Conditional Immediate Action: Urge to Victory: Valen can still make a MBA after his turn since Riley made the save vs Dazed.

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Riley the Raven, Halfling Bard (Skald), Guildmaster Thief
Init +14 HP 62/110 Bloodied 55 Healing Surge 27 (1 used /8)
AC 35 Fort 28 Reflex 33 Will 31 Speed 6
Str 11 (0) Con 13 (+1) Dex 22 (+6) Int 11 (0) Wis 11 (0) Cha 22 (+6)

Condition: Dazed

Active Auras:
Skald's Aura
Song of Serendipity

Encounters:
Dimensional Step
Echoing Weapon
Guild Beatdown
Low Blow
Mantle of Unity
Moment of Escape
Revitalizing Incantation
Second Chance
Shifty Direction
Words of Friendship
Urge To Victory

Dailies:
Anthem of Aggression
Cautionary Tale
Disruptive Words
Scathing Rebuke
Song of Solidarity
Song of Sublime Snowfall

Items:
Backlash Tattoo
Strikebacks

[Shadow_Elf]

Flavius
The gnome breathes deep, and almost retches from the stink. But he manages to hold his breath long enough to unleash it as a torrent of icy magic, aimed squarely at the aberration's face.

Standard Action: Solkara's Wave, @ Face

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Attack: (1d20+22)[42] incl. CA vs. Fortitude
Hit: (2d8+14)[24] cold damage and it gains vulnerable 5 cold and is slowed UEMNT. If it stacks, it gets another vulnerable 5 cold UEMNT as well.

[Chambers]

Flavius spell casts a wave of cold and freezing air over the aberrant and its skin contracts, unable to shake it off. The creature flails about with its tentacles, trying to knock off the ice sheath but its wounds are too severe for even the unholy power of the sinkhole to sustain it. Its entire body quivers for a moment and then explodes in a shower of dead and disease ghoul body parts that fly across the cavern.

Valen, Riley and Flavius manage to avoid the worst of it while Jarl and Elise are caught unprepared. The black blood and rotting meat slams into them and each can feel it seeping into their clothes and sticking to their skin. The legendary constitution of the dwarves serves Jarl well as his body simply rejects the invasive necrotic blood. Elise isn't as lucky and the skin around her eyes and nose quickly begins to color, turning an unhealthy shade of deep purple and orange.

The catacombs take on a sudden stillness, the only sound the dripping of ghoul gore from the roof and a slight creak as the rock walls settle themselves after the explosive magical energies released during the fight.

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Congratulations, you killed it. Elise has stage 1 of the Filth Plague and immediately loses a healing surge.

Edit: Removed the disease from Riley.

[NecroRebel]

Elise

As the creature explodes, Elise seems to burst into a cloud of mist, which rushes a short distance away and reforms. Unfortunately, the black blood seems to fuse with the fog as it moves, and Elise staggers into one of the sarcophagi, tearing the goggles and scarf from her face with a pained cry and revealing the sickly discoloration. She breathes heavily for a moment before gazing at the faint reflection in her goggles' lenses.

"...That... isn't good," she mumbles, then straightens and looks to her companions. "I don't know what that was, but corpse-carried diseases are always bad, and I already feel a bit drained. I can probably still fight, but I should find a healer quickly."

Status:

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Character Sheet
Health: 75/102
Bloodied: 51
Surges Remaining: 6/8 (-1 Max)
Surge Value: 25
Action Points: 0
AC: 28
Fort: 23
Ref: 26
Will: 32
Resists: 10 Lightning, 10 Thunder

Conditional Bonuses:
+1 speed while flying
-5 attack, half damage against allies with arcane powers
+3 attack on action points
+2 to saving throws when out of action points
When dazed/stunned, may make a saving throw to end effect at start of turn
Ignores resistances up to own resist value

Active Statuses:
Filth Fever Stage 1 (-1 Surge)

Encounter/Daily Powers:

Shadow Claws
Use Vulnerability
Swirling Stars
Thunder Bomb
Wind Burst
Primordial Storm
Narrow Escape
Feather Fall
Sun's Illumination
Howling Hurricane
Prismatic Lightning
Deep Shroud
Arcane Empowerment
Zephyr Wings

Item Powers:
Feyweave Robe of Bloodwalking +4
Quickbeam Staff of the War Mage +3
Torc of Power Presevation +3
War Ring
Antipathy Gloves
Bridle of Conjuration
Restful Bedroll

[Shadow_Elf]

Flavius
There will be fresh undead guarding this place if we do not purge this taint before we go. We should finish with the mausoleum, and then we ought to retreat back to the safety of the camp to regroup and seek clerical aid.

[Reverent-One]

Jarl

"I agree, doing this halfway won't do much good. Let us explore further." The dwarf takes the lead, continuing along the wall to the next passageway.

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Heading to the SW passage.

[Shadow_Elf]

Flavius
While we can't do much about the more serious wounds and infections, I for one think we ought to rest before rushing headlong into more beasts, says Flavius; he's casting minor magics to try and clean his robes of the ichor, slime and guts that have ruined their colour. For one thing, I cast a number of my fall-back spells on that hulking brute in my vision, which remain inaccessible to me until I've had a chance to read my spellbook and refresh my memory. The impact of his mace appears to have also left a rather large mark.

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Going to suggest we take a short rest before we go looking for more undead.

[Dacia Brabant]

Valen

Paying little heed to the conversations around him, Valen's sense of exuberance at destroying the abomination quickly gave way to exhaustion from his wounds and he slumped against the wall irrespective of whether they were going to take a breather here or not. He did what he could to staunch the bleeding and wipe off the ichor, but while he didn't appear to suffer from whatever malady had befallen Elise it was clear he's near his limit.

"Uh...sorry about the whole 'ancient one' thing, I don't know what I was thinking there," he finally muttered. "But as bad as all that was, it very easily could've been much worse. I--when I went into that trance while it was still forming, I could see that which animated it and brought it into our reality. For all the unnumbered souls that fed its creation, and not just here but at other sites where this rite apparently was completed, we are lucky to have survived."

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I would like to spend two surges during the short rest, bringing his HP total to 104/111 and 7/9 surges used.

[PChubby]

Riley

"Let's take a few minutes to catch our breath and tend our wounds. I could use some help tending to Elise." The halfling closes his eyes and hums a tune to himself for a few moments. He continues humming as he helps his comrades clean up and tend wounds.

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Spending 2 surges and adding Skald's Aura heal: (4d6)[17]
So 1 healing surge spent, puts Riley at 106/110
Heal check: (1d20+14)[17]

[NecroRebel]

Elise

Elise sits on the edge of one of the sarcophagi as Riley tends to her, occasionally prodding at the tender flesh on her face and wincing. "A few minutes can't hurt, but you don't have to take your time for my sake. Like I said, I can still walk and fight if we need to again."

She considers Valen's words with an expression of disgust. "There are more of those things out there? Do you think that they're all made from shredded ghoul, or did I just catalyze this one's formation when I blasted them apart?"

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Spend 1 surge and I'm at 100/102.

Status:

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Character Sheet
Health: 100/102
Bloodied: 51
Surges Remaining: 5/8 (-1 Max)
Surge Value: 25
Action Points: 0
AC: 28
Fort: 23
Ref: 26
Will: 32
Resists: 10 Lightning, 10 Thunder

Conditional Bonuses:
+1 speed while flying
-5 attack, half damage against allies with arcane powers
+3 attack on action points
+2 to saving throws when out of action points
When dazed/stunned, may make a saving throw to end effect at start of turn
Ignores resistances up to own resist value

Active Statuses:
Filth Fever Stage 1 (-1 Surge)

Encounter/Daily Powers:
Second Wind
Shadow Claws
Use Vulnerability
Swirling Stars
Thunder Bomb
Wind Burst
Primordial Storm
Narrow Escape
Feather Fall
Sun's Illumination
Howling Hurricane
Prismatic Lightning
Deep Shroud
Arcane Empowerment
Zephyr Wings

Item Powers:
Feyweave Robe of Bloodwalking +4
Quickbeam Staff of the War Mage +3
Torc of Power Presevation +3
War Ring
Antipathy Gloves
Bridle of Conjuration
Restful Bedroll

[Dacia Brabant]

Valen

Valen nodded in agreement at Elise's first question but paused a moment to consider the second.

"That... is possible, yes, especially if they're what remained of the sacrificial victims. It'll be interesting to see what, if anything, is in the room from whence they came," he said, trailing off a bit at the end, to the point where it seemed he was finished speaking. Then suddenly he answered her first question.

"But yes, there are other tainted areas just like this one, where nightmarish rituals were performed long, long ago. They all seemed connected to each other, like a great mass of negative energy underlying them--no, more like a metaphysical road made up of the souls of the dead. 'Death is a Doorway' I think was intended to be quite literal--a doorway for some very ancient, very powerful beings to re-enter our world after their death. The one we just fought may have simply used those ghoul parts as a vessel for its aberrant soul...

But be that as it may, I am certain there are other secrets to learn of this place within the astral realm. I grow weary though, and would rather we rested fully before attempting such a thing again."

[PChubby]

Riley

Riley seems lost in song and thought as he tends the rest of the party. After listening to the conversations he poses a question. "If death is a door, how do we slam it shut and bar it up? I don't want to have to deal with another thing like that."

[Reverent-One]

Jarl

"As if things weren't bad enough dealing with the remnants of the Demon's forces. We must be sure to clear out these taints as best we can, we don't need a second coming."

[Dacia Brabant]

Valen

As Valen considered Riley's question his mind drifted back to the skald's song, and from that to the starry imagery in his vision of the mourners massed around a great tomb, and to the tombs of the warlords nearby and what Flavius had spoken of his ill experience with disturbing the giant warrior's eternal rest...

"Hmm. Well, this really isn't my forte, but you're a bard, you might know better of this than I: are there not songs or words that can still a restless spirit? If we could somehow speak to them, the souls of the dead here, and remind them of who they are perhaps they might fall dormant or, better yet, leave this place entirely. After all, they weren't always this way."