Forbidden Scriptures

[Dudu]

Edit: Second Atempt to upload images, now with Picasa.



worked?

[Beschoren]

"A-hem", Tanstafaal clears his troath, while taking a bit of ground mica from his spell component pouch and making a small gesture with his hand "Pelicanus" (verbal component)

POOF!

a rain of light covers most of those goblins formation, right away delating the actual image of the shaman and making some of them blind. The elf's cirlet seems to ressoante for a second.

then he speaks to his allies tought the telepaty "Leave the blind ones for me, thank you.". He's anoying even in the telepaty.

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standard: casts glitterdust at K/J-4/5 intersection. hits all goblins but 6I and 6M. will save DC 16.

swift: activates cirlet of mages, expending 2 out of 3 charges to keep a 2º level spell just cast as if unspent.
swift

[Chimaera]

Eustacio cast Greater Mage Armor upon himself and stay in partial defense.

Edit: Greater Mage Armor (duration 8h)
Got energy resistance 25 for the next energy attack

Prepared Spells:

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0: Resistance (3), Message (2), Detect Magic (1).
1: Shield (1), Nightshield (1), Protection from Evil (1), Nerveskitter (1), Ebon Eyes (1), Instant Search (1), Feather Fall (1)
2: Protection from Arrows (1), Dispelling Touch (2), Arcane Turmoil (2), Resist Energy (1)
3: Dispel Magic (2), Antecipate Teleport (0), Dragonskin (1), Spellcaster's Bane (1)
4: Stoneskin (1), Dispelling Screen (2), Greater Mage Armor (0)

[Dudu]

Kain, the Kobold: "Whoa, it's good to see such a good use of the most glamourous spell know. Heh heh..."

Gobadin, the Dwarf: "What did you expect? He's a elf! Huahua. Kidding Tanstafaal, you owned those goblins."

Tania, the Gnome: "You're ruining their focus with your pointless commentaries..."

Kain, the Kobold: "Geez! Cheer up, woman, our kids are nailing the goblins!"

=================

The blind goblins enter in despair and start clustering. They go for total defense, even the Shaman. The total defense just compensate the loss of AC thanks to blindness, though.

The two other goblins just attacks the Vanguard, without the Shaman to put some reason into their heads.

The leftmost one 5 foot towards his enemy and deliver an attack
(1d20+4)[7] (1d6+1)[7]

The rightmost one charges at the same foe
(1d20+6)[20] (1d6+1)[6]

[Andrezitos]

Andros use his halberd (arcane steel crystal) to make a eletric touch attack (shocking grasp) agaist the I7 goblim. Burn! Lower creature.

(1d20+9)[14] +3 if the target it's using a metal armor or caring a lot of. (1d10+3)[12]+(5d6)[16]

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Status:
HP 75/75
- 3 str
+5 AC
+2 insight bonus agaist humanoids

Wiz spells:
0) Acid Splash 3/3, Caltrops 4/4
1) Benign Transposition 1/1, Corrosive Grasp 1/1, Grease 1/1, Wall of Smoke 1/1, Protection from Evil 1/1, Shield 1/2

Dusk spells:0:6/6, 1:6/7, 2:3/3
0) Acid Splash , Disrupt Undead, Ray of Frost, Touch of Fatigue.
1) Chill Touch, Expeditious Retreat, Swift, Ray of Enfeeblement, Shocking Grasp, Stand, True Strike.
2) Dimension Hop.

[Chimaera]

Eustacio just keep on building defenses:

Dragonskin (red dragon)
Ac nat +3 and fire resistance 10 duration 70mins

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DRAGONSKIN
Transmutation
Level: Sorcerer/wizard 3
Components: S, M
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: 10 minutes/level
You say nothing, but make the motions in
the prescribed pattern and hold the dragon’s
scale aloft. Your flesh erupts with hard,
colorful scales.
Your skin toughens and becomes
scaly like that of a chromatic dragon,
of a color that you select. You gain
an enhancement bonus to natural
armor equal to +1 per two levels (to a
maximum of +5 at 10th level), as well
as energy resistance 10 against the
type of energy appropriate to the color
you select: acid (black or green), cold
(white), electricity (blue), or fire (red).
Your energy resistance increases to 20
at 10th level.
Material Component: A dragon’s
scale.
Special: Sorcerers cast this spell at +1
caster level.

Also, move action to M9 and get ready to mess any spell the shaman try to cast with his Magic Disruption feat (concentration DC 19)

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MAGIC DISRUPTION [RESERVE]
You can use your powers of abjuration to interfere with other
casters' spells.
Prerequisite: Ability to cast 3rd-level spells.
Benefit: As long as you have an abjuration spell of 3rd
level or higher available to cast, you can attempt to interrupt
another character's spellcasting with a tiny burst of magic.
As an immediate action, you can force any character within
30 feet currently casting a spell to make a Concentration
check (DC 15 + the level of the highest-level abjuration spell
you have available to cast); if the check fails, the spell's save
DC and caster level are reduced by 2 (to a minimum caster
level of 1st).
As a secondary benefit, you gain a +1 competence

Prepared Spells:

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0: Resistance (3), Message (2), Detect Magic (1).
1: Shield (1), Nightshield (1), Protection from Evil (1), Nerveskitter (1), Ebon Eyes (1), Instant Search (1), Feather Fall (1)
2: Protection from Arrows (1), Dispelling Touch (2), Arcane Turmoil (2), Resist Energy (1)
3: Dispel Magic (2), Antecipate Teleport (0), Dragonskin (0), Spellcaster's Bane (1)
4: Stoneskin (1), Dispelling Screen (2), Greater Mage Armor (0)

[Beschoren]

Tanstafaal draws his longbow as he moves closer to the pack of goblins. He tumbles across the speargoblin (can't call that a spearman) and shoots his bow at the blinded creatures. no reason to spend much more magic by now.

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tumble DC 15 to avoid AoO on the move (1d20+9)[15]
move to H7
Bow attack vs J4 (1d20+10)[29] damage (1d8)[6] SA (1d6)[4]

If Tanstafaal is attacked at any moment, he uses an abrupt jaunt as an immediate action to teleport 10 feet away (keeping at least 30 feet away from the blind goblin pack)

[Dudu]

Andros' halberd could slay the goblin more than one time. His flesh got instantly carbonized with sparks coming out of it. Then his matter simply vanishes.

Another goblin is down, dying with a carefully shot arrow from Tanstafaal. The goblins, blind and hearing their fellows dying start entering despair. (the tumble wasn't necessary)

Those are not real goblins, though. If goblins could just be summoned that way and get slayed by students in controllable domes then goblins would be extinct already. Those are simulacruns based on real goblins and how they really behave.

The other speargoblin got panicked and simply drop his spear and start running and screaming. (there's such thing as "overkill effect" in my campaign. When an enemy gets slayed in a spetacular way, his fellow may get really scared).

AoO from Vanguard:
(1d20+9)[24] (1d10+3)[10]

You hit him hard (for his standards). But he still manages to run, very injuried. He's out of your reach by now. (simulacruns who get too far way will just disappear as being defeated. But the teachers prefer that you slay everyone.)

The Shaman goes for a listen check to discover who got shot (DC 10).
(1d20+10)[19]
And heals said goblin.
(1d8+4)[6]
The goblin is conscious, but barely, so he stays on the floor. (Since it was a harmless spell, I think Eustacio's messing doesn't count, except for lowering the caster level. I'll roll it later).

Everyone else is just as scared as before and stay in total defense, following shaman's orders.



===============

Kain: "Boy, those goblins are not even close to a chalenge. They're completely clueless about what they should do! It's just impossible to respect a creature like that."

Gobadin: "You're a kobold. Just saying..."

Kain: "I'm also your superior. How about that? A kobold is your boss!"

Both Kain and Gobadin laugh loundly like a couple of drunkards while Tania looks more concerned about what the next round of enemies.

[Beschoren]

Tanstafaal calmly loads and fires another arrow, at an uninjuried goblin

(1d20+10)[21], damage (1d8)[4], SA (1d6)[3]

He then gives a confused look at Kain, as if failing to understand the continuity of the test under such conditions. sure it is no longer a test of skill in battle

If this is a test for mercy, however, the goblins are unlucky. Tanstafaal will continue to hurt the goblins at the most cost-effective manner.

[Dudu]

Kain clearly sees that the battle is over. Even though Tanstafaal didn't telephatically said so to the Kobold, Kain understands the elf concerns. Everyone is saving their spells and just dealing with mundane means of damage. Proceed now is a waste of time.

While looking at Tania, he signals and the gnome make the goblins disappear with complex gestures.

Kain them says: "Well, that's enough for weak humanoids in open spaces. In this combat, you faced no terrain features. Also, goblins aren't particularly strong in any field. No immunities also. However, let's put you in a more menacing situation.

Now we'll mimic a quite common sight inside the Arcane Mountains. You see, inside those mountains there are a lot of rifts, like the stone itself is filled with scars. And then we have the bridges. Bridges built by dwarves that are just as sturdy and stubborn as their creators. Made by solid stone, they don't shake and you can trust your foot above those structures.

So, don't fear the bridge. Fear the duergars that might ambush you when crossing such structure. They are sneaky, cruel and the ones in Arcane Mountains are quite decent in the arcane arts. Let's face it, inside the Arcane Mountains, even the rats can do some cantrips. Plus, they're likely to employ curious devices, like the stinky bomb and the slime jar*, so you better familiarize with it.

So, for this combat, let's put a bit more terrain features. It's an ambush, so maybe you won't see every combatant at the first round."


Maps, enemies and other thing in the next post.

*wacky stuff. I want to see how this works.

[Beschoren]

Tanstafaal creals his troath again and checks his equipment. He uses the telepathy to talk to his allies.

"I had prepared dimensional stride today. It allows us to move up to our speed via teleportation. Might be helpfull to counter the ambush. Does someone else has some other countermeasure? Thank you."

[Chimaera]

Eustacio answer via telepathy back to Transtafaal: "This old man here have some nasty spells, almost all to counter spells, but I have also Feather Fall and Antecipate Teleport, which can be of good use if they try to ambush us via teleport or something. Other than that i have counterspells and defensive spells".

Eustacio look at kain and ask: [COLOR="rgb(65, 105, 225)"]"Hey young one, next time i hope it is less boring, these goblins were a kind of joke, right? I can be old, but wont be goblins who will make me draw my last breath"[/COLOR].

Eustacio have Anticipate Teleport, Greater Mage Armor and Dragonskin under effect and a resist 25/next element. Also, he'll use Nerveskitter in the next combat, so +5 to initiative to the old man.

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0: Resistance (3), Message (2), Detect Magic (1).
1: Shield (1), Nightshield (1), Protection from Evil (1), Nerveskitter (1), Ebon Eyes (1), Instant Search (1), Feather Fall (1)
2: Protection from Arrows (1), Dispelling Touch (2), Arcane Turmoil (2), Resist Energy (1)
3: Dispel Magic (2), Antecipate Teleport (0), Dragonskin (0), Spellcaster's Bane (1)
4: Stoneskin (1), Dispelling Screen (2), Greater Mage Armor (0)

[Dudu]

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"Hey young one, next time i hope it is less boring, these goblins were a kind of joke, right? I can be old, but wont be goblins who will make me draw my last breath"

"Pffff. Osteoporosis struck me while your dad was a virgin, Eustacio, skip the crap."

Gobadin focused at the terrain and the average normal plains suddenly engulfed in a n abyss. A bridge was placed right below their feet. Tania summoned the enemies, but in strategic places, can you find them?


Your listen checks, for now:
Eustacio: (1d20+2)[22]
Tanstafaal: (1d20+6)[23]
Androgenous: (1d20-4)[2]

[Dudu]

Well, technically, I should roll separately each check. But I don't want to spoil the number of hidden enemies. Eustacio hit a natural 20 and Tansta scored high, so they saw an entire group.
So here's the other check, for 2 groups of enemies in total.

Eustacio: (1d20+2)[19]
Tanstafaal: (1d20+6)[26]
Androgenous: (1d20-4)[3]

You just saw every damn duergar there. Poor dwarves, got their surprise round ruined.

[Chimaera]

How much duergars in each group?

[Dudu]

Second Wave of enemies

You spot every possible corner in the environment. There's four duergar ahead and three behind. They were poorly hidden in stalagmites just outside the short bridge.

Here's the map:


The tokens of duergars wielding axes are actually duergas with crossbows. They have trowing axes in their belt.
The cloaked one with a shortsword also have a handcrossbow in his hand.


Inits:
Magno: (1d20+1)[3]
Tansta: (1d20+5)[24]
Eustacio: (1d20+1)[9]
Duergars minion: (1d20+1)[8]
Duergar cloaked: (1d20+5)[15]

Knowledge Arcana:
Magno: (1d20+11)[14]
Tansta: (1d20+8)[12]
Eustacio: (1d20+15)[30]

Knowledge Local: (This will test your knowledge about the Duergar Tactics and tricks, "local" is about specific aspects of Arcane Mountains)
Magno: (1d20+11)[18]

Remeber, since everyone is aware and willing to trade information about the targets via telephaty, I'm assuming Tanstafaal is helping the group. So if only one of you get a high score, everyone will know.

[Beschoren]

Tanstafaal spots the crudly hidden druegars and uses the speed of thought to share information with his allies. Let us destroy the western flank first. the others are too far for Sneak attacks

Then he moves closer to the hideous creatures and cast a spell, shooting a ray of fire from his fingertips "Ianito!"

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Moves to F8
casts Kelgore's fire bolt at C3 (ray, ranged touch, PBS range): (1d20+11)[15], fire damage (5d6+1)[11], SA (1d6)[4]
(googles of foefinding ignores cover bonus)

[Dudu]

In twist turn of events, the grey elf sneak attack his own ambushers.

"Did you see that, Kain. They not only avoided the ambush but surprised the ambushers!" says Gobadin, somewhat amazed.

"Well, we all know that those kids are not something to be triffled with. We are their teachers, afterall." Kain says with a pinch of vanity.

"I assure there's nothing strikly wrond with their ambush. The duergars usually hide well. This time they were discovered." Tania comments about the duergars' lack of luck.
--------------------------
EUSTACIO!

Before you roll an attack, be aware that you noticed something odd about the duergar at F²8. There's something not real about him. You may or may not want to use one of your daily amount of pierce illusions.
---------------------------
Andros

Your studies of duergars showed some results. You know that they're usually ambushers. Those duergars in particular, the Arcane Mountains inhabitants, like to use illusions and traps in chokepoints, like bridges and narrow corridors. They also employ a curious device know as "Slime Jar" Where a living ooze creature is trapped in a jar and threw at their enemies. The slimes are usally weak and are more an distraction than a menace. At least the weaker bands. The most prepared duergars can use oozes as powerful as black puddings.
---------------------------
Tanstafaal

You hit the astonished duergar just before he could put his part of the ambush in action. He's still standing, even though barely.

*edit: The piercing illusion ability, at least in this campaign, is a "semi free" action. "Free" in the sense that it doesn't spend any of your actions, from standard to swift. "Semi" in the sense you can't spend more than one attempt per round.

[Chimaera]

With his swift action, Eustacio use his Pierce Illusion ability aggainst the F²8 duergar and then cast Protection from Arrows as standart action.

(he's under effect of Dragonskin, Greater Mage Armor, Antecipate Teleport and now Protection from Arrows)

"There are something unreal about this. I can feel it, get ready for some illusion or something"

Pierce illusion:
[roll]1d20+9[/roll] plus the disbelief bonus (that i cant remember at all)

[Chimaera]

will save:
(1d20+13)[14]

with the bonus already (+4)


Edit: 'ill ad the spoiler:

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0: Resistance (3), Message (2), Detect Magic (1).
1: Shield (1), Nightshield (1), Protection from Evil (1), Nerveskitter (0), Ebon Eyes (1), Instant Search (1), Feather Fall (1)
2: Protection from Arrows (0), Dispelling Touch (2), Arcane Turmoil (2), Resist Energy (1)
3: Dispel Magic (2), Antecipate Teleport (0), Dragonskin (0), Spellcaster's Bane (1)
4: Stoneskin (1), Dispelling Screen (2), Greater Mage Armor (0)

[Dudu]

Eustacio focus at the suspecting creature. However, nothing happened.

It's the wizard turn, he gets out of his hidding place, sense the time to hide is clearly over and heads to D²11. Them he does exactly what the goblin did last match, since you identified his spell as a "mirror image".

Now it's Eustacio turn (you can't use your pierce illusion now)

[Dudu]

Updated map:

[Chimaera]

"Dammit, I guess i'm so old i cant bypass an ilussion anymore", and saying this Eustacio casts a Shield and get ready to make Magical Disruption to anyone casting spells with DC. "Don't worry friends, I'll dispel that lesser trick after I get my defenses up, don't you want the old man here hurt, right?"

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0: Resistance (3), Message (2), Detect Magic (1).
1: Shield (0), Nightshield (1), Protection from Evil (1), Nerveskitter (0), Ebon Eyes (1), Instant Search (1), Feather Fall (1)
2: Protection from Arrows (0), Dispelling Touch (2), Arcane Turmoil (2), Resist Energy (1)
3: Dispel Magic (2), Antecipate Teleport (0), Dragonskin (0), Spellcaster's Bane (1)
4: Stoneskin (1), Dispelling Screen (2), Greater Mage Armor (0)

[Dudu]

The Duergars start moving.
The deeply injuried still wants to fight and fires a bolt at his assailant. The other duergar decide to also target Tanstafaal.

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(1d20+4)[22] (1d8)[5]
(1d20+4)[6] (1d8)[1]

The third one of the west group doesn't shoot a crossbow. He trows a jar right next to the elf instead. Inside that jar comes a orange slime. The ooze doesn't attack anyone, however.

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Andros Knowledge Checks:
Local: (1d20+11)[13]
Dungeoneering: (1d20+15)[26]

Andros tried to remember something about the Duergar tactics about jars and slimes. All he could remember was about what Kain just said (the slime jar, post #40).
He does know a lot about the creature, however. This orange slime is a very simple ooze, roughly 3 feet in diameter and the orange color that names the creature. It's also the weakest of any oozes ever encoutered. It's hardly a challenge and it's more an annoyance than anything. Like most slimes, slash and pierce damage do nothing other than splitting the creature. This creature can't split too many times, though. They have no sense of allies or enemies and just attack whatever living creature is closer to them. They are very slow, and their attacks, although weak, carry some sort of acid with them. Also, like many oozes, this one has blindsight. It's vulnerable to fire.

The Duergars at the east group move. One of then move fast, without attacking while the others shoot their crossbows. They're a bit far, however, and their attack isn't as precise as their comrades on the other side.

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(1d20+2)[11] (1d8)[6]
(1d20+2)[3] (1d8)[1]

[Andrezitos]

(ooc: just tho remember, andros get +5 in the knpwledge rolls because he have colector of storyes skill trick.
another thing, can i make some changes in my char? like changing the proibated schools of magic. in fact, i want to become a universal caster again. aaaand change the int atribute (19->18), remove the crystal of the helberd (dosent stack with knoledge devotion) and replace it with sustenance ring.)

Magnojeba move to E7. he also stay ready to attack any duergar that enter his treat range. in that case: (1d20+13)[30](1d10+8)[18] plus Corrosive Grasp via channeling (1d8)[7].

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Status:
HP 75/75
+5 AC (55/120rds)
+2 insight bonus agaist duergars
+3 insight bonus agaist oozes

Wiz spells: (CL 6)
0) Touch of Fatigue 4/4 |
1) Benign Transposition 1/1 | Shield 0/1 | Nerveskitter 1/1 |

Dusk spells: (CL 5) 0:6/6 | 1:5/6 | 2:3/3 |
0) Acid Splash | Disrupt Undead | Ray of Frost | Touch of Fatigue.
1) Chill Touch | Expeditious Retreat (Swift) | Ray of Enfeeblement | Shocking Grasp | Magic Weapon | True Strike.
2) Dimension Hop.

[Beschoren]

Tanstafaal uses his Abrupt junt ability on a moment's notice when he sees the arrow flying straight at him.

Then he uses a twick on a ray spell to hit the other 2 druegear - "Qui-Ianito!"

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Teleport to D7 as an immediate action, avoiding the 1º attack he recives. 1 out of 4 daily uses

standard: split ray kelgore's fire bolt
ranged touch VS B10: (1d20+11)[29], damage (5d6)[24] (fire, ignores cover)
ranged touch VS B12: (1d20+11)[28], damage (5d6)[22] (fire, ignores cover)

then move action to G5

[Chimaera]

Eustacio (now an evoker) throws a fireball aggainst the duergars from the east group (if he can't get them all, he'll throw where it get more of them in the east)

Fireball DC 21
Damage: (8d6)[28]
NOTE: Eustacio's has +1caster level on fire spells

Spells under effect:

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Shield, Greater Mage Armor

Prepared Spells:

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0: Light (3), Detect Magic (2), Message (1);
1: Magic Missiles (2), Burning Hands (1), Mage Armor (1), Shield (0), Nerveskiter (1), Ebon Eyes (1), True Strike (1)
2: Wraithstrike (2), Eletric Vengeance (2), Scorching Ray (2), Darkness (0);
3: Fireball (0), Sound Lance (1), Lightning (1), Greater Mage Armor (0);
4: Thunderlance (1), Wall of Fire (1), Vortex of Teeth (1), Fire Shield (0);

[Chimaera]

He also will use Pierce Illusion aggainst the same duergar:
Will save (1d20+10)[18]

Still got 4 daily uses of Piercing Illusion

[Andrezitos]

Heyyy! Leave some duergars for me or i'll lay waste on the jelly just for fun.

[Dudu]

Skip skip skip


The training ends. You finished your tasks and your mentors are impressed.
That's +1000XP to everyone.

Kain: "Woah! Don't let this performance get over your head, buddies! When fighting against casters, everything is possible, nothing is expected."

The Kobold says with a mix of worry and pride.



Just to remember, you are arcane students of the Minervean Arcane University. Plus, you belong to the brave Discoverers house, the home of the dungeoneers.

You're also in the middle of the Meteora Interhouse Tournament. You are one of the most promising undergraduates of your House. Tonight is almost over. Tomorrow you will be free to do as you please (ok, not so much, there are rules!). For more information, check the earlier posts.


That means you can either sleep to oblivion, or wander in the library. Ask guidance from some teachers. Train. Chit chat with your friends. Bully your enemies. Run away from the colege (bad idea). Use scrying in the girls changing room. Well, as your imagination permits (and the teachers, they can kick your sorry asses if you abuse your freedom).

By the way, there are 3 teachers that are willing to help you. Tania, the conjurer gnome. Gobadin, the transmuter dwarf. And Kain, the kobold headmaster of the house.

What you intend to do?