IC II Toes In The Water

[Athedia]

Mithril raised both her hands, one holding a metal rod the other repeating a gesture now well known to it. Just behind him, be careful now and go. Behind the orc attacking Kurt another bloom of light appeared brilliant in majesty.

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Empowered the spell, aimed it behind the O3 orc so it should hit O3, Oc, Od and Ob. 1/2 damage if they save against DC 15. Took a charge off the circlet.

O3 (1d6+4)[6]
Oc (1d6+4)[10]
Od (1d6+4)[6]
Ob (1d6+4)[5]

6x1.5=9
10x1.5=15
6x1.5=9
5x1.5=7.5

[Cavelcade]

At the same moment Kurt growls, menacing the orc who dared to cut him so deeply. His body naturally enters the most threatening position he can, at the same time as he lets out a might roar and raises his axe high to try and cleave the offender in twain, seeking to strengthen himself at the same time.

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+1 from bless.
+2/+3 from Rage
+1/+1 from steely resolve
+2 from flanking
-4/+8 from Power attack.
Use Stone Bones maneuver.

(1d20+11)[31] Attack
(1d20+11)[25] Crit
(1d12+18)[21] Damage
(1d12+18)[26] Crit

[Cavelcade]

(1d12+18)[22] The last crit multiplier.


With all his strength, and the anger from the pain withheld from the attack, Kurt smashes aside the defence of the orc. With one swipe he cuts the orc's legs out from under it, bringing his head in the perfect range from a blow of such savagery it cleaves straight through the helmet, the skull, down deep into the orc's chest, spraying blood and brains and shards of bone across the room.

Putting his foot on the corpse, he quickly drags his axe out, bellowing at the other orcs, even as he feels the wounds from the last hit fully, a fact that only serves to increase his rage.

[CoffeeIncluded]

Natalia somehow manages to avoid being splattered by the undoubtedly dead orc, though the ones behind her aren't so lucky. At the display of Kurt's overwhelming strength, she looks down at her small magical dagger, which now seems almost dinky in comparison. Still, she fights with stealth and speed, not overwhelming might. Give her time...

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I think anybody would be...shall we say...humbled by this.

[Admiral]

Shiny's eyes are still focused on the three orc soldiers coming up behind. He performs his usual windup gesture and lobs another spell towards them, his sleep spell bursting right in the middle of the three.

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I worked it out and there's no way that I can hit all three orcs and not get Natalia included in the radius. If any of them fails their Will save she won't have to roll. The chance of all three making their Will saves and Natalia not making hers is very small- about 1 in 200 if my assumptions about their Will saves are correct. But if it does happen, Natalia is basically guaranteed to end up dead (coup de grace).

One in 200 chance... heck, let's roll the dice and find out! All three Will saves:

(1d20)[14]
(1d20)[10]
(1d20)[5]

No worries after all! It was a DC 16 Will save (thanks to my spell focus) so I'm guessing (unless one of them's sporting a +2 Will) it's lights out for up to 4 HD of them.

[Zman]

As Kurt sprays the ground with blood, Mithril releases a burst of light and Shiny casts a magical slumber...

Only one Orc remains on his feet to put slumped by the Gnomes magic.

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Reflex(d20)[8]
Reflex(d20)[9]
Reflex(d20)[17]
Reflex(d20)[14]

Will(d20)[17]
Will(d20)[2]
Will(d20)[17]
Will(d20)[8]

[achinca]

Miriam steps behind Kurt and touches the bloody wound with her hand.

"St. Cuthbert, please allow your humble servant to heal that mighty warrior to ensure that we keep bringing justice and order to this land."

The cleric is able to repairs half of the damages the dwarf suffered.

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Drop Darkness for instantaneous casting of CMW.
(2d8+7)[6][7](20)

No idea where anyone is so I assume that she can go and touch Kurt

[Zman]

Orcs

Seeing the flashes of blinding light and the gore of one of their veterans slaughtered, the remaining two Orcs which were flanking the party turn tail and run back deeper into the cave system.

[Admiral]

When Shiny turns and sees Kurt with some wounds still fresh after Miriam's healing Shiny gives a very unusually warm smile. "Don't worry, my son," he says in a comforting tone.

He lays his hands on the dwarf, closes his eyes, and says solemnly: "Olidammara, this is your humble servant, Shiny Woundmender, newly ordained cleric and clown college instructor. Heal this brave dwarf of his wounds."

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Shiny is doing his best to palm the wand, which he hadn't told anyone he has for the sake of the gag.

UMD DC 20: (1d20+10)[14]
Sleight of Hand to see if he can hide the wand from sight (just for RP purposes, and since I've never used Sleight of Hand yet): (1d20+6)[19]

Utterly nothing happens. Shiny stomps his foot and looks up at the ceiling. "Olidammara, is this about the other night? That deity meant nothing to me!"

[Zman]

Valen moves back towards the group, a thick metal rod in his hand. Again he mutters in Draconic as he crosses his arms defensively before again taking out his great blade...

"Trickster Priest of Gnomes!" Valen bellows, finding Shiny's humor in such a situation priceless and lightening.

[achinca]

Miriam gives the potion of healing to Kurt.

"Here you go Sir Kurt. This should help you."

When Shiny tries to use the wand and fails, Miriam looks at him insulted.

"The gods are not fools to make fun of, Shiny Liarmaster. Be careful who you insult!"

She turns around and starts moving toward an exit.

[Admiral]

"Shiny Liarmaster is... well, it's actually my maiden name. Long story!"

Shiny runs towards the center of the room, choosing between the south and east exits, before turning to Kurt. "I'm 1/16 dwarf but my stone sense is on the fritz. Which way?"

[CoffeeIncluded]

Natalia blinks at Shiny's antics and asks, "You're sleeper, not healer--why?" Speaking of that, she looks at the last unconscious orc and asks, "When he wakes..."

She doesn't understand Miriam's vow at all.

[Zman]

Valen moves towards the center of the room after Shiny his weapon at the ready..."You'd best kill it now." the word "it" isn't accidental.

Kurt, Natalia, and Miriam can hear orcs approaching from the south, while Natalia and Kurt believe the may have heard something from the eastern part of the room or in the corridor...

If Natalia moves to the center of the room she believes she can see shadows moving in the distance to the south.

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For Fun

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Spot
Miriam(d20+5)[14]
Kurt(d20)[8]
Shiny(d20-2)[-1]
Natalia(d20+8)[23]
Mithril(d20+3)[12]
Valen(d20)[14]

Listen
Miriam(d20+3)[11]
Kurt(d20)[16]
Shiny(d20-2)[8]
Natalia(d20+8)[17]
Mithril(d20+3)[5]
Valen(d20+3)[5]

[CoffeeIncluded]

Natalia shakes her head. She knows there's no real difference, that once he wakes up he'll be after them like the rest...But the others did flee, and he can't do anything to fight back. The line may not hold much meaning, but it means something to her.

She pales when she hears echoing footsteps and sees shadows flickering. "Orcs south, something east. Coming now."

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Natalia got a higher listen check than Miriam; she should hear the eastern orcs too. How many rounds before they're on us? How long is Kurt raging for?

[achinca]

Miriam cringes at Valen's comment. "Can we give it a chance to run away?"

She will never be able to reconcile killing sleeping and charmed enemies. She would love to give them all a chance to redemption, even if she knows she cannot.

[CoffeeIncluded]

"No time...for our flight," Natalia says, glancing nervously at the southern and eastern exits.

[Zman]

"We have little time, do we make a stand here or bring the fight to them?" Valen stands, as ready as he can be.

[Cavelcade]

Kurt shakes his head, shaking off the rage, then sees the orc still breathing. "Is that any fairer?" With that he walks up to the orc and hews its head from the body, his mouth twisting as he does. He cleans his axe, glancing almost in shock at the deformed corpse of the leader. He doesn't even remember doing it, just the red rage and then...the red mist.

"We should keep moving, I think. We have to get out before they wear us down." He rubs his still pained side, for emphasis.

[CoffeeIncluded]

"And if...Trapped in the burrow, foxes on both sides?" Natalia asks. "Better if open, room to move." She closes her eyes at the sound of Kurt's axe.

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About how far away are the orcs? I am not going down the corridor if it means we'll be surrounded in a tight corridor with no room to maneuver.

[Zman]

The Orcs are closing in from the South, maybe 200' away, they'll be upon you in mere moments. In the Dim light it looks like the tunnel south opens into some kind of open area, though not likely as large or as high ceilings as this cavern.

[Cavelcade]

"Better than trapped in the clearing, with wolves on all sides. This way!" With that he downs the potion and hefts his axe, giving the headless body a last slow look before he turns and starts jogging out.

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(1d8)[7]

Most of the rest of his wounds heal, making his gait easier as he heads towards the next troop of orcs.

[CoffeeIncluded]

Natalia licks her lips. "If meeting south, then charge now. Meet at entrance, not halfway down burrow, attacked on both sides."

[achinca]

Miriam bows her head and look away as Kurt kills the sleeping orc.

Pain is reflecting in her eyes but she says nothing because she knows that she did not have an alternative solution.

She goes with the group, repeating her mantra "Remember, we are here to do as much damages to the snake as we can and cut off one or more of the three heads ..."

She notices how much faster she is without her armor and shield and feel more confident in her vow of poverty.

[Zman]

Valen smiles, "Aye, I haven't ever had this much fun!" as he quickly matches pace with Kurt, abandons rearguard with the visible threat of Orcs ahead.

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This is basically a precombat round. Then well do an initiative!

[CoffeeIncluded]

Natalia looks at Valen as though he's mad. "What fun?" How could seeing, hearing someone killed in front of you be fun?

Her blades drawn, Natalia sidles over to the mouth of the next tunnel and peers around the corner, occasionally glancing back at the eastern noise she heard...

[Zman]

Natalia peers around the corner but can no longer make out any of the shapes the saw, or at least thought she saw. It appears as if the corridor widens about 60' ahead of the party... but only Kurt can see this. The humans and gnome are limited to the shadowy illumination provided by the light spells up to 40'.

Miriam and Mithril hear at least another half dozen ahead of them while Natalia is sure that there are enemies ahead of them, she isn't able to discern any more information.

Mithril and Miriam can hear some distant shouts from the eastern tunnel, nothing too close.

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I assumed the move action of those who didn't post their preinit action. They still have their standard actions to post.

Currently, no one can see the enemy. And in truth, I shouldn't have let Natalia see them before since she doesn't have Lowlight Vision and technically shouldn't have been able to see more than 60'. Quick, someone become an Elf!

Some more fun

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Listen Checks
Miriam(d20+3)[21]
Kurt(d20)[14]
Shiny(d20-2)[8]
Natalia(d20+8)[18]
Mithril(d20+3)[20]
Valen (d20+3)[5]

[CoffeeIncluded]

Natalia frowns. She could have sworn she saw some kind of movement. She can still hear them though.

[Athedia]

Mithril took the opportunity as they moved past the bloody mess to cast her armor on herself. They had woken the sleeping beast, and she might as well make herself harder to kill. She concentrated as she did so and felt relieved. The protection should last longer than usual, a useful feat when stuck underground.

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Mage Armor, plus Sudden Extend = 8hrs

[CoffeeIncluded]

As she walked by, Natalia had brushed the back of Mithril's hand and said, "Out alive, see daylight. Promise."