Shadows of the Past 2 (IC)

[AlanBruce]

@Tarith: You watch the Gnarled Shepherd below charging and striking Xander something fierce, while Bishop keeps taunting him and striking with his wooden scythe. You switch the trapped dryad with one of the animals from your bag of tricks. The dryad rests on your arms.

"I have sensed what you are doing. Please! Do not stop! He would want this done.."

The dryad closes her eyes, but you see she isn't dead like the others. She seems to have fainted.

@Dantie:

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If this is a flamestrike spell, there is no need for an attack roll, he just saves for half damage.

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Reflex: (1d20+6)[23]

A pillar of fire engulfs the Gnarled Shepherd. Everyone sees the enormous skeleton bathed in a column of fire, barely visible underneath the sacred flames. When the pillar is gone, The Gnarled Shepherd is a smoking husk, yet still standing. At the same time, he convulses as another cocoon bursts, rejecting the possum placed in by Tarith.

A small whimper of pain is heard from the last cocoon.

[NathanB1486]

Xander gasps in pain as the massive creature strikes him, his eyes go wide a moment, realizing he can not survive a second strike.

Foul abomination! You will not best us!

Xander quickly regains his composure and while keeping his focus on the creatures movements casts his spell, cloaking himself in arcane power, causing himself to go invisible, afterward he moves away from the shepherd, toward the corpse of one of the trees Bishop defeated earlier, to use as cover if the need arises.

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Casting invisibility defensively (1d20+15)[32] vs DC 12 I knew i would best the casting defensively DC wasn't sure if the thing would get a AoO for leaving its area.

[Allyzedl]

Bishop unleashes a large number of attacks on the Sheperd.

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Bishop was hit by the AoO.

Attack 1:
(1d20+15)[23]

Damage 1:
(2d6+16)[20]
+
(1d8)[5]

Attack 2:
(1d20+15)[29]

Damage 2:
(2d6+16)[22]
+
(1d8)[8]

Attack 3:
(1d20+10)[13]

Damage 3:
(2d6+16)[22]
+
(1d8)[6]

Snap Kick:
(1d20+15)[23]

Damage 1:
(2d6+16)[22]

Just can't seem to get decent attack rolls above 30.

[AlanBruce]

@Bishop: Your attacks seem to miss again. The Gnarled Shepherd unleashes in kind.

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Power Attack1: (1d20+19)[23] damage (2d8+24)[27]

Power Attack2: (1d20+19)[23] damage (2d8+24)[32]

[dantiesilva]

As Dantie sees the shepered charge Bishop because Xander has once again gone invisible Dantie takes his time and aims this time, making sure that his attack will hit. Once he is sure of his aim he once again casts his spell.

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(11d8)[40] Flamestrike once again and DC is still 20. Dantie has done 194 damage to the tree, not including this attack. Hope it goes through.

Once he sees the spell hit he goes and commands his armor to allow him to fly, bringing him up to Tarith. Need help Tarith?

[Archmage1]

Upon saving the last dryad, Tarith is filled with hope for the last dryad's successful recovery. He uses his bag of tricks, and his wand one last time, to save the final dryad.

I believe I have gotten all of the dryads out now. All that is left is dealing with that tree, which I can't really help with.

[AlanBruce]

@Dantie: You bring down Pelor's wrath on the Gnarled Shepherd. The monster looks up as a column of divine fire blasts him again.

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Reflex: (1d20+6)[15]

The Gnarled Shepherd is now a gargantuan scorched skeleton made of fire and stone, Smoke billows from his body as he twitches and roars in agony and anger.

[AlanBruce]

@Tarith: You rescue the final dryad, holding one in each arm. She looks at you and says in an almost inaudible voice, drained completely of strength.

"He is weakened now... Please...put him to rest..."

She looks down at the monster that was once the Shepherd and a tear flows down her cheek.

"Good-bye, Old One. May we see each other in her Court."

The dryad closes her eyes and breathes no more.

[Allyzedl]

Bishop dodges the Sheperds attacks, then grasps his scythe firmly with both hands and swings vigorously at the Sheperd.

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Attack 1:
(1d20+15)[35]

Damage 1:
[roll]2d6+16[/roll
+
(1d8)[4]

Attack 2:
(1d20+15)[24]

Damage 2:
[roll]2d6+16[/roll
+
(1d8)[2]

Attack 3:
(1d20+10)[16]

Damage 3:
[roll]2d6+16[/roll
+
(1d8)[4]

Snap Kick:
(1d20+15)[33]

Damage 1:
[roll]2d6+11[/roll

[Allyzedl]

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So damage rolls got messed up

Attack 1 : 35 (crit)

Roll to confirm:
(1d20+15)[22]


Damage 1:
(2d6+16)[23]
+
4

Attack 2: 24

Damage 2:
(2d6+16)[22]
+
2


Attack 3: 16

Damage 3:
(2d6+16)[19]
+
4

Snap Kick attack : 33

Snap Kick Damage:
(2d6+11)[18]

[AlanBruce]

@Bishop: You strike the Gnarled Shepherd with all your might. The Scythe leaves solid marks on the monster and this one howls in pain. The Gnarled Shepherd turns to you and unleashes his might.

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Slam1: (1d20+27)[34] damage (2d8+14)[24]

Slam2: (1d20+27)[30] damage (2d8+14)[16]

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OOC: Remember critical hits don't work on undead

[Archmage1]

Tarith hands the two dryads(one, presumable dead, and the other alive) to Dantie, before sheathing his wand, and drawing his daggers as he heads down to show the tree the meaning of pain. Once there, he will cast gravestrike, before stabbing viciously at the tree's eyes with his daggers.

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so gravestrike, followed by stabbity goodness.
attack 1(1d20+16)[22] damage(1d4-1)[1] sneak attack(5d6+12)[25]
attack 2(1d20+21)[41] damage(1d4-1)[3] sneak attack(5d6+12)[35]

[Archmage1]

(Assuming Dantie does not post)

Dantie will move back from the tree, keeping out of reach, before casting searing light at the tree

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(1d20+7)[11] attack, touch
(10d6)[30] damage, untyped, so no damage reduction

[Allyzedl]

Bishop shrugs off the two attacks from the Sheperd and taunts him, "That all you got?" Then Bishop drinks two tankards worth of ale from the decanter tied to his arm.

[AlanBruce]

@The Party: As Bishop yells out a taunt towards the Gnarled Shepherd, a blast of fire hits him square in the chest. At that moment, Tarith descends from the upper portion of the dome and stabs the Gnarled Shepherd. The monster prepares to launch his fists at you and recoils in pain, lashing about. He takes a few steps towards the side of the dome and falls against the side, shaking the entire structure and creating an opening. The Gnarled Shepherd looks at all of you and sees the dryads in Dantie's care, as well as those who are dead. What appears to be a tear made of sap trickles down his broken eye.

The Gnarled Shepherd crashes on the ground and is no more.

[Allyzedl]

Bishop walks to the side of the Sheperds corpse where Gigglemouth can't see him, and cuts off several branches of the Sheperd for later use.

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An undead wooden weapon sounds like fun.

[Archmage1]

Tarith takes a look at the effect his daggers had on the tree, even poking his finger into one of the holes, before pulling out a flask of oil, and dumping the contents on the tree. He then uses his waterskin to clean the interior of the flask, before trapping the tear in the flask.

"Well, that went... poorly. At least turning undead made the tree vulnerable to my daggers, and Dantie's spells."

Tarith heads over to the living dryad, and uses his wand to heal her.

"Are you all right?"

[AlanBruce]

@The Party: Gigglemug flies towards the remains of the Gnarled Shepherd.

"Wise One. Even you fell to that monster's power. May the Forest embrace you and redeem you of your actions today."

@Dantie: One of the dryads in your arms opens her eyes and speaks slowly, barley audible.

"Is it done?"

[AlanBruce]

@Tarith: You poke around the remains of the fallen giant and notice something within its carcass.

An unspoiled acorn.

You use your wand to heal the dryad, but this one seems to be still affected by Kazym's power. She coughs blood and looks at you.

"Thank you. Thank you so much. While we were trapped in the grove, we could feel his pain, but we also shared his wisdom. My time is almost gone from this plane. Maybe I will return as a sapling, hopefully. But while I still breathe, ask. That I carry The Shepherd's knowledge with me."

[Archmage1]

Tarith pockets the acorn, figuring it might come in handy at some point.
I suppose the two questions we need answered are fairly basic

"How can we reach the goddess, or defeat Bailon or the lich?"

[AlanBruce]

@Tarith: The dryad rests on the ground and looks at the top of the dome.

"Arrallae is secluded well within the bowels of this forest. Reaching her can only be done if you unlock the Thorn Gate, which will then lead you to the Sacred Seal, made by Steiner many years ago. The Thorn Gate was built by Balion as a countermeasure so that no one could access the Seal. As far as I know, three keys must be placed on the Thorn Gate to access the Goddess' Path towards her Seal. The Shepherd's heart, Anzaril's fang, and Gundersnatch's rose. Balion, however, has a way of accessing the Seal without the keys. He devised this for anyone who would want to reach her."

The dryad cough some more blood and resumes.

"Balion is blessed by the Arrallae. He is long lived, but not immortal. His power stems from his absolute devotion to her. He commands powers beyond that of a regular druid. Some of his powers have been carved into his own flesh, so they may enhance him. As for the shroud, Kazym, he attacked our Coven and so, we four came here looking for help from the Shepherd. We did not know Kazym had corrupted him already. I have no knowledge on how to defeat him, since the likes of him are unknown to my people."

[Archmage1]

"Presumably, this acorn is the Shepherd's heart, but who or what are Anzaril and Gundersnatch?"

[AlanBruce]

@Tarith: "When Balion was cast outside the Swan, he was approached by many fey who wished to consort with him. One such was Anzaril, the Fen Witch. She is one of our estranged sisters who dwells in the Font of Life, the largest body of water in the Fey Woods, and the one which nurtures our Covens. She has impressive powers of seduction and enchantment. A capricious and dangerous one, she was friends to one of our sisters, Nerine. Her dangerous ways saw her banned from the Coven and as such, she took over the Font, where presumably she still swims and awaits her lover, Balion."

The dryad looks at the remains of the Shepherd.

"Gundersnatch is one of balon's creations. Taught in the mysteries of its making by The Shepherd himself, to better protect the forest. A creature made entirely of briars and with the fierce spirit of a lion. A mindless creature of destruction when used by Balion. He prowls Arrallae's Rose Maze."

[Allyzedl]

Bishop hears something about a seal and makes his way over to Tarith and the dryad, he then asks Tarith, "Do you think that the way that Balion gets through the gate is by using his blood? Like how Steiner described to us."

[Archmage1]

"Bishop, if we can get his blood, we can probably kill him."

"Dryad, is there anything else of use you can tell us?"

[Allyzedl]

Bishop says out loud, "Tarith, I thought Steiner also said that his blood would also work."

[Archmage1]

"Would Steiner's blood open the thorn gate?"

[AlanBruce]

@Tarith & Bishop: "I do know of a blood ritual that maintains the seal in place. It was used by Steiner a long time ago, but I do not know the specifics regarding how to open it. When Steiner left the forest, Balion tried to open the seal many times. In frustration, he built the Thorn Gate, which blocks the path to the Seal."

[Archmage1]

"Does the shepherd have any useful items hidden somewhere?"

[Allyzedl]

Bishop asks the dryad, "Do you know where the seal that Steiner made is located?"