AVB - The Fallen One

[TheFallenOne]

Sedrach leaves the cell, opening the bag of holding again a bit to check on his passenger. He goes up, entering the hallway on the ground floor.

[Rizban]

You enter the hallway to find it empty. You are back in the long, nondescript halls from before.

[TheFallenOne]

He goes to the door at the very end of the hall, most removed from the entrance to the building, and blinks onto the other side.

Spoiler

Show

Assuming there's no other exit out of the building. Guess there's a chance they place high security so it has the longest route to leave the place.

[Rizban]

When you round the corner, a watchman you could not see spots you.

"Another one! To me!"

Three more armed guards come into view from the various halls and move to intercept you.

[TheFallenOne]

Spoiler

Show

Initiative - (1d20+3)[7]
Knowledge Devotion - (1d20+5)[18]
how far am I from the door I want to go through?

[Rizban]

Spoiler

Show

About 215 feet.

You go last in initiative. The four move toward you, but only one comes within range to attack you. He misses.

Your turn.

[TheFallenOne]

Hrm... Ah well, maybe I have a chance if I reduce the number of my pursuers before I beat it. Suddenly his limbs catch fire and he lays into the watchman in front of him.

Spoiler

Show

Burning Blade from script

Claw - (1d20+11)[22] (1d4+11)[14] Riposte - (1d6)[5] Fire - (1d6+2)[4]

Claw - (1d20+7)[22] (1d4+9)[10] Riposte - (1d6)[1] Fire - (1d6+2)[5]

Claw - (1d20+7)[21] (1d4+9)[13] Riposte - (1d6)[5] Fire - (1d6+2)[5]

Claw - (1d20+7)[14] (1d4+9)[10] Riposte - (1d6)[4] Fire - (1d6+2)[8]

Bite - (1d20+4)[11] (1d46+6)[38] Riposte - (1d6)[4] Fire - (1d6+2)[7]

I assume they are human and Favored Enemy on damage applies

edit

Spoiler

Show

I notice my attack modifier on the secondaries is off by one. Attack rolls should be
22
21
20
13
10

[Rizban]

You skillfully eviscerate the man and deftly cauterize the wounds, minimizing blood spatter but ensuring instant death.

The remaining three hesitate but assault you anyway.

Two hit, dealing (1d8+3)[5] and (1d8+4)[7] damage.

[TheFallenOne]

Spoiler

Show

is either a closed door or one of the cells from the tract I came from within 30 feet? If so I blink there. Prefer door over cell. Failing that, what if I add another 30 feet for move+blink?

[Rizban]

Spoiler

Show

There is indeed a side door in the hallway you just exited. You do not know where it leads.

[TheFallenOne]

Spoiler

Show

That's fine enough, I just want to buy one or two turns until they find me again. Blink.

If I am not engaged before my next turn I draw another Burning Blade script and read it. Also shift Essentia from Blink Shirt to Therapeutic Mantle.

[Rizban]

Using the Blink Shirt in melee provokes AoOs. One manages to hit, dealing (1d8+4)[9] damage.

Need a Concentration check to see if the ability fails or not.

[TheFallenOne]

You must make a Concentration check whenever you might potentially be distracted (by taking damage, by harsh weather, and so on) while engaged in some action that requires your full attention. Such actions include shaping a soulmeld or binding a soulmeld or magic item to a chakra (but not investing or reallocating essentia or activating a soulmeld’s effect).

MoI p. 33

also, using Soulmelds doesn't provoke AoOs unless explicitly called out(as with Dissolving Spittle).

[Rizban]

Spoiler

Show

My understanding is that spell-like abilities provoke AoOs. Blink shirt and certain other soulmelds provide you with a spell-like ability when shaped. Using that SLA provokes.

If you want to get technical, the part that falls under "activating a soulmeld’s effect" for Blink Shirt is "you gain the ability to teleport (as dimension door)". If the soulmeld is suppressed by any means, you lose the SLA.

You are right that simply using a soulmeld does not provoke unless it specifically says it does; however, there is a difference between using a soulmeld and using a spell-like ability granted by a soulmeld.

I agree that it's not very clear in the book, but that is my understanding of how Incarnum works. I am open to further discussion on it though.

[TheFallenOne]

Spoiler

Show

Soulmeld abilities are never called out as spell-like. The book though points out at multiple points how Soulmelds work similarly to magic items. Body slots, incompatability of magic items and chakra binds at the same location, permanent and use-activated effects...

Blink Shirt is more like an item that grants a use-activated Dimension Door effect.

I can go into more detail later if that doesn't convince you, need a bit rest first after training.

[Rizban]

Spoiler

Show

I believed melds to work like magic items only for the using of body slots, not for mechanics of use/activation.

[TheFallenOne]

Spoiler

Show

The characters who make use of the options in this book—new classes, prestige classes, feats, and other options—gain the ability to shape incarnum into magical objects called soulmelds. Characters who can shape soulmelds are called meldshapers.
A soulmeld somewhat resembles a magic item or a spell effect in physical form. It is the physical embodiment of incarnum, linked to the meldshaper’s body and worn almost like a physical item.

Soulmelds are persistent magical constructions shaped from pure incarnum—the power of souls living, dead, and yet unborn—fused with the meldshaper’s own essence. They resemble both long-lasting spells and magic items in many ways, but truly are neither.

These soulmelds enhance the meldshaper’s attributes—often in the form of bonuses on various rolls and checks—and grant him special abilities that might resemble class features and spell-like abilities.

They go out of their way to say it might in some cases resemble SLAs instead of at any point calling any Soulmeld effect a SLA. Incarnum is its own system, it's not the same as spells, SLAs or magic items. The part on the Concentration skill I quoted before should make clear the Soulmeld effects can't be the first two, for then it would be possible to disrupt Concentration on them.

That's the best explanation I can offer. At no point do they say Soulmeld effects don't provoke AoOs. I don't think they have to; it works the other way around, if something provokes it is said so. The book mentions when something provokes AoOs. Rapid Meldshaping. Rebind Totem Soulmeld. Dissolving Spittle. Necrocarnum Circlet Crown Bind. Blink Shirt and Soulmeld effects in general are markedly absent from that list.

[Rizban]

Spoiler

Show

I still like my interpretation better, but you've made a good argument. I'll agree with you on that. Proceed.

You find yourself inside of a small office with a table in the middle and a single everbright lantern above it. There is a chair on either side of the table. A small stack of papers sits near one corner of the table.

You can hear the guards shouting out in the hallway.

[TheFallenOne]

Sedrach reads the Martial Script and then opens the door to step outside again, making no attempt to be silent or hide his movement. They may not rush at him on their own again, but if he takes out another guard before they bring their full might to bear on him he could win this fight.

[Rizban]

Stepping out of the room, you find the guards in an all out fight with the two men you encountered below. It seems they rushed to your aid just as you teleported away... One of the guards is on the ground but in the process of standing up. The man you gave the sword stands over him, having obviously just knocked him down. One of the guards stumbles about, swinging his sword blindly as if he cannot see. The other two guards have the caster flanked and are attacking him with a deadly assault.

Your move.

[TheFallenOne]

"Oh, hello again!" Sedrach calls out, though it isn't quite clear if he means the guards or prisoners on the loose. He moves to support the caster, cutting into one of the soldiers and drawing fresh strength from the inflicted pain.

Spoiler

Show

so one of the two fighting him is the blinded one?

Crusader's Strike (1d20+11)[20] (1d4+11)[12]
Heal 6 with Martial Spirit to self
Heal (1d6+2)[6] to whichever of the two prisoners seems more wounded(range 10 feet)

[Rizban]

Spoiler

Show

One more guard arrived the round you spent in the side room.

Three guards were fighting before you came back, 2 targeting the caster and 1 targeting the swordsman, with a fourth stumbling around blind.

Your caster friend reaches out and touches the only uninjured guard, draining a small amount of life from him.

The swordsman steps forward and hacks at the man who just stood back up, dealing (1d8+4)[7] damage.

The guard you just attacked takes a step to the side and then full attacks you, you deflect his first swing, but his follow up attack slips through your defenses to tear a deep gash in your side, dealing (2d8+6)[13] damage.

The second guard takes a step to get back into flanking positions and attacks the caster, missing.

The third guard hits the swordsman prisoner for (1d8+3)[7] damage.

The fourth guardsman swings his sword blindly in your general direction, missing by a wide margin.

The fifth guard continues to lie in a pool of his own blood, dead.

Your turn.

[TheFallenOne]

Determined to bring their numbers down fast, Sedrach again conjures forth fire to envelop his limbs and unleashes a furious assault on the watchman he exchanged blows with, hooking clawed arms into his side and biting at the exposed neck. "Focus your attacks, these guys can take a hit!"

Spoiler

Show

if I can 5 foot step into a flanking position I do so
Claw - (1d20+11)[27] (1d4+11)[12] Riposte - (1d6)[5] Fire - (1d6+1)[3]

Claw - (1d20+6)[11] (1d4+9)[10] Riposte - (1d6)[6] Fire - (1d6+1)[7]

Claw - (1d20+6)[17] (1d4+9)[11] Riposte - (1d6)[2] Fire - (1d6+1)[3]

Claw - (1d20+6)[17] (1d4+9)[11] Riposte - (1d6)[6] Fire - (1d6+1)[5]

Bite - (1d20+3)[22] (1d46+6)[30] Riposte - (1d6)[3] Fire - (1d6+1)[2]

will use Reflexive Psychosis if attacked in melee
edit: unless only the blinded one attacks me

[TheFallenOne]

Spoiler

Show

err...
Bite damage (1d6+6)[8]

[TheFallenOne]

I don't plan to split up again unless they insist on getting out without the spies or we get into an unwinnable fight. Would it perhaps be easier to make a Team thread instead of going back and forth, reporting the actions of the other?

[Rizban]

Team up thread

[TheFallenOne]

Sedrach continues waiting.

[Rizban]

Spoiler

Show

Sorry, I would have sworn I posted here.

Four guards show up later, heavily armed and armored. The old man from earlier peeks out from behind them. He speaks, and his voice wavers at first but gathers in strength.

"Y-You've b.been found guilty of murder and wanton slaughter. Y-You are to be executed immediately."

[TheFallenOne]

"Whoa whoa whoa, hold on a second there", Sedrach says, holding out his arms defensively. "That's how justice here works? No trial, not even asking me anything, giving me a chance to defend myself? Yes, I killed those poor men, I felt their blood running down my hands. But I didn't act of my own free will! I was forced into this by someone else, and so far you didn't even care why. Did you know he wanted the spies killed, not freed?"

[Rizban]

Spoiler

Show

Bluff check