Madness, Blood and Thunder in Ravens Bluff Thread 2

[TheFallenOne]

The cultist facing Cael is evidently surprised when his thrust is suddenly stopped, and before he can make sense of it he receives two wounds from blade and arrow but stubbornly tries again. When Mirielle's spell washes over them they scream, more from confusion than pain when their vision is blocked. The blonde priestess vainly tries to force her way through the web to the spot her auburn compatriot burned free, unbeknownst to her having collapsed when the spell hit her hard, lying unmoving on the ground. Alaister disembowels the first cultist, the ensnaring web and blindness removing any chance to dodge the blade. The Lashemoi though is made of sturdier stuff and Jorran's blade glances off unnaturally tough skin without effect, the attacks of the wolffaced creature growing fiercer by the moment.

Spoiler

Show

P1 unconscious
P2 failed attempt to move

L1 down
L2 attempts to break free (1d20+2)[6]
L3 attacks Cael (1d20+8)[27] (2d6+3)[6]

U attacks Jorran
(1d20+11)[24] (1d4+6)[7]
(1d20+11)[12] (1d4+6)[9]
(1d20+9)[26] (1d6+5)[8]

Caltrops on Jorran
(1d20)[4]
(1d20)[2]

Caltrops on Mirielle
(1d20)[14]

[Sallera]

Damn it, Jorran. That style of yours might 'work' when you're the superior fighter, but you need to learn when to fall back. Growing increasingly nervous at Sorrow's continued absence, Aya looses another pair of shafts at the cultists. This whole expedition would be worse than worthless if they didn't at least get the bloody monk taken care of.

The need for haste is apparent inside, and Alaister maneuvers carefully over the broken glass before whipping his blade up and down again in a savage double cut across the cultist barring the way to the lashemoi.

Spoiler

Show

Aya Rapid Shots L3 again. If he falls, remaining shot goes to U.
Attack 1: (1d20+9)[18] (forgot the Bless last round)
Damage: (1d8+3)[5] + 1 electricity
Attack 1: (1d20+9)[17]
Damage: (1d8+3)[8] + 1 electricity

Alaister moves half-speed to J16 and Rabid Wolf Strikes L2 with an inspiration point. (-4 AC for one round.)
Attack: (1d20+10)[27]
Damage: (1d8+6)[14] + (2d6)[11]

[rypt]

"Beshaba's breath," Cael curses through gritted teeth as Jorran slumps to the ground. With both the Lashemoi and the ripper-wielding cultist within reach of the northerner's body, there is little the elf can do to save Jorran on his own. "Mirielle!" he calls in an escalating tone, hoping that with the cleric's assistance, they may yet be able to salvage this mess. Bracing himself against any potential retaliation, Cael raises his hand towards the gray-skinned monster, a word of a power sending bolts of energy streaming through the air.

Spoiler

Show

Standard Action: Cael will cast Magic Missile at the Lashemoi. With Combat Casting, he automatically passes the DC 16 Concentration check to cast defensively.

Damage: (3d4+3)[12]

Swift Action: Cael will expend one charge of his Amulet of Tears for 12 temporary HP.

[Jeff the Green]

Spoiler

Show

Kelemvor, if this is not our time, preserve us from this evil. If this is our time, may we pass quietly and with dignity. And may we take as many of these bastards with us as possible, Mirielle prays silently. Outloud, she shouts advice to her allies: "We have to take the lashemoi out now. Everyone else is an afterthought."

As though to emphasize the sentiment, she shouts a word that is very near to the dark speech and two bolts of congealed darkness spring from her hand toward the wrinkled abomination. The first she imbues with a bit of guidance while the second she prays to hit.

Spoiler

Show

Swift action: DMM quickened true strike.
Standard action: Cast darkbolt, both bolts at the lashemoi. Each hit forces a DC 15 Will vs. stunning.

1st: (1d20+24)[25] (2d8)[6]
2nd: (1d20+24)[39] (2d8)[5] Actually +4, so 19.

Move action: Move to J18

Kelemvor, if this is not our time, preserve us from this evil. If this is our time, may we pass quietly and with dignity. And may we take as many of these bastards with us as possible, Mirielle prays silently. Outloud, she shouts advice to her allies: "We have to take the lashemoi out now. Everyone else is an afterthought."

As though to emphasize the sentiment, she shouts a celestial phrase of defiance and another gout of radiant shards bursts from her hands toward the cultists.

[TheFallenOne]

Alaister kills another cultist, the upswing cutting through his groin and the thus provoked wail quickly silenced when he splits the man's skull with the rebound. The last one, frustrated with a near-perfect thrust stopped by an invisible force before reaching Cael's vitals, turns his attention instead to the defenseless Jorran, stabbing downward through his left eye with an unpleasant, wet sound.
The Lashemoi on the other hand turns his attention to Cael, unleashing on the elf with a blind ans desperate fury fueled by his many wounds, but some of them already closing after his last assault on Jorran.

Spoiler

Show

[coup de grace]4d6+6[/roll]
well, Cael has an AoO for this, so one chance to save the overeager Luskanite. You need to beat AC 18 and do 8+ damage.

P2 tries to move (1d20)[3]

U is angry
(1d20+13)[27] (1d4+8)[12]
(1d20+13)[31] (1d4+8)[10]
(1d20+11)[23] (1d6+7)[13]

caltrops on Alaister (1d20)[11]

[Jeff the Green]

Mirielle sees the cultist prepare to end Jorran's life. She sees the evil-looking blade begin to jab toward his eye. And she knows the unpleasant fate that awaits him at Fury's Heart, to be transformed into something utterly cruel, a mockery of humanity. True, Jorran was not the gentlest of souls in life, but he was not that. And moreover, he is her friend.

Mirielle does something she has never done before. With fists clenched and eyes shut, she throws her head to the cosmos and sends out a thought. Let this not be his time! She sends out the thought with no care to who receives it. Just so long as someone does.

[TheFallenOne]

It seems Mirielle's incantation comes too late, and the ripper is plunged through Jorran's eye, causing a sickening crunch when the tip pierces through the back of his skull. Then suddenly, Jorran's hand snaps up and grabs the haft of the weapon, the remaining eye staring at the cultist with intense focus. He recoils in fear and let's go of the weapon, a curse on his lips.

Spoiler

Show

Jorran benefits from Delay Death, except he retains consciousness
he still takes damage from the attack though (4d6+6)[13]

[Sallera]

Distance doesn't dull Aya's vision of the impact. A sniper's eyes saw more than they wanted to, at times. Yet just as she is prepared to cross another name off its temporary place in her heart - one more comrade, killed in an ambush gone wrong - up he rises, the wound obviously fatal and doing nothing to slow him. What magic are you working now, Miri? Is this even your doing?

She heard Mirielle's call, but the wounded cultist is still in her way, and even putting that aside, he ought to die for what he'd just tried. Vicious streaks of flame fly through the twilight, one marked for the panicking cultist and one, with luck, bearing the name of his lashemoi friend.

Alaister takes full advantage of the opening Jorran's uncanny resurrection grants him, lunging forward and slicing across the lashemoi's neck.

Spoiler

Show

Aya takes a Rapid Shot with dragonsbreath arrows. L3, and then U if he falls.
Attack 1: (1d20+9)[28]
Damage: (1d6+3)[4] + 1 fire + 1 electricity, DC15 Reflex or catch fire for (1d6)[5]
Attack 2: (1d20+9)[22]
Damage: (1d6+3)[6] + 1 fire + 1 electricity, DC15 Reflex or catch fire for (1d6)[6]

Alaister moves to K15 and Steely Strikes U with an inspiration point. (-4 AC again)
Attack: (1d20+10)[28]
Damage: (1d8+6)[10]

[Frog Dragon]

Jorran lets the grooved shortspear fall out of his left hand as he grasps the greatsword tighter with his right. I'm alive. The man who should have done him in was disarmed, but the beast that had brought him low in the first place was still looming over him. He was alive, but not safe. Though the adrenaline had only quickened with the wound he was not sure how had survived, even he saw that he should retreat. But even with his own blood in his eyes, he saw that there was no way to go without inviting the clawed creature to attack him again when he next lapsed in his defense.

Letting the ripper drop to the floor, Jorran puts his left hand on the amulet hanging from his neck. It could give him the breathing room to survive the fight, and perhaps, with help, after it. He whispers a command word and puts his left hand on the greatsword. Seeing Alaister move towards the Lashimoi as well, Jorran swings at the creature's side.

Spoiler

Show

Swift Action: Amulet of Tears, 3 charges. That puts me at -13 hp, with 24 temp hp
Standard Action: Attack Lashimoi
Attack: (1d20+9)[12] (From prone, and that includes the flanking bonus. It seems like I can't actually tumble out of prone, and I don't want to risk eating more AoO:s from our friend Lashimoi here)
Damage: (2d6+7)[16]

[Jeff the Green]

Mirielle's eyes go wide with shock and a more than a little fear at Jorran's revival, but she quickly thrusts those doubts to the back of her mind and goes for broke.

She drops her morningstar and steps deliberately toward the lashemoi. She draws the net carefully folded at her waist, and then, with a word of power, lashes it at the beast.

Spoiler

Show

With a swiftly uttered syllable, great white feathered wings sprout from her back. She flies past the lashemoi, giving Jorran space to stand up, and then up and over Cael's web and when she lands the wings disappear as quickly as they arose, replaced by fires dancing about her eyes. She glances at the horrid creature with righteous anger and hatred and his skin suddenly scorches and bubbles with invisible heat.

Spoiler

Show

Swift action: DMM quickened celestial aspect, initially wings of the astral deva.
Move action: Fly to K7, past the lashemoi, hopefully provoking an AoO so Jorran can stand. It won't help his attack hit, but at least it will make it harder to hit him.
Free action: Swap wings of the astral deva for eyes of the firre
Standard action: Glance at the lashemoi, doing (2d6)[4] fire damage. No attack or save.

[rypt]

The lashemoi's ferocity seems to grow more terrible with every passing moment, a hail of fang and claw pinning Cael against the stall at his back and making it all but impossible for him to strike cleanly at the remaining cultist. The elf can only watch and listen as the ripper is driven through Jorran's skull, delivering a devastating blow no man could have ever hope to survive.

And yet he does.

Cael's eyes grow wide when he sees Jorran reach out and grasp the spear. "Mirielle?" He repeats the cleric's name, only this time his voice is heavy with uncertainty. If Jorran's surival is even the work of magic at all, it is like no spell Cael has ever seen before, and he wonders if it is a thing to be celebrated or feared.

He has only a moment to reflect on this inexplicable turn of events before the lashemoi's claws find a gap in his magical defenses and force him to focus his thoughts on the immediate conflict. Growling in pain, he lowers his hands to the creature's chest and releases a second salvo of arcane bolts.

Spoiler

Show

Standard Action: Cael casts Magic Missile again.

Damage: (3d4+3)[12]

[TheFallenOne]

The shocked cultist has only moments to contemplate what happened before Aya's arrow brings him down, sending him to the ground burning and unmoving. The second arrow though breaks on the Lashemoi's hard skin without effect, and when Mirielle's web ensnares him he trashes around in anger and fear, striking at everything around him indiscriminately. The countless wounds from blade and spell covering him should have brought him down by now, but an animalistic fury keeps him moving.

Spoiler

Show

Adjusted Alaister's move to K16, as K15 is webbed

P2 tries to move (1d20)[5]

Attack Alaister (1d20+12)[22] (1d4+9)[10]
Attack Cael (1d20+12)[31] (1d4+9)[10]
Attack Jorran (1d20+10)[23] (1d6+8)[10]

[Sallera]

Things were looking a little better, but they were wasting time, and Aya had no idea how long Jorran was going to be able to keep fighting with that spear in his eye. After taking a quick look behind and around, she lines up another two shots.

Alaister takes a deep breath, refocusing himself and letting the tension of the battle flow out of his body as he makes a single, measured cut.

Spoiler

Show

Yeah, K16 is what I meant to write. <<;;

Aya Rapid Shots U, normal arrows.
Attack 1: (1d20+9)[13]
Damage: (1d8+3)[11] + 1 electricity
Attack 2: (1d20+9)[19]
Damage: (1d8+3)[7] + 1 electricity

Alaister recovers maneuvers and attacks U.
Attack: (1d20+6)[11]
Damage: (1d8+1)[5]

[rypt]

Cael's body twists in pain as the lashemoi's claws find their mark once more. Returning the savage blow with yet another barrage of magical energy, the arcanist wonders how much more punishment the creature can take. Could whatever power is prolonging Jorran's life be prolonging the lashemoi's as well?

Spoiler

Show

More Magic Missile.

Damage: (3d4+3)[9]

[Jeff the Green]

As the lashemoi continues to stand and attack her friends and allies, Mirielle realizes that she has to do something to give Jorran enough time and space to stand up and beat the creature down. If he keeps being cut up by the lashemoi's claws, she won't have time to heal him before whatever, or whomever, is keeping him alive fails. So she drops the trailing line to the net and takes a step back. Then, bracing herself against her buckler, she charges bodily at the lashemoi, trying to drive him back into the webbing.

Spoiler

Show

Swift action: Travel devotion back some distance.
Full round action: Charge bull rush U. Strength check: (1d20+5)[23]

Provokes an AoO; AC 13.

If it fails, pushed back to K17.

[Sallera]

As the lashemoi is driven back, Alaister takes the opportunity to drive a foot into the back of its knee, shoving downward and trapping its leg as its momentum continues.

Spoiler

Show

Sure, IP trip sounds good.
Touch attack: (1d20+5)[22]
Trip: (1d20+6)[19]

[rypt]

Cael takes one last swing at the lashemoi before it is driven out of reach.

Spoiler

Show

Attack of Opportunity.

Attack (including flanking bonus): (d20+7)[12]
Damage: (d8+3)[6]

[Frog Dragon]

Spoiler

Show

Attack of Opportunity: [Roll]1d20+7[Roll] (If I'm reading the order right, this'd be before Jorran has an opportunity to stand, even if he is no longer at a risk of being AoO:d).
Damage: (2d6+7)[14]

[Frog Dragon]

Spoiler

Show

Bah, failed at tags.
(1d20+7)[24]

[TheFallenOne]

Yet another salvoe of magical energy hits the Lashemoi and still he's upright, old wounds healing almost as fast as you inflict new ones. When Mirielle shoves him back into the web she gives the prone Jorran an opening, and he cuts off the Lashemoi's left leg at the knee. He collapses, still struggling in the net, but finally the wounds catch up to him and he bleeds his last. The black wolfhead with glowing red eyes fades away, revealing beneath a gaunt and grimacing face that proves one thing: he died with terror in his heart.

The blonde priestess finally ceases struggling against the web binding her, lowering her head with a resigned sigh.

[Jeff the Green]

Mirielle takes a moment to feel relief wash over her but then turns to Jorran. First things first, though; she examines his eye. Granted, most of her anatomical studies have been on dead bodies, but the anatomy is the same. With a swift pull she yanks the cruel weapon from his head.

That grisly task accomplished, she draws her quarterstaff. "You idiot," she says with deceptive sweetness as she raps his ears soundly with the staff. "What do you think you were doing, charging in like that. You almost died—would have died, if things had gone as they should have—just because you couldn't wait to get in battle. Didn't we talk about holding them at the door, letting me blind and wound them while you three keep them from attacking me? Idiot!" Each phrase she punctuates with a cuff to the head with her staff. She's not being entirely cruel, since with each blow she also sends a rush of healing energy that begins knitting together Jorran's fatal wounds.

Spoiler

Show

I know that's not exactly how wand chambers are supposed to work, but I thought it was amusing enough to let it slide. (Doing nonlethal damage, obviously, which heals with the lethal.) Anyway, enough charges of cure light wounds to bring Jorran to at least 10 HP (24 points, I think?, then moving on to lesser vigor.

(1d8+1)[3]
(1d8+1)[4]
(1d8+1)[2]
(1d8+1)[4]
(1d8+1)[7]
(1d8+1)[2]
(1d8+1)[8]
So seven charges brings him to 16 HP + 13 temporary, I think.

Heal: (1d20+3)[15]

[Frog Dragon]

Jorran sits down against the wall as Mirielle starts clubbing him with the staff, seemingly unreactive. He really was a thug. Everywhere he had been, enemies fell fastest to a swift attack. A good offense was the best defense; that was what he had learned. He had lost to Black Sorrow because the monk had hit first. But he had yet to meet a foe who could overpower him at his own game.

"I wasn't expecting that... thing," Jorran mutters. He wondered how he was even alive. He had once seen a man stabbed through the face with a coal poker in Luskan, and he had died instantly. But somehow he had survived the same from a spear. He didn't have many scars, but it seemed like this one was going to stick. "How am I alive?"

[Jeff the Green]

"I, I'm not exactly sure," Mirielle says hesitatingly as she continues patching up her friends and herself, "I prayed to Kelemvor for a miracle, but he's not exactly prone to such acts of mercy. Let the dying die, but die in peace."

Spoiler

Show

Take 10 on Bluff for the "to Kelemvor" part, for 13.

[Sallera]

Once it's clear Jorran is truly alive and not about to revert to his previous state - at least for the moment - Aya hides her bow back in her glove again and crouches down, pulling the camouflage netting over her head. One less target to be seen from the road. More importantly, this would be exactly where she'd make a break for it if she were trapped in that barn - the moment of relaxation after the tension of combat fades, when the weariness sets in and the attention wavers. Sorrow would know of such things as well.

[rypt]

With a grimace, Cael crouches down and picks up the spear that Mirielle pulled from Jorran's eye. After testing the weapon's weight and balance, and running a finger along its blade, he shakes his head in disbelief. "Unbelievable. Someone was looking out for you," he says with a smile and a humorless chuckle. Patting Jorran on the back, he leaves Mirielle to tend to the Luskanite's wounds while he searches the bodies of the fallen for anything they might use against Larshon and Black Sorrow.

Spoiler

Show

Cael will cast Detect Magic, focusing on the bodies of the dead. He is still holding the ripper.

[TheFallenOne]

Cael finds half a dozen potions on the cultists, as well as a doeskin pouch filled with rather unremarkable pebbles on the Lashemoi. Then, a minute after the conclusion of the fight, you hear the sound of breaking glass on the other side of the barn. The hay catches on fire, spreading fast.

Spoiler

Show

5x potion with faint Conjuration aura
1x potion with faint Abjuration aura

bag with faint Transmutation aura

[rypt]

Cael has just begun to collect the potions when he notices the flames raising above the web. "Alchemist's fire?" He wonders out loud. Or maybe a window... Realizing Aya made not have heard the sound, he turns to the door, his voice raised, "Broken glass, back of the barn!" Packing the remaining potions away far more hastily than he would have liked, he points to the remaining priestess. "Someone watch her. I will dismiss the webbing."

Alaister, knocking an arrow, seems happy to oblige the request.

Spoiler

Show

Cael will put the potions and the pouch into his backpack and then dismiss Web.

Readying actions outside of combat is gray area, but if possible, that's what I'd like Alaister to do. In the event the priestess does anything that could be perceived as hostile (casts a spell, raises a weapon, etc.), he will shoot her.

How many ticks of Lesser Vigor does Cael get before the fire starts?

[Jeff the Green]

Mirielle does keep an eye on the Loviatan, but cocks an eyebrow at Alhruar. "Why?" she asks. "Surely that's what they expect, and we have no idea who's behind there."

Though the fire hasn't come even close to them yet, sweat is beginning to bead up on Mirielle's forehead. Her heart is racing, and her hands nearly shaking. She raises one hand and mutters an incantation, and water pours from the roof onto the flaming hay.

Spoiler

Show

Cast create water. I assume the sentence "Water can be created in an area as small as will actually contain the liquid, or in an area three times as large—possibly creating a downpour or filling many small receptacles" overrides the usual restriction of Conjurations that they can't create something unsupported.

[TheFallenOne]

The web disappears just as another flask of oil breaks, allowing the fire to spread further. On the other side of the barn, the targets of your attack are revealed: the familiar Black Sorrow, staring at you without any hint of emotion and Stavra Larshon, a lightskinned woman of remarkable beauy with fiery red hair flowing down her back. She holds a scourge at the ready, a mischievous smirk on her lips. "Better finish this quick, don't think you have long until the fire and your lightshow there draws unwanted attention. Next time you bring guests do be a dear and warn me, Sorrow. I don't think I'm very fond of them." Next to them stands a misshapen monstrosity with a tortured body, bearing the marks of flaying, burning and many other pains that twisted its limbs into dreadful parodies. Despite lacking eyes the crature seems aware of you, ready to charge into battle with its spear carved from a single large bone.

The priestess, having collapsed when the web disappeared, points at Jorran with a shaking finger. "Marrik stabbed that one all the way through the face, and it didn't even take him down!" Stavra frowns, but the monk is undeterred. "Was mortal enough when faced him last."

Spoiler

Show

You are out of range with Create Water while the web's still there

W looks like this. Planes can identify it.
S is Stavra Larshon
B is Black Sorrow

Aya
Alaister
Baddies
Jorran
Cael
Mirielle

[Sallera]

About to move when Alhruar shouts his warning, Aya breathes a sigh of relief when the web's disappearance reveals Sorrow still present. Tracing a careful sigil in the air, she holds the rest of her body still, moving only slightly with the wind.

Spoiler

Show

Cast Hunter's Mercy.
Hide: (1d20+10)[19]