Shattered Star (IC)

[lostsole31]

R2T28: Ichibod thanks Natalya and moves behind the Champion in Bronze and casts enlarge person on Dorit. Dorit grows to an amazing height of 12' 8" (and 2400 pounds), and in combination with Jolly's spell, her strength makes her a virtual juggernaut. Ichibod takes a defensive posture behind Serafaim.

Spoiler

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Note that "defensive posture" in this case simply means positioning and fluff, because to "fight defensively" you have to make an attack roll at some point in your turn. You probably knew that, but I just wanted to be sure.

R2T25: The Scribe sees the opening created by Jolly and charges the altar shriezyx, committing to the attack. The scribe's ranseur clacks to the side of its chitin.

R2T22: The shriezyx in front of Dorit steps 5' to the side in front of Serafaim, even though it is still easily in reach of the giant woman. It attacks the man with a bite and four claws, but except for one that was dodged, all attacks are stopped cold by his bronze armor.

R2T21: Jolly, you are currently webbed, meaning you are entangled. Your opponent is directly in front of you, and the hapless, polearm-wielding acadmic is to your LtR (Left Rear diagonal). What do you do?

[TickleMeTemplar]

Rezah attacks the same monsters as before with the flail.

Attack: (1d20+2)[18]
Damage: (1d8+1)[6]

[lostsole31]

R2T21: Jolly attacks the same monster as before with the flail, but the webbing interferes with his ability to connect.

Spoiler

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Hey, just so I don't get confused, allow me to put in the penalties and bonuses for spells, effects, and the like. It took me a bit to figure out why you had a -2 penalty, especially when I was going to employ it again.

On the other hand .... for everyone ... fluff normal, rolls in spoilers. If you do want to be specific about bonuses and the like, not them somewhere in the spoiler with the attack rolls (or whatever is appropriate). For example, if Natalya wants to be sure she succeeds on an Acrobatics check, in spoilers with her Acrobatics roll, she could tell me that she uses her special ability.

R2T18: Responding in kind, Jolly's opponent bites at his face, a tooth with venom grazing him for 4 (min) damage. Jolly easily ignores the burning of the poison.

Two claws whip at the Scribe, and he bats one away while the other slashes his L knee for 6. A claw then connects with Jolly along his flail hand for 5. A final claw swipe at the Scribe and he plants the butt of his ranseur on the ground, slides down with both hands so his back is horizontal and a foot off the deck as the claw passes.

Jolly, that dodge - even unbalanced by his charge - seemed like a nearly impossible maneuver for an unarmored man.

R2T16: Bessel, what do you do? You still don't see #3 to the west, only the one on the altar and the one fighting Serafaim/Dorit. Do you move forward to the entrance of the door, or stay near the alcoves? What action do you take?

Serafaim on deck, western shriezyx in the hole ...

[AtomicBanana]

Bessel mixes and throws a bomb at the monster fighting Dorit.

Spoiler

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Precise bomb, designate Dorit and Serafaim as not affected by splash damage.

Attack: (1d20+11)[31]
Damage: (2d6+5)[15]

[lostsole31]

R2T16: Bessel mixes and throws a bomb at the monster fighting Dorit nearly dead on. He might have missed a truly critical strike were it not for some direction from Serafaim. The bomb does a whopping 42 fire damage and burning it badly!!! The creature shrieks in pain and fear and unthinking to its own safety, attempts to scamper to the west. Serafaim manages to nail it for 11 with his crystal sword, and the large Dorit clips it for the same. The thing makes it to the far side of the room and clambers up the wall.

R2T12: "Dorit, protect Ichibod. Ichibod, I know you are webbed by the one 10' from you, but use your fire magic to finish off the one on the altar ... unless we drop it before you. They don't have any hard protection against the creature's attacks .... Though I will admit you are more than I first surmised, scrivener!" calls Serafaim.

He rips out of his webs with brute strength and strides up to the altar to position himself to attack the one at the altar, leaving Ichibod and Dorit behind.

R2T11: The shriezyx on the floor to the west shoots a web at Ichibod, entangling him (again), though it is obvious it is terrified of him and the conflaration that hit its ally. (Bessel is unseen in the passageway.)

R2T10: Dorit, you are in the center of the room with Ichibod. With neither Serafaim nor Ichibod FD (fighting defensively) this round, you are no longer "holding the line." You have an easy charge to the untouched shriezyx west of you, or you can stride up to reach over and help to paste the one at the altar. You still have some intuitive connection that gives you some insight into attacks on the one at the altar. What do you do?

[lostsole31]

R2T10: Seeing three ganged on the one at the altar, it's about time someone got to the uninjured one, and Dorit's not about to leave a yet-again-webbed Ichibod exposed in the middle of the room. Besides, its high time these jumping, dodging, hard-shelled creatures get splattered. Dorit gnashes on her shield to get herself into a frenzy and in berserker rage charges the mid-room shriezyx with all of her might. Her sword crashes into the beast, just barely missing a vital area between large scales, but still doing a respectable 19 damage.

Spoiler

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IA: Rage ... 30 STR!!! 20 + 4 (bull's strength) +2 (enlarge person) +4 (rage)!!!
FAA: Charge, with Power Attack, at reach. +2 attack, -2 PA.

EDIT: Rolled a nat-20, but the nat-6 wasn't enough to confirm.

R2T9: Popping out from the corner to the back of the party ... facing Bessel and Natalya, is ... Atlatia. No one noticed that there were only two derro instead of three above, and everyone forgot that Paxre stabilized one ... Atlatia. Bessel is taken totally by surprise, and unable to use his gunslinger's dodge, and the crossbow just barely manages to get through his thickened skin. He gets hit in the back of the right shoulder for 8 damage ... a sweet spot between bone and flesh. The area of the wound is very cold, but Bessel takes the bolt out and rubs the wound quickly enough for the frostspore poison to be warmed up enough to take no effect. That blue bitch reloads with another blue-tipped bolt, and has partial cover from the wall leading to this passageway.

R2T8: Natalya, before you had to help Ichibod out of his webbing, you intended to cast mirror image on yourself. Do you still do this? You are side-by-side with Bessel. Do you focus on Atlatia and do something to help Bessel ... even if it is to cast your spell in readiness for attack? What would your move action be? In the main room, you only see the one shriezyx at the altar, which is getting attacked by Jolly, Serafaim, and the Scribe.

Ichibod on deck, The Scribe in the hole ...

[Duce]

If the Bug on the wall is in range Ichibod will blast it again with Flame!
And then shout at the Derro “Flee Derro or you will feel the flames next!”

Spoiler

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Scorching Ray
ATK [roll] 1d20+10[/roll]
DMG (4d6+2)[15]

Otherwise he will hit the Derro with Magic Missile

Spoiler

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ATK 1 DMG (1d4+2)[3]
ATK 2 DMG (1d4+2)[6]

And work to free himself from the webs.

[lostsole31]

Still Natalya's turn ...

[TheCyberwoman]

Natalya casts mirror image on herself and draws her sword.

[lostsole31]

R2T8: Natalya casts mirror image on herself and draws her sword. There are now four Natalya's shifting in and out of each other (3 images + herself). She draws her sword and now holds her mithral rapier and silver dagger.

End Round 2, Begin Round 3 ...

R3T28: Ichibod shoot a scorching ray at the bug on the wall. These things are supernaturally fast, but Ichibod's aim - aided by Serafaim - manages to hit the thing for a blistering 24 fire. The thing shrieks as its chitin cracks and splits and the monstrosity falls to the ground.

He shouts at the Derro “Flee Derro or you will feel the flames next!”

"Ichibod ..." says the Scribe. "We already established from Jolly's experiences that she doesn't speak Taldane, only Aklo. But keep chatting if it makes you feel better."

Spoiler: Standard Action (SA)

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SA was used to blast the shriezyx, and doing so was a great job. However, it takes a SA to take an action to detangle yourself. You can move at half-movement, but you'd still be entangled.

Also, "Common" language will be referred to hereafter as "Taldane," its proper name. I've always hated hearing "Common" with no proper name for the most widely spoken language. It always lacked flavor.

R1T25: The Scribe, seeing how difficult these things are to attack with their combination of hard shells and fantastic speed, takes a different tactic. He fights defensively alongside Serafaim if that is the continued tactic while also engaging tactical parries. But to that he does an acrobatic leap upwards and comes in with his ranseur from a height while faking the creature out. All of its speed is for naught, but the Scribe's weapon still misses.

"It seems that you are more than just an academic, Scribe," says Serafaim. "Fine dance moves, but they gained you nothing in the end other than keeping us aligned for defense, and perhaps Jolly as well if he is more careful."

R3T21: Jolly, you are wounded and entangled by webbing. What do you do?

Spoiler

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You have the Scribe next to you FD, with Serafaim next to him. You are entangled (look it up). There is no "5' free move" since 1/2 speed when entangled is effectively difficult terrain.

Shriezyx at altar on deck, Bessel in the hole ...

[TickleMeTemplar]

Rezah strikes once more at the monster on the altar.

Attack: (1d20+4)[21]
Damage: (1d8+1)[2]

[lostsole31]

R3T21: Jolly strikes once more at the monster on the altar, clipping it for 4, his strikes being augmented greatly by Serafaim's leadership and that intuitive feel he seems to have.

R3T18: The altar shriezyx is truly focused on the paladin now, despite the Scribe and Serafaim's presence. Jolly gets a tooth scraped along his chest for 4 (min), and two claws (L thigh, L bicep) for a total of 10. One of the claws snagged into the armor momentarily, but retracted quickly. It seems that some of its attention is on Ichibod and its fallen. Once again, the crusader easily shrugs off the poison.

Spoiler: Jolly, Beware

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Jolly, you are hurting. Check your hit points. Attack until you die is a stupid paladin, not an effective one. Recommendation? Step back 5', and heal thyself. Just a suggestion ...I'm just telling you now in case you go all balls next round. Of course, if you really went all balls, you have other means at your disposal.

R3T16: Bessel?

Serafaim on deck, Shriezyx on floor to west in the hole (out of Bessel's LOS).

[AtomicBanana]

Bessel consumes another extract from his scarf.

Spoiler

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Targeted Bomb Admixture, 3 rounds remaining.

He then hunkers down and tries to keep Natalya's images between him and where he saw the derro disappear.

[lostsole31]

R3T16: Bessel consumes another extract from his scarf. He then hunkers down and tries to keep Natalya's images between him and where he saw the derro disappear.

R3T12: Serafaim says, "Do not be so intent on glory, priest, that you forget your importance. Step back and heal yourself!"

Serafaim tries to swipe at the monster, but with the shriezyx' speed all he hits is air.

R3T11: The shriezyx on the floor hisses and screeches wildly, chatting in the ancient tongue before moving forth to attack Ichibod. Despite Ichibod's impediment, though, his heavy magical protection - combined with the fact that his opponent is afraid of this firecaster - only has the bite getting past the shield only to get stopped by mage armor.

R3T10: Dorit, Ichibod's aggressor is 10' from you (on the other side of Ichibod, who is in front of you) Either you can satisfy everybody's dream-come-true of flanking and splattering Ichibod, or .... ... you can attack the monster at reach or some other similar tactic. What do you do?

Atlatia on deck, Natalya in the hole ...

[lostsole31]

R3T10: Dorit attacks the target with sword, shield, and teeth. The creature dodges the sword, but the shield smashes into it for 16. More to show her ferocity, she snaps her jaws in mockery at the thing.

R3T9: Atlatia puts her palm, fingers up at Natalya and Bessel, and a shrieking noise is heard. Bessel takes 4 sonic, Natalya takes 2 sonic, both are stunned, and Natalya drops her weapons to the ground to hold her hands against her ears to try to block out the pain. (If Bessel had anything in his hands, he drops it as well.)

End Round 4, Begin Round 5 ...

R5T28: Ichibod, you hear this hideous cacophony of sound down the hallway, but you have your own monster to deal with that is adjacent to your webbed (entangled) self (and a Large Dorit behind you). What do you do?

Scribe on deck, followed by webbed Jolly ...

[Duce]

Ichibod starts chanting the War Song of his tribe and blast the bug in front of him with a Fire Ray!!

Spoiler

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ATK (1d20+7)[17]
DMG (1d6+2)[5]

He then, as much as the webs allow, shifts back form the beast. (5 foot step)

[lostsole31]

R5T28: Ichibod starts chanting the War Song of his tribe and blasts the bug in front of him with a Fire Ray!! He opens himself up for an attack by not focusing his power defensively, but his opponent misses wildly, nearly toppling. The monster is amazingly fast, but Ichibod is just able to get it, doing 10 fire. He then, as much as the webs allow, shifts back form the beast. It is too difficult to do so normally without provoking an AOO, but the monster had its chance with Ichibod's sorcery. He does manage to move to his R-Rt, giving Dorit a full opening to step forward to the monster if she didn't want to employ reach. If she does so, however, the creature would have to move farther than it should to get to you, opening itself up for a free smack from Dorit.

Spoiler

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Be careful, when you are threatened, SLAs are like spells in that they provoke AOOs if you cast them and not do so defensively, but it worked out here.

If you wonder why your fire seem to be doubled, here is what you can easily deduce by now. All adders for fire damage are put in first. +1 for PBS, and +1 for Serafaim's command presence = +2. That means 7 damage. However, they are vulnerable to fire and take +50% from fire attacks (rounded down), so +3. That's 10 fire. However, and I see you didn't count it (and that's good), this is an SLA, not a spell, so your Havoc of the Society doesn't apply here .... which you didn't so you probably knew that rather than overlooked it. The monsters are frightened of fire, and in some cases run at first, but they get over it quick and attack the fire caster with fury .... but still scared enough to be distracted (aka, "shaken").

Get a fire hot enough and you discover the univeral truth.

Everything burns.

R5T25: Once again, the Scribe goes for an acrobatic leap, but the combination of the creature's prowess, power, and speed almost gives it a chance to bite at ... nothing, as the maneuver is actually a dupe. Its agility for naught, still its shell turns his ranseur.

R5T21: Jolly, you are webbed and facing the monster, but you also have some nasty wounds. What do you do?

[TickleMeTemplar]

Rezah retreats to the safest place near the Scribe and the Bronze Warrior.
"It is no more than a flesh wound..." he grunts in contempt to the Bronze Warrior.

Spoiler

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Full Round Withdraw action. Since we don't have a map or a grid, put the bronze guy between me and any mobs.

[lostsole31]

R5T21: Rezah retreats to the safest place near the Scribe and the Bronze Warrior, in a short diagonal behind Serafaim.

"It is no more than a flesh wound..." he grunts in contempt to the Bronze Warrior.

"You are too fine a vessel of your god's will in this world than be sent to quickly in the next," says Serafaim. "And I know the shriezyx 10' behind you has too much else to worry about."

R5T18: The monster snaps its jaws at the Scribe while a claw clacks off of the bronze shield. In his last attack the Scribe committed to attack, and the second claw slashes across his belly for 5. The last two claws strike at the Scribe but he leaps over them.

R5T16: Bessel is still reeling from the sonic blast.

R5T12: Serafaim crits his opponent (1 pt shy of an uber-crit) with his glowing crystal sword for 35, and the glow of his sword goes away. The shriezyx is barely standing and wobbly.

R5T11: Not giving up its own safety for fear of the firecaster, it goes all in to attack the raging behemoth in front of it. In its entire sequence, only two claws manage to get past Dorit's super-size armor and shield, along her right intercostal and just inside her left shield arm for a total of 11.

R5T10.5-.3: A bomb appears from practically nowhere and hits Bessel on the back of the hand for 8 acid.

At the same time, Natalya feels a nasty bite at her ear for 3, and another equally painful bite on her buttocks for 3.

[TheCyberwoman]

Spoiler

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Saving throws:

(d20+4)[6]

(d20+4)[6]

[lostsole31]

R5T10.3 (Cont'd): There is a numbing warmth spreading out through Natalya's hip-groin-legs, as well as her ear-head-torso-arms, and she falls. From Natalya's perspective, things go blurry and she falls in a dream-like, soft state.

Bessel and Ichibod (not Dorit, because she's too tall to see down the passageway), you see Natalya (and her images) drop to the ground as if fainting. It doesn't seem like a death-fall, but unconsciousness. Meanwhile, three creatures appear. The first is a wild-looking derro woman that looks like she is better outfitted than Atlatia, and her face is a form of beauty contorted by insanity lunacy; this woman appears right in front of Bessel. Meanwhile, hovering around Natalya's multi-imaged form are two creatures - half the size of Bessel himself - that look vaguely like this new derro woman; these little beasts both have blood in their toothy grins, and flap about on little bat wings.

Spoiler: Bessel

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Because you read through Atlatia's readings, this fourth derro must be one she might have referred to once as Magister Khrysm.

R5T10: Dorit, you don't know the conditions of the hallway battle (other than the fact that there appears to be one) because of your height. But you do have your current opponent still threatening and willing to scuttle around to get to Ichibod.

What do you do?

[nasus]

Dorit will step in the way to block the monster from getting to Ichabod and slice with her longsword.

Spoiler

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attack::(1d20+12)[30]
Damage::(2d6+10)[17]

[lostsole31]

R5T10: Dorit stays where she is to make the monster work harder to get to Ichabod. She slices with her longsword, rocking it for 17.

Spoiler

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Being in the center of the room, the best you can do is just stay where you are. You are 10' x 10', nd you cannot occupy a 5' square if other spots aren't clear. Basically, you are a big, dangerous tree to the shriezyx if it makes a move for the archer, but a means of hopping about with a chance of cover for Ichibod.

R5T9: Atlatia bounds forth to Magister Khrysm's side while drawing her short sword (now Fr-L of Bessel). She giggles and babbles in some mad language that Bessel guesses is Aklo, and her short sword seems to be poised to stab down into Natalya's head (or heads, in the case of the images). Despite this she is completely aware and the battle down the hallway, yet she snickers nervously.

End Round 5, Begin Round 6 ...

R6T28: Ichibod, on one hand you are webbed and are having to shuffle your entangled self around Dorit to keep the shriezyx from getting right at you without it opening itself to Dorit's fury. On the other hand, you can see 35' down the above-metioned seen. The passageway is now a haven for female derros, both normal Small-sized and now tiny winged ones as well. Atlatia, whom you recognize from the first battle, is without a doubt poised to kill Natalya, though she might fail with Natalya's mirror image still running.

And, oh yeah, I mention again, you're still webbed. What do you do?

The Scribe on deck, Jolly in the hole ...

[Duce]

Ichibod shuffles further around Dorit, to put as much of her between him and the bug as he can, while still seeing Atlatia, whom he blasts with a double shot of Magic Missile!

Spoiler

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Standard MM - Standard (1d4+1+1 force)

Atk 1 DMG (1d4+2)[4]
Atk 2 DMG (1d4+2)[3]

[lostsole31]

R6T28: Ichibod shuffles further around Dorit, to put as much of her between him and the bug as he can, while still seeing Atlatia, whom he blasts with a triple shot of magic missile! Ichibod enjoys that microsecond of a successful shot when he realizes to his horror that the his spell didn't seem to do anything to it.

R6T25: The Scribe successfully fakes out the opponent, but as he stabs at the thing his ranseur gets caught in a nook on the top of the altar. It is too late for the once lauded "Crit-alope" to stop and as it stiffens it then pops up. He just manages to get his arm up in time to keep from doing real damage, but the metal haft rings his bell and dazes him. He suddenly seems to not be really aware of what is going on ....

Spoiler: Which sucks, because ...

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...that keeps him from FA-speaking tactics. Oh, well.

R6T21: Jolly, you are behind the bronze warrior right now, and the dazed Scribe is to your RFt (Right-Front), with the shriezyx directly in front of him. You are still heavily wounded. You knew from your position before of the hallway battle, but once you got behind the Bronzo Bozo you lost the sightline so you are unaware of Natalya's current dire peril. Just as well, if you double-moved you would only just get there, meaning your focus is more where you are now. What do you do?

Altar shriezyx on deck, Bessel in the hole ...

[TickleMeTemplar]

Rezah uses Lay on Hands on himself.

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Heal: (2d6)[8]

Rezah then casts Protection from Evil on the Scribe and attempts to brace him after the fumble.

"Careful, Scribe."

[lostsole31]

R6T21: Jolly looks to Sarenrae's power within and healing power courses through his shield hand to one of his wounds for 8 healing. He still sports plenty of wounds, but no longer seems to be lagging with them.

Rezah then casts a protection from evil on the Scribe and attempts to brace him after the fumble. "Careful, Scribe."

R6T18: It is obvious from its ichor and its cracked shell and even some of its gooey white "meat shredding come out of various parts that the altar shriezyx cannot long last. Though still frightened of Ichibod in the center, it makes a last ditch effort to take something down with it ... and it may as well be the foolish, unarmed man that dinged himself in the head. For all of its viscious whirlwind of attacks, however, it seems that the man's incredible defensive prowess exists even in this state. While not as acrobatic, the Scribe seems to unconsciously slide just out of an attack here, and there, and a slight deflection from an unknown force or with his ranseur. It is as if he possesses a sixth sense. Ne'erthless, a claw slices across his belly for 7, just missing catching intestines for a crit.

R6T16: Bessel, things are looking grim on your side ... at least for Natalya. Magister Khrysm stands right in front of you, with her aklys threatening you ... and obviously outfitted as an enemy alchemist. Atlatia stands poised next to her ready to shove a short sword through your friend's skull. With the mild resemblance to Khrysm and Natalya going down, you figure that the little flying creatures in her square are two homonculi - magical constructs sometimes created by arcane casters to acts as pets, spies, and lab assistants, and whose bite contains a strong sedative.

You have no weapon in hand. If you stand back 5', you would be able to keep from being threatened by either derro, and the two homonculi are too small to threaten you (FL). The only thing that might vaguely help Natalya is that her mirror image is still going even though she is down. What do you do?

Serafaim on deck, Magister Khrysm and her homonculi in the hole ...

[AtomicBanana]

Bessel grits his teeth, sets his jaw, and creates and throws a bomb at Atlatia.

Spoiler

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Attack: (1d20+12)[16]
Damage: (1d6+10)[11]
Extra damage: (1d6)[6]

[lostsole31]

R6T16: Bessel grits his teeth, sets his jaw, and creates and throws a bomb at Atlatia, hitting her in the left upper arm for 18 fire, with the two derro missing with their AOOs.

R6T12: With a mighty blow, Serafaim does 19 (max normal) to the altar shriezyx, vanquishing it!

R6T11: Enraged and frightened, the shriezyx simply lashes out at Dorit. The monster bites into Dorit's right shoulder, but only a little bit gets through her armor for 4. Dorit's fury and large size, however, only serves to push through poison through her metabolism quickly, affecting her body before her body's resistance's can adequately defend, and she takes 1 STR damage. Only its fear keeps it from penetrating with its first claw; the second claw is such a miss it nearly overexerts itself; the third claw, again, can't get through because it is shakened. It is the last claw that tears the back of her last calf with a 13-crit.

R6T10.5-.3: Magister Khrysm stares at Bessel with hatred, sees he is unarmed, and her wrathful face turns into a cruel smile. She cackles softly and gives an order to Atlatia. Khrysm takes her time to strike down at Natalya, and an image disappears. Had Natalya's spell not been active, the leader's aklys might have caved in your friend's head.

The little homonculi follow suit, attempting coups des graces on Natalya. An image goes away with the first attempt, leaving only one image remaining. The gods are with Natalya, and perhaps she truly is destined for something, for her images are gone with the second attempt and she is unscathed. But, to reiterate, her images, her spell, is gone.

R6T10: Dorit, you are poisoned, though your vast strength easily shoulders the pain. You took some wounds, but not terribly. Your foe is now the last of the shriezyxes. What do you do?

Atlatia on deck, Ichibod in the hole ...

[nasus]

Dorit attacks with a mighty blow, hoping to finish the thing off.

Spoiler

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attack: (1d20+12)[19]
Damage: (2d6+13)[21]