Diablo 2 - Act two, The Horadric Staff

[Ernir]

The Claw Viper Temple

The remaining heroes' dying fury not being enough to bring down their foes, the situation goes spiraling towards its inevitable conclusion.

Ravenna is bombarded with dark magic, powerful enough to make her stagger were she at her full strength, but now is simply overwhelming. Adding to that, each of the guards tears into one of the heroes, claws sharp, bloody, and wielded without a shred of mercy.

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Claw Viper Guard 1 full attacks Paavo in the grapple.

Attack 1: Claw attack (1d20+20)[27] for (1d8+13)[19] damage.
Attack 2: Claw attack. (1d20+16)[33] for (1d8+13)[20] damage.
Attack 3: Claw attack. (1d20+16)[22] for (1d8+13)[16] damage.
Attack 4: Claw attack. (1d20+16)[18] for (1d8+13)[14] damage.
Attack 5: Claw attack. (1d20+16)[25] for (1d8+13)[19] damage.
Attack 6: Grapple check: (1d20+33)[48] for (1d6+8)[13]+(1d6+12)[18] damage if Paavo fails the opposed check.

Claw Viper Guard 2 full attacks Ravenna.

Grapple:
Attack 1: Claw attack (1d20+24)[26] for (1d8+13)[15] damage.
Attack 2: Claw attack. (1d20+20)[26] for (1d8+13)[17] damage.
Attack 3: Claw attack. (1d20+20)[38] for (1d8+13)[21] damage.
Attack 4: Claw attack. (1d20+20)[26] for (1d8+13)[18] damage.
Attack 5: Claw attack. (1d20+20)[24] for (1d8+13)[20] damage.

Priest 1 launches a Bone Spear (yes, that's what it is) at Ravenna. She takes (10d6)[40] points of negative energy damage, reflex save DC 19 for half.

Priest 2 launches a Bone Spear at Ravenna. She takes (10d6)[46] points of negative energy damage, reflex save DC 19 for half.

And I think we're done.

[Ernir]

The Claw Viper Temple

Cath and Lymmrik speed through the now-brighter corridors of the temple, hoping that Ravenna and Paavo are right behind them... but that hope is squashed when their final, dying screams reach those flying away.

The flight back to the waypoint feels significantly longer than the trip to the temple.

Lut Gholein

Back in Lut Gholein, you quickly discover that Ravenna has returned from the dead, but to your sorrow, that Paavo hasn't.

Turning to Drognan for advice on where to turn next, you find that his mind is most occupied with the darkening of the sun.
"I was nearly convinced that the lengthy eclipse was the work of claw vipers! I know of references to such an occurrence several hundred years ago, but that was far longer. It did not end until a group of heroes found the temple of the demon snakes and destroyed their evil altar..."

"... oh, that is what happened? You did well!"

While Drognan himself turned out to be of little use, two of his patrons overhear the interchange, and introduce themselves.

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PPR and sonofzeal, that's your cue!

[sonofzeal]

Monk Agam

Before the heroes stood an unremarkable man, tan and simply-dressed, easily mistaken for any of a dozen peasant farmers within sight if not for the blood stains on his handwraps and the faintest glow of energy around him. It would be easy to underestimate a fellow like this, and perhaps deadly to do so.

He bows. "Greetings, travellers. I am Agam, of the Temple of Earth and Heaven, and I wish to join my efforts with yours to end the paths of those who threaten our world, so that new life can take root in their places."

[peterpaulrubens]

Lucius Lancaster

The tall man listens intently as the conquerors of the viper temple tell their tale to Drognan. Like most of the members of the deep desert tribes, his body is lean and hard, and the crows-feet around his eyes tell the tale of one who has grown up in the blazing sun. Despite that though, he is rather pale and remarkably handsome, and his clothes are lavish and elegantly tailored, betraying no signs of wear from the harsh environment around Lut Gholein.

He steps forward, his voice full of sadness as he speaks in the thick accent of the deep desert tribes.

"If y'all are gonna hunt down tha evils that tainted tha land, Ahh'd like ta join yuh. When tha corruption hit, mah whole tribe was laid low, turned inta mindless minions. Ahh had been out searching for a girl that had gotten lost in a sandstorm. Ahh'd found her body in a sand dune, and Ahh'd been twenny feet under the sand retrieving it when the corruption came past. Ahh'd have been turned ta evil m'self if not fer tha fact Ahh'd been unnerground.."

"Ahh have plenty of scores ta settle..."

[Ernir]

Lut Gholein

After agreeing that the two newcomers are clearly qualified to join your suicidal quest to save the world, the new party heads out, this time in search for better equipment. This time the trip takes them to Khanduras, but earlier generations of heroes had spoken of a great smith who resides there.

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Such luck that you all have the Rogue Encampment waypoint!

The Rogue Encampment

In the rogues' encampment, it turns out to be easy to find Charsi, the barbarian-sized woman with the enchanted smithing hammer.

"Oh, you're with them? Excellent! How are they these days? We still haven't finished moving back into the Monastery, the demons didn't exactly leave it in good shape..."

Preferring action to chatter, the smith soon turns to her work - providing the heroes items of magical power!

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For Agam:

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Spirit Carapace
Body Slot: Skin
Caster Level: 20th
Aura: Strong; (DC 25) Necromancy
Activation: Swift (command)
Weight: -

The fist-sized glob of energy is difficult to take a hold of, as if made of quicksilver.

The Spirit Carapace continually grants the wearer a +5 competence bonus on Tumble checks.

In addition, when activated, the skin grants you Freedom of Movement (as the spell) for 3 rounds. This ability functions twice per day.

For Ravenna:

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Soul Clutches
Body Slot: Arms
Caster Level: 20th
Aura: Strong; (DC 25) Necromancy
Activation: -
Weight: 1 lb.

The gem inset in these ornate bracers is uncomfortable to the touch, as if it is making a tiny claim on your soul.

Whenever you score a critical hit while wearing Soul Clutches, the target takes a -4 penalty to its Wisdom score (to a minimum score of 1) for 10 minutes, and you gain a +4 bonus to your Wisdom score. The bonuses and penalties do not stack, altough multiple creatures can be affected simultaneously.

In addition, should a creature be slain within one round of you striking them while wearing Soul Clutches, the creature can not be returned to life through any means, and its corpse is immune to further necromantic effects.

For Lymmrik:

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Entropy Clutches
Body Slot: Arms
Caster Level: 20th
Aura: Strong; (DC 25) Necromancy
Activation: Swift (command)
Weight: 1 lb.

Despite the heavy appearance of the bracers, your body immediately feels lighter as you don them. You must concentrate not to exaggerate all your movements.

While wearing Entropy Clutches, you gain the benefit of the Dodge feat if you meet its prerequisite. If you have the Dodge feat, you instead gain the Mobility feat.

In addition, three times per day, you can activate the Entropy Clutches to move up to one-half your speed as part of the swift action used to activate it.

[peterpaulrubens]

Lucius

Lucius takes a moment to watch the interaction between his new friends and Charsi, then pulls a very fine scarlet silk sash from his pack and hands it to the smith.

"Greetins, dahrrlin. Ahh sure would be grateful if'n y'all could enchant this here sash for me. It was a gift from the weaver woman of my village."

His face darkening for a moment, he continues, "The demons threaded her entrails through her loom and tried ta weave themselves a belt too.. Ahh reckon she'd like me ta be wearin' her gift whens Ahh makes 'em pay.."

[Ernir]

The Rogue Encampment

"That's demon humor for you. You should see some of the things we've found cleaning out the monastery..."

The pair shares a grim moment of silence.

"Or maybe you shouldn't."

"Let's get to work. You'll need to stay here for the bonding to take."

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For Lucius:

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Beast Winding
Body Slot: Waist
Caster Level: 20th
Aura: Strong; (DC 25) transmutation
Activation: - and swift (command)
Weight: 2 lb.

The edges of the fine red sash appear to meld into your skin, although you feel nothing out of the ordinary.

Three times per day, on command, Beast Winding transforms the wearer into a monstrous red panther (use the statistics for a dire tiger), as if by a Polymorph subschool spell. This grants the wearer 30 temporary hit points. The effect can be dismissed as a standard action.
In addition, the belt continually provides its wearer with resistance to fire 10. This bonus is lost (subsumed in the transformation) when the wearer polymorphs.

(Information on the Polymorph subschool can be found in Complete Mage (p. 91), Dragon Magic (p. 60), Drow of the Underdark (p. 59) and the Player's Handbook II (p. 95). )

[Ernir]

The Maggot Lair

Armed with artifacts from the master smith, still hot from the forge, the party finds its way back to Aranoch.

After getting instructions in Lut Gholein to the Far Oasis, the heroes spend significant time searching the sands for the lair of the monster said to have the Staff of Kings in its hoard.

The entrance, once found, is little more than a mound of sand, clearly a den of unthinking critters.
What is worrisome is the width of the entrance. It is easily wide enough to ride a carriage through, a good indicator of the inhabitants' size.

Nothing to be done about that, the heroes loosen their weapons in their scabbards, and head into the tunnels.

The tunnels appear to have been constructed out of the sands themselves, molded together into rough sand-stone that crumbles with relative ease beneath the feet of those most heavily armored within the group.

The tunnels have led the group far beneath the surface when suddenly, they begin to rumble, as if by the approach of something big.

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You have one round!

You were headed from West to North-East.

Map up.

[peterpaulrubens]

Lucius

Lucius mutters a quick spell to bolster his defenses as he looks around for the source of the noise.

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Move: Spot check: (1d20+13)[15]
Standard: Cast Shield.

Normally Lucius will re-cast Shield every 5 minutes (out of a 10-minute duration) so it will be perpetually up, but since I hadn't stated that previously, I'll cast it now.

[sonofzeal]

Monk Agam

The simple man breaths deep, toned chest swelling while hands float up as if drawing the air in - and then the rest of him seems to swell too, expanding to take up a good two-thirds of the width of the tunnel as he settles into a combat pose.

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Swift: Paw of the Leopard, 7 pp.

Standard: Expansion, 3pp to extend the duration. K13-L14

pp: 52/62

[Koury]

Ravenna

Ravenna follows the lead of one of the parties new allies and pulls a wand from her pack, tapping herself with it. She begins to grow much larger.

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Cast Enlarge Person from my wand. Caster Level is 2, so it lasts 20 rounds.

Move to M13-N14, at the ceiling (assuming being at the ceiling allows me to reach the ground with my weapon. If not this tunnel is too damn big I'll stop at the appropriate height. 25 ft I think.)

[SHeRUBI]

Lymmrik

Lymmrik, too, begins to prepare. Producing a wand of her own, human flesh begins to toughen and breaks out into reptilian scales. Her now slitted eyes flash with alertness.

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Cast Alter Self; refresh Blurstrike, Cunning Knowledge, Opportunistic Piety and Anklets of Translocation; recast spells; and stance is Pearl of Black Doubt.

[Ernir]

The Maggot Lair

The source of the rumbling is revealed in an explosion of sandstone, as the wall next to you is ripped apart by what looks like mandibles, each as long as a man. Before anyone can react, one of the mandibles hooks on to Cath's clothing, and the warlock is forcibly pulled into the hole in the wall!
The hole closes almost immediately, crumbling stone sealing it shut and dousing all hope of quickly pulling Cath back.

But there are more immediate concerns anyway.

Two enormous insects come crawling out of the tunnel floor. They have the same black mandibles as snatched Cath, and the rest of the creatures is equally charming - armored, orange plates slide over a slime-slick torso, and the pairs of legs underneath are complete with sharp claws.

They also smell strongly of rotten flesh.

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The tunnel is as high as it is wide, by the way.

Your turn!

Map updated.

[sonofzeal]

Monk Agam

Bounding backward through his allies, Agam seems about to charge straight into the monstrosity's jaws before, with a subtle shifting of weight and positioning, transitioning instead into a devastating spinning strike intending to drive the strange little farming tool in his hand straight into the side of the vermin's head.

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Charge attack, moving to G18/H17.

Boots of Tiger's Leap double UAS on a charge, and I've got three effective size catagories over what's written on the sheet because of last round's prebuffs, so....

Attack: (1d20+26)[43]
Damage: (8d8+15)[44] x2, + (1d6)[2] dessication damage.

[Ernir]

The Maggot Lair

Agam's Kama, swung with the momentum of a pouncing dragon, penetrates the maggot's head as if it were paper, the entire length weapon's blade coming back green with the monster's ichor.

Unfortunately, the creature doesn't seem to have been using its head too much. It screeches, but does not seem to be anywhere close to dying.

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Maggot 1: Barely Injured
Maggot 2: Uninjured

Yet to act in round 1: Lucius, Lymmrik, Ravenna.

Map updated.

[peterpaulrubens]

Lucius

Watching Agam slice into its head with blade, Lucius begins casting a spell as he sees that Agam's wound doesn't faze the worm much.
"MMMMmmmm yeah.. just like a crawdad, Agam! Cut its head off and then throw it on tha bahbacue.."

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Standard: cast Flame Strike on Maggot1, centered at D18. (12d6)[51] damage, DC22 Reflex for half, deals 50% fire damage and 50% divine damage.
5' step to I15.

Current HP: 153
Current AC: 36 (+ light fortification)

[Ernir]

The Maggot Lair

Although the maneuver causes the maggot to slosh copious amounts of slime from its existing wound, the monster moves with amazing speed for its size, and manages to place the thickest part of its plating to block the brunt of the flame strike. It is left with only a few insignificant scorch marks.

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The flame strike did not appear to do any damage.

Maggot 1: Injured (Agam's full damage now factored in)
Maggot 2: Uninjured

Yet to act in round 1: Lymmrik, Ravenna.

Map updated

[Koury]

Ravenna

Ravenna tried her best to recall any knowledge of these large creatures she may have learned.

Still hovering near the ceiling of the tunnel swings her heavy chain downward in an attempt to crush the large insect before her.

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Free: Knowledge Devotion: Nature - (1d20+8)[10] (+1 if they're Magical Beasts somehow)
Standard: Elder Mountain Hammer - (1d20+17)[21] (+ 1, Knowledge Devotion) vs Maggot 2
Damage - (2d6+14)[23]+(6d6)[26]+ 1, Knowledge Devotion

If hit, DC 17 Will save vs Paralysis.

If hit for 10+ damage, Trip Attempt - (1d20+13)[16].

If Trip successful, Attack - (1d20+17)[24]
Damage - (2d6+14)[17]+ 1, Knowledge Devotion

If hit, DC 17 Will save vs Paralysis.

Maneuver Gained Next Round - (1d2)[1]

[SHeRUBI]

Lymmrik

Seeing the newest members of the party target the farthest of the two fly spawn, she singsong-ily cries out, "What say we make a wager on who can take down their buggy the fastest? I bet Venna and me make fast work out of this here larva long afore you're done!" With challenge in the air, Lymmrik takes a moment to study her fetid foe, zeroing in on the slime slick abdomen, the source of its life force. Her course clear, she prepares her blade.

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First things first, Knowledge Devotion!
Knowledge Devotion - (1d20+13)[24]

Standard: move to M12; since foe has yet to act, we can assume the insect is flatfooted, no?

Attack 1 - (1d20+19)[37]+2 this is accounting for a use of an inspiration point
Iaijutsu - (1d20+17)[28]
Damage - (1d4+6)[8]+2 *IP used
Iaijutsu Damage - (6d6)[6][3][3][6][5][3](26)First four count for a total of 18.

[Koury]

Ravenna

"Lymmrik, this is a battle, not a game. This is no place for wagers. Focus yourself, and kill this creature!"

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Swift: White Raven Tactics on Lymmrik

[SHeRUBI]

Lymmrik

"Spoilsport."

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Full attack!!!
Attack 1 - (1d20+16)[30]
Iaijutsu - (1d20+17)[28]
Damage - (1d4+3)[4]
Iaijutsu Damage - (6d6)[4][4][2][5][3][1](19) First four count, totaling 15.

Attack 2 - (1d20+16)[22] *IP used
Iaijutsu - (1d20+17)[18]
Damage - (1d4+3)[6]
Iaijutsu Damage - (6d6)[2][3][5][2][1][5](18) First two count (if a hit), totaling 5.

Attack 3 - (1d20+6)[8]
Iaijutsu - (1d20+17)[21]
Damage - (1d4+3)[5]
Iaijutsu Damage - (6d6)[4][3][2][1][1][4](15)

[Ernir]

The Maggot Lair

Ravenna's chain fails to find any purchase on the monster's smooth scales, and the blow is mostly deflected down to the floor. Lymmrik's more precise blade has much more success, splattering the sands with green goo.

The maggot does seem pleased by that at all, and retaliates furiously against Lymmrik, bringing to bear both claws and mandibles.

The one whose head Agam punctured seems to have something different on what's left of its mind.
Its hindquarters suddenly bulge with muscular activity. It stops snapping at Agam for a few moments, giving him an opening, but once the creature is done, he sees that it has deposited some kind of bag of slime behind it.

He can also see that inside the bag of slime something is furiously clawing to get out.

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Maggot 1 provokes an AoO from Agam, and lays an egg.

Maggot 2 attacks Lymmrik:
Claw: (1d20+27)[37] for (1d8+7)[10]
Claw: (1d20+27)[46] for (1d8+7)[11]
Bite: (1d20+25)[45] for (2d6+3)[10]. If it hits, must make a DC 28 Fort save or take (1d8)[7] Dexterity damage. Also, a grapple check opposed by (1d20+37)[41] or be grappled.

Enemy status:
Maggot 1: Injured
Maggot 2: Barely injured
Maggot egg: Uninjured

Yet to act in round 2: Everyone

Map updated

[peterpaulrubens]

Lucius

Seeing the new arrival in the egg sac, Lucius casts a spell to catch both momma and baby.

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Standard: cast Haboob centered at C19. (5d4)[14] damage, DC19 Reflex save for half

[sonofzeal]

Monk Agam

This beast was durable! But such vermin had to be culled. The masters at the Temple of Earth and Heaven taught that life was sacred, but also that the cycle of death and rebirth was essential. One thing must die that another might live, and as life is defined by change, attempting to preserve the status quo and save every life are inherently futile. Still, some things are easier to kill than others...

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AOO: attack (1d20+24)[30], damage [roll]3d8+1d6+15[/roll], using one Stunning Fist attempt (Will DC 26)

Flurry 1: attack (1d20+23)[27], damage [roll]3d8+1d6+15[/roll]
Flurry 2: attack (1d20+23)[42], damage [roll]3d8+1d6+15[/roll]
Flurry 3: attack (1d20+18)[33], damage [roll]3d8+1d6+15[/roll]
Flurry 4: attack (1d20+13)[21], damage [roll]3d8+1d6+15[/roll]

[sonofzeal]

Rolls + corrections

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AOO: attack (1d20+24)[30], damage [roll]3d8+1d6+15[/roll], using one Stunning Fist attempt (Will DC 26)

Flurry 1: attack (1d20+23)[27], damage (3d8+15)[33] + (1d6)[1] dessication
Flurry 2: attack (1d20+23)[42], damage(3d8+15)[34] + (1d6)[2] dessication
Flurry 3: attack (1d20+18)[33] (1d20+23)[38], damage (3d8+15)[27] + (1d6)[5] dessication
Flurry 4: attack (1d20+13)[21] (1d20+18)[26], damage (3d8+15)[29] + (1d6)[3] dessication

[Ernir]

The Maggot Lair

Lucius' swirl of abrading sands has little effect on the adult maggot, its carapace more than up to the task of protecting it. Its egg, however, has no such luxuries, and the sands immediately start tearing chunks from its soft membrane.

Meanwhile, Agam takes full advantage of the monster's lapse in defense. In the span of moments, he punctures it in half a dozen places, leaving it nearly helpless and empty of vital fluids.

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Enemy status:
Maggot 1: Near death, stunned
Maggot 2: Barely injured
Maggot egg: Injured

Yet to act in round 2: Lymmrik, Ravenna

Map updated

[SHeRUBI]

Lymmrik


Finding herself once again struggling against an opponent's grapple, factotum chides herself.

[SHeRUBI]

Lymmrik

With her foe momentarily distracted by the vindicator's efforts, Lymmrik makes use of her trusty anklets, launching herself out of immediate harm's way and into flanking range.

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Swift: use of anklets
Move: end at M9 (tumbling to this point if necessary)

Insightful Strike, I choose you!
Attack - (1d20+23)[26] *IP used and flanking bonus accounted for
Concentration - (1d20+22)[35]

[Koury]

Ravenna

The clerics divine power surges visibly from her body, lending her next attack otherworldly force.

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Divine Surge - (1d20+18)[38]
Damage - (2d6+15)[24]+(8d8)[38]

If hit, DC 17 Will save vs Paralysis.

If hit for 10+ damage, Trip Attempt - (1d20+8)[9].

If Trip successful, Attack - (1d20+18)[33]
Damage - (2d6+15)[25]

If hit, DC 17 Will save vs Paralysis.

[Ernir]

The Maggot Lair

Lymmrik manages to slip away from the monster, moments before being crushed, and gives it a precise cut to remember her by in the process.
The maggot, in another unexpected display of agility, turns around on the spot to chase her, which finally allows Ravenna to strike at its less protected backside. This time, the chain rips one of the creature's plates off, and Ravenna is rewarded with a horrible screech.

The other maggot is too weak to move, but its offspring aren't. The egg sac bursts, spraying goo all over the tunnel, and revealing three smaller, but still monstrously large, young maggots.
Their claws only look sharper, if anything.

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Enemy status:
Maggot 1: Near death, stunned
Maggot 2: Badly injured