The Savage Tide, Part 2 (IC)

[PSinger]

"Everyone, begin stepping back," calls the rabbi. "Forget your powerful spells unless they have the range on whatever's coming further down the hall. I'm invoking my aura."

Normally suppressed so as not to interfere with other's casting, the powerful aura of holiness bursts forth from the angelic rabbi to a distance 20' on both sides. Eliezer steps back five feet. Since the thing to his side (now forward side) has not yet done much but begin to stir, he casts a spell without worry to himself. The light of the sun bursts forth from his flaming hammer as he points it towards them.

Spoiler: Kneel Before Zod!

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I'm guessing mummy or something. What does he know about them?

Bring up double-strength MCAE aura (+4/ +4, 20').

Step back 5'. Cast searing light. RTA (1d20+9)[27], damage (7d6)[22] divine

[lostsole31]

R1T26: "Everyone, begin stepping back," calls the rabbi. "Forget your powerful spells unless they have the range on whatever's coming further down the hall. I'm invoking my aura."

Normally suppressed so as not to interfere with other's casting, the powerful aura of holiness bursts forth from the angelic rabbi to a distance 20' on both sides. Eliezer steps back five feet. Since the thing to his side (now forward side) has not yet done much but begin to stir, he casts a spell without worry to himself. The light of the sun bursts forth from his flaming hammer as he points it towards it and burns it in the hip for 22 divine damage, a fine first strike.

R1T19: Thunderstriker clops into the chamber beyond.

R1T16: Shouting Tree talks to Ix-Caban briefly, and the great cat zooms past to stand just behind and to the side of Lazer.

R1T15.9: Operating at a high level of fear, the colonists start to swarm into the chamber beyond the best they can.

R1T14: The monster Lazer sizzled tries to get up and Lazer attacks wildly to get into the little crypt area and his hammer is swatted away. The creature stands to its full height, which in truth is not terribly tall. It is 5-1/2' tall and wears a burial shroud that has stuck to it over the ages. What part of its face and flesh you see is dessicated, but not actually decayed. It swings a fist at Lazer and it hits his armor with a loud "whung!" sound, indicative that this thing must be incredibly strong.

Tom, as thing lets out a low moan, you feel all hope is gone and you stand stock still in your place. Your mind is trying to fight through the fear, but the knowledge that this once rich man's soul is now a shifting creature is terrible. What will happen when you are gone? Will the spirits of the north honor your service? (You are paralyzed.)

Likewise, the colonists that see the thing stand in fright and terror. There is nowhere they can go.

R1T13: At the far end of the corridor, another of these things is seen. This one is wearing one of the golden necklaces.

R1T12: "Pyrographers!" Amella curses. She begins a monologue of a stoic woman who knew hope when there was none. After 30 years, her husband finally returned from a shipwreck.

R1T11.5: Shouting Tree, having cleverly waited for the pirate and now filled with wrath (especially since kitty is scared in place), moves forward and somersaults over Ix-Caban to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Lazer. He jams his spear right into the area behind the ear, but Shouting Tree has to push in some to do damage. He only does 6 mod.

R1T11: Tom, you are absolutely terrified. Too terrified, in fact to scream, for this is a type of dead that shambles almost like a zombie but seems far more. The only thing you might be able to do (besides drool on yourself or look like Malcolm MacDowell in CLOCKWORK ORANGE when the conspirators were torturing him at the end) is to change your aura.

What do you do?

Skald, what will you do, because it will definitely come to you, next.

[Swami Monsoon]

Tom twitches and tries to grunt, hoping he can give the others some indication of his problem...

Spoiler

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Switch aura to Toughness

[lostsole31]

Lacking the will to do much more than switch auras, and with the noisy chaos in the hall, it is doubtful anyone knows that Tom is OOC (out of commission, not out of character) as only 6 seconds have passed. Everyone's senses return to normal, and there is a toughening of skin that by now the adventurer's recognize.

Spoiler

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DR 2/ magic.

Skald, what do you do?

[TickleMeTemplar]

Skald flies to the rear guard just behind the good Rabbi. "GET CLEAR!" He shouts. He speaks a divine incantation and a magical wave of water courses from just the other side (where the first monster is) of the Rabbi.

Spoiler: Hydraulic Torrent

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Attack Roll + CMB: (1d20+12)[22]

[lostsole31]

R1T11: Tom twitches and tries to grunt, hoping he can give the others some indication of his problem. Lacking the will to do much more than switch auras, and with the noisy chaos in the hall, it is doubtful anyone knows that Tom is OOC as only 6 seconds have passed. Everyone's senses return to normal, and there is a toughening of skin that by now the adventurer's recognize.

R1T10: Skald flies to the rear guard just behind the good Rabbi. "GET CLEAR!" He shouts. He speaks a divine incantation and nothing happens until suddenly down the hallway, 15' from Lazer, in fact) a magical wave bursts forth and hits the monster down the hall. As powerful as it is, the creature almost stumbles but with great strength keeps its footing.
While within Lazer's aura, all 3rd-level and lower spells are suppressed. As you can see, you can cast a spell but only the effects that exist outside of this aura take effect.

End Round 1, Begin Round 2 ...

R2T26: Lazer, what do you do?

Mummies on deck and in the hole ...

[PSinger]

Knowing mummies to be one of the most powerful undead - hard to kill with incredible strength (do I know about mummy rot?) - Lazer doesn't hold back but puts extra power into his swing.

Spoiler

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Power Attack, -2 attack roll (figured in), +6 bonus weapon damage (also figured). I'll let you do any other figuring from our bard.
Attack w/ Gili-Nachum (1d20+9)[27], damage (1d8+12)[17] and (1d6)[1] fire

Holy aura going ...

He gives a vague and slight apologetic gesture to Skald. "Sorry. I meant use only your powerful spells ... fourth tier or higher. That would've blasted me, though, so it worked out."

[lostsole31]

R2T26: Knowing mummies to be one of the most powerful undead - hard to kill with incredible strength - Lazer doesn't hold back but puts extra power into his swing to slam it into its left upper arm. Most of the blow gets through, but the creature has some resilience (mod 14), but its shroud and skin are slightly singed for 1 fire.

Spoiler: Lazer's Lore on Mummies

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Oh, yeah. You well know the lore on mummies. Feel free to look up the writeup. Good call using your aura, because one hit from a mummy can be far worse than several strikes from a dragon ... and can outlast the mummy as well. Vulnerable to fire, which helps, but it only took 1 because 1 x 1.5 = 1.5, and fractions are rounded down. If the base amount was at least 2, then you would've gotten extra damage with 3. Incredibly powerful slams in addition to mummy rot, hard to get a hit through, resists weapons of any and all kinds ... and hard. to. kill. They just keep coming. These seem different from the ones from desert lands, as can be expected from a different culture. There are no visible canopic jars, and these two mummies have burial shrouds, not funerary wrappings. Mummy rot, for its part, is as much a terrible curse as it is a wasting disease.

He gives a vague and slight apologetic gesture to Skald. "Sorry. I meant use only your powerful spells ... fourth tier or higher. That would've blasted me, though, so it worked out."

R2T16: Ix-Caban is frozen in terror, hackles raised and cowering.

R2T15.5: As if the day weren't bad enough, a third mummy - also wearing a golden necklace comes around the corner down the hallway.

R2T14: The mummy in front of Lazer winds up and with a moan and slams its fist against Lazer's armor.

R2T13: This mummy closes quickly with a charge against Shouting Tree. It just passes the rabbi, the latter thunking his hammer off of its unnaturally thick hide. It comes in already with hand held high and a wheezing, soul-wrenching moan and easily hits the man for 9 mod. The moan echoes as does the other one, but with the soul of a different loss. This time, Amella is there to attempt to counter this terrible ability with her powerful monologue.

R2T12: Amella continues her monologue. She takes a pause to cast a spell. Though the last mummy down the hall was moaning, it wasn't close enough to be overwhelming. Suddenly, while its mouth is open, no sound is coming out.

Spoiler: Lazer, Skald

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The spell is forced quiet, and affects a specific target. It is not mind-affecting, but sonic transmutation. Though mummies, like most undead, are like to have tough minds even considering their immunities to charms and the like, Amella's bardic power overwhelmed. Unlike silence, it is targeted only on the mummy, and doesn't affect anyone else. This is the first time ever this spell has been used by her, let alone witnessed by you. It is important to note, however, that this spell will be moot once it gets in range. The spell will be suppressed by Lazer's holy aura.

R2T11.5: Shouting Tree engages this new opponent, taking advantage of the fact it is off-balance from its charge, but has to duck just inside of the mummy's charge to shoulder-slam it, thus missing with his first attack while the mummy still succeeded on its own. His second attack strikes true for 8 mod in its forehead, but not going in much at all.

R2T11: Tom, you had just recovered from your initial fear. What do you do?

Skald on deck, Lazer in the hole ...

[Swami Monsoon]

"...uunnnnnnnngggggoddamnit!"

Tom finally regains his senses. He steps back from the brawl unfolding in front of him and looks down the hall. He points in that direction and mumbles a phrase. The furthest mummy and a stretch of the hall behind it are suddenly engulfed in an icy mist... hopefully that will delay the straggler and any other possible reinforcements.

Spoiler

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Take 5' step back from group in melee. Cast Sleet Storm in hall behind third mummy, centering it to get the mummy inside without affecting any of the PC's.

[lostsole31]

R2T11: "...uunnnnnnnngggggoddamnit!"

Tom finally regains his senses. He steps back from the brawl unfolding in front of him and looks down the hall. He points in that direction and mumbles a phrase. The furthest mummy and a stretch of the hall behind it are suddenly engulfed in an icy mist... hopefully that will delay the straggler and any other possible reinforcements. It begins to slip as sleet and icy rain pummel the mummy and ice begins to form on the ground.

R2T10: Skald, what do you do?

Lazer on deck, mummies in the hole ..

[lostsole31]

R2T10: Skald takes shots into the mummy, and after three shots the mummy only took 15 mod, and even that is with Amella's outstanding performance. As described, the mummy is tough.

End Round 2, Begin Round 10 ...

R3T26: Lazer? You are seeing that physical attacks suck. What do you do?

[PSinger]

"I am the Rabbi Cohen of the Soul Forger Moradin," shouts the angelic dwarf, "and your services to your ancient evil masters are no longer required!"

With that, a powerful blast of radiant energy washes forth from his holy symbol.

Spoiler

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Channel energy to harm undead (4d8)[17], Will DC 19 for half. Since it's used to harm, it won't heal.

[lostsole31]

R3T26: "I am the Rabbi Cohen of the Soul Forger Moradin," shouts the angelic dwarf, "and your services to your ancient evil masters are no longer required!"

With that, a powerful blast of radiant energy washes forth from his holy symbol and both of the mummies on the front line take 17 PE.

R3T15-13: Lazer's opponent moans in outrage and almost hits him but for R3the holy aura. If not for it, the thing likely would have cracked the angel's armor. The mummy that charged Shouting Tree recently takes a more balanced stance and puts a little more oomph behind its fist and slams into Shouting Tree's chest easily for mod 17. The mummy in the area of precipitation down the hall cannot be seen because of the sheet of sleet and rain.

R3T12-11.5: Amella continues to sing while Shouting Tree goes on the counterattack with his own power strike while fighting defensively like an animal, but both attacks are batted away.

R3T11: Tom, what do you do?

[Swami Monsoon]

Tom moves to strike at the closest mummy, trying to position himself to the greatest advantage...

Spoiler

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Move and attack closest mummy (or Lazer's if I can reach it without AoO from the other... not sure of the exact positioning here). Will try to get into flanking position if there's room.

Attack (1d20+11)[17]
Damage [roll1d6+5[/roll] (1d6)[3]

[Swami Monsoon]

Spoiler

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Rerolling that damage, if it matters: (1d6+5)[8]

[lostsole31]

R3T11: Tom strikes at the mummy across his right in front of Shouting Tree and low to get the mummy in the right left leg for 5 mod/ 3 cold.

Spoiler: Tactical

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The hallways is 10' wide. Lazer (L) and Shouting Tree (R) are shoulder-to-shoulder. Behind that are you (L) and Ix-Caban (R, paralyzed with fear). Above you is Shouting Tree (who is 3D adjacent to the enemy you just strike). You can only attack diagonally to Tree's mummy.

And yes, despite Lazer's concerns, it does seem that the cold affects the brittles (slightly) the hardened flesh of the mummy so it is affected by cold.

Skald, what do you do? Lazer in the hole ...

[TickleMeTemplar]

"Get clear of the undead, I have a plan!"

Skald will delay action until he has a clear frontal cone on the mummies.

[lostsole31]

"I doubt mummies are quick enough in the head to use what you speak," says Shouting Tree as he fights with his. "Ix-Caban cannot get clear right now, and I will not leave her open to attack. What do you intend to do?"

[TickleMeTemplar]

"The StarBow has special properties against the undead. If I unleash it's full potential, it could rip these fiends apart."

[PSinger]

"Let's go," says Lazer as he pulls backwards.

Spoiler: Notes

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I know that I'm pretty much going next after Skald, so this is my action as soon as its mine. Skald has to delay for us, obviously, so initiative continues. I am using the withdraw action so I don't get smacked backing up. Not to bone Tom, but I will be right at the threshhold of the door. Though Tom can pass me, he now has the possibility of using breath weapon or other fun things. I do NOT drop the holy aura. I'm not sure the length of the hallway. If they're in the hallway, that +4 resistance bonus vs attacks from evil will be a huge deal come mummy rot time if it lands a blow.

[lostsole31]

Shouting Tree will make himself vulnerable to he can bull rush his helpless companion back several feet, leaving Tom with a 5' gap from the mummies (and Skald above him).

Skald, is this enough, or do you want to make sure Tom is out of the way as well?

[TickleMeTemplar]

As soon as the last warm bodies of are clear, Skald draws back the string of his bow, no arrow knocked. At full draw, the silvery patterns on the bow shimmer briefly and a silver arrow with a faint glow fades into existence. As Skald releases the bowstring the silver arrow shatters as though it were made of glass. The shards project forwards leaving bright silver streaks reminiscent of shooting stars during a meteor shower.

Spoiler: Starbow Radiance Attack

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Damage: (10d8)[48]

DC 18 for half damage

[lostsole31]

R3T10: "Get clear of the undead, I have a plan!" Skald will delay action until he has a clear frontal cone on the mummies.

"I doubt mummies are quick enough in the head to use what you speak," says Shouting Tree as he fights with his. "Ix-Caban cannot get clear right now, and I will not leave her open to attack. What do you intend to do?"

"The StarBow has special properties against the undead," the druid answers. "If I unleash it's full potential, it could rip these fiends apart."

End Round 3, Begin Round 4 ...

R4T26: "Let's go," says Lazer as he pulls backwards.

R4T15.5-13: The far mummy comes stumbling down the hallway, and is now behind the friend facing Shouting Tree. The really badly damaged one doesn't chase down the flying dwarf with the hurtful light, he simply batters across at his ally's opponent - Shouting Tree - and whallops the tribesman in his left lower leg for mod 12. The one in front of him slams him in the left elbow for mod 14.

R4T12: Amella continues her rousing monologue.

R4T11.5: Shouting Tree tries to acrobatically jump over Ix-Caban so he can pull his friend away, but it isn't enough to stop the powerful undead from getting attacks in, though the beastmaster does do so with total defense. For all of that, he gets hit by both for a total of mod 26. Built more for punishment than offense, the enduring man survives and pulls his friend back.

R4T11.4: As soon as the last warm bodies are clear, Skald draws back the string of his bow, no arrow knocked. At full draw, the silvery patterns on the bow shimmer briefly and a silver arrow with a faint glow fades into existence. As Skald releases the bowstring the silver arrow shatters as though it were made of glass. The shards project forwards leaving bright silver streaks reminiscent of shooting stars during a meteor shower. The one that was in the rear takes the rull 48 radiance; The one that was facing Lazer (and in line with Shouting Tree/ Skald) is blasted away; while the one that was directly in front of Shouting Tree was just inside the outside cylinder of the cone for 24 radiance.

R4T11: Tom, there is now a gap to your forward left leading towards the allies (and the beleaguered Shouting Tree/ Ix-Caban, and another mummy behind that one. There is a 5' gap in front of you to the third mummy, and Skald is above you. What do you do?

Lazer on deck, mummies in the hole ...

[Swami Monsoon]

Tom takes a deep breath and releases his anger and frustration in tangible form, directing a blast of numbing cold at the enemy...

Spoiler

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Using breath weapon (30' line) at whichever mummy he has a clear and safe shot at (I'm guessing that's #3?). If possible he will use a 5' step to line up a shot at multiple targets (if he can do so and avoid hitting any of the party).

Damage (3d6)[5]
Recharge (1d4)[3]

[lostsole31]

R4T11: Tom takes a deep breath as he steps to his right and releases his anger and frustration in tangible form, directing a blast of numbing cold at the enemy. They both take the full 5 cold.

End Round 4, Begin Round 5 ...

R5T26: Lazer lands next to Tom so they create the new wall. A blast of positive energy from him; the lead takes 22 PE, with the one behind taking 26 PE, causing significant damage to both.

R5T15.5-13: A mummy steps up to Tom as Lazer smacks him in the knee for mod 7 and 3 fire, a significant force to keep it from slamming Tom. The other mummy comes around to face Lazer. Tom gets in a thrust with his spear, but his own breath weapon created a little bit of ablative armor that shatters and keeps the signature weapon from getting through. It slams harmlessly on Lazer's armor. Ix-Caban seems to have shaken off her panic.

R5T12: Amella continues her monologue.

R5T11.5: Shouting Tree puts up his spear and takes out his bow.

R5T11.4: Skald, you are above and behind Lazer. There are two, very badly damaged mummies that are outlined with faerie fire. What do you do?

Tom on deck, Lazer in the hole ...

[TickleMeTemplar]

Skald fires his bow at the enemies, switching targets if one drops.

Spoiler

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Attack 1: (1d20+13)[22]
Damage: (1d8+4)[12]

Attack 2: (1d20+13)[22]
Damage: (1d8+4)[11]

Attack 3: (1d20+8)[24]
Damage: (1d8+4)[6]

[lostsole31]

R5T11.4: Skald fires his bow at the enemies. The first two armies drops one of the mummies. He fires a third arrow at the last mummy facing off against Tom, but it only does 1 mod.

R5T11: Tom, the last mummy is in front of you with an arrow barely in it, half frozen, blasted with holy energy, and outlined in a soft glow; but, it keeps moving. What do you do?

Lazer on deck, mummy in the hole ...

[Swami Monsoon]

I hope this is the end of it...

Spoiler

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Tom stabs at the last mummy...

(1d20+11)[16]
Damage (1d6+5)[10] (1d6)[4]

[lostsole31]

R5T11: I hope this is the end of it...

Alas, it isn't as Winterspear fails to penetrate the unnaturally hardened hard of the mummy.

End Round 5, Begin Round 6 ...

R6T26: Lazer concentrates carefully and prays to Moradin and reaches out to blast the mummy to bits of bone, dessicated skin, and ripped funeral shround (CCW, 32 PE).

Combat Ends ...

The party sees no magic, but there are now of those three expensive necklaces. Hard won loot that goes into the treasury.

Shouting Tree, but his agility (though good), is not nearly as good as many others of the party. With having been affected by the centipede poison, the native's dexterity is no better than a normal man's. Lazer prays over him and fully heals the effects of the poison. As the party takes stock of itself and the colonists, Shouting Tree begins to sink in pain, panting with distress as his body takes 3 CON and 1 CHA. It seems he is the victim of mummy rot.

With the level of injury Shouting Tree received in the battle. "Shouting Tree has mummy rot, and healing him is going to be a tough. In the meantime, Tom, your vigor won't work. More focused healing is needed. So I can save some of my healing, can you try some of your vitality touch?"

[lostsole31]

Costing nothing but the faintest bit of concentration before the healing spirit of a noble silver dragon flows outwards from him, it is as if Tom's healing vigor is rebuffed.

Lazer, Tom's vigor aura has no effect. What do you (or anyone else) do?