Servants of the Thrallherd IC [3.5, high speed]

[Autopsibiofeeder]

Joas

The troglodyte cave is a mile, maybe two behind them, so Joas considers them safe from troglodyte ambush. "We can look for a suitable place to camp here, no?"

[BelGareth]

Rex nodded in agreement, Roger was still strong, but he could tell the horse could use a rest.

[Ragnarok'n'Roll]

Grassis

Grassis nods in agreement though he was still invisible. "Yes, we should camp. I doubt the Trogs can sneak up on us even if they wanted. We should do double watchers again just in case."

[J-H]

You look around at the trail in front and behind of you; it goes along a rocky, sloping hillside. There are occasional scrubby trees, but no water in sight; if you make camp, you'll have to water the horses yourselves, and will be exposed to whatever the wind blows in during the night. If you make a fire, it'll be visible for miles, so this might be a cold and dreary night.

Spoiler

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Anyone have a tent?

Go ahead and camp?

[Feathersnow]

ZrabHas.

Back in Limbo, we had deal with far worse. You Material Plane guys have it easy. Kip up!

Forced cheeriness abounds in her voice. She hates this as much as everyone else, possibly more.

[BelGareth]

Rex snorted, she was right of course, but this didn't make this any better, and wouldn't make his back not hurt in the morning.

"We need to rest, either way, this isn't going to be fun, we need to pack it up, and suck it up, we're not here for our entertainment." he says, as he dismounts, and moves Roger to the side where he thinks the horse will be well suited, against the wind, and then ties him up before prepping the camp sight.

[J-H]

The group spends a chilly and windy night on the side of the mountain. If the weather gets any colder, the horses will need some protection or will start taking cold damage during the 3 coldest hours of the night. The cold keeps you from sleeping well, and you hear the distant noises of animals throughout the night. You rise with the sun, riding east above the fog-laden valleys.

After two miles of riding, you come down a ridgeline to a cleft in the mountains; the trail is steep enough that those who aren’t skilled riders must dismount, and only quick reflexes prevent a couple of slides. After going down, you continue on into a forested area. It ends abruptly at a mist-covered pond. A herd of elk is nearby, and they notice your approach. Most of them flee, but a huge bull elk takes exception to your presence. He bellows loudly and shakes his horns, which have a span longer than a horse, in challenge.

Spoiler

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When I say huge, I mean Huge.

[Ragnarok'n'Roll]

Grassis

"We should try avoiding eye contact and go around I guess." he whispers to the group. The cold night seemed inconsequential to Grassis.

Spoiler

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Re-apply invisibility in the morning.


He also uses endure elements every day via eternal wand so he's good down to - 50 F.

[J-H]

Spoiler: loot

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That reminds me - 1 charge of eternal wand used this morning to ID the brooch as a Brooch of Shielding with 22hp of Magic Missile absorption left

[BelGareth]

"Agreed, we do not need to fight this creature if we don't have to." he says, from on top of Roger.

"Should we back up, or merely skirt around him?"

[J-H]

The group successfully disengages from the huge elk, moving slowly away from it and around the other side of the pond. The trail continues around the mountain, rising only slightly from the forested area. It’s probably a longer route, but at least there are no cliff-side trails where falling means certain, instant death – although there are crevasses and steep drop-offs.

A rumbling noise catches your ears, and you look up-hill to see an avalanche coming towards you, with a large creature coming right behind it! Grassis identifies it as an Avalancher, a magical beast that uses the harsh mountain terrain to weaken or kill its prey.


Surprise Round
Avalanche started!

Round 1, Part 1
(Avalancher wins initiative)

The avalancher waves its legs and stomps the ground, sending out a wave of magical power that Grassis and Zrabhas can both identify as Transmute Rock to Mud.

Spoiler: effects

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This spell turns natural, uncut or unworked rock of any sort into an equal volume of mud. Magical stone is not affected by the spell. The depth of the mud created cannot exceed 10 feet. A creature unable to levitate, fly, or otherwise free itself from the mud sinks until hip- or chest-deep, reducing its speed to 5 feet and causing a -2 penalty on attack rolls and AC. Brush thrown atop the mud can support creatures able to climb on top of it. Creatures large enough to walk on the bottom can wade through the area at a speed of 5 feet.

Spoiler: Map

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=> Party

[Feathersnow]

"G'Yup!! Horse! Back and away!"

ZrabHas attempts to turn the Horse backwards and away from the avalanche. It could probably outrun it for a while. Forward is the only bad direction for horses. ZrabHas wishes she knew what she was doing...

Spoiler: Ride

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(1d20+5)[17]

[BelGareth]

Rex urges Roger forward, he kicks the horse as much as possible. Trying to get out of way.

Spoiler

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He double moves forward 5 twice, ending at bm264

[Ragnarok'n'Roll]

Grassis

Grassis spots the danger far too late to warn his friends. " Avalancher!" he calls out. His eyes dart up the slope at the incoming rocks and then down at his horse. A look of pity cross his face.

"Sorry old girl, yer on your own." he gently pats the horse with affection to reassure it. Grassis draws his magical energies around his fist and fires a blast into the approaching threat. He instantly teleports onto stable ground and scrambles to safety, leaving the confused horse behind.

Spoiler

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Attack action: Fires an eldritch blast at the monster.

Ranged touch attack (vs flat footed AC ) : (1d20+9)[24] point blank shot

Damage : (5d6+1)[13] (mortal bane + point blank shot)



This causes Grassis to turn visible.


Free action : activate anklets of translocation, teleport 10 ft to BI - 263


Move action : Move 30 ft to BN263

[Autopsibiofeeder]

Joas

Joas notices that he is trapped in the middle, in the mud, with an avalanche on its way. Fleeing might work, but deciding to do so may also be his death sentence. He thinks swift and comes up with a solution to the problem. That is, hopefully a solution. The "zing" of blades that you heard before can be heard again, as an opaque sheet of ectoplasm forms between the group and the avalanche. It emits a low booming sound. Then, Joas tries to maneuver his horse out of the mud.

Spoiler: Actions

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Standard: Manifest Wall of Energy (sonic) of 60 feet in BA-BM 262, sending sonic waves towards the avalanche. Rocks in line 260 and 261 take (2d6-2)[0] sonic damage, ignoring hardness. Rocks behind are too high up, I guess. Rocks passing through the wall take (2d6+4)[13] sonic damage, ignoring hardness. I guess every bit of rock that comes to row 263 takes that cumulative amount of damage. Don´t know how many rocks there are, and with all their various sizes this is a mess, so feel free to wing something to represent the effect of this power .

Move: 5 ft north and then as far westward as I can get.

[J-H]

Round 1, Part 2

Joas throws up a wall of sonic energy that breaks many of the smaller stones, blunting some of the force of the avalanche. He manages to maneuver his horse out of the mud.
Grassis fires a bolt of energy at the Avalancher.

Spoiler

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Hit for 13

The other two members of the group force their horses to struggle through and out of the mud

Round 2, Part 1

The avalanche continues to grow as it moves downhill; much of it slams into the wall of sonic energy, which breaks the smaller stones and cracks the larger ones, but it still rolls into the party. Especially combined with the sonic wall, the noise of hundreds of rocks rolling, bouncing, and clattering downhill is nearly deafening, and the air is chocked with rock dust.

Most of the group makes it through okay, but Joas's horse trips and falls, sending the human to the ground; rocks and boulders pile up over both Joas and his horse.

Spoiler

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The avalanche spreads in a cone; everyone gets hit, but the damage is reduced from 2d6 to 1d6. Initial Reflex save reduced by -2, follow-up by -4. Stone has 15hp/ft, so anything under 10” or so is destroyed by 13 damage, and boulders over that size become a bit smaller.

Avalanche damage (1d6)[2] Reflex DC 13 half.
Grassis (1d20+9)[25] has DR 1/ci pass & negated by DR
G horse Reflex (1d20+5)[14] pass, 1 dmg
Zrabhas (1d20+11)[18] pass, 1 dmg
Z horse Reflex (1d20+5)[25] pass, 1 dmg
RexThaun (1d20+3)[21] pass, 1 dmg
R horse Reflex (1d20+5)[16] pass, 1 dmg
Joas (1d20+4)[10] fail, 2 dmg
J horse Reflex (1d20+5)[10] fail, 2 dmg
(using Heavy warhorse Reflex)

Anyone whose horse fails its reflex save and falls takes (1d6)[1] damage from falling to the ground, with a Ride check DC 15 to land softly.
Z Ride (1d20+5)[19]
R Ride (1d20+0)[20]
J Ride (1d20+1)[12] fail, 1 dmg

Anyone who fails their save and falls under the rocks must make a Reflex save, DC 16 (was 20) or be buried under the rocks. Buried characters take 1d6 non-lethal damage per minute (once per 10 rounds) until unconscious, and then are at risk of lethal damage once per 10 rounds.
Burial, Reflex DC 16 negates

Grassis (1d20+9)[19]
G horse Reflex (1d20+5)[20]
Zrabhas (1d20+11)[29]
Z horse Reflex (1d20+5)[13]
RexThaun (1d20+3)[5]
R horse Reflex (1d20+5)[8]
Joas (1d20+4)[6] fail, buried
J horse Reflex (1d20+5)[12] fail, buried

The Avalancher rides the wave of rolling stones down unharmed until it takes damage from the vibration emanating from the energy wall. It digs its claws into the ground and stops there, lashing out at ZrabHas with a long front leg.

Spoiler

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(2d6-2)[6] sonic wall damage, Reflex DC 18 half
Reflex (1d20+6)[10] fail, 6 dmg

Slam (1d20+11)[24] vs AC23 hit, 16 dmg
Damage (1d8+9)[16]

Spoiler: Map & Status

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Map only shows edges of the avalanche.

Avalancher 19 damage

G horse 1 dmg
Z horse 1 dmg
R horse 1 dmg
J horse 2 dmg, buried under rocks
Zrabhas 17 dmg
RexThaun 1 dmg
Joas 3 dmg, buried under rocks

The rules don't give definitions for being buried, even when discussing natural avalanches. The good news is that a real avalanche does 8d6 and 3d6 damage, where this one just does 2d6 no matter what!

For manifesting/casting purposes, consider it being pinned (Concentration DC20).

To get free, Strength check DC30 to burst out on your own. The horse takes a -4 penalty for being on its side.
Otherwise, 40 damage (rock has 8 hardness) to rocks overhead, or cumulative full-round action strength checks totaling 70 for others to remove enough rocks.

=> Party

[BelGareth]

Rex dismounts from Roger, trying to jump from the saddle in haste. Joas was down, and Zrab was facing it alone, he needed to get to it now!

Spoiler

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Dismount to BL263, if not possible dismount to BM263, which needs a balance check (1d20-3)[10]

He then casts spider climb on himself as a spell like ability.

[Feathersnow]

ZrabHas stands up in the saddle and leaps at the... Yeti? What it is isn't important, only that it will die!

While springing to pounce, she activates Punishing Stance, then leaps like an Astral Panther at the... Bear? using Claw at the Moon technique to hit the .. whatever.
Either way, I am at a -2 to AC

Spoiler: Jump at the enemy, claw its face!

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(1d20+15)[34] versus AC

Spoiler: Slash with a silver sword!

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(1d20+11)[18]
Damage (2d6)[5] Plus (2d6)[9] if successful at the wild leap off the horse

Spoiler: To confirm Critic Hit!

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(1d20+12)[20] with a +4 if the jump worked
Damage
(1d6+1)[5]

[Ragnarok'n'Roll]

Grassis

A large rock bounces off Grassis stomach, leaving a dusty print. "Oooph." He moves up the slope and tries to get around the avalanche of rocks. He brushes himself off indignantly.

Spoiler

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Move to : BK 261 (20 ft movement via spider climb, stepping up the slope and avoiding the avalanche squares)


Eldritch blast

Ranged Touch attack : (1d20+9)[10]
Damage : (5d6)[21] (mortal bane 2/5)

[J-H]

Round 2, Part 2

Grassis fires a ray of eldritch energy, causing a boulder nowhere near the Avalancher to explode. Zrabhas has more luck, making a leaping sword-swing off of her horse that lets her strike from above.

Spoiler

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14 damage inflicted

BelGareth casts Spider Climb and then dismounts.

Spoiler

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I fixed the order of actions so you don't have to worry about the failed balance check.

The avalanche continues down the hill; Joas’ sonic wall rattles the Avalancher’s teeth, but also catches Grassis as he moves through it and uphill.

Spoiler

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(2d6-2)[4] sonic damage, Reflex DC 18 half
Reflex (1d20+6)[8] fail, 4 damage
I’m moving this to your turn since it makes more sense.
Grassis damage rolled OOC. Saved, 4 damage.

Round 3, Part 1

Rocks continue to rumble downhill, past the party.
The Avalancher steps up and to the side, away from the annoying sonic wall, and lashes out with two legs at ZrabHas.

Spoiler

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In defiance of what I understand the rules to be, this monster is listed as having two slams.
Did ZrabHas get Inertial Armor manifested? I don’t see there having been a chance for it to be up, so I’m going to assume AC 19.
Attack (1d20+11)[27]
Damage (1d8+9)[16]

Attack (1d20+6)[21]
Damage (1d8+9)[11]
both hit for 27 damage

Spoiler: Map & Status

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Avalancher 37 damage

Grassis 0 damage
G horse 1 dmg
Z horse 1 dmg
R horse 1 dmg
J horse 2 dmg, buried under rocks
Zrabhas 44 dmg out of 50hp
RexThaun 1 dmg
Joas 3 dmg, buried under rocks

=> Party

[Feathersnow]

ZrabHas retaliates with an immediate action to burn the creature! Fire Riposte Technique! She decides to deliver it with her monastically trained unarmed skills instead of the traditional touch attack.

She kicks deadly fire at the creature!

Spoiler: roll to hit back as the... Mammoth? gives me two cold shoulders.

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[Roll] 1d20+10 [/roll]
Damage [roll] 1d6+1[/roll] and another (4d6)[9] fire damage

Then she takes a withdraw action to BC 263. She can try to help Joas next turn, if nothing else.

[Autopsibiofeeder]

Joas

Doh! Joas starts summoning a construct to dig him out.

Spoiler: Actions

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1 round: Astral construct (I), trip, +10ft land speed. Appears in 1 round and starts digging me out.

[BelGareth]

Rex drops his shield and lance and swiftly changes his aura to propel those of the party forward if they were climbing.

He then takes to the rough ground and moves as swiftly as possible, around the wall of ectoplasm, and back towards the monsters. He shook his head, when where they going to fight someone who would stand in front of them? That would be too easy though, why take an easy foe, when you can have an avalanche!

Spoiler

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Swift action to emit - Swiftness aura: +10 ft bonus to climb, swim, and fly; +2 to climb, swim, & jump checks
free: drop shield
free: drop lance
Move: move around wall to BL261, right behind Grassis
Move: Move through (squeeze?) to BF261?

He moves with some alacrity, scaling the wall like a spider, using all 4 limbs and with great speed. "I'm coming!" he says periodically, as if he was late for an appointment

[Ragnarok'n'Roll]

Grassis

Grassis fires off another shot, this time hoping to hit the creature.

Spoiler

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Ranged touch attack : (1d20+9)[29]

Damage : (5d6)[11] (mortal bane 3/5)

[J-H]

Round 3, Part 2

Zrabhas slaps one of the Avalancher’s arms with a fiery palm right as it strikes her. The impact deals no damage, but she still succeeds in burning it before she retreats.

Spoiler

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The Avalancher is immune to bludgeoning damage.
9 fire damage inflicted.

Grassis tags the Avalancher with a blast that its it in the mouth, causing an angry grumbling roar.

Spoiler

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22 damage inflicted. Mortalbane is not worded like sneak attack regarding extra damage dice, so I’m letting it be doubled.

Joas begins sculpting ectoplasm together from his place under the rocks.

Spoiler

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Please post what size/level construct it is and how many PP are expended. Astral Construct I just looks like a 1st-level construct, which may not be correct.

Joas’s sonic wall continues to emit energy.

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Anything within 10’ of the wall takes (2d6-2)[5] damage, no save. That includes Grassis and RexThaun. I may have missed this last round. I’m revising the map to make this more clear.
http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/powers/energyWall.htm

Spoiler: Status

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Avalancher 68 damage

Grassis 5 damage
G horse 1 dmg
Z horse 1 dmg
R horse 1 dmg
J horse 2 dmg, buried under rocks
Zrabhas 44 dmg out of 50hp
RexThaun 6 dmg
Joas 3 dmg, buried under rocks

[J-H]

Round 4, Part 1

The Avalancher looks around, then picks a yummy target.

It rushes down the hill at Zrabhas’ horse, slamming into it and shoving it off of its feet and back. It pushes the horse 10’, far enough that the horse is left with its front half over a 10’ drop. Lacking any chance to recover its balance, the horse falls into the cleft in the rock.

Spoiler

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Improved Bull Rush
A Opposed strength check (1d20+14)[24] includes +4 from IBR, +4 from size
Zrabhas’ heavy warhorse opposed strength check (1d20+8)[11] includes +4 from size. Forgot +4 for 4 legs, so 15 total.

1 point of falling damage

Spoiler: Map & Status

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Avalancher 68 damage

Grassis 5 damage
G horse 1 dmg
Z horse 2 dmg, prone
R horse 1 dmg
J horse 2 dmg, buried under rocks
Zrabhas 44 dmg out of 50hp
RexThaun 6 dmg
Joas 3 dmg, buried under rocks

=> Party

[Autopsibiofeeder]

Joas

Spoiler: AC specification

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Aye, I meant a first level construct, 1 PP, with Astral construct I. It is small, Str 15, AC18, 15 hp.

Joas directs his construct to start digging him out. As soon as it appears possible and feasible, he will help by digging himself out.

[Feathersnow]

ZrabHas is really not in a good way. And dying here won't help. She]takes a double move to BO 263, or there abouts, depending on whether she succeeds the balance check.

Spoiler: balance

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[roll[1d20+13[/roll]

[Ragnarok'n'Roll]

Grassis


Grassis fires off another bolt at the large monster. "Hurry up and die !" he urges it. "Ugh!" he mumbles as he gets hit with the sonicwall. He obviously wasn't expecting that.

Spoiler

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Ranged touch attack : (1d20+9)[10]

Damage : (3d6)[9]


Movement, Will move 3 squares East and 3 square south, having trouble making out the exact grid coordinates. Basically go back around the sonic barrier and head back towards the path we were on. Let's say BM264

[BelGareth]

Rex scrambles across the rocks towards the monster, finally getting to even ground he draws his weapon the moment his 2 feet touch the ground, ready to fight the thing in earnest.

Spoiler

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double move to AZ263
free action to draw weapon once standing on the move.
swift action to change aura to power: +2 damage.

AC: 18 (no shield)