The Tides that Bind IC

[AlanBruce]

@Kalir: Damn bugbear!

What he may lack in strength, the bastard more than makes up for with his speed. The axe handles itself as well as a hand axe should. It's no Thresher, definitely. Not as costly or as luminous, but for what it's worth, it was hurting Barber before it fell off your hands and clanks on the floor.

"You're finished. Accept defeat and kneel before me...

I will make it quick. Your friends will follow you shortly, so you won't be alone for long.""

Spoiler: Initiative

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The Barber
Kalir

@Camus: Roland shakes his head and quickly realizes the mistake of slapping one of your hands as you give him the stare down.

"Instinct. I'm sorry... it's just that I thought those were disposed of long ago. They are of no help against Daegal and his men. We have nothing else to do here. Unless we find the others on our way, we should be headed to the the Lower Chamber of the Mask.

It is there that the priesthood of Olidammara holds its most sacred meetings...

And its is there where Daegal ought to be. We are not far from the mess hall that will take us to the lift. However, I don't know if we should head there first or scour the temple area and find Kalir, Roscoe, Hannibal and any others we can group up for the fight.

Good thing Ilven took care of one, that eases our work.""

[Cavir]

"Impressive disarm, that must mean I'm defeated eh?" Kalir bends one knee but just before it touches the bars they are standing on he grabs Thresher and put his powerful legs and hips into an upward strike at The Barber's center of mass, from below. "Your problem is I won't run out of weapons to hit you with."

Spoiler: OOC

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Pick up Thresher, granting AoO (unless I can use Tumble with that move action (1d20+22)[40]. Emerald Razor attack.

Thresher: (1d20+21)[31] crit: (on 17+): (1d20+24)[26] (+INT to crit) Touch attack
damage: (1d10+9)[12] + (1d6)[5] Electric
crit: (1d10+9)[18] + (1d6)[3] Electric + Prismatic Spray effect (1d8)[1]

Spoiler: Prismatic Spray on crit

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http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/prismaticSpray.htm
5d8 rolled in case of an 8 or too many 8s. DC 20 for all.
1 Red 20 points fire damage (Reflex half)
2 Orange 40 points acid damage (Reflex half)
3 Yellow 80 points electricity damage (Reflex half)
4 Green Poison (Kills; Fortitude partial, take 1d6 points of Con damage instead)
5 Blue Turned to stone (Fortitude negates)
6 Indigo Insane, as insanity spell (Will negates)
7 Violet Sent to another plane (Will negates)
8 Struck by two rays; roll twice more, ignoring any “8” results.

Spoiler: Status

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DR 3/-
Displacement 20%
+5 STR checks
+4 saves vs fear
Immune to blinded or dazzled
Low Light vision: 2x human
Hearing the Air: Blindsense 30' and +5 Listen
Blind Fight
Shield of Faith potion

Battle Clarity: INT to Reflex saves (not flat-footed)
Uncany Dodge: Retain Dex when flat-footed or vs invisible enemy
Improved Uncany Dodge: Can't be flanked (like Barbarian)
Battle Ardor +INT to confirm crits
Battle Cunning: +INT damage vs flat-footed or flanked
Battle Skill: +INT to oppose bull rush, feint, overrun, sunder or trip attempt

HP: 86/238
DR 3/- (21 of 30 used)
AC: 23 Touch: 16 FF: 19 (Shield of Faith)

Spoiler: Damage

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Eagle Strike: 9 - 3 (crystal) = 6
Fireball: 25 *.5 (reflex save) = 12
Slash1: 21 - 3 (crystal) = 18
Slash2: 42 - 3 (crystal) = 39
Fans: 56 * .5 (save) - 3 (crystal) = 25
Fireball: 33 *.5 (reflex save) = 16
R7 Slash1 17 - 3 (crystal) = 14
R7 Slash2 20 - 3 (crystal) = 17
R7 Dagger 8 - 3 (crystal) = 5

[aReallyGreatAxe]

“Seems like this is the worst possible place to store faulty medicine,” Ilven complains. “What did it do? Hardly looks… sanitary.” He takes the strongest of the labeled potions for himself- after all, that had been a close call earlier, and many of the others had natural abilities to supplement.

“As for the others… we can’t go leaving men behind. I doubt we stand a chance against this Daegal without every ally. Better to search the temple.” And what would a few minutes matter? At the very least they could get an adequate head count of how many Olidamarran allies or Velvet Glove members remained. As Roland indicated, one down, many to go.

[AlanBruce]

@Kalir: Those fans are not slowing down.

But neither are you. You won't give this thug the pleasure of surrender. You are a raptoran. Strongest in the entire City. You have felled dragons way before this bastard was crawling out of a damp disgusting womb in some swamp or whatnot.

And so, you persevere. Since Thresher is close enough, complex acrobatics are not possible to disorient Barber and so, you take a hit, but confident in sweet retaliation against him.

Spoiler: AoO

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17 damage

Biting through the pain, you bash the bugbear on the chest with a back swing, causing shocks of electricity to course through him... but Thresher is unpredictable. Camus mentioned that spell earlier-

It's not easy to control it, unless you were a true wizard... which you are not. The flames threaten the rogue, but his cape brushes them away harmlessly.

"Stupid bird! You seriously think you can win??? Is the Royal Guard that daft?!

I am almost tempted to send your carcass to them with a note once I'm done with you... provided you don't end up minced first."


Round 9

At a guess? Twenty... twenty five feet above you. Those fans are not slowing down. Your training is keeping you alive, whereas any other regular soldier or even a small team of them would have been murdered by this bastard a long time ago...

But your training only goes so far. You walked in here at full strength and this guy alone is giving you a sound beating with all his tricks. You need to end him...and you need to end him fast. Can't allow him to get the upper hand on you again.

"Focus on your death, bird boy...because here it comes!""

Barber strikes three times at you, with one of his blades missing you by a small margin, but that rapier strikes way too close to the carotid.

Spoiler: Rapier Crit

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31 damage

Spoiler: Dagger

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11 damage

He's going all out. You need to make every single swing matter.

Spoiler: Initiative

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The Barber
Kalir

@Ilven: Roland closes the door to storage once the twenty potions have been taken by the group. They aren't that potent, but every little bit helps. If your caster friends here don't need to use more fancy tricks, that;'s more help against the enemy.

"I agree, Ilven- it is faulty. It didn't work from what I have been told. A tale for some other time, I guess. We need to focus on the now.

It isn't my plan to leave anyone behind. I did ask you to assist. Can't just walk away and let you get lost here. Besides...

... you are here because we alone can't deal with this problem. The Chamber below us will have to wait. Let's check the training room. It isn't far from here. After that, the sleeping quarters. Midnight must've split them as far away as possible."


@Camus, Daun & Ilven: The long dim corridors of the Olidammaran Temple watch you traverse through them at a reasonably fast pace- Roland isn't bothering to slow down and check every five feet, except to disarm a few nasty traps along the way. The Olidammarans have their own security measures- simple traps that a mundane might trigger, but he just wants to be as quiet as possible before all of you walk beside a thick glass window and see a shape collapse against it from the outside, cracking it a bit as the moonlight reveals The Crow covered in smoke and blood and hanging on to a gargoyle with one hand as steps are heard on the rooftop above.

She's engaging on a fight of her own, as the Hunter of Hunters looks at all of you and places her hand against the window. If she's saying anything, you can't hear her, using the gargoyle head outside to propel her upwards towards the roof, where gunshots and blade swings can be heard, amidst very fast footing while Roland keeps going.

"That's not our fight. She said she'd handle the Hunters. We have the others to worry about. Let's go.""

It's a long way into the temple when Roland stops in front of a semi large door with the Olidammaran emblem above it and gears places around its edges.

The sound of a nearby fight can be heard from beyond the door as Roland places his ear against the metal door and reaches for his blade.

"That's the training room, but it should not be operational now... someone's fighting in there. Be ready. That place is designed to be deadly when active."

[Chimaera]

Walking the corridors of the olidammaran temple, Camus watch as Roland go on and on disarming traps. How many times have they been attacked to need this much protections? Or maybe it was a way to train their acolytes in the fine art trapfinding?

He is a little bit startled when the Crow crash down.
"Need some help?", he ask her offering one of the potions they took from the cabinet. But as soon as she show up she is already back to her feet and into the fray. Shrughing, Camus just keep walking to this training room.

"If there is someone fighting, it is some of ours or an enemy of the Velvet Glove", he whispers Roland, "Lets make haste.

[Cavir]

Kalir wasn't happy with himself. He should have had this fight done and over with, even with all of The Barber's tricks. Time to refocus and end this. "You keep saying I'm dead but I'm still here. Time for your tricks to end. Goodbye." Kalir focused his strikes on kill strokes with Thresher against those skilled with 2 weapons.

Spoiler: OOC

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Full attack

Thresher: (1d20+21)[22] crit: (on 17+): (1d20+24)[40] (+INT to crit)
damage: (1d10+9)[18] + (1d6)[1] Electric
crit: (1d10+9)[11] + (1d6)[5] Electric + Prismatic Spray effect (1d8)[6]

Thresher: (1d20+16)[34] crit: (on 17+): (1d20+19)[27] (+INT to crit)
damage: (1d10+9)[15] + (1d6)[2] Electric
crit: (1d10+9)[18] + (1d6)[2] Electric + Prismatic Spray effect (1d8)[3]

Thresher: (1d20+11)[30] crit: (on 17+): (1d20+14)[29] (+INT to crit)
damage: (1d10+9)[11] + (1d6)[2] Electric
crit: (1d10+9)[16] + (1d6)[2] Electric + Prismatic Spray effect (1d8)[4]

Spoiler: Prismatic Spray on crit

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http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/prismaticSpray.htm
DC 20 for all.
1 Red 20 points fire damage (Reflex half)
2 Orange 40 points acid damage (Reflex half)
3 Yellow 80 points electricity damage (Reflex half)
4 Green Poison (Kills; Fortitude partial, take 1d6 points of Con damage instead)
5 Blue Turned to stone (Fortitude negates)
6 Indigo Insane, as insanity spell (Will negates)
7 Violet Sent to another plane (Will negates)
8 Struck by two rays; roll twice more, ignoring any “8” results.

Spoiler: Status

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DR 3/-
Displacement 20%
+5 STR checks
+4 saves vs fear
Immune to blinded or dazzled
Low Light vision: 2x human
Hearing the Air: Blindsense 30' and +5 Listen
Blind Fight
Shield of Faith potion

Battle Clarity: INT to Reflex saves (not flat-footed)
Uncany Dodge: Retain Dex when flat-footed or vs invisible enemy
Improved Uncany Dodge: Can't be flanked (like Barbarian)
Battle Ardor +INT to confirm crits
Battle Cunning: +INT damage vs flat-footed or flanked
Battle Skill: +INT to oppose bull rush, feint, overrun, sunder or trip attempt

HP: 36/238
DR 3/- (30 of 30 used)
AC: 23 Touch: 16 FF: 19 (Shield of Faith)

Spoiler: Damage

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Eagle Strike: 9 - 3 (crystal) = 6
Fireball: 25 *.5 (reflex save) = 12
Slash1: 21 - 3 (crystal) = 18
Slash2: 42 - 3 (crystal) = 39
Fans: 56 * .5 (save) - 3 (crystal) = 25
Fireball: 33 *.5 (reflex save) = 16
R7 Slash1 17 - 3 (crystal) = 14
R7 Slash2 20 - 3 (crystal) = 17
R7 Dagger 8 - 3 (crystal) = 5
AoO 17 - 3 (crystal) =14
Rapier 31- 3 (crystal) = 28
Dagger 11- 3 (crystal) = 8

[aReallyGreatAxe]

“I think a Hunter can take care of themselves,” he smiles at the Archmage’s offer of a healing potion to the Crow. And how would he have gotten it through the windowframe in any case? Throw a fragile bottle through the thick glass? Wizards…

Ilven nods and readies his bow for the coming fight. “Better that the cavalry arrives before the fighting ends,” he agrees.

[AlanBruce]

@Camus: So The Crow never left... ok.

You hold out a potion for the Hunter of Hunters, but she's outside the Temple. She bumped into the large window but didn't crash in, so your gesture, noble as it may be... cannot happen.

Besides, these potions are ingested orally. That means The Crow would need to remove that mask of hers and well... secrecy is their thing. If she has a way to patch her own wounds, who knows. She is engaging Hunters up above and from what little interaction you've had with her, she would not want any of you interfering in her fight, something Roland may have deduced already.


@Camus, Daun & Ilven: Roland asks all of you to help pushing the massive door, which budges just a bit to allow all four of you inside and the Olidammaran raises his hand, asking you to stop.

You stand on a wooden platform. This one isn't very big and is suspended by thick ropes tied to iron rings on the ceiling ten feet above you. Beyond the platform, it's a twenty foot drop into very narrow beams that would require expert maneuvering across them.

And thirty feet below those beams, an enormous metal cage dangles back and forth as a menacing set of blades lowers, threatening to end the life of a bugbear...and a very wounded Kalir. The place is dark enough that you can only barely make out both forms, mainly because Kalir's Thresher crackles with electricity.

"This room was not supposed to be used like this. Master Shion had those blades taken out years ago. Same for the cage.""

Roland takes a deep breath and somersaults off the platform you stand on, landing on one foot over the very narrow beams below as he extends both arms for balance.

"I'm going to get Kalir and disable that fan. Keep a look out for any thugs coming through the door. I'll help him deal with that guy.""


@Kalir: Time for this to end.

For all his tricks, this bugbear is a cutthroat. And those get put down. Hard!

Thresher smashes The Barber once, injuring him, but not as bad as you;d like. Again, Thresher is unpredictable and clearly conspiring against you:

Any other foe struck by your mace would have been fried to death. Barber is not in top condition after the fight and had it been some other effect, he'd be dead long ago.

But this monster is a rogue. An elite member of the Velvet Glove, as he likes to boast. That immense electric surge? Washes through him as the assassin brushes it away.

Round 10

The Barber spits some more blood from his wound and then looks at you, blood dripping on the cage. The fans above lower yet another five feet, giving both a twenty foot breathing room as the killer tilts his head sideways and looks at the blood gushing forth from your many wounds.

"Is that so, bird boy? Even at the thresh hold of Death, you stand defiant. I hate people like you:

Fighting against impossible odds. Never surrendering despite knowing the clear outcome. Had you knelt earlier, I would have given you a clean cut. You would have felt nothing. A long dream from which to never wake up. ""

The Barber brandishes both rapier and dagger and keens his eyes as they come at you.

"But you chose to be a goddamn hero. And those? Those nobody remembers. Not here. Not anywhere. I will have to echo your earlier words...""

Spoiler: 1st Rapier Slash

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16 damage

Spoiler: 2nd Rapier Slash

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13 damage

Spoiler: Dagger Slash

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7 damage

"Goodbye. At this point, you are at your very limit! Blink, and your body will collapse. There is no way for you to win this match, Raptoran. You dragged this on to your very painful end...""

Your vision is becoming blurred. This mad man is going to kill you and your body burns all over as blood leaves it like a deluge from the many cuts incurred.

Spoiler: The Wounded Bird

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This is according to Kalir's status on hit points. If he has more than those written in his spoiler, disregard the following. Otherwise...

Disabled

A character with 0 hit points, or one who has negative hit points but has become stable and conscious, is disabled. A disabled character may take a single move action or standard action each round (but not both, nor can she take full-round actions). She moves at half speed. Taking move actions doesn’t risk further injury, but performing any standard action (or any other action the DM deems strenuous, including some free actions such as casting a quickened spell) deals 1 point of damage after the completion of the act. Unless the action increased the disabled character’s hit points, she is now in negative hit points and dying.

A disabled character with negative hit points recovers hit points naturally if she is being helped. Otherwise, each day she has a 10% chance to start recovering hit points naturally (starting with that day); otherwise, she loses 1 hit point. Once an unaided character starts recovering hit points naturally, she is no longer in danger of losing hit points (even if her current hit points are negative).

Spoiler: Initiative

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The Barber
Kalir (if conscious and able to act)

[Cavir]

Death by a thousand cuts. His training kept him going even with all the cuts and stabs but he had just reached his absolute limit. Time to get out and stop fighting on the bugbear's terms. Kalir tapped a gem on his belt and healing energies reinvigorated himself a bit. He then tapped his ankles together to activate more magic. The raptoran teleports 10 feet straight down from the bars he stood on. He looked up through the bars. "Running out of time to turn those blades off for yourself."

Spoiler: OOC

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Std Action: Belt of Healing, 1 charge. (2d8)[9]
Swift Action: Activate Anklet of Translocation. 10' straight down.

If I can't do both of those, then just the teleport. Hopefully activating an item doesn't count as strenuous.

HP: 0+ above roll

[AlanBruce]

@Kalir: If only the others were here...

However, you trained as a Royal Guard and even way before that. You have a plethora of tricks at your disposal. Not only the techniques taught at the Blooming Lotus, but also a small fortune in trinkets. Enough to buy a small nation for yourself.

And these come into play as you look at Barber and your belt washes you over with a quick golden light, suturing definitely not all, but enough to give you a quick breather as you clack your talons together and in a blue swoosh of arcane energy, transpose yourself beneath the bars of the cage that was meant to be your coffin and look up at Barber, your wings flapping as if they were on fire.

The space beneath the cage is big, but not that big- at most a forty foot fall onto the hard floor, but at least you got away from that bastard.



Round 11

The Barber looks down at you as the bladed fans descend and are now fifteen feet above the bugbear, who looks up at them and then down at you, drawing a tusked smile.

"Am I running out of time? Coward- you just refuse to die, do you? I will give you a parting gift, since you were so gracious to leave me with one.""

The bugbear looks at the axe you never picked up, so close to him, but then looks down at you as he winks? No. Not a wink...

He's aiming.

The dagger in his hand flies lightning quick towards you through the bars and strikes you right in the heart, nearly causing it to stop, were it not for your armor. Still, a deadly strike.

Spoiler: Dagger Throw

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9 damage. If this would put Kalir at a disabled condition, apply same stipulations as before.

The bugbear picks up the hand axe with his free hand and looks down at you as the fans spin above.

"How long can you keep doing that, bird boy? You are bleeding all over! Just die, already- I have others to put down who like you, have been set loose upon Lord Daegal's domain.""

Spoiler: Initiative

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The Barber
Kalir

@Camus, Ilven & Daun: If you could barely see Kalir before... you can't now. Much less hear him.

Roland takes a deep breath and does a back flip, landing at the top edge of the cage thirty feet below you, nearly losing his balance. But safe, at least for now. With that agility of his, he should be able to disable that fan and help the raptoran.

[aReallyGreatAxe]

Ilven looks at his companions, each far better suited to a thirty foot drop than he. “I think I can manage watching the door if you'd like to follow… unless you have absolute faith that Roland can both stop the trap and get to Kalir in time.” And given the Raptoran's state... not likely.

[Chimaera]

With both warriors gone from view, Camus curses as he couldnt exchange fighters. Who knows how long Kalir will be able to survive, so he have to do something. Or someone else.

With chant and a wave of his hands, Camus will a whirlwind of dust into existance, his cloak showing many white runes.

Spoiler: Robe of Mysterious Summons

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Spending Freezing Fog to cast Summon Monster VI to summon a Bralani.

"Fly up there and heal the birdman!", he commands in Draconic, and so it does.

Spoiler: Summoned Doctor

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The bralani will fly his way to Zephyr and, if he manage to reach him, cast his Cure Serious Wounds SLA for (3d8+6)[21]

His fly speed is 100ft, Perfect maneuverability.

[Cavir]

Kalir instinctively taps his belt before the knife in his heart can finish its job. He grabs the knife as the healing pushes it out. Another close call. He takes a quick survey of his surroundings then flies diagonally downward and away to put the most distance possible between them. The warblade knew enough about magic to know at least some magical sights had a limited range. He hoped to get out of that range and the range of thrown daggers so he could catch his second wind. Kalir called out so The Barber could hear him over the noise of the deadly fan. "You called it the cage of Life and Death right? Your own rules. Once two men enter, only one may leave, you said? I left, so that leaves you to die."

Spoiler: OOC

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Belt charge #2 (2d8)[11]
Have an 80' downward flight speed. Will at least get out of dagger range. If I can reach a far wall, will keep what altitude I can while doing so.

[AlanBruce]

@Camus: Can't really use your magic to switch them if you can't see them...

Although resources are valuable, Kalir is one asset you can afford to lose if you're to deal with that Daegal guy. He may be hurt down there and you have no ways of reaching him... not you.

There is a reason why you practiced for years at Runestone. Abjuration is your specialty, but only a fool would disdain Conjuration, considered to be the top school in all the Arcane as your robe glows with ancient sigils and in a white flash, an elven warrior appears a few feet away from you on the creaky platform:

The Bralani, a member of the Court of Stars of Arborea, the Eladrin.

Some theorize that elves are descended from Eladrin, who are also said to be related to the mysterious Fey. That may have to be a subject for another time, though. This proud Celestial has answered your call and upon hearing your request, spins around and his body becomes a crackling electric blue whirlwind as he flies at top speed below.


@Kalir: How the hell top get out of here?

And then a whirlwind flies right next to you and... spins in place. Whatever it is, it's not a natural occurrence- you aren't outdoors in a tall windswept peak with high winds to form these.

For what it's worth, it isn't attacking you... for now.

But no time for that, as you push the belt to its limits again and fly downwards, further away from the bugbear.

The Barber watches the whirlwind fly down and then looks up at the fans, frowning as he aims at you with the hand axe.

"I was told The Royal Guard were able to handle themselves. In the end, you are nothing more than a dependent coward. And since I have a feeling you will not leave your pointless crusade, I will have plenty of Time to hunt you down later...""

And having said that, a shadowy portal appears behind the bugbear and he steps into it, vanishing away.

The whirlwind catches up to you and, rather than attack, it washes over you, granting you a much better healing properties than your belt as the fans keep rotating above before grinding to a halt as Roland peeps his head from behind them.

"Are you okay? Everyone is up above. Can you fly on your own?""

[Chimaera]

With the enemy gone, the bralani touch the raptoran once more and fly back to his master's side. His many masters.

"Before you go, veil my friends here".

Spoiler: Summoned Caster

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With the summon in one minute, Camus have him use its second CSW on Kalir (3d8+6)[22].

He'll proceed and give everyone Blur (last 6 minutes) and eventually will poof away from reality.

"You're okay, Kalir? We got some potions here...", he says and look to the rest, "We already kicked the hive. Surprise is gone. What now, Roland?"

[Cavir]

Kalir can only watch and scream from afar as The Barber escapes through the portal. "NOOOOO!" His focus is cut off by the mysterious healing vortex and Roland's call. Although not knowing what kind of magic the vortex was he was grateful for it. Hearing that everyone else is above he forces himself to ignore the pain for a little longer and flies quickly up to the group. The vortex touches him again on his way up. He lands hard and in pain onto the platform. His body is covered in wounds, blood, and singed feathers. He's panting.

"Almost had him dammit... Had to make distance to regroup... Just need a minute... to get rid of the worst of this."

Spoiler: OOC

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Run option for flight to the rest of the group if possible. Once there Adaptive Style to redo my maneuvers. If given time will use Iron Heart Endurance every other round (28hp each) until I am over 1/2 hp (3 uses = 6 rounds total), getting me to 138hp.

Disabled
Belt=+11
CSW1 =+21
CSW2 =+22
Current: 54

[AlanBruce]

@Kalir: He got away...

And he took Gascoigne's axe with him. Could you have bested him? Most likely. Your training in the Sublime Way allows for that, but Thresher... well, your mace had other ideas. Any other foe would have been burnt and fried to a crisp with those swings. Any other foe not trained as a cutthroat, that is.

This is the Temple of Olidammara, after all. It takes a rogue to best another, skilled as they are. With the bug bear gone, he will likely lick his wounds, be better prepared. Another one to deal with once you reach Daegal...and that's not good.

However, you have the advantage of numbers with you- that healing whirlwind must've been Camus or Daun's work as Roland watches you fly up towards the group, pain still visiting your entire body.

@Camus: The summon worked, alright.

Kalir is not looking well. Whoever he was fighting left him in bad shape. Thankfully, you're a wizard. And you have a Bralani at your command.

Roland is still making his way up to the rest of you- there are no ladder, so he must climb like a regular mundane. But in the meantime, you can assist the others and yourself with extra illusions... should they be of any help against The Velvet Glove.

Roland looks up at all of you as he leaps towards the wall and starts the slow ascent via some hand holds.

"It just doesn't make sense... I never told anyone other than those closest to me we were coming en force. They would never spill to Daegal or his thugs.""

Roland takes a breather and looks up at you.

"I will have to trust Roscoe and the others are fine. We are headed to the Chamber of the Mask. Time to deal with Daegal."

[aReallyGreatAxe]

Oh good, Kalir made it back...
Ilven waits until the Raptoran is near- then fires a swift succession of arrows as nonchalantly as one would fire at a pigeon.

He doesn't stick around to see if the shots were deadly, instead turning to run back into the temple halls.

Spoiler: OoC

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I'm really sorry, Cavir.

Please hold for math. Math done! Never thought I'd be so glad to see natural ones!

1.) no action, knowledge devotion (local): (1d20+18)[31]
2.) free action, boots of haste
3.) full attack

Spoiler: attacks

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Bow has the seeking enchantment, so no miss chance. I'm sorry.
attack 1
attack: (1d20+26)[28] +4 kdev= 32
Crit confirm: (1d20+30)[44]
Damage: (1d8+10)[14] piercing + (1d6)[3] acid +4kdev= 18 piercing, 3 acid

attack haste
attack: (1d20+26)[29] +4 kdev= 33
Crit confirm: (1d20+30)[47]
Damage: (1d8+10)[17] piercing + (1d6)[5] acid +4kdev = 21 piercing, 5 acid

attack 2
attack: (1d20+21)[22] = natural one
Crit confirm: (1d20+25)[41]
Damage: (1d8+10)[11] piercing + (1d6)[2] acid = natural one

attack 3
attack: (1d20+16)[17] = natural one
Crit confirm: (1d20+21)[35]
Damage: (1d8+10)[17] piercing + (1d6)[5] acid = natural one

Spoiler: math

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attack: +2 bracers +1 magic +1 pbs,+1wf, +1 haste + X devotion=+6 26/26/21/16
damage: +1 bracers +1 magic, +1 pbs, +1 haste, +6 deadeye, +X devotion= +10

4.) Swift action: Quicksilver motion: move 60' away, thanks to haste

[AlanBruce]

@Kalir: You have barely landed on the rafters above and are on the process to catch your breath when...

Sir Ilven? Why is he raising his bow at you....

It's a flurry of shots that strike- and some miss- but enough to leave you pretty bloody hurt. What's wrong with him...



@The Party: The old man went crazy.

The Arrow of God has passed judgement on one of his angels and so, opens fire as he runs away into the Olidammaran Halls while Roland keeps climbing and looks up.

"What's going on? Why do I hear shooting?""

[Chimaera]

Camus is surprised as Ilven shot Kalir in the back, both literaly and metaphoric speaking. Could he have become prey to Bloodlust? That elf is a living legend witht he bow, so if he manage to escape... Who knows if he is as good a sniper as he is as an archer.

With a gesture of his hand and the world for Creature, several green runes started to glow on Sir Ilven Selma's chainshirt before they blow up into white smoke that quickly disperse revealing...

Spoiler: Mockery

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Camus will move 30ft ahead and will cast Baleful Polymorph, turning Sir Ilvem Selma into a turtle.

Fort save DC 25.

A turtle or a bearded elf?

[AlanBruce]

@Camus: Again... retired for a reason!

Now on top of mad rogues, you have to deal with a mad archer in your midsts. The advantages of old age in elvenkind are enormous, let there be no denying that, but not when you are something other than a bloody Archmage, which Ilven certainly is not.

He nearly killed Kalir and if allowed, will put his Helguard training to the test, running around, sniping all of you dead... no. That's not going to happen.

There are mysteries revealed to those in Runestone. About transforming any material into another. Young eager apprentices in the school of Transmutation love adopting savage hardened forms. The best to deal with the hazards of "The Adventurer Life"... sad.

There is another avenue that few wizards take, mostly because many consider it humiliating- especially when they are recipients of it. Nonetheless, it is an effective game breaker. The infamous "One Shot". Nobody you know of has managed to break off this incantation without outside help.

There simply is no way. And if Ilven Selma is known across the land as The Arrow of God, may that memory remain upon Halmathan. That tonight's senility and madness never be uttered again because as of now, The Old Helguard is...

Ilven begins running away from you and stops, looking over his shoulder as green sigils appear around him and the old elf drops on one knee, clearly in pain as the intricate embroidery of the arcane weaves through his body and soul, causing him to shrink in size exponentially before his precious gear drops around him and a small and very inoffensive Helguard looks at you, blinking twice:

It's over. Ilven Selma is now and forever will be... a cute little turtle. Good as a pet. And just as good for soup.

[Chimaera]

With the mad elf gone into a way less harmful creature, Camus look at the rest and then to the turtle, "I'm unsure what happened to him, but he wont be able to hurt anyone this way now. We can later interrogate him to see if he fell to bloodlust or was a turncloak".

Spoiler: Sense Motive

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(1d20)[14]

"We should pick it along. Hopefully it wont bite much".

[Cavir]

Kalir had landed on the platform but barely got through his report when the Arrow of God starts shooting at him. The pain undoes the work of the healing dust cloud, but he is still up. Wait, half his arrows missed a standing full sized target? Lucky me or I'd be dead.

The archmage dashes out the door and magic is seen flying toward the fleeing elf. The raptoran grits his teeth and tenses his whole body hard momentarily. His body responds as the two arrows are pushed out. Those wounds stay mostly sealed. His body is still covered in slashes and stabs but he was up and functional. Can't let him get away and team up with the others. Gotta cut him off and let the others catch up.

Doing his best to put the pain aside the raptoran flaps his wings and flies through the door following Ilven's path. He plans to use his superior speed to fly over and just past the rogue elf and land in front of him to cut him off. As he nears he sees just a pile of clothing and gear in the hallway. He lands just past it. His ears tell him nothing else around except something on the floor just behind him. He turns back to the pile. He notices movement from it. A small turtle fights its way out of the pile. The archmage pipes in about falling to bloodlust or a turncoat.

Kalir stared at the turtle. The Arrow of God? "No, not bloodlust. They don't run from a fight. Turncoat? He had plenty of chances to kill me this week. Charmed? Dominated?" He picks up the turtle and watches its reaction.

Spoiler: OOC

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Swift: Iron Heart Endurance. Heal 28hp. Up to 35/238hp

Double move (40' each) to get just past the fleeing Ilven. Was going to Tumble through or over his space, but apparently that isn't an issue anymore.

Can't believe I'm typing this... Sense Motive on the turtle with Hunter's Scent added. Friend? Foe? Fear? Defiance? (1d20+2)[10]

[AlanBruce]

@Camus: That was easy.

Too easy... perhaps the Helguard are not all that powerful after all. It is true that no mortal can escape the Baleful Polymorph transmutation, but a man of his rank and status? Perhaps age truly has become a crippling factor for him.

At any rate, he's no longer a threat. And he left a small fortune lying around him. As a turtle, he has no use for that coin, but you? You can buy a thousand grimoires of Arcane Power with it. An unstoppable archmage the likes none have ever seen before or ever will!

And that's why you have savages at your beck and call to pick up your well deserved loot, ordering them around as only a wizard of your caliber ought to.


@Kalir: The tales may have been a tad off.

Bards have sang about The Arrow of God. How back in the Glory Days of the Helguard, Ilven Selma was able to shoot down a beast from across the City. Strike it right between the eyes and drop him down with a single shot.

Back then, many believed him to be the bow of Corellon. Made manifest as an Elf, hence his title, justly deserved. And so, it comes as a big surprise that not only would a Legend and hero of the City such as he would shoot you point blank...

But that he'd miss. By all accounts, you should be dead. Yet here you are and so, calling on your training back at the Blooming lotus, patch some of the many wounds incurred with the fight against Barber and spread your wings, flying past the mage and druid as you look down at Ilven's remains...

His entire gear has been strewn around, but not haphazardly- almost as if delineating a contour on the ground, from your point of view. His smell is that of an old elf smell, nothing wrong there until you watch a tiny innocuous turtle struggle amidst the metal and cloth and look up at you with big turtle eyes, as if just born on a beach, ready to swim into the great unknown.

Poor man. Maybe the stress got to him. Maybe he snapped. Members of the Helguard- few as they are now- are known to be reclusive for a reason. whatever they did back in the day, must have scarred them for life and so, getting back into a mission must've triggered something in his mind. He would've never "turned coat" as Camus is quick to suggest. They are heroes of old. Of legend. Incorruptible...

And then you and everyone in the hallway except Roland, still struggling to get back and join you hear Ilven's laughter from the turtle as black rose petals shower around him and his gear.

Oh my! It has been ages since someone attempted that spell on me... thought I'd have some fun. Archmage: you didn't disappoint.

The black petals swirl around Ilven's remains as the turtle looks up at Kalir and becomes engulfed in them before a dangerous aura emanates around Ilven's possessions and the Old Helguard stands tall proud and still old, as he cracks his neck and looks at Kalir.

His eyes are empty black sockets, as Ilven taps his temple and like billiard balls, a pair of new eyes fill those sockets and readjust around changing into his blue color as the last black petals swoosh away into shadows and the arctic elf draws a creepy smile.


"Halmathan's Winged Sentinel. Proud member of the Royal Guard... you should be a lot more careful in this place. Haven't you heard?

It's filled with cutthroats and rogues...hehehehheheheeeeee....hahahahhahahaaaaaaa ! I see you got pretty cut earlier. Barely standing. Let's remedy that, shall we?"



@The Party: He looks like Ilven.

Talks like Ilven.

But why does Ilven Selma emanate such dangerous aura? And Kalir is close enough to either beat him down...or fall to his legendary arrows.

Spoiler: Arrow vs Claw, Mace & Spell

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Roll Initiative

[Cavir]

Spoiler: Init

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Init (1d20+8)[19]

[AlanBruce]

Round 1

@The Party: Dammit!

Why did Ilven have turn on you? He may be an old soldier. Retired...

But he’s still a Helguard. Caution should be taken when dealing with a man like him. Subdue? Possibly, but those arrows of him...

Will any of you get Kalir’s luck twice in a row?

Spoiler: Initiative

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Ilven Selma, the Arrow of God
Daun
Kalir
Camus

[aReallyGreatAxe]

And so the little bird had followed… Ilven draws his weapon on Kalir once again, determined not to be so careless this time.
Then he turns upon the cat. Only right that the animals should fall in turn.

Spoiler: OoC

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Please hold for math. Math done

Spoiler: Movement

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Alright, this will depend a little on the geometry of the hallway, as I’d obviously prefer the casters not have direct line of sight, depending on how the hall is laid out. Case A seems likely given the area description, but case B is provided if not.

A.) If the hallway is such that the door is at the end, sudden leap will come first so as not to provoke an AoO. The rest of the post is made assuming this.
B.) If the hallway is such that there is a more convenient place to move, sudden leap can come second so as to get out of line of sight. Kalir would get an AoO in this case, assuming he meets AoO criteria.

1.) Boots of haste, 60’ move speed
2.) Swift action: Sudden leap

Jump check: (1d20+14)[31] (+4 for each 10’ greater than 30’, +2 synergy with tumble) = 30' movement (or 15' if sudden leap does not count as a running start)

Tumble to avoid AoO: (1d20+18)[38] vs DC 15 (Apply a -10 penalty if the ½ move speed restriction would apply to jump checks- I’m unclear.)

3:

Spoiler: full attack

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Spoiler: Full attack etiquette

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Unless I am mistaken, full attacks may have different targets, but they must all be announced at once? If not, should the first be a natural one, the second will also be taken at Kalir. EDIT: not relevant.

Spoiler: Druids and type

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Also, druids should retain type, as wild shape functions like Alternate Form, in which the creature keeps type and subtype, so she should still have the humanoid(human) type and thus be targetable by knowledge devotion.

Attack 1, Target= Kalir
Attack: (1d20+30)[49]
Crit confirm: (1d20+34)[48]
Damage: (1d8+14)[21] piercing + (1d6)[4] acid


Attack Haste, Target= Daun
Attack: (1d20+29)[35]
Crit confirm: (1d20+33)[41]
Damage: (1d8+7)[8] piercing + (1d6)[5] acid


Attack 2, Target=Daun
Attack: (1d20+24)[39]
Crit confirm: (1d20+28)[31]
Damage: (1d8+7)[14] piercing + (1d6)[2] acid

Attack 3, Target=Daun
Attack: (1d20+19)[25]
Crit confirm: (1d20+23)[33]
Damage: (1d8+7)[12] piercing + (1d6)[5] acid

Spoiler: Math

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attack: +2 bracers +1 magic +1 pbs,+1wf, +1 haste + 4 devotion=+10 30/30/25/20 (-1 if Daun)
damage Kalir: +1 bracers +1 magic, +1 pbs, +1 haste, +6 deadeye, +4 devotion= +14
damage Daun: +1 bracers +1 magic, +1 haste, +4 devotion= +7

Spoiler: Status

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HP=188/188
AC=21 (26 vs ranged)
Touch= 16
Concealment 20%
Stance: Hearing the air (blindsense=30')
Boots of haste: 2/10 charges used

[Chimaera]

With his polymorph effect broken so easily, Camus raise his eyebrow and it strike him.

"It's a shapechanger!", he shout to the rest, "It's imitating Sir Ilven's movements! We need to catch him!"

He then look to Kalir's wounds, "Do you think you can give him chase? Daun can heal on the way". Taking a small pocket clock from one of the many pockets in his cloak, the wizard look at it for what seems to be an instant, "So we gotta hurry".

Time flow start to move differently, like the world was way lighter now.

Spoiler: Haste

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Casting Haste on the Party and moving close to the door, but will take the wall beside the door as cover.

[AlanBruce]

@Ilven: Why would they spare the Raptoran? Who knows.

But you will have to finish what others started.

The area you’re in is optimal- you should be able to shoot the bird and cat without any sort of retaliation as you leap backwards and twirl mid flight, aiming your bow at Halmathan’s Winged Sentinel and the menacing wild cat.

There is a reason they call you the Arrow of God. Kalir is struck, but not fatally- a second arrow would have put him down for sure.

The cat gets a most unhealthy helping of arrows as you land on your feet and smile at your incredible proficiency with such an archaic weapon.

You should be able to bring them down quickly before they retaliate.

@Camus: Botched transmutation spell? No.

It wasn’t botched. There are those who can revert effects like your incantation. They are born with it:

Shapechangers.

There are many creatures around the world that can do that. Thankfully, they are rare, but to the unprepared, they make excellent spies and many, because of that, pursue a career in assassination.

Chances are the real Ilven is already dead. Whoever wears Selma’s face has now taken over his identity, gear and apparently skills.

Since subtlety is not your forte and never really was, you scream out loud what your impeccable mind has deduced and proceed to grant yourself, Kalir and Daun the speed snd ability to become not only fast...

But also invincible. Not even the Arrow of God would be able to strike any of you now. That’s a fact!

Spoiler: Initiative

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Ilven Selma, the Arrow of God
Daun
Kalir
Camus

[Cavir]

Kalir is taken by surprise as the turtle reverts back to Ilven but not Ilven. The eyes falling into place kept his attention a second too long. He paid for that with another painful arrow into his chest.

"Forget Daun healing! She needs to put Ilven to the ground so he can't keep running! That healing vortex still around?"

On the edge of death, Kalir the raptoran warblade and Royal Guard, put his faith into his training from the Blooming Lotus and Runestone's enhancements. He didn't take cover from the archer. He charged with all the fury of a tiger pouncing on prey.

Spoiler: OOC

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Swift: Punishing Stance
Full: Pouncing Charge. 2nd attack Trip attempt. 3rd attack also Trip if Ilven is still standing after the 2nd. If down after the second the 3rd is a regular attack.

Haste attack: (1d20+24)[44] crit: (on 17+): (1d20+27)[45] (+INT to crit, charging, haste) -> Nat20
damage: (1d10+9)[18] + (1d6)[6] Electric + (1d6)[6] Stance
crit: (1d10+9)[11] + (1d6)[4] Electric (1d6)[4] Stance + Prismatic Spray effect (1d8)[1]

Att#1: (1d20+24)[39] crit: (on 17+): (1d20+27)[46] (+INT to crit, charging, haste)
damage: (1d10+9)[19] + (1d6)[6] Electric + (1d6)[2] Stance
crit: (1d10+9)[12] + (1d6)[3] Electric + (1d6)[5] Stance + Prismatic Spray effect (1d8)[1]

Att#2 Improved Trip touch attack: (1d20+24)[44] Touch, Haste -> Wrong mod, should be +19, but Nat20 anyway
On hit, opposed STR check: (1d20+27)[45] (+6 STR, +5 belt, +4 Imp Trip) -> Wrong mod, should be +15, total 33

On Trip, extra attack from Imp Trip:
Thresher: (1d20+19)[38] crit: (on 17+): (1d20+22)[41] (+INT to crit, charging, haste) -> Crit threat
damage: (1d10+9)[18] + (1d6)[6] Electric + (1d6)[5] Stance
crit: (1d10+9)[18] + (1d6)[6] Electric + (1d6)[2] Stance +Prismatic Spray effect (1d8)[2]

If not down, Att#3 Improved Trip touch attack: (1d10+9)[18] Touch, Haste -> Wrong mod, should be +14 -> 23
On hit, opposed STR check: (1d6)[6] (+6 STR, +5 belt, +4 Imp Trip) -> Wrong roll, see roll below, total 33

3rd attack (normal or from successful trip on above 3rd attack) Crit threat
Thresher: (1d20+14)[34] crit: (on 17+): (1d20+17)[23] (+INT to crit, charging, haste)
damage: (1d10+9)[10] + (1d6)[6] Electric + (1d6)[2] Stance
crit: (1d10+9)[18] + (1d6)[5] Electric + (1d6)[2] Stance + Prismatic Spray effect (1d8)[7]

ARGH Hit Preview when the trip attack rolls were in there. In case they don't work:
Trip1: (1d20+19)[37] STR check: (1d20+15)[31]
Trip2: (1d20+14)[25] STR check: (1d20+15)[33]

Spoiler: Prismatic Spray on crit

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http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/prismaticSpray.htm
5d8 rolled in case of an 8 or too many 8s. DC 20 for all.
1 Red 20 points fire damage (Reflex half)
2 Orange 40 points acid damage (Reflex half)
3 Yellow 80 points electricity damage (Reflex half)
4 Green Poison (Kills; Fortitude partial, take 1d6 points of Con damage instead)
5 Blue Turned to stone (Fortitude negates)
6 Indigo Insane, as insanity spell (Will negates)
7 Violet Sent to another plane (Will negates)
8 Struck by two rays; roll twice more, ignoring any “8” results.

Spoiler: Status

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Displacement 20%
+5 STR checks
+4 saves vs fear
Immune to blinded or dazzled
Low Light vision: 2x human
Punishing Stance: +1d6 damage, -2 AC
Blind Fight
Haste: +1 to hit, dodge bonus to AC and Reflex saves

Battle Clarity: INT to Reflex saves (not flat-footed)
Uncany Dodge: Retain Dex when flat-footed or vs invisible enemy
Improved Uncany Dodge: Can't be flanked (like Barbarian)
Battle Ardor +INT to confirm crits
Battle Cunning: +INT damage vs flat-footed or flanked
Battle Skill: +INT to oppose bull rush, feint, overrun, sunder or trip attempt

HP: 10/238
AC: 20 Touch: 13 FF: 16

Spoiler: Damage

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Disabled
Belt=+11
CSW1 =+21
CSW2 =+22
Ilven 1: -21
Ilven 2: -26
IH Endurance: +28
Ilven 3: -25