The Rod of the Seven Parts - IC

[The_Snark]

Angel
Init: 3 | HP: 133/133 | 29 | Fort: +14 Ref +6 Will +10 | Barkskin (+4 AC, duration- over an hour) | Immunities: Critical hits, mind-affecting, nonlethal

Angel watches, trying to decide what to do if it should come to blows. The ghost was the strongest, and normally she would have struck at it as soon as possible; but with the mercenaries, things became more difficult. If she attacked, she could be surrounded, and the others would be cut off from her... and besides, hadn't Otho said they were alive? She shouldn't kill them...

... but nor could she allow them to harm her companions? It was a dilemna. Maybe one of the others could solve it. "You can free the Deneith?" she asks; she's not looking behind her, so it's impossible to tell whether she's speaking to Alain or Otho. Perhaps both.

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Readied attack against the first attacker to get within her range. She deals nonlethal damage to the mercenaries, but attacks the ghost for lethal damage; add 4 to the attack roll if the ghost closes. Attack (1d20+13)[15], damage (1d6+11)[17]

[BurntOfferings]

(( Isn't Angel's initiative 18? ))

Lyle

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Init: 14
Current HP: 88
Saves: Fort +9, Ref +13, Will +6
Spell effects: death ward (29 rounds)

Taking advantage of his invisibility, Lyle moves forward and fires off a bolt at the ghost.

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Moving forward to 08, 08 (a 40' move).
The crossbow is magical, but the bolts aren't. Non-magical ammo fired from a magic launcher will overcome DR XX/magic, but I have no idea if they have a chance to hit an incorporeal target or not; let's say that Lyle doesn't know, either. It's a learning experience!

Attack: (1d20+18)[22] (+1 for Point Blank Shot, +2 for invisibility)
Incorporeal miss chance (assuming that there's any chance at all, let's say that I hit on a 51-100): (1d100)[44]
Damage: (1d8+5)[7]
Let us know if you want to roll miss chances secretly.

Map with Alain's, Horus's, and Lyle's moves:

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..000000000111111111..
..123456789023456789..
18######++++++######18
17##..M..M..M..M..##17
16#................#16
15#................#15
14#M..............M#14
13#...G............#13
12#M..............M#12
11#................#11
10#M..............M#10
09#................#09
08#M......L.......M#08
07#......H.........#07
06#................#06
05##..............##05
04######..A...######04
03######.VO...######03
02######.VV...######02
01######..a...######01
..000000000111111111..
..123456789023456789..

[Cogito]

The ghost watche Horus move with a calm face, showing only a hint of anticipation; he only raises his weapon with both hands when hes sees Lyle becoming invisible.

As Lyle and Horus look at the ghost aver heaving advanced, they feel an ice-cold stream of dread flooding their hearts, and only with all the resilience they can muster the feeling is slowly retreating.

As soon as Lyle has a clear head again he aims at the ghost and shoots. The ghost expected something to come from Lyle's general direction but he doesn't manage to evade the shot and it hits the Drow. And passes through him without any damage done.

With a glint of glee in his eyes the drow moves back towards the large door and without him having said somethign the mercenaries all move to protect him.

(Now post round 2)

Map:

..000000000111111111..
..123456789023456789..
18######++++++######18
17##.......G......##17
16#...M..M..M..M...#16
15#M..............M#15
14#....M......M....#14
13#...M........M...#13
12#.M............M.#12
11#................#11
10#................#10
09#................#09
08#.......L........#08
07#......H.........#07
06#................#06
05##..............##05
04######..A...######04
03######.VO...######03
02######.VV...######02
01######..a...######01
..000000000111111111..
..123456789023456789..

[BurntOfferings]

Lyle

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Init: 14
Current HP: 88
Saves: Fort +9, Ref +13, Will +6
Spell effects: greater invisibility (9 rounds), death ward (28 rounds)

Cursing his luck (silently), Lyle creeps forward and takes another shot.

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Moving carefully and silently to 09, 11 (a 15' move). Feel free to nudge Lyle forward or sideways 5 feet if someone with a higher initiative needs to move through here. I wanted to go ahead and post my move in case I don't get a chance over the weekend.

Hide: (1d20+38)[58]
Move Silently: (1d20+18)[33]
I don't want to make it any easier than necessary for the mercs to find me.

Attack: (1d20+18)[34] (+1 for Point Blank Shot, +2 for invisibility)
Incorporeal miss chance (again, let's say that I hit on a 51-100): (1d100)[77]
Damage: (1d8+5)[11]

Map:

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..000000000111111111..
..123456789023456789..
18######++++++######18
17##.......G......##17
16#...M..M..M..M...#16
15#M..............M#15
14#....M......M....#14
13#...M........M...#13
12#.M............M.#12
11#.......L........#11
10#................#10
09#................#09
08#................#08
07#......H.........#07
06#................#06
05##..............##05
04######..A...######04
03######.VO...######03
02######.VV...######02
01######..a...######01
..000000000111111111..
..123456789023456789..

[Sepp]

Horus Kiast

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Inti:20 Move: 40 HP: 119/119 AC: 27 Fort:12 Ref:8 Will:12 Fast Healing 4 (12 rounds) Combat Stability (12 rounds)

Horus moves forward, engaging the closest mercenary. "Sorry, Angel, I think we have to fight them." He calls as he moves (to 11,04), knowing her paladin code may be causing her some concerns. As he approaches, he attacks, probing the mercs(at 12, 03) defenses, his blade trying to throw him off balance.


Map

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Well, I tried to put one here, but it was ugly!

[Maurkov]

Otho

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Init:18 Move: 50' (mounted) HP: 108/108 AC: 28 Fort:12 Ref:7 Will:15 Effects: Barkskin (+4, shared), Air Walk (shared)

Vandalin: HP 68/68 AC 26 Fort +10 Ref +9 Will +7 Effects Barkskin (+4, shared), GMF (+2), Air Walk (shared)

"Ignore the humans; the elf is the threat. Vandalin, Defend." Otho guides Vandalin up and forward while casting another, more involved spell.

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Move to (10,07)-(12,06), 15' up. Yes, I forgot '11' on the column numbers. Cast Summon Nature's Ally V. Auto success on Handle Animal, Ride (Guide with knees and Fight with Warhorse) and Concentration (Moving Mount) checks. I'll choose the spell particulars when it goes off on Otho's next turn.

[Wiz]

Alain Cannith

The wizard gestures and makes more arcane sounding words. Suddenly, his form blurs and there are several wizards, blurring and shifting around each other, coming together and separating. All of them point to the elf, "We need to stop him."

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Cast: Greater Mirror Image

[The_Snark]

Angel
Init: 3 | HP: 133/133 | 29 | Fort: +14 Ref +6 Will +10 | Barkskin (+4 AC, duration- over an hour) | Immunities: Critical hits, mind-affecting, nonlethal

Angel remains silent, and begins to advance. Her expression at Horus's words is unreadable, but then the statue-like face is difficult to read in any case. Her advance is deliberate and methodical as she considers how best to get to the ghost. It would have the mercenaries shield it, and she couldn't simply bludgeon her way through them... but if she could close with it quickly enough, she might take it by surprise.

"Can you free them?" she asks again, directing her question mostly at Alain; the gnome seems to be focused on destroying the ghost.

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Greater Mirror Image has a casting time of an immediate action—you can cast another spell, and you don't even really need to cast it until someone attacks you...

Angel moves to 10, 11, just beside Lyle, although she doesn't know that.

[Cogito]

..000000000111111111..
..123456789023456789..
18######++++++######18
17##.......G......##17
16#................#16
15#M..............M#15
14#...M..M..M..M...#14
13#...M..M..M..M...#13
12#.M............M.#12
11#..H....LA.......#11
10#................#10
09#................#09
08#................#08
07#................#07
06#................#06
05##..............##05
04######......######04
03######.VO...######03
02######.VV...######02
01######..a...######01
..000000000111111111..
..123456789023456789..


As Horus moves in on the mercenery he strikes at him the moment he comes into range. The quick lunge with the longsword from behind the mercenary's shield hits with precision, but not with enough power to overcome Horus' armor.
Horus uses the now open defence to hit the mercenary so effectively that he loses his balance and falls prone.
Lyle's aim is flawless this time and you see the projectile rip through the half matter the ghost is comprised of. A mingled expression of pain and surprise distorts the ghost's face and the mercenaries in front of the ghost begin to slowly move into the general direction of Lyle.
While the mercenaries close in on the party, the area around the ghost becomes unnaturally dark, and even the still burning sunrod on the floor is unable to drive away the sahdows.

(Next Round)

[BurntOfferings]

Lyle

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Init: 14
Current HP: 88
Saves: Fort +9, Ref +13, Will +6
Spell effects: greater invisibility (8 rounds), death ward (27 rounds)

A pox on spellcasters!

Feeling that firing ineffectually into the darkness would be a waste of bolts, Lyle targets some meatier fare, then shifts his postion slightly.

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Thanks to Rapid Reload, Lyle can take two shots with a full attack action. He'll target the merc at 5, 13 12, 13. If the first shot drops him (hey, it could happen), the second shot will target the merc at 8, 13 11, 13.

Attack 1: (1d20+18)[27] (+1 for Point Blank Shot, +2 for invisibility)
Damage: (1d8+5)[8] plus (5d6)[15] sneak attack.

Attack 2: (1d20+13)[21]
Damage: (1d8+5)[6] plus (5d6)[18] sneak attack.

Lyle will then take a 5 foot step to 8, 10.

Map:

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..000000000111111111..
..123456789023456789..
18######++++++######18
17##.......G......##17
16#................#16
15#M..............M#15
14#...M..M..M..M...#14
13#...M..M..M..M...#13
12#.M............M.#12
11#..H.....A.......#11
10#......L.........#10
09#................#09
08#................#08
07#................#07
06#................#06
05##..............##05
04######......######04
03######.VO...######03
02######.VV...######02
01######..a...######01
..000000000111111111..
..123456789023456789..

[Sepp]

Horus Kiast
Inti:20 Move:40 HP:119/119 AC:27 Fort:12 Ref:8 Will:12 Fast Healing 4 (12 rounds) Combat Stability (12 rounds)

"I am not going to be attacking that ghost while it's thralls are attacking me." He calls; but he checks his swing as he moves forward.

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5 Foot step to 12,04. Doesn't provoke AoO
Attacks split between both foes. Merc at 13;05: 22 hit Merc at 12;03; 29 hit
Damage dealt by attacks. Mer at 13;05 17 damage Merc at 12;03 13 non lethal damage
Trip attempt on merc that isn't prone. Merc at 13;05
Critical confirmation and damage. Merc at 12;03
Cleave if critical drops foe. Merc at 13;05

Map

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..000000000111111111..
..123456789023456789..
18######++++++######18
17##.......G......##17
16#................#16
15#M..............M#15
14#...M..M..M..M...#14
13#...M..M..M..M...#13
12#.MH...........M.#12
11#........A.......#11
10#.......L........#10
09#................#09
08#................#08
07#................#07
06#................#06
05##..............##05
04######......######04
03######.VO...######03
02######.VV...######02
01######..a...######01
..000000000111111111..
..123456789023456789..

[The_Snark]

Angel
Init: 3 | HP: 133/133 | AC: 25 | Fort: +14 Ref +6 Will +10 | Barkskin, Rhino's Rush (1 round) | Immunities: Critical hits, mind-affecting, nonlethal

Angel continues advancing forward, and as she nears the mercenaries, her stride lengthens. By the time she has closed the gap between her and the mercenaries, she is moving considerably faster than would be expected given her size.

Startlingly, she completely ignores the mercenaries, moving straight through the middle of them and past them to the ghost. Her staff glows even in the dark as she utters a single word of Celestial, thrusting it straight forward into the ghost.

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Cast Rhino's Rush, and charge the ghost with a Charging Smite. Power attacking for 6, 2 of which is transferred to AC rather than attack bonus. She draws attacks of opportunity from 2 of the guards this way.

Attack: (1d20+17)[25], damage (2d6+88)[92]. Extra damage from Powerful Charge: (1d8)[6]

Incorporeal miss chance (hit on a 51-100): (1d100)[18]. I don't know if the darkness miss chance stacks with the incorporeal miss chance, but if so I'll let you roll it. Note that the smite attempt is not expended on a miss, although the spell is still gone.

The guards might go before her, but she'll still charge as long as there's a gap she can go through to get to the ghost, even if it means taking more attacks of opportunity. If not... hmmm, I'm not sure what she'll do then. Probably attack one of the mercenaries for nonlethal damage.

[Maurkov]

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Otho moved up last round,

Move to (10,07)-(12,06), 15' up. Yes, I forgot '11' on the column numbers.

, which is important for where the SNA V goes off.

Init:18 Move: 50' (mounted) HP: 108/108 AC: 28 Fort:12 Ref:7 Will:15 Effects: Barkskin (+4, shared), Air Walk (shared)

Vandalin: HP 68/68 AC 26 Fort +10 Ref +9 Will +7 Effects Barkskin (+4, shared), GMF (+2), Air Walk (shared)

Otho

Otho draws a spirit from Lamannia to aid him. It arrives; a unicorn.

"Get them out of here," he shouts, "they are compulsed." And at the nearest mercenaries, "Stay close to the unicorn if you value your souls."

"Now, back to you..." Otho says. Furrowing his brow, he casts again. Flames rip through the shadows where the ghost stood. "Okay, sic." he gives the command, and Vandalin charges to attack the ghost. Otho just holds on. ((... if Otho can still see the ghost. Otherwise, I'll rework my turn.))

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Summon the unicorn to (6,13-7,12). It's Magic Circle Against Evil emmination will hopefully supress whatever is making the mercenaries fight against us. I'll leave it up to you, Cogito, to determine how the timing works, but ideally the unicorn could move around and envelop mercs in the Circle, freeing them, and they could move with it while it sweeps up more.

(1d20+10)[26] spell penetration
(10d6)[39] flame strike damage (Ref DC 20 half)
(1d20+16)[21] Bite Attack (includes +2 GMW, +2 Charge)
(2d6+14)[20] damage
(1d100)[70] concealment 1-20 misses
(1d100)[96] incorporeal 1-50 misses

[Cogito]

..000000000111111111..
..123456789023456789..
18######++++++######18
17##..............##17
16#.......VO.......#16
15#M......VV......M#15
14#...MUUM..M..M...#14
13#...MUUM..M..M...#13
12#.MH...........M.#12
11#........A.......#11
10#......L.........#10
09#................#09
08#................#08
07#................#07
06#................#06
05##..............##05
04######......######04
03######......######03
02######......######02
01######..a...######01
..000000000111111111..
..123456789023456789..


The battle ends in a matter of seconds:
While Horus and Angel move forward to engage the enemy, Lyle aims at another mercenary, and the area around the ghost is bathed in flame. While Horus' opponent becomes unconcious a unicorn appears out of nothing and Vandalin charges through the air at the ghost, and as the wolf's huge jaws snap at the drow, he starts screaming in pain and vanishes.
The mercenaries seem to come out of some kind of coma, looking around puzzledly at the party, and especially at the charging Angel, who stops as soon as she sees the ghost destroyed, and Lyle lowers his crossbow.

(combat won, xp later)

[Maurkov]

Otho

"Who's a good boy? Who's a good boy?" says Otho, rubbing Vandalin's head. He looks over his shoulder and blows the settling ash off his nose. To the unicorn he says, "Belay that order. Instead, heal the wounded."

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The unicorn can cast CMW (2d8+5) and CLWx3 (1d8+5), which should be enough to get the injured mercenaries ambulatory.

[Sepp]

Horus Kiast

Horus eyes the scorched mark on the floor where the ghost was, and grins. "Lets hope it's always that easy. Now, lets get these mercs to the surface, and rest up for tomorrow." He walks to within ten feet of where the ghost was, and stops. "Did it leave any curses behind?"

[Wiz]

Alain Cannith

As the wizard steps forward, multiple images of him fusing and bluring speak in unison. "That was over quickly... almost... too quickly."

[Maurkov]

Otho

"They can leave curses behind? Alain!"

[The_Snark]

Angel

Angel comes to a stop slowly in the middle of the mercenaries as the ghostly elf screams and vanishes. She stares for a moment at the mark on the floor as if uncertain what to do. At the mention of a curse, her eyes turn white again as she examines the place where the ghost died for any possible taint.

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Detect Evil.

[BurntOfferings]

Lyle

Still invisible, Lyle drops back to the room's entrance to refill his quiver and retrieve his torch.

[Cogito]

The unicorn helals the wounded mercenaries quickly before bowing slightly towards Otho. A few moments later it disappears.

You might have wondered who the Deneith leader might be as they are all wearing identical outfits down to the boots.
While the unicorn was healing the wounded, the rightmost mercenary stepped forward.

"Thank you," he begins in a deep baritone that doesn't seem to be confused at all about the current situation.
"It seems that my men and I sprung a quite well-hidden trap that left us under the command of this ghost. I guess you are the reinforcements? I think I have seen most of you before... Nevermind. Shall we advance together or do you prefer to return to the camp."
The leader's calm voice is somewhat unsettling under these circumstances but the other mercenaries don't seem to think the same; they are now standing in two rows, waiting for orders.

In the meantime Angel closely examines the spot where the ghost hovered only moments before, but besides the usual residue of slain evil there is nothing to be detected.

[Sepp]

Horus Kiast

"I'm fresh, though the others may need to head to the surface and refresh themselves." Horus says, looking at Alain and Otho with a raised eyebrow.

[The_Snark]

Angel

With nothing more than traces of evil left in the room, Angel lowers her steel-shod staff. "I can continue," she says simply, but looks at the spellcasters. Both had used magic, she recalled. Not for long, but would they want to return to the camp already?

[Maurkov]

Otho

"I don't see the harm in going a bit farther. While Lyle examines the really big door, I'd like to ask a few questions, ah, Captain?" Otho looks for some indicator of rank on the Denieth leader. "I'm curious about the effect that captured you and your men. How much do you remember from the time you were in its thrall?"

[BurntOfferings]

Lyle

Lyle carefully examines the really big door, while the others speak with the mercenaries. Once he finishes, he surreptitiously studies the mercenary leader.

[Wiz]

Alain Cannith

"We can go on, but do remember, this was to be a reconnisance."

[Cogito]

Lyle closely examines the plain black wooden double door, but he can find nothing similar to a lock or any opening mechanism. The good thing is that he also can't find any traps.

While Lyle is inspecting the door, the mercenary answers, paying no attention at Otho's questioning address.

"I think it was a magical domination effect; it fit with the description I received during training. As for the things I can remember since being enchanted, I remember everything quite clearly. We were forced to come here to the door. The ghost was nowhere to be seen, and we had to wait here until you arrived; that was when I first saw the ghost myself. Luckily our unit was equipped with sustaining rings to save costs."

[Maurkov]

Otho

"Domination," Otho nods, "So the unicorn should have helped. Did anyone notice a lifting of the power a moment before the ghost was dispersed?" Otho keeps an eye on Lyle as he works on the door.

[Sepp]

Horus Kiast

Horus follows the conversation with some interest, but says nothing, leaving the questioning to Otho.

[Cogito]

The soldiers who were near the unicorn nod to Otho's question.
"It seems that the unicorn's aura did help," the leader says with a look at his men.