The Grinder (Mr.Scary Solo)

[MrScary]

With the odd artifact under his control, Wilhelm projects to his brothers and friends.

Meet me in the upper chamber, avoid the force blades.

The other men do as instructed, floating ethereally through the sand and the metal of the tower.

While they do so, Wilhelm directs the sphere upward into the 'corridor' where the water jets are.

He then continues to move the sphere upward toward the force blade barrier, touching the sphere to one of the blades.

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1. if the blade is destroyed, he will proceed to annihilate a path through the blades that is equal to the width of the opening--10' or so?

-- sucks, but since i didn't prepare the simplest Identify spell..grr!

Phenomenal Cosmic Power!!!!!! but can't identify an item :P

unless you'd allow a roll to determine the command word:

The Knowledge (arcana) and Knowledge (history) skills might be useful in helping to identify command words or deciphering clues regarding them. A successful check against DC 30 is needed to come up with the word itself.

Arcana - (1d20+33)[52]
History - (1d20+17)[18]

[Sxoa]

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Sorry, I'm a little confused as to what you're trying to do. What are you trying to identify? You're referring to the openings you created to the outside? Regardless the sphere whatever force blades it hits but the spell just creates more after it passes. It doesn't create a permanent hole through the barrier.
How many holes have you punched through the side of this thing now?

[MrScary]

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there is 1 hole. it is 10' x 10' x whatever thickness the wall is/was. that's the only hole.

what Wilhelm was attempting to discern is the command word to turn off the decanters of endless water.

no sense destroying them if it can be avoided.

[Sxoa]

Wilhelm thinks he can figure out how to turn off the jets but he has to get to them first. They have to be in hand, he can't just shout at them.

[MrScary]

Realizing that he will need to actually touch the items in order to turn them off, Wilhelm mentally directs the sphere to enter the metallic wall just above the top of the first decanter. He 'tunnels' into the wall slightly beyond the length of the magical decanter. He then directs the orb to 'carve' out a ten-foot-long/wide chamber behind the decanter. He pulls the sphere back through the wall and has it rest in front of the decanter, sucking up the water that it is spewing forth.

Incorporeal, Wilhelm enters the wall (avoiding his sphere) and posits himself in the chamber he created. He then shape-shifts into the form of an iron-muscled great cat, though its head is smooth and long. He places his claws around the spot where the decanter is located, then uses his powerful bite to chew through the magically enhanced metal.

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assuming the form of a Steel Predator (Fiend Folio page 163/164).

these creatures thrive on eating magical metal.

Attack: Bite +19 melee
Damage: Bite 2d6+7/19–20
Sundering Bite (Ex): When it uses its bite to attack a weapon, shield, or other held item, the steel predator gains a +4 bonus on the opposed attack roll and deals double normal damage.

i, for one, can't see any reason why a Steel Predator couldn't use its sundering bite against a magical metal wall, do you?

[Sxoa]

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No of course it applies to the iron wall as well. You're leaving the decanter embedded in metal right and just creating a space for you behind it? I think that's what you're saying but I'm just making sure. You'll need to role for damage as it is extremely resilient metal (it was hardened to make it withstand the internal pressure equivalent of several miles of water depth). As said though, you do do double damage. Is the rest of the crew just waiting up above the water line ethereally?

[MrScary]

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yes, you've got it exactly right. carving out a spot to cozy-up in, then biting the heck out of the wall to expose the rear-end of the decanter so that I can touch it to turn it off (and eventually withdraw it).

yes, the rest of the crew is hanging out in the above chamber, picking their noses

Wilhelm bites at the wall, his powerful jaws savoring the magically enhanced metal.

damage - (4d6+14)[23]

[Sxoa]

Wilhelm's jaws barely scratch the metal. They do scratch it. But only just.

Meanwhile up above, a cloud of dust and sand billows into the room from outside. It seems the pillar of iron is enshrouded in a sandstorm that has gained entrance to the interior through the hole you carved. The already poor visibility of the ethereal is certainly not helped by the driving grit, though it is not as hindering as if you were actually on the prime.

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Make spot checks for everyone up there.

[MrScary]

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the thickness of the metal holding the decanter should only be about an inch, if Wilhelm was able to judge the depth correctly. at least, that is what he was 'shooting' for.

Spot Checks:
Helmut, Simon, Grotha, Jacob, Jack (1d20 24=43, 1d20 20=35, 1d20 14=19, 1d20 8=11, 1d20 25=44)

do i see anything?

more bite damage (4d6 14=28, 4d6 14=31)

Wilhelm bites another time, or two, at the metallic wall.

[Sxoa]

Wilhelm continues chewing away at the absurdly strong metal. Scratches and rents appear little by little.

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We can fast forward if you want but an inch of metal still has a lot of hit points and this stuff is magically reinforced to have a high hardness (extremely high for iron). Remember too that etherealness has a limited duration and you've been running around quite a bit.

Up above the crew notices across the planar divide and through swirling grit that the water appears to have begun steaming furiously. The steam is almost instantly blown away by the high velocity winds but the surface is positively effervescent with rising bubbles.

[MrScary]

can i use the sphere as i described, to get within even 1" of the decanter?

[Sxoa]

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You can definitely do it as described, the thing is controlled essentially through telekinesis

[MrScary]

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excellent, that's exactly what i was attempting to do in the first place :)

knowing that, would that alter the results of my 'work' given the damage done?

one inch of metal should not be THAT tough...

[Sxoa]

As a powerful spellcaster Wilhelm knows that a standard wall of iron has 30 hp per inch and hardness 10. The wall here is definitely magically enhanced, seemingly on par with the strength of adamantine.

[MrScary]

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ahh..yes...i realize now the folly of my ways. 40 hp / inch with hardness 20...quite tough.

well then, there's nothing left but to burn through them, perhaps saving 1, if possible (can we go ahead and do that without needing to make all the necessary rolls?)

if you want rolls, tho, i will indulge you

(4d6+14)[26]
(4d6+14)[32]
(4d6+14)[30]
(4d6+14)[33] = 41 damage
(4d6+14)[24]
(4d6+14)[32]
(4d6+14)[23]
(4d6+14)[23]
(4d6+14)[30]
(4d6+14)[27]

[Sxoa]

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The important thing has to do with how much you went over by. A mighty when it had 1 hp left for example might have destroyed the item too.

Wilhelm manages to chew through the magically enhanced iron. The jetting decanter rockets back through the hole created smacking him in the face.

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Presumably you're grabbing for it so make a Dex check and then a Strength check to hold onto it. DC for both is 12.

[MrScary]

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my strength is 41, that's a bonus of +15
-- 25 in this form, +16 for Bite of Werebear
my dex is 31, that's a bonus of +10
-- 21 in this form, +10 for divine agility spell

Strength - (1d20+15)[35]
Dexterity - (1d20+10)[21]

Once he has grasped the object, Wilhelm attempts to turn it from its geyser mode to 'off' mode.

[Sxoa]

Wilhelm finds himself holding a ceramic jug.

[MrScary]

Wilhelm attempts to determine (and speak!) the command word for deactivating the magical water jug.

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want me to roll again, or use the rolls i already made?

[Sxoa]

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My bad for miscommunicating. I used your previous rolls, which is why you're holding a ceramic jug and not a ceramic jug spewing water.

[MrScary]

(been away from home on a trip, sorry for the long delay)

Wilhelm places the ceramic jug on the floor of the 'hovel' he hollowed out.

Sticking his odd, metallic-like head out the entrance he created with the sphere of annhilation, he unleashes a mighty roar with concussive effects in the direction of the remaining jugs.

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30' cone dealing 12d6 of Sonic Damage to creatures or "exposed" crystelline or brittle objects.

i would submit that having a hole large enough to shoot a geyser of water out of means that *some* part of the jugs are exposed. as a comparison, if the jugs were inside a closed box, then the sound/roar would not affect them (because it's blocked on all 6 sides by the box). but in this instance, each item has one 'face' open to being exposed.

it's an easy way to eliminate them all at once (save for the one he just procured)

otherwise, i suppose i could use the sphere to destroy them all...it'd just be more...time consuming (and less "cool") to do it that way

[Sxoa]

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As a spread affect the jugs technically have total cover due to the orientation of the holes (it's not a straight shot), however I agree with your cooler statement so we'll let it slide. Next time just give me a heads up if you're going to be away for a while if you can.

Wilhelm releases a mighty roar through the water, the liquid carrying the sound exceptionally well. Most of the remaining jets go silent though there are still some that were out side the area of effect of the blast.

The jugs above Wilhelms current position are destroyed and no longer replenishing the water. The water level begins sinking down to the level of Wilhelm's "hovel" as the sphere sucks up the liquid.

[MrScary]

Wilhelm mentally commands the sphere to push further down the tunnel, annihilating the water with the opaque sphere.

With one of the decanters usable, he decides that taking time to save the others wasn't worth it.

He re-positions himself to ensure that any remaining decanters are within range of his roar, and then once again unleashes his furious sound, shattering the few remaining decanters.

Come down, everyone. he mentally commands his companions.

The (presumably) still ethereal men descend down through the walls and into the main chamber below.

All the while, Wilhelm continues to move the sphere down, destroying the remaining water and 'drying out' the structure.

[Sxoa]

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Sorry, difficulty posting on top of end of the academic year hassle has kept me away. I'll try and make a post tomorrow.

lies!
I'm going through graduation and moving out and all that so I won't be able to post for a little bit.

[Sxoa]

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Ok, I'm back and ready to rumble

The water level descends down along with the sphere.

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Does Wilhelm stay above or below the water level?

[MrScary]

glad to see you back!

Wilhelm will stay above the water, draining it until it's gone.

[Sxoa]

As the surface of the water drops around Wilhelm his metalic catlike body is suddenly assaulted by the horrific environment above. Scorching air and driving dust both blast into his frame.

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Fort save and Reflex save

[MrScary]

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any particular effects that i'm saving vs.?
i have several immunities going at the moment.

Fort - (1d20+23)[28]
Reflex - (1d20+27)[44]

[Sxoa]

Wilhelm manages to hold his breath before dust fills his lungs.

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Fort is for suffocation (from dust) and the reflex was for fire. You're immune to fire I know, but I its there anyways.

[MrScary]

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i believe the Filter spell should take care of that dust, since it is a "noxious" or "toxic" element in the air..wouldn't you think?

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/noxious

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/toxic

Filter
Abjuration
Level: Clr 2, Drd 2, Sor/Wiz 2
Components: V, S, M/DF
Casting Time: 1 action
Duration: 10 minutes/level
Range:Touch
Target: Creature touched
Saving Throw: Will negates (harmless)
Spell Resistance: Yes
This spell creates an invisible bubble of protection
around the recipient’s body that filters out all noxious
and toxic elements in the air. The warded creature
takes no damage and no penalties from inhaled natural
or alchemical poisons. It is likewise protected against
magical poisons created by spells of 4th level or lower
(such as stinking cloud) cast by creatures of 8 or fewer
Hit Dice. Against more powerful affects, the creature
receives a +2 circumstance modifier on any saving throw
allowed.
Arcane Material Component: A strand of spider web and
a scrap of cotton cloth.