The Underground Railgun

[Shular]

Astrum

"Well, I guess we might as well get on with it. If they cleared out because of our presence, then trying to conceal our presence may be a moot point. Let's start checking doors."

With that, Astrum strides across the room to the opposite door, examines the door for simple traps [OOC Search +10] and, finding none, opens the door.

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In case something jumps out at Astrum:
Astrum Viator
Male NG Human Druid/Bst//Sor/Fig/DrDisciple, Level 12/1//1/4/8, Init +4, HP 183/183, Speed 70
AC 33, Touch 24, Flat-footed 21, Fort +13, Ref +12, Will +16, Base Attack Bonus 11
+3 Scythe +21/+16+/+11 (2d4+14, 19-20/x4)
Bite + Claw (As secondary) +12 (1d6+3/1d4+3, 20)
Bite/Claw/Claw +17/+12/+12 (2d6+6/1d4+3/1d4+3, 20)
Bracers of Armor AC 4 (+4 Armor, +4 Dex, +5 Natural, +2 Deflect, +8 Misc)
Abilities Str 22, Dex 18, Con 16, Int 16, Wis 22, Cha 12

[Townopolis]

With a pull of the lever, the door opens inward. Beyond is a hall, stretching off to the left and the right. To the right, the hall curves to its left and continues.

The sound of feet on stone converges on you from both directions, it is hard to tell with the echo, but it sounds like a few people are approaching each way. Those to the right are hustling, those to the left are nearer, but walking.

Xessalis

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Illithid alert!

[NobleSavage]

Aukan

"About time," grunts Aukan, smiling softly. Taking long strides the goliath makes his way to the far door, greatsword held aloft, ready to strike down the first hostile to walk through the door.

[MorkaisChosen]

Xessalis

Tentacles waving wildly, Xessalis sends a quick telepathic message into the minds of his friends. "Hold! There is an illithid nearby- be careful. Your brains are far more useful in your heads."

He starts searching round, trying to pino#point the mind's location- it must be close, but where?

[Shular]

Astrum

Astrum considers suggesting the group run, but does not like the idea of a pitched battle in a narrow hallway. He quickly closes the door he's at, and gestures for someone to do the same with the other. He looks at Xessalis. "Which direction is the mindflayer coming from?"

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Savage, you said Aukan has Power and Senese up? That's +3 damage and +3 to initiative/spot/listen, correct? How many can you effect (ie will that also affect my companions?). Also, I think I asked this before, but do we need to be within 30' to get the benefits?

Lordsmoothe, how big is the room, and how much time do we have before the approaching groups arrive?

[MorkaisChosen]

Xessalis

Shaking his head, Xessalis replies, "I cannot tell where it is- only that it is somewhere near. I can usually sense them within about sixty feet, but it may have moved closer. I will keep searching for its thoughts, try to pinpoint it, but I cannot give any more detail now."

[NobleSavage]

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Yeah, everyone withing 30' ft benefit. Or my allies, at least. Will be switching to 'Shield' (6pts fire damage to melee attackers w/o reach) as soon as combat starts and until the squishies start hurting. DR 3/magic and Fire resistance 15 do nothing for Aukan, so if y'all want it, lemme know.

Also, figured out a way to make Aukan a little bit stealthy. Took a while, but think Zerg.

Oh, and I read that there was a door across the room for some reason, Aukan will post up at the nearest bend, or curve in the wall.

[Townopolis]

You have about 1 round before they will be at the door.

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Gray is wall/door the things inside the room are bunk beds and the table. The hall you entered from is below, with the first door you went through on the far right. The hall above is the one the footsteps are coming from.

[KaganMonk]

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Feldas takes position to the right of the door and prepares to strike the first Illithid that comes through the door. He will ignore others in order to use his sudden strike from invisibility.

[Shular]

Astrum

Astrum takes a deep breath. "Well, we're in it now." He mutters a quick incantation and the air around himself, Pouncer, and Hawk shimmers briefly. He then barks a command to Pouncer, who jumps up onto the large table in the middle of the room (and which sags slightly under the great cat's weight) and crounches, prepared to pounce at Astrum's command. Hawk flies up to hang on rafters, or a lamp, or whetever is convenient to keep him out of harm's reach but able to view the room and give warning if such is needed.

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Cast shield spell on himself, shared with Hawk and Pouncer (shared spells out to 30'). Astrum stands at N9, Pouncer on the table at P/Q/8/9. Hawk stays within 30'.

Defensive Stats (including Shield spell):
Astrum (note: Blind Sense, 30'): AC 37, Touch 24, FF 25, Fort +13, Ref +12, Will +16
Pouncer: AC 24, Touch 12, FF 21, Fort +11, Ref +11, Will +10 (+14 vs enchantment), Evasion
Hawk: AC 28, Touch 15, FF 25, Fort +8, Ref +9, Will +10, Improved Evasion, Spell Resistance 18

[NobleSavage]

Aukan

Making sure the door leading to the curving hallway is closed, Aukan waits. "Pincer," he rumbles, "Make sure not to leave your backs to an entryway."

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He'll want to be positioned next to the door it sounds like the running is coming from, not sure which one you said that was. Where are Feldas and X? If possible he'd like to get everyone into the n/o 13-16 corner, so they all have their backs to a wall/each other. If the south door remains unguarded he'll watch it, if it opens he'll charge the beasties coming in. Anyway to block off a doorway, fellas? Casters, I'm looking at you. Other than sitting the huge rock/tank in the middle of it, I mean.

[Townopolis]

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The footsteps are coming from behind the M 11/12 door. The T 11/12 door is the one you all used to get into this room, and the V/W 24 door leads into the natural caverns.

[NobleSavage]

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The other footsteps are coming from T 11/12, yes?

[Shular]

Astrum

Astrum whispers loud enough for the others to hear. "If we block the doors, they get reinforcements. At least this way we have a shot of taking them all out before they raise the alarm."

[Townopolis]

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All the footsteps are coming from behind one door. Half of them are coming from around J/K 1/2, and the other half are coming from around D/E 21/22.

[Shular]

[OOC Ah, gotcha]

Astrum

Astrum looks in Feldas' direction, sensing his location if not actually seeing him. "Feldas, your stealth may best serve us by getting behind them and ensuring none escape to raise the alarm."

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I don't think I'll say anything else. I suspect I'm already pushing the limitations on how much can be said during a round.

[MorkaisChosen]

Xessalis

The Illithid takes up a position at the left of the door, saying to the others telepathically, "I will try to stun them as they enter- do not worry, I will not hit you."

He stands still, tentacles waving slightly and mouth half-open, staring at the door intently.

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Move to N10, ready an action to Mind Blast the area (carefully ensuring that N13 (where I assume Feldas is) is not hit) when someone opens the door.

[KaganMonk]

Feldas smiles to himself at Astrum's rather accurate guess of his location.
Agreed. Though if an Illithid or the wizard come through the door, I'll strike hard and fast while I can.

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Just to update, yes, I am at N13.
Strike unarmed at an Illithid or wizard that comes through the door.
Otherwise, slip out behind the slaves and prevent any messages getting out.
If needed, Initiative - (d20+2)[7]

[Townopolis]

((Ech, forgot about Xessalis' readied action just now, blast away, then we'll start initiative. I guess this puts you at the top of initiative, but next round.

Feldas, go ahead and use the roll I made for you. It's a tired DM bonus.))

Half a minute passes by after you close the door and hastily assume positions, then the lever on the door turns as someone opens the door from the hall. The door swings open, and four hobgoblins amble into the room, all four of them getting all the way in before the lead ones notice Pouncer on the table and stop dead, those behind them sense the sudden halt and stop as well, and all four begin looking around to see what's going on, noticing everyone except Feldas and Xessalis (who is behind the door, I think, but a swift push to the offending object will fix that).

The hobgoblins are all suited in chainmail, with falchions slung over their shoulders. Their uniforms beyond the armor consist of classic black leather and boots, and a bit of navy collar peaks out from under their hauberks.

Initiative

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Aukan - (1d20+1)[14]
Astrum - (1d20+4)[9]
feldas - (1d20+2)[18]
Xessalis: I need a new link to your sheet - (1d20)[13]
Vishir - (1d20+7)[24]
Hogor - (1d20+7)[18]
Korst - (1d20+7)[27]
Walarsh - (1d20+6)[14]

((Post when you can, actions will take place in this order
Korst 27
Vishir 24
Pouncer 22
Feldas 18
Hogor 18
Aukan 14
Walarsh 14
Astrum 9

Xessalis ???

Also, I don't know precisely where Aukan is, since he hasn't posted since clarifications on the situation were made, place yourself on your action.))

Map

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[Townopolis]

((forgot Pouncer initiative - (1d20+3)[22]

also... feh, take 2 points off all the damage rolls ))

One of the Hobgoblins in the rear reacts first. Glancing Aukan out of the corner of his eye, he slams the door shut with one arm as he draws his falchion with the other. Xessalis is revealed behind the door, but it takes less than a moment for the hob to register the illithid and change his tack. With a few quick steps forward, the hobgoblins brings his scimitar down against Astrum, then Xessalis. Neither swing misses, but after another feinting sweep, the hobgoblins brings his sword around in a powerful and lightning fast arc, with both Astrum and Xessalis in the arc of his attack.

attack Astrum - (1d20+12)[14] :: crit - (1d20+13)[20]
attack Xessalis - (1d20+12)[26] :: crit - (1d20+13)[33]
damage Astrum - (3d6+6)[13] :: crit - (2d6+6)[12]
damage Xessalis - (3d6+6)[13] :: crit - (2d6+6)[11]

One of the hobgoblins in front staggers for a moment, then stops, and shakes his head vigorously, then draws his scimitar as well and steps towards Pouncer.

((Ignore the following rolls))
attack - (1d20+12)[24] :: crit - (1d20+13)[17]
damage - (6d6+6)[26] :: crit - (2d6+6)[16]

[MorkaisChosen]

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Sheet

My initiative is 17, then.

Xessalis' tentacles wave madly as he releases a concentrated blast of psionic energy, trying to overload the minds of the Hobgoblin soldiers. The others catch only the side-effects, a sort of mental static at the edge of their thoughts- slightly irritating, but nowhere near as devastating as the experience of those hit by the full force...

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DC26 Will saves or be stunned for 3d4 rounds. Blast aimed down and right, aiming to miss the others in the party- not sure exactly how the 60ft cone will go, but I can definitely hit Walash and Hogor, and possibly the other two as well.

[Townopolis]

hokay then, (3d4)[6]

[Townopolis]

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Vishir - (1d20+14)[20]
Hogor - (1d20+14)[33]
Korst - (1d20+14)[31]
Walarsh - (1d20+14)[21]
so much rolling...

[Shular]

[OOC Did you include the +3 to initiative we got from Aukan's aura?]
[Edit 2: Oops, just noticed attack on Pouncer were to be ignored]

Astrum

Taken aback by the ferocity of the hobgoblin's attack, Astrum finds himself fortunate to be uninjured. At his shout of "Kill", Pouncer leaps onto the nearest enemy.

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Pouncer, 114/114 hp, (on V, +1 for magic fang, +1 for higher ground-on table (reduce attacks by one if Pouncer had to get off the table), +3 damage for aura, note that Pouncer held action until Astrum's initiative):
Claw: attack (1d20+19)[37]; crit (1d20+19)[31]
damage (1d6+12)[13]; crit (1d6+12)[18]
Claw: attack (1d20+19)[23]; crit (1d20+19)[22]
damage (1d6+12)[15]; crit (1d6+12)[17]
Bite: attack (1d20+13)[29]; crit (1d20+13)[14]
damage (1d8+8)[14]; crit (1d8+8)[10]
If bite hits, then Grapple check: Grapple (1d20+21)[41]
If grapple succeeds, then hobby pulled into Pouncer's space and rake attack:
Rake: attack (1d20+17)[37]; crit (1d20+17)[27]
damage (1d6+8)[12]; crit (1d6+8)[10]

Meanwhile, Astrum has his own hands full with the hobgoblin who swung at him, and swings his deadly scythe (and throws in a bite for good measure):

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Attack 1: attack (1d20+21)[22]; crit (1d20+21)[23]
damage (2d4+17)[22]; crit (2d4+17)[19]
Attack 1: attack (1d20+16)[17]; crit (1d20+16)[23]
damage (2d4+17)[22]; crit (2d4+17)[22]
Attack 1: attack (1d20+11)[19]; crit (1d20+11)[31]
damage (2d4+17)[25]; crit (2d4+17)[22]
Bite: attack (1d20+12)[16]; crit (1d20+12)[16]
damage (1d6+7)[9]; crit (1d6+7)[13]

(Edit: WOW! On Astrum's d20 rolls I rolled 1, 2, 1, 7, 8, 5, 4, 4. Hopefully I've used up my share of bad rolls for a while.)

Whew...you're right, that IS a lot of rolling, and I'm not done. If Hawk is able to tell that the hobgoblin on Pouncer is stunned, then he too will swoop in to help the big cat (aid check to give Pouncer a +2 to hit on next attack, need to hit AC10):
Hawk aiding Pouncer (1d20+16)[36]

Okay, I think that's everything. I hope I set up the roll commands correctly.

[KaganMonk]

Seeing no Illithids, Feldas smirks and decides to hit the hob that has placed itself at his mercy.

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Flurry of Blows! And you thought you had it bad.
Attack1 - (d20+9)[26]
Damage1 - (2d8)[12]
Precision - (7d6)[27]

Attack2 - (d20+9)[22]
Damage2 - (2d8)[9]
Attack3 - (d20+9)[22]
Damage3 - (2d8)[10]
Attack4 - (d20+4)[19]
Damage4 - (2d8)[8]
All against Walarsh.

[Townopolis]

Pouncer lashes out at the hobgoblin who has come to near him, all his attacks hitting home, and pulling the hapless minion into a giant golden furball of terror. The hobgoblin drops his scimitar and proceeds to have a very bad day.

Feldas appears behind the stunned hobgoblin and carves several red lines into his back, the hobgoblin staggers and falls to the ground.

The fourth hobgoblin turns to see what is happening to his friend. Seeing Feldas there, he draws his blade and steps forward to defend his ally, coming in with an intense stroke sequence of his own, but misses completely.

attack - (1d20+12)[17] :: crit - (1d20+13)[15]
damage - (2d4+5)[9] :: crit - (2d4+5)[12]
bonecrusher - (4d6)[15]

[NobleSavage]

Aukan

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Sorry, didn't see where Feldas was and didn't want to have Aukan on top of him, will go with O13, as its closest open space to the door. Also, Aukan's aura wasn't calculated into Initiative, we should all be at +3

Eyes narrowing on the hobgoblin that threw himself at Feldas, Aukan steps in, shield rotating to cover his openings. Doing his best to position himself so as not to harm the others, Aukan spews forth a spread of fire, hoping to finish the confrontation quickly. Sword now falling from above, the goliath does his best to hack Feldas' assailant to charred pieces.

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Aukan will stay next to Feldas and use his Shield Ally ability to take 1/2 damage dealt to him, should the Hobbies make it out of the round. Aukan will use his breath, quickened, on the nearest enemy should they be positioned in a manner where his 15 ft spread won't reach to his allies.
Breath
Damage: (5d6)[19]
Rounds until next use: (1d4+4)[6]

Attack
-5 Power Attack

1(1d20+17)[23]
2(1d20+12)[29]
3(1d20+7)[27]

Damage
1(3d6+26)[37]
If Evil
(2d6)[6]
2(3d6+26)[33]
If Evil
(2d6)[8]
3(3d6+26)[40]
If Evil
(2d6)[7]

[NobleSavage]

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Yuk, #3 was a crit threaten, forgot to include those. Sry.

Confirm
(1d20+7)[8]

Extra Damage, should it be confirmed
(3d6+26)[36]

[Townopolis]

After Feldas fells the first foe, Aukan steps in and unleashes a billowing gout of fire from his mouth, catching all the hobgoblins, save the one in Pouncer's paws, in its blast. This is immediately followed by a quick carving of the hobgoblin standing before Feldas.

Astrum brings his scythe to bear against the one remaining charred hobgoblin, and reaps him like wheat.

The last hobgoblin, stuck in Pouncer's formidable grasp, makes a last ditch effort to escape, but it is doomed to failure, the lion's claws are sunk deep within the chain links that once served as armor, and the hapless hob is stuck.

[Shular]

Astrum

As the lion prepares to dispatch his quarry, Astrum commands "Pouncer, hold!"

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Pushing (move equivalent action) Pouncer to stop attacking but maintain the grapple (a trick he hasn't been taught), so DC 25 Handle Animal check: (1d20+18)[34]