DrK's Age of Worms IC pt4

[Auranghzeb]

Chastised, Makavoy tries to fight the Lich's Influence, but with Acererak being too strong, Makavoy decides to stay away from the group for the time being. The Lich inside inquires Makavoy about the Hand of Vecna.

Why did you let that woman take it? It is rightfully mine. I served Vecna! I fought Vecna!

Makavoy is exhausted. Watching the group from a few meters away, he only nods to Zarina's words.

[RCgothic]

Mirriana

"Let's camp before we head back. For all we know there's a final stage of the challenge they're going to unleash on us once we return the tokens, it'd be better to heal up and be fresh," I suggest, healing my wounds and diminished strength, and the wounds of anyone else who needs it.

One again I can raise a sturdy shelter for the night.

[Auranghzeb]

Makavoy has barely spent any spells, so fruitless was the combat for him. But he is so eager to get rid of Acererak's influence, the suggestion of resting seems such a great idea.


Let's do that, better days ahead, One would think.

[DrK]

The cave with the dead massive pig does not feel as daunting when Mirriana calls forth another gleaming white brick fortress within the cavern. Inside the cool white walls there is bright light, warmth and the group are able to relax in the small common area beside a kitchen with the summoned wicker baskets piled high with fruits and breads. Zarina looks to the others as she strips off her weapon belt placing it in the small sleeping chamber that she chooses for her own.

Swords, bow and dagger join the heavy bandolier of alchemical vials and the battered chain shirt, greaves and vambraces before she rejoins the others, a strange look with gleaming magical crows, rings and bracers atop an otherwise plain homespun green dress. "So we have most of the day to rest up here, does anyone have any suggestions for what we should do?" she asks, "At least in the air of such a vile beast we should be safe as nothing else will come sniffing this way?"

[Auranghzeb]

Makavoy just wants to rest and expel Acererak.

We thus have collected all that we needed. What it is to be done with it? That should be the priority in the morning. That, and getting away from this cave.

Could we destroy Harrowdroth's remaining tusks?

[RCgothic]

Mirriana

After raising the shelter and helping to heal the party's minor injuries, I doff my armour and settle down on some of the more comfortable furnishings to polish it.

"I hope returning the tokens to the fey tomorrow will simply yield us access to Dragotha's phylactery. The Titan, the Nightmare and Quethos have been quite enough, I'm thankful we didn't also have to face the Roc and the Doomshroud."

[Chambers]

Donal Ren

"The ways of the Fey are strange, to say the least. Who knows what they may say or do to fulfill their end of the bargain." Donal says, sharpening his blade. "We should be prepared for battle, or at least enter cautiously. I'll be glad once we're back on solid earth again, not this otherworld."

[DrK]

The day and night pass in the marble palace in the cave where the party spend most of the time in the palace with the shutters closed enjoying the swirling patterns representing the realms of the outer planes that were on the inside of the shutters. As the morning dawns the heroes assemble once more with the various bits of the task nd head back out once more into the low grey clouds and persistent rain that seems to dominate the Isle of Tilagos.

Its 6 long hours of walking out of the gorges and then across the heathery moors before the wooded clearing with the crystalline growth can be seen. Zarina raises a hand, "I know we are expecting something good here, or at least we hope it will be the location of the phylacyery, but do want to prepare?

[Ghostfoot]

Elkist Talphrin "You think that they may not honour their word?" Elkist asks, troubled. It was to be expected that the forces of chaos & evil would lie and deceive, but she found it intensely frustrating when those with less defined morals let her down. Spoiler: actions Show cast various energy immunity & protection from energy spells Spoiler: Stats Show Elkist Talphrin Female LG Half-Drow Paladin 4/ Spirit Shaman 11, Level 15, Init 7, HP 90/105, DR DR10/ admantine, Speed 30ft AC 30, Touch 12, Flat-footed 28, Fort 21, Ref 18, Will 21, Base Attack Bonus 12 Ghost touch, Magical Weapon+5 Lightning Sword +22/ +17/ +12 (+12 base, +5 str, +5 weapon) (2d6+12 (+7 str, +5 weapon), 19-20 x2) Ghost touch +1 longspear ( , ) Ghost touch +1 Batorian green steel Hand axe ( , ) Ghost touch Mithral Full plate of speed +3, Ghost touch +1 Animated heavy steel shield (w/ Magical Vestment+5) (+11 Armor, +7 Shield, +2 Dex) Abilities Str 20, Dex 14, Con 12, Int 11, Wis 12, Cha 29 Condition Permanent/ daily effects: Pal: Aura of good Pal: Aura of courage (immune fear, allies +4 morale bonus vs fear) Pal: Divine health (immunity to disease) SS: Ghost warrior (ghost touch weapons & armour) 1/2E: Immunity to sleep 1/2E: +2 save vs enchantment 1/2E: low light vision Armour crystal: +3 competence save vs energy drain, death spells/ effects, inflict spells) Circlet: +6 enhancement to Cha Belt: +4 enhancement to Str Armbands: +2 Str checks & skills, +2 damage on Power attack) Mirriana: Imbue with Spell Ability Boots: +10ft enhancement speed, +5 competence Jump Cloak: +2 resistance all saves Magic Weapon +5 (Donal) Magic Vestment +5 (Donal) Energy Drain - 2 Negative levels Hour+ effects: Heart of Earth (spell): +8 resist bull rush, overrun, trip; +22 temp hp Heart of Air (spell): +10 enhance Jump Heart of X (spell): light fortification (25% resist critical hits & sneak attacks) SS: Blessing of the spirits (protection from spirits: +2 defl AC, +2 resist Saves) SS: Warding of the spirits (magic circle vs spirits:10ft radius +2 defl AC, +2 resist Saves) Primal instinct (wand): +5 competence initiative & survival Minute+ effects (not included in stats): Round+ effects:

[DrK]

It’s a long trek in the morning through the mountain foothills before you head across the grassy plains, the island seems to be almost drawing breath as no massive land bulette are seen and no massive flying rice can be observed circling the high cloud shrouded peaks.

Trudging through the grass you soon approach the broad clear grass covered slope where the strange crystalline growth stands that you arrived by and met the 4 wild watchers. As you arrive at the crystal growth the very earth shimmers as the 4 watchers emerge from the land, Tylanthros gleaming the summer sun as the flowers flow down his cape, Beshkawan in a cloud of snow and frost that seems to steam in the air around his pale blue banners, Thadamar with wild flowers of spring following their every step and finally Sayren-Lei in a flurry of red and yellow leaves that swirl in a tiny whirlwind around the Watcher of Autumn

All 4 standing some 60ft from the party on a loose circle around you offer a curt nod before you hear one of the voices in your minds, it’s has a female inflection and then from the aggressive stance of the watcher of autumn you realise it must be Sayren Lei. ”You have learned nothing from your trials. The Roc King lies dead atop his mountain, you slew the dogs of Vecna and the mad Titan but have shown no wisdom. I say no to your quest, I say you must defeat me if you wish to sup from the fountain and gain the knowledge of the Order of Storms.” There is a stirring from the other watchers, the flowery Watcher of Spring turning their back even as the others cross their arms as they await your response to Sayren Lei’s challenge

[Auranghzeb]

Before

Having shed Acererak's influence, Makavoy opted for less aggressive Vestiges, Binding Wee Jas favorite The Green Lady and the always dependable Haures.

Spoiler: Binding Roles

Show

(1d20+12)[27] Green Lady vs DC 17 (1d20+15)[19] vs DC 25 Haures
I pick Tue Casting as my granted spell from the Green Lady

***

When confronted with the harsh words.

We didn't learn anything? who was this watcher of Autum to make such statements?


Mylady, I beg your pardon, but we came from great distance and through great peril to bring you everything you asked. I saw my friends crushed by the mighty titan and I saw brave Zarina implode in pain before being brought back to life. Wisdom always arrives too late, or so they say. But haven't we secured the hand of Vecna and defeated the Harrowdroth? How then can you doubt our intentions or our wisdom?

[Chambers]

Donal Ren

"So, to be clear..." Donal says when the Watcher denies them. "You've just spouted off a list of our dead enemies and you want your name added to it? Or did you have something else in mind with your tantrum?"

[RCgothic]

Mirriana

"We fought only where necessary," I respond patiently to Sayren-Lei, a twitch of my hand conveying I'd prefer my companions not rise to her bait just yet. "And those who died by our blade were highly deserving! I regret the roc king's death, but that was not our doing or something we could reasonably have prevented. If there is a lesson you would have us learn, state it plainly! We have abided by the rules of your task! If you dislike the outcome, then perhaps that is something you should have considered with your fellows before setting the terms!"

I appraise each of them in turn, trying to glean what they make of Sayren-Lei's reneging.

Spoiler

Show

Diplomacy to prod her into explaining her objection. (1d20+12)[32]

Sense motive to divine her intentions and those of the other watchers. (1d20+15)[28]

[DrK]

Before the watcher can respond again the pale grey hued Beshkawan with flickering blue flags holds up a hand around which a snow flurry forms. ”They speak true, they fought when attacked and did not seek violence more than was needed. I say they are worthy.”

At those words Thadamar and Tylanthros both agree, the summer and spring standing a cloud of warmth and flowers. In the face of this Sayen Lei inclines their face, flags dipping. ”I say they must prove their worth, I will not allow them to cause the fall of our place here. Defend yourself!”

The Wildwatcher of Autumn adds the last as their skin seems to darken and thicken into heavy bark b egg ore they vanish from sight with an audible pop from where they were stood in front of him some 50ft away!




Fight!
Diplomacy check not high enough I’m afraid
Watcher of Autumn casts quickened barkskin followed by greater invisibility

Players to GO

[DrK]

Zarina As the Waywtacher spun its spear and vanished from view Zarina glanced at the others a nervous look upon her otherwise smooth face. "I do not wish to kill this one... but he is deadly! even as she speaks she summons a shimmering lightning shaped aegis of force to shield her from harm and then manipulates to time around her an the others hastening their perception of the battlefield.

Spoiler: OOC

Show

Free: Knowledge Devotion (1d20+27)[45]
Swift: Quickened Shield
Standard: haste


Zarina "Brightblade"
M LG Human Warblade/Ftr/Wiz/S.Sword/Abj.Champ/ JPM 1, Level 1/1/4/1/4/ 4 (15), Init 2, HP 112/125, Speed
AC 29, Touch 12, Flat-footed 27, Fort 13, Ref 11, Will 8, Base Attack Bonus 13/7/2
Fullblade +1 +19/14/9 (2d8+8, 19-20)
MW Comp (+2) Longbow (20, 20 cold iron, 10 silver) +16/11/6 (1d8+2, X3)
3x Cap( Fire, Spark, Acid), Wand Chamber (Wraithstrike): Flaming burst desert wind falchion +1 (+5) (Least true death xtal (+1d6 vs undead)) +23/18/13 (2d4+12 + 1d6 Fire, 18-20)
Lesser crystal of life keeping (+3 vs Death effects, Energy drain, Inflict) Gith craft Mithril Chain Shirt +1, Stacks with armour: Least crystal of Arrow Deflection (+2 AC vs ranged) Dastana +1 (+12 Armor, +2 Dex, +5 Natural)
Abilities Str 21, Dex 14, Con 14, Int 22, Wis 6, Cha 11
Condition

Superior Resistance 24 hours (+6 to all saves)
Heart Air
Heart Earth
Greater Luminous Armour
Shield 28 mins
Haste 14 rounds

Xtal: +3 vs Death/Negative energy effects
Rite: +2 Saves vs Death / Fear
AC: 12 arm 8 shield + 1 dodge + 3 dex = 34


Abilities
[InActive] Leading the Charge (+10 damage)
[InActive] Stance: Mystic Phoenix (+1 CL, +2 dodge AC, DR 2xSpell/Evil)
[Ready] Moment Perfect Mind (Ctr)
[Ready] Divine Surge (strike)
[Ready] Searing strike (boost)

[RCgothic]

Mirriana

"Fight to subdue if possible..." I suggest to my allies as my eyes continue to track the watcher despite her attempt at greater invisibility.

I can still see her! I send across the mindlink, privately conveying the fey's range and bearing from myself and hoping our thoughts aren't too transparent to our clearly telepathic opponent.

I grasp the rod of quicken spell and quickly pray for good fortune, before beginning a summoning spell.

Spoiler

Show

Free: Pierce Illusion. Rolled 28 which defeats greater invisibility unless the spellcasting modifier is something ridiculous like +14, so Mirriana can almost certainly see through the watcher's Greater Invisibility (Illusion) spell.

Swift action: Surge of Fortune. +2 luck to basically everything. Can convert to a natural 20 on any dice roll and end the spell as an immediate action.

Full-round action: Summon Monster VII.

Iron Guard's Glare (-4 attack rolls against allies for threatened foes).

Prepared manoeuvres:
Shield Block
Divine Surge
White Raven Tactics

Readying next round Defensive Rebuke (1) or Douse The Flames (2) (1d2)[1]

[Chambers]

Donal Ren

"Subdue...I'll try. No promises." Donal says as he watches the belligerent spirit disappear from sight. Sword and shield at the ready, he utters a short prayer as he advances to where the spirit was last seen.

Spoiler

Show

Casting Shield of Faith, move up to 60ft towards where the Watcher was.

Donal Ren
HP 166/166
AC (melee) 39
AC (ranged) 44
[DR 8/-, up to 50 damage, then DR 4/-]

F/R/W: +23/+16/+20

Donal Spells: Shield of Faith (20 minutes), Magic Vestment, Greater Magic Weapon, Superior Resistance, Longstrider
Other Spells: Heroes' Feasts (+1 morale Attack/Will, Immune to Fear), Haste (+1 Attack, AC, Ref; +30ft speed; extra attack on full attack)

[Ghostfoot]

Elkist Talphrin "Duplicitous fey!" Elkist snarls. While she knew well how to fight such beings, her training had never extended to nonlethal forms... Spoiler: actions Show Standard: detect spirits (ie detect fey) Free: Guide magic (spirit guide to maintain detect spirits concentration indefinitely) Move: Move to protect Mirriana Spoiler: Stats Show Elkist Talphrin Female LG Half-Drow Paladin 4/ Spirit Shaman 11, Level 15, Init 7, HP ?/105, DR, Speed 30ft AC 30, Touch 12, Flat-footed 28, Fort 21, Ref 18, Will 21, Base Attack Bonus 12 Ghost touch, Magical Weapon+5 Lightning Sword +22/ +17/ +12 (+12 base, +5 str, +5 weapon) (2d6+12 (+7 str, +5 weapon), 19-20 x2) Ghost touch +1 longspear ( , ) Ghost touch +1 Batorian green steel Hand axe ( , ) Ghost touch Mithral Full plate of speed +3, Ghost touch +1 Animated heavy steel shield (w/ Magical Vestment+5) (+11 Armor, +7 Shield, +2 Dex) Abilities Str 20, Dex 14, Con 12, Int 11, Wis 12, Cha 29 Condition Permanent/ daily effects: Pal: Aura of good Pal: Aura of courage (immune fear, allies +4 morale bonus vs fear) Pal: Divine health (immunity to disease) SS: Ghost warrior (ghost touch weapons & armour) 1/2E: Immunity to sleep 1/2E: +2 save vs enchantment 1/2E: low light vision Armour crystal: +3 competence save vs energy drain, death spells/ effects, inflict spells) Circlet: +6 enhancement to Cha Belt: +4 enhancement to Str Armbands: +2 Str checks & skills, +2 damage on Power attack) Mirriana: Imbue with Spell Ability Boots: +10ft enhancement speed, +5 competence Jump Cloak: +2 resistance all saves Magic Weapon +5 (Donal) Magic Vestment +5 (Donal) Energy Drain - 2 Negative levels Hour+ effects: Heart of Earth (spell): +8 resist bull rush, overrun, trip; +22 temp hp Heart of Air (spell): +10 enhance Jump Heart of X (spell): light fortification (25% resist critical hits & sneak attacks) SS: Blessing of the spirits (protection from spirits: +2 defl AC, +2 resist Saves) SS: Warding of the spirits (magic circle vs spirits:10ft radius +2 defl AC, +2 resist Saves) EXPIRED Primal instinct (wand): +5 competence initiative & survival Minute+ effects (not included in stats): Round+ effects:

[Auranghzeb]

Makavoy had several ways of dealing with the invivible fey. Thanks to Zceryll's powers, the fey mind and thoughts remained easy for him to locate, But his allies were blind and abjuration was not his forte. He moved towards Zarina and cast a spell to allow the warrior to see the fey neatly.


Here, be our sword.

Spoiler: Actions

Show

Move next to Zarina
STANDARD: CAST TRUE SEEING ON ZARINA.

[DrK]

Zarina hastens the heroes as she stands next to Mirriana, Elkist andthen Mahkavoy. The binder-mage gifts Zarina with true seeing and the Watcher leaps back into a view, only a hint of a heat haze around it suggesting its shielded by by now useless magic. Mirriana likewise ignores the magic, her will simply refusing to believe the magic was there. For Elkist and Donal its trickier as they cannot see it but the shaman can sense its presence "somewhere" to her front!

To Zarina, Mahkavoy's (via his strange cloak) and Mirriana's eyes they can see a great swarm of insects starting to buzz and swarm about the Wildwatcher, their elemental flags flapping in a breeze as their cloak seems to lengthen and flap dangerously on its own accord. the watcher moves 30ft from Donal, maintaining their distance (~70ft) from the cluster of warrior woman even as a cool blue shield of crackling fire erupts around them and then a crackling pillar of fire and ice hammers down upon Elkist, Mirriana, Mahkavoy and Zarina tha pelts them with gobbest of lava, frozen hail and a cloud of steam!



Waywatcher:
Move 30ft
Swift: Quickened fire shield
Standard: Storm of Ice and Fire for (6d6)[19] Fire, (6d6)[13] Cold, concealment in the 20ft radius column and half movement. Ref DC 23 for half damage

[RCgothic]

Mirriana
A preminition of danger allows me to dodge between the gobbets of lava, shards of ice and hail, allowing me to complete my summoning of an avoral guardinel above the battlefield.

"Holy one!" I call out. "Our foe is invisible!" I gesture in the direction of Sayren-Lei. The avian warrior nods in response, casting a See Invisibility spell that allows it to turn it's gaze on the wild watcher like a target lock.

Meanwhile I extricate myself from the storm area and launch my own assault. "Assay Spell Resistance! Hammer of Righteousness!

Spoiler

Show

Summon Monster VII completes and the Avoral acts immediately casting See Invisibility.

Mirriana Move 20ft through difficult terrain (40ft) and a further 20ft towards the enemy (hasted move is 60ft).

Swift casting Assay Spell Resistance.
Standard casting Know Vulnerabilities -> Hammer of Righteousness. (14d6)[45] non-lethal force damage FORT DC19 for half.

Sacrifice [roll]1d3] strength damage

[Chambers]

Donal Ren

Distance and direction, got it. Donal sends back to Mirriana as he takes a moment to ready himself into a sprinter's stance. He exhales and then races across the battlefield, swinging his electrified sword at where Mirriana indicated the Fey was.

Spoiler

Show

Swift action: Activate Bracers of Lightning.
Charge. He can move up to 120ft as part of the charge if needed.

Attack (1d20+34)[43]
Sword Damage (1d10+20)[26]
Fire Damage (1d6)[6]
Electricity Damage (1d6)[1]

Miss Chance (1-50 Misses) (1d100)[32]

Donal Ren
HP 166/166
AC (melee) 39
AC (ranged) 44
[DR 8/-, up to 50 damage, then DR 4/-]

F/R/W: +23/+16/+20

Donal Spells: Shield of Faith (20 minutes), Magic Vestment, Greater Magic Weapon, Superior Resistance, Longstrider
Other Spells: Heroes' Feasts (+1 morale Attack/Will, Immune to Fear), Haste (+1 Attack, AC, Ref; +30ft speed; extra attack on full attack)