[Group 2] The World's Largest Dungeon - IC

[Mr. X]

Maltho's eyes roll back in his head and his body crumples as his spirit leaves him...

Fredric lunges forward to catch him, cursing as he holds the shaman's limp body up and braces himself against the surging crowd, and the very real danger of being trampled, while Kulkov rushes to meet the charging horsemen...

Suddenly, the first of the Slaver's horses jerks and swerves, coming into Kulkov's easy reach as the goliath brings his titanic, jagged glave to bear in a blow that severs its rider's torso from his waist...

... The bloodspray gets in his eyes, however, and causes him to miss his follow up blow against the second rider, but the man crumples from his saddle none the less, one of Vlorah's daggers protruding from the back of his neck.

A moment later, the very grass comes to life, lashing out with twisting leaves and roots, wrapping vehemently about any it can grasp, and pulling them firmly to the earth, sending one horse and rider sprawling, and bringing two more to near a near halt, as they entangle and trap the great mass of refugees within their reach...

At the far edge of the crowd, the second wave of slavers have segregated small groups of refugees, and entrapped them in nets.

One rider, far in the rear, pulls to a halt, and brandishes a thin stick... Abruptly, three earthen beasts melt up from the plain and move to the small groups, beating into submission those who would resist, and securing closed the nets...

Spoiler

Fredric's Initiative: (1d20+3)[8]

Malthos, you have your horse.

Vlorah, as Kulkov destroyed your flanking target, I had you re-target Slaver3. You don't have a flank, but since you're a halfling in a mass of humans, you still got your Sneak Attack.

Elias, your Entangled area is noted by the 'Vines'.

The Slaver Leader uses a Wand to command 3 pre-summoned Small Earth Elementals, as noted by G1,2,3.

S2 and S3 from group A are dead, killed by Kulkov and Vlorah respectively.

Their horses are still alive, however, and Malthos is possessing the horse of S2.

S4 has collapsed and thrown its rider. Both horse and rider are currently prone.

S1 has been slowed this round, but will be back up to speed next.

In Group B, S2 was also slowed.

The Map:
I'm afraid I'm without my computer, so this map is hand drawn. It is, however, on graph paper, and so is accurately to scale. I hope it proves sufficiently legible.

Spoiler

[Mr. X]

Combat Order

24- Malthos
13- Kulkov
10- Vlorah
10- Slavers
9- Elias
8- Fredric

[MasterofFates]

Malthos focuses his will, and calls forth the spirits of the other bandits' horses to obey his whim. He feels the pain therein; the innocence inherent in creatures with such feeble intellect worn away, whipped away by these cruel men...these cruel riders. He whispers into their minds not a command, but a feeling of empathy- of understanding. These poor beasts wanted for nothing, but he would give them something to live for; the same thing that had kept him living all these years, against every obstacle.

Revenge.

Spoiler

Using my Animal Control Feat, (which I just took this level) which allows me to rebuke/command animals as a cleric rebukes undead.

Spoiler

NOTE: I took this feat from Masters of the Wild. It's a 3.0 book, so I suppose I should have asked you first, so feel free to object if it's banned.

I am commanding the horses to attack the slavers, particularly those riding them (though if those are dead, they are suggested to find others). Probably by throwing them off, then trampling them if possible.

Rebuking check is obselete, as I can affect animals of up to the horses' HD no matter what the results. As all of the horses are at least half my HD, they follow my commands rather than simply being rebuked.

[MasterofFates]

Spoiler

Woops, I forgot to roll the Rebuking Damage:
This effects horses within 60 feet of me, starting with those that are closest.
(2d6+8)[18] (Total number of HD of horses I control)

Edit: I guess that's the six closes horses. Huzzah!
Edit again: I just noticed that that would only be two horses or so. I'm going to move to a more convenient spot before rebuking, just give me time to find one.
Edit III: Got it. I'm moving into the four squares directly between the letters A and C (horses are large, remember?) This way, I affect the horses of (listed as Group letter+rider number): F1, F2, C1, A1, E2, G1

[Sucrose]

Seeing his path forward blocked by lashing vines, Kulkav pushes through the throng of people to his west, his polearm seeking out the slavers on the other side...

Spoiler

Not clear on how long it takes to push through crowds as a Large, 26 Strength creature, so just stating that he'll move as far as he can, and, if he can get within 20 feet of Slaver B3, attack. If he can manage to get within 20 feet of two of the slavers from group B, ideally those who have not been yet impeded, he will instead use Steel Wind, to attack them both.

Attack 1 - (1d20+13)[28]
Damage 1 - (2d10+13)[25]
Attack 2 - (1d20+13)[17]
Damage 2 - (2d10+13)[22]

Ignore the attacks as is appropriate.

[Mr. X]

With sudden decisiveness, the riderless horse wheels and bolts back whence it came, leaping over the grasping vines, to rear and bluster defiantly at the slavers...

As though called to action by their brother, many of the other horses suddenly turn against their riders, bucking and stomping at their masters.

All the while, the crowds flood and flee before the slavers as Kulkov bolts through a break in the multitude, and smashing one of the riders from his horse as he attempts to flee...

The outer groups of Slavers bank away from the crowd's center, dividing them further, as they circle around back towards those already taking prisoners...

Spoiler

Kulkov, you'll need to double move to get over there, but you'll still get an Attack of Opportunity against S2 as he rides past.

For all, Moving through the crowds requires 2 squares of movement for each 1 square you move through... i.e., your speed is halved. (Providing you don't want to plow them over.)

Malthos, you are curently possessing Group A, Horse 2 (labled 'H2'). Your body is still 'M' down with Fredric.

The Map:

Spoiler

As you can see, the scene has changed rather dramatically.

A few notes:
The dotted area indicates the reach of Malthos' turning.

S2 of Group B is actually dead, Kulkov just killed him (I forgot to remove him before taking the picture)

I've moved Fredric for his action even though it wasn't his turn yet... He's not going to do much anyway.

please ask me to clarify stuff if you need me too, I know the pencil drawing is a little hard to read.

Horsy Combat:

Spoiler

Group A
Slaver1: Ride - (1d20+8)[12]
Horse1: Buck - (1d20+9)[16]

Group C
Slaver1:Ride - (1d20+8)[18]
Horse1: Buck - (1d20+9)[14]

Group E
Slaver2: Ride - (1d20+8)[9]
Horse2: Buck - (1d20+9)[18]

Group F
Slaver 1:Ride - (1d20+8)[21]
Horse 1: Buck - (1d20+9)[21]

Slaver 2:Ride - (1d20+8)[10]
Horse 2: Buck - (1d20+9)[21]

Vlorah, it's your turn.

[Simba]

Afraid to be left alone among the masses of fleeing people, Vlorah follows Kulkov as closely as she can, taking advantage of his massive frame to stay in the free space that is left in his wake.

[Mr. X]

Spoiler

The Slavers have moved already, so Elias, you're up.

[Quakes]

Spoiler

sorry, map doesn't load on my work compy so doing this from memory

Elias starts heading towards the group of unimpeded slavers on the far right. He tries to push through the crowds to reach them, having variable success among the panicked masses. He yells behind him to the priest on his way, shouting out Turn your magic onto the slavers! Protect your people!.

Spoiler

if I can reach the nearest slaver this round, attack with sword of destiny
(1d20+9)[12]
damage
(1d6+3)[7]
crit confirm
(1d20+9)[21]
crit damage
(2d6+6)[14]


If I can't reach the slaver, throw an axe at the nearest one instead.
(1d20+8)[18] -4 for every 10 feet, hoping to draw his attention even if it misses
damage
(1d6)[5]

[Mr. X]

Elias pushes his way through the crowd, shouting to the priest, but in the mass of panic, its impossible to tell if the priest heard, or even where he is...

Pushing on regardless, Elias breaks out of the crowd well behind the charging slavers, hurling an axe after them, and sinking it deep into the back of the closer rider...

... The man jerks on the impact, and falls from his horse. A moment later though, he staggers to his feet, and rips the axe from his back...

Far in the rear, the lone Slaver makes a wide gesture, and bolts of crackling energy streak and twist out from his hand, smashing into the defiantly rearing horse...

Spoiler

Elias, you're not going to be able to get into melee range this round, but go ahead and give me damage rolls for Sneak Attack and Ambush. They'll both apply to the axe throw.

Slaver Leader casts Magic Missile at Malthos(Horse), CL 5:
Damage:
(1d4+1)[5]
(1d4+1)[2]
(1d4+1)[3]

The Map:

Spoiler

Malthos, it's your turn.
Unless the possession power allows you to keep your own hitpoints, the horse has a total of 19hp. Also, what happens if the body you're possessing dies?

[Quakes]

Spoiler

cool, wasn't sure if those would apply
sneak (1d6)[3]
ambush (1d6)[2]

[MasterofFates]

Originally Posted by Mr. X

Spoiler

Slaver Leader casts Magic Missile at Malthos(Horse), CL 5:
Damage:
[roll0]
[roll1]
[roll2]

Malthos, it's your turn.
Unless the possession power allows you to keep your own hitpoints, the horse has a total of 19hp. Also, what happens if the body you're possessing dies?

Spoiler

My body takes half the damage the possessed body takes. If that body dies, my soul returns to my body, provided that my body hasn't sustained so much damage that I die.

[MasterofFates]

Malthos singles out the bandit leader, and brays as he stamps his host's hooves upon the ground. The horse's eyes glint with human intelligence, and quite suddenly, a fist-sized, smoking globe of fire roars forward toward the bandit chief, before a massive explosion rips across the landscape with searing force.

Spoiler

Huzzah for the flame domain!
Taken a five-foot step away, then casting Fireball, centered on the square between groups e and f. Also applying the Sudden Widen, Sudden Empower, and Sudden Maximize feats to this spell. (I simply love them)

That adds up to 6d6 (maximized to 36) + (3d6)[9] damage in a 40-foot radius burst around the square, which should hit the bandit leader as well as all the members of those two groups, who must make a reflex save (DC 17) to halve said damage.

[Mr. X]

For Malthos:

Spoiler

So it's entirely possible for your body to die and you to get stranded in the body you possess. Awesome.

To ahead and take your action.

[MasterofFates]

Originally Posted by Mr. X

For Malthos:

Spoiler

So it's entirely possible for your body to die and you to get stranded in the body you possess. Awesome.

To ahead and take your action.

Spoiler

Happens I have, see above. I get the fireball spell from the flame domain- practically the only reason I chose it.

[Mr. X]

In a blinding explosion, the air is suddenly filled with the screams of the dying as the flames of Malthos' spell rip across the field. With no hope of escape, the trapped and netted refugee's are burnt to smoldering husks of charred and burning flesh even as their would be captors fall beside them... One managing to slide off his horse and crawl away rolling madly on the ground to extinguish the flames, but burnt horribly beyond recognition.

The Leader, quick as a flash, slips backwards off his horse, even as the animal is incinerated, and rolls away unscathed...

Spoiler

Slaver reflex saves, DC 17:
Group E:
Slaver1:(1d20+3)[9]
Slaver2:(1d20+3)[6]

Group F:
Slaver1:(1d20+3)[22]
Slaver2:(1d20+3)[14]

Leader: (1d20+8)[22]

Malthos, please adjust your alignment one step towards Evil, as you sacrifice over 30 refugees to get at 5 slavers.

Kulkov, it's your turn.

[MasterofFates]

Spoiler

Originally Posted by Mr. X

In a blinding explosion, the air is suddenly filled with the screams of the dying as the flames of Malthos' spell rip across the field. With no hope of escape, the trapped and netted refugee's are burnt to smoldering husks of charred and burning flesh even as their would be captors fall beside them... One managing to slide off his horse and crawl away rolling madly on the ground to extinguish the flames, but burnt horribly beyond recognition.

The Leader, quick as a flash, slips backwards off his horse, even as the animal is incinerated, and rolls away unscathed...


Slaver reflex saves, DC 17:
Group E:
Slaver1:[roll0]
Slaver2:[roll1]

Group F:
Slaver1:[roll2]
Slaver2:[roll3]

Leader: [roll4]

Malthos, please adjust your alignment one step towards Evil, as you sacrifice over 30 refugees to get at 5 slavers.

Kulkov, it's your turn.

Spoiler

My, oh my. I suppose I should have been vigilant about that. Ah, well. No turning back now. I suppose I'll have to lie to the others about it, lest they get angry. Luckily, I'm not alignment-bound, and Malthos isn't the best of people, but I don't think he's so bad that he would want to sacrifice 30 people to destroy 5 who weren't even much of a threat, so I suppose he'll try to atone for his wicked deeds.

[Sucrose]

Kulkav's attention is ripped from the foes that he had sought out by the explosion, before he looks back, a tremendous fire burning in his eyes.

"Monsters..."

He strides forward ignoring the rider he'd just struck prone, and, with a single swing of his glaive, attacks two of the slaver's comrades.

Spoiler

Move to the west, Steel Wind against Slaver 1 and Slaver 3.

Attack 1 - (1d20+13)[25]
Attack 2 - (1d20+13)[33]
Damage 1 - (2d10+13)[24]
Damage 2 - (2d10+13)[18]

[Mr. X]

For Kulkov:

Spoiler

Ooh, give me a Confirmation roll for that Critical on your second attack.

[Sucrose]

Spoiler

Huh, missed that.
Crit Confirm - (1d20+13)[24]

[Simba]

Seeing Kulkov turn away from the man he just killed, Vlorah runs after him, staying close enough to be of assistance if needed, but far enough so that she does not hinder him in any way.

Spoiler

Edit: changed after DM's comment below :)

Can she CdG the downed man? I guess not. Sneak attack?
Whatever, I will just roll the dice and let our DM sort it out :)

Thrown dagger, no special bonus for down/prone/whatever included:
attack: (1d20+13)[21]
damage: (1d3+3)[4] + possible sneak damage: (3d8+6)[13]
If the slaver is evil the damage counts as good aligned....

[Mr. X]

For Vlorah:

Spoiler

Ack, sorry for the lack of clarity. That guy Kulkov knocked off his horse is already dead. I just forgot to remove him before I posted the map.

Sorry about that.

[Mr. X]

With a single mountainous blow, Kulkov ends the fleeing slavers, as Vlorah follows up behind him, a knife in each hand at the ready... Though they prove unnecissary, as the activity there abouts begins to die down, the greater portion of the mob retreating off to the west.

Through the smoke pouring off the field of smoldering corpses, the Slaver's leader rushes off on foot. As he goes, another series of crackling bolts burst from his wand, winding through the air, and slaming into blustering horse responsible for the devastation... It's more than the beast can handle, and with a final, defiant cry, the majestic creature collapses to the ground lifeless...

... Far behind Malthos' pale eyes flicker open, bizzare burns running the length of his body where the spiritual feedback has manifested physically upon his person.

Off to the south the slaver Elias hit scrambles to his feet drunkenly, blood running freely from the cut in his armor from where he removed Elias' axe.

With a lost look on his face, he staggers after his horse, trying to bring it to rein, and make his escape...

Off to the East, the remaining slavers are attempting to cut their losses, latching the great nets to their steeds, and dragging their live cargo off as fast as they can without killing them...

Spoiler

For Malthos:
Slaver Leader again casts Magic Missile at your horse.
Take damage:
(3d4+3)[11]

That puts you back in your body with (I believe) 10 damage.

For Kulkov and Vlorah, while you've killed all the slavers in that group, their horses are free and available, if you're interested.

Elias, it's your turn.

The Map:

Spoiler

A note on my confusing directions, the top of the map is actually East, rather than North. (You may recall from when I first described the scene). It was much easier to draw and keep track of oriented this way, but does make things a bit unclear.

As such, Kulkov is furthest North, Eias is furthest South. Fredric and Malthos are in the West, and the Slavers were attacking from, and now retreating too, the East.

I hope that all was helpful :-/

[Quakes]

Elias looks around the battlefield, trying to ascertain the best way to save the most prisoners possible.

Spoiler

Elias finds the closest slaver with a net and attempts to rid the world of that one.

spot to find the best target
(1d20+9)[11]
attack the target
(1d20+9)[25] (-1 if i have to use an axe)
damage
(1d6+3)[7] (-3 if using axe)
ambush if it applies
(1d6)[1]
sneak if applicable
(1d6)[2]

[Quakes]

Spoiler

so many possibilities when i don't know who i'm attacking!
if in melee - crit confirm with sword of destiny
(1d20+9)[15]
damage
(2d6+6)[16]

[Mr. X]

For Elias:

Spoiler

Groups D and G are the ones dragging off prisoners, and are doing so on horseback. You'll need a horse to keep up with them.

The guy you axed (S3 of Group C), is in easy melee range, and has a horse, so he's probably your best bet, unless you'be got some other transport trick up your sleeve.

Edit/: Also, I think you should be rolling 3d6 for your Ambush... It scales at the same rate as a Rogue's Sneak attack, so as a Ranger 5/Rogue 1, you'll be getting 3d6 Ambush, and 1d6 Sneak Attack.

[Mr. X]

The elegent sword leaping to his hand, Elias lunges forward, covering the distance to the bleeding slaver in but a few well measured steps, and slips the point of his blade under the man's arm and into his heart...

... With only a bit of a gurgle, the man crumples into a heap beneath his horse...

...

With Malthos awake again, Fredric releases him and charges forwards, his hands digging into his pouches, and tracing rough sigils over his body as he goes.

Spoiler

Fredric moves forwards, and cast's False Life.

Malthos, its your turn.

[MasterofFates]

Malthos looks around at all the burning bodies of the poor, innocent men, women, and children. Still kneeling on the ground, he mentally curses his own utter recklessness as he begins vomiting uncontrollably. Returning to his senses, he unsheathes the wickedly curved ceremonial dagger he found within the dungeon. He contorts his body, so as to make it impossible for his allies to see whathe is attempting as he lifts the dagger in his shriveled, blistering, shaking hands...

...and plunges it into his own gut, twisting it as he does in an attempt to make hinself feel as much pain as possible. This, Malthos decided, was the least he deserved for what he'd done. He groans, murmuring a prayer to the dark god in request for an audience, before collapsing again to the ground, his white cassock wet with blood and vomit.

Spoiler

Casting Blade of Blood and stabbing myself with the dagger.

That amounts to:
5 damage from casting the spell,
(3d6)[12] damage from the spell,
And (2d4+2)[8] damage from the dagger (as I'm stabbing myself, I assume I'm allowed to make it an automatic critical?)

...which brings me down to -1 HP. Spot on.

[Mr. X]

For Malthos:

Spoiler

Before your eyes, history repeats itself... The blazing fires, the agonized screams of the dying, and the innocent being dragged off to slavery, all for your weakness and inability to protect those who need it...

Overcome with weight of the responsibility, you take the only salvation left to you, and with iron clad resolution, you plunge the dagger into your gut, hoping against hope that whatever abysmal god the dagger serves might bargain your soul for those you've slain... But in that last moment, the chain about your throat twists and tightens sharply, gagging you, robbing the strength from your thrust, and, even as you fight against it, allowing you to inflict a deep, but only a superficial wound... In the same moment, great thick chains materialize from the chocker, and twist and whip about you in a cyclone of ringing metal, wrapping and weaving around you, shackling your throat, wrists and waist...

... In a moment of epiphany, you realize that The Chains shall not allow you to shirk your duty to your people so easily... Equally so, you understand that the plight of all so condemned rests on your shoulders...

... Limp in your hand, the dagger sits unchanged, and unaware of the sacrifice you attempted to provide.

Spoiler

You fall to 5hp, rather than -1.

The Chains of Duty now cover you from neck to waist, and provide protection equal to a +1 Chain Shirt, with all associated Armor Check Penalties and %Spell Failures, and you are considered to be at Medium Encumbrance.

The shackles get beneath, and pop off any bracelets or bracers you were wearing. In their place, they provide a +4 bonus to your Constitution.

Additionally, you gain a +1 bonus to your Spell Save DCs. (Though you must contend with the %spell failure whenever you cast.)

For Everyone Else:

Spoiler

Behind you, you see Malthos jerk into a huddled position, and then arch back, gagging and clawing at the chain about his throat... A moment later great thick chains materialize from the chocker, twisting and whipping about him in a cyclone of ringing metal, wrapping and weaving, shackling his throat, wrists and waist...

... The moment passes, as he kneels looking bewilderedly about...

Spoiler

Kulkov, it's your turn.

[Sucrose]

Kulkav has not yet looked back; his eyes yet burn red with flame. He launches himself forward, moving with utmost speed to the east...

Spoiler

Run 80 feet to the east, to get into range to stop the remaining slavers. If he gets the opportunity, he intends to sunder some of the nets.