Dusk Eclipse's Eyes of the Lich Queen IC

[Kish]

Kaarna creates a lightning cloud over one of the lizardfolk. You all see another one run past the firepit, going southeast, and run into the southeast hut, spinning to fire an arrow at Kaarna. The lizardfolk already in the hut fires two arrows at her. As three arrows strike Kaarna, she realizes abruptly that moving so that she has line of sight to the lizardfolk is a double-edged sword. Scholar takes a step back and shoves a holy symbol of Aureon at Adrianna, intoning words of magic.

Spoiler: rolls, updated map, and initiative

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(1d20+5)[14]
(1d20+6)[22](1d6)[4]
(1d20+4)[21](1d20+4)[21](1d6)[1](1d6)[5]
The two lizardfolk in the hut have partial cover. Scholar cast Bull's Strength on Adrianna. Kaarna takes a total of 10 damage and needs to make three Fortitude saves.

Soren is up.

[CoffeeIncluded]

Well, so much for stealth. As Kaarna calls down lightning and arrows start flying, Soren runs to catch up with Athard, nocks an arrow, and bursts into song. It's almost a war chant, fast and primal and in time with the crackling of Kaarna's thundercloud.

Spoiler

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Soren runs to O6 and sings to activate Inspire Courage (+2 to attack rolls, damage rolls, charm saving throws, and fear saving throws). He also prepares to fire an arrow or cast a spell next turn (he can maintain the song as a free action).

[Kish]

The lizardfolk covered by the cloud staggers out of it, covered in burns; she starts toward the southeast hut but, at a sharp command from the apparent leader, goes into the northwest one instead.
The leader fires a well-aimed arrow at Kaarna and retreats into the northeast hut.

Spoiler

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(1d20+10)[23](1d6+3)[4]

>> Athard: [26]
>> Kaarna: [20]
Soldier 2: [19]
Soldier 3: [19]
Scholar: [16]
Soren: [14]
Lieutenant: [8]
Soldier 1: [4]
Adrianna: [3]
Kaarna takes four more damage and needs to make a fourth Fortitude save.

Round Two begins; Athard and Kaarna are up again.

[rypt]

Athard exhales a steadying breath and then spins around the side of northwest hut, moving with assured swiftness towards the lizardfolk leader. As he nears the entrance to the leader's hut, he empties his mind of all distractions, visualizing only his blade, his enemy, and a single perfect strike.

Spoiler

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Move action: Move to V6.
Free action: Grip katana with two hands.
Immediate action: Expend 1 ki point to gain a +4 bonus on a Sense Motive check.
Standard action: Initiate the Rising Zenith Strike maneuver, which replaces Athard's attack roll with a a Sense Motive check and deals double damage if the check exceeds the targets AC. His total Sense Motive modifier is 17 (11 base, 4 from the ki point, 2 from weapon enhancement bonus per the maneuver description). He will Power Attack for 3 extra damage. On a hit, he discharges his empowered shocking grasp.

Sense Motive: (1d20+17)[25]
Weapon Damage: (1d8+11)[17]*2 = [34]
Shocking Grasp Damage: (4d6)[16]*1.5 = [24]

Free action: Release one hand from katana.

[CWater]

With arrows sticking out of her side, Kaarna drops to all fours, uttering words that are not suitable for typing. At the same time, her skin thickness and becomes more hairy and her facial features twist to a animalistic grimace. She throws a furious glare at the lizardfolk in the hut, and with a quick wave of her hand the witch commands the thundercloud to move after them. Then she takes out a wand from her pocket and casts a protective force to cover herself.

Spoiler

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Free action: Drop prone
Free action: Shifting
Free action: Swearing
Move action: Move thundercloud at S2.
(3d6)[9] electric damage, DC 15 to negate
Standard action: Cast Mage Armor from wand.
Fortitude save: (1d20+4)[8]

[Kish]

Athard's strike reduces the apparent leader to charred pieces. Kaarna's cloud floats into the southeast hut. Both the lizardfolk in that hut emerge uninjured, dart into the southwest hut, and fire at Athard, but their arrows bounce off his armor. Scholar runs forward.

Spoiler

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(1d20+5)[25]
(1d20+6)[14](1d20+6)[16]
(1d6)[1](1d6)[3]

Soren is up.

[CoffeeIncluded]

"Holy ****," Soren mutters between beats as he sees Athard, illuminated in flashes by Kaarna's thundercloud, leap onto a lizardfolk and slice his head open with a single crackling blow. He raises his bow to fire a couple more arrows when Kaana falls to her knees with a pained grimace on her face. Are those arrows poisoned?! They're going to run from hut to hut, firing arrows at everyone while being chased by the cloud. He can't let them poison everyone!

As Soren sings, he moves his arms and hands in time with the beat, then all of a sudden splays them out like someone suddenly trying to keep his balance. The floor in the hut where the two lizardfolk are suddenly becomes slippery and slick as ice.

"IIIIII can'tneutralizepoison!" Soren shouts, or rather sings, after he casts.

Spoiler: Soren's action

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Soren keeps singing (Inspire courage, +2 on attack, damage, charm saves, and fear saves; 18 rounds of singing left today) and casts Grease all over the inside of the hut where the two lizardfolk just ran (DC 15 Reflex Save or fall). It should cover the whole inside of the hut. I don't think Soren needs to see them so he's going to go to Q6 as long as that's not the entrance of the hut. Where are the entrances? If it's okay, could you please put a dashed line where the entrances to the huts are?

[Kish]

A carrying, flutelike whistle emerges from the northwest hut. Athard can see one of the lizardfolk in the southwest hut slip and fall, while the other one remains on her feet.

Spoiler: Reflex saves and map

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(1d20+5)[16]
(1d20+5)[8]

Adrianna is up.

[Silverraptor]

Adrianna moves cautiously towards the hut with the 2 lizardfolks. When she gets to the edge of the opening, she stands there ready for either of them to come out.

Spoiler

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Adrianna uses a full action to the edge, just short of the flap of the hut (S10). I'm assuming the dashed lines are the opening to the huts.

[CWater]

With frogs still pouring from her mouth, Kaarna directs the thundercloud to follow the two lizardfolk to the southwest hut. Concentrating on her inner magic, she evokes her ability to fly, though for the moment she remains hovering just above the ground.

Spoiler

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Should I roll percentage to see if the cloud finds either of the lizardfolk, since I assume Kaarna can't see them?
If it finds its mark, damage: (3d6)[11], Ref DC 15 to negate
Standard action to activate Flight hex.
Fort save: (1d20+4)[20]

[rypt]

Stepping over the body of the lizardfolk leader, Athard sets himself to the grim purpose of silencing the flute in the northwestern hut.

Spoiler: OOC

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Move action: Move to R7 to join S1 in the hut. I'm not sure if playing the flute prevents him from making an attack of opportunity, but my intent is to not be in line-of-sight of the other two lizardfolk.
Swift action: Activate Scarlet Throne Style feat.
Standard action: Initiate Flurry Strike maneuver. Power attack for -1 attack, +3 damage.

Attack 1: (1d20+9)[29]
Damage 1: (1d8+11)[14] + (1d6)[3] = [17]
Crit confirm: [26]
Crit damage: [18]

Attack 2: (1d20+9)[21]
Damage 2: (1d8+11)[13] + (1d6)[4] = [17]

[Kish]

Athard finds a badly burned lizardfolk spinning a length of hollow reed and strikes with overkill somewhere between extreme and grotesque, reducing the lizardfolk to a blood-splatter. The sound stops.
Kaarna's body shakes off the effects of the poison.

Spoiler

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(1d20+5)[7]
(1d20+5)[17]
(1d20+5)[16]

[Kish]

Both the lizardfolk in the southwest hut emerge, dodging around the cloud to close with Adrianna. The burned one, having risen from the greasy floor of the hut, is unable to also attack, but the uninjured one slashes at Adrianna with his claws, missing her.

Kaarna hears footsteps from behind her. "We have company," Scholar calls, followed by words of magic. Three large black-scaled lizardfolk run toward you from the northwest.

Spoiler: Knowledge: Nature 14

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Blackscale lizardfolk are large and brutish, fierce warriors. They greatly value their generally unsupported claims of being descended from black dragons.

Spoiler

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(1d20+6)[10](1d3+3)[4]
(1d20)[11](1d20)[15](1d20)[19]

>> Soren: [14]
>> Adrianna: [3]
Athard: [26]
Kaarna: [20]
Soldier 2: [19]
Soldier 3: [19]
Scholar: [16]

Scholar cast Bless, affecting all of you; you have +1 to attack rolls and saving throws against fear. It's a morale bonus, so it won't stack with Soren's song, but it will remain for the next three minutes without maintenance.

Soren, Adrianna, Athard, and Kaarna are up.

[CoffeeIncluded]

"A call for help! Silence it!" Soren sings, trying to weave it into the song. He takes a breath, but immediately finds it's unnecessary.

He doesn't see Athard kill the lizardfolk, but he hears the music stop and sees a bit of blood spatter through the window of the hut. Of course, he doesn't even have time to register that before he hears something crashing through the marsh behind him, and turns to see--

"Blackscale Lizardfolk!" The battle is a roaring rushing tumult now, too fast for Soren to do anything more than operate on instinct. He's fought like this before, but something about the heat and the jungle and the swamp, the mud and the blood and everyone around her makes his ears roar. He's operating on instinct now, and his song takes on a higher pitch as runs forward and starts firing at the advancing blackscales.

Spoiler: Soren's actions

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First, keep singing (2 rounds now). Second, step forward just enough to be in range of BS3. Third, fire! (Sorry I didn't get the two poison dusk lizardfolk attacking Adrienne, I figured she and Athard would take care of those two easily; might as well soften up the approaching ones.

Attack: (d20+8)[25]
Crit: (d20+8)[17]
Damage: (d6+5)[10]
Crit damage (d6+5)[9] (d6+5)[10]

[Silverraptor]

Adrianna makes a powerful swing at one of the Lizard folk.

Spoiler

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Attack:(1d20+14)[32]
Critical Chance:(1d20+14)[15]
Damage:(1d8+9)[10]

[CWater]

Kaarna lets out one last curse, but she's starting to feel slightly better, or just a little less worse in any case. She turns around at Scholars warning and after a moment of estimating her odds, she takes flight towards the new enemies also gaining some altitude on the way. The witch starts to motion a new spell and soon flames erupt from her fingertips.

Spoiler

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Casting Burning Hands: (5d4)[14] fire damage, Ref save DC 14 half, 15 ft. cone
I'm a little unsure of her placement with the 3D range math. She would like to get all three in the spells range if possible, but also stay high up enough to be out of melee reach. If this is not possible, then the latter is more important. She can move 60 ft. in flight.

[rypt]

As Athard exits the hut, Soren's cry alerts him to the approaching blackscales. He isn't certain where these new foes are coming from until a wave of fire erupts to the northwest.

Immediately recognizing the threat posed to the most vulnerable among them, Athard steps hurriedly towards the nearest lizardfolk. He sheaths his blade, and then in a single fluid motion, draws it into a sweeping upward strike.

Spoiler: OOC

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Move action: Sheath his blade, triggering the Bushi recovery mechanic of a single expended maneuver. Athard will recover Rising Zenith Strike.
Free action: 5-foot step into S8.
Standard action: Initiate the Swift Current maneuver against S2. Because he draws his blade as part of initiating the maneuver, S2 is flat-footed vs. the attack.

Attack: (1d20+10)[23]
Damage: (1d8+8)[9] + (1d6)[5] + (1d6)[3] = [17]

Swift action: If S2 survives the strike, Athard will mark this lizardfolk using his Soul Claiming ability.

[Kish]

Soren shoots an arrow that hits one of the new arrivals in the shoulder. Adrianna slices into one of the poison dusk lizardfolk, then Athard appears and turns that lizardfolk into a cloud of bloodspray. Kaarna rises to a height of 20 feet while floating over to the new arrivals and blasts them with flame, though all three attempt to roll out of the way and two manage to get out of the fire quickly. The one remaining poison dusk lizardfolk attacks Adrianna with claws and teeth, but they scrape ineffectually at her armor.

Spoiler: Draconic

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"Javelins?" the badly burned blackscale shouts.
"No, kill the ones on the ground!" the one in front replies.

The badly burned blackscale lunges at Soren, striking him a massive blow with a spiked club as large as he is (24 damage to Soren). The nearest one runs forward, pulling a flask from his belt and chugging its contents. Scholar clenches her fist and punches the air in front of herself, looking at the lizardfolk who attacked Soren; that lizardfolk falls to the ground, bleeding copiously from her nose. (BS2 is unconscious and dying.)

Spoiler

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(1d20+4)[24]
(1d20+4)[5]
(1d20+4)[15]
(1d20+7)[14](1d20+7)[8](1d20+5)[11]
(1d3+4)[6](1d3+4)[5](1d3+3)[5]
(1d20+8)[17]
(2d8+9)[24]
(1d20+5)[25]
(1d4+3)[7]
Map link. (This will probably be clearer than using screencaps, as long as you're all seeing the same thing, unless someone objects to this method.)
>> Soren: [14]
Blackscale 1: [7]
Adrianna: [3]
Athard: [26]
Kaarna: [20]
Soldier 3: [19]
Scholar: [16]
Blackscale 3: [16]

Soren is up.

[CoffeeIncluded]

The massive club smashes into Soren's chest, driving him into several inches of peat. Pain bursts white in his eyes, and hrs vaguely aware of a cracking sound above him before his vision returns just in time to see scholar withdraw her fist and the blackscale topple to the ground.

Soren staggers to his feet, gasping in pain with every breath, his back plastered in mud. He quickly shoots a few obscene gestures at the blackscale closest to him and follows up by singing a more obscene joke, then staggers around to the back of the hut and pants with sharp pain at every word and breath, "They're targeting...us on the ground first...oww...I think something's broken owwww..."

Spoiler: Soren's actions

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soren didn't actually fall prone; that was a Roleplaying thing. If you want me to change it I will. Anyway, Soren sings inspire courage some more, then casts hideous laughter on the blackscale closest to him (dc 15 will save or I believe fall prone and lose all actions for up to 5 rounds. If he fails he can try to save on each of his turns as a full round action. He then moves behind the hut so he's out of sight and charge range.

[Kish]

The closer blackscale collapses to the ground, laughing helplessly. The farthest blackscale charges Scholar, swinging his club into her with a hideous crunch sound.

Spoiler

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(1d20+4)[14]
(1d20+8)[27]
(2d8+9)[13]
(2d6)[6]
>> Adrianna: [3]
>> Athard: [26]
>> Kaarna: [20]
Soldier 3: [19]
Scholar: [16]
Blackscale 3: [16]
Soren: [14]
Blackscale 1: [7]
Map is updated. Adrianna, Athard, and Kaarna are up.

[rypt]

Athard glances back over his shoulder to spot Soren slumped against the side of the northwest hut. He mutters a curse under his breath. The kid looks to be in rough shape, and by the sound of it, Scholar isn't faring much better.

Deciding that the larger lizardfolk need to be dealt with immediately, Athard turns away from the poison dusk beside him and charges directly towards the nearer blackscale, his eyes focused all the while on the creature's massive club.

Spoiler: OOC

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Move action: Move to O7, presumably provoking attacks of opportunity from both S3 and BS1 in the process. I would like to resolve those attacks before continuing with the rest of Athard's turn.

[Kish]

As Athard runs away from the poison dusk lizardfolk, she slashes at his back with her claws. As he approaches the blackscale that just hit Scholar, the massive club attempts to stop his momentum.

Spoiler

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Attack: (1d20+7)[18] Damage: (1d3+4)[6]
Attack: (1d20+8)[10] Damage: (2d8+9)[25]
I don't really know Path of War, so I'm not sure what kind of counters you have available; let me know if either or both of those hit and how much damage you take.

[rypt]

Athard ducks beneath the backhanded club, immediately recognizing that the motion of the attack will expose the blackscale's heart. Just as the lizardfolk is reaching the full extent of its follow-through, Athard thrusts his sword upward and into its chest.

Spoiler: OOC

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Both of the attacks of opportunity miss, but for future reference, Athard has two counters readied. The first, Inner Sense, grants him a +2 bonus to a single saving throw. The second, Sanguine Barrier, allows him to replace his AC with a Sense Motive check (with a +2 bonus) against a single melee or ranged attack.

Immediate action: Expend a ki point to gain a +4 bonus to a Sense Motive check.
Standard action: Initiate Rising Zenith Strike with power attack for +3 damage. Sense Motive replaces Athard's attack roll and the attack deals double damage if it meets or exceeds the enemy's AC.

Sense Motive: (1d20+17)[18]
Damage: (1d8+11)[12] x 2 + (1d6)[2] = [26]

[Silverraptor]

Adrianna see's Soren leaning against the hut and quickly positions herself between him and the remaining Lizardfolk next to her. Knowing full well that she couldn't disengage from this target and help the others without this one becoming a threat to on of the most injured members of the group, Adrianna begins her hardest to cut the lizardfolk down.

Spoiler: Attack

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Attack:(1d20+14)[17]
Critical:(1d20+14)[34]
Damage: (1d8+9)[14]

[CWater]

Kaarna flies back towards the rest of the party, over the lizardfolk that is rolling on the ground with laughter. "Kid! You still alive?!", she shouts, her voice more hoarse than usual in her shifted form. She motions the thundercloud to engulf one lizardfolk once more, before it fizzles out of existence.

Spoiler

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Move action: Fly to P3, keeping the altitude.
Free action: Shout
Standard action: Move the cloud at S3.
Damage: (3d6)[11] Ref DC 15 to negate, the cloud disappears after this round.

[Kish]

Spoiler

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This is almost certainly the end of the fight. Shall we see how it ends?
(1d20+5)[23]

Spoiler

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Although staggered by Adrianna's slash, the lizardfolk manages to avoid the lightning and attempts to step back out of the cloud, provoking an attack of opportunity from Adrianna. If Adrianna misses, the lizardfolk, being staggered, is still unable to both move and attack in the same round and so is finished acting for the round, while the other one is helpless until succeeding on a save. Either way, I think we can call the battle over now. Let me know if you're attempting to take the laughing blackscale prisoner or simply coup-de-gracing him.

Spoiler: XP and Treasure

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950 XP for each of you.

Each of the poison dusk lizardfolk has a masterwork longsword, 19 arrows three of which you notice have been treated with poison (that is, there are a total of 76 arrows and 9 of them are poisoned), a masterwork buckler, and a length of hollow reed with a short rope tied to one end. The leader has a masterwork composite longbow (+2 Strength bonus), each of the three followers has a masterwork longbow. The leader was also wearing an ornate bone amulet.

Each of the blackscale lizardfolk has a greatclub, a javelin, and is wearing dragon-themed rings and necklaces. The two dead ones also have flasks of some liquid, while the laughing one has an empty-but-otherwise-identical flask.

[Silverraptor]

Spoiler: Attack of opportunity

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Attack:(1d20+14)[25]
Critical:(1d20+14)[32]
Damage: (1d8+9)[13]

Also, Adrianna does have combat reflexes. So will she get more attacks of opportunity if the first blow misses?

[CWater]

When she sees the other lizardfolk fall, Kaarna flies back to the one still incapacitated on the ground. Without hesitation, she shoves her kukri to his throat, repeatedly if need be.

Spoiler

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Coup de grace, yes. Do you want rolls?

A little later, her she shifts back to her normal appearance, spitting out a curse when she feels how the poison has weakened her. The other shape seemed to lessen the effect. The witch's eyes start to glow when she checks the bodies for anything magical, the other items and weapons don't interest her.

Spoiler: Spell

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Casting Detect Magic.

[Kish]

Adrianna cuts down the last poison dusk lizardfolk, and Kaarna cuts the last blackscale's throat. Scholar holds up her holy symbol and unleashes a wave of positive energy.

Spoiler

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Everyone is healed for up to (2d6)[5] damage.

Spoiler: Kaarna

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You detect faint magical auras on the poison dusk leader's amulet and the two flasks with liquid in them, none of the other items. Make three Knowledge (Arcana) and three Spellcraft checks if you want to try and learn more.

[CoffeeIncluded]

When the sounds of fighting start to fade Soren stops his song as well. The last few notes do little more than echo in the air as he catches his breath and gingerly presses his chest, trying to figure out what's broken and what's bruised. The first broken rib hurts too much for him to continue, and he doesn't do anything but take shallow breaths until Scholar's spell barely knits them together. "Thanks," he says quietly as he helps collect the items before the adrenaline fully fades and leaves him not quite able to do it.

Spoiler

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Soren let the song fade after the last fully narrated round of combat, so four rounds total. He'll help identify and appraise the items.

Knowledge (Arcana): Take 10 for 18 though he's assisting Kaarna unless she's stumped on something. This is how aid another works in Pathfinder, right?
Appraising the items: (d20+2)[9]