[IC] Team One - Fiveleague Inn

[salt3d]

The coach trundles off east along the Trade Road, leaving you to your own devices. A final glance back at the Inn reveals Belle, leaning against the door to hold it open, observing your departure.

Ahead, the road to the north is decidedly less well traveled, although it is clearly defined. Before exchanging another word, you set off simultaneously along the road.

OOC thread (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=199800)

Team One:
{table=head]Player||Character||Race||Class||Role||Alignment||P icture
kladams707||Ash (http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheetview.php?sheetid=295727)||Longtooth Shifter||Ranger¦Seeker||Striker||Unaligned||http://i411.photobucket.com/albums/pp192/salt3d/Ash.png (http://combatadvantage.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/raceportshifter_-razorclaw.png)
Joseph Silver||Oak Leafblade (http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheetview.php?sheetid=297372)||Human||Warlord||Lea der||Unaligned||http://i411.photobucket.com/albums/pp192/salt3d/OakLeafblade.png (http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee136/Joseph_Silver/Wheel%20of%20Time/mat.jpg)
Surrealistik||Terrodar (http://dl.dropbox.com/u/713896/Terrodar%20L2.pdf)||Longtooth Shifter||Fighter¦Ranger||Striker||Chaotic Evil||http://i411.photobucket.com/albums/pp192/salt3d/Terrodar.png (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v309/Orangefinger/bladezerker.png)
Janus||Carric (http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheetview.php?sheetid=297596)||Half-Elf||Rogue||Striker||Unaligned||http://i411.photobucket.com/albums/pp192/salt3d/Carric.png (http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a380/Janus3003/frigginReynolds.png)
[/table]

[kladams707]

Ash just shakes his head as the others begin their march, looking back to see Terrodar get out of the carriage.

What have we done to get him in our team? I really hope this doesn't end badly for us, Ash thought to himself

He looked forward, shrugging off those nagging feelings. He scanned the trail and listened as they went along, hoping to be prepared for anything that might come at them.


Perception (spot): [roll0]
Perception (Listen):[roll1]

[Janus]

With a last wink and casual wave to Belle, Carric heads off with his team, softly humming to himself as he walks. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSAJ0l4OBHM)

[Surrealistik]

Terrodar soon catches up with the rest of the party, his proximity and arrival unmistakable with the noise of rattling chains, and the incessant snarling and growling of the shifter being his usual pleasant self. Once he is beyond sight and earshot of Lond, his incoherent curses and epithets coalesce into something vaguely intelligible:

"Just the kinda guy I'd flay an' gut in my brigand days. He'd make a *fine* trophy."

[salt3d]

You continue up the road as it steers you slightly west of due north, following the contours of the land between low, grassy hills to the west and the plains to the east. The walk proves uneventful save for the occasional feeling you get of being watched, which you attribute to wild beasts that seemingly have more sense than to cause you trouble.

The sun is still high in the sky when you see emerge from behind a hill a tower, once several stories tall but now with its top sheared off. Whether this was due to a battle of some kind or simply a result of age is unclear, as it quite obviously happened a long time ago. The rubble strewn around the base of the tower is now overgrown with grasses and other foliage, and the stones forming the new top of the tower appear severely weather-worn.

There is no sign of anything outside the tower, so you approach cautiously. As you do so you begin to hear a raucous din, composed primarily of the unmistakable sound of goblin voices. They are making such a racket that there is little chance of being heard while outside.

The ground floor of the tower sports a double wooden door, which you can see is slightly ajar. You cannot see anything behind it, but it is clear that it is unlocked and opens inward.

[kladams707]

Ash looks around at the others. Seeing the door open, but behind the front line, there was only one question for him to ask.

"Who's first?" he asked as he drew his daggers, ready for the goblin slaughter.

[Surrealistik]

Terrodar's eyes seem to almost glaze over as he notes the sound of his bickering prey. He sniffs at the air, teeth forming a tighly clenched, grinding rictus as trails of foamy spittle flow through, drizzling freely down his stubbled chin. The shifter's expression is clearly manic, and any casual observer might easily infer that what little higher order thinking he once possessed is, at least for the moment, no more. He fixes the ajar entrance with a feral glare, the look of a predator sizing up its next meal as he stalks silently towards it. For a moment all is silent with the warrior, though his teeth soon and unexpectedly part to bellow out a tremulous roar as he tenses, settling into a battle-ready crouch.

"Skulltaker hungers! To the slaughter!"

Terrodar readies an action to charge the first goblin that enters his line of sight.

Perception Check: [roll0]

[Janus]

Carric was about to suggest sneaking ahead and looking through the door, but after Terrodar's shouting, he readies his sword and dagger.
He looks to the tower windows to see if there are any goblins preparing to shoot them.

[Aron Times]

Oak Leafblade adjusts his grip on his spear to account for the narrow fighting space indoors. "After you, gentlemen."

[salt3d]

From the outside the tower is fairly well exposed since the collapse of its upper portion. You can see that there are no hiding places for snipers, and feel comfortable that you won't be ambushed.

Terrodar's bloodlust grows by the second, until he seems about to burst. Without waiting for consensus, he charges to the door and throws it open. The sight of a dozen or more goblins sends him reeling temporarily with the prospect of so much bloodshed. The rest of you hurry to join him at the doorway.

Some goblins argue loudly while standing around a table covered in playing cards, while another dips its mug into a boiling cauldron. Toward the rear of the room, a block from the sagging ceiling has smashed down on to the floor. A pair of dice roll out from the stone block and a small fist quickly snatches them up before retreating. A hobgoblin stands near a gong. A set of stairs on the eastern wall goes up to the next floor.

The hobgoblin looks at you and shouts. In unison, the goblins drop whatever they were carrying and draw their weapons.

http://i411.photobucket.com/albums/pp192/salt3d/One/One-1-1.jpg

[Aron Times]

"Fight!" Oak Leafblade uses his spear to goad the goblin in front of him into lowering his guard so Terrodar can strike.

Standard Action: Commander's Strike. Terrodar can make a melee basic attack with a +4 bonus to the damage roll at Goblin 6.
Move Action: Shift to G5.

[Surrealistik]

"KILL!!"

Grasping Skulltaker's sickles, Terrodar delivers a grisly cross-slash that ruptures the goblin's head in a misted spray of gore, sharded bone and grey matter, leaving only a brutalized stump of a neck that gushes and spurts like a macabre fountain. With an uneasy, shambling step, its corpse slumps to the ground, bleeding out onto the weathered stone.

OOC:
THP: 0
HP: 38/38
Surges: 7/7
AC: 17
Fort: 18
Reflex: 15
Will: 14
Action Points: 1
Passive Perception: 18
Passive Insight: 13
Conditions: None.
Used Powers:

Free Action (Oak's Turn): Frost Weapon At-Will
Effect: All damage dealt with 'Skulltaker' is cold damage.

Free Action (Oak's Turn): Melee Basic Attack vs Goblin 6.
Attack vs AC: [roll0]
Damage (+4 Commander's Strike, +1 Siberys Shard of Cold): [roll1] cold damage +5 critical damage.
Total Damage: 26 cold damage.

[Janus]

"Heads up!" Carric shouts as he throws his magic dagger at Goblin 3.

ATTACK [roll0] (vs AC)
DAMAGE [roll1]

[kladams707]

And this is why we need quiet! Ash yells as he throws his dagger, which seems to fly through the air like an eagle towards one of the goblins, soon returning to his hand.


At-Will: Guardian Harrier aimed at Goblin6. If target is hit, takes 4 damage (str mod) if it doesn't end its next turn 2 squares away.

[roll0]
[roll1]

[salt3d]

The sight of one of their number's head disintegrating causes the rest of the goblins to freeze in fear. They stand motionless, staring at the headless body of their former comrade.

Carric's shout draws the attention of the goblin standing by the western wall, and as he turns towards the sound the dagger plunges hilt-deep into his eye. His lifeless body slowly slides down the wall, leaving a thin streak of blood.

The hobgoblin's eyes first grow wider, then narrow as he begins to charge towards Terrodar, his flail trailing behind him. He sidesteps the goblin standing at the cauldron and leaps over the goblin at the table, bringing the flail down upon the shifter as he lands.

Attack: 17 vs. AC
Hit: 10 damage, and Terrodar is marked and slowed until the end of the hobgoblin's next turn.

http://i411.photobucket.com/albums/pp192/salt3d/One/One-1-2.jpg

[Surrealistik]

(See below for contingencies. If Adept's Insight targets Oak or Carric:) Though at first Leafblade's/Carric's spear/dagger? appears to go wide, he is suddenly gripped with a spontaneous outburst of raw anger and hatred that clarifies his intent to kill, coheres his aim and steadies his hand with the menace of an enraged predator; as if the shifter's psychopathy somehow transcended its owner's mind to invade another.

In spite of the obvious severity of his wound, Terrodar doesn't flinch, nor does he howl in anger. Instead, his lips spread wide to reveal a manic rictus, full of sharp gnashing teeth, eyes transfixing the hobgoblin with a harrowing, predatory glee as foaming spittle continues to drip out of his mouth, mixing with the blood of the fallen goblin. In fact, one might conclude that the psychopath seemed almost happy...

Terrodar delays until after Oak takes his second turn, whereupon the following occurs until further notice:

Suddenly, a flurry of scything blades tear brutally across the hobgoblin's neck, rending open the demihuman's flesh to expose the spinal column as sizeable chunks separate with each stroke, loosing a torrent of blood. The second slash bites into its throat especially deep, roughly cleaving the bone to sever the head clean from its body. It flies off towards the rear of the battle, landing with a sickly wet splat. The body of the hulking goblinoid goes the way of his diminutive ally, lurching awkwardly forward chest down into a pool of shared gore.

Beating his chest, the maniac howls in triumph.

"A skull for the Skulltaker!"


OOC:
THP: 0
HP: 28/38
Surges: 7/7
AC: 15/17 (-2 now due to Battle Fury Stance)
Fort: 18
Reflex: 15
Will: 14
Action Points: 1
Power Points: 0/1
Passive Perception: 18
Passive Insight: 13
Conditions: Slowed, Marked.
Used Powers: Battle Fury Stance

Free Action (Oak's Turn): Adept's Insight, Augment 1
Trigger: Oak, Carric or Terrodar misses by 4 or less (in that order of priority).
Effect: Oak or Carric gains a +5 bonus to their attack roll (see OOC).

Minor Action: Hunter's Quarry
Effect: The Hobgoblin is marked as Terrodar's quarry.

Minor Action: Battle Fury Stance
Effect: Terrodar assumes the Battle Fury Stance, gaining a +2 power bonus to damage rolls, and a -2 penalty to AC until the stance ends. The stance ends if Terrodar spends a healing surge.

Standard Action: Twin Strike vs Hobgoblin.
Attack #1 vs AC: [roll0] (+2 if Carric moves to flank, +5 if Warlord's Favour)
Damage (+2 Battle Fury Stance, +1 Siberys Shard of Cold): [roll1] cold damage.
Critical Damage (if Critical): [roll2]
Attack #2 vs AC: [roll3] (+2 if Carric moves to flank, +5 if Warlord's Favour)
Damage (+2 Battle Fury Stance, +1 Siberys Shard of Cold): [roll4] cold damage.
Critical Damage (if Critical): [roll5]
Hunter's Quarry Damage: [roll6]

Total Damage: 27 cold damage.

Action Point (if Hobgoblin isn't dead):
Standard Action: Twin Strike vs Hobgoblin.
Attack vs AC: 21 (see OOC) (+2 if CA, +5 if Warlord's Favour)
Damage (+2 Battle Fury Stance, +1 Siberys Shard of Cold, +4 from Tactical Presence): 12 cold damage (see OOC).
Attack vs AC: 19 (see OOC) (+2 if CA, +5 if Warlord's Favour) if first attack kills Hobgoblin, second attack against Goblin 2.
Damage (+2 Battle Fury Stance, +1 Siberys Shard of Cold, +4 from Tactical Presence): 14 cold damage (see OOC).

Total Damage: 53 cold damage.

[salt3d]

Upon seeing their leader's attack, the goblins are spurred into action. One of them that was at the table is unable to do more than stand before Ash's dagger buries itself in the goblin's throat. The dagger dematerialises, leaving a hole that spurts a great gout of blood all over the table.

In a flurry of movement the goblins swarm the intruders, almost jostling with each other to find room to swing their swords. One industrious individual leaps from his chair on to the table, but the blood on it causes him to lose his footing and he falls flat on his face.

The four goblins on the eastern side of the room concentrate their efforts against Oak, but three of them manage to hit only his spear as he ducks, holding on to his hat as he does so. The other goblin aims low, managing a decent nick in Oak's side.

Two more goblins direct their attacks at Terrodar, but their swords are unable to penetrate the chains of the weapon coiled around him.

The remaining goblins circle the melee, looking for their opportunity.

Initiative list says there are 11 goblins when there are actually only 10. The rest of the image is correct. :smallsmile:
http://i411.photobucket.com/albums/pp192/salt3d/One/One-1-3.jpg

[Aron Times]

Oak Leafblade smiles like a madman. He is completely silent save for the rustling of his armor and the swish and stabs and clang of his spear. Suddenly, an outburst. "Fight, my brothers! Fight! Fight! Fight! The neverending trumpets of war!"

Move Action: Shift to 5H.

Standard Action: Warlord's Favor on the Hobgoblin.
Attack: [roll0] vs. AC
Hit: [roll1] damage. Terrodar gets a +5 power bonus to attack rolls against the hobgoblin until the end of Oak's next turn.

Free Action: If it misses, use Heroic Effort to retroactively add +4 to the attack.

Action Point: Commander's Strike on Terrodar to attack the hobgoblin.

Edit: Don't forget the +4 bonus damage on the melee basic attack. :smallsmile:

Minor Action: Inspiring Word on Terrodar. Bonus HP [roll2].

[Surrealistik]

Bellowing incoherently at Oak's rhetoric, Terrodar takes his cue by raking twin sickle blades down the goblinoid's chest, ripping off large chunks of flesh and gore as the cold steel goes about its gruesome work.

Free Action (Oak's Turn): Melee Basic Attack against Hobgoblin.
Attack vs. AC: [roll0]
Damage: [roll1] cold damage.

[Janus]

With his characteristic grin, Carric flourishes his sword in the face of Goblin 2, and finally thrusts his blade into the monster's chest upon finding an opening. If the goblin falls, he shifts (or moves, if impossible) to H3.

Sly Flourish
ATTACK [roll0]
DAMAGE [roll1]

[salt3d]

Seeing the rogue's blade, the goblin throws himself flat against the wall and narrowly avoids being punctured. Feeling rather chuffed to have dodged the attack, the goblin steps back out from the wall just in time for Terrodar's blade to bury itself in his skull.

Terrodar's blades carve deep into the hobgoblin's flesh and in the blink of an eye his once-pristine uniform becomes torn and stained a deep red. He stumbles backwards, barely able to support his own weight, and proceeds to lurch towards the gong at the back of the room.

Before he strikes the gong, the hobgoblin shouts another order at the goblins, who continue to close in on the party.

[kladams707]

The dagger now back in its proper owner's hand, Ash moves towards Oak. He attempts to get the flanker off the warlord's back as well as spread out their forces.


Move: Shift to H5
Standard: Encounter Power- Serpent Arrow against Goblin 8, wis vs. ac, damage 1[w]+1d6+wis mod. If it hits, slide target and enemies adjacent to it 4 squares (str mod).

Attack: [roll0]
Damage (w/ wis mod):[roll1]
Bonus (1d6 from power): [roll2]

Following forced movement is assumed if Goblin 8 is hit:

-Move both goblin 8 and 7 north 4 squares

-Move the others that were adjacent to 8 as far northwest as possible.

[salt3d]

The goblin sees Ash's dagger hurtling towards it, and opens its mouth to scream. Before the goblin can utter a sound the dagger flies directly into its mouth, striking the back of the throat and bursting through to the creature's spine. Ash's dagger is back in his hand before the goblin hits the ground.

As Terrodar's assault on the hobgoblin concludes, the goblins rush towards him shrieking and swinging. He dodges two frontal attacks, but the goblins on both sides of him take advantage of the distraction and plunge their short swords into the shifter's abdomen. A muffled, metallic 'ching' can be heard before the swords emerge, coated in blood.

Two goblins continue to attack Oak, but they are no match for him as he blocks both attacks at the same time with his spear.

The next three players can go in any order you like, and Oak's end-of-next-turn effects on Terrodar have ended.

http://i411.photobucket.com/albums/pp192/salt3d/One/One-1-4-1.jpg

[Aron Times]

Oak swings his spear in a wide arc, leaving several goblins in awkward positions as they try to dodge, leaving one open for Terrodar's chain to strike.

Commander's Strike on Terrodar, on any goblin in range of either me or him.

[Janus]

Getting annoyed, Carric once again engages Goblin 2 in a series of blows not unlike those of fencing master Errol Flynn, and finally makes strikes toward the goblin's chest.
If dead, he shifts into the goblin's space.
Sly Flourish
ATTACK [roll0]
DAMAGE [roll1]

[Surrealistik]

Oak's Turn:

Terrodar gleefully seizes the opportunity presented by Oak's distraction, his chain a blur as it lashes at the hapless goblin, a length of six inch spikes brutally impaling its torso as he regards it with a leering grin.

Terrodar's Turn:

Blood pouring from a dozen wounds, Terrodar's face has become a countenance of sheer, psychopathic rage, features contorted with undeniable hatred as his gaze sears each of the foolhardy goblins before him, eyes suddenly a glowering sanguine red. With a bestial howl, his already oversized muscles further burgeon and expand, whilst injuries begin to visibly clot and heal. Wild, jet black hair erupts across his body to conceal all traces of the ruddy, toughened skin beneath. Most notably, excepting the rampant growth of untamed fur, his grinning teeth are now all but proper fangs, each sharply pointed and undeniably canine, most several inches long.

"Tear you apart!"

Terrodar takes a quick off-hand swipe at a goblin before him before adjusting his grip, handling the body of the chain as he spins the weapon into a whirling blur.

Within moments, Skulltaker is loosed, the arc of its blade sweeping to cleave through the once-prone goblin, gouging at its legs. The second proves even less fortunate however, as the sickle end penetrates deep into its temple. With a forceful yank, the weapon ruptures out from its grisly sheath, fatally splintering the skull, leaving a wake of slaughter.

THP: 0
HP: 19/38
Surges: 7/7
AC: 15/17
Fort: 18
Reflex: 15
Will: 14
Action Points: 1
Power Points: 0/1
Passive Perception: 18
Passive Insight: 13
Conditions: Battle Fury Stance, Bloodied, Longtooth Shifting, No shift if 2 or more enemies adjacent (save ends).
Used Powers: Battle Fury Stance, Off-Hand Strike, Longtooth Shifting


Oak's Turn:

Free Action: Melee Basic Attack
Target: Goblin 4
Attack vs AC: 23, see OOC.
Damage (+2 Battle Fury Stance, +1 Siberys Shard of Cold, +4 Commander's Strike): [roll0] cold damage.


Terrodar's Turn:

Minor Action: Longtooth Shifting
Effect: Until the end of the encounter, Terrodar gains a +2 bonus to all damage rolls, and Regeneration 2 while bloodied.


Minor Action: Off-Hand Strike
Target: Goblin 10
Attack vs AC: [roll1]
Damage (+2 Battle Fury Stance, +1 Siberys Shard of Cold, +2 Longtooth Shifting): [roll2] cold damage.
Hunter's Quarry [roll3] (Ignore).
Total Damage: 25 cold damage.


Standard Action: Dual Strike
Target: Goblin 7
Attack #1 vs AC: [roll4]
Damage (+2 Battle Fury Stance, +1 Siberys Shard of Cold, +2 Longtooth Shifting): [roll5] cold damage (Longtooth Shifting not factored).
Effect: The target is marked until the end of Terrodar's next turn.

Secondary Target: Goblin 12
Attack #2 vs AC [roll6]
Damage (+2 Battle Fury Stance, +1 Siberys Shard of Cold, +2 Longtooth Shifting): [roll7] cold damage (Longtooth Shifting not factored).
Effect: The target is marked until the end of Terrodar's next turn.

Saving Throw: [roll8]

[salt3d]

Carric's bladework mesmerises the goblin for a moment before he plunges his dagger into the creature's chest, driving it to the floor. He stoops to retrieve his weapon not a moment too soon, as Terrodar's whirling blade slashes through the space previously occupied by Carric's neck.

The pile of corpses surrounding the shifter grows by the second as the goblins unlucky to be within reach of his weapon are carved up by it before they can so much as blink. The remaining goblins gulp audibly.

The hobgoblin watches the carnage being wrought, and is mortified to see his minions being slaughtered so brutally. He sees Terrodar's chains become tangled momentarily in the piles of severed limbs and torsos. Summoning up the last of his strength the hobgoblin charges, flail raised high over his head before he brings it down with as much force as he can muster.

Terrodar sees the attack a split second before it lands, and has time only to tilt his head out of the way. The flail's spikes bury themselves in his neck and chest, and blood spurts out of the shifter when they are ripped out savagely by the hobgoblin.

Terrodar takes 14 damage and the effect on him is reapplied (can't shift while two enemies are adjacent; in other words, no effect currently).

http://i411.photobucket.com/albums/pp192/salt3d/One/One-1-5.jpg

[kladams707]

Ash witnesses the hobgoblin's spike gore Terrodar's body. Crap, the shifter thought to himself. He didn't really care for this particular shifter, but knew the enemy of his enemy was...well, not his enemy at the present. Then he realized both Carric and Oak were by his side, and decided not to worry too much. Still, he had to block some of the gobbos. Suddenly, he moved like a deer through the forest, passed Oak, and jabbed at one of the goblins near him.


Minor: Deer's Grace, Ash doesn't provoke OAs from Goblin 1 (or 9 if for some reason Ash can't see 1) until the end of my next turn.
Move: Move to G5
Guardian harrier against Goblin1 (again or 9 if Ash can't get to 1), if attack hits (and if it matters), gobby takes 4 damage if he isn't at least two spaces away from his starting position at the end of his next turn.
[roll0]
[roll1]

[Surrealistik]

Terrodar recoils under the furious blow, small fragments of his skull sloughing off as the spikes are pulled from his head, his own blood pooling with those of his minced victims, as his head is battered by the impact. In spite of the obvious trauma and agony, his savage grin remains, baleful eyes fixed unfailingly on his hobgoblin quarry. The shifter says nothing, his savage visage, and the grinding of fangs alone all but a grim promise of the goblinoid's pending and gruesome demise.

[salt3d]

Ash is virtually untouchable as he moves around Oak to block the goblins' path to Terrodar, but once his attention is focused on disemboweling one of them, the other three take the opportunity and drive their swords into his calf, thigh and backside respectively. All the while the goblins scream in fury at being unable to get to the other shifter.

Ash takes 12 damage. It's everyone else's turn.

http://i411.photobucket.com/albums/pp192/salt3d/One/One-1-6.jpg

[Janus]

"Whoa, ugly!" Carric shouts as he strikes out at the hobgoblin with both of his weapons.
TWIN STRIKE- Encounter
Sword: [roll0] [roll1]
Dagger: [roll2] [roll3]

[Aron Times]

"Victory is near!" Oak Leafblade Parable pushes his allies to fight harder as the enemy is almost at a rout.

Minor Action: Inspiring Word on Ash, healing an extra [roll0] damage.
Move Action: Knight's Move on Carric to let him flank the hobgoblin with Terrodar.
Standard Action: Commander's Strike on Terrodar, with flanking bonus and +4 to damage.

[Surrealistik]

Oak's Turn:

As Carric distracts the hobgoblin with his presence, Terrodar rushes forward to wind his weapon about the hapless foe like a thorned garrotte, several spikes pressing hard into its savaged neck. The shifter roughly wrenches his quarry about to face him, visage by now a terrifying glower of daemonic malice and triumph, eyes devouring, savouring in his horror. Tightening the noose, he growls at the doomed goblin, voice coarse and rankled with hate.

"Time to die."

With that, he pulls, though the chain slips and goes awry, made slick by the blood of so many foes, too loose to inflict harm.

Terrodar's Turn:

Howling with frustration, Terrodar again draws the chain taut, this time with the desired effect as the barbs dig deep into the hobgoblin, pulverizing the remnants of his neck whilst the shifter hefts him up off the crimson floor, wild, barbarous eyes locked with those of the warrior.

If the hobgoblin dies from the first Twin Strike attack:

The hobgoblin's head severs from its body, splashing amongst the growing pools of blood and viscera below. Flashing his rictus grin at the remaining goblins, Terrodar lashes out at the one directly in front, sickle blade cleaving through its ramshackle armour to eviscerate the miserable creature.

Otherwise:

Terrodar savours the ebbing resistance of his foe, further tightening the chain in degrees, happily choking the life out of the helpless goblin with open and sadistic verve.

THP: 0
HP: 7/38
Surges: 7/7
AC: 15/17
Fort: 18
Reflex: 15
Will: 14
Action Points: 1
Power Points: 0/1
Passive Perception: 18
Passive Insight: 13
Conditions: Battle Fury Stance, Bloodied, Longtooth Shifting, No shift if 2 or more enemies adjacent (save ends).
Used Powers: Battle Fury Stance, Off-Hand Strike, Longtooth Shifting


Oak's Turn:

Free Action: Melee Basic Attack
Target: Hobgoblin
Attack vs AC (+2 Combat Advantage, Flanking): [roll0]
Damage (+2 Battle Fury Stance, +1 Siberys Shard of Cold, +4 Commander's Strike): [roll1] cold damage.


Terrodar's Turn:

Start of Turn Effects: Regenerate 2 HP.

Standard Action: Twin Strike
Target: Hobgoblin
Attack #1 vs AC (+2 Combat Advantage, Flanking): [roll2]
Damage (+2 Battle Fury Stance, +1 Siberys Shard of Cold, +2 Longtooth Shifting): [roll3] cold damage.
Hunter's Quarry Damage: 3 damage, see OOC.
Total: 16 damage.

Secondary Target: Goblin 13 if Hobgoblin dead, otherwise Hobgoblin.
Attack #2 vs AC [roll4] (25 vs the Hobgoblin's AC due to Flanking. If a miss, Terrodar uses Adept's Insight to increase the attack roll by +4, see OOC).
Damage (+2 Battle Fury Stance, +1 Siberys Shard of Cold, +2 Longtooth Shifting): [roll5] cold damage.

Saving Throw vs No-Shift: [roll6]

[salt3d]

The two remaining goblins whimper nervously as their leader is finally brought down. They glance at each other then turn towards the stairs, about to flee.

Since the hobgoblin is dead it's now Ash's turn. In case you don't finish them off please roll a couple of opportunity attacks. :smallbiggrin:

[Aron Times]

Opportunity Attack on Goblin 9: [roll0]

[kladams707]

Ash smiles, his canines showing, at the goblins now terrified, knowing their impending doom. "I'll be as quick as possible. You first," he said pointing to one of them. With that, he attempts to flay the two remaining enemies, his daggers swung in a flurry.


Minor Action: Hunter's quarry on Goblin 9

Twin Strike (how many party members know this one??? XD)

Attack 1, Goblin 9:
[roll0]
[roll1]

Attack 2, Goblin 9 again if he hasn't dropped, if he has, goblin 11:
[roll2]
[roll3]

Extra Damage (when/if it applies): [roll4]

OAs
G9
[roll5]
[roll6]

G11
[roll7]
[roll8]

[Surrealistik]

"No escape!"

Snarls the raven-haired psychopath as the goblins quiver and move to flee. Terrodar's savage will seems to inflict itself upon Ash; as he flings daggers at the cowardly goblin, the ranger's mind is seized by a sudden paroxysm of rage and bloodlust that guides his hand, compelling the weapons toward a killing blow.

Free Action: Adept's Insight, Augment 1
Target: Ash.
Effect: +3 bonus to Ash's attack roll vs. Goblin 9

[salt3d]

Before the goblins can take a step towards the stairs, Ash's daggers cut them to ribbons. Silence befalls the room, interrupted only by Terrodar's heavy breathing and the faint remnants of the sound of the gong. Brief, indeterminate noises can be heard from upstairs but it seems apparent that no one is heading down to investigate.

Congratulations, you have completed this encounter. Mysterious but significant XP rewards for all! :smallbiggrin:

[Aron Times]

"That went well, somewhat." He turns to Terrodar. "Big guy, next time, we're not going to give away our presence to our enemies." Thinking of how to convince the bloodthirsty warrior, he explains, "If they don't hear us coming, they can't run away when we kick down the door. More fodder for your chains then."

He turns to the rest of the party. "Alright folks, let's search this level for whatever spoils we can recover, then we check the next one, and the one after that, and if there's yet another, that one, too."

[kladams707]

Ash shook his head, as if coming out of a daze. He looked at the bodies, frowning just a bit. Us or them, he thought. He heard Carric's voice, and snapped out of it. Ah yes, loot. Let us see what we can find."


Search, if necessary: [roll0]
Oh no! He's gone blind!

[Surrealistik]

With no immediate danger, Terrodar seems to relax, his muscles unclenching, 'Skulltaker' loosened in the giant's whitened grip as the afterglow of his violent catharsis sets in, releasing him, however temporarily, from his adrenaline fuelled madness. The shaggy hair coating him recedes and fades, a few last wounds closing before his once regenerating flesh is still but for its flowing blood. When all is silent, he throws his fists into the air with a triumphant howl; that is until Oak attempts to convince him of the merits of discretion.

"You smart at makin' stuff dead; I listen to you."

He nods in agreement, searching eyes taking careful stock of the room.

"Now we plunder!"

With that, he grabs the fallen hobgoblin's head, impaling the new-found trophy upon an armour spike, chaffed lips forming a satisfied smirk. Turning to the decapitated body, he rifles excitedly through its pockets for any valuables before hefting the cadaver upside down, violently shaking to relieve it of anything missed, keen eyes alert for the anticipated payoff.

Perception Check: [roll0]

[Janus]

Carric joins in on the grabbing of shinies.
Perception- [roll0]

[salt3d]

Apart from the plethora of trophies on offer for Terrodar and copious amounts of blood that seem to have coated everything in the front half of the room, your search reveals nothing of real value.

[Surrealistik]

"F***!"

Bellows the giant, when nothing proves forthcoming from the vigorously shaken corpse. With renewed anger, he hurls the body across the room where it slams into the weathered stone with a resounding thud.

[kladams707]

"Be quiet," Ash said in a hushed exclamation, in no way hesitating to look Terrodar in the eye. "Remember? You liked Carric's suggestion. Now, maybe we'll find something in the other rooms. We all appreciate your killing abilities. But let's try to remain silent this time. Ok?" He turned to the others. It wasn't a full turn, instead he twisted his body somewhat, keeping the corner of his eye on the other shifter. He then said "We ready to move on?"

[Surrealistik]

Terrodar lets out a bestial snarl of annoyance, mirroring the longtooth's glare with one of his own displeasure, clearly more agitated for the rebuke after having found nothing on the goblins.

"What about that gong? Every gobbo a mile round knows we're here! Maybe Oak is right, but it's too late!"

[Aron Times]

"Alright. Let's head to the second level."

[kladams707]

"They know we're here. But that's all they know. Still, you do seem to have a point," Ash finishes, not wanting to quarrel any longer. "Yes, let's go! he said in reply to Oak.

[Surrealistik]

"Let's get to the killin'!!"

Shouts Terrodar, brandishing Skulltaker with his usual murderous enthusiasm. His latest trophy morbidly shakes with the effort, as if bobbing in compelled agreement.

[salt3d]

You ascend the stairs with no great concern for stealth since it is almost certain that you are expected. You expend some effort, however, in assuring you are not ambushed and are somewhat surprised to see nothing waiting for you at the top of the stairs.

The floor in the center of the room is a sagging ruin that looks dangerously unstable. To the west is a pile of broken stones and bones. In the southwest corner is a low wall covered in a faded tapestry. In the shadows of the southeast corner stands a wooden platform of recent construction; it is nearly ten feet tall. North of the platform, a spiral staircase proceeds up to the next level.

The north wall holds a number of torches that provide good lighting for about half of the room. The southern half of the room is progressively gloomier, so much so that you can only just make out the south wall.

As you step off the stairs and into the room, the bones in the northwest corner of the room begin to rattle, and before you can blink three skeletons have animated. What's more, their bows are already drawn! Oak and Terrodar are struck in the chest, while a third arrow embeds itself in the stone wall between Carric and Ash.

A split second later there are four thuds, as a bolt slams into each party member. The tapestry covering the low wall shifts slightly, giving away the goblin snipers hidden behind it.

Terrodar: 9 damage
Carric: 10 damage (critical hit)
Ash: 7 damage
Oak: 13 damage

It's everyone's turn.

http://i411.photobucket.com/albums/pp192/salt3d/One/One-2-1.jpg

[Janus]

Carric moves to A4 and readies an action to sneak attack skeleton 3 once Terrodar arrives at C2.

Sly Flourish- short sword
ATTACK[roll0]
DAMAGE [roll1]
SNEAK [roll2]

OOC
I'm without my books at the moment, and I can't remember if my sneak attack (with my feat) is 1d8 or 2d8.

[Surrealistik]

Terrodar seethes with rage as several shafts from the salvo bury themselves in his torso, teeth champing whilst he readies himself to attack. After Carric leads the advance, flourishes successfully distracting the skeleton, the berserker takes stock of his opportunity, making a bounding leap behind the harried foe. Landing in a battle-ready crouch, he stands and turns, two flailing strokes of his weapon shattering bone and armour alike as he surges forward, chains whirling like a tempest of bloodied steel.

THP: 0
HP: 26/38
Surges: 5/7
AC: 17
Fort: 18
Reflex: 15
Will: 14
Action Points: 0
Power Points: 1/1
Passive Perception: 18
Passive Insight: 13
Conditions:
Used Powers:


Terrodar's Turn:

Move Action: Move 6 squares to C2 (jumping from B4 to D2 with a running start, provokes).
Athletics Check: [roll0]

Minor Action: Hunter's Quarry
Target: Skeleton #3
Hunter's Quarry Damage: [roll1] damage.

Standard Action: Twin Strike
Target: Skeleton #3
Attack #1 vs AC (+2 Combat Advantage, Flanking): [roll2]
Damage (+1 Siberys Shard of Cold): [roll3] cold damage.

Attack #2 vs AC (+2 Combat Advantage, Flanking): [roll4]
Damage (+1 Siberys Shard of Cold): [roll5] cold damage.

Total: 23 damage.

[kladams707]

"Ow!" The shifter responded to the hit, growling at the skeletons. He drew one of his dagger, moving into the now empty spot, and hoped to hit one of the bony figures with the same ferocity.


Minor: Draw vicious dagger
Move: A6
Attack: Guardian harrier against S2, Wis vs AC, hit: takes 4 damage if it doesn't end its turn 2 squares from its starting position.

[roll0]
[roll1]

[Aron Times]

"Advance! And mind the unstable floor!"

Move Action: Knight's Move on Terrodar to let him move to F2.

Standard Action: Direct the Strike on Terrodar, letting him make a basic attack against an enemy within 10 squares of Oak.

Minor Action: Inspiring Word on himself, healing [roll0] HP.

[Surrealistik]

At Oak's direction, Terrodar is spurred into motion, the momentum of his weapon carrying through the pulverized skeleton to into an accelerating spin as he turns to run down the goblin marksmen. In his final few steps, the chain lashes out, cleaving hard into its greenskin quarry.

Oak's Turn:

Free Action: Melee Basic Attack
Target: Goblin #1
Attack #1 vs AC: [roll0]
Damage (+1 Siberys Shard of Cold): [roll1] cold damage.

Free Action: Move to F2

[salt3d]

With Carric distracting the skeletons, Terrodar launches himself over the unstable floor past them. One of them takes a swipe with its sword, but the shifter is too fast and makes it through without sustaining further injury. Immediately upon landing his weapon produces a blur that leaves nothing but dust and clattering armor where two of the skeletons stood moments ago.

Ash's dagger strikes the remaining skeleton in the left eye socket, its force tearing the skull from the spine and shattering it against the wall behind. The rest of the skeleton remains standing momentarily before collapsing into a pile of bones.

At Oak's direction Terrodar charges to the low wall and carves a chunk of flesh from one of the goblins. Suitably scared, the goblins thrash their swords at him wildly while at the same time trying to crouch lower behind the wall.

From the top of the wooden platform, a shrill goblin voice cries out, "Bow before my eldritch might and despair!" An acrid cloud descends over most of the room, causing the party members' eyes to sting and water profusely. Combined with the shadows in the southern part of the room it is difficult to see, but the silhouette of a goblin wearing an ornate headdress can be seen atop the platform before disappearing into the corner.

More movement on the platform reveals two more crossbow wielding goblins as they each fire another shot, one at the fighter and the other at the rogue. Terrodar is struck in the side, reopening the sword wound from the previous battle. Carric is hit in the chest, the new bolt nestling snugly against the first.

Terrodar: 8 damage
Carric: 11 damage

Vexing Hex: Area burst 3. All enemies within the zone take a -2 penalty to attack rolls.

The spiral staircase blocks line of sight and line of effect between the northeast and southeast corners of the room, i.e. columns 7 & 8.

An Athletics check is required to climb over the low wall or up the wooden platform.

http://i411.photobucket.com/albums/pp192/salt3d/One/One-2-2.jpg

[Surrealistik]

Briefly coughing and sputtering at the onslaught of noxious gasses, with another bolt in his side, Terrodar is jarred into reiterating his earlier howling metamorphosis. As his transition into black furred savage completes, he shouts up at the meddlesome goblin, thunderous voice echoing off the walls and floors.

"You're gonna hang from my armour when I'm done rippin' you apart ya greenskin runt!!"

With that, he turns back to the quarry before him, a hungry, predatory glare prefacing the killing stroke of his weapons, though the choking, putrescent air throws off his attacks almost entirely, the first swipe raking at top of his victim's shoulder, while the second results in sparking impacts that achieve little aside from carving sizable chunks off the nearby wall (OOC: terrible roll, I assume it's a miss).

THP: 0
HP: 18/38
Surges: 5/7
AC: 17
Fort: 18
Reflex: 15
Will: 14
Action Points: 0
Power Points: 0/1
Passive Perception: 18
Passive Insight: 13
Conditions: Bloodied. Longtooth Shifting.
Used Powers: Longtooth Shifting


Terrodar's Turn:

Minor Action: Longtooth Shifting
Target: Personal
Effect: +2 damage, +2 regeneration while bloodied until end of encounter.

Minor Action: Hunter's Quarry
Target: Goblin #1
Hunter's Quarry Damage: [roll0]

Move Action: Shift to G3[/COLOR]

Standard Action: Twin Strike
Target: Goblin #1
Attack #1 vs AC (-2 Hex): [roll1] +2 from Adept's Insight for total of 16, see OOC (not applying penalty for concealment from darkness due to low-light vision)
Damage (+1 Siberys Shard of Cold, +2 Longtooth Shifting): [roll2] cold damage.

Attack #2 vs AC (-2 Hex): [roll3]
Damage (+1 Siberys Shard of Cold, +2 Longtooth Shifting): [roll4] cold damage.

Free Action: Adept's Insight, Augment 1
Target: Personal
Effect: +2 to Twin Strike's first attack roll, see OOC.

Total: 12 damage?

[Janus]

Grunting, Carric thanks his lucky stars for the leather armor he's wearing. Thinking a frontal assault unwise in his current state, he moves to B1, stepping on the skull on the ground to make sure it stays dead (as opposed to undead). He drinks a potion of healing as he moves. It's very much like drinking Listerine.

Heal 10 hp, 1 healing surge used. 6 remaining.

[Aron Times]

"To victory!" Oak Leafblade Parable advances and urges his companions to fight on, building up enough momentum to crush the remaining hostiles in the tower.

Move Action: Move to C2.
Standard Action: Direct the Strike on Terrodar. He can make a basic attack on a target within 10 squares of Oak.

[Surrealistik]

Oak's Turn:

With his opponent diverted by Oak's battlecry, Terrodar eagerly exploits the goblin's dropped guard, a quick slash from Skulltaker scything across the greenskin's neck.

Free Action: Melee Basic Attack
Target: Goblin #1
Attack #1 vs AC: [roll0]
Damage (+1 Siberys Shard of Cold, +2 Longtooth Shifting): [roll1] cold damage.

[kladams707]

Ash, bleary eyed, moves as quickly as he can towards the northern corner, turning south once he reaches it, joining Oak. Drawing his other magical dagger, he throws his vicious dagger attempting to hit the other goblin behind the wall.


Move: C1
Minor: Draw second dagger
Standard: Guardian Harrier against Goblin 2

Attack includes penalty from area effect only.
[roll0]
[roll1]

[salt3d]

As Terrodar steps around the low wall to expose the goblins, the one closer to him thrusts its sword into his leg. The shifter barely notices, his eyes fixed firmly on his target. The other goblin's neck is cut wide open by Skulltaker, exposing the creature's spine before it collapses in a bloody heap.

Ash throws his dagger accurately but the goblin is crouched behind the low wall and avoids the blade with ease.

Another goblin leans over the wooden platform, and from almost point blank range fires at Terrodar, hitting his other leg. The last sniper takes aim at the rest of the group now bunched together, but amazingly misses them all.

The goblin hexer, only barely visible in the corner, raises his hands and thrusts them at the shifter. A vile black cloud emanates towards Terrodar, but it dissipates before reaching him and the goblin lets out a frustrated grunt.

Terrodar: 5 + 7 = 12 damage

Just to confirm, Terrodar used his Adept's Insight on his previous turn.

http://i411.photobucket.com/albums/pp192/salt3d/One/One-2-3.jpg

[kladams707]

Ash's vicious dagger chooses a different target. "What's that? That one over there? Ok. He quickly moves into position and throws his dagger, hoping to move not only him, but the hexer in an advantageous position.


Move: D2
Standard: Serpent Arrow against goblin 4.

[roll0]
[roll1]

If hit and it matters/conditions still met by the end of their next turn, move both goblin 4 and hexer west 4 squares.

[Janus]

Carric's hand goes to his magic dagger again, only for Oak and Ash to get in front of him. Sighing in an annoyed manner, he shifts to B2, and throws his dagger at Goblin 3, hoping he'll be lucky enough to hit the concealed goblin.

Ranged basic attack
ATTACK [roll0]
DAMAGE [roll1]

[Aron Times]

Move Action: Oak moves to G1, jumping over the barricade.

Athletics [roll0]

Minor Action: Inspiring Word on Terrodar, healing an additional [roll1] HP.

Standard Action: Commander's Strike on Terrodar, letting him make an MBA with +4 damage and flanking.

[Surrealistik]

Though Terrodar is almost folded over, hair matted and soaked with crimson, Oak's spirited goading prompts the blood-stained hurricane back upright, renewing his focus, fury redoubled by his flirtation with the reaper.

"Rip and tear!!"

The pitiful goblin is shown no mercy as it promptly and messily rent apart into a bloody ruin.

THP: 0
HP: 20/38
Surges: 5/7
AC: 17
Fort: 18
Reflex: 15
Will: 14
Action Points: 0
Power Points: 0/1
Passive Perception: 18
Passive Insight: 13
Conditions: Longtooth Shifting.
Used Powers: Longtooth Shifting


Oak's Turn

Free Action: Melee Basic Attack
Target: Goblin #2
Attack vs AC (-2 Hex, +2 CA): [roll0]
Damage: 20. See OOC.


Terrodar's Turn:

Minor Action: Hunter's Quarry
Target: Goblin #2
Hunter's Quarry Damage: 3. See OOC.

Standard Action: Twin Strike
Target: Goblin #2
Attack #1 vs AC (-2 Hex, +2 CA): [roll0]
Damage (+1 Siberys Shard of Cold, +2 Longtooth Shifting): [roll1] cold damage.

Target: Goblin #2
Attack #2 vs AC (-2 Hex, +2 CA): [roll2]
Damage (+1 Siberys Shard of Cold, +2 Longtooth Shifting): [roll3] cold damage.

Total: 45 damage.

[salt3d]

Ash's dagger disappears into the gloom above the wooden platform before a grunt and a curse reveal it has struck. Carric's dagger, however, produces only a 'tink' sound as it hits the wall behind the platform.

With its sword still planted in Terrodar's leg, the goblin watches in horror as his companion is murdered brutally. He looks up at the hulking brute and offers a pleading smile and a slight shrug of the shoulders, as if to say he didn't really mean it and can't we all just be friends? Terrodar's reply provides the answer before Skulltaker adds a bloody and final exclamation mark.

The hexer flings a second black cloud, much thicker this time, at Terrodar. It envelops him, creating a barrier that hovers all around him and draws closer to his skin when he moves slightly from his starting position but relaxes when he returns to it.

The snipers on the platform gleefully rush in to the cloud that fills most of the room before firing successive shots at Terrodar. His back is now peppered with bolts protruding at all angles.

As soon as the bolts are fired, the goblins are swept by an unseen force towards the edge of the platform. The one at the rear scrambles to grab hold of it, but the other is less fortunate. It falls to the floor and a sickening crack can be heard as the creature's ankle takes the force of the landing. The goblin writhes on the floor in pain.

I'll put in a description later, but for now...

Ash hits goblin 4. Carric misses. Terrodar kills goblin 2.

Hexer hits Terrodar with Stinging Hex. Terrodar takes [roll0] damage if he moves during his turn (save ends). For clarity, any move action on your turn will trigger this effect.

Snipers move into the hex zone and hit Terrodar for 6 + 5 = 11 damage. Serpent Arrow slides goblin 4 1 square and goblin 3 1 square off the wooden platform and adjacent to Terrodar. Goblin 3 takes falling damage and is prone.

http://i411.photobucket.com/albums/pp192/salt3d/One/One-2-4.jpg

[Surrealistik]

Terrodar takes the new round of attacks in stride while further bolts careen into his back, nothing capable of deterring him from the pleasure of the slaughter. The shifter grins fiendishly as he turns from the rendered mess of splayed flesh that had once been the greenskin's comrade, evidently pleased at this new 'offering'. He fixes the prone goblin with wild eyes like points of manifest terror, mouth slavering in rabid hunger.

Then, with sudden, almost preternatural alacrity, he pounces on the hapless victim, Skulltaker a blur of gore-splattered motion.

THP: 0
HP: 11/38 (+2 from Regeneration)
Surges: 5/7
AC: 15/17
Fort: 18
Reflex: 15
Will: 14
Action Points: 0
Power Points: 0/1
Passive Perception: 18
Passive Insight: 13
Conditions: Bloodied. Longtooth Shifting. Battle Fury Stance. Stinging Hex (13 damage if he takes a move action).
Used Powers: Longtooth Shifting, Battle Fury Stance


Minor Action: Battle Fury Stance
Effect: +2 to damage, -2 to AC until end of stance.

Minor Action: Hunter's Quarry
Target: Goblin #3
Hunter's Quarry Damage: [roll0].

Standard Action: Twin Strike
Target: Goblin #3
Attack #1 vs AC (-2 Hex, +2 CA): [roll1]
Damage (+1 Siberys Shard of Cold, +2 Longtooth Shifting, +2 Battle Fury): [roll2] cold damage.

Target: Goblin #3
Attack #2 vs AC (-2 Hex, +2 CA): [roll3]
Damage (+1 Siberys Shard of Cold, +2 Longtooth Shifting, +2 Battle Fury): [roll4] cold damage.

Saving Throw: [roll5] Failure.

Total: 34 damage.

[Aron Times]

"We need to get to the mage in the back!"

Standard Action: Direct the Strike on Terrodar, letting him make an MBA on an enemy within 10 squares of me.

Move Action: Move to H7, jumping up onto the platform and provoking OAs from the two goblins.

Athletics [roll0]

Edit: Oh no! A natural 1!

[Surrealistik]

The enraged shifter slices at the fourth of the marksmen when Oak directs his wrath, sickled end swiping at the greenskin's face.

Oak's Turn

Free Action: Melee Basic Attack
Target: Goblin #4
Attack vs AC (-2 Hex): [roll0]
Damage (+1 Siberys Shard of Cold, +2 Longtooth Shifting, +2 Battle Fury): [roll1]. See OOC.

[kladams707]

Ash regrets pulling both his daggers out, realizing his hands are full. He knew he had to climb that will, so he put them back and moved into position. He scales the wall as quickly as he can, hoping he'll be able to use


Minor: sheath vicious dagger
Minor: sheath magic dagger
Move: athletics check, + move to H2

[roll0]

[Janus]

Carrics moves to G2, throwing his dagger at Goblin 4.

ATTACK [roll0]
DAMAGE [roll1]

[salt3d]

The deadly and increasingly familiar sights and sounds of Terrodar dismembering a goblin fill the room as his hapless quarry is reduced to its constituent parts. At Oak's direction the shifter takes a swing at the sniper atop the platform but the goblin ducks and the blade slices through the air above its head.

"Fall back! Fire!" screams the hexer. The sniper takes a few hurried steps backward and looses a bolt at Terrodar, but it strikes the chain of his weapon and ricochets away. The goblin stops, steadies, and fires again but the second bolt catches the edge of the platform and sticks, like an accusatory finger pointing at the goblin's shoddy marksmanship.

At the same time, Oak reaches the platform and begins to scale it, but the structure is slippery from goblin blood and he is unable to get a firm grip. Ash takes a step to gain speed and leaps over the low wall with ease. Carric's dagger thuds into the wooden platform just below the goblin sniper.

The hexer begins to chant, and its words crystallise around its hands. It yells a final word and thrusts its hands towards Terrodar, and... nothing happens.

So apparently my internet connection came good overnight and my PC automatically uploaded the new map to Dropbox. Yay for technology!

I'll add a description later, but for now all you need to know is that all the monsters' attacks missed. Boo for random numbers!

Also it was too much effort to redraw the zone so I'll just tell you that the hexer has moved it one square south. In other words row A is no longer affected but row H is.

Hexer grants shift + attack to ally missed by a melee attack. Miss.

Goblin makes opportunity attack against Oak. Miss.

Sniper shoots at Terrodar. Miss.

Hexer casts Blinding Hex vs. Terrodar. Miss.

Sigh...

http://i411.photobucket.com/albums/pp192/salt3d/One/One-2-5.jpg

[Janus]

Was Carric not able to make it to G2 for some reason?

[Aron Times]

Move Action: Climb to G5.

Athletics: [roll0]

Standard Action: Direct the Strike on Carric, letting him make a basic attack on a target within 10 squares of Oak.

[Surrealistik]

Terrodar roars with frustration, a crackling, black-hued aura obviously causing him excruciating pain whenever he attempts to move from his position. With no other option, the musclebound fiend remains in place, chain coiled tightly about himself as his wounds continue to close. He shoots a harrowing glare at the nearest goblin, his hate-addled expression like a promise of vengeance to come.

THP: 0
HP: 13/38 (+2 from Regeneration)
Surges: 5/7
AC: 17/17 (+2 from Total Defense, -2 from Battle Fury Stance)
Fort: 20/18 (+2 from Total Defense)
Reflex: 17/15 (+2 from Total Defense)
Will: 16/14 (+2 from Total Defense)
Action Points: 0
Power Points: 0/1
Passive Perception: 18
Passive Insight: 13
Conditions: Bloodied. Longtooth Shifting. Battle Fury Stance. Stinging Hex (13 damage if he takes a move action).
Used Powers: Longtooth Shifting, Battle Fury Stance

Standard Action: Total Defense

Minor Action: Hunter's Quarry
Target: Goblin 4

Saving Throw: [roll0] ...

[kladams707]

Ash, given his brief respite, draws his vicious dagger from its sheath once again. He takes aim at the goblin standing in front of the hexer, hoping that despite this distracting cloud the knife would strike true.


Minor: Draw Vicious Dagger
Attack: Guardian harrier against goblin 4

[roll0]
[roll1]

[Janus]

Seeing that Oak has left him an open opportunity, Carric makes another quick throw at Goblin 3. His magic dagger returning as he climbs over the wall, he throws it again.

1st attack
ATTACK [roll0]
DAMAGE [roll1]

ATHLETICS [roll2]

2nd attack
ATTACK [roll3]
DAMAGE [roll4]

[salt3d]

Directing his comrades leaves Oak distracted, and he struggles to find an effective grip on the wooden platform. Ash and Carric find the cloud overwhelming and their daggers land wide of the mark as their eyes continue to water. Blurred vision causes Carric to misjudge the height of the low wall, and he smacks into it with his knee.

The sniper lines up a shot at Oak as he tries to climb to the platform, but it fizzes over his head when he slips back to the floor. The hexer attempts to throw another cloud at Terrodar, and again nothing happens.

Yay for missing.

Hexer uses Lead from the Rear to change Inevitable Shot's target to the sniper, which is now bloodied.

Lead from the Rear (immediate interrupt, when targeted by a ranged attack; at-will)
The goblin hexer can change the attack’s target to an adjacent ally of its level or lower.

http://i411.photobucket.com/albums/pp192/salt3d/One/One-2-6.jpg

[Surrealistik]

Terrodar again struggles futilely at his binding hex, sharp stabs of pain drawing further howls of vexation from his foaming, snapping maw.

"RIP YOU TO SHREDS!!!"

The warrior's compounding rage seems almost palpable, blaring out from his mind like a psychic shockwave. Suddenly the hex wavers and thins, and with one great, final strain, it is gone.

Terrodar looks to the goblins above, and grins.

THP: 0
HP: 15/38 (+2 from Regeneration)
Surges: 5/7
AC: 17/17 (+2 from Total Defense, -2 from Battle Fury Stance)
Fort: 20/18 (+2 from Total Defense)
Reflex: 17/15 (+2 from Total Defense)
Will: 16/14 (+2 from Total Defense)
Action Points: 0
Power Points: 0/1
Passive Perception: 18
Passive Insight: 13
Conditions: Bloodied. Longtooth Shifting. Battle Fury Stance.
Used Powers: Longtooth Shifting, Battle Fury Stance

Standard Action: Total Defense

Saving Throw: [roll0] Success!

[Janus]

Carric flinches as Terrodar shouts.
"Good gods, does he ever shut up?", he mutters.
He makes yet another attempt to climb over the Pelor-forsaken wall and throws his dagger yet again at Goblin 3.

Athletics [roll0]
ATTACK [roll1]
DAMAGE [roll2]

[Aron Times]

Time for Plan B. Oak backs away from the platform until he can see the goblins, then draws his javelin and throws it at the goblin sniper. After the javelin lands, it vanishes and reappears in Oak's hand.

Ranged Basic Attack
Attack: [roll0] vs. AC (-2 penalty already applied)
Hit: [roll1] damage.

[kladams707]

Ash gets frustrated, the battle lasting longer than he wished. He tosses his vicious dagger at the goblin, hoping this time it would hit its original target.


Actions: last turn - inevitable shot - see ooc

Move: H3

Attack: guardian harrier against goblin 4

[roll0]
[roll1]

[salt3d]

As Terrodar seethes, the rest of the party peppers the remaining goblins with their ranged attacks, but none manage to hit. Oak and Ash are simply unable to get the right angle on their throws, while Carric is hampered somewhat by the intense pain and mild embarrassment he feels after bashing his other knee against the low wall.

The sniper has as much difficulty with his efforts to remain out of sight, and is unable to make an effective shot from his position at the rear of the platform. The hexer, however, finally gets his timing right and unleashes a burst of black cloud that flies towards Terrodar and hovers around his head like a bad wig, obscuring his vision.

I edited my last post to include this but in case you didn't notice, Ash's Inevitable Shot hit but the hexer changed the target. Ah, the irony is delicious. :smallamused: Goblin 4 is now bloodied.

Everyone misses. :smallbiggrin: Carric still can't get over the low wall (~4 ft high). He can use a standard action to get over the wall if he doesn't want to try jumping again. :smalltongue:

Sniper misses Oak with crossbow.

Hexer hits Terrodar with Blinding Hex for 5 damage, and Terrodar is blinded (save ends).

No change on the map.

[Aron Times]

Oak tries to climb to the top of the platform again.

[spoiler]Two Move Actions: Athletics [1d20+9][spoiler]

[Aron Times]

Athletics: [roll0]

[Surrealistik]

Terrodar howls in frustration as another of the troublesome hexes robs him of his sight. Nevertheless, his anger compels and instructs his motion, allowing the shifter to instinctively scale the supports of the platform. Having ascended to face the goblins, his vision begins to clear, laying bare the hated quarry.

THP: 0
HP: 14/38 (+2 from Regeneration)
Surges: 5/7
AC: 17/17 (+2 from Total Defense, -2 from Battle Fury Stance)
Fort: 20/18 (+2 from Total Defense)
Reflex: 17/15 (+2 from Total Defense)
Will: 16/14 (+2 from Total Defense)
Action Points: 0
Power Points: 0/1
Passive Perception: 18
Passive Insight: 13
Conditions: Bloodied. Longtooth Shifting. Battle Fury Stance.
Used Powers: Longtooth Shifting, Battle Fury Stance

Standard Action: Total Defense

Move Action: Move/climb to G5. 6 squares of movement?
Athletics Check: 20 (see OOC).

Saving Throw: [roll0] Success!

[Aron Times]

Oak moves to H6 and uses Commander's Strike on Terrodar.

[Surrealistik]

With a snapping of teeth and fierce growl, Terrodar lunges ferociously at the goblin, seething hatred evident in the force of his attack as the sickle blade tears across the greenskin's face.

Oak's Turn

Free Action: Melee Basic Attack
Target: Goblin #4
Attack vs AC (-2 Hex): [roll0]
Damage (+1 Siberys Shard of Cold, +2 Longtooth Shifting, +2 Battle Fury +4 Commander's Strike): [roll1] cold damage.

[Janus]

"Oh, for the love of-" Carric growls as he tries again to get himself over the freaking wall.

Standard action to finally be done with it. Athletics check, if I must.
[roll0]

[kladams707]

Ash makes a dash for the platform, putting his dagger away so he may climb it and join his other comrades upon it, hoping that perhaps he can go after one of the goblins.


Minor Action - sheathe dagger
Move: athletics check to climb and move behind Oak.

if ash makes it up:
Minor - draw Vicious dagger
spend action point to attack goblin 4 with guardian harrier (takes 4 damage if it isn't two spaces away from it's starting space at the end of its turn) and regain inevitable shot.

[roll0] penalties applied
[roll1]

[Janus]

testing to see if kladam's post will show.

Sweet.

[salt3d]

Oak finally gets a good grip on the platform and pulls himself up. Terrodar leaps up to join him in a single bound.

The shifter's blades are finally unleashed and with their customary efficiency they turn the last sniper, already about to pass out from blood loss, into a smear on the platform and a spatter on the ceiling.

As Carric clambers over the low wall, Ash springs up on to the platform. The hexer, faced with overwhelming odds and a distinct lack of minions to hide behind, hisses a curse at the intruders and leaps off the platform on to the spiral staircase. As he disappears up the stairs, Ash throws his dagger, striking the hexer in the backside and drawing a high pitched yelp.

Once the hexer is out of sight the noxious cloud dissipates almost instantly, leaving behind a fine layer of dust over everything. A ladder lies on top of the platform, with hooks at its top that appear to fit neatly into slots at the end of the platform.

Since Goblin 4 was dead I figured Ash would go for the only target left. But since he's fled, that's the end of combat. :smallsmile:

Below is the party's status.

Ash: 23 HP, 7 surges remaining
Carric: 18 HP, 6 surges remaining
Oak: 27 HP, 6 surges remaining
Terrodar: 12 HP, 4 surges remaining

I'm not sure how to describe this IC, but it doesn't feel terribly safe to just hang around indefinitely. I can't tell you what to do, but your characters get the feeling that any more than two short rests might be pushing it. :smallwink:

EDIT: Please roll initiative. :smallbiggrin:

[Surrealistik]

"Run greenskin! Cower before Skulltaker!"

With his quarry attempting to flee, Terrodar snarls and makes for the spiral stair, as if to pursue the hexer up its height. Only when he comes to the edge of the platform does the pain of his wounds and the inaction of his allies at last jar him out of his blood fugue.

Settling down, Terrodar squats, chain circled about him, eyes looking skyward at the spiral top. In the passage of several moments however, he seems to think better of his idleness as he moves to rummage through the pockets of the splattered goblins, making certain to take a handcrossbow and remaining munitions as well as any other valuables before resuming his previous inactivity. During this time, the worst of the berserker's wounds continue to shrink and diminish. Though several remain, Oak's magical inspiration should take care of the rest.

Perception Check (search the Goblins): [roll0]

Use Longtooth Shifting after the first short rest to regenerate from 12/14 to 20 HP during the second.

[kladams707]

Ash grabs his dagger as it flies back to his hand. Damn that witch. he thought. He watches as terrodar runs towards the stairs, feeling the platform shake and trying to keep his balance. He smiles slightly though as he sees Terrordar's overzealousness get the better of him. That's what he gets for trying to rush off. Suddenly, Ash feels the wounds finally getting to him, and he too takes a seat.


Initiative:

[roll0]

also spending healing surge.

[Aron Times]

Initiative [roll0]

[Janus]

Carric sits down, sighing as he removes the bolts stuck in his armor, rubbing his arm. He rummages through his backpack, and pulls out a sandwich. Silently, he begins to eat it.

Healing Surge
7 HP--- 25/29 HP
5/7 surges available

[salt3d]

You ascend the spiral staircase to the next level, following the trail of blood from the hexer as it winds up and around. Sunlight fills the room. The roof is gone, and the spiral staircase continues up to nowhere. Much of the southern half of the room has fallen away. A large stone throne sits to the west with a pile of soiled bedding directly across from it. A circle of runes glows faintly on the floor. A shadow on the wall behind the staircase moves cautiously, giving away the position of a hidden foe.

In front of you stands the hexer that fled from the previous battle, sporting a crazed grin. Behind it is a massive bugbear wielding a morningstar encrusted with blood and gore. Stepping down from the throne in the far corner is another goblin, wearing chainmail and brandishing a sword.

You guys won initiative again. Woot!

I am using a published adventure and the map is neither well designed nor explained, so instead of having to come up with a creative solution I'm going to say you all start from the top of the staircase at F8. If you attack from there while still sharing the square you will take a penalty due to being cramped for room.

The other squares representing the staircase are normal terrain, i.e. the PCs can still walk on the floor underneath the stairs, so go ahead and move through them if you wish.

http://i411.photobucket.com/albums/pp192/salt3d/One/One-3-1.jpg

[Surrealistik]

Terrodar sneers back at the hexer, bearing his own jagged fangs, manic delight scrawled across his scorn-twisted features.

"Keep smilin' gobbo, cause that grin's gonna look real good mounted on a stick. Don't worry about your friends; I got room for them too."

With that, the psychopath sidesteps to the north, chain whirling momentarily before it darts out, slashing twice across the hexer's chest, each pass carving a gruesome, brutal gouge into the greenskin's torso.

THP: 0
HP: 35/38
Surges: 4/7
AC: 15/17 (-2 due to Battle Fury Stance)
Fort: 18
Reflex: 15
Will: 14
Action Points: 1
Power Points: 1/1
Passive Perception: 18
Passive Insight: 13
Conditions: Battle Fury Stance.
Used Powers: Battle Fury Stance

Move Action: Move 1 square to E7.

Minor Action: Hunter's Quarry
Target: Goblin Hexer
Hunter's Quarry Damage: [roll0]

Standard Action: Twin Strike
Target: Goblin Hexer
Attack #1 vs AC: [roll1]
Damage (+1 Siberys Shard of Cold, +2 Battle Fury): [roll2] cold damage.

Target: Goblin Hexer
Attack #2 vs AC: [roll3]
Damage (+1 Siberys Shard of Cold, +2 Battle Fury): [roll4] cold damage.

Total: 25 damage.

[Aron Times]

Oak Leafblade uses his spear to pole vault beside the angry man with the chains, thrusting his spear at the burly bugbear in such a way as to leave him open for Terrodar's chains to connect. "Feel the raging thrust of my phallic spear, cretin!"

Move Action: Move to E5
Standard Action: Warlord's Favor on Bugbear Warrior
Action Point: Commander's Strike on Terrodar to attack the Bugbear Warrior

Warlord's Favor
Attack: [roll0] vs. AC
Hit: [roll1] damage, and Terrodar gets a +5 power bonus on attack rolls against the Bugbear Warrior until the end of Oak's next turn.

Edit: If it's a miss, I use Heroic Effort to retroactively add +4 to the attack roll, bringing it up to 22.

[Surrealistik]

Ever eager to exploit Oak's distractions, Terrodar bellows a warcry as Skulltaker makes a third swipe across the bugbear's throat, messily tearing through exposed flesh and sinew.

THP: 0
HP: 35/38
Surges: 4/7
AC: 15/17 (-2 due to Battle Fury Stance)
Fort: 18
Reflex: 15
Will: 14
Action Points: 1
Power Points: 1/1
Passive Perception: 18
Passive Insight: 13
Conditions: Battle Fury Stance.
Used Powers: Battle Fury Stance

If Oak's attack still misses after Heroic Effort, Terrodar will use Adept's Insight Augment 1 to boost it.

Oak's Turn:

Standard Action: Melee Basic Attack
Target: Hobgoblin
Attack #1 vs AC (+5 due to Warlord's Favour): [roll0] (Critical Hit!)
Damage (+1 Siberys Shard of Cold, +2 Battle Fury, +4 Commander's Strike +1 Critical Damage): 24 (see OOC).

Total: 24 cold damage.

[Janus]

Sighing, Carric shifts to E7.
"Batter up!" as he throws his magic dagger (yet again) at the goblin hexer.

ATTACK [roll0]
DAMAGE [roll1]

[kladams707]

Ash rolled his eyes, wishing Terrodar would just shut up already. There's no need for that when our weapons can do the talking for us. He drew his other magical dagger, ready for the oncoming onslaught from the Bugbear. Wanting to put an end to the hexer, he decided to take the risk and step to the front lines, following the path of Carric and Terrodar. In a flurry Ash slashed at the goblin, attempting to flay the witch.


Minor: Draw magic dagger (off-hand)
Move: F6 (go the roundabout way to avoid any possible OAs)
Attack: Twin Strike against hexer (AC attack).

Vicious dagger(main):
[roll0]
damage
[roll1]

Magic Dagger (off-hand):
[roll2]
damage]
[roll3]

[salt3d]

Terrodar's blades cut deep into the hexer and it reels in pain as gouts of blood spurt in all directions. "Your head looks ripe for shrinking, beast!" it shouts back at the shifter.

As Oak reaches the centre of the room and thrusts at the bugbear, he plants his foot and the floor beneath it gives way. In a blinding stroke of fortune, his spear sticks in the bugbear, allowing him to balance himself and avoid falling into the pit that opens up. As the beast roars at Oak and wrests the spear from its side, Terrodar makes an opportunistic strike against it.

Carric draws his dagger back to throw it at the hexer, but it slips from his grasp and falls at his feet.

Ash carefully steps through the melee to stab the hexer, but the shaft of Oak's spear gets in his way and Ash is unable to land either blow.

The bugbear roars again when it sees Ash between it and Oak, and swings its morningstar furiously at the shifter, collecting Ash on the top of the head with a resounding crack. The bugbear then turns and skirts the pit before standing in the middle of the glowing circle.

A flurry of movement from the soiled bedding releases not only a godsforsaken stench but two gray wolves and a goblin in leather armor and wielding a short sword. The goblin darts behind the spiral staircase and stabs Terrodar in the back before the shifter has time to respond. As he turns to face his surprise attacker, the hexer swings his rod and whacks Terrodar on the back of the head.

One wolf lunges at Oak but he manages to interrupt its bite with his spear. The other wolf snaps at Carric as he bends over to collect his dagger, tearing a chunk of flesh from his rear.

The underboss rushes up alongside the wolf as its jaws grip Oak's spear. Taking an almost exaggerated wind up, the underboss swings its swords and connects solidly with Oak's neck. The force of the blow jolts the spear from the wolf's grasp.

Terrodar hits twice.

Oak avoids falling into the pit trap, then hits and Terrodar's granted MBA hits.

Carric misses.

Ash misses twice.

Bugbear hits Ash for 18 damage (critical). Ash can make an opportunity attack against it as it moves away.

Blackblade hits Terrodar for 13 damage.

Hexer hits Terrodar for 3 damage.

Wolf 1 misses Oak.

Wolf 2 hits Carric for 8 damage (critical).

Underboss hits Oak for 10 damage (critical).

Yes, that's three, count em three criticals!

http://i411.photobucket.com/albums/pp192/salt3d/One/One-3-2.jpg

[kladams707]

Ash stabs at the bugbear as it runs off, frustrated he couldn't hit the hexer.


OA:

[roll0]
[roll1]

[Janus]

Immediate reaction (Parry Dagger +1): If melee basic +1 is greater than the wolf's attack, the wolf misses.
[roll0]
Assuming that the wolf still hits:

Carric yelps unceremoniously as the wolf bites him in the bum. Memories of old Grandpa Brown flooded his memory, particularly those of his dog. Grandpa Brown was a kind and wonderful man, and he'd let Carric stay up late whenever his parents were out, but gods, Grandpa's dog was a mean. Carric never understood why it always hated him so much.

Refocusing on the battle at hand, he reviews his options:

That hexer really needs to die, but he lacks a clear shot.
That goblin is a bit of a threat.
He really hates that friggin' wolf.


His priorities straightened out, he strikes out with both of his weapons at Wolf 2.
Encounter Power- Twin Strike
Short Sword [roll1] vs AC- DAMAGE [roll2]
Dagger [roll3] vs AC- DAMAGE [roll4]
If the wolf dies on the first hit, Carric will attack the goblin.

EDIT
Critical hit from the dagger!

[Surrealistik]

Terrodar grins at the hexer, as he draws his scythe blades to the fore, the handle of each gripped tight in his clawed hands.

"For a greenskin you got a lotta guts. Let's see what they look like."

He then lunges forward, blades slashing outwards into the deep gouges he inflicted earlier, as if to disembowel the goblin witch.

If the hexer dies:

As the eviscerated goblin's intestines spill out onto the ground, Terrodar smirks with obvious satisfaction.

"Shrink that mother****er."

Seeing his true quarry flee into the strange runic circle, Terrodar unceremoniously boots the Hexer's corpse across the surface of the tower as he runs down the cowardly bugbear, Skulltaker a whirling blur above his head as he advances.

"You're next furby. Gonna end you faster than your hobgobbo buddy on my shoulder."

Two thunderous strikes slam into the giant goblinoid, each hit a detonation of savage fury that cleaves through the brute in horrific sprays of crimson gore and ruin.

THP: 0
HP: 19/38
Surges: 4/7
AC: 15/17 (-2 due to Battle Fury Stance)
Fort: 18
Reflex: 15
Will: 14
Action Points: 0
Power Points: 0/1
Passive Perception: 18
Passive Insight: 13
Conditions: Battle Fury Stance, Bloodied.
Used Powers: Battle Fury Stance, Longtooth Shifting, Jaws of the Wolf


Minor Action: Longtooth Shifting
Target: Self


Standard Action: Twin Strike
Target: Goblin Hexer
Attack #1 vs AC: [roll0]
Damage (+1 Siberys Shard of Cold, +2 Battle Fury +2 Longtooth Shifting): [roll1] cold damage.
Hunter's Quarry Damage: [roll2]
Total: 18 damage.

Target: Goblin Hexer (Goblin Blackblade if Hexer is dead)
Attack #2 vs AC: [roll3] + 5 (Adept's Insight Augment 1; see OOC), total 18
Damage (+1 Siberys Shard of Cold, +2 Battle Fury +2 Longtooth Shifting): [roll4] cold damage.

Total: 12 damage.


Move Action: (if Hexer is dead) Move 2 squares to G5.

Free Action: Use Action Point.

Standard Action (Action Point): Jaws of the Wolf
Target: Bugbear
Attack #1 vs AC (+5 Warlord's Favour, +2 Tactical Presence): [roll5]
Damage (+1 Siberys Shard of Cold, +2 Battle Fury +2 Longtooth Shifting +4 Tactical Assault): [roll6] cold damage.

Target: Bugbear
Attack #2 vs AC: [roll7]
Damage (+1 Siberys Shard of Cold, +2 Battle Fury, +2 Longtooth Shifting, +4 Tactical Assault): [roll8] cold damage.

Total: 51 damage.

[Aron Times]

"Strike the enemy and savor the lamentations of their women! And men! And their little worgs, too!"

Standard Action: Commander's Strike lets Terrodar attack the goblin hex offender or any other target.
Move Action: Knight's Move to get Ash or Carric out of their sticky situationsTerrodar into position.
Minor Action: Inspiring Word on Ash. [roll0]
Standard Action: Commander's Strike on Terrodar.
Action Point: Commander's Strike on Terrodar.

Edited post. See spoiler.

[kladams707]

With the witch finally down, Ash turns to see what he can do about the situation behind him. Feeling reinvigorated from Oak's healing abilities, He raises his vicious dagger at the blackblade, taking aim at the goblin.


Attack (Str vs AC):
[roll0]
Hit
[roll1]
guardian harrier (Hit: if blackblade isn't two squares away from its starting position at the end of it's turn)

[Surrealistik]

"That is good!"

The berserker proves an unstoppable force of ruin as he sweeps across the tower at Oak's agreeable command, Skulltaker laying claim to yet another victim as his chain descends upon the blackblade.

THP: 0
HP: 19/38
Surges: 4/7
AC: 15/17 (-2 due to Battle Fury Stance)
Fort: 18
Reflex: 15
Will: 14
Action Points: 0
Power Points: 0/1
Passive Perception: 18
Passive Insight: 13
Conditions: Battle Fury Stance, Bloodied.
Used Powers: Battle Fury Stance, Longtooth Shifting, Jaws of the Wolf

Free Action: Move 3 squares to E6.

Free Action: Melee Basic
Target: Goblin Blackblade
Attack #1 vs AC: [roll0]
Damage (+1 Siberys Shard of Cold, +2 Battle Fury +2 Longtooth Shifting +4 Commander's Strike): [roll1] cold damage.

Total: 24 damage.

[salt3d]

The bugbear is surprisingly quick and escapes Ash's reach as it bounds into the runed circle.

With part of his posterior still dripping from the wolf's muzzle, Carric hits with both of his weapons simultaneously, tearing chunks from the beast in return.

Terrodar's whirling fury consumes first the hexer, then the blackblade, before descending on the bugbear. After the chains fall silent the bugbear is still standing, before red lines begin to criss-cross its entire body. A second later the bugbear collapses into a pile of bite sized cubes.

At the sight of the shifter in full flight the goblin boss and wolves whimper, offering feeble attacks while closing their eyes and trying to forget the dreadful image.

Ash's OA misses the bugbear and regular attack hits blackblade.

Carric hits Wolf 2 twice.

Terrodar kills everything else that isn't still standing.

Sigh. Five attacks I managed to squeeze out of my turn and not one hit. It would have been six misses but I fell victim to the 'only one free action attack per turn' rule. The indignity is dreadful, let me tell you! Maybe I shouldn't have used up all my crits last round...

Since I'm not in the mood for it I'll forgo a description for now and hit the sack.

http://i411.photobucket.com/albums/pp192/salt3d/One/One-3-3.jpg

[Surrealistik]

"Looks like I'm gonna get some pelts outta this too."

Terrodar exclaims as Skulltaker connects with the hapless wolf, carving out a grisly swath of bloodied fur.

THP: 0
HP: 21/38 (+2 Regeneration due to Longtooth Shifting)
Surges: 4/7
AC: 15/17 (-2 due to Battle Fury Stance)
Fort: 18
Reflex: 15
Will: 14
Action Points: 0
Power Points: 0/1
Passive Perception: 18
Passive Insight: 13
Conditions: Battle Fury Stance
Used Powers: Adept's Insight, Battle Fury Stance, Longtooth Shifting, Jaws of the Wolf


Minor Action: Hunter's Quarry
Target: Wolf 2
Hunter's Quarry Damage: [roll0]

Standard Action: Twin Strike
Target: Wolf 2
Attack #1 vs AC: [roll1]
Damage (+1 Siberys Shard of Cold, +2 Battle Fury +2 Longtooth Shifting): [roll2] cold damage.

Twin Strike
Target: Wolf 2
Attack #2 vs AC: [roll3]
Damage (+1 Siberys Shard of Cold, +2 Battle Fury +2 Longtooth Shifting): [roll4] cold damage.

Total Damage: 14?

[Janus]

"Down, Sparky!" Carric shouts as he attacks Wolf 2 again.

Sly Flourish w/ short sword
ATTACK [roll0]
DAMAGE [roll1]

[kladams707]

It was clear that the shifter was getting impatient. This is such a pain, he thought as he tossed his dagger at the underboss, deciding someone had to do something about him.


Guardian harrier w/ vicious dagger, 4 damage against underboss if not two squares from his starting position at the end of his next turn.

[roll0]
[roll1]

[Aron Times]

"It's time to end this! With all our might, we shall strike you down!" Oak Leafblade thrusts his spear at the goblin, unbalancing the goblin and leaving it open to his companions' assault.

Lead the Attack
Attack: [roll0] vs. Goblin's AC

Hit: [roll1] damage. Until the end of Oak's next turn, he and each ally within 5 squares of him gain a +5 power bonus to attack rolls against the target

Miss: Half damage. Until the end of Oak's next turn, he and each ally within 5 squares of him gain a +1 power bonus to attack rolls against the target.

If the attack misses by 4 or less, Oak uses Heroic Effort to retroactively add +4 to the attack roll.

[salt3d]

Terrodar and Carric simultaneously strike the wolf, tearing deep gouges into its flanks. Ash's dagger strikes the goblin in the shoulder, knocking it off balance and allowing Oak the opportunity to impale it with his spear.

The wolf, on its last legs, lashes out at Carric, and drives him to the floor with a savage bite. The other wolf takes advantage of his position and tears out another chunk, this time from Carric's arm.

The goblin sees Carric's eyelids flutter, and sensing the opportunity it drives its sword into his gut, spitting "You first! Who's next?" as it does so.

Finally Terrodar misses, at least once. All other attacks hit. Wolf 2 is bloodied by Terrodar.

Wolf 2 hits Carric for 6 damage, and Carric is knocked prone.

Wolf 1 hits Carric for 10 damage.

Goblin Underboss hits Carric for 10 damage, and Carric is dying!

http://i411.photobucket.com/albums/pp192/salt3d/One/One-3-4.jpg

[Surrealistik]

"That would be your wolves."

The butcher grins, incarnadine eyes like murderous dagger points, face alight with glowering hunger.

"Then you."

Terrodars words preface a storm of furious lashes, a flash of sickle blades tearing horrific gouges in wolf and master alike as he steps over Carric.

THP: 0
HP: 21/38
Surges: 4/7
AC: 15/17 (-2 due to Battle Fury Stance)
Fort: 18
Reflex: 15
Will: 14
Action Points: 0
Power Points: 0/1
Passive Perception: 18
Passive Insight: 13
Conditions: Battle Fury Stance
Used Powers: Adept's Insight, Battle Fury Stance, Longtooth Shifting, Off-Hand Strike, Jaws of the Wolf, Frost Weapon Daily


Minor Action: Off-Hand Strike
Target: Goblin Boss
Attack #1 vs AC: [roll1]
Damage (+1 Siberys Shard of Cold, +2 Battle Fury +2 Longtooth Shifting): [roll2] cold damage.

Standard Action: Twin Strike
Target: Wolf 2
Attack #1 vs AC: [roll3]
Damage (+1 Siberys Shard of Cold, +2 Battle Fury +2 Longtooth Shifting): [roll4] cold damage.

Twin Strike
Target: Wolf 2 (Goblin Boss if Wolf 2 is dead)
Attack #2 vs AC: [roll5] (+5 if Goblin Boss)
Damage (+1 Siberys Shard of Cold, +2 Battle Fury +2 Longtooth Shifting): [roll6] cold damage.

Free Action: Frost Weapon Daily
Target: Goblin Boss
Damage: 4 (see OOC).
Effect: The Goblin Boss is slowed until the end of Terrodar's next turn.

Minor Action: Hunter's Quarry
Target: Goblin Boss
Hunter's Quarry Damage: [roll0]

Goblin Boss Total Damage: 41
Wolf 2 Total Damage: 12

[Janus]

"Holy f-" Carric's exclamation is cut short as he passes into unconsciousness, which he discovers includes a freaky rainbow tunnel with random caricatures of people all pointing and laughing at him, complete with background music. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRf1Ad_Txsg)
As he begins to scream, he suddenly wakes up to the unsightly image of Terrodar's crotch.
"Jeez!" he mutters as he quickly shuts his eyes again. Ignoring the pain of the punishment he's taken, he slides out from under Terrodar and gets back up.

Successful Death Saving Throw- 1 surge
Action Point
----Stand (Move Action)
----Second Wind (Standard Action- 1 healing surge, +2 to all defenses until end of next turn)

Surges 3/7 used
HP: 0/29

[kladams707]

He was one of the good ones! Ash exclaimed, clearly not really meaning his attachment to Carric. However, everyone else was commenting before their actions, so he might as well. Once gain, his dagger goes flying, it's target the underboss.


Guardian harrier w/ vicious dagger, 4 damage against underboss if not two squares from his starting position at the end of his next turn.

[roll0]
[roll1]

[Aron Times]

:smallfurious: "GET UP YOU LAZY BASTARD! FIGHT!" Oak's completely nonmagical and plausible pep talk revitalizes the unconscious Carric, the Power of Friendship bringing him back from death's door. "By our powers combined, I am (Battle) Captain (of this) Tower! (Go Tower!)" The raging spearman then directs Terrodar to penetrate the diminutive goblin or the remaining wolf, whichever turns him on.

Minor Action: Inspiring Word [roll0]
Standard Action: Commander's Strike

[Surrealistik]

"TOWER SMASH!!"

Terrodar attempts to demonstrate as his chain descends upon the skull of the wolf, though his sudden excitation seems to throw the attack off as Skulltaker clatters noisily to the side of the lupine, sending bits of rotted bedding and large chips of stone everywhere.

THP: 0
HP: 21/38
Surges: 4/7
AC: 15/17 (-2 due to Battle Fury Stance)
Fort: 18
Reflex: 15
Will: 14
Action Points: 0
Power Points: 0/1
Passive Perception: 18
Passive Insight: 13
Conditions: Battle Fury Stance
Used Powers: Adept's Insight, Battle Fury Stance, Longtooth Shifting, Off-Hand Strike, Jaws of the Wolf, Frost Weapon Daily


Free Action: Melee Basic Attack
Target: Wolf #1
Attack #1 vs AC: [roll0]
Damage (+1 Siberys Shard of Cold, +2 Battle Fury +2 Longtooth Shifting): [roll1] cold damage.

Wolf 1 Total Damage: 0 ?

[salt3d]

In the distance, birds scatter from trees at the sound of the wolf's final yelp as Terrodar ends its existence. The party's attention is then directed towards the last goblin remaining as Terrodar and Ash leave it covered in gashes and wounds.

As Oak shouts at Carric and directs Terrodar, the goblin stabs him in the abdomen. Oak's blood pools at his feet and some begins to run into the pit.

The remaining wolf looks at Carric's juicy and bleeding form on the floor and is unable to resist, locking on to his thigh and chewing viciously.

Terrodar kills Wolf 2 and hits Boss twice.

Ash hits Boss.

Terrodar misses Wolf 1.

Boss hits Oak for 9 damage.

Wolf 1 hits Carric for 7 damage.

http://i411.photobucket.com/albums/pp192/salt3d/One/One-3-5.jpg

[Surrealistik]

"Get back! Me n' Ash will take these two!"

Stepping forward, Terrodar again flails his weapon at the elusive creature, anger and frustration redoubled on his twisted features.

"Die, you damned mutt!"

His rage, rather than focusing his technique, this time seems to offset it, as the first blade clearly goes wide.

THP: 0
HP: 21/38
Surges: 4/7
AC: 15/17 (-2 due to Battle Fury Stance)
Fort: 18
Reflex: 15
Will: 14
Action Points: 0
Power Points: 0/1
Passive Perception: 18
Passive Insight: 13
Conditions: Battle Fury Stance
Used Powers: Adept's Insight, Battle Fury Stance, Longtooth Shifting, Off-Hand Strike, Jaws of the Wolf, Frost Weapon Daily

Move Action: Move 1 square to E8.

Minor Action: Hunter's Quarry
Target: Wolf #1
Hunter's Quarry Damage [roll0] (Actually 1, see OOC).

Standard Action: Twin Strike
Target: Wolf #1
Attack #1 vs AC: [roll1]
Damage (+1 Siberys Shard of Cold, +2 Battle Fury +2 Longtooth Shifting): [roll2] cold damage.

Twin Strike
Target: Wolf #1
Attack #2 vs AC: [roll3]
Damage (+1 Siberys Shard of Cold, +2 Battle Fury +2 Longtooth Shifting): [roll4] cold damage.

Wolf 1 Total Damage: 12?

[kladams707]

"Don't volunteer me!" Ash responded to Terrodar's exclamation. HIs dagger flew across the room back at the underboss.



Guardian harrier w/ vicious dagger, 4 damage against underboss if not two squares from his starting position at the end of his next turn.

[roll0]
[roll1]

[Janus]

"Oh, for the love of-!" Carric shouts as he kicks the wolf off of him and somehow manages to get to his feet. He thinks back to home, mums waiting for him, and mostly of how much he wants to hit on Belle again. Thoughts like these naturally give him a rush of adrenaline, aiding him in the fight.

He unleashes a cyclone of steel on the wolf, shouting "That's the Power of Love, *****!"
Oi, mums would kill me if she heard me using that kind of language.

MOVE- Stand
STANDARD- 2nd wind
HP: 18/29 (no longer bloodied)
SURGE: 5/7 used

ACTION POINT
STANDARD- Sly Flourish
ATTACK [roll0]
DAMAGE [roll1]
If hit, Carric will use his short sword's daily power- Make a basic melee attack against Wolf 1 (or closest target if the wolf is dead)
ATTACK [roll2]
DAMAGE [roll3]

[salt3d]

The remaining wolf manages to dodge one of Terrodar's blades, but in doing so leaves itself open to the other, which leaves a flap of muscle hanging from its flank. The chain pulls the wolf towards Terrodar, but finding Carric in the way, the wolf latches on to his arm and Carric is unable to make an effective attack.

Ash's dagger flies straight and true at the Underboss, missing Oak's ear by a whisker. Oak turns around and throws a puzzled look at Ash, and as the dagger disappears from the goblin's neck it sticks its short sword in Oak's side.

I wanted to squeeze in an update tonight. I'll add the description later.

Terrodar hits Wolf 1 once. Ash hits Boss. Carric misses. Oak delays.

Wolf 1 hits Carric for 7 damage.

Boss hits Oak for 6 damage.

No change to map except Carric is back to 11 HP and Oak is on 2 HP.

[Surrealistik]

"Get it together humie. Still got two mother****ers in front of us, and they ain't quittin'. You ain't lookin' so hot either."

Yells Terrodar at a hesitant Oak as the shifter again brings his chain down upon the damnedable wolf, hoping for a killing blow with a savage forward lunge.

"This time I'm puttin' you down!"

THP: 0
HP: 21/38
Surges: 4/7
AC: 15/17 (-2 due to Battle Fury Stance)
Fort: 18
Reflex: 15
Will: 14
Action Points: 0
Power Points: 0/1
Passive Perception: 18
Passive Insight: 13
Conditions: Battle Fury Stance
Used Powers: Adept's Insight, Battle Fury Stance, Longtooth Shifting, Off-Hand Strike, Jaws of the Wolf, Frost Weapon Daily

Hunter's Quarry Damage: Actually 1 see OOC. This is why we need to be more careful with copypasta. [roll0]

Standard Action: Twin Strike
Target: Wolf #1
Attack #1 vs AC: [roll0]
Damage (+1 Siberys Shard of Cold, +2 Battle Fury +2 Longtooth Shifting): [roll1] cold damage.

Twin Strike
Target: Wolf #1 (Goblin Boss if first attack + quarry damage enough to kill).
Attack #2 vs AC: [roll2]
Damage (+1 Siberys Shard of Cold, +2 Battle Fury +2 Longtooth Shifting): [roll3] cold damage.

Wolf 1 Total Damage: 24

Minor Action: Hunter's Quarry
Target: Goblin Boss

Move Action: Move to D7 if Wolf is dead.

[Aron Times]

Oak Leafblade Parable enters a defensive stance, hoping to buy some time to let him catch his breath.

Standard Action: Second Wind, healing 7 HP and getting +2 to all defenses.

[kladams707]

Ash continues to hurl his dagger. Why won't you just die already, he asked of no one in particular as his attack aimed for the underboss.


Attack: guardian harrier w/ vicious dagger (takes 4 damage if not two squares away from starting point

[roll0]
[roll1]

[Janus]

Carric continues his feud with the wolf.

Sly Fourish
ATTACK [roll0]
DAMAGE [roll1]

[salt3d]

Terrodar's chains continue to carve strips from the wolf, before Carric delivers the final blow with an exaggerated strike. The beast yelps a final time before collapsing to the floor.

The strange look on Oak's face distracts Ash and his dagger misses. Oak turns around just in time to see the Underboss swing its sword again, but Oak blocks it with his spear.

Terrodar hits Wolf 1 twice. Ash misses. Carric kills Wolf 1.

Boss misses Oak.

http://i411.photobucket.com/albums/pp192/salt3d/One/One-3-6.jpg

[Surrealistik]

As the wolf finally collapses, Terrodar regards the boss with a bestial grin, a flash of pointed teeth and manic hunger.

"Your turn gobbo. I'm gonna splatter you across this entire tower."

With a running start the savage bounds over the pit, and charges into the boss' rear, sickle blades held aloft to strike.

THP: 0
HP: 21/38
Surges: 4/7
AC: 15/17 (-2 due to Battle Fury Stance)
Fort: 18
Reflex: 15
Will: 14
Action Points: 0
Power Points: 0/1
Passive Perception: 18
Passive Insight: 13
Conditions: Battle Fury Stance
Used Powers: Adept's Insight, Battle Fury Stance, Longtooth Shifting, Off-Hand Strike, Jaws of the Wolf, Frost Weapon Daily

Move Action: Move 2 squares to G5. Jump 3 squares (running start) to D4. Move 1 square to C5.
Athletics Check (Jump): [roll0]

Hunter's Quarry Damage: [roll1]

Standard Action: Twin Strike
Target: Goblin Boss
Attack #1 vs AC (+2 CA, Flanking): [roll2]
Damage (+1 Siberys Shard of Cold, +2 Battle Fury +2 Longtooth Shifting): [roll3] cold damage.

Twin Strike
Target: Goblin Boss
Attack #2 vs AC (+2 CA, Flanking): [roll4]
Damage (+1 Siberys Shard of Cold, +2 Battle Fury +2 Longtooth Shifting): [roll5] cold damage.

Goblin Boss Total Damage: ???

[kladams707]

Ash can feel his arm getting fatigued. Look. Just go down already. We're going to kill you no matter what. Ash said, more or less rambling. The vicious dagger once again seemingly flew from his hand, still hungry for blood.


Guardian harrier against boss (4 damage if not two squares away from starting position at end of turn)

[roll0]
[roll1]

[salt3d]

Terrodar leaps over the pit but is off balance as he lands and his twin blades fly wide of their target. As the boss ducks out of their way Ash's dagger hits it square in the left eye, leaving it screaming in pain. In its death throes the boss swings wildy, slicing open Oak's throat. A great gout of blood spurts from the wound, covering both Oak and Carric.

Terrodar misses twice. Ash hits.

Boss hits Oak for 5 damage.

No map update. Terrodar is at C5, flanking with Carric.

[Surrealistik]

"This is the end greenskin. Your skull will be our trophy!"

The savage shifter scissors the harried goblin's neck in a pincer of sharp, jagged steel, curved scythes overlaid and crossed, poised for a brutal execution. Without further fanfare, the blades are drawn closed.

THP: 0
HP: 21/38
Surges: 4/7
AC: 15/17 (-2 due to Battle Fury Stance)
Fort: 18
Reflex: 15
Will: 14
Action Points: 0
Power Points: 0/1
Passive Perception: 18
Passive Insight: 13
Conditions: Battle Fury Stance
Used Powers: Adept's Insight, Battle Fury Stance, Longtooth Shifting, Off-Hand Strike, Jaws of the Wolf, Frost Weapon Daily

Hunter's Quarry Damage: [roll0]

Standard Action: Twin Strike
Target: Goblin Boss
Attack #1 vs AC (+2 CA, Flanking): [roll1]
Damage (+1 Siberys Shard of Cold, +2 Battle Fury +2 Longtooth Shifting): [roll2] cold damage.

Twin Strike
Target: Goblin Boss
Attack #2 vs AC (+2 CA, Flanking): [roll3]
Damage (+1 Siberys Shard of Cold, +2 Battle Fury +2 Longtooth Shifting): [roll4] cold damage.

Goblin Boss Total Damage: 15 cold damage?

[Janus]

Carric takes notice of the goblin's back. It's green and sweaty, but he's clearly been working out recently, which really is an admirable trait. He's got some red specks that look like acne, suggesting that the goblin's been suffering some heat rash. Mum always had a cream that helped Carric with that.
Oh, and the goblin's back makes a very good spot to place his dagger:

SNEAK ATTACK, SON!
ATTACK[roll0]
DAMAGE [roll1]
SNEAK DAMAGE [roll2]

CRITICAL HIT
Damage = 5 + 16 = 21?
Or just 5 + 7 = 12?

[salt3d]

Terrodar's chains wrap themselves around the goblin's neck. At the same time as Carric buries his dagger in its back, the shifter draws back his weapon and the goblin's neck is severed savagely, sending its head spinning up into the air.

The goblin's body keels over to the left, eviscerating itself on Carric's blade. It tumbles into the pit, leaving a pile of bloody entrails where it stood. Meanwhile, the head completes its arc, landing in Terrodar's waiting arms.

Congratulations, your mission is complete. :smallbiggrin:

[Surrealistik]

"Terrodar is victorious!! Skulls for the Skulltaker!!"

Bellows the shifter, raising one scythe blade of his blood mottled weapon into the air with triumph, his other hand grasping the filthy hair of his latest prize. Plunging the gruesome trophy onto another waiting hook, he turns to survey the bloodsoaked carnage with a feral, satisfied grin.

"To the looting!"

Terrodar immediately makes his way to the throne, ostensibly the only valuable looking thing in the entire tower, which he apprises closely and carefully.

Perception Check: [roll0] + [roll1] with Adept's Insight, Augment 1 or take 10/20 alternately if allowed.

[salt3d]

The throne is well constructed and quite ornate. A few marks and stains on it serve as a reminder of its most recent occupant. The throne is encrusted almost all over with jewels. Almost all of these, however, are worthless fakes. One in particular seems set differently than the others, and as Terrodar inspects it the gem sinks into the arm of the throne. Click.

Lifting the formerly latched and now evidently hinged seat, Terrodar discovers the cache he has been searching for. Gold pieces, almost too many to count, fill the base of the throne to the brim.

The total value of the real gemstones and gold pieces is 3,080 gp.

EDIT: There is no other treasure to be found.

[Surrealistik]

"Plunder and spoils!!"

The longtooth snatches up many huge fistfuls of gold with naked excitement, some of which spill between his wildly grasping fingers back into the basin of treasure. Having stuffed his pack and pockets as full as he can manage (and justify given that the proceeds are to be divided), he searches through the bodies of the defeated goblins, taking especial care as he descends into the pit after the boss' corpse, harnessing himself with a rope attached to the base of the throne.

Perception, Search Bodies: [roll0] Noble Adept [roll1] alternately take 10/20 if lower.

[salt3d]

The goblin's corpse is clad in a tattered suit of chainmail, and clutched in its hand is a rusty short sword. A thorough inspection of the other corpses reveals rotten smelling leather armor and a short sword on the blackblade, hide armor and a large morningstar on the bugbear, and nothing but robes and a rod on the hexer.

[kladams707]

Ash cover his eyes and silently groans at Terrodar's reaction. I'm sure we all like treasure, but calm down a bit there big guy.

[Surrealistik]

Several weapons go flying across the tower surface as the shifter rifles through them. The lacklustre find seems to have the desired effect, after first provoking his ire:

"Useless junk!!"

As the psychopath's shortlived elation fades, he seems to regain his interest in trophies, beheading and 'hooking' the hexer and bugbear before taking the latter's hulking morningstar, which he drapes over his right shoulder.

"Me n' Skulltaker are ready to get paid. Let's go!"

[kladams707]

WHile Ash hated to agree with him, the shifter simpler uttered a single word. Agreed.

[salt3d]

You descend the spiral staircase, skirt the treacherous floor on the level below, descend the stairs, and head out the front door. The stillness of the tower is profound, giving each of you a chance to reflect on the carnage that engulfed the construction mere minutes before. Blood and gore abound, in particular on the ground floor, where a quick glance might fool an observer into thinking the entire room was painted red.

As you exit you hear a 'caw' from above. Looking up, you see a dozen or more vultures heading for the tower, eager for the feast awaiting them. They reach the tower and begin to circle it from high above, evidently waiting for you to depart before they land.

Your walk back to Fiveleague Inn is uneventful. The shadows lengthen, stretching away to your left as you follow the road south. At one point a cart approaches from the north, slowing as it reaches you, perhaps to offer a lift to the Inn. As Terrodar turns to look, however, the driver catches sight of the recently deceased heads that make up the shifter's regalia, and quickly urges the horses on past you.

Just as the sun disappears below the horizon, but while natural light still affords ample visibility, you reach the King's Road. Standing proudly on the other side of the crossroads is Fiveleague Inn (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=199539&page=2).