Annals of the Azlanti

[lostsole31]

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Initiative has been rolled for everyone else ...

R1T28: Ichibod screams "Die you abominations!" and blasts enemy he sees on the altar with a wave of heat and flame that the party has yet to have seen before. It seems his powers are truly growing.

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Natalya recognizes scorching ray.

The heat ray hits the monster straight on for 22 fire + 1 force damage.

R1T25: The Scribe drops his magical torch, takes out his bola, and tosses it at the shriezyx with fantastic accuracy and speed. It does a whopping 9 NL (max) damage! Even flat-footed, the eight-legs of the beast keep it from going down.

R1T22: One of the monsters pops down, 10' from Dorit and shoots a web at Ichibod, covering him. At first, the sticky goo on the web contacting his skin seems to deaden his nerves some, making him somewhat lethargic, but Ichibod is able to shake that feeling off ... but not the webs. The monster says something.

The Scribe calls out, "He's ordered the other two to web everyone, but to concentrate attacks on Ichibod!"

R1T21: Jolly, the spell that Ichibod cast upon the Scribe, this "cat's grace" is amazing! You figured that the academic had to have some moves on him to stay alive, but this spell allowed him to move like nothing you ever remember (well, not saying much) seeing, though these things come in a very close preternatural second. The damage from so simple a weapon was a hell of a lot more than you'd ever expect, but that's probably because of the speed he built up. Imagine what that spell could do for you, a real warrior!

With Ichibod hitting the shriezyx (you can't see the other two), there is a sense from Ichibod that somehow is related to Serafaim's tactical advice that you could really do better against the one over by the altar, but you don't have to listen to that. The assumption is that in the second rank you have buckler strapped and crossbow out (ready to drop and draw flail when needed, or to cast spell with one hand holding crossbow). Also, Serafaim gave an order (you don't have to listen to it, because who the hell is he to demand that, anyway?) to fight defensively to help the whole group.

What do you do?

I/S

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HEROES: +1 bonus to attack and weapon damage rolls if Serafaim seen.

Ichibod: 28. Mage armor. Shield. WEBBED!
The Scribe: 25. Cat's grace.
Shriezyx #2: 22. East.
* Shaken due to Ichibod's fire.
Jolly: 21. Detect magic.
Shriezyx #1: 18. (54:77. 9 NL). At altar. Took 22 fire.
* Will be frightened to end R2T18.
Bessel: 16. DEX mutagen.
Serafaim: 12.
Shriezyx #3: West. Shaken due to Ichibod's fire.
Dorit: 10. Bull's strength.
Natalya: 8. Mage armor.

[lostsole31]

R1T21: Jolly pushes past Dorit and Serafaim, trying to get past the shriezyx that dropped down 10' from Dorit. As he moves past, the creature snaps its hideous jaws at him and bites him in his upper right thigh for 9 (max) damage with its powerful gnashing. Jolly vaguely feels some lingering pain where the green venom coated the bite, but he is too tough to give it much mind. Jolly gets to the altar, and with a truly inspiring overhand he lands it on the head of the creature for 14 damage. Something about the combination of Serafaim's inspiring position on the field matched with some intuitive tactic seems to have really helped Jolly to clobber the beast.

R1T18: The altar-beast almost cowered at the blast of fire, but as soon as Ichibod is webbed and it gets whacked by the now isolated Jolly, it skitters back 5' on the altar out of Jolly's range and shoots a web at him, coating him with perfect accuracy. The webbing on the now held Jolly is coated with the same green slime as was on Ichibod's webbing. Jolly feels that contact with it tries to numb him, but again he is too tough for such simple things.

R1T16: Bessel, what do you do? The nearer creature is 20' from you. The one that was on the altar and stepped back a little is now 35' from you.

I/S

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HEROES: +1 bonus to attack and weapon damage rolls if Serafaim seen.

Ichibod: 28. Mage armor. Shield. WEBBED!!!
The Scribe: 25. Cat's grace.
Shriezyx #2: 22. East.
* Shaken due to Ichibod's fire.
Jolly: 21. WEBBED!!!
Bessel: 16. DEX mutagen.
Serafaim: 12.
Shriezyx #3: West. Shaken due to Ichibod's fire.
Dorit: 10. Bull's strength.
Natalya: 8. Mage armor.

[lostsole31]

R1T16: Bessel drinks another of his potions, and a brief warping of the air before him appears before disappearing.

R1T12: "An excellent strike, noble half-orc," rings Serafaim through his helm, "but at what cost?"

He calls out, "Push forward, but fight defensively to protect yourselves and others against their webs ... armor cannot do as well!"

Serafaim takes a measured stance and throws his mithral shortspear at the shriezyx on the altar, which bounces off of its very hard shell.

He then takes a sword from a sheath attached to his shield, one that none of you has ever seen. The sheath only required a mild curve, which made it look like it could have been a low-curve scimitar, but it is very obvious it is not.

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However, unlike most swords that are made of metal, the entire blade seems to be made of some sort of nearly-transparent rock of some sort. As he draws it, it begins to hum softly and to glow green. The bottom of the hilt is adorned with a diamond that for some reason has a piece of metal embedded in the center. He steps forward, and is now L-FWD of Dorit.

R1T11: There must be a shriezyx to the west that the rest of the party didn't see, because now Seraphaim is covered in webbing.

"Poison webs!" he calls. "Be careful."

R1T10: Dorit ... there are three enemies on the field.
#1 The shriezyx at the altar, 30' from you. Serafaim's tactical skill gives you a bonus if you move past #2 (below), but you'd have to go around with your 20' speed and wouldn't get to that one. You can't charge the altar enemy because #2 is in your way.
#2 This one is 10' from you and would require you to step up to it, which is easy enough. If you do as Serafaim said and fight defensively, you both get a +2 competence bonus to AC in addition to the +2 dodge bonus for fighting defensively, but you'd suffer the standard -4 to attack rolls as well. Serafaim being entangled doesn't immobilize him, so he can still fight in this manner.
#3 This one is 20' over to your left.

What do you do?

I/S

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HEROES: +1 bonus to attack and weapon damage rolls if Serafaim seen.

Ichibod: 28. Mage armor. Shield. WEBBED!!!
The Scribe: 25. Cat's grace.
Shriezyx #2: 22. East.
* Shaken due to Ichibod's fire.
Jolly: 21. WEBBED!!!
Shriezyx #1: 18. (43:77. 9 NL). At altar. Took 33 fire.
Bessel: 16. DEX mutagen. Shield.
Serafaim: 12. FD!!! WEBBED!!!
Shriezyx #3: 11. West. Shaken due to Ichibod's fire.
Dorit: 10. Bull's strength.
Natalya: 8. Mage armor.

[lostsole31]

R1T10: Dorit stands up to be side-by-side with Serafaim, fighting defensively as suggested. She instantly sees how working in tandem helps both at once for defense. But she is so used to depending entirely on the raw strength of her armor and shield, with some shield training, and then going all out with offense, so this is new .. and unfamiliar territory. Of course, what doesn't help when you miss entirely is that these monsters are ridiculously agile.

R1T8: Natalya? Ichibod entangled behind you. Besel next to you, and Dorit and Serafaim 10' ahead with a monster in front of them. Jolly is (effectively or foolishly) keeping the one at the altar busy, some 40' away. What do you do?

I/S

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HEROES: +1 bonus to attack and weapon damage rolls if Serafaim seen.

Ichibod: 28. Mage armor. Shield. WEBBED!!!
The Scribe: 25. Cat's grace.
Shriezyx #2: 22. East.
* Shaken due to Ichibod's fire.
Jolly: 21. WEBBED!!!
Shriezyx #1: 18. (43:77. 9 NL). At altar. Took 33 fire.
Bessel: 16. DEX mutagen. Shield.
Serafaim: 12. FD!!! WEBBED!!!
Shriezyx #3: 11. West. Shaken due to Ichibod's fire.
Dorit: 10. Bull's strength.
Natalya: 8. Mage armor.

[lostsole31]

R1T8: Natalya drops the torch, draws her silver dagger and tries to cut Ichibod loose. Just as the last strand is proving too difficult, she looks around and notes the two more of the party webbed. With a firmness she manages to free him.

End Round One, Begin Round Two ...

R2T28: Ichibod, thanks to being saved by his damsel, feels no ill effects since the webs are gone nearly as quickly as they had come. What do you do? Still hammer the one at the altar?

I/S

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HEROES: +1 bonus to attack and weapon damage rolls if Serafaim seen.

Ichibod: 28. Mage armor. Shield.
The Scribe: 25. Cat's grace.
Shriezyx #2: 22. East.
* Shaken due to Ichibod's fire.
Jolly: 21. WEBBED!!!
Shriezyx #1: 18. (43:77. 9 NL). At altar. Took 33 fire.
Bessel: 16. DEX mutagen. Shield.
Serafaim: 12. FD!!! WEBBED!!!
Shriezyx #3: 11. West. Shaken due to Ichibod's fire.
Mistress Khrysm: 10.5.
Homonculi #1: 10.4.
Homonculi #2: 10.3.
Dorit: 10. Bull's strength.
Atlatia: 9.
Natalya: 8. Mage armor.

[lostsole31]

R2T28: Ichibod thanks Natalya and moves behind the Champion in Bronze so he can cast enlarge person on Dorit and she'd have room to grow. Dorit grows to an amazing height of 12' 8" (and 2400 pounds), and in combination with Jolly's spell, her strength makes her a virtual juggernaut. Ichibod takes a defensive posture behind Serafaim.

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Note that "defensive posture" in this case simply means positioning and fluff, because to "fight defensively" you have to make an attack roll at some point in your turn. You probably knew that, but I just wanted to be sure.

R2T25: The Scribe sees the opening created by Jolly and charges the altar shriezyx, committing to the attack. The scribe's ranseur clacks to the side of its chitin.

R2T22: The shriezyx in front of Dorit steps 5' to the side in front of Serafaim, even though it is still easily in reach of the giant woman. It attacks the man with a bite and four claws, but except for one that was dodged, all attacks are stopped cold by his bronze armor.

R2T21: Jolly, you are currently webbed, meaning you are entangled. Your opponent is directly in front of you, and the hapless, polearm-wielding acadmic is to your LtR (Left Rear diagonal). What do you do?

I/S

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HEROES: +1 bonus to attack and weapon damage rolls if Serafaim seen.

Ichibod: 28. Mage armor. Shield.
The Scribe: 25. Cat's grace. CHARGED!
Shriezyx #2: 22. East.
* Shaken due to Ichibod's fire.
Jolly: 21. WEBBED!!!
Shriezyx #1: 18. (43:77. 9 NL). At altar. Took 33 fire.
Bessel: 16. DEX mutagen. Shield.
Serafaim: 12. FD!!! WEBBED!!!
Shriezyx #3: 11. West. Shaken due to Ichibod's fire.
Mistress Khrysm: 10.5.
Homonculi #1: 10.4.
Homonculi #2: 10.3.
Dorit: 10. Bull's strength. Enlarge person.
Atlatia: 9.
Natalya: 8. Mage armor.

[lostsole31]

R2T21: Jolly attacks the same monster as before with the flail, but the webbing interferes with his ability to connect.

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Hey, just so I don't get confused, allow me to put in the penalties and bonuses for spells, effects, and the like. It took me a bit to figure out why you had a -2 penalty, especially when I was going to employ it again.

On the other hand .... for everyone ... fluff normal, rolls in spoilers. If you do want to be specific about bonuses and the like, not them somewhere in the spoiler with the attack rolls (or whatever is appropriate). For example, if Natalya wants to be sure she succeeds on an Acrobatics check, in spoilers with her Acrobatics roll, she could tell me that she uses her special ability.

R2T18: Responding in kind, Jolly's opponent bites at his face, a tooth with venom grazing him for 4 (min) damage. Jolly easily ignores the burning of the poison.

Two claws whip at the Scribe, and he bats one away while the other slashes his L knee for 6. A claw then connects with Jolly along his flail hand for 5. A final claw swipe at the Scribe and he plants the butt of his ranseur on the ground, slides down with both hands so his back is horizontal and a foot off the deck as the claw passes.

Jolly, that dodge - even unbalanced by his charge - seemed like a nearly impossible maneuver for an unarmored man.

R2T16: Bessel, what do you do? You still don't see #3 to the west, only the one on the altar and the one fighting Serafaim/Dorit. Do you move forward to the entrance of the door, or stay near the alcoves? What action do you take?

Serafaim on deck, western shriezyx in the hole ...

I/S

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HEROES: +1 bonus to attack and weapon damage rolls if Serafaim seen.

Ichibod: 28. Mage armor. Shield.
The Scribe: 25. Cat's grace. CHARGED!
Shriezyx #2: 22. East.
* Shaken due to Ichibod's fire.
Jolly: 21. WEBBED!!!
Shriezyx #1: 18. (43:77. 9 NL). At altar. Took 33 fire.
Bessel: 16. DEX mutagen. Shield.
Serafaim: 12. FD!!! WEBBED!!!
Shriezyx #3: 11. West. Shaken due to Ichibod's fire.
Mistress Khrysm: 10.5.
Homonculi #1: 10.4.
Homonculi #2: 10.3.
Dorit: 10. Bull's strength. Enlarge person.
Atlatia: 9.
Natalya: 8. Mage armor.

[lostsole31]

R2T16: Bessel mixes and throws a bomb at the monster fighting Dorit nearly dead on. He might have missed a truly critical strike were it not for some direction from Serafaim. The bomb does a whopping 42 fire damage and burning it badly!!! The creature shrieks in pain and fear and unthinking to its own safety, attempts to scamper to the west. Serafaim manages to nail it for 11 with his crystal sword, and the large Dorit clips it for the same. The thing makes it to the far side of the room and clambers up the wall.

R2T12: "Dorit, step forward to finish off the one at the altar. They don't have any hard protection against the creature's attacks .... Though I will admit you are more than I first surmised, scrivener!" calls Serafaim.

He rips out of his webs with brute strength and strides up to the altar to position himself to attack the one at the altar, leaving Ichibod and Dorit behind.

R2T11: The shriezyx on the floor to the west shoots a web at Ichibod, entangling him (again), though it is obvious it is terrified of him and the conflaration that hit its ally. (Bessel is unseen in the passageway.)

R2T10: Dorit, you are in the center of the room with Ichibod. With neither Serafaim nor Ichibod FD (fighting defensively) this round, you are no longer "holding the line." You have an easy charge to the untouched shriezyx west of you, or you can stride up to reach over and help to paste the one at the altar. You still have some intuitive connection that gives you some insight into attacks on the one at the altar. What do you do?

I/S

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HEROES: +1 bonus to attack and weapon damage rolls if Serafaim seen.

Ichibod: 28. Mage armor. Shield. WEBBED! Center-room.
The Scribe: 25. Cat's grace. CHARGED! Altar.
Shriezyx #2: 22. East. (13:77). Took 42 fire.
* FRIGHTENED from Bessel's bomb.
Jolly: 21. WEBBED!!! Altar.
Shriezyx #1: 18. (43:77. 9 NL). At altar. Took 33 fire.
Bessel: 16. DEX mutagen. Shield.
Serafaim: 12. Altar.
Shriezyx #3: 11. West. Shaken due to Ichibod's fire.
Mistress Khrysm: 10.5. Shield.
Homonculi #1: 10.4.
Homonculi #2: 10.3.
Dorit: 10. Bull's strength. Enlarge person.
Atlatia: 9.
Natalya: 8. Mage armor.

[lostsole31]

R2T10: Seeing three ganged on the one at the altar, it's about time someone got to the uninjured one, and Dorit's not about to leave a yet-again-webbed Ichibod exposed in the middle of the room. Besides, its high time these jumping, dodging, hard-shelled creatures get splattered. Dorit gnashes on her shield to get herself into a frenzy and in berserker rage charges the mid-room shriezyx with all of her might. Her sword crashes into the beast, just barely missing a vital area between large scales, but still doing a respectable 19 damage.

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IA: Rage ... 30 STR!!! 20 + 4 (bull's strength) +2 (enlarge person) +4 (rage)!!!
FAA: Charge, with Power Attack, at reach. +2 attack, -2 PA.

EDIT: Rolled a nat-20, but the nat-6 wasn't enough to confirm.

R2T9: Popping out from the corner to the back of the party ... facing Bessel and Natalya, is ... Atlatia. No one noticed that there were only two derro instead of three above, and everyone forgot that Paxre stabilized one ... Atlatia. Bessel is taken totally by surprise, and unable to use his gunslinger's dodge, and the crossbow just barely manages to get through his thickened skin. He gets hit in the back of the right shoulder for 8 damage ... a sweet spot between bone and flesh. The area of the wound is very cold, but Bessel takes the bolt out and rubs the wound quickly enough for the frostspore poison to be warmed up enough to take no effect.

R2T8: Natalya, before you had to help Ichibod out of his webbing, you intended to cast mirror image on yourself. Do you still do this? You are side-by-side with Bessel. Do you focus on Atlatia and do something to help Bessel ... even if it is to cast your spell in readiness for attack? What would your move action be? In the main room, you only see the one shriezyx at the altar, which is getting attacked by Jolly, Serafaim, and the Scribe.

Ichibod on deck, The Scribe in the hole ...

I/S

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HEROES: +1 bonus to attack and weapon damage rolls if Serafaim seen.

Ichibod: 28. Mage armor. Shield. WEBBED! Center-room.
The Scribe: 25. Cat's grace. CHARGED! Altar.
Shriezyx #2: 22. East. (13:77). Took 42 fire.
* FRIGHTENED from Bessel's bomb.
Jolly: 21. WEBBED!!! Altar.
Shriezyx #1: 18. (43:77. 9 NL). At altar. Took 33 fire.
Bessel: 16. DEX mutagen. Shield.
Serafaim: 12. Altar.
Shriezyx #3: 11. (58:77). West. Shaken due to Ichibod's fire.
Mistress Khrysm: 10.5. Shield.
Homonculi #1: 10.4.
Homonculi #2: 10.3.
Dorit: 10. Bull's strength. Enlarge person.
Atlatia: 9.
Natalya: 8. Mage armor.

[lostsole31]

R2T8: Natalya casts mirror image on herself and draws her sword. There are now four Natalya's shifting in and out of each other (3 images + herself). She draws her sword and now holds her mithral rapier and silver dagger.

End Round 2, Begin Round 3 ...

R3T28: Ichibod shoot a scorching ray at the bug on the wall. These things are supernaturally fast, but Ichibod's aim - aided by Serafaim - manages to hit the thing for a blistering 24 fire. The thing shrieks as its chitin cracks and splits and the monstrosity falls to the ground.

He shouts at the Derro “Flee Derro or you will feel the flames next!”

"Ichibod ..." says the Scribe. "We already established from Jolly's experiences that she doesn't speak Taldane, only Aklo. But keep chatting if it makes you feel better."

Spoiler: Standard Action (SA)

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SA was used to blast the shriezyx, and doing so was a great job. However, it takes a SA to take an action to detangle yourself. You can move at half-movement, but you'd still be entangled.

Also, "Common" language will be referred to hereafter as "Taldane," its proper name. I've always hated hearing "Common" with no proper name for the most widely spoken language. It always lacked flavor.

R1T25: The Scribe, seeing how difficult these things are to attack with their combination of hard shells and fantastic speed, takes a different tactic. He fights defensively alongside Serafaim if that is the continued tactic while also engaging tactical parries. But to that he does an acrobatic leap upwards and comes in with his ranseur from a height while faking the creature out. All of its speed is for naught, but the Scribe's weapon still misses.

"It seems that you are more than just an academic, Scribe," says Serafaim. "Fine dance moves, but they gained you nothing in the end other than keeping us aligned for defense, and perhaps Jolly as well if he is more careful."

R3T21: Jolly, you are wounded and entangled by webbing. What do you do?

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You have the Scribe next to you FD, with Serafaim next to him. You are entangled (look it up). There is no "5' free move" since 1/2 speed when entangled is effectively difficult terrain.

Shriezyx at altar on deck, Bessel in the hole ...

I/S

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HEROES: +1 bonus to attack and weapon damage rolls if Serafaim seen.

Ichibod: 28. Mage armor. Shield. WEBBED! Center-room.
The Scribe: 25. Cat's grace. Altar. CE2. FD (+3, -4).
Jolly: 21. WEBBED!!! Altar.
Shriezyx #1: 18. (43:77. 9 NL). At altar. Took 33 fire.
Bessel: 16. DEX mutagen. Shield.
Serafaim: 12. Altar.
Shriezyx #3: 11. (58:77). West. Shaken due to Ichibod's fire.
Mistress Khrysm: 10.5. Shield.
Homonculi #1: 10.4.
Homonculi #2: 10.3.
Dorit: 10. Bull's strength. Enlarge person.
Atlatia: 9.
Natalya: 8. Mage armor. Mirror image (3).

[lostsole31]

R3T21: Jolly strikes once more at the monster on the altar, clipping it for 4, his strikes being augmented greatly by Serafaim's leadership and that intuitive feel he seems to have.

R3T18: The altar shriezyx is truly focused on the paladin now, despite the Scribe and Serafaim's presence. Jolly gets a tooth scraped along his chest for 4 (min), and two claws (L thigh, L bicep) for a total of 10. One of the claws snagged into the armor momentarily, but retracted quickly. It seems that some of its attention is on Ichibod and its fallen.

Spoiler: Jolly, Beware

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Jolly, you are hurting. Check your hit points.

R3T16: Bessel?

Serafaim on deck, Shriezyx on floor to west in the hole (out of Bessel's LOS).

I/S

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HEROES: +1 bonus to attack and weapon damage rolls if Serafaim seen.

Ichibod: 28. Mage armor. Shield. WEBBED! Center-room.
The Scribe: 25. Cat's grace. Altar. CE2. FD (+3, -4).
Jolly: 21. WEBBED!!! Altar.
Shriezyx #1: 18. (39:77. 9 NL). At altar. Took 33 fire.
Bessel: 16. DEX mutagen. Shield.
Serafaim: 12. Altar.
Shriezyx #3: 11. (58:77). West. Shaken due to Ichibod's fire.
Mistress Khrysm: 10.5. Shield.
Homonculi #1: 10.4.
Homonculi #2: 10.3.
Dorit: 10. Bull's strength. Enlarge person.
Atlatia: 9.
Natalya: 8. Mage armor. Mirror image (3).

[lostsole31]

R3T16: Bessel consumes another extract from his scarf. He then hunkers down and tries to keep Natalya's images between him and where he saw the derro disappear.

R3T12: Serafaim says, "Do not be so intent on glory, priest, that you forget your importance. Step back and heal yourself!"

Serafaim tries to swipe at the monster, but with the shriezyx' speed all he hits is air.

R3T11: The shriezyx on the floor hisses and screeches wildly, chatting in the ancient tongue before moving forth to attack Ichibod. Despite Ichibod's impediment, though, his heavy magical protection - combined with the fact that his opponent is afraid of this firecaster - only has the bite getting past the shield only to get stopped by mage armor.

R3T10: Dorit, Ichibod's aggressor is 10' from you (on the other side of Ichibod, who is in front of you) Either you can satisfy everybody's dream-come-true of flanking and splattering Ichibod, or .... ... you can attack the monster at reach or some other similar tactic. What do you do?

Atlatia on deck, Natalya in the hole ...

I/S

Spoiler

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HEROES: +1 bonus to attack and weapon damage rolls if Serafaim seen.

Ichibod: 28. Mage armor. Shield. WEBBED! Center-room.
The Scribe: 25. Cat's grace. Altar. CE2. FD (+3, -4).
Jolly: 21. WEBBED!!! Altar.
Shriezyx #1: 18. (39:77. 9 NL). At altar. Took 33 fire.
Bessel: 16. DEX mutagen. Shield.
* Targeted bomb admixture til end R8T16.
Serafaim: 12. Altar.
Shriezyx #3: 11. (58:77). West. Shaken due to Ichibod's fire.
Mistress Khrysm: 10.5. Shield. Invisibility.
Homonculi #1: 10.4.
Homonculi #2: 10.3.
Dorit: 10. Bull's strength. Enlarge person.
Atlatia: 9.
Natalya: 8. Mage armor. Mirror image (3).

[lostsole31]

R3T10: Dorit attacks the target with sword, shield, and teeth. The creature dodges the sword, but the shield smashes into it for 16. More to show her ferocity, she snaps her jaws in mockery at the thing.

R3T9: Atlatia puts her palm, fingers up at Natalya and Bessel, and a shrieking noise is heard. Bessel takes 4 sonic, Natalya takes two sonic, both are stunned, and Natalya drops her weapons to the ground to hold her hands against her ears to try to block out the pain. (If Bessel had anything in his hands, he drops it as well.)

End Round 4, Begin Round 5 ...

R5T28: Ichibod, you hear this hideous cacophony of sound down the hallway, but you have your own monster to deal with that is adjacent to your webbed (entangled) self (and a Large Dorit behind you). What do you do?

Scribe on deck, followed by webbed Jolly ...

I/S

Spoiler

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HEROES: +1 bonus to attack and weapon damage rolls if Serafaim seen.

Ichibod: 28. Mage armor. Shield. WEBBED! Center-room.
The Scribe: 25. Cat's grace. Altar. CE2. FD (+3, -4).
Jolly: 21. WEBBED!!! Altar.
Shriezyx #1: 18. (39:77. 9 NL). At altar. Took 33 fire.
Bessel: 16. DEX mutagen. Shield. STUNNED til end R3T9!!!
* Targeted bomb admixture til end R8T16.
Serafaim: 12. Altar.
Shriezyx #3: 11. (42:77). West. Shaken due to Ichibod's fire.
Mistress Khrysm: 10.5. Shield. Invisibility.
Homonculi #1: 10.4.
Homonculi #2: 10.3.
Dorit: 10. Bull's strength. Enlarge person.
Atlatia: 9. Used sound burst.
Natalya: 8. Mage armor. Mirror image (3).
***STUNNED til end R3T9!!!

[lostsole31]

R5T28: Ichibod starts chanting the War Song of his tribe and blasts the bug in front of him with a Fire Ray!! He opens himself up for an attack by not focusing his power defensively, but his opponent misses wildly, nearly toppling. The monster is amazingly fast, but Ichibod is just able to get it, doing 9 fire. He then, as much as the webs allow, shifts back form the beast. It is too difficult to do so normally without provoking an AOO, but the monster had its chance with Ichibod's sorcery. He does manage to move to his R-Rt, giving Dorit a full opening to step forward to the monster if she didn't want to employ reach.

R5T25: Once again, the Scribe goes for an acrobatic leap, but the combination of the creature's prowess, power, and speed almost gives it a chance to bite at ... nothing, as the maneuver is actually a dupe. Its agility for naught, still its shell turns his ranseur.

R5T21: Jolly, you are webbed and facing the monster, but you also have some nasty wounds. What do you do?

I/S

Spoiler

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HEROES: +1 bonus to attack and weapon damage rolls if Serafaim seen.

Ichibod: 28. Mage armor. Shield. WEBBED! Center-room.
The Scribe: 25. Cat's grace. Altar. CE2. FD (+3, -4).
Jolly: 21. WEBBED!!! Altar.
Shriezyx #1: 18. (39:77. 9 NL). At altar. Took 33 fire.
Bessel: 16. DEX mutagen. Shield. STUNNED til end R3T9!!!
* Targeted bomb admixture til end R8T16.
Serafaim: 12. Altar.
Shriezyx #3: 11. (34:77). West. Shaken due to Ichibod's fire.
Mistress Khrysm: 10.5. Shield. Invisibility.
Homonculi #1: 10.4.
Homonculi #2: 10.3.
Dorit: 10. Bull's strength. Enlarge person.
Atlatia: 9. Used sound burst.
Natalya: 8. Mage armor. Mirror image (3).
***STUNNED til end R3T9!!!

[lostsole31]

R5T21: Rezah retreats to the safest place near the Scribe and the Bronze Warrior, in a short diagonal behind Serafaim.

"It is no more than a flesh wound..." he grunts in contempt to the Bronze Warrior.

"You are too fine a vessel of your god's will in this world to be broken and sent to Sarenrae too quickly," says Serafaim. "And I know the shriezyx 10' behind you has too much else to worry about."

R5T18: The monster snaps its jaws at the Scribe while a claw clacks off of the bronze shield. In his last attack the Scribe committed to attack, and the second claw slashes across his belly for 5. The last two claws strike at the Scribe but he leaps over them.

R5T16: Bessel is still reeling from the sonic blast.

R5T12: Serafaim crits his opponent (1 pt shy of an uber-crit) with his glowing crystal sword for 35, and the glow of his sword goes away. The shriezyx is barely standing and wobbly.

R5T11: Not giving up its own safety for fear of the firecaster, it goes all in to attack the raging behemoth in front of it. In its entire sequence, only two claws manage to get past Dorit's super-size armor and shield, along her right intercostal and just inside her left shield arm for a total of 11.

R5T10.5-.3: A bomb appears from practically nowhere and hits Bessel on the back of the hand for 8 acid.

At the same time, Natalya feels a nasty bite at her ear for 3, and another equally painful bite on her buttocks for 3.

I/S

Spoiler

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HEROES: +1 bonus to attack and weapon damage rolls if Serafaim seen.

Ichibod: 28. Mage armor. Shield. WEBBED! Center-room.
The Scribe: 25. Cat's grace. Altar.
Jolly: 21. WEBBED!!! Altar.
Shriezyx #1: 18. (4:77. 9 NL). At altar. Took 33 fire.
Bessel: 16. DEX mutagen. Shield.
* Targeted bomb admixture til end R8T16.
Serafaim: 12. Altar.
Shriezyx #3: 11. (34:77). West. Shaken due to Ichibod's fire.
Magister Khrysm: 10.5. Shield. Invisibility.
Homonculi #1: 10.4.
Homonculi #2: 10.3.
Dorit: 10. Bull's strength. Enlarge person.
Atlatia: 9. Used sound burst.
Natalya: 8. Mage armor. Mirror image (3).
***STUNNED til end R3T9!!!

[lostsole31]

R5T10.3 (Cont'd): There is a numbing warmth spreading out through Natalya's hip-groin-legs, as well as her ear-head-torso-arms, and she falls. From Natalya's perspective, things go blurry and she falls in a dream-like, soft state.

Bessel and Ichibod (not Dorit, because she's too tall to see down the passageway), you see Natalya (and her images) drop to the ground as if fainting. It doesn't seem like a death-fall, but unconsciousness. Meanwhile, three creatures appear. The first is a wild-looking derro woman that looks like she is better outfitted than Atlatia, and her face is a form of beauty contorted by insanity lunacy; this woman appears right in front of Bessel. Meanwhile, hovering around Natalya's multi-imaged form are two creatures - half the size of Bessel himself - that look vaguely like this new derro woman; these little beasts both have blood in their toothy grins, and flap about on little bat wings.

Spoiler: Bessel

Show

Because you read through Atlatia's readings, this fourth derro must be one she might have referred to once as Magister Khrysm.

R5T10: Dorit, you don't know the conditions of the hallway battle (other than the fact that there appears to be one) because of your height. But you do have your current opponent still threatening and willing to scuttle around to get to Ichibod.

What do you do?

I/S

Spoiler

Show

HEROES: +1 bonus to attack and weapon damage rolls if Serafaim seen.

Ichibod: 28. Mage armor. Shield. WEBBED! Center-room.
The Scribe: 25. Cat's grace. Altar.
Jolly: 21. WEBBED!!! Altar.
Shriezyx #1: 18. (4:77. 9 NL). At altar. Took 33 fire.
Bessel: 16. DEX mutagen. Shield.
* Targeted bomb admixture til end R8T16.
Serafaim: 12. Altar.
Shriezyx #3: 11. (34:77). West. Shaken due to Ichibod's fire.
Magister Khrysm: 10.5. Shield. Invisibility.
Homonculi #1: 10.4.
Homonculi #2: 10.3.
Dorit: 10. Bull's strength. Enlarge person.
Atlatia: 9. Used sound burst.
Natalya: 8. Mage armor. Mirror image (3).
***UNCONSCIOUS/ SLEEPING!!!

[lostsole31]

R5T10: Dorit stays where she is to makee the monster work harder to get to Ichabod and slice with her longsword, rocking it for 17.
Being in the center of the room, the best you can do is just stay where you are.

Spoiler

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Being 10' x 10', you cannot occupy a 5' square if other spots aren't clear. Basically, you are a big, dangerous tree to the shriezyx if it makes a move for the archer, but a means of hopping about with a chance of cover for Ichibod.

R5T9: Atlatia bounds forth to Magister Khrysm's side (Fr-L of Bessel), having drawn her short sword. She giggles and babbles in some mad language that you guess is Aklo, and her short sword seems to be poised to stab down on Natalya's head (or heads, in the case of the images), but completely aware of Bessel but looking nervously (and yet gleefully) down the hallway to the main battle).

End Round 5, Begin Round 6 ...

R6T28: Ichibod, one one hand you are webbed and are having to shuffle your entangled self around Dorit to keep the shriezyx from getting right at you without it opening itself to Dorit's fury. On the other hand, you can see 35' down the above-metioned seen. The passageway is now a haven for female derros, both normal Small-sized and now tiny winged ones as well. Atlatia, whom you recognize from the first battle is without a doubt poised to perform a coup de grace, though she might fail with Natalya's mirror image still running. However, it is obvious to you as well that Atlatia is not so focused, even in her madness to be oblivious to you ... so attacking is equally terrible.

And, oh yeah, you're still webbed. What do you do?

I/S

Spoiler

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HEROES: +1 bonus to attack and weapon damage rolls if Serafaim seen.

Ichibod: 28. Mage armor. Shield. WEBBED! Center-room.
The Scribe: 25. Cat's grace. Altar.
Jolly: 21. WEBBED!!! Altar.
Shriezyx #1: 18. (4:77. 9 NL). At altar. Took 33 fire.
Bessel: 16. DEX mutagen. Shield.
* Targeted bomb admixture til end R8T16.
Serafaim: 12. Altar.
Shriezyx #3: 11. (17:77). West. Shaken due to Ichibod's fire.
Magister Khrysm: 10.5. Shield.
Homonculi #1: 10.4.
Homonculi #2: 10.3.
Dorit: 10. Bull's strength. Enlarge person.
Atlatia: 9. READIED COUP DE GRACE vs Natalya!!!
* Used sound burst.
Natalya: 8. Mage armor. Mirror image (3).
***UNCONSCIOUS/ SLEEPING!!!

[lostsole31]

R6T28: Ichibod shuffles further around Dorit, to put as much of her between him and the bug as he can, while still seeing Atlatia, whom he blasts with a triple shot of magic missile! Ichibod enjoys that microsecond of a successful shot when he realizes to his horror that the his spell didn't seem to do anything to it.

R6T25: The Scribe successfully fakes out the opponent, but as he stabs at the thing his ranseur gets caught in a nook on the top of the altar. It is too late for the once lauded "Crit-alope" to stop and as it stiffens it then pops up. He just manages to get his arm up in time to keep from doing real damage, but the metal haft rings his bell and dazes him. He suddenly seems to not be really aware of what is going on ....

Spoiler: Which sucks, because ...

Show

...that keeps him from FA-speaking tactics. Oh, well.

R6T21: Jolly, you are behind the bronze warrior right now, and the dazed Scribe is to your RFt (Right-Front), with the shriezyx directly in front of him. You are still heavily wounded. You knew from your position before of the hallway battle, but once you got behind the Bronzo Bozo you lost the sightline so you are unaware of Natalya's current dire peril. Just as well, if you double-moved you would only just get there, meaning your focus is more where you are now. What do you do?

Altar shriezyx on deck, Bessel in the hole ...

I/S

Spoiler

Show

HEROES: +1 bonus to attack and weapon damage rolls if Serafaim seen.

Ichibod: 28. Mage armor. Shield. WEBBED! Center-room.
The Scribe: 25. DAZED til end R9T25.
* Cat's grace. Altar.
Jolly: 21. WEBBED!!! Altar.
Shriezyx #1: 18. (4:77. 9 NL). At altar. Took 33 fire.
Bessel: 16. DEX mutagen. Shield.
* Targeted bomb admixture til end R8T16.
Serafaim: 12. Altar.
Shriezyx #3: 11. (17:77). West. Shaken due to Ichibod's fire.
Magister Khrysm: 10.5. Shield.
Homonculi #1: 10.4.
Homonculi #2: 10.3.
Dorit: 10. Bull's strength. Enlarge person.
Atlatia: 9. In position to coup de grace Natalya.
* Used sound burst.
Natalya: 8. Mage armor. Mirror image (3).
***UNCONSCIOUS/ SLEEPING!!!

[lostsole31]

R6T21: Jolly looks to Sarenrae's power within and healing power courses through his shield hand to one of his wounds for 6 healing. He still looks battered, but this had to help.

Rezah then casts a protection from evil on the Scribe and attempts to brace him after the fumble. "Careful, Scribe."

R6T18: It is obvious from its ichor and its cracked shell and even some of its gooey white "meat shredding come out of various parts that the altar shriezyx cannot long last. Though still frightened of Ichibod in the center, it makes a last ditch effort to take something down with it ... and it may as well be the foolish, unarmed man that dinged himself in the head. For all of its viscious whirlwind of attacks, however, it seems that the man's incredible defensive prowess exists even in this state. While not as acrobatic, the Scribe seems to unconsciously slide just out of an attack here, and there, and a slight deflection from an unknown force or with his ranseur. It is as if he possesses a sixth sense. Ne'erthless, a claw slices across his belly for 7, just missing catching intestines for a crit.

R6T16: Bessel, things are looking grim on your side ... at least for Natalya. Magister Khrysm stands right in front of you, with her aklys threatening you ... and obviously outfitted as an enemy alchemist. Atlatia stands poised next to her ready to shove a short sword through your friend's skull. With the mild resemblance to Khrysm and Natalya going down, you figure that the little flying creatures in her square are two homonculi - magical constructs sometimes created by arcane casters to acts as pets, spies, and lab assistants, and whose bite contains a strong sedative.

You have no weapon in hand. If you stand back 5', you would be able to keep from being threatened by either derro, and the two homonculi are too small to threaten you (FL). The only thing that might vaguely help Natalya is that her mirror image is still going even though she is down. What do you do?

Serafaim on deck, Magister Khrysm and her homonculi in the hole ...

I/S

Spoiler

Show

HEROES: +1 bonus to attack and weapon damage rolls if Serafaim seen.

Ichibod: 28. Mage armor. Shield. WEBBED! Center-room.
The Scribe: 25. DAZED til end R9T25. Protection from evil.
* Cat's grace. Altar.
Jolly: 21. WEBBED!!! Altar.
Shriezyx #1: 18. (4:77. 9 NL). At altar. Took 33 fire.
Bessel: 16. DEX mutagen. Shield.
* Targeted bomb admixture til end R8T16.
Serafaim: 12. Altar.
Shriezyx #3: 11. (17:77). West. Shaken due to Ichibod's fire.
Magister Khrysm: 10.5. Shield.
Homonculi #1: 10.4.
Homonculi #2: 10.3.
Dorit: 10. Bull's strength. Enlarge person.
Atlatia: 9. In position to coup de grace Natalya.
* Used sound burst.
Natalya: 8. Mage armor. Mirror image (3).
***UNCONSCIOUS/ SLEEPING!!!

[lostsole31]

R6T16: Bessel grits his teeth, sets his jaw, and creates and throws a bomb at Atlatia, hitting her in the left upper arm for 18 fire, with the two derro missing with their AOOs.

R6T12: With a mighty blow, Serafaim does 19 (max normal) to the altar shriezyx, vanquishing it!

R6T11: Enraged and frightened, the shriezyx simply lashes out at Dorit. The monster bites into Dorit's right shoulder, but only a little bit gets through her armor for 4. Dorit's fury and large size, however, only serves to push through poison through her metabolism quickly, affecting her body before her body's resistance's can adequately defend, and she takes 1 STR damage. Only its fear keeps it from penetrating with its first claw; the second claw is such a miss it nearly overexerts itself; the third claw, again, can't get through because it is shakened. It is the last claw that tears the back of her last calf with a 13-crit.

R6T10.5-.3: Magister Khrysm stares at Bessel with hatred, sees he is unarmed, and her wrathful face turns into a cruel smile. She cackles softly and gives an order to Atlatia. Khrysm takes her time to strike down at Natalya, and an image disappears. Had Natalya's spell not been active, the leader's aklys might have caved in your friend's head.

The little homonculi follow suit, attempting coups des graces on Natalya. An image goes away with the first attempt, leaving only one image remaining. The gods are with Natalya, and perhaps she truly is destined for something, for her images are gone but she is unscathed. But, to reiterate, her images, her spell, is gone.

R6T10: Dorit, you are poisoned, though your vast strength easily shoulders the pain. You took some wounds, but not terribly. Your foe is now the last of the shriezyxes. What do you do?

Atlatia on deck, Ichibod in the hole ...

I/S

Spoiler

Show

HEROES: +1 bonus to attack and weapon damage rolls if Serafaim seen.

Ichibod: 28. Mage armor. Shield. WEBBED! Center-room.
The Scribe: 25. DAZED til end R9T25. Protection from evil.
* Cat's grace. Altar.
Jolly: 21. WEBBED!!! Altar.
Bessel: 16. DEX mutagen. Shield.
* Targeted bomb admixture til end R8T16.
Serafaim: 12. Altar.
Shriezyx #3: 11. (17:77). West. Shaken due to Ichibod's fire.
Magister Khrysm: 10.5. Shield.
Homonculi #1: 10.4.
Homonculi #2: 10.3.
Dorit: 10. Bull's strength. Enlarge person.
Atlatia: 9. (18:36). In position to coup de grace Natalya.
* Used sound burst.
Natalya: 8. Mage armor.
***UNCONSCIOUS/ SLEEPING!!!

[lostsole31]

R6T10: Dorit attacks with a mighty blow, hoping to finish the thing off. A mighty blow it is that slams against its carapace .... but not enough to get through that hard shell.

R6T9: Atlatia raises her short sword high, and Bessel looks on helplessly as she clips into Natalya's head for 4.

Natalya, roll a Fort save vs DC 14. If you save, you live; if you fail, you die.

I/S

Spoiler

Show

HEROES: +1 bonus to attack and weapon damage rolls if Serafaim seen.

Ichibod: 28. Mage armor. Shield. WEBBED! Center-room.
The Scribe: 25. DAZED til end R9T25. Protection from evil.
* Cat's grace. Altar.
Jolly: 21. WEBBED!!! Altar.
Bessel: 16. DEX mutagen. Shield.
* Targeted bomb admixture til end R8T16.
Serafaim: 12. Altar.
Shriezyx #3: 11. (17:77). West. Shaken due to Ichibod's fire.
Magister Khrysm: 10.5. Shield.
Homonculi #1: 10.4.
Homonculi #2: 10.3.
Dorit: 10. Bull's strength. Enlarge person.
Atlatia: 9. (18:36). In position to coup de grace Natalya.
* Used sound burst.
Natalya: 8. Mage armor.
***UNCONSCIOUS/ SLEEPING!!!

[lostsole31]

R6T9: (Cont'd) ... At first, the base stab of the small short sword at Natalya's skull doesn't seem like a lot of trauma at all, but the derro's hate managers to push further and finally crack the brain casing and stick into the rogue-acrobat's brain. There is neither paralysis nor fear. It is a great mercy that she was not "poisoned" in pain, but rather her last feelings were of one going to sleep. Calistria will welcome her daughter.

Natalya was of a destined bloodline as a sorcerer. It seems her enduring destiny is completed - discover the Shard of Pride and begin an incredible quest that others will follow. Without Natalya's discovery, none of these deeds would ever have been possible.

The Scribe's role in the party has just changed: he is no longer the backup rogue, but the rogue. Fitting considering that the Shard effectively makes him the skill monkey anyway.

End Round 6, Begin Round 7 ...

R7T28: Ichibod tries to blast the bug again with fire, but even 30' away he knows what just happened to Natalya. His unrequited love was just killed, and that distraction throws off his aim in trying to get his target. Once again, Ichibod's focus on offense gives him little chance to work at getting out of his webbing.

R7T25: The Scribe is still dazed.

R7T21: Jolly, you aren't quite sure of Natalya's status from where you are (and with Dorit partly blocking). The last shriezyx is only a 5' step away, at which point you'd be flanking with Dorit. That's if you take a physical route. Of course, there are spells and the like.

I/S

Spoiler

Show

HEROES: +1 bonus to attack and weapon damage rolls if Serafaim seen.

Ichibod: 28. Mage armor. Shield. WEBBED! Center-room.
The Scribe: 25. DAZED til end R9T25. Protection from evil.
* Cat's grace. Altar.
Jolly: 21. WEBBED!!! Altar.
Bessel: 16. DEX mutagen. Shield.
* Targeted bomb admixture til end R8T16.
Serafaim: 12. Altar.
Shriezyx #3: 11. (17:77). West. Shaken due to Ichibod's fire.
Magister Khrysm: 10.5. Shield.
Homonculi #1: 10.4.
Homonculi #2: 10.3.
Dorit: 10. Bull's strength. Enlarge person.
Atlatia: 9. (18:36). In position to coup de grace Natalya.
* Used sound burst.

[lostsole31]

R7T21: Jolly once again grips on of his wounds and focuses his divine energy through the flesh for 7. He then focuses clerical powers to channel positive energy at the living, healing himself, Dorit, the Scribe, and the enemy shriezyx for 10. He then takes a 5' step towards the shriezyx to flank with Dorit, shield raised and ready.

Jolly notices something behind him. The dog at the altar is still criscrossed bound - including through it - but some of its wounds have closed over the wire .... meaning that while you healed the wound, it is now even more impossible to free the creature when this is all over. That said, sometimes the best one can do for an animal in such despicable torment is for a merciful stroke. That can come later, though.

R7T16: Bessel, you know Natalya is dead. You are facing Khrysm is Ft, Atlatia FL, and 2 little flapping homonculi in the same square to L. What do you do?

Serafaim on deck, shriezyx in the hole ...

I/S

Spoiler

Show

HEROES: +1 bonus to attack and weapon damage rolls if Serafaim seen.

Ichibod: 28. Mage armor. Shield. WEBBED! Center-room.
The Scribe: 25. DAZED til end R9T25. Protection from evil.
* Cat's grace. Altar.
Jolly: 21. WEBBED!!! Altar.
Bessel: 16. DEX mutagen. Shield.
* Targeted bomb admixture til end R8T16.
Serafaim: 12. Altar.
Shriezyx #3: 11. (27:77). West. Shaken due to Ichibod's fire.
Magister Khrysm: 10.5. Shield.
Homonculi #1: 10.4.
Homonculi #2: 10.3.
Dorit: 10. Bull's strength. Enlarge person.
Atlatia: 9. (18:36). In position to coup de grace Natalya.
* Used sound burst.

[lostsole31]

R7T16: Bessel takes a five foot step back and launches another bomb at Atlatia. It hits her in the foot for 21 damage, and nearly blowing her leg off as she flies back some and falls ... unconscious or dead.

R7T12: Jolly, Ichibod, and Dorit had already felt some type of intuition where attacking to altar-shriezyx was concerned (even if their actual targets were others). It now seems that this intuition stems from Serafaim, whose commanding presence already helps everyone to fight a little better. He now backs orders. (How dare he.)

"Ichibod, this thing is too quick to go for the head; attack its thorax which is its swivel-point for its agility. Dorit, strike down at an angle and a curve to minimize its dodging. Sarenraen, excellent tactic to flank with Dorit; I recommend fighting defensively for your next strike .... better for Dorit to benefit than for you to likely miss for only a modicum of damage. Teamwork."

After the orders, he moves around to Ichibod, and the shriezyx bites at him and misses him as he goes by. "Everyone here. We have faced success against evil, but lost someone; let not this day be given our enemies for our own sorrow."

Since he moved around to the other side of Dorit and by Ichibod, the lone Bessel is not excluded and hears what the others do. All allies find something within themselves with Serafaim's words and gain 11 temporary hit points.

Spoiler: Serafaim's Inspiration

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This means that it not only can heal wounds, BUT ALSO can exceed your normal hit point maximum!

Only Bessel and Dorit have any wounds.

R7T11: The shriezyx attacks Dorit with its panic, biting her in the L elbow for 7, and a claw slashes along her forehead for 4. She easily resists the venomous bite.

R7T10.5: Magister Khrysm thows out her hands to Bessel, and his eyes grow heavy and he yawns. His body relaxes.

Bessel

Spoiler

Show

Roll a Will saving throw. Other than the physical effects of weariness, you don't know what she's doing - but she didn't cast a spell. Magister Khrysm still has an MA, but that won't be resolved until Bessel's save.

I/S

Spoiler

Show

HEROES: +1 bonus to attack and weapon damage rolls if Serafaim seen.

Ichibod: 28. Mage armor. Shield. WEBBED! Center-room.
The Scribe: 25. DAZED til end R9T25. Protection from evil.
* Cat's grace. Altar.
Jolly: 21. WEBBED!!! Altar.
Bessel: 16. DEX mutagen. Shield.
* Targeted bomb admixture til end R8T16.
Serafaim: 12. Altar.
Shriezyx #3: 11. (27:77). West. Shaken due to Ichibod's fire.
Magister Khrysm: 10.5. Shield.
Homonculi #1: 10.4.
Homonculi #2: 10.3.
Dorit: 10. Bull's strength. Enlarge person.
Atlatia: 9. (-3:36). DYING!!!!
* Used sound burst.

[lostsole31]

R7T10.5: Magister Khrysm thows out her hands to Bessel, and his eyes grow heavy and he yawns. His body relaxes. Bessel shakes his head, trying to clear away the imposed lassitude. But try as he might, the ratfolk just isn't used to such magics, and this enemy was perhaps underestimated.

Bessel slowly lays down and begins to snore-squeak.

R7T10.4-.3: Magister Khrysm gives a cruel smile to her homonculi, who descend on poor Bessel to finish him off. The first coup de grace does 6 (max crit), while the second does 4.

Bessel

Spoiler

Show

...roll two Fort saves. The first roll vs DC 16, and the second vs DC 14. That is the order of the rolls you will use. You have a somewhat even chance with both, but with two rolls that makes your situation more perilous.

I/S

Spoiler

Show

HEROES: +1 bonus to attack and weapon damage rolls if Serafaim seen.

Ichibod: 28. Mage armor. Shield. WEBBED! Center-room.
The Scribe: 25. DAZED til end R9T25. Protection from evil.
* Cat's grace. Altar.
Jolly: 21. WEBBED!!! Altar.
Bessel: 16. DEX mutagen. Shield.
* Targeted bomb admixture til end R8T16.
Serafaim: 12. Altar.
Shriezyx #3: 11. (27:77). West. Shaken due to Ichibod's fire.
Magister Khrysm: 10.5. Shield.
Homonculi #1: 10.4.
Homonculi #2: 10.3.
Dorit: 10. Bull's strength. Enlarge person.
Atlatia: 9. (-3:36). DYING!!!!
* Used sound burst.

[lostsole31]

R7T10.4-.3: ... (Cont'd) The first homunculus tears across Bessel's chest to do a lot of physical damage, but without actually going deep enough to get an organ. The second one's tail, however, strikes down like a viper. Overall, it doesn't tear much flesh. It doesn't have to. The stinger pierces the sternum and hits the heart.

Bessel's body arches upwards a little at his chest and lower back, and then drops with a soft thud. He no longer snores.

R7T10: Dorit, your focus is still on this battle. You have no idea what is happening in the passageway as your attention is more on the shriezyx. The priest has set you up for a good strike(s) and your enemy is now flanked. What do you do?

Ichibod on deck, Jolly in the hole ...

I/S

Spoiler

Show

HEROES: +1 bonus to attack and weapon damage rolls if Serafaim seen.

Ichibod: 28. Mage armor. Shield. WEBBED! Center-room.
The Scribe: 25. DAZED til end R9T25. Protection from evil.
* Cat's grace. Altar.
Jolly: 21. WEBBED!!! Altar.
Serafaim: 12. Altar.
Shriezyx #3: 11. (27:77). West. Shaken due to Ichibod's fire.
Magister Khrysm: 10.5. Shield.
Homonculi #1: 10.4.
Homonculi #2: 10.3.
Dorit: 10. Bull's strength. Enlarge person.
Atlatia: 9. (-3:36). STABLE!!!
* Used sound burst.

[lostsole31]

R7T10: Dorit lashes out at the remaining monster with everything she can, frustrated in her rage by it's refusal to die. Her longsword slams into its chitin forcefully, but just barely being able to cut through. Her shield and bite miss the monster entirely.

Spoiler: Mainly for Dorit, but Others Can Benefit from Knowledge

Show

Okay, to clarify. You'll note in your weapon block under "Special Properties" that there is a "[TWF]" ... this means that your normal attack bonus is listed in "Total Attack Bonus" and the [+8] means that when you choose to use TWF you only get a +8 to attack. That's why a single strike may or may not be tactically better than multiple strikes. The bracketed damage for the shield shows that in TWF you don't get your full strength as it is your "off-hand" strike (assuming the longsword is your primary).

There are two damage bonuses next to the longsword. The first is if it is wielded in one hand. The second is if it is wielded with two hands; you have more power behind your strikes with two hands, obviously.

Your bite does not affect the above in any way. However, since it is a secondary attack, it suffers a -5 penalty like any other "monster" with a natural attack. The only time this would be different is if you only bite and use no manufactured weapons, then your bite would be a +11 attack instead of +6 (while your strength is boosted right now). Likewise, if you use a bite with other weapons you only get half STR bonus (rounded down), just like the shield.

So, how was your attack sequence broken down, really?
Longsword attack '8' + 8 = 16
Flanking w/ Jolly 16 + 2 = 18
Serafaim's Commanding Presene 18 + 1 = 19
Serafaim's Coordinated Strike w members of his collective 19 + 1 = 20

By now you probably have bracketed that the shriezyx has a 21 AC. Powerful slam to chitin .... just not getting through. The bonus you lost from what you thought you had is made up in superior position and tactics (i.e. +12).

P.S.: Do not add in anything other than your paper's bonuses. I thought you might want to know what kind of bonuses you are sporting right now with the monster.

For damage, using your longsword one-handed, you would only have done '7' + 9 = 16, but Serafaim's commanding presence would've boosted that to 17. (Co-ord Strike doesn't affect damage.)

Serafaim = Force Multiplier. Everything tastes better with bonuses.

End Round 7, Begin Round 8 ...

R8T28: Ichibod yells "Bessel!!" and blasts the first homoculus he sees with two magic missiles for 9 force, and the other one for 6 force.

R8T25: The Scribe is still dazed.

R8T21: "Sarenrite!" calls Serafaim. "Tactical suggestion. Don't try to attack. Everyone's better off thanks to you, and you have little chance of a good strike. Threaten as you are doing, but think of nothing but a wall of defense for yourself with that flail.

"Either that, or call upon your goddess to see if she can't lend your sword a powerful strike against this blight."

Spoiler

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The first suggestion was for something called "total defense" which would give you AC 23, but you'd have no attack. On the other side of the spectrum ... you could always do more than simply hack at monster but trust this goddess to lend you aid when you need it.

What do you do?

Serafaim on deck, shriezyx in the hole ...

I/S

Spoiler

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HEROES: +1 bonus to attack and weapon damage rolls if Serafaim seen.

Ichibod: 28. Mage armor. Shield. WEBBED! Center-room.
The Scribe: 25. DAZED til end R9T25. Protection from evil.
* Cat's grace. Altar.
Jolly: 21. WEBBED!!! Altar.
Serafaim: 12. Altar.
Shriezyx #3: 11. (27:77). West. Shaken due to Ichibod's fire.
Magister Khrysm: 10.5. Shield.
Homonculi #1: 10.4. (11:20).
Homonculi #2: 10.3. (14:20).
Dorit: 10. Bull's strength. Enlarge person.
Atlatia: 9. (-3:36). STABLE!!!
* Used sound burst.

[lostsole31]

R8T21: Jolly says a quick and inaudible prayer to his Goddess before addressing the Shriezyx, "May you seek redemption in Sarenrae's purifying flames."

The tattoo of a sword on his arm glows and he winds up for an overhand strike with the flail. The power of his smite aids his weapon to the target. The shriezyx just manages to move to keep the blow from landing any serious damage, but it still deals 6.

Spoiler: Silver, Sorry ... My Bad

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You may note on your sheet a damage change from d8+1 on the flail to d8. That's because I forgot that silver does a point less damage than most weapons.

R8T12: Serafaim looks at the heroes from the altar, and looks at the grim scene in the hallway. "The lady and the tinker have fallen beyond our repair. Please, heroes, do not judge me harshly for what will become of their bodies."

He points his crystal sword down the hallway and says, "Derro witch! You and your creatures must face heaven's wrath!"

Erupting downwards from the ceiling is a great conflagration. The derro witch takes what cover she can and suffers 7 fire, which barely hurts her. On the other hand, the two flying monsters splatter in a waxy goo, slowly burning, and Atlatia's body catches fire ... as does Bessel's and Natalya's.

Serafaim then moves in position next to the shriezyx in such a way as it would have to take the "long way" to get away from Dorit.

R9T11: The shriezyx is now focused on the half-orc with smiting power. Despite the burst of fire in the hallway, it no longer appears to shiver but is braced for its demise with ferocity. It snaps with its jaws and some power pushes its teeth away. The first claw misses but the second grazes Jolly's L upper arm for 4. The third thwacks him in the chest for 5, and Jolly blocks the last with his shield.

R8T10.5: Magister Khrysm takes out a potion and disappears from sight.

R8T10: Dorit? I imagine you're going to try to continue flank on the shriezyx? A single focused longsword strike (+ bite), or less accurate TWF (two-weapon fury)?

Ichibod on deck, the Scribe in the hole ...

I/S

Spoiler

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HEROES: +1 bonus to attack and weapon damage rolls if Serafaim seen.

Ichibod: 28. Mage armor. Shield. WEBBED! Center-room.
The Scribe: 25. DAZED til end R9T25. Protection from evil.
* Cat's grace. Altar.
Jolly: 21. WEBBED!!! Smite active vs Shriezyx.
Serafaim: 12. Altar.
Shriezyx #3: 11. (21:77).
Magister Khrysm: 10.5. (79:86). Shield.
* Bombs (5:8). Used invisibility spell.
* Potions: CMW (2); Invisibility. Acid (4).
* Run @ 12 hit points.
Dorit: 10. Bull's strength. Enlarge person.

[lostsole31]

R8T10: Dorit, not knowing the fate of her fallen comrades, focuses her skill into a single cut with her longsword. Her flanking position with Jolly brings her sword right into position for a whopping 17. The shriezyx can't possibly endure much more.

End Round 8, Begin Round 9 ...

R9T28: Ichibod, with Magister Khrysm invisible, you don't know where to target. The only enemy you can target right now would be the shriezyx .... which, as you enjoyably know by now, is vulnerable and frightened of fire. What do you do?

The Scribe on deck, Jolly in the hole ...

I/S

Spoiler

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HEROES: +1 bonus to attack and weapon damage rolls if Serafaim seen.

Ichibod: 28. Mage armor. Shield. WEBBED!
The Scribe: 25. DAZED til end R9T25. Protection from evil.
* Cat's grace. Altar.
Jolly: 21. WEBBED!!! Smite active vs Shriezyx.
Serafaim: 12. Altar.
Shriezyx #3: 11. (4:77).
Magister Khrysm: 10.5. (79:86). Shield.
* Bombs (5:8). Used invisibility spell.
* Potions: CMW (2); Invisibility. Acid (4).
* Run @ 12 hit points.
Dorit: 10. Bull's strength. Enlarge person.

[lostsole31]

R9T28: Ichibod shouts "Die Already!" at the bug and shoots at it with a fire ray, but his anger (and the fact that he is still entangled in webbing) throws wide his aim.

R9T25: The Scribe finally comes to his senses.

R9T21: Jolly? Smite?

Serafaim on deck, Shriezyx in the hole ...

I/S

Spoiler

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HEROES: +1 bonus to attack and weapon damage rolls if Serafaim seen.

Ichibod: 28. Mage armor. Shield. WEBBED!
The Scribe: 25. DAZED til end R9T25. Protection from evil.
* Cat's grace. Altar.
Jolly: 21. WEBBED!!! Smite active vs Shriezyx.
Serafaim: 12. Altar.
Shriezyx #3: 11. (4:77).
Magister Khrysm: 10.5. (79:86). Shield.
* Bombs (5:8). Used invisibility spell.
* Potions: CMW (2); Invisibility. Acid (4).
* Run @ 12 hit points.
Dorit: 10. Bull's strength. Enlarge person.