Curse of the Crimson Throne: Seven Days to the Grave [IC]

[lostsole31]

Beta sees the same room, but from a different vantage from a different door.

[meemaas]

Beta closes the door again, just as he did before. He explains what he saw to the rest of the group, trying his hardest not to think about just how grotesque that room is.

Kaul is more willing to enter the room than Beta is, but waits to hear the opinions of Phi, Zeta, and Eta. Beta just wants to torch the room and try to find another way forward, and Alpha is quick to agree....because fire.

[lostsole31]

Phi is willing to investigate with Kaul while the group splits in two to be ready to come out of either door if something pops up. How does that sound?

[meemaas]

That sounds good. Beta will make sure he's ready to join in, in case something happens, even though he finds it extremely disgusting.

Kaul will go in first, letting Phi cover his back.

[meemaas]

We will start by checking out the Eastern double doors.

[lostsole31]

Neither Kaul nor Phi detect any traps, but both smell something hideous coming from the other side, and even hear the sound of bubbling liquid.

[meemaas]

Kaul will keep one hand on his weapon as he opens the door, trying his best not to smell too much of the stink.

[lostsole31]

And with his spear stowed, Phi opens the other door.

The stinging scent of harsh chemicals chokes this high-ceiling chamber. Three huge metal vats bubble here, each more than six feet tall. A sturdy series of catwalks ten feet off the ground stretches over and around the vats, allowing those above to attend whatever slurry produces the foul green-brown mist emanating from each gigantic vessel. Circling the upper portion of the room is an elaborate mosaic of white, black, and green stone that depicts a giant half-skeletal woman in black veils dancing among fields of the dead, undead, and dying.

[meemaas]

"I'm starting to agree with Beta..." Kaul says as he steps in, drawing his weapon while studying what he sees. He then calls for Phi and the others to come join him, although Beta is hesitant to do so immediately and will likely be the last to come in.

[lostsole31]

"I'm starting to agree with Beta..." Kaul says as he steps in, drawing his weapon while studying what he sees. He is just about to call Phi and the others when he sees a cultist on the main floor looking right at him. He never even saw the two Queen's Physicians to each side of him converging on his position.

Surprise Round ...

S21: A plague mask-wearing motha' charges Kaul from the south and slams a club against his armor.

S13: Another comes at him from the north, but again his armor holds true.

Begin Round One ...

R1T37: Beta, you hear the sounds of hardened wood against metal, and are pretty sure that Kaul just met the welcoming committee. What do you do?

[meemaas]

Beta will move in until he can see the combat, and if he can still strike at a foe, he will do so with his claw.

Spoiler

Show

If needed, Beta attack rolls (1d20+10)[17]
Damage (1d6+4)[8]

[lostsole31]

R1T37: Beta moves in with his psi-enhanced speed, entering *pugilist's stance* as he does, and claws the lower abdomen of a Queen's Physican for 18.

R1T28: Alpha, what do you do?

[meemaas]

Alpha will move into the room behind the others and keep an eye on the action, waiting for an opportunity.

Spoiler

Show

Move in and pass the rest of the turn, keeping behind Phi and Kaul, obviously.

[lostsole31]

R1T28: Alpha moves down, with light from the room to the east helping his way. He stays behind the others, keeping an eye on the action, waiting for an opportunity.

R1T24: Burçin moves in and past Alpha, targeting the only Queen's Physican he can really see with a barbed arrow. It hits the villainous "doctor" in the chest for a pincushion heavy critical that does 26 + stunned, his club clattering to the floor.

R1T23: Kaul, what do you do?

[meemaas]

Kaul prepares a powerful strike towards the one in front of him, hoping to weaken and scare them.

Spoiler

Show

Standard action: Terrifying Blow, targeting the foe Beta hit previously.

Attack roll (1d20+13)[14]
Damage (2d6+7)[15]

If successful, target must make a Will Save DC 16 or be Frightened for 1 round.

If he's attacked, use Iron Shell to counter it. If an ally is attacked, use Defensive Shell to counter it.

[lostsole31]

R1T23: Kaul prepares a powerful strike towards the one in front of him, hoping to weaken and scare them, but he misses.

R1T22: Eta moves up next to her husband. She points to the northeast, somewhere into the room. "Cultist, I have him."

She casts spiritual weapon and a force-glaive appears near the man to strike him for 8 force.

R1T21: The blue Queen's Physician recovers from his charge. He tries to feint Kaul (miserably) and strikes his club against armor.

R1T20-19: Ruor can be heard barking, awaiting action. Inside the large room, it sounds like someone is hammering on a door, calling for help. Casting is heard deeper in the room. A cultist moves from north towards south on the catwalk, then dips her scythe into one of the vats, getting it coated nice and thick with what looks like blood. An artisan on the catwalks casts a spell on himself that Kaul recognizes as shield.

R1T15: Phi moves forward sideways next to Beta to stab the beleaguered Queen's Phyisican with his mithral shortspear for 22, dropping him.

R1T14-13.9: Zeta gives a command to Ruor, who follows out with her. Casting is heard deeper in the room. "Pink" cultist casts shield of faith on herself before stepping up and straddling the fallen Queen's Physician. More shouting farther in the room.

End Round One, Begin Round Two ...

R2T37: Beta, what do you do?

Alpha on deck, Burçin in the hole ...

[meemaas]

Beta will strike hard into the foe in front of him with both claws.

Spoiler

Show

Claw 1 (1d20+10)[30]
Damage (1d6+4)[8]

Claw 2 (1d20+10)[22]
Damage (1d6+4)[8]

[meemaas]

Spoiler: Critical Rolls

Show

(1d20)[16]
(2d6)[10]

Crit away!!!!

[lostsole31]

R2T37: Beta strikes hard into the foe in front of him with both claws. For a bloody, moderate crit and both claws digging into the woman for a total of 28 + 2d6 bleed!!! She goes down hard.

R2T28: Alpha, what do you do?

Bur on deck, Kaul in the hole ...

[lostsole31]

R2T28: Really only having one target, but recognizing that Queen's Physicians - to the public at large, at least - are the true traitors since they are purposed to help assuage this disease, is enough for Alpha to bring forth his uncommon fiery wrath. For all of Phi's inspiration and tactical suggestions, the cover and combat is enough to throw off Alpha's aim.

R2T24: Bur runs in and due north. He calls out, "Multiple bogeys! I count six not in contact."

R2T23: Kaul, what do you do?

Eta on deck, QP-Blue in the hole ...

[meemaas]

Kaul will turn on the foe that Alpha tried to hit before readying himself to counter any followup attacks on him or his allies.

Spoiler

Show

Standard action: Attack Blue QP with Greatsword.

Attack roll (1d20+13)[22]
Damage (2d6+7)[16]

If the foe falls, he will use his move action to start towards the southern stairs up to the catwalk.

Whether the foe lives or dies, Kaul will use Iron Shell on the first attack towards him. If the opportunity presents itself, he will use Defensive Shell to protect an ally (either if the foe lives, or an ally follows him to be within range.)

[lostsole31]

R2T23: Kaul turns on the foe that Alpha tried to hit and cuts into the man's chest with his greatsword for 26 before readying himself to counter any followup attacks on him or his allies. The man does not go down, though wounded.

R2T22: Eta steps north to get a better view, and then adjusts her spiritual weapon against the Queen's Physician that Kaul just cut, and the spectral glaive hits him for 18 force.

R2T21-17: The Queen's Physician recovers from his charge, having been hurt badly by only two strikes from the heroes. He does a terrible job trying to fake Kaul out, a worse job of attacking, and then he just steps back. Meanwhile, a cultist (green) hustles from somewhere to the NNE, and down and across to a point where he is almost at a door to the south. (Brown) cultist moves from north catwalk to center, and dips his scythe into the big vat, pulling out a viscous red fluid as the other one did. A female cultist (red) moves to the southern catwalk and down the stairs. The man in the artisan's uniform keeps his position, casting a spell on himself.

R2T15: Phi steps out to assess the situation, effectively planting a metaphorical flag in the center of the western half of the room. As an afterthought after looking around, he tosses his mithral shortspear at green-cultist to hit him in the left lower leg for 20. He has no weapon in hand, but he seems unconcerned.

R2T14-13.9: Zeta moves up to Phi to get some of his protection while also making a focused assessment. "Those vats! I am pretty sure that is where they are manufacturing the blood veil, an obviously manufactured phage."

She calls to Ruor in her strange "other-tongue" and as Ruor bounds in she points to the doomed Queen's Physician. Ruor bites him in the upper arm for 16 and he goes down.

R2T12-1: More various activity in the room from cultists, many casting spells.

End Round 2, Begin Round 3 ...

R3T37: Beta, what do you do?

Alpha on deck, Bur in the hole ...

[meemaas]

Beta will move into the room and upon reaching the nearest foe, will leap backwards in a cartwheel, kicking the foe in the face as he leaps away from it.

Spoiler

Show

Move action:Move around Kaul to the first square he can attack Blue.

Standard action: Initiate Cartwheel Axe Kick

Attack roll (Unarmed Strike) (1d20+8)[25]
Damage (1d8+4)[7] + (2d6)[7]

Acrobatics Roll DC 15 (1d20+15)[25] to move 10 feet away from this foe after hitting.

Alpha's turn will wait until next post

[lostsole31]

R3T37: Beta moves into the room and upon reaching the nearest foe - a cultist, as he sees the Queen's Physician has been dropped - and he leaps backwards in a cartwheel, kicking the foe in the face (24) even as he leaps away from it.

R3T28: Alpha, what do you do?

Bur on deck, Kaul in the hole ...

[meemaas]

Alpha will move into the room to a relatively safe place, and then he will focus, dropping a small burst of fire on one of the foes, that with any luck disables his foe.

Spoiler

Show

Move action: Move into the room to the closest space he can safely occupy without being threatened.

Standard action: Energy Stun for 5 PP targeting the square that Green is in.

Damage roll (3d6+9)[17] (This damage gains a +6 bonus to the damage from Circlet of Brass)
Foes must make a Reflex Save DC 21 for half damage.
If a foe failed his Reflex Save, he must make a Will Save DC 21 or be Stunned for one round

[lostsole31]

R3T28: Alpha moves into the room to a relatively safe place, and then he will focus, dropping a small burst of fire on one of the foes, that with any luck disables the foe. The man gets struck for 27 fire and drops his scythe from the pain, a sign that the power did its job.

R3T24: Bur shoots a cultist (brown, female) on the catwalk, hitting her in the chest with an incendiary arrow for 22 + 1 fire.

R3T23: Kaul, what do you do?

Eta on deck, Green cultist in the hole ...

[meemaas]

Kaul will move over to the next nearest foe and attempts to strike him down while extreme prejudice.

Spoiler

Show

Move action: Move towards Red
Standard action: Attack with Greatsword

Attack roll (1d20+13)[25]
Damage (2d6+7)[12]

Immediate action: After his turn ends, he will activate Intruder's End

[lostsole31]

R3T23: Kaul will move over to the next nearest foe and attempts to strike him down while extreme prejudice, hitting him through the arm and into the chest for 23, dropping her. Then, he looks about the room from this corner, readied to pounce.

R3T22: The spiritual glaive slashes the fallen Queen's Physician for 10 force, likely making sure of his death. Eta moves in, directing the spiritual glaive to now attack green (who is currently stunned).

R3T18: Brown closes on Bur.

R3T16: The man in artisan's clothing on the walkway casts another spell on himself. He then moves farther away on the catwalk.

R3T15: Seeing the enemies quickly falling away, Phi steps up to Green, pulls out his falcata, and calls out. "This is the time. We are at the heart of the enemies' plans! I will finish this cultist. Half of you up the catwalk to chase down the magician, the others run down the cultist that opened the door at the end."

Phi's words stir everyone with a battle vigor that makes you think you can overcome any hardship, inspiring you for +11 THP!

R3T14-13.9: Seeing a person at each end at the stairs, Zeta will take the mid-point. She says something to Ruor before heading east and out the door. Ruor follows her.

R3T12: Purple (far east on catwalk) casts a spell on themselves.

End Round 3, Begin Round 4 ...

R4T37: Beta, what do you do?

Alpha on deck, Bur in the hole ...

[meemaas]

Alpha will turn his attention on Brown, and focus to drop another small burst of fire upon this one.

Spoiler

Show

Standard action: Manifest Energy Stun (Fire) for 5 targeting Brown

Damage (3d6+9)[18] (This damage gains a +6 bonus to the damage from Circlet of Brass)
Foes must make a Reflex Save DC 21 for half damage.
If a foe failed his Reflex Save, he must make a Will Save DC 21 or be Stunned for one round

[meemaas]

Beta will take a deep breath, focusing himself on his martial training in preparation for a followup strike.

Spoiler

Show

Full-Round Action: Recover maneuvers. Beta will remain in place, gain +4 Insight bonus to AC, and his next attack will gain Deadly Strike damage.