Bink's Wrath of the Righteous OOC

[DarkOne-Rob]

Holy cow, what a powerful thing to see. Filburn (and I) really screwed the pooch here. Hopefully everyone else can fix this and help Lieutenant Jhestander recover his paladin status.

Two things stand out to me about this:

1. This is frighteningly close to a worst-case scenario in Filburn's mind for what could happen to Grace, if things go very, very wrong. I've mentioned it before that Filburn is committed to being the one to "fall on the grenade" and do [Evil] things (if necessary) to protect Grace from such a risk. Filburn is going to take this development very seriously...
2. What would happen if this became a common problem in the army? Disaster, that's what. We have to ensure the other paladins don't fall and that any that have fallen are atoned and recover, if possible.

Code of Conduct
A paladin must be of lawful good alignment and loses all class features except proficiencies if she ever willingly commits an evil act.

Additionally, a paladin’s code requires that she respect legitimate authority, act with honor (not lying, not cheating, not using poison, and so forth), help those in need (provided they do not use the help for evil or chaotic ends), and punish those who harm or threaten innocents.

Associates: While she may adventure with good or neutral allies, a paladin avoids working with evil characters or with anyone who consistently offends her moral code. Under exceptional circumstances, a paladin can ally with evil associates, but only to defeat what she believes to be a greater evil. A paladin should seek an atonement spell periodically during such an unusual alliance, and should end the alliance immediately should she feel it is doing more harm than good. A paladin may accept only henchmen, followers, or cohorts who are lawful good.

What did Lieutenant Jhestander do to fall? A deliberately [Evil] act? Failure to "respect legitimate authority, act with honor, help those in need, or punish those who harm/threaten innocents?" Or is this some new way to fall? /Gulp.

[BelGareth]

Great thoughts and write up.

I think it’s a combination of these: “ Failure to "respect legitimate authority, act with honor”

Something along the lines of just letting doubt enter into his mind, and not excising it immediately, letting it fester and grow into something more pernicious, so he justifies himself in not respecting the leaders actions, justification for things you know are wrong is a slippery slope, and it got in the floorboards, and now it’s infested the structure.

Other paladins/clerics will most definitely be the best people to help, but it will be interesting, this may be reacted to by disgust depending on how we handle it. Unfortunately, atonement is a 5th level spell, so a tad far out from our current resources.

But this should provide a great opportunity for the religious fervor of the army to take a moment and reflect, secure and bolster their faith, as a group.

To wit, who is the most senior paladin/cleric in the army right now?

[DarkOne-Rob]

To wit, who is the most senior paladin/cleric in the army right now?

Probably Grace and Waylan...

[Farmerbink]

Probably Grace and Waylan...

Definitely Grace and Waylan. :-)

[Farmerbink]

I think it’s a combination of these: “ Failure to "respect legitimate authority, act with honor”

Something along the lines of just letting doubt enter into his mind, and not excising it immediately, letting it fester and grow into something more pernicious, so he justifies himself in not respecting the leaders actions, justification for things you know are wrong is a slippery slope, and it got in the floorboards, and now it’s infested the structure.

The book doesn't go into the details, but the Arles is described as an ex-paladin "at the start of this mission." So it's not precisely a new development, but I would imagine has been something like a long time coming.

Surely, his fall was a gradual one- perhaps he didn't even truly notice it when it happened. No doubt some degree of doubt crept into his thinking and poisoned his ability or desire to continue acting with honor and respecting legitimate authority. Undeniably, a small taste of that last bit was on display in his dealings with you all, just now.

Perhaps the greatest issue here is that his behavior has been sedition, though now you know a bit more about the why. I'm happy to see the discussions taking place, in general

[BelGareth]

Player	Character	Campaign Trait	Clarity	Valor	Command	Agility	Spirit	Vigor
MuffinMan	Waylan	Touched by Divinity	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No
BelGareth	Gracia	Child of the Crusades	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No
Gwinfryd	Elrembriel	Exposed to Awfulness	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	No
JWally	Morevek	Chance Encounter	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	No
DarkOne	Filburn	Riftwarden Orphan	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes*

* = pending

Mythic Bonuses:

Chance Encounter (Morevek)
Mythic bonus: Gain a +2 trait bonus on Reflex saves. By expending on use of mythic power, you can take 20 on an Acrobatics, Bluff, Disguise, Sleight of Hand, or Stealth check without an increase in the time required to make the check.

Child of the Crusade (Gracia)
Mythic bonus: Gain a +2 trait bonus to Will saves. Whenever you successfully save against a mind-affecting effect from a demon, as an immediate action you can expend one use of mythic power to cause the demon to become staggered for a number of rounds equal to your mythic tier. The demon can reduce this effect to 1 round by making a Will save (DC 10 + your mythic tier + your CHA mod).

Exposed to Awfulness (Elrembriel)
Mythic bonus: Gain a +3 HP per level. When you are reduced to negative hit points by an attack or effect from a demon, as an immediate action you can expend one use of mythic power to heal damage equal to 2d6 + twice your mythic tier. This healing occurs after the damage is done – if the damage is enough to kill you, you cannot activate this ability.

Riftwarden Orphan (Filburn)
Mythic bonus: Gain a +4 trait bonus on caster level checks to penetrate a demon’s spell resistance. Once per day, you can recharge a charged magic item by expending one use of mythic power. Doing so adds a number of charges equal to 1d10 + your mythic tier to the item, up to its normal maximum number of charges.

Touched by Divinity (Waylan)
Mythic bonus: You can select a second domain granted by your deity. You can use the 1st-level spelss of both domains as spell-like abilities a number of time per day each equal to your mythic tier. By expending one use of mythic power, you may use any of these two domains’ spells as a spell-like ability, but my only use spells of a level equal to or less than your mythic tier.

As mentioned in-character, you're all officially knights of the 5th crusade. Irabeth likewise has been commissioned, though the army you will head and the other specialists assisting you have not. It's kind of a big deal, and one I hope none of you would refuse- though it is technically allowed. It would make the medals inaccessible to you, which I would call a poor choice. Further, as knights, you are authorized to place the medals on one another, when the hero in question has completed the requisite achievement. Medals placed without being earned are inert.

The medals are:
1) Clarity: This circular blue medal depicts a pair of feminine gray eyes surrounded by a circular silver lightning bolt. It is awarded to a hero who recovers vital information of great use against the Worldwound and delivers this intelligence to the crusaders. This medal is associated with Intelligence and grants a +2 sacred bonus on saves against insanity or confusion effects.
2) Valor: This medal looks like a demonic skull, the top of which has been pierced by four red-hilted swords. It is awarded to a hero who delivers a death blow to a demon whose CR is at least 1 higher than the hero’s character level. This medal is associated with Strength and grants a +2 sacred bonus to CMD.
3) Command: This circular medal depicts a leering demon head before two crossed swords. It is awarded to a hero who redeems one of the enemy and convinces the redeemed character to join the crusade. This medal is associated with Charisma and grants a +2 sacred bonus on saves against emotion-based effects (including fear effects).
4) Agility: This triangular iron medal shows a demonic face surrounded by three swords. It is awarded to a hero who delivers a death blow to a demon in combat before that demon gets a chance to act in the combat. This medal is associated with Dexterity and grants a +1 sacred bonus on Initiative checks.
5) Spirit: This rectangular medal depicts the symbol of Iomedae on a field of red. It is awarded to a hero who becomes possessed or mentally controlled by a demon but escapes from that control before he is forced to do evil. This medal is associated with Wisdom and grants a +2 sacred bonus on saves against charm and possession effects (including dominate effects). None of you have yet achieved this medal.
6) Vigor: This hexagonal medal depicts a white castle on a field of red with gold trim. It is awarded to a hero who is reduced to negative hit points by a demon but survives (or alternately, is restored to life) and rejoins the battle before that demon is defeated. This medal is associated with Constitution and grants a +2 sacred bonus on saves against death effects. Waylan very nearly achieved this medal in this fight, but not quite.

A mythic character who wears all six righteous medals gains one additional use of mythic power per day.

[BelGareth]

Fort vs Dc 17
(1d20+17)[22] -3 = 19

lol, had no idea my saves were so dang high!

[JWallyR]

Morevek Fort Save vs DC 17: (1d20+7)[24]

[DarkOne-Rob]

DC 17 Fortitude Save: (1d20+6)[11]

Edit: of course...

[BelGareth]

DC 17 Fortitude Save: [roll0]

Edit: of course...

I can lay on hands you, no worries

[JWallyR]

Morevek is hoping to figure out the kind of demon that attacked Elrembriel, and/or recall any useful information about it as pertains to where it might fall in the 'organization' of the demonic forces at the Worldwound, what tactics they might employ, how much they might communicate to others, etc.

Knowledge (Planes): (1d20+10)[19]

[Gwynfrid]

Let me help you with that (1d20+14)[19]

[Farmerbink]

Morevek is hoping to figure out the kind of demon that attacked Elrembriel, and/or recall any useful information about it as pertains to where it might fall in the 'organization' of the demonic forces at the Worldwound, what tactics they might employ, how much they might communicate to others, etc.

Knowledge (Planes): [roll0]

Short answer: The demon that attacked Elrembriel is an Incubus. Between the fight before and your time to consider, that much is obvious. He's powerful enough to be a relatively high-ranking "officer" in whatever hierarchy actually matters to the demons. Generally, subterfuge and seduction are his primary tools, though they are able to make good use of the blade. There's nothing really special about the scimitar, and it seems probable he has/has access to more.

In particular, they often charm prey, using political power to gain influence and enacting their own will through the use of magical suggestion. They (like most high level demons) can teleport, and have some measure of ability to cause magical despair and summon the halberd-wielding, goat-headed schir demons.

The details on communication within the ranks are beyond results like that.

[MuffinMan]

Fortitude: (1d20+6)[10] vs DC 17

[BelGareth]

ok, i'll loh Filburn and Waylan.

I think everyone has rolled their save?

[BelGareth]

Rolling for a ride check

ride - (1d20-6)[4]

[Gwynfrid]

Let's try to identify the fog effect (1d20+14)[22] (assuming it's arcane).

[BelGareth]

AOO and REF:

Ref - (1d20+10)[26]

If applicable: Crusader (faith) [+1 attacks vs outsiders w\ chaotic]
Full PA (penalty is negated)
AOO - (1d20+12)[30]
Damage - (1d8+11)[12]

Crit AOO - (1d20+12)[20]
Crit Damage - (1d8+17)[24]

[BelGareth]

hah, got to put in the size of the die.

(2d6b1)[2]

EDIT: why do i bother, lol

[Gwynfrid]

Elrembriel will move into the cloud with the goal to disbelieve it and therefore, see through it.

First: Free action, Prescience (1d20)[2]; if result is 11 or better, use it instead of the d20 roll in the Will saving throw.

Will save (1d20+12)[25] including a +4 bonus from this rule: "If any viewer successfully disbelieves an illusion and communicates this fact to others, each such viewer gains a saving throw with a +4 bonus."

Fort save (1d20+8)[19]

[Farmerbink]

(1d100)[75] you know, just 'kuz.

edit: good news, you can see through the cloud! And aren't sickened.

[Gwynfrid]

Rolling for attacks against mirror-imaged Elrembriel. 5 images, meaning 1 out of 6 chances to hit: 1 on this roll (1d6)[6]
EDIT missed, 1 image gone

[JWallyR]

Stupid preview.

Attack: (1d20+8)[10], CC: (1d20+8)[13] for x2 on 23+
Damage: (1d8+8)[9] slashing plus (1d6)[2] negative energy damage and fort save vs DC 17 else take 1 Str damage.
Crit damage: (1d8+8)[9] slashing plus (1d6)[6] negative energy damage and 1 more Str damage if save failed.
"Free" Intimidate check: (1d20+15)[17]

If the target is still up after the first attack, cast Touch of Fatigue defensively (cannot fail) and attack again:

Attack: (1d20+8)[10], CC: (1d20+8)[21] for x2 on 23+
Damage: (1d8+8)[11] slashing plus fort save vs DC 16 else fatigued, 6 rds.
Crit damage: (1d8+8)[12] slashing
"Free" Intimidate check: (1d20+15)[21]

[JWallyR]

Rolling an AoO just in case?

Attack: (1d20+8)[9], CC: (1d20+8)[23] for x2 on 23+
Damage: (1d8+8)[11] slashing plus fort save vs DC 17 else fatigued, 6 rds
Crit damage: (1d8+8)[11] slashing

[Farmerbink]

Rolling an AoO just in case?

Attack: [roll0], CC: [roll1] for x2 on 23+
Damage: [roll2] slashing plus fort save vs DC 17 else fatigued, 6 rds
Crit damage: [roll3] slashing

*snort*

Sorry, bro.

*Cackles*

[BelGareth]

perception for grace

(1d20-1)[12]

[JWallyR]

Perception check? (1d20+9)[23]

[JWallyR]

Knowledge (Planes) to have a good answer about the demon: (1d20+10)[29]

[Farmerbink]

Knowledge (Planes) to have a good answer about the demon: [roll0]

You and Elrembriel both rolled high enough to basically read the monster entry for shadow demon.

The only distinction is we're using the updated possession rules: it has a spell like ability to cast possession, as opposed to magic jar. It's mostly the same, just doesn't rely on a physical container to store the victim's soul while it's body is dominated.

[JWallyR]

Knowledge check for Ghouls: (1d20+7)[8]