Eyes of the Lich Queen II IC [PF]

[CoffeeIncluded]

Soren runs out of the cabin where he spent most of the trip quelling his stomach (when he wasn't flirting with some of the sailors or teasing Kaarna) and all but kisses the solid ground beneath his feet. He gets up, nearly shameless, and says, "Hopefully not more than a few days, right guys?" he looks up at the manor and swallows, knowing what's inside. "You might want to make yourself scarce. I don't want anyone to trace us back to you and get you hurt."

Spoiler: sorry!

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Sorry I didn't post! I went on vacation the past week and a half and I thought 2nd year started today when it actually started yesterday! I'll do what o can to stay on though! How's everyone?

[aReallyGreatAxe]

Scholar looks at the party curiously. "Since they may well have seen us coming, that rules out any stealthy approach, unless we're willing to leave things in the hands of the spy. What's our plan?"

[Kish]

The captain grimaces. "More specifically, how long should we wait for you to come back before we go report to Mr. Ranprin that you're dead?"

[Athedia]

Xan eyed the building. "If we aren't on this beach by the third sunset report us as dead. We can make our own way back if we turn out to be alive."

[CoffeeIncluded]

Soren glares at Xan with a hint of fear. "Don't put the whammy on it," he hisses before turning back to the crew and says, [COLOR="#FF0000""We'll, uh, try to get an update to you before that. An illusion from me if nothing else. If you guys get into trouble then run for it but give us a heads up."[/COLOR]

He looks back at the mansion. "So, they know, we know they know, they know we know they know, and we know they know we know they know," Soren says, his bardic training the one thing keeping the words from ending in a tangled lump with his tongue sticking impotently out of his mouth. "So do we even try to sneak in?"

[Silverraptor]

"We can't really sneak. It'll cost time. We can't afford to lose any time, especially after rushing here so fast."

[CWater]

"Let's just GO!", Kaarna groans, she hasn't been seen much during the voyage and her mood has been terrible the entire time, "I want away from this mad thing. And I'll be happy to blast a few idiots who try to stand in the way."

[Kish]

You leave the ship behind and head toward the mansion. As you approach it, but before you're close enough to be seen with the unaided eye by anyone inside, it becomes obvious that at least part of the mansion is on fire.

Spoiler

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Before I can post more, I need to know more about what you're doing; I don't want to assume for you that you're strolling up to the front door.

[Silverraptor]

Adrianna groans at the sight, before turning back towards the rest of the group from on top of her horse.
"Come on! We have to hurry!"

She prepares to quicken the pace and hurry to the mansion, but not before the rest of the group follows suit, or raises any objections.

[CWater]

Kaarna stops to summon herself armor from the wand, but then she follows Adrianna. "Good. I want to hurt something."

Spoiler

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Casting Mage Armor from wand, charges left 45/50.

I also updated Kaarna's spells for the day.

[CoffeeIncluded]

D"ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!" Soren stares agog at the inferno. "Is there anybody going to help? A fire department? A bucket brigade? Something? Vol's breath!" he curses as he makes himself invisible and dashes towards the blaze.

Spoiler: kish

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is a fire department responding?

Also I just had my first exam of second year!

[Kish]

As Adrianna rides up to the burning mansion, eight figures in studded leather armor and all-too-familiar green-clawed tabards orient on her. Each carries a crossbow and each seems ready to swallow the contents of a flask.

"Greetings, friends," a man in stylish green robes says from the top of the stairs. "Apologies about the state of the place. You see, Vorgaard proved less hospitable than we would have liked. But he is old news, friends, and you are freshly arrived. Two paths lie before you now. One leads you back to your ship and safely away. The other ends with your corpses reduced to ashes in the inferno. No one will ever know your fate. Take the first path, friends. Place the Dragon's Eye on the ground before you and walk away."

Spoiler

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Xan can act before anyone else does; Soren and/or Scholar can act before any of the apparent arsonists act. Map. The stairs lead up to a balcony; at the back of the balcony is an ajar set of double doors. The braziers are braziers and the pillars are pillars.

[Athedia]

"Damned Cultists!" Xan broke forward and the dull metal of the dagger in her hand clear she sprinted forward. Stopping suddenly she used her momentum to hurl the dagger at the man in front of her before quickly muttering a word. There was a quick glow from under her chainshirt as the shirt underneath activated, giving her the extra burst of speed needed to backtrack to safety, her shortswords now in her hands. Now behind Adrianna she piped up again. "New offer. You all quietly die and we won't make this TOO painful."

Spoiler: IC to OOC

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Xan is moving up to Y21 and throwing the cold iron dagger.

Attack: (1d20+8)[24]
Crit (19-20): (1d20+8)[15]
Damage: (1d4)[3]
SA: (3d6)[3] If it applies

Activating Quick Runner Shirt (swift action once per day) to get extra move action
Moving back to X25 and drawing weapons as part of move action

[aReallyGreatAxe]

"Die quick as well as quiet," Scholar says, following it up with an aside in the language of magic.

Spoiler

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Scholar has cast enlarge person on Adrianna.

[CoffeeIncluded]

"Quiet's out, but we can do fast!" Soren shouts as he throws his hands out and down. Suddenly a burst of glitter appears to fall on the Emerald claw operatives.

Spoiler: sorens action

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Soren runs forward a bit and casts Glitterdust on as many people as possible. They're all clumped together; I can't pas this up!

[Kish]

Xan throws a dagger. The two soldiers in the back manage to blink the dust out of their eyes. As Adrianna grows to the size of an ogre, one of the blinded soldiers gulps the contents of his flask and runs toward her, dropping his crossbow and drawing a flail.

Spoiler

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Map updated. Will resolve the results of Xan's dagger when I know who she threw it at, but it won't kill anyone in any event. Kaarna is up.

>> Kaarna Initiative: [15]
EC8 Initiative: [13]
Leader Initiative: [12]
EC3 Initiative: [10]
EC7 Initiative: [10]
EC6 Initiative: [6]
EC2 Initiative: [6]
EC1 Initiative: [5]
Adrianna Initiative: [2]
EC4 Initiative: [1]
Xan Initiative: [24]
Scholar Initiative: [20]
Soren Initiative: [20]
EC5 Initiative: [17]

[Athedia]

Spoiler: Kish

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Threw it at the one on X19

[CWater]

An evil grin rises to Kaarna's lips as she shifts her form and starts to weave a spell. "I've learned a new trick, you get to be the first to try it!"

Grass and other small plants near the mansion start growing rapidly into large ugly vines with sharp thorns and lunge to grab at the men standing on the stairs.

Spoiler: Actions

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Shifting, then castinf Thorny Entanglement. It's like Entangle, except that the vines can also attack. The vines have an attack bonus of +9 and do 2d6 damage to anyone who moves within their area. Anyone who moves into their area or ends their turn there automatically takes 2d6 damage. They can also do a ranged attack instead if someone comes within 15 ft. of them.

40 ft. radius spread, concentrated as close to the mansion as possible. If the doors are open, the centre point would be in W-X;12-13, but if the doors are closed, then just outside them.

"Don't get too close!", the witch shouts to her allies, "They can also shoots those thorns! Get the bastards when they run out of it!"

[Kish]

A mass of aggressive thorny vines spreads all around the entrance to the estate, quickly looking nearly as menacing as the fire that continues to consume the mansion. Nearly all the strangers near the mansion are entrapped in the vines. One manages to pull away; badly hurt by the vines, he nonetheless runs out of them toward you, drawing a flail. The man in green robes fumbles his way toward the left, moving surprisingly fast for a blind man, and gulps the contents of his flask; four of his companions (not including the one who emerges from the vines) do the same. The figure Xan threw the dagger at falls to the ground in the vines, and is likely to be dead very shortly.

Spoiler

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Kaarna can make an attack roll for her vines against the robed speaker, then Adrianna is up.

>> Adrianna Initiative: [2]
EC4 Initiative: [1]
Xan Initiative: [24]
Scholar Initiative: [20]
Soren Initiative: [20]
EC5 Initiative: [17]
Kaarna Initiative: [15]
EC8 Initiative: [13]
Leader Initiative: [12]
EC3 Initiative: [10]
EC7 Initiative: [10]
EC6 Initiative: [6]
EC2 Initiative: [6]
EC1 Initiative: [5]

[CWater]

Spoiler: Thorns

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Attack: (1d20+9)[10]
Damage: (2d6)[12]

The witch cackles almost manically as the enemies are trapped and bled.

[Silverraptor]

Adrianna steps forward, shielding the rest of the group from the opponents being able to charge the rest of the group. She attacks the nearest enemy at the furthest point from her newly extended reach.

Spoiler: Attack

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If I did this correctly...
Attack:(1d20+9)[26]
Critical:(1d20+9)[26]
Damage:(2d6+5)[11]

[Kish]

Adrianna steps forward and slices deep into the blind man in front of her; as she does, the vines fire a volley of thorns at her. One of the soldiers in the vines fires a crossbow at Kaarna and then falls as the vines slash at her. With a savage roar, two hulking monstrosities appear out of nowhere, both 10 feet tall, wearing fine chain shirts, and halfway through swinging a massive greatsword; one slashes at Scholar, the other at Kaarna.

Spoiler

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Vine attack on Adrianna: (1d20+9)[26] Critical threat: (1d20+9)[24] Damage: (2d6)[10] Critical damage: (2d6)[8]
Crossbow attack on Kaarna: (1d20+2)[5] Critical threat (on 19 or 20): (1d20+2)[8] Damage: (1d8)[3] Critical damage: (1d8)[7]
Greatsword attack on Scholar, ignoring Scholar's Dexterity bonus: (1d20+9)[11] Critical threat check, on 19 or 20: (1d20+9)[19] Damage: (3d6+7)[17] Critical damage: (3d6+7)[20]
Greatsword attack on Kaarna, ignoring Kaarna's Dexterity bonus: (1d20+9)[22] Critical threat check, on 19 or 20: (1d20+9)[20] Damage: (3d6+7)[23] Critical damage: (3d6+7)[16]

Map is updated. Xan, Scholar, and Soren are up.
>> Xan Initiative: [24]
>> Scholar Initiative: [20]
>> Soren Initiative: [20]
EC5 Initiative: [17]
Kaarna Initiative: [15]
EC8 Initiative: [13]
Leader Initiative: [12]
EC3 Initiative: [10]
EC7 Initiative: [10]
EC6 Initiative: [6]
EC2 Initiative: [6]
EC1 Initiative: [5]
Adrianna Initiative: [2]
Ogre 1 Initiative: [25]
Ogre 2 Initiative: [25]

[CoffeeIncluded]

"Were they invisible?!" Soren shouts as the ogres appear out of nowhere. "Kaarna, you know anything about these ogres?" he steps towards her and begins a chant that rises above and yet keeps in time with the crackling flames.

Spoiler: Soren's actions

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5 foot step up next to Kaarna, draw his bow if he hasn't already, and start up Inspire Courage.

Inspire courage: +2 morale bonus to attack, damage, and saves against fear!

[aReallyGreatAxe]

"Stop throwing things," Scholar chides, then mumbles a spell and gives Xan a gentle shove, as if to direct her to the more pressing enemies.

Spoiler: Actions

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Standard Action:

Scholar is casting Bear's Endurance on Xan.
She gains +4 Constitution points for the spell's duration.

Move action: not taken.

[Athedia]

Xan looked up, then up some more at the ogre. This would not be fun. But Choir Boy was chanting his heart out so... she better do something she is good at. She took a quick step forward, spinning her blades to stab them in simultaneously.

Spoiler: Attack

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Attack1:(1d20+9)[16]
Crit1: [roll]1d20+9
Damage1: (1d6+5)[10]

Attack2:(1d20+9)[16]
Crit2: [roll]1d20+9
Damage2: (1d6+5)[8]

[Kish]

Xan's daggers both deflect off the creature's chain shirt. "We'll smash you in a minute, mosquito," the creature rumbles, seeming amused. The blind soldier swings wildly with a flail at Adrianna, and then falls, skewered by a volley of thorns.

Spoiler

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Flail attack on Adrianna: (1d20+3)[10] Critical threat: (1d20+3)[23] Damage: (1d8+1)[6] Critical damage: (1d8+1)[2] Auto-miss if this is a 1: (1d2)[2]
Kaarna is up.

>> Kaarna Initiative: [15]
EC8 Initiative: [13]
Leader Initiative: [12]
EC3 Initiative: [10]
EC7 Initiative: [10]
EC6 Initiative: [6]
EC2 Initiative: [6]
EC1 Initiative: [5]
Adrianna Initiative: [2]
Ogre 1 Initiative: [25]
Ogre 2 Initiative: [25]
Xan Initiative: [24]
Scholar Initiative: [20]
Soren Initiative: [20]

[CWater]

Kaarna screams when the greatsword cuts into her. She stumbles away from the huge creature. "You...", she snarls and let's out a magically enhanced yell at the ogre.

Spoiler: Actions

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5 ft. step to W25.
Standard action: Casting Trial of Fire and Acid Ear-Piercing Scream on the enemy that struck her.

Fire: (1d6)[3]
Acid: (1d6)[4]
Repeats 5 more times to 6 in total. Fort save DC 16 to halve the damage, new check each round.

[Kish]

Kaarna's scream makes the ogre wince. Four of the soldiers fire crossbows at Adrianna before falling. The green-robed speaker disappears around the burning building to the northwest. The last soldier steps forward and swings his flail at Kaarna.

Spoiler

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Fortitude save: (1d20+7)[19]
Crossbow attack on Adrianna: (1d20+2)[22] Critical threat (on 19 or 20): (1d20+2)[22] Damage: (1d8)[4] Critical damage: (1d8)[3]
Crossbow attack on Adrianna: (1d20+2)[7] Critical threat (on 19 or 20): (1d20+2)[6] Damage: (1d8)[8] Critical damage: (1d8)[4]
Crossbow attack on Adrianna: (1d20+2)[9] Critical threat (on 19 or 20): (1d20+2)[12] Damage: (1d8)[7] Critical damage: (1d8)[1]
Crossbow attack on Adrianna: (1d20+2)[15] Critical threat (on 19 or 20): (1d20+2)[8] Damage: (1d8)[2] Critical damage: (1d8)[3]
Flail attack on Kaarna: (1d20+3)[4] Critical threat: (1d20+3)[17] Damage: (1d8+1)[6] Critical damage: (1d8+1)[3]

>> Adrianna Initiative: [2]
Ogre 1 Initiative: [25]
Ogre 2 Initiative: [25]
Xan Initiative: [24]
Scholar Initiative: [20]
Soren Initiative: [20]
Kaarna Initiative: [15]
EC1 Initiative: [5]

Adrianna is up.

[Silverraptor]

Adrianna goes for the Ogre closet to her after making sure no vines are close enough to hit her back.

Spoiler

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Attack:(1d20+9)[29]
Critical:(1d20+9)[14]
Damage:(2d6+5)[14]

[Kish]

Adrianna's sword cuts into the ogre, even as the vines fire another barrage of thorns at her. The ogre's wound immediately begins to heal rapidly. Both ogres slash at Scholar.

Spoiler

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Vine attack on Adrianna: (1d20+9)[19] Critical threat: (1d20+9)[15] Damage: (2d6)[10] Critical damage: (2d6)[7]
Greatsword attack on Scholar: (1d20+9)[26] Critical threat check, on 19 or 20: (1d20+9)[13] Damage: (3d6+7)[21] Critical damage: (3d6+7)[17]
Greatsword attack on Scholar: (1d20+9)[22] Critical threat check, on 19 or 20: (1d20+9)[26] Damage: (3d6+7)[23] Critical damage: (3d6+7)[15]

>> Xan Initiative: [24]
>> Scholar Initiative: [20]
>> Soren Initiative: [20]
>> Kaarna Initiative: [15]
EC1 Initiative: [5]
Adrianna Initiative: [2]
Ogre 1 Initiative: [25]
Ogre 2 Initiative: [25]

If your current hit points aren't on your character sheet, please correct that; my NPCs may act differently in various ways depending on your condition. Xan, Scholar, Soren, and Kaarna are up.