DrK's Age of Worms IC pt3

[redzimmer]

Merrick

I only got the briefest of glimpses at the demon Bozal summoned. But most demons share some traits.

Rolling through the studies of Iggwilv's demonomicon he remembered from his training, he tries to determine the demon they face.

Spoiler: The Planes

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(1d20+10)[18]

[RCgothic]

Mirriana

What do you guys sense? I ask our more aware members, preparing to cast Mass Conviction and Protection from Negative Energy before we become engaged.

[DrK]

Racking his brains the Merrick can only remember the barest outlines on the Akillith demons. Demons of ooze and spawns of Jubilex they are toxic and dangerous and fairly powerful. Certainly it will take heroes to defeat this one. To Talsien's mind the demon is the only aura (evil or sentient) that he can see although the heavy walls and thick stone mean he can't really see more than the next room.

[RCgothic]

Mirriana

Ok all, last time Bozal was alerted by our sounds of battle. I'm going to cast Silence. If anyone has any spells they want to cast I suggest they do it now.

[redzimmer]

Merrick

Merrick raises his hand.

A toxic demon of oozes, this one. Som defense against acid might benefit.

Gathering the group close, he casts mass resist energy.

Does anyone wish to be invisible or enlarged?

Spoiler: Status

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Acid \20 for 80 rounds.

[Stegyre]

Taliesn

I only sense the one demon, though on our last encounter, it quickly became two, so I'm not sure how much that means.

Considering how fast we ran from that one, our foes may have figured it was more than enough, he adds privately to himself.

Bigger is better, he replies to Merrick's question. I wonder if invisibility has any effect against demons. (He is clearly doubtful.)

Spoiler

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Once I'm enlarged, I think I'm ready. Any particular thoughts on how we can burst the doors open and charge fast enough to maybe get a surprise round?

[Starbin]

Lan pulled out his trident, gazing at the door. "So what hurts a demon? All I have is this trident. Also, will the invisibility spell work? If so, I gotta think our enemy has a back door ... he wasn't running into a corner last time. Maybe we look for a way around this bastich and find a way to the cleric."

Spoiler: OOC

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Plannig ... and thanks for the s!

Status
HPs: 65; AC: 27
F +8, R +11, W +6
Spells: sniper shot, remove scent
Effects: Energy Resistance 20 (Cold / Acid) Darkvision (20min);

[DrK]

With a single solid boot of his armoured foot Goat kicks open the rickety doors revealing the tired looking training room where, blood splatters still glistening on the floor and the bodies of boneclaw and a Morhg decaying slowly in a great mound at the far end of the chamber. In the centre of the chamber is the strange looking demonic pile of black and green glowing ooze!



Babbling fills your mind as its telepathic loathing for you all cones through strongly! Magical power and demonic might contained in its Alchemical ooze palpable even from the 40ft that separate you from it as it lurks at the far end of the room.

Spoiler: OOC

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Party get a surprise round
Then are first in the round! Please post your move or standard surprise action then your round 1 actions

Zarina know devotion (1d20+18)[20]

[Stegyre]

Taliesn
ATTACK!

Relying upon the protection of Merrick's magic, Taliesn takes a running leap across the room to start shredding the ooze demon as best he can.

Spoiler

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A. I'm assuming I got that enlarge person boost we talked about 3&4 posts upthread. If Merrick didn't have the time, I've got a potion for it.

B. Surprise rounds, sadly, still don't do me much good. I'll have to think of something I can do in them. Maybe if I take a ToB level, I can use Sudden Leap to trigger my claw attacks, but that must await at least another level and a DM ruling.

C. So, first round (after everyone else's surprise actions and judging by the initiative rolls, their regular actions, too. *Sigh* At least I'm faster than the demon. Move action to run 20' and Jump to easily (and automatically) cover the remaining 20', followed by ye olde
Claw - (1d20+15)[31], damage - (2d6+9)[13]
Claw - (1d20+15)[18], damage - (2d6+9)[15]
Claw - (1d20+15)[17], damage - (2d6+9)[12]
Claw - (1d20+15)[28], damage - (2d6+9)[16]

(Str +6, BAB +7, ess +3, Size -1); (Str +6, ess +3)

At least I should get through the DR, but I'm really wishing for Align Natural Weapon if demons are a thing for our future.

Edit: Assuming DR 10 and a credible AC, I think I did all of 9 points of damage. I hate DR.

[redzimmer]

Merrick

Before moving in, Merrick casts charges of enlarge person onto Goattracker and Taliesn.

Once the door is kicked in, he trades out the benign transposition wand for quick battlefield manipulation.

Spoiler: Hold action

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If any traps or deadly touching situations arise, will swap injured teammates with self.

[Starbin]

Growling inwardly as his companions elected to beard a demon in its lair vice play it smart, Lan tapped his headband and called upon its special sight. Then he readied his trident to attack ... waiting first for his companions to go, least he get caught in the room alone.

Spoiler: OOC

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Activate the headband for see invisible and scan the room on surprise round. Hd an action to move in and attack after the big dogs are engaged.
Spot - (1d20+14)[15], Listen - (1d20+14)[33]

Status
HPs: 65; AC: 27
F +8, R +11, W +6
Spells: sniper shot, remove scent
Effects: Energy Resistance 20 (Cold / Acid); Darkvision (20min); see invisible (10min)

[DrK]

Zarina

Just before the door opens Zarina glances at the others, a ghost of a smile on her face. "In the past week or so I've seen more if dungeons and fights than I did all summer. You Diamond Lakers know how to find trouble."

As the door opens she runs into the room racing near to the demon, with the initiative she charges the horrific ooze, traces of transmutation strengthening her body. Blade chops down she swings hard wishing she knew what the beast was vulnerable to.

Spoiler: Zarina

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Surprise: move into room
Round 1:
Swift: minor Shapeshift 9 temp HPs
Full: charge, PA 2 (1d20+14)[32] dam (2d8+18)[25]

Hps 63/63 +9 temp
Saves 8/8/7
AC 28 ff 26 touch 12

Dragonskin (Cold) 19 mins
Bulls strength 2 mins
Shield 13 mins
Mass resist Cold 19 mins

Stance: leading charge
Know devotion +2

[redzimmer]

Merrick

Merrick draws in a breath, thankful for the protection of Buer and his own good self.

Spoiler: Once everyone's done

Show

If no one needs rescuing, let loose a breath of Amon

(8d6)[28] DC 16 half

[RCgothic]

Mirriana

Spoiler

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Spells active at start of battle:
Mass Conviction, +3 morale to saves, 80 mins
Protection from Negative Energy (self) 80 mins
Silence (on a pebble for Lan) 8 mins

In the silence generated by my spell I charge in to confront the demon after the others, sword and shield raised. Seeing the beast surprised, I incite my companion to greater effort: Goattracker, strike now before it recovers!

Spoiler

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Surprise round: move

Round 1:
Move to threaten
Tactical Strike: (1d20+10)[22]
Damage (1d8+3)[8][roll]2d6] 9 plus free 5ft step for allies adjacent to foe.
Swift: White Raven Tactics on Goat to go again at INIT 11.

IGG -4 to demon's attacks except vs Mirriana.
AC26
Hp68

Shield block gives +9 AC against first attack vs adjacent ally.

[DrK]

Goat

The big Goliath rumbles forward, a cry of "Kavaki and the iron bones of the earth shall drive you back!" as he charges the demon alongside the others, club swinging hard.

Even as he swings he drops into a combat rhythm as Mirriana encourages him with the tactics of the white raven.

Spoiler: charge

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Charge, PA for 2
(1d20+14)[29] dam (3d8+14)[27]

Full attack, PA for 2
(1d20+12)[19] dam (3d8+14)[29]
(1d20+7)[21] dam (3d8+14)[24]

Spells
Resist cold
Mass conviction
Grtr might wallop

[DrK]

The door flies open as the heroes streak into the room on the offensive weapons bared! The shifter runs slashing in with his 4 claws but even he makes contact he can feel the thick layer of crust over the ooze resisting his claws leaving onlyna neglible scratch. Zarina follows him in as the "big" shifter moves to the left, her Father's fullblade shearing into it but again it unnatural nature blunts much of her attack! Lan follows them in, eyes enhance by magic searching around but seeing nothing untoward, the trident flies from his hand as he relies upon his knowledge of spellcasters to find a vulnerable point in a man sized ooze but with all his allies it goes wide of mark.

Spoiler: Lan

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Move 20ft
Trident from OOC (1d20+15)[20] dam (6d6+5)[28]

As Mirriana and Goat race in she slashes hard at it, able to hit as she pairs her attack with Talsien opposite, seconds later Goat rumbles in beside her club swinging but merely sinking into the soggy ooze like a stone landing in mud. Repeated attacks do little more!

To end the assault the wizard belches forth a column of fire that sears the creatures base but seeks to do little more than annoy it!

Spoiler: ooc

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It's DR feels hefty and bludgeoning seemed to do little damage

17

The Allkilith projects it's thoughts into your minds. "I shall dissolve you and devour you little solids. Your souls shall be my play things..." With surprising grace it oozes backwards some 10ft against the back wall, it's amorphous form seeking to evade the attacks of the 4 combatants. Landing it flexes and a wave of icy cold washes from it, a mental squeal as the cold of cone leaves sparkling patterns on your Abjurant protection! It follows up with a cloud of gas seeping from it fillimg the room with a stinking cloying vapour that cuts visibility down to nearly nothing!

Spoiler: Ooze demon

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Tumble backwards DC21 (1d20+17)[31]
Cone of cold hitting everyone! (11d6)[38] Ref DC21 for half
remember byour cold Res 20!!
Quicken stinking cloud Fort DC21 or sickened for (1d4)[2] rounds

[Stegyre]

Taliesn

Aren't you embarrassed to be taking orders from some two-bit cleric?, Taliesn shoots back. He leaps to one side to cut off any retreat the demon might try to make in that direction.

Spoiler

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Demon retreating – yeah, sure.

I forget the exact configuration of the room, but if the demon is against the wall, Taliesn moves to one end or the other, so we can basically make a triangle around the demon and not be nicely grouped together for its AoE attacks.

Beyond that, it's the usual: wishing I had align natural weapon and
claw - (1d20+15)[18] damage - (2d6+9)[19]
claw - (1d20+15)[31] damage - (2d6+9)[20]
claw - (1d20+15)[34] damage - (2d6+9)[12]
claw - (1d20+15)[32] damage - (2d6+9)[16]

Edit: better rolls. Hoping that's three hits and some better damage, though at this rate, it's going to be a long slog.

[redzimmer]

Merrick

"Jubilex's children shall also perish in the coming Age of Worms, O Bulbous One. What fool facilitates its own destruction?"

Merrick casts a gust of wind to disperse the cloud.

[RCgothic]

Mirriana

I hope all this shouting is being protected, because the Silence spell Lan carries is pretty effective about hedging out battle cries. I feel unwell from the cloud, but move to defend my allies anyway.

Spoiler

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Stone Bones -5 +10thp
Move straight up. As many allies adjacent as possible.

Attack defensively(1d20)[2] -5sb +1fc -4fd -2 sickened
Damage (1d8+1)[9]+1fc

IGG -4 to enemy attacks
Sr 5/5
Thp 10/10
Hp: 55/68
AC26?
SB gives +9 AC to first attack vs adjacent ally

Manoeuvres refresh next turn:
(9d5)[4][5][5][4][4][5][5][5][2](39)

[Felhammer]

Goat

The goliath continues to swing skullfinder!

Spoiler

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Full attack, PA for 2
(1d20+12)[31] dam (3d8+14)[31]
(1d20+7)[11] dam (3d8+14)[27]

[Starbin]

Lan growled in frustration at his failure to hurt the thing, but there was little time to cry over spoiled milk. A wave of cold washed over him, even as the room filled with noxious fumes. Fortunately, he was made of tougher (and quicker) stuff, and he avoided any ill effects. Merrick cast a spell to dismiss the cloud, which helped immensely! Moving across the room, he kept himself close enough to attack, but out of the line of heroes attacking. With a grunt, he threw the trident, anxious to do his part ...

Spoiler: OOC

Show

Move 20' and attack from 20' away. Attack - (1d20+15)[32], Damage - (5d6+5)[25]

Status
HPs: 65; AC: 24
F +11, R +14, W +9
Spells: sniper shot, remove scent
Effects: Energy Resistance 20 (Cold / Acid); Darkvision (20min); see invisible (10min); silence (8 min); conviction (+3 [morale], 80 min)

[DrK]

Zarina

As the beast flails and blasts out the cone of magical cold Zaria shivers but her transmutation takes the brunt of it and then the abjurations shielding her from the elements kicks in leaving only her arms with deep white cold burns on them. With the beast rolling back into the corner Zarina follows up, striding the 10ft across the room blade swinging down hard as she stands in the war leaders stance inspiring her aliles as well.

Spoiler: Zarina

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Swift: minor Shapeshift 9 temp HPs
-Charge PA for 2 (1d20+14)[34] dam (2d8+18)[24]

Hps 54/63
Saves 8/8/7
AC 28 ff 26 touch 12

Dragonskin (Cold) 19 mins
Bulls strength 2 mins
Shield 13 mins
Mass resist Cold 19 mins

Stance: leading charge
Know devotion +2

[DrK]

The demon is heavily assailed as a party of angry adventurers surge in surrounding and chopping and clawing at it. Fire blooms from the wizard's mouth in an unusual display further scorching the strange bag of abyssal ooze. Even as it clouds the room in acrid green smoke Merrick reveals his arcane mastery a great blast of wind stripping away the stinking cloud even as it leaves a few of the party choking. In the sudden space caused by the cloud vanishing Lan darts in, trident slapping into the ooze before returning trailing gobbest of ooze. Without the cover of the cloud Mirriana, Goat, Talsien and Zarina all move in weapons swinging and aside from Mirriana who takes up a defensive stance in the centre al lands blows tearing and beating at the vile beast. Goat hittin so hard that he sends damaging ripples of pressure through the beast's amorphous body.

The ooze lashes back against the party long pseudopods dripping acid lashing out punching at the heroes, only for the telepathic scream to be heard as the abjurations against acid flicker and glow! Frustrated it summons around it a vast cloud of unholy energy that sweeps over all bar the wizard who still stands at the far end of the room. The cloud lasting a mere moment as its burns flesh.

Spoiler: OOZE

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pseudopod vs Mirriana (1d20+19)[38] dam (1d8+6)[10] +(2d6)[4] acid and Fort DC18 or acid persists damn you cunning wizard
pseudopod vs Goat (1d20+19)[25] dam (1d8+6)[13] +(2d6)[7] acid and Fort DC18 or acid persists damn you cunning wizard
pseudopod vs Zarina (1d20+19)[24] dam (1d8+6)[9] +(2d6)[7] acid and Fort DC18 or acid persists damn you cunning wizard
pseudopod vs Talsien (1d20+19)[35] dam (1d8+6)[13] +(2d6)[7] acid and Fort DC18 or acid persists damn you cunning wizard
EDIT: subtract 4 from all attack rolls that aren't Mirriana

Quicken Spell like abaility: Unholy BLIGHT!
(5d8)[39] damage and SICKEN (1d4)[2] rounds. WILL DC 21 for half damage and no sickening
-- Neutral take half, save for quarter and no sicken at all.


43

[Stegyre]

Taliesn

This is the very reason abominations like this must be destroyed, Taliesn thinks, as the foul magics wash over him, staining his very soul. I don't know how much more of this we can endure. He tries to glimpse how the others are doing before attacking yet again.

Spoiler

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While we're on the subject of looking around, a quick spot-check to see if there's anything else noteworthy about the chamber since our previous visit: it's been too long since I put my Quick Reconnoiter abilities to good use: Spot - (1d20+12)[19]
Claw - (1d20+15)[18] damage - (2d6+9)[16]
Claw - (1d20+15)[25] damage - (2d6+9)[18]
Claw - (1d20+15)[34] damage - (2d6+9)[15]
Claw - (1d20+15)[18] damage - (2d6+9)[17]

At the end of all that, I'll swift action shift 2 essentia into Astral Vambraces: do the demon's attacks penetrate DR /magic? (So far, I've assumed no; if they do, I need to subtract another 2 HP for its melee attack.)

[DrK]

With Miriana's defensive stance and the Abjurant energy shield the pseudopd misses
Zarina. The young woman, still in silence, shakes her head focusing inwardly as the greasy cloud of blight surrounds her.

Coming out, lungs burning with the evil burning magic she swings her blade round thrusting into the ooze and leveraging the blow to open it up for the others.

Spoiler: Zarina

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Leading the attack
(1d20+14)[21] dam (2d8+9)[21]
-- if hit then allies get +4 to hit!

Hps 44/63
Saves 8/8/7
AC 28 ff 26 touch 12

Dragonskin (Cold) 19 mins
Bulls strength 2 mins
Shield 13 mins
Mass resist Cold/Acid 19 mins 79
Mass conviction

Stance: leading charge
Know devotion +2

[redzimmer]

Merrick

Wincing at the demon's onslaught, Merrick draws his toothed tentacles wand and tries to add another snip to the blob.

Spoiler: SR? Why Ever Would a Demon Have SR?

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(1d20+7)[17] to hit
(1d20+7)[19] to hit
(1d20+7)[18] to hit (Presuming caster level 6+minimum INT bonus to cast level 2 spells.)

(2d6)[8] damage
(2d6)[5] damage
(2d6)[6] damage

(1d20+6)[18] .vs SR?
(1d20+6)[13] .vs SR?
(1d20+6)[11] .vs SR?

[Starbin]

Lan's overconfidence was quickly shattered with the wave of evil that washed over everyone. Wrenching, he sped forward, launching his trident again ... knowing he wouldn't last another attack like that one.

Spoiler: OOC

Show

Move 20', attack from 20' away. Attack - (1d20+13)[24], Damage - (5d6+3)[18]

Status
HPs: 26/69; AC: 24
F +11, R +14, W +9
Spells: sniper shot, remove scent
Effects: Energy Resistance 20 (Cold / Acid); Darkvision (20min); see invisible (10min); silence (8 min); conviction (+3 [morale], 80 min); sickened (-2 all rolls, 2 rnds)

[RCgothic]

Mirriana

"We've got it on the ropes! Zarina, do your worst!" I call out, noticing an opening for my ally where the demon is distracted focussing on me...

Spoiler

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WRT for Zarina.
Mountain Hammer: (1d20+10)[22]-5sb +1fc +4z
Damage (1d8+4)[12](2d6)[5] ignoring dr

10/10 thp
5/5 sr
26/69 hp

IGG
Next round: (1d2)[1]

[DrK]

Zarina spins around as Mirriana calls out her name and allowing her to take advantage of the young woman's tactical acumen. The blight had hurt them badly so they needed every advantage. Triggering the Wand attached to the blade it took on a misty appearance as she stepped around to flank it and drove he wraithlike blade through the black and green ooze.

Spoiler: Zarina

Show

Swift: wraithstrike wand
Free: 5ft to flank
Full attack - PA 5
(1d20+9)[29] Dam (2d8+19)[24]
(1d20+4)[16] Dam (2d8+19)[29]


Hps 44/63 +18
Saves 8/8/7
AC 28 ff 26 touch 12

Dragonskin (Cold) 17 mins
Shield 11 mins
Mass resist Cold/Acid 17 mins 77
Mass conviction 18 mins

Stance: leading charge
Know devotion +2

[DrK]

Three long toothed tentacles and Talsien's claws rake the ooze doing more surface damage. Zarina strikes again leaving an opening for the others that Lan and his trident follow.

It's Mirriana that forces the end as she hammers the beast with the stone dragon form doing heavy damage and opening it up for Zarina to finish. The mist like blade slides through the thick exterior of the ooze and nick's something vital with, the second blow shattering it. With an anguished telepathic shriek the demon shimmers before melting away leaving only a blackened tar like residue on the ground.

Zarina breathes a sigh of relief as she drops to a knee, smiling as the silence spell means she cannot speak but offers her friends a thumbs up so they know she is mostly fine despite the burns from cold and blight.