Shattered Star II: Curse of the Lady's Light (IC)

[meemaas]

Sinxia will move closer into the room, staying behind the others, and readies a shot for the first foe to make it through the Sleet Storm.

Spoiler

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Readied action: Ready a ranged attack against the first foe to become visible through the sleet storm.
Attack Roll (1d20+12)[20]
Damage (1d8+10)[13]

[lostsole31]

R2T20: Erima moves forward, and readies to hack at the first enemy to come through that she can threaten.

R2T19.5: Sinxia will move closer into the room, staying behind the others, and readies a shot for the first foe to make it through the sleet storm.

R2T19: The Scribe moves forward and slightly west and readies to attack with his ranseur.

R2T13: Teofilo flies in with the Scribe and readies something.

R2T9: Lilim, what do you do?

Spoiler: Battle Map

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Rezah on deck, enemies in the hole ...

[PSinger]

Lilim moves up to be next to The Scribe and casts a spell on herself, and is soon covered in purple flames that don't seem to hurt her.

Spoiler

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MA: Move 30' to be one square east of Scribe.
SA: Cast fire shield on self (warm shield).

[lostsole31]

R2T9: Lilim moves up to be next to The Scribe and casts a spell on herself, and is soon covered in purple flames that don't seem to hurt her.

R2T8: Rezah passes Sinxia, then turns around and to her says, "Here, fellow warrior of the Lady of Fire, take the essence of her great heroes that have gone before."

He casts heroism on Sinxia.

End Round 2, Begin Round 3 ...

R3T22: Fallon flies to the NE corner of the large, inner chamber, and readies a spell.

R3T20-13: Erima, Sinxia, Scribe, and Teofilo all have readied attacks.

R3T9: Lilim, no enemies in sight yet, but you know you gave the group time to buff since the opposition has to deal with icy ground to get to you. What do you do?

Rezah on deck, enemies in the hole ...

[PSinger]

Lilim delays...

[lostsole31]

R3T9: Rezah double moves to improve his position.

The enemy is still not seen. Either they are crafty and weathering the sleet storm and biding their time, or more likely the storm is causing them to flounder on the ice inside.

End Round 3, Begin Round 4 ...

R4T22-9: Everyone is assumed to be re-applying their readied action or delaying as before.

R4T8: Rezah casts a spell that none of you have seen before (you can roll Spellcraft in spoilers if you want). His shield arm and shield are covered in a bright red-orange flame with the same level of glow as a continual flame spell (but some of you recognize obviously isn't). He then patiently waits for an enemy.

R4T6: One of those lizards (M1) finally comes out of the storm and into the waiting party's reach. Sinxia's shot finally goes off and just barely hits the lizard, yet for 13. The Scribe failed to attack well past the cover of his allies. Teofilo hits it with an icicle for 9 cold.

End Round 4, Begin Round 5 ...

R5T22: Fallon, now hearing battle but not positioned well to enjoin it, flies up and back to have a significant height advantage. She then shoots a humble ray of frost at he reptile to do 1 cold.

R5T20: Erima, the first enemy did not show itself where you expected, and you are in a poor position to attack it unless you move one square south of Lilim. What do you do? The lizard has cover from you with the pillar (and vice-versa).

Spoiler: Battle Map

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Lilim (delaying) on deck, Rezah in the hole ...

[PSinger]

Lilim goes full tilt physical on the critter.

Spoiler

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Unarmed #1 (1d20+15)[18], damage (1d8+9)[10] slashing
Unarmed #2 (1d20+10)[12], damage (1d8+9)[11] slashing
Bite (1d20+12)[27], damage (1d8+5)[13] + disease (who cares, we killin' it)

[silphael]

Seeing that no lizard could obviously be right at the end of the fog without being seen, go south of Lilim and finally stops mumbling, knows expressing her rage and hatred through her axe.

"Rrrrraaaaaahh !"

Spoiler: OOC

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First, spellcraft for the spell to identify.

Spellcraft - (1d20+14)[24]

Then, moving to the south of Lilim, without entering the fog (and as the fog obscures sight beyong 5 feet, no need to fear an AoO from a giant Sorshen anyway, then entering rage, and hacking at the lizard. If the lizard seems to be living (or doesn't register as anything I know as immune to intimidate), I'll try to intimidate it instead, most probably getting a free attack as per Hurtful. In any case, power attack at

Intimidate - (1d20+28)[35]

Attack - (1d20+15)[25]
Damage - (1d12+22)[30]

[lostsole31]

R5T21: Lilim comes out of delay and goes full tilt on the critter. Her first strike disables it, the second drops it, and her bite definitely kills it, but being a low-lying quadruped, its death position is almost like it is simply laying on its belly, so it is easy to see why ......

R5T20: Seeing that no lizard could obviously be right at the end of the fog without being seen, go south of Lilim and finally stops mumbling, knows expressing her rage and hatred through her axe. "Rrrrraaaaaahh!"

The lizard (that Erima didn't realize Lilim already killed) is now beheaded. Erima doesn't seem to notice anything magically special about the dead lizard. Rezah delays...

R5T7: A massive shape is just visible inside the northern tip of the fog to the east when something gingerly steps out. It is "Sorshen" and she holds a treasure chest in her hand ... which she then throws at Lilim. The chest misses but lands at her feet. When it does so it bursts open. Instead of coinage or jewelry in the "treasure chest," it instead held a lot of rotting meet. It is a gut-wrenching smell, but one that The Scribe, Lilim, and Erima easily ignore.

R5T6.8: Rezah comes out of delay and moves forth to engage, all the while shouting divine imprecations at the monster and glowing slightly. The giant woman hits Rezah with a fist for 13, which doesn't slow him. It does, however, burn her hand with his holy spell for 9 fire. Meanwhile, Rezah smites the monster for 18 with his scimitar.

R5T6.5: Sinxia, what do you do?

Spoiler: Battle Map

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

[meemaas]

Seeing that the creature claiming to be Sorshen (seriously, she just needs to die at this point) is now visible, Sinxia will loose two arrows into it.

Spoiler

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Rapid Shot
Attack 1 (1d20+10)[22]
Damage (1d8+10)[17]
Attack 2 (1d20+10)[27]
Damage (1d8+10)[17]

[lostsole31]

R5T6: Sinxia takes a slight step to the east. Seeing that the creature claiming to be Sorshen (seriously, she just needs to die at this point) is now visible, Sinxia will loose two arrows into it, both landing for 34 total.

Spoiler: Sinxia

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I made you take a 5-foot step to get a clear shot (or even LOS).

Sinxia recognizes Sham-Sorshen as a cave giant. Obviously, that means it is a giant, a subtype of humanoid (with all that implies). Though not particularly religious, most cave giants worship pay homage to any god or demon that might oversee earthquakes and eruptions. Their priests are mostly barbarians and rangers, though a few divine spellcasters exist. The latter are often devoted to grand but futile schemes, such as freeing the Rough Beast or blotting out the sun. Obviously, that makes this a mystery as to why this cave giant would perceive herself as an ancient runelord ... and a runelord who was devoted to far less obvious shows of power, at that.

R5T6.5: The Scribe speeds northwards then east and south again before stabbing "Sorshen" with his ranseur for 14.

R5T6.1: Teofilo does similarly and shoots a perfect strike at "Sorshen" with an icicle for 19 cold! The giant is barely standing now.

R5T5: The other lizard (M2) finally emerges and nips Erima in her lower left arm for 5.

End Round 5, Begin Round 6 ...

R6T22: Fallon flies around and behind the lizard safely while getting out her rapier. Flanking with Lilim, she stabs it for 19.

R6T21: Lilim, it looks like the battle against "Sorshen" is well in hand, and you are currently flanking a lizard with Fallon. What do you do?

Spoiler: Battle Map

Show

Erima on deck, "Sorshen" in the hole ...

[PSinger]

Lilim maintains flank and delays. If it attacks her (doubtful because she's "on fire") then she'll drop delay and attack it. Otherwise, Erima might feel cheated from the false kill that Lilim already had, so she'll give it to Erima.

[silphael]

Erima steps toward Sorshen and hacks at it, hoping to go for a kill.

Spoiler: OOC

Show

5 foot step toward Sorshen, then full attack action. (Still raging, and power attack taken into account)

Attack 1 - (1d20+15)[27]

Damage 1 - (1d12+22)[24]

Attack 2 - (1d20+10)[11]

Damage 2 - (1d12+22)[23]

[lostsole31]

R6T21: Lilim maintains flank and delays. Erima might feel cheated from the false kill that Lilim already had, so she'll give it to Erima.

R6T20: Erima steps toward Sorshen by going into the sleet storm. She easily keeps her footing and begins raging with full power! Her first strike hits the false Sorshen through the storm for 24, and that is enough to bring her down. Erima continues her onslaught but misses because her hands slip due to ice. Meanwhile, "Sorshen" drops the sack at her side with those "treasure chests" that all split open and smell horrible., but nobody is sickened by it.

R6T6.8: No longer with an enemy to smite, Rezah carefully sidesteps the storm to confront the lizard. He slahes it for 6, though his second attack misses.

R6T6.5: Sinxia, you still hear that a battle is being fought against one of those lizards, but "Sorshen" has fallen. What do you do?

Spoiler: Battle Map

Show

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

[meemaas]

Sinxia will move to get a view of the lizard the others are fighting and fires a single arrow at it, a bright light exploding from the point of impact.

Spoiler

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Move action: Move to get line of sight on the surviving lizard.
Standard action: Blinding Ray

Attack roll (1d20+12)[17]
Damage (1d8+10)[18]
If successful, target is Blinded for (1d4)[1] rounds.

[lostsole31]

R6T6: Sinxia moves to get a view of the lizard the others are fighting and fires a single arrow at it, a bright light exploding from the point of impact, and finally laying it low.

Combat Ends ...

Lilim, do you stop the sleet storm?

What now?

[PSinger]

Spoiler

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Actually, Lilim can't stop the sleet storm. It doesn't have a "(D)" for dismissable, like create pit, so we have to wait for it to end. It should only last a couple more rounds at best.

Lilim lets folks know the sleet storm should end any second now, but she can't stop it once she casts it. She begins to look over the strange lizards. "So, what are these?"

[lostsole31]

"Monitor lizards," says the Scribe. "Strong ones, but that is all."

After the sleet storm ends and the hall is clear, the chests are checked. Five of the six chests carried rotting meat, that sicken those opening the chest. The sixth chest, however, still contains rotting meat, but also 20 tourmalines with a total value of 2,000 gp. The chests are all ruined, and no spell will help them, but the tourmalines can be washed off easily enough.

The party does a full check of the room (of course). It is Teofilo that discovers something on the back of the throne, an inscription in Thassilonian on a platinum plate that reads as follows:

“A gift for my Mistress Sorshen from her humble servant Ayandamahla, dedicated this celebrated day, the 25th anniversary of her ascension to rulership in Eurythnia.
"Present—Runelord Sorshen, Ayandamahla and her daughters Ashamintallu and Erixadallax, Lord & Lady of the Burning Bright, the Sisters of Charming & Delectation, and the Baron of Calamities, along with all slaves, servants, and supplicants in this, the Lady’s Light.
"May she reign unchallenged forever.”

Erima, whose strength is still boosted, is able to pry the plate off easily enough. It is worth 750 gp for its platinum content alone, but The Scribe figures that to a scholar who recognizes the names, it is worth 3,000 gp.

During study of this room, all spells will wear off the heroes. Rezah lays a hand on himself so he has but a scratch now. The only other person still wounded (post-rage) is Erima, and her wound is likewise superficial.

After an exhaustive check it is determined that there is no secret exit from this long hall and throne room. So, it is back to the stone platform overlooking the water to the north. Back into the boats the group go, and start skulling towards the west.

Spoiler: Recap of Who In What Boats

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"Very well. Erima, I, and Lilim will take one boat; Fallon, Rezah, and Sinxia will take the other. Teofilo, you'll guide us in flight."

[lostsole31]

My post was eaten. That said, both boats were attacked by 8 lacedon. With Teofilo and Rezah holy blasting, it was over before Erima or Lilim had a chance to act.

[PSinger]

Lilim keeps a weather eye as the group continues along the water.

[lostsole31]

After a bit, the lake constricts here to a width of thirty feet or so, the cave walls narrowing down to form a tunnel. The ceiling is thirty feet above, while numerous ledges line the walls at varying heights. Several of these ledges contain manacled humanoid bodies. The remains are in advanced stages of decomposition, and in many cases are no more than skeletons.

Two large creatures fly down towards the boat. They are bats of monstrous proportion, but even in the dim blue light of the cave crystals, you see that they cannot be alive - decaying flesh and eyes that smolder with an unholy green glow look down at you. They seem to see Erima (Sorshen) and they start to break off, uninterested.

Do you press combat? They are 30' away from the lead boat, 15' off the waterline.

[PSinger]

"Let's not waste resources on them .... Rezah," whispers Lilim first to all, and then more forcefully to the paladin. "No need to have them screeching and warning anyone else that we're here."

[silphael]

"Yeah, if they don't start to attack, for now we should keep pressing forward..."

Even if she says so, she seems ready to vent off her anger on those.

[lostsole31]

Rezah, however, begins to object. In doing so, however, The Scribe likewise tries to get the dumb half-orc to listen to reason.

Does Erima cave to Rezah, or help The Scribe in some way?

Spoiler: silphael

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Feel free to roll an appropriate interaction skill roll based on how you RP, or to try something else entirely.

[lostsole31]

Spoiler

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It just so happens in the opposed Diplomacy between The Scribe and Rezah was 1 point in Rezah's favor. Had Erima tried to calm Rezah down, the Aid another would have been automatic to not attacking the skavelings. Oh, well. XPs, right?

Surprise Round ...

Rezah just lets loose with a blast of holy energy that hits S1 and S2 for 10 PE.

Begin Round One ...

R1T30: "Whoop, there it is," mutters Sinxia, who is nearest to danger. Instead of shooting, she casts divine favor on herself.

R1T26: With incredible reflexes, S2 is ready for battle but does have a little bit of trouble doing a wingover and only just gets to the back of the rear boat (right by Sinxia).

R1T22: The Scribe drops the oars (which are in locks). "They have a terrifying screech, and commonly use a flyby, so beware!" he yells. He takes out his bow and fires at S1 and hits for 7.

R1T21: Fallon casts shield on herself and stands, balancing in her boat.

R1T17: S1 successfully performs a wingover, but having been a little further away only just gets to the lead boat behind Fallon.

R1T14: Rezah lets loose with another burst of divine energy (S1 takes 15 PE, S2 takes 6 PE). Dropping his oars, he then takes out his scimitar.

R1T13: Erima, what do you do? What can you do?

Spoiler: Battle Map

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[silphael]

Having few options, Erima takes her axe, and readies herself to strike as soon as the creature pass nearby.

[lostsole31]

R1T13: Having few options, Erima takes her axe, and readies herself to strike as soon as the creature pass nearby.

R1T12: Lilim, what do you do? You are being threatened by a ghoul-bat.

[PSinger]

Lilim defensively casts ice aegis on herself.

Spoiler

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Concentration (1d20+17)[26]

[lostsole31]

R1T12: Lilim defensively casts a spell on herself. Her body gets coated in a protective sheathe of ice.

R1T7: Teofilo easily hovers in place and lets loose with a burst of positive energy. Both skavelings resist (S1 takes only 4 PE, S2 takes 6 PE).

End Round One, Begin Round 2 ...

R2T30: "Be careful!" Sinxia shouts. "They possess a stunning shriek!"

She casts CLW successfully, but fails to touch her target ... the spell still on her hand.

R2T26: As if to prove her point for her, her opponent (S2) shrieks with a power that reaches all except Teofilo and Erima.

Lilim, roll a Fort save ...

[PSinger]

Spoiler: Fortissimo!

Show

Lilim's Fort Save (1d20+13)[28]