Aegis' Dungeoncrawler In-Character

[TheFallenOne]

"Not much of an answer," Solstafir said with a snort. He reached for his oil of magic weapon and gave the others a meaningful look. A voice without body might well be some kind of spectre. "Who are you and why do you want it." With no meaningful answer to his first querry he didn't expect one now either but tried to stall some seconds to prepare his weapon.

[Dread_Head]

"We aren't going to hand over a weapon when we don't know what your intentions are." Thanquil adds and seeing Solstafir readying himself and also preparing for a fight. He frantically scans the room trying to identify where the voice is coming from (Listen: (1d20+7)[13])

[QuadraticGish]

"Cover me, I'm gong to be distracted during this process." Orchid asks the group.

She stows her scythe away and brings out the blade the voices spoke of. She chants detect magic and begins pouring all of her attention onto the blade, in an attempt to hastily identify it or make it do something that would give away its functionality.

Spoiler: OOC

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Orchid will spend her rounds focusing Detect Magic on the sword and trying to discern what she can with spellcraft checks and Knowledge(Arcana) just in case there's some hedge case where the blade's design actually reveals something. I'm going to roll three spellcraft checks to try and learn from it as she gets more information from Detect Magic. As a last ditch effort, she'll try seeing if it will respond to Use Magic Device.
Spellcraft checks: 1st round: (1d20+11)[23] Second Round: (1d20+11)[16] Third round: (1d20+11)[22]
Arcana: (1d20+6)[12]
Use Magic Device (1d20+11)[12]

[Aegis013]

Thanquil pinpoints the position from where the voice came, from the center of the chamber (Thanquil knows the square the creature is in, but doesn't see it).

Orchid takes out the blade and sees a faint magical glow emphasizing the inscription.

"Yes. The blade. Give it to us." the voice whispers.

Detecting Magic, she recognizes the properties of the blade have changed. The blade now has a moderate evocation aura.

Knowledge arcana reveals nothing on the weapon itself, however, with the context Orchid does recall there was a master magical weapon smith named Xansia that harnessed a dangerous crafting technique discovered in the Dungeon.

"We must have the blade." it reiterates.

Attempting to activate the weapon seems to agitate the voice.

"Give it!" it quietly shrieks in a shrill whisper.

[QuadraticGish]

Orchid's eyes shoot wide open one she realizes that the aura on the blade completely changed.

"T-The aura changed! It wasn't evocation before!" Orchid halfway shouts in complete surprise.

"I think the weapon's effect changes based on the dungeon room! I don't think I can figure out what this does here right now, but the technique used to craft such a thing must be extraordinary!" the former maid says excitedly. Upon realizing how she sounds at the moment, she then take a deep breath and clears her throat.

"I don't think we should hand this over. I might be able to learn something that could help us in the long run. Would anyone like to try it out or should I put it away for the time?"

[TheFallenOne]

"Hand it to our former gnoll over there. If the weapon does something weird it shouldn't hurt us. Probably." Solstafir meanwhile had finished his preparations and his waraxe would for a minute remain enchanted. "Heard that? We're not giving you the sword. If you want to do something about it show yourself."

[Aegis013]

The voice exclaims, clearer and louder now: "If you will not give us the blade, we will take it!"

Suddenly, the weapon shimmers as its facade falls away revealing a blade forged from crystal, it hums sonorously as what appears to be an apparent illusory overlay casts over the foliage covered room. Tapestries unfurl down the walls and standing in the place where the voice was coming from is a human woman in finely crafted studded leather, her long auburn hair tied back.

While the woman appears to be corporeal, she is briefly seen gripping an illusory duplicate of the cyrstal great sword before the illusion leaves her hand. Her eyes clearly track the illusory sword as it moves into the place of its duplicate while she she quickly unfurls a whip that she takes from her belt, moving her boot a half step forward and she prepares to fight.

She looks like she may have once been a delver.

Initiative:
Baddies (1d20+8)[23]

Liselle (1d20+8)[11]
Solstafir (1d20+3)[19]
Thanquil (1d20+3)[6]
Orchid (1d20+3)[13]

Spoiler: Hidden rolls

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(1d20+23)[35]
(1d20+14)[18]
(1d20+13)[23]

(1d20+1)[2]
(1d20+1)[10]
(1d20-2)[6]
(1d20+2)[3]

[Aegis013]

With a loud crack, the woman sends her whip shooting towards the crystal weapon in the gnoll zombie's hands.

Disarm attempt against the gnoll zombie to take the crystal blade.
(1d20+14)[23] to disarm.
(1d20+7)[17] to resist by the gnoll.

If the disarm is successful the woman attempts to snatch the fallen object with the whip as a move equivalent action.
(1d20+10)[12].

She pulls the blade out of the gnoll's hands and her whip shoots out like lightning, another sharp crack as the whip strikes the blade and knocks it aside, the foliage swallowing it and hiding the weapon from view. She curses.

"The blade is mine!"

All players may act.

[TheFallenOne]

"Grab her!" Solstafir called out to his undead minion, commanding it to tackle the woman to prevent her from reaching the blade. His own axe lashed out in a vicious attack to batter aside her defenses and provide an opening to the others.

Spoiler

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Vanguard Strike
attack - (1d20+7)[13] slashing damage - (1d10+5)[13] miss low if incorporeal (1d100)[36]
If hit everyone receives +4 on their attack

Gnoll touch attack, provoking AoO Touch - (1d20+5)[14]
Grapple - (1d20+5)[6]
nonlethal damage - (1d3+4)[7]

[Dread_Head]

Thanquil casts Daze (DC 13) on the woman before moving to the side and readying his bow.

[QuadraticGish]

"I'm not letting you have it!" Orchid shouts.

Brings out a scroll from her pack, she begins reciting the words to activate Mass Snake's Swiftness.

Spoiler: OOC

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Move: Grab a scroll of Mass Snake's Swiftness.
Standard: Activate the scroll; UMD: (1d20+13)[18]

[whoiam]

"If her desperation is what the blade does to people, I don't think I'll be using it even after it's identified..." Liselle was a lot happier about charging into battle this time. True, an old Delver was probably way more dangerous than the carrion crawler. But she was significantly less creepy (at the moment), and that counted for something!

Spoiler

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Charge (+2 Attack, -2 AC)
Power Attack (-2 Attack, +4 Damage)
Child of Shadows (Concealment until the next turn)
Net Result: +4 Damage, -2 AC, Concealment

"Attack" - (1d20+7)[15]
"Crit Threat on a 26 or 27" - (1d20+7)[9]
"Damage" - (2d6+10)[18]
And no sneak attack this round.

[Aegis013]

The woman is unaffected by the Daze spell.

Orchid's scroll doesn't activate.

Sosltafir lashes out with his axe, but the woman nimbly evades.

Liselle comes charging, but the woman manages to avoid the attack.

In the chaos, the gnoll manages to lay a hand on the strange woman, attempting to hold her down.

Opposed grapple: (1d20+9)[19]

[Aegis013]

The woman shoves the zombie off of her, and unable to locate the blade among the foliage, curses and strikes out with whip against Liselle. Her whip snaps around striking twice in the blink of an eye.

The woman attacks Liselle in melee with a whip without provoking an attack of opportunity:
(1d20+10)[24] to hit
On a 30, (1d20+10)[27] to confirm

Second attack
(1d20+5)[10] to hit
On a 25, (1d20+5)[8] to confirm

Dealing:
(1d3+2)[4] slashing damage (it's actual damage, not subdual/nonlethal)
On a crit, it deals (1d3+2)[4] more.

(1d3+2)[3] slashing
On a crit, it deals (1d3+2)[4] more.


You each hear the twang of a bowstring from a side of the room.
Mysterious attacker fires a bolt at Orchid.
(1d20+7)[21] to hit flat-footed AC (hidden).

If it hits, it deals (1d4)[3] damage plus (2d6)[7] sneak attack damage.

The assailant attempts to move quietly through the foliage and regain the advantage of hiding.

Spoiler: Hide/Move Silently and passive perceptions

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Move Silently (1d20+11)[27]
Hide (1d20+3)[15] (including the -20 sniping penalty)

Spot:
Liselle: (1d20+1)[10]
Orchid: (1d20+1)[21]
Solstafir: (1d20-1)[11]
Thanquil: (1d20+2)[13]

Listen:
Liselle: (1d20+6)[25]
Orchid: (1d20+1)[18]
Solstafir: (1d20-1)[17]
Thanquil: (1d20+7)[12]

[Aegis013]

Concealment check for the whip attack that beat Liselle's AC: (misses on a 1, hits on 2-5) (1d5)[5].

The woman manages to strike Liselle once with the whip for 4 damage.
Orchid takes an unexpected crossbow bolt between the shoulder blades for 10 damage.

Orchid manages to identify a dastardly halfling hiding among the foliage. Orchid notices the halfling with a spent hand crossbow and a bolt in the other hand preparing to reload under a mottled cloak that's surprisingly hard to see.

Spoiler: Status and Conditions

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Liselle has taken 4 damage and has 19 HP remaining.
Orchid has taken 10 damage and has 16 HP remaining.

All players may act.

[Dread_Head]

Thanquil starts singing a song of old heroic victories to inspire his allies and mutters a quick spell to improve its effects.

Spoiler

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Casts Inspirational Boost, starts Inspire Courage everyone in the is granted a +2 morale bonus to attack rolls, damage rolls and saves against fear and charm effects.

[TheFallenOne]

With a curse upon seeing all of their attacks were fruitless Solstafir stubbornly kept up the assault, trying to focus the former Delver's attention on himself, moving to surround their enemy heedless of the opening he offered doing so.

Spoiler

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Move into flanking position with Liselle Tumble - (1d20+2)[22] DC 15
Leading the Attackattack - (1d20+10)[14] slashing damage - (1d10+6)[13]
if hit everyone else gets +4 on their attack

Gnoll tries to grapple again Touch - (1d20+6)[10]
Grapple - (1d20+5)[22]
nonlethal damage - (1d3+5)[8]

Keep in Mind Iron Guard's Glare, she is aware of the effect
*twitch* wish I got that Tumble roll on attack instead

[whoiam]

"What's so special about that damned sword anyway?" Not that Liselle would be expecting much information out of this person, even if she wasn't trying to slice her open in the same breath. But hey, you never know. She might be chattier in battle than she was in peace.

Spoiler

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Inspire Courage +2 Attack
Flanking +2 Attack
Power Attack -2 Attack / +4 damage
Sneak Attack 1d6
Shadow Blade Technique (roll 2 d20 for the attack and pick which one to use; if I pick the lower (or tied) die, I get +1d6 cold damage)

"Attack 1" - (1d20+9)[16]
"Attack 2" - (1d20+9)[21]

"Crit Confirmation" - (1d20+9)[12]

"Damage" - (2d6+10)[16]
"Sneak Attack" - (1d6)[1]
"Possible Cold Damage" - (1d6)[1]
Edit: I will take the higher die, so I do not get the cold damage.

[QuadraticGish]

Orchid cringes in pain as the bolt digs into her back. She turns around and notices her back biter.

"We've got an ankle biter behind us that's wearing a cloak matching the foilage! After we deal with the woman, we can just burn it all off to find him again!"

After notifying her teammates, she begins trying again to activate her scroll.

Spoiler: OOC

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Standard: Activate the scroll; UMD: (1d20+13)[23]

[whoiam]

Spoiler: Second Attack from Snake's Swiftness

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No Shadow Blade Technique this time, but everything else still applies. So +2 attack, +4 damage, and 1d6 sneak attack from the flank.

"Attack" - (1d20+9)[12]
"Crit Conf" - (1d20+9)[29]
"Damage" - (2d6+10)[16]
"Sneak Attack" - (1d6)[3]

[Aegis013]

Spoiler: Knowledges

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I'll go ahead and roll all those then

Bardic Knowledge: (1d20+14)[18]
Knowledge (Local): (1d20+14)[23]
Knowledge (Arcana): (1d8+3)[8]
Spellcraft: (1d8+3)[9]

Edit: Woah that's a good set of rolls

Gladly!

Solstafir (1d20+14)[18] (1d20+14)[23]
Zombie (1d8+3)[8] (1d8+3)[9]

Mind racing with information, Thanquil manages to recall the following with the additional information:

Kn: Local - The crafting technique Xansia utilized is considered dangerous and wrong by many. It forges powerful weapons but they come with a price. The curse is only active in the Dungeon, thus it's nearly impossible to detect or remove from the safety of Solum.

Kn: Arcana - You recognize the crystal great sword as a Crystal Echoblade. A weapon particularly powerful in the hands of a bard.

Bardic Knowledge: You recognize this previous Delver. Maybe five years ago, Zalania, a human woman with an incredible talent with a whip was scheduled for a personal assessment for training with one of your parents in the Royal Guard to see if they could help develop her abilities even further, but she was lost on a Delve. Based on the images you saw, this is who you're fighting and she hasn't aged a day.

Spellcraft: You recognize the tapestry illusions as a Silent Image manifested by the Dungeon, however, the woman is clearly real.

Putting all of this together, Thanquil's working theory is that the curse on Xansia's Crystal Echoblade is using the Dungeon's magic and mysterious properties to anchor Zalania's soul to the Dungeon and not allowing her to pass on and rest in peace until either she recovers the sword or is killed in the effort. Likely the tapestries are a reflection of Zalania's memory here. Wielding this weapon could result in the same fate should the wielder fall within the Dungeon.

Solstafir and zombie's attack on Mass Snake's Swiftness

Spoiler: From OOC thread

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Gladly!

Solstafir (1d20+14)[18] (1d20+14)[23]
Zombie (1d8+3)[8] (1d8+3)[9]

Liselle and Solstafir tear into the woman. She shrieks in pain, but she does respond to Liselle's question even in the heat of battle.
"It's mine! I need it!"

The gnoll zombie struggles to even touch her, despite her now being surrounded.

The woman is obviously nearing death's door. Blood spills down her body from her fresh wounds, but she fights undeterred by her apparent imminent demise.


The mysterious halfling assailant reloads his hand crossbow and remains hidden from view to everybody other than Orchid.


A new combatant charges out of a hiding spot among the illusory tapestries and foliage. A half orc, slightly smaller than most of his race with a broken tusk, and wearing twisted dark leather armor and wielding a finely honed longsword with an ornate handguard. He charges Solstafir, aiming to flank the dwarf between sword and whip.

The Half-orc charges Solstafir, attacking his flat-footed AC.
(1d20+14)[18] to hit
On a 31+, (1d20+14)[23] to confirm

Dealing (1d8+3)[8] damage.
On a critical hit, it deals (1d8+3)[9] more.

Even flat-footed, Solstafir avoids a direct hit.


The woman takes advantage of this and attempts to lash Solstafir twice.
1. (1d20+12)[31] to hit
On a 32, (1d20+12)[23] to confirm

2. (1d20+7)[11] to hit
On a 27, (1d20+7)[24] to confirm

If they hit they deal
1. (1d4+2)[3] damage, or on a critical hit (1d4+2)[3] more.
2. (1d4+2)[5] damage, or on a critical hit (1d4+2)[5] more.

One whip strike hits Solstafir, but fails to do more than smudge his armor.

[Aegis013]

Spoiler: From the OOC

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Enjoy your laugh.

I'll laugh so hard if this is another boss who ends up suiciding on my Mantle of Flame

Burn baby burn - (2d6)[6]

The woman takes 6 reciprocal fire damage from the Mantle of Flames, and falls unconscious.

Spoiler: Status and Conditions

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Liselle has taken 4 damage and has 19 HP remaining.
Orchid has taken 10 damage and has 16 HP remaining.

Whip Woman has taken 45 damage and is unconscious.

All players may act.

[Dread_Head]

Thanquil stops singing to shout out "Wait Zalania, we're delvers too, you don't have to fight us..." but tails off as she strikes Solstafir and is taken out by the reciprocal blast of flame.

"She used to be a delver, I knew I'd seen her before. I think she was trapped here as some sort of spirit. I don't know about the Half-Orc or the sniper though." Thanquil calls out to the party.

Figuring in the Dungeon it's better to take out threats and leave the mysteries for when weapons are no longer swinging Thanquil fires a pair of arrows at the Half Orc.

Spoiler

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Thanquil has stopped singing so Inspire Courage will only continue to apply for 5 more rounds.

Attack 1: (1d20+5)[22], (1d6+3)[4]
Attack 1: (1d20+5)[19], (1d6+3)[8]

[TheFallenOne]

"The only blade you need is one to the neck," Solstafir retorted, but before he could deliver Zalania's whip wrapped around him only for white flames to shoot along its length and take the woman out. The half-orc was luckier, his sword glancing off the ettin's former spine on the back of his exoskeleton without getting burned in return.

"Let the big hats sort them out if they're lucky enough to survive. There are probably laws against deboning a human woman so it's not like I can make a trophy from her anyway." His necrocarnum minion rounded the half-orc, surrounding the remaining visible foe to allow its master a more secure cut with the divine energy enveloping his axe.

Spoiler

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Zombie flanks and takes an AoO, AC 18(+4 effective from Iron Guard's Glare), DR 5 slashing and magic

Crusader's Strike
attack - (1d20+12)[15] slashing damage - (1d10+7)[8] 2 Flanking, 2 Inspire Courage, 1 Racial against orcs
If hit Orchid heals (1d6+2)[4]

Zombie attack
(1d20+7)[18] (1d6+4)[10]

[QuadraticGish]

"I have a way to figure out quite quickly if they're alive." With that said, Orchid reaches into her pack for a scroll of power word pain and looks at the halfing.

"Pain."

Spoiler: OOC

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Move: Grab a scroll of power word pain from her haversack
Standard: Activate the scroll; UMD: (1d20+13)[19]

[whoiam]

"You just get creepier every time you speak, don't you?" Liselle's reaction to Solstafir's musings appeared about half way between bemusement and nausea. But on the plus side, it didn't stop her moving around him to engage the Half-Orc assaulting him.

Spoiler

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Liselle rounding Solstafir should involve enough movement to give her Concealment again.

This round she'll be busting out the Steely Strike, and keeping up her 2 point Power Attacks. So a net +4 on the attack rolls (she's still under the effect of Inspire Courage as well), but no Sneak Attack and any enemy other than the Half Orc attacking her gets a +4 bonus on their attack rolls.

"Attack" - (1d20+11)[20]
"Crit Conf" - (1d20+11)[22] - on a 30 or 31
"Damage" - (2d6+10)[17]

[Aegis013]

The half orc takes his AoO against the zombie, attempting to slash the foul corpse with his fine long sword.
(1d20+10)[28] to hit.
If it hits, it deals (1d8+3)[4] damage.

He's then assailed by the group. Thanquil's two arrows find their mark.
Solstafir's axe slashes into the half-orc as the gnoll zombie slams into him.
Liselle cuts deep into the foe with her great sword.

The result is a bloody and severely wounded half orc warrior, surrounded and visibly desperate. He grasps his sword with both hands and swings twice against Liselle.

Orchid's scrolls continue being uncooperative.

First attack:
(1d5)[2] - on a 1, the attack is foiled by miss chance.
(1d20+10)[15] to hit
On a 29+ [/roll]1d20+10[/roll] to confirm

Dealing (1d8+4)[8] damage.
On a critical, it deals an additional (1d8+4)[6] damage.

Second attack:
(1d5)[2] - on a 1, the attack is foiled by miss chance.
(1d20+5)[18] to hit
On a 29+ [/roll]1d20+5[/roll] to confirm

Dealing (1d8+4)[11] damage.
On a critical, it deals an additional (1d8+4)[5] damage.



A new oily human in a dark cloak emerges from behind the cover of illusory tapestries and foliage. A short sword dripping with poison extends out of his cloak as he expertly goes for Liselle's vitals, seeking to surround his prey as expected of someone acting with such cowardly tactics.

Death Attack vs. Flat-footed AC:
(1d5)[5] - one a 1, the attack is foiled by miss chance.
(1d20+8)[22] to hit
On a 27+ (1d20+8)[13] to confirm.

If it hits it deals (1d6+2)[3] damage, plus (3d6)[10] sneak attack (can't sneak attack a target with concealment), plus Fort save DC 13 (Liselle's save (1d20+5)[13]) vs. Paralysis for (1d6+1)[5] rounds, and Fort save DC 14 (Liselle's save against poison (1d20+5)[9]) vs. (1d4)[3] strength damage from the poison.

The halfling eyes the new development before deciding who go after next.

[Aegis013]

The halfling attempts to snipe Thanquil, hoping to reduce the party's number further.

(1d20+7)[18] to hit vs. Flat-footed AC.
On a 27 (1d20+7)[25] to confirm.

Dealing (1d4)[2] damage plus (2d6)[11] sneak attack.
On a critical hit, it deals an extra (1d4)[1] damage.

Spoiler: Perception rolls

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(1d20+3)[8] hide with -20 sniping penalty
Move silently (1d20+11)[23]

Spots:
Solstafir (1d20+1)[10]
Orchid (1d20+1)[9]
Thanquil (1d20+2)[5]

Listens:
Solstafir (1d20+1)[15]
Orchid (1d20+1)[5]
Thanquil (1d20+7)[17]

The group hears the annoying twang of the bowstring, though Solstafir sees the halfling now and Thanquil hears him moving, the halfling is no longer hidden.

Its starting to look dicey. Thanquil is conscious but disabled.

Spoiler: Status and Conditions

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Liselle took 24 damage and is at -4 HP 14 damage and has 6 HP remaining and has taken 3 strength damage.
Thanquil took 13 damage and is at 0 HP.
Orchid is healed for 4 and has 20 HP remaining.

The half orc took 47 damage and is barely standing.

Players may act.

[Dread_Head]

Not wanting to waste his time drawing a scroll or wand, Thanquil casts Cure Minor Wounds to remove the imminent threat of death. Then he collapses to the ground, partly from the pain of his wound, partly for the added protection against further shots.

[whoiam]

"The Orc's yours!" For some reason, Liselle doesn't seem willing to leave her back to the person who just stabbed her. Instead, she'll attempt to dance around behind him in the hopes he'll be trapped between her and Solstafir once the Orc is down.

Spoiler

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"Tumble to move around the assassin without triggering AOOs" - (1d20+10)[22]
Liselle's circling around the assassin - just far enough to keep her concealment for another round.

Then once she's in place, Liselle forgoes a return stab (for now), in order to break out one of her other techniques - the Mighty Throw! Hoping the guy will end up between her and Solstafir for a return backstab is good, but tossing him on his arse in the correct place was more reliable.

Spoiler

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Since it's now a point higher than her Strength, Liselle will be using her Dex bonus for Mighty Throw.
"Melee Touch Attack" - (1d20+5)[6]
"Opposed Str or Dex Check" - (1d20+7)[17]
If Liselle wins the opposed check, the Assassin is knocked prone and relocated to a space between Liselle and Solstafir, so they can both make flanking AOOs when he tries standing up again...