Kingmaker [GM Battle Book]

[lostsole31]

This is my "battle book" for the solo Kingmaker game I am running for a player. If that player is you (digi), possibly because you found it by looking at "other posts by lostsole31," then you know you need to am-scray.

[lostsole31]

Just getting initiative out of the way ...

Spoiler: Battle Tracker

Show

Bandit #2: 17. (14:14).
Bandit #1: 17. (14:14).
Linzi: 15.
Happs Bydon: 14. (19:19).
Bandit #3: 17. (14:14).
Beltin: 10.
Lini: 7.
Sajan: 6.
Harrim: 5.

[lostsole31]

The bandits, surrounded, are all agog and flustered. One with a bow standing by Oleg, who says, rather unsurely, "Get .... get 'em!"

Begin Round One ...

R1T15: Linzi, who was up on the SW watchtower, appears right above the ladder going up to the rampart and shoots her crossbow at a bandit, hitting him in the back for 3.

R1T10: Beltin, you have a man on a horse that just got plinked by a small bolt right by you. What do you do?

Spoiler: Battle Tracker

Show

Linzi: 15. Unloaded.
Beltin: 10.
Bandit #2: 9. (14:14).
Bandit #1: 8. (14:14).
Lini: 7.
Sajan: 6.
Happs Bydon: 5. (19:19).
Harrim: 4.
Bandit #3: 3. (11:14).

[lostsole31]

R1T10: Beltin slashes at the man, trying to make an opening for Sajan to advance. The longsword bites deep into the man's back and side from below, right where Lini had shot him, and he falls off of his horse, unmoving. Sajan wasn't quite ready for the tactical advice, and he stares at Beltin, trying to take everything in.

R1T9: Meanwhile, the next bandit in line moves over to Sajan and from horseback and pins Sajan's right arm with a crit for 13! It is a grievous blow, but Sajan is still standing, and the bandit is still holding his weapon in Sajan right now.

R1T8: Then the third bandit moves up to Beltin and attacks, but misses.

R1T7: "Sajan!" Lini cries out in alarm. Instead of using her sling, she runs down the SE watchtower steps onto the rampart, and intones a spell with gestures. There is a strange, momentary warping of the air in front of hair before that warping stops.

R1T6: With Lini's voice, Sajan finally snaps out of his distraction. With the held shortsword still stuck in his arm, there is a sudden shimmering around Sajan, almost like heat, and some of the bits of the last snow start to evaporate to a light mist. He goes into some sort of martial stance, albeit with a gimped arm. He takes the temple sword he had in his right hand, to his left, and hacks at the man. The bandit uses the horse to good effect to dodge the first attack, but didn't expect such a quick reattack as Sajan cuts into his left lower leg for 9, the man screaming in pain from the awful blow.

R1T5: The bandit that seems to be the leader calls out, "Get those front men in a pincer maneuver against the gate-wall, he calls out," though it is unclear to Beltin what tactical benefit that might provide. He does a fast dismount, draws his bow, and shoots at the man that downed the first bandit. An arrow hits the gate behind Beltin.

R1T4: Harrim is heard intoning a spell before he comes around to face the leader. Harrim is carrying a heavy flail that has paint on it to look like a skull.

R1T3: The final bandit finally moves up to Beltin to attack with his short sword. It is a brilliant thrust from high ground .... or at least, brilliant for a man of meager talent and training, as the sword cannot penetrate Beltin's armor.

End Round One, Begin Round Two ...

R2T15: Lini reloads at the top of the ladder and then shoots at the one right below her (who is attacking Beltin), but her bolt gets deflected in his leather armor, even being fouled in his cold weather gear.

R2T10: Beltin, you are being pressed against the wall by a bandit on horseback. Normally that might suck, but you saw this guy give some of his best ... and still not penetrate your armor. What do you do?

Sajan's bandit on deck, Lini in the hole ...

Spoiler: Battle Tracker

Show

Linzi: 15. Unloaded.
Beltin: 10. Zeal activated (only for himself).
* Vigilant Keeper's Stance: Opps treat all sqs. you threaten as difiicult terrain, but chargeable. Whenever you hit opp w/ AOO, opp gains cursed til end of next turn.
Bandit #2: 9. (5:14). Sajan threatens.
Lini: 7. Shield til R21T7.
Sajan: 6.
Happs Bydon: 5. (19:19).
Harrim: 4.
Bandit #1: 3. (14:14).
Bandit #3: 2. (-3:14). DYING!!!

[lostsole31]

R2T10: Beltin does his best to keep the attacker on horseback off of him, while doing his best to cover Sajan. His longsword cuts deep into the man's left shoulder and into his lungs for 17 and knocking him down to the ground as well. Meanwhile, both horses of the men dropped scamper outside, away from the chaos.

R2T9: The bandit that was attacking Sajan, despite his great fortune on the first strike, isn't about to tangle with so dangerous an opponent. He tries to get away. He leaves his sword in Sajan's arm but Sajan takes his own temple sword and hits the man hard in the right hand as he retracts it for 9, disabling the man. As he maneuvers his horse around, Sajan attacks again, but wildly and almost loses his wind with the weapon in his arm. The horse and rider continue past Beltin, but Beltin - for the first time in his life - is in mortal combat. For all of his training, he has yet to kill or grant mercy, and his kinesthetics take over for morality in the split second while the enemy tries to slip past, but find that the area around the armored man must be muddier than remembered. He hits the man's swordhand - already devastated by Sajan - with a crit that hacks off the man's digits. The man falls backwards onto the ground as the horse continues out the gate.

R2T7: Lini jumps down the 10' from the platform, taking 6, before getting herself up. Normally a jump like that would break a man's back, and Lini is hurt, but she seems to whether it better than Beltin thought she might.

R2T6: Though there is one person yet on the field, Sajan looks to his arm and tries to pull the sword out, but can't.

R2T5: The bandit leader, now leading no one, realizes he and his were ambushed and outmatched. Failing a fast mount, he mounts normally, and then directs his mount to ride past Beltin, who is already pre-occupied with the last man he dropped. What he doesn't expect, however, is that the dark-skinned foreigner would be able to attack him on his way out, having likewise gotten in two parting shots on a man already. The strange stance Sajan is in allows him to deceptively maximize lines of attack to strike from reach. The curved sword smacks hard against the bandit leader's leather armor, just barely keeping it from touching the flesh underneath as the man's horse bolts past Sajan and Beltin and out the gate towards the south.

R2T4: Harrim strolls up to the first man Beltin had dropped, gathering some sort of strength, brings his heavy flail down on the man's upper torso with a sickeningly wet crunch for 14.

End Round 2, Begin Round 3 ...

R3T15: Linzi loads her crossbow, and then fires after the bandit leader, hitting him in the back for 5. "That'll give him a good scar to remind him!" she calls down from the rampart.

R3T10: Beltin (full of zeal), the bandit leader is 30' down the road. Do you let him go, or give chase/ charge?

Lini on deck, Sajan in the hole ...

Spoiler: Battle Tracker

Show

Linzi: 15. Unloaded.
Beltin: 10. Zeal activated (only for himself). PA.
* Vigilant Keeper's Stance: Opps treat all sqs. you threaten as difiicult terrain, but chargeable. Whenever you hit opp w/ AOO, opp gains cursed til end of next turn.
Lini: 7. Shield til R21T7.
Sajan: 6. +2 AC til R3T10.
* Weapon Stuck in his right arm: A DC 20 Heal check or DC 15 Strength check removes the weapon or projectile, allowing mobility.
Happs Bydon: 5. (19:19).
Harrim: 4.
Bandit #3: 2. (-4:14). DYING!!!

[lostsole31]

R3T10: Beltin did his best not to swear as the rider flew past him. He'd been hoping to prevent any of them from escaping and warning the rest of their ilk. He turns to face the fleeing individual and shouted "Stop that man!"

Or at least, that was the plan. Something strange happened as he pointed, though, as a bolt of lightning projected itself from his extended hand. As it arced to the fleeing man, he felt drained in a way he didn't quite understand. Though really, of all the strange things that had happened in the last few days, feeling oddly drained after firing lightning from your hand didn't really seem to be all that important.

Apparently, Beltin followed his own orders, as the man, his horse, and another unfortunate horse take a fall.

R3T7: Lini steps over and tends to Sajan's arm, proving to be a good battlefield medic as she takes out the shortsword carefully with no further injury.

R3T6: "Thank you, Lini," says Sajan. "I think they are all down. Beltin, what was that?!"

R3T4: Harrim steps over to the man with the mangled hand and crushes his skull with his flail.

End Round 3, Begin Round 4 ...

R4T15: Linzi reloads her crossbow and looks about, even as the one untouched horse goes into a full gallop and disappears on the forest road.

R4T10: Beltin, you no longer have zeal or are in power attack, but vigilant keeper's stance. You do not see any active enemies in sight. What do you do?

Lini on deck, Sajan in the hole ...

Spoiler: Battle Tracker

Show

Linzi: 15. Unloaded.
Beltin: 10.
* Vigilant Keeper's Stance: Opps treat all sqs. you threaten as difiicult terrain, but chargeable. Whenever you hit opp w/ AOO, opp gains cursed til end of next turn.
Lini: 7. Shield til R21T7.
Sajan: 6. +2 AC til R3T10.
Harrim: 4.
Bandit #3: 2. (-4:14). STABLE!

[lostsole31]

R4T10: Beltin lets the horse go; it may end up running back home, but it couldn't give details of the who or what stopped the bandit party like a returning bandit could. After scanning for more enemies, he goes to check on his compatriots.

R4T7: "The battle is over," says Lini to Beltin. Then, back to her patient she says, "With that, I need to keep my precious healing potion for emergencies. I'll go out and look for berries for you and tend to your wound. Your own bedrest as of now, Sajan."

R4T6: Sajan nods and says, "I still saw you cast magic, though. I did not recognize the spell, though."

R4T4: Because of the battle, Beltin hadn't really noticed Harrim saying anything, but with things quieting down now, with his final coup de grace Beltin hears Harrim muttering a short benediction about "all things to their end." And with another swing, the last bandit's head is crushed.

Combat Ends ...

All that remains is to check on the leader.

Spoiler: Battle Tracker

Show

Linzi: 15. Unloaded.
Beltin: 10.
* Vigilant Keeper's Stance: Opps treat all sqs. you threaten as difiicult terrain, but chargeable. Whenever you hit opp w/ AOO, opp gains cursed til end of next turn.
Lini: 7. Shield til R21T7.
Sajan: 6. +2 AC til R3T10.
Harrim: 4.
Bandit #3: 2. (-4:14). STABLE!

[lostsole31]

TRAVEL TEMPLATE FOR COLD EXPLOSURE

First Hour: DC 15.
Second Hour: DC 16.
Third Hour: DC 17.
Fourth Hour: DC 18.
Break Hour One (Reset).
Bresk Hour Two (Reset).
Fifth Hour: DC 19.
Sixth Hour: DC 20.
Seventh Hour: DC 21.
Eighth Hour: DC 22.

Beltin: x.
* Beltin's Horse: x. (22:22).
Harrim: x.
* Harrim's Horse: x. (22:22).
Lini: x.
* Lini's Pony: x. (20:20).
Linzi: x.
* Linzi's Pony: x. (20:20).
Sajan: x.
* Sajan's Horse: x. (22:22).
Droogami: x.

[lostsole31]

Toilday, 2 Pharast 4710 AR ...

First Hour: DC 15. Linzi (1 NL). Lini-P (5 NL).
Second Hour: DC 16. Sajan-H (5 NL).
Third Hour: DC 17. Linzi (3 NL). Lini-P (1 NL).
Fourth Hour: DC 18. Harrim (5 NL). Sajan (3 NL). Har-H (6 NL). Lini-P (1 NL). Sajan-H (1 NL).
Break Hour One (Reset).
Bresk Hour Two (Reset).
Fifth Hour: DC 15. Beltin-H (4 NL). Lini-P (3 NL). Linzi-P (4 NL).
Sixth Hour: DC 16. Sajan (3 NL). Sajan-H (4 NL).
Seventh Hour: DC 17. Beltin actually suffers 1 mod NL. Beltin-P (2 NL). Harrim (1 NL). Lini-P (1 NL).
Eighth Hour: DC 18. Harrim (3 NL). Lini-P (6 NL). Linzi (4 NL). Linzi-P (2 NL). Sajan (5 NL).

Beltin: x.
* Beltin's Horse: x. (22:22).
Harrim: x
* Harrim's Horse: x. (22:22).
Lini: x.
* Lini's Pony: x. (20:20).
Linzi: x.
* Linzi's Pony: x. (20:20).
Sajan: x.
* Sajan's Horse: x. (22:22).
Droogami: x.

[lostsole31]

Round One ...

R1T15: Linzi grabs her crossbow and bolt case.

R1T14: Beltin, what do you do?

Spoiler: Battle Tracker

Show

Linzi: 15.
Sajan: 14.
Beltin: 12.
Harrim: 12.
Critter: 8. (36:36).
Lini: 4.

[lostsole31]

R1T14: Beltin actually covers his face for a moment, incredibly embarrassed at his complete botch of an attempt to help. However, his sudden outburst might have caused bigger problems, so he scans the horizon to see what, if anything, would decide to pay the source of the noise a visit. Other than Lini and the critter .... and the others back at camp 35' from you ... Beltin doesn't see anything else. Yet.

R1T13-12: Sajan grabs his temple sword and moves forward to investigate, the burning firebrand still in his other hand. Harrim comes with him. They both end their movement 15' behind Beltin.

R1T8: The critter, already spooks, launches at the small, defenseless meal 10' in front of it (Lini). It gnoshes on Lini's head for 9, with Lini screaming in pain.

R1T4: Lini shouts, "Droogami, <small-cat yowl>!" She takes out her sickle and tries to attack, but ends up nipping her own belly with the point, and she staggers back five feet.

R1T3: Droogami rushes up past Lini and interposes itself between the critter and her master.

End Round One, Begin Round 2 ...

R2T15: Lini moves forward 30', ending right behind Beltin. "A brush thylacine!" she gasps. "Bigger marsupial than normal, smaller ones. Hey, guys, did you hear about Ulrich the Alone, who once fought one of these!"

And in she begins to tell a story about a hero fighting one of these. At first it is clear you could never have heard of such an ersatz hero, because she is obviously improvising than telling a real story. No, the real power is that she tells jokes about a ridiculous failure that accidentally killed one, and his terrible decisions make the allies feel better.

R2T14: Beltin, you are 10' from the "thylacine." What do you do?

Sajan on deck, Harrim in the hole ...

Spoiler: Battle Tracker

Show

HEROES: +1 circumstance bonus on attack rolls, weapon damage rolls, and +1 morale bonus on saves vs. charm/ fear.
Linzi: 15. Bardic Performance (inspire courage)!
Beltin: 14.
Sajan: 13.
Harrim: 12.
Critter: 8. (36:36).
Lini: 4. 2 STR BLEED!! Heal DC 20 stops STR bleed. Rest/ recuperation heals it.
Droogami: 3.

[lostsole31]

R2T14: Beltin draws his blade and motions with his hand. If he had this thing figured out right, he should hit this thing with more lightning. This time, however, he doesn't put so much focus (i.e., indignant rage) into it as the other day and lets loose. He is more careful with the application this time as well, the lightning arcing over Droogami's head and flank to hit the brush thylacine mid-flank for 11 NL.

R2T13: Sajan knows a battle is on and moves up on the other side of Droogami while in the same dance-like movements as when he fought bandits the other day. He stands back 10' from the thylacine, torch in hand to now make it easier for himself, Lini, and Linzi to fight. Even from that distance, he attacks with the temple sword and somehow reaches over the distance, striking the critter on the other flank for 11.

R2T12: Harrim sees Lini's distress and goes up to her. "Tell me how I may help."

R2T8: The thylacine attacks Droogami, but the snow leopard is smaller and much faster.

R2T4-3.5: Lini steps back another five feet after taking 2 STR BLEED, her pericardial sack having been ruptured. She tells Harrim what he needs to do to help her. Her abdomen is still bleeding even after their first attempt.

R2T3: Droogami counterattacks. She bites for 5, but her claws find no purchase.

End Round 2, Begin Round 3 ...

R3T15: Linzi continues her tale, stepping to the outside of Beltin and shooting her crossbow, and missing. She reloads.

R3T14: Beltin, what do you do?

Sajan on deck, thylacine in the hole ...

Spoiler: Battle Tracker

Show

HEROES: +1 circumstance bonus on attack rolls, weapon damage rolls, and +1 morale bonus on saves vs. charm/ fear.
Linzi: 15. Bardic Performance (inspire courage)!
Beltin: 14.
Sajan: 13.
Critter: 8. (16:36, 11 NL).
Harrim: 3.9.
Lini: 3.5. 2 STR BLEED!! Heal DC 20 stops STR bleed. Rest/ recuperation heals it.
Droogami: 3.

[lostsole31]

R3T14-3.5: Sword now fully drawn, Beltin rushes forward and slices at the beast with his sword, hoping to knock it off guard. He does better than that, though, knocking the beast down after doing 19. Sajan immediately steps back to look at Lini's terrible puncture wound. He drops sword and brand to the side, but enough to give light, and assists in the rescue effort. It still isn't enough, and Lini takes another 2 STR BLEED!!!

R3T3: Droogami savages the unconscious thylacine (now dead).

End Round 3, Begin Round 4 ...

R4T15:Linzi stops her performance. She moves over to Lini and takes out her healing potion, but Lini tells her that it won't be enough for this type of wound.

R4T14: Beltin, the thylacine is down, and you are seeing the monk and priest tend to the druid's badly bleeding torso. It is a hideous wound, and you don't understand why Lini wouldn't take the healing potion to stop the bleeding. What do you do, if anything?

Spoiler: Battle Tracker

Show

HEROES: +1 circumstance bonus on attack rolls, weapon damage rolls, and +1 morale bonus on saves vs. charm/ fear.
Linzi: 15. Bardic Performance (inspire courage)!
Beltin: 14.
Sajan: 13.
Critter: 8. (-3:36, 11 NL).
Harrim: 3.9.
Lini: 3.5. 2 STR BLEED!! Heal DC 20 stops STR bleed. Rest/ recuperation heals it.
Droogami: 3.

[lostsole31]

R4T14: Beltin knelt next to the injured druid. He wanted to do something, anything to help. He put his hand on her shoulder; hoping he could magic something up. That is when he realized .... he never added any of his companions to his collective!

Spoiler: Collective

Show

And you better be clear in mentioning what you're going to do when you do, because people don't have psi-directional sense or an "caller ID" to know what is happening, and so would naturally resist mental intrusion.

It is okay, though, because this time - even though Lini still ends up taking another 2 STR BLEED, with the help of Sajan and Harrim she is finally able to stop the hemorrhaging.

Initiative Tracker Ends ...

Spoiler: Battle Tracker

Show

HEROES: +1 circumstance bonus on attack rolls, weapon damage rolls, and +1 morale bonus on saves vs. charm/ fear.
Linzi: 15. Bardic Performance (inspire courage)!
Beltin: 14.
Sajan: 13.
Harrim: 3.9.
Lini: 3.5. 2 STR BLEED!! Heal DC 20 stops STR bleed. Rest/ recuperation heals it.
Droogami: 3.

[lostsole31]

Surprise: Something the size of a pony bursts forth from the ground and clacks at Beltin from his right before disappearing to the right again.

Begin Round One ...

R1T18-12: Lini's droogami-mammoth rises up on two legs and trumpets in surprise before slamming down again, but otherwise waits for Lini to give it an order. Which she does, pointing to a slightly raised something on the ground and making a cute gnome-trumpets-like-mammoth sound. The mammoth rears again as if it understands her.

R1T10: Beltin, it must have been the fatigue, because you normally acquit yourself as being very alert, and this was a complete surprise. Looking to the right of you, there is a section of ground recently disturbed that you now barely note .. a section of ground big enough for a medium creature, but bound with webs and covered over with refuse and dirt. What do you do?

Spoiler: Battle Tracker

Show

Droogami (mammoth): 18. DELAYING!!
Lini: 12.
Spider: 11. Won't threaten til R4T11.
Beltin: 10. Fatigued (Poor sleep).
Sajan: 9.

[lostsole31]

R1T10: Beltin draws his longsword (the physical one, not the one made of akashic energy), bringing it into a guarded position. He takes a harrowing stance and readies himself to strike.

R1T9: Sajan moves over to the area while drawing out his temple swords and slashes at the ground, tearing apart the trap door made of webs and debris. "There's a tunnel here!"

End Round 1, Begin Round 2 ...

R2T12: Lini says something in Mammoth to the creature.

Spoiler: Beltin

Show

I forgot to mention it on your turn, sorry! But Beltin UNDERSTANDS what Lini says when she speaks, er, Mammoth! She just told the Mammoth to guard.

Lini goes over to the trap door and says, "I think I see something in the tunnel there. It is at an angle, and we could go down."

R2T10: Beltin, what do you do? Whatever tried (and failed) to attack you hasn't attacked again in several seconds.

Sajan on deck, Lini in the hole ...

Spoiler: Battle Tracker

Show

Droogami (mammoth): 18. GUARDING!!!
Lini: 12.
Spider: 11. Won't threaten til R4T11.
Beltin: 10. Fatigued (Poor sleep). READIED strike of the infinite protector. Vigilant keeper's stance.
* Also ... I also use Warning Roar if either of my teammates are attacked, and if they get hit, I will take the damage for them and spend PP to mitigate it. Remember, no matter how much PP I spend to mitigate it, it deals at least 1 damage to me, so keep that in mind when it comes to PP usage.
Sajan: 9.

[lostsole31]

R2T10: Beltin seemed to argue with himself for a second before going to the tunnel "Keep your eye out!" he says as he begins to descend. "It probably has other exits."

Beltin looks into the hole. It is a 5-foot-diameter, 25-foot-deep shaft (slight decline, so it is still a climb). There is thick webbing along the walls that might make it easier for someone who is a climber to relatively easily clamber up and down the shaft. 10' down the shaft, there is a very large spider looking up at Beltin.

R2T9: Sajan looks down, the sky giving light to the shaft below. He chucks down two curious throwing items. They are shaped like metal stars. One of the things hits for 6.

End Round 2, Begin Round 3 ...

R3T12: "Giant trapdoor spider," Lini says, her eyes having adjusted. "The poison is a paralytic."

She walks over to the mammoth and says, "You boys have this, but you might want to ready attacks, since they dart back and forth quickly."

R3T11: The spider clacks and chitters menacingly, but doesn't attack.

R3T10: Beltin, what do you do?

Sajan on deck, Lini in the hole ...

Spoiler: Battle Tracker

Show

Lini: 12.
Spider: 11. (21:27). Won't threaten til R4T11.
Beltin: 10. Fatigued (Poor sleep). Vigilant keeper's stance.
* Also ... I also use Warning Roar if either of my teammates are attacked, and if they get hit, I will take the damage for them and spend PP to mitigate it. Remember, no matter how much PP I spend to mitigate it, it deals at least 1 damage to me, so keep that in mind when it comes to PP usage.
Sajan: 9. DELAYING!!!

[lostsole31]

R3T10: Rather than risk heading down into the burrow, he summons his might and shoots it with lightning, but he spider is quick and dodges.

R3T9: Sajan goes into a stance similar to what you've seen before. Even though he is punching down, somehow his fist makes it all the way down to the big spider to strike it for 9.

End Round 3, Begin Round 4 ...

R4T11: The spider zooms up to bite at Sajan this time, and gets him in the belly for 6. Beltin hears him mutter something quickly in an unknown language.

R4T10: Beltin, what do you do?

Sajan on deck, spider in the hole...

Spoiler: Battle Tracker

Show

Lini: 12.
Spider: 11. (12:27). Won't threaten til R4T11.
Beltin: 10. Fatigued (Poor sleep). Vigilant keeper's stance.
* Also ... I also use Warning Roar if either of my teammates are attacked, and if they get hit, I will take the damage for them and spend PP to mitigate it. Remember, no matter how much PP I spend to mitigate it, it deals at least 1 damage to me, so keep that in mind when it comes to PP usage.
Sajan: 9.

[lostsole31]

Surprise!

Something shocks Sajan for 9 electricity, causing him to cry out!

Round One ...

R1T25: The thing which now appears shocks Sajan for 10 electricity, before disappearing.

R1T18: "Help! Wake up! I am badly wounded! Help!" calls Sajan, his words being heard clearly since his first cry roused everyone.

R1T16: Lini jumps up, grabbing her spell component pouch. "Sajan! What happened?!" she says in terror as she sees that Sajan is badly wounded.

R1T6: Beltin, you wake up to a man crying out in pain. Then you heard the above. What do you do?

Bogey on deck, Sajan in the hole ...

Spoiler: Battle Tracker

Show

Will-o-Wisp: 25. (72:72).
Sajan: 18.
Lini: 16.
Beltin: 6.

[lostsole31]

R1T6: Beltin leaps to his feet. Without his armor, he was more at risk, but there was no time to lose. He decided that he couldn't risk Sajan taking another hit, so he made sure to get him back into the collective rather than draw his sword. He then scanned the horizon, looking for the foe or foes responsible for this attack, but sees none.

End Round One, Begin Round 2 ...

R2T25: There is a loud crack of electricity as something scores a Perfect Strike with a "severe" ciritical against Sajan on his left upper arm. Because Beltin didn't see the attack, he couldn't provide his first defense, but as Sajan's body entirely lights up with electricity, Beltin tries to take on that pain to himself. Sajan takes 13 electricity; Beltin spends 5 PP, and still ends up taking 10 electricity (which totally bypasses his own resistance). Sajan still falls from his wounds, but at least Beltin saved his life.

Beltin sees a faintly glowing sphere very briefly next to Sajan's arm before it winks out of existence again.

R2T16: Lini realizes her spells are exhausted, so takes a potion out of her pack and steps over to Sajan (a 5' step), and then administers the potion for 4 healing ... enough to stabilize the monk.

R2T6: Beltin, what do you do?

Spoiler: Battle Tracker

Show

Will-o-Wisp: 25. (72:72).
Sajan: 18. STABLE!!!
Lini: 16.
Beltin: 6.

[lostsole31]

R2T6: Beltin summons his sword and steps over the fallen monk. He brings it up, doing his best to protect his allies from the still non-visible threat. He prepares himself mentally for a defense for himself or others, but having seen the ease with which this glowing ball of light goes in-and-out of invisibility while attacking, he is not very hopeful that he will be able to use it.

End Round 2, Begin Round 3 ...

R3T25: The ball of light appears above Lini (adjacent/above Beltin), touching Beltin for 6 mod electricity before disappearing.

R3T16: Lini steps over to her pack and takes out a couple of berries.

R3T6: Beltin, what do you do? I am sure it got quite the surprise when/ if it realized that it didn't hurt you quite as much as it could have.

Spoiler: Battle Tracker

Show

Will-o-Wisp: 25. (72:72).
Sajan: 18. STABLE!!!
Lini: 16.
Beltin: 6.

[lostsole31]

R3T6: Beltin realized that with this thing darting in and out of visibility, his best bet was to counter-attack. doing his best to interpose himself between it and Lini.

End Round 3, Begin Round 4 ...

R4T25: The thing shocks Lini in the chest for 11 electricity, and Beltin now has a target and attacks it but misses wildly, and ends up getting his foot. The electricity gives him a jolt, but the edge of the word inflicts (1 bleed). It goes invisible.

R4T16: Lini takes the two berries into her mouth for 2 healing. She then defensively casts shield on herself.

End Round 4, Begin Round 5 ...

R5T25: The witchlight proves that it is a depraved, evil creature as Sajan is shocked with electricity, but Beltin takes it all on himself for 3 PP and 1 electricity. It then goes invisible.

R5T22: Beltin, 1 bleed. What do you do? If you are confident that you're waving sword pattern is forcing it to be more careful, than hopefully it couldn't 5-foot-move from where it was. What do you do?

Spoiler: Battle Tracker

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Will-o-Wisp: 25. (72:72). Invisible.
Beltin: 22. 1 BLEED (DC 20 Heal check only stops blood loss)!!!
Sajan: 18. STABLE!!!
Lini: 16.

[lostsole31]

R5T22: Beltin curses at himself for missing and for the pain, but redoubles his efforts to protect his friends. He briefly considers attacking where it last appeared, but he felt he had a better shot trying to counterattack in the brief window where it was visible. He shouts at Lini "Any ideas on how to kill this thing would be very helpful right about now!"

R5T16: Lini has a level of desperation about her as she shakes her head. "I-I don't even know what it is!"

She takes a 5' step away, and begins casting a spell as defensively as she can, but she fails.

End Round 5, Begin Round 6 ...

R6T25-24: The thing hits Beltin with 3 mod electricity as it winks into view. Beltin reacts by leveling his hand at it to blast it, but just as he does so it counters with an AOO - with Beltin roaring at it to thow it off - yet it hit him with a jolt of electricity that is so focused that it goes into his stomach and Beltin feels energy lodge itself into his spine for 18 mod electricity + 2 bleed. Beltin then takes 2 bleed as he shoots at the ridiculously fast thing with his aim thrown off. It then tries to zoom past Beltin but he gets in some of his own with a crit on it for 17! It finishes its movement, right in-between Beltin and Linzi (and Sajan), and is visible. It is this Small-sized (so, in actually, larger than you'd think) glowing ball of light. You almost think you see a skull-like face in there. In a buzzing, rapidly vibrating Taldane you hear "You will pay for that with your fear!"

R6T16: Lini steps back 5' so as not to be jackslapped and grabs her sickle out of her pack.

End Round 6, Begin Round 7 ...

R7T25: It doesn't bother with small fry. You actually hurt this thing and now it has murderous eye-looking things from inside the glowing ball focused on Beltin. It shocks Beltin in the left shin for 1 mod electricity (lol). It does not go invisible, its rage overriding its good sense (if it has any).

R7T24: Beltin, you take 2 bleed. What do you do? Lini moved away from a flank, though that might be a lifesaver for her, and is no longer threatened (you think).

Spoiler: Battle Tracker

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Will-o-Wisp: 25. (55:72).
Beltin: 24. 2 BLEED (DC 20 Heal check only stops blood loss)!!!
* Warning Roar if they attack me or an ally, use martyrdom to take damage if possible.
Sajan: 18. STABLE!!!
Lini: 16.

[lostsole31]

R7T24: Beltin shouted back "You will not have them!" he tightened his grip onto his sword with both hands and slashed at the thing, his sword crackling with the strange energy. But for all of his heroism, he learns two terrible things: this thing is unbelievably fast, and some sort of field surrounds it as that field knocks Beltin's blade aside, the planar detonation being released harmlessly.

R7T16: Lini begins casting a spell, this time with better focus.

R7T25: Beltin's words seem to bring it out of a rage and with a faint, barely visible smile it buzzes, "I shall have them, and you shall watch helplessly!" It just .... barely .... acrobatically moves five feet away from Beltin to attack Lini, a shock going to her head which Beltin totally takes to himself (keeping Lini from wasting her spell) as she takes no damage, and Beltin takes 4 PP + 1 electricity.

R7T24: Beltin, you take 2 BLEED. What do you do? Since she has her sickle out, if you step up you will be flanking the thing.

Spoiler: Battle Tracker

Show

Will-o-Wisp: 25. (55:72).
Beltin: 24. 2 BLEED (DC 20 Heal check only stops blood loss)!!!
* Warning Roar if they attack me or an ally, use martyrdom to take damage if possible.
Sajan: 18. STABLE!!!
Lini: 16.

[lostsole31]

R7T24: Beltin pulled back on his sword, taking a step forward to get into position for a massive downward slice. "אמרתי שלא יהיה לך אותם! התחל עכשיו!" he shouted in Celestial, preparing to strike again, but again his sword is thrown off by a powerful deflection field. It isn't helpful now, but it is possible that whatever arcane forces it has could be setting up a countering electromagnetic field against his lightning, but without proof, this is the best Beltin has.

R7T16: Lini finishes her spell. A little trickle of blood flow out of her nose, showing how tapped she is magically as she steps back and says something to a large beetle that appears. The beetle tries to snap at the thing but fails miserably.

End Round 7, Begin Round 8 ...

R8T25: "I will tear your toys from you, little girl!" it says as it destroys the beetle in a single jolt of electricity that causes it to disappear. It turns invisible.

R8T24: Beltin, you take 2 bleed. What do you do? Lini moved back, so you are no longer flanking (assuming it is still right in front of you.

Spoiler: Battle Tracker

Show

Will-o-Wisp: 25. (55:72). Invisible.
Beltin: 24. 2 BLEED (DC 20 Heal check only stops blood loss)!!!
* Warning Roar if they attack me or an ally, use martyrdom to take damage if possible.
Sajan: 18. STABLE!!!
Lini: 16.

[lostsole31]

R8T24: "Lini," Beltin said, trying to keep an eye for when the beast would return. "There are some potions in my bag. Get me one of the green ones" He did his best to cover her exit, but she wasn't doing much at the moment and that would be helpful.

R8T16: Lini can reach the pack from where she is w/o provoking an AOO (if it is still there). She is successful, and even manages to go around the side .... still 10' from Beltin, but to his left. He need only take a 5' step and spend a MA to grab "one of the green ones."

End Round 8, Begin Round 9 ...

R9T25-24: Beltin doesn't even quite sense where it happened first. He hears the shock, senses trauma and immediately takes it into himself as he once again saves Sajan by spending 3 PP + 1 electricity. He has a pounding headache but doesn't even think about it and just turns and lets loose with pure power from Elysium to nail it solidly for 25! Beltin takes 2 bleed. He is slowly bleeding out and his head is pounding.

R9T16: Lini steps up and puts the potion right in Beltin's hand.

End Round 9, Begin Round 10 ...

R10T25: The disco ball from the abyss zaps at Sajan again and Beltin gives a great shout and it misses! The thing moves slightly erratically now before going invisible. Unfortunately, with Beltin being 10' from Sajan now, he can't quite slow down the thing like before.

R10T24: Beltin suffers another 2 bleed. What does he do? (SA to drink potion.)

Spoiler: Battle Tracker

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Will-o-Wisp: 25. (30:72). Invisible.
Beltin: 24. 2 BLEED (DC 20 Heal check only stops blood loss)!!!
* Warning Roar if they attack me or an ally, use martyrdom to take damage if possible.
Sajan: 18. STABLE!!!
Lini: 16.

[lostsole31]

R10T24: Beltin drinks the potion, one of the five healing potions he had brought for just such an occasion. He's nowhere near back to full health (6 healing), but that at least staunched his bleeding wound. He continues his defenses, waiting for an opportunity.

R10T16: Lini carefully steps over to Beltin, and is not molested on her approach as she stands under the thews of her desperately flagging protector.

End Round 10, Begin Round 11 ...

R11T25: For two rounds in a row, the unbelievable happens ... Sajan is untouched. Beltin's moving sword (because he can't just stand there and magic-make the area difficult terrain against a flyer) just happens to bip the thing totally coincidentally as it was attacking Sajan and missed again! It turns invisible, and likely is exactly where it was before just above head height, and directly above Sajan, so adjacent-high to Beltin).

R1T24: Beltin, what do you do?

Spoiler: Battle Tracker

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Will-o-Wisp: 25. (30:72). DEAFENED!!! Invisible.
Beltin: 24.
* Warning Roar if they attack me or an ally, use martyrdom to take damage if possible.
Sajan: 18. STABLE!!!
Lini: 16.

[lostsole31]

R11T24: Beltin takes an educated guess as to where the thing was hiding under its veil and struck, hoping to end it before it could hurt anyone else. It is far from being his best attack, and he knows the miss before he even gets to where the contact point would have been, not even feeling the "push" he felt from its powerful deflection field.

R11T16: Lini moves around to be across from him from where he just attacked. The attack was above Beltin, though, so even if that is where it is, Lini (and Beltin) still can't flank it. She attacks as well as she can with her sickle, but doesn't hit anything.

End Round 11, Begin Round 12 ...

R12T25: Sajan is struck again with electricity, which Beltin brings to himself, but now Beltin's head is pounding and he feels something tickling his nostril and upper lip, and he tastes a coppery tang as he takes 3 electricity. Beltin's psionic stores are depleted. The disco ball disappears, but Beltin is pretty sure it hasn't gone anywhere, trusting in his stance to affect the flyer as it has been.

R12T24: Beltin, now if you use martyrdom, you will take all the pain as you have not the strength of will to abate it. What do you do?

Spoiler: Battle Tracker

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Will-o-Wisp: 25. (30:72). DEAFENED!!! Invisible.
Beltin: 24.
* Warning Roar if they attack me or an ally, use martyrdom to take damage if possible.
Sajan: 18. STABLE!!!
Lini: 16.

[lostsole31]

R12T24: Beltin does his best to hide his heavy breathing. He was reaching his limits and its invisible nature was thwarting his attempts to stop it. He decided that his best bet to stop it is to wait for it to strike and to counterattack. He did his best to cover Sajan as he readied himself to strike.

R12T16: Lini strikes high again, whiffing hard.

End Round 12, Begin Round 13 ...

R13T25-24: Sure enough ... *ZOT!!* as electricity arcs past Beltin's warding sword to strike Sajan again, which Beltin selflessly takes onto himself for 15 electricity before he then attacks it before the cowardly spirit could disappear. He goes to shoot at thing but zaps Beltin for 4 mod electricity, throwing his amped up planar detonation off course enough that its deflection field diverts the rest. Now, Beltin is emptied of essentia, with his sword no longer enhanced. And that bastard disappears yet again.

Beltin stands, giddy, barely feeling the sword in his hands .... disabled.

R13T16: Lini makes a beautiful strike that looks like it should have done something .... but hits nothing.

End Round 13, Begin Round 14...

R14T25: The thing appears again as Sajan as struck for a surprisingly meager 4 electricity. It wasn't a powerful blow, but before that was known, Beltin realized that he can do nothing if he is down, and poor Lini is practically defenseless. Yet Beltin can take it as a temporary good sign that while Sajan is imperiled anew, he is not dead as his mind is still part of the collective.

R14T24: Beltin, what do you do?

Spoiler: Battle Tracker

Show

Will-o-Wisp: 25. (30:72). DEAFENED!!! Invisible.
Beltin: 24.
* Warning Roar if they attack me or an ally.
Sajan: 18. DYING!!!
Lini: 16.

[lostsole31]

R14T24: Beltin stood there, barely keeping on his feet. The next move he made would drop him. In the back of his mind, he blamed himself that it had come this far. If only he'd waited until it was warmer. If only he'd have been taking watch this evening. If only he had brought everyone and just rotated the cold protection.

If only...

But that's not the situation he'd found himself in. Right now all that stood between this invisible enemy was him, and he was at his limits. As soon as he dropped, this thing was going to gleefully kill him and his compatriots, for no other reason than it could.

But he hadn't dropped yet.

He tepe'd Lini. "In my pack, there are two red potions. Step back and drink one. Then run. Run and don't look back."

He offered a prayer to Iomedae and Kelumarion, the figure from his dreams. If they were every going to offer their aid, now would be the time.

But one way or the other, he knew what he had to do; he'd cover for her as long as he could.

R14T16: Lini withdrew, cut a semi-circle, and ended up behind Beltin at his pack.

End Round 14, Begin Round 15...

R15T25: The thing appears as it zaps Beltin, who happens to resist all of the electricity! But instead of going invisible, it looks down at Beltin, sensing his desperation. "I wih kih you, an chas her, even as I feed on him." Something is wrong with its speech, almost like a deaf person trying to speak.

R15T24: It's arrogance has it no longer invisible. What do you do?

Spoiler: Battle Tracker

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Will-o-Wisp: 25. (35:72). DEAFENED!!! Invisible.
Beltin: 24. DELAY!!!
* Warning Roar if they attack me or an ally.
Sajan: 18. DYING!!!
Lini: 16.