Legacy of Fire SoP/PoW/SoM V: For Vendetta!

[lostsole31]

"At first," Malak comments, "I thought this was a prison. But it actually seems like where they bury or honor their dead. Let's keep going."

[digiman619]

Goma's scenting confirms Malak's assumption; these are tombs. At the end of the hallway, it turns for another 50 feet before it ends in a spiral staircase going upwards.

What's the plan?

[lostsole31]

"I would prefer us to keep moving," says Malak. "I do not wish to loot those that are perceived as honored dead just because 'we are here.' But I will abide by group vote."

[stack]

"Onward, I say."

[digiman619]

Heading up the stairway leads to the back of another secret door, and coming out of it you find yourselves in another hallway. The walls of this level seem much more polished; clearly more people use this section of the mansion than the tombs you saw before. Looking down the hall, you see it turn four ways.

* About 50 feet to the west, a path branches out heading north.
* Another 40 feet after it, the corridor turns south.
* And 50 feet east, the corridor becomes a "T" joint where it turn both north and south.

Where are you heading?

Spoiler: map

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[lostsole31]

"Let's head all the way west and south. I want to find an apogee of cardinal direction from which to begin exploration of this level," says Malak.

[stack]

Akaash nods, ready to continue and without contrary opinion.

[digiman619]

Heading down the corridor and around the corner, you find a pair of double doors. Opening them, your nose is assaulted with a cloying stench of reptile, as the chamber inside is cluttered with bones, mounds of rubble, broken furniture, and other garbage, most of which has been heaped up in a circular nest in the room’s center.

Spoiler: map

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Spoiler: DC 25 Perception

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Something glints from the corner of your eye, and you find a vambrace.

Spoiler: DC 23 Spellcraft

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It's one half of a greater bracers of archery. Unfortunately, it's no good without the other bracer; the other one has to be around here somewhere.

[lostsole31]

Spoiler: Perception Rolls

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Malak's Perception (1d20+12)[24] +5 if a trap.

Oddity's Perception (1d20+13)[23] +3 if a trap, +2 to notice an ambush.

[stack]

Akaash looks for avenues from which an attack could come.

[SwordChucks]

"Do you all smell that?" Goma says with his nostrils flaring repeatedly. "Like some kind of snake or lizard."

Spoiler: Perception

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(1d20+19)[34]

"Oh hey. Looks like there's a wrist guard over there. Is that worth anything?"

[lostsole31]

Malak shakes his head when asked about the smell. There are enough odd smells here already, and his nose is shut down from all the heated/ burnt odors of this area.

He carefully tracks his way to the wrist guard Goma points out, and then calls over Shahrazad and Akaash to assist him (or more likely, to assist Akaash) in determining if the wrist guard is magical or not, and if so, what it is.

[stack]

Akaash comes over and inspects the piece. "Part of a set that increasing the wearer's skills in archery. Useless without its mate, I fear. Perhaps the other is near?"

[lostsole31]

Malak nods, "We shall see," and holds onto the wrist guard for party treasury for now before searching the rest of the room.

[SwordChucks]

"I wonder if whatever is nesting here is lurking nearby, or if it'll be back soon." Goma sniffs around trying to locate the origin of the reptile smell. If he can't find anything he'll stick close to the rest of the party.

[digiman619]

Now that Goma has the reptile's scent, he can clearly tell that its trail leads to the room to the north you passed on the way here.

Is that your next destination?

[lostsole31]

"A big lizard doesn't appear in such a complex naturally," says Malak. "Let's assume that it is a guardian, meaning something worth guarding. Let's go, but have care. Oddity, up front with Goma, try for stealth."

[SwordChucks]

Goma arches a confused eyebrow. "Should I be trying for stealth as well? Because I don't think that will go well." he says while motioning to his profoundly loud gear.

"Or am I the distraction?"

[lostsole31]

At the very last word, Oddity looks at Goma and simply smiles, but otherwise advances 20' while Goma sniffs along.

[stack]

Akaash keeps position above and behind Goma, floating high enough to keep a clear shot over his ally.

[SwordChucks]

Goma tries to tune out the sound of his own armor now that he is once again aware of it. When he gets to the door between the party and the reptile, he waits for everyone to get into position, and opens the door with his shield raised.

[lostsole31]

.... after Malak and Oddity perform a safety check on the door.

[digiman619]

You don't notice any traps on the door, but you do hear voices from the other side, and they seem to be singing, or at least intoning deeply.

Spoiler: DC 20 Perception and DC 25 Knowledge: Religion

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The voices from the other side are prayers to the demon lord Flauros. He's classically worshipped by arsonists, drow, fire giants, evil metalworkers, red dragons, and salamanders.

[stack]

"Fiery demon cult prayers ahead. I expect they won't be friendly." But it will be a warm welcome. He keeps the pun to himself.

[lostsole31]

Oddity remains in front, but Malak backs up and concentrates, bringing forth two shambling mounds.

Spoiler: Malak Crunch

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Increase E in Hyandil's Flowering Regalia to 4, allowing him two summon two shambling mounds.

Malak nods to Goma that he is ready.

Oddity remains in flowing water stance to prepare for first strike.

Spoiler: Oddity Crunch

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This provides an additional +4 bonus to intiiative, for a total +8 initiative for Oddity.

[digiman619]

You burst open the door into the expansive room behind it; it's easily 120 feet long, and nearly as wide at its widest point. You don't have time to take in, though, as you see the inhabitants, five lizard-like beings surrounding a large, eight-headed beast. All five of them notice your entrance and pull out (and drink) a potion, a barely visible shimmer now covering them. For its part, the beast hasn't noticed you yet, as it was backing in the worship of the other lizards.

What do you do?

Spoiler: map

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In case you have difficulty seeing, the party are in three rows.
Row 1:Akaash and Goma
Row 2: Oddity, Malak, Shaharazad, Rowan
Row 3: Alsariq

Remember, each square is 10 feet.

Spoiler: DC 21 Spellcraft

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The potions appear to be of the deflection aegis, giving them a deflection bonus to AC.

[stack]

Akaash summon a whirlwind around the lizard-men.

Spoiler

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standard energy wall into a hemisphere, 35' radius. I don't think I can get the hydra in fully inside the area, but i think I can at least clip it for damage (reflex save negates DC 22)
2 SP, CL 13, 13d6 damage to anyone passing through, does not obscure ranged attacks.
Bullrush +21 to anything that takes damage; ideally I would bullrush the hydra into the hemisphere if it is damaged, but if the bulk of its space is outside that may not make sense.
damage vs the hydra (13d6)[51]

1 sp left

[lostsole31]

As Akaash begins summoning his noisy sphere, Malak speaks up, not caring if Mr. Scales hears or not as battle is being joined, "Listen up! Big One is a pyrohydra - ignores fire, hates cold, and cold shuts down its regen briefly. Hackers, target the heads directly; Those of you less deliberate, attack the body. If a neck is severed, put cold or acid on the stump so it doesn't regrow."

Malak points to the pile of lizards in the center, sending the shambling mounds after them. He puts energy into the djinni's turban which appears and he lifts into the air and along the outer edges before tossing a bolt of cold at the pyrohydra.

Spoiler: Malak's OOC

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FA: Speak.
SwA: 3E from unspent pool to djinni's turban.
MA: He moves 10' into the air, and 20' laterally. Laterally, he moves 10' to the NW, and then 10' N.
* Because he moves > 20' this round, any attack on him has a 20% miss chance.
SA: Planar detonation has a range of 50', so I should just be good at targeting pyrohydra's body. Attack roll (1d20+9)[29] RTA, damage (6d6)[26] cold.

Oddity doesn't change anything about their setup, remaining in flowing water stance, and just begins double-moving towards the pyrohydra, moving deftly as needed.

Spoiler: Oddity Crunch

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MAx2: Double move directly to the pyrohydra. I leave it to your best discretion.
* Once you have the total path, determine total number of assailants > 1 and add +2 to CMD for following Acrobatics (if needed):
Acrobatics to deny AOO for threatened movement (1d20+19)[24]

Also, with flowing water stance is updated in AC block for Oddity.

When they can, the shambling mounds move forward on the lizard guys - heedless of Akaaash's air sphere that he's making, and will smash any enemies as hard as they can.

Spoiler: Shambling Mound Crunch

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Shambling Mounds
NOTE: 4E total invested, which means in addition to the link just above, each shambling mound currently enjoys the following...
* +20 hp, +4 attack rolls, +4 AC, +4 all damage rolls, +4 all saving throws.

[lostsole31]

Malak appears to have made a pinpoint shot on the body of the pyrohydra!

Spoiler: Critical Confirmation

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Crit Confirm (1d20+9)[10] RTA, crit damage, (6d6)[22] cold.

[SwordChucks]

Goma moves north, stopping just outside Akaash's whirlwind. He calls out in Kelish "Surrender now, or I'll have boots made out of you!"

Spoiler: Combat

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AC: 29, DR 8/-, 13 Temp HP, 0/40 Delayed Damage Pool

Free action: Berserking

Move action: Move north up to 30ft, stopping at the edge of Akaash's whirlwind.

Move action: Mass Challenge the 5 sleestaks, and the Pyrohydra (+2 to hit Goma, -4 to hit anyone else, lasts 8 rnds).

AOOs: 5 for AOOs, 5 for Active Defense with Smashing Counter to protect Goma and/or any ally in his reach (+4 to AC, and if this causes a miss, get a free attack on the attacker.