Good Strikes Back (IC)

[ngilop]

Tinac sees that the group has been hurt and is in need of healing, and is quick to unleash a jolt of positive energy. If need be, he will enter melee with the Pit Fiend, but Tinac is most confident is his new allies abilities.

Spoiler: OOC

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super cool 1d2 roll: (1d2)[2]
Check for Potent Healing, if the roll is at or above 51 (15+ 2Xhd of target) heals for an additional 50% (1d20+42)[54]
Roll for cure light wounds: (1d8+25)[32]
Available Spells Remaining
Zero: 6

1. 8 +1
2. 8 +1
3. 7 +1
4. 6 +1
5. 5 +1
6. 3 +1
7. 6 +1
8. 5 +1
9. 2 +1

[Cavir]

Sora's Elementals

The elementals in the fray focus on the cloud giant. Since they attacks from the sides (relative to the party) they are able to flank with each other.

The elementals guarding Sora stay on alert and are ready to charge any enemy getting too close.

Spoiler: OOC

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Giving them their own post for my own sanity.

Three large and one huge elemental full attacks (with haste bonus) on the cloud giant. The two large elementals with Sora ready a charge.

Huge1-1: (1d20+25)[40] (+1 Earth Mastery, +1 Haste, +2 Recitation, +2 flank)
Damage: (2d10+10)[20] (+1 Earth Mastery)

Huge1-2: (1d20+25)[29]
Damage: (2d10+10)[19]

Huge1-3: (1d20+25)[30]
Damage: (2d10+10)[24]

Large3-1: (1d20+18)[34] (+1 Earth Mastery, +1 Haste, +2 Recitation, +2 flank)
Damage: (2d8+8)[20] (+1 Earth Mastery)

Large3-2: (1d20+18)[28]
Damage: (2d8+8)[17]

Large3-3: (1d20+18)[33]
Damage: (2d8+8)[12]

Large4-1: (1d20+18)[31]
Damage: (2d8+8)[20]

Large4-2: (1d20+18)[25]
Damage: (2d8+8)[20]

Large4-3: (1d20+18)[36]
Damage: (2d8+8)[15]

Large5-1: (1d20+18)[28]
Damage: (2d8+8)[23]

Large5-2: (1d20+18)[30]
Damage: (2d8+8)[17]

Large5-3: (1d20+18)[37]
Damage: (2d8+8)[19]

Readied Charges:
Large1: (1d20+18)[29] (+1 Earth Mastery, +1 Haste, +2 Recitation, +2 charge)
Damage: (2d8+8)[16] (+1 Earth Mastery)

Large2: (1d20+18)[29] (+1 Earth Mastery, +1 Haste, +2 Recitation, +2 charge)
Damage: (2d8+8)[19] (+1 Earth Mastery)

Status
L elementals: AC 21, 112hp max
L1: x damage
L3: 100 damage

H elemental: AC 21, 240hp max

[Cavir]

Sora

The sargentum voices were back and louder, but were only drowning out communication apparently. Sora gave up on the telepathy for now. "Say again?" Even while planning her next spells with the voices in the background, an idea popped into her head. "The traitors had amulets right? Maybe they give protection against the voices?"

There wasn't time to wait for an answer, not that the answer about the amulet mattered since she didn't have one. Even drained the fiend probably still had plenty of tricks. Sora casts one of her nastier spells reserved for select nasty targets, enhanced by her training and studies. She points her pinkie and pointer fingers at the fiend. A bright, thin, green ray springs from those fingers, both at the pit fiend.

Spoiler: OOC

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Spot check to see if there was any piles of sargentum around? (1d20+1)[4]

Split ray Disintegrate (SL8). Both rays at the pit fiend. If the fiend makes a save (who's already greatly drained), then use my immediate for activating Barbs of Retribution (MiC203). Sacrificing a 6th level slot for the fiend to have to reroll the save with a -3 penalty. Let me know to count the extra slot or not.

Fort DC 27
Ranged Touch 1: (1d20+19)[22] (+1 haste, +2 recitation)
SR: (1d20+26)[37] (does enervation reduce their SR too?)
Damage: (38d6+44)[175]
Damage on fort save: (5d6+44)[58]

Ranged Touch 1: (1d20+19)[30] (+1 haste, +2 recitation)
SR: (1d20+26)[29]
Damage: (38d6)[117]
Damage on fort save: (5d6)[18]

AC 36
180/182hp
9 temp hp left (absorbed the meteor damage)

Imagine a crit...

[MikelaC1]

The battle rages on. Tessa leaps into battle with the cloud giant and her attacks ravage but do not finish off the brute. Mulcri's spell blinds both the pit fiend and the hellcat, the latter then gets torn almost to shreds by Atalanta, Sora's elementals divide their attacks providing the last blows to the giant and the hellcat. Sora herself launches twin rays of disintegration at the pit fiend. The first one tears through him causing him to roar in pain, but he manages to resist the full brunt of the second one. She uses her Barb but he still manages to pull though, but it is clear that he is one hit away from "death". Realizing that he is completely overmatched by this group and the rest of his forces have been decimated (and the fact that he cant see), his face makes a sneer, and he (figuratively) flips the bird to his remaining allies by plane shifting himself back to Hell. At this point, the cloud giant, the dwarf, and hellcat arrive in the rear of the party and.....their attempt to take Raodan by surprise from the rear is thwarted by an avalanche of boulders caused by Otrera's magic and the sudden appearance of a gargantuan black pudding right in their way. They begin to dig themselves out from the rocks.

[Toliudar]

Otrera and Hillock

Restated round 2 action:

As the pit fiend flees and the other opponents fall, Otrera and Hillock turn to face the pounding of feet. Their blindsense and lifesense provide a heads-up for the arrival of the second wave of forces behind. And their response is swift.

Moving as one, Otrera and Hillock soar back into the tunnel, shifting into walls or floors in order to dodge around Mulcri and Sora. Otrera weaves a spell that sends an avalanche of rubble on top of the approaching figures. Meanwhile, Hillock becomes a menacing black ooze that spreads across the entirety of the tunnel between the reinforcements and the rescuers.

Spoiler: OOC

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Otrera and Hillock move up to 90 as a move action to reposition themselves between Sora, her elemental and Mulcri on one side, and the reinforcements coming from behind on the other.

As a standard action, Otrera casts Bombardment, positioned to hit as many as possible of the group approaching in its 30' diameter. They all take (18d8)[81] untyped damage, and are buried under rubble. A Reflex save DC 26 halves the damage and avoids being buried. Otrera is still in Dread Wraith form. Her AC is currently 41

Hillock steps in front of Otrera and becomes a gargantuan elder black pudding, 20' diameter, in order to block the passage. His AC is currently only 6, but he is immune to slashing and piercing damage.

[MikelaC1]

Round three
All the opponents in the first room are dead, you see a cloud giant, a hellcat and a leader dwarf trying to dig themselves out of an avalanche. We maintain the same initiative order but there is a pudding between you and the members digging out from the rock. All took full damage, but the cloud giant is too big to be buried, the hellcat and the dwarf have bigger problems.

[Cavir]

Sora walks toward the new enemies, stopping short of the elder pudding. She clenches her free hand. Her thumb and pinkie fingers shoot open. An enormous electrical arc reverberates between the giant and the hellcat.

The earth elementals guarding Sora keep to their role. The other elementals earth glide to the far side of the new enemies, ensuring they can't escape.

Spoiler: OOC

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Empowered Arc of Lightning (SL6)
Damage (15d6+44)[105] * 1.5
Reflex DC 25 for half (dodging while half buried!)

[Aracor]

Tessa sees Otrera and Hillock turn around and face off more enemies behind them. Since everything in the room is fallen or gone, she'll fling herself at the new enemies.

Spoiler: Actions

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Move action: Fly back into range of the giant over the ooze that's spread onto the floor. She should have plenty of movement to make it.
Full-round action: Full attack.
Attack 1: (1d20+36)[50] (51 or higher threatens)
Confirmation roll: (1d20+36)[38]
Damage: (2d6)[7] + 12 + (1d6)[4] swift surge + (1d6)[1] cold
Critical damage: (2d6)[9] + 12

Attack 2(Haste): (1d20+36)[56] (51 or higher threatens)
Confirmation roll: (1d20+36)[52]
Damage: (2d6)[9] + 12 + (1d6)[6] swift surge + (1d6)[3] cold
Critical damage: (2d6)[6] + 12

Attack 3: (1d20+31)[32] (46 or higher threatens)
Confirmation roll: (1d20+31)[51]
Damage: (2d6)[4] + 12 + (1d6)[5] swift surge + (1d6)[6] cold
Critical damage: (2d6)[7] + 12

Attack 4: (1d20+26)[45] (41 or higher threatens)
Confirmation roll: (1d20+26)[33]
Damage: (2d6)[4] + 12 + (1d6)[1] swift surge + (1d6)[3] cold
Critical damage: (2d6)[9] + 12

[Debatra]

Mulcri moves in a little closer to the new arrivals, attempting to magically hinder them even more than the avalanche has already done.

Spoiler

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Crushing Despair (Will 27 negates, plus Once a Fool/Creeping Vulnerability for our Illusions), followed by a Quickened Slow (Will 25 negates) from her Spell Matrix.

SoH (CD) (1d20+35)[51]
SoH (S) (1d20+35)[38]

171/154 HP
AC 45, T 35, FF 36 TFF 26 ("Misc" section is both +5 for Amazon Grace and +4 for Defending rapier with GMW on it. The bonuses for Recitation and Haste are not listed on the sheet but are here.)
180' Darkvision, 120' GAS+True Seeing, 90' Blindsense
DR 10/adamantine (Stoneskin), Mind Blank, Contingent Break Enchantment
Ten spell levels of Spell Turning
Resist Fire and Cold 30 from Sora
Ring of Greater Counterspells keyed to Greater Dispel Magic

Potential Immediate Actions: Stay the Hand (two prepped), Greater Mirror Image, Ring of Spell-Battle

[Toliudar]

Otrera and Hillock

Seeing Sora and Tessa finish off the giant and hellcat, and Mulcri debilitate the dwarf buried in the rubble. Otrera calls out mentally to her colleagues over the renewed voices in their heads.

*We'll see if we can stop the dwarf without killing him.*

Otrera transforms into a gleaming silvery dragon, about the size of a tiger, and gestures for Hillock to do the same. They scurry into the entrance cavern and out of the way of others following them down the tunnel. Both focus on the place where the dwarf was buried in the rubble and exhale gentle gusts of grey fog into the area.

Spoiler: OOC

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Otrera and Hillock transform into juvenile silver dragons, size large.
They both move into a corner of the entrance chamber, leaping or flying over the rubble if need be.

Standard action: Breath their paralyzing gas breath onto the dwarf.
Otrera Fort save DC 24 or paralyzed for (1d6+4)[5] rounds
Hillock Fort save DC 23 or paralyzed for (1d6+4)[10] rounds

[MikelaC1]

(Tinoc?)
and did the other spells that hit him have any effect on FORT saves or CON?

[MikelaC1]

Tessa flies to the giant opponent, pounding on him 4 times (3 hits), not quite enough to finish him off. At that point, Sora's arc of lightning flies between the giant and the hellcat, killing the giant and banishing the hellcat to Hell. The last dwarf is still trying to dig himself out from the rubble, when Otrara and Hillocks gas washes over him, leaving him paralyzed, and still severely depressed.
From behind these foes, the party sees 10 more worker dwarves coming tentatively forward.

Kill him immediately
Do to him what he did to Stonehand
No, he faces tribunal justice. And are you here to rescue us?

Theyre just pretending to be friends
Kill them all, kill everyone
Cast the earthquake now
Just for the taste of it, Diet Coke

[Toliudar]

Otrera and Hillock

As the dwarf freezes up, Otrera gestures for Hillock to begin the process of clearing the rubble off of the lift. Nodding, he transforms into a massive wild-haired giant and begins shifting boulders off of the lift mechanism. Otrera, meanwhile, turns back into her angelic form to address the gathering dwarf forces.

"We will get you out of here, but we have questions for this dwarf. I also have questions for you. Where do you collect the Sargentum ore that you have mined today?"

[MikelaC1]

The rock moves back to the surface at the end of each shift, there is no ore down here. You would have seen the refining machine on your way down, only the pit fiend has the magic to operate it

[ngilop]

Tinac ponders on what the dwarf just said about there being no ore. He thinks for a few moments on the implications of that statement then just mentally shrugs So, we destroy the refining machine, or at least render it inoperational and beyond fixing.

[Cavir]

Sora

"Otrera, Hillock, would you mind collecting the gear from both giants please? You are best able to do that. Perhaps the ice devil had items of note too? Would someone else relieve the half buried dwarf of his gear? We can let the other dwarves dish out their own justice. The machines above us should get crushed in the earthquake. I'll inform the dwarves and query for any more information."

<dwarven> "Master dwarves, you are free now. The other two shifts have already left the mine. One traitor is dead, the second left the mine but is probably already taken by the freed miners, then there is this one. We'll take the traitor's gear. You can do with him what you want. We will be burying the mine with an earthquake so we'll need you to leave quickly. The others said to target the bottom of the lift shaft. I presume that will sufficiently crush the machine too? Would you agree?"

Spoiler: OOC

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Timing wise, if casting earthquake from the bottom of the shaft, or from at the top of the shaft targeting the bottom of it, will there be enough time for me to also to cast teleport before we are crushed or should we have different casters? I can cast a widened / empowered earthquake (160' radius spread that can cover both levels for thoroughness), and/or we have the scroll from the council. I also have greater teleport, as before.

Figure the ex-slaves have pickaxes for mining.

[Toliudar]

Otrera and Hillock

Otrera mentally nods at Sora's request to take care of searching the remains for useful gear or information, but pauses as Sora seems to give up the dwarven prisoner to be torn apart by the miners.

"A moment, please!"

Otrera's mental voice is calm but firm.

*I am not comfortable with simply lynching a helpless man when we clearly have the ability to return him to face a more structured form of justice. Add to that the fact that when we were charged with this mission there was an indication that Nocticula's agent may be meddling with the mining operation. Since we haven't seen anyone unaccounted for in the mine now, our best chance of learning more about this agent is by talking with the dwarf.

*Sora, will you agree to take him to the surface with us for further questioning?*

[Cavir]

Sora

"Being dwarves I expect them to deal with the traitor according to dwarven laws and customs, which I am not expert in. As for the agent meddling with the mining, since the mine will be collapsed before we go I didn't see the point in it. The sooner we collapse this place and get back, the less time for the Pit Fiend to return with reinforcements surprising us. If you insist on the questioning is critical then we need some to go up with the dwarves and at least one down here who can sink this place and get out safely. I can help with either task."

[MikelaC1]

The giant has finished clearing the lift.

[Toliudar]

Otrera & Hillock

Otrera nods.

*Thank you. I too trust the broad dwarven community to dispense appropriate justice, while also acknowledging that that may not best be adjudicated by those most affected by his actions. And I'm assuming that Tiffany mentioned the agent because they want to know more, if there is more to know. If someone can watch him for now, I can take him up to the surface once we've finished our work in the other room.*

Barring further discussion, Otrera and Hillock will go and strip any valuables, symbols or magic from the fallen in the other room, and load them onto Hillock in his natural form.

[Cavir]

Sora

"We'll start moving people to the surface in the mean time. Once we are there and you are done collecting do you want to use the scroll then meet us up top? We can use this link to coordinate."

She turns to the freed dwarves. <dwarven> "My apologies for the delay. My colleague wants to interrogate this traitor outside the mine and ensure there will be formal justice. Am I right to believe their trial will get their names forever marked as a curse and spit upon mentioning?"

She switches to common while removing items, arms, and armor from the paralyzed traitor while the elementals stand ready in case the traitor tries something. Assistance if offered is welcomed. "The lift is clear. The freed dwarves can go up first. We'll take the traitor with us on the second trip. The elementals can operate the lift for us."

Spoiler: OOC

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The dwarves haven't answered my previous Qs yet.

I've lost track who has the scroll. If anyone is against the proposed plan just speak up. I'd still like to hear from MikelaC1 about timing with earthquake and teleports, for future reference.

Assuming the lift is operated by pulling a rope/chain, an easy job for the earth elementals.

[MikelaC1]

(Sorry, I thought you were still using telepathy with each other)

This traitor will face King Gorvan Greybeard and the tribunal when we return to Iron Hall. If found guilty, he will be executed
If you cause an earthquake in the lift room, the whole operation will collapse and the resulting pressure will collapse the whole area, the mine and and the machine will be absolutely destroyed, I would recommend being at least a mile away before it is done.

If you have someone with her who can cast teleport, it is possible for Otrara to cast earthquake and a moment later, the teleport gets used.

[Toliudar]

Otrera and Hillock

Mentally, Otrera offers a polite agreement with Sora's plan, and finishes loading gear onto Hillock before he turns into another earth elemental.

*I am content with the tribunal process the dwarves have described.

*I have the scroll. If one of you wish to use it, Hillock and I can accompany the dwarves to the surface. But if I use it, I can immediately become immaterial to fly out, so that no one can be harmed by the rockfall. I am open to suggestions.*

[Cavir]

Sora

"A mile away? That is unexpected. I can teleport the dwarves to a safe distance away then come back here."

"Otrera, ask your questions of the traitor before I get them out." Sora continues to be careful to not mention any of their names aloud.

The smaller elementals form a ring around the traitor in case he tries to escape. An even larger earth elemental rises from the floor. Sora nods to it in appreciation then has it and the other huge elemental stand guard at either tunnel entrance.

Sora turns to the former slaves. "Does the ore have effects on you? How are you dealing with it or are you just used to it?"

[Debatra]

Mulcri will aid Otrera and Hillock in gathering magic items with her Greater Arcane Sight. The spell can't identify items on its own, but she can at least look out for any particularly strong or odd auras that might warrant more immediate attention. With that task done, she will join the others discussing things with the Dwarf. She will also dismiss her Superior Invisibility for the sake of communication.

"I think I'd like to see what this one can tell us before we let them go." She leans in and begins to whisper into the traitor Dwarf's ear as she weaves her Amazon Charm into his mind. "This will go easier on you if you cooperate. Who knows? Perhaps you can even claim you had no choice in the matter. That while the fiends offered you rewards, you also believed they would simply kill you if you refused to aid them. At any rate, it is in your best interests to answer our questions fully and honestly. She will wait and observe his reaction before continuing.

Spoiler

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Not rolling bluff here because, while Mulcri may or may not think his cooperation will lead to mercy on the part of Dwarf society, she at least believes it to be possible. That, and refusal will just mean she resorts to more direct magical methods to interrogate him, meaning it truly is in his best interests to just answer them and get it over with. She's not mentioning that part though. Just offering a (potentially phantasmal) carrot instead of a stick.

[Toliudar]

Otrera and Hillock

Otrera arches an angelic eyebrow at Sora, but approaches the dwarf. She smiles her gratitude to the powerful mind-mage Mulcri. Hillock, now a great mass of rock, lumbers behind her.

"Tell us all about what happened when someone came to collect the ore. And then about whether you hear voices in your head down in this mine - where they come from, whether the devils had any control, and how you stopped them from getting in the way of your work."

Spoiler: OOC

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Sense Motive, watching for any sign of deception or evasion from the dwarf. (1d20+10)[13]

[MikelaC1]

Sora

Sora turns to the former slaves. "Does the ore have effects on you? How are you dealing with it or are you just used to it?"

As Dwarves, we are more immune to magical poisons and we pretty much learned to live with it. Refusing to work was always swiftly punished with a venomous look at the traitor

Mulcri will aid Otrera and Hillock in gathering magic items with her Greater Arcane Sight. The spell can't identify items on its own, but she can at least look out for any particularly strong or odd auras that might warrant more immediate attention. With that task done, she will join the others discussing things with the Dwarf. She will also dismiss her Superior Invisibility for the sake of communication.

As a dwarf, I have immunity to magical poisons, even ones that are outer planar, and the devils "cleansed" me every day so I could ensure compliance and good production levels.

[MikelaC1]

Otrera and Hillock

Otrera arches an angelic eyebrow at Sora, but approaches the dwarf. She smiles her gratitude to the powerful mind-mage Mulcri. Hillock, now a great mass of rock, lumbers behind her.

"Tell us all about what happened when someone came to collect the ore. And then about whether you hear voices in your head down in this mine - where they come from, whether the devils had any control, and how you stopped them from getting in the way of your work."

Spoiler: OOC

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Sense Motive, watching for any sign of deception or evasion from the dwarf. [roll0]

Seeing as the dwarf has been affected by Mulcri's amazon charm, he is stubborn about answering Otrera's questions...They got the ore, whats to say.

[Debatra]

"Tell me. Aside from the sargentum itself, is there anything particularly valuable or important here? Documents perhaps? Do you know why the fiends mine for sargentum?"

Then, when he is short with Otrera, "Answer her questions as well." (Apparently doesn't work like that. Will take answers to the above for now, then ask other things.)

[Cavir]

Sora takes out a monocle, casts a simple, then starts studying the items taken.

Spoiler: OOC

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Detect Magic + Artificer's Monocle