Secret of mana IC thread Part II

[Alhallor]

Jahn's powerful blow connects with the Claw-Birthed Lady as soon as Ken's Whirling Blade slices into her too. At the same time two of Larimar's arrows connect with the speedy Arvatia which finally brings her down.

The big mantis wants to hurl his scythe against the healer but it seems it isn't able to.

The aggressive bee flys between two pillars and shots a stinger at Ken.

Spoiler: Ken

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Attack: (1d20+15)[33]
Damage: (2d8+4)[9] If hit make a Fort save against 18 or lose (1d8)[4] Strength.

An inhuman screech bellows forth from the Lady, out of her mouth spills darkness enveloping both her and the flaming swordsman.

The churning darkness seem to engulf Ken's other sharp blade without it connecting to an enemy as two of Larimar's arrows, but one hits with a satisfying "CHLUNK."

I HUNGER!

Spoiler: Jahn

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Make a Fortitude save against 35 if you succeed you only get (5d6)[19] Cold damage, if you don't succeed you're also slowed (which just dispel you're haste)

Spoiler: ALL

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All of you get hit with a dispel attempt that hits the lowest level spell that you currently have (which I'm pretty sure should be Barkskin that should be dispelled with a 24 or higher. Would be nice if someone could double-check this.
Jahn: (1d20+12)[32]
Thaum: (1d20+12)[26]
Larimar: (1d20+12)[26]
Ken: (1d20+12)[29]
Please take into account that these get dispelled after the monster attack should it make a difference.

There is more screaming, a ball of frozen death explodes near the portal.

Spoiler: Thaum, Jahn, Larimar

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(10d6)[32] half cold damage, half negative energy damage, Reflex save against 35 for half.

The broken shards off the containers swirl around and rush towards Ken.

Spoiler: Ken

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Attack: (1d20+26)[33]
Damage: (10d4)[31]

Spoiler: Map

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Just one major enemy standing.

Spoiler: OOC all

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The lady currently has 100% concealment thanks to the darkness, but because she is so big you have no chance of targetting a wrong square (like with way too much mist or something similiar.)

[WindStruck]

"Uh oh. That darkness looks familiar," Larimar says.

He casts "Light of Wisp", and only glows briefly before shooting the light into the darkness.

Spoiler: ooc

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Reflex: (1d20+30)[49]

So 8 cold damage, 8 negative damage (which is absorbed by protection)

[Alhallor]

The light of Wisp pierces the darkness and reveals the Claw-Birthed-Lady who seems to be coated in a thick layer of churning magma.

Spoiler: OOC

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No more Concealment.

[Aegis013]

Bracing against the onslaught of cold, Jahn pushes forward, making an invigorating slash with Grin as soon as Larimar dispels the darkness followed once more by a blast of flames, hoping to bring down the Claw-Birthed Lady before the monsters escaping their tubes join the frey.

Spoiler: Actions

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Standard: Revitalizing Strike
(1d20+25)[30] to hit
On a 40+ (1d20+25)[33] to confirm critical

On hit it deals (2d6+9)[19] plus (1d6)[4] cold (1d6)[4] acid (4d6+4)[13] fire [40] total damage.
On hit it heals Jahn for (3d6+9)[18]

On a critical hit, it deals (2d6+9)[16] extra damage.

Swift: Vesuvio's Firebolt 25 fire damage, Reflex 16 half

Spoiler: Jahn's Status and buffs

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Assuming the attack hit:

72/93 HP, Steeley 0/5
DR 10/Evil
AC 25
F 23 / R 20 / W 24

DFI 4d6+4, persists 7 more rounds
Snowflake Wardance, persists 12 rounds
Haste, persists 7 rounds - on allies only
Greater Mirror Image, (8 images) persists 89 rounds generating an image each round (8 max) or ends when all images have been destroyed

Maneuvers granted next round:
All maneuvers granted

[Ridai]

Weathering the draining cold, Thaum spreads Undine's blessing, shielding the frontline he finds himself part of from the worst of future attempts. More healing is delivered to Larimar.

With the onslaught only increasing in intensity, Thaum is quiet, needing to observe, evaluate, react or anticipate as needed with hardly any time to consider.

Spoiler: Actions

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Waited a few days for everyone to post, but I'll post now.

Standard Cast mass resist energy (cold) on Jahn, Larimar, Thaum (Ken too far away). They gain cold resistance 30.

Swift Close wounds on Larimar for (1d4+33)[34] HP (excess becomes THP)

I'll need confirmation whether Jahn actually hit with his attack.

[kinem]

Ken tries a new tactic.

OOC: I'll assume that Ken acquired the necessary 500 gp platinum chain to cast his new spell. If not, he'll probably do more Whirling Blade.

Swift: Blademage's Edge
Cast Howling Chain to appear next to CBL
Trip attempt touch attack (1d20+12)[25], Str check (1d20+15)[24]
If trip, attack (1d20+17)[30], damage (2d6+22)[33]

[Alhallor]

Jahn hits the Claw-Birthed-Lady who is now uncloaked from the shadows, but it seems that all the fire damage he deals is not only negated but some of the fire also splashes over towards Jahn.

Spoiler: Jahn

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Get 30 fire damage as recoil, I wrote it before in the OOC, please don't write it two times.

Thaum's protection surge forth and bolster the group further. Ken's summoned chain get's the claw-birthed lady off from her feet and strikes at her in the same motion. She lays still...

Even the freed monsters seem to be momentarily stunned, but then there is erratic wriggling and the claws on the lady's back rip themselves out of her and try to surround the party. Ken's summoned chain lashes out wildly, bringing down one of the claws and damaging it in the process.

The one claw that reaches Thaum points at him menacingly.

Spoiler: Thaum

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Sanctuary.

The other claws surround the others and try to rip and tear at them.

Spoiler: Larimar

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Attack 1: (1d20+25)[32]
Damage 1: (4d4+1)[15] and (5d6)[12] Cold damage
Attack 2: (1d20+25)[32]
Damage 2: (4d4+1)[13] and (5d6)[14] Dessication damage (critical water loss)
When both claws hit, you get an additional (8d4+2)[21] damage

Spoiler: Ken

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Attack 1: (1d20+25)[34]
Damage 1: (4d4+1)[12] and make a Will save against 25 or be blinded
Attack 2: (1d20+25)[40]
Damage 2: (4d4+1)[12] and make a Fortitude save against 25 or lose (2d4)[5] Dexterity while you get partially crystalized.
When both claws hit, you get an additional (8d4+2)[24] damage

Spoiler: Jahn

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Attack 1: (1d20+25)[34]
Damage 1: (4d4+1)[11] and make a Will save against 25 or be slowed
Attack 2: (1d20+25)[44]
Damage 2: (4d4+1)[11] and (5d6)[21] fire damage.
When both claws hit, you get an additional (8d4+2)[24] damage

Spoiler: Map

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Claws set free!

[WindStruck]

The claws scatter forth and around the party. Larimar is swift enough and well-protected enough so that they harmlessly scrape by him. He shimmies to the side and begins to offload his holy arrows into the things. Luna, forgo your blessing on these things.

He shoots arrows at the webbed claws, then the frozen one, until they stop moving.

Spoiler: 5 holy arrows

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attack1: (1d20+27)[45]
damage1: (1d6+6)[7] + (4d6+4)[17] fire + (1d6)[3] holy +2

attack2: (1d20+27)[46]
damage2: (1d6+6)[10] + (4d6+4)[22] fire + (1d6)[5] holy +2

attack3: (1d20+27)[40]
damage3: (1d6+6)[11] + (4d6+4)[19] fire + (1d6)[1] holy +2

attack4: (1d20+22)[32]
damage4: (1d6+6)[9] + (4d6+4)[20] fire + (1d6)[3] holy +2

attack5: (1d20+17)[30]
damage5: (1d6+6)[10] + (4d6+4)[16] fire + (1d6)[1] holy +2

I think all fire damage is still +50%? And this damage is lethal.

[Ridai]

Thaum points back at the claw pointing at him. "No."

More healing is immediately sent to Jahn as he comes under manual fire, first a quick droplet, followed by a more substantial globe of ethereal water. The group's getting closer to their goal, little by little. Just need to outlast the enemy.

Spoiler: Actions

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Immediate Action close wounds on Jahn, healing (1d4+33)[37] HP

Standard Cast cure serious wounds on Jahn, healing (3d8+45)[52] HP (excess becomes THP). Effective caster level for this spell is equal to Thaum's heal ranks due to healing lorecall (and then +1 from Touch of Healing), so he hits the cap of +15 HP for the spell before adding Augment Healing and Healer's Blessing.

[Aegis013]

Two of Jahn's images are annihilated by the claws as the backdraft of flames appears to burn all of them, but destroy none.

Thaum's healing waters immediately recover and reinvigorate Jahn to levels of vigor he's never previously felt. He presses the advantage, continuing his slugfest with the foe. Another image joins the group of Jahns bringing a bunch of Grins to bear against the Claw-Birthed Lady creating a multitude of fiery rings followed by another blast.

Spoiler: Actions

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Standard: Mountain Hammer - ignores DR and Hardness
(1d20+26)[29] to hit
On 41+ (1d20+26)[33] to confirm critical

On hit it deals (2d6+10)[16] plus (1d6)[2] cold, plus (1d6)[5] acid, plus (4d6+4)[12] fire, plus (2d6)[8] [43] total damage
On a critical hit it deals (2d6+10)[12] more.

Swift: Vesuvio's Firebolt (5d6)[16] Fire damage, Reflex DC 16 half

Spoiler: Jahn's Status and buffs

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Assuming the attack hit:

136/93 HP, Steeley 5/5
DR 10/Evil
AC 25
F 23 / R 20 / W 24

DFI 4d6+4, persists 6 more rounds
Snowflake Wardance, persists 11 rounds
Haste, persists 6 rounds - on allies only
Greater Mirror Image, (7 images) persists 88 rounds generating an image each round (8 max) or ends when all images have been destroyed

Maneuvers granted next round:
(1d6)[4] - Revitalizing Strike
(1d5)[1] - Mountain Hammer
(1d4)[2] - Tactical Strike
(1d3)[3] - Radiant Charge

Following round
(1d2)[2] - Divine Surge

[kinem]

With the Barkskin gone, one of the claws manages to get through Ken's still impressive defenses; though the wound is small, it starts to partially crystallize his body.

Seeing a need to deal with this new threat, Ken lashes out in some of the many ways he knows how.

OOC: Swift: Extended Wraithstrike
Touch Attack vs Claw (1d20+18)[27], damage (2d6+9)[15] + (1d6)[6] sonic + (4d6+4)[22] fire
Touch Attack vs Claw (1d20+13)[18], damage (2d6+9)[16] + (1d6)[4] sonic + (4d6+4)[18] fire

Howling Chain (if applicable)
Trip (1d20+12)[21] touch, Str (1d20+15)[21]; (1d20+12)[29] melee, damage (2d6+10)[17]
Trip (1d20+12)[26] touch, Str (1d20+15)[24]; (1d20+12)[30] melee, damage (2d6+10)[21] AOO#1
Trip (1d20+12)[19] touch, Str (1d20+15)[16]; (1d20+12)[30] melee, damage (2d6+10)[16] AOO#2
Trip (1d20+12)[18] touch, Str (1d20+15)[27]; (1d20+12)[17] melee, damage (2d6+10)[16] AOO#3

[Alhallor]

The freed monsters seem determined to get you down.

The massive Bee hurls a glob of Honey at Ken.

Spoiler: Ken

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Touch attack: (1d20+11)[16]
If hit = -2 to attack - 4 to Dex. Reflex roll against 20 or get glued to the floor.
Make a Full.Round Strenght check against 20 or deal 20 damage to the honey.
But because it's actually nice healing honey, no matter if you get hit or not (by splashes) you heal (3d8+5)[18] HP

while the mantis begins to do more motions, likely preparing another acid rain.

Larimar obliterates three claws with his arrows, with Jahn and Ken getting another one.

The three claws scuttle towards Jahn, because obviously there are more Jahn's then the rest of the group combined.

Ken's Chain of Force brings all of these claws down, with decisive movements and striking them. They are still struggling on the ground however.

The defeated claws have just vanished.

While the lady wiggles on the ground.

Spoiler: Map

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3 claws

[Ridai]

"Ken! Move closer!" Thaum calls out to the elven warrior.

[WindStruck]

"Three down, three to go," Larimar says. He decides to shoot at the claws flopping on the ground because hey, without claws, the Claw-Birthed lady would have to be the Declawed-Birth Lady, or maybe just the Unbirthed Lady.

Spoiler: 5 more holy arrows

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attack1: (1d20+27)[29]
damage1: (1d6+8)[13] + (4d6+4)[15] fire + (1d6)[3] holy

attack2: (1d20+27)[30]
damage2: (1d6+8)[13] + (4d6+4)[17] fire + (1d6)[5] holy

attack3: (1d20+27)[37]
damage3: (1d6+8)[11] + (4d6+4)[18] fire + (1d6)[3] holy

attack4: (1d20+22)[30]
damage4: (1d6+8)[13] + (4d6+4)[17] fire + (1d6)[2] holy

attack5: (1d20+17)[19]
damage5: (1d6+8)[12] + (4d6+4)[14] fire + (1d6)[4] holy

[kinem]

Ken isn't sure if the bee is a friend or a foe, as the honey narrowly misses him and heals him.

He hurls his sword again, then heads towards the center of the fight as he catches it.

OOC: I think he can attack a couple of claws and the CBL with a Whirling Blade. Then, move to M12.

Whirling Blade (touch attack w/WS) (1d20+18)[23], damage (2d6+9)[15] + (1d6)[6] sonic + (4d6+4)[19] fire
Whirling Blade (touch attack w/WS) (1d20+18)[29], damage (2d6+9)[13] + (1d6)[2] sonic + (4d6+4)[21] fire
Whirling Blade (touch attack w/WS) (1d20+18)[34], damage (2d6+9)[16] + (1d6)[2] sonic + (4d6+4)[17] fire

Swift: Blademage's Edge

[Alhallor]

Larimar's arrows have no problem dispatching the rest of the claws, and Ken's Whirling Blade ends any movement the Declawed Lady could even think of.

The monsters seem to become more docile immediately and seem to stand around in a confused gaze.

The other two monsters that are still in they're containers seem to be in a kind of stasis as are the four humanoids that are in the other containers.

They're are some known faces in there.

Fiona, Thaum's Childhood friend.

Charon, the priest of Shade you have delivered Miguele and Alrik too.

Megralras, the beastman scientist

and a Goblin you're pretty sure you haven't seen before.

If you search around a bit you find yourself in a massive cavernous system, that seems partly natural and partly formed by magic. There are several rooms with provisions, raw materials for magic item construction and several planning rooms that work with a lot of string and some choice words in draconic.

One part of the plan seemed to be the formation of the rabite-hating cult and the eventual destruction of Wendel.

The creation of some shade-based disease.

And the recruiting of several outstanding individuals.

Whatever the plans where in the end. You have succesfully thwarted them.

[WindStruck]

After all the violence stops, Larimar peers around, another holy arrow loaded into his bow warily.

"...that's it?" Eventually he lowers his guard and shrugs.

Peering at the other containers, he quickly realizes there are other people in them.

"Ah, crap. We need to figure out how to get them out of these!"

[Ridai]

Thaum exhales and with it comes a lot of stress and exhaustion. "You did it, it's over," he tells his companions.

With the Claw-Birthed Lady knocked out and the monsters docile, Thaum moves up to the big bad and applies whelm spells to deepen her passed-out state, then she checks of Arvatia to make sure she is stable, carrying her closer to the portal (and also casting a whelm or two, as a security measure), then gets to freeing the prisoners. All converges here, as they soon learn. Thaum is not sure how to feel about all this yet, right now he needs to make sure everyone (friend and foe) is brought back safely.

Fiona most likely is still not on remotely friendly terms with the healer because of what she may have been told, but that is not important right now. She was in a terrible state the last time he saw her, so if Thaum can do anything to heal Fiona, he does. At the end of the day, just as he did when he permanently shifted his mana and got on Arvatia's bad side, Thaum just wants everyone to be alright.

[kinem]

Ken breathes a sigh of relief, then helps to free the prisoners. If the jars don't open, he'll try breaking them open.

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Later, he ponders his future. With the evil plans - mysterious as they still are - now seeming defeated, is it time for him to return to the elven court and take his place among his people? Somehow, he feels that it isn't time for that yet. The world is a strange place and he still has more to learn, but ... it's not just that. Does he have wanderlust? Will he ever be ready to settle down? He's not sure, right now. Besides, aren't his companions - Thaum, Larimar, and Jahn - as much 'his people' as anyone ever was?

[Aegis013]

Jahn breathes a sigh of relief as the enemies' aggression abates. He continues to vigilantly stand watch over the fallen foes, ready to re-engage in battle should they somehow return to fighting strength and assists the others in clean-up however he can.

[Alhallor]

It may take a bit of time but the connection (and eventually the portal) slowly starts working.

When Fiona get's out of her holding unit she mutters a I had such a horrid nightmare... Before falling asleep, utterly drained somehow but not dead.

Eventually you can get everyone out and with a working portal, you can get back to Altena.

The next few days are a bit of blur, but you do get celebrated, especially after you succesfully return an empowered Grin.

Fiona suffered from some kind of affliction that drawed on her health, vitality and her body, but somehow empowered her spellcasting capabilities. Thaum can observe several charakteristics from that Ghoul Fever he healed way back and a freed Megralras adds that it must have somehow been cultivated from the same disease.

Spoiler: OOC

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Getting dealt Strength and Consitution drain but gaining caster levels.

There are probably still some cultists out there to hunt, but the head of the monster was decisively cut off.

The unconscious Lady get's incarcerated in a special anti-magic-prison, deciding her fate will probably take several years, her research however get's swiftly destroyed. Probably without anyone getting ahold of it, before it's destruction.

And the Eternal Devourer and the Black rabite continue they're sleep without any distractions this time.

[Ridai]

Though the eventual judgment is outside of what Thaum can affect, he does make an effort to reach out to the Claw-Birthed Lady in her imprisonment. Learn what drove her to her actions. See if old wounds can be mended, or if there is at least a better path forward for her. It may be for nothing, but there is only one way to find out.