DM Kathy Sunday October 23rd, 2011 10:56:11 PM
School has been in session for just under a month in this, your final year at Maplehurst Academy. It is definitely autumn now; the leaves are turning and the nights grow ever colder. Today, a light fog clung to the ground in the morning, but now it has burned off, and the afternoon sun is...well, not warm, precisely, but certainly very welcome. The sky is a cloudless blue.
You are on your way to your next class, combat practice with Ganz, a thought that spurs emotions ranging from satisfaction to abject terror.
Because you will be practicing, you returned to your dormitory after your last class to change into your "adventuring" gear, including armor and weapons, if any. There will be about 30 of you in the class, but of course you all finished changing at different times, and are straggling over to the practice field in disorganized clumps. That's all right; Ganz doesn't insist that the class arrive together. He does insist on promptness, though, or it'll be extra wind sprints after practice. So you are not exactly dawdling, although you're not precisely in a hurry, either.
Looking around, you find yourself in a more-or-less random clump of your fellow students. A few yards ahead strides the half-orc, F'aast, calm and level as always. In his wake come Vaniime and Wilma, elf and human, fast friends, talking and laughing. Grell, Wilma's brother, swaggers nearby, glad to be out of the stuffy classroom and doing something physical. Another human, William, puffs along several paces behind the girls. His is an unmistakable figure; very large, very broad, and clad (for reasons known only to him and his god) all in white. Nymirin, the slender dark elf, is all but invisible beside him. Half-elven Emrys follows, smiling slightly, perhaps humming a little to himself. At the back of the group, struggling to keep up with the Big Folk, is the gnome Fizzle.
Suddenly, you feel a jolt and a tremor, hard enough that you have to stop to keep your balance. Your bewildered mind says "earthquake?" right about the time the screaming starts. Terrified cries are punctuated with strange growls and the sounds of destruction. Turning, you see several hulking, roughly humanoid creatures that seem to be made from the earth itself. They are attacking: destroying buildings, uprooting plants, swiping at terrified students and staff who scramble to get away. Gaping holes, like wounds in the ground, tell you how the creatures arrived.
You are just wondering whether to run toward the danger or away from it, when you see the Maplehurst professors begin to respond. Professor Bounderly comes bursting out of the library, gray bun askew, wand at the ready. Ganz himself comes charging past you, wielding the biggest ax you've ever seen. Brother Vessix and Dame Brightseeker sprint from the chapel.
You breathe a little sigh of relief. It seems the professors have this one handled.
Or perhaps they don't. You see a group of creatures----smaller versions of the ones the professors are fighting--heading away from the general fray. They are moving in the general direction of the classroom building.
And, to your horror, you see a group of terrified Lower School kids directly in the path of the creatures. You glance at the main battle, but it is occupying all the professors' time and attention. If anyone is going to save those kids, it's going to have to be you.
Here is the map, which is not as good as I'd hoped, but I'll get better; I promise. :) "WI" is Wilma Illutu-Grell and "WW" is William Willsden. "Fa" is F'aast and "Fz" is Fizzle. E1 is medium-sized; E2 and E3 are small-sized. Let me know if you have questions.
Emrys Sunday October 23rd, 2011 10:56:43 PM
With Wilma's applause, Emyrs' false facade is replaced with a genuine smile. "Thank you, thank you, my dear!" And he bows deeply in response.
Suddenly he is startled by a darting ball of fur and a gnome giving chase. After realizing what was happening, Emyrs shouts after Fizzle when he resumes his pursuit, "I told you a weasel wouldn't like to wear pantaloons!!"
Emrys(Perform: Naturalist) d20+9=21 ; Sunday October 23rd, 2011 11:36:31 PM
(OOC: Sorry about the above post. That was meant for the previous scene. The DM and I posted at the same time.)
Emyrs is almost knocked to the ground. His smile is quickly erased as he tries to access the scene. Intense fear hits him and he almost loses himself in panic. He gathers his wits as best he can and looks upon the beasts that are attacking. "Wait .. wait, uhh are those what I think they are?"
Emyrs retreats back within range of most of his friends (F10) while drawing his crossbow and begins to speak of a tale about monsters like these. A tale about earthen creatures that will bring them to their knees.
(Naturalist Performance: Knowledge (Nature): 21. To identify the creatures, I need to beat DC: 10+Creatures CR with my knowledge check. If I beat the DC, everyone within 30ft gets a +1 insight bonus to Hit, AC and Saving Throws.)
Grell d20+6=8 ; 2d6+5=15 ; Monday October 24th, 2011 12:19:32 AM
A low, gutteral growl begins at the back of Grell's throat when the creatures are spotted. He is about to charge after Ganz when he spots the smaller creatures headed after the younger students. The growl grows in intensity as Grell pulls his massive sword from it's sheath and finally, the warrior lets out a other worldly howl as he launches himself toward the nearest foe (30 ft. movement to K5). Grell swings his greatsword and tries to bash the creature in front of him, but his ambition causes him to overshoot. (E1 for AC 8 for 15....highly doubt that 8 hits though!)
Nymirin Monday October 24th, 2011 1:39:36 AM
Nymirin snaps from his idle conversation as the ground jerks beneath him and take hold of William's arm. He stares off as the creatures burst from the earth and the professors take to combat. "What is happening?" he asks, bewildered and a bit frightened.
His complexion pales when he sees the three rogue creatures tear away from the battle and make towards the classroom. His eyes widen in fear and his grip tightens on William's arm. "William! The children!"
He fumbles at his bright silken belt for a brief moment before grabbing hold of a tiny nosegay of holly and mistletoe decorated with twine and dried seeds. He flicks the foci in the air before him, whispering the words of Maab, and points the greenery at the group of monsters. The grass around the rogue creatures twitches and animates at his command, growing feral and thick with rope-like tendrils that grasp at anything nearby.
He then palms the foci and draws his scimitar.
(Entangle, DC 14 reflex save, centered on the intersection of S3 and T4. This should be just wide enough to catch E1 without hindering Grell or anyone attempting to strike into melee from outside the range of the spell.)
((Nymirin will automatically activate his Adoration domain power against the first attack against him every round until the uses are spent. Since it's a reaction ability as an immediate action this seemed like the easiest way to do it.))
Wilma AC16 (chain shirt); HP10/10 Monday October 24th, 2011 2:59:46 AM
Wilma's sapphire eyes widened as she looked around her, the shuddering ground underscoring that the surreal scene that was unfolding before her was not a drill of any kind, but cold, harsh reality. In spite of the sounds of battle, the screams of terror and the noisy din of destruction, the acolyte of Gargul suddenly found that all she could hear was her breathing, harsh but steady, echoing in her ears. Her hands gripped the quarterstaff clutched in them with a white-knuckled grip.
Then she was running forward, following Grell and screaming Orcish at that top of her lungs:
"HAee-te GEah-ra-geoo-ha deoo-jae-geee!!!"
OOC: Wilma is advancing to I-5 on the map. Anyone who understands Orcish Highlight to display spoiler: {"Let Gargul judge!!!"}
F'aast Monday October 24th, 2011 2:27:56 PM
Spinning, thinking this a test from Ganz, he curses under his breath. "Too far away."
His adrenaline kicks in however, as he realizes that this is for real. It has been too long since he's had a real fight. He thinks for a moment about calming himself as his Shaman instructor taught him, but ignores that enjoying the feeling for the moment as he tries to become one with the viper instead.
So he sprints forward at 3X speed to square J2 to see where the entangle settles and whether it catches the monster.
"Grell! Letz'sss try to sset up a fflank nexsst round."
William Willsden Monday October 24th, 2011 4:49:05 PM
William looks on in abject terror as the large creatures rampage towards and through the academy buildings. Nymirin's words and gentle manner calm him for the briefest of moments, but then the cleric sees the danger in which the younger children appear to be in.
William had been told that he was a coward. Grell, his brothers, his father. And there is the slightest pause; the most marginal of hesitations in which all those people are proven correct.
But that moment is brief.
Without even conscious thought, the rotund and ill-garbed boy rushes to stand with the children, trying desperately to stand between them and the strange earthy things. Sadly, he stumbles over his white robes and almost falls, but somehow regains his balance and continues his run.
"Gosh!" He exclaims to himself as the excitement of his rushing adrenaline overcomes him.
------------------------
Ooc: sorry Kathy where are the children? William will make a double move to stand between them and creatures. Or, if able, a run.
Fizzle (Perception roll to pay attention) d20=18 ; Monday October 24th, 2011 9:29:37 PM
Fizzle chasing frantically after Mr. Bojangles, comes to a shuddering stop as he rebounds off a more than gnomish piece of debris that crashes in front of his path.
"OOOOFFF" "Whattheheckjusthappen.....(Perception check) "OOOOOHHHHH, they do not look friendly at all."
Fizzle casts Ghost Sound in the opposite direction of the children "PICK ON SOMEONE YOUR OWN SIZE" to the equivalent of four human males yelling at the same time reverberates through the huge room.
Will Save DC 15 to disbelieve.
Vaniime AC 17/14/13, HP: 11/11 d20+8=28 ; d20+8=10 ; d10+4=12 ; d10+4=14 ; Monday October 24th, 2011 9:56:42 PM
After an momentary "What's going on thought? the sights and then screams register at the same time as Van sees Grell take off with a bellow, followed closely behind by his sister. Seeing that the line between them to K4 is open she draws her curved blade and charges into the melee swinging at E1 and connecting solidly. AC 28: crit threat AC 10 (likely not confirmed) 12 points damage (14 more if crit confirmed).
Current Ac for this round 15.
DM Kathy d20-1=11 ; d20-1=8 ; d20=8 ; d20+7=14 ; d20+3=6 ; d20+3=6 ; d20+3=18 ; d20+3=9 ; Monday October 24th, 2011 11:07:38 PM Emrys moves to be closer to his friends, and casts his mind over what he's learned in class. He realizes that these are earth elementals; two small and one medium. He's pretty sure he's got a handle on the small ones, but he can't quite remember what is different about the medium ones.
[Everybody gets a +1 insight bonus to hit, AC, and saving throws against E2 and E3, but not E1.]
Grell, predictably, grabs his sword and races into combat! He's a little too eager, though, and his blow swings wide of the elemental.
Nymirin calls to his friend William, casts a spell to inhibit the elementals' movement, and draws his scimitar.
Wilma double-moves to get into position, calling a challenge in Orcish.
F'aast, too, takes a moment to get into position, calling a tactical suggestion to Grell.
William also moves quickly, with some idea of getting between the elementals and the children. He makes it as far as the edge of the Entangle spell, then wisely decides to stay out of it.
[The children are off the map to the northeast. Call it S through Z at about -5.]
Fizzle is caught offguard by the sudden tremors, but not so offguard that he can't throw a clever illusion. [Also, you're outdoors, not in a room. :) ]
Vaniime draws her blade and moves toward the fight, but even at a dead sprint, she can't quite get there in time to attack. [I counted several times; you were one square too far away to charge. :( You can save your attack and damage rolls for next round if you like.]
All three elementals stop moving as the grasses begin to twine around them. The larger one, facing two opponents, decides its fine where it is. It draws back its--hand? arm? pseudopod?--and brings it crashing down at Grell. The blow isn't strong enough, however, to injure the well-armored fighter.
The littler elementals seem confused and try to burrow away from the grasping plants. Both seem to struggle for a moment, then one of them succeeds, disappearing under the earth. You're not sure where it went.
Grell AC19; HP 12/12 d20+6=9 ; Monday October 24th, 2011 11:39:11 PM Piiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiing!!!! The reverberation of the blow off of Grell's armor causes the warrior to flinch. That was...well...it was *massive*! Bringing his sword back once more, the over competitive jock tries once more for another score, but once more misses the big earthy thingy in front of him. A stream of Orcish profanities that would make the swarthiest of sailors blush follows. Those grasses...yes...*that's* what's throwing off his concentration! By the gods...when will spellcasters learn their place?! Grell makes a mental note to have a long drawn out conversation with whoever it was that cast the spell that threw him off his game!
He growls at F'aast in Orcish. "Zoni ejeot qazt a zpihh. Tliri'z mo way to work fhamkemg mow!" If you speak Orcish, highlight for a translation. Highlight to display spoiler: {"Some idiot cast a spell. There's no way to work flanking now!"}
(Hit AC 9...Hahaha!! Yeah..this is going to be a battle to remember for our favorite bully!! :D )
Emrys (AC 15, HP 8, Perform: Naturalist2) Tuesday October 25th, 2011 12:11:28 AM
Emyrs goes against his better judgement, ignoring every natural impulse to flee, and moves in closer to keep his friends within ear shot of his tale (move to J6.)
"These spirits of earth wherever they go, no matter of size, they leave no hole..." That's odd, he thinks ... there's a hole!! He continues his tale.
After reaching his spot, he takes a bolt from his quiver and loads his light crossbow. In the next few moments it should be ready to fire.
(Everyone within 30ft of Emyrs gets the +1 insight bonus to AC, Hit and Saves. The Knowledge (Nature) 21 check from the last turn was good enough to identify up to CR11.)
Emrys (AC 15, HP 8, Perform: Naturalist2) Tuesday October 25th, 2011 12:23:08 AM
Emyrs also wonders what F'aast meant by saying "...next round"? Was that some kind of orcish expression? A kind of phrase lost in translation? :)
F'aast d20+2=3 ; Tuesday October 25th, 2011 11:31:39 AM
Agreeing with Grell, he yells out in common, "Agreed Grell, but its keeping the smaller ones away from the children until we deal with this ugly mudball."
Charging to square K3, he attacks with an unarmed strike, fumbling the first attack of his career.
Cursing he begins berating himself mentally. Outwardly all that emerges is a low growl.
William Willsden Tuesday October 25th, 2011 1:11:37 PM
William stops himself at th every last moment from falling into the ground that seems to writhe and twist. He can see the children by themselves but can not reach them, and so instead he quickly looks around. He sees Grell struggling with his sword and get smacked by the creature's strange attack. He turns and quickly moves to stand close to the bully.
Full of nerves, and certain that Grell was going to turn and try and hit him with the sword, he reaches a hand and presses it briefly into the boy's back. He whispers a quick prayer, and feels something infusing Grell with energy. Then, the prayer done, he quickly steps back and away from Grell, fearful of the reprise.
Move action: Move to K6. Standard action: Touch of Good (domain power - grants a +1 to Grell's attack rolls, ability checks, saves and skill checks for 1 round)
Nymirin (AC 16, HP 8/8) Tuesday October 25th, 2011 4:12:43 PM
"Haha!" Nymirin trumpets a cheer as he watches the elemental tangle in the animate grasses. His face hardens when the second one disappears into the soil. "What? No!"
He flicks his gaze quickly around the field, and takes his sword in two hands. He needs to find the missing enemy, and quickly. He carefully traces the edge of the rocky crater, weapon at the ready for an unexpected assault.
((Move to L10))
Vaniime AC 17/14/13, HP: 11/11 d20+8=28 ; d20+8=10 ; d10+4=12 ; d10+4=14 Tuesday October 25th, 2011 4:58:15 PM
Frustrated at having miss judged the distance for her charge, Van manages to avoid the writhing vegetation and decides to take out her frustrations on the beast, whatever it might be, and enters into the melee swinging her curve blade at E1 and feels it connect solidly. AC 28: crit threat AC 10 (likely not confirmed) 12 points damage (14 more if crit confirmed).
Hoping to fire Grell up a bit, Van calls out while she attacks. figuring that between her talk and him seeing/hearing her sword connect with the beast, he might just get a bit mad and really do some damage to the beast.
"C'mon Grell, are you going to let some pseudo sucking earth thing best you? I need a little bit of help here. I can't do it all myself you know."
Fizzle d20+4=10 ; d3=3 ; Tuesday October 25th, 2011 5:45:52 PM
Fizzle irritated that he was unable to draw the elementals away with his genius adult voice decides to go on the offensive with a spell that will surely chase the elementals away with it's might.
Fizzle Tuesday October 25th, 2011 5:47:44 PM
BAH!!!...It should have been:
Ranged Touch Attack to hit AC=11 (+1 insight bonus) against E3.
Wilma AC16 (chain shirt); HP10/10 Tuesday October 25th, 2011 10:32:34 PM
"...spirits of earth...?" Wilma echoed part of Emrys' rhyme, pausing because the words sparked a memory in her head. As she slowed, F'aaast was able to slip into the space she had originally intended to occupy. Great--now she couldn't take a whack at...at...
"Elementals!" she gasped out loud. "They're elementals..!" Again that persistent ping of something she'd heard at her mother's knee tap, tap, tapped in her brain. What was it, though?
"We managed to run out of the sacrificial chamber and were about halfway to our horses when the lich popped up again.." K'Nara told the story to her captive audience of Wilma, Lowell and Grell, all of whom were clutching their mugs of hot cocoa and sitting at her feet.
"I still don't see how dat vun could pop up again," Gunther interrupted the tale, "I not only split his skull, but I also chopped it clean off his shoulders!"
"I keep telling you, dear," K'Nara explained with the patience of one who had repeated her point many, many times over the years, "You can only really kill a lich by destroying the magic bauble it used to create itself...otherwise, all the splitting and chopping in the Wold won't do diddly!" Her husband's scowl only deepened.
"But the skull parts bounced..." he insisted. K'Nara nodded.
"That they did--and rather spectacularly, too!" Then she turned to the trio parked on the dire bearskin rug in front of her. "Now where was I..?"
"The lich popped up!!!" All three children chimed in immediately.
"Ah, yes...the lich popped up again, casting a spell--" K'Nara continued, only to be interrupted again...this time by her children.
"The gwound wumbled..." four-year-old Lowell lisped.
"The rocks cwackled..." added his twin, Grell.
"And--suddenly--you were surrounded by a dozen hulking hills of dirt--" Wilma said with dramatic glee. All three of them spoke up:
"...each of them with gem-like eyes that glowed with the fires of hell!!!" The last word was practically screeched at the top of young lungs, and then followed by playful screams/giggles of melodrama. K'Nara arched an eyebrow at the younglings.
"Since you seem to know the story by heart, little warriors," she prompted, "Why don't you tell me what happened next?" Lowell and Grell immediately leaped to their feet, drawing invisible weapons.
"You an' Papa stood back to back..." the twins acted out what Lowell spoke out loud.
"So none of 'em could 'scape your sight..!" Grell put in. Both boys began to strike out at the imaginary foes as young Wilma concluded the story:
"Papa an' you whacked an' thwacked and killed-ed all the nasty elementals!"
"Jah, that ve did, my little blood puddings." Gunther confirmed, smiling reminiscently.
"All it took was teamwork." K'Nara agreed.
Wilma blinked, her attention returning to the battle at hand and the earth elementals that the students were facing now. Her sapphire eyes glanced around the battlefield, her stomach plummeting as she suddenly realized that one of the elementals was now missing.
"Where is it..?" she asked, looking right and left. Still no third foe. This was not good--her parents' story proved that it was rather important to know where all the enemies were...but how did you track an earth elemental once it was underground..?
Wilma immediately cast her Detect Magic orison and hoped that her supposition that these elementals had been magically summoned would allow her to possibly locate where the missing elemental was...
OOC: Wilma has not moved, so she is still at I5.
DM Kathy d20+7=8 ; d20-1=4 ; d20+3=21 ; d20+3=9 ; d20+3=22 ; Tuesday October 25th, 2011 11:07:21 PM Grell, conveniently deciding it's all the spellcasters' fault, shouts in Orcish and swings again. And misses again.
Emrys moves closer, continuing to call encouragement. He readies and loads his crossbow.
[Yes, the insight bonus applies to all critters. I don't know why I was reading your result as 11. My bad!]
F'aast moves up and throws a punch, but it goes wide.
William changes tactics and moves to assist Grell. The ground here has been softened by the elementals' passage, and he has to tread carefully, so he doesn't quite get to the spot he wants. He getsfar enough, though, to cast his spell. [The churned-up hole is difficult terrain.]
Nymirin is exultant at first at the result of his spell, but concerned when one of the elementals burrows out of it. He moves up, seeking his foe.
Vaniime swings her curved elven blade. With a ssschink!, it slices into the creature, which roars in pain. She takes the opportunity to trash-talk Grell, because honestly, who wouldn't?
Fizzle is disappointed in the results of his illusion. Though, to be fair, the elementals were held in place and couldn't flee. And, to be fair, the one that got loose did burrow away.... But now, Fizzle sends a blob of acid hurtling toward the small elemental he can see. It hits, and sizzles slightly. The elemental snarls and writhes.
Wilma, shut out of melee combat, remembers some lore from her famous adventurer parents. She realizes that they really need to find that other elemental. She casts a Detect Magic to try to find it. Immediately, she notes that magical auras are present. [Per the spell description, you will need to continue concentrating in order to get more information.]
The medium-sized elemental seems confused about which of its three opponents it should target. At least, you assume that accounts for his dismal attack [natural 1!].
The small elemental (the one you can see) struggles for a moment, then it, too, burrows beneath the ground. There's still no sign of the other one.
Glancing over, you see that the children's teacher is hurrying them away from the scene, but some kids are frozen in place, apparently too scared to move.
Opponents:
E1 down 12 E2 whereabouts unknown E3 down 3, whereabouts unknown
Emrys (AC 15, HP 8, Perform: Naturalist3) d20+9=25 ; d20+2=5 ; d8=3 ; Wednesday October 26th, 2011 12:10:32 AM "Listen to my tale," shouts the bard. Emyrs, breathless from fright, tries his best to remain articulate. However, his silver tongue feels more like lead. Although his voice remains steady, it endures with a little less eloquence.
"No organs to pierce or blood to draw, Nor breaks in skull and bone. Their form composed of only earth, Their wounds spill soil and stone."
"No front or back can one discern, Strategy lays bare to none. To pursue, in vain, to gain a flank, A Fool's errand, it is, to find one..."
Upon uttering those words he lets his bolt fly ..... far to the left! "ZOUNDS!!!" Eymrs reaches for another bolt and reloads his crossbow for another attempt.
(Actions: Performance(Naturalist3) free action to maintain. Attack E1 - HitAC 5, Damage 3. Move-Equivalent to reload. Perform(oratory): 25 to see if I lose my voice, for role-playing purposes.)
Nymirin (AC 16, HP 8/8) Wednesday October 26th, 2011 2:38:20 AM
Nymirin groans loudly as the second elemental disappears, away from the grasp of his spell.
Well that's wasted magic, he thinks angrily.
He looks towards the group of his peers crowding around the animate mound of dirt and stone.
...and it appears to be doing more to hinder than help.
He lets out a soft sigh and reproduces the twine and herb foci from his hand. He points it at the effect, jerking his hand toward the earth and speaking the words of the spell again and watches as the grasses shrink away.
"Thank you, Lady," he whispers, taking a grip on his weapon again. The enemy had surely taken notice of him and would surface again.
(Standard action to dismiss Entangle)
Grell AC19; HP 12/12 d20+8=22 ; 2d6+5=10 ; Wednesday October 26th, 2011 7:30:22 AM
Even as the battle mounts, Grell's hands begin to sweat and his heart beat elevates. In all of his academic career, he has NEVER choked like this! Two swings...TWO!! And not a single hit...not even a pebble knocked lose! As if in cue with his thoughts, Van chimes in with her taunts. "I can't do it all myself you know!" To make matters worse, the elf slices into the creature with her first blow, making it look easy! Rage mingles with the fear of failure. That ever present specter at the back of his mind...I am incompetent and the others have noticed.
Contrary to William's fear, Grell is so wound up in his own personally paranoias that he barely notices his approach, let alone his soft touch. Flexing his biceps, the jock lashes out at the earthen mound in a swipe that is fueled by his anxiety. He grins as he finds purchase in the dirt pile monster thing. (OOC: I'm kinda assuming an AC22 hits, though I do admit it'd be funny if it doesn't and Grell misses again. :D )
A mental sigh of relief is breathed, and Grell is once more able to focus on the battle. Looking down, the warrior notices that the wavy grass has stopped curling around the base of the creature. With the most wicked of grins, he calls out to F'aast in his mother tongue of Orcish "Novi to tli fhamk amj wi'hh naki tlez pehi of roqkz zorry!" Highlight to display spoiler: {Move to the flank and we'll make this pile of rocks sorry!"}
(OOC: AC 22 for 10. She takes the opportunity to trash-talk Grell, because honestly, who wouldn't? Bwahahahahaha!! That was FUNNY!!! )
<Spoiler edited to function, by Kent>
Emrys (AC 15, HP 8, Perform: Naturalist3) Wednesday October 26th, 2011 8:25:26 AM
(OOC: Another reminder ... if you're within 30-ft of Emyrs, which most of you are, you get a +1 insight bonus to hit, ac and saves against the elementals. Only while the Naturalist performance remains active.)
William Willsden Wednesday October 26th, 2011 12:21:36 PM
William breathes a sigh of relief when Grell doesn't hit him with the sword and, seeing that the ground has stopped writhing, he rushes off towards the children. His cheeks are flushed red with the effort of all this running, his round spectacles steamed up. He pushes them higher onto his nose as he runs, his other hand lifting his robes to stop them getting splashed with mud.
Double move
Vaniime AC 17/14/13, HP: 11/11 d20+7=26 ; d20+7=12 ; d10+4=13 ; d10+4=9 ; Wednesday October 26th, 2011 3:04:18 PM
::Van continues chatting while she fights::
"All Right Grumpy! Way to go. Now let's slice and dice this thing."
As she finishes speaking her blade snaps back across the elemental on her return motion and again slices into the beast. AC 26 (+1 insight included),(crit threat) AC 12, (probably not confirmed), damage 19 points, (9 points more if crit).
William get those other kids out of here and call if you need assistance with anything."
Fizzle d20=4 ; d20+5=25 ; d20=4 ; d3=3 ; Wednesday October 26th, 2011 7:18:36 PM
Fizzle, totally amazed at his awesome might in disintegrating the elemental with one shot, begins to proclaim "DIDYOUSEETHAT!?!?" "DON'TWORRY, IWILLTAKECAREOFTHELASTONEFORYOU!!"
In his excitement, he forgets (roll of 4) about the entangling roots on the ground and charges straight at the elemental in an attempt to get in range for his might acid splash. He deftly avoids (reflex 25) the roots reaching up from the ground to halt his progress and ends his movement at P7.
"ACID SPLASH!!!" Ranged Touch Attack AC 8, 3 points damage.
F'aast d20+5=23 ; Wednesday October 26th, 2011 10:40:14 PM
Faast, decides the risk is now worth it and moves quickly to M3 to flank with Grell. Then he'll use his fists again, hoping the flank and Emrys buff will change his fate.
"AHAAA! Take that!" he screams as his strike finds "paydirt." [d20+5=23]
-----------
[yup I have an AoO coming.]
DM Kathy d20+6=11 ; d20+6=8 ; Thursday October 27th, 2011 12:31:23 AM Emrys fires a shot, but it goes wide. He re-loads, and continues providing encouragement and information for his companions.
Nymirin, realizing that his spell is doing more harm than good, dismisses it--not without a pang of regret.
Grell finally finds his rhythm and unleashes a powerful blow on the elemental, which staggers a bit.
Vaniime's second blow is even better than her first. The creature crumbles into a pile of dirt and lose stones.
William, seeing the Entangle dismissed, returns to Plan A and races for the kids.
F'aast moves to flank, and Fizzle moves to cast a spell, but they are thwarted by the fact that no opponents can be seen.
[If you guys want to change your actions and double-move, you can. Also, you can save your attack/damage rolls if you want.]
Wilma continues to concentrate on her spell, and learns that there are two magic auras in the area of no more than Moderate strength.
The small elementals pop back into view--right near the kids, who scream in terror. One of the elementals reaches out to clobber one of the kids, hitting him and knocking him down.
The other elemental is closer to William, so it attacks him instead. Somehow, though, it misses its large target.
Now that the elementals are closer, the kids are going to have a harder time getting away. Their teacher is doing her best to grab kids and pull them to safety, but she, too, is reluctant to get too close to the attackers.
Opponents:
E1 dead E2 uninjured E3 down 3
And the map. The pale orange squares are where the kids are; they are packed close so there is more than 1 kid to a square.
Wilma AC16 (chain shirt); HP10/10 Thursday October 27th, 2011 12:48:13 AM
Wilma didn't like that she wasn't picking anything up other than very faint auras...but then the reappearance of the two smaller elementals and their attack on the children caught her attention, and she immediately dropped her concentration on maintaining the Detect Magic orison. Gripping her quarterstaff, she found herself sprinting after William with nary a conscious thought.
"The kids are in danger!!!" she shrieked, her heart pounding as she silently prayed for Gargul's ability to travel would propel her all the faster to where she was needed.
(OOC: Wilma is using maximum effort to get herself to where the two elementals are now threatening the children--I believe it's a double move? Not sure where she will ultimately end up, but Wilma fully intends to get herself to S3 with all due haste...or as close as her movement will allow her to get.)
Emrys (AC 15, HP 8, Perform: Naturalist3) 2d4=7 ; Thursday October 27th, 2011 1:28:49 AM
"Oh No!! .... They're after younglings!" he shouts. Emyrs advances across the field toward the shambling elementals and screaming children. Along the way, he continues telling his account of the earth elemental.
"Slow, lumbering, tumbling rubble, Dull of wit, clumsy and stumble. Ignoble, low-born, pitiful and humble, With pick and shovel the Earthen will crumble."
Emyrs can think of nothing else but to try and somehow stop the elementals attack on the children. After securing the proper range, Emyrs halts and drops his crossbow. Taking the lute that hangs from his shoulder, he strums his fingers across the strings and begins to play a hypnotic tune. Soothing words of power reverberate across the field toward the elementals.
(Actions: Move 30-ft to N-0. Perform Naturalist4, free action. Drop crossbow, free action. Cast Hypnotism - 7HD of creatures are affected. Range 30-ft. Will save 16 or become fascinated and stop their actions. Since we're in combat, they get a +2 to their savethrow.)
William Willsden d20+3=14 ; d3+3=4 ; Thursday October 27th, 2011 12:22:43 PM
As William trips, the elemental's attack swings above his head. The cleric stands back up, eyes blinking, confused about what has just happened. He looks quickly around, seeing the young child fall to the floor. A strange sensation pervades his mind, a most unfamiliar feeling that is both uncomortable and unfamiliar. He feels his cheeks flushing as the sensation swells.
And without realising, he steps between the two elementals and lashes out; suddenly, urgently, and with no more thought than to distract the thing from hurting the children.
Alarmingly, the big lad's fist connects with the elemental nearest the children. His knuckles hurt tremendously, but there is an odd sensation of satisfaction as they connect. His eyes open wide in alarm; and he manages to shout to the creatures, "Leave them be! Foul beasts!"
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5' step to S-3, then standard action (unarmed attack) vs Elemental 2 (hits AC 14 for 4 non lethal damage).
Nymirin (AC 14, HP 8/8) Thursday October 27th, 2011 4:29:48 PM
"No, no, no, no." Nymirin chants anxiously as the elemental reappear. He lowers his weapon, pulling it to one side and sets off in a dead sprint towards the pair of creatures.
This is reckless, he scolds, furrowing his brow as the wind rushes into his eyes. Reckless, and dumb, and unmistakably brave. My father would be so proud.
He stops short of the mass of children, digging his heels into the turf and tearing up soil and root. "Watch yourself, William! You don't even have a weapon!"
((Run as a full round action to U1, negating my dexterity bonus until the start of my next turn.))
There is a moment of pure unadulterated exhileration as Van's second stroke downs the elemental and then reality crashes in as she realizes that as her last words, yelled toward William, leave her mouth, that they are far too late.
"Marteus' pustules, those things are fast!" She exclaims, as the she watched the beasts pop up, one child go down and William make his unarmed attack.
All righty Grell, you ready for a race? I'm going slightly to the left, she continues.
Not waiting for a response, Van takes off at a sprint, tearing accross the area toward the children and the enemy.
Double move to Q -4.
Grell AC18; HP 12/12 d20+10=27 ; 2d6+5=13 ; Friday October 28th, 2011 9:05:33 AM
The warrior snorts at Vaniime's challenges. "Any fool can race..." Whatever retort he might have filled is lost as the elf sprints ahead of him to the battle. Bah...uppity elves always trying to do things half way! If you're going to charge in, then CHARGE IN!! HUGE sword raised high and a blood curdling scream issuing from his lips, Grell charges the other elemental and tries to cut the creature in two.
OOC: I've calculated it a couple of ways, and I'm pretty sure I can pull off a charge. Just in case though, here's the squares I used to calculate my movement... K4, L3, M2, N1, O0, P-1, Q-2, R-3. By my calculations, that's 55 feet of movement including the diagonal moves. I tried to make sure none of the other PC's are in the way. Looks to me like there's a nice straight line between Grell and the baddie. If he can't charge, then please just have him make a double move to R-3 and negate the charge. :)
Attack bonuses: +1 for Emry's Song, +2 for Charge, mistakenly added the +1 for Will's spell. Sooo...hits AC26 for 13 damage to E2 if he charges.
DM Kathy d20+6=18 ; d6+4=7 ; d20+6=24 ; d6+4=7 ; Friday October 28th, 2011 9:20:02 AM Wilma stops concentrating on her spell and runs to where the children are threatened.
[To clarify, location of auras happens on Round 3. Round 2 is the number of auras and the strength of the strongest aura, which Wilma got.]
Emrys, too, moves closer to the kids. [I couldn't get you as far as N-0. Everybody, remember that a diagonal square counts as one-and-a-half squares. You are too far away to cast your spell; at first level, the range is 25 feet. Even from N-0, you wouldn't have been able to reach them. If you want to re-state your actions so that you double move, or fire your crossbow, you can.]
William goes to step closer to the elementals, but Wilma has gotten there ahead of him. Instead, he lashes out with his bare fist against the one he can reach. His actions provoke an attack of opportunity from his foe, which hits him for 7 damage. His unarmed blow succeeds only in bruising his hand.
Nymirin sprints toward the combat, calling for William to be careful. Vaniime also spends the round moving into position.
Grell charges! He smacks one of the elementals, killing it with a single stroke. Grell will be insufferable now....
Confused, the single remaining elemental aims a blow at Wilma, hitting for 7 damage.
Grell AC20; HP 12/12 d20+7=21 ; 2d6+5=12 ; Friday October 28th, 2011 9:32:38 AM
Seeing his sister take the blow from the other creature pushes Grell past the point of reason. Oh, it's true that there were times he wanted to throttle his older sister, but as the Orcish saying goes... "Blood is blood. We watch our brothers backs or we find a dagger in ours!" Taking a step forward to fill the spot of the creature his just demolished, Grell brings the sword down once more on the creature that just attacked his sister. Heart pounding, crazed look in his eye, the warrior has one thought in his small mind...KILL THE ENEMY!!
Moved to S-4. Attack hits AC21 for 12 damage.
Vaniime AC 17/14/13, HP: 11/11 d20+7=23 ; d10+4=14 ; Friday October 28th, 2011 12:57:30 PM
(OOc: could have sworn It was too far to do a charge.... ah well.)
Van smiles to herself, as she figures her goading has finally woken Grell up and now they really have a good chance of surviving this with minimal injuries. Then she realizes that Wilma has been injured and calls out to William as she takes a five foot step and attacks....
"William see what you can do to help Wilma, she is hurt."
... smacking the remaining elemental with her blade AC 23 (+1 insight included) causing the beast 14 points of additional damage.
Emrys (AC 15, HP 8, Perform: Naturalist4) d20+2=11 ; d8=8 ; Friday October 28th, 2011 1:38:02 PM
(to replace my last action)
Emyrs moves as far as he can in the direction towards the elementals. He fires his crossbow while lifting his voice in verse.
Fizzle Friday October 28th, 2011 6:47:09 PM
Fizzle runs as fast as he can. (he always was the fastest of his village) and stops his movement at R -1.
Nymirin (AC 16, HP 8/8) d20+3=5 ; Friday October 28th, 2011 6:55:48 PM ((OOC: William has improved unarmed strike which prevents his unarmed attacks from provoking attacks of opportunity, and also lets him choose between lethal and nonlethal damage.))
Nymirin watches as the earthen beast sways under the strikes of his allies. He leans forward, darting into the fray and swinging his sword angrily at the creature (6 vs. AC, Naturalist included). In an effort to get around William safely his grip loosens on the blade, causing his swing to limp significantly.
Of all the luck in the Wold, this is my contribution?!
((OOC: Assuming a 6 doesn't hit.))
Nymirin (AC 16, HP 8/8) Friday October 28th, 2011 6:56:41 PM
((Whoops! Totally forgot. That's a move action to U-2))
F'aast Friday October 28th, 2011 10:29:19 PM
Faast, races forward to S/-2 and prepares to assist.
Slightly frustrated, he talks to himself, "Gotta learn to move fassster."
"Get 'em William! You'ssss the man.!"
Emrys (AC 15, HP 8, Perform: Naturalist5) Friday October 28th, 2011 10:53:11 PM
Thankful that two of the three elementals have been reduced to rubble, Emyrs decides to converge with his friends upon the last remaining combatant. Having expounded in detail the strengths and frailties of the earth elemental for all to hear, he decides to recite one of the few songs ever written in the Terran language. Just to help illustrate the earth elementals limited mentality.
"Party Rock is in the ground tonight. Everybody just have a good grind. And we gonna make you lose your mined. We just wanna see ya quake that ... Everyday I'm shovelin'."
Along the way, he readies his crossbow for another shot.
(Actions: Move 30-ft to P,-1 (I think I counted it right this time. Horrible at math. Diagonal movement confounds me). Perform Naturalist5, free action. Load crossbow, move-equivalent.)
William Willsden d20+3=14 ; d3+4=7 ; Saturday October 29th, 2011 4:48:28 AM OOC: Thanks Clay for mentioning that!
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Willianm hesitates, almost standing still in shock at what he has just done. But then, this creature was attacking children.
Children.
The anger returns; a foreign sensation which doesn't sit comfortable but which seems to control his big arm. He swings again, desperate to get to the child that has fallen, his fist connecting with the creature solidly.
"Goodness me!" he mutters to himself. But there was no other way of reaching the children....
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Unarmed strike at remaining elemental, hits AC 14 for 7 damage. If the elemental is already down, he moves to the aid of the fallen child.
Wilma AC16 (chain shirt); HP3/10 d20+4=23 ; d4=3 ; Saturday October 29th, 2011 7:48:20 AM
"Mama was right," Wilma announced enthusiastically, "The thrill of battle is rath--"
THWAAAAACK!!!
The redheaded acolyte of Gargul suddenly couldn't speak...all the air had been smacked out of her body when the earth elemental landed its very solid blow. She also couldn't see, as a mixture of tears filling her eyes and sparklies filling her vision combined to temporarily blind her. She had to shake her head and blink rapidly to clear her eyes and her head. Glaring at the little pile of dirt before her, Wilma was consumed by a flare of anger.
By the gods, she'd show this elemental the true meaning of "stick-in-the-mud"! The human cleric swung her quarterstaff with all her might, screeching defiance as she did so.
OOC: Wilma hits AC23 for a total of 7hp Blunt damage (forgot to make sure the damage roll included her combat adjustment--sorry!). If this elemental isn't dead/defeated by everyone else's combined hits, I think her fury-fueled attack might be a coup-de-grace.
DM Kathy Sunday October 30th, 2011 9:01:35 PM
Nobody gets to pick on Grell's sister except Grell, and he makes sure the elemental understands that with a vicious cut from his sword.
Vaniime follows up with a cut from her elven blade, and Wilma finishes the creature off.
Fizzle, Emrys, Nymarin, and F'aast all re-position themselves, but they see the last creature drop.
William, now that there are no more opponents, rushes to the side of the injured boy, and is able to stabilize him.
[OOC: Before I made my last post, I made a mental note to check to see whether William had the Improved Unarmed Strike feat. "Check that, Kathy," I told myself. Yeah. Didn't happen. Sorry about that.]
Looking behind you, you can see the the professors, too, have dealt with their opponents. In the sudden quiet, you can hear several of the Lower School kids crying.
Your very first combat is over.
William Willsden d6=6 ; Monday October 31st, 2011 3:11:27 AM
William tries to stem the tears that well in his eyes, although he is not sure where they are coming from. He holds the child in his arms, and glances around at the others. Some of the others in his class were hurt, the children were frightened. Closing his eyes briefly, he whispers a word to Alemi, and the air around him seems to radiate with warmth. Those nearby feel themselves strengthened by his aura.
Then the big cleric talks in what he thinks might be calming tones to the children. "Don't worry, my dear friends, they're gone now, gone."
OOC: Channel energy, 6 hit points healed to everyone in 30'
Wilma AC16 (chain shirt); HP10/10 d6=1 ; d6=6 ; Monday October 31st, 2011 3:18:28 AM
Wilma panted heavily, looking around for any lingering magical auras, her quarterstaff clutched in her still white-knuckled grip.
"Is that it?" she asked out loud. "Are they all gone? Are the children okay?" Turning around in place, her sapphire eyes ranged the battle-torn school grounds. No more foes seem to jump out at her, neither literally nor figuratively. She caught the gentle cleric of Alemi's gaze and gave him an approving smile.
"You're more of a warrior priest than you realize, William," she told him humorously, then reached up and grasped the carved ironwood Eye of Gargul symbol hanging around her neck. "Let's see if I'm more of a healing cleric than I realize..." So saying, the acolyte of the Woldian god of Life and Death channeled a burst of healing energy that engulfed every living person in a thirty-foot-diameter range.
OOC: I rolled a 1 for the first attempt, but I'm using Wilma's pretty ivory flats (the magic ones on her character sheet) and re-rolling for a cool 6hp of healing per person in the radius of her energy burst.
Nymirin (AC 16, HP 8/8) Monday October 31st, 2011 9:41:37 AM
Nymirin tucks his scimitar back into his belt and rolls his shoulders to readjust his armor. He steps up towards the group of children with a warm smile and raises his hands.
"There's no need to be frightened anymore." He pauses as the healing magic from the two clerics rushes over him like a warm breeze. "Is anyone else injured? Is everyone accounted for?"
He scans his eyes over the group and feels the rush of combat slowly fading away. Nymirin looks to William, and then the rest of his schoolmates and his heart sinks.
William could have been killed. By Maab's grace, any of us could have been killed! These creatures weren't attacking in abstract patterns- they had a goal. Who would attack a school? For what purpose? His stomach tightens at the thought, painful and sickening like a strong punch to the gut. No. This is a victory. This is the fodder of legends and stories; the things that minstrels sing of. This is the glory.
His smile stiffens on his face, only for a moment, before returning to a seemingly natural warmness.
I'd never been so terrified in all my life.
Emrys d20+5=11 ; d20+5=19 ; d20+14=25 ; Monday October 31st, 2011 1:54:38 PM
Emyrs is greatly relieved when the last elemental crumbles. Not only for allowing him to end his rhyming lecture about those menacing earthen, because seriously he was running out of material, but also his nerves were strung tighter than his lute. It's taken all his will to retain his composure (bluff 11). He thinks, Come ooon .. fingerss! We're not done yet.
Dropping his crossbow, Emyrs decides to address the younglings and attempt to calm them down. "Now, now ... all is well, nothing to fear. The day is saved, 'cause we are here." With a smile and a wink, the young bard fingers weaves a tune and speaks of heroes both past and new.
(Actions: Diplomacy 19, Perform (strings) 25)
Vaniime AC 17/14/13, HP: 11/11 Monday October 31st, 2011 9:25:57 PM
Even though uninjured, Van feels the warmth of positive energy flow over her, and sighs as the muscle twinge in her back smooths out and relaxes all her muscles that seem to be pulled into knots from the tension she realizes that she was holding throughout the fight.
Looking around she sees that no one nearby is dead and that is a relief, but she starts to shake a bit as she realizes how easily it could have been for one of them to be the elemental's situation. urning away so no one can see that she is totally about to freak out, she focuses on her blade making sure it is clean and nick free before sheathing it.
Moments later, mostly composed, she turns back to her friends, obviously a bit nervy still.
"Well, that was unexpected. Nice job everyone. You're pretty good with that pig sticker once you get warmed up Grell. You too Wilma. That oversized toothpick of yours can sure pack a whallop. Nym was that your spell that tangled them up and slowed them down? Good job. Emrys where did you learn all that information about the elementals, that sure was helpful. William, way to help protect the littles."
She stops for amoment as a thought comes to her.
[b ]"I wonder why they attacked us?[/b]
DM Kathy: Wrapping Up Monday October 31st, 2011 10:28:36 PM
Everyone take 500 XP for your first combat. Well done!
Two characters' actions stand out for me. William was prepared to hurl his unarmored, unarmed self between the attackers and the kids. Twice. Nymirin, who doesn't have that many spells as a first-level character, quickly realized that the one he cast was Not Helping on an epic scale, and sacrificed a standard action to get rid of it. This is hard to do for a spellcaster.
So, normally, I would hand William and Nymirin a Hero Point apiece. The problem is, you are limited to one Hero Point per character level....which is 1, presently. And you all started out with a Hero Point. So, I'd give you guys another one, but you don't have anywhere to put it. At least, I don't think anyone's used their Hero Point yet.
So, William and Nymirin, you each get a bonus of 30 XP, which you can keep, and a Hero Point, which, sadly, you cannot. :(
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