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Let's Play #2 4e Goodman Games DCC53 Sellswords of Punjar Obsidian Portal Link- NOW WITH PICS OF THE PCS
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<blockquote data-quote="Goonalan" data-source="post: 6133945" data-attributes="member: 16069"><p style="text-align: center"><span style="font-size: 18px">Let's Play #2 Goodman Games DCC53 </span></p> <p style="text-align: center"><span style="font-size: 18px">Sellswords of Punjar (Level 1)</span></p><p></p><p>Session 3.</p><p></p><p style="text-align: center"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40504969@N08/8971973409/" target="_blank"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3809/8971973409_e9c5336a9b_c.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></a></p><p></p><p>Encounter #12 Beneath the Charnel Tower.</p><p></p><p>[sblock=The Map]</p><p></p><p style="text-align: center"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40504969@N08/8533054970/" target="_blank"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8101/8533054970_089dd6d62e_o.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></a></p> <p style="text-align: center">The Charnel Tower is area 2-8, on the map.</p><p></p><p>[/sblock]</p><p></p><p>After a short discussion the adventurers decide upon their tactics- it begins with Kathra kicking the hot to touch door open- Hell lies within.</p><p></p><p>The chamber ahead is the lowest level of a round tower, a stone stair spirals up into darkness and shadow, down below the entire floor of the chamber is covered in soot and ash, on the far wall a series of fiery ovens poking out of which are the feet and scattered bones of the Beggar King's recent victims.</p><p></p><p>Standing in the center of the chamber is the Beggar King himself, the obese fellow’s skin hangs in folds about him, his head tipped back- mouth as far open as it can go- further than it should be able to go, his jaw must be broken, a shadowy form hovers in the Beggar King's maw.</p><p></p><p>'Kill me- it's the only way...'</p><p></p><p>The Beggar King gasps, which is all the invitation the adventurers need, their task is made more difficult when a pair of Cinder Skeletons (Blazing Skeletons) clamber out the ovens ready to defend their Lord.</p><p></p><p>The Bad Guys... 650 XP Level 3 Encounter.</p><p>Cinder Skeletons Level 2 Artillery x2</p><p>The Beggar King Level 5 Elite Controller</p><p></p><p>[sblock=The Monster Manual]</p><p></p><p style="text-align: center"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40504969@N08/8661401768/" target="_blank"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8125/8661401768_2382bae682_o.png" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></a></p> <p style="text-align: center"></p> <p style="text-align: center"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40504969@N08/8660304619/" target="_blank"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8120/8660304619_85552e965b_o.png" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></a></p><p></p><p>[/sblock]</p><p></p><p>Tira Curses and then launches her Eldritch Blast at the closest skeleton, bones splinter, smash and scatter.</p><p></p><p>The Beggar King hiccups and shoots a swathe of flame from his open mouth, Erais is singed and burnt. For good measure the emaciated fat man, or so it seems with his vast folds of flesh, points at Erais who moments later is struck by a Shadow Bolt, the Sunlord staggers- bloodied already. The cleric also shakes and shivers furiously, beset by ongoing necrotic and cold affects.</p><p></p><p>One of the fiery skeletons suddenly blinks out of existence only to reappear in the doorway- preventing the adventurers from closing in on the Beggar King.</p><p></p><p>Erais offers up his holy symbol which suddenly radiates a myriad beams of light- he Turns Undead, the skeleton blocking the doorway is smashed and bloodied, sent skittering back and frozen to the spot. The other skeleton is struck a lesser blow, although it too is now bloodied. The Sunlord mutters another prayer and his wounds instantly heal over, he also shrugs off the hurt from the Beggar King’s previous attack.</p><p></p><p>The immobilised skeleton forms a ball of flame in its hands, which it launches at Erais- the human burns, if only a little. The second fiery skeleton rushes back out of the chamber and claws at Tira, the tiefling is likewise left singed.</p><p></p><p>Riardon backs away and readies his bow, fires two arrows in quick succession, the fiery skeleton menacing Tira is smashed to pieces.</p><p></p><p>A third cinder skeleton climbs out of the ovens on the far side of the chamber, and rushes forward towards the adventurers.</p><p></p><p>The Bad Guys... 775 XP Level 4 Encounter.</p><p>Cinder Skeletons Level 2 Artillery x3</p><p>The Beggar King Level 5 Elite Controller</p><p></p><p>Just in time to be met by Kathra’s Passing Attack, the dwarf smashes the skeleton with her warhammer and then rushes on to swipe at the Beggar King, ineffectually as it turns out.</p><p></p><p>Kathra growls and tries again, this time with her Brute Strike (Action Point), her warhammer thumps in to the Beggar King, although the strange fellow’s fleshy folds seem to absorb most of the damage. In the chamber Kathra notes a dark and pungent furze- a choking smoke which leaves her slightly breathless.</p><p></p><p>Iain, who plays Kathra, rolled really badly for his Daily Brute Strike damage- he looks pained.</p><p></p><p>Unseen by the adventurers, way up high in the tower, an inky black splodge detaches itself from the structure and descends to investigate the events below, another Shadow Bat Swarm- the guy’s favourite.</p><p></p><p>The Bad Guys... 925 XP Level 5 Encounter.</p><p>Cinder Skeletons Level 2 Artillery x3</p><p>Shadow Bat Swarm Level 3 Lurker </p><p>The Beggar King Level 5 Elite Controller</p><p></p><p>[sblock=The Monster Manual]</p><p></p><p style="text-align: center"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40504969@N08/8660301055/" target="_blank"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8123/8660301055_3eb39e51db_o.png" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></a></p><p></p><p>[/sblock]</p><p></p><p>And we're quickly up to a Level 5 Encounter.</p><p></p><p>The bat swarm spirals down and cloaks Kathra, the dwarf swats and swishes but can't keep the bats at bay- teeth chattering from the cold and beset by ongoing necrotic damage she struggles on.</p><p></p><p>Tira moves a little closer to the action and unleashes her Blazing Starfall- glittering streaks of light that target both of the fiery skeletons, although neither of them are struck, the tiefling does however put out the fire that was burning her. </p><p></p><p>The Beggar King is rooted to the spot, the strange creature attempts to launch another Shadow Bolt but is smashed by Kathra in the process- her necrotic missile however manages to hit home- bringing further pain to the female dwarf.</p><p></p><p>Suddenly the newly arrived skeleton disappears only to reappear again blocking the doorway, once more.</p><p></p><p>Erais gets in to action- his Lance of Faith slams in to the fiery skeleton blocking the way, the creature is almost smashed to pieces, bloodied it staggers wildly. Erais is determined however, he raises his holy symbol again and from it sends out his Divine Glow- lances of radiant light strike both skeletons, the pair explode in flurries of splintered bone.</p><p></p><p>The adventurers look overjoyed- just the Beggar King and the Shadow Bat Swarm to see off.</p><p></p><p>Two more cinder skeletons climb out the ovens and rush forward to defend their master.</p><p></p><p>The players look much less overjoyed.</p><p></p><p>The Bad Guys... 1175 XP Level 6 Encounter.</p><p>Cinder Skeletons Level 2 Artillery x5</p><p>Shadow Bat Swarm Level 3 Lurker </p><p>The Beggar King Level 5 Elite Controller </p><p></p><p>The two new undead arrivals claw at Kathra with their burning digits- the dwarf defends one but cannot prevent the second from raking its fiery fingers down her back- she burns.</p><p></p><p>Riardon repositions, still outside of the chamber, and then with his Twin Strike the eladrin ranger smashes two arrows in to the closest skeleton, which is now bloodied.</p><p></p><p>Kathra stuggles- freezing from the bat swarm’s cold and necrosis, while at the same time burning from wounds inflicted by one of the fiery skeletons, she staggers and almost falls- bloodied. The dwarf sucks up the hurt and takes her Second Wind. Then smashes her warhammer through the closest of the fiery skeletons, the think shatters and is destroyed, her warhammer describes a full circle and thuds in to the Beggar King’s side.</p><p></p><p>The bat swarm continues to menace the dwarf but Kathra manages this time to keep it at bay, while at the same time shaking off almost all of the ongoing damage she was taking.</p><p></p><p>The players are holding their own, the encounter is now a Level 6, and they love it, Kathra is in the thick of the action- giggling like a loon and wondering what to try next.</p><p></p><p>The shadow bat swarm swirls again around the tenacious dwarf; biting, flapping, clawing- Kathra is cut and bruised- bloodied (again), and back to shivering and shaking.</p><p></p><p>Tira moves in to the doorway, Curses the Beggar King and then swathes the strange fellow in Witchfire- he burns. Then with her rod in hand she points and whispers, the Beggar King’s eyes roll over, for a moment it looks like he’s going to shut his mouth, but the magic soon fades.</p><p></p><p>Tira’s Daily power Curse of the Dark Dream misses, which just means she gets to slide the Beggar King one square every turn- until he saves, I’ll save you the suspense, the Beggar King saves against the power the first chance he gets. That’s a sucky Daily.</p><p></p><p>The Beggar King fights back, sends out another Shadow Bolt, after first avoiding Kathra’s warhammer swat. The dwarf suffers some more, staggers and almost hits the deck.</p><p></p><p>Kathra is on two hit points, and taking at least seven points of ongoing damage.</p><p></p><p>The last remaining fiery skeleton suddenly disappears only to reappear moments later next to Kathra.</p><p></p><p>You may be wondering why the Beggar King isn’t moving about the chamber, the truth is he's stuck in place, a remnant of the ritual he was participating in prior to the adventurers arrival- he also doesn’t have any melee based attacks.</p><p></p><p>Erais shoots out his Lance of Faith at the Beggar King, alas off target, and then mutters prayers as Kathra’s wounds once again heal over- but not enough, the dwarf is still bloodied even after the Sunlord’s Healing Word.</p><p></p><p>The last remaining fiery skeleton claws at Tira, the tiefling burns- although only a little.</p><p></p><p>Riardon repositions yet again, sets himself and then fires- both arrows of his Twin Strike slam in to the Beggar King, the forlorn human wails and screams, and then as suddenly stops. A burst of shadowy black energy seems to pulse from the now bloodied fiend; Tira, Erais and Riardon gasp as they’re struck by a wave of nauseating necrotic energy, Kathra seems unmoved- and indeed unharmed by the effect. The wounds of the shadow bat swarm instantly heal over.</p><p></p><p>Note Tira and Erais are bloodied in the Beggar King’s Shadow Burst.</p><p></p><p>Riardon fires again, another two arrows fly in to the charnel tower (after an Action Point), the first arrow from his Split the Tree attack smashes in to the remaining fiery skeleton, leaving the creature staggering and bloodied. The second almost finishes off the Beggar King, striking the unfortunate fellow exactly where his heart should be. </p><p></p><p>Kathra, meanwhile, continues to suffer in the Beggar King’s Shadow Haze, combined with a myriad other ongoing affects. The dwarf however remains standing- after also managing to avoid the shadow bat swarms Cloud of Teeth attack. She smashes her warhammer in to the Beggar King, who defies gravity and remains upright- Cleaving through she swats a few of the shadow bats down.</p><p></p><p>In game we’re on a knife edge- the bad guys are hanging around while the guys are all suffering- three of the PCs have less than 10 hit points each.</p><p></p><p>The bat swarm swirls and whirls and tries again to bring death and destruction to Kathra, but again the dwarf somehow manages to keep the creatures at bay.</p><p></p><p>Tira shakes off the skeleton’s fire, but not before wasting a badly aimed Eldritch Blast.</p><p></p><p>Meantime the Beggar King once more opens his mouth to expel a Flame Gout, Kathra’s quicker still- she smashes her warhammer in to the human, who finally crumples and then drops.</p><p></p><p>The Beggar King is dead!</p><p></p><p>The remaining cinder skeleton crumbles to dust.</p><p></p><p>You should have heard the cheer around the table, a little excessive with the swearing but... the player's moods seem to have improved considerably.</p><p></p><p>Erais fires another burning radiant Lance of Faith in to the bat swarm- cutting a swathe this time through the inky black bolus. Riardon’s Twin Strike is however much less effective, much much less effective.</p><p></p><p>Kathra swats at the swarm and smashes yet more of the bats dead- while successfully avoiding the swarm’s attack.</p><p></p><p>The players are cheering in the aisles, they’re whooping with joy, high fives- most unbecoming.</p><p></p><p>Little do they know...</p><p></p><p>The shadow bat swarm suddenly explodes in a fury- there are bats everywhere, all the adventurers except Tira are caught in the swarms Blinding Wings; Erais is left unconscious, Riardon and Kathra bloodied and blinded.</p><p></p><p>The PCs left standing have less than 25 hit points all told between them.</p><p></p><p>That shut them up.</p><p></p><p>Tira Curses the swarm and then delivers another Eldritch Blast, incinerating a bunch more of the bats, the swarm is at last bloodied.</p><p></p><p>Erais meanwhile bleeds and coughs up blood- having failed a death save.</p><p></p><p>Riardon fires, aiming for the sound of the swarm (he’s blind remember), his Evasive Strike cuts a swathe through the center of the bats, the end is in sight (no pun intended). The eladrin shakes off the swarm’s effect- he can see again.</p><p></p><p>Iain (Kathra) makes his next rolls to a chorus of 'go on... go on... go on...'</p><p></p><p>The blinded Kathra swings and spins like a top- swats the few remaining bats out of the air- the swarm is gone, moments later the dwarf can see again- she opens her eyes to discover her enemies are all dead.</p><p></p><p>Iain breaks out what passes for a crude dance- he's nearly 50 years old, he really should know better.</p><p></p><p>Tira is quickly over to Erais, she revives the cleric with ease... the kindly DM lets the players bask in the glory for a minute or two, then...</p><p></p><p>The Beggar King suddenly comes alive, he's yanked to his feet, his eyes open, his mouth open- wider... wider... wider, he screams.</p><p></p><p>“KILL ITTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT!”</p><p></p><p>The Beggar King is split in two- viscera flies and from the mess emerges a Shadow Dragon.</p><p></p><p>The creature roars its approval and then is airborne and ascending the tower... the shadowy wisp of its tail elongates and stretches the flopping remains of the Beggar King clutches onto the hazy leash with a deathlock grip.</p><p></p><p>Suddenly a boulder the size of a small house crashes down from the ceiling in the rocky passage through which the adventurers entered the tower, this brings the guys back to reality- the dungeon behind them is collapsing.</p><p></p><p>“Killit.”</p><p></p><p>The remains of the Beggar King gargles; and clutches still to the Umbral Drakes tail.</p><p></p><p>The adventurers take the stairs three at a time- rushing to the apex of the tower, and the Shadow Dragon.</p><p></p><p>I allow the PCs to spend Healing Surges as they rush up the stairs of the tower- call it an adrenalin surge, it’s a new encounter after all. Just worth mentioning Healing Surges after the above healing then- Erais has none, Kathra one, and all of the PCs are very low on Daily Powers and Action Points.</p><p></p><p>1175 XP Level 6 Encounter.</p><p>Cinder Skeletons Level 2 Artillery x5</p><p>Shadow Bat Swarm Level 3 Lurker </p><p>The Beggar King Level 5 Elite Controller</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Goonalan, post: 6133945, member: 16069"] [CENTER][SIZE="5"]Let's Play #2 Goodman Games DCC53 Sellswords of Punjar (Level 1)[/SIZE][/CENTER] Session 3. [CENTER][url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/40504969@N08/8971973409/][img]http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3809/8971973409_e9c5336a9b_c.jpg[/img][/url][/CENTER] Encounter #12 Beneath the Charnel Tower. [sblock=The Map] [CENTER][url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/40504969@N08/8533054970/][img]http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8101/8533054970_089dd6d62e_o.jpg[/img][/url] The Charnel Tower is area 2-8, on the map.[/CENTER] [/sblock] After a short discussion the adventurers decide upon their tactics- it begins with Kathra kicking the hot to touch door open- Hell lies within. The chamber ahead is the lowest level of a round tower, a stone stair spirals up into darkness and shadow, down below the entire floor of the chamber is covered in soot and ash, on the far wall a series of fiery ovens poking out of which are the feet and scattered bones of the Beggar King's recent victims. Standing in the center of the chamber is the Beggar King himself, the obese fellow’s skin hangs in folds about him, his head tipped back- mouth as far open as it can go- further than it should be able to go, his jaw must be broken, a shadowy form hovers in the Beggar King's maw. 'Kill me- it's the only way...' The Beggar King gasps, which is all the invitation the adventurers need, their task is made more difficult when a pair of Cinder Skeletons (Blazing Skeletons) clamber out the ovens ready to defend their Lord. The Bad Guys... 650 XP Level 3 Encounter. Cinder Skeletons Level 2 Artillery x2 The Beggar King Level 5 Elite Controller [sblock=The Monster Manual] [CENTER][url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/40504969@N08/8661401768/][img]http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8125/8661401768_2382bae682_o.png[/img][/url] [url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/40504969@N08/8660304619/][img]http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8120/8660304619_85552e965b_o.png[/img][/url][/CENTER] [/sblock] Tira Curses and then launches her Eldritch Blast at the closest skeleton, bones splinter, smash and scatter. The Beggar King hiccups and shoots a swathe of flame from his open mouth, Erais is singed and burnt. For good measure the emaciated fat man, or so it seems with his vast folds of flesh, points at Erais who moments later is struck by a Shadow Bolt, the Sunlord staggers- bloodied already. The cleric also shakes and shivers furiously, beset by ongoing necrotic and cold affects. One of the fiery skeletons suddenly blinks out of existence only to reappear in the doorway- preventing the adventurers from closing in on the Beggar King. Erais offers up his holy symbol which suddenly radiates a myriad beams of light- he Turns Undead, the skeleton blocking the doorway is smashed and bloodied, sent skittering back and frozen to the spot. The other skeleton is struck a lesser blow, although it too is now bloodied. The Sunlord mutters another prayer and his wounds instantly heal over, he also shrugs off the hurt from the Beggar King’s previous attack. The immobilised skeleton forms a ball of flame in its hands, which it launches at Erais- the human burns, if only a little. The second fiery skeleton rushes back out of the chamber and claws at Tira, the tiefling is likewise left singed. Riardon backs away and readies his bow, fires two arrows in quick succession, the fiery skeleton menacing Tira is smashed to pieces. A third cinder skeleton climbs out of the ovens on the far side of the chamber, and rushes forward towards the adventurers. The Bad Guys... 775 XP Level 4 Encounter. Cinder Skeletons Level 2 Artillery x3 The Beggar King Level 5 Elite Controller Just in time to be met by Kathra’s Passing Attack, the dwarf smashes the skeleton with her warhammer and then rushes on to swipe at the Beggar King, ineffectually as it turns out. Kathra growls and tries again, this time with her Brute Strike (Action Point), her warhammer thumps in to the Beggar King, although the strange fellow’s fleshy folds seem to absorb most of the damage. In the chamber Kathra notes a dark and pungent furze- a choking smoke which leaves her slightly breathless. Iain, who plays Kathra, rolled really badly for his Daily Brute Strike damage- he looks pained. Unseen by the adventurers, way up high in the tower, an inky black splodge detaches itself from the structure and descends to investigate the events below, another Shadow Bat Swarm- the guy’s favourite. The Bad Guys... 925 XP Level 5 Encounter. Cinder Skeletons Level 2 Artillery x3 Shadow Bat Swarm Level 3 Lurker The Beggar King Level 5 Elite Controller [sblock=The Monster Manual] [CENTER][url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/40504969@N08/8660301055/][img]http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8123/8660301055_3eb39e51db_o.png[/img][/url][/CENTER] [/sblock] And we're quickly up to a Level 5 Encounter. The bat swarm spirals down and cloaks Kathra, the dwarf swats and swishes but can't keep the bats at bay- teeth chattering from the cold and beset by ongoing necrotic damage she struggles on. Tira moves a little closer to the action and unleashes her Blazing Starfall- glittering streaks of light that target both of the fiery skeletons, although neither of them are struck, the tiefling does however put out the fire that was burning her. The Beggar King is rooted to the spot, the strange creature attempts to launch another Shadow Bolt but is smashed by Kathra in the process- her necrotic missile however manages to hit home- bringing further pain to the female dwarf. Suddenly the newly arrived skeleton disappears only to reappear again blocking the doorway, once more. Erais gets in to action- his Lance of Faith slams in to the fiery skeleton blocking the way, the creature is almost smashed to pieces, bloodied it staggers wildly. Erais is determined however, he raises his holy symbol again and from it sends out his Divine Glow- lances of radiant light strike both skeletons, the pair explode in flurries of splintered bone. The adventurers look overjoyed- just the Beggar King and the Shadow Bat Swarm to see off. Two more cinder skeletons climb out the ovens and rush forward to defend their master. The players look much less overjoyed. The Bad Guys... 1175 XP Level 6 Encounter. Cinder Skeletons Level 2 Artillery x5 Shadow Bat Swarm Level 3 Lurker The Beggar King Level 5 Elite Controller The two new undead arrivals claw at Kathra with their burning digits- the dwarf defends one but cannot prevent the second from raking its fiery fingers down her back- she burns. Riardon repositions, still outside of the chamber, and then with his Twin Strike the eladrin ranger smashes two arrows in to the closest skeleton, which is now bloodied. Kathra stuggles- freezing from the bat swarm’s cold and necrosis, while at the same time burning from wounds inflicted by one of the fiery skeletons, she staggers and almost falls- bloodied. The dwarf sucks up the hurt and takes her Second Wind. Then smashes her warhammer through the closest of the fiery skeletons, the think shatters and is destroyed, her warhammer describes a full circle and thuds in to the Beggar King’s side. The bat swarm continues to menace the dwarf but Kathra manages this time to keep it at bay, while at the same time shaking off almost all of the ongoing damage she was taking. The players are holding their own, the encounter is now a Level 6, and they love it, Kathra is in the thick of the action- giggling like a loon and wondering what to try next. The shadow bat swarm swirls again around the tenacious dwarf; biting, flapping, clawing- Kathra is cut and bruised- bloodied (again), and back to shivering and shaking. Tira moves in to the doorway, Curses the Beggar King and then swathes the strange fellow in Witchfire- he burns. Then with her rod in hand she points and whispers, the Beggar King’s eyes roll over, for a moment it looks like he’s going to shut his mouth, but the magic soon fades. Tira’s Daily power Curse of the Dark Dream misses, which just means she gets to slide the Beggar King one square every turn- until he saves, I’ll save you the suspense, the Beggar King saves against the power the first chance he gets. That’s a sucky Daily. The Beggar King fights back, sends out another Shadow Bolt, after first avoiding Kathra’s warhammer swat. The dwarf suffers some more, staggers and almost hits the deck. Kathra is on two hit points, and taking at least seven points of ongoing damage. The last remaining fiery skeleton suddenly disappears only to reappear moments later next to Kathra. You may be wondering why the Beggar King isn’t moving about the chamber, the truth is he's stuck in place, a remnant of the ritual he was participating in prior to the adventurers arrival- he also doesn’t have any melee based attacks. Erais shoots out his Lance of Faith at the Beggar King, alas off target, and then mutters prayers as Kathra’s wounds once again heal over- but not enough, the dwarf is still bloodied even after the Sunlord’s Healing Word. The last remaining fiery skeleton claws at Tira, the tiefling burns- although only a little. Riardon repositions yet again, sets himself and then fires- both arrows of his Twin Strike slam in to the Beggar King, the forlorn human wails and screams, and then as suddenly stops. A burst of shadowy black energy seems to pulse from the now bloodied fiend; Tira, Erais and Riardon gasp as they’re struck by a wave of nauseating necrotic energy, Kathra seems unmoved- and indeed unharmed by the effect. The wounds of the shadow bat swarm instantly heal over. Note Tira and Erais are bloodied in the Beggar King’s Shadow Burst. Riardon fires again, another two arrows fly in to the charnel tower (after an Action Point), the first arrow from his Split the Tree attack smashes in to the remaining fiery skeleton, leaving the creature staggering and bloodied. The second almost finishes off the Beggar King, striking the unfortunate fellow exactly where his heart should be. Kathra, meanwhile, continues to suffer in the Beggar King’s Shadow Haze, combined with a myriad other ongoing affects. The dwarf however remains standing- after also managing to avoid the shadow bat swarms Cloud of Teeth attack. She smashes her warhammer in to the Beggar King, who defies gravity and remains upright- Cleaving through she swats a few of the shadow bats down. In game we’re on a knife edge- the bad guys are hanging around while the guys are all suffering- three of the PCs have less than 10 hit points each. The bat swarm swirls and whirls and tries again to bring death and destruction to Kathra, but again the dwarf somehow manages to keep the creatures at bay. Tira shakes off the skeleton’s fire, but not before wasting a badly aimed Eldritch Blast. Meantime the Beggar King once more opens his mouth to expel a Flame Gout, Kathra’s quicker still- she smashes her warhammer in to the human, who finally crumples and then drops. The Beggar King is dead! The remaining cinder skeleton crumbles to dust. You should have heard the cheer around the table, a little excessive with the swearing but... the player's moods seem to have improved considerably. Erais fires another burning radiant Lance of Faith in to the bat swarm- cutting a swathe this time through the inky black bolus. Riardon’s Twin Strike is however much less effective, much much less effective. Kathra swats at the swarm and smashes yet more of the bats dead- while successfully avoiding the swarm’s attack. The players are cheering in the aisles, they’re whooping with joy, high fives- most unbecoming. Little do they know... The shadow bat swarm suddenly explodes in a fury- there are bats everywhere, all the adventurers except Tira are caught in the swarms Blinding Wings; Erais is left unconscious, Riardon and Kathra bloodied and blinded. The PCs left standing have less than 25 hit points all told between them. That shut them up. Tira Curses the swarm and then delivers another Eldritch Blast, incinerating a bunch more of the bats, the swarm is at last bloodied. Erais meanwhile bleeds and coughs up blood- having failed a death save. Riardon fires, aiming for the sound of the swarm (he’s blind remember), his Evasive Strike cuts a swathe through the center of the bats, the end is in sight (no pun intended). The eladrin shakes off the swarm’s effect- he can see again. Iain (Kathra) makes his next rolls to a chorus of 'go on... go on... go on...' The blinded Kathra swings and spins like a top- swats the few remaining bats out of the air- the swarm is gone, moments later the dwarf can see again- she opens her eyes to discover her enemies are all dead. Iain breaks out what passes for a crude dance- he's nearly 50 years old, he really should know better. Tira is quickly over to Erais, she revives the cleric with ease... the kindly DM lets the players bask in the glory for a minute or two, then... The Beggar King suddenly comes alive, he's yanked to his feet, his eyes open, his mouth open- wider... wider... wider, he screams. “KILL ITTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT!” The Beggar King is split in two- viscera flies and from the mess emerges a Shadow Dragon. The creature roars its approval and then is airborne and ascending the tower... the shadowy wisp of its tail elongates and stretches the flopping remains of the Beggar King clutches onto the hazy leash with a deathlock grip. Suddenly a boulder the size of a small house crashes down from the ceiling in the rocky passage through which the adventurers entered the tower, this brings the guys back to reality- the dungeon behind them is collapsing. “Killit.” The remains of the Beggar King gargles; and clutches still to the Umbral Drakes tail. The adventurers take the stairs three at a time- rushing to the apex of the tower, and the Shadow Dragon. I allow the PCs to spend Healing Surges as they rush up the stairs of the tower- call it an adrenalin surge, it’s a new encounter after all. Just worth mentioning Healing Surges after the above healing then- Erais has none, Kathra one, and all of the PCs are very low on Daily Powers and Action Points. 1175 XP Level 6 Encounter. Cinder Skeletons Level 2 Artillery x5 Shadow Bat Swarm Level 3 Lurker The Beggar King Level 5 Elite Controller [/QUOTE]
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