[Adventure] Serpent's Skull: Souls for Smuggler's Shiv (DM: Mewness; Judge: THB)

Ambush the Cannibals: Round 3

Despite the rapid dwindling of their numbers, the cannibals continue to fight furiously. One throws a spear at Kane, who easily avoids it; the leader’s jab is likewise parried with contemptuous ease by Castile. The last hurls his spear into Pezock’s back, causing the kenku to twist in agony and stumble. The man then charges, but Pezock, unsteady on his feet, sways clear of the blow by sheer good luck.

[sblock=actions and rolls]I moved the sphere to N10. Seems reasonably central.

Cannibal 5 moves to R13. Cannibal 5 javelin vs AC, Kane; damage
10(1d20) +6 = 16; 6(1d8) +4 = 10 miss.

Cannibal 6 greatspear vs AC, Castile; damage
3(1d20) +10 = 13; 3(1d8) +6 = 9 miss.

Cannibal 8 javelin vs AC, Pezock; damage
20(1d20) +6 = 26; 3(1d8) +4 = 7 crit for 12 and Pezock is pushed to P7

Cannibal 8 charges to P6. Cannibal 8 blood-crazed charge vs AC, Pezock; damage
7(1d20) +6 +1 = 14; 8(1d8) +4 = 12 misses.[/sblock]

[sblock=Terrain Rules, etc.]Terrain Rules
The greyish-brown stuff represents a sandy, rocky surface. It is normal terrain, as is the lighter green stuff.

The dark green terrain is heavy undergrowth. It is difficult terrain.

The pale grey splotches are rocks. They are a bit over five feet higher than the surrounding terrain. You can climb onto an adjacent square of one by spending two squares of movement and making a DC 15 Athletics check. The top surfaces of these rocks are uneven, and so are difficult terrain.

The teepees are shelters. The entrances face toward the middle of the camp. They aren’t very solid and can be knocked over as a move action should anyone care to do so.

The dark brown circles are trees; they are blocking terrain.[/sblock]

[sblock=Controlling Gelik and Pezock]Companion NPCs in Combat

Any PC can take a standard, move, or minor action to have an NPC perform an action of the same (or a lesser) type. E.g., if you want Gelik to use Charm of Misplaced Wrath, you spend a standard action. If you want him to move, you spend a move action. An NPC is limited to the usual number of actions each round (but those actions need not all be granted by the same PC). An NPC who has an immediate action can likewise only use it if a PC has an immediate action available to use on his/her behalf.

NPCs can take free actions and opportunity actions normally, without the direction of PCs. They are always considered to have their weapons in hand and don’t need to spend actions unsheathing them.

If all of the PCs act in a given round without giving any actions to a particular NPC, I will have that NPC take one non-offensive action. This will most likely be Second Wind if it is needed and available, and movement or Total Defense if it is not. (It won’t be necessary for PCs to spend their own standard actions to have NPCs use second wind.)[/sblock]

[sblock=Gelik]Gelik
HP 22/22, Bloodied 11, Surge value 5; Surges 6/6
AC 14, Fort 12, Reflex 14, Will 16
Speed 5, gnome traits
Skills: Bluff +7, Arcana +11
Hypnotism (standard; arcane, charm, enchantment, implement; ranged 10, one enemy)
Attack: +5 vs. Will
Hit: Choose one: the target uses a free action to make a melee basic attack against a creature of Gelik’s choice, with a +4 power bonus to the attack roll; or, Gelik slides the target up to 3 squares.
[o] Charm of Misplaced Wrath (standard; arcane, charm, enchantment, implement; ranged 10, one enemy)
Attack: +5 vs. Will
Hit: Gelik slides the target up to 3 squares. The target is then dazed until the end of Gelik’s next turn. (1/encounter, as a free action, Gelik can extend the daze for another round.)
Effect: The target makes a basic attack against a creature of Gelik’s choice as a free action with a +2 power bonus to the damage roll.
[o] Fade Away (immediate reaction; personal)
Trigger: Gelik takes damage.
Effect: Gelik is invisible until he attacks or until the end of his next turn.
[o] Second Wind

Conditions: none[/sblock]

[sblock=Pezock]Pezock
HP 25/25, Bloodied 12, Surge value 6; Surges 7/7
AC 16, Fort 12, Reflex 16, Will 14
Skills: Bluff +11, Stealth +10
Flock Effect: Pezock gains a +3 bonus to melee attack rolls when flanking rather than +2.
Striker: 1/round, Pezock can deal 1d6 extra damage when he hits an enemy he has CA against.
Icy Skewer (standard; arcane, cold, weapon; melee weapon, one creature)
Attack: +8 vs. AC
Hit: 1d10+4 cold damage. Pezock gains a +2 power bonus to all defenses against the target’s attacks until the end of his next turn.
Special: Pezock can use this power as a melee basic attack.
[x] Piercing Shard (standard; arcane, cold, illusion, psychic, weapon; melee weapon, one creature)
Attack: +8 vs. Will
Hit: 2d10+4 cold and psychic damage.
Effect: Pezock is invisible to the target until the start of his next turn.
[o] Second Wind

Conditions: none

Fluff Notes: Pezock’s powers represent his having a cool magic sword (Pearl). If he loses the sword, he can’t do that neat stuff anymore.[/sblock]

[sblock=status]PCs
Castile (O8) HP 31/39; surges 13/13; AP used
Dartmoor (J11) HP 33/33; surges 8/10
Hú Lí (L13) HP 29/29; surges 8/8; AP used
Kane (O14) HP 33/33; surges 10/10; AP used, channeling shield
Noriaki (H9) HP 21/33; surges 9/9; AP used
Takahaan (I2) HP 18/29; surges 6/8; AP used
Gelik (L17) HP 22/22; surges 6/6
Pezock (P7) HP 13/25; surges 7/7, invisible to cannibal 6

Flaming Sphere (N10)

Bad Guys
Shiv Dragon (I1) dead
Cannibal 1 (I10) dead
Cannibal 2 (I8) dead
Cannibal 3 (J9) dead
Cannibal 4 (L12) dead
Cannibal 5 (R13)
Cannibal 6 (O7) 44 damage taken, bloodied, marked by Castile, warrior’s surge used
Cannibal 7 (N5) dead
Cannibal 8 (P6) blood-crazed charge used.
[/sblock]

[sblock=Enemy Stats]Please read the appropriate block(s) only when necessary to resolve attacks or OAs.

[sblock=Shiv Dragon]Shiv Dragon
AC 17, Fort 19, Ref 16, Will 14; HP 77, bloodied 38
Bite +10 vs. AC, 2d8+7 damage, and the target is grabbed.
Vise Jaws: The shiv dragon does not need to sustain a grab, and conditions that prevent it from making OAs do not end its grab. It has a +5 bonus to Fortitude defense against attempts to escape its grab. If subjected to forced movement, the shiv dragon pulls the grabbed creature with it.[/sblock]
[sblock=Cannibals 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, and 8]Cannibal Berserker
AC 15, Fort 14, Ref 14, Will 12; HP 30, bloodied 15
Axe +6 vs. AC, 1d8+4 damage[/sblock]
[sblock=Cannibal 6]Cannibal War Leader
AC 19, Fort 17, Ref 13, Will 14; HP 46, bloodied 23
Greatspear +10 vs. AC, 1d8+6 damage[/sblock][/sblock]

Kane turns his attention to the cannibal savaging Pezock. He slashes at the air causing the savage to scream in horror as Kane's Art pierces the savage's mind summoning the dead faces of his countless victims who he feels biting into his living flesh. Kane calls upon the plant essence infused in the blade ripping the cannibal through space away fromthe wounded Kenku. He blinks out of existence a moment to reappear between Noriaki and Kane's sphere of flames. The confusion and horror on his face are evident.

"A gift for you Noriaki. Let your blade sing once more."

He then steps into the foe throwing spears at him and and clear as day says with deathly calm:

"You have lost. Put your spears down and I promise you a swift death."

[sblock=Actions] Standard: Phantasmal Assault on cannibal 8: Hit (is it okay to change target as the roll is still a hit and I suddenly remembered my teleport sword power ... hope so If not will edit and do something less cool); Target grants C Adv and can't make Opp.Atks TENT
FreeAction: Dislocation Longsword power to teleport target to M11. He will receive 1d4+5 fire dmg at start of his turn if he's still there (Hú ...leave him there Hú!)
Move: Kane moves to Q14 (no throw and Bloody charge next round!)
Minor: Sustain Sphere
[/sblock]



[sblock=Kane Arcane]
http://l4w.wikia.com/index.php?title=PC:Kane_Arcane_(jbear1979)&s=wl
Human Hybrid Swordmage | Wizard 2
Passive Perception/Insight 13
AC:20, Fort:15, Reflex:16, Will:16, Speed:6
HP:33/33, Bloodied:16, Surge Value:8, Surges left:10/10
Initiative +1
Action Points: 1 (encounter): USED

Conditions

Powers
MBA: Dislocation Longsword +1, +6 vs AC, 1d8+2 damage
Cantrips,
Freezing Burst, Phantasmal Assault, Sword Burst
Grasping Shadows: USED
Aegis of Shielding: Used
Channelling Shield: USED
Second Wind
Flaming Sphere: USED (sustained)
Dislocation Longsword: USED


Combat notes: White Lotus Riposte: If target hit with an at will power attacks Kane on his next turn, it takes 4 dmg (type varies depending on the damage type of the at will power used)
[/sblock]

Prying the jaws of the fallen lizard from his bloody and bruised thigh, Takahaan grunts in pain. Signalling for the smaller grigs and piskies to finish measuring the cuts for tonight's dragon-steak, he smiles wanly to them as he turns to his allies, finishing off the remaining savages.

The leader and Castile locked in a vicious melee, Takahaan notes a possible window for the kenku now that Kane has taken the heat off the little fighter. "Pezock! For your fallen crewmen! Finish the bastard off!" yells the dragonborn, shaking off the pain of the harsh wound.

With a quick nod, Pezock grips Pearl, vengeance seething through his fierce eyes. He dives behind the leader of the cannibals with surprising speed and thrusts the cutlass into the enemy. The blade slides through with a frozen sizzle and hot blood flows from the exit wound on the cannibal's chest for a moment before freezing over. Looking down, surprised, his eyes glaze over, but not before he lashes out, a futile swing, as the kenku has been expecting it.

[sblock=Mechanics]

Move: Command Pezock to shift to O6.

Standard: Command Pezock to use Ice Skewer on Cannibal 6. Hits AC 24 for 9 cold damage. Kills Cannibal 6. If Cannibal 6 uses his free MBA, Pezock has a +2 to all defenses against him, TENT, so hopefully it doesn't hit.

[sblock=rolls]

Attack Roll: 1d20+11=24 (+8, +3 from flanking with Castile)

Damage Roll: 1d10+4=5

Striker Roll: 1d6=4[/sblock][/sblock]

Now that Castile has no cannibals within arm's length, she spins around and rushes the one who has been chucking javelins this whole time. She stumbles out of the bushes and nearly trips into the flaming sphere, but she catches herself at the last moment and finds her way to her enemy. She then makes a sweeping axe strike that appears to come just short of the cannibal... until a moment later, when a thick red gash opens up on his chest and begins seeping blood.

Seeing Pezock finish off the leader really boosts Castile's spirit. After she makes her attack, she says with utter confidence to the wounded creature, "Don't even bother surrendering. I will end your cannibalism right here!"

[sblock=Castile actions / stats]Move: Walk to Q12.

Standard: Crushing Surge vs Cannibal 6 just barely hits AC 15 for 17 damage. It is marked TENT and Castile gains 8 THP. (1d20+8=15;1d12+7=17)

Minor: Dwarven Resilience. Castile uses her second wind, regaining 9 hp (to full), dropping to 12/13 surges, and gaining +2 to all defenses TSNT.

So Castile has full hp, 8 THP, +2 to defenses, and she has her enemy marked. I think Cannibal 5 is screwed.


PC:Castile (Dekana) - L4W Wiki- Female Dwarf Fighter 2
Passive Perception: 18, Passive Insight: 13
AC:19, Fort:17, Reflex:14, Will:13, +5 saves vs poison, Speed:5
HP:8+39/39, Bloodied:19, Surge Value:9, Surges left:12/13
Initiative +1
Action Points: 0 (encounter)

Conditions
+2 all defenses TSNT (not included above)

Powers
MBA: Waraxe, +8 vs AC, 1d12+7 damage (see Combat notes below)
RBA: Waraxe, +8 vs AC, 1d12+7 damage, 6/12
Combat Challenge, Pass Forward
Crushing Surge, Tide of Iron
Dwarven Resilience, Hack and Hew
Dwarven Thrower Waraxe, Villain's Menace
Combat notes: +2 melee / close damage with THP, +2 to attack roll on OAs, OAs stop enemy movement
[/sblock]

His foe vanquished, Noriaki sheathes his sword and immediately begins tying thunder to it. Seeing the new foe abruptly appear in front of him, Noriaki turns and spreads his arms wide. "Well? I'll give you a freebie." As the cannibal raises his axe, but before he can slash, Noriaki grabs his blade, the hilt now coursing with thunder, and strikes, drawing the blade and sending it effortlessly through the man before his axe moves even a few inches. As the man's strike comes to bear, the life's blood already flows from him.

Meanwhile, the Irregulars, all gathered in a mass, charge one of the few remaining foes. As the cannibal watches in bemusement, piskies and grigs begin tying his feet together and poking him with tiny sticks. It is just what he needed to get his mind off of Kane.



[sblock=mechanics]


Noriaki:
Standard: Howling Strike @my little gift
Attack Roll: 1d20+8=20
Damage Roll: 1d12+1d6+7=24, death, by my calculation!


Dartmoor:
Move to M13
Standard: charge at canni 5 w/"Go for the laces!"(grasping claws)
Attack Roll: 1d20+7=18
Damage Roll: 1d8+4=10 + slow

[/sblock]

[sblock=Noriaki]
Noriaki Matsumoto
Male Human Thaneborn Barbarian 2
Initiative: +4(+6 with Takahaan),
Passive Perception: 11,
Passive Insight: 12,
Senses: Normal
AC:19
Fort:18
Reflex:16
Will:14
HP:21/33
Bloodied:16
Surges left:9/9
Surge Value:8
Action Points: 0
MBA: +8 to hit, 1d12+5 damage
Howling Strike
Pressing Strike
Escalating Violence [x]
Howl of Triumph []
Shrug it off []
Heroic Effort []
Second Wind []
Swift Panther Rage []
[/sblock]
[sblock=Dartmoor Irregulars] Dartmoor Irregulars – Piskie Swarm (Druid) 2
Passive Insight: 14,
Passive Perception: 19
AC:17
Fort:14
Ref:15
Will:15 --
Speed:6
HP:33/33
Bloodied:16
Surge Value:8
Surges Left: 10/10
Action Points: 1,
Second Wind: not used
Powers: Grasping Tide
Grasping Claws
Swarming Locusts
Scattered Form
Summon Giant Toad
Bear’s Strength
Fiddlin’ Grig
Conditions:
Notes: -3 damage from melee/ranged attacks in Beast Form [/sblock]

As the cannibal goes down to Noriaki's blade, Hú Lí looks over at the final foe, now engaged with Castile and the irregulars. She gives a predator's smile, then raises her arm high, and brings it down for a final thump on the head of her drum. The sound echoes throughout the woods, startling local wildlife, and the cannibal reacts as if physically hit, stumbles a bit, and then falls down for the last time.[sblock=Actions]Standard: Staggering Note (will) vs. Cannibal 5: 7(1d20) +6 = 13

That should kill it without an ally making an MBA.[/sblock][sblock=Hú Lí]The Black Fox Fox Spirit (Changeling) Bard 2
Initiative: +2, Passive Perception: 17, Passive Insight: 19
AC:18, Fort:12, Reflex:16, Will:17
+3 vs. AC, 1d6-1 damage

HP:29/29, Bloodied:14, Surge Value:7, Surges left:6/8
Action Points: 0, Second Wind: unused
Powers: Fox Spirit Disguise, Wild Shape, Staggering Note, Vicious Mockery
Blunder, Fox Spirit Trick, Grasping Claws, Majestic Word x2, Words of Friendship, Vistani Tambourine
Stirring Shout, Canon of Avoidance

Virtue of Cunning: Once per round, when an enemy misses an ally within 9 squares of the Black Fox, the Fox may slide the ally 1 square as a free action.

Conditions:
none
[/sblock]

The last member of the war party falls, a thin trickle of blood oozing from his ears. Pezock can barely contain his glee, and leads everyone back to his home in giddy high spirits, congratulating himself, his new friends, and Pearl. As the excitement of battle starts to wear off, the adventurers feel the effects of their long day catching up with them--it is very late indeed, and they are practically asleep on their feet by the time the enormous crab once again looms before them.

No-one is alert enough to keep watch--and in any case, considering the heavy blow that must have been dealt to the cannibals this night, it hardly seems necessary. The entire group falls into exhausted sleep, and the sun is already high by the time they are alert enough to continue their explorations.

[sblock=Treasure!]The cannibal leader is wearing +1 bold victory chainmail (L4 item, Castile)[/sblock]

[sblock=Castile and Noriaki]You sleep like a log. When you awake, you feel vaguely unsettled, with a fleeting impression that you saw something disturbing in your dreams that you now cannot recall.[/sblock]

[sblock=Takahaan]The Jenivere pitches violently as you struggle onto the deck. Your limbs are heavy, and you feel violently nauseated. The first mate, Alton, is shoving some people into a lifeboat, but he is already on his way to shore before you can get in. Sharp rocks loom in front of you and, desperate to save yourself, you jump into the water, where you see a stiff white shape floating some distance away. You struggle toward it, weighed down by your armor, but the sight of a few other men clinging to it gives you hope. As you reach it, you realize that it is Noriaki, still and straight, wrapped in a funeral robe with his arms crossed on his chest, floating dead in the water like a plank. Horrified, you try to pull the other men off, but you are so much in danger of sinking yourself that it is all you can do to hold on to your dead friend for dear life. You awake with a violent start, gasping and flailing your arms.[/sblock]

When Kane awakes his good mood is infectious, though it is not communicated with words but rather toothy smiles, friendly slaps about the back and shoulders, winks, nods and lively whistling.

At a certain point while the group readies themselves to head off to continue their search for the captain he approaches Hú Lí flicking a coin into the air.

"D-do you s-still have those d-drawings I g-gave you, Hú? I'd l-like to ask P-pezock if he r-recogn-nises the place."

Once he recovers the drawings he takes them over to the Kenku to ask, "H-have you ever s-seen this place?"

It seems that Kane is in no rush to leave as what might be hidden in the place drawn steals away his thoughts.