[Adventure] Marna is Missing (DM: pacdidj, Judge: renau1g)

[pacdidj]

Hekthesh attempts to parry Sir Exsixten's axe, but the stubborn steel knight's swing smashes the dark one's shortsword aside with ease and cleaves into his side, bolstering the clockwork hero's already healthy ego and strengthening his resolve.

One of the tendrils lashes Alnar with its fell sting as he runs past to unleash a spray of flames at the denser cluster of shadows, but Alnar is distracted by something he notices on the altar and his attack only manages to momentarily weaken one of the tendrils.

***

For a moment the sorcerer looks as though he is about to call out to his companions, but just then the three tendrils swoop down on him with a vengance, writing around Alnar's body and lashing him repeatedly until he falls to the ground.

[sblock="Alnar, once you've regained conciousness, or Arcana 20 (no action)"]The strange mirror, from which a woman's voice emanates, echoing Dhakanmirrs words, appears to play a significant part in maintaining the ritual. You sense an invisible, but strong filament of magic stretching from the mirror to the spot above the well where all the shadows in the room appear to be coalescing.

You suspect that a well placed, targeted (melee or ranged) strike might be able to destroy the mirror, but it seems solidly built, and would likely resist breakage from a blast or burst.[/sblock]

A lone tendril breaks off from the group and unleashes its caustic vapors, which eat away at Sir Exsixten's tubing, causing him to spring several small leaks.

These prove distracting enough to give Hekthesh an opening. Roaring incoherently now, the dark one hews at the mechanical knight savagely, completely amputating one of Sir Exsixten's shoulder plates. Satisfied that he's given as good as he got, Hekthesh then pivots quickly and retreats to a safer distance from which to harry the party.

Dhakanmirr meanwhile, his concentration somewhat disrupted by Cyr's force of will stutters for precious moments before he recalls the words to the ritual. He lifts the tjurunga of Wititj the python and submerges it in the bowl of dark fluid, chanting another verse in the strange language, which the woman in the mirror echoes:

[sblock=Primordial]"Illusions of this world will peel;
Wiping away wounds that never heal."[/sblock]


As he completes the verse, you hear a sharp crack, followed by a hissing sound. The room brightens momentarily, and you notice that every shadow cast by every torch in the chamber seems to be flitting across the floor to gather in a writhing mass above the great well.


Dhakanmirr gives a wild cackle. "Do you see adventurers? You're fight is hopeless. Witness the power of the Submerged Eye! The Eye that sees through the illusions of this world, the illusions of your lives," the warlock raves as he slices the air with his blade, bringing forth a wall of shadowy tendrils that block Cyr's path to the altar, and sending several more streaking toward Jezebel.


[sblock=Enemy Actions]Dhakanmirr - Minor: used to complete another step of the ritual
Minor: used to complete another step of the ritual
Standard: Eyes of the Vestige vs. Jezebel = miss
Free: Action Point
Minor: Summon Tendrils of Darkness = 7 tendrils

Hekthesh - Immediate Interrupt: Shadow Parry vs. Sir Exsixten = miss
Dark Arc recharge = fail
Standard: MBA vs. Sir Exsixten = hit for 18 damage
Move: Darkstep to AK 21, triggering OA from Sir X vs. Hekthesh's AC+4 = miss

Rotshadow Tendril 5 - Incorporeal Form = success | Shift one square east; Tendril Caress vs. Alnar = hit for 5 damage; takes 2 fire damage and dies
Rotshadow Tendril 6 - Shift one square east; Tendril Caress vs. Alnar = hit for 5 damage
Rotshadow Tendril 7 - Shift one square east; Tendril Caress vs. Alnar = hit for 5 damage, and Alnar goes down
Rotshadow Tendril 9 - OA vs. Alnar = hit for 5 damage | Fly to AP27; Fetid Breath aimed north = hits Sir X610 for 5 damage, misses Ferris (roll). Sir X610 must save or contract filth fever.[/sblock]

[sblock=Combatant stats and tracking]PCs and Allies
Alnar - AS21; -2/31 HP, dying; 0/8 surges; prone
Cyr - AQ20; 22/26 HP; 3/7 surges
Ferris - AN28; 20/29 HP; 0/8 surges
Jezebel - AP23; 27/37 HP; 3/12 surges
Sir Exsixten - AN26; 13/33 HP, bloodied; 4/13 surges; grants CA to Hekthesh; exposed to filth fever

Enemies
Dhakanmirr - AT14
? Max HP; AC: ?; Fort, Ref, Will ?

Hekthesh - AN25; 48 damage taken; Dark Arc used, Shadow Parry used; marked by Sir Exsixten
? Max HP; AC: 20, see also Shadow Parry; Fort: 15, Ref: 19, Will: 17
[sblock=Shadow Parry]Hekthesh will interrupt the first successful melee attack against him with Shadow Parry against the triggering creature (Attack: +10 vs. AC; Hit: 2d6+6 damage and Hekthesh shifts one square and gains total concealment till EONT). Recharges when bloodied.[/sblock]

Rotshadow Tendril 5 - dead
Rotshadow Tendril 6 - AS20
Rotshadow Tendril 7 - AT21
Rotshadow Tendril 9 - AP27; Fetid Breath used
Rotshadow Tendril 10 - AR16
Rotshadow Tendril 11 - AQ16
Rotshadow Tendril 12 - AS16
Rotshadow Tendril 13 - AT16
Rotshadow Tendril 14 - AQ22
Rotshadow Tendril 15 - AQ23
Rotshadow Tendril 16 - AP22
Minion; AC: 16; Fort 13, Ref 14, Will 13
6 tendrils destroyed
[/sblock]

GM: Special Rules for this Battle: The ritual is almost complete! Steps to completion: 2/5 Dhakanmirr needs to complete only 5 more steps to finish the ritual, causing untold havoc on the island of Kythira. Each round, Dhakanmirr can spend a minor action to complete another step of the ritual. He can still make attack and move actions as normal in addition to this minor action, though he must be adjacent to the altar in order to make progress on the ritual. Once on each of your turns, if you are within 6 squares of Dhakanmirr, you can as a minor action make a skill check vs. DC 18, using any skill you can justify, to stall Dhakanmirr's progress. Each successful skill check will increase the number of minor actions Dhakanmirr must spend on his turn to complete the next step by 1. Each failed skill check will decrease the number by 1, to a minimum of 1. If the number of minor actions Dhakanmirr is required to spend exceeds the number he has available, he cannot make any progress on the ritual that round. Using the same skill check in consecutive rounds will incur a -2 penalty for the check. You may also take a minor action to Aid Another with any of these checks using the standard rules as presented in the errata. We will use the same rules for movement into/through the canal as last time.

OOC: PCs are up!

 

[Iron Sky]

DAMAGE ALERT! SIR EXSIXTEN NIMBLY CATCHES THE FALLING PIECE OF ARMOR AND STRAPS IT TO HIS HEAD AS A HELMET IN ONE QUICK MOTION. YOUR ATTEMPTS TO DISMANTLE SIR EXSIXTEN WILL BE OF NO AVAIL, I ONLY GO STRONGER IN OTHER LOCATIONS THAN EVER BEFORE.

SIR EXSIXTEN PURSUES HIS COWARDLY ENEMY AND AXE-TORTS HIM TO AMEND HIS EVIL WAYS.

[sblock=Actions]Move: Move to AL22
Standard:Crushing Surge: 1d20+6=22 AC vs Hek, hit, 1d12+4=13 damage and Sir Exsixten is at 8 THP and Hek is marked by Sir Exsixten.

Saving Throw: 1d20=10, saved. (Doesn't this happen at the end of the encounter? If so, I save then).

[sblock=Statblock]Sir Exsixten, Male Warforged Fighter 1
Passive Perception: 12, Passive Insight: 12
AC: 19, Fort:16, Reflex:13, Will:13 -- Speed:5
HP:8+13/33, Bloodied:16, Surge Value:8, Surges left:4/13
Initiative +1, Action Points: 0
Powers: Crushing Surge, Brash Strike, Combat Challenge, Hack and Hew, Warforged Resolve, Second Wind, Piecemeal Chainmail, Villain's Menace

Opportunity Attack: +8 vs. AC, 1d12+4 damage and enemy movement is stopped and Sir Exsixten gains 4 temporary hitpoints.
Notes: Sir Exsixten does +2 damage while he has any temporary hitpoints.[/sblock][/sblock]

[sblock=Immediate Interrupt - Combat Challenge]If a marked enemy shifts or makes an attack that doesn't include Sir Exsixten, he makes a MBA against them as an immediate interrupt. This has priority over Piecemeal Chainmail.[/sblock]

[sblock=Immediate Interrupt - Piecemeal Chainmail]If an enemy would miss Sir Exsixten if Sir Exsixten's AC was 2 higher, Piecemeal Chainmail makes it miss.[/sblock]

 

[samursus]

Seeing Alnar go down and Sir Existen take a vicious hit, Ferris rushes forwards, trying to position himself between his injured comrades.

Digging deep within his meager reserves Ferris lets forth a burst of Divine energy that echoes from him in a radiant green halo, punctuated by the peal of what sounds like a high-pitched bell.

OOC: Healer's Mercy on Sir Existen (+12 hps) and Alnar (11 hps). Ferris weakened until EONT

[sblock=Actions/Stat block]Start=

Minor=

Move= Move to AN 23

Standard= Healer's Mercy: Alnar and Sir Existen

End=
[sblock=Stat block]Ferris Cacamoujai, Cleric of Dayna 2- Male Longtooth Shifter, Cleric of Dayna 2
Conditions: exposed to Filth Fever
Passive Perception: 15, Passive Insight: 20, Init: +3
AC: 18, Fort: 15, Reflex: 14, Will: 17 -- Speed: 5
HP: 20/29, Bloodied: 14, Surge Value: 7, Surges left: 0/8
Action Points: 1, Second Wind: used, Milestones:
Basic Atk: Battleaxe +7 vs AC, 1d10+4 dmg (Crit = 14 dmg)
Ranged Basic Atk: Javelin +7 vs AC, 1d6+4 dmg, Range 10/20 (2/2)
Powers-
Lance of Faith, Invigorating Assualt, Wildshape
Healing Word Used:1, Longtooth Shifting, Healing Strike, Sanctuary, Swarming Locusts, Healer's Mercy OR Divine Fortune
Weapon of Astral Flame
Combat notes: +2 Damage
-Only use 1 Channel Divinity per encounter. Can use Healing Word 2x per encounter[/sblock][/sblock]

 

[Luinnar]

Raraaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh! Alnar roars with draconic fury, life flowing in his body from Ferris's healing. Destroy the mirror! he shouts. Area attacks won't work, you have to target it directly. It might stop the ritual, at least it will stop these tendrils.

OOC: What square is the mirror on?

 

[MetaVoid]

"Let's clear things up a little, shall we?"

Cyr calls upon lightning power of the Sky Lord and lightning strikes, blasting over the warlock, altar and several of the shadows. While the warlock is unaffected, all shadows dissapear.

Cyr moves, still ignoring attacks from wisps of shadow. He'll worry about them at some later time.

"You cannot stand agaist the power of The King of Gods! Give up and face trial!"

The voice carries behind it power of King of Gods so that Dhakanmirr reels back and his voice falters, blurring several lines in one drone.

[sblock=Actions]
Standard: Vanguards Lightning (AS 15) vs Ref (Dhakanmirr; RT 10; RT 12; RT 13); SAVES (1d20+7=10, 1d20=19, 1d20+7=23, 1d20=4, 1d20+7=24, 1d20=5, 1d20+7=18, 1d20=8)

Move: AU 16
Minor: Religion to disrupt the ritual (1d20+11=24) - not sure if it applies
AP: Silent Malediction vs Fort Dhakanmirr; Damage (1d20+7=18, 2d6+6=12) - thunder damage (over altar as well); warlock is stunned (save ends); Cyr is dazed TENT
Memory of Thousands Lifetimes (1d6=6) - in case Fort 18 misses
[/sblock]

 

[Dekana]

Jezebel flails at the shadows in front of her, but they constantly reform despite her blows. Frustrated, she calls to the mages, "Go on ahead and break that mirror!" She then brushes past the shadows to at least get onto the solid ground past the bridge.

[sblock=Stat block/Actions][sblock=Actions]Standard: Valorous Smite misses RT14.

Move: Shift to AQ24.

Minor: Divine Challenge RT15.[/sblock]PC:Jezebel (Dekana) - L4W Wiki - Female Tiefling Paladin 2
Initiative +3, Senses: Insight +7, Perception +1; low-light vision
HP 27/37; Bloodied 18, Surge Value 9, Surges 3/12
AC 21; Fortitude 16, Reflex 17, Will 17
Resist 5 fire
Speed 5
Action Points 0

Conditions
Infected with Filth Fever (initial stage)

Powers
Ardent Strike, Divine Challenge, Enfeebling Strike
Divine Mettle, Divine Strength, Infernal Wrath, Second Wind, Valorous Smite, Virtue
Majestic Halo, Virtue's Touch

Other notes
Bloodhunt: +1 racial bonus to attack rolls against bloodied foes.
Whip Training: 1 / round when hitting target with whip, target takes a -2 penalty to attack rolls to a target of Jezebel's choice until the end of her next turn.
[/sblock]

 

[MetaVoid]

[MENTION=57009]Dekana[/MENTION], [MENTION=44459]Luinnar[/MENTION], if you can position yourself so that I can target with burst one all three shadows trailing you that would be great

pac, if I use my dazed 1 action to accumulate successes against the ritual (like I did this round) would they count in next rounds when warlocks comes to his senses? i.e. would he have a backlog of minors to overcome?

 

[Dekana]

OOC: On the next turn, you mean? Sure, I'll try. I think the priority should be to stop the ritual so no more shadows appear.

 

[pacdidj]

OOC: [MENTION=44459]Luinnar[/MENTION] - Mirror is on the left side of the altar, in AS13. [MENTION=87106]MetaVoid[/MENTION] - Yes, if you used your dazed action next round to disrupt the ritual, it would count toward Dhakanmirr's next non-stunned turn. The roll this round is moot though, as he is stunned in any event.

 

[MetaVoid]

Well, it could also count for his next un-stunned turn?