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

[Mewness]

GM: Corrections: I just realized I've been listing Noriaki in the status section with his level 2 HP total all this time. He should have 11/39 hp left, not 5/33. (I though those numbers looked a bit screwy for a 3rd level barbarian...) Castile at half speed should go 2 squares, not 3, so she's in H22. [MENTION=6676989]GROMkill[/MENTION] -- Noriaki can't take advantage of Intuitive Strike at the moment as he's dazed (dazed people can't flank). Just FYI. I assume you'd want to use that attack anyway because of how accurate it is.

 

[BenBrown]

Seeing that the thing in the well is dead, Hú Lí turns her attentions to the ghoul which has grabbed Noriaki, and plays an eerie, entrancing, yet somehow familiar tune, of which the creature takes no notice.
Nevertheless, Noriaki is heartened somewhat by the music.[sblock=actions]Standard: Blunder vs. Ghoul Ambusher #2: 5(1d20) +6 = 11; 5(1d6) +5 = 10 bleah.
Minor: Majestic Word: Noriaki regains surge+4 (13) hit points[/sblock][sblock=Hú Lí]The Black Fox Fox Spirit (Changeling) Bard 3
Initiative: +2, Passive Perception: 17, Passive Insight: 19
AC:18, Fort:12, Reflex:16, Will:17
+3 vs. AC, 1d6-1 damage

HP:27/34, Bloodied:17, Surge Value:8, Surges left:8/8
Action Points: 1, 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, Noble Presence, Painted Drum
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]

 

[GROMkill]

GM: Corrections: I just realized I've been listing Noriaki in the status section with his level 2 HP total all this time. He should have 11/39 hp left, not 5/33. (I though those numbers looked a bit screwy for a 3rd level barbarian...) Castile at half speed should go 2 squares, not 3, so she's in H22. @GROMkill -- Noriaki can't take advantage of Intuitive Strike at the moment as he's dazed (dazed people can't flank). Just FYI. I assume you'd want to use that attack anyway because of how accurate it is.

OOC: Ah, fail on my part, sorry. And yeah, if I don't get the +2 from flanking, I'd definitely want to use Intuitive Strike. Thanks for clearing that up.

 

[jbear]

Reeling from the blow Kane drags himself back to his feet. He allows the part of his mind sustaining the sphere of flames to turn its attentions to defending the badly beset Noriaki. The slash of his blade brings a powerful arcane resonance as he extends his magic to slash at the bloodied ghoul behind the barbarian's mind... As he peals back the murky layers the ghoul sees a creature of warmth and radiant light step out of Noriaki's body to drive a piercing shard of brilliance through its dead frame. It is too much for the foul creature whose head snaps back violently suddenly believing itself dead and in so doing severing its own spinal chord bringing about its true death.

[sblock=Actions] Move = Stand
Minor = Aegis of Shielding on Hungry Ghoul 2
Standard = Phantasmal Assault vs Hungry Ghoul 2

Edit: Damage is +3 from Channelling Shield which is enough to kill the Ghoul ... which might hurt from the parting shot ... lets hope not ...
[/sblock]

 

[Mewness]

The ghoul reels violently backward. Noriaki is the only one within reach of its claws, and it lashes out at him with its last strength, tearing another wound in his side but sending him careening out of the other undead horror's grasp.

[sblock=parting shot]Hungry ghoul 2 parting short vs AC (+2 AC, -2 marked), Noriaki; damage
14(1d20) +8 +2 -2 = 22; 7(2d6) +8 = 15 hits Noriaki for 15 in spite of the mark. Noriaki is bloodied at 9/39. He is also pushed to R11 and no longer grabbed.[/sblock]

 

[jbear]

OOC: I can't use Aegis of Shielding bcos its my own turn, right?

 

[Mewness]

GM: Correct, no immediate actions on your own turn.

 

[Pentius]

Beset by terrible foes, Noriaki returns his sword to his scabbard and begins to charge thunderous power around it. While his blade is sheathed, he focuses his physical efforts on dodging and withstanding incoming blows until his sword is charged enough to lead him to thunderous victory.

[sblock=Mechanics]Standard: Second Wind. +9hp and +2 defenses.

[/sblock]

[sblock=Noriaki]
Noriaki Matsumoto
Male Human Thaneborn Barbarian 2
Initiative: +4(+6 with Takahaan)
Passive Perception: 11
Passive Insight: 12
Senses: Normal

AC:20
Fort:18
Reflex:16
Will:14
HP:20/39
Bloodied:19
Surges left:8/9
Surge Value:9
Action Points: 0

MBA: +8 to hit, 1d12+5 damage
Howling Strike
Pressing Strike
Escalating Violence [x]
Shatterbone Strike [x]
Howl of Triumph []
Shrug it off []
Heroic Effort [x]
Second Wind [x]
Swift Panther Rage [] [/sblock]

 

[Mewness]

GM: I think the HP totals are right this time.

Ghouls in the Shaft, Round 5

The one remaining ghoul sidles away from Takahaan and leaps upon Kane in a frenzy of hunger. Castile, from within the well, sees sickly gray limbs flailing against the late afternoon sky, but the ghoul's claws scrape ineffectually on Kane’s interposed sword.

[sblock=actions and rolls]Pezock has acted, Gelik takes a total defense action, and Noriaki still needs to save against his dazed condition. Noriaki save (dazed)
17(1d20) = 17 succeeds.

Ambusher 2 regenerates 5, shifts to O13, and charges to N11 using bounding leap. Ghoul ambusher 2 melee basic vs AC (+1 charge), Kane; damage
9(1d20) +8 +1 = 18; 2(1d8) +6 = 8 misses.[/sblock]

[sblock=When you hit a savage ghoul ambusher (one of the dark purple ones) with a melee attack]The creature makes a basic melee attack as an immediate reaction (not necessarily against you; I may have to resolve it if there are multiple possibilities).[/sblock]

[sblock=When you try to escape a savage ghoul ambusher’s grab]The ghoul makes a Worry attack against you as an immediate interrupt (+8 vs AC, 1d6+5 damage).[/sblock]
[sblock=Terrain and Lighting]All terrain is normal except for the water.

The interior of the shaft is dimly lit (lightly obscured for those without low-light vision). The water is heavily obscured.

Climbing the shaft requires a DC 20 Athletics check without a rope, or DC 10 with one. There is currently a rope hanging down the shaft, anchored to the wooden plug.[/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 26/26, Bloodied 13, Surge value 6; Surges 6/6
AC 15, Fort 13, Reflex 15, Will 17
Speed 5, gnome traits
Skills: Bluff +8, Arcana +12
Hypnotism (standard; arcane, charm, enchantment, implement; ranged 10, one enemy)
Attack: +6 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: +6 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] Glib Tongue (minor; arcane; personal)
Effect: Gelik gains a +5 power bonus to Diplomacy checks and a +2 power bonus to charm attack rolls until the end of his next turn.
[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 30/30, Bloodied 12, Surge value 6; Surges 7/7
AC 17, Fort 13, Reflex 17, Will 15
Skills: Bluff +12, Stealth +11
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: +9 vs. AC
Hit: 1d10+5 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: +9 vs. Will
Hit: 2d10+5 cold and psychic damage.
Effect: Pezock is invisible to the target until the start of his next turn.
[o] Spider Scuttle (free; arcane; personal)
Effect: Until the end of his next turn, Pezock gains a climb speed equal to his speed (6), and can move at that speed when crawling.
[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 and Allies
Castile (L10/H22) HP 27+4/45; surges 9/13, AP spent
Hú Lí (K13) HP 27/34; surges 8/8
Kane (M10) HP 19/33; surges 10/10, AP spent
Noriaki (R11) HP 18/39; surges 6/9, AP spent, bloodied, second wind
Takahaan (Q12) HP 32/34; surges 7/8
Gelik (I13) HP 26/26; surges 6/6
Pezock (M11/J22) HP 30/30; surges 7/7

Ghouls
Ghoul Ambusher 1 (O11) dead
Ghoul Ambusher 2 (N11) 23 damage taken, AP spent, marked by Kane, bounding leap used
Hungry Ghoul 1 (M8) dead
Hungry Ghoul 2 (J11) dead
Ghoul Flesh Seeker (L12/K23) dead[/sblock]

[sblock=Enemy Stats]Please read the appropriate block(s) only when necessary to resolve attacks or OAs. The purple creatures are the Ghoul Ambushers.

[sblock=Savage Ghoul Ambusher]Savage Ghoul Ambusher
AC 17, Fort 19, Ref 16, Will 13; HP 96, bloodied 48
Immune to disease, poison; Resist 10 necrotic; Vulnerable 5 radiant
Claws +8 vs. AC, 1d8+6 damage, and the target is grabbed.[/sblock]
[/sblock]

 

[Pentius]

-snip-