Can Dextyr Keep All These Strikers Alive? (DM: JoeNotCharles, Ozymandias79 Judging)

[DMDanW]

[SBLOCK=OOC]
That's a great idea. We could just get a back room at the hanged man and rest up there.
[sblock=only problem I see....]
Say we stroll into the hanged man and start settling in. Everyone is kind of looking at us like we are the turkey at thanksgiving dinner. It is then that we notice the bounty notice posted up on the board at the Hanged and and everyone in there is now contemplating collecting the reward. Hey, I'd do it if I were the man behind the screen...
[/sblock]
[/sblock]

 

[H.M.Gimlord]

[sblock=OOC]
Dan: Funny that you were thinking that too, although I would have put it somewhat less diplomatically. Let me see. It would have gone something like this...

[sblock='OOC']
'Are you out of your %!@#! mind!!???
Every NPC in the Transitive Isles is looking for us, and now you want to add the PCs to the mix!?'[/sblock]

Of course, now that I've thought of it a little, I have two insights to share:

1. Have you been to the Hanged Man recently. I think there are only 2 PCs in it right now. If we keep it quiet, we can probably kill them and take the bartender hostage. Then we'll sneak out the back door when the rest of the PCs get wind of it.

2. The idea of PCs instead of NPCs in a bar room brawl is kind of an interesting diversion from the ordinary. The idea has its attraction, deadly as it is.
[/sblock]

 

[JoeNotCharles]

[sblock=I'm Back]
Ok, what I've got is:

You've finished digging the hole at J13, and covered it over (DC 31 to spot it). Tonk and Blade are digging the hole at G15, which is difficult terrain - they didn't specify where they are, so I'll put them adjacent at F15 and G14 - random roll says 1 = Tonk at F15, 2 = Tonk at G14. (1d2=2). Tristan is finishing off hiding the full hole, standing at K13. Dextyr is finishing off his 5-minute rest at H10 and supposedly keeping watch on the trees (Perception 5), while Mikara keeps watch on the road from J8 (Perception 24, Stealth 16 - no Stealth bonus for where you are, it's the obvious place for anyone coming down the road to look for a lookout).

Everybody spent 1 healing surge, except possibly Blade who didn't specify (he makes his first action to decide that if he spent it or not). Tristan and Dextyr get +4 from Majestic Word, and everybody gets another +4 from Song of Rest.

Init: Mikara 23, Tonk 19, Tristan 16, Dextyr 15, Blade 5 (he didn't give it so I rolled for him: Init (1d20=5))

The triangles on the map is a patch of lower rocks - difficult terrain.
[/sblock]

You artfully arrange the corpses near a small fire, string up jangly ropes, and dig yourself a pit. It's a fine pit - sharpened stakes and everything, lots of cover - but maybe you overdid it a little because the moon's coming up and you're still not done digging the second pit. Mikara is watching the road, when she suddenly hears hoofbeats approaching. She motions a warning to everyone and hunkers down, waiting closely. The hoofbeats get closer and closer - but no horse appears. Closer and closer - surely it must be right beneath her, but still nothing. All that happens is that the air grows colder.

Suddenly the hoofbeats cease and a dark shape rears up in front of her - right out of the rock! Mikara braces herself for an attack, but the creature drifts right past her as if it does not see her - it's eyes, burning coals in a dark hood - are fixed on Tonk and Blade.

To the north, Tristan and Blade spot more blurry shapes approaching through the trees. It's hard to make out exactly how many, since they keep fading in and out of view as they pass through the branches, but you finally manage to count six of them. Four are ragged and wispy. A low cacophany of murmering, giggling voices comes from beneath the hood of another.

[sblock=OOC]
And I'm out of time to finish writing this up. Sorry!
[/sblock]

 

[DMDanW]

[sblock=OOC]
Arrghh, Joe - you sure know how to leave a cliff-hanger.
and no map to boot....
My imagination is running wild right now.
Good job.
[/sblock]

 

[renau1g]

Blade will stop the digging with Tonk once he hears Mikara's warnings and draws his axe, ready for what he assumes is an inevitable conflict. He grins despite the weariness in his arms from the battles he's been in today. "Maros will be proud, I must've done something to garner his favour with all these glories he keeps sending to us. I cannot let him down, I must prevail" the deva thought to himself, tightening his grip and reaffirming his resolve.

The sight of the creatures sends Blade back to another time and he feels the fog of his memory parted to grant him the clarity for the upcoming battle, although this does cause him pause as the others react far more quickly than himself.

[sblock=OOC - Other PCs]
So I've been thinking about our "kill brother" teams and maybe as a group with 4 strikers need to form 1 ultimate Kill Team. I mean the 3 melee guys can gang up on one foe, and probably kill it in one round (with Mikara providing Twin Strike support)
[/sblock]

[sblock=OOC]
Blade will have spent a surge getting back to hp

Blade will attempt to identify the monsters - Religion (1d20 11=31) Oh man I sure hope they're either Immortal or Undead - This roll should give Blade Names, Types, Keywords, Powers, Resistances & Vulnerabilities...

JNC - Did we hit a milestone after the last fight? There was the one with the taints and warforged + the hobgoblin and drakes.
[/sblock]

[sblock=Mini-Me]Blade- Male (Deva) Avenger 1
Passive Perception: 21, Passive Insight: 14
AC:17, Fort:13, Ref:15, Will:15-- Speed:6
HP:29/29 , Bloodied:14, Surge Value:7, Surges Per-Day 7/9
Initiative +0
Action Points: 0, Second Wind: not used
Powers: Bond of Retribution, Radiant Vengeange, Channel Divinity, Memory of a Thousand Lifetimes, Avenging Echo,Oath of Enmity, Aspect of Might
[/sblock]

 

[DMDanW]

[sblock=OOC other PCs]
I'm with Ren on this one. If we gang up we can eliminate 1 enemy per turn (hopefully), thus reducing the amount of damage they will be inflicting on us (hey, makes my job easier then).
[/sblock]

 

[JoeNotCharles]

[sblock=Blade]
They're all undead, you lucky bastard. The one on top of the rock near Mikara is a Specter. The ones coming from the north are a Wraith and a Mad Wraith, trailed by a bunch Wisp Wraiths.

You can also tell that they're not moving as like free-willed undead - something nearby has to be controlling them, probably a necromancer that summoned them.
[/sblock]

[sblock=Milestone]
Yes, that was a milestone - sorry, I knew I forgot something!
[/sblock]

 

[Lord Sessadore]

[sblock=OOC]I agree as well, dropping enemies should be our main objective. As Dan said, each enemy down is less damage coming in, which makes Dex's job that much easier.

So, can Raiyek make a cameo now? Man, would he love a fight against this many undead, what with a radiant damage at-will and all [/sblock]

 

[renau1g]

[sblock=OOC]
If only Raiyek could stand up I'd let him leave Mr. X and come over here...I have 1 radiant at-will, but it's ranged and I don't get to use my Oath with it, although avenging echo & bond of retribution have radiant damage if someone attacks Blade...
[/sblock]

 

[Lord Sessadore]

[sblock=OOC]Yeah, I'm starting to really, really dislike monsters that knock you prone. It's almost as bad as dazing, depending on what situation you're in.

Also, Ren - dazing and knocking prone is just mean! [/sblock]