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Message: <blockquote data-quote="darkbard" data-source="post: 9238212" data-attributes="member: 1282">With Gulthias's turn next, it can take a double move to escape, essentially ending the combat encounter. Thus, I gave [USER=20459]@Nephis[/USER] the option of how to proceed: Skill Challenge to chase down Gulthias before it escapes the Sunken Vault? Skill Challenge to consecrate its grave so that it cannot be used by the vampire? Continuing combat in the upper chamber (Altar of Sacrifice)? Allow Gulthias to escape and set up a recurring villain? Something else?Nephis opted for continuing the combat encounter. We settled upon the following mechanics: no Short Rest (all expended Encounter and Daily resources are exhausted, same HP/Surge totals as end of round seven), Gulthias refreshes its Mist Form ability (else this would be a simple slaughter) but Nemo's Raven Queen's Shroud, Jendi's Warlock's Curse, and Mylistra's Moment of Glory (all Until End of Encounter Effects) are still in place (but not Toriq's mark, which only lasts UEoYNT). All creatures will roll new initiative results, and we will proceed with this new order.I've made some small changes to the room's features (1) to reflect the heroes having already passed back into and through the maw and (2) to add a bit of further interest.Altar of Sacrifice ReduxDimensions The ceiling along the periphery of the chamber is 2 squares high. The central nave area (H-Y/5-18) is 4 squares high.Illumination Squares within 5 of a pillar are brightly lit. Beyond that radius is dim lighting to 10 squares (possible concealment). Beyond that is darkness (possible total concealment).Rubble These squares of collapsed stone are difficult terrain.Doors These heavy reinforced doors require a Minor action and a successful Strength check DC 8 to open. They remain open unless closed again with another Minor action. A creature with both hands free (ie, no shield, weapons, or held implements) can choose to open/close both doors with a single action.Collapsed Doors These battered remnants are difficult terrain and can be stunted with.The Maw Squares within the light grey square outline drop 6 squares to the chamber below (3d10 falling damage). A creature may make a saving throw to drop prone in the previous square before being force-moved over the edge.Altar This raised platform is adorned with lifesized plate armor in the shape of Orcus and sacrificial slab. Still stained with Abaddon's blood, Gulthias can spend a Minor Action when adjacent to the altar to drink the remains and regain 1 Surge (21 HP).Necrotic Pillars These four crystal pillars reach floor to ceiling and are blocking terrain. Each emits light equivalent to a torch (5 square radius) while it is functional. Each emits a field of necrotic energy in adjacent squares. Any living creature that enters or starts its turns in one of these squares takes 2d4+4 necrotic damage.Countermeasures✦ Deactivate: Thievery DC 19 (standard action; must be adjacent). Success: The energy field ceases to function. Failure (18 or less): The character takes 2d4 + 4 necrotic damage.[/SPOILER]Blood Streams Two streams of blood pour down the sacrificial altar, across the floor, and down into the gaping maw below. All squares containing blood streams are an obstacle as below.[SPOILER]Blood Streams Level 1 ObstacleHazard XP 100Hazard: These streams of blood are difficult terrain.Detect –Triggered ActionsThe blood streams attack when a creature enters or begins its turn in one square of the blood. It also attacks when a creature stands up from prone in one of these squares.AttackOpportunity Action MeleeTarget: The triggering creatureAttack: +5 vs. ReflexHit: 1d6 damage and the target falls prone, ending that action. If the target is already prone, it cannot attempt to stand up from prone again this turn. It can still take the Crawl action.Countermeasures✦ Acrobatics DC 8: With a successful check and a move action, a character can move into 1 square of blood without risk of falling. If the check fails or the character moves more than 1 square, the blood stream attacks.✦ Acrobatics DC 12: With a successful check and a move action, a character can move at its normal speed across a blood stream without risk of falling. (The blood streams are still considered difficult terrain.) If the check fails or the character attempts to run or charge through blood streams, the blood stream attacks.✦ Acrobatics DC 19: With a successful check, a character can run (move action) or charge (standard action) across blood streams without risk of falling. (The blood streams are still considered difficult terrain.) If the check fails, the blood stream attacks.[/SPOILER]Loss Condition: If Gulthias reaches square A11/12, it escapes.[HR][/HR]Gulthias crouches like a wounded feral beast beast beside a sputtering crystal pillar. "Yes, yes!" it hisses mockingly. "You probably win this day. But I like my chances of taking out at least one of you with me. Will it be you, champion of the forests? I smell your blood in the air! Or perhaps you, child, impertinent enough to wield my blade?"[ATTACH=full]342974[/ATTACH]Place your PCs in squares adjacent to the maw (now outlined with light grey squares) and roll initiative! Don't neglect the small changes I've made to the room's features (altar and necrotic pillars) and the added Loss Condition (above).InitiativeNemo, r18+5=23Mylistra, r19+3=22Jendi, r15+1=16Gulthias, r7+4=11Toriq, r2+1=3ROUND ONE (ish)[ATTACH=full]342980[/ATTACH]NEMO almost quivers with anticipation but listens to his inner Beppa who says to wait and be patient.Delays his turn[HR][/HR]Despite returning to this room of carnage, MYSLISTRA's prayers of thanksgiving for protection and deliverance continue, as the silvery blue light dancing around her calls witness to. She decides that Juniper's son can handle himself well enough, and so she leaps through space to be on hand to aid her daughter.Arriving next to the young halfling - but well within reach of helping Toriq, should she so require - she decides to share with little Nemo some of her Lady's luck.Minor: Sustain Moment of GloryMove: Shadow Step: from L13 (adj to Jendi) to O12 (adj to Nemo)Minor: Favor of the Gods on Nemo UEoMNTLOCATION: O12DAMAGE TO ENEMIES: naCONDITIONS TO ENEMIES: naCURRENT HP: 21/24CURRENT DE/BUFFS: Resist 5 All UEoMNT MoGSURGES: 2/7[HR][/HR]JENDI stares longingly at the vampire's armor and retreats a few steps, pulling his Queen's dusky shadows around him. Looking at the shadows dancing around him, he smiles and looks up at Gulthias. The warlock begins to move his arms as he remembers Maestro Aegnor doing in the Green Sirens Hall back in Blackstone. The Maestro would wave his arms and the orchestra's music would swell in reflection: the shadow of Jendi's tentacles provides the music here, and the movement of his arms encourage them to swell over the vampire and squeeze. Then, the Raven Queen's curse squeezes him just a little bit more.* * *As the warlock's spell begins to squeeze it, Gulthias resorts to its only means of escape: the vampire transforms into a vaguely humanoid cloud of mist and wafts slowly towards the altar.Move: 3 squares from K12 to I15, TRIGGERS Shadow Walk ConcealmentStandard: Shadow Tentacles ABU 1 w/in 10 vs. Gulthias: r14 +4 =18 vs. 15 Ref/Hit; Damage: r10 +4 + r4 WC = 18 Damage. TRIGGERS: Mist Form: Effect (No Action): Gulthias becomes insubstantial, gains fly speed 6, and can immediately shift up to his fly speed. Gulthias cannot attack in this form and can end this form as a minor action. G Shifts 2 squares S9 to U11 (limited by Slow).LOCATION: I15, G in U11DAMAGE TO ENEMIES: 18 to GulthiasCONDITIONS TO ENEMIES: Gulthias cursedCURRENT HP: 23/26CURRENT DE/BUFFS: Resist 5 All UEoMNT MoG; Shadow Walk Concealment UEoJNTSURGES: 2/8[HR][/HR]As soon as NEMO sees the vampire turn into mist, he feels a pull within and falls into it. Turning inside and out, moving through space and time and whatever that just was, the halfling returns to himself next to the vampire's misty form, the ceremonial dagger in his hand. Without a thought, Nemo stabs into the mist and feels it begin to solidify around the dagger. As the halfling yanks it out, the vampire's body returns, Gulthias holding himself in his stomach and glaring fiercely at the boy, then glancing up at the altar. Nemo instinctively moves to intercept him.Minor: Raven Queen's Shroud's Daily Power: teleport adjacent to the target that bears the mark of the Raven Queen: Gulthias: teleport to U10Standard: Sly Flourish Melee vs. Gulthias: r16 +9 +2 CA = 27 vs. 17 AC; damage: r4 +7 +r2,4 SA = 17/2 = 8 Damage to GulthiasMove: Shift 1 square to V11LOCATION: V11DAMAGE TO ENEMIES: 8 to GulthiasCONDITIONS TO ENEMIES: Gulthias no longer insubstantialCURRENT HP: 18/24CURRENT DE/BUFFS: Resist 5 All UEoMNT MoG; Favor of the Gods UEoMNT[HR][/HR]It is so close. THE VAMPIRE can taste the blood on its tongue. Right there at the altar. And then the child is before it, stabbing with the ceremonial blade, forcing it back into corporeal form. Interference from the Lord of Undeath's nemesis!"Stand right there, little one. I have always wanted a son. Join me in darkness, and I shall be unlike any father you have ever known!" But the vampire knows its words fall on deaf ears, that its last moments of unlife will be these pitiful words, uttered to a child half its size in a desperate attempt to save its waning night.Feebly, it steps towards the altar.Starts turn: Rolls to Recharge Words of Beguilement, r5. Recharges.Standard: Word of Beguilement CBL3 V-X/10-12, ATK vs N, r2+6=8 vs 12 Will. Miss.Move: Shift 1 square, U11 to V12Ends turn: Save vs Slowed, r9+2=11. Succeeds.LOCATION: V12DAMAGE TO ENEMIES: naCONDITIONS TO ENEMIES: naCURRENT HP: 8/84 BLOODIEDCURRENT DE/BUFFS: Cursed, Words of Beguilement on cooldown, Necromantic Surge & Mist Form exhausted.[HR][/HR]TORIQ thinks to herself, <For Dryope and her grove ... for ALL the guardians of the Ruby Spire ... for everyone.> As the warden steps toward the vampire, her steps seem inevitable, gradually gaining weight and speed, until she is screaming and running at Gulthias. Her sword cleaves his head from the rest of his body and turns instantly into the skull it should always have been. His body crumples within its armor to the ground.As the others gather around her and the halfling, both staring down at the armor amidst the pile of ashes and shards of bone, Toriq's brows furrow. She looks up at her brother. "Is this what you came for?"Move: 6 squares from M10 to S11Standard: Charge ATK vs. Gulthias: move 2 squares from S11 to U11; ATK: r10 +7 +1 Charge = 18 vs. 17 AC/Hit; Damage: r6 +4 = 10/Gulthias KILLEDLOCATION: U11DAMAGE TO ENEMIES: 10 to Gulthias/KILLEDCONDITIONS TO ENEMIES: naCURRENT HP: 15/30CURRENT DE/BUFFS: Resist 5 All UEoMNT (MoG); Resist 5 Cold, +1 AC, & squares w/in 2 of T = DT for enemies EoE (FoWH)SURGES: 2/10</blockquote>

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