Clutches of Evil - IC: Chapter One

[jkason]

Byntrou, sorcerous barbarian

Byn kneels down next to Destiny to whisper "Do you need to touch a person to pull that stomach trick you do? If not, I think we might be able to spook him if we combine it with my light trick from last night. I can make a person-shaped light the same way, and that may be enough, but I figure a vengeful spirit's all the more frightening if it's 'boiling his insides,' you know?"

 

[Nonlethal Force]

Bahruul takes another whack at the door and the top third of the door sends a mass of splinters and solid wood into the room beyond the door. Unfortuantely, the only thing the party can see inside the room is a few spots of light reflecting off the natural rock ceiling.

Destiny watches the top portion of the door shatter and while looking at the doorway she replies to Byntrou, “Unfortunately, I have to touch my victim. Actually, what I do is give them a glimpse of many possibilities that could happen in their life. The influx of all their future possibilities comfuses their brain and they get physically sick. But I gotta be close to get a sense of my prey … so to speak.”

A brief sound of clapping can be heard on the other side of the door, almost as if to mock the efforts of the party. "Almost there, boys ..." comes a heckle from inside the door.

Pwent's approach lands his body flat against the door and the door jerks off its hinges and Pwent falls with the door into the room. The door itself breaks into several pieces as it falls under the strain that Pwent enforced. As Pwent emerges through the door, the voice adds, "I do believe that now would be a good time, gentlemen."

ROUND ONE:

Pwent:
[Sblock]Only after entering the room does Pwent realize that there is more than one person inside the room. There are actually three, each of them looks like a human. One of them has a crossbow trained on Pwent's position. The other - most likely the one who spoke the whole time, has a greatsword that rivals the size of Bahruul's. The third one also has a greatsword. Needless to say, they look like they are out for blood.

The one with the crossbow strikes first, sending a crossbow bolt right into Pwent's side. The one who had spoken laughs and says, "Nice shot, Mirth!" Mirth replies, "Thanks, Garth!" He prepares another shot.

[Sblock]4 damage done by the bolt[/Sblock]

Garth, the one who looks as though he had done all the talking, approaches next as Pwent gets to his feet. He bats Pwent around with the edge of the sword, hitting Pwent hard. This time the other greatsword weilding one adds, "Wonderful strike, Garth!" To which, Garth very politely replies, "Why thank you, Patrick!"

[Sblock]11 damage from the attack [/Sblock]

Patrick looks as though he will be able to strike before Pwent is able. His attack was readied as well.[/Sblock]

Everyone except Pwent:

Standing outside the room and watching Pwent fall into the room, the first thing the party can see is that literally as Pwent crashes through the door, a crossbow bolt lodges into his side. The voice which had already spoken a few times says, "Nice shot, Mirth!" Mirth replies, "Thanks, Garth!"

Before Pwent is able to react except to begin to get to his feet, Garth - the one who had done all the talking - approaches Pwent. The party can only help but watch as he bats Pwent around with the edge of the sword, hitting Pwent hard. This time a third voice adds, "Wonderful strike, Garth!" To which Garth very politely replies, "Why thank you, Patrick!"


ALL: Battlefield Map:
[Sblock]

|M   |
|p G |
| P  |
|- --|
 | B|
 |Kb|
 |D |

"|" & "-" are walls, each representing 5 feet
M = Mirth, p = Patrick, G = Garth
P = Pwent, K=Keryth, B=Bahruul, b = Byntrou, D = Destiny[/Sblock]

OOC:
[Sblock]In case anyone is wondering, Pwent fell victim to readied actions. Hopefully you all saw that coming, at least. It is unfortunate ... but hopefully clearly understandable.[/Sblock]

 

[unleashed]

Keryth, Male Drakontos Cleric

Keryth calling out a prayer in draconic casts spiritual weapon, which causes a heavy pick of force to coalesce before him, directing it to strike the swordsman who struck Pwent.

OOC
[SBLOCK]+0 Init; +5 melee [1d8+1; 20/x4; piercing; heavy pick (spiritual weapon)], lasts 3 rounds.[/SBLOCK]

 

[jkason]

Byntrou, sorcerous barbarian

"All for the best, Destiny, looks like our herdmates have pushed us a little past subterfuge," Byn says as he stands again.

At first, it seems Byntrou is preparing to fire an arrow. He pulls his bow up into position, muttering something unintelligible. But he never grabs an arrow, nor for that matter, the bowstring. Instead, he seems to mime pulling it back. Surprisingly, when he mimes the release, there is a shot: a flashing bolt of ... something shoots forth, zig-zagging unnaturally around Bahruul, Pwent, and Patrick to sink home in Mirth's stomach.

OOC:[sblock]cast Magic Missle, target Mirth.[/sblock]

 

[Nonlethal Force]

ROUND ONE (Continued):

Byntrou's spell blast's into Mirth's midsection. He looks a little worse for wear, but he continues to load his crossbow for the next shot. Patrick smirks as Mirth takes a blow and adds, "Ow, Mirth, you've been hit!" Garth laughs at Patrick's comment ... as if to play down the damage taken to Mirth.

Patrick steps up and lines up his slice at Pwent with his greatsword and connects with another devastating blow. As Patrick recoils his sword into a postion to attacka gain, he adds, "Take that, you intruding fiend!" Garth cheers quickly as Patrick lands a blow and adds to Pwent, "That'll teach you to delve into dungeons where you aren't invited to go!"

Pwent:
[Sblock]Patrick's attack deals another 13 damage. I believe that brings Pwent down to 4 if I did my math right.[/Sblock]

OOC:
[Sblock]Waiting on actions for Bahruul and Pwent. Keryth is unfortunately last in the init order. Unleashed, I am assuming you mean for Keryth to target Garth, the one who did all the talking before the door was opened and the one who struck Pwent first. Assuming that is correct, no need to clarify.[/Sblock]

 

[D20Dazza]

Bahruul Bous Barbarian

Bahruul takes a 5' step diagonally through the door so that he stands to the left of Pwent "You shouldn't have done that little man" he growls at the man that struck his dwarven ally "BEEEHRRRROOONN TEK NARL"* he spits as he draws back his axe, and swings hard at his opponent yelling out "Kerryth, Pwent looks like he good use some of Bahamut's aid".

OOC: +7 attack

* Boes battle cry

 

[unleashed]

Keryth, Male Drakontos Cleric

Revised combat action for Keryth perhaps...either way he'll call out a prayer in draconic.

OOC
[SBLOCK]Since it looks like I have the time I’ll amend my action and make a contingent choice.

If Pwent is not the recipient of a killing blow before Keryth acts Keryth will instead step into the doorway and heal Pwent with a cure moderate wounds (2d8+7) converting the spiritual weapon he was intending to cast.

If on the other hand Pwent is dead, Keryth will cast his spiritual weapon at Garth as intended; +5 melee [1d8+1; 20/x4; piercing; heavy pick (spiritual weapon)], lasts 3 rounds.[/SBLOCK]

 

[Nonlethal Force]

ROUND ONE (Continued):

As Bahruul steps forward and slices, a loud pop can be head through the entrance to the cave. The pop seems to come from the area between Patrick and Bahruul as Bahruul's greatsword parts the air between himself and Patrick. The sword continues straight for Patrick, who's face takes on a quick look of disbelief. It is clear that Bahruul has caught Patrick cleanly unaware and no defense is even offered against Bahrul's greatsword. The edge of the blade sinks deep into Patrick's midsection, nearly severing him in half. It goes without saying that while Patrick is technically still alive - only a great magical healing will heal these wounds that have been inflicted. Garth growls at Bahruul, "You'll pay for that when I'm through with your friend, you horned beast! What are you, some sort of minotaur reject with all that white hair?"

Bahruul:
[Sblock]I don't normally relate damage done by the players against NPCs, but I do like to tell the players when they scored a confirmed crit. It should go without saying that Bahruul just butchered Patrick in one very mighty blow.[/Sblock]

Destiny watches as Bahruul takes care of Patrick and she chooses to focus on Garth. She releases a ray of psychic energy toward Garth, but is unable to connect with her effect on account of the cover provided by the wall and the fact that she wanted to make sure she missed Pwent. Her attack harmlessly dissipates in the open space behind Garth.

New Battlefield Map:
[Sblock]

|M   |
|  G |
|BP  |
|- --|
 |  |
 |Kb|
 |D |

M = Mirth, G = Garth
B= Bahruul, P = Pwent, K = Keryth, b = Byntrou, D = Destiny[/Sblock]

 

[jkason]

Byntrou, sorcerous barbarian

Lowering his bow, Byntrou grimaces. He raises his free hand above his head, three fingers and a thumb sticking upwards. As he begins swinging his arm in a fast circle, he speaks familiar, harmonic phrases. He brings his arm down as if flinging something forward, and sure enough, four torch-like glows shoot across the space, and at his direction they spin wildly about Garth's head.

OOC:[sblock]I'm trying something that I can't actually find rules for: Byntrou's casting Dancing Lights. There's nothing in the spell description that says they cause penalties, but it seemed logical to me that four lights the size of torches spinning at high speeds around your head (they can move 100 feet per round, which makes for a heck of a lot of circles around a human head in a few seconds) ought to make it pretty tough to see what you're doing and/or concentrate on what you see.

If that's pushing things too much from RAW, let me know. I'll probably just have Byn send off another magic missle in that case.[/sblock]

 

[magic_gathering2001]

Pwent's concious is knocked out of him but he's still standing.[sblock=OOC]If I make my tumble check to avoid AoO then attack Garth then move backward to the P through 1 and 2
|M |
| G |
|B1 |
|-2--|
|P |
|Kb|
|D |

If not withdraw behind the wall[/sblock]