Lord Sessadore
Explorer
Bump?
covaithe's E1: Death's Reach
covaithe
Explorer
You choose to press forward, sacrificing rest for time. Kalas leads the way again through the now-familiar paths through the gently seething mists. This path is straight, and as far as you can tell, heads directly north. The way ahead is only visible for some fifty feet ahead of you, but as you proceed the mists swirl away, revealing each section of the path in turn.
After perhaps a thousand paces, the mist parts in front of you to reveal a lavishly carved stone archway leading into an broad plaza enclosed by stone walls. Within the walls, a narrow moat filled with still water separates a wide stone walkway from a center island, with bridges across the moat on all four sides. On the island is a raised dais with two large steps leading up to it, forming a low pyramid. At the corners of the lowest step are four broad stone obelisks.
On the central platform is an irregular pillar of glowing blue crystal, surrounded by a circle of glowing blue runes. At the foot of the crystal pillar is the crumpled, bleeding body of the priestess who greeted your arrival in Zvomarana, Felidha. Above the corpse, tethered to the pillar by wisps of power, is an insubstantial figure that looks just like the priestess, struggling weakly.
All of this you notice in passing, as your attention is quickly consumed by rather more pressing matters. Matters such as the huge insectile demon on the right, whose touch has visibly scorched the nearby flagstones, and whose chittering jaws are easily large enough to swallow a horse, let alone a man. Or the equally large cobra-headed being to the left, whose body seems composed of thousands of intertwined writhing snakes, effortlessly standing astride the moat. A death giant stands behind the pillar, clad in a studded leather kilt marked with black runes, and a dark wyvern, significantly larger than Lucy, wheels overhead. There is also pair of gaunt, mournful-faced shadowsworn with nasty-looking spiked gauntlets, as well as a pair of storm archons flying overhead, lightning crackling constantly around their blue-skinned torsos. But at the center of this tableau, standing over Felidha's body, is a dwarf in heavy plate armor, cleverly enameled with the figure of a black dragon on a crimson field, the emblem of the Ebon Riders. It can only be Mauglurien the Black, their leader.
"Ah. Rescuers. Perhaps we shall face a worthy foe in this place after all. Attack!" the dwarf calls, pulling forth a heavy black battleaxe seething with magic.
[sblock=the view]
[/sblock]
Round 1
Mauglurien's forces have clearly been waiting for just this occurrence, for they react immediately with trained precision....
[sblock=ooc]Initiative:
Sarenax: 22
BKT: 35
Batin: 18
Massacre: best of 28, 17, 36
Kylek: 30
Kalas: best of 20, 24
Enemies: 39. So they all go first. This could be interesting.
I'm gonna have to leave it at this cliffhanger, as I've got to go to work now and don't have time to work up a full round's worth of enemy actions. I'll try to get it done today, though. No later than tomorrow, since I have the day off.
[/sblock]
[sblock=status and initiative]
Everyone except Fury has +1 to skill checks, saves, and ability checks until they leave Zvomarana.
Mounts:
Lucifa HP 80/106 surges 0/1
Gilthanas HP 112/138 surges 2/2
Auras and zones:
Resources used:
[sblock=map]
[/sblock]
After perhaps a thousand paces, the mist parts in front of you to reveal a lavishly carved stone archway leading into an broad plaza enclosed by stone walls. Within the walls, a narrow moat filled with still water separates a wide stone walkway from a center island, with bridges across the moat on all four sides. On the island is a raised dais with two large steps leading up to it, forming a low pyramid. At the corners of the lowest step are four broad stone obelisks.
On the central platform is an irregular pillar of glowing blue crystal, surrounded by a circle of glowing blue runes. At the foot of the crystal pillar is the crumpled, bleeding body of the priestess who greeted your arrival in Zvomarana, Felidha. Above the corpse, tethered to the pillar by wisps of power, is an insubstantial figure that looks just like the priestess, struggling weakly.
All of this you notice in passing, as your attention is quickly consumed by rather more pressing matters. Matters such as the huge insectile demon on the right, whose touch has visibly scorched the nearby flagstones, and whose chittering jaws are easily large enough to swallow a horse, let alone a man. Or the equally large cobra-headed being to the left, whose body seems composed of thousands of intertwined writhing snakes, effortlessly standing astride the moat. A death giant stands behind the pillar, clad in a studded leather kilt marked with black runes, and a dark wyvern, significantly larger than Lucy, wheels overhead. There is also pair of gaunt, mournful-faced shadowsworn with nasty-looking spiked gauntlets, as well as a pair of storm archons flying overhead, lightning crackling constantly around their blue-skinned torsos. But at the center of this tableau, standing over Felidha's body, is a dwarf in heavy plate armor, cleverly enameled with the figure of a black dragon on a crimson field, the emblem of the Ebon Riders. It can only be Mauglurien the Black, their leader.
"Ah. Rescuers. Perhaps we shall face a worthy foe in this place after all. Attack!" the dwarf calls, pulling forth a heavy black battleaxe seething with magic.
[sblock=the view]
[/sblock]
Round 1
Mauglurien's forces have clearly been waiting for just this occurrence, for they react immediately with trained precision....
[sblock=ooc]Initiative:
Sarenax: 22
BKT: 35
Batin: 18
Massacre: best of 28, 17, 36
Kylek: 30
Kalas: best of 20, 24
Enemies: 39. So they all go first. This could be interesting.
I'm gonna have to leave it at this cliffhanger, as I've got to go to work now and don't have time to work up a full round's worth of enemy actions. I'll try to get it done today, though. No later than tomorrow, since I have the day off.
[/sblock]
[sblock=status and initiative]
Everyone except Fury has +1 to skill checks, saves, and ability checks until they leave Zvomarana.
- Mauglurien, unharmed
- Fell wyvern, unharmed, flying, 12 squares above ground
- archon 1, unharmed, flying, 10 squares above ground
- archon 2, unharmed, flying, 10 squares above ground
- Sorrowsworn 1, unharmed
- Sorrowsworn 2, unharmed
- death giant, unharmed
- Yuan-ti Anathema, unharmed
- Remorhaz, unharmed
- Bha-Ka-Thet HP 143/143 Surges 11/12
- Massacre HP 102/102, surges 4/7
- Batin HP 160/165 Surges 3/10
- Sarenax HP 142/142 Surges 3/9, 1 failed death save
- Kylek HP 124/124 Surges 12/14
- Kalas HP 194/197 Surges 8/11
Mounts:
Lucifa HP 80/106 surges 0/1
Gilthanas HP 112/138 surges 2/2
Auras and zones:
- Massacre: Aura 3; living enemies take 5 necrotic, undead enemies take 5 radiant.
Resources used:
- Kalas: Red death, blood oath fulfilled, coif of focus, trollskin armor, 2 daily magic item power.
- Massacre: Evard's black tentacles, Carcanet power, Orb of Mental Domination, 2 daily magic item powers, Face of Death
- Kylek: blackfrost serpent, blizzard, adamantine echo, AP.
- Sarenax: divine power, AP, Wrath of the Faithful, Cloak of Displacement, 1x daily magic item power
- Bha-Ka-Thet: AP, Ring the golden Bell, Blinding Sun
- Batin: Planar Shock, Omnipresent Assault, AP, Guardian Cloak, 1 daily magic item power
[sblock=map]
[/sblock]
renau1g
First Post
"Stay behind me!" Kalas shouts as he prepares to do battle.
[sblock=Actions]
If we have our weapons drawn (I'm assuming we would in this hostile place) then Kalas will use an immediate reaction for the first enemy that hits him with a melee attack.
Immediate Reaction - Strikebacks - MBA against them - vs ac; dmg (1d20+26=28, 2d8+18=27) ah well... it was the thought that counts.
[/sblock]
[sblock=MiniKalas]Kalas Graybeard—Male Revenant (Human) Warden/Son of Mercy/Chosen of the Raven Queen
Initiative: +15 ; Passive Perception: 36, Passive Insight: 27
Senses:Low-Light; Resistances: 20 Fire (when mounted, otherwise 10), 15 Necrotic
HP: 194/197, Bloodied: 98, Surge: 56, Surges left: 8/11
AC: 37, Fort: 34, Reflex: 31, Will: 34; — Speed:6
Action Points: 0, Second Wind: Not Used
Powers -
Thorn Strike
Weight of Earth
Dark Reaping
Stalker's Positioning
Creeper's Grasp[
Call Forth the Harvest
Lawbreaker's Doom
Dispensed Justice
Strikebacks
Bridle of Rapid Action
Boots of Eagerness
Form of the Oak Sentinel
Form of the Rowan Sentinel
Blizzard Strike
Blood Oath Fulfilled
Red Death
Cleansing Earth
Nature's Abundance
Shield of Stone
Bear's Endurance
Githyanki Silver Longsword +4
Throwing Heavy Shield
Coif of Focus
Belt of Mountain Endurance
Ring of Invigoration
Trollskin Hide Armour +4
+1 to skill checks, saves, and ability checks until they leave Zvomarana
[/sblock]
[sblock=Actions]
If we have our weapons drawn (I'm assuming we would in this hostile place) then Kalas will use an immediate reaction for the first enemy that hits him with a melee attack.
Immediate Reaction - Strikebacks - MBA against them - vs ac; dmg (1d20+26=28, 2d8+18=27) ah well... it was the thought that counts.
[/sblock]
[sblock=MiniKalas]Kalas Graybeard—Male Revenant (Human) Warden/Son of Mercy/Chosen of the Raven Queen
Initiative: +15 ; Passive Perception: 36, Passive Insight: 27
Senses:Low-Light; Resistances: 20 Fire (when mounted, otherwise 10), 15 Necrotic
HP: 194/197, Bloodied: 98, Surge: 56, Surges left: 8/11
AC: 37, Fort: 34, Reflex: 31, Will: 34; — Speed:6
Action Points: 0, Second Wind: Not Used
Powers -
Thorn Strike
Weight of Earth
Dark Reaping
Stalker's Positioning
Creeper's Grasp[
Call Forth the Harvest
Lawbreaker's Doom
Dispensed Justice
Strikebacks
Boots of Eagerness
Form of the Oak Sentinel
Form of the Rowan Sentinel
Blizzard Strike
Red Death
Cleansing Earth
Nature's Abundance
Bear's Endurance
Githyanki Silver Longsword +4
Throwing Heavy Shield
Belt of Mountain Endurance
Ring of Invigoration
+1 to skill checks, saves, and ability checks until they leave Zvomarana
[/sblock]
Walking Dad
First Post
BKT
[sblock=OOC]
Knowledge check to get some info regarding power /vulnerabilities of the enemies:
Religion (1d20+16=34)
[sblock=Mini stat block]
Bha-Ka-Thet
Perception: 32 Insight: 27 / Low-light Vision
Initiative: +21
AC 36 Fortitude 33 Reflex 35 Will 35
Hit Points: 143 / 143 Bloodied: 71
Temporary Hit Points: 0
Action Points: 0 Second Wind: 1
Healing Surge: 35 Surges per day: 11/12
At-Will Powers: Dancing Cobra, Five Storms, Spider Technique, Obscured Avoidance
Encounter Powers: Divine Sun, Three Winds Kick, Overpowering Strike, Strike the Avalanche, Purifying Meditation, Vow
Daily Powers:Blinding Sun Technique, Rising Dragon Fire, Ring the Golden Bell, Twilight Touch, Undimmed Sun, Meditative Solace
[/sblock][/sblock]
[sblock=OOC]
Knowledge check to get some info regarding power /vulnerabilities of the enemies:
Religion (1d20+16=34)
[sblock=Mini stat block]
Bha-Ka-Thet
Perception: 32 Insight: 27 / Low-light Vision
Initiative: +21
AC 36 Fortitude 33 Reflex 35 Will 35
Hit Points: 143 / 143 Bloodied: 71
Temporary Hit Points: 0
Action Points: 0 Second Wind: 1
Healing Surge: 35 Surges per day: 11/12
At-Will Powers: Dancing Cobra, Five Storms, Spider Technique, Obscured Avoidance
Encounter Powers: Divine Sun, Three Winds Kick, Overpowering Strike, Strike the Avalanche, Purifying Meditation, Vow
Daily Powers:
[/sblock][/sblock]
covaithe
Explorer
covaithe
Explorer
Round 1
Mauglurien's forces have clearly been waiting for just this occurrence, for they react immediately with trained precision....
The huge insectoid demon advances first, skittering across the moat easily with its long body and attacking Kalas, who instinctively ducks the blow. Those nearby to the demon can feel the intense heat radiating from its body, and up close its jaws are even more terrifying.
[sblock=Arcana DC 25]This type of demon is known as a remorhaz. It is closer to being a fire elemental than a true demon, though to its victims the distinction is likely to be immaterial.
[sblock=DC 30]Once a remorhaz has bitten a foe, it can attempt to swallow them, which is not terribly good for their health. Some tales tell of famous adventurers who managed to cut their way out of the stomach after being swallowed by a remorhaz, but who can say if those tales are anything more than drunken boasts?
[sblock=DC 35]Surprisingly, a remorhaz has no particular restances or vulnerabilities. It is, however, exceptionally good at climbing, due to its many sharp-clawed legs.
[/sblock]
[/sblock]
[/sblock]
The big gray-scaled wyvern swoops close over Kalas' head, and coughs up a spray of half-digested, rotting foulness that sprays over the forward elements of the party. Only Kylek manages to twist aside to avoid the spray, which sticks to the clothes and skin of those it hits, visibly festering on contact.
[sblock=Arcana DC 25]A fell wyvern is a shadow version of the normal beast, strengthened and warped by the Shadowfell into something not entirely natural.
[sblock=DC 30]You have already seen that it has a foul mockery of a true dragon's breath weapon. It also attacks with its beak and claws and a poisonous tail, much like its natural cousins.
[sblock=DC 35]While still technically a living creature, shadow creatures such as this share some characteristics with undead, such as their resistance to decay and weakness to the intense light of divine power.
[/sblock]
[/sblock]
[/sblock]
The death giant strides forward, jagged fingernails scraping across tattoos etched in its chest and forearms. Blood oozes, and magic wakens. If you look closely, four ugly black smears of shadow orbit its body like flies around offal. As the giant finishes the spell, three of those black smears suddenly flare into harsh white flame, then disappear. A matching flare of harsh light erupts from just beside Kylek, exploding in a pallor of sickly light that sickens and dazes those nearby. Only Ba-Ka-Thet is quick enough to throw his arm over his eyes, and remains unharmed.
[sblock=Arcana DC 25]This type of death giant is called a soulcatcher. Death giants are a shadow-corrupted race of giants, who often serve as mercenaries to those unscrupulous enough to put up with their evil. Like other death giants, they fuel their magics with by capturing bits of the souls of those who die nearby.
[sblock=DC 30]In addition to expending its captured soul shards in an explosion of fury, a soulcatcher can actually attempt to pull the soul out of a living creature from a distance, stunning them and reducing their ability to bounce back from damage.
[sblock=DC 35]Like other shadow creatures, death giant soulcatchers are resistant to all forms of decay, but unlike many, they are not weakened by divine light
[/sblock]
[/sblock]
[/sblock]
The cobra-headed monstrosity slithers effortlessly across the moat and splits itself down the middle to pass around the obelisk on both sides, reforming seamlessly on the other side. Its long, serpentine neck lashes out, sinking fangs into Kalas and injecting a powerful poison that makes his limbs shake.
[sblock=Nature DC 25]Yuan-ti Anathemas are the most powerful and dangerous kind of yuan-ti. Once they ruled their kind as kings, until they grew dangerously unstable. Their bodies are composed of thousands of individual snakes working in perfect harmony, directed by a powerful intelligence.
[sblock=DC 30]In addition to biting, an Anathema can extrude arm-like limbs that rake and tear foes with fang-tipped claws. It can also discorporate briefly into its component snakes, who can attack nearby foes on their own, or move easily past obstacles.
[sblock=DC 35]The Anathema has no particular weaknesses, and is extremely resistant to poison.
[/sblock]
[/sblock]
[/sblock]
The pair of gaunt humanoids equipped with spiked gauntlets splits. One moves to the right, biding its time. The other leaps lightly across the moat and charges Kalas, projecting extra pain into Kalas' unguarded mind as its spikes tear his flesh.
[sblock=Arcana DC 25]Sorrowsworn are creatures of the shadowfell, formed out of its dust by the memories of past grief and failure. This kind, equipped with spiked gauntlets, are known as fleshrippers.
[sblock=DC 30]fleshrippers are agile combatants, who use their mobility and powers of shadow to gain a tactical advantage over their foes. When they succeed in gaining such an advantage, their mental whispers of grief and failure have a potent psychic force.
ooc translation: they do extra psychic damage with CA.
[sblock=DC 35]This variety of shadow creature has no particular weaknesses or resistances.
[/sblock]
[/sblock]
[/sblock]
Mauglurien laughs at the joining battle, and moves to a central position, his axe ready to strike when his moment comes.
[sblock=Streetwise DC 15]Mauglurien the Black, sometimes called the Black Dragon, is the leader of the Ebon Riders. His axe, Boneshredder, is nearly as famous as he is.
[sblock=DC 20]Mauglurien's history is dark. He was exiled from his clan long ago, for crimes now forgotten or suppressed. He is ancient now, for a dwarf, but still fights like a warrior in his prime.
[sblock=30]Mauglurien's religious inclinations have been the subject of much speculation over the years. Some say he serves Kord, others Gruumsh, still others darker gods still. His presence here in this place suggests that they may have been correct, that Orcus is now his patron.
[sblock=35]There are rumors, whispered very quietly, that Mauglurien may no longer be alive, that he may be a death knight now, covered by powerful illusions to present the semblance of a living being.
[/sblock]
[/sblock]
[/sblock]
[/sblock]
[sblock=Arcana DC 35]Though Mauglurien appears to be a healthy, if elderly, living dwarf, it is actually a powerful illusion. He is undead, a death knight.[/sblock]
The two archons move, now. The first floats a bit to the east on a cloud of dark thunderheads. It raises its hands to the sky, gathering a nimbus of crackling electricity about each hand, then claps them suddenly together. A whirling, roaring storm of lightning and thunder bursts into being in the middle of the heroes, dragging them forward towards the huge insect demon, while their bodies spasm out of control with the shock and vibration of the storm.
The other archon's spell is more directed, though less deadly. A flash of lightning lances out of the clear gray sky and transfixes Kalas with a clap of thunder. Sparks continue to play around his armor and gear, providing aftershocks.
[sblock=Arcana DC 25]Storm archons are effectively lightning elementals, beings of air and thunder and electricity. Native to the elemental chaos, they were created as soldiers by the primordials during the Dawn War. These particular archons are the sort known as tempest weavers, who stand back at a distance and warp and bend storms to their will.
[sblock=DC 30]tempest weavers usually strike from a distance with the attacks you've seen so far, but they are also deadly up close. They can cause intense flashes of lightning to blind nearby foes, and their touch carries a powerful electric charge.
[sblock=DC 35]As elementals, tempest weavers are naturally immune to things that disrupt the bodies of natural living beings, such as disease or poison. By their particular nature, these ones are also at home with lightning and thunder, which are part of their intrinsic being.
[/sblock]
[/sblock]
[/sblock]
[sblock=ooc]The Remorhaz goes forward and bites BKT: 33 vs. AC misses. It has an aura 2: creatures who start their turn within the aura take 10 fire damage. Kalas, BKT, and Kylek are in the aura currently.
The wyvern flies close and breathes, catching Kalas, BKT, Kylek, Sarenax, and maybe Massacre, depending on how high he's flying. Assuming everyone's in the blast, it would hit Kalas, Gilthanas, BKT, Sarenax, Massacre, and Lucifa, missing only Kylek. Damage is 18 necrotic, and 10 ongoing necrotic (se). I assume that Kalas will use mirrored carapace to protect Gilthanas... but read on below. I'm not bothering to mark down ongoing necrotic damage on people who resist it all.
Death giant moves a bit forward and uses soulfury detonation. Burst 2 centered on Q8: hits Kalas, Gilthanas, Kylek, Sarenax, Massacre, Lucifa. Misses BKT. Damage is 20 necrotic, and those hit are dazed (se). Kalas, I've assumed you use mirrored carapace on the first area attack, and so can't on this one. You can switch if you prefer.
The Yuan-ti moves closer and bites Kalas: 41 vs. AC hits for 19 damage, and secondary attack: 35 vs. Fort hits, and Kalas takes 15 ongoing poison and -4 to attack rolls (se both). This is when Kalas uses strikebacks, by my reading; his BMA misses.
Sorrowsworn 1 moves south to N3 (can't fail the jump check) and charges Kalas. It's in N8, beneath the wyvern. 45 vs. AC hits for 17 damage and 10 psychic damage.
Sorrowsworn 2 moves over and readies an action.
Mauglurien moves and readies an action.
Archon 1 moves over and uses Heart of the Tempest, burst 3 centered on R11 catches everyone, plus the Remorhaz: Misses Kalas and Massacre, hits Gilthanas, BKT, Kylek, Sarenax, Lucifa, Batin, Remorhaz. Those hit are slid 3 squares and take 10 ong. lightning, 10 ong. thunder, and restrained (se all). Batin slides away, while Sarenax, BKT, Lucifa, and Kylek are pulled closer to the Remorhaz. I'm going to assume that Massacre chooses to go with Lucifa rather than suddenly dismounting in mid-air. Massacre is now adjacent to the remorhaz, altitude 2, and is threatened by it.
Archon 2 uses resounding bolt on Kalas: 41 vs. Fort hits for 14 thunder damage and 10 ongoing lightning (se).
Everyone except Batin is now in the remorhaz aura and will take 10 fire damage at the start of their turn, if they're still there. That includes mounts.
You're all up.
[/sblock]
[sblock=status and initiative]
Everyone except Fury has +1 to skill checks, saves, and ability checks until they leave Zvomarana.
Mounts:
Lucifa HP 42/106 surges 0/1, dazed (se), 10 ong. necrotic (se), 10 ong. lightning, 10 ong. thunder, and restrained (se all)
Gilthanas HP 94/138 surges 2/2, dazed (se), 10 ong. lightning, 10 ong. thunder, and restrained (se all)
Auras and zones:
Resources used:
[sblock=map]
[/sblock]
Mauglurien's forces have clearly been waiting for just this occurrence, for they react immediately with trained precision....
The huge insectoid demon advances first, skittering across the moat easily with its long body and attacking Kalas, who instinctively ducks the blow. Those nearby to the demon can feel the intense heat radiating from its body, and up close its jaws are even more terrifying.
[sblock=Arcana DC 25]This type of demon is known as a remorhaz. It is closer to being a fire elemental than a true demon, though to its victims the distinction is likely to be immaterial.
[sblock=DC 30]Once a remorhaz has bitten a foe, it can attempt to swallow them, which is not terribly good for their health. Some tales tell of famous adventurers who managed to cut their way out of the stomach after being swallowed by a remorhaz, but who can say if those tales are anything more than drunken boasts?
[sblock=DC 35]Surprisingly, a remorhaz has no particular restances or vulnerabilities. It is, however, exceptionally good at climbing, due to its many sharp-clawed legs.
[/sblock]
[/sblock]
[/sblock]
The big gray-scaled wyvern swoops close over Kalas' head, and coughs up a spray of half-digested, rotting foulness that sprays over the forward elements of the party. Only Kylek manages to twist aside to avoid the spray, which sticks to the clothes and skin of those it hits, visibly festering on contact.
[sblock=Arcana DC 25]A fell wyvern is a shadow version of the normal beast, strengthened and warped by the Shadowfell into something not entirely natural.
[sblock=DC 30]You have already seen that it has a foul mockery of a true dragon's breath weapon. It also attacks with its beak and claws and a poisonous tail, much like its natural cousins.
[sblock=DC 35]While still technically a living creature, shadow creatures such as this share some characteristics with undead, such as their resistance to decay and weakness to the intense light of divine power.
[/sblock]
[/sblock]
[/sblock]
The death giant strides forward, jagged fingernails scraping across tattoos etched in its chest and forearms. Blood oozes, and magic wakens. If you look closely, four ugly black smears of shadow orbit its body like flies around offal. As the giant finishes the spell, three of those black smears suddenly flare into harsh white flame, then disappear. A matching flare of harsh light erupts from just beside Kylek, exploding in a pallor of sickly light that sickens and dazes those nearby. Only Ba-Ka-Thet is quick enough to throw his arm over his eyes, and remains unharmed.
[sblock=Arcana DC 25]This type of death giant is called a soulcatcher. Death giants are a shadow-corrupted race of giants, who often serve as mercenaries to those unscrupulous enough to put up with their evil. Like other death giants, they fuel their magics with by capturing bits of the souls of those who die nearby.
[sblock=DC 30]In addition to expending its captured soul shards in an explosion of fury, a soulcatcher can actually attempt to pull the soul out of a living creature from a distance, stunning them and reducing their ability to bounce back from damage.
[sblock=DC 35]Like other shadow creatures, death giant soulcatchers are resistant to all forms of decay, but unlike many, they are not weakened by divine light
[/sblock]
[/sblock]
[/sblock]
The cobra-headed monstrosity slithers effortlessly across the moat and splits itself down the middle to pass around the obelisk on both sides, reforming seamlessly on the other side. Its long, serpentine neck lashes out, sinking fangs into Kalas and injecting a powerful poison that makes his limbs shake.
[sblock=Nature DC 25]Yuan-ti Anathemas are the most powerful and dangerous kind of yuan-ti. Once they ruled their kind as kings, until they grew dangerously unstable. Their bodies are composed of thousands of individual snakes working in perfect harmony, directed by a powerful intelligence.
[sblock=DC 30]In addition to biting, an Anathema can extrude arm-like limbs that rake and tear foes with fang-tipped claws. It can also discorporate briefly into its component snakes, who can attack nearby foes on their own, or move easily past obstacles.
[sblock=DC 35]The Anathema has no particular weaknesses, and is extremely resistant to poison.
[/sblock]
[/sblock]
[/sblock]
The pair of gaunt humanoids equipped with spiked gauntlets splits. One moves to the right, biding its time. The other leaps lightly across the moat and charges Kalas, projecting extra pain into Kalas' unguarded mind as its spikes tear his flesh.
[sblock=Arcana DC 25]Sorrowsworn are creatures of the shadowfell, formed out of its dust by the memories of past grief and failure. This kind, equipped with spiked gauntlets, are known as fleshrippers.
[sblock=DC 30]fleshrippers are agile combatants, who use their mobility and powers of shadow to gain a tactical advantage over their foes. When they succeed in gaining such an advantage, their mental whispers of grief and failure have a potent psychic force.
ooc translation: they do extra psychic damage with CA.
[sblock=DC 35]This variety of shadow creature has no particular weaknesses or resistances.
[/sblock]
[/sblock]
[/sblock]
Mauglurien laughs at the joining battle, and moves to a central position, his axe ready to strike when his moment comes.
[sblock=Streetwise DC 15]Mauglurien the Black, sometimes called the Black Dragon, is the leader of the Ebon Riders. His axe, Boneshredder, is nearly as famous as he is.
[sblock=DC 20]Mauglurien's history is dark. He was exiled from his clan long ago, for crimes now forgotten or suppressed. He is ancient now, for a dwarf, but still fights like a warrior in his prime.
[sblock=30]Mauglurien's religious inclinations have been the subject of much speculation over the years. Some say he serves Kord, others Gruumsh, still others darker gods still. His presence here in this place suggests that they may have been correct, that Orcus is now his patron.
[sblock=35]There are rumors, whispered very quietly, that Mauglurien may no longer be alive, that he may be a death knight now, covered by powerful illusions to present the semblance of a living being.
[/sblock]
[/sblock]
[/sblock]
[/sblock]
[sblock=Arcana DC 35]Though Mauglurien appears to be a healthy, if elderly, living dwarf, it is actually a powerful illusion. He is undead, a death knight.[/sblock]
The two archons move, now. The first floats a bit to the east on a cloud of dark thunderheads. It raises its hands to the sky, gathering a nimbus of crackling electricity about each hand, then claps them suddenly together. A whirling, roaring storm of lightning and thunder bursts into being in the middle of the heroes, dragging them forward towards the huge insect demon, while their bodies spasm out of control with the shock and vibration of the storm.
The other archon's spell is more directed, though less deadly. A flash of lightning lances out of the clear gray sky and transfixes Kalas with a clap of thunder. Sparks continue to play around his armor and gear, providing aftershocks.
[sblock=Arcana DC 25]Storm archons are effectively lightning elementals, beings of air and thunder and electricity. Native to the elemental chaos, they were created as soldiers by the primordials during the Dawn War. These particular archons are the sort known as tempest weavers, who stand back at a distance and warp and bend storms to their will.
[sblock=DC 30]tempest weavers usually strike from a distance with the attacks you've seen so far, but they are also deadly up close. They can cause intense flashes of lightning to blind nearby foes, and their touch carries a powerful electric charge.
[sblock=DC 35]As elementals, tempest weavers are naturally immune to things that disrupt the bodies of natural living beings, such as disease or poison. By their particular nature, these ones are also at home with lightning and thunder, which are part of their intrinsic being.
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[sblock=ooc]The Remorhaz goes forward and bites BKT: 33 vs. AC misses. It has an aura 2: creatures who start their turn within the aura take 10 fire damage. Kalas, BKT, and Kylek are in the aura currently.
The wyvern flies close and breathes, catching Kalas, BKT, Kylek, Sarenax, and maybe Massacre, depending on how high he's flying. Assuming everyone's in the blast, it would hit Kalas, Gilthanas, BKT, Sarenax, Massacre, and Lucifa, missing only Kylek. Damage is 18 necrotic, and 10 ongoing necrotic (se). I assume that Kalas will use mirrored carapace to protect Gilthanas... but read on below. I'm not bothering to mark down ongoing necrotic damage on people who resist it all.
Death giant moves a bit forward and uses soulfury detonation. Burst 2 centered on Q8: hits Kalas, Gilthanas, Kylek, Sarenax, Massacre, Lucifa. Misses BKT. Damage is 20 necrotic, and those hit are dazed (se). Kalas, I've assumed you use mirrored carapace on the first area attack, and so can't on this one. You can switch if you prefer.
The Yuan-ti moves closer and bites Kalas: 41 vs. AC hits for 19 damage, and secondary attack: 35 vs. Fort hits, and Kalas takes 15 ongoing poison and -4 to attack rolls (se both). This is when Kalas uses strikebacks, by my reading; his BMA misses.
Sorrowsworn 1 moves south to N3 (can't fail the jump check) and charges Kalas. It's in N8, beneath the wyvern. 45 vs. AC hits for 17 damage and 10 psychic damage.
Sorrowsworn 2 moves over and readies an action.
Mauglurien moves and readies an action.
Archon 1 moves over and uses Heart of the Tempest, burst 3 centered on R11 catches everyone, plus the Remorhaz: Misses Kalas and Massacre, hits Gilthanas, BKT, Kylek, Sarenax, Lucifa, Batin, Remorhaz. Those hit are slid 3 squares and take 10 ong. lightning, 10 ong. thunder, and restrained (se all). Batin slides away, while Sarenax, BKT, Lucifa, and Kylek are pulled closer to the Remorhaz. I'm going to assume that Massacre chooses to go with Lucifa rather than suddenly dismounting in mid-air. Massacre is now adjacent to the remorhaz, altitude 2, and is threatened by it.
Archon 2 uses resounding bolt on Kalas: 41 vs. Fort hits for 14 thunder damage and 10 ongoing lightning (se).
Everyone except Batin is now in the remorhaz aura and will take 10 fire damage at the start of their turn, if they're still there. That includes mounts.
You're all up.
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Everyone except Fury has +1 to skill checks, saves, and ability checks until they leave Zvomarana.
- Mauglurien, unharmed
- Fell wyvern, unharmed, flying, 12 squares above ground
- archon 1, unharmed, flying, 10 squares above ground
- archon 2, unharmed, flying, 10 squares above ground
- Sorrowsworn 1, unharmed
- Sorrowsworn 2, unharmed
- death giant, unharmed, 1 soul shard
- Yuan-ti Anathema, unharmed
- Remorhaz, unharmed, 10 ong. lightning, 10 ong. thunder, and restrained (se all)
- Bha-Ka-Thet HP 125/143 Surges 11/12, 10 ongoing necrotic (se), 10 ong. lightning, 10 ong. thunder, and restrained (se all)
- Massacre HP 94/102, surges 4/7, dazed (se)
- Batin HP 160/165 Surges 3/10, 10 ong. lightning, 10 ong. thunder, and restrained (se all)
- Sarenax HP 104/142 Surges 3/9, 1 failed death save, 10 ongoing necrotic (se), dazed (se), 10 ong. lightning, 10 ong. thunder, and restrained (se all)
- Kylek HP 119/124 Surges 12/14, dazed (se), 10 ong. lightning, 10 ong. thunder, and restrained (se all)
- Kalas HP 126/197 Surges 8/11, dazed (se), 15 ongoing poison and -4 to attack rolls (se both), 10 ongoing lightning (se)
Mounts:
Lucifa HP 42/106 surges 0/1, dazed (se), 10 ong. necrotic (se), 10 ong. lightning, 10 ong. thunder, and restrained (se all)
Gilthanas HP 94/138 surges 2/2, dazed (se), 10 ong. lightning, 10 ong. thunder, and restrained (se all)
Auras and zones:
- Massacre: Aura 3; living enemies take 5 necrotic, undead enemies take 5 radiant.
- Remorhaz: aura 2; creatures who start their turn within the aura take 10 fire damage.
Resources used:
- Kalas: Red death, blood oath fulfilled, coif of focus, trollskin armor, 2 daily magic item power. Strikebacks
- Massacre: Evard's black tentacles, Carcanet power, Orb of Mental Domination, 2 daily magic item powers, Face of Death
- Kylek: blackfrost serpent, blizzard, adamantine echo.
- Sarenax: divine power, Wrath of the Faithful, Cloak of Displacement, 1x daily magic item power
- Bha-Ka-Thet: AP, Ring the golden Bell, Blinding Sun
- Batin: Planar Shock, Omnipresent Assault, Guardian Cloak, 1 daily magic item power
- Archon 1: Heart of the Tempest
- Fell Wyvern: Pestilent Breath
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