Hewligan's Rise of the Runelords: The Skinsaw Murders

[hewligan]

Charging down the stairs comes a twelve-foot-long creature with the body of a lion, a scorpion’s tail fitted with dozens of razor barbs, huge bat-like wings, and a deformed humanoid face. Kael recognises it at once as Manticore that attacked him.

The stuffed beast’s poorly maintained fur has fallen away in places, but it moves with a fluidity and hunger that makes it appear all too alive.

Kael glances at his companions, the colour draining from his face, as he wonders if this is once again a personal vision. The shock and purpose that is etched across the face of his companions convinces him that everyone can see it this time.

A manticore. A dead, stuffed, but somehow moving manticore.

It pounces down the last few stairs, landing with the ready hunch of a cat about to attack.

OOC: Initiatives and actions please. No surprise round for anyone, as clearly you heard it and it knows about you.

Here is what a living manticore looks like, but this one is anything but alive:

 

[Rhun]

Danth is completely taken aback by the appearance of the manticore. It takes him several seconds to react to the beast, but then he does so decisively. Calling upon his goddess, he points his blade toward the unnatural creature and sends a beam of searing bright like streaking into the thing! "Feel the cleansing fires of Dawn," he cries.


HP 31/38
Initiative: 3
Cast Searing Light
Ranged Touch AttacK: 20
Damage: 19 if undead, or 12 if NOT undead (5d6 vrs undead, 3d8 if not undead)


Spells in Effect
- Magic Circle vrs Evil, 10' radius, duration 50 minutes (+2 to AC, +2 to saves, immunity to mind control/compulsion) - uknown time remaining, up to Hewligan how much time has passed.


[sblock=Current Spells Readied]
- Level 0: Detect Magic x2, Light, Guidance, Resistance
- Level 1: Command, Bless, Shield of Faith, Bless + (d) Cure Light Wounds
- Level 2: Cure Moderate Wounds, Deific Vengeance (CD), Remove Paralysis + (d) Heat Metal
- Level 3: Summon Monster III, Magic Circle vrs Evil + Searing Light
[/sblock]

 

[Friadoc]

Shock turns to cold action, as well as the steel of purpose that knowing that deadly action will follow, spurs Kael into raising his arm, aiming it at the manticore, and a fiery ray blasts forth from his hand toward the beast.

OOC

[sblock=Rolls]
Post #463 - Initiative (1d20+2=10)
Post #462 - Scorching Ray Attack (1d20+4=21, 4d6=14)
[/sblock]
[sblock=Vitals, current]
AC 16, Touch 12, Flatfooted 14; Mal AC 22
HP 19
[/sblock]
[sblock=Spells Per Day, remaining]
0-level 6 of 6
1st-level 2 of 6
2nd-level 2 of 5
[/sblock]

 

[frostrune]

Jokad leaps from his post at the foot of the stairs and brings Whitefire down on the creature's molting back with a powerful cut.



OOC: Init 19, HIt AC 27 (crit threat), for 13 sword and 4 fire damage
Roll Lookup

Critical confirm (if it matters): AC 12?, probably a miss anyway
Roll Lookup

AC 19, 41/48 hps

 

[hewligan]

Init order: Jokad (19), Manticore (16), Kael (10), Danth (3), Jovik (0)

The stuffed Manticore takes one look at you all and lets out a silent roar. No noise echoes from it, but you can feel the force of its hatred send a chill through you all. Its cold, dead (probably glass) eyes focus upon Kael, and it dives forward to attack.

Jokad, seeing the beast leap towards his friend and moves quickly to bring Whitefire down on the creature's molting back with a powerful cut. The sword bites deep, sending a cloud of straw and dust upwards. You can smell the acrid stench of burning, ancient fur and dust as the flames of the magical blade leave burning traces on the hide.

OOC: Manticore at -17hp

The manticore barrels into Kael, swiping at the young sorcerer with its two massive front paws as it rears up and over him. Both paws strike at Kael, sending the young man sprawling backwards awkwardly. Kael hits the ground in a mist of blood. His clothing is rent in many places, with white flesh visible beneath, soon covered by a rising tide of blood.

OOC: Manticore hits for 21hp damage, sending Kael to -2hp and unconsciousness.

Danth is shocked at the sight of the manticore, and more so by the speed and ferocity with which it tore apart his friend. He holds his nerve, though, and calls forth the cleansing power of his goddess. It takes bravery to reach forward to touch the beast, but he does. It turns to observe him as he places his palm on its flank. For a half second he sees torture and angst hidden deep within those glass eyes, but then it is gone as the beast shudders and whips away from him as the scorching, divine energy of Danth's goddess burns deep at its side.

OOC: -19hp to the Manticore (it is undead), to leave it at -36hp in total. It is hurt, but standing.

OOC: We will wait for Jovik. Also, if Friadoc wants to have Mal attack I am happy to have that happen in this round as it would seem in character for Mal to enter the fray to defend his master. If you want him to attack please post the rolls. If Jovik's post is not put up by tomorrow we will move on to the next round.

 

[Rhun]

Hey Hewligan, can we get a map posted when you get a minute too?

 

[Friadoc]

As Kael falls to the ground, his body a torn and visceral remnant, his familiar, Mal launches himself into the Manticore, his jaws snapping with frenzy as an insanely loud yelping growl is issued from the sometimes peaceable canine.

OOC

[sblock=Rolls]Post #467 - Mal's Bite Attack (1d20+2=6, 1d4+1=4) - Mal's distraught.
Post #467 - 10% Chance of Stabilization while Dying (1d100=93) - Nope, Kael will be moving to -3 HP
[/sblock]
[sblock=Note for Hewligan]If Kael does die, while I would be disappointed, I'd still like to be able to stick with the campaign and make a new PC, if that's acceptable. If, of course, he does die.[/sblock]
[sblock=Vitals, current]
AC 16, Touch 12, Flatfooted 14; Mal AC 22
HP -2
[/sblock]
[sblock=Spells Per Day, remaining]
0-level 6 of 6
1st-level 2 of 6
2nd-level 2 of 5
[/sblock]

 

[hewligan]

Hey Hewligan, can we get a map posted when you get a minute too?

I am off work on Friday and all of next week and will have more time to do 'proper' posts. Until then I am afraid things have been and will continue to be a bit hit-and-run. One of my kids is teething, and work is ...... interesting .... right now.

Fraidoc: Kael has 7 rounds before death, so hopefully someone will be able to kill the Manticore before then. If worst comes to worst and Kael does shed his mortal coils there will either be alternative routes for Kael to re-enter the adventure (Sandpoint temple, perhaps, or Danth calling in a favor from a priest of one of the more senior religions within Magnimar), or for you to create a new character. So don't worry. Yet

 

[Friadoc]

Fraidoc: Kael has 7 rounds before death, so hopefully someone will be able to kill the Manticore before then. If worst comes to worst and Kael does shed his mortal coils there will either be alternative routes for Kael to re-enter the adventure (Sandpoint temple, perhaps, or Danth calling in a favor from a priest of one of the more senior religions within Magnimar), or for you to create a new character. So don't worry. Yet

OOC

I'm not worried, hewligan, but as some of my other DMs could tell you, I like to be open and clear, so that I don't have a DM thinking I want to die, or that I'd be Hades on Earth if my PC passed.

I'm just a firm believer in IC actions equating to IC consequences, thus if I die, it's part of the game...just as living through miraculous means is, too.

So, no hurry to play someone other than Kael, but not maniacally unhealthy attachments, either.

 

[Rhun]

Seeing his companion fall, Danth rushes forward to stand defensively over Kael's unconscious body. He slashes at the manticore with his flaming blade, but in his overzealousness to slay the creature, he misses badly.


HP 31/38, AC 21 (assuming MCvE is still active)
Initiative: 11
Move to wherever Kael was.
Attack: 8

Spells in Effect
- Magic Circle vrs Evil, 10' radius, duration 50 minutes (+2 to AC, +2 to saves, immunity to mind control/compulsion) - uknown time remaining, up to Hewligan how much time has passed.


[sblock=Current Spells Readied]
- Level 0: Detect Magic x2, Light, Guidance, Resistance
- Level 1: Command, Bless, Shield of Faith, Bless + (d) Cure Light Wounds
- Level 2: Cure Moderate Wounds, Deific Vengeance (CD), Remove Paralysis + (d) Heat Metal
- Level 3: Summon Monster III, Magic Circle vrs Evil + Searing Light
[/sblock]