OOC - [Epic] - Scions of the Endless Falls - Full

[Isida Kep'Tukari]

Terrain features available would be several large trees (let's say 200), many shrubs, some large boulders, a pond, a small mountain, etc., etc.

 

[Kelleris]

Actually, Isida, why don't I go ahead and make a bardic knowledge check to get the scoop on our guests? A 59 should cover everything of immediate interest. In particular I want to know the usual tactics of the spellcasters. An approximate power level (something like 10 levels under me, 5 levels under, 3 over, just something rough) would be nice too.

Oh, and since I'm eying one of the lackey-mages for a swift death before he can make with the casting, and assuming that I can assess his defensive survivability and the approximate amount of havoc my attacks can cause, would an average of 98.5 damage, a DC 29 Fortitude save or die, and 1d6+1 Con damage probably kill him/her? If not, how far short am I of a clean kill?

If I can get answers to these questions, I might speak for Su'ryuu telepathically, since I have the better negotiation-type skill checks.

 

[Ferrix]

I imagine you do. But I've argued the point here and elsewhere, so there's no point in rehashing the case for either side.

But I feel safe leaving you to your own devices. Especially since you have the elan's damage-soaking ability, which I had forgotten about.

That swift action is more often better used for other things. Heck, a quickened Vigor does a better job most times than the damage "soaking" ability.

 

[Kelleris]

True, but that just reinforces my point. I didn't scrutinize your character sheet, anyway. Just tried to get a sense of it.

 

[Isida Kep'Tukari]

Actually, Isida, why don't I go ahead and make a bardic knowledge check to get the scoop on our guests? A 59 should cover everything of immediate interest. In particular I want to know the usual tactics of the spellcasters. An approximate power level (something like 10 levels under me, 5 levels under, 3 over, just something rough) would be nice too.

Oh, and since I'm eying one of the lackey-mages for a swift death before he can make with the casting, and assuming that I can assess his defensive survivability and the approximate amount of havoc my attacks can cause, would an average of 98.5 damage, a DC 29 Fortitude save or die, and 1d6+1 Con damage probably kill him/her? If not, how far short am I of a clean kill?

For the first, lemme get back to you one that. For the second, wouldn't you like to know!

 

[Isida Kep'Tukari]

Actually, Isida, why don't I go ahead and make a bardic knowledge check to get the scoop on our guests? A 59 should cover everything of immediate interest. In particular I want to know the usual tactics of the spellcasters. An approximate power level (something like 10 levels under me, 5 levels under, 3 over, just something rough) would be nice too.

Ok, here we go:

*The party consists of eleven individuals.

First off, none of these people are as powerful as you are. That's clear.

Four are warriors, two men and two women, in the elegantly decorated and elaborate armor of their kind. The bear gleaming silver swords in their hands, marked with arcane runes. These are clearly the special silver swords that are capable of severing the silver life-cord of those traveling out of their bodies on the planes. Their forging is a secret known only to the githyanki, and there are other, stranger powers these swords are said to possess.

Though you don't know these warriors by name, the armor and swords are clearly of the queen's elite guard. They are well-trained, and skilled at cutting the cords of life. Their swords can actually dissociate someone from their body so that the cord can be cut. They are the weakest of the lot.

Two are in heavily-embroidered trailing robes, bearing jewel-encrusted staves in their hands; clearly arcanists of a stripe.

Kressi'keth and Ill'kadar, skilled arcanists. Kressi'keth is actually a battle mage of some small noteriety on the planes, for he is skilled in strategy. He is probably the most dangerous. Ill'kadar is diviner, and skilled at cutting through magical illusions. However, she is quite less powerful than Kressi'keth.

Two others were robes of a more somber hue and severe cut, with far less embroidery, their ornaments being their skins, tattooed more elegantly than any court gown. Swarms of gems circle about their heads like tame insects. Most likely these are the psions.

Of these two you know far less of. The psions have far less free will than the arcanists in the githyanki. These two, judging by the blank look in their eyes, are nothing more than husks of power for the queen to inhabit at will. They are her puppets, and her way to keep a close eye on the proceedings.

One wears light chain armor, concervatively decorated, with a bow in her hands, and a huge quiver of arrows upon her back. As she draws closer, it's clear that her armor extends over her entire body, and worked into it are the images of a thousand vanquished foes.

Shel'gyth, the Destroyer of a Thousand Souls. She is a ranger of great skill, with a great hatred for many races, illithids and humans being her prime foes. Next to Kressi'keth, she is the biggest danger.

The next is a man wrapped in pale straps, his hands gleaming with metal bindings, belts of metal encircling his body at specific intervals. He carries no visible weapon, but has a stance of complete insurance in himself.

Mal'wygn, the Ghost Warrior. One of the rare githyanki monks, he was trained to infiltrat the githzeri strongholds. Though cunning, he is far less dangerous than Shel'gyth.

The last is the most decorated, his robes putting the arcanists' in the shade with their splendor, his impressive height exaggerated by an elaborate headress that gives an impression of the Gith queen on her throne.*

Qu'var, Silver Tongue of the Queen. He is one of her few diplomats, very skilled in telling other races how to submit to the githyanki in such a way they are eager to do it. He knows this is the most prestigeous assignment he has ever been given, and his life is forfit if he fails. He is working under a death threat, which seems to make githyanki work harder and better. He is not much of a warrior, but his tongue is weapon enough for many.

 

[Ferrix]

Really sounds like a motley crew we got there... oh wait... I was thinking of us. They seem consistent.

heheh

Urge to blast rising.

 

[Kelleris]

Mmm... Urge to match wits with the Silver Tongue rising.

And by wits I mean NOT WISDOM!

*ahem*

On the diviner and, more generally the gear they're carrying. What's most likely to pierce my cloaks from her and from the others more generally? In particular, it may be worthwhile to appropriate a few choice items before the battle starts if we can lure them down here. I need to know approximately how close I can get with a fair degree of safety. I'll cast detect magic real quick if it'll help.

Oh, and how would an illusion outside of true seeing range work? I'm thinking the diviner may have the whole area under some kind of surveillance, but I don't know exactly what her MO is.

How many of these are exceptions to the usual githyanki power level limit? I'm assuming the Queen made special arrangements for at least a few of them.

 

[Isida Kep'Tukari]

Yes, these are above the usual githyanki power limit, but still below your level by a good few. You can't see an illusion for what it is hiding outside of true seeing range, so unless she's within range, the diviner can't see if you're hiding yet. It's very likely she has some true seeing, detect magic, detect psionics, see invisibility, and see other hidden stuff spells that I don't care to look up right now but I know I missed some going.

As for magical items, you can bet your last gold piece that the arcanists have some massively powerful staves, and the ioun stones around the psions are probably loaded with special powers and protections to keep the queen's puppets intact. The monk's metal bandings give him more protection than the warrior's armor, and the ranger is known to have a very powerful bow that seeks the heart of those it attacks. All have various protections in the form of amulets of natural armor, rings of protection, cloaks of resistance etc. Most will have some kind of magic item on them that will probably either teleport their bodies back home at the moment of death, or destroy them in a big fiery ball of some sort.

 

[Kelleris]

Big fiery ball of some sort, you say? Okay, that sounds like something I'm going to want to relieve them of, as well as something they might not miss for a minute or two. I assume I know what these devices look like, but do I have a good enough idea of where they would be stowed to try a Sleight of Hand check?

To steal one of their items... Heehee, I love being the epic skill guy...

Ah, the dreaded see other hidden stuff spells that I don't care to look up right now but I know I missed some. Curses! Actually, I meant more along the lines of some kind of custom spell or quirky spell use that would go beyond the usual diviner assortment. Can't trust these high-to-epic casters to be using just the PHB spells. Or can you?