Oots #461

[delericho]

Xykon will be whispering in her ear as she fights and turn her to Blackguard...

Xykon isn't an Evil Outsider, though. Miko's contact with the Creature in Darkness wasn't exactly peaceful, and her encounter with Sabine was anything but. So, I don't think she meets the prerequisites to become a Blackguard.

 

[Donovan Morningfire]

The bard is the most likely cantidate to sense a disturbance in the farce.

But not the only one. Belkar did much the same several strips back, sensing all the entendres regarding Hinjo's oriental boat (a junk) at the docks that went unrealized.

I do agree that Elan, being as well-versed in the classic tropes of drama as he is would certainly be more sensitive to the vibration of the plot threads that indicate things are about to get worse than they already are.

And speaking of Belkar, I can't believe nobody's said anything about his plan to test the trajectory of the catapult.

One question on Damage Reduction. I had always read it that if it lists two damage types, such as a lich's DR X/Bludgeoning and Magic, then you only needed to meet one of those conditions to bypass it. So Miko would be able to bypass it via her fists, as would have Roy due to wielding a magic weapon.

 

[Jacen]

Given the scene in the throne room, let's try to discern Miko's possible paths of action.

3) Destroy the Sapphire Gate
The whole reason Xykon's even in Azure City, if it doesn't exist, he leaves, and she's the saviour of the city (what left of it).

4) Remove the gate from the throne and depart the city.
The gate is important - it's the whole reason Azure City exists. If she can lift it while both Redcloak and Xykon are busy, they won't notice that the whole reason for their being there - isn't there anymore.

5) Commit ritual suicide.
The situation looks bleak. While the most unlikely of situations, it's not unthinkable.

3) She doesn't know about it. After all she was unconcious when Shojo told Ray about that. The gate was an secret or at least the location. That is at least how I understood the situation.

4) Can't be done. The reason why throne was buld there that high from ground.

5) Can she turn to positive energy being after dying? If yes that could be interesting. First kicking some lich and then maybe even Soon...

 

[delericho]

One question on Damage Reduction. I had always read it that if it lists two damage types, such as a lich's DR X/Bludgeoning and Magic, then you only needed to meet one of those conditions to bypass it. So Miko would be able to bypass it via her fists, as would have Roy due to wielding a magic weapon.

No, if the types are listed as "and" you need to meet both. If they were listed as "or" you could use either, but I don't know of any that are listed as such.

However, if Miko's Monk level is high enough then her fists will be considered Magic for the purposes of beating damage reduction, in which case she'll be fine.

 

[Pbartender]

One question on Damage Reduction. I had always read it that if it lists two damage types, such as a lich's DR X/Bludgeoning and Magic, then you only needed to meet one of those conditions to bypass it. So Miko would be able to bypass it via her fists, as would have Roy due to wielding a magic weapon.

It depends on the conjunction...

A few creatures are harmed by more than one kind of weapon. A weapon of either type overcomes this damage reduction.

A few other creatures require combinations of different types of attacks to overcome their damage reduction. A weapon must be both types to overcome this damage reduction. A weapon that is only one type is still subject to damage reduction.

For example, Bearded Devil has "Damage reduction 5/silver or good"... the weapon needs to be silver or good, but not both.

But, a Horned Devil haas "Damage reduction 10/good and silver"... the weapon must be both good and silver to bypass the DR. A weapon that's only good or only silver would not work.


So, to bypass a Lich's DR, you need a magical bludgeoning weapon. Miko's fists might do it, if she has enough level in Monk, but Roy's sword would not, normally (unless Rich gave it special powers we don't know about).

 

[Herobizkit]

Elan is obviously a Jedi in bard's clothing. He senses disturbances in the plot quite accurately!

Bards are all about the story... it just so happens that people are now actually LISTENING to Elan now.

 

[Doug McCrae]

So, to bypass a Lich's DR, you need a magical bludgeoning weapon. Miko's fists might do it, if she has enough level in Monk, but Roy's sword would not, normally (unless Rich gave it special powers we don't know about).

You could deliberately blunt a sword to make it a bludgeoning weapon.

 

[hagor]

And speaking of Belkar, I can't believe nobody's said anything about his plan to test the trajectory of the catapult.

Well, I'm pretty sure one or two of my players would make a similar remark...
(but in their case more as a joke than as a serious option, I hope)

Hagor

 

[Ry]

Well, I'm pretty sure one or two of my players would make a similar remark...
(but in their case more as a joke than as a serious option, I hope)

My players would just sneak out and grab some corpses off of the wall, then use those. I'm sure of it.

Then they'd ask the NPCs to go first. If they were feeling charitable they'd rock-paper-scissors fight over it.

Problem: You have to get to the throne room to protect the gate.
Threat: Xykon, Redcloak, a bajillion hobgoblins
Resource: Corpses, 2 NPC guards, NPC (or guest player's PC) Paladin, catapult
Reward: Glory, lots of paladin loot, fancy red cloak.

 

[Nail]

Miko will side with Xykon, as the Sapphire Guard tried to destroy the Gate.

Simple.