Proper Tactics for a Solar vs. a Good Aligned Party

[IcyCool]

You know, it's times like this when I think of the "Celestial Cascade" from the Tales of Wyre storyhour.

Edit - Ah, found it.

Tahl, clawed and buffeted by attacks from the Vrocks, pushed through and interposed himself between Eadric and the Balor. Ainhorr slammed him with an immense, fiery fist, but Tahl’s spirit did not waver. He spoke to Eadric’s sword, which sat limply in the Paladin’s grip, and closed his hand tightly around it.

"Lukarn. Heal him." The Cleric commanded.

Nearby, on the ground, Nwm – still in the shape of a huge bear – hallucinated wildly. The Salamander was stabbing at one of the Nalfeshnees, whilst the Earth elemental pummeled it.

Kalkja grabbed at Tahl, and he lashed out at her. She pulled his head back, and kissed him. His knees became weak.

Mulissu darted over to Iua and, touching her neck, determined that her daughter was still alive. She was still livid. She opened another Gate, and a second Solar stepped through.

"What is you command?" It asked.

"I have none. Do as you wish." She cradled Iua’s head in her lap.

The Solar smiled, and opened yet another Gate. A cascade of white light began.

The Demons fled, as the Celestial host descended upon the ancient Necropolis of Khu, and hallowed it.


**

As the power coursed into him from Lukarn, Eadric looked around himself to see dozens of perfect winged forms standing in silent vigil. He wondered if he was dead, until he glanced across to see the crumpled form of Ortwin lying nearby. Tahl was tending to Iua, and Nwm stood pensively stroking his beard.

Mostin burst in, ready to fling sonics. He looked around, and fainted.

Eadric stood, walked up to a Planetar, and pointed at Ortwin.

"I don’t suppose that you’d…"

"Not even were he one of the faithful," the Celestial replied.

"He died fighting demons," Eadric pointed out.

"As have many others," the Celestial replied sympathetically. "Except in unusual circumstances, death tends to be final."

Bugger that, thought Nwm.

The story hour is here.

 

[Sejs]

Of course there is this thought, why would the Solar want to be raised to go back to a life guarding the door?

Because that's what he was told to do. Divine duty is the core of what a Solar is. Death isn't a release in this case - it's clear failure. Besides, if he's been charged to guard something, it's got to be pretty darn important. Not the kind of job to skive off on.

...but what if being next to the god is more appealing?

He's a Solar. Basking in the presence of the divine isn't an event of singular all-encompassing grandeur, it's just ... Tuesday.

Besides, when you're a Solar and your god tells you "Do this" a response of "Eeh, nah, I'd rather hang out with you" isn't exactly acceptable. Even if there is a chance for reprieve, if the option of returning is offered, you take it.

A Solar isn't just a mortal with a bunch of abilities and a sword that dances. He doesn't have hobbies he's itching to get back to, and he's not hoping to hook up with that cute Planetar from Accounting. Living embodiment of the divine. Everything he does is Absolute. Including carrying out his duty.

 

[IcyCool]

He's a Solar. Basking in the presence of the divine isn't an event of singular all-encompassing grandeur, it's just ... Tuesday.

My .sig is pretty much used to store links to my pbp characters, but this one is going into the .sig file for a possible future rotation.

 

[Aluvial]

More good points. Resurrect it is... I'll let you know how it all plays out tomorrow!

Aluvial

 

[Roman]

More good points. Resurrect it is... I'll let you know how it all plays out tomorrow!

I must admit I am rooting for the Solars.

 

[Aluvial]

I must admit I am rooting for the Solars.

Well I'm torn. The party had a LOT going for it.... at first I played the Solars as not out for ultimate blood. I used the Power Word Stun to take down the best fighter in the party, but the group threw a Heal on him...

Then, that's the fighter who took down the first solar, doing something to the effect of 200 hp in a round... sick stuff...

The Druid has tried to pin the other one with a Repel Metal spell... nasty stuff that I've had to adjudicate that the solar can pull himself free from just to keep his sword. Some might wonder why that spell would matter, but I also told them that the bow had some metal trappings on it, as well as the holy symbols!

So, the remaining solar gets pushed back. What was interesting was that solars can't Dimension Door nor Teleport without using their Wish... this is a big limiter in Epic fights...

Anyhow, we'll see what happens...

Aluvial

 

[Roman]

Ouch, that does not look good for my dear solars.

Unless your players read these boards, could you tell us what it is the solars are guarding and why it is so important for the party of good characters to get it, enough to kill embodiments of goodness that are solars?

 

[hong]

Then, that's the fighter who took down the first solar, doing something to the effect of 200 hp in a round... sick stuff...

He's a 21st level fighter. Dealing 200 points of damage isn't a terrifying display of elemental savagery, it's just... Tuesday.

 

[Quartz]

So how did the fight go in the end?

 

[Aluvial]

So how did the fight go in the end?

Well... so the group defeated one of the solars. Then the druid tried to pin the other one with the Repel Metal spell. So I scramble, say that it is around 500 lbs of pressure, and that the Solar is strong enough to "drag" his sword away from the effect...

The Repel Metal effect is enough to seperate the battlefield, with the group on one side, and the remaining solar on the other but pinned in a corner. Then they proceed to nearly kill the second before I even get another turn in initiative.

One of the issues with the place was that I had them "near" the negative energy plane and I told them that healing spells would only do half. So that applied to the Solar too.

So, I used the Wish to fully regenerate the remaining Solar instead of reviving the first one. Mistake... Two is always better than one, even if the remaining one is very hurt.

The wizard casts Greater Dispel Magic and poof... there goes half of his defensive spells.

The Druid, who takes her turn before the Solar drops the Repel Metal spell, the Cleric cures the group with a Mass Heal, for 110 HP each... and the two fighters rush into the corner using Power attack. Then the dwarf crits! Bam! The Solar is udner half HP again and the rest of the group starts in again. By the time I get to go, I'm stuck in the corner, low on HP, the fighters have me pinned in and I can't take the AoO's for moving, so I cast defensively, and use the Miracle to get out of the corner and up into the air (ceiling is tall).

I wasn't going to retreat, since the Solar had sworn to stay, but I wasn't going to just stand there and take two full round attacks from the two fighters...

And worse, Solars have no natural teleportation ability. No Dimension Door. Nothing.

In the end it didn't matter that I got out of the corner. Now that I was away from the group, the wizard cast a Maximized Delayed Blast Fireball... with no delay (yes, Epic spell slot). Beat the SR, Solar fails the save and had already lost his Energy Immunity to fire...

They toasted him... What can you do? In the end, I didn't even kill one. And although I thought I had them on the ropes at one point and was using Power Word Stun and Blind, it was an illusion.

Lesson: NEVER take it easy on an Epic party of 8 PC's....

Ahh, oh well. They were supposed to make it past the gate, and they did. I can't begrudge them good play and tactics... I think my tactics were poor...

Good thing I'm the DM... I just fudged it some and hinted that maybe the Solars "let them win..."

I'll get revenge. My plan is to kill at least 3 of the group. They're in a place where their souls might get sucked by an Extremely Powerful Demilich... I'll let you know. I'll say this, I'm currently looking for things that drain Constitution to chip away at those Fighter's Fort saves....

Aluvial