The chamberlain, the king, and the dragon (drobe)

[Manbearcat]

I think Theren will confront the hag with a spear thrust. 19+13=32.

The king awakes and attempts to don his armor.

I'll let @pemerton take the reigns for the kings specific actions and our collective response, since he knows the king better than I (from legend and history). I will keep watch over the hag and make sure the room is secure.

That is 12 success. You guys have won the day. The city still has their King and he will assuredly sponsor your mission to save his beloved kingdom.

The king incohrently stumbles in the effort as he unclasps the hauberk from the dummy beside his bed. He appears to know there is peril but he's clearly just acting as an automoton; on the instinct to save his people and stand against the enemy.

The Night Hag is sneering and its shifty eyes tell you it is contemplating viscious attack or shapechanging and attempting egress.

@pemerton Let me know what happens with the Night Hag and what your efforts are in the short Transition Scene here.

@LostSoul You didn't include the + 2 bonus to Attack vs Will from Emerald Eye in your VoA.

 

[Manbearcat]

[MENTION=386]LostSoul[/MENTION]

1) Currently you have failed in the totality of your action...

however,

2) When the swarm moved adjacent to you, you can use Vanishing Swirl as an Immediate Action. This will:

a) Turn you invisible and allow you to shift 2 which will in turn:

b) Allow you to be away from the Swarm Aura and out of the Swarming Shadows Zone thus negative the automatic 8 poison damage of the swarm and the 5 cold damage (13 total) of the zone and slowed save (ends) that you would be subjected to at the start of this coming turn.

and

c) Give you Combat Advantage in your VoA attack versus the Dryad.

So. As such, your action would be successful as follows:

- Heroic Effort on Arcana (30 check) = success

- Combat Advantage and + 2 bonus for EE = Attack vs Will on Dryad of 27. That = success

- Insight already = success

and

you would avoid the 2 auras for 13 damage in and slow (save ends).

However, take a look at [MENTION=16586]Campbell[/MENTION]'s actions above. You sustained 34 collateral damage (fear, demoralization, arcane warding ablation?) from his attack and doing anything more than a Basic Attack on this turn costs you 10 more HPs as biofeedback (or something). So, despite avoiding the Swarm Aura and Zone, you would be less 44 HP. But your actions would be a success and your Skill Challnege would be at 5:1 (one away from success). If you're going to retcon with Vanishing Swirl, please indicate your new shifted position. Please indicate the precise square that the Dryad is in after VoA as well please.
Finally, your Action Point driven Insight attack with VoA will be a p42 for Low damage expression and the 1 success accrued in the Skill Challenge. Roll 2d8 + 6 for psychic damage against the Dryad (this is not an overt physical attack but biofeedback).

 

[LostSoul]

[MENTION=6696971]Manbearcat[/MENTION]

I need to read more closely! Sorry about that.

As the swarm approaches Quinn he'll vanish and shift to F13. I'll put the Visions of Avarice in I14, which should reach the dryad in G10, and pull her towards the pool. (I believe I can pull her 6 squares.)

As Quinn casts his spell, he feels as though his heart has stopped, and Lucann's words earlier in the day come back to him. Am I on the right path? he wonders. (The 10 damage he takes.) His hands tremble.

The dryad takes Psychic Biofeedback (2d8+6=22) psychic damage.

The invisibility from Vanishing Swirl ends at the start of my turn, so I don't think I get CA against the dryad, though putting up the Emerald Eye before my attack would give me the +2 I need there. I don't think I can use Heroic Action with the Arcana check unless it's an attack, and I don't know if this action qualifies.

Question: Can I pull the swarms in to "attack" the illusion?

Location: F13
HP: 14/68
Surges: 2?

 

[Manbearcat]

@Manbearcat

I need to read more closely! Sorry about that.

As the swarm approaches Quinn he'll vanish and shift to F13. I'll put the Visions of Avarice in I14, which should reach the dryad in G10, and pull her towards the pool. (I believe I can pull her 6 squares.)

As Quinn casts his spell, he feels as though his heart has stopped, and Lucann's words earlier in the day come back to him. Am I on the right path? he wonders. (The 10 damage he takes.) His hands tremble.

The dryad takes url=http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4313018/]Psychic Biofeedback (2d8+6=22)[/url] psychic damage.

The invisibility from Vanishing Swirl ends at the start of my turn, so I don't think I get CA against the dryad, though putting up the Emerald Eye before my attack would give me the +2 I need there. I don't think I can use Heroic Action with the Arcana check unless it's an attack, and I don't know if this action qualifies.

Question: Can I pull the swarms in to "attack" the illusion?

Location: F13
HP: 14/68
Surges: 2?

Alright, sorry, quickly read that. Yes, Heroic Effort can't apply to Skills so that failed Arcana check means that the Visions of Avarice is going to be a push. With the Insight check you're at 3:2 (failed Arcana check) in your efforts.

Vanishing Swirl does end at the beginning of your next turn and it wouldn't activate Cunning Sneak as you have to move 3 squares (and VS only moves you 2). If you want to save Heroic Effort for later, you can gain CA (or another + 2 from somewhere or you won't hit the dryad with VA...its Will is 26 and you are at 25 with your present action) from deploying Cunning Sneak (or you can just burn Heroic Effort).

What you can do is

1) spend your move action this turn to gain partial cover or concealment. There are lots of obstructions and deepend areas of darkness whereby if the druid is far enough away from you, you will be partially concealed (or obstructions such as the benches/pool will grant you cover...or even going into the water).

This will allow you to activate Cunnnig Sneak (1/encounter you can make a stealth check without any penalty if you (i) move more than 3 squares and (ii) have any concealment at all). Her Passive Perception is a big number (its actually 27) so you would have to hit the Hard DC again with your Stealth check to make this work (so you would need a 10 or better). If that works then you are good for:

2) Minor Action - Emerald Eye

3) Standard Action - VoA origin square I14

4) AP - Insight "attack" with VoA on dryad

Regarding Forced Movement, you can move any creatures 6 squares with this (4 + 2 for your class buff). The zone is huge so any creatures in a burst 5 around the origin square would be hit and suffer the effect. You can attack any creature within 5 squares of I14 and subject them to the 6 square pull toward the origina square and immobilized (save ends) with a successful Attack vs Will.

 

[Campbell]

A couple of questions:

• With a successful Religion check can I introduce a marriage ceremony between Lucann and the dryad into the fiction.
• Can I declare myself to be my own enemy and the dryad to be an ally?
• I lack the resources to transfer my oath of enmity to another target, but I would like to place it upon myself. Is there anything I can utilize to do so?

I would like to invoke a marriage ceremony, and then utilize my Loyal Sanction on myself. If the dryad is unmoved and still attacks Lucann would use Divine Guidance to help her strike true. Even if it requires his own death Lucann would see his lover turn from her current path, but cannot suffer seeing her hurt anymore.

 

[LostSoul]

[MENTION=6696971]Manbearcat[/MENTION]

I'll just use Heroic Surge.

Against the two swarms, who are attacking what they think is a hated enemy: S1; S2 (1d20+18=35, 1d20+18=28) That should hit them both, and move S1 to H13, S2 to H14.

 

[Manbearcat]

@Manbearcat

I'll just use Heroic Surge.

Against the two swarms, who are attacking what they think is a hated enemy: S1; S2 (1d20+18=35, 1d20+18=28) That should hit them both, and move S1 to H13, S2 to H14.

Gotcha. For whatever reason I momentarily thought you were half-elf and were using their version of the ability (which grants the skill bonus among others). I forgot that is Theron.

Gotcha. I'll note the new positioning of everything on the next round. They are all afflicted with immobilized (save ends) as well.

Note the Skill Challenge is 3:2 with your recent failure of Arcana, not 3:1 (edited above post).

A couple of questions:

• With a successful Religion check can I introduce a marriage ceremony between Lucann and the dryad into the fiction.
• Can I declare myself to be my own enemy and the dryad to be an ally?
• I lack the resources to transfer my oath of enmity to another target, but I would like to place it upon myself. Is there anything I can utilize to do so?

I would like to invoke a marriage ceremony, and then utilize my Loyal Sanction on myself. If the dryad is unmoved and still attacks Lucann would use Divine Guidance to help her strike true. Even if it requires his own death Lucann would see his lover turn from her current path, but cannot suffer seeing her hurt anymore.

Of course you can. The Skill Challenge is at 3:2 currently. If you want to spend your Standard Action on a Religion check next turn to invoke a marriage ceremony and emotionally move the druid toward Quinn's sought end (which aligns with your own), I will give you the same offer as LostSoul. If you are successful at the Hard DC then you will gain 2 successes putting you guys at 5:2 (with Quinn's next action being decisive). The dryad will take the same 2d8 + 6 psychic damage as biofeedback as well. If you fail, then you guys are at 3 failures and the challenge is over...its mortal combat.

However.

Before we move to the 3rd round I need to (i) resolve the battlemap changes and (ii) resolve Thurgon and Theron as there is a possibility that they will either be arriving at the start of this round or the next.

 

[Manbearcat]

A couple of questions:

• With a successful Religion check can I introduce a marriage ceremony between Lucann and the dryad into the fiction.
• Can I declare myself to be my own enemy and the dryad to be an ally?
• I lack the resources to transfer my oath of enmity to another target, but I would like to place it upon myself. Is there anything I can utilize to do so?

I would like to invoke a marriage ceremony, and then utilize my Loyal Sanction on myself. If the dryad is unmoved and still attacks Lucann would use Divine Guidance to help her strike true. Even if it requires his own death Lucann would see his lover turn from her current path, but cannot suffer seeing her hurt anymore.

Sorry, I didn't address the secondary portion of this. If you want Lucann to sacrifice himself, that is certainly within your rights to pursue that agenda. However, I will just tell you that mechanically (and within the fiction as a result of that mechanical failure) that ship will have set sail. if you and Quinn reach 3 failures before 6 success, her redemption and atonement is no longer a possibility. Her path will be fixed after that point.

If you want to propose the route of taking damage equal to your healing surge value (as a show of your willingness to sacrifce your life for her to move from her current, destructive path), I'll certainly accept that proposition and let you use your Religion check against the Medium DC for 2 successes. I believe that will put you at, or near, unconsciousnes and on your way to death. How is that?

If that is not to your liking and you want to propose something else mechanically, let me know.

 

[pemerton]

The king awakes and attempts to don his armor.

I'll let pemerton take the reigns for the kings specific actions and our collective response, since he knows the king better than I (from legend and history). I will keep watch over the hag and make sure the room is secure.

The king incohrently stumbles in the effort as he unclasps the hauberk from the dummy beside his bed. He appears to know there is peril but he's clearly just acting as an automoton; on the instinct to save his people and stand against the enemy.

The Night Hag is sneering and its shifty eyes tell you it is contemplating viscious attack or shapechanging and attempting egress.

pemerton Let me know what happens with the Night Hag and what your efforts are in the short Transition Scene here.

If the Night Hag is looking at attacking, is this purely transition?

I will Divine Challenge the Hag to discourage her from attacking the king; Holy Strike the Hag; spend an action point to Slash and Press to force her up against a wall away from the king; and use Belt of Sacrifice to restore a healing surge to the king as I try to support him.

Holy Strike: +18 vs AC, d20 roll is 3 for a total of 21. That's probably a miss, but on the off-chance that it hits damage is d8+17 = 25.

Slash and Press: +18 vs AC, d20 roll is 14, for total of 32. If that hits, damage is 3d8+16 = 28.

The action point means that Theren and the king get +1 defences until the start of my next turn.

If the Hag is going to fight, its Theren's turn - [MENTION=27570]sheadunne[/MENTION].

If the Hag escapes somehow, then Thurgon will help the king walk out of the room to bathe in the moonlit air where the wall was shattered earlier. At that point he may or may not notice the fight going on in the garden!

 

[Manbearcat]

If the Night Hag is looking at attacking, is this purely transition?

I was going to leave that up to you guys. The beast is battered and mostly beaten by your efforts here. Cornered, disoriented, unused to being the prey rather than the predator, it involuntarily dims the light of the room with its Shroud of Night. As a cornered prey would, it would probably lash out wildly, its typical canny instincts far removed. But I'm working off you acting immediately against the disoriented Night Hag with CA with Theron covering against its escape route with his Great spear (as the last Action Scene ended). Before it can act, you deliver swift justice.

I will Divine Challenge the Hag to discourage her from attacking the king; Holy Strike the Hag; spend an action point to Slash and Press to force her up against a wall away from the king; and use Belt of Sacrifice to restore a healing surge to the king as I try to support him.

Holy Strike: +18 vs AC, d20 roll is 3 for a total of 21. That's probably a miss, but on the off-chance that it hits damage is d8+17 = 25.

Slash and Press: +18 vs AC, d20 roll is 14, for total of 32. If that hits, damage is 3d8+16 = 28.

Level 10 Lurker @ Low AC (23) + Combat Advantage against it. @ Bloodied and 51 HP = 53 HP is sufficient to vanquish it.

The action point means that Theren and the king get +1 defences until the start of my next turn.

Your swift justice means they don't need it.

If the Hag is going to fight, its Theren's turn - @sheadunne .

The Hag is going to die.

If the Hag escapes somehow, then Thurgon will help the king walk out of the room to bathe in the moonlit air where the wall was shattered earlier. At that point he may or may not notice the fight going on in the garden!

Your Lay On Hands and Belt of Sacrifice serve to moralize him. He steadies himself with your assistance, absentmindedly slips on his hauberk and takes in the night air. The dim of the moonlight and the motes from the lanterns are insufficient for his aged eyes to take in the quiet battle beneath you. The movements are odd but perhaps there are gardeners down there doing their nightly tending. The stray sound of battle on the walls and the launch of the catapult can be heard in the distance.

Suddenly it occurs to him: "Where is my queen?"

Passive Perception of 18 is insufficient for the Medium DC. At 24, Theron would surely notice if he ends up joining you.

With this situation at hand, round 3 will definitely remain with its present players. If [MENTION=27570]sheadunne[/MENTION] notices soon and you guys beat a hasty effort (a successful group Athletics check versus hard DC) down the King's stair and trail to the Royal Gardens then you will arrive at the beginning of round 4.

As is, I will update the battle map and we can continue. [MENTION=16586]Campbell[/MENTION] and [MENTION=386]LostSoul[/MENTION], given what you are attempting here, you may want to consider inverting your initiative (eg Lucann delays for Quinn). That would put Lucann's gamble versus the hard DC as the deciding factor (unless LostSoul messes up his first effort. Either way, Lucann is immobilized currently in the zone of Swarming Shadows so that may make things difficult. I'll have the map up tomorrow.