THE HEROES OF DYVERS CHAPTER 7: CLARE'S ERRAND

[Tellerian Hawke]

GM: At this point, as soon as everyone has made their saving throws, we need to go ahead and roll initiative. Updated battle map is on its way. Stay tuned.

 

[ScottDeWar_jr]

"Well, I guess the peaceable approach is out."
initiative
Alric4595: D20 + 2 → 19(17 + 2)

 

[Tellerian Hawke]

Spoiler: Sequence of Events. Ok for players to read, just trying to keep clutter down.

SURPRISE ROUND:
Greater Lion Creature (Swift Action): Mass Suggestion spell-like ability
Greater Lion Creature (Standard Action): Casts Aid on Lion #3
Lion #3 (Standard Action): Casts Aid on Greater Lion
All the other lions (Standard Action): Cast Aid on each other; 1-->2, 2-->1, 4-->5, and 5-->4.

Several party members walk into the room while the lions are buffing each other:

Kleborn (F) - Walked in
Tam (F) - Walked in
Sylvar (F) - Walked in
Lathir (Made it, but still walked in)
Leonard (F) - Walked in

Members who resisted:

Respen (Made it)
Vale (Made it)
Dewydd (Made it)
Travis (Made it)
Xao (Made it)
Thallok (Made it)

A portal (actually a GATE spell!) appears, covering Squares G2-H2 and G1-H1.

A large Iron Golem steps out of the portal, and takes two steps forward, into squares G4-H4 / G3-H3. As part of its movement, it turns toward the party.

ROUND ONE INITIATIVES:

Unknown Person 27
Tam 26a
Lathir 26b
Greater Lion Creature 24
Vale 23
Respen 22
Sylvar 20
Xao 19
Lenny 17
Thallok 13a
Dewydd 13b
Kleborn 11
Lesser Lion Creatures 6
Travis 3

Iron Golem Attacks: 38,33 (both hit); Damage: 22,24 = 46 pts. total.

During the "surprise round," several members fall prey to the Lion-thing's suggestion spell. Kleborn, Lenny, Tam, and Sylvar walk blithely into the room, followed by Lathir, who steps in front of his friends, purposefully; Lathir resisted the suggestion, but entered the room anyway, growing tired of the Lion-thing's bravado.

As this is happening, the Lion-like creatures begin casting buff spells on one another; it is not hard to guess what the spells are. They are all casting Aid spells.

A third thing happens near the end of the surprise round that is COMPLETELY UNEXPECTED! A large portal (actually, a planar Gate) opens up in the southeast corner of the room! As soon as the portal opens, a strange-looking Iron Golem steps out of the portal, advances 10 ft., and turns toward the party. The party can clearly see that there is a large, crystalline ball embedded inside the golem's chest. The ball glows with a swirling blue energy. As this is happening, a soft, female voice issues from the golem's "mouth":

Voice: "Respen, dearie, please tell your friends not to hurt poor Georgie here. Georgie is your friend."

At that point, a thin, ash-gray ray of what looks to be negative energy, issues from the globe in the golem's chest, and strikes the force door, disintegrating it completely. Holding the door open is now a moot point.

During the first normal round, the golem is able to act before anyone else; this golem is not slow or lumbering as it should be. It moves with a preternatural speed, indicative of some highly advanced construct, bearing enchantments that you've never before seen.

Voice: "Georgie, kill the Lion creatures. Don't use your breath. The space is too small."

The golem spins on its heels, to face Lion #5; it catches the creature flat-footed, and slams it twice with its massive fists. The creature snarls more in agony than in aggression, as everyone hears the sounds of ribs cracking under the force of the golem's fists!

GM: Lion #5 takes 46 pts. damage. Lion #5 is MODERATELY WOUNDED.

Lion #5 will not last much longer under such a pounding.

Spoiler: Updated Battle Map

TAM: The suggestion spell has run its course. You are now in the lion's den, no pun intended. However, to your surprise, the door dilemma has been resolved. And it appears that the party now has help. You suspect that Respen's mistress, Clare, might be the one to thank for that. What do you do?

 

[Waynan]

Going against the obvious tactic of trying to sneak around one of these things, Tam slips on his invisible ring as he races toward the golem. With Lathir's hat, he changes himself into a red fisher (in the weasel family, larger in size than most, though). Knowing it to be an excellent tree climber, he climbs the golems legs like tree trunks and then makes his way up its back to stand on its shoulder.
From the left shoulder he comes.up with a line of attack: hurt from above.
He changes back into his true form grabbing his bow and readying two arrows, taking aim at L2.

 

[Tellerian Hawke]

In a euphoric, whirlwind of whimsy, Tam forgets himself. He forgets that the hat's powers are illusionary, and not actually polymorphic. Imagining himself to be a weasel, he flies into action! Since his enemies are all still flat-footed, no attacks of opportunity are taken.

GM: Use Magical Device check, DC 12: 10 (Failed.)

But the Halfling is still an extremely skilled gymnast, with a good sense of balance. Tam pushes off the nearby wall with his feet, doing a somersault in mid-air, landing on the golem's shoulders.

GM: Tumbling check, DC 25: 27 (Success!)

Tam completes his move action, coming to rest atop the big automaton. But the golem is currently in motion, and Tam is forced to shift his weight a little.

GM: Balance check, DC 12: 13 (Success!)

Tam can only fire one arrow because of his movement; but his aim is true. He hits Lion #2 squarely in the mid-section... only to watch the arrow rebound off of the creature's tough skin.

GM: Damage: 3 pts. Minus DR (10) = 0 Damage.

It is a truly impressive display of prowess; had Tam been better equipped, he might have had a different outcome.

LATHIR: It's your turn! What do you do?

 

[Tellerian Hawke]

GM: Posting on behalf of Lathir, as per our phone conversation.

Lathir shifts to bear form in the blink of an eye; in an instant, he is every bit as big as his opponent. The greater lion seems somewhat taken aback by the sudden transformation! Sylvar is surprised as well, as he takes a Swift action to back up a square, to give Lathir room to fight.

GM: Movement is the result of DM AdHoc.

Lathir claws the thing twice, and bites it once. The bite gets through the tough skin, using raw force, but doesn't penetrate enough to cause much damage.

GM: Bite damage after DR: 1 pt.

However, the claws are far more effective; being adamantine, the claws shred the Greater Lion's skin like paper, opening big wounds in the creature's left flank.

GM: Total damage from all 3 attacks: 40 pts. Most of you are startled to realize that Lathir's claw attacks are on-par with the golem's punches. The Lion-thing is MODERATELY INJURED. (Down 33%)

The Greater Lion-thing roars in AGONY as Lathir-Bear tears into him. It is clear that the Lion-thing was not expecting such a fierce onslaught. He draws in a deep breath, and lets loose a tremendous ROAR that is augmented with sonic force!

Spoiler: Updated Battle Map

EVERYONE: Make a Willpower save, DC 19. Remember your +5 bonus to saves from Khubsheth, if you have it.

 

[Tellerian Hawke]

Spoiler: DM HOUSEKEEPING

Party Members:
SAVING THROWS MADE: WILL, DC 19:
01. Respen = Made it
02. Vale = Made it
03. Tam-Tam = Made it
04. Lathir = Made it
05. Sylvar = FAILED
06. Kleborn The Wolf = Made it
07. Thallok = Made it
08. Dewydd = Made it
09. Lenny (NPC) = Made it
10. Travis (NPC) = FAILED
11. Brother Xao = Made it

ROUND ONE INITIATIVES:
Clare's Golem 27
Tam 26a
Lathir 26b
Greater Lion Creature 24
Vale 23
Respen 22
Sylvar 20
Xao 19
Lenny 17
Thallok 13a
Dewydd 13b
Kleborn 11
Lesser Lion Creatures 6
Travis 3

GM: EFFECTS OF LION'S ROAR: Sylvar is Exhausted. (He was within 30') Travis is Fatigued. (He was more than 30' away.) Spoiler: Exhausted Spoiler: Fatigued Sylvar, your base movement is now 20 ft. for the time being; you have a -6 to STR, which means you have a -3 To Hit (Melee) and a -3 To Damage (Melee and Ranged), and you also have a -6 to DEX, which means you have a -3 to AC, Initiative, Reflex saves, and Ranged To-Hit. Long story short: the blast of sonic energy knocked the wind out of you! Travis, you have a -2 to STR, which means you have a -1 To Hit (Melee) and a -1 To Damage (Melee and Ranged), and you also have a -2 to DEX, which means you have a -1 to AC, Initiative, Reflex saves, and Ranged To-Hit. You cannot run or charge.

VALE: It's your turn! Most of your friends resisted the Lion's blast, but Sylvar and Travis fell short! What do you do?

 

[ScottDeWar_jr]

Spoiler: on Xao's turn

move to G3 and pound the kitty.
Kai strike[Magic]; base damage 1d10+2; bab +8
ScottDeWar,Jr: D20 + 8 → 14(6 + 8) very likely a miss
ScottDeWar,Jr: D10 + 2 → 9(7 + 2)

 

[Aust Thale]

Vale:
Seeing Sylvar in trouble, he moves into action. Jumping forward to behind Sylvar (G4), he casts Restoration on Sylvar to deal with the roar's effects. "Elf! We can't 'ave ya out of the fight."

 

[Aust Thale]

Respen:
Moves to K4 next to Dewydd and behind Brother Xao. He surveys the battle, thankful for Dame Clare's intervention. As unnerving and dictatorial as she could be, her link to him through the orb did indeed afford him and his comrades protections, the benefits of an ostensibly evil benefactor to a good apprentice. He grasps Dewydd's shoulder and smiles, casting the glamer illusion of Greater Invisibility on him. He winks at Brother Xao. Immediately, he turns back toward Travis to attend to him, clearly reeling from the roar's strength-sapping magic.