3 Successes (1 Hard DC Available)/1 Failures/1 Secondary Skills Available/2 Advantages Available)
@Nephis @darkbard , out for much of the day, so can’t put stuff up just yet, but wanted to catch you before your next move:
1) This Failure is going to put C & B-B into a level +1 combat (they were going to be in one anyway if they didn’t respond) for the two of them; so 3 Standards worth of encounter budget.
2) Pa’avu and Hazard’s complication is -2 forward to Primary Check for their next move. Let’s say
“the spiritual waves at the severing of connection with Chanvati are disorienting.” You can remove that complication with an Advantage if you’d like. If you do, let us know how its done.
3) Later this evening I’ll get the battlemap up and relevant mechanics for C & B-B. I’ll be using this post.
Magma seeps down into sacred ritual chamber. The forces of the Primordial Vezzuvu emerge like sentient fire and rock from the flow, intent on defiling the chamber and laying low the allies of Stoneroot, the ancient enemy of the Primordial from the Dawn War.
MECHANICS
Seeping Lava - This is the orange outline at stair. This will continue to spread into the room at the beginning of each round, 1 sq in every direction, so long as there are enemies remaining. This is Hindering Terrain. Any creature without lava walk that starts its turn in a square of Seeping Lava, takes 5 fire damage.
Torch and Stanchion - Yellow outline in F8. If the burning magma gets to this square, the ritual chamber will be shrouded in darkness as the stanchion melts and the mighty torch snuffs.
Ritual Mud Baths - Brown squares. Any creature without earth walk AND primal keyword attacks that starts its turn in a square of Mud Bath is slowed (save ends).
Camp - Bottom right. Squares 5, 6, 7 to access this area Challenging Terrain as it is a steep decline of scree. Either treat as Difficult Terrain or attempt an Acrobatics Easy DC or Athletics Medium DC to traverse; failure = fall prone. The pool is blue, the cooling embers of your fire are orange.
Sacred Runes (Blessing of Stoneroot) - The lavender square are the sacred runes to Stoneroot. A character within this space may spend a Standard Action to activate Terrain Power (Encounter): Blessing of Stoneroot. All 4 characters gain 5 THP, +2 Power Bonus to hit/defenses and +5 Power Bonus to damage UtEYNT.
Waves & Disempower Aspects of Vezzuvu (see Pa'avu and Hazard's combat below) - Wave 1 = 4 Minions. Wave 2 = Standard. Wave 3 = 4 Minions. After defeating the force of any given wave, the Aspects of Vezzuvu in the Spirit Realm suffer Vulnerable 5 all damage and -2 to hit UtEoYNT.
Vezzuvu Thrall (Minions) - HP 1; a missed attack never damages a minion. AC 17, Fortitude 18, Reflex 17, Will 17
Vezzuvu Magma Strider (Standard) - HP 63; Bloodied 31 AC 19, Fortitude 18, Reflex 18, Will 15
INITIATIVE
Vezzuvu Thralls (Minions 1-4) 20
Bita-Bousseh 16
Chanvati 12
Magma Strider 7
ROUND 1
CHANVATI MONSTER KNOWLEDGE (NO ACTION)
Arcana: r(7) + 11 = 18 Arcana = Moderate DC.
Vezzuvu Thrall: Medium elemental (fire, earth). Speed 4 (earth walk, lava walk), burrow 4. Tremorsense 5. Immune fire, petrification, poison. Attacks: fire.
Vezzuvu Magma Strider: Medium elemental (fire, earth). Speed 4 (earth walk, lava walk), burrow 4. Tremorsense 5. Immune fire, petrification, poison. Attacks: fire.
The magma seeps inexorably into the ritual chamber.
No words are exchanged. No attempt at foreign, guttural sounds. The elemental VEZZUVU THRALLS glide across the earth with an ease that would be beautiful if not for their fell purpose and the ground explodes beneath the feet of Chanvati and Bita-bousseh in fiery eruptions.
1
* Move Action: D11 to E10
* Standard Action: Charge to I11. Earthburn Eruption vs C's Ref; r(15) +8 +1 (charge) = 24. Hit. 4 fire damage and J10 becomes difficult terrain.
⚔
Earthburn Eruption ✦ At-Will
Attack: Melee 2 (one creature); +8 vs. Ref
Hit: 4 fire damage.
Miss: 2 damage.
Effect: The target's square becomes difficult terrain.
TRIGGER (CHANVATI) - IMMEDIATE REATCTION; VENGEANCE IS MINE (ENCOUNTER)
As the elemental agents of the malevolent Primordial flow in slow tumbling actions towards him, CHANVATI gathers and unleashes a psychic assault against one of the creatures, disanimating whatever force lends it life.
* Immediate Reaction: Vengeance Is Mine; Trigger: An enemy hits you. Effect: You make a basic attack against the triggering enemy, and one ally within 5 squares of you can move his or her speed and make a melee basic attack against the triggering enemy as a free action. Mind Thrust vs VT1, r(9) + 8 = 17 vs 17 Will. Hit. Destroyed.
2
* Move Action: B11 to D10
* Standard Action: Charge to I9. Earthburn Eruption vs C's Ref; r(1) +8 +1 (charge) = Auto-Miss. 2 fire damage and J10 becomes difficult terrain.
3
* Move Action: B8 to B6
* Standard Action: Earthburn Eruption vs B's Ref; r(2) +8 = 10. Miss. 2 fire damage -2 (7 Resist Fire) = 0 damage and C6 becomes difficult terrain.
4
* Move Action: D8 to D6
* Standard Action: Earthburn Eruption vs B's Ref; r(2) +8 +2 (CA) = 12. Miss. 2 fire damage -2 (7 Resist Fire) = 0 damage and C6 becomes difficult terrain.
Two of the lava creatures glide in viscous movement across the chamber floor to surround BITA-BOUSSEH, but the heat they exude is as nothing to the Tiefling. Utilizing a trick she learned many years ago in hounding evasive judges across crowded courtroom chambers, she shifts past the threat of reprisal blows from the Vezzuvu Thralls just as she would the warding truncheon of an ill-tempered bailiff, in the direction of the Goliath-sized torch and stanchion.
She directs her Infernal Glower at the closest creature, but its atavistic mind seems unaffected by the power of her domineering will. Instead, she whispers promises of eternal torment in the icy clutches of Stygia, and this seems to strike fear into its primordial being, and it oozes and flows away from the barrister ... for now.
* Start of Turn: reduces 2, 2 fire damage to 0, 0 because of Resist 7 fire.
* Move Action: Lawyer's Dodge (Encounter Power): Shift C6 to F7.
* Standard Action: Infernal Glower vs VT4, r(8) +8 = 16 vs 17 Will. Miss.
* Minor Action: Hell's Dark Promise vs VT4, r(17) +8 = 25 vs 17 Will. Hit. Slides VT4 D6 to B8.
Though the barrister may laugh off the burning heat and flames of Vezzuvu's minions, CHANVATI is forced to tamp out the flames singeing his kolija with a free hand. Observing that the barrister has retreated under the assault of her foes, the Merchant Prince distorts space in the far edge of the cavern, catching one of the Thralls in its uncanny unfolding so that the molecules of its form are scattered towards the interior of the chamber and it exists no more. He takes a cautious step in retreat towards the stanchion, one eye on the remaining nearby minion of Vezzuvu, and retrieves a sunrod from his satchel, bathing the whole chamber in dazzling blue-white radiance.
* Standard Action: Dimensional Scramble centered on square A7. ATK vs VT4, r(11) +8 = 19 vs 18 Fort. Hit. Destroyed. ATK vs VT3, r(4) +8 = 12 vs 18 Fort. Miss.
* Move Action: Shift J10 to I9.
* Free Action (Battle Harness Cloth Armor): Retrieve a stowed item, sunrod.
* End of Turn: 34/40 HP, 7/7 Surges, 3 PPs, 1 AP remaining.
2 & 3 are up. Once destroyed, the Aspects in the Spirit Realm are Disempowered UtEoYNT.
Magma Strider appears and rolls Initiative.
The Lava Seeps 1 sq further.
ROUND 2
The pair of remaining VEZZUVU THRALLS slide across the scree and stone, a sizzling sound accompanying their passing. Whatever sentience they possess registers the abyssal heritage of the Tiefling so they direct their attacks on the human, ground eruptions and fiery conflagration all around him.
2
* Standard Action: Charge to I9. Earthburn Eruption vs C's Ref; r(7) +8 = 15. Miss. 2 fire damage and I9 becomes difficult terrain.
3
* Move Action: B6 to D6
* Standard Action: Charge to H7 (B-B does not have an MBA for OA). Earthburn Eruption vs C's Ref; r(7) +8 +1 (charge) = 16. Miss. 2 fire damage and I9 becomes difficult terrain.
BITA-BOUSSEH laughs disdainfully as Vezzuvu's minions flow across the chamber away from her. "Aye, the prospect of an eternity frozen solid in Stygia's grasp is enough to cool even your molten hearts, eh?" She redirects her ire to the Magma Strider rising from the lava flow and whispers the arcane words of a similar fate. But rather than daunted at the prospect, this new foe seems to deem this a challenge, advancing further into the chamber. "Perfect. So easy to manipulate these mindless elementals," the barrister thinks.
She stoops down, running her hands across the blazing glyphs etched into the cavern floor. "Stoneroot, hear me, for the sake of your Goliath follower!" she intones. "Lend us the strength and fortitude of your power to lay low your enemies, I beseech you!" The glyphs flare and the fellowship, both in the mortal and spirit realms, feel themselves imbued with the protection and power of the great primal spirit of earth.
Her work within the sacred circle complete, the Tiefling darts past towards and past Chanvati, to the far end of the chamber.
* Minor Action: Hell's Dark Promise vs MS, ATK r(15) +8 = 23 vs 15 Will. Hit. Slides MS from D10 to F10.
* Standard Action: Terrain Power: activate the Sacred Runes for the Blessing of Stoneroot (Encounter): all 4 of the fellowship gain 5 THP, +2 power bonus to hit/all defenses, +5 power bonus damage UtEoYNT.
* Move Action: Move F7 to K8, avoiding DT and OA from VT3.
End of Turn: 5 THP, +2 Power Bonus to hit/defenses and +5 Power Bonus to damage UtEYNT.
The earth erupts at CHANVATI'S feet, cracking in thick shards from the heat released by Vezzuvu's thralls. They may seek to prevent him from escaping their molten grasp, but he can ward himself from their attacks. In a blur of psionic energy, his form seems to shimmer and disappear.
Drawing upon the potent energy of his staff, he directs his Dimensional Scramble in an enlarged burst that catches all three foes and himself within its circuit. The two thralls discorporate in a blast of quantum matter, and the Magma Strider is folded and shunted against the north wall of the chamber, but the protective sphere with which he wards himself prevents any injury to his own body. As the last of Vezzuvu's thralls is destroyed, Chanvati feels a rippling of power, from material into the spirit realm.
Still charged with the power of Stoneroot's Blessing, Chanvati unleashes a thrust of psionic energy at the Magma Strider, and it staggers under the mental assault.
Start of Turn: In DT, 4 more fire damage = 30/40 HP + 5 THP
* Minor Action: Mind Shroud. Slowed and Superior Cover UEoCNT.
* Free Action: Staff of the Warmage Daily Power to increase size of burst by 1.
* Standard Action: Dimensional Scramble Area BU 2 AUG 1 centered on H9. ATK vs MS, r(13) +8 +2 (Stoneroot's Blessing) = 23 vs 18 Fort. Hit. ATK vs VT2, r(8) +8 +2 = 18 vs 18 Fort. Hit. ATK vs VT3, r(16) +8 +2 = 26 vs 18 Fort. Hit. Damage = r(5) +5 +5 (Stoneroot's Blessing). VT2 & VT3 destroyed. MS takes 15 damage and is teleported to G11.
TRIGGER: VT2 & VT3 destroyed, so Wave1 defeated. Waves &
Disempower Aspects of Vezzuvu (R2, INITIATIVE 12 BOTH COMBATS): After defeating the force of any given wave, the Aspects of Vezzuvu in the Spirit Realm suffer Vulnerable 5 all damage and -2 to hit UtEoYNT.
* Free Action (Action Point for Standard Action): Mind Thrust vs. MS, r(12) +8 +2 = 22 vs 15 Will. Hit. r(9) +5 +5 = 19 damage. MS takes 34 total damage, BLOODIED.
End of turn: 30/40 HP +5 THP, +7 all defenses, Slowed, in DT. 2 PPs, 0 AP, remaining.
Having been flung across the sacred ritual chamber via the folding of space and time, the VEZZUVU MAGMA STRIDER fixates on Chanvati via its tremorsense and burns across the battlefield toward him. However, the triangulation of Chanvati's position is rendered strangely amiss, by the estimation of the perceptive faculties of the elemental creature. Chanvati's magic, shifting him subtly from his actual location, does its work as the fiery slam of the strider's swat goes wide of the mark.
* Move Action: G11 to H9
* Standard Action: Blaze vs C's Ref; r(12) +8 -5 (Total Concealment) = 15. Miss.
Standard Actions
(⚔)
Blaze ✦ At-Will
Attack: Melee 1 (one creature); +8 vs. Ref
Hit: 1d10 + 6 fire damage.
Wave 3 appears; 5, 6, 7, 8
MS 29/61 Bloodied
ROUND 3
The interminable lava seep washes further into the ritual chamber, taking the torch-bearing stanchion from its moorings and snuffing the light. Beating back the darkness, the sacred runes provide a faint glow along with Chanvati's sunrod.
From the burning wash of liquified rock emerge four new elementals to join the fray!
Carried forth on a wave of lava and the dictates of their Primordial master, VEZZUVU'S THRALLS rush the fleshy human like a hive-mind, earth and fire erupting all around him!
5
* Move Action: D10 to G10
* Standard Action: Earthburn Eruption vs C's Ref; r(20) +8 -5 (TC) = CRIT. 4 fire damage (I9 already difficult terrain).
6
* Move Action: D8 to G8
* Standard Action: Earthburn Eruption vs C's Ref; r(11) +8 -5 (TC) = 14. Miss. 2 fire damage (I9 already difficult terrain).
7
* Move Action: B10 to D10
* Standard Action: Charge to H10 and Earthburn Eruption vs C's Ref; r(14) +8 -5 (TC) + 1 (charge) = 18. Miss. 2 fire damage (I9 already difficult terrain).
8
* Move Action: B8 to D8
* Standard Action: Charge to H8 and Earthburn Eruption vs C's Ref; r(12) +8 -5 (TC) + 1 (charge) = 16. Miss. 2 fire damage (I9 already difficult terrain).
BITA-BOUSSEH delays her turn until after Chanvati, which causes the bonuses from the Blessings of Stoneroot to expire, unused by her.
CHANVATI is under siege; new thralls of Vezzuvu rise up from the lava, joining the Magma Strider in their assault against him, the very earth beneath his feet a heaving, steaming pile of broken earth and stone.
With the confidence and poise befitting his station, the Merchant Prince upends space between his new foes and the Strider, three of the thralls discorporating in the distortion.
"Well done," he commends himself, swelling with renewed purpose.
* Start of turn: additional 10 fire damage = -5 THP, -5 HP, 25/40 HP, Slowed, +5 defenses UEoT
* Standard Action: Dimensional Scramble Area Bu 1 centered on G9. ATK vs VT5, r(10) +8 = 18 vs 18 Fort. Hit. ATK vs VT7, r(7) +8 = 15 vs 18 Fort. Miss. ATK vs MS, r(2) +8 = 10 vs 18 Fort. Miss. ATK vs VT8, r(10) +8 = 18 vs 18 Fort. Hit. ATK vs VT6, r(10) +8 = 18 vs 18 Fort. Hit. VT5, VT8, VT6 destroyed.
* Minor Action: Inspiring Word on self, Heal Surge (10) + r(5) = 15 HP.
* End of turn: 40/40 HP, 6/7 Surges, 2 PPs remaining. In DT
BITA-BOUSSEH sees the lava-forms attacking the Psion and will not abide it. With both long-fingernailed hands extended, she unleashes the full fury of her infernal heritage at the remaining thrall, and it dissolves into its constituent components, ravaged by the fear of her threats back whence it came. So powerful is her threat, that the echoes of it transcend planar boundaries, shaking Pa'avu and Hazard's foes in the spirit realm.
Then the barrister's voice grows low and throaty. "Come to me, my Prince. Escape the reach of your foes. Come to me!" But alas, Vezzuvu's will works strong against hers in the battle for her lover's body, and Chanvati remains, rooted in the broken earth and stone.
* Standard Action: Infernal Glower on VT7, ATK r(12) +8 = 20 vs 17 Will. Hit. r(5) +7 = 12 damage. VT7 destroyed.
TRIGGER: WAVE 3 DESTROYED; DISEMPOWER VEZZUVU'S ASPECTS IN SPIRIT REALM. After defeating the force of any given wave, the Aspects of Vezzuvu in the Spirit Realm suffer Vulnerable 5 all damage and -2 to hit UtEoYNT.
* Minor Action: Hell's Dark Promise vs Chanvati, ATK r(5) +8 = 13 vs 20 Will. Miss.
The VEZZUVU MAGMA STRIDER slams the Psion with a fiery appendage then streaks to the Tiefling and slams her just the same, her infernal heritage absorbing the worst of the blaze.
* Move Action: G11 to H9
* Standard Action: Blaze vs C's Ref; r(17) +8 = 25. Hit; r(8) +6 = 14 fire damage.
* Free Action: Burn Across the Battlefield. Charge to J8 and Blaze vs B's Ref; r(14) +8 +1 (charge) = 23. Hit; r(5) +6 = 11 -7 (Fire Resist) = 4 fire damage.
Free Actions
⚔
Burn Across the Battlefield ✦ Recharge 3, 4, 5, 6
Requirement: A creature is hit by Blaze
Effect: Charge another target and make a Blaze attack. If a creature hits you with an Opportunity Attack, they take 5 ongoing fire damage (save ends).
TRIGGER - OPPORTUNITY ATTACK; MBA FROM C
As the creature of magma and malice charges past him, towards the barrister, CHANVATI bashes it with his crystal staff, the etched runes on his bracers glowing and embuing the strike with significant force. Unfortunately, the intense heat causes the sleeve of his kolija to burst into flame!
* OA: MBA (Free Action: activate Bracers of Mental Might Encounter Power), r(14) +10 = 24 vs 19 AC. Hit for r(8) damage.
Effect: C takes 5 OG fire damage.
TRIGGER - FREE ACTION; INFERNAL WRATH FROM B-B
The Magma Strider barrels into Bita-Bousseh with the full force of its molten bulk, the primordial heat of its being so intense it leaves the barrister wobbling on her feet. She calls upon the hellfire burning within her soul, unleashing it upon her foe, perhaps not enough to damage it, but at the least the primordial foe is distracted as it is engulfed in a halo of blue flames.
Trigger:
BITA-BOUSSEH is hit by an enemy within 10 squares.
* Infernal Wrath (Recharge 5,6), Fire Free Action Close burst 10 Trigger: An enemy within 10 squares of her hits Bita-Bousseh. Target: The triggering enemy in the burst Effect: The target takes 1d6 + 4 fire damage (IMMUNE), and the target grants combat advantage until the end of its next turn.
CHANVATI can feel too much time has passed since his connection with Pa'avu in the Spirit Realm was severed. She and her hound must have run into similar difficulty there.
So with determination to end this fight as quickly as possible and reestablish that connection, the Merchant Prince unleashes a mental assault upon the Magma Strider. An explosion of psionic power bursts across the creature's brain, neurons firing wildly in an instantaneous overload, producing pain that evokes from the creature such a high-pitched groan, like the skittering fall of scree down a precipitious slope, that the Psion winces in response.
Collecting himself, he tamps out the flames singeing his kolija and hopes the barrister can finish the creature.
* Start of turn: -14 HP fire damage from MS Blaze, -5 HP OG fire damage = 21/40 HP.
* Standard Action: Mind Thrust vs MS, ATK r(19) +8 +2 CA = 27 vs 15 Will. Hit. r(10) +5 = 15 psychic damage.
* End of turn: Save vs OG fire damage, r(19). Save successful. 21/40 HP, 6/7 Surges, 2 PPs remaining.
BITA-BOUSSEH witnesses Chanvati's staggering of the Magma Strider and takes a moment to redirect her focus against Vezzuvu's will and draw the Psion out from the shattered earth and flow of the encroaching lava. But still, the Primordial's will holds strong, and its servant has an opening to launch an attack upon her.
In quick response, however, the barrister looses the fearful powers of hell in a dread glower so potent the force animating the Strider withdraws to whatever plane it calls home, destroying the creature.
* Start of turn: 4 fire damage from MS Blaze, 37/41 HP.
* Minor Action: Hell's Dark Promise vs Chanvati (provokes OA from MS), r(10) +8 = 18 vs 20 Will. Miss.
TRIGGER - RANGED ATTACK IN MELEE: OA BLAZE BY MAGMA STRIDER VS B-B REF:
* OA Blaze vs B-B Ref: r(7) +8 = 15; MISS.
* Standard Action: Infernal Glower vs MS, r(14) +8 +2 = 24 vs 15 Will. Hit. r(7) +7 = 14 damage. MS destroyed. Trigger:
MS (Wave 2) destroyed: Waves & Disempower Aspects of Vezzuvu: After defeating the force of any given wave, the Aspects of Vezzuvu in the Spirit Realm suffer Vulnerable 5 all damage and -2 to hit UtEoYNT.
* End of turn: 37/41 HP, 8/8 Surges remaining.
MATERIAL WORLD COMBAT RESOLVED
