Jason was unavailable for this session, so Karnak was left out of play.
<Bruce> Now, are there any bits of administrivia left over from last session to deal with while folks wake up and such? :)
*** iChris is now known as Meridius.
*** Bruce is now known as DM.
<Meridius> The log of the last session is not yet up, but I'm working on getting it edited now.
<Gnaea> . o O ( Well, there was that matter we discussed about granting me omnipotent power... ) [Silana]
<Silana> . o O ( Great. She's useful in one fight, and now my familiar's getting all uppity. )
* DM laughs.
<DM> http://www.baugh.info/citadel2.jpg
* Silana starts the log for (drumroll...) session 15.
<DM> Woo hoo! And the end is nigh.
*** BA is now known as Liatus.
<Liatus> I think I'm down one hp just for the record.
* DM nods.
<Silana> I'm unhurt, and now down 1 L0 and two L1 spells.
<Silana> And Mage Armor is up.
<DM> Right.
* Meridius is groovy.
<Silana> Well, yes he is, but is he hurt?
* DM laughs.
<DM> Now, if memory serves, we left off with the characters in the norther of the two rooms numbered #48 and having just listened at a door, but I forget _which_ door.
<Silana> The east.
<DM> Chris Aylott: clearly your game needs less hacking and more GROOVING!
* Liatus listens at both doors just to be safe
<11: Silana> Well, if we could just find some picts...
<Liatus> the top one:
## Liatus rolled 1d20+3 = 10 (7).
<Liatus> and the one to the side:
## Liatus rolled 1d20+3 = 20 (17).
<DM> Liatus doesn't hear anything up north. To the east, the clatter of bone on stone that suggets skeletons to his now-experienced ears.
* Liatus grips his Imperial Seal and whispers to the others. "Skeletons. I'm unsure how many."
* Silana nods. "That's what I thought, too. Do we want to deal with them, or leave them be?"
*** Maya has joined channel 10 [Sat. D&D].
*** Maya has joined channel 11 [Sat. D&D Chatter].
<Liatus> "I would prefer to deal with them now while we are at full strength and not at some unspecified future date when they may stand between us and escape and I am incapacitated."
* Silana nods. "Good point."
* Meridius will take up Liatus' normal position and ready to open the door. "Lead on, Liatus."
<11: Silana> The flamingo usher escorts Maya to her seat and takes her refreshments order.
## DM rolled 1d20+1 = 13 (12).
* Liatus nods and readies both his Seal and his morning star in case things should get out of hand.
* Silana backs off a few steps and readies her staff, knowing that crossbow bolts have not been very effective in the past against these creatures.
* 11: Maya grins, sits back, and watches.
* Liatus makes sure that our goblins on a leash are secured.
<DM> Map update. The room matches the other side chamber you entered, and sure enough, there are three skeletons diligently spreading compost. They turn in place, clearly surprised to find you here.
<DM> So initiative checks would be in order.
* Meridius opens the door and rolls initiative:
## Meridius rolled 1d20+4 = 7 (3).
## Liatus rolled 1d20+1 = 9 (8).
## Silana rolled 1d20+2 = 17 (15).
<DM> And Silana may wish to hold her action until after Liatus does his thing.
<Silana> I was just typing nearly exactly that. :)
<11: Liatus> Meridius opens the door and both he and Liatus are distracted by pie.
<DM> Assuming that BA does the turning thing, it's 1d20 + Charisma modifer, and 2d6 + level + Cha mod.
* Liatus commands the skeletons to cease their activities and to return to their eternal slumber in the name of the Empire.
## Liatus rolled 1d20+1 = 16 (15).
<DM> That should do the job. That would command undead substantially tougher than you. :)
## Liatus rolled 2d6+4 = 11 (6 1).
<DM> And the skeleton immediately crumble into dust where they're standing. The goblin prisoners look that much more intimidated.
<DM> 300 xp for the lot of them.
<11: Liatus> Oh yeah, I'm bad.
<Liatus> For me or for the group?
<DM> Into the pile for the group, since we're in the practice of sharing things around.
<DM> It evens out over time, I think.
* Liatus nods.
* Liatus slowly moves into the room, keeping his seal and his morning star ready.
<DM> There's a lot of compost in the room, and not much else of interest to cursory examination.
* Liatus searches for anything more than compost.
## Liatus rolled 1d20+2 = 11 (9).
* DM strikes "than" from the sentence to explain what Liatus finds.
* Silana enters and pokes around with the butt of her staff to see if there's anything else here.
## Silana rolled 1d20+2 = 6 (4).
<11: Silana> Apparently not.
* Meridius will keep an eye on the prisoners.
<Liatus> "This appears to be ... a compost pile."
<DM> The goblins look very nervous and stay as far away as their tethers will allow.
<Liatus> "All my friends back home will be jealous. They don't have a compost pile this big."
<DM> :)
<Meridius> "Perhaps you haven't looked under their garderobes lately." ;~)
* Liatus returns to room 48 and scraps the muck off his boots. "Well, lets try the other door then."
* Silana nods, as she somewhat disgustedly scrapes the lower part of her staff clean against the doorframe.
<DM> So this is the one that was quiet before. The goblins indicated previously that it leads through some more chambers to the Outcast's lair.
* Liatus looks to the others. "Do we want to press on in this direction or shall me go back and check the south door in the previous chamber?"
<Silana> "We heard more goblins behind the south door. That could be trouble, or to our advantage."
<Meridius> "South first, if north leads to the Outcast. Let's save the Outcast for last." <evil grin>
<11: Meridius> The log of session 14 is now available: http://www.q7.com/~carter/rpg/dnd3e/meridius-and-co_session-14.html
* Liatus nods, and begins making his way south.
<DM> And back at that southern door, you can still hear three or four goblins chattering to each other while going about some chore.
* Liatus takes up his possition to open the door.
* Silana turns to the captives. "Now remember. It's your job to convince these other goblins that we're not here to fight them. If they want to help us against the Outcast, even better. But we don't have any reason to kill them if they don't force us to."
## DM rolled 1d20 = 2 (2).
<DM> The de facto leader of the prisoners nods, looking scared. "Okay."
<11: Liatus> No reason?! We have every reason to kill them! We have the most important reason to kill them! Because it's FUN!
* 11: Liatus changes his alignment to CE
* 11: Silana peers at Liatus alignment...?
* 11: Silana hi5's.
<DM> So do you want the goblins to knock, or what, here?
* Liatus thought maybe we could open the door and suprise them, then call on them to surrender.
<Silana> Well, that might be hard, with their hands bound behind their backs. ;)
<DM> Fair enough. Describe the action, and I shall describe the response. :)
<Silana> "These two should be near the door, when we open it. Give the ones inside a chance to see them, first."
<Liatus> "Perhaps if I open the door then Meridius pushes our two 'guides' into the room first?"
<Silana> "What if we just open the door peacefully, with these two standing there?"
<Meridius> "I'll stand behind them with my gladius at ready, in case of betrayal."
* Silana nods. "Pushing them in might provoke the kind of response we're trying to avoid."
* Meridius fulfills his role as optio even when not with the legions. :)
* Liatus nods. "Yes, but I still think it would be best to open the door forcefully in order to take them by surprise."
<Silana> Does the door open in or out?
<Liatus> "I don't have to kick the door in or anything, but I don't feel that knocking would be in our best interest."
<DM> The door opens in.
<Liatus> "Are we ready then?"
<Meridius> "Aye."
* Silana nods.
<Liatus> When everyone is in position, I will push the door open and stand aside.
* Silana backs off, and checks her crossbow. When the door opens, she will /not/ have it raised to fire, but she'll be ready to do so if needed.
<DM> The door swings open, revealing four goblins tending rows of exotic fungi set in raised beds. They look around, and are very startled to see you three. Even more to see their kinsmen.
<DM> The captive goblins speak very rapidly, gesturing at you three. The four freeze, then get down on their knees and hold their arms overhead. "We not fight."
* Liatus moves into the room, on guard for attack and ready to lay waste to the goblins at the first sign of treachery.
<DM> One of the fungi-tending goblins says "Please not kill us."
* 11: Maya | See, doctor, in my nightmare these armed adventurers come smashing through the door...
* Liatus gets out more rope and orders the goblins to put their hands behind their backs so he can tie them like the other two are.
<DM> He points overhead. "We know you kill many of us. We just want to leave. You want to kill Outcast, that fine. We go. This not good place for us."
<Liatus> Once the goblins are tied up, I search the room.
## Liatus rolled 1d20+2 = 3 (1).
<Liatus> Clearly I'm too busy to search.
<DM> There are a whole lot of unfamiliar fungi, and nothing else.
* Silana comes in to search as well.
## Silana rolled 1d20+2 = 19 (17).
<DM> Silana, you'll recall hearing your father discuss the matter of poisons with his friends. Some of these look like ingredients for things they talked about.
* Silana looks closely at some of the things growing in here. "I think I may know what some of these can be used for. Brewing poisons."
* Liatus considers trying to torch this entire level when we leave.
<DM> Small satchels hold drying specimens of various sorts; if you'd like to take them along to poke at later, you can. It rapidly becomes clear that the goblins don't know a whole lot about what they're working on beyond "don't eat it".
* Liatus prods the goblins for information on any humans that might have been sent to the Outcast recently.
<DM> One of the goblins shudders and nods. "Last time we see Outcast, he say, his tree accept the new ones. He not look good or safe when he say."
<Goblin> "We not see tree. We glad to not see tree." [DM]
* Liatus frowns. "That doesn't bode well for our rescue efforts."
* Liatus briefly considers the idea of arming the goblins and getting them to help us fight the Outcast, but quickly dismisses it.
* Silana nods, frowning grimly. "Let's go. We can free these four on our way out."
<Goblin> "We wait here, stay out of trouble?" [DM]
<Liatus> I presume we are taking the first two with us, yes?
<Silana> "That's the idea."
<Liatus> "Well, lets go find the Outcast then."
<DM> One of the four goblins in here says "Wait, please."
<DM> He quickly unties the rope from which drying satchels have been hanging and and hands it to Meridius. "With this, you tie door shut outside, not worry about us, not maybe kill us in haste."
* Meridius nods to the goblin and takes the rope.
<DM> The goblin says "We break down with maybe 3, 4 hours good pushing. But we wait to hear you."
* Meridius steps out of the room after listening to the last remark and motions the others out.
* Liatus has been waiting patiently in room 48.
<DM> Another 300 xp for successfully resolving that encounter.
<Silana> "We may already be too late. But on the chance we're not, we need to keep moving, now."
* Liatus nods and makes his way northward.
<DM> By now you're getting pretty good at making your way through fungi and compost, too.
<DM> So, back at the northern door. Another listening to the quiest, or going ahead and opening?
<Meridius> As we proceed to the north door out of the northern version of 48, I prep a second fire arrow so I'll have two available for use. (I prepped the first one last session.)
<Meridius> Listening is good. I'll try...
## Meridius rolled 1d20-1 = 11 (12).
* Liatus also listens
## Liatus rolled 1d20+3 = 13 (10).
* Liatus whispers. "I hear ... something."
<Liatus> "Something faint and rhythmic. But I'm not sure what. A tool of some sort perhaps."
* Liatus motionas for Silana to listen at the door.
* Silana steps up and listens, as Gnaea does, also.
## Silana rolled 1d20+2 = 13 (11).
## Silana rolled 1d20+14 = 30 (16).
<DM> Holy cow. :)
<11: Gnaea> . o O ( I see no cow. Merely a divine owl. ) [Silana]
<Silana> "I think we may have another bugbear gardener ahead of us."
<11: Liatus> I want to make a 30 on a roll.
<11: Silana> Well, once I get Polymorph Other... ;)
<Liatus> Before we go any further, I'm going to once again ask the Imperial Presence to bestow its divine might upon Meridius and myself. (Meaning I'm casting Bull's Str twice)
<DM> Righto.
<DM> Remember to factor that in with attack and damage rolls, then.
<Liatus> For Meridius:
## Liatus rolled 1d4+1 = 3 (2).
<Liatus> and for me:
## Liatus rolled 1d4+1 = 3 (2).
* Silana takes up her usual firing position and waits.
* Meridius now has an 18 STR.
<Liatus> That puts me at Str 13
## DM rolled 1d20+1 = 12 (11).
<11: Liatus> "Yes, we're men - Manly Men!"
<11: Silana> The bugbear reminded me. I looked at Urban Arcana this week at the comics shop. The art continues to be as good and as amusing as in the d20 Modern main book. There's a bugbear in a three-piece suit that's just too funny. :)
<DM> Okay, the usual deal for door opening, then?
<11: DM> I really like Mrs. Groton's troglodyte.
<Liatus> Yes
<Meridius> I think so. I've got a pilum ready to cast.
* Liatus notes that his spells will last for 3 hrs.
<DM> Map update. It's another side chamber like the others, except this one has another door off to your left a bit. Sure enough, there's a bugbear gardener hoeing her way through blackened, burned vegetation. You can see a few holes obviously made by thoqqua; she's cleaning away the damage around them.
<DM> And she's totally surprised to see you there.
* Liatus wonders if we could get her to surrender also.
* Liatus rolls Initiative anyway just in case.
## Liatus rolled 1d20+1 = 4 (3).
## Silana rolled 1d20+2 = 15 (13).
## Meridius rolled 1d20+4 = 8 (4).
<DM> If you'd like to try a verbal tactic, you can.
* Silana calls out, as she aims over her friends' heads at the bugbear, "Surrender and you will not be harmed."
* Meridius would facepalm if he had a free hand.
<DM> The bugbear shakes her head. "I not surrender! Live free or die!"
<11: Liatus> Oh great. One of those New Hampshire bugbears.
<11: Meridius> When the opposition starts yelling State mottoes, it's time to kick ass.
<11: Liatus> I bet it was our 3 Stooges style entrance that failed to impress her.
<DM> Dan, you can go ahead and shoot if you'd like. Single-sentence declarations are free actions.
<11: Silana> "Hellooooo..." [Liatus]
<11: Meridius> "Helloooooooo.. " [Liatus]
<11: Liatus> "Helloooooooo..."
<11: All Together> "Hello!" [Liatus]
* Silana . o O ( Fine, we don't have time for this... ) Frowning, she shoots.
## Silana rolled 1d20+4 = 20 (16).
<DM> That there's a hit.
## Silana rolled 1d8+1 = 7 (6).
<DM> The bugbear looks quite surprised, and turns away, looking for something she's not seeing.
<DM> Meridius?
* Meridius casts a pilum.
## Meridius rolled 1d20+3 = 5 (2).
<Meridius> "Stercus!"
* DM suggests "at the target" for next time.
<DM> Liatus?
<Liatus> Did you factor in the enhanced strength?
<DM> Oh, that's a good question.
<Meridius> (Ranged attack uses DEX.)
<Liatus> Ah, that's right.
<DM> That's a good answer. :)
<DM> Okay, Liatus?
* Liatus moves in and attacks with his morning star.
## Liatus rolled 1d20+4 = 15 (11).
<DM> That hits.
## Liatus rolled 1d8+2 = 5 (3).
<DM> And the bugbear's now bleeding heavily.
## DM rolled 1d20+3 = 4 (1).
* Liatus yells "Stay down, damn you."
<DM> And she's obviously got one of your initiative rolls by mistake.
<DM> Round 2, Silana.
<DM> If you shoot, remember the -4 for not shooting Liatus.
* Silana nods.
* Silana reloads, and fires again, eager to end this and move on.
## Silana rolled 1d20 = 17 (17).
<DM> That hits.
## Silana rolled 1d8+1 = 8 (7).
<DM> The bugbear murmurs "Belak..." and dies.
* Liatus quickly searches the room.
<DM> Another 300 xp.
* Meridius moves quickly to recover his pilum, his face showing disappointment at his poor cast.
## Liatus rolled 1d20+2 = 12 (10).
<Liatus> Man....
<DM> Over in one corner, Liatus, you do find something.
<Silana> "What was she trying to say, there?"
<DM> There's the husk of a dead thoqqua worm, and there are two small rubies still in its gullet.
<Liatus> OK, if I find a cub, I'm going to hit you.
<Liatus> Most excellent.
* Liatus takes the rubies.
<Meridius> How are our goblin prisoners doing?
<DM> Looking more scared.
<Meridius> That's good of them.
* Liatus questions them. "What did she mean by 'Belak'?"
<DM> The goblins look uncertain. "Not know. We die, we say name of god. But Belak not one of our gods."
* Liatus nods and goes to listen at the door.
## Liatus rolled 1d20+3 = 11 (8).
<DM> Sounds quiet beyond there.
<Liatus> (for the love of ....)
* Meridius will try listening as well.
## Meridius rolled 1d20-1 = 14 (15).
* Liatus takes up his possition to open the door whenever we're ready.
<DM> You don't hear anything either.
* Silana quickly goes to listen as well, and bring the Parabolic Owl with her.
<DM> :)
## Silana rolled 1d20+2 = 12 (10).
## Silana rolled 1d20+14 = 29 (15).
<DM> And they also don't hear anything.
* Liatus opens the door.
<DM> Map update.
<DM> There's a short hallway down to another room. A very faint flickering red glow, about as intense as candlelight, comes from somewhere out of your sight at the moment.
* Meridius takes the lead, gladius in hand.
* Silana says quietly, "That's not bright enough to be a thoqqua..."
* Liatus lets Silana go second and will follow behind with the goblins in tow.
<DM> Around the corner, you find the curved area dominated by the big statue of a rearing dragon. It was once painted bright red, but almost all the paint has flaked off. Its eye sockets are empty, but there's red flicker in them - you can recognize continual light-type magic, albeit with somewhat unfamiliar manifestations.
<Liatus> "Curiouser and curiouser."
* Silana nods, and goes to take a closer look.
<DM> In the middle of the room, there's a five-foot-diameter red sandstone tile set directly in front of the statue. It's hard to see what's behind the statue, since the lights in its eyes and its wings cast deep shadows back there.
* Silana avoids stepping on the tile.
<DM> Spot rolls, please.
## Meridius rolled 1d20 = 12 (12).
## Silana rolled 1d20+2 = 19 (17).
## Liatus rolled 1d20+3 = 17 (14).
<DM> Meridius misses it, but both Silana and Liatus see something stirring in the shadows at the far west end of the room.
* Liatus readies his morning star.
<11: Bruce> It's Meepo! [Liatus]
* 11: DM laughs.
<DM> Meridius, you're in the lead. As you approach the statue, a piece of shadow comes loose and flaps up over the statue to attack you.
<DM> Liatus, your priestly training lets you identify this as another sort of undead, though you don't know much about its capabilities.
<DM> Initiative checking.
<11: Silana> "Who ARE you??!?" "I'm Batmeepo."
## Meridius rolled 1d20+4 = 5 (1).
## DM rolled 1d20+2 = 7 (5).
## Silana rolled 1d20+2 = 8 (6).
<Meridius> I'm surprised this round, so I can't do anything anyway, but man does that initiative suck.
## Liatus rolled 1d20+1 = 7 (6).
<Liatus> Jesus...
<DM> So. Silana, then Liatus, then the shadow. And in future turns, Meridius at the end.
<11: Silana> Time dilation. Gotta be. HOW fast is this room moving?
* Silana fires at the thing, probably to no effect. (Should I even bother rolling?)
<DM> Actually, it's not entirely immune to normal damage. Give it a shot.
<Silana> It counts as being in melee, since it's attacking, so...
## Silana rolled 1d20 = 19 (19).
<DM> Check for critical.
## Silana rolled 1d20 = 1 (1).
<DM> Well, no.
<DM> But roll your damage.
## Silana rolled 1d8+1 = 3 (2).
## DM rolled 1d100 = 68 (68).
<DM> The arrow passes through it, but you see it flinch.
<DM> Liatus?
* Liatus attempts to turn the creature.
<Liatus> (There's all kinds of undead stuff roaming around here, I figure it's worth a shot)
<DM> Yup.
## Liatus rolled 1d20+1 = 11 (10).
<DM> Okay, and roll for dice of damage affected.
## Liatus rolled 2d6+4 = 14 (6 4).
<DM> And with a sudden shriek, the shadow rips apart, just as it was about to reach Meridius.
<DM> It was 2 hit dice, so it's gone.
<11: Liatus> Sweet :)
<DM> 900 xp for that; if it had gotten in any blows, it would have been bad - it does temporary Strength damage and bypasses all non-magical armor to hit.
<Liatus> Ouch
* Meridius looks more than a bit freaked out, but recovers quickly. "Many thanks, Liatus."
<DM> Liatus, you now have the time to read along the edges of the sandstone tile the Draconic for "Let the sorcerous power illuminate my mind." And to search, as you or others may desire.
* Liatus carefully checks behind the dragon for more of them.
## Liatus rolled 1d20+2 = 18 (16).
<Liatus> Hey, I actually got a good search roll. Yay.
* Silana shivers, not knowing just what that was, but instinctually knowing it was Bad. Somewhat more cautiously, she resumes her prior attempt to cross over to the statue and examine it more closely, still avoiding the tile on the floor.
<DM> Shining your light behind the statue, you find a chink in the wall into which someone long ago dropped two flasks shaped like a dragon's head. They are faintly warm to the touch.
* Meridius pauses rather than assisting with the search, and continues to compose himself, checking his accoutrements.
* Liatus takes the flasks, figuring we can ID them later.
<DM> The dragon statue is in bad shape, like a lot of the citadel; it's clearly part of the original architecture. Some tremor - possibly the one that caused the rift - shook a lot of hte ceiling tiles loose, and they're lying in bits around the floor.
<Meridius> "May I see one of those flasks, Liatus?"
* Liatus hands over the flasks.
* Meridius examines the contents to see if it's the same sort of stuff the first dragon statue we encountered produced, the potion of fire breath...
* Meridius has no real expertise in this sort of thing, so will consult help shortly. :)
<DM> It's considerably less viscous than that.
* Liatus checks the tile. "I think they would have stood here and then spoken the command word. I'm not at all certain what it does, but I think it might have imparted knowledge. But given the damage here, I'd be wary of even attempting to use it."
* Silana checks the statue's eyes, assuming she can reach them.
<DM> Silana, you can climb up onto the statue's knees to get a good look at the eyes. It looks like faceted stone or glass used to rest there. The magical illumination was attached to the socket as such, so it continues to flicker away. It probably looked very impressive with something to reflect it.
<Meridius> Are there any remnants of damage in the room to suggest a thoqqua has been here?
<DM> Nope.
<DM> No signs of tunnels or boring.
* Silana climbs back down. "Just a magical light effect in there, I think. Looks like there used to be gems or lenses or something for it to shine through, but they're gone."
<11: Liatus> Oh, that reminds me, can I make a Knowledge (Religion) roll to see if I might recognize whatever god the bugbear was mentioning?"
<11: DM> Oh, good thinking, yes.
## 11: Liatus rolled 1d20+7 = 14 (7).
<11: DM> It doesn't sound familiar, though your study of goblinoid religion was not deep.
* Meridius motions Silana over to examine the flasks of warm liquid. "Can you have a crack at identifying the contents of these flasks? If the contents are something involving magical fire, perhaps it would be useful against the Outcast and his tree."
* Liatus goes to listen at the north door.
## Liatus rolled 1d20+3 = 16 (13).
<DM> All quiet there, Liatus.
* Liatus breaks out one of his torches.
* Silana takes one flask and opens it. Holding the shattered wooden shaft of the bolt she fired at the shadow-thing in one hand, she carefully pours out a single drop so as to land on the wood.
<DM> The wood scorches and briefly ignites in a small flame.
* Silana grins, holding up the burning bolt. "This will be useful."
* Silana CAREFULLY re-caps the flask.
<Meridius> I'll keep one of the flasks to use as a means of lighting my prepared fire arrows. The other flask may be claimed by whoever wants it.
<Silana> "I'll carry one of these, if no one minds. I have an idea for it."
<DM> Like kids in a candy store, they are. :)
* Liatus lights his torch the old fashioned way, with flint and steel, and carries it in his off hand.
<Meridius> :)
<11: Liatus> Lets smoke this bitch out.
<Liatus> When everyone is ready, I shall open the next door.
* 11: Meridius hands Liatus a box of cigars.
<DM> Map update.
* Meridius takes up a position with a pilum at hand and awaits the door opening.
* Silana assumes her usual position.
* Liatus whispers. "Hmm. A tiny room."
<DM> The room on the other side was once a library. All of its stone bookshelves have toppled, and most of the volumes are badly crumbled or mildewed. A rough cleared path runs to the door on the opposite wall.
* Liatus checks briefly for any surviviing texts.
## Liatus rolled 1d20+2 = 10 (8).
<11: Meridius> Books. Very dangerous. You go first.
<DM> Nothing much comes to hand. You can barely make out a single complete sentence.
<Liatus> So it's kindling then.
* Liatus readies to open the next door when everyone is ready.
<DM> So it seems to you, yes.
<Meridius> "If we have to make a hasty exit, we'll fire this room, eh?"
* Meridius sets up at the next door.
* Liatus listens at the door.
## Liatus rolled 1d20+3 = 15 (12).
<DM> You hear a faint dripping, slightly irregular.
<Liatus> If everyone is ready, I pull the door open.
<Silana> "Ready."
<Meridius> "Aye."
<DM> Map update.
<Liatus> "Damn. Stairs."
<DM> There's a corridor which makes a sharp bend ot the right. The steps take it down under room 49d. The dripping sound is water leaking from the ceiling and north wall.
* Liatus investigates the little room
## Liatus rolled 1d20+2 = 17 (15).
<DM> Do you mean 52?
<DM> It may not be clear from the scan, but it's simply a wide corridor and not an actual room.
<Liatus> Yes. I'm mostly looking for traps, signs of horrific monsters coming and going, that sort of thing.
<DM> That said, your search lets you identify several points in the north wall that vibrate slightly and emit a faint gurgling sound. A natural stream must flow through a shaft somewhere not far beyond.
<DM> If you look down the steps, you can see the passage cotninuing off to the east.
* Silana hmmms, with an 'evil' grin forming on her lips. "If we could breach this wall on our way out..."
* Liatus looks to the goblins. "Have either of you ever been down here?"
* Meridius puts away his pilum and draws his gladius.
<DM> The goblins shake their heads. "This Outcast home. Only slaves, prisoners go here. Mostly not come back."
* Liatus turns to Meridius. "They'll be no more use to us, I fear."
* Meridius nods to Liatus, sets aside his scutum, sheathes his gladius and then sets to untying the goblin prisoners.
<DM> The goblins look astounded and hopeful. "We go?"
* Meridius asks the goblins, "You know how to get to the upper level?"
<DM> They nod. "Up vines to throne."
* Silana says to the goblins, "You have honored the deal we made, so now we will do the same. You are free. Go and free your friends we left behind, and warn any others that this may become a dangerous place to be, at least for a time."
<Meridius> "Go get your friends and get out of here. Leave the citadel. If you don't, the kobolds will likely kill you. They control the upper level, but don't have all of it covered yet, so you have a good chance of escape."
<DM> They bow very deeply. "We do! We go, leave place. Humans, kobolds, they can have it. We look for safe cave far away."
<Liatus> "Hopefully they won't forget the other four."
<Liatus> "Well, down we go then."
<Meridius> "If we're not in dire straits we can check on the other four on our way out."
* Liatus motions to Meridius, allowing him to go first.
<Meridius> Once I'm satisfied the goblins are well and gone, I make to head down the stairs. "Liatus, follow me next. Silana, bring up the rear and keep your crossbow handy."
* Silana murmurs quietly, as she nods to Meridius.
* Meridius recovers his shield, draws his gladius and steps slowly and carefully down the stairs.
<DM> It's 15' down, to give the corridor clearance underneath that arboreteum. One of the thoqqua tunnels runs from the ceiling on up above, and a melted patch on the floor here suggests that the worm melted its way through and then fell to the floor.
<DM> Map update, as you get a look at what lies beyond.
<Liatus> I presume we're going in standard marching order? Meridius, Silana and me?
<Meridius> Negative. Meridius, Liatus, then Silana. I want the lit torch in the middle of the group.
* Liatus nods.
<DM> The corridor dries out again by the time you're at the stairs back up; the leaky area is not large.
* Liatus waits for Meridius to turn the corner.
<DM> Map update when you get to the corner.
<DM> Not that you actually see the whole expanse at once, but it'll come to light as you go. Luminescent fungi provide surprisingly good, if purple, illumination.
* Silana is not going to be eating any purple grapes for awhile, once we get out of here.
<Liatus> As we get to the first door, I pause to listen.
## Liatus rolled 1d20+3 = 20 (17).
<DM> It's quiet there.
* Liatus listens at the second door also.
## Liatus rolled 1d20+3 = 10 (7).
<Liatus> I must have fungi in my ear.
<DM> Anyone else want to check the second door?
* Silana will try.
## Silana rolled 1d20+2 = 17 (15).
<DM> You hear several goblins talking quietly to each other.
* Silana grimaces. "We should've kept the goblins a little longer. There are more of them in there."
* Meridius whispers, "I doubt keeping them on hand would've mattered at this point. Goblins this close to the Outcast probably take their killing a bit more seriously."
* Silana nods. "You're probably right."
* Meridius motions to Liatus and Silana to assume positions to assault the room with the goblins.
* Liatus readies to open the door.
* Meridius is ready with a pilum to cast.
* Liatus will open the door when everyone is ready.
* Silana readies her crossbow...
<DM> Map update.
## DM rolled 1d20+1 = 9 (8).
<DM> There are four goblins here, sorting out big stacks of twigs and fungi into piles by type. They are very surprised to see you. The southern wall is a big gaping hole onto a _huge_ cavern.
## Liatus rolled 1d20+1 = 19 (18).
## Silana rolled 1d20+2 = 12 (10).
## Meridius rolled 1d20+4 = 16 (12).
<Liatus> "Avast ye skervy dogs! Stand and deliver!"
<DM> Map update again to show you some of the cavern.
<Meridius> "Liatus, move in a break left. I'll cast and break right and we'll flank 'em."
* 11: Silana wonders when we picked up the Dread Pirate Liatus.
* Liatus nods.
* Liatus moves to the left and closes with the first available goblin.
<DM> Remember your Bull's Strength.
<Liatus> (don't forget extra STR mods)
<DM> (Meridius, too.)
<Meridius> (I'm on it.)
## Liatus rolled 1d20+4 = 14 (10).
<DM> That hits because you've got surprise.
## Liatus rolled 1d8+2 = 5 (3).
<DM> *thud* There goes one goblin.
<11: Liatus> Well, no one is going to surrender to the Dread Priest Liatus.
<DM> Meridius?
* Meridius hurls a pilum at whatever goblin is on the southernmost periphery of the group (i.e., the one most likely to be in a position to run away).
## Meridius rolled 1d20+3 = 10 (7).
<DM> That just misses, alas.
<DM> Would have hit if he were bigger.
* Silana meanwhile picks an unoccupied target in the middle somewhere, and fires.
<Meridius> After hurling, if I'm still able to move, I'll immediately move into a flanking position on the south side of the goblins.
<DM> You can do that Meridius, without any problem.
## Silana rolled 1d20+4 = 21 (17).
<DM> Silana, no penalty for firing into melee, given the way the gents have positioned themselves.
<DM> And a good hit that is.
## Silana rolled 1d8+1 = 2 (1).
<Silana> Or not.
<DM> *thunk* That goblin's seriously hurting.
<Liatus> A nice hit to the thigh.
## DM rolled 1d20+1 = 2 (1).
<DM> Okay, that was mighty lame initiative.
<DM> (That's the second 1 I've rolled for NPC initiative this session, in fact.)
<11: Liatus> Dude, I've seens some init rolls that sucked before, but that was suckiest bunch of suck that ever sucked.
<DM> Liatus, you're up again.
* Liatus closes with the next available goblin and attempts to bash his brains in as well.
## Liatus rolled 1d20+4 = 16 (12).
<DM> That hits.
## Liatus rolled 1d8+2 = 10 (8).
<DM> That kills.
<DM> Meridius?
<Liatus> That decapitates :)
* Meridius continues to adjust to cut off any possible escape and attacks a goblin.
## Meridius rolled 1d20+7 = 13 (6).
* Silana imagines Liatus doing a gory Gallagher act on these goblins.
<DM> That hits, thanks to the goblin still being surprised.
<Meridius> (I should've rolled a +9 bonus for flanking, but as long as it hits...)
## Meridius rolled 1d6+4 = 6 (2).
<DM> *splat* That goblin is run through.
<DM> Silana?
* Silana fires again at her previous target, trying to finish him off.
<Meridius> Do I have a Cleave opportunity?
## Silana rolled 1d20+4 = 12 (8).
<DM> Oh, hold it, Dan.
<Silana> And misses.
<DM> Yes, you do, Meridius.
## Meridius rolled 1d20+7 = 12 (5).
<DM> (Actually, that shot will hit if it's still necessary. Surprise negatives Dex bonus.)
<DM> That hits, Meridius.
## Meridius rolled 1d6+4 = 5 (1).
<DM> And Meridius comes on like Lancelot storming Swamp Castle. The four goblins are now all dead.
* Meridius wipes clean his gladius and sheaths it, recovers his pilum and looks around a bit...
<DM> Spot rolls, please.
* Liatus remains on guard, taking stock of the situation
## Liatus rolled 1d20+3 = 17 (14).
## Silana rolled 1d20+2 = 20 (18).
## Meridius rolled 1d20 = 1 (1).
<DM> You notice two things. Or least Liatus and Silana do. :)
<Meridius> (So much for me looking around a bit...)
<Liatus> That's what you get for cleaning your sword.
<DM> Map update.
<DM> The first thing you notice is that far to the south in the cavern, the ruined walls are more intact, and a massive weird tree pokes up above them.
<DM> The second thing is that the floor of the cavern is littered in rooted twig blights.
<Liatus> "I'm glad we brought flammable things."
<DM> Not everything marked on the map as a briar is a twig blight, but many of them are.
* "I think this is the place," Silana says, demonstrating her grasp of the obvious. [Silana]
<Meridius> Are the twig blights aware of us?
* DM tries again. Map update.
<DM> No, right now the twig blights are as still as the one in the goblin chief's throne room.
<DM> Oh, 300 xp for the goblins.
<Meridius> "What say we check this room behind us (to the north) before proceeding onto the tree?"
* Silana finds herself wishing even more that she had some kind of fire magic.
<Silana> "All right, but let's be quick about it."
* Liatus warrily keeps his eye on the plants. "That sounds wise. Perhaps we might find some oil or other flammables in ther."
<DM> If you take 10 on a Listen check it's still quiet; you can roll if you'd like.
## Liatus rolled 1d20+3 = 14 (11).
<Silana> How high is the cavern roof? Specifically, how much room between it and the reach of the blights?
<DM> Still still quiet. :)
* Liatus opens the door to the room.
<DM> The cavern roof start off about 15' high and quickly rises to 30' or more.
<DM> Map update.
<DM> Room 53 proves to be a library of sorts. The floor is soil; shelves hold manuscripts and books, some quite new, others very old. A desk stands in the middle of hte room, with a ledger open on it.
* Liatus checks the ledger.
* 11: Silana eeps at the music playing, as I come up with a possible scheme. I've had Rush's Roll the Bones CD playing, and it just got to "Bet Your Life."
<DM> It's growth records, kept in a common language, Liatus. Markings about how things are going in the cavern and up on the surface.
* 11: DM laughs.
<11: DM> I just got the palace fanfare in Children of Dune. More auspicious.
* 11: Meridius is listening to Swing Out Sister perform "Circulate".
* Liatus sticks it in his sack for later examination. If the Outcast is doing things on the surface, we'll have to deal with that also.
* 11: Liatus got Drowning Pool's "Bodies" on the radio during the last fight.
<11: Meridius> Nice. :)
* Liatus searches for anything else of note
## Liatus rolled 1d20+2 = 14 (12).
<11: Meridius> What are our timings like for effects of Mage Armor and Bull's Strength?
<DM> Yes, some of these tomes have the look of spell books - they contain interesting-looking magical diagrams and annotations. Can't quite make out the subjects right now.
* 11: Silana is NOT going to start the disc again. It'd probably get to "Bravado" just as the shit is hitting the fan. NOT good. ;)
<11: DM> More than two hours to go on each.
<11: Meridius> Excellent.
<11: Liatus> Bull's Str runs for 3 hrs, so we should be good for while.
<11: Liatus> As Bruce says.
* 11: Silana is probably getting closer to the end on her Mage Armor, though.
* Liatus passes them off to Silana.
<Liatus> "OK, so what do we do about the plants now?"
* Silana takes a quick look at the books. (Knowledge: Arcana)
## Silana rolled 1d20+5 = 14 (9).
* Liatus also makes an arcana roll
## Liatus rolled 1d20+7 = 19 (12).
<DM> One seems to be a manual of healing prayers for many gods, the other a tome on chemicals - poisons, perhaps but not certainly.
<Silana> "I had a thought... That scroll we got from the kobolds could be of use. It's not a spell I want to add to my repertoire anyway..."
<Liatus> "What is your plan?"
<Silana> "Why go through them when one of us can destroy them from above, out of their reach?"
* Meridius looks dumbfounded, mainly for Silana's benefit.
<Silana> "We have plenty of alcohol to make firebombs. And we have a scroll of the spell Spider Climb..."
-> *DM* What do I think about the possibility of asphyxiation?
* Liatus smiles. "Clever."
*DM* Doesn't seem like a risk here, with a big space and good air circulation.
<Liatus> "Meridius can also stand off and fire flaming arrows at them if need be."
<Meridius> "Yes, and the air circulates well enough, what with the large open space, that we won't be too likely to asphyxiate."
* Silana nods. "Exactly. Between flaming arrows and dropping things on them from above, we can clear the way without needing to close with them."
<Meridius> "Well, I hope to save my fire arrows for when we attack the large tree. That will need the most attention, I expect."
<Silana> "No, I fear its keeper will, when he shows himself."
<Meridius> "Heh, that too."
<Liatus> "Perhaps if i lashed my torch to our pole?"
<Silana> "We know they burn rather well. Any means of setting them afire without coming too close is good."
<Liatus> "Do we have any flasks of oil left?"
<DM> Yes, several.
<11: Meridius> I don't have an exact count, but we should have several flasks of oil, several flasks of goblin liquor, and two flasks of the dragon potion
<Liatus> "I believe we should be able to use those as well."
* 11: Silana nods. Until we set them free, our goblins were both carting a bunch of their hooch for us.
<Liatus> "A pity we used up the last of the fire breathing potion though."
<Silana> "Let us save what we took from the dragon-statue room for the tree."
* Liatus nods.
<Liatus> (I meant flasks of mundane lamp oil. I remember use bringing several before we found the everburning candle.)
<DM> You've still got that lamp oil, I believe.
<Liatus> "I suggest that Silana use her spell and carry the candle and as much oil as she can to attack from above. I can lash my torch to the pole to give me a better reach. Meridius and I may be able to use some of this paper as kindling as well."
<DM> There are several books encrusted with mildew and unreadable, so you can get paper for that purpose without sacrificing anything potentially useful later.
<Silana> "Paper. Good idea. That will work from above, as well, and it's easier to carry."
* Liatus finds several of the larger, unreadable books and gives them to Silana.
<Liatus> We can pour liquer on the paper as well if need be.
<Liatus> Shall we give it a go?
* Silana slips out of her pack, then sits down and starts removing her boots. "Thread some of the thinner rope through the bindings of those books, so I can hang them from myself." She divests herself of anything that might fall out of pockets, or otherwise get in the way.
<Liatus> (I can cast Bull's STR on Silana as well if need be.)
<DM> To use the scroll, Silana must succeed in a Spellcraft roll of DC 13.
* Liatus sets about prepping the books.
<Liatus> And my torch pole.
<Silana> "If you can spare another of those strengthening spells, Liatus, I'd appreciate it."
<Liatus> Once my pole is ready, I pray to the Imperial Presence to grant Silana the strength to carry our this task in it's name.
## Liatus rolled 1d4+1 = 3 (2).
<11: DM> I'm glad you don't have to run off right now, Dan. :)
<Liatus> The Imperial Presence is incredibly consistant with how much Strength it doles out today.
* Silana is taking with her: Her crossbow, dangling from its strap, with a supply of bolts. Two books to use for kindling. Two flasks of goblin hooch. The flask of dragon-room-fluid I was carrying. The candle. What else...?
<Liatus> A flask of lamp oil?
<11: Silana> Huh. Enough strength for me to not have a STR penalty. :)
<11: Silana> Mighty Silana, now with STR 11.
<11: DM> Whoo hoo!
<11: DM> Feel her mediocrity, and fear!
<Silana> Lamp oil is good. Hmm. Dagger is good.
<Silana> (After all this, if I fail at reading the scroll, it's gonna suck.)
<DM> (If you fail, you can try again at a DC penalty.)
<Silana> (Ah, okay, haven't read those rules yet for 3e. Was expecting a 'scroll wasted, and you take damage' result.)
<DM> (Fortunately that's been overhauled.)
* Silana finishes her preparations, feeling a little silly standing there barefoot. "Could one of you take my pack and stuff, so if we need to get out fast, I don't lose it? Walking all the way out without my boots would be especially annoying."
* Meridius will take Silana's pack, lashing it to his own.
<Silana> "Thanks, Meridius. Here goes..."
<Liatus> "Especially with all the compost."
* Silana unrolls the scroll and begins to read, trying to form the arcane energies properly...
## Silana rolled 1d20+5 = 17 (12).
<DM> That works!
<Liatus> Woo!
<DM> Silana feels the peculiar tingle in her hands and feet as the spell takes effect.
* Silana grins tightly. "All right. Let's do some weeding, shall we?"
<11: Space Ghost> Can you /feel/ my superhuman influence? It should feel tingly... [Meridius]
<DM> You can proceed at your normal movement rate up the side of the cavern. It's not much like anything else you've done.
* Silana turns and starts to climb up the wall at the right side of the cave entrance, a little tentatively for the first few feet, until she gains a little more confidence in the spell's effects and in her use of them.
* Liatus splashes some of the booze on a few more books and hands them to Meridius the throw at the plants if need be.
<DM> Makes a Dexterity roll to see just how quietyly you move, Silana.
<11: Silana> How about a Move Silently?
<11: DM> That works. :)
## Silana rolled 1d20+4 = 19 (15).
<DM> Wow. Very silent.
<DM> Specifically, silent enough that you don't attract the attention of the twig blights. One occasionally gives a little twitch like a sleeping animal, but that's it.
<DM> You can see that there are a total of ten twig blights in area 55; you can't, right now, see how many lie beyond in area 56.
* Silana moves toward a position above not the nearest blight, but the third one back into the cavern. Let's start the commotion amidst them, not near the others, hmmm? ;)
<DM> Sounds good to me.
<11: Meridius> Kira sat nice and still for a brushing, and hopes the twig blights do the same when they get lit on fire. :)
* Liatus suggusts to Meridius that once Silana makes her move, he should throw something flamable - books or flasks of booze - at the two nearest twigs so that I can set them alight more easily.
<DM> Okay, you folks still have the element of surprise, being cleverer than plants.
* Meridius prepares a pair of flasks of goblin liquor to throw.
* Silana has the everburning candle strapped to a broken crossbow bolt, so that Gnaea can hold it for her. She tears out a page from one of the books, wads it up so that it will fall straight, touches it to the flame, and, once it's alight, drops it into the branches of the twig blight below her.
<DM> Bombs away!
<11: Liatus> And cue GnR's "Nighttrain", fittingly enough.
<DM> Dex roll, I guess, to drop it in the right general vicinity, unless you have some relevant skill to apply?
<11: Liatus> Roll Dropping Flaming Paper From 30' (Dex/VH).
<11: Liatus> Oh, wait, this isn't GURPS.
## Silana rolled 1d20+2 = 19 (17).
<DM> That's a steady on hit.
## DM rolled 1d6 = 3 (3).
<DM> And with a distinct *whoomp* the twig blight catches on fire.
<DM> Liatus and Meridius can get in actions and then we should check initiatives.
* Silana resists the urge to whoop in triumph, instead starting toward the next blight inward.
* Liatus readies his torchpole for Meridius's action.
<11: Meridius> Bruce, do you think you can mark the map such that it'll show each twig blight as it's lit on fire?
<11: DM> Oh, sure.
<11: Silana> My first target was this one: Start at the "54" number and count three due south.
* Meridius hurls a bottle of goblin liquor at one of the two closes twig blights.
## Meridius rolled 1d20+3 = 8 (5).
<DM> That makes it to the first one.
## DM rolled 1d6 = 6 (6).
<DM> Which quite rapily smokes and collapses.
<Meridius> Note that the goblin liquor hadn't actually been lit on fire yet.
<Liatus> That's some strong hooch.
<Meridius> Unless you're factoring in Liatus' action right off the bat.
<Meridius> Or what BA just said.
<DM> OH, that's right, sorry.
<DM> So Meridius throws and douses the nearest one. Liatus now.
* Liatus pokes the one Meridius hit with his flaming torch on a stick.
<DM> As I was saying, *fwoomp* it lights up...
## DM rolled 1d6 = 4 (4).
<DM> ...and chars quite badly, suddenly thrashing around.
<Liatus> I think I liked the first result better.
* Liatus makes his Init roll.
## Liatus rolled 1d20+1 = 10 (9).
## Silana rolled 1d20+2 = 18 (16).
## Meridius rolled 1d20+4 = 17 (13).
## DM rolled 1d20+1 = 11 (10).
<DM> Map update in a moment.
<Liatus> Man, I got out Initiatived by a plant.
<DM> There we go. Red dots show twig blights currently on fire.
<DM> Silana?
<11: Silana> Actually, my first target was the next one south of the second one you have marked.
<11: DM> Quick update. :)
* Silana angles southwest toward her next target. She's bypassing the one directly west of her first one, not wanting to go out of sight of her compatriots behind the wall fragment.
<11: DM> Correct now?
<Meridius> Bruce, you said only a portion of the various briars marked on the map are twig blights, right?
<DM> Right. There's a total of ten twig blights in area 55; when you've dealt with them, the rest are just briars.
<11: Silana> That's the one, yes.
<DM> Still a pain to move through safely, but not going to actually attack you.
<DM> Okay, and another attack roll of the same sort, Silana.
* Silana repeats the procedure, dropping another flaming paper wad.
## Silana rolled 1d20+2 = 16 (14).
<DM> That hits again.
## DM rolled 1d6 = 5 (5).
<DM> And that twig blight was ready to go.
<DM> It burns so rapidly it never gets a chance to act.
<DM> Meridius?
<DM> (Map update with black smudge reflecting a dead blight.)
<Meridius> I locate the next twig blight that has not yet been attacked and hurl another bottle of goblin liquor at it.
<DM> Righto.
<Liatus> (May I suggest marking the dead blights with Xs?)
<DM> (Good idea.)
## Meridius rolled 1d20+3 = 22 (19).
<DM> Man, that certainly succeeds.
<DM> Liatus?
<Liatus> If none of the plants are attacking me, I'm going to light up the one Meridius just hit.
<DM> Map update with the red squares showing defunct ones.
<DM> Oh, wait, sorry, yes.
<DM> The one that's on fire tries to shake itself out...
## DM rolled 1d20+2 = 20 (18).
<DM> ...and manages it, to my geat surprise. The one Meridius doused pulls itself loose and charges at Meridius.
## DM rolled 1d20 = 20 (20).
<DM> Wow. Angry plant.
## DM rolled 1d20 = 18 (18).
<DM> What's Meridius' armor class right now?
<11: Liatus> SOFB
<Meridius> 16
<DM> So it actually does critical on you, doing...
## DM rolled 2d2 = 3 (2 1).
<11: Silana> Angry angry plant uranium.
<DM> ...a whole three points of damage. And you need to make a DC 16 fortitude save against its poisoned sap.
## Meridius rolled 1d20+5 = 16 (11).
<DM> That works. So it's just the three hp.
<DM> The one that Silana ignited last turn also attempts to shake itself out.
## DM rolled 1d20+1 = 3 (2).
<DM> To absolutely no avail.
## DM rolled 1d6 = 4 (4).
<DM> And it topples over.
<DM> The others are now uprooted, but milling around. They don't quite sense targets, despite there clearly being something going on.
* Liatus fears his crappy Init roll is going to screw this for us.
<DM> You can attack the one on Meridius now.
<DM> Or do something else.
* Liatus lights up the one who attacked Meridius.
<Liatus> Do I need to roll?
* Meridius preps to return to old-fashioned methods of killing, and draws his gladius.
<DM> Your ranged attack roll.
<Liatus> To poke it with a flaming stick?
<DM> Oh, right. Melee attack.
## Liatus rolled 1d20+3 = 15 (12).
<DM> That works.
## DM rolled 1d6 = 6 (6).
<DM> And there isn't going to be anything for Meridius to stab just right here at the moment.
<DM> (Well, there's the one that managed to put itself out.)
<DM> Okay, start of round 3, map update to show one no-longer-burning blight and three no-longer-existing blights.
<DM> Silana?
* Silana heads south and a bit east to her next chosen victim, again avoiding being out of sight of her friends. And another flaming paperwad drops...
## Silana rolled 1d20+2 = 21 (19).
<DM> Whoo hoo!
<DM> Roll again to see if you get a critical ignition. :)
## Silana rolled 1d20+2 = 21 (19).
<Liatus> Hot damn.
<DM> Hard to argue with that. :)
## DM rolled 2d6 = 11 (6 5).
<DM> FOOMF! Up goes that blight like so much kindling.
<DM> Meridius?
* DM checks something off-screen...
## DM rolled 1d20+7 = 22 (15).
<Liatus> That doesn't sound good.
<Meridius> If there's a twig blight within my movement range, I'll approach it and stick it with my gladius.
<DM> There is, the one that you first lit.
<Meridius> Okay, here's my attack:
## Meridius rolled 1d20+7 = 23 (16).
<DM> Man, that hits.
## Meridius rolled 1d6+4 = 7 (3).
<DM> And it shatters.
<DM> Map update to show the casualties so far.
<DM> The two twig blights nearest the entry area charge, one each at Meridius and Liatus.
<DM> On Meridius:
## DM rolled 1d20 = 18 (18).
## DM rolled 1d2 = 1 (1).
<DM> 1 hp, and make the DC 16 Fortitude save again.
<Meridius> We're looking at half the twig blights killed so far, and in a concentration toward our end of the hall.
## Meridius rolled 1d20+5 = 21 (16).
<DM> That works, so you just deal with the thorny jab.
<DM> On Liatus:
## DM rolled 1d20 = 20 (20).
## DM rolled 1d20 = 20 (20).
<DM> Wow.
## DM rolled 2d2 = 3 (2 1).
* Liatus gives Bruce an ugly look.
<DM> Liatus takes a whole three points of damage - the thorns must have got him someplace tender. DC 16 Fortitude save.
<11: Meridius> It's fortunate that critical damage for these twig blights is still pretty candy-assed. :)
<11: Silana> ANGRY angry shrubbery. Uranium.
## Liatus rolled 1d20+2 = 17 (15).
<DM> So no extra damage from the sap.
<DM> The other twig blights continue to mill around in confused fashion.
* Liatus smashes the bush with his morning star.
## Liatus rolled 1d20+4 = 5 (1).
## DM rolled 1d20+6 = 13 (7).
* Liatus grows irritated.
* Liatus requests a map update two show which of the two blights are attacking me and Meridius.
<DM> Start of the next turn. Silana, you can see figures moving around to the south, but can't get a good look at them, what with the smoke from incandescent twig blights and general commotion.
<Liatus> Perhaps marked with Blue squares or something.
* Next target for Silana. She moves southwest and attacks another one from above... [Silana]
## Silana rolled 1d20+2 = 19 (17).
<DM> Ooh, that hits.
<DM> (BA, map update as soon as I check this damage.)
## DM rolled 1d6 = 2 (2).
<DM> And that's another twig blight on fire.
<DM> Map update.
<DM> The red circles mark the origin spots of the twig blights attacking Liatus and Meridius.
<DM> The yellow circle is a twig blight currently on fire.
<DM> Blue circles show the origins of twig blights currently milling around.
<DM> Anything not color-coded is a briar mark rather than a twig blight, at least in area 55.
* Liatus nods
<DM> Meridius?
* Liatus calls for aid.
<Meridius> What's the status of the twig blight that just attacked Liatus?
<DM> It and the one that attacked you are both right there.
<DM> They're both currently uninjured.
<Liatus> It's very healthy and I missed when I tried to it it.
<Meridius> I'll cross into Liatus' line of fire to attack his twig blight, as he requested.
<Meridius> If I kill it, I'll work back to Cleave the one originally on me.
## Meridius rolled 1d20+7 = 12 (5).
<DM> Righto.
<DM> Alas, that misses.
<11: Liatus> Man, it's going to be really embarrassing if we get our asses kicked by a bunch of house plants.
<DM> And before the twig blights act, a quartet of figures stride out of area 56. Their leader, a man in long robes, calls out, "Halt! You do not know what you're doing!"
<DM> You notice that the twig blights immediately stop what they're doing (apart from the one trying to put itself out...)
## DM rolled 1d20+3 = 4 (1).
## DM rolled 1d6 = 5 (5).
<DM> ...and failing, and perishing on the spot. Neither the robed guy nor his companions take note.
<DM> In front of him there's a human-sized man in scale mail and what looks like a three-foot-tall frog. A human-sized woman in leggings and half robes stands besides the one who spoke.
<Liatus> Does the woman fit the description of any of the people we came to save?
<DM> She looks like she could, at least. Details are hard to make out at this distance.
<DM> You can make a Spot roll for some quick extra details.
## Liatus rolled 1d20+3 = 23 (20).
<DM> Man. When you spot, you spot good.
## Silana rolled 1d20+2 = 19 (17).
## Meridius rolled 1d20 = 15 (15).
<Meridius> Side note: I assume they see Liatus and I. Do they see Silana?
<DM> The man in scale mail has the insignia of one of the minor fighting monastic orders, as did the visiting paladin who went with the Hucreles. The woman's profile, when she turns her head, bears a strong resemblance to Madame Hucrele. Both have skin that's unusually dark and blotchy.
<DM> It's sort of hard to miss the woman brandishing lights and hanging from the ceiling with twig blights milling underneath here.
<Meridius> Okay.
<Liatus> Did we get the paladin's name?
<DM> The frog is a big frog.
<DM> Sir Braford, the locals said.
<11: Silana> Oh, no, we're fighting the WB.
* Liatus makes a religion roll to recognize his order.
## Liatus rolled 1d20+7 = 23 (16).
<11: Liatus> He's from the Dawson Creek monastary.
<DM> The Order of St. Estavius, a warrior-priest accepted as an apotheosized master in several of the western provinces. Which is the one that Sir Braford was supposed to belong to.
<Liatus> "Would be Sir Braford, of the Order of St. Estavius, sir?"
<DM> He doesn't answer. After a moment's silence their leader says "He has ceased to be concerned with such matters. You may address your questions to me, should you desire answers."
<Liatus> "And who might you be?:
<DM> "I am Belak, called the Outcast. My brothers among the druids cast me out for daring to probe into realms they thought beyond nature. But I am here, in the home of my beloved Gulthias Tree, and they are dead and dying. Ha ha!"
* 11: Maya diagnoses Manic Villainy.
* Liatus whispers to Meridius. "He's mad. Clearly."
<Meridius> "Then I won't bother asking him to surrender."
<Liatus> "What have you done to these three?"
<DM> "Them? I have presented to them to the tree, and it has accepted them as supplicants. Now their wills are mine."
<11: Liatus> I vote we kill him. Who's with me?
<11: Meridius> Killing him seems like a hell of an idea... :)
<DM> He looks the characters over. "You have done well at setting a panic among my servants. Come, yield yourself to the tree and you may avoid destruction. Surely a life of servitutde to the tree and the fallen star, and to me, is preferable to simply enriching my compost!"
* Liatus begins casting Doom on Fruitbat here.
* Liatus has a speech to go with it.
<DM> Initiative checks for once you start casting spells. (This counts as a break between fights, so initiative resets.)
* 11: Maya puts on _Little Shop of Horrors_ for background music.
<Meridius> "We serve the Empire, Belak. Surrender to us and you may only end up being broken on the wheel."
* Silana quietly casts a cantrip. One that's normally used for one's own benefit, but which her ties with her familiar enable her to bestow on Gnaea instead. The spell is Mage Hand...
* Meridius' new initiative, which I hope won't suck, is:
## Meridius rolled 1d20+4 = 24 (20).
<Meridius> That doesn't suck. :)
<DM> Damn. :)
<11: Maya> Wow.
<11: Maya> You should express your hopes more often. ;)
## DM rolled 1d20+6 = 17 (11).
<11: Silana> Otherwise known as, "How to let your little owl carry a flask that weighs as much as she does..."
## Silana rolled 1d20+2 = 3 (1).
* Silana gahs.
<Liatus> "I am Liatus Herminius, 3rd cousin to the Emporer and servant of the Imperial Presnece. I place you under arrest for kidnapping, heresy and the practice of black magic. Resist and die."
<Liatus> and with that, Doom.
<Meridius> "Please feel free to resist." <evil grin>
<DM> Belak laughs. "I have no fear of your emperor, for I have the very power of the heavens beneath my feet. Now die!"
<DM> BA, make your initiative roll as well.
## Liatus rolled 1d20+1 = 4 (3).
<Liatus> crap
<Liatus> Did Belak make his will save?
<DM> So it's Meridius, Belak and his band, Liatus, and Silana.
<DM> You don't cast the spell just yet, Liatus.
<11: Meridius> Dan, if that was your init check, you can pause a round and reset to your max init. (Same for BA.) Here's hoping you're able to take a pause.
<Liatus> Ah
<Meridius> Am I within movement range to charge Belak?
<DM> Yes, you are.
<Meridius> I'll charge Belak and attack him. That's +2 on my attack, but -2 to my AC for the remainder of the round.
<11: DM> My music just came up with "Burning Down the House".
<DM> Righto.
## Meridius rolled 1d20+9 = 26 (17).
<DM> I'd say that hits.
<Meridius> And here's damage from plunging my gladius into his soon-to-be corpse:
## Meridius rolled 1d6+4 = 6 (2).
<DM> And you draw blood, rather to his surprise.
<Meridius> (Also hoping that breaks his concentration for purposes of spell-casting.)
<DM> Belak tries to step back out of this engagement. You get an attack of opportunity on him.
<Meridius> I'll take it. :)
## Meridius rolled 1d20+9 = 15 (6).
<DM> That hits.
## Meridius rolled 1d6+4 = 8 (4).
<Meridius> "See what cowardice gets you?"
<DM> And you draw blood again. Rather a lot of it.
<DM> Sir Braford doesn't say anything, and up close you can see that his skin is in fact bark. He raises his longsword, which glitters faintly, and strikes at your sword rather than at you.
## DM rolled 1d20+6 = 25 (19).
## DM rolled 1d8+4 = 12 (8).
* 11: Liatus accuses Bruce of rigging the dice.
<DM> Your gladius shivers and nearly breaks.
<Meridius> Only nearly? :/
<DM> Missed breakage by a few points.
<11: Liatus> Either that or we've offended Lady Luck.
<DM> The giant frog bounds over to the wall nearest Silana and starts climbing up it, though it can't get to her this turn.
<DM> The remaining twig blights also converge on Meridius.
## DM rolled 1d20+2 = 14 (12).
## DM rolled 1d20+2 = 10 (8).
<DM> Both miss, I believe.
<DM> Even with the effects of the charge figured in.
<Meridius> The first one hits.
<DM> Ah, okay.
## DM rolled 1d2 = 2 (2).
<DM> 2 points, and make the DC 16 Fort save.
## Meridius rolled 1d20+5 = 10 (5).
<DM> You take an extra point for the poisoned sap, for a total of 3.
<Meridius> "Aaagh, I'm stricken..."
<DM> Now, Silana and Liatus can skip their action this round and then get max initiative as of next round.
* Liatus does so.
<Meridius> Silana might have a free action in ordering Gnaea to do something, though.
* Silana takes out the flask of fiery fluid, removes the cap, and gives it to Gnaea. She's been explaining to the bird in the meantime, "Just /think/ it along with you. Be careful not to spill it, or to get it on yourself..." The explanation is as much nonverbal via their empathic link as it is in words, and should, she hopes, be clear enough... "Now go swiftly, wise one, and strike true..." And the owl takes flight, headed for the monstrous tree.
<DM> Oh, very good. :)
<DM> Gnaea can fly over and drop it. :)
<DM> So a Dex-type roll to drop it somewhere it'll do some good.
* Gnaea will be looking for any especially inviting targets -- an opening, or a large knothole, or anything of the sort. [Silana]
<Meridius> Ought to be a nice bonus for dropping it on that big tree...
<DM> There's a big fork in the middle of the tree, where two major systems of branches diverge.
* DM nods to Meridius.
<DM> +4 to the Dex roll.
<Silana> And she has a DEX even higher than mine, so let's hope...
<DM> For good circumstances.
* Meridius mines for all the help our party can get. :)
<Liatus> Wait
<DM> Yes?
<Liatus> Can I go a head and take my action now before the owl?
<Liatus> I want to bless the party. Including the owl :)
<DM> She goes first even if you act this turn rather than resetting your initiative.
<Liatus> Oh. Never mnd then.
## Silana rolled 1d20+7 = 23 (16).
<Liatus> Woo
<DM> That works!
<DM> The flask of magical flaming fluid hits the tree solid on and breaks. The contents come immediately ignite.
<11: Silana> We're buying her a whole cured pig when we get back. ;)
## DM rolled 1d6 = 6 (6).
<DM> Simultaneously, Belak, his servants, and the twig blights all moan, in precisely the same tone.
<DM> And on to round 2. What's the max initiative possible for Liatus and Silana?
<Liatus> 21
<Silana> 22
<DM> So it's Silana, Liatus, Meridius, and bad guys.
<Meridius> I'm on 24, Bruce.
<DM> Oh, that's right!
<DM> Okay, Meridius first.
<DM> He's in the midst of Sir Braford and two twig blights.
<Meridius> Can I get to Belak without provoking attacks of opportunity from other opponents?
<DM> Nope.
* 11: Liatus finds out the hard way that he's allergic to macedamia nuts.
* Meridius says, "Silana, 'ware the frogman. Liatus, assist me with these twig blights. I'll handle the former paladin."
<11: DM> :(
<11: Liatus> I ate 3, and now my mouth is itching like cazzy. My throat too.
* Meridius thrusts at the paladin with his still-intact gladius.
## Meridius rolled 1d20+7 = 13 (6).
<DM> That misses, alas.
<DM> Silana?
<Meridius> As I thought.
* Silana sees the giant frog making its way toward her. It might be momentarily puzzled by the upside-down young woman pointing her finger at it and saying something it doesn't comprehend. That would be when the pair of bright bolts of energy slam into it.
## Silana rolled 2d4+2 = 7 (2 3).
<11: Liatus> thankfully my throat doesn't seem to be swelling closed.
<11: Meridius> That's a large bummer about the nuts, BA. :(
<DM> It emits a very sharp squeak, and oozes bright blood.
<DM> Liatus?
* Liatus attacks the nearest twig with his morning star.
<DM> Skipping Doom, then?
## Liatus rolled 1d20+4 = 21 (17).
<Liatus> yes
<DM> Okay, that hits.
## Liatus rolled 1d8+2 = 7 (5).
<DM> And that crushes the twig blight.
<DM> Belak chants in an unfamiliar language...
## DM rolled 1d8+4 = 12 (8).
<DM> ...and his wounds rapidly close up, almost completely.
<DM> Sir Braford swings in his quiet way at Meridius' sword again.
## DM rolled 1d20+4 = 18 (14).
## DM rolled 1d8+4 = 6 (2).
<DM> And this time the gladius splits into three pieces.
<DM> The giant frog lunges across the wall and ceiling at Silana, but can't quite reach her this turn.
<DM> The remaining twig blight stabs at Meridius again.
## DM rolled 1d20+2 = 21 (19).
<DM> Ooh.
## DM rolled 1d20+2 = 10 (8).
## DM rolled 1d2 = 2 (2).
<DM> And other DC 14 Fort save.
<Meridius> Not DC 16?
<DM> Er, yes. 16.
## Meridius rolled 1d20+5 = 24 (19).
<DM> So you just take the 2 points.
<Meridius> Aye.
<DM> Sharwyn points at Gnaea and moves her lips silently. A bolt of electricity shoots out.
## DM rolled 1d4+1 = 4 (3).
<Silana> Reflex save for Gnaea?
<DM> 4 hp of damage to Gnaea.
<DM> No, but there is spell resistance, which I must look up...
<DM> Okay, Gnaea doesn't have the spell resistance ability, unless I'm missing something, so Magic Missile just goes ahead and does its damage.
<DM> Sorry for the delay there.
<Silana> Oh, okay, it's a MuMissile. I was mis-guessing what the spell was.
<DM> That takes us around to the next round, and Meridius, now without his gladius.
<Meridius> Can I draw and attack right away with another weapon? I'm unclear on the rules for drawing new weapons in the midst of combat.
<DM> Yes, you can draw and attack when you're not moving.
<Meridius> In that case, I reach back, yard out one of my pilum and attempt to plunge it into the paladin's chest.
<DM> Righto.
## Meridius rolled 1d20+7 = 20 (13).
<DM> That hits.
## Meridius rolled 1d6+4 = 7 (3).
<DM> That scores deep, and he oozes a mixture of blood and sap.
<DM> Silana, the frog's going to be on you this turn. Your action?
* Silana backs away from the frog, wincing as she feels some part of Gnaea's pain. . o O ( You've done well. Now go and hide, and be my eyes, brave little one. ) Then she lashes out angrily with another spell at the frog. Two more bright missiles strike...
## Silana rolled 2d4+2 = 7 (2 3).
<DM> The frog's badly wounded now, and barely managing to stay clinging to the rock.
<DM> Liatus?
<Liatus> I smash the final twig
## Liatus rolled 1d20+4 = 8 (4).
<Liatus> or try to
*** Signoff: Maya (Leaving) at Sat May 17 5:58 PM PDT.
<DM> Good try, at least.
<DM> Belak pulls out a wand and points it up at the ceiling at Silana. The lichen and vines nearby reach out to entangle her. Silana, make a DC 15 Reflex save to avoid getting stuck.
## Silana rolled 1d20+3 = 22 (19).
<DM> That'll do it.
<DM> Sir Braford turns from the remains of Meridius' sword to hack at Meridius himself.
## DM rolled 1d20+6 = 18 (12).
<Meridius> That hits me.
## DM rolled 1d8+5 = 12 (7).
<DM> 12 points of damage. (How many hp do you have remaining?) A really solid cut, that.
<Meridius> I'm down to 9 HP.
* DM nods.
<DM> The remaining twig blight also stabs at you.
## DM rolled 1d20+2 = 5 (3).
<DM> To no avail.
<DM> Sharwyn unleashes another magic missile at Gnaea.
## DM rolled 1d4+1 = 3 (2).
<DM> 3 more points of damage, for a total of 7.
<Liatus> I thought Gnaea flew away to hide?
<11: Silana> Gnaea IS going for cover, like I told her to.
<DM> Hmm, true.
<DM> And there are places for her to hide, so she's out of sight.
<DM> Sharwyn targets Silana, instead.
<DM> So 3 hp to Silana.
<DM> And the frog leaps forward to bite at Silana.
## DM rolled 1d20+3 = 15 (12).
<DM> That misses with the mage armor up, doesn't it?
<Silana> Yes.
<DM> Okay, top of the next round. Meridius?
* Meridius takes up a defensive posture (-4 to attacks, +2 to AC) and attempts to stab the paladin with his pilum once more.
## Meridius rolled 1d20+3 = 11 (8).
<DM> No success there, alas.
<DM> Silana?
* Silana pulls out her dagger and stabs at the damned frog, screaming at it, "FALL, already!"
## Silana rolled 1d20+1 = 17 (16).
<DM> That hits.
## Silana rolled 1d4 = 1 (1).
<Silana> Fuck.
<DM> And that is precisely enough to kill it.
<Silana> Whew.
<DM> It _does_ let go of the cave roof and topple to the floor, hitting in a wet messy thump.
<Liatus> And it makes a mighty splat when it hits the floor.
<DM> Liatus?
<Liatus> Can I charge their mage?
<DM> Oh, I forgot to determine how much burning damage the tree took last turn.
## DM rolled 1d6 = 2 (2).
<11: Silana> Now if this was A!, I'd be spending points to have the frog fall on someone... ;)
<Liatus> Sharwyn
<DM> Yes, Yes, you can, Liatus.
<Liatus> So that's +2 to the attack and -2 to AC for the round?
<Meridius> Yes.
* Liatus charges her and attacks with the morning star
## Liatus rolled 1d20+6 = 18 (12).
<DM> That hits.
<Liatus> still just 1d8+2 dmg?
<DM> Yup.
<Meridius> Yes, a charge doesn't augment damage.
## Liatus rolled 1d8+2 = 3 (1).
<Liatus> crap
<DM> There's a distinct crunch of bark and flesh.
<DM> Belak points his wand at Liatus. A DC 15 Reflex save to avoid getting tangled in suddenly animated undergrowth.
## Liatus rolled 1d20+2 = 10 (8).
<Liatus> CRAP
<DM> For the moment you're snared, with a -2 penalty to attack rolls and a -4 penalty to AC. You can try again to free yourself next turn.
<DM> Sir Braford hews again at Meridius.
## DM rolled 1d20+6 = 18 (12).
<DM> With the defensive stance that fails, I believe.
<Meridius> Damn. That still hits my defensively augmented AC.
<DM> It does?
<Meridius> Normal AC = 16. Defensive AC = 18.
<DM> Ah, okay.
## DM rolled 1d8+5 = 13 (8).
<DM> Meridius is down, though not beyond recovery.
<Meridius> I'm at -5 HP and starting to bleed out.
<DM> Sharwyn beats on Liatus with her staff.
## DM rolled 1d20 = 13 (13).
<DM> And misses, I believe.
<Liatus> At -4 AC, no, it hits. :P
<DM> Oh, right.
## DM rolled 1d6 = 3 (3).
<DM> 3 hp of damage for that.
<DM> The last twig blight rushes over to jab at you, too.
## DM rolled 1d20 = 4 (4).
<DM> But it does miss.
<DM> And the tree continues to burn.
## DM rolled 1d6 = 2 (2).
<Liatus> That takes me down to 9hp I think.
<DM> Sounds right to me.
<DM> Top of the next round.
<DM> Meridius, you have a 10% chance to stabilize.
## Meridius rolled 1d100 = 77 (77).
<DM> Nope, you're down another hit point.
<DM> Silana?
* Silana scuttles back toward the nearest wall or wall fragment, looking for a secure enough spot where she can use both hands without falling, and be able to fire her crossbow. If there's no such place within reach, she'll instead take out a flask of oil, unstop it, and hurl it at Belak.
<DM> You can easily wedge yourself into such a crevasse.
* Silana takes aim, then, and fires at Belak. +1 bolt.
## Silana rolled 1d20+5 = 16 (11).
<DM> That hits!
## Silana rolled 1d8+2 = 5 (3).
<DM> And he staggers, and glares at you as his magically healed wounds reopen.
<DM> Liatus, you make another DC 15 Reflex save to disentangle yourself, or attack Sharwyn or the twig blight with a -2 penalty.
* Liatus tries to free himself
## Liatus rolled 1d20+2 = 18 (16).
<DM> And you're loose!
<11: Meridius> Just like the Thundercats!
<DM> Belak heals himself again.
## DM rolled 1d8+4 = 5 (1).
<DM> Not all the way, but he's looking much better.
<DM> Sir Braford turns to strike at Liatus.
## DM rolled 1d20+8 = 25 (17).
<DM> And hits.
## DM rolled 1d8+5 = 9 (4).
<Liatus> that puts me down to 0
<DM> Liatus is now disabled - conscious, but you'll pass out after the next strenuous action. (You can heal yourself if you're still conscious come your turn.)
<DM> Sharwyn strikes...
## DM rolled 1d20 = 5 (5).
<DM> ...and misses.
<DM> The twig blight strikes...
## DM rolled 1d20+2 = 11 (9).
<DM> ...and also misses!
<DM> Lucky for you. :)
<DM> Top of the next round, Meridius again has a 10% chance to stabilize.
<DM> Whoops, forgot the tree burning:
## DM rolled 1d6 = 6 (6).
## Meridius rolled 1d100 = 25 (25).
<DM> Down another hp then.
<DM> Silana?
* In desperation, Silana takes out one of the flasks of goblin hooch and unstops it, stuffing the neck instead with wadded paper. She lights the paper and hurls the flask in rage at Belak -- If she misses, it should at least smash at his feet... [Silana]
<DM> Righto. Ranged attack.
## Silana rolled 1d20+2 = 3 (1).
<Silana> Fuck.
<DM> Alas, it goes wide, and all it ignites is some fungi.
* DM recommends healing for Liatus.
* Liatus only has one 2nd level spell left, and I really want to save that for Meridius, so I'm casting Cure Light Wounds on myself.
## Liatus rolled 1d8+3 = 6 (3).
<DM> That certainly gets you back on your feet.
<Liatus> Yeah, but I'm still a sitting duck for the Everybody Dogpile Liatus game.
## DM rolled 1d6 = 6 (6).
<Liatus> Especially sicne I can't make a decent damage roll to save my life. Literally.
## DM rolled 1d6 = 6 (6).
<DM> The fire in the tree accelerates, and suddenly there's a deafening crack. The tree splits from the cleft Silana hit all the way down to the ground. Belak and all his servants give out matching cries of pain.
<DM> They're all pretty distracted this round.
<DM> Belak shoots another entangling beam in Liatus' direction. Another DC 15 save to avoid entanglement.
<Liatus> He doesn't look very distracted.
## Liatus rolled 1d20+2 = 21 (19).
<DM> That works. :)
<DM> Sir Braford swings at Liatus...
## DM rolled 1d20+2 = 13 (11).
<DM> That's distraction.
<DM> Sharwyn swings as well...
## DM rolled 1d20-2 = 8 (10).
<DM> And the remaining twig blight...
## DM rolled 1d20 = 7 (7).
<DM> See, I told you?
<Liatus> yay
<DM> Top of the next round. Meridius?
<Liatus> "Silana, if you have any magic left, now is the time to use it."
* Meridius rolls to not bleed out s'more...
## Meridius rolled 1d100 = 76 (76).
<DM> Alas.
<DM> Silana?
* Meridius is at -8.
* Silana murmurs another hasty prayer, then casts one of her few remaining spells at Belak, hoping it will be effective...
## Silana rolled 2d4+2 = 7 (4 1).
<DM> It is!
<DM> He is once again a pretty blood mess.
<DM> Liatus?
* Liatus dives for Meridius and begs the Imperial Presence for aid, casting Cure Moderate Wounds.
## Liatus rolled 2d8+3 = 18 (8 7).
<11: Silana> I think the Presence heard you. o.o;;
* Meridius now has 10 HP, but will have to thank Liatus later.
<11: Meridius> Sweet roll, BA.
* Liatus notes that he still has his gladius, if Meridius wishes to borrow it.
<DM> That works very nicely, I'd say. :)
<DM> The tree continues to burn...
## DM rolled 2d6 = 7 (2 5).
<DM> ...and now there's a second thunderclap, as it explodes into countless splinters, which fly around the cave.
<DM> At this point something bad happens, from Belak's point of view.
<DM> His servants stop acting in coordination with him, but remain in coordination with each other. They ignore you all to march in lockstep and attack _him_.
<Liatus> Oops.
<DM> Sir Braford getting in the first blow:
## DM rolled 1d20+6 = 17 (11).
## DM rolled 1d8+5 = 7 (2).
<DM> After that slice, Belak is barely conscious.
<DM> Sharwyn strikes in rapid followup with her staff.
## DM rolled 1d20+2 = 9 (7).
<DM> She misses, and the twig blight jabs.
## DM rolled 1d20+2 = 8 (6).
<DM> It also misses.
<DM> Belak rather desperately backs up as far as he can, which isn't far since he maneuvered himself into a corner, and heals himself again...
## DM rolled 1d8+4 = 8 (4).
<DM> ...somewhat.
<DM> Next round, Meridius.
* Meridius stands up, taking up his fallen pilum, looks for something suitable to kill.
<Meridius> Do I have an attack this round?
<DM> You do.
<DM> You can attack the twig blight, Sir Braford, or Sharwyn, as you might wish.
<Meridius> I think Sir Braford is mine.
<Meridius> I hurl my pilum at him:
## Meridius rolled 1d20+3 = 10 (7).
<Meridius> Damn.
<DM> Silana?
* Silana again takes aim with her crossbow, sighting in on Belak, and squeezes the trigger...
## Silana rolled 1d20+4 = 7 (3).
<Silana> And misses badly.
<DM> Alas.
<DM> Liatus?
<Liatus> I cast Cure Light Wounds on myself again.
## Liatus rolled 1d8+3 = 7 (4).
<DM> Good healing, there.
<Liatus> That takes me back up to 13hp
<DM> The shattered remains of the Gulthias Tree continue to smolder throughout the southern part of the cave.
<DM> Sir Braford raises his longsword overhead and hacks at Belak again.
## DM rolled 1d20+6 = 21 (15).
## DM rolled 1d8+5 = 11 (6).
<Liatus> "Meridius, ready your bow in case the plant creatures turn on us once Belak is dead."
<DM> He gores Belak right through the spot where Silana's magic missiles hit, and the druid falls over dead.
<DM> Sharwyn spins around in a somewhat confused manner before heading off to thwack at Liatus again with her staff.
## DM rolled 1d20 = 19 (19).
<Meridius> What's the range from us to our opponents?
<DM> Roll 1d20
## DM rolled 1d20 = 15 (15).
<DM> So hit but no critical this time.
## DM rolled 1d6 = 4 (4).
<DM> 4 points of damage to Liatus from a good clout to the shoulders.
<DM> Less than 20 feet or so, Meridius.
<DM> The twig blight follows Sharwyn.
## DM rolled 1d20+2 = 14 (12).
<DM> But doesn't manage to do anything.
<DM> Next round, Meridius?
<Meridius> I hurl my second pilum at Sir Braford.
## Meridius rolled 1d20+3 = 13 (10).
<DM> No go, alas.
<DM> Silana?
* Liatus requests aid.
## Silana rolled 1d20+5 = 24 (19).
<Meridius> Uh, what sort of action did Silana just presumably succeed at?
<DM> A skill check to see if she could think of something.
<Liatus> I presume shooting something with a crossbow.
<Liatus> Ah.
<Silana> "Liatus! If you have any way of dispelling magic, use it on them!"
<DM> Silana also gets an action of her own.
<Liatus> (No go. Dispel Magic's a lvl 3 spell and I don't get those till 5th lvl)
* Silana climbs down, afraid the Spider Climb might run out soon, and wanting to have more options than being perched on a wall gives her.
* DM nods. You can move and then attack, if you want.
<Liatus> (Can I make a religion or arcana roll to see if I know whether or not turning them would help any?)
<DM> Yes, you can, Liatus.
## Liatus rolled 1d20+7 = 27 (20).
<DM> You're quite sure these don't count as undead for your purposes.
<Liatus> So we have no choice but to bash it out then?
<DM> That's the way it looks, yes.
* Silana then fires at the remaining twig blight, not wanting to face up to the apparent necessity of killing the people we were sent to save until she has to.
<DM> Unless there are further consequences to them from the tree blowing up.
## Silana rolled 1d20 = 16 (16).
<DM> That hits.
## Silana rolled 1d8+1 = 9 (8).
<DM> And down it goes.
<DM> Liatus?
* Liatus hits plant woman again.
## Liatus rolled 1d20+4 = 11 (7).
* Liatus sighs
<DM> Closer.
<DM> Spot rolls, please.
## Liatus rolled 1d20+3 = 4 (1).
## Meridius rolled 1d20 = 10 (10).
<Liatus> I give up.
* DM will proceed, but will explain what Silana spots, if she does.
<DM> Sir Braford, meanwhile, takes another slice at Liatus.
## DM rolled 1d20+4 = 9 (5).
<DM> Followed by Sharwyn...
<Liatus> Me?! I thought he was attacking Meridius?
* DM looks at scrollback.
<Meridius> You're closer to them right now than I.
## Silana rolled 1d20+2 = 7 (5).
*** It is currently Sat May 17 7:02 PM PDT.
<DM> Silana doesn't spot it either.
<DM> Okay, here's the deal.
<Silana> Can Gnaea have a go at spotting it?
<DM> Sir Braford had just stabbed Belak. Now he turns around, and goes to join in the nearest fray. That might actually be Silana. Odd it's Liatus, even it's Silana.
## DM rolled 1d2 = 1 (1).
<Liatus> I was standing right next to you when they finished killing Belak and suddenly decided to attack me. And you were the one throwing things at him.
* DM gets massive lag all of a sudden.
<Meridius> Earlier I asked for range to targets, and Bruce indicated 20 feet. In order for you to get into melee range, you would've had to advance, or Sharwyn would've had to.
<Meridius> In either case, as soon as Sir Braford turns around, he'll see you engaged and me with no weapon in my hand.
At this point connections to the chat server degraded and we stopped playing. As of the connection breakdown, Meridius has 10HP, Liatus has 9, and Silana has an unspecified number of HP. The only two remaining opponents are Sir Braford and Sharwyn Hucrele. We will, presumably, work out the details of placement for the final rounds of combat at the start of the next session.
<carter@q7.com>