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It seems that the OOC tab doesn't allow subscribing to comments, which makes it pretty poor for communication for you guys. An idea was posted about having a post for OOC instead, which I love (thanks, Hanar's player)!
Therefore, the OOC tab will be going away, and this post will be "ever present" for you to comment away on. Feel free to start using it immediately.
NOTHING POSTED HERE IS CONSIDERED IN-CHARACTER.
Enjoy!
MilwaukeeJoe
Woooooooooooo
ReplyDeleteBest of luck to Nevdor not being crushed at EoR
<3 Thanks!
ReplyDeleteOh damn. I misread Tak-tha's actions. I was waiting to see what Hanar did before grabbing and lighting the torches... Too late now. Bhareg stands there for a whole round with his mouth hanging open.
ReplyDeleteNo worries, make this your moment to SHINE!
ReplyDeleteIf you're feeling "rushed", I understand. I am trying to keep a certain pace, especially since you have an adventure time-limit that you normally don't see in other play-by-posts. If you're thinking, "huh, time limit?"... be sure to read the Big Picture tab above.
ReplyDeleteSo we have two torches, yes? Lets run these things up to the sides of the now-disappeared altar, to the empty holders. They didn't vanish when the illusion died, ya?
ReplyDeleteHanar said:
ReplyDeleteMinor
Rune of Mending
If someone wants it rather then Second Winding.
... I'm a little apprehensive about those sconces. Wish we still had the wizard. Taking my +2 defenses.
I have room for one more player to join, if any of you know a friend that would be a good, steady poster. Dervan's player is not continuing...
ReplyDeleteThe open spot has been filled. Once you complete this chamber, you will find two new replacements waiting for you! One is Paul (aka Thundic, RIP) and another is a new player who is also new to Fourthcore (David).
ReplyDeleteVery pumped up for the dungeon exploration yet to come!
I am also curious whether Nevdor touches the skull or not, as it will inform my next action.
ReplyDeleteSo which trial shall we go for next? I vote Southwest, Asar-Segt. For no other reason than symmetry.
ReplyDeleteI approve. We should probably place the skull on one of the pillars, just to make sure we don't lose it if the one carrying it dies
ReplyDelete@DeuceDM - I can't think of a clue or puzzle element that points us in any other direction, so I'm game.
ReplyDelete@A1 - okee dokee, but I'm not going to put it there.
We'll leave it for the one that decided to grab it in the first place
ReplyDeleteNow that you're back in the Central Hub, you can take a short break and spend healing surges if you like. Let me know!
ReplyDeleteAck, sorry, forgot we had an OOC thread >.<
ReplyDeleteAnyways, if Asar-Segt is into sacrifice, maybe sacrificing a healing surge could help give a success?
That might be a very good idea. I remember there was a blood component to 3.5 golems. Would it be a waste, I dunno, but fourthcore is all about the gamble, so if you have one to spare, lets try it. I wonder if if that works, could we spend multiple (probably a cheap way out, though).
ReplyDeleteOk, good to know the healing surge thing can work. We should use that if we get another failure on the complete the invocation check.
ReplyDeleteAlso, Joe, can more than one person use aid another? If we all focus our attention on giving Arden help, this might help our cause. Its actually how my other groups get through skill challenges. Everyone just yells "LOOK AT ME, I'M HELPING!"
As I currently have more healing surges than anyone else at the moment, I shall use one to get us an automatic success if we start to gain failures.
ReplyDeleteAlso, the aid another rules have been changed to where you still have to make a check, and if you roll low enough, your aid another actually gives a penalty instead of a bonus.
"It's Mud 'n' Blood! And I helped!"
ReplyDeleteYes, I saw the errata (don't agree there, but whatever). If you have a >75% chance of helping, I say take the risk. If all of us help on a few checks, we can finish it quicker.
ReplyDeleteSo, all the Asar-Segt figures are animals except one human. This has to be significant. Metagaming makes me think Tak-tha simply got a poor Nature check roll. What all do we know about this god so we can put together an appropriate prayer? Sacrifice helped in the previous area, but I doubt a healing surge will be good enough a second time around...anyone make a Religion check to see if Asar-Segt likes human or animal sacrifices? Maybe sacrifice a clay figurine for him?
ReplyDeleteOur party has one human as well, as it turns out.
ReplyDeleteI'm very curious about the actual racial makeup of these figurines. Also, Joe hasn't explicitly mentioned the quantity of figurines. If there are five animals and a human... well. That'd be interesting, eh?
Well, the player handout says Asar-segt loves sacrifices, and is the patron of magic. Perhaps performing a small ritual here or sacrificing one of the clay figures? But which one? I feel like the human one is the key.
ReplyDelete"He demands constant sacrifice in return for this blessing, and those zealous in their worship of Asar-Segt feel a gnawing hunger that drives them to madness and suicide – in the Hand‟s name, of course. He manifests as a six-armed ghoul shrouded by a cloud of ash."
So maybe one of you fellows trained in arcana can take the human figurine and perform a small rite, them slit the figurines throat? Or take it and gib the hell out of it with a spell? Just make sure to only destroy one (and lets see if it works).
Whichever trial we attempt next, Bhareg will be looking for an opportunity to drop his daily, and make the divine boast of Lyth.
ReplyDelete... Has anyone used a boast yet?
I do hope everyone knows this one. Bat wings, spiked tail, man's face? Manticore, easy-peasy.
ReplyDeleteEven without my D&D experience, I would go with manticore as well. Yay, Greek mythology! (or was it middle-eastern? I'm not gonna look it up)
ReplyDeleteSounds very much like a manticore to me.
ReplyDeleteThis is going to be my worst challenge ever. I've never had much interest in all the various exotic creatures. If the next questions is about a floating ball with many eyes I might be able to help.
ReplyDeleteDon't worry, if no-one else gets these I'll pull us through. Who else here knows what a Xorn looks like without using Google? Raise your hand.
ReplyDeleteIs that the blob with like, three legs and two eye-stalks? Or is that something else I'm thinking of?
ReplyDeleteNo, but close. It's got a roundish body, three legs, three arms, three eyes and a mouth at the top of it.
ReplyDelete*tucks all three 4E Monster Manuals away*
ReplyDeleteNo, of course I wasn't planning on using any outside sources for help...
Who am I to argue against the consensus?
::raises hand::
ReplyDeleteI've read the MMs enough, I'll have to flay myself if we get wrong here. Only worry Is if it's an obscure monster; like from the 3.5 fiend folio. But there are six of us, we can't all be wrong at the same time, ya?
I would go ghoul as well, because of the wording of the "curse" part - zombies are the other way around (curse, then eat flesh).
ReplyDeleteIs there even a question about this? Tis the owlbear!
ReplyDeleteFur and beak, not feathers and beak and talons. I say griffion.
ReplyDeleteIndeed! Bring your questions, oh Naga, we shall best thee at every turn! Growl-squalk!
ReplyDeleteNow that I think more, owl eat might be a safe bet. Large, talons...a griffon would be winged.
ReplyDeleteAlright I'm going to try and help this time.
ReplyDeleteI believe a talon is strictly a bird claw. My first thought was also owlbear but I don't think you would call Owlbear claws talons. I also think griffon.
Who are you agreeing with Paul?
ReplyDeleteA griffin isn't really considered to be 'two beasts' is it? What animals is it make up of, and does it even have fur?
ReplyDeleteI still vote for owlbear - it's an owl, and a bear, fur, wings, and a beak. I can't be sure on the talons though.
Go with owlbear. Doesn't have wings, but it's large and has even bigger talons.
ReplyDeleteOwlbear is what it's got to be. Talons are very avian, but it says talons and beak, as if there's a significant difference, plus it says this one beast is two. It's not a sealion, and no word of wings so it's gotta be owlbear.
ReplyDeleteThis one sounds like minotaur. Suddenly, I don't feel so bad about reading the monster manual all those years ago.
ReplyDeleteMinotaur for sure
ReplyDelete*blink blink* - Really?
ReplyDeleteIt'd be awesome if there were a minotaur in the party.
I suppose we should be careful about getting cocky though. I'm fairly certain Sersa's watching, and he and Joe wouldn't be above replacing some riddles on the fly.
Minotaur. Pull the trigger
ReplyDeleteGorgon. Bull, poisonous breath, animated construct. Don't recall anything about a deadly gaze though, they didn't have a beam attack, did they?
ReplyDeleteThe Gorgons of legend were three lovely maids, one of whom was the famous Medusa.
ReplyDeleteI understand that both gorgons and medusas are a little... different in D&D, but it wouldn't surprise me if the bull-like gorgons could petrify.
Basilisks have a deadly gaze, so do gorgon's. This one is a little more tricky.
ReplyDeleteI think body of a buffalo is the giveaway. Im thinking gorgon as well.
ReplyDeleteBasilisk's gaze is deadly, but nothing about a foul odor. "A body like the buffalo/a foul smell, and a deadly gaze" That says gorgon to me.
ReplyDeleteNo, no, I can picture it in my head...it's not a gorgon or something like that...it comes up earlier alphabetically...I wanna say it starts as cat_______...I wish I could think clearer on this right now
ReplyDeleteYou mean a catoblepas? You might be right, that's a REALLY arcane 1st ed monster. Long neck fits there too and they didn't have a poisonous breath but they did stink, and they could kill with a gaze. Sounds like a winner.
ReplyDeleteYes! That is it, good sir!
ReplyDeleteAre we sure on the spelling? I dunno if that'll actually be counted against us or not but it might be better to be sure.
ReplyDeleteNo, it's catoblepas. You don't forget something that odd, or odd looking.
ReplyDeleteIn mythology, it's Charon...is it the same for D&D?
ReplyDeleteI... have no idea. Hah! I'm stumped on this one. Six fingers, river styx... I don't recall Charron showing up in D&D, even in the abyssal realms... Any ideas?
ReplyDeleteI'm stumped on this one too. The ferryman...skeletal...in robes. Could it be a kind of undead creature?
ReplyDeleteSix fingers, abyss, river Styx. All I can think of is grazz't, the demon lord. Charon is a good idea; but he isn't a generic monster. Shit, this one is tough. Let's take our time and think it through.
ReplyDeleteI'm actually almost ready to try Grazz't or Charon on this one, without cracking a book I'm totally blanking.
DeleteFYI, I'm really enjoying this encounter! Keep up the great work!
ReplyDelete@Joe - awesome! It is after all a game for the DM too.
ReplyDeleteI thought I already left a comment on this, but it's not there. I don't know much about Grazz't, and what I do know of Charon has nothing to do with D&D. But Charon's an exact fit otherwise, so I'm all for that.
Fun fact: my longest-running D&D campaign did include Charon. But the pantheon was Greek, so it made sense. There was even a paladin of Hephaestus.
Fiends were never my strong suit, what level of the abyss did Grazz't govern? Since Charon isn't a base d&d monster, he might be our best shot. What say you, Deuce? Remember, you get us killed and we take your treasure. Unspoken 4thcore rule.
ReplyDeleteWell, in some of the dnd cosmologies, the river styx flowed through the entire abyss, and hit every level....but Charon can't be the answer, as he is a unique monster/inhabitant. So I am trying to think of which race he was. He wasn't baaetzu (sp?), he was part of the neutral evil denizens of the abyss, like the nycademon, or something. Their were tiers of them, one was dog-like, the other were mages, and then there were the boatmen. I just don't recall what the boatmen were called/if they had six fingers...
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, I've played a greek-based game many times. Having the gods be very involved in the world and smacking the PCs on the side of the head when they screw up is great incentive.
Didn't we already agree that, when stumped like this, the answer is tarrasque?
ReplyDeleteHow about we just flip a coin for the answer? We still have a final question that could possible maybe be a tiny slightly bit easier to answer...
We've not failed one yet, so I kinda feel we can punt this one. Go ahead answer "Charon", its our best guess. and gods help us on the next one...
ReplyDeleteSo, did Lyth mark Selvantis as worthy with a vision of a beast? Which would mean the half-elf is more worthy than the Thri-kreen?
ReplyDeleteOr my prayer went all wrong and the DM randomly chose Selvantis to try and target and it failed....
Somehow I don't think your punishment would be so easy going to just have your hands flash as bestial. I say go grab the skull. Also want to see if that exarch comes back...I feel like farming for more treasure (I know, would be very dangerous to do so).
ReplyDeleteI thought it might have been a punishment that Selvantis made a save against and we were just witnessing it about to happen. Either way, I'll let Selvantis take it, since the vision-thingie happened to him.
ReplyDeleteThere's still the reliable rumor about a fortune in a secret chamber, and I doubt the tablet was the fortune.
Maybe in the great hub? We've been in 3 trials so far, no secrets since the tablet....worth taking a 2nd look when we get back there? Before we go for #4?
ReplyDeleteYeah, the rumor says the secret room is connected to the great hub. I'm gonna go look up the original post and description of the room and try to meta-game-find the best place for the entrance to be.
ReplyDeleteI think that we already found the 'secret' room, where the tablet was. That's the only secret entrance we've been able to spot and we poured over that thing. I too am kind of worried about the tiger-paw vision. I don't know if Selvantis was blessed with it or just shown his place as a beast in her eyes. Curiouser and curiouser.
ReplyDeleteWas the blank tablet that was found just for that one area or was it good for the whole game? No one has put it to use lately.
ReplyDeleteI'm not really sure. We haven't been paying much attention to it. We've had our hands full with quizzes and golems and the like.
ReplyDeleteAlso, does everyone have to go through the captcha each time they post or am I just doing it wrong?
ReplyDeleteYou're doing it wrong, noob.
ReplyDeleteNo, we all have to do it.
So, wait, does everyone want Selvantis to take the skull? I don't know if the paw-thing was good or bad, but I'll bite if we all think it's for the best. When confronted by the Lady of Beasts I guess being seen as one or 'transforming' into one can't be all bad, right?
ReplyDeleteI'm partial to waiting for Arden's Arcana checks before assigning skull capture to Selvantis. Although the paw-thing was pretty convincing.
ReplyDeleteAs for the weird timing on my post - practically everyone here on the west coast has a DeLorean. Either that, or Blogger captures local time.
And yeah, sometimes I find this captcha really difficult. Like, three refreshes difficult. I figured that kind of difficult puzzle was totally appropriate for the content.
All I can say is that if Selvantis picks up that skull and does'nt turn into a weretiger, I'll be sorely disappointed.
ReplyDeleteIn any event, you can still...
Deleteshow 'em you're a tiger
show 'em what you can do
the taste of fourthcore frosted flakes...
brings out the half-tiger medusa wight dragon beholder in you!
About the captcha, I had no idea you guys were getting that. I don't get that, but probably because I'm the blog owner. I bet that's why I don't get tons of s-p-a-m (saying that word is like saying Voldemort!). I think the captcha is out of my hands.
ReplyDeleteOh gods... now that I'm done wiping up the coffee I spit all over my desk, what does everyone think? Did everyone else see the tiger-hand switcharoo or was it just Selvantis?
ReplyDeleteYou all did see it. That last part about "did it really happen?" was flavor-fluff.
ReplyDeleteOkay...
ReplyDeleteI think Selvantis should take the skull. Either this means he's safe to get it or he's been chosen to act as an offering to the Mother of Beasts. In either case you can use a broom-handle to knock the skull away, just like if you were being electrocuted.
I ready up on Lyth. Apparently the goddess appreciates it if we demonstrate humility before beasts. Perhaps someone should let Selvantis attack them, or something like that (referring to the boasts).
ReplyDelete"I am not an animal!"
ReplyDelete~Selvantis/ne' The Tiger-paw Man
Wait... scratch that last one. Guess I am now.
ReplyDeleteWell...that's a new one...
ReplyDelete...
ReplyDeleteMotherfucker...
I think we're boned, fellows.
So do we have to pick one of the skulls and attach it to the skeleton? or try and get the forth skull to put on the skeleton?
ReplyDeleteWhat are we choosing?
I don't think we're boned. I think that's the way to light the divine brazier and complete our quest. Three pedestals, three skulls so far? The real question is, do we need the fourth? I'll bet the treasure from completing that trial will be really helpful if we don't need the actual skull.
ReplyDeleteI propose we play with this secret door, which may give us something for the endgame or Kishar, and then face Kishar's trial. Whats the worst that can happen? TPK and a world flooded with salt water?
Choose could mean -
ReplyDelete* Choose a colored portal. (The whole dungeon is a larger puzzle. Sometimes clues in one place are for other rooms).
* Choose one of the three skulls to place on the pedestal.
* Choose to go an retrieve the fourth skull to put into the indentation (or swap it with one of the pedestal skulls). Essentially having us choose our 'favorite' God.
* Choose one of our own skulls to put into the relief.
...That's all I can really think of. I think that retrieving the fourth skull may be a good idea.
So who wants to put their skull into the indention?
ReplyDelete~touches his nose~
If we can, I'd absolutely love to get the last skull. It wouldn't do anything but help us out I'm sure of that. Extra kudos from the gods perhaps?
Nose? What is nose? This concept of nose confuses and infuriates the Thri-kreen!
ReplyDelete...ahem...
I say go for the fourth skull after those who want to make dice rolls do so. If my roll turns out poorly, after we get the fourth skull, I'll just go throw myself into the red portal to see if my guess about the lights and the flame is correct. Either I'll be right and we find something awesome or I'm wrong and will get to (hopefully) bring in a new character before our (probably) final encounter after choosing a skull for the skeleton.
And while I'm typing this, I now get to constantly grant combat advantage...
Question to the DM: If I throw Tak-tha into a portal after the fourth skull is collected but before we choose one for the skeleton, and the portal turns out bad, will we get to bring in a new member to replace him?
Yes, you can bring in a new dungeoneer at that point, but you hurt your final score by 50 for a dungeoneer death (if there is one).
ReplyDeleteI will let you know at which point new dungeoneers are no longer allowed to join.
How long do we want to keep testing our luck? We only have two more people who haven't rolled yet, do Nevdor and Bhareg want to risk the fates or shall we keep moving with only two members crippled by these abyssal dice?
ReplyDeleteWhoah, I guess I'm not subscribed to that thread yet. Hellz yeah, Bhareg's gonna roll!
ReplyDeleteOnward to Kishar!
ReplyDeletewho has powers that can keep a creature grounded? I can slow, but that's about it. We just don't want that thing flying around if it comes after us, which I'm pretty damn sure it will.
ReplyDeleteArden can immobilize+prone it for a turn if he hits, prone on a miss other than that lots of pushes and slides.
ReplyDeleteLooks like Hanar has some abilities that may be able to slow the creature, make it vulnerable to damage. Although they are mostly melee attacks. I'd hate to have to go toe to toe with the dracolisk.
ReplyDeleteAlright, Arden we'll need you to hit that thing hard with your immobilize+prone if/when battle starts and we'll all have to be close enough to really hammer it for the round that it's down. If Hanar can push it to a more easily accessible spot besides on top of a ziggurat on the far side of a huge room we can try to surround it and just lay into it. I can peg it with hunters mark and bear trap to keep it slow and deal some extra damage as well.
ReplyDeleteWhat else do we have that can turn this tide? I know we want to explore this room, but I can't see it turning into anything but an all-out brawl, so we should be totally methodical about this. Let's try to all stick together and get to that hut across the way, but keep within one double-run [Sorry Arden] of one of the obelisks and a hiding spot if need be.
Rumor: (reliable)
ReplyDeleteThe black hearts of Kishar's guardians are poisonous to the three-headed dracolisk.
Wait, really? Oh shit that's great. But that means we have to fight however many of those there are as well. Bollox. I guess if it'll give us a hand, we can try it. Let's take a quick look around for those guardians.
ReplyDeleteWho or what are Kishar's guardians? the ladies with the spears that line the approach to the dragolisk? How do you get a 'heart' from a stone statue?
ReplyDeleteWell, a chisel, a little time, some natural born talent and voila! Or chocolates usually work on the ladies.
ReplyDeleteThe statues probably aren't the guardians. They might be in that hut or hiding in the foliage or something. We should still keep together as a group and back each other up so we don't get flanked n' ganked.
[joking]Perhaps we must woo them? Tell them poetry. Offer them gifts. Date them? [/joking]
ReplyDeleteNot to be overly paranoid but this is the first room with a sand floor. Do you think anything nasty is buried down there?
ReplyDeleteOr perhaps we could tunnel our way to that little room on the other side.
Sorry I have more questions than answers.
"How do you get a 'heart' from a stone statue?"
ReplyDeleteAnd that's why it's called FourthCore and not CareBearCore.
Who knows what's going to happen once initiative hits? I think it would be great if someone really good at stealth could check that hut.
Oh...well now...so that's what we get faced up against while I'm at work...
ReplyDeleteWe've got two guys trained in Stealth, hopefully one of them will be good enough to elude two heads at once.
The statues will probably come to life and attack us, allowing us to take their hearts then?
If nothing else, with a run speed of 11, Tak-tha has the movement to be able to make it into the hut in a single double run and see what's inside in one turn. I can't see granting combat advantage making this an easy fight for me.
Also, what happened to the treasures tab up top?
ReplyDeleteSorry, I removed it (treasures tab) for a moment to try to clean it up and get it current. I'll try to get it back up by tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteIs there any info you needed?
Just wanted to look through all the treasures collected and figure out their usefulness for the upcoming encounter, is all. I'm sure we can all just huddle in hiding until it's ready, if need be :P
ReplyDeleteTreasures tab returned. I'll be updating over the next day or so.
ReplyDeleteAlso, you can go back on previous posts. Look for the pics with the "table" and the cards.
ReplyDeleteTreasure tab fully updated, and hopefully much easier to read.
ReplyDeleteOk gents, I've read and reread the posts, and here's what I am thinking. No way we are supposed to slaughter the dracolisk.
ReplyDelete"He tries to remember any weaknesses, but the stories he knows all end with the dracolisk winning the fight."
But we obviously need to survive, and the four alcoves suggest we need to put something in there. Thats either us, or something from the hut.
Sand and mud? We can try to slide a statue, wont know how hard that is until we try. But, also, we have that hut. We need to get a look inside. Hopefully before the dracolisk sees us.
This is beginning to look more like a puzzle within a combat (which we probably can't avoid). So we need to figure out a goal so we can try and dance around the Dracolisk and complete it. Luckily, Nevdor is based on ducking, dodging, and dancing around. Could have been a dodgeballer in another life and era....
Based on the rumor and that this is the goddess of slaughter, I think we are supposed to kill the dracolisk, but I agree there's a puzzle element, which I think will help make it easier to get the kill. Of course, if the heart is poisonous, that means we have to figure out a way to feed it to the dracolisk without poisoning ourselves...I can see the immobilizing coming in handy at that point.
ReplyDeleteFWIW, Bhareg's flurry slides 1, though he has no immobilize.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I'm all in favor of calling on boasts. APs are good!
Whoever's going to the hut could use Kotaresh? Bhareg will be all over the boast of Lyth. And if anyone has great chances of hitting, bust out the Kishar.
Well, I think that the battle with the dracolisk is damn near inevitable. With it placed so centrally I can't see any reason why it wouldn't be guarding the skull itself. Since this is the Goddess of Slaughter we're talking about, I doubt we'll be proving ourselves by solving a puzzle. It's certainly something to look into, but our best bet is likely to get into that hut and find out if there's something in there that can help us figure this out.
ReplyDeleteProblem is, that dracolisk is keeping watch and we've got no cover right in front of it. Likely the best bet is to get someone sneaky cou~NEVDOR~gh to crabwalk up behind one of those statues in the center and then shoot across the dracolisk's field of vision as far back as possible. Do we have anything that can help him out? Temporary bonuses or potions or even lending him a magic item? He might want to try the boast of Kotaresh just like Angille said, couldn't hurt...unless he doesn't make it that is.
I'm still up in the air as to if we HAVE to kill the dracolisk or not, but let's get ready to trounce those statues if they wind up being the guardians. Flank the shit out of one or more of them as someone shorter, sneaky, probably a rouge of some kind, tries for the hut. Agreed?
Sounds awesome. I'm fairly fond of my hat, but if it makes someone else a more silent sneaker, that's what it's gonna do.
ReplyDeleteTactically, I say we stay far away from the dracolisk in the first round, let him spend actions to come to us. If myself and someone with a strong knowledges comes with, maybe we can figure out whats in the hut.
ReplyDeleteI have a +9 to stealth, shall I go first and try to sneak over to the hut the long way (crabwalking against the Western wall?
I think that going along the wall would leave you more exposed than if you took a route through the statues. At least that way you have some kind of cover if shit hits the fan. Of course if passing through that area causes these statues to come to life all this will be for naught anyways. Go with what you're most comfortable with and we'll play it by ear. I'm going to move Selvantis to behind the closest statue and see what happens, and I'll ready an action to assist you if something awful happens.
ReplyDeleteI'm gonna do the same, so both of the rangers could accompany you to the statues.
ReplyDeleteHah, my captcha code for that post was "oomedus deducto", sounds like the somatic component to an identify spell.
ReplyDeleteAny objections to Bhareg handing his crown to Nevdor, for the +2 to Stealth? (along with everything else, but that's the current focus, I think)
ReplyDeleteQuick question for you guys. I haven't been paying attention to milestones or the awarding of action points. I think you have earned one, not sure how to award... It's every "2 encounters", yes?
ReplyDeleteIt's after every 2nd encounter, so we would be awarded one after this encounter, if we survive, unless one of the other trials counted as an encounter
ReplyDeleteOOC: Ok, I'll make this easy. Each "wing" is considered one encounter. If your dungeoneer has already been through two of them, give yourself an action point.
ReplyDeleteIf your dungeoneer is one of the originals, then you'll get a second action point after this encounter!
Any questions?
Yes. When did Hanar join?
ReplyDelete("Got it memorized?" also ran through my head, not the question I wanted to ask :D ).
I think Hanar has gone through three trials. He died, sure, but he was rez'ed so no biggie!
ReplyDeleteOh, I assumed we didn't get new APs, but also, we have only had the one combat....so I have two now? time to use one!
ReplyDeleteYeah, awesome would be burning a daily, drinking a Krater, and AP burning a daily!
ReplyDeleteOk, making my move now. Lets see if we can find this black heart. If nothing else, maybe I get some more info on the statues. Possible we have to enter them and fight via proxy? Just an off the cuff idea, I know at least one Monte Cook module that ends that way...
ReplyDeleteThinking this may come down to party members locking down the dracolisk so the others have enough time to find this black heart. Unless the rumor is false, then we are screwed!
OK gents, looks like the sarcophagus confirms our rumors...we need some black hearts. What I wouldn't kill for a drow in the party....j/k
ReplyDeleteSo I am going to search the area in the hut, then, i guess if there are no black hearts here, maybe there is something in those statues? I doubt we'd be able to search them w/o the dracolisk noticing...
I don't think there is any way Arden is getting across the room while slowed so he is just biding his time in the bushes until the action starts. If anyone sees a need for an Arden to take action let me know. I just hadn't posted in a few days and didn't want to be spontaneously killed by lightning or anything.
ReplyDeleteYou can always post. Posts need not be only about actions. You can post your thoughts even while unconscious! You can post when you're dead. Granted, you can't DO much, but you can always provide others with ideas.
DeleteHeck, if you want to post an out-of-body experience while KO'd, fine by me. I strive to be a "Yes... but" DM.
Posting is less about character action, and more about player involvement. Player involvement keeps the game alive; Nothing kills a game faster than lack of player involvement.
Arden, if carried by Soaring Hawk Tak-tha, can travel 4 squares out of his turn. It's kind of action-heavy, but it's an option. Kinda like placing artillery.
ReplyDeleteAnd if we're still outside of initiative, I'm not sure the action economy is pertinent.
I guess that is a good question. Slowed is usually an encounter condition what does it mean to be slowed all the time. I assume it means Arden can move 10' in 6 sec which is a long time to be out in front of the dragolisk.
ReplyDeleteSo I'm hoping Nevdor finds a big bag of black hearts when he opens the sarcophagus. If that doesn't happen perhaps he can tip over one of the statues in the hut to see if it contains a heart. OR since the female warriors in the hut are feathered and the picture shows a feathered warrior throwing a heart to the dragolisk then perhaps we need to animate them somehow to help us.
So I'm thinking the strikers can strike and then I can try and push it back into the corner (6 squares) to give everyone a chance to duck for cover. That really relies on initiative order though.
ReplyDeleteI'm hoping to get the action point and then burn 2 to try to blast the thing or at least cripple it so we can kill it quickly. Hopefully Nevdor saves soon and we figure out what's in the sarcophagus.
ReplyDeleteAlso now that the dragolisk has smashed that statue we need to see if there was anything in there.
ReplyDeleteFYI: No more than once per encounter, you can spend an action point to take an extra action, user certain feats, or use paragon path powers.
ReplyDeleteNo burning 2 points in one encounter. An in truly fourthcore unfair style, monsters can use as many as they please. I restrain to 1 per round.
If I manage to avoid becoming a statue myself, I can bear-trap the dracolisk, or try to at least and immobilize it for a round, giving us all a chance to A: beat the snot out of it, or B: find the heart and shove it down it's gullet.
ReplyDeleteD:
ReplyDeleteI guess I never realized that Action Points were encounter powers for characters, but not monsters? Broken.
That's one thing I love about 4E. Monsters don't have to follow the PC rules. It's got three fraking heads, I think it can take more than 1 action point in the same combat.
ReplyDeleteArden can (1) push (2) slow (3) immobilize/prone (4) daze. Assuming I can actually hit it.
ReplyDeleteHalf of Arden's powers rely on one monster hitting another. Non-optimal for solos.
Solo monsters get extra action points because they have to deal with six enemies, all of whom have APs. I've always thought that was pretty fair, all in all.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I think the player handout explicitly lets Boast APs get used in the same encounter as normal ones. Is this true?
You're right!
ReplyDeleteFrom the handout:
Action points earned by a successful boast may be used even if you already used an action point this encounter.
We now have guardians to take hearts from...
ReplyDeleteI think I'll start by taking on the Maruader, try to strike it down quickly and figure out how to, I dunno, cut its heart out?
Quick question on the boasts: Can I only boast once per encounter, or can I only boast to each god once per encounter (allowing all 4 boasts to possibly be used in a single encounter)?
ReplyDeleteOne boast per encounter. Therefore, those of you who did the Lyth boast just now cannot boast again to any god until the next encounter.
ReplyDeleteAll right, it seems we have our black heart procedure spelled out:
ReplyDeleteDrop a guardian
Standard to remove its heart
Standard within 2 squares of the dracolisk to feed it the heart
I'll take out the Maruader's heart and have it available for someone to take as a free action to feed it on their turn.
So, I want to get this all straight before posting Bhareg's actions.
ReplyDelete• Channeler is bloodied and takes -3 to damage rolls.
• Marauder is dead and Tak-tha has his heart.
• Arden has an unresolved attacks against the 'lisk that might take out the Channeler and/or the Paladin.
• Selvantis is evidently playing 3rd edition, but will probably feed the Marauder's heart to the 'lisk.
Bhareg has two action points, two dailies, and some 1 square slides to dish out. I will wait until the unresolved actions are resolved to make my move. If the 'lisk is dazed, I'll be using Drunken Monkey to make him hit a guardian. If not, I will probably use Spinning Leopard to hit as many targets as possible.
Either way, Bhareg activates Dark Reaping on either Selvantis or the Marauder.
Hey now, I think that's a bit harsh. Did I actually fumble on a rule or something? Let me take another look at what I pounded out last night...
ReplyDeleteOh, I'm just being playful. ;)
DeleteIt was the mention of a 5' step, and using the abbreviation AOO instead of OA.
Ah. Hey, I had most of my player/DM experience in 3rd, some habits are hard to break. ^_^; I'd probably barely pass the harper level 4e RPGA exam now.
ReplyDeleteOkay, do we have anyone else who can heal in the group that can smack a ranger with a couple extra HP before I keel over this next turn? You could even smash a healing potion on my head, it'd seep into enough of my wounds.
ReplyDeleteI will toss you my Healing Potion with my next action
ReplyDeleteSadly, Hanar has used his one healing ability for the turn. Second Wind?
ReplyDeleteI assume we are in round 2 of combat now? Seeing that I lost a turn due to my polymorph? I can get to and attack the assassin, maybe AP and try to drop him if I hit twice.
ReplyDeleteJoe, do I count as hidden after my last turn? Need to know whether I have surprise ont he assassin.
Sooo...the dracolisk started off using its breath weapon attack...it's "not yet bloodied" but sounds like it's close. Dragons usually get to recharge their breath weapon attack when they become bloodied. I think it might be advantageous to kill all the guardians, gather their hearts, then spam the dracolisk with heart attacks in a single turn, just in case it has any 'other' nasty surprises it gains when it becomes bloodied.
ReplyDeleteA great idea, as long as we don't all get petrified here/acidified to death. I'm gonna try to take out the assassin, and get that heart. While not wise to bunch up in front of a dragon, if it means CA and letting someone else grab the heart, I'd say flank away!
ReplyDeleteremember for this next turn the dracolisk should be dazed (unless it has some sort of condition remover) so no opportunity actions and combat advantage. Although I assume we'll be going after the Guardians anyway but at least you can walk by the dracolisk without it biting your head off.
ReplyDeleteActually its to the end of Arden's turn which I'm not sure how we track in this play style.
Bhareg hasn't acted since the round switch. His daily can attack all three enemies, and hopefully slide one of them.
ReplyDelete@onesawa, do you want me to try to get P closer to the 'lisk?
If nothing else, Tak-tha can move past Hanar and grab the heart, then charge the Paladin to help take it down and remove its heart, then we get to heart throwing next round
ReplyDeleteA) Can one move through the statues' squares? ie: H-8 to M-7 through row 7.
ReplyDeleteB) ... I don't remember. There was a reason I started this post with A) though. (I've got a cold or something; I've got an excuse...)
They take up less than half of a square, so you should be fully able to. It would probably work better to get the Assassin closer to the rest of us, in case we need to target it as well.
ReplyDeleteSo, Nevdor and Bhareg are the only one lefts to move before Tak-tha goes for a double heart toss, unless he needs to charge the prone Paladin (woo CA for melee attacks on prone enemies!)
Also, the dracolisk healed some damage, so the 4th heart from the Assassin may be necessary, unless we just pummel away at the dracolisk after throwing the hearts in.
If Bhareg can hurt/drop the Paladin and then hurt the Assassin, would it be worth it to have Nevdor try to finish off the Assassin (Tak-tha finish off the Paladin), survive one more round of attack from the dracolisk, then attempt a triple heart spam attack?
Yeah, Nevdor is immobile. won't be able to get anywhere, spent my fey step to get to the hut, remember?
ReplyDeleteI think it would be wise for Bhareg to fire off the daily. You said it would hit all three of them, right? If necessary, Hanar can pull off an action point to hit the paladin for about 19 points of damage. That would require him using his snake staff, and I'd like to save that for something else, maybe the dracolisk.
ReplyDeleteI might not post today. Need the free time to prep up for the Revenge of the Iron Lich (Anniversary Edition), table top game tomorrow! Printing/cutting maps at the moment.
ReplyDeleteOh good - gives me time to update the PbP game I'm DMing before posting for Bhareg...
DeleteSo I'm going to briefly play the part of the annoying whiny player... before getting over it and moving on with my turn.
ReplyDeleteI knew the Assassin was flying, but with no explicit mechanical altitude, I assumed he was flying immediately above the ground.
I'm fairly certain @Onesawa was working under a similar assumption when he used the only certain method we have to ground a flyer not on a flyer.
Ok. That's enough, Angille. Who's in favor of Bhareg handing the Krater to Arden? It'll be Drunken Monkey to try to get the Dracolisk to attack the Assassin, then minor to toss the Krater over.
I have no objections. Arden does have a good chance to survive the next round, keeping away in the melee right now.
ReplyDeleteTell you what. I wasn't explicit enough in my narrative, so I'll allow you to hit the Assassin with said previous attack, if you wish. I'll work up the damage from your Daily attack tomorrow morning and let you know how it goes.
ReplyDeleteBut after that, Assassin is 20 feet above you. :)
Ok, hey, neat. I'll take it! Maybe he just didn't expect someone to slip past the 'Lisk. That's the ticket!
DeleteAlthough I think I like the tactic of using the Krater to get an extra Phantom Chasm rather than the Spinning Leopard... Mind if I hold that minor action for now?
Glad to see everyone has recovered from the weekend of debauchery. Look forward to burning the rest of this challenge to the ground and facing another adventure with you fellows!
ReplyDelete@Andrew - Bhareg is immobilized, so is an unlikely candidate for heart tossing, as he's way out of the way.
ReplyDelete*checks vitals* Uh, wait, how'd I get there? Oh, I bet I wasn't specific about my reply against my post about sliding the Paladin. Ah well, I'd almost rather be right... here...
@Andrew - Bhareg is immobilized, so is a great candidate for heart tossing!
@Joe - Did Bhareg use an AP way back on the 14th?
Bhareg is right next to Hanar. You could free action grab the heart and standard action chuck it. Immobilization won't stop you.
ReplyDeleteAlso, no, you did not use an action point then.
I really thought Arden would be dead by now. Arden is at this point slowed, weakened and granting combat advantage.
ReplyDeleteSo here is what Arden has left.
1) Hypnotism if we want to re-position the Dracolisk. or
2) magic missle 7 dmg
or if Arden runs he can cover a max of 4 squares so if that can help with the heart throwing I could do that as well.
MilwaukeeJoe if Arden hit with Hypnotism could he slide the Dracolisk through the squares where the Dracolisk crushed the statues or is that still blocking?
I'm just thinking I might be able to bring the Dracolisk to the PC with the heart.
@onesowa:
ReplyDeleteAnother thought, if you're amenable. The 'Lisk seems to like leaping up, then crashing down, but not staying in the air. Ok, that's fine.
The Assassin's going to probably spend the rest of his time up in the air. Phantom Chasm is the best way to bring him down. Would you like Bhareg's Krater of Might?
I don't know what the logistics of tossing it around the Dracolisk would be, but I think a fitting action as Bhareg turns to stone would be to:
Free - grab heart
Standard - toss heart
Move and/or Minor - toss Krater
AP - Heal check to get +2 on save
Without a second Chasm, the Missiles will take down the Assassin as well.
So we have one heart left, ya? I just moved to grab it and see what happens.
ReplyDeleteUnless we are directly teleported back to the great hub, I still want to look inside the tomb w/i the hut. Curses are usually placed to protect something...
>.>
ReplyDeleteTak-tha never got a turn last round...was waiting for Bhareg's turn to get played out first...though if this final heart finishes off the dracolisk, it won't have really mattered that much...
Ooh, and this round ended suddenly too. Hey, that failed save would have happened after Bhareg's actions, right? Would a +2 to the save from a successful Heal check have changed anything? Also, tossing the Krater to Arden was on the docket.
ReplyDeleteNo, the +2 would not have helped. You rolled a natural 2.
DeleteYes, let's say you tossed the Krater to Arden. The rest of your stuff is petrified.
Also Nevdor was currently wearing the circlet of +2 skill checks for better sneakability.
ReplyDeleteAlas, and sweet, respectively.
ReplyDeleteBhareg 2.0 just watched a star fall outside, yes? (huh, "2.0" - warforged perhaps?)
Yes, after the last skull is obtained (or not), you will be able to rejoin the crew back at the Great Hub.
ReplyDeleteHey folks, if you'd like, hold off on healing surges. I'm strongly considering an Artificer or Artificer/Swordmage hybrid. Any objections?
ReplyDeleteI may not be back online until very late today, and since I don't know how quickly this is going to move between now and then, I'm gonna post this now:
ReplyDeleteI'm still convinced that, when we placed all three skulls on the columns, the rooms filled with multiple colors, and the DM pointed out that the flames were an unnatural red, that it's a clue to the portal room, considering we haven't received anything else that can be construed as a clue to that room.
Therefore, when our new leader shows up and we're all in the hub, before a skull is chosen for the wall, heal Tak-tha to full (or as close without wasiting a surge), and he's gonna go jog through the red portal. Everyone else can wait and see if the DM either posts his demise or that he survives into a special room if they want.
I may be able to check my email for this thread, but unless someone can convince me otherwise, consider this post set for Tak-tha in the next RP hub post
Ok, time for a fourthcore logic check. We placed that third skull and a door forward opened up. Nothing has indicated we need to go back and mess around with a hazard from the first room. Those portals could have been a red herring regarding the door we unlocked, nothing more. The archway in the great hub transformed, suggesting strongly that we have completed the requirements to light the divine flame. I doubt that is a simple death trap in front of us. Luckily, you posted in the OOC thread, so joe won't act on your wish until you post it elsewhere.
ReplyDeleteI have to stick with my statement above... I can't take anything here as in-character. (Slippery slope if I start doing that...)
ReplyDeleteTak-tha, if you want to do what you suggest, you will have to post it in the main area.
Thanks!
From A1Penguino (via email):
ReplyDeleteI can't get to the site on my phone. Can you post in the OOC that I don't think the changed wall in the hub is a death trap either, I just think the flames are a clue to an extra room that might be useful before we carry onwards. Unfortunately, i have no way to subscribe to the new thread at the moment
I can't subscribe to the new thread either. I wonder if it's the browser I'm using.
ReplyDeleteI subscribed to it, using mozilla, just signed in and it was there at the bottom, easy breezy. Maybe it's just a glitch?
ReplyDeleteAh, looks like I wasn't logged in. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteFrom A1Penguino (via email) regarding usage of the Bowl of Communing:
ReplyDeleteWell, I would like to put forward a question along the line of "Will passing through the red portal be beneficial to surviving the Crucible?" if it's still open. Still can't get to a computer to do so myself