Fane of the Heresiarch: Chaos Maze II
 |
| TIME TO DIE!!! |
You have summoned the dread FIENDISH HALF-MANTICORE MINOTAUR, master of the chaos maze. It towers over you, nearly 20 feet tall. In one hand, it wields a deadly polearm that is has used again and again to decimate and decapitate the many hapless wanderers of the labyrinth. It's tail is filled with many poisonous spikes of the manticore.
Place yourself anywhere in the map on the left, for you have won initiative. The minotaur is at N8/O8/N9/O9 (large).
Despite its large size, the minotaur has no problems fitting through the narrow hallways; such is it's mastery over the labyrinth.
Areas with rubble are considered difficult terrain.
Will this be your last battleground?
Place yourself anywhere in the map on the left, for you have won initiative. The minotaur is at N8/O8/N9/O9 (large). 
"Yes!" Shazi screams as the creature appears. "Enough of this mindless wandering... time for action!"
ReplyDeleteWith that she takes a step forward and weaves a shuriken through the narrow hallways of the maze. "Come on!" she screams, taunting the beast.
[Tech]
Start at A6 I guess?
Move: Move to D9
Free: All shuriken damage is now fire
Standard: RBA vs Minotaur
Attack: +15 base, -2 long range (range is 6/12)
Damage: 1d4+6+1d8(AF) fire damage
OOC: Do we have any action points? I lost track...
I show you having one action point.
DeleteWell, you guys had a good run. You tried hard.
DeleteOOC: We may not reach the endgame boss, but I'm about to go nova on this clown.
Delete(OOC: Starting at S12.)
ReplyDeleteA frozen blade of raw shadowstuff appears in Kallista's hand, lashing out to cripple the beast with cold.
Tech: Daily, Standard, Shard of Darkness, +14 vs Fort, 3d10+7 cold damage (+2d6 on crit), and the target is slowed (save ends). On a miss, this power is not expended. Furthermore, if it hits, Imperious Majesty inflicts a -5 penalty to attacks on me until the end of my next turn.
Here goes nothing...
[Sciora]
Delete"Well, I suppose that's one way to do it." Checking her armor and songbow while the group waits for the maze's master to appear, Sciora fixes Gardain with a contemplative look. "You know, I never thought I'd die fighting alongside a Feybane." Then after a moment, she digs through her pack, producing another rune-etched stone and tossing it to the dwarf. "I suppose there's no use in keeping these to myself any more. Put to good use, yeah?"
She begins to hum a tune to herself while they wait, her eyes focused on something far away.
Once the beast appears and the tiefling and drow move into action, Sciora leaps from her position into the chamber. Firing a warning shot at the beast to get its attention, she jeers at the thing: "By the gods you're an ugly bastard. I hate to break it to you, but I think your mother was fucking the manticore down the street. Or did you know already?"
Her hackles raised and green eyes glinting with battle fury, she turns to the others. "Look at him balk! His mind is soft, draw strength from his weakness!" Then to the dwarf: "Close with him, Feybane, and I'll cover you 'Twere never a better time to die! For ruin and rhyme!"
Tech:
(Start at M12)
Minor: Toss a Syllable of Grace to Gardain. If he spends a minor action to consume it, he gets +3 to AC vs OAs and a +3 bonus to speed until the end of the encounter.
Standard: Vicious Mockery, +10 vs. Will, on hit: 1d6+6 psychic damage and he takes -2 to all attack rolls until the end of my next turn.
Move: Downgrade to a minor, use my own Syllable of Grace, +3 to AC vs. OAs and +3 to speed until the end of the encounter.
Action point!: Stirring Shout on the minotaur, +10 vs. will, 2d6+6 psychic damage. Regardless of if I hit or not, whenever an ally hits the minotaur, he or she regains 4 HP until the end of the encounter.
OOC: Death! Deaaaaaaaaaaaaath!
[Gardain]
ReplyDeleteUnshaken by the fiendish roar of the hybrid beast, the dwarven cavalier grins with the valiant honor of the battlefield. He closes his fist over the glinting runestone, a chuckle escaping his throat. “Tae be honest, Ah ne’er understood mah families grief wi’ y’awn. Ah’ve ne’er seen a better archer nor a finer dancer tha’ a Moonshot.”
He shrugs as he activates the stone’s magic, feeling his muscles sing with power and his body grow light. “Mayhaps we’ll no die here, an’ live on tae fight together…” He lets out a barking laugh as he punches the bards arm in a friendly dwarven way [likely leaving a bruise on her lily skin]. “Or again’ eacho’tr in th’ world beyond this one.”
He draws his axe and tests its heavy edge. “Eith’r way, Ah’m proud tae have stood aside ye.”
His first two steps forward are slow, but by the time his boots hit the ground for a third time he is running, the exposed nails scratching the stone floor and kicking up sparks as he clambers easily over rubble and debris alike with surprising agility.
Taking advantage of the beasts enormous size, he ducks inside his massive body and swings his axe, the blade exploding into a divine razor, dazzling light shot through with a crusting film of ebony ice as he aims for the soft backs of the demonic monstrosities knees.
The shards of cold-iron braided into his beard seem to spark with energy as a righteous light pours from the dwarf’s body, blinding the creature should it swing towards his companions.
Tech:Use the Sylable of Grace +3 vs OA/+3 speed TeoE, Move from J9 to M9 [N9 if he can] and attack with:
Chilling SmiteStrength (+11) vs. AC 3d10+4 Cold/Radiant damage, plus Holy Smite +4 radiant damage, dazed till end of his next turn on hit.
Activate Defender’s Aura, -2 vs any attack not centered on Gardain.
FAER TH’ FEYBANE!!!
OCC: If anyone has any powers that grant attacks, save them up. Next round I'd like to go first and I'm going to go nova on this thing so any attacks that you can grant me while I got CA on the thing would be really helpful. :)
ReplyDeleteOOC: I can do that. Just make sure you end your turn next to the thing.
DeleteOOC: So, how does my Aegis marking interact with Gardain's Aura?
ReplyDeleteOOC: the Defender's Aura does not work on any marked enemies.
Delete[Shazi]
ReplyDeleteShazi's fiery shuriken glances the minotaur in the shoulder, making it MAD.
Tech: 9 fire damage - 10 fire resist = zero damage.
[Kallista]
Where Shazi's attack was negated by the Minotaur's defenses, it cannot reduce Kallista follow-up ice attack. It hits the beast like a whirlwind of shadows!
Tech: 26 cold damage, and the minotaur is slowed. The minotaur now has -5 to attacks on Kallista until end of Kallista's 2nd turn.
OOC: Coming up next, Sciora and Gardain...
[Sciora]
ReplyDeleteSciora blasts the minotaur with the POWER OF ELADRIN ROCK!
Tech:
Vicious Mockery, hit for 8 psychic damage, and the minotaur takes -2 to all attack rolls until the end of Sciora's 2nd turn.
Stirring Shout: Hit for 13 psychic damage. Whenever an ally hits the minotaur, he or she regains 4 HP until the end of the encounter. Sciora is now out of Action Points.
Both Gardain and Sciora rock the Syllables of Grace, their bonuses are now reflected on the vitals.
[Gardain]
With Sciora blasting Gardain's theme song in the background, Gardain's axe lands true and sheds demonic minotaur blood!
Tech: Hit for 26 total damage. Minotaur is dazed till end of Gardain's 2nd turn.
Currently, Minotaur is:
Marked (Gardain)
Slowed
Dazed
-2 to attacks until the end of Sciora's 2nd turn
-5 to attacks on Kallista until end of Kallista's 2nd turn
OOC: http://www.soundsnap.com/node/100592
DeleteOOC: Also, Gardain should get 4 HP back from hitting the minotaur if he went after me, right?
DeleteOOC: Yes, Gardain now has 4 thp.
DeleteShazi continues to scream and shout at the creature, hoping that it will choose to come towards her.
ReplyDeleteOOC: Distance is too far... Not sure if I can get adjacent this turn, even if it does try to come after me (slow + dazed = slow), and there's too much debris between me and it for me to charge it.
OOC: Can't you, you know, move then levitate if you wanted to get close to it?
DeleteOOC: Why did you start way over there? I would push and slide it to ya except there's all that difficult terrain in the way...
ReplyDeleteOOC: I didn't give it much thought at the time. :P
Delete[So-tin]
ReplyDeleteSo-tin looks at the flaming skull hovering over his shoulder. "I don't know what you are or what you can do, and I wish I had the time to find out." Drawing forth his blade in one hand, fixing up his soul armor, and adjusting the helm stuck to his head, he stares down the ferocious beast in front of them with a grin on his face. His other hand reveals the small, dark orb recovered from the pleasure crypt just before he crushes it, darkness swirling about his body before vanishing from sight.
The only sign of him now is when his blade produces a series of fine cuts on the creature's arms, sapping its strength while providing him with the focus needed to dodge its attacks.
Tech
Minor: Use Shadowsphere, gain phasing and invisibility until end of next turn
Standard: Enervating Slash
+16 (+12, +2 helm, +2 boon) vs Fortitude
Hit: 2d8+6 damage. Also use Sentinel Marshal power to gain +2 power bonus to all defenses against this enemy until end of my next turn
Effect: The target's attacks deal half damage to your allies (save ends)
[So-tin]
ReplyDeleteSo-tin becomes master of the labyrinth, able to phase through the walls at will! (So-tin now invisible and gains phasing until end of his second turn.)
Getting into close melee, he slashes at the minotaur with his scimitar!
Tech: Hit for 19 damage. Minotaur is not yet bloodied. So-tin has 4 thp, and has +2 to all defenses until end of his second turn.
Coming up next... the minotaur!
[Minotaur]
ReplyDeleteThe Minotaur goes on a rampage, stamping with its massive hooves on So-tin and Gardain while swinging its wicked polearm! When it is all over, Gardain lies on the floor in a pool of his own blood while So-tin clings to consciousness.
Tech: Infernal Trample! Four attacks each on So-tin and Gardain.
Gardain: Four hits. Damage 28 fire * 4 hits / 2 (weakened vs So-tin's allies) = 56 fire damage. Gardain is KO at -7 hp. Gardain is dazed (save ends).
So-tin: Four misses (invisibility helped out immensely). Damage (14 fire dmg - 5 fire resist) * 4 attacks = 36 fire damage. So-tin is bloodied at 3 hp.
Action Point! Thrashing Gore attack, targets are Gardain and So-tin. Two misses, no damage.
Minotaur does not save vs Slow.
Minotaur saves vs weakened (by So-tin).
Minotaur is:
Dazed (until end of your turn this round)
Slowed (save ends)
-2 to all attack rolls (until end of your turn this round)
-5 to attacks on Kallista (until end of your turn this round)
=== Start Round 2 ===
Retcon: I did not see the -5 to damage from the Chilling Smite.
ReplyDeleteEffects:
Gardain regains 20 hp, is at 13 hp. He is prone and dazed (save ends both).
So-tin regains 20 hp, is at 23 hp.
Action point was NOT spent, he would not have wasted such an attack when under that effect.
Save vs Chill successful.
[Sciora]
ReplyDeleteSeeing the minotaur trample So-tin, Sciora calls out to the genasi. "Neuriyia neia-nor! Stand tall, friend! Our fight is not done yet!"
Continuing her melodic words, she notches an arrow to her songbow. Just before loosing it at the beast, her singing reaches a crescendo and the carvings on her bow and arrow flare to emerald life. The enchanted arrow screams across the chamber towards to the creature's face, trailing verdant green wisps behind it.
"Move, Feybane! Strike it now!"
Tech:
Minor: Revitalizing Incantation on So-tin. He gets to spend a healing surge. On top of that, he gains THP equal to his surge value.
Move: Moment of Escape on Gardain to slide him up to 5 squares to L7.
Standard: Blunder on the minotaur, +10 vs. will, 1d6+6 damage, on hit I slide the minotaur up to 3 squares to M7-N8 and Gardain gets to make a melee basic attack against him as a free action. With a +2 power bonus to the attack roll.
I'm also going to use my Whistling Songbow daily item power to grant each ally within 5 squares a +2 power bonus to attack rolls until the end of my next turn. That covers everyone except Shazi.
OOC: Let's get some damage on this guy, and then have Kallista dominate him for a brief respite.
I can still interrupt someone's missed attack to give it another shot, so don't be shy about using your big guns!
[Gardain]
ReplyDeleteHis body slipping along the ground with Scoria's magical assistance, the dwarf retches up a mouthful of crimson, spitting it aside. His helmet is tight, blinding him after being trampled viciously by the minotaur and he wrenches it from his head to fall with a hollow clank to the ground at his feet. His fierce red hair flows wild from his head as blood drips into his eyes and down to mingle with his coarse beard.
A grin spreads painfully across his face as he hefts his axe and takes a staggering step towards the beast. "Well... Ah s'pose y've got my attention..." His brow furrows in rage as he leaps from the stone-strewn ground and swings his axe in a flurry of arcs. Brilliant light trails from its edge as he bring it around for a second and then third time, the pure radiance of his faith blazing from it in an attempt to hew demonic flesh from blackened bone.
As he forces his arm for the third blow, his face pinches and stings, his single serpentine eye opening wide as its slit pupil dilates, sending power rushing into the minotaur and dropping it to its knees with a thunderous echo.
Drawing deep within himself as he lands, he calls on the spirits of his ancestors and the strength in his bones, revitalizing his broken form for the trial ahead...
Tech:Stand at L7, flanking the Minotaur, attack with Strike of Hope +13 vs AC, 1d10+4 radiant damage, free MBA from Sciora's Blunder, +13 vs AC, 1d10+4 damage, Spend an action point and attack with Stroke of Hope +13 vs AC, 1d10+4 radiant damage, activate Serpentine Tattoo, deal 5 shock damage to the minotaur and it is now prone.
So-Tin gains +10 THP from two Strike of Hopes.
Use Dwarven Resilience and spend a healing surge, Virtuous Recovery activates, Gardain has +2 resist all till the end of his next turn, spend Dwarven Armor's daily power, heal equivalent of a surge, +30 hp.
OOC: dat healing. lulz.
DeleteFIVE DAYS NO PRESSURE OR ANYTHING HAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!
ReplyDeleteCool story bro.
DeleteShazi darts through the debris and, immediately after dousing the flames consuming her shuriken, lets it fly.
ReplyDelete[Tech]
Move: Move to J9 ... Use Ghost of the Rooftops (jump/climb) if possible to avoid the difficult terrain. If I can't avoid it, adjust location accordingly.
Free: Convert shuriken damage back to untyped
Standard: Deft Strike ...
Prior to attack: Move as close as I can to J7
Attack: +15 vs AC, +2 CA, 1d4+6+2d6 damage (untyped)
OOC: Going nova next turn
Sciora and Gardain... fey and fey-hater... make an excellent team. With a combination of deception and attack, of feint and thrust, you are possibly seeing a victory come out of this... perhaps!
ReplyDelete[Sciora]
Tech:
Revitalizing Incantation: So-tin is now at 38 hp, and 15 thp. He has 7 surges remaining.
Moment of Escape: Gardain is now at L7.
Blunder: Hit for 8 damage. Minotaur slid to M7-N8. Gardain's MBA hits (he gains 4 thp) for 7 damage.
Whistling Songbow: All crusaders but Shazi now have +2 to attacks. That stacks with Kishar's Blessing, if you have it.
[Gardain]
Tech:
Strike of Hope hit for 13 radiant damage
Free MBA (see Sciora above)
Action Point, Stroke of Hope, hit for 11 radiant damage
Serpentine Tattoo, 5 shock damage to the minotaur and it is now prone.
> So-Tin gains +10 THP from two Strike of Hopes.
I don't believe they stack. You only get the best. So-tin already has 15 thp.
Gardain is at 57 hp and has 11 surges. (His Maurauder gives him healing surge value of 24.)
MINOTAUR IS BLOODIED!!!!
Minotaur Conditions:
dazed (expires before minotaur's turn)
slowed (save ends)
prone
-2 to all attack rolls (expires before minotaur's turn)
-5 to attacks on Kallista (expires before minotaur's turn)
[Shazi]
ReplyDeleteThe minotaur, dealing with Gardain and So-tin, doesn't even see Shazi's shuriken as it implants into its back.
Tech: Hit for 17 damage.
Shazi gains 4 thp.
DeleteOOC: Actually, at this point I'm not even sure if I have to go nova on it... Maybe I should wait for the Heresiarch to do that... :)
ReplyDeleteAnd do we have to meet the boss by the deadline or destroy him by then?
OOC: You have to destroy the Heresiarch by the time limit.
DeleteOK then, I'm going out with a nuke! :D
DeleteOOC: Kallista moves to O9. As a minor action, she applies the perfume and attempts to dominate the minotaur; Tech: +11 v Will (CHAmod + Kishar + Bloodhunt).Shadow Walk gives her concealment as well.
ReplyDelete[Kallista]
ReplyDeleteVery few can resist the alluring scene of succubus perfume. An a meat-loving carnivore like a manticore/minotaur... you'd think he's be incapable.
And he is. His nostrils fill with the scent!
Tech: You have dominated him for his next turn. What are you going to have him do?
OOC: What are my options? I know you're bending the Dominated condition to allow him to attack himself, but I don't know what powers he has. Stat block, please?
ReplyDeleteI won't reveal his stat block, but I will reveal his MBA and RBA that you can have him use against himself.
DeleteMBA - Gore Attack - At-Will
Attack: Melee 2; +11 vs. AC
Hit: 20 damage, and the target is knocked prone.
RBA - Brimstone Tail Spikes (fire) - At-Will
Attack: Ranged 10 (one, two or three different creatures); +11 vs AC
Hit: 10 fire damage, and the target gains a permanent and cumulative vulnerable 2 fire.
Kallista gazes deeply into the beast's eyes and softly commands him to strike himself down.
DeleteOOC: MBA, please! Not sure how he gores himself, but I applaud his flexibility.
As he collapses, she follows up by conjuring a shroud to choke the life from the creature.
Tech: Standard, Daily, Hateful Shade +14 v Will, 3d8+7 force damage, and ongoing 5 force damage (save ends, can also be ended by an opposed Acrobatics/Athletics check against Kallista).
More Tech: +2d6 on a crit.
Delete[Kallista]
ReplyDeleteKallista's shroud surrounds the minotaur like spirits of the damned!
Tech: 20 force damage and ongoing 5 force damage. I won't apply the MBA from domination until the Minotaur's turn... and I believe So-tin has to go yet.
[Minotaur]
ReplyDeleteThe minotaur tears great wound into his own chest with his wicked claws!
Tech: 20 damage. Not yet dead.
=== Start of Round 3 ===
"ENOUGH OF THIS BEAST!" shouts Shazi as she charges forward, blade first, viciously tearing in to the creature.
ReplyDelete[Tech]
Minor: Tome of Power ... Everything's a critical hit until EONT.
Move: Move to L6, flanking position
Standard:
Maneuvering Strike ... +16 base, +2 CA, vs Reflex
Damage: 31 (maximized 2d6+7, maximized 2d6 from sneak attack) +2d6 from weapon
If that doesn't kill it...
ACTION POINT
Gloom Thief ... +16 base, +2 CA, vs AC
Damage: 27 (maximized 2d6 +7, maximized 1d8 from attack finesse) +2d6 from weapon
If that doesn't kill it, I give up. :P
Honestly, if that doesn't kill it someone grant me an attack so I can whack it again (+18 vs AC, 2d6+21 damage).
Delete[Shazi]
ReplyDeleteShazi kills the Minotaur!!!! With the Tome of Power floating actively above his head, Shazi's blades slice through the beast's hide with ease. The minotaur explodes in a shower of blood and gore!
Tech: You needed 74 hp, and you did 76 total.
[All]
With the maze master defeated, you find the inner den of the labyrinth.
This ornate, wood-paneled chamber at the center of the maze contains an altar above which the jade planet hovers. A chaos device (an amulet with the symbol of chaos) is draped around the neck of a minotaur statue nearby. A stepping disk identical to the one found in the watchtower is set into the floor...
Casting Detect Magic, you now know that the Chaos Device is a consumable item that will teleport you all back to the top of the Watchtower.
Attempting to make your way through the maze back to the Blighted Grove is impossible.
(her head... wrong pronoun...)
Delete[Sciora]
ReplyDeleteSciora snatches up the planet and then the Chaos Device, closes her eyes, and intones the words that will activate its magic.
OOC: To the watchtower! How many planets do we have now?
OOC: Looks pretty clear; We're going back to room one with only half of the planets. It's been fun, Joe! Thanks for all your efforts!
ReplyDelete[Gardain]
ReplyDeleteAs the towering beast falls to Shazi’s intricate dance of blades, the dwarf lets out a sigh of relief, finally relaxing with a groan. He cracks his back, pressing his gloved hands into his lumbar and pushing outwards with a series of pops.
Shaking himself, he grins as he walks towards the head of the half-fiend behemoth and takes his axe in both hands, bracing himself as he lifts and lowers his axe, aiming carefully. “Amazin’ job, t’lot o’ya. I dinnae think tha’ we coulda done it, but we took care of business an’ nae two ways about it!”
His axe falls with the resounding crack of splintering bone echoing through the maze like a gunpowder blast. Slipping his axe over his shoulder, the fiery-haired dwarf crouches and hefts his prize. The massive horn is still stained with his own blood as he shoulders it with a grunt, his ruddy face split into a wide grin.
“Now, if Ah’m no mistaken, we still hae’ some work tae do…”
Tech: Return to the Watchtower. We have 4 planets, do we not?
You have teleported back to the Watchtower.
ReplyDelete