[DnD 4E] The Extraordinaries (Game Thread)

Denada

in

Marked for Death

- - - - -

"Thank you, Mister Zeel. I don't know what we would have done if you hadn't taken our call."

Professor Ulya turns to gaze at the scene just outside the library's massive window. It might seem wasteful to dedicate so much precious potential shelf space to a view of Sharn's busy streets, but there was no arguing that the aesthetics were breathtaking. Trade and transport skiffs flew by, the glow of their bound elementals glittering off the polished exteriors of the nearby towers and bridges. This was one of the wealthier parts of Sharn, and it showed.

Professor Ulya turns back to the five of you, his mechanical leg hissing ever so slightly as it supports his heavy dwarven frame. "We need your help," he says, brushing back what few wisps of white hair remain on his head, "and I'm sure I don't need to tell you that this requires the utmost secrecy. No one can learn of what I'm about to show you. No one."

The Professor reaches into his shirt and pulls out an envelope sealed with green wax. "Inside this envelope is-" he's cut short as you hear the sound of glass breaking. Suddenly, a metal spike bursts through his chest, and blood sprays across the room as fins fold out from the spike, turning it into a grappling hook. Professor Ulya is ripped from where he stands, swiftly pulled past three winged creatures as they burst through the window.

"Meeting adjourned," one of them says, as he brandishes a glowing spear.

Roll Initiative!

Caulk Bite 6

initiative: 1d20+8 28

Caulk Bite 6

holy shit, I just realised what that said.

didn't actually look til I posted.

Doobh

"This is why you don't hold secret meetings at the top of a tower."

Roll(1d20)+12:
5,+12
Total:17

Stilts

"Didn't your mothers ever teach you to knock before entering?" Zeel says as he gets into favorite fighting stance: body turned perpendicular to his opponent; the hand in front stretched out with palm open; and the one in back balled into a fist and held close to his chest.

Initiative: 1d20+10 23

Caulk Bite 6

Thorfin reaches to an empty space behind his shoulder and whispers "Shazam".

A Craghammer appears out of nowhere, already grasped in his fist.

Dichotomy

Gleam sighs, brushing a spot of blood from the fur of her cheek with a thumb.

Initiative: 1d20+11 19

Caulk Bite 6

just to remind myself, we have 1 free, 1 minor, 1 move and 1 standard action per turn, right?

Stilts

Caulk Bite 6 wrote: »

just to remind myself, we have 1 free, 1 minor, 1 move and 1 standard action per turn, right?

Yes, 1 minor, move and standard.

You can have as many "free" actions as you can arguably perform within about 6 seconds.

Also, you can trade your move and/or standard actions for additional minor actions.

Pony

Rusty is startled by the crimson spray. Rusty hates being startled. The massive warforged recoils, the sight of blood and violence stirring in him a horrid sound, as his eyes glow red and he raises his own spear.

Initiative: 1d20+8 28

Caulk Bite 6

Looks like pony and I got firsties.

Unfortunately, I'm at work for the next 7+ hours and I'm not sure i can use the dice roller system from that site on my phone.

Denada

Round 1

The wings of these winged creatures flicker and fade, and you realize that you're actually staring at three large gnolls. Whatever magic effect that made them airborne has obviously worn off. The leader of their little pack appears to be the one brandishing the glowing spear. The others take out longswords, but they won't get to use them before you have a chance to act.


Terrain Notes: The bookshelves are about 8 feet high. They are blocking terrain, meaning they essentially act like walls.
Currently Available Terrain Powers: Heavy Bookshelf

Thorfin - 95/95 - AC 28; F 22, R 21, W 23
Location: F10 - Status: Normal.
Rusty - 93/93 - AC 26; F 26, R 24, W 22
Location: E11 - Status: Normal.
Ambush Leader - 91/91 - AC 24; F 22, R 24, W 22
Location: B9 - Status: Normal.
Zeel - 77/77 - AC 27; F 20, R 23, W 23
Location: E9 - Status: Normal.
Gleam - 73/73 - AC 23; F 18, R 20, W 24
Location: E7 - Status: Normal.
Waera - 76/76 - AC 24; F 20, R 24, W 19
Location: F8 - Status: Normal.
Ambush Grunt 1 - 1/1 - AC 27; F 23, R 22, W 22
Location: A6 - Status: Minion.
Ambush Grunt 2 - 1/1 - AC 27; F 23, R 22, W 22
Location: A11 - Status: Minion.

Up First: @Caulk Bite 6

Caulk Bite 6

"You boys're soon to regret this."
move 1 square to E10, Blurred Step (free action) to D9
Battlemind's Demand (augment 1) Mark gnolls G1 and G2

"And you: Get over here!"
Lodestone Lure vs Will(augment 2): 1d20+17 31 augmented damage roll: 1d10+10 16 at Ambush Leader. Pulling him to E10, knocked prone. (Damage is +5 con, +3 enh, +2 weapon training feat)

(note: the power's text says you must pull them 4, not up to 4. if that's inflexible, can I "whiplash" him to E10 then D10?
also I haven't figured out how to get Orokos to do augments, but next time I'll just edit the rolls manually before rolling.)

Power points remaining: 3

Denada

I always allow forced movement to be up to the amount stated, even if the text doesn't actually say "up to." This includes an amount of 0.

@Pony, you're up next.

Caulk Bite 6

Cool. Also, I'm being amused by the notion that I'm making the guy fly forward into a Craghammer clothesline, after which, he gets slammed to the ground

Pony

Rusty levels his spear and charges the nearest Gnoll.

Charging to B11
Howling Strike vs AC of Ambush Grunt 2: 1d20+17 19 1d10+3d6+9+1d8 34
Item bonuses:

+1d8 on any successful charge (Vanguard Greatspear +2)
+1d6 on charge attacks (Horned Helm)
Charge doesn't provoke opportunity attacks (Badge of the Bersker +1)
+2 to AC until the end of my next turn (Marauder's Armor)

lame

Denada

The gnoll leader snarls at Thorfin, then leaps to his feet, planting the tip of his spear into the dwarf's shoulder. Searing pain rips through Thorfin's body, forcing him to lose focus. With a yip of laughter, the gnoll reaches into a bag at his waist and draws out a black crystal.

A1-
Move: Stand from prone.
Standard: Bloodspear vs Thorfin (targeting AC): Hit!
-Thorfin takes 15 damage plus 5 fire damage.
-Thorfin is marked by A1.
-Thorfin grants Combat Advantage until the end of A1's next turn.
Minor: Draw item.



Thorfin - 75/95 - AC 28; F 22, R 21, W 23
Location: D9 - Status: Marked (A1). Granting CA (eo A1 nt).
Rusty - 93/93 - AC 26; F 26, R 24, W 22
Location: B11 - Status: Normal.
Ambush Leader - 75/91 - AC 24; F 22, R 24, W 22
Location: E10 - Status: Normal.
Zeel - 77/77 - AC 27; F 20, R 23, W 23
Location: E9 - Status: Normal.
Gleam - 73/73 - AC 23; F 18, R 20, W 24
Location: E7 - Status: Normal.
Waera - 76/76 - AC 24; F 20, R 24, W 19
Location: F8 - Status: Normal.
Ambush Grunt 1 - 1/1 - AC 27; F 23, R 22, W 22
Location: A6 - Status: Minion. Marked (T).
Ambush Grunt 2 - 1/1 - AC 27; F 23, R 22, W 22
Location: A11 - Status: Minion. Marked (T).

Up Next: @Stilts

Caulk Bite 6

@denada using Battle Resilience (free action, triggered by being hit or missed for the first time in battle), gain resist all 10 (6 + 4wis mod) until the end of my next turn.

Stilts

Zeel sneaks around to the ambush leader's back then throws a fireball at him. The fireball spins as it flies, ejecting tiny orbs of flame that surround the kobold like stars.

Zeel uses Light the Fire:

Move Action
Light the Fire Movement = Shift 2 squares to F11 to flank with Thorfin and gain CA against Ambush Leader

Standard Action
Light the Fire vs Reflex of Ambush Leader: 1d20+16 25; 2d8+8 16 fire damage + 6 fire damage (Desert Wind Flurry of Blows)

Generates Aura 1 centered on Zeel. Enemies starting their turn in the aura take 6 fire damage.

Relevant Item Bonuses:

+1 shield bonus to AC on a hit (Fluid Ki Focus)
+1 item bonus to AC and Reflex after shifting

Up Next: @Dichotomy

Dichotomy

Gleam throws out an arm, a featureless white arrow seeming to spring from her palm with the motion as if emerging from a sleeve. Though the projectile has no point- instead bearing a small disc where one would be- the cat nocks it to her bow, and after pausing for just a moment to judge the shot, releases it. Instead of conventionally hurtling through the air, as arrows do, this shot instantly becomes a bolt of searing light, striking the ambush leader with considerable force and leaving the gnoll's fur burning with patches of silver fire. Anyone paying attention would notice Gleam blinking a few times in surprise.

Turns out divinely burning hair doesn't smell any better than conventionally burning hair. Despite the stench, this whole development makes Thorfin feel pretty good.

Standard: Sacred Flame vs. Ambush Leader (E,10)
Sacred Flame vs Reflex: 1d20+12 32 (CRIT) 1d6+9 15
Extra Crit Damage: 2d6 10
(25 damage total)
Effect: Thorfin gains 9 temporary hit points.

Up Next: @Dubh

Doobh

Waera takes in the room before spinning behind a bookshelf. Within a blink, she peers around the other side, grins, and snaps a shot off into the flank of the Gnoll leader. "Drop it, creep!"

Move to H9, counter-clockwise around the bookshelf
Probing Strike vs AC - The Gnoll Leader: 1d20+18 35 1d6+10+3d8+3 31

Hidden Sniper: If you have partial concealment against a target, you gain combat advantage against it with your ranged attacks.

You're up, @Denada!

Denada

The ambush leader laughs at you as your bolt sinks into his chest. "That's the plan, heilfana (Zeel: roughly translated from Abyssal: stupid prey)," he says as the life goes out of his eyes. The crystal tumbles from his hand and strikes the ground. Time seems to stop for a moment as you hear a clear chime ring out from the crystal, just before a massive explosion slams against you.

A1-
Special (on death): The Bomb vs G1, G2, Gleam, Rusty, Thorfin, Waera, Zeel: Hit!, Crit!, Crit!, Hit!, Hit!, Hit!, Hit!
-G1 and G2 die.
-Gleam takes 34 damage, is pushed to E6, knocked prone, and Dazed until the start of her next turn.
-Rusty takes 26 damage, is pushed to A11 (you made your save to avoid falling out of the window), knocked prone, and Dazed until the start of his next turn.
-Thorfin takes 26 damage (reduced to 16), is pushed to A6 (you made your save to avoid falling out of the window), not knocked prone (made your Dwarf save), and Dazed until the start of his next turn.
-Waera takes 26 damage, is pushed to I9, knocked prone, and Dazed until the start of her next turn. Waera takes an additional 10 damage from a bookcase falling on top of her.
-Zeel takes 26 damage, is pushed to G12, knocked prone, and Dazed until the start of his next turn.

Since there are no more combatants here, we'll drop out of combat timing. When you stand up, roughly ten seconds will have passed from when Professor Ulya was pulled out of the window.

Doobh

Waera squirms out from beneath the bookshelf. "Well, there's a a shade of insanity." She stands up, wincing, before she checks her crossbows for damage. "Everybody still kicking? Except for, you know, the crazies."

Dichotomy

Gleam remains on the floor. "I hate Sharn," she says, staring up at the ceiling.

Stilts

Zeel slowly stands up, rubbing the back of his head from the knock it took against the bookcase.

"I'm fine," he says. "Mostly. Now, let's see if 'the crazies' left any clues for us to follow."

If necessary, Perception vs Dead Ambush Leader: 1d20+14 17

Caulk Bite 6

Thorfin stows his hammer with a whisper, wipes his hands and replies "Still standin' lass. But what in the name of Moradin was that all about? And anyone see where the professor ended up?"

Doobh

"Out the window." Waera cracks her neck. "Need any help, Zeel? I used to be a watch officer, you know."

Perception check to aid Zeel's investigation 1d20+14: 19
Also, spending two healing surges to boost health back up to max. 7/9 remaining.]

Pony

"What just happened?" Rusty grumbles as he rises to his feet, trying to shake off the effects of the explosion.

Caulk Bite 6

"and in all likely hood, that super secret envelope went with 'im, clutched in a death grip." He trundles over to the window and chances a glance down "Well Rusty, m'boy, I think we got suicide bombed."

Denada

You find the gnoll leader's body hanging halfway out the window. It's burned, crushed, shot, and broken. He's wearing dark leather armor, the kind you would expect to see on a no-good thug. His grunts are nowhere to be seen, presumably because they were blown out the window by the leader's bomb. His spear has probably suffered the same fate.

Of greater interest than the gnoll leader's broken body are the other gnolls' whole bodies on the transport skiff hovering outside of the library. They've just finished hauling in the professor and are about to take off. You can see from here that the envelope is indeed still clutched in his hand. Also, he's alive.

Doobh

How far away is the Skiff, @Denada? Is it within comfortable firing range of my crossbows?

Denada

It's about twenty feet away from the window, so within both crossbow distance and jumping distance if you were so inclined. There are two gnolls at the front of the skiff (pilot and co-pilot), three in the rear, and two in the middle (on either side of the professor).

Doobh

Trading a glance with Zeel, Waera aims one her crossbows at the pilot's heart. "You might want to grab that steering wheel, Zeel." The bolt launches with a thawng, and sails toward the front of the skiff...


Scattering Shot vs AC at skiff pilot: 1d20+18 19 [Re-rolls with 1 action point] 1d20+18: 24
2d6+10 20

If I have combat advantage...
Sneak Attack damage: Roll(3d8)+3:7,5,5,+3 Total:20

Pony

Rusty yells "STOP!" before leaping out of the window with reckless abandon.

LEAP OF FAITH: 1d20+14 15

I think I still make it? With a running start, you double the result, so even though I rolled a 1 I think I made it?

Dichotomy

"You know we have bows!" Gleam yells after Rusty, picking herself up off the ground and stretching while staggering to the window.

Denada

Waera: The gnolls aren't surprised by your arrival. They're somewhat surprised by your survival, but not enough to give you an advantage. The pilot sees your shot coming and dodges it, however not quite fast enough. Your bolt still gives him a nice little cut on the arm, enough to force him to accidentally swerve the skiff.

Rusty: For jumping, you divide your Athletics check by 5 if you got a running start (instead of 10 for a standing start), and the result is how many squares you clear. So you cleared three, but you needed to clear 4. So... Your leap seems to be right on target at first, but you quickly realize that you're going to come up short. At the same time that you begin to truly appreciate Thorfin's choice of armor, the skiff suddenly swerves toward you, just close enough for you to reach out and grab it... make a saving throw. If you pass you catch yourself on the edge of the skiff and can haul yourself up.

Everyone Else: Waera has opened fire on the gnolls. Rusty has leapt from the edge of a floating tower again. What are you going to do?

Stilts

"True," Zeel says to Gleam, "but this is far more fun."

Zeel bends his knees as red wings of fire sprout from his back. He jumps and the wings flap, propelling him to the front of the skiff. As he lands, the wings flap once more, leaving his body to become a blast of fire that engulfs to gnoll pilots.

Zeel uses Draconic Torrent

Move Action
Draconic Torrent Movement = Fly my speed (up to 8 squares) to the front of the skiff.

Standard Action
Draconic Torrent vs. Reflex of Gnoll Pilot and Co-Pilot: 1d20+14 15 (natural 1) vs pilot; 1d20+14 21 vs co-pilot; 3d8+8 21 fire damage

Minor Action
Activate Skald's Aura


Hahaha, wow, those were some shitty attack rolls.

At least I'm guaranteed to make it to the ship, though. I love Full Disciplines so much.

Doobh

@Denada - the Gnoll should take 5hp damage from grazing shot if he's not a minion, fyi.

Doobh

That is also the second 1 rolled against that goddamn pilot. I had to throw an action point on and still missed the bastard.

Denada

Updated the post to account for your grazing shot. Zeel is now on the skiff, but I'll wait until the rest of the party acts before posting another update.

Pony

"RAAAAAARGH!"

Rusty grabs the edge of the skiff at the last possible moment.

Not falling to my death: 1d20 16