OOC: Because this is a so-called "boss battle," the stats in the monster manual for a medusa were simply too generic for use here.  Instead, I migrated to the stats in the 4th Edition D&D Monstrous Manual, which seem much more apropos to this level of fight and a final boss battle.  But she uses the orbs instead of a bow and carries a longsword like the male medusa listed there.

NOTES:

(1) A critical miss here (except for Borimer) means that you looked up at the medusa accidentally or otherwise.

(2) The medusa's hit points are already reduced related to her being attacked by the statue earlier.





Round 1

Kahan begins casting.

Borimer leads the charge, swinging blindly at the creature.  He hits Esylia directly in the chest (critical hit).  Esylia screams. (30 hp dmg.)

Harak joins the fray, swinging his scimitar once and missing.  (Critical miss.  Harak looks up at the medusa's eyes...and turns to stone!)

Esylia throws her orb at the attacking Borimer, but he dodges and it flies through the open doorway, exploding in the Time Ark room.  The statue is hit almost directly, but Flint also catches part of the explosion.  (11 hp dmg.)

Malissin jumps in and attacks, but he misses Esylia.

The snakes hiss and strike at the attacking Borimer, and one finds his sword arm.  (7 hp dmg.  Saving throw failed -- poisoned.) (Borimer receives a -2 to future attacks and will receive ongoing poison damage until cured.)

Borimer attacks again, hitting Esylia once more.  (33 hp dmg.)

Kahan finishes his spell, casting protection from evil on Borimer.  (Attacks from Esylia are now at -2, +2 to all saving throws by Borimer by attacks from Esylia.)

Esylia is doing something (but you can't see since you are all averting your eyes or blind).

The statue, though badly damages, is crawling forward to the south to attack the group, since it is still in "guard" mode.  It will reach Flint first.


Esylia:
HP: 113/212
AC: -6
Special Attacks:

Petrifying Gaze
Up to 4 attacks per round (gaze, snakes, two weapons)

Special Defenses:
Immunities: gaze/poison

This message was last edited by the GM at 18:16, Tue 04 Dec 2012.

OOC: This is how the gaze attack will work:

(1) If you avert your eyes, then you only look up accidentally on a critical miss, and then must make a saving throw.  Your attacks while averting your eyes are the same as attacking blindly and you will not be included in any private messaging describing what she is doing.  She will know those averting their eyes are the weakest targets for a physical attack of some kind.

(2) If you don't avert your eyes, then she gets one gaze attack per round on someone who is not averting their eyes (determined randomly, but weighted in favor of those who are closest or the most danger to her).  A saving throw averts the gaze attack.

Fighting blind is not something Mal was looking forward to doing but after seeing Harak turn to stone he keeps his eyes cast down as he tries to work his way around the gorgon.

OOC: Are there any shadows Mal can slip into? Trying to get a sneak attack set up. Otherwise he'll work on trying to flank Esylia so that he is opposite Borimer and stab away.


14:21, Today: Malissin rolled 8 using 1d20. attack roll, modifiers later!

I'm guessing that's a miss.

It is a dark area with a lot of shadows, but there seem to be two problems: 1) she is standing between the two bookcases, though I guess he could slip between and under them to get around behind her, and 2) how's he going to do that with his eyes averted, since it takes skill and awareness of all his surroundings.

So I would say, yes, it's possible, but it will carry a negative modifier of some sort.

Still, if he succeeds, he would not have to attack her blindly from behind for a backstab (until after he hits, which will surely alert her attention to him for the gaze).

Borimer grimaces when the snake fangs pierce his arm, and he flails about in futility for one blind and terrifying moment.

Hearing the hissing of one of the snakes, and then Borimer's reaction, Kahan realizes the warrior must have been bitten, so rather than risking getting turned to stone himself, he begins casting another spell.

OOC:
To Borimer: Not sure what Borimer is doing next round based on the post.

To Malissin: In the spirit of encouraging unique ways to fight the monster, I hope I didn't dissuade you from your idea, which I thought was a good idea.  I was merely making it a decent challenge.

borimer made three misses :)
17:19, Yesterday: Borimer rolled 7 using 1d20+5. att 3.
17:19, Yesterday: Borimer rolled 8 using 1d20+5. att 2.
17:19, Yesterday: Borimer rolled 7 using 1d20+5. att 1 vs medusa.

Round 2
Malissin begins slipping into the shadows up and behind the shelves to attack from behind.

Borimer takes 9 points of poison damage.  It is like acid in his veins.

Kahan is casting.

Borimer takes three swipes at Esylia but misses all three.

Esylia attacks back.

Borimer feels a blade sweep near his face, and he barely ducks away in time.  The hissing of the snakes also comes close but they fail to make contact.

Malissin successfully backstabs, and Esylia howls in pain as the short sword pierces her back.  (15 hp dmg.)

Kahan finishes his spell.  The poison is slowed in Borimer's veins.

Harak is still turned to stone.

Flint is just beyond the group, turning to face the oncoming crippled iron statue.

Esylia:
 HP: 95/212
 AC: -6
 Special Attacks:

Petrifying Gaze
 Up to 4 attacks per round (gaze, snakes, two weapons)

Special Defenses:
 Immunities: gaze/poison

Borimer's body begins to relax as the poison slows and he pushes forward to attack two more times.  But the poison and general blindness keep the otherwise stalwart warrior from doing any real damage.

Still not wanting to risk turning to stone, Kahan continues to keep casting. "Flint, just try to keep the statue busy!" he states to the wizard.

Mal smiles as he buries his blade into the gorgon's back. Part of him was sad he didn't have the crown though, but the hissing of snakes made him finally admit that his plan was doomed to failure. There was no way he could blindly set the crown on her head without dying of poison and snake bites.

He steels his resolves and thrusts again for the small of Esylia's back.

OOC: That is probably another miss :(

Harak is still turned to stone, wondering if someone will help him.

Flint runs into the room, uncorking the stopper, and pours the last stone to flesh potion on Harak.

ROUND 3
OOC: This round was pretty bad for everyone.

Malissin attempts to backstab again, but Esylia is aware of him and he misses.

Borimer strikes out but misses.

Kahan casts a spell.  (Borimer now has Aid cast on him.)

Flint dumps the potion over Harak, who turns back to flesh.

The snake-like Esylia attacks at Borimer and Malissin, but misses both.

Borimer regains his footing enough to take three more cuts at his enemy.

Harak wastes no time after recovering from his stoned state.  He slashes twice at the medusa with his scimitar.

Kahan again begins casting.

Flint casts a spell. Casting Haste on Borimer.

ROUND 4
Flint begins casting.

Kahan begins casting.

Borimer swings, and one of his swings hits Esylia.  (33 hp dmg.)

Harak also swings twice, barely missing on his second swing.

Malissin attempts another attack, but is backhanded by Esylia.  He can't help looking...just can't help it...and he is turned to stone.  (Saving throw missed.)

Esylia lashes out.  Two of her attacks miss, but her scimitar slashes Borimer.  (8 hp dmg.)

She screams out, "Give me the Code and I will let you live, vermin!"  It is not clear to whom she is speaking...perhaps everyone in general.

Borimer's speed suddenly doubles.  (Haste spell successful.)

Kahan successfully (and unbelievably) charms the snakes that constitute Esylia's hair.

Borimer's poison is still slowed.

With eyes averted, no one but Harak can see what Esylia is doing.


Esylia:
 HP: 62/212
 AC: -6
 Special Attacks:

Petrifying Gaze
 Up to 4 attacks per round (gaze, snakes, two weapons)

Special Defenses:
 Immunities: gaze/poison

Pulling out the Rod of Absorption, Kahan attempts to cast a spell with it.

Borimer senses his speed increasing and can't help but notice how quickly his attacks are flowing from him, Those extra reps during practice are really paying off he thought while mercilessly beating down harassing his enemy, I'm pretty badass actually-

Out of the six potentially fascinating sword maneuvers Borimer displays only one finds its mark while the others find empty space.

Harak continues his assault with his scimitar.

ROUND 5

The assault continues.  Esylia's snake attack is incapacitated because of Kahan's charm spell.

Borimer looks like his shadowfighting for five swings, and then his last swing hits its mark.  (33 hp dmg)

Harak swings twice, hitting once with his scimitar.  (10 hp dmg.)

Kahan is casting with the rod of absorption...

Flint is casting...

Magic missiles fly from Flint's hands, striking Esylia.  (12 hp dmg.)

Esylia strikes out twice, hitting Harak once with her curved blade.  (13 hp dmg.)

Using the Rod of Absorption, a flaming vertical column of fire seems to come down as if from the heavens and strike Esylia, including the 5 foot space around her.

Esylia tries to dodge (saving throw made), but she still gets hit with a significant amount of fire.  Malissin's statue is also warming up, just within the flames.

Borimer and Harak jump back out of the fray...

Harak makes it back, but Borimer is still singed by the fire.  (Saving throw made, half damage:  10 hp dmg.)  You smell scorched hair (Borimer's) and scorched flesh (Esylia).

Esylia collapses under the fire, her corpse singed and burning.

Kahan, quite proud of himself, puts away the rod of absorption and looks around to make sure everyone is alright, keeping his eyes away from Esylia's corpse. "Borimer, do me a favor and chop off her head, then put it in this sack for me. Perhaps we could use it in our favor against our enemies." the priest asks, handing Borimer a sack from his pack and looking at the petrified body of Malissin with a strong feeling of dread. "We need to try to find Syrissa's body and pray that we can locate the potion she had on her. Hopefully it didn't break when she got... destroyed."