"Oh my, that was close." Lilianne said and got up almost clumsily. "I should end this soon." she said to herself and began to weave a spell. The world seemed to move a little slower for her now and she shooed her summoned beasties off "Go my little ones, find the remaining one, you know what to do..." with that, the buggers went off, chasing after Quin.

Round 3:
  [Free]
  [Move] Stand up
  [Standard] Cast Haste on self, wolves and celestial hippogriff

Status:
  Initiative: 18
  AC (Touch AC): 19 (11)

  Damage Taken: 0
  Damage Dealt: 0 (19 to Amiwien)

Effects:
  Mage Armor (12hrs)
  Shield (5 minutes)

Final Position: N33

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Summoned Celestial Hippogryf (from wand) - 3rds remaining.

Round 3: Hasted
  [Free]
  [Move] Run 100x4/2
  [Standard]
Status:
  Initiative: 18
  AC (Touch AC): 15 (11)

  Damage Taken: 0
  Damage Dealt: 5

Final Position: I+J 06+07

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Summoned Fiendish Wolves (from memory) - 09rds remaining.

Round 3: Hasted
  [Free]
  [Move] Run 50x4x2/2
  [Standard]

Status:
  Initiative: 18
  AC (Touch AC): 15 (11)

  Damage Taken: 0
  Damage Dealt: 7

Final Position: K14, K15, K16

Seeing his companion brought down, and the magically quickened creatures bearing down on him Quinlan acts as fast as he can. Speaking a command word a large oak suddenly appears next to him, and he begins climbing up the tree.

Round 3:
  [Free]
  [Move]Climb 1/4 speed (24)
  [Standard] Activate feather token (tree) at J06 (yes, on the hippogriff)

Status:
  Initiative: 5
  AC (Touch AC): 19 (14)

  Damage Taken: 0
  Damage Dealt: 3 to wolf at N33

Effects: possible cover/concealement from foliage etc

Final Position: J06, 8 feet up
This message was last edited by the player at 08:09, Mon 18 Aug 2008.

ooc: Well, considering how long the hippogriff will stay, that crit doesn't bother me at all. However, there is a few things I'd like to have clarified...

1.) You wielded a bow in last round, how can you attack with a rapier now? Drawing it is a move action or free action if you take a 5ft step or have the quickdraw feat. I didn't see you drop the bow either, so how do you climb with one hand?

2.) Activating magic items usually takes a standard action. How does activating a feather token take no time? I've read the description that says "instant effect" but that refers to the tree growing, not activation of the item.

Thanks.

OOC: I may draw freely it as part of movement, but ok, I see your point with the movement being climbing. However, this point is moot since I misread the "instantaneous" entry for the Token. In other words; I activate the Token as a standard action, and have no time for attacking. I'm editing accordingly.

BTW: Is it possible to Withdraw climbing?

ooc: Theoretically, as climbing is movement and the description says: if you do anything BUT moving. However, activating the tree token is not moving. So this round it's a standard action+move action=no withdrawl. At least from my point of view, you may contact a DM if in doubt, it would be interesting to see the ruling on this.

ooc: I'm still not sure how you climb with one hand or leave the bow, but alas, I'm not going to pursue that now.

Round 4:
  [Free]
  [Standard] Cast Benign transposition on self and celestial hippogriff, swap places.
  [Move] ready bow

Status:
  Initiative: 18
  AC (Touch AC): 19 (11)

  Damage Taken: 0
  Damage Dealt: 0 (19 to Amiwien)

Effects:
  Mage Armor (12hrs)
  Shield (5 minutes)

Final Position: JO7

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Summoned Celestial Hippogryf (from wand) - 2rds remaining.

Round 3: Hasted
  [Free] Transported to N33
  [Move] Run 50x4/2
  [Standard]

Status:
  Initiative: 18
  AC (Touch AC): 15 (11)

  Damage Taken: 9
  Damage Dealt: 5

Final Position: K+L 14+15

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Summoned Fiendish Wolves (from memory) - 08rds remaining.

Round 3: Hasted
  [Free]
  [Move] to final position below.
  [Standard]

Status:
  Initiative: 18
  AC (Touch AC): 15 (11)

  Damage Taken: 0/0/3
  Damage Dealt: 7

Final Position: I05, I06, I07

OOC: I carry the bow as I would a shoulderbag on the back. Where is the hippogriff at the time of the benign transportation? My guess is he's dead after having an oak appearing on the same location as him (or part of him). That matters little though as you can swap places with a wolf of your choosing! :-)
Now to another question: how does one treat fighting in/on trees? Quinlan can lie down on a branch and fire his bow, or stand on a wide enough trunk. This is a massive oak (60' high, 40' wide), so there should be a number of those. I have looked at the rules but found little to help. Could we please sort this out before proceeding?

OOC: Don't try to use the oak as a weapon. I'd have to ask you where that move action is to stow your bow! The tree grows, it doesn't fall from the sky, so the hippogriff isn't in any danger of being harmed, it might push him aside, that is all.

Fighting in trees: You're not an ape (which reminds me I should summon an ape the next round) so I would say you need a stable position, but you also need two hands to fire your bow. I know your tactics but this time it won't work: Moving in the tree requires a climbing check, climbing explicitly requires BOTH hands, so forget about carrying a bow while climbing/hiding. And it would have to be a very large branch if you want to fire standing or kneeling. Is it a short or longbow you're shooting? Regardless, the only bow you can shoot lying is a crossbow.

Perhaps this is the time when we should get a DM in.

OOC: I wasn't trying to use the tree as a weapon, merely to avoid the AoO. The tree "springs into being", it doesn't grow.
The weapon is a longbow, and I agree; it might be too unwieldy to be used effectively (penalty?). Lying down was a poor example, standing on a branch and bracing against the trunk is a better one, provided a successful balance check (DC?) is made. Concerning tactics; what do you expect? I will be swarmed by your creatures sooner or later, and had to try something. Besides, it's fun to try and think outside the box; the result isn't always brilliant but worth trying. Perhaps we should consult another DM, as you suggested.
This message was last edited by the player at 10:43, Mon 18 Aug 2008.

If you expect to kill or harm a creature with it, then you are using it as a weapon. A chair isn't a weapon, but if I use it to bash your head with it, it bloody well becomes  a weapon. Thinking out of the box is fun but if it leads to confusion it is not, at least not for the one on the other end. I should have summoned a celestial bison on top of you and see how it plummets down, smashing you under its belly. Fun? Yes, but not sensibly covered by the rules, imho. I enjoy using spells and even coming up with new and creative ways of using them, but I try to avoid the grey area where it comes to DM judgement. Next time when you're in the water, hiding, I'll use a feather token swan boat to drop on your head... *grumble*

Besides: I did NOT have the h-griff attack with an AoO, or did I?

OOC: LOL! Dropping a swan boat on a swimming character is hilarious! Gwendol could certainly use one right now...

Your turn Quin.

OOC: off to bed, post tomorrow.

Quinlan has some trouble pulling himself up on the branch overhead, but manages eventually.

Round 4:
  [Free]
  [Move]Climb 1/4 speed DC15 (12)
  [Standard] Climb 1/4 speed DC15 (16)

Status:
  Initiative: 5
  AC (Touch AC): 19 (14)

  Damage Taken: 0
  Damage Dealt: 3 to wolf at N33

Effects: cover/concealement from foliage etc

Final Position: J06, 10 feet up, on a branch (narrow surface)

OOC: I realize I messed up my actions last round. I didn't realize that with *my feet* being 8' up the trunk, the branch is actually only 2' up. Heaving onself up is not a DC15 climb effort. Oh well, bring on the pain!

With a gesture of her hand, the mage held the wolves at bay and the the hippogriff merely trotted closer.

Lilianne clapped her hands in glee as she watched the nimble rogue climb the tree to escape the hounds of terror. "Oh my oh my, such an ingenuous move. Congratulations, that was very clever. Or at least more clever than I had expected. But do you really think I will let you snipe at me from a distance, allowing you to profit from the cover and concealment the leaves provide?" She held up her finger and wagged it lightly. <purple>"No, we really cannot have that. Taking something very fine from her component pouch, the elf began chanting a spell, she seemed to be in a happy, playful mood as she knitted her hands then spread them out in Quinlan's direction. Suddenly a huge mass of spider webs sprung into being, covering the tree from top to bottom and some of the rocks in their sticky masses, catching the hapless half-breed right against the trunk.

Round 5:
  [Free]
  [Standard] Cast Web centered on F/G 07/08, Refl. save DC19 or become stuck.
               Str check DC20 to free yourself if stuck.
               If unstuck Str check DC10 to move (5ft per 5pts above 10).
  [Move] None.

Status:
  Initiative: 18
  AC (Touch AC): 19 (11)

  Damage Taken: 0
  Damage Dealt: 0 (19 to Amiwien)

Effects:
  Mage Armor (12hrs)
  Shield (5 minutes)

Final Position: JO7

No changes to the summoned monsters. Hippogriff remains one more round, wolves 7rds.

Quinlans lightning reflexes saves him from being completely caught in the web. To his great surprise he finds a clearing in the mass of sticky strands to the south, and he labourosly makes his way to freedom. Seeing that both the caster and her summoned wolves are caught in the web makes Quinlan smile broadly before pulling out a small flask and throwing it towards one of the wolves. The flask immediately bursts into flames that quickly spread through the web.

OOC: Please check the DMG p 307 for a drawing of the area of effect. You have managed to catch yourself and your three wolves in the web. Since I'm not threatened and can't fall even if I roll a 1 I take 10 on the balance check for movement (yes, I've reduced my DEX with 4 from entanglement). I also take 10 for the escape artist check to move through the web 5' to J05 which is outside the area of effect of the spell.

Round 5:
  [Free]Reflex save (29) success!
  [Move]Take 10 on both balance (17) and escape artist (15) to get 5' to J05
  [Standard] Alchemist fire at wolf#2 (I06), ranged touch attack (9) hit since wolf is entangled (at least, worse if he fails his save), damage (5), everyone else within 5' takes 1 point of splash damage. Web burns dealing additional 2d4 damage according to (from left to right): wolf #1(4), wolf #2(2), wolf #3(5), Lilianne (5)

Status:
  Initiative: 5
  AC (Touch AC): 19 (14)

  Damage Taken: 0
  Damage Dealt: 3 to wolf at N33(you'll have to keep track of which), 5 to wolf #1, 7 to wolf #2, 6 to wolf #3, 6 to Lilianne

Effects: cover/concealement from foliage etc, balancing (no dex bonus to AC, -2 to attack, considered flat footed)

Final Position: J05, 10 feet up, on a branch (narrow surface)

*sighs* Sorry dear but none of Lilianne or her monsters are entangled in the web:
since there is nothing for the web to get stuck upon (and creatures obviously don't count) the web folds in her area and vanishes. No damage to her or the monsters I'm afraid.

But I'm glad you tried, now the tree is on fire and I don't need to set it alight.

Now for the number of your actions:

1) Move action into a different square, since you are entangled that is not a free 5ft step. Since you are still moving within the tree it requires a climb check too and since it is climbing it requires 2 hands. You have alchemists fire and a bow in hands (or did you drop the bow), how do you do that?

2) Move action to get your alchemists fire.

3) Standard action to throw the alchemists fire.

But I'll be living with all those very questionable actions. However, I must insist that you carefully consider what you do next time.

OOC: I suggest you draw the position of the tree and the boulders. wolf #1 is caught in the strands between the tree and boulder at F05, wolf #2 tree and boulder at H06-07 same for wolf #3, finally lilianne is caught between tree and boulder at H09.

"You've ruined my dress!" Lilianne exclaimed as the fire burned her pretty dress of elven make. "That was not a smart move Mister!" the statueske elf gestured to her hounds as the hippogriff had already returned to its origin. They all took several steps backwards. When she felt it was secure, Lilianne threw a little bit of dirt in Quinlan's direction and suddenly a strange mist rose from the ground enveloping the same area that was filled by the web. Cold crept up the rogue's limbs and ate his resolve...

ooc: fiendish wolves have resistance to fire 5, so only 1 is harmed for one point of damage.

Round 6:
  [Free]
  [Move] to N07
  [Standard] Cast Kelgore's grave mist, 2pts cold damage AND fatigued. No save!

Status:
  Initiative: 18
  AC (Touch AC): 19 (11)

  Damage Taken: 6
  Damage Dealt: 2 (19 to Amiwien/ 2 Quinlan)

Effects:
  Mage Armor (12hrs)
  Shield (5 minutes)

Final Position: NO7

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Summoned Fiendish Wolves (from memory) - 06rds remaining.

Round 3: Hasted
  [Free]
  [Move] to final position below.
  [Standard]

Status:
  Initiative: 18
  AC (Touch AC): 15 (11)

  Damage Taken: 0/0/4
  Damage Dealt: 7

Final Position: M05, M06, M07

All wolves are positioned in line "I" I05 I06 and I07.

Now I see. I had meant "K" not I.
Ok go ahead and kill me then.

I surrender then. You win. It is difficult enough to keep track of my monsters and spell effects AND all the funny ideas you have going on there.

This was the last time I will ever do an arena fight with you. Period.

Frankly, I was surprised of the choice of intersection for the spell, why not set it off in the tree? You can always fight Gwendol, he's very straight forward.