Ziv narrowed her eyes, grabbing yet another dagger from what looked like her ankle. Had that always been there? As fluidly as she gripped it, it found itself flinging through the air towards the Hunter. Ziv took quick aim and rethrew the dagger of returning, and another dagger from whoknowswhere.

Character Chat:
Johannes:
The creature seems to have been more injured from the fire from my attack!  It may have a weakness to flame!
Everyone, if your able to use fire, do it!  Did you hear the creature say it felt pain?!  Only after hit with the fire damage!
It could have been from the smite as well, but I think it was the fire!  We must use fire!

Alacor
How much did smite do?

Johannes
It seemed to react to the fire more!

Johannes
Also, watch out, the creature can seem to avoid our attacks as it moves past.  He seems to move like the wind!  Or perhaps some sort of dimension hop, yet his feet touched the ground as he walked, you can see by the flowers!

Alacor
We'll have to burn it to the ground! I'll try to weaken him even more!

Johannes
You there!  Stranger!  I am not sure your quarrel with the beast, but we welcome your aid if that is your enemy!  Don't touch the flowers lest they sap your strength!  They have some sort of poison or evil in them!
{@Andrew Bear ^}

Stranger
Well met strangers! Thanks for the warning! Let us work together to slay the beast!

Post:
After my lance hits its mark, I hear the creature mention it felt pain... pain?  The other attacks?  Have they been doing nothing?  It then dawns on me, what was different about my attack: flame.  "We must hit the creature with fire!" I shout to the group.  "It seems to have a weakness to fire!  If any of you have any magic of flame or burning oil, throw it on the creature now!  Set it ablaze!  It might be tied to the tree, so we must retrieve Cabrakan and burn perhaps both the tree and the creature!"

I then rear my horse around, preparing for another attack.  I now call on my God again, always faithful, always stable, never changing, ever sufficient.  His love never fails, his truth never fails.  Like a strong tower, he is there around me.  Verses of His supreme order and perfection, His absolute oath to us, come to mind...



It dawned on me again, He will never let me down.  Even the spear of this enemy could not hit its mark.

Now an even greater fervor arose in my bones, and the words spoke forth from my mouth as if someone else was speaking though me.
at first muttering the words from memory, until they began to resound from my lungs, from my heart!

"Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.

This day will the Lord deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.

And all this assembly shall know that the Lord saveth not with sword and spear: FOR THE BATTLE IS THE LORD'S, AND HE WILL GIVE YOU INTO OUR HANDS!"

I then lowered my lance again, and shouted to my mount, "YA!" and we rode forth again.

Actions:
(swift action) Activate my LAW DEVOTION ability, +5 to AR.
(full round action) I lower my lance and Charge once more, via 14/13-S/T, and travelling to 22/21-K/L.
Use paladin smite evil (part of attack) and use 9 power attack

AR: +1 haste, +1 bless, +2 recitation, +2 bulls str, +1 weapon, +2 str, +1 high ground, +1 weapon focus lance, +9 BA, +2 charge, +5 law devotion, +3 smite evil = +30 -9 for power attack = +21
DMG: x3(8 PWR ATK + 1d8 lance + 1 bonus on lance + 4 str + 4 fire + 5 smite evil) = 3d8+57+12 fire
DC 18 ref or catch on fire, taking more damage (1d4 fire until put out)
note: if I am attacked I use my mount to take cover (DC 15 ride)

Rolls:
01:58, Today: Herr Johannes rolled 22 using 1d20+21.  AR, on the hunter, with all buffs listed (9 PWR_ATK); tDI. nat 1?
This message was last edited by the player at 08:08, Sun 04 Mar 2018.

I hear Johannes yell that it has a weakness to fire. So I know I should use by flame arrows, but I don't want the beast to do any more damage with that spear! [I move to L18] Before getting my flame arrows ready I quickly take aim at the spear and release an arrow to disarm the creature!
This message was last edited by the player at 05:27, Sun 04 Mar 2018.

I grimace after being struck by the hunter and falter for only a moment. Slightly dismayed by my miscalculation, I look at my feet after heeding the word of warning from the others and notice the flowers sprouting before me.

I look to the team assembled. “Let me know how I can assist you. I am strong and can take a hit if need be. Lets work together to take this thing down.”

Reaching in my belt I pull out a potion of cure lesser wounds and drink it. After the slight relief in pain I move to a defensive position near my new allies. move to t19 then to q19 avoiding the flowers.
This message was last edited by the player at 07:30, Sun 04 Mar 2018.

The wizard eyed the hunter. He saw that the creature was feeling the effects from the last spell, but it wasn't enough! He knew he had to do more as he watched the hunter furiously attack at his companions. Quickly, the white haired wizard flipped his spell book to a different page while moving into position closer to the tree {G15}. Alacor waited for the skeleton Ashe to move out of the way before he started.

The white haired man took Steve in the hand and planted the bottom of the staff in the ground pointed slightly towards the hunter. He put away the spell book and with his other hand made a sign with it. The top of the staff began to spark and arc small jolts of electricity between the points of the staff. The wizard wore a dark expression on his face as he began to speak. The other could feel the weight of the phrase and the very words felt like they would drain the strength out of you. Suddenly a streak of black lighting flew threw the and toward the hunter.

Alacor then eyes Jasper over by the tree and has the bat return to his side.

{Alacor moves to G15 and casts Ray of Enfeeblement on the hunter after Ashe moves out of the way, but before any one else acts.}

01:53, Today: Alacor rolled 13 using 1d20+9.  Ranged touch attack on Hunter (Ray of Enfeeblement).
01:57, Today: Alacor rolled 6 using 1d6+4.  Strength damage if hit.
Take 10 on any caster level check

This message was last edited by the player at 06:59, Sun 04 Mar 2018.

Post:
Andriel witnesses the battle before her and realizes a few things quickly.  First, she needs to get her skeletons' better equipment, like simple shields, and quality weapons for a start.  Next, that she needs to get the skeletons ranged weapons because they could all be raining arrows on the enemy, or stones from slings, or alchemist fire since that is easier to hit with for the weak skeletons.  Second, she see's the keen advantage Herr Johaness has via flying and sees that other than the dwarf nearby, the whole battlefield terrain the other side of the skeletons is available to mess up with all sorts of nasty spells, like flame wall, ice wall, spiked earth, entangle etc. and entrap the creature, yet leave us free.

This later one she decides to pass on to others.  "Streleka! Nurrick! uh... Stranger dwarf! Everybody else!  If we can use magic to mess up the creature's ability to move, we can hold it at bay and pelt it with arrows to death!  Do any of you have such ability?  Magic or otherwise?!  Use it if you can!"

She then follows Alacor, to do something similar.  As she runs her skeletons all act in concert as she directed them.  Ashe steps closer to Cabrakan to help him, and she sees her opportunity, casting a spell at the creature.  "Perhaps, if this creature has a weakness to fire, it has a weakness to light? Time to find out!"

She lifts her right hand up after she nears Alacor, and aims it at the creature, hoping to blind it, permanently.  With her left hand, she directs the rest of her undead to hold a moment. "I come at you in the name of justice, on behalf of these good people, you will stop this wickedness, creature!  May the light blind you! erit lux!" {casts Searing Light}

The then waves her hand for the undead to continue their choreography.

Actions:
Ashe
- 5ft steps to L13
- does whatever is needed to get Cabrakan
-(I assumed an attack on the tree, then a move to pick up Cabrakan?)
1:
- 5ft step to M15
- take total defense
4: after the listed actions below
***either
a. if the weapon of creature is not disarmed
- 5ft step to O19
- take total defense
b. if the weapon of creature is disarmed
- move to weapon dropped
- pick it up
2: also conditional based on 4's action
***either
a. if the weapon of creature is not disarmed (and 4 does not move)
- 5ft step to N17
- take total defense
b. if the weapon of creature is disarmed
- move to O17
- fight defensively

Andriel moves to G16 via K21-J20-I19-H18-G17-G16 (40ft speed with haste)
Casts Searing Light on the hunter

*note on order of events:
suggested:
Ashe moves
Alacor moves and attacks
Andriel moves and attacks
1 moves south
Nurrick moves and attacks
Ziv attacks
the rest can occur before or after I believe/not as dependant on order.
this should provide that Ziv, Nurrick, Alacor, and Andriel all have no issues with soft cover from friendlies in the way.  If not, please contact me about how this is not the case.

Rolls:
I will let you roll them since you are more familiar with the modifiers applicable to this.

Johannes could feel his blood burning. He stared aghast at the monster before him, which looked like something straight from one of his nightmares. “That creature just took every one of our attacks and is still standing,” he murmured to himself. His skin felt cold in its presence, but a bead of sweat trailed down his forehead nonetheless. “Have we ever fought something so powerful?” Steeling his nerve, he raised his voice to that of a battlecry.

“SHOW NO MERCY!”

The party sprang into action.

Ashe, the most powerful of Andriel's skeleton minions, moved toward the base of the accursed tree. Amid the flowers at its feet laid Crispina, unconscious and unmoving, like a sleeping princess from an old bedtime story. Her dark skin was adorned with crimson flowers that grew around her limbs and neck; even now they continued to grow, steadily curling and ensnaring her like a thousand tiny snakes. Following its master's command, Ashe bent over and cut the vines away with its battleaxe; it then dropped the axe and picked up Crispina, in the princess-carrying style and all. The party members cast worried glances her way, hoping that her physical state was not as bad as it looked. They also reserved some of their worry for their other teammate, Cabrakan, who was still ensnared in the branches high above. . .

Alacor dashed across the field, moving at incredible speed thanks to his earlier spell of Haste, and stopped beside Streleka. “I have a clear shot from here,” he muttered. “Are you ready Steve?”

“Ready when you are,” his staff replied.

Alacor moved his staff through the air and shouted an incantation. Then from the tip of his staff came a dark ray that shot across the field. But to his woe, it missed the beast {Alacor missed the Hunter}. He cursed under his breath.

Andriel appeared beside him. “My turn.” She quickly cast a spell and shot a beam of blinding light at the Hunter; the glowing yellow beam seared its skin, causing a plume of smoke to rise from where it struck. The Hunter did not react much to the spell, but there was no doubt it received damage {Andriel dealt 20 damage to the Hunter}.

Nurick sprinted to near the fore of the group, taking cover behind one of Andriel's skeletons. “All together now!” he shouted, as Streleka drew back the string on her bow and Ziv snatched a dagger from her boot. “Fire!” Nurick let loose his arrow, cleverly aiming at the monster's spear – or at least, he thought it was clever.

With a terrifyingly swift motion, the Hunter swatted Nurick's arrow out of the air with the tip of its spear, deflecting it into the darkness. And as if that wasn't enough, it continued to knock aside nearly every other projectile that came its way {Nurick's disarm attempt failed. Ziv missed her first, second, and third attacks. Streleka missed her first attack}.

Streleka notched a second arrow in her bow, feeling the pressure of their situation grow. “Please strike true,” she begged of it. She released.

The arrow shot straight into the creature's heart, if it had one, dealing a critical blow {Streleka dealt 20 damage to the Hunter. Critical Hit!}.

“Thank you. . .”


The Hunter recoiled from Streleka's arrow. Seeing the beast momentarily distracted, Gorthunder hastily drew a potion from his belt and downed it, recovering from his wounds. Taking advantage of the same opening, Andriel's minions repositioned themselves slightly.

“The Lord is with me,” declared Johannes, almost subconsciously. Lowering his glowing lance, his body still ablaze with holy fire, he charged. “YAAAAH!”

The Hunter glanced his way, and for a brief moment, they made eye contact – an empty blackness meeting his living blue. Johannes felt a horrible chill course through him, as though he had just been submerged in an icy lake. For an instant, he could imagine himself in the depths of an abyss, darkness all around him for the space of an eternity, nothing but despair to fill the void. . .

“No,” he said, denying the false reality. He snapped back to his charge, but the harm was already done, his concentration shattered.

He missed {Johannes missed the Hunter. Natural One!}.

Johannes flew past the beast, coming to a halt at the edge of the clearing. The Hunter lifted its spear as though it were mocking them.

Behold true power.

The Hunter thrust out its spear at Ashe. The blade pierced straight through the skeleton's rib cage, and it wobbled dangerously with Crispina in its arms, almost dropping her {The Hunter dealt 34 damage to Ashe}.

But the Hunter didn't stop there.

The spear was drawn from Ashe, and like a whirlwind, it struck one skeleton after the other. One was badly damaged, numerous broken bones scattering to the ground, and the other – the other was completely obliterated {The Hunter dealt 33 damage to Skeleton One and 79 damage to Skeleton Four. Critical Hit! Skeleton Four was destroyed}. More crimson flowers grew where the beast had stood, rising from the ground before their very eyes.

Seeing the bones of the skeletons crumble beneath the spear sent waves of nervousness throughout the party, who knew that just as easily could have been them. . .

The battle was far from over.




This message was last edited by the GM at 01:38, Mon 05 Mar 2018.

I observe the incredible reach of the Hunter`s violent attacks. Closing the gap between us could prove difficult. If I can strike his weapon it could give us an opening. Or perhaps if someone is able to disarm the beast... I ready myself to grab the spear if the hunter drops it. Should the disarm fail I will ready an attack to strike the Hunter’s weapon should he use it against me. I wait for the next move with anticipation.

Actions:
If the Hunter drops the spear I move to spear and pick it up.
If the disarms fail I ready an Improved Sunder action to attempt to destroy the Hunter’s weapon instead and 5ft step to P19

This message was last edited by the player at 05:38, Sun 11 Mar 2018.

In Character Chat:
Johannes:
We have got to get that weapon out of his hands!  His claws cannot reach like his spear does.  Or even destroy the thing, can you do that newcomer?

Andriel:
Or better yet, is there any way we could get him trapped and unable to move?

Wait! Alacor!  Do you still have that web spell you used on the skeletal priest in the first tower we saw the creature?!

Alacor
Yes, I do! We might be able to trap him, but we need to clear the area!

Gorthunder
I can strike his weapon!

Johannes
I am concerned with how the enemy has avoided our attacks so far, that he could avoid being entangled, with a freedom of movement spell.

Alacor
Ziv! I have another dagger for you!

**note, aid adds one to AR and 1d8 + caster level(3) as temp hp
and it takes total cover behind Gorthunder
This message was last edited by the player at 07:24, Sun 11 Mar 2018.

Post:
Andriel witnessed as her ray of light seared the enemy's flesh, once again, piercing through its spell resistance.  "Yes!  Got through again!"  She exclaims,  as her concentration once more prevailed, or perhaps the concentration of the enemy lapsed... either way, willing to take the progress.  "I could discern it hurt the enemy, but not like fire did previously.  I was able to sense by the spell, in the moment of illumination, that it was not extra susceptible to sunlight as a fungus is, but it was affected like an undead creature!  Its skin appears to be as wood, it is, or rather was, a tree spirit after all, so it must especially fear fire."  She considered aloud.  "I wonder what the spell warp wood do to it?"  She continued to mutter to herself before stopping suddenly as she saw the creature swing its spear around and strike 3 of her skeletons in quick succession, one of them being crushed.  "He fell in service to his isle, in duty again. 2 down."  She said solemnly to herself.
     More concerningly was the threat this now posed to the living.  The shield wall was taking heavy damage and appeared to be weakening.  "I don't know how much more of this they can take.  We must find a way to reinforce the shield wall or reposition them.  Or slow down this enemy!  Wait, that could be it!"  Suddenly realizing another hopeful option to herself, "Alacor, I know you can summon creatures, would you be able to summon any to be between us and the enemy.  Wait, even better, what about that spell you used on the skeletal priest, web!?"  She whispered to Alacor next to her.  "I am about out of spells other than curing spells.  I am going to have to switch to something ranged, I was going to throw an alchemist I fortuitously grabbed before this, but web would mean I should wait."

Actions:
Draw an alchemist fire from belt
while moving to I15, via H16-H15-I15.
Throw alchemist fire at creature, top left square for cover check, from top right corner of her square.
AR: +1 haste, +1 bless, +2 recitation, +1 dex, +5 BA = +10

Skeletons:
Ashe-
-5ft step to K13
-take total defense, don't forget bonus to ac from haste
1-
-remain in place
-take total defense, don't forget bonus to ac from haste
2-
-5ft step to N20
-take total defense

Rolls:
{01:43, Today: Andriel rolled 27 using 1d20+10 (nat 17).  AR, ranged touch on the hunter, for alchemist fire; tDI.
01:46, Today: Andriel rolled 4 using 1d6.  DMG, for FIRE from Alchemist fire; tDI.}
This message was last edited by the player at 06:58, Sun 11 Mar 2018.

Post:
"How did I miss?"  I whispered to myself.  "This was the time that counted!  Gahh, I must shrug it off, perhaps I must remember again, it is not blind range that wins a battle, it is the Lord, and I may have peace in that."  I took a deep breath and began to think in the brief moments I had while turning around in the air.

I consider to myself the comments of my apprentice.  If we could control the battlefield we would put this creature at a serious disadvantage, especially on the side that we have many archers and Alacor enabled us to fly.
     "What a wonder it was to fly, so free, and so easy to get around so many of the problems of the terrain on the ground.  How did I not think of this earlier", I pondered to myself.  "Well, probably because it was magic, magic that I never knew existed only months ago hehe."
     Back to the problem at hand though.  I saw 2 options before us, sunder or disarm that spear, seriously weakening the enemy's attack, or trap him in place.  Trapping him would be superior, but is there a way we can actually do it.  Then it hit me, "Web" the same spell that trapped the skeletal priest the first time we saw the creature.  Another spell I never knew existed until recently.  I remembered, the spell was very difficult to escape from and could be quite large, especially with the new trick Alacor had been practicing, but could it hold him well enough?  And, more relevant to me, how can we do it if I set him on fire?
     Either way, I know what I must do.  The spell to be cast could be decided after I attack and after we see if the enemy is caught a-flame by my attack.  It is time to act.

-comments for player actions-
Likely order of action:
Summon Archon, archon effects ensue
I attack
Nurrick attacks
Ziv attacks
Andriel attacks
Skeletons move as needed throughout
Gorthunder takes spear.

Actions:
(swift action) Ordained Champion smite, +3 AR and +5 DMG
(full round action) Charge the hunter, from 19/18-P/Q(I believe), and travelling to straight to 15/16-V/W (or 1 square west if that is in the trees, I did not think so but hard to tell).  Charge in a straight line so I do not enter his square, but get close enough to hit.
(part of attack) use 9 power attack

AR: +1 haste, +1 bless, +2 recitation, +2 bulls str, +1 weapon, +2 str, +1 high ground, +1 weapon focus lance, +9 BA, +2 charge, +5 law devotion, +3 smite evil = +30 -9 for power attack = +21
DMG: x3(9 PWR ATK + 1d8 lance + 1 bonus on lance + 4 str + 4 fire + 5 smite evil) = 3d8+57+12 fire
DC 18 ref or catch on fire, taking more damage (1d4 fire until put out)
note: if I am attacked I use my mount to take cover (DC 15 ride)

Rolls:
{01:29, Today: Herr Johannes rolled 38 using 1d20+21 (nat 17).  AR, on the hunter, with all buffs listed (9 PWR_ATK); tDI.
01:33, Today: Herr Johannes rolled 71 using 3d8+57 (7, 6, 1).  DMG, for charge against hunter; tDI.
PLUS 12 fire damage, and chance to catch on fire.}
This message was last edited by the player at 07:15, Sun 11 Mar 2018.

Ziv effortlessly grabbed another-- her last spare dagger-- and had caught the dagger of returning and took a quick breath before stepping forward (to L19) to throw her daggers full force. The first being the dagger of returning and the second her spare dagger.

The wizard watches as the hunter destroys another skeleton to a bile of bones. "This isn't looking too good." He says to Steve as he take a step back away from the Hunter.{5ft step to F15} Looking over to the dwarf, he started a spell to bring another creature onto the field. Without taking his eyes off the hunter, Alacor reached into his bag and pulled out a candle and a tiny bag. He very quickly made a sweeping motion with the staff, making a sign in the air. Concentrating on the items in his hands, he used his power to bring forth a creature. A portal opened up in the air and what looked like several balls of light emerged from the opening. {Summon Lantern Archon at P20, 5ft in the air}

The Lantern Archon touches the dwarf and as soon as it does a soft glow washes over him. He looks rejuvenated and his face completely devoid of any fear. {Casts Aid and grants 2 temporary hit points}. It quickly took aim at the hunter and two rays of light shot out towards the beast. {Full attack with light rays}. The rays shoot wide and the archon then descends to the ground behind the dwarf. {5ft step straight down}

{00:19, Today: Alacor rolled 8 using 1d20+2.  Lantern Archon, light Ray @ Hunter.
00:19, Today: Alacor rolled 6 using 1d20+2.  Lantern Archon, light way @ Hunter.
00:24, Today: Alacor rolled 2 using 1d8.  Lantern Archon, Aid Hit Points.}
This message was last edited by the player at 05:47, Sun 11 Mar 2018.

Nurick repositions himself (to L17) and takes another three shots at the spear to disarm the Hunter!

04:17, Today: Nurick rolled 26 using 1d20+22.  To disarm the Hunter.
04:18, Today: Nurick rolled 32 using 1d20+22.  To disarm the Hunter.
04:19, Today: Nurick rolled 19 using 1d20+17.  To disarm the Hunter.

If a disarm succeeds, the following shots are standard attacks.

Day 3, Night

A flower petal danced in the air, circling around the unseen and winding currents. Like a butterfly with a torn wing, it fluttered chaotically to and fro, pushed by the wind of a blade here, pulled by a gasp of breath there. It floated past the gaze of Alacor, whose attention was stolen by it. As if the entire world had froze for him, he stopped and observed the petal's esoteric dance, until it finally began to slow and sink and come to a gentle rest on the dead grass near his feet.

“Beautiful,” he murmured.

The world resumed, and with it Alacor snapped his attention back to the battle. He whirled the staff in his hands and brought forth a litany of color, a dance of reds and greens, and finally a burst of yellow afar. From the burst, shining above the head of Gorthunder like a delicate halo, came a ball of light, a sun small enough to hold. The Lantern Archon, for that was its name, glowed brightly as it blessed Gorthunder with a spell of its own, and then sank to an early dusk behind the dwarf, sheltering the warrior within its humble radiance. {Alacor summoned a Lantern Archon; Lantern Archon cast Aid on Gorthunder}

---

Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
Error Note: Lantern Archon was unable to use a Full Attack. For details, see below.

---

At the edge of the clearing, Johannes rose above the horizon and soared forth like a shooting star. Leaving a streak of fire behind him, he crossed above the heads of his allies, and delivered the tip of his lance unto the Hunter, unleashing a mighty blow. The Hunter recoiled at the fiery strike, embers and ashes rising up from the wound; even expressionless, the beast could not mask its pain. {Johannes hit the Hunter and dealt 95 damage; the Hunter avoided catching on fire}

While the Hunter was weak, Nurick primed his bow, and he let forth a series of arrows one after the other. He aimed at the beast's weapon, desperate to dislodge the deadly spear from its hands. But though each arrow found its target, they bounced from the shaft of the spear all the same, unable to find to the needed force to tear it from the Hunter's grip. {Nurick failed to disarm the Hunter with his first, second, and third arrows}

Streleka and Ziv followed together, sending a flurry of daggers and arrows. And where Streleka's arrows missed, Ziv's daggers proved true, planting both of her thrown blades into the hard flesh of their enemy. The damage upon its body was growing. {Streleka missed with her first and second arrows; Ziv hit the Hunter with both daggers and dealt 11 and 9 damage}

“Are we winning?” Andriel dared to ask her heart. And then she rebuked herself, for such questions were dangerous in the midst of combat. “It does not matter,” she muttered. “Nothing will matter, until this creature is naught but ash.”


The priestess grabbed a dark vial within her cloak and raised it out and threw it forward, where it spun rapidly through air in a thousand cycles. It shattered on the Hunter's body and exploded, lighting a portion of the Hunter ablaze, a torch to weaken the night. The flames seemed effective in their purpose. {Andriel hit the Hunter and dealt 8 damage}

And finally Gorthunder, as well as the skeleton minions of Andriel, shifted about the battlefield and readied their arms, preparing for what was to come. Their offensive wave had come to an end, and they watched the Hunter in expectance, and anxiety. But their expectance was broken and cast aside, bent like the grass they stood upon.

The Hunter did what they did not expect; it stood straight and tall and crossed its arms, laying its spear diagonal from foot to shoulder, like a corpse awaiting the sarcophagus. And then it sank. As though the ground beneath it had turned to water, it plummeted straight down, until its horns were swallowed by the earth, vanishing.

For a moment the creature was gone.

And then it wasn't.

The horns reappeared, but it was Streleka who was the first to see them, for they rose right before her. They rapidly ascended from the ground, as quickly as they had first vanished, and the Hunter rose as silently as the moon amid the adventuring party. Arms still crossed but the flames that assailed it gone, it came to a halt, and the moment it did so, a surge of crimson flowers bloomed forth. Like a nova, they emanated from the creature and sprouted with unnatural speed, spawning a pool of blood red petals, all in seconds.

The stems curled up the feet and legs of Streleka, Andriel, Nurick, and Ziv, all whom swiftly avoided being bound and captured by them, but this did not stop them from being slowed by it nor protect them from the curse that seeped into their souls. Streleka, Andriel, and Nurick all felt a terrible weakness take over them, as though a piece of their life had been taken away. Only Ziv, through sheer strength of body, fought the poisonous sensation away. {Streleka, Andriel, and Nurick succeeded their Reflex Saves but failed their Fortitude Saves; Ziv succeeded both her Reflex and Fortitude Save.}

Streleka takes 4 Strength damage.
Andriel takes 3 Strength damage.
Nurick takes 4 Strength damage.

---

Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
Note: Movement in the flowers is half speed; Note that this does not allow for five-foot steps for those affected.

---

Alacor stood at the outside edge of the field of flowers, watching the Hunter unfold its arms in the very center, spear in hand, as though proud to display the brilliant garden it had created. The wizard watched as his friends fought off the plants that maliciously sought to overtake them. He watched the petals twirl and twist and dance as they grew, like living things, as hungry and vicious as any predator.

“Beautiful.”

---

Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
Note in regard to the Lantern Archon: Very understandably, it was likely that the term 'At will' in the description of its Spell-like Abilities was taken to mean they could be used as a Free Action, but this is not the case. 'At will' is a technical term for abilities in D&D, meaning that there is no limit to the number of times it can be cast, in contrast to '3 times per day' or 'once per day'. However, using the spell-like ability is still a Standard Action unless stated otherwise spell description.

---

This message was last edited by the GM at 10:54, Tue 13 Mar 2018.

IN Character Chat:
Johannes: "Streleka! Are you able to tumble away?!  Can you get out of reach or do you need our help?!"

notes:  Had to leave a few things I noticed here, things we were not sure on or that I noticed after people went to bed etc.
1. Ziv I believe threatened to critical, Ryan?
2. remember that Gorthunder got 3 more temp HP from last aid spell
3. did the splash weapon damage kill some of the flowers?  (Last round, Andriel's alchemist fire).
4. Does Ziv need to roll a new tumble check for the second threatened square she left?
5. I just noticed a typo in Alacor's post, the Archon was supposed to go to M19, not M18, since that would be right in the way of Gorthunder and provoke and AOO by casting a spell there.  He and I talked about it and it somehow made it in there wrong, I would hope the obvious AOO and being in Gorthunder's way would make that clear. Like being in his same space, so pushing the Archon north will take care of that error.
6. Remember that if the centipedes hit they deal poison
This message was last edited by the player at 23:41, Fri 06 Apr 2018.

Ziv thought quick on her feet--or as fast as she could-- and tumbled none too gracefully backwards towards the second skeleton, but with keener sighs for something further back (to T19). When she turned for a moment to look back as she was running, she threw the dagger of returning again for that small chunk of damage.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:50, Sun 25 Mar 2018.

Post:
I witness as the creature descended into the earth after being struck again, seeking to rise again avoiding the flames of death.  Whatever it did, for now, I knew it was only a matter of time before it was indeed, ash.

It rose again and spewed forth more of those poisonous flowers, seeking to entrap my friends but giving up any other attack in the process.  For that, I was grateful.  I called to my friends to check on them.  "Andriel, Streleka, Ziv, Nurrick, are you alright?  Get out of there, the disarms seem too difficult, use fire!  Alacor, can you do anything to help them?"

I wanted to rush to help them, however, I knew the best way to do that was to keep striking this creature with more and more punishment.  That was my role, we all had ours, and mine was to strike.  It might seem like the creature felt no pain, but I saw how the fire affected it.  The best I could do was continue to direct the battlefield from the air, while I kept striking the creature, again and again, and it was time for more again.

As I reeled my mount about in the air, to seek the enemy's new location I called to my friends to communicate the vision I had for them from the heavens.

"Gorthunder, move toward the creature and try what you just did again!"

-comments for player actions-
moved to Andriel's post

Actions:
(swift action) Ordained Champion smite, +3 AR and +5 DMG
(full round action) Charge the hunter, from 15/14-L/M(I believe), and traveling to straight to 13/14-V/W (or 1 square east if that is in the trees, I did not think so but hard to tell).  Charge in a straight line so I do not enter his square, but get close enough to hit.
(part of attack) use 9 power attack

AR: +1 haste, +1 bless, +2 recitation, +2 bulls str, +1 weapon, +2 str, +1 high ground, +1 weapon focus lance, +9 BA, +2 charge, +5 law devotion, +3 smite evil = +30 -9 for power attack = +21
DMG: x3(9 PWR ATK + 1d8 lance + 1 bonus on lance + 4 str + 4 fire + 5 smite evil) = 3d8+57+12 fire
DC 18 ref or catch on fire, taking more damage (1d4 fire until put out)
note: if I am attacked I use my mount to take cover (DC 15 ride)

Rolls:
{02:12, Today: Herr Johannes rolled 40 using 1d20+21 (nat 19).  AR, on the hunter, with all buffs listed (9 PWR_ATK); tDI.
02:18, Today: Herr Johannes rolled 68 using 3d8+57 (3, 2, 6).  DMG, for charge against hunter; tDI.
PLUS 12 fire damage, and chance to catch on fire.}
This message was last edited by the player at 23:41, Fri 06 Apr 2018.

I am completely taken aback by the hunter's ghostly movements. I continue to pursue the beast. Trying To corner it while staying out of range of his massive range of attack.

Move action: P19-M18
Standard action: Ready sunder against hunter's weapon should he attack me or move within range
This message was last edited by the player at 04:58, Sun 08 Apr 2018.

Post:
With serious concern Andriel looks ahead of her, seeing the figure raise from the ground.  Not only was closer than she wanted now, but it was no longer on fire!  "Well, that is frustrating."  She complains to herself.  "Uh, Alacor, got anything good up your sleeve?!  I could definitely use it right now."  As she says this the burning in her skin brought her attention back to the red flowers surrounding her.  "I got to get out of these wretched flowers."

She saw it was no use to have her skeletons try to protect her here, she was too exposed, and they would just get tangled in the weeds she had only narrowly missed.

She hoped a large (or rather medium sized) centipede appeared before her (unlike basically every other time in her life), she decided that was the best time to leave.  While the centipede distracted her enemy she would make her get away.  Unfortunately, they showed up in front of Streleka and Nurick, so she decided she would wait until Ziv left to hopefully escape before the enemy noticed her while it was focused on Ziv.  "Please God, help me escape this one."  She prays under her breath as she backpedals with her shield up after Ziv begins to move.

She did her best to help Alacor as she moved to escape super fast affected by haste as she was, "Thanks for the distraction, Alacor, here is what I can do for you, Ashe! get over there and protect Alacor, put down Crispina for now, there is nowhere we can take her for now."

Actions:
With her speed boosted by haste,
she takes a withdraw action on this path:
path:     I14-I13-J13-K13-L13-M13-N13-N14-N15-O16-O17-P18-Q18-Q19-R19-S19-T19-U19
ft moved:  10- 15- 20- 25- 30- 35- 40- 45- 50- 55- 60- 70- 75- 80- 85- 90- 95- 100
Draws her dagger, and a second if she has it to offer to Ziv. (if she is able to while withdrawing)
Also, does Andriel have any ranged weapons?

She orders her skeletons to move as follows:
Ashe-
-drop (set down if possible lol) Cripina in L13 (if he can choose adjacent squares)
-move to E15 via east, J13 to E13, then north to E15, and east to F15 (9 squares, within 1 move for haste), could and a diagonal to make it 8 if needed, unless that provokes an AOO
-ready action to step into the path of the weapon in the event Alacor is attacked
1-
-5ft step to N16
-take total defense, don't forget bonus to ac from haste
2-
-stay in place
-take total defense

note: moving through a freindly square carries no addtional penalty to ft cost pg147 PHB
Rolls:
N/A

-comments for player actions-
Likely order of action:
Alacor 5ft steps and summons creatures, the creatures attack.
Archon moves, archon effects ensue (magic circle against evil)
I attack
Ziv moves and attacks (from lower corner of her square to upper right of enemy, avoiding friendly cover)
Gorthunder moves
Nurrick and Andriel move
Skeletons move as needed throughout
This message was last edited by the player at 23:41, Fri 06 Apr 2018.

Nurick quickly falls back near the tree (I12) and activates his fire bow. Now looking for the next opportunity to fire upon the creature!

The wizard watched as the creature rose out of the ground and quickly took a step back to try to put some distance between him and it. He sprung into action to try to give the hunter more to deal with and take the focus off of the party. "Let's see how he likes a couple centipedes."

Alacor took out a candle from his bag that was mysteriously already lit when it was taken out. He traced out a circle in the air. As it completed the circle the candle completely melted down. Then the wizard produced a small bag in his hand and throw it on the ground at his feet. He gazed at the ground near the hunter as he started speaking a his summoning a blackness formed similar to what the hunter appeared in, but instead two centipedes ascended and attacked it. {Centipede 1 at k17, Centipede 2 at H17}

The archon moves towards Ziv {M18} and makes contact with her. As it did Ziv had a soft glow wash over her just like Gorthunder had. She seemed even more energized than before. {+1 morale bonus, +1 attack bonus, +10 temporary hit points}

{5ft Step to E14}
{Casts Summon Monster 3: Summon 1d4+1 Fiendish monstrous centipede, Medium}
{22:05, Yesterday: Alacor rolled 2 using 1d4+1.  Number of Creatures Summoned.}
{02:15, Today: Alacor rolled 23 using 1d20+4.  Centipede 2 Attack Roll.
02:15, Today: Alacor rolled 22 using 1d20+4.  Centipede 1 Attack Roll. (Flanking bonus was not included in the dude roller)
02:18, Today: Alacor rolled 4 using 1d6-1.  Centipede 2 Damage Roll.
02:18, Today: Alacor rolled 2 using 1d6-1.  Centipede 1 Damage Roll.
02:29, Today: Alacor rolled 10 using 1d8+3.  Aid Temporary HP.}
This message was last edited by the player at 06:52, Sun 25 Mar 2018.

Day 3, Night

Clouds in the dark sky cracked open, and a sliver of moonlight shone down from behind the Hunter, casting a horned silhouette across the ground. And around that silhouette were the shadows of adventurers, writhing, desperately trying to fight of the flowers and vines that threatened to strangle them alive.

Using his bow, Nurick swacked away a clump of flowers that shot up and tried to entangle his arm. “Get us out of here!” he cried.

“On it!” Alacor answered, his anxiety blatent. He performed a quick summoning spell {Alacor cast Summon Monster III}.

A pair of centipedes the size of hounds sprang up from the ground, as if they had been burrowed beneath the vegetation all this time. With large and unsettling pincers, they snapped at the Hunter; one missed, but the other clamped down tightly on the beast's leg {Centipede 1 missed the Hunter. Centipede 2 dealt 4 damage to the Hunter; its venom appeared to have no effect}. Meanwhile, the Lantern Archon floated over to the trapped adventurers and cast a radiant light on Ziv {Lantern Archon cast Aid on Ziv}.

Johannes snapped the reigns of his horse and quickly flew toward the battle. Wasting no time, he rammed his lance into Hunter and hit once again. Fire and light rose with such intensity that it was almost blinding, and the beast staggered in place, creaking like an old and dying tree in a windstorm {Johannes dealt 92 damage to the Hunter}.

“Now!” shouted Nurick. “Escape!”

Ziv dove out from the garden of horrors, but as she so, her foot was snagged by one of the flowers. Her dive became a fall. And the Hunter did not fail to notice {Ziv failed her Tumble Check}. The Hunter swung out his spear like the talons of an owl in the night.

Ziv felt strange but ignored it. In spite the fall, she rolled on the ground and managed to transition to her feet; she continued to run across the field, putting as much distance between her and the Hunter as possible, even throwing a dagger out behind her. The blade hit spectacularly across the creature's skull head, leaving a visible scar on the bone {Ziv dealt 23 damage to the Hunter ~ CRITICAL HIT!}.

“Yes!” exclaimed Ziv as she settled to a stop near Gorthunder.

Gorthunder looked back at her, his eyes widened. “You're bleeding!”

“What?” asked Ziv. She could barely hear him, for she had felt a sudden rush of light-headedness. Slowly, she touched her back and then examined her fingers; they were wet with blood. “Oh. I see” {AoO: The Hunter dealt 37 damage to Ziv}. The pain came, but she didn't let it show.

“Are you alright?” Gorthunder demanded.

“I'm fine,” Ziv lied, her voice well-controlled. “Go kill that thing.”

The dwarf nodded, turned, and moved forward, stopping just outside the garden as Nurick, Andriel, and Streleka made their escape.

---

Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
--

---

Pulling free from the flowers, Nurick dashed to a spot near the tree of skeletons. “So it's weak to fire, huh,” he murmured to himself as he turned and faced the Hunter; he looked down at his bow. “I'll show you fire. . . Kahallah!” As though it had been soaked in oil and touched by a red ember, his bow was suddenly wreathed in flame. Tongues of yellow flickered from the string and yew body, though they didn't seem to harm his hands at all. Nurick smirked and reached for an arrow from his quiver.


Andriel sprinted across the battlefield, also trying to get as far from the Hunter as she could, though not as far as she would've liked. She drew a dagger as she did so, hoping to get it to Ziv soon. At the same time, her skeletons shifted about the field.

---

Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
Error Note: Andriel lacked the movespeed to reach U19 and traveled as far as she could on her desired path. Very understandably, this is likely because it was perceived that Haste added 30 ft. of movespeed when this was not the case. More accurately, Haste adds up to 30 ft. of movespeed, to a maximum of twice the creature's current speed. The term current speed can easily be mistaken to mean base movespeed, but this is actually the speed after modifiers, such as those from armor. Andriel's current speed in heavy armor is 20 ft., and Haste increases her speed to an effective 40 ft., allowing up to move up to 80 ft. with a double move-action.

---

Streleka re-positioned herself in the opposite direction, stopping near the treeline, and fired off another arrow at the beast, but this one missed by a wide margin. She cursed under her breath {Streleka missed the Hunter}.

The silhouette on the ground shifted.

The Hunter glanced down at the two centipedes. There was a trace of annoyance in its hollow, black eyes. It grabbed the one biting its leg with a large claw-like hand – and crushed it with a squeeze – and the other it stomped on its head with a hoof, squishing it flat {The Hunter dealt 26 damage to Centipede 1 and 22 damage to Centipede 2; both were killed}. The Hunter then looked at Gorthunder, and the dwarf felt a terrible chill down his spine.

It's looking at me the same way it looked at those bugs. . .

The Hunter lifted its spear and brought it in a downward stab upon the dwarf. Gorthunder steeled his nerves, for this was his moment of truth. He lifted his waraxe and roared a thunderous battlecry. “HYAAAA!”

He swung out his axe, and the edge met the tip of the Hunter's spear – and hit it. A crack was sent down the shaft of the spear, but it was not nearly enough to rend it asunder. And the spear came down anyway {Gorthunder successfully hit the Hunter's spear and dealt 7 damage to it}.

Gorthunder looked at the shaft sticking out of his shoulder and knew at a glance that it pierced all the way through, possibly even touching the ground. But it didn't seem real. It seemed like the shoulder of a stranger, and he only winced a little when the Hunter pulled it out {The Hunter dealt 32 damage to Gorthunder}.

I am ancient. Eternal. Before men. There is no escape.

The Hunter then moved like the shadow of a deer, away from Gorthunder. It passed by several of the party members, it's body blurred with the night, almost surreal. At first, they couldn't tell where the Hunter was going, but then that became obvious. It wasn't really going anywhere. It was making sure that they weren't going anywhere either.

In its wake, a sea of flowers grew. . .

---

Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
DM Notes: To answer some of Cody's notes-
(1) Indeed Ziv threatened to critical! Thank you for pointing this out, and her confirmation was subsequently rolled.
(3) At the time the alchemist fire was thrown, there weren't any flowers in range of the splash damage with the square of origin being P16. That is, the flowers in P15, Q15, and Q16 did not arise until the Hunter had left the square.
(4) She did not need a second Tumble Check.
(5) Thank you for pointing that out!

---

This message was last edited by the GM at 14:34, Mon 26 Mar 2018.

IN Character Chat:
Ziv: "The dagger might have to wait!  We've gotta get away, and protect our elven friends as much as possible.  He'll likely strike at them first!"  She said as she lept away from the beast

notes:
1. According to what I found, in the case of a large, it is suggested to treat it as 4 mediums and choose one square for the splash weapon.  In this case, it was P16, thus the squares 9 squares surrounding it, none of which had flowers in them unfortunately lol.
2. Reminder, the Archon has magic circle against evil around him, benefiting all in a 10 ft radius with protection from evil (+2 deflection AC among other things).  Thought I would remind you of all the spells to keep track of.  Also, not sure if that made a difference for Ziv or Gorthunder last round?

This message was last edited by the player at 06:40, Sun 08 Apr 2018.