E:4

In reply to Celene (msg # 22):

Ground floor or basement?

By the gong.

In reply to Celene (msg # 24):

Do you want to disable the gong?

Sure

Kassius positions himself next to Celene (D4) to have a clean line of Fire. Kibeti stands at the top of the stairs (D5) to protect us against incoming melee.

I think anyone getting to the gong area would have to come from the archway.

Celene I am not sure about the gong... aren't we blocking all those doors ?.

I mean doors E F A and C would be blocked from the get go.

I still haven't heard any good reason for not blocking them right from the start... there is a door, and a portcullis, so pretty damn hard to get by.

I do not think we should stand in different places each of us without seeing each other.

Really whatever you guys think, I think its best if we all stick in one place.

In reply to Angati (msg # 29):

There's actually an archway connecting the north wall in the inner room to the outer ring room - I marked this in white on the maps above but took it off this version. I'll add it back next time I update the map. Someone could climb the wall and go through the archway, or just use a missile weapon from below to hit the gong.

Celene is a huge liability to stand in that room with her low AC and CMD. She needs to be behind the archway. Being able to command, hopefully, the rust monster and fire off magic missiles gives her a means to attack without taking many attacks in return.

Our biggest problem is going to be the weapons wanting to clamber through the archway as the rust monster will probably be confined to the lower level. We almost need to screen them from even making climb checks. Coat the walls in oil maybe to make the DC's higher?

In reply to Celene (msg # 31):

You come up with some evil ideas new Celene :D

Updated map now showing archway and doors that will be blocked.

OOC: Is the climb up the archway now greased?

While they are planning the ambush there is a hammer at the outer door. When they open it they see the ranger and her team standing there with a large cart behind them. There's something on the cart, something big but it is covered by a dark tarpaulin and they can't see what is underneath.

But, surprise surprise, the ranger's team consists of Kassius, Kibeti, Alohan and Remmi!

OOC: Okay, you guys are now official on board as well. I'm ready to receive your placements.

You know there shouldn't be anyone coming up the stairs, right? The doors at the bottom are all blocked and the only access will be the archway.

In reply to Dungeon Master (msg # 33):

If we have money for oil yes.

"Aloha!" the Nuari prince shouted cheerfully. He hadn't seen his friends in quite some time and was quite glad to see them. Angati -now in significantly less metal armor- was looking younger, Celene was still her beautiful self but... different, and Logan looked ever the scoundrel. Little did he know he was walking into a battle royal between intelligent swords and their retinue. Even if he did, he wouldn't care. It was with his companions!

"What we be doin' today?" he asked nonchalantly, waltzing into the decrepit building. It didn't take him long to see -and deduce- what was about to transpire. "Ahhh..." he stammered with forbearance, "de day be just beginning."

---

Plan: I have no idea where I'd be- I was thinking I could be in the mix with Kogoloxen and maybe be the one with the 'tongues' spell cast on him. This would let me communicate with the beast and perhaps coordinate with him. I mean, I know we wrestled in the mud but maybe he has some new profound respect for me and would listen? You know, Alpha Male stuff. Regardless, place me where appropriate.

And I say we include Penny in this debacle! She owes me for that schlacking I gave her out on the road!

This is a tough one! But I can help with the second point at least. By DM ruling, 'speak with animals' DOES allow you to speak with aberrations, if they are ones found 'naturally' in the wild i.e. rust monsters. I am making this ruling as there is no other way to communicate with these creatures otherwise. 'Tongues' won't work because that also only works on intelligent creatuers. A 'circlet of speaking' also only works on animals.

Please note, charm spells only make the target friendly to the spellcaster, not the whole party so it is important that the caster remains close to Kogoloxen in order to guide him to attack the right targets. And guiding is obviously easier if the caster can speak to the rust monster. Otherwise the caster is stuck with pantomiming (which is a bit cerebral for Kogoloxen) or just physically pushing the beast away from their friends.

The two most promising options for allowing Celene to communicate with him are:
1) Speak with animals: this spell only has a personal range, so Celene needs to use it, but it is a druid spell (level one) so that means a UMD check. But Celene isn't trained in UMD and this skill can't be used untrained. So no go.

2) Tongues: this spell is a 3rd level sorceress spell. So this could work. But it only allows communication with intelligent creatures that actually have a language. So this is a no go.



Heh, yeah, respect :D

Tongues isn't going to work anyway (see above), but I'll stick you in the basement. Celene should be done there to try and guide the rust monster and you can watch her back. I guess the plan is release the beast and then run like heck! And make sure you're not holding anything metal.



She definitely wants in! She'll stick around up top and snipe with her bow. Karthach will be up there two watching the proceedings.

Sounds like a plan. I was thinking on staying below and going up with the monster at the last minute. I think that if they see any of us before the whole trap is set, they might be left outside.

AS long as we are all in sight of each other, I think its good.

I'm not sure I realized that, but it's not a bad idea to have him up in case they manage to break down the doors/climb or fly up some other way. Good to have a strong melee with us ranged attackers, and if the situation gets messy downstairs, he can always jump down.

Kogoloxen is taken down into the basement and under the watchful eye of the rest of the part Celene attempts the 'charm monster' on him.

OOC: Need to do this now since if it fails then the placements are going to be very different. Duration of the spell is one day so casting it now is fine.

First of all Celene needs a DC8 (casting level + 1) caster level check to use the scroll since summon monster is a 4th level spell (and a wizard would need to be a minimum of 7th level to make the scroll). If she fails, she may choose to use her daily MF.

Then I will roll for Kogoloxen save - and use MF if required.

Over to you Celene!

Celene casts the spell from the scroll and waits to see if the creature is charmed.

11:48, Today: Celene rolled 10 using 1d20+2.  Use scroll.

18:02, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 18 using 1d20+7.  Kogoloxen will save.
Not sure what her DC is, but 18 is surely a pass.

Angati makes a clucking noise and shakes her head. Reality is altered.

18:02, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 10 using 1d20+7.  Kogoloxen will save MF reroll.
Fail! But his MF is used up.

The look on Kogoloxen's face changes and then he is looking up at Celene like a little puppy dog. He tries to jump up and lick Celene's face.

Awwww!

OK, placements tonight. I'll choose if people haven't been specific. Celene, where do you want yourself and Kogoloxen to be in the basement?

Well, I guess its the best use of MF we could do with regards to kogoloxen...

I know... I know.. I'll come to regret these words :)

At least he just makes touch attacks, right? Do we get to roll for him?

We will be against the wall to the right. 12:R.

Thanks Angati!
This message was last edited by the player at 00:47, Mon 07 Mar 2016.

Yeah, probably when has his snout in your chest cavity and is pulling out intestines. Oh, but only if I had a reroll now! Waaailllll!



Umm, my normal answer would of course be no because charming somebody/something doesn't mean you take them over. But hell, I already have about 15 guys I'm meant to look after so what the hell. Yes! New Celene, you are in the driving seat!

The Kogoloxen
Initiative: +3
AC 18, tough 11, flat-foot 16
HP: 67 DR: 5/magic (opps, I forgot the DR last time!)
Resist: cold 10, fire 10
Fort: +6 Ref:+ Will:+7
Speed: 40ft (8 sq)
Melee: antennae tough +10 (rust) and bite +8 (1d4+2)
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:16, Mon 07 Mar 2016.

12R? On the top level? But you won't have line of sight to anything? And you need to be downstairs to steer the freak in the right direction. Sorry, but I am sticking you down there.

The party work quickly to prepare the ambush and have only just finished when there is another hammering at the door. The first part have arrive, the Cabanites, led by Czarine Valora, stomp into the room.

The pompous jewelled rapier is welded by the ranger Tolin Kientai, a look of despair on this face. Next is the bewitching Liamae with the empty hilt which the party has learnt is the invisible Princessa Cathandra of the Unseen Edge. The Karameikan sorceress is near to tears. The druid dwarf Kaskus wields nothing but a rod - but Lavinia's notes has taught them that this can change into a gigantic flail Contessa Invicta. The dwarf is downcast and doesn't take his eyes from the floor. There is one additional sword (Lady Akanara) and three dark daggers (Dutchessa Thaluna, Fhalu and Asidra Ja) welded by black garbed men that the party don't know.

A few minutes late the Revolutionary League enter. They are led by the Solo Hand and with dismay the party see the welder. It is Soren Toregson, one of the most renowned champions of the arena and Amarilde Vanderboren's new husband. The gladiator positively seethes to the point of foam forming at the corner's of his mouth but he take his place at the table as command.



Sabrehawk is still welded by Zan, the rogue just mutters under his breath and shakes his head as he sits down in one of the chairs. There are two more swords on that side, Triage and Hoardcutter, both welded by strangers.

Before they even take their seats the two sides are at each other's throats, but Vorsh tries to calm them down - possibly so they will lower their guards.
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:45, Mon 07 Mar 2016.