Gurgun tries to escape the hold of the tentacle but is unable to wrestle free, and feels the air being pressed out of his lungs under the unyielding compression. Focusing mentally he relaxes slightly in order give himself some room to move and grab a hold of his own, attempting to crush the animated glass.

Use blunt force! he calls back to the group, hoping they might find a way to lock down the glass monster while they battle the tentacles.

OOC: 14:21, Today: Gurgun Nightwhisper rolled 10 using 1d8+3. Damage.
14:20, Today: Gurgun Nightwhisper rolled 31 using 1d20+11. GC.
14:19, Today: Gurgun Nightwhisper rolled 27 using 1d20+11. OGC.
Yeah, we should have rested...

Balrok twists and smashes another tentacle with his warhammer, [hopefully] sending glass shards flying everywhere.  He seems to be enjoying himself immensely, and is paying no attention to the growing number of bleeding wounds that have opened on his person.

Balrok is getting pretty hurt, FYI.  I do have a wand, if it becomes necessary and someone can use it.  I'm not sure that's efficient though.

11:34, Today: Balrok rolled 11 using 1d8+5. Hammer damage.
11:33, Today: Balrok rolled 19 using 1d20+10. Hammer Attack.

Mid-Round Update:

Through main force, Gurgun began to crush the thick glass limb between his powerful arms, causing it to crack and splinter. [T1 GC 17, fail, takes 10 damage]

Meanwhile, Balrok took a chunk out of the one waving around before him, as the ground crushed and scraped beneath his booted feet. [Balrok hits, deals 11 damage]

Updates:

T1, T3 moderately damaged

Initiative:
11 - Jorn
14 - Balrok
12 - Slove
 8 - Gurgun
 4 - Glass Monster & Tentacles

Jorn takes a step forward, using the momentum of his movement to swing at the tentacle before Balrok;


16:58, Today: Jorn Brightcaller rolled 11 using 1d8+4. Morningstar damage.
16:57, Today: Jorn Brightcaller rolled 14 using 1d20+7. Morningstar Attack.

"We can't take'im now!" yelled the dwarf, "I say we fall back and restock! Tis' not like the portal's going anywhere else."

OOC: Ignore the dice-roller, I was confused. Bad weather :(


The angle of the morningstar was just off, and it grazed right off the tentacle's faceted flank. [Jorn misses]

The thing twisted around and went for Jorn, whacking him across the belly, but his armour absorbed the blow. [T3 slam attack 15, miss, @ Jorn

Seeing Gurgun stricken, Slove picked up his bow again, quickly nocked an arrow and fired in one swift motion. Dead on, it struck the tentacle tangled around Gurgun, cracking it. It was the best he could do to help free the monk. [Slove NPCed. Precise Shot. Attack 22, damage 3 after DR]

Suddenly the tentacle let Gurgun go, whipping back and snaking around, waiting. [T1 GC 28, escape grapple - roll OGC to keep grappling]

The reason why soon became clear when the glass behemoth shambled into Gurgun, and a heavy glass paw began to shove him inexorably back, towards the edge of the bridge, towards the water far below. His feet slid across the glass, then there was nothing beneath them... [SC Bullrush. Provokes AoO. Strength check 27 (unbeatable) - Gurgun bullrushed off brudge]


OOC: Gurgun, make a Reflex DC 15 if you want to grab hold of the bridge. Or fall into the water (no damage) and start swimming (Swim DC 15, rough water) for one of the safe towers.

Round 3:


No new map; Jorn in C16,

G: Gurgun Nightwhisper
S: Slove
J: Jorn Brightcaller
B: Balrok

G: Glass Monster, slightly damaged
1, 2, 3: Glass Tentacles (can be attacked)
  T1 seriously damaged
  T3 moderately damaged

Effects:

Gurgun Grappled

Initiative:
11 - Jorn
14 - Balrok
12 - Slove
 8 - Gurgun
 4 - Glass Monster & Tentacles

Gurgun slammed his quarterstaff into the glass guardian, sending shards everywhere. As the hand starts pushing him off the edge, Gurgun relaxes and while performing a pirouette of sorts, elegantly slips away from the the hand and the churning waters below.

However, withdrawing from the battle proves to be perilous to the extreme; Gurgun uses his skill and superior training to duck, tumble and jump back to his companions, yet is unable to completely avoid the enemies trying to bar his way.



OOC: 08:52, Today: Gurgun Nightwhisper rolled 19 using 1d20+8. Reflex save.
08:51, Today: Gurgun Nightwhisper rolled 8 using 1d6+4. Damage.
08:51, Today: Gurgun Nightwhisper rolled 21 using 1d20+8. AoO.

Tries to tumble back to C14, and attack T3. Provokes from glass guardian and T2, misses T3.
09:03, Today: Gurgun Nightwhisper rolled 9 using 1d20+8. Attack.
09:02, Today: Gurgun Nightwhisper rolled 15 using 1d20+10. Tumble, no AoO.
09:01, Today: Gurgun Nightwhisper rolled 26 using 1d20+10. Tumble, no AoO.
09:01, Today: Gurgun Nightwhisper rolled 18 using 1d20+15. Tumble, no AoO.

OOC: Crap, I forgot to update my map. I'll try to redo it later. You were meant to be pushed into E12, Gurgun - though pushing you into the water was meant to end the battle quickly. ;)

Okay, you can swing yourself back up onto the bridge with a move action, then take another move action tumbling to C14, where T2 AoOs you. No attack at the end, but that missed anyway. If you have movement left, you can keep going.

Mid-Round Update:

Gurgun ducked and jumped and rolled beneath whipping glass tentacles as he made his way to the beginning of the bridge. [T2 AoO, attack 11, miss]

Updates:

Gurgun in C14, Jorn in C16, Glass Monster in C10/D11

Initiative:
11 - Jorn
14 - Balrok
12 - Slove
 8 - Gurgun
 4 - Glass Monster & Tentacles

Gurgun continues the ducking by folding himself up and somersaulting past the last tentacle ending up on his feet together with his companions again.

OOC: Tumble (29) to C16, no AoO from T3.

Slove takes another swing.

Roles:-
07:13, Today: Slove rolled 10 using 2d6+4. damage.
07:13, Today: Slove rolled 15 using 1d20+9. attack with sword.

OOC: Jorn's in C16, and there's no room for Slove to attack. But whatever, you're running away anyway. Just let me know when you actually withdraw - maybe you want to shoot it a bit before you run.

Mid-Round Update:

Slove chopped a length of glass tentacle off the tip, leaving it greatly reduced but still dangerous. [Slove: hits, deals 5 dmg after DR]

Updates:

Gurgun in C16, Jorn in C16, Glass Monster in C10/D11

T1 seriously damaged, T3 critically damaged

Initiative:
11 - Jorn
14 - Balrok
12 - Slove
 8 - Gurgun
 4 - Glass Monster & Tentacles

Seeing Gurgun's near brush with death, Jorn takes a quick swing at the nearest tentacle then begins to withdraw;

"Back! Back!" called the dwarf, "A sentinel like this won't pursue us further past the walls!"

[Standard] Strike T3
[Move] Retreat 20ft

14:09, Today: Jorn Brightcaller rolled 8 using 1d8+4. Morningstar Damage.
14:09, Today: Jorn Brightcaller rolled 24 using 1d20+7. Morningstar Attack.

Jorn morningstar impacted with the remaining length of glass tentacle shattering it completely.

The way to escape was now clear, and the adventurers took, backing off into the bridge Nexus and up the stairs. They came out on to the bridge leading back to the orc-and-hobgoblin-held tower, and watched as the shardcaster waited brooding upon its bridge. The shattered glass fragments melted back into the glass bridge, and two new tentacles sprouted to replace the ones that had been destroyed.


OOC: Battle withdrawn from.

Next time we avoid trap, and come prepared and at full strength. Glass creature is vulnerable to blunt force; Gurgun guess to sonic damage too. Gurgun proposes plan like this: Crush tentacles at close range, while launching bullets at guardian monster. Spells too if we have any. Gurgun lends sling to Slove, as Gurgun will engage tentacles close range. Once tentacles cleared launch assault on weakened guardian. Gurgun tumble in and engage in grapple: if Jorn can make Gurgun big this will be good. When guardian grapple will be vulnerable to attack from group, and Gurgun will keep group safe.

OOC: Essentially; clean out the bridge as best we can, then rush the guardian. Gurgun will want to grapple him to make the approach less risky (no AoO's), so Enlarge person would be a boon here, and/or bull's strength. I think Balrok and Gurgun can take out the tentacles without too much trouble, while the rest of the team concentrate on ranged attacks against the guardian.

Dula looked back at the bridge, where the glass guardian had now melded back into the surface, to wait and watch. She'd fearfully observed the battle from a safe vantage point. "It seems capable of growing new tentacles." she warned.


OOC: Some things your PCs might notice, but didn't come up in-game:
* Swim: There's actually an emergency ladder from the sea to the lowest bridge on each tower. That would still only put you outside the doors, in range of the shardcaster.

* Magic: Former PC Authiel is a Warmage. I won't be running any NPCs, but Jorn could learn her spells of shatter and lesser orb of sound (SC). This plane has an affect on magic: [Sonic] spells are Empowered and Heightened by 2 levels, as for the metamagic feats.

Planar properties are here:
link to a message in this game
I forgot that there was a -2 Tumble penalty for Gurgun.

I did not. The -2 was taken into account in my rolls.

Balrok grumbles at having to leave combat, but falls back with the others.  He is bleeding from a dozen wounds, but does not complain except to mutter about how he had the situation fully under control.

Are we resting?  How much do we heal when we do?

OOC: Gurgun: Oh, very good, thanks.

Balrok: Are you saying that in character? ;) I'll have ex-PC clerics Allessandra and Garel pour all their healing into the party, so you'll be fully healed either today or the next day.

Assume you go back to camp and rest, make your plans. I'll try to restart the battle at my next opportunity.

Gurgun rumbles a chuckle. Fierce dwarf has lot of fight still left. Still, lacks dicipline not to walk right into traps and unnecessary danger. While you rest and heal, Gurgun wants to take a look in library and to ask Wickers about guardian.

OOC: Maybe there are some tricks to be learned?

OOC: You've probably remembered, seen or learned everything there is to know about this creature. The library's been emptied, but one of you could try 'reading' one of the king's tear gems in one of talking heads there. One of those gems is book of unknown lore, the other is Kyjal's spellbook - it could be worth examining.

No one in the army has actually made it this far either, or if they have, you can guess what happened to them. So Wickers can't help much (not with a stick through his head, anyway).

Kyjal's spellbook! That's certainly worth a shot!

IC: Jorn come with Gurgun to see if dead elf spellbook  can help with guardian. Gurgun invites Jorn as he and Duladora are most likely to understand any spells and magical writings found in the crystal containing the Duskwalkers spellbook.

Balrok looks puzzled.  "Where's du fun in that?"  He will, however, consent to be healed.  He then goes to check on his pet mule, Muley, feeding the animal before settling down on a nearby hard surface.   He quickly falls asleep, snoring loudly.

No fun. Appreciation.

Slove happy to join monk and dwarf friend learn about portal.
He also looks arounf see if he find 2 handed heavy mace or club.

They headed back to the former orc-and-hobgoblin stronghold, though the camp had largely had relocated to the entry tower, to secure their retreat, whenever that came. There was plenty of grumbling that the portal had been opened yet.

They headed down to the once-grand library, the Athenaeum Arcanum, with the high arched ceiling and the rows of translucent shelving. In the centre, on a low marble platform, and at each corner was a glass plinth topped by the crystal bust of some proud or wise elven scholar of ages past. In the forehead of each was a tear-drop-shaped depression, just the size for one of the King's Tear gems that Jorn had been carrying around.


OOC: Slove, you can find a club or greatclub something dropped by a fallen orc warrior for free, but more expensive stuff has been looted by others already, so you may need to buy or trade for something like a morningstar or warhammer.
This message was last edited by the GM at 12:31, Wed 08 Dec 2010.

What say Jorn. Try on all elf-heads or one?