Balrok roars in rage as the lich attempts to assault his mind, his muscles and veins bulging as he shakes off the effects through pure stubbornness and adrenaline.  "Smashin' it is den!" Balrok says as his brain clears.  His waraxe bursts into flame, he deatches his shield in one swift yank and [drops it on the ground, puts it on his back, prefer the later if possible], raises his axe high above his head and sets his sights on the lich.  As Garel and Gargun argue about magic stones, Balrok takes a more direct approach.  "CHARGE!" he screams, and he begins barreling across the room towards the lich-in-a-vat.

I don't remember the specifics of the rules, but Balrok wants to break the vat.  I have hammers on my person if that would work better, or I could hit it with the side of my war axe -- I don't remember if "sharp" vs. "bludgeon" makes a difference.

I also don't remember the action required to detach and sheath a shield.  Obviously I don't want to lose my attack to do that, so I can drop it if I have to, but if it is, say, a Move action to remove it and a Swift action to sheath it, I'll do that.  If it is a Standard action to remove it, then I will leave it on and attack one handed.

---

ROUND 1:

INIT - 10

ACTIONS

• Move: Shield stuff
• Swift: Shield stuff
• Free: Rage
• Standard: Charge VAT

Attack: 15 v. Vat
Damage: 28 damage to Vat (subtract hardness from that)

EFFECTS

• Equipped:  Dwarven War Axe (two-handed)
• RAGE! (Round 1 of 9); 2/3 remaining today [effects factored into stats below]

STATS

NON Rage, Bio Line 1:  Init +0, AC 15 (or 17 with Shield) / same / 10
NON Rage, Bio Line 2:  HP 70/70, Saves +10/+1/+5


RAGE, Bio Line 1:  Init +0, AC 13 (no shield) / same / 8
RAGE, Bio Line 2:  HP 80/80, Saves +12/+1/+9


10:40, Today: Balrok rolled 28 using 1d10+19. PA-5 damage v. Vat.
10:39, Today: Balrok rolled 15 using 1d20+9. Two-handed charge w. PA -5 vs. Vat.
10:15, Today: Balrok rolled 22 using 1d20+5. Fear (+4 more if can rage).

(Actually I rolled a 24, as I forgot my dwarf bonus vs. magic; or a 28 if I can rage first since it is a Free action.)
This message was last edited by the player at 14:42, Mon 28 June 2010.

[Private to Gurgun Nightwhisper: It doesn't seem to be a real lich, they're more bony. :)  It appears to be some kind of lesser undead mage, and probably knows some magic.]

[Private to Garel Astur: It doesn't seem to be a real lich, they're more bony. :)  It appears to be what's called a deathlock, a kind of lesser undead mage, capable of some magic, particularly necromantic, and an ability to place necromantic trap-spells.]

Mid-Round Update:

Balrok charged along the glass floor, loosening his grip on his shield and hurling it aside as he rushed upon the lich's vat. His axe was raised high, ready to destroy the glass coffin. It came crashing down...

Suddenly the side of vat began to shine with a sickly light, and he briefly glimpsed a foul-looking twisted glyph. Then a hideous sickness began to fill him, his muscles locked up, and he found himself utterly paralyzed and utterly helpless. [Necro trap! (No save) Balrok is paralyzed for 8 rounds! Fort save 17, worse thing avoided]


Updates:

Balrok moved to D10, paralyzed for 8 rounds.

Initiative:
19 - Elf Lich
19 - Gurgun
12 - Slove
10 - Balrok
8 - Jorn
 7 - Garel

Gurgun pulls out a small flask and throws it at the undead. His aim isn't quite right though, and the flask breaks inside the coffin behind the crouching undead. Still, the flames are bound to sting it.

OOC: Move to C08, throw alchemist fire, 12, presumed miss, rolled 5 on d8, hit square right behind, undead take 1 damage.

OOC: Hello?

Gurgun, I'll count that as a direct hit since the undead is laying inside his vat-coffin.

Mid-Round Update:

Gurgun might have missed the undead mage, but he still managed to toss the pot of alchemist's fire into the confined space of sarcophagus. The pot exploded, flames erupting and igniting the deathless mage's moldy robes. A dry hiss of rage and pain burst from the vat. [Direct hit! Alchemist's Fire, 4 fire damage to Kyjal, now on fire]


Updates:

Balrok moved to D10, paralyzed for 8 rounds.

Gurgun moved to C8

Initiative:
19 - Elf Lich
19 - Gurgun
12 - Slove
10 - Balrok
8 - Jorn
 7 - Garel

OOC: Summer slowness?

Slove lets of two arrows at the creature.

OOC:
09:18, Today: Slove rolled 14 using 1d20+10. Attack with arrow.
09:18, Today: Slove rolled 13 using 1d20+10. Attack with arrow.

Can't see them hitting.

Leaning into the room, Garel looked at the undead.

Casting his spell and aiming it for the ground at the undead mages feet was his goal.

As he finished the words he looked on to see the effect and what the rest of the party was doing.

OOC: HELD ACTION.  Casting Silence on the ground at the Undead Mages feet right before he begins to cast, or after he moves if he decides to try and move to a safer location to cast.  Regardless, I will be casting it to stop him from casting and going right before him.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:52, Tue 06 July 2010.

OOC: The undead mage is lying in his coffin/sarcophagus/vat, so his feet aren't on the ground. As you can cast silence on an object or point in space from a distance, I'll assume you place it on his vat.


Slove's two arrows flew harmlessly over the top of the lich's burning vat. [Miss]

With a dwarf's thought for his kin, Jorn rushed up and grabbed the stricken Balrok, and endeavoured to drag the warrior away from the undead's grasp. [Jorn NPCed. Moves and grapples Balrok, drags him back]

Despite being on fire, Kyjal knew not to waste any time. Forcing his mind to ignore the burning of his dry papery skin, he went into the rasping words of a spell... [Fire damage 5 to undead]

The Garel made his vat a cauldron of silence. [Readied action, Garel casts silence]

Kyjal faltered, then forced his voice through the cloying silence, breaking into sound again. The words and movements of his spell went on. Rising from his vat, a grey coruscating ray shot from his bony finger towards Gurgun, but the flames threw off his aim. [Kyjal: Will save 25, silence negated. Ranged touch attack 12, missed]


Round 2:


(Please ignore the second Jorn in G7)

G: Gurgun Nightwhisper
S: Slove
G: Garel Aster
J: Jorn Brightcaller
J: Balrok

K: Elf Lich, Kyjal Stardancer, laying in vat

Effects:

Initiative: green - you may act
 7 - Garel
19 - Elf Lich
19 - Gurgun
12 - Slove
10 - Balrok
8 - Jorn
This message was last edited by the GM at 12:24, Wed 07 July 2010.

Gurgun moves swiftly south and strikes at the cowering (and burning) undead.

OOC: QS attack (2H) 16, Damage 10

Slove lets of another set of arrows.

OOC:-
23:50, Today: Slove rolled 6 using 1d8+5.
23:50, Today: Slove rolled 9 using 1d8+5. damage.
23:49, Today: Slove rolled 16 using 1d20+10. attack with bow.
23:49, Today: Slove rolled 29 using 1d20+10. attack with bow.

Mid-Round Update:

As soon as the ray left the lich's finger, Slove fired an arrow and put it right through the undead elf's arm. Kyjal screeched madly, and dropped back into the safety of his vat, the flames finally going out. The next arrow passed overhead. [Slove: first arrow hits, deals 9 damage]

Gurgun rushed upon the vat, his staff raised to thrust the butt down inside at the lich. Then the vat's side glowed, and another twisted glyph glimmered. Like Balrok before him, Gurgun felt himself grow dreadfully sick, and his limbs seized up, and he too became paralyzed and helpless. [Another Necro trap! (No save) Gurgun is paralyzed for 4 rounds! Fort save 22, worse thing avoided]

Updates:

Gurgun in C10, paralyzed

Initiative: green - you may act
19 - Elf Lich
19 - Gurgun
12 - Slove
10 - Balrok
8 - Jorn
 7 - Garel

I shifted Garel to his previous init place again, since either way he acts before the elf lich.
This message was last edited by the GM at 05:27, Fri 09 July 2010.

Jorn, now in the form of the Tren, rushes forward to threaten the lich. Once within range, the dwarf chants another quick series of syllablles, causing his armored form to suddenly expand greatly;

[Cast] Enlarge Person
[Move] D10, occupy squares C9-D10

Current Buffs: Alter Self, Enlarge Person
NOTE: Jorn now has 15ft reach

OOC: Note to self: in the future, avoid annoying traps.

Garel was aggrivated at what had happened thus far.  Two of their best front line fighters were paralyzed.   He knew that his spells could not free them, but he had to do something.

Stepping forward to enter the room, he began to cast a spell and reached out and touched Slove.

OOC: Five foot step into the room to G7.  Cast Hide from Undead on Slove and myself. (must be able to touch all those you wish to hide.)
This message was last edited by the player at 04:05, Tue 13 July 2010.

Balrok attempts to twiddle his thumbs but fails, because he is paralyzed!

Peering out of his vat, Kyjal's pale eyes narrowed as Garel cast his spell, but if he'd noticed the disappearance of the pair, he gave no sign of it. [Will save 25, sorry]

Right now, the gigantic dwarf looming over his sarcophagus was a much greater concern. Kyjal pushed back, moving to the far end, then flung himself over the edge to seek cover behind the vat. With an angry shout of desperate spellcasting, he flung his hand open at Jorn, like he had done to Balrok earlier, and the dwarf began to feel afraid. [Kyjal: 5ft step and move action to leave vat. Casts cause fear @ Jorn, Will DC 13 or be Frightened for 3 rounds, success means being Shaken for 1 round]

Round 3:



G: Gurgun Nightwhisper
S: Slove
G: Garel Aster
J: Jorn Brightcaller
J: Balrok

K: Elf Lich, Kyjal Stardancer

Effects:

Frightened: Fearful of a creature, situation, or object. A frightened creature flees from the source of its fear as best it can. If unable to flee, it may fight. A frightened creature takes a –2 penalty on all attack rolls, saving throws, skill checks, and ability checks. A frightened creature can use special abilities, including spells, to flee; indeed, the creature must use such means if they are the only way to escape.

Shaken: Mildly fearful. A shaken character takes a –2 penalty on attack rolls, saving throws, skill checks, and ability checks.

Initiative: green - you may act
19 - Elf Lich
19 - Gurgun
12 - Slove
10 - Balrok
8 - Jorn
 7 - Garel
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:16, Tue 13 July 2010.

With his usual silence Slove lets go very quickly at undead.

OOC:
22:56, Today: Slove rolled 10 using 1d8+5.
22:55, Today: Slove rolled 7 using 1d8+5. damage.
22:55, Today: Slove rolled 24 using 1d20+10. attack with bow.
22:55, Today: Slove rolled 21 using 1d20+10. attack with bow.

The arrows sped straight and true, past his allies and over the head of Balrok, then... thud! thunk! Kyjal Stardancer sprouted two quivering shafts from head and heart. He seemed surprised. "You... my master... destroy... you..." he choked, then pale eyes rolled back in his head and he dropped to the cold glass floor, dead again.


OOC: Battle's over!

Gurgun will recover in around 3 rounds (18 seconds), Balrok in 4 rounds (24 seconds).

When Balrok finally thaws out, he will grumble in dwarven about missing the fight and give the body of the undead creature a kick for good measure.  He will then proceed to search the room for treasure and traps.

Take 10 Search for traps:  13.  Take 20 if something looks suspicious:  23.  Add 2 if the trap somehow involves "stone"; Add 2 if Balrok is considered "underground".  This is Survival skill at a -5; I can find any sort of trap, even high DC ones.

Take 10 search for treasure:  12.  Take 20 if something looks particularly promising:  22.

Fortunately there were no more of the dreaded necromantic traps around the room.

The room was bare apart from the mortuary tables and the vats. On the undead mage himself, only two things presented themselves of interest: a slim wand carved of yellowing bone, topped with a black onyx gem; and a glittering clear gem jammed into the centre of elf's forehead. Prising it out was a gross business, but produced a wondrous tear-drop-shaped gem.

Duladora appeared once all had been declared safe. The non-adventuring archaeologist poked around the room, and explained her findings for the benefit of the curious. She peered into one of the vats. "I think the ancient star elves practiced maceration," she explained, crinkling her nose in distaste. "That's, uh, a process where bodies are stripped of flesh to leave only the bones. They would have placed their dead in these vats, filled them with water, and used fire magic to bring them to boil. The, um, waste products would go in that furnace to be incinerated, while the bones would be collected, polished, tied up in those silver chains, and stored in that ossuary we saw."


OOC: This game can be educational too. ;)

Slove looks at his bow and them draws another arrow.
The room maybe clear but he not going leave group unprotected.

Gurgun manages to produce his notebook once the paralysis lets him, taking careful notes of Duladora's findings, as well as adding his own observations and sketches of the (twice) fallen elf.

Nasty traps. is all he comments of the fight, nodding at Slove for his deadly accuracy with the bow.

"Apologies, Gurgun!" sighed Jorn, "if I had recognized the auras a bit quicker I could've warned yer about the traps." The dwarf dismissed the spell, shrinking back to his original size. The wizard then carefully picked up the gems and the wand, weighing them in his hands.


"Right. Anyone able to identify these? Or shall I just carry them in my pack first?"

The tear-drop shaped gem was just the right shape and size to fit in the talking glass heads back in the old library, just as the undead mage had done to himself. No doubt this gem stored information as well, perhaps of the arcane variety?

It was also clearly another of the famed King's Tear gemstones.

Post #393:
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Post #569:
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Balrok will lead the group to check the area marked "46" on the map, checking the door for traps, looking disappointed if he does not find any, then kicking it down and going in.

And sorry for my confusion on where we were going!  I'm straight now, I think!