Zilean's Revenge (Part 3)

Hello, and welcome to part 3 of the "Zilean's Revenge" Campaign. For previous transcripts (the remainder of which are in the comments of Friendship is Dragons), backstories, and play logs, see the locked threads:
Part 1
Part 2

Zarhon - The Benevolent DM

Lyntermas - Rolf Towden
Picture, Character Sheet

Bronymous - Horizon
Picture and Character Sheet

Ramsus - Skitter
Picture and Character Sheet

Broken Logic - Jeraylia Shale
Picture, Character Sheet

Azarune - Zthulan Ydal
Picture, Character Sheet

Former Player(s)

Kris_The_Guest - Rabiah, Tiffany

Character Sheet (Rabiah)


When we last left our heroes, they were still fighting a cultist and his zombie mob!

---

The cultist, upon seeing the common, familiar guardian spell being conjured, pays no heed to it at first, but then takes a few moments to fully take in the appearance of the creature summoned to face him. He mutters a single phrase under his breath.

"What."

He then gets slashed by the "hot" guardian, which snaps him out of his disbelieving stupor.

---

As a reminder to everyone, *reacting* to "Rolfie's" summon via RP/dialogue is a free action.  

Also, wouldn't she have ignited Rolf on contact with her "ballistics"?

Zthulan gives Rolf a firm pat on his shoulder and a smirk on his face. "'Rolfie' eh? You will have to tell us how you two met once this is over."

---

Question, is she an natural world? Or perhaps a creature from another plane? I feel if she originated from a primal background Zthulan might now a little about what type of spirit . That or at least allow him to chat with Rolf about having familiars that are tied to the spirit world.

Zarhon wrote: Also, wouldn't she have ignited Rolf on contact with her "ballistics"?

Adara has learned to control her skin's temperature to help "interpersonal relations." It might be a bit warm, but not hot enough to ignite skin or flesh.

...Smothering is a potential problem, though.

As for origins, well, I haven't nailed down anything specific. She is more fire than flesh (when she is cut, flame out of the wound instead of blood), so she could be a fire elemental.

Skitter just rolled his eyes at Rolf doing another thing that was all about being flashy, even while people could be getting killed.

---

Um..... Lynt.... that was a bit.... long... y'know... for the middle of combat. It kinda broke my ability to believe the scene as an actual series of events and not... a cutscene. Next time could you cut the dialog/interaction down to a line or two just so the rest of us don't have to imagine the fight paused to watch Rolf grope a summon while we were in the midst of mutual murder attempts?

It'll be shorter next time, promise.

With the principles of life in effect, that seems entirely plausible.

However you want to call it, I guess, Zarhon. Let me know, so I cam update my stats. Also, what happened to my Mocking Melody on the cultist?

Ramsus wrote:Um..... Lynt.... that was a bit.... long... y'know... for the middle of combat. It kinda broke my ability to believe the scene as an actual series of events and not... a cutscene. Next time could you cut the dialog/interaction down to a line or two just so the rest of us don't have to imagine the fight paused to watch Rolf grope a summon while we were in the midst of mutual murder attempts?

Actually, combat technically did pause - The cultist (and everyone else) were too befuddled/confused to react to the sillyness.

And since combat is technically a JRPG, semi-long cutscenes can work - how would boss transformations and super-doom-attacks work otherwise?

Broken Logic wrote:However you want to call it, I guess, Zarhon. Let me know, so I cam update my stats. Also, what happened to my Mocking Melody on the cultist?

Call what? What are you referring to?

Edit: Oh you mean the misdirection? I'll say... yes, you got resist on the bolt.

As for the Melody, it's no longer present - cultist&mob removed it along with the other stuff when he went into "lone cultist" mode/form/phase.

Actually, now that I took the time to think about it,
1:I'm thinking you might not get my resistances or vulnerabilities. Resistance kicks in if I actually would be dealt the damage, like vulnerability, right? But I'm not taking that damage at all. I realized it's important to clarify what stance we're going with, since I'm going to be switching to the Full Plate armor after this battle, which is resist 2 to everything.
2: Actually, the spell is now(or at least for this one is) multi-target instead of being single target, chance for more. So neither of us would get the resistance anyway.

I'm pretty sure it's not my turn yet, but could someone let me know if my stats have been affected in any way since last turn, other than take 10 damage? Lots of shit happened and I can't help but feel like I missed something.

As for a reaction, I don't think horizon has one besides a mocking smile and silent judgment. He knows what you get up to when it's a bit cold at night- need something to warm you up.

Jeraylia
Zthulan
Skitter
Lone Cultist
Lone Cultist
Rolf
Horizon <----current turn

As for effects, the only thing other than the damage was the "Feebleness", which causes -5 penalty to save ends, deal -4 damage, cannot benefit from regeneration, healing recieved reduced by -2 (save ends all).

Horizon, through the haze of pain, bad feelings, tunnel vision, and all the other signs that he was really not ok, sights the cultist and pushes forward. "Get over... here... kill, die... all die... all of us, come die with me." His mind shade, reality slipping around him. He could see the cultist laughing at him with those same demonic eyes he'd seen for so many years. He runs and attacks, no longer caring about the pain or the danger. He just wants to hurt him, kill him, shut him up.

Definitely not ok.

Spoiler:

---

I went ahead and changed my items, and also noticed that my trait was recently updated, too (reduced in its effectiveness, because what else was I expecting?). They probably updated more than just that one though, so everyone might want to double check.

You saved vs enfeeblement, it's a single roll (save ends all). Also, withhold your actions a bit until I can check something.

Update!

---

After receiving the blow, one of the cultist's non-necrotic arms breaks, bone jutting through skin and bleeding profusely, one of his eyes has a red gash cut into it, blinding him halfway, while his necrotic flesh juts open with large wounds, that by normal accounts should be instantly fatal. Despite this, the cultist is somehow still standing, barely supported by the rigid black flesh. He shivers and twitches, his face a mixture of contempt and psychosis.

Combat Event - Initiative change:

"N-nice... try... but... *coughs blood* n-not... just yet...", he mutters, as he discards his wand and reaches into his robe with his remaining functional arm. He pulls out a scroll, and begins reading it aloud, hampered by his wounds, but clearly determined.

Lone Cultist Combat:

"THAT IS AN INTRIGUINGLY AESTHETIC FORM FOR A GUARDIAN ENTITY.", Death says, standing beside Rolf and his conjuration, observing her. "A RELIGIOUS, OR AN ARTISTIC EXPRESSION?"

---

Jeraylia's turn now. You can trigger blood mite if you want, Ramsus, as illogical as it might be in this case.

Fix'd save and status. Withhold my combat actions? I'm pretty sure they're all correct...
Used Gather Energy last turn, so two actions.
Gather Energy was my fourth brought in, so open options was my fifth and Furious rage was left out, so swappable.
1 HP= hella bloodied, so 3d12
The 3d12 is all one hit, not separate hits, so -4 damage only applies once.
Duelist was changed to +1 instead of +2, but that was a recent update along with the items- I've been using +2 all combat, so I didn't change it here.

My stuff's straight, so unless you're checking on a previous interrupt to determine if he's a viable target, I don't think my actions will be any different.


Irrelevance.

See my previous post for big combat update (made a big edit, which Brony posted after ). "Witholding" was meant towards Jeraylia, actually - had to check cultist's hp and have him do his stuff before she posted.

Edit: Hmm, what soundtrack would best fit this situation/trope?

Edit Edit: Actually, I'll just copy the whole thing again here in a spoiler:

Spoiler:

Yup, Bone Mite. Though, question, what did that 20 do? Is that damage? If so I'm pretty sure you just KOed the entire party except for the fire giant which then has to make a save vs vanishing.

Edit: Btw, that's pretty cheap if that is damage. Since kinda obviously 10 damage to everyone + 20 damage to everyone is gonna KO everyone since we only have 30 max HP.

Ramsus wrote:Yup, Bone Mite. Though, question, what did that 20 do? Is that damage? If so I'm pretty sure you just KOed the entire party except for the fire giant which then has to make a save vs vanishing.

Edit: Btw, that's pretty cheap if that is damage. Since kinda obviously 10 damage to everyone + 20 damage to everyone is gonna KO everyone since we only have 30 max HP.

1) The effect didn't happen. Yet. That's coming on the cultist's next turn (or rather, at the end of it, as he effectively "skips" it in addition to this one). And he's already at negative hp... Surely you can guess what to do...

2) 30? Where did the extra 10 come from?

3) As for what the 20 is...

4) Thank you for telling me how much max hp everyone has. I clearly did not take it account when making this move.

Jeraylia continues to advance towards the cultist, panting tiredly and trying to scrape all the toxic goo off her, and making little progress.
"What's that? I can't hear you over how much of a moron you are. Really? Discarding your humanity? Next you'll be saying, 'This isn't even my final form!'"
Finally reaching him, she thinking to disarm him further. Unfortunately, she fails to summon the strength needed to lift her sword.

---

Not much to do but mocking melody him again. Maybe one day, it'll do something. Maybe. Please?

Combat:

Roll to save against Ongoing 5: 1 (4+2-5)
Roll to save against EVERYTHING ELSE: 2 (5+2-5)
Rocking those saving throws >_>.
Summary: Cultist takes 2(count it, two) damage. Oh wait. That's zero, since I have -4 damage ><. Horizon gets 5 temps, though. Jeraylia is still subjected to everything.

Jeraylia:

Also, did you see my post about the resistances, Zarhon? It's important to me because Misdirection is a big part of what I do. Actually, it's been the only part, really. Apart from my occasional Invigorating Strikes.
Edit: What can I say? I'm on a roll today.

Zarhon wrote:"THAT IS AN INTRIGUINGLY AESTHETIC FORM FOR A GUARDIAN ENTITY.", Death says, standing beside Rolf and his conjuration, observing her. "A RELIGIOUS, OR AN ARTISTIC EXPRESSION?"

"Well, artistic, I guess. Nester certainly wasn't thinking about religion when he..." Rolf stopped, then looked over at Death. "Wait, when did you show up? Or is it "you never left"? And are you here for him or for..." Rolf turned to look at the cultist. "...Well, as long as we get him before he finishes reading that scroll, it won't matter."

"...Rolfie?"

"Yeah?"

"...Nothing."

---

So, Zarhon, can Adara see Death or not? As for music, assuming that very bad things will happen if the cultist gets to his next turn, I think this might suffice. .

edit: Jeraylia, no, direct damage, DIRECT DAMAGE. We don't want to give him the chance to roll another dice.

Alright, I'm editing my last post to do invigorating strike instead.

Lyntermas wrote:edit: Jeraylia, no, direct damage, DIRECT DAMAGE. We don't want to give him the chance to roll another dice.

I'd listen to him! I'll allow for a minor retcon, if you wish to change your mind. Okay, invigorating strike it is - that's 5 damage, with the vuln3 from Skitter.

As for Adara seeing Death, I actually considered it - it might be a tad disruptive to do it mid-combat though (initiative/time/cutscenes and all, Ramsus would certainly object), and since, depending on how protective she is of "Rolfie", might see Death as a threat to and would have legitimate reason to try attacking Him (instead of, you know, the cultist). How would she react to Death, on His own?

EDIT: This is a good theme too.

I got the 10 from the last time he attacked us. You know, right after my turn? Half a round ago?

So then... what did the 20 do? If nothing we can tell... why do we even know about it? It's really confusing for you to just throw numbers at us and not tell us what they relate to.

Is that initiative roster current? Because I think I have a Bone Mite and a Wraith, not two Bone Mites.

@various commentary: >_< Sorry for wanting things to make sense?

As the battle continues to reach its blood crescendo Zthulan lunges at the cultist with spear, as Koras also joins in the shamans assault.

Combat Log:

Zthulan's Stats:

I derped up, I don't have the ongoing anymore.

Zarhon wrote: As for Adara seeing Death, I actually considered it - it might be a tad disruptive to do it mid-combat though (initiative/time/cutscenes and all, Ramsus would certainly object), and since, depending on how protective she is of "Rolfie", might see Death as a threat to and would have legitimate reason to try attacking Him (instead of, you know, the cultist). How would she react to Death, on His own?

Well, in my mind, there are three possibilities.

1. Foreknowledge: Adara sees Rolf talking to the Grim Reaper. She knows who he is and his nature, but she's not used to seeing his "public appearances". She is aware that while his presence is an indicator that someone's going to die, she's fairly certain that he's not going to interfere one way or another. Rolf being able to talk to him (and recognize who he is) raises a few questions, but those can wait.

2. No Foreknowledge: Adara sees Rolf talking to a skeleton in a black robe with a scythe. She infers that this is Death (at least, one of his forms) and might consider that he's a threat. However, Rolf seems...EXTREMELY blasé, considering, and Death doesn't seem to be actively threatening Rolf for the moment. She decides that Rolf knows what he's talking about when he considers the cultist to be the larger threat, so she'll focus on Mr. Suicide...for now.

3. No Knowledge: Rolf is talking to himself. Adara hopes he hasn't hit his head too hard since the last time she saw him.

Pick one, Zarhon, and I'll go with it.

@ Zthul: Yep, vuln counts on the bladespell, since it's a separate attack effect. 9 damage total.

@ Skitter: Yeah, ignore that, copy-pasted that from my own notes. You have your summons still.

Speaking of which, Jeraylia, minor edit on my part: It's not 5 damage you dealt. You forgot to add in the (-4) damage penalty.

This means you either did:

- 0 damage (2 - 4 = 0 damage, no vuln trigger due to no damage)
- 1 damage ( 2 - 4 + 3 = 1)
- or 3 damage (2 - 4 + 3 = 3 damage, if vuln applied onto 0 damage).

All comes down to how the penalty/vuln order goes. I'd say option #3 is the one that would apply for Jeraylia, so you dealt 3 damage with invig. strike.

@ Rolf: Option #1 seems the funniest to go with, but with a minor alteration on my part, if you don't mind.