Out-of-character adventure discussion

[Cocoa]

Thanks for taking care of Ariellana, Umi. I ended up falling asleep soon after I got home last night instead of getting my post in.

Since Ariellana now gains +2 to attack rolls, she'll use Wolf Pack Tactics instead of Commanders' Strike. This will allow Karu to shift a square for flanking and thus combat advantage.

If #3 gets dead before Ariellana's turn, she'll go after one of the other centipedes. Unless there's some advantage to giving someone else the attack, she'll do the attack herself. I should be able to think a bit more about this and come up with a good in-game post before the deadline, I hope.

Akaysha still has healing left, I believe. If not, we'll see to it that she gets some this round.

[Palpatim]

Holy cow, a 20 missed vs. AC! Sorry for the premature in-game post--I had assumed that would hit. I'll edit the story post, and take that as a lesson in what happens when you assume.

For this round, Rogur will swing around to flank #4 with Tanglar, and try for a sword hit again.

Move: W, W, W, W, S, SE (Ends with Rogur flanking Tanglar)

Minor: Draw short sword

Standard: Sly Flourish against #4

* Attack vs. AC (includes +2 for CA) *

* Damage *

* Sneak Attack damage *

[edit]
Crit! I don't feel bad about assuming this story post.

[Ithelryn]

Oh my gosh, Yrisz got to use her Divine Glow!!!

I definitely approve placing Divine glow to give my friends maximum benefit. In case Centipede 4 (I rather doubt #5 is) was in the blast area I'll roll that now. If not, well then disregard the roll of course. Running to work!!!

* Divine Glow vs Centipede #4's Ref *

[Umiushi]

Holy cow, a 20 missed vs. AC! Sorry for the premature in-game post--I had assumed that would hit. I'll edit the story post, and take that as a lesson in what happens when you assume.

Well, I don't know how I misread that last night, but a 20 does hit. I'm afraid you'll have to edit your post one more time, and I'll edit the round summary.

As an aside, you may "stow" and "retrieve" your short sword from between your teeth if you're so inclined, though short swords aren't all that short. The mechanics will be treated the same way: minor actions.

Oh my gosh, Yrisz got to use her Divine Glow!!!

I definitely approve placing Divine glow to give my friends maximum benefit. In case Centipede 4 (I rather doubt #5 is) was in the blast area I'll roll that now. If not, well then disregard the roll of course. Running to work!!!

The centipedes are spaced too far apart to fit more than one in a close blast 3.

[Ithelryn]

The centipedes are spaced too far apart to fit more than one in a close blast 3.

Oh, no worries. Giving most everybody a +2 to hit the next round was more then worth it! Especially, considering my other action would have just fizzled horridly...

Also, healers, Yrisz will take care of Zephyr's healing. I suspect he's going to need rather a lot soon, but I'm thinking of letting him swim just a bit more to get as much as I can out of the Healing Word (I'm thinking about our second adventure that we've planned for tonight still and conserving our healing surges as best as can be managed)...

[yukonhorror]

actually I didn't want healing yet. If you can reposition the blast to affect others who may need it more, I think that'd be best.

Like I said, as a barbarian, being bloodied has it's advantages. If I lose 3 more hp, I am bloodied, THEN you can heal me.

Anyhoo.

I'll repeat last round's actions (sort of)

std: recuperating strike vs. AC #5
Free: savage growl if hit

* recuperating strike vs. AC #5 *

* dam and gain 3 temp hp and use savage growl *

[Ithelryn]

This is just a quick post, but I think this Round Yrisz is going to:

Move:S, S, SE
Standard: Astral Seal Centipede #3 (#4 if #3 has already perished, #5 if both the others have perished)

* Astral Seal Wis+2 vs Ref *

[Feantari]

Karu will shift NE and attack #3.

free action: @Ariellana "It looks like our bard friend could use some help."
move: shift NE
standard: brash strike, flanking bonus and +2 bonus from Yrisz

* brash strike vs. 3 *

* brash strike dmg *

grants CA to #3, 3 remains markified

[Cocoa]

Ariellana's attack bonus is higher than Karu's, I think (+3 prof, +1 for lvl 2, +1 for expertise, +3 for str, +2 for flanking, and +2 from Yrisz). Since centipede 3 is near death, she'll attack it. She'll use Wolf Pack Tactics, but I don't think anyone will be shifting.

If the centipede dies before her turn, she'll move to the next closest centipede and use Wolf Pack Tactics on it. That might allow someone to shift to give her combat advantage.

If the centipede dies as a result of her attack, she'll move to another centipede if she can help someone by flanking. Otherwise, she'll move near Yrisz to try and keep centipedes from attacking her.

She will also use Inspiring Word on Akaysha if Akaysha wants it.

[johnsoncake]

She will also use Inspiring Word on Akaysha if Akaysha wants it.

I am hurting quite badly, but hopefully it'll be down by the time it can do anything else. Hold off on the heal for someone who's more punctual.

Shifting North to get out of melee range so I can give another Vicious Mockery against #3.

* Vicious Mockery Attack *

* Vicious Mockery Damage *

* Let's Not Be Poisoned! *

[Cocoa]

We have a fair amount of healing left if Akaysha needs it. Your choice, though. If you do accept it, you get to spend a surge and gain an additional 1d6hp. It's worth it to keep Akaysha upright. A conscious bard is more effective than an unconscious bard.

[Umiushi]

This is the one hundred twenty-fifth Acqua Alta main post. Players' posts in either thread are due by 11 pm, Saturday, June 19th. The next main post will appear by 11 am, Monday, June 21st.

Map: http://img143.imageshack.us/img143/8...01shaftr04.jpg
Illumination: dark (other than illumination provided by the party)

Round Four Summary
Karu (Initiative Count 24)
Expended: 2 sling bullets, Passing Attack (Encounter), Stone's Endurance (Encounter), 1 healing surge
Status: +2 to attacks, flanking centipede 3 with Ariellana, granting combat advantage to centipede 3
13 points of damage

Move Action: move northeast. (Cost 1; shift. Karu is now flanking centipede 3 with Ariellana.)
Standard Action: take a Brash Strike against centipede 3. (Melee +6 vs. AC - hit. Centipede 3 takes 10 points of damage and remains marked. Karu grants combat advantage to centipede 3.)

Among the debris next to Karu, a small, wooden chest catches her eye.

Akaysha (Initiative Count 20)
Expended: 2 arrows
Status: bloodied, ongoing 5 poison
21 points of damage

Start of Turn: Akaysha takes 5 points of poison damage.

Move Action: move out of melee range. (Cost 1; shift.)
Standard Action: Vicious Mockery against centipede 4. (Ranged Charm vs. Will at distance 2 - miss.)

End of Turn: Akaysha fails to save against the poison.

Rogur (Initiative Count 8+)
Expended: 7 crossbow bolts, 1 healing surge

Move Action: flank centipede 4. (Cost 6; normal. Rogur is now flanking centipede 4 with Tanglar.)
Minor Action: draw short sword.
Standard Action: Sly Flourish against centipede 4. (Melee vs. AC with combat advantage - critical hit. Giant centipede 4 takes 28 points of damage and is slain.)

Ariellana (Initiative Count 8)
Status: +2 to attacks
13 points of damage

Standard Action: attack centipede 3. (Basic Melee +2 vs. AC with combat advantage - rolls 3 modified to 15. Miss.)
Move Action: move towards Yrisz. (Cost 1; shift: S. Centipede 3 is no longer flanked.)

Yrisz moves away from her former position on her turn. I'm not sure if Ariellana wanted to trigger the cascading interrupt attacks again, so I compromised and had her shift towards Yrisz's new position.

Zephyr (Initiative Count 7)
Expended: Arcane Prodigy (Encounter), Escalating Violence (Encounter)
Status: 16 points of damage

Standard Action: take a Recuperating Strike against giant centipede 5. (Melee vs. AC - miss.)

Yrisz (Initiative Count 3)
Expended: Divine Glow (Encounter), Healing Word (Encounter - one left)

Move Action: head to the center of the room. (Cost 3; normal.)
Standard Action: cast an Astral Seal on centipede 3. (Ranged +2 vs. Reflex at distance 3 - hit. Centipede 3 is at -2 to all defenses and will heal 5 hit points to the next ally who hits it before ENT.)

End of Turn: Divine Glow expires.

Giant Centipedes (Initiative Count 2)
Karu's Immediate Interrupt (Trigger - Centipede 3 shifts.): Combat Challenge. (Basic Melee vs. AC - rolls 2 modified to 9. Miss.)
#3 (37 points of damage, bloodied, marked by Karu, combat advantage over Karu, Astral Seal and -2 to all defenses) Move Action - Scuttle. (Cost 2; shift: W, SW) Standard Action - bite Ariellana (Basic Melee -2 vs. AC - hit. Ariellana is bloodied with 4 points of damage and ongoing 5 poison.)
#4 (slain with 61 points of damage) No actions.
#5 Standard Action - bite Zephyr. (Basic Melee vs. AC - misses with 13.)

Tanglar (Initiative Count 1)
Expended: Furious Assault (Encounter), Two-Fanged Strike (Encounter)
Status: flanking centipede 5 with Zephyr

Move Action: flank giant centipede 5. (Cost 2; normal: SW, SE. Tanglar is now flanking centipede 5 with Zephyr.)
Minor Action: designate giant centipede 5 as Hunter's Quarry.
Standard Action: use Twin Strike on centipede 5. (Melee +2 vs. AC. Two attacks - rolls 5 modified to 13 and 7 modified to 15 - both miss.)


PC Results Summary
Akaysha has expended 2 arrows.
Akaysha has taken 21 points of damage.
Akaysha is bloodied.
Akaysha is suffering from ongoing 5 poison.

Ariellana has taken 17 points of damage.
Ariellana is bloodied.
Ariellana is suffering from ongoing 5 poison.

Karu has expended 2 sling bullets, Passing Attack, and Stone's Endurance.
Karu has spent 1 healing surge.
Karu has taken 13 points of damage.
Karu is granting combat advantage to centipede 3.

Rogur has expended 7 crossbow bolts.
Rogur has spent 1 healing surge.

Tanglar has expended Furious Assault and Two-Fanged Strike.
Tanglar is flanking centipede 5 with Zephyr.

Yrisz has expended Divine Glow and one Healing Word.

Zephyr has expended Arcane Prodigy and Escalating Violence.
Zephyr has taken 16 points of damage.
Zephyr is flanking centipede 5 with Tanglar.

Enemy Negative Effects Summary
Giant Centipede 1 is slain.
Giant Centipede 2 is slain.
Giant Centipede 3 is bloodied, under an Astral Seal, and marked by Karu.
Giant Centipede 4 is slain.
Giant Centipede 5 is flanked by Tanglar and Zephyr and is Tanglar's quarry.

Enemy Damage Summary
Giant Centipede 1 - slain with 61 points of damage
Giant Centipede 2 - slain with 57 points of damage
Giant Centipede 3 - 37 points of damage
Giant Centipede 4 - slain with 61 points of damage

[yukonhorror]

I assume we earn a milestone after this encounter yes?

I was thinking of using an AP, but with only 2 bad guys left and Tanglar flanking with me, might hold off.

This assumes I can hit the stupid guy.

Std: howling strike vs. #5 AC
Free: savage growl if hit

* howling stk vs. #5 AC *

* dam and use savage growl *

as a side note, I like escalating violence much more than what I retrained it for.

[Palpatim]

Since Zephyr & Tanglar are likely to take care of #5 this round, I'd like to flank #3. If we work it right, I think we can even get 3 shots in on this thing if Karu delays until after Ariellana's turn. The basic outline is:
* Karu delays until after Ariellana's turn
* Rogur moves to flank with Ariellana, attacks with some of that sweet, sweet sneak attack damage
* Ariellana attacks #3 (assuming Cocoa is comfortable with that), then shifts out of the way
* Karu moves into the spot Ariellana just vacated, and likely finishes it off with some kind of high-powered fighter strike

Ariellana or Karu may have powers that work better than what I've outlined, so I'm by no means wedded to this idea. If we like this as a general outline, though, we can work it out in-game where Karu and Ariellana coordinate their attacks.

In the interests of expediting things, I'm going to go ahead & make rolls & actions now, but these will only apply if Cocoa & Feantari think this is a good idea. If you come up with a plan of action you like better, then Rogur will move to a non-flanking position and take a shot with his sword. (Trying to preserve crossbow bolts, since he's down to 13.)

Provisional actions
Move: NE, NE, E, E
Minor: None
Standard: Sly Flourish against #3

* Attack vs. AC (includes +2 for CA) *

* Damage *

* Sneak Attack damage *

[Feantari]

Keep in mind that either karu or ariellana should hit 3 before you do to get the healing (probably ariellana?). So karu could definitely delay until ariellana reveals an opening. Rogur could delay to after karu and still get the sneak attack in.