Plans, surprise and round 1
Subject What behind door #1
You are taking into account that Ragnar gets +5 to all his CLW rolls and +6 to his CMW ones right? Poor Salix and Ran, if so...
If we decide to nuke this giant, Ragnar will cast spirit weapon since he didn't get the chance last battle.
From: Mark
Subject Plan
Yes I did. He rolled poorly for the CLW.
Remember that dwarves get +4 dodge bonus against giants.
From: Kevin
Subject Plan
OOC: That is assuming that it is a giant, which has not yet been confirmed.
I would like to really avoid hand to hand with this thing, at least for "today". I (and Harp) would suggest throwing some distance spells at it (fireball, MM, Call Lightning) today, rest, then "tomorrow" head back in, again toss in a MM or two, maybe a searing light from Ragnar, then enlarge Mund or Ran, and treat this the same way we treated the Gray Render.
From: Karl
Subject Plan
OOC - If we're sure this is the last door we're going to try "today", Salix would probably not be averse to forfeiting the rest of his prayers for SNA of the appropriate level. Assuming he could "cast" unmolested, he could pretty much fill the room with distractions after a few rounds. Is your typical giant smart enough to ignore hippogriff harranguing in order to track down a druid who is across the room? I'm all for having Ally and Salix just start casting away to take advantage of the surprise. Salix would probably have some qualms about attacking unprovoked, even if it's a giant, but they would be less than attacking a creature whose language he spoke, and given his state of mind right now, he's not likely to question much of anything Harp asks him to do.
From: Kevin
Subject Plan
OOC- Once we determine what this is (if we determine what this is) - my guess is 10 ft. tall with a big club will do some huge damage it it hits, it will probably have a large number of HP, and it will have reach. Remember, things have gotten harder as we have moved forward. IF we use spells to start, I hope -expect we will use most of those to weaken this thing enough that a few good hits from the fighter types will take it out. We don't have much healing left for the day. So I say soften it up some today (start with Fireball and MM, the every 1/2 hour or so, pop open the door and toss in another MM or 2 until we are out. Allistair has 7, Kal has 2-3, Salix can add a lightning bolt if he wants. Either way, Allistair can do avg. 80 pts. withi his MM, Kal can do less, but still some, the fireball would do 15-20 pts. We could put a world of hurt on this thing before we rest and then finish it up tomorrow.
From: Derek
Subject Plan
OOC: Most importantly, is this thing too big to fit through the door? If it is, we could cast spells w/ impunity. IC: Allistair quietly tries to get close enough so that he can see what is in the room.
From: Kevin
Subject Plan
OOC: with my brother in charge, you can bet that it can fit through the door. Otherwise, it would be too easy.
Of course, we have done that once before - with the beetles. Maybe it can work.
From: Mark
Subject Plan
The thing can probably fit through the door, but it would be a tight fit and it would have to stoop.
The grey renders description showed that it had very little flexibilty in the neck/back area. This figure does not have that type of problem.
From: Derek
Subject Plan
What doors have we been through that were smaller? Could we lure it to a tight place it couldn't fit through and then pound it with spells?
From: Mark
Subject Plan
All the doors have been the same size.
The beetels had a problem with a hard shell and not much brains.
From: Kevin
Subject Plan
Sounds like my dog, be exchange too much hair for the hard shell.
From: Kevin
Subject Plan
OOC: Mark, from the guys that can see it, does it look so big that it looks like it would have a tough time *fighting* while it made it way through the door?
Guys, it might be worth trying this now, before we rest. If we can hit it a couple times while its back is turned, get it to come after us and work its way into the door way where we can keep peppering it with MM and other spells, maybe get in a melee attack as it works its way through the doorway, then retreat back to the door INTO the manticore room, and do the same thing again, it may be worth a shot.
Comments? Harp still thinks they should close the door now and back away from it so they can talk without letting it hear them.
From: Porter
Subject Plan
Once the door is closed and the group backs away from the door, the entire party discusses what was seen.
Mund likes the idea of doing some damage to the giant before resting for the night. "Of course it's a giant. Did you see how big it is? It's giant."
"Salix, if you could first summon some critters on the other side of it, it might focus on them while the other magickers spell the crap out if it."
From: Mark
Subject Plan
The guys who can see it have no idea of what it is. For all they know this thing could be made of silly putty and be able to slither through the door with no problem.
From: Karl
Subject Plan
OOC - I say Harp just gives the order (quietly) to the magic users to let fly. Let Salix plunk a hippogriff or two in there and see what happens. We can probably slam the door closed if it comes right for us dontchathink?
From: Jason
Subject Plan
Ragnar's all for nuking the giant with all our remaining spells. I expect he probably would go for the hippogriffs rather than charge us, and we can always close the door if we're wrong.
Just out of curiosity, can Salix summon a monster to appear in a place he can't see? IE, Summon hippogriff 20 feet that way, in the room with the giant?
From: Kevin
Subject Plan
Harp hears Salix's suggestion as they all talk. He thinks for a few minutes and finally says
"All right, no guts, no glory. If you are all willing, lets give this a try. Mund, you will open the door. Allistair, you throw your fireball at it. After it goes off, Salix, you summon some of those hippogriffs we are so fond of to surround that thing. While they distract it, Salix you back up and let Kal and Allistair hit it wiht some mage arrows. You two keep at it until you think it is coming after you, then back up and Mund closes the door. We can wait a while and see if it leaves the area by the door, and maybe we can hit it again."
Sound good?"
OOC: If all agree, they will set it up. We want fireball first, hippogriffs second (so as to not get them caught in the flame). Salix retreats, Kal steps up, and MM until they think the thing is going to charge them.
From: Porter
Subject Plan
"I suggest having the hippogriffs go in first. If the giant is turned away from us dealing with the hippogriffs, it might not even see the fireball coming and won't be able to dodge it."
OOC: Can you get a reflex save on a fireball if you don't know it's there?
From: Mark
Subject Plan
I think so, you just do not get your DEX bonus to the REF save.
If Salix is going to summon animals, I need to know grid squares where he wants them. Remember HIppogriffs are large creatures. I would also need to know the grid intersection where the fireball is to go off.
From: Derek
Subject Plan
One more option I want to ask. Could Allistair cast Enlarge on the giant to make it too big to fit through the door?
From: Kevin
Subject Plan
Harp looks at Allistair and Salix, a questioning look on his face. He was more concerned with the hippogriffs getting hit by the fireball. He will let those two work out the tactics.
From: Mark
Subject plan
As far as I am concerned Salix needs to see the target location where the creatures appear. He also needs to give them commands. He does not need to keep seeing them after that.
Here is how I am going to run the first round or two.
I need to know who is going to open the door. I will use that persons move silent to see how much noise is being made. I will apply a circumstance bonus to this roll. Assuming that you get surprise, which is likely, I will have Salix summon hippogriffs and Ally throw a fireball. I will then run inititive for round 1. I assume Salix will clear out and Kal will move up. Kal and Ally will both throw MM. This depends on Initiative. I need to know what those in the lead will do if they do not get the initiative.
From: Porter
Subject Plan
OOC: Let me remind you that while nowhere near as good as our trusty halfling, Mund has a decent move silent score.
From: Derek
Subject Plan
Shouldn't we be able to shoot spells through our side of the door without entering the room?
If we don't get initiative, I assume we hope someone with initiative can get us out and get the door closed before the giant pummels us.
From: Mark
Subject Plan
The guys at the door opening can shoot spells about anywhere in the room. Those behind them have limited visibility into the room.
If there are three hippogriffs and another large creature in there, those things will take up alot of room.
From: Jason
Subject Plan
Ragnar will toss off his spirit weapon as well; he can cast it even if he can't actually see the giant at the time, then later have it move once he can. Ideally, though, he'll be in a position to see it right off the bat.
From: Mark
Subject Plan
Range is 40 feet and the creature is further than that. It would also get a FORT save.
From: Mark
Subject Surprise, round 1
At Harp's gesture Surin quietly closes the door. The 1/2 orc motions the other to follow him. He leads them back out to the hallway outside of the room where the manitcores were. "This should be far enough" he says. He quickly describes what they saw to the rest of the party. After some discussion, Harp makes his decision. "Salix and Allistair will be next to Mund. He will open the door when we think the thing is at the other corner again. Allistair will cast a fire ball and Salix will summon some of those wonderful hippogriffs to attack the thing. Then Kal and Salix will switch position. Allistair and Kal will then use those mage arrows to hurt the thing until it notices us or finishes off the hippogriffs. Hopefully we will be able to tell before it charges us and Mund can close the door."
He looks around, and the rest of the party nods understanding. "Folks, as big as this thing is, if it hits anyone, but especially Allistair, it will likely kill that person. That club looked like it could crush rock. Let's try to be conservative on this." Harp does not mention any names, but his stare is focused on Kal. "Surin, why don't you take up a spot next to the door on this side. If the thing does chase us you might be able to get an attack at this things back as it comes through the door." The halfling nods, a little hesitantly.
The party moves back into the other room, taking their time so that they make as little noise as possible. They can still hear the thing banging away so they move towards the door, Mund leading the way. Mund, Salix, Surin and Allistair take up positions next to the door. Mund looks at the other two and takes a deep breath and quietly opens the door (Move Silent, 16+6=22, listen check, 11+3=14, fail). The door swings open giving Salix and Allistair their first view of the creature. From the back it takes Salix a few seconds to recognize what the thing is (Knowledge: Nature, DC20, 13+11=24, success). "Hill Giant" he whispers to those around him. "Really strong, fairly stupid."
As the two watch the giant takes another swing at something in the corner. Salix nods at Allistair and the mage starts his chanting. Salix follows just a few seconds behind, already prayer to Obad Hai for some hippogriffs to come to his aid. The mage's spell goes off first, with a burning ember flying out towards the giant, expanding into a large ball of fire. The figure is engulfed in flames, but as the flames die down, it is obvious that little damage has been done (REF save, DC16, 15+3=18, save, damage 6)
A second later a hippogriff pops into existence right next to the giant and attacks. It's claws strike at the things back, but skitter harmlessly off the hide armor (AC20,1+6=7,miss)
Round 1
Initiative: Allistair (15), Mund (11), Salix (11), Kal (8), Hippogriffs (4), Giant (3).
Allistair quickly follows up his fireball with his mage arrow spell. A quick chant and three bolts of energy fly at the giant and strike it square in the back (Damage 13).
Mund watches and waits, making sure that if the thing charges he can get to the door and get it closed before it pounds on his little brother.
Salix is disappointed that he was only able to summon one hippogriff. He knew that the giant would make quick work of one, so he chants again, asking for help again, and this time two more of the creatures appear. He than backs out of the way, making room for Kal.
Kal moves his way up and gets his first glimpse of the giant. It is surrounded by winged creatures but he can still see it towering over them. He chants his spell and three bolts of force fly from the tip of his rapier (damage 11) and strike the giant in the back as well.
The first hippogriff(green) attacks with a flurry of claw and beak. The two claws catch the giant across the skull (AC20, 17+6=23, hit, 14+6=20,hit, 9+1=10,miss, damage 15). The other two each attack with claws and beaks (AC20, 8+6=14,miss, 16+6=22, hit, 3+1=4,miss, 6+6=12,miss, 19+6=25,hit, 17+1=18,miss, damage 13). The giant is suddenly covered in bloody scratches and cuts.
The giant finally realizes that it is being attacked and responds with devastating force. The club arcs down and smashes the first hippogriff on the spine (AC15, 4+16=20, hit, damage 21). The party can hear the spine snap even from this distance and the hippogriff collapses at the giants feet. The giant's arms bulge as it swings to its right, catching another hippogriff in the chest (AC15, 7+11=18, hit, damage 19). the great club smashes the chest bones into a bloody pulp and a second hippogriff collapses at the giants feet.
OODM: End of round 1. Allistair and Kal are at the doorway. One hippogriff is still uninjured and attacking. It does not look like the party has been spotted yet. The giant is in blue and the hippogriff is in red.
I need round 2 actions.
Retcon, round 2 actions
Subject Round 2 actions
Mund readies his action so that he can close the door if the giant charges the party.
From: Mark
Subject Retcon
I made a mistake in th giants turn last night. I forgot some feats that it has. I will rewrite it at lunch.
For the moment assume that all of the hippogriffs are dead.
From: Kevin
Subject Round 2 actions
OOC: The big, lumbering hill giant is able to make the one and only reflex save he will ever have to make. Oh well, at least the hippogriffs did some damage.
IC: Harp watches as Allistair and Salix do their thing. He can hear the scream of creatures, but is unsure what is making what sound. He waits anxiously to see if the plan will work - can they kill this thing without taking any damage? He had better plan on that not happening. He gets Ran's attention, and motions for him to get next to Surin, just this side of the door. If that thing broke through the door, they would need their best fighters close to the front.
OOC: We will be able to adjust if the giant tries to get through the door.
From: Mark
Subject Giant redux
Here is the update of the giants attack. I forgot that it has cleave and power attack.
The giant finally realizes that it is being attacked and responds with devastating force. The club arcs down and smashes the first hippogriff on the spine (AC15, 4+11=15, hit, damage 26). The party can hear the spine snap even from this distance and the hippogriff collapses at the giant's feet. The giant's arms bulge as it swings to its right, catching another hippogriff in the chest (AC15, 7+11=18, hit, damage 24). The great club smashes the chest bones into a bloody pulp and a second hippogriff collapses at the giant's feet. The great club swings again (AC15, 5+11=16, hit, damage 23) and slams the head of the third hippogriff against the wall, caving in it's skull. A third winged body falls to the ground.
Ok I need round 2 actions.
From: Karl
Subject Round 2 actions
If Salix can, he will SNA again. He should be able to summon one as far into the room as he can see and order it to attack the giant, even though he can't see the giant himself, right? I mean, he knows it's there and knows where it was when he last saw it.
(ooc - if he can't do that, he will do whatever Harp orders.)
From: Mark
Subject Round 2 actions
That he can do. However it will limit the number of attacks that the griff will get, since it will have to move before it attacks.
I never realized just how devestating a giant with a club could be. And this is just a basic giant.
From: Kevin
Subject Round 2 actions
OOC: Anybody anxious to run in and fight this thing hand to hand? No??? No takers??? All right, we will keep throwing spells at it.
Just imagine a giant that had spell resistance.
From: Derek
Subject Round 2 actions
OOC: Talking is a free action, right?
IC: Allistair tersely asks the leader ,"Harp? Magic missile or run?"
Allistiair does whatever Harp orders.
From: Porter
Subject Round 2 actions
Mund responds to the question not asked to him "You keep casting. If he comes at us, I'll make sure this door gets shut and that you'll have time to get back.
From: Kevin
Subject Round 2 actions
"Both of you, 1 more mage arrow, then get back to this side of the door."
OOC: Guys, options? If this thing has to slow down to get through the door, we have Ally and Kal throw one more set of MM and the retreat through the door. I am guessing it will rush the door, but not be able to get through next turn - but it should be in sight distance through the door. Next turn, Ally and Kal cast again, and move back toward the first door in the Manticore room. Harp, Ragnar, Salix and Surin are already moving that way. The thing kneels/stoops and tires to squeeze its way through the door. Ran and Mund hold action and hit it as it comes through. Next turn, Ally and Kal cast again (if they still can), and then move again toward the first Manticore door. Ran and Mund will go before th giant, they both take a normal attack, and then run back to the first door. If it is still alive, then we just run through the door and close this door and come back tomorrow morning.
Modifications, suggestions, comments?
From: Porter
Subject Round 2 actions
If we close the door on this giant, will we have time to retreat back to the main room? Might he not be able to open the door back to there? The manticores were not able to.
From: Kevin
Subject Round 2 actions
OOC: I am suggeting that we leave the door to the giants room open, to entice him to try and crawl/squeeze through. Anything that can slow him down so Ally and Kal can toss some more MM at him. For that matter, Mund and Ran could try and get a couple of quick shots in on him before they boogy back to the main manticore door.
What do you want to bet he was beating on a key in that other corner?
From: Mark
Subject Round 2 actions
Just imagine a giant with twice the HP, 3 times the damage ability and longer reach. :)
Another few levels my prettys.
From: Derek
Subject Round 2 actions
If Mund were enlarged to giant size and grappled with the thing, I wonder if it would kick Mund's trash, or if none of its feats would be useful anymore?
From: Jason
Subject Round 2 actions
My only suggestion would be to completely scrap the physical attacks in favor of staying completely out of the way.
Round 2 Ragnar will cast his spirit weapon near the door, order it to attack the giant, and then retreat back towards the far door as Harp is ordering.
From: Porter
Subject Round 2 actions
I agree. That thing would make short work out of any of us.
From: Kevin
Subjectd: Round 2 actions
He might enlarge some, but his strength would still be short of the giant. Lets stick to magic unless we absolutely, positively have to go hand to hand. Even then, I want this thing squeezing through doorways.
From: Derek
Subject Round 2 actions
It wasn't a serious suggestion. Just a "what if we had a D&D holodeck where our characters couldn't die?" kind of question.
From: Porter
Subject Round 2 actions
Like a mage battle!
BTW, has Alistair ever shared that story? If not, Mund will need to draw it out of him sometime.
From: Randy
Subject Round 2 actions
Ranthir likes this idea and raises his voice in support of it. "We can't keep progressing so slowly. If we have a shot to eliminate this threat now, we save ourselves hours, if not days, of effort." He leaves unvoiced his concern that the passage out of this nightmare may not be where it was when they entered. A possibility that he was starting to find frightiningly real.
From: Kevin
Subject Round 2 actions
OOC: Ran is a worry wart. Harp is confident that Heironious would not leave two of his favorite clerics stranded after completing the testing grounds. They may move, but given the power used to build this place, it will be able to get us home. In a pine box.
Round 2 and worry
Subject Round 2
Round 2
Initiative: Allistair (15), Mund (11), Salix (11), Kal (8), Griff (6), Giant (3).
Allistair watches with stunned amazement as the giant kills all three of the hippogriff's in as many swings of his club. He looks back at Harp. "Magic missile or run?" Harp judges the distance and hopes he does not make a mistake. "One more round, the both of you and then start retreating. Ran, Mund and I will cover your retreat. Get ready to hit it again if we have to back up." Allistair nods and turns back. Chanting again, another three bolts of energy leap from his finger tips and strike the giant in the chest this time (Damage 12). Allistair then starts back pedaling towards the other corner of the room. Mund readies himself at the doorway, ready to spring in and close the door if the giant charges. S
Salix, who can no longer see the giant but could hear the death screams of the hippogriffs, calls on Obad Hai for aid again. He sees another hippogriff appear across the doorway from him, and the druid screeches out a command for the griff to attack the giant.
Kal hears Harp's order and chants his spell again. Three more bolts of energy fly from his rapier's tip and strike the giant in almost the exact same place as Allistair's (Damage 9). The elf then starts his retreat, not turning his back on the door.
The hippogriff does a sort of strange hop/bounce towards the giant, the room limiting its ability to fly. As it closes, the giant swings (AOO, leaving a threatened square, AC15, 17+11=28,hit, damage 21) and his club again smashes the winged beast from the air, crushing it to the ground. The giant stops and looks up, finally seeing the party members at the door.
Mund is a bit surprised when he sees the giant drop his club. Whispering to those behind him "He just dropped his club and is fumbling at a sack at his waist? What's he doing?" It takes Salix a second to remember. "CLOSE THE DOOR" he shouts and Mund reacts almost with out thinking. With a speed born of a life in the high hills, Mund is at the door handle and has the door closed in an instant. A second later the whole door area explodes with a shattering blast. Harp and Mund and Salix are almost knocked off their feet from the concussion. Mund and Harp look at Salix. The druid says "Rocks. They like to throw rocks."
OODM: Ok now what?
From: Porter
Subject Worry
For a second there, I was afraid that he was fumbling around for spell components. I was scared.
From: Ashley
Subject Worry
Is the door still there?!?!?!? Mark wrote that it exploded.
The door
Subject The door
The door is still there. There was just a huge concussive explosion, like a large rock hitting the other side of the door and blasting itself into thousands of little shards. I was trying to show what the three or so at the door just missed having hit them.
What to do?
Subject Turn
Anyone?
From: Derek
Subject What next
After the booming subsides and it looks like they won't be immediately dying, Allistair quietly asks Harp if they should go back through the first door and close it behind them before they wait for a few hours.
From: Porter
Subject What next
Mund motions everyone to be quiet, and tries to see what he can hear through the door.
From: Mark
Subject What next
Mund motions for the others to be quiet and to move back a bit from the door. He starts to move closer to the door to see what he can hear, when a loud crashing sound comes from the door. The barbarian jumps back a bit. The sound is repeated again and again, with a regular pattern that he recognizes from when he looked through the door the first time. "The giant it trying to knock the door down."
From: Porter
Subject What next
Mund puts out his arms in a mother-hen fashion and says "Let's get y'all out of here. Fast."
From: Ashley
Subject What next
"Don't need to tell me twice. I suggest we put as many doors as possible between us and him. Starting now."
From: Karl
Subject what next
Salix will go with the others, quickly.
From: Randy
Subject What next
Seeing the others start to move out, Ranthir begins to go with them, positioning himself near Harp. Speaking somewhat quietly he says "Harp, we cannot afford to take too much time in this place. We were warned that the gate is only in the same place for a limited amount of time. Nobody indicated where else it might be when we get out of here. Are we really all in such bad shape that we can't pursue the completion of this task? Perhaps we can set up some sort of ambush. I am starting to become concerned at the amount of time we are spending here. It would be different if we didn't have to wait 24 hours for our magic to be restored, but that adds up really quickly."
Ranthir will listen to Harps response and will go along with whatever his leader on this mission decides. At least for now.
From: Kevin
Subject What next
"I agree, but I really don't want to meet that thing head on.
Allistair and Kal, get back by the other door and wait there, ready to cast some more mage arrows. Ran, you and Mund will stay closer to the door to see if that thing can actually break the door or not. This place is a construct, so it may NOT be able to bust if down. Let's give it 1/2 hour or so to see what happens. Salix, I want you back with Allistair and Kal ready to close that door if we come running. Ragnar, you and I will stay in the middle of the room, ready to cover Ran and Mund if they have to retreat. If it cannot break down the door in the next 1/2 hour, then we can work on what we do next."
Turn, Sprots and Finish it?
Subject Turn
Sorry I have not gotten anything out. Two people are out of the office this week and I am swamped there. At home my son finally got the main home computer and his computer networked and all he has wanted to do is play Nevewinter Nights over the net work.
I will get something out tonight.
From: Kevin
Subject Turn
Work, your back, sprots, band, its is alway something. We know where we rank in your world.
From: Karl
Subject Sprots
sprots?
Oh, nevermind. Spellcheck told me what you meant.
From: Derek
Subject Sprots
Spellcheck usually doesn't succeed in telling me what I meant, let alone what others meant...
From: Kevin
Subject Sprots
You mean you dont have sprots where you are from? I find that hard to believe. Sproting is a time honored tradition here. You have bean sprots, kids (and shopping centers) sprot up overnight, you sprot your friend and the grocery store, you go to local sproting events .
From: Mark
SubjectFinish it?
As the banging starts on the door, Mund turns and hustles the others out of the first door and into the hallway. "That thing in there is tryn to bash the door in and I don't see no how it can stand up to that type of beatn." From the safety of the hallway Surin and Mund watch as the others take stock of the situation. "We should finish the thing now" Ranthir proposes. "It is heavily wounded and we have the advantage of position and knowing it is coming. If all four of us: Mund, Harp me and Ragnar stand and defend, while Kal, Salix and Allistair use magic on it and Surin looks for a way to get in under it's guard, I say we can finish it. However, I will bow to Harp's will if he wishes to wait. This task as been assigned to him."
Mund gives his opinion. "Did you see that thing? It took out 4 of those hippagriff thingies of Salix's in as many swings. Thems was fierce beasts and they did not slow that giant down a bit. Maybe we could take it, but then maybe not. You willin to risk Surin life on it?"
Harp thinks for a while, the whole time the pounding of the giant on the other door a staccato rhythm in the distance. "OK here is my decision. We wait here for 15 minutes. Kal and Allistair on alert. If either of you see the door start to go, launch those mage arrows and get down this hall. If the thing has not broken through in 15 minutes I would guess it will not be able to. Then we wait until it stops and do what we just did again. Sound like a plan?"
OODM: I need to know if every one agrees with this. Or you can role play your objections
From: Karl
Subject Finish it
Salix nods his assent.
From: Porter
Subject Finish it
"I agree. 'Taint no use trying to fight this giant fair-like. As long as we can do damage to it without getting the huge club or one of those boulders upside the head, I say let's do it."
Giants, waiting, giants redux
Subject What next
Harp is surprised to hear Mund agree. " We really have all day to beat this thing. As Mund said earlier, wh shouldn't waste any spells we have that may do some damage to this thing while we still have them available to us today. We will wait here by the door, keeping an eye and ear out for the next 15-30 minutes. Salix, is there anything else you can tell us about these giants that might help up to beat it? Other than it likes to throw rocks?"
From: Karl
Subject Know how
Hmmm, guess it's time to request a knowledge check. Oh mighty DM! What does Salix know?
From: Mark
Subject Know how
Knowledge check 9+11=20.
He does not know much more than he has aleady said. They are fairly simple creatures, stupid and strong. They like to throw rocks, but he probably has a limited supply. He would be out of his usual comfort zone.
From: Karl
Subject Giants
OK, then . . . in character:
"I don't know much, just that in the hills or forest most druids try to avoid them. They're fairly stupid, but very strong, so most encounters with them end badly for either the giant or the druid. If I came upon one in the wild, I'd try to sneak past without a confrontation, or just get away, if the thing attacked. Here, of course that doesn't seem like an option."
After a minute he adds quietly, "I don't like this place or its 'tests'. It seems the most likely to pass are the ones most ruthless and bloodthirsty. I don't like this wanton killing of creatures brought here only for slaughter. Can that giant help it if it's suddenly in a threatening situation without the mental capacity to avoid a fight? Don't get me wrong, I don't want to die, and it's probably him or us. I just don't understand the virtue of this whole exercise, if there is any at all."
From: Jason
Subject What next
"I agree with Harp and Mund, that we should not attempt to close with it today, if at all."
From: Kevin
Subject Waiting
"Salix, I am beginning to understand your dislike for this place. At first, I was just trying to accept it, but it is almost too much now. Its like some big bully trying to push our nose in how strong he is. We have done more in the past few days than most groups do in months. I am getting tired of this.
Oh well, back to the matter at hand. While we wait, Surin, you and Ragnar take a look at our escape route a little closer and see if we can set up anything to slow this thing down if it gets through. Mund and Ran, you stay with Allistair and Kal in case you see that door start to give way. "
OOC: This is basically busy work while we wait for the giant to grow bored with beating on the door.
From: Josh
Subject Waiting
Kal speaks up:
"Trust the Gods, Harp. You're a man of the faith, don't let these tests shake that. We were sent here by a righteous being. Trust in his plan. I'm certain that every creature we are killing here he wants dead for other crimes they've commited."
From: Porter
Subject Waiting
"Well, we were certainly sent here by a powerful being."
From: Karl
Subject Waiting
Salix wonders what "crimes" the beetles and scorpions might have committed, but says nothing.
From: Josh
Subject Waiting
"We were sent on a mission by the church to go to this exact place. At this moment we simply have no reason to doubt that we're on a mission of good.
If we were slaughtering women and children I would certainly see your argument, but as it stands we've mostly been killing creatures who have a reputation for being evil. Dragons, Giants and Undead are rarely innocent beasts. I've learned that we shouldn't go around assuming all creatures of this type are evil, but if a God of good sent them here to die, that's enough for me.
But I wouldn't expect you to understand that, Mund."
Kal looks to Harp, expecting him to agree.
From: Karl
Subject Waiting
At this Salix merely rolls his eyes, making no effort to hide it.
From: Josh
Subject Waiting
"Speak your mind, Salix. If you doubt the validity of our mission, why have you been helping all along? It would seem to me the largest fool of them all would be the one who believes he is doing wrong and continues to do it."
From: Karl
Subject Waiting
"I serve Obad-Hai and trust that he has a purpose for me here. As I have said from the beginning, though, if this test requires me to break my vows to appease the creators of this place, we will fail.
"What I don't believe in is your arrogance. You speak of 'crimes' as if 'theft' or 'murder' had meaning to a hungry beetle. You speak of 'innocent beasts' as if every life wasn't directly dependent on the deaths of other lives. You have condemned everything in this place from before we entered the portal. You seem to live to mete out justice as you see it without even a hint that perhaps you are merely mortal and endowed only with a mortal's knowledge like the rest of us.
"Perhaps it will be shown to us that this *is* little more than an elaborate chopping-block for the condemned of your god, but having been given no explicit instruction to that effect beforehand, I'm confident in the rightness of at least *trying* to preserve life when possible. If we're just here for mindless slaughter and destruction, by the gods, we might as well be Orcs!
Salix looks at Harp and blushes deep crimson. "I - I - . . . forgive me Harp. How quickly I forget the lessons I'm being taught." He looks apologetically toward Mund as well, knowing how he has spoken with respect about that barbarian race.
He turns again to face Kal. "I am no fool, but I take my pledges seriously. In this place I follow Harp as I have been asked and as I have promised. If I *must* choose in the gray areas between what I feel is right and what I know is wrong, I am confident Obad-Hai will hold me first accountable to my word. But a fool would be one who accepts his first guess as law, especially if that first guess gives him license to play executioner."
From: Kevin
Subject Waiting
" I must have faith that there is a larger plan or larger reason behind this place, and I hope and pray that when we have finished this, that that faith will be proven correct, and that I will be shown why this had to be done this way.
It could be that the same power that created this place and is bringing these creatures here is returning them alive to where they came from, or will do so after we leave. The writings on the wall in the main room hint that we are to meet with someone called "the master" when all is said and done. I must have faith that our questions will be answered when we get to that point."
Harp sounds like he is trying to convince himself, as well as the others
From: Porter
Subject Waiting
"You know what, it don't matter. We're all going to try to get out of here. We're going to try to do it without kill them as we don't need to. And we're not going to kill each other, because we need all the strength we can get."
"Surin, I'm going to go listen at the door unless you want to do it."
From: Josh
Subject Waiting
"Perhaps the beetle broke some rule of nature, perhaps not. I don't pretend to understand the workings of the Gods. What you mistake for arrogance is simply a deep rooted faith. We are here for a reason and our Gods have a plan. I am simply a cog in their great machine, and so I will act as a cog does - predictably, unfailingly, and tirelessly.
Until I am given a reason to doubt, I will not. Our mission is too important."
After a moment, Kal speaks again:
"Maybe my faith is a failing of mine, however, I can be no other way. The gods have plans and I am but their humble tool."
From: Karl
Subject Waiting
Inwardly Salix rolls his eyes again. Outwardly he simply shrugs and turns his back to Kal. He will not continue this conversation. Already it has made him say things he regrets.
From: Mark
Subject Giant redux
Harp is surprised to see most of the party agree on his plan. However, Salix's distaste is obvious on his face as he explains what little he knows about hill giants to the party.
"I don't know much, just that in the hills or forest most druids try to avoid them. They're fairly stupid, but very strong, so most encounters with them end badly for either the giant or the druid. If I came upon one in the wild, I'd try to sneak past without a confrontation, or just get away, if the thing attacked. Here, of course that doesn't seem like an option."
After a minute he adds quietly, "I don't like this place or its 'tests'. It seems the most likely to pass are the ones most ruthless and bloodthirsty. I don't like this wanton killing of creatures brought here only for slaughter. Can that giant help it if it's suddenly in a threatening situation without the mental capacity to avoid a fight? Don't get me wrong, I don't want to die, and it's probably him or us. I just don't understand the virtue of this whole exercise, if there is any at all."
This comment leads to a long heated discussion about the nature of the place they are in and the purpose of the place. Kal and Salix stand on opposite sides of the issue and the matter is not really solved. Most everyone hopes that they will will out some of the purpose of this place before they leave.
The giant is consistent if nothing else. A steady sound of wooden club against wooden door serenades the group for the next 20 minutes or so. During that time Salix and Allistair bring something to Harp's attention. "You know Harp," Allistair says, " Salix is fairly sure that a normal giant would have smashed a normal door to splinters by now. I see one of two options. One the giant is not as strong as he looks. The problem with that is how quickly he killed those hippogriffs. So I would say that option is off the table. The second option is that these doors are stronger than normal. From what Ragnar said when he detected magic, I would put my money on that. Just thought you might want to know. Might come in handy some day."
When the pounding stops the silence is almost startling. However, the pounding starts up again about a minute later. This time though it seems to becoming from further away. "Must have moved back to what it was beating on the first time." Mund says. He looks at Harp. "Do it all over again?" The 1/2 nods. "OK everyone, pretty much the same way as last time, but this time Allistair and Kal, do the mage arrows only." The two casters nod. "Ranthir and Ragnar, you two take up place in the middle of this room, in case we need to call a retreat. Salix, can you summon one more hippogriff?" The druid nods. "OK you stay at the other door. If the giant comes through that door, have your beast try and slow it down while the rest of us high tail it out. Mund and I will act as rear guard."
Ranthir coughs slightly at this comment and Harp turns to face him. "Did I forget something?" Ran smiles a small smile. "Sometimes your desire to lead makes you forget that a leaders place is not always in the front. If the giant comes through that door, we will have to be moving as fast as possible. That leaves you out. I should be with Mund at the door. You should be with Ragnar." Harp starts to protest, but stops himself. After a few seconds he nods at Ranthir. "You are right. Take your place."
The party moves into position, with Allistair and Kal standing by Mund an Ranthir. With a look at Harp, the barbarian opens the door again, just a few feet. At the other side of the room, in the same place as before, they see the giant. Allistair and Kal both chant the mage arrow spell, the words different but the effects the same. Six bright blue bolts of energy leap from fingers and rapier and fly towards the giant. The giant turns, hearing the chanting over the banging sound and as it does all six of the missiles strike it in the head (Damage 22). The creature howls in pain and crumbles to the floor, blood flowing from the large smoking wound in its large simian looking forehead.
OODM: Now what?
From: Kevin
Subject Giant redux
OOC: Charge!!!!
IC: Harp will wait to here something from the group by the door before he says anything.
From: Porter
Subject Giant redux
How damaged does the giant appear?
From: Porter
Subject Giant redux
Oh, he collapsed. I missed that.
From: Porter
Subject Giant redux
Mund whispers "That feller may not be terrible smart, but it don't take too many smarts to play possom. I'm going to go in and make sure that he's really dead. Stay shrarp."
From: Derek
Subject Giant redux
Allistair gets ready to launch another magic missle at it in case it is actually playing dead, although he is pretty confident it's dead. It's hard to fake a large smoking wound with blood flowing out of it.
Mund sneaks up
Subject Mund sneaks up
If nobody tries to stop Mund, he'll go in as quietly as he can and will bury his axe into the giant. If it's faking it, it will be really hard to stay quiet during that.
Mund will keep his action readied while moving silently.
From: Kevin
Subject Shrap
OOC: Is stay "shrap" sort of like "sprots"?
From: Mark
Subject Mund sneaks up
So Mund is going to try and Move Silently and when close enough bury his axe in the thing.
I just want to make sure I have it clear.
From: Kevin
Subject Mund sneaks up
Harp watches as Mund says something to Allistair, and then begins to move through the doorway. Had they killed the thing already??
"Allistair, Ran - what's happening?"
From: Randy
Subject Mund sneaks up
Ran backpedals to get a little closer to Harp before saying quietly "The giant went down. Mund is going to make sure he is out." He then returns to his position, watching intently for any sign of life from the creature.
From: Porter
Subject Mund sneaks up
Pretty much. Mund wants to:
Go in and make sure the giant is dead by sticking his axe in it.
If the giant isn't dead, Mund wants to be read to react to it.
If the giant isn't dead, Mund wants to be as quiet as possible so that maybe he gets to bury his axe in it anyway.
From: Mark
Subject Mund sneaks up
Mund makes a hushing gesture to the others and moves into the room, ready to dart back to the open door if the giant makes a move. Moving slowly so as to keep the noise as low as possible, the barbarian tries to imitate Surin's way of moving quietly. The others are a bit surprised when the big barbarian moves and no one hears him (Move Silent check, 18+4=21). His axe in his hand Mund moves towards the creature lying on the ground. As he gets closer he sees the large head wound caused by his brother and Kal. He moves to the head and raises his axe. The blade falls, finishing off the giant. The giants head rolls a bit to the side and stops, it eyes looking emptily up at Mund.
Harp asks Allistair what is going on and the mage fills him in. The 1/2 orc waves the rest of the party up to the door as Kal and Allistair move into the room. "Ok everyone, lets take a look around. Surin, you look over our large friend there, Ran and Kal search the room. You all know what we are looking for." It suddenly dawns on Harp and the others that there is another door in the room, on the east wall up in the north corner. "Surin, belay that last order. Let Mund and Salix look at the giant. You scope out that door and let me know."
The party breaks down in to groups. The members searching the room find nothing other than shards of rock near the door they came in. Surin takes his time looking over the other door, and other than seeing that it looks like it was beaten with a huge club, it is in pretty good shape. Salix and Mund find nothing on the giant other than a large sack. "Giants keep most of their personal belonging in big sacks. However I am not sure if I want to scavenge the dead."
OODM: Ok what do you want to do with the sack.
From: Porter
Subject Mund sneaks up
"Hell, I ain't shy. It's not like he's gonna mind," Mund says as he looks through the sacks.
The giants room
Subject The giants room
Mund reaches for the sack and starts to rumage through it. He is used to the rougher things in life but this almost turns his stomach. Dirty pieces of clothing, a pot, a large flint and steel, pieces of food, something that looks like a human leg, probably female, several copper coins and a silver coin. And a small vial of a green liquid.
From: Kevin
Subject The giants room
Harp watches as Mund searches through the belongings of the giant. All their planning, and it had ended so quickly. Well, at least none of them had been hurt, and he was sure that that thing could have put a huge hurt on them, had he gotten close.
Another door. When were they going to end? It was as if this place had been designed by an runny nose punk kid trying to prove how smart he was. Just have one room, have the challenge in there, and let us get done with it Harp thinks to himself. Well, he had to keep up what image he could for the rest, for what good it would do him.
As the group finishes looking around, Harp will get with _____ (OOC: Mark, whom ever is making the map) and talk about the room layout they may encounter when they open the door.
OOC: Mark, after Allistair or whomever make a knowledge check on the vial, Harp will suggest that they wait for an hour or so, move to the next door and open it quickly to look around, again more as a pre-fight check out. While they have not taken any damage, they are pretty thin on spells. He would like to see what they can in the next room (is is dark, does the basic layout match up with what they expect from the map, etc.).
From: Porter
Subject The giants room
Mund pockets the coins and the bottle as he says "I'll hold onto this until we get a chance to look at it careful-like."
From: Porter
Subject The giants room
Mund sticks his ear against the next door to hear what he can hear.
From: Mark
SubjectThe giants room
Mund places his ear against the new door and listens with all his might. His face straining, the muscles in his neck bulging, sweat running down his face, he listens with all his energy. After a few minutes he turns and triumphantly reports to Harp "Didn't hear a thing. We should go right in."
From: Kevin
Subject The giants room
Harp smiles slightly. "That's good to know, but what ever is on the other side might have heard the giant pounding on the door and maybe trying to keep from being heard. Lets head back to the main room, review the map, eat some lunch, and then we can come back here and see if you and Surin can hear anything then."
Harp really wants to review that map with someone.
From: Ashley
Subject The giants room
If he hasn't done so already, Surin will take a listen at the door.
From: Derek
Subject The giants room
Allistair goes over the map with Harp. "Looking at what we've mapped out so far, we really shouldn't be surprised that there is another door here, since there is still a lot of room to the north. That is assuming that the general layout of this place is rectangular, but from what we've seen so far I'll assume that is so until I learn otherwise. Since we know that there is that long hallway going north on the last door, this door we just came up to after killing the giant will either enter into a small room or perhaps a hallway that leads north into another room. That would be my guess. Also do not forget that we had to go through four doors at one point to get one of the keys, so we shouldn't be surprised to see that again, or even more.
"One bit of good news though, is that when we go for the next key after this one, according to our map it will most likely be a single room. The last key after that though, with the hallway that goes very far north... there could be any number of doors there, and it being the last key I would expect a difficult challenge."
Allistair looks over the map again and thinks back through all the challenges they have encountered so far in this god's personal playground. "I don't pretend to know what Heironius' plan for having us go through this private dimension of his is, and I'm not sure what we are really being tested on, unless it is simply the ability to kill lots of varied and powerful creatures. I won't claim to understand a god's wisdom of right and wrong, but little I've seen so far has encouraged me to embrace it on faith either. Your god has done little to earn my worship, but he has done more than enough to earn my respect. Wizards learn that those who do not respect the greater powers do so at their own peril."
"I will admit some sympathy towards Salix's and Mund's comments, but on the other hand I don't see that any of us have a choice. I don't understand your motivations, but neither do I question them. I think you've done as well as any of us could under the circumstances, and I will continue to follow you."
From: Kevin
Subject The giants room
As Harp reviews the map, he considers Allistairs comments. There seemed to some small areas surrounding the room that they had not explored. Were they just "dead" space, or had they missed a hidden door, like the one that had hidden the ghost like thing they had encountered earlier. Well, no matter yet, they would take a look at this next room, and then plan on how to move forward then.
"Allistair, thanks for your words. I am not much of a cleric of Heironieous - my skills normally go toward the fighting side of a fighting cleric. Seems it is in my blood." Harp says this with a toothy smile so Allistair knows that he is trying to make a joke.
From: Karl
Subject The giants room
Suck up!
Sucking up
Subject Sucking up
OOC: Maybe so... but Allistair's main feeling is that like it or not, the only way out of here is getting the keys which generally means killing everything. He isn't going to get all angsty over something when he isn't given a choice and a god is calling the shots. He doesn't worship any gods, but he doesn't blaspheme them either.