Round 2, round 3 actions, raging HP, turn
Subject: Round 2
Turn this morning????
From: Mark
Subject: Round 2
I have to hear back from someone. It is half written.
From: Mark
Subject: Round 2
Initiative for round 2
Salix (26), Surin (24), Ranthir (24), Vortan (19), Dog (19), Mund (14), Harp (14), Ally (10), Kal (10), Snow Leopards (9), Ragnar (8).
Retcon to round 1.
After helping Acer up into the rope trick, Ragnar chants the prayer of light. Looking around he touches his shield and a light like that of a torch starts emanating from the wood.
Round 2
Salix gestures with his hands again, holding them above his head and then yanking them down, pointing to where Vortan is standing. Another bolt of power strikes from the overcast sky. The ½ orc dodges to the side (REF save, DC16, 10+9=19, save, damage 8) again, laughing at Salix "I know your type" he says. "They say they serve nature but they really oppress those who want to use nature's bounty. Faldor has shown us how weak you are. Once I gut your human friend here, I'll take care of you."
Counting on his invisibility, Surin moves towards the closest hunter. "Wide open target" Surin thinks as he drives his rapier home into the man's back (AC17+12=29, hit, damage 19). Surin notices that at the last second the man seemed to sense he was there. The halfling pulls the rapier out of the man's back, marveling that he still can not be seen.
Ran shouts to the others "There may be others hiding in the bushes" and then concentrates on the huntsman he has flushed out. The ½ orc's ugly face leers at him and the ½ elf strikes with lightening speed. His first strike bashes the man across the thigh (AC16, 11+10=21, hit, damage 10) but the follow up blow (AC16, 1+5=6, auto miss) gets blocked by the great sword.
Vortan gives Mund an evil grin. "Puny human. I have been hunting your race since I was 10 years old. I will add your ears to my collection." The ½ orc then launches a furious series of blows, the ax and mace whirling in the light of Mund's shield. The burning ax smashes into Mund's shoulder and the heat sears the side of Mund's face (AC21, 17+13=30, hit, damage 17). Mund raises his steel shield and catches a crushing blow on it, his arm going numb (AC21, 18+13=31, hit, damage 12). The almost stunned barbarian does not see Vortan reverse his ax and the flaming blade catches him solidly in the chest, crushing ribs (AC21, 18+8=26, hit, damage 24). Mund doubles over in agony and Vortan brings his mace down in a crushing blow on the top of Mund's head (AC21, 18+8=26, hit, damage 12). There is a sick, wet sound from the back of Mund's skull and blood flies from his head and his nose. The man is dead on his feet, only his rage keeping him standing.
Tusk moves up next to Kal and bites at the elf (AC21, 17+5=22, hit, damage 9) taking a large chunk of flesh from his thigh.
Mund reels back from the beating he has gotten. The ringing in his ears, the blood in his mouth, the burning pain in his chest all let him know he is about to meet all them gods. Gasping out "Harp, hold him" Mund does something he almost never does. He pulls back. He knows Ragnar is back there somewhere. Keeping his ax in front of him he stumbles backwards and to his left, shouting "Ragnar, help."
Harp is just as stunned by the ruthless efficiency of Vortan's attack as he was by the blow to the back of his head. Mund stumbles away, leaving only Kal on the front line, and the elf had two foes. Harp knows he needs to take out Vortan now. Harp yells an ear shattering battle cry and slashes with his sword (AC19, 20+15=35, hit, critical threat, crit roll, AC19, 4+15=19, hit, critical hit, damage 22). The blade cuts deep into the ½ orc's side and he lets out a howl of pain. Harp pulls his sword free and follows up with another quick thrust (AC19, 12+10=22, hit, damage 9), piercing the fancy chain shirt.
Ally kneels down at the edge of the window and pokes his head out. In the light of the two torches he sees Mund staggering back to where he and Ragnar are. Harp lands two solid blows that seem to stagger Vortan. Damn, should he come out or not? No, for now, he decides. Acer is the important thing here.
Kal realizes he is out matched and out flanked. Twisting and turning the elf tumbles away (Tumble check DC21, 19+12=31, success) dodging strikes from Vortan, the hunter at his back and Tusk. As he lands from a back flip next to Ragnar his rapier already moving in the precise gestures for the scorching ray spell. He finishes his chant and a ray of fire leaps from the point of the rapier (AC11, 13+11=24, hit, damage 14). The flames strike Vortan right in the chest as he starts to move after Mund. The ½ orc bursts into flames, dropping his ax and his mace, screaming in agony as the flames consume him. He collapses to the ground, his skin still burning.
The huntsman Kal (B1) was fighting follows him, his great sword swinging in wide arcs (AC24, 1+12=13, auto miss). The elf dances around the huge blade, knowing that one more hit would be the end of him.
Ran's foe (B2) brings his great sword around in a round house slash (AC21, 13+12=25, hit, damage 17) and the broad blade crashes into Ran's side. Again the fine elven mail keeps Ran from being cut in half but the blow ruptures internal organs and almost knocks the ½ off of his feet.
The last Snow Leopard strikes at Harp just as the ½ orc is turning (AC22, 14+12=26, hit, damage 20) and the heavy weapon smashes across Harp's breast plate, denting it the length of the piece. Harps breathe rushes from his lungs and he finds it almost impossible to take a breath back in. His chest burns from the pain.
Ragnar turns back to the conflict, his heart soaring that he can finally strike a blow against this evil. Just then Mund comes stumbling back, asking for aid. As the cleric stoops to look at the warrior, Kal and one of the huntsmen follow. Ragnar turns and shouts "Allistair, your brother needs help. I have to help the others." Chanting the prayer that will fill him with the divine power of the battle lord, Ragnar steps next to the huntsman, blocking the man's path to Mund and Ally. "Kal, defend yourself and get out of here. I will teach this cretin the error of his ways for I am filled with the divine power of Heironeous." A slight blue glow seems to surround the stout dwarf.
OODM: End round 2. In need round 3 actions
From: Jason
Subject: Round 2
Actually, until Mark emailed me, I assumed it was Kal dying :)
From: Kevin
Subject: Round 2
Vortan's chain shirt may have some holes in it, but I think we are going to want to take that axe and mace. Mund may want that mace as a memento of this fight.
From: Porter
Subject: Round 2
OOC: Let's suppose that Vortan is a ranger with Human as a favored enemy, which seems likely. If that's the case, will he get his bonuses against half orcs and half elves?
IC:
Trying to see what's happening through the blood, Mund can't believe what he's heard. What the hell is Alley gonna do for Mund? Mund is dead as soon as the Bear's Power leaves him unless he gets magicked up first, and Alley can't do that.
But since nobody's gonna help him, he might as well get to where it's safe for the time being. Mund staggers to where he thinks he saw his brother last. "Alley! Let me in!".
OOC:
Mund's not going to be able to drink a potion this round, is he, and he'll only be able to take one next round, correct?
Will Mund be able to shoot arrows from the window box at all?
From: Jason
Subject: Round 3 actions
Ragnar will lay the smackdown on B1 (or whoever is still up when its his turn.) He'll attempt to keep himself between the enemies and the wounded.
From: Derek
Subject: Round 3 actions
Allistair curses out loud as he sees Mund fall back. That Vortan was like a dragon! He seemed to go down after Kal hit him with that flame burst at least, but there were still two more of his friends and the dog to worry about. Mund looks like he's dying, though. Allistair quickly helps his brother up into the extradimensional space. Once he's in, he frantically searches through Mund's pack. "Do you have any healing potions, Mund? I think you mentioned you had a couple of them. Quick, drink them!"
Even after drinking those two potions, Mund still looks like only the rage from his totem is keeping him alive. Wasn't there anything else he could do? Then Allistair remembers that he also received two healing potions, the same as everyone else, when they first started this journey. He starts throwing everything out of his bag of holding, frantically searching for them. Out goes his bedroll. Out goes several weeks worth of hard rations, untouched. Out goes a crossbow and bolts, also untouched. Out goes his alchemists lab, again untouched. He had almost forgotten about that, not having had any opportunity to use it. There! At the bottom he finds two small, dusty glass vials. He quickly grabs them and wipes off the dust, confirming they are in fact healing potions. It's a good thing they are magic or they certainly would have spoiled by now, he thinks. He breaks the seal on each one and gives it to Mund to drink.
OOC: These are those two healing potions that each of us got way back when we started the journey. Allistair hasn't had to drink a single potion the entire campaign, so he should still have his. I don't remember what strength they are, though.
From: Josh
Subject: Round 3 actions
Still moving, Kal reaches for his CMW potion. He calls out Mund's name and hands it to the Barbarian as he steps by. When he gets to J4 he casts Bull's Strength on Ragnar.
From: Porter
Subject: Round 3 actions
OOC: Those are CLW potions, Derek. Mund still has one of those left, and he has a CModW potion which we found in the training ground. Mund will be drinking those up as soon as he gets up into the skybox.
From: Derek
Subject: Round 3 actions
OK. Don't forget the potion Kal is handing to Mund also. I don't know how far in the negatives Mund is going to be when the rage wears off, but Mund may well need that CMW potion from Kal as well just to stay alive.
From: Karl
Subject: Round 3 actions
Salix nearly cries out as the half-orc kills his friend, only . . . Mund wasn't dead. Salix saw him staggering toward the hiding place where Ally was protecting the Stormfather. Turning back toward the battle, he sees the half-orc now laying in a smoldering heap, Kal glaring over him triumphantly before dancing away, even as one of Vortan's cronies moved to avenge him. The scene was chaos. Who to target next? Kal and Ragnar faced the one foe, and Harp the other. He could not see Surin, of course, but the man facing Harp was bleeding profusely from the back while trying to keep one eye on Harp and the other on the darkness.
Ran! He was alone. Salix scans the bushes from where Ran's shout came. He needed help.
(Salix will call a bolt onto B2, if he can. If not, then he will bolt B1)
ooc - Damn, I hope no one gets killed in this one.
From: Josh
Subject: Round 3 actions
I'm actually going to change my turn a little.
If Mund doesn't need/take the potion Kal offers he will drink it himself. He'll still cast BS on Ragnar.
From: Josh
Subject: Round 3 actions
OOC: It took me a second read to hear that Mund wasn't dead. At first I thought Mark killed him off.
From: Porter
Subject: Round 3 actions
Nooooo! You be takin' mah potion!
From: Bryan
Subject: Round 3 actions
Yeah. For some reason I did not expect Vortan to go down quite that easily (not that Mund thought it was 'easy', of course).
IC: Surin sees Mund actually retreat from the fight, and cannot help but thinking that all may be lost. With an effort of will, Surin focuses on what he can do to help - namely remove the threat to Harp. As Harp staggers under the blow to his armor, Surin takes his rapier to the foe.
(Attacking 'B3' again)
From: Josh
Subject: Round 3 actions
Haha, if Mund takes it it's all his.
From: Josh
Subject: Round 3 actions
OOC: Do you guys think Immediate damage is more important than long term damage?
Kal could get a MM off this round and maybe put someone on the edge down, or he can buff Ragnar (or Salix) this round, giving them a +2 to hit and damage and then cast MM next round.
The most efficient is casting MM next round, but if it would put somebody down this round it might be worth doing this round instead.
From: Bryan
Subject: Round 3 actions
OOC:
Surin has one CMW potion in his kit. Does Mund look like he'll need another potion, or should Surin keep it for a rainy day? Regardless, while the invisibility lasts, the best bet would seem to be for Surin to keep on the offensive.
From: Kevin
Subject: round 3 actions
OOC: Between Mund, Ally and Kal, I think they got enough potions to keep Mund alive. Harp says "Keep backstabing".
From: Kevin
Subject: Round 3 actions
OOC: And Jason, Ragnar is going to get 2 smackdowns on B1. Ain't that cool!!!
From: Kevin
Subject: Round 3 actions
OOC: IMHO, taking these guys out first is primary. They are doing in excess of 15 pts damage with every hit, and more often than not, 20 pts or over. You could take a potion every turn and still not keep up with the damage they are doing. Take your 5 ft step and touch the one you love with some MM's.
From: Mark
Subject: Favored enemy
He does not get bonuses against them. They are considered orcs or elves.
The withdraw action is a full round action. He can not take a potion this round. However, he is not loosing hit points since his rage is still going and he is in the positive range with them.
He can not shoot out of the rope trick.
From: Derek
Subject: Round 3 actions
OOC: Next time Mund is up against a foe with two big weapons, Mund should just try and grapple with him. I bet that if Mund grappled with Salix as a bear that this time Mund would get the better of him.
From: Mark
Subject: Round 3 actions
If they are from when you went to the testing grounds I think they were CModW.
From: Josh
Subject: round 3 actions
I'll think about it on the way to work and send out a message from there. Mark, can Kal gauge what sort of shape the remaining foes are in?
From: Porter
Subject: Round 3 actions
Let me just point out that last time Mund and bear Salix grappled, it was almost an exact draw, and Mund didn't even rage.
That's a good idea, Derek.
From: Porter
Subject: Round 3 actions
The other day you said to me:
The potion from when you went to the Training Grounds would be a CLW. The one you found in the Training Grounds would be a CModW.
From: Mark
Subject: Round 3 actions
I knew one of them was CLW and the other was CModW. It has been almost a year.
Ok so Ally has two CLW potions in his pack.
From: Kevin
Subject Round 3 actions
Harp watches as he dances with the 1/2 orc in front of him. He really did not want to fight this one - Vortan was the most dangerous of the group. Suddenly, seemingly from nowhere, the faint end of a small rapier protrudes from the orc's gut, a surprised look on his face. Using this distraction, Harp whirls around and takes aim at the leader. A few seconds later, Harp had landed 2 substantial blows, but he was still up. Damn, was he never going to fall. Then, from back where Ally had been, a scorching ray leaps out, buring Vortan to the bone, his body screaming in agony as it falls to the ground, his weapons still clutched in his smoking hands. Gods, what a way to go. But, he had to worry about the other Snow Leopards that were out there. Hoping that his invisible friend was still hanging aroud, Harp swings at the 1/2 orc in front of him, trying to end this battle quickly.
OOC: Mark, if B3 is still up, Harp will full attack him. If B3 drops after the first attack of the full attack, Harp will 5 ft step to I5 and attack B1. If B3 happens to be down when Harp starts his turn, Harp will charge to F12 and attack B2. If B3 is not down after Harp attacks him, Harp is going to die.
From: Mark
Subject: Favored enemy
Just a clarification.
If a ranger has elf as his favored enemy, then it works agains elves and 1/2 elves.
If he has orc, then it works against 1/2 orcs.
From: Porter
Subject: Favored enemy
Watch out, Salix! :evil:
From: Kevin
Subject: favored enemy
OOC: But, if he had human, it is only effective against full humans, right???
From: Porter
Subject: Favored enemy
Huh, I didn't think that would be correct, but here's from the SRD:
Elven Blood: For all effects related to race, a half-elf is considered an elf.
· Orc Blood: For all effects related to race, a half-orc is considered an orc.
From: Mark
Subject: Favored enemy
Correct.
From: Mark
Subject: Favored enemy
That's it.
From: Mark
Subject: Raging HP
Mund is at -11 HP without the rage and at 3 HP with it. If he stoped raging now he would be all the way dead, not just mostly dead.
Vortan had the same problem. Once a Barbarian is over 5th level he can rage himself into a place where he will die when he stops raging.
From: Porter
Subject: Raging HP
So, just to be clear, Vortan is dead dead?
From: Mark
Subject: round 3 actions
Down easily? He took a two hits from Harp, one of them a critical, a critical from Kal and at least one good hit from Mund. You guys can lay down the smack down, especially when you out number the enemy 3-1, but when the numbers are closer to even, and you meet a bit better fighter, you fall like a bunch of kindergadeners. ;)
From: Derek
Subject: Round 3 actions
OK, so as long a he gets 2 HP of healing, he should be stableized, and if he gets 12 HP or more of healing he should be conscious, right?
From: Mark
Subject: Vortan
Yes. He was at 0 HP but I figure when someone goes unconcious, they loose the ability to stay in the rage state. He immediatly looses the rage HP and goes more than -10.
Mund would have had that problem if any of those attacks had taken him to 0 or lower.
Something to remember when you are raging in the future. If Mund hits 0 or lower, he is dead- dead.
From: Porter
Subject: Vortan
Two good hits from Mund.
Two, sir.
From: Mark
Subject: Rage HP
with 12 HP he would remain concious when he stops his rage.
With 2 HP he would fall unconcious at stay at -9 until healed.
From: Mark
Subject: Vortan
I could not remember it is was one or two. It was a fast, vicious fight. lasted less than 15 second.
From: Jason
Subject: Rage HP
Isn't there a diehard feat that allows someone to remain conscious between -1 and -9? That seems like a very useful feet for a barbarian.
From: Porter
Subject: Rage HP
Crap. That was a close call.
So, what the rage HPs do in effect is give Mund 4 extra hit points during the rage and it lets Mund stay conscious where he would otherwise be unconscious.
While that doesn't sound nearly as cool as +14 HP, it saved Mund's life today, so I shouldn't complain.
From: Porter
Subject: Rage HP
That would be an excellent feat. Definitely more useful than some of the useless feats I've chosen for Mund:
Improved Unarmed Attack -- never used in a real situation
Improved Grapple -- I don't think that Mund has used that yet either. All of his grappling was done before he got this feat.
Extended Rage -- never came into play
Extra Rage -- this is the first time that it's ever been used
From: Mark
Subject: Rage HP
Most of the unarmed feats are useful only if you have no weapons. I mean Mund can punch someone and have a good chance of hitting, but why when his damage is only 1D2 or 1D3 instead of 1D8 from his ax? Plus his ax gives him another D6 of cold damage.
The extended rage is only a problem becuase fights do not usually last all that long. The Kal/Harp fight with the thugs was the only fight I have ever really seen that lasted close to 10 rounds.
Most fights in the D20 are over in less than 6 rounds, from what I have seen. Since barbarians usually have a high CON score any way and the rage makes it higher still, most battle are done before their rage is over.
Don;t knock the grapple thing yet. There may be useful times for it. If you want to capture someone, or take out a ally who is being mentally controlled.
I like the fact that Mund has feats that show character and not munchkin. Others have feats like that as well.
From: Porter
subject: Rage HP
I like that Mund is less dependent on his gear than the average adventurer. Sure, he's no monk, but who is?
I keep waiting for us to get thrown in a dungeon naked. :)
But the extended rage was just a bad call -- it's just not a very useful feat.
From: Mark
Subject: Rage HP
Ask Kevin. It has happened in my evil game. The whole party started out in prison.
They even were sent back once. Had to escape again.
From: Porter
Subject: Rage HP
About the grapple -- yeah, that has been useful. With it, Mund has been able to capture and subdue (and then break the neck of) people.
From: Mark
Subject: Turn
Ok I am out to see Harry Potter tonight so there will not be a turn until tomorrow.
I am running one of my RL games tomorrow afternoon so look for the turn around noon.
From: Derek
Subject: Turn
I had that potential situation in mind when I made Allistair too. He can cast many of his spells without using his spellbook.
He also took a feat to use a longsword, which he has not used once.
From: Porter
Subject: Turn
*high five*
From: Porter
Subject: Turn
I'm dyin' here!
From: Josh
Subject: Turn
Kal would be SCREWED without at least a rapier. He gets all sorts of minuses without it, and he would probably refuse any weapon on what is essentially religious grounds.
But as long as he's got a rapier he's doing very well.
From: Porter
Subject: Turn
The rapist for 200, Alex!
From: Josh
Subject: Turn
I started thinking about it figured he'd be ok since he still had spells, but without a spellbook or components, he'd be in bad shape. I guess there's nothing wrong with punching things, but it might be a while before he comes across a rapier.