Black Tentacles and the Other Two Halflings
Subject: Re: The Chase; Avenging Sa'id (3)
Mission looks about wildly for the witch. Sa'id babbles on behind him.
Promise is a still, warm weight on his left arm.
Mission will continue to guard Sa'id.
From: Dan
Subject: Re: The Chase; Avenging Sa'id (3)
OOC: Hmm... can anything be done about the swirly lights? I have things like remove paralyzation and remove fear, but I don't think either will work. I guess we need some sort of dispel magic or just wait it out? Of course, if either of those *do* work I'll be all over casting them like white on rice. Casting white rice spells. Or something.
From: Matt
Subject: Re: The Chase; Avenging Sa'id (3)
Well waiting it out would be a Bad Idea (tm) since it's concentration based, and the witch could just sit and watch us squirm until the cavalry arrives.
From: Karl
Subject: Re: The Chase; Avenging Sa'id (3)
Damn that witch! Farron thinks. He jams his hands back into his robe pockets and grasps the small stub of candle and the tiny bag. He considers summoning the Celestial Hippogriff again and sending it to find and claw the eyes out of the witch, but then he thinks it might be better if he can cover more ground. He pictures in his mind three Celestial Eagles trying to hold their image firmly in his head as he performs the incantation that will bring them into this plane. (1d3 Celestial Eagles summoned).
(Assuming he is able to summon more than one eagle, Farron will direct them to search out and attack the witch will all their ferocity. He will direct them to spread out to search but to stay within their 30' limit and to attack immediately when they spot the witch, trying to attack from different angles to maximize the distraction.)
From: Dan
Subject: Re: The Chase; Avenging Sa'id (3)
Another question about the spell. Was I just out of range of the spell when it went off or did I make a will save so I can move closer without fear of being enraptured?
From: Matt
Subject: Re: The Chase; Avenging Sa'id (3)
Seeing as how it took 14 HD just to affect Tichenor, Garyth and Rennik, it probably just didn't have the umph to get you - that would have required another 6 HD.
And, um, whatever happened to the giant fire monster illusion? Did it dissipate?
In any event, Rennik will stand there enraptured by the swirlies until someone throws a bag over his head or something.
From: Karl
Subject: Re: The Chase; Avenging Sa'id (3)
Actually, from the map I'd guess that Farron, Cadfael, and Sa'id weren't in the area of effect. But that's just my guess.
From: Ty
Subject: Re: The Chase; Avenging Sa'id (3)
Actually, yeah. It was a stretch even to get rennik and garyth and tichenor all in it. Cadfael and Farron were outside its area of effect. And, in addition, it would not have been able to fascinate any more members of the party, since it could not encompass any more hit die.
Cadfael doesn't really have any spells that would stop the effect, but there are certain physical options available that I will give additional saving throws for. The spell does mention that creatures who can't see are not affected?
Ok, so I have Farron casting his summon spell, Mission continuing to guard Sa'id, and am just waiting on a final decision from Dan.
Garyth and Rennik continue to watch the pretty lights.
From: Mike
Subject: Re: The Chase; Avenging Sa'id (3)
Here's the relevant passage from the SRD, in case anyone is interested:
A fascinated creature is entranced by a supernatural or spell effect. The creature stands or sits quietly, taking no actions other than to pay attention to the fascinating effect, for as long as the effect lasts. It takes a -4 penalty on skill checks made as reactions, such as Listen and Spot checks. Any potential threat, such as a hostile creature approaching, allows the fascinated creature a new saving throw against the fascinating effect. Any obvious threat, such as someone drawing a weapon, casting a spell, or aiming a ranged weapon at the fascinated creature, automatically breaks the effect. A fascinated creature's ally may shake it free of the spell as a standard action.
From: Dan
Subject: Re: The Chase; Avenging Sa'id (3)
It's hard to ignore the lights flashing in the forest, in truth it looks like the glade outside the church of Nesalin on the Summer Solstice. Of course, part of the point of those celebrations was to be seen where certainly that wasn't the goal here.
Carrying on after Farron Cadfael slides past him and continues to the two stupified warriors. The witch knew where they were and if anyone were to attack them they would be defenseless.
OOC: If any halflings/summoned evils/witches/rangers/ne'er do-gooders appear between Cadfael and the two star gazers he'll try and shield bash them (the evil ones, not the good duys) and generally stop any throat slitting that they may want to do. If he gets there without interruption he'll try and shake Rennik out of it by slapping and cussing and all the things he's wanted to do to the halfling over the past few days :p
From: Karl
Subject: Re: The Chase; Avenging Sa'id (3)
Incidentally, the hold on the ranger will last about 5 rounds total (assuming no one dispells it before then or he doesn't somehow break out of it on his own).
From: Ty
Subject: Re: The Chase; Avenging Sa'id (3)
There you go!
Man, that's even more detailed than the information I had. Thanks, Mike.
From: Ty
Subject: The Chase; Avenging Sa'id (4)
[Initiative Rennik 24, Tichenor 22, Garyth 22, Farron 22, Eagle1 22, Eagle2 22, Ranger 21, Witch 21, (11)black tentacles 21, halfling 18, halfling 15, Mission 14, Cadfael 4]
Tichenor, very disturbed by his master's dazed condition, does the one thing he knows how to do in such a situation. He bites someone. Someone, in this case, is one hapless Half Elven Ranger who lies stiff on the ground nearby. In his primitive mind, Tichenor is not entirely sure that biting the ranger will help anything, but clearly it can't hurt, and sometimes a wolf gets lucky. He grabs hold of the ranger's leg and begins thrashing his head back and forth [Attack 16 vs AC12, hit; Damage 5].
Farron drops the metal bar back in his pouch, and pulls out his candle. A quick rush of words, and there is an answering screech from above his head. Two powerful celestial eagles appear in the branches of a jungle tree. Farron directs them to attack the witch, and they launch themselves off the branch and up through the leafy cover. Screams of triumph from the large birds come seconds later, telling Farron that they have spotted their prey. [will attack next round]
The wolf gnawing on his leg seems to spark something in the fallen ranger, and he shakes himself awake [Will save 23 vs DC18]. He pushes Tichenor away with one foot, and climbs back to his feet, still looking a bit unsteady.
There is a rumble, like a minor earthquake, and suddenly eleven long black tentacles reach out from the earth. The placement of the field of tentacles puts Rennik and Garyth at the northern edge, and Cadfael just outside the southern. Tichenor and ranger are outside the field as well, though just barely. The tentacles rise up from the ground, and appear to quiver slightly. Farron immediately recognizes the Black Tentacle spell, and knows that they will be inactive this round, though they will begin crushing to death anyone in their reach very soon.
He is just starting to yell this to Cadfael, who has begun moving toward the tentacle field, when there is a snap as an arrow glances off a branch nearby and clatters off into the brush [Attack natural 1, miss]. He turns in time to see two halflings, clearly no longer fascinated, moving out of the brush for a clearer shot. The second halfling fires [Attack 23, hit; Damage 3] at almost pointblank range, but Farron spins his body sideways, and the arrow just cuts a shallow groove across one bicep. Now I know where the other two are, he thinks to himself.
Mission continues to guard the Fallen Sa'id, who now shows signs of regaining coherence. [I am going to let Sa'id act next round. Karl, can you give me an action for next round for Sa'id too? Keep it consistent with the fact that he is only seeing this fight for the very first time when he sits up.]
Cadfael sees the field of black tentacles erupt from the ground in front of him, and hears the sounds of arrows being fired, and a yelp of pain from behind him.
[I am pausing this round at the end, to let Cadfael react as he wishes. Next round will be Cadfael's last action of this round, plus all new rounds for everyone. Let me know what you want him to do as soon as you can, Dan. Thanks. Everyone else check in with round five actions please.]
From: Ty
Subject: oh yeah, addendum to round four
Garyth and Rennik break their fascination when they see 11 large black tentacles about to feast on their fleshy nutrients.
From: Dan
Subject: Re: The Chase; Avenging Sa'id (4)
Cadfael skids to a halt as the tenticles erupt from the earth before him. "That can't be good," he thinks and turns to find another way round. In doing so he see a new rend in Farrons clothes and notes the two halflings that have emerged from the undergrowth. The disconnection he may have felt when the night began was starting to feel like a pleasent memory. Farron, wounded as he is, would likely perish under the arrows if left alone. The fighters would have to hold out for now. "At least it is night and Pelor may be spared witness of what I must now do" he thinks as pulls his mace free from his side. Gritting his teeth he runs down the nearest halfling, shield before him to protect him from the arrows and attempts to deliver a killing blow. This cannot be a long fight.