Chapter 4: A Darkened Mirror

[Josh]

Grafth's eyes do not waver from the wolves, but he can hear that his compatriots have received the warning. He moves toward the edge of the charred circle in a sort of cross-step, attempting to make eye contact with the wolf closest to the northern wall. The shifter silently reaches to his belt to draw his hand axe; the spear rests lightly in his other hand, poised for attack.

Move Action: Walk
Minor Action: Draw weapon
Standard Action: At-Will Power (Careful Attack) with shortspear

Hmm... Jeff, I'd like to roll my attack, but I'm a bit confused by the "vs." mentioned in Grafth's At-Will powers... can you let me know what that's about?

[Marcy]

Charis responds to neither Kal or Belarin; she is focused on the lock. Should she unlock it before her companions dispatch whatever is menacing them, she will join the fray with her rapier (which she would likely either have sheathed or set down when she started working on the lock, though I forgot to say that).

---

Don't think you need this yet, but just in case (and because I haven't gotten to roll anything yet):

Initiative roll: NM. I can't seem to get the dice roller to work.

[Jeff]

Hmm... Jeff, I'd like to roll my attack, but I'm a bit confused by the "vs." mentioned in Grafth's At-Will powers... can you let me know what that's about?

Sure. Strength +2 vs. AC, as listed in this particular power, means Grafth makes a Strength attack, adds any modifiers, and then adds +2, and if it's higher than the wolf's AC defense, it hits.

[mike]

Without a word, Torhak moves swiftly up towards the circle and the wolves, staying close to the wall of the manor, trying to reach the stone patio.

Double move action.
Initiative: 17.

[Joe]

Streko sees the wolves approaching and moves to within twenty feet of Grafth.

Once the wolves are within range, Streko calls upon Olladra's glory, channelling Her divine might and focusing it upon the wolf nearest him. A Lance of Faith streaks toward it. With his free hand, his readies his sickle, should the other wolf close in.
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If I read this correctly, I can also allow Grafth to gain a +2 power bonus on his attack against the wolf. Also, I am one of those for whom the dice roller refuses to cooperate.

Move Action: 15' north and west, away from wolves, closer to Grafth.
Minor Action: n/a
Standard Action: At-Will power Lance of Faith against wolf nearest Grafth once that wolf is within range

[Jeff]

Round 1

19 = Streko (readied action)
17 = Torhak
18 = Streko (actual action)
18 = Wolves
16 = Grafth
12 = Kal / Tangat
10 = Belarin
8 = Charis
5 = Goran

_____________

Streko steps forward, then holds his step, waiting for the wolves to come into range...

Torhak strides quickly and calmly forward, axe in hand. He turns the corner of the house, sees one of the wolves, meets its dead eyes, and advances to receive it just at the steps of the stone patio.

The wolves' sprint is a silent rustle. As more of your party appear in their vision, they two split and take their own courses. The one on the left dashes around the scorched circle as naturally as if it were a gaping chasm. The other veers directly toward Torhak.

As soon as it moves within range, Streko calls to Olladra, hurling a ray of searing light in her name as the holy symbol around his neck flares with a matching light. The bolt of bright light flashes across the yard. Even Grafth flinches for a moment, unaccustomed to such an overt spell from the halfling. The line of radiant fire shoots through the undead wolf as if the beast were made of paper—leaving a gaping window clear through its body. It snarls in response, more in defiance than pain, yet it keeps running...

Grafth didn't even need to meet it half way. The wolf is upon him! Fanged jaws snap with preternatural force, crunching down on Grafth's left arm. Teeth pierce the shifter's coat and leather armor, then flesh. He feels blood flowing, and an unsettling pain shoots through his arm.

The other wolf launches at Torhak, faster than he expected, and sinks its teeth into his shoulder, eliciting an angry grunt from the dwarf. A flesh wound, nothing more—painful as it is.

Despite his injury, Grafth ignores the burn and concentrates on the task at hand: destroying the wolf. However, the spear only scratches across the beast's already wounded hide, tearing minimal flesh.

When Kal reaches the edge of the wall, he lifts one hand, ready to hurl a spell of razor-sharp force....but the enemy wolves have already closed in on his companions and that spell is likely to affect his friends, too. Instead, he sends two smaller bolts of force*, which surge into Grafth's attacker. The bolts shake its body as they shear away portions of dead flesh and bone.

Tangat snarls and takes a defensive position in front of Kal.

Belarin stands to the side of Charis, ready to defend her. But he can see the enemy only numbers two and so far his companions have them well in hand. They would need to be formidable indeed to get past Torhak, Grafth, and Kal.

Confident in the prowess of her new companions, Charis focuses her attention fully on the lock in front of her. A few choice twists, and click! The door is unlocked.

_______________________

• Streko's attack = 19 +5 +1 (holy symbol) = 25 (hit) / damage is 7 +4 (Wisdom) +1 (holy symbol) = 12 radiant damage
• Zombie wolf's attack = 18 (hit) / damage to Grafth is 6
• Grafth's attack = 11 +5 (Strength attack) + 2 (Careful Attack) +2 (Streko's lance of faith) = 20 (hit) / damage is 2 + 1 = 3
• Zombie wolf's attack = 26 (hit) / damage to Torhak is 6
• Kal's attack = 12 + 5 (Charisma attack) / damage is 11
• The left-most zombie wolf is bloodied; which means it's now under half its hit points.
• Charis's Thievery check = 24

* Darren: whenever a circumstance like this arises, and the spell he intended to use won't work because he's hurt his allies, shall we consider magic missile his backup?

[Joe]

Streko yells out "Close your eyes!" and repeats his attack, once again calling out to Olladra and hurling a second lance of blinding, golden readiance toward the creature! He walks purposely and steadily forward, closer to the wolf, the fire in his eyes burning for release. He lifts the sickle, ready to attack and destroy the creature once and for all.
_________________________________________________
Move Action: 15' north.
Minor Action: Healing Word cast on Grafth
Standard Action: At-Will power Lance of Faith against wolf nearest Grafth

[Darren]

Kal steps forward for a better view of the wolf attacking Torhak. Once again, he raises his hand and fires bolts of light towards his target.

__________________
Absolutely, Jeff. Thanks.

Move action - 2 squares north, one square east
At-Will - Magic Missle

[mike]

Torhak bares his teeth at the wolf, snarls, and unleashes a flurry of cutting blows at the creature with his axe.

---

Standard Action: Reaping Strike
Minor Action: Snarling

[Josh]

Grafth bears his teeth. In a single flash of silver he transfers the axe to his right hand and swings the blade swiftly towards the wolf, aiming for the beast's neck. His other arm burns but he exhibits no sign of pain in his movements.


Minor Action- transferring weapon (don't know if I need to say this, but because "draw or sheathe a weapon" is one, I figured why not)
Standard Action- basic attack (Roll=14)

[Ken]

"And a click does the trick," says Belarin to Charis. "Superb!" He looks back to Kal. "It's open!" he says, trying hard not to yell.

As he sees the creature advancing on his companions, he mutters, "Undead again. I hate them ... no appreciation for poetry." To Charis, he continues, "Shall we invite ourselves in, milady?"

OOC: Belarin, having some of his new allies at work, certainly feels they can handle this threat, so he again holds his action in case some new foe comes through the unlocked door.

[Jeremy]

Goran shakes himself out of the stupor he's been in for a page or or two...er, that is, a minute or two. He draws back his bow (remember he had an arrow nocked) and aims to take down the nearest wolf.

Damn zombie wolves. Messin' with the WRONG Eldeen Ranger!

---

Let's try his point-blank shot.

[Marcy]

Charis chuckles at Belarin's rhyme in spite of herself. Then she secrets the lockpicks once more within the magical holding area of her ring and stands, turning to survey the party's enemies at last. She, too, is confident that her companions have the threat well in hand, so she only watches, rapier ready in case one of the wolves somehow gets past the others and makes its way toward her and Belarin. She glances periodically toward the now-unlocked door to make sure it doesn't open unexpectedly to allow fresh horrors into the courtyard.

"I think we should wait until the show's over to go inside, don't you?" she says to Belarin. "We wouldn't want to offend the players."

---

Move action: Stand up
Minor action: Stow item
Free action: Speak

[Jeff]

Round 2

17 = Torhak
18 = Streko (actual action)
18 = Wolves
16 = Grafth
12 = Kal / Tangat
10 = Belarin
8 = Charis
5 = Goran

_____________

With a flurry of savage slashes, Torhak drives the dead wolf back a few steps, shearing away rotten flesh and chunks of congealed, stinking blood. The beast snaps at him in retaliation, teeth scraping against the dwarf's axe blade in vain.

Streko unleashes another searing bolt of light with his outstretched palm, feeling the power of his faith flowing through him as never before. The ray punches through the wolf, nearly severing the beast's hind legs. Streko then approaches, his sickle falling easily into his hands, as he speaks a word of prayer.

Grafth, his full attention engaged on the wolf, feels the pain in his arm fall away as if it were mere water. In its place, the warm tingle of healing magic.

Both wolves renew their attacks, unfazed by the severe damage ripping into their bodies. The one snapping at Grafth persists, tearing into the meat of his calf and eliciting another grunt from the shifter. Grafth stumbles to his knees, forcing him to use the point of his spear to keep himself from falling completely. The other wolf, engaging Torhak, fails to deal him another wound. The dwarf continues to keep its jaws at bay with his blade.

Grafth steadies himself and rises to his feet again, feeling a spasm in his arm where undead wolf's first bit him. His ignores it and throws his strength into his right arm, after switching his spear to his left. The axe blade cuts into the wolf's neck, nearly severing it. The whole body shudders, but magic of undeath holds the body erect still.

Kal moves into position, Tangat staying with him every step, and throws another pair of glowing darts into the air. They coallesce into one bolt as they slam into Torhak's foe, blasting more pieces of rotting hide from the undead wolf.

Belarin and Charis turn to watch the battle—at least, the part they can see—keeping an eye on the door behind them.

Goran sights down the wolf engaged with Grafth, realizing that Streko is now partially blocking his path. Confident that his aim can triumph, Goran releases. But it's no good: his arrows sinks into the tall grass inches from the wolf.

Just then, Charis hears the sound of heavy—but intentionally cautious—footfalls approaching from behind the door she just unlocked.
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• Torhak's attack: 17 +4 +1 (two-handed weapon talent) +3 (proficiency) = 25 (hit) / damage is 9 +3 +2 (dwarven weapon training) = 14
• Streko's attack = 8 +5 +1 (holy symbol) = 15 (hit) / damage is 4 +4 (Wisdom) +1 (holy symbol) = 9 radiant damage
• Streko casts healing word; Grafth is able to spend a healing surge with no action needed, healing 8 points +6 (Streko's Wis + healing word bonus) = 14
• Zombie wolf's attack = 22 (hit) / damage to Grafth is 7
• Zombie wolf's attack = 15 (miss)
• Grafth takes 5 ongoing damage from the wolf's first bite.
• Grafth's attack: 16 + 6 = 22 (hit) / 3 +3 = 6
• Grafth's saving throw to end ongoing damage = 14 (success)
• Kal's attack: 8 +5 (Charisma) = 13 (hit) / damage is 10
• Goran's attack: 2 + 7 = 9 (miss)
• Perception check = Charis (21), Belarin (7)

Jeremy: actually, there's no point blank shot in 4E. After this battle, I can make recommendations!

[Marcy]

"Psssst!" Charis hisses at Belarin, trying to get his attention. If she succeeds, she points to the door to alert him to the fact that she hears something. She then moves to the side of the door opposite the hinges and presses herself up against wall, ready to attack whatever comes through the doorway.

---

Standard action: ready a sneak attack against whatever comes out of the doorway
Move action: shift
Free action: hiss and point

Jeff, can I specify an at-will power as my sneak attack? If so, I will specify Piercing Strike.

[Jeff]

Marcy: Sneak attack isn't a type of action, really. It's just what you can do as part of any other attack as long as you have combat advantage over it. Which you might, in this case.

[Jeremy]

Goran howls in frustration, his eyes alight with fury.

"By the gods, can I even use this bow any more?!"

And with that he finds a better target, strings up another arrow and shoots again.

[Ken]

Belarin looks back to Charis after she whispers, an alarmed look on his face. He steps up to the door, dagger in hand, ready to shove his shoulder into it as soon as the doorknob turns.

OOC: Whoever tries to turn the doorknob on the inside may immediately realize that it's now unlocked, so Belarin will burst in as soon as he sees the doorknob move and attack whoever opens it with eyebite (if he can do so without provoking an Opportunity Attack) or his dagger (if not) ... presuming the opener is not fey of some sort. His main goal will be to keep the door open.

[Marcy]

Apparently sneak attack is going to be a moot point anyway...

[Ken]

OOC: Not if we get a surprise round against our attacker. Muahahahahaha!

[Darren]

Kal begins to take a step forward, then swivels his head and sees Charis move to the side of the door and Belarin with his hand on the knob. Deciding that his current position is more strategically sound, he once again launches the glowing darts at the wolf.

________________
Kal will once again target the same wolf (attacking Torhak) with Magic Missle.

Side question - is our number of available Action Points marked anywhere on our character sheets?

[Josh]

Grafth spins the axe in his hand, moving the weapon into a swift uppercut, aiming once again for what remains of the wolf's neck.

Standard Action: Basic attack
Grafth's roll (done correctly this time)= 17
Grafth's saving throw= 4

[Jeff]

Jul 13, 2008 19:48:11 GMT -4 Darren said:

Side question - is our number of available Action Points marked anywhere on our character sheets?[/color]

That answer is right there in the first post of this thread (previously referenced). So right now everyone's got 1 action point.

[mike]

"So much for quickly and quietly," Torhak mutters, as his axe continues its dance of battle.

"As for you, dear wolf ..." he says to the wolf, "back to the realms of the dead you go!"

His axe continues its relentless flurry of cuts and slashes.

---

Standard Action: Reaping Strike
Minor Action: Talking to Dead Wolves

[Jeff]

Round 3

17 = Torhak
18 = Streko (actual action)
18 = Wolves
16 = Grafth
12 = Kal / Tangat
10 = Belarin
8 = Charis
5 = Goran

_____________

Torhak continues to slash away at the wolf, feeling the wound he received moments before burn with pain. His axe fails to find a good solid hit, but slices off small portions of its flesh.

In close now, Streko slashes at the undead wolf with his sickle, but the beast is aware of him and shies back from his gleaming blade.

When it renews its own attack against Grafth, the shifter slaps it away with the flat of his blade, and when its hideous jaws snap through a gap in his defense, it fails to penetrate his armor. Even the wolf battling Torhak fails to get through.

Grafth growls through the pain as the wolf's second bite begins to burn. He swings his axe in an uppercut, but the blade merely nicks the wolf's snout, doing no significant harm.

Kal sends another pair of magic missiles into Torhak's foe, breaking off more pieces of its body but doing nothing to cease its relentless attack.

Tangat immediately bolts from his spot and leaps at the undead wolf fighting Grafth. His teeth sink into one hind leg, and he tugs back, nearly wrenching the limb free. The wolf looks ragged indeed.

Belarin and Charis ready themselves by the door, watching the doorknob, waiting. Both of them hear the footsteps stop suddenly on the other side of the door. The door does not open.

Without delay, Goran nocks another arrow, draws back, and sinks it into the body of the most damaged wolf. Grafth and Streko watch as the undead beast drops silently, to the ground, inert.

Refresh!

_______________________

• Torhak takes 5 necrotic (ongoing) damage.
• Torhak's attack: 4 +4 +1 (two-handed weapon talent) +3 (proficiency) = 12 (miss) / damage is 3 (Strength mod)
• Torhak's saving throw to end ongoing damage = 5 (failure)
• Streko's attack = 8 +5 +1 (holy symbol) = 15 (hit) / damage is 4 +4 (Wisdom) +1 (holy symbol) = 9 radiant damage
• The zombie wolf fighting Torhak is "bloodied."
• Streko's attack: 7 +4 = 11 (miss)
• Zombie wolf's attack = 11 (miss)
• Zombie wolf's attack = 13 (miss)
• Grafth takes 5 points of necrotic damage from previous bite.
• Grafth's attack: 2 + 6 = 8 (miss)
• Grafth's saving throw to end ongoing damage = 4 (failure)
• Kal's attack: 15 +5 (Charisma) = 15 (hit) / damage is 8
• Tangat's attack: 16 (hit) / damage is 6
• Goran's attack: 9 + 7 = 16 (hit) / damage is 6 + 3 = 9

[Ken]

Belarin curses silently when the footsteps stop. He shares a tense look with Charis. He concentrates and, just for an instant, Charis hears the faintest tinkle of tiny bells. Then Belarin speaks in a pleading, child-like, sing-song voice,

"Worm is sorry, he is. In the cellar, dark ‘n’ dank, where he belongs. Don’t want the bony wolves to hurt him, no he doesn’t. So sorry, so sorry he is…"

He then waits one moment for the words to sink in with the listener on the other side ... and he charges through the door.

Minor Action: Beguiling Tongue (Encounter Power)
Bluff check, if needed, for his Worm impersonation: 33 (Woot!)
Move or Standard Action (your call): Pushing through the door. If it's a straight Move action, then he'll reserves his Standard action to cast eyebite on any hostile-looking person inside.

[mike]

"A pet of a sorcerer," Torhak hisses as he feels his wounds burn. "I shall dispatch your master back to Khyber when I have finished with you."

With that, the dwarf attacks the undead wolf once more.

---

Standard Action: Reaping Strike (again)

[Jeremy]

The half-elf can barely help the snarl that escapes him, and he shakes his head, as is if wriggling out of a trance, and slings his bow back over his shoulder. He doesn't wish to interfere with Torhak's melee.

Goran removes the dagger from it sheath, just to double-check if it has anything to show them.

---

Jeff, can those arrows be retrieved?

[Darren]

Kalarian lowers his left arm, which had been pointed at the undead wolf, a wicked smile on his face as he watches his canine friend tear into the beast. Out of the corner of his eye, he sees Belarin opening the door, and his head whips around to the south. Throwing his arms into the air in exasperation, he mutters, "And they say I'M impetuous..." He quickly transfers his sharrash from his right hand to his left, and without changing position, raises his right arm towards the door, sighting down his fingertips as Goran would along his bow. He is prepared to fire at the slightest threatening movement that he can make out.

______________
Prepared action: If Kal can see an obvious threat through the door and fire a Magic Missle at it without hitting Belarin or Charis, he will do so.

[Josh]

Grafth takes a moment to wince at the pain in his arm before speeding toward Torhak, skirting the edge of the charred circle. As he runs he quickly stows his handaxe, moving his spear back to his right hand.

If Torhak has not dispatched the second wolf by the time he is in range, Grafth will target the wolf with his spear. Otherwise, Grafth will stop and look to the windows for any signs that they have been discovered.

Minor Action- sheathe weapon
Move Action- run (12 squares, right?)
Standard Action- basic attack (if necessary)
Grafth's attack roll= 12
Grafth's saving throw from the wolf bite= 17