Date: Autumn, 432 ca., Campaign Day 10
Time: 12:40.5
Weather: 50 degrees
Location: Steading Dungeon - Rockpile
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Magic in Effect: Lorath - Levitate
Prayer - cast round 5 (60' radius'+1/-1 to rolls)
PfE 10' from Arqos
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The monsters again take a narrow initiative, acting early in the round.
Ethan and the marsh giant continue their "dance of death". The giant strikes first, connecting with another heavy blow, which breaks Ethan's collarbone. Ethan retaliates, but completely misses the giant. The knight tips off balance, nearly falling.
Ethan 9 damage!
Natural 1 makes Ethan lose second attack.
Welcome back!!!! Hope all is well.
The elemental, once a powerful ally, creaks to a stop instead of attacking the giant. Ethan sees out of the corner of his eye that the enormous being has now begin to turn back towards the rockpile!
Gaerys, now the wiser, side steps yet another strike from his vicious opponent, then quickly counterstrikes with a wooshing downward slash. The blow strikes true - The head of the beast drops heavily upon the ground. Its severed neck gushes bright red blood as its body crumples.
The ranger has but a half-second to breathe before his next wave of foes arrive...as wretched and half-living as the earlier ghasts, but these seem to be of reptilian, rather than human stock. There is simply no time for fear.
Lorath pelts one with an arrow, slowing it somewhat.
Arqos bounds into the fray, stepping in front of the ranger and unveiling his brilliant holy symbol. The ghasts are unaffected by the power of the Lord of Light. They tear into the paladin with claw and fang. Arqos is caught by the first brutally quick claw, but the rest of their attacks do little against the mighty armor and combat skill of Azor's disciple...
Natural 20...Arqos 3 damage (no crit because it took a 20 to hit)...Save versus paralysis please (at +3 (prayer/PfE))
Vorsyin turns to the enchanting voice of his wife, which
suggests to him to approach her for a deep, loving kiss. The mage can do nothing but accept as he sees the beautiful woman materializing right behind him. The two embrace passionately. But the warmth of love suddenly turns cold, as the mage feels the very mana drained from his soul.
VORSYIN DRAINED OF 1 LEVEL! Lose 3 HP. You can pick the spells you lose
Hollis completes his prayer to the Old Gods, granting the party their favor. He also shakes off whatever it was that was cast upon him.
Flambeau calls forth the warmth of R'hllor, which takes much of the pain of Olaf's injuries away. Olaf can do nothing but catch his breath.
Olaf - recovers 28 HP - gave the party a break here because this spell and the one below really should have gone off simultaneously.
The Messenger dismisses his flail-like appendage and begins a low, growling chant. After most of a minute has passed, he thrusts his fist up, then brings it down violently with the clenched fist intact. A pillar of flame, some 10-15' feet in diameter, strikes down upon the group massed tightly on and around the rockpile. Lorath, Flambeau, and Olaf take the worst of the flames, while Hollis and Vorsyin manage to somehow avoid the worst of the flames. Vorsyin's "wife" is on the edge of the flames, but seems to be unaffected.
The inferno is absolutely devastating! Most of the party is consumed in its wake. Apart from the damage to their bodies, some of the party's equipment is at risk. Olaf is fortunate that he has few non-metal possessions, as his lot survives. Lorath sees his pack catch fire and a trusted ring melt away.... Flambeau coughs from the smoke, then looks down to take inventory of his belongings.
Lorath - 34 damage!!
Vorsyin - 17 damage
Flambeau - 34 damage!
Hollis - 17 damage
Olaf - 34 damage 
FB - please roll two item saves for your BoH (and contents 
) and one for your Slippers. If you fail both on the BoH (or roll a natural 1), it and the contents are gone. Slippers get one save. Won't make you roll for any other items.
*NB - I am going to continue to roll players' saves for damage - it is really no different than rolling a monster's to hit roll. But I am going to let players roll their own saves for death/paralysis/etc., though I reserve the right to move things along.
The party once again finds itself in dire straits...but this IS the BBEG after all... Retreat might be unpalatable, but the party has done brutal damage to the giant...no, to the Messenger's forces. Surely an attack against the Fist would be hobbled and the party knows more about the origin of the giant attacks than they ever dreamed. But then again, the evil would be left to fester, and likely grow.
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HP:
Vorsyin: 18/49 (-1 level)
Gaerys: 17/69 (!!!)
Hollis: 24/52
Lorath: 6/40 (!!!)
Ethan: 38/71 (!)
Olaf: 22/75 (!!)
Arqos: 89/91
Flambeau: 41/75
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at least you know I'm not cheating the rolls.
Perhaps dispel magic would be more appropriate than trying to turn it?
