"And I thought I was the evil one... ", says Ralzik. "Who knew that wishing to raid and pillage villages was a noble goal these days.."

((you can do a free action at any time ))

Zorga slips forward, quickly jabbing the dagger towards the shamans back. Sadly, she connects with nothing but air before she carefully moves a step further, moving into better positioning for her next strike.


((
Deft Strike:
Move to G24
Deft Strike Attack Roll: (1d20+10=14)= Miss.
Shift to H24
))

Initiative Order:
Ralzik
Sancossug
Zorga
Aesamar
Kuro
Tsuujin

Enemy Information:
High Shaman Sancossug HP 222/230 -- AC 22; Fort 17, Ref 20, Will 22 (H23): Cursed

Player Info:
Tsuujin 17/31 HP (I23)
Aesamar 14/24 HP (F18)
Kuro 14/24 HP (H22)
Zorga 19/29 HP (H24)
Ralzik 21/32 HP (G23)

Up Next: Kuro

((it's depressing when you have a +10 and still miss.... ))

((However, I would suggest moving away from the shaman, well atleast after Aesmar puts up the orb of fire, since that will actually always do damage. since it's a controller type, the more out of pattern we are, the more likely we are to limit the attacks the shaman can do ))

(( Apperantly, Aesmar is going to sit by and watch us all die instead of helping, because killing -this- goblin is much different than killing every other goblin so far. I wouldn't count on the orb right now. ))

((If I were to put up the orb of fire, no more than one of you could be adjacent to him at once, which would seem highly unproductive to me, especially seeing as, even if it does always do damage, it only does 5-8 a pop. That'd take anywhere from 28 to 44 rounds to kill him, and not a huge amount less even if you do manage to land a few hits of your own. As for me "letting you die", we'd probably all die even if I tried to help. This goblin is different because this goblin was not actively trying to kill us until Ralzik attacked him, and because he's doing something interesting. My scholarly eladrin likes interesting things.))

((If I'm not mistake, you can put the orb in the NE corner of the mob, and then have the Tsujjin and Zorga on the W and S side of the goblin, and then have Kuro nearbye doing commanding strike, and healing and inspiriation, while you and me shoot at the goblin from afar. And I believe if the creature is marked, we could do other strategies as well, not sure on everyone's abilities.))

((Your charachter can do whatever it wants, but you do realize that the Goblin told us he plans on raising a creature which pillaged and raided villages, and is the horror of everyone in that town we just came from before I attacked him, right? ))

Gritting his teeth, Aesamar run towards the throng, but just short of the combat, he vanishes, reappearing an instant later next to the Sarcophagus. He takes the opportunity to examine the contents of the stone coffin, trying to decipher how the goblin intends to achieve his goal, and if there is anything the group can do to stop it while leaving their only source of information alive.

((Move to G22))
((Spend 1AP to Fey Step to G27 (G28 if I'm allowed to stand on that one.)))
((Arcana, Religion and Perception checks on the sarcophagus and its contents (1d20+12=26, 1d20+10=25, 1d20+8=20)))

Aesamar, examining the ritual site finds that, despite the Shaman's grand claims, there is nothing divine here, let alone threatening. Though he does detect a faint magical aura emanating from within the sarcophagus, his training in the arcane arts assures him that it has nothing to do with this so-called ritual.

The only thing produced by this Shaman's years of prayer has been his insanity. And that is the only thing that ever will come of it, by the looks of things.

Inside the sarcophagus is a horned skull attached to a long shaft. One of the horns is missing, however. This is the source of the magical presence. (A mace with properties identical to the horn totem)

((I almost feel sorry for the poor fella, working all those years for nothing.))

Resisting the laugh that begins to rise in his throat at the absurdity of the goblin's ritual, Aesamar turns back towards the battle, and decides that a distraction may be necessary. "Shaman! I apologise profusely, but there is no way in all the planes you could raise so much as a rat with this junk. So if you don't mind, we'll be taking this–" he snatches the skull-topped mace from the sarcophagus. "–and making our exit."

((I suggest we get out of here before he kills us. We have what we came for, and there's not much point hanging around just to die in vain. I'll Expeditious Retreat my way past him, and I suppose you can all shift/walk/be telekinesed away.))

Kuro patiently waits for the Shaman's response to Aesamar's taunting before making any action with her weapon at the ready in case retreat is ultimately not an option. The Shaman clearly, despite his insanity, was well versed in magic, as the achings in Kuro's side told her.

((I think you missed the part where S.A.W. said that we get just as much xp for this one guy, as we do the 5 guys we just killed ))

The Shaman screeches as he sees the eladrin pluck the Skull Totem from the sarcophagus.

"No!" he screams. "I KILL you!"



((Next up: Ralzik))

((Ok, I hope this works... ))
Shifting a step back, Ralzik sends a demonic hand to grab the shaman, and push him back into the room, squeezing the life out of him. Ralzik then moves forward to come up along the side of the Shaman and cloak himself in shadow.

((shift to F22, Diabolic graps on Shaman, Slide Shaman to G26, Move to G25))
1d20+6=17, 2d8+5=12, 1d6=3
17 vs fort, 15 damage.

Shrugging off the chill of Ralzik's aura, Sancossug unleashes another torrent of energy, this one simple force that batters the adventurer's ruthlessly. And then he shifts away, a fire of unholy zeal in his eyes.

"KILL you!" Sancossug brings his mud-encrusted rod down, cracking the staggered Aesamar across the temple and sending him hard to the floor.

"Die," the goblin spits. "Die."

((Sancossug takes 6 from Armor of Agathys.
Sancossug hits Ralzik, Aesamar, Zorga, and Tsuujin for 13.
Sancossug shifts to G27.
Sancossug uses an Action point, critically hits Aesamar for 7. Aesamar is unconscious and dying.))



Initiative Order:
Ralzik
Sancossug
Zorga
Aesamar
Kuro
Tsuujin

Enemy Information:
High Shaman Sancossug HP 201/230 -- AC 22; Fort 17, Ref 20, Will 22 (H23): Cursed

Player Info:
Tsuujin 4/31 HP (I23): Bloodied
Aesamar -6/24 HP (G28):Unconscious, Dying
Kuro 14/24 HP (H22)
Zorga 5/29 HP (H24): Bloodied
Ralzik 8/32 HP (G25): Bloodied

Up Next: Kuro, Zorga, Tsuujin, Aesamar

((Ok, I defintly don't get the rules... ))

((What rules, exactly? I'm not sure what you were trying to do.))

((line of sight and area attack rules. I thought he'd only be able to attack me and Aeasamar))

((Zorga was standing right next to you, for one. And Tsuujin had cover, but not superior cover. Basically, if you can draw a line from one corner of the attackers square to 2 corners of the defenders square, they have normal cover. If you can only draw it to 1, they have superior cover. If you can't draw it to any, they have total cover.

Zorga manages to call up enough strength to hurl her dagger, though it flies well past its mark. "Guys, I think its time we start moving towards the exit...." she states, rushing to find cover from the very angry little greenskin.

((
We're a bit in over our heads here.... methinks its time to GTFO

Deft Strike:
Move to G22
Attack Roll (1d20+8=14) = Miss
Move to E22
))