Double drakes [Combat thread]

[DM Bob]

As you turn to retrace your steps, that's when the pouncing occurs.

From the hazy draconic frame, it suddenly solidifies. Much like smoke turning into a physical form. The Tyrannosaur shaped face grins with savage tooth as the weird deep throat giggling continues. It is red-and-black mottled, similar in color to the dying embers of a fire, and the skin is very glossy and pebbly in appearance much like a gila monster in texture. The front two legs are smaller with very sharp claws, while the back legs are long and thick. All in all, you have to guess that the beast is easily 25 or even 35 feet head to tail.

At the moment this one sharpens in focus, another slightly smaller beast attacks from where you were originally facing. It moves in a way that the flame kin to its flank are simply forced aside. Your guess is that they have little in the ability to harm such magnificent and deadly predators.

Initiative, intentions needed as no surprise was had.

[AthasianLaborer]

Round 1 Initiative: 10 (rolled a 6, -1 Dex - casting time 5)
Round 1 Intention: Hold Monster on both Drakes once a second one is spotted.

[Niachi]

Round 1 initiative: 4 (rolled 2, -4 Dex, casting time 4)

As the drakes appear and attack, Niachi sidesteps the charging smaller one to get a few feet of distance between himself and other team Kurn. Once he's positioned to deal frontal and flank attacks or blocks against  both drakes, he  answers with his own demented giggle that completes the verbal part of a spell he's been saving:
CON roll: 1 (success)

Abnatural green flames sprout a foot in all directions from his body in an aura against all fires. His immediate area is illuminated as if for portraiture. He draws his 2-hand sword and begins the Haiypaaan Shri Elven Battledance, the Dance of Ending Behemoths.

Or a decent interpretation of it. 

Fire Aura: duration: 2 rounds/level.
By means of this spell, the caster surrounds his body with an aura of magical green fire. The fire aura extends 1 foot from the caster's body and provides illumination in a 10-foot radius. The fire aura provides complete immunity to all forms of fire, both natural and magical; the flames can be extinguished only by dispel magic or a similar spell.
Those touching the fire aura suffer 2-8 (2d4) hit points of damage; additionally, if the touched victim fails to make his saving throw, his body is set afire with green flames.

These flames (on a victim) persist for 2-8 (2d4) rounds and can be extinguished only by dispel magic or a similar spell. Each round the victim is engulfed in these flames, he suffers an additional 1-6 hit points of damage; the victim's attack rolls are made with a -2 penalty during this time.

Cat's Grace: DEX 21
Duration from sighting the figure-8 formation: 9 hours: +4 reactions, +4 missile AC, -5 Defensive bonus.

[Skrye [AC3; 48/48HP]]

- The Tari casts a protective spell on herself, to avoid been hit as much as possible by these fiery engulfing flame creatures - "Lesson learnt for next time"

[OOC: Round 1 Initiative 6, Barkskin (AC 0, 12 rnds); Protection vs Fire.
SPELLS: 1stLvl(5/5), 2ndLvl(4/5), 3rdLvl(4/4), 4thLvl(3/3)]

[Attilius]

(Bob Any chance for a battle map?)

Round 1

As The giant raises his tower shield he grumbles something about "Craxus and his team would love dis shit!"
(Any Balican sports fan, i.e. Coden, would recognize the name of the Criterion's premier Reaver gladiator.)

Shield Block first incoming bite attack to him or a friendly within 10'; hit AC: -9

initiative: 2
AC: -8 (-10 range)

initiative: 7
Attilius pulls his gouge and goes to work on big boy...

Strike 1: Hit AC- 4
23 non-magical Slashing

Whirlwind strike 2: hit AC -5
27 non-magical Slashing

[Umbris (AC 2 | HP 37/37)]

Umbris attempts to hide, ducking behind the half giant to get cover

Init 8
Attemptng to HoS, Success at a rolled 65, the "shadow" is the leg of the half giant

If he cant hide, he's going to start loading up a rock

[Quila Oris (John M.)]

Quila is instantly alert to the two drakes' presence, and says to all who can hear "I am going to distract them psionically, first the large one."

Init 6
Quila phases herself into a different mode for defensive purposes. She then makes sure she will be in range for psionically attacking the larger drake, 40 yards, if the creature isn't already closer by. (Rolled 4 on 20 for Phase, success.)


Intent round 2
Quila will use Ego Whip on the larger drake to batter into it's mind.
(Phase gives a penalty of -4, and the life form penalty is somewhere between -4 and -7. Adjusted Power Score for Ego Whip is then Wis -7 or -10, depending on life form penalty, which means I need to roll 14, or 11)

[Coden Rokos (Jesse H.)]

Coden watches warily, keeping his shield up as he concentrates on figuring out where to make his stand.

(Manifest safe path.)

[DM Bob]

'Muiko need not wait long until the draken pair are within range as he let's loose his spell. Luckily it stuns the draconic foe to your rear.

The one engaged with Attilius manages only to hit his shield even after claws, biting and a tail lash were incoming.

Quila's mental attack hits the drake's impressive mental defenses...

But that gives a response you were not expecting. It narrows an eye (much like a confused dog, head tilt and all) and starts to turn away as Attilius' slashes strike true. The fiery drake then takes the blows to it's chest, dark blood splurting from the two large gashes. It then turns as if to retreat.

[AthasianLaborer]

Round Two Initiative: 9 (10 on the die, -1 Dex)
Round Two Intention: Study the held Drake until the party is set to go.  Paying close attention to the visual textures of the eyes, hide and teeth.  Sketch the results.  Artistic Ability rolled a 6 needing 13 or less [Success!]

[Attilius]

The giant stays his large blade then slaps the retreating lizard on its haunch with his tower shield as if to give it extra *oomph* to its retreating movement.
"Just hungry lizards. Come, let's finish our task!"

*readied defenisive action*
If either creature renews an attack, or a new being materializes to attack, Attilius will parry the 1st bite attack with his shield.

[DM Bob]

The goliath wishes he could have smacked the drake on the rear, but the beast simply goes transparent.

Drakes, at least on Athas proper, have such psionic powers. Here, they make the beasts apex predators. Rarely do they encounter other psychic entities... unless they come from other planes than this. Perhaps the attempted mental connection that Quila forced reminded it on some level of other powerful mental entities or predators. If fire drakes have encountered things like the Eater of Tongues and the weird frog-like ally of his that you met in Giustenal...

Could this explain their fear?

Anyways you slice it, you decide to move on wisely. Who knows how the flame-kin would react to you slaughtering and dressing a wild drake, the noblest of the non-efreeti kin that share a bond of this strange, flaming forge?

You continue to climb the fiery rise, the heat climbing with light blue flame as you advance. Time still seems somewhat blurred here. After some travel, the "ground" begins to darken. The flames themselves are black and encompass an area thrice the size of the drakes you fought. The flame-kin guard begin to dance about it in a counter-clockwise manner, starkly contrasting their own red, oranges and blues against the dark radiating heat. They ho-hum and crackle in cadence to some unseen song.

It seems that you have made it to the Heart. The dark heart of the dead Power Kossuth.

A single red ring expands from this darkened dead yet-not dead fire, expanding in an explosive manner that radiates in all directions, shaking the very aether that the Forge is manifest. Even through the protections, you feel the heat slightly go up, a sweat beading from your collective foreheads that recalls desert wanderings and forced marching.

Now you know the source of the Pulse.

[Attilius]

Attilius let's out an audible sigh of relief at the red ring and stands off to the side on guard duty while the group disposes of the the items...

[AthasianLaborer]

Muiko produces the Grimoire of Mak Thuum Ngatha and raises it above his head with both hands.  "Are there any extra preparations we must take or should I just cast it into the fire?" Muiko says as he looks first to Quila then Skrye followed by the rest of the party.

If there are no objections from anyone, Muiko throws the Grimoire 'spike style' into the black flames from their edge.

He looks to Umbris "Cast it into the fire!"

[Quila Oris (John M.)]

When Muiko looks at her and inquires about the grimoire, Quila replies "Not as far as I can remember, our old bonebox friend did not give any specific instructions regarding the dissolution of the worm tome. Throw it in, quickly."

She then looks to the halfling "Do it. Do it now."