[DnD] D&D Arena: The Tale of the Piano Duo, Ebony and Ivory

1 Die Roll Go go gadget double figures!

Ivory was seriously having a crisis of confidence. Throughout his long and illustrious career as a slayer of monsters and banisher of evil, he had destroyed countless foes with no more than a miffed glance, let alone the full on angry stares he had been throwing at these robots.

With a surprising turn of pace for such an old codger, the lycanthrope stomps off in pursuit of the fleeing miscreant, catching sight of him as he rounds the corner of the hut and shooting his most choleric look in months at the coward's back.

Move to I12, Gaze of Defiance at soldier

Finally, after a long and fruitless morning, the sheer ignomy of being stared at by an old man as he turned tail and ran became to much for the young criminal and he exploded in a shower of nuts and bolts.

Ivory slumped against the wall of the hut, he was definitely getting too old for this shit.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

VICTORY! The warforged troupe has been vanquished, and it doesn't seem like they were able to call for reinforcements.

For now.

If indeed the boar that Ivory and Ebony are now just sitting down to enjoy IS indeed property of the king, they may very well find it prudent to expect company sooner than later.

The delectable scent of roast boar imbues our protagonists with one temporary healing surge

Houserule! My way of saying 'sorry' for hitting you

with minions that do disproportionate damage

for their level. They're supposed to do around

4 instead of 8. My bad.

. Actually sitting down at the table and eating it will restore yet another healing surge to each.

You have ten minutes to prepare for the next round, still utilizing the same 'arena' and carrying over the difficult terrain posed by the warforged corpses. You can do anything that's doable in this time, and may position yourself anywhere you wish.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

The old man caught his breath, tearing off a strip of boar meat and devouring it hungrily. Carrying his meal. he picked a spot halfway along the side of the hut to slump down and rest, nobody would sneak up on him here.

After a moment's thought, he had a better idea. Dragging the table over from by the fire, he clambered on top of it and from there, onto the roof of the hut, kicking the table over behind him. He was going to offer a hand up to the kobold but remembered that last time the young lizard had been on top of a building, attempting to stop a disturbed hobgoblin from leaping to his death, he'd jumped off himself. Ivory certainly wasn't ready for any more of that kind of excitement, certainly not this close to his retirement anyway.

Eat some food, use table to climb on to the roof of the hut, kicking over the table behind me, burn some healing surges (Full hp)

How ya doing, buddy?

Who says the captain isn't a valid target? I go over there and kick him in the face.

Yeah, that outta do it.

I sit down for a nice breakfast 'cause momma didn't raise me in no barn. Pretty soon I hear huffin' and puffin' like old man Ivory wanna blow down his own damn house. Sheeit, he's just trying to climb on the roof. Beats me why; maybe he reckons he'll fix up that leak he's always bitchin' about. Whateva, if he sees any more rusting tin cans come our way, he can holla.

Eat breakfast at the table for free surgez
use surgez for full hp
Decides to tidy the place up; chuck warforged bodies into a heap in the corner of the yard

I was speaking idiomatically.

4 Dice Rolls Initiative-Dire Wolf

Our heroes tuck into a delicious breakfast - the exact same breakfast that caused them a lot of grief. Like all good responsible youths, Ebony assisted the elderly by taking out the trash. The southwest corner of Ivory's yard is now the repository of four rusting and utterly acidic corpses. To step into the acid-filled section would be tempting fate.

Square R25:S26 is now difficult terrain and any creature entering it or beginning its turn within it gets hit with 1d6 acid damage.

Scarcely had the kobold finish his chores when he hears loud growling coming from the north. Apparently the delicious pot roast has attracted some unexpected guests. Five gray wolves, led by a rather large wolf, have picked up on the scent of the roast. Worse, they have now caught Ebony's scent, a small creature which they would surely consider easy prey.

Passive Nature 19: As a well-read ranger, Ebony knows that members of a wolf pack growl, howl, bark, and use body language to communicate. These howls can carry several miles. The lead wolf is double the size of the others, but without actively checking his nature knowledge, nothing comes to mind for Ebony.

Passive Perception 15: By the way it moves, and based on the discoloration of its hide, Ivory is almost certain the lead wolf has once spent part of its life as a tame mount. However, this is clearly no longer the case, as it has descended once again into its natural animal savagery.

The wolves eye Ebony hungrily, fangs completely bared. But they made no indication of either moving or attacking... yet!

Initiative:
Ebony (13), Gray Wolves (12), Dire Wolf (10), Ivory (4)

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

1 Die Roll AM I DOING THIS RIGHT

I am wondering no more.

actively check nature against the wolves
delay action until I get word back from zerg

FELIPE NO

Ebony's Nature knowledge check: 7 + 9 = 16.

Ebony identifies the large wolf as a dire wolf. Try as he might, he cannot remember particular information about the beast (DC 20).

The ranger does know the following tidbits about wolves:

1. They are fast sprinters and move faster than him.
2. They are pack hunters and do bigger damage when hunting as a team.
3. It is a bad idea to be prone when attacked by wolves.
4. It is possible, though not easy, to domesticate dire wolves into mounted beasts.

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1 Die Roll nature this

Oh yeah, you can make these bitches your bitch! I knew a guy who used to breed these and have 'em fight other wolves in his basement.



What, he had a big basement.

Yeah anyway Imma hit them scrawny ones first. I wonder what their deal is?

Can a nigga get a nature check up in dis for them smaller wolves?
I can't wait to act; Throw and Stab at the one in K-23
Free Charge converted to Marauder's Rush on K-25
Shifty to M-25
Move back to O-18; I ain't being a pussy, I'm being practical.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

2 Dice Rolls Stab vs K25

Lurker, you only get one shot at a knowledge check, unless new information comes to light. The check for gray wolves was already given as part of your passive nature check. I shall treat your roll as an attempt to domesticate the smaller wolves.

Ebony eyes the snarling wolves, and declared grandiosely to the pack: "Imma gonna make youse mah bitches, bitches!"

The wolves look unconvinced. The dire wolf glares at the kobold, almost... almost as if it understood what he said.

One would think any attempt to befriend wolves would be to not attack them, offer them food, and display your dominance by challenging the pack leader. But no, Ebony impatiently tosses his axe at the nearest gray wolf wolf, and launches into a charge against another. This possibly wrecks any chances of ever getting himself a gray wolf as a pet mount, but it is probably for the best. It looks like the wolves would be able to eat him up in one bite anyway.

Defenses:
Gray Wolves: AC 19, Fortitude 17, Reflex 17, Will 17
Dire Wolf: AC 19, Fortitude 18, Reflex 17, Will 16

Throw: 5 + 10 = 15 vs AC 19, miss.
Stab: 7 + 11 + 1 from charging = 19 vs AC 19, hit.

While Ebony's axe missed, his sword struck true, and the emaciated wolf cub collapsed with a whimper. The other wolves react to this affront by baring their fangs and snarling menacingly at the lizard. If he doesn't make it out of there, he'd likely be mauled to death right there and then.

Gray Wolves (12), Dire Wolf (10), Ivory (4), Ebony (13)

I assume you want to move away by using an action point. Post in the thread if you wish to stay where you are.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Fuck what ya herd.

stays where I'm at

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

1 Die Roll Hit

Ivory had sensed the wolves long before they appeared. The hairs on his neck hadn't been this erect since he was last caught outdoors in a thunderstorm and his canine teeth were itching. Was this some last, cruel trick of the fates, to challenge his resolve one final time before he hung up his hunting hat for good? Ivory found his lycanthropy hard to control at the best of times and in the presence of other wolves, the urge to release his inner beast and run with the pack was almost unbearable.

He knew he could waste no time in dispatching these new foes, if not for his own well being then certainly for the benefit of the young kobold who was likely to fair badly fighting off a pack of wolves single handedly.

The old man shuffled across the roof to get a better look at the rapidly developing melee below him. Surmising that his friend was unlikely to escape a mauling, he lifted his holy symbol and, as he had done to so many monsters over so many years of righteous anger, enveloped the nearest wolf in an Astral Seal, ready for his partner to slay the ever living shit out it in a minute.

Move to L22, Astral Seal on Wolf A.
+11 to hit vs reflex, requires a 6 to hit
Wolf A suffers -2 penalty to all defenses, if Ebony hits it before my next turn she regains 5hp

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5 Dice Rolls *Dire Wolf bite damage

The ranger bravely (or is it foolishly, hard to tell) stands his ground as the wolves swoop in for the kill.

SNARL!

Gray Wolf bite: +10 vs AC, 3 damage, 2d6+2 against prone targets
Dire Wolf bite: +10 vs AC, 1d8+4 damage, 2d8+4 against prone targets

The nearest wolf swoops around the ranger setting up a flank. Although its bite wasn't worse than its bark, the distraction afforded to its packmates knocks the young kobold flat on his back -- making him extremely vulnerable now.

Gray Wolf A hits vs. Ebony, inflicting 3 damage.
Gray Wolf C misses.
Gray Wolf D hits vs. Ebony, inflicting 3 damage. Due to combat advantage from flanking, Ebony is also knocked prone

You are flat on your back and grant combat advantage to melee attacks.

You can crawl away at half your speed (3). This triggers an OA as normal.

You cannot shift and must take a move action to stand up.

But Agile Recovery lets Ebony stand up as a minor action.

.
Dire Wolf hits vs. Ebony, inflicting [6 + 4 =] 10 damage.
Ebony takes [3 + 3 + 10 =] 16 damage and is prone.

Horrified at seeing his companion gradually ripped to shreds, Ivory rushes over to lend a hand. Deciding that his evil eye is not functioning today, the cleric opts for a less damaging at-will.

Gray Wolf A takes -2 penalty to all defenses for 1 round. Next person to hit it regains 4 HP.

Balancing on the roof is proving tougher than what the shifter anticipated. In fact, it is extremely possible that he might slip and fall

You take 1d10 damage for every 10 feet you fall.

People trained in acrobatics (Ebony) can reduce this by half with a successful DC15 check.

If you take damage when you land, you land prone.

should he fail a DC17 acrobatics check to remain balanced on his next turn.

Ebony (13), Gray Wolves (12), Dire Wolf (10), Ivory (4)

I was speaking idiomatically.

Old man Ivory pointed out a nice weak spot in one of the wolves. He better keep his balance though; I need that fucker alive to buy me beer and smokes.

Stand Up (is this a minor or a move?)
Marauder's Rush on Wolf A
If A is killed, shift to M24; else, shift to M25

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

5 Dice Rolls Dire Wolf bites Ebony

Standing from prone is normally a move, but Pang has given you a feat which lets you do so as a minor action.

The wolf-killing ranger stands up and continues his rampage, stabbing poor hungry Wolf A to death before shifting right over its corpse.

Gray Wolf A killed.
Ebony regains 4 HP.

The remaining wolves close in to rip out more chunks of rare kobold steak, with the dire wolf taking the lead.

Gray wolves delay move.
Dire Wolf misses.
Gray Wolf C hits with combat advantage, inflicts 3 damage and knocks Ebony prone.
Gray Wolf D hits, inflicting [5 + 2 =] 7 damage.
Ebony takes a total of [3 + 7 =] 10 damage. Bloodied and prone.

Blood spurts from Ebony's wounds; the sight of blood whips the wolves into a frenzy. Today they dine on delicious kobold.

Ivory (4), Ebony (13), Dire Wolf (10), Gray Wolves (12)

Shin, when you enter or remain on the tight sloped area of the roof (squares J22:M22 and J13:M14 basically), make a DC 17 Acrobatics check to remain balanced. If you fail, you fall into unoccupied ground, take 1d10 damage, and are proned. If you pass, you don't have to take the check again until you move into another sloped area.

FELIPE NO

2 Dice Rolls Healing

The little kobold was in trouble, seemingly unable to keep his feet in the face of the wolves' onslaught. Ivory was about to say a few kind words to help the little guy feel abit better but then thought better of it, choosing instead to hurl abuse at the big wolf, hoping to distract the beast long enough for his partner to scrabble out of harm's way.

Having not realised how precarious the roof was near the edges (Much like how he never realised how much a small puddle hampered his movement, the old man then stepped back on to the shallower gradient.

Destined Duel on Dire Wolf, Healing Word on Ebony, move to M21
+9 to hit vs reflex, requires an 8 to hit
Miss (For a change), Ebony can spend a healing surge and gain +1D6 (2) additional hps

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

I struggle again to my feet. Fuckin' dogs, I never liked them anyway. I kicked one of them while old man Ivory shouts on. He's probably telling them to get off his lawn or some shit.

Stand up again
Use healing surge for extra hps as directed by Ivory
Marauder's Rush against Wolf C
Shift over to N23

Jam it back in, in the dark.

4 Dice Rolls Damage

While Ivory continues to ineffectively glare at opponents, Ebony engages in the practice of gleefully dispatching poor innocent hungry wolves. Has there ever been a more heartless ranger?

With little other recourse, and having not actually noticed the old lycanthrope on the roof at all, the remaining wolves continue biting at the little ranger. In time, he should be able to regenerate his tail. Hopefully.

Ebony is healed by [2 + 5 + 11 =] 18 HP and receives [6 + 4 =] 10 damage and is knocked prone.

Ivory (4), Ebony (13), Gray Wolf (12), Dire Wolf (10)

There's nowhere I can't reach.

1 Die Roll Gonna miss again :(

After this morning's encounters, the old man decided it was definitely time to get his eyes checked. He had wandered the lands for decades, slaying creatures of evil wherever they reared their heads with little more than a sideways glance at yet here, today, he had been giving out some of his best ever nasty stares and nobody had paid the slightest bit of notice.

Maybe he was trying too hard he thought to himself, affecting a somewhat forced air of nonchalence, turning his back on the melee below him before shooting a quick glance over his shoulder at the remaining, smaller wolf.

Gaze of defiance at Wolf D
+9 vs Will, requires an 8 to hit

To the old man's surprise, the wolf caught him glancing at him, looked slightly unsure of himself then became disoriented, staggered around a bit then collapsed, dead. OK, so it wasn't the most convincing death by staring ever, certainly far short of the gib showers he'd experienced when he stared down an entire local chapter of the Night Queen's Angels, a halfing pony riding club from a town a short ride from Freeport who had been terrorizing local farmers back in the days when big city life had seemed so exciting and appealing to the lycanthrope, but the wolf was at least dead. Feeling a bit better about himself, the cleric cracked his knuckles, furrowed his brow and prepared to lend his support to his embattled colleague in finishing off their last enemy.

Wolf is hit (barely) and killed
Divine Fortune
Ivory recieves +1 to next attack roll or saving throw

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

My vision swims with blood. AIN'T MY BLOOD THO WHAT NOW
WHAT
WHAT
WHAT
WHAT
WH-oh that is my blood.

Second Wind
Shifty to O22
Move to P22
Action Point: Throw and Stab at big wolf
Free charge converted to Marauder's Rush on big wolf

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

7 Dice Rolls Climb 2!

The lycanthrope feels a tiny pang of regret as he stares the last remaining gray wolf to death. But still, with the lupines lurking about and nipping at the shin of his companion, it had to be done.

Meanwhile, Ebony merrily mauls the big wolf with his overpowered combo that is bound to lose its potency in due time.

Throw and Stab: 8 + 1 (divine fortune) + 10 = 19 = 19 HIT
Marauder's Rush: 4 + 1 (charging) + 1 (running attack) + 10 = 16 < 19 MISS.
Wolf takes [6 + 2 =] 8 damage.

The dire wolf gives a start as the ranger's handaxe penetrates his hide. During Ivory's successful attack, it caught a glance of the old wolfman hiding on the roof of his house. His scent was strangely familiar to the wolf, having been trained by longtooth shifters in its youth.

Completely ignoring the kobold, the dire wolf scratches at the wall of Ivory's hut, whining as it vainly tries to take a better sense of the cleric. Its first attempt was clumsy, inviting a stab from the merciless ranger. Undettered, it tries a second time to great success.

Climb check (Athletics 8 + 4 = 12 vs DC20) fails.
Wolf takes [6 + 6 =] 12 damage (sorry, rolled wrong sized die)
Second attempt (Athletics 8 + 19 = 27 vs DC20) succeeds.

The dire wolf reaches the roof and sets itself right next to Ivory, sniffing at him suspiciously.

Strictly speaking Ebony was prone and could not have shifted. A minor's needed to stand up. Since I've already rolled, may I request the invalidation of Second Wind, so we just assume you stood up instead? Thanks.

Ivory (4), Ebony (13), Dire Wolf (10)

I was speaking idiomatically.

1 Die Roll Let's be friends

The wolfman froze as the big wolf sat itself down next to him. Unable to back away due to the edge of the roof and not fancying a fist fight with such a big creature, he decided diplomacy might be the way forward. Despite his revulsion at the proximity of the creature and the blinding headache he was developing to go with his itchy teeth, he reached out gingerly and patted the beast on the head.

"Who's a good doggy then?"

Reaching slowly into his pack, he grabbed a bit of dried jerky from his stock of trail rations and handed it to the wolf.

Diplomacy check

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

I didn't know that wolves could jump on buildings. I.......... sheeit.

second wind again

FELIPE NO

I'm kind of winging this as there are no hard and fast rules. Be forewarned!

Ivory's Diplomacy check: 13 + 9 + 5 (offering food) = 27 vs Dire Wolf's Will 19 + 5 (damaged by an ally) = 24. SUCCESS!

The dire wolf greedily wolfs down Ivory's proffered food, regaining strength from nourishment. Giving the longtooth shifter a long lick, the wolf has decided that the old wolfman is not a threat. His little companion, however, has hurt it and killed its companions, and so remains a threat.

The wolf gives a high-pitched whine. Unfortunately, the jerky was not nearly enough to satiate the lupine - clearly more is needed if Ivory wishes to tame the beast. For his part, Ebony might have to find ways to make amends somehow, if old man Ivory decides to keep the wolf.

Dire wolf regains 16 HP. Still hungry.

Ivory (4), Ebony (13), Dire Wolf (10)

No change to map.

All options are open: continue fighting, send away the wolf, tame the wolf. Some of your skills are clearly inapplicable for taming purposes (for example religion, dungeoneering, thievery, stealth, and insight) for this purpose. Tell me what you want to do, and I'll try to match it to the most appropriate skill.

How ya doing, buddy?

Despite his innate hatred of wolves, the old man reasoned that any ally was better than an enemy, especially the way his luck had been panning out today. The wolf was clearly distrustful of the little kobold who just a second ago had been chopping it up, which could cause a problem. Maybe if Ivory could patch up a few of those wounds, the wolf might be a little more friendly...

The cleric then decided that as he and Ebony had already eaten breakfast, it wouldn't hurt to let the wolf have some of that, although he gave a sharp gesture to the kobold to suggest he stays out of the way for the time being.

Er, healing word on the wolf? I've only used it once this encounter but I'm not sure it would work if the wolf has no healing surge things. If not, then use general healing skills to dress it's wounds. Then move towards roast pig, which we clearly never ate all of and let the wolf have a go on that

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What in the hell, that wolf was trying to eat me and now Ivory wants to give him our breakfast? Fuckin' bullshit man.

"What the fuck Ivory, did you not see the part where he was trying to kill me? The fuck do you want a pet for!" I shout up at the roof. Fuckin' cocksucker does what he wants, be damned if I get a say in any of it. Wants a dog with the taste for kobold blood? fuckin' horseshit.

There's nowhere I can't reach.