Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Sindorin 05-06-05, 03:07 PM	This thread is for the 1 week quest of Virgo Arkazzan. Only Sindorin or King Uther may post here until after the encounter is complete. Target: Assassination of a political leader in order to take his place. Questlog Week 1: Assassinated Argreos Myrthra, Secretary of Trade and Commerce in Gladius. There was a suspicious trail of blood leading off of the eastern road... Used: Power Stone of Expansion (ML3), Power Stone of Vigor (ML3), Power Stone of Dissolving Weapon, Tattoo of Force Screen Quest Completed. Virgo's Character Sheet: Virgo Arkazzan - ECL 3 "The calm before the storm is your deathknell." Male Half-Giant Monk 1/Psychic Warrior 1 Lawful Evil Experience 5000/6000 Stats: Str: 20 +5 (18 +2 racial) 16 Dex: 13 +1 (15 -2 racial) 6 Con: 14 +2 (12 +2 racial) 4 Int: 8 -1 0 Wis: 16 +3 10 Cha: 8 -1 0 Hit Points: 16 (8 +4.5 +4) AC: 16(10+5Breastplate+1Dex) 11 touch Init. +1 BAB: +0 Grapple: +13(+5str +4Improved Grapp +4large size) Speed: 30ft Saves: Fort: 6(+4base +2con) Ref: 3(+2base +1dex) Wil: 5(+2base +3wis) Attack: Halberd +5(+0BAB +5Str) melee 1d10+7 x3 Unarmed +5(+0 BAB, +5str) melee 1d6+5 x2, possibly+2d6 from Psionic Fist Grapple +13(+5str +4Imp. Grapp. +4size)with Grip of Iron +17, 1d6+5+1d6, possibly+2d6 with Psionic Fist Flurry +3/+3 1d6 +5 Composite Longbow (Mighty +5) +1ranged, 1d8+5 x3 Skills: 13points Concentration +6(4ranks +2con) +10 to become psionically focused Move Silently +2(5ranks +1dex) -4armor check Listen +5(2ranks +3wis) Psicraft +2(3ranks -1Int) Feats: Improved Grapple(bonus) Narrow Mind Psionic Fist(bonus) Racial: +2Str +2Con -2 Dex Immune to spells that target humanoids, i.e. Charm person, hold person Base speed 30ft Fire acclimated: +2 on saves versus fire effects Powerful Build +4 on opposed checks(considered large), can also use bigger weapons and possibly take more unarmed damage based on how you define "creature’s special attacks based on size (such as improved grab or swallow whole" Naturally psionic: +2power points Psi-like ability Stomp 1/day DC 10 Favored Class: Psychic Warrior LA: +1 Powers: Points: 3(+0class +2race +1wis) DC 13 +level Powers Known: 1st level - Grip of Iron Expendables: Powerstone of Vigor (ML 3)x2 150gp Powerstone of Biofeedbackx2 50gp Powerstone of Expansion (ML3)x2 150gp Powerstone of Bite of the Wolf 25gp Powerstone of Skate 25gp Powerstone of Metaphysical Claw 25gp Powerstone of Hustle 150gp Powerstone of Animal Affinity 150gp Powerstone of Levitate, Psionic 150gp Powerstone of Dissolving Touch 150gp Powerstone of Wall Walker 150gp Potion of Cure Moderate Wounds 300gp Potion of Invisibility 300gp Potion of See Invisibility 300gp Potion of Protection from Good 50gp Potion of Protection from Evil 50gp Potion of Endure Elements 50gp Tattoo of Force Screen x4 200gp Equipment: Monk's Outfit Free Composite Longbow (Mighty+5) 600gp Halberd 10 gp Breastplate with Armor Spikes 250gp 40 arrows 2gp Encumbrance: Weight carried 55lbs +/- 2lbs Cash received: 4800gp Cash spent: 4362gp Cash remaining: 438gp Equipment used: Powerstone of Vigor ML3 x2 150gp Potion of Invisiblity x2 600gp Tattoo of Dissolving Touch 300gp Powerstone of Expansion ML3 75gp Background Virgo never quite understood the philosophy of the monastary. Peaceful inner strength achieved through meditation. He felt that was to quaint. He enjoyed rending his elderly master into a crumpled mass. His bones crushed well. Having completed his training, he no longer needed this place. A fiery fate awaited those sleeping monks. Now the arena awaits, beckoning Virgo closer. Death is waking... The Path to a Demonic Awakening: 1. The Inevitable Destruction of Zasko Kesferon +900xp/gp (http://boards1.wizards.com/showpost.php?p=6006670&postcount=1491) 2. The Inevitable Destruction of Horthek Bolgimzak +900xp/gp (http://boards1.wizards.com/showpost.php?p=6060017&postcount=1508)
Sindorin 05-06-05, 03:08 PM	Someone shouts from the crowd, "But what can we do?" Virgo replies coldly, "Are you that blind? Hmmm....perhaps I will open your eyes. Argreos Myrthra, the secretary of trade and commerce under Rito Maya, is about to have a grave accident. After his unfortunate demise, I will take hold of his office, ensuring the foothold we will have on Gladius. If we can take hold of one, two, three political offices, then the populace will have no choice but to accept our subtle will. Any other questions?" After answering several questions and then showing them the underworks of his boardroom, Virgo Arkazzan disappeared from his uncertain new colleagues. He had other aspects of business to conduct. Numbers had not showed as he had expected, yet the quality of the members that had followed the invitation was excellent. Argreaos Myrthra was just returning from sealing a deal with the coast town of Sothlarch in the east over a trade agreement involving the staggering excises over lost shipments near the Moherajikuyx islands. He had seen disturbing images in Sothlarch, images of increasing poverty, and bureaucratic insulation of pockets with the blood of the poor. He was nearing retirement age, but he refused to give in to increasing demands by the other secretaries and Rito himself to perhaps work from home, retire, and the like. He refused to stop working for the good of the city. "Ahh, Gladius, there she rests yonder," the human sighed to himself. His pack was just starting to feel a bit heavy. He had only but a couple more miles to hike until he was back in the safety of the nimbus' nourishing aura. Argreaos felt that the nimbus was one reason that Gladius now prospered, and it perhaps also contributed to his own health which remained in top condition. He preferred hiking like this alone instead of procuring funds from his allotment to travel to simple places like Sothlarch, where he had settled the disputes easily. Little did he know that life, as good as it seemed at this point, was about to take a turn for the worst... You can go ahead and state what your action will be, as well as where you prefer to attack from.
Sindorin 05-06-05, 04:06 PM	Since we don't have much time this week compared to the norm, I'm gonna borrow a map from the maps thread for this encounter. I'll edit it up to add where everyone is later. You can let me know where you'd like to start. http://www.geocities.com/luken55/NiorneiWoodsa.bmp
King Uther 05-06-05, 04:32 PM	Having just left his new colleagues, Virgo sat patiently, waiting for Argreos to return from his trip to Sothlarch. It was midday, a only a few people had passed by in the last few hours. The sun hung over the trees, casting long shades with which to seek shelter. The wind picked up slightly, and to the East the image of Argeos began to appear, small on the horizon. Now in sight, it was time to prepare. OOC: Decided to take it action by action to breathe more life into the encounter. "Death is a hand best dealt to those who fear it," he muttered to himself, grasping his powerstone to increase his already massive size. Virgo will use powerstone of Expansion ML3
Sindorin 05-07-05, 11:59 AM	Virgo concentrates on the stone (Manifester Level Check (1d20+1=7) (http://invisiblecastle.com/find.py?id=83069) vs. DC 4, pass, Concentration Check (1d20+6=17) (http://invisiblecastle.com/find.py?id=83070) vs DC 15, pass), drawing its power out and expanding to twice his size without a second thought or noticeable display. Virgo notices that a man whose profile fits that of Argreos is coming up the path ahead of him... the man is using a glaive as a sort of hiking stick, and is whistling a tune candidly... Spot Check (1d20+9=19) (http://invisiblecastle.com/find.py?id=83087) vs Hide Check (1d20-7=-1) (http://invisiblecastle.com/find.py?id=83088) As the man is looking ahead of himself on the trail, he easily spots Virgo now that virgo is rather large. "Who goes there?" he asks rather uncertainly. http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y67/Sindorin/VirgoShortQuest1.jpg Virgo is the 2x2 red square near the bottom of the map, whistling man is the 1x1 blue square on the road near the top of the map.
King Uther 05-07-05, 12:13 PM	Virgo steps out with a powerstone in hand, confident death awaits this man. "Give me all your gold and no harm shall come to you." Virgo will use powerstone of Vigor ML3
Sindorin 05-07-05, 12:33 PM	The man steps to the side of the trail and takes off his pack. "Surely you think that I have any at all? I am but a poor beggar on my way to the arena city." The man pulls out a potion and drinks it. Virgo, now blocking the road, concentrates on his stone(Manifester Level Check (1d20+1=18) (http://invisiblecastle.com/find.py?id=83094) vs. DC 4, passes, Concentration Check (1d20+6=25) (http://invisiblecastle.com/find.py?id=83095) vs. DC 15, passes) and manifests to draw out its power of endurance. http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y67/Sindorin/VirgoShortQuest3.jpg
King Uther 05-07-05, 12:37 PM	Smiling, Virgo taps the tattoo on his neck, hoping the old man won't disappoint him. "Then I will have you beg for your life." Virgo taps tattoo of Force Screen, readies action to grapple to pin if he closes.
Sindorin 05-07-05, 12:44 PM	"Beg? For my life, you wish me to beg?" the man says to you as he draws a vial of something and applies it to the blade of his glaive, causing it to glow a dull green. Virgo rubs his neck and activates a tattoo. "I'd just as soon beg as I would be the one who fathered you, you rascal! Earning a decent living in this world is a simple matter, why don't you simply go and get money in a legal manner!"
King Uther 05-07-05, 05:00 PM	"Decency is a myth used to control the populace. Formalities aside, clearly I am not here to take your money. I will make your death as swift as possible." Virgo pulls one last powerstone, and steps forward menacingly. Virgo will activated powerstone of dissolving touch and take a 5 foot step toward Argreos.
Sindorin 05-07-05, 08:04 PM	At Virgo's words, the man seems to no longer wish to smart back to Virgo. Instead, his face goes white and he appears to be distressed. Virgo activates the stone in hand (Manifester Level Check (1d20+1=18) (http://invisiblecastle.com/find.py?id=83272) vs DC 4, passes) and his armor spikes are imbued with a powerful solvent. The man taps a tattoo on his arm. http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y67/Sindorin/VirgoShortQuest4.jpg
King Uther 05-07-05, 08:13 PM	Knowing his opponent was scared, Virgo dashed toward him with an uncanny swiftness, attempting to bring the fight to his prey. Virgo charges, trying to damage via grapple. His grapple modifier is +22(0BAB +6Str +8size+4Improved Grapple +4Grip of Iron). Damage should be 2d8 +6d6(4d6Dissolving Touch 2d6 Psionic Fist) +6 The last words Argreos will ever hear: "Fear is an emotion only meant for the living."
Sindorin 05-07-05, 08:41 PM	The man's eyes grow very big as the proportionate Virgo comes charging at him. Virgo grabs at him just before he would get an opportunity to attack (AoO negated due to improved grapple feat) (Melee Touch (1d20+6=19) (http://invisiblecastle.com/find.py?id=83280) vs. TAC 13, succeeds), grabbing the man with both of his massive arms, (Virgo Grapple (1d20+22=29) (http://invisiblecastle.com/find.py?id=83282) vs. Argreos Grapple (1d20+5=24) (http://invisiblecastle.com/find.py?id=83283), Virgo succeeds, Damage (1d6+6=8) (http://invisiblecastle.com/find.py?id=83284), Psionic Fist Damage (2d6=12) (http://invisiblecastle.com/find.py?id=83286), Dissolving Weapon Damage (4d6=10) (http://invisiblecastle.com/find.py?id=83287), Armor Spike Damage (1d8+6=13) (http://invisiblecastle.com/find.py?id=83288); 8+12+10+13= 43 damage), and Virgo presses the human close to his body, and the human's body goes limp, slightly dissolves, and blood and gore sprays all over the road into the city.
King Uther 05-07-05, 08:49 PM	Having killed his opponent, Virgo dragged it towards the Imdae(If there's already a name for a close river I'll change this) river, approximately 1 mile away from this road. Halfway through in the middle of the woods, Virgo lootedt the body, then left it to rot, letting nature quench it's undying thirst. Night was approaching. The evidence would be gone soon, except for the blood trail and some documents left on the road for identification. Virgo entered the stream, washing the crimson streaks from his armor. He smiles to himself, the old man's words. "A beggar indeed," he muttered to himself, holding some of Argreos' coins in his hand. With that done, he calmly and confidently left back towards Gladius.
Sindorin 05-07-05, 09:03 PM	After a quick search through Argreos' pack, Virgo finds a potion of Cure Moderate Wounds, a potion of Protection from Evil that is near the top and probably would have been drunk next, as well as the documents of trade and commerce crucial to Argreos' work. These will come in handy for Virgo's future endeavors. There is a medium-sized leather pouch in the backpack containing 572 gold pieces. Virgo also takes the man's Masterworked Glaive (worth 308 gp), his Chain Shirt (worth 100 gp), and his heavy steel shield (worth 170 gp). He contemplates the next steps in his "business affairs." Virgo gains 1,350 experience points since he is ECL3 vs EL4. The items awarded x 3/4 plus the monetary award equal 1,350 gold pieces. Used: Power Stone of Expansion (ML3), Power Stone of Vigor (ML3), Power Stone of Dissolving Weapon, Tattoo of Force Screen. This thread is now open to anyone who wishes to post comments.
King Uther 05-07-05, 09:05 PM	For being ECL 3 shouldn't I get 1350 xp for beating an ECL 4?
Sindorin 05-07-05, 09:10 PM	Ah crap, you're right I forgot the extra 25%. you also will get some more gold as well... 300 more gold. Sorry about that.
Snommelp 05-07-05, 10:27 PM	Now that this is open: a glaive has reach. Virgo therefore moved through a threatened square during his charge and provokes an AoO. This almost certainly won't effect the outcome, but I wanna see more blood!
Sindorin 05-07-05, 11:14 PM	Well, Virgo had expansion, so I figured that since the glaive was not readied, there was not a square that was moved through, therefore the reaches cancelled each other out.
Snommelp 05-07-05, 11:38 PM	Well, Virgo had expansion, so I figured that since the glaive was not readied, there was not a square that was moved through, therefore the reaches cancelled each other out. Right. Expansion. My bad. I'm blaming it on finals.
Sindorin 05-08-05, 03:13 AM	Right. Expansion. My bad. I'm blaming it on finals. A perfectly legitimate excuse. I work well under pressure, and I still have a couple days until I really need to start going all out on finals. I had considered having Argreos ready an action against Virgo's charge, but that would have been mean because Argreos had improved trip... charging a readied improved trip (with the -2 ac) can be bad. I opted instead for more buffing, but instead it ended up being useless. I honestly did not foresee an ECL 3 with only two class levels and a +0 base attack bonus actually doing almost massive damage. Way to go Virgo. In case anyone noticed, Virgo made off rather well in this quest. He faced an opponent that he practically picked, as well as the fact that he whupped the crap out of a character that had more levels than he did, so he made off with a ton of exp/gp. The cost: a credit, I think... not too sure. Either way, I recommend this form of short quest to anyone.
Pitlords 05-08-05, 05:18 AM	Nice Short Quest, Sindorin. I think this type of quest works very well and should become the standard Short Quest. If the Quest is really boring (like flying archer vs ground-bound animal, or much lower EL than ECL) then arena-style is better. I think this is a very good and always available alternative to arena combat. If anyone else wants to test this type of Short Quest, you're most welcome. PS: And I like Miniquest. I think I'm gonna change the terms to "Quest" and "Miniquest", respectively.
King Uther 05-08-05, 07:06 PM	I thought about making him a Barbarian/Psychic Warrior to start out with, giving him a large scythe, buffed with Expansion, Animal Affinity(Str), and with Rage that would boost his strength to 30, making his attack bonus at lvl 3 a +11(+12 masterwork) for 4d4+15 damage, average 25(100 critical). That's without the extra 4d6 for dissolving weapon. But I like the whole grappler idea better. (Barbarian is the next level)
Sunwolf 05-09-05, 10:48 AM	Just curious.... Was the secretary a fighter 4 or some other mix of classes?
Sindorin 05-09-05, 10:58 AM	Argreos was a human fighter with several feats to help his glaive fighting. I had considered making a "glaivemaster" build in the past, and I realized that the quest gave me a chance to "test" the build. One thing that slowed Argreos down was the fact that he did have to look like he was the secretary of commerce - he had some of his precious 25 ability points allotted in Charisma, Wisdom, and Intelligence, and his skills in Diplomacy, Bluff, and Sense Motive. This was why I attempted to have him bluff his way out of it because he thought Virgo was simply a robber. The fact that enemies are supposedly supposed to have 25 point builds meant that Argreos' hit points were rather low for a fighter. Argreos' tactics kind of stunk, too. He saw that Virgo had Expanded, but he did not expect Virgo to skate up as fast as he did while wearing medium armor. If Argreos would have moved around more, or simply readied his action, his improved trip may have hindered Virgo a bit. I do have a habit of buffing too much though. Things might have been different if I had been jerkish and had the fight start at 200 feet or something, wherever the spot checks landed. Sadly, all it took was a little squeeze to pop him.