Chapter 2b: An Enchanting Offer

[Trogdor]

At the word "BEGIN," Tenebrous rises up from the ground as well, his cloak billowing behind him. He is knocked back a bit from Esmeralda's first blast, but then he responds with one of his own - the Dark Light of Valtorr! Raising his hands into a mystic shape, he quickly incants:

Soul of darkness -- guide this dart
of black lightning to her heart!

Immediately, a bolt of shadow billows forth from his hand, aimed straight at Esmeralda.

Action

Rise up into the air as well, then use Mystic Blast (dark energy) to fire a bolt of shadow at Esmeralda.

[Eanwulf]

Lady Esmeralda tries to fly away from Tenebrous' spell, but the action only seems to prolong the inevitable for a mere second or two. The Count's shadowy bolt of serpentine murkiness strikes the woman directly between the bosoms and causes her to faulter mid-flight. Still struggling against the spell's effects, she...

Action

[Tenebrous' Blast attack, DC 17, d20+10=Natural 20, Automatic Hit & Critical Threat, Result=30, Critical Hit Cofirmed!]

A critical hit can have one of the following three effects, chosen by the player when the critical hit is determined:

• Increased Effect: The critical hit increases the difficulty to resist the attack's effect by +5. Against a minion, this bypasses the resistance check entirely; the minion automatically receives the highest degree of the attack's effect.

• Added Effect: The critical hit adds another effect onto the attack, but its effective rank is 0, so the resistance DC is just the base value (10, or 15 for Damage). The added effect can be anything the player can reasonably describe and justify as adjunct to the original effect: an Affliction (useful for all sorts of “gut checks,” blows to the head or vitals, etc.), Dazzle (blood in the eyes, boxing the ears, etc.), or Weaken, to name a few. The GM decides if the effect suits the circumstances of the attack. The target makes resistance checks against the attack's initial and added effects separately.

• Alternate Effect: The critical hit results in an alternate effect for the attack, like a use of extra effort for a power stunt (see Extra Effort in The Basics chapter), except the character suffers no fatigue as a result. This option can represent a “lucky” attack that does something completely different, like blinding a target, or imposing a condition such as those found under the Affliction effect.

Need to know which one you wanted to apply there Bubba.

[Trogdor]

Knowing how important it is to win this duel, Count Tenebrous pours every bit of energy he can into his first attack, hoping to score a solid hit early.

OOC

Increased Effect, please.

[Eanwulf]

Action

Nice to see they altered Criticals ain't it? Pretty cool if you ask me.

+5 Damage effect it is then!

[Esmeralda's Toughness check, DC 30*, d20+12=26, 1 Degree Failure]

-1 to further resistance checks

Still struggling against Count Tenebrous' spell, Lady Esmeralda shrieks loudly and summons forth her will. Having underestimated the Count's power, she then gives the bewildered Jack an angry look and forcefully breaks free from the spine-numbing cold of the darkness that surrounds her. Having finally shrugged off the last of Tenebrous' spell's effects, the angered Lady quickly gives Jack one additional glance. This time conveying the expression of "Are you just going to stand there and let him hurt me?" Surprisingly enough to Jack and the others around him, the hero suddenly finds himself turning to face his colleague (Count Tenebrous) and starting to shuffle towards him.

Action

[Remnant's Will resist, DC 24, d20+8=23, 1 Degree Failure!]

Progessive Power Effect: Entranced becomes Compelled.

Compelled: A compelled character is directed by an outside force, but struggling against it; the character is limited to free actions and a single standard action per turn, with both types of action being chosen by another, controlling character. As usual, this standard action can be traded for a move action. Controlled supersedes compelled.

Remnant is compelled to move towards Count Tenebrous to try and protect his Mistress.

Pleased with Jack's advance, Lady Esmeralda smiles smugly at Count Tenebrous and then begins to gesture at him in a most peculiar rhythm of motion. To those skilled in the arcane arts, they quickly notice that the sorceress is manipulating her magic in a reverse manner and fashion, as if trying to undo some greater thread of energy. By the time Tenebrous realizes what the woman is actually up to, it is too late; he is plummeting to the very ground beneath his feet!

Action

Lady Esmeralda is going to attempt to use Nullify 8 [Broad (Magic effects); Simultaneous (all effects stripped at once)] on Count Tenebrous. The main things I need to resolve are Tenebrous' Flight and Toughness enhancements.

[Esmeralda's Dispel Magic attack, DC 18, d20+8=24, Hit!]

[Nullify results, d20+8=26]

[vs Flight; d20+12=17, Failure!]
[vs Improved Stamina; d20+12=18, Failure!]
[vs Improved Toughness; d20+12=21, Failure!]
[vs Protection from Harm; d20+12=19, Failure!]

You fall approximately 30 ft. Rank 0 Distance for a Dmg 4 Effect.

[Count Tenebrous' Toughness resist, DC 19, d20+2*=22, 1 Degree Success!]

No damage thank heavens, just your pride wounded!

The good Count lands harshly upon the ground, his spells of flight and protection ripped away from momentary usage. Fortunate enough to land upon the flat of his palms and shins, he is merely temporarily disoriented. Now rising to his feet, the Master of Magic hears the mirth-filled laughter of Lady Esmeralda as she chides him on for another round of combat.

"Muy bueno señor Nick! Muy bueno!"

Initiative

Remnant 20, Lady Esmeralda 13, Pilgrim 9, Count Tenebrous 7

Players in bold have already acted this turn or are incapable of doing so.

[Trogdor]

With nothing hurt but his pride, Count Tenebrous rises to his feet. "Well played, Esmeralda," he calls out. "You certainly caught me off-guard with that."

As he speaks, the sorcerer spies Jack coming closer. Not wanting to be caught between two attackers, he waves his hand in a mystic gesture and looks at Pilgrim.

By the power of Omnipotent Oshtur,
Restrain him lest he do harm.

Then focusing his attention back on Esmeralda, he considers what to do while he's technically outnumbered. He can't fly away, or he runs the risk of falling again. But if he stays here, he might get double-teamed. In the end, he settles for a compromise - taking on the form of a shadow for a moment to allow Pilgrim to even the odds again.

By the shades of the Seraphim --
Grant me shadow's form!

Action

The first incantation was not a spell at all, it' was a request for Pilgrim to help. But if it's fair to enchant people to help her, who says Nik can't 'enchant' someone to help on his side?

stand up and switch spells to Form of Shadow.
INSUBSTANTIAL 4 [Incorporeal]
CONCEALMENT 10 [All senses but tactile; Linked; Limited (only in shadows)]

[Muskrat]

To Pilgrim, Esmeralda's use of Jack in the duel seems clearly out of line--and Nickolai seems to be asking for his help. Pilgrim reaches out with his divinely gifted power to wrap a force field around Jack, preventing him from interfering with Nickolai. For the moment, Pilgrim makes no other move to intervene in the duel--he just wants to ensure that it's fair.

Display

The Lord Protects His People: Create: Erect an invisible force field around Jack, keeping him out of the duel.

[Eanwulf]

Action

Looks like Pilgrim is going to have to Delay his Initiative some to correspond with Count Tenebrous' wishes. No biggie overall, just a quick cosmetic modification.

The Create Power

Trapping With Objects
You can trap a target inside a large enough hollow object (a cage or bubble, for example). This requires both an attack check against the target's Dodge and a Dodge resistance check against the effect's rank. A trapped character can break out of the object normally.

[Pilgrim's Ranged attack, DC 20, d20+10=24, Hit!]

[Remnant's Dodge resistance check, DC 20, d20+10=15, Failure!]

Remnant is trapped inside of Pilgrim's Creation! At least for the time being.

Hero Points can be used to attempt to Counter the Effects of other people's Powers BTW. This includes Ongoing Effects as well. They're spent as Reactions and more than 1 can be spent at a time.

MORE INFO HERE

Count Tenebrous rises to his feet and collects his wounded pride. Shouting a reply to Lady Esmeralda he sidesteps into the shadows of a nearby fountain and begins to cast another one of his spells. This time however, the Count's incantations appear to contain some form of a hidden meaning within their context. One that actually seems to be a cleverly hidden message by the Count to try and incite a little bit of assistance from his comrade, Pilgrim. His secret message given, Count Tenebrous quickly finishes up his spell and begins to disappear from view, his shadowy form lost within the fountain's darkened recesses.

Tenebrous' ploy to enlist Pilgrim's aid is apparently a success. The young black man steps forward and allows the Lord's Will to be done. Scant moments later, Remnant's body is surrounded by an all-but-invisible bubble of divine inspiration; his advance towards the Count halted abruptly. Lady Esmeralda gives her hindered admirer a most scrutinizing stare. The woman's shrewd gaze then falls upon the area around Jack's body and over once more to Pilgrim himself. Smirking snidely, Esmeralda finally turns to face Count Tenebrous, just as he is vanishing from sight. The woman's formerly enthusiastic mood immediately sours into one of sheer and utter frustration.

Meanwhile, Jack's face transforms from what was once a mindless, wide-eyed stare of admiration into the look of grim resolve and determination. The young man presses firmly against the walls of his surrounding prison. Unable to rid himself of the thing, he then begins to push against the sides of it with all his might; going so far as to even punch the wall of force upon several occasions. Still however, the charmed hero seems to be quite contained; at least for the time being.

Action

[Remnant's Will resist, DC 24, d20+8=20, 1 Degree Failure.]

Progressive Power Effect Compelled becomes Controlled!

Controlled: A controlled character has no free will; the character's actions each turn are dictated by another, controlling, character.

Lady Esmeralda wants you to break free from your cage. She doesn't currently know what powers you posses, so instinctively/initially compels you to try and use your normal brute strength to try and do so. If you can't and/or she gets miffed about it, then she will try and utilize your Advantages and other Abilities to continue to do so. Right now however, she is merely 'testing' you as a hero.

Remnant attacks the Object in order to gain the +5 Critical effect enhancement.

[Remnant's Melee attack, DC 10, d20+14=17, Success!]

End Result = Damage 11 effect.

[Object's Toughness resistance check, DC 26, d20+10=22, 1 Degree failure.]

The Object remains intact, for now...

Upon realizing that she can no longer spot her opponent, Lady Esmeralda frowns heavily and begins to curse aloud in Spanish. For a time, the sorceress' attractive visage twists and contorts itself with anger; giving her quite the unpleasant appearance I might add, if such a thing is possible. The angered woman continues to cuss and then shrieks violently as she releases a savage blast of purple energy from her hands. The powerful blast is fired into the shadows where Count Tenebrous was last seen, but sadly connects with nothing but air and emptiness. "NO!" the sorceress cries out loud, her temper now flaring greatly. Several of the peacocks near the fountain contract their colorful fan-tails and dash for safety.

Action

In all honesty, I've always been one to be fair. As such, Perception check DC 0 to see if Lady Esmeralda can keep track of all these people in her courtyard. Especially Count Tenebrous as he stands and then sidesteps into the shadows, vanishing from view. -6 penalty for distance to said check.

[Esmeralda's Perception check, DC 0, d20+0*=3, Success!]

[Esmeralda's Blast attack, DC 18, d20+3*=16, Failure.]

Initiative

Remnant 20, Lady Esmeralda 13, Count Tenebrous 7.1, Pilgrim 7.2

Players in bold have already acted this turn or are incapable of doing so.

[Muskrat]

OOC

Can I use my own emotion-affecting Affliction power to counter Esmeralda's hold over Jack? In other words, I want to use The Lord's Will power to do something like cancel out Esmeralda's spell or send a wave of peace washing over Jack, so he's happy to sit there and do nothing. I'm guessing this would be some sort of opposed roll vs. Esmeralda.

[veritas]

OOC

If Pilgrim's idea doesn't work, then I'll go ahead and use a hero point to break out of the control

[Trogdor]

Slipping to the side in the shadows, Count Tenebrous reappears, holding his two hands together in a mystic sign, an incantation already on his lips.

By the full powers at my command,
Let the Eternal Winds of Watomb blast that
which threatens me!

As he speaks, a blast of wind fires from his hands at Lady Esmeralda.

Action

Move and fire Blast at Esmeralda. Maybe the fact that it's wind will do knockback.