Duel Arcana: Round 2 Match 1

[Lord Twig]

Welcome to day two of the Duel Arcana! Once again I am Jules Pari here to give you the blow-by-blow account of our matches and our Arcane Expert, Archmage Winhurst, will let us know what spells are actually being cast. If you care for that sort of thing.

Where did I go wrong with you?

Hey, not everyone is suited to long hours of study in musky old libraries.

But a Bard?

What can I say? I love people! And speaking of people, here are our first two duelist of the day! It will be phantasm vs. figment in this match as we have both Illusionists battling to keep their winning records.

At one end of the ring we have the deadly Loopy, and on the other is Gimbal. And it was his shadow magic that won him the duel, not figments.

Whatever, figment sounds better. Loopy! Gimbal! Say hello to the crowd!

Please send me a private message with your prepared spells, spells cast prior to the duel, what you will have in hand, what spell(s) you will cast on the first round, and what action you will take on the 2nd round (either prepare to counterspell or total defense).

[Chris Chandler]

Gimbal enters, his hands raised toward the crowd, saunters toward his starting position - He sees no one on the other side of the arena and frowns.

"Now, how am I supposed to enter with a flourish if Loopy isn't here yet?"

Gimbal bows to the judges politely, then prepares for whatever this master has to bring.

[Black Plauge]

Shaking his head as if to clear the cobwebs, Loopy is just a couple of seconds late arriving at the arena.

"Wooo! That goblin ale has quite the day after kick. Remind me never to gamble with food dares again. Money is just so much easier on the head the day after."

Taking his position, Loopy smiles at Gimbal, hiding the fact that of all the competitors, it was this fellow illusionist that he was most worried about.

[Lord Twig]

Loopy:
HP: 46
Contingent Energy Resistance, rest of duel
See Invisibility, rest of duel
Lesser Globe of Invulnerability, expires round 9
Nothing in hand

Gimbal:
HP: 28
Message (with Whisper), rest of duel
See Invisibility, rest of duel
Protection from Energy, rest of duel
Nondetection, rest of duel
Rod in hand

Whisper:
HP: 14
Message (with Gimbal), rest of duel
See Invisible, rest of duel
Protection from Energy, rest of duel
Nondetection, rest of duel
Expeditious Retreat, rest of duel

Initiative: Loopy 18+1=19, Gimbal 6+0=6. Loopy goes first.

Round 1:
Loopy casts Lesser Globe of Invulnerability
Gimbal casts Expeditious Retreat on Whisper
Round 2:
Loopy readies an action to counterspell Gimbal
Gimbal readies an action to counterspell Loopy

http://www.cyberkeep.org/maps/m5r3t1.jpg

Loopy is off to a fast start and has thrown up a Lesser Globe of Invulnerability!

Meanwhile Gimbal has cast Expeditious Retreat on his familiar, perhaps an indication of his strategy?

We’ll see, Odepheron has given the signal and we are ready for the spells to start flying!

Black Plauge, you have 24 hours to post Loopy’s next action.

[Black Plauge]

Hoping to make his opponent burn his counterspelling chance, or at least take out his opponent's ability to target him with touch spells from a distance, Loopy casts a less powerful version of the spell he used in the last round, and targets Whisper.

[OOC: Cast normal phantasmal killer targeted at Whisper.]

[Lord Twig]

Loopy:
HP: 46
Contingent Energy Resistance, rest of duel
See Invisibility, rest of duel
Lesser Globe of Invulnerability, expires round 9
Nothing in hand

Gimbal:
HP: 28
Message (with Whisper), rest of duel
See Invisibility, rest of duel
Protection from Energy, rest of duel
Nondetection, rest of duel
Rod in hand

Whisper:
HP: 14
Message (with Gimbal), rest of duel
See Invisible, rest of duel
Protection from Energy, rest of duel
Nondetection, rest of duel
Expeditious Retreat, rest of duel

Round 3:
Loopy casts Phantasmal Killer, Gimbal attempts to counterspell. Spellcraft check is automatic against a DC 19 with a +23 bonus (+2 to identify illusions). Gimbal casts Phantasmal Killer as a counterspell. The spell is automatically countered.

http://www.cyberkeep.org/maps/m5r3t1.jpg

Loopy is casting something nasty.

It’s another phantasmal killer, Gimbal countered it with one of his own.

Good thing! Loopy's phantasms seem to be deadlier than most!

Chris, you have 24 hours to post GImbal’s next action.

[Chris Chandler]

No, it's okay, whisper, he didn't mean anything by it. I know, he killed that foreign chap. Oh, dear, dear...

"Now, Loopy, you've gone and frightened the poor thing - Really now..."

Shadows before dawn bring tunnellers to his feet -

Move toward H8, then cast Shadow Conjuration to mimic a Summon Monster III, summoning 1d4+1 spooky shadowy celestial badgers. Oh yes, we need some stinking badgers. Spread the summoned critters from D5 to D9 (for a potential row fulla badgers), to immediately surround and attack Loopy.

[Lord Twig]

Loopy:
HP: 44
Contingent Energy Resistance, rest of duel
See Invisibility, rest of duel
Lesser Globe of Invulnerability, expires round 9
Nothing in hand

Gimbal:
HP: 28
Message (with Whisper), rest of duel
See Invisibility, rest of duel
Protection from Energy, rest of duel
Nondetection, rest of duel
Shadow Conjuration, expires round 13
Rod in hand

Whisper:
HP: 14
Message (with Gimbal), rest of duel
See Invisible, rest of duel
Protection from Energy, rest of duel
Nondetection, rest of duel
Expeditious Retreat, rest of duel

Shadow Celestial Badgers (4):
HP: 1
AC: 15
Acid/Cold/Electricity Resistance 5
2 claws +4 (1d2–1) and bite –1 (1d3–1)

Round 4:
Gimbal moves and casts Shadow Conjuration to mimic Summon Monster III. 3+1=4 Celestial Badgers appear and move to attack Loopy.
Loopy attempts a Will save to disbelieve. 6+14=20 vs. DC 23, fails.
Badgers attack Loopy. 14+4=18, 7+4=11, 3+4=7, 15+4=19 vs. AC 12, two hit, two miss. Deals 1 point of damage each.

http://www.cyberkeep.org/maps/m5r4t1.jpg

Gimbal is calling up something. Badgers have appeared and are swarming Loopy!

Shadow badgers actually, hard to tell if Loopy was fooled by them. It would be some feat to convince a Gnome illusionist, but Gimbal might have pulled it off.

They are getting some digs in, but I’m not sure if it will be enough.

Black Plauge, you have 24 hours to post Loopy’s next action.

[Black Plauge]

Stupid badgers! Stupid lucky opponent Were it not for the fact that they were under his opponents magical control, Loopy'd be tempted to talk to them and convince them not to attack him, just because he could. However, now was not the time to show off like that.

Should have cast that stoneskin after all. Economy be damned.

Steping to the side with fewer badgers, Loopy takes care not to let them get in a free shot as he casts a different spell than what he'd been hoping to cast.

I'm not letting these badgers ruin my best spell.

"I think your luck is about to change!"

[OOC: Step to A8. Cast unluck on the defensive. Target is Gimbal. Use Fickle Finger of Fate to make him reroll a sucessful save.]

[Lord Twig]

Loopy:
HP: 44
Contingent Energy Resistance, rest of duel
See Invisibility, rest of duel
Lesser Globe of Invulnerability, expires round 10
Nothing in hand

Gimbal:
HP: 28
Message (with Whisper), rest of duel
See Invisibility, rest of duel
Protection from Energy, rest of duel
Nondetection, rest of duel
Shadow Conjuration, expires round 13
Rod in hand

Whisper:
HP: 14
Message (with Gimbal), rest of duel
See Invisible, rest of duel
Protection from Energy, rest of duel
Nondetection, rest of duel
Expeditious Retreat, rest of duel

Shadow Celestial Badgers (4):
HP: 1
AC: 15
Acid/Cold/Electricity Resistance 5
2 claws +4 (1d2–1) and bite –1 (1d3–1)

Round 4:
Loopy steps and casts Unluck on the defensive. Concentration check 14+14=28 vs. DC 18, success.
Gimbal attempts a Will save. 19+8=27 vs. DC 20, success. Loopy uses Fickle Finger of Fate to force a re-roll. 13+8=21 vs. DC 20, success.

http://www.cyberkeep.org/maps/m5r4t2.jpg

Loopy is trying to move away from the badgers and is casting at Gimbal.

Looks like an unluck spell, but Gimbal seems to have shaken off the effect.

Chris, you have 24 hours to post Gimbal’s next action.

[Chris Chandler]

"My dear sir, don't you know that it is luck that drives the bargain? You can't dictate the hand of fate - it does what it wants. You only happen to be in the right place for when it acts, and so are fooled into thinking that you're important."

Paths of the dead, light his way to what he was -

Moving forward to C10 whilst talking smack, then cast Enervation. Badgers to the offensive!!!

[Lord Twig]

Loopy:
HP: 39
Contingent Energy Resistance, rest of duel
See Invisibility, rest of duel
Lesser Globe of Invulnerability, expires round 10
Nothing in hand

Gimbal:
HP: 28
Message (with Whisper), rest of duel
See Invisibility, rest of duel
Protection from Energy, rest of duel
Nondetection, rest of duel
Shadow Conjuration, expires round 13
Rod in hand

Whisper:
HP: 14
Message (with Gimbal), rest of duel
See Invisible, rest of duel
Protection from Energy, rest of duel
Nondetection, rest of duel
Expeditious Retreat, rest of duel

Shadow Celestial Badgers (4):
HP: 1
AC: 15
Acid/Cold/Electricity Resistance 5
2 claws +4 (1d2–1) and bite –1 (1d3–1)

Round 5:
Gimbal moves and casts Enervation. Range touch attack to hit is 12+4-4 (firing into melee) =12 vs. AC 12+4 (cover) =16, misses.
Badger1 attacks. 2+4=6, 4+4=8 and 8-1=7 vs. AC 12, all miss.
Badger2 attacks. 14+4=18, 9+4=13 and 1, claws hit, bite misses, Deals 1 and 1 damage.
Badger3 attacks. 11+4=15, 5+4=9 and 4-1=3, one claw hits, rest miss. Deals 1 damage.
Badger4 attacks. 14+4=18, 17+4=21 and 10-1=9, claws hit, bite misses. Deals 1 and 1 damage.

http://www.cyberkeep.org/maps/m5r5t1.jpg

Oh! Gimbal fired a ray at Loopy, but his badgers seem to have thrown off his aim.

An enervation would have seriously affected Loopy’s ability to compete too.

Black Plauge, you have 24 hours to post Loopy’s next action.

[Black Plauge]

"Fate may not take well to dictating, but it can be influenced if you know what you are doing. It doesn't always respond the way you want, but Fate is fickle that way. But enough discussion, let me prove it to you."

[OOC: Cast heightened phantasmal killer on the defensive. Use Spin to up the DC to 28.]

[Lord Twig]

Loopy:
HP: 39
Contingent Energy Resistance, rest of duel
See Invisibility, rest of duel
Lesser Globe of Invulnerability, expires round 10
Nothing in hand

Gimbal:
HP: 28
Message (with Whisper), rest of duel
See Invisibility, rest of duel
Protection from Energy, rest of duel
Nondetection, rest of duel
Shadow Conjuration, expires round 13
Rod in hand

Whisper:
HP: 14
Message (with Gimbal), rest of duel
See Invisible, rest of duel
Protection from Energy, rest of duel
Nondetection, rest of duel
Expeditious Retreat, rest of duel

Shadow Celestial Badgers (4):
HP: 1
AC: 15
Acid/Cold/Electricity Resistance 5
2 claws +4 (1d2–1) and bite –1 (1d3–1)

Round 5:
Loopy casts Heightened Phantasmal Killer on the defensive. Concentration check, 1+14=15 vs. DC 20, fails. Spell is wasted.

http://www.cyberkeep.org/maps/m5r5t1.jpg

By Boccob! Now Loopy is having trouble with the badgers, he tried to cast a spell and lost it while avoiding them.

Neither duelist will be very happy right now. Each has had one of their best spells fail completely.

Chris, you have 24 hours to post Gimbal’s next action.

[Chris Chandler]

"I say! Now that was uncalled for! I mean really, now, Loopy, after letting you win in 3 Dragon Ante."

I take a step forward

"Very well - Whisper, give the dear a kiss."

By this touch, he doth become slow

Move to B10, the cast touch of idocy, with whisper (moving to A9) being the toucher.

[Lord Twig]

Note: As a tiny animal Whisper needs to enter Loopy's square to attack. Loopy does not threaten the squares around him (no weapon) so this does not draw an attack of opportunity.

Loopy:
HP: 30
Contingent Energy Resistance, rest of duel
See Invisibility, rest of duel
Lesser Globe of Invulnerability, expires round 10
Nothing in hand

Gimbal:
HP: 28
Message (with Whisper), rest of duel
See Invisibility, rest of duel
Protection from Energy, rest of duel
Nondetection, rest of duel
Shadow Conjuration, expires round 13
Rod in hand

Whisper:
HP: 14
Message (with Gimbal), rest of duel
Expeditious Retreat, rest of duel
Holding charge for Touch of Idiocy

Shadow Celestial Badgers (4):
HP: 1
AC: 15
Acid/Cold/Electricity Resistance 5
2 claws +4 (1d2–1) and bite –1 (1d3–1)

Round 6:
Gimbal casts Touch of Idiocy.
Whisper moves and attacks. 10+9=19 vs. touch AC 12, hits. Touch of Idiocy is suppressed by the Lesser Globe of Invulnerability. Whisper is still holding the charge.
Badger1 attacks. 16+4=20, 12+4=16 and 19-1=18 vs. AC 12, all hit. Deals 1, 1 and 2 damage
Badger2 attacks. 14+4=18, 1 and 20, one claw hits, bite threatens. Roll to confirm critical, 1. Deals 1 and 1 damage.
Badger3 attacks. 13+4=17, 3+4=7 and 4-1=3, one claw hits, rest miss. Deals 1 damage.
Badger4 attacks. 8+4=12, 20 and 11-1=10, one claw hits, one threatens, bite misses. Roll to confirm, 13+4=17. Deals 1+1-2=1 and 1 damage.

http://www.cyberkeep.org/maps/m5r6t1.jpg

Gimbal has sent Whisper after Loopy now, but I don’t see much affect.

It was a touch of idiocy spell, but it was suppressed the moment Whisper entered the globe. Mistakes like that can really cost you in a duel.

Black Plauge, you have 24 hours to post Loopy’s next action.

[Black Plauge]

Damn! Damn! Damn! Damn!

"NO ONE 'LETS' ME WIN AT CARDS!"

[OOC: Cast shadow evocation on defensive to imitate shout. Use spin to up DC to 28 (Note: Spin Fate says the DC increase is applied when the spell is cast. Since heightened phantasmal killer was lost without being cast, Loopy still has his spin avaliable to him.) Cone is positioned to catch Badgers B8, B9, & Gimbal.]

[Lord Twig]

Loopy:
HP: 30
Contingent Energy Resistance, rest of duel
See Invisibility, rest of duel
Lesser Globe of Invulnerability, expires round 10
Nothing in hand

Gimbal:
HP: 11
Message (with Whisper), rest of duel
See Invisibility, rest of duel
Protection from Energy, rest of duel
Nondetection, rest of duel
Shadow Conjuration, expires round 13
Deafened, expires round 15
Rod in hand

Whisper:
HP: 14
Message (with Gimbal), rest of duel
Expeditious Retreat, rest of duel
Holding charge for Touch of Idiocy

Shadow Celestial Badgers (2):
HP: 1
AC: 15
Acid/Cold/Electricity Resistance 5
2 claws +4 (1d2–1) and bite –1 (1d3–1)

Round 6:
Loopy casts Shadow Evocation on the defensive. Concentration check to cast the spell, 6+14=20 vs. DC 20, success. Loopy uses two points of Spin to increase the DC to 28.
Gimbal and two badgers attempt a Will save to disbelieve. 9+8=17 vs. DC 28, fails. 1, fails and 6+1=7 fails.
Fort saves for half damage and to avoid deafness. 11+3=14 vs. DC 28, fails. 8+4=12 and 3+4=7, both fail.
Shout deals 17 damage. Badgers in B8 and B9 are destroyed, Gimbal takes 17 damage and is deafened for 9 rounds.

http://www.cyberkeep.org/maps/m5r6t2.jpg

Loopy is angry now! He is shouting at Gimbal to great effect.

A shadow evocation, but very well done. It doesn’t look like Gimbal will be hearing much of anything for a while.

Chris, you have 24 hours to post Gimbal’s next action.

[Chris Chandler]

Loopy - I... ow... I let you play the druid - What!? Oh, ferthaluvapelor... the bells...

Whisper, kiss the little man and let him feel it -

Gimbal waves the rod in his hand to allow him to cast the spell without speaking, while he moves within that nice globe.

[Cast Shadow Evocation, mimicking shocking grasp, with Whisper being the toucher, then move to B6.]

[Lord Twig]

Note: Action carried out as per PM.

Loopy:
HP: 20
Contingent Energy Resistance (Electricity), rest of duel
See Invisibility, rest of duel
Lesser Globe of Invulnerability, expires round 10
Nothing in hand

Gimbal:
HP: 11
Message (with Whisper), rest of duel (suppressed)
See Invisibility, rest of duel (suppressed)
Protection from Energy, rest of duel (suppressed)
Nondetection, rest of duel (suppressed)
Shadow Conjuration, expires round 13
Deafened, expires round 15
Rod in hand

Whisper:
HP: 14
Message (with Gimbal), rest of duel (suppressed)
Expeditious Retreat, rest of duel (suppressed)

Shadow Celestial Badgers (2):
HP: 1
AC: 15
Acid/Cold/Electricity Resistance 5
2 claws +4 (1d2–1) and bite –1 (1d3–1)

Round 7:
Gimbal casts Shadow Evocation to mimic Shocking Grasp. 20% spell failure chance for being deafened, 88 Gimbal casts the spell.
Gimbal steps and attempts to touch Loopy. 15+3=18 vs. touch AC 12, hits.
Loopy attempts a Will save to disbelieve. 3+14=17 vs. DC 24, fails.
Shocking Grasp deals 17 electricity damage. This triggers Loopy’s Contingent Energy Resistance. Loopy takes 7 damage.
Whisper “steps” to Gimbal’s square.
Badger1 attacks. 2+4=6, 15+4=19 and 7-1=6 vs. AC 12, one claw hits. Deals 1 damage
Badger2 attacks. 20, 14+4=18 and 8-1=7, one claw threatens, one hits, bite misses. Roll to confirm critical, 10+4=14 success. Deals 1+1-2=1 and 1 damage.

http://www.cyberkeep.org/maps/m5r7t1.jpg

Gimbal has cast a shadow evocation of his own, but he mimicked a rather weak spell. It seems to have done little damage thanks to Loopy’s defenses.

I am sure Gimbal has a strategy in mind, we’ll see if he lasts long enough to carry it out.

Black Plauge, you have 24 hours to post Loopy’s next action.

[Black Plauge]

While it was his intention to wait until his globe of invulnerability expired before getting out a weapon, Loopy rather akwardly draws his greatsword. He may not be able to handle it very well until the globe expired, but at least it would give his opponent some pause before trying to cast a spell near him again.

Of course, the spell he casts at the same time should give Gimbal even more pause.

[OOC: Cast shadow conjuration on the defensive to mimic summon monster III for a fiendish crocodile. Crocodile appears in C10 and attacks Gimbal, using its Improved Grab ability to start a grapple if the attack hits. Also draw greatsword.]

[Lord Twig]

Loopy:
HP: 20
Contingent Energy Resistance (Electricity), rest of duel
See Invisibility, rest of duel
Lesser Globe of Invulnerability, expires round 10
Nothing in hand

Gimbal:
HP: -1
Message (with Whisper), rest of duel (suppressed)
See Invisibility, rest of duel (suppressed)
Protection from Energy, rest of duel (suppressed)
Nondetection, rest of duel (suppressed)
Shadow Conjuration, expires round 13
Deafened, expires round 15
Rod in hand

Whisper:
HP: 14
Message (with Gimbal), rest of duel (suppressed)
Expeditious Retreat, rest of duel (suppressed)

Shadow Celestial Badgers (2):
HP: 1
AC: 15
Acid/Cold/Electricity Resistance 5
2 claws +4 (1d2–1) and bite –1 (1d3–1)

Round 7:
Loopy casts Shadow Conjuration on the defensive. 5+14=19 vs. DC 19, success.
Shadow crocodile appears in C10 and attacks. 11+6=17 vs. AC 10, hits.
Gimbal attempts a Will save to disbelieve, 10+8=18 vs. DC 25, fails.
Shadow crocodile deals 6+6=12 damage. Grapple automatically succeeds since Gimbal is now unconscious.
Loopy draws greatsword.

Loopy has called a crocodile to his aid! A vicious bite and Gimbal is down!

It is clear that if Loopy can get his spells off they are extremely difficult to resist, but Gimbal put up a valiant effort.

Valiant it may have been, but Loopy is the clear victor in this duel.

Loopy wins.