conversations: human
conversations:  You step through the adamantine portal, to find yourself on a pillar of stone, standing in a lake of magma, which seems to extend infinitely.
  On a similar pillar in the distance, your opponent awaits you: a pit fiend, the fiendish general of this part of Baator.
  
   
   Spoiler 
  
  The Pillar is fifteen feet across, made from solid stone.
  The lake of magma is fifty feet below you. From the heat, everyone takes 1d6 fire damage per turn, which increases to 2d6 if within 20 feet of the surface. (Yes, that's different from the standard rules, but those are stupid.)
  The pit fiend starts on an identical pillar, 100 feet away.
  There are more such pillars, arranged in rows and collums, each 30 feet from the next.
  The fight takes place in Baator, therefore the following changes take place (As per Planescape AD&amp;D, I love those books):
  -Summoned creatures are not under the control of the summoner
  -Healing magic requires a caster level check against DC25 to function. Not a problem for a full caster, but items might fail, while all negative energy spells are cast at +1 caster level.
  -This is the Layer of Phlegetos, therefore all fire spells are maximized and all cold spells deal minimal damage.
  -You are treated as being on a different plane, while the devil is on his home plane.
   
conversations: Eldan:
conversations: human
conversations:  Taken unawares by the sudden change of scenery, the man in black armor reaches for his waist, where a long dagger hangs alongside his hip.  Once it is in hand, the short blade lengthens and grows to massive size, until it could be a weapon for a man much larger than he.
  
   
   Spoiler 
    Initiative  - (1d20+5)[ 16 ] 
  
  The text was unclear...cornugon AND pit fiend?
   
conversations: Vox Clamantis:
conversations: human
conversations:  Spoiler 
  
  I wanted to send a summoned cornugon along, but edited it out. Is it still mentioned somewhere?
  
  Anyway, Initiative.
   (1d20+12)[ 19 ] 
   
conversations: Eldan:
conversations: human
conversations:  The pit fiend growls at Ariston wordlessly, then, unfolding it's wings, takes off with powerful flaps. Once there, it casts a spell on itself, a haze of dark energy swirling around it.
  
   
   Spoiler 
  
  The fiend moves 20 feet up and 40 feet backwards, then uses Unholy Aura
   
conversations: Eldan:
conversations: human
conversations:  Spoiler 
  I don't know if the pit fiend would know it, but Ariston isn't Good.  Unholy Aura will have no effect on him whatsoever.
   
  
  
  Gritting his teeth in frustration at the fiend's cowardice, Ariston leaps off his pillar, caught after only a moment's drop by black feathery wings that spring from the shoulders of his armor.  Flapping powerfully, they bring him closer to the winged demon.
  
   
   Spoiler 
  Double move, bringing me to within 20' of the fiend.
   
conversations: Vox Clamantis:
conversations: human
conversations:  Spoiler 
  
  First, will save DC 27 against Fear Aura, please.
  
  Also:
  " First, each warded creature gains a +4 deflection bonus to AC and a +4 resistance bonus on saves. U nlike the effect of protection from good, this benefit applies against all attacks, not just against attacks by good creatures . "
  
  He doesn't know your alignment, but it helps anyway.
  
  Also, what caster level are your wings? 😏
   
conversations: Eldan:
conversations: human
conversations:  Diamond Defense, Save vs Fear:  (1d20+36)[ 55 ] 
  
  No idea, but the pit fiend wouldn't know either.
conversations: Vox Clamantis:
conversations: human
conversations:  With a hissing laugh and a few flaps of his wings, the Pit Fiend moves further away, then, with only minimal concentration, launches a sphere of white-hot fire at Ariston, which explodes in mid-air.
   "You are more brave than you look mortal. But your magic wings will not help you here. 
  Pointing his claw at the Warblade, he dispels the wings.
  
   
   Spoiler 
  
  Glad to have that out of the way. Probably should have taken it for my character, but then I didn't have any skill ranks left anyway.
  
  Ok, next on:
  The fiend moves another 40 feet back and 20 feet up.
  
  Quickened Fireball, reflex save DC 21, 60/30 fire damage.
  
  Also, Greater Dispel Magic on your wings:
  Caster level check:
   (1d20+18)[ 33 ] 
  
  Oh, and since I don't see any fire protection on you:
  Fire damage from the hot air for the first and second rounds.
   (2d6)[ 7 ] 
   
conversations: Eldan:
conversations: human
conversations:  Spoiler 
  
  Wings are supressed for
   (1d4)[ 1 ]  rounds. (1 round)
  
  Yep. Moving 120feet places you over the lava. And since your wings fail, you will fall 150 feet during your turn, unless you can do something. Ouch.
  
  Edit again: you may grab the ledge, actually. Climb check.
   
conversations: Eldan:
conversations: human
conversations:  Ariston lands lightly on the ground, looking up at the devil in disgust.  The spell he brushes off as though it hadn't touched him.
  
   Get down her and fight me, fiend!  What would the Tanar'ri think to see you running from a mortal?  They'd LAUGH, devil! 
   
   Spoiler 
  Reflex:  (1d20+21)[ 31 ]  against the Fireball.  Taking a swift action to renew all of my maneuvers (in other words, Diamond Defense).
  
  Have a ridiculous Jump check, so the fall shouldn't be an issue.
   
conversations: Vox Clamantis:
conversations: human
conversations:  Spoiler 
  
  I'm sorry, I miscalculated distance: you are in a square just before the ledge. Therefore, it's a climb check to catch yourself.
   
conversations: Eldan:
conversations: human
conversations:  My Climb modifier is +36, and it doesn't fail on a 1. 😉  But I'll roll if it makes you happy...
  
    Climb Check  - (1d20+36)[ 46 ] 
conversations: Vox Clamantis:
conversations: human
conversations:  Screw all these spoilers.
  You barely made it, actually: the DC is 45. According to the climb rules, its' Wall (natural rock, DC 25)+20.
  
  But okay, continuing as planned.
  
  Anything else in your turn?
conversations: Eldan:
conversations: human
conversations:  Wow, that's ridiculous.  An epic character can barely catch ahold of a wall after falling 20 feet?  Jackie Chan must have something like 50 HD... 😛
  
  No, just the recovery.
conversations: Vox Clamantis:
conversations: human
conversations:  "This is why the Tanar'ri haven't won yet and smashed your puny little world, human! Tactics. Tactics, and enough restraint not to be tauned by mortals." 
  
  Hmm. Another question: I just saw that you didn't take any damage from the fireballs. Might I ask where you got evasion or resistance from? I don't see it in your equipment list.
conversations: Eldan:
conversations: human
conversations:  God, what is it with you people? 😛  Of course I took damage.  But 30 damage on a character with 341 HP is  nothing , so he shrugged it off in-character.
  
  I assume we're using abstraction of HP, so that every point of damage isn't a literal wound.
  
  Also, Pit Fiends are the baddest of the bad.  Why is this one running away?  I get that you're meta-gaming, but come on...
conversations: Vox Clamantis:
conversations: human
conversations:  Sure. But with that wording, it pays of to make sure.
  
  Well, then...
  
  Concentrating, the fiend draws a pentagram into the air with one claw, which bursts into flame, calling a fiery sphere into existence at each point of the star.
  
  Casting Meteor Swarm and Quickened Fireball.
  
  Meteor Swarm requires four touch attacks, each for 2d6 bludgeoning damage:
   
   Spoiler 
  
  Ball 1:
   (1d20+25)[ 29 ] 
   (2d6)[ 8 ] 
  
  Ball 2
   (1d20+25)[ 28 ] 
   (2d6)[ 5 ] 
  
  Ball 3
   (1d20+25)[ 32 ] 
   (2d6)[ 9 ] 
  
  Ball 4
   (1d20+25)[ 43 ] 
   (2d6)[ 11 ] 
   
  
  
  
  If they hit, they also deal a full 36 fire damage each. If they miss, you still have to make a reflex roll (DCs 27) , taking half hte fire damage on a miss and full fire damage on a hit.
  The fire ball is DC 21 again, either 60 or 30 damage.
conversations: Eldan:
conversations: human
conversations:  And they all hit, unless you react somehow with a counter or something?
  
  You would, in that case, take 13 bludgeoning damage (DR included) and 144 fire damage, plus either 30 or 60 from the fireball.
  
  
  And okay, the flying away is a little unfair. But it's out of really useful spells anyway... it will come into melee soon.
  Let's say it got a prophecy that a powerful hero is coming to slay it and is therefore a little more careful.
conversations: Eldan:
conversations: human
conversations:  (*Psst, I'm not really here, but why are they all maximized?*)
conversations: Niezck:
conversations: human
conversations:  See first post: Phlegetos, with planar traits as per 2nd ed planescape. Therefore, all fire spells are maximized.
  I said I would make this harder, since the PIt fiend only uses one source book and has no spells, as opposed to the Solar.
conversations: Eldan:
conversations: human
conversations:  You didn't roll vs my SR of 31.  For any of that... 😉
conversations: Vox Clamantis:
conversations: human
conversations:  You should have said so, I didn't see it anywhere on the sheet 😉
  Okay, then:
  
  Meteor Swarm:
   (1d20+18)[ 28 ] 
  
  Fire ball:
   (1d20+18)[ 21 ] 
  
  Lucky Berk.
conversations: Eldan:
conversations: human
conversations:  This time, Ariston passes through the raging flames as though they weren't there.  No so much as a hair on his head gets singed.
  
   Well, devil?  Would you like to try that again, or have you finally found it in your craven heart to fight me? 
   
   Spoiler 
  Flying up (wings working now) to within 20 ft of the pit fiend.  Holding an action to use Diamond Nightmare Blade if he comes within reach.
  
  Please don't metagame the held action. 😛
   
conversations: Vox Clamantis:
conversations: human
conversations:  ((Sure won't. I had a battle plan pretty much written down beforehand, and I'm sticking to it unless something very unexpected happens.))
  
  The Pit fiend only smiles and, without coming closer, concentrats on another spell. Suddenly, the pit fiend seems to split in two as a second pit fiend steps out of the first one. However, the concentrating Ariston realizes that the right one of them is an illusion as the two split up and move to surround him in a pincer movement.
  
  ((Also, you made your will safe against Persistent image. Roll for the attack))
conversations: Eldan:
conversations: human
conversations:  Ariston brings his weapon down, eyes never leaving the Pit Fiend's vulnerable shoulder.
  
   
   Spoiler 
  Diamond Nightmare Blade
  
   (1d20+37)[ 43 ] , taking 5 off for Power Attack
  If it hits,  (3d6+49)[ 58 ] x4 damage.  The weapon bypasses damage resistance as magical, epic, slashing, and good.  If it threatens a critical against an evil creature (pit fiend, for example), it automatically confirms.
  
  Crap roll. 😛
   
conversations: Vox Clamantis:
conversations: human
conversations:  Can't find the rules for epic damage reduction... anyway, the weapon doesn't count as silver, right? In that case, the devil has a few hit points left, after you dealt 217 damage.
conversations: Eldan:
conversations: human
conversations:  Spoiler 
  Since it's my turn, I'll be fancy and finish him off with a 9th level maneuver. 😉
   
  
  
  Holding his sword up in a mock salute, the man in black armor flashes into motion so blindingly fast that only the slightest glimmer of red light off his blade betrays his presence.
  
   
   Spoiler 
  Perfect Spellstrike, sacrificing 70 HP to end this with style
  
    Attack  - (1d20+37)[ 54 ] 
    Damage  - (3d6+49)[ 59 ] 
    Attack  - (1d20+37)[ 47 ] 
    Damage  - (3d6+49)[ 55 ] 
    Attack  - (1d20+37)[ 39 ] 
    Damage  - (3d6+49)[ 63 ] 
    Attack  - (1d20+37)[ 54 ] 
    Damage  - (3d6+49)[ 56 ] 
    Attack  - (1d20+37)[ 47 ] 
    Damage  - (3d6+49)[ 59 ] 
  
  And since the last attack hit, these all bypass ALL damage resistance and confirm any critical threat from 17-20.
   
conversations: Vox Clamantis:
conversations: human
conversations:  Right. He only had like 8 HP left anyway, I'm not even going to add up damage there.
  
  Theoretically, he could regenerate, but let's forget that, it only makes this take forever, you win.
  
  I'll run another challenge tomorrow, I've got enough for tonight.
conversations: Eldan:
conversations: human
conversations:  Originally Posted by Eldan 
   Right. He only had like 8 HP left anyway, I'm not even going to add up damage there.
  
  Theoretically, he could regenerate, but let's forget that, it only makes this take forever, you win.
  
  I'll run another challenge tomorrow, I've got enough for tonight. 
   
  
  Not to split hairs, but the pit fiend is actually dead.  Completely dead.  After that first hit (the Diamond Nightmare Blade), Ariston's sword acquired the Silver quality for the next ten rounds.  So that second bout of attacks actually killed it outright. 🙂
  
  ~Gabriel
conversations: Vox Clamantis:
conversations: human
conversations:  Right then. Shame on me for not checking what your weapon actually does, I guess. 🙂
conversations: Eldan:
conversations: human
conversations:  Originally Posted by Eldan 
   Right then. Shame on me for not checking what your weapon actually does, I guess. 🙂 
   
  
  I am inordinately proud of that sword.  "Edged Victory" indeed!
  
  ~Gabriel 😁
conversations: Vox Clamantis: