[IC] Death & Taxes (Session 4)

CESN: You forgot her Adversary 1 talent, which upgrades checks targeting her. That drops you down to 0 Success, 1 Advantage, and 1 Triumph. Seems the curse doesn't quite land...

As for that Triumph, making it a get-out-of-jail-free card is too powerful, I think, especially since you've noticed that you all seem to be alone in the house (due to your Advantage). Maybe an upgrade for Nera's check? I'll do that, but let you overrule me if you want to use it for something more narrative still.

mcneils5: For this turn, you're fine. I was referring to next turn; as you're maintaining two spells now, you can't have a third maneuver to move due to the hard limit of 2 maneuvers per turn.

She can't take actions due to paralysis, but she's using two counterspell maneuvers. +2 upgrades on magic attacks against her while she maintains them.

Back around to PCs! Blunt trauma using unarmed attacks may be your best bet at this point.

So keeping both spells running for 2 x manoeuvres and doing nothing else at the moment

Wait up mcneils. If we're tactical here, and Hildar let's everyone else go first, he might not even have to sustain anything/take more Strain this round, if we can put her out before his turn (cuz the initial casting carries thru to the end of his next turn, right?), so how about Bruv takes the first slot and Hildar goes last?

Since she's paralyzed and on the ground (the cage fell), I'm assuming she's considered prone, and I'd like to argue for at least one more Boost cuz she literally can't move to defend herself at all, but could see two or even 4 Boosts being appropriate if you look at it in the reverse of cover - ie she's as fully exposed to attack as she can be (minus the cage and darkness which remain in her defense pool).

Edit: 7 Strain, unless dice need to be added/subtracted. Should Nera get the Prone boost, and Paralyzed boost too?

Emsquared makes good points -- First off, I appreciate mcneils5 posting Hildar's move, but I'm happy to assume he takes the last initiative slot in case his extra 2 strain isn't necessary.

Second, the weaver is indeed prone, so that's +1 boost on Melee or Brawl checks against her. I added this in for Nera's attack, giving her +2 advantage. We can make that boosts for Bruv. As for a boost for her being paralyzed, I don't think so -- she's prevented from actions, but not maneuvers, which tells me she's still able to do the sort of instinctive wiggling and dodging that standard combat difficulties represent. It's a bit wonky, since she's in a confined space, I admit. But I think a better way to handle it might be to say she can't disengage from you, but you can disengage from her.

Bruv takes 1 strain for his 1 remaining threat.

All told: Bruv gets one more boost from Nera's check. Rolling that here for sake of expediency. That puts her over!

82 (Average): Winded: Target cannot voluntarily suffer strain until the Critical Injury is healed. (No spells for her!)

OK! Everyone can make a simple Cool or Discipline check to recover strain. Hildar doesn't have to go after all, and can drop the paralysis curse spell.

Discipline

I assume lighting up the room is a utility spell?

Advantage to let us recognise any obvious threats from those creepy plant/shadow/thingies hidding in the room?

Also, easy utility spells still take 2 strain, right?