#0-06: Black Waters [Tier 1-2] GM Rutseg (Inactive)

Game Master Balacertar

Nigel is going to use detect magic on the area where the arm is coming from. After he leaps back behind Lionel.

A deluded madman magician or something on one side and bubbles near a strange arm on the other. Great, just great Nigel thinks.

If combat occurs, he's going to cast enlarge person on Lionel.

Reed looks appraisingly at the water, the corpse a strange addition to this morbid landscape. With a sigh, he gets his grappling hook set with a rope, then tosses it in the water, hoping to snag the dead body and drag it closer. He will continue to try until he succeeds.

"Does anyone here know anything about the body or death? You know...how long this person has been dead?"

He continues thinking about the bubbles. Bubbles underwater usually meant an air pocket of some kind.

"Of course, the only place we didn't look," Eveline sighs, turning to Reed, "my first guess would be that body drowned." She seems sincere, not simply making a sardonic remark.

"And thanks, Deris. We'll manage from here on, we won't disturb your gardening," she says, imperceptibly trying to shoo away the mad, dangerous man.

You are surprised at the revelation as you were here yesterday but gave no relevance to the corpse.

Reed tries hard once and again with the hook, but it doesn't seem to work. It is just too far away and the hook sinks fast before it can be pulled to hook the hand.

From the far away you cannot tell much about the hand, but it seems human and fresh.

The new map is in the pool

"No point for me to delve into the pool," Eveline says, glancing at Reed meaningfully, "guess this task falls onto someone else."

Reed gives Eve a wry look, her meaning all too clear. Still, he packs his grappling hook away, taking out a handaxe (leaving the other hand free) and he begins to wade into the pool to retrieve the hand, keeping his eye out for trouble as he goes.

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20

"Heh. After ya, Reed, I took the bath yesterday.", says Lionel, looking at the rangers. He then leans on his spear, and begins humming something more appropriate for a tavern than a place like this.

Reed enters the pool and wades through with his handaxe at hand. The brave ranger reachs the weird hand in the middle of the pool when the water is reaching his waist.

The closer examination reveals it is fresh, like if it had been alive close enough on time.

If Marlinchen is right and the entrance to the Necropolis is here, you see no obvious hint. Examining further the arm would require to pull the hand out of the pool or dive below waters.

"Can you attach the hook there now?" Eveline asks Reed, "and get out of the water lest you want fish to swim in your boots."

Althera merely looks on, although her face blanches a bit when she sees the corpse in the daylight. She says a silent prayer for Reed as he investigates and stands ready to cast a magic missile if an undead creature does arise...

Reed thinks about Eve's proposal for a moment, then shakes his head. If he was bound to be an adventurer, he'd better acclimate himself to distasteful tasks. He grabs the dead hand, starting to pull it toward the nearby shoreline, his axe ready in the other hand.

Demario will gag a bit as his companion wades through the muck.

As Reed tries to pull the arm to the surface to get a closer look, it’s immediately obvious that the arm is tightly gripping a metal handle and is also covered in giant, bulbous white eggs.

When Reed finds it is impossible to pull out the hand and turns to look why, Eveline, Demario and Nigel see very clearly something moves behind the ranger.

They are late to let him know, as a giant water bug emerges from the black waters half body and bites the flatfooted man.
Bite+charge: 1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 5 + 2 = 19
B/S/Piercing damage: 2d6 + 4 ⇒ (2, 5) + 4 = 11
The enormous jaws press around Reed's body horribly causing tremendous damage that menaces to split him in two parts by his abdomen.
Grab vs CMD 17 (flatfooted 14): 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (3) + 11 = 14
The ranger is to slow to react and the jaws are strongly fit around him before he can do his first move.

Bug: Grappled, water, -2 charge AC
Reed: 0/11 grappled, staggered, water
Please, take into account I will apply water combat rules which means if you try to attack from land the water bug will enjoy a +8 AC/+4 Reflex improved cover, and if it submerges below waters total cover. And if attacking on melee, slashing and bludgeoning weapons will suffer -2 attack and half damage.
Bold can act
Surprise round: (Only 1 standard or move action, plus any swift or 5-foot)
Bug, Eveline, Demario, Nigel
Round 1:
Bug, Eveline, Reed (only 1 standard or move action), Demario, Althera, Lionel, Nigel

Surprise round action
Knowledge (nature): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23

Eveline gasps and immediately draws her bow. She can't get a word out of her mouth, already aiming at the waterbug.

You can consider you already had your bow out Eveline. Note the bug has improved cover respect you (+8 AC) as it is half covered by water.

Alright good. The creature is grappled (-4 dex = -2 AC), charged (-2 AC), and has improved cover (+8 AC), so essentially +4 AC.

No precise shot
Attack: 1d20 + 6 - 4 ⇒ (12) + 6 - 4 = 14 for Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 4
Eveline then swiftly readies her bow and shoots an arrow at blinding speed. She curses under her breath as she sees the arrow take a plunge under the water a bit too early.

Nigel freaks out for a moment, then turns to biggest member of party and begins casts.

Standard Action, Cast enlarge person on DeMario.

KILL IT! he screams.

I hate to break it to you, but enlarge person has a 1 round casting time, meaning once you begin casting it, it will resolve the following round at the start of your turn.

You can do it Nigel, but it will take your standard action in the surprise round, and as well, the standard action in the next one, as for the full-round action start-end completion rules, but will enable you to complete it in the 1st round.

Eveline's arrow splashes over the water and is deflected to the air.

I would want to complete it in the first round. So I'll still do that. I'm not getting into melee with that thing and shooting/throwing stuff at it isn't going help a lot. er wait, I'd probably target Lionel if it's not too late to change. I want him and his weapon really big.

"Oh, damn!", shouts Lionel, seeing the bug snap Reed.

By the way, GM, how deep is the water, and Nigel, I thought I was going to have the Enlarge Person, unless you have a diabolical plan?

Nigel freaks out for a moment, then turns to biggest member of party and begins casts.

Standard Action, Cast enlarge person on DeMario.

KILL IT! he screams.

Please target Nigel with it. Enlarging me has no real benefit as I will be ranged/useless this fight. Also GM, bow drawn for me as well?

Since the casting time is 1 round, you choose the target at the beginning of your next turn. So your target can't run out of range; you just need to change your target.

Target is officially now Lionel. His height will be doubled and he'll weigh about eight times as much. he will get +2 strength -2 dex, -1 to hit and AC apiece. his weapon also grows with him, so he'll have a 20 foot reach and roll 2D6 for Damage. P.S. Lionel, delay your turn until after I make you 10 feet tall! I would cast it on Reed, except he might be submerged by the time it gets to my turn.

Eveline you're a ranger right!? So do you have any idea what the hell that is?Nigel says as he begins casting.

Also Demario, if the bug has the grappled condition it's going lose AC from dex, which means a sneak attack bonus I think. So even if you're probably going to miss, shoot the thing!

"Giant water.. bug.. thing!" Eveline yells, "like a big ass water ant, powerful jaws and stuff!"

Grappled only gives a penalty to dexterity, which does not constitute as "sneak attackable". Sucks, I know.

Grapple was sneak attackable back at 3.5 but no longer in Pathfinder. Let's move on.

Demario observes the action with his pre-drawn bow.

The water bug closes tight its jaws on Reed.
Grapple (grappler): 1d20 + 11 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 11 + 5 = 25
Grappling damage: 2d6 + 4 ⇒ (1, 4) + 4 = 9
The human collapses unconscious and begins sinking underwater.

Meanwhile the bug releases the still body and darts swimming with its powerful legs towards the party on the shore. The creature emerges from the waters just in front of Nigel and Eveline, deposed of the waters protection again.

Reed: -9/11 unconscious, dying, drowning
Round 1:
Bug, Eveline, Reed (unconscious), Demario (+1 standard from surprise round), Althera, Lionel, Nigel
Demario@ you still have your action pending from surprise round. Water and grapple effects will apply to your first action.

"bllulbb."

Surprise:

Demario, in utter shock at the sight before him aims his crossbow and fires at the giant bug thing, caring not for its advantageous position. In his haste the bolts skips across the waters surface, 20 feet from its intended target.

crossbow: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

Round 1:

Demario curses in gnomish, and takes a deep breath. He knows that he has no shot of reaching Reed with his short legs. He instead, loads his bow again and takes another shot.

crossbow, point blank, -4 melee: 1d20 + 3 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (4) + 3 + 1 - 4 = 4
dam: 1d6 ⇒ 6

Althera goes pale and gives a short shriek as Reed goes under the water.

Recovering swiftly she sends a bolt of azure energy at the bug!

Magic Missile: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

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Eveline takes a step back and waits for Nigel to back away from the bug as well, then fires an arrow at the despicable creature.

Ready action attack, Point Blank Shot
Attack: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 6 + 1 = 18 for Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

"Lionel! Get to Reed, fast!"

Lionel dashes in the water, surprised that it's actually getting shallower, as he realizes that he's suddently over 12 feet tall.

Waiting to get large. Also, I am delaying, of course.

Run Action to get to Reed.

"Hold on, brother!" a bellowing voice emanates from his mouth.
"Take care of the bug for me, would ya?"

Lionel will Channel, as soon as he's able to. That should bring Reed back to conciousness, unless the rules are I have to heal him to above 0. Reed. Don't die, ok?

Lionel will Channel, as soon as he's able to. That should bring Reed back to conciousness, unless the rules are I have to heal him to above 0. Reed. Don't die, ok?

As long as he is unconscious and underwater, he is in danger of drowning aka instadeath. Channeling, unfortunately, will not help (unless you somehow manage to heal him for 9 points). Of course I leave the final ruling to the GM.

Please only channel if you can exclude the bug or can't get to Reed. We definitely want to save Reed, but try to avoid bringing the bug back up if we can.

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Well...I'll try to not die. It wasn't planned. :P

Lionel@ you cannot run through water. I will allow you to ignore the shallower area due to your Large size, but once at the 5' deep you are treating the water as difficult terrain. No need for swim checks as you make feet on the floor.

Demario shots a couple of bolts but they fail utterly to hit the water bug.

Athera pronounces arcane words that create a projectile of magic power that hits the bug who shrieks in pain.

Nigel moves back finishing his spell and reading his weapon.

At the very same moment Lionel gets larger, almost like a giant, and Eveline steps back shooting an arrow that stabs on the creature abdomen with great pain.

Seeing Reed in danger Lionel charges over the water yelling to coordinate the group actions. Thanks to his new size, he walks over the shallow waters of the pool with ease, and starts wading the deeper area.

1 Nigel, 2 Eveline, 3 Lionel: 1d3 ⇒ 2
The bug gets out of the waters and steps into the land with his 6 soaked legs. It attempts to bite Eveline but the woman dodges the creature stepping to one side.
Bite: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8
S/B/P damage: 2d6 + 4 ⇒ (1, 3) + 4 = 8

Stabilize DC 19: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 1 = 21
Drown DC 10: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 1 = 11
Reed instinctive system reacts totally stopping the bleeding and avoiding the water to go inside his lungs.

Bug: 11 damage
Reed: -9/11 hp unconscious, drowning
Round 2:
Bug, Eveline, Reed (unconscious), Demario, Althera, Lionel, Nigel

Ok, thanks for clarifying. Hope it's not too much of a problem. Also, looking at the map before I moved, it seems reasonable that the bug may provoke as it stands on the beach. If it does, Rolling attack AoO: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11 Damage: 2d6 + 10 ⇒ (3, 6) + 10 = 19

Lionel sees the bug reaching for Eveline, and swings his giant spear at it, missing the weird creature.

Not stopping for a second, Lionel marches deeper, having water to his waist now, and reaches and pulls Reed out of the water, placing him on his shoulder. Seems like the reasonable thing to do. Is me hitting moderate weight seem reasonable? Anything else?

"That is one nasty bite, people! Spread out 'n give it some steel from afar!", says Lionel, preparing to march out of the depths.

Nigel steps away from the bug and goes into fight or flight mode. After a brief moment of panic he chooses to fight.

Die! He yells as he fires an Acidic ray

acidic ray: 1d20 ⇒ 161d6 ⇒ 2 vs. touch AC.

move action: five foot away from the bug

standard action: shoot the bug with a ray.

Eveline keeps a steady eye at the bug.

"Murderous abomination..." she curses in whisper as she fires another arrow at the water bug, taking a step back away from the fearsome jaws.

Attack (+ PBS): 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 6 + 1 = 26 for Damage (+ PBS): 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Lionel wades the water in a rush and thanks to his long arms easily reaches Reed's unconscious body and places it into the safety of his broad shoulders.
Only 1 free hand while holding the body

Nigel steps out of the bug's jaws reach and sends forth a ray of acid that burns the vermin's exoskeleton. It shrieks in pain and looks with rage at the little gnome.

Eveline steps at the same time avoiding the melee entangle and causes an additional wound with an arrow.

Demario and Athea observe looking for their moment to act.

Bug: 16 damage
Reed: -9/11 hp
unconscious
Round 2:
Bug, Eveline, Reed (unconscious), Demario, Althera, Lionel, Nigel

"Tough cookie! Lionel, how's Reed?

Saved by Lionel "The Lion", savior of the drowned!

Althera sends another bolt of force at the bug.

MM: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

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Demario loads, aims and tries to get his nerves in check.

1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 201d6 ⇒ 1

Demario and Althera further damage the creature whom turns to the front trying to eat the gnome.
Bite: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16
P/S/B damage: 2d6 + 4 ⇒ (4, 3) + 4 = 11
The bug, enraged by its abundant wounds stabs its jaws on the gnome who immediatly fells unconscious due to the terrible pain.

Bug: 19 damage
Reed: -9/11 hp
unconscious
Nigel: -2/9 hp unconscious, dying
Round 3:
Bug, Eveline, Reed, Demario,
Althera, Lionel, Nigel

Why won't this thing just DIE

1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 131d6 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

Eveline gasps as she sees Nigel falls, but doesn't let the panicky feeling creep up on her. Quick shudder and she's ready to shoot another arrow to the giant vermin.

Attack (+ PBS): 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 6 + 1 = 16 for Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

I really need practise this, she ponders amidst the battle.

Althera lets out her breath as Reed is hauled to safety. She then drops her quarterstaff, draws her crossbow and loads a bolt.

Draw and load uses 2 move actions. With only 5 spells per day I'd better save some.

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Seeing Nigel fall as well, Lionel rushes to the shore, and leaves Reed on the shore. He grabs the other end of his spear and shouts, "Everyone! Get behind me!"

Leaving Reed as urgently and gently as possible. I suggest we all focus on my 2 attacks of opportunity per round, and I'll try to keep you up later on.

The arrow hits the creature but its thick exoskeleton deviates it avoiding the damage.

Badly injured it turns then towards Eveline letting Niegel to fell and tries to bite the bow woman.
Bite: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22
B/S/P damage: 2d6 + 4 ⇒ (1, 1) + 4 = 6
Grab: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (10) + 11 = 21
The creature jaws grapple Eveline, but the bug is so weak the injuries are less than it seemed in the first moment and the woman holds heroically.

Nigel -2/9 hp
Reed -9/11 hp
Eveline 6/12 hp, grappled
Bug 19 damage
Round 3:
Bug, Eveline, Althera, Lionel, Demario