Black Tom's Whispering Cairn
Game Master Black Tom

The three creatures are separated so you're still going to catch only one of them, Vug, if you see the map. Let's just say you threw it at the closest one.

"Get the ugly things! And don't use electricity Vulcan!"

Starting Inspire Courage +2 as a move action

"And here's something to speed things up!" Bubba casts haste on the party.

Bardic Performance 13/15, haste 8 rounds

Round One:

Feres offers a quick prayer to his Goddess, calling upon Her divine power to sheathe himself in a shimmering field of magical force. Hefting his scimitar and shield, the stout priest moves to engage one of the tentacled monstrosities.

Standard action to cast Shield of Faith on self, granting +3 deflection bonus to AC. Move action 20 ft to square S,12 - hopefully the creature doesn't have Combat Reflexes and can't make an AoO while flat-footed.

Feres' AC: 22
Feres' HP: 66/66

Party Buffs/Spells in Effect:
Darkvision: extract from Vug taken prior to entering the sewers; original duration 2 hours.
Daylight: cast at beginning of battle with drow spellcasters; original duration 80 minutes.
Resist Energy (Fire) - Valgrim only: cast before scouting past shrieker/yellow mold cavern; original duration 60 minutes.
Freedom of Movement - Valgrim only: cast following battle with drow spellcasters; original duration 80 minutes.
Haste: make extra attack at full BAB during full attack action, +1 bonus to attack, +1 dodge bonus to AC and Reflex, +30 ft enhancement bonus to all modes of movement; duration 8 rounds.
Inspire Courage: +2 competence bonus to attack and damage, +2 morale bonus to saves vs. charm and fear effects; duration current round plus 2 rounds after ceasing performance.
Shield of Faith - Feres only: +3 deflection bonus to AC; duration 8 minutes.

The three creatures are separated so you're still going to catch only one of them, Vug, if you see the map. Let's just say you threw it at the closest one.

Yeah, I can't see the map at work. Just pick one of them, it doesn't matter which.

Sorry, got a bit swamped and couldn't get around to updating.

Vug lobs a flask that shatters on the wall behind the creature to the left and releases noxious vapors that render the creature temporarily helpless. Valgrim and Feres move to engage the remaining two, and Valgrim deals a severe blow to his foe. Bubba uses his magic to speed you up.

Feres will need to save against its slowing gaze but it will only negate the Haste if failed.

The monsters retaliate, failing to get a grip on the stout priest, but making a serious effort to tear Valgrim to pieces, grasping him with its claws and tearing for 30 points of damage.

You are all up.

Ouch!

Valgrim bears the pain through gritted teeth and goes full-attack on the wounded creature!

Hasted Attack: 1d20 + 13 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 13 + 1 = 30
Damage: 1d12 + 16 + 1d6 ⇒ (12) + 16 + (4) = 32
Attack: 1d20 + 13 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 13 + 1 = 23
Damage: 1d12 + 16 + 1d6 ⇒ (6) + 16 + (3) = 25
Attack: 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 5 + 1 = 23
Damage: 1d12 + 16 + 1d6 ⇒ (8) + 16 + (6) = 30
AC: 23
HP: 53/83

"Keep it up!"

Bubba maintains Inspire Courage +2, casts mirror image on himself and moves to K10 to engage the creature there.

1d4 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5 Images.
Bardic Performance 12/15
Haste 7 rounds

Valgrim's first blow kills the monster, so he can take a move action if he likes.

Will save: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (19) + 14 = 33 - I'm going to go ahead and assume that succeeds.

Round Two:

Feres tries to emulate Valgrim and slashes repeatedly at his tentacled foe.

Full attack action with scimitar.

Attack #1: 1d20 + 9 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 9 + 2 + 1 = 30
Damage: 1d6 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 3 + 2 = 9
Crit Confirmation: 1d20 + 9 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 9 + 2 + 1 = 28
Additional Crit Damage: 1d6 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 3 + 2 = 11

Attack #2: 1d20 + 4 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 4 + 2 + 1 = 20
Damage: 1d6 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 3 + 2 = 6

Hasted Attack: 1d20 + 9 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 9 + 2 + 1 = 17
Damage: 1d6 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 3 + 2 = 7

Feres' AC: 22
Feres' HP: 66/66

Vug tries throwing a stink bomb near the remaining tentacle monster without looking at it.

Targeting grid intersection again: 1d20 + 12 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 12 + 2 + 1 = 28, 9 splash damage, nausea, DC 19

By the way, Feres's list of buffs is missing Resist Energy (electric); we drank it in the mold room and it lasts for 15 minutes. I'm not sure if it has worn off by now or not.

Vulcan focuses his baleful stormy glare on the horrific creature that is as yet unengaged, heeding Bubba's advice and unleashing twin bolts of scorching heat at the aberrant monster.

Ranged touch1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25
4d6 ⇒ (5, 2, 2, 2) = 11

Ranged touch1d20 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13
4d6 ⇒ (5, 4, 4, 2) = 15

crit
Ranged touch1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23
4d6 ⇒ (3, 6, 2, 6) = 17

Will save 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26

Valgrim moves toward Friar and the creature staying 10' away, so as not to provoke an AoO.

Will save: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16

Vug and Vulcan together destroy one of the monsters, leaving Valgrim and Feres to contend with the last one. It pinces Feres for 8 points of damage, and then you all can have a go at it.

Valgrim 5' steps and full-attacks the creature:
Hasted attack: 1d20 + 13 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 13 + 1 + 2 = 19
Damage: 1d12 + 16 + 2 + 1d6 ⇒ (5) + 16 + 2 + (5) = 28
Attack: 1d20 + 13 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 13 + 1 + 2 = 18
Damage: 1d12 + 16 + 2 + 1d6 ⇒ (11) + 16 + 2 + (3) = 32
Attack: 1d20 + 5 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 5 + 1 + 2 = 22
Damage: 1d12 + 16 + 2 + 1d6 ⇒ (2) + 16 + 2 + (6) = 26
AC: 23
HP: 53/83

Valgrim and Feres cut the last of the creatures to ribbons, leaving you to focus your attention on the door.

And you get 1440 xp for the battle. Your Resist Energy will have expired by now.

Valgrim drinks 2 Cure Light and 1 Cure Moderate Wounds potions.
2d8 + 2 ⇒ (5, 3) + 2 = 10
2d8 + 3 ⇒ (5, 3) + 3 = 11
HP: 74/83

He then goes back to trying to open the marble doors (take 20 if possible). By the way, Resist Energy lasts 10 min/level so there is no way it would have lasted 15 minutes.

By the way, Resist Energy lasts 10 min/level so there is no way it would have lasted 15 minutes.

It was actually Communal Resist Energy -- the duration is split between all recipients.

Ah, okay. Still the duration would have been 16 minutes (80/5) not 15.

After a fair amount of bashing Valgrim manages to smash the doors to the point that you can lift the bar off and enter the room behind.

As you pass through the doors the natural cavern yields to worked stone with a tentacle pattern. The ceilings are 40 feet high. You enter a round room, 30 feet across, with an exit to your left.

In the center of this tall domed chamber is a large brain, carved from a single block of purple-veined white marble. Its veins seem to pulsate with every breath you take, as if aware of your presence. Four stone benches are arrayed around the room, each with a pair of iron manacles bolted to the top.

"Vug, room looks suspicious to me, what with the stone brain and all. Can we send in one of those decoys to spring a trap that you mentioned earlier to see what happens?"

Before Valgrim opens the door, Feres gives the dwarf and himself a tap from his lesser curative wand.

CLW Wand - Valgrim: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6 hp healed.
CLW Wand - Feres: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8 hp healed.

If we're still under the effects of Bubba's Haste spell, maybe we should just run through the chamber as fast as we can?

Party Buffs/Spells in Effect:
Darkvision: extract from Vug taken prior to entering the sewers; original duration 2 hours.
Daylight - on Feres' shield: cast at beginning of battle with drow spellcasters; original duration 80 minutes.
Resist Energy (Fire) - Valgrim only: cast before scouting past shrieker/yellow mold cavern; original duration 60 minutes.
Freedom of Movement - Valgrim only: cast following battle with drow spellcasters; original duration 80 minutes.
Shield of Faith - Feres only: cast in first round of battle with tentacled creatures; +3 deflection bonus to AC; original duration 8 minutes.
Haste: make extra attack at full BAB during full attack action, +1 bonus to attack, +1 dodge bonus to AC and Reflex, +30 ft enhancement bonus to all modes of movement; duration 8 rounds.

Haste will have expired while you were breaking down the door, but the rest of the buffs are still on.

"Sure, it'll just take a minute."

Vug mixes a pinch of this and a dash of that in a vial, shakes it vigourously, then removes the cork with a pop. A tiny homunculus slithers free and grows quickly into a 3-foot-tall ugly blue humanoid -- a mite. (summon nature's ally I)

Vug addresses the mite in Undercommon:

As far as buffs go, Vug also has See Invisibility running (duration 80 mins).

The mite salutes Vug, giggles a little at nothing in particular and sets off into the room. As it nears the stone brain it suddenly freezes into place and then slowly turns toward you with a malicious grin on its face. With a shrill yell it runs at you, teeth bared.

Knowledge (arcana) 25 or Sense Motive 15:

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (12) + 10 = 22

"Vug! Your creature's been dominated! Everyone, get back from that brain!"

Valgrim steps 5' back from the door. "Thanks, Friar, for noticing that. Got any preventive magic that could help us?"

How close did the mite get to the brain? Anything unusual about the brain? Perception: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (6) + 17 = 23...add +2 if stone

"Would it help if I threw a bomb at it?" Vug offers cheerfully.

The brain is definitely unusual. It's stone, but no kind of stone that you've ever seen and obviously magical. The mite was 10 feet away from it when it was turned.

"It's pretty big, Vug. Don't think one bomb will do much to it. I could try to break it, if Friar protected me from its domination magic."

Feres offers a prayer to his Goddes to shield Valgrim's mind from malevolent forces. "I have a spell that could enhance your strength as well," Feres offers the dwarf. Cast Protection from Evil on Valgrim; duration 8 minutes. If Valgrim desires, Feres will cast Bull's Strength on him as well.

Party Buffs/Spells in Effect:
Darkvision: extract from Vug taken prior to entering the sewers; original duration 2 hours.
Daylight - on Feres' shield: cast at beginning of battle with drow spellcasters; original duration 80 minutes.
Resist Energy (Fire) - Valgrim only: cast before scouting past shrieker/yellow mold cavern; original duration 60 minutes.
Freedom of Movement - Valgrim only: cast following battle with drow spellcasters; original duration 80 minutes.
See Invisibility - Vug only: extract taken following battle with drow spellcasters; original duration 80 minutes.
Shield of Faith - Feres only: cast in first round of battle with tentacled creatures; +3 deflection bonus to AC; original duration 8 minutes.
Protection from Evil - Valgrim only: cast outside stone brain chamber; original duration 8 minutes.
Bull's Strength - Valgrim only: cast outside stone brain chamber; original duration 8 minutes.

After casting his spell(s), Feres will use both of his Pearls of Power to recall 2 castings of Protection from Evil.

"Thank you, Padre." Buffed by both of Friar's spells, Valgrim approaches the stone brain hopeful that the spells protect him and starts hacking at it with his bardiche with power attack. If he notices the sharp blade is not penetrating, he starts bashing it with his morningstar instead.

Round 1:
Damage with bardiche: 2d10 + 18 ⇒ (5, 6) + 18 = 29
Round 2:
Damage with bardiche: 1d10 + 18 ⇒ (4) + 18 = 22
Damage with bardiche: 1d10 + 18 ⇒ (2) + 18 = 20
Round 3:
Damage with bardiche: 1d10 + 18 ⇒ (2) + 18 = 20
Damage with bardiche: 1d10 + 18 ⇒ (3) + 18 = 21
Round 4:
Damage with bardiche: 1d10 + 18 ⇒ (6) + 18 = 24
Damage with bardiche: 1d10 + 18 ⇒ (3) + 18 = 21
Round 5:
Damage with bardiche: 1d10 + 18 ⇒ (2) + 18 = 20
Damage with bardiche: 1d10 + 18 ⇒ (4) + 18 = 22

I am assuming the brain is not moving and I do not have to roll to hit. If you wish for me to post damage with the morningstar, let me know.

By the way, Vug dismisses the mite and it melts back into a puddle of goo.

Valgrim bashes the brain into pieces, protected by Feres's magic.

And you get another 640 xp for that.

Looking down the passage to the left, at the end of a long staircase, an odd chamber reveals itself. A number of tall bookcases, a desk, and a large tank full of green liquid takes up half the room. A stone door stands closed on the opposite wall.

Apart from the door, the passage continues at the other side of the room.

"Thank you, Padre, for the spells and Vug for the use of the mite. Great teamwork." Up the stairs we go, Valgrim in the lead, frost greataxe in hand. Perception: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (9) + 17 = 26...add +2 for stone.

As they pass the book case Vulcan scans the titles and glances at the odd green fluid, seeking indications of arcane activity.

Knowledge Arcana 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (6) + 9 = 15

"I guess we'll search on the way back..."

Buba follows after Valgrim, trying to remember where he ha seen green fluid like that before.

Bubba, Valgrim is heading to the room with the bookcases and the tank with the green liquid. Since BT said it was at the end of the staircase, I posted up the staircase. Sorry if I was not clear.

Vug tries to recognize the green liquid.

Craft (alchemy): 1d20 + 24 ⇒ (6) + 24 = 30

Before you have much time to identify the liquid, another of those tentacled monstrosities crawls out of it and attacks. Only this one is much larger, like if it had consumed its brethren.

Roll for initiative.

Initiative: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

[dice]1d20+2[dice]

Initiative: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24

"Groan..."

Init: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20

Initiative: 1d20 ⇒ 4

Party Buffs/Spells in Effect:
Darkvision: extract from Vug taken prior to entering the sewers; original duration 2 hours.
Daylight - on Feres' shield: cast at beginning of battle with drow spellcasters; original duration 80 minutes.
Resist Energy (Fire) - Valgrim only: cast before scouting past shrieker/yellow mold cavern; original duration 60 minutes.
Freedom of Movement - Valgrim only: cast following battle with drow spellcasters; original duration 80 minutes.
See Invisibility - Vug only: extract taken following battle with drow spellcasters; original duration 80 minutes.
Shield of Faith - Feres only: cast in first round of battle with tentacled creatures; +3 deflection bonus to AC; original duration 8 minutes.
Protection from Evil - Valgrim only: cast outside stone brain chamber; original duration 8 minutes.
Bull's Strength - Valgrim only: cast outside stone brain chamber; original duration 8 minutes.

Valgrim and Vug (and possibly Vulcan) react quickly and may act before the monster.

I don't really think that we'll need a map, but the monster is large and has 15 feet reach, in case you are wondering. That basically means that it can reach anyone in the room, but the passage is 10 feet wide, so that won't be much of a problem.

Go break a tentacle.

Sorry, BT, but can I insist on a map? Also, confused as to the creature's current position? At the top of the tank about to come out? Outside already? Valgrim had a 26 Perception, in case he was trying to surprise us. I am also a little confused about our respective locations, since Vulcan stated he was by the bookcases and Vug was identifying the liquid (by sight, I assume) and Valgrim was in the lead. It's also important if Valgrim wants to avoid a full attack, given one of the other smaller tentacled monstrosities did 30 damage on Valgrim on a full-attack in 1 round and this is one is even larger!

1d20+2

D'oh! 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 2 = 14

The monster beat Vulcan's initiative. You haven't really entered the room yet as I see it. Will get a map up soonish. Happy Ascension or whatever.

Happy Ascension or whatever.

And happy birthday to Queen Victoria on Monday!