CrazyHedgehog's Serpent Skull

Game Master CrazyHedgehog

"Well, there are probably snakes that swim here. And maybe crocodiles."

Quinta, see below for your night-time interrogations of the local fauna. If you decide you were taking anyone with you on your excursion, they can read the spoiler too.

Just for future reference, I'm guessing Quinta could also use her serpent-friend ability to talk to Oshok'arr.

Since you are waiting until the following day, Nkechi can also offer the following clerical spells:

level 3 (2 spells): water breathing or water walk
Level 2 (3 spells): resist energy, aid, or an ability boost such as bear's endurance
Level 1 (4 spells): bless, divine favour, magic weapon, protection from evil/law/chaos, etc.
Orisons: As needed, guidance, light, virtue, etc.

Since you are planning, you could let Nkechi know your plans, and in the morning he will pray for spells accordingly, beseeching Gozreh to test your worth and grant your boons.

Krolm certainly wouldn't turn down a good old fashioned Bear's Endurance spell.

Water walk might be particularly good on Krolm too. Divine favor would certainly be welcomed by Yeks as would a bull's strength which with his adaptive bow, would boost his damage even more.

Quinta reports to the others what she has learned from the crocodiles.

"I think we should all indulge in resistance against electricity," she says. "We may also need magical weaponry to pierce the beast's hide. All in all, we may be best advised to lure it into the shallowx, rather than going out into its turf; it has good camouflage and we do NOT wish it to catch us off-guard. Finally, I recommend we prepare long-range weaponry to counter its reach."

"Your friends have been very helpful Quinta. I've got that long-range weaponry ready!"

"If you will agree to lure it into the shallows... we shall require bait. Is there a butcher in town?"

There is no butcher locally per se, but the people living along the edge of the lake are fishermen or hunter-gatherers, so there is plenty of opportunity to acquire bait.

So, just before I proceed, just to get an idea of the buffs being used:

Cat - Zaghigoth casting touch of the sea.

Krolmnite - Zag casting touch of the sea, water breathing, and bull's strength; Nkechi casting water walk and bear's endurance. Do you want Krolm to have touch of the sea and water walk? If not, you could transfer one or the other to Quinta.

Yekskya - Zag casting touch of the sea; Nkechi casting divine favour and bull's strength.

Zag - casting barkskin on himself, leaving shield behind.

Anything else?

If Nkechi gives Krolmnite water walk, I'll give Quinta touch of the sea.

"I'll be your bait, if you think that might make the beast come out and face us!"

How ever you all want to hand out buffs is fine with me. I'm just ready to kick butt!

Don't forget the "breath like thunderbolts". I'd like electricity resistance.

I'm in agreement on the electricity resistance. Otherwise, sounds good.

Okay, so just to keep me right, and to help with interpreting results, you have in effect:

Cat - Touch of the Sea from Zag.

Krolmnite - Water Breathing and Bull's Strength from Zag; Water Walk and Bear's Endurance from Nkechi.

Quinta - Resist Energy (electricity) from Nkechi.

Yekskya - Touch of the Sea from Zag; Divine Favor, Bull's Strength, and Resist Energy (electricity) from Nkechi.

Zag - casting Barkskin on self.

The Lake of Vanished Armies
You decide to rest for the night, giving you a chance to plan and to prepare spells. In the morning, you gather your gear and set out in the reed boats provided by the local folk. Yekskya brandishes the hooked lance he procured, and each of you enjoy the benefits of Zaghigoth's and Nkechi's spellcasting. Nkechi wishes you well, as does Hskoro, though the nagaji looks hesitant even to venture near the shore. Oshok'arr by contrast tries to follow you out across the water, honking plaintively and treading water before swimming back to the shallows. I'm assuming that each of you is initially setting out in the reed boats. Even if you have water breathing or touch of the sea in effect, initially travelling by boat may be more comfortable. BTW, this is how I imagine the reed boats to look.

It is rather a pleasant outing, truth be told. The day is sunny and warm, and the lake is a vibrant deep blue. Fish seem plentiful, perch and shoals of sardines. Every so often you hear a splash, causing you to whip around towards the noise, but each time it is only a fish leaping out of the water to catch insects. You spend some time patrolling the center of the lake with no results. You begin to wonder, just how do you catch a lake monster?

=======

You have it right for Yeks except that the hooked lance is backup to his usual bow.
Yekskya is surprised to see how pleasant the lake is in the morning. The tension of the hunt for the lake monster soon wears off and he finds himself enjoying what will probably be an all too short break from the race to the ancient city.

I also gave Quinta touch of the sea instead of Krolmnite.

Zaghigoth points towards the north shore of the lake. "Ahead...looks like a sunken ship, I say. Seen enough of them now to know."

Spells Remaining:

Lvl 0 4/day, DC 14 Detect Magic, Read Magic, Mending, Resistance
Lvl 1 4/day, DC 15 Calm Animals
Lvl 2 3/day, DC 16 Burst of Radiance
Lvl 3 2/day, DC 17 Water Breathing

The paladin nods. "Yep, that's a ship out there, looks like. I wonder if the dragon scuttled it! Maybe it uses the vessel as a lair now. We could go investigate..."

"Sounds like a good plan. Lead the way and we can all go investigate."

"I'd rather lure it out than seek it in a lair it has arranged to its liking, with whi knows what kind of traps..."

"If you have an idea of how to lure it out, go ahead Quinta. I wasn't necessarily thinking of entering the wreck, but definitely thought to see what is nearby."

"Bah, I'll be your bait! If it has any honor, I'll call out a challenge to it! Krolmnite the Twice Blessed fears no dragon spawn. Smiad and Iomedae will not let such a beast bring harm to their champion!"

Yep, I'm going to die, lol.

"I was thinking more of dangling an animal carcass in the shallows."

"I could call forth a spirit of water to investigate."

"Now, that's smart thinking, Zag! Paddling along, I hear Zaghigoth's suggestion and agree with the idea.

"Yes, let's try that. Then we can consider Krolm's challenge or the carcass."

Sacrifice Burst of Radiance to cast Summon Nature's Ally II to conjure a small water elemental. Hopefully 30 seconds is enough.

I thought to have this up at the beginning of the week, but go taken down by stomach flu. But, it looks like you've been using the time productively!

First, here are some stats for the reed boats, thought they might come in handy.

The day does seem peaceful, and after Zaghigoth and Krolmnite spot what look like the remains of a ship, they lead the group in that direction. How best to lure out this beast, this spawn of the lake spirit Aomak? You have differing opinions. Quinta is of a mind to lure the reature out, perhaps with a tasty carcass. Krolmnite advocates investigating the wreck in the case that it might be the creature's lair, then the little gnome boldly volunteers to be the bait for Quinta's plan. Yekskya has his bow ready. Zaghigoth favors summoning a water elemental to investigate the wreck, and begins chanting a summoning spell, encouraged by Rowena.

You are still making plans as Krolmnite rows ahead, ready to call out a challenge in the name of Smiad and Iomedae. Suddenly fish scatter, and you can see an ominously large, dark shape deep in the water, submerged but passing between Krolmnite and the rest of you. It seems to have a long neck and tail, a broad streamlined body, and four long flippers. The little gnome seems to be the only one who hasn't noticed, but with her lightning reflexes it's Rowena who reacts first.

Over to you! First action goes to Cat, no surprise round as it didn't seem that any of you were taking actions to be stealthy, and the thing in the water isn't very stealthy at all. It's difficult to determine how deep the submerged shape is, perhaps 30feet?

Map of the Lake

Initiative
28 - Cat
21 - Spawn of Aomak
19 - Krolmnite
12 - Yekskya
6 - Zaghigoth
5 - Quinta

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Waiting on Cat...

I'll wait one more day to give Werner a chance to post, otherwise I'll NPC Cat until he has a chance to come back to the game.

The Beast Beneath the Waves - Round 1

"Watch out! Krolmnite, it's right underneath you!" The rogue indicates the creature's position by taking up her shortbow and taking aim. Readied action to shoot if the creature breaks the surface. Krolmnite just has time to turn around when a pair of massive jaws break the surface and snaps an enormous chunk out of his boat! The doughty gnome just barely manages to hang on, but he does see the arrow sticking out of the creature's snout, courtesy of Cat. 2 points damage to the creature, seven points damage to Krolmnite's boat.

Have at 'em!

Initiative
21 - Cat After held action
21 - Spawn of Aomak
19 - Krolmnite
12 - Yekskya
6 - Zaghigoth
5 - Quinta

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[ooc]Is the beast a dragon, or evil? That will change my damage if so.[/dice]

The gnome uses his smite ability and swings his greatsword at the monster.

Bull's Strength Smite Attack 1d20 + 10 + 2 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 10 + 2 + 3 = 24

Damage 1d10 + 4 + 2 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 + 2 + 4 = 19

"First arrow in! Come on, let's kill that overgrown lizard and we will all eat well tonight!"
Hands moving in a blur, another arrow appears on the string of my bow and I take aim again at the lake monster.

Attack, shortbow: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13
Damage, shortbow: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3
Status: AC 17 - HP 37/37

Quinta starts to sing, her voice bolstering the party even as the singer herself scoots backward in the boat - as far from the spawn as she can get!

Inspire courage +1 to all now, summoning magic next round.

Zag narrows his eyes at the creature as it emerges to bite at Krolmnite's boat, trying to get a read on just what the beast is. With a mental push, the conjured water elemental shimmers through the lake to attack the creature, even as Zag channels his power to summon another spirit.

Sacrifice Water Breathing to start casting Summon Nature's Ally III

Water Elemental can swim 90 ft so I think it can make it to the enemy.

Slam: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 21 (+2 from Augment Summoning, +1 Water Mastery)
Damage: 1d6 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9

Knowledge (Nature) 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15 if applicable

Lvl 0 4/day, DC 14 Detect Magic, Read Magic, Mending, Resistance
Lvl 1 4/day, DC 15 Calm Animals
Lvl 2 3/day
Lvl 3 2/day

Yekskya's reactions are not the quickest, but bolstered by the spell cast by Nkechi and Quinta's song he moves quickly to attack the beast now that it has surfaced. He plucks a thistle arrow from his quiver and sends it flying toward the long neck. As soon as the thistle arrow is away, he grabs a cold iron arrow and sets that one in flight right behind the first.
Attack 1: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (15) + 11 = 26
Damage 1: 1d8 + 14 ⇒ (4) + 14 = 18 plus 1 hp bleed for: 1d6 ⇒ 1 rounds. Magic, piercing
Attack 2: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (4) + 11 = 15
Damage 2: 1d8 + 14 ⇒ (6) + 14 = 20 Magic, cold iron, piercing

Denizen of the Lake - Round 1 continued

As the creature rears up out of the waters and tears a piece of Krolmnite's boat to shreds, the gnome twists round and rams his sword deep into the creature with tremendous strength. He shouts a challenge at the beast, and the challenge seems to resonate. 19 points damage, and you do also get your smite damage for fighting a dragon or evil creature - is that an extra four points damage? It's difficult to say just what type of beast it is, it doesn't seem to conform to expected types. You could try making a Knowledge check to try to identify it for certain, but you'd say at the lest that it's a dragon or evil outsider.

Before the monster can sink below the surface again, Yekskya fits two arrows to his bow in quick succession. The thistle arrow hits, biting deep. The second arrow is deflected by thick blue scales. It has a sleek head with bony, scaled ridges at the end of a long sinewy neck. A muscular, blue scaled body with an equally long tail, and four powerful fins. The two fore-fins have grown sharp claws at the end which could deliver sweeping blows. 18 points damage plus 1 point bleed damage from the thistle arrow, the second doesn't penetrate the creature's hide.

Trying to keep his boat steady, Zaghigoth completes his summoning spell, bringing forth a powerful water elemental. At his command it surges forward and rises up to slam a wall of water into the creature's side. The creature's neck whips out like a striking viper and its jaws close around the elemental. Biting down, the elemental's body is compromised and collapses. Zaghigoth begins a spell to summon another creature. The elemental fell victim to the creature's bite attack as it had superior reach and so took an attack of opportunity. The monster's confusing you, it seems related to a water-borne reptile known as an elasmosaurus, but it's more than just an animal or magical beast.

Concerned, Quinta edges back in her boat while she begins a song, a song of champions prevailing against the powers of darkness. She too begins a summoning spell.

Round 2

Cat fires another arrow. This time the arrow falls just short and splashes into the water.

The monster turns its attention back to the gnome and the greatsword threatening it. After back pedalling a few feet so as not to be directly under Krolmnite's boat, it opens its jaws and spits a bolt of lightning at the paladin! Five foot step up for creature, before making lightning attack. This is a breath weapon effect, it's DC 17 to evade or take 32 points electricity damage. The creature then dives below the waters, leaving Krolm's boat rocking wildly. Moved 50 feet down.

Updated Map

Initiative
21 - Cat After held action
21 - Spawn of Aomak
19 - Krolmnite
12 - Yekskya
6 - Zaghigoth
5 - Quinta

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Yes, DM, it take four extra points of damage from the smite then.

Reflex save with Evasion 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

The gnome, as a swift action, uses his Lay on Hands abilitity to help some of his wounds.

LOH 2d6 ⇒ (2, 3) = 5

He readies an action to slice into the beast when it reappears.

Yekskya calls out, "You all right Krolm!? Do we need to send someone to help heal you?" While waiting for an answer, Yekskya nocks another thistle arrow and waits patiently for the beast to resurface.
Ready action to fire thistle arrow when it reaches the surface again.
Readied Attack: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (15) + 13 = 28
Damage: 1d8 + 14 ⇒ (4) + 14 = 18 plus 1 hp bleed for: 1d6 ⇒ 1 rounds

Quinta continues to sing, but mixed in with the words about valour and strength are Words of Power that echo weirdly and seem to reach into strange distances unseen.

Starting bardic performance is a standard action, so my summons won't be here until next round. Casting Summon monster II. Maintaining inspire courage +1.

"I'm fine. Focus on the beast!

Round 2 continued
Sizzling with electricity, Krolmnite uses some of the holy power invested in him by Smiad to heal his wounds. He waits for his enemy to resurface.

Yekskya likewise waits with arrow drawn, steadying himself as the boat rocks on the disturbed waters. He can hear Quinta focusing on a summoning spell as he scans the waters.

Initiative
21 - Cat After held action
21 - Spawn of Aomak
19 - Krolmnite
12 - Yekskya
6 - Zaghigoth
5 - Quinta

======

Zag finishes his summoning spell, conjuring a shark 35 feet east of his boat where it waits for the creature to rise up and strike again. The druid rows his own boat forward to close the gap between himself and the paladin.

Putting the shark 35 feet directly east of my boat, then when the beast surfaces again to attack it will sally forth and try to bite it. Making some assumptions here that I can summon a shark into freshwater (figure that bull sharks are tropical freshwater sharks so it'd work) and that I can have the shark perform such a tactic despite its animal intelligence. I move my boat 30 ft diagonally towards Krolmnite.

Readied Attack: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (20) + 8 = 28
Damage: 1d8 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9
Confirm: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12
Damage: 1d8 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9

Round 2 continued
Zaghigoth completes his summoning spell and a snuggle-toothed bull shark appears just ahead of his boat. The shark circles belligerently as Zag rows closer to Krolmnite.

Quinta continues to focus on her own summonings, calling a creature forth from Beyond.

Updated Map

Initiative
21 - Cat After held action
21 - Spawn of Aomak
19 - Krolmnite
12 - Yekskya
6 - Zaghigoth
5 - Quinta

Letting out a soft sigh of relief, "Thank the Gods that I wasn't its target. Then again, I'd probably have moved out of the way in time, unlike our poor gnome paladin over there." I draw yet another arrow and wait for the monster to emerge again.

Attack, shortbow: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16
Damage, shortbow: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3
Status: AC 17 - HP 37/37

Quinta finishes her summoning spell, and an octopus appears in the water near her. The creature looks at her with golden googly-eyes, as though to ask what it's here for.

Ignoring the summoned creature's puzzlement, Quinta continues to sing, but stands up in her boat and unfurls her whip.

Quinta summons a celestial octopus and readies her whip for combat in case the creature surfaces nearby.

The Spawn of Aomak - Round 3
The water becomes still for a few long seconds as you begin to wonder if the thing is going to return. A mass of bubbles rising to the surface is the only warning you get before it breaches, once again choosing to focus on Krolmnite and his boat. Cat draws another arrow and fires at the creature, but her arrow bounces off its hardened scales. Zaghigoth's bull shark is bold, and darts in to rip a trunk out of one of the beast's flippers. 9 points of damage to the scion of Aomak. Not a critical hit, but a terrific hit nonetheless.

The creature retaliates by crashing down onto Krolmnite's boat, smashing one end to bits and as it grabs the boat in its jaws it threatens to pull the raft down into the depths of the lake as it tries to submerge again. Krolmnite, you can take your readied action as the creature surfaces in striking distance. However, as it tries to sink your boat please can you make a Reflex save against DC 15 to avoid being dragged under along with your craft. The boat is going down, so success means that you are in the water.

Updated Map

Initiative
21 - Cat
21 - Spawn of Aomak
19 - Krolmnite
12 - Yekskya
6 - Zaghigoth
5 - Quinta

======

Think my Round 2 readied action would also go off so my new spot in initiative should be right before the Spawn. You should take off one point of damage though because it looks like it surfaced outside of point blank range.

Yekskya grunts as his arrow lances into the beast, but knowing he needs to act quickly to save Krolm, he quickly nocks and fires off two more arrows.
Attack 1 (Thistle arrow): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (10) + 10 = 20
Damage 1: 1d8 + 13 ⇒ (2) + 13 = 15 plus 1 hp bleed damage for: 1d6 ⇒ 2 rounds Magic, piercing
Attack 2 (Cold iron arrow): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (13) + 10 = 23
Damage 2: 1d8 + 13 ⇒ (5) + 13 = 18 Magic, cold iron, piercing

The gnome continues his smite ability and swings his greatsword at the monster as it reappears so briefly before it bites him.

Bull's Strength Smite Attack 1d20 + 10 + 2 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 10 + 2 + 3 = 16

Damage 1d10 + 4 + 2 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 + 2 + 4 = 20

Reflex save 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20

Krolmnite is now figuratively and literally all wet.

The octopus darts in and takes a bite at the monster, as did the bull shark before it!

1d20 + 5 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 + 5 = 28 for 1d3 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 + 1 = 5 plus poison. Fort. DC 13 for 1 Str. consecutive over 6 rounds.

Meanwhile, Quinta again weaves Words of Power into her song, setting up a terrible racket inside the beast's skull that no one else can hear!

Ear-piercing scream for 2d6 ⇒ (3, 1) = 4 sonic damage. Fort. DC 15 for half. Fail and be dazed for one round.

Zag urges the summoned shark to attack again as he continues rowing his boat towards Krolmnite's position.

Bite: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15
Damage: 1d8 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16

Round 2/5 of Shark

The Spawn of Aomak - Round 3 continued

@Yekskya: Yes, you're readied action should have gone when the creature resurfaced.

Yekskya's arrow bites deeply into the monster's thick hide, embedding itself and causing a nagging pain. 18 points damage plus the 1 point bleed damage.

Krolmnite takes advantage of the monster's reappearance to make his move as well. With his enhanced strength he cleaves at the creature's neck with all his might, but the blade merely slaps against it's scales. The beast snags his boat and Kromnite just manages to hurl himself free and into the water before the creature begins to duck below the surface, taking the remnants of his boat with him.

Zaghigoth's summoned bull shark darts in to take a bite out of your adversary, but it struggles as well. Its bites seem no more than a nibble to the creature, even though the shark loses several teeth in the process. As the half-orc tries to paddle to help Krolmnite, the creature rakes him with an enormous clawed fin. You were within the creature's reach, so the movement provoked an attack of opportunity, a claw attack against AC 21 for 12 points damage.

The shark is joined by Quinta's celestial octopus. It's more successful with its bite, finding a vulnerable area and injecting a painful poison. Meanwhile, Quinta uses her magic to send an ear-piercing scream at the creature. It cocks its head, it seems to be feeling the cumulative pain from its many wounds. Made first save against the poison successfully, took 5 points damage; also made its save against the ear-piercing scream, taking 2 points sonic damage.

Rowena, over to you!

Updated Map Zaghigoth I forgot to move your position before taking a screen shot of the map, so you are alongside Krolmnite.

Initiative
21 - Cat
21 - Yekskya (after readied action)
21 - Krolmnite (after readied action)
21 - Spawn of Aomak
6 - Zaghigoth
5 - Quinta

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