DM Bigrin's Second Darkness (Inactive)

Game Master bigrin42

I did forget to mention, while we know the star bridge isn't trapped, we may want to start on the real bridge and save the star path until we know we need it. Either/or, since I don't know the mechanics of it exactly.

"I would trust a moonlight bridge from Desna over that thing, no matter how good the stonework" she adds with a sideways glance at Brue.

Kel can cast protection from evil, communal on the party

the bridge will extend 80 feet and Kel can create 5 of them per day

"A bridge we can trust sounds wonderful," Lefrik agrees happily, "Praise Desna for the aid." And he means it.

While the group was still moving towards the gate cave....

"I mean it," Anklebiter says, happily. "The first thing I want to do when we get up top is sit in the sun, drink a flagon of clean water, crunch some fruits and eat a roast chicken. With lots of sauce. And spices. I might not be able to taste the fruit, but I am coveting the structure! And spiced chicken, hmmm.... And just to feel the warm sun on my skin again will be a joy. How about you, friends? What's the first thing you wanna do when we get back to the surface?"

"The sun, for sure," Bruendor replies. "I know the depths well, but I've never been in them for this long. A long bath to wash clean of everything we did here, and maybe just hearing music that wasn't set to the tortured screams of the house slaves."

"And...wait, goblins can't taste fruit? You don't taste sweets at all?"

"We Goblins have a much more limited palate than species like Dwarves, Elves, humans .... most folks," Anklebiter says, shrugging. "I didn't know that until I read a scholarly work written about my people by humans*, though. For us, it's normal. We can taste meat fairly well, but the rest not so much. Traditional Goblin cooking is full of sauces and spices and buried in salt so we can enjoy our food more, not just because we're crazy little creeplings plotting to light bonfires in each other's bellies."

*: Goblins of Golarion.

"Sunlight, a breeze, women to laugh with..." He muses, "Ale, yes, and deer, not that damn rothe."

"I never knew," Bruendor muses, realizing there's so much about his close companion. "Maybe when we get back...could you make snake with green sauce? I'd like to see what your people see in it."

"I'll be happy to give it a try!" Anklebiter agrees to Bruendor's request, nodding happily. "But for you, I think I'll tone down the ingredients. More like a pinch of salt, instead of a whole bag."

The Goblin elbows Lefrik in the thigh, grinning widely.
"Just to laugh with, giant friend Lefrik Olegson? Then why not laugh with Calla or Kelendra? Try a few jokes, see if you can make them smile."

"I never thought I'd say this, but I suppose it will be nice to just relax," Calla says, thoughfully. "Growing up, it wasn't much different than down here. Father was human, but he might as well have been a drow matriarch. I ... it's been different the last months. I would trust you lot as if you weren't family; at least not the family I ever knew."

The Goblin elbows Lefrik in the thigh, grinning widely.

"Just to laugh with, giant friend Lefrik Olegson? Then why not laugh with Calla or Kelendra? Try a few jokes, see if you can make them smile."

Calla laughs? He wonders but does not say outloud.

"I never thought I'd say this, but I suppose it will be nice to just relax," Calla says, thoughfully. "Growing up, it wasn't much different than down here. Father was human, but he might as well have been a drow matriarch. I ... it's been different the last months. I would trust you lot as if you weren't family; at least not the family I ever knew."

"I know sometimes we anger you, Calla, but you've more than earned our trust and more long ago."

"If it helps, I like you all like not-family-except-my-granny, too," Anklebiter says. "And she may not have been my actual granny; she got a bit confused about things at times. But she was the one to take me in after I was let out of the cage and she said she was my granny, so I was okay with calling her that.
I mean, I don't even know for sure who my parents are. Goblin babies are put in a cage together and sort-of raised communally. If they survive long enough, they get let out and get taught. Granny taught me and shared her food and her hut with me, so she was alright.
But like Calla says, it's better here, with all of you."

"I think if there's one thing I've learned since I left Janderhoff," Bruendor says to Anklebiter, though it's clear he's addressing more than just the goblin. "Family isn't just your blood. It's who you choose to be with. My mother has all but disowned me, and convinced the powers-that-be in Janderhoff to exile me. Just calling AB a friend would be enough to cement that in their minds. But you four? Yeah, you're the family I've chosen. If I had to do it all over again, I wouldn't change anything."

He's silent for a moment. "Well, maybe the part where I went swimming with an aboleth. That wasn't my best moment."

"Well. Being stuck in a falling, rolling tower wasn't any of our finest times, either. But! We slew a dragon together! Remember that?"

"Now that was good time. Felt like a proper hero then."

"I'll be a lot more relaxed when we're back on the surface. Until then it will be hard to find any comfort." Kel looks across the bridge and chasm to the gate on the far side.

how far is it across? will one 80 foot bridge get us over, or do we need to plan a bridge transition in the middle?

"Good times..." Proud of the dragon as well

See OOC thread for ruling of magic circle spells

Given the lack of lighting down here, Kel had no way of knowing how far across the chasm went. The braziers by the gate gave off a decent light, but it petered out before it hit the far edge of the chasm. Given Calla's and Kelendra's abilities to see in near-dark, and Bruendor's darkvision, it seemed that one moonlight bridge might be able to span the chasm. There was really only one way to find out.

And my Darkvision, don't forget. ;) Goblin bennies ftw.

"Staggered formation or tortoise?" Anklebiter asks. "Whichever it is, we need to get moving."

Sure, sure. you count too. ;)

"You're spell provides us protection, so let's get out of here," Calla says.

All together now.

where do we want to extend the bridge? over the existing one? side by side with the existing one? waste one to see across the cavern, as it is a moonlight bridge and we have low light vision (perfect for moonlight)

Kel moves to the designated spot and calls upon Desna's blessing. From her feet a glow of silvery light pools and spreads rapidly as it stretches across the chasm.

create a Moonlight Bridge where the party designates

I say over the bridge; gives us a potential landing spot if something happens to it, though it does mean we're more accessible to something on it or lurking under it. Even so, though...

Anyone else want to weigh in? Bigrin's been busy so let's make sure we're doing our part so that when he does have time he can move us along.

Too late! MWahahahahah!!!!!

Upon re-reading the bloodlink description, and the effects of the wish that Alcavniss used, I think she would have just dispelled the recorporeal incarnation spell. You should all still have the other properties of the bloodlink, including the ability to use drow spell-like abilities, understand and speak undercommon, proficiency with hand crossbow, shortsword, and rapier, and have a CE aura.

Clustered in a tight group to take the best advantage of Anklebiter's spell, you make your way along Kelendra's moonlight bridge, glowing mere inches above the wind-swept span of rock. As you made your way out onto the span, you could see the other side of the chasm about eighty feet away. When you were about halfway across, a shout echoed through the chamber and a hail of crossbow bolts smacked into the tightly packed group.

A couple of the bolts smacked against Anklebiter, bruising the goblin, but not penetrating his magical defenses. Calla received most of the barrage though, the fickle winds of fate driving four missiles at the inquisitor. Most skipped off armor or magical wards, but one made it through. She gritted her teeth against the poison, and tried to resist its effects.

Looking up and to the left, you can see a group of drow soldiers peering over a ledge about 40 feet above you, already reloading their crossbows. Gadak, seeing this, turned and bolted back the way you had come. Before you, scattered around the portal, were the skeletons of giants, placed in poses of peaceful repose.

"Wrong way, Gadak! They'll hunt you down if you go it alone!"

To the others, he says: "We need to move! Calla, can you make it?"

Huh, who'd have guessed there'd be an ambush? Also, welcome back!

Fortitude (with Shake It Off): 1d20 + 10 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 10 + 2 + 2 = 16 Whew. The only way I could screw that up was with a 1; that said, I always want to be next to as many people as possible in these situations, as I get bonuses for adjacent allies.

"Calistria stab their eyes," Calla snarls, "of course, I can make it! But I bet those skeletons will have something to say about it!"

Pulling her bow string in a tight arc, Calla remains with the others even as she invokes her goddess power and sends an arrow streaking toward the drow.

Actions will depend on whether the others want to go tangle with the skeletons now. If they move forward, Calla will move 30 ft. with them and fire one elf-bane arrow toward the drow. If they stand still, she'll fire the one elf-bane arrow and follow it up with two regular arrows, which I'll roll just in case.

Swift: Invoke judgment (healing and justice)
Move: See above.
+1 adaptive composite longbow (rapid shot): 1d20 + 11 - 2 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 11 - 2 + 2 = 14
Damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4
+1 adaptive composite longbow (rapid shot): 1d20 + 11 - 2 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 11 - 2 + 2 = 21
Damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4
+1 adaptive composite longbow (rapid shot): 1d20 + 6 - 2 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 6 - 2 + 2 = 12
Damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

Is the drow's ledge on that map? We could also try to move under it to give ourselves some improved cover if we have to fight giant skeletons.

what's the grouping of the drow, Kel will likely use a shooting star if she can get three in the blast of 5 foot radius, or she could use Daylight assuming we do not have light sensitivity?

Lefrik frowns, "All I want is out of this place. Might as well leave a souvenir for them."
He lobs his javelin at one of the drow that wounded Calla

to hit: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 8 = 23

Dmg if it somehow hits 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

there, it's gone forever! We're free of the Javelin! FREEE!

@Calla, it is basically directly over you on the right hand side of that bridge, about 40' up. It was hard to re-purpose an existing map for this.

@Kelendra - The drow are behind cover, so it is hard to make out, but they appear spread out over a wide area. You do not have light sensitivity, as you lost your darkvision when the recorporeal incarnation spell was ended

Kel prays to Desna, then erupts in bright light that floods the cavern. "We're easy targets on the bridge while they have cover above us. We need to reach the gate."

Kel casts Daylight on her hair, then moves with the party as they continue across the bridge

the chasm is 80 feet across? So one bridge reaches from edge to edge, in particular, one bridge NOT over the existing bridge would reach edge to edge at some point along the chasm?

If your moonlight bridge is at least 80 feet long, then yes.

Calla's arrow spanged off of the cliff face as she moved, keeping with Lefrik and Kelendra. For some reason, Lefrik seemed happy as his javelin pierced one of the drow, then fell into the abyss after the dark elf yanked it free. Kelendra's spell lit up the area as bright as day, causing everyone to shield their eyes. Up on the cliff, the effects were more physical as every one of the drow began to cry out in pain.

"Let's get out of here before they recover! Dash for the gate, run through before the bones get up!" Anklebiter says.

The Goblin casts a quick spell, summoning illusory doppelgangers around him. When the group moves, so does he.

Mirror image for 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6 doubles.

"Don't have to tell me twice, AB!", Bruendor shouted, racing for the elfgate. "Get a move on, people! GO!"

Just doing a double move towards the gate. Move me to Z24.

Kel runs with the group across the bridge as they flee for the gate on the other side. "If the bones animate follow my lead."

Kel moves along with Brue

Calla, growling in frustration that even leaving the underdark isn't easy, joins the others in flight. double move

If possible, she invokes her judgment too, though as they're running from the drow, I'm not sure that's possible: resiliency and purity.

As Calla ran forward, she used her powers to bring forth a judgement of resiliency and purity, protecting herself from the poisoned quarrels raining down upon them. She and Lefrik ran neck and neck, the others coming up from behind, except for poor Anklebiter who was struggling to catch up after casting his protective spell.

Ahead, a giant, multi-legged shape moved out from behind the gate. It was a spider easily fifteen feet tall. Its legs were the size of small trees, and its eyes glowed a brilliant green. Calla's eyes were on the creature, so she did not immediately notice the ripple of the air around as a threat until she was folded over a blade, her blood spilling on the cavern floor. Another blow caught her from behind, then another. Her sight darkened as the wounds took effect, and the terrible damage wracked her body with pain.

Standing over her was a drow warrior, whom you immediately recognized as Tiryin Vonnarc, Second Son of House Vonnarc, a capable fighter. He was twirling a double short-sword in his hands, with a look of malicious glee on his face. His hands moved in a blur as he moved his blades back to a guard position.

Bruendor cursed as he saw the twin perils of a massive spider and Calla being gutted by the Second Son. "AB! Spider!", he shouted, rushing to Calla's aid. He spared no words for the drow warrior, preferring instead to let Bloodbane do the talking.

Move to AD23 and attack.

Attack, bane, favored enemy: 1d20 + 11 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 11 + 2 + 2 = 22
Damage, favored enemy: 1d6 + 4 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 4 + 2 + 2 = 11

"Why just the spider?" Anklebiter asks as he rushes forward. "I'm in the mood for roasting me at least one Vonnarc before we leave this cesspool!"

The little Wizard hurls a Fireball, which should hit both the Drow warrior and his arachnid companion without hurting any party members.

Move to Z 22; cast Fireball at AH 24 to hit both the spider and Tiryin Vonnarc. Ref. DC 18 to halve 8d6 ⇒ (1, 3, 2, 3, 3, 1, 5, 1) = 19 fire damage.

Psst! Brue! Bloodbane is an Elf bane weapon. +2 to attack rolls, +2d6 to damage. ;)

Yep, got the +2 bonus to attack and damage, just forgot the additional +2d6. Pretty certain 22 won't hit, but just in case...

BANE: 2d6 ⇒ (5, 4) = 9

On the off chance it does, I wouldn't want you to miss out on dealing delicious, delicious bane damage. :)

"She's not the one you want, is she now?" Lefrik challenges Tiryin

Bruendor's strike was deflected by Tiryin's spinning blades, and the dwarf ducked as Anklebiter's fireball sent an explosion of fire and light through the cavern. The overpressure from the explosion nearly sent everyone to their knees, but neither the spider nor Tiryin seemed to have taken the full brunt of the blast. The spider moved forwards, its long legs skittering on the stone as it moved. Its eyes glowed red in the cave light, and as it closed on Lefrik, a beam of fire shot out from the eyes, striking the barbarian in the chest and burning him badly. Then, while Lefrik was distracted and partially blinded from the fiery light, the spider closed, lunged, and grabbed the man in its mandibles.

Grunting from the pain of the surprise assault, Calla steps back, behind Bruendor and fires three arrows in quick succession at the spider. Though the pain and anger throws off her aim, even as her wound begins to heal thanks to her divine magic.

"Calistria stab your eyes, let him go!" she curses at the beast

Swift action to switch protection judgment to justice.
5-foot step to AC-23
Rain hell down (or not).

+1 adaptive composite longbow (rapid shot, point blank): 1d20 + 11 + 1 - 2 - 2 ⇒ (4) + 11 + 1 - 2 - 2 = 12
Damage: 1d8 + 2 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 2 + 4 = 14
+1 adaptive composite longbow (rapid shot, point blank): 1d20 + 11 + 1 - 2 - 2 ⇒ (12) + 11 + 1 - 2 - 2 = 20
Damage: 1d8 + 2 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 2 + 4 = 9
+1 adaptive composite longbow (rapid shot, point blank): 1d20 + 6 + 1 - 2 - 2 ⇒ (10) + 6 + 1 - 2 - 2 = 13
Damage: 1d8 + 2 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 2 + 4 = 11

Kel steps forward and directs her harshest wrath on Tiryin.

shift to Z-23 and use Interstellar Void (Su) on the drow warrior

Interstellar Void: 8d6 ⇒ (6, 2, 5, 4, 4, 6, 5, 1) = 33 damage, DC 19 Fort for half

Lefrik curses as the wrong foe burns and grabs him in its mandibles.

He attempts to break free., "Never was a fan of..."a grunt ...bugs."

CMB+d20 I think1d20 + 12 ⇒ (19) + 12 = 31

As Lefrik struggled to get out of the spider's grasp, Calla fired a brace of arrows at the creature. Its armored chitin turned the arrows away easily enough, and its flensing jaws held Lefrik tight. Kelendra attempted to freeze the drow warrior, but she could see that he shrugged off most of her spell. He didn't weather it all, however, and she could see that he was hurting a bit.

From the shelf above the bridge, the cries and moans of blinded drow shifted to shouts of anger, and another wave of crossbow quarrels rained down on Anklebiter and Kelendra. Two of Anklebiter's images disappeared, but neither of the actual people were injured. Tiryin moved with Calla, driving that odd double-ended swords into her again and again, finding a weak spot in her armor with one of the blows.

Anklebiter moves to get a clear line of sight on the monstrous spider and levels his staff against the monstrous vermin. From its crown of black flame, a ray of sizzling, coruscating, necromantic energy shoots forth to drain the enemy's strength!

Move to Z 25, use 1 charge for Ray of enfeeblement to deal 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10 Strength damage to the spider, Fort. DC 16 for half damage. Ranged touch attack 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22.

I missed my initial three Fort saves, so here they are, then the new ones. First ones get +2 for judgment, and I think I was next to both Lefrik and Bruendor, so +2 for that. Also, I had moved to AC-23.

Fortitude (with Shake It Off): 1d20 + 10 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 10 + 2 + 2 = 31
Fortitude (with Shake It Off): 1d20 + 10 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 10 + 2 + 2 = 18
Fortitude (with Shake It Off): 1d20 + 10 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 10 + 2 + 2 = 32
Fortitude (with Shake It Off): 1d20 + 10 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 10 + 2 = 18
Fortitude (with Shake It Off): 1d20 + 10 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 10 + 2 = 14
Fortitude (with Shake It Off): 1d20 + 10 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 10 + 2 = 13 Damn, think I might've resisted them all to that point. I'm assuming I'm unconscious? Let me know, if not, and I'll post actions.