DM Bigrin's Shattered Star (Group B) (Inactive)

Game Master bigrin42

"Well if we can locate the shard, can't we just damage the plates and disrupt the rift thingy? Where haven't we searched yet other than the rift?"

"Well, we could do a thorough search of this room first, in case the shard isn't hiding in plain sight. As for the plates, I frankly have no idea what would happen if we destroyed them. It could merely disrupt the energies from the rift, or it might destabilize it in a dangerous fashion. As for where else we haven't yet looked--"

Shabbezz unfurls the map for all present to see.

I will remind you all that you took a left turn to get to this point, at a junction where there was at least 2 or 3 other exits.

Angelica shrugs, using the movement to hide a slight shiver of the idea of an opening to Hell right here in he beloved Magnimar. "Oh, this place has turned out to be a heck of a lot bigger than we ever figured. There's still plenty of places to look. All the same, I'll look the place over as long you all make sure nothing comes out of that while I do." She begins to search the room.

As she does so, she calls back, "If it's worth a shot, I'm ready to disarm those plate however I need to. I've got some experience in dismantling things."

Perception 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11
+1 vs traps, and +4 vs stone like creatures

Angelica finds nothing else of interest in the chamber.

Well, there's more places left to explore than this room. I'm still uncomfortable standing on or near these tiles. Maybe we'll have to have some planar experts come here to dismantle this contraption later. You know, after we've found the shard? he asks with a wink.

I will remind you all that you took a left turn to get to this point, at a junction where there was at least 2 or 3 other exits.

Gah; how'd I miss that?

"The shard is our priority, not the plates or the rift," she says, agreeing with Zaphomil. "It doesn't look unstable for the time being anyway. Let's go back a ways and explore the other paths.

"Angel--before we wander off, can you see if your shard points into that rift? It might at least give us a hint." Harbug looks to the changeling while she searches. "If not, I definitely think we go finish searching on this plane until we're sure it's not here."

Angelica bats her eyes as she responds to the request, "You know, Buggy-baby, only because you ask so sweetly. Something about the way you let the word Angel roll off your tongue..." She feigns a shiver, before grabbing the shard and focusing it once again. Explaining as she does so, "You know, every time I've used this, it just shows me this piling, nothing more. It doesn't point, or give any finer details that this great, big, stupid column in the middle of the bay."

As Angelica suspects, the vision of the next shard's location simply shows what she has seen before, starting with a bird's eye view of The Crow, and slowly moving in to focus on the outside of the piling.

[b]"Well, what'd you see? Are we heading into the hell-hole or going to the other rooms?"[b]

Angelica just shakes her head, "No, Buggy, same as last time. Just shows me the general area. It seems like we really have to find these things the hard way. Well, not harder than not having the initial vision, but not easy either."

She turns, ready to leave, "If we aren't going to destroy this thing now, let's get back to looking. I say we finish this maze, just in case something else is hidden in here, then go back to the three-way..." She gives Zaph mock scolding look, "No!, Get your mind out of the gutter. The point where it split between here, the doors and the cave. What a naughty little gnome you are."

Placing her left hand on the wall once more, Angelica follows the maze back to what she is sure is the place where they entered. Remembering the southern offshoot from the central chamber, she backtracks. Then, taking the southern route and following the same procedure, she found another exit from the maze. From this one she could see a rusty portcullis around a corner.

Here's the map

Zaphomil's eyes dance as he straightens and levels a gaze at Angelica. I'll have you know that I am a gnome of impeccable character. Any rumors you may have heard about my person were all... very much fun.

"Mammals..." Shabbezz mutters irritably, but follows behind as per usual.

I am sure you are waiting on your scout, but do you guys have a plan for moving forward?

Yes... Moving forward -- to glory!!!

Angelica creeps forward toward the bars, but not before whispering, "I'm going to have a peek, but as I said before, a closed door works for us just as much as against us. It may be best to just look, then move back to the intersection with the cavern." With that, she sneaks up toward the portcullis to see what lies beyond.

Stealth 1d20 + 10 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 10 + 1 = 27
Perception 1d20 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 8 + 1 = 24
+1 vs traps, and +4 vs stone like creatures

Beyond the portcullis, Angelica can see a skeleton, still clad in its breastplate, hunched over a winch. The winch, from what Angelica can see, is likely the means by which the portcullis is raised. The skeleton's breastplate appears to be scorched, as if burned in a long-ago fire.

Shabbezz waits patiently with the others for Angelica to report back. She appreciated the changeling's prudence, and thought it best to return to the intersection to scout all possible avenues of egress before selecting the most appealing option.

Angelica is somewhat pleased by this development, as it takes any punch out of the debate. "Well, a closed portcullis, with the way to open it on the other side. Looks like this one's best left closed for now. Easy enough. Let's go back to the rough tunnel. I don't think we'll find the shard, but it's never good to leave an open door at you back, unless it's your own escape route." With that she leads the others to the intersection, and prepares to go the way she planned, barring any argument against it.

Stealth 1d20 + 10 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 10 + 1 = 18
Perception 1d20 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 8 + 1 = 28
+1 vs traps, and +4 vs stone like creatures

It took some time to traverse back through the maze of the rift siphon, and back to the intersection. The western passage had rough hewn walls, as if a passage was already here when the builders created this facility, and then left. The tunnel moved on, with a low ceiling of only six feet or so, for a hundred feet or so before coming to a stagnant pool of water. The depth was undeterminable through the dark, turgid liquid. Sheets of fungus covered the walls, which were slick with moisture.

Here's the map

Yuck, Zaphomil makes a face as he stays away from the muck-covered walls as best he can.

Then he spies the pool of water up ahead. Mind that water. Lots of things could be lurking in it, depending on how deep it is.

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

Angelica stops at the pool, considering her options. It looks like a small pool, but without being able to see, it could be much deeper than expected. Reluctantly, she pulls her ever present silk rope and grappling hook. "Let's plumb the depths a little." She winds up and swings the hook end of the rope across to the other side of the pool. Then, slowly, she pulls it back toward her, allowing the weight of the hook to pull the rope down, but not the weight of the rope. Based on how much of the rope is wet, she can determine the depth of the pool.

"Good thinking," Shabbezz compliments the rogue on her ingenuity. "Now let's hope there's nothing in there that would mistake that grappling hook for a fishing lure."

The water is deep. Angelica let about twenty foot of line out before she felt the grappling hook bump the bottom. Judge from the way the rope was pulling, there seemed to be a current down there as well, belying the stagnant looking surface.

"If there is anything, then it's time for some spear fishing." Harbug moves next to Angelica and turns his spear tip toward the water, ready to stab should anything from the depths make a disturbance.

The young woman gathers her rope and hook, before returning them to her backpack, coiled and ready for use. "Well, it's well over our heads, with a touch of an undercurrent. I'm an okay swimmer, but I don't think Buddy-pal will make it across. In fact, he may just make a strong anchor to leave on this end if we wanted use a rope to cross. Other than that, I say go another direction for now, and come back to deal with this if we've no other options."

"Agreed. There's no sense in inviting anymore unnecessary perils into this expedition."

"What about around the corner? I bet at least one of us could jump across and take a peek."

Who's jumping into the water? I mean, over the water, of course :)

Alternatively, there are 2 closed doors on your back trail (one to the east, and another to the south. Which of them do you investigate first?

I'm calling 'not it' for the jump attempt. Even with my racial trait my Acrobatics skill is only +2, I'd never make it.

"You're welcome to try," she tells the orc, "but I'm sitting this one out. In any case, I think we should go back and search the eastern door first, then the southern one. We can plan our next move after that."

Angelica shakes her head at Harbug, "I agree with the little one. I don't plan on going across that water unless we have to. There's no sense in throwing myself over some underground flow just to see what's around the corner. I think Shabbs here has it right. Going through the east door is just fine for now." With that, Angelica will lead them back to the doors, before searching them both prior to opening anything.

Stealth 1d20 + 10 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 10 + 1 = 15
Perception 1d20 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 8 + 1 = 29
+1 vs traps, and +4 vs stone like creatures

The eastern door opens easily, being neither locked nor trapped. The room beyond is square, and completely devoid of creatures or furnishings. In fact, the only things of note in the entire room are a door in the eastern wall, and a plaque over it. The bronze plaque is green with corrosion, and inscribed with familiar-looking runes.

"Don't leave the cages open," Zaphomil translates. That would seem wise. Pretty obvious, really. I wonder what sort of dullards were in Alaznist's employ that such a rule needed spelling out.

"Well let's see what is behind this door and see if we can find these cages."
Jakscar will move to the door and open it up, sword in hand and ready.

"It pays not to underestimate your assistants." Shabbezz comments to the gnome. "And from what we know of Alaznist she probably preferred to use slave labor or bound fiends, neither of which tend to make for the most competent staff."

As Jakscar reaches for the door, the wizard ceases the chatter and tenses in anticipation of trouble.

Jakscar reached around Angelica and simply opened the door. A long room was revealed, with stone tables lining the sides. On top of these tables are battered metal cages of various sizes, many of which hold the skeletal remains of various occupants, Some appear to have been forcibly wrenched open, and lie in ruins. The mystery of the former occupants did not last long as a hideous forms flung itself at Jakscar, gibbering incoherently in sounds that resembled a language, but probably weren't.

Composed of half-formed body parts, the creature stood on two monstrous legs. A mouth full of jagged teeth dominated the creature's bulbous head. I's soft and moist flesh pulsed with writhing veins, lying just beneath the semi-transparent skin.

KN-Arcana: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (17) + 7 = 24
KN-History: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9
KN-Nature: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21
KN-Planes: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20
If I succeed at an appropriate KN check, questions in order (more success->more info I believe) are: 1) Is it immune to mind affecting (or immunities generally if I can get that much); 2) Special attacks; 3) Resistances; 4) AC.
Harbug hears the slobbery gibbering and charges into the room to assist Jakscar and Angelica, ready to stab whatever is making the noise with his longspear.

If the doorway does not provide cover (and/or Harbug can make an attack of opportunity on BA-37 from AZ-35, then: Move to AZ-35, ready to stab when/if the creature gets in range, and take the attack of opportunity if it leaves the threatened square, thus provoking from movement. (i.e. it moves into the room).

If the doorway provides cover to BA-37 from AZ-35 (and thus no AoO is possible), then: Move to AY-36, ready to stab when/if the creature gets in longspear range.

Going to roll the AoO just in case it happens in addition to the readied attack; DM Bigrin, please let me know whether to keep the AoO roll for future use if it does not happen, or whether to just roll new rolls going forward, I'm fine with either.

Ready attack, longspear, misc: 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 5 + 1 = 20 +2 more if there is a flank; Dmg if hit: 1d8 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10

Attack of opportunity, longspear, misc: 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 5 + 1 = 11; Dmg if hit: 1d8 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8

Needs dungeoneering, as it is an aberration.

Doing the check first, then I'll post my actions:

Knowledge (Dungeoneering): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (14) + 8 = 22

Move to BA-34.

Shabbezz snuck a peek around her compatriots and grimaced. She removes a wand from her belt as she speaks.

Minor action: remove wand.

"I think I recognize this thing; it's called a Fleshdreg. They're the results of failed experiments in fleshwarping; creatures similar to these occasionally resulted back in Nex, near the fleshforges of Ecanus. They are not friendly. They also possess slight resistance to spells and complete immunity to mind-effecting magic, which puts me at somewhat of a loss. My advice to the rest of you: hit it hard and do it quickly, please."

Activating the wand of mage armor (CL1, 7 charges remaining) as a standard action; +4 bonus to AC for 1 hour.

Jakscar's feline reactions give him time to pounce straight into the path of the fiend his blades dicing the air in front of him.

Step to BB37

attack sword: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 6 + 1 = 13
damage: 1d8 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 2 + 1 = 9
attack silver dagger: 1d20 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 4 + 1 = 12
damage dagger: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

Harbug positioned himself to attack anything coming through the doorway. In complete support of this plan, Jakscar launched himself into the room, blocking the doorway completely. The catfolk's attacks went wide, as did his eyes when he saw the other three creatures in teh room. Saliva flew from wide jaws as the creatures attacked.

"Jakscar, back up so we can pin them at the door! I'm getting a gift ready for you!" Harbug begins chanting in orcish and waving a hand around, his spear held, not ready, in the other.

Casting Celestial (good equiv. of infernal per DM) Healing, 1 round cast, touch spell. Grants Fast Healing 1 for 10 rounds. Since Harbug needs a hand free for casting, he is not threatening any squares at the moment.

Bigrin, you might have missed it, but I moved to BA-34 in the last round.

5-foot-step to BB-34.

Minor action: stow wand.

The grippli suddenly gets an idea.

"JAKSCAR! Get away from the door! I've got a spell that can slow them down and I need you out of the way, NOW!"

Bear with me, this may get complex. I want to cast a grease spell in a 10-foor square on BB-37, BB-38, BC-37, and BC-38. Any fleshdregs that are in the area of effect when the spell is cast will have to make a successful Reflex save (DC 15 in my case) or fall. If they move while the spell is in effect (duration 3 minutes [18 combat rounds]) will have to succeed on a DC 10 acrobatics check to move at half speed; if they fail it, they can't move this turn (and must make a Reflex DC 15 save or fall), and if they fail by 5 or more they fall. After the spell is cast, if they don't move on their turn they are not flat-footed and do not have to make the check.

If Jakscar takes the withdraw action this round as a full-round action he can move at double speed away from the fleshdregs without incurring any attacks of opportunity. This will also get him out of the grease spell's area of effect; otherwise he will be caught in it and forced to make a Reflex check and fall prone.

I am declaring the delay action until Jakscar moves out of the way on his turn, at which point I will take my turn in the initiative order and cast the spell. If he does not, I will not cast the grease spell and instead will take the total defense action this round (+4 dodge bonus to AC).

Casting (again, only if Jakscar moves out of the way) grease (CL 3; 1 standard action; V, S, M (butter); range: 30 ft.; target: one object or 10-ft. square; duration: 3 min. [18 combat rounds]; save: see text in link, DC 15; SR: no) on squares BB-37, BB-38, BC-37, and BC-38. All creatures in those squares must make a DC 15 Reflex save or fall on this turn.

Yup, totally missed it. I will fix on the next update. Mea culpa

"Guys, I think I overstepped here."

Shivering at the touch of the icy teeth, Jakscar will backup (withdraw) to AZ36 I'm right that Harbug went next to that right. his eyes on the beasts.

Angelica is a little shocked by the scolding Jakscar gets, and decides she'll try to avoid the same. Stepping between Harbug and Buddy-pal, she grips her dagger and prepares to stab the first one of those things through the door.

5' step to AZ35
Ready attack for first enemy into BA36
Silver dagger 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 6 + 1 = 18, damage 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4