DM CH-P's CoT: The Bastards of Erebus
Game Master Are

The Beast roars to silence the bickering that threatens to distract him while he hunts for the remaining stalker.

As the nimble darkfolk tries to skirt past him, Shu-Ak’eh-Di dips his head dropping his horns in place to trip it.

Trip via Horns (provoking): 1d20 + 18 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 18 + 1 = 32

Assuming that worked.

Turning to face his sprawled out foe, the bestial spirit slams him repeatedly into the ground.

Primary: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (9) + 15 = 24
Primary Dmg: 1d6 + 19 ⇒ (6) + 19 = 25
Iterative: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (15) + 10 = 25
Iterative Dmg: 1d6 + 19 ⇒ (6) + 19 = 25
Hoof I: 1d20 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 8 + 1 = 15
Hoof I Dmg: 1d4 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 6 + 1 = 10
Hoof II: 1d20 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 8 + 1 = 18
Hoof II Dmg: 1d4 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 6 + 1 = 8
Horns: 1d20 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 8 + 1 = 20
Horns Dmg: 1d6 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 6 + 1 = 9

Okay, okay! I'll assume Appario attempts to lend an unappreciated helping hand, then, while Yahirma guides the rope to a safe spot for Xerath to drop down on :)

***

As The Beast lowers his horns in the attempt at tripping it, the stalker tries to slide a sword into the horned creature's side.

Short sword AoO: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (1) + 16 = 17
AoO damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8
Miss chance: 1d100 ⇒ 6 (1-20: miss; 21-100: hit)

The stalker's sword slices through the shadowy air surrounding The Beast, while the horns tangle its legs and causes it to fall prone.

The Beast's hammering crushes the stalker into a mushy pulp, which promptly explodes into an expanding ball of fire.

Reflex (The Beast): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (1) + 9 = 10
Reflex (Xerath): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9
Reflex (Yahirma): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22

Fire damage: 3d6 ⇒ (4, 1, 4) = 9

Yahirma manages to evade the fireball, while Xerath's protection keeps him safe. The Beast, however, takes 9 damage.

***

No enemies remain.

The Beast reaches within his shadowy form and retrieves Maddok's totem to mend the spiritstuff of his form once again.

1d10 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6
1d10 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 1 = 10

Returning to the rescue attempt, he growls and snarls while jabbing a blurred meaty digit at Xerath and Appario.

***

>>>Ground Floor Overview Map<<<

Once everyone's healed up and the loot's been collected, Shu-Ak’eh-Di follows the route the stalker had been fleeing and opens the door.

The door is already open.

Loot: Two masterwork short swords, five masterwork daggers, a suit of +2 leather armor, multiple regular daggers, several doses of black smear poison.

We're going to corner the market on masterwork short swords and dagger once we're out of here.

The Beast advances down the hall.

Doesn't flooding the market with them make them worth less?

Xerath will follow right behind the beast.

Yeah, maybe we'll have to trickle them in a few at a time. Appario would know better.

Shu-Ak’eh-Di reaches within his shadowy form and produces two potions which he offers to Derek.

That's two potions of Lesser Restoration. Derek still has that wands and an assortment of potions of his own. Don't be stingy with the consumables!

Haha, sorry, it's the old 2nd edition cheapness that comes in again.

"Xerath, let me see to your wounds."
Cure serious wounds: 3d8 + 5 ⇒ (5, 2, 6) + 5 = 18
And one for Derek: 3d8 + 5 ⇒ (6, 2, 7) + 5 = 20
Lesser restoration potion: 1d4 ⇒ 3

"Did the poison on the spikes get you too Xerath? Do you want the other one?"

Definitely.

"I am fine, it's just a scratch. Save your wand and your potions. I am tough enough to resist such things. I also have my own in any case. Though I appreciate the offer." That last sentence made Xerath feel visibly uncomfortable.

That leaves Appario having taken 1 STR damage, Derek having taken 1 CON damage and 2 STR damage, and Yahirma having taken 13 damage (Xerath has only taken 5 damage, so Derek might want to use that charge to heal Yahirma instead).

***

At the end of the hallway, The Beast emerges into a small chamber. He immediately notices another hidden pit trap barring the way further. Past the trap, he sees the beginning of a staircase going up towards the east.

***

>>>Current Map<<<

Right, we'll do that instead.

"Righto, I'm not surprised, you don't get very far in life as "Bluehood" without being able to take care of oneself."

Derek instead guzzles down the other potion himself, noting that it has a faint taste of almond, unlike the other one who was scented with elderberry.

That took care of the con damage then.

Different makes perhaps? Or someone who likes to experiment.

"Right, I feel healthier now, still a little weak, but we can work around that, strenght was never my thing in this party anyway."

The Beast points at the ground and growls.

The hulking spirit takes a few steps and jumps across.

Everyone should be able to take 10 to jump across. Yahirma might need a guidance plus take 10.

Here is hoping it's not like the last time, a trap after another.

"More or less."

Of course, using the levitating rope makes the whole thing trivial.

***

The staircase leads up to a vaguely octagonal chamber. There's a plaque above the staircase on this side, illuminated by a single oil lamp. The plaque reads "Your test lies beyond. Good luck, but know that only one will be admitted. How you resolve this is up to you." Several old bloodstains mar the floor of the chamber.

A door in the eastern wall leads to an elegant dining room. A huge mahogany table stands in the center of the room, surrounded by several padded chairs. Upon the table are settings for each chair, complete with crystal goblets, silverware, and fine porcelain plates. A folded card has been placed on the northernmost plate.

There's a narrow hole in the wall at Q8, and a huge guillotine blade hanging on the wall above the hole is clearly visible, set to drop onto whoever sticks their head through the hole.

***

One might think you've entered the testing area from the wrong direction :)

***

>>>Current Map<<<

Picking up the card and reading it slowly Derek whistles.
"Some test, they sure do not want a large guild with lessons like this.
Talk about a narrow shave indeed..."

I actually think it's pretty funny that we're doing this floor of the dungeon backwards.

The Beast studies the contents of the room in confusion before becoming disinterested and pressing on.

There are no other exits to this room?

"It is to whittle out the weak and cowardly. I approve."

"That's fair, but remember, these are our enemies. We don't really want them to be nothing but the elite.
Still, at least it means that there are less cannon fodder for us to fight our way through.
Shu-Ak’eh-Di only enjoy war against the absolute best."

The Beast slows his implacable march and offers what one would gather is a minotaur's 'smile' at Derek's words.

"Fair enough, but its the principle. I'd be insulted if they sent us their worst." "Though with Appario here, I think they'd be as well."

Strong principles, in his own way, Xerath is more like Shu-Ak’eh-Di than he might realize.

"Yes, You know, that being said, there can't be too many left. A building like this can only hold so many people.
Still, we should expect things to get harder from this point on, a smart leader keeps some of his best in reserve."

"Yes, you are most likely right."

"Well...I guess that was all I really wanted to say, but I think I needent have bothered, by this point I think we all know what is at stake.
Shall we move on? I'm eager to end this.
And I'm hoping we can avoid mind controling magics and poisons...but as we are looking for what we think is a master vampire...yeah..."

Assuming there's no exits from this room it's time to start backtracking and hitting avenues we missed. It looks like there's some doors along the Northern edge we didn't open.

There are no other exits to this room?

There are no other exits. The hole in the wall looks as if a Medium-sized creature would have to squeeze through.

***

While the group talks in the chamber, the guillotine blade suddenly drops to the ground, bloodily but cleanly severing the head of a man who had been attempting to stealthily see what was going on.

A winch begins whirring, and the blade slowly rises to its normal position.

"Watch it, he may not have been alone."
Derek will atempt to have a quick look through the hole to see if he is right, but without sticking his head into it, and withdrawing before the blade reaches it's apex.

I don't want the others to know, but...I found that gruesome...

Looking through the hole, which is currently dripping copious amounts of blood, Derek sees several people drawing back and away from the headless body sliding to the ground on the other side. They all make their way around a corner to the east and vanish from sight.

Ouch. Can we get an updated overview map?

The Beast bounds back the way the party had come.

Headed to the hall of doors along the northern edge of the map.

"I was right, an unknown number of people just retreated to the east.
It's unknown how much they managed to see beyond the death of their companion"

Wincing a little, Derek turns over the head of the man, taking a quick look at his features.
Not more darkfolk surely?

"We should go after them, not let them ambush us later."

"True, but I am not sure how we get there, still...we can't just stand about I guess.
Let's follow Shu-Ak’eh-Di before he gets too far ahead of us."

Assuming they're in that unknown middle section of the building, we don't know how to get in there.

Xerath nods his head and follows the Beast.

Then I'll want a jump check as The Beast attempts to jump up and past the large pit.

***

>>>Ground Floor Overview Map<<<

Derek determines that the head belonged to a fairly young human man.

***

If you wonder how to get in: Squeeze through the hole after Appario disables the guillotine trap.

Is there not enough room for running jump?

Take 10 Jump: 10 + 10 = 20

Remember that the DC to jump 10 ft up is 40 on its own.. and you're combining that with a 15 ft long jump :)

Oh you're talking about the big trap in the trap-filled room. I thought you were talking about the little one at the base of the stairs just outside the dining room area.

The Beast studies the giant blade as it resets.

It looks like we're waiting for Appario to disarm something. =P

If The Beast is determined to go that way, it could ask Yahirma nicely to borrow her levitating rope :)

Well seeing as how he doesn't even really know where the entrance from the other side is, it makes more sense to just let Appario disarm the blade and then bull-doze his way through the doorway. Also, between Maddok and the Beast their combined weight would be very close to testing the limits of the spell's weight limit.

God, it's contagious.

God, it's contagious.

Oh, that explains why Xerath is acting like a mad cow.

Appario breaks out his lens and takes a look at the trap, then takes out his kit to disarm.

1d20 + 11 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 11 + 5 = 20 Perception
1d20 + 19 ⇒ (1) + 19 = 20 Disable Guillotine

Appario is pretty sure he succeeded at disarming the mechanism.

***

The Beast's shield spell and Yahirma's resist lightning and sanctuary spells have expired.

Appario puts his kit away and makes way for the suddenly calm controlled Bull.

"I think I got it. On your way now."

Oh boy.

The Beast nods and then forces his way through the portal.

It's a good thing natural 1's aren't auto-failures on skill checks :)

***

After some struggling, The Beast manages to push its bulk through the hole. It emerges in some sort of soup kitchen. There's an unlit firepit next to the hole with a large cauldron hanging above it, and there are two long benches along the western and northern wall, with tables in front of them. Several sacks of meal and stale bread are placed near the firepit, along with casks of water.

The furniture in the room looks to be of a far lower quality and much more worn than any other furniture the group has encountered so far in the mansion.

There's a door leading further, and The Beast hears several low voices through it.

***

>>>Current Map<<<