DM Carbide - Dark Road |
Simbala finds a convenient fallen log and creakily sits down on it, then spends a few minutes silently communing with nature. After she finishes, she gets to her feet and hobbles back to the party. It takes her a couple of rounds to cast each lesser restoration spell; Darc, Eretria, and Sami each get one. The pressure in your minds abates somewhat, although it's still present. You now get one save if/when you enter the aura. Fail it and end the round in the aura and you're back to permanent insanity; make it and the aura won't affect you that round.
The rest of the day is uneventful. You scout out the blocked ravine you were told of. Simbala stays with you for a time, healing everyone up to full (again, it takes her a while to cast even cure spells), before making her way slowly back to the island. "I've used more magic today than I have in the past year, and I don't want to press my luck; walking would be less stressful than trying to go back the way I came. Good luck! The maker will tell you when the seugathi returns. Best you get some rest in case it comes back at night!"
Eretria Whitethorne |
I thought I didnt have the insanity yet?
"Thank you Simbala, your help is very much appreciated."
Eretria glances to the rest, "Rest is a good idea... but before we do just in case it does try to return then, I do have something I owe Xavier for his helpfulness during the fight."
Sami Johoro |
Sami raises his reptilian eye in a gesture of confusion at Eretria, but doesn't decide to ask her meaning. None of my business, of course. He takes Simbala's hand and bows low to touch it with his forehead. Indeed; you've done more than we ever could have asked. Should you need anything else from us, ever, let us know.
Sami nods at the sound of rest. Darc, I think that we determined that your eyes are best in the darkness, right? I'd take first watch then, if you please.
Darc Jonash |
Darc bows his head to Simbala, Thanks and watches her go.
Turning to his friends, Darc points to the walls of the ravine, "Darc wait there." He starts to climb up the side of the ravine to find a place behind a large grey stone boulder where he can watch the ravine safely and use his crossbow easily. He readies that weapon, sits down and relaxes and waits.
Xavier Longsaddle |
At Eretria's proclimation Xavier.is, probably for the first time constricted with fear, With any other woman, this is when I 'd sleep with her
He stands before here and looks as though he is about to his her lips, but he is aware they are not alone, and.....Eretria meant more to him than she should.
He instead takes her hand, kisses it and briefly holds it in his hand and says quietly, I dare not kiss the lips of so beutiful a lady. I have only one heart to lose.
He looks into her eyes with every word, You owe me nothing. I swear I'll not kiss you again, unless you ask me.
DM Carbide - Dark Road |
The evening passes uneventfully. During the deep night watch, though, Darc may be startled a bit when something tickles the back of his neck. Spinning around, flail in hand, he gets a faceful of spiderweb, and sees on the ground a group of spiders in a tight configuration, spelling out the numerals "6" and "0." As you watch, they rearrange into "5" and "9."
Darc Jonash |
As the sun crests the ravine, its morning light warms Darc's cheeks, waking him. His mighty fists rub the sleep out of his eyes as his brain slowly clicks into gear, "Hmmm...strange" he says to himself. Gathering his weapons and belongings, he slowly and stiffly makes his way down to where the rest of his friends were camping. With each step down the side of the ravine, his muscles warm and his movements become easier.
"Morning, Rashun, Eretria. How Dyour night?" before long he tells the tale of the spiders, sure he was awake as if the spiders were messengers from Gorrum himself. He felt once more the favored in battle.
You would all know the details from the previous post.
Darc Jonash |
Ahhh ... yes you could be right there ... Gotta stop for the night now... but as it counts down ... Darc would do his best to warn the others of probable impending fight ... that way you can carry on with the others in US time...
Xavier Longsaddle |
Xavier gathers his weapons and has the bow in hand.
The camp will draw it's attention. Eretria set the chain up 40ft to a flank, with broken ground between you and it. Everyone else fan out to surround the camp. Find a firelane for shooting and keep your distance. I'll be in the open here.
Xavier looks down at the spiders.
Can you point out which direction it's coming from?
When the spiders indicate, he says.
Eretria, anywhere but that way. Sammy take the caltrops, Stay in the trees well away, maybe 80 feet and hide. Once it and I are in melee, scatter them behind it outside the aura. It won't expect they way it came to be trapped. Then use your sling or the crossbow but stay away.
Xavier kneels in the middle of camp as they all assume thier positions and says a prayer as the spiders remain to count down. He accepts a protection from evil spell off Rashun as thecount is down to 1 minute Giving him 2 mins of protection before the Inquisitor dashes for the trees.
Holy Imodae, speed my sword and strengthen my will and if I am not equal to the task give me the strength to die well.
He then rises with the bow in hand and Arrow knocked. Eyes keen for an early view to get a couple of shots in before the beast can close.
Readied Action to shoot on sight
Darc Jonash |
Darc went straight into rage in the previous fight so his spells are all there ready and waiting to go ... well he's an oracle you know...Will cast protection from Evil on himself, enlarge person, followed by Divine Favor, before firing with his crossbow, out of the auras range....at least that's the plan.
Rashun Tollinger |
I plan to:
cast PoE on Xavier
Then it will be PoE on myself: +2 deflection bonus to AC against evil creatures, +2 against saves from evil creatures.
Bless +1 morale bonus on attack rolls and saves against fear.
Divine Favor +1 luck bonus to attack and damage
Sami Johoro |
Sami grabs the caltrops, but looks at the crossbow with disdain and sets it aside. He makes his way out to a good distance of about eighty feet to the east of the campsite and slightly north (assuming that the beat is coming from the north), then hunkers down behind whatever cover he can find.
DM Carbide - Dark Road |
Still here. WRT the meditation/prayer concern I had, I checked the rules, and it takes bards & sorcerers 15 minutes of meditation to recover their spells/day, after 8 hours of rest. Although I can't find anything about oracles' and inquisitors' recovery, for the time being I will assume that they need 15 minutes of quiet prayer after 8 hours of rest. You still have plenty of time to prepare for the seugathi's return. If the maker is right, that is....
DM Carbide - Dark Road |
It's not in the class description, it's under Spells.
Daily Readying of Spells: Each day, sorcerers and bards must focus their minds on the task of casting their spells. A sorcerer or bard needs 8 hours of rest (just like a wizard), after which she spends 15 minutes concentrating. (A bard must sing, recite, or play an instrument of some kind while concentrating.) During this period, the sorcerer or bard readies her mind to cast her daily allotment of spells. Without such a period to refresh herself, the character does not regain the spell slots she used up the day before.
DM Carbide - Dark Road |
I almost couldn't find it either, so I wanted to pass it around; they really needed to at least put a pointer to that section in the class rules, because if you don't know exactly where to look in Chapter 9 you're kind of hosed.
The blocked ravine happens to be on a fairly convenient path down to the water, so you're reasonably confident that the creature will come this way. The spellcasters have undertaken their various and sundry means of restoring their mystical energies, and the party waits and watches the minutes tick away.
At the ten-minute mark, though, the small spider swarm suddenly dissociates and reforms as an arrow pointing east. What do you do?
How easy is it to divert? 1d100 ⇒ 78
Xavier Longsaddle |
[ooc]With 10minutes to go, the prebuffs are not cast yet.[/b]
Xavier motions for everybody to move back in, The spiders are saying it's moving away. The layout of our trap is a good one. Let's move the trap. I follow the spiders. Trusting them to put me on the path. You all except Rashun follow behind me on the trail 30 ft back. As soon as I see it, Rashun cast your protection spell and everybody start encircleing it. I start shooting it so it closes with me while you all get set up. No one fire until I am in Melee with it. Any objections?
DM Carbide - Dark Road |
I should have the encounter map up in a few hours; work is again being kind of crazy, but part of that was a very cool talk this morning by one of the people who worked with Enrico Fermi on the first manmade nuclear reactor. He had a horror story about making beryllium dust with a chunk of beryllium and a metal file. In the open air. With no respirator. Or gloves. I was amazed that he was still alive, seventy years later.
DM Carbide - Dark Road |
Map is HERE.
Xavier and Rashun, followed by the rest of the party, head down the trail in the direction indicated by the helpful spiders. As before, the spider arrow shortens and broadens as the group travels. The pair in the lead reach a sizable clearing; the last arrow you saw was nearly square. You expect, though, to have heard something before this; perhaps it isn't moving?
There is nothing visible in the clearing at first...then a flash of movement catches Rashun's eye. There is something very large near the top of a good-sized tree; you're not sure how something that big could be supported by the branches that high, but you're pretty sure that's where it is.
Round 1 Initiative order:
Seugathi
Rashun
Darc
Besmarial
Eretria
Sami
Xavier (sorry about that...rolled a 1)
The seugathi does something that creates a cloud of thin mist around Rashun and Xavier. It doesn't block vision. DC 16 Will saves, both of you.
Stealth check: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (11) + 13 = 24
Darc Perception check: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20
Eretria Perception check: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13
Rashun Perception check : 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (10) + 15 = 25
Sami Perception check: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (2) + 11 = 13
Xavier Perception check: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7
Besmarial Perception check: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17
Darc Initiative check: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (13) + 3 = 16
Eretria Initiative check: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 = 11
Rashun Initiative check: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25
Sami Initiative check: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5
Xavier Initiative check: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4
Besmarial Initiative check: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (13) + 0 = 13
Seugathi Initiative check: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (17) + 9 = 26
Xavier Longsaddle |
Seeing the creature again, Xavier tries, once again to remember anything his father may have mentioned about the Seugathi. And how the hell did it climb a tree. Had the thing made an error, thinking melee was their only means of attack?
Knowledge Dungeoneering1d20 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6
Survival: Note condition of the tree or flammability (certain plants burn very well)1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13
Will save1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23
Xavier inhales sharply as his will is assaulted, and he retains his mind.
Thankyou, Sweet Inheritor.
He holds his position to accept Rashun's spell and Fires his bow, hoping.they'll see.the value in the creatures position.
NOW! You know what to do.
Longbow1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 21
Damage1d8 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9