DM Stephens Serpents Skull Campaign - Chp1:The Smugglers Shiv (Inactive)

Game Master terok

Nim is able to just finish the plant zombie
Anton and Corbrius connect with the new Lizard Zombie, but it seems unaffected by their attacks.
?????? does ????? to finish the round...

Order of Combat Round 5:
Plant Zombies 20a
Anton 20b
Tragershen 19
Nim 11
Wic 11b
Nora 11c
Corbrius 8
?????? 5

The creature gores Nora, ripping her arm off at the shoulder, before looking up at the other 3 adventurers, her hand hanging from its teeth...
bite atk prone helpless 1d20 + 7 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 7 + 4 = 25 dam 1d8 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12 Hit

Map by request...

Round 5 Map

The horrific sight of Nora's dismembered hand in the beast's mouth drives Anton into a panicked rage, and he begins swinging wildly, trying to cave its skull in with his hammer.

Standard attack (with flavor): 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (19) + 3 = 22 for 1d10 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5 damage

Once again, although Anton scores a solid hit, the monster shrugs it off.

Nim yells at the rest of his companions, Trager! Corb! Get out of there! We cannot save her!
free action speech

I'm too late for Anton... :(

Nim will delay until after Tragershen and Corbius have acted.

Seeing the grim truth to Nim's warning, Tragershen backs away from the lizard-creature, regrouping with the druid and his companion.

Withdraw action, move to L14.

Round 5

Corbius fails to respond to Nim's warning as he is clearly enraged at yet again failing to protect another member of the party. Corbius steps to his left 5' step to R17 and continues to slash away with his dagger. Standard attack 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 141d4 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5 However, Corbius stumbles just as he slashes out, missing the creature narrowly.

Round 5

Seeing Corbius refusing to disengage, and Anton also intent on exacting revenge upon the thing, Nim growls as he abandons his plan to entangle the lizard and he and Wicewakan race to join the fray.

The wolf sprints to take up a flanking position opposite Corbius move action to S 15 and tries once again to bite and drag its target off its feet. standard action attack w/bite +flank: 1d20 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 + 2 = 5 damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3 free trip attempt: 1d20 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 + 2 = 11

Nim himself charges straight at the thing charge to R 16, leading with his scimitar blade: standard action attack w/scimitar +charge: 1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 4 + 2 = 15 damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

Current status:
Nim -- AC: 14 (due to charge) HP: 13 of 13
Wicewakan -- AC: 14 HP: 14 of 14

Round 6

Order of Combat Round 6:
Plant Zombies 20a
Anton 20b
Tragershen 19
Nim 11
Wic 11b
Nora 11c
Corbrius 8
?????? 5

Unfortunately, Nim's attack bounces off the plants skin along with Corbius and Anton's attack...

The plant lizard strikes out at Anton, barely missing the little man...
bite atk 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15 dam 1d8 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8 Miss
I will update the map when I have time...

Tragershen hisses in frustration as the fight rages on with the plant lizard.

Move to P14 and let his rapier fly at the murderous lizard.
To hit 1d20 + 4 - 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 - 4 = 16
Damage 1d6 + 0 ⇒ (4) + 0 = 4

Round 6

Corbius takes advantage of the distraction caused by Nim's charge to attack the lizard. Standard attack
1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 211d4 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6
Slashing a deep furrow in the lizards hide with his dagger. While sidestepping to gain a better position. 5' step to s17

Round 6

Wicewakan and Nim keep up the furious assault. Nim steps to his left 5' step to R 17 as they both strike at the lizard.
standard attack w/bite +flank: 1d20 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 + 2 = 12 damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3 free trip attempt: 1d20 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 + 2 = 22
standard attack w/scimitar: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11 damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

Current status:
Nim -- AC: 16 HP: 13 of 13
Wicewakan -- AC: 14 HP: 14 of 14

Note: Nim and Wic's init is now after Corbius.

Round 7

Battle for the Ruins

Order of Combat Round 6:
Plant Zombies 20a
Anton 20b
Tragershen 19
Nora 11c
Corbrius 8a
Nim 8b
Wic cc
?????? 5

Corbrius lands a solid blow while the remaining attacks seem to deflect off the plant creatures rubbery exterior...Corbrius gets the creature attention though with the solid hit and it lashes out at him...

bite atk 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9 dam 1d8 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11 Miss

Corbrius again dances around the plant zombie's attack.

Anton again distracts the zombie, but this time giving Wic a better shot at the creature.

Round 7

Round 7

Wicewakan repositions to put himself in a more advantagous position to attack the lizard, directly opposite Nim, 5' to T 15 and once again tries to grab onto the thing with his teeth... standard action attack w/bite +flank +aid another: 1d20 + 2 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 + 2 + 2 = 13 damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5 free trip attempt: 1d20 + 2 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 2 + 2 + 2 = 26 ...but once again failing to find a a hold.

Nim uses Wicewakan's attack to his advantage as well, hacking again for the creature's spine... standard action attack w/scimitar +flank: 1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 4 + 2 = 16 damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5 ...and making superficial contact upon its back.

Current status:
Nim -- AC: 16 HP: 13 of 13
Wicewakan -- AC: 14 HP: 14 of 14

At this rate... :P

Obviously we are in Round 7....try to do a better job about checking the round # in my posts...

Tragershen will try to aid another to give Nim a +2 on his next attack.

To hit 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (2) + 0 = 2

No such luck.

Working on concert you all attack the creature with some success, both Nim and Corbrius score a hit, but the creature has over 500lbs of rubbery bulk, and it is not easily dropped.

Again it tries to find Corbrius, seeking to end his life...

Battle for the Ruins

Order of Combat Round 6:
Plant Zombies 20a
Anton 20b
Tragershen 19
Nora 11c
Corbrius 8a
Nim 8b
Wic cc
?????? 5

bite atk 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20 dam 1d8 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8 Hit!

The bite is effective, latching on to Corbrius' leg and almost severing the fermeral artery. He manages to pull away just as the creature relaxes his bite to clamp down again...Corbrius is obviously near the end of his strength...

Anton is up.

Seeing the terrible wounding the lizard gives Corbius, Nim offers through gritted teeth, Withdraw and heal your injuries! We cannot afford to lose another... free action speech

Round 8

Current status:
Nim -- AC: 16 HP: 13 of 13
Wicewakan -- AC: 14 HP: 14 of 14

Death by a thousand cuts... :P

Corbius glances at the hideous wound he has sustained and hesitates for a moment as if considering attacking the beast again. Nim's words cut through the pain and anger and Corbius quickly moves out of the fray. Full round action withdraw to S22 I am sorry I could not avenge you Nora. Says Corbius as he moves away.

AC 18
HP 1/9

Round 8

Anton winces at Corbius's injuries, but stays focused on making an opening for Wicewakan, hoping to at least get in a good blow by proxy.

Aid Another to attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (19) + 3 = 22 for +2 to Wicewakan's next attack.

Current status:
AC 20, hp 11/11

Round 8.

Tragershen will continue trying to distract the creature when Nim gets close to landing a blow.

To hit AC 10, aid another for +2 to next attack.
1d20 + 0 ⇒ (6) + 0 = 6

The creature takes another heavy blow from Nim, finally realizing in some recess of its twisted mind that this creature is a threat it now lashes out at him.

Battle for the Ruins

Order of Combat Round 9:
Plant Zombies 20a
Anton 20b
Tragershen 19
Nora 11c
Corbrius 8a
Nim 8b
Wic cc
?????? 5

bite atk 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21 dam 1d8 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14 Hit!

The blow is a terrible one and Nim is shredded in a haze of blood and drops to the ground...

Anton is able to distract it again though for Wic.

Round 9

Frustrated at his continued ineffectiveness and seeing another friend dropped by the monster, Anton loses it again. "Die, damn you! Raaagh!!" He swings his polearm in a high overhead arc intended to pierce deep with the hammer head, like when it's used to sunder armor. Then, he begins working his way around to where he can help Nim.

Emo hobbit is emo. Attack with lucerne hammer: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (14) + 3 = 17 for 1d10 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5 damage before DR. (Seriously? Not rolling over 4 out of 10 even once?! Arrrgh!)
Move 15' from S14 to Q16 (by way of R14 so no AoO).

Round 9

Wicewakan lunges at the lizard with renewed purpose... standard attack w/bite: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 = 20 damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4 free trip attempt: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 2 = 15 ...and finally grabs hold with his teeth, jerking his head violently as he bites down, trying to pull the lizard down to the ground.

Current status:
Nim -- AC: 16 HP: -1 of 13 (unconscious)
Wicewakan -- AC: 14 HP: 14 of 14

Anton sees Nim's Scimitar laying on the ground next to him...a weapon that has seemed much more effective than anything else you have thrown at it so far. The Lizard Zombie doesn't seem to react to anything you do other than when you hurt it...

Anton's stike seems muted against the creatures body. Only Tragershen Wic and Anton stand with the creature....

]Round 9

Seeing Nim go down in a spray of blood Corbius screams a yell of primal rage and heedless of his bloody wound charges back into the fray. Move action to R17 Straddling Nim's body Corbius strikes out with his dagger at the lizard.

1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 4 + 2 = 91d6 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

Unfortunately in his rage fuelled frenzy Corbius misses the beast badly.

AC 18
HP 1/9

Tragershen will withdraw, moving back around so that the fallen Nim is between him and the plant lizard.

Battle for the Ruins

Order of Combat Round 9:
Plant Zombies 20a
Anton 20b
Tragershen 19
Nora 11c
Corbrius 8a
Nim 8b
Wic cc
?????? 5

The plant creature seems to hesitate for a moment before settling on the last creature to hit it...Anton.

bite atk 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26 dam 1d8 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9 Hit or Miss

For some reason I can't update any of my posts once I do an initial post, not sure if anyone else has run into this???? Very annoying.

No editing? No i've never seen that problem...

Yeah, I was having that problem off and on last night. Focus and PMs were borked too.

Surprised it could reach me in Q16. Will have to keep this short, on my lunch break...

This stick is @#$%ing useless here. "Corb, move over so I can grab Nim's scimitar!" Delay to initiative count 8.

You are correct Anton, the creature had to 5' to R16 in order to attack you.

Latest Map here
Battle for the ruins round 9

Nim is under Corbrius at his feet...

I was assuming that I had to be in the same square to pick it up. If adjacent is good enough, then here comes the retcon...

As the plant zombie lizard steps in closer to attack him, Anton takes advantage of his greater reach to try to impale it on the spearpoint of his polearm.

AoO with lucerne hammer: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 12 for 1d10 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5 damage.

However, his own defense slips while he focuses on trying to hurt the seemingly-unstoppable monster. Anton screams from the pain of it's savage attack. No! And I can't even hurt it! If only I had something like Nim's scimitar... which is right over there... Anton picks it up and drops his lucerne hammer, immediately taking a savage swing with the deadly weapon, though he has to use both hands to hold it since it's so big.

Move action to pick up Nim's scimitar.
Two-handed standard attack with a Medium scimitar: 1d20 + 3 - 2 ⇒ (10) + 3 - 2 = 11 for 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5 damage.

However, the outsized weapon is clumsy in his hands, and his swings only slice air.

Tragershen will grab Nim and pull him back from the lizard. He'll speak nervously to Wicewakan as he doe so saying I'm a friend and I'm helping him... hoping the wolf doesn't see him as a threat to his master and continues obeying the last command.

Just pulling him back to P19. Not sure if that is a standard action or a full round action. If it is only a standard action, he'll use his move action to ready a potion of cure light wounds.

The lizards 5' step would not have drawn an AOO, you missed though so no big deal.
Dragging someone could draw an AOO...the creature being a plant and completely brainless, it doesn't happen to use it since it is not perceiving you as a direct threat. Keep in mind that intelligent creatures would attack you though.

Wic doesn't seem to react to your motion as it dances back and forth with the plant creature...he almost had it earlier, hoping again to latch onto the plant and tear it to pieces. Corbrius and Wic to go...

Corbius continues to swing at the creature in hopes of bringing it down.

1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 101d4 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

However, the beast shifts position just as Corbius strikes forcing him to miss yet again.

I posted Wic's round 9 attack above. Hit for 4 damage.

Does the accumulated damage (34) look like it is beginning to affect the creature?

And wow... cold dice are cold.... :/

My bad... the damage total so far is 30, not 34.

Carry on. :)

Battle for the Ruins

Order of Combat Round 10:
Plant Zombies 20a
Tragershen 19
Nora 11c
Corbrius 8a
Nim 8b
Wic 8c
Anton 8d
?????? 5

bite atk 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16 dam 1d8 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13 Hit

Another heavy blow is suffered by Wic...barely able to stand he continues to fight on...

Tragershen feeds Nim a potion of healing 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2 and Nim just comes awake....

As Nim comes to, Tragershen quickly conveys You passed out from blood loss. The fight rages on!

Round 10

Note: Due to the retcon of the lizard's 5' step to attack Anton, Wicewakan would have moved into S 16 before his round 9 attack. This also put him within range of the lizard's bite that just hit him for 13.

Wicewakan reels from the viscious bite he receives, but seeing Nim awaken as a result of Tragershen's actions, Wicewakan continues his frenzied attack in defense of his downed master. Lunging in again with his teeth... standard attack w/bite +flank: 1d20 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 2 + 2 = 21 damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2 free trip attempt:1d20 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 + 2 = 19 ...grabbing a hold of the thing's tail, doing little by way of hurting it, but giving him a chance to try and jerk back and pull it down.

At that same moment, Nim's eyes pop open, with the aftertaste of the magic elixir lingering in his mouth. At Tragershen's words, and glancing about at the near death state of most of his companions including his faithful wolf, Nim snaps! With a defiant roar he jumps to his feet move action and moves over beside Anton 5' step to Q 17 while calling out, My sword Anton! Give it to me!

As per DM Stephen's ruling*, and presuming Anton agrees/complies by forgoing an action on his turn... :)

As Anton offers up the scimitar, Nim grabs it free action* and brings the blade down upon the lizard with a bestial yell... standard action attack w/scimitar: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 18 damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10 ...spraying Nim with its rotting pulpy flesh as he strikes it with a tremendous blow!

Current status:
Nim -- AC: 16 HP: 1 of 13
Wicewakan -- AC: 14 HP: 1 of 14

AAAAARRRRRRGGGGGHHHHHH!!!!!!! :)
Nim might be taking a level in barbarian! ;)

PS That makes 1 dead, 3 of us at 1 HP and 1 of us at 2 HP remaining. It is a good thing I made my stabilization roll and was only at -1 HP. Since DM rolled me a whopping minimum heal from the potion. ;)

My ruling was a little different on the mechanics, but basically the same thing. Nim would delay and Anton would place the sword in his hand and do the same thing. Either way it works about the same.

Nim's blow cuts the once lizard in two with an odd green ichor splattering all over everyone.

You quickly check Nora and confirm that she is in fact dead.
You start to consider your next move when an odd sound comes from the inside of the ruin, some kind of sucking and popping sounds. Wic seems particularly affected by it, like there is another sound only he can hear...whatever it is it sounds bad...and considering the shape you are in...

What is your next move? Carrying Nora will just slow you down but it is up to you.

I was aware of the requirement to delay... but I just wanted the immediate gratification of killing the darn thing! :)

Nim does not hesitate to scoop up Nora's body and make tracks away from the ruins as fast as he can. We are leaving! Grab anything she may have dropped and move!

Nim will make use of feather step and entangle to aid in fleeing if required.

Nothing comes out of the ruin but you thought you caught movement as you were leaving. You stumble away bloodied and barely alive, or in the case of poor Nora...dead. You get about 15 minutes away and drop to your knees...panting.

Where too now? Any other healing before you move anywhere else?

After putting some distance between them and the ruins, Nim still cradling Nora's body in his arms, looks at Tragershen and the others, nodding in unspoken thanks for their efforts in keeping him from a similar fate.

After hustling for quite a distance, Nim slows and stops altogether. Setting Nora gently down he turns to the others. We should heal up as best we can with what we have on hand and then make for the base camp immediately.

What do we have left? Nim has nothing.

As the group readies to move again, Nim offers, We really cannot afford to be surprised again. We are in no shape to fight off another predator. I can send Wicewakan ahead a little each time we move to check for threats. And we should be ready to flee at a moment's notice. I can use my magic to delay any pursuers. Unless they can fly... he thinks to himself.

When everyone is ready to depart, he once again picks up Nora and then commands Wicewakan forward.

Nim will command Wicewakan to "seek" just ahead of the party, repeating as often as required.

XP for the battle?

As per DM Stephen's ruling*, and presuming Anton agrees/complies by forgoing an action on his turn... :)

Of course! It's Nim's scimitar -- and it's too big and clumsy for Anton anyway, as he quickly discovered. ;)

After putting some distance between them and the ruins, Nim still cradling Nora's body in his arms, looks at Tragershen and the others, nodding in unspoken thanks for their efforts in keeping him from a similar fate.

After hustling for quite a distance, Nim slows and stops altogether. Setting Nora gently down he turns to the others. We should heal up as best we can with what we have on hand and then make for the base camp immediately.

What do we have left? Nim has nothing.

"What we have... oh of course! This won't do me any good if I'm dead." Anton draws out his potion of cure light wounds, starts to put it to his lips, and hesitates. "Unless there's a more effective use for this one? Things have changed... so much..."

For healing, Anton has 1 CLW potion, and Tragershen has 2 CMW potions. (I think that the party loot log is up-to-date; and any potions that no one has bothered to claim can safely be assumed to be in Tragershen's possession.)