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

Round 2: 15/15 HP, AC 14, Channel 2/6

Will Save: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18

Once again, Mihai answers the creatures foul emanation with a wave of healing energy...

Channel: 1d6 ⇒ 4 Puts Mihai back at full

Will position to hit all friendlies.

Wic save: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5 fail
Nim save: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17 success

Once again the opposing waves of negative and positive energy wash over the druid and his companion...

Current status and effects:
Wicewakan: AC 14 HP 14 of 23
Azlanti Foresight - expires round 4
Sickened: expires ???
Nim: AC 16 HP 16 of 21
Longstrider - expires in 2 hours
Azlanti Foresight - expires round 4
Fortune hex - 1/round (unused)

Edit: changed Nim's HP as per rounding discussion

Will save vs. DC 14: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 2 = 18 Success

Unable to act physically, Anton focuses all of his mental strength into fighting the effects of Nylithati's pulse of life-sapping energy. The helpless ranger once again feels his life force wane and wax with the clerics' dueling channels, but this time he comes out ahead. 8 - 2 + 4 = 10

Edit: How long on the paralyzation?

Current Status
AC 12, hp 10/18
Azlanti foresight (expires round 4)
paralyzed (expires round ?)

Aedalis' celestial dog would also get an AoO on "mother" providing it survives the negative channel.... (forgot it was there myself as it would have been flanking with Wic)

Aedalis, go ahead with the AOO from the dog, it was next to her when she moved. It also needs to make te save but it should not be enough damage to kill it even if it fails.

Map middle of round 2

Edit: How long on the paralyzation?

You don't know how long it lasts...but it usually isn't very long, but most people don't live long enough to recover...

Will Save[/ooc} 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 18[ooc]Success

AOO1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 251d6 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7
Confirm Critical1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 171d6 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3/ooc]

As 'mother' attempts to move away Corbius spots another hole in her defences and again drives his rapier deep into her corrupted belly leaving another ichor oozing wound.

[ooc]Current Status

AC 18
HP 8/16
Arcane Pool 1/4 Enchanted Rapier +1 till round 11
Azlanti Foresight till round 4

Will save vs. negative energy channel 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (14) + 3 = 17

Seeing "Mother" as the biggest threat, Tragershen tries in his own way to help bring her down.

Disrupt Undead.
To hit 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15
Damage 1d6 + 0 ⇒ (2) + 0 = 2

Status: Hit points 7/12, Mage Armor, Azlanti Foresight.

Round 2

Perceive the Enemy (Perception vs. CMD): 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (19) + 11 = 30 Success (-2 AC vs. my attacks for the duration of the combat)

Anton silently seethes with frustration at his helplessness and forced immobility. The sharp-eyed halfling focuses his attention on looking for weaknesses in Nylithati's defenses. He observes that even in undeath, she favors her right side; if he waited for a distraction and then attacked from her left, she might be a little slower to react... Now if only he could move.

Current Status
AC 12, hp 10/18
Azlanti foresight, paralyzed

Corbrius' attack leaves a long wound in it's stomach...a black ooze leaking out.

Order of Combat Round 3:

Aedalis 22
Nim 19
Corbrius 19
Ghouls 15
Mother 15
Tragershen 10
Mihai 7
Anton 4

Mother screams at you, Kill them my children!

Aedalis is up.

Tragershen, in order to attack her you had to move up to within 30', please let me know your position.

Round 3 Map

Celestial Dog AOO (Round 2, Flank): 1d20 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 3 + 2 = 15
1d4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Celestial Dog Will Save (Success, 4/6HP remaining): 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 1 = 21

Round 3 Action-

Celestial Dog Charge: 1d20 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 2 + 2 = 15
1d4 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

Aedalis' hound bravely assaulted the "Mother" one last time before it slowly faded away back to the celestial realms. Aedalis himself simply maintained his fortune hex on Nim while advancing closer to the fray.

V27 please.

Tragershen, in order to attack her you had to move up to within 30', please let me know your position.

I'm sorry, I was looking at an older map.

Tragershen moves to U26 before summoning the bolt of positive energy.

Round 3

Nim continues to be wary of additional unseen foes, perhaps lurking in the water... or around unseen corners. A concern seemingly confirmed by Nylithati's screeching command. Rather than follow her into the surf where she would clearly hold the advantage... Nim opts for a ranged solution.

Nim grasps his spear in one hand, in preparation of throwing it, before shifting to his right to get a clear view of "mother". As he moves he quickly dons his shield. move action to S 26 + swift action Once in position he throws his spear, aiming for the foul thing's chest...

standard action attack w/spear (thrown) +foresight -range: 1d20 + 3 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (17) + 3 + 1 - 2 = 19
damage: 1d8 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13

... and once again the spear finds its mark lodging in Nylithati's torso. (?)

His strike true, and his view of the water unobstructed, he scans the area looking for her other "children".

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (15) + 7 = 22

How deep does the water appear where Nylithati stands? Does Nim suspect there is any vegetation (seaweed) in the surf suitable for use with entangle?

Current status and effects:
Wicewakan: AC 14 HP 14 of 23
Azlanti Foresight - expires round 4
Sickened: expires ???
Nim: AC 17 HP 16 of 21
Longstrider - expires in 2 hours
Azlanti Foresight - expires round 4
Fortune hex - 1/round (unused)

The water depth appears to be up to her knees, consider it rough terrain, nothing else.

The dog unfortunately misses with both attacks, the bites bouncing off some unseen force...

Nim you know the fortune is a pre-roll right? Its not to re-roll once you have a bad attack, you are meant to roll both at once and take the higher before knowing the result. Hard to do in PbP sometimes I know...

I do. I was/am saving it for saving throws vs paralyzation... or worse. ;)

Mother screams at you, Kill them my children!

Oh dear. I hate it sometimes when Nim is right, Anton thinks to himself, the cavern floor digging into his shoulder where he fell after he could no longer shift to maintain his balance. Wait. Do I ever like it when he's right? Uh - maybe I should focus on what's going on, for when I can move again, and ponder that question later.

I take it from Nim's action of sending Wice to stand over Anton that paralysis makes you prone. I didn't know that before, but it makes sense.

Round 3

Corbius seeing Tragershen move forward where he is exposed plus concerned that Mother may try to heal herself throws caution to wind. Summoning his arcane energies his weapon once again crackles with energy as he moves forward to strike at her.

His rapier strikes true, the tip biting deep into the flesh of mother's chest electricity arcing around the wound filling the chamber with the smell of charred flesh.

MA to U22
Spellstrike1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 5 + 1 = 251d6 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 42d6 ⇒ (5, 1) = 6
Confirm Critical1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 5 + 1 = 221d6 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 32d6 ⇒ (5, 4) = 9
Total 22

Current Status

AC 18
HP 8/16
Arcane Pool 1/4 Enchanted Rapier +1 till round 10
Azlanti foresight till round 4

Corbrius and Nim's strikes have clearly hurt "mother" badly. She staggers under the blows and shifts back 5' up to her waist, clearly at home in the water and casts a spell on herself.

Mothers allies finally arrive...around the back of you...one moves past Mihai to U30 drawing an AOO. and attacks him a single time, the other moves to W31 and attacks him a single time.

L3 claw atk 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (12) + 3 = 15 dam 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3 Hit
L4 claw atk 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (19) + 3 = 22 dam 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5 Hit

I need two DC 13 saves vs. paralysis.

Round 3 Middle of Round

Tragersen to go.

Fort Saves: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 13 and 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9
7/15 HP and 1 failed save. No AoO as Mihai doesn't actually have any weapon in hand.

Mihai is surprised as the ghouls descend upon him, though is unable to marshal his strength to fight off the numbness that spreads from his wounds like fire to suffuse his form.

Just want to point out that Nim is actually in S 26

Witnessing the ghouls emerge and Mihai's body falter as their insidious power starts to wash over him, Tragershen acts quickly. Stepping a bit closer, the elf utters a few arcane words and triggers one of his most powerful spells. From the spread fingers of one hand, a gout of flame bursts forth and engulfs the two undead monsters.

Even if it does not slay them he thinks to himself, it should draw them away from Mihai so they don't feast on him while we continue to fight.

Move to U28 and cast Burning Hands, filling squares U29, U30, V30, U31, V31 and W31 (catching both ghouls and missing Mihai).

Fire damage 2d4 + 0 ⇒ (3, 2) + 0 = 5, reflex DC 15 save for half damage, SR applies if they have it.

L3 Reflex Save 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 2 = 14
L4 Reflex Save 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 2 = 19

The Lacedon in W31 avoids most of the flames but the other is engulfed in flames.

Anton is still held by the paralysis, as is Mihai now...

Order of Combat Round 4:

Aedalis 22
Nim 19
Corbrius 19
Ghouls 15
Mother 15
Mihai 7
Tragershen 7b
Anton 4

Last round of Azlanti Luck. I updated Tragershen's Init due to the implied delay after he was injured and then healed by Mihai.
Will update map late tonight including Nim's new position, but only Tragershen has moved.
Aedalis to go.

I'll await map update, will post tomorrow :).

Round 4 Map

Extremely reluctant to leave Mihai to be feasted upon despite the risk he himself took, Aedalis cast the traditional spell of healing with an intent to use the positive energy as a weapon and threat the Ghouls would not ignore- and then against all his instincts and judgement; moved into melee with the closest Ghoul, drawing a dagger for defence as he did so. He imagined he must resemble a spellsword to some extent- blade in one hand, magical charge held in the other.

Cast Cure Light Wounds, hold charge, move to V29 while drawing dagger. Note Aedalis is wearing his Barbed Vest so if hes hit by a natural attack, see his profile for details.

Round 4

Hearing the commotion from the rear, Nim curses before ordering Wicewakan to help Aedalis and attack one of the lacedons threatening Mihai...

handle animal (wounded=DC12): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (16) + 8 = 24

...the wolf moves immediately to intercept move to U 29 before launching himself with teeth bared, hoping to grab the nearest abomination V 30 by the throat...

standard action attack w/bite +foresight -sickened: 1d20 + 2 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (16) + 2 + 1 - 2 = 17
damage -sickened: 1d6 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (1) + 1 - 2 = 0 1 damage
free trip attack: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 1 = 11

...but manages only to land a superficial scratch upon the thing.

Nim, pausing momentarily while deciding which direction to go himself, moves to help Mihai as well. move to W 29 He calls out to Corbious as he goes, I would not follow her into the water if I were you! Lest you end up as her next pet! while drawing his scimitar as he does. He swings the supernaturally sharp steel in a horizontal cut... V 30

standard action attack w/scimitar +foresight: 1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 7 + 1 = 21
damage: 1d6 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6

...slicing into putrid flesh, spraying the wall with droplets of foul smelling gore.

Current status and effects:
Wicewakan: AC 14 HP 14 of 23
Azlanti Foresight - expires round 4
Sickened: expires ???
Nim: AC 17 HP 16 of 21
Longstrider - expires in 2 hours
Azlanti Foresight - expires round 4

Round 4

Heading Nims words and aware of the fight at the back of the party Corbius moves back upon dry land. MA to U24 and waits to see what mothers next move is. Ready action

Your children are dying mother as will you!!

Current Status

AC 18
HP 8/16
Arcane Pool 1/4 Enchanted Rapier till round 10

Previously, in Round 3

Anton hears the squishy pad of wet, putrid flesh on the cavern floor behind him, followed by the ripping sound of claws tearing through cloth and flesh. They hit us from the rear! Healing should come in three, two, one... oh @#$% they got Mihai.

Then the helpless ranger hears Tragershen's dignified voice intoning incomprehensible words, followed by the sound of crackling fire, and an odor that doesn't bear description. Ha! Take that! oh gods my nose that smell can't abide can't stop it arrrgh

Current Status
AC 12, hp 10/18
Azlanti foresight, paralyzed

The remaining Lacedons continue to fight the new enemies presented to them. They go into a Frenzy, one attacking the Wizard that washed them over with flames the other stepping over Mihai 5' shift to W30 to attack the Nim.

GM ruling going forward for clrification, characters in hexes that are disabled do not make that hex difficult terrain, just as a downed monster does not make a hex difficult terrain.

On Tragershen:
L3 claw atk 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21 dam 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3 Hit
L3 claw atk 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (12) + 3 = 15 dam 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5 Miss
L3 bite atk 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10 dam 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2 Miss

On Nim:
L4 claw atk 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 3 = 19 dam 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5 Hit

L4 claw atk 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21 dam 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4 Hit
L4 bite atk 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 13 dam 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4 Miss but will be a hit if Nim fails his save and falls prone and helpless

Nim tries and resists the paralyzing blows from the Lacedons...DC 13 Fort saves.

Mother casts another spell on herself,

Fool, my children shred your friends as you stand by and watch...you will become my first new child!

Anton continues to lay there paralyzed...wondering if he and his friends will survive these deadly creatures.

"..."

Mihai lies motionless, his face frozen in a rictus of pain.

I need to recton an action...I had Tragershen off by one place and there is now a wall of people in front of him. Lacedon #3 changes his attacks to Aedalis. So he is hit three times possibly.
[ooc] Reflex Save VS DC 15 or 1 damage 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8

The Ghoul strikes out at Aedalis, expecting to lay the old man low and add him to their collection but is surprised when he swipes at him and shreds its claw apart on his vest.
The dark energies that held the Lacedon to this world can help but unravel, sending the evil soul to meet Pharasma and her judgement...

The Ghoul in V30 is dead, it was at 1hp...lol
Tragershen to go....don't keep mother waiting...

Tragershen rushes forward, drawing his rapier as he advances. He stops behind Corbius, hoping the more proficient warrior can keep Mother at bay if she charges. Having just witnessed Aedalis shred the ghoul with positive energy, Tragershen resorts to a similar tactic. With the tension of the battle coursing through him, the ray of energy goes far wide of the undead monster, expiring before he can bring it to bear on it.

Ready rapier while moving to U25. Cast Disrupt Undead at Mother.
To hit 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6
Damage 1d6 + 0 ⇒ (3) + 0 = 3

Round 4

Perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (13) + 11 = 24

Anton hears quite a commotion going on behind him, but focuses on the undead spellcaster in front of him. He has no idea what kind of magic she's been working on herself, so he examines her closely to try to determine its effect. FWIW, Anton used Perceive the Enemy on her in round 2.

Current Status
AC 12, hp 10/18
paralyzed, Perceive the Enemy (Nylithati)

Confused. If your now assigning several hits to Aedalis please point them out and tell me how many saves to make as well as how much damage to suffer. Aedalis' AC is 14. As far as I can tell, the barbed vest is per hit not once a round.

The way I read it, the ghoul took 1 damage from trying to hit you, and died. It was already heavily damaged, and accidentally killed itself on your vest. So you're fine, and it doesn't take a harrower to see some smugness in your future. ;)

Confused. If your now assigning several hits to Aedalis please point them out and tell me how many saves to make as well as how much damage to suffer. Aedalis' AC is 14. As far as I can tell, the barbed vest is per hit not once a round.

Your tag says AC-10 so that is what I was using. The attacks were in my original post, re-postd here:

As stated a long time ago, my parentheses will always show baseline stats for my level without temporary stuff like Mage Armour and other temporary modifiers. The only thing I keep current in there is my HP. Will try and keep you aware of any long-term buffs using OOC at the bottom of my posts from time to time. Thanks for the clarity, i'm often posting in very tiny windows of time so easily confused lately.

Aedalis is not the smug type... but he'll be grateful he invested 25GP into that vest ;).

Fort (Success): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19

So, was Anton able to tell anything about what effects those spells had? :) (I think that this is my most active paralyzed character ever.)

The effects are pretty obvious, many of the large wounds she had received are now closed...

Tragershen's magical effect veers wide of mother...Anton begins to feel the sensation coming back to his legs and arms and as the seconds pass he is almost able to move!

You will be able to act on your turn starting round 5!

One Lacedon and mother still remain in the fight, many of Mother's wounds are now healed by whatever magic she had cast. For whatever reason mother seems determined to fight you...

Order of Combat Round 5:

Aedalis 22
Nim 19
Corbrius 19
Ghouls 15
Mother 15
Mihai 7
Tragershen 7b
Anton 4

Aedalis is up.

Round 5 Map

Melee Touch Attack: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 1 = 13
Cure Light Wounds Damage (DC16 Will for half damage): 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8

Aedalis reached out to the distracted Ghoul fighting Nim with every intent of letting the positive energy he held ravage the Undead.

Fort save: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23
Fort save: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

The two claw strikes raking his flesh, Nim falls to the ground immobilized by the debilitating effects of their touch... bitten once more as he does, incapable of defending himself further...

Current status and effects:
Wicewakan: AC 14 HP 14 of 23
Azlanti Foresight - expires round 4
Sickened: expires ???
Nim: AC 17 HP 3 of 21 helpless & prone
Longstrider - expires in 2 hours
Azlanti Foresight - expired
Paralyzed - expires in ???

Exactly the thing I had been hoping to avoid with Fortune. Alas it was not available when I needed it. :(

Sorry. Mihai was in direr straits.

It sucks and we might all die, but surely Wicewakan doesn't need to be told to attack the thing that struck his humanoid companion?

Sorry... Didn't notice it was actually my turn. On my phone currently. Will post up when i get home.

Round 5

Wicewakan moves to engage the ghoul who dropped his master... move to V 30

standard action attack w/bite -sickened: 1d20 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 - 2 = 5
damage -sickened: 1d6 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (5) + 1 - 2 = 4
free trip attack: 1d20 ⇒ 1

...but fails to land his bite attempt.

Current status and effects:
Wicewakan: AC 14 HP 14 of 23
Sickened: expires ???
Nim: AC 17 HP 3 of 21 (helpless & prone)
Longstrider - expires in 2 hours
Paralyzed - expires in ???

As a major class feature... Wicewakan has been pretty much totally ineffective due to ridiculously poor rolls pretty much the entire AP to date. :/

Round 5

Corbius looks over as Nim falls. Torn between protecting Trag and helping Nim Corbius hesitates momentarily.. If I leave then mother will swoop in and take Possibly kill Trag.. I am sorry Nim. Hopefully Aedalis and Wic can take care of that Lacedon

Straightening Corbius stands defiantly in fron of Trag ready to lash out at mother should she approach. Move action withdraw potion of CLW, Standard Action Ready attack against any enemy that comes in range.

Free action Speech Trag! I suggest if you have any tricks left you use them now, either way fall back towards Anton!

Current Status

AC 18
HP 8/16
Arcane Pool 1/4 Enchanted Rapier +1 till Round 10

Why am I hearing the credits rolling in the back ground?? :)

The Ghoul at the back may be down by Corbrius' action anyway, Aedalis just did 8 or 4 damage to him.

Willpower Save 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22

The Ghoul resists part of the positive energy from Aedalis and keeps his footing.

Mother smiles as the humans facing her finally start to drop. She casts one more spell before confidently striding forward.

Move to U22.

The other Lacedon strikes at at the human still standing to face it.
L4 claw atk 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 12 dam 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6 Miss
L4 claw atk 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10 dam 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2 Miss
bite atk 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (13) + 3 = 16 dam 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6 Hit

Need one save from Aedalis for paralysis and another for disease...