Dungeon Master S's "Beyond Azlant Ridge" (Inactive)

Game Master Chris Marsh

Okay, it seems like you've got a plan, so I'm going to execute the scene as it were. Because Piper isn't prescient, Haste can't occur before the door is destroyed. Real life is kicking my butt today, so can someone remind me if you tried placing any of the discs already?

We haven't tried yet, but I think the plan is to put the ones we have in now (which Kyra will do once Auri hits her with Enlarge Person

Because I am a kind and benevolent GM, and real life is kicking my butt today, I'm going to rule thus: You have time enough to place the discs once, which is to say tell me which disc goes where once. Then I take over ;-)

The Darkness disc was going to go into the void. We were then placing the other disc in slots determined by the strength of the light they were emitting (and their enchantment).

Sorry, can't quite remember the names - stas - least, sun - most, maybe moon in the middle?

What Auri said. Disc with darkness on it should go into the Void slot.

We probably need to judge the strength of the light aura on the other discs to see which slot they will go into.

I'm guessing one will have daylight which will probably be the sun slot.
Maybe one dancing lights or something similar which will be the stars, and the one we have is likely the moon. But we really don't have enough information to know without looking through that hole, which nobody wants to do!

How are we going to protect ourselves from its charm Does anyone have communal protection from evil?

"No, but I recall seeing one was purple, which I thought might be stars - simply because it didn't sound like the moon."

The smashing and cracking grows ever louder.

Either make a command decision to try some now, or hold off, because the monolith is almost through!

Auri quickly tries the glowing disc in the moon before heading off towards the breaking door.

Large Auri sticks the light disc in the moon slot, but the disc instantly slides out.

Before she can do much about it though, the loudest CRACK yet is the last bit of door giving way!

Uh-oh

With a final blow, the enormous iron golem smashes through the stone doors. Framed in the doorway is a gargantuan black-and-red serpent with three tails and six eyes. A gloating telepathic cry exudes from the creature, “Foolish, mindless machine! Now you are the prisoner, and I am finally free!” With a dazzling flash, the two creatures change places: the golem in the smaller room and the serpentine fiend outside of it. As the serpent begins to uncoil, the golem lunges forward and grasps the fiend by its head. The two titans are in a temporary stalemate; the golem cannot release its hold or the fiend will escape, and the fiend cannot break the golem’s grip.

Baddies: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (5) + 9 = 14
Amiri: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 = 11
Auri: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8
Dupine: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10
Piper: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (9) + 8 = 17
Merisiel: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (6) + 9 = 15
Kyra: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (12) + 0 = 12

Now you have a way in, but you've got to get by the wrestling mass. It looks like the creature can still grab at you, even as the monolith keeps it busy.

Round 1
Piper: Go
Merisiel: Go
BADDIES: TBD
Kyra: TBD
Amiri: TBD
Dupine: TBD
Auri: TBD

Kyra was also large, as she was going to be doing the disc inserting.

Merisiel delays until after Piper, hopeful for a Haste spell.

"Damn. Auri - try that one in the Sun slot! I'm going in to get the others."

UMB: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7 uh oh

August moves toward the others and tries to cast mage armor on himself.

Edited action cause I forgot where Dupine was...

Hmm, Liberating command... Does the flail indicate if it would be willing to use that on other people given this particular adversary?

Yes, Slitherbane WANTS this... Though you all know without a check that the monster is way beyond your typical foe. Sitherbane will lend its power.

Botting Piper to cast Haste.

Round 1
Piper: Haste
Merisiel: Go
BADDIES: TBD
Kyra: TBD
Amiri: TBD
Dupine: TBD
Auri: TBD

Merisiel smiles at Piper, then starts dodging, ducking and weaving around the monstrous snake thing, through the golem, and towards the discs in the other room. Acrobatics to Tumble: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (1) + 20 = 21
And because that is bull... I'm using my re-roll
Acrobatics to Tumble: 1d20 + 23 ⇒ (6) + 23 = 29

Merisiel tries to tumble her way into the room to get to a disc, but her technique is foiled by an errant piece of the the erstwhile door. The massive creature slaps her with a tail AoO: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (18) + 17 = 35 and the impact alone is immensely painful DMG: 2d8 + 4 ⇒ (6, 7) + 4 = 17 The creature tries to wrap the tail around her Grab: 1d20 + 35 ⇒ (13) + 35 = 48... and Merisiel SHOULD be held fast, but something, somehow keeps her free as the tail slips off!

She gets to the discs as the monster roars, trying to simultaneously break from the monolith and punish Merisiel. When she can't be reached, it goes after the others.

Left tail at Auri: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (14) + 17 = 31 for DMG: 2d8 + 4 ⇒ (5, 1) + 4 = 10 and Grab: 1d20 + 35 ⇒ (12) + 35 = 47 but somehow can't grab her!
Middle tail at Kyra: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (6) + 17 = 23 for DMG: 2d8 + 4 ⇒ (8, 3) + 4 = 15 and Grab: 1d20 + 35 ⇒ (12) + 35 = 47 and can't grab the cleric!
Right tail at Amiri: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (14) + 17 = 31 for DMG: 2d8 + 4 ⇒ (7, 7) + 4 = 18 and Grab: 1d20 + 35 ⇒ (12) + 35 = 47 misses too!

Round 1
Piper: Haste
Merisiel: Move
BADDIES: ATK
Kyra: Go
Amiri: Go
Dupine: Go
Auri: Go

Amiri likes haste.
Not as much as she hates snakes, though.
Snakes make her angry.
Enraged, even.

primary — rage, Power Attack, haste: 1d20 + 15 - 2 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 15 - 2 + 1 = 28
dmg: 2d8 + 18 ⇒ (7, 5) + 18 = 30

iterative — rage, Power Attack, haste: 1d20 + 15 - 2 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 15 - 2 + 1 = 23
dmg: 2d8 + 18 ⇒ (8, 1) + 18 = 27

hasted attack — rage, Power Attack, haste: 1d20 + 15 - 2 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 15 - 2 + 1 = 26
dmg: 2d8 + 18 ⇒ (2, 6) + 18 = 26

GET THOSE DISCS! Amiri shouts as she hacks at the snake monster.

Amiri stuff: 14/18 rage rounds remaining, hp 89, AC 17

We can assume she yelled.

August heads to the crack while Amiri does what Amiri does best. Twice her massive blade slices into the monster! Supernaturally tough hide slows the strike down, but it can't stop it entirely.

Round 1
Piper: Haste
Merisiel: Move
BADDIES: ATK
Kyra: Go
Amiri: Full attack!
Dupine: moves to crack
Auri: Go

Auri, free for the moment with no disks to slice, takes Slitherbane in two hands and tries to punish the serpentine creature.

She Smites!

attack,base, haste,weapon,bane,smite: 1d20 + 11 + 1 + 1 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 11 + 1 + 1 + 2 + 2 = 36
hasted attack,base, haste,weapon,bane,smite: 1d20 + 11 + 1 + 1 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 11 + 1 + 1 + 2 + 2 = 18
damage, STR, weapon, bane,AS,smite: 1d10 + 9 + 1 + 2d6 + 1 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 9 + 1 + (6, 2) + 1 + 4 = 31 <- no DR
damage, STR, weapon, bane,AS,smite: 1d10 + 9 + 1 + 2d6 + 1 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 9 + 1 + (5, 1) + 1 + 4 = 29 <- auto miss

crit? attack,base, haste,weapon,bane,smite: 1d20 + 11 + 1 + 1 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 11 + 1 + 1 + 2 + 2 = 22
bonus crit damage, STR, weapon, bane,AS,smite: 1d10 + 9 + 1 + 2d6 + 1 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 9 + 1 + (5, 3) + 1 + 4 = 29

Also extra 4hp if it is an evil outsider (8 if smite confirms)

I think I got that right, Slitherbane is +1 and bane, right?

I've not added any bonus for it being grappled.

Auri wanted to five-foot-step into flank, right? Asking for a certain barbarian friend.

She did, sorry, posting at work, I was trying to work out if I needed to move for a flank or not. Hard with those large creatures. Shell certainly do that and add +2 to hit for her attacks as well. Might have a difference for the crit

Auri gets a single shot to stick as the flail head slams into the monster's body. The beast is enraged, and has plenty of fight left in it though...

Round 1
Piper: Haste
Merisiel: Move
BADDIES: ATK
Kyra: Go
Amiri: Full attack!
Dupine: moves to crack
Auri: SMITE!

Kyra's player has been super busy the last couple of days, I don't think Matt would mind a botting.

Kyra(bot) decides to stay on the defense, pulling her scimitar out to fend off attacks, and concentrates on keeping her friends (and herself) alive.

She channels positive energy to heal, selecting out the creature, who can just keep its wounds.

Channel Heal: 6d6 ⇒ (2, 1, 6, 6, 1, 2) = 18
That should put everyone back at full.

Wounds close as the beast and Monolith continue to wrestle for control.

Round 2
Piper: Go
Merisiel: Go
BADDIES: TBD
Kyra: TBD
Amiri: TBD
Dupine: TBD
Auri: TBD

Merisiel picks up a disc (move action), takes a step closer (5ft step), and hands a disc to Dupine through the crack (move action, using her standard action).

"Don't run away yet! I've got one more still!"

"OK!"

;)

Piper tries to force the creatures to focus on each other with an illusion.

Silent Image for a wall of stone around the construct and the snake thing. DC 18. I'm on mobile, so if someone else can draw that, I'd appreciate it.

-Posted with Wayfinder

build season is over. I will be available more often. Sorrry about that.

Piper tries to buy the party some privacy with her spell while Merisiel feeds a disc to August.

Unfortunately, the Xacarba is gifted with the ability to see through illusion! Thrice it lashes out while still grappling the monolith:

Left Tail at Auri: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (13) + 17 = 30 for DMG: 2d8 + 4 ⇒ (6, 2) + 4 = 12 AND Grab: 1d20 + 35 ⇒ (8) + 35 = 43, but the blessings keep Auri free.

Middle Tail at Kyra: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (10) + 17 = 27 for DMG: 2d8 + 4 ⇒ (2, 7) + 4 = 13 AND Grab: 1d20 + 35 ⇒ (10) + 35 = 45, and Kyra too slips free.

Right Tail at Amiri: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (6) + 17 = 23 for DMG: 2d8 + 4 ⇒ (6, 5) + 4 = 15 AND Grab: 1d20 + 35 ⇒ (9) + 35 = 44, and none of the Pathfinders are grabbed!

Round 2
Piper: Illusion
Merisiel: Disc
BADDIES: ATK
Kyra: Go
Amiri: Go
Dupine: Go
Auri: Go

Kyra does what she does best: Channel!!

channel for healing: 6d6 ⇒ (5, 5, 2, 5, 6, 3) = 26

Indeed the cleric's power undoes much of the damage caused by the monster.

Round 2
Piper: Illusion
Merisiel: Disc
BADDIES: ATK
Kyra: Channel
Amiri: Go
Dupine: Go
Auri: Go

Amiri angrily continues her onslaught!

primary — rage, Power Attack, flank, haste: 1d20 + 15 - 2 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 15 - 2 + 2 + 1 = 35
primary — confirm?: 1d20 + 15 - 2 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 15 - 2 + 2 + 1 = 17 Natural Jeff for the NO.
dmg: 2d8 + 18 ⇒ (8, 5) + 18 = 31

iterative — rage, Power Attack, flank, haste: 1d20 + 15 - 2 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 15 - 2 + 2 + 1 = 27
dmg: 2d8 + 18 ⇒ (8, 1) + 18 = 27

hasted attack — rage, Power Attack, flank, haste: 1d20 + 15 - 2 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 15 - 2 + 2 + 1 = 29
dmg: 2d8 + 18 ⇒ (5, 3) + 18 = 26

Amiri stuff: 13/18 rage rounds remaining, hp 89 (thanks, Kyra!), AC 19

Amiri's rage continues unabated as she hacks into the monster, but only finding purchase once. Even then the wounds don't seem as severe as they ought to be.

Round 2
Piper: Illusion
Merisiel: Disc
BADDIES: ATK
Kyra: Channel
Amiri: Hit
Dupine: Go
Auri: Go

Dupine waits for the last disk to come through the crack. Meanwhile, he examines the one he has.

Perception: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (8) + 14 = 22

The disc he has weighs far more than it looks like it should, about 30 lb. It exudes a purplish light.

Auri is determined to have the creature as intent on her as she can make it, her hasted blows with Slitherbane continue to rain down on it. Each blow is empowered with divine might, arcane power and the hatred of the greatmace.

Smite active so bypasses DR. I've not added any bonus on the to-hit for it being grappled, I'll leave that to the GM to adjudicate

attack,base, haste,weapon,bane,smite,flank,PA: 1d20 + 11 + 1 + 1 + 2 + 2 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (20) + 11 + 1 + 1 + 2 + 2 + 2 - 2 = 37
hasted attack,base, haste,weapon,bane,smite,flank,PA: 1d20 + 11 + 1 + 1 + 2 + 2 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (4) + 11 + 1 + 1 + 2 + 2 + 2 - 2 = 21

I realise I forgot to up slither bane to a large weapon last time, so slightly changed damage dice this time round. I also forgot her STR bonus damage. The size penalty to hit cancels out her str bonus on to hit so I've left that unchanged.

damage, STR, weapon, bane,AS,smite,PA: 2d8 + 10 + 1 + 2d6 + 1 + 4 + 6 ⇒ (5, 4) + 10 + 1 + (3, 6) + 1 + 4 + 6 = 40 <- no DR
hasted attack damage, STR, weapon, bane,AS,smite,PA: 2d8 + 10 + 1 + 2d6 + 1 + 4 + 6 ⇒ (4, 8) + 10 + 1 + (1, 1) + 1 + 4 + 6 = 36 <- no DR

Crit ?attack,base, haste,weapon,bane,smite,flank,PA: 1d20 + 11 + 1 + 1 + 2 + 2 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (19) + 11 + 1 + 1 + 2 + 2 + 2 - 2 = 36
Crit attack bonus damage if confirmed, STR, weapon, bane,AS,smite,PA: 2d8 + 10 + 1 + 2d6 + 1 + 4 + 6 ⇒ (3, 3) + 10 + 1 + (5, 3) + 1 + 4 + 6 = 36 <- no DR

"Keep going Monlith... You can take it."

August awaits delivery of the second disc while Auri wails away with SLitherbane! She makes one hit, but what a hit! The head of the flail lodges into the beast's side as it roars in agony.

Round 2
Piper: Go
Merisiel: Go
BADDIES: TBD
Kyra: TBD
Amiri: TBD
Dupine: TBD
Auri: TBD

Merisiel picks up the second disc and hands it to Dupine. "Fly, you fool!"

The only thing is, when it touches Dupine's hand the first disc becomes impossibly heavy! He nearly drops it on his foot. Some magic in the stones prevents him from carrying two! Ruling that Merisiel used 2 move actions, and the second stone is on the floor outside by Dupine's feet.

Round 2
Piper: Go
Merisiel: Pass
BADDIES: TBD
Kyra: TBD
Amiri: TBD
Dupine: TBD
Auri: TBD

Posting ahead of schedule as I don't think it will matter much to init order...

Dupine drops the second disk, and runs down the hall with the first one. Wasted time... hand in there team!

50' move translates into 200' run, I think. So I should be able to get around and through the double doors, and hope someone is ready for a hand off.

Dupine, run is straight line only, unless you've got some Kung full I'm missing. Still 100' is a lot.

-Posted with Wayfinder

Oops. Well, I guess it will take longer....;)

Seeing her illusion fail, Piper drops it, and tries to hinder the creature instead.

Enervation: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21
Neg levels: 1d4 ⇒ 4

-Posted with Wayfinder

Piper: 1d20 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 7 + 2 = 23 Piper's spell punches through, visibly weakening the massive terror.

Nevertheless it continues to lash out at the same targets, trying desperately to turn the tide.

Left tail at Auri: 1d20 + 17 - 4 ⇒ (8) + 17 - 4 = 21 for DMG: 2d8 + 4 ⇒ (3, 4) + 4 = 11
Middle at Kyra: 1d20 + 17 - 4 ⇒ (15) + 17 - 4 = 28 for DMG: 2d8 + 4 ⇒ (3, 3) + 4 = 10
Right at Amiri: 1d20 + 17 - 4 ⇒ (8) + 17 - 4 = 21 for DMG: 2d8 + 4 ⇒ (1, 4) + 4 = 9

none of the tails seem to be able to grab the protected heroes! Almost impossibly the creature seems to be losing!

Round 2
Piper: Enervation
Merisiel: Pass
BADDIES: ATK
Kyra: Go
Amiri: Go
Dupine: Go
Auri: Go