Dungeon Master S's "Giantslayer" AP (Inactive)

Game Master Chris Marsh

Vael readies himself for the trip by bolstering his life essence temporarily.
False Life: 1d10 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8

With wounds healed, the party hustles forward to find the giants. the sense of urgency spurs faster travel, but the giants aren't so far ahead that it's exhausting.

Indeed, just a bit before the sun goes down, it looks like you've found them. A quartet of voices ahead and off the trail can be heard, though not distinctively enough to understand what they're saying.

What now heroes?

Speaking quietly and in Dwarven, Vael says, "I'm ready for a fight. Do we try and surprise them? Anymore of that 'making us disappear' trick, Raen?"

I'm ready, but want to know more about what we're facing, Ham says and he turns to Whistle Pig.

Whistle, can you go get a look around?

WP nods, "Back in a moment" he adds in dwarven as he pads quietly away.

stealth: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (10) + 17 = 27

After a few minutes, WP appears out of the brush.

He quickly reports on what he saw," just across the river, 4 Ogres have set up camp."[b/] he talks while be draws a quick map in the dirt.
[b]"beyond the ogres are seven humans who are chained together."

Vael and Raen glance at each other, nod, and begin preparations.

Raen's hands weave arcane symbols in the air, and her incantations take effect. This manifests first as a series of three mirror images of the Varisian spring into existence. She then waits for Vael to finish.

The shaman first mutters a chant, asking the Spirits of the Heavens to guide his friends. His chanting continues, asking for the the power to harness lightning. Immigrant Song begins to play...

The illusionist then casts another spell, causing the party to disappear from view.

Raen: Mirror Image, Invisibility Sphere
Vael: Bless, Call Lightning

The group them moves forward slowly and quietly...
Stealth (Doxon): 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (9) + 19 = 28
Stealth (Hamilton): 1d20 + 30 ⇒ (10) + 30 = 40
Stealth (Applejack): 1d20 + 22 ⇒ (2) + 22 = 24
Stealth (Raen): 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (11) + 21 = 32
Stealth (Ushyle): 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (20) + 19 = 39
Stealth (Vael): 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (10) + 17 = 27
Stealth (Tulia): 1d20 + 38 ⇒ (13) + 38 = 51
Stealth (Whistle Pig): 1d20 + 37 ⇒ (5) + 37 = 42

With the quartet of ogres just over the bridge, the Heroes of Trunau weave spells of power, tilting the odds in their favor. By the time the ogres know that something is amiss, the battle is at hand!

Enemy: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (16) - 1 = 15
Raen: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7
Ushyle: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22
Vael: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23
Whistle Pig: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21
Doxon: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 1 = 20
Hamilton: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

Surprise Round
Vael: Go
Ushyle: Go
Whistle Pig: Go
Doxon: Go
Enemy:
Raen: Go
Hamilton: Go

Round 1
Vael: Go
Ushyle: Go
Whistle Pig: Go
Doxon: Go
Enemy: TBD
Raen: TBD
Hamilton: TBD

Surprise!

Ham kicks into Applejack, spurring her to charge!

IOMADAE AND TRUNAU!!!

Charge:1d20 + 13 ⇒ (5) + 13 = 18 Vs. Black
Damage on Hit:2d8 + 10 + 2d6 ⇒ (5, 7) + 10 + (3, 3) = 28

Surprise round: Ushyle knows he will shortly be leaving the security of the invisibility sphere, so casts his own invisibility on himself, then takes a five-foot step.

Round 1: Ushyle darts over to the side, intent on cutting off the approach of Red when the ogre predictably moves in on Ham.
Move action to move (drawing on the move), then standard action as a move to study Red, Milani's Thorn in hand.

SURPRISE ROUND
Knowledge (Local) for Tulia: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (20) + 8 = 28 Tulia shares whatever is useful that she knows

Vael mutters a quick chant and causes a starknife made of force to appear beside one of the creatures. The weapon lashes out!
Spiritual Weapon on Black: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (14) + 8 = 22
Damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9

ROUND 1
Vael keeps the pressure on (or switches targets to White), putting the spiritual weapon and his own called lightning to use
Spiritual Weapon on Black (or white): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9
Damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4
Call Lightning on Black (Reflex DC 17): 3d6 ⇒ (4, 2, 3) = 9

Tulia knows all the things about ogres...

Vael's spell draws first blood, slashing the ogre across its large back! The follow up ppass of the spell isn't so lucky REF: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (13) + 0 = 13. Though when lightning strikes it's a solid hit!

Surprise Round
Whistle Pig: Go
Doxon: Go
Raen: Go
Hamilton: Will charge

Round 1
Vael: SW and LitBolt
Ushyle: Prep work
Whistle Pig: Go
Doxon: Go
Enemy: TBD
Raen: TBD
Hamilton: TBD

Pig hears Ham's challenge and echos it, "For Trunau!"
He then lays down some covering fire.

Surprise Round:
attack on black: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (1) + 15 = 16
damage: 1d6 + 13 ⇒ (1) + 13 = 14

Round 1:
attack on black: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (13) + 15 = 28
damage: 1d6 + 13 ⇒ (6) + 13 = 19
attack on Black: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (14) + 10 = 24
damage: 1d6 + 13 ⇒ (4) + 13 = 17
swap to red if black goes down

Whistle Pig's opening volley goes astray

Surprise Round
Whistle Pig: Miss
Doxon: Go
Raen: Go
Hamilton: Will charge

Round 1
Vael: SW and LitBolt
Ushyle: Prep work
Whistle Pig: Will ATK
Doxon: Go
Enemy: TBD
Raen: TBD
Hamilton: TBD

Raen bends the threads to grant her companions the gift of speed.

Haste for everyone except Applejack and Tulia.

Raen's spell drastically improves the capabilities of the party Man it's a good thing that spell lost its old drawback ;-)

Surprise Round

Doxon: Go
Hamilton: Will charge

Round 1
Vael: SW and LitBolt
Ushyle: Prep work
Whistle Pig: Will ATK
Doxon: Go
Enemy: TBD
Raen: TBD
Hamilton: TBD

Surprise Round:
Doxon calls on the Blessing of Torag to imbue Agrimmosh with holy light so that he may smite his enemies in his mercy.

Round 1
Doxon swift casts Divine Favor, then charges Black.

Agrimmosh, Charge!: 1d20 + 12 + 1 + 1 + 3 ⇒ (11) + 12 + 1 + 1 + 3 = 28
Damage: 2d6 + 8 + 3 + 1d6 ⇒ (3, 6) + 8 + 3 + (1) = 21

Doxon brings the power of Torag to the fight!

Hamilton charges forth, gutting the ogre, right after the spiritual weapon does it's job!

Vael's lightning blasts on another ogre.

Whistle Pig hurls a pair of stones. Both strike the ogre in the throat, collapsing it!

Doxon charges forth re-targeting to white He drives AGRIMMOSH into the ogre's sternum, splitting it and then some!

Against all better judgment after the massacre of the other three, the remaining ogre steps up and swings a great club at Doxon ATK: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21, but the attempt is pathetic.

Round 1
Vael: SW and LitBolt
Ushyle: Prep work
Whistle Pig: Kill
Doxon: Kill
Enemy: ATK
Raen: Go
Hamilton: Go

Hamilton withdraws Heartspit from the collapsing ogre, then turns it on the last remaining creature. He spurs Applejack into another charge.

Charge w/Heartspit:1d20 + 14 ⇒ (1) + 14 = 15

The Ogre's luck blesses it. It ducks to try to avoid the spiritual weapon and the lance catches nothing but air. Hamilton and Applejack continue past the ogre [off the map] and lines up for another charge.

Ride By Attack. No AoO's drawn.

Testing out a new trick, Hamilton finds that ogres and quintains behave differently!

Round 1
Vael: SW and LitBolt
Ushyle: Prep work
Whistle Pig: Kill
Doxon: Kill
Enemy: ATK
Raen: Go
Hamilton: Miss

Raen, seeing little point in doing much besides brute force at this juncture, pincushions the ogre with magical fire.

Magic Missile: 3d4 + 3 ⇒ (4, 2, 1) + 3 = 10

Raen's missiles severely weaken the brute, and as the others circle around, the endgame becomes clear - The ogre has no hope.

So it's not going down without a fight.

Round 2
Vael: Go
Ushyle: Go
Whistle Pig: Go
Doxon: Go
Enemy: TBD
Raen: TBD
Hamilton: TBD

For reference: Immigrant Song

"AAAAAAAAAH... AAH!"
Another bolt of lightning descends from the heavens... Call Lightning (DC 17 Reflex for half): 3d6 ⇒ (3, 3, 4) = 10

REF: 1d20 ⇒ 10 The lightning shocks the ogre, but doesn't electrocute him...

Round 2
Vael: We are your overloooooooords
Ushyle: Go
Whistle Pig: Go
Doxon: Go
Enemy: TBD
Raen: TBD
Hamilton: TBD

Doxon steps in close to Blue and lays in with hammer and pick.

Agrimmosh, TWF: 1d20 + 10 + 1 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 10 + 1 + 3 = 24
Damage: 2d6 + 8 + 3 + 1d6 ⇒ (3, 2) + 8 + 3 + (3) = 19

Pick, TWF: 1d20 + 9 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 9 + 3 + 1 = 15
Damage: 1d8 + 5 + 3 + 1d6 ⇒ (8) + 5 + 3 + (5) = 21

Posting for Ushyle...

Sensing the battle at an end, Ushyle charges the ogre, appearing out of thin air as the Invisibility drops.

Milani's Thorn (+1 keen greatsword):1d20 + 10 ⇒ (13) + 10 = 23
Damage on hit:2d6 + 5 ⇒ (4, 5) + 5 = 14

Ushyle: 1d20 ⇒ 9

Ushyle finally emerges from his set up just in time to kill the ogre! Doxon and Hamilton make sure the deed is done!

For handedly slaying the quartet of ogres, each character receives 535 XP.

Seeing the threat eliminated, WP rushes to check on and free the captives. He knows what it's like to be in chains.

...And what it's like to be emo about it...

The look of gratitude on their faces makes Whistle Pig's heart pound. The ogres’ captives include four villagers from Shinnerman’s Fortune and three prospectors who were apparently working claims upstream. All are bruised from beatings. "There is at least one more band of giants that went on ahead with more prisoners, but we have little if any hope that those victims have survived."

One of the prisoners, a middle-aged woman named Cerrina, recalls the giants conversing about meeting at some sort of cathedral called the Tinderhall.

Another captive, a boyish-looking prospector named Hap, remembers a conversation, "They said something about not wanting to be late for the mustering for the Storm Tyrant’s army. I assume that the aforementioned Gristlecrack is the Storm Tyrant!"

Knowledge (Religion) from Vael: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7
Knowledge (Local) from Tulia: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13

"We shou' move quickly. If Cerrina be right, we need ta beat these giants thar and stop them," Vael says, then takes stock of the setting sun. "We shou' rest and git an early start."

What's this Tinderhall? Raen? Doxon?

Hmmmm...

Know:Religion: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15

Never heard of it.

Know Local: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (1) + 15 = 16
Know Religion: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (15) + 10 = 25

Have not looked at the spoiler yet; up to GM whether I can to roll both checks or not.

Raen shakes her head. "The Storm Tyrant is named Volstus, not Gristlecrack. I do not doubt Gristlecrack intends to be a Tyrant's lieutenant, however." The Varisian arches an eyebrow at the woman. "Tinderhall? The term would not have Minderhal? We know that giants are assembling in Minderhal's Valley. Perhaps there is a cathedral there."

I'll allow it.

Cerrina answers, "It could have been. Their voices are so low, sometimes it's hard to make out."

Ushyle listens to the conversation without speaking, but catches Vael's attention, whispering what about the baby?

WP sets to work making up camp and making sure folks have what they need for the night. Water is easy thanks to the river, but food is an issue. He breaks out what rations he has and uses his outdoor skills to make up the rest.

With camp and a meal, the party takes the night to rest. The sky is clear and bright this evening. Rest is comforting.

After leaving camp, you have a calm day of walking. The mountains ahead act as "the pale". On your third day out you eventually reach the edge of the mountain forest, where the stream you’ve been following—now a river—drops down into a large, winding valley. A wide, well-trodden trail, which is clearly the path the giants used to raid Shinnerman’s Fortune and the surrounding area, descends into the valley alongside the river.

Welcome to Minderhall Valley.

The valley lies beneath the slopes of several tall mountains, carved by a snaking river fed by numerous mountain streams that spill from the Mindspins’ icy spires. These mountains are thousands of feet high, with steep slopes, cliffs, and rock walls. It is immediately apparent that moving across the valley floor will be significantly easier than traversing the mountain slopes above the valley.

Your third day out ends peacefully, though you can't help but feel it'll be the last peaceful night for some time. A pale moon struggles to peek through the heavy clouds that have gathered over the jagged peaks that hem the secluded valley. As the temperatures quickly begin to drop, the vestiges of the ancient mountain trail become nearly impossible to identify in the darkness.

Enemy: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17
Raen: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (19) + 3 = 22
Ushyle: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6
Vael: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15
Whistle Pig: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15
Doxon: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4
Hamilton: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11

Ushyle, from the south you hear Doxon calling to you, "Brother! I am hurt, come help me up. I need your strength my friend..." Will DC 16 or take a double move on your turn towards the beastie.

Doxon, from the east you hear Ushyle calling to you, "Brother! I am hurt, come help me up. I need your strength my friend..." Will DC 16 or take a double move on your turn towards the beastie.

Surprise Round:
Enemy: ???
Whistle Pig: Go
Vael: Go
Hamilton: Go

Round 1:
Raen: Go
Enemy: TBD
Whistle Pig: TBD
Vael: TBD
Hamilton: TBD
Ushyle: TBD
Doxon: TBD

Sense Motive on Villagers before leaving: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26

Surprise!

Hamilton turns his head and belts out, I see two, front and rear HIYA!

And he charges the creature:1d20 + 11 ⇒ (2) + 11 = 13

Eh. Flatfooted, maybe?

Damage on hit:2d8 + 6 ⇒ (7, 6) + 6 = 19

Per Slack, Vael senses no deception from the rescued people.

---------------

Hamilton charges forth, but the thick hide of the beast turns Heartspit aside.

Surprise Round:
Whistle Pig: Go
Vael: Go

Round 1:
Raen: Go
Enemy: TBD
Whistle Pig: TBD
Vael: TBD
Hamilton: TBD
Ushyle: TBD
Doxon: TBD

DC 16 Will: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (17) + 8 = 25
Ushyle cares not for the creature's deceptions.

Knowledge Arcana (Tulia): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (17) + 8 = 25
Any special attacks to worry about?

"These are leucrotta! They can influence your mind with their voice!" Tulia warns.

Sensing a heightened electrical charge in the air, Vael calls upon the Spirits of the Heavens to give him the power over lightning! The shaman's eyes turn solid black as the magic infuses him.

He gestures at the southeastern leucrotta (red), and a bolt of lightning descends from the sky! Call Lightning (DC 17 Reflex Half): 3d10 ⇒ (1, 8, 8) = 17

Vael knows about the lure, but the only other thing to worry about is that their bite is abnormally strong, like a beast much larger...

Vael's words echo through the vale, and down comes a bolt of lightning! REF: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14. It strikes dead on target, but the tough beast has a lot of fight left.

Surprise Round:
Whistle Pig: Go

Round 1:
Raen: Go
Enemy: TBD
Whistle Pig: TBD
Vael: TBD
Hamilton: TBD
Ushyle: TBD
Doxon: TBD