GM Dak - RotRL AE (Group 3) (Inactive)

Game Master Dakcenturi

Nodding to Syuviel, Matsuno says, "We might just be in luck. However, it could just be a tidal cave, and not an alternate entrance. We can only hope if it is an entrance, it is unguarded." With that he will prepare his gear and get ready to disembark from the skiff, handing the captain some coins for his trouble.

The map isn't showing FYI, just a splash screen of Sandpoint.

The dwarf nods. "Aye, I think I can see it now. Turch, can you land near there? Don't much care for climbing up from the boat."

Dan nods at Thorfinn. "Yeah, unless there's a place to land I don't think we're swimming in our armor."

Turch scratches his beard "Aye, I can get the boat alongside the cliff face and drop anchor to stay close. Gonna need someone on those oars 'gain though."

Thorfinn nods and gets back in position.

As to splitting the cost of the scrolls, I thought we’d go 50/50 and swap spellbooks to make sure we’ve each got a copy, unless there are any spells that you don’t want to bother with, in which case Ioxeia will cover those.

“I’ll take an oar while we get close, so a better climber can get ready,” Ioxeia says. “Matsuno? Thorfinn? Otherwise, I don’t mind giving it a try. Anyway, whoever goes first should bring a rope to tie off for the others.”

As she takes her place, she finds herself actually looking forward to the exercise: coasting in, then leaping up to scramble up a cliff face... Of course, magic makes it easier, and she looks forward to the day she can accomplish such a feat by her own power.

If it is Ioxeia who ends up going first, I’d prefer to save spider climb for later, and use our scroll of levitate, but that’s just me.

With a nod, Syuviel opens one of his two cylindrical scroll cases, revealing that four of the scrolls they had purchased are nestled within.

For the sake of expediency, Syuviel will cast whichever spell the climber prefers. I do think that spider climb might be a more useful permanent addition down the line, however.

Dan nods at Turch. "I'll help, just tell me what to do."

Truch instructs the rowers on how to row getting the boat within about 5 feet of the cliff face. The sea splashes against the rock spraying back over you all as Turch drops an anchor. "Right, now your two" he indicates the two rowers "Keep us steady, and care for the cliff that the waves don't smash us into it."

He looks to the others "Best get to what your planning."

Anyone standing to do anything will need to make an acrobatics check. Then just let me know what you are doing.

Reminder to Dak that we don't have a current map in Roll20, so we can't properly visualize the layout of shore vs. cliffs vs. aforementioned hole with vines.

Matsuno moves to the prow of the boat, making a leap from the boat once it nears the cliff face and grasping for purchase on the wall.

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (12) + 9 = 21

From what I remember of the map and description of Thistletop, there's no shore around the island of the fort itself - it's just a huge rock in the sea. So we're just getting as close as we can without crashing against the cliff face.

Ioxeia watches enviously as Matsuno jumps boldly from the boat and grabs for a hold on the rock. Keep a cautious eye open, she says, "Right. If someone can get up without needing levitation, so much the better."

Worst case scenario, we'll fish our monk out and use a scroll to give him a boost. :)

Hah :) Since he's the only one not in armor and with a halfway decent strength I thought it was worth a go! He's not averse to swimming for a few if needed :)

"Without needing magic? Preposterous," Syuviel says dryly, lowering the scroll case slightly. Of course in reality, he would be quite pleased if someone could scale the rock surface without assistance.

M-Acrp: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (16) + 8 = 24
M-Climb: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22

Matsuno stands up, the crashing of the waves and spray of the surf not hindering him what so ever. He takes a couple of steps and jumps toward the ledge grabbing onto the rock face and climbing up the side. Then grabbing on to a handful of vines he pulls himself up the rest of the way and disappears behind the mess of vines and nettles.

Once inside, and not immediately eaten by rabid goblins, Matsuno secures a rope to one hand and drops it out of the opening, hoping to give the others an easier entrance into the cave. He keeps a close eye on the vines and nettles behind him as he waits.

Rope with the cliff face to brace against should make the DC a simple 5 to climb, as long as everyone can get to the rope itself.

Dan nods appreciatively at Matsuno's display of skill. "Wow." He nods at the rope. "I'm not going to be half that good."

He's got a -7 ACP so his standing up without falling out of the boat is seriously in question.

Acrobatics: 1d20 - 7 ⇒ (2) - 7 = -5 Ha. Yeah, that's what I thought.
Climb: 1d20 - 5 ⇒ (12) - 5 = 7 Made the climb rope check, though, fwiw.

And there is where the spells come in handy. :)

"Oh dear," Syuviel remarks unhelpfully, pursing his lips. Eyeing the water, he takes special care to make sure that his spellbook is secured within his waterskin. The scrolls, unfortunately, had no such protection. "I did not expect getting to the rope to be an issue."

I don't know about the jump, but can we take 10 on the climb?

Ref-Dan: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 1 = 21

Dan stands to reach out for the rope, just as a wave tilts the boat and he nearly falls out into the water. Luckily he manages to grab hold of the rope and begin climbing.

Dan will need one more climb check to make it all the way.

Thorfinn continues to try to stabilize the boat while Dan and the others climb up.

Ioxeia tries to gauge her own jump while Dan hoists himself up the rope. "If you're worried, Syuviel," she says abstractedly, "I suppose you could use a scroll to levitate up and then we could rope you in. Would you mind holding this?"

She hands Syuviel her oar as she picks her moment, waiting until Dan's clear before she jumps.

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 2 = 21Climb: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (10) - 1 = 9

Moving with the waves, Ioxeia adjusts the straps of her pack and leaps lightly from the gunwale, but the added momentum makes grabbing the rope less easy than she expected. Still, I think she's made it!

Climb: 1d20 - 5 ⇒ (2) - 5 = -3 ...aaaand, nope. Any chance he could just take 10, DM? That'd be an auto-success, barely.

I am ok with a take 10 when you are already on the rope.

Dan manages to climb up getting a hold of the vines and climbing into the cave.

Just as Ioxeia jumps for the rope and grabs on Dan and Matsuno notice something moving in the darkness.

A dark blue creature with a conical body covered in angry red eyes and numerous tentacles, two of which are longer than the rest lashes out.

D-1,M-2: 1d2 ⇒ 2

Attack: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

The tentacle swings out at Matsuno, but even with continuing to hold the rope he manages to avoid the blow.

Round 1
Enemy, >Thorfinn, Syuviel, Dan, Ioxeia, Matsuno

The map is completely black. Not sure if this is intended or not. :)

I am assuming that both Ioxeia and Syuviel are still not present in the opening?

Matsuno, realizing he is the anchor for the climb up of the others, shuffles to the side to allow Thorfinn and Dan room to get around him and eliminate their attacker. He continues to hold fast onto the rope, "Make haste, we are not alone in here." With his other hand he holds his bow, ready to bat aside any more of the errant tentacles.

Standard Action - Full Defense

I can't hit Roll20 from work, so just move Dan where appropriate and I'll try to imagine the scene.

Dan, still huffing and puffing from his struggle to get up the rope, grunts and raises his shield. "Of course there's a monster in their basement, why wouldn't there be?"

"What's going on up there?" Thorfinn continues to steady the boat, sticking with the original plan (and not wanting to endanger everyone with a sudden move).

Hearing Matsuno's warning, Ioxeia tries to scramble up the rope as quick as she can. Climb: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (16) - 1 = 15 Climb: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (7) - 1 = 6
Taking a double move, I think that should get her to the entrance of the cave? Though that last bit was a near thing!

Zoom out. It shouldn't be completely black on the right hand side of the map. Ioxeia will be getting up this round, but Syuviel and Thorfinn are still in the boat.

Holding the oar, Syuviel had looked on with a frown as Ioxeia demonstrated physical prowess he himself plainly lacked. Still, he could not help but to sense something of a challenge in her words. If she could make the jump without wasting resources, then why not do the same? Just as he resolves to follow after the others however, disaster seems to strike.

"I am not quite sure," Syuviel replies to the dwarf, at the wrong angle to see their apparent enemy. He removes one hand from the oar to prepare the necessary gestures for a spell. "But we had best prepare for the worst."

Casting mage armor, duration 3 hours. +4 to AC.

Dan steps up to engage the odd creature to keep it off of Matsuno while he focuses on getting the others up into the area, specifically Ioxeia who works her way up to join the others.

Dan are you attacking or just blocking the way?
Map should be showing correctly now.

Wasn't sure if Thorfinn was able to attack this round. Dan will do Total Defense this round, AC 24.

Dan steps up to block the monster's path. "A little help!"

Thorfinn is still in the boat; he was going to be the last one up.

Back from the convention. Can I find somewhere to tie the rope off to?

Nothing in sight to tie it off to sadly

Thorfinn and Syuviel wait as Ioxeia works her way up the rope, while Dan tries to fend the creature off of Matsuno who is holding the rope for the others to climb.

With Dan in the way the creature focuses it's attention on him, scooting back and attacking with it's tenticles.

Attack: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 2 = 14
Attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14

It lashes out wildly at Dan but as he takes care to avoid being hit the creature can not break past his defenses. Ioxeia makes it up the ropes and into the cave just in time to see the creatures failed attacks.

Round 2
Enemy, >Thorfinn, Syuviel, Dan, Ioxeia, Matsuno

Matsuno belts out from the opening, "No time for more climbing, hold fast!" and lets the rope drop to his feet. It was obvious that the climb would have to wait, as this immediate threat had to be dealt with in a hurry.

Free action to drop the rope, 5 foot step, shoot ugly tentacle monster thing.

Active: Point Blank Shot

Matuso shifts his weight and hops forward, taking aim at the tentacle thing and firing into its center mass.

Attack, Flurry: 1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 7 + 1 = 18 Damage: 1d8 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 + 1 = 8
Attack, Flurry: 1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 7 + 1 = 28 Damage: 1d8 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 + 1 = 8
Critical Confirm: 1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 7 + 1 = 22 Damage: 1d8 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 + 1 = 6

Dan decides to hit back, ducking out from behind his shield to whip his morningstar at the tentacled monster. "See how you like it, ugly!"

Attack: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6 Fighting Defensively, -4 attack penalty, +2 AC for AC 22 this round
Damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

Heart still pounding from her climb, Ioxeia just has time to strap her shield onto her arm instead of letting it bump against the side of her pack. Slipping between Matsuno and Dan, she swipes at the tentacled thing with her shield, hoping to clear some space to draw her sword.

Attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21 damage?: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

Hmm. I know levitate is single-target, but could someone carry someone else while levitating? Weird, but if it it works, could Thorfinn carry Syuviel while the latter lifts him up?

If he has the carrying capacity, its allowed per RAW, but that is a pretty good amount of weight!

An unarmoured elven wizard? Surely not! :)

Matsuno drops the rope on the ground taking aim at the creature. The arrows are well placed causing the beast very apparent injuries. Dan continues to take on the defensive, but isn't able to connect with the thing. Ioxeia however, steps up and bashes it with her shield.

AoO: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12

As she does the creature tries to latch on with a tentacle but it just bounces off her shield. Syuviel and Thorfinn wait in the boat hearing Matsuno's words.

The creature intent on it's next meal turns it's attention to the closest target, now Ioxeia. Sidding further back into the darkness to keep away from her.

Attack: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 = 17
Grapple: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (6) + 10 = 16
Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5
Attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15
Damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

The creature latches on to Ioxeia with one tentacle wrapping her up in it then lashes out with the other and stings her with some sort of stinger. The stinger burns as it injects something into Ioxeia.

Fort save please. Also note that with the current lighting it now has total concealment. (It should have been getting partial concealment but I missed that :P)

Round 3
Enemy, >Thorfinn, Syuviel, Dan, Ioxeia, Matsuno

Sorry for missing a round! Levitate at CL 3rd can only lift 300 pounds... I'm not sure whether that refers to the weight of the spell target, or of the weight of everything being lifted. At the moment I will assume the latter.

Syuviel pushes his glasses up the bridge of his nose, frowning at the commotion going on above. He detested the feeling of helplessness that came with being stuck on the boat. He had to do something. Uncapping his scroll case once more, he looks to his dwarf companion.

"Well, I was not going to try to climb anyway," he remarks untruthfully, his hand being forced. He slides out the scroll of levitate he and Ioxeia had purchased and casts it on himself.

I figure since Syuviel had a snowball's chance in hell of making the jump and climb anyway, might as well use the spell now since it will last 3 minutes.

Need another move action to move up 20 feet - if the actual casting could have been his round 2 action, great, if not that's fine too.

"Come back with her you foul thing" the archer says, clearly perturbed that the thing was trying to get away with a magus snack.

Reaching into his pack he pulls out a magically lit torch, the area instantly becoming brighter, and drops it in front of him, clearing his view of the creature before firing another arrow at the beast.

Move action to retrieve his everburning torch, free action to drop, standard to put holes in the slimy thing.

Attack: 1d20 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 8 + 1 = 24 Damage: 1d8 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 + 1 = 8

Dak, if you can, please place a light source with 20 foot bright illumination and 20 additional feet of dim illumination.

I am fine with the scroll activation going off in Round 2. Matsuno I gave you a torch to control now.

Of course. I'm an elf woman; the thing has tentacles. I should have known. /Facepalm.

Despite her efforts to hold it in, a choked scream escapes Ioxeia as the stinger lashes into her side. Fort save: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9

Gritting her teeth against the pain, she sinks the fingers of her free hand into the tentacle holding her and tries to tear free. Combat maneuver check: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13

Well, that doesn't look too promising. :/

Thorfinn comes up to his knees, keeping low for stability, and grabs for the rope. Once he's got a good grip he'll start to climb.

Climb check: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 16

Dan doesn't attack. Instead, he murmurs an informal prayer to his god. "Cayden, a little light would be nice." Light wells up out of his shield in response, illuminating the creature. "Thanks!"

Dan will cast Light, centered on his shield.

Matsuno takes another shot at the creature which strikes again but the thing continues to focus on its meal. Ioxeia tries to get out of the monsters grasp but it only tightens it's hold on her. Syuviel levitates up to the cave mouth just to see what is going on. Thorfinn reaches out for the rope and pulls to try and start climbing but as he does, with no one to anchor the other side, he pulls the rope down on top of himself. Dan further illuminates the area while the creature continues its assualt on Ioxiea.

Con: 1d4 ⇒ 1
Fort: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11
Con: 1d4 ⇒ 2

Attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12

It misses with the stinger even with Ioxeia still firmly in its grasp. However, the burn of whatever was injected continues to sting and move through her system.

3 Con damage in total

Round 4
Enemy, >Thorfinn, Syuviel, Dan, Ioxeia, Matsuno

Grumbling, Thorfinn goes to free-climb up, but gets tangled in the fallen rope.

Climb check: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7

Does that mean Ioxeia needs to try to make another save? In which case... Fort save: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 2 = 22

Trying to keep her shield between her and the monster's stinger, Ioxeia manages a spark of magic to reinforce her defences while she tries again to pull free. Swift action to tap her arcane pool, 3 points left. Grapple check: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10