Diri Lizzenbettolze |
"Brigh has infused intelligence into more practical objects than trees so I reasonably suspect the dryad may one day discover a methodology of animating her tree," Diri offers, peering over notes. "Unrelated to the dryad the tunnel beneath the monastery does no appear to be concurrent to the construction of the rest of the edifice though the consequences, if any, of said development currently elude me," she tascks on, shrugging.
She problably wouldn't be satisfied with a wood golem, would she?
Watts Helm |
"I do admit I prefer the comfort of the library than any temple."
Watts goes to the other master and the other remaining monks with a lines of inquiry. "Do any of you know of the tunnel connecting meditation room to the storage room? Either making it yourself or the purpose it served?"
"Do you know of any seed or saplings within the trees that may remain here?"
"One option would have been to use this scroll to commune with nature which might have offered a faster answer, but as I am right now, it is beyond my wisdom to control magics of that magnitude unless Diri or Pradyara have any ways for bolstering my mental capabilities."
"Following Fahd's suggestion of speaking with her again might be a reasonable choice as I am uncertain what direction to continue forward."
The Man Behind the Curtain |
"I was unaware that any hidden tunnels were present in this place."
Pradyara gives Watts a kind of sheepish look when asked about mental bolstering. "I um... did have a spell prepared today that would do what you need. I already cast it today though. I assumed I was in for a fight when the alarm sounded and prepared myself to defend this holy place. Perhaps tomorrow I can help you bolster your mental acuity for this task, but not today. But I will need honesty from all of you. It is the teaching of Irori that a spirit unable to pass into nirvana is to be pitied, but never fought. While I am happy to give my aid in seeking knowledge, I must stand as a neutral party if you choose to do combat with this poor soul."
The Man Behind the Curtain |
Watts Helm |
Knowledge(arcana): 1d20 + 13 + 1d8 ⇒ (19) + 13 + (2) = 34
"Thank you for the offer. I may tell falsehoods at times, but I take care to keep it to a minimum. I do not wish to come in to conflict with the dryad, both in regard for our safety and respect for what she did in life. However if she is seeking to bring life to her tree, there is so magic I know of that would revive such a long dead think, plant or not."
What is that shrine on the south east portion of the map, have we examined it?
Fahd Bin Stavain PFS |
"Is there anywhere here that we haven't searched? We might just have to fight he ghost after all and just look over the tree while it is reforming."
Watts Helm |
Watts struggles for an answer here that doesn't involve destroying the pillar. He looks through the library to see if there is any information on local fey that might serve as guide, even as he admits to himself that being unlikely on this island off the coast of blighted Nex.
"The tunnel is an aberration. If the monks were not aware of it, then it possibly was created by the dryad, but unclear for what purpose it would serve. Transporting goods to storage without being seen passing through the courtyard makes sense, but that still does not give a reason."
"It is possible that what she is doing is in fact the completely wrong direction and we will need to tear down the remnants of her tree to make any headway. I have encountered three ghosts, but I have only had the opportunity to fight one. His own actions didn't provide him solace and we were forced to fight him until he saw the error of his ways. We may need to fight her even if we wish to help her and this monastery."
The investigator will search the tunnel again for signs of what use the tunnels have seen, but is fine if the party wishes to engage with the ghost.
Watts Helm |
Watts goes through the meditation room back into the tunnel system, while he is there he takes more time to examine the walls to gauge the age of the construction through measuring the degradation. Also see if there are tool marks on the tunnel that would indicate if it was creature, shovel, or magic that created it. And inspect the tunnel for tracks of passage, focusing on if anything heavy was carried or dragged through here.
For the confrontation with the dryad, Watts will have a scroll of consecration at the ready presuming the party plans to meet her at the temple.
The Man Behind the Curtain |
As Watts heads towards the meditation room (and assuming everyone is following in some haphazard manner) you feel a sleight tremor in the ground accompanied by a rising chitinous... fin? And a second later...
Initiative:
Watts: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23
Fahd: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 = 17
Diri: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 1 = 20
August: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18
Fandral: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (15) + 7 = 22
Red: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21
Blue: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15
Who does red bite?
Watts, Fandral, Fahd: 1d3 ⇒ 2
...a pair of huge armor-plated creatures come leaping out of the ground with toothy maws gaping wide as fin-like dorsal plates rise between their shoulders! As they burst out of the ground they gnash their teeth, chomping at Diri and Fandral before anyone realizes what hit them!
Red bites Fandral (flat footed): 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (11) + 13 = 24
Damage: 2d8 + 9 ⇒ (1, 2) + 9 = 12
Blue bites Diri (flat footed): 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (4) + 13 = 17
Damage: 2d8 + 9 ⇒ (8, 7) + 9 = 24
Combat Round 1:
Watts
Fandral
Red
Diri
August
Fahd
Blue
The Man Behind the Curtain |
Watts Helm |
Knowledge (arcana): 1d20 + 13 + 1d8 ⇒ (15) + 13 + (5) = 33
The shock of their entrance is replaced by great deal of exasperation. While he has read of these creatures, he searches his mind for details about them, but nothing that would indicate why these would attack an isolated monastery located on an island off the coast.
If they reside on the island, should the monks not have mentioned them? Could these have been summoned? Can these even be summoned?
His mind returns to the battle at hand as he puts aside relating the various issues of their presence, logically, within this island's ecosystem. "Bulettes! They see us as food and need to be killed! Diri, Fandral, their hides are less resilient to your fire and firearm!" Respectively. At the very least, those weapons will have an easier time hitting than blade. Although Fandral is quite skilled at blade strikes. How hard are these to hit?
Watts draws sword cane and strikes at the land shark to gauge the plating.
Sword Cane Attack: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (16) + 10 = 26
Damage: 1d6 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6
"Be wary of withdrawing! They can close distances very easily in battle!"
Diri Lizzenbettolze |
Getting this out of the way, beforehand.
Knowledge:Arcana: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (16) + 8 = 24
Fandral |
Draws blade as part of the initiative round. Nasty beast, but thank you for moving into my range.
Full attack action
swift action to double precision damage on next attack. I believe my and fahd are flanking. if not you an disregard the +2
attack: 1d20 + 15 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 15 + 2 = 19
damage: 1d6 + 7 + 10 ⇒ (6) + 7 + 10 = 23
second attack
attack: 1d20 + 10 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 10 + 2 = 26
damage: 1d6 + 7 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 7 + 5 = 15
The Man Behind the Curtain |
Fandral's first cut bounces off of the creature's thick hide, but the second pierces its hide and it howls in rage. It immediately retaliates, unleashing a flurry of deadly strikes at Fandral.
Claw attacks: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (6) + 12 = 181d20 + 12 ⇒ (15) + 12 = 27 First claw miss, second hit
Claw damage: 2d6 + 6 ⇒ (6, 2) + 6 = 14
Bite attack: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (3) + 12 = 15 Miss
Combat Round 1:
Watts
Fandral
Red (15 dmg)
Diri
August
Fahd
Blue
Diri Lizzenbettolze |
I don't think this is relevant, but if they grab, I do have a greater talisman of freedom that would activate if I am grappled.
Diri finds herself between two awful things and quickly calculates a conflagrational trajectory that includes both bullettes. Down and to the right from the corner of my square, misses August but gets both foes. This would provoke from blue if it has reach, but since they moved adjacent, Diri would assume they do not.
Burning Hands, Reflex DC 14 Halves: 5d4 ⇒ (3, 4, 3, 2, 4) = 16
Fahd Bin Stavain PFS |
Fahd unleashes a flurry of attacks against the beast he flanks with Fandral.
Flanking Attack 1d20 + 12 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 12 + 2 = 28
Damage 1d8 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16
Flanking Attack 1d20 + 12 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 12 + 2 = 26
Damage 1d8 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15
Flanking Attack 1d20 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 7 + 2 = 17
Damage 1d8 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15
August Autumnwind |
Stepping in front of Diri, August attacks the creature that threatens her! Going for Blue.
+1 Keen Adamantine Greatsword: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (12) + 14 = 26 for Vital Strike: 4d6 + 19 ⇒ (1, 1, 1, 3) + 19 = 25 Really? Three ones, how nice!
The Man Behind the Curtain |
Unfortunately, as it happens, these creatures do have reach and it chomps at Diri as she begins her incantation!
Attack: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (8) + 13 = 21 Miss
Reflex (Blue, Red): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (19) + 8 = 271d20 + 8 ⇒ (19) + 8 = 27
Fahd and August begin their attempt to beat the creatures into submission, and each manage to break through their armored hide, although Fahd's final swing runs out of steam.
August, after wrenching his blade out from the chitinous scales of the creature, finds himself eye to maw with a furious Bulette!
Claw,Claw,Bite: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (6) + 12 = 181d20 + 12 ⇒ (3) + 12 = 151d20 + 13 ⇒ (13) + 13 = 26
He deftly avoids the 2 incoming claws, suddenly the Bulette lunges forward, grabbing onto August and taking a chunk of flesh.
Bite Damage: 2d8 + 9 ⇒ (2, 1) + 9 = 12
Combat Round 2:
Watts
Fandral
Red (54 dmg)
Diri
August
Fahd
Blue (33 dmg)
August Autumnwind |
Next time you update the list mark down my 12 damage. I'll update my header though.
Fandral |
Grimmacing as his injuries are starting to bother him, Fandral holds his ground, and starts to fight defensively.
1st attack
attack: 1d20 + 15 + 2 - 4 ⇒ (14) + 15 + 2 - 4 = 27
damage: 1d6 + 7 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 7 + 5 = 17
2nd attack
attack: 1d20 + 10 + 2 - 4 ⇒ (3) + 10 + 2 - 4 = 11
damage: 1d6 + 7 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 7 + 5 = 18
Watts Helm |
I'm not sure you got my attack from previous round on red. Did it miss?
Watts considers more cautious tactics to redouble his combat skill, but the battle was moving too quick to take any time in battle to quaff extracts. Given that, he studies the Bulette and gives a lunging thrust at the one of the openings between the plates.
Studied Sword Cane: 1d20 + 10 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 10 + 3 = 19
Damage with Studied Strike: 1d6 + 5 + 3 + 2d6 ⇒ (6) + 5 + 3 + (5, 2) = 21
The Man Behind the Curtain |
@August: I leave damage tracking for yourselves to you guys just so I dont have to worry about class abilities that might reduce it. I trust you guys to keep track.
@Watts: It hit, I just forgot to mark it since I'm being stupid and working with 2 different damage tallies.
Fandral and Watts work hard to down one of the 2 Bulettes, however landing a significant blow is proving to be very difficult and of the barrage, only 1 of Fandral's stike seem to cause it pain.
The creature begins to twist back and forth with pain and begins a less discriminant barrage of strikes at everyone who has wounded him!
Claw vs Watts: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (11) + 12 = 23
Damage: 2d6 + 6 ⇒ (3, 1) + 6 = 10
Claw vs Fahd: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (13) + 12 = 25
Damage: 2d6 + 6 ⇒ (1, 3) + 6 = 10
Bite vs Fandral: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (18) + 13 = 31
Damage: 2d8 + 9 ⇒ (6, 1) + 9 = 16
Combat Round 2:
Watts
Fandral
Red (77 dmg)
Diri
August
Fahd
Blue (33 dmg)
Fahd Bin Stavain PFS |
Fahd continues unleasheing his flurry of attacks against the red tinged beast he flanks with Fandral.
Flanking Attack 1d20 + 12 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 12 + 2 = 28
Damage1d8 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16
Flanking Attack1d20 + 12 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 12 + 2 = 33
Damage1d8 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12
Flanking Attack 1d20 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 7 + 2 = 23
Damage 1d8 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13
August Autumnwind |
I don't know why but I thought I saw character HP damage tracked on your list. I know other DMs do it. Maybe seeing the enemy being tracked had me think of it. Also, I mistakenly had +14 for my attack, it should have been +13. Hopefully a 25 hit anyway.
August continues to battle the bulette!
Attack: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (10) + 13 = 23 for Damage: 2d6 + 17 ⇒ (2, 3) + 17 = 22
Attack: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13 for Damage: 2d6 + 19 ⇒ (4, 3) + 19 = 26
The Man Behind the Curtain |
@Fahd, your first attack drops the first Bulette, so I'll resolve the rest of yours against the second since you are adjacent to that one as well, except without flanking, so the 2nd one will hit blue, 3rd will miss.
Fahd makes an amazing flurry, crushing plated armor and causing deep wounds. One of the Bulettes crashes to the ground in a heap. August continues his beatdown, managing to land one of his 2 blows.
Combat Round 2:
Watts
Fandral
Red (93 dmg, dying)
Diri
August
Fahd
Blue (67 dmg)
Diri Lizzenbettolze |
Diri scans over the injuries of her compatriots, a snap judgment deciding that proactive combat now can make triage a bit more efficient later.
The ability for this creature to take more punishment is quickly diminishing. It would be prudent to finish it before it gets another strike.
Fire Bolt Touch Attack, Into Melee: 1d20 + 5 - 4 ⇒ (13) + 5 - 4 = 14 for Fire Damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7
The Man Behind the Curtain |
The heavily armored Bulette is an easy target and begins to slowly roast in its carapace. Looking around quickly and angrily, it makes one final attempt to break free and attempts to rend then chomp down hard on August!
Claw, Claw, Bite Attack: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (17) + 12 = 291d20 + 12 ⇒ (10) + 12 = 221d20 + 13 ⇒ (17) + 13 = 30
Claw + Bite Damage: 2d6 + 6 + 2d8 + 9 ⇒ (3, 2) + 6 + (3, 3) + 9 = 26
Combat Round 2:
Watts
Fandral
Red (94 dmg, dying) Stabilize: 1d20 + 5 - 9 ⇒ (7) + 5 - 9 = 3
Diri
August
Fahd
Blue (67 dmg)
Fandral |
Thank Besmara that one is down
Fandral make a five foot step. Move action to sheath his cutlass. Free action to draw his pistol. Takes aim and fires.
-4 shooting into melee
attack vs touch: 1d20 + 13 - 4 ⇒ (6) + 13 - 4 = 15
damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7
Diri Lizzenbettolze |
Diri makes another attempt at randomizing the bullette's brain activity via thermal discouragement.
Fire Bolt Touch Attack, Into Melee: 1d20 + 5 - 4 ⇒ (12) + 5 - 4 = 13
Fire Damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7
Fahd Bin Stavain PFS |
Fahd takes a 5' step and continues the attack against the blue beast.
Attack 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (8) + 12 = 20
Damage 1d8 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14
Attack 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (3) + 12 = 15
Damage 1d8 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16
Attack 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8
Damage 1d8 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14
August Autumnwind |
August roars his contempt as the buletter strikes twice! I ain't playin' with you no more, beetle!
Attack: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (12) + 13 = 25 for Damage: 2d6 + 17 ⇒ (1, 3) + 17 = 21
Attack: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (20) + 8 = 28 for Damage: 2d6 + 19 ⇒ (2, 3) + 19 = 24
Confirm #2?: 1d20 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 8 + 1 = 23 for Damage: 2d6 + 19 ⇒ (3, 1) + 19 = 23
That'll likely do it. August will finish off the other one if needed and ask to be healed with his wand.
CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2
CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2
CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5
CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5
CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9
CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8
CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4
CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5 8 charges, oof. Good thing I have a second wand, 4 charges left on this one.
Diri! Is everyone a'right? I tried to get 'em down as best I could!
Diri Lizzenbettolze |
You know, if you wait until the end of combat, I can do a bit of healing...save some wand charges...
August Autumnwind |
I'll take you up on that. Was trying to save a little time as I might be out this afternoon.
The Man Behind the Curtain |
With the barrage of attacks on the Bulette, it crumples to the ground in a heap.
With the sudden silence, the doors to the monk's chambers open up. A few of the monks peer out nervously. "What was that?"
Pradnyara comes out of the library with a confused look on her face, then suddenly her eyes go wide. "I felt a rumbling in the library, but I was studying in the holy circle and did not hear anything. You are injured! Please, come into the library and let me tend to your wounds."
Anyone who wishes to be healed by her, can follow her into the library's entryway and she'll start with a channel energy. After that she'll offer up either 1 more Channel energy, or 2 lay on hands applications on request.
1st Channel Positive Energy: 4d6 ⇒ (1, 5, 2, 1) = 9
Where does everyone wish to go?
Diri Lizzenbettolze |
Diri will verbosely thank her and follow with one of her own.
Channeling: 3d6 ⇒ (2, 1, 6) = 9
August Autumnwind |
August will smile broadly when the offer for healing is made. Yeah, that fella there got some sharp teeth and all.
August would need another 20 HP healed to be full without using his wand.
Fandral |
Fandral wipes his brow and then reloads his pistol before he shoves it back into his waistband.
"Well that was fun. Now what else going to try to kill us.
I could use some more heals, but I could use my wand charges if you dont want to waste you channels.
Watts Helm |
"We are grateful for the assistance Pradnyara. As always, thank you Diri."
Watts cleans his blade replaces it within the sheath and focuses his attention on the bodies of the bulettes. "Master, I do not suppose these are native to the island?"
The Man Behind the Curtain |
The master shakes his head. "To this island? No... They are native to the mainland, and I suppose one of them could have burrowed under the channel."
A few of the other monks begin to wander around the quadrangle, checking to make sure no major damage has been done to the already beat structure. Small portions of the secret tunnel seem to have collapsed when the bulettes burrowed through, and a few of the monks begin moving equipment from the center of the quadrangle, the meditation room and kitchen to other rooms.
August Autumnwind |
August still has 8 HP of injury. I can use those first three wand charges for that.
If they ain't from here, why are they here? Were they huntin'?
Watts Helm |
Knowledge (nature): 1d20 + 11 + 1d8 ⇒ (6) + 11 + (1) = 18
"It is possible they came here naturally to hunt, but this feels like a unusual trip to make for these creatures. I am no expert in their behavior, but I would imagine them staying on the mainland rather than them burrowing the significant distance to the island. It would seem more likely something drew them here."
Watts is going back to the tunnel to see if he can draw any clues from the remains. Trying to gauge age, usage, and craftsmanship.
Diri Lizzenbettolze |
Diri tries to brainstorm ideas why bullettes would travel underground to an island, but spent far more time in physics than biology.
"Perhaps something's proximity here has dissassociated the beast's typical food source to us," Diri offers, obviously not in her element. "Is that a capability of dryads or ghosts or ghost dryads?"
If there are more clues to be found here, let's comb the area.
The Man Behind the Curtain |
The master accompanies Watts into the meditation chamber to inspect the tunnel as Diri and Pradnyara finish tending to the wounded...
Watts Helm |
Perception: 1d20 + 14 + 1d8 ⇒ (1) + 14 + (7) = 22
Perception: 1d20 + 14 + 1d8 ⇒ (7) + 14 + (7) = 28