GM Lorenzo's #2–11: The Penumbral Accords (Tier 4-5) PbP Gameday VI Session II (Inactive)

Game Master Lawrence Smith 2

As Ptehp moved in and, as fate always has it, his provoked action brought on critical wrath, he called upon the Fervor of his goddess to heal himself.

Fervor point: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4 - Fervor 1d6+2 from Fey Founding

Now, in place, he again calls upon Fervor to close his wounds, while cracking his whip once again.

Fervor point: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6
Whip: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (13) + 12 = 25 w. Flank Slash Damage: 1d6 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8

After the first outburst of shot glancing blows against the fossilized bones carries no fruit, Gweld pauses for a breath's length to study the target closer.

Move action: Use Studied Combat against the dragon

While studying the creature, an investigator shifts slightly to get a view from a more convenient angle.

Five-foot step one square up

"Weighted Swing, guide my hand!" Gweld continues trying to slash at the dragon's neck bones.

Piranha Strike +1 Longsword with Studied Combat: 1d20 + 9 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 9 + 2 = 12
damage: 1d8 + 12 ⇒ (8) + 12 = 20

As Ptehp cracks his whip, the dragon strikes again. The fangs punch though the half-orc's armor, drawing more blood.
Dragon's Bite AoO: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (17) + 11 = 281d8 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

Ptehp's scorpion whip lashes against the undead skeleton, cracking bone, but much of the force of the blow glances off.

Gweld studies the creature and swings his blade again, but it slices through nothing but air.

Round 2
Bold may act.

Skeletal Guardian (-20)
---
Gweld the White Owl
Myrd Sharpclaw
Zavubak
Honey (-16)
Tera
Ptehp (-25)

Tera will move up to try and trip the beast
1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15

if fails to trip, Honey will move forward and attempt to trip the beast with improved trip
1d20 + 10 ⇒ (17) + 10 = 27

Myrd casts magic missile, hoping to bring the undead monster down!

Force: 3d4 + 3 ⇒ (2, 1, 1) + 3 = 7

"I know what it means to have once had dragon blood in your veins. Please, resume your rest at once!" Zavubak glowers, raking his claws against the skeleton's bones despite its natural hardiness against them.

Claw, PA, Flank: 1d20 + 9 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 9 + 2 = 211d6 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10
Claw, PA, Flank: 1d20 + 9 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 9 + 2 = 181d6 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10

RetCon: The dragon did not make an AoO vs Ptehp; Ptehp did not suffer an additional 7 points of damage.

Tera advances on the skeletal guardian, going in low to bite and try to trip the creature, but it lifts its leg away from her grasping jaws.

Honey moves in alongside her companion, swings her scythe, and with superhuman skill trips the beast!
Honey, please take a moment and create a tagline for your PC. It helps me get some useful info at a quick glance, without having to open a separate page to look up the PC's stats. Thanks.

Myrd's outstretched fingertips belch a bolt of pure force which strikes the creature with unerring accuracy.

With the dragon now splayed on the floor of the museum, one of Zavubak's powerful claws rakes the skeleton, trailing deep gouges along its pelvis, though the iron-hard bone is tough to penetrate.

The powerful but unintelligent beast flails about, down but not out. Mindless, it continues to lash out at its most recent target, Ptehp. Its thrashing limbs tangle among themselves, and not one of them scratch the half-orc.
Bite: 1d20 + 11 - 4 ⇒ (5) + 11 - 4 = 121d8 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10
Claw #1: 1d20 + 11 - 4 ⇒ (9) + 11 - 4 = 161d4 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7
Claw #2: 1d20 + 11 - 4 ⇒ (6) + 11 - 4 = 131d4 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5
Wing #1: 1d20 + 6 - 4 ⇒ (13) + 6 - 4 = 151d4 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3
Wing #2: 1d20 + 6 - 4 ⇒ (14) + 6 - 4 = 161d4 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

Round 3
Bold may act.

Map

Skeletal Guardian (-32; prone)
---
Gweld the White Owl
Myrd Sharpclaw
Zavubak
Honey (-16)
Tera
Ptehp (-18)

"You get back to being dead, dead lizard!" Gweld yells, his Ulfen blood boiling with fury. He swings once more.

Piranha Strike +1 Longsword with Studied Combat and Flank: 1d20 + 9 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 9 + 2 + 2 = 21
damage: 1d8 + 10 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 10 + 2 = 16

His long dance around the dragon finally pays off when the strike lands on a weak joint.

additional Studied Strike damage: 1d6 ⇒ 3

Tera will Attempt to bite

PAtk Bite: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 17
Damage: 1d6 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10

Honey will Strike as well

Scythe Flank: 1d20 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 8 + 2 = 17
Damage: 2d4 + 7 ⇒ (1, 4) + 7 = 12

"Stay down for good!", Ptehp calls out, thinking that : "This is an admirable beast, for it is attacked on all sides by half a dozen opponents, and still it shreds us!".
He cracks his whip once again against the bones, the leather and scorpion stingers not biting deep into the fleshless enemy.

Whip (Slash dam'): 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (2) + 12 = 141d6 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8 w. Flank

"Yeah!" Zavubak repeats after Ptehp, "Stay down for good, you bucket of bones!" He lunges ahead, trying to get the dragon's ribcage from the underside and slice the sternum holding it all together.

Claw, flank: 1d20 + 9 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 9 + 2 = 191d6 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9
Claw, flank: 1d20 + 9 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 9 + 2 = 211d6 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11

To your dismay, the undead skeletal dragon is one tough foe. Lying prone on the museum floor, it twists and flips, evasive as an eel.

Ptehp, Honey and Tera attack the beast, but none of their fearsome blows connect. Even Zavubak's first claw glances off, but his second attack strikes true against the dragon's breastbone. Gweld's blade finally ends the skeletal dragon's undead existence.

End of Combat!

Map

A long hall stretches to the north from the museum's entry, the shadow plane's atrium. There are doors immediately to the east and west of the corridor, and in the dim light at the north end of the hallway, you see another door.

In your next post, please also indicate where you'd like to go next, E, W, or N.

"Was a tough foe this one, a worthy defender, whatever Evil it might be fighting for!". Ptehp bows his head before the skull of the Dragon-Skeleton.
Then he proceeds to store his whip and remove a thin white wand, made of willowy wood, that he uses to heal his wounds.
Looking at his comrades, he turns to Honey: "Do you need Healing, friend? Or anyone else?".
Then putting the wand away, and getting his whip back in hand, he moves to the corridor: "I would say to check the doors before we move past them... safety over speed. Whichever is fine with me. Maybe Sunrise before Sunset?" he says, pointing to the East door.

"Let me take a look, friend." Gweld says while hiding the sword back in the sheath.

Gweld joins Ptehp in the corridor and stares at the easternmost door. "I remember this one. That's the one with the damnable masks... Let me know if we're in a rush, but if no I'd like to proceed with caution."

Taking 20 in Perception to find traps takes 2 minutes, if I remember correctly. Normally it would be 33 for Gweld, but now the Heightened Awareness is up for the whole duration, so that'd bring the result up to 35. I also have Expanded Inspiration for Perception, so I can use it for free on each roll. I'm not sure if it will be allowed for Take 20, but in case you will => Inspiration on the last Perception roll: 1d6 ⇒ 6

Tera picks at one of the bones and drags it away from the pile a moment waiting till everyone decides to move again

"I think I can manage with the wand I have, though wont be too long before its gone"

CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6
CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

"East to west works for us, Tera come put the bone away and let us move on"

Ptehp smiles and nods at Tera: "To the victors the spoils!"

Allowing his claws to retreat as calm washes over him, Zav lights a celebratory smoke and exhales vertically, watching the direction the plume floats towards. "The wind and fire says east, so east it will be."

'So, Gweld, the door is clear? We go in?".
Ptehp is ready to open the Eastern door, unless someone prefers to do that.

A large placard above the entryway to the eastern hall reads “The Evolution of Dragonkind” in bright, elaborate script while a shadowy sign next to the door describes the room as “Pain Laboratory—Tests in Progress.”

A sign over the western door bearing bright lettering reads “Treasures of Distant Goka,” while a shadowy sign occupying the same space reads in dark, block letters “Cold Storage—Perishable Specimens Only.”

It looks like everyone who's responded has selected the eastern door? Having had a chance to read the placards next to each door, please confirm.

Ptehp reads the words aloud: "--of-Dra-gon-kind". East door

"I'd be more concerned about the tests in progress..." Gweld pulls the sword back out and points its tip at the shadowy placard. "I don't see anything immediately dangerous, but let's proceed with caution."

East

looking at Tera again communicating mostly through body language before turning back to the group "Pain lab sounds horrid but it has to be cleared anyways, and if there is something in progress, all the more reason to go"

East

Zavubak reads the sign with intrigue. "While I'm not supporting these pain experiments, I am curious about this dragonkind evolution the sign speaks of. It might also imply that there may be some monstrosity behind this door. Let's be ready, hmm?"

"I do hope the next dragon will be willing to hear us out, instead of trying to eat us. Did I tell you I speak most languages and have a spell that allows me to speak and understand all of them?"

East it is!

This room is filled with ancient tapestries of chromatic dragons besieging castles and battles between Dahak and Apsu at the dawn of time. An alabaster obelisk covered in Draconic runes occupies the far corner, surrounded by a spread of various dragon hides of all colors and thickness, and a taxidermied wyvern hangs from the ceiling above, its stinger flexed above its head. Umbral chains drop from the same ceiling on the Shadow Plane; gruesome hooks at the chains’ ends hold longdead skeletons. The southern wall sports a massive wheel with shackles along its edge, apparently for holding writhing subjects in place during tests.

When Gweld opens the door to the East Exhibit Hall/Pain Laboratory, he's greeted by a hail of sling bullets. One misses its target, but the other strikes Gweld in the shoulder.
Green's Readied Attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 181d4 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3
Red's Readied Attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (13) + 3 = 161d4 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

Gweld sees two gaunt men and a woman, appearing drained of color, like a person viewed at twilight or in a dark alley. They're equipped with black studded leather, light wooden shields, longswords, and slings.

Round 1
Bold may act.

Knowledge Planes: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15
Splintered Spear: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12
Damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5 plus bleed 1

"Great! I can read what's on that obelisk, but first we need to deal with these fetchlings! Gweld, please move into the room with me!"

Myrd moves into the corner of the room, hoping that Gweld will come to his aid. There he launches a tiny splinter of wood at the nearest fetchlings. While it flies towards the fetchling the tiny splinter grows until it resembles a short spear.

Gweld storms into the room and sees a first fetchling standing in the center of the room on the border of light area produced by Myrd's Ioun Stone.

"Laying in waiting to ambush somebody who came to speak?" He shouts in Common. "I am Gweld known as the White Owl, and I demand to know your name!" The ulfen points his sword at her.

That's a swift-action proclamation of the Cavalier Challenge of Flame. -2AC versus two other enemies.

Gweld quickly closes the distance between him and this fetchling woman to make a number of swift cuts against her dark leather armor.

Move 30' into the room.

Piranha Strike +1 Longsword with Challenge: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (6) + 9 = 15
Dim light concealment(high good for me): 1d100 ⇒ 73
Damage +1 for Challenge: 1d8 + 10 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 10 + 1 = 12

The fetchlings heard the party in battle with the dragon. They figured it couldn't be any more of their friends, they prepared for combat, whether the party was aware of them or not. Gweld's in front, Gweld opens the door, triggering their readied action.

Gweld recalls that studded leather provides a +3 armor bonus and a light wooden shield provides a +1 shield bonus. The fetchlings' dexterity might provide them an additional bonus. They have no other bonus to their armor class.

The sword comes within a hair's breadth of the fetchling's neck, but he dodges away from death.

Gweld and Myrd enter the room. Myrd's supernatural spear strikes the wall and shatters into splinters. Gweld moves farther into the room, strikes out at the red-eyed fetchling, and the blow connects. The shadowy creature howls.

The yellow-haired fetchling charges at Gweld and lunges at him with his longsword, as the wounded red-eyed fetchling steps into a flanking position and slashes at Gweld with its longsword.
Yellow's Attack flank, charge: 1d20 + 4 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 4 + 2 + 2 = 111d8 + 2 + 1d6 ⇒ (7) + 2 + (4) = 13
Red's Attack flank: 1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 4 + 2 = 251d8 + 2 + 1d6 ⇒ (6) + 2 + (1) = 9
Red's Confirm?: 1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 4 + 2 = 18
Additional Crit Damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

The green-tongued fetchling charges at Myrd, trying to prevent anyone else from penetrating their defenses and gaining access to their slaves.
Green's Attack, charge: 1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 4 + 2 = 171d8 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8

Map

Round 1
Bold may act.

Gweld the White Owl (-18)
Myrd Sharpclaw (-8)
---
Shadow Guards
Red (-10)
Yellow (-2AC)
Green (-2AC)
---
Zavubak
Tera
Honey
Ptehp

Tera moves in and Power bites at Yellow

PAtk Bite: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23
Damage: 1d6 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7
Trip if attack hits: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8

Honey will proceed in and attempt an Improved trip on green

Imp Trip: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15

Ptehp moves into the room also, and whips the green hued enemy...

Whip ; Slashing Dam': 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (10) + 10 = 201d6 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10

Zavubak rushes into the fray, provoking from green. "You must be the administrators of the pain experiments. Let's perform a little test on yourself, shall we?" He reaches ahead with his claw, swiping at the fletchling's arm.

Claw, PA: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (10) + 9 = 191d6 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13

8/11 rounds remaining. AC 18, HP 36

RetCon
The entire museum shudders and emits a palpable sigh of ancient frustration and resentment.

Suddenly, to the eery duality of the overlaid planes is added an unsettling ripple through the Fourth Dimension, a warp in the very fabric of Time itself. You experience an uncanny sense of déjà vu. Gweld feels paranoid. Many of you share his misgivings about the possibly malevolent hand guiding your every move. ;-)

Having vanquished the undead skeletal dragon guarding the entry/atrium, you find yourselves at the beginning of a hallway that leads north. The corridor ends in a door at its distant north end. Ptehp and Gweld lead the party between two doors, one to the east and one to the west. The party has decided to enter the eastern door, the one with a large placard above the entryway that reads “The Evolution of Dragonkind” in bright, elaborate script while a shadowy sign next to the door describes the room as “Pain Laboratory—Tests in Progress.”

Ptehp volunteers to push Gweld aside and opens the door...

And his warrior's courage is greeted by a hail of sling bullets. Both missiles miss their target, and smash into the wall on the other side of the corridor, narrowly missing Gweld's meticulously coifed head.
Green's Readied Attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 18 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3
Red's Readied Attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (13) + 3 = 16 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

Gweld, this time I remembered to use the Heightened Awareness bonus.
Round 1
Bold may act.

Myrd recognizes the creatures and calls out, "Great! I can read what's on that obelisk, but first we need to deal with these fetchlings! "

Gweld wonders about the fetchlings' armor class, and he recalls that studded leather provides a +3 armor bonus and a light wooden shield provides a +1 shield bonus. The fetchlings' dexterity might provide them an additional bonus. They have no other bonus to their armor class.

The rest of the party can make their Knowledge checks on their turn as they move close enough to see the creatures.

Red Fetchling
Green Fetchling
Gweld the White Owl
Myrd Sharpclaw
---
Yellow Fetchling
---
Zavubak
Tera
Honey
Ptehp

I hope this reset satisfies everyone. Gweld and Myrd you're up!

I will stick with Myrd's earlier actions and dice rolls.

Gweld storms into the room and sees a first fetchling standing in the center of the room on the border of light area produced by Myrd's Ioun Stone.

"Laying in waiting to ambush somebody who came to speak?" He shouts in Common. "I am Gweld known as the White Owl, and I demand to know your name!" The ulfen points his sword at her.

Gweld doesn't have enough movement to reach any of them, so he will go into the room three squares down and one right, staying inside Myrd's light area and ready an attack against whoever enters his reach.

Gweld and Myrd enter the room. Myrd's supernatural spear strikes the wall and shatters into splinters.

The yellow-haired fetchling charges at Gweld with a longsword of his own, howling, "Let's pluck the feathers of this white owl, Comrades!"

As the creature closes, Gweld's readied blade sweeps around slashing from shoulder to waist.

Loosing a painful shriek, the fetchling stumbles, and his sword misses its mark.
Attack, Charge: 1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 4 + 2 = 111d8 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

Map

Round 1
Bold may act.

Red Fetchling
Green Fetchling
---
Gweld the White Owl
Myrd Sharpclaw
---
Yellow Fetchling (-8; -2AC)
---
Zavubak
Tera
Honey
Ptehp

Zavubak , Tera & Honey, and Ptehp, you're up!

Ptehp clatters into the room, his armor clanking, and he moves up to leave room for the others, and whips over Gweld's head, at the one Gweld is fighting.

Whip (Slash): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (4) + 10 = 141d6 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9
I did not count the +4 AC to yellow because of hitting through a friend, nor the -2 AC you noted

Terra will move in, and attack when Honey moves in to flank with her

Power Attack Bite w flank: 1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 4 + 2 = 16
Damage: 1d6 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11
Trip attempt: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23

Honey will move in and Flank with Terra

if tripped Honey will Strike

Scythe: 1d20 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 8 + 2 = 20
Damage: 2d4 + 7 ⇒ (1, 4) + 7 = 12

if not Tripped Honey will Imp Trip

Imp Trip: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11

Zavubak rushes into the room, towards the far fletchling with the green hood. "I came seeking a challenge. All I found... was you." He says with a smug grin, preparing to unleash his inner rage. But he'll wait until next round to do so

Ptehp enters the room, passing Myrd in the corner and cracks his whip. With the rogue in the way, the tip flicks past the yellow-haired fetching and makes an audible pop.

Zavubak enters the room and gets up in the grill of the green-tongued fetchling. Green-Tongue smiles at the half-orc and licks his lips.

Honey, I want to give you an opportunity to reconsider your actions and those of your animal companion. Tera is untrained with the 'flank' trick, so Honey would have to 'push' (Handle Animal DC25) to get her to move to a flanking position. Otherwise, she attacks the creature in the first square from which she can do so. (Side note: It doesn't matter in this encounter, but without the 'attack any target' trick, Honey will have to 'push' Tera to command her to attack unnatural creatures such as undead or aberrations. Another mea culpa, something we should have caught in the last encounter with the undead skeletal dragon.) If I missed something, let me know.

Map

Round 1
Bold may act.

Red Fetchling
Green Fetchling
---
Gweld the White Owl
Myrd Sharpclaw
---
Yellow Fetchling (-8; -2AC)
---
Zavubak
Tera
Honey
Ptehp

Honey & Tera, you're up!

I'll have to redo the build a bit after this if allowed, if not I'll use the boon to do it after the scenario, but I am adjusting the actions right now

PAtk Bite: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6
Damnage: 1d6 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7
Trip if hit: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13

moved Tera in to Honey's spot, and honey moved to where she could with her movement

Honey will move in and if Tera succeeded in tripping she will strike

Scyhe: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14
Damage: 2d4 + 7 ⇒ (2, 2) + 7 = 11

If Tera failed to Trip, she will attempt an Imp Trip

Imp Trip: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (19) + 10 = 29

Honey and Tera enter the room. Tera snarls and tries to bit the yellow-haired fetchling, but her jaws snap shut on nothing but air. Honey maneuvers to a position next to Gweld, and the fetchling takes the opportunity to thrust his longsword into the druid. His blade glances off Honey's enchanted dragonhide breastplate.
AoO: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 131d8 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10
Honey swings her scythe around from right to left, hooks the fetching's ankle and upends the skinny creature, who lands in an unflattering heap on the floor of the chamber.

The red-eyed fetchling chooses Zavubak as her target, moving behind him to flank with her subordinate. She hisses, "We mustn't let them steal our slaves. Slay them quickly!"
Attack, Flank, Sneak Attack: 1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 4 + 2 = 111d8 + 2 + 1d6 ⇒ (5) + 2 + (6) = 13

The green-tongued fetchling tries to drive his longsword through the half-orc, too.
Attack, Flank, Sneak Attack: 1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 4 + 2 = 131d8 + 2 + 1d6 ⇒ (6) + 2 + (6) = 14

The fetchlings emit an agonized chorus of keening wails and gnashing of teeth, frustrated beyond measure at their ineffectual attacks.

Map

Round 1
Bold may act.

Red Fetchling
Green Fetchling
---
Gweld the White Owl
Myrd Sharpclaw
---
Yellow Fetchling (-8; -2AC; prone)
---
Zavubak
Tera
Honey
Ptehp

Gweld and Myrd, you're up!

Gweld takes a split-second to shift his stance and study the enemy lying prone in front of him.

Move action to study the Yellow.

"Pluck my feathers, will you? I have this sharp one just for you."

+1 Longsword with Studied Combat: 1d20 + 11 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 11 + 2 = 26
Longsword damage with Studied Combat and using Studied Strike if hits: 1d8 + 6 + 2 + 1d6 ⇒ (8) + 6 + 2 + (5) = 21

Gweld delivers a coup de grâce to the yellow-haired fetchling, blood fanning out in a florid mist, drenching himself, the wolf and the druid.

Map

Round 1
Bold may act.

Red Fetchling
Green Fetchling
---
Gweld the White Owl
Myrd Sharpclaw
---
Yellow Fetchling
---
Zavubak
Tera
Honey
Ptehp

Myrd, you're up!