GM SpiderBeard's Curse of the Crimson Throne (Inactive)

Game Master Barvo Delancy

"WE KILL IT!" Sevenspawn shouts over the din, reloading his crossbow. "IT CANNOT BE PERMITTED TO LEAVE HERE!"

Shifting into an arcane tongue, the cleric casts Bless on his party.

By the map, everyone is within my range. DESCRIPTION: "Bless fills your allies with courage. Each ally gains a +1 morale bonus on attack rolls and on saving throws against fear effects. Bless counters and dispels bane."

The golem charges in at Thod - in the chaos you see that the golem is in fact clutching a weapon. Someone's arm. A heavily-tattooed arm. He slaps Thod across the face with someone else's hand, which is just insulting, really.

Thod takes 4 damage. Everyone is up!

Raven Six reloads, turns the crank on her crossbow, and fires!
'After all, the only reasonable alternative would be to slot my bayonet on and charge into the fray,' she thinks as the bolt goes flying.

Crossbow attack 1d20 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 3 + 1 = 20 for 1d8 ⇒ 2 damage.

"The arm! We need that arm!"

LXBow (PtBlk): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 161d6 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Sevenspawn - calmed and comforted by the familiar sense of his patron deity's power fill the room - raises his crossbow and fires down the hallway over Raven Six's shoulder.

Light Crossbow: 1d20 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 2 + 1 = 16
Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 3

Well, if the thing moved up to attack me, it would have had to leave my threatened range. Was that two attacks it made, Spiderbeard? Or was one of those my AOO? Assuming it wasn't...

Attack of Opportunity: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17
Damage: 1d12 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

Thod jabs at the thing as it approaches, but it still gets in his face and slaps him with the arm.

"What the hell? Who pays for a body and then tosses pieces around like that!?"

With the thing having gotten up close and personal, Thod drops his longer polearm, in favour of a shorter polearm.

MOVE: Drop lucerne hammer, draw halberd.
STANDARD: Attack.

Attack: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (11) + 8 = 19
Damage: 1d10 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9

"The theory is, I believe, that only the exactly right piece should be used in exactly the correct place," Raven Six explains. "Consequently, we may conclude that this necromancer Rolth did not believe that this particular arm fit anywhere in his design."

Back! Barely alive, but back.

A flurry of crossbow bolts fly, with Raven's managing to hit the golem. Thod then drives the bolt in like a spike with a whack of his lucern hammer. The golem sends the arm flying in its frenzy, and brutally cracks Thod across the jaw with a fist.

Thod takes 17 damage and according to his spoiler status that puts him at 1 hit point! Everyone is up!

"Thod, please step back. Sevenspawn, healing for Thod, please," Lym says while she reloads and fires.

Crossbow 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 12 for 1d8 ⇒ 6 damage.

Seeing Thod get pummelled, Donnell calls over his shoulder: "Sevenspawn, can you help Thod out? Another hit like that and he'll be out of it!"

Light XBow (Pt Blnk): 1d20 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 8 + 1 = 101d6 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Masterwork crossbow my ass - this thing keeps breaking!

Sevenspawn is already moving as his companions call out, heading past Raven Six in the corridor as he lowers his crossbow and brings out his wand. Sliding into the room, he hisses some mystical words and lets out a wave of energy that fills the room.

Channel Energy: 2d6 ⇒ (5, 4) = 9

As an aside, this healing affects everyone within 30' of Sevenspawn's position - I updated his spot on the map, but Thod moves first, so I should be adjusted accordingly - and I've check with our GM to verify that the golem will not recieve the healing since it's neither alive nore dead. Also, is everyone remembering the +1 "Bless" bonus?

Actions go off in the order of posting unless there's some arbitration required.

Actions go off in the order of posting unless there's some arbitration required.

I learn something new in this game every day! Although you'd think I would have realized that one already.

Thod takes a beating, but keeps on going. He's rather surprised at how he's so far been able to keep his cool. Still, he puts a bit more heft into his swings than normal.

Using Power Attack for this round.

Attack: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18
Damage: 1d10 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14

Thod swings his hammer up in an arc, cracking the golem in the jaw and knocking it back! The golem, its fists still flailing wildly, almost sends Thod to the ground with a haymaker. It veers around and appears almost destroyed.

Thod takes 11 damage. Everyone is up!

Thod hit with an 18 but I my crit confirmation missed with a 20?

"Just die already, will you?

Attack: 1d20 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 8 + 1 = 121d6 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

I'm using my Halberd, Spiderbeard, not my Lucerne Hammer. Note that both have the Piercing option, so I hope you're not reducing the damage of my attacks.

Thod takes another blow which sends him stumbling a bit. He readjusts his halberd, and takes another stab at the thing, though without the force of the previous blow.

Standard attack, no Power Attack.

Halberd attack: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15
Damage: 1d10 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13

Raven reloads and shoots!
"Out of standard bolts!" she warns.

Attack 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (19) + 3 = 22 for 1d8 ⇒ 8 damage.

Crit threat! Confirmation 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21 for 1d8 ⇒ 1 damage.

@Thod - nope, that would require an incredible amount of mean-spirited math.

Donnell and Thod both miss their attacks, but Raven Six manages to fire her last bolt perfectly, and it slams into an open wound on the carrion golem's neck. The head snaps back form the force of the bolt, and that's enough for Thod to drive the golem to the ground and hack off the head.

End of Combat

"Ah, excellent! Now then, Raven6, would you mind terribly dissecting Ghaeken's arm from that mess? I'll have a look about this room..."

Donnell's pack-rat nature will have him gather everything useful for the group to pick through including any crossbow bolts that can be reused or repaired :)

Perception: 1d20 + 9 + 1d6 ⇒ (5) + 9 + (3) = 17

"I do not mind, as such, but it was not attached to the golem. Also, I suspect the family might object to further damage. What knowledge do you hope to glean from a dissection?"

lol - sorry! I read that too quickly earlier and thought it was connected to the golem.

"Er, right. Let's just add it to the sack of body parts.
... Here's hoping that phrase doesn't become commonplace"

Sevenspawn takes the arm from the floor, looking it over and placing it in the sack with the rest of the body. Retrieving his wand from his cloak, he works on Thod.

Wand of CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Wand of CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Wand of CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Sevenspawn stops, seeing it's limited effect, and frowns at the stick's glowing tip. Muttering something about the lack of craftsmanship in wands these days, he tries again after giving it a smack on the side.

Wand of CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8

Wand of CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

Grunting in a way that suggests he is slightly more satisfied, he puts it away and checks to see if the others are ready to move.

Worst. Rolls. Ever.

Donnell smiles sympathetically at Sevenspawn, hefts his crossbow, then raises his eyes to indicate the bolt stuck in the ceiling...

For spending crossbow bolts, rather than rolling for each one, just assume you recover half of them since it's a 50% chance.

Sevenspawn takes a little while to heal up Thod, despite his wand not being particularly cooperative. With the arm found, you add another body part to your collect-a-Shoanti mission.

The only way remaining to go in the dungeon that you are aware of is north from the room with the half-complete golem.

"Well," Raven Six says after reclaiming her spent bolts, "time to continue the process of reconnaissance."

Collecting Zeno's crossbow bolts, Donnell glances around to make sure everyone is ready to go, then heads toward the laboratory.

On arriving, he will load a poisoned bolt into his crossbow, and ready an elixir of True Strike. Motioning for Thod to lead the way, he will stick close to the dwarf's heels as they move down the tunnel.

As usual, Thod gets in position. Lucerne hammer forward as he advances.

Sevenspawn looks up, following Donnell's eyes, and grunts acknowledgement. He smiles slightly at him, his face noting that disappointment in equipment comes in many forms.

Picking up the Shoanti bones carefully, he hoists them over his shoulder and follows the others.

You all cautiously advance northwards down the hallway, which eventually leads to a chamber.

This chamber holds a large four-poster bed and a simple writing desk, along with a full-length mirror propped up against one earthen wall.

Sitting on the desk is a curious, but broken knife with a key-shaped blade.

A door leads eastwards.

Taking a quick glance around to determine if the room is empty, Donnell snags the key off the desk as they move through.

"Let's do a thorough sweep when we are sure that we are alone. I think we ought to carry through to the next room for now."

Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (13) + 9 = 22

Sevenspawn nods, trusting Donnell's dungeoneering prowess. He does look in the corners and stops briefly, however, dropping quietly to one knee to look under the bed - driven unthinkingly, he might realize someday, by a childhood spent in a place where dark spiders, imps, stirges or worse might rest under the places he has rested upon.

Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (11) + 3 = 14

The broken blade appears quite valuable and is of masterwork quality, although of strange design. Donnell spots that the mirror is seated over a hidden niche. Moving it, he sees that the niche is mostly empty, but there are a few items of note in it.

- masterwork thieve's tools
- a pearl and silver snuffbox
- a box of dust, which radiates magic
- a magical spoon

With these items collected, you look eastwards to see an empty room and approach as you always do. You push aside the curtain to reveal the next room.

This dry, well-kept chamber contains a narrow bed, a relatively empty shelf holding only a few books and some bones and skulls, and a long bench. A man’s torso, the chest bearing numerous tribal tattoos, lies on this bench. The right arm is still attached, and periodically thrashes and clutches at the air as if it were alive.

Blocking your entrance into the room is a shambling zombie, and further into the room you spot a black-robed derro floating against the ceiling! The derro cries something out in its language and the zombie slowly starts shuffling forwards.

Everyone but Thod is up! The ceiling here is 12' high and so the derro is just out of melee range since he's parallel to the ceiling, but within range of reach weapons.

GM: It looks like Donnell has line of sight and a range of 30' - if that's not right, let me know. True Strike negates Concealed Miss Chance, however, so perhaps it doesn't matter.

Donnell tilts his head to one side: "That's the necromancer?! That can't be right."

Shrugging, he slugs back his extract of True Strike (Move phase), and lets fly with a poisoned quarrel.

L XBow, Pt Blnk: 1d20 + 8 + 20 ⇒ (7) + 8 + 20 = 35
damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6
Drow Poison: Fort 13

Sevenspawn barks some divine words and casts Doom upon the floating derro.

"A shaken character takes a –2 penalty on attack rolls, saving throws, skill checks, and ability checks."

You have line of sight Donnell, but consuming an extract is a standard action. If you brewed a potion (which takes time and money)
consuming that is a move action. Extracts are basically spells though.

Donnell downs his extract of true strike while Sevenspawn spots the derro and blasts him with holy magic. However, the derro simply cackles madly and resists the spell!

Raven Six is up!

"Resist this," Raven Six suggests to the derro as she jabs a zinc rod through the clay seal on one of her vials and sends it spinning towards the spellcaster.

R6 throws a bomb at the derro. Ranged touch attack 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6 for 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6 damage.

EEERRGHH

Raven's bomb sails right under the floating necromancer, smashing into the wall behind him. The necromancer fiddles with his robe, and then throws a bone on the ground, which erupts into a skeleton! The skeleton charges in at Thod. The skeleton swipes out a claw at him, but misses by a mile.

Thod is up!

Previous room...

"I'm all for sleeping underground, but this place is a bit weird to be settin' up such a nice bed in."

-----

Final Room...

The skeleton charges, catching Thod unaware, bypassing the reach of his lucerne hammer.

Thod is aware enough to dodge out of the way of the attack... and then all the rage and energy he's been holding back bursts to the surface.

"ALRIGHT, THAT'S IT!"

Thod slams his lucerne hammer to the ground (Not that he could swing it in such close quarters anyways) and draws his halberd. But rather than swing, he hunkers down and charges forward, tackling the skeleton.

"OUTTA MY WAY!"

Enter into a Rage as a free action. (5 rounds remain)
MOVE: Drop lucerne hammer, draw halberd.
STANDARD: Bull Rush the skeleton. The Skeleton will get an AOO on me (Note currently my AC is 15, as I have a -2 due to rage.) and any damage he does is added to the CMD I have to beat.

Bull Rush: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15

If successful, I push him back 5 feet. If I beat his CMD by 5, I can make another Bull Rush check to push them both back.

The skeleton flies back as Thod hammers his shoulder into it, its counterattack missing wildly. The zombie then sidesteps and tries to swipe at Thod around the corner, but just punches the wall.

Everyone but Thod is up!

The cleric of Milani invokes Her name, asking for her to lend her power to the destruction of the undead before them. Taking a half-step forward, he presents his holy symbol.

Channel Energy Damage: 2d6 ⇒ (2, 1) = 3

Beep! Hi, you've reached the offices of Milani. We aren't available to take your prayer, but it's important to us! At the sound of the tone, we will automatically permit priests under 4th level piddling damage. Have a great day! BEEP!

Know Religion: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13

Taking aim on the derro, Donnell shouts:

"Thod! Remember, it's easier to hurt skeletons with blunt weapons. The other thing is a zombie - it's slow but tough. Best to use slashing weapons on it."

Using my earlier rolls:
Attack = 35
Damage = 6
Drow Poison (Fort 13)

"Another try, another chance," Raven Six says in a philosophical tone, as she primes and throws another bomb at the floating necromancer.

Ranged touch attack 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13 for 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7 damage.

Sorry, missed an earlier check...

Knowledge-Religion: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16

Donnell fires a magically-guided bolt which slams into the derro, but the poison does not take. Raven Six follows up with a bomb that misses, exploding against the north wall and still damaging him with the splash. Finally, Sevenspawn sends forth a - somewhat weak - burst of holy light which damages the zombie and skeleton but does not kill either.

The derro gives himself a clear line of sight on Thod, and fires off a ray of fire! However, the chaos of the fight with the skeleton causes his spell to miss badly. He howls with rage.

Thod is up! I moved Sevenspawn so his channel energy would hit both the skeleton and zombie.

0_0 I missed on a ranged touch attack of 13? Eek....

"I SAID MOVE IT!"

Thod swings hard at the skeleton with his halberd, hoping to make up with raw force what would otherwise be resisted by attempting to slice a skeleton.

Rage Rounds remaining: 4
Power Attack and swing at the skeleton. The Halberd will be resisted, but hopefully sheer volume of damage can overcome that.

Halberd Attack: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11
Damage: 1d10 + 10 ⇒ (10) + 10 = 20

Damn, max damage, but no way that would hit.

Shield spell. Nothing personal. ;) Also that's a total of 20 on a skeleton. It hit.

The skeleton explodes as Thod whacks it repeatedly with his halberd. The zombie smoothly moves in front of Thod to attack but the attack misses badly.

Everyone who isn't Thod is up!

"I hope you enjoyed that, you bastard. Here - have another!"

Light XBox: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (11) + 8 = 191d6 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4
Drow Poison, Fort 13

Sevenspawn dials back into the Milani Help Desk.

Channel Energy Damage: 2d6 ⇒ (4, 3) = 7