GM Tarondor's Emerald Spire Campaign

Game Master Tarondor

swap club for longspear, to-hit is the same. Have to roll damage

Longspear Damage: 1d6 - 1 ⇒ (6) - 1 = 5

Yirrik blinks, and looks around, not really sure he was seeing correctly, but two of his friends were down in the pit with him..Perfire looked ok, buy Wymond was just as perforated by spikes as he himself had been.

With a groan, Yirrik levered himself up, and somehow managed to energy to quip, "Glad you guys could join me..."

Mustering even more energy than he had, he lifted an axe and hurled it at the troublesome spider...

Axe, thrown: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12
Damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

Ilya drops her sword and shield, draws her crossbow, and lines up to shoot at the spider.

Light Crossbow: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 1 = 19, 1d8 ⇒ 7

Yirrik: Only you and Wymond are in the pit with the spider. Perfire and Ilya are up top.

Yirrik: You are in melee with the spider, who is adjacent to you. Throwing a missile will draw an AoO. I'm going to assume you just tried to hit it with the axe.

Ilya, unless you're walking around with a loaded crossbow on your back (you're not), you have to draw the weapon and load it before you can fire it, so you can't fire it this round. Don't forget that you will be firing into melee and suffer a -4 penalty to hit.

Yirrik slashes at the huge spider, but his axe deflects off the monster's thick and hairy carapace. Meanwhile, Perfire stabs down into the pit with a handy longspear, piercing the monster's exoskeleton. Ilya drops her falcata, draws her crossbow from her back and loads it.

INITIATIVE ORDER
Yirrik (21 damage, prone, -1 STR)
Spider (7 damage)
Ilya
Perfire
Wymond (17 damage, prone, restrained)

MAP OF THE EMERALD SPIRE

Wymond, go!

I had attempted to climb into the pit

Perfire drops the arm hopefully you'll let me just drop it into the pit as a free action and begins to lower himself over the side of the pit.

Climb: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (18) - 1 = 17

assuming that's a good enough roll

The halfling makes his way down into the pit, upon reaching the bottom he turns and assesses the situation at the bottom of the pit.

'Wymond, are you alright?'

I missed that. Well, it's getting mighty crowded. In that case, ignore my previous statement about not being able to hit with a club. I'll adjust the map and you can keep the higher damage.

Heh, it makes a lot more sense now. I was really confused as to the dimensions of the bottom of the pit.

Wymond closes his eyes and mutters a prayer to Erastil, a haze of green and gold light suffusing the cocoon he's found himself in as his injuries from the spikes begin to close.

Lay on Hands: 1d6 ⇒ 5

Thus invigorated, he begins to struggle against his bindings to get loose.

Strength check, I assume?: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10

Wymond's faith in Erastil seems to give him the will to fight on, but his struggles have so far only bound the spider's webs more tightly around him!

Bite v. Perfire: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 131d6 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

The spider lunges at Perfire, but the halfling sorcerer manages to block its attack with his club.

INITIATIVE ORDER
Yirrik (21 damage, prone, -1 STR)
Spider (7 damage)
Ilya
Perfire
Wymond (12 damage, prone, restrained)

MAP OF THE EMERALD SPIRE

Anyone, go!

Ilya, unless you're walking around with a loaded crossbow on your back (you're not), you have to draw the weapon and load it before you can fire it, so you can't fire it this round. Don't forget that you will be firing into melee and suffer a -4 penalty to hit.

I thought you said we couldn't reach the spider, and it was slinging webs at distance and stuff just before; I don't get how I'm now shooting into melee? As for carrying a loaded crossbow, I guess some DM's just do it differently, no issues there. I'll draw and load, as you say.

Wymond curses as he continues to wriggle.

Strength: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 13

I'm sorry if I was unclear. Wymond, Perfire and Yirrik are 10' down in the pit with the spider. Ilya is up on the pit's lip. The spider (as well as your companions) are all 10' away and so you need reach or range to get them.

You can certainly carry a loaded crossbow, but in your hands, not your back. Trust me on this - they're very dangerous. You'd shoot yourself in the behind.

Wymond continues to struggle with the webs.

Ilya, Perfire, Yirrik, go!

Grimacing from the pain in his side, Yirrik launches a full-scale attack against the hated spider...

Sword: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 = 11
Axe: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

Sword, Damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5
Axe, Damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

Arrg!! this F*&@ing Dice roller !

No kidding. You guys need to perform a dice-roller exorcism.

Ilya fires her crossbow bolt at the spider and reloads.

1d20 - 3 ⇒ (8) - 3 = 5

"MFFF! MMM MMM MMMMMM!" Wymond appears to shout in annoyance.

I, for one, welcome our new dice roller overlords

Perfire quickly runs through the list of abilities he's been able to manifest. He doubts very much that the spider would be affected by either of the spells that attack his opponents minds. Makings the floor slippery was as likely to harm as help. He sighs and tightens his grip on his club. The halfling takes another swing at the spider

Club: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 1 = 21

Damage: 1d4 - 1 ⇒ (1) - 1 = 0

see, just appease the dice roller!

Crit Confirm: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 1 = 16

Crit Damage: 1d4 - 1 ⇒ (4) - 1 = 3

That is the first time I've ever seen anyone do 3 points of damage on a successful critical hit.

The confused melee continues as the death struggle against the spider does not go well. Ilya finds it nearly impossible to draw a bead on the moving target amidst her three companions, while Yirrik's blow is too weak to drive through the spider's quick defenses. Only Perfire hits home, a glancing blow against one of the spider's legs.

1d2 ⇒ 2
Bite v. Perfire: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 201d6 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

The spider lunges at Perfire again, this time biting him on the forearm.

INITIATIVE ORDER
Yirrik (21 damage, prone, -1 STR)
Spider (10 damage)
Ilya
Perfire (2 damage, poisoned?)
Wymond (12 damage, prone, restrained)

MAP OF THE EMERALD SPIRE

Anyone, go! Perfire, give me a DC 15 Fortitude save.

Fortitude: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 17

the Dice Roller is a benevolent overlord

Perfire, emboldened by his previous success, strikes out with his club again.

'Keep up the attack!'

Club: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 1 = 20

Damage: 1d4 - 1 ⇒ (2) - 1 = 1

All hail the dice roller!

Ilya wordlessly fires her crossbow again.

1d20 - 3 ⇒ (13) - 3 = 10

Wymond continues to try and get out of the webbing.

Strength: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10

Inspired himself by Perfire's bravery, Yirrik re-doubles his own efforts against the spider...

Sword: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 = 11
Axe: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 = 11

Sword, Damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8
Axe, Damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7

Places face in palms of hands and weeps !!! And look at that damage...salt in the wounds!!!!

Oy. I feel for ya!

Not, you know, enough to not kill your characters or anything...

Perfire clips the spider with a slight smack of the club while the wily arachnid dodges both Yirrik's attacks and Ilya's. Wymond struggles desperately with his bonds.

1d2 ⇒ 2
Bite v. Yirrik, w/ bonus for Prone: 1d20 + 4 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 + 4 = 141d6 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

The hairy creature tries to bite Yirrik, but his axe and sword keep the monster at bay a few more seconds!.

INITIATIVE ORDER
Yirrik (21 damage, prone, -1 STR)
Spider (11 damage)
Ilya
Perfire (2 damage)
Wymond (12 damage, prone, restrained)

MAP OF THE EMERALD SPIRE

Anyone, go!

dice roller don't fail me now

Perfire brings his mighty club around for another swipe at the beast.

'Leave him alone!'

Club: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 1 = 20

Damage: 1d4 - 1 ⇒ (3) - 1 = 2

This is getting a little ridiculous... I mean LONG LIVE THE DICE ROLLER!

Wymond continues to struggle to try and get out of the webbing.

Strength: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (13) + 3 = 16

A few posts back , I wrote 'With a groan, Yirrik levered himself up', by which I meant that he stood up. As you still have him Prone in his status, I guess I wasn't specific enough. As standing up would provoke an AOO anyway, he'll stay where he is.

Beating back the spider's attempt to grant him another give of it's enervating venom, Yirrik strikes back...

Sword: 1d20 + 2 - 4 ⇒ (6) + 2 - 4 = 4
Axe: 1d20 + 2 - 4 ⇒ (13) + 2 - 4 = 11

Sword, Damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6
Axe, Damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

I see that now, Yirrik. Maybe we should call out specific actions in an OOC as well as flavor text.

Wymond continues to struggle in the webs while Yirrik bravely battles the great spider. Perfire once again takes advantage of the spider's distraction to whack it with his club!

INITIATIVE ORDER
Yirrik (21 damage, prone, -1 STR)
Spider (13 damage)
Ilya
Perfire (2 damage)
Wymond (12 damage, prone, restrained)

MAP OF THE EMERALD SPIRE

Ilya, go!

Ilya keeps firing her crossbow. "Good work, Perfire!"

1d20 - 3 ⇒ (8) - 3 = 5, 1d8 ⇒ 1

Ilya again fires her light crossbow into the melee, but the required care throws off her aim and the bolt cracks uselessly off the stone wall of the pit.

Bite v. Perfire: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 121d6 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

Having had quite enough of Perfire's attacks, the spider rounds on him and bites hard, but the little halfling is no longer there, having slid aside at the last moment.

INITIATIVE ORDER
Yirrik (21 damage, prone, -1 STR)
Spider (13 damage)
Ilya
Perfire (2 damage)
Wymond (12 damage, prone, restrained)

MAP OF THE EMERALD SPIRE

Anyone, go!

Wymond makes a muffled sound that the others are fairly sure is foul language being screamed as he attempts to get free once more.

Strength: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 3 = 19

Huzzah!

Wymond bursts his bonds asunder, looking like a furious bedsheet unraveling.

He's still prone.

Perfire ducks under the fangs of the spider and for once, is thankful for his diminutive stature. He catches Wymond's grand entrance from the corner of his eye and smiles.

'Welcome back, Wymond. Now, help me kill this thing!'

He uses his position below the searching jaws of the spider to try and swing his club at the undermandible of the arachnid.

Club: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 1 = 15

Damage: 1d4 - 1 ⇒ (3) - 1 = 2

Yirrik watches in horror as the spider strikes out at little Perfire, but the halfling nimbly dodges away, "Wow, he's fast." Yirrik thought, before stabbing and hacking away at the spider..

Sword: 1d20 + 2 - 4 ⇒ (8) + 2 - 4 = 6
Axe: 1d20 + 2 - 4 ⇒ (15) + 2 - 4 = 13

Sword, Damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8
Axe, Damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8

Yirrik, I'm terrified by the glorious run of good luck that must be sitting somewhere in your future to even this all out and preserve the laws of probability.

Wymond glares at the spider as he rises to his feet and draws his sword.

"You don't have to ask twice, Perry!"

Do I suffer 1 AoO for standing up from prone and drawing my weapon, or 2? I don't think I get to attack on this round.

I'm definitely not looking forward to the low-roll wasteland I have somewhere ahead of me.

Wymond, you have used your standard action this round, but can still stand and draw your weapon. Drawing a weapon, whether done separately or as part of a move action, does not trigger an Attack of Opportunity. Standing, however, does.

I believe I also get a swift action as well. I'll use lay on hands to heal myself more so the AoO doesn't hurt as much.

Wymond closes his eyes and the glow suffuses his form again.

"Wise and Mighty Erastil, bless me with the endurance to run this beastie down and end this hunt!"

Lay on Hands: 1d6 ⇒ 4

Ilya reloads her crossbow and tries to shoot the thing again. "Come on, we've almost got it!"

1d20 - 3 ⇒ (17) - 3 = 14, 1d8 ⇒ 8

As Wymond prays for the strength to fight on, Perfire once again clubs the spider, this time right across its salivating beak! Simultaneously, Ilya's shot slices into the monster's thorax with a heavy twang-thunk!. It burbles and hisses, its legs beating the air and walls, and then lies still.

INITIATIVE ORDER
Yirrik (21 damage, -1 STR)
Ilya
Perfire (2 damage)
Wymond (8 damage)

MAP OF THE EMERALD SPIRE

COMBAT OVER!

Yirrik leans up against the side of the pit, blowing his breath out of pursed lips, "Thanks guys, thought I was a gonner, there."

He looks at the spider, all curled up in death, "Poor thing, just doing what comes natural. If only I'd had a chance to talk to it..." he says softly, before slouching down a bit.

"Here, hold still."

Wymond lays hands on Yirrik to heal some of his injuries.

Lay on Hands: 1d6 ⇒ 1

He sighs at Yirrik's words.

"When ya got a wolf comin' after yer sheep, ya don't give him a cut of mutton, Yirrik!"

Perfire continues attacking the spider, oblivious to the fact that it's stopped moving of it's own free will.

'STOP! ATTACKING! MY! FRIENDS! YOU! VILE! CREATURE!' the halfling's club splatters gore in a small circle around him and his target. Slowly, breathing heavily, he realizes the arachnid is dead and that his allies are safe. He leans against the side of the pit, barely avoiding impaling himself on a spike and stares at a spot on the floor.

"I think it's dead, Perfire," Ilya says, her tone gentle, trying to calm the angry hobgoblin down.

She unhooks the coil of rope she's been carrying over her shoulder, and unties the knot that kept it tidy, before going looking for somewhere to tie it off, (if nothing else she'll try to tie it to the doorknob) before dropping the other end into the pit.

"There we go. It should be doable to climb up with that."

Heh. Hobgoblin.

on my mother's side

Wymond gulps as he sees Perfire go to town on the spider.

"Remind me not to get on your bad side, Perry!"

Your labored breathing finally slows. Still you sit, your muscles lax after sudden exertion. Your voices echo across the room and are swallowed in stillness. Now and then your ears strain to hear what may be a faint rustling. Or maybe nothing at all. And the oppressive silence of millennia seems to close in around you like a burial shroud.

Now what?

After collecting himself, and getting his breath back Perfire looks up to Ilya and forces a smile. 'Sorry, I think I got a bit carried away there'

The halfling uses the rope and climbs from the pit.

Climb: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (14) - 1 = 13

Once at the top he moves back to allow the others to climb out and takes another look inside the corpse room.

Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 3 = 20

"I ain't complaining," says Wymond . "You were a better fighter in this battle than I was. Next time, while we're fightin' together, we'll be unstoppable!"

He helps Yirrick to the rope and waits until he's climbed up it too before following himself.

Strength for climbing?: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23