GM_Pace |
The stone door is not trapped, and unlocked. There's a slight jam to the door's frame, but not enough to warrant shouldering the door. When Yazi opens the door, she sees:
Ancient plaster frescos of serpentine beasts line the walls. An assortment of weapons hangs from spikes pounded into the wall, including a chipped iron greataxe (common), a blood-red leather whip (fairly new), bladed leather gauntlets (one set), and an assortment of battleaxes (common, 4) and throwing cleavers (common, 6). (One space is blank now.) Along the north wall, huge semi-circular columns, twenty feet across, intrude into the room, creating wide alcoves, while in the middle of the room rests a pile of mildewed bearskins (need to appraise). A set of battered double doors stands ajar to the west. Various empty wineskins, flagons, and bones and flesh of carrion litter the floor.
You've just come down the central minaret, of three above on the sands of the House of the Beast.
(Encounter Map updated)
Hajar nar Jundi |
It seems we have indeed come full circle...let us go to the surface and see what has changed there now that the Carrion king has been slain. and if the party doesn't object, Hajar leads the group up the stairs to the surface level.
Yazi |
Yazi begins scritching Badger Paige behind the ears. "Onward then noble steed!"
And Yazi took the whip and cleavers last time... so either we're in a new room or somebody came and restocked.
Bartan Harrowborn |
"Unless I've gotten hopelessly turned around, we've explored the entire complex, so yes, we should try to see if there is something different up in the aged city above."
Bartan follows the group, trying not to smell the pungent odor of badger-Paige's badger musk. :-P
Hajar nar Jundi |
Yes, whatever stairs we are currently on...
Paige Nightsong |
Paige sees Bartan cover his nose at her smelly badger-bottom. Let em breathe the nature. It's good for em! And of course she follows Hajar VERY happy they are headed back toward outside finally!
GM_Pace |
The party, led by the Dire Badger, reverses and goes upward. They pass the opened door halfway, and continue upwards. After a long, arduous walk up the stone stairs, they come to the first of a series of open-arched windows.
From the center of the temple courtyard of the House of the Beast, the near-midday sun burns from the sky. The Great Dome lies to the South-Southeast. From its' doors billows black smoke, the handiwork of perpetrators unknown. A few gnolls appear to be on watch, keeping the doors open and occasionally using large desert palm fronds to wave the air near the doors, to keep the smoke coming out.
That smoke must be visible for miles, making the Pale Mountain appear to be in a brush fire, at the least.
The minaret stairs continue upwards another hundred feet or so, but there is no access to the ground level save flying out or climbing down.
Hajar nar Jundi |
So, no exit here... Hajar says, annoyed at having wasted his time. Let's go back the way we came in... and he will lead his allies to the larger stairs they descended down to get here.
GM_Pace |
(The first set of windows in the minarets is at 40 feet above the ground, the second at 90, the third and final different-sized windows are just below the 120-ft tops. Rather than lookouts or guardhouses, the minarets appear to be made for decoration and to let in fresh air to the myriad chambers directly below them.)
(It's a flight or DC 18 Climb to get down. But Hajar wanted to get to the interior of the Great Dome using H6a on "The Warrens and the Middle Temple" map. I just don't know if he wants to go all the way down to I4 and the room with the weapons or not. If you leave the minaret, you'll have to go inside the Great Dome from the top, and use the extremely long spiral staircases again.)
GM_Pace |
(I've left plenty of hints about what to do next...Rovoka is the new leader of the House of the Beast...gnolls are still being recruited from the outside...Madfang was told to make more Unchosen...nobody's in the areas you searched, so they must be somewhere...)
(You just have to go to the right area. :) )
Hajar nar Jundi |
No, I think we should go to the surface, and investigate that smoke. And failing that the Troglodytes, they were tight with Rokova remember? Hajar doesn't know that since he wasn't with you guys, but he is very much pro-Smite the trogolytes since they worship Rovagug.
GM_Pace |
(Somebody lit a pyre, remember? And all that smoke had to go somewhere. It's a good thing certain doors were shut, or the entire place would've been smoked out. A fire that big could last several hours.)
(So - back down to H6a or I4 on the maps? Paige wants to climb/jump down and go to the Great Dome and the unexplored chamber in the middle of the top of the dome itself.)
Hajar nar Jundi |
From I4 where we are, to I1, then up the stairs to H1, and then up again to the G level and out the doors at G2.
GM_Pace |
From I4 where we are, to I1, then up the stairs to H1, and then up again to the G level and out the doors at G2.
The paladin leads everyone back down the middle minaret's stone stairs, past the narrow landing and door (leading to H6a) and down to what was probably the Carrion King's private chambers off of his Maggot Throne Room (I4).
Boldly going through the battered doors to the West, the party is met by the sight of the Carrion Pit still smouldering, but the flesh and carnage down to a thick layer of hot ashes. However, instead of being empty, the room is filled with gnolls! A baker's dozen set of eyes greet Hajar as he opens the double doors, and a familiar laugh comes from the raised ledge with the hidden staircase under the Maggot Throne. (You saw the throne pushed back revealing the staircase going down yesterday, remember?)
"Well now," Rovoka says, amused, "you adventurers were supposed to leave, after you did my work for me with the Carrion King. I have no need for you anymore. Listen up, my new Carrion Guard! Kill these humans, then join me and the others in finding the greatest treasure on the continent, and a new day for Rovagug's child!" With that, the gnoll leader jumps down the staircase, disappearing into the darkness below.
The gnolls take aim with their longbows at the adventurers. (Figures moved on the Encounter Map.)
ROUND ONE
Init:
Bartan: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7
Hajar: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2
Khayal: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26
Yazi: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3
Paige: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 2 = 13
Monsters: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3 So many ones...
(Khayal, Paige, Bartan, Yazi, Monsters, Hajar)
Yazi |
Khayal Bin Haleen |
Khayal double moves up to the nearest of the green gnolls. on my phone can someone move me? his mein more ferocious than normal. A glint appears in his eye as he prepares to strike.
Bartan Harrowborn |
Bartan, seeing two gnolls on Khayal, casts hydraulic push at the one to the right.
bull rush: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22
If it beats his CMD, he's knocked prone and pushed back 5 feet plus 5 feet for each 5 over his CMD.
GM_Pace |
Khayal runs up, but not before Paige casts a spell on him and Bartan releases a fount of water alongside the fighter. The gnoll to Khayal's right is knocked back 5 feet and is prone.
The gnoll left (hey, I made a funny! green one) drops his longbow and draws his scimitar on the human.
Green Left Scimitar atk on Khayal: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19 Dmg: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7
The other gnolls, having been forewarned by their new leader, press the attack with their longbows.
Yellow Left Longbow atk on Khayal: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21 Dmg: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6
Yellow Right Longbow atk on Khayal: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15
Red Left Longbow atk on Khayal: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14
Red Right Longbow atk on Khayal: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19
Grey Left Longbow atk on Hajar: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19
Grey Right Longbow atk on Hajar: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15
Mauve Left Longbow atk on Hajar: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 16
Mauve Right Longbow atk on Hajar: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25 Dmg: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9
Citrine Left Longbow atk on Hajar: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11
Citrine Right Longbow atk on Hajar: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24 Dmg: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5 (What is with these low rolls?)
The Human males in armor get plummeted first by a hail of arrows, but only one or two hit their mark.
(And no, no poison this time. You didn't give them enough time to get it from their secret source.)
(Hajar, Yazi)
Yazi |
Stepping into the room Yazi moves up to engage the Gnoll attacking Khayal.
Greataxe: 1d20 + 6 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 6 + 3 + 1 = 16
Damage (Magic, Slashing): 1d12 + 4 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 4 + 6 + 1 = 17
HP 36/57
Dexterity 8/14
Rage 7/16
Resolve 2/3
Sneak Attack 1/4
Hajar nar Jundi |
Hajar double moves towards the gnolls threatening to flank the party and slay Bartan. Something to combat these archers if you please Mistress Paige...
Paige Nightsong |
Paige obliges, spending one of her prepared Lesser Restoration Spells to Cast wind wall. MAP UPDATED. tried to align it to protect from yellow and red archers, but it still gives cover to Hajar for another 15 ft or so. Spell lasts 6 rounds.
GM_Pace |
(Paige, you already cast, so that's going to be your next action.)
(That was you and Khayal, Hajar, not Bartan.)
Yazi did a mighty blow to the (green left) gnoll on the ledge, but somehow it remained standing.
ROUND TWO
Init:
Bartan: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 18
Hajar: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 1 = 16
Khayal: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12
Yazi: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (7) + 0 = 7
Paige: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 2 = 15
Monsters: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 = 20
The (green left) gnoll hit by Yazi struck back while it's companion (green right) stood up (move action), shaking off the water dog-style, and drawing its' scimitar (draws as it attacks, 5-foot step. Good thing Yazi doesn't have 10-ft reach with that greataxe.).
Green Left Scimitar atk on Khayal: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13
Green Right Scimitar atk on Yazi: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20 Dmg: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10 (Max damage!)
Some of the other gnolls, seeing a spellcaster in the group, adjusted their aim (now Hajar's comment makes sense).
Yellow Left Longbow atk on Bartan: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17 Dmg: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5
Yellow Right Longbow atk on Bartan: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13
Red Left Longbow atk on Bartan: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22 Dmg: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5
Red Right Longbow atk on Bartan: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 16 Dmg: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5 (Bartan's gotta get some armor.)
Grey Left Longbow atk on Hajar: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18
Grey Right Longbow atk on Hajar: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11
Mauve Left Longbow atk on Hajar: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18
Mauve Right Longbow atk on Hajar: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 16
Citrine Left Longbow atk on Hajar: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9
Citrine Right Longbow atk on Hajar: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26 Confirm: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19 (Rats.) Dmg: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8
(Bartan, Hajar, Paige (when her wind wall goes off, she can adjust if she wishes), Khayal, Yazi)
Khayal Bin Haleen |
Khayal whirls his blades around slashing into the green gnoll before him. Kukri: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (6) + 11 = 171d4 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12
Kukri: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (5) + 11 = 161d4 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11
Kukri: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 221d4 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9
Kukri: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 221d4 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9
confirm: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 131d4 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10
confirm: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 241d4 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10
Yazi |
Yazi smashes into Khayal's Gnoll if it still stands, otherwise she gently steps over and attacks the next one.
Greataxe: 1d20 + 6 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 6 + 3 + 1 = 28
Damage (Magic, Slashing): 1d12 + 4 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 4 + 6 + 1 = 18
HP 26/57
Dexterity 8/14
Rage 7/16
Resolve 2/3
Sneak Attack 1/4
Hajar nar Jundi |
Hajar continues forward, ignoring the arrows. LoH: 2d6 ⇒ (2, 1) = 3
Bartan Harrowborn |
Three arrows slam into Bartan, and he decides to stay behind the wind wall for the moment and use his pearl of power to recall a snowball spell. He just moves along with Paige for a moment.
GM_Pace |
Bartan gets the message from the archers, Hajar moves and heals himself, and Paige-the-badger casts a Wind Wall. Khayal easily kills the gnoll in front of him (green left), and Yazi almost but not quite kills the other gnoll (green right).
ROUND THREE
Init:
Bartan: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16
Hajar: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 1 = 21
Khayal: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13
Yazi: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (13) + 0 = 13
Paige: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 = 17
Monsters: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 2 = 15
(Hajar, Paige, Bartan, Monsters, Khayal, Yazi)
Bartan Harrowborn |
Bartan sees that Yazi has almost killed her gnoll, and decides to try to finish it off for her, moving to the corner of the raised portion.
harrow card: 1d12 ⇒ 7 => The Joke (Chaotic Good, Intelligence)
card toss: 1d20 + 8 - 2 ⇒ (13) + 8 - 2 = 19
damage: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6 plus cold: 1d6 ⇒ 6
Nice!