In Search of Heroes

Game Master verdigris

Round 1, init 23

Simon charges the trio of evil jerks with a fearsome burble of challenge, drawing his morningstar as he goes. But he rushes past all three kobolds, willingly provoking attacks as he dives across the alter, pushing Hollin off it, and landing on the other side where he hopes to give Chrystosm a tactical advantage against one of the previously mentioned jerks.

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8

dang! that's bound to hurt

'Initiative, you're guessing'?! Guessing!? Ack! No, we're going to break out the lawnchairs and beers and watch the festivities, placing bets and making small talk! ;)

Round 1, Init 16

Kast double limps up.

Round 1, init 23
Mouth agape in silent horror, Chrystosm whips his crossbow out and fires at the wicked kobold

Attk: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (20) + 8 = 28

Crit conf.: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18

Dmg: 1d8 + 1d6 ⇒ (8) + (2) = 10 Sneak attack? 18 altogether if crit conf hits.

Round 1 Init 17

Seeing the dagger fall Nimeon wastes no more time in negotiation.

I should've burned this whole wretched hive out.

DCL PS DA RS: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 191d8 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 141d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 151d8 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8

Took PBS out of my actions, not sure I'm 30' away.

Round 1

map

Chrystosm: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23
Simon: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23
Nimeon: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 = 17
acolytes(2): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 2 = 16
Kast: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (16) + 0 = 16
Dorial: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (6) + 9 = 15
Jekkajak: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10
Othoe: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8
Kimi, Javros, Edgrin.

Chrystosm quick reflexes kick in in defense of his fan, sending a devastatingly accurate bolt across the cavern to lodge deeply in his chest. The creature jerks backwards, but doesn't drop the knife. It hits and hits hard, but mostly wouldn't have been as good a shot if he had been more prepared.

Simon rushes towards the altar, trips over a loose stone and tumbles into the face of the altar instead of vaulting over it. Blood from a tiny cut on his face mars the altar for a moment, then is slowly absorbed by the stone. -1hp

Nimeon, cursing his benevolent nature, pulls his bow and fires from across the room, though only one hits, dropping the cleric where he stands. damned ranged characters.

Round 1, Initiative 16

One of the two acolytes surge towards their master, grabbing the blade. The other takes up the chant again.

Kast, slow, but determined, focuses on reaching the far side of the room.

Dorial is up, followed by, oh right, he's already bleeding out ; ) ... then Othoe, Edgrin, and the kids.

Round 1, Initiative 8

Othoe rushes into the room as fast as his short legs will carry him. When he comes within sight of the kobold acolyte he launches a Flaming Sphere at the creature.

Flaming Sphere (fire): 3d6 + 2 ⇒ (6, 2, 2) + 2 = 12 Reflex DC 17 to avoid

Edit: Forgot the perception check!
Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (9) + 9 = 18

perception: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 1 = 16

Round 2, Init 16

Kast double limps towards the ruckus.

Soldiers march.

Got moved out of position. Where I am now should be right.

reflex for A1: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9

Othoe rushes in and conjures a sphere of flame to punish the first acolyte for his transgressions. No dancer, he can't seem to avoid it and screams in agony as he becomes a living torch. -12hp

Intent on saving their loved ones, Edgrin, Kimi and Javros rush in, making the room a bit crowded.

begin round 2, Dorial still has turn from round 1.

Dorial from round 1, Chrystosm, Simon are up

Round 2, init 23

Simon stares in horror as the alter displays it's sinister nature.

Grabbing Hollin from the alter, Simon shields him in every way possible from the kobolds, taking the dagger strikes. (like a goalie in hockey, Simon will put his face in the way if necessary) Carrying the boy away from the alter, Simon protects him from the foul acolytes.

assuming Simon can only carry away one person at a time, but if he can pull the elf away as well...

Round 2, init 23

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13

Unable (as usual) to see further than the end of his nose, Chrystosm dances clumsily over the floor of the room, flinging away his crossbow as he moves Acrobatics: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (1) + 11 = 12, then drawing his axe and striking out in an attempt to take down the acolyte before further harm can be done, but without any discernable effect

Attk: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7

Dmg: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9

Chrystosm moves herky jerkily across the floor to the Acolyte #2. Unfortunately, he misses and the Acolyte retains his blade.

@ Simon: Unfortunately, they are both affixed to the altar with crude ropes. You can spend a full round action to free one of them. I will assume it's Hollin unless you say otherwise.

Nimeon, the Acolytes, Kast, Dorial, and Othoe are up.

Sorry for the delay

Round 1 | Initiative 15

Dorial rushes into the room to get her bearings, and in seeing the mess, launches a Flaming Sphere at one of the acolytes A2.

Flaming Sphere: 3d6 ⇒ (6, 1, 5) = 12 Reflex DC 16 to avoid

Round 2 | Initiative 15

She surges towards the back of the room and sends a blast of air into the two acolytes in an attempt to disrupt their focus.

Windblast: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (14) + 8 = 22
Flaming Sphere vs A2: 3d6 ⇒ (6, 3, 5) = 14 Reflex DC 16 to avoid

Simon fails to alter the altar and remains there with Hollin. (I never knew alter and altar were spelled differently, learn something new everyday)

A2: flaming sphere, round 1reflex: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 2 = 18

A2: flaming sphere round 2 reflex: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 2 = 21

Windblast:

A1: flaming sphere round 2 reflex: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

The second acolyte proves much more dextrous, able to dance around Dorial's flaming sphere while continuing to weave his dagger above the sacrificial offerings upon the altar. She windblasts on the second round, but it proves ineffectual, as there is nowhere for the acolyte's to be blown.

Acolyte 1 continues to chant, the stone altar pulsing, small mouths opening up all over it. Odd, stone tongues appear, lapping at the blood as it pours from Tyran upon the stone.

Acolyte 2, still standing scorch free, stabs again!

1d3, Tyran, Hollin, Simon: 1d3 ⇒ 3

attack on simon: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 151d3 ⇒ 3 Plus will save DC 16

Round 2, Initiative 8

The Flaming Sphere remains on the first Acolyte as Othoe watches him burn. He then fires a Force Missile at him to try and throw him off even further.

Force Missile: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

Flaming Sphere (fire): 3d6 + 2 ⇒ (3, 6, 3) + 2 = 14 Reflex DC 17 to avoid

Finally, the first Acolyte can take no more. His chant turns to the now familiar barking of the kobolds as he sinks into the flames, throwing his body towards the altar as he does so.

Othoe's force missile catches him on the way down, cracking open his charred skin to loose rivulets of blood out upon the floor.

Nimeon, and the kids are up.

Edgrin rushes forward, beginning to untie Tyran from the altar.

"hang on, Tyran, Please! Someone help him. He's bleeding..." Kimi rushes close to the room but can't see a place where she can help. Javros rushes to Othoe's side, but it takes forever to get there with the room so crowded.

Begin Round 3

Round 3

Simon grabs Hollin from the altar and then reaches a hand to Tyran while burbling a prayer.

cure light wounds: 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11

Simon grabs Hollin from the altar, then reaches out to heal Tyran. The spell begins as normal, but then he meets a sickeningly evil resistance as the altar fights back, the tongues flicking deep into abrasions upon the elf's thighs sides and neck.

Simon, please make a Will Save (DC 16) to force the spell to heal against the desire of the altar.

Will save DC16: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (20) + 11 = 31

Simon burbles at the top of his lungs as he forces the healing against the desire of the altar.

AWESOME!

Simon stares down the altar, forcing the divine power of his healing through Tyran and into the very stone itself. Color seems to come back into the elf's face, and the blood on the altar begins to dry and flake away in a few places.

Edgrin looks over at Simon, pure gratitude on his tear stained face.

Unfortunately, Simon's spell doesn't seem enough to destroy the altar completely, but it has begun the process.

Nice job! if no one had healed him in this round, Tyran was a goner.

Round 3, for ease of use.

map

Chrystosm: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23
Simon: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23
Nimeon: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 = 17
acolytes(2): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 2 = 16
Kast: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (16) + 0 = 16
Dorial: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (6) + 9 = 15

Othoe: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8
Kimi, Javros, Edgrin.

Chrystosm, Nimeon, acolytes, Kast, Dorial, etc are up.

Round 2 Init 17

DCL PS DA RS: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 191d8 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13
#2: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 141d8 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7

Round 3 Init 17

DCL PS DA RS: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 131d8 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9
#2: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 151d8 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8

Nimeon turns into a machine gun of arrow launching doom. No pot is safe, no candelabra will stand against the wild fury of his unfocused and certainly dangerous wrath. Indeed, save that this were a cave there would be nary a window intact after two rounds of blistering fire from the overzealous half-elf.

Nice one, Simon! :)

Round 3, init 23

Stray arrows whistling past his ears, Chrystosm whirls both axes around in an attempt to take Acolyte Two down!

Attk 1: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 18

Attk 2: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (19) + 3 = 22

Dmg 1: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7

Dmg 2: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8

Round 3 summary.

With Nimeon's arrow (from the previous round) sticking out from his shoulder, Chrystosm has no trouble finding acolyte #2 with his axes of doom. Once, twice and the acolyte is no more, his blood spilling out onto the base of the Altar. Small stone mouths open up, lapping greedily.

Simon, having freed Hollin from the altar, reaches out and heals a rapidly fading Tyran, earning Edgrin's undying gratitude.

Nimeon continues his archery assault, but misses due to all the stuff between him and his goal. Still, he does manage to knock out the candelabra nearby.

Both acolytes continue to bleed, their blood feeding the stone from the base.

Kast, Dorial, Othoe are up. Then Edgrin and the kids

Round 3, Initiative 8

Not sure what else to do to stop the altar, Othoe lest his Flaming Sphere continue to burn the first Acolyte, hopefully killing him outright and cauterizing his wounds.

Flaming Sphere (fire): 3d6 + 2 ⇒ (6, 2, 2) + 2 = 12 Reflex DC 17 to avoid

Othoe takes a moment to examine the altar as well. As per GM_Verdigris

Knowledge Nature: 1d20 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 8 + 2 = 22

Othoe's flaming sphere burns the first acolyte and the rivulets of blood, cutting off one of the sources for the altar. Several mouths on that side of the stone shrink and close.

"Dorial, burn the other acolyte! We need to stop blood from flowing to the altar. It's continuing the ritual somehow - and I can't imagine a world in which that's a good thing for us."

Round 3 | Initiative 15

Dorial's flaming sphere continues to burn the second acolyte. With it being unconscious, it has little room to dodge.

Flaming Sphere: 3d6 ⇒ (5, 5, 1) = 11

Round 3, Init 16

Kast delays, unsure what to do.

Dorial's flaming sphere scorches the 2nd acolyte, charring some of his wounds. Unfortunately, at least one is still oozing.

Edgrin finishes untying Tyran and pulls the elf from the altar, nearly falling over due to their difference in size, but he doesn't give up.

Kimi rushes up to help the little man, the two of them managing to get the nearly dead elf off of the stone.

With both of the victims removed from the altar, it is easier to see the effect of the blood. No matter which mouth laps it up, it swirls through tiny tunnels into the center of the stone. On the top, beneath where the victims had been, is an open swirling orifice, lined with tongues, previously stone, but slowly turning to flesh.

At this point, Acolyte 1 is no longer bleeding, acolyte 2 is down to a slow seep. The cleric is still bleeding. Tyran and Hollin have both been removed from the altar, revealing a horrible "mouth" of some kind, made of stone slowly turning to flesh.

Round 3, init 19

Chrystosm whips out a flask of oil, pours it over the remaining body and sets light to it. He then if there's time, pulls out a healing potion and hands it to the nearest person to him.

"Pour this over the altar!"

Unfortunately, Chrysto, you've already gone in round 3. We'll apply this to Round 4

Round 4

Chrystosm, pours oil and sets it alight on the remaining acolyte. Unfortunately, you are now out of actions.

map

Chrystosm: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23
Simon: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23
Nimeon: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 = 17
acolytes(2): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 2 = 16
Kast: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (16) + 0 = 16
Dorial: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (6) + 9 = 15
Othoe: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8
Kimi, Javros, Edgrin.

Simon, Nimeon, Dorial are up. Kast is delaying.

Round 4 | Initiative 15

Flaming Sphere: 3d6 ⇒ (2, 3, 1) = 6 Round 3/5

The sphere continues to burn the acolyte on the ground. "Othoe! Move your sphere to the cleric, he's still breathing!"

Round 4

Simon throws Hollin at Othoe while burbling loudly.

Then turning to the altar, Simon plants both hands against it, his burbling prayer ringing loudly in the cavern.

cure moderate wounds: 2d8 + 4 ⇒ (1, 6) + 4 = 11

Simon passes Hollin off to Othoe, then forces a second healing onto the Altar. the pulsing orifice on top ceases its expansion.

Dorial's flaming sphere continues to burn up the 2nd acolyte, putting an end to its trail of blood.

To be clear, though Simon can push off Hollin, Othoe does not necessarily catch him. That is his call.

Nimeon, Othoe, and Edgrin and the kids are up next. Kast is delaying.

Round 4

"Stand clear Kast!"

Once the warrior moves out of the way, Nimeon moves forward and takes his place, attempting to assist Simon in purifying the alter.

LoH: 1d6 ⇒ 4

Round of Undelay

Kast perfectly moves aside for Nimeon.

Soldiers stand down.

Round 4, Initiative 8

Othoe moves his Flaming Sphere onto the priest to cauterize his wounds. He then, surprised, does his best to catch Hollin. Like as not, with his drained strength, they both fall into a pile on the floor…

Flaming Sphere (fire): 3d6 + 2 ⇒ (4, 2, 1) + 2 = 9 Reflex DC 17 to avoid

Round 4

Nimeon waits until Kast moves out of his way, then surges up to the altar, laying hands upon it and infusing it with positive energy. Like Simon's spell before him, (but not nearly as strongly), Nimeon's magical healing seems to pause the altar's progress.

Othoe moves his sphere onto the cleric, then tries to catch Hollin. Unfortunately, the boy is larger than him, and they both tumble to the ground.

Edgrin, reluctantly gives Tyran into Kimi's care for a moment, placing his own hands upon the altar and begins to sing.

clw: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

This too seems to affect the altar, the opening on top closing slightly. The tongues around the base lash out, seeking purchase against any living creature standing next to it, but lack the dexterity to reach even the smallest target.

target: 1d5 ⇒ 5

tongue attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 61d3 ⇒ 2

current situation: both acolytes and the cleric are now completely dead. The altar is paused, but not dead yet.

Begin Round 5

map

Chrystosm: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23
Simon: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23
Nimeon: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 = 17
Kast: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (16) + 0 = 16
Dorial: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (6) + 9 = 15
Othoe: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8
Kimi, Javros, Edgrin.

Chrysto, Simon, Nimeon are up

Round 5

Simon continues to push healing energy into the altar.

clw: 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8

Round 5

Lacking further healing, Nimeon steps back for someone else to assist. Alternatively if he is handed a wand of healing he will activate it to "heal" the altar.

Round 5, Init 16, Part 1

Kast studies the altar for bits of insight.

1d20 + 10 ⇒ (17) + 10 = 27 Know (Planes)

Round 5, init 23

Chrystosm uncorks his healing potion and pours it all over the altar, trying to dribble it into any open mouths that he sees.

Round 5, Initiative 8

Unsure if it will help, Othoe puts the last round of his Flaming Sphere onto the altar (but away from his allies naturally). He doesn't know if the flames will damage the stone creature, but he's willing to try.
Flaming Sphere (fire): 3d6 + 2 ⇒ (5, 3, 6) + 2 = 16 Reflex DC 17 to avoid

He'll also get up and help Hollin to his feet as well.

Round 5, Init 16, Part 2

Kast begins to mentall deconstruct what is happening here with the altar, the blood, and the gateway that is being created.

Kast undoes and stows his shield. He draws the perfect weapon for the task at hand...Lekmek's pick! Move and move actions.

If the maw is closed this round, Kast will state: "Get back! All of you! This must not just be closed, but destroyed!"

While the largest orifice has grown smaller with the healing, it is still open.