Iobarian horror (Inactive)

Game Master ulgulanoth

I am not normally indecisive, but seem to be at a loss for direction at this point.

Ian says "So am I"

"From what I know of the spells that have been cast on the creature, only powerful dispelling magic would break the enchantments."

Caelash pulls out his bow and looks to the party. "We could kill it while it's bound. End this here, now."

coup de grace for everybody?

Perhaps we should finish this, then.

Ian says yes and Coup de graces it with his lance
lance damage
3d8 + 12 ⇒ (7, 1, 3) + 12 = 23
sneak attack
1d6 ⇒ 2

Bow Damage 1d8 + 3 + 1d8 + 3 + 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 + (1) + 3 + (4) + 3 = 15
Sneak Attack 1d6 ⇒ 1

If the creature doesn't die, Caelash uses his splintered spear ability on the creature and closes the lid waiting for it to bleed out.

Uriel takes a mighty swing with his scimitar.

coup de grace, damage: 2d6 + 8 ⇒ (1, 5) + 8 = 14

So, those are 3 Fort saves at DC 35, DC 26, and DC 24 or die. Total damage is 55 if it survives.

Well after a barrage of attacks on the mass of maggots, its difficult to tell if it had an effect at all on whatever was inside the altar

No, we would have gotten a sight on the creatue first. That is silly an illogical to assume we would just shoot maggots. If there is no creature to be seen, then we would logically not attack anything.

The creature is the mass of maggots

Okay, sorry for my tone then. But, was there any in-character indication of this?

Caelash casts spark on a piece of dry driftwood and starts burning the maggots.

Well there was clues for the characters to pick it up, but not explicitely stated

The maggots burn but not as well as you would have thought

Ian says "Uriel You should check for evil again"

Uriel concentrates on the mass of maggots and anything else that might be in the altar, detecting evil.

Uriel

Seeing that the maggots are burning, albeit slowly, Caelash takes comfort that his cantrip can be cast all day long, and there is a near-endless supply of driftwood, and he takes all day burning all the maggots.

Uriel detected evil in the post above. Anything? Hopefully something to target... of course, if he can't target he might not be able to choose it to detect upon...

Perhaps the source of evil is that this altar is a portal to somewhere else and rather than merely binding something within the protective bindings, the bindings prevent something from passing through and the cultists were wishing to work in concert to break the bindings. Perhaps the something larger moving within the maggot pile is actually somewhere else.

Basically, I am at a loss for the time being.

shot in the dark

Uriel

How long does it take to burn all the maggots?

about half an hour

Aaannnd... anything left inside?

Ian asks "So what do we do now?"

The dead pig and bits of ash

"I say we destroy the altar. Then track whree they came from, and then rest and come up with a plan of attack. There are still the fish-demons." aboleths

You have my agreement.

Ian says "I also agree"

I have a few bombs I can put inside the altar. If physics works even a little in this world, then the enclosed space of the altar should amplify the explosions, causing more damage to its interior, likely weakening its structure. Then we can spend the rest of the day chipping away at it from the outside before we follow the tracks and rest.

GM, if the bombs won't work, and I'd know that because of my class training, I'd like a head's up before I try in character and waste everyone's time.

The bombs would break the altar but they wouldn't destroy it out right (so it would gain the broken condition, but not destroyed)

I assumed that, hence the additional physical destruction.

Caelash arranges bombs as needed inside the altar and detonates them to break the altar. Then he begins chiseling away at it with heavy rocks, or whatever is handy that does the job best.

chiseling away will take a long time, are you guys going to keep going on till the altar is completely destroyed?

Ian says "I wish I had an adamantine chisel right now"

Caelash would like to break it beyond easy repair, leaving enough time to track, as stated. If we need to finishthe job later, that's fine. This thing is made of stone, right?

Yes its made of Stone

And it's still morning?

Yes, but if you continue to break the altar it will be afternoon before you finish

Afternoon still leaves us plenty of daylight to track; I'll start breaking the altar while the others track so that we have a fresh trail. Then, we'll finish breaking up the altar, with a few hours of daylight left, at least. Everyone else okay with this plan still?

yes

yes

Let's get to do it. I'll stand watch, Uriel states with a laugh.

Right, well we do that. Caelash starts demolishing while Uriel and Ian track, then they come back and help Caelash finish demolishing the altar, and we'll discuss their findings and come up with a plan while we work. With the last few hours of light we will find a suitable camp and disguise our tracks.

So, at this point we need GM descriptions of what happens during that time, where the tracks lead, etc., as well as any skill checks you feel are necessary. Then we can proceed with planning and discussion.

Well first can Uriel and Ian make survival rolls to track and perception rolls for all 3 of you

Caelash Perception: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (18) + 12 = 30
Sprocket Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

survival
1d20 + 12 ⇒ (18) + 12 = 30

perception
1d20 + 12 ⇒ (6) + 12 = 18

perception 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (14) + 9 = 23

survival to track 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8

So, 30 Perception for Caelash, 30 Survival to track for Ian and Uriel, and 23 Perception for Ian and Uriel (25 if Ian's roll can be counted as an Aid Another for Uriel).

Caelash

Ian and Uriel

Ian says "We should tell Caelash about this tunnel."

I'll post when you two get back to the altar.

To Ian, Uriel says Agreed. Unless you have a different idea, I believe we should hurry back to Caelash.
Uriel turns and leaves assuming Ian follows

Ian follows Uriel back.