KC's Age of Worms

Game Master Kobold Catgirl

For the record, conviction, good hope, and Farrukh's aura are all morale boni. If you've got it, conviction will be the highest.

Will (conviction, bad air): 1d20 + 15 + 4 - 2 ⇒ (5) + 15 + 4 - 2 = 22

It looks like there's a worm adjacent to Tanith but you mentioned it spitting at him. Am I reading the map wrong?

Yes. Look at the birds-eye map. That's the main map you should be looking at. The worm "adjacent" to you is actually thirty feet away and around a corner.

Well... no reason to waste a perfectly good Will save...

"Hey! Are you the guys that stole my dwarf? That was really rude!" Eben calls after the fleeing worm, bouncing down the air like it's a set of stairs and then moving a few feet into its tunnel. Once inside, he waves his quickening rod, pressing a button, and activates a spell on himself. His eyes go wide as his mind magically fills with a wealth of information about the beast before him. He drops the rod to the tunnel floor below, holds his hand out, and his bow comes flying into it, Forzamele already enacting his own enhancing magic. Eben aims a single shot at the creature, his accuracy much focused by his recently acquired knowledge. He takes a sidewise profile to the monster, his body language entering his familiar dance pose, albeit a dance in midair.

Moving diagonally down 5 feet (costing anywhere from 10-20 feet of movement, depending on how one views 3D air walking) and 5 feet forward to be in the tunnel, still floating 5 feet above the ground.

Swift action: casting find fault (giving me the equivalent of rolling 31 on whatever Knowledge check would be used to identify it) as a swift action, dropping the rod as a free action.

Calling Forzamele to hand as a free action, Forzamele casting weapon of awe on the bow as its own standard action, making a single shot using Dead Aim to target touch AC. Entering Dance of 23 Steps as a free action.

Using whatever of kind arrow the results of my knowledge check would indicate bypasses their DR; if they don't have any, or it's a type I can't penetrate, I use a regular arrow instead.

longbow+good hope+PBS+find fault: 1d20 + 17 + 2 + 1 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 17 + 2 + 1 + 5 = 28 Vs. touch AC.
damage+good hope+PBS+Weapon of Awe: 1d8 + 2 + 2 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 + 2 + 1 + 2 = 15

Aspect of the falcon lasts 22 rounds, cat's grace lasts 95 rounds, eagle's splendor lasts 94 rounds, good hope lasts 93 rounds, moment of greatness lasts 92 rounds, weaponwand lasts 91 rounds, Carina's see invisibility extract lasts 1,186 rounds.

AC is 33/26/21 while cat's grace (+2 Dex), shield of faith (+3 deflection), Riven Hourglass (+3 dodge) and Dance of 23 Steps (+3 dodge) are active.

You mean I wasted that completely awesome 19? Bah.

I wasted that completely awesome 20 too :V

"Anyone got any idea what these things are?" Astraden asks. "Maybe my rapier will hurt 'em."

You sure you want to drop that rod? You're high enough up that it would actually take fall damage. Also looks like you're confusing the Aegis I'm giving you (+3 Morale) for my Riven Hourglass (+4 Dodge).

Knowledge Dungeoneering or Planes: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (18) + 16 = 34

That's why I moved into the tunnel before dropping it. It only falls 5 feet. And you're right, I confused the name and the type of bonus, but since I don't otherwise have a Morale bonus to AC, my effective AC stays the same.

Slightly disturbed by the worm-thing knowing his name, Tanith speaks a quick prayer and steps into a better angle to fling a fistful of knives at it.

Fervored channel vigor (mind). If Eben's knowledge check picked up a metal-based DR Tanith will use that.

Primary (good hope, vigor, range, partial cover): 1d20 + 10 + 4 - 4 - 2 ⇒ (2) + 10 + 4 - 4 - 2 = 10
Damage: 1d2 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 7 + 2 = 10
Flurry: 1d20 + 10 + 4 - 4 - 2 ⇒ (14) + 10 + 4 - 4 - 2 = 22
Damage: 1d2 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 7 + 2 = 10
Iterative: 1d20 + 5 + 4 - 4 - 2 ⇒ (6) + 5 + 4 - 4 - 2 = 9
Damage: 1d2 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 7 + 2 = 10
Iterative Flurry: 1d20 + 5 + 4 - 4 - 2 ⇒ (13) + 5 + 4 - 4 - 2 = 16
Damage: 1d2 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 7 + 2 = 10

Eben, I think on the vertical map you are one square too far to the right. Basically, the vertical view is looking directly north, through the plane made by the east-west and up-down axes.

Astraden's correct. I fixed it. Also, partial cover is usually applied at my discretion, not the players'. :P

Eben's arrow sticks straight in the creature's rear. Black goo and guck spills out. It turns, dodging frantically as a hail of knives follows the arrow. A few stick in its tough hide, but none seem to hurt it.

Round 2: Astraden, Carina, Cuetzpalli and Farrukh are up!

Oh, sorry.

Averted Gaze?: 1d100 ⇒ 71

The worm-beast turning its back and running causes Carina to get offended. "Hey! Come back here!"

Round 2: Actions
No Action: 5' step forward
Full-Round Action: Throw Bombs at the wounded, retreating worm-beast!

Carina twirls a pair of bomb vials in her hands before stepping forward on air and throwing them.

Ranged Touch Attack (1 Range Increment, Good Hope, Bad Air): 1d20 + 12 - 2 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (4) + 12 - 2 + 2 - 2 = 14
Damage...? (Good Hope): 6d6 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (5, 6, 3, 6, 3, 3) + 3 + 2 = 31

Ranged Touch Attack (1 Range Increment, Good Hope, Bad Air): 1d20 + 7 - 2 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (19) + 7 - 2 + 2 - 2 = 24
Damage...? (Good Hope): 6d6 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (5, 2, 2, 2, 4, 3) + 3 + 2 = 23

Farrukh calls out.

"They're some kind of weird aberrant, not undead! They're probably casters transformed into some variant of naga, so watch out for spells!"

That said, he concentrates for a second, speeding up his own personal timeframe.

Activate my Tactical Rush Feat, I gave it a little Riven Hourglass flair to thematically fit.

He moves up to the worm thing near Tanith and Eben, and begins blindly hacking at it.

Concealment: 6d100 ⇒ (33, 1, 29, 34, 85, 56) = 238

Slash: 1d20 + 16 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (6) + 16 + 2 - 2 = 22

Bash: 1d20 + 18 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (1) + 18 + 2 - 2 = 19

Bash Iterative: 1d20 + 13 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (20) + 13 + 2 - 2 = 33
Damage: 1d6 + 16 + 2 + 1d6 ⇒ (2) + 16 + 2 + (2) = 22

Dice pls

Confirm?: 1d20 + 13 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (15) + 13 + 2 - 2 = 28
Damage: 1d6 + 16 + 2 + 1d10 ⇒ (6) + 16 + 2 + (9) = 33

Adjusted attack values a bit since I didn't know we were actually Sickened (you just said -2 to saves), and I forgot Power Attack went to -4/+8 this level.

Carina's first bomb goes wide, but the second hits directly, searing the strange flesh and causing it to bubble hideously. Farrukh rushes forward and makes several nasty swings. His first two miss, but he catches the worm naga on the last upswing, slicing into its neck. It screams. "No! Spare me! I will serve you! I can tell you many things, so, so many things!"

"Oh, wait, aberrant? I can use my rapier!" Astraden opens her eyes and pulls out said rapier, the blade glowing greenish as if in anticipation of spilling alien blood.

Aversion: 1d100 ⇒ 47
+1 keen aberration bane rapier on gray-level naga thing (good hope, sick air, aberration bane): 1d20 + 11 + 2 - 2 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 11 + 2 - 2 + 2 = 14 Concealment: 1d100 ⇒ 79 Piercing, magic, mithral (good hope, aberration bane): 1d6 + 4 + 2 + 2d6 ⇒ (2) + 4 + 2 + (4, 2) = 14 Because of the multiclassing, her BAB is pretty low right now, but mayyybe the bane will help her hit?
e: Well, this is gonna look cheesy, but I swear I didn't preview my rolls before posting. If KC judges against this I'll take the feeblemind. Will vs. gaze/compulsion/mind-affecting (good hope, magic circle against evil, riven hourglass, sick air): 1d20 + 12 + 2 + 2 + 3 - 2 ⇒ (11) + 12 + 2 + 2 + 3 - 2 = 28

Round 2: Move 30 ft. (move action) and attack (standard action). Communal endure elements on the group lasts 2249 rounds, veil lasts 7050 rounds, magic circle against law on Astraden lasts 1169 rounds, magic circle against evil on Farrukh lasts 1170 rounds, shield of faith on Cuetzpalli lasts 100 rounds, shield of faith on Carina lasts 101 rounds, shield of faith on Eben lasts 102 rounds, shield of faith on Astraden lasts 103 rounds, owl's wisdom on Astraden lasts 104 rounds, bear's endurance on Eben lasts 105 rounds, death ward on Cuetzpalli lasts 106 rounds, death ward on Tanith lasts 107 rounds, death ward on Astraden lasts 108 rounds, and communal air walk on Astraden, Eben, and Tanith lasts 389 rounds.

Thanks for the reminder—any on the same level as the remaining naga (the one on the silver level) whose eyes are open must roll a d100 to see if they must save.

"Farrukh can tell you things, too!" Astraden replies to the naga. "Farrukh, based on your knowledge of these bugs and their life expectancies, how long does this thing have to live?"

"They're sadly short-lived. Poor guy only has about 6 seconds of life left, so he'd better talk fast."

"Damn. Worse than houseflies. What do you have to say, little guy?"

"I say Kyuss take you!" the creature suddenly shrieks, apparently smart enough to gauge its odds of survival regardless. It lunges towards Astraden, fangs bared towards her throat.

Cuetzpalli is up. It has an AC of 25 and 33 HP left. Will you be the one to fell the worm naga?

Not sure I really understand the map, but should be able to fly and attack once.

Cuetzpalli soars after the other naga worm, growling like a dog.

Kelmarchen (AS, BR, PA, RA, RB): 1d20 + 30 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 30 + 2 = 482d6 + 41 + 2 ⇒ (6, 1) + 41 + 2 = 502d6 ⇒ (5, 6) = 11

He chops the worm in half with one vicious hew.

AC is 24

Yup. That happens. Combat over.

Looking down the tunnel, Astraden and Cuetzpalli get the sense that these caves overlap with one another. There's a whole network of tunnels in here.

Continue down, explore the caves, or take a third option?

"You guys want to check out these caves?"

Cuetzpalli lands in one of the tunnels, and slumps over. His wings suck back into his back, disappearing. He looks fatigued. "I think I can only fly while I'm channeling the divine rage. I can't do that forever. It's so much stronger now than it was yesterday!"

"If there was anything else in these tunnels that wanted to kill us it probably heard me screaming. We may as well clear them out before going further down...and I should probably use one of Carina's flight extracts. That is if you have one," Cuetzpalli says to Carina.

"I've got a couple." Carina says, walking/floating back over to Tanith.

"I'm just a little surprised those worm-things knew who we are. Or at least one of us."

"Yeah, we should check the tunnels. If only because there was that one Astraden walled off that got away. I don't want it ambushing us later."

Murderhoboing: now with in-character justification!

"Oh, whoops. I should have included you in the air walk, then," Astraden muses when Cuetzpalli asks for flight. "Hmm, yeah Eben. Let's see if we can find our way through the tunnels and get the last one."

She sheathes her light-giving rapier as the party moves through the caves.

Eben recasts dancing lights to make up for Astraden putting out her rapier.

Someone give me a Survival check.

Cuetzpalli takes the syringe from Carina and injects it. "Thanks!"

As a note, it's clear that investigating the tunnels will take a while—around ten minutes, or longer if you're bad at navigating.

Eh....that's a lot of buffs I can't really afford to cast again.

Survival: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (18) + 12 = 30

That kills my buffs as well, but I can re-cast them. It will end our death wards, though, and I don't think we can get those back today. But then we always knew they wouldn't cover a full day of adventuring, so... hopefully no more mass Invocations headed our way.

Farrukh, I see your regular Survival modifier is 10, so I think you're skipping good hope in your calculation. (It should last all, or most of, the 10 minutes.) So it should be a result of 30.

Edited, thanks.

If it's exactly 10 minutes death wards will still be running.

That result is just high enough to reduce the time it takes to 8 minutes, so Death Ward is still running.

1d100 ⇒ 98

The group is fortunate—no doubt thanks to Farrukh's seasoned navigation of the hive-like maze of tunnels—and encounters no more of the monsters along the way. They can tell, though, that more worm nagas exist. Many more. The marks of their passage mar the dirt and stone, and occasionally the group hears one or two's slithering passage echoing off the unhallowed walls from further in.

But Farrukh leads the group true, straight into what appears to be the worm nagas' central quarters. It is a 15-foot-diameter cavern suffused with a horrid smell like dead ladybugs. Ancient coins and objects of interest litter the floor.

"Put it in the bag, Tanith. I don't think we have time to check it all for magic. It's a good haul, though."

The cleric looks to Farrukh. "Can we go back out any quicker than we came in?"

Tanith shovels the loot into the designated loot bag. "Got it!"

You can get back out in half a minute's hustle, now that you know the way.

"Yeah, hard part was finding the way. I remember the turns. We should go before any more of those naga things show up."

"Okay. Too bad we couldn't catch that last one." Astraden follows Farrukh back out to the central pit and begins air-walking further down. Using her darkvision, she helps Farrukh keep an eye out for more monsters.

Auto-aid Perception.

Eben looks confused. "But... I mean, okay, treasure is nice..." he says, trailing the group out of the naga lair and into the tunnels. "But I thought the whole point of checking the tunnels was to take out the nagas, because otherwise they'd be behind us and we might have a problem..." At this point the group is back out in the pit and descending, "If we're coming back out of the pit and whatever's below and we're badly hurt and out of magic and they ambush us or something..."

Eh, well I guess in a no-XP game there's no real point in hunting every last one of them down...

"I'd like to avoid them if possible. Did you see the signs? There's a lot more of them in there. Maybe not more than we can handle, but enough that without being able to fight blind like me the rest of you could be taken out by whatever their eyes do."

#humblebrag

"At least that last one didn't see much of the fight. He/she won't know much about us if it comes after us again."

"Yeah, I was hoping we could hunt it down, but the others probably know as much about us as it did, from all the yelling and s@~$. And I don't think it's feasible to kill all of them, though they sure did die quick." Astraden looks up at Eben as she spirals downward around the pit walls.

"Let's just get going. I don't want our buffs to run out before we run into something really nasty."

Let's see, your downward speed is 30 feet per round, Air Walking.

The group speedily returns to the shaft and continues down. It takes another minute (12 rounds), and the shaft has narrowed to only eight feet wide by the time it exits through the ceiling of a dark room below.

At first, the floor itself seems to writhe and twist in on itself, but a longer look reveals it to be covered with thousands and thousands of Kyuss worms of all sizes.

Map is updated.

"Eurgh. It's a really good thing none of us fell." Astraden floats a few feet above the worms, moving to the center of the room. "I'm gonna try to draw them together and then we can blast 'em all at once."

Depending on how high the ceiling is.

The worms don't appear to notice Astraden standing above them.