Kicking It In Kaer Maga (Inactive)
Game Master GM Idyll

Sorry at work so rushed. Double move foreward.

Round 2: 10/10 HP, AC 17

Cursing as his axe skittered off the ground, Stirgen brings it to bear on the creature again. This time crouching and trying a horizontal slice...

Greataxe: 1d20 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 + 2 = 5 for 1d12 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 13 +2 for flanking

...and stumbling as he crouches, almost falling forward to kiss the beast. Axe getting tangled among his legs and backpack straps as it slips forward to tangle the haft.

5ft to BF,24 then attack

Round 2 action:

With so many people in the way, Rhen readies an action to shoot the creature if it flies up and tries to escape, as he nocks another arrow.
Readied attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23
Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 2
Confirmation roll: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23
Additional damage: 2d6 ⇒ (1, 2) = 3
Total damage: 5

2 20s in a row..for 5 damage! LOL..

Lilley hisses in annoyance as Bastarger stumbles against her in his blindness. "Kyk na jouself, klein een!" Adjusting the angle of her glaive, she swings again at the odd creature, snarling at Stirgen, "Vryspreek jouself as 'n held! Sal jy laat 'n vroulike uitstof jy in 'n geveg?"

Glaive 1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 4 + 2 = 21 damage 1d10 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9

At the sound of Orc speech Stirgen looks up from the tangle he seems to have made of himself in confusion. What... but didn't she say... not allowed to ponder further as his entanglement proves most distracting.

Is Kenji still in darkness?

Whoa - you guys are flying without me! I'll try to get caught up here.

Kenji stumbles forward, trying to feel his way through the darkness. After only a couple of steps, he is able to see his spear again - it's illuminating the chamber. Turning back to the group, it appears as if there's a circle of complete blackness engulfing them.

He can't see anything, but he does hear what sounds like Stirgen's massive axe striking the ground again - he is confused on why the half-orc won't just hit the beast. Almost immediately, he hears the guttural language of the orcs followed by a piercing scream of a dying beast.

The darkness lifts. Lying on the ground, you see a strange creature with hook-lined tentacles connected by a fleshy web. It is, quite clearly dead.

Everyone earns 75XP for the expeditious killing of the beast.

With the threat removed, you see that old carvings cover the walls of this square chamber, thick with dust and cobwebs. Three sets of stone double doors stand in the three facing walls. Heavy bronze seals emblazoned with the symbol of Pharasma secure the doors against whatever lies beyond.

Giving up and merely collapsing to a heap, Stirgen lies there a moment before cautiously and carefully extricating himself from the jumble of metal and canvas that he has become. Looking at Lilley he ponders... but resolves to allow circumstance to reveal it's secrets in time.

Noticing the graffiti, he shakes his head "Amateurs... it doesn't even rhyme"

As the darkness disperses, Lilley stumbles back, panting, the adrenaline of combat spent. She notes with disgust the blood and torn bits of flesh clinging to the blade of her glaive and does her best to scrape it clean on the stone floor. "What... what was that?" she looks around to see if anyone can identify the dead creature. The writing on the northern wall catching her eye, she squints at it quizzically. Some sort of riddle to tell the Pharasmins which way to go? But what does it tell us? Right or left?

Whatever it is, it was ugly. Bastarger said, taking the time to kick the thing's corpse with his metal boots.

Rhen examines the doors for traps and to see if he can open them.
Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26

Rhen examines the doors. He doesn't detect any traps at all, but he also quickly discovers that whatever is keeping these doors shut is beyond his capabilities to bypass.

Rhen looks frustrated and announces to the group. "No way past these doors by normal means. Guess we're going to have to use the chime. Which of the three sets of doors do you wish to open?" What are the directions available to go, GM: E, N, S? N, E, W?

Not a one of us has Knowledge (dungeoneering), do we? This should be interesting. :)

"Did you not see the writing on the wall, Master Dwarf?" Lilley asks. "It might be a clue which way to go." And if we choose wrongly and have to open all three doors, we will have but two charges left to avoid being entombed in here alive, she thinks grimly, leaning her glaive against the wall to let the cleverer members of the party puzzle out the riddle. Sitting down on the floor to wait next to her weapon, she glances at the dead ...thing, slashed open so ruthlessly by her blade, and her hand creeps up and closes tightly around the ring hanging from her neck. "Mr. Harg," she addresses Stirgen hesitantly, "there is a temple of Shelyn in this city?"

Rhen repeats the wording on the wall for everyone else: “My heart beats on the wrong side of my chest, or is it right? Is left right, or is it wrong? I don’t know what it means, or why.” He then pauses, "Bah, that makes no sense to me."

Rajah ponders the words a moment, realizing he can't make heads or tails of it either. "I fear I do not understand it's meaning either. It's possible its meaning may have greater use elsewhere. Regardless, unless any of the rest of you can figure it out, we need to choose a door."

I am no Sage. But the heart is on the left side is it not? So leftis the right, as in the correct side? Perhaps the left door?

On the riddle Stirgen speaks with the pride of someone who truly believes he is a scholar of the subject "It is simple enough I would think. Heart on the left side of the chest - so it's saying that the heart in this instance is off through the right door. Just depends whether the heart in question is real or metaphoric... For what it's worth I'd say we flip a coin" a beat passes before he realises the mistake of counting "Right sorry, three doors... draw straws?"

To Lilley he shows genuine interest and warmth as he speaks "That and more dear lady. There is a great Lyceum devoted to the study of the arts and worship of the Eternal Rose both" misty eyed as he reflects "it is a wonderous place. Though have you been in Kaer Maga only a short time.. to have not heard of it yet?"

"Less than a month," she replies with a faint smile. "Is it very beautiful? When I arrived in Kaer Maga, I came in through the slums of the Warrens and passed the slave market and the whore houses before finding a place to stay. It never occurred to me that other parts of the city might be more ... pleasant."

Bastarger had little to contribute to the riddle so busied himself by checking over his equipment.

The mention of the particular delights of Hospice remind Stirgen of his former and unenlightened life, but he submerges the thought and replies "It is most beautiful milady. A garden of rose and stone around an altar of marble." tone most wistful "When we emerge triumphant it would be an honor to show it to you."

Her lips twist in a wry smirk. "How could I face Shelyn like this?" She gestures half-heartedly with her hand, and it is hard to say if she's referring to her second-hand clothing and armor, her bloodstained glaive, the dead creature on the floor, or some combination of all of it. "I am hardly in a state of her grace." Grasping the long handle of her weapon, she gets to her feet. "If both left and right are wrong, perhaps the answer is straight ahead," she suggests. "If we are not clever enough to figure out the riddle, we may hope to be lucky enough to pick the one right way out of three."

Quietly to Lilley "The rose sees the beauty in all milady. You would not be unwelcome even garbed in blood and rags."

Waiting on compass directions for the three doors.

The doors are on the West, North and Eastern walls. All three bear the symbol of Pharasma and are unable to picked.

The excitable Bastarger is by this point, clearly itching to press on.

Just choose at random, we have plenty of chimes left! he insisted, almost bouncing on his feet in anticipation.

Lilley smiles at the gnome. "And if the seal closes again behind us, like the one at the entrance? Then we need another chime to get out. One in, one out, one more at the top of the stairs. Only two extra if we've chosen the wrong way."

We were specifically told they would seal the door behind us when we entered. If the other doors were self-sealing, I think the Pharasmites would have been sensible enough to say so, don't you think?

The twitchy Gnome adjusted his helmet and fidgeted with the customised straps holding his many weapons in place. For lack of something else to do, he switched from the folded net in his hand to his metallic whip.

A more suitable weapon if Rhen is assaulted he thought to himself, approving his own choice.

Rhen pulls out the chime and uses it on the Northern door.

The seal of Pharasma burns bright red before melting away. The doors slowly slide open, iron grinding against the stone.

Bodies wrapped in age-yellowed linens lie in alcoves lining both sides of this wide corridor. Thick cobwebs hang from the ceiling and drape the walls of the crypt; everything is coated in a deep layer of dust.

We currently have no one with Knowledge:Religion as a skill, right?

Wren and Bastarger lead the way into the hallway. As the full group enters, six spiders emerge from the alcoves - clearly unhappy about being disturbed.

Round 1
Rajah is up first, followed by the spiders.

Round 1 Map

Sorry for how crappy the maps are right now. I'm working on finding something better.

The Blue Rajah has Knowledge: Religion.

Stirgen is taken in by the symbols on the wall and ponders what they might portend... however his introspection is interrupted by the arrival of the eight legged horrors.

No need to apologize for the maps, they look just fine

Knowledge: (Religion) 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6

As the spiders come crawling out, Rajah goes into a defensive stance.

Total Defense; AC 19

Rajah is unable to recall seeing those specific markings.

The spiders turn their attention to the group. One of them emerges from the skull in which it is hidden and moves to attack Rhen.

1d20 ⇒ 8

But Rhen is able to step out of the way of its small pincers.

A second moves down the wall and makes its way to Bastarger.

1d20 ⇒ 7

The small creature is unable to find a soft spot to bite with all of his armor.

The third attacks Rajah.

1d20 ⇒ 13

Rajah was prepared for the attack and manages to avoid the attack.

The fourth attacks Lilley.

1d20 ⇒ 14

Her armor is too thick to allow for any damage.

The other two hold their position.

Updated Map

Kenji, Lilley, Bastarger, Rhen and Stirgen is the remaining order.

Round 1: 10/10 HP, AC 17

Stirgen brings his axe down in a brutal swipe...
Greataxe: 1d20 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 + 2 = 12 for 1d12 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

Attack AU,23

Kenji was elated. Now he could use his power!
He takes a 5ft step back to AS24 and casts Ear piercing Scream: DC 15, take 1d6 damage and dazed for 1 round at the spider in AU 24.

Kenji is currently wielding his spear so is flanking for Lilley

Bah, should have switched to a sword when the corridor became two by two... Bastarger thought sourly to himself as he stowed his metal whip back on his belt, drawing his carefully crafted Falcata in a blur of motion almost too fast for the eye to follow. He gripped the heavy sword's leather-bound hilt tightly in his right hand, waited for an opening and struck. The results were spectacular. Bastarger cleaved through the spider and hacked it in half with a single, mighty overhand chop. The heavily armoured Gnome looked as though he might dance with delight at his own success.

Ah, I KNEW this design would pay off... he thought to himself, full of elation.

1d20 + 3 ⇒ (19) + 3 = 22 (Crit threat,-2 tower shield)
1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23 (Crit confirmed, -2 tower shield)
3d6 + 12 ⇒ (5, 3, 4) + 12 = 24 (Damage, whetstone bonus as its the first hit)

Took the liberty of assuming a 22 hits and 24 killed it, GM.

Rhen drops his shortbow, pulls out his pick, and attacks the spider in AQ23:
Attack:1d20 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 = 17
Damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8
He then 5' steps back to AS23. AC 17; HP: 11/11.

Bah, should have switched to a sword when the corridor became two by two... Bastarger thought sourly to himself as he stowed his metal whip back on his belt, drawing his carefully crafted Falcata in a blur of motion almost too fast for the eye to follow. He gripped the heavy sword's leather-bound hilt tightly in his right hand, waited for an opening and struck. The results were spectacular. Bastarger cleaved through the spider and hacked it in half with a single, mighty overhand chop. The heavily armoured Gnome looked as though he might dance with delight at his own success.

Ah, I KNEW this design would pay off... he thought to himself, full of elation.

1d20 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11 (Crit threat,-2 tower shield)
1d20 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 13 (Crit confirmed, -2 tower shield)
3d6 + 12 ⇒ (6, 4, 1) + 12 = 23 (Damage, whetstone bonus as its the first hit)

Took the liberty of assuming a 22 hits and 24 killed it, GM.

Edit: See Bastarger's posts from his page to see the 19 and 20 I originally rolled, the post didn't make it into the gameplay thread because the server went kaput.

Yeah...right. Cheater. ;) I checked the post history - you're good to go. Maybe when you confirm crit with a natural 20, it shuts down the server?

The spider targeted by Kenji's magic writhes as if in unbelievable pain.

Fort Save: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9
Spell Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 5

It convulses for a few moments before collapsing to the ground, dead.

Waiting on Lilley's move before updating with the others. Previous map link has been updated with the spider's death.

Dead? Sweet. Now everybody is impressed with the WIZARDS magic he'll be a bit more conservative. Only has grease and color spray left. Btw my Spear had to morph into a staff. Wizards aren't proficient with spears...

Surprised by the spiders' sudden appearance, Lilley is ready to step back and let her glaive fall on the one that tried to bite her when it staggers and its legs curl into its death rictus. She growls dangerously at the lost opportunity, then bares her tusks and crouches into a vicious lunge at the spider attacking the well-dressed human, attempting to pierce its bulbous abdomen and tear away a few furry legs.

Bite attack on spider in AU 23 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 13 damage 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

Kenji, next time choose another target than the only one she can hit with her glaive. I can't believe I had to narrate biting a spider. Eugh, that's disgusting! ;P

Lilley's attempt to bite the spider is unsuccessful - it has no desire to be bitten so it barely manages to avoid her tusks. Lilley isn't that upset by her failure.

Bastarger cleaves the spider he's facing clean in half.

Rhen's pickaxe pierces the spider's head, killing it instantly.

Stirgen again hits the floor with his massive axe.

End Round 1

Round 2 Map

Rajah is up, spiders on deck.

Dead? Sweet. Now everybody is impressed with the WIZARDS magic he'll be a bit more conservative. Only has grease and color spray left. Btw my Spear had to morph into a staff. Wizards aren't proficient with spears...

1st level Wizard rule- be a miser with your spells :P. I'm not going to stop after 3 encounters because you blew all your spells on 5HP spiders :P.

Edit: Looking at the map, shouldn't there be a dead spider that Rhen was facing?

Yes, there should be. Map is updated.

Kenji Jehu wrote:

Dead? Sweet. Now everybody is impressed with the WIZARDS magic he'll be a bit more conservative. Only has grease and color spray left. Btw my Spear had to morph into a staff. Wizards aren't proficient with spears...

1st level Wizard rule- be a miser with your spells :P. I'm not going to stop after 3 encounters because you blew all your spells on 5HP spiders :P.

Edit: Looking at the map, shouldn't there be a dead spider that Rhen was facing?

Roleplay. Kenji is worried that the group will only face undead and so wishes to display some arcane might to his new companions. Pride. He'd rather not be thoight of as tje waste ofspace who couldn't fight OR shoot. Kenji is a genius, but alot of geniuses have inferiority complexes.

Rajah raises an eyebrow as the wizard manages to take down one of the spiders while the warrior types seem to be having trouble. "Another shot at it, Sir Stirgen, ...?" He looks to Lilley, realizing he has no idea what her name is. "I have the utmost faith in you both, my good half-orcs!" He smiles as he remains completely defensive.

Total Defense; AC 19

Two of the spiders step over the fallen comrades and both attack Bastarger.

Spider 1: 1d20 ⇒ 15
Spider 2: 1d20 ⇒ 4

But again, the gnome's hand-crafted armor proves to be too much for their pincers.

The third remaining spider, sensing the large axe that almost ended its life is coming from behind him, turns his attention to Stirgen.

Spider 1: 1d20 ⇒ 3

Stirgen saw the spider turn and easily stepped out of the way of the attack, almost stepping on the small creature and killing it.

Kenji, Lilley, Bastarger, Rhen and Stirgen is the remaining order.

Updated Map
(The dead spiders are underneath the two live ones - I deleted them to clear things up.)

Bastarger felt invincible in his heavy armour and with his metal tower shield blocking the bites of the spiders- he lashed out at one of the two spiders assaulting him with his Falcata and severed several of its legs.

Targeting AQ23.

1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 18
1d6 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8

Rhen moves up 5' and targets the spider in AQ24, gripping his 1-handed pick with both hands (1.5 Str damage).

Attack: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 = 17
Damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4
AC: 17
HP: 11/11