Motteditor's Reign of Winter PBP (Inactive)

Game Master motteditor

Malavarius frowns as the passage ends in more ice. "Well then. That's how it's going to be, is it?" He rolls up his sleeves, as if preparing for fisticuffs, and his sleeves just fall back down to their full length. The wrinkled old man then jabs the head of his staff into the center of the ice before him, casting the spell a second time, as Zeno snidely comments from his perch within the bowl of the wizard's hat.
"Right. Try again. Because it's fun to just waste spells, isn't it."
"Hush, you!"

2nd passwall! Also, I am really disappointed these walls are so thick and that my clever idea is so easily ruined!

Except it's not. You managed to basically choose the ONE place it would work...

The passageway opens -- clearly just barely long enough -- into what must surely be the dragon's treasure!

Inside this vault -- which has thick metal doors on the far side -- is an immense collection of wealth, truly worthy of the title dragon’s hoard. It appears to be sorts and tastefully arranged by general type, with huge piles of coins, bars and ingots, along with gems; exotic hides, furs, and pelts; among other items.

"Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch, Mister Malavarius! You hit the jackpot!" Pems' eyes go wider than his head as he looks around the golden room. He murmurs a quick word and scans the hoard with detect magic! Perception: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (8) + 19 = 27 +1 vs Traps.

Malavarius bobs his head side to side slightly, rather pleased with himself. "Why thank you, Pemsworth. I suppose we did at that, didn't we?" He then jabs his hat with the head of his staff, "Eh? Eh, Zeno? Wasted spells indeed! Hmmm? What do you think of that?"

The wizard then begins surveying the accumulated treasures, looking intently for his wayward good hat.

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15

Hektir pauses and checks his eyes, then looks again, trying to be certain he's seeing what others are seeing.

The Old Man did something right. And when he's right...he's really right.

Hektir spits, and glances in for any danger or threats, his years of traveling with Mal (and this group) overcoming any sense that this might be anything safe. It's a trap.

1d20 + 22 ⇒ (7) + 22 = 29 Perception

Hektir takes this as a good time to buff himself. Extended Barkskin & Resinous Skin. Also, Gr. Longstrider is already active.

"So...it's too bad we can just take all this and return home, huh? I could buy myself a nice wife and even a good distillery with all this. Settle down and make some nice little Hektirlings."

Hektir spits again, looking at Mal.

"Nice work, Mal. Nice work."

"Wow!" Quinn googly eyes the treasure, "We could hire adventurers to find Baba Yaga for us while we relax with an ale by the fire!" Then his distrust sets in, honed by years of beer vision misleading him, and the cleric knows that when something seems too good to be true, it often is false. "Hold a second, how could a treasure room be so easily entered, is this another witchy trap?"

Perception: 1d20 + 29 ⇒ (2) + 29 = 31

Tsin's eyes flick about, connecting treasure dot to dragon dot. "I don't suppose Yrax knows we're here, now? A dragon's hoard must be watched over by scrying magics, should it not?" The swordswoman moves to the great metal doors, and stands sentinel.

Perception: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (17) + 18 = 35

It does not appear to be a trap that you can tell.

Pems casts as Tsin takes up her position, after a few moments his magics revealing nearly a dozen magical auras.

A few more seconds reveals two general auras in the room, one faint, the other of moderate strength.

Others include:
* a short sword, black as night, with a strong aura;
* eight rune-engraved dragon bones, with a faint aura;
* a drinking horn bound with fittings of gold and decorated with ornate carvings depicting scenes of glorious battle, with a moderate aura;
* A heavy tome bound in scarred, bloodstained leather, with a moderate aura;
* a brown vial, with a faint aura
* a glass vial, with a faint aura
* a glass ring, with a moderate aura
* a walking stick with dark gray bark along its entire length, that branches into an ornate fork at its top, decorated with wildflowers and different kinds of leaves, with a moderate aura
* and a rolled-up parchment, with a faint aura

In case it needs to be said, you can't identify everything at once, and there's plenty more in the vault that you'll need time to uncover, but it's up to you what order you want to do things in.

Hektir spits, taking up the items that Pems points out. He's happy to try his luck and expedite the identifying process.

"I can do this, Mal. You just watch. I have the greatest magics. Everyone says so. That I am the best magics man around."

1d20 + 14 ⇒ (14) + 14 = 28 - short sword
1d20 + 14 ⇒ (18) + 14 = 32 - dragon bones
1d20 + 14 ⇒ (16) + 14 = 30 - drinking horn
1d20 + 14 ⇒ (13) + 14 = 27 - tome
1d20 + 14 ⇒ (13) + 14 = 27 - vial #1
1d20 + 14 ⇒ (4) + 14 = 18 - vial #2
1d20 + 14 ⇒ (1) + 14 = 15 - ring
1d20 + 14 ⇒ (14) + 14 = 28 - walking stick
1d20 + 14 ⇒ (19) + 14 = 33 - scroll

"Those ones I couldn't get? Those were fake items, fake magic. Their magics are rigged," Hektir spits to emphasize the correctness of his point.

Do we see anything that looks like a bear or bearskin?

Tsin continues to post guard, every once and awhile allowing herself a casual glance at the accumulated wealth at her back. She looks over the metal doors for something easy to maneuver and open them, when the time comes.

It will take some time to search through everything, Pems, but there is a pile of exotic-looking hides you could look through.

Hektir, you believe the sword is a gloom blade (UE), while the bones are likely dragonbone divination sticks (UE). Going to hold off on ID'ing the rest of those while I see what others are doing.

Quinn is drawn to the drinking horn, "Now that looks like an item that belongs in use, not gathering dust in a sealed room. Who needs a glass when you can pour beer into an ivory horn, maybe the whole fort is named after this tool of imbibery?"

Malavarius gestures toward the double doors with his staff and nods to Quinn, "Quinn, lad, can you peek through those doors? If we can get to Yrax from here without raising any alarms, things might go a good bit more easily for us."

Perhaps it's the paternal tone, but Quinn does as Maladadius directs without thinking twice about placing his hands against the thick metal doors of a dragon's treasure room (that Meta-Quinn totally knows are trapped) and forcing his sight through to the far side.

Door Sight, takes one minutes, can see through 18 inches of material

Unfortunately, you can't see through the doors.

"Master Pemsworth Locksmith, what do you think? Are these doors manageable from this side, or must we look to enter the hold a different way?"

Hektir continues to hector the magic items...cursing and yelling at them when fails to identify them.

Pems looks up from the hides and nods. "Let me see what we're dealing with."

Perception: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (8) + 20 = 28

Malavarius frowns at the door and Quinn's inability to peer beyond it. "If only that blasted exterior wall had only required one spell instead of two. Thrice blighted warlord dragons and their thick walls and doors!"

Hektir, you're able to identify a couple more pieces as Pems looks at the door. You think it should be easy enough to push open, except for the complex-looking lock that you'd have to bypass first.

Hektir, it takes three rounds per item to identify, so you're still just finishing up the second one for the moment.

I vote that Hektir takes the 27 rounds to identify the items before we push the doors, Figure 3 minutes for that, and Quinn spent one minute failing at Door Sight, so just a little delay

"Hold on a moment, we need to say our Thanks for the random luck that brought us to the treasure room, surely Cayden would be pleased!" Quinn pours out some 'shine to share in honor of the occasion.

Tsin holds on a moment. Knowing their luck, it should only be a short moment more, before the doors are opened for them, and Hektir's work will be interrupted by fierce hoarders...

Hektir continues identifying the magic items.

Pems nods at the lock and begins work, trying not to rush. Taking 20 on Disable Device for a total of 41

Hektir has time to identify a couple more items -- a drinking horn of bottomless valor and a manual of war -- as Pems works the lock.

But the second he hears the tumblers click, the doors suddenly open, revealing the smooth walls of the gigantic pentagonal chamber curve gently inward to form a lofty domed roof above the icy floor.

The western end of the room is a raised platform fifteen feet above the floor of the east side, with two horrific humanoid figure, masses of bones and skulls tied together with slick ropes of sinew, pulling the doors open and not one but SIX white dragons, obviously aware of your presence and roaring in displeasure!

Pems is up for Round 1/2; combat map is updated with 10-ft. squares. You're a little more bunched than you said you wanted to be, but Pems and Tsin were at the door and there's not that much room there. The white tunnel at the back was Mal's passage in/out. I only had room for one dragon "fig" but you see six of them.

Knowledge (arcana): 1d20 + 22 ⇒ (20) + 22 = 42

"Gadzooks! Bone golems! Watch out! <insert all the stuffs about bone golems here>"

With that roll, I'd say you can just look at the Bestiary entry and save me the trouble of copying it. :)

"Oh shhhhhhhiiiitttttttt..." Pems breathes.

Pems downs one of the truefrost elixirs! I think that's what they were called, the ones that allow you to affect cold resistant creatures.

Bone golems!

Theory - if Quinn channeled to heal and included the bone golems in the effect, would they be slowed?

Pems, did you want to continue to stand there? You have a full-round action.

"Close the doors!" Hektir says, annoyed to be interrupted from his identifications. "Can't a man...oh...OH...." Hektir's eyes widen as the litany of bones loom outside the doors.

I thought I had a surprise round action? If I also have a full round action...

Pems downs his potion and casts a spell of cone of coldness, before hepulls back northward to put a wall between him and the DRAGONS.

CONE OF COLDNESS! Reflex DC 21: 11d6 ⇒ (5, 3, 2, 5, 1, 6, 2, 6, 2, 6, 5) = 43 damage!

You only had a full-round action, but you went first in initiative order; going to go with you drinking the elixir and then pulling back. Will update ASAP, but no guarantee it'll be tonight.

Pems drinks his elixir and retreats just as the dragons roar in unison, and you feel a shiver -- of fear, not cold -- run up your spines. DC 21 Will save or be shaken.

Each of the bone golems rip a piece of their ribs off and throw them, one at Tsin, the other at Hektir. The bones immediately expand, trapping you in a cage. consider yourself grappled, you can escape normally or try to smash the bones

The dragon gestures with its paws and the vault fills with a freezing cold fog, the floor below you becoming slick with ice. 7 points cold damage to everyone, plus DC 18 Reflex save or fall down and need a DC 10 Acrobatics check to move at half speed, a la grease (not you, Pems, you're OK).

Will: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (18) + 10 = 28 I WILL FEAR NO DRAGONS!

cold damage doesn't beat Malavarius' resistance
Will Save (DC 21): 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (4) + 11 = 15
Reflex Save (DC 18): 1d20 + 5 - 2 ⇒ (2) + 5 - 2 = 5

Malavarius' feet shoot out from under him and the mage crashes to his back in a heap. Struggling back to a standing position, leaning on his staff, he frowns at the golems and dragons and huffs. "I don't suppose any of you have seen my good hat? No? Ah well." Shrugging, he sends a tiny bead of crimson darting into the center of the gathered foes.

Fireball (fire): 10d6 ⇒ (4, 3, 5, 3, 4, 6, 4, 5, 3, 4) = 41 Ref Save DC 20 for 1/2 damage

Round 1, Init 11

Will Save v DC 21: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (14) + 15 = 29
Reflex Save v DC 18: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13

Tsin falls within the cage of unspecified dimension. She stands, and sheathes her falchion, her hand reaching for the warhammer next.

"I shouldn't have expected any other welcome, having introduced ourselves to one of the more fortified places in this hold, I'd gather."

Round 1, Init 14

1d20 + 12 ⇒ (7) + 12 = 19 Will vs. DC 21
No damage from cold.

Hektir grunts as the bony cage surrounds him. He wonders why the halfgnome didn't close the door, but has to accept this cage rather than the other.

Turning inward, Hektir focuses his manly energy into the blustery spirit of air that occasionally escapes his lips (and ass). His form changes to match the bluster...becoming the mighty Zephtyr! Champion of Male 'Gust'-o! Move action.

Zephtyr beats at the bars of his cage with his mighty airy fists.

1d20 + 15 - 3 - 2 ⇒ (18) + 15 - 3 - 2 = 28 to hit; (-PA,-shaken)
1d8 + 7 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 7 + 6 = 14 magic damage.

Will save DC 21: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (5) + 15 = 20
Reflex save DC 18: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26

Quinn quakes with fear, but somehow manages to maintain his footing on the icy surface. Calling upon Cayden, a massive flaming cocktail glass appears hovering in the gigantic pentagonal chamber, then quickly turns and spills it's holy fire below. Flame Strike 10 foot radius, please position to get as many targets as possible

Flame Strike: 12d6 ⇒ (5, 6, 4, 1, 4, 1, 2, 1, 5, 6, 2, 5) = 42 damage, half fire and half divine

shaken, hp: 92/97

Going to go with Pems' inadvertent extra R1 action...

The cages basically are tight around you, grappling you, so you can take any action you could take if you were grappled.

Hektir transforms and batters at the cage, which strains under his blows but doesn't break, while Tsin swaps out her own weapon, a difficult but manageable task in the enclosed space.

Mal, Pems and Quinn take the offensive, however, their magics exploding around the dragons and golems -- to minimal effect! The golems seem to not even notice the magics, while Quinn and Mal's blasts of fire don't seem to touch the dragons. SR, so please remember caster level checks.

Pem's blast does seem to touch the dragons, as they fail to even really try to avoid the cold, and they rear back in unison, seemingly surprised to feel the spell's effects.

They responds with cones of their own cold, the waves of freezing air laced with white snow washing over you before their wings ponderously lift the dragons in unison 15 feet into the air. 44 hp cold damage to all; Reflex DC 25 for half.

"You will regret trying to steal my treasure, little thieves!" one of the dragons roars.

The fog doesn't let you see what the golems are doing.

Reflex Save (DC 25): 1d20 + 5 - 2 ⇒ (15) + 5 - 2 = 18

As the frigid breath washes over him, the head of Malavarius' staff flares and draws the freezing ice and snow into itself and away from the wrinkled old mage. When the air clears, the wizard remains on his feet, unscathed. He turns to Hektir and Tsin and barks, "Get out of those cages already, you two!" before casting a familiar spell and quickening everyone's movements.

Cast haste!

Reflex: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (5) + 9 = 14

Saw your post and went to post and BAM, ninja'd...

Cold resistance 10 = 34 points of damage

HP 38/72

Pems feels the dragon's cold and shudders. "Not again. Not the cold." He ducks back behind the door and casts true seeing on himself!

Round 2, Init 14

1d20 + 6 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (15) + 6 + 2 - 2 = 21 Reflex vs. DC 25 Take 14.

Zephtyr beats at the bars of his cage with his mighty airy fists.

1d20 + 15 - 3 - 2 ⇒ (17) + 15 - 3 - 2 = 27 to hit; (-PA,-shaken)
1d8 + 7 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 7 + 6 = 19 magic damage.

And it cracks under his mighty fist! He floats up above Pems on the map, trying to get a wall between him and the dragon. How high is the ceiling in the vault?

Reflex DC 25: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14

Quinn shivers in the cold and knows that only the blessings of Cayden will help the party through the chill.

Blessing of Fervor on the party

quick channel heal: 6d6 ⇒ (5, 1, 3, 3, 5, 1) = 18 include the golems, DC 19

shaken, hp: 68/97

Round 2, Init 11

Reflex Save DC Nigh Impossible: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14

Tsin takes the +2 to AC, Hit and Reflex, from the Blessing of Fervor

Tsin brings the hammer up, twice if necessary, to see the bone cage destroyed.

Adamantine Warhammer, Grappled, Power Attack: 1d20 + 17 - 2 ⇒ (11) + 17 - 2 = 26 for 1d8 + 6 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 + 6 = 14 damage

Iterative: 1d20 + 12 - 2 ⇒ (16) + 12 - 2 = 26 for 1d8 + 6 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 + 6 = 19 damage

"Working on it, Mal. It's a little confining here. What with the fog and all, I don't expect to be of much use against the dragons, so I'll just seek out the bone creatures, alright?"

"I'll deal with the fog in a moment! Quinn, see if you can't slow down those bony brutes before they crush us!"

The ceiling in the vault is 30 feet high, VacationTeer. Also, I should have said Quinn and Mal had partial cover, though it doesn't look like it would have mattered.

Hektir shatters his cage and floats up, 30 feet high as he tries to get himself some cover.

Quinn heals the group, then calls on Cayden's blessing, which thanks to the god's power reaches this remote, frozen planet. Mal's spell bolsters them even more, while Pems ducks back and casts his own spell on himself.

Tsin shatters the cage trapping her, the sounds of the dragon casting again coming in through the fog as her blows cease.

1d20 + 14 ⇒ (14) + 14 = 28 Spellcraft

Zephtyr grunts, knowing something.

Though Zephtyr knows that he is in a wintry wasteland of glacial cold and surrounded by fog, but it feels to him that he is in a tropical jungle, next to a warm sunny beach and is sweating from the mugginess in the air. Given his airy form, it feels as if he is hanging in a hammock, by a beach, with a gentle breeze.

Full turn to come.

+2 to AC from BoF.

Round 3, Init 14

Zephtyr casts Echolocation, so that the mists and fogs are to be ignored like the protests of thousands of demonstrators or the laws of govern a land.

With his new 'vision', Zephtyr will call out the positioning of the bad guys to his team...so others know.