Mottied's Rappan Athuk

Game Master Mottied

"I agree. Let's go".

Red Feather moves forwards cautiously spear in hand.

"Like moths to the flame, we go towards the light." says Harnet with a sigh to Morthak. He keeps looking back to make sure nothing is heading their way from behind. "I do so love the look of this map, we are creating, so many mysteries are being left behind." Harnet muses as he looks down at the map he is creating as they travel through the underground warren. He readies his crossbow, as they move forward after Red Feather.

This large room contains three rows of pillars running north to south, leading to two deep bronze fire pits that stand against the south wall. Each fire pit contains a wide bronze bowl ten feet across, and these are both blazing with eerie green flames that rise ten feet into the air, throwing emerald sparks toward the chamber’s arching thirty-foot high ceiling. Both bowls are decorated with leering gargoyle heads around the rims, and have two massive handles at the sides. The pillars in the room are also carved with a multitude of small gargoyles. Although the fire-bowls are magical, they are immensely heavy, weighing many tons apiece.

The snake is a brilliant emerald-green color and does not appear to take notice of you all.

Igneous keeps his feet still and his mouth shut so as to not give away their position should the stealthier members of his party wish to advance.

He does draw his axe though ready for action once again.

Quietly, Malazzesh inquires, "What you think, I make snake go boom?"

Careful... it could be James Earl Jones!

"Wait..." Morthak Whispers. "Something does not seem... right."

Morthak totally doesn't trust this room. I'd be quite happy fighting a big CR 4 snake but it looks like that would be too easy. Possibly it's an illusion and the real threat is somewhere else... I don't know. But we're here...

"Let me scout along to the left. Assuming I get to the spot beside that brazier, give him hell. Otherwise... improvise."

Morthak instructs Esobok to stand guard where he is (handle animal take 10) and then draws his daggers and slips quietly and slowly along the east wall.
Stealth Take 10: 10 + 13 = 23

He will keep going until something happens or the brazier is between him and the snake.

Malazzesh will no longer be aiding me, so I will go very slowly and roll for perception. Perception is a move action, so it will go like this:
Step 1: Total Defense, Perception
Step 2: Total Defense, Perception
Step 3: Total Defense, Move
Rinse, Repeat - until I see something interesting or I get where I want to end up. AC will be 22 and Touch AC will be 19 as long as I am doing that.

GM: here's my first two rolls. If something else comes up and you need more rolls than that go ahead and roll for me.
Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (9) + 9 = 18
Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (12) + 9 = 21

Sorry for going so slowly guys but this dungeon is supposed to be a killer.

Mimicking the dwarf, Erigga readied her shield.

The snake does not notice Morthak next to the brazier.

You do not notice anything odd about the snake or the room.

RF stands ready to spring into actions, and keeps a close eye upon the halfling moving into the room... though he almost loses him a time or two he is so stealthy.

Morthak crouches behind the brazier, having gotten through the room safely (much to his surprise).

He holds his daggers ready, and gives a small wave to Malazzesh, and points at the snake, as if to say, "ready when you are."

Harnet, finding himself at the front, his eyebrows tangle together in knots and he moves slowly behind the dwarven warrior. "If we knew more bout that snake, we might have a better idea of which one of you can kill it quickest?" he whispers as he passes behind.

It's fine to take this dungeon slow, some encounters can get pretty brutal if unprepared.

Slow kept me alive half way through the Tomb of Horrors until the group disbanded :-(

Igneous tightens the grip on his axe in anticipation for action.

The goblin's eyes narrow as he approaches stealthily from the other side from Morthak. He sets his pack down near the entrance to the chamber, draws a single unlit torch from it in one hand, and pulls a sagging pouch from his bandolier in his other.

Malazzesh nods. Thinking a moment, he tucks the sack away again and drinks from a small vial. A small violet shimmer begins to surround him.

He pulls the sack out again and prepares to toss it at the snake.

Casting shield. New AC 21. The sack is a Tangleburn Bag.

Sorry to hear that cobalt. :/

Is it right to assume you took 10 on your stealth malazzesh? 23 stealth if so.

The snake is too engrossed in the flame to notice malazzesh.

The goblin's eyes narrow as he approaches stealthily from the other side from Morthak.

Morthak nods.

With hand signals he points at the group in the doorway, and mimics the snake slithering out of the alcove. Then figures approach from all sides. Morthak indicates himself, and then points behind the serpent, and then to the north, and flashes one of his daggers.

Don't know if this is the appropriate skill, but:
Bluff (pass secret message) take 10: 10 + 5 = 15

Secret message: "You need to draw the snake out of the alcove, so that we can surround it. I need to get behind it to be effective."

Close enough.

Everybody who can see Morthak understands his message.

Malazzesh smiles, sticks the unlit torch between his teeth, and pulls out a small bladder as before, launching it against the snake.

Throwing Explosive Bomb.

Attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11
Damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

Also starts 1d6 burn/round.

Harnet shuffles about in his worn brown boots, behind the dwarf. "You want to go forward and wave your axe at it, call it dwarven names and get its attention. I'll stay right behind you to make sure you don't fall." he smiles a crooked smile. He takes a small bag of four pronged metal spikes from his backpack and a stick that seems to twist around into a devils horn. He then gets ready to throw the deadly metal spikes towards the snake. He whispers, "I could throw these things before you do your shouting, it might help us a bit."

Was gonna do a mad thing with Mage Hand, but would probably die in the process, so went back to trying to live.
Gets a bag of caltrops from his back pack and makes sure the wand of infernal healing is at hand.

Post crossed with Malazzesh ... whoops.

Init Cobalt: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (7) + 0 = 7
Init Harnet: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8
Init Malazzesh: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11
Init Red Feather: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (13) + 3 = 16
Init Erigga: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22
Init Morthak: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22
init Snake: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15

Initiative order.
Morthak
Erigga
Red feather
Snake
Malazzesh
Harnet
Cobalt

Malazzesh continues smiling as the fire engulfs the snake. After a few seconds the snake raises his head unfazed by the fire and locks eyes with the goblin.

I'm not sure how stealth works in combat but I'm going to assume that you remained stealthed until you choose to act.

Looks like the goblin is going to be eaten... how sad...

Morthak Delays. Need the snake to move out of it's alcove.

Erigga moves towards the snake, her shield ready for when it comes to get her.

"Hey scaly one! Leave the rat alone and come get me!"

Fearing for his companions safety, Red Feather draws a javelin, and slings it at the snake.

1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15 Javelin

1d6 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7 hole

The snake's emerald-green scales glisten as it slithers towards Malazzesh.

Snake att: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (9) + 10 = 19

The snake attempts to bite malazzesh but is not able to catch him.

The javelin comes up just short of the snake.

Morthak mutters under his breath. "Stupid snake! Wrong way!

Morthak runs out into the middle of the room, passing Erigga, and ends up by the opposite wall.

Double Move for 60'. Only point at which I am within 10' of the snake is at the end of the move.

@ Malazzesh: Go ahead and do total defense if you want. I would at least fight defensively.

Thankful for the foresight to get the shield up in the first place, Malazzesh cries out, "No fire?", draws out his mace, and attacks.

Fighting defensively, still available for your flanking. AC 23.

Attack: 1d20 + 2 - 4 ⇒ (1) + 2 - 4 = -1

Malazzesh's mace bounces off the snakes hide.

Everybody's except Malazzesh is now up.

Erigga moves to a flanking position with the goblin and hits the snake with her shield.

Attack (shield bash), fighting defensively, flanking: 1d20 + 7 - 4 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 7 - 4 + 2 = 19
Damage (shield bash): 1d6 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7

"Hey, you back there... care to join?"

Malazzesh's mace bounces off the snakes hide.

On a natural 1, you might say it bounced off his own hide! :)

Everybody's except Malazzesh is now up.

Are we in Round 2 now? Cobalt and Harnet didn't do anything in round 1 yet. Morthak delayed until after the snake attacked in round 1 and so now goes after the Snake's next attack in round 2.

Red Feather briefly closes his eyes, and begins to count his breath, with a slow first step, then increasing speed he heads towards the snake, his fine spear with the tip down and steady. When he reaches the snake he exhales and drives the spear forward to hopefully transfix his enemy. All this is done in complete silence.

1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7 Spear
1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19 Perfect strike (1 of 2)

1d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8 piercing damage

Thanks for reminding me I completely forgot that you delayed your action. I'll go update the initiative right now. It's not round 2 yet but there is only 1 beast right now so pre-posting is fine and I'll just organize the turns later. lol that was a pretty weak hit by malazzesh.

I'll just bot them until they're back.

Cobalt takes a double move closer.

Harnet with his readied crossbow shoots at the snake.

Harnet att: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23

Harnet dmg: 1d8 ⇒ 1

Harnet manages to graze the snake with his bolt.

The snake winces as Redfeather and Erigga simultaneously bludgeon and pierce the snake's flesh.

The snake lets out a loud hiss before lunging at Red Feather.

Snake dmg: 2d6 + 9 ⇒ (5, 4) + 9 = 18

Dc 17 Fort save or Poison dmg: 1d3 ⇒ 2 constitution damage.

Snake damage dealt 16/??
Everybody is now up.

If anybody wants to you can play for Harnet or Cobalt until they are back.

Erigga, seeing the powerful bite the snake gave Red Feather, abandons her defensive stance in favor to a more offensive approach...

"Better to fell it soon!"

Brawler's Fury (shield bash), flanking, power attack: 1d20 + 7 - 2 + 2 - 1 ⇒ (5) + 7 - 2 + 2 - 1 = 11
Damage (shield bash), power attack: 1d6 + 4 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 4 + 3 = 11

Brawler's Fury (shield bash), flanking, power attack: 1d20 + 7 - 2 + 2 - 1 ⇒ (14) + 7 - 2 + 2 - 1 = 20
Damage (shield bash), power attack: 1d6 + 4 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 4 + 3 = 12

"Better to fell it soon!"

"Very well."

Morthak crouches and steps in towards the snake, and attacks with both daggers.

5' step, Full Attack.

TWF Dagger Sneak Attack #1 (flank): 1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 5 + 2 = 181d3 - 1 + 1d8 ⇒ (3) - 1 + (6) = 8 (maybe a hit)
TWF Dagger Sneak Attack #2 (flank): 1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 5 + 2 = 91d3 - 1 + 1d8 ⇒ (2) - 1 + (5) = 6 (miss)

If anybody wants to you can play for Harnet or Cobalt until they are back.

Harnet can't do much as his ranged attacks are made at -8 to hit now (cover and in melee with friends). I suppose he could begin casting enlarge person (1 round casting time) and cast it on Cobalt next round. Unless people think that would be a waste of a spell, in which case he could cast acid splash instead.

I would assume that Cobalt would just move up to the corner of the snake and attack. The more the merrier.

Cobalt (Waraxe): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 151d10 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 12
Hope that's a hit!

Back. Round 2

Igneous draws his Waraxe and strikes down at the snake with all of his might.

Morthal rolled for me so let's keep those dice!

Welcome back cobalt. :)

Harnet begins casting Enlarge person on Cobalt.

Unless someone has a better idea/wants the buff instead.

Morthak manages to pierce the snake where it was previously injured.

Cobalt's axe slams down on the concrete as the snake barely managed to elude him.

Erigga continues her onslaught removing a small amount of scales with each swing of her shield.

The snake is looking bloodied and battered now.

Damage dealt 36/??

Mallazesh and Red Feather are up.

1d20 + 8 ⇒ (17) + 8 = 25 Fortitude Save

Red Feather grimaces as the fierce daggers from the snakes mouth pierce his neck right next to his juggler vein. He feels the strong poison of the snakes bite enter his blood stream, but is able to use his toughness learned in his youth to see past it's effects. "Die fouls serpent. My fangs have bite as well".

1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25 Spear attack with flanking

1d8 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2 Hole in the snake

But though his aim is true, the roundness of the snakes body, and it's hard scales barely penetrate.

Malazzesh continues attacking with his mace.

Mace att: 1d20 + 2 + 2 - 4 ⇒ (18) + 2 + 2 - 4 = 18

Mace dmg: 1d4 ⇒ 2

and manages to land a clean hit.

Damage dealt. 40/??

The snakes fangs are visible as it attacks Erriga deeming her as the most dangerous target.

Snake att: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (20) + 10 = 30

Crit confirm: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (1) + 10 = 11

My heart sank for a moment

Damage: 2d6 + 9 ⇒ (4, 6) + 9 = 19

Erriga needs a dc 17 fort save or 1d3 ⇒ 3 Con dmg

Red feather needs one more save dc 17 or 2 con dmg.

Everybody is up and Cobalt is large sized.

Wow... holy crap, that was close!

Fortitude (DC 17): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20

Erigga felt the powerful bite and also the poison in her veins... she fought against it for now, but how long would she be able to resist it? Putting this thoughts aside, she tried once more to hit the snake, eager to put an end to it.

"Argh... this is not going well..."

Brawler's Fury (shield bash), flanking, power attack: 1d20 + 7 - 2 + 2 - 1 ⇒ (11) + 7 - 2 + 2 - 1 = 17
Brawler's Fury (shield bash), power attack: 1d6 + 4 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 4 + 3 = 9

Brawler's Fury (shield bash), flanking, power attack: 1d20 + 7 - 2 + 2 - 1 ⇒ (19) + 7 - 2 + 2 - 1 = 25
Brawler's Fury (shield bash), power attack: 1d6 + 4 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 4 + 3 = 10

Round 3

Cobalt shortens his stroke and swings down, at the creature with his Waraxe.

Attack Power Attack -2 & Large Size +2 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24.
Damage 1d10 + 9 ⇒ (9) + 9 = 18

Cobalt's axe gets embedded in the snakes stomach rendering it unconscious followed by Erigga ending the creature's life.

While there were some bad moment's it went better then expected.

The poison needs 2 dc 17 consecutive saves to get rid of up to a max of 6 rounds.

None of you notice anything odd about the room.

There is no loot inside of the room although some of you know its skin is quite valuable both for its beauty and for its fire-resistant properties.

To the right seller it could be worth 100 platinum pieces.

To the right seller it could be worth 100 platinum pieces.

Morthak smiles.

"Well... that was a fierce creature. But what sort of snake was it? Was it evil, or just an animal?"
Does anyone have knowldge: nature?

Morthak twirls one of his daggers.

"A snake this large... it's hide should be valuable if we can keep it in one piece. Shall I?"

Morthak kneels down and begins skinning the snake.

GM Mottied: If no roll is necessary I will go ahead, but if a craft check of some kind is necessary to skin the snake then I may not be the best guy to do the skinning. Malazzesh has +5 to Survival if that counts. I don't think anyone is trained in an appropriate craft skill but Harnet would have +4 due to INT. The rest of us could aid whoever does it.

If the snake meat is edible we could slice off some chunks as well. No sense wasting it. If we bring enough back to the town we could throw a barbecue. :) Harnet has profession: cook.

"The venom may be worth something also."

Anyone want to try to collect the venom? Since none of us have poison use as a class feature, there would normally be a 1 in 20 chance of poisoning yourself.

Are we still botting Harnet?

Red Feather is down 18 points, and Erigga is down 19. Harnet has a wand of infernal healing. With 2 charges each those two will be back up to full HP.

BTW We should put aside money to replace the wand when it runs out.

I don't believe anyone has knowledge: nature.

You can't really botch this skinning seeing as how his hide is so thick . No roll needed.

Yea this snake has plenty of usable meat, 50ish pounds of meat can be easily acquired.

The Dc to collect the venom would be a dc 20 survival/wisdom check. I don't allow taking 20's for collecting poisons. I also don't consider poison to be an evil act necessarily.

Harnet and Malazzesh are currently being botted. It's safe to assume that Harnet is casting infernal healing on them both and Malazzesh is helping you skin.

I hadn't planned on being a poisoner, though Morthak has no personal qualms about poison. It's just that without the poison use ability you run the risk of poisoning yourself at the worst possible time: in the middle of a fight.

But poison prices are usually based on how strong they are, and this seemed to be pretty potent stuff. So I would probably sell it if we could collect it.

Will we be able to aid another on the test to collect the poison? Would heal be a relevant skill too (since it's kinda like surgery)? I do agree that taking 20 makes no sense.

Edit: Just realized that Cobalt has +6 survival, so he is the lead survival guy in the party. If he takes 10 and Malazzesh and Red Feather aid and take 10, we can make that DC 20 roll exactly. Cobalt also has a great Fort save vs. poison so it also makes sense for him to be the lead one on collecting it.

Yea it depends on the character as well and poisons can get pretty pricey.

I'll allow aid another and heal gives a +2 for every increment of 10's (no 20's) although if you have heal as a skill I would try helping Erriga or Red feather.

I'll allow aid another and heal gives a +2 for every increment of 10's (no 20's)

In that case Cobalt with Read Feather and Malazzesh aiding sill be able to make 20 each time (I assume there are two venom sacs, one per fang?).

although if you have heal as a skill I would try helping Erriga or Red feather.

Don't think anyone does have heal, unless I missed it on someone's sheet. But the 4 shots of infernal healing will bring both of them back to full HP.