PbP Gameday VI: GM Thunderspirit's 4-05: The Sanos Abduction [Core] (Inactive)

Game Master thunderspirit

Amiri moves forward, despite the admonition of Caerwynn.
DC 24 Refl save (ouch): 1d20 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 3 + 2 = 20
Suddenly the ground beneath her feet gives out, and she slides down a slope into a nest of briars!
3d6 ⇒ (1, 2, 4) = 7

The squeaky voice, once far in the distance to the north, now can be heard laughing aloud and flying in circles about the party's head. Why you here in my home? Go 'way! No solicitors, sign is posted, can't you read?

Caerwynn remains still and calm, but keeps her eyes fixed firmly on the dragon. There is a twinge of envy in her voice as she watches the tiny creature buzz about in the freedom of the air. "Ignizi sent us. She needs your help." She holds up the alexandrite token for the dragon to see.

Amiri bellows in surprise and pain, then goes strangely silent for a second as you hear a few branches snap and a grunt of effort. Then her voice rings out. "Very funny, little one. Good thing someone strong of heart and arm fell for your little prank, and not some puny toothpick. But I suppose it came with a gift."

Amiri emerges from the pit wearing a pair of well made goggles. She then chugs a potion, and emits a loud belch.
clw potion: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2
She tosses the empty potion bottle into the pit with a disappointed grunt.
"Don't think that potion was quite ripe yet. Nice trap, by the way. Well constructed."

"Ah, yes, nice trap. I think I'll stay put right here. Think you might come to us now?"

Silgil looks around himself hesitantly.

Amiri has no difficulty climbing back out of the bramble trap, and even has something for her trouble.

At the mention of Ignizi the squeaky voice goes silent a moment, then a tiny dragon appears on the log next to Caerwynn (indicated by the purple star), examining the alexandrite a moment. Friends of Ignizi be friends of Riddywhipple! Sorry that Riddywhipple led you human down briar patch — haha, humans look so silly, without wings when they fall! — but Riddywhipple not a fighter, so Riddywhipple rely on trickery to survive.

Amiri shrugs, "Nothing compared to what my cousins used to do to me when we played as children. Though if you don't want me to bleed all over your log, maybe you could heal up these scratches?"

After hearing that there will be no more traps, Silgil plops himself down over on the short end of the fallen tree.

"Speaking of wingless humans, have you been having problems from any lately? We understand that there has been a blight of late of undead. Never a good thing for those of us without wings."

Caerwynn slips a wand from her belt and stabs Amiri in the ribs with it. "Shush."

CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8

"Riddywhipple, another friend of Ignizi was taken by these undead we speak of. Perhaps you have seen them pass this way? Ignizi's size, but with short orange hair."

The faerie dragon listens to the druid intently. Riddywhipple not see other friend of Ignizi, but Riddywhipple have idea about undead. Riddywhipple ask some forest fey about this. Be back in morning!

This last sentence is from the "I don't write 'em, I just run 'em" department.

"Morning?, he murmurs.

Silgil looks around for a place to camp. He has a bedroll but no tent so he eyes the sky warily and hopes for a nice snug cave.

Xavier just chuckles at the antics, taking notes when any useful information is provided.

Caerwynn nods in understanding at the dragon. "May we make camp in your home? The log?"

If the creature is already gone, she will begin setting camp there.

Riddywhipple is long gone when Caerwynn asks, so she takes the liberty.

At dawn, Riddywipple wakes the party, buzzing excitedly around their heads, chattering in his squeaky, singsong voice. You get ready! Riddywhipple tell what Riddywhipple learn, you get ready!

Riddywhipple fly to friendly pixie friend Pollinia, who chat with Riddywhipple about happy happenings and untidy tidings in Sanos! Carved cave near pegasi friendlies have new body. Everybody agree is disagreeable. Old cold cavern used by humans long before long ago, empty as a log since then. But now seems unseemly creature wander in from bog near Wartle, torture and terrify Sanos! Monster name Marigana, trappers chase from Wartle after Marigana kidnap napping kids to make deadly undead! Want to spread terrible territory! Riddywhipple come with Ignizi friends on joint journey meet Marigana, to save Sanos!

Amiri blinks several times, taking a moment or two to absorb the rapid fire squeaking words. Then Amiri lurches to her feet and holds her sword aloft and bellows, "Well said, Brave Dragon! Let us find the vile Marigana, drive her from her dark lair and save Sanos! Lead on, Riddywhipple the Bold!"
Then she asks Silgil in a quiet aside, "Who or what is Sanos again?"

You're in the Sanos," Caerwynn says, rolling her eyes and beginning to break camp.

Werner brightens to all the heroic talk, then winces when the effect is ruined by the silly question. The cleric finishes his morning prayers to the Lucky Drunk, straps his greatsword to his back, and nods. "I'm ready. Let's put our heroics to the test and right this grave wrong."

The typically phlegmatic Dwarf is a bit taken aback by the 30 second word burst. "What did she say?"

He picks up the general intent from everyone and starts packing, all the while asking folks. "What did she say?" until he gets an answer.

Amiri leans in close to Silgil and yells: "Evil Monster Msrigana must be destroyed! We go destroy her!"
One can literally see the light turn on in Amiri's head.
"Hey, Readywhip, what kind of monster is Marigana anyway?"

Xavier packs up rather quickly, chuckling at Amiri and Silgil as he settles into a bit of meditation towards his own spells for the day, then ready to begin the trek anew.

None of fey quite sure what Marigana is, Riddywhippole says breathlessly. Marigana seen with zombies and skeletons and more zombies. Not many yet, but Marigana begin to move from animals to human types.

With Riddywhipple along as a guide, the party heads north. The faerie dragon makes his way between the legs of Caerwynn and buzzes Silgil's head as the march continues, excitedly laughing as the druid occasionally stumbles to avoid stepping on him and retreating in dismay as the dwarf grumpily swats at him. A moment later, it is as if Riddywhipple has forgotten he ever pulled a prank as he darts back and forth from one of Werner's shoulders to the other and waves his tail before Xavier's eyes ad flies back just out of reach, giggling merrily.

The trail follows an overgrown road which eventually winds along a muddy, reedy lake surrounded by underbrush and large stones. The silhouettes of grazing pegasi are visible in the distance, and Riddywhipple says, Oh! Pegasus friends! Pegasus friends will offer help against undead!

Surprise round will depend on Perception checks.

When Riddywhipple starts talking about zombies an skeletons and zombies, Xavier will use his wand to keep Mage Armor active on himself during the trek (GM let me know how many charges he'll burn through for that?).

Perception: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18

"Uh, aren't Pegasuses supposed to eat grass, like horses? That one's eatin' a dead Pegasus! Grody!" Although secretly, Amiri is curious to know whether Pegasi taste more like horse...or chicken.

Amiri will delay, hoping to charge the pegasus if it moves close enough.

I'm assuming the bush and rock on the map prevent her from charging

Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8
"What's this about Pegasi?"

Perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (9) + 11 = 20

Caerwynn's heart sinks. "Riddywhipple!" she calls in warning, "something is wrong. Pegasi are not cannibals!" She points at where the creature is munching on its companion.

Caerwynn goes after the pegasus, if she gets to act in the Surprise.

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13

Trying his hand at Gnome humor, Silgil asks, "Ack. A cannibal Pegasus? Is it called Cannabis?"

I guess he was working so hard on the pun than he got that lousy init.

No one hit the DC 23, so the [redacted] gets a surprise round, then we'll go full on into regular initiative.

Surprise round
Amiri
???
Xavier
zombie pegasus
Caerwynn
Silgil
Werner

A hideous humanoid creature with slimy, transparent skin, webbed, humanoid hands, and a snaggletoothed, horse-like face rises suddenly from the water, and 1d5 ⇒ 5 Werner feels an irresistible tug to move toward it!
DC 16 Will: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18
But the cleric shakes it off!

Round 1
Amiri
???
Xavier
zombie pegasus
Caerwynn
Silgil
Werner

Amiri is up! Correct, she is unable to charge the zombegasus due to terrain, and she faces a similar difficulty charging the [redacted].

"You are the ugliest watery tart I've ever seen! Leave my friends alone!"
Amiri steps up to the funky beast and takes a whack at it with her sword.

raging power attack: 1d20 + 7 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (4) + 7 + 2 - 2 = 11
magic slashing dmg: 2d8 + 7 + 3 + 6 ⇒ (7, 1) + 7 + 3 + 6 = 24

Know Nature: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (15) + 7 = 22

"A kelpie," Caerwynn corrects Amiri, with some measure of disgust in her tone. "Fire will not avail us here, and take care that it does not lure you into the water. Cold-forged iron, if you have it."

See spoilers.

The kelpie is missed by Amiri's wild swing, and retaliates (just as wildly)!

slam 1: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13 miss
slam 2: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9 miss

Round 1
Amiri
kelpie
Xavier
zombie pegasus
Caerwynn
Silgil
Werner

Xavier is up!

Xavier doesn't have much that will help beyond one of his wands, so he draws and activates his wand of Magic Missile at the kelpie!

Force damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

Xavier lets fly with the never-miss magic missile!

The flying corpse takes to the air and clumsily flaps its way over behind Amiri, landing just behind her in flank position with the aquatic fey!

Caerwynn, Silgil, Werner, and Amiri are up!

"What's the best way to kill a kelpie? How 'bout we try carvin' it up with a really big sword!"

raging power attack: 1d20 + 7 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (12) + 7 + 2 - 2 = 19
magic slashing dmg: 2d8 + 7 + 3 + 6 ⇒ (2, 5) + 7 + 3 + 6 = 23

Silgil will cast a glitterdust on the big Cannabis, DC 17 will ST, then step back from the uglies.

"Sheesh, almost wish I were the one being blinded with that much ugly facing us."

Werner wastes no time and charges the undead pegasus!
Attack w/Greatsword: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (9) + 11 = 20
Damage: 2d6 + 4 ⇒ (4, 1) + 4 = 9

Caerwynn circles around the battlefield and puts curved, cold-forged iron into her hand. She extends the other accusingly at the wretched pegasus and a jolt of thunder blasts from her pointed finger.

Lightning Arc @ Pegasus TOUCH: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8
Electricity: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

Caerwynn's bolt sails over the zombega-cannabis!

DC 17 Will: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14
Silgil follows up with more effective magic!

Werner takes advantage of the undead's blindness and his attack hits!

Amiri's raging power attack hits and deeply wounds the kelpie!

The kelpie retaliates on the barbarian!
slam 1: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9 miss
slam 2: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9 miss

Xavier is up!

Xavier moves a bit closer to the lake and tries to fire a ray of necromantic energy of his own at the kelpie, hoping to aid Amiri!

Ranged Touch firing into melee: 1d20 + 6 - 4 ⇒ (14) + 6 - 4 = 16

If that hits the kelpie's touch AC, it will need to make a DC 16 Fortitude Save for half of:

1d6 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2 Strength damage (for 3 rounds)
(Bah!)

DC 16 Fort: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9
The coruscating ray strikes the watery tart fey and it looks visibly weaker!

Amiri's blind little zombie pony attacks the barbarian!
slam: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (20) + 8 = 28
high is a hit: 1d100 ⇒ 65 Hit!
slam confirm?: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (20) + 8 = 28
dmg: 2d8 + 10 ⇒ (4, 3) + 10 = 17

DC 17 Will: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18
The blindness fades from the cannabis' undead eyes!

Caerwynn, Silgil, Werner, and Amiri are up!

"Is this some bizarre revenge? Okay, I promise never to eat another horse...Ah, who am I kidding? Barbecue horse-flank is too tasty! Die, nasty horse-things!" Amiri continues her assault on the kelpie.

raging power attack: 1d20 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 7 + 2 = 27
magic slashing dmg: 2d8 + 7 + 3 + 6 ⇒ (5, 5) + 7 + 3 + 6 = 26

Caerwynn thunders another bolt at the pegasus and continues to circle the battlefield. Her black sickle gleams in the reflected sunlight off the pond.

Lightning Arc @ Pegasus TOUCH: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18
Electricity Damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8

Silgil pulls out his wand of MM and tries that instead, targeting the pony that just hammered Amiri.

MM damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

Caerwynn sends a jolt into the zombegasus — successfully this time — whils Silgil lates a force bolt fly into it! Meanwhile, Amiri's blade cuts down the kelpie!

Werner!

Werner continues to chop at the... Dead thing.
Attack w/Greatsword: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (6) + 9 = 15
Damage: 2d6 + 4 ⇒ (6, 4) + 4 = 14

Werner's greatsword finishes the undead cannabis off!

Out of combat!

Amiri snorts angrily one last time at the kelpie, shoots a look of disgust at the weird pegasus, then sags in fatigue as the anger flows out of her body.

She drinks the potion of Cure Light wounds she acquired earlier in the adventure.
CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

When she notices the remaining bothersome bruises and cuts even after drinking the potion, she turns to the rest of the party. "Should I drink my potion of Cure Moderate, or save it in case of emergency? I could use more healing...stupid horses. They don't even look edible."

"You be the judge," Caerwynn mutters, stabbing Amiri with her wand again before turning to address Riddywhipple. "Riddywhipple, please be careful. Something is very wrong with Sanos -- we must be cautious. Not all will be as it once was."

That said, she is ready to continue.

CLW @ Amiri: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

Silgil goes up and examines the corpses, extremely interested in the 'science' of the undead.

"I just don't get it. Why does this happen? I need to study this necromancy thing more."

"Silgil, I know enough about necromancy to be able to tell you that it's vile stuff. You would not want to know more," Werner says as he sheathes his greatsword.

He then looks over Amiri, then the rest of the group. "If you are injured, you need but ask. Cayden Cailean smiles his great fortune upon me, and by association, you. I can assist."

I'm chock full of spells and channels. Happy to use these as needed. If I miss something, poke me and I'll make sure you're healed up.

Amiri's down 11...or 15, if we're saving Caerwynn's charge.

"I'd be happy to knock back an ale or 2 in Cayden's honor, if'n you'd like." Amiri smiles warmly at Werner.