Sardaukar's Legacy of Fire
Game Master Sardaukar

Dauamri lowers his bow as he watches the surviving manticore flee into the distance. The inquisitor's gaze shifts momentarily to his quiver and its dwindling supply of arrows. He shoulders his weapon and joins the others as they march to Hazreem's campsite.

I've never played a character that ever truly used a bow. Hard to believe how quickly you can go through ammunition with three attacks in a round. Especially when you're shooting so far that you cannot retrive any arrows that missed their mark. >.<

Hazreem: Scanning the area, you find numerous bushes with small berries that are edible, along with a few fruit trees. There appears to be a decent amount of small wildlife scurrying about, rabbits and the like, that could serve as a meal if you felt like hunting one. There are also many small snakes as you've seen all around this isle. Along your journey through this island, you passed many small waterfalls or fresh water trickling down the sides of cliff edges, but where this water coming from is quite the mystery as there are no snow-capped mountains on this island nor signs of recent storms here. With minimal effort, you could locate one and collect sufficient water for your needs.

As you look around, you find something that catches your attention. In the grass along the edge of the tree-line are several large animals droppings in close proximity to one another. The animal that made these would be quite large and they seem maybe a day or two old. If the droppings were smaller, you'd believe they were sheep droppings, but these are much too large for that.

Hazreem grunts in satisfaction and returns to the others. "Well, I got good news and even better news. Looks like not only do we have enough food and water to tide us over, I think I found signs of the Golden Ram." He points out the droppings to those who are interested. "We can start tracking him down in the morning."

Pae looks up from a substantial selection of ftruit and berries and liks his juice smeared fingers..

"Good..the quicker we can find some sort of civilisation here the better."

Any additional activities before turning in? You still have about 5 hours till dusk. Any preparations for the night? Watches?

Bahir will take dawn watch as usual.

Hazreem will spend the hours before dusk gathering fruits and berries for the others. Due to his Desert Endurance class ability, he does not need much food. Presumably, Pae's actions took place after Hazreem returned ;)

He will take the evening watch, I believe he usually does IIRC.

EDIT: also Hazreem will cast Goodberry on the berries he found so he gets a total of 2d4 ⇒ (1, 1) = 2 berries, which will provide nourishment as if it were a normal meal for a Medium creature. The berry also cures 1 point of damage when eaten.

Pae will take midnight watch.

Despite the tension during your watches, wondering what strange creature would try to make you its next meal, the night passes without much fanfare. Only several harmless snakes and other small critters manage to get close enough, more out of curiosity of who you are rather than any desire for aggression or with complete indifference to your presence as they scavenge through the night looking for food. The air cooled slightly during the night, but not much so. The climate here is quite temperate.

The sun rises in what we'll call the east, greeting you with another clear sky. There is barely a cloud above as the reddish glow of the morning sun fills the air.

Mah'ysa greets the dawn in prayer to Sarenrae.

Hazreem says his prayers to his own deity and then proceeds to gather some food and extra water for his friends. Also, he will check the nearest watering holes for any sign of the creature who left the large droppings.

Survival 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (5) + 17 = 22

Feeling well rested with the warmth of dawns light filling his morning prayers, Bahir eventually rises, "Where shall we head today?"

Standing up and cupping her hands together in the morning sunlight, Mah'ysa smiles with delight.

"Mmm. Didn't someone say they saw a smudge of smoke on the horizon? That's the first sign of something less than perfect we've seen here so far. Besides the bloodthirsty monsters that is."

Daumari wakes in a sour mood; morning in this place simply doesn't feel right, though he can't decide if it is due to some actual difference or his imagination. "I would rather track this ram and end our wandering quickly. I don't trust this false star; no matter how closely it may resemble the sun, I cannot help but but be reminded its light is not truly the Dawnflower's."

Hazreem: Examining the nearby water sources, finding numerous tracks of smaller creatures having come there, you find no traces of any beast large enough to have left those remains.

I'm assuming you are breaking camp and heading through the misty jungle towards the southeast, the direction for which you saw the black smoke rising on the horizon?

Hazreem returns to the group from his foraging expedition, a rare look of frustration on his face. "Can't find any more recent signs of the Golden Ram around here." He points off to the southeast. "That seems our best bet for now. When we get closer, I can use my druidic powers to talk with the wildlife and get a better idea of what is going on here."

Once everyone is up and ready, you march on through the trees, off in the direction of the black smoke you saw yesterday. The terrain slopes primarily downwards as you seem to be heading down the back side of this island. About an hour goes by and everything seems pretty uneventful, until...

Suddenly, a loud roar comes from your right as a large, gorilla-like creature rears up to a towering height of about 8 feet. It's four muscular arms reach upward as it screams to the canopy. It's announcement complete, it hunches back onto all six and begins charging towards you, only about 40 feet away. It's large mass filling up an area larger than 5 feet as it shifts its way between the trees.

Round 1 - Fight!

No map for this one. You are in a heavily wooden jungle with much growth on the ground in the form of bushes, ferns, ivy, etc. It is fairly easy to maneuver around, but the numerous trees and foliage makes charging near impossible and it provides partial concealment (20% miss chance) for any ranged attacks. The creature has a space of 10 ft.

Mah'ysa drops into a defensive stance, then sings a blessing to Sarenrae.

__Bless: All allies in 50'r. gain a +1 Morale bonus to hit and to saves vs. Fear. 1 min/Level.

Knowledge (Arcana): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18

DM Sardaukar, did we win initiative against it?

Knowledge Nature 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (15) + 13 = 28

"Don't approach it yet, that beast can literally tear you apart! I am gonna see if I can slow it down."

Hazreem matches actions to words and utters a quick prayer. Cast Entangle at it, Reflex save DC 17 or gain entangled condition.

With it's roar and sufficient distance, I didn't bother with the init roll. Everyone has time to react before it gets to you.

Reflex Save: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16

While Mah'ysa begins singing, the thick undergrowth seems to come alive in front of you as it reaches out towards the gorilla-like beast, vines wrapping around the thing's legs and body, stopping his forward momentum. The beast roars again as it starts trying to pull itself free.

Pae fades into the undergrowth biding his time as he moves slowly to a position where he can use his sneak attack at best ability.

Stealth1d20 + 19 ⇒ (16) + 19 = 35

Bahir heeds Hazreem's words but moves between the gorilla and the group to intercept it should it continue to press it's attack.

He'll start out full defensive until after it attacks him.

No Daumari?

As Pae slips away unnoticed, Bahir steps boldly forward to the edge of the entanglement area, holding a defensive posture in case the beast makes it free. Efreat immediately shouts "Krack'koom" causes his usual shimmering field of force to surround him while Daumari (NPC'd), knowing that he's low on arrows and the trees will make a clear shot difficult, grabs his hammers and takes a position up near Bahir.

Beast Strength Check: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

With the vines and branches further gripping the beast's legs and lower body, it struggles fruitlessly against the plants that make up its home. The beast seems to be in somewhat of a panic as it finds itself unable to move.

Round 2 - Everyone is up!

The beast resides about 20 feet from Bahir and Daumari's position, well into the entangle spell's area.

Seeing the creature held in check Bahir glances over his shoulder at Hazreem, "Perhaps we should just leave it and go around or do you think it will chase us?"

Hazreem glances at Bahir, nodding slowly. "That beast is known as a girallon and they are extremely territorial. If we leave his territory, then he should not pursue us." He looks around, "Trouble is I don't know where his territory is and also whether someone else set him to guard something."

Knowledge Nature 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (9) + 13 = 22 to determine area of the girallon territory.

Hazreem: The forest/jungle area seems to be naturally divided up into sections based on natural appearing rock formations. You would surmise that the creature's territory would consist of one of these areas. You've had to climb up or down through steeper sections as you cross these boundaries. These steep cliff edges is what has provided you with views of frequent waterfalls as you travel this mysterious island. It is not too far to travel back the way you came to reach the hill you came down, but you have no idea how far in front of you that you'd need to travel. But if the past is any indication of the future, you'd be able to reach such a point if you pushed it before the entangle spell expired.

"If we are going to leave this creature's territory, we had better leave NOW!"

"I am alright with this plan." Comments Mah'ysa, who then hums a sprightly tune while casting Expeditious Retreat.

Guarding his companion's retreat, Bahir follows the rest of the group.

Sorry; my Campaigns tab didn't show any new posts.

Knowledge (arcana) 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (18) + 10 = 28

"Very well." Daumari nods to Bahir then keeps pace with the paladin to cover the group's withdrawl.

Fortress style hammers and Full Defense. I'll try to remain about 15 feet from Bahir but keep the paladin in sight; if the girallon manages to break free we may be able to keep it distracted between us.

Pae trots away with the others.."Four arms..that just isn't right you know|"

I am going to be out of town (at GENCON WHOOHOO!) til next Monday so please DMPC Bahir until then. Thanks!

Lucky Lucky man

I sorta expect a slow down in postings during GenCon. I miss when it was in Milwaukee, I could just take the bus downtown...

With a quick tune, Mah'ysa takes off running. Pae appears out of the bushes and runs as fast as his little legs will carry him. Efreat follows quickly behind along with Hazreem. Bahir keeps back guarding the retreat with Daumari a little ahead of him.

Girallon Strength Check:1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21

Grabbing the vines and branches with all four beastly hands, it rips the plants right out of the ground. Dirt sprays through the air as the gorilla-like creature throws the remains to the side and charges through the rest. It makes it out of the entanglement zone, turns towards Bahir, and throws its head back with a loud roar.

The beast is about 20 feet from Bahir, 35 feet from Daumari, 60 feet from Pae, 100 feet from Efreat and Hazreem, and Mah'ysa is long gone.

Round 3 - Everyone is up!

Daumari watches the creature intently, altering his withdrawl to limit the difference in distance between the girallon and both Bahir and himself. The inquisitor give a nearby tree trunk a good crack with his hammer. "Don't forget about me, ugly."

I'll continue to withdraw, altering my speed so that I am as close to the girallon as Bahir. I'll also begin angling my movement to the side, so that I can easily slip into flanking position if it attacks.

Hazreem sees the beast break free and grimaces. Time for plan B...

He stops his withdrawal and chants another prayer to Gozreh, pointing at the ground separating the Girallon and Bahir. "Bahir, Daumari, don't approach it! I am gonna slow it down again!"

Cast Spike Stones on the 20' area separating the Girallon and Bahir, and spreading 40' north and south from its position.

Not quite gone yet...if you give Bahir a chance to back up some more Hazreem, you can cover a lot more ground between the girallon and the group with your spell.

OK that makes sense. Hazreem will delay until after Bahir and Daumari move. That should be enough to get at least 35' of Spike Stone between us and it. I'll adjust the area according, DM Sardaukar.

"Persistent bugger isn't it" Pae remarks.

As Bahir and Daumari back away, ready to flank the creature should it get through, Hazreem draws upon the powers of nature to transform the numerous rocks in the ground into sharp spikes. The layer of dirt and plants easily hiding the hazard below. The Girallon charges forward towards Bahir, but seems to painfully stumble as he moves forward. His speed quickly drops as it halts to look down at its lacerated feet, looking for the thing that is attacking it. For the moment it seems distracted.

With the beast injured and unable to pursue effectively, you are able to gain ground on the gorilla beast and it appears to stop following you. Quiet returns to the paradise island around you as you continue uninterrupted further downhill until you reach a beach once again.

Blue water greets you off to the southeast, the direction you were headed towards the black smoke you saw yesterday. It is just past mid-day with the bright sun shining overhead. No smoke can be seen in the clear sky today, whatever it was must no longer be creating the black plume.

Heading south along the beach, about a mile down you reach a point where the sand begins curving back around to the west. There appears to be no way to continue towards the region you were heading towards without going for a really long swim. But due south you spot what appears to be more land on the horizon, probably a couple of miles or so from the coast you are currently standing on across a wide channel of crystal clear water.

"So now what?" Pae asks of the group in general as he brushes sand from his feet.

Hazreem glances at Pae, a brief look of annoyance on his face. "Not sure there, Pae. We are supposed to be hunting this Golden Ram, yet no sign of it around here. Let me see if the fauna in this area knows anything."

Hazreem will look for some animal life and cast Speak with Animals on it. He will ask it what are the largest predators in the area.
Survival (to find a suitable animal) 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (13) + 17 = 30

Time passes as Hazreem walks along the jungle edge looking for suitable life to use his druidic abilities with. The rest of the group follows behind a bit on the easier to transit beach. Nearly an hour passes as you take in the beautiful scenery, the waves lapping peacefully onto the shore.

Suddenly a loud roar is heard ahead where Hazreem is, like that of a giant cat. Hurrying forward, you find Hazreem in a stare-off with a large tiger in the trees, the cat unsure of what to make of this intruder and eyes the rest of you up wearily.

Hazreem, you are about 50 feet from the tiger. Everyone else is at least 50 feet behind Hazreem.

Assuming the tiger is not immediately Hostile, Hazreem will use Wild Empathy to attempt to win its assistance. Wild Empathy check 1d20 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 8 + 1 = 12. If the tiger attacks, Hazreem will wild shape into an earth elemental (Small) and meld into the ground.

"Lions and Tigers and Bears oh my" Pae mutters as he draws his sword and prepares for combat.

Hazreem tries to coax the tiger into trusting him (Here, kitty kitty...) but his experience has been mainly with desert creatures and it shows. The tiger takes his actions to be of hostile intent and pounces towards Hazreem!

Pounce Bite Attack: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (12) + 9 = 21 Hit
Pounce Claw #1 Attack: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (19) + 10 = 29 Hit
Pounce Claw #2 Attack: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (6) + 10 = 16 Miss
Bite Damage: 2d6 + 6 ⇒ (2, 1) + 6 = 9
Claw Damage: 1d8 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11
Free Grapple Check: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (17) + 15 = 32

The vicious animal leaps forward at the Druid, knocking him to the ground as it's sharp teeth dig into one of Hazreem's shoulder while a giant paw claws into the other. (Damage: 20) The cat lands on top of Hazreem, pinning him in place. But before anyone can move to save him, Hazreem turns to stone and rock and sinks down into the sandy soil below.

The tiger scraps at the ground, wondering where his prey went, then looks up at the rest of you closing in.

"Bahir..pull it onto you while I get behind it"

Bahir glances at the halfling with a puzzled look. That delay is enough to give the tiger a chance to evaluate his situation and decide he doesn't like what he sees. He turns and bounds off into the trees, leaving your group alone on the beach, minus a druid.

"We seem to be making a habit of angering every predatory beast on this island." Daumari smirks in amusement as he watches the tiger withdraw.