The_Ninja_DM's Carrion Crown

Game Master Spiral_Ninja

Rova looks almost berzerk after the fight - breathing heavily and half grunting, half shrieking. As he calms down, he clenches his left hand over his right fist, extends it, then brings it back to his chest. [Regaining focus]

"Oh, dear. 'scuse tha' behavior, I kinda..los' it there."

Rova retrieves the disgarded mace, hoping the damage isn't too bad - or that no one will notice..

I don't think it got hurt. The mace has a hardness 12 and 18 HP I think. Same for my sword. Hardness 10 and 10 hp. I think Zhiden may have to worry a little, but I think his daggers are good as well.

"Dem, Hy thought Hy hit et harder den dot."

Gkirkhan looks at the now trampled ooze and then at his sword.

This looks like it heads out, perhaps all the way to the surface... we'll have to investigate, later. In the meantime, we should search the prison wings, no?

OK, after review of the PRD hardness applies.

Correction: See Vertielle's post in discussion and apply that.

Zhiden looked over his sword, and watched some of the acid dripping off of it, he hoped that it wasn't damaged, and it didn't seem to be. Looking over the cavern, he wondered aloud "What do you think this is, an escape route? Kind of strange to put it in the torture chamber, closer to the cells than the guard quarters."

Yes, it's placement marks it as a curious place for an exit. I think it's more likely that it's an entrance, one used for getting the poor fellows into the room...
KnHistory: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15
KnEngineering: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (19) + 3 = 22

"Whew. Dot could haff been bad."

Gkirkhan sheathes his sword and looks at the others with a big goofy grin on his face.

"Hy tink Hy need to get drunk again. Dis findink new schtoff dot don't fight fair iz makink my head hort. Dot und Hy seem to be a leedle more useless now."

@Vertielle: That seems likely. Less disturbing for the other prisoners and more secure. And there were notes that some of the prisoners had been sentenced to life and torture.

Vertielle heads to U3, making sure the group is in tow.

This looks like another guard station. Same table and bunks. All burnt. Looks like this may have been where that headless burning skeleton came from.

Rather disturbingly, the portcullis here is open.

Ah, this must be the point at which the escape attempt was staged. Very exciting, I wonder how it was accomplished?
Vertielle searches the winch for tampering, then the portcullis, before entering U4- ideally side by side with Gkirkhan, and Rova close behind.

Upon entering the room, Zhiden braced for combat, holding both swords in front of him. He looked around the room, not wanting to touch anything he could help, not since Vertielle had been attacked by a pair of undead hands. That really hit the limit of what he'd wanted to see down here, not because the hands were particularly terrifying, but because it was so absurd. It was as if someone had been watching the group, and then left the hands there just to mess with their heads. To make matters even worse, Vertielle had picked one up!

My weapons have a hardness of 10 as well. Which is good, because being small shortswords, if one point of damage gets past the hardness rating, they are done for.

This chamber is labled The Oubliette. Empty cells, their iron dors askew, line this large, empty room. In the middle of the room a hinged, 10' square metal gratig lies over a dark pit in the floor. A thick rope has been tied to the grating and dangles into the pit below.

As you enter the room and begin looking around, the room echoes with a terrible, soul-chilling shriek. From the oubliette rises an incorporeal form, looking much as it must have n life except for the hideously elongated arms wielding an equally incorporeal axe.

Evangline Initiative: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 2 = 14
Gkirkhan Initiative: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25
Rova Initiative: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 12
Vertielle Initiative: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 1 = 21
Wood Initiative: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7
Zhiden Initiative: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15
The Lopper Initiative: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20

Initiative order; round 1:
Gkirkhan
Vertielle
The Lopper
Zhiden
Evangline
Rova
Wood

First two into the room: Gkirkhan=1, Vertielle=2

victim: 1d2 ⇒ 2

touch: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13

negative_energy: 1d6 ⇒ 6 plus bleed: 1d6 ⇒ 4

Laughing maniacally, the figure strikes Vertielle, leaving a huge, bleeding wound.

"More ghosties dis time! Can any'un whammy m' big blade? Shield's useless, an' I kin hurt it more wid it - *if* it's magic-y"

Rova looks at the spellcaster, apprehensively awaiting an answer before acting.

For a moment, just a moment, the half-orc stands there dumbfounded. His friend was hurt. Vertielle was hurt and bleeding. He standx there for what is half an eternity to him.

Then something breaks.

The goofy Gkirkhan, who loved to drink and woo women is gone. In his place is something else, something that goes beyond his orc heritage. Something primal.

A feral snarl escapes his lips as he explodes into action. His hammer flies from his belt into his hands, an instrument ready to deliver his white-hot fury unto his foe. Muscles bulge and cord underneath the heavy jacket he wears and bring the weapon down in a powerful arc that smashes the stone floor into a cloud of chips and dust as an awful, terrifying roar fills the lower levels of the prison. Every breath comes out as a snarl as he straightens and glares at the incorporeal shadow of the man that can only be the Lopper from beneath the brim of his hat. A low growl that is barely intelligible is the only clue that, somehow, Gkirkhan is still in control.

"Sind Sie bereit, wieder zu sterben? Gkirkhan wurde gesendet, um Ihre arme Seele ernten."

POUND 1:
Swift: Rage
Move: Get up and close with the ghostie and draw hammer
Standard: Raging Power Attack (aka "Beat the tar out of it.")
Attack: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (14) + 9 = 23
Damage: 1d8 + 13 ⇒ (5) + 13 = 18

The incorporeal axe sinks into Vertielle's skin to the hilt. A moment passes where she just looks surprised, rather than hurt, before the Lopper pulls his ghastly weapon free.
...Oh.
Vertielle sinks to one knee, staggering backwards, and violently coughs up blood.
KnReligion: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9
She looks at the creature before her with genuine confusion, an expression of sadness, fear, and bewilderment, before she convulses, coughing up even more blood, holding herself in agony. Shining under the light of the torch, her blood pools under her, slickening the stone and dying her skirts a black red.
Fumbling in her pack, she manages to pull forth a green vial of viscous liquid, and drinks it greedily. With one hand she steadies herself, and with the other slowly combs the hair from her face to look at her attacker with a venomous intent.

We'll call Lopper's move the surprise round, so...for round 1 Gkirkhan and Vertielle have gone and it's my monster's turn again.

round 1:
Gkirkhan
Vertielle
The Lopper
Zhiden
Evangline
Rova
Wood

As Vertielle swallows her potion, the blood continues to drip from her wound and some of it rises into the air and floats over to the Lopper, merging with his form. As it does so, the nasty wound left by Gkirkhan's blow seems to repair itself, just a bit.

The ghastly form smiles just a bit and moves to strike yet another victim.

Eva=1, Gkirkhan=2, Rova=3, Wood=4, Zhiden=5

1d5 ⇒ 3

touch_vs_Rova: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26

negative_energy: 1d6 ⇒ 2 plus bleed: 1d6 ⇒ 3

Wood tries to resist anxiously reading his spellbook as he summons forth a spell
Will 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23

OK, after reviewing the action order, I need to correct my previous post.

Gkirkhan and Vertielle, you both go before the Lopper, so he didn't heal because Vertielle's potion stops the bleed before he goes again. Therefore his hit on Rova is his 2nd round attack.

I need to know what spell you cast, Wood.

I need Zhiden and Eva's actions as well.

I also want INT checks from Eva, Gkirkhan, Vertielle, and Wood.

It is my understanding that celestial creatures cannot harm evil incorporeal creatures, even when using smite evil. Is this correct?

Maybe should I add the ability to enchant weapons on the spot to my arsenal.

Wood fires two bolts of magic force at the Lopper.
2d4 ⇒ (4, 2) = 6

Not a bad idea, Wood.

"Who has the Lopper's Axe?
Cause if you have it use it."

Int: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

Rova shakes his head, noting the spellcaster are either unable or unwilling to enchant his massive blade.

"Oh, well, le's work wid wha' I got then."

Rova looses and drops his shield [move action], and shifts to a 2-handed grip on the mace. [same move action]

Attack: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17
Damage: 1d8 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11

Rova's swing clips the phantom, but failed to do any damage.

Smite Evil (Su) If the target of smite evil is an outsider with the evil subtype, an evil-aligned dragon, or an undead creature, the bonus to damage on the first successful attack increases to 2 points of damage per level...Regardless of the target, smite evil attacks automatically bypass any DR the creature might possess.

Incorporeal... It can be harmed only by other incorporeal creatures, magic weapons or creatures that strike as magic weapons, and spells, spell-like abilities, or supernatural abilities...Even when hit by spells or magic weapons, it takes only half damage from a corporeal source...

As highlighted above, Smite Evil would deal full damage (it is not a spell or magic weapon) and additionally provides +2 damage per HD on the first successful attack.

That's a +1 ghost touch arrow. Used as an Improvised Dagger, it'll let you sneak attack for full damage.

That's exactly what I wanted folks to remember, Eva. ;)

So, a summoned critter that does smite evil will get one shot and do half damage due to incorporeal condition.

Thanks for the clarification Verteille. I knew there was a reason I thought celestial creatures can damage noncorporeal. The sure magic missiles seemed the best move this round. Smite evil for a celestial creature lasts until the targeted creature is dead or the celestial creature rests.

Actually, as I understand it, a summoned creature will strike true against an incorporeal creature it is using smite evil against for the duration of the smite effect (until the creature is destroyed), dealing full damage, and additionally gaining +2 damage per hit die on the first successful attack per round. Note that as the ability is supernatural, not a spell, enchanted weapon, or spell-like ability, it deals FULL damage against incorporeal creatures according to RAW- However, I believe it was INTENDED to deal half damage, like spells.

Zhiden had to admit that Vertielle was really something. One moment she was making appallingly racist comments as though they were nothing, and the next she was offering up the very thing necessary to do his job. Though it did seem entirely possible that her usefulness could be entirely motivated by self preservation. Regardless to the reasons, Zhiden had an objective at hand.

He dodged around the creature, and stabbed into it with the arrow he'd been given.

Attack: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

Damage: 1d4 + 2d6 ⇒ (3) + (3, 2) = 8

Eva casts cure light wounds on Rova

1d8 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9

OK, Round 2: [Note listed actions due to my error in round 1]

Gkirkhan
Vertielle

The Lopper: took his 2nd round action to attack Rova

Zhiden

Evangline: her 2nd round action was to heal Rova

Rova
Wood

Will save to cast 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12
Crap, not again. Plan is to cast the magic missile from the pages of the Splatterman's spellbook as if it is a scroll and removing the spell from the page. Let me know if this works or not.
Wood is again enamored by the writing of the Splatterman in the margins of his new spellbook and is quite distracted.

@Wood: No, you have to memorize spells from it.

Rova - both hurt and healed before he can react - simply notes he's flanking with Zhiden, holds the mace tightly, and surges with physical power [lose focus to power psiweapon]...

Attack: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (16) + 9 = 25
Damage: 1d8 + 5 + 2d6 ⇒ (8) + 5 + (6, 3) = 22

This time, Rova's mace strikes squarely, despite it's incorporeal body, deals a serious injury!

Edit: I'm using both hands, so strength goes up..

Damage: 12 after halving

"Bah! Begone ya foul smoke!"

Since gkirkhan's Raging right now, he's probably not in his right mind, or willing to listen to anyone, so I'm gonna do this a little differently, and probably bend some rules in the process. Lemme know if it's too much.

Gkirkhan's head jerks as something flat and metal smacks the back of it hard enough to get the raging half-orc's attention.

"Vot de?!"

He drops his sword and reaches around his head with both hands to get what struck him. He's a little surprised to find an axe in his hands. Something sparks a memory in the half-orc, well that or he snapped and started laughing in maniacal glee.

"Oh ghostie~! Papa Gkirkhan's got a vondervul souprise for you~! MUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

Actions:
Free: Drop sword
Move: Draw Axe of Making Loopy Lopper Deader +1
Standard: Throw himself into bloody melee with gleeful abandon. (Power Attacking)
Attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17
Damage: 1d8 + 9 ⇒ (6) + 9 = 15 (If Waraxe)
Damage: 1d6 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7 (If Throwing Axe)

The axe, though small, is +1 Ghost Touch vs him. Gkirkhan +7 base -1 power attack +1 weapon = +7 not +6 so Gkirkhan hits for full damage!

The Lopper is looking seriously damaged at this point.

Since that was almost certainly a miss, the arrow is still good and can be reused, right? If not, Zhden still has a vial of holy water that Wood gave him.

The two vials of holy water. I started with four, you threw one, and I gave you two more and kept one.

Since, with that roll, you came nowhere near hitting anything, yes, it's still intact.

With the axe we can kill the lopper, keep it going.

Zhiden snarled and struck at the ghost again.

Attack: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Damage 1d4 + 2d6 ⇒ (4) + (4, 5) = 13

Oh my god. If that roll had been any worse, I would have stabbed myself. I would have done pretty good damage though.

OK, Vertielle you're supposed to be before Lopper.

Lopper: Eva=1,Gkirkhan=2, Rova=3, Vertielle=4, Wood=5, Zhiden=6

victim: 1d6 ⇒ 4

And the Loper goes for Vertielle again. Sexist!

touch: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17

Negative_energy: 1d6 ⇒ 6 plus bleed: 1d6 ⇒ 5

Eva cast's Cure light on Vertielle

1d8 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

Gah stop max damaging me.
Vertielle uncorks a holy water and splashes it in an arc at the Lopper.
Touch: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 91d6 ⇒ 6

Wood follows Vertielle's example throwing his holy water at the Lopper.
1d20 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 101d6 ⇒ 3

We're so good at this ghostbusting thing.

at least we didN't cross the streams.

Rova, some of his energy expended, continues the assault..

Still flanking with Zhiden, and wondering why he's stabbing with the nocked end of the arrow...

Attack: 1d20 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 7 + 2 = 24
Damage: 1d8 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13

Damage halved: 6

"Pointy end, Zhiden! Pointy end!"

Sorry, folks: AC 18, touch 18, ff 15.

You guys missed. Rova, however, smacked it a good one.

Round 3:
Gkirkhan
Vertielle

The Lopper

Zhiden
Evangline
Rova
Wood

Get 'im Gkirkhan!