The Pact Stone Pyramid
Game Master Pact Stone GM

OK finally! Beetle cracks his knuckles as he gets ready to roll!

Let’s have the girallon pick a target to unload on based on a primitive threat assessment. I’ll do a percentage roll vaguely based on damage inflicted.

Karek 36%: 1-36

Hurgah 50%: 37-86

Halstadt 14%: 87-100

Moonpate is in reach, but he’s out of the equation. (Which reminds me, I missed an attack of opportunity on Karek when he charged – next time.)

Percentage chance for target selection: 1d100 ⇒ 65

The beast turns its attention on the half-orc intruder.

Full attack. Hurgah has -2 to AC for the rage, but +2 from Gandel's advice and counsel.

Attack with claw 1 versus AC 17: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (19) + 10 = 29 ("hit")

Potential damage with claw 1: 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8 ("applies")

Attack with claw 2 versus AC 17: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (1) + 10 = 11 ("miss")

Potential damage with claw 2: 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7 ("n/a")

Attack with claw 3 versus AC 17: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (1) + 10 = 11 ("miss")

Potential damage with claw 3: 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7 ("n/a")

Attack with claw 4 versus AC 17: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (3) + 10 = 13 ("miss")

Potential damage with claw 4: 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8 ("n/a")

All that waiting for a bunch o' wiff - no rend damage for me.

Attack with bite versus AC 17: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (13) + 10 = 23 ("hit")

Potential damage with bite: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10 ("applies")

-----

The mighty girallon grabs Hurgah by the head with one arm and palms it like a basketball. He then lifts the half-orc up off the ground and smashes him into the wall, wedging him in between two over-sized bass relief hieroglyphs. With Hurgah pinned, the beast lurches forward and sinks his teeth into the Reaver's chest tearing out a huge chunk of muscle and sinew.

Raging through the pain, Hurgah brings his knees to his chest and pumps his legs with fervor. With his back against the wall, Hurgah forces the massive gorilla back, giving him the space he needs to tear himself free of the wall. Now with his feet back on the floor Hurgah brandishes his axe ready for battle.

-----

That's a total of 18 points of damage but we remove 4 points of damage on account of Hurgah's damage reduction, for a total of 14 points of damage.

Pact Stone GM wrote:

...As he notes, the hieroglyphs are pictograms and prior experience has taught that those can be deciphered with Linguistic checks, if the high DCs can be obtained. I see that Moonpate has the Linguistics skill. Perhaps another round. . .

Well then, perhaps we can make sense of these marks after all.

Linguistics: 1d20+11

-

(You can keep the roll, if you'd like.)

Updated Text Map:
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.
-- --
-- MP
HM HR <---Hal and Hurgah
GGGG
GGGG/US*
KK -- <---Karek
30
25
20
BS -- <---Breach
10
5
-- GT <---Gandel
DS* GU <---Donkor and Ghukan
-- --
XA -- <---Xerissa
-- MS <---Lydia
-- CS <---Catatonic Slave
-- --

Ghoukan advances 15 feet, taking a square behind Breach.

He's shouting stuff too. . .

It's Xerissa next, then Donkor to end the round.

Sooron will take a double move action to slot in beside Karek, shouting prayers to Pharasma and drawing his morningstar as he goes.

If it's possible to get a charge attack with this, he will do so, but it doesn't look like it will be.

Since we are already in mid-combat, I don't think a surprise round is appropriate here. But perhaps we can at least make him flat-footed. The problem I have is this would make Mr. Exciting right after all.

I can see why that would be hard for you, but you should be used to it by now!

Well I probably shouldn't toss one my bombs in that tightly packed pile of chaos. Xerissa will go on delay, like into next turn delay, I realize the round is ending. She'll be coming off when it makes sense for her to do so. If a clear shot opens up or someone is in dire straights.

Well I probably shouldn't toss one my bombs in that tightly packed pile of chaos. Xerissa will go on delay, like into next turn delay, I realize the round is ending. She'll be coming off when it makes sense for her to do so. If a clear shot opens up or someone is in dire straights.

-

Sooron will take a double move action to slot in beside Karek, shouting prayers to Pharasma and drawing his morningstar as he goes.

If it's possible to get a charge attack with this, he will do so, but it doesn't look like it will be.

-

You are correct about the charge, I am afraid. It is really close. I even sketched it out on a flip mat and used a ruler to make sure, but his charge line is obstructed.

. . . which takes us to the top of round 2!

Melee in the Entry Shaft – Round 2
-----

Gandel Trapspringer – 24

The Mithral Scarab (Lydia) – 21

Terrified Slave found in Corridor – 14

Breach Shattershield - 12

Karek Kogan – 11

Moonpate the Potentate – 10+

Hurgah the Reaver – 10+

Halstadt the Inadvertently Slighted - 10+

The 'Four-Armed Thing' – 10-

Ghoukan the unfairly Conscripted – 8

Xerissa Auraraun – 7

Donkor Sooron – 5

With both her hands on his shoulders, the Scarab tries to get the slave to look her in the eyes and ignore the clash of combat deeper down the shaft.

The Scarab maintains her readied action to grab the slave if he tries to bolt or otherwise do anything untoward.

The slave takes no action of any kind.

Round Two:

Gandel continues to offer words of advice for battling the girallon as he steps up past Breach. With a crack he sends his scorpion whip lashing out over Karek's shoulder to strike at the four-armed simian creature.

Free action to maintian Bardic Performance (Naturalist), granting all allies within 30 ft a +2 insight bonus to AC, attack rolls, and saving throws against exceptional, supernatural, and spell-like abilities of the girallon. Move action to step forward 25 ft. Standard action to attack girallon with scorpion whip.

Scorpion Whip Attack: 1d20 + 9 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 9 + 2 = 21
Scorpion Whip Damage: 1d3 ⇒ 3

Rounds of Bardic Performance used today: 3/18

Gandel's AC: 23
Gandel's HP: 52/52

Can Breach make it to the creature with a single move?

Can Breach make it to the creature with a single move?

-

Now, I am more likely to remember to use the girallon's attack of opportunity this time. Though Breach's enhanced AC of 25 might make him feel pretty comfortable.

. . . Gandel continues to offer words of advice for battling the girallon as he steps up past Breach. With a crack he sends his scorpion whip lashing out over Karek's shoulder to strike at the four-armed simian creature.

-

Gandel tears a strip of hair and flesh off the beast. It seems not to notice, still attempting bash away at Hurgah.

Breach is next, then Karek, then the scry and die trio in any order they choose.

Just noticed - I neglected to apply a penalty to the girallon on account that it was (and still is) shaken from Hurgha's Cornugon Smash.

It would not though, have affected the outcome of the girallon's attacks. Though this probably should have been reflected in the flavor text somewhere.

Flanking, raging, power-attacking, insightful full attack!: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (11) + 19 = 30 for 2d6 + 19 ⇒ (4, 3) + 19 = 26 damage.

Additional attack, per base attack bonus: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (3) + 14 = 17 for 2d6 + 19 ⇒ (5, 3) + 19 = 27 damage.

That is, if Breach leaves the rest of us anything. :)

[dice=Flanking, raging, power-attacking, insightful full attack!]d20+19 for 2d6+19 damage.

[dice=Additional attack, per base attack bonus]d20+14 for 2d6+19 damage.

-

Gandels a special kind of teacher - he finds ways to get through to the really tough students.

"Save some o' it for me, for cryin'...!" Breach complains as he moves up next to Karek and swings his axe towards the multi-armed monster.

1st: +1 Cold Iron Waraxe: w/PA 1d20 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 8 + 2 = 21
Damage: 1d10 + 11 ⇒ (1) + 11 = 12

AC 25

Breach, don't forget sneak attack dmg - you are flanking.

Breach, don't forget sneak attack dmg - you are flanking.

-

But first he must weather the aforementioned attack of opportunity.

Attack of opportunity vs Breach AC 25 with claw: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (9) + 10 = 19 ("Miss")

Damage with claw: 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7 ("N/A")

Then Breach's attack occurs as above.
-----

As Breach closes ranks with Karek sealing the beast within a wall of combatants, the beast momentarily stops savaging Hurgah, looking to stop himself from getting completely surrounded.

He brings a great fist high into the air and brings it crashing down. Breach already has his legendary shield up above his head. The fist lands straight on to it, sending a shock wave rippling through the dwarf's body, but Breach's legs do not buckle. Keeping his shield overhead, the dwarf sends his mystic axe in a vicious arc. The creature may have four arms, but it only has two legs. The blow severs the simian's leg at the thigh, shearing it straight off. There is a geyser of blood as the creature collapses under the weight of the ring of brawlers slashing away with axe and hammer.

Once the body falls the hieroglyphs begin to consume the corpse in a crackle of energy. The symbols themselves then wink out in a jumble of light. Soon there is nothing left of the great ape than a pile of dust.

Quick clean-up notes:

I see I erred there, I missed that Donkor and Breach moved into the same square - my bad. If Breach didn't swing, then something very similar would have happened when Karek went.

It turns out Breach had enough to damage to drop the creature even without the sneak attack. Though feel free to roll it if you want to see the total for kicks.

Breach should also get the benefits of his Tunnel Fighter trait when he's in this particular shaft (and others like it). I'd say it's close enough.

Anything else anyone wants to do? Or is it back to default marching order and further down the shaft?

Hal lays his hands on the Reaver removing the claw marks placed there by the Beastie.

Cure Light Wounds 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6 Swap out a cure light for one of the Endure Elements.

Hal turns back to Moonpate, "Potentate, were those mystical marking son the beast allowing it to survive down here with no food or water for so long or do you think other magic is at work here?"

Hal turns back to Moonpate, "Potentate, were those mystical marking son the beast allowing it to survive down here with no food or water for so long or do you think other magic is at work here?"

Beetle, I would like to apply my previous Linguistics role to see if I can learn anything more about the markings. I will also prod the ash pile as I ruminate.

Cool. Thanks for the heads up on the SA, Hurgah. Totally forgot about that. Probably will again. :P

Breach will be ready to roll when the rest are.

Beetle, I would like to apply my previous Linguistics role to see if I can learn anything more about the markings. I will also prod the ash pile as I ruminate.

-

Moonpate pokes at the film of dust (with his foot?) and sees even that is slowly vanishing away. Soon it will be as though the creature were never here at all.

That was quick! Looks like Xerissa was competing with Ghoukan for most valued party member there. I'm with Breach. Let's be good adventurers and find out what's at the end of this shaft. I'm sure it's good.

"Nice work! I wouldn't want to ever be a four-armed ape surrounded by you boys!"

"Nice work! I wouldn't want to ever be a four-armed ape surrounded by you boys!"

"Or a ten-headed hydra..." Gandel comments distractedly, stowing his whip and alchemist's fire. The halfling scholar continues to peruse the hieroglyphs on the walls as the group makes their way down the passage.

"Or a ten-headed hydra..." Gandel comments distractedly, stowing his whip and alchemist's fire.

-

I'll read into that as three votes with the balance in abstention. Sounds like we're on our way. . .

The halfling scholar continues to peruse the hieroglyphs on the walls as the group makes their way down the passage.

-

The hieroglyphs continue in a well organized recital of the laws of Tumen. No doubt worth a fortune to the right legal historian - if there is such a person these days.

No doubt Gandel remains interested in the embedded message signified by the tiny composite rune appearing on every eleventh panel.

The next designated glyph is "My" (a possessive, but by a great power, such as a noble or even a god).

Followed by the glyph for "Law" (with a plural-dots to the side of the glyph making it laws.)

And then something happens. . .

Just reminding myself of the Dune Squad's marching order. It's not at all relevant. It's just something I do to pass the time.
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US*
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
KK GT
DS* GU
HM HR
XA MP
BS MS
-- CS

Looks good. As long as it's irrelevant.

Relevance is overrated.

Gandel wrote:

"Or a ten-headed hydra..." Gandel comments distractedly, stowing his whip and alchemist's fire.

-

"I thought they only had five heads. . ."

"Well, Lydia, initially they do. But when yur done cuttin' those off, five more show up. So, that's where Gandel gets ten. If I recollect correctly, I took off seven of 'em meself." He smiles at the fact before furrowing his eyebrows as he tries to remember. Shrugging it off, "Yeah, I'm sure it was seven."

Looks good. As long as it's irrelevant.

-

First off, there's a bit of a discovery for Anyo 2.0.:

After the 'ghost' advances another fifty paces or so its light reveals a change in the shaft's layout. Still in the shadows of the edge of the unseen servant's illumination, it is heard see what is happening exactly, but it looks like the east and west walls terminate, causing the corridor to suddenly open up widely. At the same time it doesn't look as though there is any new 'floor'. To put this another way, it appears as though the corridor floor you are currently traversing is about to become a bridge with wide drop-off space on both sides. This is though a good 80 feet away. For now the shaft remains the same cramped, hieroglyphic-covered square you have come to know and love.

Second:

There a crackling hiss coming from the rear!

Relevance is overrated.

-

Moonpate wrote:

Beetle, I would like to apply my previous Linguistics role to see if I can learn anything more about the markings. I will also prod the ash pile as I ruminate.

-

Ahk! By the time the Potentate's turn comes back up, the hieroglyphs have winked out. (Tell the gang to battle more slowly next time.)

Moonpate pokes at the film of dust (with his foot?) and sees even that is slowly vanishing away. Soon it will be as though the creature were never here at all.

"Hmmmm...Must be a strange kind of conjuration. Too bad I could not get a better look at those symbols surrounding it."

Second:

There a crackling hiss coming from the rear!

** spoiler omitted **

"Ack! Behind us!

Initiative: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

Breach turns around, noticing the beast. "Ya know, Pate, I'm beginnin' ta think this place itself is creatin' these blasted things." He sighs. "C'mon, beast!" He slams his axe and shield together.

Initiative: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 = 17

"Damn beasts! What God of beasts did we anger?"

Initiative 1d20 ⇒ 3

Initiative: 1d20 (15) + 2 = 17

-

Thanks. Totally forgot about that also. Eventually I'm gonna remember something about him. I hope. Anyway, just as an fyi, any aberrations we might come against, I get bonuses towards them as well due to Deep Warrior trait. Figure I should throw that out there in case I manage to forget about that one as well. :P

"Well now, this is most interesting! Two more of the tiny runes on every eleventh panel," Gandel softly muses aloud. "The next designated symbol is 'My' - a possessive, but by a great power, such as a noble or even a god. Followed by 'Law' - with the plural dots to the side, making it 'Laws'. So, the message as we know it so far seems to be talking about someone or something who cannot or will not follow or adhere to some high muckety-muck's laws..."

"Well, Lydia, initially they do. But when yur done cuttin' those off, five more show up. So, that's where Gandel gets ten. If I recollect correctly, I took off seven of 'em meself."[/b] He smiles at the fact before furrowing his eyebrows as he tries to remember. Shrugging it off, "Yeah, I'm sure it was seven."

"Might have been seven...but of course, those were a lot easier to chop off AFTER I had wrestled the beast to the ground and eaten it's heart." Hurgah muses after hearing Breach's remark.

When the crackling sound comes from behind, Hurgah whirls, axe ready.

"Another? Where did it come from? No matter, let us see if it dies as swiftly as the other one.

Initiative: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9

I read the text in the spoiler box but don't think I don't know what's coming. Initiative for the sexy Xerissa: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 1 = 10

"Muscles to the rear! And fast!"