Aardvark's "Nothing Venture Captained, Nothing Gained" Shattered Star Campaign (Inactive)

Game Master Troy Malovich

Perhaps one needs to use the original language?

"Hmmm. A crowd of problem-solvers, I see. How charming." He turns to the dwarf then, still leaving the puzzle of the box to the others, "I am Faedrin. I presume you have a name or must my dear sister go on calling you 'Master Dwarf' for the remainder of our acquaintance?"

Good call with 'lucre' - that's the only other word I can see to make out of those letters

As Dareon and Elrawein continue to finagle with the box, the half-orc looking over the notes, Faedrin turns to address the dwarf. Just then Dareon taps his way through the letter combinations until he comes to his second option. As soon as the letters are arranged into the word 'LUCRE' a soft light appears across the top of the box.

A seam begins to appear, splitting the top of the box down the middle, before going halfway down the height of it to encircle the thing around it's middle. If the box were to be opened, a quarter of it would lift to each side making it roughly half as high as it was, but twice as wide. For right now, though, the light vanishes but the seams where it can be opened remain.

Oz looks around the room as the seem appears, and makes it a point to walk up and place his hand on Dareon's, regardless of the fact that he didn't know him. "Ancient. Unpredictable. Keep shut..."

While Oz was a delver of secrets, and a purveyor the local ruins, as noted in his ability to read, yet not speak, Thassilonian, he didn't much care for surprises. That's the same reason he was wearing his mask, after all.

"Let them return, no?" His mask glinted as he spoke. It had eye holes to see, but the same thin cloth completely covered his face.

Impressive Dareon

Dareon looks up and around at his new compatriots - he was as surprised as any of them were impressed, but he tried to keep that hidden beneath his stiff exterior.

"Thank you.", he says to Elrawien's compliment, but to Oz's suggestion, he counters "Don't you think that we shouldn't leave any part of this to be dealt with by them upon their return? They did say that this is an "audition" of sorts, no? While I have never participated in the theatre, I am at least as familiar with the audition process as being one of a test of entrance. Surely if we leave some part of this unsolved, we will be inadequate."

With that, sure as he is of his rightness, Dareon pulls open the box.

"Well done, Dareon", Tanjvats said, impressed.

"Ah! How splendid." The opening of the box draws Faedrin's attention for a few moments, but as Dareon procedes to open the box further the imperious elf dismisses it with a wave of his hand. He turns back to the dwarf with a melodic laugh, "Haha! How quaint! It is just a box after all, a fancy box, but a box nonetheless. Such things were designed to open. Oh but we're getting off topic. You were about to tell me your name!"

As Dareon dismisses Oz's warning as an avoidance of the audition, he pulls back the lid of the stone box. Each lid is still as heavy as a quarter of the box, yet they glide rather smoothly and easily on hidden hinges. There is a flash of light, briefly, and standing just on the other side of the box are three tiny ugly creatures. They look as if someone had mixed a rat and a small dog, then taught it to walk upright. Their canine features rise into mischievous grins, and an odd yipping laugh escapes their muzzles as they take in the room with wide eyes.

As soon as they emerge, they spring right to action. One of them grabs some of the notes on the table, and begins to tear them apart. Another one, says something in a language no one understands, then laughing urinates on some of the other notes. The third one grabs the nearby drapes on the window and begins to shred them as he tries to pull them down.

Round 1:
Faedrin -
Tanjvats -
Oz -
Dareon -
Gaileyon -
Elrawein -

Creature 1 - tears up notes
Creature 2 - urinates on the papers
Creature 3 - shreds the drapes.

MAP

Faedrin is the first up after the monsters. They already went, and are now at the bottom of the order.

IMPORTANT! Any time a d20 roll is made during this fight, roll 2 and take the lowest. Sorry, Oz and Dareon, like we haven't dealt with enough of these in LoF.

PUGWAMPIS?! NOOOOOOO!

Knowledge (nature, untrained): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22
"Oh but we're getting off topic. You were about to-" Faedrin's inquiry is interupted by the appearance of strange little creatures. His question cut short, he instead asks, "-the devil are they?! Are they- are they gremlins?" As the trio of creatures quickly set to work destroying and vandalizing anything within reach, Faedrin snaps his rapier from its sheath. In the blink of an eye, he's astride the table, looking for an opening to run one of the little gremlins through.

Swift Action: activate spell dance
Move Action: draw rapier
Move Action: climb/hop up onto table in D5

I am going to take a five foot step back to C3. After I do that she will pull out a handful of rose petals and cast a spell spell focused on E6.

"Ast therion neathan uth rander" .

Well, my action is gonna be the same no matter what, so here goes. I am striking at the pug in E5. Also, is there a DC for getting on top of the table? If I kill this one and want to move forward, can I do so with no chance of failure?

Dareon drops the box in surprise when the pug-headed creatures emerge, and immediately feels awful for having mishandled such a priceless relic. Resolving to make up for it later, he draws his sword and swings at one of the ugly creatures vandalizing the room. "Somehow, I feel like I'm overreacting to what these things are doing."

Longsword attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14
Unluck: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16
Damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

Tanjvats stumbled backwards in surprise, fumbling for his mace. Reaching a hand out, he touched Gaileyon's shoulder.

"I could use your help, friend, Desna willing and if you don't mind!" he said hurriedly.

5-ft step back to B-5 to make room for Gaileyon and touch him with Bit of Luck (5/6): for the next round, any time the Gaileyon rolls a d20, he may roll twice and take the more favorable result. This should offset the negative version. Also, draw my mace.

Despite his general distraction from the box in talking to Gaileyon, Faedrin literally leaps into action as the creatures emerge. He nimbly dances onto the tabletop, blade in hand, ready to strike as soon as he's able.

Tanjvats on the other hand, backs away from them, hoping to enlist the aid of the very person that had Faedrin's attention in the first place. He gives the dwarf a brief blessing to better amplify his chances of removing the things.

Round 1:
Oz -
Dareon -
Gaileyon -
Elrawein -

Creature 1 - tears up notes
Creature 2 - urinates on the papers
Creature 3 - shreds the drapes.
Faedrin - Activates ability, draws weapon, and hops on table
Tanjvats - Steps back, uses luck buff on Gaileyon

MAP

Dareon, you can get on the table with a double movement cost (so cost 10'), but with two of you standing in the same side I'd be wary of tippage.

Elrawein, you will need to make a caster level check to beat their SR (and sadly you will have to roll twice and take the lower of the two as well)

Ok.
1d20 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 1 + 2 = 5
1d20 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 1 + 2 = 21

It looks like Fade might be in the radius but since he is immune to sleep he should be fine?

Round 1

"Take advice next time!" Is all the words Oz can happily muster as the creatures start to tear the room apart. For a moment he just looks around, trying to find the easiest target, and assumes the one taking the drapes down isn't really paying attention to him.

Taking a 5 foot step back, he flings up the longer portion of his coat, revealing quite the number of daggers that glint against his own shade. Pulling 2 of them at once, he launches them;

First Dagger to E6: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (14) + 3 = 17 First Dagger Damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2
Unluck: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8 If it's unaware of him: 1d6 ⇒ 6

Second Dagger to E6: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (14) + 3 = 17 Second Dagger Damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3
Unluck: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4 If it's unaware of him: 1d6 ⇒ 4
Alas. they miss entirely, but he still keeps an eye on where they go, hoping to retrieve them later, and reaching into his cloak for another set.

5 foot step into C3, draw daggers, throw daggers.

Oz tries to get at the little creatures from his blocked position near the back of the room, deciding to throw two daggers at the destroyer of draperies. Unfortunately the two whizzing blades only end up shearing the very drapes he was 'protecting', which causes them to finish the tear the gremlin had started. At this point, it turns to look at him with a wicked grin, before issuing its malicious laugh.

Dareon, as for dropping the box, I would imagine it was flat on the table already. Since it weighs 30 lbs, and the lid is a two piece opening.

Dareon releases the box, which makes a resoundingly heavy THUNK where it hits. Drawing his blade, he successfully makes short work of the one right in front of him, killing it 'mid-stream' and causing it to vanish.

I would say you cannot get on the table this round, as it would take a move action and you used yours to draw your sword.

Round 1:
Gaileyon -
Elrawein -

Creature 1 - tears up notes
Creature 3 - shreds the drapes.
Faedrin - Activates ability, draws weapon, and hops on table
Tanjvats - Steps back, uses luck buff on Gaileyon
Oz - Drew and threw two daggers at Creature 3, missing and cutting drapes
Dareon - Drew sword and killed Creature 2

MAP

The dwarf curses, dropping his ale mid swig as the box is opened. The mug falls to the floor, spilling all over his front. He shoots out of his chair around the table, drawing his Dwarven Waraxe with a roar as he swings it down on top of one of the creature, both hands on the shaft of his weapon.

Move around table to D6 - Drawing Weapon while moving
Attacking Creature 1
Unluck is canceled out, apparently... So!

Primary Attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15
Bit Of Luck Roll: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14

Damage - holding in 2 hands: 1d10 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 4 + 2 = 15

Looking at the dwarf attacking the little creatures,
"Master Dwarf, this is where your expertise and rankness are in most need.

Gaileyon, for this fight (not that it will last much longer) the luck bonus will just cancel out the unluck, causing you to only have to roll once. Instead of four times taking the best and worst.

The dwarf's frustration at not being able to do anything with the stupid box is assuaged as soon as an enemy pops into the room. This is the type of thing the elf was talking about him being able to help with. He takes action, grabbing his heavy dwarven waraxe, and cleaving into the little imp shredding papers. He also digs into the table underneath it, but luckily doesn't chop the edge of the furniture off.

Elrawein, in light of the fact that Gaileyon killed his target, you would only have one left. Would you still want to cast sleep on the single target? I'll wait for your response before I initiate the action you had previously chosen.

No map, as it's late and I would prefer to resolve Elrawein's possible change first.

Sure. I made my rolls for SR above.

After the dwarf nearly hews a chunk off the side of the table, Elrawein steps back and sprinkles a single flower's worth of rose petals into the air. At the same time she incants a series of strange words. She tries to put the wicked little creature to a lulled state of sleep, but it doesn't quite work. For some reason, one of the typically dry petals stuck to her finger, and the spell just didn't seem to have the push to affect the gremlin the way it should have.

Sadly, the unluck aura caused you to not beat its SR.

Odds = Dareon, Evens = Gaileyon. 1d6 ⇒ 6, he targets Gaileyon.

The little creature snickers in its aggravating yip laugh, before it hops down to just behind the table. There is a suddenly a loud ringing noise coming from the thing, and Gaileyon can feel his axe vibrating in his hands. The tremors running through it are in tune with the ringing, and if he doesn't manage to stop it, they could very well sunder the weapon.

Gaileyon, make a DC 10 Will save to prevent your waraxe from being Shatter-ed

Round 2:
Faedrin - Activates ability, draws weapon, and hops on table
Tanjvats - Steps back, uses luck buff on Gaileyon
Oz - Drew and threw two daggers at Creature 3, missing and cutting drapes
Dareon - Drew sword and killed Creature 2
Gaileyon - Moved and killed Creature 1
Elrawein - 5' step, cast sleep, spell resisted

Creature 3 - 5' step to behind the table, used (Sp) to shatter Gaileyon's weapon.

MAP

Knowledge (arcana): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 16

Dareon drops his sword at the sound of the ringing - he knew the consequences if that wasn't stopped. He dives at the axe and grabs ahold of it in an effort to stop the ringing.

Aid another on Gaileyon's save.: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (12) - 1 = 11

With a hmpf of a little bit of anger that the creature dare to resist her magic she moves past the half-orc (into A6), and chanting casts an acid splash at the remaining creatre.

1d20 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9 Ranged touch
1d3 ⇒ 3 damage

1d20 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7 ranged touch
1d3 ⇒ 2 damage

"Caustis heneron jamnian"

Dareon, what's the Know (arcana) for?

Smirking, Faedrin looks at the little gremlin as it focuses on Gaileyon's bloodied ax and remarks, "Hmmm. Perhaps you should have stayed in your little box?" He then jabs his rapier forward, following the thrust immediately with an arcane gesture.

Rapier (high ground, spell combat): 1d20 + 5 - 2 ⇒ (12) + 5 - 2 = 15Unluck: 1d20 + 5 - 2 ⇒ (13) + 5 - 2 = 16for: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

And daze @ remaining pugwampi: Will Save (DC 14) or staggered for one round
I'm not casting defensively. Don't want to risk losing the spell from that blasted unluck aura. I'll hazard the AoO instead.

Dareon would need a spellcraft to identify the spell (rolling twice for unluck), and would then need to roll twice on his aid another check as well.

Fade, you will need to roll two (unluck) caster level checks to overcome its SR. Also, it has cover from the table, as you are on it, and it is below it.

I wasn't sure about cover. It seems to be adjacent to the table rather than under it. Lucky unlucky little thing! I clean forgot about SR though.

Caster Level Check: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24 Unluck: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13

Also, if it takes 2 rolls for Spellcraft, would we need 2 rolls for knowledge checks too?

Shouldn't Gaileyon be @ D6 on the map?

Will Save against Shatter: 1d20 + 0 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 0 + 2 = 15

Gaileyon grunts in frustration as he feels his weapon vibrating. The elf grabbing hold of his weapon also causing him to be a bit confused by what's happening. He's had weapons sundered before, but never by means of magic.

Through gritted teeth he barks a promise to the little creature, "You little rodent.... You are going to die. You just wait and see you... Pest! You're done!"

Yes, the unluck specifically applies to all d20 rolls. For cover it is adjacent to the table, but is tiny and on the floor, whereas you are on the table. Sorry, Gail, missed the actual placing, but at the time the creature was in D6, so I just put you at the closest square you could attack from.

Will save 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19

Standing nimbly balanced on the tabletop, Faedrin tries to jab at the little thing. Instead he ends up skewering the padding on the back of one of the nice study chairs, tearing a hole in the fabric. His slight gestures afterward seem to give the little thing minor pause, but with a shake of its head the wicked gleam returns to its eyes.

Round 2:
Tanjvats - Steps back, uses luck buff on Gaileyon
Oz - Drew and threw two daggers at Creature 3, missing and cutting drapes
Dareon - Drew sword and killed Creature 2
Gaileyon - Moved and killed Creature 1
Elrawein - 5' step, cast sleep, spell resisted

Creature 3 - 5' step to behind the table, used (Sp) to shatter Gaileyon's weapon
Faedrin - Spell combat, misses, casts daze

No one moved since last map update.

Tanjvats could almost feel the aura of malign fate coming off of these creatures...it made his skin crawl.

"You are above this, beyond it, better than it, Gaileyon! Trust Desna!" Tanjvats said in a rising voice, touching the dwarf in the back with two fingers.

Bit o' Luck (4/6 remain) on Gaileyon. It provides an entire round of protection, so he'll not have to worry about two saves, skills, etc until the start of my next turn.

Tanjvats lends the dwarf further encouragement, especially since it seemed to be so effective the first time.

Round 2:
Oz - Drew and threw two daggers at Creature 3, missing and cutting drapes
Dareon - Drew sword and killed Creature 2
Gaileyon - Moved and killed Creature 1
Elrawein - 5' step, cast sleep, spell resisted

Creature 3 - 5' step to behind the table, used (Sp) to shatter Gaileyon's weapon
Faedrin - Spell combat, misses, casts daze
Tanjvats - Uses luck buff again on Gaileyon

No one moved since last map update.

I moved and cast a spell.

Gaileyon, his anger barely being withheld, decides the easiest course of action to get to the creature is to move the table. "Best watch your footing Elf!" he barks loudly as he rips at the edge of the table, flipping it to get to the creature.

Strength Check to FLIP 'DA TABLE!: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23

"Why hell-o there little creature... Are you ready for MY AXE?!"

Realizing that the fight is, for the most part, over, and that they all kind of reacted a little bit intensely considering, Oz simply stands aloof in the corner of the room.

He just sort of shakes his head in embarrassment at the fact that he'd actually thrown 2 daggers at one of them.

Do nothing.

So do I get to take my aid another action? I'll roll the spellcraft check (twice) and the aid another (twice). If I've already taken that action, my next action will be below.

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7
Unluck: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 = 20
Aid another unluck: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (14) - 1 = 13

Aaaand my following action, or my current action if the aid another is disallowed.

Dareon moves to D6 (going all the way around the table) and swings at the pugwampi.

Swing: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19
Unluck: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5
damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

Oz, seeing that there are 'too many tails on the target' decides to step to the corner and watch how the whole thing turns out. Dareon, though, encircles the table to be able to get at the little thing to swing at it. What he ends up accomplishing is finishing off the corner of the table that the dwarf had damaged earlier. With eveyone crowded around the thing, Gaileyon can only think of one way to get at it, and with only a slight warning to the elf he upends the table to move it aside.

As he lifts the thing, Faedrin is forced to hop back down or lose his footing and possibly end up on the floor. Considering it is just a simple hop down, it is no big issue. The table now stands upright on two of its legs, creating a thin wooden wall in the middle of the room. His sister steps into the gap left by Dareon moving, and tries to fire a magically conjured globule of acid. This globule is then thrown at the gremlin, but instead lands on the floor before it and creates a pit in the polished floorboards.

Left to its last devices, the little thing has few options left, and decides that it will go after the man before it. With a snarl and a word in the unknown language, it draws its tiny litle knife and lunges at Dareon. The blade does nothing but tink of the hard shell of armor that the man wears.

Attack Dareon (provokes AoO from Dareon as a Tiny making a melee attack) 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 3 = 19

Round 3:
Faedrin - Spell combat, misses, casts daze
Tanjvats - Uses luck buff again on Gaileyon
Oz - Waits and watches
Dareon - Moved around the table to get attack the gremlin
Gaileyon - Upended the table
Elrawein - 5' step, cast acid splash, missed

Creature 3 - drew dagger, attacked Dareon.

MAP

I was slightly worried when I saw that 19...and then I remembered that I have silly AC for level 1. :3

Dareon, frustrated at his miss and the group's collective destruction of his host's home, sees an opportunity to strike and takes it, lashing out with his longsword at the tiny mischievous creature.

Wait a second...

"Don't kill this one! It should be fairly easy to subdue, and they've been disappearing when they die. Think of how it will look that when Heidmarch returns...a destroyed room with nothing but us in it."

Longsword Attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11
Unluck: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15
Damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11

In a concerned manner, Elarwein will rush to her brother's side to make sure he is unhurt. In Elven, [/b] Drin, did that orc of a dwarf hurt you? [/b]

Dareon swings at the gremlin swiping at him, but ends up smacking the wall just above its head. This causes a painting of a serene landscape to fall and its frame to snap.

So, it's a miss with the AoO

In a concerned manner, Elarwein will rush to her brother's side to make sure he is unhurt. In Elven, Drin, did that orc of a dwarf hurt you?

My bad, I thought I had the controls under control, lol.

His footing suddenly upended underneath him, Faedrin's quick footwork saves him from a clumsy tumble to the floor. As the table flips, he does his best to catch the priceless artifact they'd been asked to investigate to save it from a similar ignominious fall. With a petulant glare directed to the dwarf, the graceful elf glides back and out of the fracas. Looking around at the growing destruction, he remarks, "Hmpf. Perhaps I misjudged you, Master Dwarf. You seem to be a greater threat to these halls than those pesky gremlins. How... unsurprising."

Do you want any rolls to save this paradox box, Aard?

After his sister approaches, he laughes airily and responds.

As the table flipped and Gaileyon lurched for his axe, Tanjvats placed his hands into the dwarf's back. He did this to prevent being trod upon, and to give Gaileyon a clear idea of where he was...it wouldn't do to have that axe hit him accidentally.

"It's in the the corner!"

Bit O Luck (3/6 remain)

Seeing his companions still endeavoring to get the creature, and Oz still standing in the back of the room, hypothetically stroking his goatee, Dareon lunges forward, going for a grab on the tiny, pathetic creature.

Grapple: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22
Unluck: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24

Looking at the actions of Dareon, Elarwein comments, What a magnificent act of bravery and strength Dareon

Fade, you can make a DC 12 Str check (roll twice for unluck) to catch the paradox box.

As Faedrin dances off the flipped table while trying to keep the box from tumbling to the ground, Tanjvats continues to encourage the dwarf into action with blessings. Dareon lunges toward the little gremlin, and the critter swipes at him ineffectualy as the big man grabs a firm hold on the creature.

AoO on Dareon 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

Round 3:
Gaileyon - Upended the table
Elrawein - 5' step, cast acid splash, missed

Creature 3 - drew dagger, attacked Dareon.
Faedrin - Attempts to catch the box
Tanjvats - Uses luck buff again on Gaileyon
Oz - Waits and watches
Dareon - grappled the gremlin

No map change from last posted

Strength Check (DC 12): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3
Unluck: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

HA! =P

As the table topples over, Fade makes an attempt at least to catch the box before it falls. Getting a light grip on it, he realizes after it slips through his hands that thirty pounds of stone does not catch easy. When the box actually strikes the floor, a tremendous BOOM shakes the floorboards, and the contents of the box spill out. Tumbling from the stone puzzle are a nice dagger and four small shiny objects, the latter of which go sliding across the floor to the space beneath the bookcases on the northwest wall.

Beneath his mask, Oz raises an eyebrow rather high. Dagger? Amidst the chaos, Oz simply watches as the dagger goes beneath the bookcases. Not paying the fight much mind, he takes interest in the contents, kneeling down while everyone is focused on the Pugwampi.

Reaching beneath it, he sees if he can't scrounge up the contents to take a gander.
Appraisal, if possible.: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (17) + 7 = 24
Unluck Appraisal: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18

The dwarf pats his axe in his hand, a grin on his face as he see's the creature's helpless state. Once the elf calls his thoughts and grabs the creature, his face turns sour. He wanted that creature dead, but he realizes the wisdom in the Elf's words. He places the head of the axe over his shoulder with a wide grin.

"Suppose you're right, Elf. Best to leave this one alive." He watches as the Elf grapple with the creature, somewhat amused at the irony of seeing one of his racial rivals wrestling with such a small creature while the dwarf watches.

He turns his head over his shoulder, speaking towards the others "Any bets on who comes out on top of this little... Wrestling match?!"