All's Well that Ends in a Well

Game Master Choon

secret door seems like a good choice. but worried a little about that portcullis

You open the secret door to see... nothing. Only a bare room 5' square. It was part of the trap. Further investigation for the curious leads to finding a release on the pudding door that is connected to a suspiciously familiar chain.

"Meew, what a let-down!
Just a trap.
A big and ugly one.
Why would you build something like that if there is nothing you want to protect-miii?
Or do they ... What is behind that door...?"
And with that, Simons opens the east hallway just before the gate and peeks into it.

You make your way down a narrow, uneven tunnel with a growing feeling of dread. Even the walls here seen opposed to your presence. You begin to emerge ingto a large cavern when you're attacked by eight Ogres!
8d20 ⇒ (14, 13, 11, 9, 2, 15, 15, 5) = 84
But you've faced worse and lived many times and it takes you only a little effort to disperse the beasts. Once you kill one or two they retreat to the north through a passage leading who knows where.

In the cavern you find a separate sack of personal treasures for each of them.
Copy Pasta ahead:
Treasure: standard (hide armor x8, greatclub x8, 4 javelins, 24d12 ⇒ (5, 2, 6, 11, 1, 6, 8, 8, 6, 1, 3, 1, 6, 1, 10, 1, 6, 8, 11, 12, 1, 4, 4, 2) = 124 gp, 32d10 ⇒ (6, 4, 4, 4, 6, 7, 1, 9, 9, 10, 4, 10, 4, 1, 2, 4, 10, 6, 7, 5, 8, 5, 3, 9, 9, 9, 7, 5, 4, 1, 7, 9) = 189 sp) plus a sack containing quite the hoard:
Sack one contains three dead dire rats, a large wheel of cheese, 140
gp, 3 oil flasks, three tanglefoot bags and a large, pretty rock (uncut,
unpolished alexandrite worth 2,000 gp).
Sack two contains half of a week-dead elf wearing elven chain, a +1
keen longsword, six +3 arrows in an efficient quiver and 230 sp.
Sack three contains a small cask of fine brandy, a masterwork heavy
crossbow, a masterwork dwarven breastplate, a ceramic pot full of
antitoxin (six doses), 325 cp and 120 sp.
Sack four contains a two-foot-square silver mirror, a silver and sapphire
ring worth 30 gp, three potions of water breathing, a mummified human
arm, a battered book written in Halfling (titled The Wanderings of Helman
Hairfoot) with a rose pressed inside it, and a rusted crowbar (which is
really an immovable rod).
Sack five contains an ivory scroll case (30 gp) that contains a scroll of
5 arcane spells (antimagic field, rage, rope trick, shocking grasp, and wall
of stone), 44 gp, a silver helmet with a garnet set in the forehead (worth 60
gp), two dead rats and one dead stirge.
Sack six contains the body of a dead wizard wearing tattered robes and
a masterwork dagger, four large but worthless shiny rocks, a thoroughly
destroyed spellbook with only two spells still usable for study (contagion
and dispel magic) and 340 gp.
Sack seven contains a pair of magical boots of the frog (adds +6 to all
Acrobatics checks to jump and +4 to all Swim checks; the wearer also
develops a taste for insects), three flasks of holy water and a case of 12
crossbow bolts.
Sack eight contains a mantle of faith, five dead dire rats, a severed
halfling head wearing an earring made of gold worth 10 gp, six large but
rusty iron spikes and a small sack of fresh oranges (10).

Grelthe will attempt to identify which religious symbols are on the mantle of faith:
1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26

I reorganized the list of stuff, leaving the dead bodies off. I think we can carry everything except the mirror and maybe greatclubs?

Grelthe is interested in the halfling book and mantle of faith, mostly.

The mantle is embroidered with lizards and other icons of Chaldira Zuzaristan, Halfling demigoddess of luck and mischief.

Zadira is interested in the six +3 arrows with the efficient quiver, but only if no one else claims them. If someone else wants to do some archery, feel free.

Zadira readies her bow in case something jumps out at Simon.

Vuzi studies the cheese carefully. She remembers stories about cheese being cursed., and casts Detect magic on the Cheese.

She'll take the scrolls,and the scroll case if no one else wants them.

The fight with the Ogres has reminded Simon of the last time they encountered the giants he meow silently, remembering the friends who have left their group since back then.
Absent-mindedly he let his paws run through the heap of coins and looks over the loot they have taken from the Ogres.
"This is a lot of stuff.
We should hurry up and find a way back to Vance-pur.
I do fear the moment when we have to flee a major danger and get slowed down by all this heavy stuff..."

Not particularly interested in any of the loot.

If no one else is interested in the keen longsword, I can use it to provoke AoOs for the other melee characters through the Outflank feat? I just feel bad nabbing all the magic weapons, but if no one else can use it...?

Good with everything people have claimed so far. I also think Kayla (or someone) should take the frog boots. I'll take the immovable rod as well if no one wants it, but totally want other people to claim things too.

posting Kayla's claims in discussion

As she inspects the mantle of faith, Grelthe happily starts chattering away about the miscellaneous gods and demigods of luck to anyone who will listen. (One of Kurgess' domains is also luck, and both gods are friendly with Desna.)

If the map is updated correctly, then Grelthe will suggest we explore to the north first.

Zadira nods at Grelthe's suggestion and heads north.

Marco looks at the brandy and picks it up "it has been quite some time since I had quality spirits.... not since we were with our dwarven friend... I wonder what he's doing right now...

This path doesn't immediately lead into another cavern, but twists and turns for quite some time as the floor turns from rough stone to sand and the walls start to grow fungus regularly. The air becomes moist and a tad warmer. You come to a fork in the tunnel. Right or Left? Yo can also go back if you wish to finish with the cave system you were in before.

Zadira goes right.

This direction just feels right, doesn't it?

"Let us continue." Vuzi is ready to follow

"I wonder how deep this dungeons reaches-meeew.
And we do not even know how to get back up from here.
My ears are twitching-meow.
Not a good sign you know..."

Taking point with kayla for sneak-duo scouting action.
@Kayla: We really should get stealth synergy feat. Choon and I play in a commando-spy-themed campaign where the whole group got it. It is ridiculous, when you are nearly guaranteed to score a double-digit result on any stealth roll if you stick together well xD

The tunnel doesn't continue on for long before you exit into a large, sandy cavern. It's utterly dark here, requiring torches or Darkvision to see.
The entire cave structure as far as you can see is covered in giant webs. Egg pouches and various dedicated remains hang in various places.

Not long after you emerge, webs shoot out of the darkness at you!
2d6 + 3d20 ⇒ (2, 1) + (14, 7, 10) = 34
Simon, Vuzi, and cain are targeted, but only Vuzi is hit!
Vuzi, DC 12 refelx to avoid becoming entangled.

Party up! Your foes are currently above you in their nests, but they probably won't stay there! The nests are at least 20'up.

Grelthe starts singing and takes out her new longsword. Raging song - Inspire rage

You guys were supposed to laugh at my "feels right" pun. :)

Zadira shoots a fireball at the ceiling (she has darkvision, so she should be able to aim accurately, and place it up and enough ahead (if needed) so that the 20 foot fire radius doesn't reach the party).

Fire Damage: 7d6 ⇒ (6, 5, 5, 4, 1, 2, 1) = 24

Reflex DC 17 for half damage.

I was sniggering for sure, Zadira!
Simon shouts: "Close your eyes for a second, Gozreth light will shine now!"
Without stopping, he continues with a short prayer to his god:
"Light is life,
Darkness causes rot,
Show these monsters the bright of the sun,
They all have forgotten,
And let this light a flame in their hearts!"
Cast: Daylight on my kukri.
60ft becomes bright light.
120ft get one step brighter.
... let there be light.
Maybe they don't like it?

In answer to Grelthe's empowering song, Emily throws her head back and ROAR!!!s with all the force her fully-grown lungs can muster.
As Simons light flashes up, the slid-eyes of the huntress search for pray within reach.
Are there any on ground level within 80ft of her?
If not, she will ready a bite-possible grapple as soon as a spider gets close to her.
@Grelthe: Finally it makes sense for her to join your rage song :-)

@Simon I think that I will take that feat next. unless there is a feat that allows me to do special attacks with Chocolate.

@Zadira I did laugh, but you didn't see me cause I was hiding and eating Chocolate.

Kayla was hiding in the shadows, until the daylight came out of nowhere. she was crouching by the wall, (and now, in the light looks rather silly).

She immediately grabs something on the ground, found it then she looks up at the ceiling, oh, poop she draws her bow to take a shot but among all the light, fire and smoke, she seems to have trouble aiming.

bow shot: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (12) + 10 = 22
damage?: 1d4 ⇒ 3
sneak if it qualifies: 3d6 ⇒ (6, 6, 5) = 17

Marco frowns as he looks at his arms, he was running out of ranged attacks, but he couldn't climb or fly to where they were so he launches two more of them at the beasts though he doesn't succumb to the music, preferring to keep his whits about himself given his fighting style
1d20 + 13 ⇒ (3) + 13 = 16
1d20 + 13 ⇒ (19) + 13 = 32
damage: 1d6 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9
damage: 1d6 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11

Reflex: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26

Vuzi dodges out of the way of the web. "Vu should try harder."

She sends Magic Missiles at the creatures.

MM: 3d4 + 4 ⇒ (3, 4, 1) + 4 = 12

Grelthe starts singing and suddenly the dark cave flares to light! Zadira's fireball easily takes out the three who attacked you, but the Daylight spell reveals them to just be the vanguard. Literally dozens of sets of eight eyes peer out of the darkness!
The party reacts immediately. Kayla shoots one our of its web as cain skewers two. Vuzi also scores a kill with her magic missiles.

Then crap hits the fan. Web. Whatever.

Spiders start to swarm your location None are quite close enough to attack, but the are definitely on the move. You can see them descending from webs and skittering along the floor.
5d20 ⇒ (2, 15, 5, 15, 10) = 47
More webs come flying into the midst of the party, but they miss their targets! You can also spot hordes of smaller, tiny spiders in massive writhing carpets advancing on you!

There are spiders in melee range, but they couldn't attack. There are several more within a move action. I'll try to get a map up but it won't be until late tonight or tomorrow.

Grelthe keeps up her singing as she swings her longsword at the nearest spider, trying to maneuver to give her allies flanking (if possible- if not then she will full attack).
longsword +1 attack w/ rage: 1d20 + 13 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 13 + 1 = 31 Woo-hoo! First swing!
crit confirm: 1d20 + 13 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 13 + 1 = 30
damage w/ rage: 1d8 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 6 + 1 = 14
crit damage w/ rage: 1d8 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 6 + 1 = 15
I doubt we'll need the extra damage, but the crit will trigger outflank AoOs if we are able to flank it.

Grelthe is better at stacking single target damage than crowd control. I was going to add Precise Strike to my rage song this turn, but I don't think we need it.

Zadira is probably going to keep casting fireball 3 more times if necessary, trying to target the places where they are massing the most and take them out in giant clumps... but happy to wait for the map.

Ahhh, I think I have a neat idea how to combat swarms!
Although, I would have liked to have another 3rd level spell, for an aurochs with trample.
But I guess a fire wind! elemental should do the trick as well, because of the whirlwind form is awesome against tiny swarms!
Seeing the rolling mass of tiny spiders coming, Simon starts a low, whistling chant, which sounds like a wind-driven wildfire after stepping back behind Emily for cover.
Summon a Small Wind Elemental into the midst of the spider swarm.

[occ] gotta go to work, but will wait for map as well[/ooc]

Vuzi sends a sling bullet at one of the spiders.

Sling: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (10) + 9 = 19
Damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Based on how quickly we wiped out the first... 7 spiders, they are pretty squishy, so I will just do the full attack to the NW with a 5 foot step after I crit on the first spider, hopefully to hit the one behind.

Zadira shoots a fireball towards the ceiling, aimed so that it is up high enough to not touch the party, but so that it affects both swarms to the south (and will also hit the large spider between them).

Fire Damage: 7d6 ⇒ (3, 2, 6, 5, 6, 4, 6) = 32

Reflex DC 17 for half damage.

Even the half kills them, so I won't bother.
The party sets about murdering spiders. Zadira's fireballs wash away the swarms and the larger spider between them. Grelthe cuts another in half while simon starts a spell.

The spiders advance! And little spiders start literally raining from the ceiling! They fall in the hudreds, if not thousands and you are almost immediately blanketed in arachnids!
Everyone must make a DC 15 will save or become staggered as you try to bat off the little spiders and fight the larger ones! All spells now require a concentration check to cast, including you, simon (unless it was a standard action cast, I'm not sure.) due to distraction.
7d20 ⇒ (8, 10, 20, 11, 6, 5, 15) = 75
The spiders snap and bite, but only one gets a hit. Grelthe is holding off as many as she can and one set of vicious mandables slips though!
Take damage: 1d6 ⇒ 6 plus DC 14 fort vs poison

Party up!

Will Save: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23
Concentration Check: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (19) + 10 = 29

Not willing to target the spiders crawling over her own party and thereby frying her friends, Zadira casts a fireball down the hall to the northeast, burning three large spiders and two more swarms that were headed their way. (Yellow circle)

Fire Damage: 7d6 ⇒ (6, 3, 6, 5, 2, 1, 2) = 25

Reflex DC 17 for half damage.

Hundreds of spiders evaporate in Zadira's fire. It's starting to get funky in here... It might be the smoking spider corpses.

Will save: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (16) + 10 = 26
Fortitude save: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (19) + 11 = 30
Grelthe stalwartly ignores the tiny spiders and the poison.

Assuming the spiders are neutral, 6 damage - 5 DR = 1 damage taken. Also, can I tell if the poison came from a swarm or a larger spider?

Large spider

Knowing some of her companions are not as hearty as her, she will focus on the poisonous spiders. Full attack, with a 5ft step to the next target if the first attack kills one, same as last turn.

Longsword +1 attack w/ rage: 1d20 + 13 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 13 + 1 = 26
damage w/ rage: 1d8 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 6 + 1 = 8 5ft step if that kills it

Longsword +1 attack w/ rage: 1d20 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 8 + 1 = 29
crit confirm: 1d20 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 8 + 1 = 25 Again, triggers unneccessary AoO from any flanking allies (outflank).
damage w/ rage: 1d8 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 7 + 1 = 14
crit damage: 1d8 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 7 + 1 = 11

Grelthe slaughters two more spiders!

will: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

Kayla seems unable to fight off the spiders, she simply is looking for a way out. tries to move away from the swarm into any opening she can.

move action only

Will: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10

Vuzi is very upset about the spiders in her eyes and ears. "Make dem stop." She still manages to concentrate and blasts one of the large spiders with her Magic Missiles.

Concentration: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (18) + 11 = 29
MM: 3d4 + 3 ⇒ (3, 3, 4) + 3 = 13

Will: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12
Concentration DC?: 1d20 + 2 + 7 ⇒ (18) + 2 + 7 = 27
Simon growls between the incantation, not able to fend off the spiders without loosing the spell which is in full progress and growling is really the only thing he can do at that point.
Still, he managed to keep concentrated and finish the incantation and a fresh breeze is rushing through the cave as the air elemental comes into being in the midst of a lot of spiders.
Finally free to do something about the spider crawling all over his body, he gets back to back with the looming frame of Emily, trying to squash as many of the small things as he can to allow Emily to concentrate on the few bigger foes coming from the front.
Aid another, +2AC for Emily.

Will-Save, is this enchantment effect (Devotion+4)?: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8
Emily is clearly uncomfortable with all those crawling creatures on her body and snaps and claws wildly around until she feels Simon pressing against her back.
His presence somewhat calmed her enough, to take a properly aimed bite out of one of the large spiders trying to get to them.
Single Bite, Pack-Flanking, Grab: 1d20 + 11 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 11 + 4 = 25
Bite Damage: 1d8 + 7 + 1d6 ⇒ (1) + 7 + (1) = 9
Free Grab if not dead: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (18) + 17 = 35

Whooooooosh!
With the sound of a distant hurricane, the small elemental immediately transforms into its most natural form: a 15 feet high, 5 foot whirlwind of raging air, picking up speed as it moves in a circular move over to his caller who clearly is in distress by an assault of thousands of tiny creatures.
Oh what fun it will be to see them all flying!
Assuming Whirlwind form, affecting every tiny-or-smaller creature (good thing that Nikki is not here, or she would learn flying now).
Must pass a reflex save (DC12) or get hit by a Slam (d4+1) and must pass a second test or be sucked into the whirlwind, suffering the damage each round automatically.
Not sure how that cloud part works with movement though. Does it occur everywhere it goes? Does it only occur if it remains stationary? No idea whatsoever ...
I indicated its path of flight on the map.

Spidernado?

@Zadira: Lol!
Gosh, thank goodness we're not fighting sharks, eh?

Will Save: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (18) + 7 = 25
Concentration Check: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (1) + 10 = 11

Zadira is totally fine with the spiders on her apparently, but you see her start to cast a spell and then bust out laughing at the spidernado. It's too funny and she can't keep it together, so her spell is wasted. Sad story, but maybe worth it. :)