Aubrey's Rise of the Runelords campaign (Inactive)

Game Master Aubrey the Malformed

Here’s my take … for what its worth:

EDIT" On the other hand, this isn't DMing by committee, so its up to Aubrey really.

Well, you've gone through the pillar, and I think you buffed before it went down. You went to the door, tried to open it and failed, checked out the other room, including looking at the torture implements, looking for the funny key (which didn't have a neon sign with an arrow flashing at it), checking the bodies, and the woman took a while to actually get up. Doing all of that in thirty seconds, when you are exploring an ancient catacomb you have never been in before, seems a bit off. The bare minumum would probably be a minute, and that if you are rushing (EDIT - even Mother's suggestions seems a bit rapid to me: six seconds to all of the checking in a single room?). And rushing character rush into traps and ambushes.

Given that the party is 3rd level and with limited casting capability, throwing down buffs of limited duration is a decision you chose to make and sometimes you make bad decisions - maybe this simply says conserve your resources (or at least be a bit smarter with them). For those potions, they were going to last one minute - you basically had to encounter something in the next room for those to work. I appreciate you want to have your buffs in place, but I never said "a major nasty is just behind the pillar" - you assumed that, and falsely. You even have another big door you haven't looked in - you had and have no idea what is behind that. So you took a punt that your foe would be immediately behind the next door, and he/she/it wasn't.

I'm sorry if it seems a bit harsh, but, y'know, you are experienced at this D&D lark. I think you overestimated how long those spells will work for - it has happened in the Eberron campaign too (against the Triune, or rather the Triune's monk guards who were inconveniently in the next room after buffing). I'm not doing it deliberately either, I should point out, to vex you or make a point (in fact, I'm fairly surprised too it worked out like this). Blame James Jacobs, he made the dungeon this way.

I'm fine with the expired buffs - that still leaves Dravite with Bull's strength, though, as it has a duration of four minutes.

Initiative 16+1=17. Hey, finally a good initiative result!

I'm not worried about it. Nothing wrong with a little struggle and 2 minutes from pillar to here outside of the bubble of thinking of things in terms of 'rounds' seems generous to me.

So the common concensus is that the buffs are gone? Okay. Will save: 9 + 4 = 13. This won't be good... Init: 18 + 2 = 20.

(Vethran goes first, then Larken, then we are on initiative proper. I will provide you with the set-up later - probably tomorrow my time.)

(Vethran goes first, then Larken, then we are on initiative proper. I will provide you with the set-up later - probably tomorrow my time.)

I'm going to take my first action under the impression that I'm within 30' of Elisile... because I likely am.

Possessed by the demon's spell, Vethran quickly intones a spell and moves to strike the elf with it. ghoul touch on Elisile (sorry, Mothy!). Touch attack: 12 + 2 = 14. Fort save DC 15.

(Good move - you don't want to ruin her clothes by getting them all burnt.)

(Good move - you don't want to ruin her clothes by getting them all burnt.)

(They'll be a little stinky for awhile, but that goes away. Actually, in Vethran's mind, she's the one most likely to succumb to the effects of the spell and, if she's paralyzed, she's not a threat. Then he can deal with the others... who I expect will promptly pummel his ass into the dirt. :D)

Sorry, I totally forgot about the torture room stuff (PBP! I don't even think I did anything in there so I forgot it after reading it), So my bad. Just totally forgot we had to find the key to this room. Disregard my idiocy, please.

Disregard my idiocy, please.[/ooc]

We're used to it b'now.

Init (1d20=4)

On his first turn, Davos will cast Protection from Evil, then move to stand close to Hudak or Dravite (which ever one is wailing on the naked chick) to provide ready healing.

Sorry, I totally forgot about the torture room stuff (PBP! I don't even think I did anything in there so I forgot it after reading it), So my bad. Just totally forgot we had to find the key to this room. Disregard my idiocy, please.

Yeah, its cool. It was a risk, and it didn’t pay off. Hopefully we’ll learn from it…

Yes, there is an extra door isn’t there? I misunderstood initially – pictured the pillar as free standing in the centre of the room (misread the description), and figured it would open the door – those doors looked quite grand and forbidding, so I assumed our demon would be behind them. Bad assumption…

I'm going to take my first action under the impression that I'm within 30' of Elisile... because I likely am.

Possessed by the demon's spell, Vethran quickly intones a spell and moves to strike the elf with it. ghoul touch on Elisile (sorry, Mothy!). Touch attack: 12 + 2 = 14. Fort save DC 15.

No worries. Fort save: 15+3 = 18.

Elves are immune to a ghoul's paralysis - but it doesn't say anything about such immunity in the spell description, so I guess it still works on them. Made the save anyway ... good roll and her fort save is actually not too bad.

Initiatives:
Dravite: 20+
Vethran: 20- (gets to act in the surprise round)
Larken: 17+ (gets to act in surprise round)
Alwyn: 17-
Elisile: 15
Illes: 11
Hudak: 8
Davos: 4
Lo'j: ?
Demon: ? (gets to act in surprise round)

Out of the corner of her eye Elisile sees Vethran suddenly lunge towards her, hand outstretched, but he is too quick for her to react. As his hand closes about her arm, she feels a chilling numbness spread into her body – but she steels her mind, forces it to retain control of her body, and fights off the spell.

She stares at Vethran in shock for a moment, then turns her gaze towards the woman in the room. Her eyes widen with sudden realization. “The circle is broken!” she exclaims, “or false. But something has kept that thing trapped in that room. Alwyn, Dravite, quickly, shut the door! It must be the door!”

Initiative 14+1=15

Larken moves to flank Vethran (with Elisile), and conks him on the head with the hilt of his rapier.
non-lethal attack: 18r + 5 +2(flanking)-4(non-lethal) = 21 (potential critical)
confirm: (15r + 5 + 2 - 4 = 18)
[damage (non-lethal) (9r + 4 = 13)(blast! that's assuming an 18 confirms.)
[/url]
I'm not certain, but I think I read somewhere that you don't get sneak attack damage when you're doing non-lethal damage.
"Blast it, Vethran," he growls, not really understanding the whole 'dominated by magic thing' very well, "Lay down, or I'll have to use the blade next time."

Not sure - I thought you did, but maybe it only works with a sap. I will clarify.

Not sure - I thought you did, but maybe it only works with a sap. I will clarify.

Unfortunately you need to use a sap or unarmed strike to make a non-lethal damage sneak attack.

Initiatives:
"Elf Woman": 25
Dravite: 20+
Vethran: 20-
Larken: 17+
Alwyn: 17-
Elisile: 15+
Lo'j: 15-
Illes: 11
Hudak: 8
Davos: 4

The room is 40' east-west (A-H) and 25' north-south (6-10), with the double doors opening in the middle of the north wall (D-E/1). Opposite, on the south wall, is an immense seven-pointed star, while lighting the centre of the room is a fire pit (D-E/3), mysteriously still burning after millenia and filling it with the scent of damp, burning hair. In the western end of the room lies the still form of a naked woman in a foetal position, her back to the door. She lies in the middle of a circle of carved runes and glyphs, etched in silver metal on the floor (B3).

Outside is the hall (C-F/1-5). Please place yourselves in the hall or the room itself. None of you are currently in melee distance with B3. Anyone who has talked with the woman is in the room with her. The elf woman readies an action in case she is attacked.

Is my map-drawing skills off, or is B3 inside the wall right next to the entrance? Shouldn't she be in B9 or something like that instead?

Alwyn starts next to the fire pit - put him in G3.

Is my map-drawing skills off, or is B3 inside the wall right next to the entrance? Shouldn't she be in B9 or something like that instead?

Good point. In fact, to correct the above:

The room is 40' east-west (A-H) and 25' north-south (6-10), with the double doors opening in the middle of the north wall (D-E/6). Opposite, on the south wall, is an immense seven-pointed star, while lighting the centre of the room is a fire pit (D-E/8), mysteriously still burning after millenia and filling it with the scent of damp, burning hair. The elven woman stands in a circle of carved runes and glyphs, etched in silver metal on the floor (B8).

Outside is the hall (C-F/1-5). Please place yourselves in the hall or the room itself. None of you are currently in melee distance with B3. Anyone who has talked with the woman is in the room with her. The elf woman readies an action in case she is attacked.

(Sorry - added the hall afterwards, and didn't update the coordinates.)

E7. Hey Vatts> G3 is also in a wall.

Shows you what I know... ;P I meant F3. Now, Alwyn starts in F7 instead. F7!

Elisile’s, Veth’s and Larken’s positions are all somewhat interdependent, with E and L flanking V. E and V were both in conversation with the woman, so they’re in the room, Larken described himself as being near the back of the group, so he’s probably outside.

SO, I’ll put Elisile in D7.
For the setup to work, Veth needs to be in either D6 or E6, and Larken in a flanking position to that (D5 or F5)

Dravite is in C6. His bow is trained on her and he is readied to fire if she leaves the circle or looks to be casting.

Mighty Hudak is at B6. He will smite this wicked one down.

Waiting on Vethran to place himself, assume I'm wherever I need to be to flank him.

Veth will be in D6. Sorry for the delay.

Waiting on Vethran to place himself, assume I'm wherever I need to be to flank him.

So by Veth's placement that puts Larken in B5 to flank. I think we are all placed now, right?

So by Veth's placement that puts Larken in D5 to flank. I think we are all placed now, right?

Fixed it for ya!

Still waiting on placement for Loj (and Gurney) and Davos.

Davos will start at E5.

Dravite Schorl wrote:

So by Veth's placement that puts Larken in D5 to flank. I think we are all placed now, right?

Fixed it for ya!

Still waiting on placement for Loj (and Gurney) and Davos.

Ugh, I won't get a chance to draw a map until late tomorrow, so put me somewhere middle-ish.

It's prolly cool; Aubrey's on holiday for a few more days...

OK - let's put Lo'j at E6 and Gurney at F6.

Dravite.

Readying an action to shoot at her if she leaves the circle or starts casting any spells.

Veth, if he's still conscious after that hit from Larken.

13 damage puts Vethran at 0, which, since it's nonlethal, I believe knocks him out.

Larken then Alwyn.

As Vethran slumps to the floor, Larken pulls his protection from evil potion from his pouch and gulps it down.
"I think she probably qualifies as evil," he mutters to himself.

Move to C9 and attack the elf-demon. Attack roll 14+5+1(weapon enchantment?)=AC 20, damage 9+3+1(weapon enchantment?)=13.

Alwyn's sword thuds into her flesh, but it seems to do little damage other than drawing a small cut on her otherwise perfect skin. She snarl in fury, and suddenly her body changes shape in the blink of an eye. One second there is a naked elf woman, and then, almost as if her body explodes, is a column of green slime, six feet tall, with myriad waving pseudopoda and a single, dish-sized, glaring red eye. One of these slimy limbs slaps Alwyn hard for his impertinence.

OK, Alwyn triggered the "woman's" readied action, and takes 6 points of damage. New initiative:
Dravite: 20+
Vethran: 20-
Larken: 17++
The Thing: 17+
Alwyn: 17-
Elisile: 15+
Lo'j: 15-
Illes: 11
Hudak: 8
Davos: 4

Now Elisile.

“Much more fitting,” murmurs Elisile as the creature changes form. The elf glances down to make sure that Vethran is alright, nods in thanks at Larken, then reaches into her pack retrieving her scroll of magic weapon and hastily reading out the spell, touching Dravite’s stowed ogre-hook as she does so.

Casts Magic Weapon on D’s ogre hook. Also, she will try to identify the fiend they face, and weaknesses it may possess: Knowledge, planes: 14+4 = 18.

"I'll never drink. Hagfish water. Again."

Dravite fires off twin arrows at the creature's changing form, but misses horribly. In frustration he throws his bow into the corner of the room and reaches for his Hook. (He'll draw it during his movement next round.)
"F^@kin' bow! Ye be a piece o' sh*!&y wood meant fer de fire! Come on, Hook, time fer de killin'....agin."

1d20 4=13, 1d8=2, 1d20 4=10, 1d8=8(-4 for shootin' into melee also....)

I will move up next to Alwyn, and take a total defense action, while I wait to see if anything we do is effective. (end location D9)

Gurney, having a brain the size of a walnut, will be a bit more enthusiastic, and charge.

... Then I roll a natural 1...

Also, she will try to identify the fiend they face, and weaknesses it may possess: Knowledge, planes: 14+4 = 18.

Elisile:

Now Illes - someone NPC him, please.

Illes steps to E6 and starts singing. Also, as he uses his Inspirational Boost, the music gives a +2 bonus.

Now Hudak.

Hudak to a7 bastard sword +?
r5+8+2(music)+2(flanking)+?(magic)=17+magic
d7+4+2(music?)+?(magic)=13+magic or 11+magic if music doesn't help damage