Burnt offerings, being part 1 of Reptilian's RotRL campaign (IC thread)

Game Master Philippe Kavanagh

Darst wrote:

Darst blinks. "Uh..."

Save: 1d20+9
In his uncertainty, a vine wraps around his leg. "Ack! No!"

Just fyi, you don't have to roll the save until you move or, if you don't move, the end of your turn.

Yup, end of my turn.

Still waiting on Venmirl's action(s). Oh and Darst is entangled and takes 1 point of damage, putting him at 11/25 hp.

I assumed combat was over, since the goblin flew off. Venmirl doesn't have anything he do anyway, I think.

I assumed combat was over, since the goblin flew off.

He's only twenty feet up.

Thanks for waiting guys. Sorry I've been AWOL lately, but I should be around a computer more now. Hope everyone in the States had a good Thanksgiving!

Venmirl watches the goblin transform into a winged creature before his eyes and is momentarily stunned by what he sees. He comes to his senses at the last moment, right before the "goblin" is out of range, and fires a glob of acid.

Acid Dart: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23, damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4
I think Venmirl is still down 1 or 2 off his Dex, so its only +3 to hit (ranged touch).
Confirm Crit Acid Dart: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (14) + 3 = 17, damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8

Awesome!! Judgement still going, so hp at 16/29. Acid Dart used 2/5 per day.

Venmirl earthy power hits the gannet's right wing with deadly precision. The acid immediately starts to eat away the bird's feathers. The bird loses altitude and lets out a cry of pain and panic. He crashes into the northern plant wall of the room before falling down to the ground next to the fallen goblin dogs. The druid bird thrashes about for a second or two before he stops moving completely and slowly regains his original goblin form. The adventurers notice that most of right arm and hand present severe acid burns.

Well that's another foe vanquished, congratulations! With no threat around, you can take your time and carefully escape the entangle area and/or wait for the effect to end.

Izbahn carefully helps Naomi free herself of the bonds, glaring at the offending thorny bushes. He slaps Venmirl on the back, "Good job thre!" and makes his way over to where the goblin corpse lay, and chants softly Detect Magic

After finishing examining the corpse, he turns to Shalelu, "Can you see if you can rouse Whisper? We still need to find Kortus and Amelhamhra and without that druid influencing him, he should prove helpful scenting them out."

Izbahn soon discovers that the druid has several items that radiate magic. The two more obvious are his leather armor and woolen cloak. There's also magic coming from a large bag that was tied to his belt. It's filled with lots of junk, including an assortment of small dead animals, but the wizard's spell allows him to sort through the junk and find the sources of magic: there's three clay bottles filled with murky liquids and a large mushroom. The little stick that Naomi stole during the fight is also magical. Beside all this magical equipment, the goblin was also carrying a small spear and a leather sling.

Once the plants stop moving, Shalelu rushes to the cat's side. She kneels to examine the animal before shaking a head. "I'm afraid his spirit has left his body ... Kortus will be devastated, if we can still find him alive ..."

Darst would like to rest for a minute and spend all 13 RP, to get to 24/25 HP.

Izbahn shakes his head slightly, As if I care about that beast... as he looks over the magical items, trying to determine their properties.

Venmirl sits down to rest. "Whew! That was a close one!"

He will take some (most) of his reserve hit points also. 10 RP to get to 26/29 HP, 4 of 14 RP left.

Cloak 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (6) + 11 = 17

Leather armor 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (14) + 11 = 25
Potion #1 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (6) + 11 = 17
Potion #2 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (1) + 11 = 12
Potion #3 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (18) + 11 = 29
Mushroom 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (4) + 11 = 15
Wand 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (15) + 11 = 26

Cloak: failure

Izbahn stores the loot in his pack. "I am sure this stuff will come in handy later." He looks at Darst, "Did you want this armor? It should be more useful than your...armor, he he."

Assuming Darst equips himself...

Once the group has rested, he looks to the southern passage where Whisper had came from originally. "We should check that out. Kortus may be being held down there....somewhere."

Anyone else wants to heal/use reserve points?

Izzy will use his RP's here.
Max/Curr HP: 20/20
RP: 8/10

The group checks out the southern passage from which both Whisper and the goblin druid came. The tight passage ends as it opens up into another chamber. A tangle of vines hang from the thorny ceiling, each suspending a clattering collection of bird skulls, rib bones, teeth, and other bits of gruesome decor. In a few places the vines droop all the way to the floor. A large nest of nettles and thorny vines sits to the south, a halo of half-eaten dead birds and rats indicating that whatever sleeps there eats in its bed. Aside the passage from which the group came, there aren't any apparent exits to the chamber.

Izbahn chants softly a quick spell Detect Magic. While he is scanning for magical auras, he motions to Darst "You want to check this further?"

Izbahn chants softly a quick spell Detect Magic. While he is scanning for magical auras, he motions to Darst "You want to check this further?"

Darst fidgets, unused to his new armor. "What's you mean?"

Darst fidgets, unused to his new armor. "What's you mean?"

Izbahn looks at the goblin, "Have a look around, see if we can find any clues...or treasure...."

Darst wrote:

Darst fidgets, unused to his new armor. "What's you mean?"

Izbahn looks at the goblin, "Have a look around, see if we can find any clues...or treasure...."

Darst perks up. He runs over and starts searching through the vines, trying to see if anything of value is hidden within.

"At least he's being thorough about it." Naomi whispers to Izbahn.

Izbahn smiles, "Yes, you have to admire his enthusiasm. Anyway assuming he does not find anything interesting, we should press on. I hope we do find Kortus soon."

Izbahn doesn't detect anything magical in this chamber.

As for Darst, he doesn't find much beside the bones of small animals. The only thing of note he finds are several small clay pots hidden under dried leaf piles. Several are empty but other contains various things : dried and fresh plants, eyeballs, rotten eggs, and other foul smelling ingredients.

Izbahn doesn't detect anything magical in this chamber.

As for Darst, he doesn't find much beside the bones of small animals. The only thing of note he finds are several small clay pots hidden under dried leaf piles. Several are empty but other contains various things : dried and fresh plants, eyeballs, rotten eggs, and other foul smelling ingredients.

Darst shrugs, uninterested. He leaps up and runs back over to the others. "Nothing!"

"Right, Darst. OK let's head up that northern passageway then."

Venmirl will join Darst, walking a steps behind him, into the new territory.

Perception when we get into the new area: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12

Turning around, the adventurers explore the northern passage at the T-junction. A few feet into the passage there's an opening to the right (east). Down there, a few wooden steps have been placed in the dirt to facilitate the access to a lookout point. From this observation post at the top of a cliff, the adventurers can see the rocky coast and the ocean stretching east as far as the eye can see. The view is perhaps more interesting further down the northern passage. It also ends at the cliff top but, here, a rope bridge spans the gulf between the cliff and a roundish, flat-topped island sixty some feet to the north. Thick patches of nettles and briars grow here and there atop the island, but its most distinguishing feature is a crudely built wooden one-story stockade. Two thirty-foot-tall watchtowers guard the stockade’s southern facade. The rope bridge itself is made of hairy rope and thick wooden planks; the whole thing creaks and sways in the wind above the churning surf eighty feet below. Shalelu points to the rocky island an says : "There! That's Thistletop proper. Perhaps the goblins brought their prisoners over there."

Venmirl shields his eyes from the sun and observes the goblin stronghold for a moment, but he doesn't notice anything of worth.

I'll update the map tonight to give you a better idea of the layout.

And here's the map.

"So this is it. This is where that b*&^%-headed woman is." Naomi mutters as she gazes at Thistletop.

Izbahn glances at Naomi, but says nothing. Instead he gazes at the fortress, a dark look on his face.

"We are going to be sitting ducks on that bridge. I don't see any way to avoid it though."

Venmirl responds to Izbahn's assessment "Hmmm. And I wonder if it has strength to hold us heavier types. Do any of you spot anything keeping watch in those towers?"

So, what's the plan? Like Venmirl suggested, anyone can roll a perception check to examine the towers and stockade or something else.

Naomi mutters a spell under her breath and traces a rune on each eyelid before looking closer at the towers for any watchers.

Guidance.
Perception:1d20 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 2 + 1 = 11

Perception 1d20 ⇒ 12

"Damn, I can't see anything here. If the gobbies are guarding the bridge, they are well hidden. Darst, can you see if that bridge is safe to walk on?"

Perception 1d20

"Damn, I can't see anything here. If the gobbies are guarding the bridge, they are well hidden. Darst, can you see if that bridge is safe to walk on?"

Darst nods, though he doesn't seem quite sure where to start. He takes a look at the ropes.

Darst moves closer to examine the bridge while the rest continue to observe the watchtowers. They don't spot any sentries.

Darst moves closer to examine the bridge while the rest continue to observe the watchtowers. They don't spot any sentries.

** spoiler omitted **

For the record, I feel a little metagamey for this. I have been through this much of the adventure, and I knew very well what Darst just discovered. But yeah, no way around it. <|

Izbahn stares at the bridge. "Great...just Great."

He turns to Darst, "Ok, you go first, then Venmirl. I will go after the two of you make sure we don't get ambushed. Naomi and Shalelu will bring up the rear." He looks at the others. "Sound like a plan?"

"Almost. In case something goes wrong I have a rope. Does anyone else? We'll need to tie another one to mine to make it long enough to span the bridge. Darst should make it safely across, he is pretty light, but I'll tie one end of the long rope around my waist. We should tie the other end to a post over here. When I make it over to the other side I'll tie that end to a post, and then there will be a safety line case the bridge breaks."

Shalelu nods at Izbahn while testing the string of her bow. "Don't worry, I'll cover those that cross. I'll shoot any goblin that shows its ugly head ... Well, except him, of course." She concludes, pointing at Darst.

Anyone else as rope? Venmirl has 50' but the bridge is 60' long.

For the record, I feel a little metagamey for this. I have been through this much of the adventure, and I knew very well what Darst just discovered. But yeah, no way around it. <|

Like you said no way around it. Ideally, this would be a 'blind run' for everyone but given that these are the Paizo boards and this adventure has been around for a few years now, I can't really expect that. Just play your character and don't worry, you made the perception check anyway.

Izbahn slaps his forehead in frustration. "Well, if we cannot find any rope...we will need to improvise."

Did we find any rope in the druid's lair?

Venmirl looks around. "No one else has a rope?" These city folk aren't very well prepared... he thinks to himself.

Izbahn slaps his forehead in frustration. "Well, if we cannot find any rope...we will need to improvise."

Did we find any rope in the druid's lair?

There was plenty of vines hanging from the ceiling. That could be use to make some sort of crude rope. Roll some sort of relevant Craft/Profession skill check if you want to do that. If no one has a relevant skill (which I think is the case), roll a simple untrained craft check (i.e. an intelligence check).

Izbahn gazes at the long strands of vines. An idea forms in his mind..."Maybe we can use these vines to fashion a rope."

Craft, untrained 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (14) + 3 = 17

Twisting several strands of vines together, Izbahn and the rest of group manage to fashion some 20 feet of rope. The mage's improvised rope seems solid enough but whatever it can hold under the weight of a full grown man remains to be seen.

Izbahn hands the end of the rope to Venmirl and motions for Darst to head across the bridge, nocking a crossbow bolt.

"OK, get going Darst. We will cover you."

Izbahn hands the end of the rope to Venmirl and motions for Darst to head across the bridge, nocking a crossbow bolt.

"OK, get going Darst. We will cover you."

Darst nods and slowly advances along the bridge.

Darst makes it across the bridge with little problem, if a little slowly. Venmirl follows soon after, with the rope tied around his waist. The bridge squeaks and sways more under his greater weight. Trying not to look at the waves crashing on the cliff 80 feet below, Venmirl eventually also makes it across. The adventurers now have one end of the rope on each side of the bridge.

Venmirl ties the end of the rope to the vines and tests out the strength. When satisfied it is somewhat secure he ties one end to whichever post from the rope bridge looks the sturdiest and then ties the other end around his waste.

Survival: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10

After that he nods to Darst after Izbahn encourages the brave goblin.

"If Venmirl can make it across, you and I should have no problem. You go first, Iz, I'll keep watch on this end to make sure we don't get surprised."

We have just hit the 3000th post! Woohoo for us!