But will there be pie? GM Hmm's Tengus and Tomes (Inactive)

Game Master Hmm

I was waiting to see if anyone with a light spell wanted to try it.

At the room with the dwarven utensils, Stali pauses a moment to see if any of them might have significance or are in relatively good shape.

Getting to the room with the pit, Stali goes back to the previous room and grabs several chunks of wood. Coming back, he gets out his wayfinder and causes one of them to glow before dropping it down the pit. He watches and listens to the sounds as it bounces off the sides of the pit On the way down.

He then tries to see the light at the end of the pit.

It goes a long way down, and eventually drops out of range of your sight. You never hear it land.

Frowning, Stali says "Pretty sure we don't have enough rope to get to the bottom of this!"

Looking at the other chunks of wood, he asks "Would it be worthwhile to light some of the wood on fire and drop it? That would give a larger flame, which means we might be able to see it further."

"Do we need to? We can always come back to it if everything else is a bust for some reason... No need to wake the monsters of the deep if we don't have to, after all."

it's a deep pit... I was tempted to say 'pit fiends' but I thought it would be too tacky

Looking down the pit while trying to stay as far away from the edge as possible, "I wouldn't want to fall down that. . .Let's keep exploring,"

We should avoid, stay away from an give a wide berth to that pit then. I suggest we keep looking.

My grippli would so be trying to find the bottom of that pit. But alas, Chak is not so brave.

The group decides to bypass the pit. They make their way into one more room. The stone visage of a horrifying creature with several tentacles for a face sits in the corner of this room. The creature appears to be rearing back in preparation to strike. Next to it are two empty pedestals, and a whole bunch of rubble.

As you survey this room, you realize that you've surveyed everything but one final room... The Vault. Dun dun dun!

What do you do now?

know history, dc 15: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14 oooh so close

Hikaru winces as he strains his memory for something he can't quite bring to the fore... this is all so familiar somehow, but he can't quite put names or dates or anything concrete to the images.

"SHall we attempt the vault then?"

While the concept of dropping something down the pit to see just how deep it went was very tempting, the grandmother knows that no good things can come of such an endeavor, especially after Stali's wooden experiment.

K: Religion: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23

"And so it was, that the Dwarven deities Kols and Torag did smite with great ferocity and furious anger the nameless horrors of the Deeps, and did encourage their children's children to seek the Sky, so that they might stop having to drop in and save their bacon all the time. Amen."

Sorry, couldn't resist, please bear with Andrietta's editorialization...

"I think we still have a couple more rooms..." Stali says, looking at his notes.

I will put the white stars on them, leaving off the three rooms we just explored.

The last rooms left unexplored were another orc barracks and a rubble-filled stairway that looks completely impassible.

All that remains is the Vault.

Perplexed, Stali says "I was expecting to find more dwarven remains here."

With a shrug, he asks "Shall we find out if Karkadon has had a long enough rest?"

He starts to move towards the dragon's lair, then stops. Looking at the others, he says "By the way, keep in mind that the vault may not be a door."

Before we return, do we think, suspect or believe that Karkadon and his minions might betray, double-cross or be disloyal to the accord we have reached?

"It is certainly possible. It would be foolish to not be wary of them. Still, it seems to me this dragon may be redeemable and Shirish also seems to be in search of a better way."

"Did you notice how she reacted at first? She seems to want a chance to be respected for her own leadership."

Frightfully looking around at Chak's mention of betrayal, "What do'ya mean betray us, they wouldn't do that. . . they agreed to help us, guys."

Sorry for being absent so long. Combination of bad internet, travel, bad internet, sickness. I'm now back home and should be posting regularly again

Sure, move us forward again

The group makes it back to the vault. As they do, Karkadon wakes up from his nap. Raising one heavy eyelid, he looks up at you with one eye, then yawns, his claws scraping the dungeon floor. "Have you finished your explorations? Is it time for us to see what's in the Vault?!"

The dragon gets up, stretches and then moves aside, showing a locked door.

___
Yes, a door, Stali!

"Just be ready, Lord Karkadon, Lady Shirish. One of the damaged statues we found in our travels showed something unclean being restrained by two dwarven deities.

Vaults can be used to hold other things besides treasure."

Andrietta is going to have her katana and shield ready when Stali opens the door... just in case.

Stali approaches the vault and examines it carefully.

Perception, Take 20: 20 + 12 = 32 +2 if trap

If Karkadon seems impatient, Stali mentions "My methods may not be the fastest, but they have kept me alive this long."

If the door is trapped, you can't spot it.

Satisfied that if there are any traps on the vault, they are far beyond his abilities Stali sets out to open the lock.

Disable Device: 10 + 15 + 2 = 27

Likely necessary...

Disable Device: 1d20 + 15 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 15 + 2 = 34
Disable Device: 1d20 + 15 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 15 + 2 = 23
Disable Device: 1d20 + 15 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 15 + 2 = 19

If needed...

Disable Device: 20 + 15 + 2 = 37

While Stali takes his time looking over the door and attempting to open it, Andrietta will be looking it over, trying to see if there are any religious symbols or anything of particular dwarven significance, including what her gut premonition is now telling her about this vault...

I REALLY hope I'm wrong about this being some sort of prison--but it'd make sense if there's mechanisms there and whatever is trapped in it has been leaking out over centuries...

Not quite sure what to roll/do for that, whether K:Religion or Perception, could take 10 or 20 since Stali will probably be taking a while opening it...

Sarano will hang back by the entrance of the room, afraid to let the Dragon be behind her.

I don't know what I taste like. . . but if that dragon roasts me it'd probably be something like chicken. . . and I don't want him to find out what I taste like,

She watches the dragon carefully, ready for any sign of betrayal.

Stali opens the lock easily on the second try. As you open the door...

Lead sheets line portions of the stone walls, floor, and ceiling of this damp chamber; many more sheets lie on the floor, bent. Arcane runes are inscribed on the stone. Patches of fungal growth are fed by a slow trickle of water dripping into the room's cracked ceiling.

There are dwarven skeletons in here, boxes, and...

...Chak hears a very familiar buzzing coming from the boxes as the door opens. Chak, you may get a surprise round action in addition to your regular.

Fortunately, the Stirges are as surprised as you are! They fly up in surprise.

ORDER: Chak's Surprise, Hikaru, Stirge Team Red, Stali, Chak, Stirge Team Blue, Vralk, Andrietta, Stirge Queen, Sarano, Stirge Team Orange, Gallako

Chak's Surprise Round and Hikaru are up!

Chak, taking a position behind would be ready with his bow. Seeing the stirges on the other side, he tries to aim an arrow over Stali's shoulder at the closest pest.

Attack: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10
Damage: 1d8 + 4 + 1d6 ⇒ (1) + 4 + (1) = 6

But having to aim high to not hit Stali, his arrow strike the top of the doorway and lands at the feet of the lead tengu.

Chak misses!

Hikaru is up!

ORDER: Hikaru, Stirge Team Red, Stali, Chak, Stirge Team Blue, Vralk, Andrietta, Stirge Queen, Sarano, Stirge Team Orange, Gallako

If you're going to roll that badly for my perception and initiative checks I'm going to check in on the game less often :-) :-)

Yeah, I rolled crappily for you guys. I am going to go ahead and delay Hikaru until after Stirge Team Red since Hikaru's sick. Hikaru, though you've been delayed you are not flat footed so you can still Parry and Riposte.
___

The Red Stirge team flows out of the door in search of targets. They're tiny, so they generate attacks of opportunity as they enter your squares to attack, but everyone but Stali, Chak and Hikaru are currently flat footed.

Touch vs Stali: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10
Touch vs Andrietta: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12

The attacks on Stali and Andrietta miss!

Touch vs Hikaru: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15

Hikaru, if you don't take it out with your Parry+Riposte by the end of your turn, it will start draining your blood.

ORDER: Stirge Team Red, Hikaru +AoO, Stali+AoO, Chak, Stirge Team Blue, Vralk, Andrietta, Stirge Queen, Sarano, Stirge Team Orange, Gallako

Hikaru, Stali and Chak are up!

again sorry for my absence, and if I post anything weird here, it's probably the drugs... docs got me on some good stuff, lol

Hikaru attempts an aoo...

to hit: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (6) + 12 = 18
dmg if hits: 1d6 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11

Hikaru attempts to parry and riposte the stirges.

to hit for parry: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (19) + 12 = 31

to hit, riposte if parry successful: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (7) + 12 = 19
riposte dmg if hits: 1d6 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10

On his own actual turn to attack,

to hit: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (15) + 12 = 27
dmg if hits: 1d6 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8

awww, too bad his one crit threat was on the parry

I have uncanny dodge, so I do get an AoO.

Stali brings up his sword to try and swat away the stirge attacking him.
Adamantine Aldori Dueling Sword, AoO: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16
Damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

Stepping forward into the room, he then swats at it again.

5' step, attack

Adamantine Aldori Dueling Sword, flanked: 1d20 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 7 + 2 = 24
Damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5
Sneak Attack damage: 3d6 ⇒ (3, 6, 5) = 14 Debilitating Injury: Bewildered -2/-4 to AC

Hikaru, your Parry+Riposte eats up an attack of opportunity, but it does not matter because Hikaru kills two of the stirges and Stali kills a third with just his attack of opportunity.

Stali, I'll let you keep your main attack roll if you want to use it on something else. You have your full movement allotment. Do you and Chak want to go into the room? There are flatfooted stirges in there.

ORDER: Hikaru, Stirge Team Red (dead), Stali, Chak, Stirge Team Blue, Vralk, Andrietta, Stirge Queen, Sarano, Stirge Team Orange, Gallako

Stali gets to decide whether to move in and attack. Chak also gets to decide what to do.

With his bow still in hand for now, Chak moves into the room and bites at the closest stirge.

Attack: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12
Damage: 1d3 + 3 + 1d6 ⇒ (2) + 3 + (4) = 9

Chak moves in with his bow, and attempts (but fails) to bite a stirge!

Before I move Team Blue, I am waiting to hear whether Stali moved in and eliminated a stirge in the room.

Stali moves in and attacks one of the blue stirges.

Using attack rolls already posted

Stali explodes one of the Blue stirges, and the GM realizes that the blue stirges were flat-footed, so Chak's initial bite killed the other Blue one.

ORDER: Hikaru, Stirge Team Red (dead), Stali, Chak, Stirge Team Blue (dead), Vralk, Andrietta, Stirge Queen, Sarano, Stirge Team Orange, Gallako

Vralk and Andrietta are up!

"Well, Grandmother laughed! Vralk, remember Ravenmoor and that amazing sausage? Why don't you tell Mister Karkadon and Shirish about that? And kids, if we can keep her alive, the tribe needn't go hungry again."

Andrietta moves up to engage the Mother of Stirges with shield raised.

Move Action: Move. Standard Action: Fight Defensively (Readied Action, attack opponent that comes within reach, non-lethal if Queen Stirge is the first in reach for additional -4

Fight Defensively with Katana(+2 AC: Curr 23/T15, -4 to hit): 1d20 + 9 - 4 ⇒ (16) + 9 - 4 = 21

Damage(MWK CI Katana): 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10

"Stirges!!! Great. Now we can make Stirge Sausage!!! Everybody - Be careful to just kill them, NOT destroy them. Need their blood!!! I'll distract them!!"

With that, Vralk starts flying in a way calculated to attract the attention of even a stirge, using the scarf that he is wearing to enhance his abilities

yes, as far as I can tell this is completely legal. If totally silly :-)

2 Stirges (Stirge Team Orange) have to make a Will save, DC 16, or be fascinated by the Crow !!

Andrietta readies to defend. Vralk attempts to fascinate, forgetting in his excitement that fascinate does not work in combat.

Fascinate (Su): At 1st level, a bard can use his performance to cause one or more creatures to become fascinated with him. Each creature to be fascinated must be within 90 feet, able to see and hear the bard, and capable of paying attention to him. The bard must also be able to see the creatures affected. The Distraction of a nearby combat or other dangers prevents the ability from working. For every three levels a bard has attained beyond 1st, he can target one additional creature with this ability.

Then buzzing madly, the Stirge Queen aims her ire at Andrietta...

Bite: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (1) + 12 = 13

...or not.

However, Andrietta misses as well. Even paladins can be a bit daunted at how the bloated, red belly dangles beneath the furiously beating wings of this massive mosquito. Besides, the Stirge Queen is very dodgy.

ORDER: Hikaru, Stirge Team Red (dead), Stali, Chak, Stirge Team Blue (dead), Vralk, Andrietta, Stirge Queen, Sarano, Stirge Team Orange, Gallako

Sarano is up!

Flicking a bit of ichor from his blade as he pivots to face the remaining bugs, Stali cheerfully tells Vralk "Too late!"

Exploding blue stirge!

Sarano, tip toes into the room, careful to watch the dragon, eying the stirges, "Why'd it have to be Stirges!"

She'll fling a magic missile into the room, target each of the stirges with one missile.

Magic Missile Lt blue + Havoc of Society Trait: 1d4 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 + 1 = 5

Magic Missile Lt green: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

Magic Missile Purple?: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Sarano kills the Lt Blue Stirge of Team Orange, but fails to kill the Green and Purple Stirges of Team Orange. She does injure them, though!

Meanwhile, the remaining Team Orange Stirges attack!

Lt Green vs Andrietta: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20
Lt Green vs Chak: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8

Andrietta, you get an attack of opportunity before it starts to chow down!

ORDER: Hikaru, Stali, Chak, Vralk, Andrietta+AoO, Stirge Queen, Sarano, Green Stirge (-4), Purple Stirge (-2), Gallako

Everyone but Sarano is up!

Hikaru moves up to the mother stirge risking aoo's from a stirge and the mother stirge, if they even get them being kinda tiny and not in his same square, and attacks the mother stirge taking the penalty for non-lethal damage.

to hit: 1d20 + 12 - 4 ⇒ (6) + 12 - 4 = 14
dmg if hits: 1d6 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7

Its not totally clear to me that the Int 1 stirges would consider themselves to be in combat and threatened and therefore immune to fascninate. Not arguing with your ruling, mind, just pointing out that the action by Vralk wasn't COMPLETELY insane :-)

Know arcana: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6

Gallako advances and decides to take down the queen and one of the stirges with a quick colour spray spell. The cone gets the queen and the purple stirge

Will save DC 14 as hit by a color spray.

Mind affecting, of course. For some reason thought I should point that out :-)

Shouldn't Chak get an AoO since the stirge attacking him would enter his square?

The grandmother sighs and keeps her defenses up as she takes a measured aim at the more youthful stirge that stepped up to her.

Fighting Defensively Current AC 23/T15

Fighting Defensively with MWK CI Katana AOO: 1d20 + 9 - 4 ⇒ (15) + 9 - 4 = 20

If AoO hits: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10

Fighting Defensively with MWK CI Katana on Queen if Peon dies, normal damage: 1d20 + 9 - 4 ⇒ (5) + 9 - 4 = 10

However, for as successful as she might be against the small one, it remains difficult to hit the larger one.

Shouldn't Chak get an AoO since the stirge attacking him would enter his square?

Totally. My bad! Take your AoO!

Stali runs past the orange stirge in order to flank the Stirge Queen with Hikaru.

Adamantine Aldori Dueling Sword, flank: 1d20 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 7 + 2 = 26
Damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8
Sneak Attack damage: 3d6 ⇒ (6, 5, 6) = 17 Debilitating Injury: Bewildered -2/-4 AC

Hikaru moves up to the mother stirge risking aoo's from a stirge and the mother stirge, if they even get them being kinda tiny and not in his same square, and attacks the mother stirge taking the penalty for non-lethal damage.

Hikaru does not draw Attacks of Opportunity from the tiny baby stirges (so cute!) but does draw an Attack of Opportunity from Momma.

Queen Bite: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (18) + 12 = 30

His attack against her misses, but she's going to hit him straight on unless he can Parry.

Meanwhile, Gallako color sprays! Momma Stirge seems completely unaffected.

Purple Will Save: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 1 = 12

Purple is blind and stunned!

Then Andrietta kills Green!

Finally, Stali hits the first real blow against the dodgy Stirge Queen for 25 damage! Even more importantly, he lowers her AC.

ORDER: Hikaru, Stali, Chak+AoO, Vralk, Andrietta+AoO, Stirge Queen (-25, -2AC (-4 vs Stali)), Sarano, Green Stirge (-4), Purple Stirge (-2), Gallako

Vralk and Chak are up! Chak has an Attack of Opportunity!

Hikaru takes a massive bite from the momma stirge.