City of Strangers - The Godsmouth Heresy (Inactive)

Game Master FuriousPhil

Alexi overhears Nichelle's whispering appriasal to Gaius. He sees her withdraw her blade and has the same idea. He holds his mace firmly in his right hand as he readies himself for an assault.

Stealth: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 18

Tom sees the others begin to sneak down the hallway, and decides to wait until he hears the all clear, or until it seems like they might need his help.

Azrim shakes his head solemnly and whispers "flying things under the ground...such things should not be so" as he pulls out his warhammer, tightening his grip around the haft while mouthing a silent prayer.

Looking back and seeing everyone armed, Gaius whispers "I will go out and pretend to be alone, once I have its attention I will pull it back west past this hallway. Be ready to strike when it passes." Sheathing his sword he pulls out a javelin and steps out into the open, shouts "Hey!" and throws the javelin.

I'm suggesting you all ready whatever ranged attacks you have available, or ready a standard action charge.

Move N1->NW1->W1. Then make the attack.

Attack 1d20 + 4 - 2 ⇒ (6) + 4 - 2 = 8
Damage 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

Alexi draws his bow and pulls back on an arrow, ready to fire it at the flying head once Gaius executes his ploy.

Azrim loads his crossbow and readies a shot.

Hearing the various ranged weapons being readied, 'Chel simply crouched lower, so that the others should have no difficulty firing over her. It had the added bonus of hopefully being out of the flying head's line of immediate sight, which would allow her to place a dagger in it unsuspecting. If the cloak were a bit more of a mottled grey instead of the uniform dark grey it was, she could almost pass for a rock in the corner of the hallway.

As Gaius tosses his javelin, the creature immediately turns about, intent on attacking something other than the door. It sails wide, but has the intended effect.

Perception Zombie Vargouille 1d20 ⇒ 13
Opposed vs. Stealth (Alexi, Nichelle)

The creature will not be able to see the rest of the party until it reaches the point where it can perceive the rest of you in the hallway (t doesn't have line of sight to anyone except Gaius presently). Alexi gains concealment at that time.

Initiative Zombie Vargouille 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6
Initiative Gaius 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (13) + 3 = 16

Treating Gaius's action as part of a surprise round, and the rest of you as having readied actions in that round - unless you want to act in the surprise round, rather than setting up an ambush.

Gaius stands like a sentinel, awaiting the diseased looking flying monstrous head to fall into the ambush.

After checking the module closely, I realized after crunching all the numbers for a varguoille's shriek attack (which went really badly for you guys, with 4/5 of the party paralyzed for 5 rounds) this is in fact, is an undead vargouille, and no longer has that ability!

Any of you can act, as you are dropping into the initiative order at the same time, after the vargouille has moved.

Updated Map

Tom will ready his sling to make an attack once the creature is in his line of sight.

Already took my surprise round action, obviously.

Round 1
Initiative 16

Gaius will draw his blade and charge the flying head.

Attack (power attack, charge) 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22
Damage 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10

My AC is 19 until my next turn.

Let me clarify a bit. Tom, Nichelle, Azrim and Alexi can all make a ranged attack at the creature right now, so go ahead and post that if that's what you want to do. I might have over complicated this a little.

As tom sees the thing come into view, he lets loose a bullet at the creature.

1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21
1d3 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Azrim lets fly the crossbow bolt, praying for a true strike.

Crossbow: 1d20 ⇒ 6
Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 4

Round 1: Initiative 5

Alexi trembles slightly as he waits for the approaching beast. He shivers at the thought, 'This is real, this is real ...'

Attack with Longbow: 1d20 ⇒ 11
Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 8

Once the three shots have passed safely over her head did 'Chel move, intending to bracket the thing with Gaius, so that they might destroy it easier. She had no idea about what the thing was, but if it was anything that once had a skull, then it was entirely susceptible in a number of places. Disgusting though it was, she slipped behind it and attacked, aiming for a weaker part of its wings, figuring that a grounded head would be much less of a threat.
Attack:1d20 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 1 + 2 = 16, 1d4 + 1d8 ⇒ (3) + (5) = 8

The plan executes almost flawlessly, and even as Azrim and Alexi both go wide with a crossbow bolt and arrow, Tom and 'Chel are able to wound the horrible looking creature.

Not giving the thing a chance to inflict any damage on the rest of the band, Gaius quickly charges forward and slices the clumsy flying thing into pieces.

Party gains XP 400 as well as an additonal XP 200 for executing the ambush well.

I'm going to assume you all moved to the east to investigate.

The room that branches off the hallway to the southeast appears to be a vestry - a long chamber decorated with large stone carvings of religious ceremonies and priests handing down judgement to the common people. Stone benches are lined up before a podium at the southern end of the room.

A single wooden door stands at the end of the hallway to the east.

Perception: party - Take 20

A small, unadorned wooden offering box lies forgotten in a corner covered in dust and cobwebs. It contains 17 gp and 20 sp. Underneath it is a strange amulet crafted from silver, in the shape of a seven pointed star.

Do you want to investigate the door to the east?

Alexi congratulates the group, "Well done comrades, nice execution." As he reassures himself that he hasn't signed up for something well over his head.

Alexi carefully examines the amulet. Casts Osiron: Detect Magic

And if necessary: Knowledge (Arcana): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10

Oh - is that 400 and 200 each or divided by the number in the party?

XP is for the party. If I decide to award it individually for something (like good role-playing) I'll specifically mention the character.

Alexi examines the seven-pointed star amulet, but detects no magical energy emanating from it. He does realize that the seven points have a significance to the 'sin' magic of the ancient Thasillonians, and correspond to the seven 'schools' of magic and seven 'virtuous sins' that they venerated.

"Well done team. You'd make good soldiers." Gaius says grinning. Later after they've examined the room and amulet he chimes in again "Better hold onto that just in case Alexi. It could be a key to something, or if nothing else worth something on the surface."

'Chel was looking at her dagger and making a small face at the amount of things that she has had to kill in the past few hours. She was appreciative that her daggers were normal, everyday things, since she would hate having to clean various types of ick and yuck off of the blades. Even though it was cheap, she felt bad for the state of her cloak at the end of this. It was likely that she was going to have to burn it.

The extra dagger again disappeared somewhere under her cloak, and she approached the door, stretching her arms and hands lithely, nevermind that the motion may have made her form seem more enticing, despite the dim light. The flick and idle curl of her tail could be seen sweeping under the cloak briefly.

The door was hopefully just a door this time, and a few minutes to examine it curiously would hopefully benefit them. She looked over her shoulder to speak to the others. "Which way are we going now?", she asked, also heartened that the companions that were with her on this job were competent.
Perception(Take 10): 15

As Nichelle takes a closer look at the doorway, she realizes it is actually a double door with the hinges on the other side, meant to swing into the next room - she can barely make out the outline of a board acting as a bar in the middle of the two doors. It's possible that someone or something may have barred the door to prevent the flapping head from attacking them - which would make sense, seeing as how it was trying to clumsily break it down when you first encountered it.

The door is hardness 5, hp 20, Break DC 15.

This was a curiosity. A door that was barred from the inside... Now, the question is, could she manage to open it without breaking the door? A fishook and twine came to mind, but she was not in the habit of carrying those things... An amused laugh slipped from her throat at an idea that was so absurd that it just might work in opening the door-- without any need for breaking or circumventing.

'I swear.. If this works', she thought to herself, standing and rapping politely on the door with the hilt of her knife, unable to keep a disbelieving smile from her face and no small amusement out of her voice. "Halloo in there!?"

'That's what we non-magery types call, "casting Knock",' she snorted, her expression having changed to a silly grin.

After a minute waiting for a response, it seems Nichelle's amicable greeting was met with nothing but silence.

The crack in between the doors looks like a dagger blade would fit in between, and the bar could probably be pried upwards with a little dexterity and some patience, however...

Giggling softly to herself, she shrugged, not having expected any reaction from her knocking at all, really. Looking closely at it, she tried to slip the knife between the planks that she saw, and tried to raise it as best she could. She did try to be careful, however.. It would not do to bend the knife.

"Any chance it might be trapped? If not I can try my dagger to see if I can lift the bar loose."

Alexi carefully examines the door, looking for anything that might signal an unwelcome surprise for tampering with it. He also listens to see if he car hear anything on the other side.

Perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (8) + 11 = 19

"If y'all can't finesse her, I can prolly kick her down." Gaius chimes in, as he watches the others work.

Maybe we should try to keep the noise to minimum. One flying head is enough for one day.

Azrim shrugs, letting the others poke and prod, but looks to Gaius and says "I'm with you on that front." He tugs on his beard at Tom's comment. "Mayhap, but all of this sneaking around is eating time. Who knows what these blasphemers are up to in here...though, I suppose their not knowing of us would be prudent, as well." He absentmindedly touches his holy symbol as he wonders about the source of all of this.

Nichelle is able to push the door bar up enough so it comes loose out of its slot, making a clanking sound as it drops to the stone floor.

The doors easily open to a very dark room. In fact, it seems darker than normal...

Too dark for darkvision?

Nichelle grinned as she heard the bar clank and fall to the floor, but that grin faded as she saw the darkness that the light did not touch. In fact, she was completely sober-faced as she kept her eye on the darkness and waved behind her for Gaius. "Sir Gaius," she began.. "I can't see anything.. Can you?" Using her ears, she tried to get a sense of the size of the room, at least.
Perception:1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10

"Hmm lets see ..."

perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (5) + 11 = 16

As Nichelle, Gaius, and Alexi handle the door, Azrim sets to muttering divine incantations and doles out castings of Guidance on everyone again. ...Father Torag, grant your insight...

Tom looks into the room and sees nothing. [b]Hmmm, I wonder...[/i]

He casts Dancing Lights and moves the lights into the room.

Alexi casts Detect Magic to see if the darkness is imbued with the arcane or divine arts.

Azrim calls upon the power of his god Torag, and bestows a beneficial spell on the party. Both he and Gaius can pierce the darkness with their vision, but the room still appears dim for some reason.

Tom casts a spell, and several luminous wisps materialize, beginning to brighten the room.

Alexi realizes that someone or something is using magic to keep the room dark. You recognize it as a darkness spell, similar to the one the darkmantle used to conceal itself in the stairwell.

Alexi alerts the others in subdued tones, "Wait, there's someone here!" as he jumps and tries to grapple the sneak, or at least slow his progress.

Grapple with Guidance: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 1 = 10

Alexi tries to grab the small creature, but its clothing is greasy and it slips away, frightened and angry. It produces a dagger from somewhere in the folds of its garb, and attempts to fight its way free.

Falk (dark creeper) Initiative 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11
Alexi Initiative 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 2 = 12

I'm having some issues logging into my image server for the map - it's set, I just can't provide a link yet!

Initiative Nichelle 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 13
Initiative Gaius 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21
Initiative Azrim 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8
Initiative Tom 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (11) + 3 = 14

The small creature tries to stab Alexi, and open up a path to the door.

Sneak Attack 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14
Damage 1d2 ⇒ 1 + 1d6 ⇒ 6 and poison
Alexi Fort vs. poison 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 2 = 15

At first feeling weak, but steeling himself, Alexi resists the black poison.

This is of course, contingent on what everybody else decides to do first. The room is only 20' X 15' and right now Alexi is in front of the door with the creeper directly north.

Just want to point out that RAW darkness doesn't give him cover/concealment against me and Azrim. So we should technically auto spot him once he comes into our line of sight, even if he rolls a 500 on his stealth check. Unless he has some other form of cover or concealment. Doesn't matter now, just for future stuffs.

Gaius seeing Alexi get stabbed will say, "Move elf! Let me at him!" ready to rush at the creature as soon as there is space.

Delay until Alexi moves out of the way.

I'll wait until my turn in order before posting my response.

Tom sees the creature trying to pass by, and casts Black Motes.

dmg 1d4 ⇒ 2

Reflex 14 to negate.

Nichelle knew better than to try to get between an armed (and armored) Hobgoblin, and simply cleared the way for Gaius. She was expecting that whatever it was that was trying to escape would have some difficulty after Gaius had his say.. That did not stop her from drawing another dagger from under her cloak just in case, though.
Delay until after Gaius attacks

Gaius, I assumed the darkness was negated (or at least mitigated) by Tom's dancing lights spell anyways, and the Stealth check was while the creeper was concealed from sight - you had to notice him hiding behind the opened door, which Alexi did. That, and I just thought it would be a little more fun that way...

Keep in mind that the dark creeper was trying to flee, and may have felt forced into a confrontation...if you kill him, you may never know why he didn't try to go through the door at the other end of this room.

I'll update the combat round post and have the map uploaded tomorrow. For some reason photobucket is giving me some problems.

No worries about the stealth thing. That makes sense. As for killing him, he crossed that line as soon as he stabbed Alexi. Unless someone convinces him otherwise Gaius is not the merciful type.

Waiting for Alexi/Gaius/Creeper. Might be dead before my turn.

Alexi recoils at the shock of the stabbing, its his first wound in battle and the sensation of it amplifies everything. He makes a five foot step out of the fray in an attempt to collect himself. Still nerved from the potential of the poison he casts Guidance on the party, excluding the creeper.

Stepping in after Alexi acts.

Round 1
Initiative 12-

Gaius will move forward and swing one of his signature heavy blows at the creepy little man saying, "This is your last and only chance to surrender. Drop you weapon and lay down and I won't hit you again."

Attack (Power Attack, Guidance) 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24
Confirmation roll 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21 LMAO, guess one hit might be one too many!
Damage 3d8 + 15 ⇒ (6, 2, 5) + 15 = 28

That's some warning shot!

I guess technically he could have used his head as a weapon.

Gaius steps forward and literally slices the creature in half.

Well, so much for any interrogation.

Religious carvings depicting the judgment of souls cover the walls of this room. A stone pedestal with a bowl-shaped depression on top stands in the northwest corner. Wooden cabinets and chests of drawers line the walls.

A wooden door, similar to the one you entered, is in the east wall, also barred from the inside of this room.