DM Aron Marczylo's Curse of the Crimson Throne Part 4 (Inactive)

Game Master overfiend_87

I do have an open slot in 2nd level where I can get another Resist Energy, but this will take like 15 minutes I think. I can also cast Protection from Energy(acid) on you if you want as I have a 3rd level domain spell of Protection from Energy that I have not cast. I was planning on waiting and using it on you or me when our first Protection from Energy(fire) wore out.

Why even bother. I can be easily swallowed, take some damage, and then exit out quite easily with Dimension Door...just sayin.

I guess I figured that with Krenn inside, he could do a whale of a lot of damage and the AC is probably much lower. If he was not taking serious damage, he could rip the thing apart in no time (at least until it turned into a small puppy with an axe wielding halforc exploding out from within.)

So it is agreed then. I will ride one of the summoned horses in with spells casts and attempt to get the beast to come out and swallow me. This should be more than interesting...

Cast the following on myself:
Stoneskin
Bears Endurance (extended)
False Life 1d10 + 10 ⇒ (6) + 10 = 16
Protection from energy Fire (120)
Fly (extended)
Contingency with False Life Cast if I get below 50 hit points.

Llyra cast on me protection from energy (acid)
Life Bubble

And let the fun begin with the horses and Jerin...
101HP at the moment.

Looks good, will mark off the second Protection from Energy and Life Bubble.

Is the Red Reaver now traveling with us?

Just been raised that I should've made a few saves for the Red Reaver actually to see if it's still up and moving.

1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15

1d20 + 8 ⇒ (9) + 8 = 17

1d20 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 8 = 23

the Red Reaver is a little impatient and simply states in it's limited understanding of Giant "Where pretty things?" it states, growing a little more irritated with the lack of works of art or beautiful craftsmanship nearby.

Jerin is sure to use Prestigitation to show it pretty lights as well as strange colors. He is planning to grab a couple of illusions the next time he is in town...

Jerin is sure to use Prestigitation to show it pretty lights as well as strange colors. He is planning to grab a couple of illusions the next time he is in town...

opposed Charisma Check?

1d20 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 1 = 10

Waiting on Jerin for the check as he did that last time to try and convince the creature to go along with you all. Also I'm attempting to get the map working, but seems maptools is being a bit of a pain.

Jerin continues to try and get the Reaver to accompany us...
1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

Don't forget I would use my aura to lower his check as well so his roll is actually a 8. Bah foolish beast...

Jerin continues to try and get the Reaver to accompany us...

1d20+4

Don't forget I would use my aura to lower his check as well so his roll is actually a 8. Bah foolish beast...

The beast decides to leave and search for another ruin to haunt.

It was only really amazed by great works of art, not mere interesting images.

MAP

here's a map. Choose somewhere to place yourselves. I believe you're all flying?

Not really fussed. Put Curnach somewhere central with Krenn.

Likewise, I will stay in the air with Krenn and Curnach while our wizard get munched.

I will be on the ground with the horses. When it appears I will dismiss them and yell at it to get its attention then cover my face and hope for the best...and run towards it...lol

Group Initiative:

Curnach Daveck: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10
Jerinthian Kos: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10
Krenn Whetstone: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 3 = 19
Llyra Bjorgan: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 13

Cindermaw: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 1 = 14

Fair enough.

Round 1

Krenn Whetstone
Cindermaw
Llyra Bjorgan
Curnach Daveck
Jerinthian Kos

You get a chance at a surprise round as it's first action is to burst out of the ground directly under the horses in an attempt to quickly swallow them.

Erupting from the ground is a mighty worm with thick hide that radiated heat. AS it opens it's mouth you see thousands of rows of teeth. This is the largest creature you have ever faced and merely looking at this thing, you can see why the Shoanti fear and revear this thing.

From what you can tell it appears to be a purple worm, but it is altered and transformed beyond it's original form. At times you notice the teeth and sting on this creature appear to be red-hot.

MAP

Standard action to dismiss the horses.

Come you stupid beast and see what a true hero of Korvosa tastes like!

Jerin stands with his arms wide open to greet it.

Krenn is just going to delay and see what happens with Jerin.

You sure? You're in surprise round which means a single standard action. It has already acted so it's time to do whatever you plan to do.

That is to let me get swallowed.

While the others delay, Llyra says a prayer to the Savored Sting. A moment later, a beautiful glowing woman wearing little more than a light flowing gown appears wielding a long glowing whip. The woman immediately lashes out at the fiery worm, unlikely to do much with such a small weapon, but attacking nonetheless.

Cast Spiritual Ally - the ally will appear behind the worm so that we have flanking for Krenn when he attacks.

Attack-whip-force: 1d20 + 7 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 7 + 6 = 24
Damage: 1d10 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11

Delay.

Llyra's spiritual ally appears as a incredibly beautiful female elf with lithe physique and lashes out with her whip, however the creature's hide appears to be tougher that first thought and doesn't manage to hit the creature with the required force.

End of round and back to Round 1

Round 1

Krenn Whetstone (Delaying)
Cindermaw
Llyra Bjorgan
Curnach Daveck
Jerinthian Kos

Cindermaw doesn't even notice the spiritual creature behind it and moves towards Jerin and begins to feast of the human who dared to draw it's attention.

attack: 1d20 + 26 ⇒ (5) + 26 = 31

damage: 4d8 + 13 ⇒ (1, 5, 4, 1) + 13 = 24 +1d6 ⇒ 2 fire damage

auto grab: 1d20 + 37 ⇒ (4) + 37 = 41 Not even going to check, but I'm assuming you are grappled after that, lol. Despite my shit rolls on him so far.

Jerin will not resist being swallowed by the beast and will even attempt to make his passage easier by flying down its gullet...

It only gets a swallow attempt with a creature already grappled. Will need to wait for other member's turns. Also here's the updated map below.

MAP

They are flying or away and delaying to see if they need to act...I think they are waiting to see how my actions resolve.

I intend to do nothing until Jerin is swallowed. The moment he is, readied action to Persistent Heightened Baleful Polymorph once he emerges again. All saves at DC25, rolls twice for Fort then Will, takes the lower result for both.

Krenn is waiting for him to be swallowed as well. Once that happens, he'll swoop in with his axe in both hands. But Krenn is concerned about doing anything that will interfere with the carefully laid plans of his allies as well as the requirements of the ritual to prove our worthiness. So he is giving up at least a round worth of attacks on the beast, but that's the price he has to pay to keep from screwing up the mission here.

Fair enough. I'll move onto the swalling

Round 1

Krenn Whetstone (Delaying)
Cindermaw
Llyra Bjorgan (Delaying)
Curnach Daveck (Delaying)
Jerinthian Kos (Delaying)

Swallow attempt: 1d20 + 37 ⇒ (5) + 37 = 42

bite damage: 4d8 + 13 ⇒ (4, 5, 4, 5) + 13 = 31 + 1d6 ⇒ 5 fire damage

It swallows Jerin whole with a final bite and then faces the group.

Jerin lies in the belly of the beast...finally, I thought the damned thing was going to just chew on me for a while...time to try and come out. he waits for the shock of the damage to settle then tries to dimension door out.

How much on-going swallow damage am I taking? I have resist Acid and Stoneskin to resist the bludgeoning damage. I am assuming it would be difficult to cast a spell in here: Extremely violent motion while casting=20+spell level

Concentration Chk Rnd2 DC 25? 1d20 + 11 + 8 ⇒ (14) + 11 + 8 = 33

Jerin lies in the belly of the beast...finally, I thought the damned thing was going to just chew on me for a while...time to try and come out. he waits for the shock of the damage to settle then tries to dimension door out.

How much on-going swallow damage am I taking? I have resist Acid and Stoneskin to resist the bludgeoning damage. I am assuming it would be difficult to cast a spell in here: Extremely violent motion while casting=20+spell level

Concentration Chk Rnd2 DC 25? 1d20+11+8

you would take swallow damage next round if you were in there for longer. Afterall, I thought you cast dimension door after being swallowed in this round.

Jerin appears outside of the creature, still covered in goo from the inside of the creature. He appears more-or-less unharmed from the whole ordeal.

WIth the foul deed done, Curnach completed his most powerful spell, seeking to turn the gigantic worm into a harmless squirrel.

Info is above.

1d20 + 18 ⇒ (18) + 18 = 36

1d20 + 18 ⇒ (11) + 18 = 29

Cindermaw appears to have resisted Curnach's transformation magic and remains in it's own skin.

Krenn/Llyra, I am safe, we can just drive it away and we have proven ourselves to the Shoanti. Stay in the air, we have plenty of magic to force it underground again with cold magics.

My remaining action this round I draw out my rod of quicken, lesser.

Next round if it doesn't go back underground I will get to about 50' away and slam a cone of cold and a magic missle into it. Next round I will do the same.

Llyra looks to Jerin:
Want us to just beat on it? We can always take to the air and both of us have freedom of movement right now so we should not be able to be swallowed.

I can aid another with the whip from 15' which should be above its reach. The Spirit Ally can aid another and flank. This should give Krenn a ton of bonuses to his attacks.

While waiting for a response, Llyra casts another spell to assist the group.

Cast Prayer - +1 attack/damage for us, -1 attack/damage for the cindermaw

Llyra looks to Jerin:

Want us to just beat on it? We can always take to the air and both of us have freedom of movement right now so we should not be able to be swallowed.

I can aid another with the whip from 15' which should be above its reach. The Spirit Ally can aid another and flank. This should give Krenn a ton of bonuses to his attacks.

While waiting for a response, Llyra casts another spell to assist the group.

Cast Prayer - +1 attack/damage for us, -1 attack/damage for the cindermaw

So the spiritual ally is not fighting this round? That'll leave Krenn. also I'll need your not order in combat as I assume Jerin acts first, then Curnach, Llyra and Krenn. Sound good?

The spiritual ally will attack. If Krenn attacks, then the spiritual ally will use aid another to help Krenn, as well as providing flanking. If not, the spiritual ally will attack normally.

Attack (Aid Another or norm if Krenn does not attack): 1d20 + 7 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 7 + 6 = 16
Damage: 1d10 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11

Attack (Aid Another or norm if Krenn does not attack): 1d20 + 2 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 2 + 6 = 14
Damage: 1d10 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11

Krenn closes the distance between himself and Cindermaw, axe raised.

It looks like it will be a double move for Krenn to close with the monster, getting to L4.

Round 3 Action-

Impressed by the resilience of the worm, Curnach still refused to abandon his plan. He had prepared a marginally less powerful spell of the same transmutation and he unleashed this upon Cindermaw as well.

Same as before, but DC24. Two saves.

Krenn sets off an attack from Cindermaw, using it's stinger

sting: 1d20 + 26 ⇒ (6) + 26 = 32

damage: 2d8 + 13 ⇒ (6, 5) + 13 = 24

save: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (3) + 17 = 20 Fail

Krenn begins to feel a little weaker from the injection of toxins through this creature's stinger and loses 1d4 ⇒ 3 strength.

Round 3

Cindermaw
Jerinthian Kos
Curnach Daveck
Krenn Whetstone
Llyra Bjorgan

I believe that would be about right. Waiting on Jerin first and not sure where Jerin wanted to be on the map, but he is a distance away.

Cindermaw rears up it's head, ignoring Krenn for the moment and focusing on Curnach and Llyra, billowing out a large cone of flame. llyra dodges out of the way with no issue and taking no damage, whilst Curnach is caught by surprise by the flame and takes on the inferno full on.

8d6 ⇒ (5, 6, 6, 5, 6, 2, 1, 6) = 37 fire damage

Curnach Ref: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (10) + 10 = 20

Llyra Ref: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (17) + 14 = 31

MAP

just saw Jerin's post before posting this

Jerin summons on his magic and fires off his cone of cold at the creature, cooling the area and billowing out icy wind on the creature made of flame. It appears to harm it and then he follows up with a quickened magic missile.

Cone of Cold 11d6 ⇒ (6, 5, 1, 1, 6, 3, 2, 6, 1, 4, 4) = 39

Quickened Magic Missile: 5d4 + 5 ⇒ (4, 2, 2, 4, 2) + 5 = 19

And for those DMs amungst us who might be interested in this template

Curnach once again uses his polymorph ability with his rod on cindermaw...

1d20 + 18 ⇒ (1) + 18 = 19

-_- Facepalm ...know what I like about you Alex? F%&~ all! lol, jk.

Cindermaw, the mighty and powerfully intimidating beast has been transformed into a harmless, common, squirrel. You are some distance from the Truth Speaker, but even you can hear his shocked gasp all the way from where he witnessed the event.

forgot to apply the secondary save

save: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10

...it has lost all abilities, including the breath weapon...oh well atleast I got a chance to use it once.

you are now all facing a terrorfied squirrel.

Do not harm it! a somewhat singed Curnach bellowed, as he flew down and carefully scooped up the squirrel before it got very far.

DM can you roll the will saves to see if its personality is preserved? Might be important. Still at DC24.

Llyra looks down at the . . .squirrel.
Who knew such a cute creature was in that giant worm?

Nonetheless, she stands ready should the creature revert to its prior gigantic size.

Do not harm it! a somewhat singed Curnach bellowed, as he flew down and carefully scooped up the squirrel before it got very far.

DM can you roll the will saves to see if its personality is preserved? Might be important. Still at DC24.

it fails it so it's reverted. think I ninja'd you there.

There is something strange about this squirrel. Even though ti has been reverted, it feels slightly warm to the touch and a glimmering intelligence in it's eye. You've never seen anything retained after this spell, but there appears to be something else acting upon it. It's stomach is the source of the heat.

Krenn clutches at the bleeding puncture wound that oozes poison and asks "Are you sure we have to leave it?" But upon reflection, he acknowledges that it wouldn't be satisfying to take revenge out on the squirrel.

I have no intention of leaving it. Krenn, Llyra, Jerin, meet our trump card...

Now, Jerin. Lets satisfy this Truthspeaker. You have performed his ridiculous trial.

With Curnach's declaration and swift action, Krenn relaxes and tries to block out the pain from the poison coursing through him.

Do I need to make follow up poison rolls?

Yes. I'll follow it up.

DC 26

Fort Save 2: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (10) + 17 = 27

Fort Save 3: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (14) + 17 = 31

Fort Save 4: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (6) + 17 = 23

Strength 1d4 ⇒ 1

Fort Save 5: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (12) + 17 = 29

Fort Save 6: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (19) + 17 = 36

The poison takes some time and it's toll, but Krenn manages to shrug it off, though it's effect remain.

Not sure if the 6th one was needed. It says 3 consecutive so I assume it means 3 in a row. Eitherway, you made a save on it so it doesn't affect you anymore as it only lasts for 6 rounds.

The Truthspeaker is still speechless after what had happened and still can't seem to get his mind around it.
"I cannot believe what I have seen. You not only survived being swallowed and escaped with your magic, but reduced the mighty Quah-Kael to such a tiny creature." he can't seem to believe what he has seen. "I am uncertain as to how the Sklar-Quah will respond to this. Defeating it will mean it may not have been that mighty to them, but being able to transform it shows such a great feat of power." he states as he looks to the defenseless creature, which now appears to have it's teeth reverted back into it's maw, similar to what it looked like earlier, still radiating heat off it. The lump in it's stomach has grown.

A decent spellcraft or knowledge arcana will give you a explaination of what's going on.

Knowledge Arcana 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (17) + 21 = 38

Jerin looks at what is happening to the squirrel

A study of summoning back at the Academe covered many aspects to it. Being in Varisia, the Thassilonions were mentioned in these studies due to their command of creatures of the outer-planes, such as back in the Acropolis. There are ruins all over Varisia where many have entered and killed, been killed, banished or even been eaten by creatures from another plane that have been trapped here to guard a area or due to a rip between dimensions.

A common thing they did was open a portal to planes of elemental power. For all you know there could be several right below your feet. When working properly they let creatures travel between both worlds, but if they malfuction they have been known to explode, killed through a unstable surge or even transform the creature in a, as of previously, unseen way.

Putting this knowledge together with the lump in it's belly that seems to be growing slightly, suggests that there is something inside the creature that is linked to the elemental plane of fire, guessing from the bellowing of fire from the creature earlier before it was transformed. It seems the transformation from that and the power of the polymorph spell seem to be causing a confliction of energies between the two.

The transformation is not permanent, however it is unlikely to change at any immediate time. The transformation would explain not only it's abilities that make it very different from the average purple worm, but has granted it an intelligence of a human. It's been clear that it has only stayed in these grounds because it know of the Shoanti wanting to kill it, giving it a constant supply of fresh food as well as the Orcs and Stone Giants it keeps out of these lands by being here.