DM Bigrin's Second Darkness (Inactive)

Game Master bigrin42

Lefrik whirls on the last visible drow, "Axe to the face!"

To hit: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (2) + 11 = 13
Dmg: 1d12 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19
To hit #2 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25
Dmg: 1d12 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19

Rather than get fancy, Bruendor capitalizes on the attention Lefrik has drawn, and thrusts his rapier at the drow's chest.

The remaining drow is assaulted by magic and steel, and wincing in the bright sunlight, is not able to defend well against either. In a matter of moments, the combat is finished, though shouts from the roof indicate that some drow are still up top, and are trying to call for aid.

"We go upstairs?" Anklebiter suggests, gripping his glowing staff. "Need to take the whole place, so... Barricade behind us and go up? Yes? No? Maybe?"

"Yeah, let's see if we can stop them before they actually manage to get any help."

Calla looks around for a way up.

Calla doesn't see any means of ascension. There are only four ways out of this foyer. The door you came in, and the one opposite, plus the doors to north and south. Of course, as she recollects the drow's innate levitation abilities, perhaps they had no need for inside access to the roof.

"We can try climbing, but that'll leave us vulnerable. Our best bet might be to find somewhere we can defend."

Thought? I think climbing is not our best bet. I'd still vote north door.

I... could summon giant spiders and we could ride them up the walls? WOuldn't be able to ride them down, though.

Wouldn't you need to summon Large spiders for most of us to ride them? And yeah, I think our best bet is to hope there's an interior access, or this is going to get real ugly real quick. North is my vote.

"Desna will gift us with levitation, but it will be a slow ascent. We could fascinate the drow with hypnotics lights?" Kel reacts immediately to whatever the better tactical minds blurt out, moving and praying as necessary.

thinking that hypnotic pattern DC 16 would be best, provides a chance of stopping the call for help. Levitate doesn't get us there quickly and splits the party.

so many choices, but they need to be made quickly!

Let's hit the door. Too much trouble to get to the roof safely.

"Everyone ready to go? Let's try to get up there quickly. Bruendor, can you get the door," Calla says, nodding to the north, as she recovers one of the arrows she fired earlier.

Anyone need healing? Get if before we go on.

arrow miss: 1d2 ⇒ 2
arrow miss: 1d2 ⇒ 1

"Does someone else want my staff?" Anklebiter offers. "The spell is good for most of an hour yet, and it isn't hot."

The Goblin falls in with his friends when they move, and tries his best to stay in the middle; he is not, after all, physically powerful.

Bruendor nods and quickly checks the door for traps. He gives the 'thumbs-up' almost immediately.

Trapchecking: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (1) + 12 = 13

Well, this can't end poorly...

The door is not locked, and Bruendor motioned for Lefrik to open it. The barbarian pushed the door open, axe held ready to attack anything that looked as if it deserved it...or just didn't move out of the way fast enough.

The room beyond was pitch black, with only the light from Anklebiter's staff spilling in through the doorway to illuminate the shadowy interior. There were two floors, joined by a broken staircase. On the balcony area is a set of short pillars, displaying some kind of crystalline objects, and obscuring what lay beyond. The ground floor had bookshelves all along the walls.

Forms lurk in the darkness that set up a raucous cacophony as the doors open.

Anklebiter screeches a warning: "Dretches! Low-level demons from the Abyss! Only cold iron or good-blessed weapons will cut them proper, nothing else strikes with full force! They can cause magical fear and stenches! Electricity and poison don't work, acid, cold and fire work less than good!"

The Goblin lifts his free hand and his staff with an odd air of authority and starts to chant.

Anklebiter starts casting Summon Monster III.

"Well, we knew there'd be demons..." Calla mutters.

Fingers quickly searching for the small bead of iron at the end of the specific arrows, she pulls two and launches them at one of the foes.

The first slams into the demon H-11 though the second flies far wide in the shadowy room.

Five-foot step forward, to N-13; +1 trait bonus to hit evil outsiders
Mwk longbow (point blank range): 1d20 + 8 + 1 - 2 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 8 + 1 - 2 + 1 = 25
Damage (point blank range): 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6
Miss chance (high good): 1d100 ⇒ 63

Mwk longbow (point blank range, rapid shot): 1d20 + 8 + 1 - 2 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 8 + 1 - 2 + 1 = 10
Damage (point blank range): 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6
Miss chance (high good): 1d100 ⇒ 1

"I can only use what I have, friend Anklebiter...let's hope it works," Taking his magic great axe in hand, Lefrik charges forward!

Charge to G13, +2 on to hit (counted in) -2 to AC to make the move
To hit with magic greataxe: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (15) + 13 = 28
Dmg: 1d12 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12
Blindfighting, best of two chances to hit
1d100 ⇒ 13
1d100 ⇒ 95

Kel draws the cold iron dagger gifted from the elves and prays for a blessing upon the party.

cast bless on the party

Bruendor seizes the initiative as well, racing forward to attack the other dretch while they were caught unprepared.

Calla's arrows whiz by Bruendor's head as the dwarf charged one of the dretches. Bruendor slammed his rapier deep into the creature, beside one of Calla's arrows, shoving against the thing's tough rubbery skin. Lefrik drove his axe deep into his enemy, using main strength to counter the demon's otherworldly tough skin. A blessing suffused the party as Kelendra chanted.

From the balcony above, the dretches grabbed what looked like crystal balls from the pedestals and began hurling them down on Bruendor and Lefrik. Both were inundated with arcs of electricity, their muscles twitching and trembling under the onslaught. Both man and dwarf also took some nsaty scrathes from their opponents' claws as the demons took advantage of their momentary distraction.

Calla launches two more cold irons arrows toward the dretches, her hatred of outsiders -- learned at her father's feet -- aiding her focus, even if these aren't devils.

+1 trait bonus, +1 bless included; aiming at the dretch engages with Bruendor.
Mwk longbow (point blank range): 1d20 + 8 + 1 - 2 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 8 + 1 - 2 + 1 + 1 = 16
Damage (point blank range): 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6
Mwk longbow (point blank range, rapid shot): 1d20 + 8 + 1 - 2 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 8 + 1 - 2 + 1 + 1 = 19
Damage (point blank range): 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

Reflex: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (19) + 9 = 28

Bruendor spies the sparking globe moments after it leaves the demon's hands, and rolls to the side, receiving a barely noticeable jolt. The dretch before him gets lucky with a claw, but that hardly slows the dwarf down. "Lef!", he shouts to the barbarian. "Hop to the left!"

Anklebiter finishes his powerful chant and runs up to the doorway to get a better view of the lay of the land. With ritualized hand gestures, he completes the spell; three patches of air up on the catwalk darken, swirl, then brighten. Golden-furred spiders, their black eyes reflecting the light of some unknown star, appear -- and start spitting their webs at the dretches!

Seeing the last jet of sticky material go wide, Anklebiter makes a sharp, slashing gesture with his empty hand and chants a familiar spell: "Sagittae magicae, omne errore vacuae..." Soon enough, four bolts of magical energy fly through the air, all of them impacting the dretch!

Anklebiter moves to M12 and summons forth 1d3 ⇒ 3 Celestial giant spiders!

Spider #1 appears at L11 and web-spits at the dretch at I10: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23.

Spider #2 appears at L14 and web-spits at the dretch at H15: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25.

Spider #3 appears at L15 and web-spits at the dretch at F14: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7.

ANklebiter casts Magic Missile at the dretch at F14: 4d4 + 4 ⇒ (2, 1, 3, 1) + 4 = 11 guaranteed force damage.

"I think I hate these" Lefrik snarls , hops to the left, and swings again, and again, "They're even uglier than I thought they'd be."

AC back up to normal this round
To hit #1 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (16) + 12 = 28
Dmg: 1d12 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15
If chance to miss for darkness required, blindfighting gives best chance out of these two
1d100 ⇒ 57
1d100 ⇒ 74
To hit #2 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26
Dmg: 1d12 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10
If chance to miss for darkness required, blindfighting gives best chance out of these two
1d100 ⇒ 23
1d100 ⇒ 13

Kel moves into the doorway and calls upon Desna. A bridge of pure moonlight beams from the ground at her feet arching over Lefrik and Brue to reach the balcony. K12/13 to F12/13, the bridge acts as a wall of force Rather than moving up the bridge, Kel holds her position at the bottom with one foot on the bridge, ready to step off the span if the dretches should step out upon it. "Lefrik, Brue, remember how quick moonlight can vanish!"

Calla's arrows slam into Bruendor's foe and the dretch staggered. Bruendor's follow up strike sent the demon to the ground. Lefrik side-stepped his opponent and smashed it down with his axe, beating through the demon's natural defenses with brute force and well-aimed strikes.

Anklebiter finished his spell and a trio of celestial spiders appeared on the balcony above. They spat webbing, gluing a pair of the demon up there to the floor. One managed to evade the sticky strands and stepped foot on Kelendra's bridge, which promptly vanished out from underneath it as she stepped off. It tumbled down to the broken stairs below, landing in a heap at Lefrik's feet.

One of the other dretches struggled in vain against the webbing, while the other slipped out of the strands and leaped from the balcony to press the attack on those still in the foyer.

Meanwhile, from outside there came the sound of a whistle being blown in a specific cadence.

Did my magic missiles not hit? ^^

They did. Must have just not put it in the update. big badda boom, still standing

The first spider chitters angrily at the dretch approaching it, and bombards it with another helping of webbing.
Ranged attack 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12
Seeing that its kin's attack has failed, the second spider spits its own stream of webbing at the dretch.
Ranged attack 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9
All of this having failed, the first spider turns tail and leaps down the wall, putting itself in a position to flank the dretch currently locked in battle with Kelendra.

Up on the balcony, the second spider hurries to put itself behind the entangled dretch while its third companion runs up to the captive demon, its mandibles working furiously and an aureate glow suddenly around its body as it attacks! Sadly, in its eagerness, the arachnid skids on a piece of debris and its bite goes wide...

Down on the floor, Anklebiter curses loudly, then shrills: "More Drow is coming! Finish these demons fast as you can!"

Putting his own words into action, Anklebiter gestures sharply at the dretch facing off with Kelendra and snaps a spell at it: "Simul clamo, simul moris!" Almost immediately, a hideous din sets up in the dretch's nigh-empty skull.

Spider #1 shoots webbing at dretch K10, misses, uses Acrobatics to get to M13: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (12) + 3 = 15.
Spider #2 also shoots webbing at dretch K10 and misses. Spider #2 moves to G15, flanking with spider #3.

Spider #3 flank-attacks the dretch entangled at H15 and activates Smite Evil to bypass DR. Bite attack roll 1d20 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 + 2 = 5 for 1d6 ⇒ 1 damage plus poison. Except dretches are immune to poison, so nevermind. ^^;

Anklebiter casts his last Ear-piercing scream of the day, on the dretch at M12. Fortitude save DC14 or do not halve 1d6 ⇒ 5 sonic damage. Failure also means one round of being dazed.

Stepping back, Calla calmly launches two more cold iron arrows into the center mass of the nearest dretch.

"Look out, healer girl!" she warns Kelendra.

+1 for trait bonus, +1 for bless
Mwk longbow (point blank range): 1d20 + 8 + 1 - 2 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 8 + 1 - 2 + 2 = 17
Damage (point blank range): 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8
Mwk longbow (point blank range, rapid shot): 1d20 + 8 + 1 - 2 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 8 + 1 - 2 + 2 = 27
Damage (point blank range): 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9

Backed into a corner, Kel jabs at the creature with her cold iron dagger. "Stay back, unholy thing.

cold iron dagger with flanking: 1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 5 + 2 = 18
dmg: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

"These things are damn tough," Lefrik says with a bit of annoyance, "But I suppose that's to be expected after the warning you gave."

he seeks to drive his next blows even harder
Power Attack
to hit: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (14) + 10 = 24
Dmg: 1d12 + 13 ⇒ (11) + 13 = 24
to hit: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 19
Dmg: 1d12 + 13 ⇒ (9) + 13 = 22
Blind fighting if needed
1d100 ⇒ 76
1d100 ⇒ 8
1d100 ⇒ 89
1d100 ⇒ 82

Bruendor curses under his breath as he hears the signal whistles blow. "We don't have much time, Lef!", he shouts to the Ulfen warrior. "Get back and help out Kel, I'll get up to the second level and start dealing with these lesser demons!" He shoves the flabby body of the dretch to the ground, freeing his blade, and begins to run up the steps of the broken staircase, leaping for the ledge when he reaches its terminus.

Not sure if this is even possible, but it's awesome and it's what he'd do!
Acrobatics?: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (6) + 11 = 17
If I make it, I'd like to end up at G10 on the upper level. If not, then I probably fall and land on my butt at G12 (or wherever the holes in the stairs are).

All of this having failed, the first spider turns tail and leaps down the wall, putting itself in a position to flank the dretch currently locked in battle with Kelendra.

Up on the balcony, the second spider hurries to put itself behind the entangled dretch while its third companion runs up to the captive demon...

AB - I don't think that you could coordinate attacks like that with the spiders since AFAIK you can't speak with vermin. They would attack to the best of their abilities, yes, but not coordinate flanks and such. That statement in the Summon Monster description simply means they will use their abilities to best effect. I find it hard to believe that without direction Int - spiders are better coordinated than some of my int 13 PCs :p The way I see it, S1 would attack the dretch it is in combat with. S2 and S3 would likely attack the same target, but not to the extent of coordinating flanking. If you see it differently, take it to the Discussion channel or PM me

Lefrik killed the last dretch on the stairs with a superhuman effort, nearly collapsing the broken stairs even more with the force of his blows. Bruendor raced up the stairs, planting his feet with care and launching himself into the air. He landed, skidded slightly on the extremely dusty floor of the balcony, and halted his motion by grabbing the nearest pedestal. The globe on top rocked precariously, and the dwarf quickly steadied it before it could smash on the floor and pour more electricity through him.

The dretch on the other side of the balcony struggled mightily against the webbing holding it to the floor, but was unable to free itself. Unfortunately, the eight legged freaks that Anklebiter had summoned were unable to hurt the dretch any further.

The other spider fought ferociously against the dretch nearest it, but the demon fended it off, and even nicked the spider with a claw.

Anklebiter's spell rang in the last dretch's ears, though the thing simply seemed to shrug off most of the damage. It wasn't able to shrug off the pair of cold iron arrows that Calla slammed into its chest, though. Nor the dagger that Kelendra drove into the demon's neck. The dretch was dead before it completely registered what had happened.

Outside, the sound of the whistle had stopped.

The sole spider facing off against the dretch that nicked it screeches, either in pain or in anger; it's hard to tell with an arachnid. The golden spider raises itself up on its legs, spreads wide its pedipalps and spits more webbing at the Dretch, hoping to make it easier to kill. Thick, sticky threads plaster the wretched creature to the ground...!

The two spiders tag-teaming the lone, encapsulated Dretch renew their attacks, clearly furious at their previous failure! Chittering their spidery wrath, they leap upon the Dretch and do their best to sink their fangs into its unprotected flesh. At least one of them succeeds...!

Anklebiter scuttles over to the door to the west an looks for a way to lock and bar it. "Need to keep this battlefield controlled...!"

Spider #1 spits webbing at the Dretch at K 10: ranged attack 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18

Spider #2 attack 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6 for 1d6 ⇒ 2 damage.
Spider #3 activates its smite evil and likewise attacks: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 = 17 for 1d6 ⇒ 2 damage.

Kel calls upon her goddess and a second bridge of shimmering moonlight appears, again stretching to the balcony. She runs up the bridge and calls back to the goblin and inquisitor, "It won't stop their levitation skills, but we'll make it difficult for them to reach us quickly."

Moonlight Bridge again from the same locations, Kel is a square short of the balcony at the end of her movement, G12

Calla grunts in annoyance and follows Kelendra up the twilight bridge, firing an arrow at one of the remaining dretches. K-10

She grunts again as the arrow skims the creature's skin, barely scraping it, and spins to face the door, ready to feather anything non-goblinoid that comes through.

Move 30 feet into the room; I'm not quite sure where the bridge is.
Mwk longbow (point blank range): 1d20 + 8 + 1 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 8 + 1 + 1 + 1 = 18
Damage (point blank range): 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Bruendor races towards the dretch on the western side of the balcony, positioning himself behind the beast to run it through with his blade.

Let's try this again. Site glitched on me when I posted earlier.
Lefrik attempts to make it to the next closest foe and hopes to down it with another powerful swing.

Power Attack to hit: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (6) + 10 = 16
dmg: 1d12 + 13 ⇒ (10) + 13 = 23

Kelendra's bridge sprang into existence, and the oracle lightly stepped to the top of it, near the edge of the balcony. (10' wide from L12 to F13)

Anklebiter, trying to forestall any intruders from outside, ran to the open door and shut it, plunging the area into darkness, lit only by the dim glow of Kelendra' moonlight bridge.

Lefrik, not having anything to hit, ran back to the foot of the bridge and then around the balcony towards one of the dretches. (I'll use that attack roll next round)

Calla also moved up the bridge, firing off an arrow at the western dretch as she did. The arrow hit, though not cleanly, doing a bit of damage.

Bruendor had much more luck, as he slid up behind the dretch, now covered in webbing, and slammed his rapier home. There was the familiar hesitation of the blade as it met the demon's magical resistance, then the slim blade tore into the creature's organs. The dretch didn't die, but it was badly injured. It still managed to free itself of the sticky webbing, though its swipes at the dwarf were mostly just defensive.

On the other side, one of the spiders' mandibles glowed with golden energy and it bit down hard on the dretch. The creature shrieked in pain as the smite attack pierced its defenses. Its thrashing shredding the last remains of the webbing on it, and it howled for vengeance.

Calla keeps an eye on the dretches, ready to put an arrow into either that stand against her companions, as she looks around for any way up from this room.

Delay action, firing a pair of arrows toward either of the dretches if they survive Brue, Lefrik and the spiders (I'm hoping to conserve a little ammo if it's not needed), which also looking around for any other features of the room.
Mwk longbow (point blank range): 1d20 + 8 + 1 - 2 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 8 + 1 - 2 + 1 = 12
Damage (point blank range): 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4
Mwk longbow (point blank range): 1d20 + 8 + 1 - 2 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 8 + 1 - 2 + 1 = 13
Damage (point blank range): 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Anklebiter raises high his illuminated quarterstaff, casting its sunny light into the gloom as he hurries to the other door, locking and barring it as he had done with the first one.

Meanwhile, the spiders continue their attack.

The western spider, hissing, leaps on the Dretch's back. Its pedipalps seek a weakness in the creature's defences while its legs scrabble for purchase.

On the eastern side, one of the spiders whistles with frustration as the Dretch manages to free itself from its cocoon -- and spits more webbing at the hateful Demon!

With thick thread once again covering the creature, the last spider leaps on the restrained Demon, its pedipalps slopping with venom.

Eastern spider I 16 activates Smite Evil, flanks with Bruendor and attacks the Dretch at K10. Attack roll 1d20 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 + 2 = 19 for 1d6 ⇒ 5 damage.

Eastern spider I 15 flanks with Lefrik, activates smite evil and attacks: 1d20 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 2 + 2 = 21 for 1d6 ⇒ 2 damage.

Spider I 16 spits webbing at the Dretch at H 15. Ranged attack 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15

There is no way out from this room, other than the door you came in through.

I thought there was one door to the west and one to the east... Fair enough. Anklebiter moves up to Calla's position, instead, and stays with her as support. Also because he's fairly useless in melée combat. ^^

Let me be clear. There is no way out of the northern room - the one Calla was in when she looked around for a way to the roof - except the door you came in. You are correct in that the foyer has 2 entrances...both of which are now locked with their locking bars.

Which means as soon as we finish up here, we'll have to go south and see if that can get us to the drow. Who the heck picked north?!

Hmm....let' see...Bruendor, about 9 posts down from the top of the page :)