DM Bigrin's Second Darkness (Inactive)

Game Master bigrin42

Riding atop the big green monkey, who is riding the even bigger blonde monkey, Minky struggles to resist the urge to scamper down and start grooming the bigger blonde monkey. There should be something worth eating in that much fur! But no; there is danger about, she understands that much, and so she looks out for trouble.

Perception 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10

Throwing caution to the wind, you sprinted for the dome, trying to get in close an under its cover before any lookouts could raise the alarm, or any patrols could spot you. As he ran, Anklebiter cast a quick spell, scanning the area for magical auras. Inside the dome was a significant aura, though the entire area radiated at least a low level of magic.

Here's the map

"Potent magic inside the dome - magic suffuses the whole area! Tread carefully!" Anklebiter warns the others.

Calla moves cautiously forward, just enough to peek inside.

Move, using Stealth to R-12, the see what I can see.

Stealth: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (15) + 13 = 28
Perception: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (11) + 14 = 25

Bruendor flattens himself against the wall and treads softly along with Calla.

Moving with Stealth to Q12. I'll take 10 again. That's a 21 Stealth and a 20 Perception (22 if trapped).

The caustic vapors from the pools of liquid around the lab bring tears to your eyes as you creep closer. The rubble around the building appears to offer some stepping stones, but some areas are wide pools of toxic sludge. Even from Calla's position, she can't see into the main dome.

Here's the map

"I have to learn Gust of Wind one day!" Anklebiter wheezes, and he holds a fold of his cloak over his mouth and nose. "Icky, stinky, yuck!"

Bruendor winces as the alchemical runoff stings his eyes and burns his lungs. "Ugh, how can you stand this, AB? I've smelled some strange things coming from your lab, but this is a whole new level of offensive."

"Who said I can stand it?" Anklebiter protests. "My alchemicals are sealed up in bottles until I mix them! This stuff is gross!"

Lefrik keeps pace, but covers his face as best he can and keeps his mouth shut so he doesn't have to taste it Gods, this is enough to curl a man's beard

Kel slinks forward, hoping for a better view into the ruined lab. move to T-12

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8
Stealth: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (16) - 1 = 15

Stealth: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 2 = 18
Since I forgot

Waiting until the others get closer, Calla carefully advances, hoping to see what's in the main dome.

Move to S-14, 28 Stealth, 25 Perception from last turn. Though actually this turn she probably technically does nothing while we bunch back up and this'll be my next turn action...

The ooze was not quite deep enough to go over your feet, but they did make the ground unsteady. Placing her feet carefully, Calla sidled towards the opening. The fumes got worse as she walked through the ooze, and she struggled not to cough. To her right, Kelendra also moved into the muck, wincing as her feet began to sink into the caustic mess. The oracle tried to step on rubble and not into the ooze itself, but many of the rocks crumbled under her weight.

Movement in any square containing the sludge costs 15' of movement. Also, everyone moving through a sludge square must pass a DC15 fort save or be sickened

Here's the map

What can I see in the main dome? Is everything colored sludge, or just the yellow?

Just the ground outside of the dome, where you see the sludge on the map.

What Calla can see of the room inside is a cracked stone floor, mostly open. Along the walls stand stone tables or racks of alchemical gear.

"I don't see anyone inside," she whispers to her companions, gesturing for them to precede her.

As Bruendor advances, she intones a quick prayer over the beardless dwarf. Resistance

I think we typically have Lefrik and Bruendor go first, no? Calla likes to be in the back where she can use her bow.

Kel treads softer than star light, her feet floating above the surface of the muck, but the fumes still invaded her senses.

Lure of the Heavens (float) (Su) You can float 6" above the ground or liquid surfaces

Fortitude save: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22

Kel will move right behind Lefrik and Bruendor. She can carry AB if needed to free up Lefrik and keep the goblin out of the muck, we'll move at half speed that way and can still clear the muck area with a double move.

Bruendor gives a quick look back at Kel as she floats across the caustic alchemical runoff. Lucky girl, he grumbles inwardly as he trudges forwards.

Fort: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13 Not sure if my dwarven resistance will help here. If so, it's 2 higher. In any case, I eventually make it to S15.

A nod to Kel for taking Anklebitter, Lefrik follows Bruendor, and if he finds walls he can climb without the slime, he'll try it

Climb if it helps1d20 + 10 ⇒ (4) + 10 = 14

And if needed, which it will probably will be 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (3) + 9 = 12

Sorry, I'm still confused, GM. Is it just the yellow that's the sludge or also the green? Don't know if I need a save or not.

Calla - I am colorblind, so I don't know yellow from green here. Yes, you need to save.

Bruendor - I'd say your dwarven resistance would come into play

Bruendor moved in to see through the dome's open doorway. He saw a large firepit with kettles hanging over it, spewing the green smoke that guided you to the building initially. Beyond, near the far wall were a pair of large glass tanks, one full of a green liquid and the other an oily black substance. Between these was a large worktable, at which stood a female drow dressed in leathers and a work apron. She was mixing liquids from a pair of beakers into a clay flask. Around the room stood a handful of lizard-like humanoids. Bruendor immediately recognized them as troglodytes, which he had seen before below the Goblin.

As he took this information in, several things happened almost simultaneously. The acrid odors caused Lefrik to cough, loudly. The troglodytes turned to the doorway and spotted Bruendor. Then, from above, a lightning bolt snaked its way across Lefrik and Anklebiter, riddling them with powerful shocks. A large creature with the body of a drow and the legs of a spider stood high up on one of the crumbling walls.

The drow spun and with a few hand gestures, there were suddenly four drow standing with an identical evil smile on their faces.

LOL. Color blindness would explain the confusion!

"Damn," Calla whispers as she realizes the forces arrayed against them, a shiver of fear running down her spine for a moment.

"That's a drider!" she calls out to her companions. "They're poisonous and spellcasters!"

"Calistria, protect me as I destroy your foes," she prays as she slams an arrow into the face of the nearest troglodyte as she moves past it. It shouldn't get an attack of opportunity, I think, since it hasn't yet acted.

Fortitude: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (11) + 8 = 19
Knowledge (dungeoneering) to recognize drider: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (18) + 9 = 27
Swift action: Activate purity judgment, to give +2 to saves
Move to S-16
Mwk longbow (point blank range): 1d20 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 8 + 1 = 17
Damage (point blank range): 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8

It would explain that confusion, indeed. It also makes the indigo epithet more ironic.

"Damn, trogs!", Bruendor curses as he smells their foul odor even over the acidic sludge. "Get inside, we need cover from the drider!" He bolts into the room, stabbing at one of the

Craft (alchemy) to identify the alchemicals being used: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14
Reflex save 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22
Spell penetration 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 16

"Spider-butt is going to need cover from me, soonest!" Anklebiter growls. "Sui deceptio!"

From one moment to another, one Goblin has become five, all of which bolt for the entrance into the alchemical lab! ... And all of which ready their satchel of squirming vipers for the next phase of battle.

Anklebiter casts Mirror image and conjures 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4 copies of himself. He will move to S16.

Reflex save while sickened 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9

Electricity catches Lefrik square in the face, causing his beard to frazzle. He moves , despite his pain, more to draw fire from Kelendra and Anklebitter than to hide himself. And he hurls a javelin

Moving to T 15, and then throwing at the drider

to hit: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20
dmg: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

sorry this took so long. I was waiting for Kelendra, completely forgetting that we had multiple waves of initiative blocks. My bad.

Calla stepped forward and put an arrow into the first troglodyte, taking it cleanly in the throat. As the creature gurgled, Bruendor moved beside it and finished it off. Anklebiter took the time to chant a protective spell, and multiple copies of the goblin appeared.

Lefrik moved in, throwing a javelin at the drider. The spider creature's elven face sneered at the minor wound, and it moved its hands again, sending forth another lightning bolt. This one tore through the attackers. Lefrik and Calla were caught in the bolt, their hair standing on end and limbs twitching from the shock.

Round 1

Kel returns the attack, fighting lightning with fire, even as she calls to her companions. "Shelter in the lab, where it can't line you up." Drawing upon the heat of stars, she sends a glowing orb racing towards the Drider that explodes in a cloud of fire as it reaches the arachnoid.

Shooting Star: 6d4 ⇒ (1, 2, 4, 4, 1, 4) = 16 fire damage, DC 17 Reflex for half

Reflex save: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 2 = 14
Try though he might, Lefrik cannot avoid the second blast. He smolders , and groans a bit.
"Cover's good..." He wheezes
And yes, he'll run like hell for cover when its his turn.

Kelendra's spell erupted in the face of the drider, a multitude of fiery darts slamming into the spidery creature. The drider flailed on top of hte rubble, its legs alternatingly gripping and waving for balance. It was clear that the spell had hurt it.

That seemed to be the cue for the troglodytes, always slow acting, to charge. Bruendor held his ground as the remaining four creatures fell on him and Calla, their razor-sharp claws flashing. Clothing and armor took the brunt of the blows, though one managed to sneak a hit through the dwarf's defenses.

The dark elf began to chant in a dark gutteral tone. The words may have been a form of undercommon, but if so it was a dialect that no one could understand.

Holding action to see what others do; I'm hoping we can clear some space with the trogs so Calla can move into the room and fire an arrow at the drow to hopefully disrupt whatever spell she's casting.

Bruendor grunted as one of the trogs got lucky, clawing a line of red onto his chest. "Nice shot," he spat, clicking his heels together. "Think fast!" He rushed towards the westernmost trog, feinting towards its legs, and attempting to roll over its back as he went.

"Somebody stop that Drow before she finishes casting! Hurry!" Anklebiter shrills. The Goblin waits until Bruendor has made his move -- and then inhales a small pinch of spell component. The Goblin sneezes, and sneezes FIRE!

Anklebiter holds until Bruendor has moved out of his way, then blasts the trogs in front of him with Fire Sneeze for Each Trog in the cone takes 2d6 ⇒ (5, 6) = 11 fire damage, Reflex save DC15 for half. Fail the save, and the Trogs have to take a DC 12 Fort. save or fall prone.

Can Lefrik step over AB to get to S17 or S18?

Lefrik - no, there is a wall there

Bruendor - I'm inclined to go with the +2, based on the fact that when conflict arises I prefer to go with the decision that helps the players the most, not hinders them

Great! I'll make a note of that, so there's no confusion moving forward.

OK, thinking/hoping that between Brue's attack and AB's sneeze, I have room to do this...

Calla grimaces as the bolt surges through her, teeth clenching and muscles spasming involuntarily.

She pushes forward, hoping to get out of the line of fire, and calling on her goddess' aid once more, launches an arrow toward the drow images.

Reflex: 1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 5 + 2 = 9
Move to R-14; switch judgment to healing
Mwk longbow (point blank range): 1d20 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 8 + 1 = 19
Damage (point blank range): 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7
Well, hopefully that hits and hits the right one...

Waiting until lunch is over for Lefrik

Bruendor flew over the head of the trog beside him, easily avoiding its raking claws. Anklebiter used the opening to sneeze an enormous glob of fiery snot and wind into the room. Most of the troglodytes suffered severe burns from the flaming goop, and one was knocked off its feet. Lefrik stepped into the gap and easily cut down one of the injured foes. Calla stepped up and fired through the confusion, bursting one of the drow's images with a well-placed arrow.

The drider, taking advantage of the target rich environment, sent off another lightning bolt. This time it passed through Anklebiter and Lefrik, continuing on to smash open one of the clay jugs over the firepit. The jug burst into flames as the liquid inside leaked a viscous fluid onto the fire.

Reflex save 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21

Anklebiter manages to leap aside and dodge part of the lightning, but not all. Growling and snarling, the little Goblin -- turns back the way he came and tumbles to the Drider's position?!

"Down you go, spider-butt!" Anklebiter yells, then exhales another gout of wind and flame, straight up into the Drider's face!

I will probably need saving soon. >_<;

Acrobatics check to move to V15 without drawing AoO: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 16
Spell penetration check: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22

Anklebiter uses his second charge of Fire Sneeze on the Drider for 2d6 ⇒ (3, 6) = 9 damage. Reflex save DC 15 for half. Fail the Reflex save, and the Drider has to make a Fortitude save DC12 or fall prone.

Round 2

"Somebody stop that Drow before she finishes casting! Hurry!"

Kel rushes to the call, unleashing a shooting star at the cluster of images that explodes in a gout of fire.

5 foot radius, so 4 squares, would try to get all images if possible

Shooting Star (Su): 6d4 ⇒ (2, 4, 4, 3, 1, 3) = 17 fire damage, DC 17 Reflex for half

oopps, left out movement and fortitude save

Kel's rush to action carries her through the fumes.

move to S15, had made a Fortitude save earlier without entering fumes, but if required again...nope, fumble trumps!

Fortitude save: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6

The stench reminds Kel of her worst days at the Golden Goblin and she can't help but gag at the putridness.

Sorry, fell behind yesterday... obviously
Ref save, sickened 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

Lefrik's hair stands on end and he collapses, smoke trailing from his body

"Oh, bloody hell. Help Blondie out, healer girl!"

Drow are dangerous! (That said, I actually like your posted action, Kel, as it should clear out the mirror images. Brue, do you want to help AB while I try to deal with the drow? I should have some fun tricks for her if those mirror images are cleared out.

Otherwise, I'm holding off on acting since I think the trogs go after Kel.

Um...Anklebiter...only Kelendra is supposed to be going right now. If your actions still apply after the trogs and drow I can apply them, but you might need to change up your actions after you see what happens.

Calla - Drow are dangerous, and you guys managed to take on 2 different groups simultaneously :D

Mirror image does not work the way you apparently think it does. A figment is only destroyed if you have to roll to hit, such as an attack or a ray spell. Templates and auto-hit spells (such as magic missile) can't harm a figment. The way I see it is that you saw what you tried to hit wasn't real, and the illusion vanished. That can't be said for auto-hits and templates.

Kelendra slogged through the goop, cursing at the damage the foul stuff is doing to her boots, and trying to hold her breath. She reached the doorway and saw three drow on the far side of the dome. Concentrating, she sent a spray of fiery shards to cover the identical images. All three reacted by flinching away, cursing as they were burned by the oracle's spell.

The downed trog tried to stand, and Bruendor ran it through with his rapier before it could get to its feet. The remaining trog stepped around the corner and glanced at the twitching body of Lefrik. It started to finish off the barbarian, but Calla caught its eye. Seeing the threat more important than the easy kill, the trog lashed out at her with a pair of swipes. Calla couldn't avoid the blow, and a twin set of deep slashes appeared on her right arm and left side.

The drow stepped to the side, trying to keep the flames of the firepit between herself and the companions. She shouted and pointed, and a thin film of grease appeared under everyone's feet. The dark tones of the dirge she had been chanting lingered in the air.

Ack, sprry! >_<; I forgot the staggered initiatives!

Reflex save 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

Anklebiter falls down, chittering with frustration. But a fallen Wizard is still a Wizard...!

"Yes, Kelendra help Lefrik! Bruendor, Calla, shoot spider-butt!" he says. "You" - his eyes are fixed on the trog - "are mine!"

Anklebiter angles himself so his next sneeze strikes only the last remaining trog, but goes over poor, bleeding Lefrik and stays safely east of Calla.

Second round of Fire Sneeze for 2d6 ⇒ (2, 3) = 5 fire damage to the last remaining trog. Reflex save DC15 for half. Fail the Reflex save and troggie has to pass a Fort. save DC 12 or fall prone.

Reflex: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (16) + 11 = 27

"Not when I'm this close to an indigo, AB!" Bruendor snarls back, turning his attention to the drow alchemist. "I've got this one, you two focus on spider-butt while Kel gets Lef up again!" He grimaced as he realized the only way to get to the caster was through the flames, steeled himself, then bounded towards the drow, Bloodbane flashing in the flickering light.

Damn it, we're letting ourselves get split up. Again!

"Calistria, we need your help," she prays, as she carefully tries to keep her feet despite the grease.

Bleeding from several wounds now, the half-elf glares at the abomination and fires two arrows toward it, the first hitting center mass in the arachnid body. If it doesn't have any boosts to its AC, I think that should be 45 points of damage.

Swift action to activate drider-bane; 5-foot step to Q-16 (assuming AB cleared the trog; fire two arrows

Reflex: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21

Mwk longbow (point blank range): 1d20 + 8 + 1 - 2 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 8 + 1 - 2 + 2 = 29
Damage (point blank range): 1d8 + 1 + 2d6 ⇒ (6) + 1 + (4, 4) = 15

Mwk longbow (point blank range, rapid shot): 1d20 + 8 + 1 - 2 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 8 + 1 - 2 + 2 = 20
Damage (point blank range): 1d8 + 1 + 2d6 ⇒ (3) + 1 + (5, 6) = 15

Crit?: 1d20 + 8 + 1 - 2 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 8 + 1 - 2 + 2 = 27
Damage (point blank range): 2d8 + 2 ⇒ (6, 4) + 2 = 12

Acrobatics (if needed): 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21

Very nice. I'm going to be lenient on this holiday weekend and give people a chance to recover from their sunburns before I forse the next update. Enjoy!

Stabilize check round 3, sickness included 1d20 ⇒ 2

Still bleeding, now at -2