DM Brainiac's Ironfang Invasion: Table 1 (Inactive)

Game Master DM Brainiac

When Karla related her opinion of the metal bulls' nature, he said, "I should meditate, and prepare spells to provide us with some measure of protection from the gorgon's breath"

Wulfram will fill his open spell slots with:
1st: Gentle Breeze
2nd: Bear's Endurance
3rd: Wind Wall

After hearing Karla's report of what's inside the cave, "If it's an energy source, I can protect us from that."

I have a Protection from Energy, Communal. I doubt the Gorgon's breath is an energy weapon.

Rogar, hanging from the wall with one hand, does his best to hollow out a bit of a cavity in the wall, large enough for him to hide in.

Unsure what approach we're taking here, so just preparing for the battle regardless.

Karla whispers back: "Perhaps we could draw them to us? Establish a good position, with Wulfram's spells to protect us. And we shoot them from a distance?"

"I like that idea very much. I can send Sia in and have her draw them out. I can also summon an ally and send them in. I'd feel better if a summoned creature is petrified than one of us.

Wulfram finished his meditation and consulted with the others. He listened carefully to their descriptions of the cave entrance before making his suggestions.

"I think it should be possible to set up a good defensive position just inside the cave mouth. If I cast my Wind Wall near the roundish solid stone feature to the right, I think I can make two separate air pockets if I shape the spell properly. I will have to cast the spell after someone starts luring the monsters towards that area, since the spell will only last about a minute."

The wall can be 90 ft long and 45 ft high, and will last for 9 rounds.

"An invisible vertical curtain of wind appears. It is 2 feet thick and of considerable strength. It is a roaring blast sufficient to blow away any bird smaller than an eagle, or tear papers and similar materials from unsuspecting hands. (A Reflex save allows a creature to maintain its grasp on an object.) Tiny and Small flying creatures cannot pass through the barrier. Loose materials and cloth garments fly upward when caught in a wind wall. Arrows and bolts are deflected upward and miss, while any other normal ranged weapon passing through the wall has a 30% miss chance. (A giant-thrown boulder, a siege engine projectile, and other massive ranged weapons are not affected.) Gases, most gaseous breath weapons, and creatures in gaseous form cannot pass through the wall (although it is no barrier to incorporeal creatures).

"While the wall must be vertical, you can shape it in any continuous path along the ground that you like. It is possible to create cylindrical or square wind walls to enclose specific points."

"Yes. Then Eustoma can use summoned creature to keep them from us, while we, I mean you, shoot from a safe distance. I can do a few things to stall them as well, or prevent them to reach us."

Rogar, having given his friends some time to prepare, and hiding in his cubby in the wall, closed his eyes and concentrated.
Would something like that provide cover?

Around him, the walls began to shake, and, suddenly, as his eyes fly open, a spike of metal erupts from the wall, flying towards the closest of the gorgons!

Move action Gather (not risking a full round), and taking 2 points of burn (I really hope this hits and results in a one-hit kill) for a Maximized Empowered Metal Blast
Maximized Empowered Metal Blast, v. flat-footed?: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (16) + 15 = 3160 + 24 + 18 = 102
Empowered Damage: 10d6 ⇒ (4, 3, 6, 4, 4, 6, 2, 1, 3, 4) = 37

Wulfram said a prayer to cause a gentle breeze to blow around him, and another to bolster his constitution. Touching one of his magic pearls, he recalled a spell and blessed his allies. Touching his other magic pearl, he bolstered Eustoma's constitution.

Once Rogar was in place, he cast a light spell on his spear, opened the gate and advanced into the cave, looking for signs of the enemy.

Perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (5) + 11 = 16

Casting Guidance, Gentle Breeze and Bear's Endurance on himself. Recalling Bless with the lvl 1 Pearl of Power and re-casting it. Using the 2nd lvl Pearl of Power to recall Bear's Endurance, and re-casting it on Eustoma (the purpose is to give her +2 to Fort saves).
Trying to make sure Wulfram doesn't get turned to stone, since he is the one who could potentially cast Stone to Flesh from a scroll (we would have to buy one).

Rogar's metal spike impales the gorgon's head, jabbing out the other side. It grunts once before collapsing! The other one lows angrily, green steam puffing from its nostrils!

Everybody but Rogar may act before the gorgon!

Hoping to buy the group some time, Karla tries to blind the Gorgon.

Glitterdust, Will DC 17.

Nik'o tilts her head at the sight of the gorgon.

"Engage the enemy!" Wulfram urged the others. I'll protect you!"

Delaying to see where to put the Wind Wall. See post in OOC.

Eustoma begins to summon a Crocodile.

Goes off at the beginning of the next round. Unless I can time my summon to go off with Rogar's attack.

Sia waits for the wind wall.

Wulfram saw the gorgon looking over towards where he presumed Rogar was. He waited to see which way the creature was going to move before casting his spell.

Readying to cast Wind Wall in a 20 ft wide box around the gorgon after it moves (so if it doesn't move,he doesn't cast the spell). I really want to cast the Wind Wall just before it breathes, but I don't think there's an appropriate trigger for that.

Will: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (15) + 7 = 22

Karla’s glitter dust coats the gorgon, illuminating it but failing to blind it. The creature looks up at Rogar and takes a deep breath, but Wulfram raises a wind wall around the beast. The wind dissipates its petrifying breath harmlessly!

Everybody is up again!

Rogar, catching his breath from his previous attack, reaches out and tries to directly attack the Gorgon by twisting the metal plates on its back.

Enpowered Metal Blast: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (20) + 14 = 3410d6 + 24 + 18 ⇒ (6, 3, 2, 2, 1, 4, 5, 6, 2, 5) + 24 + 18 = 78
Crit Confirm?: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (8) + 14 = 2210d6 + 24 + 17 ⇒ (3, 4, 4, 6, 1, 4, 4, 3, 1, 4) + 24 + 17 = 75

"Quick, let's take it down!", Wulfram shouted. He rushed up and stabbed at the fearsome metallic beast, trying to kill it before it could use its breath weapon again.

Huntsman Longspear, Bless, Power Attack, Furious Focus: 1d20 + 13 + 1 - 2 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 13 + 1 - 2 + 2 = 20
Damage, Power Attack: 1d8 + 1d6 + 13 + 6 ⇒ (7) + (1) + 13 + 6 = 27

Right rips the gorgon apart with the force of his geokinesis, spraying Wulfram with gory metal shards as the shaman runs up to stab the corpse for good measure! The second beast is quite dead.

"Woah! Did you see that!? Not a chance!" says Karla, not too loudly, yet quite excitedly.

Wooden barricades block two smaller side caverns to the west. The cave continues to the north past the range of your sight.

Wulfram breathed a sigh of relief when the gorgon fell. "I feel a lot better now!", he said.

He looked more closely at the dead creatures, and around the chamber as well. He was particularly looking for tracks of the other inhabitants of this cave complex.

Perception: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (17) + 14 = 31

The humanoid tracks continue to the north, along with a wide, sinuous swath in the dust that looks like it was left behind by an enormous snake.

"A snake?" She looks at the footprints to see if she can determine anything about the creature.

"Good job Rogar. Are you all right? I know doing that can burn you out."

Survival: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (2) + 15 = 17

*rolls eyes at pun, then jots down for later use*

Rogar waves aside Eustoma's concern, landing on the ground and catching his breath, "Ah've never pushed mahself so much 'afore. Ah'll be fine, jus' need ta catch my breath is all. A good nigh' sleep an' ah'll be good as new." he says, straightening himself and shaking his head to clear it, "Ready when ye are."

Wulfram joined Eustoma in trying to figure out the nature of the snake-like tracks. He also examined the humanoid tracks to estimate the height of the person who left the footprints.

Survival: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (14) + 12 = 26 Need to track to get the huntsman spear bonus damage!

*Did someone say burn?!*, yipped Pele, popping up out of Wulfram's pack and looking around excitedly. After realizing, to her disappointment, that nothing was on fire, she disappeared back inside.

The creature the tracks belong to becomes clear as an enormous anaconda slithers into the cavern from the north! It is followed by two hobgoblins. The first is a female warrior with a flaming whip. The second is a priest in splint mail, grown to the size of an ogre with divine magic! He wields a morningstar and brandishes a holy symbol of the goblin deity Hadregash.

Rogar may act before the enemies!

Rogar spins around, fatigue forgotten in the heat of the moment, and quickly assesses his foes. The anaconda was a threat, yes, but it was always better to eliminate magical support, and that big of a hobgoblin proved too good of a target to pass up. With a pair of midair jabs, Rogar rips off a piece of the metal hide from the fallen gorgons, moving to get a good shot at the priest, and sends it, spinning and flying, at the giant priest.

Empowered metal Blast, Hatred: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (8) + 15 = 2310d6 + 24 + 17 ⇒ (6, 3, 4, 3, 4, 3, 4, 3, 1, 4) + 24 + 17 = 76
That is... the most aggressively average damage roll I have seen in quite some time.

The metal shards stab into the priest, badly wounding him, but he still stands.

The whip-wielded moves closer and casts a spell, trying to paralyze Nik'o. The giant snake lunges at Rogar, biting him and coiling around him in a crushing embrace!

Bites: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (14) + 18 = 321d20 + 13 ⇒ (7) + 13 = 20
Grab: 1d20 + 24 ⇒ (15) + 24 = 39
Damage and Constrict: 1d8 + 20 + 1d6 + 12 ⇒ (3) + 20 + (4) + 12 = 39

32 damage to Rogar after DR, and she is being grappled. Nik'o must make a DC 14 Will save or be affected by hold animal. Eustoma, Karla, and Wulfram are up

Wulfram spoke a command word, momentarily loosening the snake's hold on Rogar. Then, he called on the flame spirits to surround the injured enemy priest with a 20 ft high wall of fire, and moved forward. "We need to kill this snake!", he shouted.

Immediate action: Cast Liberating Command on Rogar; he can make an escape attempt as an Immediate Action with a +18 competence bonus.
Standard Action: Wall of Fire 10 ft radius ring of fire, hot side facing inwards. The wall blocks line of sight. Move Action: move

Wall of Fire (snake): 2d6 + 9 ⇒ (1, 3) + 9 = 13
Wall of Fire (priest): 2d4 ⇒ (1, 3) = 4

I would be quite happy to roll average damage with my fire spells!

*That's some real burn!*, Pele barked.

Will with Devotion: 1d20 + 4 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 + 4 = 17

Most buffs are minutes per level. Can we assume they're still on, except BoF? I'll run with yes and adjust if needed.

Nik'o ignores the enchantment and roars, then pounces at the offending Hobgoblin. Given her size, she easily reaches the strange warrior.

Bite and Grab: 1d20 + 14 - 2 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 14 - 2 + 2 = 203d6 + 8 + 4 + 2 + 1 + 1d6 ⇒ (3, 4, 4) + 8 + 4 + 2 + 1 + (6) = 321d20 + 18 - 2 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 18 - 2 + 2 + 1 = 26
Claw: 1d20 + 14 - 2 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 14 - 2 + 2 = 161d8 + 8 + 4 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 8 + 4 + 2 + 1 = 16
Claw: 1d20 + 14 - 2 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 14 - 2 + 2 = 331d8 + 8 + 4 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 8 + 4 + 2 + 1 = 23
Rake: 1d20 + 14 - 2 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 14 - 2 + 2 = 211d8 + 8 + 4 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 8 + 4 + 2 + 1 = 19
Rake: 1d20 + 14 - 2 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 14 - 2 + 2 = 331d8 + 8 + 4 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 8 + 4 + 2 + 1 = 18

Karla gives extra speed to the group.

Cast Haste.

If Nik'o can take advantage of the Haste (I wanted to resolve the Will save first...):

Hasted Bite and Grab: 1d20 + 14 - 2 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 14 - 2 + 2 = 323d6 + 8 + 4 + 2 + 1 + 1d6 ⇒ (4, 4, 2) + 8 + 4 + 2 + 1 + (4) = 291d20 + 18 - 2 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 18 - 2 + 2 + 1 = 22

Liberating Command: 1d20 + 18 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 18 + 5 = 25

Rogar struggles futilely to escape the coils of the snake as it crushes him.

Sia bounds up and bites at the snake.

Bite: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (11) + 16 = 27
Damage: 1d8 + 12 ⇒ (1) + 12 = 13

BOF taking the AC bonus.

Eustoma lets loose with a barrage of arrows at the whip wielding hobgoblin.

+1 Adaptive Longbow: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (13) + 14 = 27
Damage: 1d6 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10
+1 Adaptive Longbow: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (4) + 14 = 18
Damage: 1d6 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6
+1 Adaptive Longbow: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (10) + 14 = 24
Damage: 1d6 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11
+1 Adaptive Longbow: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (7) + 9 = 16
Damage: 1d6 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7

Clustered shot all damage is added.

Nik'o mauls the female hobgoblin, badly wounding her but failing to grab a hold.

While Sia takes a chunk out of the giant snake, Eustoma shoots the hobgoblin with two more arrows.

Wulfram conjures a wall of fire that burns the snake and the hobgoblin priest!

Concentration: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (3) + 12 = 15

The priest's voice rises as he starts to intone a prayer, but the pain from his burns is too distracting, and the spell fails!

D'oh! Rogar is up.

Rogar, skin cracking under the pressure of the snake, does the only thing he thinks will help. Clenching his first, he summons metal from around him and driving it into the snake as best as he can.

I think I can manage this, considering it’s a SLA and Grappling only prevents actions that require two hands free- Blast only requires one, though I do still need a Concentration check
Metal Blast, Grappled: 1d20 + 15 - 4 ⇒ (6) + 15 - 4 = 1710d6 + 24 ⇒ (5, 5, 5, 2, 1, 2, 5, 4, 3, 2) + 24 = 58
Concentraion DC 38?: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (20) + 17 = 37

Dang. I probably should have figured out I couldn’t make that roll. Here’s hoping the snake’s CMB is actually 27 or lower!

Rogar tries to concentrate to summon another blast, but the crushing coils are too distracting and his efforts falter.

Missed by one, alas. And the attack roll wouldn't have hit anyway.

Ignoring the wall of fire, the snake bears down on Rogar again, sinking its fangs into his stony flesh.

Grapple: 1d20 + 24 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 24 + 5 = 36
Damage and Constrict: 1d8 + 20 + 1d6 + 12 ⇒ (1) + 20 + (5) + 12 = 38

The whip-wielding hobgoblin casts a spell defensively, then slaps Nik'o's flank, attempting to poison the cat!

Concentration: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (16) + 13 = 29
Touch: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (3) + 13 = 16

31 damage to Rogar after DR. Nik'o must make a DC 15 Fortitude save or take 1d3 Con damage from a poison spell. Eustoma, Karla, and Wulfram are up!

Blessing of Fervor only lasted 9 rounds, in the initial fight.

Wulfram knew that Rogar was having the life squeezed out of him; the shaman focused his attention on stabbing the mighty serpent, in a race against time.

Huntsman Longspear, Bless, Haste, Power Attack, Furious Focus: 1d20 + 15 + 1 + 1 - 2 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 15 + 1 + 1 - 2 + 2 = 33
Damage, Pwer Attack: 1d8 + 1d6 + 13 + 6 ⇒ (2) + (5) + 13 + 6 = 26

Huntsman Longspear, Bless, Haste, Power attack, iterative: 1d20 + 15 + 1 + 1 - 2 - 5 ⇒ (19) + 15 + 1 + 1 - 2 - 5 = 29 A great attack roll on the iterative!
Damage, Power Attack: 1d8 + 1d6 + 13 + 6 ⇒ (7) + (6) + 13 + 6 = 32

Hunstman Longspear, Bless, Haste, Power Attack (extra haste attack): 1d20 + 15 + 1 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (13) + 15 + 1 + 1 - 2 = 28
Damage, Power Attack: 1d8 + 1d6 + 13 + 6 ⇒ (4) + (1) + 13 + 6 = 24

I'm hoping that Karla was able to include Wulfram in the Haste.

Wall of Fire (snake): 2d6 + 9 ⇒ (2, 6) + 9 = 17
Wall of Fire (priest): 2d4 ⇒ (1, 3) = 4

You're all hasted.

Karla, unclear how to help Rogar, tries to shroud the creature's thoughts and sense of purpose.

Cast Confusion, Will DC 19, on the three rascals!

Fortitude: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (17) + 10 = 27

Nik'o growls as his body fights the poison and she unleashes her rage on the spellcaster.

Bite and Grab: 1d20 + 14 - 2 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 14 - 2 + 2 = 273d6 + 8 + 4 + 2 + 1 + 1d6 ⇒ (3, 5, 3) + 8 + 4 + 2 + 1 + (3) = 291d20 + 18 - 2 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 18 - 2 + 2 + 1 = 20
Claw: 1d20 + 14 - 2 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 14 - 2 + 2 = 241d8 + 8 + 4 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 8 + 4 + 2 + 1 = 23
Claw: 1d20 + 14 - 2 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 14 - 2 + 2 = 211d8 + 8 + 4 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 8 + 4 + 2 + 1 = 23

Hasted Bite and Grab: 1d20 + 14 - 2 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 14 - 2 + 2 = 303d6 + 8 + 4 + 2 + 1 + 1d6 ⇒ (5, 5, 5) + 8 + 4 + 2 + 1 + (3) = 331d20 + 18 - 2 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 18 - 2 + 2 + 1 = 29

Ouch!

Sia bites at the snake again.

Bite: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (9) + 15 = 24
Damage: 1d8 + 12 ⇒ (8) + 12 = 20
Bite: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (4) + 15 = 19
Damage: 1d8 + 12 ⇒ (1) + 12 = 13
Bite: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (7) + 10 = 17
Damage: 1d8 + 12 ⇒ (2) + 12 = 14

Eustoma lets loose with a volley of arrows at the snake this time.

Adaptive Bow: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (18) + 15 = 33
Damage: 1d6 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7
Adaptive Bow: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (14) + 15 = 29
Damage: 1d6 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9
Adaptive Bow: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (16) + 15 = 31
Damage: 1d6 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8
Adaptive Bow: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (20) + 10 = 30
Damage: 1d6 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6
Adaptive Bow Crit Confirm: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (10) + 10 = 20
Damage: 2d6 + 10 ⇒ (5, 4) + 10 = 19

Nik'o tears into the hobgoblin again, mauling her until she falls. Sia, Eustoma, and Wulfram combine their efforts in the massive snake, and as the shaman delivers his final thrust, the beast collapses, releasing its grip on Rogar at last.

Will: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (2) + 10 = 12
Confusion: 1d100 ⇒ 51
Damage: 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13

The hobgoblin priest succumbs to Karla's confusion. You hear a sickening crunch, followed by a heavy clatter. When Wulfram dismisses his wall of fire, you can see the hobgoblin's corpse, shrunk back to its normal size. It seems that he bashes himself in the face with his own morningstar, killing himself in the process!

Loot: wand of cure moderate wounds (10 charges), acid (2), alchemist's fire (2), antitoxin; +1 splint mail, +1 morningstar, mwk heavy crossbow with 20 bolts, cloak of resistance +1, headband of alluring charisma +2, spell component pouch, unholy symbol, 24 gp; wand of cure serious wounds (15 charges); +1 breastplate, buckler, +1 aming scorpion whipUE, amulet of natural armor +1, cloak of resistance +1, ring of protection +2, large opals (2, worth 300 gp each); scroll of break enchantment, a scroll of freedom of movement, and two scrolls of restoration.

"Poor fellow!" says Karla, though she's laughing saying it. It seems she thinks it quite funny that the Hobgoblin only got to hit himself with the divine might of whatever gruesome god he worshipped.

"They were well equipped!" she comments, shifting her gaze to the eldritch and assessing their equipment.

Lots of battle stuff. Nik'o could use some of the defensive items, as would Sia. Karla already has a headband of charisma.

That's a +1 flaming scorpion whip, by the way. Paizo pdfs have weird copy/paste issues when in comes to the letter "f".

Eustoma stands there in shock for a couple of seconds, and then she falls to the ground laughing so hard. "It serves him right." She continues laughing so hard that tears roll down her face.

Wulfram pulled Rogar free of the snake and spent a minute healing him.

Wand of CLW (10 charges): 10d8 + 10 ⇒ (7, 4, 4, 7, 8, 4, 8, 4, 5, 8) + 10 = 69

"It's a good thing you're so tough, buddy! That was a scary situation."

After a moment's rest, he looked into the passageway that the enemies had emerged from.

Perception: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (7) + 14 = 21