DM Brainiac's Ruins of Azlant: Pretty Women and Green Men (COMPLETE!) (Inactive)

Game Master Brainiac

The door here is neither locked nor trapped. This large room is decorated with clumps of sandy mud, each sprouting a riot of colorful seaweed. Tiny crabs, sea slugs, and other aquatic vermin roam freely about the room. A vast circular pit yawns in an alcove near the entry door. A few stone steps and a partial stone banister indicate that the pit may have once held a spiral staircase, but the stairs are missing. Near the edge of the open pit is another statue of the stern, robed man.

Three more scrags are here, including a female clad in a breastplate made of bronze dragon scales. A blue ioun stone circles around her head. The other scrags bristle, but the female holds up her hand, indicating she wishes to parlay.

"I am Dahaaka. Stay your hand and let us speak," she says in Giant.

Simon holds up his hands to indicste the party should pause and responds in Giant.

"Greetings, Dahaaka. We wish no conflict with your people and have battled them only when forced.

We seek to contact the one who built these towers.", he says, gesturing to the statue.

Dahaaka snorts. "Auberon doesn't usually like visitors. He told us he expected intruders to be coming to the tower soon, but he didn't give any specific orders to destroy you, so I'm willing to make a deal. I'll tell my scrags to stand down if you destroy the marsh giants who dwell here and their leader, Glorballo.

"Glorballo came to the Alabaster Trident several weeks ago with news of a hidden aquatic elf community. When Glorballo’s information proved correct—and the elves had been brought to the prison lower in the tower—Auberon said Glorballo could stay. But as the weeks have worn on, Auberon has been unusually silent, and I think Glorballo is up to something. Bring me his head and I will allow you to pass uncontested. You'll have to go back up one floor and through the door there to get to the chambers that he and his giants have claimed."

Sense Motive,Heroism: 1d20 + 17 + 2 + 1d6 ⇒ (15) + 17 + 2 + (3) = 37 Is she being honest?

Switching to Azlanti, Simon translates the request, watching Terana to see if she understands the language. If not, he will switch to Common.

"Normally, I would not recommend trusting trolls, but these appear to have an arrangement with Auberon and she does seem to have firm control over the others.

We will likely be required to fight one or the other of the factions here and giants are probably easier to deal with than trolls. Maybe we can negotiate some assistance?"

Simon senses no deception from the troll.

"I don't think they'll work with us." Terana replies. "She wants to avoid being in trouble if Auberon is unhappy about this. Typical ploy for those who want someone else to bleed for them. Less fighting is good though."

She clearly does understand Azlanti, and probably Giant as well from the way she seemed to be following the conversation with the giant.

Hi, I'm a paladin with seven languages ;)

"Agreed. We will defeat this Glorballo, and you will give us free passage and tell us more about your pact with Auberon."

Turning from the room, Simon swims back up to the previous level.

You return to the barred door on the upper level. You can still hear the horrid sermon under way on the other side. You'll have to bash the door down to get access, unless you have some other clever or magical plan to bypass the stone door.

The door has hardness 15, hp 30, and break DC 25.

While others consider a way to bypass the door, Vakentin presses a hand against the door, closes his eyes, and starts concentrating.

Using Door Sight to see beyond the door

Nice!

Several benches have been pushed together in this room to make large cots, each draped with seaweed. A wide set of stairs ascends along the north wall. Along a wall that juts into southwest part of the room is a large statue depicting a man in elaborate robes with a leather bag tied over its head.

Two marsh giants converse with a towering fiend. This hideous cross between a lobster, an octopus, and a human threatens enemies with powerful claws and writhing tentacles. It is this fiend that is giving the giants the sermon about poison and torture.

Planes: 1d20 + 14 + 2 + 1d6 ⇒ (11) + 14 + 2 + (2) = 29

"Consorting with a Piscodaemon, are they? That doesn't seem like something Auberon would approve of.

The question remains, are these giants in league with Ochymua?"

Once a plan has been decided Valentin will cast Delay Pouson on Victrix and Terana unless she is immune somehow, then uses the pearl of power to cast it on Simon.

Valentin still has his domain teleport spell, or Simon could take on fluid form, but maybe an elemental to go through and open the door is better. Is the previous elemental still hanging around?

Simon quaffs his mutagen, allowing his hulking orcish form out to play.

I am immune actually :D

Terana produces her glaive again out of nowhere, although an astute observer would notice if appearing from a scabbard on her back. "I'll be fine thank you Vincent. If the piscodemon is aquatic then I'm naturally immune."

Ena was relieved they could at least avoid fighting some of the denizens down here and the sudden appearance of these marsh giants at this time felt wrong to her. With their plans made, and their arrival at the appropriate place, Ema was not pleased to hear about a daemon being involved.

Know (planes): 1d20 + 22 ⇒ (6) + 22 = 28
Looking for special defense/attacks/spells in that order. Skip ahead if Simon takes one of them to know about.

"I don't know that the elemental can squeeze through there but it may be able to smash the door in." She burbled to the elemental in aquan to ask if it could get through and open the door.

"All right, then. I'll handle this. Be prepared."

Stealth: 1d20 + 24 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 24 + 2 = 36

Taking another extract, Simon's body turns translucent and he slips through the cracks in the door, then lifts the bar and opens the door.

Victrix readies her axe and prepares for combat.

Terana swigs the small bottle that the half-orc (Simon?) gave her. The sensation of growing suddenly is quite fun!

Caught up in the sermon, neither the giants nor the daemon notice Simon as he unbars the door. With the obstruction removes, he opens it easily, allowing his fellow party members to charge in!

Everybody may take a surprise round, then the enemies will act first in the first full round! The giants are 30 feet away while the daemon is 50 feet away.

Terana charges forward and takes advantage of her huge reach to strike the nearest giant!

Has it been 12 minutes since the previous fight? If it has then subtract 2 from all my rolls and ignore the holy damage.

Attack: 1d20 + 24 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 24 + 2 = 42 Damage: 2d6 + 15 + 2 + 2d6 ⇒ (2, 3) + 15 + 2 + (5, 5) = 32

Valentin launches a Spear of Purity at the daemon.

Ranged Touch: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (14) + 9 = 23
Damage?: 10d6 ⇒ (1, 3, 5, 6, 2, 4, 3, 5, 1, 4) = 34 (and Blinded 1 round, Will 15 for half and no blinded)

Caster Level (if needed): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (11) + 10 = 21

Simon quickly studies the daemon and charges. (Reach is 15ft currently)

Seaspike,Study,Heroism,Charge,PA: 1d20 + 19 + 6 + 2 + 2 - 3 ⇒ (20) + 19 + 6 + 2 + 2 - 3 = 46
Confirm?: 1d20 + 19 + 6 + 2 + 2 - 3 ⇒ (14) + 19 + 6 + 2 + 2 - 3 = 40
Damage?,1xStudy,2xPA: 1d6 + 26 + 6 + 18 ⇒ (4) + 26 + 6 + 18 = 54

Yeah, oddly enough a water elemental is not amorphous.

As the fight began Ema cast a spell to speed time for her friend's making everything seem to move just a little slower to them.
Cast haste on us.

Meanwhile her elemental charged in after Simon to attack the daemon with a ferocious slam.

charge w/patk/wat mast/haste/charge: 1d20 + 22 - 4 + 1 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 22 - 4 + 1 + 1 + 1 = 372d8 + 11 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (3, 8) + 11 + 8 + 1 = 31

Victrix roars in rage and goes right for the same target as Terana.

Raging Charging Power Attack *Haste, Heroism?*: 1d20 + 27 ⇒ (5) + 27 = 32
Damage?: 1d12 + 19 ⇒ (10) + 19 = 29

Will: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (15) + 9 = 24

Victrix and Terana charge the nearest giant, wounding it, while Simon and the elemental both attack the daemon. The elemental slams it while Simon scores a critical hit, driving his spear into its chest! Valentin's spear of purity connects but the fiend resists most of the damage.

The giants roar challenges as they swing their gaffs at Terana and Victrix. The daemon, meanwhile, focuses its ire on Simon, attacking with its claws and tentacles.

Gaffs vs Terana, Victrix: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (8) + 13 = 211d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 181d20 + 13 ⇒ (18) + 13 = 311d20 + 18 ⇒ (11) + 18 = 29
Damage: 2d6 + 21 - 7 ⇒ (6, 4) + 21 - 7 = 242d6 + 21 - 7 ⇒ (3, 2) + 21 - 7 = 19
Pincers, Tentacles: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (2) + 17 = 191d20 + 17 ⇒ (9) + 17 = 261d20 + 15 ⇒ (17) + 15 = 32
Tentacles: 2d8 + 7 - 10 ⇒ (4, 1) + 7 - 10 = 2

43 damage to Victrix after DR. 2 damage to Simon after DR and he must make a DC 24 Fortitude save against poison or take 1d2 Con damage and be staggered for 1 round. Everybody is up!

Ema was relieved to see everyone come through the first exchange of blows intact but knew it wouldn't last too long. Her elemental lashed out with two fierce slams at the daemon.
slam 1 w/haste/water mast/patk: 1d20 + 22 + 1 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (3) + 22 + 1 + 1 - 4 = 232d8 + 11 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (8, 3) + 11 + 8 + 1 = 31
slam 2 w/haste/water mast/patk: 1d20 + 22 + 1 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (16) + 22 + 1 + 1 - 4 = 362d8 + 11 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (8, 7) + 11 + 8 + 1 = 35

Ema, meanwhile, decided to try and level the playing field a bit. She began to chant and gesture, weaving a tapestry of illusion in the shape of a sphere to encompass unengaged giant the n added material from the shadow plane to give it more substance. When she was finished a sphere of clear force formed quickly around the giant to try and trap it. Her eyes flashed at the last moment to add more power to make the spell even harder to resist.

Shadow evocation sphere of force on the giant not being attacked. Will fail DC 24 and Ref Fail DC 24. If 13 ft diameter isn't big enough then drop 2 from the DC to make it a 15ft sphere.

Immune to poison via Delay Poison

Simon roars at the daemon and mocks it, while thrusting out his enlarged tusks.

Full Attack. Switch to a Giant is the daemon falls and one is within 5ft+15ft reach range.

Seaspike,Study,Heroism,PA: 1d20 + 19 + 6 + 2 - 3 ⇒ (18) + 19 + 6 + 2 - 3 = 42
Damage?,Study,PA: 1d6 + 13 + 6 + 9 ⇒ (2) + 13 + 6 + 9 = 30

Seaspike,Study,Heroism,PA: 1d20 + 14 + 6 + 2 - 3 ⇒ (4) + 14 + 6 + 2 - 3 = 23
Damage?,Study,PA: 1d6 + 13 + 6 + 9 ⇒ (1) + 13 + 6 + 9 = 29

Seaspike,Study,Heroism,PA: 1d20 + 19 + 6 + 2 - 3 ⇒ (17) + 19 + 6 + 2 - 3 = 41
Damage?,Study,PA: 1d6 + 13 + 6 + 9 ⇒ (2) + 13 + 6 + 9 = 30

Snapping out his curative wand, Valentin moves up behind Victrix and heals her.

CSW: 3d8 + 5 ⇒ (2, 5, 2) + 5 = 14

Terana sets to work, merrily slicing away with her long, long reach.

Attack: 1d20 + 24 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 24 + 2 + 1 = 42 Damage: 2d6 + 15 + 2 + 2d6 ⇒ (1, 4) + 15 + 2 + (5, 4) = 31
Haste Attack: 1d20 + 24 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 24 + 2 + 1 = 46 Damage: 2d6 + 15 + 2 + 2d6 ⇒ (6, 4) + 15 + 2 + (2, 5) = 34
Attack: 1d20 + 19 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 19 + 2 + 1 = 29 Damage: 2d6 + 15 + 2 + 2d6 ⇒ (1, 1) + 15 + 2 + (3, 4) = 26
Attack: 1d20 + 14 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 14 + 2 + 1 = 25 Damage: 2d6 + 15 + 2 + 2d6 ⇒ (4, 1) + 15 + 2 + (5, 3) = 30

Haste Crit?: 1d20 + 24 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 24 + 2 + 1 = 44 Damage: 4d6 + 30 + 4 ⇒ (1, 3, 1, 5) + 30 + 4 = 44

Th giant finds himself being sliced up like sushi and Terana spares a moment to smite the demon!

Victrix whirls on the other giant and starts ripping and tearing!

Raging Power Attack *Haste, Heroism*: 1d20 + 25 ⇒ (17) + 25 = 42
Damage: 1d12 + 19 ⇒ (6) + 19 = 25

Raging Power Attack *Haste, Heroism*: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (3) + 21 = 24
Damage: 1d12 + 19 ⇒ (11) + 19 = 30

Raging Power Attack *Haste, Heroism*: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (7) + 16 = 23
Damage: 1d12 + 19 ⇒ (6) + 19 = 25

Raging Power Attack *Haste, Heroism*: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (5) + 11 = 16
Damage: 1d12 + 19 ⇒ (5) + 19 = 24

Well s*@&, my actions may have just caused a problem. Guess we'll see.

Hmmm... I would know that it is an illusion, since I know your casting style, so I would get and additional +4 to disbelieve, I think

Will: 1d20 + 8 + 2 + 4 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 8 + 2 + 4 + 4 = 20
Ah well, I could probably get there with inspiration, but waiting a round to team up on the last giant is not the end of the world.

The giant is what I'm imprisoning, not the daemon. Assuming the daemon doesn't die, if it does then I won't bother with the spell.

Simon stabs the daemon twice, further wounding it. Victrix cuts the wounded giant down with two chops of her axe then turns on the other to injure it. Ema's elemental wounds the daemon some more while Ema tries to trap the second giant in an illusory sphere of force. However, it disbelieves and is unaffected!

Will: 1d20 + 24 ⇒ (5) + 24 = 29

Unfortunately for the giant, this means Terana is able to slaughter it with impunity, slicing it to ribbons!

The daemon's injuries are severe, so it backs away from Simon and then disappears in a cloud of ink and bubbles, teleporting away! You doubt it will return.

Each marsh giant wears a golden disc with a stylized octopus eye worth 200 gp--the unholy symbol of Dagon. Hidden under one of the beds is a +1 giant bane longspear.

Simon straps the longspear next to his other longspear, while Valentin gets out his CLW wand and heals Victrix.

4 zaps for +22hp. Any other injuries?

As for the longspear, if Victrix or Terana want it, you can have it. I just figured longspear was Simon's weapon

Simon swims over to the statue and pulls the bag off of its head.

Assuing it is another statue of Auberon, he speaks to it, holding up one of the unholy symbols.

"Auberon. Your giants have been consorting with powerful daemons, and likely working against you, seeing as how they attempted to block the statue's sensors by placing a bag over its head.

We are going to rid you of this risk, before attempting to come speak with you. However, if this was to your design, we do not seek to offend. Contact us and we will stop."

Putting the unholy symbol away, he heads to the stairs and scouts the floor above.

Stealth: 1d20 + 24 ⇒ (19) + 24 = 43
Perception: 1d20 + 21 + 1d6 ⇒ (6) + 21 + (6) = 33

There is no response to Simon's speech.

The half-orc quietly swims up the stairs to look in on the room above. The ceiling of this large room is a jagged mass of uneven stone, and several large stone blocks are scattered about the floor. Some of these stones have been pushed together against the west wall to form a crude altar. Chiseled into the wall above it is the image of a horrid ichthyic creature with tentacles and fangs.

A particularly large marsh giant stands before the shrine. He wears gold jewelry of alien design and carries a fancy trident. This must be the giants' chieftain, Glorballo.

Perception: 1d20 + 28 ⇒ (16) + 28 = 44

He proves to be quite perceptive, spotting Simon lurking in the stairway. "You! You will prostrate yourself before the glory of Dagon, or face his wrath!" Glorballo declares in the Giant tongue.

is my elemental still around or has it gone home yet? It's able to stay for 13 minutes.

That is some impressive perception! Does Simon notice if Glorballo has a spell component pouch?

Darting back down the stairs, Simon warns the others. "Glorballo is above, and it saw me." With longspear ready, he watches the stairs to see if the giant approaches.

The elemental is still around. Glorballo has a holy symbol but no spell component pouch.

The marsh giant makes no move to pursue Simon.

"The giant may be a divine spellcaster, so be wary. We should hurry back before it has time to cast too many protective spells."

Simon is prepared to rush back up the stairs and attack as soon as the others are ready.

Of course, if someone wants to try to negotiate with this giant, Simon stands ready to translate as well.

"Fine by me!" Terana says, getting to it!

My holy bond is on about as long as the elemental, so the quicker we do this the better!

Ema nodded her agreement and said, "This will be a good chance to test out the new...er old trick I remembered how to do. It should help if he tries to cast anything."

I intend to start making use of my counterspell/counter drain exploits though I can only counter up to a 5th level spell this way. It is an immediate action for me when he casts so in case he casts right away...
spellcraft: 1d20 + 22 ⇒ (7) + 22 = 29
countering check: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (10) + 13 = 23

When you rush up the stairs, you find Glorballo surrounded by a crackling aura of destructive energy. ”Come on then, and taste Dagon’s fury!”

Ema: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 1 = 10
Simon: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6
Terana: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 1 = 17
Valentin: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 2 = 22
Victrix: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21
Glorballo: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (7) + 11 = 18

Valentin and Victrix may act!

Spellcraft(Simon): 1d20 + 21 + 2 + 1d6 ⇒ (4) + 21 + 2 + (4) = 31
Spellcraft(Valentin): 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (11) + 15 = 26

After reporting the nature of the spell (if he knows), Valentin pulls out a wand of protection from evil, and touches Victrix with it.

Simon recognizes the aura as an ability of the destruction cleric domain.

That spell is going to be FAR worse to Glorballo than it will be to us. He would need a bunch of allies before it would make sense to me.

I assume @GM will handle adding the damage to attacks against glorballo, since we don't know its caster level?

Simon informs the others, "Don't worry about the spell, it will not hurt you directly"

Victrix's response is to roar and throw herself at Glorballo.

Raging Charging Power Attack *Haste, Heroism?*: 1d20 + 27 ⇒ (9) + 27 = 36
Damage?: 1d12 + 19 ⇒ (7) + 19 = 26

Yes, the crazed demon-worshipping giant doesn't use the best tactics! But he does hit hard!

AoO, Combat Reflexes: 1d20 + 25 ⇒ (14) + 25 = 39
Damage: 1d8 + 12 + 5 - 7 ⇒ (3) + 12 + 5 - 7 = 13

Glorballo is ready for Victrix's charge, stabbing her with his trident even as she slices at him. He roars and attacks again and again, driving the tines deep into Victrix's body!

Trident, PA: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (3) + 20 = 231d20 + 15 ⇒ (17) + 15 = 321d20 + 10 ⇒ (12) + 10 = 221d20 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11
Damage: 1d8 + 32 - 7 ⇒ (4) + 32 - 7 = 291d8 + 32 - 7 ⇒ (5) + 32 - 7 = 301d8 + 32 - 7 ⇒ (5) + 32 - 7 = 30

102 damage to Victrix after DR. Everybody is up!

Victrix responds my manically swinging her own axe.

Raging Power Attack *Haste, Heroism*: 1d20 + 25 ⇒ (15) + 25 = 40
Damage: 1d12 + 19 ⇒ (8) + 19 = 27

Raging Power Attack *Haste, Heroism*: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (18) + 21 = 39
Damage: 1d12 + 19 ⇒ (10) + 19 = 29

Raging Power Attack *Haste, Heroism*: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (19) + 15 = 34
Damage: 1d12 + 19 ⇒ (1) + 19 = 20

Raging Power Attack *Haste, Heroism*: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (19) + 10 = 29
Damage: 1d12 + 19 ⇒ (10) + 19 = 29