DM Brainiac's War for the Crown: Table 2 (COMPLETE!) (Inactive)

Game Master Brainiac

The attack bonus applies but not the damage bonus, which only applies to weapon damage.

You focus all of your efforts against the slithering pits, with Thanara unleashing a fusillade of fiery rays! Combined with powerful strikes from Amelia and Liam and a barrage of magic missiles from Katria, the strange creatures shudder and merge back with the ground, the animating spirits departing.

Thanara’s body is covered with sweat as the fighting ends, her chest heaving from the rapid fire exertion. Her trembling legs give way and she slumps to the ground, leaning on her hands as she catches her breath, her blonde hair cascading around her face.

"Are you OK? Liam!" Katria says as Thanara collapses. She checks herself but realizes she's fine, and turns her attention to helping her newest companion.

When Katria reaches her, she can feel Thanara trembling. ”I…I’m fine. Not used to using so much magic so fast…” she says as Katria helps her back to her feet.

”Did we fix it?” she asks as she brushes her hair back out of her face.

Liam checks on Thanara.
"It has been a long day for us as well. The Astral Plane in the morning, a full day searching for evidence at the Post Office, a battle with a dragon and a mental parasite, and now this.
I could do with some rest once we are done here.
Once it is safe, we should summon the groundskeepers. I can assist with reinternment and blessings.
But first, let us see if there are any more disturbances."

You finish crossing the graveyard to reach the grand entry hall of the Hall of Final Deeds. Several plaques have been pulled from the lower walls, and two horrid creatures lurk about. These filthy, shuddering masses of sludge and bones seem to have formed from a mass of muddy grave soil. One of them busily gnaws on the arbiter Iphalt-C, whose metallic body shudders and crumples. The inevitable appears to still be alive, if barely so.

Amelia: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24
Katria: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 2 = 15
Liam: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10
Thanara: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (8) + 9 = 17
Oozes: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (8) + 10 = 18

Amelia may act! One ooze is 40 feet to the northwest, while the other is 30 feet to the east.

Knowledge (Dungeoneering): 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (12) + 14 = 26

"Gravesludges!" Katria calls out.

”Grave-whats?” Thanara asked in disgust.

Sludges! It's a muddy deposit usually, but this one is ... well, on a grave," Katria explains.

Amelia looks confused, "Whatever it is, can it die?"

Attack!: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (11) + 20 = 31
Dice: 1d8 + 25 ⇒ (2) + 25 = 27

Amelia's weapon slices into the strange ooze, splattering necrotic fluids around the room. It turns towards her and tries to strike her with its pseudopods, scoring a heavy blow! The other ooze focuses its necromantic abilities on Liam, attempting to scare him to death!

Slams: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (17) + 17 = 341d20 + 17 ⇒ (4) + 17 = 21
Damage: 2d8 + 16 + 2d6 ⇒ (3, 2) + 16 + (6, 5) = 32

21 bludgeoning and 11 negative damage to Amelia. Liam must attempt a DC 19 Will save against phantasmal killer. Everybody may act!

"Positive energy will hurt it and good-aligned weapons," Katria says, realizing she can do more to help her companions. "But avoid acid and cold!"

She pulls out her wand of scorching rays and lets loose with a fiery blast.
Use Magic Device: 1d20 + 30 ⇒ (17) + 30 = 47
Ranged touch (Point Blank Shot): 1d20 + 13 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 13 + 1 = 31
Fire damage (Point Blank Shot): 4d6 + 1 ⇒ (1, 3, 6, 6) + 1 = 17

Try banana sends a series of sparking orbs at the monstrosity Amelia struck.

Magic Missile: 5d4 + 5 ⇒ (4, 1, 4, 2, 1) + 5 = 17

Try Banana indeed.

Full Attack 1: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (19) + 20 = 39
Damage: 1d8 + 25 ⇒ (1) + 25 = 26

Full Attack 2: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (4) + 15 = 19
Damage: 1d8 + 25 ⇒ (1) + 25 = 26

Full Attack 3: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (12) + 10 = 22
Damage: 1d8 + 25 ⇒ (8) + 25 = 33

I'm assuming its immune to criticals.

Stupid autocorrect. I don’t even know why it changed it. I’ve typed that name so many times!

Will vs. Phantasmal Killer: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (11) + 21 = 32

Liam resists the evil magic.

Holding the Standard of Conquest and Scion's Dagger he calls for a Battle Charge!

Everybody within 60' gets:
+20' base speed
Ignores AC penalty from charging
Fly speed of 30' for 1 minute
Greater Heroism for 1 minute (including +11 temp HP)

Liam charges the other ooze.

Attack, PA, Greater Heroism, Charge: 1d20 + 19 - 3 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 19 - 3 + 4 + 2 = 24
Damage: 1d4 + 9 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 9 + 6 = 17

Also to answer the question before, Rays are considered Weapons. They do get a bonus from Inspire Courage, Good Hope, Arcane Strike, etc. They can even be selected with Weapon Focus and Weapon Specialization. You can in fact increase their damage. Note that not everything is a Ray though just because its a Ranged Touch Attack.

ROTFLMAO at Try Banana!

Go banana!

Thanara and Katria blast the ooze Amelia is fighting, and the warrior attacks it again, but only lands one hit. Liam meanwhile charges at the other ooze, but his blade fails to pierce its viscous body.

The oozes retaliate, attacking Amelia and Liam. Amelia takes a hit!

Slams vs Amelia: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (18) + 17 = 351d20 + 17 ⇒ (5) + 17 = 22
Damage: 2d8 + 16 + 2d6 ⇒ (6, 1) + 16 + (3, 6) = 32
Slams vs Liam: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (2) + 17 = 191d20 + 17 ⇒ (15) + 17 = 32

23 bludgeoning and 9 negative damage to Amelia. Everybody may act.

Katria fires another blast from her wand, the scorching ray slamming into the gravesludge.

Use Magic Device: 1d20 + 28 ⇒ (16) + 28 = 44
Ranged touch: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (16) + 13 = 29
Fire damage: 4d6 ⇒ (1, 4, 5, 4) = 14

Liam got beat on initiative by an ooze and then failed to hit it? How embarrassing!

"You will pay for this desecration!"
INSPIRE COURAGE +3 as a swift action.

Liam casts Divine Power.
That will give him a +4 luck bonus to attacks and damage, as well as an extra attack. Too far away from Amelia for Blessing of Fervor.

Thanara sends four beams of lightning at the one that was chewing on the little robotic guy, hoping to fry it before it can do more harm to it.
_________
Ranged Touch, PBS, IC: 1d20 + 7 + 1 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 7 + 1 + 3 = 28
Damage, PBS: 4d6 + 1 + 3 ⇒ (3, 1, 3, 6) + 1 + 3 = 17

Ranged Touch, PBS, IC: 1d20 + 7 + 1 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 7 + 1 + 3 = 13
Damage, PBS: 4d6 + 1 + 3 ⇒ (2, 5, 1, 5) + 1 + 3 = 17

Ranged Touch, PBS, IC: 1d20 + 7 + 1 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 7 + 1 + 3 = 31
Damage, PBS: 4d6 + 1 + 3 ⇒ (4, 4, 3, 6) + 1 + 3 = 21

Ranged Touch Confirm, PBS, IC: 1d20 + 7 + 1 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 7 + 1 + 3 = 13
Damage, PBS: 4d6 + 1 + 3 ⇒ (6, 6, 6, 5) + 1 + 3 = 27

Amelia Attacks: 1d20 + 23 ⇒ (5) + 23 = 281d20 + 18 ⇒ (6) + 18 = 241d20 + 13 ⇒ (12) + 13 = 25
Damage: 1d8 + 25 ⇒ (5) + 25 = 30

Amelia only lands one hit on the ooze again, but combined with Katria's fire and Thanara's lightning, the creature collapses into an inert pile of necrotic sludge.

Liam infuses himself with divine power as he continues to fend off the second ooze. It lunges at him again, but his augmented defenses prove enough to hold off its attacks!

Slams: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (13) + 17 = 301d20 + 17 ⇒ (14) + 17 = 31

Defense subdomain is awesome!

Brimming with the power of his goddess, Liam strikes at the ooze with Scion's Dagger (+5 Mithral Ghost Touch).

Attack, Greater Heroism +4, IC +3, Divine Power +4, PA -3: 1d20 + 19 + 4 + 3 + 4 - 3 ⇒ (15) + 19 + 4 + 3 + 4 - 3 = 42
Damage: 1d4 + 9 + 3 + 4 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 9 + 3 + 4 + 6 = 26

Divine Power Extra Attack: 1d20 + 19 + 4 + 3 + 4 - 3 ⇒ (2) + 19 + 4 + 3 + 4 - 3 = 29
Damage: 1d4 + 9 + 3 + 4 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 9 + 3 + 4 + 6 = 26

Iterative: 1d20 + 14 + 4 + 3 + 4 - 3 ⇒ (8) + 14 + 4 + 3 + 4 - 3 = 30
Damage: 1d4 + 9 + 3 + 4 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 9 + 3 + 4 + 6 = 24

"Ugch! Enough of this!" Thanara growls as she points a finger at the remaining creature. A green beam of energy flies into the thing!
__________
Ranged Touch, PBS, IC: 1d20 + 7 + 1 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 7 + 1 + 3 = 29
DC 25 Fortitude Save, Success is 21 Damage (the first 5 d6's rolled)
Disintegrate Damage: 28d6 ⇒ (3, 5, 5, 2, 6, 2, 5, 5, 4, 5, 1, 5, 3, 2, 5, 4, 5, 1, 3, 2, 4, 1, 1, 6, 6, 2, 6, 5) = 104

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 24 ⇒ (20) + 24 = 44

Katria blinks.

"Disintegrate? That's a very dangerous spell!" she says in a bit of horror. She wondered if the other woman knew how many priceless artifacts had been destroyed by wanton use of such spells. 1

She chooses a much safer method of dispatching it, with more focused fire, and uses her wand again.

Use Magic Device: 1d20 + 28 ⇒ (13) + 28 = 41
Ranged touch: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (17) + 13 = 30
Fire damage: 4d6 ⇒ (5, 6, 4, 3) = 18

1 Katria herself did not know the answer to this question, but she feared it was a lot. The Pathfinder Society alone probably accounted for until numbers.

Thanara snaps her head towards Katria. "And I can be a very dangerous person, when I choose to be!" she snaps, the frustration of prolonged battle clearly irritating her.

Fortitude: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (6) + 11 = 17

Liam stabs the ooze several times, then Thanara's powerful spell causes it to disintegrate into a heaping pile of dust!

With the threats neutralized, the arbiter Iphalt-C returns to her senses. "Thank you for rescuing me. This attack is unprecedented! I was present when the building began rattling, followed by the north end of its foundation buckling, after which putrid gases and hungry oozes poured out. Before I could seek help, a serpentine creature emerged, cackled, and struck me down with a spell.

"I fear these creatures are far beyond my ability to combat. I can provide you with some wards against chaos, at least."

Iphalt-C will continually keep protection from chaos active on each of you.

"Yeah. All well and good," Thanara pants. "You know where the center of this madness is so we can go put an end to it?"

Katria nods, thanking Iphalt-C for her help, and to Thanara's question.

"It sounds like it might be some sort of qlipppoth," she muses, though certainly it could still turn out to be any number of other possibilities.

Liam fidgets uncomfortably at the arbiter's offer to protect him from Chaos.
"I believe my existing protections are sufficient, thank you."

So we are not yet inside the Hall of Final Deeds? This was all outside?

"We should track down that serpentine creature. My protections may last if we do not tarry."

Divine Power is just Rounds/level, so that won't last, but Death Ward, Shield, and Shield of Faith are all Min/level so might last until we find the serpent-thing. Greater Heroism from the Standard is just 1 minute, but I can call for a Battle Charge again when we find the serpent.

Amelia shuddered at the word qlippoth. "Not quite pleasant. I don't have much I can use to fight off creatures that can fly outside of my bow, and it has since fallen into disrepair."

Its not nearly as effective as her Koriana's sadly.

"Thanara, you seem to control the wind and lightning, do you have the ability to help me get to the skies should this... thing fly?"

Thanara shakes her head. ”I can make myself able to fly when I take on the form of an elemental. Though, I keep feeling like I’m close to a breakthrough in mastering my own ability to channel magic into flying. Just haven’t yet.”

This last fight was in the outer foyer of the Hall of Final Deeds. You're now heading into the main part of the building.

You head deeper into the Hall of Final Deeds and make your way to the north end of the large building. A series of private counseling rooms and meeting halls surrounded the large ritual apse at the building’s north end. However, much of this chamber has collapsed, creating a precarious ramp of rubble that descends into darkness below.

Standing at the top of the ramp is an ugly creature that has a boar-like head with short antlers, a thick bullish body covered in spines, and cloven hooves on its stumpy legs. It is idly bouncing a corpse on its snout, but when it sees you, it tosses it aside. It bellows something in the Aklo tongue as it prepares to attack!

Everybody may act before the creature. It is 50 feet away.

Knowledge (Arcana): 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (7) + 20 = 27

”It’s a catoblepas. An aggressive, cantankerous creature that will eat just about anything or anyone. It is resistant to magic!” Thanara calls out to the others around her. She then sends another crackling green beam at the thing, hoping to end the fight fast!
__________
Ranged Touch: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (20) + 7 = 27
Spell Penetration: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (20) + 16 = 36
Ranged Touch, Confirm: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9
Disintegrate Damage: 28d6 ⇒ (3, 5, 1, 6, 1, 1, 3, 1, 1, 2, 3, 3, 3, 3, 4, 3, 5, 5, 3, 1, 1, 4, 3, 2, 3, 3, 3, 2) = 78 16 if it succeeds DC 25 Save.
Bonus Damage, if Crit: 28d6 ⇒ (6, 6, 3, 5, 6, 4, 2, 6, 3, 3, 4, 2, 5, 5, 1, 4, 5, 2, 6, 4, 1, 2, 6, 5, 4, 3, 1, 1) = 105 another 26 if crit and creature makes save.

Fortitude: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (12) + 15 = 27

Thanara's ray strikes the monster square in the chest, but it manages to resist being completely disintegrated!

Liam moves forward 30' towards the beast. He begins INSPIRE COURAGE +3 and uses the Band of the Crusaders' Alliance to cast Prayer.

Ring's SR check for Prayer vs beastie: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (10) + 11 = 21
Probably doesn't beat the SR, so the catoblepas will not take the -1 on everything. Party gets the benefits at least.

Current buffs:
+3 competence to hit and damage (Inspire Courage)
+1 luck to hit, damage, saves, and skill checks (Prayer)
+2 morale to all saves (Standard of Conquest) or +3 vs fear/charm (Inspire Courage)
+1 morale on attack rolls (Standard of Conquest)

Amelia looks it dead in the eye and senses vitals. Granting her 4d6 Sneak Attack. Hearing it was resistant to magic, she got ready for the worst. She moves to spread out to avoid any nasty breath weapons it might have.

K: Arcana: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24

I have an immediate to use on either:
- a reroll of a 1 on a saving throw
- a +4 for any of us post-roll
- green gem on Koriana's to become immune to Poison
Will prefer to use the matching Gem to block whatever might be coming

"Watch out for its breath! It will destroy you from the inside out!"

Katria pauses for a moment as Thanara steals her thunder, getting out information about the beast before she has the chance. Deciding the creature's still a safe distance away, she decides to try a spell she hasn't used frequently, but a good traditional one that would make her family proud if they saw it.

CL check with Spell Penetration: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (3) + 16 = 19 I think this should get the +1 from prayer? Also, I'll take the +4 from Amelia if I can
Fireball!: 10d6 ⇒ (2, 6, 6, 3, 4, 3, 2, 3, 3, 1) = 33

Prayer does not boost CL checks, unfortunately. Inexplicable Luck can (and so Bestow Luck can).

The creature has SR 23, so the +4 from Amelia will help Katria's spell go through.

Reflex: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9

The catoblepas barely tries to dodge the fireball, growling with fury as the flames scorch it. You spread out around it, Amelia and Liam moving towards it. Up close, the monster's stench is nearly overpowering.

Unable to catch more than one of you with a blast of poisonous breath, the creature instead lowers its antlers and charges at Liam! The priest manages to dodge away from its deadly horns!

Gore, Charge: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (11) + 20 = 31

Everybody may act!

Katria decides to bring Dignity's Barb to bear, pulling up the crossbow and letting its magic do its work.

Dignity's Barb (+4 seeking darkwood light crossbow, +1 within 30 ft.): 1d20 + 18 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 18 + 5 = 38
Damage (+1 within 30 ft.): 1d8 + 4 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 + 4 = 15
Dignity's Barb (iterative, +1 within 30 ft.): 1d20 + 13 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 13 + 5 = 22
Damage (+1 within 30 ft.): 1d8 + 4 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 + 4 = 14

And since I forgot earlier: DB special crit number for the day: 1d20 ⇒ 17

Liam expertly dodges the tusks, and retaliates with his dagger, while maintaining heroic oratory.

"One, two! One, two! And through and through
The vorpal blade went snicker-snack!
He left it dead, and with its head
He went galumphing back."

Current modifiers: +3/+3 competence, +1/+1 luck, +1/+0 morale, and -3/+6 PA, total +2/+10 over his base attack.

One two!: 1d20 + 19 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 19 + 2 = 35
Damage: 1d4 + 9 + 10 ⇒ (2) + 9 + 10 = 21

Snicker snack!: 1d20 + 14 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 14 + 2 = 35
Damage: 1d4 + 9 + 10 ⇒ (4) + 9 + 10 = 23

Confirm?: 1d20 + 14 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 14 + 2 = 17

Assuming a 35 hits Liam scores two solid hits on the foul beast. He may not quite be ready to go galumphing back with its head just yet, but it's a start.

Thanara continues to stall the beast, sending three beams of lightning after it!
__________
Ranged Touch, IC: 1d20 + 7 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 7 + 3 = 30
Spell Pen: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (10) + 16 = 26
Confirm: 1d20 + 7 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 7 + 3 = 19
Damage: 8d6 + 3 ⇒ (4, 5, 4, 1, 4, 5, 4, 4) + 3 = 34
Ranged Touch, IC: 1d20 + 7 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 7 + 3 = 25
Damage: 4d6 + 3 ⇒ (4, 2, 2, 5) + 3 = 16
Ranged Touch, IC: 1d20 + 7 + 3 ⇒ (11) + 7 + 3 = 21
Damage: 4d6 + 3 ⇒ (1, 6, 6, 6) + 3 = 22

Amelia swirls into a deadly dance of steel, stepping lightly around the creature.

Attack 1: 1d20 + 20 + 3 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 20 + 3 + 1 + 1 = 41
Damage: 1d8 + 25 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 25 + 3 + 1 = 33
Sneak Attack?: 4d6 ⇒ (5, 4, 6, 4) = 19

Attack 2: 1d20 + 15 + 3 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 15 + 3 + 1 + 1 = 23
Damage: 1d8 + 25 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 25 + 3 + 1 = 36
Sneak Attack?: 4d6 ⇒ (2, 6, 4, 1) = 13

Attack 3: 1d20 + 10 + 3 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 10 + 3 + 1 + 1 = 28
Damage: 1d8 + 25 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 25 + 3 + 1 = 30
Sneak Attack?: 4d6 ⇒ (3, 6, 1, 4) = 14

Liam stabs the beast twice as Amelia steps around to flank it, landing a sneak attack! Katria fires a crossbow bolt into its flank, then Thanara lights it up with a trio of lightning bolts! The catoblepas groans, falls, and lies still!

In the aftermath of the brief skirmish, you prepare to descend through the hole in the ground. Before you do so, though, a telepathic voice reaches out to you. "You are a curious lot, aren't you? Who are you? What are your intentions here?"

"We are visitors from the Material Plane," Katria replies telepathically. "We are here to find out what the source of this corruption is, and why it's happening, in order to let us complete a task of our own."

"I am the blight. I have corrupted this place on the orders of my master, the slime naga Clacosic. He is a cruel and wicked creature. Slay him, and I will be free. Then I will leave this area forever."

Whatever this thing is that is speaking to you, you can tell it is a terrible liar. It has no intentions of leaving.

"If you tell us where to find him, we can slay him," Katria thinks back.

She doesn't think about how she's also not a great liar, since that's not actually a lie, even if it may not be the whole truth. She isn't sure if it can actually read her mind -- she thinks probably not, unless it's so powerful she doesn't even feel it -- but better to be safe than sorry. She also tries not to think about a confectionery creature made of marshmallow her caretakers used to make for her when she was a girl. Just in case.

Liam is uncomfortable with this telepathic communication.

He tries to block out the voice, and verbally asks Katria, "What do you know of the abilities of slime nagas? I may be able to prepare some defenses."