DM Carbide's Giantslayer

Game Master John Woodford

After his empty nets the day before, Jarrek goes back to rowing.

Str check: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16

“Ah trusty shovel, oh how I’ve missed thee,” Trianne said with a smirk. She may have been a fountain of magical knowledge, but menial labor had its own reward. Especially when it could be done without the threat of being snatched away by drakes. She plucked up the shovel and began mucking stalls once more. She made special attention of old Ironguts’ stall, slipping him a bit of a snack when the opportunity presented.

Ride Check for mucking vs. DC 15: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

Clearly he must have strained something in the drake encounter... >.>

All things considered, Haftor prefers being below decks for a while. He happily joins Jarrek pulling an oar.

row, row, row the boat STR 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 2 = 22

confirm critical row 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 = 17

take that, water!

Svarog returned to the crow's nest, trying to make the job less sleep-inducing by imagining orcs pouring over the hills around them.

Perception (if it's not possible to take 10 or 20): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (9) + 9 = 18 +2 orcs/mountains and hills

At least this time, the rocking boat didn't nearly put him to sleep.

The party members disperse across the boat, each to their chosen task. Haftor and Jarrek are just settling down to what seems like it will be a fine and productive day of rowing when both of them hear a noise somewhere between a screech and a roar coming from behind the wooden aft bulkhead. It is followed shortly thereafter by a fist punching through the bulkhead and tearing a hole. A four-armed simian with matted white fur appears, framed in the opening. It bellows an unmistakable challenge.

All of the other rowers panic and start to flee.

Round 1:

Initiative order
Haftor
Svarog
Enemy
Jarrek
Seamus
Trianne

Haftor can act! Svarog, it's a DC 10 Perception check to hear the commotion at this point, and if you make the check you can act normally. Keep in mind that this is happening belowdecks, so you can't see what's happening.

Svarog: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (1) + 9 = 10 LOL

Svarog peered down at the bizarre creature and readied his bow, but did not yet fire. "I don't know where it's from, but can any of you calm it?" he called down.

Not delaying, just waiting for a yea or nay before firing, since that's a free action anytime in the turn.

comp.longbow rapid shot 1: 1d20 + 7 - 2 ⇒ (16) + 7 - 2 = 21
dmg 1: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4
comp.longbow rapid shot 2: 1d20 + 7 - 2 ⇒ (1) + 7 - 2 = 6
dmg 2: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7

Svarog, per the description the creature is belowdecks. There's a deck between you and it, so although you can hear the commotion you can't see what's happening.

"Giant monkey attack down here! Haftor roars at the top of his lungs.

He then stands and turns to the four-armed creature, bellowing back a response to its challenge. "Ygrendir!" He hauls out his hammer and stomps forward, on the attack.

He can figure out how an angry monkey got down here in the first place later.

warhammer att 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12 damage 1d10 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13

Sorry, it was late and I apparently skimmed the post a bit too quickly. Svarog will just bellow down to the crew to ask what's going on. I suppose that's a delay after all.

The huge, muscular half-orc jumps up next to Haftor and bellows a clear challenge back at the creature, baring his own tusks at the monstrous ape. "RAAAAAAWR!"

Intimidate check, DC 10+HD+Wis bonus: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (17) + 19 = 36 Success means target is Shaken for 1 rd +1 rd per 5 that he beats the DC by.

The huge, muscular half-orc jumps up next to Haftor and bellows a clear challenge back at the creature, baring his own tusks at the monstrous ape. "RAAAAAAWR!"

OMG that’s a hilarious and amazing response!

Trianne stood up from her shoveling with a confused look and cocked an ear to one side when she heard Haftor’s shout. The confusion turned to doubt after a few moments and she shook her head.

“Nah, couldn’t be,” she said with a laugh and went back to mucking.

Then a rush of booted feet was followed by another roar, and Trianne stood bolt upright, the hairs on her arms and neck running taut and chill. She dropped the shovel and zipped across the deck. Something was going on! She shrugged up at Svarog as she ran and then she knelt at the cargo hatch, searching down into the holds below between the wooden grid.

"What's going o--" But her voice caught when she saw it. The fur color. All the arms. There was no mistaking it.

"Gods below," she whispered and then screamed. "That's a GIRALLON!! Get away from it! It'll tear you apart!"

Perception visual through cargo hatch: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24
Perception auditory vs. DC 10: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8
Know: Arcana to ID creature: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (9) + 10 = 19
First bit of knowledge she would always look for is does the creature have any special resistances.

When Haftor yelled about a giant monkey, Svarog knew it was time to climb down again. With Trianne's warning, he went as fast as possible, dropping five feet at a time and catching the ropes to slow his descent to land without injury.

Climb: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (15) + 7 = 22

OMG that’s a hilarious and amazing response!

Thanks, I thought it was funny. :)

I hope it works. I don't think this thing wants to cuddle.

Oh, but it does want to cuddle. That's the problem. Just hope it's not Girallon mating season.

Seamus is wayyy to delicate for Girallon mating season...

As the guy in front, I didn't need to hear any of that.

I'm pretty sure your magic hammer is gonna disabuse it of any cuddle tendencies. ;)

When all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail.

When all you have is a hammer, every problem looks like Loki.

Trianne, there is no light source on the rowing deck other than what filters in from above. (When the rowers are a dwarf and a bunch of half-orcs, the captain figures it's not worth the lamp oil to keep the area lit.) With that penalty, you can't quite ID it yet.

Round 1 (ongoing):

Initiative order
Haftor-acted
Svarog-acted
Enemy-acted
Jarrek-acted
Seamus
Trianne-acted

Maybe it's the cramped quarters, but Haftor hits the girallon before it can react. Svarog drops from the lookout station, making his way belowdecks as quickly as possible.

The great beast flails and bites at Haftor. It can't manage to get past the dwarf's armor, though. Then Jarrek roars at it, and it shakes its head.

Seamus to go!

Girallon: AC 14 T 8 FF 8 HP taken: 13

From the combat map, Seamus is way far away from the combat, so he's going to move in that direction. If I need perception:
Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (7) + 9 = 16

Seamus is, indeed, aware that something is going on, and his gnomish eyes pick out what Trianne could not--at least not right away.

Round 2:

Initiative order
Haftor
Svarog
Enemy
Jarrek
Seamus
Trianne

Haftor and Svarog can act!

Delighted that he remains unmauled, Haftor continues his attack on the unnatural beast. "Stone Fist!" His battle cry rings out through the bowels of the ship.

warhammer att 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9 damage 1d10 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10

I didn't think it was possible, but the dicebot on this server hates me more than the one on Discord, and that's saying something.

Can Svarog drop through that grate on the map somehow? Otherwise, I suppose he's just hightailing it to the stairs belowdecks. Does he still need to make Climb checks?

No more Climb checks needed. The grate is currently in place, but the captain is trying to get it open. If you want to help, give me an STR check. Incidentally, now that I look at the map again the ceiling height belowdecks is low enough that the girallon can't be seen from the grate, and Svarog won't be able to shoot it from the main deck.

Dropping to the deck, Svarog rushed over to where the captain was trying to pry up the grate amidships. Grabbing hold of it, he attempted to aid the man.

"Rrrraaaaagh!" His battle cry might have been in answer to the animal belowdecks, or simply from the strain of lifting the grate.

Str check: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 = 20

If he has an action left, he'll drop into the hole.

Acrobatics to avoid fall damage: 1d20 + 5 - 2 ⇒ (11) + 5 - 2 = 14 So close...

Then a rush of booted feet was followed by another roar, and Trianne stood bolt upright, the hairs on her arms and neck running taut and chill. She dropped the shovel and zipped across the deck. Something was going on! She shrugged up at Svarog as she ran and then she knelt at the cargo hatch, searching down into the holds below between the wooden grid.

“What's going o—“ But her voice caught when she saw them trying to lift the cargo grate from its seating in the deck.

“I can’t see anything,” she said, squatting and staring into the dim recesses of the faint daylight below.

Retcon text above for continuity. Next round below.

“What’s going on?! Come over to the light if you can!” she shouted and reached into her pack.

“Svarog w--” Trianne barked as the ranger hurled himself into the hole toward the lower deck. “Imswa!” she snapped, twirling fingers at Svarog’s crazed descent.

Cast Feather Fall on Svarog whenever he leaps into the cargo bay. Draw wand of MM and fetch her everburning torch with the remainder.

Trianne, the girallon acts before you (although you can cast feather fall out of turn).

Round 2 (ongoing):

Initiative order
Haftor-acted
Svarog-acted
Enemy-acted
Jarrek
Seamus
Trianne-acted

Haftor's blow glances off the ferocious ape's thick pelt, while Svarog is saved from falling damage by Trianne's quick reactions. Now hampered by its reaction to Jarrek's challenge, the girallon still can't hit the doughty dwarf.

Jarrek and Seamus to go!

Girallon: AC 14 T 8 FF 8 HP taken: 13

Seamus runs as fast as his little legs will carry him toward the Girillion, Ach, don' let it grab you!

Double move again...

Round 2 (ongoing):

Initiative order
Haftor-acted
Svarog-acted
Enemy-acted
Jarrek
Seamus-acted
Trianne-acted

Seamus hustles forward.

Jarrek?

"I'm going to make the most AMAZING cloak outta this thing! We got this, Haftor!" Jarrek takes his time pulling out his falchion, making a show of rolling his shoulders and swinging his huge sword around a few times before sauntering in. As always, his overwhelming confidence is infectious.

Standard action to start Inspire Confidence, rd 1/11, and he'll 5' step 1 square closer to the girallon.

Jarrek inspires.

Round 3:

Initiative order
Haftor
Svarog
Enemy
Jarrek
Seamus
Trianne

Haftor and Svarog can act! Svarog, you're down, but remember that it's Dim light down here.

I'll try not to put any holes in it, then! Haftor deadpans. Actually, it isn't clear if he's making a joke or is being serious. Either way, he takes another huge swing at his opponent.

warhammer att 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (3) + 9 = 12 damage 1d10 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8

EDIT: The sum of my last 3 attack rolls is 8. I'm confident that my luck will turn soon.

Without regard for whatever plans, monetary or otherwise, that the captain had possessed for the creature, Svarog immediately drew a bead on it the moment he could see it.

"It is time for you to go, monster," he growled, also ignoring the fact that the huge thing had nowhere to go. "Kill it while it's trapped in that narrow space and can't fight effectively!"

comp.longbow 1 rapid shot/precise shot/PBS/inspire: 1d20 + 5 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 5 + 1 + 1 = 9
dmg 1: 1d8 + 2 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 2 + 1 + 1 = 5

comp.longbow 2 rapid shot/precise shot/PBS/inspire: 1d20 + 5 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 5 + 1 + 1 = 26
dmg 2: 1d8 + 2 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 2 + 1 + 1 = 12

EDIT: The sum of my last 3 attack rolls is 8. I'm confident that my luck will turn soon.

I was running a PFS session of Godsmouth Heresy, and at one point the party was fighting a swarm. They rolled these seven attacks with splash weapons: 2, 2, 14, 6, 5, 4, and 5...vs. the swarm's touch AC of 16. It was sad.

Round 3 (ongoing):

Initiative order
Haftor-acted
Svarog-delaying
Girallon-acted
Jarrek
Seamus
Trianne

Haftor narrowly misses, and Svarog delays until Trianne can light up the area. In its windmilling, the girallon finally lands a solid blow on Haftor for 10 HP.

Jarrek, Seamus, and Trianne can act!

Girallon: AC 14 T 8 FF 8 HP taken: 13

Oh, delay until there's light. Good call, haha.

Seamus will lift a conction to his lips, and drink up, looking down into the hold, the spry gnome will jump into the lower part of the ship looking for a relevant opportunity to cause some mayhem upon the angry creature down there with his new friends.

I'mma coming, be right there in a jiffy - Oh, that's a long way down.... as he jumps through the now open hatch.

Drink Mutagen (Dex); move
Acrobatics: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17

"Seamus wait! Take th--" Trianne tried again, but everyone seemed hell bent on running toward the monstrosity, fighting it in the cramped and dark hold. She particularly favored shooting at the thing from above, but that didn't seem to be the plan.

"Alright then," she said to herself. She lobbed the everburning torch down into the darkness and cast a spell to allow her a little more specialized movement.

Swinging down into the hold, her hooked and multi-jointed fingers now allowed her to hand over hand her way to the mast below deck.

Climb check: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18

Drop the EB torch next to Svarog. Cast Monkey Fish. Swing down into the hold and try to climb 10' across to the mast.

With a Climb speed from the spell, do you still have to make the check?

Rules seemed to imply as much, but it gives a +8 bonus to the Climb check. Just threw a roll in there to make sure she didn't crit fail. If there isn't a feasible path, she'll just drop to the decking below somewhere near Svarog. Graceful as an anvil. 8D

Trianne, the cramped quarters on the rowing deck (no cargo stored here) put the girallon at a far worse disadvantage than the party. It's a Large creature and it's squeezing--that impairs both its AC and bonuses to hit.

Round 3 (ongoing):

Initiative order
Haftor-acted
Svarog-acted
Girallon-acted
Jarrek
Seamus-acted
Trianne-acted

Trianne lights up the area with her everburning torch, and as soon as Svarog can see he puts an arrow past Haftor into the girallon.

Jarrek to go!

Girallon: AC 14 T 8 FF 8 HP taken: 25

"Oh no you don't, new cloak! Just do us all a favor and lay down quietly! You're not going to take us all on!" Jarrek edged around the girallon's huge arms and took a swing at the monster with his now-burning falchion.

5' step into melee, free action to maintain Inspire, rd 2/11, swift to use Arcane Strike, PA.

Falchion PA+Inspire: 1d20 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 8 + 1 = 17
Dmg+AS: 2d4 + 8 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (3, 3) + 8 + 1 + 1 = 16

Jarrek hits the girallon and wounds it further.

Round 4:

Initiative order
Haftor
Enemy
Jarrek
Seamus
Trianne
Svarog

Haftor can act!

Girallon: AC 14 T 8 FF 8 HP taken: 41

Frustrated by his string of bad luck and looking to change things up, Haftor plants his feet, takes an almost comically large backswing, and assaults the monkey with a powerful hammer-blow. He lets out an inarticulate "aaarrrgghhhh" with the haymaker attack.

I'm feeling lucky for some reason, so I'm going for a Power Attack - warhammer att 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13 damage 1d10 + 9 ⇒ (8) + 9 = 17

EDIT: I could not have picked a worse round to try my luck. I missed by 1, exactly the penalty applied to use my Power Attack. I have now rolled a cumulative 14 in 4 attacks.

Clearly the artifact is Cursed, Haftor! I'd also like to see the after effects of such a swing that didn't connect. Either you just put a nice dent in this barge, or your spinning like a top. :P Although, missing by 1 likely means it ricocheted off some natural armor...

Thanks for the mechanics clarification, DMC. I can get behind that, but Trianne would still be skeptical about ever jumping into the 'monkey den'.

Round 4 (ongoing):

Initiative order
Haftor-acted
Enemy-acted
Jarrek
Seamus
Trianne
Svarog

The girallon focuses its attention on the half-orc, biting and clawing and connecting for 6 HP.

Everyone but Haftor can act!

Girallon: AC 14 T 8 FF 8 HP taken: 41

Jarrek bares his fangs at the girallon as he slips around the four-armed ape, trying to get it to turn its back on Hafor. "It's gonna take more than that, ugly!" He takes another powerful swing with his huge sword.

5' step, Power Attack, maintain IC. After Jarrek takes another 5' step left I think Haftor and Jarrek should be flanking now, if Haftor's in melee range with the girallon.

Jarrek would have been at 24hp from healing overnight, so he's at 18, not 6.

Falchion PA+IC: 1d20 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 8 + 1 = 11 With flanking?
Dmg: 2d4 + 8 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (3, 4) + 8 + 1 + 1 = 17

Trianne lowered herself to the deck slowly, one steadying hand on the mast and eyes widening at the sight of the creature that had appeared.

“Gods, that is a girallon,” she said, then asked. “Has it been on the ship the whole time?”

She raised the wand she was holding and sent a dart of energy snaking through the ship’s innards to punch into the immense creature.

Magic Missile

MM Damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

Jarrek, it's not clear from the map, but you're up against a wall immediately to the left--Haftor will need to move to set up the flank.

Round 4 (ongoing):

Initiative order
Haftor-acted
Enemy-acted
Jarrek-acted
Seamus
Trianne-acted
Svarog

Trianne looses an arcane dart onto the girallon, wounding it further. Jarrek is unable to hit the creature, though.

Seamus and Svarog to go!

Girallon: AC 14 T 8 FF 8 HP taken: 46

comp.longbow 1 rapid shot/precise shot/PBS/inspire: 1d20 + 5 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 5 + 1 + 1 = 17
dmg1: 1d8 + 2 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 2 + 1 + 1 = 7

comp.longbow 2 rapid shot/precise shot/PBS/inspire: 1d20 + 5 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 5 + 1 + 1 = 13
dmg2: 1d8 + 2 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 2 + 1 + 1 = 7

Svarog tried to put some arrows in the girallon's eyes, but between the fighters jumping around it and the boat rocking every time the girallon moved, it was difficult to land an arrow. Still, he managed to strike it once, the arrow protruding from its massive chest rather than its beady eye.