DM Carbide's Giantslayer

Game Master John Woodford

Before moving on, how much does everyone weigh with all their gear?

Seamus is 59 lbs thanks to his Handy Haversack

Haftor is a trim 290 lbs.

“But the guardians and their like do not?” Trianne said with some confusion, pointing a thumb back at the greenhouse door. It didn’t sound right to her, only the presence of certain fey affecting the Vault or that the druids wouldn’t have taken into account such things when creating this place. Maybe something had changed over time? She knew so little about planar existence. She would need to remedy that.

She shook her head with a grunt and let it go. “Which door first?”

187 lbs all told for Trianne.

She pauses in thought. "With enough time, they might. Already they are more wilful, and more inclined to follow their basic malevolent nature than to guard."

Jarrek's basically The Rock plus whatever he's hauling with his magic Belt, so he's a heavy boy at 423 lbs.

Jarrek nods at Haftor and goes to open the north door for the dwarf to go through first.

Haftor steps into the doorway, shield up and hammer in hand, looking into the chamber beyond.

An ornate staircase descends to a small platform. Several giant lily pads sway gently in the chamber's air currents, each floating at a different height. Below the lily pads, a sheer drop fades into darkness beyond the ability of Haftor to see. A droning buzz emanates from the darkness and reverberates off the chamber's walls. At the other end of the chamber, a second platform and staircase lead out of the room.

“Really? Wow,” Trianne said when she saw the means to traverse the room.

“Let’s create a meeting place between dimensions, include some storage too,” Trianne said, her tone a deeper Druidic emulation. “And then make it horribly inconvenient too.”

“Maybe we should just let the Vault destabilize?” she said a little quieter, just for those nearby.

Certainly explains the weight inquiry. :D DM, do the lily pads have their stalks, or is it just the pads? Can you put a +/- # on each pad indicating its difference in height from the stairway platform? Or is the difference in heights not significant enough to warrant? Thanks!

Jarrek laughs. "I can do a lot but I can't make myself any lighter." He shakes his head and looks at Seamus and Trianne, grinning. "Looks like you two get to lead the way."

I got this... light as a feather... and Seamus begins heading forward across the lily pads to reach the other side. He drops a coil of rope from his pack with the party, and takes one end of it in his hand. Someone tie that off? We can use it as a safety line! the diminutive gnome hops from foot to foot traversing the room, as if not wanting to let his weight settle on the floating pads, afraid to drop them into oblivion.

It's a DC 10 Acrobatics check to jump from pad to pad; I assume Seamus will have no trouble with this if he takes 10.

Seamus lands on the nearest lily pad, which bobs slightly under his weight but maintains its altitude. However, the disturbance rouses a swarm of bloated flies from somewhere far below, which surround the gnome and distract him.

DC 15 Fort save, Seamus, or take -2 on attack rolls, ability checks, and skill checks. Also, give me a Perception check.

Seamus takes his time, at least until the flies come out and being nipping at him...

Fortitude: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12
Perception: 1d20 + 11 - 2 ⇒ (1) + 11 - 2 = 10

At which time he gets dizzy and slightly nauseous from the flies.

with the -2 can Seamus continue to take 10 on the acrobatics check?

No. However, something will interrupt Seamus before it becomes an issue.

Everyone but Trianne also has to make Fort saves; if you're in the room, you're in the cloud of flies.

yuck fort save 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (20) + 7 = 27
additional +2 if it's poison, a spell, or a spell-like ability
Not that it looks like I'll need it.

Fort save, DC 15: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15

Jarrek waves his hand in front of his face, coughing but not affected too badly. "Gods, I hate flies!"

Svarog Fort save: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18

Inured to unpleasant insects by years in the wilderness, the dour ranger shows no signs of discomfort in the midst of the swarm.

Everyone sees a large patch of the flies suddenly shift, the individual flies wheeling in midair around something large and unseen. Before anyone can react, though, something appears above Seamus.

A dragonfly of unusual size, its wings and body brightly colored, bites at the alchemist. Take 16 HP, Seamus, and it's holding you in its jaws.

Round 1 (ongoing):

Initiative order
Dragonfly-acted
Svarog
Haftor
Trianne
Seamus
Jarrek

The creature's antennae dance in a complex pattern, and the individual branches and vines making up the structure of the Vault's floor and walls writhe into motion and attempt to entwine the party (except for Seamus). DC 11 Reflex save or entangled.

Everyone can act!

Giant dragonfly: AC ? T ? FF ? HP taken: 0

Trianne shied from the natural attack but wasn’t swift enough to remain free. She struggled to pull herself free of the writhing plant life. One hand freed the wand from her belt and fired a bolt of energy into the creature attacking them.

Move action to draw wand. Magic Missile 47/50.

K: Nature DC 15: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12
Reflex DC 11: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8

MM damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Round 1 (ongoing):

Initiative order
Dragonfly-acted
Svarog-acted
Haftor
Trianne-acted; entangled
Seamus
Jarrek

Trianne does a little bit of damage to the giant insect. Svarog stays free of the entangling foliage, and calls out "It's a fey-touched creature!" He sends two arrows at it; one misses, while the other hits and fails to do the expected amount of damage.

Svarog Knowledge (Nature) check: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (7) + 9 = 16
Svarog Reflex save: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19
Svarog Rapid Shot arrow attacks, incl. PBS; +7/+7: 2d20 ⇒ (19, 7) = 26
Arrow damage, incl. PBS: 1d8 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 2 + 1 = 4

Haftor, Seamus, and Jarrek can act!

Giant dragonfly: AC 18 T 14 FF 14 HP taken: 3

Ref save, DC 11: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (5) + 9 = 14
Kn:Nature, DC 15: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7

Jarrek pulls out his shortbow and fires along with Svarog. "Hold on, Seamus, we'll get you out of there!"

C. Shortbow: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14
Dmg, if any: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

Seamus, being held in the jaws of the creature, screams out in pain, Oi! Lemme go! I hate this place already! and attempts to wriggle free from the fey thing's grip...

escape artist: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (18) + 7 = 25

14/30 hp

Seamus wriggles free of the dragonfly's jaws.

That's a standard action, Seamus, so you still have a move action left.

Copy thanks! 5' move, can't afford to take an AoO

As injured as Seamus feels, he's going to take a step to the side of the dragonfly, preparing to leap to the next lilypad. In doing so, he pulls his gnomish hooked hammer to attempt to defend himself with.

Haftor to go!

Haftor eyeballs the nearest lilypad warily. He would normally move forward so he could do some gnome healing and bug bashing, but there's no way he's testing his weight on that thing. Frustrated, he slips his hammer into his belt and unslings his crosbow.

He calls out to Seamus, "March yer skinny bottom over this way and I'll heal ye!"

Round 2 (ongoing):

Initiative order
Dragonfly-acted
Svarog
Haftor
Trianne
Seamus
Jarrek

Rather than pursue the wounded gnome, the dragonfly shifts to cut off Seamus' retreat and sprays a cloud of glistening particles towards the party. This has the effect of a glitterdust spell on Haftor, Jarrek, and Trianne; DC 12 Will save or blinded.

Everyone can act!

Trianne resisted the dragonfly’s dazzling spray but still winced at the thought of what it may have been composed of. She struggled against the vines wrapped around her and thought better of trying to work her own magic against such bindings. Activating the wand again, she sent another bolt into the humming creature.

“I don’t suppose Ewigga would be any help here,” she said more in frustration as the Vault continued to assault them.

Will save DC12: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24
MM damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Haftor has to blink several times to keep his vision from getting too blurry, but he maintains his focus and loads his crossbow.

entangled?1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23
glitterdust1d20 + 9 ⇒ (4) + 9 = 13

Will save, DC 12: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14

Jarrek coughs and shakes his head. "PFAUGH! Ugh, gross." He snaps off another shot at the hovering bug.

Comp. Shortbow: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12
Dmg: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

Seamus, having gotten outside where the fey dragonfly can bite him again, withdraws a flask from his bandolier, pitching it directly at the dragonfly. It smashes into a thousand small pieces on impact, release a choking, noxious cloud around the impact.

Ghast retch flask, touch attack: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (10) + 10 = 20

Ghast retch flask, target is Nauseated for 1 round and sickened for 3 rounds. A Fortitude DC 12 save can negate the Nauseated, but not the sickened. creatures within 5' of the target are sickened for 1 round. This is a poison effect.

That might help! It should be at least sick from that powder...

Svarog’s eyes narrowed as he tried to draw a bead on the flitting creature. As ever, the longer the ranger studied his prey, the truer his aim became.

Full Attack with Rapid Shot for 2x arrows. +1 PBS, -2 Rapid Shot.

cmp. longbow (+2) vs. FE giant: 1d20 + 8 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (14) + 8 + 1 - 2 = 21
cmp. longbow (+2) vs. FE giant: 1d20 + 8 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (19) + 8 + 1 - 2 = 26

arrow 1 damage w/ PBS: 1d8 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 2 + 1 = 9
arrow 2 damage w/ PBS: 1d8 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 2 + 1 = 5

The insect shivers in mid-air, but doesn't seem incapacitated by the poison. It takes a bit more damage from the wizard's wand, Jarrek misses with an arrow, and although Svarog hits the creature twice his second arrow bounces off of it.

Seamus, a couple of questions before going on: did you include the distraction penalty in your attack, and are you going to try to get back to the rest of the party?

No, I forgot about the -2, so its an 18 to hit touch attack. And from what I understand it is a move action to get the item, and an attack action to attack with the item, so Seamus can't move any further? If the bandolier is 'retrieve a stored item' that's the move action. Plus charging back into the gliterdust didn't seem that attractive to the gnome.

The glitterdust is a burst effect, so it won't affect Seamus if he moves back into the area, but the entangle is persistent.

Round 3 (ongoing):

The dragonfly bites again at Seamus, barely missing when it spasms.

Everyone can act!

Haftor brings his heavy crossbow up to his shoulder and snaps off a shot.

crossbow att (+1/+1 PBS) 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6 damage 1d10 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

EDIT: woof

If Seamus can withdraw away from the dragonfly he will do so. I understand if he can't due to the 'difficult' terrain.

The gnome ducks the dragonfey's attack holding up his hooked hammer in an attempt to ward off the vile creature. Cautiously, he backs away, looking for the safest route possible to escape; or at least get some more room to work with from the guardian.

He can withdraw, but can't take a 5' step, I think.

Jarrek nods back at the doors and fires off another shot at the big bug. "Yeah, get out of there Seamus! We'll kill this thing for you! C'mon, Svarog, Haftor!"

Comp. Shortbow: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5
Dmg: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

“It looks to have resistances,” Trianne said through her grunting struggles with the vines, firing another bolt from her wand.

Time to sacrifice another chicken to the dicebot. Magic Missile 45/50.

K: Nature for Cold Iron knowledge: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9

MM damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Wow that's 4 1s in 6 rolls. I'd do the math on the odds of that, if I could do math, but that seems unlikely. :)

Granted one is only a d4 and one a d10, but man sometimes I really miss having dice in my hand.

Haftor and Jarrek can't hit the agile insect. Svarog carefully lines up his next shot, watching for just the right moment before loosing two arrows in quick succession. The first arrow buries itself between segments of its carapace, and the second one sticks but doesn't do as much damage.

Longbow +2 vs. insect: 1d20 + 8 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (20) + 8 + 1 - 2 = 27
Longbow +2 vs. insect: 1d20 + 8 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (12) + 8 + 1 - 2 = 19
Confirm longbow crit: 1d20 + 8 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (20) + 8 + 1 - 2 = 27

Arrow #1, including crit damage: 3d8 + 6 + 3 ⇒ (2, 2, 4) + 6 + 3 = 17
Arrow #2: 1d8 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 2 + 1 = 8

Waiting to see what Seamus is going to do.

Giant dragonfly: AC 18 T 14 FF 14 HP taken: 26

Seamus definitely takes the withdraw action to not provoke, closing the distance to the party

You'll need to save vs. the entangle effect when you cross the line.

DC 11 Reflex, so don't roll a 1.

Seamus, are you going to try to get back to the rest of the party?

Reflex: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (20) + 10 = 30
Seamus scuttles back to the party taking cover from the monstrous dragonfly and sheltering away from the potential of it's stinger coming into play.

Sorry I meant to post this a few days ago....

There's also an Acrobatics check to jump over the gap, and the area inside the circle is difficult terrain.

acrobatics: 1d20 + 7 - 2 ⇒ (7) + 7 - 2 = 12

Seamus clumsily trips his way back to the party distracted by the swarming insects in the room.

can’t move the map on mobile can someone adjust my ending position for difficult terrain? Thanks for your patience!