DM Carbide's The Dragon's Demand (Inactive)

Game Master John Woodford

Ok, welp, Machi-e is out of luck, unless you let me retcon to do another Acid Splash. Dang!

Any Heavenly Fire left?

I don't think so.

Bummer. In that case, go ahead with acid splash.

Ranged Touch into Melee: 1d20 ⇒ 4
for: 1d3 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

Blop! Machi-e releases a truly unimpressive evocation of acid that dissipates harmlessly.

"Hey!" he shouts at the elemental, and makes a spinning motion. "Make a waterspout!"

As I understand the rules, a water elemental can make a vortex, which behaves like a whirlwind except that it's entirely under the water. Since the enemy is floating above the water, it wouldn't be affected.

Round 14 (rearranged; ongoing):

Initiative order
Enemy-acted
Rowane
Nezos-acted
Machi-e-acted
Cora-acted

The clot of acid sizzles against a wall.

Rowane?

Enemy: AC 18 T 18 FF 14 HP taken: 24

Welp, Machi-e is completely out of options with the elemental, then. I could make Nezos big, but that's not that useful.

He'll do a little more damage, at least. Unfortunately, it will also make him easier to hit.

Rowane will send out another pulse of energy.

CPE: 2d6 ⇒ (4, 6) = 10 DC 16 for half

Once again, Rowane's positive energy burns into the spirit, shredding away its substance.

Round 15 (ongoing):

Initiative order
Enemy-acted
Rowane
Nezos
Machi-e
Cora

It drifts to one side and touches Nezos again. Nezos, take 6 HP and another DC 17 Fort save to avoid 3 points of CON drain.

Enemy: AC 18 T 18 FF 14 HP taken: 34

Fortitude: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14

Uh oh.

Nezos visibly withers at the creature's touch this time. Still, he strikes back as best he's able. "Don't worry! Just finish this thing quickly."

+1 Flaming Bastard Sword: 1d20 + 8 - 2 ⇒ (9) + 8 - 2 = 15
Damage: 1d10 + 1d6 + 6 ⇒ (7) + (5) + 6 = 18

I can't help with ability drain. Only restoration helps with that. I only got lesser.

Rowaen cast cure moderate wounds, sacrificing his lesser restoration spell. He then wades through the water and attempts to touch the spirit.

CMW vs touch: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 18
positive energy damage: 2d8 + 4 ⇒ (3, 1) + 4 = 8 DC 15 will for half

Cora centers herself, takes aim, breathes out, and fires as calmly as if she were on a practice field.

Swift action to enhance bow, standard to shoot.

Longbow+PBS+ST-DA+Enhancement: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (17) + 10 = 27
Dmg: 1d8 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15

Nezos, are you including +2 on Saves from Protection From Evil? I think you still don't get the save, but just checking...

Round 15 (ongoing):

Initiative order
Enemy-acted
Rowane-acted
Nezos-acted
Machi-e
Cora-acted

The undead manages to resist most of Rowane's spell, but Cora's arrow does it some more damage.

Cora, what ability are you using to enhance the bow? Machi-e, you're up!

Enemy: AC 18 T 18 FF 14 HP taken: 38

Machi-e grimaces and looses another dollop of acid at the thing.

"We're underequipped for this," he grunts. "Short on time and study."

Ranged Touch into melee: 1d20 ⇒ 17
for: 1d3 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

"Better than nothing. Damned thing," he curses quietly.

Round 16 (ongoing):

Initiative order
Enemy-acted
Rowane
Nezos
Machi-e
Cora

The enemy continues to attack Nezos, landing a glancing touch on him for 1 HP, plus a DC 17 Fort save or take 2 more points CON drain. Don't forget your Fort save bonus is now down one, and you're also down 4 from your max HP.

Everyone can act!

Enemy: AC 18 T 18 FF 14 HP taken: 38

Didn't factor in the Protection bonus. Hopefully that helps this time!

Fortitude: 1d20 + 6 + 2 - 1 ⇒ (18) + 6 + 2 - 1 = 25

"We can't run with this thing at our heels. Not that I'm about to," Nezos says, though he keeps shivering during the follow-through of his counter.

+1 Flaming Bastard Sword: 1d20 + 8 - 2 ⇒ (9) + 8 - 2 = 15
Damage: 1d10 + 1d6 + 6 ⇒ (5) + (3) + 6 = 14

Didn't that last acid splash hit? Yikes!

Forewarned: 1d20 ⇒ 8
Ranged Touch: 1d20 ⇒ 6
for: 1d3 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

The arcanist tries to manipulate probabilities to hit the thing again...but misses utterly.

"We just need to survive," says the Mwangi grimly.

Touch AC is 18.

What a jerk of a monster!

Magus arcane pool for +1 to atk/dmg.

Cora growls as she looses another arrow. "Can anyone tell if it's hurt?"

Longbow+PBS+ST-DA+Enhancement: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (18) + 10 = 28
Dmg: 1d8 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12

Round 16 (ongoing):

Initiative order
Enemy-acted
Rowane
Nezos-acted
Machi-e-acted
Cora-acted

Nezos misses, as does Machi-e. Cora's arrow tears through the creature, though.

Rowane to go!

Enemy: AC 18 T 18 FF 14 HP taken: 44

Rowane delays, holding a healing spell in case it's necessary.

Round 17 (ongoing):

Initiative order
Enemy-acted
Rowane
Nezos
Machi-e
Cora

The angry spirit touches Nezos again for 4 HP, plus DC 17 Fort save or take 5 points CON drain.

Everyone can act!

Enemy: AC 18 T 18 FF 14 HP taken: 44

Got a little busy with work and you know, soup. Soup for my family.

Yet Another Ranged Touch Attack: 1d20 ⇒ 18

for: 1d3 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

"Have at you, you thing!" shouts Machi-e triumphantly. "Shimye-Magalla be with us!"

No problem. Hope it was good soup ^_-.

Round 17 (ongoing):

Initiative order
Enemy-acted
Rowane
Nezos
Machi-e-acted
Cora

Machi-e's spell corrodes a bit of the creature's fabric. It's looking very, very tattered at the moment.

Rowane, Nezos, Cora?

Enemy: AC 18 T 18 FF 14 HP taken: 46

Fortitude: 1d20 + 6 + 2 - 1 ⇒ (9) + 6 + 2 - 1 = 16

Nezos spasms awfully, looking to be at the brink of death...

That'll put me at 8 drain, 4 Con, and, I think, -1 of my 16 current maximum HP. So let's see if I can stabilize.

Stabilize, DC 10: 1d20 - 3 - 1 ⇒ (16) - 3 - 1 = 12

Round 17 (ongoing):

Initiative order
Enemy-acted
Rowane
Nezos-unconscious
Machi-e-acted
Cora

Nezos goes down, pale and shaking, but still breathing shallowly.

Rowane and Cora to go!

"Dammit!" Cora sights and fires again.

Longbow+PBS+ST+E-DA: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (14) + 10 = 24
Dmg: 1d8 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16

Cora's arrow is on target, and the creature finally discorporates with a shriek that fades away.

Out of combat!

The tomb goes silent as the echoes of the creature's death cry fade away. In the distance those of you who remain conscious hear the grinding of stone on stone. It lasts only a second or two before the quiet returns. The unnatural chill in the chamber begins to break. A few splashes mark where the seals on the central sarcophagus fall off and into the water.

"Does anyone have a healing potion?" Machi-e kneels near Nezos, lifting his head on one knee in the water. "Help me drag him out of here if not. He's going to slip into the muck here."

"Cora," he says wearily. "Take a look at the central sarcophagus. If it's another foe, we have to run."

"No potions, but I have a bit more magic at my disposal"

Rowane converts some prepared spells into magical healing.

Cure minor: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

***

and another

cure minor: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9

What with his heavy armor, Nezos proves hard to drag. "Ugh," the half-elf manages as he's roused back to consciousness. "Don't...suppose I could take the rest of the day off? It feels like that thing took a fair portion of soul as a meal and didn't return it after its good deed of dying."

Cora turns toward the central sarcophagus and scans for enemies and traps. "We'll get you back to town and get you healed up."

She'll use Detect Aberrations/Undead and look for traps.
Perception, traps: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (4) + 12 = 16

Cora detects nothing in the sarcophagus, and doesn't find any traps.

Detecting nothing dangerous, Cora goes ahead and starts opening it.

Give me an STR check.

Ha. Cora's not the right one for a STR check.

Str check: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 = 11

Machi-e goes to help.

Aid Another Str Check: 1d20 ⇒ 18

"Nezos, you rest until we get you a high powered healer," says Machi-e, not having the slightest idea where to get one.

The way I run STR checks in a case like this, where two or more people are pushing or pulling on the same object, is to have everyone roll and then decide who gets the main roll and who Aids Another.

Machi-e and Cora manage to push the heavy lid off of the sarcophagus. The stone is lined with lead, and within is the desiccated corpse of a human man. Most of his clothes have fallen apart with age, although a sleeveless blue silk robe is still intact. His hands are closed around a short rod; on the third finger of the left hand is a ring set with a ruby, while on the index finger of the right hand is a plain ring. The slippers the body wears are also still intact.

All of the described items save the ring with the ruby detect as magic.

Nezos joins in near the end of the team's labors, finding that he can still move just as much, but is getting winded quickly. "I don't know if the dragon will care about any of this. But if it's magic, there's certainly a chance. We'll haul the lot back to town and see what they can make of it?"

Cora nods. "Let's get this stuff and get you back to town." Before they leave, Cora checks each of the alcoves for hidden items and secret doors.

Wait, I just checked the map and there's still a black spot. DM, are we not at the bottom of this place yet?

Patience. I should point out that Tula Belhaim, the dragonslayer nominally buried here, was a woman.

Cora finds no concealed items or doors.

Are you taking all of the items on the body?

Yes, we'll take everything on the body.

The party returns back the way they came, past the crypt guarded by azers, and into the blue dragon room. Across the electrically-charged floor, though, is an open door that had previously been concealed.

Cora frowns. "Is that just bait?" She shakes her head and looks at Nezos, Machi-e, and Rowane. "Do we want to check behind that door? We're in no shape to fight anything else."

We figured out that the electricity is on a 4 round timer. That should be more than enough time to cross the floor and get through an open door, as long as we can see the electrical arc spark up at least once.

The charge is on a variable cycle, but anyone standing on the mosaics is unaffected.

Spellcraft Robe: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (19) + 12 = 31
Spellcraft Rod: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (6) + 12 = 18
Spellcraft Ring: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (6) + 12 = 18
Spellcraft Slippers: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (20) + 12 = 32

"That fellow," he says to the air, "Was a wizard, I reckon.

[b]"And it can't hurt to take a peek," he says.

The robe is a mnemonic vestment, and the slippers are slippers of spider climbing. Machi-e isn't sure about the rod or the ring, though.

The arcanist skips across the mosaics and peeks into the open door, seeing a round room that's empty save for a spiral staircase leading down.

Cora follows Machi-e to the round room and checks the stairs for traps.

Perception: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (12) + 12 = 24