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

Game Master John Woodford

Hey, you might take a break from channeling to drop a cure on Nezos.

Kanjougas takes a little bit of damage from the channel.

Round 4 (ongoing):

The monk's first blow hits Nezos solidly, but the fighter is able to ride with the impact in a way that takes him out of where the two follow-up strikes would have hit. Nezos takes 22 HP, plus DC 15 Fort save or stunned.

Party up!

I preferred chipping away at the foe then healing.

Channel: 3d6 ⇒ (6, 6, 6) = 18

Let's top some friends up.

Machi-e sweeps towards the mummy, casting a spell defensively.

Prescience: 1d20 ⇒ 1
Cast Defensively: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (3) + 10 = 13

The spell evaporates and he hisses in alarm.

great, do I lose my True Strike or can I keep it?

Seeing the fire burn the mummy, Cora remembers a trick one of her teachers told her for fighting these powerful undead.

Swift action to activate Bane vs. mummies. Forgot she had Bane, tbh. rd 1/6

Rapid Shot 1+Point Blank Shot+Studied Target+Bless+Divine Favor+Bane: 1d20 + 8 + 1 + 2 + 1 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 8 + 1 + 2 + 1 + 2 + 2 = 26
PBS+ST+DF+WoA+B: 1d8 + 6 + 1 + 2 + 2 + 2d6 ⇒ (7) + 6 + 1 + 2 + 2 + (3, 6) = 27

Rapid Shot 2+Point Blank Shot+Studied Target+Bless+Divine Favor+Bane: 1d20 + 8 + 1 + 2 + 1 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 8 + 1 + 2 + 1 + 2 + 2 = 27
PBS+ST+DF+WoA: 1d8 + 6 + 1 + 2 + 2 + 2d6 ⇒ (1) + 6 + 1 + 2 + 2 + (5, 2) = 19

Nezos, reeling from all the damage he's taken, tries one more time to hit the deadly mummy.

+1 Flaming Bastard Sword-Combat Expertise: 1d20 + 9 - 2 ⇒ (10) + 9 - 2 = 17
Damage: 1d10 + 1d6 + 6 ⇒ (5) + (6) + 6 = 17

Nezos is at 25/40 after that friendly channel. Since he keeps missing should I switch him to Total Defense to try to just lock the mummy in place while the rest of us whale on it?

Sure, why not give that a shot.

Don't forget Nezos' Fort save.

Machi-e, you can keep the spell since you didn't actually make the attack.

I was wondering when you were going to remember the inquisitor bane ability, Cora. It's not something I tend to forget--I played an archer inquisitor through Carrion Hill once, and we were able to win the boss fight because we did something very similar to the tactic you're proposing.

Machi-e is uncomfortable being near the mummy and can't focus on his spell, while Gallius restores some of the damage Nezos has taken. Kanjougas blocks the first of Cora's arrows but takes the second while dodging Nezos' attack.

Round 5 (ongoing):

Initiative order
Kanjougas-acted
Party-

The mummy hammers at Nezos. His first attack rocks the fighter back on his heels, but Nezos manages to catch the next blow on his shield. Unfortunately this leaves him open for a final blow. Nezos takes 31 HP, which I think leaves him unconscious at -6 HP.

Everyone can act!

Kanjougas: AC 24* T 14* FF 24 HP taken: 83

Machi-e tries for Kanjougas again.

Cast Defensively: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (17) + 10 = 27

touch attack: 1d20 + 3 + 20 ⇒ (12) + 3 + 20 = 35

"Got you," says the arcanist through bared teeth.

Machi-e's spell gleams as he touches the mummy.

Touch of Gracelessness DEX loss: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

DC17 Fort save to halve the dex damage.

Round 5 (ongoing):

Initiative order
Kanjougas-acted
Machi-e-acted
Nezos-unconscious
Cora-
Gallius-

Once again, the mummy monk's peerless mental and physical conditioning shields him from the worst of the magic deployed against him.

Everyone else can act!

Alright, let's help Nezos a bit.

"We're not done yet, friend."

Cure Serious Wounds: 3d8 + 6 ⇒ (8, 8, 4) + 6 = 26

I just realized that Cora hasn't been rolling Nezos' iterative attacks. Anyone want to try to roll a 20 with three attempts?

Don't know the bonuses, but here's three d20 rolls.

1d20 ⇒ 17
1d20 ⇒ 7
1d20 ⇒ 16

For his iteratives he gets a total of +2, so he needs 20s to hit.

Kanjougas' blows rock Nezos back practically into Gallius' arms, where the priest pours potent palliative power into the unconscious half-elf.

Nezos will lose a move action, but will get a standard attack this round.

Cora and Nezos to go!

Alliteration!

I need to stay in practice--I'm playing a barbarian/1 from the Land of the Linnorm Kings in another game and the GM allowed the use of background skills, so my guy has a rank in Perform (Singing). He tends to use a lot of Norse-style poetic forms when he talks--mostly alliteration so far, but he did get to use a kenning once.

Seeing Nezos (nearly?) go down, Cora redoubles her efforts and pumps out as many arrows as she can.

Yeah, I can't remember the last time I had her use it. Hopefully it helps! Bane rd 2/6

Rapid Shot 1+Point Blank Shot+Studied Target+Bless+Divine Favor+Bane: 1d20 + 8 + 1 + 2 + 1 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 8 + 1 + 2 + 1 + 2 + 2 = 24
PBS+ST+DF+WoA+B: 1d8 + 6 + 1 + 2 + 2 + 2d6 ⇒ (1) + 6 + 1 + 2 + 2 + (6, 4) = 22

Rapid Shot 2+Point Blank Shot+Studied Target+Bless+Divine Favor+Bane: 1d20 + 8 + 1 + 2 + 1 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 8 + 1 + 2 + 1 + 2 + 2 = 33
PBS+ST+DF+WoA: 1d8 + 6 + 1 + 2 + 2 + 2d6 ⇒ (8) + 6 + 1 + 2 + 2 + (6, 2) = 27

Team- should Nezos use his standard to attack or should he go into Total Defense mode? Would a +4 to AC even keep him on his feet at this point?

Kanjougas again deflects the first arrow, but Cora's second arrow is on target. The mummy falls to his knees, a beatific expression on his face. "At last.... The key is yours. The door to the Dark Window...is in the third floor library. Slay the yangethe...break the window." As his voice dies away, he falls into dust. On the top of the pile is a key.

Out of combat!

"Logically, he should have reached a point where he knew we would win, cried to halt, and then helped us," says Machi-e with a tone of disgust. "I don't care for Irorans much."

"If only it were that easy. Anyone know what a yangethe is?"

I'll take the opportunity to patch Nezos up some more.

Wand of CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9
Wand of CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8
Wand of CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4
Wand of CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7
Wand of CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8

Machi-e ponders the mystery of the yangethe.

Kn Planes or Arcana?: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (13) + 13 = 26

Dungeoneering.

Cora nods at Machi-e. "That would've been nice, yeah. That said, he was tough. If he didn't think he was strong enough to kill whatever it is, we definitely need to prepare before we face it."

I don't want to suggest another rest right after 1 encounter but... we might want to rest before we fight the thing this mini-boss was gatekeeping.

How are we on resources/spell slots?

"When it comes to historical or religious facts, I'm quite well versed but for this? Not a clue."

He turns to the rest of the group, bending down to retrieve the key.

"How's everyone else doing?"

Machi-e has Dungeoneering. Does that roll count? :)

Sure. It's a DC 27 check, though. More seriously, yangethe are creatures of the Dark Tapestry, vile aberrations that inhabit the lightless spaces between the stars. They are known to possess a formidable array of psychic and magical abilities, using mental power to blast their enemies or enhancing their accuracy in combat, among other things.

Machi-e relates this information with a frown.

"That sounds terrifying. I'm still pretty good on resources. Wand's getting slightly low, but I'm good for the rest."

When Gallius retrieves the key, he finds in the dust a small amulet and a slender belt.

Cutting to the chase, it's an amulet of mighty fists +1 and a belt of giant strength +2.

"Perhaps they can aid us in another way."

Gallius holds up the two items.

"I don't believe either of these are likely to be of much use to me."

He offers both items to Cora/Nezos.

Where to now?

Cora nods at Nezos. "You should take the belt, Nezos. If we're all feeling up to it, let's go find this yangethe."

Would the Amulet apply to Cora's gauntlets? If not we'll probably just call it loot to sell.

"Better deal with it now than later, agreed."

The amulet wouldn't apply to Cora's gauntlet, no. More later.

"I wish we found a wand or staff one of these days," says Machi-e.

"Indeed, let's go stamp out another menace."

Leaving the dust of the excessively dogmatic Iroran behind, the party returns to the lectern library. This time, everyone but Machi-e quickly spots the hidden door in the southwest corner of the room.

Are there any preparations you want to make before you open the secret door?

Machi-e looks at the others. "Do we have enough resources to hit this yangethe hard, and from afar? I feel like we need something more..."

Cora shrugs. "That's always my plan. What else do you suggest we do?" she asks as she casts blessings on herself and the group.

Case Bless on the group, Divine Favor on self, Barkskin on self and Nezos, and Weapon of Awe on self and Nezos, and Guidance on everybody for the first round attack.

Machi-e shrugs. "Go back in time to when I decided Divination was my arcane path, I think."

The concealed door opens without incident, revealing a narrow and dust-covered hallway that circles the tower through two turns before ending at an iron door covered with complex sigils and runes--a message repeated over and over in several languages, including Common: "Beware! Dark Oblivion Lies Within!" Cora realizes that the lock on the door would be incredibly difficult to pick, so it's a good thing that the party has the key.

It opens with a creak of long-disused hinges. A drone, like the sound of a vast wind, fills the room on the other side even though the chill air is still. There is a square about fifteen feet across inscribed on the floor, liberally adorned with arcane symbols. Two similar but smaller squares, each about five feet across, sit to the northeast and southeast of the larger one.

Above the larger square hovers a vertical square, also about fifteen feet on a side, that looks out into a night sky in which only a few tiny stars are visible. Unlike the hallway outside, the dust on the floor here has been disturbed, and recently. Cora realizes that the prints on the floor are those of a dragon.

"Now that is impressive," Cora says as she regards the floating diamond made of night sky. Pointing at the tracks in the dust she says "Dragon has been here, recently."

"Anyone have eyes on a horror from out of time and space?"

Perception, has darkvision: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (19) + 15 = 34

There is nothing else in the chamber.

For the moment.

When Cora looks into the opening, though, she sees dark shapes moving against the backdrop.

Cora, DC 20 Will save or shaken. There is something deeply unsettling about the shapes and the way they move, and the feeling that they are aware of your regard.

"Impressive is not the word I would have used. I don't think we should be getting near that thing. Cora, what do you think? Cora?"

Will save, DC 20: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15

Cora bares her teeth in the darkness's direction and visibly shudders. Angry, but frightened as well. "There's... things... moving in there. In the dark. I think they... see us. They know we're here."

you do get +1 from Guidance and +1 from Bless...still don't make it though :(

Machi-e frowns and casts Protection from Evil on Nezos. "Hit it from afar if you can," he advises the warrior. "Gallius, can you snap Cora out of it? We need her."

Nezos readies his sling, then bounces a sling bullet off of the Window. It rings like fine crystal, but appears to be undamaged once the echoes die away.

Botting Gallius:

The priest calls up protection for the party. Casting communal protection vs. evil on everyone but Nezos, since Machi-e took care of that.

And not a moment too soon, as a burst of frigid air heralds the appearance of the yangethe! It looks like a dead tree, all spindly limbs emanating from a gnarled trunk, but the six eyes glowing with a cold intelligence and the tentacles around the cruel mouth betray its actual nature.

Round 1:

Initiative order
Nezos
Yangethe
Gallius
Machi-e
Cora

Nezos is up!

Yangethe: AC ? T ? FF ? HP taken: 0

Back from the wilds of western Pennsylvania!

Nezos closes with the creature before it can react and chops at it, landing a devastating blow.

Nezos attack: 1d20 + 9 - 2 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 9 - 2 + 1 = 27
Confirm: 1d20 + 9 - 2 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 9 - 2 + 1 = 20

Base damage, including WoA: 1d10 + 6 + 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 6 + (2) + 2 = 18
Crit damage, including WoA: 1d10 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 6 + 2 = 17

It takes no apparent action, but Nezos feels a malign presence only kept at bay by Gallius' protective magic.

Gallius, Machi-e, and Cora are up!

Yangethe: AC 23 T 13 FF 19 HP taken: 35

Gritting her teeth against the doubt churning in her gut, Cora forces her fear into anger and channels that anger into her attack as she stands her ground and fires off a rapid pair of arrows at the terrible tree-thing.

Swift action Bane 1/6 rds, full action Rapid Shot

Rapid Shot 1+PBS+Bless+Divine Favor+Bane-Shaken: 1d20 + 6 + 1 + 1 + 2 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (6) + 6 + 1 + 1 + 2 + 2 - 2 = 16
Dmg 1, if any: 1d8 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 2d6 ⇒ (3) + 4 + 1 + 2 + 2 + 2 + (2, 6) = 22

Rapid Shot 1+PBS+B+DF+B-S: 1d20 + 6 + 1 + 1 + 2 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (14) + 6 + 1 + 1 + 2 + 2 - 2 = 24
Dmg 2, if any: 1d8 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 2d6 ⇒ (5) + 4 + 1 + 2 + 2 + 2 + (3, 1) = 20

How long does the Shaken condition last? Did I already ask that, sorry if I did?

The shaken condition will last for another six rounds.

In her panic Cora releases her first arrow too early, but settles down and puts her second one on target.

Machi-e to go, and come up with something for Gallius to do.