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

Game Master John Woodford

Machi-e slides to the side of the monster and brings down heavenly fire.

Ranged Touch: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10
for: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

"Blast," mutters the arcanist.

I recommend Spear of Purity for Gallius.

Gallius can also cast prayer, which will give everyone a further boost on rolls.

I think Nezos is probably going to need a boost on his saves when the yangethe gets its turn, so I'd go Prayer this round, Spear of Purity next round.

Sounds reasonable.

Gallius entreats Abadar's aid, bolstering the party.

Round 2 (ongoing):

Initiative order
Nezos-acted (24 NL)
Yangethe-acted
Gallius
Machi-e
Cora

Nezos chops again at the horrid creature, hitting once before it blocks his second attack. Then it does something else, a shimmer of arcane power rolling like a wave across the party. It fails to disorient anyone due to the protective magic, but the stabbing pain it leaves lingers. Everyone takes 24 points of nonlethal damage, with a DC 18 Will save to halve the damage. Nezos failed his save.

Nezos attack, including prayer, CE, and bless: 1d20 + 9 + 1 - 2 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 9 + 1 - 2 + 1 = 29
Nezos iterative attack, including prayer, CE, and bless: 1d20 + 4 + 1 - 2 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 4 + 1 - 2 + 1 = 14
Nezos confirm?: 1d20 + 9 + 1 - 2 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 9 + 1 - 2 + 1 = 15

Nezos damage, including prayer and WoA: 1d10 + 6 + 1 + 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 6 + 1 + (1) + 2 = 19

Nezos Will save, incl. PvE and prayer: 1d20 + 6 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 6 + 2 + 1 = 12

Yangethe: AC 23 T 13 FF 19 HP taken: 74

Will save, DC 18, Bless+Prayer+Prot Evil-Shaken: 1d20 + 8 + 1 + 1 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (16) + 8 + 1 + 1 + 2 - 2 = 26

Taking a moment to study the horrid monster, Cora takes a deep breath and fires.

Deadly Aim+PBS+Studied Target+Bless+Divine Favor+Bane-Shaken: 1d20 + 8 + 1 + 2 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (12) + 8 + 1 + 2 + 2 - 2 = 23
Dmg: 1d8 + 4 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 2d6 ⇒ (3) + 4 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 + (2, 5) = 27

Round 2 (ongoing):

Initiative order
Nezos-acted (24 NL)
Yangethe-acted
Gallius
Machi-e
Cora-acted

The inquisitor takes a moment to study the yangethe, then puts another arrow neatly into it.

Machi-e to go, and would one of you roll a caster level check for Gallius' spear of purity spell? The yangethe has SR 20, and although it's evil it's not an outsider; if Gallius succeeds at his spell penetration check he'll do 3d8.

Yangethe: AC 23 T 13 FF 19 HP taken: 101

Whoa, it's not an outsider?

Will Save: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (18) + 7 = 25

Gallius Caster Check: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24

whew!

Machi-e spits at the strange beast and then steps away from its reach.

DC18 Reflex or Entangled--no Spell Resistance!

Nope--it's an aberration, a creature of the Dark Tapestry. Incidentally, I missed that spear of purity needs an RTA, so one of you can roll that attack as well, and the 3d8 damage if it hits.

The yangethe avoids being stuck to the floor.

RTA, I don't know the mod: 1d20 ⇒ 1 Woof
CL Check, though it might not be necessary with that roll to hit: 1d20 ⇒ 7

Iterative attacks: 2d20 ⇒ (17, 12) = 29
Bastard sword damage: 1d10 + 6 + 1d6 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 6 + (5) + 1 + 2 = 21

Nezos powers through the pain and hits the yangethe again. It falls like a tree, collapsing to the floor with a dull thud.

Out of combat! More to come later.

The yangethe's body quickly dissolves into foul-smelling goo, leaving the party contemplating the Dark Window and the patterns inscribed on the floor.

Spellcraft check to learn interesting things about the patterns.

The post where the druid told you about the Dark Window is HERE.

Oooooooh, Szangi is Aeteperax's real name! Thanks for the link, DM!

Cora has lots of Knowledges but no Spellcraft, unfortunately.

Cora grimaces as the otherworldly monster dissolves into goo. "We need to figure out how to close this Window. But if the dragon will know as soon as we do, should we rest and recover our strength? That druid made it sound like we'd have to fight the dragon as soon as we cut off the link to the Dark Tapestry."

Nezos has +10 Spellcraft, so he'll automatically succeed with an Aid Another for Machi-e.

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (3) + 14 = 17

Machi-e wipes his brow. "I would like to get my spell repertoire in order," he says.

Oof.

Assuming that Cora cast guidance on Machi-e:

Machi-e struggles to make sense of the arcane symbols, and only manages through the timely intervention of the fighter and the inquisitor. The squares appear to have nothing to do with the Dark Window itself. They are, however, linked to each other in such a way that magical effects originating from inside one of the smaller squares are amplified if they are aimed at anything inside of the larger square. That is, if a spellcaster stood inside a small square and cast a spell at the Dark Window, the effects of the spell would be enhanced.

The Zenj thinks there may be more to the amplification effect, but he can't figure it out.

"Well, now it's just a question of casting spells at it...?" Machi-e looks pensive.

"Spells like... Dispel Magic?" Cora looks skeptical. "It's that simple?"

Didn't you say Nezos would auto-succeed with an Aid Another from Machi-E? Couldn't we call that 17 a successful AA attempt and let Nezos succeed instead of whatever partial success Machi-e got?

Sure, roll a check for Nezos. His base is a +10, +11 with guidance.

Nezos Spellcraft: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (1) + 11 = 12 I'm just going to stop rolling for today...

You’ve got at least some information, and now all you need are some destructive spells.

What will you do?

Cora nods at the window. "Alright, let's take a break and you can prepare some destructive spells, Machi-e."

Rest time!

At some point while you're resting outside the druid comes by. He looks over the sketches that Nezos did of the squares and ponders for a while. "That set of glyphs there, the ones that seem to define the amplification effect...the shape they're laid in looks like one of the runes for force. I think this was designed specifically to amplify force effects."

With that insight, Machi-e realizes that indeed, force spells cast from one of the smaller squares at targets in the larger square could be enhanced tenfold. Gallius smiles and asks Abadar for a spiritual weapon spell.

Druid Spellcraft check: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (17) + 11 = 28

In the interests of moving things along:

The next morning, Gallius stands in one of the smaller squares and casts spiritual weapon, sending crossbow bolts of force against the Dark Window.

Attack: 1d20 ⇒ 15
Damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10

Attack: 1d20 ⇒ 11
Damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9

The first one tears a massive hole in the substance of the Window, inflicting far more damage than one would expect and sending cracks through the remaining portions of the spell effect. The second bolt appears to do a little less damage overall, but the cracks from it intersect the cracks from the first bolt, spreading rapidly across the face of the Window. Gallius is about to attack it again when it explodes in a brilliant flash of light.

The druid has told you that there's a tunnel from the basement of the monastery to the dragon's lair, and that it's on the other side of the room with the water elementals.

I presume that you'll head in that direction as quickly as possible.

"Excellent work, Gallius!" Cora gestures in the direction of the water elemental room. "All that's left is the dragon, I think. Everyone ready?"

The quartet heads downstairs to the water elemental chamber, wading across the pool without difficulty. A corridor leads north to a larger empty room whose ceiling is supported by numerous pillars; the only apparent exit is a door in the east wall.

Cora finds no traps on the door, but hears faint sounds of movement on the other side.

"I hear something moving on the other side. Be ready." She starts casting her usual pre-battle spells on the group.

Cast 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.

The door opens onto a large, dark room. Cora can see a pair of grioths in the chamber, both of whom have been taken by surprise.

Surprise Round:

Initiative order
Nezos
(Grioths-unable to act)
Machi-e
Cora
Gallius

Everyone can take a single action!

Grioths: AC ? T ? FF ? HP taken - Red: 0 Blue: 0

Machi-e casts True Strike on himself and readies to enter the room.

Unless someone else vetoes:

Gallius casts light and takes a 5' step forward once the way is clear.

Botting Nezoss:

In the glow of Gallius' spell, Nezos takes a quick step through the door and hurls his bastard sword at the red grioth, hitting it with the flaming blade. The sword returns to his hand.

HotA Returning Sword Attack: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16
Sword damage: 1d10 + 7 + 1d6 ⇒ (4) + 7 + (2) = 13

Cora?

Cora's hand fires the arrow she has ready and darts down to nock and fire another.

Rapid Shot 1+PBS+Bless+Divine Favor: 1d20 + 6 + 1 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 6 + 1 + 1 + 2 = 27
Dmg 1, if any: 1d8 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 4 + 1 + 2 + 2 = 15

Rapid Shot 2+PBS+Bless+Divine Favor: 1d20 + 6 + 1 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 6 + 1 + 1 + 2 = 13
Dmg 2, if any: 1d8 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 4 + 1 + 2 + 2 = 11

Firing at same target as Nezos.

Rapid Shot requires a full attack action, and this is a surprise round.

Cora's arrow hits the wounded grioth.

Round 1:

Nezos is up!

after grioths:

Machi-e opens with a crossbow bolt.

Crossbow: 1d20 + 5 + 20 ⇒ (2) + 5 + 20 = 27

for: 1d8 ⇒ 1

Can one of you give me an action and any applicable rolls for Nezos?

Nezos charges the closer grioth (red).

Nezos attack, including CE, bless, and charge: 1d20 + 9 - 2 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 9 - 2 + 1 + 2 = 28 Charge penalty cancels CE this round
Dmg: 1d10 + 6 + 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 6 + (1) + 2 = 14

Round 1 (ongoing):

Initiative order
Nezos-acted
Grioth-acted
Machi-e
Cora
Gallius

Nezos charges forward into the room, his sword shearing through the grioth's chest and laying it bleeding on the ground. The second grioth quickly draws a scroll from its belt and reads it in a hissing voice.

As it completes the spell, the volume around it fills with inky darkness impenetrable even to Cora's acute sight. The volume of darkness moves south rapidly.

Everyone else can act! Machi-e, you'll need to roll a Perception check to identify where the grioth is before you attack, and I don't think true strike helps with concealment.

Grioths: AC 19 T 13 FF 16 HP taken - Red: dead Blue: 0

One change...the volume of darkness only moves a little ways.

Oh yarg!

Foresight: 1d20 ⇒ 20
Perception: 1d20 ⇒ 9

Heh, I'll take that foresight roll. ;)

DM do you read Barbed Chains as requiring the caster to see the target to use?

Question 2- could Cora target the middle of the darkness with a Splintercloud Arrow?

I don't think you need to see the target to use barbed chains, but under the circumstances you'd still need to make a Perception check to target the right square, and you'd have the typical miss chance for concealment. You could target the square at the center of the darkness with the arrow, but you would either take the 50% miss chance to completely go by the target, or you could hit the floor in that square and do the AoE damage (with the Reflex save to no damage).

Cora?

Hmm. Let's try Barbed Chains, I guess.

Cora growls at the unnatural darkness and barks out an invocation. Somewhere in the dark, a pair of wickedly barbed chains explode out of the floor.

Perception: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (18) + 15 = 33
Melee attack: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (19) + 8 = 27
Dmg, if any: 2d6 ⇒ (5, 6) = 11 Also DC 14 Will save or be Shaken for 1d4 rds

As I read the spell, each chain attacks independently. Also, the material component is a length of chain drenched in fresh blood. I moved you up by the fallen grioth so you could get some (and so you'd be in range of the live one).

Second chain: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14

Although no one can see what's happening inside the darkness, the sound of a chain striking flesh is unmistakable. Machi-e's crossbow bolt also seems to have hit something. Taking Gallius' action to advance and cast spear of purity.

Spell damage: 3d8 ⇒ (5, 5, 2) = 12

Round 2:

Nezos can act!

Nezos charges into the dark.

Nezos attack, including CE, bless, and charge: 1d20 + 9 - 2 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 9 - 2 + 1 + 2 = 25 Charge penalty cancels CE this round
Dmg, if any: 1d10 + 6 + 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 6 + (2) + 2 = 20
Concealment miss chance, low is good: 1d100 ⇒ 41
Or Perception check, if needed: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11

It's a Perception check to find the square it's in, followed by an attack roll and the miss chance for concealment.

Nezos can't find the grioth in the dark. The sphere of darkness retreats rapidly from the party, vanishing through a large hole dug into the east wall.

I don't think anyone can catch up with the grioth; if not, out of combat!

"Where does that hole go, do you suppose? I don't think those things are smart enough to ambush us," says Machi-e.

He casts Detect Magic to scan the room a bit.

The fallen grioth has several magical auras, and the water in the pool in the center of the room also radiates a faint aura.

The druid had something to say about a tunnel in the basement.

"Now, his lair is in a cavern north of here. He had his kobolds dig a tunnel from there to the monastery's dungeons, which may help you. However, I suggest that before you go there, you explore the monastery fully. There are parts of it I know Aeteperax and his allies haven't seen, and there may be useful items or lore for you to use against them."

In addition to its nonmagical but well-made voidglass breastplate and dagger, the fallen grioth has three scrolls: deeper darkness, speak with dead, and sound burst.