DM Doctor Evil Rise of the Runelords AP

Game Master DM DoctorEvil

I suppose both versions of the events end in the same thing.

Following Mirela's suggestion, Barek steps off the stairs around the ant and tries to crush it again.

Attack (PA, flank): 1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 6 + 2 = 25
Damage (PA): 1d3 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9

So here is some value in protection from evil, I guess, just saved Miri from a possible critical hit. Now i see why all the cool kids are doing it. Ok, Barek, Mirela (who gave action above) and Thorn are all up.

Thank-you very much Seldon for that Protection from Evil, just saved me bacon. On other business, I think the delay was between round four and five, or am I wrong? Mirela delayed when the quasit disappeared in round three but acted in round 4, so isn't round 5 a go for her regular action which is now after Barek? I might be wrong, lost track.

Doc did you just double post for round 5?
Round 5

Thorn takes his mighty Guisarme and drops it, pulling out his elven court blade and makes good use of it.

"Go Tunder! Make em pay!
Thanks Aziza, now to fell the summoned ants!
Darn you stand still!" Thorn says as the darn thing dodges his attack.

1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10 court blade attack, 1d10 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10 damage.

Tunder goes after the last ant. He moves to get 'below' it (down one, over one) and attacks.
Waraxe: power attack
to hit 1d20 + 4 - 1 ⇒ (6) + 4 - 1 = 9 Damage 1d10 + 3 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 + 3 = 11

Cathedral - Round 5

21 Aziza
20 Quasit (wounded 11hp)
20 Black Ant
13 Barek
13 Mirela (protected from evil)
12 Thorn (protected from evil)
12 Blue Ant
9 Tunder
8 Seldon

Jumping down from the stairs, Barek lands behind the ant, and deals it a crushing blow with his barehand. As it's attention is diverted, Mirela is finally able to hit with a flanking sneak attack that does even more damage to the insect, but it's still functional.

Blue Ant also tries to bite at Thorn unaware of the enchantment warding him from harm. The bite is diverted by the magical warding and the ant squeals in frustration.

Meanwhile, Tunder advances to corner the ant, but his powerful swing is ineffective this round.

Ant Bite: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (13) + 3 = 16

Just Seldon to go until round ends, Aziza you can post ahead for next round if you're ready.

Readied Attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21
Damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8

Seldon will five-foot-step and draw another cold iron arrow, nocking it as his eyes dart about the room. "Come out, creature. I'll send you back to Mother."

I don't think I have much to contribute to the melee, so I'll be on caster watch unless anything nastier appears.

Cathedral - Round 5 - concluded

Seldon readies his bow in case the quasit reappears.

End of round 5

With one ant down, another flanked and Thorn and Tunder teaming up on the last, it may not be long before you are searching for the quasit again.

Cathedral - round 6

21 Aziza
20 Quasit (wounded 9hp)
20 Black Ant (wounded 16hp)
13 Barek
13 Mirela (protected from evil)
12 Thorn (protected from evil)
12 Blue Ant
9 Tunder
8 Seldon (readied)

Ok, Aziza start us off with sorcery. BTW, sorry for the double post back there. Not exactly sure how that happened. I thought that ant bite was a low roll, and when I went back to writing it was a high roll. Luckily due to the PFE spell, there was zero net effect. Anyway, back to quasit hunting.

Not wanting to use the cold-iron bolt she has readied for the quasit - if it ever reappears - Aziza eschews her crossbow and instead points a finger at the blue ant, sending a small surge of electrical energy sizzling at the giant insect...

Ranged touch attack, elemental ray: 1d20 + 4 - 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 - 4 = 10
Damage, elemental ray: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Well... that was less sizzle and more fizzle than I'd hoped for. :p

That Black Ant has taken more than 19 damage. Barek hit it last round too. Of course, maybe it has DR?

Looking back, Barek is correct. I missed that hit as well. So much for trying to work on it from the airport...With the extra damage, the Black Ant curls up and dies as well. So just one target left that's visible.

Cathedral - Round 6 - continued

Aziza's electrical bolt sizzles through the air but fails to strike the remaining ant.

As she discharges, the tiny quasit reappears in the pulpit near the orange pool. Waiting for just such an opening, Seldon fires his bow striking her squarely. With that new wound, the quasit begins casting again, throwing a coruscating ray at Tunder, but the bolt misses him completely.

"The Mother take you all. You will pay for desecrating her temple." the quasit screeches in Common clearly frustrated.

Ranged Touch: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8

Because the Black Ant is dead, that Barek, Mirela, Thorn are all up again before Blue Ant. Seldon, you move to just after Quasit in count from now on.

Now that the Quasit has reappeared, can Mirela forgo the ant and try to attack it instead? The blue ant appears to have some serious fire power on it presently.

Sure, give it a shot. You are current on actions now and it's your turn.

Barek leaps up the stairs and tries to reach the Quasit. He barely makes it to the pool and swings his Cold Iron cestus at the small winged creature.

Arrows show movement
Attack (PA): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24
Damage (PA): 1d4 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10

"Come on Tunder, we can finish it off together!" Thorn exclaims as he does an overhead chop with his elven court blade.

1d20 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9 elven court blade, 1d10 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14 damage.

How high up is the altar? If it's possible, Mirela is going to move along the path indicated, and leap up to get into a flanking position. If it's not possible, ignore the attack roll and just a full move to get her to the other side.

As Barek takes up the stairs, Mirela calls out to him and motions to the west stairway "Barek, I'll go round and we'll corner the little bastard!" Taking off, Mirela nimbly moves south and attempts to leap up, thereby skipping the lower half of the flight of stairs.

Acrobatics, leap up : 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (11) + 8 = 19

This part applies if she can make it this way and is successful, if not, she's done with a double move to go the long way and get into position.

Landing nimbly on her feet, Mirela grabs her Cold Iron rapier and strikes at the Quasit, now within her reach.

Attack Roll: 1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 4 + 2 = 23
Damage Roll: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2
Sneak Attack: 1d6 ⇒ 4

Tunder attacks the last ant.

Waraxe:
to hit 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22 Damage 1d10 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11

Mirela, the pulpit level is 10 ft higher than the ground floor and the ceiling is 10-15 ft higher than that in this room. Leaping up 10 ft would be next to impossible. Like a DC 40. Think you're running around.

Cathedral - Round 6 - concluded

Barek, seeing the giant ant crumble and the quasit reappear, leaps up the stairs and strikes out at the thing with his cestus, striking her hard, causing a trickle of black blood to drip from her nose.

While Mirela runs up the other stairs, Thorn continues his streak of missing things by flailing at the air near the ant which tries to bit the elf in return but it is stymied by his armor once again.

Spinning and swinging, Tunder rends the carapace of this ant as well, causing it to squeal and scream.

Blue Ant Bite: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (11) + 3 = 14

End of Round 6

More hits on the quasit is good. This is also the first damage Blue Ant has taken. The odds are starting to lean in your favor. On to Round 7

Cathedral - Round 7

21 Aziza
20 Quasit (wounded 17hp)
19 Seldon
13 Barek
13 Mirela (protected from evil)
12 Thorn (protected from evil)
12 Blue Ant (wounded 11hp)
9 Tunder

Let's see what Aziza has in mind for us next.

"Ah HA! I am a good distraction, Miri I need to team up with you! Need help up there?" Thorn exclaims.

Hearing the quasit's screech of outrage Aziza turns her attention from trying to zap the last giant ant with jolts of electricity to attempting to skewer the little demon with a cold-iron tipped crossbow bolt...

Ranged attack, light crossbow, into melee: 1d20 + 4 - 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 - 4 = 4
Damage, light crossbow, cold-iron tipped bolt: 1d6 ⇒ 4

Cursing as her shot flies askew again, she busies herself reloading the crossbow. "Dammit, if I was any good with this thing, I wouldn't have to rely on magic so much!"

Cathedral - Round 7 - continued

Aziza's crossbow bolt flies past the tiny target glancing off the stone wall behind.

I have you with 7 cold iron bolts left, right?

Her target, the quasit, withdraws (as a full round action) from her flanked position by flying upwards 15' near the ceiling of the chamber and out over the pulpit railing.

"Leave me be, Enemies from Above, I have no quarrel with you. Leave now, before I destroy you all." she cries in anguish as she flies upwards.

At the same time, the remaining giant ant disappears back into whatever place it had come from, leaving the quasit as the only enemy in the chamber.

Her full round action prevents an AoO from Barek and Mirela she is 15' from pulpit and 25' from ground now, so melee attack won't reach her. The rest of the group is up now, with an ant stuck somewhere in between.

Cold Iron Arrow: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23 Okay, this is getting scary.
Damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8

"Ziza. Deep breaths. Try to hit her before she flaps her wings. As she dips." he mutters, keeping his face a mask of determination and his eyes fixed on the quasit. However, you detect the slightest hint of a smile on his lips as the creature screeches her desperate threats, soaring upwards and giving him a clear shot. "Our quarrel is not with you, but with the demon you call mother... Now fall, fiend!"

I have you with 7 cold iron bolts left, right?

I believe that is correct - that's how I've updated my profile page at least.

"Eh, you think it will go on a picnic with us? Get it pick her!" Thorn jokes and pulls his javelin, leaving the court blade in his other hand and sees if he can strike the fiend.
1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12 javelin throw, 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4 damage.

"Tunder, close the doors or hit her with the other barrage of projectiles."

Cathedral - Round 7 continued

Seldon adjusts for the little target's bobbing and weaving and with a deep breath, release another cold-iron tipped arrow, which strikes the tiny quasit who is beginning to resemble a winged pin-cushion.

Thorn's javelin throw ends up clattering harmlessly off the pulpit wall.

Need post from BArek and Mirela or I will need to run them. Tunder we can hear from you anytime as well.

Tunder will do as he was bade and make sure the door is shut.

Barek grunts in frustration as the Quasit flies up over their heads. He looks down though and grins at seeing the pool of water, that the beast came out of. "Doesn't do you much good to fly away if this pool is down here. Seems like it means something to ya. And Seldon is making a pin cushion out of you." He leans over the pool and spits into it.

Cathedral - Round 7 - concluded

As Barek spits into the pool, the spittle freezes on top of the orange liquid. The quasit snarls at him in response to his blashemous words and actions.

Meanwhile, Mirela sees the effectiveness of Seldon's shooting and sheathes her rapier, instead moving to the pulpit's edge and throwing a cold-iron dagger at the beast, but the dagger deflects harmlessly off her tough hide, clattering to the floor below.

Tunder listens to the words of the elf fighter, and begins to shut the Cathedral doors.

End of Round 7

Mirela Dagger: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 17

Hard to hit a flying target, unless you're Seldon. Time to see what's in store next round.

Cathedral - Round 8

21 Aziza
20 Quasit (wounded 23hp)
19 Seldon
13 Barek
13 Mirela (protected from evil)
12 Thorn (protected from evil)
9 Tunder

Ok, little gnome, let's see what you got.

Frankly I have no idea what Aziza should do at the moment...

"If you were able to destroy us, you already would have, so don't bother with more stupid threats." says the gnome in response to the quasit's gibbering. "You're protecting this place, and I think you've been down here a very long time, long enough to go barking mad. If you want me to believe otherwise and convince us to leave you alone, then tell us who you are and who your master is! What was this place?" Aziza still has her crossbow ready to shoot at the little demon - her only option since she has exhausted her ability to cast spells for now - but she holds off loosing the bolt at the quasit, hoping that it may be desperate enough to reveal things about this dungeon...

Thanks for acting for me IB!

Glancing over at Aziza as she attempts to parlay with the Quasit, Mirela contemplates what (if any) course of action to take. In short order, Mirela realizes there is little she can do presently, and looks over to Barek with a bewildered shrug.

Just delay for now I guess...note to self, get a bow.

Cathedral - Round 8 - continued

As Aziza taunts and questions the quasit, the tiny demon flies down from the ceiling to just over the pool in the center of the room. She flies about, opens her cruel little mouth, and emits an enormous scream that sends chills down the spine of all who hear it.

Everyone in the room is affected (unless special ability makes you immune). Effect similar to Cause Fear. Need a Will Save DC 13 or be frightened for 1d4 rounds. Even if you make the save, you are Shaken for the same duration. Roll for duration below.

Fear duration: 1d4 ⇒ 4

Have Mirela's delay, but anyone not frightened can post now.

Will: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12 DC 12 you say? well. Bugger. On the bright side at least I didn't end my 10-shot streak with this low roll.
1d4 ⇒ 1

Seldon's eyes glaze over as the quasit's magic takes hold, and suddenly he's hundreds of miles away, surrounded by the smell of acid, the beating of wings and the sounds of screams.

Will 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 2 = 14
Tunder readies his heavy crossbow and begins to load a cold iron bolt.

Will Save: 1d20 ⇒ 17

Though the scream sends a shiver down her spine, Mirela summons the courage to continue on.

Still not much Mirela can do with it hovering over the pool, but she'll continue to delay until an opportunity presents itself.

Will save vs DC13: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (19) + 3 = 22

Will Save (Bravery): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 = 20

A chill goes through Barek's entire body at the sound of the quasit's scream. He shudders and feels a bit sick, but he glares in defiance at the little beast. "I swear, if you make me vomit, I'm doing it right in this pool, you little monster."

He spits into the pool once again, and then looks around for any rubble to throw into it or any suitable container to begin removing the water. He spots the dead bodies of the other creatures and a wicked smiles crosses his face. "Surrender now or I'm going to begin desecrating this entire place, starting with that precious pool of yours."

Intimidate (shaken): 1d20 + 6 - 2 ⇒ (1) + 6 - 2 = 5

1d20 ⇒ 17 Will Save...

Thorn is troubled, for the screams come back, though he fights through it knowing that it is just a magical effect, just like the vargouilles.

Thorn moves up to the 'alter' the best he can to assist Barek with any desecrations of this evil temple. Grabbing a chunk of ant on the way.

A frightened creature flees from the source of its fear as best it can.

Looks like Seldon is on the run. The rest of you are shaken, taking a -2 on attack rolls for the 4 round duration. Do you get the feeling this fight may go on forever?

Cathedral - Round 8 - concluded

Following the terror-inducing scream of the quasit, Seldon bolts for the recently closed doors, ripping them open and moving away from the source of the fear and back into the Shrine antechamber.

Barek shudders but his inherent bravery sees him through and he threatens desecration of the triangular pool at the pulpit. Thorn also immune to the fear, brings ant parts with him up the stairs to assist, shouldering his two-handed weapon in the meantime.

Mirela shivers in fear, but overcomes it. Still looking for an opening to attack.

Tunder wavers at the door, but seeing the big elf flee, he smirks remembering dwarven superiority and stands fast, loading another bolt into his mighty crossbow.

End of Round 8

On to Round 9, like a heavyweight bout, this one may have to go to the scorecards. You guys have a hard time finding and hitting her and her magic is ineffective so far against you. Let's see who breaks first.

Cathedral - Round 9

21 Aziza
20 Quasit (wounded 21hp)
19 Seldon
13 Barek
13 Mirela (protected from evil)
12 Thorn (protected from evil)
9 Tunder

Aziza gets us started then on to the tiny demon who is putting up quite a fight. Do you know you opened the door to this room 18 days ago in RL? Dungeon crawls are difficult on PbP...

"By Torag's whiskers, I tried to be reasonable!" yells the little gnome, bringing her crossbow to her shoulder and trying to aim true despite her arms still shaking from the quasit's scream...

Standard action - ranged attack with light crossbow

Ranged attack, light crossbow: 1d20 + 4 - 2 ⇒ (20) + 4 - 2 = 22
Damage, cold-iron crossbow bolt: 1d6 ⇒ 5
Critical confirmation roll: 1d20 + 4 - 2 ⇒ (3) + 4 - 2 = 5

Move action - reload crossbow with cold-iron bolt

Cathedral - round 9 - continued

Another bolt from Aziza races through the air, striking the demonic quasit. The quasit disappears again from view once again.

The rest of you have actions if you want them.

Thorn smiles at Barek as he gets up to him with the ant parts, "Shall we heave hoe and see what happens?"

"Someone grab Seldon! Make sure he's ok!" Barek grins at Thorn and grabs some of the body parts and tosses them into the pool.

"Stupid, big eyed, pointy eared, long legged, elf! Get back hear. The fight's not done yet."Tunder goes after Seldon. He makes sure to shut the door behind him.

Only ant parts in the pool, not the corpses of the monster things?

Cathedral - Round 9 - continued

Seldon continues his terror-inspired dash through the tunnels followed now by the slow-moving dwarf, who stops to shut the door behind him.

Meanwhile Thorn and Barek start throwing ant parts into the orange pool which begins frothing and bubbling, the chunks appear to freeze solid on contact with the strange pool.

Just need an action from Mirela, who may be holding still, to complete the round.

Monster things. Sorry, I missed that. Besides, ants should disappear as soon as slain right? Summoned creatures.

As Tunder closes the door, Mirela blurts out almost as an afterthought "Tunder wait!" With a large and frustrated sigh, Mirela mutters quietly "We need your... crossbow, ah hell."

Hoping of the platform, Mirela wonders cautiously but noticeably irritated and lacking patience "I really, really hate this thing."

Not much Miri can do at this point; Seldon is to far away to catch up with, can't see the Quasit, can't really hit it even when we can see it since its always in the air... delay again I guess for now.