DM Oladon's Second Darkness

Game Master Oladon

Fort: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (12) + 13 = 25

Firiel's snowball goes *splorch* against the nearest roper's side. It does not appear amused.

All three ropers shimmy across the surface of the cliff with murder in their eyes. The blue one ran so it's flatfooted.

Xiddik, Jametor, and Njord are up.

With his rate of speed, Randall should be much farther down the map. I think maybe his movement got overlooked.

Oh, I figured you'd move yourself. Do you not have edit access?

Out of all the games I'm in, I think this is the only one where I can make changes to the map and I always forget, sorry.

EDIT: Moved him down over the glyph.

Jametor points at the roper closest to him Blue and 3 rays of fire shoot from his finger to the roper.

Scorching Ray, RT, Haste: 1d20 + 11 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 11 + 2 = 28 Damage, if hits: 4d6 + 7 ⇒ (5, 6, 3, 3) + 7 = 24
Scorching Ray, RT, Haste: 1d20 + 11 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 11 + 2 = 33 Damage, if hits: 4d6 ⇒ (4, 5, 4, 6) = 19
Scorching Ray, RT, Haste: 1d20 + 11 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 11 + 2 = 28 Damage, if hits: 4d6 ⇒ (4, 1, 4, 2) = 11

Scorching Ray Confirm, RT, Haste: 1d20 + 11 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 11 + 2 = 24 Damage, if hits: 4d6 ⇒ (4, 2, 4, 4) = 14

SR: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (17) + 18 = 35 Do I need one for the target or three for each of the rays?

Xiddik starts to sing a series of lilting, wordless notes, instilling a feeling of hope in those allies who hear it. As the notes build, she starts to sprinkle in some Elven phrases. It's a more experimental style of song than the songs Xiddik has sung previously, and there's a strange sort of glee to it all. The Elven phrases, however, are all prayers involving death.

Good Hope: Everyone except Njord (sorry, should have cast this sooner) gets a +2 morale bonus on saving throws, attack rolls, ability checks, skill checks, and weapon damage rolls.

Inspire Courage: Everyone gains a +2 morale bonus on saves against fear and charm, and a +2 competence bonus on attack and weapon damage rolls.

Note that these two effects do stack.

1 round of performance used today.

Did you mean everyone except Randall? He's the only one outside the group formation.

Were-Njord digs his massive clawed paws into the slimy wall bringing himself and his passenger into melee range with the nearest roper. I think it's just Firiel since Randall took off for the glyph.

Claw (inspire, haste, hope): 1d20 + 20 + 2 + 1 + 2 - 3 ⇒ (7) + 20 + 2 + 1 + 2 - 3 = 29
Damage: 1d6 + 12 + 2 + 2 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 12 + 2 + 2 + 6 = 28
Grab: 1d20 + 27 + 2 + 1 + 2 - 3 ⇒ (5) + 27 + 2 + 1 + 2 - 3 = 34

Fun Fact: Ropers are vulnerable to fire.

Jametor's fiery rays set whatever oily substance the strange abberations secrete naturally aflame creating a blaze that briefly rivals the glowing glyph below. The inhuman creature gives a whistling cry of pain and fixes the elf with its singular bloodshot eye.

AoO vs Njord: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (2) + 20 = 22
Damage: 4d8 + 18 ⇒ (1, 4, 5, 6) + 18 = 34

Bite vs Njord: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (5) + 20 = 25
Damage: 4d8 + 18 ⇒ (2, 4, 1, 6) + 18 = 31

Tendril Touch vs Asht: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (11) + 10 = 21
Strength Damage (fort 25 negates): 1d6 ⇒ 5
Tendril Touch vs Asht: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (12) + 10 = 22
Strength Damage (fort 25 negates): 1d6 ⇒ 6

Tendril Touch vs Xiddik: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (19) + 10 = 29
Strength Damage (fort 25 negates): 1d6 ⇒ 3
Tendril Touch vs Xiddik: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (12) + 10 = 22
Strength Damage (fort 25 negates): 1d6 ⇒ 5

Tendril Touch vs Jametor: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (5) + 10 = 15
Strength Damage (fort 25 negates): 1d6 ⇒ 6
Tendril Touch vs Jametor: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (1) + 10 = 11
Strength Damage (fort 25 negates): 1d6 ⇒ 1
Tendril Touch vs Jametor: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (5) + 10 = 15
Strength Damage (fort 25 negates): 1d6 ⇒ 5
Tendril Touch vs Jametor: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (1) + 10 = 11
Strength Damage (fort 25 negates): 1d6 ⇒ 1

Were-Njord grabs a solid hold of the slimy conical monster. It answers the giant bear-man with a pair of bites from its enormous toothy maw.

The other two ropers shimmy closer to the party and flail with their fishing line-thin tendrils. Where they touch an intense numbing sensation fills their victims.

1d8 ⇒ 5

Now that he's close enough, Randall studies the immense magical glyph. A moment later a torrent of lightning flies off in the opposite direction.

The glyph is not a trap itself but it does have trap-like defensive measures. Randall can try to disable the defensive measures but the lightning is not part of that.

Asht, Firiel, and Randall are up.

It's not my fault Njord and Randall look exactly alike!

Whoops, now I've posted, guess I should at least roll the saves so you know I'm not pulling Funny Business. Proper post tomorrow.

Fort Saves: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (10) + 10 = 201d20 + 10 ⇒ (2) + 10 = 12

Psst. Asht. If you need to, Xiddik will cast Saving Finale on you. You don't wanna fail both of those rolls!

Feral - Per this post, Asht'el is flying and is 30' away from the wall horizontally, so should be well outside of the ropers' reach, unless they're flying ropers.

Seeing how nicely the ropers burn, Asht'el sends a trio of fiery rays at them!

Cast scorching ray at blue roper, auto-succeed at Fly check to hover.

Ranged touch, PBS: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (10) + 10 = 20
Damage, PBS: 4d6 + 1 ⇒ (1, 6, 6, 2) + 1 = 16

Ranged touch, PBS: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (13) + 10 = 23
Damage, PBS: 4d6 + 1 ⇒ (5, 1, 1, 6) + 1 = 14

Ranged touch, PBS: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (17) + 10 = 27
Damage, PBS: 4d6 + 1 ⇒ (6, 2, 1, 5) + 1 = 15

Randall hesitates, but he knows what must be done. Hoping his friends have the situation under control, he attempts to alter the magic trap that protects the glyph.

Disable traps: 1d20 + 30 ⇒ (1) + 30 = 31

Oh, snap. If that auto-fails, I would like to use the free re-roll that Oladon gave out for Christmas, if I may.

Disable traps: 1d20 + 30 ⇒ (5) + 30 = 35 Oh, jeez.

Stupid ropers have too much range why are we so close to them, stupid map.

Fort Save, ha like have fort, hope(less): 1d20 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 7 + 2 = 14
Fort Save, ha like have fort, hope(less): 1d20 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 7 + 2 = 22

Only two hit my touch AC, not sure why Mage armor doesn't increase that..but whatevs.

-11 strength puts me at -1 strength.This will not end well I bet.

Ah, sorry about that Asht. In that case those attacks can go on Firiel since I seem to have forgotten about her. Subtract 4 from the rolls since she's in melee with the other roper and they don't have precise shot.

Asht's fiery spell finishes the blue-tinged roper. It's mostly-incinerated remains lose their grip on the cliff and plummet to the ground hundreds of feet below.

You can't take strength damage above your strength score so you're just at 0. When you're at 0 strength you're paralyzed and helpless. I believe helpless flying creatures drift to the ground. But that's immaterial because it turns out I'm a cheater. The ropers acted twice last round. The one that was bad-touching Jametor was killed by Asht so Jametor you can ignore those attacks.

Now is when the ropers should have gone again. Xiddik, Jametor, and Njord are up.

I'm now at 2 Strength.

Jam's Saving Finale: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (10) + 9 = 19 G!!&~*MIT

Xiddik staggers with a weakened cry as she feels her strength drained from her spindly frame. Nearly limp, the kobold tries to channel her voice to lend Jametor resilience Randall some extra inspiration.

Singing with a distinct slur to her words now, she raises her arms in ponderous patterns, spinning them in ever-greater spirals. From around her build shifting pale lines of energy, expanding spirographs that rise up to encircle the group in a protective shell.

Tiny Hut! We all gain Total Concealment from everyone outside the radius. Because nobody likes Strength damage.

2 rounds of Performance spent today.

Hope crusher we can abide, but cheater too. I am reporting you to the GM League of rules and such association or whatever it's named

can we get out of the hut? I need to bring the fire

Here you go: Tiny Hut Looks like you can see out and target them, but they cannot see you.

Sees the evocation school and then snickers as he was just testing you! Also, I assume Blue is dead, if he is not then my world is shattered

Jametor flings a bead of fire out toward the remaining ropers and the bead explodes in a burst of fiery death and destruction and possible, if not probably, maiming.

Fireball: 15d6 + 7 ⇒ (4, 3, 3, 5, 6, 2, 6, 1, 2, 5, 6, 2, 4, 4, 1) + 7 = 61 Target should be column B row 6, which should get both ropers and not the tiny hut.
SR Red: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (5) + 20 = 25
SR Yellow: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (11) + 20 = 31
DC 22 reflex for half

I don't think I've seen tiny hut used as a combat spell but I like it.

Reflex: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14

Jametor's fireball washes harmlessly over one of the ropers but the other takes the full brunt. When the flames die off its still standing but badly burned.

It turns out I skipped Firiel last round. Firiel and Njord are up.

With haste and mage armor my touch AC is 22, so those both miss.

Fíriel clings to Njord's shaggy coat with one hand as she reaches out and swats at the nearby roper with the other. Rime shocking grasp. Auto-succeed at the concentration check to cast defensively.

vs Touch (haste): 1d20 + 13 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 13 + 1 = 16
Cold Damage?: 5d6 ⇒ (2, 1, 6, 6, 2) = 17
And if he takes any damage from it, he's entangled for 1 round.

Prickles, meanwhile, pulls out a wand and jabs Njord behind the ear with it. Njord, have shatter spell resistance on your bite!

UMPeeg: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (7) + 18 = 25

Mage armor only improves your touch AC vs incorporeal attacks. This roper is fully corporeal.

Go Go gadget Hedgepeeg.

Well fine, then one of them hits. You happy, MeaniePants DM?

Fortling: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (19) + 9 = 28
NYAH. I say NYAH!

Firiel, what is shatter spell resistance from? I can't find it anywhere.

Uh, that's probably because it's called splinter spell resistance. Apparently it's from the Arcane Anthology, which may or may not be an allowed source. If it isn't, blame the hedgepeeg; it was his idea.

That explains why I couldn't find it!

Were-Njord mauls the trapped roper, tearing with his ursine maw and ripping its flailing tendrils from its body.

Standard Grapple: 1d20 + 27 + 2 + 1 + 2 - 3 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 27 + 2 + 1 + 2 - 3 + 5 = 48
Damage: 1d6 + 12 + 2 + 2 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 12 + 2 + 2 + 6 = 25

Move Grapple: 1d20 + 27 + 2 + 1 + 2 - 3 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 27 + 2 + 1 + 2 - 3 + 5 = 47
Damage: 1d6 + 12 + 2 + 2 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 12 + 2 + 2 + 6 = 25

Swift Grapple: 1d20 + 27 + 2 + 1 + 2 - 3 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 27 + 2 + 1 + 2 - 3 + 5 = 50
Damage: 1d6 + 12 + 2 + 2 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 12 + 2 + 2 + 6 = 23

The roper wails in pain as its violently torn to pieces by the angry bear-man. Its tendrils slow as Firiel's fingers of frost work their way up its slimy form.

1d8 ⇒ 6

The glyph shudders in distress as a result of Randall's efforts. Another red torrent of lightning flies through the air, this time straight at Randall!

Lightning Damage (reflex 18 for half): 10d6 ⇒ (1, 5, 1, 2, 1, 3, 6, 2, 5, 4) = 30

Asht and Randall are up.

Asht'el, feeling a bit concerned by the fact that all his friends have gone off to a magical hut party without inviting him, keeps his distance from the ropers. He flies a little lower on the wall and fires another barrage of fiery rays at the yellow-tentacled roper!

Move down (not closer to wall, but down along wall, still at 30' from vertical surface), cast scorching ray at yellow.

Ranged touch: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (5) + 10 = 15
Fire!: 4d6 ⇒ (1, 3, 6, 4) = 14

Ranged touch: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (13) + 10 = 23
Fire!: 4d6 ⇒ (3, 4, 4, 3) = 14

Ranged touch: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (2) + 10 = 12
Fire!: 4d6 ⇒ (3, 5, 3, 2) = 13

SR: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (20) + 18 = 38

Was my free reroll necessary earlier? I n we'd to know if I should scratch it off or not.

Reflex save: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (10) + 19 = 29 With improved evasion, no damage

Randall continues his tender mercies upon the glyph, suspecting layers of deviousness in its protections.

Disable Traps: 1d20 + 30 ⇒ (20) + 30 = 50 Because I just wanted to see if that would happen. BOOM!

Yeah, you needed the reroll.

Asht'el further burns the mostly-charred roper. Somehow, it endures the injuries and keeps its hold on the cliff.

Find themselves overwhelmed, the roper guardians fly into a panic. The one trapped in Were-Njord's loving arms bites him in desperation while the other one, slowly, tries to waddle away.

Bite vs Njord: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (5) + 20 = 25
Damage: 4d8 + 18 ⇒ (7, 8, 2, 5) + 18 = 40

Yellow is 'running' down the glyph. If you're so inclined you can be its angel of mercy. Xiddik, Firiel, Jametor, and Njord are up.

Yellow is 'running' down the glyph. If you're so inclined you can be its angel of mercy. Xiddik, Firiel, Jametor, and Njord are up.

Was this directed at me? Should I take it as a hint that my 20 would better utilized in target practice? If so, Randall draws his crossbow and fires at the approaching and badly injured roper.

Confirmation roll: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (3) + 17 = 20
Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2
Crit damage, if appropriate: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

That wasn't necessarily aimed at Randall. It was more a comment for anyone that has a vendetta against ropers.

Is Roper still alive?

Jametor points at the roper and 5 missiles of force shoot from his fingertip.

Magic Missiles: 5d4 + 5 + 7 ⇒ (3, 2, 1, 2, 3) + 5 + 7 = 23

Which one is Jametor shooting, the one grappled by Njord or the one running away? Also, roll a SR check please.

Running, Njord-bar is quite capable of eating roper.

SR: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (7) + 18 = 25

That's not enough to beat it's SR but it's not super important at this point.

Were-Njord and Firiel finish off the roper trapped in Njord's claws and those with magical flight are able to easily finish off the fleeing roper before it can get far.

1d8 ⇒ 1

Randall is able to slightly alter the rune so that it shouldn't explode when it's disabled. A moment later another enormous blast of lightning fires off frighteningly close to Jametor.

So, that's combat over?

Xiddik is visibly wheezing as the battle comes to a close. She breaks off the song with a choked warble, rubbing at her throat. She's not in any current danger, it seems, but the strength has almost completely left her. If not for her magical enhancements, it's likely she'd be having trouble even moving.

Correction: I'm actually at 6 Strength, thanks to my belt. Still, Xiddik's not feeling great.

Yeah, combat's over. There's still danger from the random lightning bolts firing off but Randall's currently the only person in range. You'll need someone that can read Aboleth or has detect magic and a strong arcana skill to figure out how to disable the rune for good.

Alternatively you could just send Njord to smash it since Randall's disabled its defense mechanisms.

Well, that's an easy one!

Asht'el keeps his distance from the lightning-throwing rune. He clears his throat once, then again, before tipping his head toward the magical threat and saying, "Njord?"

Were-Njord huffs in understanding and them muscles his way down the cliff with Firiel in tow. Once he's in range, he begins smashing the slimy earthen surface with one enormous fist.

I'm going to assume Randall flies out of range during this time.

Lightning Direction?: 5d8 ⇒ (6, 4, 7, 1, 7) = 25

The glyph flares in anger and pain as the shaggy bearman smashes its surface over and over again. More blasts of lightning fly off in random directions but they do little to drive Njord and Firiel off.

Lightning Damage vs Njord and Firiel (reflex 18 for half): 10d6 ⇒ (3, 6, 3, 5, 2, 3, 5, 1, 6, 2) = 36

Eventually the cliff face is too heavily damaged to hold the incredible power of the aboleth magic written across it. The glyph gives a final shuddering pulse of red light like a failing heartbeat before it goes completely dark.

As the glyph is deactivated, a bolt of violet energy hurtles up into the air before arcing sharply north.

"What language is that Firiel? I will probably need to study some or get a spell to help." Jametor asks loudly.

No Aboleth for me.

Observing the arc of a energy, the little rogue notes, "Well, someone probably knows we are about now if they did not before. Where to next?"

Poke.

"Off to the Crystal Plaza!" Asht'el suggests. "Even if something awful has moved into the neighborhood, it sounds like it was once a nice place."

Jametor nods and begins preparing the spell, beckoning everyone to him. He begins to recall the description of the area in his mind.

Unless anyone objects, we go

You might want to patch up Xiddik's strength damage before you move on.

Patching would be nice. I can survive with an 8 strength, but I won't be much good as melee support if we run into any elves. God forbid I get hit by an antimagic field or something and go down to 2 Strength.

Almost three years ago the party was given a bunch of consumables. I don't think most of them have even been touched.

That's like 10 days in game time.