DM Oladon's Second Darkness

Game Master Oladon

Watching through his magic gloves, Randall says, ”That’s got most of them shook up. The time is now.”

He pulls the door open for the others so they can press their ranged attacks.

"Thank you, Randall, very gracious of you," Asht'el says as the door is opened. Leaning into the opening just enough to see what's inside, the handsome ifrit pauses as he sees an even more handsome ifrit already inside. "What the...oh, that's me!" he says, before turning his attention to the matter at hand. Wriggling his fingers wildly, he snaps and points at the group of drow, and a mass of writhing tentacles erupts around them!

He then turns to Xiddik and says, "I thought you were going to exaggerate things with your illusion, but you captured my hair perfectly."

Cast black tentacles in area marked in yellow on map.

Tentacular grapple: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (11) + 20 = 31
Damage to grappled targets: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10

Prickles sorts through his miniature satchel and selects a wand, while Fíriel hurries into the room and ducks behind a pillar. As the hedgehog finishes his wand choice and looks up, his eyes fall upon his lookalike. The little fellow's mouth opens in awe, and he lets out a few excited squeaks before grimacing fiercely and waving his wand at the foes!

As the door is about to burst open, the prettier Asht yells, "Fearless leader! What happened to the plans for your illusion?!"

"Ah, yes," the prettier Xiddik says, pointing to the door.

(the perfect crime)

Lacking any of his friends' cleverness, Bear-Njord thunders into the room and roars a challenge.

Asht'el: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (8) + 9 = 17
Fíriel: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14
Jametor: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10
Njord: 1d20 ⇒ 13
Randall: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8
Xiddik: 1d20 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 7 + 2 = 12
Allevrah: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15
Drow: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7
Demons: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22

Despite the confusion created by the attacking heroes and their entirely accurate illuionary doubles, the stately drow woman overseeing the rune is quick to assert command. She gestures to the demons standing guard on the sides of the room. "Destroy them!"

Wills: 4d20 ⇒ (5, 14, 10, 13) = 42

The vrocks give a squawk of understanding before falling on the illusions with their filthy talons. Two are further bewildered by the seemingly impervious nature of their opponents but two see through the illusion. "Bwahk! It's a trick! They're illusions!"

Asht is up.

Oh mighty DM Feral - I'm not sure what the effect of the black tentacles was on the drow. Are they all helplessly grappled, or free to swarm and kill us?

With his companions - his real companions, not the unattractive, illusory impostors - still close by, Asht'el gets them ready for the fight! He casts a spell to empower the mighty Njord even further! He then pulls a metamagic rod from his belt and uses it to cast again, granting his friends magical speed!

Cast greater heroism on Njord, Then use Quicken metamagic rod to cast haste on the gang.

Spells left: 8/6/6/5/7/2/4

Oops.

Most of the drow are hopelessly trapped by the field of writhing tentacles. The tentacles are unable to find purchase on the lead drow woman's limbs and seem to slide off no matter how tight their grip.

Who's up now? Is it Allevrah?

Sorry, I thought it was Asht. I'm just underwater with work. I'll try to post this weekend.

Allevrah resumes her delicate work with the giant glowing rune, willing herself to ignore the battle around her.

That was anticlimactic... Everyone but Asht is up.

Which demons remain befuddled?

Be befuddled do you mean confused by the illusion? That would be red and yellow.

Randall moves up to Firiel and whispers, ”These two are confused by the illusion. Should we practice our talents on the smarter ones or go directly to the drow?”

I kind of want the area effects to be free to operate on the folks on the dais. Are we botting Jametor in this fight? I think some fiery goodness would be well-placed... If Firiel is willing, I’d like to move to the right side of the map and tag-team a demon. All we would manage this round is movement, though. Firiel?

You got it!

Fíriel practically flies along the ground as she moves gracefully into position behind one of the demons. She waves cheerily at Randall, signing with her other hand, Won't you join me for this dance?

Double moved with haste; no provokies.

Well, then.

Randall blinks at her quick reactions and spends only a moment to follow suit. The tiny figure virtually flies across the floor, flipping and rolling and colliding with the vulture-demon, tiny blade first!

Free action: Activate daredevil slippers for +5 to acrobatics
Full action: Charge to current location on the map, tumbling to get into position.

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 21 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 21 + 5 = 29

If my tumble successfully avoids provoking an attack of opportunity, I get a +2 to my attack. Hoping that's the case, it's included below.

Attack, tiny anti-demon enchanted dagger: 1d20 + 21 + 1 + 4 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 21 + 1 + 4 + 2 + 2 = 35 Haste bonus, Outflank bonus, charge bonus, AoO avoidance bonus

Damage: 1d3 + 11d6 + 5 ⇒ (2) + (4, 4, 4, 2, 3, 1, 5, 1, 1, 5, 3) + 5 = 40

Current AC: 25; Firiel, I got his attention, time for the hedgehog to finish him off!

Xiddik begins to play her ocarina, striking up a jaunty and cheerful tune. She stays out of the room for now, quite content to avoid injury to herself while she maintains the illusion.

Everyone gets a +2 bonus to attacks, weapon damage rolls, and SR checks!

Xiddik's face begins to go red from lack of air as she continues to play her ocarina.

Oh, by the way, I just want to be clear on one thing, in case you aren't already visualizing this illusion correctly: You better believe it's all extremely anime. Ash't has bishounen face. The bear has bishounen face. Half of the party is immersed in sparkles with no apparent source. Xiddik's eyes are larger than her hands. Randall's hands are larger than his head. Lip movements are becoming increasingly disjointed from the words. Firiel has a bowl of ramen and keeps calling it "pizza" with a strong American accent.

Oh, how I love Xiddik!

Were-Njord thunders forward to join his tiny halfling companion in battling one of the demons.

Claw: 1d20 + 20 + 2 + 2 + 1 - 3 ⇒ (12) + 20 + 2 + 2 + 1 - 3 = 34
Damage: 1d6 + 10 + 2 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 10 + 2 + 6 = 24

Grapple: 1d20 + 32 + 2 + 2 + 1 - 3 ⇒ (4) + 32 + 2 + 2 + 1 - 3 = 38

Firiel has a bowl of ramen and keeps calling it "pizza" with a strong American accent.

Ha!

Xiddik's song drifts through the throne room adding a cheery, if not entirely appropriate, backdrop to the battle over the fate of the surface world.

Randall drives his enchanted dagger deep into the calf of the nearest vrock. The demon squawks in pain but before it can swipe at the halfling, Were-Njord joins the attack swatting the wounded demon and grabbing it in a crushing embrace.

The pair of free drow move to join the melee against the impossibly sparkly heroes. The rest struggle against the field of writhing tentacles.

Will vs Illusion: 2d20 ⇒ (11, 1) = 12
CMBs vs Tentacles: 9d20 ⇒ (15, 19, 13, 3, 12, 7, 4, 16, 10) = 99

"Another damned illusion!" curses the warrior battling 'Firiel'.

Meanwhile the one attacking 'Njord' gasps as he narrowly avoids an enormous perfectly manicured paw.

Asht is up.

Asht'el concentrates fiercely as he makes a tight fist with his right hand, then throws a blob of black acid at the ungrabbable drow woman! Raising his speedy rod again, he slaps the quiver of crossbow bolts at his hip to enchant its contents!

Use Reach Spell to cast corrosive consumption at the caster woman in the back, then use Quicken rod to cast greater magic weapon.

Ranged touch: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (13) + 10 = 23

SR: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (15) + 18 = 33

If that hits her touch AC and beats her SR, it does 14 points of acid damage this round.

Spells left: 8/6/3/5/7/2/3

Asht's corrosive spell serves its purpose earning a hiss of pain from the drow woman as her delicate work is interrupted once again. She wheels on the party with hatred in her dark eyes. "Curse you filthy surfacers! I'll destroy you myself if that's what it takes!"

Concentration: 1d20 ⇒ 18

The acid melting away her armor is little impediment to the drow priestess as she calls down a volley of controlled explosions through the party's ranks.

Fire Damage: 16d6 ⇒ (2, 5, 2, 3, 4, 4, 6, 4, 1, 4, 3, 6, 4, 3, 3, 5) = 59

Reflex 26 for half. If you fail you're also on fire and take another 4d6 fire damage per round.

Everyone but Asht is up.

Reflex DC 26: 1d20 + 18 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 18 + 1 = 23 I don't believe I have a buff other than haste that would help a Reflex check. Improved Evasion means 29 points of damage.

Randall takes advantage of the flank with Firiel and works to carve up the demon.

Primary attack: 1d20 + 21 + 2 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 21 + 2 + 1 + 2 = 43 Flanking, Hasted, Good Hope(?)
Damage: 1d3 + 5 + 4d6 + 2 + 7d6 ⇒ (2) + 5 + (5, 2, 3, 4) + 2 + (4, 3, 3, 3, 3, 4, 3) = 46 tiny +1 holy evil outsider-bane dagger, good hope, sneak attack

Iterative attack: 1d20 + 16 + 2 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 16 + 2 + 1 + 2 = 39 Flanking, Hasted, Good Hope(?)
Damage: 1d3 + 5 + 4d6 + 2 + 7d6 ⇒ (1) + 5 + (5, 2, 6, 2) + 2 + (3, 2, 6, 3, 3, 1, 2) = 43 tiny +1 holy evil outsider-bane dagger, good hope, sneak attack

Haste attack: 1d20 + 21 + 2 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 21 + 2 + 1 + 2 = 41 Flanking, Hasted, Good Hope(?)
Damage: 1d3 + 5 + 4d6 + 2 + 7d6 ⇒ (1) + 5 + (1, 4, 2, 3) + 2 + (2, 1, 4, 3, 3, 1, 1) = 33 tiny +1 holy evil outsider-bane dagger, good hope, sneak attack

Maintaining her illusion with the insufferable smugness of the partymember who doesn't have to make a DC 26 Reflex save to halve 59 fire damage and avoid catching on fire worry about being attacked, Xiddik continues to play her ocarina.

Inspire Courage and +2 vs. Spell Resistance maintained, along with the illusions continuing to try to keep enemies busy. Sorry, Randall, I wish I had a Saving Finale to spare for you!

Also, Randall, you have both Good Hope and Inspire Courage, so don't forget that +2 to attacks and weapon damage!

Also, Randall, you have both Good Hope and Inspire Courage, so don't forget that +2 to attacks and weapon damage!

Ah, included the good hope, forgot about the inspire courage! D'oh! And I have a better flank because of Firiel and our teamwork feat! Do I have Spell Resistance thanks to your playing? Wonder what else I forgot in my rush to post.

So Randall hits AC 46 for 47, AC 42 for 44, and AC 44 for 34.

Nah, my pipes just give a +2 on CL checks to counter SR (and to dispel magic checks). The ocarina is really more a flavor item in most cases.

Feral - I'm a little confused as to where I am on the map, since my token is currently off to the side rather than on the map. My plan had been to hang back a bit from the others, though I'd try to avoid being totally off on my own, since I'm squishy.

This is important now to know if I'm affected by the ball of fire, but also seems like a good thing to know in general.

It looks like you never got put on this map. We'll assume you've been casting from the hallway.

You should be on there now but the firestorm was enormous. She'd be able to hit Asht wherever he is assuming he's visible.

Okay, got it.

Reflex + Haste, DC 26: 1d20 + 10 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 10 + 1 = 20

Asht'el is enveloped in the firestorm, and unable to dodge its searing flames! Fortunately, his ifrit heritage protects him from much of the damage.

Resist Fire 20 takes some of the damage off, though he's still on fire. I think I'll just leave him on fire, since 4d6 won't usually get through his fire resistance, and it'll be awesome to be obviously on fire for the rest of the battle and not appear to care about it.

Status: 53/92 hp

Sorry for the delay, all! On a road trip, but should be able to post this evening.

Definitely didn't post that evening. Sorry, all!

Reflex (haste): 1d20 + 16 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 16 + 1 = 26
Wow, yay for haste!

Prickles Reflex (haste): 1d20 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 8 + 1 = 22
Prickles Reflex to avoid catching on fire (haste): 1d20 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 8 + 1 = 12
Not sure if he needs these, but if he does, Allevrah needs to beat SR18, and then poor Prickles will take 29 damage and be on fire. I'll wait on clarification. (Also, I feel like I had put him on the map before, but I don't remember where and he's not there now -- I'll re-add him just outside the door, since I don't remember.)

Fíriel grins at Randall as she dodges the evil woman's flame, then flings her rod-bearing arm wide and sends a flurry of snow showering down upon the mighty Allevrah! Cast accursed glare on her; concentration since I'm in melee, and SR. All my allies with an available move action can make an Intimidate check against DC 17 to add +2 to my SR check!

Concentration DC 21 (equipment, good hope): 1d20 + 15 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 15 + 4 + 2 = 29
SR (piercing rod, ocarina): 1d20 + 11 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 11 + 5 + 2 = 32

Will DC 17 negates.

Allevrah can't fail that CL check. Prickles can make another reflex save (DC 20) since he spent his round trying to put the fire out.

Randall's enchanted blade may be tiny but it's wielded with deadly expert precision. The demon trapped in Njord's huge furry arms barely has a chance to mount a defense before being cut down by the cunning halfling.

Reflex: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (15) + 13 = 28

Brandishing his grappled opponent, Were-Njord manages to avoid the bulk of the priestess's fiery spell.

Feeling his demonic victim go limp after Randall does his bloody work, the mighty man-bear lumbers toward the next demon.

Claw: 1d20 + 20 + 2 + 2 + 1 - 3 ⇒ (2) + 20 + 2 + 2 + 1 - 3 = 24
Damage: 1d6 + 10 + 2 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 10 + 2 + 6 = 19

Grapple: 1d20 + 32 + 2 + 2 + 1 - 3 ⇒ (19) + 32 + 2 + 2 + 1 - 3 = 53

Will vs Glare: 1d20 ⇒ 12

Firiel's glare is mighty but the priestess is undeterred.

As the smoke from their master's spell clears, the drow warriors continue to engage the heroes.

Wills vs Illusion: 3d20 ⇒ (5, 14, 16) = 35

"The very pretty beast is an illusion!" one of the warriors warns. "The hobbit is as well!" warns another.

Grapples vs Tentacles: 6d20 ⇒ (18, 2, 14, 10, 5, 17) = 66

That won't make it regardless but what's the CMD for your tentacles Asht?

Slash vs Randall: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (5) + 12 = 17
Damage: 1d6 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10

The green-eyed demon squawks in pain while clawing desperately at Njord.

Claw, Claw, Bite: 3d20 ⇒ (19, 15, 10) = 44
Damage: 2d6 + 7 ⇒ (2, 1) + 7 = 10

Asht is up.

CMD for the tentacles is 28. Which reminds me, I didn't make the check to maintain the grapple or do damage last round. I'll roll it now for this round:

Tentacular grapple, bonus to maintain: 1d20 + 20 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 20 + 5 = 34
Grapple damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

As flames merrily flicker on Asht'el's copper-red skin, the patch of black acid on Allevrah's skin grows, corroding and burning her!

Fire damage on Asht'el: 4d6 ⇒ (2, 5, 1, 5) = 13 = 0 with Energy Resistance 20
Acid damage on Allevrah from corrosive consumption: 14d4 ⇒ (2, 3, 2, 1, 2, 1, 3, 2, 1, 1, 4, 3, 4, 3) = 32

With his enchanted bolts ready, Asht'el pauses, waiting for the moment when the drow woman begins to cast a spell. As she begins to chant and gesture, the ifrit flicks his fingers rapidly at Allevrah, sending a barrage of crossbow bolts winging towards her!

Ready to cast telekinesis, shooting lots of bolts at Allevrah when she casts a spell.

Tele-bolt, magicked: 1d20 + 14 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 14 + 3 = 24, Tele-bolt damage: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4
Tele-bolt, magicked: 1d20 + 14 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 14 + 3 = 21, Tele-bolt damage: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6
Tele-bolt, magicked: 1d20 + 14 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 14 + 3 = 26, Tele-bolt damage: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4
Tele-bolt, magicked: 1d20 + 14 + 3 ⇒ (19) + 14 + 3 = 36, Tele-bolt damage: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4
Tele-bolt, magicked: 1d20 + 14 + 3 ⇒ (13) + 14 + 3 = 30, Tele-bolt damage: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5
Tele-bolt, magicked: 1d20 + 14 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 14 + 3 = 23, Tele-bolt damage: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5
Tele-bolt, magicked: 1d20 + 14 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 14 + 3 = 35, Tele-bolt damage: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6
Tele-bolt, magicked: 1d20 + 14 + 3 ⇒ (19) + 14 + 3 = 36, Tele-bolt damage: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7
Tele-bolt, magicked: 1d20 + 14 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 14 + 3 = 23, Tele-bolt damage: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6
Tele-bolt, magicked: 1d20 + 14 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 14 + 3 = 24, Tele-bolt damage: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7
Tele-bolt, magicked: 1d20 + 14 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 14 + 3 = 25, Tele-bolt damage: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6
Tele-bolt, magicked: 1d20 + 14 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 14 + 3 = 19, Tele-bolt damage: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4
Tele-bolt, magicked: 1d20 + 14 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 14 + 3 = 21, Tele-bolt damage: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5
Tele-bolt, magicked: 1d20 + 14 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 14 + 3 = 22, Tele-bolt damage: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

Crit confirm: 1d20 + 14 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 14 + 3 = 24, Crit damage: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

Well, that should be at least 22 damage, possibly more, which is a difficult concentration check.

Spells left: 8/6/3/5/6/2/3

Prickles Reflex to Extinguish (haste, rolling on floor): 1d20 + 8 + 1 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 8 + 1 + 4 = 31

HP: 18/47

Is it the bad monsters' turn? Don't they need to die now?

I think it's their turn to die automatically.

The illusion slips to a large "HP bar" above the monsters' heads, showing that they're all dead now.

"The very pretty beast is an illusion!"

"Pretty?" Xiddik seems almost indignant. "It's a terrifying needlebeast! You are as bad as the surfacers who say is cute."

Prickles roars his hearty agreement with the kobold's words, while Fíriel tries to subdue her giggles and focus on the foe before her.

Concentration: 1d20 + 24 ⇒ (7) + 24 = 31
Concentration: 1d20 + 24 ⇒ (13) + 24 = 37

Enraged by the ifrit's continued bothersome existence, Allevrah starts another spell. Prepared for such a tactic, Asht gestures sending his levitating bolts in to strike like a swarm of angry hornets. They descend with enchanted precision but not a single one draws a drop of blood from the drow priestess. Between her armor and her magical wards, she seems impervious to physical harm.

She's not actually impervious. She just has a really high AC. Like, 37+ high AC. She still has to make checks against the ongoing acid damage.

A plane of spinning glowing blade springs into being between the heroes and the drow trapped in the field of crushing tentacles.

The wall is followed by a quickened blast of greasy darkness that explodes amid the party's ranks.

Unholy Blight vs Everyone but Xiddik (DC 22): 5d8 ⇒ (2, 2, 2, 3, 8) = 17

You know the deal. Good characters save for half. Non-good characters save for quarter. If you're good and you fail the save you're also sickened for 1d4 ⇒ 1 rounds.

I don't think anyone is still on fire. Everyone but Asht is up.

Will (good hope): 1d20 + 14 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 14 + 2 = 28
Prickles Will (good hope): 1d20 + 9 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 9 + 2 = 21

Just so I'm clear, she actually managed to have it reach Ash and Prickles outside the doorway?

I missed the fact that Asht was outside as well. It's fireball shaped so it only hits Firiel, Njord, and Randall.

Will DC 22 for half: 1d20 + 10 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 10 + 1 + 2 = 18

It's been a minute, so I've lost the thread of the combat. Is Njord the token just above Firiel on the map? So I have a drow playmate standing next to me?