DM Panic's Devil We May Know Part 4 (Inactive)

Game Master wakedown

Is this an elemental, or a golem, or a special monster for this scenario. Personal knowledge not character. I dont think we have the Know Check for it.

Shardra has the right checks to identify it (and misfortune is a great call here). It's fairly common so DC15 Knowledge nature identifies it as an earth elemental (with one useful bit of info about it, and extra useful bits for each 5 she or anyone beat the knowledge DC by).

Knowledge (nature) + Monstrous Insight: 1d20 + 8 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 8 + 4 = 26 Thanks for the heads up, that's three pieces of information. Shardra would like to know the specifics of its defenses, including its lowest save. Next in priority she would like to know if reasoning or bargaining with the earth elemental is a possibility for a nonviolent end to this encounter. Finally, the details of it's special attacks (uncertain if that covers feats or not).

Shardra will continue her battle of wills with the creature, using her chant ability to extend her misfortune hex. She'll use her monstrous insight ability as she opens her ears to the whispers of the stone, and speaks once again. "क्यों? क्या भीतर निहित है?"

I dunno what to do honestly, we have three melee, but two open spaces.

@vrothum I move out of way so you can step up. We can rotate like that

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We could also theoretically pull back (and throw any buffs we have) so as to lure the elemental out into a place where more than two PCs can attack. Sometimes the best solution is not "run directly at a tough foe".

Agreed but we need to avoid the squishies getting hit. He hurts lol

That is what the withdraw action is for, and/or acrobatics, and cleverly using terrain and other things to give yourself cover. :)

You're all free to call out to each other in-character as free actions, should you desire to communicate tactics.

Still Up: Vrothum (surprise rd action)

Vrothum holds his action in hopes to draw the elemental closer.

The elemental grinds out a slow response to Shardra, not seeming to have any objection to conversing while he clobbers her allies.

The rock monster turns its attention to Misaki, and only through the magic of Shardra's misfortune does he not end her with his blows (denied a critical hit! 27 damage to Misaki).

Surprise Con't
6 Vrothum : Delays

Round 1
23 Phantomblade : Strikes for 15, 5ft back
12 Shardra: Chants, monstrous insight
11 Elemental (27dmg, misfortune): Slams Misaki twice for 27 damage
10 Pinball :
7 Misaki (27dmg):
6 Vrothum :

Round 2
23 Phantomblade (16dmg):
12 Shardra:

Now Up: Everyone!

"OW!!!" Misaki yells as she gets slammed by the elemental. She takes one hand off her katana long enough to Lay on Hands to heal herself as a swift action, then re-grips the katana two handed to slice at the beast.

Lay on Hands: 3d6 + 6 ⇒ (6, 2, 3) + 6 = 17
katana to hit: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 21
katana damage: 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7

She then steps back 5 feet, and concentrates on the creature as a move action to determine if it is evil.

Can we tell by looking at it how long this thing's arms are? Would Misaki be able to tell if it has reach?

Whistles holds on to Misaki's shoulder, and tries not to be noticed. He readies an action to Lay on Paws if the girl falls unconscious, or if he gets hit himself.

Technically, I'm not sure if I can have two conditions on my readied action that way. If you just want to say Whistles delays and jumps in with a heal if it becomes necessary, then that's probably good enough.

Just double checked the Core Rulebook. Lay on Hands is a supernatural ability, and those don't provoke attacks of opportunity, even when they're done as a standard action, so Whistles will be safe in that regard.

Stealth to hide behind Misaki's helmet so the elemental won't notice him: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (15) + 14 = 29

Suprise Round: Power attack
Bite: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 221d6 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8
Round 1: Rage, Power Attack
Bite: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (9) + 8 = 171d6 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13
Claw1: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 111d6 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11
Claw2: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 8 = 231d6 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11
Then I will 5ft step away from creature.

@Misaki: You definitely feel like this elemental will have 10ft reach.

@Vrothum: Did you want to move up to attack the creature? It hasn't moved yet. If you want to have closed in the surprise round that's fine (although it will provoke an AoO).

Ok so I screwed that up, I couldn't have gotten into position in Suprise round b/c my teammates didn't move until 1st round. So I will just stay put and wait l. I'll use my very first attack as a prepared attack if the elemental gets close enough. Sorry for that GM!

@Misaki: Missed this earlier, but the elemental is not evil.

@Vrothum: OK, you can always take a 5ft step as part of a readied standard action. You do observe the elemental has fairly long limbs and are unsure if it will be forward given it currently has the ability to clobber Misaki and Phantomblade by staying put.

Pinball fretfully twists the wooden beads of Irori in her hands, biting her lip as she watches people get hurt.

"I really don't think that standing still and trying to trade blows with a creature that big is going to be the most perfect way to do this," she says unhappily. "It hits a lot harder than we do... The Master of Masters says that sometimes one must retreat from battle to a position of strength... It doesn't appear very fast; probably we can outrun it or at least buy ourselves time to strengthen our position. So to speak. Let me see if I can stall it."

The faithful wand of earlier comes out again; Pinball gestures, and a slick substance appears under the elemental's large, rocky feet.

Reflex DC 11 or prone, as per grease. I believe you also cannot take a 5-ft step in grease, since you have to succeed at an Acro check (DC 10) just to move at half speed. Will defer to GM discretion on that point.

Her spell cast, Pinball circles north, her brain spinning with a plan of attack.

Swift to produce wand from spring-loaded; standard to cast; move to move

"That's why I backed up, to make room for more of us to get up front and attack it at once", Misaki responds to Pinball. "Maybe if we all back up another step or two, it'll come forward, and we can surround it to get an advantage in positioning."

She seems to think for a moment, then continues.

"Unless it understands our language, in which case it knows what I just said and might not fall for that."

Did our attacks hit? I'm just wondering how tough this things is. If my 21 missed, or I didn't get past DR, then we could be in big trouble.

Reflex DC11: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

The prison yard shimmers with the effect of Pin's spell as the large rock-man's arms wave awkwardly before he crashes to the ground with a loud THUD.

Prone elemental.

@Misaki: Yes you hit, you struck for only 2 damage instead of 7, though due to DR5/- (Shardra would know and share this with everyone).

Still Up: Phantomblade, Shardra

Phantom will step up and swing

atk: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (14) + 12 = 26

dmg: 1d10 + 10 ⇒ (6) + 10 = 16

With another precise strike phantom damages the elemental again

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(just a talky post, no actions)

"Right, that's good," Pinball answers the striking aasimar. "If you hug the wall, though, you'd have some shelter from its attacks which might help coax it out further..."

The elemental crashes heavily to the ground and Pinball brightens. "Oh good! That was lucky. It should make it easier for us to regrou--

"...or not," the gnome sighs as Phantom closes back in.

(Are you subtracting your to-hit penalty for power attack, Phantom?)

Yes my plus to hit with out power attack it plus 9. My power attack is only -1 for +3 because I am only BAB of +3 even though I am Lvl 4. +4 Dex, +3 BAB, +1 Magic, +1 Weapon Focus, -1 Power Attack.I did however go ahead and add the 4 for the elemental being prone in that attack.

(Gotcha *thumbs up*)

Round 1 Con't
10 Pinball : Uses grease, knocks elemental prone
7 Misaki (10dmg): Strikes for 2, lay hands for 17
6 Vrothum : Readies for elemental to close

Round 2
23 Phantomblade (16dmg): Strikes for 11
12 Shardra: Chants, draws cure light wand
11 Elemental (40dmg, misfortune, prone): Swings, missing Phantomblade
10 Pinball :
7 Misaki (10dmg):
6 Vrothum :

Round 3
23 Phantomblade (16dmg):
12 Shardra:

GMPC Shardra since it's been nearly 3 days since she's posted. Will have her chant and draw a wand.

The elemental continues to swing at Phantomblade from the ground as the tengu is clearly having the best luck striking it. Yet, the combination of Shardra and Pin's magic thwarts each of its swings.

Now Up: Everyone!

"Well, I was going to wait for it to move up so we could surround it, but if it's just going to lie there on the ground..."

Misaki 5 foot steps up, but leaves a space for Vrothum to move up and attack more easily. She swings her katana at the beast from around the corner of the wall.

Katana to hit: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (16) + 8 = 24
Katana damage: 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6

I can attack it from where I am, but the wall provides cover. So my bonus to hit from being prone is canceled out by my penalty for attacking through cover. I figure I probably do less damage than Phantom or Vrothum, so I'd leave them the better squares.

Whistles continues to wait and see who needs healing.

Vroth charges at the now prone elemental, and attempts to bite down on a weak spot.
Power Attack Bite: 1d20 + 6 + 4 + 2 - 1 ⇒ (19) + 6 + 4 + 2 - 1 = 301d6 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13 He manages to find a weak spot thanks to Pinball's grease spell.

Pinball rubs at his chin, debating, then shrugs to himself and runs forward. Another wrist-snap produces a second wand which falls into his other hand, and he taps Phantom on the shoulder with it.

"Well, if this is how we're doing it..."

Dual-wielding wands! Lolz. Swift action to draw wand of CLW, move up behind Phantom, standard to tap him with CLW.

CLW, Phantom: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2 Yuck. Sorry, Phantom, hoped to build you some hit-point insurance versus a hit.

lol all good

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Misaki and Vrothum continue to chip away at the stony elemental (1+8=9 total damage; 49 total) while Pin activates her wand to help Phantomblade withstand further attacks.

Still Up: Phantomblade, Shardra

wow didn't see the all up again

Phantom makes another precise strike at the elemental

atk: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (16) + 12 = 28

dmg: 1d10 + 10 ⇒ (8) + 10 = 18

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Shardra continues her chant, and her voice hardens. "मुझे क्षमा करें। तुम हमारे हाथ मजबूर किया है।. May Crag and Ember forge you anew."

Closing her eyes, Kolo raises his head and stares at the elemental, white sightless eyes unused to the all but the dark of the deepest places. Evil Eye, DC16, reducing attack rolls.

Phantomblade's curveblade slashes more rubble and debris from the large rocky monster (13 more, 62 total!) yet the stony guardian still stands (or rather, lays around in some grease) in defiance.

Shardra continues her unnerving chant, this time the whole stony body of the guardian vibrating as she intones each strange syllable.

The elemental bellows, taking some wild swings at Phantomblade in an effort to crush him, but the combined effect of the greasy ground and Shardra's copious hexes prevents him from landing a solid blow.

I imagine this is the last round with some solid hits from the party... nice work on debuffing this guy like crazy!

Now Up: Everyone!

Misaki takes another whack at it, hoping to do more damage this time (since I've rolled a 1 and a 2 on d8 damage rolls so far this fight).

katana to hit: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15
katana damage: 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9

atk: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (9) + 12 = 21

dmg: 1d10 + 10 ⇒ (4) + 10 = 14

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(Wooo, teamwork!)

Pinball dares a small smile at the progress so far before reaching a small arm past Phantom and trying to touch the prone guardian whose rocky hide is showing so many cracks now. For a moment, Pinball's small-and-solemn countenance morphs into a borderline-disturbing grin.

Touch attack, vs prone elemental, hard cover from corner: 1d20 + 7 - 4 ⇒ (16) + 7 - 4 = 19

"You know, Rocky, it looks like you're starting to.... crack up a little there... aheh..."

The elemental experiences what is apparently a small, localized earthquake-- it might take a moment to realize the elemental is involuntarily laughing.

(Tapping with Laughing Touch, just in case we don't manage to kill it this round, so it can't attack us if it does survive.)

Misaki and Phantomblade both swing at the rocky elemental, chiseling away enough of the guardian that he finally collapses to the greasy ground with a crash.

Out of initiative.

The prison yard is strangely silent as the battle concludes.

I assume there'll be some healing before you open the doors and head into the keep.

As you swing the doors open to the interior keep, you observe a large interior chamber, roughly 40x50.

Broken furniture litters the room: parts of a stool, a modest writing table battered in twain, and several smashed chairs sprawl across the keep’s wooden floor.

One set of stairs leads up (and to nothing interesting in the scenario) while the other appears to lead down to the prison's cellars.

My guess at single file party order to head down would be: Phantomblade, Vrothum, Misaki, Pin, Shardra.

Wand of Cure Light on myself: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2
Wand of Cure Light on myself: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5
Wand of Cure Light on myself: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9

"Does anyone else need me to heal them?"

As we enter the building, I'd prefer to be up front in marching order, if nobody minds. My armor slows me down, and I'm the best tank in the group (highest HP, and swift action self heals).

"Go back to the Stone, friend spirit." Shardra says, solemnly. "The spirit was bound here, and not by Derro."

Just Shardra have the knowledge to identify the creatures mentioned? I'll take 10.

I have my own wand you can hit me with

heal x3: 3d8 + 3 ⇒ (2, 7, 7) + 3 = 19

After a little healing phantom feels great

Pinball takes some deep breaths, losing the manic grin, and resting her head against the stone wall of the structure for a moment, clutching her Iroran prayerbeads. Possibly she's counting under her breath.

Ultimately the two wands get reloaded into the wrist sheaths and she looks up soberly. "That went better than it could have. I was worried there for a little bit. That's too bad about the elemental. Ready to proceed, here."

Vroth spits dirt and rock out of his mouth, and leans toward phantom. Bleh, you fair well with that blade, where did you train?

@Shardra: You do believe the elemental was set to prevent entry by derro.

Since nobody said no to Misaki's request to take point as you continue... we'll go with that, although what follows may have you reconsidering. :)

Misaki takes point and begins to lead the party down the stairs to the lower levels of the keep.

After descending just a handful of flights, Misaki glances down to note that her leg has caught some sort of tripwire and looks up just a bit too slowly to notice some sort of greenish magic bolt before it thuds into her chest.

It then begins to sizzle as acid begins to spread through the gaps of her armor (4 acid damage). It appears like it may continue for some time, still.

The acid will sizzle for a few rounds. You can decide if you wish to do something to stop it (like acid resistance). Assuming you simply allow it to eat away and deal with it using healing, pop the spoiler below.

Phantomblade takes a look when things calm down and identifies the trap, realizing it's fairly well hidden (DC27) and does not appear like it will reset on its own.

(I'm fine with letting Misaki tank... and eat the acid. ;) She's the best one of us for that.... innate aasimar acid resistance. :P :P)

"Ah...." says Pinball as Misaki gets struck with a green... thing. "Are you okay?"

"I trained with the master swordsman of my clan. They have learned all blades and have to me as well"

After the trap springs and he locates it,
"Guys be careful there may be more like those around here."

GM I have trap spotter and am second in marching order. If there is another trap you get to roll a hidden perception check when i am within 10ft of it to see if i see it. should be before Misaki sets it off.

Misaki looks down at where the acid hit her, and realizes it isn't actually hurting her (acid resist 5 from being aasimar}. She waits as Phantom examines the trap. As the final round of acid damage actually hurts a little, she pulls out her wand of Cure Light and heals the damage to herself.

Just realized that with the Fey Foundling feat, the roll for the wand of Cure Light doesn't even matter. Only 3 points of damage got past my resistance, and the minimum I can get healed by a wand charge is 4 points. Wish I'd remembered that feat when healing myself earlier - I have it figured into my Lay on Hands, but forgot about it when healing from other sources.

@Misaki: You can "undo" some wand charges used earlier if you were actually healed more.

The second level down, like the area above, is stripped of nearly everything metal, leaving what was once a tangle of dank, solitary confinement cages transformed into a tumbled mess of furniture and prisoner odds and ends.

The derros appear to have left someone behind here.

A man, his hair a tangled mess and his clothes covered with all manner of colorful paints tears at the hair in his head, mixing yellows and blues into it.

He stands in front of a large mural he appears to be currently worked on that depicts two large snakes carrying a bell into Cassomir’s sewers and portrays in great detail a young Tian-Min girl with a katana and a cloaked tengu chasing close behind. You can make out faintly several other figures accompanying the two, even from this distance.

The man hoots and mutters, apparently to himself, but loud enough for you to hear.

"HO HO! It is... it is almost complete! Beautiful, she is... but what does it tell? A secret? OHHHHHH!! Oh?"

Beyond the painter, an open door leads into a room that holds an open trapdoor and indications of a ladder descending further.

"Well, that would be the painter our captain spoke of," Pinball mutters to the others. "....and unless I miss my guess, that is definitely a.. divinatory painting. Or just an uncanny resemblance..."

The gnome walks forward with empty hands to approach the paint-splotched man.

"That's very impressive," Pinball says with his quiet, earnest intensity. "I'm impressed with your sense of perspective. And the detail work, especially right here: you've even got her holy symbol and the thrush. But what's going on with the bell? I think I saw it back behind us: is life failing to imitate art, here?"

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (2) + 11 = 13 My dice have hated me all week. T___T