DM Stephens Serpents Skull Campaign - Chp1:The Smugglers Shiv (Inactive)

Game Master terok

Knowledge (Nature): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (14) + 9 = 23

Just to be clear... Nim is currently not enlarged?

[dice=Knowledge (Nature)]1d20+9

Just to be clear... Nim is currently not enlarged?

Nim, I think that is partially your call, if you want to be enlarged and take the -1 to hit from the low ceiling just confirm and I will update the map.

I am looking at the map and there is no where that Aedalis could have enlarged you without someone hanging over the edge on the rope. It doesn't make a lot of sense for him to enlarge you since you didn't know there is a large central chamber until you happened upon it.
Now that you see it Aedalis could start an enlarge as his turn.
Sorry for the confusion, let's start the combat with Aedalis' turn, he can start the enlarge now if he wishes.

Sounds good, consider that my 1st round action.

Aedalis speaks up, I will make you large Nim, move into the open.
He then starts chanting.

Order of Combat Round 1:
Aedalis 23 *gone
Vegepygmies 18 *gone
Nim 12
Corbrius 11
Anton 8
Tragershen 7
Mihai 3
Fungus God 1

The Vegepygmies take a protective step up E,G/5 and seem to have their claws ready.

No knowledge check from Aedalis? ;)

Round 1

Nim recognizes the plant creature for what it is. Wary of the defensive stance of the vegepygmies and the considerable danger posed by the fungus, Nim moves forward (move action to E 8) and instructs his comrades. Corb! Anton! Go wide to the side! Set up flanking! Beware the fiendish violet fungus' long reach and poisonous touch!
Once in front of the others, Nim raises his sword, ready to strike at anything that comes near!

Current status and effects:
Nim: AC 18 HP 35 of 29
bull's str
aspect of the bear
aid

Round 1

MA: Move to H7
Swift Action: enhance club
SA: Ready action to club first enemy to approach

Heeding Nims call Corbius pivots left and moves to the wall pressing his back against the wall he prepares to club anything that approaches.

Current Status
AC 19
HP 19/24
Arcane pool 2/4
Enhanced club till round 11

Mihai holds his position and his tongue, pausing a moment to see what the fungal god has in store for them before acting himself.

Delay to post Fungal God

Just haven't had a lot of time to post and i don't like holding things up Nim.

Knowledge (Nature): 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (12) + 11 = 23

Between hand motions and spell components, Aedalis gave counsel.

Init 23

Fire and Ice will do little harm and it will resist even magical blades. We will have to overwhelm it, but its tentacle will sap your strength. Nim, you'll need some space once I finish this spell...

If possible would like to change my movement to H8 am posting from my phone and miss typed.

Round 1

MA: Move 20' to C/6 and draw lucerne hammer
SA: Attack E/5: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8 Miss

Anton hustles off to the side but toward the enemy, drawing his long polearm and swinging it at one of the vegepygmies that have taken up a guard stance in advance of the fiendish violet fungus. It is not his best work.

Current Status
hp 26/26, AC 20, longstrider

Tragershen will move up next to Nim (F8) and cast Burning Hands on the two vegepygmy’s. Area of effect is F7, E-F-G6, E-F-G5. Damage is 3d4 + 0 ⇒ (1, 3, 1) + 0 = 5, DC 15 reflex save for half damage.

I have Nim at E8, Corbius at H8, Anton at C6 and the vegepygmies at E5 and G5, so that should hit the two foes without including any allies; please let me know if that isn’t correct.

As he steps up next to Nim, Tragershen says ”Yes, beware the violet fungus’s attacks! It is fiendish and powerful. Why, this must be the result of a seed from the demon lord Cyth-V’sug! Yes, it all makes sense now!”

Anton stands shocked at Tragershen's pronouncement. He's dared a lot of things in his day, but this is the first time that he's confronted the spawn of a demon lord. Now.

Aedalis starts his spell. Nim and Corbrius take position and ready, just like their enemies. Anton takes position and attacks, but misses.
Mihai waits.
Tragershen moves up and blasts the pygmies with flame.

Reflex Save V1 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21 Saved
Reflex Save V2 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (13) + 3 = 16 Saved, I guess it's better that I got those rolls out of the way now though...

Then the spawn of the Fungus Demon Lord goes....you are not sure what it is doing, it seems to be waiting itself...

Mihai to act to finish Round 1 then Aedalis to go to start Round 2.

Order of Combat Round 2:
Aedalis 23
Vegepygmies 18
Nim 12
Corbrius 11
Anton 8
Tragershen 7
Fungus God 1a
Mihai 1b *delaying

Round 2 Map without Mihai's action

Round 1: 2/6 BoL

Mihai extends some of Sinishakti's guidance unto Anton, allowing him the choice of two paths to follow...

Bit o' Luck on Anton

That map isn't quite right...

The Vegepygmies take a protective step up E,G/5 and seem to have their claws ready.

Bah, I didn't move the Vegepygmies up...they are in E/G,5...5' from their current position. Will fix and re-post as soon as I get home.
Aedalis will finish his enlarge, just need his turn for Round 2.

That map isn't quite right...

DM Stephen wrote:

The Vegepygmies take a protective step up E,G/5 and seem to have their claws ready.

** spoiler omitted **

Danke. :) Now to rewrite my next turn...

Sorry, didn't get a chance to update. Aedalis, can you go ahead and do your turn? The position of the two pygmies probably doesn't affect your turn. I can then do all of their turns and you guys will be up.
I should be able to get you a new map after their move.

24 Hour rule...

Aedalis finishes his spell. He also moves up to G,8 and uses his powers to confuse the Mushroom God into hopefully missing any of it's opponents...Evil Eye to attacks

Willpower Save vs. DS 16 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 2 = 15 Fail

The Vegpygmies go!

V1 moves to to G,7 possibly provoking an attack from Nim and attacks Aedalis.
V1 claw atk on Aedalis 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19 dam 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3 Hit

V2 steps up and attacks Nim.
V2 claw atk 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23 dam 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5 Hit
V2 claw atk 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 17 dam 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3 Hit

The Fungus God move to F,5 and attacks Nim with a tentacle that slithers out and tries to strike him.
Tentacle atk 1d20 + 6 - 2 ⇒ (17) + 6 - 2 = 21 dam 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6 Hit

Nim is hit repeatedly, but the real danger is the hit from the Fungus god...

Round 3 Map

Danke. :) Now to rewrite my next turn...

Round 2 (It is only round 2 Stephen) :)

fort save: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 17 success
Nim takes the lashing from the fungus but resists major damage from the debilitating poison attempting to corrode his flesh...

As the singed, and slightly smoking, vegepygmies approach, Nim strikes out at both... (readied action triggered, hitting V 2 for 17 damage... before he attacks Nim)
and AoO on V 1
AoO attack w/scimitar (two-handed) +bull's str -power attack +aid -ceiling: 1d20 + 7 + 2 - 1 + 1 - 1 ⇒ (10) + 7 + 2 - 1 + 1 - 1 = 18
damage (two-handed) +enlarged +bull's str +power attack: 1d8 + 12 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 12 + 2 = 19
...landing viscous blows on both as they move in. (again hitting V 1 before it attacks Aedalis)

Anton, work around behind it if you can!

If that doesn't drop V 2, Nim got/gets +4 to his AC from cover vs the fungus' attack. ;)

Current status and effects:
Nim: AC 16 HP 29 of 29
bull's str
aspect of the bear
aid
enlarge person

Note: I have adjusted for the damage from the fungus, but not the veg as I am waiting to see if it survived the hit and flame to reach Nim... Also, Nim's init should now be ahead of the vegs and fungus in round 3. :)

Nice! Yes I did get a little ahead of myself.

Retcon...weakened by Trageshen's flame and enhanced by Aedalis' magic, Nim cuts both Vegepygmies down with powerful strikes as they move up to attack!

The fungus god is the only creature left standing and it moves up and attacks Nim, hitting him once. He resists the creatures powerful poison.

Order of Combat Round 2:

Aedalis 23 *gone
Nim 18a *gone
Vegepygmies 18b *Dead
Fungus God 17 *gone
Corbrius 11
Anton 8
Tragershen 7
Mihai 1

Round 2

Free action: Drop club
MA: Draw rapier move to G6 (provoke attack)
Swift Action: Enhance Rapier
SA: Cast defensively Shocking Grasp deliver with spellstrike

Concentration Check (+lev+Int+Trait) : 1d20 + 3 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 3 + 3 + 2 = 18
Spellstrike Attack: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (19) + 8 = 271d6 + 3 + 3d6 ⇒ (5) + 3 + (4, 2, 6) = 20
Confirm Critical: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 8 = 231d6 + 3 + 3d6 ⇒ (2) + 3 + (5, 2, 1) = 13 Total 33

Corbius watches as Nim rips the two vegepygmies apart. Seeing what he thinks is an opportunity he drops his club and rushes towards the fungus god disregarding the threat his tentacles pose.
Drawing his rapier he feels a burst of his arcane energies infuse his rapier. Attempting to avoid being struck by the tentacles he draws upon his last arcane spell infusing electricity into his sword. Seeing an opening he drives the rapier deep into the fungus gods pulpy flesh. Flashes of electricity arc around the wound leaving a trace work of burnt and mutilated purple flesh

I included a second concentration check if necessary and a fort save

Current Status

AC 19
HP 19/23
Arcane Pool 1/4
Enhanced Rapier till round 12

Round 2

I've been saving some things for a rainy day... looks like I'm going to need a bigger umbrella.
MA: Retrieve tranglefoot bag.
NA: 5' step to D/5.
SA: Throw tanglefoot bag 10' at F/5 (into melee, Point-Blank Shot): 1d20 + 7 - 4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 7 - 4 + 1 = 6 Miss
Bit o' Luck: 1d20 + 7 - 4 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 7 - 4 + 1 = 14 Hit or miss?

Anton is used to others warning him about some special attack or resistance, but this is a first. Never before has he faced something that may have grown from a spore dispersed by a demon lord. (Or hatched from an egg laid by one, or torn its way from a belly impregnated by one, or been spawned by one in any way whatsoever.) Everything that he's been saving for worse peril? Now is that peril.

"Okay, but there's something I need to do first..." Hoping that the violet fungus is sufficiently distracted by Corbrius, the well-prepared ranger digs in his backpack and pulls out a tanglefoot bag that they got from the cannibal witch's workshop. Stepping up a little closer, he throws it at their fiendish foe; then he puts his throwing hand back on his lucerne hammer, holding it at the ready.

Current Status
hp 26/26, AC 20, longstrider, Bit o' Luck until Mihai's turn

tentacle AOO atk on Corb. 1d20 + 6 - 2 ⇒ (20) + 6 - 2 = 24 dam 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8 Hit

Possible Crit...
tentacle AOO atk on Corb. 1d20 + 6 - 2 ⇒ (18) + 6 - 2 = 22 dam 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7 Hit

Corbrius is blasted by the creature as he moves up...somehow he holds onto his spell and zaps the creature with a powerful bolt of electricity!

Corbrius takes 15 points.

Seeing Corbius take the savage blow while inflicting such harm to the fiendish plant, Tragershen sets out to help distract it further.

With a quick arcane phrase and a sigil traced in the air, illusionary figment images of the elf spring from him, shifting in a manner to confuse as to which is the real mage and which are the false.

Hoping Corbius's distraction and the spell are sufficient to protect him, the elven darts past the false god. He draws his rapier as he goes and takes up a position to help draw some of its attention from the great warriors Tragershen calls friends.

SA: Cast Mirror Image, creating 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4 illusionary duplicates.
MA: Move to F4, drawing rapier as he goes. This would provoke AoO if the creature has more than the one in a round it used on Corbius.

In a strange language that is pleasing to the ear, Tragershen mocks the monstrosity.

Anton's toss would also provoke if it had more AoOs left. Did the Bit o' Luck re-roll hit? 14 vs. touch AC.

I would be shocked if that didn't hit its touch AC. ;)

EDIT: That leaves Mihai, Aedalis and Nim to go before the fungus rips us apart! Unless we kill him first! Can we do it? Yes we can! :D

I don't have a good sense for that kind of thing yet, but I trust that you do, so here's the RP!

Stepping up a little closer, Anton throws the tanglefoot bag at their fiendish foe, and experiences something strange. His perception seems to back away so that he can see himself; then the scene doubles and splits, and he watches fate go down two different paths.

Down the left path, the tanglefoot bag misses the fungal monstrosity to splash harmlessly against the far wall; down the other, he scores a direct hit, and its gooey contents impede the demon spawn's movements just enough to give them an edge. He wills himself toward the right-hand path and zooms down it, slamming back into the now where the smell of burnt mushroom still lingers in his nostrils.

Anton blinks and smiles at the welcome sight of his success, then puts his throwing hand back on his lucerne hammer and raises it, holding it at the ready.

The tangelfoot bag strikes the creature and the goo starts to cover and harden!
Bit of Lucked worked! Reflex Save vs. DC 15 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 = 20
It breaks the goo trying to form around it's many tentacled bottom but it still interferes with it's ability to swing at you.
Gained the entangled condition.

The creature doesn't seem to react to Anton or Targershen's actions, too focused on Corbrius at the moment...

Round 2: 1/6 BoL

Noting well the destructive arc wrought by Nim's bladed weapon, Mihai subtly aids it's passage....

Bit o' Luck on Nim

Order of Combat Round 3:

Aedalis 23 *gone
Nim 18a
Fungus God 17
Corbrius 11
Anton 8
Tragershen 7
Mihai 1

Aedalis uses his powers to make the fungus god easier to hit...
I know Alex is pretty busy atm...Evil Eye -2 to AC.
Willpower Save vs. DC 16 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10

His power focus over the plant creature and it slows just a little more. It's almost as if the creature can't move. Nim to go.

Round 3

Nim slides over to bring him into line opposite Tragershen (5'step to E/F 7/8) and swings again with all his might, his blade's path influenced by the grace Sinishakti...
standard action attack w/scimitar (two-handed) +bull's str -power attack +aid -ceiling +flank: 1d20 + 7 + 2 - 1 + 1 - 1 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 7 + 2 - 1 + 1 - 1 + 2 = 22
Bit o' Luck: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (19) + 10 = 29 Crit threat
Crit confirm: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (3) + 10 = 13
Bit o' Luck: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (18) + 10 = 28 confirmed!
damage (two-handed) +enlarged +bull's str +power attack: 2d8 + 24 + 4 ⇒ (4, 5) + 24 + 4 = 37
...hacking his blade deeply into the monstrous demon spawned fungus!

Current status and effects:
Nim: AC 16 HP 29 of 29
bull's str
aspect of the bear
aid
enlarge person
bit o' luck

Thank you Mihai! :D

Nim, with a Scimitar the size of the Fungus God, swings with tremendous force and cuts it in half...none of you can believe it to be dead, but even it's fiendish protections couldn't resist a blow with that force!

Hey this battle was supposed to be more epic! Stop rolling so well... :]

Combat is over. You look around the cave and find two pods...inside are small versions of the mushroom creature you fought earlier in the day. You destroy them to make sure they don't grow to their full size.

The only thing of value rests on the fungus god. The core of the beast appears to be the skeleton of a human being. Around it's head is a headband. It detects as magical.

Headband of Inspired Wisdom once it get's identified.

You climb back down and search out the ship and find the following:
Longspear that also is magical. +1
Chain Shirt that also is magical. +1
Bracers that are magical. Lesser Archery.
2 Wands. Mirror Image 13 charges, cure light wounds 17 charges.
432 cp, 284 sp, 123 gp, 27pp, and jewelry worth 650 gp.
In the upper level, in what appears to be the captains quarters you find a moldy journal.

Need a linguistics check to decipher it.

Although it's not very homey, this appears to be the best place to spend the night as darkness is quickly approaching...

Mihai is relieved when the battle proves mercifully short - Nim's scimitar wreaking a path of destruction and ruin. In the aftermath he laments that what appears to be a human could be corrupted and perverted so far into putrescence and chaos.

Mihai has 1 x CLW and 1 x CMW to spend before we rest - first in is best healed ;)

Once mostly safely interred in the shipwreck, Mihai ponders "One can only hope that this means that the threat of the grey is ended... what remains is how we portray the reasons to those on the mainland."

Retcon -- after taking the cannibal village...

Anton looks in the cannibal chieftan's footlocker (V16) and whistles. "Well, I'm sure not carrying that lot around. Might as well add the other gold and silver to it, then." Pulling a sack out of his backpack, he sorts out the treasure that they've gathered; then he puts the jewels, unique items, and platinum pieces back in the sack, while dumping the lesser coins into the dented chest.

Now -- after searching the fungus ship...

Anton looks oddly at Mihai, then huffs a laugh. "Yes, I suppose the Shiv is 'mainland' to us now. Let's see if we can figure out what happened first, though." A novice in languages compared to several present, the clever halfling is actually fairly competent by most people's standards, and so it's with no small hope of success that he puzzles over the moldy journal from the captain's quarters. Linguistics: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21

Hey this battle was supposed to be more epic! Stop rolling so well... :]

Just as long as you recognize it was a serious amount of luck (2 massive crits) that ended the fight so quickly and don't go "juicing" the next opponents to make the fights "tougher"! ;)

Nim places his foot upon the remains of the fungus god and yanks his sword free of the carnage that is left. He wipes the gore from his blade before sheathing it in grim satisfaction.

Well done everyone... he remarks while still staring down at the remains.

He nods in agreement with Mihai's statement before adding, I know that some of you are keen to report our findings and accomplishments to the dryad... but might I suggest falsifying the report to see if she truly has a connection with nature? Surely if she truly communes with the green, she will already know of our successes here. If she proves ignorant... then... we have another reason to suspect her true... intentions... Nim was obviously going to use another word but changes his mind at the last moment.

Nim pokes about the chamber while the others examine the journal before descending the rope vines to reunite with Wicewakan below.

I believe everyone is at full HP other than Corb. :)

And can I get the XP for this fight and the one down below for my XP log? Thanks. :)

Linguistics check for the moldy journal 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (20) + 10 = 30
In response to Mihai’s query about if this ends the grey threat… ”I believe we will see that it does bring an end to it. It may take quite some time for the regular life of the islands to take hold here, but I believe the spread is done.”

”That creature was a violet fungus. A somewhat sentient plant creature which is normally menacing enough with its four strange arms and rotting touch. But this one was certainly something more. Something fiendish, in fact. I believe Aedalis recognized that about it when he warned that it would be difficult to harm with fire and cold. Indeed, it may have been exceptionally resistant to all but holy weapons.”

”But I believe its misshapened nature was something even more than that. There is a foul demon lord named Cyth V’sug and it is said that it can excrete plant like bulbs. These bulbs can then explode and infect creatures like these. That bulb is probably long since gone, but its damage was done, creating the monstrosity we faced. I imagine the vegepygmies we defeated were crew members of this vessel transformed by that sinister bulb. Either the shipwreck caused the bulb to explode or the exploding bulb cased the wreck. Either way, it spurred the change in this island as well. I don’t think there is any risk remaining for us here though.”

Those were my thoughts as well...

Nim made his knowledge check as well. :D

Mihai sighs wearily "Perhaps with the dawn the Harrow may prove enlightening... but one thing is clear, any cause for delay is spent - and we need deal with the devil or the dryad."

It might be deal with the devil AND the dryad... though it would be nice not to have to kill yet another inhabitant of the island, I fear we may have no choice...

"Caught between the devil and the dryad. It seems like I recall a bard's song that was something along those lines. So, are we just dealing with two alpha predators here, or are we certain of a nastier bend like Anton's little scouting mission strongly indicated of the dryad?"

Corbius looks on as Nim annihilates the fungus god. Nodding his head in appreciation to Nims martial prowess he pulls a rag out of his pack and carefully wipes Asilande down before resheathing the blade.

Corbius then proceeds to check his wounds noting a huge purple bruise spreading across his side and chest where the beast lashed him with it's tentacle clearly breaking several of his ribs in the process. Mihai would you be able to bless me with some of Sinishakti's grace? Although not fatal my wounds are.. distracting? The sound of his breath clearly laboured.

While trying to ignore the rising discomfort he feels at the almost other worldy appearance of the wreck he helps the others search the wreck and then prepare to camp for the night.

Nim I know you are not one to want to kill unnecessarily but from what I have seen on this island the "inhabitants" seem to have no qualms about using, abusing and killing us. As far as I am concerned we should deal with both of them and then find that traitor and deal with her as well!

Current Status

AC 19
HP 4/23
Arcane Pool 2/4

Although I gave you the magic items they have still not been identified. I need spellcraft rolls unless you want to just take a 10.You can heal up over night and then decide what you want to do the next morning. You are guessing that the tide might be low again and be able to cross back to the mainland.
To help provide guidance for the next day's events.

When you get the to edge of the tidal causeway a seagull appears to be waiting for you...a message is tied to it's foot.

You have succeeded in all that I asked! Please come to my hill to claim your reward my brave explorers. Aycenia.

Well I guess that answers the question of whether she is connected to the island or not.

Spellcraft to identify wand of Mirror Image: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18

Nim examines the aura of the wand when the others appear stumped, recognizing it as the same magic as Tragershen's own.

At the avian messenger's note and Corb's remark, Nim only lets out an audible hmmmmmm... Clearly the druid is perplexed...