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

Game Master terok

Tragershen moves to –K5 and casts Azlanti Foresight. It has a 20’ burst radius, so that should catch all of his allies.

All: That gives a +1 insight bonus to attack rolls and reflex saves for the duration, which is four minutes.

Current Status: hp 22/22, AC 17, Mage Armor, Azlanti Foresight.

Spellcraft check to identify what's been done to Corbrius? Posting both my first and second round action as I have a pretty clear plan.

Round 1 Action-

Aedalis summoned forth a ghostly hand, infusing it with some of his life force. He mentally directed his Unseen Servant to gather up the papers on the altar and bring them to him.

Casting Spectral Hand as a standard action.

HP Lost: 1d4 ⇒ 2

Whatever she did, you can't spellcraft it...final actions for the round and map update coming tomorrow. Out of town ATM.

Round 2 Init 19

Nim drops his spear to the ground (FA) draws a potion (MA, potion of haste) and begins casting a spell... (SA start full round action, 1 round casting, converting aspect of the bear to summon nature's ally II) for Stirges: 1d3 ⇒ 3

Nim whispers to those nearest him, I will drink and be hasted, but only if I have the time...

Wic continues to attack the prone skeleton...
SA attack w/bite: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17 (vs prone)
damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

Current status and effects:
Wicewakan: AC 18 HP 18 of 32
Nim: AC 17 HP 51 (+8) of 41
longstrider expires 3+ hours
bear's endurance expires round 21
bull's strength expires round 41
aid expires round 41
azlanti luck expires round 41

Round 2
Cast Shocking Grasp apply with spellstrike

Spellstrike Attack: 1d20 + 10 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 10 + 2 = 151d6 + 4 + 4d6 ⇒ (5) + 4 + (1, 5, 4, 1) = 20Miss spell held

Corbius pauses momentarily then intones the words of power enveloping his rapier in the crackle of electricity. Then Corbius pivots and turns towards Anton his jaw seems to clench momentarily as if struggling against something before suddenly lashing out at Anton. His rapier missing it's target as he seems to struggle against himself.

Current Status

Current Status
AC 19+2=21
HP 34/38
Arcane Pool 1/4
Sword Pool 0/1
Bears endurance till Round 21
Cats Grace Till round 41
Black Blade Strike till round 11
damage 1d6+4
Ref +6
Fort +7
Acrobatics +8
Shocking Grasp Held

Ieana grins and commands the rest of the skeletons to attack...

Kill that and then finish the rest of them! pointing at poor Wic.

FS1 claw atk on Wic 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9 dam 1d4 + 2 + 1d6 ⇒ (3) + 2 + (3) = 8 Miss
FS2 claw atk on Wic 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9 dam 1d4 + 2 + 1d6 ⇒ (3) + 2 + (1) = 6 Miss

Order of Combat Round 2:
Corbrius 22 *gone
Nim/Wic 19 *gone
Skeleton RS2 17a
Mihai 17b
Anton 16
Ieana 13
Aedalis 8a
Tragershen 8b
Skeletons FS1,2 RS1 7

The skeletons have difficulty with the river of blood and miss Wic badly.

Corbrius suddenly turns on Anton, almost striking him with his black blade as he moves to -L,4.
The sword speaks out, Larissia's voice clear in the room, Corbrius is not himself, I think Ieana has him!

This is a houserule, but the sword is resisting your efforts to use it against the party, going forward you will have a -2 circumstance bonus to hit friendly PC's until you are free from the effect Corbrius. RS2 is in front of Wic and has taken several hits, the others are untouched. FS=Flaming skeleton, the large headed skeletons.

Wic hits the reptilian skeleton once more ripping another bone from it's corpse!

The prone skeleton strikes back at Wic:
RS1 bite atk on Wic prone 1d20 + 8 - 4 ⇒ (7) + 8 - 4 = 11 dam 1d6 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8 Miss
RS1 claw atk on Wic prone 1d20 + 8 - 4 ⇒ (17) + 8 - 4 = 21 dam 1d4 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6 Hit
RS1 claw atk on Wic prone 1d20 + 8 - 4 ⇒ (6) + 8 - 4 = 10 dam 1d4 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6 Miss

One more hit for 6 points. Mihai is up.

Battle with Ieana Round 2

Round 2:

Calling upon the grace of the Walker, Mihai focuses his thoughts upon Corbius - seeking to contact that which is chained by Ieana's will. "Fight it Corbius, you are stronger than she.... Walk on!"

Elysium's Call on Corb through Caravan Bond - he can immediately reroll any failed saving throws against spells and spell-like abilities of the enchantment (charm) and enchantment (compulsion) subschools. In addition, targets receive a +2 sacred bonus on such saving throws and a +2 sacred bonus on CMB checks to escape a grapple. Finally, targets can ignore up to 5 feet of difficult terrain each round, as if they had the Nimble Moves feat. These bonuses last for 2 rounds.

Will: 1d20 + 4 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 4 + 2 + 2 = 15

Round 2

NA: 5' step to -K,4
MA: Draw lucerne hammer
SA: Attack -K,2 fighting defensively (AF, flanking, IC): 1d20 + 6 - 4 + 1 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 6 - 4 + 1 + 2 + 1 = 21
...Damage: 1d10 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 + 1 = 7

Anton's eyes widen in surprise as he dodges the sudden, unexpected attack from Corbius. Having been the victim of mind magic more than once, and knowing that Ieana had charmed the captain of their ship, Anton guesses what's happening before Larissia confirms it. He draws his polearm and takes a defensive posture, while moving up to help the embattled wolf. "Don't worry, Corb. You're good at hitting people, but I'm good at not getting hit."

Current Status
34/34 hp, 23 AC
Azlanti foresight to round 41, inspire courage to round 6, longstrider 5 hours

Anton's hammer smashes the flaming skeleton into bits...

Ieana reaches down and touches the reptile skeleton that Wic has been chewing on, the bones seem to mash together and re-form.

2d8 + 4 ⇒ (4, 7) + 4 = 15

I can't have my pets leaving me so soon!
She then steps to -L,-1 and pulls a scroll out of her pack.

Corbrius doesn't seem to react to Mihai's pleas...

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (19) + 14 = 33

Melee Touch Attack (Spectral Hand): 1d20 - 1 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (18) - 1 + 2 + 2 = 21

Short on time but basically casting Touch of Idiocy through Spectral Hand. Also, Aedalis had his Unseen Servant fetch Ieana's notes last round, no reaction from her?

Wisdom, Intelligence & Charisma Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 5

There are 5 of her up there, confirming that is you action? Mirror image...

The unseen servant walks over and collects a group of the papers from the altar and moves back to Aedalis this round.

Ieana looks over at you, I will be sure to collect those notes off your corpse wizard, you little parlor tricks just re-affirm how pathetic you lesser races are!

Correction, same action but casting Chill Touch. Forgot I had a plan to reduce her images.

1 is Ieana: 1d5 ⇒ 4

"Corbius, fight it and come back to us."

Cast Defensively Protection from Evil 1d20 + 4 + 2 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 + 2 + 4 = 23. Targeting Corbius.

Round 3

MA: Move to -N,0 (Ignore first space of difficult terrain due to Elysium call)
SA: Spellstrike shocking grasp on Ieana (I assume she has a metal weapon or armor? If not -3 on To hit)

spellstrike attack: 1d20 + 10 + 3 ⇒ (14) + 10 + 3 = 271d6 + 4 + 4d6 ⇒ (4) + 4 + (3, 2, 4, 6) = 23

Feeling the protection of Tragershen's spell settle over him Corbius suddenly feels disconnected from Ieana. Realizing what she made him do he spins on his heel. The crackle of electricity enveloping his blade as he dashes forward through the troughs of blood and up the steps of the dais. Looking at the numerous images Corbius attempts to strike at one hoping to have his sword meet flesh.

Current Status
AC 19+2=21
HP 34/38
Arcane Pool 1/4
Sword Pool 0/1
Bears endurance till Round 21
Cats Grace Till round 41
Black Blade Strike till round 11
damage 1d6+4
Protection From Evil +2 AC +2 Saves
Elysiums call +2 saves, nimble moves Till Round 5
Ref +10
Fort +11
Will +8
Acrobatics +8
Shocking Grasp Held?? (point of clarification if I hit an image does spell discharge?)

"Corbius, fight it and come back to us."

Cast Defensively Protection from Evil 1d20+4+2+4. Targeting Corbius.

You must succeed in a touch attack on Corbrius, he will not let you touch him willingly.

It also only allows a new save at +2 morale bonus, doesn't provide immunity to currently active mental control, only future.

Touch attack on Corbius 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 = 20

images left [4] 1d4 ⇒ 1

Freed from her control, Corbrius runs up to the 4 remaining Ieana's and attacks...by luck he strikes her true!

You human worm! I am going to hurt you...badly!

Free action speech
What manner of creature are you!

Anton looks grim, but not terribly surprised. "Just like the carvings in the temple. The Captain meant 'serpentine' literally."

The rest of you don't see what Corbrius and Anton and possibly Aedalis are talking about, but when they look at Ieana, they obviously see something different now....

After some behind the scenes rules talks with DM... this post includes a retcon to last round that removes the MA draw potion and replaces with it with a MA to -L/6.

Round 3 Init 19

As Nim finishes casting his spell... (MA complete full round action, 1 round casting, converting aspect of the bear to summon nature's ally II) ...and 3 Stirges pop into existence right on top of Ieana.

Sensing a meal, the striges immediately attempt to land on her... (Ieana is 1)
Touch attack: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20 1d4 ⇒ 4 hit, 1 image destroyed
Touch attack: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8 1d3 ⇒ 1 miss
Touch attack: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14 1d3 ⇒ 2 hit or near miss, 2nd image destroyed

Seeing Wic is in dire straights, Nim calls the brave wolf back to him... (FA "down" command)
Handle Animal (wounded) DC 12: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (19) + 10 = 29
...and Wic responds, moving carefully away from danger and retreating to his master's side. (Full Round Action - Withdraw to -K/6 via -J/2)

As the wolf approaches, Nim transforms himself into a small dinosaur... (SA wildshape to a Deinonychus)

Current status and effects:
Wicewakan: AC 18 HP 12 of 32
Nim: AC 17 HP 51 (+8) of 41
longstrider expires 3+ hours
bear's endurance expires round 21
bull's strength expires round 41
aid expires round 41
azlanti luck expires round 41
summon nature's ally II expires round 7

Round 3

MA: Move to -N,0 (Ignore first space of difficult terrain due to Elysium call)
SA: Spellstrike shocking grasp on Ieana (I assume she has a metal weapon or armor? If not -3 on To hit)

Corbrius, you realize she is in -L,-1? Your position wouldn't put you able to reach her.

Could he use Acrobatics to leap over -N,1 instead of wading through it, so that it would count as 5' instead of 10'?

I have nimble moves due to Mihai ignore first 5 feet difficult terrain only counts as 5' not 10'.

Got it, but I still can't see a path through the 2 rivers of blood that don't take at least 35' of movement though. Your current speed is 30' right?

Ok my bad.:) I missed where she moved south by 1 I will instead double move to -M,-2. If that is allowed?
Sorry for the confusion.

Not a problem, you can double move no problem, just no attack this round.

The stirges destroy two images, leaving two Ieana's remaining up there.

Order of Combat Round 3:
Corbrius 22 *gone
Nim/Wic 19 *gone
Skeleton RS2 17a
Mihai 17b
Anton 16
Ieana 13
Aedalis 8a
Tragershen 8b
Skeletons FS1,2 RS1 7

I forgot the skeletons attack in round 2 at the bottom of the round so here goes. Let's see if Wic makes it out.

FS1 claw atk on Wic 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22 dam 1d4 + 2 + 1d6 ⇒ (2) + 2 + (6) = 10 Hit
FS1 claw atk on Wic 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21 dam 1d4 + 2 + 1d6 ⇒ (2) + 2 + (3) = 7 Hit

Wic never makes it out of the meat grinder and is dead as the Reptile Skeleton attacks it's limp form...

RS1 bite atk on Wic 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 21 dam 1d6 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7 Hit
RS1 claw atk on Wic 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 8 = 23 dam 1d4 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8 Hit
RS1 claw atk on Wic 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13 dam 1d4 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7 Hit

With no dog left when the prone skeleton is up, Ieana speaks to all of them, stand up and kill this one! pointing to Corbrius.

The prone reptile skeleton stands up, shifts 5' and attacks Corbrius.
RS2 bite atk on Corb 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (9) + 8 = 17 dam 1d6 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10 Miss

Wic is in pieces on the floor and obviously dead...

Mihai and Anton to go then Ieana. Sorry for the confusion, missed their action at the end of Round 2 with all of the complicated actions.

Round 3

Round 3: AC 15, 3/6 channels, 27/27 HP

Heart saddened at the loss of Nim's companion, Mihai steels his emotions and strides into the room. Sharing a momentary glance at Nim that shows the druid that he is also pained - the Walker's subject turns to face Ieana. Arms wide he calls "We are your reckoning... blood debt will be paid." bringing his hands together in a clap that reverberates and sends out a pulse of energy that leaves living flesh unmarked, but tears and rips at the fabric of the once dead.

Move to L,5 - channel positive to harm undead: 2d6 ⇒ (2, 3) = 5 DC 14 Will save for half

Round 3

FA: Rage
SA: Attack -L,2 (AF, IC): 1d20 + 8 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 8 + 1 + 1 = 21
...Damage: 1d10 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 4 + 1 = 8
MA: Move to -K,1 (by way of -J,3 and -J,2)

Anton gazes aghast at what was left of the very dead wolf. There was no coming back this time. He was... like Nora. Gone except for the memories. Another loss that the island owed him for. No, that Ieana owed him for. He can hear the blood pounding in his ears, as he is overcome by a terrible fury, beyond any that the passionate halfling had ever felt before. "RAAAAAAGH!" He brings his lucerne hammer down on the flaming skeleton that felled their brave companion, then moves up to take Wicewakan's place. He points at the two Ieanas. "You're next!"

Current Status
42/42 hp, 19 AC
Azlanti foresight to round 41, inspire courage to round 6, longstrider 5 hours, rage to round 8

Since we are correcting mistakes... :) You forgot to mention that Wic would have gotten an AoO on the flaming skeleton as it moved into position at the end of round 1.

AoO attack w/bite: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21
damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

If that should kill it, and I think that it does, then Anton would have killed the other with his attack in round 2. No more flaming skeletons. That removes it and its 17 points of damage it did to Wic. :)

The upright skeleton still does 22 damage to Wic and drops him, but only to -10 HP. :P

Round 3 stabilize check vs DC 10: 1d20 + 2 - 10 ⇒ (8) + 2 - 10 = 0 fail

That leaves the prone skeleton, who has to choose between attacking the dying wolf or going after Corb. :)

Keep in mind that this skeleton doesn't attack, until round 3, after Corb and Nim's actions. Corb could choose to retcon his round 3 action if he wishes. Nim will not be changing his actions. And of course this may also change Mihai's and Anton's 3rd round actions as well. :)

The other reptilian skeleton doesn't act until the end of this round.

In summation, the other flaming skeleton is likely dead, meaning Wic is dying instead of dead. Corb can choose to retcon his action if he so chooses. And then prone skeleton is up. Depending on that, Anton and Mihai may wish to retcon as well. :)

I just looked at previous rounds map, there was no AOO opportunity so the action stands.
The flaming skeletons are the alternate ones, I messed up which one should have double moved vs. attacked, the reptile skeleton should have had one attack and the flaming skeleton should have just double moved without drawing the AOO. The main point of their movement that ound was not to draw the AOO and get into position. They would have both missed that round so it did't make any difference that round. Sorry.

Since I messed up the combat so bad I feel bad about killing off Wic. and trying to retcon a bunch of actions.
I am going to say that the Reptile skeleton doesn't kill Wic outright, although it looks like that way to anyone except for people with the heal skill. Mihai may want to retcon his action but let's leave the rest as they are. We will put Wic at -10 this round and Mihai is up.
Anton crushes the skeleton in anger and we move on with Ieana's action and hopefully no more mistakes on the combat.
I am going to change some aspects of combat going forward to simplify it for PBP.

Don't worry about killing Wic. I'm not. :P It was the likely result of him charging forward. Nim put him in harm's way for the benefit of the rest of the party. He did what he had to do and fought bravely. What more can I ask. :/

If Nim is upset by the apparent death of his animal companion, you cannot tell with him in his current form.

Waiting on Mihai to confirm if he is going to channel and damage the undead or heal Wic...then Ieana is up.

In that case - lets go with the channel as a heal.

Mihai sees a spark of life in the wolf and sends his healing into Wic, stopping his decent into the Abyss! Most of you see a few wounds on Wic heal over though...

Ieana seems to appraise the situation and then send out a corresponding pulse of dark energy that pulses through everyone, damaging all living creatures!

channel negative energy to damage DC 18 willpower save for Half 2d6 ⇒ (5, 1) = 6 It catches everyone except for Nim and Aedalis.

Willpower Save Wic 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 2 = 21 Made it 3 points, still alive.

Willpower Save stirge 1 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 1 = 15 failed dead
Willpower Save stirge 2 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 1 = 10 failed dead
Willpower Save stirge 3 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 1 = 12 failed dead

The dark energy vaporizes the stirges and stings you as it washes over the rest of you in the area.

Will save 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15

Round 3

Tragershen quickly recovers from the wave of painful energy and responds with one of his most powerful spells. With a smudge of tree sap on his fingertip, he speaks, gestures, and points at Ieana. The sap disappears, replaced by a growing, morphing arcane force that darts across the distance between them, trying to engulf her.

Casts

DC 16 reflex save for partial effect.

Will (rage): 1d20 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 3 + 2 = 7 Fail

Trag, there are still two of her due to MI, just confirming you are taking the chance of the 50/50 miss?
Starting with the next combat I will do a better job of listing the obvious effects on your enemies for reference.

Round 3-

Off my corpse? Aedalis questioned in a mocking tone of voice as his Unseen Servant hovered over the river of blood, holding her notes mere inches above the liquid. You might find that detrimental to your research, especially as I am not carrying them...

1 is Ieana: 1d2 ⇒ 2
Melee Touch Attack (Image Destroyed): 1d20 - 1 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (17) - 1 + 2 + 2 = 20

Aedalis' various parlour tricks worked in tandem, the lantern dancing around Aedalis and the invisible force holding her notes waited; all the while Aedalis' spectral hand crept forward to deliver another charge of Chill Touch, shattering Ieana's last image in the process as the incorporeal life force re-appeared beside him, faithfully.

I posted out of order; Aedalis was supposed to go before me. In hindsight, since his action destroyed the last image, can we go ahead with Tragershen's spell after that?

She looks angrily at Aedalis but seems too occupied at the moment to respond...

I posted out of order; Aedalis was supposed to go before me. In hindsight, since his action destroyed the last image, can we go ahead with Tragershen's spell after that?

Not a problem. I forgot Aedalis was still to go.

The ancient Azlanti magic speeds towards Ieana unerringly...to everyone's utter surprise the web strikes her and then seems to melt off her body and onto the floor.

Your use of unseen servant seems pretty liberal to me, you need to command it to do things which would require an action, the very least your verbal action for the round. Remember it only has a speed of 15 feet as well so it would have taken 2 round to get to the Altar and another to collect it as well as two more round to get back to you.

I am immune to your pitiful Elven magic!
Ieana yells at her remaining skeleton not next to her, kill the rest of them! pointing towards the rest of the group.

It moves to -K,3 and attacks Anton drawing an attack from him. Anton, go ahead and roll your AOO.
RS1 bite atk on Wic 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 8 = 23 dam 1d6 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7 Hit and bites a chunk out of him!

Order of Combat Round 4:

Corbrius 22
Nim/Wic 19
Skeleton RS2 17a
Mihai 17b
Anton 16
Ieana 13
Aedalis 8a
Tragershen 8b
Skeleton RS1 7

Round 4 Map

Corbrius then Nim to start round 4!

Your use of unseen servant seems pretty liberal to me, you need to command it to do things which would require an action, the very least your verbal action for the round. Remember it only has a speed of 15 feet as well so it would have taken 2 round to get to the Altar and another to collect it as well as two more round to get back to you.

I'm not using a move action every round, so seems I have plenty of time to give commands- just didn't see it as worth writing them in bold.

DM Stephen wrote:

Your use of unseen servant seems pretty liberal to me, you need to command it to do things which would require an action, the very least your verbal action for the round. Remember it only has a speed of 15 feet as well so it would have taken 2 round to get to the Altar and another to collect it as well as two more round to get back to you.

I'm not using a move action every round, so seems I have plenty of time to give commands- just didn't see it as worth writing them in bold.

Fair enough, just wanted to make sure you were accounting for it's slow speed as well. Thanks.

Anton moved to -K,1 last round.