DM VoV - Throne of Night - Explorer's Adventure Path (Inactive)

Game Master Mark Sweetman

I believe Nar is - down to -2 after the trample.

Ah yes, good thinking there VoV. I think that is a much better game plan.

Agna didn't have too much to contribute to the current battle. She used another magic missile, hoping her minuscule damage might be enough to knock the beast unconscious.

Da,age 3d4 + 3 ⇒ (4, 2, 4) + 3 = 13

Stali's summoned leopard suffers an opportunistic swipe of horns as it closes...
Gore: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (9) + 17 = 26 for 2d10 + 12 ⇒ (4, 2) + 12 = 18
...though it clears the way for his own unimpeded advance. For all the leopards intent they force but a single claw through the saurid's hide.

The combination of another volley of Agna's missiles, Stali's weighted weapon and twin cuts Padrym's axe weigh heavily upon the triceratops... though somehow it still stands... though it's breath is becoming severely labored.

Surrounded and desperate the triceratops seeks to use it's bulk to clear it from danger - trampling over foes near and far...
DC 25 trample on all in melee contact - for 1d8 + 12 ⇒ (6) + 12 = 18
...before leaving itself clear of the fray to one side.

Hilde moves to Nar's side, drawing a wand as she goes and tapping him with it. She maintains her helpful commentary.

CLW wand, 49 charges left: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

A cruel DM would point out that drawing a wand can't be combined with a move...

Next round, then. I knew there was a reason to get a spring-loaded sheath.

Im waiting for the melee attacks, trying to save another Magic Missile casting. If they don't take it down, here is my damage 3d4 + 3 ⇒ (2, 3, 4) + 3 = 12.

Round 4

Ref DC 25: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24

Nimbly dodging out of the way of the stomp, Padrym waits for one of the leopards to be mauled by the thunder lizard before charging again.

Dur, finally remembered I have power attack.

Greataxe Song Haste Charge PA: 1d20 + 8 + 2 + 1 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (13) + 8 + 2 + 1 + 2 - 2 = 24
Damage: 1d12 + 4 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 4 + 6 = 17

I assume it's far enough that I need more than 5' to get to it.

Aye - but that'll do :)

Padrym's delayed charge leads his axe to sink deep into the neck of the triceratops. With a last keening wail the great saurid staggers, then shudders, then falls to the ground with a resounding crash.

It's dead Jim

"Torag's beard! That thing was much worse than the slug. I hope there aren't more of them. Hilde, have you got Nar?"

"I have him awake, but I think we're better off using renewable resources to finish restoring him--I don't know where we can find another wand."

"Easy enough."

Padrym will close some of his own wounds, then turn to Nar."[/b]

CLW Padrym: 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8
CLW Padrym: 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9
CLW Nar: 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8
CLW Nar: 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6

"Humans, are you okay? That thing didn't run any of you down. Did it?"

Hilde has also taken 10 HP.

Forgotten Reflex Save: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8
Let me tend your wounds Hilde. Stali converts a lead blades into a cure light wounds to heal Hilde. CLW: 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7 and a bull's strength into a cure moderate wounds for himself. CMW: 2d8 + 5 ⇒ (3, 5) + 5 = 13

The jungle's chatter seems to dim slightly for a while as the human's slowly and gingerly emerge from in your wake. They quite wisely ran when the triceratops appeared and look to be unharmed. As to the fallen beast, you wager that the magnificent horns would potentially be worth a pretty penny if you took the time to remove them.

Ultimately the primal decision of the moment boils down to whether to press on from the corpse today... or take a well earned rest nearby...

"Might be a good place to rest before moving on. That beastie took a pretty good chunk of flesh and spells out of us."

"I think we should move away from the body--this is going to draw scavengers. Let's carve some steaks off of it first, though."

"As warm as it is, it'll start stinking quickly, so I agree, we can carve off some meat, but we need to move on for a few miles before we stop to camp.

Padrym nods.

"No doubt this beast kept the other large predators at bay, we'll need to move a short ways to keep them off our scent. No reason we can't enjoy a steak first."

"Let's get those steaks and the horns then and keep moving."
Sounds like an area for Hilde's guidance.

Forcing your battered and broken bodies a ways from the site of the dead triceratops... well at least after the bloody work of claiming the horns is done... proves to be wise. As you lay down to rest, a distant spine-chattering roar can be heard... likely of a beast similar to the one that you have just laid low... except more of the pointy teeth and carnivorous persuasion.

Sleep comes readily despite the concern, and passes without much incident - leaving another morning to work at forging further north. The humans seem to be keeping up a little better today -

Stáli wakes with the morning, "At least our horned adversary's giant friend didn't find us last night. Hope we don't run into that one later."
Sense Motive: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 2 = 18

Sense Motive 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8

Untrained Sense Motive: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 1 = 14

Hilde murmurs to Padrym in Dwarvish. "Tassius warned me that one of the humans has been tainted. What do you make of that one?" She nods at the one Tassius indicated.

Padrym spends a final healing spell on himself before bed.

CLW: 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11

Closing the last of his wounds.

******************

In the morning, he takes stock of their situation.

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23

Padrym nods at Hilde's words and responds in Dwarven.

"Aye, possessed fer sure."

"Let's see if I can get his attention. Watch if he tries to attack me, and tell the others."

Hilde walks along with the humans and begins to tell a story of her time on the surface, weaving magic into her words to draw the attention of the tainted human. Attempting to fascinate him, DC 17 Will save.

Padrym will make his way to the others, alerting them of Hilde's plans in Dwarven.

"Be ready, that one is possessed."

"How can you tell? They all seem odd to me."

Agna agrees with Nar. "Are you sure? Humans are strange all right, but I haven't been around enough of the poor things to know for sure."

"That's why Hilde's checking not smiting. Just be ready."

The singled out human relaxes into a slouch, and follows Hilde's words and lead.

Stali nods to Hilde when the human slumps slightly, "Now what?"

"Tassius? How can we tell what's affecting him?"

As a note - Hilde is the one that is actively fascinating through the performance. Which means that you need to maintain the performance to maintain the fascination.
While some actions can be made concurrent - you'll need to be careful (especially Hilde) as the subject can still hear you and see you.
I'd view specifically referring to the creature as 'what's affecting him' would be similar to a potential threat.
Just a point to keep in common view so that you can refer to it.
Another option could have been to retcon the review with Tassius in before going to the fascination, and potentially have whispered / dwarvish conversation about what you're going to do before engaging the human.

"Well if you all are sure, let's out the human then, and see what happens."

To be clear:
1) Fascinate and distract
2) Backstab for the win?

Yep.

All righty

Let's do it.

After the exchange of hushed words the singled out human relaxes into a slouch, and follows Hilde's words and lead. Turning away at the soporific tones of the dwarf's voice, the other humans react with slight surprise, but have not yet made any action. Hilde's slow retreat leaves the back of the creature open to exploitation...

Right, everyone who is not Hilde gets a surprise round action (so standard only) then I'll cut to full blown initiative if required.