DM Zyren's Heart of Runes (Inactive)

Game Master Zyrenity

Battle Mat

As you enter the next tunnel, you have to cough and sneeze after a moment since there are so many spores drifting through the air.

-1 to attack rolls and skill checks, general spell failure of 5%

Out of the darkness three very muscular ghouls crawl towards you...Aldern still seems to have minions left...the odour these creatures emanate is overwhelming and stinks of rot and decay

Ghast's exude an overwhelming stink of death and corruption in a 10-foot radius. Those within the stench must succeed at a DC 15 Fortitude save, or be sickened for 1d6+4 minutes

Harry's Initiative1d20 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3
Perdition's Initiative1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20
Celestra's Initiative1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4
Karlan's Initiative1d20 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 3 = 19
Kanyk's Initiative1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12
Ailetha's Initiative1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7
Ghast's Initiative1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

Waiting...Init 3? loooong wait.

Initiative 4 is not much better. : (

Question: How far back would we need to go to get away from the spores?

to line 39

Right then. Screw fighting here then.

Taking command of the situation KArlan sees an issue with this fight in the spores and the ghasts.

"This sin't the battlefield to be doing this. Back off to the stairs! This time we fight on our terms!" With that Karlan stands before the group shield upraised ready to meet the ghasts inevitable charge.

Move to AB34 and fight defensively taking a -4 penalty to attack rolls and a +2 bonus to my AC.

AC: 23

"Go I'll hold them long enough for you to make it!"

Yeh - everyone retreat to where there are no spores and ready attacks when the ghasts arrive.

I move back to AA40 and begin to sing - inspire courage. - +1 attack and damage - and fear saves.

Round 1

Celestra will move back to AA39, draw her rapier and tankard, and be ready to channel energy, waiting until all three ghasts come into range.

"Dear Cayden, let's bathe these undead fiends in your divine light as soon as they get close enough."

The ghasts rush over to Karlan check for being sickened and begin to attack him with wild ferocity. Milky grey saliva sprays from their malformed faces, but Karlan stands there like a rock.

Ghast attacking Karlan/ Bite 1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 5 + 2 = 25
Damage1d6 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

Ghast attacking Karlan/ Bite 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 19
Damage1d6 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

Ghast attacking Karlan/ Bite 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11
Damage1d6 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8

If hit save vs. Paralysis DC 15.

Battle Mat

R1:

Perdition
Karlan (resolved)
Kanyk
Ailetha (resolved)
Ghasts (resolved)
Celestra (resolved)
Harry

Harry pulls back to AC39 and readies an attack...

Perdition moves to AB42

Immune to disease so no ghoul feaver

1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15 AGainst stench.

1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8 Against Paralysis.

aaaaanddd it's official. Dice roller wants to kill Karlan. Worst part is since it was the first ghoul that means the second hit as well so 18 damage total. Celestra or Harry want to drag my dead ass out of there?

argh - call 911!

OK Karlans go would have been ahead of me on the initiative order, now that he has been slammed before I got time to act, can I retcon my move?

Round 1 Retcon

If Karlan goes down, there is no way that Celestra would wait for the ghasts. She would be up there doing everything in her power to help. Please retcon the following if you are kindly willing.

Celestra will move to AA36 and Channel Energy in a 30 foot radius nova of light around her.

"Cayden Cailean, I kindly ask you to destroy these ghasts before anyone gets hurt around here!"

Channel Energy 2d6 ⇒ (4, 6) = 10 Damage on the Ghasts. ( Will Save DC 16 for half )

OK assuming its ok to retcon...

Harry hears Karlans command and prepares to withdraw, however the Ghasts come faster than Harry anticipated and launch a wave of attacks on Karlan. For a moment Harry thinks Karlan is being solid as a mountain, but then Harry recognises the paralysis that stuck him firm as a statue just minutes before...

He hurls himself back into the fray.

Move to AA34, attack AA33

Save Fort 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 18

Attack 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (8) + 10 = 18
Damage 1d12 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18

Round 2

Move to AA/36

Cast Glitterdust centered at AC/32, AD/33. If only paralyzed Karlan is in the square at AB34, then center it at AB/32, AC/33. Save Will - DC17.

Round 1 Retcon

If Karlan goes down, there is no way that Celestra would wait for the ghasts. She would be up there doing everything in her power to help. Please retcon the following if you are kindly willing.

How is dragging me away from a trio of full attacks not helping? ;-;

Ghasts are extremely resistant to channeling and so it will be difficult to harm them

Will save1d20 + 9 ⇒ (4) + 9 = 13

Will save1d20 + 9 ⇒ (3) + 9 = 12

Will save1d20 + 9 ⇒ (16) + 9 = 25

But surprisingly, Cayden's power is strong in this cave and the ghasts are severely hurt - one is even killed as Harry chops him with his axe.

R1:

Perdition
Karlan (resolved)
Kanyk
Ailetha (resolved)
Ghasts (resolved)
Celestra (resolved)
Harry (resolved)

R2:

Perdition
Karlan
Kanyk
Ailetha (resolved)
Ghasts
Celestra
Harry

Will save1d20 + 7 ⇒ (17) + 7 = 24

Will save1d20 + 7 ⇒ (17) + 7 = 24

The gold particles however have no effect on the monsters. Since AA36 was already occupied I put you into AA35

Battle Mat

PERDITION

R1

Perdition summons a flame into his hand and begins hurling fire at the monsters...

Produce Flame - 1/5

1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21 Ranged Touch
1d6 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11 Fire

R2

Perdition summons a flame into his hand and begins hurling fire at the monsters...

Produce Flame - 2/5

1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18 Ranged Touch
1d6 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9 Fire

Harry...waits his turn!

"Thank you, Cayden! Hang in there, Sir Karlan! I will be there to help in just a moment!"

Definitely center the Glitterdust at AB32/AC33 so that I get both of them.

"Thank you, Cayden! Hang in there, Sir Karlan! I will be there to help in just a moment!"

Karlan remains stoic in the face of impending death.

Waiting for Kanyk

Scrap all that, I should have read more.

Seeing Karlan go down almost immediately to one of the Ghasts Kanyk ignores the sensible plan of backing up and attacking from a position of strength and instead charges the remaining Ghast.

Fortitude save 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (9) + 12 = 21

Attack
1d20 + 10 ⇒ (7) + 10 = 172d6 + 7 ⇒ (3, 6) + 7 = 16

Posting ahead of time...!

R2

Harry presses the attack forward...

Attack 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (14) + 10 = 24
Damage 1d12 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12

I will post ahead of time as well.

Round 2

Celestra will attempt to remove Karlan from harm's way by dragging him away from the combat. I am not sure how far she can drag him, but she moves 40' and she will attempt to get Karlan as far back from the ghasts as possible, taking careful consideration that she does not subject herself to any attacks of opportunity.

Strength Check 1d20 ⇒ 11

Perdition fires his flaming bolts at the ghasts and both go down engulfed in flames! Wow, hadn't realized he hit with both

Growling and shrieking the monsters are soon reduced to smoking piles of ash. Now it's hard to distinguish whether the drifting particles are burned ghast remains or spores...

Perdition grins like a maniac, flames still engulfing his hand... flames still illuminating his eyes...

Harry signals Kanyk and moves forward to ensure no more ghouls are waiting to attack the party, leaving Karlan in Celestras capable hands.

Perception 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (19) + 9 = 28

Celestra immediately begins trying to stabilize Karlan's wounds

Heal Check 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (2) + 9 = 11

"Dearest Cayden, please let my hands heal and bring Sir Karlan back to his health. Please Cayden!"

Next, she takes out the wand of cure light wounds and begins applying its divine magic repeatedly.

Cure Light Wound 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8
Cure Light Wound 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2
Cure Light Wound 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4
Cure Light Wound 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8
Cure Light Wound 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8

"Sir Karlan, you are alive! Thank Cayden's goodness! I am delighted to see you still with us!"

Only 4 charages of that were used. Only took 18 damage.

Karlan remains ever vigilant that the ghouls might be getting back up.

Unmoving.

Undaunted.

With a grim sense of solid determination.

Kanyk shadows Harry as he moves down the tunnel, hammer at the ready and eyes peeled for any sign of attack.

Perception 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (6) + 9 = 15

Caves

As you move further you notice that the most northern of the first three branches meets yours here. Some pickaxes and other tools lie in that corridor and it seems like if it was worked here not long ago.

Can we assume we waited for Karlan to become unparalyzed?

Sure!

Harry doubles back for a moment to look at that mining site (or is that just a pretty picture?) before moving the party forward.

"I wonder if whoever was mining here was looking for some ancient site that was to help them with their quest for power!"

Celestra joins Harry and looks around the site where they were mining, looking for some evidence or clue to their plans.

Perception Take (10) + 9= 19

Does the work appear to be new or old? And what does it appear was being done with the picks?

Knowledge(engineering): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (7) + 9 = 16
Knowledge(dungeoneering): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (7) + 9 = 16

Also, did I end up casting glitterdust in the battle or did the ghasts go down first?

@ Ailetha: You must have missed a part of one of my posts during battle - you casted and the ghasts both saved successfully.

The mining site looks fairly new - not older than some weeks - and it looks like someone worked here and tried to expand the corridor to the north.

As Ailetha takes a look at the scene she notices that one of the pickaxes has some rune etchings and looks very well made.

"This brings up some more questions. First, what are they mining for? Secondly, why did they stop mining? Do you think the miners here became ghasts or ghouls? Ailetha, what do you make of those rune etchings?"

Celestra casts detect magic and concentrates on the area.

Spellcraft 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17

The pickaxe Ailetha has noticed before radiates a magic aura.

"Perhaps we should try this pick axe out and dig where the others left off. Not that I have the strength to be much of a miner, but I'm curious why someone would enchant such a tool. Karlan, Harry, Kanyk, do any of you strong strapping lads want to dig a little?"

Also use spellcraft to figure out what exactly the magic pickaxe is.

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (19) + 9 = 28

A pickaxe is also a weapon, but probably is more effective against rock just like a regular magic weapons is more effective against skulls. Also, the magic pickaxe probably does not dull as fast as a regular pickaxe.

The enchantment hardens the tool, making it a deadly weapon. Its head is formed like the head of a linnorm and you guess it must have once belonged to a Ulfen miner.

Its a pickaxe +2

"Reckon we come back and have a look at this once we clear off anyone who might come checking on the noise eh?"

Harry starts wandering back the way we came, gripping his axe like a man set on revenge.

Kanyk heads over to the indicated fancy pickaxe, tucking his hammer away and hoisting the heavy mining tool to get a better look at the carving.

"Ailetha, reckon if we meet another ghost this'll come in handy like your sword? Maybe we keep hold of this at least until we get out of here."

Harry stops and turns to Kanyk... "Then it will complain you are picking on it" he says, completely deadpan. Moments later he bursts into laughter.

With the tension broken, Harry pushes ever forwards, but now a lot more relaxed.

Yeh - it has some pretty potent magic, strange. You could use this to pick a ghosts nose or teeth, and do some damage in the process. I say either Harry or Kanyk take it. And if we find a big nasty, the other one can use my rapier. Actually, while it will do somewhat less damage, it has a much higher chance of hitting tough monsters.

"Weird." Karlan says at last blinking in surprise. "Oh good my jaw works again. Sorry about that. Best laid plans fall apart when the first paralyzing claw lands. Mining operation? Maybe they're searching for the thing that his father built it on to begin with? More ruins you suppose?"

I suppose that ghoul laborers would not demand good working conditions and high wages.