Dark Sun, Pathfinder Edition (Inactive)

Game Master tribeof1

Mud bricks shatter as Raun barrels through the ruins and heads east into a wide tunnel. Crude chambers extend to the north and south but the half-giant keeps going until the tunnel opens up again into the southeast chamber of the cavern. The thin stream of water that feeds the well pool trickles to the north.

With Gorkhan and Woki at her shoulders, Raun hears a few whispered words -- "Now, Quag" -- then things start to happen very fast.

The party failed Perception checks, so the (i]invisible[/i] or phased enemies get a surprise round.

A glowing pebble of fire streaks toward the half-giant from the northeast. The light briefly illuminates a spider-like creature with dark hide and glittering eyes before it explodes, spraying the half-giant and her companions with fire. Raun and Woki save, taking 12 damage (to temp in Woki's case). Gorkhan fails and takes 24, wiping out temp hp and doing 4 direct to hit point.

Before the pain begins to register, a wall of roiling green energy springs up to the east, blocking access to the spider-thing that cast the spell. A second later a trio of twisted, dwarf-like creatures silently emerge from the stone walls of the corridor.

Gnarled and muscle-bound, the creatures are covered by knobby hide mottled red and gray. The stunted creatures seem to slide out of the stone without disturbing it, leaping on the party with over-sized, crystalline claws.

Flanking Raun and Gorkhan, the ambushers are able to inflict bloody wounds that burn with a glistening acid. Gorkhan is hit for 23 damage. Raun is hit twice, for a total of 33 damage after accounting for DR.

To the west, Grit looks on from the wall as two more of the creatures emerge to attack Däina and Nnn'tkklik'l. Both are caught off-guard, but the buffer created by the thri-kreen earlier saves both from the terrible claws. Both are hit for 20 damage, eliminating temp hp.

~~~~~~~~oo~~~~~~~~

Gorkhan, Raun, Däina and Nnn'tkklik'l are up! Grit and Woki rolled low on initiative and will have to wait until the bad guys go again.

Updated Map

Combat Round 1

Initiative Group 1: Däina, Nnn'tkklik'l, Raun, Gorkhan

Initiative Group 2: Dark spiders and hej-kin

Also:

Ouch... that went about as well as expected :p

Oh, actually, looking at the first claw attack against Raun it would have missed, she cast shield the round before so her flat-footed AC should have been 21 (unless you're counting her as enraged because of how I described her actions, which would be fair enough I suppose.

Raun roars as flames envelope her, glaring at the briefly illuminated creature before the other creatures sinking their burning claws into her distracts her. She turns to the nearest and bring her hammer to bear with stone-shattering force.

Is the one to the north still partially in the wall and thus has cover? Or that just how it looks on the map. If he doesn't have cover Raun will smash him, otherwise she'll go for the other one flanking her.
All the usual factors, raging, arcane strike, power attack, etc. Oh and her two arcane bloodrage spells: let's go resist energy (acid), and displacement (50% miss chance)
Earthbreaker (Vital Strike): 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (14) + 17 = 31
Damage: 4d8 + 25 ⇒ (2, 4, 2, 5) + 25 = 38

Raging: AC 22, Tch 17, Flat 19
Resist acid: 20, 50% miss chance

Knowledge (arcana): 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (20) + 17 = 37

Daina steps away before the magic protecting her fails, waving a hand. "Jennuilt ixen buatleb!" A burning globe of fire appears and rolls into one of her attackers.

Fire Damage: 6d6 ⇒ (4, 1, 5, 3, 6, 1) = 20

Daina steps 5 feet to the southwest and casts flaming sphere at the enemy to the northwest. DC 24 reflex save to negate the damage, and if they fail their save they catch on fire. The DC to extinguish the flames if that happens is also 24.

Raun, I'd forgotten you cast shield, so that means 15 less damage to you. I've got you as down a total of 30 hp, rather than 45. And the hej-kin don't have cover.

Awesome, sounds good to me. So her attack was on the one to the north providing flanks on the both of us then.

Mental congestion clearing slightly as his wards are torn down, Nnn'tkklik'l swiftly moves to put them back up, let his clutchmates die.

But first, he has pressing concerns of the physical variety, with an enemy right next to him, he steps away from the stone-kin. 5ft step SE

8pp Vigor: Nnn, Raun, Gorkhan, Daina +20 temp HP each

Taxing himself mentally, the kreen overextends his mental agility to attempt to pull the nearest stone-kin into the collective.

Unwilling Participant, Will DC 22, as a move action for expending my psionic focus.

I guess these folks probably have tremorsense, considering I had a pretty good stealth roll myself.

Gorkhan rolls down the wall and runs around Woki and Raun to flank the creature that had attacked Raun from the other side, while concentrating on the Seeker's blade in his hand.

Activating Seeker's Blade finesse.

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 25 ⇒ (18) + 25 = 43
Spring Attack w/ flanking & spatial awareness: 1d20 + 14 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 14 + 2 + 2 = 21
Damage w/spatial awareness: 1d10 + 10 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 10 + 2 = 15 + Sneak: 1d6 ⇒ 4

Gorkhan: They do have tremorsense, and so could detect you moving along the wall. Plus, the way the (stupid) surprise rules work in Pathfinder, the enemies can only be surprised if they are unaware of your entire party, just like you can only be surprised if unaware of the entire enemy party. It's something I house rule in my home games (I give a surprise round to anyone who is aware of, and hidden from the enemy) but that caused confusion/consternation early on in this game so we've been playing it RAW since then.

EDIT: Also, I'm not clear on which one you are attacking. The one farthest south, or farthest east?

Figured, lol. Anyhow, G is attacking the one south of Raun. So neither of the ones that actually attacked him are getting his attention (aside from the attempt to avoid via acrobatics).

Shards of rock spray across the cavern as Raun slams her hammer into the easternmost of the hej-kin. The blow smashes into the creature hard enough to dent the cavern wall, but its thick hide appears to be held together by equally thick bones. Bloody and battered, it regains its feet and returns to the fight with a fanatic gleam in its eyes.

Gorkhan darts to the south, his blading flashing in a clumsy strike just manages to slip below the guard of the charging hej-kin. Gorkhan, don't forget you got Vital Strike when you hit BAB +6. Also, you can use the Seeker's blade two-handed for more damage. I've added another 1d10 ⇒ 8 damage to your last attack.

To the west, Daina sets her attacker alight with a rolling ball of flame. Another 4 damage from catching on fire. Nnn'tkklik'l retreats, raising a protective barrier around his allies as he draws the nearest hej-kin into the collective.

The hej-kin launch themselves into a counter-attack, seemingly undeterred by broken bones and burning skin.

The one bitten by Gorkhan's blade turns on the human, slashing with both sets of its wicked claws. The bard twists through the air, avoiding the talons as he sets himself up for another next attack.

Raun proves lucky, as well, dodging several blows or deflecting them with her psionic rage, until the wounded hej-kin lands a lucky blow, slicing through her leg armor and tearing a deep, bloody wound in her thigh. Raun takes 27 damage from the critical hit after DR, eliminating her temp hp and doing 7 to hit points.

Daina and Nnn'tkklik'l also fall prey to the wicked claws of their attackers, with each suffering several savage wounds. Daina takes 36 damage total, eliminating temp hp and doing 16 to hit points. Nnn takes 26, eliminating temp and doing 6 to hit points.

Of the spiders there is no sign - her vision obscured by the wall of shimmering ectoplasm, Raun only catches a glimpse as the defiling spider slip off to the north.

~~~~~~~~oo~~~~~~~~

You're up!

Updated Map

Combat Round 2

Initiative Group 1: Däina, Nnn'tkklik'l, Raun, Gorkhan, Grit, Woki

Initiative Group 2: Dark spiders and hej-kin

Daina steps back again, then summons a second flaming sphere to go with the first, directing them both to burn the Hej-kin attacking her.

Fire Damage: 6d6 ⇒ (2, 1, 3, 3, 3, 5) = 17
Fire Damage: 6d6 ⇒ (5, 2, 5, 1, 4, 6) = 23

Same DCs.

Totally forgot about the Vital Strike thing. I assume it works with Spring Attack here?

Gorkhan lashes out at the hej-kin with his blade gripped in two hands before tumbling away down the corridor.

Immediate action last round: Studied Target due to Sneak Attack success
Delay until Raun attacks (to provide flanking in case she wants to strike the same fellow)
Standard: Attack
Move: to position NW, NW, W from his current location

Attack w/ studied target, flanking & spatial awareness: 1d20 + 14 + 1 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 14 + 1 + 2 + 2 = 33
Damage w/ studied target& spatial awareness: 4d6 + 10 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (1, 6, 5, 5) + 10 + 1 + 2 = 30 + Sneak Attack: 1d6 ⇒ 2
Acrobatics: 1d20 + 25 ⇒ (7) + 25 = 32

Grit moves forward in lizard form and bites at the enemy attacking Daina.

Bite: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (18) + 15 = 332d6 + 9 ⇒ (2, 2) + 9 = 13

Grit, don't forget you have Vital Strike as well now. Also, Daina's foe may be toast by the time you get there - if that's the case I'll move you on over to help Nnn.

You are right. I had looked at an older version of his sheet. Sorry. And yes, Grit is the calvary moving to attack the enemy on the party wizard and healer. With his Longstrider and ability to climb he might even be able to charge…

Extra Damage: 2d6 ⇒ (3, 5) = 8

Round 2
hp 64/56
Effects: Air Barrier (+6 AC)

Standard Action:Cast cure critical wounds on Raun.
Move Action: Fly back down the hall to about the opening of the larger room where Nnn is, close to the thri'kreen. Spacing so I can hit most everyone with a channel next round.

Cure Critical Wounds: 4d8 + 8 ⇒ (5, 1, 4, 1) + 8 = 19

Woki reaches out and touches Raun on the shoulder as the halfling calls on the soothing touch of the spirits to pour their healing energies into the large tall-one. Afterward, the halfling goes soaring back down the hallway to check to see if the others are having a good hunt.

<<The spider thing may be circling around. Be wary.>> Grit sends.

Ouch...

Raun glowers at the Hej-kin as it takes her blow and keep coming. She focusses on the tough foe to the exclusion of the rest of the fight, bringing her hammer to bear again.

Earthbreaker (Vital Strike): 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (4) + 17 = 21
Damage: 4d8 + 25 ⇒ (7, 5, 2, 4) + 25 = 43

Feeling the short one's healing energies flow to Raun, the kreen focuses on more pressing concerns... the hejkin right in his face.

Nnn'tkklik'l takes another 5ft step, then tries to siphon life from the hejkin in the collective. (Will DC 22 halves, 22 HP siphoned, all dmg will apply as healing to Daina)

Claws dripping blood as its hide bubbles and blackens, the burning hej-kin advances on Daina. It makes it only a few steps before the half-elf calls a second flaming sphere and immolates the creature with both rolling balls of fire.

Seeing Daina drop her attacker, Grit springs from the wall to land amid the ruined structures, his scaled maw snapping and tearing at the hej-kin threatening Nnn'tkklik'l. Falling back, the thri-kreen siphoned life force from the advancing creature, using it to heal Daina of her wounds. Daina is fully healed and you have 8 hp left to play with Woki channels his own healing into Raun before flying to the thri-kreen's side. 19 points of damage healed for Raun.

The half-giant's anger gets the best of her as she flails at the hej-kin she failed to kill earlier. Her second blow glances off the creature, its thick hide saving it from any real damage. Gorkhan lands a deep cut with the Seeker's blade before retreating a safe distance, his sword trailing a thick droplets of blood as the badly wounded hej-kin redirects its focus to Raun.

The wounded hej-kin are clumsy as they gang up on the half-giant and only one is able to land a solid blow. Raun takes 14 damage after DR. To the west, the hej-kin that had been chasing Nnn'tkklik'l turns its attention to Grit but is unable to pierce the great lizards armored hide.

~~~~~~~~oo~~~~~~~~

You're up!

Updated Map

Combat Round 3

Initiative Group 1: Däina, Nnn'tkklik'l, Raun, Gorkhan, Grit, Woki

Initiative Group 2: Dark spiders and hej-kin

<<Thank you Nnn.>> With her arms held wide to control the burning magic in front of her, she twists them around and with a jerk causes both spheres to roll into the hej-kin by Nnn.

Fire Damage: 6d6 ⇒ (1, 5, 1, 3, 1, 1) = 126d6 ⇒ (3, 5, 6, 2, 5, 3) = 24

Double move action to direct both spheres. Same DCs and effects.

those 8 remaining will go to Raun.

Ok, well if the 36 fire damage Daina just did didn't kill it, Nnn will attempt to drain 22 more HP from the creature and send it Raun's way. If it is dead, then Nnn will try to pull the southernmost visible hejkin (flanking Raun) into the collective.

Raun continues to swing her hammer with growing fury, and only marginally increased accuracy at the wounded Hej-kin

Earthbreaker (Vital Strike): 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (6) + 17 = 23
Damage: 4d8 + 25 ⇒ (2, 5, 1, 1) + 25 = 34
Bleeeeehh.

Gorkhan dashes in and strikes out at the Hej-kin before skipping back to his original position.

Spring Attack w/ studied target, flanking & spatial awareness: 1d20 + 14 + 1 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 14 + 1 + 2 + 2 = 22
Damage w/ studied target& spatial awareness: 4d6 + 10 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (6, 3, 3, 2) + 10 + 1 + 2 = 27 +Sneak Attack: 1d6 ⇒ 2

Round 3
hp 64/56
Effects: Air Barrier (+6 AC)

Standard Action: Channel energy (witch doctor ability, 2d6)

Channel energy 30': 2d6 ⇒ (2, 5) = 7

Should be 30 to 35 hp to flop around, Nnn.

Woki raises the spear to the cavern ceiling as the winds rush in to fill the area with a cool breeze, calling on the spirits to fill the living with positive energy.

those 8 remaining will go to Raun.

Ok, well if the 36 fire damage Daina just did didn't kill it, Nnn will attempt to drain 22 more HP from the creature and send it Raun's way. If it is dead, then Nnn will try to pull the southernmost visible hejkin (flanking Raun) into the collective.

The creature gets two reflex saves to negate that damage. So it may still very well be up.

Round 3

If the creature is still up Lizard-Grit attacks it with a vicious bite. If it is down he will move over to the closest one on Raun and bite at it.

Bite: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (10) + 16 = 264d6 + 9 + 4 ⇒ (1, 1, 4, 5) + 9 + 4 = 24 Vital Strike and Power Attack, which I forgot last round.

Thanks Woki. Psionic healing isn't super great, but the way it works it gets a REALLY great effect even from a few channel dice, since they can hit a lot of people and I can focus the HP into Raun if needed.

Daina's flaming spheres engulf the hej-kin menacing Nnn'tkklik'l, burning away the creature's flesh as the thri-kreen drains the last of its life and sending it to Raun. Raun is healed a total of 30 hit points.

Seeing the creature die, Grit heads east, taking to the walls as he rushes past Woki and Gorkhan to tear at the nearest surviving attacker. Raun also lands a blow, finally pulverizing the hej-kin attacking from the northeast.

Gorkhan darts in to strike at the southernmost hej-kin, but the creature is able to turn away his blade with its claws at the last second.

Flying next to Nnn'tkklik'l, Woki channels the mercy of the air spirits into the group. 35 points is enough to heal all remaining damage in the group, so everyone is at full hit points. Grit and Gorkhan each have 20 temp hp, Woki has 8 temp hp.

The remaining hej-kin counter-attack, dividing their attention between Raun and Grit. Neither manages to land a blow.

The glowing wall behind Raun abruptly disappears and the dark spider defiler can be seen on the far side of the stream that feeds the well pool. Spitting out arcane syllables, the spider gestures toward Raun, whose eyes begin to dart around wildly. Raun is now subject to a confusion spell. Next round she will attack the nearest creature, whether friend or foe. Note, magic circle/protection spells don't block confusion. See here.

Moments later, a new shimmering wall rises to replace the first.

~~~~~~~~oo~~~~~~~~

You're up!

Updated Map

Combat Round 4

Initiative Group 1: Däina, Nnn'tkklik'l, Raun, Gorkhan, Grit, Woki

Initiative Group 2: Dark spiders and hej-kin

I can have a flaming sphere jump over allies to avoid damaging them, correct?

The spell description is a little ambiguous but I'm fine with it.

I'll try to get the spheres just south of Grit. I'm just out of the 30 ft. range to get them into the enemies, but next turn I can.

Raun only needed 24, so there was 6 healing left. Bleh, confusion could be bad; at least this turn it'll be one of the Hej-kin

Raun spins towards the spider creature as the wall fades, but moments later swirls back again to face the more immediate foes as the barrier returns, only to find them multiplied greatly in number. "What you do to friends!" she roars as she lashes out at the nearest, smashing it with a mighty blow.

1 North hej-kin, 2 South hej-kin: 1d2 ⇒ 2
Earthbreaker (Vital Strike): 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (11) + 17 = 28
Damage: 4d8 + 25 ⇒ (7, 2, 6, 2) + 25 = 42

Noticing Raun's strange seeming words, Gorkhan thinks nothing of it, since she continues to attack the hej-kin. He speeds off to attack one of them himself, before returning.

Spring attack south one unless Raun's strike kills it. Otherwise, the north one. After the attack go as far as possible (with 55' movement) back the way we came (Gorkhan will try to circle around to come at the spider-thing at a different angle).

Spring Attack w/ studied target, flanking & spatial awareness: 1d20 + 14 + 1 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 14 + 1 + 2 + 2 = 30
Damage w/ studied target& spatial awareness: 4d6 + 10 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (3, 2, 3, 1) + 10 + 1 + 2 = 22 +Sneak Attack: 1d6 ⇒ 4
If this attack was on the north one, since he won't be able to flank, remove the sneak attack damage and also include a -4 attack and -2 damage.

Close enough to the wall to be curious about it, Grit tries to figure out what it is, but does not have a clue.
Spellcraft: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (2) + 10 = 12

Round 4

If the enemy next to Grit is still up Lizard-Grit attacks it with a vicious bite before moving back (5' if the creature is still up and 40' if it goes down. If it is down from Raun's hit he will double move back to begin circling around to get to the spider creature.

Bite: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (5) + 16 = 214d6 + 9 + 4 ⇒ (5, 5, 1, 1) + 9 + 4 = 25 Vital Strike and Power Attack again.

Round 4
hp 64/56
Effects: Air Barrier (+6 AC), Fly

Move Action: Move a little further back toward Raun and the new wall of magic.
Standard Action: Drop my third level spirit magic slot to cast dispel magic on Raun and target the confusion spell on her.

Spellcraft to ID what the spider cast on Raun: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (18) + 10 = 28
Dispel Magic, Caster Level Check vs DC(11 + enemy caster level): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (16) + 8 = 24

Woki growls as the wall comes down and the many-legged-one spits out its hateful magic at the very tall-one before re-erecting its defense. Through the bond, the halfling tries to talk the giantess out of her confusion, <<We are here, Raun. The many-legged thing clouds your mind but not your spirit. Friends, one and all, are by your side.>> Meanwhile, Woki rattles the bone-laden spear and calls out in a sing-song language for the spirits to banish the evil land-killing magic present in the room before leveling the tip of the spear toward Raun and releasing the pent-up spell.

does the wall block line of sight? or can the spider be seen through the wall? if it can be seen, I'd like to move down and try to pull it into the collective (sight is all that is required) DC 22 will. I'd move diagonally down-right so there is a space between the hejkin and I, and a space between Grit and I (around the lip of that wall). If i cannot see him through the wall, I'll ready an action to attempt to do so should the wall come down again.

Daina maneuvers the two flaming spheres toward the remaining hej-kin as the rest of the group concentrate their blows on the creatures.

Screaming in rage as the spider's spell muddles her senses, Raun lashes out at the southernmost hej-kin, reducing it to bloody paste with her hammer. Seeing the clawed beast die, Gorkhan redirects his attack to the remaining hej-kin, slashing it deeply with his steel blade but failing to kill it. Aided by a flank from Raun, Grit snaps his fanged maw shut around its neck and shakes it death.

Flying close to Raun, Woki speaks soft words to the half-giant before calling on the spirits to lift the fog from her mind. Her eyes clear as the spell is broken.

Nnn'tkklik'l positions himself so he is ready to attack when the opaque green wall of ectoplasm is lifted. But a minute a passes and the wall remains in place, blocking passage or sight into the eastern cavern. Another minute passes, then another. Finally the wall fades, revealing an empty cavern to the east.

Faint scratches on the stone floor can be seen along the shallow stream, leading deeper into the cave system. Near the old ruins, a few chambers carved into the central basalt column appear to have once been inhabited, although not in many months judging from the dust gathering in the corners.

Out of combat for the moment as the spiders are nowhere to be seen (or heard).

Updated Map

Daina sends her flaming spheres down the southern and eastern corridor, lighting them and looking down them.

Raun would likely not have sat and waited patiently for the wall to disapate. There would have been some attempts to smash it with her hammer, and if that didn't work, going around the long way (still got ~7 minutes of Expeditious Retreat left).

Even if it's a wall of force, if she can vital strike it she does an average of 43 damage (or 34 if you can't vital strike an inanimate object), so she'd be able to beat her way through in a minute or so. Presumably the thing still gets away, but not as much of a head start, or loss of spell duration.

Raun blinks, looking around in confusion as the bountiful enemies disappear and her friends return. Not one for deep thought however, she simply turns around and starts hammering at the barrier behind which the defiler hides.

When the barrier at last is penetrated, Raun snarls at finding the creature gone, or else hidden from sight once more. "Where it go?!" she demands angrily, looking at the others and mentally eying the Champion inside her head.

Daina wants so badly to find out that Raun is just a big teddy bear, but she keeps pushing off of that haha.

"I imagine it fled when it realized the fight was loss. We should pursue before it gets too far."

I was simply writing up a general scenario. Raun could break through the wall with little trouble. You find the exact same thing but save a few minutes.

Hmm. Grit had intended to begin circling around the central portion to try to catch the spider thing. I had indicated that in my post and would have begun moving around after grit dropped his foe. He could be most of the way around in 2 rounds. Is that going to mess things up? Why would we wait minutes when we can run around in rounds?

You guys are killing me. I was trying to speed things along rather than wait for you to post about how you would get around the wall. The spiders fled while you finished off the hej-kin. Raun breaks through the wall. Grit goes around. You find exactly what I described above, whether two rounds or two minutes passed.

I roll to advance plot.

1d20 ⇒ 19 I am invoking "screw the rules" and moving things along.

"After them!" Daina tries to push everybody along to start going down the tunnel.

I am good with that. I did not want to wait 2 minutes after announcing my intent to go around though.

I am good with that. I did not want to wait 2 minutes after announcing my intent to go around though.

Grit casts Frostbite on himself as he moves to where the spider was last seen and then begins to examine the ground and walls for tracks.

Survival: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (15) + 15 = 30

So uh, which way are we actually going then? Following the water? Raun's all for charging off after them, just need to know which way.

Yes, following the water.

The kreen follows the group, walking alongside the water.