DM Delmoth's Strange Aeons (Inactive)

Game Master Delmoth

The walls of this room are lined with fine wood panels. The furniture includes a desk sitting under a window opposite the door, a high-backed chair, and a couple of small bookcases packed tight with scrolls, volumes, and notebooks. Near the door of the room is a locked trunk DC 25. It would take several hours at least to go through all the documents and books in this room.

I was mistaken before there are two southern doors, that’s what I get for not referring back to the book map and having sloppy fog of war. The two final rooms are just stairs up and down anyway.

Theo scans the room with Detect Magic.

Mara pointed out the locked trunk to Ellery and checked it for traps.

Perception: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (2) + 14 = 16

Then asked her father to provide guidance to Ellery on the best way to open the lock, or deal with any traps.

Casting Guidance on Ellery.

In one of the notes Theo sees an aura of abjuration. Divining carefully he determines it is an explosive rune.

Mara finds no additional traps on the trunk.

Ellery walks over and examines the trunk for traps...

Perception, Trapsense, Heroism: 1d20 + 12 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 12 + 3 + 2 = 32

If he finds none he gets to work on the lock

Disable Device (taking a 10), Trapfinding, MW Thieves' Tool, Heroism: 10 + 13 + 3 + 2 + 2 = 30

If he does find a trap he instead attempts to disarm it first.

Disable Device, Trapfinding, MW Thieves' Tool, Heroism: 1d20 + 13 + 3 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 13 + 3 + 2 + 2 = 32

Ellery pops open the trunk to find that it’s full of books. One is a magical Book of the Loremaster, folded in the front cover are two scrolls of Psychic Surgery. The titles of the mundane books are as follows.

Atop the Valley’s Soul
The Codex of Three Prescriptions
Curses of the Black Lake
Dichotomous Translations of Aklo Syntax
Elements Through the Spirals of Time
Emotions of the Past
The Falling Silk
Festival of the Snake
The Forgotten Servants
The Illusion of the Weeping Ones
In Admiration of Keeping Pacts
Manual of Silence
Men and Vultures: Denizens of the Darkened Depths and Dead Skies
Monuments of the Forest
The Shadow’s Ship
Shards of Sight
Spiders of Sin and Sky
Theological Agreements of the Kingdom
Tigers and Flies
The Unified Manual of Understanding
Voyage of the Rainbow Servant
The Wise Harmony

After dealing with the trunk Ellery unfocues his eyes and carefully mars the explosive rune without reading it.

Theophilus puts on his mean face; watching everywhere...

Mara looked over the books and nodded. "That's a lot of reading! Let's take the magical stuff for now and leave the rest for later."

After waiting for Frederick to open the door to the study, she looked in there and scanned for magic auras.

Perception: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (10) + 14 = 24

Casting Detect Magic.

Ellery smirks a bit and takes the book titled 'The Forgotten Servants' putting it in his pack.

Mara looked over the books and nodded. "That's a lot of reading! Let's take the magical stuff for now and leave the rest for later."

I mean you have a haversack for this. Just sayin

Dervak starts putting books in the Haversack.

Seems Lowls was very curious about things best left alone.

Theophilus directs Frederick to collect the books.

Rowan takes the Admiration if keeping Pacts, and Elements through the spirals of time and puts them in his pack.

Mara suggested, "should we go up stairs and see if we can find Nemira's body in the attic?"

She used her newly acquired magic pearl to recall a spell she had already cast, and toughened Ellery's skin.

Using the Pearl of Power to recall Barkskin, and casting it on Ellery

If we go up the stairs, Mara will activate Time Flicker before she gets to the top.

"Yes, that sounds good."
Dervak will use cast Shield and Longarm before going up the stairs (both spells last 6 minutes).

Theophilus casts Guidance, before following.

As you ascend a familiar voice moans, ”Quit your scurrying… you fiend-born rats.” The large attic area has a slanted ceiling supported by wooden trusses, beams, and rafters. The ceiling slopes down from the highest beams in the middle to the lowest on the perimeter, where several ugly, fibrous plants sprout from clay pots, barely illuminated by a few dormer windows. The air smells of dust, mold, and decay. Nemira is at first unseen but her voice cries out from around the corner, ”Stay away! Don’t look at me!”

Initiative
Dervak: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11
Ellery: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10
Mara: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 = 17
Mara, Temporal Celerity: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3
Rowan: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22
Theo: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (18) + 12 = 30
Nemira: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8

PCs up

When someone rounds the corner: The large sized and corporeal form of Nemira is cowering, stooped in the northeast corner of the attic. She is hiding her face from you. You note that the tentacle poking out her side is crackling with necrotic energy.

Mara retrieved the drawing from her pack and moved towards the voice. She looked around the corner and held up the child's artwork. She spoke to the monstrosity in a gentle voice, "Hello Nemira! I found this drawing in Haserton's childhood bedroom. What happened? It seems that even then, he was fixated on very dark things."

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (11) + 10 = 21

Theophilus smiles at the large lady

My dear; we are here to ease your pain. Tell us how we may help.

Ellery waits to see the reaction that Mara will get...

delaying

Theo has Diplomacy +10; so automatically aids Mara.

Dervak is quite certain that this is futile and Nemira will try to kill us.
He takes a single move and readies to attack if Nemira does.

Rowan moves up and enters snake style. He is trying to look non-threatening.

Her voice softens, "Oh my sweet Haserton. He was so afraid of cats." Her visage suddenly turns angry and the floor cresks in complaint as she stomps closer, "I told you to not look at me!"

Tentacle plus vampiric touch vs Mara: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (13) + 9 = 22
Damage, tentacle plus vampiric touch: 1d6 + 5 + 4d6 ⇒ (2) + 5 + (5, 5, 1, 3) = 21

One of Nemira's tentacles lashes out in the direction of Mara but slams into the corner of the attic denting it. Using a natural attack so that's a miss, thanks to cover.

PCs up

Note that I edited my previous post — Mara cast Barkskin on Ellery instead of herself. I initially forgot that he didn't already have it.
The total of 22 would hit her, although there is still the 20% miss chance from Time Flicker (Blur).
It's also possible she may hit her child's drawing. :)

"Did he confine you in this attic?", Mara asked, as she ducked out of the way of the tentacle.

She figured that it was going to be difficult to have a peaceful discussion with Nemira, and that more active measures were needed. The color drained from her as her eyes turned pitch black, and a stream of twinkling lights flowed towards Haserton's monstrous mother. Then she stepped over behind a crate.

Using the Stardust supernatural ability. Nemira has -2 to attack rolls and sight-based perception rolls for 3 rounds, and cannot benefit from concealment or any invisibility effects.

Note that I edited my previous post — Mara cast Barkskin on Ellery instead of herself. I initially forgot that he didn't already have it.

The total of 22 would hit her, although there is still the 20% miss chance from Time Flicker (Blur).
It's also possible she may hit her child's drawing. :)

Concealment: 1d100 ⇒ 18

Opps, that's what I get for obsessively checking for posts when I should be working. Dice agrees with the miss, carry on.

Ellery hearing the discussion going poorly runs along to try and find a position.

double move

Theophilus frowns.
How absolutely rude!

He begins a Full Round cast.

Did we Knowledge check her?

knowledge nobility last I checked no one had it. I guess you could retreat and try and research her condition, but you do know a great deal about her capabilities from prior encounters

"We got a plan?" asks Dervak, clearly wary of Nemira's reach.

Theophilus points at the horror.
Dervak; smash!

While Dervak and the Hulk share some common narrative tropes and themes, our half-orc friend is a bit less invulnerable and a bit more cautious.
Dervak uses Total Defense and moves in. AC 32 (18 touch).

Tentacle AoO 1, stardust: 1d20 + 9 - 2 ⇒ (1) + 9 - 2 = 8
Tentacle AoO 2, stardust: 1d20 + 9 - 2 ⇒ (10) + 9 - 2 = 17

Nemira slams one tentacle into the roof causing motes of dust and debris to fall nearby. She quickly recovers but Dervak is ready for the attack weaving out of the way just in time.

Rowan has 1 rank in knowledge nobility (+1), but I may have forgotten to add it.

knowledge nobility: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 1 = 19

Theophilus winks.

action is to Rowan unless he wants to wait til after Mara next round, you know she can do multiple AoO but not necessarily how many and she's holding the charge for a vampiric touch, and a reach of at least 20 ft

Rowan moves straight up out of reach, then attempts to approach her to get into combat.

acrobatics+heroism: 1d20 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 8 + 2 = 23

If successful, he attacks.

stunning attack+heroism: 1d20 + 10 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 10 + 2 = 13
damage: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9

Moved you to the only square you could get to with 25 feet of movement

Tentacle 1 vs Dervak, stardust: 1d20 + 9 - 2 ⇒ (5) + 9 - 2 = 12
Damage plus Vampiric touch: 1d6 + 5 + 4d6 ⇒ (1) + 5 + (4, 6, 2, 4) = 22

Tentacle 2 vs Rowan, stardust: 1d20 + 9 - 2 ⇒ (1) + 9 - 2 = 8
Damage: 1d6 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10

Nemira divides her attention between the two assailants and screams at Mara, "Wouldn't you!"

PCs up

Mara called over, "I wouldn't lock someone away because they look different." The flailing tentacles are another matter, however!

She concentrated and opened a portal to get Ellery next to Nemira.

Using Heaven's Leap to teleport Ellery next to Nemira. She can only move him 30ft (and only 3o ft from herself), so not quite enough to get him into flank. Not sure if the box on the map would prevent him from 5ft stepping into flank or not.

Not sure if the box on the map would prevent him from 5ft stepping into flank or not.

I'll allow it

Ellery takes a step to the side of Nemira and attempts to put a hole in her.

Red Destiny, Heartseeking, Heroism, Flanking: 1d20 + 8 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 8 + 2 + 2 = 17
Damage: 1d6 + 4 + 3d6 ⇒ (3) + 4 + (2, 4, 1) = 14

Rowan unleashes a flurry!

flurry 1+heroism: 1d20 + 10 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 10 + 2 = 21
damage: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

flurry 2+heroism: 1d20 + 10 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 10 + 2 = 25
damage: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

flurry 3+heroism: 1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 5 + 2 = 16
damage: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12

Ki extra attack+heroism: 1d20 + 10 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 10 + 2 = 22
damage: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11

Ellery tries to stab at the woman but is stopped by an invisible force. Rowan is more lucky and lands three blows, a single bead of blood drops from the puncture. Rowan did 1 damage from unbeaten DR, at least you know he can hurt her.

Dervak slashes twice at Nemira Lowls.

Attack, Heroism, Flank, PA: 1d20 + 11 + 2 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (12) + 11 + 2 + 2 - 2 = 25
Damage: 2d4 + 13 ⇒ (4, 3) + 13 = 20

Iterative: 1d20 + 6 + 2 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (2) + 6 + 2 + 2 - 2 = 10

Arriving behind the monstrosity (is there Theme Music playing) is...

Killer Croc!

Melee bite, flank: 1d20 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 7 + 2 = 121d8 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13
Fortune Melee bite, flank: 1d20 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 7 + 2 = 19
plus grab, flank: 1d20 + 13 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 13 + 2 = 28

and tail slap, flank: 1d20 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 + 2 = 131d12 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5
Special Attack death roll, if grappled: 1d8 + 9 ⇒ (1) + 9 = 10
plus trip

Moving forward a bit, Theophilus Fortunes Killer Croc.
I figure he has to move up a bit too see.

Nemira seems unperturbed by the appearance of a crocodile next to Ellery. It snaps and slaps at her but it bumps into an invisible force.

You don't need to move up since you could just barely see a square on the northern wall to summon it into. If you 5ft up you will be in Nemira's threatened area. Also Killa Croc 5ft steps to give Rowan flanking. ;)

Dervak feels like he’s carving into stone when he slices into Nemira. She faces him now and says with anger in her face, ”Is that anyway to treat your hostess?!” 10 damage with DR 10/???, you’ve covered slashing, piercing, bludgeoning, and magic I think.

Touch vs Dervak: 1d20 + 9 - 2 ⇒ (6) + 9 - 2 = 13
Vampiric Touch: 4d6 ⇒ (5, 5, 2, 1) = 13

The noblewoman gently caresses Dervak’s face, draining the life out of him.

PCs up

Ellery attempts once again to pierce Nemira....

Red Destiny, Heartseeking, Heroism, Flanking: 1d20 + 8 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 8 + 2 + 2 = 22
Damage: 1d6 + 4 + 3d6 ⇒ (5) + 4 + (3, 1, 6) = 19

Mara moved around the crate and cast a spell, causing a glowing scimitar of force to appear next to the crazed noblewoman.

Spiritual Weapon: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (7) + 9 = 16
Force damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7

I think Spiritual Weapon targets regular AC, so that will be a miss.

Rowan draws his cold iron Kama and attacks.

Cold iron +heroism+flanking: 1d20 + 8 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 8 + 2 + 2 = 32
Confirm crit: 1d20 + 8 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 8 + 2 + 2 = 31
damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5
damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8

Drunken strength!!!: 1d6 ⇒ 1