Dungeon Master S's "All for Immortality" Trilogy (Inactive)

Game Master Chris Marsh

Hahaha! It was a worth a try though!

Rumil kicks Chippy into a clod (the camel equivalent to a trot) and rejoins the party. From atop his trusty camel, Rumil reaches for the saddlebag holding his spellbooks. He frantically flips through the page. "I do know some teleportation magics. Do we know where Roo went or how to follow him? I feel the other plane nearby, it is quite strange. Maybe a simple dimensional door would open up a passage to the other plane where they came from..."

Rumil has dimension door and teleport in his spellbook and can cast from his bonded weapon. Unfortunately, he can't actually cast level 5 spells yet so teleport is out of the question but we could try dimension door. I can only take three people though.

The elf dismounts and replaces the spellbook. He clears his throat. "Well, who is coming with?"

"It's gotta be Hugo. He can dim door as well and probably has other magic that may be able to bring back more than go. For all we know there are others still alive on the other side of whatever this is." Roakar responds to Rumil while waving his hand about at reality.

"Igy. You or me? The other is holding down the fort here alone and watchin' over the camel." Roakar says.

"I am willing and ready to go and have short and long range teleports along with planar travel. We need to rescue Roos before he runs off with the profits."

"Captain Rumil, how are you knowing where to target the destination? Is it closeby and safe to land?

If Rumil is ready to go, Hugo will cast Fly upon himself before they dimdoor (if that is the plan).

Hugo also takes a good look at this place in the event he needs to teleport back here.

"Ready.

"You three go. It is possible that Roos may need Master Rumil's and Brother Hugo's expertise, and very likely Roakar's might much more than mine. It's also possible that I might find another realm very unwelcoming."

"Besides, we wouldn't want Roos to mistake me for. . . a different angel." he adds with a small laugh. "However, we do have one of their we could ask for more information."

I figure that between Rumil and Victor, there is a good chance one will have the appropriate ability to find Roos, who could be in trouble. Additionally, it's also very possible there may be some other Pathinders trapped there as well, needing a ride back. Up until recently, I always memorized Planar Adaptation as a precaution, but since I never once used it, I stopped doing so last adventure. :(

"Captain Rumil, how are you knowing where to target the destination? Is it closeby and safe to land?

Rumil shrugs. "It is just a guess. I am hoping that when we try to open a dimensional door to just a few feet away it actually opens a door to the other plane. But it might not work." Rumil waits for any more suggestions (such as from their conjurer friend) before testing his theory.

"Let's do this now. We have waited long enough. It's time to save Roos from the mess he is probably in and meet this Imlathre."

Roakar shakes off some of the monster sludge between the spikes of his hammer and braces for the immediate combat that may come.

Hey guys! I'm back from the race. I've got a badly sprained Achilles, but I'll heal. I'm tired as all get out, so it'll be a day or so before I'm back at it. Meanwhile there's a lot of chatter for the group, and you're still in initiative. So let's say that you were talking as you put the shamblers down. The prime material team needs to make a definitive call "ASAP".

Glad you made it, though sorry about the heel. Something I tell my patients, "RICE", Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation.

My plan is, if I can borrow manacles, to tie the one Dimensional Shambler's hands up (with rope), and then to manacle myself to him, with the hope that he/she/it can not teleport away without me, or at all, or something along those lines. From there, I was going to try to wake him and interrogate, (but as I don't speak Aklo, will either need to wing it or wait until the others are back).

I'll call out to our guide and also Rotuzack to come over here and stay close, just in case. "Keep an eye out while I bind this creature, and I'll keep you safe, and heal your wounds a bit more in a few moments." as I make my way towards the knocked out Dimensional Shambler, drawing out some rope.

I believe that Rumil wants to try to cast Dimension Door, bringing both Roakar and Hugo along and hoping that will allow that to travel to another plane as it is so thin here. I believe they are waiting to see if that plan might even work, what sort of check it might be, etc. . ., and if that fails, than Hugo was going to try Plane Shift. Is that correct?

Correct - Hugo was casting fly prior to/just before the DimDoor, but otherwise is ready to go when Rumil goes.

No telling where we will be going. It could be like our last mission or actually to Hell itself...with a lake of fire or brimstone.
Let us hope Roos is surviving long enough for us to complete his rescue.

So if I read this correctly, Team Marterial Plane will try the DD, then the Plane Shift? DD does not work, so it's on the third round that you try to shift?

Well, actually now that I think about it, Hugo cannot shift since we do not know where to shift to....so that may not work. We may have to resort to the hitchhiking with the bad guy?

Farhaana Zadeh or Rotuzack, any clues where they went? If not, Roakar, you may have to beat it out of the last one Iggy has caught.

With the apparently "thin" reality...can this be disbelieved?

If neither of those work, Hugo will try casting "find the path" domain spell to try and locate their friend's prison.

Find the path: The location must be on the same plane as the subject at the time of casting.

Roakar walks over, drags the shambler back to Hugo and then grapples the unconcious shambler and Hugo...and Hugo.....and Hugo.

"Damn it Hugo!" Roakar manacles the shambler and hands the other end to Hugo along with the key. "You figure it out."

"Iggy, give us a little healing. I am gonna go make sure Roos is ok. If we ain't back in a day, snap that damn magic thing and tell that a** h@+# that sent us here to come get us."

When the shambler wakes Roakar talks in a very guttural tones.

"Am I to understand you can not go because you do not know the destination?" he says rhetorically. "How then, are we supposed to come get you, my friend?"

I'm a little confused on Roakar's plan, now too. But, let me check something. I might have an idea.

Round 1: After tying up the Shambler, I'll drop to one knee, reverently whispering "Mother, we could use your help here, to save a friend and possibly many other innocents. Send one of your servants to help us save others." The holy symbol in the center of his forehead begins to glow with power for a brief moment, when suddenly a large, angelic being appears in the air near us. <Summon Monster 6>Her upper half looks like an elven woman, and her presence brings heavenly music to the minds of all around, calming and reassuring. Her lower half, however, is that of an enormous divine serpent.

Round 2: "Hello sister. Thank you for coming to our aid in this time of need. This creature has stolen one of our friends, taking them to a different realm. We know not which, and he, as well as others, may be in grave danger. Can you help us find them?"
Channel Energy to Heal (including Shambler): 7d6 ⇒ (6, 5, 3, 2, 6, 4, 2) = 28

Lillend Azata "Let us see if it can be done."
Charm Monster on Shambler Will DC 17 Negates
Utilizing her natural ability to speak to and understand any being capable of speech, "Tell me my friend, where did you take the other humans?"

Hugo responds to Ignatious' questions...

"Getting back should not be a problem, as I know how to get back to this place....or at least close to it.
But if your friend can find the destination or can be made to take us there...that is better.
Since I can only go one way or the other without resting.

Yeah. My thought process was to wake up the shambler and hope to all that is good that it would take Hugo and maybe me to the other side and Roos. Hugo may not be able to know where Roos is but he can definitely get back to where we are now using planeshift. Not sure what's on the other side other than it's not a happy picnic (Roos's spoiler titles); so I don't want to risk being stranded for an entire day if we can avoid it.

This may be the most complicated combat I've ever run... Hang on, I need to resolve Roos first.

Roakar and Ignatious begin their plans, one dragging, the other summoning. The azata appears, and so does a new enemy! He shifts in from who knows where, "You have lost one of your number, do not be fools and lose another! I shall destroy you all if you resist!" The man is heavily armored, and is flying about 50' above the ground. Blood drips freely from him, being lost in the wind beneath. It appears Roos did not go down easily.

This interrupts the plan after Ignatious's "Round 1"

Round 7:
Baddies: Shift in
Ignatious: Go
Rumil: Go
Hugo: Go
Roakar: Go

Since I am technically last in initiative I am giving everyone a chance to do something smart before Roakar goes off the deep end and turns this guy into a red oasis in the desert.

Something snaps in Roakar........

Rumil nearly leaps from Chippy's back in surprise as a new villain appears. He isn't sure who the man is but the threat is clear. "R-Roakar? I think the man wants a word."

If Roakar wants, Rumil will cast telekinetic charge on him, throwing Roakar across the battlefield and giving him an immediate action melee attack with a +2 bonus.

Don't worry about that. The man is 50 ft up and 40 ft out. Even with the half speed fly penalty for flying @ a 45 degree angle he is in my charge range. Save it for later.

Hugo decides he immediately does not like the newcomer to the party.

I am afraid you are in error and this will not bode well for you.

Hugo will cast Jolting Portent on the flying man before Roakar intercepts him.

The man Hugo designates is surrounded by a glowing red aura of vengeful fate of Abadar.

Hugo's wrath is not to be invoked! Very cool spell! When it matters, what's the save DC?

Round 7:
Baddies: Shift in
Ignatious: Go
Rumil: Go
Hugo: Jolting Portent
Roakar: Go

sorry DC22 fort .

[spoiler=GM]once the spell wears off Roos will look for his foe, and not seeing him he will attend to the fallen pathfinders.[/ooc]

If it happens after "Round 1", I'll ask the Lillend to hold off for a moment as we ascertain this newcomer's intentions.

"Who are you, and what is it exactly are we not supposed to resist. These creatures attacked us. You are outnumbered so let us talk."

I will go ahead and Channel to heal as above, because I already accounted for it in my character sheet.

The man laughs, "I'll talk to your corpses! No secrets are unobtainable with the power of the Dark Tapestry!" He speaks as Ignatious cures the wounds about him. Meanwhile Roakar's muscles flex in anticipation. They look like corded rope.

Round 7:
Baddies: Shift in
Ignatious: Heal and parlay
Rumil: Go
Hugo: Jolting Portent
Roakar: Go

Roakar drops the shambler with no care for how it falls. The thin wall that maintains a minimum of tactics and thinking shatters before the seathing rage that boils forth at the mention of Roos's death. There is no roaring or screaming, only deathly stillness and intensity.
A little over the top and flowery there but that is how it came out of my head.

Roakar pushes off the ground with force, taking to the sky, and drawing his hammer as he goes.

Rage, Power attack, Reckless abandon, Charge, Haste, Witch Hunter, Come and Get me, Sickness (9 rnds)
Atk 1: 1d20 + 28 ⇒ (20) + 28 = 48 Dmg 1: 1d12 + 31 + 2d6 ⇒ (4) + 31 + (5, 6) = 46
Crit Confirm: 1d20 + 28 ⇒ (9) + 28 = 37 Crit Dmg: 1d12 + 31 ⇒ (10) + 31 = 41

Atk 2: 1d20 + 23 ⇒ (3) + 23 = 26 Dmg 2: 1d12 + 31 + 2d6 ⇒ (11) + 31 + (1, 2) = 45

Atk 3: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (17) + 18 = 35 Dmg 3: 1d12 + 31 + 2d6 ⇒ (2) + 31 + (1, 2) = 36

Atk H: 1d20 + 28 ⇒ (1) + 28 = 29 Dmg H: 1d12 + 31 + 2d6 ⇒ (11) + 31 + (6, 2) = 50 Guess the dice gods must balance things out every now and then

Fly: 1d20 + 14 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 14 + 5 = 35

I have this odd feeling that you still have tricks in your bag of holding Chris.

I have plenty, but none of them apply here!

Roakar's dash across the battlefield includes a strike to the head that fully turns the man's face to the rear. Despite his ravings, the wounds he suffered at Roos's hands made him an easy target.

He falls.

And with that, combat ends.

Minus one Seeker Pathfinder...

...Now what?

Hugo looks upon the fallen man and his crushed head.

We still need to find Roos and this man is no longer of help. I doubt he would cooperate even with speaking beyond the grave. Back to plan A?

Hugo will move to search the man to see if any clues to his origins can be found.

search T10: 10 + 28 = 38

Dark Tapestry. Interesting.

Summon exposition and explanation

The party quickly tries to find a way to Roos, hoping that wherever he is, he's still alive. The reality here seems to be getting thinner with each moment. In time you start to see another dimension. Floating platforms of rock and swirling energy. For a moment you see Roos, but only a moment. He is talking to a prone half-orc. When next the waves of the planes connect, there's there's a third. It's so close that it's like you could touch them... Hugo determines that he could shift there given how he's seen it and how thin the planes are here...

Meanwhile...

I believe I could shift to Roos now - but I am not sure if we would be able to get back...at least not immediately. I can easily take all of us. If we chose this path, we need to decide if we destroy the outsider. I would vote yes

Ready to shift to Roos once the others reply and join up

Dark Tapestry plus a cool tie in with another numbered NPC!

Roakar floats down from his rampage, ending rage. "Was that Roos?" Roakar asks. He walks through the desert below his anticlimactic win kicking the caster about. "You lying, no good, wanna be. You probably just wanted to die." Roakar then throws up a little before getting a hold of his stomach. "Damn side effects of this ioun stone are worse but at least I can keep my anger." After calming down enough, he decides he still has a job to do. Every Pathfinder is coming home.

"Who is gonna go with Hugo and spend a a day in whatever that place was? And where the hell are the other two?"

"I can help." Farhaana Zadeh approaches. Now that the dnager has past, she has no reason to hold back. "If Hugo gets us there, I've got enough to bring us back forthwith."

Let us go then. Gather around.

Once everyone has agreed and gathered, Hugo will cast plane shift (up to 8 can go).

He should still have fly spell active since the failed dimdoor

"How many extras could there be over there beside Roos? I saw at least one extra. How many can you take back from the other side, Farhaana?"

"If there be three over there now, I can bring us all back."

Indeed, without delay, Hugo shifts him and Farhaana Zadeh to Roos. Every few moments, you can see them through the thinning. A few moments later, they return....

With Roos are a pair, one half-orc, one human. They look like Pathfinder agents for a moment, but they are not. In truth they seem to be mercenaries. As of this moment, no one has convinced them that talking and spilling the beans is a good idea...

"Roos! Glad to see yah made it through that nasty ordeal."

Roakar leaves his comrades to their interrogation and steps into a role he does all to often in his current role in the society, collecting bodies and lining them up. He strips any bags off of non-Pathfinders and uses it for chunks of flesh that have no body.

"Rotuzack! It's time to do something useful." Roakar waits for the little gnome to pop his head out from behind a rock. "Who's a Pathfinder from your team and who isn't? Who is missing? Are they in this bag?" Roakar asks while holding up a bag.

Roakar then strips any non-pathfinders of useful items and identifying documents and piles those bodies away from his fallen comrades.

"None. Those are raiders who attacked. They're not from the same team though. They're from different groups, both after the elixir. I watched all of my comrades die."

The two who come back with Roos have already been stripped of anything useful.

I am talking about all the dead.

"Not those two. I know they ain't Pathfinders." Roakar points to the dead that have been collected from their scattered locations in the desert. "Those."

"Aye Roak. Did you kill him. I almost had the bugger. Spilled some of my brandy trying to skewer him. He played a trick on my mind to escape. Hopefully you all cut him down. These two aint what they seem. Aspis agents." and Roos spits on the ground after saying Aspis. "I need a swig.... gimme a sec" and the bard takes a pull from his flask..."Ok. ready to go"

The human sorcerer speaks up, "I am CERTAINLY no Aspis agent!" He then clams up.

Phew, you guys have been busy since yesterday!
@Roakar: No problem, I was just thinking that my spell would have gotten you there with a free attack so you could then get a full-attack on him. How did you get a full attack during a charge without my spell then? Useful to know you can do that so I don't waste my spell on you in the future I guess.

"Not Aspis?" Rumil asks, surprised. "Th-th-then who are you working for? Quite a mmmmystery." Rumil lets the others speak with the mercenaries some more as he goes about the battlefield, looking through each of the dead mercenary bodies for any evidence that can confirm what they say.

@Roakar: No problem, I was just thinking that my spell would have gotten you there with a free attack so you could then get a full-attack on him. How did you get a full attack during a charge without my spell then? Useful to know you can do that so I don't waste my spell on you in the future I guess.

Any self respecting Barbarian should try their hardest to attain the greatness that is Pounce. That spell of yours will be absolutely great for someone like Roos or Hugo, especially if Chris throws an encounter at us with some distance to close.

Chris: This was something new for me. Thanks. I never expected to have to figure out how to get a brabarian to travel between planes without wizardly help. I seriously thought that Roos was a goner and that the thinning would fade after I killed the ... Dark Tapestry Oracle (my guess). Maybe some more UMD and some scrolls could fill in that need but Roakars UMD check is just not there yet.

The trick here is not getting to another plane but getting to an unknown plane. Shy of two prepping 2 planeshifts and some sort of divination, I could not think of anything that would not leave Roos to fend for himself for 24hrs...not good. Definitely interesting combat - score +1 for Thurston. If Hugo would have let himself be grappled, would have been easier...but did not know at the time. Grappled always is to be avoided.

Roos almost had him...he did make me use all of my charmed life buffs- never had that happen before

"So where are the elixirs then?
Hugo states in a frustrated tone.

Oh, and Roos. We are glad you are ok. No more running off with strange creatures...whether real or bottle induced. he says the last part with a wry grin.

"Whats he mean by that...?"

Roakar continues collecting his fallen Pathfinders and muttering to them "I may not be able to convince the paperpushers to bring you all back but I can at least bring you all home and give you that chance."

Interupted from his task Roakar yells back to the group while continuing his work.
"That one is probably some lowly grunt of Loaralis the Puney."