Dungeon Master S's "Beyond Azlant Ridge" (Inactive)

Game Master Chris Marsh

Amiri takes the first breath full-force, but is savvy enough to minimize the effect of the flames that follow!

Round 2:
Merisiel: Sneak Attack
Piper: Glitterdust
Amiri: Charge!
Baddies: Stuff
Kyra: Go
Auri: Go
August: Go

Auri looks horrified at the unnatural creature. She swings her sword in a mighty two handed blow. Realising that against such a beast her swords special power would be a hindrance, she reluctantly allows it to do lethal damage.

power attack,haste,flank: 1d20 + 13 - 2 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 13 - 2 + 1 + 2 = 32
damage: 2d6 + 11 + 6 ⇒ (4, 2) + 11 + 6 = 23

Auri's swing does massive damage, dropping the beast. The wounds, however, especially near the necks are knitting themselves together still!

-Posted with Wayfinder

Dupine pulls out his rarely used Kama and starts cutting off heads.

Knowledge, Dungeoneerng: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7 Doh! Guess I won't ask how to make sure it stays dead...

"Lets try acid..." suggests Auri.\

She uses an acid splash spell to see if that will stop it regenerating.

ASF, high is good: 1d100 ⇒ 8

"Darn this new armour." she sighs, still getting used to its weight.

Happy to alternate strikes with the greatsword (to keep it down) and trying to cast the spell until it works to see if acid does stop the regeneration.

D'oh, I just realised that there is a second snake here. Bah. Auri wasted a round of haste. I'm going to pretend she didn't see it due to the large body between her and Dupine!

Oops! I didn't look at the map either... re-do!

Dupine steps up to the large snake and starts pummeling it.

Flurry 1 Power Attack: 1d20 + 9 - 2 ⇒ (3) + 9 - 2 = 10
Damage: 1d8 + 5 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 5 + 4 = 14

Flurry 2 Power Attack: 1d20 + 9 - 2 ⇒ (6) + 9 - 2 = 13
Damage: 1d8 + 5 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 5 + 4 = 13

Haste Power Attack: 1d20 + 9 - 2 ⇒ (17) + 9 - 2 = 24
Damage: 1d8 + 5 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 5 + 4 = 11

Yep, you're not out of immediate danger yet!

Dupine gets himself to a safer spot and his last strike hits home. Auri makes a small mistake in her somatic component!

Round 2:
Merisiel: Sneak Attack
Piper: Glitterdust
Amiri: Charge!
Baddies: Stuff
Kyra: Go
Auri: ASF
August: ATK

Kyra double moves to get closer to the battle. does anyone think that holy damage would end the regening?

Kyra gets closer to the action.

Round 3:
Merisiel: Go
Piper: Go
Amiri: Go
Baddies: TBD
Kyra: TBD
Auri: TBD
August: TBD

"Acid, you say? Let me try..."

Piper fires a blob of acid at the creature.

Acid Splash: 1d20 + 6 - 4 ⇒ (1) + 6 - 4 = 3
Damage: 1d3 ⇒ 1

Despite the large beast being downed, Piper's acid goes wide.

Round 3:
Merisiel: Go
Piper: Miss
Amiri: Go
Baddies: TBD
Kyra: TBD
Auri: TBD
August: TBD

Merisiel dashes off to the next foe. She tumbles into range to strike.
Acrobatics: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (3) + 20 = 23
And stabs with her rapier!
Attack w/Rapier: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (12) + 13 = 25
Damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9
Sneak Attack: 4d6 ⇒ (3, 2, 2, 3) = 10

Merisiel leaves others to figure out the regenerating monster. She immediately scores a blow right at the base of the head!

Round 3:
Merisiel: Hit
Piper: Miss
Amiri: Go
Baddies: TBD
Kyra: TBD
Auri: TBD
August: TBD

Amiri, as a pregen, has no acid or alchemist's fire or such, cos who ever needs THAT stuff?

Amiri, frustrated by the regeneration, continues to chop at the body of the beast. Die, gods damn it!
rage, PA: 1d20 + 15 - 2 ⇒ (19) + 15 - 2 = 32
confirm?: 1d20 + 15 - 2 ⇒ (4) + 15 - 2 = 17
dmg: 2d8 + 18 ⇒ (7, 7) + 18 = 32
addl dmg if crit confirms: 2d8 + 18 ⇒ (4, 8) + 18 = 30

iterative — rage, PA: 1d20 + 10 - 2 ⇒ (5) + 10 - 2 = 13
dmg: 2d8 + 18 ⇒ (6, 6) + 18 = 30

Current AC 17 (rage)

[spoiler=Amiri stuff]15/18 rage rounds remaining[/dice]

Amiri's savage attacks brutally cut the monster to pieces, yet still it begins to heal... The beast is now unconscious on the ground... healing.

No one is going to make an (Arcana) check?

The cobra is faring much better, and lashes out with fangs against Merisiel ATK: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (1) + 10 = 11, but the bite is off balance and feeble.

Round 3:
Merisiel: Hit
Piper: Miss
Amiri: RAGE
Baddies: ATK
Kyra: Go
Auri: Go
August: Go

I already botched my check.

"Amiri! Keep its regeneration in check, while we try some methods to put it down for good. After you deal with the snake, that is."

No arcana here...

August continues to beat on the large snake.

Flurry 1, Power Attack, Flank: 1d20 + 9 - 2 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 9 - 2 + 2 = 21
Damage: 1d8 + 5 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 5 + 4 = 13

Flurry 2, Power Attack, Flank: 1d20 + 9 - 2 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 9 - 2 + 2 = 24
Damage: 1d8 + 5 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 5 + 4 = 17

Haste, Power Attack, Flank: 1d20 + 9 - 2 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 9 - 2 + 2 = 23
Damage: 1d8 + 5 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 5 + 4 = 16

Arcana: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 8 = 23
Auri considers the hydra before her and what she has learned of such creatures.

August Who is flanking and forgetting to add sneak attack brings down the snake in a series of lightning fast hits!

Auri quickly remembers that a beast like this can only be killed once all of its heads are cut off. Since Amiri did such a wonderful job of dismembering the torso, it doesn't take the party long to complete the messy task...

Once dusting yourselves off is complete, you head forward. The rest of the way is clear an uneventful, though...

You're not sure what you expected upon your arrival, but this was likely not it. Before you arrive, you head the sound of metal scraping stone. Once the area is in sight, you see that it's some kind of large building, missing it's upper parts. A small opening is your only way in. IT's not a door, but rather it looks like a hole smashed open by the type of Monolith that Kyra once used.

This room’s high walls are made of enormous blocks of crumbling, mossy granite, but its roof is entirely absent, leaving it open to the sky. Folding tables and makeshift scaffolds have been set up around the room, and the walls have been carefully cleaned and labeled, revealing a mosaic depicting sway-backed, oneeyed astronomers at the base of a tall tower. An opening leads to the east, below a high balcony topped with a huge ivory sphere. Doors leading north into the hill have been smashed open to reveal a wide hall.

North on the tactical map is TO THE RIGHT

Greeting you is a rather happy and busy Juliet! "Oh hey there! How're you guys? Excuse my appearance, we're pretty busy here. We can talk, but it'll be a working conversation."

Local: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (2) + 12 = 14
History: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (20) + 12 = 32

Perception: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (5) + 14 = 19
Know(local): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18
Know(history): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24

Odd thing about these snakes...

"Juliet! We are happy to see you... alive and well it seems. You base camp is worried and trying to pack it up and leave, since they haven't heard from you. What is all of this?"

Perception: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (18) + 12 = 30
Knowledge Local: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (2) + 10 = 12

Glad to see people again, and alive ones at that, she coyly remarks to the group, "Did what I think smashed through that wall... Actually smash through it? I wonder who's controlling it now."

perc: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9

"Hello again" says Auriferous.

"August speaks correctly. You base was attacked by more monkey's and without your leadership your people are wanting to flee. We talked them into staying a few more days but..." she shrugs her shoulders.

Surveying the damage she asks "What happened here? Another monolith? What ever became of the first one?"

Juliet beams with happiness at seeing familiar faces, and frowns a bit at how jumpy the base camp is.

"I KNOW! I'm sorry, it's just that we've only scratched the surface of what might be the greatest discovery of the last 100 years! We've barely even started and already we could fill many books with new knowledge!"

She looks around in awe at the building itself, "Oh yeah. What happened here? Let's see, yeah, one of the golems came pounding through here a couple days ago, and it's still pounding somewhere, but it isn't harming us, so we're ignoring it for now. That doesn't even register right now. LOOK at all this!"

She begins pointing about the area, never finishing a sentence. She looks to the East Down on the map. Your eyes follow hers.

Steep, narrow stairs lead up to this platform, thirty feet above the lower chambers. The platform faces south, with a commanding view of the Terwa Uplands. An immense ivory hemisphere fills the platform, leaving only a few feet of stone around its edges. If this balcony once had a railing, it has long since crumbled away, leaving a vertiginous drop to the stones below.

"You guys can look around, but PLEASE don't touch. You could cause problems with any little clues to the past."

Dupine rolls his eyes as Juliet geek-out on her discoveries.

"Fine, fine. Let's have a look then. But we will need to go back and let your other camp know that all is well. What is this place?"

He heads east to get a better look a the sphere.

"We're not rightly sure yet what the Starwatcher Tor was in its prime. For now we know it's home to a benevolent entity. We haven't discovered much beyond its good intentions, so we just call it the Starwatcher Spirit. It wouldn't be fitting to get more specific than that without more information."

As August approaches the sphere Juliet continues, "Ah, looks familiar, doesn't it?"

Anyone can make a perception check on the sphere, and everyone regardless of where they are should make a Sense Motive check.

perc: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 1 = 15
SM: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (7) - 1 = 6

"Why do you think the entity is benevolent?" she asks.

The talk of "greatest discovery of the last 100 years" and "new knowledge" and "don't touch" has already made Amiri's eyes glaze over. She moves past Julia and her workers to the fallen doors — violence and destruction, now that's something she can understand.

Perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (13) + 11 = 24
Sense Motive: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 1 = 17

August nods, and examines the structure more closely.

Perception: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (4) + 14 = 18
Sense Motive: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (9) + 15 = 24

Piper rolls up her sleeves and cracks her knuckles. "Mind if I cast any divinations on things, as long as I don't touch them?"

Perception: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 = 17
Sense Motive: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (10) + 0 = 10

"My research is producing increasing evidence of the Starwatcher, and that evidence points to a goodly force. But let's get back to that after you do your thing. I can hardly keep this secret for myself though.... well, I would like my name first in the Pathfinder Chronicle..."

You pass by Mosaics along the north wall of this platform depicting sway-backed cyclopes spreading white dust upon their foreheads and helmets appearing upon their heads. Looking more closely at the sphere it resembles the sphere at Azlant Ridge, but this sphere is actively glowing with a smooth inner light. Those of you looking can see that it's light is muted by a layer of dust. There is, however, one spot that looks smudged. You're confident it's a hand print, more of a brushing of the hand really.

From the platform you can see the entirety of the room. Past the sphere is a small room, open to the sky. Within the room is a tidy camp consisting of six tents. A few sheets of canvas stretched between rivets in the wall provide shade to a table and chairs. An opening leads to the west and a solid stone door leads north.

Perception: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

Perception: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (15) + 14 = 29

Dupine slides into the room, as nonchalantly as he can muster.

"Excuse me, miss... do you mind if we chat with you?"

The girl stops and looks at August, "I don't mind... My name is Arletta. Quick question for you though do you have any thoughts on snakes? I know it' a weird question, but indulge me for a moment..."

To converse you'll enter the room, I've updated the map.

perception: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9

Auri has a quick look at the handprint.

"Julia, do you know who left this? Did someone try to activate the sphere, as we did back at Azlant ridge?"

She then goes to join Dupine. "Hello Arletta, I am Auriferous. And I have no strong feelings about snakes at all, although I'm not overly well disposed (or thought of by) the Aspis consortium."

"I try to judge each critter, or person, by there own merits, but I have had to deal with some snakes in the past. Why do ask?"

Perception: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (2) + 12 = 14

Merisiel shrugs at all of this, following along with Dupine. "I'd say recently we've got a preference to stabbing snakes. I suppose you could say that there's a lot of them in the area. More than usual,maybe? I'm no druid."

Ah the tricky part to PbP...

Arletta seems to back away when Juliet is involved in the conversation. After a few false starts and unanswered questions, it looks like you'll need to give Arletta your attention if you want her to talk.

Auri keeps talking to Juliet, "Interesting, I didn't notice that... It's odd. I hope nothing is wrong. The Starwatcher Spirit hasn't made us feel anything about it...."

Arletta on the other side talks with August and Merisiel, "Stabbing huh? Okay, you might be okay. Still it could all be a trick.... I don't know..." Feel free to use a social skill on her (i.e. roll it :-)

Auri keeps holding Juliet in conversaton for the moment.

"Who would have had access to this without anyone else around?"

She spends some time looking at the magical aura of the place, and comparing it to her memory of the one back in Azlant ridge.

know(arcana): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13

Auri can't really get anything useful from the aura, but Juliet's response is... strange. "No one else. We're all working for the good of the Starwatcher Spirit here anyway."

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (6) + 15 = 21

August approaches Arletta quietly, and keeps his voice low.

"It's ok. I know it is hard to trust strangers, but we are here to help. If something is spooking you, I can honestly say that we are the ones that can help. We have had quite a bit of experience in this area."

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (14) + 12 = 26

"I... I think they're all enslaved. I used to think the Starwatcher was kind and good too. Not long after I touched the orb I started to think it was crazy. It IS crazy. I think they're all brainwashed. I also think that the monolith that came charging through is going to do something terrible. I'm hiding because I worry that they're do something to me. Also, they want discs they're obsessed with them. I don't quite no why, but they want to give them to the Spirit through a crack in the wall. I've got one, and I am scared they'll find out and do something bad to me."

Sense Motive: 1d20 ⇒ 17

"If they want these discs, I don't think holding onto them is wise. Here, let me grab that. You can trust us, as I'm getting that same sense that something is off here. We can look into this Starwatcher Spirit on the sly, and maybe sort out the monolith too if need be. Our friend Kyra has a way with them," she says the last with a wink.

"You're working for the good of the Starwatcher spirit?" asks Auri.

"I thought this was an archaeological dig? Have you arranged to have a priest or a shaman brought in, who may be able to help a little more with finding out what is going on?"

Juliet gets a little bit frustrated, "Look, I appreciate your curiosity, but I've got a dig to run. Take a look around while I catalog. I'm sure it'll all make sense to you after you look around. You can even see a glimpse of the energy in the crack over there, and if you see any discs, bring them to me, they're the key to unlocking this place's secrets."

pointed out on the map.

Alretta timidly hands over the disc, but immediately skulks back into the shadows in the corner of the room. The disc she hands over sheds like like a torch.

Merisiel discreetly tucks the disc away in her backpack

Auri cautiously looks at the crack that the "energy" can be seen through, from a safe distance. She has a detect magic going to see what she can make of it.

Auri is switchign to explore mode. Anything else to do with conversations befor eI open the map?