Dungeon Master S's Devil We Know Part III (Inactive)

Game Master Chris Marsh

Orryn has an ioun torch in his wayfinder, so that should work in the back of the line too.

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 8 = 23

Quite clearly you hear the sounds of agony and misery, sounds anyone would recognize as either slaves or prisoners. This is followed immediately by sharp sentences spoken in Aklo.

Harnac growls and tightens his grip on the axe. He looks back over his shoulder at his friends and whispers Let's bring these chumps down!

Evan follows close behind where Harnac goes.

As you enter the area proper, another party simultaneously does the same. This party consists of a pair of pale skinned dwarf-looking creatures leading a slave chain of 4 mites. One of the mites is carrying a large glass jar loaded with spiders. No one is surprised (unless I missed a Stealth post). So it's straight up initiative:

Baddies: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24

Sumacs initiative 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 13
Grippers initiative 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8

Azdak's Initiative: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

Harnac's Init: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 18

Orryn/Stellah's initiative: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 2 = 14

Evan's initiative: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 1 = 21

Initiative: Fel 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (12) + 0 = 12

Initiative Repost:

Baddies
Evan
Harnac
Orryn on Stellah
Sumac
Fel
Gripper
Azdak

ROUND 1

The two Derro shout horrendous profanity while moving to action. The Eastern one snatches the jar of spiders away from the slave and smashes on the ground by the heroes 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 1 = 13. A swarm erupts and moves around to the south. The other skitters forward and casts a spell that causes a blast of sound to erupt In the middle of the party. DMG: 1d8 ⇒ 2. Harnac, Evan, and Fel all take 2 points of sonic damage, and each must make a Fortitude saving throw. The mites stand unsure of how to act...

Harnac: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15
Evan: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (20) + 7 = 27
Fel: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (6) + 0 = 6 <-Stunned, miss one round.

Evan is up

Evan starts casting Summon Monster 1.
(Evan's current hit points: 22)

ROUND 1

Harnac shakes his head, lips flapping, to clear his ringing ears. He takes quick stock of the situation. Trusting Orryn and Stella to take on the northern guy, Hack moves to block the spiders from reaching the squishy Azdak. HE takes a swing at the swarm of wee beasties, knowing it won't be very effective but not having anything else to try.

Azdak, ye got any fire, or acid, or cold, or something??? Anybody got alchemist's fire??

Single attack: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (16) + 8 = 24
damage: 1d10 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

Yep. Next purchase after good armor: Vermin Bane on an axe head

Orryn has alchemist's fire. Not that it helps Hack right now...

Orryn decides the derro mean harm, so has no qualms about attacking.

attack: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19
damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10

Harnac's axe does nothing as it swishes through the swarm.

Oops, edited to fix my eff-up. :-D

Orryn's opening attack is a solid hit, and the new wound sprays blood into the fountain. The Derro is utterly insane, though, and a wound like that won't stop him.

Sumac

The druid holds his ground but casts a simple orison right on the leading edge of the spider herd. Out of thin air suddenly 6 gallons of water come pouring down as if from a giant bucket.
Sumac hopes to wash them away.

Unfortunately the spiders are too tenacious. They move around the small deluge. Fel's up.

Sumac curses loudly in halfling, something about goats, oral, and some person named Lloth.
Anyone with fire or a better spell, please use it! the small druids pleads.

Isn't Fel Stunned?

Correct! Gripper and Azdak.

Round 1 Gripper

The small halfling asks Grip to attack the northern derro.
The big wolf rushes past Evan and tears into the little man.
Attack 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14
bite 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7

Round 1

Azdak begins moving his hands in precise somatic gestures as he channels arcane forces through himself to cast sleep preparing to burst it upon the swarm of spiders.

Today is "Be Nice to the Players Day". Azdak, the swarm is immune to sleep. It takes reduced damage from weapons. You need area of effect stuff like spells and alchemy.

I don't exactly have any good area of effect spells yet. Would Ray of Frost affect the swarm at all?

No. Targeted spells don't work either. For example your Ray would certainly kill one spider, but there are thousands

"I don't think I have any options. I will stick with sleep and use it on the Derros.

it looks like the bad guys are up, if everyone delays until after Fel, the bard will begin chanting and everyone can have plus 1 to attack and damage.

The derro to the north maintains his distance and throws his strange weapon at Stellah. 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23 and hits for 1d6 ⇒ 5. If you have mounted combat, make your negation check. The one to the south lets the swarm go first, attacking Harnac. 1d6 ⇒ 6 damage and a fort save 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13. You're not distracted, but he still attacks with his hooked thing. 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8 and misses.

Harnac grits his teeth against the skittering, scuttling, biting spiders and glares at the derro in abject hatred. He is poised to strike, waiting for the blood-stirring elation of Fel's chant...

Delay

Wasn't Evan next?

Taking the hint from Fel, Evan delays as well.

The derro to the north maintains his distance and throws his strange weapon at Stellah. 23 and hits for 5. If you have mounted combat, make your negation check.

Ride check DC 23: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (2) + 14 = 16

Orryn glares at the derro, vengeance rising within him. He drops his lance and whips out his sickle, determined to make the derro pay for hurting Stellah. He spurs her to action as well.

Stellah bite: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 12
damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

Orryn attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 16
damage: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

Stellah can't get purchase, but Orryn does. The derro snarls in response.

The halfling readies a sling bullet but holds till after Fel

Fel chants. +1 attack & damage.

If we go in order we were going before, just delayed, I think that means Evan is up next. His summon spell goes off... A celestial riding dog appears flanking the bad guy with Harnac. The dog attacks...

attack roll: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12(incl chant bonus)
damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5(incl chant bonus)
if the attack hits, the dog will try the trip...
CMB roll: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

Evan draws and fires off an Alchemist Fire with his sling, into a square of the swarm that Harnac is not in...

attack roll: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16(incl chant bonus)
fire damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8(incl point blank shot and chant bonus)

edit: holy crap the I rolled poorly for the dog...
edit 2: I did forget the flank bonus for the dog. Should be 2 higher on the attack roll.

Still, the new ally doesn't land a telling blow. the alchemist fire however instantly burns fully half of the spiders in it (and Harnac takes a point of damage.)

Sumac now lets his bullet fly: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 6 + 1 = 20 and nails the baddies. DMG: 1d6 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 + 1 = 4. The stone cracks his skull and he drops.

Initiative Repost:

Baddies
Orryn on Stellah
Fel
Harnac
Evan
Sumac
Gripper <-Current
Azdak

ROUND 2

Keep those firepots comin' if ye got 'em!! Hack is obviously grateful to have some of the spiders burnt off of him, even if he's singed a little. And, seeing the new ally distracting the derro he's facing widens his grin more...

Bonuses: flank, chant: +3 hit/+1 dam

Attack: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (10) + 9 = 19
Damage: 1d10 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14

Attack: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (20) + 9 = 29 <--threat!!
Damage: 1d10 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11

Crit confirm: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (11) + 9 = 20
Damage: 2d10 + 10 + 3 ⇒ (10, 8) + 10 + 3 = 31 <--Trait: +1 damage on a crit while underground, multiplied

The first shot cuts deeply across the derro's belly, causing him to bend forward--presenting the tasty target of the back of his neck. Hack obliges with a mighty swing and a powerful cry of LUCRIDIOOOOUUUUS!!!

Round 2 Gripper

With both derro down the wolf holds his position. There isnt much he can do to the swarm.

Yeah, Harnac utterly destroys the Derro. There's next to none of him left.

I am posting a little early because I will be away at a Rush concert up in Quebec City. I'm leaving this afternoon and will not be back until Thursday night.

Round 1

At the end of Round 1, Azdak releases his sleep spell at the center of the remaining Derro.

Round 2

Azdak moves North in an effort to stay out of the way of the encroaching swarm.

Round 3 and beyond . . . .

Azdak will draw his wand of magic missiles and try to take down any Derros who cause any trouble.

Magic Missile: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Edit: Swarms take +50% damage from area weapons (so 12 damage on round 1). Evan is up. Round 2 on his Alchemist's Fire. 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4. Before the halfling can throw another fire, the swarm dissappates. The combat is over, but the mites stand with wide-eyed terror on their faces.

Sumac smiles and slowly approaches the mites. He holds up empty hands and speaks gently hey guys, I abhore slavery. Let us free you.

As long as the mites dont look threatening Sumac will try to free them.

While this is occurring, Harnac chugs the last of the "free" CLW potions, then checks the fallen derro for useable items.

CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9

Fel tries to befriend the Mites.
Diplomacy: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (5) + 17 = 22

As Evan unties, and Fel pantomimes good will, the mites seem confused at first. They even stay in their chain gang formation. Within a minute or two they seem to get the idea that you're not their new masters and they turn to leave. When no one brings violence against them, they quickly run away. One looks back and ...smiles?

Ho! Slow down please!

Well before the mites flee, Fel attempts to deliver the fastest and smartest looking one a sealed missive.

What would Fel's estimation be that these guys could escape without incident from here?

Ho! Slow down please!

Well before the mites flee, Fel attempts to deliver the fastest and smartest looking one a sealed missive.

Sumac attempts to assist Fel

Sorry for the lack of response... busy night last night. My Oma just arrived from Germany, and I didn't get home till midnight.

If the mites looked injured, and any of his comrades looked injured even a little, Evan would channel energy once to help out. Also, only if the bad guys are actually dead and wouldn't be woken up.

Channel Energy: 2d6 ⇒ (4, 6) = 10

This heals Evan to max as well