Dungeon Master S's "Giantslayer" AP (Inactive)

Game Master Chris Marsh

Aye, there's no way Whistle Pig can report before you choose your actions, so just do your best not to meta-game.

2 Rounds of the unknown...
Whistle Pig: Scout
Doxon: Go
Hamilton: Buff
Raen: In
Ushyle: Go
Vael: Buff

Hamilton narrows his eyes. Sammi claws the ground a little. Both are anxious and will ride forth as soon as they're given the word.

Without knowing what they face, Doxon holds until WP returns with his report.

Like Doxon and Hamilton, Ushyle waits pensively for a report.

Given the ticking clock of Haste and Summon spells.

Round 1:
Ushyle: Go
Doxon: Go
Raen: Go
Vael: Go
Whistle Pig: Go
Giants: TBD
Hamilton: TBD

Enemy: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6
Raen: 1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 7 + 1 = 14
Ushyle: 1d20 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 4 + 1 = 22
Vael: 1d20 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 4 + 1 = 13
Whistle Pig: 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 5 + 1 = 7
Doxon: 1d20 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 1 + 1 = 15
Hamilton: 1d20 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 2 + 1 = 5

Raen's intricate spell concludes; a whirling shape takes form above the sparring giants. An invisible command rings forth in the lithe tongue of Air.

The huge mass of churning air speeds southeast, getting in the face of the frost giant overseer. Double move for the elemental.

Raen herself ascends as high as she can but still 5' below the ceiling. She weaves another spell, her glamer of invisibility melting away, and draws in threads this time from the Plane of Water. Rime crystallizes all over the fire giant overseer, soon entombing him in ice.

Icy Prison, DC 24 Reflex or be helpless. On a successful save, the target is Entangled instead. Either way, 12 points of cold damage per round. Break DC 27 to destroy the ice, by a colleague or the giant himself if not helpless.

Elemental: huge, 15' reach, AC 22, HP 115/115, DR 5/--.

REF: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7 The fire giant is immediately encased in ice! Meanwhile the storm moves quickly to the frost giant.

Round 1:
Ushyle: Go
Doxon: Go
Raen: Magic
Vael: Go
Whistle Pig: Go
Giants: TBD
Hamilton: TBD

Ushyle hustles up to the front line (swift action to study Yellow, Red, and Blue) and makes sure to position himself between a likely charging giant and Whistle Pig.

Double move, swift to study. AC 24 with haste.

Ushyle quickly takes in the field and moves in for extreme violence.

Round 1:
Ushyle: Look and close
Doxon: Go
Raen: Magic
Vael: Go
Whistle Pig: Go
Giants: TBD
Hamilton: TBD

A similarly sized air elemental appears when Vael completes his own casting. It races down the passageway and streaks towards a giant. "Seems Raen and I had the same thinking."

Once it gets close enough, an airy fist buffets the giant with great force!
Slam vs Yellow: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (4) + 17 = 21
Damage: 2d6 + 6 ⇒ (4, 4) + 6 = 14

Vael hustles after it, doing his best to keep up as he flies through the air. Double move. 40ft speed with haste, but 60ft back.

Tulia easily zips forward, her crossbow ready as she enters the chamber. With a giant in sight, she lets fire a bolt from her crossbow!
Crossbow +1 vs Yellow: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (7) + 21 = 28
Damage: 1d4 + 5 + 2d6 ⇒ (3) + 5 + (5, 6) = 19

A second elemental of immense wind and fury appears. The giants take it in stride, as if accustomed to elemental fury.

Vael's elemental slams the giant, but its thick iron armor repels the blow. Tulia's tiny bolt, however, lands with surprising force.

Round 1:
Ushyle: Look and close
Doxon: Go
Raen: Magic
Vael: Magic
Whistle Pig: Go
Giants: TBD
Hamilton: TBD

WP is glad to see Ushyle step between him and the giant. While he's confident in his sling staff's ability to be used in closer combat, something inside him is telling him that wouldn't be the best idea.

Pig sets his feet and the now expected boon of Raen's speed powers his attacks.

1st
attack on yellow!: 1d20 + 24 ⇒ (13) + 24 = 37
damage?: 1d6 + 22 ⇒ (4) + 22 = 26
2nd
attack on yellow!: 1d20 + 24 ⇒ (1) + 24 = 25
damage?: 1d6 + 22 ⇒ (4) + 22 = 26
3rd
attack on yellow!: 1d20 + 24 ⇒ (3) + 24 = 27
damage?: 1d6 + 22 ⇒ (1) + 22 = 23
4th
attack on yellow!: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (5) + 19 = 24
damage?: 1d6 + 22 ⇒ (6) + 22 = 28
5th
attack on yellow!: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (10) + 14 = 24
damage?: 1d6 + 22 ⇒ (4) + 22 = 26

Whistle Pig's invisibility fades away as he sets to work with his hoopak. It takes a handful of bullets, but the giant falls to the barrage!

Round 1:
Ushyle: Look and close
Doxon: Go
Raen: Magic
Vael: Magic
Whistle Pig: Kill
Giants: TBD
Hamilton: TBD

Doxon hustles into the room.

The hasted Doxon hustles into the room, ready for a grand melee!

Immediately the remaining fire giant moves to destroy the icy prison: Greatsword: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (14) + 21 = 35 for DMG: 3d6 + 15 ⇒ (6, 5, 5) + 15 = 31. With a mighty blow he nearly breaks through the prison in a single swing of the great sword!

To the Southeast the two frost giants bring their considerable arms to bear on the elemental:
White v. elemental: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (12) + 18 = 30 for AXE: 2d6 + 13 ⇒ (2, 3) + 13 = 18
White v. elemental: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (11) + 13 = 24 for AXE: 2d6 + 13 ⇒ (2, 5) + 13 = 20

The giant on the platform: Concentration: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19 vanishes from sight!

The final frost giant moves into the open and hurls a boulder at Whistle Pig!
Blue v. WP: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (8) + 9 = 17 but misses.

Round 1:
Ushyle: Look and close
Doxon: Double Move
Raen: Magic
Vael: Magic
Whistle Pig: Kill
Giants: ATK
Hamilton: Go

Hamilton rides Sammi to the front of the party and nocks an arrow.

Shortbow +2, in the next range increment:1d20 + 20 ⇒ (19) + 20 = 39 vs. Frost Giant (Blue), Damage on Hit:1d6 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13

Ham then stows the bow, and readies Heartspit and his shield cloak for a charge.

Hamilton's arrow easily pierces the frost giant!

Round 2:
Ushyle: Go
Doxon: Go
Raen: Go
Vael: Go
Whistle Pig: Go
Giants: TBD
Hamilton: TBD

Ushyle activates his bane vs. giants and charges Blue. Will provoke from Blue.

Milani's Thorn, Power Attack/Furious Focus, studied target/Seething Hatred, hunter's blessing, bane, charge.

hack: 1d20 + 17 + 3 + 2 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 17 + 3 + 2 + 2 + 2 = 43 crit threat
confirm?: 1d20 + 17 + 3 + 2 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 17 + 3 + 2 + 2 + 2 = 31

slash: 2d6 + 19 + 5 + 4d6 ⇒ (1, 1) + 19 + 5 + (5, 2, 3, 6) = 42
plus if confirmed: 2d6 + 19 + 5 ⇒ (2, 2) + 19 + 5 = 28

Pig takes aim at the giant attacking the icy prison:
1st
attack -2 for range: 1d20 + 26 - 2 ⇒ (9) + 26 - 2 = 33
damage : 1d6 + 22 ⇒ (6) + 22 = 28
2nd
attack -2 for range: 1d20 + 26 - 2 ⇒ (12) + 26 - 2 = 36
damage : 1d6 + 22 ⇒ (3) + 22 = 25
3rd
attack -2 for range: 1d20 + 26 - 2 ⇒ (8) + 26 - 2 = 32
damage : 1d6 + 22 ⇒ (4) + 22 = 26
4th
attack -2 for range: 1d20 + 21 - 2 ⇒ (2) + 21 - 2 = 21
damage : 1d6 + 22 ⇒ (3) + 22 = 25
5th
attack -2 for range: 1d20 + 16 - 2 ⇒ (2) + 16 - 2 = 16
damage : 1d6 + 22 ⇒ (6) + 22 = 28

Ushyle charges the frost giant! AoO: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (1) + 18 = 19 but Desna smiles. The blade cuts deep into the giant, leaving the falling petals to rot on the ground.

Whistle Pig scores a trio of quick hits on the fire giant, but it's nowhere near enough to stop him.

Round 2:
Ushyle: Crit
Doxon: Go
Raen: Go
Vael: Go
Whistle Pig: Hits
Giants: TBD
Hamilton: TBD

The huge air elemental says something in Auran to Vael.

Although Vael doesn't know the language, he can guess. He points at the fire giant in red armor. The elemental complies, swirling through the air to strike the giant!
Slam vs Red: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (14) + 17 = 31
Damage: 2d6 + 6 ⇒ (2, 3) + 6 = 11

The shaman takes advantage of the magical speed to fly forward and blast the northern corner with a cone of cold!
Cone of Cold, DC 23 Reflex: 12d6 ⇒ (3, 3, 2, 6, 4, 2, 1, 2, 5, 6, 6, 1) = 41

Vael's elemental magic wreaks havoc on the giant. First the elemental slams it from behind. Then, REF: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20 his cone of cold completely tears through the giant, leaving a frozen corpse in its wake.

Round 2:
Ushyle: Crit
Doxon: Go
Raen: Go
Vael: Captain Planet!
Whistle Pig: Hits
Giants: TBD
Hamilton: TBD

GM: encased lieutenant takes another 12 points of cold damage on my turn.

While Whistle Pig and Vael deal with the fire giants, Raen calmly floats towards the invisible spellcaster. She flicks her wrist and showers him with a burst of sparkling gold.

Glitterdust, DC 22 Will vs blind.

She updates her elemental in Auran.

The mighty form whirls to obey, smashing into the glamered frost giant. Draws from White.

Slam @ Squishy: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (13) + 19 = 32
Damage: 2d6 + 8 ⇒ (3, 2) + 8 = 13

Elemental: huge, 15' reach, AC 22, HP 89/115, DR 5/--.

Wll: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (15) + 11 = 26 While the giant easily resists the spell, his outline is visible to all!

The elemental changes targets:
AoO: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (20) + 18 = 38
AoO: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (12) + 18 = 30 for DMG: 6d6 + 26 ⇒ (1, 4, 1, 3, 6, 5) + 26 = 46

While it slams the giant's outline, it pays a heavy price. Even then the hit doesn't seem to do a lot to the giant.

Round 2:
Ushyle: Crit
Doxon: Go
Raen: Magic!
Vael: Captain Planet!
Whistle Pig: Hits
Giants: TBD
Hamilton: TBD

With sublime speed, Doxon runs in to back up the erstwhile Ushyle.

Swift cast Grace and Run down the cavern.

Faster than anyone would ever expect to see a dwarf run, Doxon closes the distance with supernatural grace!

Ushyle and Doxon take on a giant who fights back with a greataxe! He swings at Ushyle, trying to get revenge for the wound:
Axe: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14
Axe 2: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (4) + 13 = 17
But his swings are pitiful.

The other frost giant takes aim at Raen's elemental with a boulder:
Boulder: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (8) + 9 = 17, but misses!

The shimmering outline of the frost giant ignores the elemental and closes with Raen.

Round 2:
Ushyle: Crit
Doxon: Run
Raen: Magic! Elemental AoO
Vael: Captain Planet!
Whistle Pig: Hits
Giants: ATK
Hamilton: Go

Hamilton spurs Sammi forward, coming in behind Doyon and Ushyle, charging the Frost Giant.

Power Attack Charge w/Heartspit:1d20 + 25 ⇒ (11) + 25 = 36, Damage on Hit:3d8 + 60 + 2d6 ⇒ (2, 8, 5) + 60 + (4, 6) = 85

Raen's elemental hurls a gusty fist at the frost giant, then chases after him to slam into him again.

Slam AoO @ Caster: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (9) + 19 = 28
Damage: 2d6 + 8 ⇒ (4, 5) + 8 = 17

Slam @ Caster: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (6) + 19 = 25
Damage: 2d6 + 8 ⇒ (2, 2) + 8 = 12

The Varisian herself flits back towards Whistle Pig, staying some 30 feet above the cavern floor. She readies a counterspell, should the frost giant attempt to bring magic to bear.

Preemptive Spellcraft Check: 1d20 + 24 ⇒ (16) + 24 = 40

The lieutenant also takes 12 more Cold damage.

Elemental: huge, 15' reach, AC 22, HP 76/115, DR 5/--.

Hamilton charges forth and drives the mighty Heartspit directly through the heart of the frost giant! It's dead before it hits the floow with a mighty crash!

The elemental strikes the frost giant leader twice, albeit barely. Raen herself preps to foil whatever magic the giant brings to bear.

Round 2:
Ushyle: Go
Doxon: Go
Raen: Magic
Vael: Go
Whistle Pig: Go
Giants: TBD
Hamilton: TBD

Ushyle can't help but smile as Ham finishes what the half-elf started. He wheels on the next frost giant, casting a spell along the way (burst of speed) as a swift action, a rose-red sheen covering him as he races toward White, ducking under the massive giant's swing with aplomb and sliding between its legs to the other side, bringing Milani's Thorn into the fray for a second time!

Milani's Thorn, Power Attack/Furious Focus, studied target/Seething Hatred, hunter's blessing, bane, haste.

hack: 1d20 + 17 + 3 + 2 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 17 + 3 + 2 + 2 + 1 = 30
slash: 2d6 + 19 + 5 + 4d6 ⇒ (3, 2) + 19 + 5 + (3, 4, 2, 3) = 41

Move, swift to cast, standard to attack. AC 24 with haste.

Coming around the far side faster than the giant can handle, Ushyle gives the giant a slice to remember him by!

Round 2:
Ushyle: Hit
Doxon: Go
Raen: Magic
Vael: Go
Whistle Pig: Go
Giants: TBD
Hamilton: TBD

Pig sees the magic user as the primary danger. He know Raen thinks she has it under control but the halfling knows that even a powerful wizard needs help from time to time, even know it all ones.

attack on caster -2 for range: 1d20 + 26 - 2 ⇒ (17) + 26 - 2 = 41
damage?: 1d6 + 22 ⇒ (5) + 22 = 27

attack on caster -2 for range: 1d20 + 26 - 2 ⇒ (4) + 26 - 2 = 28
damage?: 1d6 + 22 ⇒ (2) + 22 = 24

attack on caster -2 for range: 1d20 + 26 - 2 ⇒ (10) + 26 - 2 = 34
damage?: 1d6 + 22 ⇒ (6) + 22 = 28

attack on caster -2 for range: 1d20 + 21 - 2 ⇒ (20) + 21 - 2 = 39
damage?: 1d6 + 22 ⇒ (2) + 22 = 24

attack on caster -2 for range: 1d20 + 16 - 2 ⇒ (6) + 16 - 2 = 20
damage?: 1d6 + 22 ⇒ (1) + 22 = 23

confirm? -2 for range: 1d20 + 21 - 2 ⇒ (17) + 21 - 2 = 36
damage?: 2d6 + 44 ⇒ (5, 5) + 44 = 54

Whistle Pig deeps deep, real deep. His stones fly like Alkenstar bullets! Any normal giant would have died under the barrage, this one does not!

Round 2:
Ushyle: Hit
Doxon: Go
Raen: Magic
Vael: Go
Whistle Pig: So. Much. Sling.
Giants: TBD
Hamilton: TBD

The air elemental, seeing how this combat is setup, charges the unblocked giant.
Slam vs Black: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (3) + 19 = 22
Damage: 2d6 + 6 ⇒ (1, 1) + 6 = 8

Vael then conjures a ball of flame into his hand, then throws it at the nearby frost giant.
Produce Flame vs Black (touch AC): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (10) + 9 = 19
Fire damage: 1d6 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10

Tulia reloads her crossbow, then takes careful aim before firing from distance.
Crossbow +1: 1d20 + 20 - 2 ⇒ (5) + 20 - 2 = 23
Damage: 1d4 + 5 + 2d6 ⇒ (1) + 5 + (4, 5) = 15

The air elemental struggles with the armored giant, but Vael's flame catches the giant in the face! The giant screams in agony as he crumbles to the ground, a smoking corpse. Tulia's bolt catches the remaining free giant!

Round 2:
Ushyle: Hit
Doxon: Go
Raen: Magic
Vael: Giant kill
Whistle Pig: So. Much. Sling.
Giants: TBD
Hamilton: TBD

Heedless of the danger, Doxon rushes the frost giant that Ushyle has engaged.

Charge!

Agrimmosh: 1d20 + 17 + 1 + 1 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 17 + 1 + 1 + 2 + 2 = 31
Damage: 3d6 + 9 ⇒ (1, 2, 2) + 9 = 14

Doxon rushes in, hammer held high, AoO: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (8) + 18 = 26 dodges the axe, and levels a hit on the giant's thigh.

Seeing the inevitable, the giant makes a straight up run for it, hoping to bust through the line!

Round 2:
Ushyle: Hit AoO
Doxon: Hit AoO
Raen: Magic
Vael: Giant kill
Whistle Pig: So. Much. Sling.
Giants: RUN!
Hamilton: Go

AoO: 1d20 + 15 + 3 + 2 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 15 + 3 + 2 + 2 + 1 = 41 CRIT THREAT
AoO confirm?: 1d20 + 15 + 3 + 2 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 15 + 3 + 2 + 2 + 1 = 32

slash: 2d6 + 19 + 5 + 4d6 ⇒ (3, 2) + 19 + 5 + (5, 6, 5, 6) = 51
plus if confirmed: 2d6 + 19 + 5 ⇒ (1, 4) + 19 + 5 = 29

Ushyle quickly twists and cuts the giant across its back, dropping it. From this close, Doxon can smell the decay trailing the blade. Gone are the petals...

A few moments later, the icy prison claims its "guest."

For slaying members of the elite, including the jotenmagus Reingar, each Hero of Trunau earns 11,735 XP.

The party gathers over the body of the frost giant leader. Raen immediately points out that his longsword, chain shirt, and headband are magical. He also has two dark blue potions which radiate magic.

Raen alights near the fallen jotenmagus and quietly searches him for a spellbook.

Take 20 Perception: 20 + 12 = 32

Raen fails to find a spellbook, so she goes over to the Lieutenant.

His frozen corpse has some interesting items:

potions of cure serious wounds x2
+2 half-plate
+1 greatsword
minor ring of cold resistance,
everburning torch

A slight furrow creases Raen's brow. She inspects the fire lieutenant's platform carefully, then floats over to do the same for Reingar's platform.

Take 20 Perception: 20 + 12 = 32
Take 20 Perception: 20 + 12 = 32

Raen spends a fair bit of time. Strictly speaking, Raen just spent 2 hours 40 minutes searching.

Lol, oops. I suppose we have time though, as we are about to rest.

Disappointed, but satisfied in her thoroughness, Raen alights by the others. "My magic wanes, and the day grows late. The terminated passage to the east appears a suitable refuge."

I recommend we rest at the location marked in Blue on the map.

No argument from me

"Aye, let's rest there. As long as you give me a big enough area of unworked stone, I can give us our usual sylvan hideaway to rest in. My bones are weary, and though it's not a big space I can tell you it'll be mighty comfortable right now."

He then performs a quick chant that allows him to get a message back to home. He speaks so everyone can hear him. "We're still in the mountains. Alive. Major blow struck, but no Storm Tyrant. Let Halgra know. Quest continues tomorrow. Check on my batch."
Cast Sending to Othdan

Raen leads the way to the dead end and drives her iron spike of safe passage into the ground, simulating a cave-in with the illusion. When she gets to the door of Vael's hideaway, she hesitates. After a moment, she turns to the dwarf and suddenly mutters, "Goodnight." With the dwarf watching she lays a pale hand on the stone wall beside the sylvan door. Part of the wall swings away from the rest to reveal a small nook behind a hinged door made from the cavern itself. The Varisian enters the nook and swings the disguised door shut.

1d100 ⇒ 87 SUCCESS

In short, creating a small space in the wall for me to spend the night via Stone Shape, with a hinged stone door that blends in with the cavern wall (because that part of the stone is unchanged). The spell notes a 30 percent chance of failure for moving parts, hence the above roll.

So retired, Raen pulls a cloak from her pack, continuing to weave new magic into it through the night. After some six hours pass, she takes her rest. She awakes two hours later and retrieves her spellbook to prepare for the day, casts her usual spells, and steps out from her hidden refuge to await the others.

Ushyle seeks the company of his halfling friend that evening, and they invite the roughrider and dwarves to join them as Raen retreats to solitude. The half-elf is characteristically quiet as the evening grows long, but smiles at amusing stories and even shares a laugh or two.

As the evening's campfire burns low, all but he and Hamilton have turned in. After a long while, Ushyle speaks to the Taldan charger. Emotions remain raw among our troupe, he says quietly, and I do not know how to begin to help salve those wounds.

Ham frowns and furrows his brow. There's no way to avoid this conversation, and this is the best time for one in any case.

I... Feel the same. I don't understand the passions of Raen and Whistlepig. I'm grateful for the wisdom of the rest of you. The Gods have placed me in the company of find thinkers and philosophers. I'm glad you, and Vael and Doxon are around to help with those two.

But I know this: This is a war, and emotions will remain raw. There's no, "right", to any of this. We're making war on The Giants, one there likely is no armistice possible. The enemy here isn't Giants, it's War. I know I'm still young, but Trunau makes us all grow up fast. And our lives are in a constant state of struggle. But this struggle... Is War. We're all, affected by it. We're all traumatized. And despite the magicks that can bring us back, again and again if need be, it's pain. Nothing but pain. We're cursed with it. We need to bend and bend and hope we don't break. Even when this is over, we're going to carry this with us for the rest of our days. All we can do is hold each other up, and keep doing it. It's going to get worse. It might get A LOT worse.

All this time, Ham is rifling through everyone's stuff, looking for cards or dice or anything.

Remind me to buy some kind of game set the next time we see civilization. Times like this call for strong drink or sport.