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

Game Master Chris Marsh

Vael blesses the party as the group moves in.

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

Doxon motions the spectral horse forward as he pictures Agrimmosh reforged in his mind.

Agrimmosh begins trailing frost as Doxon passes.

Activate Sacred Weapon to give +2 frost to Agrimmosh

Doxon prepares for yet another fight! The enemy seems to be lying in wait as no one comes out of the room...

Round 2:
Hamilton: Move
Whistle Pig: Endure Elements
Doxon: Prep and move
Giants: ???
Raen: Go
Ushyle: Go
Vael: Go

Ushyle motions to Ham, and the two move forward together in tandem under the silence aura.

Subject to change if Raen and/or Vael does something to trigger the foes' (presumably) readied actions.

Ushlye and Hamilton move silently forward...

Round 2:
Hamilton: Move
Whistle Pig: Endure Elements
Doxon: Prep and move
Giants: ???
Raen: Go
Ushyle: Sneaky sneaky
Vael: Go

A flicker of irritation flashes across Raen's invisible face. She was quite clear that the intent was to trick the enemy into being drawn out, to avoid facing the awful heat of the salamanders' lair. Yet now, her impetuous comrades are enveloped in magical silence, unable to hear any warning or word of recall, and she, invisible, would gain nothing by physically waving them back. She considers her last illusion spell as a method of written visual warning, but decides that to be a waste. At this point, she can do little but chase after them and hope for the best.

Double move.

Vael watches the others slink ahead, counter to Raen's suggestion. He's not convinced that the foe was indeed coming, but they'll likely never know.

Tulia follows Vael

The party edges forward, though no one can see into the room yet....

Round 3:
Hamilton: Go
Whistle Pig: Go
Doxon: Go
Giants: ???
Raen: TBD
Ushyle: TBD
Vael: TBD

Calling of Torag's protections, Doxon urges his phantom steed forward.

Fervor to swift cast Iron Skin (+6 Nat AC)

He rides forward, shouting, Death to all giants and their allies! Torag's will be done! His might shall fell all that stand against me!

As he moves past the mouth of the cave in view of the enemy, Doxon let's out a, OH S*+$!, turns the mount around and retreats back next to Raen.

Movement indicated by the yellow line.

Ham and Sammi ride up next to Ushyle and come to a stop. They lay in wait, and take a moment to check on gear and catch their breath. Ham then lowers his lance and prepares to spur into a charge the moment a foe comes into view. It's just then that he notices the utter silence and is confused for a moment, thinking that he's gone deaf. Then he looks aside at Ushyle and gets it.

Ready a charge Vs. The first Foe to come into view.

Doxon's retreat is followed immediately by a flaming boulder! A single giant in the room gives a war cry. It's a single syllable in the tongue of Joten, but that syllable carries the weight of millenia, in the common tongue of men it is "Death to dwarves!"

Readied: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (16) + 10 = 26 Doxon dodges the boulder as it smashes on the wall nearby.

Hamilton holds, knowing full well that the giant won't be able to resist Doxon's taunt.

Round 3:
Hamilton: Ready...
Whistle Pig: Go
Fire Giant: Miss
Doxon: Taunt like boss
Enemies: ???
Raen: TBD
Ushyle: TBD
Vael: TBD

Whistle Pig flies down the passage after his friends and Raen.

Whistle Pig advances as Doxon's gambit pays dividends. An irate fire giant comes barreling out into the tunnel.

Round 3:
Hamilton: Ready...
Whistle Pig: Go
Fire Giant: Miss
Doxon: Taunt like boss
Enemies: ATK
Raen: Go
Ushyle: Go
Vael: Go

WP is close enough and fires at the target:

1st attack:
attack: 1d20 + 23 ⇒ (19) + 23 = 42
1d6 + 20 ⇒ (4) + 20 = 24
2nd attack
attack: 1d20 + 23 ⇒ (1) + 23 = 24
1d6 + 20 ⇒ (5) + 20 = 25
3rd attack
attack: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (3) + 18 = 21
1d6 + 20 ⇒ (6) + 20 = 26
4rd attack
attack: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (5) + 13 = 18
1d6 + 20 ⇒ (1) + 20 = 21

Still invisible, Raen floats past the new battlefield, soon to be slick with giant blood.

Move action to present position. Do I see anything new?

Vael sets the spiritually-imbued weapon on the giant he conjured on the new giant before them.
Spiritual Weapon
: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (20) + 16 = 36
Confirm Spiritual Weapon
: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (11) + 16 = 27
Force Damage: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10
Crit Force Damage: 2d8 + 8 ⇒ (8, 6) + 8 = 22

He then channels a bit of good luck into Tulia, giving her the chance she needs with her crossbow.

Tulia unloads a tiny bolt at the visible giant.
Giant-bane Crossbow: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (1) + 20 = 21
Giant-bane Crossbow (Fortune): 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (5) + 20 = 25
Piercing Damage: 1d4 + 5 + 2d6 ⇒ (3) + 5 + (3, 4) = 15

Hamilton charges in and....

Over Hamilton's head Whistle Pig hurls as many stones as he can, striking twice.

Round 3:
Hamilton: Execute your charge sir!
Whistle Pig: Prep
Fire Giant: Miss
Doxon: Taunt like boss
Enemies: ATK
Raen: Move
Ushyle: Go
Vael: ATK

Round 4:
Hamilton: Go
Whistle Pig: Hit
Fire Giant: TBD
Doxon: TBD
Enemies: TBD
Raen: TBD
Ushyle: TBD
Vael: TBD

ROUND 3

Hamilton tilts past the giant as it comes into view!

Power Attack Charge! 1d20 + 29 ⇒ (17) + 29 = 46, 1d8 + 32 + 2d6 ⇒ (8) + 32 + (6, 3) = 49 points of damage on a hit.

ROUND 4
Then Ham and Sammi wheel around and charge again!
Power Attack Charge: 1d20 + 29 ⇒ (13) + 29 = 42, 1d8 + 32 + 2d6 ⇒ (2) + 32 + (2, 6) = 42 on a hit!

Hamilton charges the foolhardy giant and makes him pay dearly for it.

Round 3:
Hamilton: Execute your charge sir!
Whistle Pig: Prep
Fire Giant: Miss
Doxon: Taunt like boss
Enemies: ATK
Raen: Move
Ushyle: Go
Vael: ATK

Round 4:
Hamilton: Holding for Ushyle
Whistle Pig: Hit
Fire Giant: TBD
Doxon: TBD
Enemies: TBD
Raen: TBD
Ushyle: TBD
Vael: TBD

Ham always inspires, Ushyle thinks to himself, activating bane (giant) and stepping forward to thrash the hapless giant.

Milani's Thorn, Power Attack/Furious Focus, bane, hunter's blessing, heroism.

primary: 1d20 + 19 + 2 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 19 + 2 + 2 + 2 = 29
slash: 2d6 + 21 + 4d6 ⇒ (6, 6) + 21 + (2, 4, 1, 3) = 43

secondary: 1d20 + 12 + 2 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 12 + 2 + 2 + 2 = 24
slash: 2d6 + 21 + 4d6 ⇒ (5, 5) + 21 + (2, 5, 3, 2) = 43

Hamilton prepares to wheel around in order to finish the giant off, but when he turns, it's clear that Ushyle beat him to it as the fatally maimed giant crashes to the ground.

Round 4:
Hamilton: Go
Whistle Pig: Go
Fire Giant: TBD
Doxon: TBD
Enemies: TBD
Raen: TBD
Ushyle: TBD
Vael: TBD

Ham wheels around and sees Raen giving the stern signal. He gives a quick salute with his lance and rides Sammi back to the group, preparing for more battle with the monsters in the chamber.

Move back, ready a charge.

Raen, still invisible, floats towards the glowing cavern, testing its heat. Second move action. She will stop if the heat becomes overwhelming.

Pig flings rocks at the giant trying to miss the charging charging Ham and SAmmi.

attack!: 1d20 + 23 ⇒ (1) + 23 = 24
damage?: 1d6 + 20 ⇒ (3) + 20 = 23

attack!: 1d20 + 23 ⇒ (14) + 23 = 37
damage?: 1d6 + 20 ⇒ (1) + 20 = 21

attack!: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (16) + 18 = 34
damage?: 1d6 + 20 ⇒ (3) + 20 = 23

attack!: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (10) + 13 = 23
damage?: 1d6 + 20 ⇒ (4) + 20 = 24

Hamilton, waiting for a signal from the invisible Raen holds up. Whistle Pig too.

Suspending round by round for now. I'll make a best guess on how many rounds before contact is made.

Raen floats back towards the others, speaking softly in Dwarven.

After a moment's pause for consideration, her disembodied voice speaks again.

Raen considers Doxon's proposal to use Torag's Protection of the Forge. She nods, though no one can see her do it. "Very well. Let us stay close to Doxon and his steed."

When the others are ready, she moves down the corridor with the tight formation, hovering 10 feet above Doxon's helm.

Calling it a total of 3 rounds. Since both sides are trying to ambush each other, there's no surprise round. Since there was time to think on both sides, rerolling initiative. Initiative time kicks in the instant the party turns the corner.

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

Enemy: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (9) + 8 = 17
Raen: 1d20 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 7 + 2 = 24
Ushyle: 1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 4 + 2 = 22
Vael: 1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 4 + 2 = 18
Whistle Pig: 1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 5 + 2 = 12
Doxon: 1d20 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 1 + 2 = 7
Hamilton: 1d20 + 2 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 + 2 + 2 = 21

Raen delays for a moment, examining the salamanders' reactions.

Ham and Sammi take to the air and climb as high as possible. They move twice into the room in a straight line.

Ushyle winks out of sight for all but Raen and moves into the chamber, Milani's Thorn at the ready. He takes the measure of the three foes he can see as he does.

[ooc]Cast invisibility, move, study target.

Raen holds to gauge the enemy reaction, as Ushyle vanishes. 1d20 ⇒ 18

Hamilton pushes into the room. As he and Sammi cross in, the hidden salamanders leap out from their positions. Unprepared for a flying foe, their attack is foiled!

Within seconds the smoke becomes tricky to handle, especially at the ceiling, 30' above.
Hamilton FORT: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (2) + 13 = 15
Sammi FORT: 1d20 ⇒ 12

But the pair have no problem at all keeping it together. The in the room is unbearable. More than a minute in this room, and the pair would begin to cook.

Round 1:

Ushyle: wchchchchchch
Hamilton: Draw them out!
Salamander grunts
Raen: Go
Vael: Go
Salamander Leader: TBD
Whistle Pig: TBD
Doxon: TBD

Raen flits forward but stops before going far. Her fingertips trace a whorl in the weave of spacetime before her, bending the fabrics of a hundred colors together into a furious, calamitous riot of dimensions that begin to take shape in reality.

She flings this maelstrom forth with a casual flick of her hand, thundering sheer color into the blistering cavern.

PRISMATIC SPRAY, DC 26:

Spray vs Black: 1d8 ⇒ 2 ORANGE 40 acid dmg, DC 26 Reflex for half
Spray vs Blue: 1d8 ⇒ 4 GREEN Poison! DC 26 Fort or instant death, secondary effect 1 Con dmg/round, 2 consecutive saves
Spray vs Green: 1d8 ⇒ 3 YELLOW 80 electricity dmg, DC 26 Reflex for half
Spray vs Teal: 1d8 ⇒ 8 ROLL TWICE AND COMBINE: 3d8 ⇒ (8, 1, 6) = 15 RED & INDIGO 20 fire damage plus INSANITY (as spell), DC 26 Will negates

Vael casts Resist Energy beforehand

The shaman flies forward, opting to copy Raen's approach and magic!
Assuming Raen is flying. Vael moves so that he is above or below her, depending on her altitude. He then casts Prismatic Spray in exactly the same cone

Spray vs Black: 1d8 ⇒ 7 VIOLET. DC 24 Will or sent to another plane.

Spray vs Blue: 1d8 ⇒ 5 BLUE. DC 24 Fort or Flesh to Stone

Spray vs Green: 1d8 ⇒ 5 BLUE. DC 24 Fort or Flesh to Stone

Spray vs Teal: 1d8 ⇒ 5 BLUE. DC 24 Fort or Flesh to Stone

A Most Excellent Pair of Prismatic Sprays pummel the salamanders!

Black REF: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18 The acid burns!
Blue FORT: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (3) + 10 = 13 Instant poison death!
Green REF: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21 ZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzGGGDDHSSHSSS Electrocuted
Teal WILL: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9 Fire Immune, INSANE

Black WILL: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20 Sent to Plane: 1d36 ⇒ 17 The Maelstrom
Blue FORT: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (18) + 10 = 28 ALREADY DEAD
Green FORT: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (16) + 10 = 26 ALREADY DEAD
Teal FORT: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (4) + 10 = 14 STONE

The survivors scatter! They dive into the molten vats. The leader shouts at the party, "HOLD! I am Master Kayyed! Through the Fire and Flame! I've never seen such might! I yield! I yield! We have only just entered into agreement with the giants. I've no wish to face more of that! I'll give you all I have to spare my life!"

Staying in initiative, but accepting will drop us out.

Round 1:

Ushyle: wchchchchchch
Hamilton: Draw them out!
Salamander grunts
Raen: Rainbow
Vael: Bright!
Salamander Leader: Surrender
Whistle Pig: Go
Doxon: Go

Doxon rides into the room.

Surrender accepted. We've no interests in unnecessary bloodshed. Can you do something about this heat so that we may parlay?

"Aye. Aye." Master Kayyed gives a nod to the others to close the vents. It's still painfully hot in here, but not enough to burn. Away from the ceiling the smoke isn't bad either. Neither Hamilton nor Sammi were exposed to it long enough to matter.

The Salamander lord begins putting down his gear. The others do the same, though their equipment seems mundane. The lord balks with one item, a statuette of an obsidian steed. "Please, allow me this one thing. It will make our egress from this dross-laden mountain easier.

The salamander speaks in a haughty tone and a heavily accented Taldane, despite the balance of power, [b]"King Tytarian invited us in the hope of recruiting us to work here in Ashpeak. He had hoped we would lend our skill and expertise to the Storm Tyrant’s war machine. He is NOT paying us enough to be on the front line. Indeed, I'd be surprised if he even knew you were here. He spends his time above near the summit. Given your power, I expect you to be able to take him. Be aware mortals, that he is terrified of the Storm King. Consider that as you hammer out your intentions."

The salamanders don't seem interested in a full parlay. Given their loss, they clearly seek to leave. Still, you might be able to question him a bit more.

For victory over giant and salamander alike, each Hero of Trunau earns
11,467 XP.

"We'll allow you your trinket. But, we want more information in return. Tell me more of this king, and do you have a trinket or item from them?"

Yes, any sort of passcode you show when needed, or the like. Ushyle hands the spear to Ham and tucks the rest in Raen's bag of holding.

"Crafty for a short mortal. I suppose a dwarf is better stuff than most..... No, I have nothing from the king. I can tell you little, but I'll tell you what I know."

The other salamanders begin work to leave as Master Kayyed tells you everything, "King Tytarian and his wife, Queen Quivixia, make their home in the highest reaches of Ashpeak. From here they can quickly communicate with the Storm Tyrant as his castle sits chained in the volcano’s crater. They use the young red dragons just north of here to send messages between Ironcloud Keep and the upper levels of Ashpeak. Beware, the dragon Tesharat also patrols those caverns. Do not underestimate the danger. You bested us, but he is so much more dangerous. A skilled general and dangerous combatant, King Tytarian has united four clans of fire giants to serve under Volstus the Storm Tyrant. He wields weapons of power, and is surrounded by the strongest warriors of the four clans."

"The magma dragon has already been slain. It seems the next challege for us is the king and queen," Vael muses aloud. "Final question: what lies to the west," he says, gesturing down the passageway that they have not explored yet.

"Indeed, maybe you are powerful enough." Master Kayyed seems to have zero emotional reaction to the death of Tesharat.

"West of here are the forges for the menial workers, some fire and slag giants. If this room is too hot for you, then you'll likely die after a few minutes in there."

"If you mean west within the main hallway, it leads to the final chamber area of Ashpeak, and the royal quarters."

"Not the final question," Raen interjects. "Tytarian and Quivixia are both fire giants, then? What draconic support do they command?"

Raen eyes the obsidian steed for a moment. Detect Magic, Spellcraft T10 for 46 to identify. "I must also inquire after your plans once you depart this place. Will you return to the City of Brass?"

"That is exactly my plan. Mortal concerns are.... not worth it."

"Apparently you've already eliminated their draconic support. Yes, they're both fire giants. Most of their retinue is as well. There are some azers. Often they host leaders of other giants, but I've no idea who is there now."

Identify on the obsidian steed? 46 Spellcraft.

Sense Motive T10: 10 + 13 = 23 Assuming no negative hunch:

"Very well. I wish you speed on your way."

It's a poor king that ignores the workings of his kingdom, particularly in wartime. It seems communication is rather poor between the king and those he rules, and even among themselves no less. If the royals were using the dragons as couriers, I would have expected them to be alerted to our presence, but if what you say is true and even the loss of the dragons does not raise their suspicions, then I am confident that we will best these inept royals and their retinue.

No negative hunch...