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

Game Master Chris Marsh

Doxon rushes in to the manticore as he sees Ushyle move into position.

Agrimmosh: 1d20 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 8 + 2 = 29
Damage: 2d6 + 5 ⇒ (1, 3) + 5 = 9

Ushyle moves in, but Doxon beats him to the punch with a solid strike from the Hammer. "Gods! What is that?!" the manticore barks.

Round 2:
Vael: Miss
Manticore: ATK
Whistle Pig: Go
Ushyle: Move
Doxon: Hit
Hamilton: Go
Raen: Go

WP curses under his breath, "calm down, breathe, just like in the fields of Trunau.

attack: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (5) + 11 = 16
damage: 1d6 + 10 ⇒ (5) + 10 = 15

"The Hammer of Unmaking," Raen's disembodied voice answers. "Unmaking you."

The fire burns. Flaming Sphere: 3d6 ⇒ (2, 2, 1) = 5 bah! DC 13 Reflex negates

Raen quietly moves in and gets ready to help knock a blow aside if the monster swings for the dwarf.

Whistle Pig's stone misses, but not by much. Meanwhile Raen bounces his sphere back towards the beat REF: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (20) + 7 = 27, but the manticore barely heeds the danger at all. The illusionist also tries to cover for Doxon as the dwarf continues to feel the ire of the monster.

Round 2:
Vael: Miss
Manticore: ATK
Whistle Pig: Miss
Ushyle: Move
Doxon: Hit
Hamilton: Go
Raen: Prep

Doxon's current AC is 24, 26 vs it's first attack thanks to Raen.

Ham gets an insane glint in his eye and he attempts to fast mount the Manticore.

Hiya, Beast!

Fast Mount:1d20 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 2 = 16

Okay, no fast mount it it'll take a move action. And I assume you'll need a CMB on this for something...

Combat Maneuver: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24

If I have an action left at the end of this and I'm still alive, I'll grab some mane and use my action to wrastle (yes, wrastle) control.

Hamilton goes for broke. The manticore snaps at his outstretched hand AoO: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (12) + 10 = 22 for DMG: 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7. Despite the bite, the ranger sticks to his plan. He mounts the enraged beast.

The manticore, not exactly "grappled" isn't ready for the human on his back. He instinctual begins to buck and whip, trying to knock Hamilton off his back. I'm going to rule that the manticore is flat footed so long as Hamilton is on his back. The CMD to maintain the ride is 24!

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

"Wait, what-" is all Vael manages before Hamilton performs his wild maneuver. He shakes the surprise off and tries to stab at the manticore!
Attack w/Longspear: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 16
Damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

Vael seizes the advantage, and stabs the manticore in the ribs. Desperately it tries to buck the ranger off CMB: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (4) + 12 = 16, but can't!

Round 3:
Vael: Stab!
Manticore: Fail!
Whistle Pig: Go
Ushyle: Go
Doxon: Go
Hamilton: Go
Raen: Go

Ushyle smiles at Ham's aplomb. Impetuous, he muses, but ever so successful!

Gorum's Thorn, flanking, Power Attack/Furious Focus: 1d20 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 8 + 2 = 14
Gorum's Thorn, Power Attack, sneak attack: 2d6 + 11 + 3d6 ⇒ (1, 1) + 11 + (5, 6, 2) = 26

But the thrashing manticore yanks out of the way at the last instant from the downswing of Ushyle's blade.
Nimble little minx, isn't she?

Seeing the bucking manticore thrashing about, Doxon steps in with hammer and pick.

Agrimmosh, TWF: 1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 6 + 2 = 22
Damage: 2d6 + 5 ⇒ (5, 5) + 5 = 15

Pick, TWF: 1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 5 + 2 = 19
Damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

Despite the miss from Ushyle, his dwarven shieldmate is right behind him. With the same certainty, Doxon kills a second manticore mere moments after his first.

For slaying the pair of manticores, each PC gains 535 XP. For Hamilton's cajones, each character gains 15 more.

WP gives out what can only be considered a cross between a giggle and a cackle at the sight of Ham riding the beast.

Pig takes aim at the beast and lets fly!

attack: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (7) + 11 = 18
damage?: 1d6 + 10 ⇒ (1) + 10 = 11

ummmm.... Whistle Pig hits the corpse.

Seeing that the room is full boxes and what not, he take a few minutes to see what's in them.

perception take 10: 10 + 11 = 21

Ham rides the manticore down into the ground and rolls off of it, springing to his feet at the end. He rips off a piece of his tunic and starts wrapping the bite wound on his hand.

The room is FULL of chests. The first thing to stand out though is a giantsized, gem-encrusted silk gown, draped like a tablecloth over a large oaken desk inside the cage. The gown is worth 500 gp in materials alone according to Raen.

It'll take you an hour to loot this room, and the treasure may become too much to carry... Man I prefer to Bulk rules. (Or the cn rules from ancient editions.

You guys looking?

Oh, Hell yeah we're looking. Take 20 on Perception for 21.

Under the dress you find something... interesting. Several of the papers appear to be drafts of a formal letter addressed to “the Storm Tyrant Volstus”. Crumpled into a ball next to what looks like a final draft is the response to her letter...

Also here is a detailed inventory, and besides cataloging the items found in this room, the list includes several items from Uskroth’s tomb beneath Trunau as future additions to the dowry: most notably, Uskroth’s armor, Uskroth’s hammer, and something called “Uskroth’s rock.”

Finally is a parchment map shows the location of a secluded valley in the Mindspin Mountains south of Belkzen. “My future with Volstus starts here” is scrawled on the back of the map in Giant.

The rest of the room seems to be the erstwhile dowry

"So thar's more giants gatherin'? And I assume tha smallfolk means us, right? This nae be good news. But I dinna understand why. Why now?" Vael asks the group, not really sure there's an answer to be found. Yet. "Also, any idea what be Uskroth's rock be? I think I ken what tha hammer and armor be," he says, glancing at Hamilton and Doxon. "Did we miss tha search for tha rock? Be thar another artifact ta be found?"

"'Uskroth's Rock' is this rock," Raen replies, producing the curious object. "Hand me that map a moment?" Does this parchment map help me understand the "map" on the geode at all?

Scanning the letter from "Volstus," Raen's expression grows grim. "Trunau faces a greater than just the Twisted Hearts. This is dire news indeed. Perhaps we may turn to Lastwall for help?" As soon as the words leave her mouth, Raen knows the idea is rubbish.

Scanning everything with Detect Magic for good measure.

Know Religion (Bust): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (1) + 9 = 10 lol

The woman picks up one of the framed studies and props it against a wall. She stares at it for a long minute before removing the paper from the frame and rolling it into her pack.

"Ahh. So it be a map then. Useful?"

Both Vael and Tulia then look over the bust as Raen scans the items.
Knowledge (Religion) for Vael: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24
Knowledge (Religion) for Tulia: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25
Well I can tell you I'm going to miss those rolls.

"That remains to be seen."

Unfortunately the map doesn't seem to make any sense when compared to the geode. Also, nothing here seems to be magical.

There's a large pair of double doors on the far side, and a lot of fort left. Despite the nebulous threats here, the immediate threats remain.

Doxon will walk over to the double doors to the south west and tap on it with his hammer.

Any beasties or baddies hiding in there?

WP shakes his head at Doxon, "we need to teach you how to be QUIET!" the halfling says is a sort of scream whisper.

He does his best to show exactly how you approach a door.

He listens:
perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (15) + 11 = 26

He checks for traps:
Trapfinding: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (9) + 12 = 21

if locked and safe, he tries to open it
DD: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (4) + 12 = 16
DD: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (12) + 12 = 24
DD: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (5) + 12 = 17

Doxon doesn't release anything, and backs up after Whistle Pig's admonition. the halfling spends some time, and determines the door to be safe for opening.

A wide, but narrowing stairwell leads up to the third floor. There isn't much of the fort that goes this high, and you have no knowledge of what to expect...

WP motions for the crew to say here and be ready. He slowing starts up the stairs.

sneaking: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (12) + 13 = 25
sneaking: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (9) + 13 = 22

Hamilton looks around.

Fortune and glory, Friends. Fortune and glory!

Given the sizes of everything, Ham figures it might just be left till later. Hopefully they can come back. But the coins... Oh, the coins!

Dox? Vael? Do either of you have any curative magicks left for today?

Vael nods to Hamilton, gesturing for the injured folks to gather round him. He mutters a low chant, asking the spirits of Life to infuse his friends with their positive energy.
Channel Positive Energy: 3d6 ⇒ (2, 1, 1) = 4
He chants a little bit longer...
Channel Positive Energy: 3d6 ⇒ (2, 1, 5) = 8
And a bit longer still...
Channel Positive Energy: 3d6 ⇒ (6, 2, 4) = 12

Aye. I need some myself. Manticores thrashed me about a bit.

CMW, Hamilton: 2d8 + 5 ⇒ (4, 8) + 5 = 17

CMW, Doxon: 2d8 + 5 ⇒ (8, 3) + 5 = 16

Oops. Missed that Vael had done some channeling. Ignore these rolls.

WP heads back to the group as quietly as he went up.

"There are two voices up there, one Giant and one Orc. It smells of dog. They are having a conversation but I'm not able to hear on words. The giant is whining and the orc is trying to buck her up." Pig thinks about what he read in the room and puts two and two together:

"Maybe, it's our jilted bride?" He says with a shrug.

Ushyle listens to the halfling with a bit of a smile. The giant is whining while the orc is encouraging. That doesn't come natural to either of them, I don't think.

Raen considers this news from the halfling carefully. "Perhaps it is Grenseldek herself. We could bite the head off the snake -- perhaps even both heads, if that orc is the general." She glances around the corner at the other staircase.

"I do have to wonder, though, if this room might be the armory? Good place to stop before a fight." She gestures at the double doors to the east. "Whistle Pig, would you mind?"

As noted in Slack, I'd like to clear the room next to Raen before heading upstairs if folks are amenable.

WP sees the wisdom in this plan, but the idea of killing the danger to Trunau as quickly as possible still is in the front of his mind.

After a moment of contemplation, WP sighs, nods and gets to work on the door.

I need to copy and paste my door routine...

WP sees the wisdom in this plan, but the idea of killing the danger to Trunau as quickly as possible still is in the front of his mind.

After a moment of contemplation, WP sighs, nods and gets to work on the door.

I need to copy and paste my door routine...

checks the door for sounds:
perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (14) + 11 = 25

Checks for traps:
trapfinding: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (12) + 12 = 24

unlocks door if needed and safe:
DD: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (17) + 12 = 29
DD: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (1) + 12 = 13
DD: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (8) + 12 = 20

WP, I can turn it into a quick post up top if you'd like.

The door by Raen seems safe, so the party opens it. A low fence surrounds a rectangular opening in this room’s floor. A winch, a frayed rope, several rusted buckets, and three large water jugs sit next to the fence.

Raen: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7
Ushyle: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (20) + 9 = 29 (Darkvision 60')
Vael: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15 (Darkvision 60')
--->Tulia: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (17) + 9 = 26 (LLV)
Whistle Pig: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (19) + 11 = 30
Doxon: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8 (Darkvision 60')
Hamilton: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 16

"dead end. Don't move onto this floor or you will have a problem." The halfling looks at Raen. "We know what we have to do. Your plan is sound. do your magics and let's be done with it."

Raen sees Hamilton's constant glances back at the staircase up, and his itching fingers around the pommel of his sword. Looking around the others, she takes in the face of each. "Alright, here is what I have..."

She lays out her plan to ambushes Grenseldek in her own throne room. Once all are in agreement, she casts a pair of potent illusions while Hamilton lights his scimitar.

Mirror Image: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Another invisibility field cloaks the group, allowing unseen passage up Whistle Pig's scouting route and into the midst of the giant's conversation. "Ready those blades," she whispers with some apprehension. "Whistle Pig: first shot. Now!"

Go ahead and place yourselves on the tactical map before I roll for initiative. Whoever opens the door will need to take a move action to do it.

WP looks at the group, he waits for a nod from everyone before he opens the door as quietly as possible.

stealth+40 for invis?: 1d20 + 53 ⇒ (8) + 53 = 61

Whistle Pig quietly opens the door...

This large chamber appears to have recently undergone a renovation. A broken wall partially blocks a dark alcove to the northwest, surrounded by broken bricks and scattered debris. A circular niche on the opposite side of the room to the southeast holds a raised table. In the center of the room, three beds have been crammed together beneath a single huge bearskin bedspread. South of the beds, a massive floor-to-ceiling mirror stands against the wall, and a large dust-covered armoire hunkers between two sets of doors along the northeast wall.

Within is a disgusting giantess, weeping. She's flanked by a pair of half-giant orcish bodyguards.

A pair of dire wolves instantly detect the halfling, and begin to bark, breaking the others out of their commiserating!

Enemy: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (11) + 0 = 11
Raen: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11
Ushyle: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21
Vael: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10
Whistle Pig: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8
Doxon: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9
Hamilton: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 2 = 14

Surprise Round:
Ushyle: Go
Hamilton: Go
Raen: Go
Wolves: TBD
Vael: TBD
Doxon: TBD
Whistle Pig: TBD

Given fresh empirical inputs, Raen doesn't hesitate to unleash her most powerful spell.

"FOR TRUNAU!"

FIREBALL: 5d6 ⇒ (6, 6, 2, 5, 1) = 20 Fire damage, DC 18 Reflex for half

REF Grenseldek: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14
REF Red: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9
REF Black: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7
REF Blue: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15
REF Yellow: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 16

Raen drops all pretense of subterfuge and opts for naked violence. All five targets how and shout in vengeful fury. The wolves look badly burned, but the giantess looks merely motivated for revenge.

Surprise Round:
Ushyle: Go
Hamilton: Go
Raen: Fire!
Wolves: TBD
Vael: TBD
Doxon: TBD
Whistle Pig: TBD

Ushyle's military training comes out at once. He barks direction in Dwarven: Take out the wolves, which offer a tactcial advantage, and, then focus fire! We need to reduce their number in order to conquer!

He moves in on Blue, following his own guidance.
Gorum's Thorn, Power Attack/Furious Focus, flatfooted: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 20
Gorum's Thorn, Power Attack, sneak attack: 2d6 + 11 + 3d6 ⇒ (2, 4) + 11 + (3, 6, 5) = 31

Surprise Round, Standard action only Ushlye.

Ushyle closes with the wolf, Gorum's Thorn at the ready!

Surprise Round:
Ushyle: Move
Hamilton: Go
Raen: Fire!
Wolves: TBD
Vael: TBD
Doxon: TBD
Whistle Pig: TBD