Dungeon Master S's In Service to Lore (Inactive)

Game Master Chris Marsh

As agreed, Harnac delays until after Fel.

Fel begins chanting what he believes will be an inspiring rime in a deep and sonorous voice,

Along the bridge Lord Odric rode,
Proudly his red-roan charger trode,
His helm hung at the saddlebow;
Well by his visage you might know
He was a stalwart man, and keen,
And had in many a battle been;
The scar on his rough cheek reveal’d
A token true of battle field;
His eyebrow dark, and eye of fire,
Show’d spirit proud, and prompt to ire;
Yet lines of thought upon his cheek
Did deep design and counsel speak.
His forehead by his helm worn bare,
His thick mustache, and curly mullet,
Coal-black, and grizzle-bearded gullet,
But more through toil than age;
His square-turn’d joints, and strength of limb,
Show’d him no pansy knight so trim,
But in close fight a champion grim,
In camps a leader sage.

+1 to attack and damage for everyone in the party.

Initiative Repost:

Fel 1d20 ⇒ 14
Harnac 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 2 = 13.9
Spider 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 13
Sumac 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8
Undead 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7
Dagnud 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5
Chud 1d20 ⇒ 2

ROUND 1

Hack holds off first, waiting for Fel's very heterosexual chant. Then, bolsterd by the straight manly nature of the verse, the dwarf waits for the spder to close. Once it does, he double-chops the spider!!

Attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14
Damage: 1d10 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9

Attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26 <--THREAT!!
Damage: 1d10 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 2 = 12

Critical Confirm: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15
Damage: 2d10 + 4 ⇒ (5, 3) + 4 = 12

EDITED for seeing the spider on the map.

ROUND 1

I don't see the spider on the map . . . can I assume it dropped right near us?? I reserve the right to take a 5' step once the spider is visible on the map, if you please!

The spider is actually on the map. check out the bottom right corner of the room we're in. Had trouble finding it myself. But there it is.

ROUND 1

[ooc]Hack holds off first, waiting for Fel's song.

Singing bards are homosexual! Fel chants.

I updated my post accordingly (for seeing the spider--thanks Chud--and for the chant vs. song)

Uh... Now Fel is about to be killed by a ghoul.
:(

The spider dashes towards the Dwarf. Harnac holds the line, waiting for the right moment. When it comes he slashes viciously. The first swing takes out half it's legs and the second bifurcates it. Ichor sprays everywhere. The undead knows the ruse is up. It lets out a blood curdling screech.

Sumac!

Map at the end of the round.

The halfling hurles a sling bullet at their undead "guide". Sumac wants to have some rage at the creature but ultimatly he knows they never should have trusted it in the first place. The sling bullet flies through the air casting odd shadows with the light of the orison upon it.

SlingStaff 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20
Bullet damage 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

The druid stays his place on Grips back, knowing he hasnt trained the wolf enough to attack the undead.

sorry all, I misunderstood the DM's post re: the ghoul. I thought she was going to eat the spider!

Good hit though!

The beast screams in agony at the broken skull delivered by Sumac (Do you have Precise Shot? If not it's a -4 to hit which is still a hit, so it's moot for this turn.)

It can't get to the agressor, so the former Pathfinder tears into the closest meal, Dagnud.

Bite: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6
Claw: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 13
Claw: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (19) + 3 = 22 After two defensive stands the beast sneaks a claw in for 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4 damage. The pain is agonizing but the morbid touch of undeath is worse. FORT DC 13: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10. Dagnud's muscles freeze as the paralysis snakes it grip around him.

Dagnud is paralyzed. Chud is up.

The beast screams in agony at the broken skull delivered by Sumac (Do you have Precise Shot? If not it's a -4 to hit which is still a hit, so it's moot for this turn.)

I do not have precise shot. That will be my next feat. I wasn't sure of the precise locations of people on the map so I didn't factor in the -4. I figured you add it in for me if I needed it.

Since Chud and Fel are before Hack, I'd like to make a suggestion: you can do an Aid Another (hitting an AC of 10) to give someone--maybe someone with 2 attacks this round??--a +2 to hit. If you both did that for Hack (yes, they stack), and we got a flank going, with his normal attack bonus and bard so-er, verse, that'd give me a total of +12 to hit on two hits next round. Just sayin'.

Sorry to slow down combat, but, Mike, given my position on the map I don't think I can actually see the baddy. Wouldn't it, therefore, be impossible for me to perform this action without provoking an attack of opportunity if Aid Another count as a "distracting action"? I don't think I could move into position to perform Aid Another without either actually performing Aid Another in a square adjacent to the baddy (provokes an attack of opportunity) or moving in and then out of the baddy's threat area (also provokes an attack of opportunity) to perform Aid Another from a safe distance. Sorry if I'm misinterpreting the rule. Just want to get it right before I act. Again, sorry for slowing down combat.

Jacob, you need never apologize for slowing down combat :-)

I don't think aiding another on an attack roll provokes - I think the rule is aiding only provokes if the action you're aiding would also provoke. However, you do have to be in melee range to do it, and since the hall is all blocked up it's going to be very difficult to get there.

I can't see the map from work and couldnt' recall specifically who was where. But it's an option to think about; lets you do something without expending spells or other resources.
.
but assuming space allows, Zac is right--Aid Another in this application is essentially a melee attack. Doesn't provoke.

Chud is alarmed when he sees Dagnud's body go rigid after being touched by the undead betrayer. He readies a scroll of cure light wounds and holds his action.

Sorry guys, Chud's is too fragile and his AC is too low to place in melee range of our foe especially considering I'll likely be taking on chief healing duties for this mission since Chud is pretty useless against undead right now.

Fel makes a stab with his dagger, continuing his chant unabated.

1d20 - 2 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (16) - 2 + 1 + 2 = 17 for 1d4 - 2 + 1 ⇒ (1) - 2 + 1 = 0 damage -> minimum damage of 1.

I can't see the map; can I get a flank by taking a 5' step?

If you can provide flanking around partial cover, yes you can by going 5' East (Fel is around the corner). 5' SE would put you opposite Dagnud, but I'm paralyzed.

ROUND 2
Hack shifts over, flanking the ghoul with Fel, and strikes hard and fast!

Attack: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14
Damage: 1d10 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10

Attack: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (14) + 8 = 22
Damage: 1d10 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9

The halfing launches another sling bullet at the horrid ghoul.

sling 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14
bullet damage 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8

Save your bullet Sumac...

Fel awkwardly, but successfully, stabs the creature. A split second later, Harnac slices the creature to ribbons. Individual pieces continue to twitch harmlessly.

We are out of initiative.

Perception 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (18) + 9 = 27
Alert to any other danger, like other smaller hidden spiders. Sumac and Grip press forward into the web room doing a search.

Grips perception1d20 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14 additional +8 for scent based stuff

PHTHOOO!! Hack hacks a lougie onto the largest part of ghoul corpse. Hrmph. Goes to teach me never trust any undead. Oi! See to Dagnud! 'Se gonna be OK?? Hack gives the dwarf-cicle a shake, hands in front of the eyes, that sort of thing.

Sumac scours the room thoroughly. you find a few scattered gold coins by various long dead bodies. One of the caccoons contains a fairly fresh kobold. He has nothign of note except a singular pearl of beauty, an odd thing to find in it's possession.

After finishing checking the room the halfling comes back to the downed Dagnud. I was hoping this would have wore off by now...
The druid pulls his medicine bag off his shoulder and starts to examine the dwarf more closely. He gives his try at healing. 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (1) + 9 = 10

obviously Sumac is stumped by this one

Good point. After about half a minute, the paralysis leaves Dagnud. the thought of what would have happened if the creature began to eat teh dwarf while paralysed is chilling indeed.

Chud approaches Harnac, his head down and his heart heavy as he obviously blames himself for the unfortunate encounter.

You were right, my friend. We should have never trusted that abomination. The next time, I'll just let your axes do the talking.

He then turns to Dagnud.

Please accept my apologizes as well, Dagnud.

Chud reads a Cure Light Wounds scroll. As it disintegrates he reaches out and touches Dagnud's shoulder.

CLW:1d8 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

If Harnac knew anyting about Pearls of Power he'd immediately suggest a Detect Magic to see if this could be one. But he doesn't, so ...

Fel takes the pearl back to the bas relief face and casts Detect Magic.

The relief radiates no magic, but the pearl does. Knowledge (Arcana): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12 Unfortunately you can't attune your senses to its school. You know the ensorcelment is strong though.

If time permits Sumac does spend a minute studying the bifurcated corpse of the giant spider. Its rare to get such a chance. He looms for any obvious differrences between this and a regular sized spider. He wonders if a spider this size can walk on water like little ones can or balloon away in the wind with thier silk. He tries to identify the monstrous genus and species.
Knowledge Nature 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (9) + 8 = 17

When he notices the others stareing at him, We are here to learn right? This will make an interesting journal entry. The halfling smiles and gets ready to move on.

Shall we continue North?

Yes, and no more making friends with dead things, either. We come across something that needs a killing, or a re-killing as it may be, we take care of it.

The halfling recovers hit glowing bullet if he can. Else he casts a light spell on a new one. Sumac begins to rally the troops back into marching order. Without thier undead traitor in thier midst, Sumac (mounted on Grip) switches places with Dagnud.
Unless anyone objects, marching order is as follows.

First Harnac

Second Sumac/Gripper

Third Fel

Fourth Chud

Fifth Dagnud

The party heads continues north and heads for the stairs.

Map after school

the hallway continues North with a short flight up stairs going up (a total of 5'). the passage ends in a heavy wooden door.

The keen eared halfling moves forward to listen at the door

Perception 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (10) + 9 = 19

Harnac has a loaded crossbow in one hand, axe in the other. that way he can take a pot shot, drop it, and have axe in hand for slicin'!

At the door, he whispers.

Oi! Someone take a listen, eh?

Lets try another way, if we don't have to open this door we won't. If we have to open it of course we will, but avoiding trouble would be prudent. Let's see if the items we require are to be found elsewhere first.

'Ts a fair suggestion, Fel. I'm wichye.

Is the plan to head down the Southern corridor instead?

Yes

This large room is dank, and a strange draft flows through it carrying with it a foul odor. Rubble is strewn here and there. A strange, slimy slick glistens down the southern wall. Near the slick is a wooden door. The only sound in this room is a faint drip echoing from deeper in the dungeon.

Map is here.

Perception 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (19) + 9 = 28
Sumac sniffs the air trying to identify the odor. He also takes a closer look around the room searching for anything of note. Can he identify the slickness?

Fel pokes ahead with the 10 foot pole.

Sumac you don't smell anything that would identify it, but anyone with Knowledge (Dungeoneering) can make an attempt. Fel, are you poking towards the next room or towards the slickness?