Dungeon Master S's "True Dragons of Absalom" (Inactive)

Game Master Chris Marsh

Will: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 2 = 19

Anthrax watches in amazement as the sewer dragons go running away from the horrible sound. He shrugs and continues forward. He continues to move forward in the small passage. He pulls out a bomb ready for his next movement.

Will (DC 16): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24 + 4 if Sonic

Engashez blinks with astonishment as Pethtun, Fazgyn, and Skyrahk all turn tail and flee back the way they'd came, shrieking as they go. "Hey! It's just a strange shadow dog with an annoying howl, why so scared!?"

Kn. Arcana (What Is It?): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (17) + 10 = 27
Kn. Religion (What Is It?): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 2 = 21
Kn. Nature (What Is It?): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 2 = 16
Kn. Planes (What Is It?): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 = 11
Kn. Dungeoneering (What Is It?): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9

Hoping to lure the creature towards them, Engashez takes a step back. But as she does, she begins to sing a little ditty...

~You ain't nothin' but a hound dog
Cryin' all the time
You ain't nothin' but a hound dog
Cryin' all the time
Well, you ain't never caught a rabbit and you ain't no friend of mine~
Hound Dog - Elvis Presley
_______

Engashez takes a 5 foot step back and fires up Yapping Song! Our new friend takes a -1 penalty on attack & damage rolls as well as a -1 on saves vs. fear and charm effects.

My mistake, Hats should have rolled too: Hats: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9 Athrax stands resolute, prepping to mix something extra fun. It's accented by the performance provided by Engashez. Unfortunately, the learned kobold doesn't know WHAT this thing is.

Hats!: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26 "CROIKY! I'm coming my short and colorful FRIENDS! Hats will not let your gift be given in vain!" the otyugh splashes out of the "water" and closes for the fight.

The black hound charges down the main hall to snap at Engashez Bite: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (13) + 9 = 22 for DMG: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4 and then tries to trip the kobold up. CMB: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20

Round 2: Fear ends on Round 4
Enemy: ATK
Athrax: Go
Skyrahk: Go
Pethtun: Go
Fazgin: Go
Engashez: Go (Prone)

Antrhax moves back through the tunnel grumbling about dogs not staying put. He tosses his bomb between himself and the dog. He tries to miss his allies.

"Stand up Engashez. Lying down doesn't help."

Attack the Floor: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12
Damage 5 Fire from the splash. I don't see that he has anything that lets him exclude anyone. That's why the toss at the floor. It's marked on the map.

Just realized I hadn't moved Skyrahk's token back to where she couldn't see the, her words, "foul demonic beast"
@GM: Should I have rolled Acrobatics to drop down the scaffolding?

"I'm not going back there. Hats, by the power of Dahak, go forth and destroy that demon" Skyrahk casts a little guidance on Hats.

Pethtun shakingly nods in agreement at Skyrahk's words...

Engashez utters a rather undignified squeak as she's pulled off her feet by the strange dog-thing, hitting the ground with a thump. Almost immediately she tries to stand back up though she knows she'll be risking another painful bite by doing so.

"Eeeeagh! Stupid dog-thing!" she shrieks in a fury, swinging her shortsword at the creature before taking a step back. All the while, she continues her odd singing and yapping, hoping to maybe annoy the thing into fleeing or dropping its guard.

Attack vs. Thing (MWK Shorsword): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10
Damage: 1d4 ⇒ 1
_______

Move action to stand from prone (and provoke), standard to attack with her shortsword, then she takes a 5 foot step back. Maintaining Yapping Song as a free action.

"HATS!" Fazgyn screams as he pops out of the narrow tunnel and continues running to stand behind the large, eccentric otyugh, "Hats, yes, squish it, squish it!" He almost trips over his own tail as he looks around for a good hiding place, preferably somewhere with only one narrow opening and plenty of room to construct hundreds of traps, "I'll be rooting for you from over there!"

Double move to stand 'bravely' behind Hats.

Athrax tosses the bomb REF: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (14) + 9 = 23, and the hound avoids the worst of it, but the smell of burning shadow fur does begin to waft.

No worries on backing up to roll the Acrobatics. DC is low enough and your skill high enough, that we'll just say you made it.
Skyrahk gets out of there as Hats..somehow looks like he's going to try and take the scaffolding!

Engashez tries to stand: AoO: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (12) + 9 = 21 and takes another bite in the process for DMG: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6. Unfortunately the counter attack by the brave kobold fails.

Fazgyn advances backwards to hid behind Hats!

Round 2: Fear ends on Round 4
Enemy: ATK
Athrax: Bomb
Skyrahk: Flee
Pethtun: Go
Fazgin: Advance to the rear
Engashez: Stand and poke
Hats: TBD

Pethtun gathers herself, but is not ready to face her fear. "Go get him, Hats!"

Pethtun shouts, and Hats responds. The otyugh clambers up the scaffolding, squeezing himself to the side of the hallway in order to not crush Engashez. "BAD DOG! BAD BAD DOG!"

The hound closes, and Hats wastes no time helping: Bite AoO: 1d20 + 9 - 2 ⇒ (11) + 9 - 2 = 18 for DMG: 1d8 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8

The hound lashes out not at a kobold, but at the mighty Hats! Bite: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (11) + 9 = 20 for DMG: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7 and Trip: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20

Hats laughs at the attempt.

Round 3: Fear ends on Round 4
Enemy: ATK
Athrax: Go
Skyrahk: Go
Pethtun: Go
Fazgin: Go
Engashez: Go
Hats: TBD

Pethtun cheers on Hats...but still stays back...

Fazgyn joins in with the cheering, "Ha ha, that's the way, Hats! Eat it before it eats us!" But like Pethun, he makes no move towards the dog.

Anthrax laughs gleefully as he realizes no allies are in range of his splash, and tosses a bomb directly at the dog. He hits. "True Dragons do not hide. Why are you all not attacking? He yells at his allies.

bomb: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (20) + 8 = 28
Damage: 2d6 + 3 ⇒ (6, 5) + 3 = 14

bomb Crit Confirm?: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16
Damage: 2d6 + 3 ⇒ (1, 4) + 3 = 8

With a clear shot, Athrax lobs a bomb that shatters on the hound's back! It nearly does the creature in! The hit is too much for it to withstand and it quickly looks for a path of escape!

Round 3: Fear ends on Round 4
Enemy: ATK
Athrax: Bombs away!
Skyrahk: Go
Pethtun: Chill
Fazgin: Ra-ra
Engashez: Go
Hats: TBD

"Athrax is right, Sewer Dragons shouldn't hide!" Engashez calls out as she takes another step back, ostensibly to allow some of the others room to move for forward. She lets her song die, dropping her shortsword and drawing and loading her sling.

Climb: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (7) - 1 = 6

Skyrahk tries climbing to the alcove south of the scaffolding, and fails, miserably.

I need to find a way to Hats, I can make her, him, it stronger, but I don't want that demon to see me again, it will eat ME alive, Skyrahk doesn't taste good!

As the kobolds scramble, the hound tries to escape. Hats, however, is having none of it. The otyugh quickly tears the hound apart, leaving a massive spray of viscera about the entire area.

"That was FUN! I'm dirty now. I think a bath is in order!"

out of combat.

Pethtun, head and eyes down, somberly walks over to the spot where she ran, picking up the rapier and spear she dropped...

The kobolds poke about and retake their pride and dignity. The room appears rather empty, but there are a couple of options for where to head next.

By all means heal up. Map is updated.

Fazgyn returns to the corridor where he first heard the fearsome howl, passing a slightly chewed Engashez on his way, "It looks like I was right to go and fetch Hats as quickly as I did. But there is no need to thank me for saving your life! The look of hushed awe that you are currently giving me is thanks enough." He tries to sound as confident as possible while practically running pass so that Engashez doesn't have time to reply. He then waits at the end of the hall, both swords drawn, ready to move on once the others have recovered.

Is it possible to clear that rubble, just in case we need more of Hats' assistance in the future?

Since I'm already 'downstairs'.

Thanks to Dahak we won! If I hadn't asked for guidance for Hats, it would be a different story!

Skyrahk will make use of the boring peace after the battle, more like one sided destruction! She pokes at the rubble in front of the pool, looking for a way for Hats to forward with.

Engashez rubs at the bite wounds on her legs and scowls, reaching into her pack for a small vial of light-blue liquid. "Stupid dog-thing, wanted to save this for emergency," she mutters to herself as she drinks it down. As she does, some of her wounds mend closed.

CLW Potion (Self): 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

But even the potion doesn't seem to work quite right, closing only a few of the more minor scrapes on the kobold's legs. She throws up her hands in disgust and points an accusatory talon at Athrax as he ranges ahead. "This potion was weak! Are you watering them down? If you are, cut it out!"

With a *harumph* Engashez folds her arms across her chest and waits for Fazgyn the others to have a look further down the tunnels, tapping her foot as she does. Her grumpiness doesn't preclude exercising a little additional caution however and she does keep her eyes and ears open for signs of any additional trouble.

Perception: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10

Anthrax looks offended when Engashez accuses him of watering down the potions. "I would not do such a thing. Did you shake it exactly three times before drinking it? I've been working on the mixture. It separates a little if you don't shake it." He pulls out another blue potion and hands it to Engashez. "Shake it exactly three times."

Engashez gives Athrax dubious look and pulls out a second vial from her own gear. "Here, I'll try this second one and see if it works any better..." she mutters as she shakes the vial three times before drinking it down.

CLW Potion (Self): 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

Lo and behold, the rest of Engashez's wounds mend shut. "Huh. I guess I didn't shake the first one hard enough," she says after a pause, looking somewhat embarrassed. "My mistake. Good to know you aren't watering those things down, either!"

That seems about as close to an apology as Athrax is going to get, at least for the time being.

The kobolds and their otyugh friend look at the rubble, and determine that there's simply too much to make it worth while.

A kobold's mind is ever thinking about places to lay traps, but in this case, the cave seems like a literal dead end.

As the parry begins to heal their wounds and whatnot a half dozen figures turn the corner. They look like sewer workers. "What's going on here?"

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 1 = 11

Pethtun, rapier in one hand, spear in the other, shrugs. "You tell us..."

Fazgyn, displaying his incredible bravery once more, decides to fade into the shadows while the more talkative Kobolds deal with the intruders. Stupid sewer workers! They're always setting off my traps and getting me in trouble with Chief Yiddlepode and the Pathfinders. He thinks to himself sulkily, arms crossed and watching the surface dwellers with disdain, Why can't the meddling creatures just leave our home alone? Or appreciate how funny it is when they hang upside down with their stupidly long arms flailing about?

Sense Motive: 1d20 ⇒ 14
Stealth: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (10) + 15 = 25

Sense Motive: 1d20 ⇒ 1

"We are patrolling our area. What are you doing here?" Anthrax stands his ground waiting for an answer.

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (12) + 13 = 25

Engashez bristles internally but decides to keep her cool, at least for the moment. "Going for a stroll," she replies smoothly, speaking in Common. "Good thing too, because we just killed this huuuge shadow dog that was lurking around! It might have really hurt one of you if you'd found it," she smiles widely, but the smile doesn't quite reach her eyes.

Bluff (Secret Message to Sewer Dragons): 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (4) + 13 = 17

Nice use of bluff. Strictly speaking, everyone gets a second Sense Motive, but now it's DC 15 to pick up what Engashez is putting down. I'm running tests today, but will post later. Since we need to do this, I'd likely bot these rolls after 24 hours or so.

[dice=Sense Motive]1d20 + 13

Engashez bristles internally but decides to keep her cool, at least for the moment. "Going for a stroll," she replies smoothly, speaking in Common. "Good thing too, because we just killed this huuuge shadow dog that was lurking around! It might have really hurt one of you if you'd found it," she smiles widely, but the smile doesn't quite reach her eyes.

[dice=Bluff (Secret Message to Sewer Dragons)]1d20 + 13

** spoiler omitted **

To set the scene, how close will you let them get if your teammates don't notice? Will you take action early, just before they get into their desired position, or after?

Sense Motive: 1d20 ⇒ 14

Fazgyn continues to sulk in the shadows, wondering why Engashez is being so nice to the gangly, smelly, creatures. Pfft! If they had come earlier, maybe the dog would have been satisfied after feasting on sewer workers. Maybe then it would have left us alone. Honestly, why am I the only one who knows what they are doing around here? He thinks to himself as he sheaths his swords and waits for the trespassers to be shown the way out.

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9

Pethtun shrugs at Engashez, wondering why she doesn't just come out and say what she means...

I'll let Engashez decide how this gets handled.

Not to nitpick but I thought the check to pass a Secret Message with Bluff is made by the sender and if they beat a DC 15 (for a simple message) the intended d recipients automatically understand? If not, that's fine too; in that case Engy will absolutely not let these guys just walk up and surround us before saying anything!

Oops, my bad. You are correct. I'm mostly AFK for the weekend, so when Monday comes, we'll execute whatever you guys end up with.

Sorry for not showing up yesterday, I was swamped with work in the morning, and crashed in the evening.

Sense Motive vs DC16: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8

"...stroll...around...hurt one of you"

That doesn't sound wise of them, we have a Hats! Skyrahk will try to stay close to Hats, when the chance for destruction appears, she'll cast Bull's Strength on her otyugh friend.

Sense Motive: 1d20 ⇒ 3

Anthrax just waits to see what happens. "Why are you being nice?" he asks in Kobold.

The humans and the kobolds stare at each other. The awkward conversation is increasingly filled with pauses and verbal fillers.

It doesn't take long for everyone involved to realize that it's going to devolve into violence. The question is, who gets the jump:

Foes: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23
Athrax: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10
Engashez: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8
Fazgin: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8
Pethjun: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7
Skyrahk: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25
Varanog: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5
Hats: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 = 20

Round 1:
Skyrahk: Go
Foes: TBD
Hats: TBD
Athrax: TBD
Fazgyn: TBD
Engashez: TBD
Pethjun: TBD
Varanog: TBD

Enough of this waiting nonsense... Skyrahk mumbles an incantation and touches the otyugh as she says "Hats, let's maim these sons of their pink mothers! Let the destruction begin! They must be hiding their hats it they're not wearing any."

Casting Bull's Strength on Hats.

The muscles under Hat's rubbery flesh bulge and flex, "AWWWWWRIGHT!"

The men draw rapiers and close to attack!

Red: Stabs at Athrax! ATK: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16 for DMG: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

Orange: Stabs at Fazgyn! ATK: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5 and misses by a mile!

Yellow: Move

Green: Stabs at Pethjun! ATK: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20 for DMG: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

Blue: Stabs at Athrax! ATK: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16 for DMG: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

White: Move

Hats is having NONE OF IT. The otyugh bounds forward and tries to bite the man with the green bandana: ATK: 1d20 + 9 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 9 + 2 = 25 nd takes a chunk of flesh DMG: 1d8 + 9 ⇒ (3) + 9 = 12 The man's scream doesn't sound t all like the common tongue of the pink skins. The man's head falls to the ground and his body immediately changes! This gaunt man appears drained of color, like a person viewed at twilight or in a dark alley.

Round 1:
Skyrahk: Bull's Strength
Foes: ATK
Hats: ATK
Athrax: Go
Fazgyn: Go
Engashez: Go
Pethjun: Go
Varanog: Go

Pethtun will move 5' forward and attack the red dude with rapier and tail...

Rapier: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (4) + 10 = 14

Damage: 1d4 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10

Tail: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23

Confirm: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22

Damage + Crit: 2d6 + 2 ⇒ (6, 3) + 2 = 11

Pethtun's blade fails to find its mark, but the tail hits the man right in the sternum, breaking it and piercing his heart! the man drops dead, also changing as his life leaves him.

Round 1:
Skyrahk: Bull's Strength
Foes: ATK
Hats: ATK
Athrax: Go
Fazgyn: Go
Engashez: Go
Pethjun: Kill
Varanog: Go

Fazgyn laughs at the creature's pathetic attempt at swordplay, "Ha! You call that stabbing?" He asks condescendingly in common as he and draws his favourite short sword, "This is stabbing!" He then pokes at the man in front of him while smiling evilly. Finally, he bravely hops back towards Hats to give the other Sewer Dragons room to manoeuvre.

Fazgyn's reply is punctuated with a deep wound, right in the belly of the man. Blood gushes forth. He grips the oepnning with his free hand, but the color is draining from his face already.

Round 1:
Skyrahk: Bull's Strength
Foes: ATK
Hats: ATK
Athrax: Go
Fazgyn: Hit
Engashez: Go
Pethjun: Kill
Varanog: Go

Anthrax grunts when the attack hits him. "You will pay for that. You all will pay." She steps back and tosses a bomb at the space in front of yellow.

Ranged Touch on the Floor: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13
Damage: 2d6 + 3 ⇒ (4, 3) + 3 = 10
Splash 5. Should hit blue orange and yellow.

The bomb goes off, burning the injured man-creature to death, and harming the other two.

Blue: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18
Yllow: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16

Round 1:
Skyrahk: Bull's Strength
Foes: ATK
Hats: ATK
Athrax: Bombs away!
Fazgyn: Hit
Engashez: Go
Pethjun: Kill
Varanog: Go

"Pinkskins, greyskins, doesn't matter! The Sewer Dragons will show you all that we're the strongest and the best!" Engashez whoops as she falls back and begins singing.

~To be the best
We got to pass the test
We gotta make it all the way
To the top of the mountain
We can do it again!
To feel the high
We got to learn to fly
We got to take it to the sky
On the wings of an eagle!
You're the best in the world!~

Tenacious D - To Be the Best
_______

Engy falls back to her current position and begins to Inspire Courage!