GM alientude's Shackled City

Game Master Kyle Smith 700

Luc 5' steps to K6, tells Darthal to move out of the way, fires his pistol, and then reloads.
If Darthal moves, -4 to roll, if not -8.
Attack vs. Touch AC: 1d20 + 6 - 4 ⇒ (5) + 6 - 4 = 7
Damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9

Diurn had a last adoration he wanted to use on the troll.

stab: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9

Kazmojen Will save against Diurn's Adoration: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12 (fail).

Sorry about that, Diurn. Remove that damage.

Don't forget Kazmojen's AoO.

Darthal and the eagle both take advantage of Kazmojen's slack-eyed status to beat down his guard, clearing the way for Adolphus.

5' steps in and aid Adolphus. Neither can flank, but the eagle has a height advantage.

Darthal: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 1 = 19
Goldy the Eagle: 1d20 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 3 + 1 = 12

Mite, meanwhile, staggers to his feet and hides under the table.

At 9/17hp now. 0 channels and 0 adorations left.

Diurn realizes one blow from the troll will beat him down again, so he continues to fight defensively until it is ok for him to stand.

+4 AC to fight defensively (countering the -4 for prone)

Note that the Will save I posted above is a retcon of the last round, as I forgot to have him save against Diurn's adoration ability. The daze has not been resolved yet.

Adolphus: What AoO do you mean?

Against Adolphus for standing up.

What about it, though? The adoration ability doesn't affect it, and it was a nat 1 besides. The daze isn't until after the AoO, and the Will save has not been done for it yet. I'm confused what you're getting at.

I'm saying don't forget to do it... I thought you would roll for it immediately. But I suppose we're waiting for the round recap.

Round 7

Kazmojen: AC 23, T 11, FF 22
Kazmojen is somewhat wounded.
Fario is wounded.
Fellian is unharmed.

Adolphus: Kazmojen already took his AoO for you standing up – it’s in my last round recap post. He rolled a nat 1.

Kazmojen Will save against daze: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5.

Valamont’s spell causes Kazmojen’s eyes to go slack as he stares off into nothingness. Taking advantage of the opening, Valamont climbs up the platform , gaining a height advantage on the half-dwarf.

Kazmojen failing that save is going require me to adjust a few things accordingly. Note that he is not vulnerable to daze for 1 minute.

The eagle flies up next to Valamont and attacks Kazmojen with one talon, but it scrapes against Kazmojen’s armor ineffectively. Darthal pulls on Kazmojen’s arm, hoping to expose a weak spot for Fario to sink his longsword into.

The eagle would not know to Aid Another, so it just attacked. Adolphus, going on his last stated intentions, is going to be drinking his cure potion, so he won’t be able to take advantage of an Aid Another this round. Of those left, Fario is probably the one who can do the most damage, so I had Darthal aid him.

Luc fires his gun, but the close press of his allies around his target causes his shot to miss.

Diurn takes advantage of Kazmojen’s momentary lapse and stands up, swinging his flail, but the attack is foiled by Kazmojen’s heavy armor.

Used the “stab” attack roll for Diurn, as I’m not sure what that was for.

Adolphus cure moderate wounds potion: 2d8 + 3 ⇒ (3, 1) + 3 = 7.

Adolphus drinks the potion and, refreshed, moves back into the fray.

Fario longsword attack on Kazmojen: 1d20 + 4 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 4 + 2 + 2 = 15 for 1d8 + 3 + 1d6 ⇒ (3) + 3 + (1) = 7 damage.
Fario short sword attack on Kazmojen: 1d20 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 3 + 2 = 6 for 1d6 + 1 + 1d6 ⇒ (2) + 1 + (3) = 6 damage.
Fellian short sword attack on Kazmojen: 1d20 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 3 + 2 = 6 for 1d6 + 1d6 ⇒ (2) + (4) = 6 damage.

Fario and Fellian attack in unison, but their swords cannot seem to penetrate Kazmojen's heavy steel armor.

Map

Seeing Adolphus stride back into the fray, Valamont clangs his sword loudly off of Kazmojen's armor, hoping to divide the half-breed's attention and grant Adolphus an opening to attack.
Aid Another (Adolphus, attack): 1d20 + 4 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 4 + 2 + 1 = 20 Succes! +2 to Adolphus' attack roll vs Kazmojen

Hitpoints 15/18

Adolphus moves forward and brings another powerful swing to bear against Kazmojen.

Power Attack
1d20 + 6 - 1 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 6 - 1 + 2 = 24 (+additional aids?)
2d6 + 6 + 3 ⇒ (6, 2) + 6 + 3 = 17

Remember that your characters go in the order posted, so if you're all planning to aid Adolphus, he'll want to post last.

On the other hand, this time it wasn't necessary, as his attack roll was good enough to hit.

Stab was stabilization--posted from phone--but we didn't need it thankfully

With the troll stunned, Diurn holds his holy symbol and gives the troll a divine command to 'fall'. Diurn will step back only if necessary to avoid a strike from the troll. Dazed=no AoOs I think--Diurn would like to be next to the troll when he falls, but doesn't want to risk and AoO to do it.

Standard=Command:Fall DC = Will 15 fail = drop prone and act normally

I hope you like it one the ground big guy.

Any other Aid Another attempts this round will still go to aiding Adolphus next round though (presuming Kazmojen doesn't cut him in half or something in the interim), right?

They can also aid to improve my AC, I think. And I know about the initiative change. It's hard to wait sometimes. :P

Luc doesn't see anywhere where he won't get -8 to his shot, so he waits till the party finishes off the half-troll or he clears the board of npcs. Readied action to shoot any other threat who may appear.

The eagle flutters over and full attacks Kazmojen before flying back to whence it came.

left claw in 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (19) + 3 = 22 for 1d4 ⇒ 2
right claw out 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9 for 1d4 ⇒ 1
bite the liver out 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4 for 1d4 ⇒ 3

Darthal uses his touch of darkness domain power to partially blind Kazmojen -- if I touch him, he has a 20% miss chance against all targets for the next lvl/2 = 1 round: touch 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

Darthal starts filling out the requisition form for a better eagle next time, and hopes Kazmojen went down and was really clumsy to boost before he tried to touch him.

Round 8

Kazmojen: AC 23, T 11, FF 22
Kazmojen is badly wounded.
Fario is wounded.
Fellian is unharmed.

When you aid another, it lasts until the beginning of your next turn.

With Valamont distracting Kazmojen, Adolphus is able to land a heavy blow on Kazmojen.

Kazmojen Will save against command: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13 (fail).

Diurn steps back and orders Kazmojen to lie down and succumb to the inevitable, and surprisingly, Kazmojen complies.

You needed to 5’ step back because Kazmojen’s turn was already lost to daze, and the effect ended at the start of Valamont’s turn.

With Kazmojen lying on the floor, Darthal’s summoned eagle manages to scrape a talon across the half-dwarf’s face before disappearing. Darthal himself, however, attempts to merely touch Kazmojen, and misses.

Fario longsword AoO on Kazmojen: 1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 4 + 2 = 25 for 1d8 + 3 + 1d6 ⇒ (2) + 3 + (5) = 10 damage.
Fellian short sword AoO on Kazomjen: 1d20 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 3 + 2 = 14 for 1d6 + 1d6 ⇒ (2) + (6) = 8 damage.
Fario longsword crit confirm on Kazmojen: 1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 4 + 2 = 26 for 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10 damage.

Kazmojen spits at the lot of you and stands up, and Fario leaps at the opportunity, cutting his sword deep into your foe’s thigh, and, judging from the gush of blood, severing an artery.

Going to pause here for Adolphus’s, Valamont’s, and Darthal’s attacks of opportunity, as there’s a decent chance you guys will drop Kazmojen before the rest of his turn.

Map

Adolphus Attack of Opportunity
1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 6 + 2 = 20 (due to aid another)
2d6 + 6 ⇒ (6, 4) + 6 = 16

Coldiron Bastard Sword (arcane strike, flank): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 8 = 23for: 1d10 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7

Pick to frontal lobe: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 1 = 15 for 1d6 ⇒ 3

thing is, if you're having our turns jump around initiative order based on the speed of our postings, some actions -- like aid another -- are going to be difficult o handle.

Yeah, I admit that. I was just saying that other PBP's worked that way, and it seemed to work a little better. But perhaps it doesn't work in every situation.

EDIT: I just noticed that Adolphus was flanking too. So perhaps he gets an additional + 2 to hit?

"Go Fario!!"

As Kazmojen rises, Adolphus and Valamont easily find openings in their wounded foe's defenses, and both strike home, dropping the half-dwarf back on the ground, unconscious and bleeding badly. The children chained to the iron pole let out a burst of cheers as their bestial kidnapper falls.

Adolphus leans back with a sigh, wiping the sweat and blood from his face with the back of his hand.

"Now what, more villains? Or was that the last of them?"

"We better end this evil for good. He may need to be burned."

Adolphus frowns at the idea.

"Tis not really an honorable thing to do. Perhaps he should be put in irons and brought to justice?"

Luc smirks and walks over and picks up the urgrosh and then walks back to his corner. "Since you're not going to kill Kazmojen and I think someone said he was part-troll, just in case he wakes up, need to make sure he does not have his weapon on him."

Darthal checks Kazmojen to see if he is still regenerating; if so, he applies some steady pickwork to keep him down. Bringing him to justice sounds like a better idea than just murdering him on the spot. It will also enhance the prestige of my clan if we are seen to be part of bringing such a foul criminal to justice.

He also checks for the keys to the childrens' chains, and if he finds those, unfastens the children and uses the chains to bind Kazmojen.

"The devil-beard has fled, perhaps to gather allies, and we are nearly spent, with children to protect. Let us return to the surface as swiftly as we may, taking our charges with us. We do these folk and the town no good if we die beneath a horde of other slavers."

As Darthal ensures Kazmojen stays down, Valamont turns and hurries over to the children. "Are you all ok? Any of you hurt? We're here to get you guys safely back to the Orphanage." He struggles a moment with the chains, "Is there a key? Ah- good Darthal, already thinking ahead of me." As they set about freeing the children from their chains, Valamont reassures them as best he can then remarks back to the group, "Maple mentioned other prisoners besides the children. We can't leave them behind."

Darthal looks up from behind Kazmojen. "We may have to come back for them. We are in no shape to fight a half-dozen more hobgoblins!"

"Aye, come back for them. We are barely recovered from the last fight, and I think we need to be better prepared for whatever we might find in the future."

"We can bash him to keep him down repeatedly. Let's rush the kids back."

Straight to the church!

Luc picks up Kazmojen's weapon and finds that it is wonderfully crafted. Masterwork dwarven urgosh.

Darthal checks on Kazmojen and confirms that he is unconscious and not regenerating. In fact, his wounds look to be bleeding worse every second, and his skin quickly grows very pale. After a few moments, however, the bleeding slows, and a bit of color returns to the half-dwarf's cheeks. While clearly not regenerating, it looks like Kazmojen is not in danger of dying.

Darthal does find the key to the locks on the chains, as well as three other keys. In addition, he finds a pouch on Kazmojen containing 180 suns, 3 throwing axes (in addition to the one he threw). The armor the half-troll is wearing turns out to be an exceptionally well-crafted set of full plate. Masterwork full plate.

The children are clearly thrilled to be freed. They excitedly talk about the battle they just witnessed, recounting their favorite parts.

As the party begins to escort the children out of the room, they feel a rush of magic, and a horrific creature (Picture) appears floating in midair in the room, its central eye closed. It speaks, a grating rumble of a voice. "I have come for Terrem Kharatys. That boy should not have been taken from Cauldron. I intend to see that he is safely returned to his orphanage. You can keep the others; they are of no consequence. Come, Terrem - you will be safe with me."

Terrem (Picture) cowers behind Valamont. "Wh-what should I do?"

"We will take the boy back. Thanks for the kind offer, but the boy is better off with the others. You are. ...?"

diplomacy to change attitude: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (12) + 13 = 25

The creature chuckles, the sound grating on your nerves. "I will be taking Terrem. There is no room for negotiation. Rest assured that he will be returned to the Lantern Street Orphanage safe and whole."

BEEEEEP! BEEEPIN' BEEEPY BEEEEPITY BEEEEEP!

knowledge (arcana/dungeoneering): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23

Even as the color drains from Valamont's face, he extends his hand protectively, placing himself between the floating monstrosity and Terrem, "Stay behind me, Terrem. Just stay behind me."

He tries to catch any of his companions' eyes, shaking his head subtly as if to convey 'We're outclassed.' He whispers quietly to Terrem, "I don't trust it Terrem, but I'll be honest with you, I don't think we can stop it from taking you. Creatures like this are terribly powerful. If it wanted us dead, it could have done it already."

"Well, floating creature, how 'bout we all take all the kid back to the orphanage together? Doesn't that make everyone happy?"

Diurnal asks very hopefully.

sense motive: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20

Diurnal tried to assess the alien creatures intentions.

Darthal frantically cudgels his brain to see if he's ever heard of any of these things before, letting Diurn do the talking.

Knowledge (dungeoneering) 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12

"First of all, Terrem, do you want to go with the creature? Do you know who it is?" He next addresses the giant floating eye-thingy. "Pardon our reluctance, sir, to let a young orphan go with a rather dangerous and imposing creature such as yourself. If we could be a little more certain that the child will come to no harm, these negotiations would meet swifter conclusions. Do you represent someone of import perhaps?"

Diplomacy (10)
10 + 7 + 1 = 18

"Terrem will come to no harm." The beholder growls and floats toward the child. "I grow tired of your interference. Terrem, come to me, NOW." The force of the creature's words causes Terrem to fearfully walk up to the beholder and touch one of its eyestalks. A different voice, coming from an empty space, chants a few arcane words, and the beholder and Terrem vanish.

Diurn: You believe the beholder actually plans on returning Terrem to the orphanage unharmed.

"I think that creature is true this time. Let's get back now with the rest."

Adolphus nods.

"Aye, fair enough. A good stiff drink is in order."

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26

"Well, wherever that beholder took him, they teleported there. Come on kids, let's get you all home."

Darthal nods slowly. "We should go, now. But we should tell the priestess at the orphanage of this. Someone should be aware that a being of power has taken an interest in the child. What was that thing?"

He brings Mite with him, and they take rearguard onthe way up to the surface, being relatively unharmed.

Valamont looks askance at Darthal as the group gathers the children. He glances down to his still bloodied sword and while cleaning it whispers,

"Do you think he didn't hear me?"
...
"No, I don't think he hit his head. I think maybe he just didn't hear me when I said it was a beholder."
...
"No, that is not unreasonable! In fact, it's just the opposite. It is perfectly reasonable!
No-
now wait a-
*sigh* oh hush, mother."

"So, what's a beholder?"

I, of course, know, but Darthal doesn't.

"The giant floating eye thing has a name?!" Adolphus starts.

"Be...hold...er. Sounds almost sacreligious. Are you sure we should be using that name?" He looks around nervously. "It won't summon it back or anything, will it?"