GM Aram Zey's Frozen Stars (Inactive)

Game Master SwampTing

acrobatics: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (14) + 18 = 32

The destragon (this is what I will call it) snarls in the faces of Exiel and Alden. It flies up to a height of 20ft (provoking attacks of opportunity if he does not beat your CMD with his acrobatics check) and hovers there, kicking up a huge cloud of frost, snow and debris that covers the entire atrium. Exiel and Alden can now barely see it (concealment and 20% miss chance), , and 42 cannot see it at all (though he saw where it stopped before kicking up the cloud).

And from deep within the cloud, a booming wave of sonic energy sounds out, rattling your teeth and causing Alden, Exiel and Naala significant pain.

destructive harmonics: 8d6 ⇒ (6, 1, 4, 4, 3, 2, 3, 4) = 27 (DC24 reflex save for half)

Initiative order:
Exiel
Alden
???
----------------------resolved
42

42 up for round 1, Exiel and Alden for round 2. Remember that the destragon is 20ft up in the air.

My CMD with Bescaylie's belt is exactly 32. Sucks to be him.

attack of opportunity attack roll: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (16) + 17 = 33
attack of opportunity damage roll: 1d8 + 7 + 3 + 2d6 + 1d6 ⇒ (4) + 7 + 3 + (5, 4) + (5) = 28 (Ignore the last 1d6 if he does not have the cold subtype, which he might not since you said he's not vulnerable to fire...

reflex save: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (13) + 14 = 27 (Yay for resistance. No damage. =p)

Seeing that this will be an airborne fight, Exiel casts monstrous physique on himself, then flies up to meet the "destragon".

I should be able to get up to 15ft elevation, and threaten him with the dragonbane longspear.

Alden Ref: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10
Naala Ref: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (13) + 12 = 25

Alden takes the full brunt of the sonic damage, while Naala takes half.

Unable to do much against a flying foe, 42 commands his ring to start blinking and moves up to where he last saw Alden.

Exiel stabs the destragon as it flies up. 42 moves up beside Alden and can now see the destragon. He and Alden look up as Exiel turns into a monster and flies up to fight it.

The destragon senses that you are all nicely clustered near each other. It opens its maw, and you once more feel the sonic vibrations ripping through all of you. Then it inches just a little further away from Exiel's annoying spear.

destructive harmonics: 8d6 ⇒ (1, 6, 2, 5, 4, 5, 3, 3) = 29(DC24 reflex save for half)

Exiel, the destragon does not have the cold subtype, so you don't do the extra damage to it. Destructive harmonics does not provoke.

Initiative order:
Exiel
Alden
???
----------------------resolved
42

42 and Alden, if you're not going to help Exiel, you could consider abandoning him to be eaten by the destragon. 42 has the dimension door spell to get out, so if you want to you COULD just leave him behind. Just saying.

Oh and it's your turn again. Everyone roll your saves and declare actions!

Not effected too much from the area effect, 42 now sees the opponent... Unfortunately, he still can't fly so he points a finger at the beats and casts Ray of Exhaustion attack: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18 17 Fort or exhausted.

42 moves away from Alden and around the pillar so they won't make a good target again.

reflex save: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (13) + 14 = 27

"Alden! The necklaces of fireballs! See if you can bomb him a little with them!"

Exiel does a full attack on the hovering overgrown boombox.

attack roll: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (10) + 17 = 27
damage roll: 1d8 + 2d6 + 10 ⇒ (2) + (1, 4) + 10 = 17

iterative attack roll: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (18) + 12 = 30
iterative damage roll: 1d8 + 2d6 + 10 ⇒ (4) + (4, 3) + 10 = 21

Having completely forgotten the necklace, Alden's eyes widen and he grabs the largest bead from it, tossing it at the creature. He will throw it slightly behind the creature so as to not hit Exiel as well.
fire: 6d6 ⇒ (4, 1, 6, 2, 4, 4) = 21

Reflex Alden: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14
Reflex Naala: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (3) + 12 = 15

Both take the full 29 sonic damage.

miss chance, low miss: 1d100 ⇒ 78
fort: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (17) + 14 = 31
ref: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (1) + 9 = 10

The hovering destragon proves to be easy to touch, but hearty enough to avoid being exhausted straight away. However, it is enough of a distraction that it does not see allow Alden throwing fireball bead behind it, and it takes the full force of the fireball. While all this is happening, Exiel stabs the creature twice more with the dragonbane spear.

Tactics say that it keeps using its destruction ability, but it knows a threat when it sees one...

Seeing that Exiel is constantly in his face with a very painful spear, it decides to change tactics and goes for a full attack on Exiel instead.

bite: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (4) + 18 = 22
claw: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (6) + 18 = 24
claw: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (9) + 18 = 27

Unfortunately for it, it is unable to hit the little pest... It backs away from Exiel a little more. 5ft hover-step

Initiative order:
Exiel
Alden
???
----------------------resolved
42

Same drill. No need for saves this round. He looks rather hurt.

Exiel changes his tactics to match the creature's. Adopting a crane-like stance, he full attacks a little more defensively.

attack roll: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (14) + 15 = 29
damage roll: 1d8 + 2d6 + 10 ⇒ (7) + (2, 4) + 10 = 23

iterative attack roll: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (20) + 10 = 30
iterative damage roll: 1d8 + 2d6 + 10 ⇒ (7) + (6, 4) + 10 = 27
iterative confimration roll: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (5) + 10 = 15
iterative crit damage roll: 1d8 + 2d6 + 10 ⇒ (5) + (1, 2) + 10 = 18

AC is now 35 against it.

Seeing that the fireball helped, Alden will pull another bead from the necklace and tosses it at the creature.
fire: 4d4 ⇒ (4, 3, 1, 1) = 9

He becomes fatigued from my spell, even if he passes the check.

42 sees that the creature is easily hit with touch spells. He recalls the spell once more and sends it at the beast.

Touch: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26 Same DC... but the creature becomes Exhausted either way since it was already fatigued.

Alden and 42, I have moved you closer so that you have vision of the destragon. Unfortunately you cannot get close enough to avoid his miss chance without being able to fly.

miss chance low miss: 1d100 ⇒ 7 Missed
ref: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (19) + 9 = 28 What a waste of a 19![/dice]

42 fires another weakening ray at the destragon, but misses due to the snow, ice and debris being whipped up by the destragon's beating wings. The destragon avoids some of the fireball throw by Alden, though the difference is negligible. Exiel manages two more stabs at the destragon and nearly gets it through the neck, but the destragon manages to shift aside just in time to suffer a flesh wound instead.

The destragon is now severely wounded, and ceases hovering. It bellows in pain and rage as it flies down the passageway to the East.

Initiative order:
Exiel
Alden
???
----------------------resolved
42

[ooc]Now that the destragon has moved, the cloud of snow and debris has also died down. You can see it clearly. Due to unfortunate positioning, it needed to fly around the pillars before getting to the passage, so is only 90ft away from you. Letting it get away is an option, or you could try to chase it down.

Seeing as it is flying away, and 42 can't catch it, he waves as it goes bye.

Remembering that they were trying to infiltrate the fortress undetected, Exiel decides it would be best not to let the creature get away.

"Lauriel, I need the speed boost."

Right on cue, Lauriel emerges from her tattoo form and activates a tattoo on her arm. The party finds their movements speeding up dramatically, and Exiel uses the extra boost of speed to chase down the fleeing monster.

charge attack roll: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (7) + 20 = 27
charge damage roll: 1d8 + 2d6 + 10 ⇒ (7) + (2, 1) + 10 = 20

Exiel flies past in intersection in the passageway and catches up to the fleeing destragon and brings it down.

Having gone deeper than his fellows, Exiel sees the chamber beyond. Massive stone plinths line both sides of this long, arched hallway. Over half the plinths are in use, displaying the skeletal remnants of draconic creatures. Sheets of ice sheathe some of the skeletons, holding their ossified remains arranged as if in life, while others are merely jumbled piles of bones.

From the intersection between Exiel and 42/Alden, loud thudding footsteps can be heard. Something big and heavy is coming down the passageway between you!

What now? Decide quickly! And before you ask, no the destragon did not have any treasure of note.

You can see your locations on the second slide of the map slideshow.

42 nods to Alden, "Let's get up there and see what those footsteps could be." he says as he moves up.

The options were to meet it or hide. Guess the choice has been made.

42 walks around the corner to see what is coming....and almost immediately wishes he hadn't. Filling the entire width of the passageway is a huge monstrosity of bone that you might have taken to be the animated remains of a terrifying saurian beast, except that this thing sports no arms...and 2 massive heads full of razor sharp teeth.

Its heads turn to regard 42... and it lumbers forward twice as quickly as it was moving before!

42: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10
Alden: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 13
Exiel: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (3) + 9 = 12
?????: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9

Amazingly, Alden is the first to react, even though he is the furthest from the creature and has not seen it yet! (He can certainly hear the increased pace of the footsteps though!)

You guys go first. The bad news is that you guys did not have time to heal. The good news is that you still have 5 rounds of Exiel's haste left, and this thing does not look like it can fly.

Knowledge arcana if you want to identify this thing.

Initiative order:
Alden
Exiel
42
?????

"Well, that thing certainly looks dangerous."

Alden will hold until Exiel moves, then follow along with him and protect him.

Essentially delaying until Exiel's movement, then Alden follows him and will use his Standard action to aid his AC. I wish I had a potion of cure serious right about now, though... Effective ACs - Exiel: 59, Alden - 35, Naala - 34

Hearing the quickened footsteps, Exiel casts divine favour on himself, then flies round the corner to see what monstrosity awaits them next. He also switches from the dragonbane lance to the adamantine hammer that he picked up during the Spurhorn battle.

Exiel's knowledge arcana: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (15) + 10 = 25
Lauriel's knowledge arcana: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (13) + 21 = 34

Still in crane stance.

If I get questions...I'm guessing from the knowledge check it is some kind of golem. I want to know vulnerabilities first (including how to get past the DR), then special attacks, then other special defences.

aoo: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (4) + 20 = 24

The golem takes a bite at Exiel as he comes closer, but misses its attack of opportunity.

Exiel identifies the golem as a fossil golem, and his familiar elaborates that they are golems constructed of the stony bones of long-dead dinosaurs and other prehistoric creatures. These bones are generally not assembled with any attempt to accurately model the original creature—usually, the skulls of powerful predatory dinosaurs (such as tyrannosauruses) serve in the place of hands, granting the fossil golem a pair of devastating bite attacks. The magical energies that infuse a fossil golem create an additional peril—they transform fossilization into a terrible form of contagion that can affect any creature they damage.

Their solid construction makes them impervious to most blows, but an adamantine bludgeoning weapon is the perfect weapon for bypassing its physical defences.

Like most golems, it is impervious to most magics, but the following spells will have a particular effect on it:
A transmute rock to mud spell slows a fossil golem (as the slow spell) for 2d6 rounds, with no saving throw.
A stone to flesh spell negates its damage reduction and petrification ability for 1 round.

The most deadly property they have is that attacks of a fossil golem gradually turn living flesh to stone. Each time the golem hits a target with one of its natural attacks, the target must make a DC 19 Fortitude save or take 1d6 points of Dexterity drain. A creature that is reduced to 0 Dexterity by this attack turns completely to stone, as if by a flesh to stone spell. Casting stone to flesh on the creature removes all Dexterity drain caused by this attack.

But with Alden protecting your party, it will require some luck to hit you to begin with.

Initiative order:
Alden
Exiel
---------------------------------------------
42
?????

42's turn, then I see if I can roll a natural 20.

K.A.: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (14) + 13 = 27

42 is grumbling to himself about the first walking target... being immune to magic.

42 casts Bladed Dash and charges past the foe, drawing both his new sword and his old sword. Sending an arcaine charge into his sword to make it dance, he uses the new sword to slice into the foe. Stopping right behind the foe.

Rimblade: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (6) + 14 = 20 damage: 1d6 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8
Dancing attack: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (12) + 14 = 26damage: 1d6 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8

Forgot to mention that i let go of my dancing sword before i attacked.

42, it is immune any spell that allows magic resistance, but it can still be affected by spells that bypass magic resistance and magical effects that are not spell-based.

You get 1 question about the golem.

42 misses with his attack with the rimeblade, but his dancing scimitar strikes the golem...and doesn't even leave a scratch. Did not get through DR.

The mindless construct sees two combatants attempting to attack it, and decides to attack 1d2 ⇒ 1 Exiel.

bite: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (13) + 20 = 33
bite: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (12) + 20 = 32

Its teeth snap at Exiel, but with Alden's interference it is unable to hit Exiel at all.

Initiative
---------------------------------------------
Alden
Exiel
42
?????

New round, all of you can act.

Exiel steps forward and swings at the golem, thankful that he happens to have the right tool for the job.

hammer attack roll: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (8) + 20 = 28 With flank
hammer damage roll: 1d8 + 11 ⇒ (1) + 11 = 12

hammer hasted attack roll: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (6) + 20 = 26 With flank
hammer damage roll: 1d8 + 11 ⇒ (3) + 11 = 14

hammer iterative attack roll: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (12) + 15 = 27 With flank
hammer damage roll: 1d8 + 11 ⇒ (8) + 11 = 19

Question, what is his DR

His DR is DR 10/adamantine and bludgeoning. The scenario gives you one weapon that is precisely suited to beating his DR and Exiel is holding it. Interestingly, if you had decided to help Malesinder attack Spurhorn, none of you would have had that hammer at all.

Alden will spend a Move action to issue an authoritative command to 42 and Exiel. "You must outsmart this foul creature! Attack it at the same time to distract it!"

They each get a +1 to attack, damage, and AC as long as they attack the creature in their next turn.

He and Naala will then both use their Standard actions to aid Exiel's AC.
Effective ACs - Exiel 63, Alden - 35, Naala - 34

I do hope you're not getting too frustrated with Alden's tactics, GM...

Not at all. This scenario has had alot of things that can get around Alden's tactics, so when it works I'm happy enough for you. But 42 is currently on the other side of the golem...

Yeah I noticed that... I'm hoping he's not outright-killed again!

42 draws his third scimitar, the adamantine one, and enchants it with dancing. His main one drops out of the sky as he releases his new blade.

He attacks again.
Rimblade: 1d20 + 14 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 14 + 2 = 18 damage: 1d6 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10
Dancing adamantine: 1d20 + 14 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 14 + 2 = 18 damage: 1d6 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10

... But, i believe he misses.

42, your weapon needs to be adamantine AND bludgeoning to affect the monster. Or you can use a magical effect that is not subject to magic resistance. But the good news is that this also means the mindless golem completely ignores you.

42's blades bounce off the golem harmlessly, but Exiel's hammer makes some significant dents. The golem mechanically responds by trying to bite Exiel with its two jaws.

bite: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (2) + 20 = 22
bite: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (10) + 20 = 30

But with Alden and Naala protecting him, the golem does not even come close to hitting Exiel.

Doh!!!!

Sorry I forgot to say that it is a new round and you can all act again.

Initiative
---------------------------------------------
Alden
Exiel
42
?????

Since he doesn't want to use any more spells on this guy, 42 will continue to attack, hoping to do enought damage that it would matter.

Rimblade: 1d20 + 14 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 14 + 2 = 29 damage: 1d6 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9
Dancing adamantine: 1d20 + 14 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 14 + 2 = 22 damage: 1d6 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12

"Thanks Alden, I'd hate to get bitten by that thing..."

Seeing that the hammer is effective against the golem, Exiel keeps swinging.

hammer attack roll: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (1) + 20 = 21
hammer damage roll: 1d8 + 11 ⇒ (3) + 11 = 14

hammer hasted attack roll: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (8) + 20 = 28
hammer damage roll: 1d8 + 11 ⇒ (3) + 11 = 14

hammer iterative attack roll: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (20) + 15 = 35
hammer damage roll: 1d8 + 11 ⇒ (2) + 11 = 13
hammer iterative confirmation roll: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (16) + 15 = 31
hammer critdamage roll: 2d8 + 22 ⇒ (8, 8) + 22 = 38

Alden does the same thing as last round, as that was obviously useful.

Exiel, don't forget the +1 on attack and damage you're getting from Alden's Authoritative Command. Effective ACs - Exiel 63, Alden - 35, Naala - 34

Exiel beats the golem to within an inch of its structural integrity, and 42 is able to add a slight chip to it as well. The golem tries to strike back at Exiel, but with Alden's interference it has barely any chance of landing a strike.

bite: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (11) + 20 = 31
bite: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (10) + 20 = 30

It doesn't.

I'll call it here. it has 10hp left, and 1 more hit by Exiel would destroy it. And Exiel has very good odds of hitting it.

A few seconds later, Exiel has shattered the golem's femur, and the entire construct crumbles to the ground. All is silent for now.

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26 Wasting a crit here...

42 sheaths his swords, all 3 of them. His main one vanishes as it enters the sheath. As he places the last one in it's place, he loos up. "Do you hear what I hear? and no, it's not a child crying in the night."

Where do you guys want to go from here? There is the passage to the North, the passage to the South, and the room directly to the West.

perception check: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (20) + 13 = 33

Yep, we are being very perceptive today...

"No...sounds like another patrolling golem. I doubt we'd be able to hide this huge thing or that sound-dragon's body. And we could fight the golem, but then there's no telling how many more after it there will be."

"I think our best bet will be to find Yrax as soon as possible, slay him and then get out of here. My guess is that he's found furthest from the entrance, to the far West, or in the middle of the fortress. Shall we head West?"

42 nods at Exiel, "We'll leave him here and hopefully there won't be another one down this hallway." 42 points towards the west.

West it is.

Massive stone plinths line both sides of this long, arched hallway. Over half the plinths are in use, displaying the skeletal remnants of draconic creatures. Sheets of ice sheathe some of the skeletons, holding their ossified remains arranged as if in life, while others are merely jumbled piles of bones.

Eager to avoid whatever is approaching along the Northern passageway, you head into the hallway, and as you do, four of the skeletal remains come to life.

42: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7
Alden: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5
Exiel: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (20) + 9 = 29
????: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15

Only Exiel reacts to the sudden animation of the skeletons quickly enough to act first.

Knowledge arcana to identify them.

Initiative
Exiel
---------------------------------------------
?????
42
Alden

New map uploaded. Exiel, you're up.

K.A.: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (18) + 13 = 31

Seeing that the adamantine hammer worked so well against the last boney creature he fought, Exiel reverts to the hammer again as his weapon of choice. He runs up to the nearest of the moving skeletons and swings.

attack roll: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (14) + 17 = 31 +2 if my divine favour spell is still active
damage roll: 1d8 + 9 ⇒ (6) + 9 = 15 +2 if my divine favour spell is still active

knowledge aracana check, Exiel: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (11) + 10 = 21
knowledge aracana check, Lauriel: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (17) + 21 = 38

Questions:
1. Weaknesses (including how to bypass DR)
2. Special attacks
3. Special defences
4. Saves - highes to lowest

42 will take over the questions that Exiel doesn't know.

You somehow manage to have a small conference in the middle of the fight and work several things about the creatures.

The creatures are bone golems. They are smaller than the fossil golem you just fought, but share many of the same immunities and have a very dangerous special attack.

Answers:
1. Weaknesses (including how to bypass DR)
Their DR is 5/adamantine AND bludgeoning. Less than the fossil golem, but bypassed the same way.

2. Special attacks
A bone golem can throw some of its bones at a creature within 30 feet with a ranged touch attack. These bones form a cage that can deal the golem's slam damage with a successful CMB check. If the check fails, the target is still trapped but takes no damage. The target can escape the grapple normally, or can break out of the bones by dealing damage to the prison, which has the same AC, DR, and saves as the bone golem itself. Damage to the prison has no effect on the golem.

3. Special defences
Golem immunities, including immunity to magic with the following exceptions:
1. Magical effects that heal living creatures slow a bone golem (as the slow spell) for 1d4 rounds (no save).
2. A magical attack that deals negative energy damage breaks any slow effect on the golem and heals 1 point of damage for every 3 points of damage the attack would otherwise deal. If the healing would cause the golem to exceed its full normal hit points, it gains any excess as temporary hit points. A bone golem gets no saving throw against attacks that deal negative energy damage.
3. A raise dead, resurrection, or true resurrection spell negates its DR and immunity to magic for 1 minute.

4. Saves - highes to lowest
Reflex relatively high, fort and will low

Exiel, you have 4 rounds of your divine favour left. Haste is gone.

Exiel strikes a blow against the nearest bone golem, knocking off a block of bone.

The two further golems simply advance on you, but the two nearer ones hurl several bones from their body at you! The one struck by Exiel targets him with the attack, and the other goes for 1d3 ⇒ 1 42.

vs Exiel: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (4) + 12 = 16
vs 42: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (3) + 12 = 15

Exiel manages to duck out of the way, but the flying bones strike 42, surrounding him and quickly replicating to form a cage around him.

cmb: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (7) + 20 = 27
damage: 2d6 + 4 ⇒ (6, 5) + 4 = 15

42 takes 15 points of damage as the bones constrict around him and bash at him from all sides.

Initiative
Exiel
?????
---------------------------------------------
42
Alden

42 and Alden for round 1, Exiel for round 2.

"This is going to be tougher than I thought," Exiel mutters darkly.

Hoping he can rely on 42 and Alden to sort out the bone prisons, Exiel goes for a communal party buff instead.

Casting haste defensively.

Concentration to cast defensively: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (5) + 19 = 24 vs DC21

Alden gives 42 some orders on how best to remove himself from the bones, tries his best to aid his extrication. Naala pulls as well.
Using my Move and both of our Standards to give 42 bonuses to CMB to escape from the grapple. Alden's authoritative command gives him +1, his aid gives +6, and Naala's aid gives +4. Total of +11 to CMB to escape grapple. Then he and Naala will defend 42 against subsequent bones. Effective ACs: 42 - 35, Alden - 35, Naala - 34.