GM Bigrin's Giantslayer (Inactive)

Game Master bigrin42

Sander nods, checking the supplies he has ready. There are fewer of them than he'd like.

Just before they leave again through the secret door he drinks one of his last extracts, creating an invisible shield of force to protect him.

He also adds unstable accelerants to a couple of his remaining bombs. +1d6 fire damage to two of his remaining four bombs

Chwaer quickly checks all her gear to make sure it's secure and will hopefully minimize noise. She stands by the door, ready to drop in order with everyone else.

You manage to sneak back out through the outer chamber then back the way you had come. Ferin leaves you in the room with the ettin corpse, pointing at the stairs leading upward.

"Urathash's quarters are up there. I think he is there, but he may not be. I am sure if he or one of his minions had come down, there would be an outcry about the dead ettin. Poor Tharg. He wasn't right in the head, you know. More like a child than the beast they wanted him to be. Still, I suppose you had no choice. Good luck versus Urathash...you're going to need it! I'm going to go sell the story that the giants down here turned on each other and delay any response from the other giants."

Ferin left you with a clear direction, and not a single glance back your way.

Sander, nervous as always and wondering if he should try to leave some final note for Louly, heads toward the stairs.

I assume I'm actually toward the rear, though, as always. Assume Chwaer looks for traps and listens to see what we can learn about Urathash before we go in, but let's do this.

Quill nods at Ferin, and looks to go confront You’reTrash. He follows Sander, who I assume is following Chwaer and Storn.

Not sure Molly is still playing.

Storn shrugs about the dead ettin. "He wanted to fight."

With the party ready to go off and kill Urathash, Storn waits until Ferin is gone and then switches into his giant's nail armour before stalking upstairs in the lead with Chwaer.

You make your way up the stairs, which lead into the first level of the tall spire you saw on your way in to the temple. An immense L-shaped table, carved of black walnut and polished until it gleams, serves as the centerpiece of this large circular chamber, surrounded by several chairs. Numerous arched windows look out over the surrounding countryside. Between the windows, a variety of maps, drawings, and diagrams have been tacked to the walls. A line of severed heads skewered upon long iron pikes runs around the perimeter of the room. Interspersed among the pikes are five large iron perches. On the opposite side of the chamber to the east, a second set of stairs curves upward along the wall.

There is a large cyclops in the room, feeding what looks to be strips of meat from the severed head to birds that resembled 2-headed vultures. As you moved up the stairs, the vultures let out a cacophony of streaks, and the cyclops turned, ready for battle!

Chwaer sees the one eyed monster and two headed birds and whispers to the others, "what in the gods names are those?!" She looks toward the tables and continues, "wonder if we can get under those and stay out of the reach of the birds!"

Action to come later in case anyone shares useful information. Never fought a cyclops or vulture before.

Knowledge (arcana): 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (19) + 14 = 33
Knowledge (local): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11

"Rukhs!" Sander exclaims. "They eat people! But they're not full grown yet, so that's good news, right?" Any resistances? Special defenses? Special attacks?

He pulls out his last tangleburn bag and gets ready to throw it if any of the creatures get too close say 20 feet.

Readied throw: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (1) + 12 = 13 Well, let's hope none of them get close...

If I'm aware of any AoE attacks from the birds, I'll also move to Q-5, to try to start getting away from the others a bit. If not, I'm happy where I am.

Round 1

”Ruhk roh, Storny,” Quill gulps at the bird things. He calls upon the Elf Who Hugs Hunts the World for aid. Divine Favor.

Quill fires thrice at the yellow ruhk.

1d20 + 10 + 3 ⇒ (13) + 10 + 3 = 26 to hit;
1d8 + 9 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 9 + 3 = 17 magic cold iron damage;

1d20 + 10 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 10 + 3 = 23 to hit;
1d8 + 9 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 9 + 3 = 18 magic cold iron damage;

1d20 + 5 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 5 + 3 = 24 to hit;
1d8 + 9 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 9 + 3 = 13 magic cold iron damage;

Chwaer darts out of the stairwell and comes to a stop under the table, sword at the ready.

Double move to P15

Sander knows that the birds don't have any special defenses, but he did read that the full-grown rukhs can snatch a horse on the fly, grabbing it up in its talons without pause. The juveniles can probably do something similar. (flyby attack and snatch ability)

Then I'll move next to Storn in case he can get an AoO if they come for me.

A trio of arrows sent the nearest rukh falling to the ground, dead before it could even leave its perch. Chwaer took advantage of the distraction an scuttled under the table, trying to stay out of sight before she launched her counterattack. The cyclops howled and rushed towards Storn, raging at the man's foul armor and cutting into the warpriest with his enormous greataxe. With a yelp Sander threw his last tangleburn bag, but it went far wide of the charging giant.

"STOOOOOOOOOOORN!!" shouts Storn, coherently as he takes the hit. He quickly retaliates, chanting a verse of the Gorumskagat to time his attacks.

Attackulate: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (6) + 11 = 17 Damage: 2d6 + 9 + 6 ⇒ (1, 6) + 9 + 6 = 22
Attackulate: 1d20 + 6 - 3 ⇒ (16) + 6 - 3 = 19 Damage: 2d6 + 9 + 6 ⇒ (3, 1) + 9 + 6 = 19

As Storn attacks his wounds heal up.

Fervor: 3d6 ⇒ (2, 6, 5) = 13

Storn's attacks are useless against the giant, but Molly screwed up her face and blasted the cyclops with her evil eye. The giant looked puzzled for a moment, then went back to focusing on Storn. The rukhs all flew off their perches and closed in on the stairway, except for one that flew towards the table. Landing awkwardly on the floor, one of the heads began thrusting under the table to snatch at Chwaer, but it was too bulky and ungainly to get at the agile dwarf.

Chwaer curses to herself as the cyclops runs by, out of her reach. When the bird lands, she tries to vent her frustration for being out of place.

Round 2
+2 dwarven waraxe 1: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (4) + 17 = 21 for Dmg 1 +Precise Strike: 1d10 + 8 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 + 8 = 20 8 are Precision
+2 dwarven waraxe 2: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (7) + 12 = 19 for Dmg 2 +Precise Strike: 1d10 + 8 + 8 ⇒ (9) + 8 + 8 = 25 8 are Precision

Panache 2/3. She will [u]not[/u] underfoot the bird.

"Eep!" Sander eeps, and steps back five feet, as he pulls out a vial of acid and throws it toward the cyclops.

Liquid ice): 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (16) + 12 = 28
Damage (cold damage): 1d6 ⇒ 5
Splash damage: 1

Round 2

Now that Quill has a clear shot at the cyclops, Quill fires thrice at it.

1d20 + 10 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 10 + 3 + 2 = 20 to hit;
1d8 + 9 + 3 + 2d6 ⇒ (8) + 9 + 3 + (6, 4) = 30 magic cold iron damage;

1d20 + 10 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 10 + 3 + 2 = 32 to hit;
1d8 + 9 + 3 + 2d6 ⇒ (2) + 9 + 3 + (3, 1) = 18 magic cold iron damage;

1d20 + 5 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 5 + 3 + 2 = 13 to hit;
1d8 + 9 + 3 + 2d6 ⇒ (3) + 9 + 3 + (6, 2) = 23 magic cold iron damage;

Chwaer lunged out from under the table and ripped the juvenile rukh open with her axe. The foul smelling bird crashed to the ground and died, and Chwaer ducked back under her shelter again. The cyclops was hit with ice and arrow, though most of Quill's shots either went wide or skipped off the creature's armor. Still, it was wounded for sure. The bellow it let out shook the tower and it slashed at Storn, trying to clear the big man out of its path so it could get to the puny creatures that were really hurting it. One of the blows hit Storn and then surprisingly carried on into Sander, who wasn't ready to dodge!

Damage comes even though I stepped back 5 feet in the previous round?

Sander heals himself again, his natural chemistry from various extracts and mutagens reacting quickly to stanch his wounds. Will do this regardless of whether I took that damage before

Backing up again, he pulls out his sling and a stone.

Yes! Because I want to hit you.

Okay, no. I missed your step back :(

Snake style AC vs. first thing to attack me becomes 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (7) + 15 = 22

Molly draws a bead on the rampaging cyclops, chants a spell and unleashes a blast of black lightning at the creature, hoping to weaken it so Storn and the others can take it down more easily.

Casting Enervation. Ranged touch attack 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11 for 1d4 ⇒ 1 negative levels.

Annnd I forgot the bane property on the weapon. Whoops!

"HOLD STILL SO I CAN MURDER YOU!" roars Storn as he takes another hit. Planting his feet, his weapon shimmers with divine energy before he just gets to stabbing.

Attack (Divine Favor, Bane): 1d20 + 11 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 11 + 2 + 2 = 33 Damage: 4d6 + 9 + 6 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (3, 5, 3, 2) + 9 + 6 + 2 + 2 = 32
Attack (Divine Favor, Bane): 1d20 + 6 - 3 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 6 - 3 + 2 + 2 = 21 Damage: 4d6 + 9 + 6 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (1, 1, 6, 1) + 9 + 6 + 2 + 2 = 28

Another fervor for divine favor.

@Molly - just missed the TAC o_0

Storn yelled a supremely unappetizing offer to the cyclops, then fell to attacking, stabbing at the giant creature. The first hit plunged deeply, but as Molly cast, the cyclops dodged to the side, throwing himself out of the path of both Molly's spell and Storn's second strike.

The Rukh's converged, with two aiming for Sander and the third going after Storn. Sander almost got away completely, but one of the rukh heads managed a good scratch on Sander with its beak.

Storn gets an aoo on white

Ffffffff-- >_<

Round 3

No longer able to see the cyclops, Quill fires at the ruhk’s, starting with white and then to blue.

1d20 + 10 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 10 + 3 = 16 to hit;
1d8 + 9 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 9 + 3 = 14 magic cold iron damage;

1d20 + 10 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 10 + 3 = 21 to hit;
1d8 + 9 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 9 + 3 = 13 magic cold iron damage;

1d20 + 5 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 5 + 3 = 14 to hit;
1d8 + 9 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 9 + 3 = 20 magic cold iron damage;

Chwaer tries to sneak up on the cyclops, running up and swinging for its ankle.

Acro to avoid AoO: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (9) + 17 = 26
+2 dwarven waraxe 1 + flank: 1d20 + 17 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 17 + 2 = 32 for Dmg 1 +Precise Strike: 1d10 + 8 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 + 8 = 20

Move to R10.

Current AC is 26 thanks to buffs, so I think that missed.

"Get away from me!" Sander cries, dropping his sling and pulling out his morningstar and swinging furious at the bird.

Morningstar: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (15) + 7 = 22
Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 5

@Storn - I need your aoo on White before I can resolve Quill's shots

AoO: 1d20 + 11 + 2 + 2 - 3 ⇒ (16) + 11 + 2 + 2 - 3 = 28 Damage: 2d6 + 9 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (6, 3) + 9 + 6 + 2 = 26

"Stupid bird you go stab!"

Sander shied back from the bird's strike, and what looked like a nasty gash turned out to be just dirt and maybe a small scratch. The rukh shrieked as the halfling smashed one of its toes with a small morningstar. The rukh was immediately hit again, this time by one of Quill's arrows. The elf's first one has skewered and killed the rukh with the white bandings on its feathers, even as Storn yanked his spear out of its dying body.

Chwaer snuck out from under the giant table and slammed her axe into the cyclops' leg, just above the heel. The creature tottered, but didn't fall. Instead, it swept its own axe around, catching Storn a heavy blow before continuing on to Chwaer. The dwarf dropped to the ground, letting the axe fly over her head before leaping back up again to renew the attack.

If Underfoot Assault works with a cleave(?) miss, then she'd step in to help make attacks at Storn a little more difficult.

It should, yes

Snake style: AC vs black rukh becomes 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (8) + 15 = 23
Concentration to cast Inflict moderate wounds defensively 1d20 + 7 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 7 + 5 = 19. Success!

"Sod off, you stinking turkey!" Molly curses as the black rukh flaps a little too close for comfort. When - predictably - the bird fails to heed her warning, the Witch chants dark words of power and sweeps a hand at the ill-made creature.

Touch attack 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24 for 2d8 + 7 ⇒ (6, 3) + 7 = 16 damage.

Storn takes another hit and he roars back, blood pouring from his armour. He's obviously having one hell of a time despite his head almost falling off.

Attack (divine favor, flank, bane): 1d20 + 11 + 2 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 11 + 2 + 2 + 2 = 25 Damage (bane, power attack, divine favor): 4d6 + 9 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (5, 6, 4, 3) + 9 + 6 + 2 = 35
Attack bane, power attack, divine favor): 1d20 + 6 + 2 + 2 + 2 - 3 ⇒ (5) + 6 + 2 + 2 + 2 - 3 = 14 Damage bane, power attack, divine favor): 4d6 + 9 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (5, 3, 4, 3) + 9 + 6 + 2 = 32

rly.

As he keeps attacking, his wounds heal some more.

Cure Serious: 3d8 + 8 ⇒ (5, 5, 7) + 8 = 25

Burning a fervor and stunning barrier for the cure serious. Owww.

Molly's spell ripped some life essence from the rukh nearest her, and it squawked in surprise. Before lashing back at her with an odd hopping motion that let it slash with both clawed legs and both heads. The other rukh lashed out at Sander in the same way, but the alchemist managed to duck and dodge well.

Storn thrust his weapon into the cylops, and the giant gurgled as the tip of the spear ripped through its throat. The floor trembled as teh creature fell, with Storn guiding its fall to the side with his weapon so the cyclops didn't roll down the stairs crushing you all. With the Cyclops dead, the rukhs posed very little threat and were dispatched easily with the next round of attacks.

Molly takes 11 damage and then the combat ends

”Oh, that was scary. Did you all see the size of the cylops? Wow,” Quill moves up after he is sure the giant is dead. ”I don’t like those big mean ones too much. Not at all.”

Quill will slowly begin to look around the room, taking his time to examine things with Detect Magic.

1d20 + 16 ⇒ (7) + 16 = 23 Perception

Sander breathes heavily.

"That was close. I thought that cyclops had me dead to rights," he says. "I saw my life flash before my eyes. Again. Though it was nice to see Louly..."

He smiles, but only for a moment.

"And that wasn't even Urathash..."

Looking around, he tries to see where to go next, and if there's anything of use here.

Perception: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (5) + 16 = 21

Chwaer jogs over to Sander, "you guys ok? I didn't expect it to be that quick! I thought I could intercept it."

There are many, many documents and maps strewn out on the tables, and more tacked to the walls. It will take a while to sort through them all to learn anything important, though one map on the wall had several pins placed in it, including one labeled as the Valley of Minderhal, that you recognize as the place you have been traveling the last few weeks.

The only other exit from this room is the staircase leading upwards.

Storn raises his weapon and clanks around triumphantly for a while, shouting a few obscenities and prayers in Ulfen. He then collapses on his ass and begins healing himself.

CLW: 5d8 + 5 ⇒ (8, 3, 6, 1, 3) + 5 = 26

After taking a moment to clean himself of blood to prevent the hated rust, he looks at the documents.

"Hmph. Military strategem. Let's kill the guy in charge and read it later. One moment, need to ask Gorum for some advice, and by advice I mean ways to hurt a giant."

He looks up the stairs.

"Someone scout ahead. I am going to cast a lot of spells before we engage."

Taking a short rest to fill in my blank slots with divine favor, protection from evil (communla), stunning barrier.

As Storn gets ready to storn the shit out of things, Quill imbues his armor with light fortification, and his bow with goodly-looking yellow-gold pure energy that will hurt evil things, like bad giants and broccoli.

"Let's go. You first."

Sander agrees, again counting the few remaining bombs he's holding onto.

Chwaer sharpens her axe as she watches Storn prepare, "where do you want me? Stay close and let them come to us?"

I honestly thought I'd have a round to get to the cyclops - didn't expect him to move that far and right past me. Where should I be since the rooms are so spread out?

Ah, I see Quill has read one of my favorite books. Courage, by Hugo Furst, Justin Kase.

I just need to know how you are proceeding.

"Can I get a tap with a wand before we move on?" Molly asks.
Regardless the answer, the Witch will walk behind the others.

Chwaer moves up the stairs, trying to be quiet and listening for anything coming from above.

Why not
Stealth: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (16) + 19 = 35
Perception: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (10) + 12 = 22

Storn hangs back a way, letting Chwaer scout before he begins prepping his spells.

That of course depends on us just opening a door and finding a fight lol.

+2 AC, +4 Dmg for me? woot Thank you Storn SpiderBeard ;)