GM Blood's Age of Worms in Golarion

Game Master David James Olsen

When my turn comes up...

Lessien screams (rather undignified for an Elf) and runs away as fast as she can while looking like she's trying to avoid being sick. "Watch out Quintus, you're in its path!"

Moves to T42 by way of (X39, W40, V41, U42, T42) = (5, 5, 10, 5, 5) = 30

"Will a torch kill enough to make a difference if it's thrown into the swarm?"

"No idea! I'm just trying to stay out of the swarm and keep burning them."

Rowena steps up to R35 and kicks at the slasher.
Attack: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

She nearly sprains her ankle by missing completely. The jarring pain of her foot on stone nearly causes her leg to buckle.

Quintus, without oil, the flame will do one point of damage to the swarm.

Rowena's miss and Lessien's move leaves Quintus to act before the Mad Slasher ends round 2.

Initiative Order - Rauno, Trevor, Kelkzar, Beetle Swarm, Rowena, Quintus, Lessien, Mad Slasher

Currently working from my phone, so this will be brief. Quintus retreats 20' west and lofts his torch into the middle of the swarm. GM Blood, please roll for that.

Quintus attack 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 2 = 14

Quintus throws his torches in the mass of beetles. Its hard to tell if it had any affect at all.

The Mad Slasher twists its body and spins in a circle. Its razor sharp claws hit Rowena and Kelkzar.

Attack Rowena 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21
Damage 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

Attack Trevor 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12
Damage 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Attack Kelkzar 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25
Damage 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

Round 3

Initiative Order - Rauno, Trevor, Kelkzar, Beetle Swarm, Rowena, Quintus, Lessien, Mad Slasher

Trevor feels blessed by the grace of Iomedae as he steps back just in time to avoid the slasher's slash. He then steps back in, feeling a flowing movement build in as he lifts and drops his axe.

Power Attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7; 1d12 + 9 ⇒ (11) + 9 = 20

All goes in the blow, but he misses his timing and completely misses the monster.

Round 3

Kelkzar grimaces with pain as the Mad Slasher nearly renders him unconscious. "Rauno, if you have anything to deal with those beetles, go get them now!" He whirls to face the Mad Slasher, "Angel of Heaven, lend me your might so I may smite my foe!" He brings the falchion cutting down on the monster.

Free action: Destructive Smite (+1 morale bonus on damage, this attack only), Swift Action: Judgement of Sacred Justice (+1 sacred bonus on attack rolls till end of combat)

Attack (Falchion) 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11
Damage (Falchion) 2d4 + 6 ⇒ (3, 3) + 6 = 12+1=13

He also attempts a snap at it with his jaws.

Attack(Tusks) 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6
Damage(Tusks) 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3+1=4

Panting from exertion and loss of blood, his aim is terrible with both attacks.

In response to Kelkzar, Rauno snarls Yeah, I've got a torch for them! Seeing Kelkzar and Trevor have the slasher well in hand, Rauno spins about and runs around the sarcophagus. As he closes on the beetles, arcane words tumble from his lips and fire pours from his outstretched hand, momentarily filling the room with light.

Move to V39 via S38-39, T-U40, V39, and cast Burning Hands, encompassing the beetle horde. Damage 1d4 ⇒ 4.

I'm pretty sure swarms don't get AoO, so he should be safe casting there.

Round 3:

Status:

HP: 11/11 AC: 18 Conditions: blessed (8/10 rounds remaining)

Not that it makes much difference, but remember that everyone's got +1 to hit from the bless.

Unless something happens to obviate this before Quintus acts, this is what he does.

Oh, Lady, Kelkzar's in it again. Quintus moves up behind the half-orc and loses his magic weapon spell to spontaneously cast another cure light wounds on the wounded inquisitor.

CLW healing: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

Trevor and Kelkzar misses the Mad Slasher as Quintus moves in and heals Kelkzar. Rauno moves up to the horde of beetle and unleashes flames from his fingertips burning away many of the bugs. AoE spells get 50% more damage vs swarms so 6 points of fire damage.

Sensing life nearby the bugs move over Rauno

Damage + Acid 1d6 + 1d4 ⇒ (6) + (2) = 8 Plus save vs Distraction Fort DC 11

Rowena and Lessien left before the Mad Slasher

Initiative Order - Rauno, Trevor, Kelkzar, Beetle Swarm, Rowena, Quintus, Lessien, Mad Slasher

Rowena attempts to get a flank and kicks at the slasher again.
Attack: 1d20 + 1 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 1 + 2 + 1 = 16 (flank, bless)
Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Ugh, yeah, I built the Bless in, but with those terrible rolls it doesn't matter.

"Thanks Quintus!" growls Kelkzar as the healing closes a few wounds and puts some life back into him.

Lessien is up!

"Rauno! Damn! Have to hit and run with these bugs..."

To try to save her colleague, however, Lessien steps in and swings the torch again, rather than waiting for the beetles to come to her. She subconciously cringes as she realizes the only way to get the beetles off of Rauno is to attract them herself, and this time she can't stay out of their reach.

5' step to U41
Attack: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18, 1 fire damage

Lessien hits the mob of bugs with more fire but hasn't dispersed them yet.

The Mad Slasher does his spinning attack once more

Claw vs Rowena 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26
1d6 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

Claw vs Trevor 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20
1d6 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Claw vs Kelkzar 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26
1d6 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

Ouch!

Confirm vs Rowena 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26 Confirmed
1d6 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

Confirm vs Kelkzar 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17 Not Confirmed
1d6 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Dice Roller is hot

Round 4

Initiative Order - Rauno, Trevor, Kelkzar, Beetle Swarm, Rowena, Quintus, Lessien, Mad Slasher

Rauno I need a Fort DC 11 save to see if you are nauseated

Searing from the pain, Trevor pivots and keeps his axe rotating, aiming for the beast's centre. "Back to your pit, monster!"

Power Attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21; 1d12 + 9 ⇒ (5) + 9 = 14

Trevor's mighty blow hits the Mad Slasher in its eyeball killing it and leaving some sort of milky white fluid all over his axe.

Initiative Order - Rauno, Trevor, Kelkzar, Beetle Swarm, Rowena, Quintus, Lessien, Mad Slasher

Rowena is sent flying by the monster, a bit of intestine peeking out through the rent n her clothes and skin. She lies still on the ground.

Round 4

The Mad Slasher's claws rake across Kelkzar yet again. This time, the loss of blood is too much and the giant half-orc slumps to the ground unconscious.

Attempt to Stabilize 1d20 + 2 - 1 ⇒ (7) + 2 - 1 = 8

His breathing becomes more ragged.

Round 4:

Status:

HP: 11/11 AC: 18 Conditions: blessed (7/10 rounds remaining)

A look of horror on his face, Quintus hurries past the twitching corpse of the Mad Slasher to Rowena's side. "Not today. Not if I can help it!" He holds up his right hand, and now anyone close enough can see an ankh birthmark on his palm. He pauses just a moment--Do I still remember how to do this? Will She hear me when I call?--then invokes the power of Sarenrae. Rowena's terrible wound begins to close, Kelkzar is spared unconsciousness, and Trevor is fully healed as the wave of warmth spreads from the cleric.

Channel positive energy; avoiding the Mad Slasher using Selective Channel; heals: 1d6 ⇒ 3 and Rowena and Kelkzar are stabilized. Also catches Trevor and (if Rauno has moved closer to Quintus by the time Quintus acts) Rauno.

Heal check to stabilize 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 2 = 12
No dice. Still unconscious and unstable, unless Quintus changes that to a channel.

Fort DC 11 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 2 = 21

Badly blistered by the beetles and deeply disappointed that his spell did not fry them to the last, Rauno staggers away from the swarm.

Move to S35.

Despite his wound Kelkzar still stands and attempts to staunch his wounds but cannot and falls unconscious.

As Rauno moves away the swarm envelopes Lessien

Damage plus Acid 1d6 + 1d4 ⇒ (6) + (2) = 8

Rowena stabilize check 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 2 = 12 Fails, loses 1 hp to -11

Quintus steps up and channels singling out the Acid Beetle Swarm. Kelkzar's blackout is short lived as the waves of healing closes everyone's wounds.

Everyone is within 30' so 3 hp of healing to all

Lessien is up then the top of round 5

Round 4

Initiative Order - Rauno, Trevor, Kelkzar, Beetle Swarm, Rowena, Quintus, Lessien

Round 5 (After Lessien)

Initiative Order - Rauno, Trevor, Kelkzar, Beetle Swarm, Rowena, Quintus, Lessien

I think with Quintus changing his action to channel, it gets Kelkzar back to +1 and Rowena to stable.

Fort: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12

Lessien is relieved that Quintus's healing came just in time. She swings at the beetles with her torch again, and then steps away far enough that she judges the beetles won't be able to reach her next round. [b]"They almost got me that time, thanks Quintus! We need more fire, guys...but don't just charge them, try to get so that you can run away after you burn some. They move slower than us."

Attack: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19, 1 fire damage
Move to T46.

Rauno will delay. I'm sorry; I thought that would really take care of them! Does anyone have an extra torch, or some oil?

I started to post a second casting of Burning Hands using the bonded object casting but deleted it. I realized I had to use my bonded object casting to get that one out there.

As Lessien swings the torch the beetles disperse and threaten the group no more. End of combat

Since Rowena is still below 0, Quintus uses Rebuke Death on her.

1d4 ⇒ 1 HP cured
1d4 ⇒ 3 HP cured
1d4 ⇒ 1 HP cured

What a cruddy set of rolls.

"Is anyone else wounded?"

Trevor exhales loudly and sets his greataxe on the sarcophagus: "Phew! What was THAT!?! It almost killed us! Thanks Quintus! What god are you serving?"

"I am very wounded. I can brew up my own curing extract in just a minute though if your healing reserves are nearing empty."

I'm down to 3 pts. If Ro is still below that though don't worry about me until she's up and running...

In response to Quintus, I am afraid I am. I thought for certain that jet of flame would be enough to wipe out those beetles. Gesturing to the remaining acid burns on his exposed skin, he adds Obviously, I misjudged.

In response to Trevor, Scholars refer to it as a Mad Slasher; a quaint but apt name. It is an aberration, that is to say a creature so bizarre it is unlike anything else found in nature. This particular one is known for that instict tactic that you saw, spinning about like that when it is surrounded.

Currently down 5 hit points.

Quintus has two Rebuke Deaths left (which only work when the person is negative), and three positive energy channels. He's used all his healing spells.

The cleric smiles, a real smile with some warmth in it. "I serve Sarenrae, the Dawnflower.

"Let's take a look where these things came from, after I try to get Rowena back with us."

I think Rowena is at -2; one more Rebuke Death heals: 1d4 ⇒ 1 HP

Argh! Last one heals: 1d4 ⇒ 4 HP

She's up to 3 HP; Quintus channels energy twice to heal everyone who's still wounded: 2d6 ⇒ (3, 5) = 8 HP

"I'm a fair hand at mundane healing, and I can still use minor magic to stabilize the dying, but I've exhausted almost all of Sarenrae's grace for the day." For the first time in...oh, it can't be that long, can it? Too long. Too long.

Lessien stretches, feeling completely restored, and smiles at Quintus. "Thank you brother! That was a prodigious amount of healing."

"Perhaps we should finish exploring the area we have already cleared out, and call it a day?"

Kelkzar grimaces at the pain of his wounds knitting shut, but smiles at Quintus's mention of Sarenrae, "A former Empyreal herself. I shall be sure to thank the Dawnflower for your healing." Kelkzar takes a moment to assess his remaining injuries. "Lessien, I think that is an excellent recommendation. I fear we are all nearly out of resources for today."

Lessien stretches, feeling completely restored, and smiles at Quintus. "Thank you brother! That was a prodigious amount of healing."

"Perhaps we should finish exploring the area we have already cleared out, and call it a day?"

The burly, muscular priest smiles almost shyly. "Thank you. Healing is one of the Dawnflower's aspects I've tried to concentrate on."

You look at the newly created hole and see that its sides are pitted and scarred and look like it would provide handholds making it easy to climb. DC5

Kelkzar looks down with his Darkvision and thinks he can almost see some sort of room below. He can just make out what look like the remains of one of the cylinders similar to the one when the arrow was pointed to yellow.

"Interesting, there is a room down there and the broken bits of a cylinder like we saw before. I guess the age of this cairn is catching up with things. I'd like to continue down, but I'm really worried about our injuries and depleted spells. Do you all want to head back to town, rotate this sarcophagus more, or go down?"

"I believe it would be prudent to either go back to town, or camp here in the area we have already cleared out."

Rowena heaves a giant breath as the last rebuke death brings her around, then gasps more as waves of healing energy flood over her. She watches in amazement as her intestine slips back inside her body and the rents in her flesh close up.

"I thought I was done for for sure. Thanks!" She fingers the tears in her tunic. "Don't suppose the fancy healing magic can heal this?"

"I'm sorry, it only works on living things. If you wait until tomorrow I have magic to fix that. I think Rauno can help, too."

Quintus looks a bit rueful at Lessien's recommendation. "I left my overnight gear back at the inn--I didn't think we'd need it."

Apart from that the cleric seems to be in a far better mood after the fight. He's definitely standing a little straighter, and hasn't shivered since the battle began.

Don't forget that town is not that far away if you had to go there and come back again.

I do have an arcane ritual that could mend our garments he says, noting his own acid burned clothing. I do not have it prepared at the moment, but I can certainly do so when I take time to study my spellbook next.

"If we return to town, people are going to see our sorry states, and know we must have found 'something' out here. We might draw unwanted attention that way. Presumably we can rough it for one night, even without enough overnight gear. Someone has to stay on watch at all times anyway, so we only really need five bedrolls anyway."

"Well, I cou--no, that won't work. Since we're here, why don't we start to clear the collapse back there?"

"I'm good with staying around for the night. As much as i'd like a real bed, there's other things we might steer by coming back..."

"Everything I need is in my pack. If nobody minds, I can take the last watch, and use the time to prepare my mutagen. I wish I had the materials handy to brew some alchemist's fire."

"That would have helped against the beetles."

"Indeed, alchemical supplies will probably be the first things I buy when I see some coins again."