GM Brunoreturns' Shattered Star (Inactive)

Game Master brunoreturns

Paëral will investigate the noise...he'll draw his bow and move as stealthily as he can towards the mounds...

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15

Stealth: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (19) + 12 = 31

As Paeral moves past the first mound, the sound of activity become louder and he can hear climbing noises from the inside of the mound.

Tiebreaker,1=Barkot: 1d2 ⇒ 1

Round 1
BOLD may act

Celia
Barkot
Squint -2
Ulyi -2
Paeral
Reillana
Red

At the beginning of the round, the enemy is still inside of the mound

"Unless one'a youse gotta better idea, I'm jus' gonna spray da mound, an' we can light it up 'fore anyt'ing comes out of it."

Barkot gets ready to spray.

Sorry - busy day at work and it's my better half's birthday. I'll check back in this evening, but if there aren't any objections I think we ought to get this party started. I'm not at all worried that Barkot is going to be out of oil with 4 or 5 more mounds to go.

Paëral stays quiet and tries to stay in the shadows as he keeps a wary eye on the mounds, ready to fire if something emerges...

Stealth: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (10) + 12 = 22

"Well...I suppose one of us should light a torch? Or one of Celia's tinderwigs..."

I'll borrow one from Celia, light it and toss it if that's alright for the sake of brevity.

"Oh, sod this," Squint curses. "I'm casting a grease spell on the innermost corner of the floor, Paëral!" Squint shouts out. "Don't slip!"

I've marked the ten foot square in orange outline on the map. casting grease. Ulyi takes a five foot step up before I cast it to be closer.

"Great! Let's do dis!"

Barkot sprays the nearest mound with oil from the jetcaster.

"OK, Rei! Light 'er up!"

I betcha dis goes much better'n last time!

Squint, it appear that you forgot that these maps use 10-foot squares. Your effect is currently covering 4 10-foot squares. I will need you to alter the template.

Paeral, are you still using the attack template from a different character? I don't know where the third +1 is coming from.

Yes, I'm an idiot...subtract 1 from both attack and damage...my bad...

Oops! Adjusted my grease spell on the map.

Stepping out in front of Barkot, Reillana strikes the tinderwig and tosses it onto the oil-spritzed dirt mound.

Celia steps up next to Barkot as she readies her bow, drawing and waiting for something to emerge.

As the oil on the mound alights, light floods the chamber, casting odd shadows from the remaining mounds.

Initially hesitant, a giant ant emerges from the mound closest to the party. As fire burns it, it turns to flee down the non-burning side of the mound, but before it can, Paeral and Celia's arrows fly in, piercing it from either side.

The ant slumps and its body slides down the opposite side of the mound.

Fire: 1d3 ⇒ 3
Celia: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23
Damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

Round 2
BOLD may act

Barkot
Squint -2
Ulyi -2
??
Reillana
Celia
Paeral
Red -22

Barkot slings the jetcaster across his back and moves around the room towards Paëral, drawing a flask of acid as he walks. "Let's hustle over ta da hallway on da udder side a' da room before anudder one a' dose t'ings comes out."

Putting Squint on delay

As Barkot moves across the room, a voice calls out from the back of the room in a language nobody understands.

As it does, giant ants emerge from four of the five other mounds in the room. The two ants in the back of the room have mandibles that are larger than the others.

The ants scurry down the mounds and toward the back of the room, where you lose sight of them behind the mounds.

Round 2
BOLD may act

Barkot
??
Green
Blue
Orange
Purple
Squint -2
Ulyi -2
Reillana
Celia
Paeral

”What the hell was that?” Squint yells out in a panicked state.

Advancing between two of the enormous mounds, Reillana begins a spell to summon a fire beetle to tangle with the ants scrambling into the room.

Begin Summon Monster I

Since he's out of their LOS, Paëral will attempt to remain hidden and await for one of them to come into view...

Stealth: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (12) + 12 = 24

Squint continues to be on delay.

Celia moves closer to Paeral and readies a bow shot to match his readied stance.

Reillana begins casting.

Round 3
BOLD may act

Squint -2
Ulyi -2
Barkot
??
Green
Blue
Orange
Purple
Reillana
Celia
Paeral

Squint urges Ulyi forward as his teammates move further into the room. Squint makes sure to have a good grip on his trusty lance.

Staying near Reillana. No further actions.

Now Barkot is on delay :)

As Squint and Ulyi reconnect with the group, you hear the voice from the back of the room again.

It speaks quietly at first, then rises in volume, attempting to project into the room. As the voice calls out, it trails off in a series of coughs and a loud sniffle.

Reillana and Ulyi can just make out one of the larger ants standing in the passageway across the room. They do not move forward.

Round 3
BOLD may act

Squint -2
Ulyi -2
??
Green
Blue
Orange
Purple
Barkot
Reillana
Celia
Paeral

Sorry, I moved my token on the map yesterday but got interrupted when I was writing the post and was too jammed to finish. Just landed back in Chicago - I'm posting from the back of a taxi, so you know I've got my priorities straight.

Barkot double-moves to join Paëral. "Er, any a' youse speak whatever lingo creepy underground bug druids speak?"

Squint squints into the back of the room.

"They sound sick, whatever they are."

Knowing that the magical energies flowing through the compound prevent his ability to detect magical dweomers from doing anything, the halfling sits astride Ulyi, awaiting action from someone else.

"Are we in a stand-off?" he whispers to Reillana and the eidolon.

"You are sitting. So 'no'." Ulyi responds pithily.

Paëral decides to push the issue; he stealthily moves forward 15' and fires at green...

Stealth: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (9) + 12 = 21

Longbow: 1d20 + 6 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 6 + 1 + 1 = 23
Cold Iron/Sneak Damage: 1d8 + 1 + 1 + 1d6 ⇒ (7) + 1 + 1 + (3) = 12 (-3 if green spots Paëral before he fires)

Reillana completes her spell, conjuring a beetle the size of a labrador near the ants in the doorway. I'll add a token when I can

"Paëral, wait!" she hisses at the other elf, but too late to stop him from firing an arrow. "Damn your eyes! If they wanted a fight they'd be attacking, this is probably who was training those water spiders. They may know something about this complex!"

Move up to peer past the dirt mound, trying to see what manner of creature is giving the ants orders

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18

Paeral's arrow strikes the green ant, dealing significant damage.

As he does, Reillana's spell completes and a beetle appears.
Handle Animal: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

Ignoring her gestures to hold where it is, the beetle charges forward at the ants.
Which square does it move into? Straight or diagonal?1d2 ⇒ 2

As it does, the two ants in the front line lash out with their mandibles, slicing the beetle in half.

Blue: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (12) + 3 = 15 Green: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (12) + 3 = 15
Blue Damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5 Green's attack is not needed

Realizing that she is getting too far away from the light, Celia shoulders her bow and moves behind Reillana while drawing her two swords.

Round 4
BOLD may act

Squint -2
Ulyi -2
??
Green -12
Blue
Orange
Purple
[b]Barkot
Reillana
Celia
Paeral

Paëral sends Reillana a withering glance, thinking, Damn my eyes? What about your damn beetle? But he holds his tongue and fires again at green, hoping to drop it...

Longbow: 1d20 + 6 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 6 + 1 + 1 = 15
Cold Iron Damage: 1d8 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 + 1 = 9

Squint concentrates on the strange language that he heard from the back of the chamber, trying to place the odd syllables and alien syntax.

Linguistics Check: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18

I’ll wait to see what the GM says before completing my action.

While Squint can't be sure what language is being spoken, it does seem like a COMMON language for creatures that live UNDERground.

”I’m not too sure, but I think that might be a subterranean language that we heard!” Squint offers to the group. ”We might be able to talk to them!”

The halfling does not urge his eidolon forward.

Turn done.

@Paeral, you jumped the gun a bit and your action is no longer valid. You may take your turn normally now.

The voice turns angry, and Reillana sees a small figure step forward. (Celia can just barely make it out, but it is shrouded in shadow).

The voice is coming from a three foot tall blue-skinned humanoid form with large pointy ears and an oversized head that is bald and wrinkly. Its eyes are seemingly swollen to tiny slits and it gestures with stubby hands. The creature is probably one of the ugliest things Reillana has ever seen.

As it gestures, the ants surge forward to attack!

Paeral takes a vicious hit from Green's mandibles and is held fast. Blue likewise grabs on to Reillana.

Orange and Purple are unable to take advantage of their grappled condition, missing with their mandibles.

Green: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23
Confirm: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5
Damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4 Grab: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (18) + 7 = 25

Blue: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 3 = 19
Damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5 Grab: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21

Orange: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9
Purple: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

Round 4
BOLD may act

Squint -2
Ulyi -2
Humanoid
Green -12 Grappling
Blue Grappling
Orange
Purple
Barkot
Reillana -5 Grappled
Celia
Paeral -4 Grappled

I don't want to be blamed for blocking Reillana into a corner, so I am moving Celia back a space.

Sorry GM, got confused thinking the ants had already attacked but I guess that was a readied action...and when I saw the open [b] by Barkot’s name, I just thought you forgot to close it...my bad...

Paëral will try to slip through the ant’s grasp...

Escape Artist: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (10) + 10 = 20

...and move south 30’...

Posting from mobile and can’t move my icon...will move it in the morning...

I assumed as much. Note: You still take the -4 penalty to Dex while grappled, but your roll was high enough. Moving the token.

Almost forgot to AoO

Green: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 12 Orange: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

So did they...

"Back off, ya damn bugs! Get offa my friends! Rei, don't you know nuttin 'bout dese damn t'ings?"

Reillana, does your archetype give up bardic knowledge? Or can you make a knowledge check?

Barkot switches his acid flask to his off hand and casts bane (DC 14 Will save negates), then steps between two of the mounds, hoping to force the two ants he can see to split up between him and Paëral.

As her beetle rushes forward Reillana throws out a hand to stop it. "No, what are you--aw, hells." She yelps when the ant surges forward to clamp a mandible around her leg.

Knowledge (Nature vs Blue Thing): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9
Knowledge (Nature vs Ants): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

"Gah! I'm a little preoccupied Barkot! Take him alive, we can question him more after these..." With a flourish of her short sword the blade gleam with arcane light and she stabs down.

Swift to activate Arcane Strike
Attack vs Ant: 1d20 + 5 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (15) + 5 + 1 - 2 = 19 Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

"...are dead!"

Paeral nimbly escapes from the ant's mandibles and retreats.

Barkot casts Bane.
Will Green: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 1 = 17
Will Blue: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4
Will Orange: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8
Will Purple: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8
Will Grey: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11

Reillana stabs the ant holding her.

Celia grumbles about not being able to help out Reillana, drops her swords and draws her bow again, attempting to help kill the ant, but nearly hits Reillana instead.

Bow,Cover: 1d20 + 6 - 4 ⇒ (7) + 6 - 4 = 9

Round 5
BOLD may act

Squint -2
Ulyi -2
Humanoid Bane
Green -12
Blue -4 BaneGrappling
Orange Bane
Purple Bane
Barkot
Reillana -5 Grappled
Celia
Paeral -4

Nobody's name is in bold.

Sorry, having formatting issues apparently

Round 5
BOLD may act

Squint -2
Ulyi -2
Humanoid Bane
Green -12
Blue -4 BaneGrappling
Orange Bane
Purple Bane
Barkot
Reillana -5 Grappled
Celia
Paeral -4

"You heard the lady, Ulyi!" Squint suddenly shouts out. "Let's take care of these big ants!" Squint readies his lance.

Ride Check: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22 SUCCESS! I'll attack at the end of Ulyi's double move.

"Truly inspiring words," the eidolon mutters, moving swiftly around the huge ant mounds just behind the insects threatening Reillana.

Double moved on the map. I've counted it twice to be sure I'm good.

"Yahh!" Squint yells out before jabbing the Refrain of Silver into the nearest (blue) ant.

Melee Attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 241d6 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7 CRITICAL THREAT!
Critical Confirm: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 222d6 + 2 ⇒ (6, 5) + 2 = 13 CONFIRMED! (I think.)

The halfling's lance crunches into the giant ant with deadly force.

I have sent some questions to Squint about his movement. I am thinking that he will likely need to take a different approach (like riding up behind Reillana and using his reach weapon to strike over her shoulder).

Riding up behind Reillana, Squint's lance skewers the blue ant, tearing the mandibles off of the bard, but leaving the ant's thorax behind. The body falls down, twitching.

The humanoid lets out a shriek, then stares hard at Squint. It's eyelids open wide and the eyes bulge out, seeming as if they will pop right out of the creature's head. Even though Squint can barely see the creature, he feels sudden fear.

Squint Will DC 10 or Shaken

The creature then turns and darts back the way it came.

The ants keep attacking, Green and Orange going for Barkot, while Purple continues attacking Reillana. Barkot takes a hit, but the ant is unable to hold on.

Green: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 3 = 20
Damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7 Grab: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10

Orange: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8 Purple: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (12) + 3 = 15

Round 5
BOLD may act

Squint -2 Need Will Save
Ulyi -2
Humanoid Bane
Green -12
Orange Bane
Purple Bane
Barkot -7
Reillana -5
Celia
Paeral -4

Squint shudders as the hairs rise on the back of his neck.

Will Save (vs Fear effect): 1d20 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 2 + 2 = 24

”That thing tried to spook me!” the halfling calls out.

My dice are super-nova hot.

Barkot draws his longsword and takes a defensive stance. He slashes at the ant that bit him, less concerned about hitting it than avoid being bitten again.

"Hey, Paë, how 'bout a flank here?"

Longsword, fighting defensively (-4 to hit, +2 to AC): 1d20 + 3 - 4 ⇒ (12) + 3 - 4 = 111d8 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

"Stay away!" Reillana shrieks in Elvish at the next ant, slashing at its face before withdrawing.

Attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20 Damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

15ft move to get behind Squint & Ulyi

While Paëral prefers his bow, he answers Barkot’s query, dropping his bow and, drawing his short sword, he moves 5’ and flanks orange...

MW Short Sword: 1d20 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 7 + 2 = 19
Damage + Sneak: 1d6 + 1 + 1d6 ⇒ (3) + 1 + (6) = 10