GM Brunoreturns' Shattered Star (Inactive)

Game Master brunoreturns

You just had a battle in here. If that constitutes 'making noise', nothing appears to be happening.

Paeral shrugs. "It doesn't look like they're coming to us...we're going to have to hunt 'em down..."

Leaving Lockerbie behind for now, the party heads to the southern door. Paeral finds no traps on the door and carefully opens it, revealing a corridor.

The corridor eventually splits into a 'T'. In the center of the 'T', a single stalactite hangs from the ceiling. Paeral approaches close enough to peek around the corner.

To the north is a bedroom, and to the south is some kind of abattoir with hunks of meat hanging from the ceiling. Paeral can feel that the southern room is much colder than the rest of the dungeon. He can just see part of a derro waiting in that room with some kind of odd spear with vials of liquid attached to the tip.

As Deric follows through the hallway, he notices that the light from the everburning torch seems to hit a wall of darkness.

When he becomes aware of the effect, Paeral can tell that the darkness seems to emanate from the ceiling near the stalactite.

Deric pauses as he see his light being extinguished. He whispers "More of that magical darkness just ahead." Total defense, shield away, two hands on sword. AC 24

Deric pauses as he see his light being extinguished. He whispers "More of that magical darkness just ahead." Total defense, shield away, two hands on sword. AC 24

Barkot moves up behind Paëral to peer through the darkness. He looks up at the ceiling where the darkness is emanating from and shrugs.

Not gonna be so easy ta put da darkness it in my pocket dis time, he thinks. Funny place ta put a spell like dat, if da little blue meanie’s waitin’ fer us in da meat locker outside its range. I wonder...

Something about the placement of the spell sets off his Instincts from his years on the streets, and he looks up again at the stalactite, scanning it for a tripwire or trigger that might send it crashing onto anyone walking below it. He leans forward and whispers to the archer, “Weird ta have jus’ one stalactite hangin’ from da ceiling all by itself, dontcha t’ink, Paë? D'ya t'ink it's a trap?”

Perception, trapfinding: 1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 5 + 2 = 15

Paëral shakes his head, whispering . "Could be wrong, but I don’t think so...funny we should find an everburning torch in one room and now perhaps we find its opposite? Any way, there’s a derro up ahead...”

I’m assuming Barkot and I are the only one who can see past the stalactite...is that right?

Yes, that is currently correct @Paeral

Yes Barkot thinks It is strange. Not like we've seen stalactites anywhere else in this structure. Seems awfully odd to have one conveniently placed in the middle of this intersection with darkness surrounding it.

Looking for pressure plates, or wires, or anything that might trigger the stalactite to drop, Barkot is still looking at it when it detaches from the ceiling, opens up a gaping orifice filled with teeth and lashes out with tentacles at Paeral.

The darkmantle swoops down onto Paeral's head, grabbing around his neck and choking the elf viciously.

Slam: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23
Confirm: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 3 = 20
Grab: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (11) + 3 = 14 Correct me if I am wrong, Paeral, but I believe that hits your flat-footed CMD
Damagex2+Constrict: 2d4 + 8 + 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (4, 3) + 8 + (2) + 4 = 21

Round 1
BOLD may act
Squint: Heroism

Deric
Darkmantle Grappling
Paeral -24 Grappled
Squint
Ulyi
Reillana
Barkot -1
Derro

@Deric You heard Barkot say something about a weird stalactite, a loud thump, and then a choking sound. You won't be able to see anything though

Deric readies an attack should anything exit the darkness other than his allies. "Draw it out to the light!

The darkmantle continues strangling Paeral, as it begins scraping him with its teeth. Unable to get air, the elf collapses. Releasing Paeral, the darkmantle clumsily attempts to fly back toward the ceiling.

Constrict: 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

Round 1
BOLD may act
Squint: Heroism

Deric
Darkmantle
Paeral -32 Dying
Squint
Ulyi
Reillana
Barkot -1
Derro

"Are ya kiddin' me?!? Soralyon, please heal my friend Paë even dough he didn’t pay no attention ta dat t’ing hangin’ on da ceilin’!”

Barkot stretches down and calls upon more divine healing for Paëral.

Cure Moderate Wounds, CL4: 2d8 + 4 ⇒ (1, 6) + 4 = 11

Once he’s certain that the elf is conscious and able to get himself out of danger, the half-orc draws his longsword and steps back into the light. He calls back over his shoulder, “Hey guys! A little help here! Somet’in’ jus’ tried ta squeeze da juice outta Paë like a piece a’ fruit!”

Knowledge check?: 1d20 ⇒ 20
History +6, Local +10, Planes +6, Religion +8

Paeral is conscious again. (He'll have to pick his bow up)

The check is Arcana, but there isn't really anything to know about Darkmantles, so I just gave it to you.

Get us up there, Ulyi!" Squint urges his eidolon forward, arms spread out in an incantation.

Ride Check: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (6) + 9 = 15

Cast glitterdust at the darkmantle. DC 15 Will save or it is blinded. Otherwise it's covered in glitter.

Will: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (1) + 0 = 1

The darkmantle does not show any evidence of being affected by the glitterdust.

It is covered by glitter that the people with darkvision can see.

@ Reillana, anything?

Sorry, I was a poll worker and had a 14hr day yesterday. Reillana would bringing to everburning torch closer and ready a Cure Light Wounds if Paeral comes to her.

I would allow you to stumble into the darkness toward Paeral's voice until you run into him and cast CLW then. Your call.

The derro laughs madly, watching his pet attack the party, then gestures at Squint.

Round 2
BOLD may act
Squint: Heroism

Deric
Darkmantle
Paeral -21
Squint
Ulyi
Reillana
Barkot -1
Derro

Is it a fear effect? Regardless, I'll use my last point of adaptable luck for this check.

Squint Will Save, Adaptable Luck: 1d20 + 6 + 3 ⇒ (11) + 6 + 3 = 20

It's a 22 if it's a fear effect.

Deric holds his action at this time.

Nearly up to the ceiling, the darkmantle changes course and swoops toward the seemingly blind and helpless halfling, but finds this summoner has a high AC.

Ulyi may take an AoO

Slam: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (13) + 3 = 16

Round 2
BOLD may act
Squint: Heroism

Deric
Darkmantle
Paeral -21
Squint
Ulyi
Reillana
Barkot -1
Derro

Barkot lets a wand drop from his spring-loaded wrist sheath into his buckler hand, then takes a 5' step closer to Paëral and leans forward to tap the elf on the shoulder with the wand.

"C'mon, Paë! Ya gotta get up an' offa da floor!"

The oracle casts another healing spell on the archer.

CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

Paëral grabs his bow as he rises. "On second thought, Bark, I think you're right...it's a trap..."

He fires an arrow at the darkmantle attacking Squint...

Longbow: 1d20 + 8 + 1 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 8 + 1 + 1 + 1 = 31
Confirm: 1d8 + 8 + 1 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 8 + 1 + 1 + 1 = 19
Cold Iron/Crit Damage: 3d8 + 3 + 3 ⇒ (8, 8, 1) + 3 + 3 = 23 (Only 10 damage if not confirmed)

You can't stand AND grab your bow AND fire, so I'll just have you fire while prone so the 20 isn't wasted :) Hmmm.. Is firing while prone allowed. Bah! I don't care.

Paeral skewers the darkmantle and it falls to the ground, dead.

"Paeral, keep making noise!" Reillana asks as she stumbles in the dark, wand outstretched.

CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8

Thanks, GM...and my bad. I assumed it was lying next to me and thought it'd be like drawing while moving...but, as the norm, when I assume I'm usually wrong...

The thing on the ceiling flops down onto the floor amongst the eidolon and Squint, skewered by Paeral's arrow.

"Lower your lance in the direction I move and ready to attack!" Ulyi orders, then charges into the darkness.

Charge at the derro.

Bite Attack, Charge, Reach: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 121d8 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6

"Wha? Where.....whoa!!!"

Squint, blind as a bat, tries his best to follow Ulyi's instructions while hanging on for dear life.

Ride Check: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (6) + 11 = 17
Melee Attack, Charge, Lance, Silver, Blind, Heroism: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (2) + 11 = 132d6 + 4 ⇒ (5, 3) + 4 = 121d100 ⇒ 20

Squint's lance crunches into the wall.

"Did I hit it?" Squint asks hopefully.

IIRC Squint had cast Light on his lance?

As Ulyi charges forward, Squint passes through the effect of magical darkness to suddenly see the derro and his weird spear. Unable to adjust the lance properly, the attack misses. Ulyi's bite also misses the mark.

During the charge, Squint and Ulyi can feel the temperature dropping rapidly. As they end their charge, they notice a fuzzy looking brown material on the floor of the northern corner of this room. Standing this close to the corner, they can feel the heat being sucked out of them.

Cold (NL): 3d6 ⇒ (3, 1, 6) = 10

The derro rolls its eyes madly as it looks at the unknown creature in front of it. Speaking to Ulyi in its unknown language, he tries to stab the eidolon. Being slightly off balance from the charge, the eidolon takes a hit and feels liquid from one of the vials attached to the tip of the spear being injected into him and an intense sensation of cold.

Spear: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 2 = 19
Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 3
Ulyi needs a DC 13 poison save

I'm assuming that's a Fortitude save?

Fortitude Save, Poison: 1d20 + 5 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 5 + 4 = 26

And because of his eidolon-ness, the cold damage does nothing. (Cold resistance 10).

Round 3
BOLD may act
Squint: Heroism

Deric
Paeral -9
Squint (10 NL)
Ulyi -3 (10 NL)
Reillana
Barkot -1
Derro

Ulyi steps away from the cold brown fuzz and bites and claws at the derro in a vicious array.

5 foot step, then full attack.

Melee Attack #1, Bite, Power Attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 241d8 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10
Melee Attack #2, Claw, Power Attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 171d4 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8
Melee Attack #3, Claw, Power Attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 181d4 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6

The cold is less intense from a distance, and all of Ulyi's attacks are successful, battering the derro to the brink of death. It attempts to brace itself for more coming attacks.

Squint calls out.

"It's COLDD-DD-DD!"

He then tries to cast in a way to avoid the derro's retribution.

Casting Defensively (DC 17): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15 And fails, losing a 1st level spell slot, but avoiding an AoO.

His shivers are too much to overcome.

Paëral moves 5’ west and fires twice at the derro...

Longbow: 1d20 + 8 + 1 + 1 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (19) + 8 + 1 + 1 + 1 - 2 = 28
Cold Iron Damage: 1d6 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 + 1 = 4

Longbow: 1d20 + 8 + 1 + 1 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (14) + 8 + 1 + 1 + 1 - 2 = 23
Cold Iron Damage: 1d6 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 + 1 = 8

Deric moves into the darkness. That is his previous turn he held last round. Should still be bold this round.

Barkot double-moves into the room, sword drawn. "Hey, are you guys OK?"

Paeral's first arrow kills the derro.

Heat is sucked out of Barkot by the brownish moldy looking substance.

Cold NL: 3d6 ⇒ (4, 1, 5) = 10

Ulyi needs another Fort save vs poison.

The derro has studded leather armor, his injection spear, and four vials the look like the same stuff loaded into the injection spear.

Some of the frozen hunks of meat hanging in the room look disturbingly humanoid.

Barkot backs away from the brown mold until the cold no longer is no longer so intense - if that means going into the hallway, he will, but otherwise he stays in the room.

Fortitude Save, Poison: 1d20 + 5 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 5 + 4 = 25

"What is that brown stuff?" Squint whines. "It's sucking the energy out of me!"

"Kill it with fire!" Deric lights a torch and hands it to the wee one.

Deric lights a torch and carries it toward Barkot, Squint, and Ulyi. The torch starts flickering as it fights to stay alight while the heat is being pulled out of it.

The mold on the floor reacts as if it was fed a magical growth serum, instantly expanding to cover half the room.

Deric, Squint, Ulyi, and Barkot all take more cold damage before wisely deciding to run out of the meat locker.

Cold NL: 3d6 ⇒ (2, 5, 1) = 8

Status
BOLD may act
Squint: Heroism

Deric (8 NL)
Paeral -9
Squint (18 NL)
Ulyi -3 (18 NL)
Reillana
Barkot -1 (18 NL)

I'll post the next room tomorrow, unless someone has something else they want to do.

"Hmm, it seems to feed on heat, and rather vigorously at that!" Reillana observes and she brandishes her wand.

Do we want to expend the charges for the nonlethal damage? Also do any of us have Knowledge (Nature) to see what we can do about this frigid mold?

”Ahhh! Get away from me!” Squint yells, racing out of the room with the brown furry stuff.

Yes, Squint would like some healing. Ulyi wasn’t affected by the cold (Cold Resist 10).

Deric moves away from the cold and back into the light. "We can wait until the darkness spell wears off."

"It's a spell?" Squint wonders aloud. "How do you know that?"

Yes, how would a fighter know that? *wink*

As the party gathers and heals, they notice Lockerbie emerging from the northern room. He is dragging the corpse of the slain derro toward the northern entrance to the room.

@Reillana and/or Barkot, please take care of whatever healing is going to be done.

"Hang on Hungry, let me inspect that before you eat it."