GMDQ's Skull and Shackles (Inactive)

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Sal can barely spell "ethereal" let alone explain how the plane works, but she curses as she is certainly aware that she is unable to detect the intruders despite her predatory-level sense of smell. After stepping so she is within striking distance of as many invaders as possible, she hefts her spear and readies an action to attack the first spider that appears within reach (which, as a reminder, is 10 feet).

Seeing Sandara has earned the ire of another toxic creature, Riori decides to bolster her fortitude in case of any further incoming attack. She casts bear's endurance while standing where she originally stood (as she wasn't directly next to a spider when they appeared), holds the charge while she takes a short five-foot-step toward Sandara, and then taps Sandara to release the spell.

Sandara gets a +4 to Constitution for the next 9 minutes. Unless she hits the copycat; is that a possibility?

Ekote knows all. These are phase spiders. They are intelligent (but not as intelligent as most humanoids. They live at the boundary of the material and ethereal planes, moving back and forth to ambush prey. On the ethereal plane, they manipulate the ether like a spider does webbing, creating webs and structures in which they dwell. They don't have any particular weaknesses. They can move in an out of the material plane with little effort. (into Material plane as a free action, back into Ethereal as a move).

For those who can see the spiders. They have all retreated to the tops of the buildings that their tokens are on. Except for the one in B9 who has climbed to the ceiling of the chapel.

Based on what he knows of them, Ekote would guess that they are waiting to see if their poison weakens you substantially.

I'm assuming Sandara can lean into Riori's ministrations, so you won't hit the copycat.

Go ahead with round 2.

"These phase spiders are holding back, waiting. Perhaps hoping some of us succumb to their poison." Ekote points at them one by one with a frown. "They can move themselves back and forth pretty easily, as we've seen. We might want to bait them into appearing and then strike."

Fort save: 1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 6 + 2 = 23

"If that's the case.... Sandara pretends to grow weaker; not hard as the poison continues to try to weaken her.

Bluff, faking growing weak: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 2 = 14

Thren moves to Sandara's side, seeming to be concerned for her. She keeps her hand on her blade and waits for a spider to move in and strike at her friend.

Readied action to strike first spider to get close to Sandara.

attack: 1d20 + 13 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 13 + 2 = 30
damage: 1d6 + 10 ⇒ (3) + 10 = 13

She keeps singing as she waits for a creature to close.

"Phase? I take it that would mean that something like faerie fire would not help..."

Instead, Riori, calling upon Desna's protection, casts prayer. +1 luck bonus to all saves, attack, damage, skill check. Enemies within a 40 ft radius burst get a -1 penalty to same. As this is one of those spells where the radius is centered on the caster (so the caster is emanating the effect as he/she moves), I think this means it affects anyone who enters the effect during the duration (9 rounds). Does that sound right? If not at least we still get the bonus.

Sal maintains her readied action.

"Phase? I take it that would mean that something like faerie fire would not help..."

Instead, Riori, calling upon Desna's protection, casts prayer. +1 luck bonus to all saves, attack, damage, skill check. Enemies within a 40 ft radius burst get a -1 penalty to same. As this is one of those spells where the radius is centered on the caster (so the caster is emanating the effect as he/she moves), I think this means it affects anyone who enters the effect during the duration (9 rounds). Does that sound right? If not at least we still get the bonus.

I think that is right for emanations.

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8
Sense Motive: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9
Sense Motive: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 1 = 15
Sense Motive: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 1 = 21

With See Invisibility you can see the spiders in the Ethereal. They wait tensely to see if their poison takes anyone down while moving into position to attack again if necessary.

Moved two of them on the map. Remember that since they are ethereal you can move through them.

Round 3. Sandara needs to make another Fort save vs the poison. DC 18.

Fort save: 1d20 + 6 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 6 + 2 + 1 = 12

In case it isn't clear, the spiders are staying ethereal for the moment, hoping you will succumb to poison. You have another round of actions.

Still keeping with my readied action.

"Captain, I will go get help!" The wizard calls boldly. Pulling a wand from his belt, Ekote then murmurs a few arcane words and vanishes from sight.

Ekote drew his wand of flurry of snowballs as a move action before casting invisibility on himself.

Sandara keeps her crossbow ready, the Sharpshooter's Blade down and ready to strike.

Readying an action to stab the first spider to appear in reach.

"So if they seem to waiting for Quinn to fall... if she never falls, can we just walk out of here?"

Riori casts neutralize poison on Sandara.

Caster level check, DC 18: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (16) + 9 = 25

This is annoying because Riori has three different spells from her Mystery that can outline invisible or stealthy creatures, but as best as I can't tell, it won't work on ethereal creatures because technically they are on another plane.

"Well, let's find out." She shouts, "Hey you dumbass spiders, I'm leavin'!"

Sal walks just about fifteen feet, guessing at where they might be based on when they first appeared. She should trigger AOOs if they choose to take them as they are large enough to have reach.

Since this is just a move action, can she use her readied attack rolls if they come out to AOO her?

Only force effects can breach the Ethereal from what I can find. Which means the only spell I have for that is magic missile, which probably won't take out one even if I use all of them I prepped.

I think that is right. Force spells would be effective across the boundary, but not much else. At the same time, they can't reach you either, so no attacks of opportunity.

In their misty half-world, the spiders grow impatient. The intruders are using much magic which they do not understand, but it can't be of any good to them.

A spider shimmers into existence between Sal, Riori, and Sandara. Its strangely humanoid face bites at Riori.

Triggers Sal's readied attack, deals 27 damage to spider.

Since you can take a 5 foot step as part of a readied action, and this spider is close to Sandara, is it ok if Thren takes that step and stabs this spider? That makes sense to me, and fits the terms of your readied action, but I don't want to have you do something you don't want to do.

If so, then another 13 damage to the spider and I moved Thren.

Bite: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (19) + 10 = 29 Bite damage: 2d6 + 7 ⇒ (5, 4) + 7 = 16
Grab: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (1) + 16 = 17

save Fort DC 18; frequency 1/round for 8 rounds; effect 1d2 Constitution damage; cure 2 consecutive saves.

The spider then fades back into mist.

Then the spider closest to Thren mimics that attack vs Threnody.

Bite: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (12) + 10 = 22

The bite snaps on air as Then evades it. Having had no success, this spider, too, fades back into the ethereal.

The other spiders appear to wait to see what happens next.

Round 4.

It's fine to move Thren to stab at the spider.

With greenish blood on her blade, Thren can still see the creature in the Ethereal. She smirks and points at it with her sword, the blood dripping to the ground.

Readying an action to attack again if one appears. Still singing.

attack: 1d20 + 13 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 13 + 2 = 17
damage: 1d6 + 10 ⇒ (1) + 10 = 11

Sandara remains ready to attack the first spider to appear within reach.

Readied action to attack the first spider to get within reach.

attack: 1d20 + 7 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 7 + 2 + 1 = 20
damage: 1d6 + 2 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 2 + 2 + 1 = 6

Seeing that Sal and Thren have wounded one spider, Ekote tries to provoke it or finish it off. He murmurs an incantation and points to where he can see the wounded spider.

magic missile damage: 5d4 + 5 ⇒ (4, 2, 3, 2, 4) + 5 = 20

Five bolts streak out and slam into the creature across the planar boundary. The mage reappears.

Reminder that prayer is active, giving all enemies within 40 feet of Riori a -1 to most rolls (so I am marking her for 15 damage). On a different note it is fine with me if you want to roll my saves for expediency

fort save, prayer: 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 5 + 1 = 19

Riori withdraws 30 feet away from where she has seen spiders appear. On my phone so can't move my token at the moment

Sal snorts. So, you bastards wanna come after those castin' spells? Then come after me!"

Sal casts delay poison on herself and opens her arms wide as if to make herself vulnerable, stepping into position so Thren can hit what appears, if anything. Sal is temporarily immune to poison.also I just noticed I never updated my microstatblock from the previous fight. I can't edit my profile at the moment, but she is NOT currently affected by barkskin and haste. Also my phone wants to autocorrect barkskin to Batman, and unfortunately she is not affected by Batman either.

I'm not sure anyone can be unaffected by Batman, so I'm going to consider that to be in full effect!

I missed that prayer affects damage rolls, so everyone should take one less damage from any bite.

Ekote's missiles leap across the space between him and the ethereal spider. Some of you can't see what they hit, but the inerrant missiles slam into something that isn't quite there (or that you can see if you have see invisibility). The spider collapses, its legs twitching.

The spiders seem rattled. One of them (on the roof of B7) scuttles down from the roof and up onto the wall of the fort.

"One is...retreating?" The mage notes, pointing it out to the team. "They are not very smart, but if only one is moving off that implies it is getting help to me."

"Maybe we should go into one of the buildings, see if they follow or fall back. If it's gettin' help, well we gotta kill'em all eventually anyway, and I'm wondering if they have less room to maneuver once they show up, it's gonna be easier to pick'em off." Sal moves toward the door nearest her to building B12 and looks inside, assessing if it's safe to enter.

Perception: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (6) + 16 = 22

"Good a plan as any, though they're capable of climbing up walls." The tiefling agrees.

"Yeah, I was just thinking they still are more likely to stay in striking distance."

"Wait. Some of us can't see them, but what if they can't see us either? We could hide in an obscuring mist."

"or you all hide, forcing them to attack me, and I've protected myself from poison..."

"It's a plan. Let's do it."

Not sure where we are in the round. If the spiders have done all the acting this round they are going to do, SuperT let us know if it's next round so we can act.

B12Doors open into this rectangular room from the east and west. A flight of wooden stairs leads to a second floor above, while three windows provide a clear view of the courtyard outside.

If all of you have acted in Round 4, then move on to round 5. The spider on top of the wall near B5 will move, but you can't see it when it is on top of the wall. The others wait to see what you are up to.

Round 5

I had not yet moved Riori from her withdraw action so where she is standing is at the beginning of the next round is where she moved to

Fort Save vs Poison DC 18, prayer: 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 5 + 1 = 13

Hero pointing that. It may be a waste but I just don't feel like dealing with this if I don't have to.

Fort Save vs Poison DC 18, prayer: 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 5 + 1 = 10

Yeah, that's about what I expected. Does damage kick in?

Riori casts obscuring mist around the area where the spiders attached and where most of the group is standing. Once it is cast she suggesting that Sandara and Thren take at least a step back deeper into the mist so the spiders--she hopes--don't know quite where they've moved to.

She knows she needs to attend to her own poison as she starts to feel her knees buckle, but she also doesn't want to be in a standoff with a bunch of g@#!~@ned giant blinky spiders all day.

After the mist spell goes up, Sal moves into the alley and shouts, "Oh no, I'm in the open, what if the spiders gets me?"

She readies an attack. Declaring Vital Strike

neutralize poison, CL check: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18

Sandara moves up beside Riori and murmurs a prayer to Besmara against toxins and venoms.

Sandara cast neutralize poison on Riori.

Thren moves deeper into the mist but stops singing. She keeps her eyes open though for any suddenly appearing spiders, prepared to strike if one appears from the Ethereal or out of the mists. her blade glows crimson in the mists if you're close enough to see it.

Readied action still to strike the first spider that might approach. Arcane strike feat active. Ending inspire courage.

attack: 1d20 + 13 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 13 + 1 = 26
damage: 1d6 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 8 + 1 = 12

Ekote waits, watching for the spiders to appear, holding his wand of flurry of snowballs at the ready to blast them if they appear in range.

Yes, Riori should take 1d2 Con damage (I think) before Sandara does the neutralize poison.

A spider fades into existence clinging to the walls of the office, and Sal, not surprised, lashes out 28 damage[/damage].

Spider bite vs Sal: 1d20 + 10 - 1 ⇒ (20) + 10 - 1 = 29
Spider bite crit confirm: 1d20 + 10 - 1 ⇒ (14) + 10 - 1 = 23
bite damage: 2d6 + 7 - 1 ⇒ (4, 6) + 7 - 1 = 16
Spider grab: 1d20 + 16 - 1 ⇒ (7) + 16 - 1 = 22

The spider brushes past Sal's guard, sinking its fangs but failing to grasp her with its front legs.

Round 6

[ooc]The spider attacking Sal needs a move action to phase back, and already moved, so it stays on the material plane for this round.

I believe you can voluntarily drop your defenses. If that's the case, I would like to allow myself to be grappled, please.

As Sal feels the spider try to keep its hold on her, she bites back her pain and the urge to escape.

"Yeah! Got it! Come on'n hit it!" She says, extremely optimistically.

Sure, you can choose not to avoid the grapple. Consider yourself grappled.

attack Sal's spider: 1d20 + 13 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 13 + 1 = 17

Thren hears the call and comes out of the mist. Seeing the spider grappling with Sal the bard closes the distance and stabs the arachnid in the abdomen, her blade growing red.

damage: 1d6 + 9 ⇒ (4) + 9 = 13

The water mage emerges from the mists a few steps behind the tiefling, wand in hand. He cuts loose with a blast.

cold damage, flurry of snowballs: 4d6 ⇒ (4, 2, 4, 6) = 16

Reflex save DC 13 for half damage

Reflex save: 1d20 + 8 - 1 ⇒ (18) + 8 - 1 = 25

So spider has 49 damage out of a total of 51 hit points.

1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26
damage, Sharpshooter's Blade: 1d6 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 2 + 1 = 7

Sandara emerges from the mist, looking for payback for the earlier attack. She stabs her bayonet into the weakly moving phase spider and drops it.

First time she's hit anything in forever LOL

"Okay, git back in the cloud, let's see if we can do it again. I realized they try ta grab on ya when they bite. If they hold on to you, then either they gotta take you with them wherever they go, or they can't leave."

She looks around, pushing the great beast off of her. "Or we can hope maybe they're bored with us and leave..."

Ready attack next round