GM Endless Forms' Shattered Star (Inactive)

Game Master Mike Tuholski

Bert retreats from the fight. "Weapons won't work, Argust! More fire will help. And watch out, they'll bleed you dry."

Weapons won't work? How am I to kill these pests then?

"Stand back Argust, I'll have to burn them!" Brelar says, preparing a spell...

Round 2 Alchemist's Fire damage: 1d6 ⇒ 2
Fire Jet: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5 DC 14 Ref for half.

Karnhousk moves about the room but can't find anything of value. Bert retreats from the fight.

The bats move forward, covering Argust and Brelar.

swarm damage: 1d6 ⇒ 2
Argust and Brelar will continue to take 1 point of bleed until someone makes a DC 10 heal check or uses magical healing on them.
Argust DC 11 Fort against distraction: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6
Brelar DC 11 Fort against distraction: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24

Brelar then lets a fire jet out at the bats.

bats Ref: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23

The bats look pretty crispy.

Going to go ahead and call this one so we can move on.

After a few more seconds fighting the bats, the party gets rid of the majority of the creatures and is able to fully examine this room. There is a tarnished silver bracelet worth 45 gp.

Moving on to the secret door they discovered earlier, the party finds a hallway that leads down to a ledge that looks out over a long chamber filled with sea water ten feet below. The ledge winds along to the northeast, leading to a wooden plank that serves as a bridge to the top of a stone pillar. A bucket with a second board over it sits atop the pillar.

Healing and then down the stairs? I'll have to put up a new map later.

Sounds good to me!

Indeed, just don't let me bleed to death.

Unless Karnhousk deals with it, Bert returns in time to burn a couple of wand charges on the swarm victims.

CLW to Argust: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6
CLW to Brelar: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

Remember, Karn takes the damage if it over 5 pts. We have the wand, so just roll your own if it was less than five.

CLW for Karn.: 2d8 + 2 ⇒ (1, 5) + 2 = 8

I should be back to full health

Thank you, pesky bats had me all nicked up. I need to find me some oil or somethin' in case we get more of them. Looking around, Argust asks Brelar, Good thing you are so handy with the fire, my liege. Burned 'em to a crisp! Now, are we to take the stairs?

Brelar nods at Argust, "This little encounter showed us a weakness in our supplies. When next we return to shore, we should fix that. I'll make sure you've got something...useful Argust."

You can return to Magnimar any time you want so you can go buy some alchemist's fire and whatever else now before you head down the stairs, if you'd like.

"Why don't we go back now? Plenty of things to carry, and we can buy some alchemist's fire and other useful stuff."

"Aggreed."

Sounds good. Argust naturally agrees and will be happy to act as pack mule.

Map has been updated, sorry for the delay.

The party heads back to Magnimar to sell their loot and buy some alchemist's fire. They return to the Crow and head down the stairs into the basement.

This wide catacomb chamber has rows of burial niches cut into the stone walls. These have all been stripped bare of any former occupants. Half a dozen ten-foot-high mounds of dirt and debris dominate the floor of the chamber, reaching nearly to the ceiling fifteen feet above.

The mounds are difficult terrain.

Emerging from the mounds are giant worker ants!

Initiative:

1. Brelar, Karnhousk, Argust, and Bert
2. ants

[b]You guys are up!

Brelar fires his crossbow at Ant #1!

Crossbow attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12
Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 4

Round 1:

Bert steps up, calling on his luck, and fires an arrow at Ant #3.

Arrow to ant, including luck and PBS: 1d20 + 6 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 6 + 1 + 1 = 19
Arrow damage, incl. luck and PBS: 1d4 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 + 1 = 4

Argust sees the ant directly in front of the party and charges! I believe I can make a charge attack from where I was to him, correct?

Charge!: 1d20 + 9 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 9 + 2 = 19
Damage with Overhand Chop: 2d6 + 6 + 6 ⇒ (3, 2) + 6 + 6 = 17

Brelar fires a crossbow but it doesn't pierce the ant's exoskeleton. Bert's arrow, however, sinks right in. Argust charges forward and slices one of the ants in two.

Initiative:

1. Brelar, Karnhousk, Argust, and Bert
2. ants

Karnhousk is up!

Karnhousk begins the phrases of a summoning spell.

Karnhousk begins to summon an ally to his cause.

Seeing fresh bait before them, all four remaining ants swarm towards Argust.

Ant 1 bite: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 12
damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

Ant 3 bite: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 12
damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7

Ant 4 bite: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (19) + 3 = 22
damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

Ant 5 bite: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11
damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8

Initiative:

1. Brelar, Karnhousk, Argust, and Bert
2. ants

You guys are up!

Brelar moves in and unleashes a fire jet (which only hits Ant 3).

DC 14 Ref for half of 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3 or catch fire!

Rather than try to fire into melee, Bert moves up and switches to sword & shield.

Karhousk moves up to the fray as an eagle appears and begins to attack an ant the Karn is helping to flank, as he attacks with his longspear. I assume you can flank with the eagle?

Eagle Bite: 1d20 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 3 + 2 = 17
Damage: 1d4 ⇒ 1

Eagle Talon: 1d20 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 3 + 2 = 17
Damage: 1d4 ⇒ 2

Eagle Talon: 1d20 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 3 + 2 = 10
Damage: 1d4 ⇒ 3

Karn Spear Attack: 1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 5 + 2 = 9
Damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

After being bitten by one of the ants, Argust will step back five feet, feeling he can better protect Brelar from there. He will then sweep his greatsword at the swarm of ants, targeting two of them as he does so.

Attack #3: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (16) + 9 = 25
Damage: 2d6 + 6 ⇒ (2, 5) + 6 = 13

Attack #4: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (11) + 9 = 20
Damage: 2d6 + 6 ⇒ (6, 3) + 6 = 15

HP 29/32, effective AC 16

Ant 3 Ref: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (14) + 0 = 14

Brelar fires a jet of fire at one of the ants but it only singes the ant. Bert draws his sword and shield to ready against the ants.

Yep, you can flank with the eagle.

Karnhousk finishes his spell and an eagle appears behind Ant 1. Karnhousk and the eagle both land a hit against the ant. Argust steps back and slices Ant 3 in half, moving his blow through to the next ant and wounding it badly.

Ant 1 bites Karnhousk: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (12) + 3 = 15
damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

Ant 4 bites Argust: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11
damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

Ant 5 bites Argust: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 3 = 19
damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

Initiative:

1. Brelar, Karnhousk, Argust, and Bert
2. ants

You guys are up!

Brelar reloads his crossbow and fires it at Ant 4!

Crossbow attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14
Damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Karnkousk steps back, while the summoned eagle moves up, continuing to attack the same ant.

Attack Talon: 1d20 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 3 + 2 = 22
Damage: 1d4 ⇒ 3

Attack Talon: 1d20 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 3 + 2 = 20
Damage: 1d4 ⇒ 1

Attack Bite: 1d20 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 3 + 2 = 24
Damage: 1d4 ⇒ 1

Longspear Attack: 1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 5 + 2 = 25
Damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8

Argust growls as the ant bites him again. We should burn this room to the ground when we finish, pesky ants are annoying! Argust attempts to Cleave Ant #1 and #5 but the critters have grown wary of the dwarf's tactics.

Attack #1: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (2) + 9 = 11
Damage: 2d6 + 6 ⇒ (4, 4) + 6 = 14

Attack #5: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (2) + 9 = 11
Damage: 2d6 + 6 ⇒ (1, 3) + 6 = 10

AC still 16, HP 24/32

Brelar fires his crossbow but misses. Karnhousk and his eagle continue to tear into Ant 1 and together seem to have seriously wounded the creature. Argust swings but uncharacteristically misses his target.

Initiative:

1. Brelar, Karnhousk, Argust, and Bert
2. ants

Bert is up!

The halfling takes the long way around to close with an ant, but his stab glances off the creature's chitinous carapace.

Shortsword to ant, incl. lingering luck: 1d20 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 3 + 1 = 10

Bert stabs at the ant but can't penetrate the creature.

Ant 1 bites Bert: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5
damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

Ant 4 bites Argust: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6
damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7

Ant 5 bites Argust: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23
damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

Ant 5 confirm: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9
crit damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

Initiative:

1. Brelar, Karnhousk, Argust, and Bert
2. ants

You guys are up!

Karn and his summoned eagle attack the ant again.

Bite: 1d20 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 3 + 2 = 10
Damage: 1d4 ⇒ 4

Talon: 1d20 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 3 + 2 = 17
Damage: 1d4 ⇒ 4

Talon: 1d20 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 3 + 2 = 13
Damage: 1d4 ⇒ 1

Longspear: 1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 5 + 2 = 14
Damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10

All these pesky ants are buggin'.... awww, I don't believe I... argh!

Argust isn't too pleased about being bitten by these creatures and attempts to backhand two of the pests in one swipe.

Ant #4: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (20) + 9 = 29
Damage: 2d6 + 6 ⇒ (1, 2) + 6 = 9
Crit Confirm: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (3) + 9 = 12
Damage, maybe: 2d6 ⇒ (5, 6) = 11

Ant #5: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (8) + 9 = 17
Damage: 2d6 + 6 ⇒ (1, 5) + 6 = 12

Waiting to see what the field looks like after Argust's attack.

Brelar moves around the south side and lines up on the ants for another fire jet!

DC 14 Ref for half of 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5 or catch fire for all 3!

Karnhousk's eagle lands one good scratch that downs Ant 1. In a fit of rage Argust kills Ant 4 and horribly wounds Ant 5 in the process. Brelar finishes it off with a jet of fire.

Out of combat.

With time to search the room, the party notices a secret door to the south.

There is a passage to the east, a secret passage to the south, and a small tunnel to the southwest. Which way do you guys want to go?

Secret Passage!

Brelar concurs, secret passage!

"Yeah, let's go! I'll check it for anything nasty first, though."

ETA: Secret Tunnel!

Ugh, these damn ants gave me welts. They itch! Argust tries to resist messing with his wounds. Secret passage? Hmph! Wonder was critters are down there?

Karn heals himself and Argust with the wand.

CLW Karn: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3
CLW Karn: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5
CLW Argust: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8

The party opens the secret door and heads down a few stairs before arriving in a small chamber covered in webbing. From the ceiling drops down a giant black widow spider!

Initiative:

1. Brelar, Bert, Karnhousk, and Argust
2. Spider!

You guys are up!

Reacting quickly, Bert puts an arrow into the spider before it can close. "Watch out!"

Arrow to spider, incl. PBS and luck: 1d20 + 6 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 6 + 1 + 1 = 25
Arrow damage, incl. PBS and luck: 1d4 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 + 1 = 3

Brelar reloads his crossbow and fires it the spider!

Crossbow attack: 1d20 + 6 - 2 ⇒ (11) + 6 - 2 = 15 Karn is partial cover?
Damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Awww, c'mon! Ants and spiders, what's next? Aarrggghh!

Argust will rush the creature and attempt to slice it in twain.

Attack, Overhand Chop: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (13) + 9 = 22 +2 if I could charge
Damage: 2d6 + 6 + 6 ⇒ (5, 2) + 6 + 6 = 19

Currently at 24/32 HP I believe.

Sorry, busy last night. Haven't had a chance to look at the map.

Karn moves in and stabs with his spear.

Attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20
Damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10

Bert puts an arrow through one of the arachnid's many eyes. Brelar hits another eye with a crossbow bolt. Argust charges toward the beast and chops one of its legs off. Karnhousk then finishes it off with his spear.

Out of combat.

There are stairs leading down ahead of you and there are "secret" doors to the left and right, although the skill of whoever tried to make these secret doors is questionable and they seem obvious even to the most oblivious.

Look! I found a couple of secret doors! Ha! They're bad.

Bert grins at the dwarf. "Good eyes! Let's see if they're trapped."

Perception check, E door: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (16) + 10 = 26
Perception check, W door: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (15) + 10 = 25