GM Faelyn' Falcon's Hollow Series

Game Master Faelyn

I'll keep looking all around, while the rest of you deal with the threat above. I have no missile weapons, and I'd hate for us to be ambushed while we are focusing our attention at the ceiling.

Oh wow, it hasn't really come up in game play yet, but I was just going over Zirren's equipment and noticed he totally has a crossbow.

Zirren blinked twice and let out a small sigh, nearly smacking himself on the forehead for forgetting as Caine got everyone ready. Swinging off his backpack he opened it up and rifled through it for a moment. Near the bottom he pulled out an unstrung crossbow and a small bundle of bolts. He took a moment and began readying the string.

Following Caine's instructions, he had it ready most of a minute later.

He then took careful aim, and released when he thought he had a good shot.

Attack: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 2 = 18

Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 4

Activating luck for 3 rounds as a swift action.

Zilka sheathes her sword, swings out her bow, nocks an arrow, and fires it at the dark creature, but misses in the gloom.

shortbow with luck: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

Let's see if we can do some more fine shooting, can't top what I did before, but maybe I can equal it?

Arcane pool
Attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (12) + 3 = 15
Damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

Belladonna bends down to hook the drawstring of her crossbow with a little tool on her belt, then stands straight to draw. Fitting in a bolt and raising it to fire, Belladonna waits until Caine commands.

Crossbow: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13
Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 4

I'll have more of an update tomorrow, but I've had a very long day, still fighting off this bug I've caught, and my son is still pretty sick... I will get this much information out though!

The group quickly pincushions the first of the darkmantles! It lets loose with a terrible squawking cry before falling to the floor with a heavy thud, raising a ring of dust around it!

Belladonna: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8
Greyson: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (10) + 0 = 10
Nathaniel: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 = 11
Ruhk: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 2 = 21
Zilka: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23
Zirren: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 = 17
Darkmantle: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 16

Ruhk, Zilka, and Zirren can post their Round 1 actions!

Another shortbow attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

Zilka growls in frustration as her arrow falls from the string just as she is about to release it.

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Ruhk lines up a new shot at the remaining Darkmantle, sending another arrow towards what he hopes is it's centre mass.

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

Sadly, a stray thought about naked ladies distracts him at the pivotal moment.

I should have gone with that excuse!

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LOL. Nice one Ruhk.

It's all perfectly in character for Ruhk.

And for Zilka. And Caine, though he'd be super respectful about it. As would Boote, probably. Not sure about Bella or Zirren though. They might not swing that way.

Belladonna wants to bag herself a rich, pretty one. None of you qualify =P

@ Caine: Zirren is still young enough that he isn't sure what he wants, being 24 for a half-elf is more like being somewhere between 11-14 in human years. He's just really starting to notice and be attracted to females but his hormone levels aren't off the charts yet.

@ Bella: Well if Zirren dies and I have to make a new character, I'll be sure to have an attractive sorcerer or bard that comes from a rich family and has a thing for trouble-making halflings.

Zirren steps back and pulls another bolt out from his roll before he hurriedly reloads the crossbow and fires again.

Attack: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9

Group 1, Round 1 Recap

Arrows and bolts fly in every direction, except the one where the darkmantle hangs...

Group 2, Round 1 Actions

Suddenly there is a terrible screech and the entire room is pitched into darkness followed by the sound of something clattering to the ground in the room. Zilka's dancing lights can still be seen hovering around the room and Caine's glowing bolt is visible, but it is as the magical light cannot seem to penetrate this magical darkness. Zirren recognizes it as the darkness ability of the darkmantle. He also knows that these creatures can see perfectly in the darkness.

Art, Caine, and Belladonna are up!

Caine moves into the room, as near to the dancing lights as he can, making himself a target. "Alright then. C'mon, you ugly thing."

Readied action, attack it if it attacks me.

From inside the darkness, Ruhk chuckles and mutters to himself (but loud enough to hear), "Well, this is a bit if a pisser isn't it?"

"Ahk! What do we do??" Asks Belladonna in a bit of a fright. She hunkers down and puts her arms over her head. Total Defence

Zilka draws her sword and steps forward, ready to attack anything that attacks her. Readied action as Caine did, to attack if something attacks me.

"Let it come after me, then move in and stab it."

Round 1, Group 2 Recap

Caine and Zilka begin moving into the room, ready to strike the first thing that tries to attack them, while Belladonna hunkers down and protects herself. Caine only makes it a few feet into the room when he suddenly feels something slam into him from the side and immediately he feels tentacles and a rubbery membrane begin to wrap around his upper torso and neck, squeezing his ribs with a terrible strength! Caine takes 7 damage and gains the Grappled condition. Go ahead and roll your Readied Action or you can attempt a counter-grapple if you'd prefer.

The Darkmantle is still not visible; however, Caine will not suffer from the normal 50% miss chance from Blinded, because the darkmantle is physically attached to him.

Slam AoO: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 13
Grab: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22
Slam Damage: 1d4 ⇒ 1
Constrict: 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

What was that? Caine, Rhuk, Zilka, can anyone hear me? Zirren can you do anything to dispel this darkness?

Ruhk decides that he might as well stay near Bella, if the others need help, they will call for him surely.
"Bella, stay close to me, if something attacks me, stab the fool eh?"

Zirren wracked his mind as Nathaniel asked and it became obvious that Caine was in trouble.

"No, I don't have anyth- wait! Not me but something else can help."

In theory anyway. He held up a hand and called forth a luminescent fire beatle near Caine.

I don't know if this will actually work but the light given off by the Beatle is natural, even though it comes from a spell.

Power Attack, Devine Favor: 1d20 + 4 - 1 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 4 - 1 + 2 = 23
Damage, Power Attack, Devine Favor: 1d6 + 4 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 4 + 2 + 2 = 10

Caine's heavy blow slammed into the thing as soon as he felt it latch onto him. He wasn't sure what he hit, but whatever it was cracked beneath his fist.

"Ghu-" he gasped as the thing's grip squeezed his bones.

HP 3/10

Fire beatle bite: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Zilka steps forward towards the noise of the fight and swings her sword, but misses entirely. "First time I wished I got my mother's eyes instead of my father's."

longsword: 1d20 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 3 + 2 = 13
damage (two-handed): 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10
miss chance, high is good: 1d100 ⇒ 12

Fearfully, Belladonna drops her crossbow and draws her dagger. Then, with her other hand, she grasps Ruhk's large, rough hand so she didn't lose him.

Free: Drop weapon, Move: Draw weapon, Standard: Hold Ruhk's hand

In the darkness, Ruhk smiles and opens his mouth to speak.
But, for some bizarre reason, his oft absent common sense decides to rear its head and stop him.
Instead he closes his mouth, swallows the quip that was about to roll of his tongue and instead gives Bella's hand a squeeze.

"Don't you worry Bella, we'll get through this, they'll have to get through me to get to you.
And me and Bethany doesn't plan on falling any time soon."

Caine, was that you? Where are you. Blast it, I'm coming to you just stop your feet or something

If I can find Caine I will lend a hand in his attempt to get free

Helping hands in the dark, CM assist: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9

"Yep. Tha was me. It'sgot- ahold." Caine grunted, struggling with the thing.

Round 1, Group 2 Recap

Caine wanders blindly into the pitch-black room and is almost immediately set upon by the darkmantle. Despite his powerful blow to the creature, it still manages to grab hold of him and squeeze his chest with a terrible strength! Artegal then follows behind, trying to locate Caine to give him a hand. Belladonna grips Ruhk's hand while drawing her weapon...

Round 2, Group 1 Actions!

Zirren conjures up a fire beetle from the aether near where he believes Caine and the darkmantle are struggling! While the creature has its own natural light source, it is just not enough to overwhelm the magical darkness. Zilka is close enough to locate Caine's grunting and she rushes over, but the pitch darkness is too much and her attack slices through thin air.

Ruhk still has an action for Round 2!

Group 1 - Ruhk, Zilka, & Zirren. Group 2 - Darkmantle, Belladonna, Caine, Nathaniel.

Unfortunately, the only way to negate a Darkness spell is with a spell with the Light descriptor of 2nd level of higher. All non-magical light sources (other than ambient light) are immediately negated. Since the ambient light in this room was Dim Light, it is now considered No Light.

I delayed my action to just before the Darkmantle's action last round, so I think I should still be going just before the Darkmantle? Is that right?

Ruhk will move together with Bella, so that puts me in group two now.

Keeping Bella's hand in his, Ruhk begins to move towards where the action is, channelling magic into Bethany as he moves.

"Let's see if we can't find the others and end this eh?"

"O-Okay"

A halfling thief who's scared of the dark? That might be fun

"Good girl, you may feel scared, but you are acting brave."

Caine, your readied attack triggered immediately after provoking the attack of opportunity from the darkmantle. Sorry, I think my posts have not been very clear. I'll do a quick recap of Round 1 so we are all on the same page.

Round 1 Recap

Zilka, Ruhk, and Zirren all make ranged attacks against the darkmantle and miss. The darkmantle then uses its Darkness power upon a rock, which it drops to the floor, then it moved. Caine readied an attack action and moved through the room (directly passed the darkmantle) which draw an attack of opportunity from the darkmantle, which then caused Caine to be grabbed and grappled by the darkmantle. Artegal wanders into the room blindly in an attempt to find Caine to assist. Belladonna goes into Total Defense mode. After looking back I definitely got some actions mixed up.

Round 2, Group 1 Recap

Zilka moves up and attempts to engage the darkmantle, but misses in the darkness. Zirren used his Occultist powers to Summon up a Fire Beetle. Ruhk is delaying to attack on Belladonna's turn. Belladonna posted her Round 2 actions already, so those will take effect when Group 2 actions come around. Which will be as soon as I get everyone back on track... This was a confusing combat this time and I apologize for that...

Gotcha. I didn't realize that I was grabbed by an AoO. I was banking on getting another attack before it got to attack me again. I might be screwed.

groping in the darkness trying to find Caine, and assist in a CM to break free

Hang on Greyson, we'll get you!

*swoosw*

Damit, what was that! Who is swinging a sword in the darkness, be careful.

Assist: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8

hahaha, my rolls are consistent, bad, but consistent

Round 2, Group 2 Actions

Belladonna draws her weapon and takes Ruhk's hand while Artegal keeps working on trying to help assist Caine with the darkmantle to no avail. The darkmantle continues to squeeze Caine brutally as it tries to drag him away from his companions, cracking ribs and this time snaking a tendril around his throat to begin throttling him! Caine suddenly collapses from the trauma with a gasping choke, and the darkmantle suddenly releases his large form... Caine is at -3 HP and Dying. Caine you need to make a stabilization check!

Maintain Grapple: 1d20 + 5 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 + 5 = 21
Constrict: 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

Okay, I moved folks on the map to where I assume they'd like to be and added Zirren's fire beetle (speaking of, did you decide on Celestial or Fiendish for your beetle template?). I do ask that you all please make sure you are moving your icon on the map when you move in combat so I know exactly where you are going. This can greatly affect how combat plays out... such as in Caine's case.

Round 3, Group 1 Actions!

Stabilize: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 = 20

Boom!

Caine immediately stabilizes, however, there is still a foul creature lurking in the darkness and only a conjured beetle can see it...

Caine, feel free to come up with a good lingering effect from your encounter with the darkmantle as a "scar"! Perhaps some kind of scarring on your neck? Or a raspy rattle in your lungs you cannot seem to shake? It's completely up to you!

1d20 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 3 + 2 = 7 Zilka tries to swing at the creature, but misses again in the darkness.

Caine, Caine! Alright, now what can we do. I can't see a thing

The beetle is Celestial. Since Zirren is currently a neutral character, I like the idea that the template changes based off of his current mood or intention. I know that it's not conventional, but would the resolute and chaotic templates be viable?

Zirren clicked his tongue as his theory was immediately proven wrong.

"Forget about attacking the creature, find Caine and drag him back outside to the light. We'll retreat for now."

As he called to the others the beetle he had summoned moved in with a loud buzzing of its wings to fight the Darkmantle.
1d20 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 1 = 19

damage: 1d4 ⇒ 1

Round 3, Group 1 Recap

Zilka swings at the darkmantle, but once again the lack of her orcish ancestors vision hampered once more. Zirren's fire beetle nips down on the darkmantle, causing it to let out a shrill shriek of pain.

Round 3, Group 2 Actions

The darkmantle whips out with its tentacles at the fire beetle and with a single strike, it takes out the summoned monster!

Suddenly Zirren and Belladonna hear the sound of a door opening coming from the hallway to the north and the faint clicking of claws upon stone...

The rest of you are up!

Slam: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (14) + 3 = 17
Slam Damage: 1d4 ⇒ 4
Grab: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 19

Isn't there anything we can do to banish this darkness

Nathaniel will take a defensive posture, holding his halberd with both hands, taking total defense, while sliding his feet on the floor looking to find Caine

"Not unless you're secretly an aasimar and didn't tell us!"

Do we still know what square it's in?

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While savvy enough to know that baiting fate by saying out loud something like "What else can go wrong", Ruhk can't help but chuckle a little inwardly at the thought of it being pretty much true at the moment.