GM Kate's Ruins of Azlant (closed) (Inactive)

Game Master Kate Baker

"And they're territorial. We should be able to run if we need." Another bright blast lances the ankheg's side. "Should the sea of heavenly eagles run dry."
1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 18 for 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6 fire damage.

Jerome's bite is far more effective than either of his cousins' attempts! Green blood starts to ooze from the peck marks on her head as well as the burns on her side. Purpose's arc of fire strikes true for a third time.

Cedar
Purpose
Mama Ankheg -20 hp
Silt
Toby

"Well, I guess if your bird friends can keep it occupied....dammit!"

Toby fires again, and misses again.

kinetic blast, pbs: 1d20 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 3 + 1 = 14
damage, pbs: 1d6 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 4 + 1 = 6

I am away from the computer now as is Doug; is it possible for someone to have Cedar 5' step to the right, then put Silt's bottom-right square where Cedar is now? Should be a double move.

The ankheg's eyes narrow at the arrival of the third eagle. She waggles her tail back and forth slowly, then pounces, determined not to let this one get away.

chomp!: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13
crunch: 2d6 + 4 ⇒ (3, 1) + 4 = 8 and sizzle: 1d4 ⇒ 4 acid

At the third disappearing bird (assuming the 13 hit), she stomps her feet and waves her mandibles in frustration, turning her attention to the party.

Cedar
Purpose
Mama Ankheg -20 hp
Silt
Toby

Purpose Creche's left hand bolts up to keep Sil'tchaak's hat from blowing away on a gust of wind. His right still holds the splinter, perfectly level, as the orange light once again builds from its base into a scorching ray. (Not that scorching ray!) It blackens the creature's flank, and the stench of burned ankheg is heavy on the air.

1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 171d6 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6
Well, here's hoping we don't find another. That was 66% of my daily energy rays!

No, Jerome's AC is 14!

Jerome dodges, barely, out of the way of the snapping mandibles! His red scarf fluttering in the wind.

"Skree!"

Talon: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9 damage: 1d4 ⇒ 1
Talon: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 18 damage: 1d4 ⇒ 4
Beak: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23 damage: 1d4 ⇒ 3

Crit confirm?!: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (19) + 3 = 22 damage: 1d4 ⇒ 3

Purpose's blast of fire hits, substantially damaging the creature's exoskeleton. Jerome, emboldened by his near escape from death, dive bombs the ankheg for a massive hit!

The ankheg stumbles, and falls to the ground.

Out of combat! Well done, guys. That was a CR 3 encounter.

Woot! High fives all around. I was worried about that one!

Cedar turns to Purpose Creche, his eyes beaming. "We're going to make a colony out of this place yet!"

Silt walks out into the holey area to ensure there are no more, and while he is still enlarged.

He picks up the discarded pole. Still havent hooked anything that couldn't be handled with a little teamwork. I hope this colony is the same.

"I didn't know you had so many pets, Cedar! I guess I didn't need to worry that much."

Toby sniffs around the holes, trying to sense any other living things that might be in the area.

CR 3, dang! That's nothing to scoff at with 1st level PCs.

"Yes. Another threat nullified."

Purpose Creche walks over to the ankheg's body and begins satisfying his curiosity. He peers into its insectile eyes, investigates the pattern of scorching left by his attacks. Once satisfied, he returns to the others.

He lifts the straw hat from his head and holds it up towards the enlarged Sil'tchaak, compares the headwear's size to the locathah's enhanced physique, then plops it back on his own head.
He turns the splinter over his hands. Whatever we have, if not spirit. It still speaks. No longer in your voice, but still.

He shifts from introspective stillness. "Have you found anything, Toby? If not, we should return to the chapel."

If we uncover everything we can, a backtrack to see if we can figure out what's up with the spooky chapel noises, then off to the landing site? Any other things folks can think of that we need to check out?

There are the tents in A2, and the fields in A15 and A16. Otherwise, you have checked out everything.

You spent a little while with Karl before heading up to the field, so let's call it late morning right now.

"Not really. These bits of shells smell kinda like Karl, but nothin' much here any more, seems like."

I'd say lets check out the tents.

Cedar laughs. "I don't know if I'd call them pets Toby, but I'm glad they're able to answer my summons and help us out."

The tents sound good to me too!

Silt diminishes back to medium sized and takes his hat from Purpose. Before he puts it atop his head he hold Llyu-Llyu in the palm of his other hand, and looks her in the eye. I'm sure Karl will be nicer than his mom. Don't worry. He puts her atop his head and the hat back in place.

Off to the tents!

Seven canvas pavilion tents were set up here, all of which are large enough to shelter two to three people each. All but two tents have collapsed due to wind, rain, and lack of maintenance. The two that remain standing lean haphazardly and do not appear to have been entered for a long time. Grass has begun to grow around them.

There are a few mundane personal items: some clothing, cooking pots, waterskins, and so on. You do find four potions scattered throughout the tents. They look very similar to the ones given to you by Ramona. When Cedar detects magic, he also finds a wad of gossamer-thin fabric shoved under a bedroll. Unfurled, this shirt is embroidered with patterns of winged feet and emits a faint transmutation aura.

On finding the embroidered shirt, Cedar holds it up and shrugs. At this point, he is not surprised to find seemingly important personal items left behind.

"Would anyone like to try on this magic shirt?" he asks and gives the shirt a sniff. "Smells clean. Ish."

Nice! I suspect I know what the shirt is, but if no one wants to try it on, we can pack it up until we can properly identify it. Who would like a potion? I don't think Cedar needs really one. On to the fields, or would someone like to do something while we're here?

When the group returns to the chapel, the rapping returns. It sounds like someone tapping on the walls with a heavy pipe, but there is no discernable source of the sounds. Nothing else happens, even if you move around objects.

so, the haunt has returned? I suppose we can move onto A15.

Purpose Creche'd spend some time scoping the walls, but if that doesn't reveal anything then yeah, on to A15!

There are 2 A15s, and 2 A16s. Does it matter which we got to first?

Arbitrarily, let's start at the eastern A15 and work our way toward the water.

You make your way to one of the vegetable patches.

As you start to examine the rows of crops, you notice telltale signs of an ankheg: holes throughout as though the plot were overrun by massive moles.

Suddenly, in a now-familiar sight, an ankheg slightly larger than Karl but much smaller than their mom erupts from the ground!

Toby
Silt
Purpose
Big brother
Cedar

Logistics note: The rows of crops are difficult terrain; the pumpkin area is not.

This your little brother's territory — go away!

Silt draws his spear and attempts smite Carlos, but not kill him.

Nonlethal Spear +4 -4 nonlethal: 1d20 + 4 - 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 - 4 = 8

pircing damage: 1d8 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9

Additional logistics note: The rows of crops provide partial cover (+2) against ranged attacks.

"More bugs? This one doesn't look very friendly..."

Silt knows more about these things than I do. If he's attacking, then I guess I better, too.

kinetic blast, pbs: 1d20 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 3 + 1 = 11
damage, pbs: 1d6 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 4 + 1 = 11

Purpose Creche draws his blade and steps through the rows of crops, hoping to flank the ankheg.

Move x2: draw weapon 'n rustle on through some plants.

Carlos examines his opponents, carefully, then bites at Silt, coming away not with a mouthful of locathah, but of potato.

chomp!: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

Toby
Silt
Purpose
Big brother
Cedar

Party is up!

NOT THE POTATO!!

Silt steps diagonally to flank with Purpose.

Spear +4 -4 nonlethal +2 flank: 1d20 + 4 - 4 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 4 - 4 + 2 = 15
Piercing Damage (smiting, nonlethal): 1d8 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14

Cedar calls out, "Mitzi, come to our aid!"

From the plane of celestial poodles, terror comes to the cornfield as Mitzi, fresh from the groomers, arrives is a puff of talcum!

"Yap! Yap! Yap!" No one likes having their spa day interrupted!

Bite: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8 damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Silt, do you have woodland stride yet? Otherwise, that movement into difficult terrain will let it get an attack of opportunity.

Oh, I missed the part about terrain. Sure. Take the AOO.

The ankheg, fixated as it is on Sil'tchaak's glorious tuber exemplar, fails to notice Purpose Creche darting forward with Azlanti blade held high. Sunlight reflecting off tall green stalks mixes with the sword's radiance, and emerald light fills the corridor of crops. A moment later, the blade bites deep, and the creature's hide douses the illumination like a candle flame.

1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 4 + 2 = 22 for 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

Toby breaks into a big grin. "Hi Mitzi!" he says as he fires again, one eye on the creature as he greets his poodle ally.

kinetic blast, pbs: 1d20 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 3 + 1 = 20
damage, pbs: 1d20 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 4 + 1 = 11

attack of opportunity: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

Carlos doesn't even get a mouthful of potato this time as he snaps his jaws fruitlessly in the air as Silt moves into position. At that moment, a spear, a sword, and a blast of water all strike to remove the pest from the fields for good.

All is not calm though! Another ankheg burrows up from the opposite corner, and Karla looks just as mad!

Toby
Silt
Purpose
Big brother dead
Big sister
Cedar

Silt focuses all his efforts on moving toward Karla!

Purpose Creche shuffles through the cornrow and advances on the new threat. "Does anyone see nests? Signs of others?" He swings at Karla, but his lack of swordsmanship and vigilance for future Karls keeps the blow from penetrating Karla's carapace.

1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

"This is an infestation!" Cedar yells when another ankheg bursts out of the ground. "Kind words and pulling punches isn't going to get rid of these pests!"

Cedar and Mitzi move in and attack.

Cedar: Rapier: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 2 = 21 damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

Mitzi: Bite: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 2 = 19 damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

Cedar crit confirm/confirm: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16 damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

"Ah! Why are there so many?!" Toby circles around to the other side, looking for a clear shot.

kinetic blast, pbs: 1d20 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 3 + 1 = 14
damage, pbs: 1d6 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 4 + 1 = 11

And between Cedar, Mitzi, and Toby, Karla also goes down.

Out of combat.

Cedar picks up a corn cob and plays a quick game of catch with Mitzi before she returns back to her home plane.

"Should we take a look at the remaining fields? Might be more infestations."

Purpose Creche wipes ichor from his blade and sheathes it. "A good idea." He begins walking around the field, kneeling periodically to check the ground. "I worry the tunnels we found extend beneath the entire colony."

Any sense of whether or not that's the case? Hopefully there's not like, 100s of ankhegs lurking beneath the ground...

EDIT: Survival (untrained): 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 1 = 18

Let's call that a Survival check.

Silt putters around in the fields, considering how the earth could become a shelter for many Ankhegs — a network of tunnels much coral.

survival: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12

However, his thoughts also meander; he ends up imagining how the tunnels could become a playground for Karl, potentially missing some telltale clues.

Cedar shudders at the thought of ankhegs crawling around beneath the entire colony.

"If that is the case, then this site may be lost. I don't know enough about ankhegs to be able to say, but we certainly saw a lot of eggs."

"Well, if that's true, all the more reason we should go catch up to everyone else. If there's that many Karls, We're gonna need some help."

Luckily, the network of tunnels doesn't actually seem that extensive. While the adult ankheg's territory was almost breaking apart from the tunnels, the younger ankhegs didn't have time to do nearly as much damage. In fact, the next vegetable patch moving toward the water looks completely untouched by ankhegs, with none of the telltale holes in the ground.

"Not as extensive, thankfully," pronounces Purpose Creche after searching Carl and Karla's field. "Too young to establish much territory."

Shortly after arriving in the next field, he cocks his head to the side and once again kneels in the dirt. Fingers like sapling branches dig into the soil, coming away with several bones. He holds them up for the others' inspection.
"Small animals. And there." He points a few paces away. "Monkey goblin skull. Strange. Maybe they were buried here as fertilizer?"

Any idea how long they've been there, or what their purpose might be? Like, gnaw marks suggesting they're just "normal" bodies that got dumped here, carvings or special placement suggesting some kind of ritual thing?

When purpose points out the skull, Toby bounds over to take a look, sniffing at it suspiciously. "Weird. Would that work?" he asks, turning to Silt. "Burying a goblin to make the plants grow?"