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

Game Master Kate Baker

As if on cue, hundreds of roaches suddenly pour in from one corner of the room, scrambling over crates, barrels, and loose food.

Cedar
Silt
Toby
Purpose
Ew, gross

The whole party is up!

"Grrr, I hate roaches! Always tryna touch my food!" This time you all can see clearly as Toby steps to the side to get a clear shot, raises his arm, and lets loose a torrent of water that slams into the (barrel next to the) teeming roaches!

kinetic blast, PBS: 1d20 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 3 + 1 = 10
damage, PBS: 1d6 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 4 + 1 = 9

Know(nature): 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10

Llyu-Llyu, a swarm of land shrimp! Some call them roaches.

Question: So, making the check means Silt understands swarms in general, right? Any special attacks a cockroach swarm does?

Silt draws an alchemist's fire as he steps to the side. Luckily, on land these can be dispersed with fire. Move action to draw Alchemist's fire; ready to attack if he gets a clear shot with no cover.

Ranged Touch, targeting furthest square of the swarm: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3
Damage(Fire): 1d6 ⇒ 6; 1 splash

Uh Oh.

Where did it land?: 1d8 ⇒ 3

Oh dip, I forgot about swarms! I'm not actually sure there's anything I can do against this grossness.

Purpose Creche swings ineffectually at the mass of vermin with his new blade, trying to disperse them, before taking a step back through the rotten produce and garbage. He searches about for some more effective means of combating the threat, or at the very least luring it elsewhere.

Move: back it on up
Standard: Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8 to try to spot something useful!

I forgot about swarms too!

”Yuck, I wouldn’t eat anything in there!” Cedar says as he backs out of the storehouse.

Toby sends forth a blast of water, but his aim is off. Sil'tchaak tosses an alchemist's fire, but it only seems to sizzle a few of the vermin.(Am I missing something? It looks like you didn't quite make the knowledge check. I'm fine with the party generally being aware of how swarms act, though.) Purpose looks around desperately for anything, and notices that they seem to be shying away from the sunlight. You suspect that they don't want to go outside.

GM screen: 1d3 ⇒ 3

Unfortunately for Toby, the roaches head straight for the source of the water! As they scramble over him, quite a few start to bite.

swarm damage: 1d6 ⇒ 2

I also need a Fort save from Toby. And remember that swarms don't threaten, so it is possible to move through them.

Cedar
Silt
Toby
Purpose
Ew, gross -1hp

Fort save: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17

"Ew, gettoff!" Toby brushes the roaches off of himself, then steps onto the stairs and tries again to blast the swarm.

kinetic blast, pbs: 1d20 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 3 + 1 = 23
damage, pbs: 1d6 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 4 + 1 = 8

Purpose Creche swipes at the land shrimp to clear a path, feat crunching on exoskeletons and shattered glass as he runs up the stairs after Cedar. He calls to the others.

"Don't risk disease and injury for rotten provisions. Out, to the sunlight where they won't follow."

Standard: Azlanti sword: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7 for 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5 damage.
Move: Up 'n out the stairs.

Whoops — I thought I totaled a 12 for some reason on the knowledge, sorry.

Tubers are hardy. There may be good potato here.

Silt will try to throw again, targeting the top-right corner of the swarm, and then move nearer the door.

Splash Weapon: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

I hate level 1 :/

Where did it land?: 1d8 ⇒ 1

Cedar pulls a torch and his flint and steel from his pack. Two move actions?

”Maybe we can burn them out?”

The roaches recoil from Toby’s blast of water. Purpose slashes with a sword on his way out the door, but it has no effect. Silt throws another alchemist’s fire, but again only burns a few.

This time, the roaches swarm over the locathah!

swarm damage: 1d6 ⇒ 6

Fort save from Silt, please!

Swarm at -10hp. Everyone is up.

"Silt, get out of there! I can hit them from far away!" Toby unleashes another blast of water, then backs up.

kinetic blast, pbs: 1d20 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 3 + 1 = 19
damage, pbs: 1d6 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 4 + 1 = 8

Fort Save: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15

If that save is enough Silt will double move out and end to Toby's right. If it is not enough Silt will delay until he can move out, as he would only be able to move 15'.

I like water shrimp more than these land ones.

That is enough! And Toby hits again!

FYI Toby, you got a true strike incoming on your next attack.

Let me guide your waves to scatter these pretty land shrimp.

Purpose Creche finds himself in the embarrassing position (for those who feel emotions, anyways) of being a quartermaster without the proper supplies. He has neither torch, nor flint and steel to light Cedar's.

Instead, he sheathes his sword and wields the splinter once again.

Move x2: sheathe 'n draw

I’m not sure where we are in the order. Cedar has acted twice.

Cedar lights the torch! Which is apparently a full round action

”Maybe there’s something that can help us in the tool house next door?

There's only one enemy, so it's essentially swarm, all of us, swarm, all of us. With that action we have all gone since the last swarm action, so it is the swarm's turn again.

The roaches start to follow everyone out, but recoil at the sunlight and head back inside!

Cedar
Silt
Toby
Purpose
Ew, gross -18hp

Silt, true strike is normally a personal spell. Do you have something that lets you cast it on someone else?

Kate --you're right. 2 times I've made mistakes in 1 day -- sorry!

Silt squats, pulls out his sureseal bladder, and sips kelp tea from its long tube. Fins rip the straw a little more when he pulls his farmer's hat down low to shade his eyes. He scrutinizes the swarm.

do nothing on this turn.

Llyu-Llyu gently bonks her beak against the glass.

Toby moves back down onto the stairs, determined to destroy these things. His actions are accompanied by a low, steady growl.

kinetic blast, pbs: 1d20 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 3 + 1 = 24
damage, pbs: 1d6 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 4 + 1 = 8

And Toby's final blast takes out the last of the roaches!

Out of combat!

As you look over the building's contents in peace, you find that the majority of the barrels are still sealed, and covered in some kind of strange-smelling paste. They are mostly labeled as salted meats, salted fish, and root vegetables. I didn't add that for Silt; it's in the book!

You also find a very nice teakwood box about 12 inches long. Inside is a wand labeled "Goodberry." It has 49 charges.

”Well done Toby!” Cedar tamps the torch out and then tentatively steps into the doorway and detects for magic. ”We still can’t be too cautious around here.”

The wand is the only magic in here.

"Stupid bugs...." Toby mutters as he sniffs around the barrels. "What the heck is this stuff all over the barrels?" he says, as he looks for some edible salted meat. "Smells weird. Hope the meat's ok." Any more info I can get from smelling the paste? Anything in particular it smells like? Also, is there an open, unspoiled barrel of salted meat? Or one that's easily opened?

@Kate: is the strange smelling paste the sealant/herb mixture that's supposed to keep vermin away?

Once Cedar's spell detects it, Purpose Creche opens the box and examines the wand.
"There must be bushes near the settlement. If so, this will help preserve provisions—it can turn one berry into a full meal."

He thinks aloud as he investigates the barrels. "Plenty of other provisions as well. Curious. The colony was well stocked, so the colonists wouldn't have left due to scarcity. Our exploration has been dangerous, but there's no sign of a threat large enough to displace the entire population."

When his search brings him close to Toby, Purpose Creche looks up at the young rougarou. His eyeband and mouthless face betray no emotion, and his whisper is almost inaudible. "I don't know what power you wield. But it keeps us safe, and you are brave. Thank you. I hope you don't feel the need to hide it in the future."

Speaking more loudly, he walks back towards the entrance and the locathah sipping his tea. He cocks his head to the side. "With enough time, I could repair your hat. A new one will be hard to come by."
What's Sil'tchaak's pronoun? I thought it was it at first, but maybe that's Llyu-Llyu?

Hi Purpose. Call silt a "he." He can also cast from that wand, or we can just sell it.

Purpose gases up at the weird spines sticking out of the dented old hat. Every farmer needs an old hat; it helps me blend in with the others, but thank you.

Toby looks up at Purpose for just a moment, then looks away and mumbles "thanks" before going to sniff another barrel a few feet away, avoiding eye contact (as it were) with the wyrwood.

@Kate: is the strange smelling paste the sealant/herb mixture that's supposed to keep vermin away?

It is, indeed. Toby, you recognize smells of garlic, bay leaves, and catnip, and you can totally find a safe barrel of meat. Also, don’t forget that eating a goodberry cures one point of damage.

"Ahyuhn ewf wah suh of fif meah? If wewiscious!" Toby's mouth is very full of salted meat, to the point where you wonder if he will be able to chew effectively.

”Don’t forget to chew there Toby,” Cedar says, clapping Toby on the shoulder with a laugh.

He then motions toward the tool house. ”I think we should take a look in there while we’re here as it may have some connection to Una.”

Toby swallows a big chunk of meat, then grins sheepishly at Cedar. "Alright," he says, grabbing another handful of meat for the road before putting the lid back on the barrel, "let's go explore some more!"

Tool house next?

Sounds good.

Purpose Creche rises from his seat next to Sil'tchaak and nods. He readjusts the straps on his shield.
Tool house!

Silt taps the wand in his palm, wondering why it couldn't be a goodpotatoes spell; he sets off to the tool shed.

Are there any berry bushes on the way there? Silt would like to heal at least a little bit soon.

That sounds totally reasonable!

This small mud wall building is packed with tools. Hanging on the wall from hooks and nails are hammers, handsaws, hatchets, machetes, trowels, and the like. Various other implements, such as makeshift ladders, barrels of tar, and shovels are stacked or otherwise arrayed about the room. A locked wooden box on a shelf reads "Emergency Only."

Silt picks some berries and taps the wand on them twice. wand now has 47 charges

Goodberry yield: 2d4 ⇒ (3, 1) = 4
Goodberry yield: 2d4 ⇒ (1, 4) = 5

Grimacing as he swallows, his wounds begin to close. Toby, would you like one of these disgusting red pods? They're can help heal those cuts… if you can choke them down.

You see fresh raspberries in his webbed hand.

"Sure..." Toby says, hesitantly, as he picks up one of the berries. I wonder what that wand did to them to make them gross? They sure look tasty. he pops one into his mouth and breaks into a smile. "Yum!" Not sure how many you ate of those nine you created, but if there are two left, Toby will eat them both (and any others that don't get eaten by someone else).

Cedar detects for magic in the tool house.

"What's this box of emergency supplies and what would they keep it locked for? Seems like that would only slow you down in an emergency."

Is there a work bench at all, or does it seem like this is mostly a storage shed?

"A mass disappearance counts as an emergency, I think."

Standing on the balls of his feet (on account of not having toes), Purpose Creche pulls the box off the shelf. He spends a short bit of timing searching the building for a key; if he can't find one he'll start carefully sawing through the edge of the box with one of the shed's handsaws.

After eating the berries, Toby pokes around the tool shed, picking up various tools and playing with them. Some are familiar to him, having grown up on a ranch, others less so, and it's these he spends the most time examining.

Hm...wonder what's in here? Must be something good to keep it locked!

Unable to open the box on his own, Toby hunts around for some small tools or pieces of stiff wire he could use to try and jimmy the lock open. Curious what's inside, he will display a focus you haven't seen from him yet in trying to gain access.

Disable Device: 20 + 5 = 25 +2 more if he can find something to use as thieves tools

Purpose Creche turns from the wall, saw in hand, but replaces the tool when he sees Toby bent over the box in concentration.

If they were going somewhere else to live, they'd have taken these tools.

He puts the piton away again when he sees Toby picking the lock. Seems we don't need a key anymore.

"This is the kind of teamwork the colony needs!" Cedar beams as the team works to open the box. "I just don't understand why they would have turned on each other? Perhaps Rayland got power hungry, but still, where could they all have gone? And why leave when there's so much here?"

I think it's pretty reasonable to say you can find specific tools in a building full of tools.

Toby's newfound skill set pays off, as the box opens. Inside are two alchemist's fires and a set of clothing with thick overlapping layers and a wide-brimmed hat set with a veil of netting. It is a swarmsuit.

Purpose Creche has pulled out ink, quill, and journal and is taking careful note of all the tools present. He jots down the previously discovered provisions from memory.

He sits on the floor, coat spread around him, shield once more fastened to his chest beneath the garment.

"Ramona spoke of a secondary landing sight. There could be other areas of habitation spread across the island." He dips the quill into the inkwell, lifts it, wipes off the excess, then begins writing another line. "I am less worried about Rayland than about other secondary authorities—Una stated that Rayland was getting 'bolder and cockier' once others 'resumed supporting him.' And this Eliza, it sounds like she was in charge for at least a little while."

He finishes writing, wipes the quill clean, and stoppers the bottle. He lifts it, stops for a moment, then retrieves the box that once held the wand of goodberry. He places the quill and bottle inside, then places the box inside his pack. He leaves the journal open while the ink dries.

"They had two items of Azlanti origin, as well." His hand goes to his necklace. "I doubt they were just lying around the island, so they must have a source. Maybe that's where the colonists have gone, or maybe they disturbed some ancient Azlanti power that has caused all this." He shakes his head in short, quick motion. "I do not know. We have little more than speculation."

In deep thought, Cedar tugs on the end of his beard, a physical tick he only recently picked up.

"I agree, the Azlanti items are curious," he says. "I don't doubt they found a source somewhere. And isn't that exciting to think about?" His mismatched eyes flash in the dim light of the tool house.

"But, if there were some ancient Azlanti power involved, don't you think the colonists would have taken the items with them? They seem too precious to leave behind, at least to us. So why not to them? I worry that the colonists didn't disrupt an ancient Azlanti power but something else..."

And then he laughs, saying: "Who doesn't enjoy a little speculation now and again?"

Toby is visibly disappointed when he sees the contents of the now-unlocked box. "Two little vials and an ugly suit? I was hoping for something a little cooler than that!" Silt, maybe you should take at least one of those alchemist fires, to replace the alchemicals you threw at the swarm.