GM Nowruz's module 'Master of the Fallen Fortress' (Tier 1) - REPEATABLE EVERGREEN (Inactive)

Game Master noral

How do you want to proceed?

Walking over the rubble in the eastern part of the fortress you cannot see anything else of importance here.

You all now see the cobwebs that Beshana identified as gaint spider webs. They are visible also at the door that leads to the northern part. While most of the northern part escaped the collapse, you can clearly see that enough rubble still covers the floor to make the entire room very difficult to walk on.

All the area is treated as difficult terrain.

What do you do?

Skarit bends down, pulling a torch from his pack and lighting it with a quick strike of flint on steel. Skarit stands, "I do not think we can escape detection either way. I say we get rid of the webbing now, that way we don't have to worry about it if it comes to that." He steps forward slowly, waving the torch as he does and burning the webbing away. As he does he watches carefully for attack.

I had forgotten to mention that Kala ended the application of Animal Focus that was on her once they were out of combat, so she only used one minute of it.

"I got your back." Kala follows , holding her glowing warhammer aloft and keeping an eye out for a giant spider.

Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (1) + 9 = 10

I like this guy. He gets right down to business.

Stinky scampers and clambers to catch up with Kala, snuffing here and there. He can sense the ready tension in his human companion, and is on his guard, searching for threats.

Perception: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 1 = 10

Stinky, Skarit and Kala are about to burn the webbing after entering the northern part of the fortress. Suddenly, they see a a spider the size of a man crawl silently from the depths of its funnel-shaped web and shoot a fluid web directly at them.

Stinky, Skarit and Kala are surprised and not ready to react.

Surprise round
1. Spider

The Spider aims and shoots its web at Kala.

Web, touch: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22

Kala is caught in the web/grappled. DC 12 (Escape Artist or Str check to free person in the web, -4 if the person stuck in the web is trying.)

Round 1
1. Spider
2. All others

The Spider is obviously delighted that it has caught something as it descends towards Kala and bites her.

Bite: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 2 = 22
Bite crit confirm: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 = 11
Bite damage: 1d6 ⇒ 5
Poison, DC 14 Fort save or Str damage: 1d2 ⇒ 1

All characters can go!

Where exactly is the spider? I do not see it on the map. I moved Beshana to where I believe she could attack the spider from, but if not feel free to move her icon to where she can.

Beshana sees Kala recoil from the bite and moves into the small room, ready to shred the giant spider with her claws!

Claw 1: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10 And the crappy rolls continue. I feel like I rarely ever roll higher than a 10 on this die roller man.
Claw 2: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13
Damage Claw 2: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

Davor carefully edges into the room, sling in one hand but ready to strike with the other.

Both claw of Beshana, who ran to Kala's aid, did not hit the spider.

The remaining players please see the map and take your actions. :-) I will post again on Monday.

Kala curses and uses a swift action to use her Animal Focus ability, applying the Aspect of the Bull again (+2 STR).

Fortitude Save: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20

She then tries to wrench herself free from the spider's web.

Strength check: 1d20 + 3 - 4 ⇒ (19) + 3 - 4 = 18

Yeah!

Stinky maneuvers around the spider, using acrobatics to get behind it. Then he attacks with both claws. He doesn't realize that he's not quite flanking it.

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13
1 claw: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 191d3 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3
1 claw: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 81d3 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Davor and Skarit, you are up.

Skarit steps forward, twisting as he does so. His rear foot comes around swinging for the spider's body. His fist follows close behind, flashing in the light of his torch.

I took my turn; moving in and drawing a weapon.

Round 2
1. Spider
2. All others

Stinky is successful and really hurts the spider. The Spider bites back.

Bite Stinky: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 2 = 18

Bite damage: 1d6 ⇒ 3
Poison, DC 14 Fort save or Str damage: 1d2 ⇒ 1

All characters can go!

Claw 1: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16
Claw 2: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11
Damage 1: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

Beshana lets out a beastial growl at their inability to harm the spider and she lashes out again with her claws!

Skarit exhales heavily as his first two to strikes miss. He takes half a moment to focus before trying again.

Flurry 1: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7
Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Flurry 2: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20
Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

With the spider swarmed by his allies, Davor whips a rock at it from close behind.

Sling, into melee: 1d20 + 4 - 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 - 4 = 20
Confirmation: 1d20 + 4 - 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 - 4 = 12
Damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4
Extra Damage?: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

After a barrage of assaults the spider falls to the floor bleeding a yellowish fluid out of his broken body.

You feel relieved ... the poison of a spider can be very dangerous!

How do you proceed?

After the battle is over you take a quick look around and Beshana, Skarit and Kala notice something.

A small cocoon hangs in the webs, holding the remains of an unfortunate dog that fell into the spider’s clutches. The desiccated carcass is still wearing its leather collar, which is studded with lapis lazuli stones and has a silver tag reading “Kita.” The collar is probably worth something.

Beshana frowns at the oddity that is the collar. "How did a domesticated animal make its way to this place? Let us bring this along with us. Perhaps we can locate the owner... somewhere..." With that, she moves onto the next doorway and peeks through to see into the room beyond.

You look around the area some more and venture in the direction of the tower’s west wing. You find this area mostly choked with rubble, but a door in the eastern wall is still accessible and open.

The door leads to a stone spiral staircase that runs through the center of the tower. The staircase used to lead down to underground tunnels, but this exit collapsed from the aftershocks, sealing the tunnels.

Unfortunately, the stairway up is also blocked with fallen rubble. You realize that if you wish to explore the tower’s upper levels, you will have to go back outside and attempt to climb the tower’s exterior walls.

Please give me climb DC15 checks and I assume those who roll successfully first are up first as there are several possibilities to climb up.

Earlier:
Stinky yelps with pain at the spider's bite.

Fortitude Save: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19

Earlier:As soon as the spider died, Kala ended her use of Animal Focus. Then she cast Cure Light Wounds on Stinky and herself.

Cure Light Wounds: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5 for Kala
Cure Light Wounds: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9 for Stinky

Currently
Kala heads outside and pulls out her knotted rope and grappling hook to help the party climb the tower wall. This should reduce the climb DC to 5.

Climb: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

Gosh, I hope I'm right about that!

Climb DC15: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 1 = 15 If not, Beshana just made the climb!

As Kala begins to work on the knotted rope and grappling hook, Beshana utilizes her claws, putting them to good use as she begins to climb the exterior wall by hooking them into the nooks and crannies she can find. Once she is up top, she will look into the room before clambering up and in!

Now, worse case scenario is that Beshana can at least catch the grappling hook and attach that to something to make it easier for everyone to make it up!

Grappling Hook: Throwing a grappling hook requires a ranged Attack Roll, treating the hook as a thrown weapon with a range increment of 10 feet. Objects with ample places to catch the hook are AC 5.

So even if Kala does not make an attack roll DC 10 with -2 to hit due to range then Beshana will attach the grappling hook and the above rolls are fine. SO FOR ALL OTHERS DC 5 climb.

Skarit watches the others start to climb the outside of the tower. Finally, Skarit begins to climb the rope.

Climb-Take 10: 10 + 1 = 11

Climb, ACP: 10 + 1 - 2 = 9

Davor manages to scale the rope with minor difficulty. "Ironically, it would seem I am not so comfortable in the air yet," he notes.

Can you please place your characters on the new map. Thanks

You climb up from the east to the second floor from the outside and end up in the crumbling remains of a room that now is not more than an open landing. Two doors are visible, one leads to the northwest and one to the southwest.

Judging from the shelves lining the walls, this darkened room might once have been a storeroom, though its contents have long since succumbed to the passage of time. A crack in the northern wall has apparently let in some rainwater, which has collected in a large puddle on the floor.

Kala listens at the left door, then at the right. She will then tell everyone what, if anything, she hears from the other side of each door, using a low voice if she hears anything indicative of a potential threat.

Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (5) + 9 = 14 left door
Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (9) + 9 = 18 right door

While Kala listens at the doors, Beshana will spend sometime searching the room they are in.

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (15) + 7 = 22

Kala does hear faint voices coming from the other side of the door but it is definitely in a language she does not understand. Beshana is still searching the room when ...

The first thing you see are the sparks that hit Stinky who is standing near a small pile of rubble. Then you see this dog-sized lizard with two horns, one on either side of its head, emerge. Its green scales crackle with sparks of lightning.

Everybody is surprised and not ready to react.

Surprise round
1. Shocker lizard

shock (Su) – Stinky, 1d8 nonlethal electric damage, DC 12 Reflex half: 1d8 ⇒ 4

Round 1
1. Beshana, Kala
2. Shocker lizard
3. Davor, Skarit

Beshana, Kala can go!

"Kala, have Stinky fall back. I will take his position."

Holding actions until after Kala's actions.

Reflex Save: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18

Yelping and snarling, Stinky flies into a rage and delivers a full attack before Kala can intervene.

bite: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 71d4 ⇒ 4
1 claw: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 171d3 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2
1 claw: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 91d3 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

"Stinky! Back! Now!" The raging wolverine doesn't heed her command. Kala tries to grab him by the scruff to physically haul him back so that the other party members can get to the lizard.

Kala Grapples Stinky: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 2 = 22
Stinky fights her to get at the lizard: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (8) + 18 = 26

He slips from her hands, so Kala steps in behind him to give room for Beshana to come around on the left.

"Ugh, Stinky! Come ON!"

I don't know that I mentioned this yet, but for the foreseeable future, Beshana will keep her claws out at all times while in the tower. I will call out if she dismisses them.

Beshana calmly watches the tussle between Kala and Stinky, making a mental note to ask Kala about granting her some guidance should she seek it. Once a position opens, she smoothly, but patiently moves into Kala's spot and lashes out quickly with her claws!

Knowledge: Nature: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19 Not sure if applicable, but I saw 'lizard' and thought Nature might be appropriate.

Attack - Claw 1: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14
Damage: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5
Attack - Claw 2: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20
Damage: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

The shocking lizard attacks Stinky again but this time bites him!

bite: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

bite damage: 1d4 ⇒ 3

Round 1
1. Beshana, Kala
2. Shocker lizard
3. Davor, Skarit

Davor, Skarit can go!

Upon realizing that a fight is going on, Davor once again hurls a small rock at the lizard.

Sling, into melee: 1d20 + 4 - 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 - 4 = 19
Damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Skarit looks for a way in, but quickly gives up pulling out two shuriken and throwing them in quick succession.

Shuriken Flurry 1, into melee: 1d20 + 4 - 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 - 4 = 8
Damage 1: 1d2 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Shuriken Flurry 2, into melee: 1d20 + 4 - 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 - 4 = 16
Damage 2: 1d2 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Round 2
1. Beshana, Kala
2. Shocker lizard
3. Davor, Skarit

Beshana, Kala can go!

Claw Attack 1: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16
Damage: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6
Claw Attack 2: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7
Damage: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

Beshana continues her claw assault, trying to slash the little lizard. "This creature is a magical beast called a shocker lizard. We must bring it down, quickly."

The raging wolverine strikes out with a full round attack.

bite: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 131d4 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5
1 claw: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 41d3 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5
1 claw: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 51d3 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

Unfortunately, he's so blind with rage that the wild swipes of his claws manage only to scatter smaller bits of rubble across the floor.

"Ugh, Stinky, you're so useless." Despite her clear frustration, it is obvious that Kala is quite fond of her wolverine.

She quickly draws her shortbow and fires an arrow at the lizard.

short bow: 1d20 + 2 - 4 ⇒ (13) + 2 - 4 = 111d6 ⇒ 2

The shocking lizard is very injured - it looks at Beshana and bites her leg!

bite: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 17

bite damage: 1d4 ⇒ 4

Round 2
1. Beshana, Kala
2. Shocker lizard
3. Davor, Skarit

Davor, Skarit can go!

Skarit flips two more shuriken into his hands and flying towards the creature in the corner, but both spark harmlessly off the wall.

Shuriken Flurry 1, into melee: 1d20 + 4 - 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 - 4 = 2
Damage: 1d2 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Shuriken Flurry 2, into melee: 1d20 + 4 - 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 - 4 = 11
Damage: 1d2 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Davor calmly repeats himself, doubting he will impress the lizard with an offer of mercy.

Sling, into melee: 1d20 + 4 - 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 - 4 = 5
Damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Not that he impresses it with that shot....

Everybody hears steps nearing the door ...

Which door? The north or south set?

Beshana hisses in pain as the little lizard bites down hard upon her calf! Hearing the footsteps approaching she suddenly lets out a low growl and her body begins to morph slightly. Black and white striped fur begins to growl along her body, her claws elongate and her teeth grow almost fang-like. Once more she lashes out with her claws, hoping to end the threat of the little lizard!

Claw Attack 1: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16
Damage: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5
Claw Attack 2: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11
Damage: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

Swift Action to activate Tiger Aspect to gain a +2 Dexterity for 1 minute. Effective AC of 18 now.

Aspect - 9/10 Rounds.

The southern door suddenly opens and you see two figures standing in the door. These humanoids' scaly hides are dull gray. Their frames resemble that of a cave lizard, with long tails and crests on their heads and backs.

As the first one opens the door and steps in to attack Skarit, the second one throws a javelin at Davor.

They will only act next round again after Beshana and Kala