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

Game Master noral

Beshana recoils from the brutal flames that wash over her, dropping her to a knee! Despite the awful pain from her wounds, Beshana acknowledges Kala with a nod as she struggles to her feet and stumbles over to her companion and snatches the vial from the ground... Just one more round!

TASSKAR's ACTION

Tasskar's hurls his flame on Davor but they do not hit him. Another flame appears in his hand.

Produces flame 2nd attack vs. touch: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8

Round 3
3. Kala, Stinky, Belanar

Round 4
1. Beshana , Skarit, Davor
2. Troglodyte, Crocodile
3. Kala, Stinky, Belanar

BOLD may go!

BATTLE:
Tasskar: -8 HP
Beshana: 2/12 HP

Seeing Skarit and Davor crowding around the door to get at the giant troglodyte, Kala looks around to see if there's another way to get to him. Spotting the door to her left, she dashes over to it to see if it is unlocked and where it leads. She knows the general shape of the tower, so it would make sense...

Knowing that Stinky wouldn't know what to do with the crocodile dead, she calls out: "Stinky, attack!"

At Kala's command, Stinky scrambles and weaves his way around the legs of Davor and Skarit and right up to the feet of the large troglodyte. Growling in anticipation, he snaps his jaws at the trog's leg.

bite: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 141d4 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

Davor dodges the fire and doubles back around the throne, getting ready to engage in melee again. On the way, he hurls a sling bullet back at Tasskar.

Skarit continues throwing punches from his position of power.

Sling, Inspire, into melee: 1d20 + 4 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 + 1 - 4 = 15
Damage, Inspire: 1d4 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 + 1 = 3

Flurry, Inspire: 1d20 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 4 + 1 = 13 Damage, Inspire: 1d6 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 + 1 = 8
Flurry, Inspire: 1d20 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 4 + 1 = 10 Damage, Inspire: 1d6 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 + 1 = 4

Going for nonlethal on Skarit's punches.

Kala tries to open the door to the north but notices that it is locked!

None of the attacks of Davor, Stinky or Skarit can penetrate Tasskar's thick skin.

"I will eat you! Eat you all!!!" Tasskar shouts into the room.

Beshana quickly downs the healing potion and lets out a sigh of relief as the majority of her burns heal over, still leaving some blackened patches upon her stony skin. "You will eat nothing, fool!" She begins to make her way towards the melee!

CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9 Hurray for clutch healing potion!

Shift Aspect - Tiger (+2 Dex): 7/10 Rounds.

You're welcome! I'm glad Kala had spares. It was surprising how quickly she used up both her spells.

Skarit, Davor - it is your turn. Please bot Skarit.

Davor closes back in, just in time to join Skarit in punching the troglodyte.

Davor: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25 Damage: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3
Confirmation: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7

Skarit: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7 Damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6
Skarit: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20 Damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

Davor closes back in, just in time to join Skarit in punching the troglodyte.

Davor, this is a wall you are punching through. ;-) And there are only two entrances to the balcony. Please change the actions to reflect that.

Ah, okay. In that case:

Davor lets his magic flow through him, empowering his allies. Casting Bless. Meanwhile, Skarit edges out onto the balcony and hurls a shuriken.

Acrobatics to Tumble: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11

Shuriken, IC, Bless: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11
Damage: 1d2 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

Skarit's shuriken flies over Tasskar's head.

TASSKAR's ACTION

Tasskar's steps back again and hurls his flame on Stinky but this flame does not hit him. No further flame appears in his hand!

Produces flame 3rd attack vs. touch: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

Round 4
3. Kala, Stinky, Belanar

Round 5
1. Beshana , Skarit, Davor
2. Troglodyte, Crocodile
3. Kala, Stinky, Belanar

BOLD may go!

BATTLE:
Tasskar: -8 HP
Beshana: 11/12 HP

Can Kala tell at a glance how sturdy the door and lock are? Here's her perception roll for that if needed:

Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (16) + 9 = 25

Stinky snarls viciously at Tasskar's attempted spell, flies into a rage, and goes in for a full attack, teeth and claws flying.

bite: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 6 + 1 = 191d4 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 + 1 = 3
1 claw: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 6 + 1 = 151d3 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 + 1 = 3
1 claw: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 6 + 1 = 181d3 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 + 1 = 3

Wow. I rolled 1's on all the damage. Dang.

Belanar continues to sing and holds his position.

Kala, this is a simple lock (DC 20 Disable Device) and AC 3; hardness 5; hit points 22; DC 16 Break 18 [locked])

Stinky's bite and claw connect with Tasskar's legs and rip his flesh and you see slight fear building in him.

Beshana , Skarit, Davor -> GO

BATTLE:
Tasskar: -14 HP
Beshana: 11/12 HP

Davor empowers Stinky with a bit more divine magic, while Skarit continues throwing shuriken.

Casting Guidance on Stinky.

Shuriken: 1d20 + 6 - 4 ⇒ (15) + 6 - 4 = 17 Damage: 1d2 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4
Shuriken: 1d20 + 6 - 4 ⇒ (7) + 6 - 4 = 9 Damage: 1d2 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

Davor's first shuriken hits Tasskar right in the chest.

BATTLE:
Tasskar: -18 HP
Beshana: 11/12 HP

@GM Nowruz: Good to know. Thanks. I assume the perception check was a swift action. If not, I'll readjust Kala's place on the map.

Kala curses at the locked door. There just isn't any room for her to get in there to fight the large troglodyte, and she hates standing around doing nothing. Continuing to curse under her breath, she dashes for the opening to the balcony opposite the throne, hoping against all hope that there's a way around so she can feel useful.

@Kala: Perception was a free action and DC to break is 18. Beshana -> GO

Beshana lets out a growl of frustration as she realizes the troglodyte has eluded her briefly. In a rare change of pace, she suddenly sprints towards the door near Kala. "We must hurry, Kala. Our companions need us."

Run at X3 speed to get to position on the map.

SA (Tiger) - 6/10.

Beshana, is this a run action you want to do? If so then please note that this only works in a straight line. Or is this a shifter ability? ;-)

Standard run, which I her ending position should be a straight line from where she started.

Tasskar moves back and begins casting ... moments later a flaming blade appears in his hand.

The blade is a 3-foot-long, blazing beam of red-hot fire that springs forth from his hand. He wields this blade-like beam as if it were a scimitar.

Round 5
3. Kala, Stinky, Belanar

Round 6
1. Beshana , Skarit, Davor
2. Troglodyte
3. Kala, Stinky, Belanar

BOLD may go!

BATTLE:
Tasskar: -18 HP
Beshana: 11/12 HP

Kala skids through the doorway and takes a right, skittering as lightly and quickly as she can along the narrow balcony. This better go where I hope it goes!

Still raging, Stinky takes a 5 foot step toward the troglodyte and lashes out with jaws and claws.

bite: 1d20 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 3 + 1 = 211d4 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 3 + 1 = 5
1 claw: 1d20 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 3 + 1 = 141d3 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 3 + 1 = 6
1 claw: 1d20 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 3 + 1 = 111d3 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 3 + 1 = 5

With more room opened up on the balcony, Davor joins Skarit in pelting the troglodyte with bullets and stars.

Rolls include Bless, IC, and melee penalties.

Sling: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 2 = 15
Damage: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

Shuriken: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4 Damage: 1d2 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3
Shuriken: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 2 = 12 Damage: 1d2 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

Stinky's bite really goes deep into Tasskar's leg but Davor and Skarit cannot hit the troglodyte.

As Beshana is going to move I already take Tasskar's action. Beshana please just act twice for your round 6 & 7 action.

Round 6
1. Beshana , Skarit, Davor
2. Troglodyte
3. Kala, Stinky, Belanar

Tasskar sees Stinky as a clear threat and tries to hits him with his flaming scimitar which leads to a burn wound.

flame blade touch attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15

flame blade damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

Round 7
1. Beshana , Skarit, Davor
2. Troglodyte
3. Kala, Stinky, Belanar

BOLD may go!

BATTLE:
Tasskar: -23 HP
Beshana: 11/12 HP
Stinky: 12/17

@GM Nowruz? Does Belanar's inspiration go through solid walls? I went ahead and factored it into Kala's rolls because she technically is within 30', but if the wall cuts it off you can knock off 1 point from each roll.

Careening around the bend, Kala is relieved and ecstatic that her guess proved fruitful. She can't see anyone on the other side of him, but sees his arm slash downward, probably at Stinky. Fortunately, she still has her bow in her hand and a clear shot of the trog's back. Taking aim, Kala sends an arrow slicing through the air.

short bow: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 161d6 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8
Rolls include Animal Focus and inspiration, but not firing into melee because she can't see anyone else from this angle.

Now Tasskar, Skarit, and Davor know what a really, really, REALLY enraged wolverine is like. It's a remarkable sight, and would be truly terrifying if Stinky were larger than a medium sized dog. The sounds tearing from his foaming, blood soaked muzzle are the stuff of nightmares. He throws himself at the troglodyte, ripping and tearing with teeth and claws.

bite: 1d20 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 3 + 1 = 211d4 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 3 + 1 = 7
1 claw: 1d20 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 3 + 1 = 141d3 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 3 + 1 = 7
1 claw: 1d20 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 3 + 1 = 51d3 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 3 + 1 = 5

@GM Nowruz? Does Belanar's inspiration go through solid walls? I went ahead and factored it into Kala's rolls because she technically is within 30', but if the wall cuts it off you can knock off 1 point from each roll.

Yes, Belanar's voice is so beatiful ... it is heard through walls. ;-) No, the door is open and you hear it so that is fine.

Tasskar is heavily wounded now and clings to life.

Sorry about the delay on my end! Two rounds of movement

Beshana continues to move towards the fight, her slow speed causing her to fall behind Kala...

Davor and Skarit keep on throwing things at Tasskar!

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

Shuriken: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3 Damage: 1d2 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4
Shuriken: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 = 20 Damage: 1d2 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

Skarit moves forward a bit to be able to see Tasskar better on the balcony and strikes him with a vicious shuriken attack.

"Ahhhhh .... nooooo ... you will ... eh ..." are the last words that you hear from the troglodyte as his broken body hits the ground.

COMBAT OVER!

Beshana completes her run around the edge of the tower to find the troglodyte dead. "Nicely done all of you! Let us drag him back into the room and search it more thoroughly now that we have some time!"

Kala ruffles Stinky's blood-soaked ears. "What a good boy! Yes you are! Such a good boy!"

You as a group celebrate your victory and are very relieved that the battle is now over!

The spell that Llorva casts from the scroll revives Belanar.

"Oh god, I am so happy that we are all alive! I really believed that this was our end! I am happy to accompany you to explore the rest of the tower but I am very weak ... but I came here to be the first!"

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

You search the room and look around finding: a masterwork short sword, 15 cold iron shurikens, two flasks of acid, a potion of cat’s grace, a potion of lesser restoration, a wand of summon monster I (CL 3rd, 9 charges), an amethyst worth 100 gp, and 247 gp in assorted coins.

You also find a holy symbol that after some thinking and support by Belanar and Davor's earlier insights you recognize as the holy symbol of Zevgavizeb, a truly hideous monster, even in the Abyss, he is part reptile, part bat, and part overgrown worm.

Zevgavizeb's troglodyte and other worshippers live in mortal terror of his hunger, sacrificing countless victims to appease him. Because he cares little for his flock, the worship of Zevgavizeb is generally disorganized and only consists of superstitious traditions, crude rock drawings, and ancient tales told over cold meals in the dark. There have been rumors that a more structured priest class among the troglodytes does exist, but these tales have yet to be substantiated.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

You then pack everything that you found and return to Absolom.

Grand Lodge

Venture Captain Adril Hestram welcomes you and Belanar back. Adril is really surprised that you faced to so much resistance.

"Beshana, Davor, Kala, Skarit, Stinky, I am really proud of you! What you achieved is beyond what I would expect of a team that just started its career. You found Belanar and rescued him alive! And you were able to stop a cult to an evil god!" he says smiling.

He looks at all of you again and continues "With the defeat of Tasskar and his troglodytes, the Fallen Fortress stands abandoned once more, but it’s only a matter of time before something else moves into the damaged siege tower and poses a new threat — we need to the inform the authorities and even might have to send our own team."

Belanar has recovered a little and he starts speaking "Venture-Captain, these Pathfinders were really brave and if they would not have rescued me I would be dead now."

He remains silent for a moment and the thought obviously is terrifying for him. "These Pathfinders are role models for the Society, and will be great assets for our organization of explorers, archaeologists, and adventurers."

"Thank you. We are honored. We are glad we were able to get you out of there alive."

"It was the least we could do," Davor croaks, smiling as he gives Belanar the courtesy of a low bow. "Securing the tower was but an added benefit."

"May our careers in the Society will flourish together."

Beshana nods and pats Belanar on the back. "It was indeed our pleasure to return you safely, but perhaps next time you will rethink such reckless choices such as rushing off on your own?"

"You are completely right! Next time I won't go alone ... I will just take you guys with me!" Belanar says grinning.

THE END - see CHRONICLE SHEETS IN DISCUSSION