GM Parrot's The Ferry and the Depths: Rappan Athuk (Inactive)

Game Master parrot familiar

Talathel seeks wounded targets, or failing that, the frontrunners.

If all goes well, they will perish without touching any of us.

Longbow: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (14) + 9 = 23

Damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

Initiative

Tragershen
Spider d10
Talathel
Spider
Anzath
Aurora
Bedlam
Vael
Spider
Spider

Vael's arrow catches one of the remaining spiders. The ones in the tree turn toward the party and begin their attack.

Tal, you may save that action and arrow for your next turn, if you'd like. Tragershen may act!

Tragershen grimaces. We surprised them, and only fell one.

He invokes the most powerful magic he has at his disposal to ensure his friends are ready for the onslaught.

Casting haste, five round duration. It covers everyone except himself and Valrah.

I am assuming our men-at-arms and beast of burden are waiting for us outside of the vale? Did he wolf come in with us?

Gelver would come for free. Ippolit would renegotiate payment (he's proved his worth) or he'd stay behind. Jones follows Ippolit as his page. I don't think you have any other hirelings at the moment. You still own three horses, and a mule with a wagon, and Molotov and his wagon, so you can decide how many of them are on hand and who is watching them.

I think the hirelings, 1 mule, 1 wagon is fine, unless someone wants to ride a horse. Anzath will stay on foot. Keep the men with the wagon, the wolf said it would not enter the vale.

The wounded spider rushes down the tree and toward the party. Talathel's arrow puts it down.

I forgot to ask how far you are! Bedlam has Far Shot for throws, and rolled high, so no awkwardness necessary. I'll assume you set up your surprise to shoot them from 80 ft away. , let me know.

Other Retcon housekeeping: Tal, you may shoot another arrow, since you'd have had haste.

A second spider leaves the tree. Instead of charging towards the party like its sibling, it stomps hard on the web system, no doubt summoning help from within the depths of the lair...

Anzath, Aurora, Bedlam, and Vael may act!

Bedlam drinks an Enlarged Person Extract. The DwarfHulk moves into melee, two-handing his heavy pick.

The cleric presses a quick blessing to herself, which flares out to her nearby allies, then retrieves her crossbow.

Guidance on self aaaand Divine Vessel — This boon grants allies within 15ft. a +2 bonus on the next attack roll, skill check, or ability check made before the end of their next turn.

Anzath quickly reloads and fires at the spiders still in the tree.

Light Crossbow+Bless+Haste+DV: 1d20 + 8 + 1 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 8 + 1 + 1 + 2 = 20
Dmg: 1d8 ⇒ 6

Talathel gratefully accepts magical assistance. He demonstrated his gratitude in the form of arrows.

Grateful arrow: 1d20 + 9 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 9 + 1 + 2 = 23

Damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

mwk earthbreaker + haste + DV: 1d20 + 9 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 9 + 1 + 2 = 18
dmg: 2d6 + 4 ⇒ (2, 4) + 4 = 10

Slinging the bow back over her back and rushing towards the spider that is calling for aid. Lifting her new earthbreaker and aiming for the overgrown spiders eyes.

And a second from haste!

Additional Gratitude: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (13) + 12 = 25

Damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

Tragershen
Talathel
Anzath
Aurora
Bedlam
Vael
Spider
Spider
Spider x 13

Vael crushes the downed spider, and the part-elf warriors take down another with their arrows and bolts. It crashes through the canopy and lands on the ground with a thud, its legs curling up as its life ebbs.

Bedlam and Vael are now at the foot of the tree. Bed's big boots trample all over the network of web on the forest floor.

The two remaining spiders rush down the tree and attack our warriors! Bedlam takes an AOO:

Big Pick: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 101d10 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10

...he misses.

Each warrior is attacked by a spider!

Bite Bedlam: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 2 = 211d6 ⇒ 1
Bite Vael: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 31d6 ⇒ 4

Bedlam Fort Save: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15

Bedlam takes a scratch, but fights off the arachnid's venom.

The tugging on the webs has summoned many, many more spiders. Dark shapes fill the canopy of the trees, and spiders are descending to the forest floor in the distance.

All may act!

Talathel seeks to put down spiders who are not yet in melee, but who are threatening to flank his companions.

That would not do at all.

Longbow: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (11) + 12 = 23

Damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

Longbow: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (18) + 12 = 30

Damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

Bedlam winks at the spider.
Melee +1 heavy pick: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 141d6 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10

Aurora loads and shoots her crossbow, aiming for whichever creepy skitterer was nearest.

Crossbow Attack+DV+Haste+Bless+Guidance: 1d20 + 4 + 2 + 1 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 4 + 2 + 1 + 1 + 1 = 22
Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 1

Hearing more, many more, spiders on the way, Tragershen gets ready for them.

Can Tragershen tell if the 13 will be here by the end of the round?

If he thinks they will be here before next round, he'll delay to cast web when they get close. If he thinks he has more time than that, he'll use his pearl of power to regain magic missile as a memorized spell.

Anzath turns and shoots at the mass of oncoming spiders.

Crossbow+Haste+Bless: 1d20 + 8 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 8 + 1 + 1 = 17
dmg: 1d8 ⇒ 1

Smiling despite the danger of the situation. There is something wonderful about the way adrenaline is racing though her veins and the the world has slowed down so much, even with the taste of licorice on her tongue. Everything is so much slower and similar. Easy foes with no big moral issues on killing them.

mwk earthbreaker + haste: 1d20 + 9 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 9 + 1 = 17
dmg: 2d6 + 4 ⇒ (4, 5) + 4 = 13
mwk earthbreaker + haste: 1d20 + 9 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 9 + 1 = 16
dmg: 2d6 + 4 ⇒ (6, 4) + 4 = 14

Whichever spider is in range must die!

Spider d10
Spider x 12

Tragershen: half of the spiders will be here this turn, half next. You can get three with a Web or reboot Magic Missile. Aurora and Anzath: haste bolts! I'll wait a bit for Trag's decision before running the spiders, or maybe I'll blunder ahead if I get bored!

Bedlam and Vael make short work of the pair of spiders that had been trying to fight them.

The rest continue their hail of rapid-fire weapons, seriously damaging one of the spiders. But the onslaught continues.

Trag will try to slow down the three with his web.

Who's up? I'll post Talathel's actions here in case I don't get to later today. Also, I somehow missed that Bless was active.

Talathel maintains his rate of fire, seeking wounded, seeking threats, seeking to kill them all.

Longbow, Haste, Bless: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (18) + 13 = 31

Damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

Longbow, Haste, Bless: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (7) + 13 = 20

Damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

Tragershen
Talathel
Anzath
Aurora
Bedlam
Vael
Spiders in Web x 3
Spiders Biting Melee x 2
Spider x 6

Ref Save Spider: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9
Ref Save Spider: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22
Ref Save Spider: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19

One spider finds itself caught in a Web. Heh.

The other two try to get out of it:

CMB Spider: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 2 = 14
CMB Spider: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 2 = 15

...but quickly get enmeshed in the sticky strands. Tragershen has out-spidered the spiders.

Three of them reach the party. Dwarfhulk smashes one that is already wounded by an arrow:

pick: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 181d10 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10

...he finishes it off.

The other two bite at our heroes:

Bite Bedlam: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 91d6 ⇒ 1
Bite Bedlam: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 81d6 ⇒ 2

The other six spiders advance on the party. They surge past the melee combat, heading for the others. They will be able to attack next turn.

All may act! Tal already did!

Tal's arrows strike the lead spider, wounding it badly.

wait, do we get an extra attack with the crossbow? My thought was since it’s a move action to reload, it’s not a full-Attack action, thus no extra attack with Haste.

I may have forgotten both; Haste and Bless...lol.

Yous Be gitt'n back her, ye here!

The dwarfhulk races down a spider.
+1 heavy pick, haste, bless, charge: 1d20 + 8 + 1 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 8 + 1 + 1 + 2 = 151d6 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11

wait, do we get an extra attack with the crossbow? My thought was since it’s a move action to reload, it’s not a full-Attack action, thus no extra attack with Haste.

You're right! Wow, crossbows have problems, don't they. I thought it was odd that you'd both make the same error, should have known it was me!

Aurora once more lofts her holy symbol, uttering a prayer more potent than her last. She then reloads her crossbow.

Prayer — You and each of your allies gain a +1 luck bonus on attack rolls, weapon damage rolls, saves, and skill checks, while each of your foes takes a -1 penalty on such rolls. Lasts for 5 rounds. Radius of effect is 40ft. centered on Aurora.

Anzath lobs a flask at the mass of spiders, then draws her blade and mace, preparing for close quarter combat.

Alchemist Fire+bless+haste+prayer: 1d20 + 7 + 1 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 7 + 1 + 1 + 1 = 27
Fire dmg this round: 1d6 ⇒ 3
Fire dmg next rnd: 1d6 ⇒ 3

Is Bedlam and Vael in the prayer radius?

mwk earthbreaker: 1d20 + 9 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 9 + 1 = 28 +1 if prayer reaches?
dmg: 2d6 + 4 ⇒ (4, 2) + 4 = 10
mwk earthbreaker: 1d20 + 9 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 9 + 1 = 12+1 if prayer reaches?
dmg: 2d6 + 4 ⇒ (1, 4) + 4 = 9

Lifting her oversided hammer and slamming it into the spiders that attacked Bedlam.

Tragershen: you're up!

When some spiders bypass the melee to come after the others, Tragershen reacts to them. He spreads the fingers of one hand wide, and with a word causes a gout of flame to burst out at them.

Casting burning hands, trying to catch as many of the spiders as he can without torching any allies or the web. Damage 5d4 ⇒ (4, 4, 3, 2, 2) = 15, DC15 for half damage.

Bedlam seriously injures a spider with his pick.

Anazath blasts an alchemist's fire on a spider, and another gets singed by the splash.

Vael ends a spider, smooshing it into the forest floor.

Tragershen catches a clutch of spiders in a gout of flame:

Ref Save: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22
Ref Save: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23
Ref Save: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

One of them falls over, steamed in its own exoskeleton. Two others are badly burned.

And now the survivors rush the party.

Tragershen
Talathel
Anzath
Aurora
Bedlam
Vael
Spiders in Web x 3
Spider Alchemists Fire d3
Spider d1
Spider d10
Spider d7

CMB Spider: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9
CMB Spider: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5
CMB Spider: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

The Web'd spiders stay Web'd.

The two crispy ones attack Tragershen. Bedlam backhands one as it rumbles past:

AOO Dwarfhulk: 1d20 + 8 + 1 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 8 + 1 + 1 + 2 = 191d10 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10

...it dies.

The remaining spider bites at Trag:

Bite: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

...no luck.

The splash-damaged spider rushes to attack Bedlam from behind:

Bite flank: 1d20 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 + 2 = 9

...no luck.

The final active spider in sight attacks Anzath:

charge bite: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 201d6 ⇒ 2

Fort Save: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10

...luck! Anzath takes a tiny sliver of damage, and she has some delayed poison in her system now.

All may act!

Bedlam decides to put the poor burnt spider out of its misery.
+1 heavy pick, haste, bless: 1d20 + 8 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 8 + 1 + 1 = 291d10 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12

Urgh. They have reached us - Anzath!

Talathel switches back to his customary spear and resumes stabbing arachnids. He focuses first on the spider who bit Anzath.

Branched spear: 1d20 + 10 + 1 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 10 + 1 + 1 + 1 = 19

Damage: 1d8 + 3 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 3 + 2 + 1 = 9

Branched spear: 1d20 + 10 + 1 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 10 + 1 + 1 + 1 = 25

Damage: 1d8 + 3 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 3 + 2 + 1 = 7

Apologies, the large heavy pick is 1d8.

d'oh I forgot about the 1d6 or smaller is one step rule!

With antitoxin and prayer, her fort save is +11, netting 16.

Anzath starts slicing and dicing and bashing.

Kritfisher+Haste+Bless+Prayer: 1d20 + 7 + 1 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 7 + 1 + 1 + 1 = 14
dmg+Prayer: 1d6 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 4 + 1 = 10
Kritfisher+Haste+Bless+Prayer: 1d20 + 7 + 1 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 7 + 1 + 1 + 1 = 17
dmg+Prayer: 1d6 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 4 + 1 = 8
Yaza’s Mace+Haste+Bless+Prayer: 1d20 + 7 + 1 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 7 + 1 + 1 + 1 = 20
dmg+Prayer: 1d6 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 2 + 1 = 7

...All the spiders out of the Web spell are dead.

No poison for you, Anzath!

Crossbow reloaded, Aurora fires at the nearest spider.

Crossbow Attack + Bless + Haste + Prayer: 1d20 + 4 + 1 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 4 + 1 + 1 + 1 = 20
Crossbow Damage + Prayer: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8

She then reloads the crossbow.

Not wanting to burn down the defensive barrier that the web has become, Tragershen uses a minor spell to lob acid at one of the trapped arachnids.

Acid Splash 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14
Damage 1d3 + 0 ⇒ (1) + 0 = 1

Talathel resumes his bow-craft, placing arrows in spiders.

Longbow: 1d20 + 9 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 9 + 3 = 29

Damage: 1d8 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 2 + 1 = 11

Longbow: 1d20 + 9 + 3 ⇒ (14) + 9 + 3 = 26

Damage: 1d8 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 2 + 1 = 11

Tragershen
Talathel
Anzath
Aurora
Bedlam
Vael
Spider in Web x 1

Ok! Time to get back to it!

The party makes short work of the remaining spiders. Despite their massive advantage in numbers, the arachnids pose no real threat to our heroes. The field is covered with scattered bits of spider, and the forest floor is thick with their strange hydraulic blood.

Only one remains. It is in the web spell, where its compatriots have been felled by crossbow bolts, longbow arrows, and the odd gob of acid.

CMB Spider: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19

It wiggles out of the mess and attacks Talathel:

AOO: 1d20 + 9 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 9 + 3 = 221d8 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 2 + 1 = 9

Tal manages to gash the beast, but it's still moving:

Bite: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

Moving, but not doing much else.

Someone finish that bug and we'll keep on exploring the vale of spiders!

There is a flash as Talathel arms are moving, then are grasping his spear, then thrusting forward.

Branched spear: 1d20 + 10 + 1 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 10 + 1 + 1 + 1 = 23

Damage: 1d8 + 3 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 3 + 2 + 1 = 13

And again, in case that did not do the trick.

Branched spear: 1d20 + 10 + 1 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 10 + 1 + 1 + 1 = 19

Damage: 1d8 + 3 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 3 + 2 + 1 = 9

"Dat iz just one tree," Anzath points out, keeping alert.
Perception-LB: 1d20 + 11 - 1 ⇒ (3) + 11 - 1 = 13

Bedlam tosses his heavy pick at it!
throw anything: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 6 + 1 = 151d6 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10

And Tragershen tosses a bit of acid into the mix.

Acid splash 1d20 + 6 - 4 ⇒ (17) + 6 - 4 = 19, damage 1d3 + 0 ⇒ (1) + 0 = 1

....combat over.

The final spider is long dead before a blob of acid and a tomahawking heavy pick shoot through the air into its battered corpse.

Anzath scans the misty vale, but she sees no further spiders.

She hears not silence, but something close--all the usual forest sounds are gone, leaving just the breathing of her friends, the spasms of the dying spiders, and the drip of condensed mist from the branches...

Talathel spins his branched spear in an arc, carefully judging how to flick off the spider gore without spraying it on himself or his companions.

The elf looks distinctly cheerier, almost smiling, after he gazes over the vale of spider corpses.

He then turns to look around at the others.

"Shall we continue? I would prefer that to waiting for more spiders to emerge."

Anzath quickly holds up her hand to stop Talathel or anyone else from moving.

Her spider senses tingling, she whispers through clenched teeth, “Do not move. Dey are out dere, vaiting in ambush.”