GM Slothsy's Second Darkness

Game Master Slothsy

Dropping his blade to the ground, Tamiro draws and fires his shortbow at the drow that Nel shot.

"I would preffer if they walked on the ground!" Tamiro grumbles angrily.

Nel did not bring her horse. She hasn't been taking any negatives to with Gibraltar as it did not make sense to bring a horse to a library.

Still seeing horses for whatever reason.

Orthrus pulls a potion from his pack, and downs it one gulp. Suddenly Orthrus grows to the size of a giant.

Orthrus turns to Tamiro, "Take pack off. Leave bow, and riding food behind. AND FOR RULL'S BLESSING OF FIRE AND DEATH--PICK UP FOOL BLADE! We bring ground to them!" Fool man-things!

Move to retrieve potion of enlarge person from haversack, standard to drink. New heavy carrying capacity 460 lbs (-50 that he's carrying). Eventually this sequence of actions may lead to this group's version of the fastball special. How high is the wall?

They're 30 feet up, at the top of a tower.

Initiative - Round 1

Brown [-7] and Blue Drow
Aishe, Nel, Tamiro You're up!
Green and Yellow
Gillian and Orthus (real big in Celwynvian)

Nel and Tamiro's arrows both hit true, while only the second arrow in Aishe's volley damages the drow. She buckles over in pain for a moment before righting herself and staring down. She yells silently from the top of the tower, drawing and loading her crossbow in anger.

The final drow on the east stays ever watchful of that path. Unfortunately for her, the danger comes from the west.

Round: 2, Initiative: 16

Aieshe lines up the western-most drow as before, then the southern should that one fall. He tries to provide cover for Orthrus to climb. He remains as quiet as possible to avoid letting those inside the library know what's going on.

Crossbow (silver, cold iron, magic): 1d20 + 12 - 4 ⇒ (15) + 12 - 4 = 23 (cover) damage: 1d8 + 12 ⇒ (3) + 12 = 15
Crossbow (silver, cold iron, magic): 1d20 + 12 - 4 ⇒ (10) + 12 - 4 = 18 (cover) damage: 1d8 + 12 ⇒ (6) + 12 = 18
Crossbow (silver, cold iron, magic): 1d20 + 7 - 4 ⇒ (3) + 7 - 4 = 6 (cover) damage: 1d8 + 12 ⇒ (8) + 12 = 20

Gillian silently pumps her fist in glee as her magic renders the drow further off-guard and unable to call to each other for aid. Still aware that there are other patrols lurking about, she moves closer to the library's doors before stopping and conjuring forth a ghostly battleaxe. The battleaxe swiftly flies up to the nearest drow that she can see and strikes!

Spiritual Weapon (Battleaxe): 1d20 + 5 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 5 + 3 = 16
Damage (Force): 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8
_________

Gillian moves up and casts Spiritual Weapon!

He tries to provide cover for Orthrus to climb.

'Climb' Ha! Where we're going we don't need to climb.

Shaking his head at the overly enthusiastic half-orc, "Īe, you are not tossing me in my armor up a tower! Just shoot them!"

Pulling out another arrow, he looses it at the drow in the tower followed by another in quick succession.

"Does anyone see a way into the tower that doesn't involve throwing?"

Perception: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (7) + 0 = 7
Attack 1: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (14) + 10 = 24Damage: 1d6 + 0 ⇒ (1) + 0 = 1
Attack 2: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16Damage: 1d6 + 0 ⇒ (4) + 0 = 4

Tamiro is about 175lbs, armor of 45lbs, gear of 25lbs, 2 swords each weighing 4lbs. That is 253lbs that has to be thrown 30 feet straight up. That just isnt happening.

Ah, what could go wrong there ;)

Initiative - Round 2

Aishe, Nel, Tamiro
Yellow
Gillian and Orthus

--------

The spiritual weapon flies to the top of the and hits the drow. Its shining blade glistens with blood momentarily.

The drow's turn, since people when slightly out of order.

With desperation, the drow to the south lets loose a bolt at the giant man at the base of the tower.

Attack with Crossbow on Orthus: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8
Damage: 1d4 ⇒ 1 plus a dc 13 fort save v drow poison.

Round 2

On Aishe's second shot, the Westernmost drow crumples. His final shot, redirected, goes side. So wide, in fact, that it scrapes the back of the Eastern drow's head, causing her to turn her head and finally see the battle underway.

Tamiro's two arrows finish the drow to the south in quick order.

As Tamiro looks for a way up, he sees a set of double doors leading into the library.

*Rolls eyes at dumb humans as poison crossbow quarrels flash past.*

"FINE!" Orthrus barks the lie. He makes a pointing motion with one hand in Tamiro's general direction. Then he straightens slightly, and taps his sandal impatiently.

Pulling her bow taut, Nel takes a deep breathe and lets the arrow fly towards the shadowing figure moving up on the rooftop. Although still thrown off from the lack of sound, Nel smirks as she watches the drow jolt with pain from contact.

Arrow: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 20
Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 1

Are we still in the silence effect?

If I am correct, Gillian placed the silence on the top of the tower. Because of how spheres work, only ten feet or so near the base of the tower is actually in silence.

Initiative - Round 2

Aishe, Nel, Tamiro
Yellow
Gillian and Orthus

The final drow positions herself at the edge of the tower, looking at the literal biggest threat. She takes careful aim once more.

Hand Crossbow: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 20
Damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3 plus a dc 13 fort save v drow poison

The final drow positions herself at the edge of the tower, looking at the literal biggest threat. She takes careful aim once more.

She shot the horse?! Now what are we going to eat?

fortitude save: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20

THUNK! Right in the mask!

*Rolls eyes at dumb humans as poison crossbow quarrels flash past.*

"FINE!" Orthrus barks the lie. He makes a pointing motion with one hand in Tamiro's general direction. Then he straightens slightly, and taps his sandal impatiently.

"You wait here. Find own way up later." Orthrus finishes. There's a bell sound and then the sound of tinny music playing muffled, but from somewhere nearby. Then without further flourish, Orthrus rises up into the air! Flight hex!

He can move 60' so depending on the balcony walls, and relative positions he might have higher ground (+1 to attack), but minimally attempts to avoid fighting through cover.

That bell chimes again from higher up, and as it does Orthrus lashes out at the guard with his big serrated blade!

BIG falchion v remaining drow (enlarged): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17 damage: 2d6 + 4 ⇒ (5, 4) + 4 = 13

Initiative - Round 3

Aishe, Nel, Tamiro, Gillian and Orthus
Yellow

The woman swerves and dodges the no good very large falchion.

Actually, I just realized that everyone is up. Oops.

Round: 3, Initiative: 16

Aieshe, impressed by the enormous flying mask, shoots around him at the target if he can.

Crossbow (silver, cold iron, magic): 1d20 + 12 - 4 ⇒ (2) + 12 - 4 = 10 (cover) damage: 1d8 + 12 ⇒ (1) + 12 = 13
Crossbow (silver, cold iron, magic): 1d20 + 12 - 4 ⇒ (15) + 12 - 4 = 23 (cover) damage: 1d8 + 12 ⇒ (5) + 12 = 17
Crossbow (silver, cold iron, magic): 1d20 + 7 - 4 ⇒ (19) + 7 - 4 = 22 (cover) damage: 1d8 + 12 ⇒ (6) + 12 = 18

Crossbow (crit threat - silver, cold iron, magic): 1d20 + 7 - 4 ⇒ (6) + 7 - 4 = 9 (cover) damage: 2d8 + 24 ⇒ (7, 5) + 24 = 36

Initiative - Round 3

Aishe, Nel, Tamiro, Gillian and Orthus
Yellow

The woman swerves and dodges the no good very large falchion.

Actually, I just realized that everyone is up. Oops.

Some of us more than others.

On the map, did the drow guard withdraw? Or was she always that far away? I thought she was leaning over the battlement to shoot at us. As it is, unless the roof is angled at a 45 degree angle no one has a shot at anyone, but Orthrus... Don't even think it Aishe!

Also, what's the rooftop/terrace look like? Any doors? I bet they have planters--the things you put plants in, not the nuts. I'm allergic to nuts. ;)

Sorry, forgot to move minis on the map. She is on the Eastern side of the tower now.

Aishe's bolt takes out the remaining drow with ease.

Out of Initiative!

Most of the outer walls of this ancient stone building remain intact, but they show serious signs of damage and decay. Small piles of rubble litter the ground and twisting creeper vines cling to the pitted surface.

The roof of the library is sloped, but the plants and cracks in its surface make it easy to move across. As Orthus looks down on the rooftop, he sees nothing but the crumbling ruins of a roof. There are no trapdoors, planters, elephants or objects on the roof besides a few stray crossbow bolts and crumbled remains of rations.

Feel free to take time to heal, but I'm going to go ahead an assume that you open the BIG HONKING DOUBLE DOORS and proceed into the library.

The dimly lit lobby of this building is obscured by rubble and debris; scattered on the floor are dozens of crumbling books. Thick sheets of webbing cover one entire side of the chamber, concealing what lies beyond.

There are doors to the north, south, east and west.

Round: 3, Initiative: 16

Aishe reloads his quiver from his pack and proceeds carefully with the group.

Perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (9) + 11 = 20

Just barely oblivious, he moves in behind the front liners, looking for drow, crossbow at the ready.

"Which way should we go?" he whispers to the group.

perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13

Most of the outer walls of this ancient stone building remain intact, but they show serious signs of damage and decay. Small piles of rubble litter the ground and twisting creeper vines cling to the pitted surface.

The roof of the library is sloped, but the plants and cracks in its surface make it easy to move across. As Orthus looks down on the rooftop, he sees nothing but the crumbling ruins of a roof. There are no trapdoors, planters, elephants or objects on the roof besides a few stray crossbow bolts and crumbled remains of rations.

Feel free to take time to heal, but I'm going to go ahead an assume that you open the BIG HONKING DOUBLE DOORS and proceed into the library.

No! That's just what they would expect us to do!

Since he still has a minute, Orthrus flits about looking for any other entrances, windows, etc... along the outside of the structure, before going in.

There are no other entrances to the library, unless you make one of your own using an adamantine pick to cut a hole in the wall.

Orthrus tosses the drow from the roof (so that they can be pillaged, and hidden) before entering the weird free-standing cave.

"So what this place supposed to be?"

Gillian nods with approval as Orthrus tosses the bodies down off the roof and quickly kneels down to give them a quick search. "Good work. We should move these bodies out of sight. Pulling them into the library once we clear the entrance should work," she says softly.

Once the bodies have been searched, she climbs to her feet once more and readies her longspear as they make their way through the large double doors. She looks around cautiously as they file inside.

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (17) + 8 = 25

"Hsst!" she hisses in warning to the others as she realizes that they are not alone in here. "There, do you see!?" she whispers, pointing towards the webbing.
_________

Sorry for the lack of posts; have been working a lot lately.

Pulling out a torch, Nel lights it and holds it aloft, before entering into the dark library. "Okay, one rule before we go in any farther. Please try to keep the destruction to a minimum. This place is a library and filled with untold riches of knowledge. I'd like a chance to secure it and search it before we turn it back over to the elves." Dragging one of the bodies inside the hall, Nel glances around the area, giving the spider web a once over.

"What the giant webs? I'd hate to meet the things that made them." Nel replys chuckling at her own joke.

Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (4) + 9 = 13

Right. The loot. The whole reason why you all do this thing ;)

Between the drow, there are 10 poisoned bolts, 10 fire bolts, 10 acid bolts, 2 potions of cure moderate wounds, 2 smokesticks, 2 potions of cure moderate wounds, 2 mithral shirts, 2 master work bucklers, 4 masterwork hand crossbows, 20 +1 bolts, 40 crossbow bolts, 2 masterwork rapiers, 2 sets of masterwork studded leather armor, and 2 short swords.

Note:

Acid Bolts: These metal bolts have a glass section in the middle, filled with acid. On a successful hit, they deal normal damage and 1d4 points of additional acid damage. Acid bolts do not cause any splash damage. Cost: 40 gp per bolt.

Fire Bolts: These carefully crafted wooden bolts have a hollow core filled with alchemist’s fire. On a successful hit, they deal normal damage plus 1d4 points of fire damage. Alchemical fire bolts do not cause any splash damage, and the fire burst isn’t enough to ignite targets (unless they are particularly flammable). Cost: 50 gp per bolt.

Drow Poison Bolts: These iron bolts have small resin tips that break when the bolts strike their targets. Inside is a dose of drow poison. Anyone struck by a drow poison bolt must make a DC 13 Fortitude save or fall unconscious for 1 minute. After 1 minute, the subject must succeed on another DC 13 Fortitude save or remain unconscious for 2d4 hours. Those using drow poison bolts do not risk poisoning themselves, but the strange tip affects the bolts’ accuracy. Double the range penalties when using a drow poison bolt. Cost: 100 gp per bolt

Aishe would have, if no one else wanted them, collected the bolts for his crossbow. He'll leave the poisoned ones behind as he can't safely handle them. He piles the higher quality armor and weapons to one side and offers the potions to others who may need them more than he.
Anyone want anything?

He'd have loaded a fire bolt in his crossbow, until Nel expressed concern about collateral damage. He'd have put it away with a sigh, and loaded his regular bolt instead.

When Gillian points, he peers into the shadowy webs and shrugs. "What?" he whispers back.

"Right there! Enormous spiders!" Gillian whispers, now very tempted to set fire to the place despite Nel's plea not to destroy everything in sight.
________

Doesn't look like there's anything in there that Gillian could really use. I'd say that Nel, Tamiro, and Aishe should look into taking some of the healing potions.

Putting his shortbow on his back, Tamiro takes his blade up from the ground, shaking the dust and dirt off of it and catches up to the others in the structure.

Watching the flickering shadows from Nel's torch, he draws his second blade as he spies the webbing covering the area.

Looking around he sees nothing but makes himself ready and hisses, "I don't see the creatures."

Perception: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (9) + 0 = 9

Gillian sees the spiders being to crawl out of the corners and approach. Gillian gets to act in the surprise round. Remember that it's either a move or a standard action in a surprise round.

Initiative - Spider Friends!

Purple and Yellow
Aishe, Gillian
Blue
Nel, Tamiro, Orthus

Gillian: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (17) - 1 = 16
Aishe: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19
Nel: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 12
Tamiro: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 12
Orthus: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9

Giant Spider Purple: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 3 = 20
Giant Spider Yellow: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23
Giant Spider Blue: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 13

Gillian's Surprise Round

As she sees the spiders beginning to move towards them, Gillian reacts quickly and begins casting. As her spell comes to an end, she points towards the spiders and a sudden blast of sound erupts within the narrow confines of the room!

Sound Burst (Sonic Damage): 1d8 ⇒ 8
_________

Gillian will cast Sound Burst to try and catch as many of the spiders as she can! DC 17 Fort save or be stunned for 1 round.

Initiative - Spider Friends! - Round 1

Purple and Yellow
Aishe, Gillian
Blue
Nel, Tamiro, Orthus

Yellow: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12
Purple: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13
Blue: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 18

The blast of sound causes the spiders to seize up, though one continues to move forward.

Purple and Yellow are stunned, so it is Aishe and Gillian's turns again!

Gillian's Round 1

Deciding to let Aishe and the others move up first, Gillian holds her ground and calls upon a small blessing for herself and the party!
_________

Gillian will cast Bless.

Round: 1, Initiative: 19

”Oh, those spiders!” Aishe exclaims as they rush forth, only to be stunned, a bit anyway, by Gillian. He targets the most northern one, switching to the blue one (with cover penalties) if it drops quicly.

Crossbow (silver, cold iron, magic): 1d20 + 12 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 12 + 1 = 14 (point blank) damage: 1d8 + 12 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 12 + 1 = 20 (point blank)
Crossbow (silver, cold iron, magic): 1d20 + 12 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 12 + 1 = 24 (point blank) damage: 1d8 + 12 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 12 + 1 = 15 (point blank)
Crossbow (silver, cold iron, magic): 1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 7 + 1 = 26 (point blank) damage: 1d8 + 12 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 12 + 1 = 19 (point blank)

(I think I go before Gillian, but if not, +1 bless to each attack)

Aishe makes short work of the remaining spiders, felling one with each shot.

Double doors stand closed to the north, south and east. The doors to the east appear to be rusted shut.

-Posted with Wayfinder

Orthrus inspects the chamber again from outside and then squeezes in.

perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18

"Puny library...."

Aishe poninted out that he fumbled his first shot, so there is still one spider remaining. We are technically still in init, so let's rewind Orthrus's post.

Initiative - Spider Friends! - Round 1

Purple and Yellow
Aishe, Gillian
Nel, Tamiro, Orthus

You're up!

Aishe poninted out that he fumbled his first shot, so there is still one spider remaining. We are technically still in init, so let's rewind Orthrus's post.

"....yrarbil ynuP"

81 = 8 + )01( ⇒ 8 + 02d1 :noitpecrep

.ni sezeeuqs neht dna edistuo morf niaga rebmahc eht stcepsni surhtrO

Staggered by a momentary disruption in the flow of time waits for puny humanoids to clear him a path.

"Ugh! You feel that?"

^ Let's do the Time Warp again?

It's like an echo... of Armageddon.

"Oh, those things." Nel states as the spiders climb down to the ground level. Moving into the room, She lashes out at it. "Well this is unsettling. Hopefully the rest of the library is better protected."

Attack: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (3) + 13 = 16
Damage: 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7

Nel's slash finishes the final spider, leaving the library quiet... for now.

Now you are out of initiative!

-Posted with Wayfinder

Aishe looks at the two options and whispers, "Which way?"

He reloads his crossbow and prepares for what will come. Out of deference to Nel, he keeps normal bolts in his weapon, though he's dying to try the fancy ones he picked off the dead drow.

Tamiro looks around the room for anything of interest, using his blades to cut and move the webbing away with a disgusted grimace.

Perception: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (17) + 0 = 17

With the threat of the spiders extinguished, Gillian steps further into the library behind the others. She shrugs when Aishe asks on a direction. "We may just have to pick one unless something interesting presents itself," she whispers. She steps a little closer to the southern doors and carefully presses her ear against it, listening for movement on the other side.

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (14) + 8 = 22

There is nothing but silence on the other side of the cold stone door.

"I do not hear anything from this direction," she whispers to the others as she steps over to the northern set of doors and does the same.

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15

Gillian hears the faint sounds of screeching and a high-pitched laughter through the northern door.

Aishe looks to Gililan and shrugs his shoulder as if to say, "Well? Which way?"

He stands roughly in the middle between the two doors and keeps watch in case they're rushed from both directions at once.

Perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (11) + 11 = 22

Scratching the back of her neck, Nel looks back and forth between the two branching paths. "Well judging by the outside structure, if we head north it should only be one room. If we go south it could lead to either a large room, where a library would be kept, or a bunch of administrative offices." Leaning against the far wall, Nel picks some cobwebs off of her sword as she waits to hear if anyone else has a strong input.

"Well, there is also the matter of who or what is screeching and laughing in there," Gillian whispers, nodding towards the northern doors. "So going north is probably wise for multiple reasons!"

Aishe begins to wonder if anyone will pick a direction as the ladies discuss options. He waits a moment to see if their conversation will continue, before heading north and standing by the door, crossbow in hand.

When everyone is in position, he opens the door.

Seeing that Aishe seems to agree that the northern door is the best way to go, Gillian falls back a few paces to allow Nel and Tamiro to step up. She readies herself for whatever may come through the door.

Nodding, Tamiro draws his second blade and walks up to the door, and sees if it is unlocked. If it is hes going to go through.