GM Tarondor's Emerald Spire Campaign

Game Master Tarondor

"I'm sorry, Lili. I ain't got one."

Wymond waits for the sharper-eyed people to tell him what they have or haven't found.

The statues seem like they're just statues. Probably of religious significance to the snake people, but you don't know and they don't seem too chatty.

Frizz moves over to the double doors and will open them if they're not trapped.

Double doors stand in the south wall of this huge temple. On the left and right of the door are six alcoves, some empty and some with rough bedding on the floor. In the center of the main chamber is an enormous pillar of green crystal. A stone serpent is wrapped around it, its head aflame. In the back of the chamber is a raised altar, and behind it a wall mosaic pulses with green light.

Standing between the altar and the mosaic is an impressive serpent-man. Dressed in intimidating black robes, he bears twin rapiers, each glowing with the same emerald green light as the Emerald Spire itself!

“You have come here for one of two things," he says in perfect Taldan. "To join me in the adulation of Kro’akoth the Awakener or to die. Which is it?”

A moment later, a second voice speaks, seeming to echo from all around you. “Have you come to seek the wisdom of the prophet? Swear allegiance to the Awakener and my prophecy will be but the first of the gifts you receive!”

Per the map, your line of sight to the serpent-man is blocked.

Frizz turns to group.says out of the side of her mouth, her one hand cupping the sound away from the far side of the room,
[b]"We can't just...eh...switch deities and stuff. Right? 'Cause I think I could fool him but I'm not so sure about."[b]
She gestures with a nod toward Jharun.

Wymond grips his bardiche more tightly and glares at the figure.

"We've no need for yer gifts, demon-kneeler!" he says, punctuating the statement with a contemptuous spit. "Gonna put ye down like a blighted farmbeast."

"So be it. Kro'akoth is unstoppable. We will destroy you as we destroyed the priests of decrepit Yig!"

As he speaks, a huge serpent with a human-like face rises up out of the pit surrounding the Emerald Spire, and thousands of snakes pour out with it!

See Slide #2

Frizz Perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (5) + 11 = 16 +2 Initiative
Jharun Perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (8) + 11 = 19 +2 Initiative
Lilika Perception: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (5) + 14 = 19
Wymond Perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (14) + 11 = 25
Sartoss Perception: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (6) + 14 = 20
Sanaz Perception: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (5) + 17 = 22
Viper Swarm Perception: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (3) + 14 = 17

INITIATIVE
Wymond
Sanaz
Jharun
Sartoss
Lilika
Frizz
Viper Swarm

Wymond, go!

Wymond swears very loudly at the snake explosion coming their way. Then he regains his composure.

"I'm on the big guy, you make sure the little ones don't overtake us!

He gives the man-faced snake a stern, stony dwarven glare. There are no words, but the look says all he needs to say: your false god cannot protect you from my real one.

Intimidation (Demoralize): 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (8) + 11 = 19

Then he jerks his head towards the creature and Triath barrels forward past Frizz, with Wymond close on his trotter.

I believe that uses up my other two actions, to call for Triath's support and move us to our current position.

The dark naga sways and weaves a hypnotic dance as it murmurs and croons dark secrets from the void. Suddenly, it strikes rapidly, biting Wymond on the arm and whipping around to bite Triath squarely on the shoulder! They both feel a terrible lassitude spread across their bodies.

1&2. Sanaz casts haste on self.
3. Strike Wymond.
4. Strike Triath.

Sanaz's fangs v. Wymond: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (7) + 19 = 262d8 + 5 ⇒ (4, 7) + 5 = 16piercing plus venom
Sanaz's fangs v. Triath: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (19) + 15 = 342d8 + 5 ⇒ (7, 6) + 5 = 18 piercing plus venom

Critical hit on Triath.

STATUS
Wymond - 83/99 hp
...Triath - 12/48 hp
Sanaz
Jharun
Sartoss
Lilika
Frizz
Viper Swarm

Wymond and Triath each give me a DC 25 Fortitude save vs. poison or be Slowed 1 for a round.

Jharun, go!

Fortitude (Wymond): 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (15) + 13 = 28
Fortitude (Triath): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13

Wymond manages to tough out the venom, but Triath is not so lucky.

Jharun's hands flick out in a circle and rotate in and the push away and a seed of a spark ignites followed by a fireball to the other side of the room trying to catch the enemy and miss his friends.

fireball reflex 22: 6d6 ⇒ (2, 2, 6, 1, 5, 5) = 21

Sanaz Reflex save: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (2) + 17 = 19 Failure.
Viper Swarm Reflex save: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (18) + 13 = 31 Success.

Jharun: Don't forget to take your third action. I'll assume it's casting shield this turn.

The fireball explodes in the naga's face, burning him. Many snakes are also killed, but still the others come on.

Behind them, the serpent-man appears from around the Emerald Spire. It points at Wymond and mutters an incantation. The paladin's mind falls down a deep well of despair and dread, dredging up old fears and pain.

Agonizing Despair: 4d6 ⇒ (3, 2, 2, 5) = 12 mental damage plus possible fright

STATUS
Wymond - 83/99 hp
...Triath - 12/48 hp, Poison Stage 1 (Slowed 1, 1 rd.)
Sanaz - 21 damage
Jharun
Sartoss
Lilika
Frizz
Viper Swarm - 15 damage

Wymond, give me a DC 24 Will save for half damage. If you succeed, you are Frightened 1. Fail and it's Frightened 2. Crit fail and it's Frightened 3.

Then Lilika and Frizz, go!

Will: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (3) + 13 = 16

"Nay...naynayNAY! I DON'T WANNA DIE AGAIN!" Wymond bellows.

Well at least it isn't a crit failure.

STATUS
Wymond - 72/99 hp, Frightened 2
...Triath - 12/48 hp, Poison Stage 1 (Slowed 1, 1 rd.)
Sanaz - 21 damage
Jharun
Sartoss
Lilika
Frizz
Viper Swarm - 15 damage

Lilika, Frizz, go!

Frizz rushes toward the naga and tries to dodge by it.

Acrobatics(E) Tumble Through vs Reflex: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (12) + 14 = 26
Probs not for a naga. :/

She then slashes out with her sickle.

+1 Sickle (1): 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (17) + 15 = 32
Sickle (S+Acid) Damage: 1d4 + 4 + 1d6 ⇒ (1) + 4 + (2) = 7
Sneak Attack? If tumbled through.: 2d6 ⇒ (5, 4) = 9

Frizz almost manages to dash past the huge naga, but not quite. She lashes out and cuts it with her sickle.

STATUS
Wymond - 72/99 hp, Frightened 2
...Triath - 12/48 hp, Poison Stage 1 (Slowed 1, 1 rd.)
Sanaz - 28 damage
Jharun
Sartoss
Lilika
Frizz
Viper Swarm - 15 damage

Anyone, give me orders for Lilika.

Lilika takses a step forward as she chants a thrumming, grinding tune under her breath and casts out her arms, sending a line of sizzling acid at the naga!

Spell Attack Roll: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (11) + 12 = 23
Acid Damage: 3d8 ⇒ (7, 7, 4) = 18 plus 1d6 persistent acid damage.

Step (1A), Acid Arrow (2A)

Lilika, that is a miss. Would you care to spend a Hero Point to reroll?

If I've got one, sure.

Spell Attack roll: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (5) + 12 = 17

Even worse!

Hero Points are listed at the top of the page.

With the reflexes of a snake, the naga dodges Lilika's sizzling arrow, which caroms off the Emerald Spire and sizzles into the pit.

Then the swarm of snakes slithers around the feet of both Wymond and Frizz, biting and spitting.

Viper Swarm Damage #1: 2d8 ⇒ (1, 1) = 2 piercing damage (DC 21 basic Reflex save) plus viper swarm venom.
Viper Swarm Damage #2: 2d8 ⇒ (5, 6) = 11 piercing (DC 21 basic Reflex save) plus viper swarm venom.

Viper Swarm Poison #1: 1d4 ⇒ 1 poison damage (DC 21 Fortitude save)
Viper Swarm Poison #2: 1d4 ⇒ 2 poison damage (DC 21 Fortitude save)

Frizz and Wymond each owe me two DC 21 Reflex saves vs. the bite damage. Then you each owe me two DC 21 Fortitude saves vs. the poison.

Then, Wymond, go!

Reflex: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18

"OW! Bloody ankle-biters!" Wymond curses.

Fortitude: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (4) + 14 = 18

He suddenly starts feeling the venom working its way in.

"Oh no..." he says.

Dumb question, does frightened reduce my saves? I see on AoN it impacts checks and DCs, but do saves count as checks?

Dumb question, does frightened reduce my saves? I see on AoN it impacts checks and DCs, but do saves count as checks?

So first of all, it's TWO Reflex saves and TWO Fortitude saves.

Second, yes, Frightened reduces your saves because a save is a check.

Sorry, I misinterpreted it to mean one for Frizz and one for me. I failed the first two either way...

Reflex: 1d20 + 8 - 2 ⇒ (10) + 8 - 2 = 16
Fortitude: 1d20 + 14 - 2 ⇒ (17) + 14 - 2 = 29

Ref(E): 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (4) + 14 = 18
Fort(T): 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (17) + 11 = 28

Ref(E): 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (12) + 14 = 26
Fort(T): 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (15) + 11 = 26

Wiggling her best, Frizz only gets bit by a few of the snakes before darting out of the way.

STATUS
Wymond - 58/99 hp, Frightened 2, Viper Poison Stage 1
...Triath - 12/48 hp, Naga Poison Stage 1 (Slowed 1, 1 rd.)
Sanaz - 28 damage
Jharun
Sartoss
Lilika
Frizz - 67/74 hp
Viper Swarm - 15 damage

Wymond, go! At the end of your turn, both Wymond and Triath need to make Fortitude saves. DC 25 for Triath, DC 21 for Wymond.

Wymond, scared and not sure what else to do, makes a few flailing strikes at the naga to try and kill it quickly.

Strike 1: 1d20 + 15 - 2 ⇒ (4) + 15 - 2 = 172d10 + 4 - 2 ⇒ (3, 9) + 4 - 2 = 14
Strike 2: 1d20 + 10 - 2 ⇒ (2) + 10 - 2 = 102d10 + 4 - 2 ⇒ (4, 1) + 4 - 2 = 7
Strike 3: 1d20 + 5 - 2 ⇒ (5) + 5 - 2 = 82d10 + 4 - 2 ⇒ (10, 10) + 4 - 2 = 22

"TRIATH! GET YERSELF OUT OF THERE!" he wails.

Fortitude (Triath): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15
Fortitude (Wymond): 1d20 + 14 - 2 ⇒ (5) + 14 - 2 = 17

Oh boy. Care to expend a hero point for reroll, Wymond?

On which roll? ALL of these were bad! D:

Given the circumstances, I'll allow you to spend a Hero Point to get a reroll of the first one.

So the attack? Okay.

Strike 1 (Reroll): 1d20 + 15 - 2 ⇒ (14) + 15 - 2 = 272d10 + 4 - 2 ⇒ (4, 9) + 4 - 2 = 15

Well that looks better.

The paladin's blade barely manages to bite into the naga's hide, but it does bite deep, causing a spurt of blood.

Snarling, the naga weaves a sinuous pattern with its body and a curtain of flames shoots up behind Wymond, cutting the battlefield in half!

Wall of Fire damage to Lilika: 4d6 ⇒ (2, 1, 6, 6) = 15

STATUS
Wymond - 58/99 hp, Frightened 1, Viper Poison Stage 1
...Triath - 12/48 hp, Naga Poison Stage 1 (Slowed 1, 1 rd.)
Sanaz - 43 damage
Jharun
Sartoss
Lilika - Fire damage?
Frizz - 67/74 hp
Viper Swarm - 15 damage

The Wall of Fire appears where Lilika is standing. Lilika, give me a DC 26 Reflex save!

Jharun, go!

if I cast grease out of the wall of fire into the enemy would they then be on a slip and slide inferno?

Grease will only cause them to fall in their own square. And it doesn't burn or spread fires.

Yeah, this ain't Dragon Age. :P

Reflex: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (4) + 13 = 17

Jharun pulls back his fingers to his shoulder and acid begins to sizzle the air and he casts an acid arrow as well at the casting lizard.

acid arrow: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (18) + 11 = 29

damage acid: 3d8 ⇒ (8, 1, 6) = 15

Oops. Wall of Fire doesn't have a saving throw. Lilika takes 19 damage.

Wall of Fire Damage: 4d6 ⇒ (2, 5, 6, 6) = 19

Jharun's magical bolt sticks quivering in the naga's hide, slowly burning its way in!

The lizard-man continues to chant, taking little heed of the combat.

STATUS
Wymond - 58/99 hp, Frightened 1, Viper Poison Stage 1
...Triath - 12/48 hp, Naga Poison Stage 1 (Slowed 1, 1 rd.)
Sanaz - 58 damage, 1d6 persistent acid
Jharun
Sartoss
Lilika - 55/74 hp
Frizz - 67/74 hp
Viper Swarm - 15 damage

Lilika and Frizz, go

Frizz dashes around the Naga, slashing out with her sickle.

+1 Sickle (1): 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (7) + 15 = 22
Sickle (S+Acid) Damage: 1d4 + 4 + 1d6 ⇒ (1) + 4 + (3) = 8
Sneak Attack: 2d6 ⇒ (5, 3) = 8

+1 Sickle (2): 1d20 + 15 - 4 ⇒ (17) + 15 - 4 = 28
Sickle (S+Acid) Damage: 1d4 + 4 + 1d6 ⇒ (1) + 4 + (3) = 8
Sneak Attack: 2d6 ⇒ (6, 4) = 10

Frizz slashes and the naga dodges, but the gnome reverses her slash and catches the naga off-guard with a deep slice!

STATUS
Wymond - 58/99 hp, Frightened 1, Viper Poison Stage 1
...Triath - 12/48 hp, Naga Poison Stage 1 (Slowed 1, 1 rd.)
Sanaz - 74 damage, 1d6 persistent acid
Jharun
Sartoss
Lilika - 55/74 hp
Frizz - 67/74 hp
Viper Swarm - 15 damage

Anyone, give me orders for Lilika.

Lilika takes a step back from the flames, squints to see past the flames to the naga, and casts her arms behind her. She conjures a lance of stone and thrusts her arms forward, sending it flying at the naga—she hopes.

Flat Check vs. Concealed: 1d20 ⇒ 19 (succeeding)

Spell Attack Roll: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (10) + 12 = 22
Piercing Damage: 6d6 ⇒ (3, 4, 5, 4, 4, 3) = 23
On a hit, the lance impales the creature, giving it a –10-foot circumstance penalty to its Speeds unless it Escapes. On a critical hit, if the creature is on the ground, the lance also embeds into the ground and immobilizes the creature until it Escapes. A creature that Escapes after being impaled takes 3 persistent bleed damage. When the spell ends, the lance crumbles into dirt, freeing the target if it hasn't Escaped.

Step (1A), Stone Lance (2A)

The stone lance erupts out of the ground, but the dark naga is faster and slips out of the way.

Viper Bites: 2d8 + 2d8 + 2d8 ⇒ (6, 1) + (8, 6) + (1, 3) = 25

The great mass of vipers all attack Wymond, spitting and biting him repeatedly!

STATUS
Wymond - 33/99 hp, Frightened 1, Viper Poison Stage 1
...Triath - 12/48 hp, Naga Poison Stage 1 (Slowed 1, 1 rd.)
Sanaz - 74 damage, 1d6 persistent acid
Jharun
Sartoss
Lilika - 55/74 hp
Frizz - 67/74 hp
Viper Swarm - 15 damage

Wymond, give me three DC 21 Fortitude saves vs. poison!

The GM flares out his newspapers and sits down, legs crossed...

Sorry for the delay! I was celebrating my birthday!

Fortitude (1): 1d20 + 14 - 1 ⇒ (12) + 14 - 1 = 25
Fortitude (2): 1d20 + 14 - 1 ⇒ (6) + 14 - 1 = 19
Fortitude (3): 1d20 + 14 - 1 ⇒ (1) + 14 - 1 = 14

Happy birthday!

Poison stage 1: 1d4 ⇒ 4

STATUS
Wymond - 29/99 hp, Frightened 1, Viper Poison Stage 1
...Triath - 12/48 hp, Naga Poison Stage 1 (Slowed 1, 1 rd.)
Sanaz - 74 damage, 1d6 persistent acid
Jharun
Sartoss
Lilika - 55/74 hp
Frizz - 67/74 hp
Viper Swarm - 15 damage

Wymond, go!

"WE AIN'T GONNA LAST MUCH LONGER IF WE KEEP FIGHTING LIKE THIS! FALL BACK AN' REGROUP, SAYS I!" Wymond bellows.

Everyone okay with retreating for now? Maybe escape back topside, sell what loot we've obtained and buy antivenoms? I don't wanna just turn tail like an a***hole if you've still got resources I wasn't aware of...I just still kinda have lingering PTSD from Klarkosh...

poison and other round by round damage in 2e is a real problem and many people in play now want some better way to handle persistent damage as it's causing a lot of death and tpk

Jharun dashes back out the door grabbing Rebecca on the way out and making a mad dash for it.

I just still kinda have lingering PTSD from Klarkosh...

My work here is done.

It's just Wymond's turn. Let me know, Wymond.