GM Tarondor's Emerald Spire Campaign

Game Master Tarondor

Wymond, you fail your Athletics check. You aren't drowning, but you are underwater and holding your breath. You've spent 1 round of air. You also don't lose your attack, but do suffer a -2 penalty to hit (so sayeth the GM).

Wymond struggles furiously to stay afloat in his bulky armor, but slips beneath the water. As he sinks, he thrusts out his bardiche and cuts the squishy mudlord.

The mudlord dives and attacks Wymond with an outthrust pseudopod, but misses because it cannot see well for a moment.

Slam: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (12) + 17 = 292d8 + 9 ⇒ (8, 4) + 9 = 21
Dazzled miss chance: 1d20 ⇒ 3 Ooo, you lucky bastard!

STATUS
Lilika
Slaagh (non-combatant)
Mudlord - 8 damage - submerged
Frizz - 24/48 hp
Wymond - submerged, holding breath 1
Perfire

[ooc]Everyone, go![/ooc[

Lilika thrashes around in the water, attempting to chomp the creature in half.

Strike: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (19) + 9 = 28
Piercing Damage: 2d8 + 1 ⇒ (7, 1) + 1 = 9

Strike: 1d20 + 9 - 5 ⇒ (17) + 9 - 5 = 21
Piercing Damage: 2d8 + 1 ⇒ (4, 7) + 1 = 12

Strike: 1d20 + 9 - 10 ⇒ (7) + 9 - 10 = 6
Piercing Damage: 2d8 + 1 ⇒ (1, 7) + 1 = 9

Wymond tries to swim back to the surface without losing his grip on his weapon.

Athletics: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (13) + 13 = 26

Assuming that's a success...

He manages to pull himself up and breathes.

"Don't let up, Triath!" he calls out, as the boar paddles to the creature to gore it, and Wymond follows up by attacking in kind!

Using an action to get Triath to do his thing, and then attacking.

Bardiche(Piercing): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (14) + 10 = 241d10 + 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (5) + (3) + 3 = 11

Athletics: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (1) - 1 = 0

Acid Arrow: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (11) + 10 = 21

Damage: 3d8 ⇒ (6, 8, 6) = 20

Perfire flings out a hand, launching an arrow of acid towards the muddy creature and in doing so, sinks beneath the surface of the water, breathing in a moment too late and inhaling some of the awful murk.

1d6 persistent acid damage on the creature if it hits.

Lilika/shark bites the mudlord, its blobby body squishing between her jaws, but she does tear off a small chunk. Wymond manages to spear the creature, but its amorphous body flows around the wound. Distracted by the whole drowning thing, Perfire's shot goes wide of the mark.

It has Resistance 5 to slashing and piercing.

STATUS
Lilika
Slaagh (non-combatant)
Mudlord - 18 damage - submerged
Frizz - 24/48 hp
Wymond -
Perfire - submerged, holding breath 1

Frizz, go!

Frizz scrambles frantically in the water to surround the creature, still reeling from the blow to the head.

Athletics: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17

She thrusts out with her sword twice through the murky waters, trying to land a blow.

ShortSword (1): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (7) + 9 = 16
ShortSword (P/S)Damage: 1d6 - 1 ⇒ (4) - 1 = 3
Sneak Attack Flank: 1d6 ⇒ 6
ShortSword (2): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16
ShortSword (P/S)Damage: 1d6 - 1 ⇒ (2) - 1 = 1
Sneak Attack Flank: 1d6 ⇒ 2

Frizz's frantic attacks are pushed aside by the water and don't come close to the enemy.

1d5 ⇒ 1

The mudlord attacks Lilika, slamming into her snout twice and nearly killing her. Blood streams into the murky water!

Slam: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (7) + 17 = 242d8 + 9 ⇒ (8, 6) + 9 = 23
Slam: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (18) + 12 = 302d8 + 9 ⇒ (8, 2) + 9 = 19
Slam: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 102d8 + 9 ⇒ (2, 8) + 9 = 19

STATUS
Lilika - 6/48 hp
Slaagh (non-combatant)
Mudlord - 8 damage - submerged
Frizz - 24/48 hp
Wymond - submerged, holding breath 1
Perfire

[ooc]Everyone, go![/ooc[

Athletics: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (3) + 13 = 16

Athletics: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (19) - 1 = 18

Perfire bursts to the surface, gulping down air. After filling his lungs, He reaches out with his will, attempting to find something to fling at the creature.

Not sure if I can use telekinetic projectile here, but there's not a whole lot else I can do right now. I'm straight out of spell slots.

Telekinetic Projectile: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (18) + 10 = 28

Damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10

Wymond struggles beneath the surface while Perfire breaks the surface and hurls a stone at the mudlord which squelches into its amorphous body.

STATUS
Lilika - 6/48 hp
Slaagh (non-combatant)
Mudlord - 18 damage - submerged
Frizz - 24/48 hp
Wymond - submerged, holding breath 2
Perfire

Perfire, there is plenty of rubble, even though much of it is below the surface. And the mudlord has no resistance to bludgeoning damage, so it takes full effect.

Frizz and Lilika, go! Wymond, you have two actions left.
If you haven't read my comments in the Discussion thread, please do so before posting.

"Lilika!"
Frizz gasps as she attempts to stay afloat.

Athletics: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20

With a ringing in her ears still, Frizz mutely hears the melee but sees the resulting gore. Her eyes scan for her party.
Lilika, Perfire, ... Wymond?!

Delaying here to follow the party for retreat.

Wymond tries to swim over to Lilika.

Athletics: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24

Once he reaches her, he reaches out and grants her some of Erastil's healing light.

Casting lay on hands giving Lilika 6 more HP and a +2 status bonus to AC for 1 round.

Anyone, give me orders for Lilika!

Lilika thrashes about in pain trying to find purchase on the creature, before swimming back to the entrance corridor.

Strike: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (11) + 9 = 20
Piercing Damage: 2d8 + 1 ⇒ (3, 4) + 1 = 8

Strike, Stride 35ft North, Dismiss

Athletic: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12

"Perf!...Swim back!..."
Frizz shouts as her head bobs in and out of the water. She swims toward the entrance until the rope about her waist jerks her to stop.

Stride, Ready Action to swim more once Wymond follow.
Assuming Lilika is freed from rope in shark form.
Also, assuming I can only get 10ft from Wymond since we're tied with rope.

Lilika/shark bites the mudlord, but it remains nothing more than soft mud in her jaws. She then runs for the tunnel.

The mudlord surfaces, slamming Wymond hard in the stomach. His eyes roll back in his head and he sinks below the water, unconscious. The mudlord rounds on Perfire and hits him, too, roaring in some unknown language.

Mudlord v. Wymond: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (19) + 17 = 362d8 + 9 ⇒ (1, 6) + 9 = 16 Critical Hit.
Mudlord v. Perfire: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (9) + 12 = 212d8 + 9 ⇒ (2, 8) + 9 = 19

STATUS
Lilika - 12/48 hp
Slaagh (non-combatant)
Mudlord - 18 damage - submerged
Frizz - 24/48 hp
Wymond - 0 hp, Dying 1, Drowning
Perfire - 11/30 hp

Everyone, go. Think fast!

RETCON!

Dunno what I was thinking. Wymond is not down.

The mudlord surfaces, slamming Wymond hard in the stomach. The mudlord rounds on Perfire and hits him, too, roaring in some unknown language.

STATUS
Lilika - 12/48 hp
Slaagh (non-combatant)
Mudlord - 18 damage - submerged
Frizz - 24/48 hp
Wymond - 32/64 hp - submerged (
Perfire - 11/30 hp

Carry on.

Perfire begins swimming for the exit in a panic. When he reaches the end of his tether he continues to swim, trying to pull Wymond along with him.

Athletics: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (18) - 1 = 17

Ready an action as well I suppose because it doesn't look like I can actually move until others are into/thourgh the tunnel.

Athletics: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7

I can still MOVE if I fail the Athletics check, right? I just can't surface?

Yes. Go go go!

While unable to surface, Wymond feels the tug on his rope and starts making his way to the exit to give it some slack. Triath swims after them.

Go past me, I'll bring up the rear!

Frizz continues to swim toward the exit as she feels slack from the rope.

Using readied action to continue
Athletics: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (15) + 7 = 22

Athletics: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (2) - 1 = 1

Athletics: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (16) - 1 = 15

Perfire struggles at the rear of the line of swimmers.

I still can't move my token given the number of spaces I can swim in a round based on the map.

I don't know what you mean, Perfire. If you are talking about room, you can squeeze in there.

Plus, we can yank you along anyway, as we're all tied together!

Since the others have caught up, Lilika presses on, leading the way back out of the water. Once she's far enough away, she dismisses her spell, regaining her natural form.

Swim, Swim, Dismiss Spell.

Okay, everyone runs out of the room and the mudlord allows you to flee. Beaten and bloody, you float in the hallway.

What now?

'I don't think I can push much farther without a proper rest. I'd prefer to do it somewhere a bit drier if we can.' Perfire says clearly exhausted.

Wymond gets himself to a place he can surface easily and spits out some water.

"I reckon you're right, Perry. Tha' was a horrifyin' experience. I can tend te yer injuries as well. Why don't we fall back te Godhome? Since if'n we just camp by the stairs an' the folks down here decide te come after us, they can harass us at range an' retreat back inte the water, forcin' us te go after 'em inte the water where they'd have the advantage."

Frizz wrings some water from her hair and shirt. Flipping the sopping mess back, shy says.
"I could use some rest too. And maybe we can check out more of what's in that pile of holy stuff."
Glancing sideways at Slaagh, she adds.
"And just leave it there..."

Wymond shakes his head.

"That's likely gone, Frizz. Them Vexteng and Ulaman were gonna bring that stuff with 'em wherever they're headed now, and odds are they'll need it."

Looks like we're headed to Godhome to rest and heal up. And NOT take things...

You return to Godhome and find that the troglodytes have abandoned it, leaving only their stench behind. The doors remain inserted into the God-box and the level is otherwise empty. Slaagh sighs.

Wymond begins setting up a proper camp.

"Y'alright, Slagh?" he asks as he works.

The troglodyte sets down his torch and sits, regarding the Godbox from a distance. "Slaagh is fine."

Perfire assists Wymond in setting up camp while lost in thought about their recent encounter, determined not to be turned away from further exploration.

Arcana: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (3) + 10 = 13

Frizz busies herself with writing in her journal about the companions escapades. She sketches out a few scenes from memory, which is foggy from the slap the mudman gave her. She circles the Godbox while sketching and gnawing her pencil.

"D'ya think this Godbox has anything to do with the water? I mean, I read a book called 'Gravity and It's Many Affects And Applications for the Arcane Student.' and that books said that Golarion's moon makes the tides move and it's not the gods that do it like some people think. And I was just thinking that maybe this thing is a god and it's round like a moon and maybe if we take those doors out then the water will move. Or maybe we can used the doors to clog up those portals?"

Idk about magnets and water but I'm stabbing in the dark on how to get past this next level.

Wymond nods.

"Well, if'n ye ever wanna talk, I'm happy te listen. Ye didn't ask te get thrust inte this adventure, but yer already a valuable part of the team, an' yer a brave lad."

He sighs at Frizz's rambling.

"Nay, I don't think this has somethin' te do with the water downstairs, Frizz. Ye saw them portals down there. What we need is either a spell wot can close'em te stop 'em leakin' more water inte the Spire, or we need te find a way te get around that room the big muddy's guardin'."

So, out of character, to save time, there are precisely two ways past the Drowned Level: through the mudlord's room or using the Spire Transport token to teleport to the next (sixth) level.

Might I suggest using a Hero Point on that roll, Perfire?

Sure will!

Arcana Reroll: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (7) + 10 = 17

oof, only marginally better

Yeah, Perfire just doesn't know much about mud-creatures.

So, out of character, to save time, there are precisely two ways past the Drowned Level: through the mudlord's room or using the Spire Transport token to teleport to the next (sixth) level.

Might I suggest using a Hero Point on that roll, Perfire?

Yeah, but I wanted to come to that conclusion in RP...I figured one of the smarter party members would bring up the token, so Wymond can then suggest showing it to some wizardly types like the Goldenfire Order to figure out how it works.

'I can't think of a good way to beat that mud-thing. I do remember master Royst saying something about a transport token. I think it was that runed stone. Maybe he can help us with our problem?'

"Hmmmm... let me see that token. MaybeWeDon'tHaveToGoSeeMasterRoast..."

Frizz, being a student of Azlant, thinks hard on all the books she's read on the subject.

Token...token...Tolkien? No... Token....

Lore Azlant (E) +11
I have the Archaeologist Dedication, specializing in Azlant. :)

Frizz knows that important members of the ancient Azlanti would often move around their empire with the use of transport tokens.

Perfire has one in his pack keyed to the sixth level of the spire. You simply touch it to any portion of the Emerald Spire and poof!

One of Wymond's eyebrows raises in curiosity, and Triath seems to imitate his master's expression.

Soooo.... what's the plan, mighty adventurers?

I was waiting for someone else to say something.

'The only clear path I see is to take our chances with the token. I can't see a way past that mud creature by any other means.' Perfire says after careful consideration. 'I don't fancy paying another tribute to the Hellknights quite yet either.'

"We wouldn't necessarily...Remember them Goldenfire wizards we talked to? They're outta Thornkeep, an' they're a LOT less strict about that kinda thing...That's the only token we GOT, though, right? If we go down usin' it, we're gonna have to fight our way back up if we wanna return to the surface."

I'm going to try transcribing Wymond's accent less going forward. You get he's sort of a West Country British type, right?