GM Tarondor's Emerald Spire Campaign

Game Master Tarondor

I'm giving the automaton back 5 hp. I forgot it has hardness.

Jharun, you had me searching for awhile. It's "Illusory Creature."

A monstrously large shark swims into view and bites the giant crab, but the crustacean's hard shell protects it for now.

The shark-tailed automaton attacks the huge shark (illusion's on the bottom, but is so big it can be attacked by the automaton's reach weapon.)

Shark-Tailed Automaton Ranseur v. Illusion: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (13) + 14 = 271d10 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8
Shark-Tailed Automaton Ranseur v. Lilika: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (12) + 9 = 211d10 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11
Shark-Tailed Automaton Ranseur v. Triath: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 201d10 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12

The automaton's slashing attack causes the giant shark to wink out of existence! Lilika dodges its next attack but its third tears a gash in Triath's side!

STATUS
Woman - Haste
Crab - 11 damage
Jharun
Automaton - 24 damage
Frizz - 62/74 hp
Wymond - 85/99 hp
Triath - 36/48 hp
Lilika - 67/74 hp

Frizz, Wymond, Lilika, go!

Frizz positions herself across from Wymond as she slashes her acidic sickle through the churning water.

+1 Sickle (1) Underwater: 1d20 + 15 - 2 ⇒ (16) + 15 - 2 = 29
Sneak Attack: 2d6 ⇒ (2, 5) = 7
Sickle (S+Acid) Damage: 1d4 + 4 + 1d6 ⇒ (3) + 4 + (2) = 9

+1 Sickle (2) Underwater: 1d20 + 11 - 2 ⇒ (16) + 11 - 2 = 25
Sneak Attack: 2d6 ⇒ (1, 4) = 5
Sickle (S+Acid) Damage: 1d4 + 4 + 1d6 ⇒ (4) + 4 + (2) = 10

Step, Strike, Strike

Just to clarify, these critters are still out of my bardiche's reach?

No. The crab is on your level. But the automaton is out of reach without a successful swim check.

TIME FOR CRAB

Wymond attacks the crab to try and take it down.

Strike, Strike, Strike!

Bardiche (1): 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (18) + 15 = 332d10 + 4 ⇒ (10, 9) + 4 = 23
Bardiche (2): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (19) + 10 = 292d10 + 4 ⇒ (3, 1) + 4 = 8
Bardiche (3): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 152d10 + 4 ⇒ (5, 7) + 4 = 16

Lilika continues to bite at the metal creature, and thrash around.

Strike (jaws): 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (16) + 14 = 30
Piercing Damage: 2d8 + 6 ⇒ (7, 2) + 6 = 15

Strike (jaws): 1d20 + 14 - 5 ⇒ (2) + 14 - 5 = 11
Piercing Damage: 2d8 + 6 ⇒ (1, 8) + 6 = 15

Strike (jaws): 1d20 + 14 - 10 ⇒ (3) + 14 - 10 = 7
Piercing Damage: 2d8 + 6 ⇒ (6, 1) + 6 = 13

1A: Strike, 1A Strike, 1A Strike

Lilika Reflex Save: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (16) + 13 = 29

Frizz and Wymond slash and cut the crab, leaving blood in the water. The creature itself vanishes. As it does so, a complex rune flashes on both its body and on that of the watery sorceress.

Above, the new shark avoids the electrical sparks and tears into the automaton. The mechanical man's heavy armor deflects some of the damage of the shark's bite, but torn wires and smashed gear demonstrate that the shark is having an effect!

With a grunt of fury at the loss of her crab, the sorceress flings two powerful blasts of water at Lilika. One hits her, but the far more powerful just barely misses!

Senethar Hydraulic Push v. Lilika: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (12) + 13 = 253d6 ⇒ (2, 2, 3) = 7
Senethar Elemental Toss v. Lilika: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (9) + 13 = 223d8 ⇒ (8, 6, 7) = 21

STATUS
Woman - Haste
Jharun
Automaton - 34 damage
Frizz - 62/74 hp
Wymond - 85/99 hp
Triath - 36/48 hp
Lilika - 60/74 hp

Jharun, go!

Jharun places his hands apart and a ball of fire roars between his fingers and like. A small seed at first it grows and spirals and then launches across the space into the sorceress!

fireball: 6d6 ⇒ (2, 5, 4, 5, 4, 5) = 25

basic reflex 22

Senethar's Reflex save: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (11) + 11 = 22 Success.

Automaton's ranseur v. Lilika: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (16) + 14 = 301d10 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15
Automaton's ranseur v. Lilika: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (8) + 9 = 171d10 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6
Automaton's ranseur v. Triath: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 111d10 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12

The blue-skinned woman dives for cover just in time to avoid the worst of Jharun's fireball. The shark-tailed automaton continues to slice at Lilika and Triath. One solid blow slices Lilika-shark's snout.

STATUS
Woman - 12 damage, Haste
Jharun
Automaton - 34 damage
Frizz - 62/74 hp
Wymond - 85/99 hp
Triath - 36/48 hp
Lilika - 45/74 hp

Frizz, Wymond, Lilika, go!

Frizz gestures to Wymond to follow her as she makes for the caster.

I'm going to leave my token static right meow for GM to move, but my intent is to get close enough to the caster with two Strides, then try to trip her with my sickle. If I can get to her other side with two Strides, I will, If not, I'm content with just being next to her in Strike range. Happy to move my token myself after a response. :)

Athletics vs Reflex DC: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26

Lilika unleashes another flurry of chomps and threshing bites on the automaton.

Strike (jaws): 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (3) + 14 = 17
Piercing Damage: 2d8 + 6 ⇒ (4, 4) + 6 = 14

Strike (jaws): 1d20 + 14 - 5 ⇒ (7) + 14 - 5 = 16
Piercing Damage: 2d8 + 6 ⇒ (2, 8) + 6 = 16

Strike (jaws): 1d20 + 14 - 10 ⇒ (2) + 14 - 10 = 6
Piercing Damage: 2d8 + 6 ⇒ (1, 7) + 6 = 14

1A: Strike, 1A Strike, 1A Strike

Unfortunate! She'll use her hero point (I assume I have one?) to reroll her first attack roll if it's a miss (if it's not a miss she won't reroll anything).

Strike (jaws): 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (1) + 14 = 15
Piercing Damage: 2d8 + 6 ⇒ (2, 7) + 6 = 15
Even worse!

Wymond nods to Frizz and starts striding after her.

Stride. I'll wait for Tarodor's ruling on Frizz's question before doing anything else.

Without a swim speed, Frizz and Wymond will need an Athletics check to move around. Sure, they could trudge across the bottom at half speed, but getting up to the ledge where his target is will still require an Athletics (Swim) check. The water here is turbulent so you must be at least Trained in Athletics to attempt it. The DC is 15. Success means you move 10 feet. Critical successes move you 15'. Ignore Pythagoras and assume vertical movement is the same as horizontal movement. Go!

Alternately you could walk across the bottom and climb up the sides Also Athletics, but you don't have to be trained.

Yes, Lilika had a Hero Point. Not any more!

Lilika needs to roll a Reflex save because she's in the damaged automaton's electrical aura.

Lilika's Reflex save (DC 18): 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (6) + 13 = 19 Good enough!

The shark continues thrashing at the shark-tailed automaton but is unable to penetrate its dense Azlanti armor.

Frizz, Wymond, go!

Hey, what do Frizz, Jharun and Wymond think is happening when the freakin' shark attacks their attacker?

Wymond is admittedly stunned by the entrance by the shark, and even more so by the fact that it seemed to be on their side, but feels he doesn't have time to question it as the fight is still ongoing. He does his best to swim towards the caster.

Athletics (T): 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (11) + 12 = 23

Despite his armor weighing him down, he manages to make progress.

Athletics (T): 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (1) + 12 = 13

Unfortunately he doesn't make much more progress than that.

Athletics (T): 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (8) + 12 = 20

Then, giving some more oomph, he manages to get further.

Frizz trudges across the bottom of the room before trying to haul herself up onto the ledge.

Athletics(T): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8

gah! wish I could be a shark like Lilika... WAIT! that's the shark! she almost died as a shark with that mudman, I bet she went back to find that slop monster and show him what's what! she thinks as she floats back down to the floor after loosing her grip.

Stride x2, Climb :(

Wymond and Frizz advance slowly towards the water-woman. Seeing them come, she hurls a bolt of lightning at Frizz!

Lightning Bolt: 4d12 ⇒ (11, 11, 3, 7) = 32

STATUS[/b]
Woman - 12 damage, Haste
Jharun
Automaton - 34 damage
Frizz - 62/74 hp
Wymond - 85/99 hp
Triath - 36/48 hp
Lilika - 45/74 hp

[ooc]Frizz, give me a DC 21 Reflex save.

It's Jharun's turn, but because his player is busy, someone please bot him.

No idea what Jharun would do but... rolling with this.

Jharun draws his hand back, like an archer drawing a bow, and utters a word of arcane power, sending an arrow of acid flying at the sorceress across the room.

Casting acid arrow.
Spell attack roll: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (7) + 12 = 19
Acid Damage: 3d8 ⇒ (8, 2, 3) = 13 Plus Persistent Acid Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 5

Then he conjures a magical shield with a quick flick of his wrist.
Casting shield to gain +1 AC for 1 round.

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

Jharun's acid arrow misses and scorches the far wall!

Frizz, Reflex save, please.

Reflex: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (2) + 14 = 16

Hero Point please!

Reflex: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (4) + 14 = 18

C'mon!

Skewered and broiled by the tremendous bolt of lightning, Frizz gasps in pain.

The machine-man continues to attack the interloping shark with its glowing guisarme, cutting it very badly! Blood begins to cloud the water.

Shark-Tailed Automaton v. Lilika: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (13) + 14 = 272d10 + 5 ⇒ (9, 8) + 5 = 22
Shark-Tailed Automaton v. Lilika: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (18) + 9 = 272d10 + 5 ⇒ (8, 3) + 5 = 16
Shark-Tailed Automaton v. Lilika: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 202d10 + 5 ⇒ (7, 5) + 5 = 17

A quick note - I had previously forgotten that the automaton's weapon has a striking rune. Thus the increased damage.

STATUS[/b]
Woman - 12 damage, Haste
Jharun
Automaton - 34 damage
Frizz - 30/74 hp
Wymond - 85/99 hp
Triath - 36/48 hp
Lilika - 12/74 hp

[ooc]Frizz, Wymond, Triath, Lilika, go! Lilika, you'll need to make a DC 18 Reflex save to avoid 1d10 electricity damage.

Frizz scrambles in the water to try and climb up the wall out of the water.

Athletics: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14
Can't catch a break...
Athletics: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20
Finally!

Frizz hand cramps with a jolt of residual electricity as she tried to climb up and out of the water. She splashes back down into the water. As her feet hit bottom, she gives a strong push and jettisons to the surface.

After scrambling up, she tries to hook a leg of the spell caster.
Trip vs Reflex DC: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (20) + 8 = 28
Nice!
Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 3

Wymond tries to swim and close with the spellcaster!

Athletics (T): 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (19) + 12 = 31

Perspective question, GM: Are those platforms on the same level as the surface with the ladders extending down into it like a pool ladder, or are they elevated above the water and the ladders end at its surface, meaning I'd have to climb up the ladder to approach the spellcaster on the platform?

Wymond: It's the first one.

Frizz and Wymond surge up on to the platform, where the gnome sweeps the undine sorcerer's legs from under her with a deft and surprising move! She falls to the floor with an oomph! of surprise.

Wymond, you still have two actions. Lilika, it is your turn too.

Reflex: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (2) + 13 = 15
Ouch: 1d10 ⇒ 6 Down to 6 HP.

Heavily wounded and suddenly wishing that sharks had hands, Lilika rolls her shark eyes and swims over to the nearest platform she can flop onto. She dismisses her spell, suddenly turning into a sopping wet and rather surly looking half-elf, with sickly purple skin. She presses a hand to her wounds and her flesh knits shut beneath her hand.

Heal: 2d8 ⇒ (1, 3) = 4 Up to 10 HP.

"Such a waste," she mutters under her breath. Louder she calls out to Frizz, "You weren't supposed to be here. Didn't you learn anything?"

1A Swim, 1A Dismiss Spell, 1A Heal (2nd level)

I assume this is a raised platform she can stand on or sit on or something?

Second question: does my first Athletics check get me up that ladder, or do I need to make a second one to do that?

Lilika, yes. It's high and dry and you can stand or sit. Frizz can't see you but she can hear you.

Wymond. Your first Athletics roll gets you to the top of the ladder because you swam (walking to it and climbing would have required no check). But the sorceress is standing at the top of the ladder, so you can try to shove her back or leap diagonally past her, either of which will require a second Athletics roll.

Wymond, still you.

Now face to face with the spellcaster, Wymond grabs the ladder with one hand, holding his bardiche in the other, and attempts to climb up and shove her aside so he can get on the platform!

Athletics (T): 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (18) + 12 = 30

Once he's on the platform, he takes his bardiche in both hands and brings it down on her!

Strike!: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (13) + 15 = 282d10 + 4 ⇒ (2, 2) + 4 = 8

Hmmm... I didn't see that anyone had posted. Sorry for the delay!

Wymond shoves the sorceress back from her perch at the forward edge of the ledge and strikes her with his poleaxe. She glares furiously at him and steps back. "I yield!" she spits angrily, holding up her hands. The swimming automaton, however, isn't stopping.

STATUS
Woman - 20 damage, Haste
Jharun
Automaton - 34 damage
Frizz - 30/74 hp
Wymond - 85/99 hp
Triath - 36/48 hp
Lilika - 12/74 hp

Jharun, go!

"Call off yer clanky an' we can talk," Wymond barks back.

"That's not mine. That's Klarkosh's."

"Then kill it!" Frizz shouts at her, threatening with her sickle.

"Let it go, Frizz, I got this," Wymond says, preparing to return to the fight when his next turn comes up.

Jharun will move way around the automaton and move to the sorceress with a dagger to her spine as Wymond returns to combat saying do not move not one bit or I will gut you like... A fish, yes...

"Really, Jharun?" Wymond asks, rolling his eyes. "Really?!"

Jharun, you're in the water. Let me get an Athletics roll to swim over to the ledge where the sorceress is.

not likely

athletics: 1d20 ⇒ 5

Jharun's 2nd attempt: 1d20 ⇒ 8 Nope.
Jharun's 3rd attempt: 1d20 ⇒ 14 A little better.

Success on a Swim check (DC 10 in this case) results in 10' of forward progress.

Jharun dog paddles slowly in the direction of the others. The automaton follows him and attacks with its ranseur, slashing him across the back with its magically-sharp blade!

Shark-tailed automaton v. Jharun: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (5) + 14 = 192d10 + 5 ⇒ (10, 4) + 5 = 19
Shark-tailed automaton v. Jharun: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (13) + 9 = 222d10 + 5 ⇒ (10, 8) + 5 = 23

STATUS
Woman - 20 damage, Haste, surrendered
Jharun - 31/54 hp
Automaton - 34 damage
Frizz - 30/74 hp
Wymond - 85/99 hp
Triath - 36/48 hp
Lilika - 12/74 hp

Everyone, go!

"If you don't use your magic to kill that shark robit, I'm going to come back and wallop you again!" Frizz shouts as she jumps back into the water to aid Jharun.

Swim: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13
Swim: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11

She thrashes through the water before bringing her sickle down to bear on the shark.

◆ Swim
◆ Swim
◆ Strike

+1 Sickle (1): 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (16) + 15 = 31
Sickle (S+Acid) Damage: 1d4 + 4 + 1d6 ⇒ (2) + 4 + (4) = 10

Wymond solemnly steps off the platform and into the water, and then begins swimming towards the clanky, bardiche in hand. Once he closes with the creature he attacks!

Step, Swim, Strike!

Athletics (T): 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (9) + 12 = 21

Bardiche: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (19) + 15 = 342d10 + 4 ⇒ (9, 2) + 4 = 15

Lilika casts another healing spell on herself.

Heal (2A): 1d8 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10

Then she stands up.

Frizz and Wymond make short work of the automaton, cutting it to pieces!

About that time, a blue-skinned man and woman show up, each with giant crabs in tow. Their family resemblance to the woman you subdued is obvious.

"Don't move," says the new woman. She glances at the previously captured woman and sees her bleeding. "You bastards!" she yells, and begins to summon lightning to her hands.

Whaddya do?

"Ah s***," Wymond burbles when he sees the new potential combatants.

"Don't suppose we can talk an' put this whole mess behind us?" he calls to them. "Your kin yielded to us, and we accepted her surrender. We were not going to kill her, and we can offer healing if ya doubt our sincerity. And if y'all are fightin' cause Klarkosh told ya to, he's dead."

Wymond waits for their answer, hoping to at least the delay will give them a chance to regroup.

Diplomacy (E): 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (15) + 11 = 26

The man and woman look at your "prisoner" (although the term is debatable now that you're in the water). She shrugs, almost disinterested.

The new woman sighs. "What do you want?"

Jharun climbs back out of the water where he came from shaking his head thinking he needs to start working out more while he listens to how negotiations go.

Frizz swims back up and onto the platform and squeezes the water from her hair. The little gnome turns to the new arrivals.
"This one here" she gestures with her sickle to the "prisoner" "thought she could wallop us with the help of that robit there" she gestures to the sunken robotic shark. "But she didn't know who she was messin' with and ol' Wymmie and I gave her a hyip and a hyup" Frizz punctuates her sentence with a flourish of her sickle.

She pauses a moment and wriggles a finger in her ear to loosen the water.

"Anyway... we didn't mean to hurt anyone and we're just looking to find the mudman that walloped us last time so we can kick his muddy teeth in." Frizz says.

"And I guess we're sorting out what's all in this spire here too. Like those portals with all the water and whatnot. What's the deal with that? Did Klarkosh leave anymore evil robits on this floor?" she asks.

"Frizz, we may not HAVE to fight the mudman if we're talking stuff out with 'em!" Wymond says. "And watch where yer pointin' that thing!"

He turns back towards the other group, treading water as best as his armor will allow.

"What she said is true, we're explorin' the Spire, doin' tasks for various folks on the surface like mappin', magical research an' rescues. When yer people an' us encountered each other back by the stairs up, they assumed we were hostile an' forced us to defend ourselves."

Diplomacy (E): 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (1) + 11 = 12
Spending a Hero Point to reroll that.
Diplomacy (E): 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (8) + 11 = 19

Frizz sheepishly puts her sickle behind her back and gives a grin.

Aid Diplomacy!: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (8) + 10 = 18
So close!

"This level is ours," says the new woman. "I am Dayana. You've already met Jorqual and Senethar." You now recognize Jorqual as the blue-skinned sorcerer you met when you first came to the drowned level.

"We're here from the Plane of Water to study the portals. We don't care for you, your little world or this structure. We've had to acknowledge Klarkosh as master of the Upper Reaches of the Spire, but know that we were recently approached by creatures from deeper down who sought to ally with us against Klarkosh. They were... what is the word in this language... snake-men. If you keep exploring, you will encounter snake-men in the depths."