GM Tarondor's Kingmaker Campaign

Game Master Tarondor

Unlike so much of the space they've been through already, this shrine has no dust in it and its impossible to find tracks. But certainly someone or something has been here in the past few days. You can also see by the scuffs on the floor that both the western and northern doors have been opened recently.

Kern, the southern lamp has no oil in it to light, but the two northern ones do. You light both of those. They burn with a fitful light.

"It looks like both the doors to the North and West have been used recently. Be on your guard." Kern warns the group before moving to the Northern door and inspecting it.

Mikhail moves to join Kern by the door.

Kern, you see nothing untoward on the doors.

Piotr keeps up with the others. He scans the doors for magical auras.

Cast Detect Magic

Alister joins the others at the doors. He readies his shortbow. "Ok, let's see what's through here."

Kern pushes open the northern door to find....

As soon as you pull on that door, the altar behind you vomits forth a roiling Stygian black fire that reeks of the fetid mists that hover above the river Styx.

Everyone, give me a DC 32 Reflex save. If you fail that save, also give me a DC 32 Fortitude save.

Reflex Save: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (5) + 17 = 22
Fort Save: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (4) + 13 = 17
Ooof, some rough DCs there. That's crit fail on both...

Reflex: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (20) + 16 = 36

Mikhail manages to deftly dive out of the way.

Crit success I think with the 20. Do 20s crit success on saves?

Reflex: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (10) + 18 = 28
Uh oh...
Fortitude: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (19) + 14 = 33
Phew...
@Mikhail, natural 20 increases result by one, so Success become Crit success, even for saves.

Oops! I meant DC 26, not 32! Sorry!

And yes, 20's crit on saves.

Reflex save (+15): 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (19) + 15 = 34
Fortitude save (+14): 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (3) + 14 = 17

Reflex save: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (10) + 13 = 23

Fort save: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (11) + 15 = 26

To be clear:

Alister Failed both saves, but did not crit fail.
Kern and Piotr succeeded on the Reflex save and so didn't have to make the Fort save.
Aristu Failed the Reflex save, but succeeded on the Fort Save.

Stygian Fire Damage: 4d10 + 26 ⇒ (5, 3, 3, 7) + 26 = 44

Kern and Piotr take 22 cold damage. Alister and Aristu take 44.

Alister is Clumsy 1, Stupefied 1 and Stunned for one round.

Aristu is Clumsy 1 and stunned 1.

Mikhail is unharmed.

Mikhail never healed up from the last fight.

STATUS
Mikhail - 84/112 hp
Kernithar - 80/102 hp
Alister - 52/96 hp, Clumsy 1, Stupefied 1, Stunned 1 rd.
Aristu - 28/72 hp, Clumsy 1, Stunned 1.
Piotr - 58/80 hp

Of course, it doesn't end there. As soon as you open the door, a dreadful summoned guardian appears in a burst of foul-smelling damp mist.

Appearing as a hideous cross between lobster, octopus, and man, the guardian speaks to you telepathically. "How dare you defile the Inner Sanctum of the Horseman of Death?"

Huh... I guess that isn't a grim reaper...
Kern thinks after recovering from diving out of the way of the rolling fire.

"Defile? We came here to learn what has long been forgotten and lit these candles to illuminate not just the room, but our minds." He says to assuage the creature.

Deception (T): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (19) + 10 = 29 Nice!
Any bonuses for vague three-quarter-truths?

Alister is burned badly and just stares at the monstrous creature.

"We believe that someone else came down here, and there are signs that they may have had nefarious plans. We seek to preserve what we have seen down here." Mikhail says as he waves towards some of the artwork.

"we" might not all want to preserve it, but Mikhail is going with that anyway.

"Lies!" it shouts in your minds. "Thieves, intruders, burglars! Hereticsssss!"

It launches itself towards you, claws out!

Alister: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (16) + 12 = 28
Aristu: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (18) + 12 = 30
Kernithar: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (18) + 17 = 35 +2 for Initiative
Mikhail: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (15) + 18 = 33
Piotr: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (6) + 15 = 21
Daemon: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (9) + 19 = 28

STATUS
Kernithar - 80/102 hp
Mikhail - 84/112 hp
Aristu - 28/72 hp, Clumsy 1, Stunned 1.
Daemon
Alister - 52/96 hp, Clumsy 1, Stupefied 1, Stunned 1 rd.
Piotr - 58/80 hp

Kern, Mikhail, Aristu, go!

Mikhail strides forward and says, "You have chosen poorly." As his blade swings down at the creature.

Stride, Strike, Strike.

First Attack with Civility: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (6) + 19 = 25

First Damage with Civility: 2d12 + 4 + 3 ⇒ (11, 7) + 4 + 3 = 25

Second Attack with Civility: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (8) + 14 = 22

Second Damage with Civility: 2d12 + 4 + 3 ⇒ (8, 11) + 4 + 3 = 26

Kern assesses this creature and shouts tactics to Mikhail.

◆ Stride to Flanking, ◆ Hunt Prey (RK too, crit is +1 to hit), ◆ Warden's Boon
Since Kern goes before Mikhail, I'd like to petition for flanking and Mikhail's MAP to be reduced. His second attack would be 24 in this case.

I would give it to you, Kern, but it ain't gonna make a difference with those rolls.

Kern has no earthly idea what that thing is! And its giant claws deftly bat aside Mikhail's attacks with Civility.

Aristu, go!

Aristu is staggered by the wave of black fire. When he recovers, he pulls out a vial of red fluid and drinks it,

(1)Stunned; (2)draw Potion of Moderate Healing; (3)drink potion.

Healing: 3d8 + 10 ⇒ (8, 2, 7) + 10 = 27

Aristu downs a potion that soothes some of his wounds.

1&2 - Cast Stinking Cloud.
3. Strike

The daemon chants a spell, and Mikhail's blade flicks out, cutting the beast, but without interrupting the spell. A horrid, thick gas fills the air around you, choking and making sight difficult!

Mikhail AoO: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (15) + 19 = 342d12 + 4 + 3 ⇒ (11, 11) + 4 + 3 = 29

Then the monster whips a tentacle at Kernithar, slamming him with evil power.

Tentacle: 1d20 + 23 ⇒ (11) + 23 = 34
Damage: 2d6 + 12 ⇒ (4, 1) + 12 = 17 bludgeoning plus 1d6 ⇒ 5 evil plus piscovenom

STATUS
Kernithar - 58/102 hp
Mikhail - 84/112 hp
Aristu - 55/72 hp, Clumsy 1
Daemon - 29 damage
Alister - 52/96 hp, Clumsy 1, Stupefied 1, Stunned 1 rd.
Piotr - 58/80 hp

Mikhail and Kern both need to give me DC 29 Fort saves against Stinking Cloud.

[ooc]Kern must also give me a DC 30 Fortitude save against Piscovenom.[/ooc]

Stinking Cloud Fort: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (16) + 14 = 30
Piscovenom: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (4) + 14 = 18
Phew! Enfeebled is only STR.

Kern suffers a mighty blow but retorts with his own flurry of blade.

Elven Curved Blade vs Prey (1): 1d20 + 17 - 1 ⇒ (15) + 17 - 1 = 31Damage: 2d8 + 2 ⇒ (3, 2) + 2 = 7
Elven Curved Blade vs Prey (2): 1d20 + 14 - 1 ⇒ (7) + 14 - 1 = 20Damage (Forceful): 2d8 + 4 ⇒ (4, 7) + 4 = 15

"Attack now while we have it surrounded!" He shouts to Mikhail.
Strike, Strike, Warden's Boon

Fortitude: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (7) + 15 = 22

So Failed. Sickened 1 and Slowed 1. I do not think Sickened effects damage rolls so I left it out.

Mikhail coughs in the thick cloud but continues to fight.

Strike, Strike.

First Attack with Civility And Sickened: 1d20 + 19 - 1 ⇒ (20) + 19 - 1 = 38

First Damage with Civility: 2d12 + 4 + 3 ⇒ (11, 8) + 4 + 3 = 26

Second Attack with Civility And Sickened: 1d20 + 16 - 1 ⇒ (15) + 16 - 1 = 30

Second Damage with Civility: 2d12 + 4 + 3 ⇒ (10, 5) + 4 + 3 = 22

A nice crit to make up for the lost attack.

Kern, even a success against Stinking Cloud makes you Sickened 1.

You feel ill. Sickened always includes a value. You take a status penalty equal to this value on all your checks and DCs. You can't willingly ingest anything—including elixirs and potions—while sickened.

You can spend a single action retching in an attempt to recover, which lets you immediately attempt a Fortitude save against the DC of the effect that made you sickened. On a success, you reduce your sickened value by 1 (or by 2 on a critical success).

So both of you were -1 on all attacks.

______________________________________________________________________

As Kern tries to fight off the piscovenom, the piscodaemon flutters its tentacles and poison worsens, burning in Kern's veins! This is a reaction.

Enhanced venom: 2d8 ⇒ (7, 1) = 8

Furthermore, all creatures in a Stinking Cloud are concealed. So you need to make a DC 5 flat check to hit anything.

DC 5 flat check for Daemon's successful attack: 1d20 ⇒ 13 Success.
DC 5 flat check for Kern's successful attack: 1d20 ⇒ 8 Success.
DC 5 flat check for Mikhail's first attack: 1d20 ⇒ 13 Success.
DC 5 flat check for Mikhail's second attack: 1d20 ⇒ 10 Success.

Kern draws his fine elvish blade in a line across the daemon's torso as Mikhail slams Civility down in to powerful chops, audibly cracking the daemon's carapace and making it scream in pain and anger.

Alister stares dumbly, frozen by the Stygian flames.

STATUS
Kernithar - 46/102 hp, Sickened 1, Enfeebled 1
Mikhail - 84/112 hp, sickened 1, slowed 1 while in the cloud.
Aristu - 55/72 hp, Clumsy 1
Daemon - 107 damage
Alister - 52/96 hp, Clumsy 1, Stupefied 1
Piotr - 58/80 hp

Piotr, Aristu, go!

I read the part about getting a new save, but how would that work if you were in the cloud? Would it also stop the Slowed if I did well enough?

As long as you're in the cloud, you'll have to make a new save every round. Succeeding on one round doesn't save you the next.

The slowed condition stops as soon as you leave the cloud, but the Sickened condition will persist until you spend the action attempting to end it.

Aristu advances, gathering arcane energies as he moves. He stops and weaves a spell that sends wild fey energy into the cloud where it unravels the conjuration.

(1)Stride; (2&3)Cast Dispel Magic at the cloud.

Counteract check: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (19) + 16 = 35

Aristu waves his hands in a strange gesture, plucks a previously unseen glowing thread from mid-air, pulls it and breaks it. A latticework of golden light unravels in the mist and in a moment the stinking cloud disappears!

Piotr, go!

Piotr advances into the room with the creature, before pausing to cast a spell to summon a ball of flame. He hurls the flame at the creature.

1 - Move
2,3 - Cast Produce Flame (Heightened to 4th lvl & spell attack

Spell Attack (+16): 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (19) + 16 = 35
Produce Flame dmg: 4d4 ⇒ (3, 4, 4, 3) = 14

Piotr lobs an eldritch ball of fire at the daemon, which sears its oily skin. The evil creature turns its fury on Kernithar, tearing at him with its huge claws and grasping with its tentacles. The elf warrior manages to avoid the huge claws, but is slapped with one of the powerful tentacles and feels it leeching at his soul!

1 & 2. Gory Rend v. Kern
3. Tentacle Strike

Claw Attack v. Kern: 1d20 + 23 ⇒ (2) + 23 = 252d10 + 12 + 1d6 ⇒ (8, 3) + 12 + (2) = 25 and Grab
Claw Attack v. Kern: 1d20 + 23 - 5 ⇒ (3) + 23 - 5 = 212d10 + 12 + 1d6 ⇒ (2, 4) + 12 + (5) = 23 and Grab
Tentacle Attack v. Kern: 1d20 + 23 - 9 ⇒ (16) + 23 - 9 = 302d6 + 12 + 1d6 ⇒ (6, 2) + 12 + (5) = 25 and Piscovenom

STATUS
Kernithar - 21/102 hp, Sickened 1, Enfeebled 1
Mikhail - 84/112 hp, sickened 1, slowed 1 while in the cloud.
Aristu - 55/72 hp, Clumsy 1
Daemon - 121 damage
Alister - 52/96 hp, Clumsy 1, Stupefied 1
Piotr - 58/80 hp

Kern, please give me a DC 30 Fort save vs. Piscovenom.

Piscovenom, Stage 2: 2d8 ⇒ (7, 7) = 14 poison damage plus Enfeebled 1.

Enhance Venom Reaction: 2d8 ⇒ (1, 3) = 4 more poison damage, regardless of whether you succeed or fail on the save.

Fort: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (17) + 14 = 31
Phew.

Kern takes a guarded step toward the wall before dashing out toward Alister and Aristu.
"Mikhail, it leaves an opening after it swings a tentacle." He shouts.

Step E, then 40ft into the other room, Warden's boon

STATUS
Kernithar - 17/102 hp, Sickened 1, Enfeebled 1
Mikhail - 84/112 hp, sickened 1
Aristu - 55/72 hp, Clumsy 1
Daemon - 121 damage
Alister - 52/96 hp, Clumsy 1, Stupefied 1
Piotr - 58/80 hp

Everyone, go!

Mikhail tries to finish off the vicious creature.

Strike x3.

First Attack with Civility, Warden's Boon And Sickened: 1d20 + 19 - 1 ⇒ (7) + 19 - 1 = 25

First Damage with Civility: 2d12 + 4 + 3 ⇒ (9, 8) + 4 + 3 = 24

Second Attack with Civility, Warden's Boon And Sickened: 1d20 + 16 - 1 ⇒ (3) + 16 - 1 = 18

Second Damage with Civility: 2d12 + 4 + 3 ⇒ (10, 6) + 4 + 3 = 23

Third Attack with Civility, Warden's Boon And Sickened: 1d20 + 13 - 1 ⇒ (18) + 13 - 1 = 30

Third Damage with Civility: 2d12 + 4 + 3 ⇒ (12, 4) + 4 + 3 = 23

Alister blinks, the world suddenly righting itself. Sounds of yelling and pain fill the air. He spots the daemon, bloody, but still very dangerous. The Baron moves up to support his warriors, driving fear at the creature. At first though, his brain has a hard time forming the right words. "Heeeed Gruuddus..." He shakes his head, clearing it. "Hey fishhead! We spit at your silly god!"

Dirge of Doom. Automatically Frightened 1.
Stupefied Flat Check (DC5): 1d20 ⇒ 3

Ooook, try it again. Dirge of Doom. Automatically Frightened 1.
Stupefied Flat Check (DC5): 1d20 ⇒ 7

Actions
1. Move
2. Dirge of Doom (Failed due to stupefied)
3. Dirge of Doom

Alister starts an eerie funereal chant that unsettles his enemy.

Mikhail continues to battle the creature in a fantastic display of aquatic might versus swift-footed swordsmanship. Steel rings off chitin and sparks fly as Mikhail parries deadly slashes of the daemon's giant claws. The warrior-priest manages to cut the daemon deeply just above the left claw.

STATUS
Kernithar - 17/102 hp, Sickened 1, Enfeebled 1
Mikhail - 84/112 hp, sickened 1
Aristu - 55/72 hp, Clumsy 1
Daemon - 144 damage, frightened 1
Alister - 52/96 hp, Clumsy 1, Stupefied 1
Piotr - 58/80 hp

Aristu and Piotr, go!

Piotr hurls another ball of fire at the daemon.

Spell Attack (+16): 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (8) + 16 = 24
Produce Flame dmg: 4d4 ⇒ (4, 2, 1, 2) = 9

Aristu moves up next to Kern and Alister, then casts a spell to warp time around the strange guardian.

(1) Stride: N,N,N,N,NW,N; (2&3) Cast Slow at the guardian. Fort save DC26.

Fort save: 1d20 + 22 ⇒ (7) + 22 = 29

The watery monster ducks the flaming ball and doesn't seem to notice the warping of time. It turns its full fury on Mikhail, tearing a horrific wound in his side.

"See now the fate of all heretics," hisses the fish-creature in your minds. It looks at Alister.

1&2. Gory Rend.
3. Tentacle Strike.

Claw v. Mikhail, Frightened: 1d20 + 23 - 1 ⇒ (4) + 23 - 1 = 262d10 + 12 + 1d6 ⇒ (4, 4) + 12 + (1) = 21
Claw v. Mikhail, Frightened: 1d20 + 23 - 5 - 1 ⇒ (16) + 23 - 5 - 1 = 332d10 + 12 + 1d6 ⇒ (2, 10) + 12 + (6) = 30
Tentacle v. Mikhail, Frightened: 1d20 + 23 - 9 - 1 ⇒ (13) + 23 - 9 - 1 = 262d6 + 12 + 1d6 ⇒ (5, 3) + 12 + (6) = 26 and piscovenom

Mikhail, You escaped the worst of "Gory Rend" and the tentacle strike by virtue of Alister's Dirge of Doom. My first pass through this missed that the daemon was frightened and I had you down as Dying. Fun times! You owe him a Coke!

STATUS
Kernithar - 17/102 hp, Sickened 1, Enfeebled 1
Mikhail - 54/112 hp, sickened 1
Aristu - 55/72 hp, Clumsy 1
Daemon - 144 damage, frightened 1
Alister - 52/96 hp, Clumsy 1, Stupefied 1
Piotr - 58/80 hp

Everyone, go!

Alister continues his death chant for the Daemon. His right arm lifts and the elven tattoos flare to life. Electricity arcs out at the creature as it fights Mikhail.

Electric Arc (Reflex DC26): 4d4 + 4 ⇒ (1, 1, 1, 2) + 4 = 9

1. Dirge of Doom
2/3. Electric Arc (with a horrible roll)

Kern sends a beam of ice at the creature as he shouts to Mikhail.
"It's over confident! Stand fast!"

Ray of Frost vs Prey (1): 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (11) + 13 = 24
Damage: 4d4 + 3 ⇒ (3, 4, 4, 1) + 3 = 15

Warden's Boon to Mikhail

Mikhail touches himself with his gloves and then swings at the creature.

Healer's Gloves, Strike x2

Healer's Gloves: 2d6 + 7 ⇒ (6, 1) + 7 = 14

First Attack with Civility, Sickened and Warden's Boon: 1d20 + 19 - 1 ⇒ (20) + 19 - 1 = 38

First Damage with Civility: 2d12 + 4 + 3 ⇒ (2, 11) + 4 + 3 = 20

Second Attack with Civility, Sickened and Warden's Boon: 1d20 + 16 - 1 ⇒ (15) + 16 - 1 = 30

Second Damage with Civility: 2d12 + 4 + 3 ⇒ (5, 4) + 4 + 3 = 16

Another Crit. That is good timing. Sadly, the damage this round was not super spectacular.

Save v. Electric Arc: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (2) + 16 = 18 Failure!

The creature dodges Kern's blast of cold, but steps right into Alister's blast of lightning. It is just shaking this off when Mikhail slams Civility down into its heart, then rams it home by driving his fist against the sword's pommel. The beast slumps to the ground, quivering and then lies still.

STATUS
Kernithar - 17/102 hp, Sickened 1, Enfeebled 1
Mikhail - 68/112 hp, sickened 1
Aristu - 55/72 hp, Clumsy 1
Alister - 52/96 hp, Clumsy 1, Stupefied 1
Piotr - 58/80 hp

COMBAT OVER

Mikhail staggers back from the creature and says, "That was quite a guardian. Are you ok Kern?"

I can heal 4 at a time with Ward Medic. I start with the others and do myself after.

Medicine DC 20 on Kern: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (11) + 17 = 28

Kern Heals: 2d8 + 10 ⇒ (6, 3) + 10 = 19

Medicine DC 20 on Aristu: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (19) + 17 = 36

Aristu Heals: 2d8 + 10 ⇒ (7, 8) + 10 = 25 Critical Roll bonus: 2d8 ⇒ (5, 7) = 12

Medicine DC 20 on Alister: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (12) + 17 = 29

AlisterHeals: 2d8 + 10 ⇒ (8, 3) + 10 = 21

Medicine DC 20 on Piotr: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (7) + 17 = 24

Piotr Heals: 2d8 + 10 ⇒ (5, 8) + 10 = 23

Medicine DC 20 on Mikhail: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (10) + 17 = 27

Mikhail Heals: 2d8 + 10 ⇒ (7, 8) + 10 = 25

Only 1 critical on Aristu. But at least no failures after getting some good rolls in the fight. And looking over it, Aristu needed the least healing. Awesome.

"Mmmmhmmm. Feeling better now. There was some sort of venom but I think I've purged it." Kern comments as Mikhail patches him up before turning and vomiting off to the side.
Should I roll for removing Sickened? I only remove on a 16 or higher...

As he stands, he winces as the wound in his side continues to pain him and bleed.
"I think I'll need some more of your treatment."

I think we'll all need another round except for Aristu.

I was kind of assuming out of combat we would be able to remove it without issue. That would reduce all the heal checks by 1, but it doesn't alter any of the results.