GM Tarondor's Ptolus Campaign

Game Master Tarondor

"If a trap gets me I was obviously not doing my job right." Flippantly replied, just loud enough to be heard by feline ears.

Tilver shrugs. "If you say so. The Banewarrens was meant to hold the worst evils in the world. I think they built it with plenty of nasty surprises to keep anyone from thinking twice about exploring. Although, if they thought the door was going to be sealed forever, you might wonder why they put the traps out."

He draws his sword to be ready for anything in this place. "Silas, can you see if it seems like anyone's been here since we left?" He glances around, but really has no idea what to look for.

"Geristonomos said that to really seal the Warrens again, we need to find the Sealing Rod and then the Staff of Shards. And fix the generator. Then he said something odd, 'SouthWest, NorthEast, SouthEast, and NorthWest. That's the way. In that order'. I have no idea what that means."

Silas will sniff around as he suggests, "Maybe that is the order the generator needs to be reconnected to make sure it works..."

Scent to detect anyone passing recently: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (12) + 10 = 22

Why don't you put your tokens where you want your characters to go.

Silas sniffs around to the hallway where the second werewolf came from and says, "There are several strange smells, but nothing seems to have passed this way recently."

Tilver joins Silas. "Yeah, let's explore this hallway. It might link up with the area on the other side of that wall of force." He takes a careful look at the hallway to see if there are any traps.

Perception +15. Also, That's Odd.

And still no one has moved their tokens on the map. If you'd look at the map, you'd see that the area where I -think- you're going has a clearly-labeled trap that you've already encountered.

I'm not trying to be difficult, but there are five ways out of this room and three lead to the west. Please show me where you are going and where you are searching.

I thought one of them came from the south. I moved to that hallway to wait for those who could search for traps that direction as we did not go that way, but we had gone the other way. Did both come from the northern tunnel?

One came from the northernmost of the western tunnels and one came from the south.

Silas nods, "It might be the opposite side of that wall. It it will turn to the left before that room. Considering she was on one side of the wall, it would make sense for it to link into that room."

Can't do the token from phone, will have to wait till I am home.

"Agreed. Wherever she was going might give us clue to her intent."
Tung says as he moves up behind the noble barbarian.

Just happening to be the way Skar had begun his skulking.

Skarvek and Silas lead the way down the steep stairs from the Room of Stairs. At the bottom there is a room. The floor of this chamber seems particularly uneven and broken. The easternmost two-thirds of the floor, in front of a pair of large double doors, is split by an obvious seam running through the middle—as if the floor were a large trap door above some dark area beneath. The double doors bear the etched traceries of a delicate, pastoral scene with a pegasus flying high above some trees. An iron rod, as if to hold a curtain or tapestry, hangs high on the western wall, but any curtain or tapestry is long gone.

I was hoping someone better able to find traps would lead the way. That was why I stopped where I did. I would rather not fall down another hole if possible. :/

Got it. Well, this time the "trap" is quite obvious. The geological disaster of long ago has wrecked it and made it visible.

Isabel continues to creep down the hallway. "I really hate this place."

Tilver joins Isabel looking into the room. "What happened here?" He kneels down to look at the potentially unstable floor.

Perception +15; Crafting +15. Does it seem like the floor trap is still able to work, just visible? Or is it wrecked/jammed and it's unlikely that it will open up? And from the description it seems like we can avoid it if we stay to the west? But the double doors might be inaccessible from there. But there is a door to the south it seems.

"Looks like everything down here hasn't held up to the test of time. And this one confirms to me that every damned landing in this place is trapped. We should only one of us attempt to cross any landing we find that aren't trapped, because we've probably just missed it."

Tung joins Tilver in the investigation of the trapped floor.
He steps out onto the floor if it looks safe.

Perception +14

"Perhaps someone did something to stop the trap from working? Is there a powerful enough spell to damage the workings of the trap while leaving enough of the floor in tact to walk on? Or it is supposed to look like this to give a false sense of confidence until someone opens one of those two doors..." Silas says as he muses over the rooms condition.

Silas sniffs the air to see if there are any new scents in this area.

Perception (Scent): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (5) + 10 = 15

"Could be a trapped trap. Could be magic. Could just be time takes all. If you would like to stay back I can test the doors."

Isabel continues to creep down the hallway. "I really hate this place."

In another chamber, the shoulders of the concierge droop. "Awwww..." :-)

The room is what it seems - an ancient trap laid bare by the ancient upheaval that created the Spire, legendarily the world of Praemal itself rejecting the evils of the Banewarrens and Jabel Shammar. In any case, the floor is frozen into place and safe (if uneven) to work on. Of course, it's probably not a good idea to go messing with the mechanisms...

Silas will walk up and look at the doors for any sign the werewolf may have tried to pen it.

Do we see signs of a door on the south wall? Your write up only seems to mention the rod on the west wall and the two doors on the east wall? I am looking for any sign the doors have recently been opened.

Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (12) + 10 = 22

There is a door to the south, yes, and it stands ajar. Looking through, Silas can see a room to which they've already been, the other side of the wall of force. There's too much dust here and he doesn't scent the werewolves at all.

Skarvek, it doesn't look like they're standing back, at least not Silas. Do you want to check something for traps?

Might as well ask what's behind door number 2 Mister Carson.

Skarvek slides over to check out the situation of the closed exit. Carefully trying to decide if it is worth opening or not.

perception: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (12) + 12 = 24

Everyone: I'll do Perception rolls and the like. Please leave them to me and just tell me what you're doing and any bonuses to do it.

Skarvek looks the door over carefully, noting its elegant and beautiful carvings, but noting no traps. It does not seem to be locked, either, merely shut.

While Skarvek examines the double doors, Tilver walks towards the Wall of Force, carefully looking into the room and trying to see if there's anything on this side of the wall which they didn't see previously.

Perception +15; That's odd

Dain follows Tilver through the southern door and pauses with him to look around. If nothing dangerous is apparent, he pulls out the mummified hand and clears his throat. "Turn off the wall of force.", Dain intones, then touches the hand to the magic wall.

Perception(E) +13

Tilver doesn't see anything from this side of the wall of force he couldn't see from the other, and Dain's use of the Hand of Danar results in no changes.

Hearing Dain's command not working, Tung approaches the door to the east next to Skarvek.
"I doubt we'll get through that wall down there. Ready your weapons for what may lay beyond these doors."

Tung will open the doors once everyone is in position.

And that’s when all hell breaks loose!

The room inside is very strange, but you have no time to focus on that. You’re under attack! Beyond the door is a strange collection of monstrous creatures, clearly waiting for you. Sorry, Silas. The roll was low.

Before you stands a giant spider the size of a horse and beside it a strange humanoid creature with spider features. Behind that is large monster with the body of a lion and the head and wings of a hawk.. Behind that is a red-skinned giant in ornate armor and the strangest creature of all, a slender humanoid with an octopus for a head!

INITIATIVE
Dain: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (9) + 13 = 22
Isabel: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (19) + 10 = 29
Silas: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (3) + 10 = 13
Skarvek: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (19) + 12 = 31
Tilver: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (1) + 15 = 16
Tung: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (20) + 14 = 34 +2 Initiative

Spider: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (10) + 9 = 19
Ettercap: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (18) + 10 = 28
Hieracosphinx: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (10) + 14 = 24
Ogre Mage: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (20) + 17 = 37
Illithid: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (19) + 17 = 36

STATUS
Ogre Mage
Illithid
Tung
Skarvek
Isabel
Ettercap
Hieracosphinx
Dain
Spider
Tilver
Silas

The red-skinned humanoid steps forward and waves his sword, yelling "Yeeeaargh! Flee before me, mortals! I am Ostararch, Duke of the East Wind!"

Simultaneously, the octopus-headed creature silently lifts its tentacles and waves them menacingly at Tung! Inside his head, the Knight of the Pale hears a dry hissing voice. "Tch. So rigid, yet so undisciplined. It will be succulent, though. This looks like an interesting fear..."

Tung, Isabel, Skarvek and Silas, give me DC 24 Will saves vs. Fear.

Tung, give me a separate DC 27 Will save vs. fear.

Then, Tung, Skarvek and Isabel, go!

1d20 + 14 ⇒ (5) + 14 = 19 Well crud. What is the fear effect?

Fear. Frightened 1 on a success, Frightened 2 on a failure, Frightened 3 and fleeing on a critical failure.

Getting this in before shabbos. Won't be able to adjust my token.

Skarvek danced back quick and sure, bringing his bow up as he did. Take a step back to let others in. Step action. Enter archer stance. Stance action.

In quick succession he had two arrows in the air, perchance to find new homes within the heart of the beast before him. Flurry of blows flourish.

1d20 + 14 ⇒ (11) + 14 = 25
1d20 + 14 ⇒ (19) + 14 = 33

2d8 + 1 ⇒ (8, 5) + 1 = 14

2d8 + 1 ⇒ (4, 8) + 1 = 13

Skarvek, I can't tell whether you subtracted 2 for the Frightened condition and your character sheet gives me no clues. In the future, please list penalties or bonuses separately so I can know you remembered them.

I've calculated your attack modifier as +14, so I don't think you did. With the Frightened 2 condition your attacks hit AC 23 and 31.

Though badly startled by the red giant, Skarvek sweeps back and puts a pair of arrows firmly in the abdomen and eye of the giant spider. It reels back, piping and slobbering, and falls dead. The spider like creature gives a great keening shout of despair.

STATUS
Ogre Mage
Illithid
Tung - Frightened?
Skarvek - Frightened 1
Isabel - Frightened?
Ettercap
Hieracosphinx
Dain
Spider - DEAD
Tilver
Silas - Frightened?

Tung, Isabel and Silas, give me DC 24 Will saves vs. Fear.

Tung, give me a separate DC 27 Will save vs. fear.

Then, Tung and Isabel, go!

Will Save: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (12) + 10 = 22

Will vs DC24: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (11) + 14 = 25
Will vs DC27: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (4) + 14 = 18
Frightened 2 on the Fail

Tung recoils in fear as his mind tries to comprehend what he sees.

Seeing the spider fall to some arrows, he snaps out of it and moves to the side of the door for some cover.
"Let them come to us!"

Recall Knowledge on the giant and octopus, Step

SIlas fails the check against the spell "fear", becoming Frightened 2. Tung then succeeds against Fear, becoming Frightened 1, and fails against Phantasmal Killer, becoming Frightened 2 -and- taking mental damage as the illithid wrenches fears up from his subconscious!

Mental Damage v. Tung: 8d6 ⇒ (5, 2, 1, 5, 1, 5, 2, 1) = 22

STATUS
Ogre Mage
Illithid
Tung - 66/88 hp, Frightened 1
Skarvek - Frightened 1
Isabel - Frightened?
Ettercap
Hieracosphinx
Dain
Spider - DEAD
Tilver
Silas - Frightened 2

Isabel, make a save and go!

A towering demon lord steps out of a rift in reality and laughs.
"HuhHuhHuh. Tuuuung" It chuckles as it steps out of the depths of hell. It's eyes are alight with brimstone and joy and it slowly reachs out a massive clawed hand toward Tung.
Tung tries to dodge out of the way, but finds his muscle won't obey his mind. He stares up at the massive palm as it find it's grip around his head.

The demon lord squeezes slowly, and just as the pressure in Tung's head feels unbearable, the demon lord vanishes.

Tung's eyes frantically search for the demon but only find real threats. Thinking quickly, he calls out to the group.
"Hit the giant with fire or acid to keep it from regenerating!"

Will Save E: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (6) + 12 = 18

Isabel shaking with Fright moves forward anyway. She peers at the octopus headed creature in the back, and casts Phantasma Killer on it. "Isn't that winged creature the same one that got away from us?"

Illithid save: 1d20 + 17 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 17 + 1 = 30
Mental Damage: 4d6 ⇒ (5, 6, 3, 1) = 15

The octopus-headed creature flinches slightly as Isabel tries to terrify him, but his ancient race has suffered terrors yours cannot imagine and he shrugs off most of the mental damage.

STATUS
Ogre Mage
Illithid - 5 damage, Frightened 1
Tung - 66/88 hp, Frightened 1
Skarvek - Frightened 1
Isabel - Frightened 1
Ettercap
Hieracosphinx
Dain
Spider - DEAD
Tilver
Silas - Frightened 2

The spider-humanoid convulses and hurls a wad of webbing at Tung.

Webs: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (14) + 11 = 25

Tung, that will hit unless you use Nimble Dodge to get out of the way. If it does hit, you are immobilized until you succeed at a DC 24 Acrobatics check to escape.

The doorway is so large I'm not counting it as cover. But you can still use it to Take Cover, if you wish.

He follows that up by leaping forward and trying to inject Tung with venom!

Fangs: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 191d8 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10 Miss.

The lion-hawk lunges forward, hissing. It then slashes at Tung with beak and claw!

1. Pounce (Stride+Strike)
2. Strike
3. Strike

I'm going to hold off rolling to see whether Tung used his Nimble Dodge above.

Tung Nimbly Dodges away from the web as the spider-like humanoid advances its attack.

For the record, I would always like to use Nimble Dodge if possible since I have no other reactions to compete with. :) Thank you GM!
I also forgot to move my pawn the 1 square North on my Step action last turn. I willingly accept all the attacks though since I forgot.

The beast tears into Tung with an awful ferocity, biting and clawing. But it is a swipe of its huge paws across his head that hurls the aasimar backwards, crashing to the floor unmoving!

Beak v. Tung: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (13) + 15 = 282d10 + 4 ⇒ (7, 9) + 4 = 20 Hit.
Claw v. Tung: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (17) + 11 = 282d8 + 4 ⇒ (6, 6) + 4 = 16 Hit.
Claw v. Tung: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (20) + 7 = 272d8 + 4 ⇒ (7, 7) + 4 = 18 Critical Hit.

STATUS
Ogre Mage
Illithid - 5 damage, Frightened 1
Tung - 0 hp, Frightened 1, Prone, Dying 2
Skarvek - Frightened 1
Isabel - Frightened 1
Ettercap
Hieracosphinx
Dain
Spider - DEAD
Tilver
Silas - Frightened 2

Dain, Tilver & Silas, go!

Hearing the sounds of battle, Dain moves to the defense of his friends. When Tung's prone bloodied body comes into view, Dain stops and calls for friendly spirits to help his fallen companion.

(1)Stride: N,N,N,N,NE; (2&3)Cast Heal(+3) on Tung.

Healing: 4d8 + 32 ⇒ (8, 3, 7, 1) + 32 = 51

Silas rages and then steps forward and swings at the giant heiracosphinx once.

I Rage, Stride, Attack. I gain 8 Temp HPs and my AC is reduced by 1. I did not subtract Frightened from damage. If I am supposed to please reduce the result by two if I hit.

Frightened -2 First Strike w/ +1 Striking Fearsome Falchion: 1d20 + 16 - 2 ⇒ (8) + 16 - 2 = 22

First Damage w/ +1 Striking Fearsome Falchion: 2d10 + 4 + 2 + 8 ⇒ (2, 7) + 4 + 2 + 8 = 23

Stratagem: 1d20 ⇒ 2

Tilver rushes back from the other corridor, seeing Silas and a downed Tung facing off against dangerous monsters. He checks the Illithid's posture, but doesn't see an immediate opening. Instead, he moves to help Tung's wounds, but the Knight is struggling to rise already and Tilver can't get solid pressure on his wounds.

Battle Medicine (DC20): 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (6) + 13 = 19 Dang...

Actions:
1. Move
2. Stratagem + Free Recall Knowledge on Illithid (occultism +13, Arcana +13, Lore Chaos Cults +17)
3. Battle Medicine on Tung