GM Tarondor's Ptolus Campaign

Game Master Tarondor

The creatures have an eerie ability to squeeze in close together, and they skitter and slither over each other in their eagerness to attack! The first one fires a shocking dart at Dain as he tries to retreat to the corner. It then slashes at Tilver, but the investigator anticipates the attack and neatly sidesteps it.

The second monstrosity vomits up a huge swarm of lightning needles that pepper Tilver, Skarvek and Silas.

Essentially they can occupy the same space without penalty. Indeed, it makes them harder to hit.

Red 1. Stride
Red 2. Needle v. Dain
Red 3. Claw v. Tilver

Orange 1, 2 & 3. Needle Spray

Red Needle v. Dain: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (16) + 15 = 311d6 + 2d8 + 2 ⇒ (2) + (3, 8) + 2 = 15 (piercing and electricity) Hit.
Red Claw v. Tilver: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (14) + 11 = 252d8 + 7 ⇒ (6, 3) + 7 = 16 Miss.

Needle Spray (DC 22 Basic Reflex Save): 2d6 + 2d8 ⇒ (4, 3) + (7, 7) = 21 (piercing and electricity)

STATUS
Dain - 81/96 hp
Tilver
RED
ORANGE - 16 damage
Skarvek
Nigel
Silas

Tilver, Skarvek and Silas owe me a DC 22 Basic Reflex save vs. 7 piercing and 14 electrical damage.

Then, everyone go!

Reflex Save: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (1) + 12 = 13

Will post full actions later

Hero Point reroll: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (15) + 12 = 27

Stratagem: 1d20 ⇒ 17

"They're thralls that can shoot needl-" Tilver screams as he is peppered with the needles and electricity wracks his body. He spots his opening though and slices into the nearest one. Then he pulls out a concoction and drinks it. He begins to take on a translucent appearance. "Silas, under the armpit!"

Attack Red: 17 + 16 = 33
Damage: 2d8 + 6 + 2d6 ⇒ (8, 2) + 6 + (1, 5) = 22

◆ Stratagem
◆ Strike (Red flatfooted to Silas' next attack)
◆ Quick Tincture - Mistform Elixir

Nigel finds his positioning to be quite lucky given the creatures close proximity, as he calculates how improbable something like this again would happen, he's brought back to reality with the sound of human convulsions due to electrocution.

"Stand near me if you can!" He shouts with a gesture as an aura of repulsive magic emanates from him. With his next breath, he utters something arcane to form an even denser magical aura around only himself.

Stride, Protective Ward (S), Shield (V). Those within the blue dotted line get +1 status bonus to AC.

Dain moves to Nigel's side, knocking a chair out of his way. He calls out to the stone spirits that bear the weight of the great city and urges them to take action against the thrall-bugs. He gestures forcefully towards the bug-men and the ground beneath them shakes violently.

◆ Stride: SW, SW, S
◆◆ Cast Localized Quake as a 15' cone at the thralls.

Bludgeoning damage: 4d6 ⇒ (6, 6, 3, 6) = 21
Reflex save (DC=26) vs the damage, plus a failed save means they become prone.

Reflex: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (12) + 12 = 24

Silas dodges the worst of the blast and then rages and moves to strike at his foe.

Rage, Stride, Strike

First Strike w/ +1 Striking Fearsome Falchion: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (19) + 16 = 35

First Damage w/ +1 Striking Fearsome Falchion: 2d10 + 4 + 2 + 8 ⇒ (2, 3) + 4 + 2 + 8 = 19

If the 35 is a Crit then it Suffers Frightened 1, no save.

Skarvek's Reflex save: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (9) + 15 = 24 Success.
RED's Reflex save: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (15) + 15 = 30 Success.
ORANGE's Reflex save: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (9) + 15 = 24 Failure.

Cool spells, guys!

Silas, Not sure who you're attacking since they're in the same square. I'm randomly choosing ORANGE, who is prone.

1. Skarvek enters Monastic Archer Stance.
2. Skarvek fires two arrows with Flurry of Blows at RED.
3. Skarvek fires a third arrow at RED.

Skarvek 1st shot, w/ Volley: 1d20 + 15 - 2 ⇒ (16) + 15 - 2 = 292d8 ⇒ (2, 2) = 4 Success.
Skarvek 2nd shot, w/ Volley: 1d20 + 10 - 2 ⇒ (9) + 10 - 2 = 172d8 ⇒ (8, 4) = 12 Failure.
Skarvek 3rd shot, w/ Volley: 1d20 + 5 - 2 ⇒ (19) + 5 - 2 = 222d8 ⇒ (8, 2) = 10 Success.

RED Claw v. Silas: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (13) + 15 = 282d8 + 7 ⇒ (6, 4) + 7 = 17 Success.

RED Needle Spray (DC 22 Basic Reflex Save): 2d6 + 2d8 ⇒ (2, 2) + (5, 4) = 13
ORANGE Needle Spray (DC 22 Basic Reflex Save): 2d6 + 2d8 ⇒ (6, 3) + (5, 8) = 22

Skarvek's Reflex save: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (1) + 15 = 16 Critical Success.

1.Skarvek fires two arrows with Flurry of Blows at RED.
2. Skarvek fires a third arrow at RED.
3. Skarvek fires a third arrow at RED.

Skarvek 1st shot, w/ Volley: 1d20 + 15 - 2 ⇒ (19) + 15 - 2 = 322d8 ⇒ (2, 7) = 9 Success.
Skarvek 2nd shot, w/ Volley: 1d20 + 10 - 2 ⇒ (14) + 10 - 2 = 222d8 ⇒ (6, 2) = 8 Failure.
Skarvek 3rd shot, w/ Volley: 1d20 + 5 - 2 ⇒ (4) + 5 - 2 = 72d8 ⇒ (4, 3) = 7 Failure.
Skarvek 4th shot, w/ Volley: 1d20 + 5 - 2 ⇒ (10) + 5 - 2 = 132d8 ⇒ (7, 8) = 15 Failure.

Silas and Tilver attack the Venom-Shaped Thralls with blades while Skarvek fires arrows. Nigel invokes a protective field while Dain's spirits invoke a very small earthquake that knocks ORANGE off its feet!

RED slashes at Silas with a razor-sharp claw, and cuts him across the chest while ORANGE stands. Then both thralls hurl a cone of needles that catches the rest of the party! Skarvek manages to dodge this and fires more arrows.

STATUS
Dain - 81/96 hp
Tilver - 86/96 hp
RED - 78 damage, Flatfooted to Tilver's next attack
ORANGE - 75 damage
Skarvek - 66/76 hp
Nigel
Silas - 97/124 hp

Dain, Tilver and Nigel give me TWO DC 22 Reflex saves, then everyone, go!

Reflex save: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (9) + 12 = 21
Reflex save: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (17) + 12 = 29

Reflex Save (DC22): 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (12) + 12 = 24
Reflex Save (DC22): 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (18) + 12 = 30

STATUS
Dain - 57/96 hp
Tilver - 69/96 hp
RED - 78 damage, Flatfooted to Tilver's next attack
ORANGE - 75 damage
Skarvek - 66/76 hp
Nigel
Silas - 97/124 hp

Everyone, go! (Skarvek has already gone).

Tilver is concealed due to his mistform elixir for 3 rounds.

Stratagem: 1d20 ⇒ 10

Tilver tries to work out the best attack angle, but ends up just trying to cut the thing to ribbons.

Attack vs Red: 10 + 17 = 27
Damage: 2d8 + 6 + 2d6 ⇒ (6, 1) + 6 + (4, 6) = 23

Attack vs Red: 1d20 + 17 - 5 ⇒ (1) + 17 - 5 = 13
Damage (forceful): 2d8 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (1, 3) + 6 + 2 = 12

◆ Stratagem
◆ Strike
◆ Strike

If that first strike hits, Silas's first attack vs RED will be vs flatfooted.

Reflex: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (5) + 15 = 20 Fail
Reflex: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (16) + 15 = 31 Success

Are the needles Electric damage? Curious so I can save my Focus Point for a Reaction next time.

Nigel concentrates on expanding his protective bubble before sending jumbling mental energy toward the orange creature.

Concentrate to push 10ft aura for Protective Ward.
Daze

Daze Damage (mental) DC26 basic Will: 2d6 + 4 ⇒ (5, 5) + 4 = 14

Dain cautiously approaches the bug creatures, taking a position across from Silas. He looks for an opening in the writhing mass of limbs, and attacks with his spear.

◆ Step: NE
◆ Step: E
◆ Strike

Spear attack: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (5) + 12 = 17
Piercing damage: 2d8 + 2 ⇒ (2, 6) + 2 = 10

Silas roars in rage and continues to batter the creatures in front of him.

I will keep going after Orange and move to red if he dies. If I crit they take the Frightened 1 condition.

First Strike w/ +1 Striking Fearsome Falchion: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (19) + 16 = 35

First Damage w/ +1 Striking Fearsome Falchion: 2d10 + 4 + 2 + 8 ⇒ (9, 3) + 4 + 2 + 8 = 26

Second Strike w/ +1 Striking Fearsome Falchion: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (11) + 11 = 22

Second Damage w/ +1 Striking Fearsome Falchion: 2d10 + 4 + 2 + 8 ⇒ (3, 2) + 4 + 2 + 8 = 19

Third Strike w/ +1 Striking Fearsome Falchion: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8

Third Damage w/ +1 Striking Fearsome Falchion: 2d10 + 4 + 2 + 8 ⇒ (9, 2) + 4 + 2 + 8 = 25

Tilver, when you use Devise a Stratagem, if you later attack the creature in the same round, you MUST use the rolled number. You can of course shift targets and just roll a normal attack. Therefore, I'm going to need you to declare the target of your Devise a Stratagem when you roll it. For now I'll assume it was the other one.

Yes, the needles do -some- electrical and some piercing damage.

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

Tilver stabs one of the venom-shaped thralls just as Nigel stuns the other and Dain jabs his spear toward their faces. Then Silas roars in and with a flurry of furious blows, cuts off both their heads. These roll to the floor as the giant insect bodies spasm and kick, then curl up and die.

All is suddenly quiet.

COMBAT OVER!

STATUS
Dain - 57/96 hp
Tilver - 69/96 hp
Skarvek - 66/76 hp
Nigel - 56/80 hp
Silas - 97/124 hp

Silas pants and rubs at looks around at the fallen foes. "This place does not seem all that friendly so far. There is a definite insect problem in the foyer area at the very least." He says as he glances between the hive and the giant dead creatures in front of him.

"But what are all these insectoid creatures doing here? Is this connected to our purpose here?" Nigel thinks aloud.

Any recall knowledge here about the bugs significance or connection would be to Chaos Cults?
Arcana +18, Nature +10, Occultism +14, Religion +14, Society +14

Rgr, I'll add which foe to the Stratagem roll

Tilver joins Nigel in examining the creatures. "I've heard of such things, called "Venom-Shaped Thralls." They're innocent people who have been transformed through hideous rituals into nearly mindless yet loyal destroyers."

Lore Chaos Cults +18. Is this something the Surgeon might have done? Do I know what the ritual involves? Tilver also has Forensic Acumen, which could give him a +2 to checking the body, and Schooled in Secrets.

"Sure seems like the S-S-Surgeon's work" stutters Dain.

As the others investigate the corpses, Dain and Magill move into the room the creatures emerged from, and have a look around.

"Seems like we will be facing monsters everywhere we go." Skar shook his head, a little of the hero wonder wearing off of the grand adventure.

The Surgeon in the Shadows liked to add Chaositech to his patients, and that does seem to be an element here, what with the clearly technological needles.

"There have been rumors that The Brothers of Venom and the Cult of the Ebon Hand have worked together, under the guiding hand of the Cult of the Tolling Bell, to create a terrible drug called askara. It mutates its victim in a prolonged misery that lasts for weeks or even months until the victim dies. For a time, the victim’s mind becomes so pliable he or she becomes a slave of the cult(s) before finally dying." Tilver wrinkles his nose at the corpses.

"Let's see where those two came from." He moves into the room where the creatures came from.

Nigel considers Tilver's words before trailing along behind to the next room.

Once a one-room apartment, this ground floor room east of the entrance chamber is now a shambles, with all its furnishings destroyed.

There is a large hole in the wall, revealing another bedroom in a shambles beyond. A large papery nest sits in that northern room.

Silas will sniff around and aids in searching the room.

I will leave the nest to Tilver.

Perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (10) + 11 = 21

You don't find anything else. Nothing here looks like a place where you'd bring about the end of the world, certainly. You're not certain what that would look like, but you're fairly certain this isn't it.

Nigel waits just inside the door as the others search about.

"So. Will be tracking down a cult that worked with another cult under a third cult to do evil things. Got it, I will make sure to spruce that up a bit before we are immortalized in song.

Dain eyes the papery nest, Is it burst open like the last one?

"Even though this room has a paper nest, we might be able to catch our breath here." Tilver offers to tend to Nigel's wounds.

Medicine (DC20): 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (13) + 14 = 27
Healing: 2d8 + 10 ⇒ (2, 1) + 10 = 13

Not sure if we should spend more than 10 minutes to heal up. Some others have medicine too, right?

"That seems like a good plan." Silas says as he stretches an arm that was hit in the fighting.

I think Tilver is best at Medicine, followed by Dain and then Nigel. I am not a dr and I do not even play one on tv.

Dain eyes the papery nest, Is it burst open like the last one?

Yes. It is opened and discarded.

STATUS
Dain - 57/96 hp
Tilver - 69/96 hp
Skarvek - 66/76 hp
Nigel - 69/80 hp
Silas - 97/124 hp

"Thank you Tilver. I hope to stay out of the way in future encounters." Nigel says as Tilver finishes the last bandage.

In a pinch, Nigel can patch things up with Clever Improviser but I don't have supporting feats. Medicine (U) +10

"Everyone gather close," says Dain clearly. When they have, he calls out to nearby life spirits for aid.

Cast 3 action version of Heal(H+1)

Healing, 30' radius: 2d8 ⇒ (4, 5) = 9

Sits and takes his healing like a good boy.

Dain do you want to Medicine yourself, while Tilver tries to heal Silas? I think after 20 minutes, we should get moving.

When he's finished with Nigel, Tilver moves over to bandage Silas' wounds too.

Medicine (DC20) on Silas: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (10) + 14 = 24
Healing: 2d8 + 10 ⇒ (1, 8) + 10 = 19

STATUS
Dain - 66/96 hp
Tilver - 78/96 hp
Skarvek - 75/76 hp
Nigel - 78/80 hp
Silas - 124/124 hp

"When we encounter these electric creatures again, I should be able to offer some protection from them." Nigel offers to the group.

I've got Resist Energy in my staff and can hit two people.

While Tilver attends to Silas, Dain looks to his own wounds.

Treat Wounds + Healer's Tools (DC=15): 1d20 + 12 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 12 + 1 = 20
Healing for Dain: 2d8 ⇒ (8, 7) = 15

Silas rests against a wall until the break is over and then rises and says, "Well, nothing seems to have come due to the sounds. Maybe there are no actual cultists on this level. Or they are just used to the bugs making a lot of noise."

STATUS
Dain - 81/96 hp
Tilver - 78/96 hp
Skarvek - 75/76 hp
Nigel - 78/80 hp
Silas - 124/124 hp

So what do you do?

Silas moves to look at the door he can see through the giant whole in the wall. "Might as well finish off this area we are in." He says to the group.

"Sounds like a sound plan. You open the doors and I'll fill them with arrows."

A uncharacteristic chuckles briefly comes from Nigel.
"Hmmph **cough**" Nigel clears his throat
You're straightforwardness is quite amusing."

Nigel casts detect magic as he leaves the room and advances on the next door.

Beyond the door lies another room in shambles. Broken wallboards and rotted floorboards tell a tale of neglect and moisture. Another nest lies in far alcove of the room and another hole torn (eaten?) through the wall lets onto yet another chamber.

Silas eyes the nest.

Does it look like the swarm nest or the big nest used by the large insects?

Let me be clear: Those are the same thing. The big insect/man comes out and then swarms spontaneously generate in their wake.

"Come on, let's see if we can find out where these things are coming from." Tilver moves forward, cautiously going through the hole into the next room.