GM Tarondor's Ptolus Campaign

Game Master Tarondor

Silas rises and moves to flank with Dain.

Rise and Stride.

Tilver scrambles to his feet and circles around the room, trying to get some distance. He quickly bandages his wounds. "Stupid freakin' quaan wierdos!"

Battle Medicine (DC20): 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (6) + 14 = 20
Healing: 2d8 + 10 ⇒ (3, 1) + 10 = 14

◆ Stand
◆ Stride
◆ Battle Medicine

Dain continues to call out to the spirits for their help. He directs the poltergeist to continue it's assault on the mage, then calls the life spirits to aid himself. Finally, he slashes his spear at the serpent priest.

◆ Sustain Pernicious Poltergeist to use Deathly Assault against Purple again. Basic Fort save, DC=26.
◆◆ Cast Heal(H+3) on self.
Haste◆ Strike Red with +1 Striking spear.

Negative damage to Purple: 4d10 ⇒ (5, 7, 7, 9) = 28

Healing for Dain: 4d8 + 32 ⇒ (6, 4, 7, 8) + 32 = 57

Spear attack against Red (Flanked): 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (16) + 12 = 28
Piercing damage: 2d8 + 2 ⇒ (6, 5) + 2 = 13

As Silas approaches, Zlith attacks him with her longspear, but the litorian nimbly sidesteps the blow. Meanwhile, Dain's pernicious poltergeist rots away too much of Vocaetun's flesh and the mage gasps, then drops to the floor!

Zlith AoO v. Silas: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (3) + 18 = 212d8 + 11 ⇒ (4, 5) + 11 = 20

Vocaetun (PURPLE) save: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (4) + 12 = 16

Then Zlith attacks Dain with a devastating blow but misses Silas again.

Zlith Power Attack v. Dain: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (14) + 18 = 323d8 + 11 ⇒ (8, 8, 4) + 11 = 31
Zlith Attack v. Silas: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 162d8 + 11 ⇒ (7, 4) + 11 = 22

Grealdean moves to flank Dain, then attacks, stabbing the oracle twice and nearly finishing him!

Grealdan Attack v. Dain: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (15) + 17 = 322d6 + 7 + 2d6 ⇒ (2, 2) + 7 + (1, 3) = 15
Grealdan Attack v. Dain: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (13) + 13 = 262d6 + 7 + 2d6 ⇒ (1, 3) + 7 + (6, 2) = 19

STATUS
Tilver - 60/96 hp - Wounded 1
Grealdan (BLUE) - 26 damage
Zlith (ORANGE) - 10 damage
Nigel - 30/80 hp
Theral (RED) - 26 damage, Vital Beacon 2/4
Dain - 2/96 hp - HASTE
Silas - 104/124 hp

Nigel, go!

Nigel keeps his staff held in front and tries to block and dispel the incoming ray of energy.

Counteract +16 Secret check against the incoming spell. Dispel Magic Lvl2 from the Staff

Nigel then pulls some of the static from the room and concentrates it on Theral and Zilith before bringing up a magical shield in front of himself.

◆◆ Electric Arc DC26 Reflex please., ◆ Shield

Nigel, I'm unclear on what you're attempting to dispel?

I think he's countering, the spell that hit him in this post.

Nigel blasts Theral (RED) with two of his three rays, burning the Chaos Priest. In return, Theral hurls a ray of pure darkness back at the Inverted Pyramid wizard. Then he slaps his own chest, healing up some damage!

[dice=Theral's spell v. Nigel]1d20+18;5d6
[dice=Vital Beacon]4d8

Correct, my hope is to Dispel this "ray of pure darkness".

Counteracting requires a feat or effect (like dispel magic to work. I don't think you have these. Am I wrong?

I took Counterspell at Level1. I also took Recognize Spell which leads into Quick Recognition. As Master of the Arcane, anything on that list I can identify as Free Action, otherwise identification consumes my Reaction. My staff has Dispel Magic. I sort of built Nigel around Counterspelling so apologies for any complexities it may cause, but if there's a spell coming his way, I'll almost assuredly Counterspell it with Dispel Magic (provided I have the charges) if it's on the Arcane list.

No apologies necessary. That's what I needed to know. But you're probably going to have to remind me about this when you counterspell. Don't forget that I'm running ten games in five different systems with something like 50 PC's. I definitely need you to remind me about anything unusual in your characters!

What I definitely need from you next time is your bonuses to each spellcasting skill (Arcana, Nature, Occultism and Religion).

So let's analyze. It's not a spell on your list, so we go to Recognize Spell. It's not a 2nd level or lower spell, but it is a Divine 3rd level spell and you are an Expert in Religion. So according to Recognize Spell, you automatically recognize it as Chilling Darkness. Your secret roll was a failure, but according to Recognize Spell, when you automatically succeed, the worst you can do on the roll is a success.

Quick Recognition does not come into play because you are not a Master in Religion, meaning this eats up your reaction.

So my question is, having used your Reaction to recognize the spell, do you have a second reaction with which to counterspell? I think this would work with Arcane spells, but not non-Arcane spells. Am I right?

Correct. I cannot Counterspell non-Arcane spells unless I become a Master in some other tradition (which is my plan) since Recognizing non-Arcane spells eats up my Reaction. At least that's my understanding. :)

Nigel recognizes the spell, but isn't fast enough to dispel it before it hits.

Theral Reflex save (DC 26): 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (1) + 15 = 16
Theral Reflex save (DC 26): 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (1) + 14 = 15

Holy crap! Two Critical Failures
Electric Arc Damage: 4d4 + 4 ⇒ (2, 4, 1, 4) + 4 = 15

Burned by Nigel's lightning, Theral the Chaos Priest (RED) moves out of the flank, slaps himself on the chest (for Vital Beacon) and attacks Dain, slamming his snake-mace into the oracle's head with a sickening crunch. Dain drops to the floor.

Vital Beacon Healing: 4d6 ⇒ (6, 3, 3, 6) = 18
Mace v. Dain: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (15) + 18 = 331d8 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10

STATUS
Tilver - 60/96 hp - Wounded 1
Grealdan (BLUE) - 26 damage
Zlith (ORANGE) - 40 damage
Nigel - 30/80 hp
Dain - 0/96 hp - HASTE, Prone, DYING 1
Theral (RED) - 38 damage, Vital Beacon 2/4
Silas - 104/124 hp

Silas, Tilver, go!

Silas slashes once at breathes a cone of cold striking at the line of foes.

Strike, Breathe x2. I start the breath in my SE corner and run it along the line hitting Purple, Orange and Red. It should stop just shy of Nigel.

Tilver rushes towards Dain. He slashes at the cultist to give himself room to treat Dain's to help stop the bleeding.

Attack vs Blue: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (15) + 17 = 32
Damage: 2d8 + 6 ⇒ (7, 2) + 6 = 15

Battle Medicine (DC20): 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (11) + 14 = 25
Healing: 2d8 + 10 ⇒ (5, 4) + 10 = 19

◆ Move
◆ Strike Blue
◆ Battle Medicine on Dain

Silas slashes once at breathes a cone of cold striking at the line of foes.

Strike, Breathe x2. I start the breath in my SE corner and run it along the line hitting Purple, Orange and Red. It should stop just shy of Nigel.

First Strike w/ +1 Striking Fearsome Falchion: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (6) + 17 = 23

First Damage w/ +1 Striking Fearsome Falchion: 2d10 + 4 + 2 + 8 ⇒ (3, 6) + 4 + 2 + 8 = 23

Cold Breath Basic Reflex DC 23: 8d6 ⇒ (5, 3, 4, 4, 1, 5, 5, 5) = 32

TIlver slashes Grealdan across the hip and uses the momentary respite to try to heal Dain. But he had forgotten about the dangerous spear of Zlith the dark elf (ORANGE), who stabs Tilver with her magic longspear, slicing deep into his shoulder! Nonethless, Tilver holds true to his purpose and heals Dain, whose eyes flutter open amidst the chaos of battle.

Zlith AoO v. Tilver: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (16) + 18 = 342d8 + 11 ⇒ (1, 8) + 11 = 20

Silas answers Zlith with a roaring slash of his own but the wily dark elf beats aside his blade with the haft of her spear. Seeing this, Silas unleashes a torrent of icy cold breath, legacy of his silver dragon forebears!

Theral (RED) Reflex save (DC 23): 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (5) + 15 = 20 Failure.
Zlith (ORANGE) Reflex save (DC 23): 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (4) + 14 = 18 Failure.

Grealdan (BLUE) coats his blade in a greenish oil, then stabs both Tilver and Dain, who loses consciousness again. Meanwhile, Zlith (ORANGE) stabs Silas with her longspear, smiling all the while.

Grealdan v. Tilver: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (9) + 17 = 262d6 + 7 ⇒ (2, 4) + 7 = 13 plus poison ...Hit
Grealdan v. Dain (w/ Sneak Attack): 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (18) + 13 = 312d6 + 7 + 2d6 ⇒ (5, 3) + 7 + (4, 1) = 20...Hit

Zlith v. Silas, Power Attack: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (16) + 18 = 343d8 + 11 ⇒ (6, 7, 6) + 11 = 30 ...Hit
Zlith v. Silas: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 102d8 + 11 ⇒ (1, 3) + 11 = 15 ...Miss

STATUS
Tilver - 27/96 hp - Wounded 1, Poisoned?
Grealdan (BLUE) - 41 damage
Zlith (ORANGE) - 72 damage
Nigel - 30/80 hp
Dain - 0/96 hp - HASTE, Prone, Dying 2
Theral (RED) - 60 damage, Vital Beacon 2/4
Silas - 74/124 hp

Tilver, give me a DC 19 Fortitude save vs. poison!

Nigel, go!

Nigel sees the unholy charge in Theral's body and focuses on it. He channels nullification from his staff toward the chaotic priest.

But the chaos magic is too strong, seemingly thriving on the chaos in this room.

"You will succumb to order in this world! I shall see to it." Nigel shouts at the priest.
Intimidation (U): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26
At least that may have worked!
◆◆ Dispel Magic (3rd from Staff)
◆ Demoralize

Not that it matters here, but the DC would have been higher.

When attempting a counteract check, add the relevant skill modifier or other appropriate modifier to your check against the target’s DC. If you’re counteracting an affliction, the DC is in the affliction’s stat block. [color=red]If it’s a spell, use the caster’s DC.[/color=red] The GM can also calculate a DC based on the target effect’s level. For spells, the counteract check modifier is your spellcasting ability modifier plus your spellcasting proficiency bonus, plus any bonuses and penalties that specifically apply to counteract checks. What you can counteract depends on the check result and the target’s level. If an effect is a spell, its level is the counteract level. Otherwise, halve its level and round up to determine its counteract level. If an effect’s level is unclear and it came from a creature, halve and round up the creature’s level.

Although his counterspell fails, something Nigel's voiced warns Theral of impending doom!

"Not before I sacrifice your friends to the glorious Galchutt!" he snarls. With that, he gestures at Tilver and wounds open in the investigator's flesh.

Harm (DC 25 Fort save): 3d8 ⇒ (7, 5, 7) = 19
Mace v. Tilver: 1d20 + 18 - 1 ⇒ (6) + 18 - 1 = 231d8 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12 Miss.

STATUS
Tilver - 27/96 hp - Wounded 1, Poisoned?
Dain - 0/96 hp - HASTE, Prone, Dying 2
Grealdan (BLUE) - 41 damage
Zlith (ORANGE) - 72 damage
Nigel - 30/80 hp
Theral (RED) - 60 damage, Vital Beacon 1/4
Silas - 74/124 hp

Tilver! I need that DC 19 fort save against poison and another DC 25 fort save against the Harm spell.

Then its Silas, Tilver and Dain up!

I do resist Piercing damage while raging. I am not sure how that works with the spear attack.

Silas attacks Zlith twice and then focuses his rage further.

Strike x2 and Renewed Vigor. Renewed Vigor is 1 action that grants you Temp HPs equal to 1/2 Level + Con Mod. So 7 Temps.

First Strike w/ +1 Striking Fearsome Falchion: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (10) + 17 = 27

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

Second Strike w/ +1 Striking Fearsome Falchion: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (17) + 12 = 29

Second Damage w/ +1 Striking Fearsome Falchion: 2d10 + 4 + 2 + 8 ⇒ (7, 9) + 4 + 2 + 8 = 30

I do resist Piercing damage while raging. I am not sure how that works with the spear attack.

You tell the GM how much you resist. Is it the Resist 3 from plate armor?

Fort Save vs Poison: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (12) + 12 = 24
Fort Save vs Harm: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (6) + 12 = 18

Tilver steps to help the others, finding what he thinks is a weak spot in Zlith's defenses. He slashes with his elven blade, trying to bring him down.

Stratagem vs Orange: 1d20 ⇒ 1
Hero Point: 1d20 ⇒ 11

Attack vs Orange: 11 + 17 = 28
Damage: 2d8 + 6 + 2d6 ⇒ (6, 8) + 6 + (5, 5) = 30

◆ Step
◆ Stratagem
◆ Strike vs Orange

If Orange is down, Tilver will target Red instead.

Silas, I hope you don't mind my commandeering your decision-making process, but in the interests of speed:

With his first blow, Silas cuts down the dark-elf warrior. Foregoing his plans, he steps forward into her place and slashes Theral, the Chaos-Priest (RED).

1. Strike. 2. Step. 3. Strike. No Renewed Vigor

Following up on this opportunity, Tilver strikes down the Chaos-Priest with a swift blow of his elven blade!

Dain, go ahead and try to stabilize!

STATUS
Tilver - 27/96 hp - Wounded 1, Poisoned?
Dain - 0/96 hp - HASTE, Prone, Dying 2
Grealdan (BLUE) - 41 damage
Nigel - 30/80 hp
Silas - 74/124 hp

Its the barbarian rage ability. It doesn't give me any other information that I can see, but the Dragon type gets Resist Piercing and their element (Cold for me). Raging Resistance.

Its the barbarian rage ability. It doesn't give me any other information that I can see, but the Dragon type gets Resist Piercing and their element (Cold for me). Raging Resistance.

It's specified in the Barbarian class. You get Resistance 3+Con mod on piercing and cold damage. You have a 16 CON, so that's a resistance of 6.

I'm adjusting Silas's damage down for this resistance and Tilver's up because I forgot to apply the Harm damage.

STATUS
Tilver - 6/96 hp - Wounded 1
Dain - 0/96 hp - HASTE, Prone, Dying 2
Grealdan (BLUE) - 41 damage
Nigel - 30/80 hp
Silas - 80/124 hp

Dain! Stabilize!

Recovery check: 1d20 ⇒ 18

Hurrah!

The last combatant lets his weapons go limp in his hands. "Right. I'm out. I surrender."

COMBAT OVER?

STATUS
Tilver - 6/96 hp - Wounded 1
Dain - 0/96 hp - HASTE, Prone, Unconscious, Wounded 2
Grealdan (BLUE) - 41 damage
Nigel - 30/80 hp
Silas - 80/124 hp

Silas kicks the weapon away from Greadlan and says, "Lay down face forward and put your hands on your head."

Tilver rushes over to Dain and checks him, realizing that he's breathing is even and clear even though he's still not conscious. He quickly mixes together an elixir of life and pours it down his throat. He looks up at Nigel. "Search those others."

Quick Tinture to make a Lesser Elixir of Life
Healing: 3d6 + 6 ⇒ (4, 5, 6) + 6 = 21

With a frown, Grealdan does as Silas commands. "You're in over your heads," he says. "I figure you've got about two minutes before the troops get here. Maybe less."

Magill scurries up behind Tilver and hovers close as he mixes his potion. When it's ready, she holds Dain's mouth open so that Tilver can pour the elixir in. As Dain begins to stir, she looks up at Tilver and in a raspy voice, she says, "Good work, kid. Thanks."

"How many troops are we talking about here?" Silas asks as he begin searching the dead.

"Who are you? Are you a member of the Pactlords? Or the Cult of the Tolling Bell?" Now with more time, Tilver tries to take in their clothing and items to help determine any affiliation.

Chaos Cult Lore +18

Nigel enters the room and does as asked. He uses his staff to turn the bodies over and searches about their persons. He studies any items found for magical properties.

"Mmmhmmm... Troops. I'm sure there's a horde on it's way." He muses as he sorts through the items.

With Quick Identification, Assured Identification and Master Arcana +18, Nigel will investigate any items found for magical properties using 3 actions a piece.

"How many troops are we talking about here?" Silas asks as he begin searching the dead.

"Dozens," says Grealdan, mostly talking to the floor. "The ratmen of the depths are legion and they love the lords of Chaos."

"Who are you? Are you a member of the Pactlords?"

"Who?"

"Or the Cult of the Tolling Bell?" Now with more time, Tilver tries to take in their clothing and items to help determine any affiliation.

Chaos Cult Lore +18

"We are...were... the priests of the Outer Reaches!"

Nigel enters the room and does as asked. He uses his staff to turn the bodies over and searches about their persons. He studies any items found for magical properties.

"Mmmhmmm... Troops. I'm sure there's a horde on it's way." He muses as he sorts through the items.

With Quick Identification, Assured Identification and Master Arcana +18, Nigel will investigate any items found for magical properties using 3 actions a piece.

Nigel finds:

+1 breastplate, breastplate, studded leather armor, +1 striking mace, +1 striking longspear, +1 striking shortsword, +1 striking dragon pistol,composite shortbow (20 arrows), boots of bounding, wand of harm (3rd level), potion of resistance (lesser) (x2), Cytillesh Oil, amulet with a green spiral, eight-pointed arrow medallion.

There may be other things in the room, but you haven't looked about yet.

___________________________________________________________________________ _

Say, I hate a TPK as much as the next guy, but I am definitely going to murder all your characters if you guys don't respond to the Clue-by-Four I've been trying to swat you with. Love, your GM.

"Right. Let's get out of here in case he's telling the truth. But he's coming with us. Silas, grab him." Tilver motions to bring the loot and then leads the group back up to the cult house.

"That's prudent. Even if he's lying, I'll need some study to recoup my arcane spells." Nigels concurs.

Silas will grab the man and lift him back go his feet before shoving him forward.

Dain pulls himself up off the floor with a groan. Magill chitters, purrs, and nuzzles up against one of his legs. The two of them follow Silas and Dain keeps a close eye on their prisoner.

"Ratmen, hmmmm? We've dealt with plenty of...uhhh...their type...before. And their so-called Rat-God."

"Before we leave, let's do a cursory check of this room." Nigel says as he looks around the room for any clues or things of value.
"You all can start moving, I'll be just a moment." With that, Nigel vanishes after uttering a string of arcane word.

Freedom of Movement @ Level 4 and Invisibility @ Level 2 (both 10Min). Detect Magic while he looks around the room. This way I can sort out the room and catch up later.
Back to the apartment to question him and sort the loot?

As soon as he sees you plan to take him with you, Grealdan yells at the top of his lungs "HELP! INTRUDERS! SLAY THEM IN THE NAME OF..." and I expect that's about the point where Silas silences him one way or the other.

Quick! What do you do?

Silas knocks out the cultist and then grabs him to drag him out quickly in case others come.

Dain grabs the cultist's legs and helps Silas carry him.

"Let's hurry."

Tilver hurries out of the room and back to the sewers, checking for anyone between them and the exit back to the apartment. If he sees the way is clear, he will motion for the others to hurry.

Nigels sighs at the hurried nature of the ordeal and makes his way invisible and free along with the group.
"We must be certain to revisit this locale. Who knows what sort of clues or treasures are behind another illusion." He says.

You just make it back to the door to the sewers when rats and ratmen come pouring out of the northwestern corridor! There must be a hundred or more! They're about forty feet away. What do you do?

Silas keeps running!

"Go!" Tilver quickly shuts the door and then grabs some of the nearby debris to jam the portal and slow down the rats.

Crafting: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (15) + 16 = 31

Before the door shut, Nigel gestures with his staff in a swirling motion and the grime of the sewer coagulates into a Grease-y mess on the floor.

Will cast Grease [Inverted Slot] just inside the door to make things slippery for anyone trying to get the door open.

He then turns and keeps hustling with the party.