GM thunderspirit's Online Gameday PbP: Burnt Offerings (Inactive)

Game Master thunderspirit

OK! That answers that! Quiven grabs some of the parchment and follows the Magus, quickly falling in behind his heels while putting the papers in his backpack.

Maddie follows the rest of her group, making a mental note to check this room more thoroughly later.

As the party moves into the room, Ander and Maddie both feel a gust of air as though something moved past them out the door they came in!

"I just felt something move past me, but didn't see anything. That cannot bode well." Maddie warns the group, then takes a long look around.

Perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (9) + 11 = 20

Maybe you are imagining things. Want me to take a look in the room? Carl asks.

No, I felt it also. Ander shrugs. No real easy way to follow wind though...

What are you talking about? Isn't it clear he went this way? Quiven asks as he looks around for... well, he doesn't know!

Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (16) + 9 = 25

After taking a moment or two, no one sees or hears anything further.

What's the verdict? Down or stay upstairs?

Quiven just shrugs and looks at Maddie. Umm, maybe it was the wind? Maybe somebody passed wind? Maybe... ummm. Maybe something else I guess.

Quiven looks at Beleg after all of the searching and looking. Continue down? I still think someone is down there!

"I fear we may be setting ourselves up for an ambush, but continuing on seems to be the best option at the moment." Maddie replies, with an edge of caution in her voice.

"Sure, let's get this over with."

Okay, down it is then.

The stairs emerge into a much older section of the complex; this entire level, beginning where the newer stairs meet the older section, is sloped downward to the west (left side of the map). This canting of the floor doesn't appreciably affect movement, though combatants working right to left might be considered to have higher ground.

Cracks line the walls here and there, but the air quality remains surprisingly good, which appears to be the result of residual dweomers of some sort.

MAP

Just around the corner from the steps, a stone door hangs slightly ajar, the detailed carvings that once covered its surface defaced by chisel marks and hammer blows. As a result, only a few remnants of images remain, mostly of gemstones and of crowns.

Carl tries to percept any noise.

Take 10 for 20.

See? I'm sure it went this way! Quiven will take a look at the door and take a peek inside if its safe.

Carl hears no sound, and Quiven finds no traps.

Beyond the door is a chamber with two pillars that support the ceiling. In many places the stone walls, floor, and ceiling are caked with ancient grime and soot. Alcoves in the north and south walls contain partially damaged statues of a man in robes clutching a book and a glaive.

Whatever ancient upheaval caused the complex to tilt knocked the statues from their bases so that now they lean against the western walls of their alcoves.

Quiven looks at the big room notices the statues. Hmm, not bad work, too bad they got damaged. Are all 4 of the statues originally identical? Craft-Scuplture, if it matters: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (18) + 7 = 25

Maddie makes her way in past Quiven and examines one of the statues, "I wonder who these statues are supposed to represent..."

Knowledge (History): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8

If there is another Knowledge roll available here, I'll happily roll it.

Knowledge (Religion): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7

"They're all too damaged, I really have no idea." She admits, sounding quite disappointed in herself.

They are really well done... or they were. A shame somebody did this to them.

Carl walks in to the middle of the room.

Quiven will move across the hall toward the opposing door, all the while looking and checking around the pillars and looking more at the statues as if he'll suddenly find who they are looking for. If he sees nothing he'll check out the door. If the door appears safe to open he'll wave the others over before proceeding.

Perception, if required: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (7) + 9 = 16

Quiven doesn't find anything on the door, so he opens it.

The hallway slopes up to the east like the previous room. Five feet from the door, the floor is polished and shiny, unlike the dusty floor elsewhere. A pair of stone statues depicting stern men wielding glaives stand in alcoves north and south just ahead, while at the far end stand two stone doors, their faces carved with strange runes. Just beyond these doors is a third alcove in which a partially collapsed statue sits. The top half is missing, leaving behind a ragged stump of a torso.

Maddie looks into the room over Quiven, "Not knowing who these statues are supposed to be is really going to irk me. I'm going to have to do some digging later."

She taps a finger against her lips as she considers something, "Could everyone stand still for a few moments?" She then casts a spell in the area around her companions and concentrates for awhile.

Casting Detect Thoughts (DC 15 Will). Most interested in the number of thinking minds around. I think the spell gives you that information without any saves. She won't try to read surface thoughts unless there's more minds than the 4 other members of the group.

In case it's not clear, she's trying to detect if something invisible is accompanying the group.

Ummm, ok. Quiven stops in his tracks and tries not to move. But I really wanna go check out these other statues. I'm a sculpter, ya know? Professional examination and all that. Quiven looks up over his head at Maddie. Whatcha doin' anyway?

Since he doesn't have anything else to do, the halfling starts to peer around the room with his eyes, seeing if he might notice something new.

Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (2) + 9 = 11

Maddie, I'm going to let you hold off on that for a bit since Carl moved his pog into the room.

As Carl passes the halfling studying the north statue, his foot hits a pressure plate and portcullises on either side of him begin to descend!

Carl, you can try to make a DC 20 Reflex save to try to slip out before they trap you within.

Carl walks to the center of the next room and percepts. Take 10 for 20

Oh balls!

Reflex Save: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19

CAAAARRRRRRLLLLL! What did you do?

Watch out, Carl! Oh no! Quiven stops his fascination with the statues as Carl triggers the trap. That's my job!

Quiven will see if he can figure out a way to reopen the portcullis trap, if he is able from where he is. If there is a roll to be made you can do it.

Ugh. Well. I done done it...

Carl pulls out a crowbar and tries to open the portculis.
Str check: 1d20 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 3 + 2 = 12

If other stuff should happen, like 10 arrows with poison, ignore the this :)

Carl does not appear have a hat, but like his llama counterpart, he has also proven to be a murderous psychopath. LMAO

Carl tries to escape the trap, but is unable to do so. As Quiven frantically works to find the trap's mechanism, the glaives from both statues slash at the erstwhile farmer!

north statue: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 8 = 23
1d10 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5
south statue: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14
1d10 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10

Quiven finally sees the trap mechanism, and tries to disable it!
Disable Device: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (9) + 13 = 22
Successfully! The iron gates slowly winch back into place.

Get out of there, Carl! And don't step there anymore! Quiven says as he is able to disarm the contraption. Are you gonna be OK? I never knew statues could be made to do that...

Quiven looks to Maddie. Is that what you were gonna try and find?

Carl hops as quickly as his uncoordinated dance legs would let him.

I'm okay, but wouldn't turn down a poke from this wand of infernal healing

Ummm, ok. Quiven takes the wand from Carl and then concentrates as hard as he can, then pokes Carl with the wand (several times if need be). Quiven is +4 to UMD and being out of combat I assume he'll eventually get there, right? Otherwise I'll let someone more skilled pull it off.

Ahh..that feels nice. Thanks Quiven. Carl smiles.

You should let Ander do it. You could eventually make the DC 20 to activate it, but if you roll a 1 the wand won't work for the rest of the day. Beleg's not comfortable with evil spells so he probably won't touch it.

No problem. Just don't go running off ahead of me, unless something is gonna kill me. Otherwise you might get yourself killed. Or something. Quiven stops, thinking he might not be making enough sense. If he hasn't already the halfling will disable the trap from going off again and will point out the plate in the floor, telling people to avoid it if they can anyway.

Once/If Maddie does whatever she is doing and gives the all-clear, Quiven will check for more traps along the way to the door. If he gets there without incident he will continue with SDOP (Standard Door Opening Procedure).

Is she good to try thought detecting now, GM?

Carl sighs. Sorry friends. I'll just stay behind Quiven

SDOP is be right behind Quiven when he opens door.

Yeah, if Ander's okay with using the infernal healing wand, I don't see a reason to risk the 5% misfire chance.

Ander taps Carl (giggety) and Carl has feelings he doesn't understand for a few seconds.

As Quiven moves toward the doors, Maddie tries her detect thoughts and discovers that there thoughts detectable behind them, as she feared...

Lyrie Stealth: 1d20 + 20 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 20 + 1 = 34
Orik Stealth: 1d20 + 20 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 20 + 1 = 29

Ander Perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (18) + 11 = 29
Beleg Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 3 = 19
Carl Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (9) + 10 = 19
Quiven Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (2) + 9 = 11

Lyrie init: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 3 = 19
A sudden flash of light erupts from behind as a wand is activated! Beleg is struck by a magic missile. 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Orik init: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

...but Maddie also finds thoughts present in front of them when the north door suddenly opens!
Yeth hound init: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8
Nualia init: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 1 = 20

Behind the door is an emaciated, hairless canine has a strange air of menace and cruelty about it. (Kn: planes DC 24 to identify) Directly behind the beast is a beautiful woman with silver hair and violet eyes, bearing a black metal bastard sword in her left hand...a left hand that seems hugely out of place: it is a red demonic talon!

Opening the door is the surprise round for the room to the north. The wizard had her action to trigger initiative (and become visible); for now, no one can see the other figure (at least until the end of the round).

Party initiatives!

Maddie gets an action in the surprise round due to her spell. Ander made his Perception check so he gets a surprise round action as well.

init: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 = 17

"Damnit!" Beleg exclaims as the missile hits him in the chest.

Knowledge (Planes): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12

Init: 1d20 ⇒ 14

"Oh dear!" Maddie exclaims as she quickly activates her Wand of Bless

41 Charges left on Wand of Bless.

Bless is active. +1 to attack rolls and fear saves.

Initiative: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

Spinning on his heel at the sound of footsteps behind him. Ander draws on his arcane energies to recall a spent spell, hurling a cone of snowballs at the two behind him.

Flurry of Snowballs: 4d6 ⇒ (2, 4, 3, 3) = 12 DC 15 Ref for half

Crap!

init: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9

L Refl: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14
O Refl: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 2 = 22

Hmm. Ander heard something, but then the caster appeared, so would he automatically blanket the whole side of the room?

Yeah, probably, considering the bridge encounter goblin dogs upstairs. Overkill=survive, LOL.

Since no one's actually behind the pillars from Ander's perspective, I won't worry too much about how they might affect that.

The caster shrieks as she is pummeled by snowballs. Ander can see another figure also in the area of effect, but just as he starts to say something to his companions about it, that individual blinks into existence and fires an arrow at the magus!

Unfortunately, even flatfooted and invisible isn't enough for the arrow to find its mark. In disgust, the man throws down his bow and draws his blade.

Quiven init: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (16) + 10 = 26

Init repost:
Quiven 26
Nualia 20
Lyrie 19
Beleg 17
Maddie 14
Ander 9+
Carl 9
yeth hound 8
Orik 3

Quiven is up!

My bad, I missed that last sentence...I can retcon if you'd like. Got to excited I guess.

My bad, I missed that last sentence...I can retcon if you'd like. Got to excited I guess.

Nah, no worries. But in retrospect (and reviewing her tactics again), I'll have the caster five-foot behind the pillar for a +2 save bonus and she'll take half from the spell.

She still shrieks at taking damage, cos she's a wuss. LOL

Wow, I step away for a couple of hours to play a game via VTT and look at all that happened! I blame Carl.

Eeek! Quiven squeals as the door bursts open, showing whatever the hell that thing is right in front of him! After his moment of surprise, Quiven swings with his weapons at this creature!

+1 Shortsword: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26 for Damage: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6
Cold Iron Mace: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7 for Damage: 1d4 ⇒ 1

I will 5' step to the right if there is enough room for the halfling to stand there so that Carl can face the enemy.

Oh! Crit with Shortsword?: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14 for Crit Damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8

Carl sucks...tshirts available