GM Woran's Rise of the Runelords

Game Master Woran

Depending on how Woran reads the rule on silver weapons dealing a point less of damage, we may be better off if the Cestus is silver and the rapier is cold iron.

Its why buying Mirthral daggers is a thing ;)

Its why buying Mirthral daggers is a thing ;)

Except mithral would blow the hell out of our budget for what is basically an attempt to cover our bases.

Alchemical silver does -1 points of damage. The only way to avoid that is to buy a mithral weapon, which counts as silver but does normal damage

Sure, I know, and if money was not a constraint, it'd be mithral every time. But a single mithral weapon would blow a big hole in our collective budget. Given the money we have at hand, alchemical silver offers c. 85% of the performance for like 4% of the cost.

It was as a joke to the wolf. If you dont want the drawbacks of alchemical silver you buy mithral, and mithral daggers are part of the joke: as they require less material, its cheaper to buy a mithral dagger then a normal masterwork one. As mithral has its masterwork cost factored in.

Justins wiskers would have bristled at the accusation that he was scurrying around town, but the description was apt. His short little legs pumped as he ran from store to store , quickly gathering supplies.

"Lets see, whats easy to get here that's hard back home. Spices flower. Silk... i mean drow make better stuff but who wants to trade with them. Or wear something from a spider's butt. Minerals are a no go, WAY easier to find down below. "

He's panting by the time he hits the clothing store, standing on tippy paw to look over the counter.

"Hi, i need...two more sets of clothes. cheap. 1 and 7 8ths inch tail hole, half an inch below the waist. I've got like an hour. Urgent town business. Thanks. goodbye! "

I'll be upgrading armor, as I said. Beyond that, adding a cold iron punching dagger, and a vial of antitoxin.

Oskar makes a few stops aroun town, getting new armor and weapons. Hot damn, I like the way this stuff moves, he thinks to himself as he tries on the new chainmail.

His last stop is Bottled Solutions. He stomps in, still more than a little pissed at Nisk. If Nisk is there, without speaking to the half-elf, Oskar walks himself around the store, grabs a vial of antitoxin (ideally from a batch he helped make), raises it up to show Nisk, stuffs it into his bandolier, and pushes the coins onto the counter.

"I'm takin' off fer a while; gonna help wth this goblin business. Don't do nothin' with my stuff in my room."

And if there's nothing else to do, Oskar will reunite with his comrades at the Rusty Dragon.

Justin's list of trade goods can be aquired. Withoutout specifications, you end up with two sets of childrens clothes, which look like they have been used before, but have been nicely repaired. The tail holes have been expertly crafted. Its a goldpiece for both outfits. Rush job.

Das Korvut is at work at his smithy, his two enormous mastifss for which the place is named are hanging around the porch.
He does not have a cold iron punching dagger lying around, but he does have a normal cold iron dagger. "Not much use for 'em. But I can change the handle no sweat. You got some big strong fists for 'em dont ya."

He takes a few measurements, and tells you to come back in an hour. And lo and behold. An hour later there is a cold iron punching dagger ready.

When Oskar enters Bottled Solutions, Nisk bangs his head on the counter. What Nisk was doing under the counter, is anyones guess. You're out of the shop before Nisk can formulate a reply.

"Truly, i have met a master in the way of Abbadar. If i live through this you'll have a return customer."

"You got some big strong fists for 'em dont ya."

"Yeah, I guess I do. I usually like to deal with things like..." he holds up his fists in a boxing pose. "But the stuff we're gonna get into, I gotta be prepared fer more'n that."

On his way out, Oskar will give the dogs a scruff if they're friendly, otherwise he'll just head out and meet up with the others.

At the Dragon, Oskar sees the others and says, "So I think I got everythi-" He stops and stares at Justin, as his brain registers for the the first time how he's dressed. Goddamn it, did Nisk dose me with a hallucinogen or something?

Oskar waves one hand a few times in front of his face in an exploratory fashion. Nope, no funky light trails or nothin'. Okay... Gingerly re-testing reality, Oskar turns back to Justin and says, "So, uh, you're making gingham work for ya better'n I'd've thought you could..."

"Is that what this is?" he turns about to try and look "Why thank you. I think your local tailor and at least one of the orphans has the same sense of humor.Probably a relative. " he shrugs "I got hand me downs from four older sisters. You get used to it. Easier to move in than shorts unless the tailors REALLY good though. "

Having prepared yourself, you head to the garrison.
The guard captain takes you to the glassworks. There is a guard at every entrance. Heading inside you quickly make your way to the basement, and down the tunnel.
Back in the cave, the captain points out two other tunnels. He explains that they explored them for a bit. One goes on for about 400 feet before stopping due to a collapse.
The other tunnel looks liked it was bricked over, but got opened up recently. It goes on for about 150. After that they encountered some side tunnels. The guards also heard shuffling. Not wanting to risk it, they headed back.

The captain wishes you luck. He, or if you take more then a few hours, another guard, will stand outside the tunnel. He advises you that if whatever is down there is too tough, to just retreat.

Ok, everyone ready to go?

"We boldly go into adventure!"... from the back of course. In you go guys.

I have a shiney new map. I assumed this is more or less your marching order

The tunnel winds on for 50 feet before turning north for another 100 feet. You can see a side passage branch off. The tunnel continues onward, curving gently.

What do you do? And Vitro does not have darkvision, so I assume you bring light?

Oskar grips his hittin' stick, and turns back to his companions. "I'm ready if you guys are...!"

Vitro, you gonna grab some sunrods or something? 2gp for 6 hours of light doesn't sound like a terrible idea, just hide it in a pack if we're not actively fighting.

"well we've got a surface dweller with us so, lets light up the dinner bell and walk into the trap. Always check the side passages. You walking into the bad guy is the plan, me or VY doing that is a problem."

"Let's go. Ameiko's half brother was a half elf, and as such might have some trouble underground as well. So we do have an advantage. But we won't find out unless we actually go. Who"s on point? Oskar? I'll follow him in case he needs healing"

Are we ready to get underway? And if so, I don't know if you're looking for me to move my piece, but right now I can't. So if we're waiting on me, Oskar'll poke his head into that first cavern on the right, and I'd appreciate a move. :)

I'll assume for now that Vitro got a light source. Torches or Sunrods are both readily available.

Progressing as quiet as possible down the tunnel, everyone's nerves are on edge, expecting a goblin ambush.
The tunnel is narrow and looks natural.

Coming to the first cavern, Oskar sticks his head round the corner. What he encounters is worse then a goblin. Pale skin with blue veins showing, the creature has hellish red eyes and a horrible distented jaw with serrated teeth.

It stands still for a splint second, then lunges at Oskar, trying to bite him.

bite: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

But it glances of Oskar's armor.

Init:

Round 1

Rataji
Vitro
Justin
Ugly Thing
Oskar
Snowflake

Rataji, Vitro and Justin can act.
Knowledge dungeoneering is applicable here.
I Think Rataji is nearly done with the special? I saw her calling out for boon rolls

Knowledge Dungeoneering: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (14) + 8 = 22

Its defenitely some kind of aberration.

You've read about things like this, altough the discriptions of them varied, so you're not entirely sure. It might be what they called a 'sin-spawn' in ancient thassilon. But what its capable of, you do not know.

Is that half square behind oskar enough space for a mouse to squeeze into?

Ahh, never mind, can't reach it without dimension hopping.

"It's a sinspawn. Oskar, have you been a bad Orc? I live down here and I don't know anything else about it, which has me slightly worried so.... "

Justin shuffles up behind Oskar and holds his paw up , getting a little bit of blood on his weapon as the half orc backswings. The blood seeps into it, rippling along its patterns of steel and iron, turning it dark red.

(3 minute magic weapon)

Carrying a smalll glowing pebble in one hand light spell so that he can easily stuff it in a pocket or toss it ahead as needed, Vitro follows the gang, occasionally glancing acrosss his shoulder to ensure they're not being followed.

On hearing a scuffle breaking out in the cavern ahead, where it's too cramped to get to and surround the enemy, he curses faintly but obscenely in elven. Then he grits his teeth and makes the necessary motions and invocations to draw the strength of stone across his vital areas. cast Mage Armor And just in case someone did circle around and try to ambush them from behind, he draws his rapier.

"What the hell is a sinspawn?"

With the way blocked, Justin and Vitro cast spells. Rataji, has a plan. "Justin, Vitro, Snowflakw, if we all retreat a few steps down the corridor, Oskar might proceed further onwards, drawing that thing into the corridor. Then it will be easier to attack it."

Rataji effectively delays

Ugly thing: with an easy target close, the thing lunges for Oskar again, this time using its claws and trying to bite.

bite: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 12
claw: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (14) + 3 = 17
claw: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

But its natural attacks have trouble penetrating Oskar's armor.

Init:

Round 1

Rataji
Vitro
Justin
Ugly Thing
Oskar
Snowflake

Oskar and Snowflake can act.

The weapon in question in Justin's post would be my fist; brawlers have that schtick where their unarmed attacks can take on spells et al. as if they were manufactured weapons.

"It's a sinspawn. Oskar, have you been a bad Orc?"

Oskar flinches a moment at the unexpected touch on his wrist as he cocks a fist at the creature. With a slightly irked expression on his face, he replies, "Terrible. I'm a much better vukhrov."

from Orcish, tr. as "dual blood"

"Two bloods." He punctuates his comment with two quick jabs at the creature. The only active effect is Justin's magic weapon spell.

Unarmed Attack: 1d20 + 7 - 1 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 7 - 1 + 1 = 9
Unarmed Damage: 1d6 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 4 + 1 = 6

Unarmed Attack: 1d20 + 7 - 1 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 7 - 1 + 1 = 24
Unarmed Damage: 1d6 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 4 + 1 = 6

If someone could move me ten feet north up the corridor, we'll try Rataji's plan to draw it out. Yes, that'll provoke, but let's try it...

With the way blocked, Justin and Vitro cast spells. Rataji, has a plan. "Justin, Vitro, Snowflakw, if we all retreat a few steps down the corridor, Oskar might proceed further onwards, drawing that thing into the corridor. Then it will be easier to attack it."

"Maybe I can help with that..."

Vitro concentrates for a moment and stamps his foot on the ground, sending a shockwave through the earth. As the wave reaches the fugly critter the ground belches out a cloud of acid gas.

Using Acid Cloud again. DC 15 halves damage and prevents Sickened.

Acid Cloud damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

After that he takes a step backwards to give the rest some room to work with.

AoE bite: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (11) + 3 = 14

I think I actually managed to move Oskar without tearing the map apart...

Snowflake hears the word sinspawn and as in he reflex he casts Bless after he moves backwards

Oskar lands a punch. You hear a few ribs snap.

Snowflake Casts bless

Vitro makes a nasty cloud of acid appear.
reflex save: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 2 = 18

Rataji Still delays.

Round 2

Rataji
Vitro
Justin
Ugly Thing
Oskar
Snowflake

Justin can make a move!

Justin, seeing a whole lot of nothing in between him and the thing with big sharp pointy teeth, gives a rather stereotypical "SQUEEEK" and fires his crossbow

Crossbow hits ac: 1d20 + 1 + 3 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 1 + 3 + 1 + 1 = 22

for: 1d8 ⇒ 6

Then gives an even more characteristic scurry behind the party.

Justin fires his crossbow, scoring a heavy hit on the sinspawn.

Sinspanw Unable to reach the others that hurt it, it advances to Oskar.

bite: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9
The diceroller doesnt love me anymore

Rataji With room to manouver, Raraji takes a five foot step. Its not a flank yet, but at least now she can stab it with no cover.

Rapier: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11
Damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

But she misses.

Round 2

Vitro
Justin
Ugly Thing
Rataji
Oskar
Snowflake

Oskar and Snowflake! Go go go!

Woran, the square to Oskar's right, if I can fit in it, would provide flanking with Rataji, but like a third of it is filled with wall. If it's a valid square to move into, could you please move me there? Otherwise I'll stay where I am.

"Easy there, Justin. All part of the plan..." Oskar says as he and Rataji lay into this thing.

Active effects: magic weapon (+1/+1), bless (+1/+0). If I can get that flanking, I'll let you apply the +2 from that.

Unarmed Attack: 1d20 + 7 - 1 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 7 - 1 + 1 + 1 = 14
Unarmed Damage: 1d6 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 4 + 1 = 10

Unarmed Attack: 1d20 + 7 - 1 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 7 - 1 + 1 + 1 = 15
Unarmed Damage: 1d6 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 4 + 1 = 7

"You've got some interesting-looking jaws. Let's see how they break," Oskar snarls as he punches at the creature, trying to make sure he doesn't get bitten in the process.

Oskar punches it into a pulp!

You're out of initiative.

I'll do a decent update when I am at home and can access the PDF

Justin pulls his brand new reusable bolt out of the creatures rib cage with a sickening SCHLURK, and prestidigitates the resulting gore and bit of spare glue off of it.

"Ick... avoiding this is half the reason i went with the round ones...how much retarder did your boss use on this OMF glue?"

Searches the monster and room for loot, and gives it a few sniffs.

"Ick... avoiding this is half the reason i went with the round ones...how much retarder did your boss use on this OMF glue?"

With a resigned expression, Oskar shakes his head and rolls his eyes, an expression he's really learned to rely on in the time since he's come to Sandpoint. Finger quotes accompany in the relevant spots of the following. "Nisk ain't big on things like 'following formulas'. Or 'writing stuff down'. Or 'checking the contents of the crates before you pay for them'. Or 'not accidentally poisoning your staff...!'"

Oskar has managed to aggravate himself to the point that he kicks the sinspawn's corpse a few times out of sheer frustration.

The Sinspawn has not much on its body. Its wearing some kind of smock that looks like someone made it out of an old potato sack.
The cave itself is empty.

"shame. Could have introduced him. her? to a good tailor. Onward!"

"Duzzat guy count as part of the two hundred?"

"Seems more along the lines of one of the "freaks" mentioned in the letter if anything. Or a lone individual. I can't imagine anything controlling that or negotiating with it. " *crank crank crank crank plop* "Lets go see if it has friends "

"I'm impressed with your bone density. Most people you try to cast that spell on their fists and they explode. "

Oskar looks at his hand, then shrugs. "Better livin' through alchemy, I guess."

Looking further down the tunnel, it continues on, slightly curving. To the right another tunnel branches off. You can see that at the end, the natural stone has been worked and that the tunnel has been expanded into a small chamber.

Its hard to make out more details from where you are.

You can go down this side tunnel or continue following the main tunnel. I have updated the map.

"take the side passage. We want you walking into things. Not us. "

"take the side passage. We want you walking into things. Not us."

Looking back over his shoulder with a slightly irked expression, Oskar mimes an 'ole' motion of sidestepping some creature rushing by him, then proceeds down the side passage.

Just as soon as someone can move me...

The original purpose of this chamber is unclear, but large mounds of rubble lie strewn on its floor.

Upon closer inspection, it looks like the wall to the west has been torn down to access the tunnel.

An investigation of the rubble reveals that most of it seems to have consisted of broken urns and other pottery containers that once held food stores, long since crumbled to dust.

There is a door in one of the walls.

"Holy crap, what a friggin' mess," Oskar utters under his breath.

Oskar looks at the door, and ventures over to it. Without touching it, he puts his hand near the knob and looks at the others with a questioning expression, as if to say, "Should I?"

"I don't suppose anyone had a mispent youth opening things the subtle way? Go for it. I don't have enough power that I can enhance you for every door we open, and your last one is ticking away."