GM Woran's Rise of the Runelords

Game Master Woran

With the grime sifted out, the water is clear.

Observing the aura's it looks like its actually two interwoven conjuration auras combined with the universal aura.

You can make a spellcraft check. You can take 10 or 20 depending how much time you want to spend on it

I'll take 20, should be only 1.5 minutes (20 x 3 rounds). That gets me spellcraft 31 to figure out magic item stuff.

Taking care to study the auras, its clear that this magic has been here for a long, long time.
Its hard to get a clear reading on the auras, and it suddenly strikes you as to why. You're looking for a clear conjuration aura, but this was here before there even was such a thing as 'conjuration'. This would be a 'sloth' aura, making this rune magic.

Oskar casually sidles back toward Justin, juuuuuust in case he decides to do anything "intersting" with the water.

"Fascinating... this looks like it's authentic Thassilonian Sin magic, not modern-day Eight-Schools Praxis. I think it could be some kind of healing, but it's also possible that it just conjures a convenient supply of magic. It's a shame we don't have any lab-" cough cough cough!

Whisker bristles at Vitro

Oskar's eyes glaze over a bit as Vitro starts moving way past his field of expertise. Turning his attention back to the hallway, he says, "Not that this isn't fascinatin' stuff, but whenever you're done, we've got goblins that need beatin'. Try not to blow nothin' up or summon anything unseemly, 'kay?"

The shrine would need further study, but with 'underpoint' not having been fully explored, you carefully move on.

Coming back to the intersection, you see that the door to the north now stands ajar. Its hard to see what's beyond.

Do you wan to go on to the north or to the east? I also updated the map

Follow the temple. Thats going to be where the real money from underpoint comes from. Everyone has goblin hewn rock tunnels. Genuine thasolonian ruins? That's the high end market

Snowflake walks around with a troubled look. The skeletons in Sandpoint's closet are quite ancient

Vitro looks apologetically at Justin.

"That door is probably where the uberugly one came from. Let's make sure there aren't any more coming to attack us in the rear, and close it off for now."

He motions for Oskar to take the lead. Then he checks his pack for an empty bottle to prop up against the door when it's closed. If someone opens up that door it'll make the bottle fall over noisily, giving us some warning.

Oskar quietly closes the door.
You all proceed in file up the stairs. Its steps appear worn.

Opening the door, you see a circular chamber with a stone pool, the
rim of which is lined with skulls.
Above the pool flies a blackened, bat-winged fiend's head. Tentacles dangle from chin and scalp, and its fanged mouth hangs agape.

Initiative

Round 1

Vitro
Snowflake
Justin
Flappy head
Rataji
Oskar

Knowledge planes to identify.
Squares with stairs count as difficult terrain.

Vitro, Snowflake and Justin can act.

"That can't be good..."

Planes: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 8 = 23

Guys, please hold off on actions until knowledge results are in :)

"Don't let it bite you... seriously, don't!"

Vitro readies an action to slam the door closed with an Open/Close cantrip once the monster shrieks or moves in to attack.

Oskar stares in disgusted disbelief at this thing.

"Yeah, gettin' bit was never part of my plan, Vitro!"

Well, at least it's got a face. Faces can be punched.

"Justin, I'm starting to think Underpoint is in a really bad neighborhood."

"It's not a bad neighborhood. Its an opportunity to be part of a revitilization process. You're not just picking a place to live you're helping to make a difference "

crossbow hits AC: 1d20 + 1 + 1 + 3 - 4 ⇒ (11) + 1 + 1 + 3 - 4 = 12 for
damage: 1d8 ⇒ 5

Justins voice gets lower and lower as he keeps moving further and further back.

"You know that's nuts, right? This place is makin' living with Nisk look okay, and he accidentally poisoned me a couple times."

"This looks foul and unholy"
Snowflake casts Bless

Vitro: Knows what the flappy thing is, and isnt too happy about it.

Justin: Tries to shoot at it but misses.

Snowflake: Casts bless

vargouille: It starts to shriek, but Vitro closing the door abruptly cuts of the sound. It makes your neck hair stand on end, but nothing worse.

Initiative

Round 1

Vitro
Snowflake
Justin
vargouille
Rataji
Oskar

Oskar and Rataji can act. Rataji will act last.

Ehm, my plan was actually to let it shriek but close the door immediately after, so that anyone who gets paralyzed has a few rounds to recover. These things typically make you immune for the rest of the day once you make a save, so I figured I'd inoculate people. Of course, that logic is built on Vitro's low wisdom since it's entirely possible he'd be one of the people paralyzed. Also, what I really wanted to prevent was the thing getting a bite in at flat-footed Oskar.

But... playing endless open/close games could make the combat take very long so feel free to just run it like this.

So at this point, just open and get to it, then?

You should be able to open as a Move, 5ft step and then attack, yeah. I promise I won't slam the door closed behind you :P

You do, you better have something beaucoup stronger than Open/Close backing you up. /raised_eyebrow

Gameplay post later, when I get into the office (about an hour from now).

Oskar re-opens the door, steps through, and punches this... whatever the hell it is right in the snout, same as he would a person.

Can someone move me into the room?

Unarmed Attack: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (15) + 7 = 22
Unarmed Damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

Sorry Vitro, I missed your meaning. Luckily Oskar, king of punching, is up for the task.

Oskar: Opens the door, steps in, and punches the flying head right in the... flying head.

Rataji: With not a lot of room to work with, Rataji makes it to the top of the stairs. "Ugh. Its so small in here. I cant reach it."

Initiative

Round 2

Vitro
Snowflake
Justin
vargouille [ooc]8 damage
Rataji
Oskar

Vitro, Snowflake and Justin can act.

"That's right, punch the face in the face. Now, for something to inhale if it wants to shriek again..."

Vitro magics up another acid cloud.

Acid Cloud damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

Also Sickens for 1 round. Fortitude 15 halves damage and prevents Sickened.

ray o frost: 1d20 + 1 + 3 + 1 - 8 ⇒ (16) + 1 + 3 + 1 - 8 = 13

for

1d3 ⇒ 2 damage

We need to find Vitro a go-to option that doesn't render 3/4 of a room into a hazard zone. :)

He calls that spellcasting but the character with scent knows the truth. Its just the result of copper taco night

fort save: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 18

Snowflake walks forward, past the back of Oskar while drawing his mace again, hoping hisshield will protect him from attacks from the flying head, and swings at the foul creature
(so Vy's current ac is 17)
attack+bless: 1d20 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 3 + 1 = 24
damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

lucky git
crit confirm: 1d20 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 3 + 1 = 19
damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8

Very nice, Vy!

We need to find Vitro a go-to option that doesn't render 3/4 of a room into a hazard zone. :)

I wasn't quite brave enough to walk in there while provoking. I wanted to position myself to 5ft step in there next round but Rataji took that spot. Next level I'll get Precise Shot, that'll help a lot.

Vitro: The acid cloud harms the Vargouille. 3 damage

Justin: Hits with a ray of frost.2 damage

Snowflake: Walks in, provoking from the Vargouille.

bite: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8

You luck b8stard

Snowlake takes a mighty slice, cleaving the head nearly in two.
It twitches for a moment, fouling up the water of the fountain, then sinks to the bottom.

We're out of init

Vitro looks a bit shocked at the mace near-splitting the ugly head. "Like a pumpkin..." and absentmindedly prestos some of the gore away that's splattered Snowflake and Oskar.

"See. Neighborhoods getting better all the time"

Vy looks at his mace, confused. Having found his voice again he manages to say
"I..I thought I was going to be a healer...but...I've been dealing death..."
But he finds his resolve.
"No. I might not enjoy killing these creatures...but in doing so...I'm safeguarding my community."
With a curt nod, he slips his morning star back into the loop on his belt, and examines the shrine in earnest.

The fountain looks much the same as the one in the cathedral, only this one is smaller. You're still pretty sure the skulls are real human skulls.

"It's pre emptive healing "

Detect magic and knowledge arcana the fountain 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (1) + 9 = 10

.. the ratfolk may need another scrufing

"the.. colors...."

"Whoo! Oh, he got all of that one!" When Vy staves in the creature's skull, Oskar can clearly see his conflicted reaction. Flicking bits of fiendish gore off himself (not realizing Vitro has prestoe'd it off already), he says to Vy, "They'd'a done a lot worse to us. Hell, they were getting ready to do exactly that. Where I grew up we have to deal with this same crap all the time, from giants. Trust me, you're doin' good."

Then, when he sees that Justin is going off the deep end again, Oskar picks him up with as much force as is needed, and carries him across the room. Catching Vitro's eye, he says, "Really, colors. That's cool. How about you tell Vitro all about it." Looking at Vitro, he makes the cut-off gesture and mouths, He's done.

"I don't know from pumpkins, but where I grew up, they raised these big yellow-orange gourd-things, tykvy. Man, you could smash the bejeezus out of those things..."

"Let me just make sure this thing isn't going to go funny on us..."

Detect magic/knowledge or spellcraft on the fountain

coloooors: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 21 with an additional +3 if it's spellcraft vs magic item time

While Justin spaces out on the colors, Vitro takes a closer look.

The fountain, just as the basin, has two conjuration or 'sloth' aura's in combination with a universal one. Its nearly the same as the basin, but the second sloth aura is slightly different.
While this type of magic is still strange to you, you think that the fountain and the basin share the same spells. The aura that is slightly different is probably a slightly less powerfull version of the same spell.

How airwalk/airstep are related as an example

Justin shakes his head a little bit and rights his tiara

"Vitro, perhaps a little experimentation is in order? I'm out of teal spells and not much use to the group either way. Just convince the babysitter here it's a good idea. "

Oskar's eyes narrow at the mention of 'the E-word'. "Fer Nisk, 'experiment' is code that really means, 'I'm about to do something lazy, or reckless, or both'. Exactly what do you want to do?" He then glowers as Justin adjusts the tiara. "If that thing gets broken before we can sell it off 'cuz you were playing with it, you're still payin' me a full share's worth fer it..."

"Fine fine, I'll put up collateral for both coppers. Just let me take a small sip from the pool and we'll see what it does.

"Fine fine, I'll put up collateral for both coppers. Just let me take a small sip from the pool and we'll see what it does.

Two coppers? Not likely... Oskar can't decide what Justin's up to there, so he menatlly shelves it for now. "You wanna take a sip, knock yourself out." He stands aside, and gestures Justin toward the pool.

Justin waits for V to get his detect magic swept over him and takes a sip

fort save: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (12) + 3 = 15

The horrible taste of the water nearly makes you puke.
You realise it might be a good idea to remove the pulped head out of the water first...