KC's Age of Worms

Game Master Kobold Catgirl

"What if the bad guys team up with all the even bigger bad guys and leave us with a fight we can't win?"

"Also, I think we have a better chance if we catch them on their own. They might be weakened when they get here, but if all of them make it through I think we're still worse off. You do have a point though, Eben - we might have time to make some preparations here."

Should Astraden take half an hour to prepare some spells? She could blown her second 6th level spell to get greater glyph of warding, or just pick up normal glyph of warding. She could also pick up greater scrying if we really want to know what someone is up to.

"Are we certain they have not already gone through? Not all locks leave their keys intact. Some tombs of the Vaati could only be visited once."

"I mean, I assume they'd have to kill the grisgol and octopus thing just like we would, so, I doubt they'd team up, but... right, you guys have a point. But I don't think we should wait, either, unless we absolutely need to rest for a night."

Taking half an hour means most of the buffs we have going go away. At this point, I'm low on spell slots and can't replenish most of them.

"Seems like a great time to get moving then. Maybe we can try to come in quiet, but I'm not sure how well that will work. If we find them fighting each other we could just sit back for a bit if they don't notice us."

"Yeah, no time to waste. Let's get moving."

Which way are you going?

Someone in the Discord said south toward the rattling. I'll update tomorrow with that if nobody objects.

Spiny's Six descends back into the menhir maze, making their way without too much difficulty to the center.

The ruins here are complicated with a new feature; numerous spindly stone stalagmites rise up from the stone, interspersed throughout the area like a strange forest. The rocky growths are carved with strange slash-like glyphs along vertical lines, written in the same script as the obsidian disk.

A small tangle of green glowing crystals grows from the base of a stalagmite near the center of this area.

Updated the map. The gray triangles represent the area—there are considerably more than four stalagmites. Remember that this is a 1 square = 10 feet map (the area is about 30x50 feet) and the avatars aren't to scale with the map itself.

For now, just indicate your marching order and any notes about placement you feel are relevant, like whether you're entering the area or staying outside of it. By default, I'm assuming you stay outside the area.

Farrukh, Astraden, do you have any bonuses to Perception other than Good Hope? Asking for no reason, but if Farrukh's current total Perception is at least +27 (no, it's not an underground area or trap) and Astraden's is at least +20 you get to read the spoiler below. Gark's out of commission currently, so don't wait up for their answer.

Eben stops and looks supiciously off into the middle distance. "Um, guys, not to be too alarming, but..." He pauses, then asks quizzically, "Oh, I can never remember. Are the ones on the ground stalac-tites, or mites?"

"Mites. Stalacti-TITES are up TOP. They both have a T, see?"

Placed myself.

"Oh! Yeah, I get it now. That's a good mnemonic, like that 'your left hand makes an 'L' shape' thing. Hopefully that'll stick in for the next time I need to talk about them." Eben nods, satisfied, then after a few moments of pause, "Oh, yeah, the reason I wanted to know is that stalagmite near you is moving and I think it might try and eat you." He helpfully points at the offending stalagmite nearest Farrukh.

Farrukh looks at him in annoyance.

"...Thanks for the heads up." he says, then readies his weapons.

Can I take a closer look at it, or does it react to aggression? I will preemptively say my Kn. Dungeoneering is a 29 on the Take 10 I'll be using if possible.

Special Abilities, Defenses, Spell-like abilities, Weaknesses, Ecology, Worst Save, Best Save.

Bump. Assume Farrukh quietly conveys all of this to everyone.

"Yup, just like I said, it was definitely planning to eat you!" He draws his bow and gets ready to give his glass rod of quickening a shake. "So... we killing these things?"

"Yeah, Ropers are terrible."

"Whenever you're ready", Tanith says with a nod at Carina and Eben. "If they're as nasty as Farrukh says we'd might as well get the opening shot on them. The rest of us will keep them off you two."

Eben clicks one of the buttons on his rod, and with a soft glass chime, time seems to suddenly slow down around the party. He stows the rod and softly clinks his bracers together.

Casting haste on the group as a swift action and activating aspect of the falcon on myself.

-good hope lasts 24 minutes on the entire group,
-moment of greatness lasts 24 minutes on the entire group,

-greater magic weapon lasts 28 hours on Eben
-mirror image (1d4 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8 images) lasts 24 minutes on Eben,
-cat's grace lasts 24 minutes on Eben,
-shield lasts 24 minutes on Eben,
-gravity bow lasts 24 minutes on Eben

-haste lasts 14 rounds on the entire group

-aspect of the falcon lasts 10 rounds on Eben

I'll try to get a smaller and clearer map up tonight. I fudged some details in the meantime to avoid an unfair "the second you see them, you're grabbed" situation when there was no map to go off of, but it's unlikely that, when the finalized map is made, it will be possible for everyone to both have line of sight and be out of range of the creatures. Just a heads-up!

Map is updated with a 5' square zoom in. Feel free to place your tokens somewhere north of the ropers. Turns out there's plenty of room.

Carina pops another shield extract before nodding at Eben.

Shield is refreshed. Current AC should be 33 again.

Astraden splits off a double self and draws her rapier. "If they were planning to eat Farrah, I think we have a track record of having to plan to kill them."

Adding copycat to Astraden's ongoing buffs. Haven't checked what's currently ongoing (phone posting).

"To be fair, a lot of things try and eat Farrukh." Eben glances over at and up and down the Kettite. "I wonder if that means he just tastes really good?"

With the current levels of buffing, Eben's AC is 29/18/22, with 8 mirror Ebens waiting to act as sacrificial lambs.

Oh, and a pre-emptive initiative roll: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26

Hey, I'm supposed to roll initiative for you guys! I use my special "PC Initiative" die, so it's nice and fair. 1d20 ⇒ 6 Okay, so that one just happened to be a bad roll, but see, it's perfectly... 1d20 ⇒ 6 Okay, um, I know that looks bad, but... 1d20 ⇒ 1

... okay, you can use your roll, just this once. Harumph.

In my defense, after three years between combats, I think I forgot how initiative worked.

Ouchhh.

Initiative: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (9) + 11 = 20

Oh, sorry, I thought you were still in buffing/planning phase. I can roll people's init and get things rolling if we're rolling.

"To be fair, a lot of things try and eat Farrukh." Eben glances over at and up and down the Kettite. "I wonder if that means he just tastes really good?"

Astraden raises her eyebrows. Then smacks* herself in the face with the rapier-holding hand. "Did I really just call Farrukh Farrah?"

*Gently

"Did I really just call Farrukh Farrah?"

Perhaps he's been feathering his hair.

Farrukh's hairstyle is becoming very chic in the Free City, you know.

Okay, so, what's the plan? Are you moving into the area? Opening up with a volley of ranged attacks?

I have a straight line to an open roper, so will be making a volley or so as soon as I know I go before them.

Inits: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 231d20 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 71d20 + 8 ⇒ (9) + 8 = 171d20 + 0 ⇒ (18) + 0 = 181d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 71d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12

Eben - 26
Farrukh - 20
Astraden - 23
Carina - 7
Clunk - 17
Tanith - 18
Cuetzpalli - 7
Ropers - 12

INIT ORDER:
Eben/Farrukh/Astraden/Clunk/Tanith
Ropers
Cuetzpalli/Carina

Go ahead and roll it, then. Round 1: Everyone except Cuetzpalli and Carina is up! If anyone wants to suggest Clunk's action, he has the standard kolyarut statblock. He'll follow Farrukh's lead.

Eben crouches, begins whistling merrily, takes aim at the closest convenient 'stalagmite', and begins firing. A slight tremor in the bowstring immediately before firing indicates that Forzamele has initiated his own magical abilities as well.

Eben begins a bardic performance (Inspire Courage) as a swift action (+3 competence to attack & damage for everyone, +3 morale bonus on saves vs. fear or charm), Forzamele casts weapon of awe, Eben is using Rapid Shot, Clustered Shots apply if there's DR to overcome. Aiming at the one I put a star on.

Manyshot: longbow+good hope+inspire courage+haste-rapid shot: 1d20 + 21 + 2 + 3 + 3 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (10) + 21 + 2 + 3 + 3 + 1 - 2 = 38

Damage: gravity arrow+good hope+inspire courage+weapon of awe: 6d6 + 8 + 4 + 6 + 4 ⇒ (4, 3, 2, 4, 1, 6) + 8 + 4 + 6 + 4 = 42

Rapid shot: longbow+good hope+inspire courage+haste-rapid shot: 1d20 + 21 + 2 + 3 + 3 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (12) + 21 + 2 + 3 + 3 + 1 - 2 = 40

gravity arrow+good hope+inspire courage+weapon of awe: 3d6 + 4 + 2 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (4, 4, 3) + 4 + 2 + 3 + 2 = 22

Hasted Shot: longbow+good hope+inspire courage+haste-rapid shot: 1d20 + 21 + 2 + 3 + 3 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (7) + 21 + 2 + 3 + 3 + 1 - 2 = 35

gravity arrow+good hope+inspire courage+weapon of awe: 3d6 + 4 + 2 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (6, 2, 2) + 4 + 2 + 3 + 2 = 21

Iterative 1: longbow+good hope+inspire courage+haste-rapid shot: 1d20 + 16 + 2 + 3 + 3 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (3) + 16 + 2 + 3 + 3 + 1 - 2 = 26

gravity arrow+good hope+inspire courage+weapon of awe: 3d6 + 4 + 2 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (5, 3, 1) + 4 + 2 + 3 + 2 = 20

Iterative 2: longbow+good hope+inspire courage+haste-rapid shot: 1d20 + 11 + 2 + 3 + 3 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (2) + 11 + 2 + 3 + 3 + 1 - 2 = 20

gravity arrow+good hope+inspire courage+weapon of awe: 3d6 + 4 + 2 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (5, 6, 4) + 4 + 2 + 3 + 2 = 26

Eben's AC is 29/18/22, mirror image has 8 images remaining.

"Hey Clunk, can you use your Fear thing on all of them before me, Tanith, and Cuetz move in?" he asks, then begins preparing his own actions.

After he does that:

Farrukh Tactical Rushes toward the nearest un-Feared Roper and begins laying into it.

Tooth: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (13) + 18 = 31
Damage: 1d6 + 21 ⇒ (4) + 21 = 25

Klaw: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (18) + 20 = 38
Damage: 1d6 + 21 + 1d6 ⇒ (3) + 21 + (5) = 29

Klaw Haste: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (3) + 20 = 23
Damage: 1d6 + 21 + 1d6 ⇒ (3) + 21 + (3) = 27

Klaw Iterative: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (2) + 15 = 17
Damage: 1d6 + 21 + 1d6 ⇒ (3) + 21 + (3) = 27

Klaw Iterative 2: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (11) + 10 = 21
Damage: 1d6 + 21 + 1d6 ⇒ (5) + 21 + (2) = 28

Clunk gives a small sigh and begins his advance. "'My Fear thing' will only reach some of them. But this unit will assume an optimal position for the Panic Effect."

He races forward, his metal feet pounding into the dust, and his red cloak swishes dramatically behind him as he comes to a skidding halt, spinning to let loose a cacophonous panic-inducing scream on the seven ropers.

He's able to target 7 ropers, losers are marked with black dots. Saves:

7d20 ⇒ (6, 15, 11, 2, 15, 6, 9) = 64

Three of the stalagmites open gigantic maws, ringed with endless lamprey-like teeth, and let out horrible screams of their own. Awful ripping and tearing and cracking sounds begin to rise from the rocks around them, and it takes the party a moment to realize why, and to in turn realize why the ropers haven't attacked yet—these ropers have actually become partially rooted to the stone, and they are currently ripping themselves out in their panicked flight.

The other four, and the other five besides that were not targeted, eye the kolyarut balefully. He casts a look over his shoulder back at the party. "Please do not be alarmed at what is about to happen to my body. I doubt they are able to bypass my—"

The rest of his words are swallowed as the carnage begins in earnest.

The "rooted to the rock" is mostly just flavor—it hurts them, and makes lovely body horror imagery, but not enough to do real damage.

Eben's first four attacks hit—no DR that you can see, but these things are tough. Farrukh's first two attacks hit. I'll do flavor text when Astraden and Tanith have moved. Map updated.

Astraden and Tanith are up.

Oh, and to save you all some trouble, so far the lowest that has hit them (flat-footed) is a 26, and the highest that has missed them is a 23.

Moving like a blur under the power of Eben's spell, Tanith joins Farrukh on the front line. He rears back for a mighty blow with his enchanted poleaxe cleaving into the nearest of the ropers. Before the hideous creature can strike back the big man's muscles tense, prepared to react on the defensive.

Move. Standard for destructive smite. Swift to spend a ki point for +4 AC.

Attack (GMW, haste, inspire, good hope, power attack): 1d20 + 21 + 3 + 1 + 3 + 2 - 3 ⇒ (6) + 21 + 3 + 1 + 3 + 2 - 3 = 33
Damage: 1d10 + 13 + 3 + 3 + 2 + 9 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 13 + 3 + 3 + 2 + 9 + 7 = 40

It gets cover there, but you still hit, I think—as long as it's not Improved Cover.

If Gark's not available, could someone NPC Astraden? Otherwise I'll have her delay if he hasn't posted tomorrow.

Astraden moves closer, hesitant to get into biting range.

Movement and ready action to channel if any on our team take damage.

Eben crouches, begins whistling merrily, takes aim at the closest convenient 'stalagmite', and begins firing. A slight tremor in the bowstring immediately before firing indicates that Forzamele has initiated his own magical abilities as well.

Eben begins a bardic performance (Inspire Courage) as a swift action (+3 competence to attack & damage for everyone, +3 morale bonus on saves vs. fear or charm), Forzamele casts weapon of awe, Eben is using Rapid Shot, Clustered Shots apply if there's DR to overcome. Aiming at the one I put a star on.

Eben peppers the screaming maw of the roper ahead of him with arrows that sink true and deep, as Farrukh and Tanith rush in to slash brutally at the roper to their right. Both ropers have taken grievous injures, but their rocky hides and hideous hate are powerful indeed, and they show no fear.

Round 1: Ropers

The roper in the center, surrounded by the crystals, groans something out in the hideous bestial tongue of monsters. The others give echoing groans in answer.

Several ropers break out of their rocky alcoves, some leaving chunks of cancerous rooted "flesh" behind, and retreat—very, very slowly. Those nearest Clunk, however, lunge at him with their many-toothed maws, one lashing out with strands to pull him closer to them. Luckily, their strength-draining tendrils have no effect on him.

Bites @ Clunk (flanking): 1d20 + 20 - 2 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 20 - 2 + 2 = 261d20 + 20 - 2 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 20 - 2 + 2 = 221d20 + 20 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 20 + 2 = 41 Crit?: 1d20 + 20 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 20 + 2 = 32
Damage: 4d8 + 18 - 10 + 8d8 + 36 - 10 ⇒ (5, 3, 1, 7) + 18 - 10 + (7, 1, 5, 3, 8, 8, 6, 2) + 36 - 10 = 90

Strands @ Clunk: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (5) + 10 = 151d20 + 10 ⇒ (9) + 10 = 191d20 + 10 ⇒ (8) + 10 = 181d20 + 10 ⇒ (4) + 10 = 141d20 + 10 ⇒ (19) + 10 = 291d20 + 10 ⇒ (18) + 10 = 28
Pull @ Clunk: 1d20 + 22 ⇒ (7) + 22 = 291d20 + 22 ⇒ (20) + 22 = 421d20 + 22 ⇒ (9) + 22 = 311d20 + 22 ⇒ (9) + 22 = 311d20 + 22 ⇒ (8) + 22 = 301d20 + 22 ⇒ (9) + 22 = 31

Actually, only one success (some bad rolls), Clunk is going to voluntarily drop his CMD for that last pull, since he'd rather be right next to the puller than 5 feet back and available for, like, half the ropers to full attack him.

The strands yank Clunk right into the ropers' midst, and more lash out at him.

Bites @ Clunk, the Shriekuel: 1d20 + 20 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 20 + 2 = 38 Damage: 4d8 + 18 - 10 ⇒ (7, 4, 2, 3) + 18 - 10 = 24 Total damage taken by Clunk: A paltry 114/158.

As Clunk takes a beating, Farrukh and Tanith find they have bigger problems: Specifically, the three ropers suddenly taking a keen interest in them. One bites Farrukh, leading Astraden to channel positive energy immediately, while two others shoot sticky, thin strands at Farrukh and Tanith. The strands seem to sap the strength from the two hardy frontline fighters' very cores.

Bite @ Farrukh: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (3) + 20 = 23
Strands @ Farrukh Touch (including -4 for cover and -4 for shooting into melee): 1d20 + 10 - 4 - 4 ⇒ (17) + 10 - 4 - 4 = 191d20 + 10 - 4 - 4 ⇒ (1) + 10 - 4 - 4 = 31d20 + 10 - 4 - 4 ⇒ (16) + 10 - 4 - 4 = 181d20 + 10 - 4 - 4 ⇒ (13) + 10 - 4 - 4 = 151d20 + 10 - 4 - 4 ⇒ (17) + 10 - 4 - 4 = 191d20 + 10 - 4 - 4 ⇒ (16) + 10 - 4 - 4 = 18
Pull Attacks on Farrukh (respectively, if any hit): 1d20 + 22 ⇒ (8) + 22 = 301d20 + 22 ⇒ (9) + 22 = 311d20 + 22 ⇒ (19) + 22 = 411d20 + 22 ⇒ (20) + 22 = 421d20 + 22 ⇒ (11) + 22 = 331d20 + 22 ⇒ (1) + 22 = 23
All attacks are vs. touch AC. Farrukh, that's a 19 (CMB 30), a fumble, an 18 (CMB 41), a 15 (CMB crit 42), a 19 (CMB 33), and an 18 (CMB fumble). For every hit that beats your touch AC and beat your CMD, you are pulled 5 feet closer along the green dotted line path.

Also, for every hit that beats your touch AC, give me a Fortitude save.

Strands @ Tanith Touch (including -4 for cover and -4 for shooting into melee): 1d20 + 10 - 4 - 4 ⇒ (5) + 10 - 4 - 4 = 71d20 + 10 - 4 - 4 ⇒ (5) + 10 - 4 - 4 = 71d20 + 10 - 4 - 4 ⇒ (15) + 10 - 4 - 4 = 171d20 + 10 - 4 - 4 ⇒ (5) + 10 - 4 - 4 = 71d20 + 10 - 4 - 4 ⇒ (18) + 10 - 4 - 4 = 201d20 + 10 - 4 - 4 ⇒ (20) + 10 - 4 - 4 = 22
Pull Attacks on Tanith(respectively, if any hit): 1d20 + 22 ⇒ (6) + 22 = 281d20 + 22 ⇒ (18) + 22 = 401d20 + 22 ⇒ (16) + 22 = 381d20 + 22 ⇒ (10) + 22 = 321d20 + 22 ⇒ (14) + 22 = 361d20 + 22 ⇒ (13) + 22 = 35
All attacks are vs. touch AC. Tanith, that's a 7 (CMB 28), 7 (CMB 40), a 17 (CMB 38), a 7 (CMB 32), a 20 (CMB 36), and a crit 22 (CMB 35). For every hit that beats your touch AC and beat your CMD, you are pulled 5 feet closer along the green dotted line path.

Also, for every hit that beats your touch AC, give me a Fortitude save.

As a sidenote, if Farrukh somehow isn't pulled at all, Tanith can avoid being pulled past him.

Round 1: If I somehow avoided making any critical mistakes in that post, Carina and Cuetzpalli are up.

Oh, come on, I get a ability damage crit and I roll minimum damage? Really is no justice in this world...

Oh, Astraden, scratch the channel since Farrukh was missed by the bite. I was nice and let you not channel uselessly when Clunk was injured. This does imply Astraden doesn't see him as a real member of "the team", though. Very sad! It's almost like they have some sort of core philosophical differences.

Feeling more than a little frightened at the prospect of so many ropers, Carina opts to test out her new holy bombs.

"Here goes nothing..." She winces before moving in closer and throwing her very first holy bomb at Eben's target!

Holy Bomb (PBS, Precise, Haste, Rapid, Good Hope, Inspired): 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (20) + 19 = 39
Crit?: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (12) + 19 = 31
Holy Damage *PBS, Inspired*: 8d6 + 8 ⇒ (4, 6, 6, 6, 2, 4, 6, 6) + 8 = 48
Crit Damage?: 1d6 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10

Current AC: 33. Current Touch AC: 19?