Kingmaker [PbP] (Inactive)

Game Master Jeff Przybylo

"These old barrows can play havoc with one's imagination. The flapping of bat wings reverberating on the walls, most likely."

Still, though she can't hear anything, Talia grips her longsword Worgsbane tightly, her shield raised towards the nearest corridor.

perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7

[Dice=Perception] d20

Presumably I can use Dregan's roll as an Aid Another check to hit the 17?

For future reference: No. Not in this case. This isn't a search check, where you could get an Aid Another bonus. Going forward, I will note such Perception checks with the word 'Search'.

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7

Edric can't hear anything but, knowing that he is by far the most obvious target, he pulls out his earthbreaker and waits.

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21

"I hear it. Skeletons!" Naralesh hisses. "Edric, you're about to get a lot taller..." he says, producing a scroll and beginning to cast a spell from it.

Assuming the corridor is at least 10 feet high, Naralesh is using his scroll of enlarge person on Edric. 1 round casting time, it will take effect just before the start of Naralesh's next turn, if we're tracking this in rounds.

Just as Naralesh completes his spell, a horde of skeleton warriors charges from down each hall straight into your ranks!

Edric, you get one AoO because of reach. The rest of you didn't see or hear anything until Naralesh said something, and then it was too late for all but Edric.

The skeletons drive into you hacking ans slashing with their rusted longswords, their mouths open in silent battle cries...

att edric: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6
att edric: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 = 11
att edric: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 2 = 15
att edric: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 = 20 dmg edric: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10
att magna: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 2 = 19 dmg magna: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10

Targeting the huge paladin, the skeletons manage only one hit, (-10 hp) while beside him Magna takes a hit as well.

ROUND ONE: you guys go. Edric needs an AoO and his round one action. If you get a hit Edric, roll d4; and if you get a 4, you hit the one who hit you.

"Not to worry, Edric" Vosil deadpans, with a sidelong glance at Talia. "Our Glorious Leader has declared that these are nothing but figments of the imagination, so you won't come to any harm... Still, I may as well indulge in this collective delusion myself."

So saying, he aims his whip at one of the skeletons attacking Edric, aiming to trip it.

Trip: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (19) + 12 = 31

AAO: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (19) + 9 = 28
Damage: 2d8 + 7 ⇒ (6, 8) + 7 = 21
Which Skelly: 1d4 ⇒ 3

Edric's suddenly improved reach allows him to render a skeleton into splinters before another one makes it through and stabs him in the knee joint. He manages to avoid buckling and strikes back at the one which hit him.

Attack: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (4) + 9 = 13
Damage: 2d8 + 7 ⇒ (4, 6) + 7 = 17

Holy cow, that's a lot of skellies!

"I said likely," Talia hisses, her buckler arm fumbling through her belt pouch for a pat of butter. Finding it, the Countess utters a quick command, "Cadent!" and waves her arm at the skeletons by Edric, calling forth a slippery, bubbling, mess under their spindly legs.

Casting grease on the four skellies to the east of Edric. Reflex DC 15 or fall.

Dregan moves to where he gets a clean line on a skeleton (South 10ft) and aims carefully at the creature's skull and shoots.

Attack: 1d20 + 9 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (4) + 9 + 1 - 2 = 12 point blank, deadly aim
Damage: 1d8 + 3 + 1 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 3 + 1 + 4 = 16

Gotta say, I think I chose well with that enlarge right there! Edric's blocking off half the corridor!

Naralesh slides toward the wall, beginning a chant to cast another summoning spell. The familiar rocky form of Kaldrukth materializes beside Magna. Duration: 6 rounds.

Five-foot-step up to next to the wall, casting summon monster II as a standard action. Move action: Draw scroll of summon monster II.

Slam (Power Attack): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18 Damage: 1d6 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10

Fort Save: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10 Naralesh is Fatigued.

Magna takes a fierce hack with her axe, but it is tripped just as she does and her swing goes wild!

ref save: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14
ref save: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

Edric kills two quickly, as does Dregan. Two more go down to Talia's Grease spell.

One warrior steps up to Magna, missing with it's sword.

att: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 = 11

Another swings at Edric, scoring a hit!

att: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 2 = 18 dmg: 1d8 ⇒ 1

The prone skeleton claws futilely at his ankles.

att: 1d20 + 4 - 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 - 4 = 2
att: 1d20 + 4 - 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 - 4 = 14

The two in the middle of the grease scramble to their feet. That's an AoO on them if you wish.

And ROUND TWO:

I'll take an AAO... :)
AAO: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (1) + 9 = 10
Damage: 2d8 + 7 ⇒ (4, 3) + 7 = 14

Edric's swing at the rising skeleton is too high as he misjudges his new height. Recovering he aims an underarm blow at the skeleton who landed a hit against him.

Attack: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (19) + 9 = 28
Damage: 2d8 + 7 ⇒ (1, 2) + 7 = 10

Dregan fires two more arrows trying to get them past Nara's elemental.

Attack: 1d20 + 9 - 2 + 1 - 2 - 4 ⇒ (8) + 9 - 2 + 1 - 2 - 4 = 10 rapid shot, point blank, deadly aim, cover
Damage: 1d8 + 3 + 1 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 3 + 1 + 4 = 16 point blank, deadly aim

Attack: 1d20 + 9 - 2 + 1 - 2 - 4 ⇒ (8) + 9 - 2 + 1 - 2 - 4 = 10 rapid shot, point blank, deadly aim, cover
Damage: 1d8 + 3 + 1 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 3 + 1 + 4 = 11 point blank, deadly aim

Howeve both arrows bounce off the rags of armour rather than digging into the bone.

Safely behind the line of fighting, Vosil flicks his whip at the nearest skeleton that is still standing, doing his best to knock it down.

Trip: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (5) + 12 = 17

Stepping behind Naralesh's elemental, Talia drops Worgslayer and draws her scorpion whip. Following Vosil's lead, the Viscountess lashes out at the second skeleton behind Magna, hoping to upend it.

Trip: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (11) + 8 = 19

This campaign is quickly turning into an episode of the Three Stooges...

Well, I'm not sure you can inflict a dirty trick on skeletons - blinding them for example would seem to be a challenge... so tripping is a handy fall-back (no pun intended there, honestly).

This campaign is quickly turning into an episode of the Three Stooges...

Meanwhile, the elemental is playing Whack-A-Mole.

Slam (Power Attack): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20 Damage: 1d6 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9

Edric's swing at the rising skeleton is too high as he misjudges his new height.

You sure? AoOs take place before the target loses the "prone" condition, so you get another +4 to hit. A 14 might hit the skeleton.

Naralesh senses he doesn't need another elemental, and stows the scroll. He draws his longbow and prepares to fire.

Edric 'Godly' wrote:

Edric's swing at the rising skeleton is too high as he misjudges his new height.

You sure? AoOs take place before the target loses the "prone" condition, so you get another +4 to hit. A 14 might hit the skeleton.

I assumed a nat 1 wasn't going to work no matter what - we'll see if OGGM is feeling kind. :)

Naralesh wrote:

Edric 'Godly' wrote:

Edric's swing at the rising skeleton is too high as he misjudges his new height.

You sure? AoOs take place before the target loses the "prone" condition, so you get another +4 to hit. A 14 might hit the skeleton.

I assumed a nat 1 wasn't going to work no matter what - we'll see if OGGM is feeling kind. :)

Oh, you nat 1'd? Oops, silly me! That'll miss no matter what.

If the elemental downs its target, it will step five feet forward, seeking its next victim.

Edric and the elemental smash down two warriors.

The two skeletons in the grease crawl forward, trying to get at Edric. That's AoOs on them. While the the last tries to stand. And one on him. Do all of these first.

I only get one since I lack combat reflexes. :( Who thought a paladin would need it...

AAO: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (8) + 9 = 17
Damage: 2d8 + 7 ⇒ (1, 6) + 7 = 14

In his newly massive form Edric doesn't even bother with the hammer, simply lifting one foot and stamping down hard to grind the skeleton into paste.

Check the map, I need more AoOs from whip people and elementals.

Whips don't give you an AoO from more than 5 feet away unless you have Improved Whip Mastery - in fact, using a whip provokes, unless you have the Whip Mastery feat.

Oops. Didn't realize I was on deck.

Slam AoO: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14 Damage: 1d6 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9

Two skeletons down, one to go. Edric and the elemental crush the skeletons as they move. The final warrior tries to attack Edric, his rusty sword hacking into the man's leg!

att: 1d20 + 4 - 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 - 4 = 18 dmg: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10 Edric takes 10 hp dmg.

ROUND THREE. Ignore the map until I can fix it. There is one skeleton who is in front of Edric and next to the elemental.

Edric, getting rather cross at the battering his shins are taking, brings down his hammer with full force.

Attack: 1d20 + 9 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 9 + 1 = 13 Everyone's been forgetting my big light aura - including me!
Damage: 2d8 + 7 ⇒ (6, 1) + 7 = 14 And my lousy dice continue!

He then draws upon Desna's light to heal himself.
LoH: 2d6 ⇒ (3, 3) = 6

Slam: 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 5 + 1 = 17 Damage: 1d6 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 7 + 1 = 12 Including the bonuses from Edric this time! Just a quick post for now as I am on the way out the door.

With a flick of her wrist, Talia reaches out with her scorpion whip and wraps it around the skeleton's leg. Giving the whip a firm yank, the Countess hopes to upend the monstrosity.

trip: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13

THey are probably already dead but incase its needed. Same roll for either target

Attack: 1d20 + 9 - 2 + 1 - 2 - 4 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 9 - 2 + 1 - 2 - 4 + 1 = 21 rapid shot, point blank, deadly aim, cover, edric's bright light ability
Damage: 1d8 + 3 + 1 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 3 + 1 + 4 + 1 = 11 point blank, deadly aim, edric's bright light ability

Attack: 1d20 + 9 - 2 + 1 - 2 - 4 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 9 - 2 + 1 - 2 - 4 + 1 = 6 rapid shot, point blank, deadly aim, cover, edric's bright light ability
Damage: 1d8 + 3 + 1 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 3 + 1 + 4 + 1 = 10 point blank, deadly aim, edric's bright light ability

The last skeleton goes down under the assault of Kadrukth the Destroyer. Mashed into a pile of bones by the earth elemental's fists.

Combat over.

What's next?

"I suggest we move on ahead into the central chambers." Edric suits action to words and leads the way, still surrounded by his glowing radiance (for another 30 secs or so). As he goes he calls upon Desna again to heal himself.

LoH: 2d6 ⇒ (6, 3) = 9

Dregan follows arrow notched.

Since it was from a scroll, the enlarge effect will last only ten rounds, so Edric will be back to normal sized quickly.

"Magna, can you restore my strength as we press on?" Naralesh asks as they prepare to move. "That spell took a lot out of me."

Magna had the fatigued mercy, so she can remove the condition from Naralesh with a Lay on Hands.

"Wait. Before we go on." Talia rewinds her whip and sheathes Worgslayer, before drawing the healing wand. "Anyone that is hurt, let's take a moment and mend those wounds."

Anyone who wants, roll some cure light wounds (CL 1) and I'll take it off the wand.

------

Drawing the longsword, Talia follows the others towards the central chambers...

"It was only Edric and he has already healed himself."

I'm pretty sure that is correct.

"We set up quite the formation there. Well done, everyone," Naralesh remarks. "I recall that the last time we were in a barrow like this, we fought a skeletal warrior with a rather impressive weapon - but we didn't have Vosil with us then," he turns to Vosil. "If you or Talia manage to disarm any foes down here, I can make sure they don't get their weapons back."

He casts a quick spell, conjuring an invisible force to do his bidding and quickly instructs it in Elven. "If any entity besides these individuals," he says, indicating his allies, "drops a weapon, retrieve it and bring it to me. Otherwise, follow close by me."

Casting unseen servant, duration 4 hours.

Magna lays her hands on Naralesh's head, murmuring a prayer to Torag as she does so. The fatigue from his spell washes away like so much dirt from his skin.

-------------

In the intersection...

Four large monstrous faces, carved from stone, leer and grimace from each of the walls between the tunnel entrances. A skeleton sprawls face down in the middle of the room.

Edric halts just before the intersection. "Can anyone check these faces for magic?" He whispers backwards. "Something died in the middle there and I don't want to walk into a trap without warning."

Don't have detect magic.

Stopping at the intersection before the faces, Talia crouches and begins examining the floor for pressure plates or other activations, before looking to the skeleton to see if there is obvious signs of the person's demise, such as darts, embedded in the skeleton's clothing, and the like.

perception, intersection: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11
perception, skeleton: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18

"Naralesh, could you summon a creature to walk the area and see if anything is triggered?"

I do.

"Certainly," he replies to Edric. He casts the spell, detecting whether any magic still lingers.

To Talia, he replies, "A wise course of action." He produces one of his remaining scrolls, taking the time to cast the spell properly to avoid the risk of fatigue.

I'd rather not send an animal, even a summoned one, in to die, he thought, deciding to conjure the heavy form of Kaldrukth once more, as the earth elemental was both likely to trigger any traps and more likely to be unaffected by exotic hazards like poison.

The elemental conjured, it marched forward at his instruction as the others stayed well back.

Kaldrukth moves forward as commanded, reaching the center of the intersection. As he does, the four faces seem to inhale deeply, then breathe out black tendrils of mist. The mist envelops Kaldrukth who writhes in pain, then slowly sinks back into the stone of the floor.

No detect magic, no knowledge religion. What kind of bard are you, Talia?

Talia backs up as the elemental sinks into the floor, unhappy to find her suspicions well-founded. "Let's not let that happen to us. Anyone know anything about black misty tendrils? Perhaps we can circle around? Or go above them, along the ceiling?"

Knw R: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24 Paladin to the rescue!

"They seem to be the four winds." Edric says, sounding slightly puzzled. "Deliberately misrepresented as malevolent spirits however... Must be part of the trap." He pauses and looks at the rest of the group. "Can anyone explain how it works? Will there be a recharging period if we go through now?"

"Only one way to find out or we could write a big sign explaining the situation, and maybe collapse the entrance."

And so we...

OGGM, is the trap at the intersection where the skeleton tokens are or is it further to the east?

All you know for sure is that when the elemental walked into the center of the intersection, it went off.