Legends of Katapesh - Legacy of Fire

Game Master justaworm

Hazreem and Efreat use up their remaining spells on Mah'ysa while they stand watch. While it is not the most restful sleep, you manage to get through the rest of the day and through the night with no apparent ill effects.

While you set up camp and try to rest and recover from your ordeals of the day that included falling over the edge of eternity once again, being transported by the Proteans out of the realm of Kakishon, and fighting your way through near death experiences here in the vaults of Jhavhul's lair, your mysterious friend pays you yet another visit. He appears on the wall as you are inspecting the brass corridor leading up, apparently favoring appearing on the living brass only. He is there for only a moment, stating his message and departing just as quickly leaving no time for a response.

"The Impossible Eye is what you should seek, not for treasures buried deep. This passage leads not to the eye of brass where our destinies lie, but only to certain defeat."

During what your internal clocks tell you is night, something that is hard to tell in this windowless dungeon, your sleep is disturbed by the sounds of something down the brass corridor with the staircase. It sounds like that of dozens of scuttling legs clamoring across the hard, metal ground, searching for something. Or was it just a nightmare you experienced?

Let me know what protective spells are being cast after have rested and prayed. And then what you are doing...

Updated Spells Memorized. Hazreem will cast Endure Elements on Spooky and Mahysa.

After Hazreem finishes passing out his Goodberrys to the other party members, he gazes at the living brass wall where their mysterious visitor appeared before. "You know, he is really starting to get on my nerves. For all we know he could be working for Jhavhul!" He turns to look at Mahy'sa. "Do you think Saranae could offer us guidance here?"

cast mage armor and overland flight on self. Cast resist energy(fire) on anyone that needs it.

Bahir will cast Endure Elements on himself

Nodding his agreement with Hazreem, "His advice also seems pointless since there seems no other path to take from here. Radiant One, what would you advise?" He eyes the passage from which the scuttling came from warily.

Everyone is now at full health (except Mah'ysa who will have a Fort Save later today) with either Endure Elements or a form of Fire Resistance in effect.

Your move...

So... Moving down the new corridor? If so, marching order? Actions?

Map Link

After Mah'ysa conducts the morning ceremony...

"Do you think Saranae could offer us guidance here?"

Mah'ysa nods. "Yes, I think she can. I have prepared a Divination; and, if She wills it, may provide some guidance."

"Aye..let's go rescue the Princess and hope she's generous "

Bahir smiles broadly at Mah'ysa's question, "Yes indeed, perhaps she will grant Pae his fondest wish as in the tales." He takes the lead once more and begins to head down the corridor.

He'll Detect Evil as he goes. I think our standard order goes something like Pae and Bahir side-by-side (with him searching for traps) followed up by Hazreem and Efreat with Mah'ysa coming up behind.

sounds good to me

You quietly head down the wide corridor. Reaching the brass steps, you see that they rise in a forlorn spiral into the darkness overhead. The center of the spiral is an open pit whose depths are lost in shadow. A quick glance down shows nothing but blackness below. As you start to climb, you find suspicious brown stains and bits of battered armor and equipment littering the steps, warning of danger ahead. Strangely, a cool breeze carries the smell of death from the central pit's depths. The whole place makes you feel uneasy and Bahir detects the almost undetectable lingering aura of evil within this area. As you start climbing the next set of steps, you begin hearing clattering noises coming from the central pit. It is getting louder...

Map Link

Hazreem: Still hauling the harp?

Hazreem will carry the harp, for now.

Hazreem tilts his head towards the pit even as he sets Mah'ysa's harp down on the ground against the wall. He then draws his scimitar. "I have a bad feeling about this..."

Bahir waves everyone to stand back against the wall away from the pit as he directs his senses in that direction.

Detect Evil down the pit. Going into full defense for the moment: AC 33.

As everyone else steps back against the outer wall, Bahir drops into a defensive stance as he inches closer to the central pit. He doesn't have to wait long as his evil sense goes nuts just before the grotesque bulk of a vaguely insectile monstrosity climbs from the depths below. It's unspeakable pallid flesh twitches and quivers behind the ravening maw of needle-sharp teeth contained within a bulbous, eyeless head covered in veined membrane. Beyond this amorphous mass coils a long, segmented body bearing dozens of scuttling legs covered in chitinous armor that trails back into the darkness below. The foremost legs are oversized and folded back like those of a mantis, but with jagged, metallic growths along its clawed edges. Despite it's lack of optical receptors, it seems to ignore the one standing closest to it and seems to be looking into the far corner of the staircase where the sorcerer now stands.

This creature is considered a "Gargantuan aberration".

With a 25 init, the thing goes first...

In a frenzy, it quickly clammers out of the pit and onto the stairs before you (5 foot step), it's long body still trailing down into the darkness below. It stretches out and attempts to devour the sorcerer in the corner with tooth and claw. (20-foot reach)

Bug Bite Attack: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (16) + 20 = 36 Hit
Bug Claw #1 Attack: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (19) + 20 = 39 Hit
Bug Claw #2 Attack: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (20) + 20 = 40 Hit, possible crit
Bug Claw #2 Crit Confirm: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (15) + 20 = 35 Crit confirmed
Bug Bite Damage: 2d8 + 13 ⇒ (3, 4) + 13 = 20
Bug Claw #1 Damage: 2d6 + 13 ⇒ (2, 2) + 13 = 17
Bug Claw #2 Crit Damage: 4d6 + 26 ⇒ (3, 5, 3, 4) + 26 = 41

You find yourself only able to watch in horror as this monsterous thing nearly devours Efreat in a single gulp. (Total Damage: 78, Efreat at -8, unconscious and bleeding.) You then gather your wits and react.

Round 1 - Everyone is up!

Map Link

Knowledge:Planes: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (20) + 11 = 31
"A Get of Iblis" Mah'ysa breathed in shock."It's an elemental hunter!"

"It's a WHAT??" Hazreem yells in reply.

Elemental Hunter? Well it explains why it went straight for Efreat...

Hazreem puts the thoughts out of his mind for the moment and readies one of his most powerful spells to cast. It will take a miracle here for this spell to work but what other choice do I have here?

Cast Baleful Polymorph at the Get. Fortitude save DC 21 to avoid being changed into a centipede. If it fails, then a Will save DC 21 to avoid losing its extraordinary, supernatural, and spell-like abilities, losing its ability to cast spells (if it had the ability), and gaining the alignment, special abilities, and Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma scores of its new form in place of its own.
.
CL check to overcome SR: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (8) + 10 = 18

The druid casts, but nothing seems to happen. Failed to overcome SR.

Shocked and dismayed as the thing ignores him and tears into Efreat, "Release him beast!" He hacks into the unprotected side of the thing.

Activate Smite evil. Does it also count as an outsider for either my smite or Vardishal Sardaukar? I'll assume not for now.

Scimitar slash: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (19) + 21 = 40
Damage: 1d6 + 14 + 1d6 ⇒ (5) + 14 + (4) = 23
Scimitar slash: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (13) + 16 = 29
Damage: 1d6 + 14 + 1d6 ⇒ (1) + 14 + (6) = 21

Crit confirm Scimitar slash: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (12) + 21 = 33
Damage: 1d6 + 14 ⇒ (3) + 14 = 17

AC currently 35 versus the creature and his attacks pass through it's DR if any.

It does not have an evil subtype, despite having an evil alignment. And it is not a fire creature, so the fire outsider bane does not count.

It is hard for the paladin to miss such a massive insectoid, though you do need to be careful not to be crushed by it armored hide. Bahir's glowing blue blade cuts right through its thick skin and creates a couple of massive gashes. For most things this would be a mortal injury, but given the sheer size of this creature, the wound by itself does little more than cause a foul smelling pus to ooze out and splatter on the wide steps below. (Total Damage: 61)

Round 1 - Mah'ysa and Pae are up! Need stability roll from Efreat.

Round 1_____

"It's claws are as tough as adamantine! It's the only known predator of genies and elementals; they eat their essences!"

Mah'ysa tumbles over next to Efreat.
Acrobatics: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (19) + 11 = 30

With a ringing voice, Mah'ysa calls the spell Holy Ice, and a nine inch thick wall of ice glowing with holy energies springs up, protecting the corner between them (she and Efreat) and the creature and rising to about 5 feet short of the ceiling.
Each 10ft square section has 27hp.

Pae is taken aback by the gargantuan creature's appearance but draws his blade and stabs at it.

I should get flanking from Hazreem or Mah'ysa

Rapier 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (16) + 17 = 33 Damage 1d4 + 2 + 5d6 ⇒ (4) + 2 + (6, 3, 5, 2, 3) = 25

Rapier 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (4) + 12 = 16 Damage 1d4 + 2 + 5d6 ⇒ (2) + 2 + (4, 3, 3, 2, 3) = 19

Pae: At the very least you can get flanking from Bahir with a acrobatics roll (Hazreem and Mah'ysa are 15' feet away, so not threatening it). Think you need to make one anyway just to get close enough as you are starting 15' feet away (shouldn't change much though as your second attack probably missed). Bahir can 5' step to the east to make it easier, if that helps.

Nice, use of an ice wall Mah'ysa!

stabilizing roll:1d20 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

Mah'ysa: In order to cast a spell with the water descriptor on the plane of fire, make a spellcraft check DC25 (20+spell level) or the spell fails to go off.

Holy moly, this thing has a CMD of 43.

As the cleric rushes to Efreat's side, flipping up the stairs, the giant insectoid reaches out which its large claw. It painfully tears into her side as she pushes past.

Iblis AoO Claw Attack on Mah'ysa: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (14) + 20 = 34 Hit
Claw Damage: 2d6 + 13 ⇒ (3, 6) + 13 = 22

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 6 + 1 = 22 Fail.
Aaaand no at-will powers taking less than a Standard Action.
So I wasted a whole round?

Impeded Magic: Particular spells and spell-like abilities are more difficult to cast on planes with this trait, often because the nature of the plane interferes with the spell. To cast an impeded spell, the caster must make a concentration check (DC 20 + the level of the spell). If the check fails, the spell does not function but is still lost as a prepared spell or spell slot. If the check succeeds, the spell functions normally.

Looking in the PRD, it states concentration check. The 3.5 LoF book states spellcraft check. Does a concentration check get you any higher with a roll of 15? Otherwise, you do lose the spell.

When you make a concentration check, you roll d20 and add your caster level and the ability score modifier used to determine bonus spells of the same type.

So that would put you +8 for caster level and +4 for Wisdom + 1 for headband. A 28! So it succeeds, by the hair of your chiny chin chin! If I'm using a Pathfinder modified version of the creature, its only fair to use the Pathfinder version of the Plane of Fire rules.

After tearing into her side, the giant bug attempts to follow the cleric as she tumbles into the corner by Efreat, but it is quickly blocked by a massive wall of ice causing it to quickly back away.

Pae: I'm assuming you'll want the flank for sneak attack, and with only Bahir in threat range, you'd have to move over there. But then you'd only get one attack. (Plus the second attack would of missed anyways and it has already used it's AoO this round.)

As the thing pursues Mah'ysa, Pae slips underneath and searches for a good spot to skewer it. He shoves his tiny rapier under an armor plate to get at the tender flesh below. (Damage: 25)

As it thrashes from its injuries, the paladin notices that the giant gashes he just made start to close up. Not liking the thing on its side with the sharp, pointy thing, it turns it's attention there.

Bite Attack on Bahir: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (14) + 20 = 34 Miss!
Claw #1 Attack on Bahir: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (13) + 20 = 33 Miss!
Claw #2 Attack on Bahir: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (6) + 20 = 26 Miss!

In a show of divine prowess, Bahir just manages to hold his own against it's trio of attacks. But it has one more for you. Out of the darkness in the pit below, a pincer-like double stinger rises high in the air before thrusting downward at the Paladin, catching him unaware.

Stinger Attack on Bahir: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (18) + 20 = 38 Hit
Stinger Damage: 2d6 + 13 ⇒ (2, 3) + 13 = 18

Bahir: Make Fort Save DC25 verses poison. (Unless you are immune, but I didn't see it on the Paladin page.)

So far Spooky is hiding behind one of the large steps, keeping out of sight from this hideous thing.

Round 2 - Everyone is up!

Map Link

Hazreem breathes a silent prayer that Mah'ysa and Efreat were safe, at least for the moment. Knowing Bahir needed some much needed help here, he resolutely advances towards the giant bug, ready to meet its reprisal strike by slipping into a defensive posture.

If this thing likes elementals, then perhaps I can lure it away from the others...

Move to interpose himself between the wall of ice and the Get. Fighting defensively:
Attack Scimitar: 1d20 + 11 - 4 ⇒ (3) + 11 - 4 = 10
Damage: 1d6 + 4 + 1d6 ⇒ (2) + 4 + (6) = 12 cold total is 6.
.
Hazreem has zero chance of avoiding its AoO so his current AC is 22.

Round 2_____

Quickly, Mah'ysa calls upon her patron; she sacrifices Divination to cast Cure Critical Wounds on Efreat.
Cure Critical: 4d8 + 9 ⇒ (5, 6, 2, 3) + 9 = 25 points healed.

Fortitude save: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (20) + 16 = 36 Your right, I am not immune to poison but, FYI, I did take the mercy allowing me to cure poison with my Lay Hands On ability.

Scimitar slash: 1d20 + 23 ⇒ (6) + 23 = 29
Damage: 1d6 + 14 + 1d6 ⇒ (2) + 14 + (5) = 21

2nd Scimitar slash: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (5) + 18 = 23
Damage: 1d6 + 14 + 1d6 ⇒ (6) + 14 + (2) = 22

Lay Hands On: 6d6 ⇒ (2, 1, 2, 4, 2, 1) = 12

Knocking the stinger away before it has a chance to poison him, Bahir tries to press the attack.

Nasty creature, I am missing Efreat's haste right about now...Go Pae, gut this thing!

stabilization check1d20 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8

Efreat, no need now that I've healed you.

As a tastier target moves between it and it's frozen fire blood, swinging his scmitiar wildly before it, it turns it's attention to Hazreem. It's eyeless head turns sideways as it's razor sharp tooth-ridden maw opens, sliding over the druid's head. Hazreem ducks away, but not before it gets a taste of that tender mortal's flesh.

AoO Bite Attack on Hazreem: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (15) + 20 = 35
Damage: 2d6 + 13 ⇒ (1, 5) + 13 = 19

Giving Bahir the opening, he assults the creature as his own wounds heal. The first blow cuts deep creating a third giant gash. But the second one simply clanks of its armor-like skin. (Damage: 21) Looks like its going to take at least a few more of those to take this thing down.

Meanwhile behind the ice wall, Efreat's eye open as he takes a deep breath. His life force returning as Mah'ysa channels the Dawnflower's energy into him. (Efreat now at 16/70 HPs)

Round 2 - Pae and Efreat are up! Efreat is currently prone.

Pae stabs at the creature in desperation

1d20 + 17 ⇒ (1) + 17 = 18 Damage 1d4 + 2 + 5d6 ⇒ (3) + 2 + (3, 6, 6, 2, 2) = 24

1d20 + 12 ⇒ (12) + 12 = 24 1d4 + 2 + 5d6 ⇒ (3) + 2 + (3, 6, 5, 2, 5) = 26

His desperation gets the best of him as the Halfling fruitlessly stabs at the thing.

Efreat stands up and shakes his head. "Thanks Mah'ysa. I need to get ready for round 2 with that thing. shon'koom!"
stand up from prone and cast shield on self

With the elemental blood protected behind a shield of ice, the creature goes for the one standing between it and the ice. The deadly forked stinger swinging around as well.

Bite Attack on Hazreem: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (7) + 20 = 27 Hit
Claw #1 Attack on Hazreem: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (14) + 20 = 34 Hit
Claw #2 Attack on Hazreem: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (16) + 20 = 36 Hit
Stinger Attack on Hazreem: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (7) + 20 = 27 Hit
Bite Damage: 2d6 + 13 ⇒ (1, 3) + 13 = 17
Claw #1 Damage: 2d6 + 13 ⇒ (2, 6) + 13 = 21
Claw #2 Damage: 2d6 + 13 ⇒ (3, 3) + 13 = 19
Stinger Damage: 2d6 + 13 ⇒ (5, 3) + 13 = 21

It tears into the druid much like the fate of the sorcerer. Shredded and bloody, Hazreem collapses to the ground. (Total Damage: 78 Current HPs: -6/91 Also need a Fort Save DC25 vs Poison.)

Even as Bahir adds more openings on the creature's side, the old ones continue to close up.

Round 3 - Everyone is up!

Map Link

Efreat rises up into the air and more images of him appear as he chants floz'besh'ree.
this is completely assuming that the wall of ice is blocking this thing from me otherwise I'm going to do something different.
fly up off the ground 10 to 15' and cast mirror images1d4 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

Fort save vs. poison: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (18) + 9 = 27

Somehow I think that was a VERY important save to make here (AKA to prevent CON damage, he he.)

Round 3_____

Mah'ysa grabs Efreat's foot before he rises out of touch.
"Not so fast!" Mah'ysa shouts crossly.
She sacrifices Dispel Evil to cast Cure Critical Wounds on Efreat again.
Cure Critical wounds: 4d8 + 9 ⇒ (1, 7, 2, 1) + 9 = 20 points healed to Efreat.

Remember, there is a 5' gap in the Holy Ice wall 85 feet overhead.

Scimitar slash: 1d20 + 23 ⇒ (18) + 23 = 41
Damage: 1d6 + 14 + 1d6 ⇒ (3) + 14 + (4) = 21

2nd Scimitar slash: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (3) + 18 = 21
Damage: 1d6 + 14 + 1d6 ⇒ (2) + 14 + (3) = 19

Crit confirm Scimitar slash: 1d20 + 23 ⇒ (20) + 23 = 43
Damage: 1d6 + 14 ⇒ (1) + 14 = 15

Hazreem NO! Bahir sinks his blade deeply in the creatures side as he yells, "I'm right here beast!"

As Bahir's blade cuts deep through an already open wound, it heaves up and returns its attention back to the paladin. (Crit damage: 36, second miss)

Round 3 - Pae is up, and need stability check from Hazreem.

Stabilize check DC 10: 1d20 + 2 - 6 ⇒ (13) + 2 - 6 = 9 Not quite...

Pae thrusts and stabs at the creature in desperation

Attack 1 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (10) + 17 = 27 damage 1d4 + 2 + 5d6 ⇒ (3) + 2 + (5, 2, 1, 6, 2) = 21

Attack 2 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (16) + 12 = 28 damage 1d4 + 2 + 5d6 ⇒ (3) + 2 + (3, 4, 4, 3, 5) = 24

Hidden below, the rogue precisely thrusts his rapier carefully between its armored plates. (Total Damage: 45) A few more like this between Pae and Bahir, and they'll have severed the eyeless head on this thing. But alas, this thing keeps ticking... for now. Partially since the gashes by Bahir continue to close before his eyes. Luckily, the paladin is making them faster than they can heal up.

With the druid down and Bahir making a ruckus to draw its attention, not to mention becoming a literal pain in its side, it turns back to him.

Bite Attack on Bahir: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (20) + 20 = 40 Hit, possible crit
Claw #1 Attack on Bahir: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (17) + 20 = 37 Hit
Claw #1 Attack on Bahir: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (4) + 20 = 24 Miss
Stinger Attack on Bahir: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (18) + 20 = 38 Hit
Bite Crit Confirm on Bahir: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (15) + 20 = 35 Crit Confirmed!
Bite Crit Damage: 4d8 + 26 ⇒ (6, 2, 4, 1) + 26 = 39
Claw #1 Damage: 2d6 + 13 ⇒ (3, 6) + 13 = 22
Stinger Damage: 2d6 + 13 ⇒ (6, 2) + 13 = 21

The ravening maw of needle-sharp teeth twists and turns before trying to devour the paladin in one quick chomp. Its teeth sink deep into the holy warrior's mid-section in what can only make those watching wince in their own mental pain. As one of its claws tear into one of his legs, it brings its forked tail around to jam his posterior end full of poison. Is this the end of our paladin friend?

Total Damage: 82. Bahir, make Fort Save DC25 vs poison. I'm assuming your hero's defiance will keep you up, otherwise you are at -5 HPs.

Round 4 - Everyone is up!

Map Link

Efreat flies above the wall of ice and shouts, "Mish'rah!" A green arrow streaks toward the creature.
move fly up and over the wall. cast acid arrow at the creature. lasts 3 rounds. touch attack:1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 182d4 ⇒ (3, 1) = 4

Stabilize check: 1d20 + 2 - 7 ⇒ (12) + 2 - 7 = 7 Nope.

Round 4_____

Mah'ysa dismisses the Holy Ice wall.
She sees the unfolding disaster and does the only thing she can.
Channel Positive Energy (heal): 5d6 ⇒ (6, 4, 4, 5, 4) = 23 to all in 30' (except the monster).

With the creature's great size, it is nearly impossible for Efreat to miss. The acid splashes all over top of the thing and runs down into its wounds. The acid sizzles and burns as the creature begins thrashing about. (Damage: 4)

As the druid's life force continues to fade away, the massive wall of ice suddenly disappears and a wave of positive energy washes over the group, namely Hazreem and Bahir. (Since Efreat flew up to the top of the wall before it disappeared, he would be out of range of the positive energy)

Round 4 - Pae and Bahir are up.

Yes, Heroes Defiance kicks in 7d6 ⇒ (6, 5, 5, 3, 4, 4, 2) = 29. Fortitude save: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (20) + 16 = 36

The seemingly mortal wounds close with such speed that it leaves the paladin with only enough time than to gasp in pain before they are mostly gone. The light of the Dawnflower herself continues to fuel his assault on the beast.

Scimitar slash: 1d20 + 23 ⇒ (9) + 23 = 32
Damage: 1d6 + 14 + 1d6 ⇒ (1) + 14 + (4) = 19

Scimitar slash #2: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (9) + 18 = 27
Damage: 1d6 + 14 + 1d6 ⇒ (5) + 14 + (2) = 21