Masks of the Living God (sequel to Crypt of the Everflame) (Inactive)

Game Master Darius Silvermere

Everybody recovers 7 hp. Firyin is now at 24/27 and Griswald at 33/35. All nonlethal damage is healed.

As you're almost about to move from the pit, suddenly Griswald hears the west door being unlocked and opened. Some muted voices can be heard from that direction but it's not clear what they are saying. Griswald doesn't hear anyone moving closer. So far it only seems that the door has been opened.

I assume Griswald doesn't look around the corner, because that would risk revealing his presence.

Griswald says put and watches. He keeps his axe ready just incase.

Nivel holds up his hand and tries to move up a little closer in order to try to hear what they are saying.

Stealth: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (14) + 10 = 24

If I can move to a point where I can stay hidden and make out the words, Perception: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (20) + 12 = 32

When the others arrive on top of the stairs, Griswald can silently make a sign to stay quiet and whisper something about what he noticed.

By the time Nivel gets there, it seems there's barely any one still talking at all to the west of the door except for a sporadic murmur. The only thing you manage to understand is something about waiting but there's no clue as to why they would be waiting. Occasionally someone coughs or you hear some moving and from all this it seems clear that there are several people out there not far away from the west door, but they don't seem to do much.

A few more minutes pass and nothing happens. (see map)

I am still assuming you didn't look around the corner at F5. I need to know if you decide to wait a few more minutes, if you go back to the pit, or if you decide to look around the corner or do something else.

Firyin remains in place, but indicates they should wait.

Kyra nods in agreement to wait.

She slowly goes down back to the snake pit and says to everyone, "Anyone have any tricks to use against the cultist?" Her gaze goes to each of her companions with her final gaze ending on Morg.

Nivel will continue to wait, listening out for signs that the cultists have moved away.

Tell them I did it... Hand me over.

Kyra listens to the dwarf and says, "Not believable. They saw Griswald and Nivel resisting. You have no spells in creating a deception?"

Kyra slowly goes back up the stairs, keeping aware of the trap, and joins the others. "I'm all out of ideas. Maybe we can use the snake carcass as part of a deception."

I will continue the story tomorrow, so you can still discuss your strategy for a while. So far I understand that you remain in the same spot as indicated on the map.

If no one has any ideas then I'm going to have Kyra scream for help. I'll post that action tomorrow. I'm thinking....female...only survivor against a snake because all the strapping young lads are trying to protect her. We can use that a part of a deception, then we strike.

was gonna do that, but thought might upset folks.

No one has chime in so here goes the damsel in distress.

Kyra whispers to Griswald, Firyin and Nivel. "Bash anyone or anything that comes around the bend." She waits until companions are ready.

Casting Guidance on herself.
The cleric screams at the top of her lungs."Ahhhhh". Help me! Don't want to be... snake..." She muffles her last few words.

Bluff, Guidance: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 1 = 13

You hear someone say: "Go check it." and then, when listening carefully, you can hear footsteps slowly advancing through the west corridor in your direction. There's not a lot of moving to be heard, so probably only one or a few are heading your way.

Unless you state otherwise, I assume Griswald stands right next to the corner on F5 with his axe ready to strike, Nivel behind him on F4, followed by Firyin and Kyra.

Morg pleads... Don't kill anyone, please!

Griswald is ready with his axe to chop anything that comes by.

Griswald sees one cultist in gray robe moving within striking distance. He is holding a rapier and a shield and will fight back if attacked. (see map)

Griswald steps forward and chops.

5 foot step
Great axe, power attack 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15
initiative 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9
Damage 1d12 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19

Nivel will follow suit, taking a 5' step and striking the man.

Init: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13
Rapier: 1d20 + 7 - 2 ⇒ (18) + 7 - 2 = 23 for Damage: 1d6 + 2d6 ⇒ (3) + (4, 5) = 12
Confirm?: 1d20 + 7 - 2 ⇒ (5) + 7 - 2 = 10 for Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 3

Heaven help me... Morg mutters under his breath.

Initiative: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 3 = 20
atk, xbow if no melee penalty: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 12
dmg, xbow: 1d8 ⇒ 5

Morg takes the shot and misses...

cultist fighting defensively rapier+4-4 init+2: 1d20 ⇒ 71d20 ⇒ 10 init:10+2=12 rapier:7

The cultist retreats while fighting defensively (favoring initiative over attack).

His shield and defensive posture make him hard to hit and Griswald's axe is deflected by the shield.

Seeing the cultist withdraw, Nivel drops his rapier and switches to his bow. Being an expert archer, he manages to find opening from behind Griswald and hits the gray robed man in the left upper leg. (cultist loses 4 hp, I took the first d6 result from Nivel's post +1 from point blank shot, attack:18+8+1-4=23)
I changed Nivel's action because otherwise he would have been unable to hit the cultist, due to being blocked by Griswald.

Behind the cultist you see a long hallway with several doors. A simple carpet, stained and worn, runs down the center of the hall. At the west end is the symbol of Razmir, crudely painted on the wall.

There are 2 more gray robed cultists holding readied crossbows pointed in your direction, 4 white robed cultists with rapier and shield behind them and to both sides of the fully opened door there's a cultist in black robe. The cultists in black both quickly withdraw almost completely out of sight, one of them hissing: "Get back here, Untor!" (see map)

The retreating cultist at M6 will continue to take a 5ft step back while fighting defensively. His AC while fighting defensively is 21.

I let Firyin and Kyra move along and as Morg seems eager to join the battle, I let him crawl out of the pit with the help of Merkava and Evlar. The last indication of Morg's position was that he was helping with searching and the only search that was being done was inside the snake pit, so I put him there. Please make sure you verify the map and let me know if your position is not correct! There was obviously no way for Morg to shoot at the cultist from where he was!

"The Bright Lady favors you all and your resolve."
Kyra casts Bless the party.

Bless fills your allies with courage. Each ally gains a +1 morale bonus attack rolls and on saving throws against fear effects.

Wow, quite a few cultists out there. Maybe we shouid rethink this.

Perhaps our task was not to try and escape after all!

Nivik will fire again at the retreating man, then duck behind the corner.

Init: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 18
Bow: 1d20 + 8 + 1 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (12) + 8 + 1 + 1 - 4 = 18

Forgot to roll for init
init: 1d20 ⇒ 15 Casts Bless

initiative 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9
Great axe, power attack 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26 or draw a javelin if the cultist beats him on initiative
Confirm 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12
Damage 1d12 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18
Javelin damage 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

cultist fighting defensively rapier+4-4 init+2: 1d20 ⇒ 171d20 ⇒ 14 init:17+2=19 rapier:14

The cultist does another step back after his sword fails to penetrate Griswald's armor. Nivel's arrow is blocked by the shield but his attack does give an opening for Griswald to hit the cultist with his javelin in the right shoulder. (The cultist has lost 13 hp so far.)

The black cultist to the north shouts: "Everybody keep your positions! We wait for Krant!"

Breathing heavily as a result of his wounds, the retreating cultist is going to do another 5ft step back to K5 while keeping his shield up in defense. (see map)

I let Griswald stand on the same square since he didn't mention a movement and I let Merkava and Morg move a bit closer up the stairs. Evlar remains in the pit.

You can go back on the stairs, stepping over the trap without risk by moving at half speed. Moving at normal speed requires an acrobatics DC 10 check.

Kyra moves past friendly squares, behind Griswald, to O-7; opposite Nivel.

Using the corner as cover she unleashes a bolt at the retreating cultist.
Lt Crossbow: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 2 = 21
Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 6

Confirm Critical, Lt Crossbow: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 2 = 14

Can't go back now. Its them or us it seems.

Nivel will try to annoy some of the other cultists by firing an arrow at one of them instead! Target G6. I assume they all still have cover from people though and I lose PBS.

1: 1d20 + 9 - 4 ⇒ (19) + 9 - 4 = 24 for Arrow: 1d6 ⇒ 2
Init: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

"If they are waiting for the big guy might as well do this as fast as possible..." Griswald growls as he steps forward and attacks the hurt cultist.

5' step closer, or move after the cultist if he wins initiative.
Initiative 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23
greataxe, power attack 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 6 + 1 = 27
confirm 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 6 + 1 = 20
damage 1d12 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13
potential extra crit damage 2d12 + 14 ⇒ (1, 4) + 14 = 19

Griswald moves remarkably fast this time and surprises the retreating cultist with an unexpected swing from his axe, slashing him down with a heavy blow to the chest. (The cultist at G6 is knocked out.)

Immediately the two gray robed priests further down the hall fire their crossbows, with one of them piercing Griswald's armor on his left upper chest. (Griswald loses 6 hp. Current hp 27/35.)

Both Nivel and Kyra manage to aim past Griswald to hit one of the crossbow wielding cultists twice. (Cultist G6 loses 8 hp.)

AC of gray robed cultists with crossbow is 17.

The black cultist to the north curses and retreats out of sight. He is replaced with a white cultist carrying shield and rapier. The black cultist to the south also has a shield and rapier and remains in place. They both have readied attacks to strike at anyone who approaches. The gray ones with crossbow reload and will shoot again next round. (see map)

Kyra and Nivel have +4 AC when shooting from behind the corner.

Nivel takes his time and fires at G6 again!

Bow: 1d20 + 9 - 4 ⇒ (18) + 9 - 4 = 23 for Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 2
Init: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

"I don't think this is a good idea, but I'm not waiting for what is coming..."

5 ft step or if Griswald has to use a move action to occupy the square with the downed guy. He will attack the gray cloaked cultist.
Great axe, fighting defensively, power attack, attacking around cover 1d20 + 6 + 1 - 4 - 4 ⇒ (19) + 6 + 1 - 4 - 4 = 18 . Griswald's new AC is 18 + 3 for fighting defensive = 21
Damage 1d12 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12
Acrobatics 1d20 + 7 - 4 ⇒ (9) + 7 - 4 = 12
Initiative 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 12

You can do a 5ft step into a square with a helpless body unless it's at least large size. Griswald, what do you mean by gray cultist? There's a black and white cultist next to the opening.

If you want to have Merkava do something in particular, you can suggest that.

Am waiting for at least Kyra to post her action. I want to suggest to have Merkava move to O6, fall prone and use his crossbow. Being prone, he will not hinder Kyra and Nivel when they share part of his square while shooting from behind the corner.

White cultist adjacent to Griswald is the one he will attack. He will take the 5' if no move action is needed.

"Merk! I could use your help!"

If no post from Kyra today, I will let her shoot again from the same position.

The hallway is illuminated with one torch attached to the wall at G6.

As soon as Griswald steps forward, the two cultists near the opening strike, but Griswald has no trouble avoiding their swords and the force of his axe breaks through the white robed acolyte's shield, delivering a painful blow to his stomach, destabilizing him.

Two more crossbow shots are fired, one misses entirely and the other is stuck in Griswald's armor without getting through.

Again Kyra and Nivel hit one of the gray cultists, who now shouts: "Get inside the room. We need cover!" He and the other one with the crossbow retreat behind one of the doors. (They get AC+4 but will need to reload as a move action first next turn before shooting again. Cultist F5 has lost another 4 hp, total damage 12)

Merkava fails to find a good angle from behind Griswald in time and misses.

The white cultist on K5 switches to defensive fighting and it looks like he's barely standing. The black cultist on K7 continues attacking normally, remaining in position. The white cultists on E6, E7 take a defensive stance (AC+2). (see map)

If Morg has a shot, he'd take it.

Griswald keeps attacking the injured cultist.

Initiative 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5
Great axe, power attack, attacking around cover 1d20 + 6 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (20) + 6 + 1 - 4 = 23
Crit confirm 1d20 + 6 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (12) + 6 + 1 - 4 = 15
Damage 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18

I'll move to M6 and fire at the fella at E6.

Init: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7
Bow: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (12) + 10 = 22 for Arrow: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Nivel, if you move in front of Merkava and Kyra, they will receive an additional -4 to their own ranged attacks.

Hmm, alrighty then, I'll stay where I was.

I don't see how more than 3 players can shoot inside the corridor without penalty, so I guess it's not very useful for Morg to use his crossbow? I am not going to let Merkava do something else, unless you decide for example to let him charge forward..

I hope Kyra will return soon. If she doesn't post today, I will let her shoot again at the same target as Nivel.

I hope Firyin is still following the game. Maybe he's not posting because not everybody is capable of engaging the battle at the same time now?

All the cultists miss their attacks. The one on H8 keeps his crossbow readied to shoot at Griswald.

Griswald brings down his axe on the already wounded cultist to his right, breaking his shoulder. The man falls down and stops moving.

Kyra and Nivel hit one of the white robed cultists in the hallway, severely wounding him. He retreats into the north room, passing through F5. Merkava again misses his shot.

The cultist in black robe on K7 now utters a war cry and steps in front of Griswald, continuing to attack him with his rapier next round.

The black cultist on K3 retreats out of sight. (see map)

The white robed cultists with shield have AC 15 (17 when fighting defensively).

Nivel will fire at the guy in K6. He will then move to K5 using his acrobatics to avoid the AoO when moving through the enemy. Gonna try to give someone else some room to get involved here.

Bow: 1d20 + 10 - 4 ⇒ (19) + 10 - 4 = 25 for Arrow: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2
Acrobatics: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (18) + 10 = 28
Init: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

Griswald attacks the adjacent black cloaked cultist
Great axe, power attack 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 6 + 1 = 17
Damage 1d12 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9
initiative 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10

Morg steps to where the fallen cultist lies, emerging around the corner with him a huge serpent that writhes and undulates along the floor, down the corridor towards the cultists. It's tongue flicks, smelling the air with fangs showing from time to time.

Not surprisingly, it bears a striking resemblance to the snake in the pit.

Morg, the snake has been decapitated by Griswald. Getting the whole body up the stairs without triggering the trap would require the help of several people and some strength checks. In this case I will allow you to have only the head of the snake with you, assuming you planned this before the battle.

OMG! I forgot to state... he casts Silent Image.

init: 1d20 ⇒ 11
Kyra moves forward, right behind Griswald and casts Aid on him.
Temp hit points on Griswald: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11
Griswald also gets a +1 moral bonus to hit.

"Gris....GO NUTS"