When you open the East room's door, you find that it contains three low tables, their tops covered with a strange and chilling selection of tools, saws, long-bladed knives, and objects whose purpose is not readily apparent. A strange collection of bones lies near the southern table— too many to be one skeleton, but too few to be two.
Perception DC 20:
Behind one of the tables, you find what appears to be a silver- and-gold seven-pointed star; one surface is studded with nodules and blades, and the other features a thin, curved handle.
Garrath leans over behind one of the tables and picks up a silver- and-gold seven-pointed star; one surface is studded with nodules and blades, and the other features a thin, curved handle. "What do you make of this? Wonder if it fits the other door."
The item found in the East room is the key to the South door. It fits into the indentations perfectly and with it the South door opens easily.
This room is lit primarily by a 10-foot-long pit of flickering fire that fills the room with a strange humid heat and the smell of burning hair. In the northern corners of the room, wooden risers each hold several dozen golden candles that burn without melting while to the south the wall bears an immense carving of a seven-pointed star. You don't see anything else in the room.
Elektra can make a Standard Action prior to the creature in the room making an attack. The creature that is attacking is currently Invisible. I will wait for your action before moving forward with initiatives. I don't think anyone has high enough Perception rolls to detect this creature. Fortunately, he will only be Invisible in the Surprise Round to begin.
Appearing out of nowhere, a snarling, canine-like beast, rises up from on all fours, its slender front limbs looking more like hands than a wolf ’s paws. It Blinks in and out of view. It bites at the Dwarf that has entered its space.
Garrath goes first, then Kelvin, Brandark, Stone, Elektra and the creature last. Brandark become Enlarged on Elektra's initiative. You may want to look at how he will fit in the room once Enlarged. The creature is blinking in and out. Everyone that targets an attack against the creature has a 50% miss chance. You could roll a 1d2 and miss on a 1 and hit on 2, or roll %, whichever you prefer. Please be specific as to what weapon you are using against this creature. It makes a difference. I will wait until everyone has posted since I will be going last in the Round.
By the way, one would take fire damage standing in the pit. It is the 10' oblong orange thing in the center of the room. The room is actually 15' wide. There are some undiscovered elements in the room that is blacked out. A large creature could be on either side of the fire pit or in front of it toward the door. Otherwise, they are standing in the fire pit. Just things to consider. :)
Garrath growls, "What is it about this place and ugly dogs!? Roaring a challenge at the dog thing, Garrath charges around the fire pit and swings his greatsword at the beast.
I forgot that the creature also has a 20% miss chance on attacks when I attacked Brandark in the surprise round.Attack on Brandark 20 or less misses:1d100 ⇒ 19 Retcon: Brandark took no damage in the surprise round.
Garrath rushes into the room and strikes a mighty blow. But Garrath will notice that the blow was not as effective as it should have been.
Kelvin's arrow misses the beast.
Brandark misses his strike, as the creature blinked out at the time of the attack.
Stone cast Protection from Evil on Brandark.
Brandark grows to the size of the creature.
I moved the party back 5 feet to allow Brandark to grow without entering the fire pit.
Elektra begins to weave another spell.
The creature brutally attacks Garrath.
Garrath takes 24 points with his 2 DR per attack. It was still a wicked assault on the Barbarian.
Still need Elektra's actions to finish the round. I will be away from PCs today. I will post round two actions this evening Eastern US time. Have a great day everyone.
@Garrath - This is one of the truly great challenges in the AP. The end of the Skinsaw Man has another. He does have a 20% miss chance per strike. So we will see later if Garrath stands or falls.
The creature will "Take 10" on his Climb Check, and with a +15 on his Climb roll, will Climb out of the pit. But will be squeezing along the South Edge. Brandark and Garrath will get an AOO on the creature. This will be all that the creature can do in this Round.
The creature will Climb out of the pit.
The creature will be subject to the squeeze penalties of -4 on Attacks and AC. He will also need to make another Reflex save or fall into the pit. Either way, the pit is causing the creature some difficulties.
As Big Mal climbs out of the pit, Brandark, his ax now magically enchanted, strikes the furry creature.
Round Three
Kelvin's careful aim is thwarted as the creature bounces into the Ethereal plain.
The now oversized Dwarf, continues his assault, cutting deep into the throat of the beast killing the ancient creature.
Stone calls forth healing.
Victory!
I so misplayed Big Mal when he fell into the pit. There were better options for the beast than climbing out. I guess after ten thousand years cooped up in this room, he and the GM wasn't thinking straight. You had some good rolls when you really needed them.
hp52/52 AC 17|T 16 |FF 14, F +4|R +5|W +7, Init +4, Per +17
my first wive taught me luck beats system mastery.concentration would lesvcan be the better player in tabletop gaming, with superior tactics and stil be beating by the lucky dice roller. So Victory to fortuna.
Seeing the beast exhale Elektra exhales, as if all the concentration would leave her body. "Well done all! I wonder what this beast is, no was. I am also curious what it was guarding."
But my tactics wasn't good either. He had the ability to levitate. That would have thwarted the pit. I should have taken a round to activate his levitate ability while in the pit. He had other spells too he could have used in the pit as well. My instincts was to have him climb out. His climb skill was great, so it was automatic. But it was just not the smart move. The good rolls still may have done him in anyway.
