Mended Wall's PBP for beginners (Inactive)

Game Master Hoary and Wizened

Still whispering, It's dark. Dolok, can you send one of your lights through? It says the lights must stay within a 10ft radius area, which means that you can have any two up to 20ft apart if the others are between them, but it doesn't say anything about needing to maintain a line of effect (even implies that you don't, with the turning corners thing), so it sounds to me like it shouldn't be any problem sending one through the keyhole, if not through the door itself. Mended?

Baradim enters in through the ruined entrance, looking over the walls and rubble of what was once a place of learning. When the others ask him about the mushrooms, he shakes his head slowly.

"No, I do not know it unfortunately. Just be careful...they have a tendency to-"

The fungus erupts in spores and he calls Kanga back, holding his comrade by the collar to ensure he doesn't wander into that collected air until the spores settle.

Moving in carefully, he keeps the guisarme drawn simply because it is the best weapon he has. A dagger would be leading to very risky situations.

Keeping his tongue held firm, Goruck prods the walls a closed fist as he walks though the entrance. Resting his blade across his shoulder, he waits beside Illiam.

Sorryy about the long wait, just wasn't sure how to go forward. I had trouble finding anything worthy to add.

Just to help move things along, if Kairon casts light on the door, or we crack the door open to allow a light source (like one of the dancing lights, or a pebble with light cast on it, etc.) then immediately close it, Illiam will peek through, and ready an action to shift away if anything threatens him. Feel free to roll perception for me.

Enough of this pussyfooting around. Lunarinus says. Time is of the essence. We can't be afraid to open every door in this place. Did the envoy send nursemaids? Or champions? He says and walks up to the northern door and swings it open.

As Lunarinus opens the northern door and the magical and natural light bleeds in, he sees pews of darkwood tipped over and covered in dust on either side of this ancient shrine. Just a few paces away sits a large ceremonial anvil, but its surface is defaced and ruined. It appears this was once the chapel of the ancient monastery. The thick oaken double doors that once served as the main hallway entrance to the chapel lie on the ground, broken off their iron hinges by some force of strength, and now rotting in the dust.

To answer Illiam's question about the ceilings, they are all ten feet at a minimum, but most, including those in the library and the chapel beyond, are vaulted and open up 20 feet to reveal the large trusses that hold up the slate roof.

Chillel moves up to the door, Athena on her shoulder, and the pair of them survey the room. Chillel also sweeps the area with detect magic.

Perception, Chillel: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 1 = 11

Perception, Athena: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (6) + 10 = 16

So the monastery was built by tall dwarfs then.

Silently nodding, Goruck steps though the doors to inspect the decrepit chapel. Momentarily, the swordsman took a moment to run the flat of his blade along the defaced anvil. "Courage is good, but temper it with patience and the result can turn the hottest fires of perdition. Granted, I myself have trouble with the art of patience." As he speaks the swordsman peers about for anything to further their quest.

Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21

As Goruck runs his blade along the defaced anvil he notices that there are five depressions, along the front side of the anvil, that look like they at one time housed something small like a gem or stone. Above the depressions there is an inscription that was mostly scratched out. The only two words still visible are: "llum," and "beneeixi." Obviously, since this anvil is only ceremonial of construction, and located in the chapel, it must have been part of some dwarven religious rituals during the peak of the monastery's activity.

Just as Goruck makes this observation three things happen without any warning, Goruck watches a small stone fall from the rafters of the ceiling, his vision reactively switches to his racial darkvision because the small rock is radiating magical darkness, and two hideous, purple-black, octopus looking creatures descend from the rafters spinning, floating, and flying right towards him.

Those without darkvision standing near the doorway are suddenly blinded by the darkness that now bathes the chapel room and radiates out through the doorway.

Initative: Lunarinus, Baddy 2, Goruck, Illiam, Chillel, Kairon, Baddy 1, Baradim, Dolok. I'm going to go and try to get a 20' radius template placed where the darkness dropped so everyone can see where the darkness is.

Template is up, and I tried to get some purple lines to show how the darkness is "radiating" out of the doorway. If it's confusing, please someone that is better at that sort of thing, fix it for me. :)

Illiam would also have cast detect magic as soon as the door opened, and should already have it active when initiative starts.

Both Illiam and Chillel detect a small object that radiates a faint aura; Chillel sees it radiating through the wall. Lunarinus and Illiam are also in the area where the darkness spell is de-luminating the natural light, so their vision is much more affected than those around them. Dim light, concealment, 20% miss chance. The ambient light is currently normal in this room because of the giant hole in the western wall letting in the light of the setting sun behind the waning rain clouds. Within the hour though, the sun will be behind the trees, and the remaining clouds will be thick enough that even the ambient outside light will only be dim.

Damnit! Lunarinus swears and steps to the side to get out of the area of darkness. I'll be of no use fighting blind. Can any of you casters dispel that darkness?! Goruck! He calls. If you can, bring them to us, back into the light. I'll use my standard action to ready an action to strike any enemies that enter my threatened square.

My reading is that a non-magical item with a spell cast on it does not count as a magical item (and thus, is not immune to Mage Hand. Do you agree, Mended?

Also, I'm assuming that since we didn't see a magical aura earlier when detecting magic, that this item has had magic cast on it, and is not an inherently magical item. If that assumption is wrong, my plan won't work.

One of the disgusting, purple, leathery flying octopi flies down and slams into Goruck, attempting to grasp a hold of his face with his spiked tentacles.

This attempt draws an AoO from you Goruck, so go ahead and make that attack roll at your convenience. These things don't have a whole lot of hit points, so, if you did crit, and do a lot of damage, it's possible all the following will need to be retconned, but I'm going to assume that doesn't happen and narrate accordingly.

Attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21
damage: 1d4 ⇒ 3
Grab's Free Grapple Attempt: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 19

In an instant, whatever this disgusting creature is, has latched itself to Goruck's face, pulling and constricting. Thank the gods for his helmet and mask protecting his face and soft eyeballs from the spikes on the nasty bugger's tentacle like appendages.

@Illiam, I would be in total agreement that a mundane object with a spell cast on it does not count as a magic item for the purposes of mage hand. Here's my problem with what I foresee as your plan: both Detect Magic and Mage Hand require concentration to maintain. I would rule you can't maintain concentration on two spells at once, so as soon as you stop Detecting Magic, you'd lose the ability to see the object that you want to move, because it would be in the dark...

Edit: Baddy 2 is green, Baddy 1 is red.

@Illiam, I would be in total agreement that a mundane object with a spell cast on it does not count as a magic item for the purposes of mage hand. Here's my problem with what I foresee as your plan: both Detect Magic and Mage Hand require concentration to maintain. I would rule you can't maintain concentration on two spells at once, so as soon as you stop Detecting Magic, you'd lose the ability to see the object that you want to move, because it would be in the dark...

But it's not moving, right? I would think that if Illiam knows where it is, even if he can't see it anymore, he would be able to target it with Mage Hand. If someone were to kick it between Illiam dropping Detect Magic and casting Mage Hand, of course, I would expect the spell to fail.

Also, if the light level in the room without the spell is normal light, and it's dropped one level to dim light (assuming this is darkness, not greater darkness), I don't think that interferes with Illiam's ability to target a spell. Illiam is standing less than 20ft from the center of the effect, so he should be able to see the object dimly, even without low-light vision or Detect Magic.

Let's take this over to discussion.

Blinking as his pupils expand, Goruck reflexively braces his meaty hand on his blade at the sudden onrush. As the disgusting being begins to attach itself to his face the swordsman speaks in short, emotionless bursts. "Let. Go. Of. My. Face." Reaching up, the half orc attempts to rip the creature free.

Should he succeed, Goruck will leap towards the darkness radiating gem and stuff it inside one of his bandolier's pockets. These fights are not won by lone men. I need my allies.

Attack AoO: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21

Damage: 1d10 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8

As a quick glance at d20pfrd, I believe the grapple fails due to the fact my AoO damage counts as a malus. Click here to see where I'm getting my rules from.

As a quick glance at d20pfrd, I believe the grapple fails due to the fact my AoO damage counts as a malus. Click here to see where I'm getting my rules from.

Nice, I never noticed that one. "Unless otherwise noted, performing a combat maneuver provokes an attack of opportunity from the target of the maneuver. If you are hit by the target, you take the damage normally and apply that amount as a penalty to the attack roll to perform the maneuver." I think you still need to roll a 50% miss chance, though.

Also, I believe it's your turn, unless you want to let me try to do something about the darkness first. Since we probably won't hear from Mended again today, I'll go ahead and narrate my attempt.

Seeing the magical aura and deducing that it must be the source of the magical darkness, Illiam tries to find a way to negate the effect. He considers using Mage Hand to snatch the stone from which the aura is emanating, but isn't sure he'll be able to target it without Detect Magic. Thinking fast, he pulls his blanket from where it is strapped to his backpack and throws it toward the square where the saw the aura, so that it will unfurl in the air and hopefully cover the source of the darkness.

Hide your anti-light under a bushel: 1d20 + 3 - 4 - 2 ⇒ (17) + 3 - 4 - 2 = 14

-4 for an improvised weapon and -2 for the range (the center of the area is within the second range increment). Mended can apply any additional penalties he thinks are necessary. Pretty sure concealment only applies to creatures, not squares, but I'll roll that too, just in case, in the interest of moving things along. 1-50 hits.

Perception: 1d100 ⇒ 19

Illiam then steps behind Baradim (5-foot step).

No miss penalty for me or Baradim, we inherited our parent's darkvision. Sorry, I was under the assumption picking something up was a standard action.

Oh, must have missed a line. Either that or you edited after I read it. Either way, we've now both tried to cover up the stone. Oops. My bad about the vision, too.

That's some rules knowledge I didn't have either. Here's the problem, the bad guy has the Grab ability, which is why I said, "Grab's free grapple attempt" before the dice roll. This, of course, means he gets a free attempt to grapple that does not provoke an AoO (left side of the chart). Goruck's AoO came as the creature descended from the lofty heights of the rafters, moving down through his threatened square, BEFORE it slammed into him and attempted the attack. Which means that the thing is still very much stuck to his face, and that Goruck is now blinded, not by darkness, but by the fact that his vision is obscured by a hideous creature's torso. His AoO hits, and does damage, but that all happened before the grapple attempt. :) As for Illiam's blanket attempt... Just want to make sure I am clear on the action economy: move = retrieve blanket, standard = throw, and 5' step. I love it. That is a really ingenius way to cover the darkness. Brilliant, and the rolls supported it. :) So...

Goruck's reactive swing slices off some slick, purple, leathery flesh, but does not deter the creature from attaching to his head, and raking its spiked tentacles across his helmet and mask, making a sickening screeching sound reminiscent of knife and fork across dry stoneware. Illiam, being ever the resourceful halfling, takes out his blanket and throws it, like a net, towards where he knows the darkness radiating stone to be, and his efforts are quickly rewarded as the natural light, the light from Kairon's spear, and the light from Dolok's Dancing Lights all flood the area. As such everyone is able to get a look at the hideous, purple, octopus-like flying creatures, one of which is descending from the rafters, the other is affixed to Goruck's face.

Anyone with Knowledge: Arcana can make a reactive knowledge check to see what they know about these creatures. Chillel and Kairon, batter up.

So Mended, does that mean I still have a turn?

Doesn't Goruck need to make a CMB/Str check to try to remove the . . . ahem . . . creature? Almost said . . . well, we know what they are. :) I saw his AoO, but never saw his standard action. Did I miss it? Been running a fever last couple days, sooo . . . . And on my birthday, no less!

Finally able see clearly into the room, Kairon yells out: Hang on, Goruck! We're on the way! Chillel! Try to web the loose one!

If the web bolt hits, I will move adjacent to both critters, and get set to coup de grace the non-grappled one. If the web bolt misses, I will double-move "north" 3, "east" 2, to take advantage of Combat Reflexes and keep the line of assault open.

OH! Yeah!!! Goruck, sorry I forgot your turn was in there. I saw the AoO and just imagined it as your actual turn. Please, by all means, take your turn.

Now able to see the disgusting creatures, Illiam searches his mind for any matching description.

Kn: Arcana: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 21

Illiam quickly remembers seeing these creatures in a tome he stole read once. They are called darkmantles.

Knowledge Arcarna: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12

Does anyone know what these disgusting things are and if I can put them to sleep.

I want to use the Slumber Hex, keeping my spells. But I don't know if Kairon knows what they are, and wants me to use the spell because they are immune to sleep. Goruck has an attack before me, so hopefully I have time for this.

Don't give the other one a chance to cast darkness! They can only do it once a day! Knock it out!

The sheet Mended linked to doesn't say anything about immunity to sleep. I think Kairon guessed wrong. Also, web bolt wouldn't allow a coup de grace. Slumber hex would, but technically he would have to get into position first, since it only lasts one round at level 1.

Chillel uses the Slumber Hex on the Darkmantle that is grappling Goruck, saying:-

Sleep!

That is a DC 14 save. My guess is the one that didn't attack used it's SLA. Stopping it eating Goruck's face and costing it it's next action can't be bad.

And if it fails its save, Goruck can coup de grace.

Charge, run Red through: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 19
Longspear in its . . . stuff: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

Will move token presently.

Forgot the sleepy bit! Ha! Kairon yells as he rushes the unengaged one with his spear.

For a moment, Goruck ponders about the beast scrapping at his mask, until the tendrils scrabble at his tattooed flesh. Moving his grip on his nodachi, the swordsman wrenches at the beast with his free gauntlet.

Grapple for Freedom: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22

If I'm grappled, do I lose my dex bonus to CMB?

Will Save: 1d20 ⇒ 17

Okay so we have a weird sequence here, another problem with PBP. Goruck took his turn out of turn, mostly because I screwed up, so on his turn he broke free of the grapple, and then Chillel cast her magic (I moved your token Chillel as you would have needed a line of sight to target the darkmantle), which, didn't work because the creature made the save. So essentially the darkmantle is "hovering" right in front of Goruck since he broke free of the grapple. Also to answer your question Goruck, you take a -4 penalty to DEX when grappled, which, in your case means that you no longer have a Dex bonus. Luckily for you, it didn't matter in this case, as even without it you rolled high enough to break the grapple. So...

Goruck rips the disgusting purple flesh from his helmet and mask, and the darkmantle quivers a bit as Chillel's magic hits it, but it does not fall asleep. Kairon charges in stabbing the other flying octopus-thing with his spear, but draws only a thin line of blood.

concentration check: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7

Kairon's enemy attempts to cast darkness, but the wound interrupts his concentration, and so his spell fails. The process of even attempting the spell leaves the darkmantle's defenses down, and Kairon takes full advantage by striking at it again. Take an AoO. How's that for interesting rules application, the darkmantle attempts to cast a spell, which fizzles because of Kairon's previous damage, and the attempt creates another AoO...

Edit:The darkmantle then flies down right toward Kairon's face. Once again leaving a hole in its defenses. AoO number two! for moving out of a threatened square. Good thing Kairon has combat reflexes. Initative: Lunarinus, Baddy 2, Goruck, Illiam, Chillel, Kairon, Baddy 1, Baradim, Dolok. After Kairon's two AoOs Baradim, Dolok, and Lunarinus are batters up.

Hard to think with a spear in your stuff, ain't it? AoO: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 3 = 19
We punish the dumb 'round here, too: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

And now you comin' at me? You mad bro?: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 13
I get it; I'm mad, too: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

If I'm grappled, do I lose my dex bonus to CMB?

Unless I'm missing something, you don't get a DEX bonus to CMB. Only to CMD, unless you have Agile Maneuvers.

And Wisdom and Definitions spread throughout the lands! :D

Since I have time to post now, I'm going to do it out of turn. Hopefully my actions don't interrupt Baradim or Dolok's choices. Also just wanted to remind you Mended that with my shield on I get a +2 shield bonus to AC, so my AC is 20.

Lunarinus moves into the doorway right behind his cleric friend and stabs the purple monster with his scimitar.

Attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6

And misses wildly, slashing only air. Slippery buggers.

Sorry, internet service went out at the rehab facility I was at. Finally back home after 3 weeks!

Kn. Arcana: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14

Dolok shoots a fiery ray at the creature he can see red.

Ranged touch attack: 1d20 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (11) + 1 - 4 = 8
Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 1

- 4 for firing into melee

"I know these are called Darkmantles, but I don't know much else about them. Anybody know anything important or useful?"

No worries Dolok, good to read you. :) Man! Dice algorithm isn't anyone's friend lately!

Edit: Just waiting on Baradim. I'll give him another 24 hours to post, if there's nothing from him by tomorrow morning, I'll just bot him.

Baradim moves to the side of Chillel, the guisarme swinging through the air to trike at the creature attacking his comrades. As he does so, he whispers a quick prayer and Kanga's muscles seem to bulge once more.

10ft move and then attack. Swift action to switch Kanga's Animal Focus to Bull.

Attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7
Damage: 2d4 + 4 ⇒ (4, 2) + 4 = 10

The guisarme misses past the darkmantle that floats out of the way of the strike. With a whistle, he calls in Kanga to come in and attack.

Kanga's Attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 12
Kanga's Damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

The mighty mountain lion rips at the darkmantle, a flurry of claws and bites.

Kanga moves up 10ft and then promptly misses. The dice roller has been hating me so much. I don't think I've rolled a d20 higher than ten in like...15 posts.

Just for reference: Initative: Lunarinus, Baddy 2, Goruck, Illiam, Chillel, Kairon, Baddy 1, Baradim, Dolok.

The flying purple octopi prove difficult to strike, as their flexible bodies twist and turn in the air avoiding taking damage from multiple attacks. The darkmantle that was pulled off of Goruck attempts to slam itself back into his face...

Slam Attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

and misses by a long shot as the adept swordsman's reflexes keep him from harm's way. It then flies back up to the rafters, realizing that advantage has been turned, and not wanting to stay in reach of the sharp blades that are brandished all around it.

New round, new AoOs. Both Goruck and Kairon may make an AoO against Darkmantle #2 (Green on the map). Really the Darkmantle was flying almost straight up but I represented it on the map by moving it diagonally. After the AoOs then it's Goruck, Illiam, Chillel, and Kairon batter up.

I just *know* I'll get a critical hit one of these days . . . .: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (12) + 3 = 15
Poke in the eye with a sharp stick: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11

Oooooh... Good one! Goruck absolutely has the potential to drop Green with an AoO. Metagame knowledge: it has 5 HP left.

Really the Darkmantle was flying almost straight up but I represented it on the map by moving it diagonally.

I added a symbol for a creature that is flying high enough to be out of reach. It might make sense to also add a label saying how high it is, for the purpose of calculating ranges.

Blood dripping from one of the gashes the beast left, Goruck's attempt to lash out at the dark mantle fails.

AoO Attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10

AoO Damage: 1d10 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17

Vaulting over the ancient pew in front of him, the half orc swordsman whips his massive blade into an overhead crosscut at the beast still in range.

Attack-: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 16

Damage: 1d10 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16

Seeing that he's not in a good position to do anything, and suspecting that there will be other creatures in the monastery that he should save his tricks for, Illiam waits to see if the others will deal with the creatures in short order. Delay action.

Chillel uses the Slumber Hex on the remaining Darkmantle .

That is a DC 14 save.

MendedWall12 wrote:

Really the Darkmantle was flying almost straight up but I represented it on the map by moving it diagonally.

I added a symbol for a creature that is flying high enough to be out of reach. It might make sense to also add a label saying how high it is, for the purpose of calculating ranges.

Thanks! That's a great idea.

Will Save Red: 1d20 ⇒ 13

Chillel's innate witchery slams into the mind of the darkmantle still within reach and it immediately falls to the ground.

Falling Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 4

The damage from the fall immediately wakes the blubbery, purple, flying octopus. It stares up at Goruck and Kairon heavily blinking its multiple lavender eyeballs in dismay.

So... the hex worked, but falling to the ground does damage and wakes the darkmantle up, it is still prone, but not helpless. Kairon, batter up.

Oh!!! Just realized falling through a square actually provokes AoOs!!!! Kairon, Combat Reflexes gives you another one I think? Lunarinus gets one. Goruck already took his. So Kairon, you get an AoO before your actual action, then your action, and Red is all but dead, so hopefully one of those hits. Metagame knowledge: 3 HP left.