PbP GameDay 4: DM Sfounder's Serpent's Rise (Inactive)

Game Master Chris Marsh

Round 3 Flying Breath Weapon in 3
Gazwyr flies up to attack Aram Zey ...
Bite: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (9) + 10 = 19 for Piercing: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5
Claw: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (16) + 10 = 26 for Piercing: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6
Claw: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (18) + 10 = 28 for Piercing: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

Excellent teamwork, solid knowledge of your character's abilities, and good doe rolling. At Gen Con I saw MANY slaughtered PCs and a few TPKs.

The dragon comes crashing into the wizard with tooth and claw. None of it seems to hurt the mage, but chips of stone fall to the floor. Make a Fly skill DC 15 or you have to land.

Joliryn is up!

Joliryn: Go!
Aram Zey: TBD
Marnarius: TBD
322: TBD
Gazwyr: TBD
Rataji: TBD
Zurnzal: TBD

Yeah, the haste and telekinetic charge were vital, too. And having some acid to get a first wound on the jerk helped :P Now just need Joliyrn to somehow make this guy suffer some more!

Joliryn remains invisible, but starts to close in, hoping to provide some back up if needed.

Just realized I don't need the stairs....
Spending an Eldritch point to enter Mystic Focus, granting myself spider clime (swift action), double move)

I can see that happening VERY easily, GM. I read up on the comments and reviews, but I still wasn't prepared! That must have been wholesale slaughter all over the room! I can hear the cries of anguish from here!

Yeah, I've seen a few Joliryn players talk about getting slaughtered, which very nearly happened to me already. I'd love to play her more offensive right now but I don't have the prestige for a revival :-(

I have GM'ed this before; the trick is to balance out Zey's arrogance with his ability to otherwise annihilate the party. More rewarding to off the guy after several rounds of sheer annoyance. Just wish the author was correct on what the tongues spell did :P

Here we go: Concentration: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (11) + 18 = 29.

Dimension Door.

Joliryn: move
Aram Zey: TDD
Marnarius: Go
322: Go
Gazwyr: Go
Rataji: Go
Zurnzal: Go

Don't suppose 322's dispel magic worked twice in a row? :P

Also, jerk for barely making that roll :P

Did he go through the DD, or is he still grappled and in front of me?

"Well, well, well... let's try this again, shall we “master Zey?” says Rataji sending another electric arc exploding from his fingers towards the pathfinder wizard.

Use arcane focus to recall and recast Lightning bolt, DC18 for half damage, then move out of the room... just in case!

Lightning Bolt: 7d6 ⇒ (3, 1, 4, 5, 1, 2, 3) = 19

Edit: Marnarious, I believe he transported himself without you. Dimension door allows for it. Check the map to see where he is. This is not over unfortunately

don't believe we have his new location yet. Both of those Aram Zey icons have been there the entirety of the combat with the eastern most one being the "double" that was grappled in the beginning.

That's why I am questioning it.. his token is still right next to me, so I wanted clarification..

Right. Well then, Rataji targets him wherever he reappears then he runs out of the room. Dimension Door doesn't turn you invisible IIRC.

Sorry, couldn't update the map. Sadly, her Dispel wasn't high enough this time. Map is now up to date.

He reappears on the opposite side of the room. Rataji immediately targets him with a Lightning Bolt. REF: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (18) + 7 = 25, and hits mostly books.

I'm at a party tomorrow night, but I will be checking at my normal rate otherwise.

Joliryn: move
Aram Zey: DD
Marnarius: Go
322: Go
Gazwyr: Go
Rataji: Lightning
Zurnzal: Go

Spread out, if someone comes near the door I can cast flight on him via scroll, otherwise I try to blast him again

He's still casting, so 322 is still standing ready to counterspell.

Marnarious draws his bow and begins firing arrows. "You coward! Come back here and prove your vile words! You are Nothing!! You are WEAK!!" He screams out, anger and hatred pent up from years of entrapment boil over at the wizards escape and taunting.

Attack: 1d20 + 10 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 10 + 4 + 1 = 26
Attack: 1d20 + 5 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 5 + 4 + 1 = 18
Haste Attack: 1d20 + 10 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 10 + 4 + 1 = 34

Damage: 1d8 + 5 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 5 + 4 = 14
Damage: 1d8 + 5 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 5 + 4 = 10
Haste Damage: 1d8 + 5 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 5 + 4 = 16

Marnarius adapts to the wizard. Contrary to Zey's hubris-filled vitriol, the Consortium's agents are highly trained. Two of the arrows land. While the Stoneskin is still quite potent, his demeanor begins to crack....

Joliryn: move
Aram Zey: DD
Marnarius: Arrows
322: Ready
Gazwyr: Go
Rataji: Lightning
Zurnzal: Go

Zurnzal runs across the walkway to reach Zey. "Running from me, rabbit? I'm not done playing with you, yet."

Double move to reach Zey.

Joliryn: move
Aram Zey: DD
Marnarius: Arrows
322: Ready
Gazwyr: Go
Rataji: Lightning
Zurnzal: Double move

Round 4 Flying DC15: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (5) + 12 = 17 HP 59/66 - Breath in 2
Gazwyr uses his dragon sense to locate and attack Zey when he pops up again ...
Bite: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (14) + 10 = 24 for Piercing: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6
Claw: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (4) + 10 = 14 for Piercing: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7
Claw: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (1) + 10 = 11 for Piercing: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

Gazwyr locks in on the wizard across the room. He streaks forward with draconic ferocity. When his teeth clamp down on Aram Zey's arm he succeeds in only chipping away at the stoneskin.

Joliryn: Go
Aram Zey: TBD (Counterspell 24 readied)
Marnarius: TBD
322: TBD
Gazwyr: TBD
Rataji: TBD
Zurnzal: TBD

Against her better judgement Joliryn moves forward and reveals herself with the only attack she has that's guaranteed to hit from across the room.
Magic Missile: 4d4 + 4 ⇒ (3, 4, 2, 4) + 4 = 17
She also mutters something about running back and forth across this damn room.
Expending another eldritch point to keep mystic focus for 2 more rounds, under the effect of blur instead of spider climb now, 20% miss chance HP:8 Eldritch points remaining: 3

HUGE DM mistake. I totally neglected Zey's Mirror Image. Too late now. GRRRRRR. I blame myself for having too many PbPs at once. Sorry guys.

Zey tries to respond to the Magic Missiles with a spell of improved invisibility, but it's countered by 322. He is showing signs of desperation...

Joliryn: Magic Missile
Aram Zey: Spell is countered
Marnarius: GO
322: GO
Gazwyr: GO
Rataji: GO
Zurnzal: GO

Round 5 Flying DC15: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (8) + 12 = 20 HP 59/66 - Breath in 1
Gazwyr continues his assault ...
Bite: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (3) + 10 = 13 for Piercing: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10
Claw: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (17) + 10 = 27 for Piercing: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8
Claw: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (3) + 10 = 13 for Piercing: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

YES!! Keep those counterspells coming!!!

Marnarious keeps up his furious airborne assault.
Attack: 1d20 + 10 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 10 + 4 + 1 = 35
Attack: 1d20 + 5 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 5 + 4 + 1 = 28
Haste Attack: 1d20 + 10 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 10 + 4 + 1 = 32

Damage: 1d8 + 5 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 5 + 4 = 16
Damage: 1d8 + 5 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 5 + 4 = 13
Haste Damage: 1d8 + 5 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 5 + 4 = 10

Confirm Crit: 1d20 + 10 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 10 + 4 + 1 = 30
CRIT DMG: 2d8 + 10 ⇒ (1, 1) + 10 = 12

Gazwyr continues to chip away at the wizard. The tide is clearly in the Aspis's favor. Marnarious drives his blade, one, twice, and three times. The first hit nearly knocks Aram Zey cold.

The second hits him where the stoneskin starts to fail.

The third goes through the Master of Spells' neck.

Aram Zey is unconscious and bleeding out.

...Agents of the Aspis Consortium, what do you do?

I think someone will want to hurt him more.

-Posted with Wayfinder

I am kind of torn.. I have really gotten into Marnarious.. and this is his chance to enact retribution for three years trapped in the tapestry. BTW, DAMN GOOD JOB!!! It was close, but that was an amazing comeback!"

Seeing his foul enemy fall, Marnarious sprints over to where the wizard lay bleeding out. With a sneer, he reaches down and begins retrieving his arrows, roughly pulling them back out of the fallen man. "Just as I thought. Weak...." he sneers before turning and walking out of the room. Now. Where has Wolona gotten herself to? I should check up on her, make sure she is not having too much fun..

Joliryn falls to a seated position as she watches the scroll masters defeat.

"Well I've got an interesting report to write at least." She says to no one in particular. After a few moments recovering she'll head to the sky key, since that is, after all, their final objective.

I vote 322 as MVP with those dispels!

those dispels saved all of our lives..

-Posted with Wayfinder

Joliryn opens the glass protecting the sky key, and Time seems to bend and twist. In one moment it hastens, the other it drags. The effect isn't bad enough to sicken you, but you certainly feel wrong.

Within seconds, Aram Zey's life expires. Suddenly the light from 322's lantern intensifies! The wizard's soul becomes visible, and is pulled inexorably into the lantern.

His soul is trapped, and the Society has suffered an incredible blow.

Rataji re-enters the room nonchalantly:"Well done! Well done! As your leader I feel proud of all of you. As they say a job well done is its own reward... but we of the Aspis Consortium know better, don't we?" he says while wearing a wide grin on his face.

Then the wizard walks up to Aram Zey's lifeless corpse retrieving the his spellbook and casting a magic detection spells for other useful trinkets. Once done with anything useful he adds:"I think we've better move out quickly. Our distractions won't last forever and we'll need to be gone from here once the dimwits who inhabit this place realize what actually transpired here today... Let's move! We've people to meet and rewards to pocket..."

322 holds up the lantern, quite proud of her achievement. Perhaps the dreams will now improve...

Joliryn grabs the sky key and and urges the group to leave as soon as possible.

"I can't stand this place anymore, let's go and report our success."

"I hope my performance was worth noting."

-Posted with Wayfinder

To add insult to your victory, you divest the former Pathfinder of his equipment. The Sky Key continues to cause minor fluctuations as you carry it, but it does not impede your travel. A second team of Aspis agents approaches you partway through your escape, and the lead operative flashes a silver Aspis badge while saying, “Nicely done. I figured we’d be late to the party, but its still five fingers till Oathday.” Recognizing the sign, you pass off the artifact to the smuggle team.

All that's left is a simple exit from the defeated Pathfinder stronghold.

And that officially concludes Serpents Rise. I'll get your chronicles out ASAP. Make sure I have all your information. I'll leave this thread open until you get your chronicles. If there's anything you need me for after that, don' hesitate to ask. I look forward to seeing you guys in the Flaxseed Lodge.