PbP Gameday VII - Heroes for Highdelve - GM NOWRUZ #2 (Inactive)

Game Master noral

The Ettin is truly lucky as the Pathfinders have problems to combat this formidable foe ... in the darkness, surrounded by evil that could kill a whole town.

Molly, go ahead and read the kn arcana spoiler although you hit only DC 14. NEI IS UP!

The Ettin sees that it’s life is in danger and first wants to take out the wounded Acel!

Flail: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15
Damage : 1d10 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

But the Ettin does not hit due to Acel’s mage armor!

Ettin: -17 hp. ALL PCs Go! Nei goes twice!

"Seriously? How do we keep missing this giant... er... giant?"

Masterwork Rapier: 1d20 + 4 + 2 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 4 + 2 + 1 + 1 = 20
Damage: 1d4 + 1 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 + 1 + 1 = 5

"Finally! I think I nicked its shin!"

Molly keeps singing, hoping to inspire her comrades even if she can't hit the broad side of the barn. Then she takes another shot at the ettin.

Attack: 1d20 + 2 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (8) + 2 + 1 - 4 = 7
Piercing Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

Tera takes a step to slightly get in better position and fires another arrow at the Ettin. "Go down will you, if you will so please."

Long Bow +IC +PBS: 1d20 + 5 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 5 + 1 + 1 = 16
Damage +IC +PBS: 1d8 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 + 1 = 10

Free: 5' step
Standard: Attack

Nei grits his teeth after the hit and begins swinging his scimitar.

Round1
to hit: 1d20 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 2 + 1 = 23
slashing: 1d6 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 + 1 = 4

crit confirm?: 1d20 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 2 + 1 = 20
slashing: 1d6 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 + 1 = 4

Round2
to hit: 1d20 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 2 + 1 = 6
slashing: 1d6 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 + 1 = 4

Nei‘s precise critical strike together with Tera‘s arrow and Acel’s last strike are too much for the giant.

You only hear a ...

"Erghhhh .... ahrghhrrhhrhh ..." and the large giant drops to the ground like a stone.

Clinging to the foul skin of the Ettin you find a beautiful, glittering golden pendant in the shape of dragon's head which was smeared with blood. You can easily search the rest of the cavern, finding nothing but filth.

The woman that the Ettin dropped is probably the mother of the Tiefling and she also seems to have the runes carved all over her body and it looks as if she died from these injuries and not through the hands of the Ettin.

"I can't believe you ruined my hat!" Acel kicks the ettin some more before using her ghost sound to play the xylophone on her ribcage.

"At least we got the medallion, right?" Acel is all too happy to pry it off of the ettin.

K Arcana: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15
"These markings are diabolic runes. They're designed to protect giants from draconic beings. I'm guessing Aureliax wouldn't have been able to protect the town with it."

She glances at the woman. "Idiot. What's the point of all that power if you can't see the results?"

"Well, they're dead. Let's get the kids and get out of here."

Tera looks around, "The giant is dead, the woman that called it forth is dead. We have the two ruffian town children outside. But what about the other children?"

"Did we forget to ask the ruffians about them?"

After we are away from the baddies, Nie will channel a healing wave of light over the group.

channel: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

There are no other children. ;-)

You do not find anything else in the caves.

After you have defeated the ettin and recovered the golden pendant, you emerge from the cave to find yourselves ... face to face with Aurelliax in her true form (picture in the slide deck).

She is a magnificent mature adult gold dragon whose presence dwarfs your own.

"Well, that was easy. Let's get out of here before we see... another... oh boy." Acel clutches her hat a little tighter when the huge dragon shows up much too late to do anything. "Hey, Aurelliax (I assume). What's the deal with the amulet? The tiefling and his mom summoned a giant or something that you wouldn't be able to approach, and they used this as a focus!"

Tera just looks up at the dragon with awe but winces some at Acel's tone when questioning such a dangerous creature.

"Well, hi there! You sure are magnificent! The tales don't do you justice!" Molly grins. She holds out the amulet to the dragon.

The dragon raises an eyebrow when hearing Acel’s tone ... silence follows for several seconds.

”Thank you, travelers, for protecting the people of Highdelve, and for recovering my amulet. Truly, you are the heroes these people needed. Let me commend you, as well, for sparing the lives of those children that belong to this town ... I will take care that they are loved and brought back to this community!“

"Ah, it's yours. Well, take it back." Acel takes a step back and waits for the dragon to take back its amulet.

I'm no babysitter, anyway. But if the dragon takes care of those kids the town will have to play nice.

"Well, we're honored by your kindness." Acel takes off her hat and tries to be a bit more respectful.

When the dragon appears, the tiny cleric lets out a long whistle of appreciation and awe. When Acel mouths off, his eyes somehow grow even wider. "Behave, you!" are his only words as he swipes at her hat. He looks an abashed apology at the dragon.

Other than that, he just lets the others do the talking and follows along for whatever.

You see the golden pendant levitate in the golden dragon’s direction and it vanishes when touching her scales.

She looks at you for a while.

”Please accept these as a token of my appreciation.“

She gives each of you statuettes of gold dragons with diamonds for eyes.

While Acel was going to blab on just to spite Nei, the statuettes completely entrance her. She falls quiet as she examines the quality, checks for its artisanal significance, and sees if it's a generic dragon or if it's modeled after Aurelliax.

Appraise: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 3 = 19
Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11

"Thank you. It... means a lot." Acel is genuinely thankful.

It's nice for the big guys to respect you.

"Well, what a beautiful gift! Thank you!" Molly gushes. "Oh, when we get back home I am going to sing your praises all through Absalom!"

Tera looks at the statuette. "This will be a center piece for the collection I have, detailing my adventures."

Wait until you see what these are on your chronicle sheets. Very nice! They are magical!

You can see that she is content to see you appreciate the present which truly look identical to her perfect form.

”Now,” she says, unfurling her magnificent wings. ”would you care to ride on my back as I carry the cart of brightblooms, along with the children, back to Highdelve?”

"You would do that?" Acel seems quiet, before perking up. "Yeah! Let's do this!" She marches up fearlessly before turning back to her companions. "Well come on, it's not like you get to do this everyday."

Tera smiles sheepishly, "It would be a pleasure." He walks up to the dragon and looks for a way to climb on her back without giving offense.

Nei is quite distressed. dwarves belong underground, not in the sky. He looks truly nervous. But he trusts that this dragon would not have offered if it were not safe. He tries to show confidence so as not to offend as he climbs on.

After the ride of your life you land in Highdelve and can finally enjoy the jubilee!

What you do with the rest of your time ... only you can tell! ;-)

"Well, that was just the best day ever! Wasn't it?" she asks her companions after they land back in Highdelve. "My sister won't believe a word of this!"

Acel keeps one hand on her hat and her eyes towards the ground. All of those trees are so tiny from up here. Yeah, I could get used to this!

Back at the festival, she lets the more talkative members give the report to the mayor. "The view was good, the kids are safe, and the badguys are dead. And there's a festival going on. Time to relive my old days. See ya!"

Once that's done she finds the nearest play and offers her aid as a stagehand. "You're gonna need someone to pull the pulleys, throw the confetti, create lights and lanterns, and you'll need sound effects. I can do that." She casts light and ghost sound as necessary to make her point known.

Profession(Stage Hand): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18

And she has a good time doing it. She grins as the shows come together.

THE END