Reign of Winter (Inactive)

Game Master Just a Mort

I revealed some of the map - which way do you want to go?

Can you indicate on map?

Moved Geist to represent the path I am interested in.

Ok. We'll see with Mr Whiskers first, then move you all along.

Also, if anyone else needs healing (including how much ability damage/drain you have taken), please, let me know.

sorry was waiting to see which direction we were going before I posted, only down three HP, but took one point of strength drain.

1 point of con dmg, maybe more if I still have saving throws to make.

don't forget your 3 pts str damage. Einar go ahead and choose where you want to go. I'm cool with that too.

Einar finally manages to throw off the poison as well

Sorry Mort, I thought when you said this that the - 3 str damage was gone and all that was left was the str drain.

So Einar is at - 3 HP and - 3 str dmg and -1 str drain...

What time of day is it and how long since we last rested?

Eh its a little hard to tell the time since it's all dark in here. It's probably evening now, if you trust Einar's tummy for telling time.

Hirah fort: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (6) + 11 = 17
con dmg: 1d2 ⇒ 2

Hirah fort: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (5) + 10 = 15
con dmg: 1d2 ⇒ 1

Hirah fort: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (9) + 10 = 19

Hirah fort: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (5) + 10 = 15
con dmg: 1d2 ⇒ 2

Hirah feels the insidious poison working its way through her system, feeling weakened by its hideous effects. It finally wears off in slightly less then half a minute later.

Total con dmg on Hirah = 6 pts con dmg

Actually I went back and checked Mort, I beat the posion after 1 rnd

Hirah fort v quill poison: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (19) + 11 = 30

Hirah fighs off the poison.

Unless its multiple saving throws required?

Either way, my apologies for missing it during my first skim through.

Quil poison

Quill—injury; save Fort DC 18; frequency 1/round for 6 rounds; effect 1d3 Con damage; cure 2 consecutive saves. The save DC is Constitution-based.

Here

First thing I told you, on successful knowledge check. Eh should have been 1d3 not 1d2, but heck I'll give THAT a pass.

Seeing that Einar looks weaker than usual, and that Hirah is less Fortitudinous, Crummock sucks his teeth thoughtfully, before handing over some potions.

"Here. Drink these."

Lesser Restoration(Hirah): 1d4 ⇒ 3.
Lesser Restoration(Hirah): 1d4 ⇒ 4.
Lesser Restoration(Einar): 1d4 ⇒ 4.

That should fix everything except the 1 point of Strength drain, which unfortunately we can't do anything about.

He then taps Einar with the wand.

CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6.

If it is evening, I say we do 1-2 more encounters, then rest.

Moving you guys south...

The narrow, dark (you need light spell for Geist - I assume you cast it on him and I'm not bothered to check) twisting passage(you know the drill, 8 ft wide, by 8 ft high)twists westwards, and the party sees a door heading to the east and an open passageway to the west. Listening to the door to the east, Einar hears no sounds from it. The door is locked, but not trapped.

Which way now?

Well, the last time we encountered a door in a passage, we went through it, so I guess we do the same this time around...

Door or passage - choose

Sorry if I was not clear - Door :-)

Sorry for delay. This bit took a while

Einar eventually manages to pick the lock. As the lock is successfully picked, a string of Iobarian runes surrounding a waxing cresent moon suddenly appear. Mr Whiskers takes out his spectacles of understanding and begins to read them to the party, ”As the seasons of life change, so must we sacrifice our past for the wisdom of our winter years.”Then the runes fade, only to be replaced by a different sent of runes, which Mr Whiskers reads out, ”Blessed be the path you are about to walk. Cling not to what you were, but only what you shall become.”

Mr Whiskers knowledge arcana: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (2) + 17 = 19
Hirah Knowledge arcana: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9
Greta knowledge arcana: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8

Mr Whiskers notices 5 runes chiselled into the walls. He realizes that the runes are greater glyphs of warding, each with a different effect.

The first one causes all intruders to be worn down by the ages. It can be circumvented by saying, ”I, [insert name], sacrifice my Youth to the Three who are one.”

The second one causes all intruders to be become withered like an old hag. It can be circumvented by saying, ”I, [insert name], sacrifice my Fertility to the Three who are one.”

The third one causes all intruders to succumb to sickness It can be circumvented by saying, ”I, [insert name], sacrifice my Health to the Three who are one.”

The fourth one causes all intruders to be lose their strength. It can be circumvented by saying, ”I, [insert name], sacrifice my Strength to the Three who are one.”

The fifth and final one causes all intruders to die. It can be circumvented by saying, ”I, [insert name], sacrifice my Life to the Three who are one.”

The circumventing words essentially perform the Croning ritual, which will bring the person saying those words to venerable age (and with all the stat bonuses and penalties attached). The effect of the croning ritual can only be broken with break enchantment, limited wish, miracle, or wish. The party is pretty lucky that they approached it this way, so they could use the ritual to prevent the effects, but if they were to approach the stairs from the bottom instead, they would have to take the effects of every glyph of warding.

Basically if anyone wants to circumvent the glyphs of warding they have to perform the Croning ritual. The glyphs of warding have reset automatic (immediate) on them - so there is no point to DD.

@GM Mort: Actually, I took Iobaran (and Triaxian) last level - you mentioned that there were numerous books in the library in those languages, so I used them as justification for taking them. Next level I will pick up Russian!

Also, theoretically, Disable Device is still fine, since Disable Device removes the trap; the reset status simply refers to the fact if someone sets it off, it immediately resets...

That said, I don't think that it is worth running the risk of trying to disable them... some of those penalties on a failed DD check look pretty nasty!

Crummock frowns, then seems to come to a conclusion.

"I be willin' to sacrifice o' meself so that we can all get by."

You can pass. Doesn't mean the party can! You need to do it as a party(aka everyone), so you(Crummock) might want to think twice before you do it.

Oh, it doesn't turn it off for a round, to let people by? In that case, I won't do it.

I guess in that case, we leave this area, and try going down the original passage way?

earlier

’I knew I shouldn’t tell them where it was, Greta gets the kill now.’ Watching Greta frost the quill thing and then seeing the fireball hit it. When the smoke cleared a singed body appears, Einar nods to Greta, ”Good job.” Then he ripped out the creatures throat, finding the bone razor he carefully hands it to Crummock, ”Interesting knife.” and then loads the furs into the parties bag of holding.
As Einar lifts the furs into the magical bag, he wrinkles his nose and explains ”The poison must have affect-ed my strength.” Taking the potion that Crummock offers, ”That’s better, I still feel a little off, I won-der is any loss is permanent.” Einar nods his head ”Thank you” as Crummock uses the wand to heal the small wound. Following the hallway the direction that Crummock designated, Einar pulls out his lock picks and eventually opens the door.

now
’Well, that’s a little pretentious.’ Seeing the ruins float about the waxing moon, Einar stops, listening to Mister Whiskers read them. Einar’s eye’s widen a little as Mister Whiskers explains the Glyphs. Looking from one team member to the other. ”Well I don’t know about any of you, but I don’t intend to read them!”

Crummock ninja'd my post
Mort, can we progress up the hall without reading the glyphs or will we set them off and cause the damage anyway?

You'll set them off, and cause the damage.

I'll take note of your knowledge of Iobarian, Triaxian and Russian

You want the other passage you saw? Or just go back the way you came?

Yeah, I was willing to do it, as I am charisma based, but if the entire party has to do it, then it is a no go.

Crummock nods in the direction of the continuing passage.

"Let's leave this area alone for now, and head back down the other passage."

All casters would happily take it. Bonuses to casting stat? YAY!

A forest of stalactites covers the high ceiling of this enormous cavern. Several stalagmites rise from the floor as well, most with their tops shorn off. Huge webs fill the north end of the cavern, and a large, cryptic rune about the length of a grown human is carved into the ground at the south end of the cave.

Mr Whiskers knowledge arcana: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (12) + 17 = 29

Mr Whiskers identifies the rune as part of a binding spell used to create a hedged prison. Five web-wrapped cocoons, each almost 10 feet long, hang from the ceiling among the stalactites. A sixth cocoon lies on the floor near the middle of the cavern.

To the southwest, a passage leads down a flight of stone stairs to a stone door engraved with the image of a naked pregnant woman.

"Huh. It looks like something big and nasty is bound here... possibly with spiderish overtones? Let's leave it be."

Crummock then cautiously backs down the corridor the way he came.

I guess we now try the other passage out of the Pukwudgie's room?

A spider the size of an elephant, this dark blue arachnid rears up on its six hind legs to raise its barbed and razor-edged front claws looking up from its meal, in utter silence and glares at the party with hate in its bulbous eyes.

Mr Whiskers Init: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22
Hirah Init: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8
Einar Init: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9
Crummock Init: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (4) - 1 = 3
Spider init: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15

Mr Whiskers, Spider, Einar, Hirah, Crummock

knowledge planes Mr Whiskers: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (1) + 18 = 19
knowledge planes Hirah: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (19) + 18 = 37

Hirah recognizes this spider as a Bebilith, a creature evolved to hunt and slay demons. It has 10 DR/Good. And its bite causes rotting.

A bebilith’s bite causes a horrible withering and weakening of the flesh, resulting in a hideous melting and foul rotting effect. This catastrophic withering begins on the round the creature is bitten and continues for another 4 rounds thereafter, for 5 rounds of withering in all. Each round the rot persists, the target must succeed on Fortitude save or take 2 points of Constitution damage. If the target makes two consecutive saving throws in a row, the effect is cured. Heal can also halt the rot effect. The save DC is Constitution-based.

Eh, I suppose it won't pursue if you choose to run.

Well, if it is *right there*, and looking hungry, I have no objection to fighting it ;-)

Running is for sissies, clearly the writers believe we can fight our way through!

Make up ye minds if you want run or not. I am happy to run the fight.

Please, before I go to class, so that I dont have to move minis on my phone :P Its fking painful.

Moved you all back for now

Back tracking to the tunnel turning into a cave filled with stalactites, pointing to the shorn stalactites he asks. "What could break those rocks so easily?" Then seeing the five web-cocoons and the empty one on the floor, His eyes are drawn to movement. 'Blast that's as big as the chicken-legged hut.' Pointing at the giant spider. "Never mind, I think I've figured it out." Realizing they have only a couple of seconds. "I can enlarge here and block the tunnel, Anyone fast that wants to try and flank should head out, then I will rage."

Einar is willing to delay if anyone wants to move out.

I think we are waiting on Mr Whiskers, since he kinda won init and at least 50% of us are considering fighting it.

Yeah, seems we're all on the murderhobo vibe. Mr Whiskers won't be up for 4h or so though. I dunno. Could you plan your moves based on the following scenarios?

A)It threatens you but is not in your melee reach.

B)It threatens you and is in your melee reach.

C) It does not threaten but is not in your melee reach.

D) It does not threaten but is in your melee reach.

I generally forsee those are all the possibilities that will happen. Einar, unless you choose to move away, will be adjacent to you throughout.

Crummock orders Geist to withdraw up the tunnel (since he won't be able to get in on the action).

If Crummock ends up being within its reach, he will cast Grace, move back, and cast Fireball: 8d6 ⇒ (6, 1, 3, 1, 4, 3, 5, 5) = 28 Fire damage, DC 21 Reflex for half. If not within its reach (or only a 5' step away from being out of its reach), he will instead 5' step, and cast Fireball.

I couldn't predict what I'd do without knowing everyone elses positioning, if Amplified Rage is worth it, if its used up an AoO against someone else, if we are planning on bursting it, if Mr Whiskers is going to AOE debuff etc etc etc.

I CAN say that if Crummock is set on blasting, its probably better if I go after him, just in case I need to summon something, so he doesn't AOE it (it being a summon) or us (if we enter melee) with Fireball again.

What I am currently /thinking/ of (but please please don't consider this a cast iron action and do it for me) is to summon a Giant Skunk and then try and trigger Musk. Its probably going to save, but then its still sickened, and I can attempt an Intimidate check the following turn and really try and hammer down the debuffs (and then enter melee the following turn), since I'm fairly sure most of my summons are going to be fairly useless against it.

That works, and makes sense(like not dependent on too many variables). Should Mr Whiskers's actions invalidate your own, I will give you a chance to change your action.

Hirah - since yours is too dependent on too many variables, we'll wait till Mr Whiskers acts. Likely he will act, I'll post my actions, Einar might get a round if he stays up suuuper late, then you should be able to get a morning post before I wake up the next day.

Updated my post GM with what im thinking of ATM to try and be more helpful. its also Friday night so I can /try/ to stay up to 2 AM (for reference, thats about 3 hours from now) but no promises since I'm super tired after this week and I might nodd off.

Sadly, apart from blasting, there is not a lot that I can do - the corridor is only 8' tall, which means I can't have Geist go above Hirah and Einar. Crummock's own melee damage output won't (effectively) get through its DR - we are going to be relying on high-damage-output attacks to take this thing down (so, presumably, rage +/- bane with two-handed weapons).

Realistically, my best bet is to blast it initially, and then focus on blasting/healing as required.

I don't think you should. Because I'll be in class, so I may take till 4h from now to respond to Mr Whiskers post. I can't be checking all the time else no studying would get done.
Mr Whiskers usually logs between 3-4h from now, anyway, + there's Einar's drive home time to deal with.

The sad thing would be if you won the fight, but died of the rot =(

We all have more than 10 Con, so I don't think the Rot should be able to kill us...

Einar intends to rage and enlarge, Using either NA or reach weapons, if no one is going out for a flank we may want to back down the hallway to try and squeeze it a little,

Einar I can give you a flank with a summoned creature. You would need to go after Crummock though.

It looks like Giest will stay back also, a creature flanking is fine, I just don't want to clog the middle to prevent anyone from trying to flank if they want to. I think it would be wise for everyone to stay behind Einar and use spells.

So Einar will delay and go last, if everyone could do what there going to do and then move back 5 ft, Einar will enlarge. I believe the spider will come within it's own reach, Einar will enlarge and attack then move back and try and draw it into the tunnel. (I hope) Planning on using the Ranseur if it's at 15-20 ft.

All casters would happily take it. Bonuses to casting stat? YAY!

With the lifespan of an Orc, this ratfolk would rather live his life rather than take a quick way to raw power.

When Mr. Whiskers sees the giant spider creature, he says "This is bad..." just before casting haste on everyone.

""Do we run or fight?" he foolishly asks, underestimating how much Einar loves a battle.

The bebilith surges towards Einar and Hirah, its maw poised to strike. It bites Einar, then twists to the side to catch Hirah as well. Einar's bite in his shoulder immediately begins to rot and fester, sapping his vitality. Hirah's wound on the other hand, remains as a clean puncture.

bite: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (7) + 19 = 26
dmg: 2d6 + 9 ⇒ (3, 3) + 9 = 15
Einar fort save: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12
bite, cleave Hirah: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (7) + 19 = 26
dmg: 2d6 + 9 ⇒ (4, 4) + 9 = 17
Hirah fort save: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (17) + 11 = 28

I am on phone now. I am not sure how accurate my movement will be, but the distance between will look like this

BBB
XXX
XXX
EHW

X=empty space, E= Einar, H =Hirah, W=wall(unpassable)

Fireball ref save: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (2) + 11 = 13

Crummock manages to blast the Bebilith with a fireball, which it catches head on, but it does not look very injured. Geist withdraws down the passageway.

2 con dmg for Einar

Party up

"Einar, use your weapon! It is fire resistant and I'm not sure your claws will do enough damage!" Mr. Whiskers calls out as he reaches into his pack and gets out a small rod. He looks concerned about his friend's health. I don't have any way to help him with the poison, best I can do is try to kill it faster!

Looks like there is enough space to step there and release a cone that doesn't get any of the party but does get the bebilith.

He then steps to the side and shouts "Begone!" at the horrible creature, investing a point of arcane reservoir to make it more effective. I hope there aren't any other nearby enemies. That is going to be heard for a long ways!

Shout: 5d6 Sonic: 5d6 ⇒ (3, 2, 1, 3, 1) = 10 DC 21 Fort for half damage and no deafness.

Move action, get out lesser electricity elemental metamagic rod for use next round. Free action to talk. 5' step. Standard action to cast.

Forgot to mention earlier, when I meant party, was with exception of Crummock

fort: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (20) + 15 = 35

It doesn't seem very damaged, nor impressed by Mr Whisker's shout.

Please clarify. Does it have resistance vs Sonic or did you just mean it made it's saving throw? Also, why are you even awake right now? Get some sleep!

@MR Whiskers: From memory, it is neither resistant to Fire, nor resistant to Sonic - I think the GM is just referencing the fact that these things have a *LOT* of hit points...

Unperturbed, Crummock dumps another Fireball into the Bebilith.

Fireball: 8d6 ⇒ (6, 2, 6, 6, 5, 3, 5, 4) = 37 Fire damage. DC 21 Reflex for half.

I am assuming, that I can 5 foot step back and cast Summon Monster, and not provoke an AoO since our casters have so far avoided AoO's of their own.

I went primordial under the hope that it cannot bypass my DR, but I could just as easily switch it to Aerial or Celestial. Also, Hero Lab seems to think/calculate its Musk DC as 19, but I think its 17 with Augment Summoning. Shrug.

Ranged Touch Attack Musk: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14

I'm placing it on the map wherever it grants flank to Einar. Failing that, I'd place it directly in front of spider, to prevent it easily moving forward and disrupting our spellcasting. Einar, if you could, try and prevent it advancing any further, it not only restricts our spellcasting (since if it gets too close we all have to make concentration checks to cast defensively), but it also reduces space for us to melee it, and I'll be re-entering combat shortly.

Mr Whiskers I have identified it (37 on the check). You can assume that I'd (probably but I could be mistaken) have been aware of any resistances/immunities it might have, and then immediately relayed it to you as per an earlier post in the thread deciding we automatically relay information to everyone on successful knowledge checks.