Rivers Run Red

Game Master fictionfan

"Blinking barghests!" exclaims Riva, as though it were a curse. Steel your minds, lest it charm your senses or crush your will!

Shouldn't you roll a 20% miss chance for that bite then?

You read the blink spell it does not work like that. 50% chance failure rate unless you can see invisible and even then there is a 20% chance to shift right then. The shift happens in an unpredictable pattern or the barghest would have learned to compensate a long time ago.

Boting Eldric

Eldric charge the barghest. He attacks with his Lance.

attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24
miss chance: 1d100 ⇒ 79

damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6 *2

It hits however the non-magical lance seems to do less damage then you would expect.

Rory attacks right after however he misses the beast. Riva then casts blindness

miss chance: 1d2 ⇒ 2 1 is a miss
Fort save: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7

And the barghest is blind.

Adular blesses the party maybe things are looking up?

Second round order
Eldric
Rory
Riva
Barghest
Adular

"damn it all. Stand still already," Rory says. He moves for a second attack, feeling Gorum's might behind his blow.

attack: 1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 7 + 1 = 22
damage: 1d6 ⇒ 1

just my luck, looks like i hit but for min damage. Last time i missed but had max damage. oi...

On her turn Riva distances herself further from the beast, placing Eldric and Rory in between her and the barghest. She shouts "You've already lost beast! Surrender or die!" before blasting it with magic missile to emphasize her point.

Magic missile force damage: 2d4 + 2 ⇒ (3, 4) + 2 = 9

Magic missile should hit for automatic damage, even with the blinking effect. Riva knows the beast is an evil outsider, and has no intention of letting it live, much less surrender.

The barghest seems to agree with you and understand your intentions because it dimension doors away.

Don't think anything Eldric could have done could have stopped that.

The scarecrow in Old Beldame's yard jumps into action and runs behind the hut.

"What's up with that thing?" Rory says as his eyes follow the scarecrow's retreat. He keeps a tight grip on his blade, not sure if he's going to need it again soon.

Soon you hear the barghest screaming. Soon after that the scarecrow takes it's place again in the front of the yard.

You hear the screechy voice again "Not another one."

"Let's not wait to find out. We've already been sent on our way, so on our way we will be."

Riva turns to Rory.

"Rory, we can't let it get away. That thing is a fiend, a man eater; it will not stop terrorizing this countryside until it is killed. It can only teleport a short distance, and then only once per day."

Riva spins about, trying to determine which direction the creature might have gone.

Perception check: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (8) + 0 = 8

"Find it! We can't let it escape!"

Well that Perception check is not going to help.

Doesn't Eldric get another attack before it 'ports away? Maybe he will crit it and kill it with his lance.

Boting Eldric giving it a try

Eldric He attacks with his Lance.

attack: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19
miss chance: 1d100 ⇒ 58

damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11

It hits however the non-magical lance seems to do less damage then you would expect.

He hits but does not kill it.

At least you can comfort yourself with the fact that blindness is permanent.

Adular curses, "The damned coward..."
Perception 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24

Are you searching the whole area? The hut is part of the area.

More around it, no need to make mister scarecrow angry!

By the time you get around the area of the hut there is nothing there. You have any survival to track with?

And it's a swamp which makes it even harder. Just wondered if he had the tracking ability to track a hamster over water.

"Damn. I'm not going to give up so easy."

Survival to find a trail: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (10) + 0 = 10

Riva turns her any-tool into a spyglass and begins look about again.

Perception: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (11) + 0 = 11

Despite her scarecrow and likely potent spellcasting abilities, Riva nevertheless takes a moment to warn the old witch of the danger nearby, then departs.

Beldame yells "Don't worry about it happens all the time. It's those dam Will-o'-Wisp they are already causing trouble keep leading stuff to other stuff to cause as much trouble as they can. Keep sending monsters here and clueless fools."

kowledge (dungeoneering) to recall more information about Will-o'-Wisps: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12

"I'm not going into a swamp ill-prepared. The swamp presents enough hazards by itself without being full of pernicious monsters as well."

"In the meantime, I'm offering 100gp to any hunter who can bring me the barghest's head."

I will know if it is the same one for the necromantic aura I've left upon it.

We go only as far as is needed to finish exploring the hex. If we encounter the best in that time, great. If not, we move on to the next hex. I'm, thinking H28.

"I'll be sure to have the boys back in Allania draw up some wanted posters when we get back." Rory said. "we going to go back fishing or what? I promised Selene fresh fish for dinner tonight and I don't want to come back a liar."

Will-o'-Wisp
Immunity to Magic (Ex)

Will-o'-wisps are immune to all spells and spell-like abilities that allow spell resistance, except magic missile and maze.

You manage to explore the rest of the hex without difficultly.

"Heh, that's something your Selene and my sister Selene seem to have in common, she loved properly cooked fish." Adular doesn't dwell on the monster that got away, no point to it. If it comes back, they'll kill it. Simple as that.

"You have a sister named Selene? That's weird i guess. But then again, don't you have have enough siblings to start your own village?" Rory said with a grin and headed back to the boat.

"Hey Riva, you mind if i board with you? The other craft's a bit cramped with the three of us." Rory called back to her.

"Hah, not a village... though, if you throw in the cousins," He muses

"Hey Riva, you mind if i board with you? The other craft's a bit cramped with the three of us." Rory called back to her.

"If you must, but be sure to catch a big one for Tarka's dinner." Riva swings her legs up over and into the boat in a large graceful arc, causing the tattered remains of the fishing rod hanging behind her to whirl dangerously close to Rory's face.

Now entering hex H38 by rowboat.

As you explore the east coast of the lake you notice your boat starting to overturn as though from great pressure from under.

Not sure if what you can do to stop it. If you can post.

I'm gonna make a perception check to see if I can tell what's causing the boat to overturn.

1d20 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

Well I can see there's water under the boat, but that's probably it.

Adular tries to hold the boat steady, "Oh Hades and bother, what's fishing for US?!"

Not sure if a Str check 'turn it back' would work but hey...
1d20 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9

"Oh my word! It must be Old Crackjaw!"

*splash*

Perception to see the cause: 1d20 ⇒ 11
Knowledge (nature) for strengths/weaknesses of nasty tortoises: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14

I'm assuming we're going into the water whether we want to or not, Riva did not jump in by choice. If there is enough time she equips her any-tool as a floatation device and casts shield.

As the boat gets pulled under Rory attempts to jump away from the boat as to not get tangled in the nets aboard.

Would it be a jump or dice check to get away from the boat since i'm jumping into water? DC for a dive is 15 to dive safely if its a dive
acrobatics!: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21

Once in the water, Rory attempts to swim to the surface and away from whatever pulled down their craft.

swimmin for his life: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (16) - 1 = 15

And into the water you all go. Including Eldric and his house. Before you you see giant turtle with big teeth.

We are going to call this a sort of surprise round that everyone got to participate in

Yes it is a dive

Initiative checks for all
Adular: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6
Riva: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9
Rory: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5
Eldric: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19
Old Crackjaw: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Also need swim checks from the rest of you. This is Calm water so the DC is 10 but you can't take 10 on it because you are being threatened.

Round 1 order
Eldric
Riva
Adular
Rory
Old Crackjaw

Damn it Eldric! With his good rolls and not being here. Can I use that initial swim check or do you want me to do another?

Go with the first one. Going to need one each round.

EDIT!Rory swims towards the nearest shore he sees, not wanting to give the turtle an unfair advantage against him. He stops momentarily to cheer on his friends. "C'mon guys, lets get to shore quick. We can't let this overgrown turtle get the best of us."

moving at quarter speed (7.5 feet if that matters) towards the nearest shore and using Inspire Competence. Allies within 30 ft. of me recieve +2 on their checks so long as i keep my chanting going.

At least OC is going last.

Riva swims like hell towards the shore.

Swim check: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (3) - 1 = 2

Any circumstance bonuses from my floatation device? Maybe none, but it should keep my head above water anyways. How far is the shore?

We'll call it a masterwork swimming device so +2 swim check. Unfortunately that is not enough to even float.

I'd inspire competence if i could... can I? can my awesome swimming abilities inspire competence in my allies? if so i wanna change my turn. WE can say that i'm shouting words of encouragement to them.

I guess so.

Awesome. I'm gonna go change my post.

By the way to shore is 60 feet away.

By the way to shore is 60 feet away.

this is going to be fun[/sarcasm]

By the way to shore is 60 feet away.

"Sh1t-sh1t-sh1t-sh1t-sh1t!" chants Riva in quickened Elvish as she swims towards the shore in near panic.

No progress with that last check, maybe next round will be better?

Swim, swim or die: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 1 = 10

Swim, thanks to competence: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 1 = 16

Adular, despite his armor, is inspired by Rory and begins to make long strokes towards the shore, "you okay, Riva? Riva??"

"Did you see it? Where is it!?"

Continues swimming, Rd 3: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5
Continues swimming, Rd 4: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9
Continues swimming, Rd 5: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21
Continues swimming, Rd 6: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6
Continues swimming, Rd 7: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11
Continues swimming, Rd 8: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8
Continues swimming, Rd 9: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4
Continues swimming, Rd 10: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (19) + 3 = 22

Getting these checks out of the way unless something prevents me from taking them.

EDIT: Wow. A whopping ten rounds to get to shore. Please don't let him eat me guys!

Old Crackjaw swims up to Rory and bites.

attack: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (2) + 9 = 11
damage: 1d8 + 9 ⇒ (4) + 9 = 13

Round 2 order
Eldric
Riva
Adular
Rory
Old Crackjaw

Riva makes some progress inching her way towards the shore.

Forty-five more feet to go, then it's turtle soup. I'm going to make a new boat out of his shell.

@Adular - actually, since I'm the last PC, Competence takes affect this round, you still passed though.

I'm gonna maintain Inspire Competence until we make it to land

Just keep swimming: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 1 = 16

"come on guys, not to much farther now," Rory said. He felt the turtle brush against his foot in a failed attempt to attack him and swallowed hard, trying to not his worry show.

Oppertunity attack: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (5) + 9 = 14
damage: 1d8 + 9 ⇒ (8) + 9 = 17

Old Crackjaw swims after Rory for another bite.

attack: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (7) + 9 = 16
damage: 1d8 + 9 ⇒ (8) + 9 = 17

Riva flounders about in round 3