RotRL aka "The Heroes of Sandpoint"

Game Master Hunger

Camillo will take rearguard again or he would be willing to follow Kithian's lead. Either way, he will have sword and shield at the ready and a light spell on the shield.

Kithian shrugs and begins walking down the stairs.

The ceiling of this strangely cold chamber arches to a vaulted height of twenty feet. The floor contains eleven wooden lids strewn haphazardly over eleven five-foot-wide pits in the ground. From the darkness within these pits echo up strange shuffling sounds and, every so often, a low moan.

Standing in front of a passageway leading South out of the room, you are met with a truly horrible sight. The incredibly deformed creature standing before you looks like a goblin - a 6 foot tall goblin with four arms, a third eye protruding from its stomach, and two flailing legs swinging out from the back of its head. When it sees you, it raises its weapons in the air and roars in Goblin, "Koruvus huukuul or o ac daan dhalaan!"

Koruvus

Initiative Order
22 - Kerrec
18 - Rullis
16 - Kithian
8 - Koruvus
5 - Camillo
4 - Vidar

Combat Map (the brown parts are the wooden lids over the pits)

Koruvus: AC ??; HP ??; Saves ??

Round 1
AC:15
HP:25/25
Condition: None

"Ragna gurnsh klay unm?!"

Power Attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16
Damage:2d4 + 9 ⇒ (2, 2) + 9 = 13

You can step between the lids without any problem. They don't look particularly sturdy to walk on though.

Kerrec moves to E7 crossbow in hand.

"Will the horrors never end!"

Kerrec fires at the creature.

Attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12
Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 7

Hopes its flatfooted AC is terrible.

DM Kacy: I'm confused on the Initiative order. Looking at the rolls and comparing to the init list, they don't match.

Round 1, Initiative 18 or 11
AC 16; HP 13/13
Conditions: None

Cutting north and moving along the northern edge of the wall, Rullis goes around all the strange lids on the ground and hopes his aim is better this time. Sparks form from between his finger tips just before he sends a bolt of lightning across the room at the deformed beast.

Move Action: 30-foot move to H3.
Standard Action: Lightning Arc (Ranged Touch Attack, Point-Blank/Precise Shot): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 17
Lethal Electricity Damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7

Yes! Redemption!

Round 1, Initiative 17 or 5
AC 19, hp 12/12
Conditions: None

Camillo moves through the rest of the party if necessary and through the middle of the room, sidestepping lids as he goes, double move to K6.

If that move is no longer legal when it's my turn, feel free to bot me to correct it -- he's just trying to circle the monster to get/provide a flank for Kithian, who I assume is in H7.

It looks like the Paizo boards played a trick on me and switched the rolls between my preview and the final post. The rolls as posted outside of the spoiler did get rolled up the first time I previewed, so stick with those.

Round 1, Initiative 8

Attack on Kithian: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7
Damage: 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8
Attack on Kithian: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 13
Damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5
Attack on Kithian: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 = 11
Damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Koruvus roars madly, sending greasy spittle everywhere and swings his weapons in a mad flurry against Kithian, but the barbarian blocks the longsword swing with his falchion, ducks under the follow-up attack with the handaxe, and even manages to step aside in time to avoid the wild stab of the monster's dagger. Rage burns in the creatures eyes as the gash from Kithian's blade begins to heal up before your eyes.

Initiative Order
22 - Kerrec
18 - Rullis
16 - Kithian
8 - Koruvus
5 - Camillo
4 - Vidar

Koruvus: 23 damage

Kerrec's attack missed by the way

"Damn, did that...thing say Koruvus?"

Vidar holds back for now. Vidar does nothing this round.

Oh, also

As you step into the room and move around the pits, you see that each pit is quite deep and dark, but you can spot something moving between the cracks of the lids. Something humanoid.

Kerrec's eyes open wide seeing the three handed monstrosity take vicious swipes at Kithian.

He moves to H5 and aims at the creature.

To himself: Must be careful with this next shot with Kithian so close to the creature.

Attack: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (7) + 0 = 7
Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 8

The bolt flies into the wall, well above the creature's head.

Round 2, Initiative 5
AC 19, hp 12/12
Conditions: None

Camillo completes his maneuvering, coming up on the other side of the creature in J7 and attacking, arcane energy coursing through his blade.

Longsword with flanking 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23
Longsword damage 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5 includes Arcane Strike
Sneak Attack damage 1d6 ⇒ 6

Round 2, Initiative 18
AC 16; HP 13/13
Conditions: None

Rullis steps to his left to get a clearer look at this thing. "Koruvus? What's Koruvus? Am I missing something?" The electrical sparks in his hand continue as he sends another bolt across the pits. Direct hit! The lightning strikes the mutated creature square in the chest causing it to spasm for a second as the electricity courses through its body and tries burns a hole its chest.

Movement catches his eye as he prepares to fire again. "Guys, there's something alive in these holes."

Move Action: 5-foot move to I3.
Standard Action: Lightning Arc (Ranged Touch Attack, Point-Blank/Precise Shot): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22
Lethal Electrical Damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

Round 2
Init:16
AC:15
HP: 25/25
Condition:None

Power Attack The thing.

Power Attack:1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12
Damage:2d4 + 9 ⇒ (4, 1) + 9 = 14

With Rullis' electricial discharge, the creature slumps to the ground, dead. The moaning and shuffling sounds continue from the pits. Upon glancing down one, you can see a single human shuffling around inside the pits.

Loot
Masterwork Longsword
Masterwork Handaxe
Silver Dagger

A bunch of skillchecks? Sign me up!

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10
Cast Detect magic
Spellcraft: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (1) + 9 = 10

"Whoa! Alive is a bit of a mistake, those are the walking dead, undead. We should destroy them if we can."

As an afterthought, Vidar adds. "That sword has an enchantment on it, tis a magical blade."

Kerrec weighs his crossbow in his hands for second, checking to make sure its balance isn't off.

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22

His gaze then turns to the shuffling creatures below. Vidar comes to the same conclusion as he does.

"Aye. These rotted things must be put down."

Looking at the sword. "Another tool to battle the Quasit. If someone still needs a weapon to overcome its extraplanar resistances, pick it up I say."

Camillo will take the time to coup d' grace the beast after seeing the wounds closing only moments before.

"Whoa! Alive is a bit of a mistake, those are the walking dead, undead. We should destroy them if we can."

"Torture, mutations, undead -- what is going on here? Right below Sandpoint all this time!"

As an afterthought, Vidar adds. "That sword has an enchantment on it, tis a magical blade."

"It does? It is? Where would that monstrosity have gotten such a weapon? And, um, who wants to use it?"

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11

His mind reels from at Camillo's words and the things below, but he forces himself to focus on the threat at hand, "I could try and take out all these dead at once, but I should save my energies for a more critical need. Vidar, do you have any replenishable magic that can kill these things from a distance?"

Hearing the discussion about the magical sword, Rullis leaves that for the fighter types. So instead he looks at the other two weapons. A silver dagger and a hand axe. He can handle either one of these, but a small knife like a dagger works better for him. He already has a cold iron one, it would be good to have a silver one as well in case it is needed. "If no one wants that silver dagger, I could take it."

"I am better with a falchion than I am a longsword, I would only use it a a backup weapon with my shield."
Kithian looks over at the zombies and shrugs. "Let em out one at a time and I will hack them apart. Or just give me that spear thing we found and I will spit 'em in their holes."

"I am afraid not master Stillman, the best option would probably be to spear them from a distance...that weapon from the statue had a fairly good reach did it not?"

It's apparently obvious that Rullis has been carrying around his fishing spear since they were deputized by the sheriff. "I can try with this as well..." raising his spear, "...though I don't know how effective a piercing weapon will be against them."

He moves towards the nearest pit and pushes the lid off with his foot. If there is a zombie in this pit, he stabs down with his long spear. Otherwise he'd move on to the next pit.

Long Spear Attack (10 foot reach): 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 12
Damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9

"The fancy spear! I've left it in the torture chamber! I will be right back!" Casting Light on his shield, Camillo will carefully work his way back up the stairs to retrieve the spear. Assuming it is still on the floor in the torture room, he will sheathe his sword and return to the others with the spear in hand.

He will sheepishly offer it to Kithian to use against the zombies or use it himself if the others approve.

Obviously, Camillo's preferred weapon is a longsword, but he's biting his tongue to prevent himself from claiming it.

Vidar suddenly snaps his fingers as something occurs to him.
"Koruvus! Seven tooth tribe! Don't you remember, Ms Shalelu said he was a hero and former leader of that tribe? But look at him now! This must be a recent thing or the stories would have mentioned his deformities."

Vidar begins pacing back and forth as he thinks.
"This place, torture implements, undeads, Sinspawn that are said to be extinct...and now a missing goblin "hero" that has been mutated in this way. This place needs to be cleaned out for sure, probably needs to be blessed and cleansed from Lamashtus taint as well."

vidar makes a quick calculation in his head.
"If that weapon is of the least enchantment kind, it is still worth roughly 1150GP...but probably more usefull to keep around. Calmio uses longsword doesn't he? As for the dagger, I don't mind letting master Stillman have it, just as long as any longbows goes to me first haha."

He will sheepishly offer it to Kithian to use against the zombies or use it himself if the others approve.

Kithian raises his right hand palm out towards Camillo,"No my friend, go ahead. You need the practice. I will just sit here and make sure we are not suprisd."

Kerrec shakes his head in disgust.

"Rullis remembered that Lamashtu coveted deformities. It seems she has attracted new worshippers here to continue her perverse games. I agree Vidar, this placed must be cleansed. The evil here waited patiently and like a beacon has drawn these things to her."

Kithian raises his right hand palm out towards Camillo,"No my friend, go ahead. You need the practice. I will just sit here and make sure we are not surprised."

"Thanks!" Camillo will coordinate with Rullis to work through the room, destroying the zombies with spear and ranseur. He will use his Arcane Strike as he goes.

Camillo shows a bit of excitement as he takes up the enchanted sword. Looking at Vidar, he asks, "Do I need to do anything different to take advantage of its magic?" He will keep his old sword, but use the new one. The old one will remain in the scabbard and he'll carry the ranseur and magic sword.

Question: Does Arcane Strike stack with the enhancement bonus to damage for the sword?

"It depends master Duin, I was not able to fully identify its properties. But the bare minimum, a magically sharpened blade, needs to special consideration. It will be sharp and balanced beyond ordinary blades, try it out and see."

Vidar shrugs. "Give me some time once we return to the surface and I'll identify it properly."

Vidar pulls on his beard a little as he considers.
"I wonder...what could have deformed the goblin so? Is it possible this Quasit is a cleric in the service of the mother of madness?"

"It depends master Duin, I was not able to fully identify its properties. But the bare minimum, a magically sharpened blade, needs to special consideration. It will be sharp and balanced beyond ordinary blades, try it out and see."

Vidar shrugs. "Give me some time once we return to the surface and I'll identify it properly."

Vidar pulls on his beard a little as he considers.
"I wonder...what could have deformed the goblin so? Is it possible this Quasit is a cleric in the service of the mother of madness?"

Looking at his new acquisition with some concern, Camillo slowly says, "I've heard legends of magic items that control and pervert their wielders..." but a look of relief comes across the bard's face as he recalls, "Wait - the Lady Shalelu said that this Koruvus was known for wielding a magical sword of some sort. Surely he brought this in with him and, as you say, if it had affected him earlier, the tales would mention his mutations. Right?"

Vidar nods at Calmio. "That is what I believe, that sword should not be dangerous to use at all."

With a look of relief, Camillo takes some experimental swings with the sword. "It handles much like my old one. The balance and weight feel good. Here's hoping the wielder is up to the honor of carrying it."

"So, where do we go next?"

Rullis seemed to really get into stabbing zombies from above. "Much easier than spearing carp. These ones can't get away."

Assuming that Camillo and I can kill all of them this way without any surprises, the expression on his face becomes more sullen as he reminded of where he's at with Camillo's question. "We should probably keep moving inward to see what other horrors this place has to offer." He gestures to the door/opening on the southern wall behind where the mutated goblin leftovers now rest, letting someone else go first.

After watching the festivities, and giving a few pointers to Rullis and Camillo on the fine art of stabbing zombies, Kithian will recheck his gear and move to the door on the southern wall.

"Well master Duin, would you be so kind as to check that passage to the south for traps as well?"

"Of course."

Perception 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9 includes +1 for trapfinding

Haha, the classic comment of "You find no traps" coming up? And as always, just because you FIND no traps doesn't mean there ARE no traps. Evil evil Dms, I know, I've used it myself.

We have a running gag, stolen from I know not where, of "You find no traps, but you do notice that the contact poison is sticky." Even my non-playing spouse finds it funny.

<Intermission>

Drawing his fishing knife from his bag, Rullis unhooks his two new daggers from his waist and begins juggling the three knifes. "Hey, check this out!" he says as he is careful not to fall into one of the many pits.

</Intermission>

Smiling, the bard conjures a lute from thin air and begins to play a lively jig to accompany the display of dexterity and balance.

"You know master Stillman, you should be carefull, the gods just love to provoke people in situations like that, with an invisible soap or something else nice to step on."

Camillo continues playing, but he moves away from any of the pits. Just in case.

Indeed you do not find any traps in the opening of this passage way, but while examining it you see that it continues south for 30-40ft ending at what looks to be a stone door, halfway down the hall a second passageway breaks off to the east.

New Map

Kithian assumes his position at the front of the group and walks down the passage and stops at the break and listens.

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 19

If he hears nothing he will peek around the corner.

Thank you so much for running this for us.

Vidar follows behind, taking his place at the back of the line, ready with bow and spell to back up his comrades.

Kerrec will assume third position. Praying for Abadar's guidance.

Detect Evil up.

Thanks again for picking this up.

Camillo will follow Kithian in second rank and will continue to scan for obvious traps unless the barbarian asks him to investigate something specific.

Perception 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18 +1 for trapfinding if appropriate

Ditto, thanks for coming in!

My Pleasure!

Peering around the corner to the east Kithian sees nothing but rubble, as the flight of spiral stairs that once must have led down even deeper into the complexes has long since collapsed.

Kithian continues to the stone door stopping to listen for anything on the other side.

Perception:1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12