RotRL Gestalt Anniversary Special

Game Master Spiral_Ninja

"I'm guessing there's going to be trouble through those doors. We had best prepare before entering."

With a word and a gesture, Kaddoc blesses his companions .

Bless: +1 to attack/to resist fear for 2mins

"Ready or not, looks like we're going in." Sparrow knocks an arrow, following behind Brin into the room. (Or behind as many want to put themselves between Sparrow and the baddies inside)

Cilyanka nods her head in agreement, You're right Kaddoc, I've got a bad feeling about whatever in on the other side of this door.

Brin bend down, I have a little something for you before burst in on them

Cilyanka traces a small black rune on Brin's forehead and her own before positioning herself next to the door, shadows gathering about her blade as she waits for the giant to lead the charge.

protection vs evil on Brin & Cilyanka, +1 enhancement bonus on Cilyanks'a rhoka

sorry for the delay, folks.

@Alkaid: Confirming what you already know, you realize that the altar is to Lamashtu.

Pushing open the doors, you enter into a huge room, with a 20' high ceiling, looking like nothing more than an immense underground cathedral. The walls of the chamber are carved with strange, spiky runes, resembling those in the odd spherical room. In the center of the room is a large pool, with a ring of polished human skulls balanced on stone spikes arranged in a circle around the deeper midsection. At the far end of the room a pair of stone stairways leads up to a pulpit on which sits a second pool, this one triangular in shape and filled with churning, bubbling water that looks almost like translucent lava. Yet, while wisps of what looks like heat and steam rise from the strange orange liquid, the room itself is deathly cold.

The stone doors to either side of the entry hang open, revealing seemingly empty rooms beyond.

You have more important things to worry about for now, though.

On the upper level, next to the glowing orange pool is a strange, thin, wiry, winged female creature with ram horns curling back from her twisted head.

She shrieks in rage as you enter. "Defilers! How dare you intrude upon the Mother's sanctum?"

She then slashes her own wrist with a dagger, allowing blood to drip into the bubbling orange pool. As it splashes down the glow fades somewhat and a creature, resembling those you've already fought, springs from the pool and moves to attack.

"They have a shine to the Mother of Monsters here.
It will be purified, I'll have to get some help in that though."

Init:
Alkaid Initiative: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (13) + 3 = 16
Brindolfin Initiative: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7
Cilyanka Initiative: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16
Kaddoc Initiative: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21
Sparrow Initiative: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (12) + 3 = 15
monster Initiative: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6
winged creature Initiative: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11

Round 1:
Kaddoc
Cilyanka
Alkaid
Sparrow
winged creature
Brindolfin
monster

Alkaid=1, Brin=2, Cil=3, Kaddoc=4, Sparrow=5

The winged creature first points at Alkaid, then gestures and mutters, then vanishes.

The newly summoned -or created- monster charges into battle and tries to bite 1d5 ⇒ 1 Alkaid.

bite: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (6) - 2 = 4
damage: 1d6 ⇒ 2

"Darn it, what was that winged creature?"

Know(Planes or Religion)
Oddly the Real World Bible does have some data on some demons.

Know(religion): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10

Kaddoc roars a wordless challenge and charges the strange creature,
Rage on:4/8 remain

Attack(charge + bless): 1d20 + 10 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 10 + 2 + 1 = 30
Damage: 2d4 + 9 ⇒ (4, 4) + 9 = 17

Round 1

Prescience: 1d20 ⇒ 8

Sparrow pulls up her bow and fires off a shot at the monster, "What's wrong little Quasit, your little ritual didn't go off as good as you hoped?"

Use Prescience roll for knowledge check, standard to shoot creature.

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26
Knowledge (Planes): 8 + 8 = 16
Attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18
Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 1

EDIT: Didn't see that the Quasit vanished, edited action.

Religion: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 8 = 23

Be careful guys, It's a Quasit.

Seeing the Quasit vanish, Cilyanka assumes a watchful stance, prepared to react as soon as it reappears.

swift action: arcane strike, ready an action to charge if the demon appears. holding rhoka in both hands

Either. Planes is standard for outsiders, but I will also allow religion at a higher roll. That's why the DCs were listed that way in the spoiler.

"A Quasit, we need to kill it or it'll be trouble later"

Atk:Punch: 1d20 + 4 - 2 ⇒ (7) + 4 - 2 = 9
Atk:Punch: 1d20 + 4 - 2 ⇒ (6) + 4 - 2 = 8

Dam:Punch: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4
Dam:Punch: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7

Brin waits for his slow reflexes, then charges the closest enemy.
power attack: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (15) + 9 = 243d6 + 9 ⇒ (1, 5, 6) + 9 = 21

Kaddoc's blow strikes true, striking the visible monster, nearly gutting it, though, somehow, it still stands on wobbly, backward-bent legs.

Round 1:
Kaddoc
Cilyanka
Alkaid
Sparrow
quasit
Brindolfin
monster

The quasit flickers into visibility, chanting and sprinkling something into the air.

I need a will save from 1d5 ⇒ 4 Kaddoc. DC 11

"we need to get that Quasit."

I had a readied action, but I don't think it is in range 8P

Seeing the quasit appear, Cilyanka moves into the room, holding her blade at the ready.

Move action to move in, arcane strike, readying an attack if the quasit approaches me, holding rhoka in both hands

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15

Trying to see what the Quasit did to Kaddoc.

Somebody should shut the door after we all get in here

And Brin's blow finishes the poor monster. Pate, anyone?

@Cil: That was a hex, probably Slumber.

"Go back from where you came you Quasit"
She attacks the Quasit
Atk:Punch: 1d20 + 4 - 2 ⇒ (11) + 4 - 2 = 13
Atk:Punch: 1d20 + 4 - 2 ⇒ (12) + 4 - 2 = 14

Dam:Punch: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8
Dam:Punch: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

Will Save: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18

In the haze of his rage, Kaddoc's mind is impenetrable by the quasit's foul magic. Seeing the the creature fade back into view, Kaddoc snarls and tries to skewer the small creature.

Attack(rage, bless): 1d20 + 10 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 10 + 1 = 26
Damage: 2d4 + 9 ⇒ (3, 3) + 9 = 15

Rage on:3/8 remain

Bump

Sorry folks. Migraine

Alkaid's blows miss the quasit, however Kaddoc manages a good, strong hit.

Round 2:
Kaddoc
Cilyanka
Alkaid
Sparrow
quasit
Brindolfin

On her turn the stricken quasit casts a spell at Kaddoc, then vanishes again.

Kaddoc; DC 14 will save.

"Drat, where is it?"

No Problem, I know Migraines can slow you to a crawl and disable you from using any form of screen, monitor, and or light sources.

The big half-giant waits for the quasit to appear.

"Anyone have a bag of flour?"
Perception to find invisible: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (5) + 9 = 14

Will Save: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16

With a roar, Kaddoc shakes off the waves of magic that wash over him. Seeing the imp fade from view, he growls in frustration and begins swinging his guisarme in wild arcs trying to find the hidden enemy.

Rage on:2/8 remain

"I think a bag of salt would be better."

Note: though it's a spell-like ability, she goes on her turn. Kaddoc, Cilyanka, Alkaid, and Sparrow go while she's still visible.

Alkaid attacks the Pest
Atk:Punch: 1d20 + 4 - 2 ⇒ (7) + 4 - 2 = 9
Atk:Punch: 1d20 + 4 - 2 ⇒ (19) + 4 - 2 = 21

Dam:Punch: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4
Dam:Punch: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7

Ahh, I see.

Atack(rage, bless: 1d20 + 10 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 10 + 1 = 20
Damage: 2d4 + 9 ⇒ (4, 3) + 9 = 16

Sparrow takes a shot at the visible creature.

Prescience: 1d20 ⇒ 5

Attack: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 6 + 1 = 11
Damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Seeing the Quasit momentarily appear, Cilyanka moves up to slash at the demon with her sword.

Move, arcane strike, 2-handed

Attack: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11
Damage: 1d8 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10

@*&!, hold still.

As both Alkaid and Kaddoc connect the creature shrieks and falls, it's body vanishing as it hits the floor.

As the quasit's body fades and her stuff drops to the floor, you hear, or think you hear, howling, as of distant dogs.

Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (4) + 9 = 13

"Did anyone else hear that howling?"

Rage off. Fatigued for 6 rounds

When the quasit falls, Kaddoc lets out a roar of triumph and then leans heavily on his guisarme, sides heaving.

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25

"I did Alkaid. It sounds like it is coming from below us.

"Sounds like some mean hounds"

Smithers, Release the Hounds
I could not resist a reference to it

"I don't hear nothin'". But we gotta check it out anyway." Sparrow takes a quick gander at the quasit's remains, looking for magical auras.

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15

I'll take your word about the howling.

We have a problem though. This has gone from goblins running amuck to demons. Somebody is playing a dangerous game. They have to be stopped.

Alkaid speaks
"I would say not only dangerous, but a very dangerous game."

Brin follows Sparrow, ready to jump out front.

All the treasure here seems to be a tiny dagger fit for a quasit-sized being and an (un)holy symbol of Lamashtu. The remaining rooms here are empty and the only room you haven't checked yet turns out to be a ruined storeroom.

As far as you can tell, there is -currently- no other way deeper into this catacomb.

Sparrow examines both pools for magical auras, and the two side rooms. If no auras are present, she'll test the depth of the non-bubbling one by taking her rope, tying something heavy to it and dropping it in. She'll also do another examination of the altar just outside this large chamber.

Cast detect magic. Anyone else have any ideas? My next step if these don't turn anything up is to go mess with the round room some more.

Skull ringed pool
Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15
Spellcraft: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9
Knowledge (Arcana): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (11) + 8 = 19

Bubbling pool
Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 20
Spellcraft: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13
Knowledge (Arcana): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16

Altar
Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16
Spellcraft: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9
Knowledge (Arcana): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10

Wow, those were some crappy crappy rolls.

The skull-ringed pool is not magical.

The tiny dagger is.

The 'water' in the bubbling pool is magical.

The water in the basin on the altar is magical.

All right! Magic toothpick!! Anyone got a familiar? Also does the water on the altar look the same as the water in the bubbling pool? Also any chance of identifying a school of magic for it?

Spellcraft on magic dagger: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 21

"The water appears to be magical, not sure what that means yet. Might try dropping something in, see what it does. Could explode though. Man, I hope it doesn't explode."

The dagger is made of cold iron and is +1 returning.

The water on the altar looks like dirty water, the stuff in the pool looks like bubbling, translucent lava.

Auras:
Altar water: divine
Pool water: evocation/transformation

"Hmm, this pool shows signs of transmutation and evocation magics. Yea, probably not a good idea to drop anything in there. It actually might explode. The water on the altar is divination, probably for scrying or somesuch. Alkaid, you wanna take a look to, see if you see something I may have missed?"

She holds up the Quasit's dagger. "Enchanted to return when thrown, and it's made of cold iron. Be a nice weapon if a little bigger."

Alkaid replies to Sparrow's words about the alter water.
"It's probably Water of Lamashtu, what ever you do don't drink it."

I think the GM switched the divining pool and alter's results.

Actually, the altar water starts out as Water of Lamashtu, then degrades to unholy water after 2 hours if not used. The pool is something else entirely. Go ahead, jump in. ;)

"Do we want to spend more time here? I am hoping to find more evil creatures to fight."

We should probably find the source of that howling. I've got a feeling that is where our answers will be.