Skulls and Shackles Campaign (Inactive)

Game Master Tyranius

Natale continues to try and converse with the captured cyclops as Charles flies into a furious flurry. Charles stabs Zul repeatedly into the yellow, cyclops ending its life. Ferocity doesn't even stand a chance. :)

Aishe stops bleeding, for the moment as Jack rushes around the enormous building. The remaining cyclops takes advantage of the moment and glares at Charles, trying to focus in on his movement. Finding his mark the cyclops times his blow just right.

Purple Flash of Insight vs Charles AC 28: 20 + 11 - 2 = 29
Confirm Crit: 1d20 + 11 - 2 ⇒ (4) + 11 - 2 = 13
Miss chance; low fails: 1d100 ⇒ 66
Damage: 3d6 + 7 + 4 ⇒ (5, 1, 1) + 7 + 4 = 18

Greataxe vs Charles AC 28: 1d20 + 6 - 2 ⇒ (11) + 6 - 2 = 15

The mighty axe blade is able to clip Charles' ribs as the green cyclops continues to try and earn its freedom.

Greataxe: 1d20 + 11 - 2 ⇒ (13) + 11 - 2 = 22
Damage: 3d6 + 7 + 4 ⇒ (2, 1, 2) + 7 + 4 = 16

Greataxe: 1d20 + 6 - 2 ⇒ (13) + 6 - 2 = 17
Damage: 3d6 + 7 + 4 ⇒ (2, 5, 5) + 7 + 4 = 23

Active Party Buffs
Inspire Courage +2
Haste

Round 7
Natalie (56/65)
Charles (84/102)
Aishe (-1/66)
Jack
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Cyclops (Green- Emergency Force Sphere -68)(Purple-44)
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Grunting, Charles snarls, and tries to pith the cyclops' heart with Zul!

Zul: 1d20 + 13 + 2 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 13 + 2 + 1 + 2 = 20, for 1d8 + 21 + 2 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 21 + 2 + 3 = 32 damage.
Zul: 1d20 + 13 + 2 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 13 + 2 + 1 + 2 = 27, for 1d8 + 21 + 2 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 21 + 2 + 3 = 29 damage.
Zul: 1d20 + 8 + 2 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 8 + 2 + 1 + 2 = 22, for 1d8 + 21 + 2 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 21 + 2 + 3 = 27 damage.

If that manages to take it out, he will then 5' step into the room, looking for more foes.

If jack has line of sight:
Attack: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (5) + 16 = 212d8 + 2d6 + 30 ⇒ (1, 3) + (1, 3) + 30 = 38
Attack: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (13) + 16 = 291d8 + 2d6 + 15 ⇒ (4) + (1, 5) + 15 = 25
Attack: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (16) + 16 = 321d8 + 2d6 + 15 ⇒ (5) + (1, 6) + 15 = 27
Attack: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (3) + 11 = 141d8 + 2d6 + 15 ⇒ (7) + (1, 1) + 15 = 24
If not move and hastemove to aishe
CLW: 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12

Charles has little problem exterminating the remaining cyclops as jack mends Aishe's wounds. Eventually the giant grows extremely tired from overexerting itself, bashing the force field and passes out,

Eventually he would break out and you would be ready to kill him in a single round so moving on.

Charles steps further into the room. A charnel stench fills this long, rectangular chamber, where the discarded carcass of a huge, unidentifiable beast lies on the floor.

"By the Gods! What a stench!"

Wrinkling his nose in distaste, Charles swiftly moves on to explore the next room.

Aishe, with Jack's assistance, regains consciousness, then takes some time to heal herself.

Cure Moderate Wounds: 2d8 + 9 ⇒ (3, 6) + 9 = 18
Cure Light Wounds: 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12
Cure Light Wounds: 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11
Cure Light Wounds: 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13

As Aishe heals herself Charles investigates the room to the west. Twelve sets of shackles of varying sizes hang from the walls of this room, all lying unused on the chamber floor.

The cyclopes turned this room into a holding pen for the animals and captives they subdue, shackling prey here until they’re ready to butcher it for the cook fires. Currently, the room lies empty, as the giants have eaten the last of their food stores.

Satisfied, Charles heads through the door to the north.

Following with arrows ready Jack looks around looking for the face-eater.

The smell of stagnant water and discarded offal fills this low lying cave. A wide pool takes up the eastern part of the chamber, while scattered bones lie strewn across the rest of the floor. Among the bones, a bejeweled short sword glints between two passageways leading north.

Feeling that the area looks suspiciously like a trap (or ambush!), Charles carefully reviews his surroundings.

Perception 'Take 10' = 35.

Aishe, too, suspicious of the treasure, searches for any clue as to its purpose.

Cast detect magic, search the area
Perception: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (17) + 15 = 32

The bejewled blade lying in the passageway does indeed glow as magical. Though the group sees little else about the rocky chamber.

Fully expecting something horrible to happen to him, Charles cautiously moves forward, Zul at the ready.

Charles strides forward as a massive creature that looks similar in appearance to a stingray or manta ray springs forth from the floor itself and wraps tightly around Charles. The creatures grey tones and dusty exterior caused it to blend in well with the ground as it laid the magical blade as a trap to draw in more food.

Grab vs CMD 27: 1d20 + 31 ⇒ (15) + 31 = 46
Constrict damage: 3d8 + 21 ⇒ (5, 4, 8) + 21 = 38

The creature's body slams shut around Charles, fully enclosing the large man as it begins to constrict and smother him.

Smother (Ex) When a trapper grapples a target, it forms an
airtight seal around its prey. A grappled target cannot speak
or cast spells with verbal components, and must hold its
breath

Round 1
Aishe (65/66)
Charles (46/84)
Jack
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Monster
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Natalie (56/65)

I knew it!

With a roar, Charles starts raging, sprouting claws, and begins to rip into the giant beast.

Claw: 1d20 + 12 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 12 + 2 = 30, for 1d6 + 14 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 14 + 2 = 18 (magical, piercing, bludgeoning, slashing) damage.
Claw: 1d20 + 12 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 12 + 2 = 25, for 1d6 + 14 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 14 + 2 = 18 (magical, piercing, bludgeoning, slashing) damage.

Knowledge (Arcana?): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13

Aishe steps forward, extends her boarding pike, begins singing, and proceeds to attempt to pierce the thing at range.

Swift action: Extend boarding pike
Move action: Begin bard song (Inspire Courage (+2 competence bonus to hit/damage, +2 morale bonus to charm and fear effects, 18 rounds remaining))
Standard action: Attack thing
Attack (+1 Shock Boarding Pike of Repelling, Inspire Courage, Power Attack): 1d20 + 9 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (12) + 9 + 2 - 2 = 21
Damage (+1 Shock Boarding Pike of Repelling, Inspire Courage, Power Attack): 1d8 + 4 + 1d6 + 2 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 4 + (1) + 2 + 6 = 14

Attack: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (4) + 13 = 172d8 + 22 ⇒ (6, 8) + 22 = 36
Attack: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (16) + 13 = 291d8 + 11 ⇒ (5) + 11 = 16
Attack: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 91d8 + 11 ⇒ (7) + 11 = 18
Jack takes a deep breath to focus and shoots again.

Don't forget the grappled penalty to attacks Charles.

@Aishe- It is Dungeoneering in this case.

Aishe begins to inspire the group as she extends her boarding pike into the darklands creature. The creature's hide is too thick for the boarding pike to be able to puncture it.

Charles tries to tear his way free from the inside. Zul stabs into the beast, puncturing a small hole in it's membrane.

Jack is able to land only a single arrow into the creature as it continues to squeeze the life from Charles.

Maintain Grapple vs CMD 27: 1d20 + 31 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 31 + 4 = 51
Constrict Damage: 3d8 + 21 ⇒ (5, 2, 3) + 21 = 31

The beast continues to smother Charles as it squeezes the breath from the bloodrager.

Smother vs CMD 27: 1d20 + 31 ⇒ (9) + 31 = 40
Breath Rounds reduced: 1d6 ⇒ 5

Round 2
Aishe (65/66)
Charles (15/84; 23 rounds breath remaining)
Jack
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Monster (-52)
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Natalie (56/65)

@GM Tyranius: True, but it *also* has the grappled condition, meaning that it has a -4 to Dex, which cancels out my -2 penalty to hit; so effectively, I am targeting its standard AC.

Also, since I am raging, (and have raging vitality), my Con counts as six higher, meaning I have an additional 12 rounds of holding my breath...

Charles continues to struggle mightily!

Claw: 1d20 + 12 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 12 + 2 + 2 = 28, for 1d6 + 14 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 14 + 2 + 2 = 24 damage.

Claw: 1d20 + 12 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 12 + 2 + 2 = 17, for 1d6 + 14 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 14 + 2 + 2 = 19 damage.

Rounds of breath remaining: 33.
Current hp (including rage): 42.

Yup! :). I was just counting breath rounds as it can get rid of 1d6 as a free action. Not that it matters much with it's size.

That is true :). I was just counting breath rounds as it can get rid of 1d6 as a free action. Not that it matters much with it's size.

Unable to identify the creature, and therefore uncertain what types of spells would be most effective against it, Natalie reverts to an old standby of hers, firing off a swarm of magic missiles.

Magic Missile: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2
Magic Missile: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3
Magic Missile: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2
Magic Missile: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3
Magic Missile: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Aishe continues her song as she extends her boarding pike once more and trusts the tip of her pike twice into the beast's hide.

Swift action: Extend boarding pike
Free action: Maintain bard song (Inspire Courage (+2 competence bonus to hit/damage, +2 morale bonus to charm and fear effects, 17 rounds remaining))
Full-round action: Attack thing
Attack (+1 Shock Boarding Pike of Repelling, Inspire Courage, Power Attack): 1d20 + 9 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (20) + 9 + 2 - 2 = 29
Damage (+1 Shock Boarding Pike of Repelling, Inspire Courage, Power Attack): 1d8 + 4 + 1d6 + 2 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 4 + (5) + 2 + 6 = 18

Critical Confirm (+1 Shock Boarding Pike of Repelling, Inspire Courage, Power Attack): 1d20 + 9 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (15) + 9 + 2 - 2 = 24
Critical Damage (+1 Shock Boarding Pike of Repelling, Inspire Courage, Power Attack): 2d8 + 8 + 4 + 12 ⇒ (1, 8) + 8 + 4 + 12 = 33

Attack (+1 Shock Boarding Pike of Repelling (Iterative), Inspire Courage, Power Attack): 1d20 + 4 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (20) + 4 + 2 - 2 = 24
Damage (+1 Shock Boarding Pike of Repelling, Inspire Courage, Power Attack): 1d8 + 4 + 1d6 + 2 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 4 + (2) + 2 + 6 = 19

Critical Confirm (+1 Shock Boarding Pike of Repelling (Iterative), Inspire Courage, Power Attack): 1d20 + 4 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (16) + 4 + 2 - 2 = 20
Critical Damage (+1 Shock Boarding Pike of Repelling, Inspire Courage, Power Attack): 2d8 + 8 + 4 + 12 ⇒ (7, 1) + 8 + 4 + 12 = 32

Natalie pelts the creature with a series of deadly accurate missiles while Charles and Aishe attempt to free the large man.

Aishe gets a single good blow into the creature, though she is unable to confirm her critical as her boarding pike rips through it's massive eye.

Charles drags his claws around from inside, rending small gaps through the slimy membrane.

Round 2
Aishe (65/66)
Charles (15/84; Rage hp 42; 32 rounds breath remaining)
Jack
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Monster (-107)
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Natalie (56/65)

Jack lets loos again.
Attack: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (19) + 13 = 322d8 + 22 ⇒ (3, 5) + 22 = 30
Attack: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (5) + 13 = 181d8 + 11 ⇒ (6) + 11 = 17
Attack: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (9) + 8 = 171d8 + 11 ⇒ (1) + 11 = 12

One of Jack's arrows is able to penetrate the creature's thick and hardened skin but ultimately it doesn't fall.

Though it doesn't fall Jack's arrow seems to do the trick as the creature releases Charles from its grasp. Charles rolls to the ground catching his breath as the gargantuan aberration folds in on itself and withdraws through a small thin crack in the wall, disappearing for good.

The jeweled short sword is actually a Large +2 dagger

Breathing heavily, Charles snarls, and reaches over to claw at the crack in the wall, before regaining his composure (and dropping out of rage)

"That... was painful!"

He then conducts a careful search of the room.

Perception: 1d20 + 25 ⇒ (18) + 25 = 43.

Searching everything in the room Charles finds little more than the dagger.

Well, I will wait for some healing, before moving on...

Aishe takes several moments and does her best to close Charles' wounds.

Cure Moderate Wounds: 2d8 + 9 ⇒ (2, 8) + 9 = 19
Cure Moderate Wounds: 2d8 + 9 ⇒ (7, 7) + 9 = 23
Cure Moderate Wounds: 2d8 + 9 ⇒ (1, 8) + 9 = 18 --> 60 hp healed

We probably should have invested in a wand...before the island.

"Thanks Aishe!"

Charles then moves to explore the next area.

Two doors enter this vaulted chamber, one to the north and another to the southwest. Frescoes of cyclopes are etched into the polished walls to the southeast where a natural stone tunnel leads deeper into the mountain.

It lies empty now, its artistic walls giving a brief glimpse into the height of Ghol-Gan culture.

With a shrug, Charles moves on to the door to the north.

An open-air rotunda capped by a small dome overlooks the valley and ruined streets here, connecting to a short rectangular hall where exits lead north, south, and east. A collection of clay tablets, each marked with strange runes, lie neatly stacked in the northeast corner of the hall. The clay tablets are all written in Cyclops.

A successful DC 20 Linguistics check or comprehend languages spell can decipher these writings, as can any character who speaks Cyclops, though it takes several hours to fully review the tablets.

Charles briefly considers the tablets with something approaching vague interest, until he realises that he cannot understand any of them.

Upon being assured that they are non-magical, he shrugs.

"Perhaps something to go through more thoroughly, when we have a bit more time on our hands...?"

He then moves on to the next door to the north.

Linguistics (Take 10, World Traveler): 1d20 + 7 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 7 + 4 = 31

Aishe looks at the tablets as they pass, noting anything of interest.

"Well that is something for later, let´s continue to explore!"

Charles opens the door to nothing more than an empty room that leads back to the courtyard. Aishe recognizes the scripture and believes she may be able to decipher some of it but it would take many hours to do so.

With a shrug, Charles moves to check the corridor to the north.

Charles finds the area completely chocked off with rubble. Using the stairs found briefly earlier he goes outside for but a moment to enter the chamber.

A wide flight of stone stairs leads to a terrace, which offers a commanding view of the ruined streets and buildings below. Several statues gaze outward from its wall. To the northeast and southeast, a giant cavern opens into the mountainside where two tunnels lie choked with rubble.

The stairs climb 25 feet from the floor of the valley to the terrace. The two subterranean tunnels are completely blocked by rubble.

"Alright then!"

Charles moves on to investigate one of the external buildings.

Going to stop you just before you leave the chamber.

Not even thinking twice of the statues surrounding the room Charles is caught off guard and surprised as he feels a sudden and immense pain pierce his back.

Mwk Comp Longbow vs Charles AC FF 27: 1d20 + 13 - 3 ⇒ (14) + 13 - 3 = 24
Mwk Comp Longbow vs Charles AC FF 27: 1d20 + 13 - 3 ⇒ (14) + 13 - 3 = 24
Mwk Comp Longbow vs Charles AC FF 27: 1d20 + 13 - 3 ⇒ (18) + 13 - 3 = 28
Damage: 1d8 + 2 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 2 + 6 = 12
Sneak Attack Damage: 2d6 ⇒ (1, 4) = 5

Mwk Comp Longbow vs Aishe AC FF 17: 1d20 + 13 - 3 ⇒ (15) + 13 - 3 = 25
Damage: 1d8 + 2 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 2 + 6 = 16
Sneak Attack Damage: 2d6 ⇒ (4, 4) = 8

Mwk Comp Longbow vs Jack AC FF 15: 1d20 + 13 - 3 ⇒ (10) + 13 - 3 = 20
Damage: 1d8 + 2 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 2 + 6 = 16
Sneak Attack Damage: 2d6 ⇒ (4, 1) = 5

Mwk Comp Longbow vs Natalie AC FF 17: 1d20 + 13 - 3 ⇒ (6) + 13 - 3 = 16

Jack and Aishe quickly feel the same pain soon after as the stones statues spring to life, bows in hand.

Round 1
Aishe (41/66)
Natalie (56/65)
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Gargoyle Scouts
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Round 1
Charles (58/84)
Jack (45/66)

Moving a step aside Jack shoots himself!
Attack: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (17) + 13 = 302d8 + 22 ⇒ (1, 6) + 22 = 29
Attack: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (19) + 13 = 321d8 + 11 ⇒ (5) + 11 = 16
Attack: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (16) + 8 = 241d8 + 11 ⇒ (6) + 11 = 17

Aishe casts a spell, producing a number of Aishe-duplicates, then begins singing an inspiring tune.

Standard action: Cast mirror image (1d4 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5 images)
Move action: Begin bard song (Inspire Courage (+2 competence bonus to hit/damage, +2 morale bonus to charm and fear effects, 16 rounds remaining))
Not an action: 5' step, as indicated on map
Swift action: Extend boarding pike 15'

Cursing slightly, Natalie immediately casts Slow (DC 20) on the cluster of enemies, attempting to cripple their ability to react aggressively.

Aishe extends her boarding pike as she inspires the group. Her form shimmers as it splits off into many copies of itself.

Natalie cripples the southern group of gargoyles as she clips their wings, effectively slowing them in the process.

Will save Purple: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22
Will save Orange: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17
Will save Blue: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26

All seem to resist except for the orange tinted gargoyle.

All of the gargoyles rise 35 feet into the air. Their stone wings easily hold them aloft, though a bit clumsily. They continue to fire arrows at the party.

Red Mwk Comp Longbow vs Charles AC FF 27: 1d20 + 13 - 3 ⇒ (11) + 13 - 3 = 21

Yellow Mwk Comp Longbow vs Aishe AC 19: 1d20 + 13 - 3 ⇒ (10) + 13 - 3 = 20
Damage: 1d8 + 2 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 2 + 6 = 12
Real Image=1: 1d6 ⇒ 5

Green Mwk Comp Longbow vs Aishe AC 19: 1d20 + 13 - 3 ⇒ (8) + 13 - 3 = 18

Purple Mwk Comp Longbow vs Natalie AC 19: 1d20 + 13 - 3 ⇒ (6) + 13 - 3 = 16

Blue Mwk Comp Longbow vs Jack AC FF 15: 1d20 + 13 - 3 ⇒ (14) + 13 - 3 = 24
Damage: 1d8 + 2 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 2 + 6 = 15
Sneak Attack: 2d6 ⇒ (2, 6) = 8

Two of the arrows tears through Aishe's mirror images as Jack feels another arrow enter his back.

Returning fire Jack sends three arrows back at the blue gargoyles. All three arrows rip into the loose stone body.

Active Party Buffs
Inspire Courage +2

Round 2
Aishe (41/66; 3 MI)
Natalie (56/65)
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Gargoyle Scouts (Orange slow 8 rnds remaining)(Blue -62)
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Round 1
Charles (58/84)
Jack (22/66)

GM - is there anywhere nearby that we could potentially flee to, to regroup, that might have lower ceilings, etc.?

The ceilings are all quite large here due o the ancient cyclopean era where the Great Cyclops' were 30 feet tall.

Charles snarls, casts Cheetah's Sprint, leaps into the air...

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 76 ⇒ (4) + 76 = 80.

...and attempts to skewer the injured gargoyle with Zul!

Zul: 1d20 + 13 + 2 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 13 + 2 + 2 + 2 = 37, for 1d8 + 21 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 21 + 3 + 2 = 33 damage.

Note: This time around, I am taking my benefit from Bloodrage as Protection From Arrows.