Sons of Dammerhall: Dark Frontiers (Inactive)

Game Master GM SuperTumbler

"A trap seems to be a good idea, as soon as Iverna returns we can attract their attention. Noise is something we are good at making."

Snorri takes position to the side of the entrance, greataxe ready to defend. Silently, though, he's hoping and preying that those creatures aren't the remnants of those dwarves who dwelt here, turned barbaric by curses or isolation.

Snorri hears Iverna's tiny voice at his elbow. "Ok, I'm back. Let's get this trap thing going."

Dasur takes out a piece of chalk and walks up to the entrance of the ancient dwarven mine. "I will use two Grease spells located from here..." He connects the chalk with the smoothed stone, hunches over, and startes walking parallel to the entrance until meeting the other end of the archway, ... to here. This will slow their advancement out of the mine."

"Then." The wizard points into the darkness inside. "As they approach I will create a pit underneath them on the left side of the entrance behind one of the grease spots. I do this for three reasons. Firstly, it will create a 5 foot wide choke point on the right side of the entrance, as any that get too near the pit may fall in before contacting the grease. Secondly, any that climb out will be forced to move through the grease, and any that try to jump the pit will land in the grease. Thirdly, I will be placing a giant ball of fire inside of the pit to roast them all to death."

"Any questions, comments, or additions? Ialso have a Web spell if we need to hold them in place for a while longer." He inquires in his usual monotome, already pulling out a scroll and beginning to read from it.

Dasur will cast 2 grease spells, one from a CL 4 scroll he made a while back and the other he prepared earlier, adjacent to each other and covering the entire entrance of the mine in 2 10 x 10 squares. One grease will only last 5 minutes while the other will last 6, if that matters at all.

Then he will ready an action to cast Create Pit behind the (to us) northernmost 10 x 10 area directly behind the grease. It will last for 6 rounds and have a DC 17 reflex saving throw to avoid falling in when cast on top of the creatures or if they end their turn next to the pit (but they get a +2 to their sacing throw).

Sadly I'm on my phone and can't draw these things on the map :(

I added some more squares to the map outside of the entrance so you can position yourselves.

"That plan is solid, but it assumes that they will charge at us. What if instead they set up an ambush of their own?"

Smiling while listening. Hmm, a very good pact.

"Could he not do the same thing? Or does all of that take time to set up?"

Waiting a beat, "We only have magics for a fight or to make a fog. Or to change shape of some stone."

"Hm." Dasur muses momentarily. "I had not considered this, Snorri. I assumed creatures that had the strength and will to drag a triceratops corpse up a rocky slope we barely managed to navigate would not be ambush predators. I also surmised they would be too proud to consider they may be defeated and rush headline to defend their territory like enraged animals. This was coupled with Iverna's information that they apparently have a penchant for storing their festering kills within their living space, which does not signal great intelligence," His logic was laid bare for the Scion of Dammerhall to consider. Meanwhile, the oozing pools of grease nearby smell faintly of fried sauages as they spray warm oils from the little-known pocket dimension called "Igor's Elemental Plane of Deep Fried Meats", from which corndog elementals originate.

It mixes with the rotten smell coming from the mine to everyone's great gastrointestinal discomfort.

Dasur turns his gaze onto Fiertalon as she mentions magic, his eyes suddenly becoming keen. "What kind of magic?" He asks succinctly.

Turning to stare at Dasur and tilting her head, "Our kind. We can call a beast to be bait."

Summon natures ally is a thing that can help for making them rush towards us. But I think that is all I have

"Ah." He says with a sudden start of realization. "A sorcerer, then." The wizard briefly strokes his long, oily beard. "You must be descended from some sort of magical dinosaur, identity unknown. Given the odd nature of the jungle and its association with the chaotic nature of the First World, it is within the realm of possibility to speculate the union of an arcano-charged dinosaur and normal dwarf would produce magical offspring."

Glenda cocks her head to one side and briefly regards Dasur as if he had grown a third eye.

Snorri rubs his face between his hands. "Let's attempt the ambush. Dasur, please complete the spells you need and tell us when we need to attract attention."

"My spells are complete." Dasur intones, pointing his obsidian staff at the bubbling pools of grease nearby. The discerning nose would note their scent has started to shift from fried sausage to fried chicken. "Attract their attention and I will create a pit on the left side to trap as many as possible, as planned."

Confusion encompasses Firetalon's face and she glances back to the others for clarification but clearly that will have to wait.

With a silvery clang of mithral, Snorri smacks a gauntleted hand against his armor. "Oh, that climb was exhausting!" he loudly claims in Undercommon. "Let's have a rest outside the entrance, it looks safe enough so we won't need to keep watch!"

Dasur Initiative: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8
Glenda Initiative: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 1 = 18
Gren Initiative: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 2 = 13
Snorri Initiative: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8
Torvi Initiative: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3
Adversary Initiative: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 21

I rearranged you guys on the map so that the tough people form a wall across the 20 feet of opening. If that doesn't seem reasonable, just let me know.

As Snorri says, it is not difficult for the lot of you to make noise. Were you facing goblins or orcs, there would likely be a matching cacophony from within the mine, but there is nothing but an unsettling silence in response.

Before your eyes see anything, Iverna and Erebos, perhaps agreeing for the first time, say at the same time, in low voices, "Here they come..."

A moment later, the bestial humanoids race into view. Pale, eyes like tea saucers, taut muscles propelling them toward you. They run on all fours, splayed fingers gripping the stone of the floor to propel them toward you. Disturbingly, no noise accompanies their movement. For now, there are only eight of them...

Double move toward you from the edge of the vision of the farseeing Darklands dwellers. You guys can go in any order. I'm not sure if Dasur wants to cast his pit yet or wait until they reach it.

This is supposed to be creepy. Hope that is working.

"Stand fast and stick with the plan," Torvi suggests as she starts her battle song...

Raging song: +2 STR/CON, +1 Will Save, -1 AC, Cannot use CHA, DEX, or INT based skills except Acrobatics, Fly, Intimidate, and Ride), or any ability that requires patience or concentration.

Celestial Totem, Lesser (Su) Cure spells heal CL extra Hp, non spell magical healing does class level extra.

Gripping her weapon, she is prepared to strike (with an AOO), any beast that crosses her path!

Yeah, that's pretty spooky.

Round 1

"Indeed." Dasur echoes Torvi's sentiments as he stands firm behind their battle line, one hand raised and a Create Pit spell on his lips. Perhaps he should make a more deadly version of this pit, he contemplates, considering its usefulness.

He sees the creatures appear out of the edge of his darkvision, all fur and muscles and beastial vigor. He is glad not to be blind, for their silence is deadly...

Ready action: Cast Create Pit directly behind the north-most grease as soon as two or more creatures enter the area. It will last for 6 rounds, be 20 feet deep, and have a DC 17 reflex saving throw to avoid falling in when cast on top of the creatures. If a creature ends their end their turn adjacent to the pit they must make a DC 17 reflex saving throw to avoid falling in, but get a +2 to their saving throw.

Active spells:

North Grease: 4 minutes
South Grease: 5 minutes

Does Dasur know what these creatures are?

dungeoneering: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (17) + 13 = 30

If it is indeed dungeoneering, Torvi will take some of that action...

Knowledge (dungeoneering): 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (2) + 11 = 13

Scary or not, until she fails a will save, Torvi is standing fast!

In case, remember that those in a 10' radius from me get +4 to saves against fear.

Ever resolute, Snorri plants his feet and stands ready to let the invaders taste the steel forged by his forefathers. "Come, eyeless freaks! There are dwarves yet in Zaraketh who still draw breath!"

I'll use Barroom Brawler to get the effects of Furious Focus for 1 minute. The first Power Attack I do in a round doesn't get a penalty to attack.

Torvi isn't sure, but Dasur is aware that there are conclaves of humanoids who live beneath the surface and have become degenerate creatures, fallen away from there civilized roots to become almost bestial. While they generally aren't completely blind, they tend not to like light as bright as sunlight. s. There time beneath the surface grants them incredible senses of darkvision and scent. These might be decended from dwarves, but that descent would have been awfully fast

Reflex save: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (3) + 9 = 12
Reflex save: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (20) + 9 = 29

The creature race forward. As two reach Dasur's targeted area, the ground drops away. One of the creatures is caught in the sudden drop, but the other skitters backwards, avoiding the fall.

The rest, seeing the danger, alter their trajectory. Instead of driving toward you across the ground, they move sideways to the chiseled walls, skittering up the walls as easily as if they are walking on solid earth, their claws gripping the stone.

They launch themselves from the entrance, dropping among you.

As they are dropping into those positions I have marked on the map, pretty much all of you should get an attack of opportunity against one or another of them. Go ahead and take those before they attack.

With Combat Reflexes, Torvi will take AOOs on 3 of them!

Dorn-dergar To Hit: 1d20 + 8 - 1 ⇒ (8) + 8 - 1 = 15
Dorn-dergar Damage: 1d10 + 6 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 6 + 3 = 14 Bludgeon

Dorn-dergar To Hit: 1d20 + 8 - 1 ⇒ (9) + 8 - 1 = 16
Dorn-dergar Damage: 1d10 + 6 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 6 + 3 = 16 Bludgeon

Dorn-dergar To Hit: 1d20 + 8 - 1 ⇒ (9) + 8 - 1 = 16
Dorn-dergar Damage: 1d10 + 6 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 6 + 3 = 14 Bludgeon

She also cries out, "they will not like bright light, if anyone can do that!"

Greyclaw.. And I would have liked to have casted Acid Maw but this weekend was crazy. If I could have I will go a head and roll it and if not then that will be her first action.

AoO talon + flank: 1d20 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 7 + 2 = 25
dmg: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4 acid maw: 1d4 ⇒ 1
AoO talon + flank: 1d20 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 7 + 2 = 10
dmg: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5 acid maw: 1d4 ⇒ 3

Hissing as the little creatures drop down. Lashing out at the one between her and her nest-mate and then at the one nearby.

----

Stepping back when the grey creature drops down. Matching the raptors his and reaching out to slam her fist into the side of the grey things head

fist: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9
dmg: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

"Ah, they can climb quite well." Dasur intones, impassionately, as he watches the creatures clamber up the walls and launch themselves beyond the entrance of the ancient mithral mine with the speed of spiders. "A Web spell combined with a Stinking Cloud would have been far more effective, if I had known." He continues as one of the muscular degenerates lands in front of him.

The wizard swings his obisidan staff towards the foe, but he is still very tired from the climb- no amount of study or observation could change that at the moment.

staff AoO: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 1 = 10

damage: 1d6 - 1 ⇒ (2) - 1 = 1

"Of course they can climb, the horrible creatures. Come, then!"

The Axe of Dammerhall whirls in wide arcs against the dwellers in darkness.

AoO, Power Attack: 1d20 + 10 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (9) + 10 + 1 - 2 = 18
Damage: 1d12 + 13 ⇒ (1) + 13 = 14

Cleave, Power Attack, Furious Focus, flanking: 1d20 + 10 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 10 + 1 + 2 = 16
Damage: 1d12 + 13 ⇒ (11) + 13 = 24
Follow-up in the unlikely case that it hits: 1d20 + 10 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 10 + 1 + 2 = 21
Damage: 1d12 + 13 ⇒ (4) + 13 = 17

AoO against the one between me and Dasur, then Cleave against it and the one to the right. Taking Torvi's song for an AC of 20/10/19. If they are aberrations I have another +2 to AC, for 22/12/21.
And I forgot to use my shiny new ability last round, sigh.

Greyclaw.. And I would have liked to have casted Acid Maw but this weekend was crazy. If I could have I will go a head and roll it and if not then that will be her first action.

[dice=AoO talon + flank]1d20+7+2
[dice=dmg]1d6+1 [dice=acid maw]1d4
[dice=AoO talon + flank]1d20+7+2
[dice=dmg]1d6+1 [dice=acid maw]1d4

Hissing as the little creatures drop down. Lashing out at the one between her and her nest-mate and then at the one nearby.

----

Stepping back when the grey creature drops down. Matching the raptors his and reaching out to slam her fist into the side of the grey things head

[dice=fist]1d20+4
[dice=dmg]1d6+1

Casting Acid Maw in the prep is fine.

Erebos aoo: 1d20 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 8 + 2 = 13

Iverna aoo: 1d20 + 9 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 9 + 2 = 17

Erebos stabs the air beneath the creature as it falls.

Iverna fares better, catching the creature in the groin as Torvi smashes it sideways. The creature lands with a cracking noise on the stone.

Iverna aoo damage: 1d3 + 3 + 2d8 ⇒ (3) + 3 + (5, 1) = 12

Falling damage for the one in the pit: 2d6 ⇒ (1, 2) = 3

Monster slam vs Gren: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24
damage to Gren: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8

Monster slam vs Glenda: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10
Monster slam vs Snorri: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16

Monster slam vs Torvi: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21
damage to Torvi: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

Monster slam vs Torvi: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17

The creatures leap to the attack, landing in your midst and and swinging massive hands, mostly clashing into your armor, but landing a few blows. From the darkness, another line of four creatures advance, more slowly this time. Behind them is another. This one larger, his muscles standing out like steel cords. One hand holds a four foot long great axe, not carrying it like a warrior but dragging it behind him on the stone.

Round 2

Snorri takes a massive swing with his axe, cutting two of the creatures in half.

Then everyone else.

I hope I interpreted that correctly.

Torvi will take a 5’ step to her NW (can someone move me please?) She will then attack at the one due South of her...

Dorn-dergar To Hit: 1d20 + 8 - 1 ⇒ (19) + 8 - 1 = 26
Dorn-dergar Damage: 1d10 + 6 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 6 + 3 = 12 Bludgeon

If more of them move in, she’ll AOO them if she can. Oh, and she keeps singing.

These aren’t giants, orcs, or goblinoids right?

Round 2

When Snorri opens up the midsection of the creature in front of Dasur with a mighty sweep of his axe, the wizard is splashed across the face with a warm and sticky gout of dark blood.

Blinking rapidly, Dasur lifts his free hand and wipes the blood out of his eyes, flicking the excess away onto the stone below. "There are more coming." He states languidly. "I know hot to more effectively slow their approach, now." He continues before popping open the sealed tube on his belt and plucking out an unmarked scroll with unnerving precision. He places the tube back on his belt, which is now smeared with blood, and stares at the scroll.

There was a moment of hesitation- this was the only scroll of its kind he had, and it wasn't yet in his spellbook. Yet he glances up at the ornate structure ringing Zakareth's entrance, built long ago by their ancestors, and knows this is no time to be hoarding arcane secrets.

Holding the scroll at arm's length Dasur reads off its draconic text and points into the mine with his staff. As the magical paper distintigrates a tangled mess of sticky white webs fill the hallway. "It wlll not hold them long, but it should suffice." He explains as he tries to buy the warriors enough time to finish off the creatures in their midst.

Move action: Retrieve Scroll of Web

Standard Action: Cast Web on the hallway from a scroll in a 20' radius. The epicenter should be 4 squares east of the number 11 on the map, allowing it to catch all of the creatures in its radius and cover the pit. I can't do it on my phone, but I can try to draw it on my desktop later if someone doesn't beat me to it. Because it's from a generic scoll the DC to avoid becoming grappled by the webs is Reflex DC 13 or later escape artist/Combat manuever check DC 13 for each sqaure of movement. Not great, but the point is to fill the hallway with a 3 dimensional difficult terrain.

Active spells:

Create Pit: 5 rounds
North Grease: 4 minutes
South Grease: 5 minutes
Web: 20 minutes

They are monstrous humanoids.

Torvi crushes the skull of another of the beasts.

Torvi crushes the skull of another of the beasts.

That's how I roll!

Snorri steps in the spot left empty by Torvi and goes for a bone-splitting blow against one of the surviving creatures. The axe finds easy purchase in the soft flesh. "Is that how you treat your tools, filthy beasts? Show respect for the forge!" he bellows at the incoming goliath.

Attack, raging song, Power Attack, Furious Focus: 1d20 + 10 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 10 + 1 = 31
Critical hit?: 1d20 + 10 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 10 + 1 = 20

Damage: 1d12 + 13 ⇒ (10) + 13 = 23
Critical damage: 2d12 + 26 ⇒ (6, 9) + 26 = 41

I forgot to mention that Cleave gives me an AC penalty, but the attack from before would still have missed me.
Assuming that the beast is dead, I'm also going to sheathe my axe.

Gren and Glenda

Glenda, as per usual procedure, starts with a bless spell to aid the warriors in fighting off this horde.

Growling at the hit. Clicking her tongue and punching at the same time Greyclaw bites down.

punch + flank: 1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 4 + 2 = 9
dmg: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

bite + acid maw: 1d20 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 7 + 2 = 24
dmg: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4 acid dmg: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (11) + 13 = 24

Surprised by your overwhelming defense, the lone remaining creature's gaze flicks down the row of blood spattered dwarves. He crouches low before leaping away and then skittering into the darkness.

Stealth: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (20) + 12 = 32

The creatures trapped in the webs are still. Those you can see simply stare at you with their massive eyes, breathing heavily, waiting for release.

Round 3

Round 3

Dasur watches the larger beast with the axe disappear into the darkness. "It appears their leader has fled. I will finish off the remaining creatures in the web." He says casually before lifting his staff and concentrating.

There is a chill in the air, and Dasur's voice seems to echo off of the dwarven architecture as he speaks strange and gutteral syllables.

Full-round action: Use Sacred Geometry to access Elemental Spell Metamagic and cast Flaming Sphere as a [Cold] spell instead of a [Fire] spell so the webs don't burn away.

It's a 2nd level spell, +1 for Elemental metamagic, so its effective spell level is 3. That makes the prime constants 19, 23, and 29.

5 ranks of Knw: engineering: 5d6 ⇒ (2, 2, 1, 1, 2) = 8

Haha okay I'm bad at math but I'm pretty sure there's no way to get 19, 23, or 29 out of that. Thus, the spell fails and is consumed.

Something shimmers in the air in front of the webs, and a portal begins to slowly crack open. Immediately cold air rushes out of it onto the stone, collasing into a low fog and blasting the group with chilled air. The fog envelopes their boots and courses around the bodies of their fallen foes.

At this moment a concerned look passes Dasur's face; milliseconds before a large ivory talon the size of a fully grown dwarf is suddenly protuding from the portal, thrashing and jerking about as if it was jammed and trying to free itself from the other side.

Muffled, otherwordly noises emanate from the portal. Roars that sound like continential ice shelfs breaking in half and a billion tiny glass spheres all imploding at once are the most describable to their mortal ears. The rest are quite indescribable, and in large doses, ultimately maddening.

The talon is suddenly wrenched free of their plane and back to the other side, and as the cold winds howl from the portal once more Dasur flicks his wrist and the hole rapidly squeezes out of existence.

The air gradually begins to warm again, and the wizard stands silently, though wide-eyed, with his staff in his grasp, staring at where the portal had formed. Bits of frost cling to his boots. It was clear that whatever had happened, it was not his desired effect.

"Ah." He says after a moment of contemplation, head jerking back in revelation. "I see now, this entranceway was carved on a one percent grade instead of being leveled. No wonder the ley lines did not align properly with its edges."

"Shall I try again?" He asks, nonchalantly of his companions.

Active Spells:

Create Pit: 4 rounds
North Grease: 4 minutes
South Grease: 5 minutes
Web: 20 minutes

"Let's... keep it for later. These creatures will be rebuked soon."

Drawing the shortbow taken from an orc, Snorri aims at the large monster, focusing his desire to take back the mine, to find a home for his people and lead to a bright future. The arrow released is imbued with the might and wrath of the Forgemaster, and whistles as it flies towards its target.

Assuming that they count as evil, I'm going to Smite the largest one.
Attack, Smite Evil: 1d20 + 6 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 6 + 3 = 17
Damage: 1d6 + 3 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 3 + 5 = 14

Torvi keeps her song going and reaches out to heal Snorri...

CLW: 1d8 + 5 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 + 5 = 14

Clarifications: The one who ran away is the one who was next to Gren and Greyclaw. The biggest guy with the axe is outlined in Green. He didn't run away, but you can't see him. All of the creatures stuck in the web have total cover from 20 feet or more of web between you and them. Snorri might want to rethink.

My apologizes! I misunderstood and propagated a falsehood!

Glenda and Gren, and Snorri if he wants to revise his action.

Ah, whoops, I forgot about the total cover. Instead of smiting I'll ready an arrow against the first to come into sight, using the rolls above but without the +3 to attack and +5 to damage.

"Thanks, Torvi. Dasur, is there a way you can open a passage for some of them through the web, so that we won't have to wait until the spell ends? Thez do not seem to be too fierce opponents."

Close enough for an AoO? Also the acid damage that kicks in on round 3 acid: 1d4 ⇒ 2

"I can dismiss the spell outright if you wish, but that will free all of them. Otherwise, the webs are highly flammable and can be burned through section by section." Dasur replies in his usual monotone as they plot their next move into the mine.

Gren, I'm not sure what you mean? The one who ran away from you made his acrobatics check to avoid AoO if that is what you mean.

Behind the scenes, I'm going to spend my actions breaking out of the web and retreating beyond its reach. That is mostly out of your line of sight. Should we skip ahead? Do you want to get up to something else?

I think I missed that part which was why I asked. Gren could summon a small elemental.

"Want a fire beast?"