Test of the Starstone

Game Master Kyle Smith 700

As am I. I believe it is a problem with dropbox, but I couldn't be sure.

Just making sure it wasn't something weird on my end.

Day 1 - 10:40 AM

Map

All three vials look similar - green-tinted glass with a clear liquid inside.

Robert - you can't identify a magic item using Spellcraft without casting detect magic. One other option available to you, however, is using Perception to identify them by taking a small sip. Note that you need two different Perception checks.

Try the map link again - it should be working now.

Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (11) + 3 = 141d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23

Nareth shakes his head. "Mislabeled, but not consistently."

Perception: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 = 20
"Let me see the first one." Alex takes a small sip of the potion and easily feel the tingling sensation that positive energy usually causes. "This is also restorative. I'll hold it, with you don't mind."

The paladin scans the end table, the dresser, and the bed, for documents and valuables, but specially under and inside the mattress, since he believes a hobgoblin would hide very well his goodies with goblins around. If they ever entered this room, but still.
Taking 20 again for 22

After they swiped out the room and taken anything they want, Alec gets ready to open the next door.

Take the other healing potion, clergyman? Lorenzo suggested to Nareth, taking position as lookout while Alec searches.

Nareth nods, pocketing the healing potion as well as the inflicting one.

Day 1 - 11:10 AM

Map

Alec thoroughly searches the area, but finds nothing of interest.

The next room is barren, but the floor is one inch lower than the room you are in. There's another door in the west wall.

Map still is not working for me.

Nareth looks at the floor for a few minutes, finding the dark brown and red stain. He examines the rest of the floor. "I wonder..."

Take 20 for 23 with perception. Specifically examining the floor. If there's nothing else of interest, then let's head to the west.

Perception: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

Map is working fine here. Maybe your anti-virus is preventing it from opening?
No one calls Alec to stop, and as he opens the door he moves in to search for possible enemies. His foot suddenly drops to a lowest level, making the stoic dwarf stops before moving on, careful that something might be wrong here, since there was no level difference in any of the previous rooms. He takes his foot and puts it back under the doorway, where the floor is higher. "Weird..."

Map also fine for me.

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16

Ah... blood in the mortar. Perhaps a trap...

If it is indeed a trap Lorenzo will use his Luck to try to disarm it (no tools penalty included!).

Disable Device: 1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 5 + 2 = 25

Day 1 - 11:40 AM

Map

Combat Round 1
Rat - hp 5 - AC 14 T 14 FF 11 CMD 12 (16 vs. trip) Fort +3 Ref +5 Will +1
Spider - hp 12 - AC 13 T 13 FF 11 CMD 12 (24 vs. trip) Fort +4 Ref +2 Will +0
Turtle - hp 6 - AC 12 T 12 FF 12 CMD 4 (8 vs. trip) Fort +3 Ref +1 Will +1
Dog-face - hp 9 - AC 13 T 13 FF 12 CMD 5 Fort +0 Ref +3 Will +4

Monster initiative: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10

Monster reroll initiative: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 2 = 22
Party reroll initiative: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 2 = 13

Monsters act first.

The room seems wholly uninteresting except for the oddities of the floor. Close inspection reveals the stained mortar seems somewhat porous, but no trap is found.

The door in the west wall opens to reveal a room littered with bits of fur and trash, along with several creatures, ranging from a large, mean looking rat to an entirely-too-large spider. There's also a small turtle and tiny, bipedal dog-faced creature holding a blade and miniscule bow. Upon opening the door, the dog-faced creature shrieks and waves his blade around.

Turtle bite on Alec: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 1 = 14 (miss) for 1d3 - 3 ⇒ (3) - 3 = 0 damage.
Rat (charging) bite on Alec: 1d20 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 1 + 2 = 14 (miss) for 1d4 ⇒ 4 damage.

The turtle ambles forward (into Alec's square) and bites at the dwarf, but its beak clangs off his armor. The rat runs and leaps at Alec, but its bite is likewise foiled.

The spider climbs up the south wall and perches at the ceiling while the dog-faced creature moves forward and points its finger at Alex's waraxe, creating a loud ringing noise.

Alec: need a DC 10 Will save or your weapon is destroyed. You will need to roll twice and take the worse result.

Identifying the dog-faced creature: (roll once - you can open any spoiler that your result matches or exceeds)

Important: All d20 rolls within 20 feet of the dog-faced creature must be rolled twice and the worse result taken.

In game terms, the turtle and the dog-faced creature are tiny. The other creatures are small.

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8

Nareth runs up, grabbing Alec on the shoulder. "They shall fight you in the darkness." Suddenly shadows spring up around Alec, making it hard to pinpoint exactly where he is.

Enshrouding Darkness (minor): As a standard action you can touch an ally to bestow a darkness blessing. For 1 minute, the ally becomes enshrouded in shadows while in combat, granting it concealment. Creatures normally able to see in supernatural darkness ignore this concealment.

Will Save 1: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 18 +2 if Spell or spell-like ability, although I believe this is supernatural...
Will Save 2: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7 Won't make a difference...

The loud ringing makes Alec's Waraxe vibrates so violently it shatters into multiple pieces, only with the handle remaining in his hand! Without a second thought, he tosses the now useless piece away and draws a DAGGER from his belt and attacks the rat in the head, putting it down with one hit.
1d20 + 5 - 1 ⇒ (11) + 5 - 1 = 15! (Hit!)
1d20 + 5 - 1 ⇒ (8) + 5 - 1 = 12! (Hit!)
for: 1d4 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 4 + 2 = 10 damage
Then the serene paladin 5-foot-steps to F7, to let people have a better view of the dog. "There's a spider on the wall" - says him.
_____________________________
Funny thing is, once I used shatter on the barbarian of the group I run, and spoiled the encounter for him, since he only had one weapon...
Thanks Nareth, now I'm a warrior of darkness...

You were getting bogged down with attacks, so I figured I would make it a little harder to attack you. Being proactive on keeping us alive, taking no damage is better than healing it. Also, not to rain on your parade, but I believe you need to make your attack roll twice and take the worst result. I figured I would have to for my spellcraft, but the first was already a fail.

Alec: For further rolls, the shortswords you collected from the goblins are small, so you take a -2 to attack with them (doesn't matter, as you'd hit anyway due to the charge). They also do 1d4 damage, not 1d6. The rat will die anyway from your attack, so this round it doesn't matter.

Edit: Actually, Nareth is right - you'll need to make two attack rolls. Please do so with the correct modifiers, or feel free to change your action into drawing a weapon that isn't small sized.

After Nareth places his protective magic on Alec he goes back to back with him. "Alec, take my greatsword!"

Believe i'm more than twenty feet away in current position.

Knowledge (Nature, Bardic Knowledge): 1d20 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 + 1 = 7

Lorenzo took advantage of his quick reflexes in order to being the light mace crashing down atop the skull of the turtle harassing Alec.

Swift action activate Luck.

Light Mace Attack (Finesse, Luck, Masterwork): 1d20 + 5 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 5 + 2 + 1 = 23
Damage (Luck): 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8

Lorenzo will use his move action to pass his rapier over to Alec, assuming the Dwarf would take it....

Saves him some actions rather than reaching for the greatsword. GM please re-direct my attack if necessary as I can see Alec's action is not fully resolved yet.

EDITED my previous post. Sorry again. I thought about rolling twice, but my connection started to give me problems to preview and post, so I got carried away and forgot to add that. I also forgot the Shortswords are small, so my own dagger would suit me better for this round.

And don't worry Nareth, I've got an Earth breaker (you all know that) at my back, but I have my shield strapped right now. Anyway I'll fix that next round.

"And there I go again, in the normal combat... I'll be more careful, since they are pretty easy to hit we should not open opportunities." Fighting defensively next round.

Note that you have been offered a Rapier by Lorenzo if you want a one-handed weapon right now. Turning in for the night here, night all.

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10
Knowledge(Nature): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (19) + 8 = 27

Robert scrutinized the strange creature's magic, but couldn't quite figure what it had cast. The end result was plain enough as Alec's weapon burst into pieces. It was then that Robert realized what it was they were facing. [b]"That thing is pugwampi, a fey creature of terrible bad luck. If you have anything made of cold iron, I strongly suggest you use it. I won't be of much help to you against it, I'm afraid. They've quite the resistance to magic abilities.

Acid Splash: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9 for Damage: 1d3 ⇒ 2

As if to prove his point, Robert's attempt at harming the creature with his usual ball of green acid goes wide and fizzles against the far wall. Robert shrugs, with a sheepish look of embarrassment on his face.

EDIT: Almost forgot. . . .

Day 1 - 11:40 AM

Map

Combat Round 2
Spider - hp 12 - AC 13 T 13 FF 11 CMD 12 (24 vs. trip) Fort +4 Ref +2 Will +0
Pugwampi - hp 9 - AC 13 T 13 FF 12 CMD 5 Fort +0 Ref +3 Will +4

The pugwampi slinks low to the ground and moves north of the door, out of sight. You hear clicking coming from the next room - probably the spider's many legs tapping against the stone, but neither of the creatures is visible at this moment.

Hey, map is working!

Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (12) + 3 = 15

Nareth raises his chain and nods to Alec, signaling him to breach the next room.

Edit: Oh right, darkness blessing. I won't take 20 on perception in that case.

Nareth stores his shield and dagger, nods to Nareth and moves in swiftly while drawing his Earth Breaker, before his darkness blessing fades, immediately turning north to try to attack doggy (walking up to D4). If he finds the creature he attacks:
PA Earth Breaker: 1d20 + 5 - 1 ⇒ (13) + 5 - 1 = 17! Hit! for: 2d6 + 6 + 3 ⇒ (3, 2) + 6 + 3 = 14 damage
PA Earth Breaker: 1d20 + 5 - 1 ⇒ (5) + 5 - 1 = 9! Miss.

You'll need to re-roll that attack mind...

Lorenzo followed Alec into the room, also seeking a foe to strike...

Acrobatics to avoid AOO (If needed) #1: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8
Acrobatics to avoid AOO (If needed) #2: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21

Attack Roll #1 (Miss): 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 5 + 1 = 9
Attack Roll #2: 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 5 + 1 = 18

Nareth runs in behind Alec, swinging at the first enemy he sees.

Attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19
Take that bad luck!: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20
Damage: 2d4 + 4 ⇒ (1, 4) + 4 = 9

Robert tentatively crept up into the doorway after everyone else and looked around for the spider, thinking the others could take care of the pugwampi for him since his magic would probably be wasted.

Assuming Robert can see the spider, he will cast Acid Splash at the spider

Wow. Really, the dice are really not working for me right now. Lol.

Day 1 - 11:40 AM

Map

Combat Round 3
Spider - hp 12 - AC 13 T 13 FF 11 CMD 12 (24 vs. trip) Fort +4 Ref +2 Will +0
Pugwampi - hp 9 - AC 13 T 13 FF 12 CMD 5 Fort +0 Ref +3 Will +4

FYI, Alec, storing your dagger would be sheathing it, which is a move action, and removing your shield while dropping it is a move action. I'm guessing you want to drop them both and move in while drawing your earth breaker.

Spider charging bite: 1d20 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 2 + 2 = 15 (hit) for 1d4 ⇒ 4 damage and DC 14 Fort save against poison or 1d2 ⇒ 2 Str damage.

As Alec rushes into the room, the spider drops from the ceiling, its fangs sinking into the dwarf's neck.

Lorenzo runs in to aid Alec and deftly dodges out of the doorway to allow others in. His attack misses badly, however.

Nareth fares better, however, as his spiked chain crashes into the spider's abdomen. The spider, tougher than it looks, manages to remain standing, but can't take another hit like that.

Pugwampi dagger attack on Alec: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (12) + 3 = 15 (miss) for 1 nonlethal damage.

The pugwampi steps under Alec and attempts to stab the dwarf, but the tiny blade scrapes harmlessly off Alec's scale mail.

Party up next.

Almost forgot Lorenzo - while you have your Archaeologist's Luck up, you are immune to the pugwampi's unluck aura.

Attack/Bad Luck: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 81d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

Nope. Nopenopenope.

Sweeeet... Last round of Lorenzo's luck bonus though.

Lorenzo focused his newly acquired mace on the spider; seeking to squash it with a well-placed blow. Taking advantage of the wounds Nareth inflicted upon it, the adventurer swiftly dispatched the vermin.

Light Mace Attack: 1d20 + 5 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 5 + 1 + 2 = 21
Damage: 1d6 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 1 + 2 = 6

Robert stepped into the room, moving down past the spider's carcass. The pugwampi was all that remained. Strange how something so small could be so troublesome. He knew it was a long shot at best, but he figured he ought to contribute to the fight somehow. Taking aim with his glob of acid once more, he offered a silent Please. Then, he let it fly.

Move action down to G4, cast Acid Splash . . . again.
Ranged Touch: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9
Ranged Touch(bad luck): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3
Damage: 1d3 ⇒ 1

Acrobatics(if needed to avoid AoO): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9
Acrobatics(if needed to avoid AoO)(bad luck): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 2 = 13
Damage: 1d3 ⇒ 3

I was actually losing a round to sheathe dagger and remove shield, but I'll be more specific next time.

Fort Save 1: 1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 5 + 2 = 20
Fort Save 2: 1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 5 + 2 = 15
The poison tingles, but Alec's body is trained against poison, the result of long years drinking move than you should to mixture alcohol with your blood cells, killing whatever is bad for the organism. In this case, the poison. He steps aside to have a better view of the tiny creature (5-foot-step to D3) and brings his huge hammer down on it, but his the floor with a loud crack!
"You better surrender doggy, cause my unlucky streak is about to end!"

PA Weapon: 1d20 + 5 - 1 ⇒ (4) + 5 - 1 = 8! (Miss)
PA Weapon: 1d20 + 5 - 1 ⇒ (1) + 5 - 1 = 5! (Miss)
for: 2d6 + 6 + 3 ⇒ (1, 5) + 6 + 3 = 15 damage

Day 1 - 11:40 AM

Map

Combat Round 4
Pugwampi - hp 9 - AC 13 T 13 FF 12 CMD 5 Fort +0 Ref +3 Will +4

Pugwampi dagger attack on Alec: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 13 (miss) for 1 nonlethal.

The pugwampi follows Alec and again tries to stab him with the tiny blade, to no avail.

His fortune seeming a little fleeting (although still allowing the agile man two solid strikes), the dashing Lorenzo's near-sure swing on the pugwampi was robbed from him by nothing other than the whimsy of ill-fortune...

Light Mace Attack #1 (Miss): 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 5 + 1 = 25
Light Mace Attack #2 (Miss): 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 5 + 1 = 7

Nareth smash!: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21
Nareth still smash!: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 18

Damage: 2d4 + 4 ⇒ (4, 3) + 4 = 11

Alec takes a step away from the creature (5-foot-step to D2) and bring his Earth Breaker down on it as he said he would!
The Righteous Smash Harder!: 1d20 + 5 - 1 ⇒ (20) + 5 - 1 = 24! Hit!
The Righteous still Smash Harder!: 1d20 + 5 - 1 ⇒ (20) + 5 - 1 = 24! Hit!
for: 2d6 + 6 + 3 ⇒ (1, 1) + 6 + 3 = 11 damage

Confirmation:
The Righteous Smash 3x Harder!: 1d20 + 5 - 1 ⇒ (3) + 5 - 1 = 7! Miss!
The Righteous Smash 3x Harder!: 1d20 + 5 - 1 ⇒ (9) + 5 - 1 = 13! Hit! for: 4d6 + 12 + 6 ⇒ (6, 5, 6, 1) + 12 + 6 = 36 extra damage

Wow, nice rolls Alec. Not often you get to roll for crit on a hammer when you have to reroll. I mean the ones on the 2d6's is bad, but I'll take that over missing entirely.

Between Alec's and Nareth's ferocious attacks, there is little left of the pugwampi except for a smear of blood on the ground.

"I did warn him my bad luck was about to end, didn't I?"
Alec presses the wound on his neck with a clean cloth, pushing some of the superficial, poisoned blood, out. He cleans the bite marks and turns to the previous room to recover his dagger and whatever is left of his Waraxe. "Crap. Now I need to use the Earthbreaker, which leaves me vulnerable for the long run we were planning. Is everyone ok? Did any of you get hurt?"

I just realized you did not roll the miss chance for the spider's bite, or did you? For the darkness blessing?

Nareth walks up to Alec, slapping his hand away from the wound. "Please, you'll just make it worse. Here, sit down for a moment." Nareth takes out a fresh needle and begins working on the wounds.

Heal: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23

"It's just a bite, nothing to be scared of, wait, what are you doing?" He stops, letting the priest stitch the wound. "I presume you know what you're doing?"

"Anyway, I've lost too much blood already, so do you mind if I drink one of our potions, folks?
CLW if no one objects: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6
I did find this room to be far weirder than the previous ones, and I bet it is gonna get more and more complicated as we move forward. Perhaps we should go back to the door we left behind, the one in the room with the hobgoblin, and see where does it takes us? I'm trying to find a pattern here, but all I see is chaos, but I got the feeling I've been through this before."

You're right, I did forget to roll the miss chance.

Concealment (21+ is hit): 1d100 ⇒ 26

Robert relaxed as the pugwampi dropped. Vile little creature, he was glad to see it dead.

Nodding his assent to Alec's question, "I dare say you've earned it, by all means, drink deep. I second the motion to return to the unopened door where we left our good friend, the hobgoblin. It has been nagging me in the back of my mind. But first, perhaps we should examine this area and see what that thing had that might be worth taking."

Taking 20 for a 24 on Perception to search the room

Using heal for treat deadly wounds should give you 1 HP back as well Alec.

Nareth finishes his stitching. "Want me to take the lead? There's a chance that this could hemorrhage."

Alec drinks the potion, then, and his wounds begin to heal properly. "I don't think that's necessary, for now. After all I would have greater problems reaching the enemy were I not the first, and also you would obscure my sight."

The Stonelord helps them search the bodies for anything useful. "You're quiet, Lorenzo. What's the matter?"

Nareth tilts his head in respect of the sound logic. "You speak wisely. I shall remain in the back."

The Stonelord helps them search the bodies for anything useful. "You're quiet, Lorenzo. What's the matter?"

Lorenzo seemed somewhat distracted.

Just trying to make sense of this place... Are the lives of these sentient beings merely pawns for us to practice on, tests to regain our power or die trying? It seems... so arbitrary. Like pawns in a game. I sympathise with the slain somewhat. At least the humanoid. Not the damn spider for sure. Maybe the turtle...

"I do understand. But if they were created for this purpose... Well, that would make it more cruel, I guess, I just don't know... Anyway, the Hobgoblin appeared to be there for a while, as much as we could understand, right?"

Next stop, Room south of the Hobgoblin!

Agreed, might as well be thorough.

Day 1 - 12:10 AM

Map

A thorough search of the room turns up nothing of value but the equipment the pugwampi carried: a dagger, shortbow, and 20 arrows, all tiny-sized.

After lining up in standard marching order, Alec opens the door you came into the room through. The previous room, however, has changed. The floor is covered with a pool of blood, rising up to cover the 1-inch drop you'd noticed previously.