Test of the Starstone

Game Master Kyle Smith 700

Nareth grabs the heavy crossbow, making sure it's ready to fire should he need it and puts it on his back. He lets the others take their pick of the remaining weapons, but if nobody wants them he adds them to his back as well to sell later. "One door, lead on."

Lorenzo isn't inclined to any of the weaponry except the crossbow, but acquiesces to Nareth's desire for it, having taken the mace earlier.

Take it, your dex is crazy better than mine.

Thank you kindly :). Are there any bolts for it, GM?

There are no bolts in the room.

Lorenzo chuckled as he stowed the weapon.

Alec analyzes the remaining sword and battleaxe carefully. After a close inspection he pulls the sword out of its scabbard slowly, watching the blade, before Nareth stores them.
Perception take 20: 20 + 2 = 22
"Is any of this stuff magical?"

Day 1 - 2:10 PM

Map

The sword seems unusually well-kept - almost as if it had just been sharpened on a whetstone. The battleaxe seems normal.

Nareth casts detect magic and scans the weapons as well as the room.

Unless we get attacked by something or there is some reason for me not to, Nareth will always give the room a quick sweep with detect magic.

The scabbard detects as magical.

and/or

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11

"Well, it's something all right. The scabbard that."

Robert gives a pained look to his companions. "I promise, the first thing I do when we get back to that room is add Detect Magic to my book and prepare it."

Looking around the room, and seeing nothing else, he walks over to the southern door. "Well then. Onwards, I suppose?"

Day 1 - 2:10 PM

Map

The door leads to an empty room.

Nareth takes a good look around the room (take 20 for 23) then points the party towards door 2.

Aetherni sighs as he sees the empty room. "Ok, now its settled. This is a weird complex." He opens the southern door, just to guarantee it takes to the place he thinks it takes, then is ready to move towards door 2.

Day 1 - 2:40 PM

Map

Alec's words are proven true as the door leads back to another already-visited room.

"Meh. Let's go back to that door from the beginning, shall we?"
Door number 5!

Taking some liberties so we can speed this up.

Day 1 - 2:45 PM

Map

Heading back through previously explored rooms, you notice no changes as you go - the blood room has completely drained, and everything looks as you left it. The door in the room where you fought the hobgoblin leads to a square room with two doors leading south, and a pile of rotten rope in the northwest corner.

Left door rule!

Alec approaches the rope, wondering why is it here for. Deep inside his mind he is certain of becoming insensitive and maybe insane with this many mysteries unsolved. "Rotten rope."

Is that door to our right (heading back to the entrance) open?

Day 1 - 2:45 PM

Map

Combat Round 1
Monster - 20/20 hp - AC 21 T 12 FF 19 CMD 16 Fort +3 Ref +1 Will +3

The door heading back to the first room is in the same state you left it (which I believe was closed).

The left door leads to a hall with two doors in it. Continuing with the rule of left, the party opens the one at the end of the hall, revealing a square room containing an armored skeletal creature wielding a longsword and shield (Picture).

Party initiative: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 2 = 18
Monster initiative: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6

Party's up.

Knowledge Religion: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6

Nareth looks in confusion as the undead, pulling Lorenzo back. "I'm not sure what that is. Be careful."

Knowledge{Religion): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26

Robert peeked around the corner, spotting the skeletal creature from the doorway. "Hmm, a skeletal champion. If we were going to kill it, we'd be best off bashing it's bones to dust. However, I may have a better plan."

With that, Robert began to intone a deep throat chant that culminated in a release of dark energy directed at the skeleton. "OBEY ME!" he shouted.
Will Save(DC 14): 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (14) + 3 = 17
Using Command Undead ability. Although if my Deathspeaker trait counts for this, the DC will be a bit higher. Still not enough, but good to know for the future.

Robert sheepishly lowered his outstretched arm. "Uh, best give that another go, I think.

Lorenzo waited for Alec to engage before making his move, seeking a tactical advantage.

K.Religion: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15

Alec shakes his head while moving into the room. "This is the reason I carry an Earthbreaker around!" He was not fast enough and the creature was prepared to strike him already, so he prefers to defend himself and wait for an opening.

Move to B10 and use Total Defense. AC 20 for the round.

Day 1 - 2:45 PM

Map

Combat Round 2
Skeletal champion - 20/20 hp - AC 21 T 12 FF 19 CMD 16 Fort +3 Ref +1 Will +3

Guillotine blade trap: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (10) + 12 = 22 for 1d6 ⇒ 2 damage.

As Alec steps into the doorway, he feels the stone underneath him sink a fraction of an inch, and a razor-sharp guillotine blade drops from the ceiling. Though Alec's armor deflects it, the blade still manages to open a gash on the dwarf's arm.

Skeletal champion longsword attack: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21 for 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10 damage.

The skeletal champion steps up to the defending dwarf and attempts to finish what the trap started, and it manages a devastating attack, it's longsword slicing deep into Alec's stomach.

Ouch! If I'm at 0 hit points do I lose consciousness if I attack?

Yes. 0 hp is essentially "you're out of combat unless you get healed".

Robert watched in horror as the blade came out from the door frame and caught Alec on his way out. It seemed to happen in slow motion as Alec continued forward somehow, straight into the skeleton's blade. Blood flew freely from grievous wounds as Robert's eyes grew wide.

A burning rage he hadn't felt in a long while roared up from within him. His eyes narrowed as he stepped forward to face the skeleton. A dark aura surrounded him as he shouted, "I said, OBEY ME!!"

Command Undead power.
Will Save(DC 14: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

Lorenzo still hadn't acted in Round 1 Robert, so i'll take his action for that without taking into account what happened in yours.

Lorenzo surged to Alec's side and swung his mace in an overhead arc; but the skeleton casually parried the swift blow.

Light Mace Attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13
Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Oh. Whoops. I figured the GM'S Round 2 post meant we were in Round 2.

Well, Alec is unsure of how your ability works, and even if he knew the conditions and if they were met, he would still try to burst it to pieces. He would probably die if he just defended, so:

Round 2
The dwarf is heavily injured and bleeding profusely. He knows he is about to lose conciousness, so he gives it everything he's got, empowering his strike with the Stonelords' magic! He hits the creature on the left shoulder, but his wounds prevent him from putting to make power on the downward strike.
Swift Action: Activates Stonestrike!
PA Earthbreaker: 1d20 + 5 - 1 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 5 - 1 + 1 = 25! Hit! for: 2d6 + 6 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (2, 1) + 6 + 3 + 1 = 13 damage.
Confirmation: 1d20 + 5 - 1 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 5 - 1 + 1 = 14! Miss.

He then falls unconscious and is probably dying.
Constitution: 1d20 + 3 - 1 ⇒ (11) + 3 - 1 = 13
-1/14 but stable. And you now have about 420 pounds of extra stuff to carry (dwarf and his equipment included). Good Luck! ^_^

No AoO for me, thanks.

Double move into room.

Day 1 - 2:45 PM

Map

Combat Round 2
Skeletal champion - 7/20 hp - AC 21 T 12 FF 19 CMD 16 Fort +3 Ref +1 Will +3

Robert's anger powers his attempt to control the skeletal champion, but while his will is strong enough, the undead creature's innate power is just too strong for him.

Command Undead allows you to command undead creatures so long as their total number of HD is no greater than your own. The skeletal champion has more than 1 HD.

I did accidentally skip Lorenzo's turn 1 action, so waiting for his turn 2 action before continuing to turn 3.

Nareth sweeps up Alec's earthbreaker, swinging it towards the undead. "Here, ugly ugly ugly, come here and fight Nareth." He tries to get the undead to attack him instead of the unconscious Alec.

Attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 18
Damage: 2d6 + 4 ⇒ (1, 5) + 4 = 10

Calling upon all his reserves of luck, Lorenzo redoubled his efforts to strike the powerful undead skeleton, standing over Alec's fallen body so as to protect him from the skeleton's blade. He fought defensively, interjecting his mace into the fray and continually parrying the incoming blade; buying Nareth time to strike a decisive blow.

Defensive Fighting (Miss): 1d20 + 6 + 2 - 4 ⇒ (7) + 6 + 2 - 4 = 11

Day 1 - 2:45 PM

Map

Combat Round 3
Skeletal champion - 7/20 hp - AC 21 T 12 FF 19 CMD 16 Fort +3 Ref +1 Will +3

Skeletal champion longsword attack against Lorenzo: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (20) + 7 = 27 for 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11 damage.

The skeletal champion turns after felling Alec and attacks Lorenzo, his longsword slicing into Lorenzo's face. The gash is truly horrific, causing Lorenzo to collapse to the ground.

Party's turn. Need a stabilization check from Lorenzo.

For the first since they met him, Nareth's stony gaze slips, rage boiling up underneath his calm demeanor. He raises the hammer, bringing it down on top of the skeleton's head and shattering him to pieces.

Attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21
Damage: 2d6 + 4 ⇒ (3, 6) + 4 = 13

He roars his victory, tossing down the earthhammer on the broken bones. Then he quickly turns his attention to the dying Lorenzo, ripping off a length of his shirt to help stanch the bleeding.

Heal: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18

Skeletal champion longsword attack against Nareth: 1d20 + 7 for 1d8+3 damage.

Bold for emphasis. Looks like its all worked out ok though.

Fixed that typo - it was an attack on Lorenzo.

Look at the bright side! At least we're close to the exit! (or maybe not)

Unless somebody is holding out I think we are completely out of magical healing. With two party members in the negative I suggest we camp out here until our time runs out.

Day 1 - 2:45 PM

Map

Nareth successfully stanches Lorenzo's bleeding, leaving him and Alec unconscious but not in immediate danger of dying.

Constitution: 1d20 + 3 - 1 ⇒ (6) + 3 - 1 = 8

Alec does not show any signs of waking up soon. Or at least for another hour ^_^

Nareth goes to the two doors on the east side of the room, then ties his silk rope to each of their door handles so they may not be opened easily. Or some other fancy finagling if they don't have doorhandles.

Nareth moves Alec and Lorenzo over to the southwest corner of the room. He removes their armor and shirts, using their shirts as a pillow to keep their head elevated and spending his time tending to their wounds. "Robert, watch the doorway that we came in. We need to hold out until we are safe again."

Take 20 on heal if possible. If not here's the roll.

Heal: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19

Just going to camp here and tend to their wounds for now. We're in no shape to continue.

Robert seemed to watch the events proceeding after his failed attempt as if they transpired in slow motion. He felt so powerless. In battle, he had done nothing but scream and expend energies in vain. And now afterwards, he had not the skill to treat their wounds.

He took up a ready stance by the door, staff in hand, spells at the ready, just as Nareth had suggested.

Hey Lorenzo, every hour you can make a DC 10 constitution check to see if you awake (disabled and with negative hit points) but you take a penalty on the check equal to your negative hit points. It's the same as stabilization. I've failed my first test, meaning I won't wake up for one hour or so.

Can't you treat deadly wounds Nareth?

That's what I'm doing with the heal check. If I can take 20 I can succeed on the check, even with the penalty for not having a healer's kit.

My bad then.

Day 1 - 2:50 PM

Map

You can take 20 on a Heal check to treat deadly wounds, but it takes 20 times as long as the action, which means it would take 20 hours to treat the wounds of one person. I don't know if you wish to stay in this room for that long.

I'll just do whatever I can for the next 5 hours to get them into as best shape as possible. Us poor level 1 characters need a break!