The Forgotten God (Table 1) (Inactive)

Game Master Rednal

'Should' being the operative word there. XD

This time, Erstehund and Burkhardt managed to down their foe. Hadran moved towards the last one, only to provoke a bite from the blue-eyed beast's snapping jaws as he closed in.

Bite (Hadran): 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (13) + 12 = 25 for Damage: 1d6 + 6 - 3 ⇒ (5) + 6 - 3 = 8

Hadran hit it a moment later - but that wasn't enough to down the beast, and it whipped out with a berserk flurry of claws and jaws.

Bite (Hadran): 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (20) + 12 = 32 for Damage: 1d6 + 6 - 3 ⇒ (2) + 6 - 3 = 5
Claw (Hadran): 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (11) + 12 = 23
Claw (Hadran): 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (7) + 12 = 19
Claw (Hadran): 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (3) + 12 = 15
Claw (Hadran): 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (3) + 12 = 15
Crit Confirm: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (1) + 12 = 13

Rather impressively, Hadran managed to turn aside all of the claws with a few flicks of his blade... though the same couldn't be said of the second time the creature's jaws came out.

Think you typo's the DR hitting a -3 instead of 5. Taking 9 more damage.

Round 5

Free: Maintain Performance, Arcane Strike
Full: Full Attack

Attack 1: 1d20 + 22 ⇒ (6) + 22 = 28
Attack 2: 1d20 + 22 ⇒ (11) + 22 = 33
Attack 3: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (19) + 17 = 36
Attack 3 Confirmation: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (2) + 17 = 19

Damage Attack 1: 2d6 + 19 ⇒ (6, 2) + 19 = 27
Damage Attack 2: 2d6 + 19 ⇒ (6, 1) + 19 = 26
Damage Attack 3: 2d6 + 19 ⇒ (1, 3) + 19 = 23
Damage Attack 3 if confirmed: 2d6 + 19 ⇒ (4, 5) + 19 = 28

I mean I expected that he'd climb back out immediately, but the fall didn't hurt? Interesting...
Round 5
Burkhardt turned towards the final foe with a sweeping slice from his axe.

+1 handaxe (-power attack + strike true): 1d20 + 12 - 2 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 12 - 2 + 1 = 17
Slashing damage (+power attack & mythic vital strike, +enhancement bonus, +strike true): 2d6 + 18 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (1, 1) + 18 + 2 + 2 = 24

Strike True ends and is expended for 5 rounds

Erstehund harried the girallon with a savage jaws, attempting to bring it to the ground.

Bite: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (20) + 9 = 29 | Confirmation: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (15) + 9 = 24
B/P/S damage: 1d8 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8 (+ B/P/S damage: 1d8 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8 on crit)
Trip attempt (with successful bite; does not provoke AoO): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (15) + 9 = 24

Ah, yeah. o_O For some reason, I thought it was DR 3... too many flashbacks to certain armor, maybe? My bad.

Burkhardt's blow wasn't accurate, but it didn't really need to be as Hadran none-too-subtly butchered the last of the beasts. As its body collapsed under the damage of the blows, you noticed a strange, almost fungus-like growth on the back of each creature's head.

Knowledge (Nature?): 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (17) + 11 = 28 Keep the same if its dungeoneering, add 1 if local, 2 if religion, or 7 if arcana or planes.

Burkhardt leaned in and took a closer look at the fungus, prodding it with his short sword.

Hadran will aid Burkhardt with any info he remembers on the fungus.

Aid Another knowledge: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13

The fungus growth doesn't move as Burkhardt prods at it, then takes a closer look. You're not familiar with the exact strain - it's something you haven't seen before, and you've had a very limited opportunity to learn about plants developed since you fell.

However, your examination does make a few things clear. First, the fungus does not look like it normally grows on these creatures - there's no sign of symbiosis here. Second, you're pretty sure the fungus was implanted. Whatever happened to these creatures might have been an accident - there's no way of telling what the intended result was - but the implantation was definitely on purpose.

"Either this fungus takes control of creatures and uses those to implant itself, or this is the result of magical experimentation. In either case, I believe we'd do well to investigate the dining hall from where they came and then the mine where the girallon attacks were reported to take place," Burkhardt suggests.

Hadran nods.

"Midfoviing do you see anything up there? Come we are going to investigate the hall."

Hadran speaks the divine words as his hands glow, begins to heal his bleeding scratches.

CLW: 2d8 + 10 ⇒ (4, 2) + 10 = 16
CLW: 2d8 + 10 ⇒ (3, 2) + 10 = 15

Midfoviing dropped out of the air... then kicked the creature that had attacked Hadran. Apparently satisfied, she hopped over. "No people." she answered promptly. "Not many animals, either."

Inside, the door to this long building is ajar. A sign hanging over the doorway depicts a frothy mug, a plate, and eating utensils. Within, broken plates, forks and spoons, and a few wooden mugs lie scattered about the floor around several long trestle tables. A securely-locked door (apparently going to the kitchen) can be seen on the far end... but perhaps more importantly, you hear a faint weeping sound from beyond.

"Do you hear that? A survivor? There are undead that use cry's to lure people in so be cautious."

Hadran advances toward the weeping.

"Hello, we are here to help. Are you injured?"

Is the weeping coming from the locked kitchen?

Burkhardt followed closely behind, axe at the ready. No reason to announce my presence as well if it is a trap...

The weeping noise is definitely coming from the locked kitchen - and it sounds like an actual person, too, not just an undead wailing at you to surprise you. As you approached, the sound abruptly cut off, and you got the sense whoever was inside was trying very hard to not be noticed.

"It's fine. The ape creatures are dead. We don't want to break the door in as it will attract others. We came from the capital. We are here to help. I am Hadran. Please open the door. We have food, water and healing magic if you require it."

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (13) + 17 = 30 Hadran does his best to be sincere.

Burkhardt called out earnestly, "I have my fluffy companion with me, and he's wonderfully comforting if you've just been through some trauma."

Diplomacy (aid another): 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (15) + 16 = 31

Slowly, the door creaked open to reveal the visage of an ashen-skinned woman with long, unkempt black hair. "F-from the Capital? So soon?" she asked hesitantly. "J-just last night, everyone was gone!"

Hadran looks to Burkhardt then back to the woman.

"Just last night? What do you mean? Come sit. Have some water. Can you tell us what happened?"

Hadran pulls a chair out for the woman then takes a seat himself and waits.

Burkhardt offered, "We brought food as well, if you need." It seemed they might be on the verge of learning at worst, something very interesting, or better, a solid glimpse of what transpired here.

Looking behind her, you saw what looked to be a pantry of sorts - while terrified, she didn't actually seem to be hungry.

"E-everyone just vanished. B-but there are these eyes - these milky white eyes! I was preparing dinner with my fellow cook, Von, when we heard a commotion outside. The next thing I remember is hiding in an empty apple barrel, scared out of my wits that something horrible was searching for me, and finding a scabbed-over wound in my back. It was morning before I could even start to think clearly again."

"A wound? May I examine it? The ape creatures had a fungus on their backs. Whatever happened here it was directed. Their eyes were milky as well. Some sort of control. My hunch is something was found something of power and now someone or something is using all the people here to help uncover it, but that is speculation. Please may I look at the wound? Also do you remember any rumors from the past couple weeks? Anything change here?"

Burkhardt simply smiled, thinking, A god of knowledge would be thorough in their questioning, of course.

The woman looked hesitant, but eventually turned to show a large, ugly-looking wound.

"There's been nothing else out of the norm at all - everything changed all at once." she explained, a distinctly worried tone remaining in her voice.

Heal Check: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (13) + 10 = 23

As Hadran examines the wound he reflects on what manner of creature or magic or whatever could have caused such a thing.

K.?: 1d20 + 27 ⇒ (15) + 27 = 42 Trance

He study's the wound closely.

"Interesting."

Burkhardt pressed further questions while Hadran examined. "Milky-white eyes, you say? These eyes simply floated in the air, or were seen on those that were here, as if by an affliction?"

While you're not sure what tool was used - information that exact can't be obtained merely by looking at the wound this way - you're pretty sure it was some kind of puncture. In addition, you notice a number of scars that don't appear to have been made by living creatures. At least, not directly. They're a little too regular for that.

At Burkhardt's question, the woman just grabbed her head and groaned softly, her body shaking. "Eyes... no... watching... don't want to... can't..." It didn't take a professional to see that she was having trouble even addressing the topic.

"Well we have discovered all we may here. Come with us. Midfoviing here will protect and keep you safe. We have to find the source at whats causing this. If you stay we can not protect you. Come, we will help you conquer that fear and gain some peace."

If Burkhardt has nothing else time to move on to the next building.

Burkhardt nodded and said, "Hopefully we can put this to rest quickly and get you away from this place," before following Hadran to the next building.

The woman seemed willing enough to follow you - it was certainly far better than being by herself.

Which is the next building you'd like to visit?

Looking back it is unclear what building we were just in. Probably A4 or A8 so if it was A4 we go to A8 first, if A8 we go to A4 then A7, and A11. Will have Midfoviing do a fly by of A5 and A6 when we head toward A7. Feel free to move us along :)

Hadran puts the girl between him and Midfoviing. He looks to Midfoviing.

"She is your charge now. You will protect her as if protecting me." He smiles at the dragon girl knowing she will defend the woman with her life.

Burkhardt followed Hadran, wearing a smile of sympathy.

You were in A3/A4, which are part of the same building.

"Mm! She is a treasure now!" The ever-hungry dragon-girl said, perking up a little. The woman looked... only moderately reassured at this.

The two buildings to the south (A8) are largely identical. Each long building has numerous small, barred windows along its exterior walls and a covered entrance at each end. Within, a series of doors line each side of a long central corridor. The doors are unlocked. Both buildings feature 16 simply furnished 10-foot-by-10-foot sleeping chambers. Each chamber contains a small bed, pegs on the wall for hanging clothes, and a single shelf under the small barred window. Aside from a few personal belongings, there is nothing of value in these rooms... nor any indication that people have slept here in quite some time, going by the dust.

"And you say they only vanished last night. I never thought to check you for a magical aura. Something more is going on here."

Hadran will speak the arcane words and detect magic on the woman. If an aura is found he will concentrate long enough to figure it out.

"Burkhardt do you recall how long they had said this place unreachable in the capital? You don't think that fungus could be a curse like Lycanthropy do you? Those things we killed could have been people here at one time. We need to keep searching and get to the bottom of this."

Over to A7 then to A11

"I don't recall getting a clear answer on that, but I assume that at least a minor amount of time passed before they realized they could no longer make contact. Additionally, I assume that said realization happened some time before you and I entered the city. Given that, I'd be shocked to learn it's been fewer than 5 days since the attack... much less one." He nodded in agreement and followed Hadran out.

You don't locate any auras of magic on the woman - and, mostly, she just looks confused by your statements. "N-no, it was last night - I'm sure of it!" she said...

Sense Motice (Burkhardt): 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (10) + 21 = 31
Sense Motice (Hadran): 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (17) + 20 = 37

...and as far as you can tell, she's not lying.

Meanwhile, at A7, a placard hanging above the door to this building depicts a helmet over a pair of crossed swords. Several bunk beds occupy the interior. Pegs on the wall hold a few well-used cloaks. A collection of spears, swords, and a few crossbows hangs from a locked weapon rack on the far wall, next to a door leading to another room.

"Seems to the be barracks, lets give it the once over and keep moving."

Again calling on his arcane power Hadran takes a look through the room for magical aura's

Perception: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (18) + 18 = 36

Assuming we find nothing off to A11

Perception: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (18) + 16 = 34

Burkhardt gave the barracks a once-over with Hadran, but didn't expect to learn anything of use. Persistence will guide us to our answers, he thought. It simply takes time.

A casual search of the room reveals a ring of keys hanging from a hook, unmade beds, and a set of playing cards on a small table set up between two of the bunks. The cards on the table and the two sets of five cards lying facedown on opposite lower bunks indicate at least two of the occupants were here playing a card game and suddenly left off in the middle of it.

"Let us take the keys as they may be of some use as we continue our search. Come let us continue."

Off to A11

Burkhardt collected the cards, smiling at Midfoviing and the survivor. "No telling how long this all will take. May need some help passing the time later on."

To the south, a group of small, five-foot-wide wooden shacks with shingled roofs occupies an area well away from the other buildings. They're fairly obviously the camp's latrines - and there doesn't seem to be anything of interest around them.

(For her part, Midfoviing refused to even get close.)

"No need to check those out too close. Let us go over there. Be on guard passing the towers."

Perception: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (9) + 18 = 27

Heading over to A15, sorry was out of office yesterday at training

Perception: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (10) + 16 = 26

Burkhardt wrinkled his nose as they passed near the outhouses.

To the east, this stone building is surrounded by a tall fence. It occupies a spot of land well away from the other buildings in the colony. Its door is also made of stone and has no apparent latch or lock. Large red letters painted multiple times on every side of the fence spell out, “Danger—Keep away!”

"The security seems lax for a penal colony. What do you suppose is kept in there? My curiosity and want to seek for knowledge says we search it."

Hadran proceeds to the building, but approaches with detect magic up looking for any aura's.

"A midge, yes. Working people to the bone tends to crush their spirits, and it's no mean feat to escape an island with just the clothes on your back... but I don't see Chelaxian government as one to lower their standards over silly things like efficiency or economics." Burkhardt focused in on his senses, hoping for a sense of what was on the other side.

Perception: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (1) + 16 = 17 Nice.

As Hadran approaches, it's immediately obvious that the building is magically trapped - probably to go off the moment anyone so much as gets near it without doing whatever the correct action is. The warning signs weren't just for show.

"Interesting. I did not expect warding like this. I assumed mundane danger. Burkhardt do you have any experience with such things as this trap? I'm not sure we even need to bother with this building, though it could have key information as well. What do you think?" He then looks over to the woman.

"What was your position here? Do you work for the capitol, or were you a prisoner? Or just a servant? Can you tell us anything about this building? Have you seen anyone approach it before?"

"Unfortunately, I'm not of those familiar with the art of bypassing mystic wards. That noted," he said, shooting a glance back at the survivor and then back to Hadran, "the sort of trap that would put my life in true danger is probably overkill - so I'm not opposed to simply putting Chelish glyphcraft to the test." He let Hadran ask his questions and offer an opinion before deciding whether to carry out this idea.

Or maybe Burkhardt's wrong, and this actually leads to Rappan Athuk and is about to be insta-gibbed by the trap. :-P

Pfft, no. Mind you, Lloegyr - the world of the Lost Lands, where Rappan Athuk is located - is a canon place in this game. In theory, it's somewhere you could actually go. XD But I can tell you now that this is not an entrance to the greatest of all dungeons.

"I-I was just a cook." the woman stammered. "Th-the prisoners did a lot of mining, see, and weren't expected to manage the meals on top of their labor. N-not to be nice to them or anything, j-just because they wanted them to mine as much as possible."