The Gathering Storm (4e)

Game Master Rev Rosey

perception check = 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16

Disoriented, neither Kel nor Urlag can add to the little group's store of knowledge.

Kith, you can try hitting the control panel, certainly. Your attacks will be at -5 as you can't get close enough to see it without provoking a lightning attack.

"Alright, let's get this thing turned off."

Any chance I can, I don't know, just do the Arcana checks from here via my familiar? 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (8) + 15 = 23

Don't see why not. Go for it. 1 success.

Andrus just sits down and waits for his friends to disable the trap. When he catches one of them looking over at him funny, he just shrugs and says, "I am useless on this one. Let me know when you're done, or need healing."

unless we are all going to teleport and take the damage, then Andrus will get up and follow the others

rev, could you recap our situation with a map showing where we are?

Kith, Kel, Urlag and my familiar are on the box's side, the rest of us are on this side. So, uh, are we moving onto a new round of this now since the rest of the party is neither acrobatic or learned in the arcane arts?

yes, pls do

Classes today, but will update properly this evening. Three of you have cross the lightning field. Three of you still standing in the mausoleum. Map below for easy reference.

MAP

maybe we all should just take our lumps and cross the lightning field. we have enough healing. (skill challenge= encounter) It may mean we'll have to rest earlier, but that's not a big concern. what do you guys think?

maybe we all should just take our lumps and cross the lightning field. we have enough healing. (skill challenge= encounter) It may mean we'll have to rest earlier, but that's not a big concern. what do you guys think?

I think we should just hang tight. Zareth can use Arcana through the familiar to disable the trap, so that we don't have a lightning field blocking a retreat if we need to fall back.

I agree we should not cut off a possible escape, if we can help it. Especially if it does damage while escaping.

I agree we should not cut off a possible escape, if we can help it. Especially if it does damage while escaping.

Especially when it teleports us back to the room we're trying to leave. Anyway, another Arcana check: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (5) + 15 = 20

Zareth continues to work away at the panel through his familiar.

1 success of the 6 needed so far. As stated, I'm happy to allow you to attack it, but if you're doing so around the door it will be at a -5 penalty.

Urlag, Kith and Kel - make another Perception check each please.

Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (20) + 10 = 30

1d20 + 9 ⇒ (15) + 9 = 24

Kith and Urlag make some disconcerting discoveries about the next corridor. Tiny holes are set deep into the walls and the stone paving appears to be a little loose. With three party members standing on it, there is a very faint wobble, as though these are pressure plates, designed to activate yet another trap.

"We have another trap here." Kith says. "Be sharp and careful."

now we know what the penalty for failing this skill challenge is

The DCs are too high for me. I think the best bet is for Zareth to keep doing his thing.

It's a nasty section. If Zareth wants to use Arcana that's fine, otherwise the panel you're trying to destroy has hp and defenses. I am ruling that if you can deliver 10hp of damage to the lightning control panel in one attack, it is destroyed.

Ahhh, frustrated half-orc time.

"Stand back. I've had enough of this thing." Urlag swings his chain furiously at the panel.

Melee basic, but with Furious Assault (encounter) used only on a hit. Not sure if I can keep swinging until I do hit, so I'll just roll one. 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (12) + 11 = 232d4 + 6 + 2d4 ⇒ (1, 1) + 6 + (4, 2) = 14

Urlag, you're hitting it around a corner, so that should have been at -5. Irrelevant as you hit the thing anyway, but just so you know.

A crunch and the sizzle of wrecked mechanism greet Urlag's efforts and the lightning ceases instantly.

Beneath the half-orc's feet the stone paving of the next corridor creak slightly. The pressure plates will not take much more weight before they drop and trigger.

You can now move up the lightning corridor.

"Alright, this is a delicate procedure. I need quiet..."

*SMASH*

"Or you could just break it." Zareth frowns as his familiar quickly flees back to his shoulder and begins down the hall. "So, what was that about a trap? Maybe you should find a way to disarm it before the rest of us come in."

Anyone like to make a Thievery check for me? DC14

I've had great luck with my bad skills so far - so..... 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 1 = 16.

Displaying uncanny ability in an area where she has little expertise, Kith makes some mental calculations and comes to a conclusion. The floor will most likely trigger when four people are standing on it.

"We have to cross in three's." Kith calls to the others. "Or the floor will fall."

"I'll be the last to go across," Andrus offers. "Let get moving. I'm tired of waiting around. There are still more Stormcrows to find."

Theivery = 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14

MAP

Leading the way, Kith, Urlag and Kel pick their way up the next section of corridor to the door. It is locked.

I took the liberty of moving Zareth, Tenja and Andrus up the (ex) lightning hall, but tell me if you're doing anything different.

Perception = 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (18) + 10 = 28
Theivery = 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11

Kel reckons the key the group picked up in the sarcophagus will fit this lock.

that's my cue.

"Let's see if my key works." Andrus says as he moves to the lock.

if it does, he opens the door and looks around.

Turning the key clockwise, Andrus opens the door and steps into yet another stretch of corridor. As he enters, the south wall shimmers slightly and reforms to reveal an opaque panel. This too contains a keyhole.

MAP

Opaque panel is the dark blue thing.

perception= 24 to see if there are any traps in this hallway.

"It's another hallway," Andrus turns and tells his friends. "There's a dark panel on the far wall with a keyhole. I will check to see if my key fits, but first I want to see if there are any traps in here." He turns to scan the hallway.

if anyone thinks they can beat my perception score, go ahead. you might see something I missed.

Made suspicious by his previous experience, Andrus is not surprised when he sees trigger plates in front of the opaque panel.

Arcana to help identify the nature of the trap.

Map

Andrus notifies his comrades. "Pressure plates in front of the panel, preventing someone from just walking up to the door." He scowls. "Obviously, they have designed these traps for non-flying races. Almost makes me wish I was a kenku." Then he smiles. "Almost."

He moves up closer to the trap and examines it for signs of magic.

Arcana= 10, crap! that was weak. Someone else like Zareth want to make an Arcana check? Hopefully you will do better than my two.

"Kenku can't fly. Their wings are too small." Having corrected his friend's error, Zareth begins examining the keyhole from a safe distance.

Arcana: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (13) + 13 = 26

"Well.... that one we fought earlier could." Andrus replies, not wanting to admit he was wrong. "So maybe this gauntlet of traps was not made by the kenku. Were the Stormcrows able to fly? I wonder..."

We could let the familar fly and turn the key :)

"Well.... that one we fought earlier could." Andrus replies, not wanting to admit he was wrong. "So maybe this gauntlet of traps was not made by the kenku. Were the Stormcrows able to fly? I wonder..."

"He was a mage. He flew because he cast a spell, not because he flapped his arms hard enough."

"Of course the kenku didn't make all this. The key to disable them was in a coffin. You don't keep things you need to get past your horrible death hallway in a coffin."

I was waiting until I found out what the trap does before sending my familiar to unlock the door.

Zareth's expert eye has no difficulty at all in identifying the trap. It is a force wall, designed to explode outwards.

"It triggers a force wall. It's probably just crush us all. Xod, go put the key in the lock for me, well you?" The imp reappears, grabs the key and flies over to the lock.

The imp flies obediently down the hallway and inserts the key, copying Andrus's earlier actions exactly and turning it clockwise.

The door explodes, pushing the familiar away from it.

Attack v Fort. On hit, target is pushed 2 squares.
1d20+9=28. Hits. 2d8+4=15
Xod takes 15 force damage.

Zareth clutches over in pain from the feedback from their sympathetic connection. "Xod, get back here. I know it would take more than that to kill you." As the imp reappears next to him, Zareth slumps against the wall. "How about we just stay here for a few minutes, take a rest. Maybe wait for my head to stop ringing."

Fortunately, the only consequence of a familiar dying is that you have to wait until the next short rest to get it back. So, short rest?

Fortunately, the only consequence of a familiar dying is that you have to wait until the next short rest to get it back. So, short rest?

Fine by me.

That's fine. Take a short rest and tell me what you're doing next.

"There. Should be over the worst of it. Now, after you." Zareth graciously lets someone else open the door.

Kith strides forward to yank the door open.