The Wolves' Den

Game Master dreamingdragon

"Alright, perhaps that was a mistake... now what?" She looks at each of the others in surprise and consternation.

"I don't know...wait. Sjora, Kyra." Duraelo turns to look at the two of them, starting to recall what they had said earlier. "What did you say earlier about...laughing? I didn't hear anything like that. Where was it coming from?"

"I.. I'm not entirely sure, but I think it sounded like it came from the passage we came in by."

Etienne glances back for a moment before resuming watching the passage in front of him. "This place is beginning to unnerve me, and that's hard to do. I'm wondering if we should make a tactical retreat and come back when it's light. I'm starting to have serious doubts about tackling this place at night...."

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17

Yeah, waiting would have been a much better idea, now that he brought it up... "Well, if we're going to head out, we'd be going through the way we came in, and if Sjora heard that laughing from that direction....I don't think we'd run into people that we would want to meet, given, well, EVERYTHING so far."

"So you are saying that we should press on Duraelo? Scout this place out more? This place seems to be more trapped and tricked than I'd like. Why don't they face us head on? Are they frightened chickens?"

Rufon grumbles as he moves a bit closer to the wy they came in, bringing Thrace with him.
"Ok buddy, try and pick out a scent we can follow."

Thrace Scent: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11

The tiger scents the air, and then growls, back arching aggressively as he stares towards the southern fork of the passage's T with bared teeth.

Rufon turns his head towards the southern fork, a large grimace appearing on his face.

"Something or someone is down that passage. Shall we investigate? Thrace is rarely wrong about these things."

"Well, then, let's try that passage. If you trust Thrace, I trust Thrace."

"I'm not one for arguing with a tiger. Lead on."

The sand in this cave is undisturbed, laying evenly across the floor like a clean, white carpet. In the center of the room is a large work table covered by a heavy green cloth that hangs to the floor. On this sit a variety of bottles and tubes, forming a complete alchemist's lab. The equipment glistens as though it has just been cleaned, and most of the bottles are empty, though there are two stoppered bottles filled with a clear liquid.

***MAP***

"I don't trust this, there is no one here. Maybe he was here a few moments ago. Thrace are you sure there is someone here?"

Thrace sniffs the air trying to pick up the same scent as before.

Thrace Scent: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18

Rufon readies himself for anything that might suddenly appear besides hi or Thrace, looking around skittishly in the room.

Mechanics, when gojgn into the room, Rufon will take Total defense, he is on guard, not out to slice anything before he knows what or who he is fighting.

Sjora follows behind Rufon, curious but cautious.

Etienne enters next, Isabeau on his shoulder. He keeps his eyes and ears open for the slightest hint of an enemy.

Etienne's taking Total Defense as well.

Etienne Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18
Isabeau Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18

Forgot Rufon's perception.

Rufon's Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7
dooh I'll trust Thrace on this

Thrace growls at the table, tail waving side to side as he crouches down.

You hear an eerie snuffling and growling from under the table.

That was their round. Etienne, Isabeau and Thrace have a standard action, then Sjora has a normal round.

"Trouble!" Etienne yells as he fires an arrow at the enemy.

Attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11 +2 if human, +1 if within 30ft
Damage (if hit): 1d8 ⇒ 4 +2 if human, +1 if within 30ft

EDIT: Miss chance: 1d100 ⇒ 62 looks like I'll hit them if my attack roll beats their AC (doubtful with that roll)

Good call on miss chance. They are behind the table cloth so there is one. But you missed. Nothing from Isabeau?

Surprise round, so I didn't think I'd be able to Handle her. Plan was to order her to "Stay", and move in front of her to provide soft cover (she's at 2 HP) and let other people in. Figured that's more like a Standard, Move, and Free.

Sorry for brief absence. Job stuff has been INSANE lately, but I've gotten it under control. Again, sorry for not being as active as I should be.

holding my action, waiting for Thrace, I believe, since what I do depends on what the tiger does first.

Thrace walks slowly, on edge as he growls, towards the table and cloth hanging down from it.

He stays at a healthy distance, approaching to about 15 ft from the table.
Is it a growl or smell Thrace has ever experienced before, so likely an animal?

In any case, he doesn't attack waiting for it to show itself.

Using her iron blades revelation, Sjora extends a lucerne hammer from her hands and from 10' back, pulls the cloth up and over the top of the table, exposing whatever is beneath it.

As the cloth lifts up, two small doglike creatures are revealed. Their breath billows in clouds of mist that swirl around them and leave a frosty residue on their thick black fur. With a snarling sound, they leap forward, fangs bared.

attack Sjora: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 2 = 12
Sjora AoO: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6
attack Thrace: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 2 = 16
damage Thrace: 1d4 ⇒ 3 + Fatigued

The one that charges Sjora swerves away to avoid a swing of her hammer and misses, but the other scores a hit on Thrace, leaving a gash blackened at the edges by frostbite.

They end their turns at M8 and N9

Sjora takes a 5' step back from the nearest one and takes a strike with her hammer.

to hit: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 2 = 19

dmg if hits: 1d12 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 = 11

The thing lets out a piteous yelp as Sjora's hammer smashes down on it, snapping bones and crushing the creature to the ground. One paw twitches for a moment before the last breath of cold mist slips out of its mouth.

Rufon walks over to the other creature, slicing at the creature with his scimitar.

[ooc=Mechanics]Move to L8 with a curve as to negate AoO and attack.[/ooc]

Attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (11) + 3 = 14
Damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

Rufon's stats 8 hp, AC 17

Thrace moves to N8 at a gesture of Rufon, seeing as the other creature fell before the might of Sjora's attack and bites the critter.

Thrace's Attack: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2
Thrace's Bite Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 3

Thrace's status 9 hp, AC 13, Fatigued

I'll retcon this if needed, Rufon is last in initiative so

Duraelo is surprised by the appearance of two monsters and steps forward (to L-11) to help the rest of the group. He unleashes a Ray of Frost at the creature still standing.

To hit1d20 ⇒ 15
Damage1d3 ⇒ 1

Sorry about that. I was waiting for Kyra to take an action.

Etienne fires an arrow at the remaining monster.
Attack 1d20 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 4 + 1 = 9
Damage 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

Then he orders Isabeau to "Stay!" and steps forward five feet to give her soft cover.

I see. Probably miscommunication on my part. In this kind of situation, when the monsters only have one initiative, I prefer to let the players all act in whatever order they can post. It speeds things along rather than waiting for each individual to take their turn. Kyra goes last of your group so that, as much as possible, you guys get the glory.

Kyra steps forward beside Rufon (L9) and takes a swing at the creature

Kyra attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 13

She misses, and the creature turns who?: 1d3 ⇒ 1 to snap at her in turn.

creature attack: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 2 = 16
damage: 1d4 ⇒ 4 + Fatigue

She is almost able to jump out of its way, but it catches her leg and gives her a bad bite.

Everyone's turn.

Sjora moves again so she is 10' from the creature and bashes at it with her hammer.

to hit: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 2 = 13

dmg if hits: 1d12 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 2 = 14

awww... max damage, but the strike missed... darnit.. oh well

Duraelo takes another step, (this time to L-12) trying to get out of the creature's way, and fires off another Ray of Frost.

to hit: 1d20 ⇒ 16
damage: 1d3 ⇒ 2

There we go! Oh, by the way, one question: How exactly are we handling experience/leveling up? Will we simply be told when we've leveled up or should we be keeping track for ourselves?

Good question. I've been tracking it so far, which is how we do it with my home group, but we know each other well and it's evolved over time that it's easier that way. I see no reason to keep you in the dark about it, and it's probably better for me to keep it transparent.

I'll get the relevant numbers up tonight or tomorrow AM.

While Duraelo's ray strikes the creature, it seems to have little effect.

Etienne fires again at the monster.
Attack: 1d20 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 4 + 1 = 16
Damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

Now that they're visible, is there a particular Knowledge we can use to identify the monsters?

Rufon and Thrace slice at the enemy together.

Rufon's attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12
Rufon's damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

Thrace's Bite: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4
Bite attack: 1d6 ⇒ 1

Claw attacks: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 = 171d20 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 2 = 12
Claw Damage: 1d4 ⇒ 21d4 ⇒ 3

Rake attacks if both claws hit: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 = 111d20 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9
Rake damage: 1d4 ⇒ 41d4 ⇒ 2

sorry for the short post, just came back from two days with friends, dead tired :)

@ Etienne: Nature

The second creature is impaled by Etienne's arrow and collapse, bleeding out on the sandy floor.

Etienne Knowledge: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 18

"Well that was lovely" Etienne comments as he examines the bodies. After a moment, he frowns. "Somebody's been experimenting with these dogs. They look like common animals, but I recognize some Winter Wolf in them. It's not from breeding either. I'm liking this place less and less...."

Duraelo moves closer to the alchemist's table, intrigued in particular by the filled vials. He makes sure to give the wolf-dog abominations some space. "Looks like whoever was cleaning up forgot to take these two things, whatever they are."

Both concerning Duraelo's examining the filled vials.
Perception 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5
Knowledge: Arcana 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 2 = 21

Unfortunately, you can't make a knowledge check untrained with a DC higher than 10. Applying the 19 to your perception roll won't really tell you much you don't already know. Glass bottles, cork stoppers, clear liquid inside, warm to the touch.

@The Wolves Den. Oops. Never mind.

@Duraelo: Next level, put a point in Know(arcana) and Spellcraft if you have any to spare. Should solve that problem. Right now, if you detect magic on the vials for 3 rounds, you should get the spell's school (if they're magic). Could give us a clue to their contents.

After considering the bodies for another minute, Etienne speaks again. "Something just occurred to me. These cultists have attacked us with fire and cold so far tonight. They seem to have an "elemental" theme, so I wouldn't be surprised if our next encounter with their creatures involves either acid or electricity somehow. Does anyone have a way to lessen these effects?"

Flaming Exploding Zombies - Fire
Winter Wolf/dog hybrids - Cold
The GM in the last campaign I was in started off with my fighting four Small Elementals (earth, air, fire, water)
Natural thought progression on my part? :-)

"Sorry I have no such protections to offer, for myself or others... except to try to avoid them.. I know that doesn't help much."

@Etienne: Dammit, that's a brilliant idea. First time playing a sorcerer. Need to remember that non-combat spells are my friends.

"Whatever works for you," Duraelo says distractedly. The two bottles of clear liquid still seem puzzling to him, but he has no idea what they could be. He decides to perform a "Detect Magic" spell on them, just on the off chance they might be something unusual.

Rufon looks at Etienne with an expression of wonder.
"That's a nice idea Etienne. Let's hope there is no truth to your words, as I'm not prepared for anything like that."

He grins, "Who would be? we wake in the middle of the night and fight exploding fire zombies. Only a prophet would know about such things."

"Alchemists sometimes make useful things that aren't magical. Even if they have no aura, we should probably take them with us."

I believe Spellcraft and Knowledge: Arcana are the only ways to identify a magic item's properties, other than trying it.
@ Etienne: Detect Magic only tells you the school with a successful skill check.
@ Etienne Also: Your knowledge check during the battle would have told you that the pelts of the Malus Hounds are valued for their warmth and their supposed mystical properties.

Duraelo casts the spell, and sees a faint aura of orangey-gold energy appear around the vials.

@GM: Ahhhh, good catch. My casters always max out Spellcraft, so that roll gets handwaved. Now I can start having fun with my players *evil grin*.

"I just remembered that these creatures' pelts are supposed to have some sort of beneficial properties. Worst case, they'll keep two of us warm. Rufon, could you give me a hand?"

Was it Heal or Survival to skin them? If it's Heal, I may have to do it solo. If it's Survival, I'll be assisting Rufon.

Heal/Survival 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12 Unless I can take 10/20

Most likely Survival so I'll get cracking on those skins as well

"Of course Etienne, they look comfortable enough, maybe we could fashion some kind of armor or cloak from them."

Rufon quietly goes to work on skinning the two hounds, aided by Etienne's eyes and skill.
Skinning: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15

Rather than knowing the answer, I'm saying it's survival and take 20-able. So it's done. Also, I just figured with 3 9 lvl spellcasters in the group, someone would have spellcraft. Nyuck nyuck nyuck.

They're definitely magical in some way...highly doubt it can be anything good. Probably shouldn't leave them here then. "I highly doubt there will be any problem with taking them. Someone from the village might be more experienced with potions and the like," he says, agreeing with Sjora's advice. He places them inside a separate pouch in his backpack, making very sure they don't get damaged.

@GM: "9 lvl"? I think you mean first level. And yeah, that was dumb of me not to do so. Live and learn, I guess.