Thornkeep: Enigma Vaults Table II (Inactive)

Game Master Awenydd83

The party finds nothing of interest within this room, and it seems to be a defensible position if the party wishes it to be.

Jirelle wanders in, and begins stabbing at the wall with her sword.

"Poke, poke. Stab. Stabby wall. Make holes. Holes, like cheese. Highlands cheese. White, with holes. Can take it with you. Portable. Portable cheese holes. Me hungry." She begins to rummage through her pack for something to eat, preferably corn chips.

Karasuma is willing to take the chance and starts working with other folks to arrange watches, two-deep and overlapping to make sure that there's no gaps... and to cover for Jirelle who... isn't herself right now.

Desna, we may not be on good terms right now, what with me not coming when you called, but... could you please give Jirelle some guidance and strength? It's not normally your thing but that happening to anybody is just terrifying. Please, thank you, and I promise to leave a decent offering at the next shrine of yours I come across.

Rolando will take the first watch with Karasuma before trying to get some rest in this dangerous place.

Jirelle mumbles quietly as she falls asleep.

"Cous cous custodian applesauce custard."

She mumbles unintelligibly shaking her head. It's not quite right.

"Crease caster diet hips-nose custodies."

It's on the tip of her tongue, a lost, fleeting memory. Her thoughts trail off into darkness and dreams. Quis custodiet ipsos custodes... Maybe tomorrow she'll remember what it means.

Ok, guys. When you finish your turns, just call me. Let Jirelle out of this vigilance. She looks very strange, maybe a good rest renews her breath.

Amiri will rest as long as won't her turn.

"Quiz caster dot rip socks toadies," Jirelle murmurs in her sleep.

The party makes it through the night with no hassle, and awakes the next day refreshed.. All except Jirelle, who seems little better than the day before.

Ability damage, not drain, right? Heals at 1 per day... So, Int/Wis/Cha now only -3 instead of -4! Not enough to make any improvement in her rolls, but slightly better.

Adjusted scores (post-sleep):
Int: 7, Wis: 9, Cha: 11

Unless GM rules it takes 24 hrs, not just a good night's sleep. Very little difference, in terms of crunchy mechanics, as these are all still between ability bonus tiers.

Well, Jirelle seems better, I believe we can continue to explore this cursed place, says Amiri while gathers her stuff.

Let's go. Follow me through the south door."

The barbarian goes to the south door, expecting that her fellows follow her.

Once there, she will inspect the door for any hidden tricks,

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (20) + 8 = 28

Jirelle follows along, whistling happily, and poking the stone wall with her rapier as she goes.

"No secret door there. No secret door there. No secret door there ..."

She still seems a bit slow, mentally, but at least is no longer high on mushrooms.

Ability damage, not drain, right? Heals at 1 per day... So, Int/Wis/Cha now only -3 instead of -4! Not enough to make any improvement in her rolls, but slightly better. Adjusted scores (post-sleep): Int: 7, Wis: 9, Cha: 11 Unless GM rules it takes 24 hrs, not just a good night's sleep. Very little difference, in terms of crunchy mechanics, as these are all still between ability bonus tiers.

Yes, it is ability damage not drain. I agree with you about the crunchy mechanics and we will go for it with the one point healed. The general idea is that it takes a while to heal up and yall spent the afternoon and night resting up so I am good.

-Posted with Wayfinder

And what about the south room? =)

out doing laundry and updating from my phone. I will update the south room when I get back to a computer :-)

-Posted with Wayfinder

What he meant to type is the south room smells of sunshine and freshness. Magic sprites zoom between pieces of cloth with little sparks of electricity, imbuing each piece with just the right amount of static. Colors run wild in your vision as whites and reds swirl together, and everything comes out pink and faded.

In the far corner, a sweaty ogre folds clothes, grumping about how no one else helps out around here.

I am laughing way too hard to take offense to the implied slight upon my domestic abilities.. but I can commiserate with the Ogre!! Unfortunately, That is not what lies to the south..

As Amiri throws open the door, she reveals two blue, hairless beasts. They look like lions, but instead of a mane and tail, long tentacles wave in the air, snapping and biting.

Bold May Post
Karasuma
Jirelle
Yoon
Thing 1 (Yellow)
Thing 2 (Red)
Amiri
Rolando

Before we travel I'll again cast Heightened Awareness and Heroism on myself.

Jirelle,good news-- it actually helps you out greatly that you heal one ability damage to each of your stats that were damaged. It's not like how I believe it was in 3.0 where the damage actually lowered your score. You take a -1 penalty to the relevant rolls for every 2 points of ability damage that you have taken. So 1 point of ability damage does nothing, 2-3 give you a minus 1, etc. Your actual stats are inconsequential in this. So the day of rest helps a lot.

Ability Score Damage

Dungeoneering: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9

Does anyone know what in the seven hells those things are?

"Not a freaking clue. Reminds me of some bar stories I've heard about displacer beasts, though? Also going to guess given EVERYTHING else in here that's had some sort of noodly appendage you don't want it touchin' you?"

The tengu moves off to one side. "If we can draw them into the hall maybe we can take them one at a time? Back up, draw them out, Amiri on point, Rolando back her up, Jirelle go to the other side of hall, Yoon get ready with the burning?"

Readied action if folks do back up and the things follow to dice up the 'lead' thing.

Yawning as she gets up to the noises after everyone seems ready, the child nods a bit as the talking crow spoke something to her about fire. Taking a few steps forward Yoon realizes that the man was serious! "But I just woke up! Why won't they let us sleep more?!"

Readied action for in case and of the "doggies" move in front of Amiri.

Ah, 'Thing 1' and 'Thing 2'. Jirelle recalls them vaguely from a book read to her as a child. She doesn't have a red jumpsuit or a goldfish, but she certainly knows how to make a mess.

"I know some new tricks, a lot of good tricks. I will show them to you."

Jirelle's mental faculties may be impaired, but her blade is not. She steps to the side and readies a stab for when a beast is flanked by her companions.

Rapier+flanking: 1d20 + 10 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 10 + 2 = 24
dmg+precision: 1d6 + 1 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 1 + 4 = 8

I am laughing way too hard to take offense to the implied slight upon my domestic abilities..

No slight on you, just describing how laundry happens at my house, along with a little wishful thinking about the next encounter.

The ogre part is literally true, though, I swear.

To complete Karasuma's Master Plan, Yoon move 5' 'up'/'north' and Amiri move 10' 'up'/'north', if you would be so kind?

Done on my end. Hope that helps!

*fingers crossed*

To complete Karasuma's Master Plan, Yoon move 5' 'up'/'north' and Amiri move 10' 'up'/'north', if you would be so kind?

Just waiting my turn to do this. ;)

The group tries to prepare the battlefield to their advantage and the beasts strike out at Amiri as she stands in the door. The first thing misses completely, but the second manages to get some teeth through her armor. She starts to feel a burning in her arm..

Yellow Bite: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10
Y. Tentacle 1: 1d20 - 3 ⇒ (3) - 3 = 0
y. Tentacle 2: 1d20 - 3 ⇒ (11) - 3 = 8

Red Bite: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 2 = 19
Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6
Amiri, I need a fort save on each of your next two turns, please!
R. Tentacle 1: 1d20 - 3 ⇒ (4) - 3 = 1
R. Tentacle 2: 1d20 - 3 ⇒ (13) - 3 = 10

Bold May Post
Party
Thing 1 (Yellow)
Thing 2 (Red)
Amiri: 2 saves

Jirelle readies her rapier for when the enemies have finished moving and end within her reach.

Rapier+flanking: 1d20 + 10 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 10 + 2 = 32
dmg+precision: 1d6 + 1 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 1 + 4 = 9

CONFIRM Rapier+flanking: 1d20 + 10 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 10 + 2 = 28
EXTRA dmg: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Fighting is so much easier when there's someone to tell you what to do, Jirelle mulls.

Does anyone know what in the seven hells those things are?

Two exemplars of meat balls ready for slaughter!"

Amiri enters in rage and swings her bastard sword in the direction of the yellow thing.

Once she striked the beast, she retreats, trying to defend herself from any unexpected such attack.

Atk Btd Swd + PA + Rage: 1d20 + 9 - 2 ⇒ (10) + 9 - 2 = 172d8 + 10 + 6 ⇒ (3, 8) + 10 + 6 = 27
Acrobatics - avoid AoO (praying for a good luck): 1d20 ⇒ 9
Fort save: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12

AoO from both of them. :(

Jirelle stands ready if the creatures pursue, while Amiri tries to return the compliment with her sword before retreating. She lays one low, but the other is able to take a chunk out of her as she retreats.
Aoo: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 2 = 21
Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

Bold May Post
Rest of Party
Thing 2

Do you need me to re-roll the readied attack for this round?

No.. once everyone has gone, we will figure out what happens with the creatures and what readied actions will be triggered.

@Rolando: could you please help me with this save? :x

@Rolando: could you please help me with this save? :x

Unfortunately, no. I can only do that if I already have my song up and I had bad init this fight. I can possibly help you out on the second save, though. Amiri, also don't forget that you have Cleave. If both of the creatures are next to you (and each other) you can actually attack the second one if the first attack hits.

As for my turn, I'm confused by the map. I'm still in the previous room, but I should be up in the front. Can we say that going forward I can be close by to whomever is the person going in first? By that I mean, our "standard formation" is me up front, not way in the back. I want to front line and I only have 20 ft move speed.

Rolando strikes up a song and hurries to catch up to the others.

Song--Keen to Jirelle and Frost to Amiri. Spirit Punches all around.

Karasuma remains at the ready to slice and dice at the thing.

That... changes the math on the roll, plus two to hit, plus one for damage, and Punch Buddy if the thing closes to that nice big open spot we made for it.

Poor Amiri. It's as if the "designer" found everything that did ability damage, and put them in one place. *sigh*

Almost like a big middle finger to parties that don't have Lesser Restoration or take their time doing this.

@Rolando: I couldn't use cleave there. The feat says "If you hit, you deal damage normally and can make an additional attack (using your full base attack bonus) against a foe that is adjacent to the first and also within reach", and they weren't adjacent, that's why I didn't used it.

@Jirelle: hi five here, baby!

... and now that the song is up, spirit attacks to accompany the readied action
Spirit attack: 1d20 + 4 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 4 + 3 = 27
Spirit dmg: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

EDIT to confirm:
CONFIRM Spirit attack: 1d20 + 4 + 3 ⇒ (19) + 4 + 3 = 26
EXTRA Spirit dmg: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

"Oooh, spirits. Spirits for haunting, spirits for drinking, spirits for dying."

Jirelle is babbling again.

Confirm that crit, mister spirit!

@Rolando: I couldn't use cleave there. The feat says "If you hit, you deal damage normally and can make an additional attack (using your full base attack bonus) against a foe that is adjacent to the first and also within reach", and they weren't adjacent, that's why I didn't used it.

Ok, gotcha. By the time I checked the map, there was only one left on there, so I didn't know the original position. If our characters can somehow determine that you're diseased, I'd be happy to give you my vial of antiplague that I keep on hand for just such an occasion. :-)

The Rolando's positioning frustrates Karasuma plan. And Amiri was hit by an AoO in vain. xD

Instead of raging, withdraw was always an option.

And Rolando's position does interrupt flanking. These quarters are pretty cramped.

@GM: Can you summarize where things stand?

@Jirelle: I appreciate to see some blood spills, that's why I love Rage. And thanks to the Rage we have one less enemy for now. :)

The Rolando's positioning frustrates Karasuma plan. And Amiri was hit by an AoO in vain. xD

You can just back me up if that's ok

@Rolando: this was the plan:

The tengu moves off to one side. "If we can draw them into the hall maybe we can take them one at a time? Back up, draw them out, Amiri on point, Rolando back her up, Jirelle go to the other side of hall, Yoon get ready with the burning?"

Now we need another plan. :P

I have failed my fort saves vs disease that my wife (hereafter referred to as the Plague Monkey) has exposed me to. Whatever dungeon crud this is.. sucks.. I am out of commission for at least today. I have been trying to fight it off.. but I havent had solid food in a week, and am just getting worse. Back to bed for me.. Sorry guys.

That's what you get for doing laundry. It's why I never do laundry. Plague-infested *mumble* *mumble* ...

And this is why you don't give strange space plagues to your players. It never ends well.

Yes, well, technically, the Plague Monkey gave it to me first, and I tried to share with Amiri! I still haven't had solid food since Monday, but at least today I can move more than 20' without having serious problems..

Pursuing its meal, Thing 2 chases after Amiri as she retreats.. setting off a whole lot of badness. With a final shrill cry, it falls dead under the barrage of strikes and spirit punches.

Out of Combat

"That was ... brief." Yet felt like it took a while. Time is weird in this universe.

"Amiri got hit. You doin' okay? I'm okay. We're okay. We're all okay. Except maybe you. Are you okay?"

Jirelle continues babbling while she further explores the room the creatures inhabited.

Perception-Wis dmg: 1d20 + 10 - 2 ⇒ (1) + 10 - 2 = 9

Before we travel I'll again cast Heightened Awareness and Heroism on myself.

Jirelle,good news-- it actually helps you out greatly that you heal one ability damage to each of your stats that were damaged. It's not like how I believe it was in 3.0 where the damage actually lowered your score. You take a -1 penalty to the relevant rolls for every 2 points of ability damage that you have taken. So 1 point of ability damage does nothing, 2-3 give you a minus 1, etc. Your actual stats are inconsequential in this. So the day of rest helps a lot.

Ability Score Damage

[dice=Dungeoneering] 1d20 + 8

Does anyone know what in the seven hells those things are?

Jirelle, read this previous post. Your ability damage is only giving minus one to the applicable rolls.