To face a God of iron. (Inactive)

Game Master DBH

The door are sturdy but unlocked and untrapped.

F20. Lab 4: Animal Research
A foul, musky smell fills this room. The room is crammed with hundreds of metal cages and boxes strewn about haphazardly. Much of the metal in this room is twisted and gnawed, and the remains of several dismantled metal automatons lie in pieces on the floor.

Sitting in the room, gnawing on one of the automations is a small, golden furred creature with eight legs.

What are you doing now? This is a surprise round.

I will berolling everyones initiative in case you were wondering how this will go? :)

Can't make that knowledge DC. :(

What is it? It looks sorta cute. Olimpia says as she raises and readies her musket.

"I've no idea, but I doubt it's friendly," Raktar says, raising his chainsaw and using his magic to strengthen his muscles in expectation of a confrontation.

Standard Action to cast bull's strength on myself.

"If it's in this place, it can't be good." Korvan says readying his blade.

KNow Arcana: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (18) + 17 = 35

Dilana first smiles and then frowns when she sees the creature.

"Not cute, no. Aurumvorax! Dont use poison, fire or slashing weapons. I can hit it with lightning."

She is smiling at this last part and tries to push to the front of the room.

My intention would be to get up to where I can see and launch a bolt of lightning if I am able.

"No slashing weapon? Damnit!" Korvan curses as he begins to put his greatsword away in favor of his morningstar and dragoon pistol.

@Dilana - Doesn't DR 10/piercing or slashing mean that either of those beat the DR, so bludgeoning would be the bad call?

No Bludgeoning weapons. DR is 1DR 10/piercing or slashing - that means piercing or slashing bypasses DR.

Dilana, it's surprise round, you could get into the room but you won't have an action to cast your spell.

K Arcana: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (17) + 16 = 33

Figgy puts his bombs away, pulling out a flask of acid, Figgy waits for an opening

F it. She is going in. As a side note the bad information she gave was kind of an RP choice. That sort of thing probably only works at a RL game table.

Really wanting to see the creature better and annoyed that she did not get to do much in these tight confines Dilana pushes ahead into the room. Move action as suprise round. As she moves she draws crystal and wool from her pouch as she knows she is pretty fast and hopes to cast a spell before noticed.

Dilana hurries into the room, preparing a spell.

The Aurumvorax lunges at her furiously.

Battle order up top.

Dilana, you know it will bite you, clamp on and rake you to shreds with all 8 of it's claws. Lucky it was a surprise round or you would be wearing it now. :)

"Dilana, look out!" Raktar calls as he glimpses the creature turn it's head towards her. His desire to protect her takes over as he slips through the doors, past his friends, and up to the aurumvorax. He brings his growling chainsaw to full life and stabs it towards the furry beast.

Move Action to move 30ft (hoping it doesn't have Combat Reflexes!), Standard Action to attack, assuming Dilana has some sort of weapon out to enable the flank.

Chainsaw attack, flanking: 1d20 + 11 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 11 + 2 = 20
Damage: 3d6 + 15 ⇒ (1, 2, 3) + 15 = 21

Lightning: 8d6 ⇒ (5, 3, 2, 3, 2, 6, 6, 4) = 31 Ref DC19 for 1/2

Dilana smiles at the warning from Raktar but she was confident she would be fast enough to beat the creature to the punch. As the lightning leaps from her hands she mumbles to herself.

"Bad weird kitty."

Dancing through the combat space in her characteristic springing step Olimpia slashes at the cat-like creature as she flows in and past it.

+2 cold iron wakizashi: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (15) + 15 = 301d8 + 8 + 4d6 ⇒ (2) + 8 + (4, 6, 5, 1) = 26

Korvan moves into the room, and swings away with his morningstar.

Raging, Reckless Abandon, Power Attack +1 Morningstar: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (6) + 15 = 21
Damage: 1d8 + 12 ⇒ (8) + 12 = 20

Korvan & Raktar both miss the fast, little beast.

Olimpia gives it a nasty slash as she springs passed it.

reflex: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (14) + 12 = 26

It manages to evade most of Dilana's spell, but still hisses in pain, it's golden fur standing up in the shock.

bite vs Dilana: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (14) + 18 = 32

CMB 24 for grapple, so it automatically succeeds.

Claw vs Dilana: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (8) + 18 = 26
Claw vs Dilana: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (10) + 18 = 28
Claw vs Dilana: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (11) + 18 = 29
Claw vs Dilana: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (18) + 18 = 36

damage bite: 1d6 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6
damage Claw: 1d4 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9
damage Claw: 1d4 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7
damage Claw: 1d4 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8
damage Claw: 1d4 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9

39hp damage to Dilana, and it's clamped on.

Better deal with it fast, next round it gets to use it's Rake ability, giving it 8 claw attacks!

Everyone may now act, but Figgy's action counts first.

GM - combat manoeuvres are attack rolls, therefore still fail on a natural 1. I know it's not much, but a 5% chance might save Dilana!

"Get it off her!" Raktar cries out, seeing the creature ripping into her. He aims his chainsaw carefully at it's back and lower legs, doing everything he can to keep the spinning blades away from Dilana.

Full Round Action to full attack.

Chainsaw attack: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (14) + 11 = 25
Damage: 3d6 + 15 ⇒ (5, 2, 3) + 15 = 25

Chainsaw attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11
Damage: 3d6 + 15 ⇒ (4, 6, 2) + 15 = 27

CMB to grapple: 1d20 + 24 ⇒ (9) + 24 = 33

Nice try. :)

Worth a shot.

As the claws rake her body Dilana lets out a little shriek before yelling.

"Bad kitty!" and actually laughing a little as she attempts to cast a spell.

Concentration: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (5) + 14 = 19

She seems to keep it together just enough and her mouth opens wide as a scream, slient to all but the Aurumvorax, slams into her target.

Ear-Piercing Scream: 4d6 ⇒ (5, 3, 1, 4) = 13 DC14 Fort for Half and negates daze.

Spell Resistance: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15 if needed.

Olimpia dashes in to strike and dashes back out, worried about the witch. What in the hells is she doing on the front line?

+2 cold iron wakizashi: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (16) + 15 = 311d8 + 8 + 4d6 ⇒ (3) + 8 + (1, 6, 3, 5) = 26

Korvan steps up to the golden gorger and unleashes a flurry of morningstar swings and gunfire.

Raging, Power Attack, Reckless Abandon, Two-Weapon Fighting +1 Morningstar: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (3) + 13 = 16
Damage: 1d8 + 12 ⇒ (1) + 12 = 13

Raging, Power Attack, Reckless Abandon, Two-Weapon Fighting +1 Morningstar: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13
Damage: 1d8 + 12 ⇒ (7) + 12 = 19

Point Blank, Raging, Two-Weapon Fighting Masterwork Dragoon Pistol: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (9) + 13 = 22 (vs. touch AC)
Damage: 1d8 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14

Botting Figgy.

Ranged Bomb vs touch AC: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (3) + 10 = 13

His bomb missing the Aurumvorax, but splashing it with flames while avoiding everybody else.

Reflex vs splash: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (3) + 12 = 15 Fails.

Raktar hits once.

Olimpia hits again.

Korvan misses with his morningstar and then shoots it.

It flops to the floor dead.

Save your spell Dilana, it's dead by 1hp!

No loot in this room. What are you doing now?

Man, I thought that was about to get real ugly. Good job we killed it, looked like it might maul Dilana to death.

As the aurumvorax flops dead to the ground Raktar deactivates his chainsaw, places it down, and rushes over to check on Dilana. "Are you OK?" he asks, ready to use what little magic he has left to heal her wounds.

I've got 12d8+50 worth of cure spells left. I feel like we should all heal up and then leave the tower to take a break.

"I won't be much help here!" Figgy yells from the rear.

Perception for the ghost: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (18) + 13 = 31

Realizing the creature has died Dilana holds her magic scream but, despite being bloodied, smiles at the rest of the group. She shrugs and calls on her powers to knit the wounds closed and then uses the CLW wand twice.

CMW: 2d8 + 8 ⇒ (7, 3) + 8 = 18
CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4
CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9

"OK, yep all good." she looks at the dead aurumvorax "Very bad kitty but kind of fun."

She looks at the others.

"So camp?"

Olimpia looks a little pale as Dilana's wounds close. That was very brave Dilana, but you are not armored like some of us. You gave me quite a scare. I would not being opposed to leaving for a night and recovering strength. Remember that we might still be ambushed on the way out so should not try to leave completely depleated.

So the call to rest and recover has grown stronger. Are you heading back to the glade to do so?

"I will need to brew some more infusion for tomorrow I am almost out." Figgy agrees with the assessment.

we did almost 4 full floors of the tower, that is like a 25 minute adventuring day

Olimpia would vote for the glade.

Dilana looks at Olimpia. "Brave no. Small spaces, stuck in the back. Get the mind acting weird after a bit."

She agrees with the others that resting outside is probably the best.

As you travel through the trees back to the Star monarch's glade you realize that you are being flanked by a large, magnificent Leopard?

It makes no attempt to hide, or to come closer, in fact it seems to be escorting you?

When you reach the clearing the Leopard fades away in to the trees again.

Back where you can rest safely, anything anyone wishes to do before returning?

Raktar is pleased to be out of the tower, it's insane design and nightmarish denizens unsettling him more than he lets on. The peace offered by the sacred glade is a balm to his mind and he allows himself to truly relax for the first time in days. He takes comfort in the simple actions of maintaining his weapons and armour before descending into a restful and dreamless sleep.

Before we set off again, I'm going to try to use my vision in iron revelation to scry on Xoud.

After a light breakfast, and with his armour and weapons ready for the day ahead, Raktar sits quietly for a moment, staring into the polished surface of the massive hammer he has carried since his first delve into the ruins beneath Torch. He connects with the metal, meditating on Brigh's influence on his life and how she has forged him into her weapon. He uses his recent experiences with the tower and it's insane master to try to divine Xoud's location, to spy upon him at a distance, so that the group might be more prepared for their next encounter with the deranged ghost.

It's a DC 18 Will save (given that I've met the subject firsthand but have no other connection to him), which I suspect he won't have much trouble with, but I figure it's worth a shot.

Will save vs Vision in iron: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (20) + 11 = 31 :)

Displeased. I hope that comes back to bite him in the arse when he rolls a 1 for something important.

Yep. Good to get that nat 20 out of the way.

Olimpia openly thanks Desna for this sanctuary and meditates and prays as part of her rest. She spends some time with captured spell books and copies a couple into her own book. Early the next morning she is ready to go.

When they get outside Dilana stretches and cracks her neck. Clearly happy to be out of the confined space. When the leopard appears she smiles wondering about its nature. Is it supernatural or just a natural cat that is somehow benign?

KNow Nature/Planes/Arcana: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (16) + 18 = 34

Back at camp she spends some time with Lancelot deciding what spells they will want ready for the next trip into the tower and even works out a way to have them effect ghosts.

At some point at camp she fills the others in on the fact that she has teleportation magic now so they can actually get back to civilization if need be.

We still have that skill chip right? The Implant?

Figgy sets out his things on the ground, having Springy help him to sort some of the new items they have found as well into piles that people can use.

"That vest is interesting, could be good if I had a little while to just do some crafting."

Alchemy: 1d20 + 21 + 9 ⇒ (16) + 21 + 9 = 46
Alchemy: 1d20 + 21 + 9 ⇒ (10) + 21 + 9 = 40
Alchemy: 1d20 + 21 + 9 ⇒ (19) + 21 + 9 = 49
Alchemy: 1d20 + 21 + 9 ⇒ (5) + 21 + 9 = 35 Alchemist's Fire

Figgy pulls out more items, a few vials that is better not asked where he had all these hidden and whips up some acid in no time.

"Someone want one of these to throw just in case?" Figgy smiles as he holds them up.

Olimpia already paid to have the implant implanted, at least one of them. Its why her perception is as good as it is.

Ok then, well I can make and implant them now

@Dilana. You think it was a friendly Animal lord. There are rumors that there is one who watches over Iadenveigh.

How long are you going to spend crafting?

Once you have finished preparing you move cautiously back to the Choking tower and up the stairs to where you were previously.

Back to where you got a face full of Aurumvorax.

What are you doing now?

I'm going to do some buffing:
Myself - keen edge, bull's strength, lead blades, shield of faith
Olimpia and Korvan - keen edge on a weapon of your choice
Other buffs will follow when combat ensues.

As the group climbs the stairs to the fourth floor Raktar channels his magic into his armour and the weapons of himself, Olimpia and Korvan. [b]"Is there anything left to look at on this floor?"[/ooc] he asks, looking round at the devastation.

As they walk back towards the tower Dilana spends a lot of time telling anyone that will listen that she can hurt ghosts and things of that nature now. She is clearly overly proud of this situation thinking her patron has given her an unusual ability. Of course she also mentiones teleport a few times.

"You know if we clear out the tower maybe we could keep it. You know make it ours so we have a place to go if we need time to rest or craft. Teleport makes that easy."

Before going into the tower she casts mage armor which will last basically the full day.

Well I don't know how long it takes to make some ALchemist acid and fire really I cannot imagine it takes to long.

"I have some potions to pass out before we get into the tower." Figgy says to everyone

Olimpia - Invisibilty/Cats Grace/Shield - 9 Minutes
Korvan - Thorn Body/Bulls Strength/Shield - 9 rounds/9 Minutes/9 Minutes

Before Dilana prepares her spells for the day Olimpia asks If you could spare an extra mage armor or two for me and Raktar it might help if we actually have to fight that ghost.

As the group enters the tower she will activate her proximity helmet.

Well I don't know how long it takes to make some ALchemist acid and fire really I cannot imagine it takes to long.

Depends which set of rules you use. Assuming you take 10 on the check (just to make the maths easier):

"Oh, that is an interesting idea. While not helping normally it should help with the insubstantial nature of ghosts and what not. Sure, sure. "

Ret-coning to not learn any Burning Hands but three Mage Armor.

Alchemical Crafting: In one game I am in the GM recognized the issue and house ruled alchemical crafting to something more reasonable. It was sorta forced when we ran into a creature that was dependent on an alchemical to live and we figured out it would take a small army of experts crafting the alchemical full time to keep him alive.

Korvan nods in thanks to Raktar and Figgy as the pair work their particular magics to strengthen the party before re-entering the tower.

Note to self: Keen Edge on the greatsword, Bull's Strength, Shield, Thorn body.

Almost missed your post there Figgy as you posted as I was typing my post. Thanks for the buffs, but particularly that 9 minute shield infusion. My shield spell lasts 1 minute. :) And thanks for the keen edge Raktar. Makes me threat 6 times in 20 and that makes me happy. Say, if I have ghost touch going on my weapon can I crit and sneak attack a ghost?