Valkur's Rise of the Runelords

Game Master Valkur

Fort Save 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9, yeah, most likely not a success.

Fortitude Save: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13 (+2 more if the scream effect has the [evil] descriptor)

Fort Save: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22

On the bright side, that mostly likely saves, and Scoria now gets to hit it hard with her shuriken attacks.

Fort: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 1 = 18

If that saves,on her turn Midori will move to a spot where she can have a clean line of site and shoot it with her shortbow.

attack_shortbow: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 2 = 21
damage_shortbow: 1d6 ⇒ 6

Fortitude Save: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6

... and I see the dice gods were eagerly waiting for my return. ;)

Khrondak and Thaddeus are both paralyzed by the ghoulish scream.

Khrondak is paralyzed for 5 Rounds
Thaddeus is paralyzed for 5 rounds

Scoria's two shuriken sail though the air striking the beast twice. Then Midori's arrow homes in on the beast and scores a hit as well.

However the creature is still flying and it looks very angry.

Notick you still have your round 1 action and save to do.

Sorry for the delay! Awkward week IRL with work.

Fortitude Save 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (13) + 3 = 16

Notick, seeing his allies reactions to the awful screech, will move ahead of Khrondak to put himself in-between the others and the vile creature, just beside Scoria. He'll draw his weapon just as he squeezes passed the others. He looks to the creature with a curiosity, trying to recall any of his readings that may give hint to what it is.

Move action: D7 & Drawing Falcata weapon
Knowledge(Plains) to ID the creature: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 21

Shaking off the horrible sound, Bel'Tanis rushes forward and past his allies. The new scimitar slides easily from its sheath as he closes with the creature.
Move Action: D4 > D5 > D6 > D7 > E8
Standard Action: Attack the flappy head thing!

+1 fiery scimitar (one-handed): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15for: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8and fire: 1 = 1

Notick you recognize the creature as a Vargouille, which you know that wounds cause by its bite are very hard to cure even with magic.

Bel'Tanis you rush past your paralyzed companion and strike the creature hard as it tries to maneuver away from you. The creature falls to the ground dead.

Snapping his scimitar back into its sheath, Bel'Tanis wiggles a finger into his ear, "What kind of creature was that? And is everyone alright?"

"I am well." Scoria glances at Thaddeus and Khrondak, both paralyzed briefly. Hopefully it was a temporary condition, as she waited for a few moments to let them recover. Once they had shaken off their affliction, she takes a look ahead to see what is beyond this small chamber.

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (16) + 8 = 24

Notick sighs slightly, after realizing what the creature was. He places his sword back into it's scabbard before speaking. "That... Was close. If that thing had bitten anyone, we'd have had a bad rest of our day."

He rubs the back of his neck, giving his statement some time to sink in. "That thing was called a Vargouille. Nasty little guy, too." He pokes at the dead creature with the toe of his boot to ensure it's death.

"A var-what? I've never heard of such a thing. Are they common around Sandpoint?"

"I hope not. At least it died quickly."

"Not that I'm aware... I believe they're from one of the other plains. Someone had to of summoned it here."

He smirks slightly, looking up from the fallen face creature. "I'd say it's safe to assume that the girlfriend summoned this creature."

"Three-armed goblins, screaming heads with wings coming out the sides... I can't say I like this place very much. I shudder to think what could be next."

There appears to be nothing of interest in this room other than the dead Vargouille. The door beyond leads to a circular stair case that goes up, however it is completely filled with rubble.

The door on the other side of the shrine appears to be the only place left in the complex in which you have not searched.

Scoria waits outside of the door into the last section of this place, waiting on the others to make their preparations before they move inside. Once everyone is ready, she'll open up the door, ready to fling her shuriken at whatever might wait for them behind it.

Assuming everybody is moving to the door at the shrine.

This huge room looks like nothing more than an immense underground cathedral. Stone doors stand to either side of the main entrance, but beyond this, the walls are craved with strange, spiky runes. In center of the room is a large pool, with a ring of polished human skulls balanced on stone spikes arranged in a circle around the deeper midsection. At the far end of the room, a pair of stone stairways leads up to a pulpit on which sits a second pool, this one triangular, and filled with churning, bubbling water that looks like translucent lave. Yet while wisps of what look like heat and steam rise from the strange orange liquid, the itself is deathly cold.

As look into the room a small female looking creature with goat horns and bat wings suddenly appears near the orange pool.

She shrieks "How dare you intrude into the mother's sanctum," she then slashes her wrist, letting the blood flow into the pool. Then suddenly two of the ghoul like creatures appear before the pool.

"Kill them," she screams.

"That's his girlfriend? Poor boy's sicker than we thought."

Notick will shake his head at Midori's comment. He'd pull his blade as the woman appears in preparation for the obvious upcoming battle.

"Here we go, boys and girls, the truth could be nearby." He'll place a planned spell at the tip of his tongue, ready to execute the required words to unleash it.

"No, I don't think that's Nualia." Bel'Tanis shifts his feet into a more aggressive stance as his glowing scimitar whistles free from its sheath. "She might know where to find her though."

"Now we know where those creatures came from."

Thaddeus has his blade at the ready, eager to move in and strike at the new creatures rising from the orange pool.

Are we supposed to be rolling Init, or will DM be rolling it?

I think we're waiting for Valkur to kick things off. Though I'm enjoying the pre-fight banter!

I'll be doing init tonight. I'm in the office on Tuesdays, people look at me weird when I pull out D&D books at work. :P

Start of Round 1

Initiative Order:
Unknown 21
Bel'Tanis 15
Midori 12
Thaddeus 12
Notick 11
Scoria 10
Ghouls 10
Khrondak 8

Encounter Map
Cathedral Round 1

Unknown Creature Round 1 Action
After screaming "Kill Them," the creature takes flight and quickly disappears into thin air, leaving no trace.

Scoria moves over to the side of the pit, taking up a defensive posture in order to better endure an attack on herself. She glances around, concerned about where the tiny flying demoness had gotten off.

20ft move to F11, Total Defense action, and that's her turn.

Round 1, Initiative 15
Bel'Tanis advances cautiously into the room, looking around for the screeching thing that summoned the ghoulish brutes. "Where'd she go? Does anybody see her?" He shifts his focus to the pair of things that had been conjured and prepares to strike should one come close enough.

Move Action: Advance to J7
Standard Action: Ready Action (attack first oppoent to move adjacent

+1 fiery scimitar (one-handed, power attack): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13for: 1d6 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9and fire: 1 = 1
add +1 to hit and damage if Midori uses inspire courage and ready action triggers afterward

Thaddeus moves up to cover the other stairwell, opposite of Bel'Tanis. It is likely that one will come down each, and if they can block them on the stairs they will have limited ability to attack the others.

Move to G11, and total defense since he's out of shield spells.

Notick rushes ahead, moving within range for his planned spell. He holds his sword in his main hand, but points his free-hand's palm towards the ghoulish creatures and unleashes the fiery cone of hell.

Move to I9
Casting 'Burning Hands' on creatures. DC: 14 reflex for half
Damage: 2d4 ⇒ (3, 1) = 4

Notick you cast your spell and engulf the two ghoul like creatures in fire, however they appear to be unharmed by your spell.

Ghouls Actions, Round 1

The creatures leap to the attack each taking one of the stairs going down to the main level of the room.

Ghoul 1

The first ghoul attacks Scoria guarding the bottom of the staircase. It a tempts to bite.

Move to H12
Attack Scoria
Bite: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 17

Scoria, your defensive posture allows you to dodge the creature's furious assault.

Ghoul 2

Bel'Tanis you are prepared to strike as the second creature barrels into you. Somehow the creature manages to avoid your blade. Still a miss even if Midori uses inspire courage.

Move to K8
Attack Bel'Tanis
Bite: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19

Bel'Tanis you are not so lucky, the creature is able to bite through your armor.

Bite Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

And a Will save.

Will Save: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 2 = 19 (+1 if it's a fear effect, +2 if the ghoul is evil, +3 if it's a fear effect AND the ghoul is evil)

@Bel'Tanis you made the save.

Khrondak storms into the cathedral and sees Bel'Tanis and Scoria in combat against the ghouls. As the hideous undead sinks his teeth into the Aasimar, he quickly chooses his target: putting his hand forward, the warrior priest fires a flaming bolt.

Move to H7
Fire bolt against ghoul in K8 (ranged touch): 1d20 + 3 - 4 ⇒ (14) + 3 - 4 = 13
Fire damage: 1d6 ⇒ 2

Midori begins her inspire courage chant.

Khrondak your bolt of fire strikes ghoul attacking Bel'Tanis, however it does not appear to harm the creature.

Start of Round 2

Encounter Map
Cathedral Round 2

Round 2
Bel'Tanis' scimitar sings as it arcs through the air in a crimson flash as he strikes at the ghoul. "Where'd the summoner go? Did anybody see where she went?!"

+1 fiery scimitar (one-handed, power attack, inspire courage): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25for: 1d6 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12and fire: 1 = 1
Crit?: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25for another: 1d6 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10

Notick maneuvers in towards one of the ghouls, after the fray disperses, bringing his Falcata up to swing in a wide arch towards the creature.

5ft step j9
Attack: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5
Dun..Dun...Dunnnnn

Not wanting to give the creature another opportunity to bite her, Scoria engages it, her first attack a vicious blow meant to stun it for a brief moment.

Flurry of Blows - 1st Attack will be a Stunning Fist attempt, DC 14 Fort Save to avoid Stun for 1 round if it hits.

Flurry 1, Stunning Fist: 1d20 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 3 + 1 = 21
F1 Damage: 1d6 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 3 + 1 = 10
Flurry 2: 1d20 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 3 + 1 = 22
F2 Damage: 1d6 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 3 + 1 = 10

Woah. Maximum damage. If Thaddeus manages to hit it as well, Scoria will have most likely finished it off.

Thaddeus offers a quick prayer to Iomedae, asking her to bless his arm in combat, before he swings at the ugly Not-ghoul creature. He levels a decent swing at the thing, but given where he is beside the stairs, he doesn't have room for a solid follow through.

Swift, Arcane Pool
Attack on Ghoul 1 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18, damage 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

Thaddeus and Scoria's combined assault kills the creature with ease.

Bel'Tanis does a overhand chop with his new fiery red scimitar, splitting the creatures skull and killing it instantly.

Nice work!

Scoria doesn't waste time after the creature is killed, turning to the others. "Shut the doors," She speaks up, moving swiftly to grab the cathedral doors and close them as fast as possible, before turning around. "The other creature may still be here. We do not want it escaping."

She glances at the odd pool where the ghoulish creatures had come from - she has no proper knowledge of magic, so she hopes her allies can make sense of it. "She bled into the pool and made more of those creatures. If that's all it takes, one could make an army...so why only two?"

Thaddeus is about to call out to close the doors, but Scoria beats him to it. He instead heads up to the top of the balcony, puts his back to the wall, and prepares to see if the creature strikes. Once it does, he will attempt to prevent it from acting further. He has the words of a spell poised on the edge of his lips.

Move to I13
Ready, cast Daze DC 13 Will as soon as it becomes visible.

Scoria quickly runs and slams the door shut.

At this point I am amusing everybody is trying to find the creatures assuming it is invisible.

Suddenly the creature begins to cackle in an arcane language, quickly becoming visible next to the basin. The creature attempts to cast a spell at Thaddeus.

Surprise Round
Thaddeus I'll let you take the ready action, since you are within 30' and have line of sight when the creature appears.

Everybody else is surprised.

Initiative
Thaddeus 19
Unknown Creature 18

Thaddeus you cast your spell in response to the creature's spell at you.

Will Save: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26

Creature Surprise Round
Standard Action, Cast Spell
Move Action, Fly to K11 20' up

Thaddeus, Will Save

Round 1

Notick 21
Thaddeus 19
Unknown Creature 18
Khrondak 18
Bel'Tanis 13
Scoria 6
Midori 5

Encounter Map
Cathedral New Encounter 1

Will save 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23
If it is a surprise round, wouldn't it get only 1 action?

Curse you and your rules :)
Edit the creature is in Q13 10' elevation.

And you made your save Thaddeus.

I'll hold off on posting to see what Khrondak does first

Unexpected access issues. Bot me.