GM ShadowLord's Ironfang Invasion (Inactive)

Game Master The Rising Phoenix

Fortitude: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19

As the frogs swarmed around them, Selde managed to roll away from them. Knowing her arrows and blades would have little effect on so many small creatures, Selde began to chant in Druidic. Nàdar, togaidh mi lamh orm bho do lasair." As she finished, a sword made entirely from flame appeared in her hands.

5ft step out of the swarm, Standard action cast Flame Blade, Move action study target purple swarm.

Fort: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22

Jillian steps back out of the tiny frogs knocking them off with her hand as she looks toe Thael "Can you burn them?"

If no one else claims it, Emil asks Thael if he can use prestidigitation to clean and deodorize the masterwork hide armor and then trades is ordinary hide shirt for the better craftmanship. It provides better protection with less weight, while being a bit more restrictive.

Fortitude: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5
ST damage: 1d3 ⇒ 2

ST = 12, CMD = 15

Emil is caught off guard the frogs and flees from their midst, feeling a bit weaker from the poison. He pulls a flask of alchemist's to throw at the pests. He waits for the others to clear the swarm and lobs the flask into frog swarm.

Ranged Touch Attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19
Fire Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 4

Armor is all yours, Emil.

Fortitude: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14

Caspan retreats from the frogs -- there're enough that punching them all would take way too long -- pulling out his remaining jar of alchemist's fire and throwing it toward the little ambidextrians.

Unfortunately, he's still throwing one of the little frogs off him when he does, and the throw is wild.

Fire: 1d20 + 5 - 1 ⇒ (2) + 5 - 1 = 6
1d6 ⇒ 5
Miss direction: 1d8 ⇒ 1

Fort 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23

Someone forgot to buy some acid or alchemist’s fire!

Wren shrieks as the frogs overwhelm her. She moves 40’ as far from the swarms as she can.

Posting from the road tonight. Could someone move me away, please?

I would normally bot Thael here, but I'm not tracking his spells well enough to react to this situation. I'll give him until morning to post.

Moved Wren 40 away to the north.

Knowledge(Nature): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22

Emil is familiar with these creatures.

Probably nothing that he can know that will help here, but in case there is something we should know, Emil will share with everyone.

Also, could Entangle be used here? Would it be effective against swarms?

Thael feels shivers of disgust down his spine and extremities as the nasty frogs swarm over him.

"Spread out!" he says, moving away from the frogs and drawing a flask of acid from his bandolier.

fort: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23

Sorry...Sundays are my hardest day to post...

Emil knows that these poisonous frog swarms are composed of small, fierce, poisonous frogs (duh). The swarm moves collectively, hopping or jumping toward their prey.

Single poisonous frogs mate during the second half of the year. The male attracts a female through a series of unique mating calls consisting of strange guttural sounds. When a female answers the call, she lays a clutch of 1d6 eggs in a damp, dark area covered with leaves. The male fertilizes the eggs and protects them during their incubation period. Two weeks later the eggs hatch and the male carries the tadpoles to the water on its back. Tadpoles reach maturity in two to three months.

A single poisonous frog is a small dark green frog with black bands or stripes on its hind legs. These stripes function as a warning to predators that the frog is poisonous. The skin of a poisonous frog is very smooth to the touch. The middle digit on each of its extremities is slightly shorter than the others.

Yes, there is nothing especially useful there. They are poisonous and a swarm which you already know.

RE: Entangle - It doesn't look like a single target spell so I'm going to say yes.

Father Emil's flask explodes on the frogs as a burst of fire blackens and engulfs many of them while Caspan's goes the wrong direction.

The frogs diverge and split into two separate groups, one following Father Emil (4 damage) and the other swarming Selde (5 damage). Thousands of poisonous frogs climb all over their legs and jump onto their body. (Both make another fort save or take 1d3 strength damage. Father Emil, yours is DC14 since failed yours last round.)

Everyone is up!

Fortitude: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6
Strength Damage: 1d3 ⇒ 2

Strength is down to 10 now.

Something in the poison seems especially hard for Emil's constitution to deal with and he feels himself getting weaker. He dashes as far away from the swarms as he can get and still send spell energy their way, but he delays long enough for Selde and Jillian to get clear. "I'll slow them down as soon as you move away from them."

Move and then cast Entangle, getting as much of the space between the swarms and the PCs as he can manage.

Jillian nods to Emil and moves back toward the rest of the group, having little else she could do against the tiny creatures. "If we don't have the means to deal with these things it may be best to make a tactical retreat and come back when we do. We seem to have dealt with the troglodytes."

"Yeah. They're just stupid frogs," Caspan agrees.

It looks like we have 2 alchemist's fires remaining on the loot sheet that haven't been claimed. We could go retrieve those and plan to use them on the frogs. Not sure if we have other splash weapons, but I don't know that entangle does that much for us.

Entangle at least might slow them down so we can retreat, though I suspect if we made a run for it we could get away. Other than the Alchemist fire once Thael rested he could get burning hands back. Not sure how much they would heal from any current damage.

Father Emil - Please mark the entangle areas on the map. Purple saved, Red failed.

Reflex: Purple: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24
Reflex: Red: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7

Done. I'm assuming Selde is going to move back with the group.

Fortitude: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 17

Attack of Opportunity: Flame Blade vs Touch AC; ST: 1d20 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 3 + 1 = 11
fire: 1d8 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 + 1 = 7

Selde lashed out with her flame blade before moving back to the rest of the group, and reading herself for another assault.

AoO when swarms moves in to Selde's space. Move action to move next to Thael, standard action ready action to attack.

Unless there is something I'm missing, flame blade makes your sword a fire sword (cool!), but still only affects single targets. Since swarms are immune to attacks that do not affect an area, it isn't going to work out the way you want. It does say however that it can ignite combustible materials, so maybe you can get something from that?

I think we still need actions from Caspan, Jillian, Wren and Thael for this round.

With the group having few options to harm the tiny swarming frogs, Thael knew he had one of the only options available to thin them out.

"I'm going to pay for this, but it's our only option!" he exclaims.

Gritting his teeth in anticipation of almost immediate retribution, he stands in front of the group, raises a hand with fingers splayed wide, and a sheet of flame erupts to engulf both swarms.

burning hands: 3d4 ⇒ (1, 3, 4) = 8 1.5x dmg to swarm

I actually haven't used burning hands yet since we rested. I've used burning arc, so still have this spell available.

I have 1 acid flask (in hand) and an alchemist fire. I think if I can thin them out with this spell, hopefully we have enough flasks between us to wear them down.

Jillian just double moved to get up to the northern part of the cave room they were in.

Caspan retreats, hoping the wizard can handle the frogs.

Move action to retreat; standard action to ready an action to move 30 ft. west if the frogs get within 5 ft. of me. Sorry, guys, I'm useless against swarms and have no alchemical supplies at the moment.

The spell isn't a single target effect. Tiny swarms take 1/2 damage from slashing and piercing weapons and diminutive are immune to weapon damage but they take full damage from elemental damage and +50% damage from area effects. If non-aoe elemental damage didn't effect then then Alchemist Fire would only be able to do 1 point of damage as the 1d6 is direct damage and you round the 50% down.

OK, we'll roll with it. Selde's previous attack roasted a whole swath of frogs!

Thael's fire spell completely roasts the poisonous frog swarms, destroying thousands of frogs in the blink of an eye. When the flames recede, both groups of poisonous frogs are nothing more than a blackened pile of frog corpses.

Father Emil owes me 1 more save for the poison since he failed.

Out of combat!

Thael cringes, waiting for the mass of frogs to tear him apart. But once the smoke clears, they're dead.

He breathes a sigh of relief. "That could have been much, much worse," he says.

After taking a moment to regather himeself, he says "Does anyone need to heal?"

Selde nods in agreement with her brother. "I could use some healing."

Let's see if I can roll higher than a 2. Third times a charm, unless the poison is immune to charm effects. :)

Fortitude: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9

So 3d20 rolls and I have yet to break into double figures.

Strength Damage: 1d3 ⇒ 1

Do I keep rolling and weakening until I get a save?

Strength = 9.

Emil slumps to the floor and pours water over the places the swarm touched him. "Deadeye's Dung that stuff stings."

Once the poison stops sapping Emil's strength he gestures toward the ground with one hand and mimes drawing something from the earth and then touches himself with the magical energy that builds up in his hand. Immediately, some of his strength returns, although he will be worse for wear until he can get some sleep and try the spell again.

Casts Lesser restoration.

Strength Restored: 1d4 ⇒ 2

So that takes him back up to Strength = 11.

Edit: Seeing everyone injured by the swarm as well, Emil sends out the last of his channel energy.

Positive Energy Channel: 2d6 ⇒ (2, 4) = 6

Any other healing will have to come from the wand. Emil is out of spells and channels.

Nope, only three saves and you're done!

Alright, are we continuing on down further into the caves or pulling back?

I am full HP and have 3 spells left. I am good to go forward or rest, depending on others. I'm guessing Emil's status is most important here.

CLW Wand: 2d8 + 2 ⇒ (2, 4) + 2 = 8

Selde will need 2 charges from our wand of cure light wounds. I say we press on. If we bail now we risk any trogs left reaching out to the hobgoblins for help.

*rubs hands together like all evil overlords are supposed to do*

Emil cannot cast any spells or channel energy, so he can only contribute as a fighter, and his strength is down, so he'll be a little less effective there as well. Have we secured enough that we might bring the group in to a defensible position to allow us to hold what we've won and make further forays after sleeping? It looks like the room to the south could hold everyone and has only one way in. If the group wants to go on, however, Emil will not object.

When people talk of carrying on, he slowly gets up, adjusts his gear and says, "I'll need rest to recover my spells, but I can still swing this scythe, so if we must keep going, lead on."

Jillian nods to Emil "Yes let's continue. I still have some healing if it is needed." When everyone is ready she will take up the front of line, however before they start she notes "Let's keep a distance of at least a few feet from each other in case another swarm happens upon us, we aren't all engulfed at once."

That's three for pushing on, off we go!

Countless bones jut from the clay walls of this chamber. Grinning skulls peer down over the ends of femurs and ulnas sticking out at odd angles. Most of the bones are from animals—some as large as stags and bears—but some are undeniably human. The stacked arrangements of bone are nearly 2 feet thick and rise up to meet the 10-foot-high ceiling.

Two female and two male troglodytes stand at the ready waiting for you, almost daring you to try and make it past them. One of the females wears various animal furs on her body and wields a beautiful warhammer. She doesn't address you, but shouts more of a command or expression to her fellow soldiers.

The other three trogs raise their javelins and prepare to throw them at you.

The warhammer trog is up front (red) with the three javelin throwers behind her.

R1: Thael, Wren, Trog warriors, Caspan, Selde, Jillian, Father Emil, Warhammer Trog

Thael is quick, and before the assembled troglodytes can react, a brilliant explosion of bright light erupts in their midst.

Glitterdust, 10' radius, DC 17 Will.

Wren casts Daze on the red skinned trog in front of the group.

DC 14 to Resist.

The warhammer troglodyte along with the yellow and black cloaked troglodyte all resist the blinding affects of Thael's spell, catching only the purple cloaked lizard.

Wren's daze spell does successfully catch the female warrior off guard however, causing her to miss an opportunity to strike.

All three sparkly troglodytes move up to strike the party, taking two swings at Caspan which both miss and one swing at Jillian that strikes her left side (6 damage).

R1: Thael, Wren, Trog warriors, Caspan, Selde, Jillian, Father Emil,
R2: Thael, Wren, Warhammer Trog, Trog warriors, Caspan, Selde, Jillian, Father Emil, Warhammer Trog

Wren attempts to Daze the purple garbed trog this time.

DC 14 Will to Resist.

Jillian takes the hit to her side and lets out a breath of air from the impact. She glares at the troglodyte and attempts to return the favor.

Greatsword, PA: 1d20 + 6 - 1 ⇒ (4) + 6 - 1 = 9
Damage, PA: 2d6 + 4 + 3 ⇒ (3, 3) + 4 + 3 = 13

However at the end of her swing she winces as she pulls open the new cut further and swings wide.

Edited to add AoO in case it is needed, and a Fort save since I forgot it...

AoO, PA: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 6 + 1 = 19
Damage, PA: 2d6 + 4 + 3 ⇒ (3, 2) + 4 + 3 = 12

"BLARGHLBAHIVRIZ!" to you too, Caspan taunts the creatures back in a horrible, horrible approximation of draconic -- almost as if he weren't even really trying at all.

He punctuates the nonsense by sweeping the nearest lizard man to the ground and then punching it, ready to do more if it tries to get up.

Brawler's flurry (trip): 1d20 + 10 - 2 ⇒ (20) + 10 - 2 = 28
Brawler's flurry (unarmed): 1d20 + 7 - 2 ⇒ (12) + 7 - 2 = 17
Damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

AoO: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (20) + 7 = 27
Damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7
Crit: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20
Damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

Finally some good rolls! Jillian, you might get an AoO too if it gets up.

Father Emil slips behind Caspan and up to his side to confront the new threat. He is still weak from the frog poison, but still able to swing his farm implement. He fights without banter, his face set in a grim expression. The assault on his nose again challenges his ability to fight, and he finds again attacking more difficult while his stomach does flip-flops.

Fortitude: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14
Fortitude: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6
Fortitude: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16
Fortitude: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16

Scythe, -3 strength, sickened: 1d20 + 5 - 2 - 2 ⇒ (13) + 5 - 2 - 2 = 14
Damage, -3 strength, sickened: 2d4 + 3 - 3 - 2 ⇒ (2, 2) + 3 - 3 - 2 = 2

GM: I'm unclear on this bone pile. Where is it? How much area does it cover. Is it 2 feet x 2 feet x almost 10 feet?

Father Emil - All of the walls are lined in bones. It's 2' deep and 10' tall.

Purple shrugs off Wren's attempt to daze it, unphased by her magical spell.

Caspan trips a warrior and sends him to the ground. While down, he punches it and slows the creature down some. Determined, it stands anyway and regrets it instantly when Caspan lands a critical shot to its head that twists its neck in an unnatural way. It doesn't have much time to worry about that however, Jilian's greatsword relieves the creature of its head completely. Black is down.

Father Emil's scythe attack is affected by his weakened state and he misses. Selde pulls out her ranged weapon and fires a shot at the trog engaged with Father Emil, but misses.

The yellow troglodyte swings at Father Emil, but misses. The purple-clad creature meets with the same results again Caspan when the brawler deftly dodges the attack. The female carrying the warhammer storms forward with a roar and buries her weapon into Jillian's chest (5 damage)

Thael - Take two actions, you missed last round. Everyone is up!

Selde took a moment to study the red troglodyte's movements before stepping beside Caspan and lashing out with her flame blade.

5ft step, Move action Study Target, Standard Action attack red.

Flame Blade vs Touch AC;ST: 1d20 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 3 + 1 = 24
Fire; ST: 1d8 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 + 1 = 9
Crit Threat: 1d20 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 3 + 1 = 22
Crit Damage: 1d8 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 + 1 = 10

Hiding her lithe frame behind Caspan, the troglodyte was caught completely by surprise as he was simultaneously cut and burned from nose to navel.

Jillian takes another blow from the brutal warhammer. She centers herself as she touches the wound and a light from her hand seals the injury. Taking a deep breath Jillian then tries a more defensive stance to try and avoid future attacks.

LoH: 1d6 ⇒ 1

Greatsword, Defesnive: 1d20 + 6 - 4 ⇒ (1) + 6 - 4 = 3
Damage: 2d6 + 4 ⇒ (4, 6) + 4 = 14

AC 19

Selde's flame blade critically scorches the troglodyte carrying the warhammer, a howl of pail escaping her lips. Despite the viscious wound, it's clear that she is a lot tougher than the other warriors and it will take several more good hits like that one to take her down.

I neglected to note that the stench from the warhammer trog is especially terrible. It's a DC17 fort for her or be sickened for 10 rounds.

Fortitude vs. black (we missed it earlier but his corpse probably still stinks): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12
Fortitude vs. yellow: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7
Fortitude vs. purple: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 19
Fortitude vs. red: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24

"Nice hit," Caspan grunts out to Selde with a gag as he continues his assault.

Surprised that the blow didn't finish off the hammer-wielder, he concentrates on her, trying to knock her to the ground and beat her down there. Who cares how you beat an opponent as long as you're the one still standing at the end?

Brawler's flurry (trip): 1d20 + 10 - 2 - 2 ⇒ (13) + 10 - 2 - 2 = 19
Brawler's flurry (unarmed): 1d20 + 7 - 2 - 2 ⇒ (2) + 7 - 2 - 2 = 5
Damage: 1d6 + 3 - 2 ⇒ (1) + 3 - 2 = 2

AoO?: 1d20 + 7 - 2 - 2 ⇒ (10) + 7 - 2 - 2 = 13
Damage: 1d6 + 3 - 2 ⇒ (6) + 3 - 2 = 7

The warhammer warrior is caught by surprise by Caspan's leg sweep and tumbles to the ground in front of him. Unfortunatley for the brawler, he mistimes his follow-up attack and misses.

She will stand, so Selde, Jillian and Father Emil put an AoO in your action if you don't move away from her (red).

Fort 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23

Wren tried to Daze the trog wearing the yellow gear, giving the group some respite from the attacks.

DC 14 Will to resist.

Seeing the human skulls among the animal bones reassures Emil that killing these creatures is justified as revenge for those killed for their sick rituals and as prevention of future depredations against the good people of the forest.

His scythe feels like it's made of lead rather than wood, but he swings away, including a low swing at the tough leader with the big stone hammer.

AOO: Scythe, -3 strength, sickened, target prone: 1d20 + 5 - 2 - 2 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 5 - 2 - 2 + 4 = 12
Damage, -3 strength, sickened: 2d4 + 3 - 3 - 2 ⇒ (4, 3) + 3 - 3 - 2 = 5

Regular attack (on red): Scythe, -3 strength, sickened: 1d20 + 5 - 2 - 2 ⇒ (12) + 5 - 2 - 2 = 13
Damage, -3 strength, sickened: 2d4 + 3 - 3 - 2 ⇒ (1, 2) + 3 - 3 - 2 = 1