GM Dennis - Heroes for Highdelve - Special [Closed] (Inactive)

Game Master Dennis Muldoon

"Pigs are cute," Croak agrees with a nod. "Sing me a song! While you sing I'm going to keep exploring! Nice and loud now! I love music."

Croak hops down from the rock and dances over to the flowers. She picks one and puts it in her backpack. Then she dances over to the hut and heads inside. She looks around the whole hut, and the camping gear.

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19

"Stay put." she tells the teens. Then she follows Croak into the hut and helps her look around.

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7

There's very little inside this tiny, dilapidated shack besides a filthy bedroll, a few daggers, and a handful of rations. Looking a little closer, though, Croak spots a suspicious hole in the wall, containing a small bundle with a journal, a scroll, and four potions.

Pinesong stays sitting on the ground with Richelle and Tolwin. He keeps watch while talking with them about the life-cycle and dietary habits of the regal pig.

"Oink oink, oink! OOOOOink oinky oink." Cutie Pie adds with a nod of his head.

Lomo checks on the dying tiefling and pokes him to see if he's alive.

*poke*

"You still alive?"

*poke, poke*

Heal: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 = 20

Feran emits a low moan as Lomo pokes him. He's badly wounded, but does seem to be stable.

Sereia casts detect magic and examines the potions. Then the scrolls.

Spellcraft (potions): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (17) + 9 = 26
Spellcraft (scrolls): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (9) + 9 = 18

She passes a potion to Croak, slips one into her belt pouch, and hangs onto the other two potions to give to Pinesong and Lomo as soon as she rejoins them. Everyone add a potion of cure light wounds to your temp. inventory!

She examines the scroll, but can't make sense of it right now. She slips it into her scroll case and then places it into her backpack.

Finally, Sereia takes the journal and skims through it. When she's done she passes it to Croak. "The beast is in a cave and he has the amulet. We should tell the others."

When Croak is done exploring the shack:
Sereia heads back outside with Croak to rejoin Lomo, Pinesong, and the prisoners. She passes Lomo and Pinesong their potion. "The creature has the dragon's amulet. It's lives in a cave." she points at the cave across the clearing. "I would like to explore that one."

Croak smiles. "Neato!" Then she heads outside, picks some more flowers, and hops into the broken cart. She drives to drive it.

"Vroom, vroom!"

"Push me!" Then she looks at Richelle. "You're not siiiiiiiingiiiiiing! Sing, sing!"

Pinesong puts the potion away. "The cave sounds interesting. They're a very delicate environment, you know." He nods.

While the others are in the shack, Lomo asks Richelle, "Where is this creature?"

When Croak asks to be pushed in the wagon Lomo groans. "Yeeeeeeeeah, no. This guy needs a doctor, and so does this guy." He points at Feran and Tolwin. "Lets take the troublemakers back to town, and then we can come back to the cave and look for the amulet."

"Then we'll find a cart that isn't broken and I'll give you a ride. Sound good?"

Richelle glances at Croak, then looks away. She does not start singing. "It's chained up in the cave, near the back. We were...well, we were taunting it and got a bit too close. It snatched the amulet right out of Tolwin's hand, and we took off running."

So, into the cave, or back to town first?

Sereia considers this. "It may escape. But, then again, so could they." she gestures at Richelle. Still confused by life on the surface, and trusting that Lomo knows best, she nods."Very well."

Yeah, we can turn them into the town guard first.

With a little prompting you can get Tolwin on his feet and walking back toward town, with a manacled Richelle supporting him, while the rest of you can carry or drag the Feran. When you arrive, the mayor quickly directs people to lock them up, and to have a doctor attend to their wounds. "Thank you, friends. I'm glad to see everyone still alive, though these youths have quite a bit of work to do to atone for their behavior. Tell me, did you find the amulet?"

"There is a monster in a cave that Feran," he points at the tiefling "was going to release on the town. The creature has the amulet. We're on our way back out to track it down now." He nods wisely. "Farewell."

Pinesong and Cutie Pie turn right back around and start on the way back to the cave.

Croak waves at the people. "Okay, bye now! See you later!"

Croak also starts to head back to the cave.

Lomo, gives the mayor a wide grin. "It's as good as found." He starts after the others and waves a hand over his shoulder, calling back, "We'll be back soon."

Get that reward ready!

As they walk back to the cave, Lomo finds a nice stick and sticks it in his mouth. He gnaws on it during the trip.

"Oh my! Well, be careful! I'll let Aurelliax know, just in case."

-----

Arriving back in the vale up Dendra's Slope, you find it unchanged. The rock face at the far end towers nearly 30 feet and is punctuated in the middle with the dark opening of a cave mouth. As you enter, the dank scent of moss hangs heavy in the air as the gloom in the cave thickens. Some daylight filters in to the mouth of the cave (the entryway is in low-light), but the caverns receding deeper in on either side are completely dark. Any deeper into the cave and you will be in darkness.

Map updated.

Sereia clutches her trident in hand and forces her magic into the prongs. Using 1 pool point to give it a +1 enhancement bonus for 1 minute. Then she takes a step into the cave. She heads north and peers down the two dark passages, curious what she can see down them. Sereia has darkvision.

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18

These cramped, dark corridors smell like fungus and rot. Sereia can hear a violent thudding sound as well as muffled roaring coming from deeper within the cave.

Ridges on the map represent sloping passages downward. Squares that are sloped are difficult terrain. What's your general approach: slowly exploring, or hurrying toward the sound?

Croak goes to the south and peeks down those two tunnels with her darkvision. Does she see anything special?

Explore slowly!

Oh! Before I go into the cave I use up the rest of my venom doses on my blowgun darts. I also refolded that net that Richelle was in so I can use it again.

Pinesong lights his torch and waits at the entrance to the cave. "Which way should we go?" he asks his friends who looked down the tunnels.

Croak sees little besides fungus-covered cave walls, though the muffled roaring and thudding noises are louder as the group proceeds deeper into the cavern.

Lomo follows Croak and helps her look down the tunnel. "Nice pick, Croak."

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12

We'll go that way first. Exploring slowly.

The deeper you go, the slicker and slimier the walls get, though not enough to interfere with your movement. The noises get louder, as well, until there's a sudden, metallic *SNAP*, a bellow of triumph, and some loud, thudding footsteps! Suddenly a huge figure with two heads bursts around the corner, draped in broken chains and wielding a rusty flail!

-----

Initiative!

Sereia widens her eyes at the sight of the massive creature! She quickly casts a protective spell on herself, then moves closer to the fight.

Casting shield. Move action.

Before they head inside Pinesong feeds Lomo and Croak two berries each. (Healing each of you two hp!)

As the big creature appears Pinesong scurries along the cave wall and casts a spell at the big guy!

Daze! DC 13 Will negates!

Cutie Pie snorts in fear! Then he hurries after Pinesong and hides behind a nearby rock!

Stealth: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7

But his butt is hanging out!

Croak fires one of his poisoned blowgun darts at the big two-headed guy!

Ranged Attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 16
Damage: 1 Piercing! He is also poisoned. Fort DC 13, 1/round for four rounds. 1d3 Dex damage. Cure 1 save.

Lomo bares his teeth and hisses! His nails grow into dangerous looking claws! He leaps forward and slashes at the creature!

Acrobatics to prevent AoO: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (11) + 8 = 19
Attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24
Damage: 1d3 ⇒ 2

Surprised by the sudden assault of darts and claws, the creature is unprepared for Pinesong's mental assault. A glazed look comes over the eyes of the left head, while the eyes of the right head roll back as it sways in place. He seems unaffected by the poison.

Whole party may act (again)!

Sereia takes a step forward, thrusts her trident at the creature's stomach, then waves her arms around grandly. Her off hand crackles with electricity! Sereia reaches out to touch the two-headed beast!

Free: five foot step, Swift: arcane strike, Spell combat: trident attack and shocking grasp.

Trident Attack: 1d20 + 3 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (3) + 3 + 1 - 2 = 5
Magic Piercing Damage: 1d8 + 3 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 3 + 1 + 1 = 11

Melee Touch: 1d20 + 3 - 2 ⇒ (5) + 3 - 2 = 6
Electricity Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 5

Ouch! Holding the charge on the shocking grasp spell if it misses.

Pinesong holds out one hand palm up. He swirls his other hand over top. Black wisps of cloud begin to form in his hand! When it gets bigger he blows on the clouds, making them fly at the ettin! When it reaches him it turns into a massive storm cloud, all around him! I use storm burst on him! He treats all foes as if they had concealment, suffering a 20% miss chance for 1 round.

Then Pinesong pulls out a crossbow.

Croak loads up another poisoned dart, takes a deep breath, and blows into her blowgun, shooting the ettin!

Attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15
1 damage! He is also poisoned. Fort DC 13, 1/round for four rounds. 1d3 Dex damage. Cure 1 save

"Oh, boy you're big!" Lomo remarks. He slashes at the beast with his claws.

Attack 1: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22
Damage: 1d3 ⇒ 3

Attack 2: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 16
Damage: 1d3 ⇒ 3

Fort: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18

"Raaaaaaaahhhhhh!" The ettin bellows in frustration as Pinesong's cloud envelops it, it's cry quickly turning to pain as Lomo's claws dig in. Sereia is unable to connect, though her hand remains aglow with crackling electricity, and while Croak's dart hits, the tough creature once again seems to shake off the intended effects.

Finally able to bring its weapon to bear, the ettin unleashes a mighty swing at the source of its pain, but the clumsy strike is much too slow to hit the shifty shifter!

flail: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9
damage: 1d10 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9
concealment (1-20 misses): 1d100 ⇒ 38

Whole party may act!

Sereia tries to touch the ettin with her electrically charged hand.

Touch Attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 13
Electricity Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 4

Sereia reaches out again, grasping one of the ettin's arms as it swings and discharging the electricity stored in her hand. All four of the creature's eyes open wide and the teeth of its left head chatter as the jolt courses through its large body.

Pinesong, Croak, and Lomo may act.

Croak fires her last poisoned dart at the ettin! "Take this!"

Attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14
1 damage! He is also poisoned. Fort DC 13, 1/round for four rounds. 1d3 Dex damage. Cure 1 save

Pinesong swirls his hands around again, making a cloud, then blowing it at the giant!

Using storm burst again on the ettin.

Then he loads his crossbow.

"Whoah! That was close!"

Attack 1: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18
Damage: 1d3 ⇒ 1

Attack 2: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22
Damage: 1d3 ⇒ 2

Fort save: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19

Both Croak's dart and Lomo's claws strike true, but once again the creature seems to resist Croak's poison. He roars again in rage, swatting at the cloud that has reappeared around his heads, then swings his flail once more at Lomo, once more swinging wide.

flail: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11
damage: 1d10 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9
Concealment (1-20 misses): 1d100 ⇒ 24

Whole party may act.

Sereia grits her teeth and forces more arcane power into her trident (arcane strike). She waves her arms around, mutters a few strange words, and reaches out with her off hand in an attempt to magically brand the beast with a cursed sigil. (Spell combat, casting brand).

Concentration: Defensively Casting Brand: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14
Brand: Touch Attack: 1d20 + 3 - 2 ⇒ (1) + 3 - 2 = 2
Fort DC 13 negates the brand. It deals 1 damage. He is branded with the aquan sigil for 'Cursed' for 1 day.

But her spell fizzles! She scowls in frustration and thrusts her trident at the giant.

Trident Attack: 1d20 + 3 - 2 ⇒ (14) + 3 - 2 = 15
Trident Damage: 1d8 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 3 + 1 = 11

Pinesong fires his crossbow at one of the creature's heads!

Attack: 1d20 + 3 - 4 ⇒ (12) + 3 - 4 = 11 (the -4 is because I do not have precise shot)
Piercing Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 4

Then he reloads his crossbow.

Even though she has no poisoned darts left Croak fires at the ettin again!

Ranged Attack: 1d20 + 6 - 4 ⇒ (13) + 6 - 4 = 15 (I forgot that I don't have precise shot! Sorry! I remembered now.)
For 1 damage!

Lomo hisses at the brute and attacks in a flurry of nails and fur!

Attack 1: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10
Damage: 1d3 ⇒ 2

Attack 2: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13
Damage: 1d3 ⇒ 1

Pinesong, trying to avoid hitting her friend, is unable to connect. Croak sticks another little dart into the ettin, which is beginning to resemble a half-plucked chicken with all the little feathered darts hanging from him. Lomo manages to scratch the ettin, though he doesn't do much damage. The ettin is unconcerned with that scratch however, as Sheiara, despite her spell fizzling, embeds her trident deep into the creature's hide. He cries out in pain and swings his flail at Sheiara, trying to drive her away as blood pours from his wounds.

flail: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16
damage: 1d10 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10

Whole party may act.

Croak points and laughs at the ettin! "HAHA! FUNNY CHICKEN MAN!" She laughs some more. "BO-CAW! BO-CAW! Hahahahaha!"

When she stops laughing she fires her blowgun at the ettin!

Attack: 1d20 + 6 - 4 ⇒ (15) + 6 - 4 = 17
1 piercing damage!

Pinesong fires his crossbow again.

Attack: 1d20 + 3 - 4 ⇒ (12) + 3 - 4 = 11
Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 2

Then he reloads.