GM XaveTheNerd's Emerald Spire Full Run (Inactive)

Game Master X Hums

Oooh the glitterdust barely stuck thanks to Potent Magic!

Elemental aid?: 1d20 + 5 + 2 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 5 + 2 + 1 + 1 = 25

Zelphar fires off his trust wand of contribution at Muddy.
MM: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3
SR?: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 1 = 18

Doesn't it feel great when a buff pays off like that? Always feels good when things like potent magic actually make a difference :) We've got a few misses from blindness I think too!

going to keep it short today. Been having an off week so far.

Torrak misses.

50% sadness: 1d100 ⇒ 75
50% sadness: 1d100 ⇒ 79

Torrak attack AC 21: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (10) + 13 = 23
Elemental attack AC 17: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (11) + 13 = 24

who grapple: 1d2 ⇒ 2

Torrak damage: 2d6 + 3 ⇒ (4, 1) + 3 = 8
Elemental damage: 2d6 + 3 ⇒ (5, 3) + 3 = 11

Grapple elemental, miss on 1: 1d20 ⇒ 3

Elemental is grappled.

Rematch
Initiative - the BOLD may act!
Active effects: 8 foot deep water; All water in room is as per obscurring mist; Inspire Courage +1
-----------------------------------------------
Mudlord (-48)
Merritt (-20)
Torrak (-22)
Zelphar (Elemental: -11; Grappled)
Tseghet

”Now strike while the fiend is distracted!” Tseghet commands, voice carrying over the sounds of battle and falling water. ”For honor! For glory! For the Inheritor!”

Restarting Inspire Courage.

"For all of what he said!" Torrak shouts, willing to give just about anything a try at this point.
________
20% Sadness?: 1d100 ⇒ 87
Heavy Pick (MW, IC, PA, Flank): 1d20 + 7 + 1 + 1 - 2 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 7 + 1 + 1 - 2 + 2 = 151d6 + 4 + 1 + 1 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 4 + 1 + 1 + 6 = 14 Hoping aid anothers will get this one to stick!
I see why this is a nefarious floor! While this fight has given us the hardest time, I think we've been strugglebussing through just about every fight on the floor. Woof!

Merritt healed 3 hp last round; he should be at -17 at the start of this round.

Merritt expends another charge from his wand before getting ready to return to the combat.

Aid from water?: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (11) + 9 = 20

Unfortunately, Torrak misses again.

50% Torrak: 1d100 ⇒ 12
50% Elemental: 1d100 ⇒ 14

The mud flails around aimlessly, having troubles striking even the elemental that it's grappling.

Rematch
Initiative - the BOLD may act!
Active effects: 8 foot deep water; All water in room is as per obscurring mist; Inspire Courage +1
-----------------------------------------------
Mudlord (-48)
Merritt (-9)
Torrak (-22)
Zelphar (Elemental: -11; Grappled)
Tseghet

Merritt pushes off from the wall behind him, driving forward towards the mudbeast to try to aid Torrak's attacks again.

"Grrrr, How about for Our Lord in Iron?!" Torrak continues shouting as he swings, hoping to find something to swing his pick for that'll grace them with success.
________
20% Sadness?: 1d100 ⇒ 53
Heavy Pick (MW, IC, PA, Flank, 1 Aid): 1d20 + 7 + 1 + 1 - 2 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 7 + 1 + 1 - 2 + 2 + 2 = 171d6 + 4 + 1 + 1 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 4 + 1 + 1 + 6 = 13
This one might end up as a hit!

Tseghet continues with guidance and IC.

Water elemental aid?
Not 1: 1d20 ⇒ 10

Due to the aid from the water elemental, Torrak manages to get a good jab into the mudlord again!

50% sadness Torrak: 1d100 ⇒ 35
50% sadness Water: 1d100 ⇒ 4

Two misses!

To speed things up:
20% sadness: 1d100 ⇒ 66
Torrak attack: 1d20 + 7 + 1 + 1 - 2 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 7 + 1 + 1 - 2 + 2 + 2 = 25

Torrak takes ONE final swing, and the mud in the room stops moving before dispursing naturally through the current in the room.

OUT OF INITIATIVE! GOOOOOD JOB GUYS! THAT WAS REAL ROUGH!

So, uhh......now what?

OH MY GLOOOOOB WE DID IT! *collapses*

"AN' STAY DOWN, YE GOOPY PILE AH S@+&!" Torrak taunts, breathing heavily from the extended exertion of combat. "Everyone doing ok?" He asks while stowing his pickaxe and retrieving his nodachi.
________
CLW vs Torrak: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6
CLW vs Torrak: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7
CLW vs Torrak: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7
Put a red box around the door I'm thinking, but no major preference!

"Surprisingly, yes, fine," Merritt answers.

"You did great, Torrak!" he adds.

cure light wounds: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2
cure light wounds: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

"HAHA! Ah course, tha thrill of tha fight is what I live for," Torrak gloats. "But, uh, you did well yerself. Never worked with ah Hellspawn buhfore. Mighty useful you guys are," he responds. "Only 'eard ah buncha bad news, but either yer tha black sheep or there's a lotta horse s+&! goin' 'round!" Surely not ALL of those people can be wrong, right?
________
I figure a 6 cha makes situations like this sort of challenging ;) He's trying his best though!

"And once more the forces of Heaven are victorious!" Tseghet declares triumphantly. "Give praise and thanks to the Inheritor for Her blessings, and humbly pray that She might grant Her favor upon Her chosen again!"

A bit of healing and heavy-breathing later, the Pathfinders move out of the muddy room. Or, well, they would, if the door they headed too didn't lead to a room full of water-soaked shelves that have long since lost their shape. Whatever used to be in this room has been long since looted.

Options that move us forward: Go down the path near the statue in the upper room or go through the other door in this room.

I say the other door in this room!

Merritt swims to the nearby door and gives it a good look for safety. How would an underwater trap work, anyway? Certainly no darts...

Perception, trapfinding, take 20: 20 + 9 + 2 = 31
Disable Device (if trapped), masterwork tools, take 10: 10 + 9 + 2 = 21
Disable Device (if locked and trap disabled), masterwork tools, take 20: 20 + 9 + 2 = 31

I'm going to make a GM call here.

Merritt notes the door isn't trapped, per se, but he does realize that it's holding a LOT of pressure. Opening this door would cause a current to billow through whatever is beyond it.

"Hmmm... not a trap so to speak, but trouble if we open this door. It'd be like letting the drain out of a tub, and we'd go out with the water. Wouldn't be fun."

"There ain't nuthin' that could take me offa my feet!" Torrak boasts, but makes no move towards the door. "Didn't ya find another door? Sorta looks like it'd go in the same direction. Ish. What if we try that one?"
________
Would the same effect occur if we tried to enter via the statue passage?

"We should do that." Merritt begins leading the way to the other possible way into this next area.

Bump?

AAAAND WE'RE BACK!

The Pathfinders climb/swim down into a completely flooded hallway beneath the statues. After swimming for a bit, they come to a long hallway with multiple doors and some large room at the end.

Because order is especially important here, where would you like to go first?

Merritt spies a door just around the corner. "Should we check in here first?"

"Works fer me," Torrak says, shrugging. "Jus' give tha 'all clear' an' I'll do tha honors!"

The Pathfinders open the door to a strangely shaped room. A narrow platform hugs the wall of this octagonal room, just above the level of seawater filling the lower section. The doorway appears to be magically enforced to keep the water out. A DC 5 strength check is required to enter the room, but it's dry on the catwalk within.

Strength DC 5: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (7) + 0 = 7
Perception DC 15: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (4) + 9 = 13

Merritt moves through the force barrier, and begins investigating the room. He seems more fascinated by the magic holding the water at bay than anything else, however.

"Well if ya don't need me tah lift things anymore, I'll jus- OY! Watch yerself Tiefling!" Torrak warns, pulling Merritt back. "There're some things in there, ah Human with blue skin and another of those damned crabs."

"I'd wager my beard that they saw ye, but they haven't tried tah murder us. Yet. How are we gonna play this?"
________
Perception, DC 15: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19
Torrak is all for more fighting, but that crab eidolon was no slouch and I have a feeling some of the others might want to try talking first!

"Perhaps they have realized that violence is only the first answer when faced with evil," Tseghet answers. "The Inheritor does not condone wanton bloodshed - it is good to hear that you have taken Her lessons to heart, Torrak."

Tseghet would certainly be down to talk, and he's put a bit of work into persuading people (rather than just shouting over them, lol).

Who is approaching and how? That will change how this plays out.

Tseghet probably has the best diplomacy, I say he goes first!

Can do!

Strength vs DC 5: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4
Strength vs DC 5: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4
Strength Check, Take 10 vs DC 5: 10 + 2 = 12

Tseghet struggles against the bubble-like protection on the doorway, but is too proud to ask Torrak for help. Instead, he clasps his hands in supplication and pushes against the barrier again. Unclenching his jaw, the half-orc takes several deep breaths before placing both hands on the edges of the doorframe and pulling himself into the air.

Emerging from the water like a newly-baptized acolyte, Tseghet holds out his empty hands. "By the Inheritor's mighty sword, I come in peace!" he proclaims. Don't know how well they'll hear underwater, he thinks to himself. Better bump up the volume just in case. "MY COMPANIONS AND I ARE TRAVELERS, HERE TO EXPLORE THIS SPIRE OF EMERALD! IF YOU MEAN US NO HARM, THEN WE TOO SHALL KEEP OUR BLADES SHEATHED! IF I HARBOR ANY FALSEHOOD OR DECEIT IN MY HEART, MAY HER SWORD STRIKE ME DOWN NOW WHERE I STAND!" He pauses to clear his throat, then continues, "AND WHO MIGHT I HAVE THE HONOR OF ADDRESSING?"

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26

Entertainingly, Tseghet's archetype gives him a bonus to be heard. XD

A grin grows on Merritt's face, one of the very few that has appeared down here in the belly of the Emerald Spire. He gives Torrak an amused look with a lifted eyebrow.

"Tha joke's on them, aye ain't jus' packin' ah blade!" Torrak whispers conspiratorially to Merritt.

The creature in the pool swims to the surface before responding, in common, "I am Dayana. I seek to research the strange phenomenon here. It is strange, though. You say you are exploring the spire of emerald, but my brother, Jorqual, made mention that the emerald he was researching was too small in diameter for much to fit in. You must have met him on the way in."

"Do you mean the villain who attacked us unprovoked?" Tseghet answers in with righteous condemnation. "The one who met my companion's polite inquiry with spell and blade, throwing his lifeless body to the floor with careless cruelty?"

I mean, Tseghet's almost remembering it correctly. Merritt asked, got "Roll initiative" as a response, got the drop on initiative and threw a bomb, and then the crab-thing pounced on him and knocked him unconscious. Still very unprovoked in Tseghet's mind. XD

No qualms here, but I'm already shaking the die in my hand for initiative ;)

The woman doesn't even speak. She just begins casting a spell.

Beyond the Spillway
Initiative - the BOLD may act!
Active effects: 10 foot deep water;
-----------------------------------------------
Merritt
Zelphar
Tseghet
Torrak
Dayana (D: at top. Crab: At bottom)

Edit: Dayana is at the surface of the water, the crab is completely submerged at the bottom. That's what the modifiers mean.

"And even as you raise your blade against Her faithful, know that the most holy wrath of the Inheritor shall smite you down!" Tseghet proclaims. "Onward to battle, faithful! Merritt, smite her with holy fire! Zelphar, conjure your allies from Her holy realm in Heaven to block the fiendish beast lurking in the depths! Torrak, hound the heretic and keep her foul magics at bay!" Drawing his morningstar, the priest moves around Torrak to give his other two allies room to maneuver.

Feel free to ignore Tseghet's orders, BTW. It might be best to send Torrak after the crab-creature, but if we can take out the caster then it might be easier to handle. Starting inspire courage and moving, drawing weapon as part of movement.

Merritt doesn't need to be asked twice; holy fire (well, fire anyway) was his specialty! He tosses a bomb at the exposed caster, but remains standing where he is, not venturing any closer to the water quite yet.

"BWWAAAAHHHHH!" is all Torrak has to say in response to Tsghet's orders. Gripping his stabby stick firmly, he steps in front of Merritt after his bombs take flight and tries to skewer the fishy woman.
________
Mwk Nodachi (Overhand Chop, Power Attack) vs Dayana: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 251d10 + 13 ⇒ (4) + 13 = 17
Confirm?: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 231d10 + 13 ⇒ (4) + 13 = 17 0_o Oh my. Here is to hoping Merritt and Torrak just brutalized her before she gets to go?

Tseghet inspires his allies. Merritt throws a bomb, burning her face something fiece before Torrak comes in and slices her clean in two.

The crab thing fades from existence as the woman dies.

Well. That was quick. Out of initiative. Where to next? You can go back to the hallway or through a weird grate under the water in this room.

"Once more, good has prevailed!" Tseghet declares loudly. "Give thanks to the Inheritor for this swift and decisive victory!"

No preference on where we go next.

Is the wierd grate the bluish light to the upper right of the room?

Oh. Heh. No. That's...

As the Pathfinders examine the room further, they find that the water in this room has a current that pulls towards a strange, slightly glowing glob.

The weird grate heads down on the right.

Knowledge (planes), untrained DC 10 max: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 18

"Whoa, that's a portal to the plane of water! Anybody want to take a HUGE side-trek?"

Torrak grabs Merritt by the shoulders and shakes him. "DO I LOOK LIKE I'M MADE FER SWIMMIN'?! ARE YE DAFT?!" he shouts.

Letting the Tiefling go, he shoulders his weapon and stomps to the door. Frowning at the Nodachi, he looks back at the bleeding corpse at the bottom of the pool and gives the weapon a nod. Y'ain't so bad after all. Ain't my baby, but ye'll do.
________
I think I moved Torrak in front of a door. Open it once it has been inspected!

Torrak begins a little bit of swimming, but finds the portcullis seperating the rooms to be too hard to move. The "door" you moved to was the grate that connects these two rooms. No worries, though. So instead, he walks around. Turns out, the door Torrak chose leads to the same room.

This room appears setup almost exactly like the previous room, including the abjuration on the door, the raised platform, and the portal -- escept there is also a door on the other end of the platform.

Within the water is a strange, bloated, seal-like creature obviously native to the Plane of Water. It doesn't attack as the characters open the door, but it looks like it will if anybody gets close to the water.

"Well, what do you think?" Merritt poses. "We could obviously fight this thing, but we could also just try a quick dash to that door and try to get past it without combat." He nods towards Torrak. "If that door is locked, though, I might need your cover while I jimmy it open."