GM Dak - Rise of the Runelords

Game Master Dakcenturi

Loot table updated

Adarion looks like he's about to object but stops himself, visibly struggling to do so. He looks back at Gudada's body, the gaping wounds from the woman's slashes and his deathly pale skin from both the negative energy and loss of blood. Adarion gives a curt nod, "Sorry Bart, you're right. It's just... I.."

He sighs, "Let's just clean up as Sven says, see what we can salvage and try to prevent any more deaths. We've lost enough people as it is."

He sets off to do just that, setting out any gear he finds in piles to be distributed to whoever can use it best.

I assigned most of the scrolls and the wand to Adarion but if anyone thinks they can use them feel free to grab some. Not sure who will benefit most from the cloak?

My vote is to use any remaining healing spells and then rest. I've only cantrips left and 7 HP and most of us are pretty banged up.

Yeah, if folks are out of spell slots then it’s not much fun for them. Resting sounds fine - do we want to do that down here or back up with the goblin chieftain?

I'm happy to do it here; no reason to bother the goblins.

I think with Nyx's channel and Uvara's Lay On Hands, everyone should get to full, right? It's 10d6 from Nyx to everyone, and 4d6 from Uvara.

So heal and rest, then continuing on deeper into Thistletop?

Yes please, and we’d also talk to Gogmurt and see if we’re allowed to explore their level at all, on the way out.

The group secures themselves in the room with Gudada's body while they get some rest after the many brutal fights. Luckily they aren't disturbed at any point and wake up refreshed. Continuing on deeper into the complex they move back to the room where they killed the hound and the caster.

The southern wing of this L-shaped hallway ends at a pair of stone doors carved with the depictions of two skeletons reaching out to clutch a skull between them, while to the east the hallway narrows down to frame a circular carving of what seems to be an immense stack of tens of thousands of gold coins that rises from floor to ceiling. The edges of these coins are carved with tiny, spiky runes.

Sven does his morning preparation of helpful spells, barkskin for himself and Shield Companion for Naesehorn.

Healed myself up and put on the map

"Hmmm, coins and skeletons. I do not know what this is." He holds his scythe at the ready to go and attack once the door is checked for traps.

"Odd." Bartholomew glances at the coins for a few seconds. "Goblins are usually quite greedy. Unless this is their trove - which seems unlikely, given the general cleanliness - their either never explored this part of their lair or had good reason to leave that alone."

If Sven takes the lead on finding the traps, Bartholomew can do the disabling. Otherwise, let's use Bartholomew's Take 10 on Perception for 17 vs traps to help keep things moving along.

Will do - then assume Sven searches for traps at every door - can find all non-magical - take 10 for 21.

Adarion awakens feeling surprisingly rested. Looking over at Gudada's covered body and thinking of the missing Khalbar, he is determined to find out everything he can about the attack on Sandpoint, and whoever is behind it. When they are ready to go he continues his practice of casting mage armour when exploring dangerous areas.

I think this is just a carving of coins, not actual coins

His eyes widen as he takes in the carving. He looks over it with detect magic and tries to recall if it has anything to do with Thassilon.

Knowledge(Arcana): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18

Knowledge(History): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21

@Dak: I think the dynamic lighting effect might have turned off on Roll20 as I can no longer see the areas we were in before.

"I'm afraid we don't want my channeling before we rest unless we want to be confused and dead..." I channel negative, variant Madness (eventually I will channel both neg and pos but not yet). I suppose we'll need to dip into the CLW wand some more.

Okay, so we all recover 3 - so Naesehorn is fine. Let's see how many charges we need.

BeforeRest/AfterRest/Total
Nyx -1/2/23
Sven 4/7/23
Adarion 7/10/16
Uvara 13/16/21
Bart 24/24/24

So let's first use all of Uvara's LOHs.

LOH Nyx: 1d6 ⇒ 4 Nyx is at 3/23
LOH Nyx: 1d6 ⇒ 4 Nyx is at 7/23
LOH Nyx: 1d6 ⇒ 6 Nyx is at 13/23
LOH Nyx: 1d6 ⇒ 6 Nyx is at 19/23

So with the LOHs, Nyx is at 22/23 after the rest. Now for CLWs

CLW Wand Sven: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2 Sven is at 6/23
CLW Wand Sven: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8 Sven is at 14/23
CLW Wand Sven: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8 Sven is at 22/23

So with three charges, Sven is at full after rest. Now Adarion.

CLW Wand Adarion: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6 Adarion is at 13/16

With one charge, Adarion is full after rest. Now Uvara

CLW Wand Uvara: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4 Uvara is at 17/31
CLW Wand Uvara: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8 Uvara is at 25/31
CLW Wand Uvara: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8 Uvara is at 31/31

7 charges used to get all to full. Total of 18 charges used since here (by my count). So we're at 27 left!

@Sven: I should be full with that charge, I was down 9 HP total so with the rest and that charge I'm good! :)

The massive gold carving that looks like a stack of coins does not seem to be movable anyway you can see. No traps are found at the door or the stack of coins. Adarion tries to detect magic on the door, but does not find any. He doesn't note any particular historical or arcane meaning to the deceptions on the door.

With seemingly nothing to be done about the carving of coins, the group proceeds to open the southern door.

Four pillars support the domed ceiling of this room. Several dark alcoves containing standing sarcophagi grace the walls, and a statue of a stern man wielding a glaive and holding a book stands in the southern part of the chamber.

Thanks for the reminder on the map. Forgot to set the Advanced Dynamic Lighting, should be fixed now.

Sven does Barkskin for himself and Shield Companion, as usual. If nobody's using the cloak of resistance, Uvara will.

Uvara moves up carefully after Sven and Bart say there are no traps.

Sven tries to look for magic, and look around for stuff of consequence.

perception, +2 to avoid surprise (I've been forgetting this): 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (7) + 11 = 18

Moved in on the map, not very far.

He whispers, "we are in a spooky area,"

"There must be some meaning to this," Adarion says, looking at the carved coins. He sighs as he is unable to piece together it's meaning and he follows his companions.

He looks around with continued interest at the decorations and architecture of the room as they pass through it. He examines the statue of the stern man but is unfamiliar with who he might be or his relevance, although he must be important if a statue of him was created.

Adarion can't make that check even with a Nat 20.

We'll take 20 on a search in a bit, I think. I'll have 31, so there's no chance we can miss anything reasonable. Maybe the statue has something hidden in it.

"I don't suppose anything in here is magical?" Bartholomew asks clinically. "Given how clean the walls are, it is very unlikely the goblin tribe above made it this deep. Perhaps their unwelcomed guests were merely in search of these ruins - though that does not fully explain their provoking the attack on Sandpoint."

The group begins carefully searching the room. No one detects any magic in there but as they make their way around Sven eventually finds a secret door in the western wall. However, before anyone has a chance to do anything about it shadowy figures begin to creep out from some of the standing sarcophagi.

Everyone except Nyx and Sven are up!

Uvara steps closer to Sven to get out of the flanking position, and looks at the monsters.

knowledge (religion: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 18

Uvara quickly says, "try not to let them touch you, they can drain strength. Anyone who's strength drained can die and return as a shadow! Try holy water or magic!"

She puts away her shield, and puts both hands on her bastard sword, hoping to cut down at least one, as quickly as possible.

+1 bastard sword, 2-handed, power attack: 1d20 + 7 - 1 ⇒ (20) + 7 - 1 = 26
+1 bastard sword damage, 2-handed, power attack: 1d10 + 5 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 5 + 3 = 15
+1 bastard sword, 2-handed, power attack (confirm): 1d20 + 7 - 1 ⇒ (3) + 7 - 1 = 9
+1 bastard sword damage, 2-handed, power attack: 1d10 + 5 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 5 + 3 = 18

Uvara at least gets slice into one of the horrible apparitions. Pleased with her success, the paladin points at the one she's hit, "focus on one -if we can! We can do this!"

Adarion draws his new wand and blasts the shadow Uvara attacked with it.

Magic Missile: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Bartholomew recognizes the tactics Uvara suggests employing, but is unable to get a clear shot at the creature in question. Backing up next to Adarion, he pulls out a bottle that leaves a trail of sparks and smoke in the air as he arcs it over his companions towards the far shadow.

Bomb, PBS: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 6 + 1 = 25
Fire damage, PBS: 2d6 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (3, 3) + 5 + 1 = 12 (Splash damage 7, Reflex 15 to halve)
Miss: 1d8 ⇒ 4

Uvara Reflex: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10

Uvara doesn't dodge out of the way, but also doesn't seem badly affected by the fire effect. She'll take 2 damage.

Uvara unleashes a nearly brutal attack on the undead creature using the blade she took from the partially demon-woman's corpse. While she connects the it doesn't do nearly as much damage as she had been expecting. Adarion blasts the same one with his spell and the force magic rips into the creature undettered by its incorporeal nature. Bart tosses a bomb at the same one his bomb injuring it as well, but like Uvara not doing as much damage as it could have.

The shadowy undead all lash out at the closest living thing.

1-Nyx, 2-Adarion: 1d2 ⇒ 1

Attack-Nyx: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 17
Str Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 2

Attack-Naesehorn: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14
Str Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 4

Attack-Uvara: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20
Str Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 2

The creatures all easily hit their targets draining away the strength of Nyx, Naeshorn and Uvara.

Remember to adjust as appropriate for the STR damage

Group is up, starting with Sven and Nyx!

Adarion blasts another magic missile from his wand at the most wounded looking shadow.

Magic Missile: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

When the shadow near Uvara falls, Sven breathes a sigh of relief, and directs Naesehorn to step out of the center. Sven himself steps away, and shrugging at Uvara sheepishly, says "Sorry..." He summons a blast of celestial light which fills the room, and tries to burn away the shadows.

DC 15 reflex save or blinded for 1d4 rounds, otherwise dazzled for the same duration: 1d4 ⇒ 1
damage to the shadows (no save - though halved? Even though it is light??): 3d4 ⇒ (3, 1, 4) = 8

Uvara Reflex Save: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 18

Uvara is spared the worst of the blinding blast, though she glares at Sven. Uvara moves to flank with Nyx and disable the Shadow near him, sighing at Sven for dazzling her.

+1 bastard sword, 2-handed, dazzled, strength damage, power attack, flanking: 1d20 + 7 - 1 - 1 - 1 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 7 - 1 - 1 - 1 + 2 = 20
+1 bastard sword damage, 2-handed, power attack, strength damage: 1d10 + 5 + 3 - 1 ⇒ (9) + 5 + 3 - 1 = 16

Naesehorn makes a grumbling sound and tries to gore the shadow, but does nothing!

Will bot to move us forward on Monday if needed.

Fair enough - if Nyx starts his sermon, we can always add that after the fact.

Also, I am making the roll now, but if anyone does not consent to friendly fire we will direct the bomb at the other shadow.

Bartholomew sighs and throws another bomb at the thinner shadow. "You might want to duck," he suggest helpfully.

Bomb, PBS: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 6 + 1 = 17
Fire damage, PBS: 2d6 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (1, 4) + 5 + 1 = 11 (Splash damage 7, Reflex 15 to halve)
Miss: 1d8 ⇒ 4

Nyx begins his inspiring words on magic hoping to help his allies deal with the immediate threat. Sven waits to see if something can't be done about the badly injured shadow and luckly Adarion blasts it with another spell finishing it off.

Sven has Naesehorn move out of the way while he moves back himself before casting a spell.

Ref: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21
Ref: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (19) + 3 = 22

As the burst of light fills the room it seems the shadows avoid the light as best they can and while they are damaged, it isn't as effective as Sven would have thought.

Uvara steps up to the one near Nyx and slashes into it doing some damage and Bart follows it up with a bomb, nearly finishing the creature off, but not quite.

The two shadows undeterred, but slightly hampered, strike out at the nearest targets.

Attack-Uvara: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21
Str Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 6

Attack-Naesehorn: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11
Str Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 2

The one on Uvara significantly saps her strength while the one attacking Naesehorn luckily misses.

Forgot their Ref saves vs the bomb.

Ref-Nyx: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9
Ref-Uvara: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

Group is up!

Uvara has fire resistance, so she's at 27/31, not 22/31.

Drained of most of her strength, Uvara tries to finish off the shadow she's flanking with Nyx.

+1 bastard sword, 2-handed, inspire courage, flanking, strength damage: 1d20 + 7 + 1 + 2 - 4 ⇒ (4) + 7 + 1 + 2 - 4 = 10
+1 bastard sword damage, 2-handed, inspire courage, strength damage: 1d10 + 5 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (3) + 5 + 1 - 4 = 5

Blue is almost dead, Adarion, I hope you can ping it down! Maybe you could cast a full magic missile, splitting them between the enemies?

Sven and Naesehorn, lacking any magic weapons, step out of the way of the bomb they expect Bart to throw. The shadows are no longer dazzled.

Seeing his allies strength starting to wane from the Shadows' evil touch, Adarion decides to use his own more effective form of Magic missile to bring them down quicker, firing one at each of the enemies.

Damage(Magic Missile): 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Damage(Magic Missile): 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Hopefully that's enough to take down the injured shadow!

Yes, you take the one down and injure the other.

Sven and Naesehorn, lacking any magic weapons, step out of the way of the bomb they expect Bart to throw.

Bartholomew obliges.

Bomb, PBS, IC: 1d20 + 6 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 6 + 1 + 1 = 21
Fire damage, PBS, IC: 2d6 + 5 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (3, 1) + 5 + 1 + 1 = 11 (Splash damage 7, Reflex 15 to halve)
Miss?: 1d8 ⇒ 5

Aiming at the more-solid shadow, trying to catch the other in the splash.

Sven and Neasehorn move out of the way while Nyx continues his inspiring words, pulling out his dagger to threaten the shadow near him. Sadly, this doesn't help Uvara too much as she completely misses her target.

Luckily Adarion finishes it off with one of his spells and manages to do some damage to the other one still standing. Bart tosses his bomb at the last remaining shadow hitting it and doing some more damage, but now drawing its attention. Unrelenting it moves up to attack Bart.

Attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 17
Str Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 4

It reaches through his armor and grasps at his very being, draining some of his strength away.

Group is up!

Sven moves near Uvara while Naesehorn stays back, and Sven says to her "no no, you are not strong now, fight like this."

Sven aids Uvara's attack.

scythe aid another (AC 10), inspire courage: 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 5 + 1 = 13

Uvara loops around and tries to get into a flank with Bart, with Bart's dagger obliging her.

+1 bastard sword, 2-handed, inspire courage, flanking, aid another, power attack, strength damage: 1d20 + 7 + 1 + 2 + 2 - 1 - 4 ⇒ (10) + 7 + 1 + 2 + 2 - 1 - 4 = 17
+1 bastard sword damage, 2-handed, inspire courage, power attack, strength damage: 1d10 + 5 + 1 + 3 - 4 ⇒ (2) + 5 + 1 + 3 - 4 = 7

Adarion activates his wand again and another magic missile blasts forward to hit the last shadow.

Damage(Magic Missile): 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

Bartholomew tries to keep an eye on the shadowy creature and avoid its draining touch should it reach for him again.

Total defense - Touch AC 17

Uvara and Adarion work together to finish off the last shadow, leaving the room empty of further threats.

Out of combat

Sven sighs, "any way for us to fix Uvara's strength? She is beat up with shadow hurt." When nothing comes, he shrugs, "okay. Let us look for treasure."

Perception (treasures): 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (11) + 11 = 22

There is no treasure in the room, but before you were so rudely interrupted the group found a secret door in the western wall.

Thanks for the bot; my PbP games got away from me again. "Ugh, everything feels so heavy." Nyx says in an exasperated tone. "I can pray to Nethys tomorrow for magic to restore our strength."

Sven nods cheerfully at Nyx, ”yes. Tomorrow I can help this too. Let us find more valuables and things to kill.” He slaps Nyx on the shoulder cheerfully and he and Uvara go to the secret door. After confirming it isn’t trapped from both Bart and his own rough senses, Uvara opens it and they start heading in. Sven will stay just behind Uvara, looking ahead for mechanical traps.

Take a penalty to search for traps as they go, take 10 for 21-1=20.

The hall leads west and has two halls off of it heading north. Each leads to a short set of stairs leading up and then a closed door. The western of the two northernly halls leads to a small platform over open water, the eastern of northernly halls leads to a larger area over the same pool of water.

The sound of sloshing water fills this room, which has almost entirely collapsed into a large tide pool. What few walls do remain intact here bear detailed and impressive carvings of incredible treasuries filled to overflowing with coins, gems, jewelry, and other items of value. To the east, the walls depict a carving of a towering mountain, its peak carved in the shape of a stern face just above a great palace. Below, the side of the mountain’s valley cradles an immense city of spires.

"Hah, carvings of treasures - maybe there is treasure in the bottom of the pool - a treasure room?" Sven looks at the bottom of the pool, hoping to spot treasure.

Perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (17) + 11 = 28

Sven looks down into the water and does indeed see lots of shiny objects, but it will require someone swimming down and searching the rubble to see what all lies below.

However, as he is looking into the water he quickly notices movement as an immense gold helmet down below suddenly shifts and moves, as if it were rotating to look at him.

The pool of water is about 20ft deep you can see it appears there is a tunnel under the water level leading further west, you would guess likely the means that water got into the chamber from the sea outside.

Sven points at the helmet. "A GIANT HELMET." He looks at the helmet, made for a giant. "I want to get it out but it is moving. Maybe a haunted helmet?"

He hefts his scythe. "Let us hit it until it comes quietly?"

Adarion looks at the carving with interest as they enter the room. He scans it, and while something looks familiar about it, nothing jumps out at him as important. As he goes to look more deeply at the carving, Sven's words distract him and he goes over to join the half-orc in looking down at the pool.

Knowledge(History): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18

He peers down at the gold helmet below, frowning. Turning back to Sven, he says "I could try using my wand on it. See if it will provoke it to come up here? Although maybe it would be better to wait until we have healed? Those shadows' attacks have weakened a lot of the group."

Sven says "If you want. We will wait a whole day then. Want to wait?"

We have only had one encounter, so I'm not sure if we can really wait another day. Up to Dak.

If you want to wait you can but maybe finish trying to explore the level before that?