Saga of the Sages

Game Master Nathanael Love

Dmitri claps when the shooting from Penthesilea takes out the final doll. He looks at the strange weapon and shield with little interest, but admires the spear. It's weight and balance are good for throwing. Not as fine a weapon as a Aldori dueling sword, but still nice.

He whistles with appreciation at the gold and silver coins and hears the others say the papers may be valuable though he doesn't understand why.

He rubs at the little pinpricks received by the animated dolls, but doesn't seek out healing relief right away. "Guess it's back the other way, though this seems a nice reward for the trouble."

”I’d like to take a moment to examine these items more thoroughly,” the sylph says, stepping into the room.

Knowledge Arcana (shield): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 8 = 23
Knowledge History: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13

”Fascinating,” Drea murmurs.

Nadric sighs with relief that the fire he tossed around didn't cause any harm to the valuable artifacts. He looks with a little regret at the shattered remains of the living diorama, but then goes to examine the khopesh curiously. "I've never seen a weapon quite like this before. It seems difficult to wield, but the design is quite elegant. It would be a pleasure to see it in the hands of someone who knows how to use it. That someone is certainly not going to be me, though!"

He also peeks over Drea's shoulder to look at the shield. "Quite nice as a shield, I'm sure! Even better would be getting to carry the same shield as Akhentopi! What a thrill that would be." If Drea allows, he takes it in his hand and then stands at attention before one of the images of Akhentopi, imagining for a few moments that he is a hero living in ancient Osirion. Then he surrenders it back to the group to offer it to someone who doesn't need their hands free as often as he does.

I'm ready to move on to the southern door whenever everyone else is.

Drea gives a few test swings with the khopesh as Nadric plays with the shield.

"This would serve me well if I wielded that shield," they suggest.

Drea will use the khopesh only if they can use it with the shield. Otherwise, they will rely on their greatsword. Drea would like to carry the papyrus scrolls, however.

"My bow takes care of me well enough, thanks."

Ready to roll

Pirro carefully packages the plunder to protect if during their continued exploration, dividing it among the companions. Once finished with that, he places the broken automatons back upon the diorama.

He follows the others back to the other door.

You head to the south door you'd bypassed previously. After checking for traps and locks, you pass through that door into a hallway, mirroring the one to the North, then through that door into the chamber (A9). . .

A massive mirror stretches across the southern wall of this chamber, flanked by two statues. The statue to the east depicts a tall, gaunt woman in a flowing, hooded gown, holding an hourglass. The figure to the west is that of a jackal-headed man carrying a scepter or staff in his hand. Stone double doors, standing slightly ajar, lead to the east and west. A third set of double doors exits the room to the north. Torch holders sculpted in the shape of bird skulls are built in each corner, and a thin layer of dust covers every surface.

The statues are Pharasms and Anubis (skipping the religion tests since you've identified both in this tomb already).

"Nothing more than rats or mice have passed this way recently," Pirro comments as he takes note of the tracks in the corridor.

Nodding to the Keleshite man as he explains about rat tracks, Dmitri moves to the western door, which stands slightly open, and tries to peer through the gap to see what lies beyond.

You see a staircase that slowly descends past the western door.

Dmitri relate that it appears to be stairs to the west, and then heads over to the eastern doors, and repeats the process.

Drea equips the scarab shield. They regard the khopesh, frown slightly, then sheathe the anachronistic weapon, strapping it to their belt. They then pull out their atlatl and shrug at the group.

"I recognise the irony in favouring one ancient weapon over another," they say dryly. The sylph closes their eyes briefly, ruffling the hair of the other party members as a swirl of dust encircles the prehistoric missile weapon briefly. Opening their eyes again, Drea nods.

"I am ready," the confirm.

Imbuing the atlatl with a resonant point for an enhancement bonus. My AC is 18 with the shield.

Nadric pulls up his scarf over his nose to avoid breathing in stirred-up dust that's been lying here for who knows how long. His voice comes out a little muffled, "Stairs down? We'd better look over this way first, then." He follows Dmitri over to the eastern doors and checks if these have any traps set, or if there are any suspicious signs from what lies behind them.

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24

He glances at the statue of Pharasma nearby while he works and idly comments, "It reminds me a little of you here, Penthesilia, with all these images of different gods together in one place."

"I mean it makes sense, doesn't it? Who would really think that a guy who got up to as much as Akhentopi could only be summed up by one god. For his whole life?! Crazy talk if you ask me."

Penthesilea follows along contentedly.

You see no traps or other suspicious signs other than the afore mentioned vermin tracks. The door is not locked.

”Let me go first!“

Kenji steps forward, opens the door and steps in.

Can you please move me on the map.

Pillars line the walls of this rectangular chamber, interspersed
with stone jackal heads extending from the walls. A stone altar,
covered in a layer of dust, sits at the eastern end of the room.

Inside, there lurk a set of three giant solifugids! (Camel spiders)

Round 1

Turn Order:
1. Dmitri 23
2. Kenji 23
3/4. Nardic & Pehthselilea 17
5. Zarisha 15
6. Pirro 14
7. Giant Solifiguds

The entire party will act before the camel spiders.

Kenji attacks with his bardiche with reach!

”Again you threaten us? Noo!!“

MW Bardiche, reach, power attack : 1d20 + 7 - 1 ⇒ (1) + 7 - 1 = 7
Slashing, 2h Str 18 +6, power attack +3: 1d10 + 6 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 6 + 3 = 16

As Kenji has reach any of them not 5 ft stepping will have to move out of a threatened square to attack him so I will include an AoO in case that happens:

AoO - MW Bardiche, reach, power attack : 1d20 + 7 - 1 ⇒ (1) + 7 - 1 = 7
Slashing, 2h Str 18 +6, power attack +3: 1d10 + 6 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 6 + 3 = 17

Knowledge Nature: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

"Urgh, those are some large spiders. Look like a threat and they'll scurry away, right?" To that end he readies his bow and fires an arrow through the opened doorway at the nearest one.

Attack, PBS: 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 5 + 1 = 15
Damage: 1d6 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 + 1 = 8

Zarisha drifts across the chamber and passes through the altar, tempting the spiders with her ephemeral presence to waste their energy.

"Everything becomes food for something bigger," she laments as she moves.

Pirro removes a flask from his belt and prepares to throw it at the spiders.

"Eeeurrgh! What's that thing they're doing with their legs!"

Keeping a safe distance, Penthesilea loosed a pair of arrows into the room at the closest spider.

Longbow (PBS, Rapid Shot): 1d20 + 6 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (13) + 6 + 1 - 2 = 18
Damage: 1d8 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 2 + 1 = 7
Longbow (PBS, Rapid Shot): 1d20 + 6 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (17) + 6 + 1 - 2 = 22
Damage: 1d8 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 2 + 1 = 7

While the sharpshooters pick out the closest spider for target practice, Dmitri leaps into the room (he as standing near the eastern doors per the last post) and accosts the one on the southern wall but his first sweeping cut does not harm the arachnid, and now he looks rather exposed.

"Spiders!" calls Dmitri with a smirk. "Let's just step on 'em!"

Not really sure how to proceed here. Saw Drea's note in Discussion and figured I accidentally deleted Dmitri's original roll, which ended up as a 10. Re-rolling for a permanent records gives me a number that is likely a hit. Will let you adjudicate as you see fit, but expect it to miss...

Dmitri dueling sword: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19
Dmitri dmg: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

Round 1

Dmitri approaches one camel spider and misses If you say you're first roll was a 10, I'll trust that.

Kenji finds his luck as poor and he misses mightily!

Nardic's shot finds purchase and he strikes the first of them!

Penthselilea finishes that camel spider, and hits the next one in the corner as well for good measure. Red -1 damage for out of PBS

Pirro draws a flask and advances.

Round 1

Turn Order:
1. Dmitri 23
2. Kenji 23
3/4. Nardic & Pehthselilea 17
5. Drea
6. Zarisha 15
7. Pirro 14
8. Giant Solifiguds

Status-

Red- 6 damage taken

Kenji- 23/26
Dmitri- 9/11

Waiting on Drea before the camel spiders (insects, not arachnids- and at size small they might be smaller than the real thing!)

The sylph proceeds into the room and uses their atlatl to target the spider in the back corner.

”Perri, I hope your phantom is truly incorporeal.” Drea’s atlatl glows a vibrant purple as they hurl the dart.

I won’t take a penalty for shooting into melee combat unless directed to do so. Aiming at the spider nearest Zarisha.

Ranged Attack: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 41d6 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

Round 1

Drea's attack misses, and the camel spiders attack!

Blue bordered one attacking Dmitri:
Bite: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9
Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6
Claw: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5
Damage: 1d3 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4
Claw: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (13) + 3 = 16
Damage: 1d3 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

All three misses!

The other uses it's swift speed to skitter across the floor on its six sickly legs to attack Drea!
This triggers Kenji's AOO which misses

Bite: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 13
Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2
A miss as well.

Turn Order:
[b]1. Dmitri 23 [b]
2. Kenji 23
3/4. Nardic & Pehthselilea 17
5. Drea
6. Zarisha 15
7. Pirro 14
8. Giant Solifiguds

Status-

Red- 6 damage taken

Kenji- 23/26
Dmitri- 9/11

That brings up the party at the start of round 2- Dmitri and Kenji, I missed if you used anything to heal between the Doll fight and now which is why I have your hit points down 3 and 2 respectively.

GM, the HP are correct. Thanks!

Kenji steps back and attacks with his bardiche with reach!

”This tomb is truly dangerous! Irori guide my arms!!“

MW Bardiche, reach, power attack : 1d20 + 7 - 1 ⇒ (7) + 7 - 1 = 13
Slashing, 2h Str 18 +6, power attack +3: 1d10 + 6 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 6 + 3 = 15

I also agree that Dmitri is at 9/11 hp to start this fight.

After narrowly dodging one of the claws from the frightful looking bug, Dmitri returns to the offensive. He pivots around the fierce camel-spider giving any of his allies a clearer shot if needed, and then takes an overhead cut that hits, but doesn't penetrate very far through the creature's hard exoskeleton.

Dmitri dueling sword: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21
Dmg: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

Pirro appears deep in concentration for a long moment.

Zarisha appears to become slightly more 'there' and then slides through the altar. The altar gives more resistance than before, and a silvery slime remains on the surface where she passes. "I am so often overlooked and underestimated, but then again, everything is transient and fleeting so why remember anything?" she moans as she approaches the (red) camel spider and strikes it with her fist.

Form: Ectoplasmic
EDIT: Added flank bonus

Drea's eyes flash violet briefly as their atlatl dart misses, and again as the pale spider-like thing attacks them. Dropping the atlatl to their side, Drea draws their luminescent greatsword from its scabbard and swings with imbued might.

Use atlatl dart as a melee weapon.

Melee Attack: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (8) + 0 = 81d6 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

"Normally I'd be annoyed that everyone's getting in the way of these shots, but go ahead and keep those things niiice and far away, okay?"

Starting with Blue
Longbow (PBS, Rapid Shot): 1d20 + 6 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (14) + 6 + 1 - 2 = 19
Damage: 1d8 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 2 + 1 = 10
Longbow (PBS, Rapid Shot): 1d20 + 6 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (17) + 6 + 1 - 2 = 22
Damage: 1d8 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 2 + 1 = 8

It doesn’t matter for my last puny attack, but do I get flanking with the semi-corporeal Zarisha?

Yes: when she’s ectoplasmic or incorpeal will a held charge for a spell.

Round 2

Dmititri strikes the one in front of him, but across the room Kenji's attack narrowly misses.

Pehthselilea's arrows finish each of the camel spiders in turn.

Status at end of fight:

Kenji- 23/26
Dmitri- 9/11

Survival Check: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (15) + 0 = 15

Drea glances over their shoulder at Penthesilea.

”That was well done, Penthesilea,” Drea says, getting the minstrel’s name exactly correct.

The sylph muses for a moment. ”Yes, the tracks in the previous room were definitely made by these things. Curious, they look like spiders, but I count ten legs. Hmm.”

Kenji nods with a smile.

”Good that you know how to fight!“

He starts moving to the stairs.

Dmitri looks at the dusty altar for a few minutes to see if there is anything of value or interest. If he sees nothing, he moves on to support Kenji.

Penthsesilea dry fires her bowstring with a **twang** and a smirk. "Well, you don't get in the epics if you miss all the time you know?"

Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

"Doesn't look like there's anything interesting except gross bugs in here. Let's keep going."

Replacing the flask on his belt, Pirro searches the room for secrets.

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 20

Zarisha becomes less substantial and drifts around the room.

Form: Incorporeal

Nadric wanders around the room taking a quick look, and for good measure he spends a few seconds concentrating on any magical auras that might be present around the altar.

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11

Detect magic on the room. If there's nothing of interest I'll proceed toward the stairs.

Drea briefly muses on the jackal headed statues, then inspects the remainder of the room as per their archaeological obsession.

Perception Check: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16
Knowledge Religion: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 21
Knowledge History: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10

You see nothing else of note in room A9 and begin heading the other direction. As Kenji crosses the stairs, a creature appears from the sand beneath their feet and attacks him!

Bite: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16
Damage: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9

The creature's serpentine jaw misses Kenji as it rises from the sand, snapping, it's very form appears to be made out of sand!

Round 1

Turn Order:
1. Penthesilea 24
2. Kenji 22 (+5)
3. Drea 22 (+3)
4. Nardic 19
5. Dimitri 17
6. Pirro 9
7. Zarisha 7
8. Sandling 2

We are onto slide 6 now, in room A11, and again the entire party acts before the monster, so everyone can take their actions now.

Dmitri sees the sand-creature snap at Kenji and rushes to his defense, slashing at the thing with his sword.

Dmitri dueling sword: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14
Slashing dmg, if hit: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7

Not sure if that damage will hurt a creature made of sand but it's what Dmitri would do regardless. The dueling sword is slashing damage type only, unlike longsword.

Knowledge Planes Check: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15

”A sandling! An elemental creature of silica! It faces all directions at once and sports no feasible mind. Fascinating...” Drea spouts, seemingly unconcerned with the battle at hand.

Knowledge Planes: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8

"Never mind what it's called, what do you do when one is throwing itself at you?" Nadric cries, covering his embarrassment at not knowing what a sandling is with a bit of bluster. He does the only thing he knows how to do in response to a sudden, unknown threat: move up and try to put an arrow into it.

Attack, PBS: 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 5 + 1 = 22
Piercing damage: 1d6 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 + 1 = 5

He watches anxiously to see if his arrow can do anything to a creature of living sand.

I'm shooting through the cover provided by my allies.

Kenji moves forward a step, drops his bardiche, draws his greatsword and attacks the being that tried to slam him.

”Beware friends!“

Greatsword, power attack : 1d20 + 6 - 1 ⇒ (16) + 6 - 1 = 21
Slashing, 2h Str 18 +6, pa +3: 2d6 + 6 + 3 ⇒ (2, 5) + 6 + 3 = 16