DMDM's Fingerprints of the Fiend

Game Master Douglas Muir 406

init: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22

The acid is somewhat sticky and has an oily, earthy smell. And it stains. It stains like anything. One item of clothing (your choice) is completely and utterly ruined.

O-kay. This thing, right here, that we're doing? It just got real.

Morvius looks appalled as the acid burns his frock coat (one of his favourites) beyond even the best efforts of any tailor. His eyes narrow.

Oh, it's ON, slubberdegullions.

"Ah, gentlemen. And there I was going to give you a chance to surrender. And now? Not so much. "

His tone is quiet, polite, almost regretful; but his eyes are dark, implacable, like a shark's.

Initiative: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 = 20

init: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12

Callinda dodges the blast of acid and looks around for its source -- stifling a smile as she hears Morvius' cold fury ramping up behind her.

Mooks: 1d20 ⇒ 17
Others: 1d20 ⇒ 3 and 1d20 ⇒ 15

Okay, looks like everyone but Callinda (and Grinceroy?) has initiative on the mooks.

The interior of the building is mostly one large open space, built around a huge pit in the ground. Tools and equipment are everywhere.

The huge put has rails going down into it, out of sight. There are two carts on the rails. One is empty. In the other, two people are sitting. One is Zulfikor / Weasel. The other is a stout dark-skinned woman in brown robes, who is flicking a few drops of acid off one hand.

Two mooks are pushing this cart along the rails, which angle steeply down into the pit. "Go, go!" yells Weasel. "Let's get out of here!"

Four other mooks (for a total of six) are blocking your way.

Morvius steps through the doorway, allowing those behind to move into the room.

5 ft step, full attack

His whip snaps out twice, viciously, aiming to drag his opponents to the ground.

Trip attack: 1d20 + 6 + 4 + 2 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 6 + 4 + 2 + 1 + 1 = 18

Trip attack, iterative attack: 1d20 + 6 + 4 + 2 + 1 + 1 - 5 ⇒ (13) + 6 + 4 + 2 + 1 + 1 - 5 = 22

If the mooks pushing the cart are in range I'll go for them, otherwise I'll go for the ones (about to be) in melee

Initiative: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6 Whelp, I'm definitely a little too slow to react.

Hearkening back to her conversation with Aterro, Janeesa will hold her action until later in the round, allowing those more powerful in combat to deal with the threats while she prepares to heal as needed. There is little she can do to stop Weasel and friends from escaping at this range.

DM, since Bull's Strength is 1 min per level, is it reasonable that mine is still in effect? I'm going to assume yes, but feel free to ignore if not. Also, I'll not include the prone bonus, but if Morvius knocked them down, we may need to add that in.

Even Attero is taken aback as RAGE WITHOUT PEER crosses Morvius' face at the death of the loyal outerwear.

As his way is at last open, he CLANGS his metal fists together and advances to the battle. "Fear not, good friend Morvius. We shall rend and slay so many that even thy frock will be welcome in Valhalla."

Once again Divine Favor flows through Attero as his fists assail the soldiers in front of him!

Zeal Attack!: 1d20 + 8 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 8 + 3 + 2 = 14
Zeal Damage!: 1d8 + 7 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 7 + 3 + 2 = 20
Righteousness Attack!: 1d20 + 8 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 8 + 3 + 2 = 24
Righteousness Damage!: 1d8 + 7 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 7 + 3 + 2 = 19

AC= 22

Morvius steps through the doorway, allowing those behind to move into the room.

5 ft step, full attack

His whip snaps out twice, viciously, aiming to drag his opponents to the ground.

[Dice=Trip attack]d20+6+4+2+1+1

[Dice=Trip attack, iterative attack]d20+6+4+2+1+1-5

If the mooks pushing the cart are in range I'll go for them, otherwise I'll go for the ones (about to be) in melee

Huh, you can drop a mook on a 4 or higher. Note to self: use monsters with high CMDs. Okay, two mooks fall to the ground.

Good thing the Aspis Consortium recruits mooks with Toughness! One guy is injured but not killed.

Okay, mooks are up! Morvius, you moved in, so two of them move to flank you. 50% chance that will move one of them into Callinda: 1d100 ⇒ 18 Okay, I'll roll Reflex saves for both of you: Callinda: 1d20 ⇒ 12 Mook: 1d20 ⇒ 20 you're both fine. The mook yells in astonishment: "I just bounced into someone! There's someone here!" So, for the moment, Callinda's square is known. Nevertheless, they carry out their plan to flank and attack Morvius.

1d20 ⇒ 20 does that confirm? 1d20 ⇒ 17 Woo yes it does! Other mook: 1d20 ⇒ 11 not gonna do it against Morvius' excellent AC. However, that crit comes through for 2d8 + 4 ⇒ (5, 2) + 4 = 11 points of damage.

The two prone mooks: one attempts to stand up, which will trigger an AoO from Brother D. The wounded one goes on the defensive and crawls 10' away. Brother D, you can attack the fresh one (+2 to attack) or the wounded one (no bonus, it's cancelled because he's on defense) -- choose which.

The two mooks pushing the cart have got it up to speed: clank clank clank clank clankclankclankclank it goes clattering down into the pit. The mooks jump into the cart just as it disappears out of sight.

As the cart disappears, Zulfikor / Weasel flicks his fingers at Brother D. Brother D, a DC 13 Will save, please.

And that's it. Brother D should take his AoOs and then make his save, and then everybody acts.

I thought I tripped the mooks pushing the cart?

I thought I tripped the mooks pushing the cart?

Too far away, and the mooks around the door are blocking you.

Attero stares balefully at the retreating bandit. "Cowards die in SHAME!" he screams, aiming a hate-filled fist at the mook.
Single OOC!: 1d20 + 10 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 10 + 3 + 2 = 20
Damage!: 1d8 + 7 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 7 + 3 + 2 = 20

He has time enough to take in the gaze of the fleeing villain, and the force of the evil one's spell clashes against his own iron will.

And they shall know no fear: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (13) + 9 = 22

The force of the blast washes around the WarPriest as does the tide over the ever-living rock.

Turning his attention back to the now-standing bandit, he makes a quick sign on honor. "You do yourself credit. Thy brothers do all they can to avoid my spiked punches, and even thy brother that once stood next to you now shirks away in retreat.

You shall die with honor."

Zeal Attack!: 1d20 + 8 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 8 + 3 + 2 = 33
Confirm?: 1d20 + 8 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 8 + 3 + 2 = 26
Damage!: 1d8 + 7 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 7 + 3 + 2 = 14
Crit Damage?: 1d8 ⇒ 3

Righteousness Attack!: 1d20 + 8 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 8 + 3 + 2 = 33
Confirm?: 1d20 + 8 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 8 + 3 + 2 = 25
Damage!: 1d8 + 7 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 7 + 3 + 2 = 16
Crit Damage?: 1d8 ⇒ 2

AC = 22

Morvius winces as the weapon cuts deeply into his flesh, but that will at least heal - the damage done to his clothing is irreparable.

Trying to even the odds slightly, he steps to one side and tries to bring both the mooks down.

5 ft step out from being flanked, full attack

Trip: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (2) + 14 = 16

Trip: 1d20 + 14 - 5 ⇒ (14) + 14 - 5 = 23

STATUS hp: 20/46

What are the odd halfling slave and his friend ("Pilgrim"?) up to?

And the minecart with the baddies in it is gone / out of reach, but there's a second cart sitting on the track?

Janeesa will take her held action to move up to Morvius and Cure Serious Wounds.

3d8 + 6 ⇒ (1, 5, 4) + 6 = 16

What are the odd halfling slave and his friend ("Pilgrim"?) up to?

Pilgrim is yelling and shaking his fist from behind you. "Smite them! Smite them hip and thigh!"

The halfling has disappeared.

And the minecart with the baddies in it is gone / out of reach, but there's a second cart sitting on the track?

Correct.

gonna resist giving chase solo here

Callinda watches the mages disappear in their cart and curses under her breath as the chance of a clean strike disappears with them.

She steps to the nearest mook and slashes at its throat, popping into visibility and snarling at Pilgrim, "Where's your friend -- where's that track go?!"

scimitar power attack / sneak - flat-foot: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (17) + 9 = 26for: 1d6 + 9 + 2d6 ⇒ (2) + 9 + (5, 2) = 18

Okay, Callinda appears out of invisibility with a faint "pop". Slash, slash: one mook is severely injured.

So that's... one guy dead, one severely injured and prone, one severely injured and prone but 10' away, and one just prone.

Grinceroy didn't go this round?

[dice=Initiative]d20+5 Whelp, I'm definitely a little too slow to react.

I think he thought his init was too low? Someone wanna PM him?

Sorry, yeah, I did not realize it was my turn yet.

Grinceroy moves through the door and up to the uninjured mook. He quickly forms a dagger made of thorns and smashes it into the prone man.

Attack: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (19) + 8 = 27
Damage: 3d6 + 4 ⇒ (3, 5, 5) + 4 = 17

Team mook is up!

Prone injured guy jumps up and 1d20 ⇒ 17 charges back into the attack! "We'll see who's a coward, you fat bastard!" 1d20 ⇒ 14 Brother Attero is AC 22, +2 for charging... yah, that just hits. 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9 of damage on Brother Attero. Of course, he's at -2 AC next turn for charging.

The other prone guy will try standing up, which provokes AoOs from Callinda and Grinceroy both. Good luck with that. They don't hire these guys for their smarts.

So, Callinda and Grinceroy take their AoOs on this guy, then everybody goes.

AOO: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (14) + 9 = 23
Damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8

So there's one of the problems I've got. I can't use any of my good options with AOOs. Oh well. Improved Unarmed Combat and monk damage at least offset it somewhat.

...Callinda's AoO, and then everybody goes.

Two mooks left, both injured. This shouldn't take long.

Um, how does he stand up and then charge? Standing up from prone is a move action, and charging is a full-round action.

aoo scimitar power attack: 1d20 + 9 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 9 + 1 = 18for: 1d6 + 9 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 9 + 1 = 13

Um, how does he stand up and then charge? Standing up from prone is a move action, and charging is a full-round action.

Thought you could do a partial charge as an attack action?

If you are able to take only a standard action on your turn, you can still charge, but you are only allowed to move up to your speed (instead of up to double your speed) and you cannot draw a weapon unless you possess the Quick Draw feat. You can’t use this option unless you are restricted to taking only a standard action on your turn.

so is an option in times like surprise round, but not in combination with another move action like standing up.

Yeah, I think that only if you are, like, Slowed, or something.

Given that it's just a mook who will most likely be dead in a round or so, I'm inclined to just let it go and chalk it up for future reference (even DMs make occasional mistakes). If this was a fight with the BBEG and they'd just critted me it would be another matter :)

Eh, 9 points of damage is 9 points of damage.

Okay Brother D, remove those 9 points. The mook is still there, adjacent to you.

If this were a normal campaign, the likes of which we felt more free to take a rest whenever we liked, I'd be more inclined to agree with you. However, since this is a gauntlet, with each hitpoint not easily replaced, as he says, 9 points is 9 points. Also, I'm assuming Calinda's AOO killed the other guy. ^_^

Attero points to the recently killed mook that had stood and faced him. "THAT right there is a MAN. HE stood in the heat of the FLAME and stared it down and DARED me to kill him. And so, with souls full of thunder and hearts of STEEL we did slay him and he died with honor.

You? You FIRST thought of your safety, crawling like a WORM away from the maelstrom of battle, loving a life that you did not deserve and grasping at a mere fig leaf of safety, preferring the illusion and too BLIND to see that none existed."

Attero sighs.

"Death be thy compass," he states, cocking his hand back.

Zeal Attack!: 1d20 + 8 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 8 + 3 + 2 = 31

Damage!: 1d8 + 7 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 7 + 3 + 2 = 15

Righteousness Attack!: 1d20 + 8 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 8 + 3 + 2 = 26

Damage!: 1d8 + 7 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 7 + 3 + 2 = 14

AC = 22

All true, especially about the gauntlet nature of the adventure!

Morvius represses a weary sigh as the good Brother carries out his sententious violence. He's not opposed to talking, and the gods know he himself doubtless has characteristics that annoy his companions; but in his world, people are either charming or tedious - and he's sometimes unsure what side of that line Aterro falls on.

Noting Morvius' seeming dismay and guessing at his thoughts, Janeesa merely whispers:

"Aterro's charms lie in combat; therein, one keenly loves his presence. Once done, the more brutal aspects are less endearing."

Well, all the mooks are dead now.

So: now what?

popping into visibility and snarling at Pilgrim, "Where's your friend -- where's that track go?!"

No answers from Pilgrim and still no sign of the halfling?

Indirectly responding to Morvius' disapproval, Callinda states matter-of-factly, "These ones are dead; the others got away. Shall we follow before they have too much time to dig in?"

She'll do a quick scan of the room before making her way to the pit and peering--cautiously--in.

Pilgrim pauses to give one of the dead guards a hearty kick. Then, "The track descends into the Darkness below. Abyssus abyssum invocat! A solitude ten thousand fathoms deep. The earth-beast devoured the old stone, as a rat might gnaw through a piece of cheese, and we followed." He gestures at the tracks. "See the fruit of our labors."

Morvius efficiently loots the dead mooks, while listening to Pilgrim. "How long does it take in one of those carts?"

I could do with another zap or two from the CLW wand, and then we should get moving.

Three charges to Morvius: 3d8 + 3 ⇒ (3, 2, 8) + 3 = 16 first two rolled for crap

Anyone else?

ready to go. though still curious where the halfling went...

I'll move over to the cart and give it a once over for any sign of trapping or sabotage.

assuming you want to roll: percept is +12 to detect traps, +9 otherwise

Oy! As the players around the table poke fun at Attero, I wide the cheetos off my characters sheet, toss back the last of my mountain dew, and state, "You do not bring a two handed sword along for its witty personality!" *sticks out tongue* Also, I could do with a hit since the time for healing is before you are dead. =)

Attero efficiently helps in the looting of the slavers, knowing full well that any advantage might turn the tide of BATTLE.

"Pilgrim you make no sense. That could describe any mine in any land. Still, as our quarry has gone there, we must too."

Or we could rest...? He ain't comin' back up any time soon. ^_^

ready to go. though still curious where the halfling went...

I'll move over to the cart and give it a once over for any sign of trapping or sabotage.

"Yeah, good thinking." The halfling's voice comes from under the cart. "Already there." Wait, he somehow moved through the entire combat and got under the cart?

"Ah hah, yeah, someone went after the front axle with a file. Zulfikor, I bet. Talia wouldn't think that fast." The halfling frowns thoughtfully. "It's only nicked, though. He didn't have time to give it more than a lick or two. I... think it should hold. "

Anybody got Mending?

Heh. I like Attero's personality, myself, but it's basically the polar opposite of Morvius' so I thought it worth lampshading a bit :)

Morvius frowns. "As exhilarating as it sounds to risk my life on a 'should' from a complete stranger, I'd like a second opinion."

DMDM - would Disable Device allow an estimate/attempted fix? Or are we looking at some other skill? I don't have DD, but Callinda does for certain, possibly others.

Disable Device would allow an estimate. Mending would fix it, but I'm pretty sure nobody took it...

Callinda ducks a head under the cart to see what the halfling's found. "There you are -- great minds think alike, apparently; let's see this axle."

disable device: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (19) + 12 = 31 +3 more if this counts as a "trap"

Making a show of not being able to see the damage at first, she looks back and forth from the axle to the halfling a few times, trying to size up whether he's the saboteur himself.

Sure, Zulfikor ran in the door seconds ahead of us and took the time to sabotage the cart, and you just happened to find it, she thinks. I'd bet a bottle of Morvius' favorite Taldan red that's not what happened.

sense motive: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 16