GM Bret’s Outpost II Doom comes to Dustpawn! (Inactive)

Game Master BretI

4th level spell in wizard land so that's all I've got, no greater invis for me today either.

You make sure that the Inn has enough fresh water for the day.

Gathering your gear, you head out of town. On your way out, you notice a guard has been placed near the public wells.

You go back to the Nesher Mines and then head south from there. Although there are a lot of tracks from the Cultists searching for those strange crystals, many of them are in the same general direction as the place marked on the map.

You do not have much trouble finding the crash site. It is about five miles south of the mines and when you get within about a half mile of it you notice some strange vapors and a plume of pale smoke.

As you come over a hill, you see a great furrow has been carved through the hills here, creating a brand-new valley amid the peaks. The ground is blasted and scorched, and the trees surrounding the area are charred and burnt leafless. The furrow only somewhat resembles a crater— for the huge object embedded at its center obviously struck the ground at an angle.

This object resembles nothing so much as a streamlined arrowhead of stone and strange crystal. A huge crack along the object's southern side allows brief glimpses into the dark interior, revealing the thing to be hollow. Now and then, crystals along the object's length sparkle and sizzle, sending up a faint plume of strange green smoke.

Dozens of large vultures perch atop the object or lurk in the burnt branches of the surrounding trees—the birds are strangely silent and watchful, as if they know death is imminent in the area.

You are about 600 feet from the crashed object. You would guess the object to be about 200 foot long and 75 foot wide.

Theodric will activate his wand of mage armor and wand of heightened awareness.

He'll also tuck two of the magic missle wands into his cloth belt for easy reach. He'll pack away two of the scrolls of fireball.

Tycho will swap disguises to Abtaroh Vorenic.

Finally, the Emissary from Beyond… and I see CRYSTALS here!

"Abtaroh" casts shield of faith.

Feeling much better with his headache cured, Mongo moves to the front of the party and draws his sword, on guard for danger. "No time like the present." Once all the casters are done preparing, he begins to stride forward toward the wreckage.

Warpac will follow suit and cast a Bull's Strength and Shield of Faith and a lucky presence on himself before the group approaches the downed vessel.

Melody casts heroism on Mongo.

Tim renews the extended greater longstrider and greater magic fang on himself and Penny respectively on the way. Seeing the crash site, he wards the party with life bubble and Penny with barkskin.

As you are preparing, Warpac and Mongo realize it is about this time that they finished fighting the wights.

Warpac and Mongo: Please make the Fort saves. Looks to me like you make two, and need to include the penalty from having negative levels when rolling the save.

Not sure how the timing works out with Melody's heroism spell and these checks.

Fort, 2 neg levels: 1d20 + 11 - 2 ⇒ (10) + 11 - 2 = 19 <--+2 if heroism counts
Fort, 2 neg levels: 1d20 + 11 - 2 ⇒ (7) + 11 - 2 = 16 <--+2 if heroism counts

fort st, negative levels: 1d20 + 10 - 2 ⇒ (19) + 10 - 2 = 27
fort st, negative levels, timelost chronicler: 1d20 + 10 - 2 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 10 - 2 + 1 = 14
character portfolio reroll
fort st, negative levels: 1d20 + 10 - 2 ⇒ (15) + 10 - 2 = 23

*whew*

Mongo and Warpac are relieved as they feel themselves recovering from the spectral touch.

Just in time too, for as you approach the object the dozens of normal-size vultures begin shrieking and rise up to circle in the sky above, while the four giant vultures among them look forward to attacking your group.

They are perched on top of the object which is 20’ tall.

Slide 11

Bolded may act.

Round 1:

Theodric
Mango
Melody
Mongo
Blue
Yellow
Penny
Green
Warpac
Tycho
Red
Timtenzekil

"C'mon then!" Mongo steps forward, trying to draw their attention. Move and total defense. Current AC 31.

"Squawk!"

Mango gives Theodric guidance before doing its best to make some space.

Theodric benefits from divine guidance as he fires off a pair of scorching rays at the closest bird red

vs ff touch: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (14) + 11 = 25
ff touch: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (15) + 10 = 25

fire: 4d6 ⇒ (4, 6, 1, 3) = 14
fire: 4d6 ⇒ (1, 1, 5, 5) = 12

if at least one hits...

sneak attack: 4d6 + 8 ⇒ (1, 4, 3, 4) + 8 = 20

Theodric then moves behind the safety of Mongo.

Melody starts up an inspiring cheer and then shrieks loudly at the red bird.

ouch!: 5d6 ⇒ (6, 5, 3, 3, 2) = 19 and dazed for one round, DC 17 Fortitude save for half damage and no daze

"Sheesh, first giant frogs and now giant birds. You think it might be related to all the wierdness going on?"

Mongo yells at the huge vultures, while Theodric flash fries one before it can even lift off.

Seeing her initial target fall, Melody screams at Yellow. Tough bird, it just glares at her.
Fort: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (9) + 10 = 19

Blue angrily screeches and flaps its wings as it moves forward, clumsily flying off the ship and towards Theodric. It lands and nips at him but does not connect.
Bite: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (8) + 9 = 17
Damage: 2d6 + 9 ⇒ (4, 3) + 9 = 16

Yellow flies just as clumsily up to Melody giving Theodric and Mongo a chance to attack it. The hatred for that loud noise is clear in the way it goes for the halfling. It is obviously not expecting her to move out of the way as it attacks.
Bite: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (10) + 9 = 19
Damage: 2d6 + 9 ⇒ (3, 6) + 9 = 18

Penny looks around, but waits for Timtenzekil’s orders.

Green takes up Mongo’s challenge and dives at him. Mongo has no trouble deflecting the attack.
Bite: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (18) + 9 = 27
Damage: 2d6 + 9 ⇒ (2, 6) + 9 = 17

Bolded may act.

Round 1:
Theodric and Mongo have AoO on Yellow if they want them.
Bardic Performance +2

Theodric
Mango
Melody
Mongo Total Defense AC 31
Blue
Yellow 9 damage
Green
Penny Delayed
Warpac
Tycho
Red 46 damage
Timtenzekil

Round 2:

Theodric
Mango
Melody
Mongo

Warpac shifts to his left and takes a swing at yellow, after activating bane on the thing from his bane baldric.

To hit Dwarven Double Waraxe, bulls strength, bane: 1d20 + 11 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 11 + 2 + 2 = 34
Damage: 1d10 + 8 + 2 + 2d6 ⇒ (3) + 8 + 2 + (3, 6) = 22

"Abtaroh" silently prays to their god of madness!

Bless

They then move back, behind Penny.

Warpac, if you use Bane please list what creature type you are selecting.

If any want to Identify the Vultures, it is Knowledge: Nature.

Warpac hits the bird focused on Melody.

Tycho gives some words of inspiration.

Bolded may act.

Round 1:
Inspire Courage +2
Bless

Theodric
Mango
Melody
Mongo Total Defense AC 31
Blue
Yellow 22 or 31 damage
Green
Penny Delayed
Warpac
Tycho
Red 46 damage
Timtenzekil

Round 2:

Theodric
Mango
Melody
Mongo

Knowledge Nature: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (2) + 11 = 13

"Thems some dang big birds." Tim opines, considering what to do. "Penny, git that one off Melody!"

Will update with actions here in a moment. Can Penny reach them?

They are giant vultures, N Large Animals.

All except Green landed, and even Green is only 5’ off the ground. Anyone can currently reach them.

"Let's see how this works." Tim decides, reaching out to touch Penny. The owlbear's beak begins to drool, the droplets sizzling where they fall to the ground.

5ft step and Acid Maw on Penny.

He will do a bane on animals. I figured that even before I read the post where you responded to Tim.

"MNARRRRRRRRR!" Penny screeches as she surges at the vulture, biting and clawing as acidic spittle flies.

Bite on Yellow: 1d20 + 11 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 11 + 2 + 1 = 18
Claw on Yellow: 1d20 + 11 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 11 + 2 + 1 = 34
Claw on Yellow: 1d20 + 11 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 11 + 2 + 1 = 34
OH GOD on Yellow: 1d20 + 11 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 11 + 2 + 1 = 16
I'M SORRY on Yellow: 1d20 + 11 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 11 + 2 + 1 = 18
Bite Damage Plus Acid: 1d6 + 11 + 2 + 1d4 ⇒ (5) + 11 + 2 + (1) = 19
Claw Damage: 1d4 + 11 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 11 + 2 = 16
Claw Damage: 1d4 + 11 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 11 + 2 = 15
Crit Damage: 1d4 + 11 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 11 + 2 = 14
Second Crit Damage: 1d4 + 11 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 11 + 2 = 16

AoO on yellow, not that it's likely to matter with Penny's rolls:

+1 adamantine longsword vs. Yellow, heroism, Inspire Courage: 1d20 + 15 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 15 + 2 + 2 = 28
Damage, Inspire Courage: 1d8 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 7 + 2 = 13

-----

Mongo grins. "That's more like it." Seeing Penny lay into the yellow-feathered bird, Mongo ignores the one attacking him and steps between the two birds, laying into the blue-feathered creature. 5ft step between green and blue, full attack, swift action for Armored Vigor (4 temp hp).

+1 adamantine longsword, Power Attack, heroism, IC, bless, flank: 1d20 + 15 - 3 + 2 + 2 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 15 - 3 + 2 + 2 + 1 + 2 = 28
Damage, Power Attack, IC: 1d8 + 7 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 7 + 6 + 2 = 18
+1 adamantine longsword (iterative), Power Attack, heroism, IC, bless, flank: 1d20 + 10 - 3 + 2 + 2 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 10 - 3 + 2 + 2 + 1 + 2 = 31
Damage, Power Attack, IC: 1d8 + 7 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 7 + 6 + 2 = 21

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

Melody stops her performance, and draws a dagger, while moving toward the nearest vulture who's still up. She stabs at the bird, not to do damage, but to get its attention as one of her allies gets a better shot.

attack to aid: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (19) + 13 = 32

Her next ally to attack the same creature gets a +4 on the attack roll because Melody is a very helpful halfling.

Mongo hits Yellow as it comes in.

Then Timtenzekil makes Penny drool acid and sends her after the vulture. In a flurry of bites and claws, Penny reduces the vulture to an acidic paste with a single tail feather sticking out of it.

Penny cheers her triumph after destroying the vulture.

Mongo strikes Blue twice, nearly killing it,

Meanwhile Melody decides that distracting the birds worked so well she would try it again. She does avoid the beak as best she can, knowing that the bite often carries disease.

Bolded may act.

Round 1:
Inspire Courage +2, lingering
Bless
Next one to attack Blue has +4 to hit

Blue 39 damage
Green
Penny
Warpac
Tycho
Timtenzekil

Round 2:

Theodric
Mango
Melody
Mongo

Warpac was not mentioned. Probably because he was mentioned int he previous post. But I would like to know. Did the bane work?

Mango gives Theodric another love peck as he steps away from the giant bird.

Theodric draws forth his wavy dagger and steps into the perfect position to plunge it into the giant mass of feathers in his face before it has another chance to peck at him.

bless, courage, helpful 4, flank, guidance
stabbity blueity: 1d20 + 13 + 10 ⇒ (5) + 13 + 10 = 28
damage: 1d4 + 1 + 4d6 ⇒ (3) + 1 + (6, 1, 4, 3) = 18

@Warpac Yes it worked. Then Penny obliterated the bird. Sorry, I should have made that clear.

Mango helps Theodric stab into Blue. Must have hit something important because Blue goes down.

Green tries attacking Mongo again, but doesn’t come anywhere close to hitting.
Bite: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (2) + 9 = 11
Damage: 2d6 + 9 ⇒ (2, 1) + 9 = 12

Bolded may act.

Round 2:
Inspire Courage +2, lingering
Bless

Green
Penny
Warpac
Tycho
Timtenzekil

Round 3:

Theodric
Mango
Melody
Mongo

"Keep it up girl!" Timtenzekil calls, pointing to the remaining vulture.

Penny charges forward to continue the bird-on-bird carnage! But a errant rock causes her to stumble and bite empty air.

Bite on Green: 1d20 + 11 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 11 + 2 + 1 = 15
Bite Damage Plus Acid: 1d6 + 11 + 2 + 1d4 ⇒ (6) + 11 + 2 + (1) = 20

"Heh. Impatient, huh? Don't worry--you're next, birdo!"

+1 adamantine longsword, Power Attack, heroism, IC, bless, flank: 1d20 + 15 - 3 + 2 + 2 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 15 - 3 + 2 + 2 + 1 + 2 = 38
Damage, Power Attack, IC: 1d8 + 7 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 7 + 6 + 2 = 21
+1 adamantine longsword (iterative), Power Attack, heroism, IC, bless, flank: 1d20 + 10 - 3 + 2 + 2 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 10 - 3 + 2 + 2 + 1 + 2 = 32
Damage, Power Attack, IC: 1d8 + 7 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 7 + 6 + 2 = 21

Crit confirm (first attack)?: 1d20 + 15 - 3 + 2 + 2 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 15 - 3 + 2 + 2 + 1 + 2 = 33
Crit damage: 1d8 + 7 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 7 + 6 + 2 = 16

Tycho delays.

Theodric circles around to the far side of green before attempting to stab another poor innocent bird to death.

bless, courage, flank
knife: 1d20 + 13 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 13 + 5 = 25
damage: 1d4 + 1 + 4d6 ⇒ (1) + 1 + (6, 6, 2, 5) = 21

"Squawk!"

Warpac gets a guidance

Warpac allows the Bane to lapse. He does not believe it will be needed. Instead he activats his lucky presence and uses it to roll twice. But just in case, he activates his sacred armor as a swift action.

Then he rushes up and takes a swing.

To hit Dwarven Double Waraxe, bull's strength, inspired, guidance: 1d20 + 11 + 2 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 11 + 2 + 2 + 1 = 30
To hit Dwarven Double Waraxe, bull's strength, inspired, lucky presence,: 1d20 + 11 + 2 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 11 + 2 + 2 + 1 = 19
Damage, bull's strength, inspired: 1d10 + 8 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 8 + 2 + 2 = 13

"That's OK, Mango. Mongo didn't mean you. Not all birds are bad."

Penny misses this time, probably still spitting out the remains of the last vulture.

Mongo kills the last vulture.

Combat over

Seeing fresh meat, the other vultures stay up in the sky, circling and waiting for a safe opportunity to feast.

All around the object you find the remains of humanoids although they seem to be stripped of any useful gear.

Looking more closely at the object itself, you see it is made of finely worked stone reinforced by beams of dark purple crystal. There are also squares of a different crystal at intervals along the walls of the object at about the same level.

At the front of the object, you see “Lirgen’s Glory” emblazoned on the wall of the object.

It looks like the object split in the middle, there is a large crack that provides enough space to allow you to enter the object. You can see that the walls are 18” thick at the crack.

arcana: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (20) + 18 = 38

Theodric takes a moment to examine the "stone."

"Magic still holds this together, if we need to make a hurried egress later I suggest a plan that doesn't involve trying to bash through the walls."

Theodric then takes a moment to turn back to the remains and tries to make a quick count of the number of remains.

perception?: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (20) + 13 = 33

Theodric has can’t be sure since the vultures didn’t keep the skeletons nicely grouped, but he thinks probably two to four corpses. If it is the higher number, there are certainly some skulls missing.

Theodric will put on gloves and take a moment to loosely arrange the bones in a spiraling path to aid in their owner's journey to Phrasama.

Warpac watches in interest as the priest does his thing, then pitches in to help out, muttering a few prayers of his own over the deceased.

"Any other way in or out you can see?"

Warpac is a bit busy helping deal with the dead or he would go check himself.

I assume that will use up his shield of faith and bull's strength spells?

I had totally forgotten about your m/level buffs, happy to push forward if you'd rather.

Nah. I think we are nearing the conclusion and I'll just recast in a bit. I like the RP of the dealing with the dead.

The group gathers the scattered remains and some prayers are said over them.

Slide 12

You gather at the crack and look in.

A sizable chamber fills the space beyond the crack in the strange object. The crack spreads across the width of the room, splitting the area in half. The western half is taken up by what appears to have been a meditation area and by a kitchen with a large circular stove sitting in one corner, while to the east lie the ruins of several tables. A small storage area lies to the north.

You can see two rhino-headed creatures inside, staring at your group as you approach. They don’t say anything, but they do seem to be bristling as you get close to the crack.

Kn: Local to Identify them

Knowledge Local: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24

"Ya don't see tha ev'ry day..." Timtenzekil mutters. "Penny, keep watch, no blood now."