The Darkwood Heart

Game Master Tarren Dei

Trom steps into the room, scans it, and begins looking for mushrooms. Livlena follows, also taking a look around first.

As Gimble, Odd'n, Scipio, and Hendrina follow, Gimble notices something a second before everything goes dark.

You can't see anything.
GIMBLE: Gimble gets to act in the surprise round as he spotted the danger, taking either a standard action or a move action.
EVERYBODY: After Gimble posts, roll for initiative and post your intended action for the first round of combat.

"Ah! Monsters above! Watch out!"

Gimble whips his held dagger at the tentacle beast over Trom as he cries out his warning.

1d20 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 4 + 1 = 24 to hit, point blank shot, for 1d3 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 + 1 = 3 dagger and 1d6 ⇒ 6 sneak attack damage

1d20 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 4 + 1 = 9 critical confirmation. For 1d3 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 + 1 = 3 critical damage

1d20 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 13 initiative

Above assuming he can act before the darkness happens. If not, total defense in the dark, torch and knife in hand.

Livlena Initiative: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (12) + 3 = 15
Action: Get outside where it's light while yelling for the others to do the same.

Hennie follows her sister's orders and makes all haste for the doorway to outside.

Initiative: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14

Initiative: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16 Can we see these things? Are they still on the ceiling? I am posting assuming they are within melee reach and visible to Odd'n..

if Odd'n cant see and these things are chilling up on the ceiling I will need to see what people before Odd'n do on their turns.

"Ah! Monsters above! Watch out!"

Gimble whips his held dagger at the tentacle beast over Trom as he cries out his warning.

1d20+4+1 to hit, point blank shot, for 1d3+1+1 dagger and 1d6 sneak attack damage

1d20+4+1 critical confirmation. For 1d3+1+1 critical damage

1d20+3 initiative

Gimble gets to throw the dagger during the surprise round, but the sneak attack damage doesn't apply as the creatures are aware of you and are not surprised by you. It's Trom and Liv, who are directly underneath, and everyone who didn't see the creatures that are about to be surprised. (They had a 21 on their Stealth check.)

[Dice=Initiative]1d20+4 Can we see these things? Are they still on the ceiling? I am posting assuming they are within melee reach and visible to Odd'n..

** spoiler omitted **

if Odd'n cant see and these things are chilling up on the ceiling I will need to see what people before Odd'n do on their turns.

It is completely dark, unnaturally so. Odd'n will not be able to see what other people do on their turns. Please post your intended action.

Odd'n stops walking once everything goes black. Panic rises in his chest at first, but he manages to calm himself to the point he can think somewhat clearly. With no visible way forward, Odd'n begins back pedaling the way he just came, his left arm extended to run along the wall as he goes to guide his steps.

Odd'n stops walking once everything goes black. Panic rises in his chest at first, but he manages to calm himself to the point he can think somewhat clearly. With no visible way forward, Odd'n begins back pedaling the way he just came, his left arm extended to run along the wall as he goes to guide his steps.

Looking at your attacks, not that it matters for now that you're not attacking, how did you get a +1 attack bonus on a secondary attack? Secondary attacks are usually at a -5 to attacks.

Initiative: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21

Unable to see, Trom heeds Gimble's warning and does his best to make his way outside.

[dice=Initiative]1d20+7

Unable to see, Trom heeds Gimble's warning and does his best to make his way outside.

Perhaps a Perception check is most appropriate to hear the direction Gimble's voice is coming from in the dark. Those who came in last are closer to the door, but Trom and Livlena are well into the room. A DC 15 Perception check to quickly find the door in absolute darkness sounds fair to me.

Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (13) + 3 = 16

Whew!

Perception Check: 1d20 ⇒ 18

Trom and Livlena can hear the monsters Gimble warned of as they fall with soft splattering thuds behind them in the dark. They can't see them though, and have no way of dodging what comes next.

"–2 penalty to Armor Class, loses its Dexterity bonus to AC (if any)". I'm making my rolls in the open.

Attack and damage on Trom: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 91d4 ⇒ 2
Attack and damage on Livlena: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (11) + 3 = 141d4 ⇒ 4

grapple on Trom if hit: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12
grapple on Liv if hit: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14

Umm ... do both of those attacks actually hit? Trom would be at AC 8 and Liv at 14 with the 'no dex and -2 to AC' right?

Assuming I have read the dice right, the following occurs. Scipio still gets a chance to act this round.

Gimble shouts "Ah! Monsters above! Watch out!" just as everything goes dark. He throws his dagger into the growing darkness and a wet sound tells you it found its mark.

Livlena and Trom are heading for the door and almost make it, but something in the dark grabs each of them. Trom takes 2 points of damage and Liv takes 4 Livlena manages to pull free and escape to the relative light of the corridor where most of the others are, but Trom gets pulled back.

The rest of you have wisely pulled back into the hall. except, possibly, Scipio.

We'll let Scipio get something in before moving to round 2.

Looks good to me. I mean, not that it's good, but that all lines up.

Math looks good to me.

I was going to ask if Liv could change her action to stay and help Trom, but in the darkness she wouldn't know he got grabbed.

Math looks good to me.

I was going to ask if Liv could change her action to stay and help Trom, but in the darkness she wouldn't know he got grabbed.

If she heard him shout, she could try to reach out to him as she makes her way out of the room. If she makes a DC 15 Perception check she can get ahold of Trom's hand as a free action. If she does so, she would be in the square in front of the doorway, just inside the limits of the darkness (although she wouldn't know where it ended.) Leaving that square would mean letting go of Trom.

"Something's got Trom!" Liv shouts, seemingly from the edge of the unnatural darkness, just inside the doorway.

Livlena Perception Check: 1d20 ⇒ 19

I got ya, Trom!

Hennie isn't exactly sure what's happening, she just did as Liv asked, but it all seems very serious. She reaches out to touch Liv so she may find some Guidance about what do do.

Woo hoo! Thanks Liv!

okay so my feed wasnt showing me posts continued , I'll have something up soon. Soooo sorry

initiative: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3
perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21

Scipio will cast light to light up the room

Scipio follows the others out of the room and snaps his fingers and a casts light to attempt to bring an end of the darkness

Scipio should be casting light on something. The creatures in the room cast their darkness spell on pebbles that they dropped. Silly monsters didn't know darkness spells do not stack. Scipio's light moves us up one notch back up to dim light from darkness.

With the flare of magical light joining the torchlight in fighting back the darkness, you can see enough to glimpse the creatures in the room. Shadows dance from the competing sources of light and shadow.

The monsters Gimble warned of look somewhat marine creatures, with tentacles stretching out from a purplish-black boneless mass, but this monastery they inhabit is far from the sea. One of these aberrations--the one that Gimble's dagger is still buried in--has latched a tentacle around Trom and is trying to pull him back into the room.

Livlena has grabbed Trom's arm, and a tug of war may ensue. The creature's other tentacles begin to snake towards Trom while its companion begins to move on Livlena, who threatens to take its potential meal away.

Round 2--Initiative
Monsters 23
Trom 21
Odd'n 16
Liv 15
Hennie 14
Gimble 13
Scipio3

The creature that has got ahold of Trom lashes one its tentacles out and finds his throat. The creature has learned that squeezing here ends its humanoid prey more quickly. The tentacle begins to constrict.

Check to maintain grapple: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (4) + 10 = 14
Damage to Trom: 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

Trom lets out a small gasp and goes limp in Livlena's hand.

And I am now unconscious and at -2 hp.

Looking at the above results, the creature probably maintained the grapple, but Trom is not alone. Livlena has a hold of his arm. Livlena could flee from the creature attacking her, or she could continue trying to pull Trom free. If Livlena succeeds on an opposed Strength check against the creature, Trom gets a +2 from this assistance and is pulled free. Or, Livlena could flee.

The creature lashes out at Livlena but it overestimates its reach.

other creature's attack on Livlena (att; damage): 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 131d4 ⇒ 4

I would have cast it on a random pebble or something. regardless youre right. Whenever my turn pops up Scipio Casts Sleep Centered on the glimpse of the creatures

Scipio takes a chance, pulls out few rose petals and casts the spell as soon as he see's the tentacle.

Trom lets out a small gasp and goes limp in Livlena's hand.

And I am now unconscious and at -2 hp.

I think that will depend on whether the creature maintains its grapple, which it can't do if Livlena's ongoing attempt to help you is successful. A strength check from Liv beating the monster's strength check below would allow you to beat the grapple.

creature's strength check: 1d20 ⇒ 5

Per this grapple flowchart, my understanding is that the creature has successfully maintained the grapple and dealt damage. I guess it depends on when the damage takes effect. Not that I don't want to be conscious. I really like Trom!

Per this grapple flowchart, my understanding is that the creature has successfully maintained the grapple and dealt damage. I guess it depends on when the damage takes effect. Not that I don't want to be conscious. I really like Trom!

grappling is a fun confusion. The first grapple is to initiate the condition. Damage upon a successful check occurs on later checks to maintain if the thing so chooses. These things however have constrict, which is a real bother.. and what i believe causes dmg on the initial check..

Per this grapple flowchart, my understanding is that the creature has successfully maintained the grapple and dealt damage. I guess it depends on when the damage takes effect. Not that I don't want to be conscious. I really like Trom!

You're probably right. It probably wouldn't have been enough anyhow. At +2 to your CMD if successful?

if Trom is knocked out then let this count as my turn, if not then pretend this was posted after him.. i think Odd'n would act the same either way..

Seeing the dark beast descend upon his provider of ale and wrap a writhing, eerie tentacle about his throat, Odd'n regrets backing out of the room as far as he had. Shrugging his pack off his shoulders, Odd'n lunges between his friends and in a few quick steps is atop the beast. Drawing his elbow back with his fingers pointed forward, his sharpened nails glisten for the briefest of moments before he starts slashing ferociously at the writhing lump.

Attack; dmg: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 71d3 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6

In his haste Odd'n fails to take into account he hadn't sharpened his nails recently, and so his slashing proved entirely useless as far as he could see..

"He's ours, you stupid flying landsquids!" Livlena snarls at the creature grappling Trom. She tries to help him pull free from the nasty creature.

Livlena Str check: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (13) + 3 = 16

She'll move back into the light outside the darkmantle lair.

With the addition of some light, Hennie can see what all the ruckus is about.

"OH MY!"

She jogs up to the door entrance, her spear leveled and pokes at he tentacled thing with determination. "Let go ugly!"

The tip of her spear leaves a fine straight line marked on the ground as she shoves it forward.

Attack: 1d20 ⇒ 2

Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 6

Hennie has reach so she will be positioned 5' back from Liv and to he side. I may have missed something, do we have a map? I can't find one...

Here's a map that you could look at. I've linked another one with numbers before, I think. None of the maps are my own.

Scipio's magic causes the wounded landsquid that was attacking Trom to release him. Trom may be asleep as well as unconscious (DC 16 Will save, not that it matters), but that's probably a mercy. The other landsquid shakes off the effect of the magic (made it's save) and continues to wave its tentacles threateningly at Livlena. Livlena, for her part, still has a grip on Trom's arm and, with that strength check, can pull him free from the sleeping landsquid's embrace.

Gimble still has a chance to act this round. No rush though.

"Good stuff, Scipio! I think one of the monsters went night-night. Now we just gotta knife the other one!"

Gimble moves in and draws his second dagger, threatening the monster and hopefully flanking, if possible.

"Good stuff, Scipio! I think one of the monsters went night-night. Now we just gotta knife the other one!"

Gimble moves in and draws his second dagger, threatening the monster and hopefully flanking, if possible.

Taking a full round to move, Gimble can use Round 2 to get into a flanking position without the monster getting an AoO and without waking the other monster.

Round 3--Initiative
Monsters 23
Trom 21
Odd'n 16
Liv 15
Hennie 14
Gimble 13
Scipio3

The landsquid continues to focus on Livlena, who, at the end of the last round, was stealing its unconscious dinner, but perhaps it is confused by the sudden appearance of a twin. More likely, Hendrina's stone-scraping spear alarmed it causing it to miss in its attack.

attack; damage: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 51d4 ⇒ 1

I am heading out for a bit so here is my turn, hope Trom don't mind me posting before he rolls to stabilize ;) Odd'n is gunna attack the other awake thing, full attack if it is within reach otherwise just one MH attack if he must do more than a 5 foot step..

Hearing Scipio muttering some incantation behind him before the beast holding Trom falls limp, Odd'n wastes no time in pressing his advantage and moving to attack its friend. Lashing out with wild haymakers at the aquatic yet terrestrial form of whatever was trying to go for Liv, Odd'n pummels relentlessly upon the thing.

Full attack MH;OH;Bite: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 81d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 211d20 ⇒ 4
Damahge MH;OF;Bite: 1d3 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 61d3 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 51d2 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

The beast takes the assault in stride, Odd'n thinks his second strike may have hit a tender spot on the thing but his first looked to hurt his hand more than the monster.. and he can't be certain but he may have strained his jaw biting into its hide..

Con check(stabilize): 1d20 ⇒ 20

Trom's breathing evens out, though he remains unconscious.

Hennie remains determined to protect her sister's withdrawal while pulling Trom.

Lifting up the point of her spear, she tells her sister "keep going Liv, I've got this" through clenched teeth. Hennie pokes and jabs at anything that seems like a tentacle.

Attack: 1d20 ⇒ 7

Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 8

Livlena drags Trom as far as she can from the dark room (as a single move action). Then she draws her dagger and prepares to stab the surviving monster.

One of Odd'n's punches attacks landed for 5 hp. Gimble spent last round getting into a flanking position and is able to attack.

"WooHoo! Stabby stab, dark squid monster guys!"

With a flourish, Gimble goes in for a stab with his second favorite knife. His first favorite currently residing in this critters flesh, obviously.

1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 4 + 2 = 7 stab with flank for 1d3 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4 Slashing/Piercing damage and 1d6 ⇒ 2 sneak attack if lighting and such allow.

Hennie doggedly tries to hurt something other than the room with her spear.

Attack: 1d20 ⇒ 4

Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 7

I feel like we have skipped Scipio. He's already contributed a great deal here, putting one of the creatures to sleep. Maybe we will proceed for round 4

Round 3--Initiative
Scipio3 -- missed?
Round 4--Initiative
Landsquids 23
Trom 21
Odd'n 16
Liv 15
Hennie 14
Gimble 13
Scipio3

The landsquid's thinking: Livlena withdrew with Trom's sleeping body and is no longer immediately available as prey. Hendrina's spear is annoying the landsquid, but it recognizes Gimble as an equal threat and a more vulnerable one. It will turn it's attack on Gimble now, lashing out with a tentacle.

attack; damage; on Gimble: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 231d4 ⇒ 2

confirm critical; critical damage; and grab attempt: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 131d4 ⇒ 21d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18

No additional damage, but I think it's got Gimble!