GM Erich's Devil We Know Series (Inactive)

Game Master Thereus, Silver Crusader

Durant turns and finds an unusually large rat with pinkish eyes glaring back at him. Without hesitation, he swings his blade to slice across the vermin's filthy body.

Attacking Pink Companion

Longsword, bless: 1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 7 + 1 = 18 Damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

@Altorin - Yup, keep the ice coming! The strategy ain't broke, so let's not try to fix it!

@party - I assume we want to keep the enemy in front of us and thus keep the slicks on the side?

Not sure, actually. Typically PCs like to rush into danger, so just leave the thrill seekers an avenue and all will be well.

Sir Durant stabs the hulking rat, but it will take more than one blow to fell it and Eka ultimately provides it. The ice patch shifts under Altorin's command, dropping another rat in its wake.

Seeing his companion drop the cultist races forward and swings at Durant, but it is a glancing strike. The rats scurry to regain their feet and reposition with only one drawing blood off of the wolf.

"You only hasten the destruction of this world with your violence! You fulfill our destiny with every slice of your swords!" One of the devout screams.

Round 2 - Bold can act - Bless is up
Orange Rat
Pink Rat -10 damage <unconscious>
Red Companion -22 damage <unconscious>
Pink Companion -18 damage <unconscious>
Sir Durant
Altorin
Eka
Pink Human
Yellow Rat
Yellow Companion
Red Human
Orange Companion
Cyclic
Mange -3 damage
Qiroyo
Red Rat
Yellow Human
Orange Human

"Oh, really. Better men than you have tried and, look, the world is still there. Have some respect for the cycle of nature!"

Cyclic casts shield of faith on Mange and Mange attacks the red rat.

to hit bite, bless: 1d20 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 4 + 1 = 9
damage bite: 1d6 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11
trip, bless: 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 5 + 1 = 21

Cyclic's spell distracts her wolf just enough to bite the wrong bit of fur. Seeing the cultist round the fray to come directly at him, Qiroyo steps back and unleashes a bolt to his shoulder.

The enemies continue to converge, Eka bashes one hard as he nears, and their attacks go for naught.

Qiroyo crossbow vs red man with bless: 1d20 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 3 + 1 = 22
Qiroyo crossbow damage: 1d6 ⇒ 2

red rat vs Mange: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 1 = 11
Eka AOO vs Yellow Human: 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 5 + 1 = 18
Eka damage: 1d10 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8
Yellow Human vs Eka: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10
Orange Rat vs Durant: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 1 = 14

Round 3 - Bold can act - Bless is up
Orange Rat
Pink Rat -10 damage <unconscious>
Red Companion -22 damage <unconscious>
Pink Companion -18 damage <unconscious>
Sir Durant
Altorin
Eka
Pink Human
Yellow Rat
Yellow Companion
Red Human -2 damage
Orange Companion
Cyclic
Mange -3 damage
Qiroyo
Red Rat
Yellow Human -8 damage
Orange Human

Taking a five foot step back to give herself room to swing her weapon, Eka swings a slice at the yellow cultist trying to converge on Sir Durant.

cold iron bardiche: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 211d10 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13
Includes Bless

[b]"There's one coming around behind us!"[b/] warns Altorin as he moves forward while engulfing a trio of enemies with his next burst.

slick ref dc 15, no burn on the previous.

With a mass of enemies crowding around the group, Sir Durant briefly recalls his days fighting in the never-ending wars between his home country of Nirmathas and their rival state, Molthune. The claustrophobia of war comes back to him, and he lashes out at whichever enemy presents an opening.

Which enemy? (counter-clockwise): 1d4 ⇒ 1 Attacking yellow companion
Longsword, bless: 1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 7 + 1 = 23 Damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

Sir Durant cuts into the chunky rat but cannot fell it with one stab. Altorin's slick works its usual efficiency and drops two of the foes to the ground and Eka finishes off the hapless cultist.

The enemies attack again but only one of the filthy rats catches Eka's leg with its maw.

Round 3 - Bold can act - Bless is up
Orange Rat <prone>
Pink Rat -10 damage <unconscious>
Red Companion -22 damage <unconscious>
Pink Companion -18 damage <unconscious>
Sir Durant
Altorin
Eka -3 damage
Pink Human
Yellow Rat
Yellow Companion -4 damage
Red Human -2 damage
Orange Companion
Cyclic
Mange -3 damage
Qiroyo
Red Rat
Yellow Human -21 damage <unconscious>
Orange Human

Hoping that a human will be more susceptible to tripping, Cyclic sics Mange on the pink human. For his part Cyclic uses her wand to cast shield of faith on Sir Durant.

to hit bite, bless: 1d20 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 4 + 1 = 18
damage bite: 1d6 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9
trip, bless: 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 5 + 1 = 12

"Probably not necessary, Sir Durant, given their pathetic aim, but take this blessing just in case."

Qiroyo feels some pressure on him and decides to withdraw towards his allies.
"A way back is also a way forward."

As Mange feints to and fro, Cyclic gets off a protective casting on the paladin. Mange finishes by clamping down on the cultist's knee and dropping him like a tree. Qiroyo ducks and rushes to a safer position as one of the rats scrambles to regain its footing in the ice patch.

Sir Durant gets an AOO on it for standing up

The dwindling foes' attacks are again toothless and only their fervent zeal prevents them from retreating. "Our doom shall be the beginning of the end!" they cry.

Red Rat vs Mange: 1d20 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (14) + 1 - 4 = 11
Orange Human vs Altorin: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 2 = 12
Orange Rat vs Durant: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

Round 4 - Bold can act - Bless is up
Orange Rat
Sir Durant <Gets an AOO on the Orange rat>
Altorin
Eka -3 damage
Pink Human -9 damage <prone>
Yellow Rat
Yellow Companion -4 damage
Red Human -2 damage
Orange Companion
Cyclic
Mange -3 damage
Qiroyo
Red Rat
Orange Human

Eka takes a step back, again positioning herself to better use her weapon against the cultist on the group's flank.

cold iron bardiche: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 91d10 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10
Includes Bless

Durant strikes as the orange rat struggles to its feet on the ice.

AoO: 1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 7 + 1 = 21 Damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11

The knight continues the fight, striking at whichever foe seems most vulnerable.

Attacking either the orange rat if that AoO didn't take it down, or the prone Pink Human

Longsword, bless vs prone: 1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 7 + 1 = 14 Damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8

If Sir Durant takes down the pink cultist, can I assume he’ll 5’ step into his spot?

I am ok with that if he is

Sorry, just trying to plan the turn accordingly. If the space opens up, it lets Altorin 5' step to continue casting. Otherwise he has to risk an AoO. If he can't, he'll pay the burn to keep the Slick around, triggering Shroud of Water for the round to increase his AC by +2. He'll then slick the two rats by Cyclic.

Yup! I'm okay taking that 5ft step as well. Glad to open up room for Altorin to keep doing his thing!

Durant will take out both the rat and the human. What does Altorin do?

Thanks. Altorin will pay the burn (1) to keep the first slick up for 2 minutes and to gain +2 AC for the round. He'll 5' step into Sir Durant's old space and then create another slick (dark blue). This 2nd slick provokes from the yellow rat (I missed that part earlier :().

With almost a single swing, Sir Durant decapitates the rat and silences the cultist struggling on the ground. As he moves over the vanquished foe, Altorin steps forward and increases the slick to envelop more tactical ground. Both rats brace with a wide stance, seeing what has come before. Eka's swing proves too slow and is easily dodged. Despite the rats best attempts to gnaw, only the cultist finds a solid hit against the nagaji.

Round 4 - Bold can act - Bless is up
Orange Rat -11 damage <unconscious>
Sir Durant
Altorin
Eka -12 damage
Pink Human -17 damage <unconscious>
Yellow Rat
Yellow Companion -4 damage
Red Human -2 damage
Orange Companion
Cyclic
Mange -3 damage
Qiroyo
Red Rat
Orange Human

Mange goes back to chewing on rats (red) while Cyclic takes some time to swap out her wand for her spear.

to hit bite, bless: 1d20 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 4 + 1 = 6
damage bite: 1d6 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10
trip, bless: 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 5 + 1 = 17

Qiroyo takes a step down, studies the orange man and shoots.

attack, study, bless: 1d20 + 3 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 3 + 1 + 1 = 6
damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

Dice gods taking the day off for you it seems...

Mange and Qiroyo are both confused with so many foes in range. Sensing her agony, the cultist steps to Eka and slams into her hard with his shimmering club.

Red Rat vs Mange: 1d20 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (10) + 1 - 4 = 7
Orange Human vs Eka: 1d20 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 2 + 2 = 17
Orange Human damage vs Eka: 2d6 + 2 ⇒ (2, 5) + 2 = 9

Round 5 - Bold can act - Bless is up
Sir Durant
Altorin
Eka -21 damage <staggered>
Yellow Rat
Yellow Companion -4 damage
Red Human -2 damage
Orange Companion
Cyclic
Mange -3 damage
Qiroyo
Red Rat
Orange Human

Sir Durant only notices too late that Eka has been so badly injured. With total desperation to help his ally, he moves past Altorin, drawing the ire of the cultist and one of the rats. He draws up beside the cultist wearing the garish orange cape and strikes with conviction.

Moving through Altorin's space, probably provoking from Orange Human and Yellow Companion.

Longsword, bless: 1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 7 + 1 = 20 Damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

@GM Erich: Would Eka have had the option to make an AOO against any of these foes surrounding her as they closed in on her due to the fact that her weapon has reach? If so, she would have chosen to do so on the red cultist.

Staggered and barely hanging to consciousness, Eka is still determined to stand and fight. Calling down the powers of her mystery god, she smites the evil red cultist, takes a five foot step back, and slashes at him with all her wounded might.

cold iron bardiche: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (8) + 10 = 181d10 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10
Includes Bless and Smite Evil
Now Eka has +4 deflection bonus to AC vs. red cultist
If the red cultist is eliminated due to AOO, she will instead target the rat with the thin yellow border.

1. Pay Burn(1) for slick #2. 2. Triggers +2 AC. 3. 5' step left. 4. Frost blast red.

Attack triggers AoO from Yellow Rat.
Frost Blast, Bless, PBS: 1d20 + 4 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 4 + 1 + 1 = 22
Damage, PBS: 1d6 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 2 + 1 = 7

Seeing Eka's assailant getting the upper hand, Altorin launches a fade away blast of chilling energy him as he steps clears the other cultist.

@Eka I think Red 5 foot stepped into his position, but I will be more careful in remembering that in the future (I need to put a stick on her to remind myself)

Sir Durant steps undaunted through the gauntlet of teeth and clubs to protect his scaly friend. With a snapping swing he stuns the cultist who is then met with a blast of ice to the face and drops in agony. Her energy dwindling, Eka steps into the heat of the battle and strikes hard, her weapon lodging in the cultist, dropping him to the ground in a pool of blood but bringing her to her knees as well. With a last look at her friends gaining the upper hand, her eyes fall heavy and shut.

Without their human masters, the rats redouble their attacks to thin the group even more, but only Qiroyo suffers the sharp pain of their teeth.

Yellow Companion AOO vs Durant: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6
Orange Human AOO vs Durant: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4
Yellow Rat vs Qiroyo: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 1 = 18
Yellow Rat damage vs Qiroyo: 1d4 ⇒ 4
Yellow Companion vs Altorin: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8
Orange Companion vs Durant: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8

Round 5 - Bold can act - Bless is up
Sir Durant
Altorin
Eka -22 damage <unconscious>
Yellow Rat
Yellow Companion -4 damage
Red Human -12 damage <unconscious>
Orange Companion
Cyclic
Mange -3 damage
Qiroyo -4 damage
Red Rat
Orange Human -11 damage <unconscious>

"Rats, hoped they would leave when their masters fell!"

to hit bite, bless: 1d20 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 4 + 1 = 7
damage bite: 1d6 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8
trip, bless: 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 5 + 1 = 15

Cyclic just tries to keep a rat off of Mange

to hit spear, aid AC: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (19) + 3 = 22

Mange has an AC of 22 vs. Red Rat this round.

"Ou! That rat bit me, unbelievable."

Qiroyo returns the momentum and kicks the rat.

unarmed attack, bless, study: 1d20 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 1 + 1 = 16
damage: 1d4 ⇒ 3

Mange can't quite get a nip in but Cylic does her part to lodge her spear in the dirt and prevent any access to her mount. Qiroyo lands a thudding punt into the rat that bit him.

Red Rat vs Mange: 1d20 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (5) + 1 - 4 = 2

Round 6 - Bold can act - Bless is up
Sir Durant
Altorin
Eka -22 damage <unconscious> <need a stabilize check>
Yellow Rat
Yellow Companion -4 damage
Orange Companion
Cyclic
Mange -3 damage
Qiroyo -4 damage
Red Rat -3 damage

Constitution DC 10: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 = 20

5' step, frost blast @ Yellow Companion.

Altorin continues to send chilling death across the battlefield.

Frost Blast, Bless, PBS, Melee: 1d20 + 4 + 1 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 + 1 + 1 - 4 = 15
Damage, PBS: 1d6 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 2 + 1 = 8

Sir Durant stabs down at the orange companion with familiar efficiency. 'Just like spearing fish back on the Marideth,' he thinks with a quick moment of nostalgia.

Longsword, bless: 1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 7 + 1 = 20 Damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

Sir Durant slices into the rat considerably but it hobbles back to nip at his hand. Altorin does take care of one of the remaining rats and their swarming counterattack is without much success.

Yellow Rat vs Qiroyo: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6
Orange Companion vs Durant: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

Round 6 - Bold can act - Bless is up
Sir Durant
Altorin
Eka -22 damage <unconscious, stable>
Yellow Rat
Yellow Companion -12 damage <unconscious>
Orange Companion -7 damage
Cyclic
Mange -3 damage
Qiroyo -4 damage
Red Rat -3 damage

Same plan

to hit bite, bless: 1d20 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 4 + 1 = 8
damage bite: 1d6 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8
trip, bless: 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 5 + 1 = 10

Cyclic just tries to keep a rat off of Mange

to hit spear, aid AC: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

"Uh, Mange, what are you doing? No! Kill the live rat and quit messing with the dead one!"

Qiroyo returns to using a ranged weapon against the yellow rat.

attack, bless, study: 1d20 + 3 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 3 + 1 + 1 = 8
damage: 1d6 ⇒ 3

Mange and Qiroyo can't quite get the upper hand and the rat just nixes its chance too, thanks to the wolf's holy protection.

Red Rat acro: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (14) + 3 = 17
Red Rat vs Mange: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 1 = 18

Round 7 - Bold can act - Bless is up
Sir Durant
Altorin
Eka -22 damage <unconscious, stable>
Yellow Rat
Orange Companion -7 damage
Cyclic
Mange -3 damage
Qiroyo -4 damage
Red Rat -3 damage

With the orange-furred rat still at the group's back, Durant continues working to guard the rear flank.

Longsword, bless: 1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 7 + 1 = 14 Damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

While he works, the knight calls out to his companions, "Everyone else doing okay? We gotta work quick to help Eka out!"

Yes, Eka longs to get back into the action. Well, she doesn't, because she's unconscious, but she totally would if she could. ;)

Frost Blast, Bless, PBS: 1d20 + 4 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 4 + 1 + 1 = 15
Damage, PBS: 1d6 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 2 + 1 = 5

Altorin blasts the rat of the yellow sign with an aqua blue ray that freezes the air itself as it passes through it.

Altorin and Sir Durant finally gain the upper hand and fell two of the remaining rats, although one had just enough left to make a last bite attempt near Qiroyo's feet.

Yellow Rat: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 1 = 12

Round 7 - Bold can act - Bless is up
Sir Durant
Altorin
Eka -22 damage <unconscious, stable>
Yellow Rat -6 damage <unconscious>
Orange Companion -14 damage <unconscious>
Cyclic
Mange -3 damage
Qiroyo -4 damage
Red Rat -3 damage

Qiroyo shoots at the last rat.

attack, bless, study: 1d20 + 3 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 3 + 1 + 1 = 11
damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Cyclic successfully steers Mange to the living rat and he manages to grab it by the leg and chomp down really hard.

to hit bite, bless: 1d20 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 4 + 1 = 23
damage bite: 1d6 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9
trip, bless: 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 5 + 1 = 19

Mange gets a mouthful of the rat and it falls limp in his maw, just as Qiroyo's arrow sinks into its plump belly.

The uncoordinated ambush taken care of, you quickly turn to your fallen comrade.

Nefti has, perhaps unsurprisingly, disappeared.

Also of note... the din of battle near the front gates of the prison has subsided considerably.

Apart from their silver holy symbols of Groetus, the cultists bear nothing but meager gear.

Combat Over!
Sir Durant
Altorin
Eka -22 damage <unconscious, stable>
Cyclic
Mange -3 damage
Qiroyo -4 damage

Once you have sorted healing out, you can show me with the Glyph of the Open Road on the main prison map where you are heading next.

As soon as the last rat falls, Sir Durant kneels down and lays his hand across Eka's forehead. Restorative light swells beneath his fingers, and some of Eka's wounds begin to close up.

Lay on Hands: 1d6 ⇒ 6

Once Eka's eyes open, Durant seizes her by the arm and helps haul her to her feet. "Come on, soldier," he grunts as he helps the nagaji stand, "We need to keep moving. We'll get you patched up more on the way."

He passes his healing wand to Cyclic and asks her to do the honors. Though I'll go ahead and do the rolls just so we're ready to move on.

He also offers his wand to help patch up Qiroyo and Mange's wounds.

A grateful Mange licks his hands.

With a painful grimace, Eka comes to consciousness. As Sir Durant assists her to her feet, she grunts a heartfelt: "Thankss."

Once she is all healed up, she comments to him as they hustle along: "It sseemss that my god wantss to keep me humble. Thesse misssionss have ssertainly broken my pride many timess."

I've moved the Glyph of the Open Road to the southeast corner of the Greedy Narses, which is where we were told to look for the bell.

"Eka, stay near me and I'll call upon the powers of nature to grant you some protection. Maybe that way you will be less inclined to be smacked around."