GM Nomadical's inaugural Bones of Biting Ants (Inactive)

Game Master Nomadical

Callah nervously peers down into the shaft. "Ooh...I don't know, this doesn't look very stable," she remarks to the group, gesturing towards the loose, sandy terrain. "Maybe we should just take it slow and steady instead of trying to rig anything up?"

Escape Artist (DC 18): 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (13) - 2 = 11
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Not sure if we all have to make the same check or not but Escape Artist is the better of the two for Callah. If we go with Climb, subtract 1 from the above result~

"Always delays... I'm sticking to urban contracts after this," Faust grumbles as he helps the group safely descend. "Slow and steady it is, it'd be utter s&@! to make it this far, only to die because you were reckless."
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A Skill Check!: 1d20 ⇒ 19 That's either a 20 climb or a 16 escape artist. Yay for ACP! :D

“We made it this far by patience and sharpness. Aeliah see no reason to change.”

escape artist: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (1) - 1 = 0

The druidess stays as far from Dumont as possible, while allowing Sayidi Alhazred to guide her hands and feet. She tolerates any Faustian rants or complaints until she makes it to the bottom on jelly-legs.

I love it when authors try to shoehorn in Escape Artist checks.

"Why does not using ropes require going slow? Ha!" Forrest hops down the shaft, popping from side to side to slow himself down. Once at the bottom, he looks up. Hmmm... should probably be more helpful. Phasmera's sweaty nuts. He then slowly works his way back up to help others down.

Escape Artist: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22-1 for Climb

Climb DC 22: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (19) + 9 = 28
The Foreigner carefully climbs down the loose, sandy shaft and helps his companions make their descent.

The team has no difficulty getting down the nearly vertical shaft, and they all help Aeliah down as she struggles in this alien landscape. In fact, the tunnels are so very alien, and they twist and turn in such strange directions and dimensions. It soon becomes clear that without being able to wrap one’s mind around what is structurally possible when one can walk on walls and ceilings as ants can, that you will soon become hopelessly lost.

Knowledge (engineering or nature) DC 20 OR Profession (architect or engineer) DC 16

Just let me know your highest. Don’t worry about providing adjusted totals for a skill that you have a lower modifier for. My understanding of the way they specifically wrote this challenge is that sometimes there are synergies that can provide Aids. For example someone uses some rope to help someone else climb, thus making an Escape Artist check to Aid someone else’s Climb check.

Faust shoots Aeliah a look while he tries to decipher what she means. Improve? I'm always improving. Everything I do is to better myself. But that wretch is always saying stuff in metaphor and poorly translated idioms... She can't mean... "Children?" he asks incredulously. "I wouldn't wish any child to inherit my blood and be forced to live the life I have," he mutters.

Clearing his throat, he quickly changes the subject, catching on to the fact that people are keeping away from Dumont. "He is perfectly obedient. Observe!" he says as he gives the skeleton a shove. With no resistance, Dumont tumbles down the rest of the vertical shaft where he scatters against the ground, rebuilds himself, and turns to offer a bony claw to Faust's aid. "See? What a brother!"

These tunnels are getting trickier... With a bored frown, Faust points out some commonalities between the tunnels to better orient for direction. "Not too challenging after some of the topics I've studied," he boasts.
________
Engineering, DC 20: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (6) + 14 = 20

Knowledge (engineering) DC20: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24
Once again, my time serving in the army of Po La in Icestair at the Crown of the World proves it wasn't wasted. Endless days constructing complex fortifications and siege works make these alien tunnels, twisting and turning as they do in such strange directions and dimensions, seem less mysterious. There's a logic to the tunnels. If you're an ant.

"Follow me." The Foreigner sets out, confident he's going the right way.

Kn. Nature (DC 20): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16

Callah peers into the darkness as the Foreigner sets off and then nods. "I think he's right. See how the patterns in the walls flow? You can tell which direction they were dug from if you know what to look for. So that way should lead us further in."

I think.

As she follows, she can't help but shake her head and chuckle softly as she listens to the conversations of her companions. "Children and bones, birth and death. What a grand place for such a conversation, isn't it?"

"Do you have any children, Aeliah?" Callah asks, genuinely curious. "If it's not being too rude, I mean."

“Dozens.”

When Faust pushes Dumont down the shaft, Aeliah moves to the edge and watches expressionlessly as the shattered haunt reassembles itself at the bottom.

She then pulls a small fetish draped in dried herbs and animal(?) teeth from a pocket, points it in Faust’s direction and spits gently over both shoulders.

"None right now," Callah replies as she observes Aeliah's little ritual. "Home operates under the 'Avistani Way'..." she chuckles, "...but there's still so many places I'd like to visit first. And sometimes, on occasion, being a Pathfinder is dangerous work."

She pauses and gestures to the dark maze that they all find themselves in, for emphasis, smiling wryly.

"So I'm not in any hurry either."

The apropos conversation on child bearing and rearing tapers off as you reach the ant hill’s larvae chamber and nursery. Here, as Bujune indicated, there are a few living pupae remaining. They are being tended to by the seemingly mindless giant ants that you’ve managed to skillfully avoid on your way down. After a short consultation, you think the best way to secure a few of the offspring for the nuno is to either quickly steal them from under the noses (so to speak) of the mindless minders, or to use your understanding of vermin behavior to maneuver around them. Or you could kill the minders – but you sense that doing so would alert the rest of the hive, and could make this whole mission into the hill take that much longer….

Options:
a) Sleight of Hand DC 22
b) Handle Animal DC 20
c) Kill the 2 man-sized ants, then grab the pupae

Traveler's Any-Tool (counts as masterwork tool +2 circumstance bonus), Sleight of Hand DC22: 1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 5 + 2 = 22
Having reached the ant hill’s larvae chamber and nursery, the Foreigner takes stock of the situation.

It's just as Bujune hoped. There are indeed a few living pupae remaining. And those giant ants tending them must be minions of their queen, She-Who-Devours.

"Best to avoid alarming the ants and their queen. Let me try to reach the pupae without alerting the giant ants."

The Foreigner rummages around in his rucksack and retrieves his traveler's any-tool, an implement that at first seems to be nothing but a 12-inch iron bar lined with small plates and spikes.

With the deftness of an experienced professional, he folds, twists, and bends the device to form a tool that resembles a long pair of tongs.

Then the Foreigner reaches over, under, and around the ant guardians to pluck the pupae out from beneath their very noses, or rather, antennae.

Having successfully secured the larvae of a future generation of ants for Bujune to lovingly raise, you descend further into the hill. The trek takes a good bit of time in spite of the expert guidance of the Foreigner, Faust, and Callah. Finally, you arrive at a huge central cavern which is clearly the heart of the anthill. The walls have a wavy, sculpted quality to them in contrast to the sandier, rougher tunnels, and several different entrances lead into the room. A high mound of earth rises in the room’s center; interestingly, it seems to be intentionally decorated with bits of stick, rock, and even some bones, as though it were a dais or throne.

A huge ant lies here atop this 5-foot-high mound of dirt. Four other ants, these merely the size of humans, mill about the cavern. None of them seem to have noticed your approach to the mouth of the eastern entry tunnel.

Take a round of prep, then proceed into a surprise round. If you want more time, you’ll need to succeed at a Stealth check vs. Her not-insignificant Perception. Once you initiate combat, I’ll roll Initiative for everyone. I placed you in the starting zone to the east of the dotted line. Feel free to rearrange yourselves within there during your buff/prep time.

The Foreigner beholds the ant-queen She-Who-Devours and her minions.

"The queen looks to be the greatest threat and big enough, she might have a long reach with her natural weapons," the Foreigner observes. "I'm inclined to rush her, and keep her distracted. Anybody able to soften her up with some spells first?"

“Big ant main target, sure.”

The druidess unslings her pack and pulls out a vial, offering it to the Foreigner. “This potion of fly, Mishka. Maybe it allow you to avoid smaller bodyguard ants? You drink now, yes?”

“Also if you not have antitoxin, drink Aeliah’s.”

“Anybody able to soften her up with some spells first?”

“Aeliah can do this. Evocations might affect swarm-babies too. Might not.”

“Anyway, plan to zap big ant and maybe summon critters to help if time.”

"Thanks, Aeliah, for the potion of fly," the Foreigner accepts the generous aid. "I've got a vial of antitoxin."

The man retrieves and quaffs the antitoxin. Then he drinks the potion.

"The other, smaller ones are reanimated exoskeletons," Callah whispers. "They are like other undead things in many ways. Using blunt weapons to smash them will work better than using a blade."

She draws her silver light mace and then casts a spell on the Foreigner, granting his skin the toughness of tree bark.
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Callah readies her mace and will cast Barkskin on the Foreigner for the prep round~

Faust chugs an antitoxin as well, dropping the empty vial on the floor. "At least we can have some fun now, eh? Foreigner, let's take the big one together. Might even disrupt the lesser ants," he says as he slides his blade across his boot, causing it to emit an ominous purple haze.
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Legacy weapon on my scimitar to give it undead bane (assuming the queen here is undead, otherwise it will be whatever her creature type is).

For the area of effect spells needing to do more than 10 points of damage, is that cumulative over the course of a round or in one attack. (AKA, can three of us hit it with alchemist's fires to dissipate the swarm? Or does it need to be one burning hands-esque spell?)

Forrest looks to the others with a grim smile. "This should be fun. My little poker won't do much to the little fellers. I can distract them if need be." I only have piercing damage on my rapier, though I do have blunt arrows. That being said, I can put out a lot of attacks per round on the small ones if we need to. He draws his sword, glinting in the magical light. The halfling, the smallest in the room, pulls out an alchemist's firein his other hand and mutters a simple phrase. "Keep light, keep fast, get out."

GM, I'll likely be using Charmed Life three times this fight.

(The GM put the results of Faust's and Callah's Knowledge checks in the spoiler above.)

As the Pathfinders finish preparing for the epic battle to come, the antennae on the ant-queen’s head begin to shift and wave toward the southern part of the cavern, as if searching for some elusive scent or sound.

Go ahead and take your Surprise Round actions now in whatever order you like.

Round 1 – “Surprise!”
Bold may act
Callah
Faust
Forrest
SHE!
Kreiger
Aeliah
The Minion-ants

"Can anybody lay down some suppressive fire on the queen's halo of ant swarms?"

The Foreigner waits to see if somebody can deal with that hazard, before he heads for the queen.

Surprise Round: AC 17

“Aye, but the far ones now out of range.”

Aeliah takes a 5’ step (not an action) and ✨casts burst of radiance on SHE! and the Black Ant. (standard)

DC 16 Reflex or blinded for 1d4 ⇒ 2 rounds

If the save is successful, dazzled for the same number of rounds. (A dazzled creature takes a –1 penalty on attack rolls and sight-based Perception checks).

Also if evil, good damage: 4d4 ⇒ (1, 1, 3, 1) = 6 No save

“Aeliah blast more when she can move.”

Callah frowns and takes a step forward as well, reaching out to lightly touch Faust's arm. She utters a familiar incantation and he feels his skin begin to strengthen and harden like the bark of a tree.

"No blasting from me, I'm afraid. But I'm stronger than I look," she remarks, her expression grim. "I can help Forrest keep the smaller ones busy if need be!"
______________

Callah takes a 5 foot step and casts Barkskin on Faust (sorry Forrest)~

"You said this thing's undead, right, Faust?" The Foreigner reaches into his rucksack and retrieves a vial. "I'll fly above the queen and drop some holy water on her and her swarms."

Then I'll go in for the kill.

The darkness of the cavern is suddenly awash with brilliant holy light. She Who Devours screeches in pain as it burns away a few of the tiny ants around her and sears her rotten exoskeleton.

Reflex She: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8
Reflex Black Ant: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 1 = 10

Round 1 – “Surprise!”
Bold may act
Callah
Faust
Forrest
SHE! (-6) (Blinded)
Kreiger
Aeliah
Black Ant (-6) (Blinded)
The Other Minion-ants

Having now noticed you, by virtue of being toasted and blinded, She begins ranting at you in a chittering, clicking language interspersed with deep rumbling noises and breathless hisses which you are surprised that you understand.

”You cannot stop me in This Time, puny humans. This Time is not The Time Before, and you are not Jatembe!”[b] the humongous ant proclaims. [b]”I will grow my swarms, grow my hills, grow this body! We will take back what was ours in The Time Before!” As she continues ranting and babbling, the other four ants begin to move toward you clearly intending to add your bones to the decorations on the throne.

My apologies for missing Forrest’s question re: the AoE damage. The ability says “Any area of effect attack that deals 10 or more points of damage…” Since it’s singular “attack” I’d have to say it means a single attack, not a summation of multiple small ones.

Faust clicks his feet together and slowly takes a step forward, his movements blurrily fast. With a wicked grin, he shouts back at the ant queen in Necril. "This time is as good as any! We may not be Jatembe, but YOU are not the King of Biting Ants! A pitiful mistress that shall fall like wheat to a scythe!"
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Quickness focus power to cast haste on myself except that Faust gets a +2 to AC and Reflex saves instead of a +1. Thanks Callah! Swift action for Mind Barrier to block the first 10 points of damage taken before Faust's next turn.

Forrest nods to Callah. "Good idea, give the thick skin to those less nimble." He chuckles. "I won't need it. Hopefully." He shrugs, turns on a toe, and runs at the large blind ant-goddess. Ignoring the small ants still crawling over her body, he closes in!

If She attacks Forrest, he will use Opportune Parry and Riposte.

”I am The King, The Queen, The All and The Everything! In This Time and for all Time to come! You tried before and failed. Do not bother trying again; you will only fail again!” She Who Devours continues to rant. Though She clearly understood Faust’s monolingual challenge, she keeps using her trilingual mélange, and not switching to Necril alone.

Forrest feels dozens, no, hundreds, of ants begin swarming up into his boots, his pants, his shirt…. Everywhere! And not just swarming like those swarms he’s vanquished before, but these start biting right away.

Ant bites: 1d6 ⇒ 6
@Forrest: Two separate DC 16 Fort saves, please. One versus being nauseated, the other versus the infestation’s poison.

Surprise round over, into normal initiatives.

Round 2 – “Stabby Stab Stab!”
Bold may act
Callah
Faust
Forrest
SHE! (-6) (Blinded)
Kreiger
Aeliah
Black Ant (-6) (Blinded)
The Other Minion-ants

A bit alarmed to see Forrest suddenly race ahead of everyone else to engage She Who Devours Callah advances as well, keeping near the eastern wall as she does so. Then she stops and calls on a blessing from her ancestors to aid them in battle.
______________

Callah moves to her current position and casts Bless~

"You didn't strike me as a fighter," Faust playfully chides as he bounds past Callah. Barely slowing he cruelly hacks at the black ant's head, the scimitar more akin to a butcher's cleaver than a weapon of grace and poise.
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+1 Undead Bane Scimitar (Haste, Bless, Bane, Furious Focus, Power Attack) vs Black (Blinded): 1d20 + 8 + 1 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 8 + 1 + 1 + 2 = 311d6 + 14 + 2d6 ⇒ (2) + 14 + (4, 2) = 22
Confirm?: 1d20 + 8 + 1 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 8 + 1 + 1 + 2 = 191d6 + 14 ⇒ (6) + 14 = 20 42 points if it confirms

Is that 6 damage from the ant bites? Or rolling for an effect?
Fort, Charmed Life: 1d20 + 3 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 + 3 = 24
Fort, Charmed Life: 1d20 + 3 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 + 3 = 16

Forrest shakes his body (or more...shimmies his body?) and the ants begin to fall away. "Ants! Ha! I was born in a trough of gutter fleas, your children can't harm a halfling of cheliax!" He stabs upwards at the large ant, nicking her with his small rapier.

Rapier @ Big Momma, Bless: 1d20 + 10 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 10 + 1 = 27
Damage: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

”What is this? What tiny thing tries to end Me with its diminutive stinger? I cannot be ended, I am Eternal!” She Who Devours screams at Forrest’s attack. Her antennae wave about as if trying to pinpoint Forrest’s location, and she seems to know pretty much where he is. She lashes out with a bite of her mandibles and a sting with her stubby little tail at the Halfling hero.

Bite: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (6) + 12 = 18
Miss Chance, High hits: 1d100 ⇒ 54
Damage: 2d6 + 7 ⇒ (6, 4) + 7 = 17

Sting: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (7) + 12 = 19
Miss Chance, High hits: 1d100 ⇒ 7
Damage: 2d4 + 7 ⇒ (2, 1) + 7 = 10

The "tiny thing" easily knocks aside the bite, ripostes into her thorax, then side steps her clumsy sting, taking no damage whatsoever and easily hitting her.

Meanwhile, Faust speeds forward and the momentum of his accelerated movement gives extra force to his attack. He slices the black ant's head clean off, and it goes sailing across the cavern, ricocheting off the back of the red hued ant.

But just as he kills it, the ant's body disintegrates into a cloud of dessicated ant parts, spraying Faust in the face with the detritus.

@Faust: DC 11 Fortitude save or staggered for 1 round.

Round 2 – “Stabby Stab Stab!”
Bold may act
Callah
Faust
Forrest
SHE! (-16) (Blinded)
Kreiger
Aeliah
Black Ant (28 below 0) (Blinded / Headless)
The Other Minion-ants

How do ants sting? With their tails? Do ants in reality have “sting” attacks separate from their mandibles? Either way, She has a bite and a sting attack.

The Foreigner takes to the air and flies to a position above the swarm of buzzing ants surrounding the queen and drops the vial of holy water on top of her.
Holy Water Ranged Touch Attack; Damage vs Undead or Evil Outsiders: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 192d4 ⇒ (1, 2) = 3
(Each such creature within 5 feet of the point where the flask hits takes 1 point of damage from the splash.)

(The Foreigner's elevation is just enough to avoid entering the swarm or within the queen's reach. 10ft?)

Round #2: AC 17

"Savana ants may never of seen snow."

Aeliah advances 30 feet and ✨casts a snowball at the Green ant.

Ranged Touch Attack on Green: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21
cold damage: 4d6 ⇒ (1, 3, 6, 6) = 16 no save

Just fluff, not my turn.

Forrest huffs in anger. ”DIMINUTIVE! Who you callin’ diminutive! “ The halfling’s cheeks are as red as his beard, though the anger doesn’t stop him from deflecting the sting. He hops to the side and stabs in at her exposed belly in the moment of weakness. ”Haha! Dance better, big momma! “

The Foreigner flies like a dragon over the top of She Who Devours and unleashes his “breath weapon” of holy water. It doesn’t appear that She has any ability to attack beyond the immediate area around Her, though, so he hangs out about 10’ beyond Her exoskeleton. And he looks cool.

Icy, stinging snowballs fly from Aeliah’s outstretched hands and impact with a forceful thud into the ant covered in some kind of Green fungus (flavor: no actual fungi were harmed in this scenario).

Then the minion ants move in on the closest of the heroes: the Fire ant tries to bite Faust, and the Green fungusy one skitters up to Aeliah. The one that attacks Forrest appears to have a large piece of something Blue stuck in its carapace, perhaps from a previous snack adventurer.

Bite Red vs Faust: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15
damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

Bite Green vs Aeliah: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15
damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

Bite Blue vs Forrest: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16
damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

Though it appears none of them are able to bite the well-armed and prepared Pathfinders!

@Faust: DC 11 Fortitude save or staggered for 1 round.

Round 3 – “D'Ants D'Ants D'Ants!”
Bold may act
Callah
Faust
Forrest
SHE! (-19) (Blinded, round 1 of 2)
Kreiger
Aeliah
Black Ant (28 below 0) (Blinded / Headless)
Green Ant (-16)
The Other Minion-ants

"It's a work in progress," Callah calls back to Faust as she circles around the Green Ant and attempts to strike it with her mace.

Attack vs. Green (Silver Light Mace; Bless): 1d20 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 2 + 1 = 8
Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 5

Faust reflexively throws his head back as the dust spews past his face. Spying the next ant approach him, he baits it into chomping down on his armor before vigorously hacking at it. "HA! If only Dumont could have seen this, he would have loved to rip up your little spawn, Mistress Who Grovels!" he taunts.
________
Fort, DC 11: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (14) + 8 = 22
+1 Undead Bane (Haste, Bless, Bane, Furious Focus, Power Attack) vs Red: 1d20 + 8 + 1 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 8 + 1 + 1 + 2 = 181d6 + 14 + 2d6 ⇒ (6) + 14 + (4, 3) = 27
+1 Undead Bane (Haste, Bless, Bane, Furious Focus, Power Attack) vs Red: 1d20 + 8 + 1 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 8 + 1 + 1 + 2 = 271d6 + 14 + 2d6 ⇒ (2) + 14 + (6, 5) = 27
If the ant dies on the first attack, Faust will 5ft step and strike at the queen. If he does end up adjacent to the queen, he will use his swift action to ignore the next 10 points of damage.

Forrest chuckles as the second ant approaches. "Sorry, friend, this dance is between me and your lady!" He smirks and sidesteps. The halfling then turns to Faust and jerks his head. "Hey, mind helping me out?" Want to flank SHE next turn?

Rapier @ She,Bless: 1d20 + 10 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 10 + 1 = 14
Damage: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

Distracted by the second ant, Forrest's rapier slips.

"I'll flank the she-b***h with you, Forrest," the Foreigner offers.

Callah’s swing goes wide, her fear of insects causing her to flinch at being so close to one this BIG!

Faust slices another Ant in two, his sword cleaning dividing the thorax from the abdomen. This one, too, explodes in a cloud of dust just as he steps away to deliver a massive attack on She Who (Doesn’t Really) Devours.

In spite of the assistance of Faust’s new positioning, Forrest is too distracted by the infestation of tiny ants to hit Her.

Infestation Damage vs Forrest: 1d6 ⇒ 4

Bite vs Forrest: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (16) + 12 = 28
Miss Chance, High hits: 1d100 ⇒ 37
Damage: 2d6 + 7 ⇒ (1, 6) + 7 = 14

Sting vs Faust: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (7) + 12 = 19
Miss Chance, High hits: 1d100 ⇒ 70
Damage: 2d4 + 7 ⇒ (1, 2) + 7 = 10

She tries to bite the tiny thing dancing around in front of her, but isn’t able to pinpoint his location amidst all the chaos. She then aims her stinger at the newest threat that slashed her thorax wide open.

”ARRRGH! But you still will not defeat Me! Even if this form ends, I will live on! Humans are too short-lived, the Ants will rule in the Times To Come!”

Round 3 – “D’Ants, D’Ants, D’Ants!”
Bold may act
Callah
Faust
Forrest (-10)
SHE! (-46) (Blinded, round 2 of 2)
Kreiger
Aeliah
Black Ant (28 below 0) (Blinded / Headless)
Fire Red Ant
Green Ant (-16)
Blue Ant

Faust did indeed kill Red. I positioned him into flanking with Forrest, and added +2 to Forrest’s attack, but it still wasn’t enough.

@Faust: Another DC 11 Fortitude save or staggered for 1 round. This one from Red. Yes, even though you moved. It triggers “when destroyed.”

@Forrest: Another 2 separate DC 16 Fort saves, please. One versus being nauseated, the other versus the infestation’s poison.

@Faust: What’s your AC? I see “17 [21].” I understand you get +2 from Quickness power, but what’s the other +2 from? If your AC is 19, She hits. Your Mind Barrier would take that 10 damage, but then you’d take swarm damage and owe 2 more saving throws. If your AC is 21, She misses, and your Mind Barrier absorbs the swarm damage.

Antitoxin?, Fortitude DC16 re Nauseated: 1d20 + 6 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 6 + 5 = 30
Antitoxin, Fortitude DC16 re Infestation Poison: 1d20 + 6 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 6 + 5 = 18

Sensing 'somehow' that Faust would prefer he move to a position to the haunt collector's right, the Foreigner slips closer to the ant-queen, entering the swarm of poisonous ants and trying to ignore the bites of thousands of diminutive mandibles. Feet planted on terra firma, he brings his flashing blade down in a mighty overhead blow.
MW greatsword, bless, Power Attack, flank; Damage: 1d20 + 9 + 1 - 2 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 9 + 1 - 2 + 2 = 252d6 + 10 ⇒ (6, 5) + 10 = 21
"This time you have no time left, Queen of Nothing."

Shield of Blades provides a +2 shield bonus to AC until his next turn.

The Foreigner's mighty overhand blow splits the Queen of Nothing in half! Deprived of their animating force, the remaining two Ants cease moving and slowly crumble into dust. The swarm of tiny ants flees from Forrest's pants legs, tickling him behind the knees as they do.

COMBAT OVER!

I'm about to board a short domestic flight. I'll post again later tonight (Alaska time) with initial cleanup descriptions.

"That went well," Callah remarks brightly with what might just be the understatement of the year. "I feel like I'm missing some context, though. She kept talking about 'The Time Before' and Jatembe - anyone care to enlighten me?"

When Her body dissolves into dust, a small hollow in the dirt of the throne is revealed. Within are several items including a small clay pot in the shape of an ant along with an ant made of segmented pieces of ivory (that appears to act as a brass spider). In addition there is a satchel full of notes regarding something called the Doorway to the Red Star. The satchel also contains charcoal rubbings, sketches, and stone and flora samples. It is clear that these were the notes and findings that Stuinvolk’s original team made during their ill-fated trip.

From the notes you learn that the King of Biting Ants dwelt in the Doorway to the Red Star, deep in the Mwangi Expanse and that the team had actually found the Doorway. They were unable to explore it fully, so it is still unknown if he was truly killed, or if he was banished through the doorway by Jatembe and his allies. The notes also say that there are legends to the effect that the King of Biting Ants had a body composed solely of venomous insects.

The notes, however, do not explain the final item in the cache: a fist-sized lump of amber with an empty space inside in the shape of an ant—almost as though a preserved insect had escaped, though it lacks any holes such an insect could have escaped through. It carries a strong aura of necromancy.

Y’all kind of fumbled the Knowledge History checks at the beginning of the scenario. (Faust rolled a 3.) Thus you didn’t get some of this info for context.

Before the artifact search:

“In briefing, Venture-Captain Bellaugh say Stuinvolk’s group found artifacts of King of Biting Ants. King of Biting Ants an entity that was beaten by Old-Mage Jatembe in past age.”

“Aeliah guess spirit of Biting Ants King attached to artifacts, which Stuinvolk buried in nuno Bujune’s anthills.”

“Over time Biting Ant spirit possess one of Bujune’s ant queens and rebel against him. Then we come along … defeat SHE Who cut open by Big Blades.”

Aeliah looks over the underground battlefield, nodding in satisfaction. “It very good Aeliah did not need draw sling, yes?”

⛏ ⛏

“Once we find artifacts, time get Bujune uphold his side of deal –– lift Stuinvolk curse.”

The Foreigner breathes a sigh of relief. "Well done, friends."

He sheathes his sword and helps gather the horde beneath the ant-queen's throne.

He studiously avoids handling the lump of amber, until the experts in the party have had a chance to examine it first.

Finally, the Foreigner nods in agreement with Aeliah. "We've got everything. Let's head back to Stuinvolk and Bujune."

Callah also seems reluctant to touch the lump of amber, eyeing it warily. "Faust, I believe these sorts of magic are more up your alley than mine or Aeliah's. What do you think? Is it safe to carry it?"