[Gameday VIII] GM PDK: The Hao Jin Cataclysm (Inactive)

Game Master Purple Dragon Knight

Theo: in order to move things forward I will assume your readied action goes off as soon as two are adjacent to you and one another. Therefore, after yellow attacks you, you are still readying your action.

The yellow-bearded duergar charges Theo!

"Ye got some B#%%S to show yer face here 'gain sunkisser!"

+1 warhammer, charge, favored enemy dwarves +4, power attack: 1d20 + 11 + 2 + 4 - 2 ⇒ (19) + 11 + 2 + 4 - 2 = 34
damage, magical/bludgeoning, lead blades, favored enemy +4, 2-handed power attack: 2d6 + 4 + 4 + 6 ⇒ (5, 1) + 4 + 4 + 6 = 20

The duergar manages to land a powerful strike against Theo, but the dwarf holds his ground, waiting for more targets. The axebeak moves to defend its master and takes a bite through duergar's iron-like skin!

Initiative (Bold may go!)
Styfis
Rallas
Theo 64/84 [READYING]
YELLOW -13
Fairbeaks
Charlotte
Nyloth
LARGE THING
RED
BLUE
Hamish

Charlotte strides forward . .

"I can't really see what's going on all that well, but I can see all of you . . ." she says. Her eyes then alight with some sort of fire and a thrumming starts reverberating around the cave as she psychically manifests a spell . . . and everyone can feel themselves moving and thinking faster.

If my counting and Math is correct, I can JUST hit everyone (including the bird) with HASTE for 8 rounds..

Nyloth runs up to the closest enemy (yellow) before adopting a combat stance. For an instant, an image of a human man appears on top of Nyloth, he delivers a roundhouse kick to the enemy, which Nyloth then copies before the image vanishes.

unarmed strike, haste: 1d20 + 14 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 14 + 1 = 29
damage: 1d6 + 13 ⇒ (4) + 13 = 17

Charlotte enhances her companions and Nyloth delivers a power pick to the duergar's head.

The large undead brute charges Nyloth.
slam, charge: 1d20 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 7 + 2 = 29
CONFIRM CRIT: 1d20 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 7 + 2 = 28
damage: 1d6 + 7 + 1d6 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 + (5) + 7 = 25 plus energy drain: 2 negative levels (10 dmg and total HP goes down by 10)

The undead brute delivers a brutal blow, which drains some of Nyloth's essence!

The red-robed duergar charges Theo.
+1 warhammer, charge, favored enemy dwarves +4, power attack: 1d20 + 11 + 2 + 4 - 2 ⇒ (16) + 11 + 2 + 4 - 2 = 31
damage, magical/bludgeoning, lead blades, favored enemy +4, 2-handed power attack: 2d6 + 4 + 4 + 6 ⇒ (5, 3) + 4 + 4 + 6 = 22

The duergar with a blue scarf charges Nyloth.
+1 warhammer, charge, power attack: 1d20 + 11 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (16) + 11 + 2 - 2 = 27
damage, magical/bludgeoning, lead blades, 2-handed power attack: 2d6 + 4 + 6 ⇒ (4, 3) + 4 + 6 = 17

The duergar hits Nyloth with a mighty swipe of his warhammer! the halfling is teetering on the edge of unconsciousness...

Initiative (Bold may go!)
Styfis
Rallas
Theo 42/84 [READYING]
YELLOW -13
Fairbeaks
Charlotte
Nyloth 0/42 [DISABLED]
LARGE THING [+10 TEMP HP]
RED
BLUE
Hamish

Hamish begins with a quick prayer, "Though we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, we know that you are with us. Pharasma grant us the strength to face this evil and triumph!" He quickly moves up while drawing his flail and attempts to work himself carefully into position to help Theo.

Activate Bardic Performance (Standard) to Inspire Courage, +2 morale bonus on saving throws against charm and fear effects and a +2 competence bonus on attack and weapon damage rolls, 15/16 remain. Move into flanking using acrobatics to avoid an AoO from red. Acrobatics + Belt of Tumbling: 1d20 + 15 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 15 + 4 = 21 Updated his header with Haste adjustments, AC is currently 26.

Hamish inspires his friends with some religious words and manages to slip by the red-robed duergar unmolested.

Initiative (Bold may go!)
Styfis
Rallas
Theo 42/84
YELLOW -13
Fairbeaks
Charlotte
Nyloth 0/42 [DISABLED]
LARGE THING [+10 TEMP HP]
RED
BLUE
Hamish

Party Buffs: Haste, Inspire Courage +2

Ack, Nyloth made it impossible for my readied action to go off!
And favored enemy dwarf? Figures! =)

Theo curses in tien, as Nyloth rushes in front of him just in time to take the brunt of the attack. With a scowl, he takes his club to the nearest duergar, hoping to clear some of them out of the way.

full attack yellow, defensively again, and if it falls, then red

melee1 vs yellow, bard, PA, defensive, haste: 1d20 + 15 + 2 - 3 - 4 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 15 + 2 - 3 - 4 + 1 = 23, for 1d10 + 16 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 16 + 2 = 20 damage.
melee1, bard, PA, defensive, haste: 1d20 + 8 - 3 + 2 - 4 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 8 - 3 + 2 - 4 + 1 = 21, for 1d10 + 16 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 16 + 2 = 27 damage.
hasted, bard, PA, defensive, haste: 1d20 + 15 - 3 + 2 - 4 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 15 - 3 + 2 - 4 + 1 = 27, for 1d10 + 16 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 16 + 2 = 25 damage.
(+2 for flanking if attacks turn to the red one)

Current AC = 29

Oh, and did Nyloth's attack not hit? Looks like it got skipped before he was pounded on, and yellow should have more damage to it.

On his second strike Theo retires the yellow-bearded duergar from this combat! he falls with a loud 'CLANG!', his magical warhammer bouncing on the hard stone... he uses the backswing to clock red in the shoulder! I've accounted for Nyloth's dmg just now, which is why you just got the 3rd attack on Red instead of Yellow! :)

Initiative (Bold may go!)
Theo 42/84
YELLOW [DYING}
Styfis
Rallas
Fairbeaks
Charlotte
Nyloth 0/42 [DISABLED]
LARGE THING [+10 TEMP HP]
RED -25
BLUE
Hamish

Party Buffs: Haste, Inspire Courage +2

Huh, I swear the map looked significantly different when I made my turn and I was not in front of the rest of the party. Anyways, OUCH! I thought my 26 AC was pretty decent too.

Nyloth tries to back away from the enemies in his state of near unconsciousness.

Withdrawing, which causes me to fall unconscious at the end of my move. So I'm -1 and dying in my new square.

Rallas steps forward and looks for a weakness in the large undead monstrosity. He aims for a spot in the creature's side and focuses all his might into his swings.

attack1: 1d20 + 14 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 14 + 2 + 1 = 181d10 + 8 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 8 + 6 + 2 = 24
attack2: 1d20 + 9 - 2 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 9 - 2 + 2 + 1 = 241d10 + 8 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 8 + 6 + 2 = 18
hasted: 1d20 + 14 + 2 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (19) + 14 + 2 + 1 - 2 = 341d10 + 8 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 8 + 6 + 2 = 22

5ft step,power attack, no PA penalty on first attack due to Furious Focus

crit: 1d20 + 14 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (12) + 14 + 2 - 2 = 261d10 + 8 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 8 + 6 + 2 = 25

Huh, I swear the map looked significantly different when I made my turn and I was not in front of the rest of the party. Anyways, OUCH! I thought my 26 AC was pretty decent too.

Nyloth tries to back away from the enemies in his state of near unconsciousness.

Withdrawing, which causes me to fall unconscious at the end of my move. So I'm -1 and dying in my new square.

GM Warning: do you wish to make an Acrobatics check on the second square of your movement (which will cost you two squares of movement) to try to avoid the LARGE UNDEAD's AoO?

Nope, I have cover after withdrawing, so no AoO, unless moving through an allies square doesn't give you cover. Just realized the yellow enemy wouldn't give cover while dying.

acrobatics if allies don't give cover while moving IN their square: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18

Incorrect. You have no cover vs. AoO. Soft cover does not help with melee AoOs, if that's what you were thinking. The decision to take the withdraw action is yours not mine, for the record. Regardless of your final decision, will you make an Acrobatics check to avoid AoO or not?

Incorrect. You have no cover vs. AoO. Soft cover does not help with AoO, if that's what you were thinking. The decision to take the withdraw action is yours not mine, for the record. Regardless of your final decision, will you make an Acrobatics check to avoid AoO or not?

The type of cover is unimportant, "Cover and Attacks of Opportunity You can’t execute an attack of opportunity against an opponent with cover relative to you."

Soft Cover

Creatures, even your enemies, can provide you with cover against ranged attacks, giving you a +4 bonus to AC. However, such soft cover provides no bonus on Reflex saves, nor does soft cover allow you to make a Stealth check.

Please let me know whether you will make an Acrobatics check or not; I will wait for another 15 min after which I will assume you did not and take an AoO with the LARGE UGLY THING THAT HAS DEVELOPED A TASTE FOR SWEET, SWEET HALFLING FLESH... :P

PS: next time you wish to discuss a ruling could you please use the Discussion thread? thank you!

Soft Cover

Creatures, even your enemies, can provide you with cover against ranged attacks, giving you a +4 bonus to AC. However, such soft cover provides no bonus on Reflex saves, nor does soft cover allow you to make a Stealth check.

PS: next time you wish to discuss a ruling could you please use the Discussion thread? thank you!

When making a melee attack against a target that isn't adjacent to you (such as with a reach weapon), use the rules for determining cover from ranged attacks. Soft Cover prevents AoOs. Sorry, your GM warning was in this thread, so I hit reply.

Good find! I thought this clause didn't apply because it's using natural weapons, but the word 'adjacent' is the real kicker here, so thanks for showing me this!

The archer takes a five-foot and unleashes a volley of arrows on the big one. No cover at this point from my position

Arrow 1: 1d20 + 13 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 13 + 2 = 19

Damage 1: 2d6 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (3, 5) + 8 + 2 = 18

Arrow 2: 1d20 + 13 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 13 + 2 = 27

Damage 2: 2d6 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (5, 2) + 8 + 2 = 17

Arrow 3: 1d20 + 13 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 13 + 2 = 30

Damage 3: 2d6 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (4, 2) + 8 + 2 = 16

Arrow 4: 1d20 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 8 + 2 = 20

Damage 4: 2d6 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (1, 3) + 8 + 2 = 14

Good find! I thought this clause didn't apply because it's using natural weapons, but the word 'adjacent' is the real kicker here, so thanks for showing me this!

Yeah, its actually not that well known of a rule in my experience. Didn't mean to argue it here, but its where your GM warning was and then we just kept replying to each other.

Rallas kills the undead; Styfis, do you put your arrows into Blue?

Yes, with pleasure :)

If he 5' steps the other way, he has a clear line on red... not sure if he has a clear shot at blue

Fairbeaks gives an excited squawk as he steps forward to continue his assault.

Attacking whichever appears the most wounded, then the other one if the first falls. (can reach both, but red might have partial cover)

bite, PA, bard, haste: 1d20 + 10 - 2 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 10 - 2 + 2 + 1 = 30, for 2d6 + 14 + 2 ⇒ (4, 3) + 14 + 2 = 23 damage.
hasted, PA, bard, haste: 1d20 + 10 - 2 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 10 - 2 + 2 + 1 = 24, for 2d6 + 14 + 2 ⇒ (4, 6) + 14 + 2 = 26 damage.

Charlotte’s eyes again glow and her magic surges forward. She reaches out and touches Nyloth with a hand of positive energy.
Cure serious wounds: 3d8 + 8 ⇒ (4, 1, 5) + 8 = 18
Note to GM:
Mnemonic Esoterica (Ex)
By reaching into the recesses of your past lives, you gain knowledge beyond that of most psychics. Select a single additional spellcasting class. Once per day when you prepare your spells, you can add one spell from this class’s spell list to your spells known and class spell list for 24 hours. This spell must be 1 level lower than the highest-level spell you can cast, and you cast it as if it were psychic magic.
—You can decide to change the spellcasting class from which you draw this spell each time you gain a new level.
I have chosen Cleric for this level and cure Serious wounds for my spell today.

Thank you! Was not expecting to get so beat up so quickly.

Nyloth manages to scramble out of the melee pile out from between Theo's legs... only to faint a few feet further next to Charlotte. Rallas opens a barrage of steel upon the large undead monstrosity and decapitates it with a graceful finish. Styfis shoots the blue-robed duergar and his arrow hangs limply into his chain shirt. With a sigh, he adjusts his aim three inches to the left and plants three arrows into him, nearly killing him. Charlotte cures Nyloth and he gasps back to consciousness! Fairbeaks cuts the red-robed duergar deeply and the gray dwarf falls unconscious!

"BLOODY SUNSHINE DWARF! I'LL KILL YEEEEEEE!!!!!!" screams the almost dead blue-robed duergar, focusing all his anger at the hated surface dwarf!

+1 warhammer, favored enemy dwarves +4, power attack: 1d20 + 11 + 4 - 2 ⇒ (16) + 11 + 4 - 2 = 29
damage, magical/bludgeoning, lead blades, favored enemy +4, 2-handed power attack: 2d6 + 4 + 4 + 6 ⇒ (6, 1) + 4 + 4 + 6 = 21

...amazingly the blow lands, but not enough to kill the hardy dwarf, but the duergar smiles a bloody smile regardless, awaiting for righteous death to fall upon him!

THE HEROES ARE ALL UP!

STATUS:
Theo 21/84
Nyloth 17/42 [PRONE]
YELLOW [DYING]
LARGE THING [DEAD]
RED [DYING]
BLUE -47

Party Buffs: Haste, Inspire Courage +2

The archer moves to take a better position and fires a last arrow on the blue one.

Arrow 1: 1d20 + 17 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 17 + 1 + 2 = 21

Damage 1: 2d6 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (6, 3) + 8 + 2 = 19

Jeeze, you didn't roll less then 16 that whole combat. Ouch!
Hope its not a trend =)

Theo grits his teeth, the duergars' relentless blows taking their toll. Still, he holds his grounds, pounding on the last one standing.

primary vs blue, haste, bard, PA: 1d20 + 15 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 15 + 1 + 2 = 36, for 1d10 + 16 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 16 + 2 = 26 damage.
secondary vs blue, haste, bard, PA: 1d20 + 8 + 1 + 2 - 3 ⇒ (11) + 8 + 1 + 2 - 3 = 19, for 1d10 + 16 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 16 + 2 = 23 damage.
haste vs blue, haste, bard, PA: 1d20 + 15 + 1 + 2 - 3 ⇒ (11) + 15 + 1 + 2 - 3 = 26, for 1d10 + 16 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 16 + 2 = 20 damage.

Fairbeaks seems to be enjoying himself, as his massive beak slashes out at the final foe.

bite, PA, bard, haste: 1d20 + 10 - 2 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 10 - 2 + 2 + 1 = 29, for 2d6 + 14 + 2 ⇒ (1, 3) + 14 + 2 = 20 damage.
hasted, PA, bard, haste: 1d20 + 10 - 2 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 10 - 2 + 2 + 1 = 29, for 2d6 + 14 + 2 ⇒ (5, 3) + 14 + 2 = 24 damage.

With only one enemy left, a flurry of attacks incoming and his one downed ally already back up, Hamish does not continue his inspirational attempts. He simply says, "I'll check on the other victims."

Lingering Performance will keep IC up for two rounds though I doubt we'll need it.

Instead, he skirts around behind the duergar and starts to check out the bodies and ritual.

Move action taken. He has Deathwatch eyes, what condition are the bodies in? It will determine his next action.

The heroes completely bludgeon the last duergar beyond recognition. The bloody mess falls to the ground in a heap.

Hamish casually strolls past the barbaric scene and focuses on the creatures around the stone. His magic lense tells him that they are all "fighting off death" but he notes many of them also breathe raggedly and are sweating profusely. They are all unconscious.

What do you all do?

Theo sags slightly.

"Those bastards were out for blood." He growls, as he grabs a few of the healing potions to try to mend the damage. "Good riddance."

Noticing Hamish checking out the injured, he frowns slightly. "What's with the glowing thing? Should we smash it?"

Anyone mind if I chug back a couple of those potions?

Theo, among the prisoners is Swareti, a wayang whom you freed in your previous mission at Slave Mountain.

Hamish, while you're surveying the scene, you may make a Knowledge check (either arcana, planes, or religion) as well as a Perception check.

I guess Charlotte will walk forward and see if she can get any of the former prisoners to their feet and ask what is going on
Diplomacy if required: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (2) + 13 = 15

Charlotte and Hamish, all the prisoners are unconscious, breathing hard and sweating profusely. You may make a Heal check in addition to the checks mentioned in my previous post. Please also move your character to the intended location on the map. Thank you!

Knowledge: Arcana: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8

Heal: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (1) - 1 = 0

Hamish pulls a wand and turns to answer, "I'm tending the injured and am probably not the best to identify the stone anyway. But while I take care of them, you all might do some good, investigating it and the ritual."

He pulls a wand of CLW and starts using it on each creature, starting with the ones with ragged breathing. He'll evaluate how they are all doing after one charge used per, so 13 expended and 36/50 remain. Do you need the rolls or take the average or not worry about it?

"I recognize that one that." Theo mentions, pointing to one of the unconscious wayang.

"But this looks like more than just physical damage." He adds, eying the crystal again.

He quaffs a couple of duergar's potions, before getting too close.

CMW: 2d8 + 3 ⇒ (6, 4) + 3 = 13
CMW: 2d8 + 3 ⇒ (7, 6) + 3 = 16

”I’m afraid I’m not much of a healer. Maybe someone else can tend the injured while I look around.” she says

Know-Arcana: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (6) + 21 = 27

Know-Planes: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (16) + 10 = 26

Know-Arcana: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (15) + 10 = 25

Perception: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (5) + 12 = 17

Lol, given our recent rolls,I think we found all the low dice rolls the GMs didn’t get in the las fight!

[dice=Knowledge: Arcana]1d20+8

[dice=Perception]1d20+5

[dice=Heal]1d20-1

Hamish pulls a wand and turns to answer, "I'm tending the injured and am probably not the best to identify the stone anyway. But while I take care of them, you all might do some good, investigating it and the ritual."

He pulls a wand of CLW and starts using it on each creature, starting with the ones with ragged breathing. He'll evaluate how they are all doing after one charge used per, so 13 expended and 36/50 remain. Do you need the rolls or take the average or not worry about it?

As soon as Hamish gets close to the stone, he feels a dark energy tug at his essence, causing some dull pain deep within his internal organs. Stepping back immediately, he realizes that the poor unconscious souls are currently subject to this unnatural draining effect!

Assuming you pull all the unconscious folks away from the stone...

Charlotte has seen this kind of stone in her studies, and realizes this black sapphire is meant to draw souls into the Ethereal Plane!

Now that the prisoners are at a safe distance from the stone, Hamish proceeds to heal them with his wand, and each of them slowly regain consciousness...

What do you do? anyone interacting with the prisoners may make a Diplomacy and/or Heal check.

Map Updated.

Theo eyes the strange stone with a scowl.

"It safe to destroy the thing?" He asks Charlotte, who seems to have some idea what it is. "Certainly don't want to leave it here for those grey bastards to use on more folks."

He goes to check on Swareti.

"You have to stop getting yourself in such messes." He says to the wayang, with a companionable scowl.

"Ah! praise the gods and goddesses you made it here in time... we're all sick with some kind of fever... we got the disease from the stone... don't touch it... *cough* *cough* ...we're also all experiencing the same unsavory nightmare about some strange dark void... we also heard the duergar speak of a bargain with a 'witch'..."

Holy crap! don't check gameplay and 28 new posts....catching up now...note to self..check more! Rallas looks around the room, his eyes finally used to the light. He fishes out a floating torch and illuminates the area.ioun torch

perc: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (17) + 14 = 31+2 moire for traps

wanna use my wand of infernal healing? save a potion for emergencies?

Rallas, as you look at the black sapphire, you note that your reflection in one of the stone’s facets is corpse-thin, fanged, and purple-skinned! Knowledge Arcana check from Rallas please

Nyloth thinks to himself, "Souls? The Etheral Plane? I wonder if I can do anything with such an item...for now, I better not get to close; I've got two souls to lose after all and one isn't that tightly bound to my body to begin with."

@Rallas: Only used 2 of them... still one left =)

"All of you?" Theo mutters, subconsciously stepping back, with a look at all the prisoners.

His knowledge of diseases is limited, but he tries get an idea of the symptoms anyway.

Heal?: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 2 = 18

Not wanting to get caught in too weakened a state, he pulls out his new wand and uses it once on himself, to heal more of his wounds.

wand of cure moderate
CMW: 2d8 + 3 ⇒ (7, 5) + 3 = 15

"All of you?" Theo mutters, subconsciously stepping back, with a look at all the prisoners.

His knowledge of diseases is limited, but he tries get an idea of the symptoms anyway.

You're not sure what this is, but they all look like they have some kind of fever...

Theo eyes the strange stone with a scowl.

"It safe to destroy the thing?" He asks Charlotte, who seems to have some idea what it is. "Certainly don't want to leave it here for those grey bastards to use on more folks."

“I don’t know. I mean, I share your reticence to let this thing keep existing, but the Tapestry is teetering on the edge as is. Releasing a bunch of magical energy all at once might push it over the edge. I’ll do what I can to further study it.”

on my phone, can’t move my pog. Charlotte will continue studying the shard without touching you, trying to determine if it is helping or hurting the tapestry, and maybe how to safely disassemble it. My own diplomacy check was terrible.
—If Styfis has the conjuration school (even with no mental focus in it) he can cast my resto scroll as it is on his spell list. Otherwise, we’ll need to wait in between the next mission to get a spellcaster for Nyloth. Cost should be 380gp (10x7(caster lvl)x4(resto level)+100 for the material component). If my scroll is used I’d appreciate him replacing it-it is 800 gold

"It's already sucking energy out of here, to this other plane isn't it? Maybe its part of the problem?" Theo argues, though from the frown on his face, its clear he really is out of his element on such topics.

If you use your scroll Charlotte no one can replace it other than you with your own gold... I just painfully learned this in a recent scenario with my paladin who was spamming restoration scrolls for everyone... :P

"It's already sucking energy out of here, to this other plane isn't it? Maybe its part of the problem?" Theo argues, though from the frown on his face, its clear he really is out of his element on such topics.

Swareti weakly adds, "Ya man! it sucks bloody souls man! what else do you *cough* *cough* need to know! smash it!! they forced us to touch it!!!"