GM Sphen Rise of the Runelords: (Clever Subtitle)

Game Master Sphen86

No traps on this one either.

Maybe the ogrekin haven't bothered to trap the basement. Elisani is going to keep checking anyway, though. She opens the door to take a look around.

Opening the door...
This low-ceilinged room features a floor of hardpacked earth stained in many places by blood and mold. A lumpy mattress lies heaped against the west wall, and what appear to be several half-finished chairs made of flesh and bone lie against the eastern wall.
For those of you wondering what happened to the bones went....

Sherman exhales.

"I think the ogres might've been right to lock in the whoever lurks in here. Furniture from flesh and bones... That is not... sane?"

"Disgusting. And dangerous. It's a wonder that none of the dead have risen as angry ghosts, with such disrespectful treatment of their earthly remains." Elisani begins searching the room for anything of interest.

Perception + heroism + Inspiration: 1d20 + 17 + 2 + 1d6 ⇒ (10) + 17 + 2 + (3) = 32

@Elsiani: There well may have been ghosts. You did fight a necromancer upstairs.

Also, you find...
A potion

Finally, something of value! The detective holds up an amulet in one hand and a potion in the other. "Would one of you mind identifying these?"

"Of course," Sherman offers.
With a wiggle of fingers and a couple words of magic, he peers into the auras of the items.

Spellcraft potion: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (17) + 10 = 27
Spellcraft amulet: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (19) + 10 = 29

"A potion of moderate healing, and amulet of natural armor. Both very useful."

Estella grimaces. "I suppose it was too much to ask for things down here to be a bit less horrible."

As Sherman brings up the amulet, Estella's interest is piqued. "I wouldn't mind having that, it'd at least make me a little more reliable on the front line. Is anyone else interested?"

”Estella be strong in front, Tarphrex hide behind, uh, stay behind,” he nods, ”Is good for Tarphrex, yes.”

"I have no objections." Elisani looks at Ceven and Ain to see if they speak up.

If it's okay with them:

She hands Estella the amulet. "Does anyone here not have a healing potion on them?"

"I'm sure the amulet helps you more than me Estella. Go ahead and take it." Sherman agrees. "As for the potion... I have none, but I put my faith in Desna for my healing needs."

(I was excited to see 5 posts waiting to be read. Figures that it is treasure that pulls players into conversation.)

One room left to go. You are expecting something horrible dwelling down here, so be on your guard.

Eep

I can't exactly resist some fabulous jewels.

Estella nods in thanks and puts on the amulet if there are no other objections.

"We should carry on. There's not much left." She turns to Elisani. "You want me to take the last door?"

"I would appreciate that. Let me check it for traps first, though." Elisani pockets the healing potion (unless one of our silent comrades wants it) and gets to work on the last door.

Perception + heroism + Trapfinding + Inspiration on door to A12: 1d20 + 17 + 2 + 2 + 1d6 ⇒ (8) + 17 + 2 + 2 + (3) = 32

If she doesn't find any traps, the detective falls back to let Estella take the lead.

Tarphrex touches the holy symbol, his keepsake from Zenaida, takes a deep breath, and calls to mind a spell, just in case.

Locating no traps, Elisani steps back and lets Estella push open the door...
It's difficult t o gauge the exact dimensions of this cluttered room, thickly packed with old crates, broken farm equipment, and furniture.

As the door opens, a pair of unusually large rats spring from the clutter with fierce hisses. They attack aggressively but are defeated quickly (not worth running an encounter for).

Another set of doors leads futher into the basement. Double doors with a space for a bar on this side. The bar, however, is currently leaning against the wall.

______________

(I think I may have swapped the description of these last two rooms. If so, my bad. I'd like to say it is due to stress, but I think I'm going to have that going for the next 4 years, so I can't keep falling back on that.)

Once the rats are eliminated, Elisani does a quick search of the room.

Perception + heroism + Inspiration: 1d20 + 17 + 2 + 1d6 ⇒ (18) + 17 + 2 + (2) = 39

And then she moves on to the double doors to look for traps.

Perception + heroism + Trapfinding + Inspiration: 1d20 + 17 + 2 + 2 + 1d6 ⇒ (18) + 17 + 2 + 2 + (5) = 44

Searching the room only reveals a collection of detritus worthy of a landfill.

The door itself is likewise mundane, but you do notice that it shows signs of recent use, probably in the past hour.

"No traps, although someone has been through here within the past hour. Estella, if you would?" Elisani gestures her toward the door.

Tarphrex nervously switches from foot to foot as he anticipates the opening of the door.

Apologies for the delay!

Estella nods and carefully opens the door.

Estella braces herself, then opens the door to find...
Another door.

Rinse and repeat/
Elisani
check the room: 1d20 + 19 + 1d6 ⇒ (1) + 19 + (6) = 26
check for traps: 1d20 + 21 + 1d6 ⇒ (10) + 21 + (4) = 35
..locating nothing in this antechamber either.

These new double doors are also designed to be barred from this side and also have the bar set to the side.

"More doors. They weren't taking any chances on the occupant getting out." Same song, second verse. Time to check the new doors for traps.

Perception + heroism + Trapfinding + Inspiration: 1d20 + 17 + 2 + 2 + 1d6 ⇒ (9) + 17 + 2 + 2 + (1) = 31

If she doesn't find anything, Elisani steps back to let Estella take the lead.

"More doors. They weren't taking any chances on the occupant getting out." Same song, second verse. Time to check the new doors for traps.

[dice=Perception + heroism + Trapfinding + Inspiration]1d20 + 17 + 2 + 2 + 1d6

If she doesn't find anything, Elisani steps back to let Estella take the lead.

"Well, they weren't taking any chances with the occupant getting out ... until they stopped barring the door from this side; can we tell how long ago that was?"

"Good question. Maybe whatever used to be in here is now already gone?"

Whether we can find out or not, once everyone is ready, Estella opens the door.

The door opens to the surprising feel of humidity...
This damp, steamy room reeks of rotting vegetable matter. Pools of mud and stagnant water dot the mossy floor, and the walls are caked with thick swaths of puffy fungus and mold.

In the far corner of the room, crouched behind a mound of rotting vegetation, the familiar form of a Graul ogre-kin fires a crossbow at Estella....
Crossbow: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8
...but the bolt hits the wall several feet to her right as the Graul sneezed from the pollen just before pulling the trigger. There is a collection of swearing coming its mouth as it pulls another bolt out.

INITIATIVE!
Ceven Initiative: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7
Elisani Initiative: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8
Estella Initiative: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3
Sherman Initiative: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 = 11
Tarphrex Initiative: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5
Enemy Initiative: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8

INITIATIVE!
Sherman
Enemy
Elisani
Ceven
Tarphrex
Estella

Impressive set of initiative rolls there...

"You fool!" Sherman booms, waving his arms dramatically. "Did you not know it is bad luck to attack the servants of Starsong!? Cursed you are, you fool!" with even more drama, he points at the ogre.

Feign Curse - DC 27 sense motive or spellcraft. If it fails, disadvantage on next two rolls.

(The target cannot meet that DC, so auto-passes. Please remind me as the first two rolls won't be for a few days (I imagine).)

The ogrekin blinks at Sherman's pronouncment, then blinks several times more as though trying to process what happened.

---Graul---
Full round action to reload a heavy crossbow.
Still has disadvantage on two rolls.

__________

INITIATIVE!
Sherman - done
Enemy - done
Elisani
Ceven
Tarphrex
Estella

The bulk of the group is up next.

The floor seems to be difficult terrain, is that right? It'll affect my actions if it is.

The floor seems to be difficult terrain, is that right? It'll affect my actions if it is.

It is not difficult terrain.

Estella strides into the room, puts herself in a position between the Graul and the party, and strikes.

Attack: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (16) + 9 = 25
Damage: 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6

"You would do well to surrender. We've already taken care of the rest of your... family?"

Debating whether to use any magic here.

In that case, I'll delay until after I know whether Tarphrex will give us a haste spell or not.

If you think it is necessary, ask for it. Tarphrex is thinking the ogre is way outmatched and easily defeated by Tarphrex’ powerful friends.

(This may answer your question....)

As Estella moves into the room, the mass of vegetation in the corner shifts and heaves, and a large mouth bites at her from the end of a large stalk of greenery...
Bite: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (15) + 11 = 26
Damage: 2d6 + 8 ⇒ (3, 2) + 8 = 13
Grab: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (6) + 19 = 25
...which gnashes down onto Estella and holds her tight.
(This was an AoO with its reach, which will negate its prepared action becuase it prepared a bite attack.
@Estella: I'll give you the option to redirect that attack to the palnt creature.
_________

Now that it isn't hiding in the vegetations till thriving in the room, you see...
This plant’s thick trunk is capped by a crown of wide leaves, whipping vines, mushrooms, and a ravenous purple maw.
To recall knolwedge on the creature...

Knowledge (nature) + heroism + Inspiration: 1d20 + 10 + 2 + 1d6 ⇒ (9) + 10 + 2 + (3) = 24

What weaknesses do tendriculos (tendriculi?) have? What resistances do they have?

Tarphrex shrieks in fright at the sudden attack from the plant. He casts a spell to quicken his allies.

Casting Haste, of course, only including allies in the list of targets.

Yeah I'll redirect that attack, if you please. Also, oh god

@Elisani: Bludgeoning and fire damage temporarily stops their regeneration ability.
They are "resitant" to acid and have the standard plant traits (no mind affecting, no eyes, that sort of thing).

@Estella: The redirected blow hits, cutting into the plant creature.

INITIATIVE!
Sherman - done
Enemy - done
Elisani
Ceven
Tarphrex
Estella

Ceven still needs to act, then it is back to Sherman at the top of the order.

Elisani racks her mind, trying to remember what she's read about this type of plant. "That's a tendriculos, it regenerates but bludgeoning and fire damage will temporarily suppress that. They're resistant to acid. As plants, they are immune to mind-affecting effects, paralysis, poison, polymorph, sleep effects, and stunning."

In order to get close enough to attack without being grabbed herself, she's going to need some help. The detective pulls a vial out of her bandolier. Normally she would use alchemical allocation to preserve her elixir of tumbling for future use, but there's no time for that now. Elisani pulls the cork with her teeth and knocks the elixir back with the ease of a seasoned investigator.

Retrieve a stored item and drink it. RIP elixir of tumbling, hopefully there will be a shop where I can replace it later. As great as alchemical allocation is, it takes too many actions to use it during combat.

Ceven also tries to recall what he can remember, but is beyond disgusted at this point and unleashes his anger at the plant thing.

ARCANA: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10
TK BLAST: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (9) + 8 = 174d6 + 9 ⇒ (4, 1, 2, 6) + 9 = 22

"Fire stops regeneration, you say? Very well, here goes..."

Sherman conjures a sphere of fire into existence, and rolls it to the feet (roots?) of the big plant.

Flaming sphere, DC17 REF save negates: 3d6 ⇒ (4, 4, 3) = 11

@Ceven: The blast goes wide, smashing the far wall and dropping a layer of dust onto the room as the walls shake.

@Sherman: Reflex Save: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11
The fire burns into the creature, which shivers in pain.

---Enemies---
GRAUL:
The ogre-kin drops his crossbow and pulls out an ogre hook as it moves towards Estella saying, "Hold her down Muck, and I'll gut her."
Attack with Flanking: 1d20 + 14 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 14 + 2 = 32
Damage: 1d10 + 11 ⇒ (9) + 11 = 20 and Sneak Attack: 3d6 ⇒ (5, 5, 6) = 16
He cuts into Estella for 36 total damage, deep and powerful.

MUCK:
The tendriculos tightens its grip on Estella...
To maintain: 1d20 + 19 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 19 + 5 = 40
...and then shoves the skald into its mouth, swallowing her.

The rest of you look on in surprise and horror as your erstwhile companion is devoured in an instant.

INITIATIVE!
Sherman
Enemy
Elisani
Ceven
Tarphrex
Estella

Did Graul’s attack include his penalty from Sherman’s spell?

Did Graul’s attack include his penalty from Sherman’s spell?

It sure didn't....

"Poor girl!" Sherman gasps. "Help her, somebody!"

Perhaps "somebody" didn't include the priest himself, and he doesn't find his legs moving him any closer.

Not my turn anyway, lulz.
@Estella: remember you'll heal 5hp on your turn due to life link

Are we working with a map? If not, what kind of space does Tarphrex have to create a 10’x10’ pit or cloud without impacting friends? Can I make a pit on the other side of Graul for Ceven to shove Graul into, for example?

There is a map. Slide 7. Plenty of room for a pit at the moment