GM Sphen Rise of the Runelords: (Clever Subtitle)

Game Master Sphen86

On his turn, Tarphrex will cast haste on everyone in the party.

Where is the spider exactly?

And can Elisani tell the rest of the party where the spider is?

Estella will double-move in along with Ain to back him up in drawing attention.

Once it's clear where exactly Ain will stand, Estella will be one space behind him

Tarphrex should still be just inside the barn after attempting to message the wiggling victim. I'm not sure I have the right map yet, though. I don't see anyone on the map, just the buildings?

I've added the spider to the map. It's high up in the rafters, deeply shadowded and obscured by the webs.

The current map is page 4.

I'll just tell you guys that the spider is going to act once someone is a certain distance into the barn. I just need to know who that is first and how far they go.

Oh, I see, I didn't realize that was the map. And Tarphrex cannot see the spider yet, correct?

Tarphrex and Elisani were just inside the door before she stepped out to apprise the others. Tarphrex has been moved on the map.

I've added the spider to the map. It's high up in the rafters, deeply shadowded and obscured by the webs.

The current map is page 4.

I'll just tell you guys that the spider is going to act once someone is a certain distance into the barn. I just need to know who that is first and how far they go.

and for planning purposes, it isn't going to be Cev because Cev's whole purpose is to go around the spider, so until it moves, Cev really isn't going to advance much further than like 10' into the barn

Oof, that is one helluva big spider...

@Tarphrex: No, Tarphrex cannot see the spider yet.

@Ceven: I guess I should have said, the first person into the barn that it can see. Unless you drop your invis, or intentionally tangle yourself in a web, it won't know you're there.

@Sherman: Ayep.

Okay. So you all stand there, waiting.

Ceven is invisible in the barn. Tarphrex is right next to the door. Is anyone else going to go into the barn? If so, I need the pieces moved.

Actually ... can we go ahead and go back and accrue the actions that took place?

In initiative position #1, Cev moved 10-15' and waited.
Nothing from Sherman (also INIT#1) that I can see.
Elisi held in hopes of getting a HASTE spell
Taphrex cast, so Elisi can come off hold when she is ready
Ain I am not sure ...

Actually ... can we go ahead and go back and accrue the actions that took place?

In initiative position #1, Cev moved 10-15' and waited.
Nothing from Sherman (also INIT#1) that I can see.
Elisi held in hopes of getting a HASTE spell
Taphrex cast, so Elisi can come off hold when she is ready
Ain I am not sure ...

Ain double-moved to the front of the barn as distraction or backup.

Sherman cast bless on the party.

Ceven Valdemar wrote:

Actually ... can we go ahead and go back and accrue the actions that took place?

In initiative position #1, Cev moved 10-15' and waited.
Nothing from Sherman (also INIT#1) that I can see.
Elisi held in hopes of getting a HASTE spell
Taphrex cast, so Elisi can come off hold when she is ready
Ain I am not sure ...

Ain double-moved to the front of the barn as distraction or backup.

Estella moved to join Ain.

Sherman cast bless on the party.

ok, this is almost like progress and almost like clarity: so if we can just get everyone to place their tokens whereever they think represents the results of Round 1, we might be ready for Round 2. This is goodness!

I didn't move Estella's token initially because it was a bit dependent on where Ain would be moving. For now in the interest of moving things along I've moved Ain's token, trying to keep the spirit of his action intact. Considering Ain's intention of being obvious target, I moved him a bit away and slightly ahead of the rest.

Ain, feel free to move yourself to any place you prefer, and you can move Estella along with you so the two of us run attention-drawing.

I actually interpreted Ain's move to be outside the barn between it and the house in the position that Ceven originally was in - to make sure we didn't have a new threat come up behind us from the house. As he said, he deals in fire - an old barn full of webs with a fire specialist isn't necessarily a wise choice. I believe those two characters should be positioned between the barn and the house, watching the house.

Tarphrex is in his position already. If Sherman intended to catch us all in his bless, he would have had to come around the front of the barn - likely everyone, presumably including Shalelu, would be on the "left" side of the building by now to make plans and receive that blessing. Same with the haste - the casting would have waited for everyone to be available as a target.

Tarphrex speaks to Elisani in his native tongue, making a vague motion in the air toward the unseen kineticist before motioning for the investigator to move in deeper with the kobold.

I hesitate to commit Elisani to entering the building, but I thought that was her intent once spells were cast and party members were aware.

i can clarify, Ain moved to the front of the barn double move. i can move inside if we want to rush this and just provoke the spider to come out so we can go school yard bully tactics on it and actually start real combat. i only have spells to damage at the moment. if its the next round, Ain will move in, shield up to provoke the creature to come out

In the future, please feel free to bot me if everyone else is ready to go!

Elisani nods to Tarphrex and responds in the same language.

Going in loud and obvious is not Elisani's preferred method. But she can't fly to take the spider by surprise, so they need to lure it down. "Estella, Ain, would you mind coming in with me to make some noise?" Estella does love her battle songs, and Ain's fire is always eye-catching.

Assuming one or both agrees:

The detective pulls out an infusion and knocks it back, hoping the magic will help her resist the spider's venom.

Since we're in initiative time, it takes a move action to retrieve the infusion of bear's endurance and a standard action to drink it. If we're not officially in initiative time, Elisani will move in.

I can, Stay close. Ain moves in

"Right with you!"

As soon as Ain and Estella are in the barn, the creature zooms through the webs at them. Those of you who saw it before see it dash with surprising speed. Those who didn't see don't notice it until it drops from the ceiling, landing in front of Ain with a puff of dirt from the floor, already chomping at him. It has yet to make a sound..
Charging Bite: 1d20 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 8 + 2 = 28
Damage: 2d8 + 7 ⇒ (5, 1) + 7 = 13
...and...
Ain Fort Save: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19
...pass on the Fort save.

That was the spider's prepared action, single move charge with an attack.
Deals the 13 damage.

---Shalelu---
Shalelu double moves up, with the cat right behind her, bow drawn.

_____________

ROUND 2! FIGHT!

Ain Initiative: 7
Ceven Initiative: 21
Elisani Initiative: 13
Estella Initiative: 13
Sherman Initiative: 21
Tarphrex Initiative: 8
Spider Initiative: 22
Shalelu Inititive: Last in the round.

---Spider---
It clicks its jaws and bites at Ain again...
Bite: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16
...who manages to duck the mandibles this time.

Any prepared actions from last round should trigger, then start the Init with Sherman and Ceven.

Probably time for me to ask how high the ceiling is ...

Whee! Let's goooo!

Sherman gets to the door with the others...
...and almost turns back on his heels. A spider has no right to be that huge. A monstrosity! What is he but a mere snack for the creature...

Still, fight he must. Trusting the spider is poisonous like so many other of its kind, Sherman tries to disarm the spider of its poison. Drawing his rod of Reach metamagic, he augments his anti-poison magic. This allows him to cast the spell without walking any closer to the horrific creature.

Cast Neutralize poison at the spider. DC18 will save or poison neutralized for 70 minutes

Life link happens. Ain heals 5 hp, and Sherman loses 5 hp

DC18 will save or poison neutralized for 70 minutes.

Will Save: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (19) + 3 = 22

@Ceven: My bad for missing the question. 30 feet high. The sacks with the people are pretty close to the ceiling, so you'll need to be at least 25 feet up to reach them.

@Ceven: My bad for missing the question. 30 feet high. The sacks with the people are pretty close to the ceiling, so you'll need to be at least 25 feet up to reach them.

minus the part about the whole telekinetic thing, but yeah ;)

@Ceven: You were waiting for the spider to move, right? I think you are up.

I used 2 move actions to get where I placed my token, but now Cev needs to make an assessment of how to detach the coccoon and fly out. I need to know what it all looks like

I used 2 move actions to get where I placed my token, but now Cev needs to make an assessment of how to detach the coccoon and fly out. I need to know what it all looks like

The cacoons are hanging down from a thick strand. Probably about as easy to cut through or tear as standard hemp rope. Then the body would be free falling, still wrapped up.

If you wanted to cut the person out, that would take more time as it would need to be done cautiously so as not to harm the individual inside. Consider it 2d4 rounds (like a complicated mechanism).

Ceven Valdemar wrote:

I used 2 move actions to get where I placed my token, but now Cev needs to make an assessment of how to detach the coccoon and fly out. I need to know what it all looks like

The cacoons are hanging down from a thick strand. Probably about as easy to cut through or tear as standard hemp rope. Then the body would be free falling, still wrapped up.

If you wanted to cut the person out, that would take more time as it would need to be done cautiously so as not to harm the individual inside. Consider it 2d4 rounds (like a complicated mechanism).

Nope, as you wrote it is exactly what I needed to see; so in order to stay invisible, Ceven needs to be directly at the strand itself to sever it, probably already holding the cocoon with his TK

Gracias

So Ceven has used his turn to maneuver for next round’s action. Sherman attempted to neutralize the creature’s venom. Looks like Elisani and Estella tied for next in initiative, yes?

Insert this whenever my turn drops.

Ain will cast burst of radiance behind the spider, its a 10ft burst so only it's affected. If it fails its blinded, if it succeeds its Dazzled.

He 5 foot steps back, presumably just out of the spiders range.

rounds blind or dazzled dc 17: 1d4 ⇒ 3

alignment damage, If its evil it takes: 5d4 ⇒ (2, 2, 2, 4, 4) = 14

Estella waves her flagged lance around and begins a rousing speech! (raging song)

"Friends! We face an arachnid titan, a threat to those who would live here!"

She then readies her lance and stares the spider down, unmoving.

That 20% miss chance on reach should help us out if the blind fails, I hope!

Ceven has the cacoon, and Estella has begun to inspire her allies.

Ain's action (which I will totally forget by the time it falls into Init) is set.

Elisani and Tarphex are still up.

Ain Initiative: 7
Ceven Initiative: 21
Elisani Initiative: 13
Estella Initiative: 13
Sherman Initiative: 21
Tarphrex Initiative: 8
Spider Initiative: 22
Shalelu Initiative: Last in the round

I forget who I am handing off to ... Ain?

Tarphex chants and gestures, causing a cloud of sparkling motes to burst immediately above the spider, coating it in glittering mica.

Glitterdust: Will DC 17 or blinded 7 rounds, regardless, it should be easily seen if it attempts to hide

@Tarphrex:
Will Save vs Glitterdust: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23
The spider is highlighted to show just how over-sized and terrifying it is. Everyone thank Tarphrex for this display.

---Elisani, Bot---
Elisani will study the spider, then move in to join the line.
Standard action will be total defense.

@Ain:
Reflex vs Burst of Radiance: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19
Even with so many eyes, the spider once again manages to avoid being blinded. Or rather, maybe because of its many eyes.

_________________

Ain Initiative: 7
Ceven Initiative: 21
Elisani Initiative: 13
Estella Initiative: 13
Sherman Initiative: 21
Tarphrex Initiative: 8
Spider Initiative: 22
Shalelu Initiative: Last in the round

---Shalelu---
From her position in the back, Shalelu draws an arrows and lets fly...
Rapid Shot 1: 1d20 + 7 - 2 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 7 - 2 + 1 = 11

Rapid Shot 1: 1d20 + 7 - 2 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 7 - 2 + 1 = 12

Final Shot : 1d20 + 2 - 2 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 2 - 2 + 1 = 6
...and all three arrows thunk off the spiders thick hide.

(Terrible rolls there for the huntress. Just.... yeah. Real bad.)

---Ogre Spider---
The spider is going to snap at Estella. She's making the biggest amount of show so far...
Bite: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20
Above 20: 1d100 ⇒ 59
Damage: 2d8 + 7 ⇒ (3, 4) + 7 = 14
Fort Save vs Poison: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11
Poison Damage, Strength: 1d4 ⇒ 2 and Dexterity Damage: 1d4 ⇒ 2

A big bite out of Estella (unless she has something to negate the poison).
The ogre spider clacks its mandibles together, tasting blood now and still uninjured.

_______________

Ain Initiative: 7
Ceven Initiative: 21
Elisani Initiative: 13
Estella Initiative: 13
Sherman Initiative: 21
Tarphrex Initiative: 8
Spider Initiative: 22
Shalelu Initiative: Last in the round

@Estella: I would ask that you copy paste your inspire in your next post so that people can easily remember and reference it.

Believe his mind tricks have little effect on a spider (even of that size), Sherman tries once more to neutralize the poison at the source.

Cast Neutralize poison at the spider, with the help of extend rod. DC18 will save or poison neutralized for 70 minutes

Life link happens. Ain heals 5 hp, Elisani heals 5hp and Sherman loses 10 hp

Next up should be Ain's action he prepared earlier, right? Reaaally would like it if we could blind this thing

Next up should be Ain's action he prepared earlier, right? Reaaally would like it if we could blind this thing

It was included in Sphen’s post earlier.

I could've sworn I read the posts three times over to double check, and I still miss it! Sorry.

@Sherman:
Will Save: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 13

Finally a failed save for you guys. The spider is effectively venomless.

the spider is at least Dazzled even if it passes.

---Ceven, Bot---
Ceven grabs the wrapped up person and hauls them out of the area. You can all see this body move through the air seemingly of its own accord.

Just to be sure, Elisani is up now, right?