Dak comes careening around the corner with his long elven strides and slashes the creature, hoping for a quick end:
for and
Cuthberwyn begins a tale of undead woe. Well, it's the woe of the undead, really, even if they've yet to realize it. But they'll learn.
Cuth then lets loose a sextet of force missiles into the giant skeleton!
|
Even with Falrok completely surrounded Dakapos has difficulty hitting the ghoul. Dori's hammer breaks through several bones as it smashes into the ghoul's face.
The skeleton screams as the blazing light sears through its body, burning away whatever flesh it had remaining. Cuthberwyn's magic missiles shatter through it jaw as the skeleton looms over the group and slowly descends down onto Dori.
+ Grab
The jaws snap shut around the dwarf as it holds on tightly. Raspar blocks what he can as Dori jams his shield into the skeletos tooth.
──────────
BOLD: GO!:
──────────
Dori │
Cabaguil │
Cuthberwyn
Huge Skeleton │
➤ Raspar │
➤ Kelvin │
Falrok │
Dakapos │
Action 1: Strike
Action 2: Strike
Action 3: Strike
Reaction: Opportune Backstab
Kelvin attacks furiously with his spear, looking to put the surrounded foe down.
plus Weakness 5 to Slashing
plus Weakness 5 to Slashing
plus Weakness 5 to Slashing
plus Weakness 5 to Slashing
Round 2
Action 1: Strike.
Action 2: Strike.
Action 3: Shield.
Raspar attacks the big green skelly with his holy knivy.
to hit;
damage (holy, flaming)
to hit;
damage (holy, flaming)
to hit;
damage (holy, flaming)
Critical damage: [ dice]4d4+14+1d6+1d6[/dice] + persistent bleeding
AC: 37 +2 with shield action. + resist piercing 3
Fort/Ref/Will: 23/22/22 + 2 vs. spells/reaction
HP: 188/188
Focus: 2/2
Hero Points: 3
Speed: 20'
Luck? 0/1 used (vs. save/check)
Other Luck? 0/1 used (vs. perception/attack)
[ dice=Shield]1d20+25[/dice] to hit;
[ dice=B]1d4+4[/dice] damage
[ dice=Halberd]1d20+16[/dice] to hit;
[ dice=P/S]1d10+3[/dice] damage
[ spoiler=@Dori, GM Tyranius]
You free an ally from restraint. If the trigger was an ally taking damage, the ally gains resistance to all damage against the triggering damage equal to 2 + your level (=16). The ally can attempt to break free of effects grabbing, restraining, immobilizing, or paralyzing them. They either attempt a new save against one such effect that allows a save, or attempt to Escape from one effect as a free action. If they can move, the ally can Step as a free action, even if they didn’t need to escape.[/ spoiler]
|
|
Raspar's starknife glints off of the huge skeletal frame as it bounces around inside the ribs.
Kelvin keeps onto the surrounded ghoul as he tries to destroy Falrok. The spear drives into the undeads foot. Falrok spins and bites at Dori as the dwarf is grabbed.
As Falrok takes a big rip out of Dori's leg it turns back to Kelvin for hurting it. "You come into the Sanctum of the Starved willingly?"
The dwarven brethren begin to feel their muscles lock up as the undead disease seeps into their blood.
──────────
BOLD: GO!:
──────────
➤ Dori │
➤ Cabaguil │
➤ Cuthberwyn
Huge Skeleton │
Raspar │
Kelvin │
Falrok │
➤ Dakapos │
Round: 3
Equipped: Staff of healing
Conditions: Fatigued
Battle Medicine: None
Guidance: None
Bounce Back (1/1, no wounded condition from dying)
Cape of the Mountebank (+2 deception)(1/1, •>>, dimension door)
Crafters Eyepiece (+1 craft)(repair 30hp instead of 20hp)
Diplomat’s Badge: (+1 diplomacy)(•>, DC 20 recall knowledge for +2 diplomacy 24hrs)
Eye of the Wise (•>, telepathy with Warbal Bumblebrasher)(•>, +2 decipher writing, disable device, identify magic, pick lock, seek, sense motive)
Goggles: (+1 perception)(1/1, •>, darkvision 1 hour)
Healer’s Gloves: (+1 medicine)(1/1, •>, cure 2d6+7)
Prayer Beads: (+1hp divine spells)(1/1, •>>, bless)(1/1, •>>, heal)
Ring of Lies: (+2 deception)(0/1, •>>, glibness)
Staff of Healing, Major: (7/7) (+3hp heal spells; stabilize, heal(1,2,3,4,5), restoration(2,4), restore senses(2), remove disease(3), breath of life(5), remove disease(5))
Wand of Heal: (1/1, •>>, heal)
Bloodline Focus: Diabolic Edict* (1/1)
Bardic Spells Spell attack +21 (T), Spell DC’s 31 (T)
Cantrips: Daze, Guidance, Inspire Courage, Mage Hand, Message
First Level: (1/1) Magic Missile§
Second Level: (1/1) Mirror Image
Third Level: (1/1) Magic Missile§ (3), Invisibility Sphere
Sorcerer Spells Spell attack +23 (E), Spell DC’s 33 (E)
Cantrips: Detect Magic, Know Direction, Light, Prestidigitation, Produce Flame*,
First Level: (4/4) Charm§*, Heal§, Purify Food and Drink, Ray of Enfeeblement
Second Level: (3/4) Charm§* (2), Flaming Sphere*, Create Food, Dispel Magic§, Heal§ (2), See Invisibility
Third Level: (4/4) Charm§* (3), Crisis of Faith§, Dispel Magic§ (3), Enthrall*, Heal§ (3), Mending (3), Searing Light§
Fourth Level: (3/4) Charm§* (4), Crisis of Faith§ (4), Dispel Magic§ (4), Enervation, Freedom of Movement, Heal§ (4), Remove Curse, Searing Light§, Suggestion*§
Fifth Level: (2/4) Charm§* (5), Crisis of Faith § (5), Crushing Despair*, Dispel Magic§ (5), Flame Strike§, Heal§ (5), Prying Eyes, Searing Light§, Sending
Sixth Level: (2/4) Blade Barrier§ (6), Charm§* (6), Crisis of Faith§ (6), Dispel Magic§ (6), Flame Strike§ (6), Heal§ (6), Scintillating Safeguard, Searing Light§, Spirit Blast, True Seeing*
Seventh Level: (2/3) Blade Barrier§ (7), Charm§* (7), Crisis of Faith§ (7), Dispel Magic§ (7), Divine Decree, Finger of Death, Flame Strike§ (7), Heal§ (7), Regeneration, Searing Light§ (7), Sunburst
vs DC 34 or sickened 1
Cabaguil is astounded by the stench as the creature steps forth. He can’t imagine why it would move up so, unless it hoped to block spells, so Cabaguil steps carefully away (•>) so as to avoid such a fate. He’ll then cast another Searing Light (5) , targeting the skeleton.
(cover)
Come on! Die already!" Despite the stench, Dak takes a pair of powerful swings, looking to cut this creature down and open a lane to the larger foe:
for and
for and
Hero Point
Well, guess I'm paralyzed.
|
|
Two of Dakapos' strikes sear through the ghoul, though his third ends up missing as Falrok stays standing, though with a few less limbs now as one of his clawed hands is missing. Kelvin avoids a serious disease though he goes rigid as paralysis sets in.
Dori struggles and due to this nauseating sickness he is unable to escape the skeleton's jaws.
+ Fatigued
Cabaguil sears more divine light throughout the skeleton. The hellish flames burn and turn several more bones into ash as the skeleton begins to look a bit unstable.
──────────
BOLD: GO!:
──────────
Dori │
Cabaguil │
➤ Cuthberwyn
Huge Skeleton │
Raspar │
Kelvin │
Falrok │
Dakapos │
Bile rises in Cuthberwyn's throat, and he attempts to expunge it via retching.
Expectorating the last of the unpleasant taste, he snarls as he resumes his tale of defeating undead — this time explicitly naming the several abominations that have fallen before the party's hand, and tagging this foul beast as part of that list.
He then draws out his spiked chain.
|
|
Cuthberwyn retches to try and feel a little better as he draws a spiked chain. Lifting up the large skeleton lifts up and swallows Dori completely.
Dori bounces around inside the sharp internal bones as the skeleton lurches down to bite at Raspar.
──────────
BOLD: GO!:
──────────
Dori │
Cabaguil │
Cuthberwyn
Huge Skeleton │
➤ Raspar │
➤ Kelvin │
Falrok │
Dakapos │
Fort
Fort
Round 2
Action 1: Strike.
Action 2: Strike.
Action 3: Shield.
Raspar attacks the ghoul who smells bad, piercing, and w/flank.
to hit; (sick)
damage (holy, flaming)
to hit;
damage (holy, flaming)
to hit;
damage (holy, flaming)
Critical damage: [ dice]4d4+14+1d6+1d6[/dice] + persistent bleeding
AC: 37 +2 with shield action. + resist piercing 3
Fort/Ref/Will: 23/22/22 + 2 vs. spells/reaction
HP: 188/188
Focus: 2/2
Hero Points: 3
Speed: 20'
Luck? 0/1 used (vs. save/check)
Other Luck? 0/1 used (vs. perception/attack)
[ dice=Shield]1d20+25[/dice] to hit;
[ dice=B]1d4+4[/dice] damage
[ dice=Halberd]1d20+16[/dice] to hit;
[ dice=P/S]1d10+3[/dice] damage
[ spoiler=@Dori, GM Tyranius]
You free an ally from restraint. If the trigger was an ally taking damage, the ally gains resistance to all damage against the triggering damage equal to 2 + your level (=16). The ally can attempt to break free of effects grabbing, restraining, immobilizing, or paralyzing them. They either attempt a new save against one such effect that allows a save, or attempt to Escape from one effect as a free action. If they can move, the ally can Step as a free action, even if they didn’t need to escape.[/ spoiler]
Kelvin shakes off the paralysis, his fury releasing him in time to watch Dori get swallowed whole!
|
|
Raspar begins to feel a bit ill as the ghoul dodges his attacks. It takes everything Kelvin has to begin moving. He watches Dori get eaten whole as the skeleton chomps down on his family.
Falrok leaps and leaps again to the south where the Ghoul begins feasting on the decaying pile of corpses.
──────────
BOLD: GO!:
──────────
➤ Dori │
➤ Cabaguil │
➤ Cuthberwyn
Huge Skeleton │
Raspar │
Kelvin │
Falrok │
➤ Dakapos │
Round: 4
Equipped: Staff of healing
Conditions: Fatigued, sickened 1
Battle Medicine: None
Guidance: None
Bounce Back (1/1, no wounded condition from dying)
Cape of the Mountebank (+2 deception)(1/1, •>>, dimension door)
Crafters Eyepiece (+1 craft)(repair 30hp instead of 20hp)
Diplomat’s Badge: (+1 diplomacy)(•>, DC 20 recall knowledge for +2 diplomacy 24hrs)
Eye of the Wise (•>, telepathy with Warbal Bumblebrasher)(•>, +2 decipher writing, disable device, identify magic, pick lock, seek, sense motive)
Goggles: (+1 perception)(1/1, •>, darkvision 1 hour)
Healer’s Gloves: (+1 medicine)(1/1, •>, cure 2d6+7)
Prayer Beads: (+1hp divine spells)(1/1, •>>, bless)(1/1, •>>, heal)
Ring of Lies: (+2 deception)(0/1, •>>, glibness)
Staff of Healing, Major: (7/7) (+3hp heal spells; stabilize, heal(1,2,3,4,5), restoration(2,4), restore senses(2), remove disease(3), breath of life(5), remove disease(5))
Wand of Heal: (1/1, •>>, heal)
Bloodline Focus: Diabolic Edict* (1/1)
Bardic Spells Spell attack +21 (T), Spell DC’s 31 (T)
Cantrips: Daze, Guidance, Inspire Courage, Mage Hand, Message
First Level: (1/1) Magic Missile§
Second Level: (1/1) Mirror Image
Third Level: (1/1) Magic Missile§ (3), Invisibility Sphere
Sorcerer Spells Spell attack +23 (E), Spell DC’s 33 (E)
Cantrips: Detect Magic, Know Direction, Light, Prestidigitation, Produce Flame*,
First Level: (4/4) Charm§*, Heal§, Purify Food and Drink, Ray of Enfeeblement
Second Level: (3/4) Charm§* (2), Flaming Sphere*, Create Food, Dispel Magic§, Heal§ (2), See Invisibility
Third Level: (4/4) Charm§* (3), Crisis of Faith§, Dispel Magic§ (3), Enthrall*, Heal§ (3), Mending (3), Searing Light§
Fourth Level: (2/4) Charm§* (4), Crisis of Faith§ (4), Dispel Magic§ (4), Enervation, Freedom of Movement, Heal§ (4), Remove Curse, Searing Light§, Suggestion*§
Fifth Level: (2/4) Charm§* (5), Crisis of Faith § (5), Crushing Despair*, Dispel Magic§ (5), Flame Strike§, Heal§ (5), Prying Eyes, Searing Light§, Sending
Sixth Level: (2/4) Blade Barrier§ (6), Charm§* (6), Crisis of Faith§ (6), Dispel Magic§ (6), Flame Strike§ (6), Heal§ (6), Scintillating Safeguard, Searing Light§, Spirit Blast, True Seeing*
Seventh Level: (2/3) Blade Barrier§ (7), Charm§* (7), Crisis of Faith§ (7), Dispel Magic§ (7), Divine Decree, Finger of Death, Flame Strike§ (7), Heal§ (7), Regeneration, Searing Light§ (7), Sunburst
(fatigued) vs DC 34 or sickened 1 (ghoul stench)
Cabaguil offers assistance to his allies in the form of Inspire Courage
Feeling the skeleton must be close to a fresh death, he casts a lesser Searing Light (4) , targeting the skeleton once again.
(cover, inspire, sick)
(inspire)
(fatigued) vs DC 30 or fatigued (already fatigued, does it get worse?) and
Holding off the noxious scent this time, Cuthberwyn moves in and continues his tale.
Raspar lashes out at the escaping ghoul.
to hit;
damage (holy, flaming)
|
|
Raspar swings his starknife out as the ghoul makes to leap away. It twirls through the air decapitating the undead as the two pieces thump to the ground, lifeless once more.
Dori's dagger grinds away into the bone but it barely seems to scratch the surface. Cabaguil single handedly burns the giant skeleton down into melted bone as his hellish flames burn it from the inside out. The only thing left alive ithin is a steaming dwarf that is pulled free through a mass of broken bones.
This small cavern bears no signs of excavation or mining, and its walls are thickly crusted with black grimy stone. The well-gnawed bones of many dwarves lie scattered about the room in heaps.
You turn up a discarded letter sent to Falrok, written in Dwarven and signed by Ilssrah Embermead, in which the dwarf asks Falrok to meet with her in the atrium of the Temple of All Gods at “The first forge-hour” the following day. The letter explains that someone within Kovlar has been interfering with her plans, and suggests that Falrok remain on high alert from the intruders. In the letter, Ilssrah also describes these intruders, and you should have no problem realizing she’s describing ourselves.
What, ho! Cuthberwyn says with a chuckle as he retrieves a discarded letter and shows it to his companions. It's clear we are both noticed and expected!
"Hah! So much for the element of surprise," Kelvin says, cleaning his weapon and giving the area a once over search before indicating his readiness.
|
The old dwarf sputters and spits as he extricates himself from what is left of the Ghoul.
"That is one place I would not care to visit again."
After cleaning himself up he pauses.
"why am I so damned hungry??
Dori drops his backpack and pulls out a days worth of rations and scarfs them down unceremoniously. He finishes and let's out a loud belch.
"AHH, That feels much better."
"Surprise might be gone, but know that she lives in fear of the inevitable, and that's no life at all."
|
|
After a couple of hours to heal, a good meal for those feeling hunger pains, and some time for Raspar to properly dust the piles of corpses so as to tidy up the establishment you head out to your true goal after weakening the dragon's forces, the Temple of the All Gods.
This towering stone temple once honored the entire dwarven pantheon—even Droskar, albeit in a backhanded manner. As a show of piety, Saggorn the Holy, Saggorak’s founder, spared no expense in funding its construction. One of the temple’s most astonishing features is its incorporation of an immense natural pillar of stone that connects the cavern floor to its ceiling high above—the northern reaches of the temple are built into this huge column, giving the entire structure a much more imposing look than if it simply stood on its own.
The looming facade of this towering stone cathedral is decorated with carvings that show a powerful dwarven hero in various acts of defeating all manner of strange monsters, single-handedly building huge stone structures, and forging powerful weapons. A pair of curving stone stairs rise up to meet a looming iron double door in the middle of the building, and a nest of some sort crafted of rubble and bones lies sprawled between the two stone stairwells.
"You know what they say about double doors." Dak checks his gear before walking towards them.
Raspar claps his hands to remove all the bone dust that he can, putting his fists on his hips to look around at the too-short clean up work that he’s been doing.
”Oh yeah! They are twice as fun to scrub clean than a single door!” Raspar agrees joyously as he pads up the stairs, shield and ‘knife at the ready.
Cabaguil, still fatigued, tiredly follows Raspar up the stairs to the door. He stands behind the little stalwart as he examines them.
"Huh. The facade carvings depict a dramatized version of the city’s early history, with a focus on Saggorn the Holy."
He looks at the door, "The carvings show him as a wise, pious, and benevolent ruler, who commanded the respect of dwarves and humans alike. They also depict him as an excellent military commander, leading armies of virtuous and disciplined dwarves to battle against orcs, monsters from the Darklands, and other dwarves who are depicted in a far less flattering light."
He thinks idly, "I wonder which dwarves we'll find within?"
Kelvin steps forward, ready to deal with the locks. "We didn't find a key, did we?"
Assuming that the answer is no, he'll then set to the task of unlocking the doors.
I will hero point that. And any other crit fails.
While Kelvin works, Raspar will think what it would take to really clean and make the doors nice.
"Let's go north, and work our way around to the big scary 'iron doors'." suggests Cabaguil. He moves into position as if they're going through the north doors, but he may shuffle around a little if we go somewhere else first.
Hearing Caba's instructions, Raspar moves to the first set of north doors and opens them when people are ready, unless they also want to take some time to clean the front double doors, then he will help with that.
"Agreed." Dak strides up to the door next to Raspar and gives it a listen. He looks at the ominous doors, and then at the halfling, "They bleed, not you."
|
|
A pair of rows of stone benches line the north and south sections of this chapel, facing a pulpit to the west overlooked by a kind-looking dwarven woman holding a mace in one hand. The statue is crusted with dust, and in places is badly chipped—broken arrows littering the floor around the statue suggest the source of the chipping.
The small chambers on the north of the chapel were once used for private conversations between couples and priests. The walls setting off the hallways to these rooms are filled with regular rows of holes, forming a lacy lattice pattern. Golden chains hang from many of the lattices. Traditionally, couples wrote promises to each other on paper or metal and hung them from these chains.
"Huh, Bolka, Goddess of Marriage."
"I admit, I wasn't expecting a honeymoon suite here."
He takes some time to clean the statue and clean the arrows from about the Goddess.
Raspar helps. Of course he helps with this. It’s very important. And Raspar smiles while helping.
He’s also pleased that Dori is learning from Raspar. Soon enough, they might have this entire decrepit structure clean and like new.
* * *
When Dori is ready to move on, Raspar will move to the other north doors and open those.
Cuthberwyn lends a hand to Dori as well, though more out of reverence than cleanliness.
vs DC 25
vs DC 38
Cabaguil shakes his head, unsure of anything anymore. But just for a moment. Then he helps with Prestidigitation.
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Kelvin shakes his head at those wasting their time cleaning a place that is now abandoned. He instead walks over to a hidden sliding panel that only he saw.
The canny dwarf comes back with a collection of rings and jewelry worth 500 gp, along with a major ring of fire resistance. "If you want to help our cause, maybe focus on the things that'll make a difference."
He gives the ring to Raspar, who will benefit from the protection. At least from Kelvin's sick burns.
"Oh thanks, Kelvin," Raspar says. "This will really let me scrub the inner chimnies without interrupting dinner. It's perfect."
Raspar dons the offered ring, then opens the next set of doors.
"Let's try these iron doors next." suggests Cabaguil, lining up by the entrance once again after following the others around to the different rooms. "...before we go deeper up."
"Aye Cab."
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[dice=Perception]1d20+23
The canny dwarf comes back with a collection of rings and jewelry worth 500 gp, along with a major ring of fire resistance. "If you want to help our cause, maybe focus on the things that'll make a difference."
"Respecting your heritage is never a waste of time." Dori sighs and shakes his head sadly.