OGGM's Spires of Xin Shalast

Game Master Jeff Przybylo

Praxim's spells have been updated to a hopefully more useful list. Now I just have to remember he has the stupid things... Did anybody else know that Praxim has spells, too?

0_o Who are you and what did you do to Praxim?!

"Remember," Lym says, "we still need to find the Keys to Xin-Xhalast if we want to get into the place without being killed on the spot."

The Wizard looks up at Rexil. "If you feel like one of those slaver-giants is trying to get at your mind, remember the tattoo I put on everyone. It'll protect you from attempts to control you - for a while."
Lym sweeps all the others with a gaze. "The same goes for everyone. We've prepared for this, and we know the creatures to summon if we need to protect ourselves from enchantment.

Gentlemen... This is the last lap of the journey that started in Sandpoint with a Goblin uprising. Either we win, or the world goes to pot. So no pressure; let's all try our best."

*Endure Elements
* Longstrider: +10 move
* Magic Vestment: +3 AC
* Heroes' Feast: (Everyone) 14 temp hp; +1 morale to hit; +1 morale Will Sv; +4 morale v poison and fear

Tomaru conjures Hero's Feast for the group in the morning. "This all started with goblins? Well we're a long way from goblins."

@Praxim: You know, I did not know that. I'm not sure I've ever even given it much thought to be honest. :P

Gentlemen... This is the last lap of the journey that started in Sandpoint with a Goblin uprising. Either we win, or the world goes to pot. So no pressure; let's all try our best."

Thordak looks away, pondering the words of the Cyphermage. After several moments he looks back to Lym. "Oh there's no pressure, lass, because we're goin' ta win, I guarantee ya that. One way or another we're goin' ta win... even if it kills me," he says with absolute confidence, giving a firm nod.

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After the hearty breakfast in the morning, Thordak draws his trusty longaxe and looks upon the trail. "Time ta go. Time ta put an end to this madness. This is the beginning of the end." He thinks on that a moment and forms a look that easily says how impressed he is with himself. "You know, that's pretty good. I should write that down. 'The beginning of the end'. Probably won't be writin' it down though. I'll just remember it."

As you prepare to head north to Xin-Shalast, Svevenka appears again, this time clad somewhat more modestly in a robe of woven mist.

"I came to wish you luck, and give you some final advice. First, within the city live many giants, lamias, and others. This you know. But there also is a race of creatures called skulks. These are descendants of the city's original citizens. They are divided into two factions: the relatively peaceful 'Spared', and the vampiric servants of the Hidden One. This is a creature I have battled before, to no lasting result. It may be useful for you to seek out one of the Spared, for they will have greater information on the current state of the city. And there will be few, if any, other factions that will be willing to help you."

"Second: the great peak of Mhar Massif is close to the realm of Leng. The denizens on the mountain have created an occluding field around it to protect the mountain fastness. I suspect there must be methods or devices to help protect from the occluding field's magic, but I do not know what they may be." she says to Lym. "This may be the keys of which you speak, for I know of no other place where you made need a key."

----------------------------

Following the ghostly road north, you reach the edge of the Fens of the Icemist. Immediately there is a change, as the phantom waters are joined by an ancient road paved with flat stones that have a faint sheen of gold to them. The road itself is 100' wide, its surface patchy here with swabs of ice, but providing a welcome flat surface upon which to travel.

The region you are passing through is lined with high peaks on either side of the road. Several active volcanoes churn among these peaks. You count no less than five of these within your sight. Ash and fire mix high in the frigid air to turn the skies dark, a permanent state of dusk over the valley.

Several miles further north, you feel more than see the valley beginning to open up. The city must be near.

Perception checks with your posts please, and any preparations (spells, etc) you are doing now.

Following the yellow brick road? Seriously?? ;)

Perception: 1d20 + 22 ⇒ (9) + 22 = 31

Since none of his special abilities last longer than 16 minutes, Praxim refrains from activating any of them for now.

"Whether we survive this or not, folks, it's truly been an honour to take this road with you all. Facing evil, saving the world, and the truly most difficult and dangerous task of all: teaching Lym to be a proper respectable woman who tends home and raises babies."

Rexil raises his eyebrows at Praxim's little joke and carefully takes a step away from his mentor...just outside of fireball range.

Perception: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (10) + 15 = 25

Lym partakes of the Heroes' feast in silence.
(1d8 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12 bonus hp to Lym!)

After dining, the Wizard rises and casts three spells on herself.
Endure elements; Mind blank; Overland flight; all good for the next day.

Perception 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (1) + 12 = 13

For a wonder, Lym actually walks while the group advances, though she is ready to lift off at a moment's notice. She raises an eyebrow at Praxim's little witticism.
"I'll be sure to do that, the day you embrace your fate and become an obedient little backroom-boy, darning socks and cleaning your mistress's home unseen, unheard and unpaid, me boyo. Until then, I'll burn down any home you try to lock me up in, hmm?"

"Sorry, Tomaru. I tried, but you're on your own now."

1d8 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15

"Elf, please," Lym sneers. "I'm a wizard, and Tomaru's goddess encourages him to seek out the unique and unusual. Who says I'm the one who's going to be bearing the babies in this relationship?"

Praxim doesn't actually have a response for that. The sometimes-snooty, always snarky elf is at a loss. He glances at Tomaru with a mixture of amusement and pity, and then silently tries to hide somewhere.

Rexil is big: he makes a good screen.

As you prepare to head north to Xin-Shalast, Svevenka appears again, this time clad somewhat more modestly in a robe of woven mist.

"I came to wish you luck, and give you some final advice. First, within the city live many giants, lamias, and others. This you know. But there also is a race of creatures called skulks. These are descendants of the city's original citizens. They are divided into two factions: the relatively peaceful 'Spared', and the vampiric servants of the Hidden One. This is a creature I have battled before, to no lasting result. It may be useful for you to seek out one of the Spared, for they will have greater information on the current state of the city. And there will be few, if any, other factions that will be willing to help you."

"Second: the great peak of Mhar Massif is close to the realm of Leng. The denizens on the mountain have created an occluding field around it to protect the mountain fastness. I suspect there must be methods or devices to help protect from the occluding field's magic, but I do not know what they may be." she says to Lym. "This may be the keys of which you speak, for I know of no other place where you made need a key."

Nodding, "Thanks, lass, you've been a great help. And thanks for listenin'." He then stops a moment and concentrates to see if there's anything else he's forgotten. Coming up with nothing, "Okay, well, bye, lass! Hopefully we'll meet again someday. Probably not but it does seem like that's the proper thing ta say," he shrugs. And with that, Thordak leads the way.

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Thordak listens in on the back and forth between the paladin and the cyhpermage and turns around looking quite perplexed at the two. "Can we please get ta movin' and stop with all this mumbo jumbo nonsense you two keep spoutin' at each other? Seriously? I swear, it's ta where an intelligent dwarf can't think straight around here. Now pipe down and let's get ta movin'. I've got ta think on how I'm gonna destroy everythin' we meet." He then returns his attention forward and continues on.

Heroe's feast: 1d8 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9
Perception: 1d20 + 22 ⇒ (15) + 22 = 37

Following the yellow brick road? Seriously?? ;)

I don't write this stuff. And it's gold...

A flash of movement above you and to your left provides a split-second of warning before two huge boulders come crashing down on you. One crashes into the ground near Thordak, exploding into a thousand splinters. The second slams into Everon, knocking him back!

-25 hp Everon

High above the road (60') you can just make out the heads of two giants as they duck to grab more boulders. The ledge they are on is covered from the road, and the climb near vertical from where you stand on the road.

ROUND ONE: Initiative order = Lym, Praxim, Thordak; giants; Rexil, Tomaru, Everon. They have cover, they are 60' up on ledge to your left.

If he can see a head, heads are good for arrows.

Attack: 1d20 + 27 + 2 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (13) + 27 + 2 + 1 - 2 = 41
Damage: 1d8 + 4 + 2 + 2 + 2d6 ⇒ (3) + 4 + 2 + 2 + (5, 2) = 18

Attack: 1d20 + 27 + 2 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (5) + 27 + 2 + 1 - 2 = 33
Damage: 1d8 + 4 + 2 + 2 + 2d6 ⇒ (2) + 4 + 2 + 2 + (1, 6) = 17

Attack: 1d20 + 22 + 2 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (4) + 22 + 2 + 1 - 2 = 27 Damage: 1d8 + 4 + 2 + 2 + 2d6 ⇒ (3) + 4 + 2 + 2 + (3, 6) = 20

Attack: 1d20 + 17 + 2 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (10) + 17 + 2 + 1 - 2 = 28 Damage: 1d8 + 4 + 2 + 2 + 2d6 ⇒ (2) + 4 + 2 + 2 + (4, 2) = 16

Attack: 1d20 + 12 + 2 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (10) + 12 + 2 + 1 - 2 = 23 Damage: 1d8 + 4 + 2 + 2 + 2d6 ⇒ (1) + 4 + 2 + 2 + (2, 2) = 13

If these are also transmutation giants, that’ll do more and hit better.

After the arrows are fired, Rexil moves to stand between Praxim and the rock throwers. I think the rules limit rock catching to only attacks made against himself directly, but maybe you’ll let it slide, cause how often does one get to use THIS ability…

Reflex to catch rock: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (17) + 16 = 33 (a large-sized rock is DC 25 to catch, and smaller rocks are less)

"Get up top and I'll lay down cover fire with Praxim," Lym offers. The instant she sees a giant head, she lets fly with magic missile.

Guaranteed hit for 5d4 + 5 + 5 ⇒ (3, 1, 1, 4, 3) + 5 + 5 = 22 force damage.

Catching sight of the giants - and realizing he can't get to them currently - he nonchalantly reaches in his haversack and pulls out a potion, pops the cork and proceeds to drink down the contents. He does all of this in the calmest of fashions, as if he's doing nothing more than drinking an ale at the local tavern which might leave one to wonder if there's something wrong with the dwarf.

Draw potion of fly; Drink potion of fly

* Endure Elements
* Longstrider: +10 move
* Magic Vestment: +3 AC
* Heroes' Feast: (Everyone) 14 temp hp; +1 morale to hit; +1 morale Will Sv; +4 morale v poison and fear

Tomaru casts Summon Monster 8.

"Stay close. He calls to Praxima and Rexil. "We're going to go meet some new friends."

I choose now to remember that I was supposed to get a ring of invisibility.

Ack! Forgot the hero’s feast hit bonus! Again!

Sorry long holiday weekend here.

ROUND ONE cont'd

Praxim's arrow barrage strikes twice, causing a roar of pain from a giant. The other arrows bounce off of the rocks above. Lym's spell hits another. Thordak drinks a potion.

I have no problem letting Rexil do that, but he goes AFTER the giants, so...

The cloud giants heave their boulders at Praxim and Lym. One hits Praxim -26 hp , and the other hits Lym -25 hp Lym.

Rexil moves up into a protective position, Tomaru begins his spell. From somewhere above, you can hear the roaring voices of other giants, possibly from a cave deeper in the cliff face. More are about to join the fray...

Just need Everon to finish ROUND ONE.

Everon winces as the boulder comes at him, but it bounces off his defenses. 28 temp hp is up, puts it down to 3 temp hp left.

Everon looks up at the giant that hit him, a startlingly fierce frown on his face. He retrieves a small bird bone from his spell component pouch and keep his gaze on the giant. "Loerchik xtirl." He snaps the bone in his hand, and from his helm fires a piece of dark grey dust at the giant.

Ranged Touch: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (4) + 12 = 16
Strength and Dexterity Damage: 5d4 ⇒ (3, 4, 3, 4, 4) = 18 Fort save DC 26 for half

Overcome SR if needed: 1d20 + 16 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 16 + 6 = 38

"Lym, don't you think that ledge they're hiding on would look better if it weren't there?"

Can I pulverize a ledge with, say, a maximum and intensified fireball? Or would it take a different kind of damage?

Unfortunately for fireball in particular, the spell description specifies it creates "almost no pressure", so it's less of an explosion and more of a wave of fire.

I was thinking disintegrate when I said that, but in checking, it only does a 10-foot cube.

Also, I didn't study it. :-/

"Hold the fort," Lym says, curtly, as she chants a quick spell that makes her vanish from sight.

Casting Greater invisibility defensively: 1d20 + 16 + 7 ⇒ (17) + 16 + 7 = 40. Success!

There is a small displacement of air as the Wizard starts flying upward...

Moving upward the full 40 ft. I can in this round. Next round, it'll be death from above...

* Endure Elements
* Longstrider: +10 move
* Magic Vestment: +3 AC
* Heroes' Feast: (Everyone) 14 temp hp; +1 morale to hit; +1 morale Will Sv; +4 morale v poison and fear

With rocks raining down on them, Tomaru calls forth 1d3 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3 greater earth elementals. They rise out of the ground and come from the wall providing cover to the giants to give them something immediate to worry about.

How much space does Tomaru think is up there after the addition of the elementals? Is there enough to have Rexil in between me and the giants with Praxim behind me? If so, then Dimension Door us up there. Otherwise cast Fly on Rexil to allow him to get in close if he wants.

Harcane, Chaurik, Quorthane
HP 162| AC 21 T 7 FF 21| Fo +13 Re +3 Wi +8; DR 10/-; Immune to bleed, paralysis, poison, sleep, and stunning; immune to critical hits, flanking, and precision damage| Move 20 ft., burrow 20 ft., earth glide| augment summon, combat casting, diehard, sacred summon| earth mastery|
Slam +23/+23 (2d10+12)

The trio of elementals will try to bury one of the tiny giants in an avalanche of stoney fists.

Harcane
Slam: earth mastery, power attack, awesome blow
To Hit: 1d20 + 23 + 1 - 3 ⇒ (19) + 23 + 1 - 3 = 40 To Hurt: 2d10 + 12 + 1 + 6 ⇒ (4, 7) + 12 + 1 + 6 = 30

Chaurik
Slam: earth mastery, power attack
To Hit: 1d20 + 23 + 1 - 3 ⇒ (15) + 23 + 1 - 3 = 36 To Hurt: 2d10 + 12 + 1 + 6 ⇒ (5, 7) + 12 + 1 + 6 = 31
Slam: earth mastery, power attack
To Hit: 1d20 + 23 + 1 - 3 ⇒ (1) + 23 + 1 - 3 = 22 To Hurt: 2d10 + 12 + 1 + 6 ⇒ (6, 5) + 12 + 1 + 6 = 30

Quorthane
Slam: earth mastery, power attack
To Hit: 1d20 + 23 + 1 - 3 ⇒ (6) + 23 + 1 - 3 = 27 To Hurt: 2d10 + 12 + 1 + 6 ⇒ (6, 7) + 12 + 1 + 6 = 32
Slam: earth mastery, power attack
To Hit: 1d20 + 23 + 1 - 3 ⇒ (1) + 23 + 1 - 3 = 22 To Hurt: 2d10 + 12 + 1 + 6 ⇒ (9, 9) + 12 + 1 + 6 = 37

Possible flanks involved.

With Rexil providing cover, Praxim takes a deep breath and begins releasing arrows inches from his friend’s ears.

”Hold still.”

Arrow: 1d20 + 27 + 2 + 1 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (10) + 27 + 2 + 1 + 1 - 2 = 39
Damage: 1d8 + 4 + 2 + 2 + 2d6 ⇒ (7) + 4 + 2 + 2 + (2, 5) = 22

Arrow: 1d20 + 27 + 2 + 1 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (3) + 27 + 2 + 1 + 1 - 2 = 32
Damage: 1d8 + 4 + 2 + 2 + 2d6 ⇒ (3) + 4 + 2 + 2 + (3, 2) = 16

Arrow: 1d20 + 22 + 2 + 1 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (6) + 22 + 2 + 1 + 1 - 2 = 30
Damage: 1d8 + 4 + 2 + 2 + 2d6 ⇒ (3) + 4 + 2 + 2 + (1, 3) = 15

Arrow: 1d20 + 17 + 2 + 1 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (15) + 17 + 2 + 1 + 1 - 2 = 34
Damage: 1d8 + 4 + 2 + 2 + 2d6 ⇒ (4) + 4 + 2 + 2 + (3, 1) = 16

Arrow: 1d20 + 12 + 2 + 1 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (3) + 12 + 2 + 1 + 1 - 2 = 17

I appreciate that you guys are ready to go, but there is so much going on at this level, that jumping out of turn makes life difficult. Make sure you give me an option, like Tomaru did, if you are going get out of turn.

ROUND ONE: cont'd

Everon's spell grabs the cloud giant targeting him. The giant turns ashen gray and slumps against the covering wall.

ROUND TWO: Lym, Praxim, Thordak; giants; Tomaru, Rexil, Everon.
Lym turns invisible and flies upward.
Praxim continues his rain of arrows, severely wounding his target.
Need Thordak to continue. Will get Tomaru's (and the rest) actions in then.

With his longaxe in hand, Thordak jets up into the air and heads straight for the giant he can see.

Double Move(fly) 40'

AC 39(vs. giants); Hp's 260/260+14

Doesn't the Fly spell give you 30-ft. move, regardless of your normal speed? You could move 60 ft.

Fly gives 60' or 40 if wearing medium/heavy armor or you're carrying a medium/heavy load.

ROUND ONE cont'd

Thordak flies upward towards the rock-covered ledge.

Harcane slams the cloud giant that Praxim wounded, killing it. The other two strike the weakened giant. It steps back away from the edge (out of sight) drawing it's club. It's feeble swing missing an elemental.

The sound of more giants can be heard, charging from within.

Tomaru went, Rexil and Everon.

Rexil grabs a boulder and readies a throw should a giant stick its head over the edge again.

Rock throwing: 1d20 + 13 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 13 + 1 = 32
Damage: 1d8 + 15 ⇒ (7) + 15 = 22

Do we have a map? What's the geometry from our current position to wherever the extra giants are coming from?

Theatre of the mind, my friend. Old school.

Theatre of the mind, my friend. Old school.

Just like our GM.

Old school, that is.

A rough estimate is fine. Really what I need is distance, I have a lot of different ranges on my spells. If push comes to shove and you're all waiting on me, assume I cast spectral hand.

I used to be able to put maps up, until work decided that Google Drive was some sort of security threat, now I can't access it from here. I'm trying to describe as best as possible, and counting on you guys to give me a decent idea where you are in relation to other things. From there we'll wing it.

But to answer your question specifically, the extra giants are unseen, but heard. You can tell there must be a cave in the cliff BEHIND the ledge where the fight is occurring. In other words, they are coming out now.

ROUND TWO, cont'd (I messed up earlier, it's ROUND TWO.)

A right nasty donnybrook breaks out as the elementals make their appearance. Harcane slams a granite fist into the severely wounded cloud giant, sending him tumbling over the edge to crash upon the road 60' below. Range information! Chaurik and Quorthane set about the weakened giant, pummeling him mercilessly.

Thordak has flown up where he can see the ledge and the cave beyond. Rexil preps a boulder, Everon casts a spectral hand spell. Tomaru needs to decide on Dimension Door or Fly.

End of ROUND TWO summation: One giant down, one wounded, more coming. Only Thordak, the elementals, and Lym can see the ledge and the cave opening. There are no more targets visible from the ground.

ROUND THREE: Praxim, Lym, Thordak; giants; Tomaru, Everon, Rexil.

”Get us up there,” Praxim says, delaying until after Tomaru.

* Endure Elements
* Longstrider: +10 move
* Magic Vestment: +3 AC
* Heroes' Feast: (Everyone) 14 temp hp; +1 morale to hit; +1 morale Will Sv; +4 morale v poison and fear

Dimension Door it is.

Harcane, Chaurik, Quorthane
HP 162| AC 21 T 7 FF 21| Fo +13 Re +3 Wi +8; DR 10/-; Immune to bleed, paralysis, poison, sleep, and stunning; immune to critical hits, flanking, and precision damage| Move 20 ft., burrow 20 ft., earth glide| augment summon, combat casting, diehard, sacred summon| earth mastery|
Slam +23/+23 (2d10+12)

So what do I see of this ledge?

Thordak flies directly above the ledge and lands if there is a spot for him to.

Gonna wait and see what's on the ledge myself. :)

The ledge is a semi-circular outcrop from the cliff face. It's ~60' from tip and 20' wide. Quite bit larger than it looked from the ground level. Three elementals are currently engaged with a single cloud giant in the center. A cave opening is in the cliff wall, in the center of the ledge area. The sounds of charging cloud giants tell you that more will emerge this turn.

Rexil moves to one side of the cave mouth if Thordak is okay with moving to the other.

Noticing Rexil, Thordak lands upon the other side of the cave mouth.

Works for me.

Praxim delays until there are more targets, letting the elementals have their fun.