GM Kirsdrake's Eberron Case Files (closed recruitment) (Inactive)

Game Master Kirsdrake

Well, since there wasn't any words or gestures to help you figure out what happened some kind of teleport effect is the best you can come up with. Unless they are invisible. Or ethereal. Or covered by an illusory "empty" square. Or your minds were messed up so you just can't notice them. Or... ;^)

:)

Lupi looked cautiously around in case the skeletal dogs re-appear. Very slowly she relaxed... "OK, what's next?", she asked.

Phin had just picked up a broken table leg she had planned to herd the skeletal dog with when they both disappeared. She tossed the piece of wood to the floor with a sigh of frustration. "Expect the unexpected seems to be the theme of the evening," she muttered.

She was already pulling out her grappling hook and rope when Lupi asked what they should do next. "What's next is we shut that door so hopefully the dogs can't get back in if they come back. Then we climb our way up the upside-down stairs and find this pesky kamadan."

The elf walked over to the stairs and looked for anywhere she could find purchase for her grappling hook to help them climb to the next level.

perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18

Alua tensed, waiting for the spectral skeleton dogs to return, but for long moments, nothing happened. Keeping her mace in hand, she said, "I doubt they'll stay away. We'd best stay ready."

Eyeing the upside down stairs, she said to Phin, "Good idea with the grappling hook. Hopefully we'll be safe from the doggos on the stairs roof - I can't imagine them being able to stand on that slope."

Acrobatics once Phin has the rope in place: 1d20 ⇒ 4 Whee.....

Lupi patiently waited until a couple of others got up and then tried climbing by herself. Climbing was definitely not one of her best skills...

Climb DC=15: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (19) - 1 = 18 Success on the first try, I was already planning to copy-paste trying a few times :)

Alua, it's a climb check, not acrobatics to climb the slope ;^)

Phin... to anchor the hook you'd pretty much need to climb to the second level first. The stairway walls have taken some damage in the fall, but there aren't holes deep enough to get the hooks in, particularly considering the orientation you'd have need to prevent a rope tied to it from slipping. If you have iron spikes you could hammer those into the walls (not EASY, since the walls are still reinforced, but doable).

As you considered your next move a furious chatter of barking and growling from the floor above interrupted you - proof of Lupi's initial assumption the dogs had teleported themselves away. And if they had, they had obviously found more of the kind up above. One again, the tone of the barking was quite unlike any dog's you had ever heard before - it sounded far more like an actual conversation in a foreign language than the chattering of mere animals.

That barking was cut like a knife, however, by a low growl from somewhere even further away. A long, protracted, angry sound that instantly startled the undead hounds into silence.

Erix cursed at the missing dogs. A few moments later he took Phin's order, stowed his shield and took a running jump at the 'stairs'. he growled as he shoved armored fingers into glass cracks, while his thick skin and thicker armor provided some protection from the glass he left smudges of thick, dark blood on the wall.

When the growl sounded, Erix's head snapped up and round "What in the hells was that?"
acrobatics for height: 1d20 + 6 - 2 ⇒ (13) + 6 - 2 = 17
climb: 1d20 + 8 - 2 ⇒ (13) + 8 - 2 = 19

Added a map of the little our two brave venturers can see of the second floor. Take a look, I'm assuming you won't venture far without specific instructions...

Erix and Lupi, the first two to successfully brave the inverted stairway, ran into a puzzling sight. Narrow, twisting hallways, quite unlike the previous level, very sparsely lit with everburning torches apparently more to create shadows and places to hide from sight than to illuminate the area. The walls were completely bare, without any attempts at decoration, mere plain grey-white plaster over stone.

Baran tried leaning on his wounded leg and grimaced. Grabbing some gauze from his medical kit he quickly bound the thickly oozing bite mark. There wasn't time to treat it properly. He grabbed up his bow, "Staff coming up!", threw his staff up to the next floor and tried to climb. He could barely get a hold and then only for a second.
climb: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 1 = 11

climb take 2: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8
climb take 3: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 = 20

Slipping and sliding her way up the ceiling, Alua startled badly when the non-dog growled. Tumbling back down, she cursed and rubbed a sore knee. When Baran did nearly as badly as her, she called up, "Erix, a little help here!" She then gave the scholarly young man a boost, pushing him up as high as she could, then said, "Lower the staff down so he can grab it!"

With some pushing and pulling, they got him up. She then scrambled up herself, until she was high enough to grasp the lowered staff and let Erix pull her up.

Standing in the strange upside down maze of a hallway, she asked Lupi, "Was that the kamadan? Is that what they sound like?"

Is it just 1 climb roll? Considering I have no idea of the DC, I'm guessing 15?

climb: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10
climb: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15

Phin was not very strong to begin with and add a slippery surface to the mix and she definitely had issues getting to the next level. She found it comforting that some of the others were struggling as well but she was the one with the reputation for burglarizing and getting into places most couldn't. So her failure to perform flawlessly was somewhat humiliating.

What in the hells was that?"

"That, Cub," Phin paused as she looked for another possible hand hold, "is what we're looking for. I'd bet my tips for a month that that growl came from the kamadan."

As soon as she reached the next level, she readied her bow and made sure that her tranquilizer arrow was nocked. She lowered her voice, "Hopefully those annoying skeletal dogs teleported themselves somewhere else out of fear. I would hate to have to deal with those nuisances while also trying to tranquilize a snake-kitty."

Is it just 1 climb roll? Considering I have no idea of the DC, I'm guessing 15?

Oh, no need to guess, just check back a few posts ;^) Well guessed, though.

Standing in the strange upside down maze of a hallway, she asked Lupi, "Was that the kamadan? Is that what they sound like?"

"I... don't know..." Lupi replied, "I guess it could sound like that, but it was quiet being drugged then." The angry sound was way more threatening that the heavy breathing the Kamadan had earlier sounded.

As Lupi waited for the other the other to come up, she re-memorized another Magic Missile on the place of Detect Secret Doors. Then she tried to pin-point, where growling was coming from.

Prescience: 1d20 ⇒ 7 Not good, so just trying perception

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8 Not good

Lupi sighed. The sound echoed too much in the weird corridors to find out, where it came from.

climb with aid: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 13
climb with aid: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (12) + 3 = 15
dosing an arrow
accidental self dosing: 1d100 ⇒ 11 phew
It still took a while for Baran to get to the next floor. He tried to help the others help him but, in the end, they had to roughly hand off this lumpy sack scarecrow the one to the other. When he finally found his feet he, he fumbled at the ampule of drug nearly dropping it. He paused, clenched his shivering fist and shook it off trying to find his nerves.
His words didn't have the self-confidence that they had only minutes earlier, "With the grace of the simian cousin they climbed the awkward tower ... its' inversion causing little delay ... to face the skeletal guards once more ... only to hear the haunting howl of a greater fiend ... the object of their original chore. Come ye all, time to get to work." It was said mostly to himself but it was easily overheard.

I love the way Baran is putting a positive spin on things! You thinking of writing a book of your exploits one day? "The Curious and Bizarre Adventures of Doctor Elmswright" ;^)

Yes, when he recounts the chronicles of the ir'brock inquisitive agency it will be with advantages. I've been collecting all of his performance based phrases into an epic poem, just incase. Hoping to keep integrity with all of the rhymes. Thank you for noticing.

Right, Ladies and Gents... what now and where to? The Kamadan's not going to come to you, you know ;^)

Right, Ladies and Gents... what now and where to? The Kamadan's not going to come to you, you know ;^)

Which directions we have? Northwest and northeast corners of the map at least and southeast just below northeast. Is the brown obstacle an open door (as we see the square after it)?

Oh yeah, that "brown thing". Thank you for reminding. It's what seems to be a sturdy wooden hurdle bolted to what used to be the floor - about 3' off the ceiling at the moment, so it's about 4' off the floor. Easy enough to pass under when crouching, but can make things painful if you get distracted and forget it's there.

Currently, you have four directions to choose from - one square west from Erix's current position and the twisting hallway continues to the north. Or you can pass the hurdle and continue the southern path west. Or take the eastern path, which seems to fork both north and south.

Incidentally, not that it really matters but... anyone have an idea why I still can't send Lupi a PM on the forums? I thought it was due the lack of posts on the account (kind of like the system an alias doesn't become "real" until you have made a certain number of posts and then you can no longer freely rename it), but that can't possibly be the case anymore.

Let's go east then north

re:PMs - Lupi, you probably need to go into Account Settings, then scroll down to privacy. There's a check box to allow you to receive PMs.

re: wooden hurdle. Like a baby gate? Or to keep a pet in the room?

Looking around the strange maze, Alua gestured for Phin to scout out the eastern passage.

re:PMs - Lupi, you probably need to go into Account Settings, then scroll down to privacy. There's a check box to allow you to receive PMs.

Thanks Alua, that was probably it, there was a box to check for PM's.

More like an obstacle course, really, for small athletes, although it's a bit difficult to figure its original purpose out. It's a bar at that 3' height from what was floor once upon a time, but one could have crawled under it or jumped it - it's not a low wall.

With Phin leading the way, you crept along the narrow corridors, dodging the wooden obstacles hanging from the ceiling, constantly at guard against the skeletal hounds' reappearance. A few steps into the maze brought you within sight of the tower's curved outer surface. As you followed it to the north you came across a small room, with clear glass shard set into its roof gleaming in the light of Baran's spell. At first, you thought these as further evidence of the tower's rough tumble from its former lofty heights but no - these ones were not emerald greed pieces torn loose form the tower's walls, and they were deliberately mortared into the ceiling, as if to create another obstacle like the hurdles you had had to duck under to reach here.

Not that that meant the floor here was safe to cross - from here, you had a great view of the wide crack in the tower's north-eastern outer surface you had first spied on the floor below. The damage seemed to be both spreading sideways as well as cutting deeper the further up your eyes followed it, and at this height, some of the cracks had spread all the way though, opening holes small enough to barely fit a finger through.

You didn't have the need to resist the urge to try, though, as canine howls suddenly rose and echoes from seemingly every direction!

Initiative, Blink dog skeletons: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9
Initiative, Alua: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 1 = 12
Initiative, Baran: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 2 = 15
Initiative, Erix: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 = 20
Initiative, Lupi: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17
Initiative, Phin:: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11

So, there are holes in the outer wall but very small ones - but if the damage increases at this rate, you wouldn't be surprised to find breaks large enough to fit an adult human through a level or two above here. The rough-looking squared near the wall are covered with those glass shards Lupi's feet got intimately familiar earlier.

And we are going into combat once more. Although enemies at NOT within sight yet, not before they act or you go and find them. Everone's up!

Twisting around, trying to find where the noise was coming from, Alua realized she couldn't see far at all in this strange maze. What she could see, however, was that Lupi and Baran were exposed at the back. Squeezing past them, she raised her maze and prepared for the dogs to attack.

Move to get past Baran, hold action to attack. If a dog appears where she can see it, add the following.

She didn't have long to wait, as one of the previously friendly mutts was now before her. No longer friendly. Swinging her mace, she caught the edge of it on the nearby ceiling hurdle, and it deflected well wide of the skeleton.

mace: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

Baran cursed a mumbling curse as he watched the back, waiting for a dog to appear. He shouldered his bow again carefully putting the anointed arrow in his quiver. He drew his staff out once more.
Baran will hold his attack on the condition of a sudden appearance of one on the skeletal blink dogs at the back of the party

Phin took a moment or two to get her bearings in the upside down environment that was the fallen tower. "It almost looks like some weird obstacle course for animals," she murmured as she tried to picture everything right side up.

She crept along with her bow and tranquilizer arrow at the ready. She listened hard for any hint of noise from the kamadan as she moved.

perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (11) + 8 = 19

Just as the rogue was contemplating moving forward, the skeletal dogs made themselves known. She groaned in annoyance as the barking started. Not having anything to fight them with, she made room for the others to deal with the nuisances while she stayed alert to her surroundings and the possible emergence of the kamadan.

Phin can't do anything about these things so she'll go full defensive and keep an eye out for the kamadan - just in case it comes to see what the commotion is

Lupi readied another Magic Missile in case the skeletal dogs appear again. She whispered "There must be someone doing this obstacle course here... Cats and dogs could not have done this..."

Phin can't do anything about these things so she'll go full defensive and keep an eye out for the kamadan - just in case it comes to see what the commotion is

Actually, you can sneak attack skeletons in PF, and slashing weapons deal full damage.

Baran will hold his attack on the condition of a sudden appearance of one on the skeletal blink dogs at the back of the party

If you wish, but considering Alua is just moving to block their approach to you...

Actually, my bad. They do still have DR that only bludgeoning weapons ignore. Sorry about that.

Obligingly Erix reached down to haul companions up the last part of the wall.

1 minute, eh? Oh well...
"Son of a..." Erix growled. "Stay together, keep moving - but carefully. I don't want to get caught here. Let's get somewhere they can't come out of the walls at us." Erix sighed, remembering tactical briefings on facing the undead "Least we can see through these walls."

Realistically I think Erix is going to have to hold an action to attack. He's also likely to have the most trouble with those wooden barriers - how hard do they look to break?

Realistically I think Erix is going to have to hold an action to attack. He's also likely to have the most trouble with those wooden barriers - how hard do they look to break?

Aged wood, and it's hot and humid down here, although inside the tower the air seems a bit drier. If you want to break them you can certainly do so, but whether one strike will do will be up to the dice to decide.

Anyway, that's everyone. I'll run the numbers and throw the dice tomorrow.

Turn 030 - Fetch the stick

Blink dog skeleton 2 vs Phin, to hit: 1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 4 + 2 = 21
20% miss chance due to Blink: 1d100 ⇒ 81
Blink dog skeleton 2 vs Phin, damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Blink dog skeleton 3 vs Alua, to hit: 1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 4 + 2 = 19
20% miss chance due to Blink: 1d100 ⇒ 32
Blink dog skeleton 3 vs Alua, damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

Blink dog skeleton 4 vs Alua, to hit: 1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 4 + 2 = 14
20% miss chance due to Blink: 1d100 ⇒ 38
Blink dog skeleton 4 vs Alua, damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Lupi, Magic Missiles at the first attacker in sight: 2d4 + 2 ⇒ (4, 4) + 2 = 10

So what happens here is... the dogs charge in, get hit with Alua's and Lupi's readied attacks, attack themselves, and then Dimension Door away out of sights again. And while Phin said she'd make way Erix didn't make a move to take the front position, so...

Also, if you ready an attack, please make the rolls as well - I will sort out which will be triggered and which aren't.

And to make it clear, the positions of enemies on the map was from time before they teleported away... and Erix can get in his readied attack against dog 2, so roll away.

i probably won't have time to post today until much later but wanted to ask...were there more than 3 skeletal dogs? I thought Erix eliminated one already.

There were three skeletal dogs... on the previous floor ;^) Those that survived have now joined forces with their friends up here.

@kirsdrake: Which one of the skeletal dogs was hit by Lupi's Magic Missiles?

The skeletal dogs appeared again and Lupi cast two more Magic Missiles at the first of them. After some bones were splintered the dogs disappeared again. Lupi informed others "I am down to my last spell" and started preparing another Magic Missile.

Changing Magic Missile to the slot of Burning Hands as a full-round action.

Number 3 - check the status sheet linked to the thread. And as I said, if you want to ready an action to attack go ahead and make the rolls and write a post for the intended results - I will modify it if needed, but I'd rather not write combat posts for 5 people AND the enemies since you are all capable of doing your own share of the work ;^)

mace: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23
confirm crit: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (19) + 3 = 22
damage: 2d8 + 4 ⇒ (1, 4) + 4 = 9 Well, that's underwhelming :(

"Khyberlover!" Alua swore, shocking herself, as the dogs blinked away again. Rolling her shoulders, she set herself in a ready stance, and prepared to wallop the next dog that came in view. This time she was careful and focused, and she didn't miss. When the dog blinked charged her, she swung hard and caught it under the jaw, knocking it into the air. The boney beast landed on its feet again, but she'd rattled its cage a bit.

Number 3 - check the status sheet linked to the thread. And as I said, if you want to ready an action to attack go ahead and make the rolls and write a post for the intended results - I will modify it if needed, but I'd rather not write combat posts for 5 people AND the enemies since you are all capable of doing your own share of the work ;^)

Yes, thanks, I will write, it is just that it takes a full-round action to change the spell with the Spellbinder ability, so Lupi is not attacking the coming round.

Yes, thanks, I will write, it is just that it takes a full-round action to change the spell with the Spellbinder ability, so Lupi is not attacking the coming round.

Noted, and I wasn't just poking you with the reminder to write intended actions (thank ye for yours, Alua) :-)

moving to where 4 was and readying an attack
staff: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 2 = 13
dam: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2
Yich! AC16?
Baran moved past Alua and moved to a space where he could see the stairs again. His quarterstaff held so that he could do a kind of plunging motion with a butt end ... if a skull appeared nearby. His eyes were serious and edgy and his voice was talking himself through fear, "The ghost of a skeletal hound may have friends of its' kind, as they hunt in a pack and they come and go like the wind, led by skeletal mem'ry of a long dead master's hand, but their friends will not o'erwhelm these companions I have found." He heard a noise like a bark and stabbed downward before a dog even appeared.

a trip down assonance that really was asso-nine

And to make it clear, the positions of enemies on the map was from time before they teleported away... and Erix can get in his readied attack against dog 2, so roll away.

attack: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 8 = 23 damage: 1d6 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7 miss 1 to 50: 1d100 ⇒ 79

The glass shards were cemented to the floor... when the tower was upright. Right now, the fixed ones are above your head but the tower's impact has flaked the walls to shower the ground with more of the green glass shards. The ones on what is currently the floor are not fixed. They aren't piled so deep as to make you standing on your shield too too difficult, but it's hardly a stable platform. If you want to balance on it and fight effectively, I'd like a DC 12 Acrobatics check from you.

Anyway, I'm all for you taking some more tactically sound positions. Well done for taking the initiative, Erix! But please make it clear who's moving to which square - I'll give you a bit of time to sort that out before taking the enemy turn, but if you leave exact positioning to my imagination you might not be happy with the results ;^)

@kirsdrake, I would like to think hitting somebody with a spellbook would deal bludgeoning damage, but how much damage? :)

While changing a new Magic Missile onto the last spell slot Lupi heard Erix's orders and moved a bit to get better room for Baran and Alua.

Lupi moves west with 5-foot step. Now she likely just sees opponents on the north side. If time permits, she will ready to cast Magic Missile to a skeletal dog appearing.

;^) Improvised weapon, so -4 to hit, and damage based on weight and hardness compared to actual weapons... 3 lbs of wood and leather and paper, in your case, and a 4 lbs iron mace does 1d6 damage, so I say it'd be 1d4 for the book on a good day. Points for creativity, though, if you go ahead with that!

Do remember that you were going to spend a full round action to swap spells, so no readied Magic Missiles for the coming turn for you ;^)

So there's more of them? Woo...you get no hoo :P

Phin cursed as one of the dogs grabbed hold of her leg with its teeth. The little bugger had managed to get past all of her heightened defences. She kicked at the dog before dancing around Erix and using him like a human shield. "This is getting old really fast. And I know old. Pummel those annoyances so we can focus on the real threat."

Another round of full defence - sorry Phin isn't more helpful :(

Another round of full defence - sorry Phin isn't more helpful :(

Don't worry, after the next Magic Missile Lupi is pretty much useless too :(. I don't count too much on the attack with spellbook :)

So, Alua and Baran readied attacks, and Alua connected. Phin stays on the defensive but chooses not to move away from the front line where she's like to get hit again? Right, will roll the dice later. But you won't kill the enemy if you don't try to hit them ;^)

i take it I can't move and go full defensive? I did write that she moves around Erix to use him as a shield...basically swap places. If she can't do both then she'll just swap places instead of doing full defense. I thought full defensive was in place of an attack and that she'd still get her move.

Aye, you made room for others to take your spot... but there were no takes, hence you ended up remaining where you were. Total defense is a standard action, so you could make a full move if you wish. I assume Erix steps one square north to position himself over the spikes (he didn't specify which spiked square, but the full square next to him makes most sense to me, in opposed to the two partial squares cut down in size by the curved wall), so you could, for example, move two squares to the east to get to as safe a place as you can. Of course, that'd open up Lupi as a target if a hound wants to risk running past Erix's new square.

Baran, you can certainly run over to where the hound number 4 is, but that means Alua can't ready an attack where she stands now... well, she can, but it's unlikely any hound bothers to try running past you to get to her ;^) I don't want to start playing against myself (that's what you are paid XP to do!), but would it make more sense for you and Alua both to retreat one square towards Lupi, as she frees space by moving? In that case, if a hound approached attack Alua (from the square she is now, to the square YOU are at this moment), you could both reach it with an AoO, even though the wall would grant it some cover from your attacks since you'd be striking diagonally.