GM Kate's Extinction Curse [closed]

Game Master Kate Baker

"Where are all these Xulgath's coming fro?" Prism says a bit exasperated. She follows Rova around the corner. "Should we check out up those stairs?"

"That's the way the cat lady comes. The xulgaths came from tunnels. They came from underground."

Unset scratches his head trying to follow the discussion. "So it sounds like there's some more of them troublesome creatures, threatenin' t'kill n' take blood. We bested a mess of 'em earlier. Shouldn't we put these down before heading back to the circus, so they aren't no harm t'others?"

"I agree, Unset. I hate to think what trouble they might cause here."

Rova nodded. "I mean, it probably doesn't matter, since The End is coming, but in the meantime, they could be causing trouble," she agrees. "I think we should find out what they're up to first, before we go see what Mistress Dusklight has to do with all of this!"

I think let's go into that room, knowing we've got a fight, and finish clearing out this level, then head downstairs.

"Yes, let us deal with the problem at hand first."

You open up the double doors. Rows of splintered wooden pews face an oval marble dais three feet high. Wide marble steps lead up to the dais, and a polished mahogany pulpit stands at its center. A glorious fresco on the curved wall behind the dais depicts Aroden engaging in several tasks: battling an imperious necromancer, raising a pair of islands from the sea, and standing atop a mountain with his hands outstretched, wreathed in blue flames.

Hideous images scrawled in tar and old blood painted over the fresco tell a vastly different story. A reptilian humanoid climbs a tunnel from the depths to the surface in one scene. In the next, he reaches out to snatch an orb from a tower drawn on one of the islands, then crushes the orb in his fist. This image repeats four times in slightly different‑looking towers, followed by a final scene of dead trees and skulls around the mountain.

You have interrupted some kind of unholy ritual. One slight xulgath is anointing three hulking xulgaths with a mixture of blood and foul‑smelling fungus. Her grayish skin is pulled tight over her bones, giving her a vaguely skeletal appearance. Her mouth is set in a ghastly grin, which she knows unnerves those who look upon her. She wears a delicate circlet perched incongruously atop her head, which looks like it must have been taken from elsewhere in the temple.

They hiss at you.

Initiative!
Prism
Green
Yellow
Blue
Rova
Kennari
Unset
Uzensshel
Niksi

Sneaky Prism up first!

Prism yelps and quickly turns invisible as she runs into the room. Please don't be able to smell.

Cast Invisibility.

On the bright side (?), they presumably don't smell, since they stink!

The brutes all draw mauls. Two of them close in on the door, while the third seems to be protecting the one who was performing the ritual.

yellow maul attack vs Niksi: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (1) + 15 = 16
ouch!: 1d12 + 10 ⇒ (4) + 10 = 14

green maul attack vs Rova: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (10) + 15 = 25
ouch!: 1d12 + 10 ⇒ (9) + 10 = 19

I think that just hits Rova, even with Niksi's song going.

Initiative!
Prism
Green
Yellow
Blue
Rova, -17 hp
Kennari
Unset
Uzensshel
Niksi

Trusting that Prism didn't run right up to the monsters, Kennari sends a bead of fire into the room that erupts to engulf all of the xulgaths!
Cast fireball, DC 22 basic Reflex (reducing Status bonus to saves by 1). He then backs up lest the enemy caster does the same.

Fire damage: 6d6 ⇒ (4, 2, 3, 4, 4, 2) = 19

green: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (3) + 10 = 13
yellow: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (13) + 10 = 23
blue: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (8) + 10 = 18
Uzensshel: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15

Things go badly for the xulgaths, as only one of them saves against the fireball.

Initiative!
Prism
Green, -19 hp
Yellow, -9 hp
Blue, -19 hp
Rova, -17 hp
Kennari
Unset
Uzensshel
Niksi

Faced with a pair of foes before him, the fleshforged unloads on the nearest.

Melee +1 striking tail (backswing, magical) v green: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (13) + 15 = 28
Damage B: 2d6 + 4 ⇒ (6, 6) + 4 = 16
Melee 1 striking fist +15 (magical, nonlethal, agile, finesse) v green: 1d20 + 15 - 4 ⇒ (8) + 15 - 4 = 19
Damage B: 2d6 + 4 ⇒ (6, 3) + 4 = 13
Melee +1 striking fist +15 (magical, nonlethal, agile, finesse) v green: 1d20 + 15 - 8 ⇒ (12) + 15 - 8 = 19
Damage B: 2d6 + 4 ⇒ (4, 1) + 4 = 9

Yes, that hits

Rova quickly sizes up the fight, and falls back, firing an arrow.

"Draw them out!" she calls as Thkrull trumpets his annoyance that its things are again in his way.

Hunt prey, Stride, Strike vs. green
+1 Shortbow (deadly d10, magical, 60 foot range, reload 0): 1d20 + 14 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 14 + 1 = 26
Hunter's edge (precision/piercing damage): 2d6 + 1d8 ⇒ (5, 4) + (5) = 14

The green one starts to drip blood after taking hits from both Unset and Rova.

The slight one runs around behind the dais and draws a javelin.

Initiative!
Prism
Green, -49 hp
Yellow, -9 hp
Blue, -19 hp
Rova, -17 hp
Kennari
Unset
Uzensshel
Niksi

Niksi begins her protective song and conjures her usual illusion of The Brother, placing him in a flank with Unset, hoping the illusion can distract the enemies from Prism.

Not accounting for the flank with Unset in my rolls

Slam: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (11) + 12 = 23
Damage: 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

Slam (map): 1d20 + 12 - 5 ⇒ (2) + 12 - 5 = 9
Damage: 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

Prism slides in and strikes out at the Xulgath from behind. This breaks her invisibility, leaving her feeling more than vulnerable. "Hopefully Brother will keep them busy."

+1 Striking Sickle vs FF: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (1) + 15 = 16
Damage: 2d4 + 1 ⇒ (2, 3) + 1 = 6
Sneak Attack Damage: 2d6 ⇒ (4, 2) = 6

+1 Striking Sickle vs FF: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (4) + 15 = 19
Damage: 2d4 + 1 ⇒ (4, 4) + 1 = 9
Sneak Attack Damage: 2d6 ⇒ (6, 2) = 8

◆ Stride
◆ Strike
◆ Strike

The Brother appears, and successfully strikes the green one!

Prism just barely scrapes it, too.

Blue tries to hit Brother!

Blue maul attack vs Brother: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (19) + 15 = 34
ouch!: 1d12 + 10 ⇒ (9) + 10 = 19

Brother goes poof! Blue backs up.

Green tries to hit Prism!
Green maul attack vs Prism: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (11) + 15 = 26
ouch!: 1d12 + 10 ⇒ (12) + 10 = 22

Then a second time, for a brutal blow.

Green brutal blow maul attack vs Prism: 1d20 + 15 - 5 ⇒ (3) + 15 - 5 = 13
ouch!: 1d12 + 10 ⇒ (7) + 10 = 17

But it misses.

Yellow swings at Unset!

Yellow maul attack vs Unset: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (5) + 15 = 20
ouch!: 1d12 + 10 ⇒ (8) + 10 = 18

Yellow brutal blow maul attack vs Unset: 1d20 + 15 - 5 ⇒ (9) + 15 - 5 = 19
ouch!: 1d12 + 10 ⇒ (8) + 10 = 18

But misses twice!

Prism, -20 hp
Green, -74 hp
Yellow, -9 hp
Blue, -19 hp
Rova, -17 hp
Kennari
Unset
Uzensshel
Niksi

Seeing a nice wide opening between him and the nearest brute, with the caster neatly lined up behind, Kennari mutters and points his finger, and a bolt of crackling electricity fires through the green brute and to the caster! ◆◆Cast lightning bolt hitting green and the caster, ◆cast shield.

Electricity damage: 4d12 ⇒ (6, 10, 9, 9) = 34
DC 22 basic Reflex save (reducing any status bonus by 1).

"Don't ye be worryin'" Unset informs the brute that was swinging at him. "Ye be gettin' yer turn soon 'nuff!"

He then turns his attention to the one attacking Prism. "And, as for you, then! Keep yer mitts t'yerself!"

Melee +1 striking tail (backswing, magical) v yellow: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (14) + 15 = 29
Damage B: 2d6 + 4 ⇒ (3, 3) + 4 = 10
Melee 1 striking fist +15 (magical, nonlethal, agile, finesse) v yellow: 1d20 + 15 - 4 ⇒ (2) + 15 - 4 = 13
Damage B: 2d6 + 4 ⇒ (3, 3) + 4 = 10
Melee +1 striking fist +15 (magical, nonlethal, agile, finesse) v yellow: 1d20 + 15 - 8 ⇒ (1) + 15 - 8 = 8
Damage B: 2d6 + 4 ⇒ (2, 2) + 4 = 8

"Get them, Thkrull!" Rova calls, as she fires a couple of arrows toward the green-tinged xulgath.

+1 Shortbow (deadly d10, magical, 60 foot range, reload 0): 1d20 + 14 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 14 + 1 = 20
Piercing damage: 2d6 ⇒ (5, 6) = 11
Hunter's edge (precision/piercing damage): 2d6 + 1d8 ⇒ (4, 1) + (7) = 12

Shortbow (iterative): 1d20 + 14 - 5 ⇒ (19) + 14 - 5 = 28
Piercing damage: 2d6 ⇒ (1, 2) = 3
Hunter's edge (precision/piercing damage), if first shot didn't hit: 2d6 + 1d8 ⇒ (4, 2) + (4) = 10
Deadly?: 1d10 ⇒ 9
Crit specialization: The target gets stuck to an adjacent surface by the missile. The target is immobilized and must spend an Interact action to attempt a DC 10 Athletics check to pull the missile free; it can’t move from its space until it succeeds.

Thkrull trumpets in pleasure as his things finally get out of his way. He rushes in, kicking at the stinky green thing.

Foot: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (7) + 12 = 19
Hunter's Edge (bludgeoning/precision damage: 2d8 + 4 + 1d8 ⇒ (8, 7) + 4 + (6) = 25

Reflex Green: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (15) + 10 = 25
Reflex Uzensshel: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16

Green is barely standing even after a successful save, while the caster takes all of the lightning bolt damage!

Unset strikes at the yellow one, hitting once!

Rova's second arrow takes out Green!

The caster murmurs a few words, and a ghostly gauntlet appears in front of Unset!

spiritual weapon: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (16) + 16 = 32
ouch!: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

Oh no, crit! But at least it's low damage.

She then Takes Cover behind the dais.

Prism, -20 hp
Yellow, -19 hp
Blue, -19 hp
Rova, -17 hp
Kennari
Unset, -8 hp
Uzensshel, -34 hp
Niksi

"Get in here and surround the small one!" Prism points behind the dais.

+1 Striking Sickle vs FF: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (11) + 15 = 26
Damage: 2d4 + 1 ⇒ (3, 4) + 1 = 8
Sneak Attack Damage: 2d6 ⇒ (3, 6) = 9

+1 Striking Sickle vs FF: 1d20 + 15 - 4 ⇒ (1) + 15 - 4 = 12
Damage: 2d4 + 1 ⇒ (3, 4) + 1 = 8
Sneak Attack Damage: 2d6 ⇒ (5, 1) = 6

◆ Stride
◆ Strike
◆ Strike

Niksi moves into the room, drawing her curve blade and continuing her song.

Stride, draw, sing

Prism strikes back at yellow! Niksi moves in with her sword drawn, singing her inspiring song!

Yellow tries to hit Prism with the maul!

maul vs Prism: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (12) + 15 = 27
ouch!: 1d12 + 10 ⇒ (3) + 10 = 13

It then lets go of the maul with one hand to lash out with a claw!

claw vs Prism: 1d20 + 15 - 5 ⇒ (2) + 15 - 5 = 12
ouch!: 2d4 + 8 ⇒ (1, 4) + 8 = 13

But can't quite grasp the slippery gnome! It puts a hand back on the maul.

Blue moves over to strike Niksi!

maul vs Prism: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (4) + 15 = 19
ouch!: 1d12 + 10 ⇒ (10) + 10 = 20

But misses!

Prism, -31 hp
Yellow, -36 hp
Blue, -19 hp
Rova, -17 hp
Kennari
Unset, -8 hp
Uzensshel, -34 hp
Niksi

"Hmph, you big pachyderm, you're in my way!" Not having a great shot at the caster in the back, Kennari instead weaves an incantation, seeming to stretch his hand forward at the last moment, and twin arcs of electricity shoot forward to the two brutes! ◆◆◆Cast reach electric arc on blue and yellow.

Electricity damage: 3d4 + 4 ⇒ (1, 4, 1) + 4 = 10
DC 22 basic Reflex save, reducing status bonus by 1.

"Yer obv'usly hard o' hearin'!" Unset says as he continues to pummel the creature attack Prism. "Mitts off!"

Melee +1 striking tail (backswing, magical) v yellow: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (11) + 15 = 26
Damage B: 2d6 + 4 ⇒ (1, 1) + 4 = 6
Melee 1 striking fist +15 (magical, nonlethal, agile, finesse) v yellow: 1d20 + 15 - 4 ⇒ (11) + 15 - 4 = 22
Damage B: 2d6 + 4 ⇒ (3, 2) + 4 = 9
Melee +1 striking fist +15 (magical, nonlethal, agile, finesse) v yellow: 1d20 + 15 - 8 ⇒ (12) + 15 - 8 = 19
Damage B: 2d6 + 4 ⇒ (6, 3) + 4 = 13

"Thkrull, get them!" Rova calls as the big elephant charges into the room. She focuses on the next threat, wildly firing an arrow at it.

Hunt Prey, Command an Animal, Strike (technically Thkrull moves before I shoot, but don't think it really matters)
+1 Shortbow (deadly d10, magical, 60 foot range, reload 0): 1d20 + 14 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 14 + 1 = 17

Thkrull trumpets in annoyance as the old thing sounds like he's being critical, but realizes he has more important matters to deal with now. He'll teach the old thing proper manners later on, as long as his short thing isn't there to stop him. He rushes into the room may provoke twice, and spins around to kill the stinky yellow thing.

Stride, Strike yellow
Foot: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (11) + 12 = 23
Hunter's Edge (bludgeoning/precision damage: 2d8 + 4 + 1d8 ⇒ (6, 8) + 4 + (3) = 21

Blue Reflex: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (20) + 10 = 30
Yellow Reflex: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (12) + 10 = 22

The big xulgaths have started anticipating Kennari's spells. Unset smacks one of them twice. Rova's arrow misses, but Thkrull comes in with a powerful stomp!

Yellow spits out a mouthful of blood.

Uzensshel activates her spiritual gauntlet again, at Unset!

spiritual weapon: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (19) + 16 = 35
ouch!: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10

Ouch!

She tosses her javelin at Thkrull and draws a second.

javelin: 1d20 + 12 - 5 - 2 ⇒ (17) + 12 - 5 - 2 = 22
ouch!: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

Prism, -31 hp
Yellow, -77 hp
Blue, -19 hp
Rova, -17 hp (Thkrull at -6 hp)
Kennari
Unset, -36 hp
Uzensshel, -34 hp
Niksi

Prism continues to hack her sickle into the foul creature. "These ones are a lot tougher!"

+1 Striking Sickle vs FF: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (18) + 15 = 33
Damage: 2d4 + 1 ⇒ (1, 1) + 1 = 3
Sneak Attack Damage: 2d6 ⇒ (5, 1) = 6

+1 Striking Sickle vs FF: 1d20 + 15 - 4 ⇒ (20) + 15 - 4 = 31
Damage: 2d4 + 1 ⇒ (4, 4) + 1 = 9
Sneak Attack Damage: 2d6 ⇒ (5, 4) = 9

◆ Strike
◆ Strike
◆ Shield

Two crits from Prism! The first one drops Yellow, so I'm taking the liberty of having Prism Step so she can get the second (36 point!) crit on Blue.

Prism, -31 hp
Blue, -55 hp
Rova, -17 hp (Thkrull at -6 hp)
Kennari
Unset, -36 hp
Uzensshel, -34 hp
Niksi

Niksi continues her song, twirling about to the sweep of the notes, slashing across the front of the large foe.

Attack with Cold Iron Elven Curve Blade: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (10) + 11 = 21
Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 8

Attack with Cold Iron Elven Curve Blade (map): 1d20 + 11 - 5 ⇒ (15) + 11 - 5 = 21
Damage (forceful): 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

Inspire Defense, strike, strike

Niksi hits once!

The creature, in its fury, tosses its maul aside! It claws at Prism.

claw: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (15) + 15 = 30
ouch!: 2d4 + 8 ⇒ (3, 1) + 8 = 12

It then grasps Prism in its claws and smashes her on the ground!

choke slam!: 4d6 ⇒ (2, 5, 5, 1) = 13

Prism gets a DC 22 Fort save and is slowed 1 of one round on a failure or stunned for 1 round on a crit failure.

Prism, -54 hp
Blue, -63 hp
Rova, -17 hp (Thkrull at -6 hp)
Kennari
Unset, -36 hp
Uzensshel, -34 hp
Niksi

"Hey, leave her alone!" Rova calls out, shifting her attention to the last xulgath bruiser. "Thkrull, get him!"

She fires an arrow at him in the gap between Niksi and Unset.

Hunt Prey (blue), Command Thkrull, Strike
+1 Shortbow (deadly d10, magical, 60 foot range, reload 0) vs. blue: 1d20 + 14 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 14 + 1 = 25
Hunter's edge (precision/piercing damage): 2d6 + 1d8 ⇒ (2, 3) + (4) = 9

Thkrull does as his small thing wants, pleased that it's not trying to stop him from smashing.

Foot: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (12) + 12 = 24
Hunter's Edge (bludgeoning/precision damage: 2d8 + 4 + 1d8 ⇒ (2, 7) + 4 + (5) = 18

Tusk (agile): 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (16) + 12 = 28
Hunter's Edge (piercing/precision damage): 2d6 + 4 + 1d8 ⇒ (4, 4) + 4 + (8) = 20 if the first Strike hit, that's just 12 points of damage

Unset moves closer to the remaining xulgath, his limbs already swinging about.

"Looks like yer it! So, yer'll be gettin' all me attention!" he assures the creature.

Melee +1 striking tail (backswing, magical) v blue: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (12) + 15 = 27
Damage B: 2d6 + 4 ⇒ (4, 1) + 4 = 9
Melee 1 striking fist +15 (magical, nonlethal, agile, finesse) v blue: 1d20 + 15 - 4 ⇒ (15) + 15 - 4 = 26
Damage B: 2d6 + 4 ⇒ (3, 2) + 4 = 9

Seeing the Thkrull stomp the tough-looking Xulgath, Kennari opts to refrain from further quips about the elephant. Instead, he taps his staff against the floor three times, the sharp raps echoing through the room as he points the carved top of the staff toward the xulgath hiding in back, loosing three beads of force that fly into the creature! ◆◆◆Casting magic missile from the staff of evocation.

Force damage vs. Uzensshel: 3d4 + 4 ⇒ (3, 3, 2) + 4 = 12

Rova and Thkrull take down the Spinesnapper!

Kennari sends three magic missiles at the caster!

Unset, I'm afraid your target is no longer there! I would have redirected to the caster, but I'm not sure you could have gotten there and attacked. What would you like to do?

Prism, -54 hp
Rova, -17 hp (Thkrull at -6 hp)
Kennari
Unset, -36 hp
Uzensshel, -46 hp
Niksi

I will Stride towards the caster until I get to them. Movement is 35 ft. (Not sure if debris on map marks difficult terrain. If not, I think I can get there and attack once (using first roll in prior post?). I am on my phone so please move my token.

Sounds good!

Unset races across the room and hits the caster with his tail!

The caster punches Unset in the face!

spiked gauntlet: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (16) + 16 = 32
ouch!: 2d4 + 4 ⇒ (3, 1) + 4 = 8 piercing and a Fort save as the demonic corruption seeps in!

She Steps away and the spiritual weapon drops.

Prism, -54 hp
Rova, -17 hp (Thkrull at -6 hp)
Kennari
Unset, -50 hp
Uzensshel, -46 hp
Niksi

"Not ready to give up, eh?" Kennari waves his hand and mutters an incantation, and three more missiles of force fly toward the caster, this time from his hand rather than the staff! ◆◆◆Casting magic missile.

Force Damage: 3d4 + 3 ⇒ (4, 1, 4) + 3 = 12

"Don't let him get away!" Rova calls as she moves into the room, shooting at the xulgrath spellcaster as Thkrull closes in.

Stride x2, Strike
+1 Shortbow (deadly d10, magical, 60 foot range, reload 0): 1d20 + 14 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 14 + 1 = 25
Piercing damage: 2d6 ⇒ (2, 2) = 4

Thkrull uses his action to Stride closer.

Fort: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (13) + 14 = 27

Unset moves forward, crouching into a ball, as he tries to tumble past the caster to cut off its escape.
Acrobatics to Tumble Through: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (19) + 13 = 32
Pinache! And target flat-footed due to Tumble Behind feat!

Rising to position, the fleshforged strikes!
Melee +1 striking tail (backswing, magical), pinache: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (11) + 15 = 26
Damage B w/precision: 2d6 + 4 + 3 ⇒ (5, 3) + 4 + 3 = 15
Melee 1 striking fist +15 (magical, nonlethal, agile, finesse), pinache: 1d20 + 15 - 4 ⇒ (6) + 15 - 4 = 17
Damage B, finisher: 2d6 + 4 + 3d6 ⇒ (6, 2) + 4 + (2, 1, 4) = 19
Half precision damage on Failure

DC 22 Fort Save; Inspire Defense: 1d20 + 11 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 11 + 1 = 22

Still a bit dazed from her choke slam Prism stumbles back to her feet and hobbles around the side of the altar.

◆ Stride
◆ Stride
◆ Stride

Don’t forget the +1 on saves from inspire defense! That would make Prism succeed it looks like

Niksi advances so that she can be in range for healing, continuing her song.

Stride, take cover, inspire defense

Updated for the successful save.

Kennari and Rova soften up the caster, and Unset is able to finish her off, after an impressive tumble!

Unfortunately, as Thkrull clambers up on the dais, it explodes with spectral activity!

A ghostly minister appears before the pulpit, constantly shifting in exact appearance!

"Faithlessness! It is the sin above all else! As long as you have faith you can always be redeemed but those who are not faithful cannot be helped!"

I need a Will save from Thkrull! Niksi's song is still going for this.

This is a haunt! You can use Occultism (expert) to exorcise the spirits, or Deception or Religion (trained) to imitate the Arodenite faith and render the haunt harmless until it resets.

"Faith? In the Dead God?" Unset repeats aloud.

Religion: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (4) + 9 = 13

"I suspect yer have me at a loss, I does."