GM Kate's Extinction Curse [closed]

Game Master Kate Baker

The automaton hits and then crits as Niksi inspires all! Unset moves in and smacks the demon with his tail! Prism questions the multitude of demons as she sneaks in for some sneak attacks! Hit and a crit! Rova lets loose an arrow that strikes the xulgath while Thkrull moves in!

Kennari recognizes a brimorak! These goat-headed demons have glowing red eyes and flaming hooves but measure only about 3 feet in height. Born from the souls of arsonists, the fiery brimoraks continue the work they pursued in life, as everything they touch quickly burns.

They deal a lot of fire damage, including a breath weapon. They are immune to fire and weak to cold iron and good.

Initiative!
Rova
Unset
Kennari
Prism
Niksi
Demon, -61 hp
Xulgath, -24 hp

Calling out the salient details about the demon to his allies, Kennari sends a jolt of electricity at the brimorak. Using his last two actions to cast electric arc on the brimorak (the other enemy being out of range).

Electricity damage: 4d4 + 4 ⇒ (2, 1, 2, 4) + 4 = 13 DC 25 basic Reflex, reducing any potential status bonus to saves vs. magic by 1.

Brimorak Reflex: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (17) + 12 = 29

The brimorak avoids some the the jolt.

The xulgath says something in a strange language.

The demon Steps to one side and breathes fire in a line string Prism and Thkrull.

hot!: 6d6 ⇒ (3, 5, 1, 1, 5, 3) = 18, DC 21 basic Reflex save

The flame settles to the ground in a slick streak Functions as a grease spell in that area

The xulgath Steps away from the automaton and sends an acid arrow at Rova!

spell attack: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (6) + 18 = 24
ouch!: 5d8 ⇒ (6, 2, 4, 6, 7) = 25

Misses thanks to Niksi's Inspire Defenses!

Initiative!
Rova
Unset
Kennari
Prism
Niksi
Demon, -67 hp
Xulgath, -24 hp

Reflex DC 21: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (2) + 17 = 19

Prism steps aside as she slips and slides on the burning spittle. Making to the side of the demon she tries to cut it wide open with her sickle.

+1 Striking Sickle vs FF: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (6) + 16 = 22
Damage: 2d4 + 3 ⇒ (2, 2) + 3 = 7
Sneak Attack Damage: 2d6 ⇒ (6, 3) = 9

+1 Striking Sickle vs FF: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (18) + 16 = 34
Damage: 2d4 + 3 ⇒ (3, 3) + 3 = 9
Sneak Attack Damage: 2d6 ⇒ (5, 1) = 6

Seeing Prism in position, Unset moves to box in the demonic creature.
Stride
Melee +1 striking tail (backswing, magical): 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (13) + 16 = 29
Damage B: 2d6 + 6 ⇒ (6, 4) + 6 = 16
Melee 1 striking fist (magical, nonlethal, agile, finesse): 1d20 + 16 - 4 ⇒ (12) + 16 - 4 = 24
Damage B: 2d6 + 6 ⇒ (2, 5) + 6 = 13

Reflex (expert), inspired vs. fire: 1d20 + 13 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 13 + 1 = 34
Reflex (expert), inspired vs. grease: 1d20 + 13 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 13 + 1 = 27

Thkrull trumpets in triumph as the stupid thing misses him with its hot breath, and then bleats in alarm before realizing he isn't going to slip. Deciding to take matters into his own trunk, he rushes forward to crush the stinky lizard.

Stride, Strike
Foot: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (5) + 12 = 17
Hunter's Edge (bludgeoning/precision damage: 2d8 + 4 + 1d8 ⇒ (1, 3) + 4 + (7) = 15

"No!" Rova's eyes grow wide as she sees Thkrull seemingly get immolated before realizing the elephant had somehow avoided it. It's almost too much of a distraction as she ducks at the last moment to avoid the acid coming her way.

"Hey, watch it!" she cries, firing two arrows at the xulgath.

Command an Animal, Strike, Strike

+1 striking shortbow (deadly d10, magical, 60 foot range, reload 0): 1d20 + 15 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 15 + 1 = 23
Hunter's edge (precision/piercing damage): 2d6 + 2 + 1d8 ⇒ (3, 4) + 2 + (6) = 15

Shortbow (iterative): 1d20 + 15 - 5 ⇒ (14) + 15 - 5 = 24
Hunter's edge (precision/piercing damage): 2d6 + 2 + 1d8 ⇒ (3, 4) + 2 + (4) = 13 only 11 damage from this arrow if first show hit

Frustrated that the demon dodged the bulk of his electric assault, Kennari mutters "dodge this, fiend!" He taps his staff three times on the floor, and three bolts of pure force fly unerringly into the demon. ◆◆◆Casting magic missile from his staff of evocation.

Force damage: 3d4 + 3 ⇒ (2, 1, 4) + 3 = 10

Prism's sneaky attacks take out the demon!

Kennari and Unset can take your turns over if you'd like! Otherwise, I'll just redirect your attacks to the xulgath.

Thkrull misses, while Rova lands two arrows on the xulgath!

Initiative!
Rova
Unset, can change turn if desired
Kennari, can change turn if desired
Prism
Niksi
Xulgath, -50 hp

Niksi continues her protective performance from cover, controlling The Brother all the while.

Slam 1 (flank): 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (2) + 15 = 17
Slam 1 Damage: 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

Slam 2 (flank, map): 1d20 + 15 - 5 ⇒ (8) + 15 - 5 = 18
Slam 2 Damage: 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

One action to control her illusory creature, another to sing, another to take cover

Fine to redirect my missiles.

I am fine with redirection. Unset isn't much the tactician.

Unset and Kennari pummel the xulgath both physically and magically!

Brother makes some threatening moves, but doesn't quite connect.

I forgot to mention that Rova took 1d6 persistent acid!

acid: 1d6 ⇒ 1 at the end of her turn, DC 15 flat check to end

The xulgath casts a spell and pops to the other side of the room! He draws a mace.

Provokes an AoO

Initiative!
Rova
Unset
Kennari
Prism
Niksi
Xulgath, -89 hp

"Woah, stay back!" Kennari backs away from the suddenly-closer Xulgath, flinging a ball of flame at the creature.

Spell attack: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (11) + 15 = 26
Fire damage: 4d4 + 4 ⇒ (4, 1, 1, 1) + 4 = 11 Plus 4d4 persist fire on a crit.

"Jus' stay still 'n take what's comin' to ye!" Unset cries out as the creature reappears elsewhere in the room. The fleshforged man gives chase.

Stride
Melee +1 striking tail (backswing, magical): 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (14) + 16 = 30
Damage B: 2d6 + 6 ⇒ (2, 3) + 6 = 11
Melee +1 striking fist (magical, nonlethal, agile, finesse): 1d20 + 16 - 4 ⇒ (20) + 16 - 4 = 32
Damage B: 2d6 + 6 ⇒ (4, 1) + 6 = 11

Assuming the spell was acid arrow, I don't think it should do persistent damage on a miss.

Rova fires a couple of arrows at the now-closer xulgath. She's about to tell Thkrull to be careful of the grease, but she doesn't get the chance as the elephant charges forward.

Strike, Strike, Command an Animal.
+1 striking shortbow (deadly d10, magical, 60 foot range, reload 0): 1d20 + 15 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 15 + 1 = 30
Hunter's edge (precision/piercing damage): 2d6 + 2 + 1d8 ⇒ (6, 2) + 2 + (3) = 13

Shortbow (iterative): 1d20 + 15 + 1 - 5 ⇒ (15) + 15 + 1 - 5 = 26
Piercing damage: 2d6 + 2 ⇒ (6, 4) + 2 = 12

Ignoring whatever his little thing was about to say as he sees the stinky thing getting away from him, Thkrull turns and charges. He almost slips, but catches himself at the last moment, his foot finding a secure place to stand right on the stinky thing!

I meant to do that!

Reflex (expert), inspired: 1d20 + 13 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 13 + 1 = 32

Foot: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (2) + 12 = 14
Foot: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (15) + 12 = 27 Hero point!
Hunter's Edge (bludgeoning/precision damage: 2d8 + 4 + 1d8 ⇒ (8, 8) + 4 + (7) = 27 almost max damage!

You're absolutely right, Rova! I misremembered and thought it had hit.

Kennari, Unset, Rova, and Thkrull dog pile the xulgath and he crumples.

You have a library to look through! As you heal up, people can also look for interesting books, which takes 1 hour and an Aroden Lore, Arcana, Occultism, or Religion check.

The xulgath's body barely hits the floor before Kennari is eagerly diving into the library, searching for books of note.

Aroden Lore: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (20) + 13 = 33 That seems appropriate.

Using her time wisely prism climbs over the shelves to look among the books on the higher, hard to reach areas.

Arcana: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (10) + 10 = 20

Rova first looks over the body to see if it has anything interesting.

"Is everyone OK?" she asks, looking around to make sure no one was hurt. There were a lot of spells being flung around, but she's pretty sure they avoided the worst of them.

Once she's sure everyone's OK, she helps the others look through the books. If Mistress Dusklight were interested, she probably is too.

Religion (trained): 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (14) + 11 = 25

"It takes more than their likes to 'urt ole Unset," replies the circus performer.

As the others heal, Unset scans some of the books.
Occultism: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (11) + 10 = 21

Niksi contributes some to the studying, but she does not put in much of an effort, curious to see how well the Arodenite scholar zipping about between volumes will do.

Occultism: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (3) + 12 = 15

Prism has fun climbing, but mostly finds dusty shelves. Niksi gives a perfunctory look around, but spends more time watching her party members.

Unset notices a book called the Moonstone Oracles and realizes it might be connected to the moonstone circlets and the pool you cleansed upstairs.

Rova notices a book called The Spells of Man.

Kennari, like a child in a toy store, runs around the room until settling on a dusty onionskin tome called The Deeds of Aroden.

"Fascinating. A prime example of the ecumenical writings of the late pre-cataclysm church! Obviously written by a 'True Believer', based on its full-throated embrasure of the church's position that humanity was the rightful recipients of the aeon orbs, unlike the unworthy denizens from whom Aroden took them" Kennari says, mostly to himself, as he scans through a dusty tome. As he continues, he scoffs and says "'Infinite mercy' indeed, to leave one behind."

Kennari will glad show the passage he's reading to anyone else that's interested (feel free to read his spoiler).

With a meaty appendage, Unset reaches for the book entitled, Moonstone Oracles, and begins to pour through it in the hope that the tome may provide some insight into what the others have been seeking and why they have been so willing to risk their lives within these underground chambers and passages.

"Seems these followers of Arod'n were willin' t'go t'great lengths t' preserve their 'istory." he says, looking up from the open pages. "Moonstone diad'ms, they's called? Magic circlets? All quite remarkerble, it is."

Unset turns to Kennari with a grin. "'Most like they did all this with the likes of ye in mind." He offers the book to Kennari and any others who seem interested.
Feel free to read Unset's spoiler above.

"Oh, that must be what we have," Rova says, patting her new headpiece. "I wonder if there are anymore down here."

Turning her attention back to the book she's found, she decides Kennari might be most interested in it -- he's human and casts spells, after all. "I don't know if this is right, but it looks like there may be some useful bits in here." And everyone can read my spoiler.

After reading Kennari's notes, she looks around. "I guess we found the Erran orb. But if they're only supposed to last as long as Aroden reigned, shouldn't they have gone out? It was still pretty bright. It's like one of Rovagug's cultists trying to wreck everything, when they can just wait for Great Groetus to come."

As you speak of Aroden's death and the orbs, Ulthadar reappears, wailing mournfully. “Aroden is gone! The aeon orbs fail! Who can save us?” He then gazes at you and seems to sense the touch of the Erran Tower upon you. He moans, “You! You possess his touch, his reflection, but how can this be? You must gain a reflection from each of his five aeon orbs. As Aroden poured his essence into them, so must you gain the reflections of these essences. Then you can reignite their power from his high throne in the Kortos Mountains.”

"Aroden had a throne?" Prism asks curiously as she knows little about the man other than he is another dead God in the sea of endless Gods it seems.

Rova shrugs, unsure.

"Do you know where the towers all are? That book was kind of vague," she asks the ghost.

She can't help but wonder if they should. It probably would be good to keep everything healthy until Groetus comes, but ... Aroden seemed like a big jerk, and a bit of a bigot, having stolen the orbs in the first place. Almost as bad as stupid Pharasma.

"Visit Aroden's throne?" Kennari asks, his eyes full of wonder and awe in his voice. "Yes, absolutely. We must do that."

"I have never been to the throne myself, but it is referred to in some texts as the Verdant Beacon. The Towers are across Kortos. The moonstone pool shall reveal them to you. I shall give you my diadem to unlock the vision, once you have completed your task here, and rid this holy place of those desecrators."

"Well, I guess if they're trying to destroy everything and steal Groetus' glory, we should stop them," Rova agrees.

"We found one of those pools." Prism explains. "But can't someone else deal with this. Like the guards. We have the circus to try and keep afloat. This just seems so much bigger than us." She says gloomily.

Niksi keeps quiet in the presence of Ulthadar, but underneath her mask, she is a tangle of emotions. She has never considered herself particularly proud of her underground origins, nor really ashamed of them either. But that passage, with its imperious condescension and self-righteous sneering, pricks her pride. Humans and their presumptuous nature, going to places they do not belong and holding who they find there in judgment, ignorant and disrespectful of all that does not immediately prostrate at its feet. The orbs never belonged here. They should not be destroyed, but they should not be here.

"We found one of those pools." Prism explains. "But can't someone else deal with this. Like the guards. We have the circus to try and keep afloat. This just seems so much bigger than us." She says gloomily.

"I'd have t'agree with Prism, I does," chimes Unset. "The big top is indeed more me element, I think."

He then shrugs, and quietly admits, "Not that there isn't a certain satisfaction in smackin' 'round them nasty, underground reptiles."

"Ah, but you are touched by the orbs! You have been chosen for this mission. It is divine fate!"

Prism quickly wipes her hands across her body and clothes trying to get the orb touch off of her. "We didn't ask for this!"

Ulthadar face does seem to soften. "Few do. But when so much is at stake, sometimes we must do things beyond what we thought possible."

You are welcome to keep chatting with Ulthadar, but he doesn't have much more informaiton to give you."

"If they steal Groetus' thunder, there won't be any reason to do our show," Rova tries to appeal to her companions. "Not to mention everyone in the circus being dead."

Prism shrugs. "Guess we better get to the bottom of this quickly then. DO you think the rest of the circus will be on board?" She gathers her things ready to move on.

"The circus are good folk and ye not steered us wrong yet. We 'ave your backs whate'er ye decide t'do," Unset assures the gnome.

Ulthadar fades away, though you realize you can probably call him back at any time.

Where to next?

"Should we try this way next?" Rova suggests, waiting to see if the others follow. She's certainly not going to let the xulgaths get away with destroying everything, even if they probably deserve to have the orbs back, at least.

I don't think we have a particular direction to go, so going north and then checking the area to the east, unless someone wants to go elsewhere.

"I've got yer back, I does!" Unset replies, following Rova.

Seems as good a place to go as any.

Prism follows in the middle of the pack. "Sounds good to me."

Rova finds a long line of doors!

Any preferred order to tackle these in?

Every third one, starting from the second down? Or if that's a pain, start at the top, where I moved Rova's fig.

The top door reveals another hallway!

Just to keep things moving, I'll assume you continue down this row before moving on.

The next room reveals living quarters, with four xulgaths standing inside. Surprisingly, they don't attack.

"Ah! Surface dwellers! Please, take us with you!"

Rova blinks.

"You want to join the circus?" she says before she can think of anything else.