GM Kate's Extinction Curse [closed]

Game Master Kate Baker

Athletics: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (14) + 12 = 26
Athletics: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (9) + 12 = 21
Athletics: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (3) + 12 = 15

Prism looks down as the bomb rolls at her feet. "Thatwas..close." She continues to scramble up the hill.

Between Kennari's magic missiles, Thkrull's stomp, and Rova's impressive arrow, Purple goes down! Rova follows up with a hit on magenta, while Unset adds a solid punch.

Rpism tries to climb! Still need a Fort save from Prism

Initiative!
Magenta bomb, -69 hp (<50% health)
Prism, -16 hp, Fort save
Kennari, -52 hp, 4 persistent fire
Rova, -36 hp (Thkrull, -40 hp)
Unset, -59 hp
Niksi

Fort: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (6) + 17 = 23

Just made it! Prism is not poisoned.

Niksi moves around closer to the path up the platform. She looks at the bomber on the corner. She sends an image into their head of their bombs all blowing up in an instant.She casts phantasmal killer, DC 27 Will

Stride, two actions for phantasmal killer

Will: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (6) + 15 = 21

Fail!

ouch!: 8d6 ⇒ (5, 1, 1, 3, 1, 6, 6, 1) = 24

As the xulgath shrieks in terror, Niksi sees a faint outline of his vision: another xulgath bomber, but far more powerful!

This guy has a few hit points left and is frightened 2 from that spell. You all can easily finish him off, or you can try to get information out of him. What would you like to do?

Yeah, let's get information!

"Who are you! What are you doing here?!" Rova calls out as she tries to restrain Thkrull. She quickly casts a spell on him as she waits for answers, healing the elephant's wounds. Cast heal companion.

Prism giggles as she mimics Rova as she tries to act a bit tougher than she truly is. "Yea! Whoare..you? Whatareyou..doinghere?" She calls up the hill as she keeps slipping.

The xulgath stammers. "My...my name is Thaskar Blood-Boiler. Sarvel Ever-Hunger assigned us here. We are guarding this tower so Thesseka can do her experiments on the orb."

"What kind of experiments? Who's Thesseka?"

"Thesseka! She's a powerful alchemist. I don't know what the experiments are, but she said something about 'draining the orbs.' She rarely comes out of the upper floors of the tower. The other clutch," as he gestures to one of the fallen sword-wielding xulgaths, "think she has magical traveling powers and leaves the tower by other means, but I think she just gets caught up in her experiments."

"Are there more of you? If we go up to find and stop her, is anything else going to try to stop us?"

”There’s no more xulgaths inside; she wouldn’t let us in. I can’t tell you what else is in there.”

There's not much else for him to tell you, but feel free to ask any further questions you have.

As you tend to your injuries outside, nothing comes out of the tower to attack you. You investigate the outside of the tower.

Rova, you look in the spring basin and notice something glinting in the mud.

Prism, you take a look through the bombers' campsite.

Unset, you check out the north platform, by where the skirmishers were.

"Oh, look what I found!" Rova exclaims. She holds up the idol with its rune, wondering if anyone wants it.

Finally, she shrugs. "I guess we need to go in now. Groetus is getting closer!"

Prism holds up several formulas and elixirs. "Look what I found!" She shoves that and the small bag of coins into the pack. "Yea we probably should head inside the tower." Though she wasn't looking forward to it as these towers held powerful magic.

You enter the tower, and the interior is dark and cool. A wide corridor extends back 45 feet with a vaulted ceiling 20 feet overhead. A smaller side passage extends to the south.

An alcove at the back of the corridor holds a crudely rendered statue. The floor before it bears a scattering of broken rubble and the bones of what appears to have been a freshly killed deer.

All of you realize that the crude statue is no statue at all! It's some kind of a creature pretending to be a statue very badly! It has way too many limbs to be a humanoid statue. The real statue was smashed to bits!

Initiative
Prism
Niksi
Unset
Rova
Not a statue
Kennari

I put Thkrull outside the tower, but if you're bringing him in with you, he can be behind you all.

"This should be easy enough." Prism rushes the statue as she slices her sickle into the stone.

+1 Striking Sickle (Gang-up): 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (8) + 18 = 26
Damage: 2d4 + 3 ⇒ (1, 2) + 3 = 6
Sneak Attack Damage: 2d6 ⇒ (6, 4) = 10

+1 Striking Sickle (Gang-up): 1d20 + 18 - 4 ⇒ (17) + 18 - 4 = 31
Damage: 2d4 + 3 ⇒ (4, 2) + 3 = 9
Sneak Attack Damage: 2d6 ⇒ (1, 3) = 4

+1 Striking Sickle (Gang-up): 1d20 + 18 - 8 ⇒ (3) + 18 - 8 = 13
Damage: 2d4 + 3 ⇒ (1, 1) + 3 = 5
Sneak Attack Damage: 2d6 ⇒ (5, 4) = 9

Unset reluctantly pauses as others attack from a distance.
Delaying so as not to provide cover

He then rushes to the not-a-statue to strike.
Stride: Strike x2
Melee, striking thundering fist (magical, agile, finesse) v not-a-statue: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (12) + 18 = 30
Damage B +1d6 So: 2d6 + 6 + 1d6 ⇒ (4, 5) + 6 + (6) = 21

Melee, striking thundering fist (magical, agile, finesse) v not-a-statue: 1d20 + 18 - 4 ⇒ (6) + 18 - 4 = 20
Damage B +1d6 S: 2d6 + 6 + 1d6 ⇒ (2, 5) + 6 + (3) = 16

I'm fine with leaving Thkrull outside.

Rova sizes up the creature, and then launches a pair of arrows at it!

Hunt Prey, Strike x2
+1 striking shortbow (deadly d10, magical, 60 foot range, reload 0): 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (9) + 18 = 27
Hunter's edge (precision/piercing damage): 2d6 + 2 + 1d8 ⇒ (3, 4) + 2 + (3) = 12

Shortbow (iterative): 1d20 + 18 - 5 ⇒ (16) + 18 - 5 = 29
Piercing damage: 2d6 + 2 ⇒ (4, 1) + 2 = 7 If first arrow hit
Hunter's edge (precision/piercing damage): 2d6 + 2 + 1d8 ⇒ (3, 6) + 2 + (5) = 16 if first arrow missed

Niksi begins a double performance while she starts observing the creature(?), trying to get a better understanding of what it would be most vulnerable to.

Harmonize, inspire defense, inspire courage

Prism, Unset, and Rova each get one good hit in! Niksi keeps everyone inspired, both offensively and defensively.

All the attacks so far did the damage that you would expect.

The creature extends six long, thin, rope-like strands from its body! They lash out at everyone!

strand! vs Prism: 1d20 + 23 ⇒ (17) + 23 = 40

strand! vs Niksi: 1d20 + 23 ⇒ (9) + 23 = 32

strand! vs Unset: 1d20 + 23 ⇒ (15) + 23 = 38

strand! vs Rova: 1d20 + 23 ⇒ (2) + 23 = 25

strand! vs Kennari: 1d20 + 23 ⇒ (4) + 23 = 27

Everyone except Rova is stuck by a strand! It's really gross! You are each enfeebled 1 and grabbed (but no damage from it).

It makes one more attempt to get Rova.

strand! vs Rova: 1d20 + 23 - 10 ⇒ (4) + 23 - 10 = 17

She is too wily to get grabbed!

Initiative
Prism, enfeebled 1, grabbed
Niksi, enfeebled 1, grabbed
Unset, enfeebled 1, grabbed
Rova
Not a statue, -53 hp
Kennari, enfeebled 1, grabbed

If you are attacking, you can attack the creature itself, or you can attack a strand. A strand has a lower AC than the creature, but it has its own hp that will not impact the creature's hp. Also, as far as you can tell, it can't just grow more strands, so if you destroy one, it can't attack with it anymore.

Prism gasps as the strand quickly wraps around her. "Not so easy!" She slashes at the strand to try and free herself.

Target strand first, then the creature if the strand is broken.

+1 Striking Sickle (Gang-up): 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (16) + 18 = 34
Damage: 2d4 + 3 ⇒ (3, 1) + 3 = 7
Sneak Attack Damage: 2d6 ⇒ (2, 2) = 4

+1 Striking Sickle (Gang-up): 1d20 + 18 - 4 ⇒ (17) + 18 - 4 = 31
Damage: 2d4 + 3 ⇒ (4, 2) + 3 = 9
Sneak Attack Damage: 2d6 ⇒ (4, 6) = 10

+1 Striking Sickle (Gang-up): 1d20 + 18 - 8 ⇒ (4) + 18 - 8 = 14
Damage: 2d4 + 3 ⇒ (4, 2) + 3 = 9
Sneak Attack Damage: 2d6 ⇒ (1, 5) = 6

"Look out, everyone!" Rova calls out in warning.

Then she calls out to the thing as she fires: "Go with Groetus!"

Three-action eldritch shot
Great Groetus! (+1 striking shortbow eldritch shot, deadly d10, magical, 60-foot range): 1d20 + 18 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 18 + 1 = 28
Hunter's edge (precision/piercing damage): 2d6 + 2 + 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (3, 1) + 2 + (4) + 1 = 11
TK projective: 4d6 ⇒ (5, 3, 4, 1) = 13

Kennari tries to wriggle free enough to cast a spell, sending a jolt of electricity at both the strand tethering himself and the larger creature beyond. Assuming I'm able to target both, otherwise just the main creature.

◆◆◆Cast Reach electric arc.

DC 5 flat check: 1d20 ⇒ 13
Electricity damage: 5d4 + 4 ⇒ (3, 3, 4, 3, 3) + 4 = 20
DC 27 basic Reflex (plus Spell Pen.)

Unset seeks to pry himself free.
Athletics to Escape: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (3) + 19 = 22

Assuming that won't do it... He struggles again.
Athletics to Escape: 1d20 + 19 - 5 ⇒ (2) + 19 - 5 = 16

And again.
Athletics to Escape: 1d20 + 19 - 10 ⇒ (3) + 19 - 10 = 12

Thank you for your patience, I’m back from out of town now!

Niksi keeps up singing, focusing on keeping her and her allies’s blades accurate and sharp as they try to free themselves. She then begins hacking at the strand that holds her.

Attack with Cold Iron Elven Curve Blade (inspire courage): 1d20 + 14 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 14 + 1 = 20
Damage (inspire courage): 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9

Attack with Cold Iron Elven Curve Blade (inspire courage, map): 1d20 + 14 + 1 - 5 ⇒ (6) + 14 + 1 - 5 = 16
Damage (inspire courage): 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

Inspire courage, strike, strike

Prism easily slices through the strand holding her, then slices at the creature itself! It seems like the slashing damage from the sickle was the most effective way to cut the strand.

Rova's arrow just barely misses, scratching the surface of its skin.

Kennari sends an electric blast.

I'm going to treat the strand and the monster as two separate creatures for this, since they have separate pools of hit points.

Not a Statue Reflex, Spell Pen: 1d20 + 15 + 2 - 1 ⇒ (18) + 15 + 2 - 1 = 34

Strand Reflex: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (20) + 15 = 35

The strand doesn't get zapped at all. Kennari thinks that the creature should have taken some damage, but it seems to be resistant to electricity.

Unset and Niksi struggle to free themselves.

The creature gives one big yank on the strands.

Athletics vs Fort DC: 1d20 + 22 ⇒ (20) + 22 = 42

Kennari and Niksi get pulled up to the front!

The creature then tries to bite Unset.

jaws: 1d20 + 21 - 5 ⇒ (3) + 21 - 5 = 19
ouch!: 2d12 + 12 ⇒ (1, 12) + 12 = 25

But it fails!

Initiative
Prism, enfeebled 1
Niksi, enfeebled 1, grabbed
Unset, enfeebled 1, grabbed
Rova
Not a statue, -72 hp
Kennari, enfeebled 1, grabbed

"Let them go!" Rova calls, releasing a quick pair of arrows at the thing as she studies it.

Hunt Prey, Strike x2
+1 striking shortbow (deadly d10, magical, 60 foot range, reload 0): 1d20 + 18 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 18 + 1 = 29
Hunter's edge (precision/piercing damage): 2d6 + 2 + 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (6, 5) + 2 + (2) + 1 = 16

Shortbow (iterative): 1d20 + 18 - 5 ⇒ (6) + 18 - 5 = 19
Piercing damage: 2d6 + 2 ⇒ (2, 6) + 2 = 10

Cut free from the strand Prism hacks into the creature. "Nasty, sticky stuff!"

+1 Striking Sickle (Gang-up); Enfeebled 1: 1d20 + 18 - 1 ⇒ (20) + 18 - 1 = 37
Damage: 2d4 + 3 ⇒ (4, 2) + 3 = 9
Sneak Attack Damage: 2d6 ⇒ (4, 3) = 7

+1 Striking Sickle (Gang-up); Enfeebled 1: 1d20 + 18 - 1 - 4 ⇒ (17) + 18 - 1 - 4 = 30
Damage: 2d4 + 3 ⇒ (3, 4) + 3 = 10
Sneak Attack Damage: 2d6 ⇒ (2, 5) = 7

+1 Striking Sickle (Gang-up); Enfeebled 1: 1d20 + 18 - 1 - 8 ⇒ (12) + 18 - 1 - 8 = 21
Damage: 2d4 + 3 ⇒ (4, 3) + 3 = 10
Sneak Attack Damage: 2d6 ⇒ (2, 2) = 4

Unset again tries to to pry himself free.
Athletics to Escape: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (17) + 19 = 36

Assuming that was sufficient... He turns his fury onto the source of the tendrils!
Melee, striking thundering fist (magical, agile, finesse) v not-a-statue: 1d20 + 18 - 5 ⇒ (20) + 18 - 5 = 33
Damage B +1d6 So: 2d6 + 6 + 1d6 ⇒ (1, 5) + 6 + (2) = 14
Melee, striking thundering fist (magical, agile, finesse) v not-a-statue: 1d20 + 18 - 10 ⇒ (3) + 18 - 10 = 11
Damage B +1d6 So: 2d6 + 6 + 1d6 ⇒ (2, 4) + 6 + (2) = 14

Holy critical hits, Batman!

Rova readjusts her aim slightly, and this time the arrow strikes true! Meanwhile, Prism gets some impressive slashes in on the creature. Unset successfully frees himself and then gets a good pound on the monster.

Initiative
Prism, enfeebled 1
Niksi, enfeebled 1, grabbed
Unset, enfeebled 1
Rova
Not a statue, -165 hp (<50%)
Kennari, enfeebled 1, grabbed

Having had little luck slashing at the tendrils and with the monster looking well-wounded, Niksi ceases trying to escape and instead tries to incorporate the undulations of the strands into a dance.

Harmonize, inspire courage, inspire defense

Unset successfully frees himself and then gets a good pound on the monster.

Mea culpa. I failed to include the enfeebled condition in my Escape, Strike, and damage rolls.

But also the inspire courage, so it may be a wash.

No worries, as you said, it evens out!

Seeing his electricity ineffective, Kennari tries to cast a spell to free himself from the monster's grip.

DC 5 flat: 1d20 ⇒ 11

The magic seems to pry the rope off of him enough for him to wriggle free.

◆◆Cast freedom of movement, ◆Escape (auto success from FoM).

The creature howls in pain and frustration as another of its victims slips its bonds!

It tries to eat the two nearest enemies.

jaws vs Prism: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (5) + 21 = 26
ouch!: 2d12 + 12 ⇒ (2, 2) + 12 = 16

jaws vs Unset: 1d20 + 21 - 5 ⇒ (7) + 21 - 5 = 23
ouch!: 2d12 + 12 ⇒ (1, 9) + 12 = 22

jaws vs Prism: 1d20 + 21 - 10 ⇒ (10) + 21 - 10 = 21
ouch!: 2d12 + 12 ⇒ (9, 4) + 12 = 25

And it misses three times!

Initiative
Prism, enfeebled 1
Niksi, enfeebled 1, grabbed
Unset, enfeebled 1
Rova
Not a statue, -165 hp (<50%)
Kennari, enfeebled 1, grabbed

"Feeling kind of stranded here." She giggles as she slashes at the strange creature.

+1 Striking Sickle (Gang-up); Enfeebled 1: 1d20 + 18 - 1 ⇒ (10) + 18 - 1 = 27
Damage: 2d4 + 3 ⇒ (2, 4) + 3 = 9
Sneak Attack Damage: 2d6 ⇒ (4, 4) = 8

+1 Striking Sickle (Gang-up); Enfeebled 1: 1d20 + 18 - 1 - 4 ⇒ (7) + 18 - 1 - 4 = 20
Damage: 2d4 + 3 ⇒ (1, 4) + 3 = 8
Sneak Attack Damage: 2d6 ⇒ (2, 5) = 7

+1 Striking Sickle (Gang-up); Enfeebled 1: 1d20 + 18 - 1 - 8 ⇒ (17) + 18 - 1 - 8 = 26
Damage: 2d4 + 3 ⇒ (3, 1) + 3 = 7
Sneak Attack Damage: 2d6 ⇒ (5, 4) = 9

Unset continues to wail on the creature.
Melee, striking thundering fist (magical, agile, finesse), enfeebled 1 w/IC v not-a-statue: 1d20 + 18 + 1 - 1 ⇒ (14) + 18 + 1 - 1 = 32
Damage B +1d6 So w/IC: 2d6 + 6 + 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (6, 1) + 6 + (5) + 1 = 19
Melee, striking thundering fist (magical, agile, finesse), enfeebled 1 w/IC v not-a-statue: 1d20 + 18 + 1 - 1 - 4 ⇒ (4) + 18 + 1 - 1 - 4 = 18
Damage B +1d6 So w/IC: 2d6 + 6 + 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (4, 4) + 6 + (6) + 1 = 21
Melee, striking thundering fist (magical, agile, finesse), enfeebled 1 w/IC v not-a-statue: 1d20 + 18 + 1 - 1 - 8 ⇒ (10) + 18 + 1 - 1 - 8 = 20
Damage B +1d6 So w/IC: 2d6 + 6 + 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (2, 6) + 6 + (5) + 1 = 20

Kennari sees the writhing tentacles, and worries about being grabbed again if he tries to back away. He mutters an incantation toward the creature, hoping to distract it, then casts a defensive ward.

◆◆Cast hideous laughter, ◆Cast shield.

"Groetus!" Rova calls out, firing another arrow toward the not-statue. The divinely-powered shot zips over the heads of Prism and Niksi. And probably hits, but not completely sure

Three-actioneldritch shot
Great Groetus! (+1 striking shortbow eldritch shot, deadly d10, magical, 60-foot range): 1d20 + 18 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 18 + 1 = 33
Hunter's edge (precision/piercing damage): 2d6 + 2 + 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (2, 5) + 2 + (8) + 1 = 18
TK projective: 4d6 ⇒ (3, 1, 1, 6) = 11

Niksi keeps up her protective and offensive songs, keeping an eye on her comrade’s conditions all the while. She has restoration but waiting to see if anyone gets bumped to enfeebled 2 first

Harmonize, inspire courage, inspire defense

With the offensive assistance from Niksi, Prism gets in one good slice, Unset lands a punch, and Rova perfectly place an arrow right in the middle of the creature. It goes down!

Kennari, you can keep your spell slot

Unfortunately, as you start to treat your injuries, you realize that the enfeebled isn't fading immediately. You think it will take a good night's sleep to get rid of it.

"Wow, this not-statue hoarded more things than Abadar!" Rova exclaims, showing the others what she found.

She waits to see if they feel up to pushing on, or need to rest. Hopefully no one in the top of the tower knows they're here, based on what the xulgaths told them before, so ... maybe they'd have time?

"I think we made a bit of noise." Prism giggles eager to rush up the tower. "How fast do you think we can get up there? Want to race?"

"Hmph. Hold up for just a moment, Prism. Perhaps with a careful expenditure of some of the divine magic I have been studying, I might be able to reduce the lasting effects of that foul creature. Let us retreat outside for a few moments so I can focus."

Kennari has the Invigorating Mercy feat, which allows him to attempt to counteract the Enfeebled condition using lay on hands. If we don't mind waiting 10 minutes for him to refocus, I'd like to at least try to reduce the condition on Unset (I think Unset is the only one making strength-based attacks, right?).

If we're willing to spend a little longer, Kennari is happy to keep refocusing and trying on other folks, too.

I think we can definitely take time for Refocusing. I assume we need to spend some for treating wounds too.

Funny thing, it never actually managed to hit any of you with an attack that dealt damage! Just the strands.

Ready to move on into the tower?

After a short bit recuperating prims shields her eyes from the sun and looks up to the top of the tower. "Would be much easier if we could fly huh." She shrugs and heads back towards the tower.