The Harrowing - DM Puppet Master (Inactive)

Game Master Anon A Mouse

Given a reprieve from immediate death at the claws of a dragon, Lokhir continued to weave his magic...

Haste!

"Keep it going Lokhir! This thing's clearly one of those clay constructs instead of a real dragon!" Yattle hurls another stony blast at their best guess, then quietly drifts up to the top of the cloud.

Perception: 1d20 + 23 ⇒ (13) + 23 = 36
Miss?: 1d100 ⇒ 77
Attack: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (11) + 16 = 27
Damage: 5d6 + 17 ⇒ (1, 6, 1, 3, 1) + 17 = 29
Stealth: 1d20 + 22 ⇒ (13) + 22 = 35

Kaldwell tries to recall what he knew of such creatures, but unfortunately, the suit of humanoid skin the dragon was wearing was throwing him off, making it difficult for him to identify it.

Lokhir buffs the group as Eirnar reaches out, groping blinding at Kaldwell as he attempted to shore up the man's health.

Temp HP: 4d6 + 7 ⇒ (4, 5, 6, 3) + 7 = 25

Party is up

Kaldwell nodded to Eirnar, which was mildly pointless in the circumstances, but making noise seemed like a good way to be a target. Without a target all he could do was wait.

"No need to fight if we don't have to. Let's move on, as quickly as possible. Once we are out of the open, a dragon is little threat to us."

Lokhir is the first to emerge from the cloud of mist. He immediately sees the dragon simply sitting and waiting for them.

Readied bite attack: 1d20 + 23 ⇒ (2) + 23 = 25
Damage: 2d8 + 12 ⇒ (5, 4) + 12 = 21

A moment later Yattle also sees the dragon as his invisibility drops.

Lokhir has used 20ft of his movement for this round and is currently 15ft away from the dragon. Everybody else has their full action.

Yattle continues to use the mists as a shield, or at least a buckler, slamming a blast of goopy, rock-filled sludge into the dragon's scales!

Entangling Maximized Earth Blast: 1d20 + 16 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 16 + 1 = 37
Magic Bludgeoning: 30 + 17 = 47 And Reflex DC 20 or Entangled
Crit?: 1d20 + 16 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 16 + 1 = 26
Extra Damage: 30 + 17 = 47

25 to hit. Lokhir is 25 normally, 26 with haste

By the merest fraction of an inch Lokhir jumped back in time to avoid the dragon's jaws. The elf screamed, a sound which up until this point nobody else had heard. Coming face to face with teeth the size of swords was enough to unnerve even the hardiest of men.

Legacy Weapon for +2 enchantment on sword

Yattle, you might wanna play the Tyrant?

Kaldwell didn't see much choice, and knowing he was going to take a hammering, charged in regardless. He needed to buy time while the others could summon magic and might to fight it. Hopefully.

Charge: 1d20 + 17 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (18) + 17 + 2 - 2 = 35
Damage: 2d4 + 10 ⇒ (4, 4) + 10 = 18

Reflex save: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (18) + 10 = 28

Yattle sent a blast of rock at the dragon, landing a decent hit but failing to entangle him. Meanwhile, Eirnar carefully made his way out of the foggy area and cast Archon's Aura, though the dragon managed to shake off the effects.

Will Save DC 20: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (17) + 13 = 30

AoO Kaldwell, AC 26 - 2 + 1 = 25: 1d20 + 23 ⇒ (8) + 23 = 31
Damage: 2d8 + 12 ⇒ (4, 5) + 12 = 21
Kaldwell HP: 53 + 4 temp HP

Kaldwell charged forward, landing a hit on the dragon but suffering his own blow in the process.

Taking advantage of the half-orcs somewhat reckless charge, the dragon unleashed his own terrifying onslaught on the warrior, completely knocking the man out before shifting slightly closer and hitting Lokhir with his tail for good measure. Feel free to check my math, but I believe Kaldwell is now at -3 HP and Lokhir just took 19 damage; Kaldwell, if you are indeed knocked out, feel free to play Eirnar (as well as Kaldwell if he makes Kaldwell conscious again.

Everybody who's still conscious needs to make a DC 21 Will save vs its Frightful Prescence. On a failure, you're shaken for 5d6 ⇒ (5, 1, 4, 5, 5) = 20 rounds.

Party is up

Playing the Tyrant. And if a 26 didn't confirm, then it's eruption time!

Will: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12 Especially with an extra -2 to hit

Magma Eruption: 10d6 + 35 ⇒ (5, 2, 5, 3, 6, 5, 2, 6, 6, 5) + 35 = 80 Empowered then halved to 60, Reflex DC 22 to halve it to 30 (split between Bludgeoning and Fire). Emptying their internal buffer to empower without taking nonlethal.

Yattle's usual insouciance leaves them as the dragon displays its terrifying power, but their fear just leads them to draw deeper, wrenching a great spurt of magma from the floor to sizzle against the dragon!

Will: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (3) + 12 = 15

Hit: 1d20 + 19 - 2 ⇒ (16) + 19 - 2 = 33
Damage: 1d6 + 9 ⇒ (2) + 9 = 11
Sneak Attack: 2d6 ⇒ (4, 1) = 5

Hit: 1d20 + 19 - 2 ⇒ (1) + 19 - 2 = 18
Damage: 1d6 + 9 ⇒ (3) + 9 = 12
Sneak Attack: 2d6 ⇒ (5, 5) = 10

Hit: 1d20 + 14 - 2 ⇒ (17) + 14 - 2 = 29
Damage: 1d6 + 9 ⇒ (5) + 9 = 14
Sneak Attack: 2d6 ⇒ (1, 3) = 4

Base Focus Power: Mind Barrier (As a swift action, you can expend 1 point of mental focus to create a shield of mental energy around you that protects you from harm. The shield prevents a total of 2 points of damage per occultist level you possess. It lasts until the start of your next turn or until exhausted.)

Thoroughly shaken, Lokhir wildly swung his blade while throwing up whatever defensive spells he could muster. All he could think about was how he was too young to die! He was barely over a hundred years old…

Will: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (10) + 19 = 29

Eirnar moved over to Lokhir and cast heroism.

Kaldwell Stabalize: 1d20 - 4 - 2 ⇒ (15) - 4 - 2 = 9 - Failure, -1 HP

Yattled played the Tyrant, the tattoo fading in a familiar sparkle of gold. It takes 1d8 rounds for his breath weapon to recharge instead of the normal 1d4

Reflex DC22: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (19) + 10 = 29

Yattle sent another blast at the huge dragon, who, despite his size, managed to avoid the brunt of the damage. In addition, Yattle noticed while he did get a bit singed, the fire did not seem as effective as it normally did.

Eirnar, managing to throw off the terror of the creature, moves closer to Lokhir, casting a spell on the elf while also taking a terrible bite.
Unfortunately for Eirnar, I do not see a way he could have gotten to Lokhir without provoking an AoO.
AoO: 1d20 + 23 ⇒ (8) + 23 = 31
Damage: 2d8 + 12 ⇒ (7, 8) + 12 = 27

Lokhir, not sure why you're rolling sneak attack? You're not flanking and Zassrion, to my knowledge, isn't flat-footed, so let me know if I'm missing something. I also moved you 5ft closer as you weren't within melee range of the dragon.
Lokhir lets out a flurry of strikes. The first lands true while the second bounces harmlessly off the creature's thick hide. The third seems to be deflected by some kind of extra protection (even with the +2 from Heroism, this would have still missed).

Zassirion simply unleashes yet another terrifying series of blows, first Shattering the shaken elf's Defenses. The warrior now put on his backfoot, the dragon continues his brutal onslaught with claw and wing and tail until with the last blow, Lokhir joins Kaldwell in unconsciousness.
Again, feel free to check my math/assumptions, but I believe Lokhir is now at -4 HP.

Party is up

Stabilize: 1d20 ⇒ 18

Lokhir fell to the ground, quite unconscious. Luckily (?) it seemed like his wounds were treatable. A minor miracle given the size of the creature that had attacked…

Kaldwell, "Eirnar", and Yattle still all have their actions.

Eirnar used there final channel to try and bring Kaldwell and Lokhir back into the battle.

Channel: 4d6 ⇒ (6, 2, 4, 6) = 18

Kaldwell stood with what health he had back.

Can Lokhir do an acrobatics check to stand up without provoking? He'll try...

Swift action abjuration implement mental barrier, prevents 18 points of damage until next turn
Acrobatics: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9

Lokhir's eyes flickered open...and he saw a dragon looming above him! Eyes wide with fear, he scrambled to his feet, wildly throwing up whatever protective spells he could think of.

As Kaldwell stood up, Zassrion lashed out once more at his form, once more knocking him unconscious. Lokhir seems to be able to get up unnoticed though.

AoO vs Kaldwell, prone: 1d20 + 23 ⇒ (18) + 23 = 41
Damage: 2d8 + 12 ⇒ (8, 6) + 12 = 26

Just waiting on Yattle's action. Kaldwell is now at -3 + 18 - 26 = -11 HP

Sizzling magma sweating from their pores, Yattle blasted away, growing more exhausted with every strike!

Magma Eruption: 10d6 + 35 ⇒ (1, 2, 4, 5, 2, 6, 2, 2, 1, 6) + 35 = 66Empowered then halved to 49, Reflex DC 22 to halve it to 24 (split between Bludgeoning and Fire). Taking one burn, so defenses flare.

In Sylvan
"Hey Eirnar, want to clear some of its defenses so I can really go to work?!"

Reflex DC 22: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (9) + 10 = 19

Yattle manages another blast as electricity continues to arc around the dragon. Looking very hurt but seeing victory within his grasps, he fells Lokhir once more with a bite and claw before moving into Eirnar's space and unleashing wings and tails on shaman. Lokhir is unconscious again with -3 HP and Eirnar is down to 26 HP

Party is up again

Lokhir raised his blade...to parry a dragon's bite. The elf found his entire arm inside the wyrm's mouth. He was then up in the air, flailing around as the dragon shook it's head. When it let the elf go it should have been enough to take him out of the fight. However, there was just enough power in his protective spells to keep the elf on his feet.

Stabilize: 1d20 ⇒ 10

HP was 18 with 18 blocked by abjuration

HP: 18 + 18 - 18 - 17 = 1
Should be at 1 HP

Hit: 1d20 + 18 - 2 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 18 - 2 + 1 = 37
Damage: 1d6 + 9 ⇒ (1) + 9 = 10

Confirm: 1d20 + 18 - 2 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 18 - 2 + 1 = 18

Haste: 1d20 + 18 - 1 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 18 - 1 + 2 = 23
Damage: 1d6 + 9 ⇒ (3) + 9 = 12

Hit: 1d20 + 13 - 2 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 13 - 2 + 1 = 32
Damage: 1d6 + 9 ⇒ (1) + 9 = 10

Obiouvsly the elf still being able to stand came as a surprise to the wyrm, as the elf stabbed the elf repeatedly.

Another point of abjuration. 1 HP, with 18 damage blocked first

Confirm: 1d20 + 18 - 2 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 18 - 2 + 1 = 33
Damage: 1d6 + 9 ⇒ (4) + 9 = 13

HP was 18 with 18 blocked by abjuration

I believe I took both the healing and the abjuration into account. You were at -4, Eirnar healed you for 18 (which put you at 14, not 18), and then you used abjuration for another 18. You then got hit for 17 and 18 putting you at -3 again or 1 higher than you were at before.

Kaldwell Death Check (Nat 20's only): 1d20 ⇒ 3

Kaldwell shuddered, and died once again as his wounds overcame him.

Eirnar moved over to Lokhir and used Breath of Life to try and save the the warrior.

Breath of Life: 5d8 + 9 ⇒ (4, 7, 7, 5, 5) + 9 = 37

AoO Eirnar: 1d20 + 23 ⇒ (1) + 23 = 24

By some miracle, the dragon missed Eirnar when he rushed to Lokhir's side, giving the elf just enough health to stand up. I'll just take Lokhir's first roll from above for his attack after standing.

Yattle is up

The magma weeping from their pores was hardening to obsidian, weighing down Yattle as they drew more and more of their life's heat into showering the dragon with molten stone!

Magma Eruption: 10d6 + 35 ⇒ (2, 6, 5, 5, 2, 6, 3, 6, 2, 1) + 35 = 73Empowered then halved to 54, Reflex DC 22 to halve it to 27 (split between Bludgeoning and Fire). Taking one burn, so defenses flare.

In Sylvan
"Seriously, it's blocking some of my fire!"

Reflex DC 22: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (19) + 10 = 29

Simultaneously edging closer to both death and victory, Zassirion roared his defiance to the skies. Tired of his foes constantly popping up after he knocked them down, he concentrated on the old man first, taking him out with one claw and then another. Then with bite and wing and tail, he knocked the elf back down. Having only one opponent left, he turned his remaining attention to Yattle...

Eirnar is at -8, Lokhir is at -13

Yattle is up

"Welp. Guess I'll just have to burn through that enchantment myself."

They were practically engulfed in a cocoon of cooling lava, but they kept pouring it on even as the extra weight dragged them back down into the mist below. It would be a near thing whether the dragon or their own exertions would defeat them first!

Magma Eruption: 10d6 + 35 ⇒ (2, 1, 6, 5, 6, 4, 2, 5, 3, 6) + 35 = 75 Empowered and Maximized (very inefficient but this is crunch time o_o) then halved to 66, Reflex DC 22 to halve it to 33 (split between Bludgeoning and Fire). Taking three burn, so defenses flare.

Stabalize: 1d20 - 8 ⇒ (8) - 8 = 0 - -9 HP

Reflex DC 22: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (19) + 10 = 29

Roaring at what was clearly about to be his victory, the Patchwork Lord Zassrion shook off the majority of Yattle's damage and stepped closer to unleash his fury on the small fey.

Definitely check my math, but even with DR 7, I believe Yattle just took enough damage that the NLD they had been accumulating knocked them unconscious.

Edit: Updated the above to take into account a 50% miss chance, but it looks like Yattle is still knocked out.

Briefly Lokhir's eyes flickered open. He found it hard to breathe. He tried to move his head but found that he couldn't. The elf looked up at the sky, seeing Yattle and the dragon battle it out. An intense feeling of sadness filled him. He was so young. There was so much that he wanted to do, but he knew that he wouldn't be able to do it. He had barely lived the lifespan of a human, of all things. And already it was over. He wondered if this was how humans felt when they died. He coughed up blood but couldn't move his head to let it out. He knew that he had only a few moments left. He wondered if he should pray. It was not something that he had ever done before. Would it matter? Would any deity listen, after he had spent so many years ignoring them? Would it even matter? He had just resolved to think of a prayer when his vision blurred, his eyes closed, and he died. The broken body of the elf lay there. His story was over.

Ignoring the blood and singe marks across his body, Zassrion roared his triumph to the sky, unleashing a mighty blast of electricity up in the air. Through the wall separating the aetherium from the courtyard, one of the shadows moved to take cover in the lingering fog cloud.

Breaking the necks of his conquests to ensure they would not come back to vex him, Zassrion growled at his minion. "Excellent work, Bishop Ezrael. Your intel about the intruders was most useful. Fetch my courtesans from the Sanguine Playhouse. Then remove their hides and add them to my suit. Perhaps between them and that other mortal I will finally be able to leave this accursed realm."

As the souls of the adventurers drifted away to join the other unfortunate mortals who had perished in this world in the Demon's Fen. With the one being who had cared for these souls, the Barrow King, killed and sent back to the Manmolds to be reformed and the votive candles knocked over, the souls could find no rest. Even when they saw the dragon lord flying overhead, their hides added to his quilt of skin but still trapped in the Harrowed Realm, they felt no peace.

As the years passed, yet more joined their ranks as the All-Seeing Hajeck was still compelled by Zassrion through her Harrow Deck to lure more mortals to their doom. But no matter how many mortals he killed, Zassrion came no closer to reaching his goal. He, and the rest of the Harrowed Realm, remained stuck in their never-ending story loops.