Age of Ashes - A Grand Tour of the Inner Sea (Inactive)

Game Master Luke_Parry

Archibald cannot find a chink in the skeleton's defenses, but Jean-Pierre manages to get an arrow in, doing a small amount of damage...

...which, when coupled with the punishing volley of force missiles that he throws its way, is enough to topple it!

Alak, despite the acid sizzling away on his flesh, Steps forward, and starts swinging...

Greatsword: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (8) + 10 = 18, for 1d12 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14 damage.
Greatsword: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22, for 1d12 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6 damage.
Greatsword: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (6) + 0 = 6, for 1d12 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5 damage.

1d6 ⇒ 4
1d20 ⇒ 17

...landing a single glancing blow, before the acid expires.

Voz is understandably unhappy about this turn of events, and reaches out for Alak, her hand crackling with necromantic energy...

Vampiric Touch: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (3) + 15 = 18, for 6d6 ⇒ (6, 5, 6, 5, 1, 2) = 25 damage.

...but he dodges the blow!

The Necromancer's Last Stand, Round 3:

Alak (-23)
V (-6)
Jean-Pierre (-32)
Archibald (-)

Feeling slightly more comfortable, Jean-Pierre moves forward, designates Voz as his target, and starts firing!

Hunted Shot: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (16) + 10 = 26, for 2d8 + 1d8 ⇒ (7, 4) + (4) = 15 damage.
Hunted Shot: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8, for 2d8 ⇒ (5, 1) = 6 damage.

He then tosses an Electric Arc...

Electric Arc: 2d4 + 2 ⇒ (4, 2) + 2 = 8 Electricity damage, DC 16 Reflex for half.

...before casting Shield, which causes a tracery of golden scales to glow across his skin.

Jean-Pierre's first arrow strikes true, dealing a significant amount of damage.

Reflex: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (8) + 12 = 20.

However, Voz dodges the worst of his electrical blast.

Alak, decidedly unimpressed with what she just tried to do, steps in, and keeps swinging...

Greatsword: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (14) + 10 = 24, for 1d12 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6 damage.
Greatsword: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14, for 1d12 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6 damage.

...but only manages another glancing blow.

Voz Strides away...

AoO: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (5) + 10 = 15, for 1d12 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12 damage.

Then tosses a blast of negative energy back at Alak.

Fort: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (4) + 9 = 13.

Grim Tendrils: 4d4 ⇒ (4, 2, 1, 3) = 10 Negative Energy damage, +2 Persistent Bleed.

...nodding in satisfaction when he starts bleeding from his eyes, ears and nose.

The Necromancer's Last Stand, Round 4:

Alak (-33; 2 Persistent Bleed)
V (-31)
Jean-Pierre (-32)
Archibald (-)

Jean-Pierre hustles forward, and keeps shooting...

Hunted Shot: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (3) + 10 = 13, for 2d8 + 1d8 + 1d8 ⇒ (2, 3) + (2) + (5) = 12 damage.
Hunted Shot: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23, for 2d8 + 1d8 ⇒ (1, 1) + (7) = 9 damage.

...before directing Archibald to move in and attack.

Jaws: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 21, for 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11 damage.

He then tosses an Electric Arc...

Electric Arc: 2d4 + 2 ⇒ (1, 3) + 2 = 6 Electricity damage, DC 16 Reflex for half.

...before casting Shield, which causes a tracery of golden scales to glow across his skin.

Voz wilts slightly under the combined attack of Jean-Pierre and Archibald, but she remains unbowed...

Reflex: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (10) + 12 = 22.

...even when the electricity causes her hair to burst out of its neat braid.

"Your ally is not long for this world; how much longer do you think you will outlast him?"

Spitting blood, Alak snarls back:

"Whilst there is still breath within my body, I will resist the likes of you, graverobber!"

He then hustles around to a flank, and takes a swing...

Greatsword: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (5) + 10 = 15, for 1d12 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10 damage.

1d20 ⇒ 16

...before collapsing to the ground.

Voz sniggers.

"As I was saying..."

She then Steps back on top of Alak's body, and casts a spell, causing three additional images to appear

The Necromancer's Last Stand, Round 5:

Alak (-34; Unconscious; Dying 2)
V (-54; 3 images)
Jean-Pierre (-32)
Archibald (-)

Jean-Pierre groans.

"Alak, bravery is one thing, but you really need to stop doing that..."

With a shrug, he keeps volley-firing.

Hunted Shot: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (8) + 10 = 18, for 2d8 + 1d8 + 1d8 ⇒ (5, 8) + (6) + (7) = 26 damage.
Hunted Shot: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17, for 2d8 + 1d8 ⇒ (1, 8) + (8) = 17 damage.
Iterative: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (8) + 0 = 8, for 2d8 + 1d8 ⇒ (5, 7) + (8) = 20 damage.

He then tosses an Electric Arc...

Electric Arc: 2d4 + 2 ⇒ (3, 4) + 2 = 9 Electricity damage, DC 16 Reflex for half.

...before casting Shield, which causes a tracery of golden scales to glow across his skin.

Reflex: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (3) + 12 = 15.

Although all of his arrows miss, Jean-Pierre's electrical blast proves to be surprisingly effective, nearly knocking the Necromancer off her feet!

1d20 ⇒ 20

Meanwhile, Alak's bleeding stops!

Uncertainty clear on her face for the very first time, she tosses a spell at Jean-Pierre...

Will save Vs Fear. DC is 23.

...before conjuring a mystical Shield of her own.

The Necromancer's Last Stand, Round 6:

Alak (-34; Unconscious)
V (-63; 3 images)
Jean-Pierre (-32)
Archibald (-)

Will: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (11) + 9 = 20.

Shaken by the spell that was just thrown at him, Jean-Pierre nevertheless powers through it, directs Archibald to harry her, and keeps trying to bring the Necromancer down!

Hunted Shot: 1d20 + 10 - 2 ⇒ (19) + 10 - 2 = 27, for 2d8 + 1d8 + 1d8 ⇒ (4, 7) + (5) + (3) = 19 damage.
Hunted Shot: 1d20 + 5 - 2 ⇒ (11) + 5 - 2 = 14, for 2d8 + 1d8 ⇒ (1, 3) + (4) = 8 damage.
Iterative: 1d20 + 0 - 2 ⇒ (10) + 0 - 2 = 8, for 2d8 + 1d8 ⇒ (3, 1) + (7) = 11 damage.

He then tosses an Electric Arc...

Electric Arc: 2d4 + 2 ⇒ (2, 3) + 2 = 7 Electricity damage, DC 16 Reflex for half.

...before casting Shield, which causes a tracery of golden scales to glow across his skin.

Jean-Pierre's first arrow bores straight through her forehead, and she collapses to the ground, dead.

Searching the bodies reveals the following:

Chainmail, Lance, Longsword, Scimitar, Shortbow (20 arrows), Lesser Healing Potion, Scroll of Sleep, Scroll of True Strike, and a +1 Dagger.

In addition to Voz’s gear, she also carries a knapsack containing her journal and papers—which includes her correspondence with the Scarlet Triad. The correspondence doesn’t make it clear exactly what sort of organization the Scarlet Triad is, but the group promises to sponsor Voz’s plans to found an assassination guild and necromancy laboratory in the basement of Citadel Altaerein. Before they’ll initiate this patronage and proved her support, though, the Scarlet Triad correspondent tells Voz that she must first confirm the existence of Alseta’s Ring, find a way to secure it, and then activate as many of the portals as possible. Once she proves to this shadowy group that she’s done this, the Scarlet Triad has promised hefty compensation, more than enough for her to get started setting up her guild and laboratory under Hellknight Hill. Voz signs all of her letters “By Norgorber’s hand,” whilst her correspondent's name is 'Laslunn'.

Society: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7.
Religion: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17.

Jean-Pierre has never heard of the Scarlet Triad, but he knows that 'By Norgorber's Hand' marks Voz as a dedicated follower of the Reaper of Reputation.

Voz's actual journal, however, is written in a language that he has never seen before...

Alright! Time to level up to 4 :-)

After dumping the bodies outside, so that they don't attract predators, Jean-Pierre settles down to rest.

In the morning, he feels remarkably refreshed; his vitality is finally restored!

After shouldering his pack, he heads deeper into the cave complex...

This long twisting tunnel is relatively safe for its length, apart from being completely dark. As you travel along some 6-1/2 miles, you encounter a series of small caverns in which the dead bodies of giant spiders, giant centipedes, and other minor cave threats lie sprawled about. Here and there lie the broken remains of skeletons as well.

You also pass less recent signs of goblin inhabitants who were chased off, leaving behind ruined stone huts and crumbling homes in which nothing of value or interest remains.

Eventually...

Although the tunnel opens wide into a sprawling cavern here, it seems even more claustrophobic, for viscous spiderwebs crisscross nearly every inch of the place. Along the northern wall, several human-sized lumps in the webs are thickly wrapped in silk webbing, while the entire floor is covered in sticky goop.

As you approach, the webbing explodes, as six hungry spiders the size of human beings drop from the ceiling, chittering!

HS: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21.
Alak: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12.
Jean-Pierre: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (19) + 10 = 29.

Eight-Legged Freaks, Round 1:

Jean-Pierre (-)
Archibald (-)
HS (-, -, -, -, -, -)
Alak (-)

Jean-Pierre grins wolfishly.

"Did someone call for an exterminator...?"

After directing Archibald forward, he starts unleashing!

Hunted Shot: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (15) + 11 = 26, for 2d8 + 1d8 + 1d8 ⇒ (3, 8) + (2) + (4) = 17 damage.
Hunted Shot: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9, for 2d8 + 1d8 ⇒ (2, 3) + (2) = 7 damage.

He then tosses an Electric Arc...

Electric Arc: 2d4 + 2 ⇒ (2, 2) + 2 = 6 Electricity damage, DC 17 Reflex for half.

...before casting Shield, which causes a tracery of golden scales to glow across his skin.

Jean-Pierre's first shot pins a spider to the wall, where it jerks spasmodically as it dies.

Reflex: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (20) + 9 = 29.
Reflex: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (1) + 9 = 10.

One spider then dodges the electrical blast entirely, whilst the other catches it across its central nervous system!

The remaining spiders then scuttle forward, eager for fresh food...

Fangs: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (12) + 9 = 21, for 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3 damage.
Fangs: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11, for 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7 damage.
Fangs: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (5) - 1 = 4, for 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3 damage.
Fangs: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (19) + 9 = 28, for 2d6 + 4 ⇒ (2, 1) + 4 = 7 damage.
Fangs: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19, for 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4 damage.
Fangs: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (20) + 9 = 29, for 2d6 + 4 ⇒ (5, 1) + 4 = 10 damage.

The spiders go to town on the poor bear, seeing him as the largest food source...

Fangs - Alak: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (15) + 9 = 24, for 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7 damage.
Fangs: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13, for 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3 damage.

Fangs - Jean-Pierre: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (15) + 9 = 24, for 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7 damage.
Fangs: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22, for 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8 damage.

...whilst the two on Alak and Jean-Pierre each manage to get in a single bite.

Fort: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (3) + 9 = 12.

1d10 ⇒ 5 Poison damage.

Alak starts to look decidedly green around the gills...

Greatsword: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (3) + 10 = 13, for 1d12 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11 damage.
Greatsword: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22, for 1d12 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13 damage.
Greatsword: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (1) + 0 = 1, for 1d12 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9 damage.

...annihilating the injured spider.

Fort: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (3) + 9 = 12.

1d12 ⇒ 3 Poison damage, Clumsy 1, and Flat-footed.

Eight-Legged Freaks, Round 2:

Jean-Pierre (-7, Fort save)
Archibald (-24, Fort save x3)
HS (-, -, -, -)
Alak (-15, Clumsy 1, Flat-Footed; Poison Stage 2)

"Eh. I've had worse love-bites..."

Gritting his teeth, Jean-Pierre shifts his focus to the one on him!

Fort: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (11) + 10 = 21.

Fort: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (19) + 8 = 27.
Fort: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (14) + 8 = 22.
Fort: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16.

Hunted Shot: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (16) + 11 = 27, for 2d8 + 1d8 ⇒ (3, 6) + (8) = 17 damage.
Hunted Shot: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7, for 2d8 ⇒ (6, 6) = 12 damage.
Iterative: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 1 = 10, for 2d8 ⇒ (4, 4) = 8 damage.

He then tosses an Electric Arc...

Electric Arc: 2d4 + 2 ⇒ (2, 1) + 2 = 5 Electricity damage, DC 17 Reflex for half.

...before casting Shield, which causes a tracery of golden scales to glow across his skin.

Jean-Pierre blows up the spider attacking him!

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

Two other spiders then jerk pleasingly in his electrical blast.

The three remaining spiders continue to hungrily rip into Archibald...

Fangs: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (17) + 9 = 26, for 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7 damage.
Fangs: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7, for 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5 damage.
Fangs: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (9) - 1 = 8, for 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7 damage.
Fangs: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (14) + 9 = 23, for 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6 damage.
Fangs: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5, for 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5 damage.
Fangs: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (3) - 1 = 2, for 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4 damage.
Fangs: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (8) + 9 = 17, for 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3 damage.
Fangs: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9, for 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8 damage.
Fangs: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (8) - 1 = 7, for 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4 damage.

...however, this time, Archibald is wise to the threat they pose, and despite their frenzy, only two attacks makes it through!

Alak groans.

"I do *not* want to know about where you grew up, then..."

Nevertheless, he strides forward to assist Archibald...

Greatsword: 1d20 + 10 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 10 + 2 = 13, for 1d12 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15 damage.
Greatsword: 1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 5 + 2 = 14, for 1d12 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16 damage.

...but, distracted by the venom, none of his attacks land...

Fort: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (11) + 9 = 20.

...although he finally shakes off the effects of the poison.

Eight-Legged Freaks, Round 3:

Jean-Pierre (-7)
Archibald (-37, Fort save x2)
HS (-2, -10, -)
Alak (-15)

Fort: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 21.
Fort: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11.

Shifting his focus again, and commanding Archibald to assist, Jean-Pierre keeps up the steady stream of arrows!

Hunted Shot: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (15) + 11 = 26, for 2d8 + 1d8 + 1d8 ⇒ (5, 8) + (6) + (8) = 27 damage.
Hunted Shot: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15, for 2d8 + 1d8 ⇒ (7, 1) + (3) = 11 damage.

He then tosses an Electric Arc...

Electric Arc: 2d4 + 2 ⇒ (3, 4) + 2 = 9 Electricity damage, DC 17 Reflex for half.

...before casting Shield, which causes a tracery of golden scales to glow across his skin.

Fort: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10.

Jean-Pierre pins another spider to the wall, but his second shot goes wide.

Reflex: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (14) + 9 = 23.
Reflex: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (13) + 9 = 22.

The remaining two spiders then dodge the worst of the electrical discharge.

1d10 + 1d12 ⇒ (7) + (10) = 17

Archibald starts to look quite sick...

Fangs: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (2) + 9 = 11, for 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4 damage.
Fangs: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23, for 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3 damage.
Fangs: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (12) - 1 = 11, for 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7 damage.
Fangs: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (11) + 9 = 20, for 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3 damage.
Fangs: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24, for 2d6 + 4 ⇒ (2, 5) + 4 = 11 damage.
Fangs: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (2) - 1 = 1, for 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4 damage.

...which the spiders happily take advantage of, injecting him with more poison.

Alak springs into action...

Greatsword: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (18) + 10 = 28, for 2d12 + 8 ⇒ (5, 1) + 8 = 14 damage.
Greatsword: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17, for 1d12 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8 damage.

...annihilating the heavily injured one messily with his greatsword, before slashing the flank of the final one.

Eight-Legged Freaks, Round 4:

Jean-Pierre (-7)
Archibald (-71, Fort save x3)
HS (-12)
Alak (-15)

Fort: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11.
Fort: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (16) + 8 = 24.
Fort: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 21.
Fort: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 20.

Jean-Pierre moves into the room for a better view, declares the final one as his Prey, and keeps firing!

Hunted Shot: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (15) + 11 = 26, for 2d8 + 1d8 + 1d8 ⇒ (4, 2) + (5) + (8) = 19 damage.
Hunted Shot: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23, for 2d8 + 1d8 ⇒ (7, 6) + (2) = 15 damage.

He then tosses an Electric Arc...

Electric Arc: 2d4 + 2 ⇒ (2, 1) + 2 = 5 Electricity damage, DC 17 Reflex for half.

...before casting Shield, which causes a tracery of golden scales to glow across his skin.

2d6 ⇒ (5, 1) = 6

Jean-Pierre's first arrow blasts through the carapace of the final spider, and Archibald fights off the venom, narrowly staving off unconsciousness!

Jean-Pierre (-7)
Archibald (-77)
Alak (-15)

"Well," Alak notes, "that *could* have gone worse... we could have actually ended up as vermin food, rather than simply being mauled..."

"Quite."

Jean-Pierre settles down to heal his allies.

Archibald: 2d8 ⇒ (6, 5) = 11.
Alak: 2d8 ⇒ (8, 4) = 12.
Archibald: 2d8 ⇒ (8, 6) = 14.
Alak: 2d8 ⇒ (8, 6) = 14.
Archibald: 2d8 ⇒ (5, 4) = 9.
Archibald: 2d8 ⇒ (6, 2) = 8.
Archibald: 2d8 ⇒ (8, 4) = 12.

An hour and a half later, he is patched them up as good as new!

He then searches the cave...

Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (7) + 10 = 17.

...before moving on down the Southern passage.

Investigate the human-sized lumps in the webs along the northern wall, you find that most of these sacs are full of rot and decay when punctured.

However, one of the lumps reveals a recently deceased human adventurer whose body is desiccated beyond recognition but still intact... and is still clutching a +1 striking scimitar! Sadly, the weapon couldn’t save the hero from the spiders...

Moving on...

The gloom and tunnels snaking away from each end of this open cavern make it seem like merely a corridor rather than a proper chamber. Thick sheets of spiderwebs hang from the northern wall.

Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (11) + 10 = 21.

Jean-Pierre notices that one section of webbing is actually a cleverly hidden tent!

Jean-Pierre frowns.

Someone living in a spider-silk tent?

He then clears his throat loudly.

"Whomever you are, please come out with your hands up. Resistance will be met with lethal force. This is your only warning..."

A dark-skinned Mwangi woman quickly comes out of the tent, her hands raised.

"Don't shoot! I mean no harm! I just want to get home! I've been trapped here for over a week!"

Jean-Pierre's frown deepens.

"That, frankly, depends. Who are you, why are you here, and are you allied with the Cinderclaws, or Voz?"

"My name is Renali! I am a long way from home... I noticed the Cinderclaws, a group I've long detested, becoming interested in an old shrine to the elven god Ketephys down in the Mwangi Expanse; they activated some kind of gateway in the temple, and passed through! I was suspicious, so I followed them, but was noticed almost immediately; I fled, barely escaping with my life, and I've been stranded here for weeks, feeding on vermin, fungus, and water dripping from the walls! I've never heard of Voz!"

Jean-Pierre looks thoughtful.

"In that case, I think we can be useful to each other. I'm Jean-Pierre, the dour-looking human over there is Alak, and the bear is Archibald. YOu should know, the way to the surface is now clear, back along the path that I took to get here. What can you tell us of what we can expect up ahead?"

"Well, in the next chamber over, down a short cliff, is a mad greater barghest, lording over a pile of goblin skeletons; beyond that is a long corridor, and a semi-vertical tunnel packed with fungus, down to some old elven ruins - that's where Malarunk, a charau-ka Cleric of Dahak, and his charau-ka and boggard minions are lairing. Beyond that is the gate room - there were a *lot* of portals down there, but only the one that I came through was active; Malarunk touched a golden arrowhead to the portal to turn it on..."

Jean-Pierre's expression sours.

"That... sounds dangerous. Barghests are bad enough when they are sane; I shudder to think what an insane one would get up to..."

He then casts Invisibility, and Spider Climb, and moves forward, ready to put the Barghest down, *hard*.

Almost as an after-thought, the woman adds:

"You will need magic weapons to harm it effectively..."

Frowning, Alak borrows the +1 Striking Scimitar, noting ruefully: "My greatsword literally won't cut it..."

Moving forward:

A massive throne constructed of old bones and broken furniture tied together with ropes and chains and draped with moth-eaten velvet is the overwhelming centerpiece of this wide-open cave. Arrayed in concentric circles around the throne are the skeletal corpses of small, oblong-skulled humanoids—each posed with their head inclined reverently toward the throne’s seat.

Sitting upon the throne, making outlandish requests of the skeletons, as a filthy 'Goblin'...

Feel free to take a surprise round.

Jean-Pierre scuttles across the roof of the room, then, once in position, opens-up upon the Barghest!

Hunted Shot: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (1) + 11 = 12, for 2d8 + 1d8 ⇒ (7, 4) + (1) = 12 damage.
Hunted Shot: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12, for 2d8 ⇒ (5, 5) = 10 damage.
Iterative: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 1 = 13, for 2d8 ⇒ (1, 6) = 7 damage.

He then tosses a brace of force missiles...

Magic Missile: 3d4 + 3 ⇒ (4, 2, 2) + 3 = 11.

Jean-Pierre's arrows go wide, but his force missiles strike true!

The Goblin roars, in a voice far too deep for its small form.

"Who DARES mock Ralldar!?"

Ralldar: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (20) + 16 = 36.
Alak: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8.
Jean-Pierre: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (6) + 10 = 16.

The goblin leaps from the throne, concentrates, then turns into something far more terrifying: A large fiend, that looks like some unholy hybrid of a wolf and goblin!

The Lair of the Goblin-God, Round 1:

Ralldar (-11)
Jean-Pierre (-)
Archibald (-)
Alak(-)

"I do!", Jean-Pierre quips flippantly.

Hunted Shot: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (11) + 11 = 22, for 2d8 + 1d8 ⇒ (3, 1) + (1) = 5 damage.
Hunted Shot: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7, for 2d8 ⇒ (1, 5) = 6 damage.
Iterative: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 1 = 12, for 2d8 ⇒ (2, 2) = 4 damage.
Iterative: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 1 = 12, for 2d8 ⇒ (2, 5) = 7 damage.

Magic Missile: 3d4 + 3 ⇒ (2, 1, 2) + 3 = 8 Force damage.

Once again, all of Jean-Pierre's arrows miss, but his impossible-to-miss force missiles continue to slow plug away at the beast.

Alak groans, grimaces, and jumps...

Athletics: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13.

...and lands on his backside!

1d6 ⇒ 2

Grumbling, he stands up, and moves to engage the Barghest.

The Barghest snorts.

"Stop that!"

It then casts a spell...

+1 Striking Scimitar: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (18) + 11 = 29, for 2d6 + 4 ⇒ (3, 5) + 4 = 12 damage.

...which, amazingly, Alak manages to disrupt!

"Gah!"

In frustration, it lashes out at Alak...

Claw: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (18) + 17 = 35, for 4d8 + 14 ⇒ (4, 5, 3, 5) + 14 = 31 damage.

...nearly eviscerating the poor man!

The Lair of the Goblin-God, Round 2:

Ralldar (-31)
Jean-Pierre (-)
Archibald (-)
Alak(-31)

Gulping, Jean-Pierre pours everything he can into trying to take down the beast before it murders Alak...

Hunted Shot: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (11) + 11 = 22, for 2d8 + 1d8 ⇒ (3, 6) + (7) = 16 damage.
Hunted Shot: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15, for 2d8 ⇒ (5, 4) = 9 damage.
Iterative: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 1 = 17, for 2d8 ⇒ (8, 7) = 15 damage.
Iterative: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 1 = 15, for 2d8 ⇒ (4, 7) = 11 damage.

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

Seriously!?

Once again, Jean-Pierre's force missiles prove to be his only effective ability.

"For the Order!"

Knowing that he faces death, Alak grimly hacks away at the beast...

+1 Striking Scimitar: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (7) + 11 = 18, for 2d6 + 4 ⇒ (3, 6) + 4 = 13 damage.
+1 Striking Scimitar: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26, for 4d6 + 8 ⇒ (6, 4, 4, 6) + 8 = 28 damage.
+1 Striking Scimitar: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 1 = 10, for 2d6 + 4 ⇒ (5, 4) + 4 = 13 damage.

...landing a lucky blow that nearly hamstrings it.

Ralldar, clearly annoyed, attacks...

Claw: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (12) + 17 = 29, for 2d8 + 6 ⇒ (5, 1) + 6 = 12 damage.
Claw: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (5) + 13 = 18, for 2d8 + 6 ⇒ (5, 2) + 6 = 13 damage.
Claw: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (18) + 9 = 27, for 2d8 + 6 ⇒ (8, 5) + 6 = 19 damage.

...practically disembowling the poor armiger.

He then narrows his eyes as he turns to regard Jean-Pierre.

"You, little gnat, are next..."

The Lair of the Goblin-God, Round 3:

Ralldar (-69)
Jean-Pierre (-)
Archibald (-)
Alak(-34, Unconscious, Dying 3)

Jean-Pierre swallows hard, but focuses upon harming the barghest!

Hunted Shot: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (16) + 11 = 27, for 2d8 + 1d8 ⇒ (5, 3) + (5) = 13 damage.
Hunted Shot: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20, for 2d8 ⇒ (6, 6) = 12 damage.
Iterative: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 1 = 15, for 2d8 ⇒ (3, 3) = 6 damage.
Iterative: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7, for 2d8 ⇒ (7, 2) = 9 damage.

Magic Missile: 3d4 + 3 ⇒ (3, 1, 4) + 3 = 11 Force damage.

Jean-Pierre finally manages to get an arrow through the Barghest's defenses; Ralldar looks surprised, but more annoyed than hurt.

However, after another volley of force missiles slam into him, his self-confident anger begins to fade into genuine fear...

1d20 ⇒ 10

...whilst Alak breathes his last.

Ralldar turns back into Goblin form, and flees down the tunnel to the East!

The Lair of the Goblin-God, Round 4:

Ralldar (-93)
Jean-Pierre (-)
Archibald (-)

Jean-Pierre is incandescent with rage!

"No you don't, you little shit!"

He chases after the Barghest, keeping up the steady stream of arrows and force missiles!

Hunted Shot: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (13) + 11 = 24, for 2d8 + 1d8 ⇒ (1, 4) + (4) = 9 damage.
Hunted Shot: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19, for 2d8 ⇒ (7, 5) = 12 damage.

Magic Missile: 3d4 + 3 ⇒ (1, 4, 1) + 3 = 9 Force damage.

Once again, Jean-Pierre's arrows prove to be utterly ineffective, but his force missiles strike true!

Upon being confronted again, something snaps inside Ralldar, as with a roar, he turns back into Barghest form, and tries to rip Jean-Pierre apart, all thoughts of self-preservation gone!

Claw: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (19) + 17 = 36, for 4d8 + 12 ⇒ (3, 3, 7, 7) + 12 = 32 damage.
Claw: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (17) + 13 = 30, for 2d8 + 6 ⇒ (4, 7) + 6 = 17 damage.

The Lair of the Goblin-God, Round 5:

Ralldar (-102)
Jean-Pierre (-49)
Archibald (-)

Jean-Pierre, blinded with fury, steps back, and keeps firing, pouring his heart, soul, and rage into every shot!

Hunted Shot: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (11) + 11 = 22, for 2d8 + 1d8 ⇒ (5, 4) + (8) = 17 damage.
Hunted Shot: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8, for 2d8 ⇒ (6, 7) = 13 damage.
Iterative: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 1 = 10, for 2d8 ⇒ (2, 5) = 7 damage.

Magic Missile: 3d4 + 3 ⇒ (3, 4, 3) + 3 = 13 Force damage.

Arrows fly everywhere, but unfortunately, none manage to actually hit the Barghest...

...the force missiles, on the other hand, still strike true, slamming into its skull, fracturing it.

It falls to the ground, dead.

Combat over... but at what cost?

Jean-Pierre, vindictively, moves over and puts two arrows through the beast's skull from point-blank range, making *sure* that it is dead.

He then goes over to Alak's body, and shakes his head, sadly.

"I am sorry that your journey has ended... I will make sure that you are interred with the ancient remains of your Order, and that the Crypt is restored."

Jean-Pierre then begins the sorry business of cleaning up his ally's remains (suturing his wounds closed, and then cleaning the body with Prestidigitation), before searching the area.

The room the Barghest made its final stand in, is littered with bones...

Medicine: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (11) + 11 = 22.

...most are goblinoid in origin, with some human, elf, and orc bones included in the mix.

Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (15) + 10 = 25.

Searching around, Jean-Pierre finds a +1 breastplate and a +1 chain shirt, a fan feather token, a fear gem, a pair of healer’s gloves, and a wand of web.

Sighing ruefully, Jean-Pierre cautiously moves down the long tunnel...

The tunnel widens, then drops away in a series of ten-foot-high cliffs into a chamber filled with fine, hairlike filaments and mushrooms. The filaments look like bleached grass and wave erratically with the cave’s natural air currents. The mushrooms glow slightly, giving the cave a strange, dreamlike feel. To the south, a seven-foot-wide hole in the floor drops down into a chamber below.

Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (20) + 10 = 30.

Survival: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10.

Jean-Pierre spots the dangerous mushrooms that the MWangi woman told him about, but he doesn't know anything about them, specifically.

What would you like to do?

From a safe distance, Jean-Pierre will throw Lesser Alchemist Fires at them, until they go away, or he runs out.

Lesser Alchemist's Fire: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (2) + 10 = 12, for 1d8 ⇒ 4 fire damage, and 1 Persistent Fire damage.
Lesser Alchemist's Fire: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (18) + 10 = 28, for 1d8 ⇒ 3 fire damage, and 1 Persistent Fire damage.
Lesser Alchemist's Fire: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (6) + 10 = 16, for 1d8 ⇒ 4 fire damage, and 1 Persistent Fire damage.

2d20 ⇒ (4, 20) = 24

Only one manages to hit, and the mushrooms burn briefly, before sputtering out; however, a *lot* of fungus remains.

Fungus (-5)

Groaning, Jean-Pierre starts shooting at it.

+1 Striking Longbow: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (11) + 11 = 22, for 2d8 ⇒ (4, 7) = 11 damage.
+1 Striking Longbow: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (10) + 11 = 21, for 2d8 ⇒ (7, 8) = 15 damage.
+1 Striking Longbow: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (3) + 11 = 14, for 2d8 ⇒ (2, 3) = 5 damage.
+1 Striking Longbow: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (11) + 11 = 22, for 2d8 ⇒ (7, 7) = 14 damage.
+1 Striking Longbow: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (13) + 11 = 24, for 2d8 ⇒ (6, 2) = 8 damage.
+1 Striking Longbow: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (12) + 11 = 23, for 2d8 ⇒ (2, 5) = 7 damage.
+1 Striking Longbow: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (18) + 11 = 29, for 2d8 ⇒ (8, 5) = 13 damage.
+1 Striking Longbow: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (11) + 11 = 22, for 2d8 ⇒ (8, 4) = 12 damage.
+1 Striking Longbow: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (18) + 11 = 29, for 2d8 ⇒ (6, 3) = 9 damage.
+1 Striking Longbow: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (5) + 11 = 16, for 2d8 ⇒ (3, 7) = 10 damage.
+1 Striking Longbow: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (1) + 11 = 12, for 2d8 ⇒ (2, 3) = 5 damage.
+1 Striking Longbow: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (19) + 11 = 30, for 2d8 ⇒ (2, 1) = 3 damage.
+1 Striking Longbow: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (10) + 11 = 21, for 2d8 ⇒ (3, 4) = 7 damage.
+1 Striking Longbow: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (10) + 11 = 21, for 2d8 ⇒ (4, 8) = 12 damage.
+1 Striking Longbow: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (11) + 11 = 22, for 2d8 ⇒ (3, 1) = 4 damage.

After his 5th arrow, Jean-Pierre feels that he has cleared out the fungus patch...

Still shaken by Alak's loss, Jean-Pierre decides to rest for the night, before tackling the final group of cultists in the morning.

I'll cast Invisibility and Spider Climb on myself and Archibald, so that we can get down the shaft safely. After that, I'll see what there is... Ideally, I'll stay on the room, whilst Archibald is on the ground.