GM Foxy's Legacy of Fire

Game Master Foxy Quickpaw

After a few moments, as the slick of oil flares up and burns itself out, leaving a clear patch of water along whose edges small patches of the green slime start breaking off again, it becomes clear that the slime itself, while flammable, isn’t all that much, at least spread thin over water.

Aith frowns, unsure of what to do next, when her fungus-covered arm – well, it doesn’t twitch exactly, but whatever it is that’s growing on her is obviously getting a bit impatient and doesn’t much care for the slime. Wonderful. Jealous mushrooms? Possessive? What next?

Feeling foolish, she lets her arm lift, with a glance and a shrug at Yasmeena, as if to ask, Well, if fire worked, might ice as well? And then she pulls the trigger, sending a bullet into the water and watching a thin sheen of ice spread a few feet from the point of contact, bend, crack, and turn the slime brittle, black, and, hopefully, inert.

“Well,” she says aloud, and starts blasting away curiously as fast as she can turn her pistol’s housing of barrels, sending blooms of ice across the surface of the flooded cavern. She’ll aim, I guess, especially for squares around the stepping-stones to begin with, so that maybe we can start moving on safely?

If the green slime were damaged by loud sounds the gun would work too. In this closed cavern the noise is almost unbearable and the blasts are accompanied by a swelling beep in the ear for all who don't cover them. But it is an easy and effective way to destroy the slime at least on the direct path.

With the slime gone it is possible to simply walk the way from pedestal to pedestal. Or taking 10 on the acrobatics check for DC10 as there is no immediate danger anymore.

The opening to the south is a short corridor that leads to a door. The chamber behind seems to be a temple with a sand-covered floor. The room shows signs of damage, with cracks running across the floors, walls, and ceiling. In the center looms a huge and horrific many-tentacled creature apparently frozen in a shell of translucent minerals. A single line of runes is carved into the northern face of a low stone pedestal on which this immense monster seems to have been frozen.

Antarah exclaims while covering his ears "Ow ow! Your new toy is not for the weak of heart, Aithaloessa."

Afterwards he observes the creature in the minerals and wonders what that is about. He says "We should probably leave that alone."

Yasmeena twirls in place again and tries to puzzle out the runes.

Bluff for Linguistics, heroism, Pageant: 1d20 + 16 + 2 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 16 + 2 + 4 = 33

Yasmeena squints at the runes and recites with a peculiar musical cadence: "Praise... Rovagug... you shall be...eaten... by the beast!"

"I got the feeling the one who created this dungeon had a bad fetish for having people eaten." Haleen comments.

"Must be a Rovagug thing.", Antarah says, remembering they are still technically in the House of the Beast. Since he prefers to avoid being eaten, he tries pressing the group forward toward the southern exit.

Leading by example, Antarah steps into the room. With the sound of hundreds of shattering crystals, the creature on the pedestal shakes off its calcite coating and comes to life, immediately attacking the transgressor.

Yasmeena, Aithaloessa, Tariq, Haleen <--
Kraken
Antarah

"I got the feeling the one who created this dungeon had a bad fetish for having people eaten." Haleen comments.

"Must be a Rovagug thing."

“Oh, good. So I’m not the only one who thought that that was strange. Why praise something that wants to eat you?” Aithaloessa frowns, as if giving the question serious consideration while she tries to figure out what sort of tentacled thing it might be behind its shell.

When Antarah steps forward and the thing bursts from its crystal coating, though, since it’s been a minute that she’s just been blasting her way forward, Aith continues to do so almost reflexively as she looks for a way past. Attack, PBS, arcane strike, vs. touch: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 6 + 1 = 10 Damage: 1d8 + 1 + 1 + 2 + 1d6 ⇒ (5) + 1 + 1 + 2 + (1) = 10

She’ll take her move action to try to start circling around out of reach, or fall back in a fighting retreat as Antarah suggested, whatever looks like the best way to safety.

Glad that this time the bizarre situation is not her fault, she asks the obvious question as she searches her memory for any helpful bit of monster lore, “Why is there a kraken in the desert?” Know (arcana?): 1d20 + 14 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 14 + 1 = 34 Angling for resistances/weaknesses, if she knows any.

As it becomes clear that running is not the chosen option, Haleen uses her talent to move past the enemy while stabbing at them.

Stab: 1d20 + 13 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 13 + 2 = 211d6 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11

Aithaloessa got too used to shooting patches of slime, that don't move. And so she manages to miss such a large creature. Haleen stabs it good.

Aithaloessa, Haleen
Yasmeena, Tariq <--
Kraken(11)
Antarah

"Damn!"

Tariq doesn't feel like fighting a giant land octopus, but he has no choice, it seems. "Lady Dawnflower, help me fix this..."

Divine Favor

Scimitar, DF, PA: 1d20 + 11 + 3 - 2 ⇒ (4) + 11 + 3 - 2 = 16
Damage, 2h, DF, PA: 1d8 + 10 + 3 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 10 + 3 + 6 = 21

Yasmeena draws an arrow in a graceful motion and shoots it at the creature.

Starting battle dance as move, shooting as standard.

Attack (shortbow), battle dance, heroism: 1d20 + 9 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 9 + 4 + 2 = 16
Damage (piercing), battle dance: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

She curses under her breath as the sudden attack causes her to miss her mark.

Tentacle AoO: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (7) + 9 = 161d6 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

Tariq avoids the tentacles that grab for him and swings his blade at the creature, but it's skin isn't as soft as that of it's cousins in the ocean. The blade doesn't cut it. Yasmeena almost shoots Aithaloessa as the bow string slips from her grasp.

The kraken sees itself faced by many trespassers, but it has enough arms to deal with everyone. At the end of that, everyone is restrained (oocc)(grappled)[/ooc] by the beast.

@Aithaloessa
Tentacle: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (7) + 9 = 161d6 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7
Tentacle: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (14) + 9 = 231d6 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8
Grab: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (11) + 18 = 29

@Haleen
Tentacle: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (1) + 9 = 101d6 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10
Tentacle: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (12) + 9 = 211d6 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6
Grab: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (11) + 18 = 29

@Antarah
Tentacle: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (1) + 9 = 101d6 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8
Tentacle: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (10) + 9 = 191d6 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9
Grab: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (14) + 18 = 32

@Tariq
Tentacle: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (19) + 9 = 281d6 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8
Tentacle: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (18) + 9 = 271d6 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5
Grab: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (7) + 18 = 25

@Yasmeena
Tentacle: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (3) + 9 = 121d6 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9
Tentacle: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (11) + 9 = 201d6 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6
Grab: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (19) + 18 = 37

Antarah, Aithaloessa, Haleen, Yasmeena, Tariq <--
Kraken(11)

As the desert kraken (which – but then again, given what crawls out of the Mana Wastes, Aith can’t actually complain that much) gets a good hold on her with a tentacle, Aith tries to relax and wait for her moment, knowing she is very definitely not a brilliant wrestler.

Instead, she tries to steady her free hand so she can cast a spell, drawing on her deepest reserves to do so. Spending a reservoir point to boost her CL. ASF: 1d100 ⇒ 54 Concentration, vs. 10 + CMB + 1: 1d20 + 11 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 11 + 1 = 20 If that's good enough... Magic missile: 4d4 + 4 ⇒ (1, 3, 1, 2) + 4 = 11

Antarah moves towards the tentacle holding Tariq and swings twice at it.

Spellstrike with Arcane Mark. Enchant weapon, but instead of turning it +3 keen, it's +2, keen, shocking.

Attack 1: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (4) + 9 = 13
Damage: 1d6 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8

Concentration DC 15: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (8) + 14 = 22
Attack 2: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (17) + 9 = 26
Damage: 1d6 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10
Electricity damage: 1d6 ⇒ 5

Crit confirm: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (7) + 9 = 16
Extra damage: 1d6 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12

Aithaloessa gets her magic wrung out of her. Antarah moves next to Tariq and hacks off the tentacle holding his companion.

Tentacle: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (6) + 9 = 151d6 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

Antarah, Aithaloessa,
Haleen, Yasmeena, Tariq <--
Kraken(11(9))

Haleen isn't happy with the situation, but it was expected. She stabs the beast.

Stab: 1d20 + 9 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 9 + 2 = 261d6 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8
Stab: 1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 5 + 2 = 151d6 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11

Tariq ignores the tentacle constraining his torso and keeps chopping on the Kraken's body. A dead Kraken uses no tentacles.

Scimitar, DF, PA: 1d20 + 11 + 3 - 2 ⇒ (5) + 11 + 3 - 2 = 17
Damage, 2h, DF, PA: 1d8 + 10 + 3 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 10 + 3 + 6 = 21

As long as I keep rolling 5s or 3s, it doesn't really matter whether I attach the body or the tentacles.

Haleen struggles to hit the beast, but manages at least one hit, while Tariq doesn't find a vulnerable spot to wound the creature.

Antarah, Aithaloessa, Haleen, Tariq
Yasmeena<--
Kraken(19(9))

The kraken squeezes everyone it got in a very unpleasant way and beats all.

@Antarah
Tentacle: 1d20 + 9 - 2 ⇒ (6) + 9 - 2 = 131d6 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5
Tentacle: 1d20 + 9 - 2 ⇒ (7) + 9 - 2 = 141d6 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10
Grab: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (8) + 18 = 26

@Aithaloessa
Tentacle: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8
Tentacle: 1d20 + 9 - 2 ⇒ (16) + 9 - 2 = 231d6 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

@Haleen
Tentacle: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7
Tentacle: 1d20 + 9 - 2 ⇒ (11) + 9 - 2 = 181d6 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9

@Tariq
Tentacle: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

@Yasmeena
Tentacle: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5
Tentacle: 1d20 + 9 - 2 ⇒ (8) + 9 - 2 = 151d6 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10

Antarah, Aithaloessa, Haleen, Tariq, Yasmeena(2x) <--
Kraken(19(9))

Antarah, yet again, avoids being caught by the tentacle. This time he focuses his attention on the creature's body, striking it twice.

Spellstrike with Arcane Mark. Arcane Strike

Attack 1: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (9) + 9 = 18
Damage: 1d6 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9

Concentration DC 15: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (2) + 14 = 16
Attack 2: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (9) + 9 = 18
Damage: 1d6 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14
Electricity damage: 1d6 ⇒ 6

(Oh, we were waiting for me. So sorry!)

Yasmeena struggles against the tentacle and tries her best to break free.

Escape Artist, heroism: 1d20 + 13 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 13 + 2 = 25

She maintains her battle dance as she tries to position herself somewhere with a bit of cover.

Then she shoots two arrows at the giant sea monster after it fails to catch her again.

Attack (shortbow), battle dance, heroism, PBS, RS: 1d20 + 9 + 4 + 2 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (2) + 9 + 4 + 2 + 1 - 2 = 16
Damage (piercing), battle dance, PBS: 1d6 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 4 + 1 = 6

Attack (shortbow), battle dance, heroism, PBS, RS: 1d20 + 9 + 4 + 2 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (17) + 9 + 4 + 2 + 1 - 2 = 31
Damage (piercing), battle dance, PBS: 1d6 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 4 + 1 = 8

Aith is able to laugh at herself. It kind of goes with the territory, trying to squeeze magic out of the depths of the Mana Wastes. That said, yesterday’s pratfalls, unfortunate tapping into wild magic, Rovagug-blessed bug bite, and now, trying to wiggle her way out of a kraken’s tentacular grasp… Well. She’s just feeling the want of a bit of dignity, is all.

Taking a deep breath, she tries to go through the gestures for another of her spells again, despite the jostling and the pressure. Aggressive thundercloud? ASF: 1d100 ⇒ 87 Concentration, vs. DC 10 + CMB +2: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (6) + 11 = 17

The foul squid-thing, though, seems to have either just too firm a grip, or enough unholy cunning to rattle her movements enough that her sparking magic doesn't quite coalesce.

Despite the unfortunate situation, that the tentacle monster has her in its grip, Haleen keeps wounding the beast. "Stop playing around and shoot that thing already." Haleen demands from Aithaloessa.

Stab: 1d20 + 9 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 9 + 2 = 261d6 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10
Stab: 1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 5 + 2 = 271d6 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6
Confirm: 1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 5 + 2 = 81d6 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9

38/60HP

Antarah misses the beast again. As Yasmeena shoots the first arrow, she earns another attack, but luckily evades it. The shot is lost though, but the second one sticks. Aithaloessa again turns magical energy into nothing, while Haleen manages to wound the beast.

Slap: 1d20 + 9 - 2 ⇒ (10) + 9 - 2 = 171d6 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

Antarah, Aithaloessa, Haleen, Yasmeena
Tariq <--
Kraken(43(9))

Even grappled by the tentacle, Tariq still chops - or tries to - at the kraken, driven by some of his companions' success.

"Yallah!"

Scimitar vs Body, DF, PA: 1d20 + 11 + 3 - 2 ⇒ (5) + 11 + 3 - 2 = 17
Damage, 2h, DF, PA: 1d8 + 10 + 3 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 10 + 3 + 6 = 27

This is starting to be annoying...

Being held at a long arm Tariq doesn't get a hit in. The kraken is set on destroying the defilers of the sanctuary he is guardian of.

@Antarah
Hold Grapple: 1d20 + 18 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 18 + 5 = 431d6 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6
Tentacle: 1d20 + 9 - 2 ⇒ (1) + 9 - 2 = 81d6 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

@Aithaloessa
Hold Grapple: 1d20 + 18 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 18 + 5 = 371d6 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7
Tentacle: 1d20 + 9 - 2 ⇒ (6) + 9 - 2 = 131d6 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

@Haleen
Hold Grapple: 1d20 + 18 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 18 + 5 = 281d6 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7
Tentacle: 1d20 + 9 - 2 ⇒ (1) + 9 - 2 = 81d6 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

@Tariq
Hold Grapple: 1d20 + 18 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 18 + 5 = 291d6 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

@Yasmerena
Tentacle: 1d20 + 9 - 2 ⇒ (12) + 9 - 2 = 191d6 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5
Tentacle: 1d20 + 9 - 2 ⇒ (18) + 9 - 2 = 251d6 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8
Grapple: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (17) + 18 = 35

I hate asking this but... Should't you roll to confirm?

Antarah gets hit by the tentacle but manages to not get tangled in it. He Continues trying to break its defenses. He uses his advantageous position that Haleen is helping him get.

Same action as before. Adding flank bonus (just subtract 2 if he has all around vision or the like.)

Attack 1: 1d20 + 9 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 9 + 2 = 20
Damage: 1d6 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13

Concentration DC 15: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (7) + 14 = 21
Attack 1: 1d20 + 9 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 9 + 2 = 21
Damage: 1d6 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9
Electricity damage: 1d6 ⇒ 6

Despite the unfortunate situation, that the tentacle monster has her in its grip, Haleen keeps wounding the beast. "Stop playing around and shoot that thing already." Haleen demands from Aithaloessa.

“Oh! Oh. Right!” Aith gurgles from behind a tentacle that’s trying to crawl up to grip her throat. That should be a bit easier, after all. Every mage needs a Hermione-meets-Devil’s-Snare moment: ‘Have you gone mad?! [Have you got X proficiency] or not?’ XD

As much easier as trying to aim while being pushed and pulled all about can be. She looks desperately for a clear shot at the body of the beast.
Attack, PBS, arcane strike, vs. touch: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 6 + 1 = 14 Damage: 1d8 + 1 + 1 + 2 + 1d6 ⇒ (5) + 1 + 1 + 2 + (1) = 10

Haleen keeps stabbing the mosnter.

Stab: 1d20 + 9 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 9 + 2 + 2 = 231d6 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11
Stab: 1d20 + 5 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 5 + 2 + 2 = 241d6 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9

31/60HP

Slap: 1d20 + 9 - 2 ⇒ (4) + 9 - 2 = 111d6 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10
The kraken tries to punish Aithaloessa for making a ranged attack, but entangles its arms. Antarah manages to strike the beast with all he got, Aithaloessa easily hits the monster with the gun and Haleen finishes it off with two stabs. All tentacles become limp and drop to the ground.

Combat over.

Antarah, slices the creature one more time to be sure, remembering those zombies that kept coming back to life. He asks "Everyone ok?"

"That depends on your definition of okay." Haleen replies with a smirk and stabs the kraken two more times. "But at least the embarrassing fate of being killed and eaten by a tentacle monster - that cup passed me."

Still with the tentacle around his body, Tariq tries to untangle from its grip.

"I'm naming a dish for this, I swear."

He proceeds to treat his bruises, and does so with whoever needs it.

Treat Deadly Wounds, Healer's Hands: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (11) + 19 = 30

Back to full.

"You're adding calamari to your menu?" Haleen wonders. "Would you fix me too?"

Yasmeena also bows for Tariq's healing hands, and helps Haleen top off with one of the healing wands.

Assuming Haleen gets 7 from Healing Hands, she is at 38/60.

Wand of CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4 42/60
Wand of CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7 49/60
Wand of CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3 52/60
Wand of CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2 54/60
Wand of CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6 60/60

(Used 5 charges.)

Tariq uses his medicine knowledge to patch up Haleen as well.

Patching up Haleen: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (12) + 19 = 31

That's 31 damage healed. Not 7. We're in the NBA of healing, here :p

Oh sorry, I didn't realize you had Incredible Healer too! Will you also heal Yasmeena her piddly 8 hp?

“Right. Right. Bullets. Physical weapons,” Aith mutters, shrugging off the limp weight of dead tentacle from around her shoulders before joining the chorus of confirmations, “I’m mostly alright.”

I’ll take a few of those charges, if that’s OK. If Yasmeena takes the first two, and Aith the rest, that’s the one full up, and the other only 3 hp down, and Tariq can still do the Incredible Healer thing if we run into something that roughs us all up worse?

Or whatever works out best. Aith can dip into her own reserves, instead.

She’s still slowed by the effects of the Carrion King’s pet bug's bite, but she lifts a weary arm regardless to point across the room and over the fallen kraken to the doors in the far wall. “Shall we press on, after we catch our breaths?”

"Sure! I'm itching to find out what we're gonna face next!"

Having had a look at Yasmeena's condition, Tariq determines she's fitter than a first glance would tell.

"I think that bruise you've got is better treated with the wand."

Healer's Hands has limited uses, do you want me to expend one healing 8 hp? If affirmative, consider it done. Tariq heals a minimum of 20 hp.

"I feel invigorated. Like the next one who opposes us will meet their fate even faster."

Tariq kicks open the double doors on the opposite side of this sand box. This large crypt contains three vaulted alcoves that form a clover-shaped room centered upon a dais. Atop the dais rests a single massive block of deep black stone. Carvings in each alcove and on the sarcophagus itself depict the terrifying image of a nine-legged spider with a gaping maw.

Getting Indiana Jones vibes...

Antarah looks at the stone and says "I don't want to touch that.", remembering what happened in the last room. Still, he scans the room for magical auras.

If I can get a roll for that.

Getting Indiana Jones vibes...

Antarah looks at the stone and says "I don't want to touch that.", remembering what happened in the last room. Still, he scans the room for magical auras.

“You don’t? I’m deathly curious,” Aithaloessa says, innocently. Her glance drops down again to the gun in her hand and the fungus growing over her arm. I very definitely need to do something about that. Not that I mind the … the instinct, or whatever it is, but vine and bark and flower would be much more pleasant than mold and mushroom. And – She forces herself to focus, recognizing a competing impulse to not confront the obvious problem. “That is, I’m getting some very strange feelings from – about that. Fear, definitely, but also … excitement?”

She sets her jaw firmly, and starts her own investigation, reaching out with her own cantrip to sense the flows of magic through the room. She also gives Yasmeena a curious look, knowing that the bard has the best sense for tricks and traps of all of them.

Casting detect magic, focusing on the sarcophagus, and hoping that doesn’t trip anything in its own right. At least it will be 3 rounds or so before we need to start worrying about holding Aith back from trying to open it, if that looks like it would be a bad idea. XD Know (arcana): 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (3) + 15 = 18