GM Tealk's - Core - Cradle of Night

Game Master Tealk

Pietro waits for Seward's albatross-thing to return taking the time to pray to Cayden for guidance and protection from evil and the chance to find a nice medium rare steak, and cool lager.

"WHAT SHADOW CREATURES? THEY'RE JUST SHADOWS WE WALK THROUGH HIM. ARE YOU SURE YOU DIDN'T LEAVE A BIT OF YOURSELF BACK THERE IN THE QUEUE TO THE BONEYARD?"

The duration of the continual flame (3rd level cleric spell) spell, Pietro cast upon the head of his morningstar back in Thornkeep has yet to expire. ;)

Once Beaky, or Ducky whatever the owl's name is returns, Pietro strides forward annoyed at the delay, lighting the way with his fully revealed torch-like weapon. "C'MON."

[ooc]If there seem to be any of the undead sort of shadows in his way, he takes 10 on knowledge (religion) for 18 to know what it is he's looking at before he blasts them with his....

channeling of undeath killing mojo! (DC 15): 4d6 ⇒ (4, 6, 3, 2) = 15

"BUGGER OFF YOU LOT!"

Yep, you know that these are undead, the shadow prefers to haunt ruins where civilization has moved on, where it hunts living creatures foolish enough to stumble into its territory. The shadow is an undead horror, and as such has no goals or outwardly visible motivations other than to sap life and vitality from living beings.

The undead shadows scurry inside the darkness as they are enveloped by the cleric's divine energy. The rest of you make preparations and approach the creatures. As this all happens, one of the shadows retaliates and tries to scratch Pietro.
Incoporeal Touch: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 201d6 ⇒ 4

Round 1
Active buffs - [/b]
Active debuffs - [b]--

! Shadows (red -7, purple -7, orange -7, blue -7)

@ Pietro -4 STR (Continual Flame)
@ Seward (Longstrider, Barkskin)
@ Telos (Mage Armor)
@ Will (-)
@ Darven (-)
+ Aiyana (-)

Everyone may act! Please move your tokens up.

Will begins to inspire courage +2 to attack and damage and casts mirror image.

Extra Wills: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

Move action inspire now!

Seward slides along to a good vantage point Fat Man...looks like these shadows are a good weight loss program for ya. Can just feel the weight sliding off ya

Targeting Pink, favored enemy undead: 1d20 + 18 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 18 + 4 = 261d6 + 9 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 9 + 4 = 17

I always forget about ghost touch stuffs. And in core can not get access to ghost salt with out a certain chronicles

Darven moves forward and tries to disrupt the energies of the shadow.

IC and Power attack
magic longsword: 1d20 + 13 + 2 - 3 ⇒ (16) + 13 + 2 - 3 = 281d8 + 8 + 2 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 8 + 2 + 6 = 23

Aiyana laughs at the joke Seward makes, "Ahah! You humans and your humor, not sure i will ever get used to it." She fires a shot at the shadows.
Bow: 1d20 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 7 + 2 = 181d6 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 1 + 2 = 8

She looks at Will, "Ah, i see you also inspire courage in your allies. Looks like we will have pleanty of that this adventure!" She nods at her fellow bard.

With the attacks from the group, two of the shadows go down. The other two rush through the darkness towards Pietro and Darven, but not before the cleric and Telos finish them off.

Still Round 1; @Telos and @Pietro to act. Red on -11, Orange on -7!

The halfling jogs up to the back of the group to keep up and halts to a rigid stance were he begins gesticulating and speaking the draconic words for a force spell.

Unleash the missile storm!

[move] 20'
[standard] Cast Magic missile, targ

Force damage vs. red, missile 1: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5
Force damage vs. orange, missile 2: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5
Force damage vs. orange, missile 3: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2
Force damage vs. orange, missile 4: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

@ Pietro -4 STR (Continual Flame AND, protection from evil, guidance)

"SHOO! GO AWAY!"

CHANNEL POSITIVITY! DC 15: 4d6 ⇒ (5, 4, 3, 6) = 18

The final spells from Pietro and Telos take out the remaining shadows, as they meld together with the darkness emanating from the entrance.

My apologies Pietro, i will update your spells fully next time haha!

"Well, that was...certainly interesting...and maybe a little frightening, if I'm being honest about it..." Aiyana's well-timed voice cuts through the silence. "Well done, everyone. That was a swift reaction, even if they caught us by surprise. I don't think I've ever seen shadows like those before. They were positively eerie."

"Well, what next? You're the experienced dungeon delvers, are you not? Oh....Pietro, are you hurt?" She looks concerned, "Looks like you've lost some of your muscles there..."

"Ha. Nice little warm up." Darven says grinning. "Why, we go in of course."

"REALLY? I THOUGHT THAT WAS IT. I'M FEELING BIT BEAT."

Eventually, Pietro will cast lesser restoration on himself to regain enough mojo to press onward.

lesser restoration: 1d4 ⇒ 2

Pietro restores some of his sapped strength, before pushing one of the giant doors to the tomb right open and stepping in. First thing you notice is that your continual flame only extends 15ft instead of the normal distance. You feel the darkness here is strong, and carries a weighted presence to it.

Soon, black stone walls rise all around you as you enter a cylindrical chamber. Its ceiling reaches a domed height of thirty feet overhead with half-seen, decorative runes carved all along its length. Aside from the tunnel you used to get here, two more passageways lead east and west, while a stone double door blocks progress to the north. In addition, a ten-foot-radius circle of more distinctive runes adorns the floor in the center of the room, but the etchings appear to have been badly damaged by cracks and gouges.

What did you guys want to do?

Telos points his little hand first at the circle of runes on the floor, and then towards the doors to the north, check each for magical auras.

cast detect magic on each.

Spellcraft, runes: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (9) + 12 = 21
Spellcraft, door: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (20) + 12 = 32

Aiyana, I'm guessing the tomb is behind the big doors?

That'd be my guess. Anyone see any traps?

"Indeed, this entire sanctum is Haramil's tomb. But remember, as most powerful men, he is most likely buried among his trusted followers. I would be surprised if his tomb was only a few chambers deep. Keep your eye open..."

Before Aiyana can finish her train of thought, and before Telos and Will can finish examining the runes on the floor, a pair of worm-like creatures land upon the floor, descending out of the gloomy shadows from the vaulted ceiling above. The first drops outside in the dim light near Darven, while the second lands directly within the circle of runes to assault Pietro. They both clatter upon dozens of small legs and a writhing array of dangerous bristles cover their backs. Meanwhile, dark clouds of murky shadow coil beneath their pallid skin, forming and pooling into half-seen shapes and images. With a chittering shriek, they attack...

Bite, vs flat footed: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (12) + 14 = 262d6 + 4 + 4d6 ⇒ (3, 6) + 4 + (6, 6, 2, 6) = 33 @Pietro
Bite, vs flat footed: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (7) + 14 = 212d6 + 4 + 8d6 ⇒ (5, 2) + 4 + (2, 2, 5, 4, 6, 3, 1, 3) = 37 @Roran

@Darven and @Pietro, please make me DC 20 fort saves, or become paralysed for 1d4 ⇒ 1 rounds, and take 1d2 ⇒ 1 CON damage if you fail. Duration, 1/round for 6 rounds, and DC for paralysis is cumulative each time you fail.

Round 1
Active buffs - --
Active debuffs - --

! Tenebrous Worms (red, purple)

@ Pietro -33 lethal, -2 STR ([I]Continual Flame, PoE, Guidance)
@ Seward (Longstrider, Barkskin)
@ Telos (Mage Armor)
@ Will (-)
@ Darven -37 lethal (-)
+ Aiyana (-)

Everyone may act!

If you attack the worms with a melee attack, weapon or unnarmed strike, you must make a DC 18 reflex or get stung with the poison, and roll as per the DC in the previous post.

Telos, who'd been focusing on the ground in front of him where the runes lie, jumps nearly three feet in the air with a start when one of the worms lands in front of him.

He hops backwards to get a little distance and throws his arm forward at the worm, sending a bolt of electricity at it.

[5' step] W
[standard] elemental ray vs. purple

elemental ray ranged touch, E damage: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (20) + 9 = 291d6 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9
confirm?, crit E damage: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (18) + 9 = 271d6 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8

Will begins to inspire his allies and lets loose a single arrow

Attack, PBS, IC, Heroism: 1d20 + 10 + 2 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 10 + 2 + 1 + 2 = 34damage,IC,PBS: 1d6 + 6 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 6 + 2 + 1 = 10

"Dam, wat da hell" Darven yells out, his accent coming out a bit.

fortitude: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (5) + 10 = 15
fort reroll: 1d20 + 10 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 10 + 4 = 17

Darven succumbs to the poison.

fort save (guidance): 1d20 + 9 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 9 + 1 = 30

Knowledge (planes): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 8 = 23

Hm, Reflex saves, and ranged fighting aren't really Pietro's thing. I'd suggest backing off and hitting them from afar.

"TRY NOT TO GET TO CLOSE TO THEM!" bellows the cleric. "WHO BROUGHT THE 10-FOOT POLE?"

Pietro takes a step back.

If Pietro can time it so that he goes first before everyone else attacks he channels the healing power of good ale into his friends, if not... we'll see.

Pietro raises a toast.

channel healing vibes: 4d6 ⇒ (2, 3, 3, 1) = 9

It is a small toast.

"Good idea Pietro! Also, keep them inside the light, their poison is weakened while inside bright light!" The wispy woman says as she whispers an incantation under her breath. "Darkness at it's care, makes you see no more!" as she cast's blindness on the creature assaulting Roran.

Will, vs Blidness: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11

Seward unleashes his barrage of arrows at purple.
Pew Pew: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (1) + 18 = 191d20 + 18 ⇒ (12) + 18 = 301d20 + 13 ⇒ (18) + 13 = 31
Pew Damage: 1d6 + 11 ⇒ (3) + 11 = 141d6 + 11 ⇒ (5) + 11 = 161d6 + 11 ⇒ (4) + 11 = 15
Then he takes a step backwards.

The blinded creature hisses violently, as it thrashes about trying to find Roran.
Miss chance, 1d100 high hit: 1d100 ⇒ 34 ... Miss!

The other, continues to attack the cleric who is giving off all of the light.
Bite: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (8) + 14 = 222d6 + 4 + 4d6 ⇒ (2, 1) + 4 + (5, 4, 3, 6) = 25

@Pietro, please make me DC 20 fort saves, or become paralysed for 1d4 ⇒ 1 rounds, and take 1d2 ⇒ 1 CON damage if you fail. Duration, 1/round for 6 rounds, and DC for paralysis is cumulative each time you fail.
@Roran, please make me DC 20 fort save for poison, and DC 22 fort for paralysis.

Round 2
Active buffs - --
Active debuffs - --

! Tenebrous Worms (red blind DC 15, purple -48)

@ Pietro -49 lethal, -2 STR (Continual Flame, PoE, Guidance)
@ Seward (Longstrider, Barkskin)
@ Telos (Mage Armor)
@ Will (-)
@ Darven -28 lethal -1 CON (Paralyzed)
+ Aiyana (-)

Everyone may act!

fort vs poison: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (20) + 10 = 30
fort vs paralysis: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (15) + 10 = 25

Am I back up for this turn?

Nice rolls. You are no longer paralyzed, but you are still poisoned. You may act in round 3!

Telos, shocked that the creature can take so much abuse unleashes a strong barrage of electrical rays at the worms.

Wow, these little guys are healthy...

[standard] Cast scorching ray (electrical)

ray 1 touch attack vs. PURPLE, E damage: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (13) + 9 = 224d6 + 1 ⇒ (1, 3, 4, 1) + 1 = 10
ray 2 touch attack vs RED, E damage: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (17) + 9 = 264d6 + 1 ⇒ (6, 3, 5, 2) + 1 = 17

He stays put where he stands backed into a corner beside Darven. He looks up at the warrior and remarks You just keep being the bigger target there...

Fort save: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (4) + 9 = 13

"ERP!?!"

Will keeps firing, hoping that his team survives the bad worms.

Rapid Shot, PBS, IC, Heroism: 1d20 + 8 + 2 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 8 + 2 + 1 + 2 = 28damage,IC,PBS: 1d6 + 6 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 6 + 2 + 1 = 10

Rapid Shot, PBS, IC, Heroism: 1d20 + 8 + 2 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 8 + 2 + 1 + 2 = 22damage,IC,PBS: 1d6 + 6 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 6 + 2 + 1 = 11

Seward grimaces - he hadn't studied foes like this one - just a regular outside but still he tries to make a pincushion of them anyway, starting with purple and moving to the other as needed

Rapid Shot, Deadly Aim: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (11) + 16 = 27
Rapid Shot, Deadly Aim: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (1) + 16 = 17
Rapid Shot, Deadly Aim: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (13) + 11 = 24

damage: 1d6 + 9 ⇒ (5) + 9 = 14
damage: 1d6 + 9 ⇒ (5) + 9 = 14
damage: 1d6 + 9 ⇒ (5) + 9 = 14

Just realized i didn't actually roll for Pietro.
Pioson, paralyzed dur, con dmg: 1d4 ⇒ 41d2 ⇒ 2

It takes the full assault from the team to take out the bug stalking Pietro, but not before he can succumb to the poison freezing the cleric in place.

Swing at Darven, high hit: 1d100 ⇒ 4 - So lucky guys!
Will, vs blindness: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24

The last remaining creature thrashes around clawing at it's eyes, untill the spell wears off.

Round 3
Active buffs - Inspire Courage (+2)
Active debuffs - --

! Tenebrous Worms (red -17, purple -117)

@ Pietro -49 lethal, -2 STR -2 CON (Continual Flame, PoE, Paralyzed 3)
@ Seward (Longstrider, Barkskin)
@ Telos (Mage Armor)
@ Will (-)
@ Darven -28 lethal -1 CON ([/I])
+ Aiyana ([I]-)

Everyone may act!

round 3 fort save vs poison: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (1) + 10 = 11 Ugh, no good

Darven withdrawals to put some space between him and this shadowy thing.

Telos turns around just in time to see Darven move out from between him and the remaining worm.

Whoa... I'm not the front-liner.

He likewise scurries back to a safe distance before sending another small surge of electricity towards it.

[move] 20'
[standard] elemental ray vs. RED ranged touch, E damage (inspired): 1d20 + 9 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 9 + 2 = 301d6 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 5 + 2 = 10

Seward plugs his arrows into the next monster

+1 Seeking Bow Rapid Shot Deadly Aim: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (8) + 16 = 24
+1 Seeking Bow Rapid Shot Deadly Aim: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (6) + 16 = 22
+1 Seeking Bow Rapid Shot Deadly Aim: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (17) + 11 = 28

damage: 1d6 + 9 ⇒ (2) + 9 = 11
damage: 1d6 + 9 ⇒ (1) + 9 = 10
damage: 1d6 + 9 ⇒ (3) + 9 = 12

....

Will keeps firing.

Rapid Shot, PBS, IC, Heroism: 1d20 + 9 + 2 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 9 + 2 + 1 + 2 = 33damage,IC,PBS: 1d6 + 6 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 6 + 2 + 1 = 13

Rapid Shot, PBS, IC, Heroism: 1d20 + 9 + 2 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 9 + 2 + 1 + 2 = 18damage,IC,PBS: 1d6 + 6 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 6 + 2 + 1 = 14

Aiyana frowns, "These things are tenacious. Pietro, Darven, you alright?" She fires for this turn, and for her previous turns.
Bow: 1d20 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 7 + 2 = 161d6 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 1 + 2 = 6
Bow: 1d20 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 7 + 2 = 141d6 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 1 + 2 = 6

@Pietro and @Darven, please keep rolling me your fort saves every turn. Pietro needs one save to not be paralyzed, but you both need two consecutive saves to stop the poison. Or wait out the duration.

Also, Seward i think you forgot bard bonuses haha.

The worm being fired on from all directions, the worm picks a random target and chagres them.
Random, T, P, D, W: 1d4 ⇒ 4
Bite: 1d20 + 14 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 14 + 2 = 282d6 + 4 + 4d6 ⇒ (6, 2) + 4 + (5, 5, 2, 1) = 25
It charges into the light, perusing the bard.

@Will, please make me DC 20 fort saves, or become paralysed for 1d4 ⇒ 3 rounds, and take 1d2 ⇒ 2 CON damage if you fail. Duration, 1/round for 6 rounds, and DC for paralysis is cumulative each time you fail.
Poison CON damage, Pietro and Darven: 1d2 ⇒ 1

Round 4
Active buffs - Inspire Courage (+2)
Active debuffs - --

! Tenebrous Worms (red -79, purple -117)

@ Pietro -49 lethal (-7 from CON), -2 STR -3 CON (Continual Flame, PoE, Paralyzed 2, Prisoned r2)
@ Seward (Longstrider, Barkskin)
@ Telos (Mage Armor)
@ Will -25 (-)
@ Darven -28 lethal (-8 from CON) -2 CON (Poisoned r3)
+ Aiyana (-)

Everyone may act!

"Oh no! You guys don't look well at all! We need to do something against this poison, or it might kill you!" Aiyana is concerned for her team mates.

Seward steps in to get a better shot Don't let this worm linger he says simply and fires another volley.

Longbow, Deadly Aim, Rapid Shot, Bard bonuses: 1d20 + 16 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 16 + 2 = 25
Longbow, Deadly Aim, Rapid Shot, Bard bonuses: 1d20 + 16 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 16 + 2 = 32
Longbow, Deadly Aim, Rapid Shot, Bard bonuses: 1d20 + 11 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 11 + 2 = 25

Damage: 1d6 + 9 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 9 + 2 = 12
Damage: 1d6 + 9 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 9 + 2 = 12
Damage: 1d6 + 9 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 9 + 2 = 14

unless it has something special

mirror image, 1 is a hit: 1d7 ⇒ 4

Assuming mirror image works

Will switchs up the tune of his performance. He steps back and keeps firing.

Rapid Shot, PBS, IC, Heroism: 1d20 + 9 + 2 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 9 + 2 + 1 + 2 = 20damage,IC,PBS: 1d6 + 6 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 6 + 2 + 1 = 10

Rapid Shot, PBS, IC, Heroism: 1d20 + 9 + 2 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 9 + 2 + 1 + 2 = 21damage,IC,PBS: 1d6 + 6 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 6 + 2 + 1 = 12

Gah! I totally forgot about your mirror image, haha, high tier have so many buffs, i thought i updated the buffs correctly, but i missed your images! You are okay, the attack would have missed! Nice spell!

The archers finish off the worm, but the group is still not out of trouble yet.

What do you guys want to do about the poison, I will keep you in turn order still!

round 3: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (19) + 9 = 28 pass
round 4: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (14) + 9 = 23 Pass

Two consecutive saves, cured.

"Damn, what were those things. I've been poisoned before, but that is some potent stuff" Darven says rubbing the back of his neck.

2 con damage. Not too bad. Only -1 to all con items and some HP dwindle.

Darven will pull out a wand and hand it off for some heals.

clw: 3d8 + 3 ⇒ (4, 8, 6) + 3 = 21

With the heals it looks like I am at "full health". 65/65 with the CON damage

2 con damage. Not too bad. Only -1 to all con items and some HP dwindle.

Don't for get you loose (in this case) 1 hp per HD at the moment you take enough CON damage to effect you. I'm not sure the GM put added those to the numbers on the scoreboard. If I am right, Pietro is actually down to 3 hp at the end of the fight.

~Why yes my alignment is Awful Neutral

Fort save: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (15) + 9 = 24
Fort save: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (19) + 9 = 28

"WELL THAT'S ABOUT ALL THE ADVENTURE I HAVE IN ME FOR THE DAY. HOW ABOUT SOME DINNER? WE HAVE A NICE DIM CAVE WE CAN CAMP IN."

Yep, so i think i was correctly keeping track of all the damage. Pietro was -49 lethal (and -7 from CON); and Darven was -28 lethal ( and -8 from CON).

The worms crinkle up into smaller creatures, as the dark aura around them begins to seem into space.

Inspecting the runes once more, Will and Telos are able to distinguish that the inscribed runes on the chamber floor once served as a focus to contain the Cradle of Night’s influence within the tomb and to prevent Haramil’s spirit from rising as a vengeful undead monster. However, the damage to these runes has rendered them useless.

You can feel the lingering aura of adjuration magic extending from the ring of the runes down the passage to the north, east and west. But those lingering pathfinder of protection have only recently evaporated. The tampering in this room was definitely intentional.

I included the healing that Darven rolled for here.

@ Pietro -49 lethal (and -7 from CON), -2 STR -3 CON (Continual Flame, PoE)
@ Seward (Longstrider, Barkskin)
@ Telos (Mage Armor)
@ Will (Mirror Image (4))
@ Darven -7 lethal (and -8 from CON) -2 CON (-)
+ Aiyana (-)

Once the last worms falls, Telos returns his focus to the runes in the center of the floor.

Good work finishing that wretched thing off, bowmen.

He stands in the middle of it and turns, scanning the ruins.

At one point this contained the Cradle's influence, and Haramil's spirit. Unfortunately the apparent tampering has rendered them useless, so we should expect either of those things to be active and potent.

He then scans the group again. Is everybody okay? I heard Aiyana mention some poison that will kill you. Let's rest and recover as necessary.

@ Pietro -49 lethal (and -7 from CON), -2 STR -3 CON (Continual Flame, PoE)

@ Seward (Longstrider, Barkskin)
@ Telos (Mage Armor)
@ Will (Mirror Image (4))
@ Darven -7 lethal (and -8 from CON) -2 CON (-)
+ Aiyana (-)

Ah! For some reason I thought that the parenthetical was how much CON damage I was going to take from the poison if I didn't make all the saves.