GM Tealk's - Core - Cradle of Night

Game Master Tealk

Seward sniffs at the accursed pile.

Pity we have no way of speaking with that spirit or calming it.

Still seward rolls up his sleeves It couldn't hurt to be kind to the dead

perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (19) + 3 = 22 HA!

The northern part of this long chamber has crumbled away into ruin, with rubble spilling onto the stone floor. A trickle of water filtering through cracks, the ceiling to the south has created a shallow rivulet and a wide pool in the middle of the room that drains slowly through the rubble to the north. The walls, crisscrossed with dozens of glistening slime trails left by pale gray slugs, depict a number of etchings of mounted warriors charging across a wide battlefield against one another, but the walls all bear signs of ancient damage.

"HM. THIS LOOKS DELIBERATE."

Telos Downshot wrote:

Would Haramil be more at piece if we removed the offensive offerings? ...

"What a kind gesture, Telos. Perhaps we should, but i doubt that would be enough to appease this angered spirit."

"PERHAPS BOOZE WOULD HELP." suggests the jolly cleric.

For the record, Pietro would suggest not blowing through four fireballs on a wall, in an enclosed, potentially unstable underground tomb, in one day. Particularly in a place with a lot of old, and dusty items that might be needed later on. He would remove himself from the tunnels--possibly leaving folks in the dark, and then wait for the dust to settle before going back in. "TELOS CAN BURY HIS FOOL-SELF--IT WOULDN'T TAKE MUCH, BUT HE WON'T TAKE PIETRO SLASZVAL WITH HIM! THE DOORKNOB!"

For the record, Pietro would suggest not blowing through four fireballs on a wall, in an enclosed, potentially unstable underground tomb, in one day. Particularly in a place with a lot of old, and dusty items that might be needed later on. He would remove himself from the tunnels--possibly leaving folks in the dark, and then wait for the dust to settle before going back in. "TELOS CAN BURY HIS FOOL-SELF--IT WOULDN'T TAKE MUCH, BUT HE WON'T TAKE PIETRO SLASZVAL WITH HIM! THE DOORKNOB!"

You raise a great point, Pietro. An oversight on my part. Fireball would be way to risky to use in this tomb, which is already crumbling in on itself as it is. Did anyone have any other ideas of how to get through the wall of stone. Happy to retcon anything with this particular encounter.

Given enough time, Will can go though it with 1d8+4

You raise a great point, Pietro. An oversight on my part. Fireball would be way to risky to use in this tomb, which is already crumbling in on itself as it is. Did anyone have any other ideas of how to get through the wall of stone. Happy to retcon anything with this particular encounter.

"CLERIC. WISDOM." Pietro says pointing to himself smugly. He sticks out his tongue and blows raspberries at his doubters.

My guess is there is someway to get through it that does not require dynamite, like a cleverly concealed door, an ally, or magical doohickey. Perhaps if we had a druid in the party they could turn into something useful like a shovel or something. All that, and I don't like low-profile, TELOS mobile weapons platform being half out of ammo.

Pietro himself doesn't have much in the way of solutions to offer. Remember: Cleric = Wisdom, Wizard = Brains. The solution probably involves Pietro, or someone with a scroll casting a daylight spell somewhere or investigating that shadowy, cob-webbed section of dungeon in the southeast of the map, back past the Hallway of Flaming Death. If someone wants to go back and check (perhaps Pietro himself), Pietro has a casting of resist energy available.

Sure, and sorcerer = firepower. But yeah I'm game to try the SE corner first and see if shovels or picks turn up there. Also...

Telos looks among the offerings for parts that could be made into tools. Say, picks and shovels...

Probably a pretty high craft DC though?

Darven does carry a crowbar on him.

I mean, it is always good to be hopefull. Or, you could consider that a party of your level would have a way of dispelling magic. :) But there are always different solutions to a puzzle. Retron you did not go through the door way, rather checking ou the SE shadowy corner.

After Telos and Aiyana do their best at removing the inappropriate offerings left for Haramil in his afterlife, the party decides to venture and explore the other side of the tomb, a natural cave torn with shadow.

Rocky debris and loose soil form much of this chamber’s floor, obviously fallen from cracks and crevices in the ceiling fifteen feet overhead. Niches and hollows extend to the east and south, but these are filled with massive cobwebs infused with writhing shadows. A worked stone wall to the north bears a life-sized mural of an ancient warrior standing with a shield and lance. The curled-up corpses of four human-sized spiders lie on the ground of the cavern, casting strange shadows across the floor.

Aiyana comments, "I see, so I believe we must have found the source of all of this dark energy..."

The energies here seem to be more darker than in the rest of the tomb, the uneven walls here created even darker spots for the darkness to fester. Here, build up among the craggy, jagged walls lies a tear in the binderies of reality.

As you begin to inspect the portal, the animated husks from the enormous spiders begin to fill with thousands of tiny living spiders that fall from its body like drops of shadowy blood. They snarl at you.

The spiders rush forward, attacking Darven and Telos.
Bite, Daven: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (13) + 15 = 284d8 + 12 ⇒ (1, 6, 1, 7) + 12 = 27
Bite, Pietro: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (7) + 15 = 224d8 + 12 ⇒ (1, 8, 4, 6) + 12 = 31

The millions of tiny spiders around the corpses begin to bite away at the two men beside them, making it really difficult for them to concentrate.

@Pietro and @Darven, please give me DC 17 fortitude save or be nauseated, and also take 1d6 ⇒ 4 at the start of your turns from the infestation of tiny spiders. And then a second, DC 17 fortitude save, against poison, D, T: 1d4 ⇒ 1 STR damage if you fail.

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

! Deathwebs (blue, yellow)

@ Pietro -31 lethal -1 STR (Daylight)
@ Darven -27 letla -1 STR, -1 CON (-)
@ Seward (Longstrider, Barkskin)
@ Telos (Mage Armor)
@ Will (-)
+ Aiyana (-)

Everyone may act!

Fort save: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (16) + 9 = 25
Fort save: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (10) + 9 = 19 Does the "D, T" before the STR damage indicate anything that Pietro and Draven need worry about?

Also, Pietro's CON damage should be 0 because of this. His damage should be at -42 hp because he didn't heal himself of the CON damage (and 7 hp) until after his rest when he could prepare lesser restoration again. So that, + 4 + 31 = 42 damage.

"BACK! DRAW THEM BACK INTO THE BOTTLENECK!"

Pietro withdraws back into the main room preparing to channel positive energy (probably to heal, but possibly to harm undead depending upon whatever a 'deathweb' is). Pietro can withdraw a further 20' if need be. The last person out of the tunnel can just tell me where they want him--because of his current hp he probably should not be up front.

knowledge (planes or religion? deathweb): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (19) + 8 = 27

"TELOS! NOW MIGHT BE THE TIME FOR THOSE FIREBALLS, LAD!"

The text switch from Telos to Pietro on the spider bites. Let me know if that was wrong and Telos needs to make the fort saves (and possibly undo this turn).

There's not enough room in here! I don't want to burn Darven's face off!! Everybody out!

Telos backs out through the tunnel per Pietro's suggestion and readies a fireball for when his teammates have cleared the room.

[move] 20'
[standard] Ready action

Readied action trigger: Once Darven has exited through the tunnel and assuming nobody else enters further.

"Good tactic. Retreat" Darven yells raising his shield and retreating back. once back in the relative safety, he vomits into the corner.

fortitude: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (1) + 9 = 10
fortitude: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (16) + 9 = 25

Having profession soldier, he is a bit more tactfully sound than Roran was

Seward wanders into the room making room for people to go into the room and snaps off a shot at the yellow deathweb.

Longbow Deadly Aim: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (8) + 18 = 261d6 + 9 ⇒ (2) + 9 = 11

Alright then, @Telos, are you going to throw a fireball into the room with Seward inside?

The trigger should have occurred after Darven exited, before Seward entered. Long as there was no overlap.

Okay, that makes sense!

Telos throws a fireball into the room, causing the whole cavern to shake.
Reflex, Y, B: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 171d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9

The both squirm as thousands of spiders burn inside the husk, but they shamble forward to attack the only prey left in the room.
Bite: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (9) + 15 = 244d6 + 12 ⇒ (6, 2, 6, 3) + 12 = 29
Bite: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (1) + 15 = 164d6 + 12 ⇒ (6, 1, 6, 4) + 12 = 29
Start of turn damage: 2d6 ⇒ (4, 4) = 8

The spiders, dazzled by the fire, lack the accuracy to eat the small halfling.
@Seward, please give me DC 17 fortitude save or be nauseated from the infestation of tiny spiders.

@Pietro and @Darven, i have fixed your HP to what it should be, after Pietro's comment and additional turn damage. Both of you are not nauseated, and because you succeeded at the first save against poison, you can roll me a second DC 17 fortitude or take 1d4 ⇒ 4 STR damage if you fail.

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

! Deathwebs (blue -23, yellow -34)

@ Pietro -42 lethal -1 STR (Daylight)
@ Darven -31 letla -1 STR, -1 CON (-)
@ Seward -8 lethal (Longstrider, Barkskin)
@ Telos (Mage Armor)
@ Will (-) May act twice!
+ Aiyana (-)

Everyone may act!

Pietro knows that a deathweb is the undead exoskeleton of a massive spider animated with the vilest necromancy. The spells that create this monstrosity bind to it thousands of normal spiders, which together form the mind of the undead beast like an arachnid hive. These smaller spiders live in and direct their exoskeleton home, working together to swarm around the deathweb and weave its web sheets. They have a powerful poison transmitted through their bites, which deals strength damage, and carry an infestation of spiders which swarm around then in a 5ft radius. Other than their undead traits, they do nothing else remarkable.

Just for clarity though, this counts as a distinct creature and not a swarm? Or it is in fact a swarm that can only be harmed by AoE damage?

This is a distinct creature. But it also has a 'swarm aura' around itself, which you also kill if you defeat the creature. This is like a dead spider husk, filled with a swarm inside of it. But it acts like a creture.

Darven steps in front of will and swings at the death web.

Power attack
+1 longsword: 1d20 + 15 - 4 ⇒ (3) + 15 - 4 = 141d8 + 8 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 + 8 = 21

It's time for the customary ball of fire. It always serves us well.

Telos casts the familiar incantation that drops a ball of flame on the spiders.

[standard] cast flaming sphere, dropping it on BLUE; duration 8 rounds

Fire damage BLUE, DC18 reflex negates: 3d6 ⇒ (5, 1, 5) = 11

Flaming sphere round 1/8

Sorry, busy with school year starting and work

Will begins his performance and fires a single arrow before stepping back.
Shot, PBS, IC, Heroism: 1d20 + 11 + 2 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 11 + 2 + 1 + 2 = 27damage,IC,PBS: 1d6 + 6 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 6 + 2 + 1 = 13

Fort save #3: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (4) + 9 = 13 I guess we are taking another day off! YIPPEE! Pietro memorizes NOTHING BUT lesser restoration tomorrow.

"FIFTEEN MINUTES ALREADY?" wheezes Pietro dragging himself along. "TIME FOR A DRINK!"

Pietro raises his mug. "TO CAYDEN!"

Channel a Cheers cast reunion on Zoom (also heal everyone alive in a 30' burst--everyone but Seward that is, because he is around the corner): 4d6 ⇒ (4, 5, 3, 4) = 16

If you move back, @Pietro, you will cast Seward in total darkness, leaving him kinda screwed. Just saying...

"This is not good! Your friend is going to die in there!" She fires off some bow shots.
Bow: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (14) + 9 = 231d6 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5
Bow: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (19) + 9 = 281d6 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

Fort, second save Darven: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (9) + 9 = 18

Seward, drops his bow, and blindly swings at blue.
Club, high hit: 1d20 + 12 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 12 + 4 + 2 = 281d4 + 4 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 4 + 1 + 2 = 91d100 ⇒ 11

Reflex, blue: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22

The deathwebs try to eat Seward.
Bite: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (18) + 14 = 324d8 + 12 ⇒ (6, 5, 4, 8) + 12 = 35
Bite: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (5) + 14 = 194d8 + 12 ⇒ (7, 5, 7, 8) + 12 = 39
Swarm Damage: 2d6 ⇒ (3, 3) = 6

@Seward (1) and @Pietro (3), give me a DC 17 fort or take 1d4 ⇒ 3 strength damage...

Round 3
Active buffs - Inspire Courage +2/+2
Active debuffs - --

! Deathwebs (blue -28, yellow -57)

@ Pietro -26 lethal -5 STR (Daylight)
@ Darven -15 lethal -1 STR, -1 CON (-)
@ Seward -49 lethal (Longstrider, Barkskin) -blind
@ Telos (Mage Armor)
@ Will (-)
+ Aiyana (-)

Everyone may act!

Darven sneers and strikes again.

Power attack
+1 longsword: 1d20 + 15 - 4 ⇒ (7) + 15 - 4 = 181d8 + 8 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 + 8 = 17
iterative: 1d20 + 10 - 4 ⇒ (2) + 10 - 4 = 81d8 + 8 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 + 8 = 23

If you move back, @Pietro, you will cast Seward in total darkness, leaving him kinda screwed. Just saying...

I can move him back a little bit, but daylight is normally a 60' radius, and halflings have low-light vision. All he has to be able to see is the giant spider. If that doesn't help at least he won't see whats killing him, until Telos' next fireball hits. ;)

Fort save #4: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (3) + 9 = 12 WOOT! Achievement nearing completion: Death by STR DAMAGE!

Actions depend on what other folks want to do. Draven and Pietro were one good hit away from dropping last round, so healed. This round I might need to cast some form of resistance in order to make 2 consecutive Fort saves, or perhaps use channeling to safely "fireball" the spiders. Decisions, decisions.

Strength damage just leaves you paralyzed and comotose... which is not great but not dead...

Will fires his bow, hoping to kill the deathwebs!
Rapid Shot, PBS, IC, Heroism: 1d20 + 9 + 2 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 9 + 2 + 1 + 2 = 32damage,IC,PBS: 1d6 + 6 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 6 + 2 + 1 = 15

Rapid Shot, PBS, IC, Heroism: 1d20 + 9 + 2 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 9 + 2 + 1 + 2 = 17damage,IC,PBS: 1d6 + 6 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 6 + 2 + 1 = 12

Darven, if you clear out of the tunnel, I have lightning bolts too!

A line of damage would be safer than an explosion. Telos mobile weapons platform has many options, and now that we've confirmed they aren't solely damaged by AoEs, let's make this more surgical...

Telos squints, peering though Pietro's provided light to see that the spider husks haven't moved.

Okay, I guess they're enjoying the heat.

Fire damage BLUE, DC18 reflex negates: 3d6 ⇒ (4, 5, 3) = 12

Flaming sphere round 2/8

[standard] Cast scorching ray, 2 rays

Scorching ray 1 ranged touch vs BLUE, Fire damage (inspired, PbS): 1d20 + 9 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 9 + 1 = 284d6 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (4, 2, 4, 3) + 1 + 1 = 15
Scorching ray 1 ranged touch vs BLUE, Fire damage (inspired, PbS): 1d20 + 9 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 9 + 1 = 184d6 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (6, 4, 3, 3) + 1 + 1 = 18

You are right, Pietro! The light should be 60ft!

Between all of the attacks of the party, both spiders eventually fall, the swarm inside them scattering about into dark corners of the cave.

We are out of initiative!

Aiyana walks up to Pietro, and casts delay poison on the cleric. "Here, this should help."

Seward, Fort: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (14) + 12 = 261d20 + 12 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 12 + 2 = 18
With an aid from the party, he is fine.

Fort Save: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (7) + 12 = 19

Seward feels the overwhelming force of the spiders and backs away out of the room slowly.

We are out of initiative guys, haha what did you wanna do?

Telos re-enters the room with the dead spiders to inspect this "dark portal."

Cast detect magic on it.

Telos examines the portal. It seems to be directly connected to the Shadow Plane. The portal was a direct result of the Cradle's influence, the dark energies rushing through once it was torn from Haramil's clutches. Since then, it has been festering, growing larger and larger from all the negative energies stirring in this space.

You believe the only way to close this portal now, would be to put Haramil's spirit to rest.

Looking around, Darven, notices a concealed entry on the northern section of the wall. He can tell that during construction, this chamber chamber served as storage for tools and resources, and a smooth wall like this is bound to hold secrets. A quick push of a brick, reveals a hidden sanctum.

Arching ribs of stone support the fifteen-foot-high ceiling of this oval chamber. Tattered tapestries hang from curved walls to the east and west, each depicting a scene of natural fury—a devastating tornado to the east, and a looming tsunami to the west. The focus of each of these natural disasters seems to be a single humanoid shape cloaked in shadows.

Fort save #5 (resistance): 1d20 + 9 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 9 + 1 = 19
Fort save #6 (resistance): 1d20 + 9 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 9 + 1 = 13 STR damage: 1d4 ⇒ 3
Fort save #7 (resistance): 1d20 + 9 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 9 + 1 = 17
Fort save #8 (resistance): 1d20 + 9 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 9 + 1 = 13 STR damage: 1d4 ⇒ 2
Fort save #9 (resistance): 1d20 + 9 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 9 + 1 = 11 STR damage: 1d4 ⇒ 1
Fort save #10 (resistance): 1d20 + 9 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 9 + 1 = 13 STR damage: 1d4 ⇒ 4 KO'd
Fort save #11: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (7) + 9 = 16 STR damage: 1d4 ⇒ 4
Fort save #12: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (5) + 9 = 14 STR damage: 1d4 ⇒ 3
Fort save #13: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (15) + 9 = 24
Fort save #14: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (12) + 9 = 21

Telos re-enters the room with the dead spiders to inspect this "dark portal."

Pietro hands his heavy, glowing morningstar to Draven. He takes off his big pack, and begins unbuckling his cumbersome armor.

If he's still up and anyone draws his attention to the hidden sanctum, Pietro takes 10 on a Knowledge (religion) check for a total of 18. Assuming there's no intervention Pietro slumps to the floor and falls asleep. He wakes up a week later as weak as a kitten.

With all of his equipment he weighs about 350 lbs--it's all solid muscle of course. ;)

Oh no...

Seeing the poison continue, will casts heroism on Pietro.

Maybe that changes things?

@Pietro, you should also have Delay Poison up from Aiyana who cast it on you last round of combat. So you shouldn't have to worry about any more STR damage for a few hours at least.

The halfling scratches the back of his head, giving the verdict on the dark portal.

So, this is connected to the plane of shadow as you would expect. It won't close until Haramil's spirit is appeased.

So, this is connected to the plane of shadow as you would expect. It won't close until Haramil's spirit is appeased.

"I thought as much. That spirit we faced before in the main chamber, was only a fragment of Harami's lost and tortured soul. That means there must be another chamber - an inner sanctum, if you will, which would contain the mans remains. Perhaps we can look again, to see if we can find anything we missed in the main crypt." Aiyana ponders, but her words make sense - this tomb is littered with secret entrances and chambers.

Telos beings to search the immediate room for hidden passages.

Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 3 = 19

Seward joins Telos...

Perception: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (2) + 16 = 18

Seeing the poison continue, will casts heroism on Pietro.

Maybe that changes things?

@Pietro, you should also have Delay Poison up from Aiyana who cast it on you last round of combat. So you shouldn't have to worry about any more STR damage for a few hours at least.

Looking around, Darven, notices a concealed entry on the northern section of the wall. He can tell that during construction, this chamber chamber served as storage for tools and resources, and a smooth wall like this is bound to hold secrets. A quick push of a brick, reveals a hidden sanctum.

Arching ribs of stone support the fifteen-foot-high ceiling of this oval chamber. Tattered tapestries hang from curved walls to the east and west, each depicting a scene of natural fury—a devastating tornado to the east, and a looming tsunami to the west. The focus of each of these natural disasters seems to be a single humanoid shape cloaked in shadows.

"The Nine Hells hath no fury like a god scorned."

Pietro explains the symbolism on display in the hidden room.

Sighing, Pietro halfheartedly looks around the room, but mostly just gets in Seward's way.

perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11

You look for hidden passage ways around the tomb.

Eventually, Darven finds a secret lever behind one of the sarcophagi and pulls it revealing a set of old and dusty stairs which ascend into darkness. After following for a short moment, you reach the true sanctum.

Several stone pillars support the ceiling of this large chamber. Huge tapestries hang from every wall, each depicting landscapes and battles among hills and plains. A jet-black pedestal of carved rock stands empty to the north. Three scorched areas on the floor surround the crumbled remains of a stone statue to the south, near a closed stone coffin.

As soon as you step inside, a roiling cloud of shadows and darkness surges up from the main coffin. This roiling horror appears to be a swirling vortex of darkness and screaming, ghostly faces of Haramil. "You are fools to have come here. There is nothing left! Nothing...but darkness...which will soon enshroud your life. It will exnihilate you, as it has exnihilated me."

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

@ Seward -49 lethal (Longstrider, Barkskin)
@ Telos (Mage Armor)
@ Will (-)
+ Aiyana (-)

! Haramil

@ Pietro -5 STR (Daylight)
@ Darven -15 lethal -1 STR, -1 CON (-)

Seward, Telos, Will and Aiyana may act!

You guys also didn't heal after you last fight, so please make those rolls.

Will begins to inspire courage and casts mirror image.
mirror image: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5
take 10 on religion for a 20, mainly want to know about special attacks. My spell assumes 7 minutes from previous encounter.

Will knows that the form this Haramil has chosen to take, is a caller in darkness which grows from the psychic remains of a creature with psychic sensitivity that died a violent death, its restless spirit compelled to visit upon others the horrors that it suffered before dying. It can consume your mind, dealing wisdom damage on it's incorporeal touch, and any creature starting it's turn inside the caller, get's wrapped up in despair and crippling depression, making them unable to act unless they succeed in a will save.

If you let it touch you too much you’ll become the antiPietro...