GM Otha's King Xeros of Old Azlant (Inactive)

Game Master Otha

Peribras’ keen eyes pick up nothing more than what he first saw when the door was opened...

Current Status:
Narika (-19; pending CLW rolls from her wand)
Rudzik (-22)
Ghukar (-3)
Zaarah (-27)
Peribras (-1)

Mid Deck: Through the Portal

Not sure of the room, Ghukar started checking out the floor and seeing if there was some other entrance or bit of information that he can learn of the strange vessel.
Perception: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (13) + 18 = 31
K:Engineering: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18
Move to new location.

CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5
CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6
CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9

perception: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 1 = 10

Ghukar’s sharp eyes detect nothing revealing on the floor of either room...Narika detects nothing either. In the small new compartment that Peribras discovered, the only thing that stands out are the lines on the wall where the room comes to a point...

Current Status:
Rudzik (-22)
Ghukar (-3)
Zaarah (-27)
Peribras (-1)

Mid Deck: Through the Portal

Peribras inspects the place where the lines meet with his finger, trying to assess if he can somehow push through it or something.

Seeing Peribras investigating, Narika comes to look, too. (Detect Magic)

Seeing Peribras approach the lines in the wall, Narika enters and casts Detect Magic...just as she is doing so, she sees her halfling commpanion reach up to touch said lines...as soon as his finger touches it, Peribras disappears!

In the midst of his vanishing, Narika sees that the lines start to glow from her spell...magical indeed...

Current Status:
Rudzik (-22)
Ghukar (-3)
Zaarah (-27)
Peribras (-1)

Mid Deck: Through the Portal

Peribras Only

Peribras listens carefully at the steps for any noises from above.

perception, perceive cues: 1d20 + 15 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 15 + 5 = 35

Current Status:
Ghukar (-3)
Zaarah (-27)
Peribras (-1)

Mid Deck: Through the Portal

Peribras Only

Narika calls her companions over and quickly explains what happened and that the Dimension Door spell is involved. She then follows Peribras, waiting for one of the strong ones to go first if they offer to.

"Let's go then." Ghukar said, following the halfing, hoping to make short work of any foes.

After Narika alerts her companions, each of you follow Peribras example and touch the lines...

...and you find yourselves crammed like sardines in the same small room with him...and every few seconds, you see a hint of blue light flashing from the top of the stairs accompanied by a low hum...

Current Status:
Ghukar (-3)
Zaarah (-27)
Peribras (-1)

Lower Deck

Quite cramped in here! Good beak is a statue right now or we'd all be squished! Somebody go look for traps, then Kramac will lead way into room!

Nodding in agreement, Ghukar stated checking for any threats and a way out of the space. It would be a cozy place for him, if it was not for all the others.
Perception: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (10) + 18 = 28

"I didn't see any traps; but there seems to be something moving around up there with a light source"

As Ghukar and Peribras found no traps, Kramac leads you all up the stairs...

This chamber is empty except for a giant brass cube, 5 feet on a side, spinning slowly as it balances on one point atop a 3-foot-high crystal plinth. The entire construct is covered in a dizzying array of glyphs, symbols, esoteric script, and pictographs, virtually all of it opaque to translation.

This feels like the heart of the strange ship, perhaps the helm, and the pulse of its energy is almost palpable. The cabin is dominated by a cube composed entirely of brass that balances on one point atop a 3-foot crystal plinth, where it rotates slowly counterclockwise. Every inch of this cubiform monolith is covered in cramped script, symbols, schematic designs, and glyphs. Blue tracers of power flash across its surface every few seconds and are absorbed into these etched characters.

You just need one Perception check, not one for each spoiler...

If you hit the DC25 check above...and you speak Ancient Osiriani, you may read the spoiler below...

The DC below is not a typo...

The entire helm looks like a giant puzzle box of which various parts can be slid around to create new configurations of the characters on its sides. This is easily ascertained by anyone giving it even a cursory examination. However, the meanings and functions of doing so are less obvious. You may try configuring things in a couple of different ways:

Current Status:
Ghukar (-3)
Zaarah (-27)
Peribras (-1)

Mid Deck: Helm

Zaarah asks Kramac to heal her please CLW: 4d8 + 4 ⇒ (4, 6, 7, 6) + 4 = 27

* * *

Perception: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (1) + 15 = 16

kn Arcana: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (10) + 19 = 29

Zaarah starts to maneuver a few of the parts and POOF, a night hag stands in front of us.

The hag looks confused at first, then nods, saying, "Thank you for freeing me..."

-

Zaarah looks confused too. "Ehhh, sorry but where did you come from??" she asks.

* * *

She continues to play with the symbols.

kn Engineering: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (18) + 7 = 25

Suddenly, a secret door pops open from the southwestern portion of the wall, showing stairs leading down...

* * *

kn planes to identify night hag, resistances, immunities : 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (8) + 21 = 29

Perception: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (16) + 18 = 34
K:Arcana: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (15) + 18 = 33
K:Engineering: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14
"Hum, that is interesting. It looks like Ancient Osiriani. I have not see it in a while." Ghukar said as he tried to remember that the words mean. "It seems that it is a key, it may help decode a lock on a tomb in the Osirian desert, I think."

As the hag popped out of the box, Ghukar was rather surprised to see her.
"I believe that she was trapped in the puzzle box. Not sure how you ended up there or for that matter how long? What do you remember of your time?" he asked, trying to get an idea how long she had been trapped.

K:History: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (20) + 8 = 28

Rudzik’s bow is trained on the hag, arrow held against the string. ”I’ve seen yer kind before, hag, an’ it always ended with ‘em tryin’ t’ pull one over on us. Now speak truthfully, or this arrow goes between yer eyes - who are you an’ what’re you doin’ trapped in ‘ere?” The ranger’s eyes flit over to Kramac before returning to the hag.

The hag eyes Rudzik warily. "Eh guess expressin' gratitude ain't looked upon kindly by ye folk. Ye be a noticin' eh be a thankin' and not be a threatenin' nor attackin' ye folk? Why shud eh be a tellin' ye anything? Ye seem no better than those damnable Xill that imprisoned me!"

She'll need to be sweet-talked (aka Diplomacy roll) to divulge any useful information...

Current Status:
Ghukar (-3)
Peribras (-1)

Lower Deck

"Rudzik, she said "Thank you for freeing me..." not "Die!" when she came out of the box. There could be other reasons why she ended up stuck in there. Forgive him." Ghukar said, turning towards the hag. "Sorry, I am not very diplomatic when it comes to talking to others. I will have to let my companions try to persuade you. I would be more than happy to talk to you about magic and history if you would like. he added before turning back to Rudzik.

" Sorry, if it does ended up being a fight, I think you will be her first target Rudzik."

perception, perceive cues: 1d20 + 15 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 15 + 5 = 27

"Forgive our friend, as Ghukar suggests. For my part I am happy to see you free. What is your name? How did you come to be here? How long have you been in there?"

diplomacy: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (19) + 13 = 32

"No one should be locked away unless they have been very bad and hurt lots of people," Narika agrees softly, appearing lost in her memories for a moment.

diplomacy, aid another: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (16) + 8 = 24

Zaarah theatrically bows.

“See how courteous we are!“

Auto aid diplomacy

The night hag nods firmly. "That be more like it...in other circumstances, mayhap we be enemies...here and now, there be no need for it...

"Eh've a been trapped in suspended animation within the crystal hull of this damnable ship for untold years...many other creatures as well. The ship uses us as fuel sources. Eh was recently moved by the ship into the plinth and was slowly being leached of me life force. Eh be knowing it be the hated xill who now control the ship through a rare plant found on the Ethereal Plane that has some natural empathic abilities; it be allowing the xill to tap into the helm. Eh be a feelin' its presence while servin' as the ship’s fuel source..."

She pauses then. "I not be a knowin' much more...'cept this ship has the capability to travel between planes...but I guess ye already a be knowin' that..."

She digs through a pouch she has...after a moment, she hands you some precious gems. "It be all eh can give ye for freein' me and savin' me life. Now, if ye have no objections, dis ole hag has had enough of this ship..."

If allowed, she'll leave you now...

Current Status:
Ghukar (-3)
Peribras (-1)

Mid Deck: Helm

Rudzik keeps his arrow trained in the hag, but doesn’t stop her from leaving. ”Good riddance,” he mutters.

Zaarah shrugs.

"Goodbye!"

"How do you intend to leave? Where will you go? Will you hurt anyone when you get there?" Peribras asks the first two questions out of genuine curiosity, and the third out of a desire to protect communities that might be vulnerable to an evil hag.

Guukar frowned a bit. "Where are the other creatures being held?" he asked. " And while we might not see eye to eye, I would love it if you were to have a chat with Paracountess Zarta Dralneen. She is the head of the Dark Archive. She may be able to aid you in adjusting to the changes that have occurred since you have been entrapped here. he added before she departed.

(If she is named) Recruit a named NPC scholar, knowledgeable spellcaster, or similar figure to the Dark Archive. Recruitment requires a successful Diplomacy or Knowledge (arcana) check with a DC equal to 15 your character level (9th, so 24 total).

K:Arcana: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (14) + 18 = 32

The hag cackles, answering you one last time. "When eh said eh be trapped in suspended animation within the solid crystal hull, eh be meaning that literally...eh was in the hull! There be now way to rescue those creatures...eh be lucky eh was in the plinth...

"As to where eh be going and what eh be doin', that be me affair. Eh not be harmin' ye and will be tryin' to get back to me own plane...eh'll be teleporting to the deck and from there, depends on which way the wind a be blowin'...fare ye well, lest we meet again..." She smiles wickedly after that last quip and vanishes!

Current Status:
Ghukar (-3)
Peribras (-1)

Mid Deck: Helm

"Which way next?" Peribras asks the others, assessing the options

Zaarah points in the direction of the secret door she was able to open.

"First we search this place thoroughly and then we go through there ..."

Zaarah detects magic and looks around.

What did the hag give us? Is it magical?

Spellcraft in case magical: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (12) + 10 = 22

Ghulkar looked over the gems to get an idea of their value.

Take 10 on appraise=21

While the gems are not magical, Ghukar appraises their worth at close to 1,500 gold pieces...

You find nothing else of note in the helm area and can figure out no other configurations on adjusting the helm's controls that might be useful. There are only two exits from here; the way you entered and the stairs leading down from the secret door Zaarah discovered earlier...

Current Status:
Ghukar (-3)
Peribras (-1)

Mid Deck: Helm

Thanks; I couldn't tell from the map where to go next.

"Let's take the stairs" Perbiras suggests.

That was by far the nicese night hag Kramac has ever dealt with. Sure she will get up to wickedness later, but she has done nothing to earn Kramac's wrath yet. To the stairs!

It's funny; this is the third scenario I've GM'ed this year with a night hag in it...none of the four ended up being hostile...

With nothing else left to do in the helm room, you move downstairs to the lower deck...

The narrow stairwell opens out into the ship’s main cargo hold, a massive split-level affair with the upper portion ten feet above accessed by a wide stair. The entire area looks like a giant botanical garden. A massive plant, milky-white and translucent, grows atop the upper hold area and curls about the entire chamber with a forest of fronds, tendrils, and clinging vines. The shapes of multi-armed humanoids can be seen moving about its thick growth of vines and tendrils that appear to grow into the very bulkheads. A number of strangely shaped flowers of deep violet bloom among this tangle, and at the top of the hold stairs, a great gnarled root crown stands like the trunk of a hoary old tree, a crease in its side opened wide like a dragon’s maw. Behind it stretches a winding taproot that disappears toward the bow of the ship, as large around as a wagon. Clearly discernable within this taproot are the huddled
forms of unmoving humanoids...

The xill make an aggressive sounding chittering noise among the gargantuan plant they're surrounded by as they flourish their weapons in your direction...

There is plant growth all about the room; the entire room is considered rough terrain as far as movement is concerned. The Xill plant keeper has cover. The plants tendrils are all about the room, the pictures on the map are more for flavor as they are everywhere...

COMBAT! Round 1: The bold may post!

Zaarah
Xill Plant Keeper
Peribras (-1)
Narika
Kramac
Xill
Rudzik
Ghukar (-3)

Lower Deck: Combat Map

Zaarah tries to slumber the black Xill in front of her.

Slumber hex DC 20 or asleep 9 rounds.

She then retrieves her oil of grease from her pocket.

How tall is this room? Trying to decide if I want to get Beak involved or not.

Kramac, it's split level; the level you're on is 19' high, the level the plant thing and its keeper is on is 10' high as are the stairs leading up to it. Remember though, that it may be problematic getting Beak off the ship at his normal size unless you have another scroll of carry (which I think you do)...

Zaarah manages to drop the black xill into sleepy land with one of her handy hexes...

Then two of the many tendrils reach out to strike and then grab Ghukar and Zaarah...

Tendril Slam: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (7) + 15 = 22
Damage: 2d6 + 6 ⇒ (5, 3) + 6 = 14
Grapple: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (1) + 20 = 21

While Ghukar is struck hard by the plant, he avoids being grabbed...

Tendril Slam: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (15) + 15 = 30
Damage: 2d6 + 6 ⇒ (6, 3) + 6 = 15
Grapple: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (10) + 20 = 30

...but Zaarah is both hit and grabbed by the plant tentacle!

COMBAT! Round 1: The bold may post!

Zaarah (-15, grappled)
Xill Plant Keeper
Peribras (-1)
Narika
Kramac
Xill
Rudzik
Ghukar (-17)

Lower Deck: Combat Map

Peribras ignores everything else and focuses his attention on the Plant Keeper in the back.

improved precise shot ignores concealment and cover

+3 darkwood comp. +2 str longbow, bracers of archery, deadly aim: 1d20 + 17 + 1 - 3 ⇒ (15) + 17 + 1 - 3 = 30
cold iron, piercing, magic: 1d6 + 5 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 5 + 6 = 12

+3 darkwood comp. +2 str longbow, bracers of archery, deadly aim: 1d20 + 12 + 1 - 3 ⇒ (10) + 12 + 1 - 3 = 20
cold iron, piercing, magic: 1d6 + 5 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 5 + 6 = 13

The halfling ranger's first shot proves most accurate, finding its way to strike the xill plant keeper in the right shoulder...the second shot just misses, a bit high...

COMBAT! Round 1: The bold may post!

Zaarah (-15, grappled)
Xill Plant Keeper (-12)
Peribras (-1)
Narika
Kramac
Xill
Rudzik
Ghukar (-17)

Lower Deck: Combat Map

Narika places a fireball where it will catch the plant keeper and as many more enemies as possible.

damage: 10d6 ⇒ (6, 3, 2, 2, 4, 6, 3, 4, 5, 1) = 36

Narika sends a fireball cascading to the upper split level exploding among the three xill there...

While the cyan xill dodges the worst of the damage, purple takes its full effect. However, the fire washes over the xill plant keeper and appears to have no effect on it. (Spell resistance)

COMBAT! Round 1: The bold may post!

Zaarah (-15, grappled)
Xill Plant Keeper (-12)
Peribras (-1)
Narika
Kramac
Xill (black sleeping, cyan -18, purple -36)
Rudzik
Ghukar (-17)

Lower Deck: Combat Map

Kramac will toss the figurine of beak on the ground speak the command word to dismiss the spell, then swift mount onto the bird.

I have three castings of the spell left on the scroll, so I should be ok.

Kramac will then have beak bite the Xill in front of them.

Mounted Combati f needed: 1d20 + 23 ⇒ (9) + 23 = 32

Bite!

Bite, outflank, power attack: 1d20 + 16 + 4 - 2 ⇒ (4) + 16 + 4 - 2 = 22
Damage: 2d6 + 12 + 6 ⇒ (3, 3) + 12 + 6 = 24

Kramac brings Beak into play and mounts the heron...and the big bird takes a big chunk out of the red xill...

And then the xill converge on you and attack!

Kramac's defenses hold up, except for one claw attack that scratches the half-Orc's sword arm...

Beak, Narika, and even the grappled Zaarah, are able to avoid the xill's attacks...but a xill's short sword barely gets by Ghukar to inflict a small gash on the wayang's shoulder...

COMBAT! End Round 1 / Begin Round 2: The bold may post!

Zaarah (-15, grappled)
Xill Plant Keeper (-12)
Peribras (-1)
Narika
Kramac (-5)
Beak
Xill (black sleeping, cyan -18, purple -36, red -24)
Rudzik
Ghukar (-21)

Lower Deck: Combat Map

Grimly, Rudzik levels his bow at the xill threatening Narika. "I reckon yer the best one t' take out these plants," he tells the halfling, voice strained from the effort. "You do that'n I'll get them off ya."

Regular Longbow, PBS, RS, DA, FE: 1d20 + 19 + 1 - 2 - 3 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 19 + 1 - 2 - 3 + 4 = 20
Adamantine Piercing damage, PBS, DA, FE: 1d8 + 3 + 1 + 6 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 3 + 1 + 6 + 4 = 22

Rapid Shot Longbow, PBS, RS, DA, FE: 1d20 + 19 + 1 - 2 - 3 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 19 + 1 - 2 - 3 + 4 = 27
Adamantine Piercing damage, PBS, DA, FE: 1d8 + 3 + 1 + 6 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 3 + 1 + 6 + 4 = 21

Secondary Longbow, PBS, RS, DA, FE: 1d20 + 14 + 1 - 2 - 3 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 14 + 1 - 2 - 3 + 4 = 16
Adamantine Piercing damage, PBS, DA, FE: 1d8 + 3 + 1 + 6 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 3 + 1 + 6 + 4 = 15

Tertiary Longbow, PBS, RS, DA, FE: 1d20 + 9 + 1 - 2 - 3 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 9 + 1 - 2 - 3 + 4 = 21
Adamantine Piercing damage, PBS, DA, FE: 1d8 + 3 + 1 + 6 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 3 + 1 + 6 + 4 = 17

Aiming at Grey, shifting to Purple in the unlikely event that Grey falls.

Rudzik's typical accuracy is just a tad below usual; even so, two of his arrows still land solidly, rocking the grey xill facing Narika...

COMBAT! End Round 1 / Begin Round 2: The bold may post!

Zaarah (-15, grappled)
Xill Plant Keeper (-12)
Peribras (-1)
Narika
Kramac (-5)
Beak
Xill (black sleeping, cyan -18, purple -36, red -24, grey -38)
Rudzik
Ghukar (-21)

Lower Deck: Combat Map