Dungeon Master Sssssssss's "The Slithering" (Inactive)

Game Master Chris Marsh

In the morning, the party stretches, prepares, studies, and heads to the caravan house.

The Khalibi Caravan House appears to be simply one of the many caravan houses in Kibwe doing business. the connection to the Slithering Curse may be inside....

The Khalibi Caravan House is made of stone to remain cool and comfortable even on hot days. The caravan house has no windows; narrow slits near the ceiling allow for airflow.

Map updated.

"Huh... should we just be polite and knock? Me heard you not supposed to just barge into houses without knocking. Only ok in Goblin village, not in human longshanks city."

Heyou! moves around getting ready to knock... though it is apparent he seems to think he should knock with an alchemists fire, so probably doesn't quite understand the concept.

Pazúr waits noncommittaly for Heyou! to knock. "We're just here to talk to folks, seems weird to go sneaking in," he offers.

Heyou! knocks, but there's no reply. The door does not look locked.

I placed you on the map, but it's now out of date. Just a reminder to ahve the map updated on a post.

Not having a response, Heyou! looks back at the team, shrugs, and then tries to open the door.

If the door is locked, he starts pulling out his picks with the plan to open the door.

Heyou! is a little bit disappointed to find the door unlocked. He swings it open to reveal an empty room.

This stone room is cool and comfortable. Shelves line two of the walls, and a large desk opposite the shelves bears a few large tomes. A high wooden chair is behind the desk. Doors lead north and south; the door leading north bears a sign reading “No Admittance” in Taldane and Mwangi.

"This seems a little strange that the room is empty. Where do you suppose everybody is at?"

Ferrun creeps carefully into the room walking gently on his paws much like a cat burglar and looks around the bookshelves and the desk to see if he can pick up any clues.

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (18) + 7 = 25

"Does that sign say that we should enter?"

The shelves contain cheap travelogues and atlases of the region around Kibwe. The ledgers on the desk are appointment books and account statements. Everything in this room suggests only legitimate business. The door going further into the building seems unlocked (much to Heyou!'s dismay.)

"Heyyou! Lead us onward. Everything seems legitimate, but I am still a bit skeptical."

Ferran strokes his whiskers as he waits for the goblin to do his work.

Tools in hand, Heyou! moves in, waving the others to follow. He tries being sneaky, but sees that there are tons of books around. He takes a moment to look at some things, and searches the desk and such.

Heyou! doesn't find anything of note...

Society: 1d20 ⇒ 18

"I don't know about you folks, but this place looks a little stale to me. I have a feeling that nobody really even uses this place except as a front."

society: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (15) + 11 = 26

Heyou! looks up from the book that he is chewing on... "Yeah, this tastes a little stale, too. What's up with that?"

He put the book down, and moves over the other doors, waiting for the rest of the group to join him.

The intrepid goblin opens the door to the next room.

It's a meeting room has a large table with several chairs around it, although all but one of the chairs have been moved to one side, as though for an interview or tribunal. A wooden statue stands in the corner, and a large map is spread across the table. A wet patch fills the center of the room’s stone floor. Two other doors lead east.

Ferrun walks into the room slowly, looking around for traps or anything of interest.

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16

He looks over the wooden statue, especially the eyes and tries to see who is behind them. Who is he facing at the end of this? He then cannot help his primal instinct and uses the statue as a scratching post both to mark his territory, but also keep his claws at the ready.

Ferrun begins to explore the room when suddenly the statue comes to life! The puddle also begins to stir!

Round 1:
Holton: Go
Statue: TBD
Ferrun: TBD
Chivivit: TBD
Heyou!: TBD
Kicsit: TBD
Pazúr: TBD
Puddle: TBD

Stride x2. Raise shield for a block.

Haldan rushes in the room to draw the attention of the foes. The wooden statue strides forth. Once in the middle of the room it whips its arm in a long arc, hurling splinters from its body!

Splinter v. Haldan: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (20) + 16 = 36 for TWICE: 2d4 + 8 ⇒ (4, 4) + 8 = 16
Splinter v. Ferrun: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (12) + 16 = 28 for DMG: 2d4 + 8 ⇒ (1, 1) + 8 = 10
Splinter v. Pazúr: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (2) + 16 = 18 MISS
Splinter v. Heyou!: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (6) + 16 = 22 for TWICE: 2d4 + 8 ⇒ (2, 4) + 8 = 14

Round 1:
Holton: Enter
Statue: Splinters!
Ferrun: Go
Chivivit: Go
Heyou!: Go
Kicsit: Go
Pazúr: Go
Puddle: TBD

Holton. And I see now what I did wrong with these names.

Could someone help with the math? First time I've raised my shield to shield block. Hardness 8 on my sturdy shield. I remove 8 and me and the shield take the rest?

Ferrun quickly draws his Warhammer strides up and swings it at the slime.

Warhammer: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (5) + 13 = 18
Bludgeoning Damage: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

Holton - if your shield has hardness 8, that absorbs the first 8 damage, and then both you and the shield take the rest, yes.

"I know how to deal with wood! Wood burn real good!" calls out Heyou! as moves into bomb range. He pulls out his first bomb and chucks it at the wooden statue, all in one motion. The bomb sails through the air, rotating gently, until it strikes the wooden thing square in the face!

moderate alchemists fire: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (20) + 12 = 32 fire w/ splash and Burn It!: 2d8 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (8, 5) + 2 + 1 = 16 Make that 26+2=28!Plus Persistent Fire 3

He then pulls out his dagger, just in case.

Heyou! beat me to it. I'll add that it does use your reaction to block with the shield.

Ferrun, seeing that the harmless puddle isn't so harmless, whacks it hard with a hammer. It's hard to tell, but it feels like a solid hit.

Heyou! shatters a flask directly on the center mass of the wooden thing.

Round 1:
Holton: Enter
Statue: Splinters!
Ferrun: Hit
Chivivit: Go
Heyou!: Crit!
Kicsit: Go
Pazúr: Go
Puddle: TBD

8 less damage sounds like a pretty good use of my reaction.

Pazúr slips his short cape from his shoulder and wraps it around his arm as he darts toward the wooden figure, ready to give it a good scratching! As he gets close, he holds his cape before him to distract any potential attacks.

Interact to wrap Dueling Cape around arm, Stride, last action to hold cape in defensive position for +1 to AC and Deception.

Kicsit moves into the room. He doesn't have a fire cantrip studied but he's sure that acid will work on wood as well...
acid splash on statue: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (2) + 11 = 13
damage?: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10

Pazur closes and preps for a fight. Kicsit stays at distance, but misses the animated creature.

Round 1:
Holton: Enter
Statue: Splinters!
Ferrun: Hit
Chivivit: Go
Heyou!: Crit!
Kicsit: Miss
Pazúr: Close
Puddle: TBD

"Kicsit, you need Heyou! to show you how to hit targets? Me can do that!" quips the goblin chirurgeon.

Chivivit heads into the room and studies the creatures, muttering to himself, "What in the hells are these things?"

Moving in and using recall knowledge on both creatures.

Chivivit walks into the room and immediately takes in the scene. He knows that the statue is no mere animation, but a full golem, immune to most magic, though fire spells likely still work. He also knows that it has plenty more of those splinters!

The ooze is a new variety, not yet encountered. A Grey ooze! Thankfully the party saw it move, they're very hard to distinguish from a puddle. Like the others, it has no anatomy. Thankfully these don't split if cut or stabbed, though such weapons will find it hard to hurt them.

The wood golem finishes the close, and swings at Pazúr with two knotty fists:
Punch: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (18) + 17 = 35 for DOUBLE: 2d8 + 8 ⇒ (7, 8) + 8 = 23
Punch: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (11) + 12 = 23 MISS

Flat v. fire: 1d20 ⇒ 15 OUT

The cloak defense fails, but Pazur makes up for it on the second.

Meanwhile the ooze lashes out at Holdon and then Ferrun:
Atk. Sir Holton: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (17) + 13 = 30 for DMG: 1d6 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10 and ACID: 1d6 ⇒ 6
Ferrun: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (6) + 9 = 15 MISS
Ferrun: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22

Round 2:
Holton: Go
Statue: TBD
Ferrun: TBD
Chivivit: TBD
Heyou!: TBD
Kicsit: TBD
Pazúr: TBD
Puddle: TBD

Sir Holton Heals himself and then swings.

Heal: 3d8 + 24 ⇒ (3, 6, 1) + 24 = 34
Attack: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (17) + 12 = 292d8 + 5 ⇒ (2, 8) + 5 = 15

HP 61/67

Sir Holton's attack is powerful. Had the slime a neck, it would have snapped it. As is, the blow is still telling as parts of the grey ooze splatter and do not return to the whole.

The golem begins pounding on poor Pazúr:
Fist 1: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (13) + 17 = 30 for DMG: 2d8 + 8 ⇒ (1, 3) + 8 = 12
Fist 2: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (9) + 12 = 21 MISS
Fist 3: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9 MISS

Round 2:
Holton: Hit
Statue: ATK
Ferrun: Go
Chivivit: Go
Heyou!: Go
Kicsit: Go
Pazúr: Go
Puddle: TBD

Heyou! moves in front of Chivvit, and chucks another alchemists' fire at the golem.

Mod Alch Fire: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (9) + 12 = 21 fire damage: 2d8 + 3 ⇒ (7, 3) + 3 = 13
Also, 2 points of splash to golem and Pazúr
Also 3 persistent fire

"Sorry, Pazúr. You ok? Me can heal you if you not so ok!"

He then chucks his dagger at the golem If it still stands

+1 Returning Dagger: 1d20 + 12 - 4 ⇒ (3) + 12 - 4 = 11 piercing: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

Heyou! hurls some serious fire at the golem, but the golem ducks! The splash still burns it a bit though. Sadly the follow up dagger is also off target.

Round 2:
Holton: Hit
Statue: ATK
Ferrun: Go
Chivivit: Go
Heyou!: Miss
Kicsit: Go
Pazúr: Go
Puddle: TBD

Ferrun pounces on the blob using his Warhammer to deliver multiple attacks!

Warhammer: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (12) + 13 = 25
Bludgeoning Damage: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9

Warhammer: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26
Bludgeoning Damage: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

The cat then raises his shield!

Per Slack, the golem didn't just take that last turn. Pazur regains 12 HP.

Ferrun has no problem hitting the blob. The ooze seems to be able to move quickly to attack, but not nearly so to dodge. The dangerous parts look about half the size they were when the puddle attacked.

Round 2:
Holton: Hit
Statue: ATK
Ferrun: Hits
Chivivit: Go
Heyou!: Miss
Kicsit: Go
Pazúr: Go
Puddle: TBD

Pazúr fakes to one side as if he's going to dart around the wooden foe, then lashes out with a startling claw attack! After the beating he's already taken, he then lifts his buckler to defend himself.

Deception to Feint, Strike, Raise Shield - AC is 24

Deception to Feint: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (4) + 15 = 19

Claw attack: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (5) + 14 = 19
Slashing damage: 2d6 + 1 ⇒ (6, 1) + 1 = 8 +2 if the Feint succeeded, which I doubt

Status: 22/68 hp

Pazúr fails to trick the golem, and it blocks the attack!

Round 2:
Holton: Hit
Statue: ATK
Ferrun: Hits
Chivivit: Go
Heyou!: Miss
Kicsit: Go
Pazúr: Miss
Puddle: TBD

Chivivit thinks for a moment, before conjuring up the illusion of a warrior, bristling with armor and blades.

The golem might be immune to magic, but it could sure be distracted.

Casting illusory creature.

Chivivit brings forth some illusory help, which does seem to split the attention of the golem, at least for now!

Round 2:
Holton: Hit
Statue: ATK
Ferrun: Hits
Chivivit: Illusion
Heyou!: Miss
Kicsit: Go
Pazúr: Miss
Puddle: TBD

Kicsit moves to the right and summon a flaming sphere to burn the wooded monster...
flaming sphere (dc 21 reflex): 3d6 ⇒ (4, 2, 5) = 11

The golem pulls back in the face of the flame REF: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (1) + 16 = 17 Despite being a normally quick construct, it takes the fire full in the body. Kicsit find his spell has a profound effect on the golem Actual base damage: 4d8 ⇒ (4, 8, 2, 4) = 18. The golem is clearly now the worse for wear. The golem pulls away from its engagement and the illusory opponent, getting away from the fire!

It closes on Kicsit and tries to smash his face with a fist!
ATK: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (6) + 17 = 23 for DMG: 2d8 + 8 ⇒ (4, 1) + 8 = 13

The ooze lashes out with its pseudopods on Sir Holton and Ferrun:
Slam v. Holton: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (3) + 13 = 16 MISS
Redouble!: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10 MISS
And Again!: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21 MISS

Round 3:
Holton: Go
Statue: Go
Ferrun: Go
Chivivit: Go
Heyou!: Go
Kicsit: Go
Pazúr: Go
Puddle: TBD

Holton retaliates with some shots from his warhammer.

Attack 1: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (16) + 12 = 282d8 + 5 ⇒ (8, 4) + 5 = 17
Attack 2: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 232d8 + 5 ⇒ (7, 3) + 5 = 15

After these two crushing blows, Holton raises his shield to brace for the coming attacks.

Twice Sir Holton's hammer slams into the ooze. His second hit splatters it all over the room, only the golem remains!

Round 3:
Holton: Kill
Statue: Go
Ferrun: Go
Chivivit: Go
Heyou!: Go
Kicsit: Go
Pazúr: Go
Puddle: TBD

Move towards the golem.

Heyou! moves to get a clear shot at the golem.,. ”Sorry, Kicsit, me heal you later!”

Moderate fire bomb: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (9) + 12 = 21 2 splash on Kicsit and golem.

”damnit!”

Heyou!'s bomb connects! Fire: 2d8 ⇒ (8, 1) = 9. The golem immediately catches fire, more so than Heyou! expected. It's not enough to drop the thing though.

Round 3:
Holton: Kill
Statue: Go
Ferrun: Go
Chivivit: Go
Heyou!: Hit!
Kicsit: Go
Pazúr: Go
Puddle: TBD

Ferrun runs over and repeatedly bashes the golem with his warhammer.

Warhammer: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (9) + 13 = 22
Bludgeoning Damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10

Warhammer: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15
Bludgeoning Damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

"I hate to harm a good scratching post, but you cannot hurt my friends!"

Ferrun's warhammer splinters off a lot of the flaming statue, but hitting it with a bludgeoning weapon seems to have muted effect.

Round 3:
Holton: Kill
Statue: Go
Ferrun: Go
Chivivit: Go
Heyou!: Hit!
Kicsit: Go
Pazúr: Go
Puddle: TBD

"Alright." Ferrun declares matter of factly."Time to use the scratching post!"

The champion rakes his claws over the golem.

1st Attack: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (8) + 14 = 22
Slashing Damage: 2d6 + 4 ⇒ (1, 5) + 4 = 10

2nd Attack: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (17) + 10 = 27
Slashing Damage: 2d6 + 4 ⇒ (1, 3) + 4 = 8

3rd Attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 16
Slashing Damage: 2d6 + 4 ⇒ (2, 2) + 4 = 8

Heyou! Actually did miss on the 21 above. Ferrun, sorry didn't mean to leave you bolded.

The party struggles to connect, as the golem wreaks havoc. Even Ferrun's assaults fail. The odds are not in its favor though as the heroes begin to circle in.

Round 3:
Holton: Kill
Statue: Close
Ferrun: Miss
Chivivit: Go
Heyou!: Hit!
Kicsit: Go
Pazúr: Go
Puddle: TBD

[spoiler=DM]
Wood golem: 74[/dice]