GM Erich's The Chasm of Screams (10-11) for Gameday IX (Inactive)

Game Master Thereus, Silver Crusader

Of course...take it easy....you might be weak... Rallas says calmly as he gets out his dagger and cuts the cage apart. He gets out his waterskin and offers the bird some.Tell us what you know...anything might help...

”Who is your mistress? We might be able to help you on your mission,” Tess adds.

"I am called Vaetta, and I am her life's companion. As you can tell by my voice, it is more complicated than that." The raven says as it steps out of the cage, even as Rallas pries it open.

It flies to a safer perch (centered on the group) and continues. "Yes. Anyway, I was out of our cabin - flying about the forest, when several men came and attacked Mistress Eya. As I raced back, they must have knocked her unconscious because I lost all contact with her. But I arrived just in time to witness the barbarians dragging her off. I did my best to tail them and was able to safely follow them back to their campsite where I flew in close enough to observe them, and once in range, I again began to sense her. She was alive! I hid to come up with a plan. They all began talking about taking her to a place called the Chasm of Screams. I could feel her flood with fear when she heard those words. Without warning, one of them knocked my mistress unconscious again, and they broke camp and dragged her off with them, up the mountain. As I tried to follow, one of the men spotted me and shot me with a nasty arrow. That’s all I can remember."

The raven lowers her head, her gold earring sparkling in the crisp sunlight. New picture

"You have helped me so I know you are caring. Please help me again to find her. I can go with you to rescue her. Together, we will succeed!"

"You are more than welcome to join us in rescuing her. The Chasm of Screams does not sound like a pleasant place to be and you can help us narrow down where we need to search.Ghukar said.

"Then we should not waste time." As the raven is about to take flight it pauses. "That sack... is Eya's"

A tied sack in the pile of leftover items holds half a dozen tubes of various exquisitely rendered maps of the Inner Sea. Hidden within one of the tubes is an ivory scroll tube containing the following spells: dimension door and secret chest. A second tube holds a second scroll with the following spells: contingency and magnificent mansion.

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Following the tracks and the raven's overhead flight, the party heads up the mountain. The air gets thinner as you head up, and the cold gets biting. You trek forward as the sun starts to lower in the west.

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As darkness begins to creep in, Vaetta flies in low during one of your rest breaks and lands on a icy branch. "She is still alive. I feel her presence, but she is scared and badly injured. We must push forward."

As the raven speaks, strange howls echoing from the peak above seem to bleed into your mind as well.

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Shortly after dark, you reach the chasm. Even from a distance, the strange and horrid, screaming echoes unnervingly through the mountains, drowning the silence and driving away living creatures, leaving the snowy hillside lifeless. Along the baseline of the mountain’s face where its roots wedge into its neighboring peak, a gaping chasm opens from which the howling emanates. The open maw descends into darkness, its slope a steep, 40-degree angle. Here, its wretched wail belches forth in frigid, almost gale-force blasts.

Near the entrance to the maw, you spot a campsite with five barbarian types. Three with swords and sturdy leather armor, the other two with thinner leather armor and gnarled staves.

New Map. Any preparations before you head in? Then place yourself on an east or southeast edge of the map (lined in green) where you want to be when the fun begins. Consider this like a plateau. Depending on your actions, you might have surprise. Winds are strong here. It is dim light.

going to buff using longstrider, shield and lead blades...

umd longstrider: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (18) + 13 = 31
shield: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (6) + 13 = 19
leadblades: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (14) + 13 = 27
umd shield: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (13) + 13 = 26

AC is 27 now...

Enora uses her wand of mage of armor on herself.

Do you guys mind if I assume that I used the contingency spell earler - would like to link a false life spell to it?

She also casts mirror image on herself.

Images: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

Enora is otherwise ready to act.

Seems a waste of a scroll. Especially considering how long false life lasts. Just cast the later. 8P

Not to mention I'm hoping at least three of those scrolls survive to the end of the scenario... and thus become scribable! =)

Milo floats up behind Rallas, eyeing the situation down below.

"Keen I should just torch 'em all from here?" He asks, a small flame flickering into and out of existence in one hand.

Ah... lovely fireball formations

Ok, then I cast it normally.

Enora casts false life on herself.

false life: 1d10 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16

I'm liking your train of thought, Milo...soften them up before closing with them...good idea...I'll try to get closer first... the rogue says as he sneaks up closer.

stealth: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (5) + 17 = 22

Kali concentrates to numb herself to pain (barkskin Qigong Power), quaffs the contents of a stout little flask (mage armor), and accompanies Rallas.

Stealth: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (1) + 14 = 15

Is this the same day or a different day, GM? If it is same day, I assume my 18 hour buffs are still active. If it is a new day, Tess would have to recast them.

Ghukar joined the others in sneaking forward to set up an ambush.
Stealth: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (10) + 21 = 31
Drink Dex Mutagen, Barkskin, and Displacement AC 29 with 50% mischance when targeted

It is late in the same day (8 PM-ish). Milo, how long did your previously cast buffs last (cast at around 8 am)? Everyone please check the buffs I have listed for you and please update your tagline with new AC and saves if they change as a result. Treat any rocky squares as difficult terrain.

Kali tries to hide behind a tree, but an alert warrior spies her silhouette and races out to engage in front of the howling winds of the maw, confidently drawing a battle-worn longsword along the way.

Round 1 - Bold can act normally
Yellow
Milo (endure elements)
Tessara (mage armor, false Life 18)
Kali (barkskin, mage armor)
Pink
Rallas (longstrider, lead blades, shield)
Ghukar (mutagen, barkskin, displacement)
Enora (false Life 16, mirror image 5)
Red
Purple
Orange

Coises! So much for fireball formation =)

All of Milo's buffs were hour/level or more, so still going for a while longer at least.

Milo curses slightly in orcish, as the barbarians catch sight of the others a little earlier than expected. Still, a smile crosses his face as he begins to chant in draconic. Small wisps of flame begin to run up and down his arms as he goes, until they finally all coalesce in his palms, and he unleashes it with a forward thrust of his hands.

A small flaming bead lances across the snow-covered field towards the barbarians still lingering back, and explodes into a sudden conflagration of fire... the heat from which the others can almost feel, over a hundred feet away.

intensified empowered fireball: 13d6 + 26 + 4 ⇒ (6, 6, 5, 1, 6, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 5, 3, 5) + 26 + 4 = 87 * 1.5 = 130 fire damage (Reflex DC 22 for half)
Will hit all of them, but yellow

The snow and ice around them is instantly vaporized, and as the ball of flame fades, it leaves behind a cloud of steam, and suddenly exposed ground.

The little gnome is suddenly laughing like a madman, as he flies down towards the others, yelling obscenities and curses at the barbarian in orcish as he does so. You're not even sure they can hear him from this far back, though that doesn't seem to dissuade him.

@Milo, it's now been 12 hours since they were cast so let me know...

The incredible blast lights up the valley, leaving two crispy dead, one barely standing and one completely unhurt in its wake.

reflex pink: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23
reflex red: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 20
reflex purple: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6
reflex orange: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (20) + 8 = 28

Round 1 - Bold can act normally
Yellow
Milo (endure elements)
Tessara (mage armor, false Life 18)
Kali (barkskin, mage armor)
Pink
Rallas (longstrider, lead blades, shield)
Ghukar (mutagen, barkskin, displacement)
Enora (false Life 16, mirror image 5)
Red <dead>
Purple <dead>
Orange -65 damage

Dangit, wanted to get the pink one, so the inits all lined up.

Oh, and misread the post, for some reason I thought you were saying it'd been 8 hours. If 12, then ya, no longer flying. But he would recast the False Life and pearl of power back the mage armor.

Kali advances, then focuses the power of her baleful spirit until it emerges as a beam of blazing red energy from each fist!

Both vs Yellow Fellow:
scorching ray #1: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9

scorching ray #2: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (19) + 8 = 27
fire damage: 4d6 ⇒ (4, 4, 2, 3) = 13

Tess readies an action to use her Misfortune hex, if an enemy approaches within range.

@Milo go ahead and roll your new false life then

dim light miss chance: 1d100 ⇒ 93

One of Kali's flame blasts spirals into the nearest barbarian. Tessara prepares to weaken any who draw close. Another barbarian draws close to his partner, sword drawn in anticipation.

Round 1 - Bold can act normally
Yellow - 13 damage
Milo (endure elements, mage armor, false life ?)
Tessara (mage armor, false Life 18)
Kali (barkskin, mage armor)
Pink
Rallas (longstrider, lead blades, shield)
Ghukar (mutagen, barkskin, displacement)
Enora (false Life 16, mirror image 5)
Orange - 65 damage

Enora moves forward.

double move

Stepping out of the brush, Ghukar lobbed two containers that exploded in a mix of flame and goo, sticking to the foes feet.

Tanglefoot bomb, pink: 1d20 + 12 - 3 ⇒ (10) + 12 - 3 = 195d6 + 8 ⇒ (6, 1, 2, 6, 3) + 8 = 26
Tanglefoot bomb, orange: 1d20 + 7 - 3 ⇒ (11) + 7 - 3 = 155d6 + 8 ⇒ (6, 4, 5, 2, 4) + 8 = 29
Splash weapon mastery 70' distance (-3). Tanglefoot bomb DC 21 reflex or be entangled and glued to the floor as if it had failed its save against a tanglefoot bag. Splash damage 12, DC 21 reflex for half. So two save each,one for the effect, the other for the splash.

Just out of range of your darkvision
dim light miss chance, pink: 1d100 ⇒ 50
dim light miss chance, yellow: 1d100 ⇒ 25

pink save entangle: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8
pink save splash: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11
yellow save entangle: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 19
yellow save splash: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23

Enora repositions and Ghukar strains the limits of his arms by incapacitating two of the warriors.

Round 1 - Bold can act normally
Yellow -42 damage <entangled and immobile>
Milo (endure elements, mage armor, false life ?)
Tessara (mage armor, false Life 18)
Kali (barkskin, mage armor)
Pink -38 damage <entangled and immobile>
Ghukar (mutagen, barkskin, displacement)
Enora (false Life 16, mirror image 5)
Rallas (longstrider, lead blades, shield)
Orange - 65 damage

Rallas moves up beside Kali and goes into defensive posture.total defense

Rallas moves up to the front lines. The barbarian elder charges past the maw to strike Kali hard with his hefty cudgel as the others struggle to break free.

Orange Strike vs Kali: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (19) + 17 = 36
Orange Damage vs Kali: 2d6 + 16 ⇒ (3, 6) + 16 = 25
Yellow Damage to goo: 2d8 + 10 ⇒ (4, 6) + 10 = 20
Yellow goo brittle: 2d4 ⇒ (2, 3) = 5

Round 2 - Bold can act normally
Yellow -42 damage <entangled, half speed>
Milo (endure elements, mage armor, false life ?)
Tessara (mage armor, false Life 18)
Kali -25 damage (barkskin, mage armor)
Pink -38 damage <entangled and immobile>
Ghukar (mutagen, barkskin, displacement)
Enora (false Life 16, mirror image 5)
Rallas (longstrider, lead blades, shield, total D)
Orange - 65 damage

False Life temp hp's: 1d10 + 9 ⇒ (3) + 9 = 12

Milo double moves through the snow, to get a view that is not blocked by the copse of trees.

His snowy steps seem to steam as moves past.

Tess moves 30’ closer to the orange enemy and uses her misfortune hex.

DC 20 Will to resist. And if someone would move me, that’d be great.

Kali screams in...well, you hope it's pain, because the most likely alternative from how she sounds would be much more disturbing.

"My turn," She smiles at the barbarian...

Spending 1 Ki for an extra attack.

flurry, Body-Wrap of +1 Vicious Strikes, Belier's Bite, Punishing Kick: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (20) + 11 = 31
damage plus Vicious: 1d10 + 5 + 2d6 ⇒ (5) + 5 + (4, 3) = 17
Vicious damage to self: 1d6 ⇒ 1
Belier's Bite bleed damage: 1d4 ⇒ 4
Threat!, Martial Manuscript: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (6) + 13 = 19
If that confirmed:
bonus damage: 1d10 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10
Does bleed damage multiply on a critical hit, too?: 1d4 ⇒ 2
DO let me know whether I confirmed, because other stuff will happen in that case, too!

Regardless, he must also now make a DC 19 Fortitude save or be knocked prone.

Flurry, Kuthite Cruelty: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (17) + 12 = 29
damage: 1d10 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14

Flurry, Kuthite Cruelty: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (3) + 12 = 15
damage: 1d10 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7

Flurry, Kuthite Cruelty: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16
damage: 1d10 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7

Flurry, Kuthite Cruelty: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (20) + 7 = 27
damage: 1d10 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13
Holy crow, ANOTHER threat!: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (19) + 9 = 28
bonus damage!: 1d10 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7

...and thrashes him like a madwoman, seemingly growing stronger as he suffers! His gasping breaths take on a visible ghostly sheen, and Kali seems to inhale them....

Tess, am unsure if 30' of movement gets you within 30'... depends on if the trees there count as difficult terrain or not. (I just went around them on Milo, to avoid the issue, so dunno =))

If those are difficult, would someone just move me like 45’ or so up there, so I can help next round, if the enemy is still up? Thanks.

Both threats confirm. I'm assuming those are snow-covered trees so they don't block movement.

The wizard and witch move forward bravely. Tess forces bad luck into the barbarian leader, and Kali confirms it with a violent thrashing that drops him into the thin layer of snow with a thud.

With renewed vigor, the other barbarian scrapes the goo from his boots.

Orange Will vs Misfortune: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (10) + 12 = 22
Orange Fort to fall prone: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (7) + 15 = 22
Pink Damage to goo: 2d8 + 10 ⇒ (4, 4) + 10 = 18
Pink goo brittle: 2d4 ⇒ (2, 2) = 4

Round 2 - Bold can act normally
Yellow -42 damage <entangled, half speed 5>
Milo (endure elements, mage armor, false life 12)
Tessara (mage armor, false Life 18)
Kali -26 damage (barkskin, mage armor)
Pink -38 damage <entangled, half speed 4>
Ghukar (mutagen, barkskin, displacement)
Enora (false Life 16, mirror image 5)
Rallas (longstrider, lead blades, shield, total D)
Orange - 140 damage <unconscious>

lol "I am your bad luck!"

2 critical hits AND a K.O.? Now THAT'S the Way of the Hungry Ghost!

Kali seems almost completely renewed by her victory, as any close observers think they can make out small flashes of faintly-glowing ether emerging from the dying barbarian and making their way toward her as though she were a yawning chasm beneath a great waterfall....

I should now only be at -3 hit points (healed for 8 3X, -1 from Vicious damage), and again at maximum Ki!

Tanglefoot Bomb Yellow: 1d20 + 12 - 1 ⇒ (9) + 12 - 1 = 205d6 + 8 ⇒ (2, 3, 2, 4, 5) + 8 = 24
Moving closer so he did not need to wrench his arm, Ghukar sent another Tanglefoot Bomb at the Barbarians, smacking one in the chest with the burning goo and spraying the other in the process.
repeat process as above, one bomb only on yellow.

Rallas rushes forward and tries to drop the barbarian with the yellow tunic.

attack: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (17) + 15 = 322d8 + 8 + 6 ⇒ (5, 2) + 8 + 6 = 21using power attack...no penalty from Furious Focus

Ghukar's lone bomb sticks the barbarian to the ground again and Enora and Rallas move up to the fight. Rallas' powerful slash is enough to doom him.

yellow save entangle: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9
pink save splash: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24

Round 2 - Bold can act normally
Yellow -87 damage <unconscious>
Milo (endure elements, mage armor, false life 12)
Tessara (mage armor, false Life 18)
Kali -2 damage (barkskin, mage armor)
Pink -38 damage <entangled, half speed 4>
Ghukar (mutagen, barkskin, displacement)
Enora (false Life 16, mirror image 5)
Rallas (longstrider, lead blades, shield)
Orange - 140 damage <unconscious>

Kali closes in on the remaining barbarian, blasting him with another volley of red-hot soul energy along the way.

scorching ray #1: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (9) + 8 = 17
fire damage: 4d6 ⇒ (3, 1, 1, 4) = 9

scorching ray #2: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (11) + 8 = 19
fire damage: 4d6 ⇒ (6, 3, 4, 1) = 14

Kali's scorching rays both hit, bringing the barbarian closer to death.

Round 2 - Bold can act normally
Yellow -87 damage <unconscious>
Kali -2 damage (barkskin, mage armor)
Milo (endure elements, mage armor, false life 12)
Tessara (mage armor, false Life 18)
Pink -61 damage <entangled, half speed 4>
Ghukar (mutagen, barkskin, displacement)
Enora (false Life 16, mirror image 5)
Rallas (longstrider, lead blades, shield)
Orange - 140 damage <unconscious>

Milo glares across at the remaining barbarians, his smalls fists clenched in annoyance.... though you're not entirely sure what he's annoyed by.

But even then, small flames start to leak out around the tightly clenched fingers. Within moments, there is a fully blazing flame around his hand as he slow marches forward through the snow.

He glances at it and a wicked smile works its way onto his face. With an angry cry, he hurls it towards the last standing foe.

Single move. Produce Flame spell-like.

ranged touch, into melee: 1d20 + 7 - 4 ⇒ (14) + 7 - 4 = 17, for 1d6 + 11 ⇒ (2) + 11 = 13 fire damage.

Tess delays as the situation seemed well in hand now.

Milo's mini-fire burns the barbarian who tries to respond but is not able to wield his sword freely.

strike vs Rallas: 1d20 + 12 - 2 ⇒ (4) + 12 - 2 = 14
strike vs Rallas: 1d20 + 7 - 2 ⇒ (11) + 7 - 2 = 16

Round 2/3 - Bold can act normally
Ghukar (mutagen, barkskin, displacement)
Enora (false Life 16, mirror image 5)
Rallas (longstrider, lead blades, shield)
Orange - 140 damage <unconscious>
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Yellow -87 damage <unconscious>
Kali -2 damage (barkskin, mage armor)
Milo (endure elements, mage armor, false life 12)
Tessara (mage armor, false Life 18)
Pink -74 damage <entangled, half speed 4>

Rallas tries to finish off the barbarian before he breaks loose of the entanglement.

attack1: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (6) + 15 = 212d8 + 8 + 6 ⇒ (7, 6) + 8 + 6 = 27
attack2: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (20) + 8 = 282d8 + 8 + 6 ⇒ (5, 3) + 8 + 6 = 22
using power attack...no penalty on first hit

crit: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (20) + 8 = 282d8 + 8 + 6 ⇒ (5, 2) + 8 + 6 = 21

Waiting in case the lone attacker made it to him, Ghukar kept a careful eye on them.

Ready action. Directed blast if Pink makes it next to Guhkar.

Rallas teaches the barbarian a grave final lesson and the initial threat is quelled.

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The open maw descends hundreds of feet into darkness, its slope a steep, 40-degree angle. Within the passage, the wind force remains severe and the howling continues to drown out all audible sounds. Anyone attempting to communicate must yell. There is a definite atmosphere of fear here as well, not enough to frighten adventurers of your pedigree, but palpable nonetheless.

Much of the floor and walls is rimed with an icy frost, and the terrain is slippery Traditional movement here will require a DC 20 Acrobatics check.

In a few places, the winds have blown some of the icy rime clear, exposing a series of badly weathered, primitive pictographs adorning the cavern walls.

So several things to figure out now. Lighting for those without darkvision, how you will ascend in the sharp vertical tunnels you will face (climbing, flying) and the party's vertical marching order.

I have also added a side-view map on the title slide to track your progress moving up and into the mountain. C1 was the location of the barbarian camp.

ling: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (10) + 10 = 20

Enora is astounded.

"Look here! This are primitive pictographic histories - likely left by the region’s former inhabitants. Most seem to involve tests of faith, but some note marriages and ancestral lineages, and cultural histories of various tribe folk. Enora says.

Enora casts light.

Enora can cast fly and extend it with her rod. Are 7 or 14 minutes enough?

Tess can Flight hex for nine minutes a day. Is that enough to get her up?

Rallas has an Ioun torch....and a climber's rig....

Milo, my good man. If you need to drop a bomb in close proximity to me, do it. A small warning would be preferred...but not needed. You have a gift.... Rallas says as he sifts through the gear left.

The mountain seems to rise about 1000 feet above your current altitude. There are likely caves and tunnels - both horizontal and vertical - within. If the entire party cannot fly, it will obviously take longer for those who must move up at a climbing speed. The flyers will basically be limited by whatever speed the climbers can maintain, unless you wish to split the party. So flight will certainly help those who can, for as long as it lasts at least.

I have placed your tokens in a vertical line on the second slide to represent a vertical marching order, feel free to adjust your position.

Milo commandeers one of the healing potions, without really asking about it.

Hmmm... so we can go up the mountain, or down the tunnel? Up the mountain seems a bit of an unknown, so I suppose its down...

But if its severe winds, that means small creatures (ie: Milo and Enora) would not be able to move if flying... and I don't wanna walk.. hmm.
Then again, the checked penalty applies if we're walking too... so I suppose it's easier to make a fly check then a strength check to move =)

"That gasp's a right bludger." Milo comments with a scowl, as he feels the frigid winds blast up from the tunnel.

Linguistics: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (2) + 14 = 16

Although he notes the pictographs, he doesn't really care too much about them, so is more than happy to let Enora tell the others about it.

He makes a small gesture, and four orbs of light appear in the tunnel entrance, then race down towards the end.

Will use my dancing lights spell-like ability... has a range of 200 feet and a light radius of 50' or so... so will send it down to see how far the tunnel goes (assuming we can see an end)

"Time for the reader?" He asks, digging out one of the scrolls they found earlier. "Crib this slum coop a'whole."

If its not 'too' far... we could dimension door (using that scroll we found) three people down (probably the two small folks (who the wind will muck up) plus one other martial type. Milo could cast fly on one of the others, Enora on the other, Tess use her hex, and voila, everyone down easy peasy... assuming we can see a bottom from here with the light.

Too summarize: If we can see the bottom...
Milo casts fly on Rallas.
Enora casts fly on Ghukar.
Tess uses her fly hex.
Those three start down, and when near the bottom, Milo or Enora can use the dimension door scroll to pop He, Enora, and Kali down to meet them at the bottom.

I have a Fly extract prepped, but I am also small, so the same problem as Milo and Enora. I can spend a minute and add Spider climb, which will last for 90 minutes. Another more tricky option would be to have the small characters hop on someone with good strength and use Feather Fall (Airborne!)

Then can ddoor all 3 small folks. Just had it the way I mentioned thinking to take a martial person with us. But if we time it right, it shouldn't be a big deal.