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

Game Master Thereus, Silver Crusader

Oh, totally didn't see the reflex save bit! Was wondering why Ghukar was rolling one!

Milo Reflex: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11

Does endure elements help?

Reflex 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (13) + 9 = 22

Reesa is happy to use any cure light wounds the party has to their satisfaction.

...and if Kali wants some infernal charges she's welcome to them...as long as that doesn't screw her over alignment wise

Hmm, let me meditate upon this: *prays* Zon-Kuthon, Midnight Lord, Prince of Pain, do You mind if I receive Evil healing...? Yes, Lord, I understand; I shall torture a goat in Your name as penance for the sin of receiving healing, just as soon as I can get away from these *muttering grows incomprehensible*....

Reflex save, Evasion: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (13) + 10 = 23

reflex : 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18

@Milo - yes it would

@Rallas - nine charges of your infernal healing and one of CLW heals you and Kali

Ghukar reflex: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (14) + 15 = 29

Bracing against the wind and fully healed, the group trudges up the stairway. After several hundred feet, the passage opens into a series of natural labyrinthine catacombs. Their tangled walls are slicked with layers of ice that hideously entomb dozens of humanoid corpses—mostly tribal folk or villagers—in various states of decay. Some look hundreds of years old, others more recent.

Status. Buff if you desire. New map is up.
Rallas (longstrider, fly)
Kali (barkskin, mage armor)
Tessara (mage armor, false Life 16)
Milo (overland flight, endure elements, mage armor, false life 8)
Ghukar -2 damage (mutagen, barkskin)
Enora (light, protection from evil)

Enora casts mirror image again and uses another charge of her mage armor wand.

Images : 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

Kali gazes upon the frozen corpses with macabre interest....

Profession (Undertaker): 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (3) + 16 = 19

Milo will cast Protection from Evil on himself, and take a lesson from Enora, and throw up a Mirror Image as well (rarely ever cast that!) # of images: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

"Cold gruel." Milo mutters, as he floats up above the ground, for a better view.

Will be 15' up, assuming the ceiling cooperates

"These pidges been crapped for truth." He says. "But what beared 'em up?"

He mutters a few arcane words, with a dissatisfied frown, and his eyes start to glow slightly, as he looks around.

Cast Detect Magic, and glance about for suspicious objects or activity!

If needed:
Perception: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (4) + 15 = 19
Knowledge (arcana): 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (11) + 17 = 28
Spellcraft: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (18) + 17 = 35

Rallas gets out his wands and prepares for any upcoming trouble.

umd shield: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (15) + 13 = 28
umd lead blades: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (5) + 13 = 18
umd blades: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (7) + 13 = 20

He looks at the bodies as the others scan for magical auras.

perception: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (16) + 17 = 33

While the group checks out the area and gets patched up, Ghukar took the moment to whip a few extracts as he was running low on bombs.

3rd level open slot for Displacement. When we land at the next stop, Alchemical allocation and drink Displacement extract.

@Ghukar - I don't think Alchemical Allocation can be used with other extracts, just potions or elixirs.

As the group prepares for the macabre chamber, detect magic and knowledge checks fail to make sense of it all.

At the limit of your vision, several dark creatures spring from the exterior walls and race across the passage to the south, their incorporeal forms fusing quickly with the wall on the opposite side. Your guts feel twisted in a knot and you feel the hairs on your arm stand on end as you realize the foes you face.

Round 1 - Bold can act
Rallas (longstrider, fly, shield, lead blades)
Red
Kali (barkskin, mage armor)
Orange
Tessara (flight hex, mage armor, false Life 16)
Enora (light, protection from evil, mirror image 5)
Yellow
Ghukar -2 damage (mutagen, barkskin, displacement)
Purple
Milo (overland flight, endure elements, mage armor, protection from evil, false life 8, mirror image 4)

Dead last again? Boo!

Never mind. Tells you how often I use it.
K:Religion: 1d20 + 8 + 1d6 ⇒ (20) + 8 + (5) = 33
"They are Greater Shadows! Avoid their touch as they can sap your strength!" Ghukar yelled as he saw the approaching figures.
Going for their vulnerability, worse save, special defenses, and special attacks, depending on how many I made on the check.

@Milo, I roll alphabetically, you can always change your name!

@Ghukar Greater Shadows don't have a particular vulnerability, fortitude is the worst save, and the only special defenses are those that come from being both incorporeal and undead

This looks like a wise time to remind everyone of the easily-forgettable fact that mage armor, as a force spell, is fully effective against the incorporeal!

Knowledge (Religion): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (16) + 10 = 26 AC? HP?

@Kali 9 Hit Dice and relatively low AC, mostly dexterity based.

If I fall, use my scroll to bring me back... Rallas says as he moves to swing at the closest shadow.

attack, PA: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (18) + 15 = 332d8 + 8 + 6 ⇒ (2, 1) + 8 + 6 = 17

crit: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (8) + 15 = 232d8 + 8 + 6 ⇒ (4, 3) + 8 + 6 = 21

Sorry if it wasn't clear, the shadows disappeared into the wall again. You can move up there and ready an attack if one of them appears again next to you or feel free to redo your turn.

ah...gotcha....waste of a crit roll...boo! I'll stay back...draw them to us...and will ready an attack

attack: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (10) + 15 = 252d8 + 8 + 6 ⇒ (7, 2) + 8 + 6 = 23

You can't crit incorporeal things anyway.

jeez, man...kick me while i'm down, why dkn't ya...lol

Rallas waits in anticipation. There is a dark flash of shadow as one of the undead repeats its taunting by streaking across further down the tunnel and then disappearing once again.

From further down the hallway, a wild cackle and a screeching voice that echoes. "Come to claim what is yours but is now mine? I have space for all of you in my chilling menagerie! Follow, follow the shadows. All will be revealed. Time flies now, your precious prize will soon draw no breath because you tarry!"

Round 1 - Bold can act
Rallas (longstrider, fly, shield, lead blades) <Readied to attack>
Red
Kali (barkskin, mage armor)
Orange
Tessara (flight hex, mage armor, false Life 16)
Enora (light, protection from evil, mirror image 5)
Yellow
Ghukar -2 damage (mutagen, barkskin, displacement)
Purple
Milo (overland flight, endure elements, mage armor, protection from evil, false life 8, mirror image 4)

"The Midnight Lord shall know which of us is the stronger," Kali declares - sounding half-admonitory, half-diplomatic - as she bravely approaches the haunted corridor.

Spending 1 Ki for +4 AC.

One of the shadows streaks from the wall and swipes out at the lone monk. She returns the favor and even tries again as it disappears back into the wall.

@Kali you can take an AOO against it as it moves away.

shadow touch vs Kali: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (17) + 11 = 28
strength damage: 1d8 ⇒ 6

Round 1 - Bold can act
Rallas (longstrider, fly, shield, lead blades) <readied to attack>
Red
Kali -6 ST damage, -3 damage (barkskin, mage armor) <can make an AOO>
Orange -8 damage
Tessara (flight hex, mage armor, false Life 16)
Enora (light, protection from evil, mirror image 5)
Yellow
Ghukar -2 damage (mutagen, barkskin, displacement)
Purple
Milo (overland flight, endure elements, mage armor, protection from evil, false life 8, mirror image 4)

”I don’t have a good way to damage these things,” Tess whispers to the group.

She uses her fortune hex on the monk, Kali, to try to steel her against more attacks.

Enora casts HASTE but Kali is out of range.

”These shadows are dangerous!!“

Tessa, can i suggest Enlarge Person kn Kali or Ear piercing scream? Might be worth a shot

Tess tries to boost Kali's next attack while Enora speeds up most of the party. The third shadow emerges and narrowly misses Kali, who dodges in time.

shadow touch vs Kali: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (13) + 11 = 24

@Kali you can take an AOO against this one as it moves away too. You can use the fortune hex for this second one. Don't forget the strength penalties on the attacks.

Round 1 - Bold can act
Rallas (longstrider, fly, shield, lead blades, haste) <readied to attack>
Red
Kali -6 ST damage, -3 damage (barkskin, mage armor, fortune hex) <can make 2 AOOs>
Orange -8 damage
Tessara (flight hex, mage armor, false Life 16, haste)
Enora (light, protection from evil, mirror image 5, haste)
Yellow
Ghukar -2 damage (mutagen, barkskin, displacement, haste)
Purple
Milo (overland flight, endure elements, mage armor, protection from evil, false life 8, mirror image 4, haste)

Ghukar drank an extract that helped shield him from their icy touch before stepping forward.

Touch AC 21 and Displacement

There is silence as Ghukar steps forward. With his darkvision, he can make out a fork in the passage ahead.

Round 1/2 - Bold can act
Red
Kali -6 ST damage, -3 damage (barkskin, mage armor, fortune hex) <can make 2 AOOs>
Orange -8 damage
Tessara (flight hex, mage armor, false Life 16, haste)
Enora (light, protection from evil, mirror image 5, haste)
Yellow
Ghukar -2 damage (mutagen, barkskin, displacement, haste)
Purple
Milo (overland flight, endure elements, mage armor, protection from evil, false life 8, mirror image 4, haste)
------------------------------------
Rallas (longstrider, fly, shield, lead blades, haste)

Are you sure that previous attack shouldn't have done 12 damage? Vicious damage is some mysterious untyped energy.

+1 Vicious attack of opportunity vs fleeing shadow!: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (9) + 8 = 17
damage plus Vicious: 1d10 + 2 + 2d6 ⇒ (5) + 2 + (2, 5) = 14
Vicious damage to self: 1d6 ⇒ 5

Magical attack of opportunity vs failed assailant!: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11
Fortune reroll: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26
damage: 1d10 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

What's up with the shadows? Why can't we see any of them that are attacking? Well, unless they have spring attack, I suppose

@Kali Incorporeal take half damage from all sources but force effects and channel energy.

@Milo Fly by attack, then disappearing into the opposite wall...and a strange tactics write up

Milo scowls as the shadows move into and out of the walls, then reaches into a pouch, as he flies forward for a better angle. He reaches into a pouch at his waste, as he starts to chant arcane phrases.

I'd like to cast a wall of force to block them into a wall. I have 10 10x10 squares to use, but am unsure on the ceiling height here.

They won't be able to move through the wall, and can't move more then 5' inside a wall to go around... so seems like it should be viable. Put a little blue line on the map, as to roughly what I had in mind

In natural caverns that don't specify I always assume it is about as high as it is wide. So we'll go with 15 feet average here. Casting a wall of force will keep them away from Kali and Ghukar for the most part, but they can still travel freely up and down the walls of the cavern.

Hrmmm... always had it in my head that a incorporeal creature couldn't move through more than 5' of solid... but in actuality, it can, as long as its adjacent to the exterior. So it could circle around a room, inside the wall, but not move out of the room, to another, due to wall thickness.

Bah, just slows them down a little, not nearly as fun. 8(

OK, will just ready an action to magic missile the first shadow that shows its spooky face.

Magic Missile: 5d4 + 5 + 4 + 5 ⇒ (3, 3, 2, 1, 2) + 5 + 4 + 5 = 25

@Milo It even calls it out in the wall of force spell itself... so someone else tried it before too

Milo waits to see the next appearance, blasting it with a barrage of missiles that light up the cavern like tracers, until the shadow disappears from view.

Round 2 - Bold can act
Red -25 damage
Kali -6 ST damage, -3 damage (barkskin, mage armor, fortune hex)
Rallas (longstrider, fly, shield, lead blades, haste) <delayed>
Orange -8 damage
Tessara (flight hex, mage armor, false Life 16, haste)
Enora (light, protection from evil, mirror image 5, haste)
Yellow -1 damage
Ghukar -2 damage (mutagen, barkskin, displacement, haste)
Purple
Milo (overland flight, endure elements, mage armor, protection from evil, false life 8, mirror image 4, haste)

Spending another Ki for +4 AC.

Despite what she's endured, Kali stands firm and ready for more...the Prince of Pain would accept nothing else.

Rallas moves up to help defend the spellcasters. He readies an attack if one should get close enough

readied: 1d20 + 15 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 15 + 1 = 222d8 + 8 + 6 ⇒ (5, 8) + 8 + 6 = 27could someone move me to the square directly over Ghukar please? ty

A second shadow streaks off down the tunnel.

Round 2 - Bold can act
Red -25 damage
Kali -6 ST damage, -3 damage (barkskin, mage armor, fortune hex) <readied to attack>
Rallas (longstrider, fly, shield, lead blades, haste) <readied to attack>
Orange -8 damage
Tessara (flight hex, mage armor, false Life 16, haste)
Enora (light, protection from evil, mirror image 5, haste)
Yellow -1 damage
Ghukar -2 damage (mutagen, barkskin, displacement, haste)
Purple
Milo (overland flight, endure elements, mage armor, protection from evil, false life 8, mirror image 4, haste)

Assuming Kali consents, Tess begins casting Enlarge Person on the warrior.

Enora steps back and uses her staff of fire to shoot two scorching rays on an enemy when it appears.

Scorching ray vs. Touch AC: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11
Damage fire: 4d6 ⇒ (2, 5, 6, 3) = 16

Scorching ray vs. Touch AC: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 16
Damage fire: 4d6 ⇒ (1, 6, 2, 6) = 15

staff 8/10 charges

@Kali Make sure you stay within Tess' spell range - enlarge person will take effect on her turn.

@Enora Due to the stairs and vision requirements (it's dark in here), I needed to move you a bit closer to the action for you to target a shadow.

Tess begins to enlarge the monk while Enora steps forward and tries to zap the retreating shadow. It's subtle form weaves away from both bolts of flame as it disappears into the darkness like its brethren before.

The question now stands. Do you follow?

Round 2 - Bold can act
Red -25 damage
Kali -6 ST damage, -3 damage (barkskin, mage armor, fortune hex) <readied to attack>
Rallas (longstrider, fly, shield, lead blades, haste) <readied to attack>
Orange -8 damage
Tessara (flight hex, mage armor, false Life 16, haste) <casting enlarge person>
Enora (light, protection from evil, mirror image 5, haste)
Yellow -1 damage
Ghukar -2 damage (mutagen, barkskin, displacement, haste)
Purple
Milo (overland flight, endure elements, mage armor, protection from evil, false life 8, mirror image 4, haste)

Not use to fighting incorporeal creatures, Ghukar got a frost bomb ready in case it gets close to him.

Ready action Directed Blast Frost Bomb Targeting the closet foe and selecting out friendlies. 20' cone. DC 21 Fort save or staggered for the primary target. Hum, never had a nat 1 on a Direct Blast bomb. Sorry, this will get real interesting.
DB Frost: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (1) + 16 = 175d6 + 8 ⇒ (2, 1, 3, 3, 1) + 8 = 18

"Lavender prigs is buttons for some sharp." Milo mutters, when he notices the shadows seem to be trying to draw them to the west. "Tryin' to tool us."

"On the fly, saddle, or go tail down?" He asks, clearing wanting to give chase, despite the possibility of a trap.

He pulls a small metal rod from his belt.

Ghukar holds a bomb close, awaiting a chance. Milo hops in place and draws his rod.

The screechy woman's voice returns from the darkness down the hall. "Heroes without a heart... what does the world come to? Perhaps I should just kill this one then, if they don't wish to save her. I am rather hungry."

Round 2 - Bold can act
Red -25 damage
Kali -6 ST damage, -3 damage (barkskin, mage armor, fortune hex)
Rallas (longstrider, fly, shield, lead blades, haste)
Orange -8 damage
Tessara (flight hex, mage armor, false Life 16, haste) <casting enlarge person>
Enora (light, protection from evil, mirror image 5, haste)
Yellow -1 damage
Ghukar -2 damage (mutagen, barkskin, displacement, haste) <readied to bomb>
Purple
Milo (overland flight, endure elements, mage armor, protection from evil, false life 8, mirror image 4, haste)

RE enlargement: While I'm leerier than normal of the downsides under the circumstances, I guess I'll accept it, Strength and all.

"Provocation is the weak woman's weapon," Kali calls back. She has the presence of mind not to respond in kind, of course.

"Can anyone do me a favor*?" She says, much more quietly, in the direction of the party. "Shadows strike deeper than any mere flesh wound...."

* = Chelaxian vernacular for requesting healing magic

I am confused about what to do, though - did those shadows just hit and run and that was it???

Tess moves forward and uses her healing hex on Kali.

CMW 2d8 + 9 ⇒ (1, 8) + 9 = 18

They did hit and run, then disappeared down the corridor into the darkness. Some witchy woman down there is taunting you too.

@Tess - Kali is mostly hurt with ability damage, the healing hex might be overkill at this time. Feel free to readjust your action if you want.

Ok, then Tess will use her partial wand to cast Lesser Restoration instead.

Regain 1d4 ⇒ 3 points of strength. .