GM Michael's Giantslayer

Game Master Dread

This is way more involved than I expected. Imara quickly loses interest in the discussion of leadership. "Moving on, then.

She moves to the closest door and checks it for traps. If she determines it's safe, she'll open the door.

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (9) + 8 = 17

Ive lined everyone up by the door. if you dont want to be where i put you, move the figure on roll 20

Imara looks it over and sees no traps. Then opens the door seeing its not locked.

Shel shrugs one shoulder. "Phoenix will likely end up with the wand one way or another, once he has lost interest in the unholy symbol and the Hope knife and the treasure box and the..." At least Phoenix was enjoying himself. Shel had only ever wanted to be left alone with the spirits. Underneath the old church, wearing heavy, restrictive armor she felt stuffy and disconnected from the spirits of nature. And all the fighting! She knew nothing about physical combat. She was trained to soothe restless, dark spirits, but her magics for the day had run dry hours ago.

Expedition leader Phoenix cannot hear the whining of his subordinates over the sounds of destruction he is causing with the unholy symbol and some rocks.

Timidly, Ovril accepts Shel's explanation, and decides to keep the wand. "Fine, I'll hold on to it." With that settled, he falls in behind Imara and readies himself for more trouble with card and wand in hand.

I don't know if we can expect (much?) more trouble down here, but just in case we do run into more foes, Ovril will stay armed with a card in one hand and the wand in the other.

A sudden thought occurs to Imara and she laughs. "Oh! Phoenix can be in charge! I think he'd like that." She grins over her shoulder at the others, then moves into the room and looks for anything of note.

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11

Seeing Imara opening the door, Rory turns to Storm and Othden, "You two stay here." As Storm sits down wagging his tail. Thistle shifts and turns towards the door, while Rory draws his rapier. chuckling at the way Shel speaks of the chicken. Rory raises an eyebrow, as Imara says Phoenix should be in charge.

Imara takes a few steps into the room looking around carefully. The walls of this chamber are packed with skull sized cubbyholes, each containing a single brass or clay urn-some long since shattered or dented, others still intact. A Lightly colored stone statue depicting a burning chariot wheel occupies the western corner of the room. To the left she finds it strange that it appears she sees a few objects floating in the air...a curved sword, a suit of chainmail, a steel scroll tube, some coins......

Imara gives Rory a nod of approval as he gives instructions to Ovril and Storm. Then she moves further into the room.

"Umm...do you all see this as well?" She pulls an arrow out of her quiver and pokes at one of the coins with the tip of the arrow.

Imara moved in a little more and then reached out with her sword and poked at the objects, too late she noticed the 10 cube of slime moving over her, engulfing her. She found herself being pulled into the body of the monstrosity.

Imara can either take an attack of opportunity vs the Gelatinous Cube or she can attempt A DC 12 Reflex save to leap backwards and not get sucked into it.

Initiative Bold May Go
22-Rory
21-Shel
16-Othden
15-Imara
6-Gelatinous Cube
5-Rydell
5-Ovril

So as a reminder, while inside Rory will play rear guard, he would not be the one closest to the door.

Watching while Imara opens the door, Rory hears Imara ask 'Do you all see this as well.' Standing in his stirrups catching the glint off of something 'floating.' He watches as Imara seems to be pulled towards something. Not sure of what has grabbed her, Rory sheathes the rapier and draws his slingstaff.

double move, sheath weapon draw weapon.

The incredibly disturbing feeling of slime sucking at her body causes a surge of adrenaline. She leaps in the air and flings her body away from the cube, spinning in the air and landing solidly on her feet.

As soon as she regains her footing, Imara strikes out at the cube, slicing into it.

Reflex save: 1d20 + 3 + 8 ⇒ (19) + 3 + 8 = 30 Using a hero point.

Haha! WORTH IT. Rolling knowledge (dungeoneering) to see if she can get any hints of how to hurt this, or how dangerous it might be.

Knowledge (dungeoneering): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7

Attack Dagger: 1d20 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 1 + 1 = 22 Damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3
Attack short sword: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 1 = 21 Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 3

"Get away from it!", Ovril yells at Imara. Whatever the thing is, hugging it might not be beneficial to one's health!

[ooc]Move action: move
Std action: attack (-2 to hit for range, +1 to hit and +2 to dmg from pbshot and arcane strike)
Attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (12) + 3 = 15
Damage: 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

Hearing Ovril's cry, Imara takes a 5-foot step back.

Hopefully that is still okay given that the cube hasn't gone yet.

With a flap of his mighty wings, Phoenix does an impressive backflip. As his little chicken noggin rotates through the flip, he releases the cursed golden idol held in his beak, sending it soaring at the evil cubic entity before him.

Shel calls upon the spirits to protect Imara from whatever she is fighting.

Protective Luck Hex on Imara. Whenever that creature is targeted by an effect that requires an attack roll, including weapon attacks, the attacker must roll twice and take the worse result.

Imara lept backward slime dripping to the floor, landing on the balls of her feet

Rory had seen an almost transparent mass of slime start to engulf the rogue and she had jumped backward out of it. He sheathes his Rapier and pulls his staff sling out.

Phoenix flipped and tossed the golden double-bladed axe symbol into the hall to bounce in near Imara's feet.

Shel put a protective hex onto Imara and the now familiar field of gray surrounded her. Shel had a better view of the clear block of slime. Within its body several things, all metal, seemingly floated.

Othden jumped at the horror of it and backed out of the chamber pointing at it saying What is that?

Imara slashed out with her blades, both sliding into the slime and flicking parts of body through its membrane and splashing lime onto the walls which hissed with acidic residue. She still felt the slight burning sensation on her skin from when it had attempted to grab her. She was racking her brain trying to think if shed heard the capabilities of something like this when she heard Ovrils shout Get away from it! She moved back through the doorway.

imara confirm dagger crit: 1d20 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 1 + 1 = 181d4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3
imara confirm short sword crit: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 61d6 ⇒ 4

The mass of slime began to compact itself squeezing into the tight 5' area Imara had just left. The membrane around seemed like it would burst as it began squeezing into the tight space. It was coming after them.

A psuedopod formed on its outward facing edge and tried to bludgeon Imara. She dodged its attack with ease.

attack Imara AC 16 2 rolls for attack: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (13) - 2 = 111d20 - 2 ⇒ (12) - 2 = 101d6 + 1d6 ⇒ (3) + (6) = 9

until its out fully in the chamber its AC is 0 and it has -4 to attack and each square is a double move to enter.

Initiative Bold May Go
22-Rory
21-Shel
16-Othden
15-Imara
6-Gelatinous Cube
5-Rydell
5-Ovril

know.dungeoneering: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9

Unsure of what the thing was, and having never been a fan of jello, he heeds the advice of staying away from it. Which put him where he proffered to be anyway. He fires off two shots and takes a 5ft back if space provides.

attack,Rapid shot,DA: 1d20 + 5 - 2 - 1 ⇒ (9) + 5 - 2 - 1 = 11
damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11

attack,Rapid shot,DA: 1d20 + 5 - 2 - 1 ⇒ (17) + 5 - 2 - 1 = 19
damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

both arrows finding... "purchase" in the slime.

Ovril throws another card and grabs another, supercharging it with arcane energies.

Std action: attack
Move action: draw a card
Attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7
Damage: 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

Rydell backed up pulling his bow and loosed two arrows in rapid succession both striking the gelatinous creature, penetrating the taut membrane spraying slime out over the arrows ...the wood disolved rapidly destroying the arrows, leaving only arrowheads behind.

Ovril stepped forward and threw a card as he has at other targets. The arcane energies damaging the slow moving slime cube

until its out fully in the chamber its AC is 0 and it has -4 to attack and each square is a double move to enter.

Initiative Bold May Go
22-Rory
21-Shel
16-Othden
15-Imara
6-Gelatinous Cube
5-Rydell
5-Ovril

Nodding his head approvinly when he sees Storm follow Othden as the boy backs up, Rory loads his sling and fires at the moving three dimensional puddle. As it comes through the door. He asks, "Do we want to slit up down the hallways, so some can attack from behind while it follows the others?" Shifting his knees he moves the growling Thistle back away from the monster.

str - 6 Move action load sling, attack: staff sling, 5 ft step.
attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22 for damage: 1d6 - 3 ⇒ (3) - 3 = 0 I subtracted the strength loss if not appropriate please add back in.

"I'm not sure we should get that close to it!" Nervous about the acid damaging her weapons, Imara backs up toward Othden, drawing her bow and taking a shot at the cube. "Some of the residue got on me - it stings - I think it's acid!"

Shortbow: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4 Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 5

Phoenix plants his feet and begins flapping his wings, whipping up a storm to blow the cube back into its' room, but Shel scoops him up and retreats beyond Othden, transfering the protective hex to Ovril.

Protective Luck Hex on Ovril. Whenever that creature is targeted by an effect that requires an attack roll, including weapon attacks, the attacker must roll twice and take the worse result.

"Are we even damaging it?!", Ovril asks with a hint of panic. The massive shambling thing is about to enter the main room, and Ovril has no intention to be anywhere near the monstrosity.

Std action: attack
Move: move & draw a card
Attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11
Damage: 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

"I don't know! I was wondering that too! Should we just leave?"

Perception check to see if they seem to be hurting it with their piercing and slashing weapons?

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13

Rory backed Thistle up a little, and weakly launched a sling stone at the giant ooze. The stone plunked through the membrane, doing minimal damage, lowest damage you can do is 1

Storm instinctively backed up in front of Othden snarling.

Shel focused moved her protective shield to Ovril while dragging the squawking chicken backwards.

Othden backed up further, obviously very frightened.

Imara changed to her shortbow and fired an arrow into the slime. Just as with Rydells arrows, it hit and left a small hole through which fluids seeped. There were several of them now, blast a blast mark from Ovrils card. Imara could tell they were damaging it. As fast as the arrow penetrated the acids digested the wood and fletching leaving behind an arrowhead.

Ovril I moved you back because it wasnt yet your 'turn' in the initiative

The pile of ooze moved further through the small area, still squeezing out of the confined space. It sensed something strange about Ovril and instead a psuedo-pod struck out at Rydell . Rydell stepped to the side as the clumsy attack was dodged with ease.

attack vs Rydell AC 16: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (3) - 2 = 11d6 + 1d6 ⇒ (3) + (1) = 4

until its out fully in the chamber its AC is 0 and it has -4 to attack and each square is a double move to enter.

Initiative Bold May Go
22-Rory
21-Shel
16-Othden
15-Imara
6-Gelatinous Cube
5-Rydell
5-Ovril

Doh, my bad! Use the turn I posted above as my turn now.

With space running out in the room Rydell draws his blade and slashes a large chunk of the off the creature. Hoping that if they cut enough off the main... things body it will stop moving.

damage: 1d20 + 5 - 1 ⇒ (4) + 5 - 1 = 8
damage: 1d10 + 3 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 + 3 = 16

Rydell slings his bow and in a fluid movement pulls his elven curved blade and slices clean through the membrane and across a corner and out the other side, cutting a good section of the ooze off. It immediately collapses into a morass of acidic goo. Yhe metal objects within clattering to the stone floor, undamaged but very shiny. a steel scroll tube with a scroll inside of hold portal, a very nicely made chain shirt (MW), a falchion(normal), a star rose quartz amulet valued at 100 gold, and loose coins 30 platinum, 20 gold, 95 silver, 144 copper.

Breathing a sigh of relief as the strange thing seems to melt away, dropping the metal objects stuck in it to the ground. "Well done everyone!"

Keeping Thistle still, he staff sling still loaded. He looks at the coins on the ground. "If we want to take the time to gather everything we can stuff it in my saddlebag and split it up later." He lifts the saddle bag up with his free hand holding it out to Othden. "Here boy since you didn't run off like I told you too, help load up."

"Well, that was interesting.

She takes the time to help pack up the items, holding up the chain shirt and eying it thoughtfully. Rather than putting it on, though, she puts it in the saddlebag. "I might be interested in that chain shirt."

"What in the WORLD was that thing doing in there?!" Like seriously, who keeps an enormous mass of acidic gelatine locked in a room around your living quarter?! Ovril is shaking, both from the rush of adrenaline and frustrating thoughts, and he needs a moment to snap out of it.

"We should check out what it might have been protecting in that room."

knowledge(dungeoneering): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15

Reaaching for the saddlebags from Imara, Rory pulls the chainshirt back out, almost dropping it from the weight. Holding it out to her. "Imara, as far as I'm concerned you did more than earn it. Go ahead, take it."

sorry I didn't think to make the roll earlier, I need to remember Rory has some knowledge skills
Turning to Ovril "It was some kind of Ooze probably a Gelatinous Cube." He shrugs, "I have no idea what it was doing here, or if it was a guard, their not very smart." As Ovril adds that they should check to see what it was protecting, Rory gestures with his hand towards the door, inviting Ovril to investigate. "It should be clear now. But I double if the enemy used the room much if they knew that thing was in there."

"Sure, but you never know! Maybe it encountered something not even its oozy teeth could gnaw through!" With that said, Ovril walks into the room and checks it for foes, hints, treasure, and passages to other rooms.

Perception?: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

Rydell will start gathering the loose coins. Sliding them into one of his belt pouches.

Might as well check it. This just keeps getting more and more strange.

After gathering the coins, and tossing the chain shirt to Imara he moves to look around with Ovril.

perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (9) + 8 = 17

Phoenix flaps over the pile of goo, landing on the cursed holy symbol he had used to banish the monstrosity. He stands tall, puffs out his chest, and crows victory. I have destroyed a great evil this day!

"Where do things like this come from? Not overland - it would have evaporated, I think. Underground? Maybe there is a crack in the foundation." Shel ponders aloud, dumbfounded as to the origins of the cube. "Had I known this place harbored so many monsters, I would have petitioned to have it destroyed years ago. How many children came to play around the outside of the building, inches from death?" She shudders at the thought. As Phoenix crows, she casts detect magic to search the room for hidden magics, maybe even the source of the cube.

Moving in to the room the gelatinous cube had left, they find that it adjoins the outer entry hall through another door, but little else can be found. Shel looks through magically attuned senses and notices nothing different.

Collecting the valuables they have liberated the group looks around. It appears the basement of The Plaguehouse is cleared now.

There is little else to be gained by staying in this place of death.

Othden looks at the destroyed ooze and says You guys are amazing. Ive never seen such fighting before. Such teamwork. Wait til Ruby heres about this.

Then with a glance down at Brynias corpse he says Should we take her back? She was a hero. Im sure Roderick would want to see her one last time. Before we celebrate her death at the Flame of the Fallen

Phoenix pats over to the young man and clucks the sad news of Roderick's death to the lad.

As Ovril and Rydell check the last room Rory stays mounted on Thistle keeping a keen eye out for any more danger. Hearing Shel's question, he shrugs. "I always assumed Oozes grew out of some kind of mutant mold." As he turns Thistle towards the door, he adds. "Most of the kids don't play this far ouside of the gates, just teenagers looking for a place to play truth or dare." He turns and winks at Othden, letting the youth know he was just messing with Shel.

When Othden asks about taking Brynia's corpse back, Rory looks to Rydel and Imara, questioningly. As Othden continues, Rory drops his head and rides Thistle nearer to him. Storm, able to tell something wrong, lets out a soft whine. Looking up to Othden Rory tells him the brutal truth. "Your right She died a hero. As for Roderick, I hate to be the one to tell you this Othden. But these same orcs murdered him as well. We were sent here to search for them."

The shocked look on the boys face says it all What? How? when? It was just yesterday I saw him. last night at the festival? how?

Imara catches the chainshirt, but shakes her head. "I can't. It's too much weight - it will affect my ability to fight. I'm feeling clumsy enough as it is." She looks sympathetically at Othden. "The orcs, as Rory said. You are lucky you're alive. Let's get you back before anything else happens. Are we ready?" She looks at the others.

"I'm ready. Honest to Desna, I can't wait to get out of this accursed place ... "

Confused by the issue of weight Rory nods, "Ok, give it to Rydell, but you and Ovril are right, it's time to go."

Tuning Thistle with his knees, he turns to Storm and Othden. "Storm come, you to Othden, we'll talk about this more when were in the safety of the towns walls." Turning back to Imara, "I'll bring up the rear, let's get out of here."

When Imara decides against the vest he glances to her and says.

I would give it to Rory, but it is a bit big for him I think.. I can take it. I may decide I prefer the feel of leather, but if we are going to be attacked I think better protection would be more important than comfort... Unless Shel or Ovril can use it. He extends a hand to take the chain shirt back.

He glances at Othden as he fumbles for words at the news of Rodrick. He stares for a few seconds and says nothing. Finally he turns his attention back to the group.

If we have searched everywhere here, we should head back immediately.

The group leaves the plague house by the most direct means. It about 30 minutes to get back burdened by gear and fatigue and Othden as they go.

When they get to the Barterstones, word travels fast that Othden is back, and Merriman comes running out to greet them.

Merriman runs out and comes up and grabs his son in a bearhug saying Where di you get off to? Ive Been worried sick with all these killins and danger looming. Dammit Boy. You need to be more careful.

Othden is sincerely glad to see his father and accepts the hug and then starts babbling Father I followed Daktani and Vorum to the Plaguehouse They were talking about working for a leader named Skreed who is going to attack Trunau soon. They caught me. Beat me. Daktani wanted to use me to get to Ruby. They Had Brynia. She wasnt a traitor Father. She withstood their torture, wouldnt tell them anything. They Killed her. I would have been next, Ihope I would have been as brave as her. Rydell, Rory, Imara, Shel and Ovril rescued me. You should have seen them Father. They are heroes. They fought a giant ooze. They are amazing.

The group can see Merriman's face grow more and serious by the second. He then says to them. I owe you a debt I can never repay. Ask anything of me...when you can. and have time. For now though we need to gather the council They need to know these things. A full debrief. Lets go.