Dungeon Master S's "War for the Crown" AP

Game Master Chris Marsh

Fort (Disease): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20
Fort (Distraction): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7

A sharp, hissing intake of breath issues involuntarily from Xavien...

Never run into this with a bard before... can I continue the song?

EDIT: per Slack, yes. Therefore:

Unable to do anything about the rats just yet, Xavien effects his escape, but keeps singing the next verse as best he can.

"I have seen Vict'ry in the watch-fires of a hundred circling camps,
We have builded Her an altar in the evening dews and--*blgggh*!;
I can read Her righteous sentence by the dim and flaring lamps:
Our day is marching--*hurppp*!"

"Glory! Glory of the empire!
*Gllrgghhh*! Glory of the empire!
Glory! Glory of the empire!
Our *bnngghh*! is marching *hrggglllh*!"

In the middle of his lyrics, Xavien shouts remnants of his dinner, coating the floor!

Round 2:
Trant: Move
Kenton: Miss
Corran: Hit
Aurelia: Magic and miss
Dire rat?: Magic!
Swarms: ATK
Xavien: Puke
Leo: Go
Ianthe: Go

Ianthe targets the dire rat again.

Crossbow: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 2 = 22
Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 2

Crossbow, Confirm Crit: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 2 = 22
Crit Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 4

Lady Ianthe strikes the rat with a well placed shot, "YOU DARE HURT DAGIO THE GREAT!"

Round 2:
Trant: Move
Kenton: Miss
Corran: Hit
Aurelia: Magic and miss
Dire rat?: Magic!
Swarms: ATK
Xavien: Puke
Leo: Go
Ianthe: Hit

BOT LEO

Leo Fort (Disease): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24
Leo Fort (Distraction): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10

Much like Xavien, Leo is forced to scramble away from the rats while shouting some groceries.

I believe Leo's current HP is 14*/26* with the song.

Leo also becomes nauseated at the overwhelming number of rats!

Back to herself, Trant rushes to the closer warm and hacks at it with her longsword, "So many freaking rats!"

ATK: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24 for DMG: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8 It's a solid swing and rats die by the dozens, which elicits a scream from Dagio!

Round 3:
Trant: ATK
Kenton: Go
Corran: Go
Aurelia: Go
Dire rat?: TBD
Swarms: TBD
Xavien: TBD
Leo: TBD
Ianthe: TBD

Aurelia holds the magical connection she has with her summoned eagle who, though injured, continues to claw at the dire rat.
Beak: 1d20 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 3 + 1 = 19
Damage: 1d4 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 + 1 = 5 +1 damage if Evil

Talon: 1d20 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 3 + 1 = 6
Damage: 1d4 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 + 1 = 5 +1 damage if Evil

Talon: 1d20 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 3 + 1 = 21
Damage: 1d4 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 + 1 = 5 +1 damage if Evil

She then weaves her own spell, once more hurling acid at the nearest swarm of rats, and them moves away!
Acid Splash vs Eastern Swarm: 1d20 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 1 + 1 = 21
Damage (Acid): 1d3 ⇒ 1

The eagle sneaks in a light hit with its talon! Meanwhile Lady Aurelia splashes acid on some of the weakened swarm!

Round 3:
Trant: ATK
Kenton: Go
Corran: Go
Aurelia: Magic and mayhem
Dire rat?: TBD
Swarms: TBD
Xavien: TBD
Leo: TBD
Ianthe: TBD

Corran tosses another dart at the weaker of the two swarms...

MW Dart: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11, Damage On Hit: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

3 more rounds of song left

Corran's dart hits only the space between the rats!

Round 3:
Trant: ATK
Kenton: Go
Corran: Miss
Aurelia: Magic and mayhem
Dire rat?: TBD
Swarms: TBD
Xavien: TBD
Leo: TBD
Ianthe: TBD

BOT KENTON

Free of rats for the moment, Kenton rushes back into the battle with mace in hand, smashing madly left and right.

Mace @ Wounded Swarm: 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 5 + 1 = 24
Bludgeoning Damage: 1d6 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 3 + 1 = 6

Kenton's mace is enough to kill a swath of rats, sending the others to the cracks and shadows!

Dagio the Great jabs at the eagle with his wand for a second time! Touch ATK: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11 for Elec: 1d6 ⇒ 4 and fries the eagle!

The other swarm moves over Trant and Xavien: DMG: 1d6 ⇒ 5
Trant FORT 1: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11
Trant FORT 2: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14

Round 3:
Trant: ATK
Kenton: Kill
Corran: Miss
Aurelia: Magic and mayhem
Dire rat?: Magic!
Swarms: ATK
Xavien: Go (and 2 FORT)
Leo: Go
Ianthe: Go

Fort (Disease): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9
Fort (Distraction): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10

Sigh.

Nearly passing out from the dozens of tiny wounds and the nauseating filth they now carry, Xavien flees again. He struggles to maintain the song, keeping its magic flowing.

"I have *bblrggh!* a fiery gospel writ in burnished helms of steel:
'As ye threaten Taldor's child-ren, so with you our might shall deal';
Let our Heroes, born of Valor, crush the serpents with their heels,
Tal-dor is marching *hhrnggh!*.

"Glory! Glory of the empire!
*Nllrgghhh*! Glory of the empire!
Glory! Glory of the emp--*hhrlllgh*!
Tal-dor is marching on!"

Ianthe draws on her years at the Academy and her deep understanding of the arcane. She shoots the dire rat with her crossbow.

Crossbow: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 = 11
Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 4

Xavien and Ianthe alike struggle to make headway against the loyal subjects of Dagio the Great.

Round 3:
Trant: ATK
Kenton: Kill
Corran: Miss
Aurelia: Magic and mayhem
Dire rat?: Magic!
Swarms: ATK
Xavien: Puke
Leo: Go
Ianthe: Miss

BOT LEO

Leo hurries across the open space at the center of the room to help clear Trant of the rats.

Short Sword @ Swarm: 1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 7 + 1 = 20
Damage: 1d6 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 4 + 1 = 7

Leo thrusts his short blade into the swarm. It's easy to hit a lot of rats, and he kills quite a few!

Trant, frustrated, but eager to help, swings wildly with her blade:

ATK: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19 for DMG: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8 and she does. This swarm is also nearly dispersed, though it's only angering the great Dagio!

Round 4:
Trant: ATK
Kenton: Go
Corran: Go
Aurelia: Go
Dire rat?: TBD
Swarms: TBD
Xavien: TBD
Leo: TBD
Ianthe: TBD

Corran accepts the Rage Song, and maintains his own song. He moves up, hoping to dart-kebab the remaining rats...

MW Dart: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5 Oh Hells Bells

2 more rounds of song

Kenton listens to the raging song, and moves to try and eliminate the second swarm.

attack: 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 5 + 1 = 16
bludgeoning: 1d6 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 3 + 1 = 6

Aurelia draws from the arcane energy she has prepared, letting that energy flow into her reservoir of magic. Move action to Consume Spells

She then uses that magic to resummon a eagle! Standard action to Summon Monster I

With a shriek it charges Dagio! Charge, Inspire Courage, Raging Song, and Smite Evil
Beak: 1d20 + 3 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 3 + 2 + 1 = 15
Damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3 +1 damage if Evil

While Corran's dart is wildly off target, Kenton nearly disperses the remaining rats in the swarm.

Meanwhile Aurelia digs deep to summon another eagle, unfortunately, the eagle can't connect!

Dagio shrieks and hurls a pair of magic missiles at Aurelia: MM: 2d4 + 2 ⇒ (1, 3) + 2 = 6

The remaining rats pile on Leo:
DMG: 1d6 ⇒ 1 2 FORT saves

Round 4:
Trant: ATK
Kenton: Hit
Corran: Miss
Aurelia: Miss
Dire rat?: MM
Swarms: ATK
Xavien: Go
Leo: Go
Ianthe: Go

Too late to edit. Replace Post 1,021 with this one:

While Corran's dart is wildly off target, Kenton COMPLETELY disperses the remaining rats in the swarm.

Meanwhile Aurelia digs deep to summon another eagle, unfortunately, the eagle can't connect!

Dagio shrieks and hurls a pair of magic missiles at Aurelia: MM: 2d4 + 2 ⇒ (1, 3) + 2 = 6

Round 4:
Trant: ATK
Kenton: Hit
Corran: Miss
Aurelia: Miss
Dire rat?: MM
Swarms: ATK
Xavien: Go
Leo: Go
Ianthe: Go

Hurling the last of the rats crawling on him into the darkness, Xavien turns to look back at the battle and sees Kenton mashing the last big clump of rats. Losing but a moment to fetch his hand-axe from his belt, Xavien makes a running start and hucks the axe towards the ceiling with all his might.

Thrown +1 Hand-axe @ Dagio: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 6 + 1 = 23 (roll does not account for distance)
Damage: 1d6 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 5 + 1 = 12

He keeps singing all the while, and starting reaching for his shortbow.

"We have sounded forth the trumpet that shall never call retreat;
We are sifting out the hearts of traitors before our judgment-seat;
Oh, be swift, my friends, to heed the call! As one our hearts shall beat!
Triumph is marching on.

"Glory! Glory of the empire!
Glory! Glory of the empire!
Glory! Glory of the empire!
Taldor is marching on."

Corran calls to his sister, I don't suppose you have another crossbow under that dress, Sister?

Xavien scores a much needed hit, and a lucky one considering the distance! Dagio gives a terrible scream, but holds on to the rafters.

Round 4:
Trant: ATK
Kenton: Hit
Corran: Miss
Aurelia: Miss
Dire rat?: MM
Swarms: ATK
Xavien: Hit
Leo: Go
Ianthe: Go

Ianthe takes aim at the dire rat again. This time she focuses using her arcane eye and briefly perceives the future echo of the rat's movements.

Prescience: 1d20 ⇒ 15

Crossbow: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7 Prescience => 17
Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 7

Alas, brother, I did not foresee the need to carry two crossbows.

Ianthe's insight and prescience serves her well! It's a wicked hit with the bolt, and the wizard-rat seems to be nearing the end.

Round 4:
Trant: ATK
Kenton: Hit
Corran: Miss
Aurelia: Miss
Dire rat?: MM
Xavien: Hit
Leo: Go
Ianthe: Hit

And you call yourself a seer!

BOT LEO

Leo follows Xavien's example, and hucks a dagger at the last rat on the ceiling.

Thrown Dagger @ Dagio: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 6 + 1 = 19
Damage: 1d4 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 4 + 1 = 8

Leo's dagger gets lucky with his hit. The dagger strikes Dagio in the heart!

The rat falls from his small bolt hole in the ceiling! The body strikes the floor, leaving a trio of perfectly concentric rings of blood upon the floor.

The nobles give a collective sigh of relief. Trant gives a war cry and then stomps on a dead rat or ten!

Out of combat! Each Agent of Taldor earns 300 XP.

Xavien continues to sing as he moves to divest Dagio of his effects, though he ceases to lend magic to the words.

"Sail-ing the winds of the an-cients, Taldor birthed a shining light,
With a glory in its bea-cons that transfigures you and me;
As heroes old died for the crown, let us fight for his-tor-y,
While fate is marching on!

Glory! Glory, a new Taldor!
Glory! Glory, a new Taldor!
Glory! Glory, a new Taldor!
Our fate is marching on."

"Might as well sing the last verse," Xavien explains with a tired smile. His hands search for every pocket and purse on the dire rat. Take 20 for 24.

Status
Aurelia: 6/12 hp
Corran: 6/14 hp
Ianthe: 17/17 hp
Kenton: 6/24 hp
Leo: 12/24 hp
Xavien: 3/22 hp
Trant: ??/?? hp

Xavien looks over the rat's battered body:

There's a magical ring, and his wand that delivered a spell of electricity.

"I suspect this is the ring he stole from the archive," Xavien ponders aloud. "Perhaps we should return it. Can either of you make out what it is?" he asks of the Ladies.

Ianthe casts Detect Magic, just to be sure.

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (18) + 9 = 27

Ianthe casts the spell, and quickly determines that it's a ring of Protection +1.

"Agreed, Lord Xavien. I would rather for us to be an ally to the Inevitable than for one of us to have this ring," Aurelia says, pausing as she remembers something. "Just remember that whoever returns it is likely going to be injured as part of the trip."
Pass through the haunt again?

Pass through the haunt again?

I am also wondering about this. Perhaps the haunt is no more, now that Dagio is dead? I am not in any reasonable shape to risk it, though.

"Perhaps... Only one way to find out, I suppose."

Kenton raises his hand. I will take this so none of you must, Kenton says. Long live Mother Taldor.

Kenton lucks out as the psychic energy has seeped out with the death of the Master of the Complete Arc. Which grants each agent an additional 67 XP.

Kenton has no problems returning to Factor-12. "You have returned the key. This is appreciated."

Yes, Kenton says. We also found this ring, stolen by one Dagio, which I believe also belongs here.

"Ah! Excellent!" Factor-12 whirls for a bit. "This puts me in an awkward situation. You see, I've already cycled the inventory count and removed the ring from the records. My conditions actually prevent me from reintegrating the ring. I am saying that it is yours."

The whirring continues. "I am also authorizing you to take an additional item from the list, but you must, upon pain of death, return the item within 99 years."

You've cycled the inventory? What is now available?

I'm taking this to mean Ianthe is spending the 5 minutes with Kenton. What of the rest of you?

"Your choices are: an enchanted battleaxe, an enchanted breastplate, a pair of boots of elvenkind, and a wand of remove disease with 5 charges remaining."

"You know most of us had to leave our heavier armor at home to attend that party."

"With luck, we shall effect our escape from this place momentarily," Xavien says to Leo wearily, just before Kenton and Ianthe depart.

Xavien spends his time carefully studying the stairway and door to the east, hoping against hope that no last trap, guardian, or horror bars their way. Cast Heightened Awareness and Take 20 for 26.

Aurelia takes the few moments with Kenton away to study the wand, though he's fairly certain she knows what magic it contains.
Spellcraft: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9

She comes up empty, surprised at the magic that was coming out of it.

In order to make an informed decision, do you mind if I briefly examine the objects?

If not objection is given...

Ianthe will cast Detect Magic.

Spellcraft, battleaxe: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (11) + 9 = 20
Spellcraft, breastplate: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (14) + 9 = 23

Factor 12 is happy to let Ianthe inspect the items. In both she senses a minor enhancement to their efficacy both items are +1.

forgoing the room proper and examining the eastern egress, Xavien concludes that it's smooth sailing out of this chamber.

Satisfied that the exit is clear, Xavien turns his attention to the room itself, and especially the various collections of arranged chairs and scrawlings that dot the chamber.

Perception: 1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 4 + 2 = 22