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

Game Master Chris Marsh

Ianthe's bolt misses by a hair's breadth!

The cultist shifts, trying to drag the tip of his blade across Xavien's throat ATK: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11, but the rushed attack only scratches his armor.

Round 4:
Wyssilka: The end is nigh
Leo: Jeff
Xavien: Free
Ianthe: Miss
Masked man (Red): ATK
Corran: Go
Martella: TBD
Aurelia: TBD
Kenton: TBD

Corran... Falcata: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (4) + 11 = 15, Damage on Hit: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6 strikes at Wyssilka. If that does her in, I'll break and pull up alongside Xavien.

Done singing. 2 more rounds of Inspire Courage with Lingering Performance.

Despite being prone, she's wily and hard to hit. Still, Corran connects for a light hit.

Lady Martella continues to supply advice. She moves out of range though, knowing that Wyssilka could lash out of here.

Round 4:
Wyssilka: The end is nigh
Leo: Jeff
Xavien: Free
Ianthe: Miss
Masked man (Red): ATK
Corran: Hit
Martella: Pull back
Aurelia: Go
Kenton: Go

MW rapier: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 6 + 1 = 12 sigh, "random" my @ss
piercing: 1d6 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 + 1 = 3

Kenton finds the wily Wyssilka difficult to strike even when prone.

The eagle continues to give chase, clawing and biting at the cultist.
Bite: 1d20 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 3 + 1 = 13
Damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Claw: 1d20 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 3 + 1 = 12
Damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Claw: 1d20 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 3 + 1 = 19
Damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

Seeing the group still fighting Wyssilka, Aurelia turns her magic towards the mime. She weaves a spell that, with luck, will daze her.
Daze on Wyssilka. DC 13 Will save

Kenton's woes continue. Aurelia's eagle is similarly frustrated at first, but then it scores a light hit on the cultist.

Will: 1d20 ⇒ 13 Aurelia's spell continues to not work, and she wonders if she's casting it correcting.

Wyssilka's spiritual weapon strikes Leo!
ATK: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25 THREAT
ATK: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21 for DMG: 2d8 + 4 ⇒ (1, 3) + 4 = 8

She then tries yet again to pull off a spell Defensively: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (19) + 8 = 27 Suddenly Corran feels his stomach drop as fear strikes... [ooc]Will DC 14 to determine if you're Shaken or Frightened

Wyssilka: See you in hell!
Leo: Go
Xavien: Go
Ianthe: Go
Masked man (Red): TBD
Corran: TBD Will Save
Martella: TBD
Aurelia: TBD
Kenton: TBD

50/50 shot. Here goes... Will Save: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19

Through grit teeth, Corran stands taller and tightens his grip on the hilt of his falcata. He can't help but shake a little but he knows it will pass.

So long as my heart beats, I will stand in defense of Taldor! I defy you, Servant of Darkness!

Shaken. Not stirred.

Now in command of his faculties, Xavien swings hard with his blade at the retreating cultist's legs.

Longsword @ Red: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 6 + 1 = 16
Damage: 1d8 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 4 + 1 = 10

Not ready for an attack from Xavien, the cultist falls to his blade; entrails and viscera spilling onto the floor!

Wyssilka: See you in hell!
Leo: Go
Xavien: Kill
Ianthe: Go
Masked man (Red): TBD
Corran: TBD
Martella: TBD
Aurelia: TBD
Kenton: TBD

Ianthe pivots from the cultist and aims her crossbow at the mime. As she does so, she focuses her inner eye to foresee the next few moments.

Prescience: 1d20 ⇒ 2 Blah, useless

Crossbow: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 2 = 22
Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 3

Confirm Crit: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 2 = 13
Crit Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 7

Ianthe finally sticks a bolt! It's a minor hit, but the tides have clearly turned against the woman.

Wyssilka: See you in hell!
Xavien: Kill
Ianthe: Hit
Leo: Go
Corran: TBD
Martella: TBD
Aurelia: TBD
Kenton: TBD

BOT LEO

Leo stabs his shortsword into Wyssilka's back, to put an end to the farce.

Leo Shortsword: 1d20 + 7 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 7 + 1 + 1 = 20
Damage: 1d6 + 3 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 3 + 1 + 1 = 8

Leo gives her a good stab, and can tell that she can't survive another!

Round 5
Wyssilka: See you in hell!
Xavien: Kill
Ianthe: Hit
Leo: Hit
Corran: Go
Martella: TBD
Aurelia: TBD
Kenton: TBD

Corran, shaken though he is, gives it one more go...

Falcata: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (2) + 9 = 11

Inspire Courage is no more, folk!

Corran finds her really hard to stab as she rolls about on the ground. Martella continues her verbal help, but also starts rifling through the dead cultist's belongings, looking for a key to her chains.

Round 5
Wyssilka: See you in hell!
Xavien: Kill
Ianthe: Hit
Leo: Hit
Corran: Miss
Martella: Rifle
Aurelia: Go
Kenton: Go

You shall fall.
Kenton tries to finish what Wyssilka started.

MW rapier vs. flat-footed AC: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22
piercing: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

With the cultist out of the way, Aurelia directs her eagle to attack Wyssilka.
Bite: 1d20 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 3 + 1 = 21
Damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

Aurelia again tries to muddle the mind of the mime.
Daze. DC 13 Will save

The Eagle savagely attacks her face, and Kenton finally runs her through!

Martella gives a shout of triumph!

You have laid Wyssilka and the cultists of Norgorbor low! For your efforts you each earn 400 XP. For saving Martella Lotheed and surviving through the turbulent events of this adventure you each earn an additional 267 XP.

Aurelia quickly dismisses the eagle and rushes to check Martella. She hugs the woman when it's clear she's well, throwing propriety out the window. "What happened? I feel like there's so much going on, and we're still playing catch up."

While Aurelia tends to the Lady, Xavien searches Wyssilka for a key to unshackle her. (And anything else of value.)

Perception T20: 20 + 5 = 25

Martella is doing much better than when you found her, though quite injured. She asks you to find her gear...

Wyssilka carried a magic oil, healer’s kit, a magic chain shirt, 4 daggers
(one of which is materwork), 1 concealing pocket, disguise kit, glass cutter, juggler’s kit, a puppet named Duke Squiggles, wrist sheath, silver unholy symbol of Thamir Gixx (worth 25 gp), 12 gp, and the shackles key!

Martella’s equipment is stored in a chest in the southeastern corner of the room, along with 2,000 meticulously sleeved gold coins. Martella happily lets YOU claim the coin as a reward for rescuing her, but asks for the return of her personal equipment.

Could the ladies kindly identify the oil and the chain shirt?

"Here you are, my dear!" Xavien smiles cheerfully, unlocking Martella's shackles. He fishes in his pocket for a wand. "Ah! And something to take the sting out of your evening. We had quite a time upstairs, you know. Could you hear the singing?" He taps her twice with the wand.

CLW @ Martella: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8
CLW @ Martella: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9

When he has a moment, he also taps himself and Leo once each.

CLW @ Xavien: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4
CLW @ Leo: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

Anyone else meaningfully wounded?

Satisfied that Martella is okay, Aurelia sets to trying to identify the magic items.
Spellcraft (Oil): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (5) + 9 = 14
Spellcraft (Chain shirt): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (5) + 9 = 14

Kenton is down 7.

Kenton nods as Lord Xavien returns Lady Martella's belongings and, his back to her, spreads his arms wide holding his cape in an effort to provide her some semblance of modesty as she puts on what she will.

When the Lady is ready, he asks everyone, How high does this rot climb, do you think? I confess I know little enough of religion, and only assume Thamir Gixx has negative connotations based on the actions of one of their devotees.

Xavien finds that his two uses of the wand do little to help Martella who seems to have been more seriously injured than she lets on.

"The god of assassins I think? I'm not sure. But considering what we just saw, we should assume the rot goes all the way. Let's get out of here and take stock. My network is pretty vast, and If I can get to a safe inn atop, I can start collecting information. Can I beseech you to act as body guards until we get to the Silent Horse. It's one of the most expensive inns in the kingdom, but also likely the safest. I've got you covered. Once there we can set to work."

"May I suggest we also search the adjoining rooms of this subterranean hideaway? Our erstwhile friend here may have left personal effects to linger, which might offer clues as well."

In the meantime, he also taps Kenton with the wand, and Leo again (the latter being nearly dead by the end of the battle, now that I have gone back to do the math...).

CLW @ Kenton: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2
CLW @ Leo: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9

Oh, and he rifles through the cultists' pockets too.

Merely complimenting Aurelia's examination of the items, Ianthe also lends her expertise.

Spellcraft (Oil): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (15) + 10 = 25
Spellcraft (Chain shirt): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (7) + 10 = 17

Lady Ianthe identifies the chain shirt. It's imbued with some added protection Chain Shirt +1 (small) and an oil of Keen Edge.

The cultists have some immediately useful gear on them, all clearly labeled. There is a total of 4 potions of cure light wounds, 2 potions of hide from animals, s smokesticks, 10 tindertwigs, 2 masterwork chain shirts, 2 masterwork short swords, s silver unholy symbols of Norgorber, and 10 gp.

"These potions may do some good," Xavien says cheerfully, with a pointed look at Martella and Leo. He collects the remaining loot and stuffs it away. "Now then, let us see what is about us. We must be wary, for there may still be traps down here."

I want to inspect the library(?) in the adjoining room, then take the first door north out of the room beyond.

Upon leaving the room to look at the library....

Xavien finds nothing new in the lab. The door to the north leads to a collapsed tunnel, there's no way through. Martella confirms thin

Leo Checks the door for traps:
perception (trapspotting): 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 6 + 1 = 17

If it is clear, Leo opens the door.

If it’s trapped, Leo attempts to clear the door:
dd: 1d20 + 5 - 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 - 5 = 18
dd: 1d20 + 5 - 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 - 5 = 8
dd: 1d20 + 5 - 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 - 5 = 20

"Right, I am forgetting that this was once your safehouse, Martella. Quite the reversal, eh?" Xavien chuckles. "Any devious traps we should by wary of?"

Next north door, then.

Two large bookshelves, an elaborate L-shaped desk, and a well-dressed bed decorate this lavish bedroom. A variety of springs, gears, and small tools clutter the desk alongside pages of sketches and designs.

"Just the chest in my quarters. I'll get us past it. I keep some stuff in there for a rainy day, and I'd say it's pouring."

"Looks like they got the trap.... but the lock is still intact. Here. Let me."

She grabs a key which was hidden behind a brick. She pulls out ten pouches of 5 platinum coins each and hands them over. She also grabs the only other things in the chest, a pair of Brass chatterboxes. She asks you to take them and explains their use. As explained on the speaker notes of the slide.

"an anti-bug bug. very interesting."

"Ah, yes, I recall you placing one of these on the table at the gala. These will come in handy, with certainty."

If all is done in this room, Xavien leads the way with Leo to the next room north. I think we have been here before? The maps treats it as "new."

The party take Martella through the rest of the compound where she collects gear that might be useful:

She leads you to where the worked stone walls give way to the cracked
walls of a natural cavern. A putrid rainbow of fungus covers the eastern walls. To the south, the chamber opens into a worked stone tunnel. A slurry of foul-smelling liquid flows in the adjoining tunnel, its choking stench filling the air.

"We shouldn't head out the way we came. There's another option."

Perception: 1d20 ⇒ 19
Knowledge Dungeoneering: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 3 = 19

"Yes, well... there's a corpse in there. And getting out will require disturbing a violet fungus. Lady Martella, were you aware of this?"

"No to both. I usually just dump left over chemicals here. I didn't come this way at all on my way down here. I still think this is the best way out. Is it overly dangerous?"

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9
Dungeoneering: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7

"Very well!"

Edit per Aurelia's ninja: "Ah." Xavien's pleasant tone turns serious.

"What's the deal with that flower? Is is dangerous?"

"Is it that thing?" Xavien points. Is it on the map? "A little fire will cure us of that problem, I think."

Unless stopped, he retrieves an alchemist's fire and lobs it at the fungus.

Toss vs Touch AC: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 2 = 21
Fire Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 6

Sensing the movement, the fungus shudders to move, but takes a direct hit! It's tendrils begin to writhe and snake forward!

Round 1:

Ianthe: Go
Leo: Go
Corran: Go
Aurelia: Go
Violet Fungus: TBD
Xavien: Will hit
Kenton: TBD
Martella: TBD

INITIATIVE:
Enemy: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (10) - 1 = 9
Aurelia: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (11) + 0 = 11
Corran: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 1 = 14
Ianthe: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22
Kenton: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5
Leo: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 = 20
Xavien: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6
Martella: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2