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

Game Master Chris Marsh

Ianthe's bolt misses, and Kenton's blade carries insufficient power!

ROUND 2:
Xavien (3 Images): Mirror Image Will + AoO
Kenton (3 CON, -2 until Round 5, 4 -Lvls): Miss
Enemy: ATK
Aurelia: Will + AoO + Go
Corran: Will + Go
Ianthe (2 CON, -2 until Round 7, Fatigued, Silenced): Miss

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Location: Palace of Birdsong

DM’s Tracker
Party Conditions: Inspire Courage
Terrain Conditions: bright light
Enemy Conditions:

Will: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18 what is the DC?

Xavien swings hard to make the roach pay for before he can scuttle off.

Koriana's Blade @ Roach: 1d20 + 8 + 2 - 1 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 8 + 2 - 1 + 2 + 2 = 33 THREAT
Confirm?: 1d20 + 8 + 2 - 1 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 8 + 2 - 1 + 2 + 2 = 31 assuming that confirms, even if I am shaken
Slashing Damage: 2d8 + 12 + 4 + 6 + 4 ⇒ (4, 5) + 12 + 4 + 6 + 4 = 35

Will DC is 21 to avoid being shaken.

Despite the fear that soaks his bones, Xavien lands a telling blow on the creature. Xavien suspects it wasn't expecting to be hit so hard by a foe it considers trivial.

ROUND 2:
Xavien (3 Images): Mirror Image
Kenton (3 CON, -2 until Round 5, 4 -Lvls): Miss
Enemy: ATK
Aurelia: Will + AoO + Go
Corran: Will + Go
Ianthe (2 CON, -2 until Round 7, Fatigued, Silenced): Miss

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Location: Palace of Birdsong

DM’s Tracker
Party Conditions: Inspire Courage
Terrain Conditions: bright light
Enemy Conditions:

Will save: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26
Having heard from Xavien that this creature resists magic, Aurelia draws the last of her magical strength to empower one final spell. She then launches into a spellcasting, conjuring a cloud of glitter that bursts into existence around their most dangerous foe.
Move action to Consume Spells, emptying my last 1st level slot to gain a point in my Arcane Reservoir. Spend that point to empower Glitterdust, which bursts in the corner. DC 18 Will save, no SR

She then takes a step out of the room.

Will: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (12) + 11 = 23 Aurelia's spell highlights the creature, but fails to blind it

ROUND 3:
Xavien (3 Images): Go
Kenton (3 CON, -2 until Round 5, 4 -Lvls): Go
Enemy: TBD
Aurelia: TBD
Corran: TBD
Ianthe (2 CON, -2 until Round 7, Fatigued, Silenced): TBD

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Location: Palace of Birdsong

DM’s Tracker
Party Conditions: Inspire Courage
Terrain Conditions: bright light
Enemy Conditions:

Kenton moves past the thing to try and protect Ianthe a bit Movement will provoke. This is intentional. Rest of turn pending.

Fool!" Claw AoO: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (10) + 15 = 25 for DMG: 2d6 + 6 ⇒ (2, 2) + 6 = 10

ROUND 3:
Xavien (3 Images): Go
Kenton (3 CON, -2 until Round 5, 4 -Lvls): Go
Enemy: TBD
Aurelia: TBD
Corran: TBD
Ianthe (2 CON, -2 until Round 7, Fatigued, Silenced): TBD

-----------------------------
Location: Palace of Birdsong

DM’s Tracker
Party Conditions: Inspire Courage
Terrain Conditions: bright light
Enemy Conditions:

Kenton, having baited the thing into reacting, tries to even the odds a little.

grapple: 1d20 + 6 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (20) + 6 + 1 - 4 = 23

Oh, ideal time for a nat 20!

Will: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8 shaken for longer, I gather?

Xavien's perpetual smile falters a bit, but he steels himself against the planar horror's gaze and presses the attack.

Koriana's Blade @ Roach: 1d20 + 8 + 2 - 1 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (3) + 8 + 2 - 1 + 2 - 2 = 12 alas, not an ideal time for a nat 3
Slashing Damage: 1d8 + 6 + 2 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 6 + 2 + 3 + 2 = 17

Kenton takes everyone by surprise and wraps up the foe, though Xavien can't capitalize on it. Shaken: 1d4 ⇒ 3

The creature thrashes about, trying to shake Kenton off of it:
CMB: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (10) + 15 = 25. It throws the hero off, but wastes precious time while doing so.

ROUND 3:
Kenton (3 CON, -2 until Round 5, 4 -Lvls): Grapple!
Xavien (3 Images, -2 until Round 6): Miss
Enemy: I want to break free
Aurelia: Go
Corran: Go
Ianthe (2 CON, -2 until Round 7, Fatigued, Silenced): Go

-----------------------------
Location: Palace of Birdsong

DM’s Tracker
Party Conditions: Inspire Courage
Terrain Conditions: bright light
Enemy Conditions:

Aurelia curses in a most unladylike fashion, then draws her sword and hustles in to the fray. She swings her blade more to distract their foe for Xavien than anything else.
Aid Xavien: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 1 = 12

Ianthe follows after Aurelia, swinging her crossbow like a club, hoping to distract it enough to help Xavien.

Aid Xavien: 1d20 - 4 ⇒ (10) - 4 = 6

The magic-users do their best to help Xavien, but only Aurelia provides help.

ROUND 3:
Kenton (3 CON, -2 until Round 5, 4 -Lvls): Grapple!
Xavien (3 Images, -2 until Round 6): Miss
Enemy: I want to break free
Aurelia: Aid
Corran: Go
Ianthe (2 CON, -2 until Round 7, Fatigued, Silenced): TBD

ROUND 3:
Kenton (3 CON, -2 until Round 5, 4 -Lvls): Go
Xavien (3 Images, -2 until Round 6): Go (Aided to Hit)
Enemy: TBD
Aurelia: TBD
Corran: TBD
Ianthe (2 CON, -2 until Round 7, Fatigued, Silenced): TBD

-----------------------------
Location: Palace of Birdsong

DM’s Tracker
Party Conditions: Inspire Courage
Terrain Conditions: bright light
Enemy Conditions:

Corran continues the song, but adds some further martial pressure.

1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20 Vs. AC. On hit:1d8 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

Will: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23 still shaken but not more so

Xavien joins Corran's chorus, striking hard amid the whirl of limbs and weapons. "Ianthe, if you have not the voice to work that wand, hand it to Aurelia!"

Koriana's Blade @ Roach: 1d20 + 8 + 2 - 1 + 2 - 2 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 8 + 2 - 1 + 2 - 2 + 2 = 23
Slashing Damage: 1d8 + 6 + 2 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 6 + 2 + 3 + 2 = 20

Wands haven't used command words in a couple of editions IIRC

Corran goes for broke, and draws only blood as his weapon is foiled by the creature's supernatural resistance.

Even Xavien's powerful swing is muted on contact.

ROUND 3:
Kenton (3 CON, -2 until Round 5, 4 -Lvls): Go
Xavien (3 Images, -2 until Round 6): Hit
Enemy: TBD
Aurelia: TBD
Corran: TBD
Ianthe (2 CON, -2 until Round 7, Fatigued, Silenced): TBD

-----------------------------
Location: Palace of Birdsong

DM’s Tracker
Party Conditions: Inspire Courage
Terrain Conditions: bright light
Enemy Conditions:

Wands: Wands use the spell trigger activation method

Spell Trigger: Spell trigger activation is similar to spell completion, but it's even simpler. No gestures or spell finishing is needed, just a special knowledge of spellcasting that an appropriate character would know, and a single word that must be spoken

Wands: Wands use the spell trigger activation method

Spell Trigger: Spell trigger activation is similar to spell completion, but it's even simpler. No gestures or spell finishing is needed, just a special knowledge of spellcasting that an appropriate character would know, and a single word that must be spoken

HA! I stand corrected!

Kenton picks himself up off the floor and tries to aid Xavien's next attack.

Aid Another: 1d20 + 10 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (2) + 10 + 1 - 4 = 9 fail

Kenton staggers a bit on the way up and doesn't provide much help.

Surrounded, the creature ignores all comers except Xavien:
Left Claw: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (6) + 15 = 21 4 is Real: 1d4 ⇒ 3
Right Claw: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (2) + 15 = 17 3 is Real: 1d3 ⇒ 3 for DMG: 2d6 + 6 ⇒ (5, 1) + 6 = 12 At work Roll20 is slow as all get out, can't update HP there.

You cannot defeat me. Your spells will fail. Your blood will spill."

ROUND 3:
Kenton (3 CON, -2 until Round 5, 4 -Lvls): Miss
Xavien (2 Images, -2 until Round 6): Hit
Enemy: Go
Aurelia: Go
Corran: Go
Ianthe (2 CON, -2 until Round 7, Fatigued, Silenced): Go

-----------------------------
Location: Palace of Birdsong

DM’s Tracker
Party Conditions: Inspire Courage
Terrain Conditions: bright light
Enemy Conditions:

"Ha! Even you do not sound convinced," Xavien retorts. "Though a little healing spell would not go amiss," he adds to Corran.

Aurelia steps back, withdrawing from the melee to instead stand beside Ianthe. "I hate that you're in this state, but we need your wand's magic. Can I borrow it? I already know the activation word."
Withdraw as full round action

The situation is dire as the party spends precious time trying to get an advantage.

ROUND 3:
Kenton (3 CON, -2 until Round 5, 4 -Lvls): Miss
Xavien (2 Images, -2 until Round 6): Hit
Enemy: ATK
Aurelia: Withdraw
Corran: Go
Ianthe (2 CON, -2 until Round 7, Fatigued, Silenced): Go

-----------------------------
Location: Palace of Birdsong

DM’s Tracker
Party Conditions: Inspire Courage
Terrain Conditions: bright light
Enemy Conditions:

Corran whistles to keep the mood (and bardsong) flowing. He deftly reaches over and touches Kenton with one finger, and a casting of Cure Light Wounds.

1d8 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6 back to Kenton.

Ianthe gives Aurelia the side eye, like she was just asked to let Aurelia borrow her favorite godemiche. Reluctantly, she hands it over.

She then tries stabbing the beast with a crossbow bolt.

Aid, Xavien: 1d20 ⇒ 6

Status is now correct. This includes fixing the round number, which means some of those shaken effects are wearing off.

Neither of the twins offers much help to Xavien as the situation looks increasingly dire.

ROUND 5:
Kenton (15/25, -3 CON, 4 -Lvls): Go
Xavien (2 Images, -2 until Round 6): Go
Enemy: TBD
Aurelia (30/32): TBD
Corran (25/28): TBD
Ianthe (35/37, 2 CON, -2 until Round 7, Fatigued, Silenced): TBD

-----------------------------
Location: Palace of Birdsong

DM’s Tracker
Party Conditions: Inspire Courage
Terrain Conditions: bright light
Enemy Conditions:

Kenton lunges to try and set up Xavien with a good distraction.

Aid (Xavien): 1d20 + 10 - 4 ⇒ (17) + 10 - 4 = 23

Will: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17 shaken for longer

Xavien kicks a chair out of the way and steps north, taking advantage of Kenton's thrust to launch a heavy slash just behind it. "What, no retort?" he jabs between verses.

Koriana's Blade @ Roach: 1d20 + 8 + 2 + 2 + 2 - 1 - 2 ⇒ (13) + 8 + 2 + 2 + 2 - 1 - 2 = 24
Slashing Damage: 1d8 + 6 + 2 + 2 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 6 + 2 + 2 + 3 = 17

Status: AC 15, HP 46/58*, 2 images (d3), inspired, shaken.

Kenton helps Xavien deliver a light blow. It's hard to tell how wounded the thing is, but certainly it's bloodied.

Now driven by a singular desire it viciously attacks Xavien:
Claw 1: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (5) + 15 = 20 3 is Real: 1d3 ⇒ 3 for DMG: 2d6 + 6 ⇒ (3, 1) + 6 = 10
Claw 2: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (2) + 15 = 17 3 is Real: 1d3 ⇒ 3 for DMG: 2d6 + 6 ⇒ (3, 4) + 6 = 13

It gives a laugh both physically and in everyone's mind, "Will you all run when I kill your friend?"

ROUND 5:
Kenton (15/25, -3 CON, 4 -Lvls): Aid
Xavien (23/58, 2 Images, -2 until Round 6): Hit
Enemy: ATK
Aurelia (30/32): Go
Corran (25/28): Go
Ianthe (35/37, 2 CON, -2 until Round 7, Fatigued, Silenced): Go

-----------------------------
Location: Palace of Birdsong

DM’s Tracker
Party Conditions: Inspire Courage
Terrain Conditions: bright light
Enemy Conditions:

Ianthe keeps trying to distract the creature.

Aid Xavien: 1d20 ⇒ 10

"Probably, yes," Aurelia says before speaking the command word to activate Ianthe's magical wand.
Magic Missile vs Enemy: 3d4 + 3 ⇒ (4, 2, 1) + 3 = 10

Corran maintains the song and drops another CLW onto Xavien.

1d8 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7

Ianthe swings hard enough to distract the creature while Aurelia SR: 1d20 ⇒ 20 plows right through the creature's defenses.

Corran gives a little back to the skald, hoping to aid the battle of attrition.

ROUND 6:
Kenton (15/25, -3 CON, 4 -Lvls): Go
Xavien (30/58, 2 Images, Aided): Go
Enemy: TBD
Aurelia (30/32): TBD
Corran (25/28): TBD
Ianthe (35/37, 2 CON, -2 until Round 7, Fatigued, Silenced): TBD

-----------------------------
Location: Palace of Birdsong

DM’s Tracker
Party Conditions: Inspire Courage
Terrain Conditions: bright light
Enemy Conditions:

Kenton scrambles up onto the table in an effort to give Xavien some advantage on his attacks. Movement provokes.

Then he strikes at the creature, hoping for a smile from Desna.

have at you!: 1d20 + 10 + 2 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (1) + 10 + 2 + 1 - 4 = 10 yeah, not so much
piercing w/ Precise Strike & inspire: 1d6 + 2 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 2 + 4 + 1 = 13

Will: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26 still shaken, but not more so

Xavien snorts derisively, putting a good face on wounds that are starting to mount. "You have to actually kill me first, you know!"

He takes full advantage of Kenton's sacrifice to bring Koriana's blade down hard on that leering human face.

Koriana's Blade @ Roach: 1d20 + 8 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 - 1 - 2 ⇒ (20) + 8 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 - 1 - 2 = 33 THREAT
Confirm?: 1d20 + 8 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 - 1 - 2 ⇒ (17) + 8 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 - 1 - 2 = 30 pretty confident that confirms
Critical Slashing Damage: 2d8 + 12 + 6 + 4 + 4 ⇒ (6, 3) + 12 + 6 + 4 + 4 = 35

Status: 29/58 HP, AC 15, 2 images (d3), shaken, inspired.

Kenton moves more for his shieldmate than himself. AoO: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (9) + 15 = 24 for DMG: 2d6 + 6 ⇒ (3, 2) + 6 = 11

It costs him the attack and nearly his life, but he leaves the creature flanked! It's just what Xavien needs as he slashes the creature with incredible aim and force.

the creature's neck begins spewing ichor, and it's taunting becomes confused and weak. It's death is coming, but it's not there yet....

It screams as it slashes at Xavien, again and again:
Claw 1: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (12) + 15 = 27 3 is Real: 1d3 ⇒ 3 for DMG: 2d6 + 6 ⇒ (6, 6) + 6 = 18
Claw 2: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (12) + 15 = 27 3 is Real: 1d3 ⇒ 1

ROUND 6:
Kenton (4/25, -3 CON, 4 -Lvls): Flank
Xavien (12/58, 1 Image, Aided): Crit!
Enemy: ATK
Aurelia (30/32): Go
Corran (25/28): Go
Ianthe (35/37, 2 CON, -2 until Round 7, Fatigued, Silenced): Go

-----------------------------
Location: Palace of Birdsong

DM’s Tracker
Party Conditions: Inspire Courage
Terrain Conditions: bright light
Enemy Conditions:

Impressed by the wand, Aurelia points it once more before speaking the command word.
SR: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25
Magic Missile: 3d4 + 3 ⇒ (1, 1, 1) + 3 = 6

It is with the perfect application of a simple spell that Aurelia fells the strange monster. What it was doing here is unknown, but it can't be good...

For the victory, served on a silver platter bearing an antiJeff, each agent earns 640 XP!

"Ha ha!" Xavien exclaims with joy, plunging his blade through the wriggling carapace to pin the dying horror to the floor. "A fine fight! A fine fight indeed!"

He steps back and quickly sinks into an armchair. "Oh, oh... perhaps too fine a fight," he chuckles weakly.

I am leveled. I still think we should hole up until tomorrow. We could not survive another such encounter, and Kenton is mostly out of commission until the morning.

Kenton sits on the table, breathing heavily. Agreed, Lord Karthis, Kenton says. I fear I have little to offer in my present state.

After a moment, his eyes fall back to their fallen foe. What in heaven's name was that thing?

"A good question, Kenton," Aurelia says, handing the wand back to Ianthe. She gives her friend a smile and mouths the words 'thank you'. She places a hand on her forehead, the headache she knew would come having arrived. "There's a lot more going on here than I expected. We still haven't found Bartelby or his uncle's teleportation circle."

She finds a wall and leans against it. "I don't know that I have any fight left in me. And I suspect I'm not alone here in feeling that way."

I'm only just now realizing that the official map they used shows you the secret door. No matter, I was actually going to have Aurelia's prose trigger it even before I looked.

As Aurelia leans against the western wall she hears a click as a secret door opens slightly.

"An eternal being from beyond this plane," Xavien answers solemnly, "and by the sounds of it, a favored servant of the wizard Panivar. I am not saddened by its demise." He wan smile flickers briefly across his lips.

"Come, Kenton," he brightens, sitting up, "let me address what injuries I can."

Cure Moderate Wounds @ Kenton: 2d8 + 3 ⇒ (3, 7) + 3 = 13 17/25 hp

He attends to himself as well.

Cure Moderate Wounds @ Xavien: 2d8 + 3 ⇒ (2, 6) + 3 = 11
Cure Moderate Wounds @ Xavien: 2d8 + 3 ⇒ (3, 2) + 3 = 8
Cure Moderate Wounds @ Xavien: 2d8 + 3 ⇒ (6, 2) + 3 = 11
Cure Moderate Wounds @ Xavien: 2d8 + 3 ⇒ (4, 4) + 3 = 11 51/57 hp

CMW wand is down to 29 charges. Overnight healing should get us most of the rest of the way.

"What have we here?" Xavien cautiously examines the doorway that Aurelia just exposed.

Take 20 for 28.

This hidden chamber is decorated with the holy symbols of two dozen religions, as well as strange herbs and dried animals. Jars of colored powders are organized neatly along the northern wall. A large circle, etched in silver and decorated with intricate loops and swirls, fills most of the floor.

"Is that what I think it is?" Xavien asks, peering over Aurelia's shoulder.

Knowledge (Arcana): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16
Knowledge (Nature): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 21
Knowledge (Religion): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26

Plus Detect Magic for good measure.

Offering up a Spellcraft for the circle...
"I have to believe it's..."
Spellcraft: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (20) + 13 = 33

Indeed! this is the circle you were briefed on. Destroying the circle requires a successful Disable Device or Spellcraft check, destroying the stone floor it physically rests upon, or frying the silver inscriptions with a lightning bolt or chain lightning spell.

also of note, the various bottles and jars here contain 1,500 gp worth of miscellaneous expensive spell components.

"I think it'd be a win to make sure those components are unavailable for Panivar."

Aurelia rolls up her sleeves and sets to the task of destroying the teleportation circle.
Spellcraft: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (20) + 13 = 33

It takes about 10 minutes, but when she's done, Aurelia is supremely confident that it's done.