[Non-PFS] [3PP Class Only] Shadowed Keep on the Borderlands (Inactive)

Game Master djpika

Following up, as Chigao scouts, Zupon comments into the ether. "Seems odd to waste so much food if they took the keep... but they didn't even bother to clean the corpses I suppose.."

In the buttery, Chigao notices the faint odor of stale beer. Large wooden barrels once held beer, left with the scent of hops and barley. Smaller barrels are split open, stained with a deep burgundy. A loose stone in the floor reveals a cavity in the rock, containing three small dusty bottles.

That's largely it for this area, leaving the other room across the hall...

Zupon packs away the 3 dusty bottles to look at once they clear the floor, likely to examine during dinner. Mayhap they'll have something interesting. Or well re-sale of old wine.

Zupon moves and listens to the door, and opens it if he hears nothing strangled.
Does not have trap finding but will also take a peek for something obvious while Chigao is enamoured with butterbeer

perc for traps. No trap finding skills at all: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18

perc for noies in the room: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9

Will open it if there is nothing obvious issues

The doors to the East are a pair of stout, iron banded double doors. Chains are wrapped around the handles. (hardness 5, DC 23 Break)

Zupon doesn't hear any noise coming from the room, but the chains show sign of rust and weathering.

"Think they were trying to keep something locked in there? Or do they just have something against that door in particular?"

Appraise: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4
Xephkiel, former bartender, notices the bottles of brandy and takes them. "This might be the special alcohol that man in the bar was talking about finding."

appraise: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12
"haven't a clue. its been locked aw hile it looks to me. So, if it was locked in it is probably dead? Looking at Chigao, "Think you can unchain this?

I am assuming the chains have a lock? and not just wrapped and loose

"Unless it's undead, or a monster plant, or just very hardy. Don't drop your guard is what I'm saying."

He pauses for a second.

"They could also have chained it off because the ceiling collapsed or something. Who knows?"

The chains do not have a lock - they were crimped back together.

Whelp thats a thing
"Should we break it down? I probably can bust it.. loudly. Or do we just move on? Its probably not going to come out at us-but we also can't gurantee what we're after isn't in there.

"What are you all after, anyway? This is the first time I've heard about you being sent to retrieve something."

Following up, as Chigao scouts, Zupon comments into the ether. "Seems odd to waste so much food if they took the keep... but they didn't even bother to clean the corpses I suppose.."

Xephkiel wrote:

Xephkiel, former bartender, notices the bottles of brandy and takes them. "This might be the special alcohol that man in the bar was talking about finding."

Given what she has recalled about seeing the general condition of the top room, Chigao mentions "It doesn't look like there's anything edible or usable that we could salvage from that top room; we might have better luck salvaging some of the foodstuffs from the kitchen over in the bandit's tower though." offhandedly.

Taking one more glance inside the bottom buttery room, the Young Kunoichi remarks, "Not even sure if there's any salvageable alcohol left in the barrels apart from those three hidden bottles that we've found."

Assist to Appraise: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 1 = 16.

Moved Randall, Nathan, and Chigao closer to the chained room. ;)

"Think they were trying to keep something locked in there? Or do they just have something against that door in particular?"

Scholar Zupon wrote:

"haven't a clue. its been locked aw hile it looks to me. So, if it was locked in it is probably dead? Looking at Chigao, "Think you can unchain this?

Randall Harkness wrote:

"Unless it's undead, or a monster plant, or just very hardy. Don't drop your guard is what I'm saying."

He pauses for a second.

"They could also have chained it off because the ceiling collapsed or something. Who knows?"

DM rel20 wrote:

The chains do not have a lock - they were crimped back together.

Scholar Zupon wrote:

"Should we break it down? I probably can bust it.. loudly. Or do we just move on? Its probably not going to come out at us-but we also can't gurantee what we're after isn't in there.

Examining the crimped chains with some amount of consternation, Chigao answers Zupon back with, "Unfortunately, these chains seemed to have been twisted closed together; it'll take something along the lines of a good crowbar- or even a kunai- to open something like this up; I'm afraid that I've neither of those on me at the moment... I really should've checked to see if there were any available for sale back in town."

Perception upon Chained door: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10.

"What are you all after, anyway? This is the first time I've heard about you being sent to retrieve something."

In reply to Sergeant Harkness' query about what the party seeks from here, the Neophyte Kunoichi Ninja glances over to Zupon, Xephkiel, and Andru to see if there's any objection coming from their faces to informing both him and Nathan too- for that matter, about what the party is searching for in the desolate, abandoned keep, before verbally continuing on with, "There's no harm in letting you both know about our assigned mission in this old keep- especially since you're both risking danger here along with the rest of us. Basically, we've been tasked to retrieve an ancient tapestry of Dwarven-make from somebody who hired us back in Olfden."

Chigao doesn't see anything out of the ordinary for the doors/chain.

Whelp no one else put in throughts on the door itself.. so...

Zupon pulls a vial, holding it close to the point of crimping before popping the top. A burst of static occurs, pelting the metal with-what he hopes-is enough to damage the chain enough for them to pull apart.

1d20 to check for a nat 1: 1d20 ⇒ 13
lighting+sonic: 1d8 ⇒ 81d1 ⇒ 1 9 energy damage total.

Energy damage is halved before applying Hardness so unless this is secretly rope painted to look like chain, that does zero damage.

Randall blinks. "Okay so we're just going to bust it down? Might be easier to bash down the door than break the chain honestly. Anybody have an axe?"

"We can't discount what we're after is here. So. yes. We're breaking it. and no. no axe."

We'll just assume the group takes 20 to break down the door/chain to speed things along...

Dust and cobwebs fill this large chamber. Long feasting tables fill the main part of the chamber and at the far end stands a dais with another table atop. Shadows wreath the high, web shrouded ceiling. Bones and rusting equipment cover the floor.

An old-school style picture of the room has been added to the slides.

=Room Details=
Illumination: Light filters into the hall through three narrow windows high up on one wall. Dim illumination (20% miss chance) fills the chamber.

Ceiling: 30' high. 6 wooden rafters set in a "V" shape hold aloft the upper floor. A great mass of cobwebs obscure them.

Dais: A raised two-foot high dais stand at one end of the chamber.

Great Tables: These sturdy tables appear to have aged well.

Bones: Bones and rusting equipment litter the floor. Movement = x2.

Chandeleirs: Two wrought iron chandeleirs hang from the ceiling on thick iron chains.

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9 DICE!! You had ONE job!
"Wow!" The astral deva whispers as he looks around the faded glory that was the Great Hall.

Zupon pulls a vial, holding it close to the point of crimping before popping the top. A burst of static occurs, pelting the metal with-what he hopes-is enough to damage the chain enough for them to pull apart.

Randall Harkness wrote:

Randall blinks. "Okay so we're just going to bust it down? Might be easier to bash down the door than break the chain honestly. Anybody have an axe?"

Scholar Zupon wrote:

"We can't discount what we're after is here. So. yes. We're breaking it. and no. no axe."

As the youthful scholar goes to work upon alchemically undoing those old chains, Chigao consolingly replies to the grizzled Sergeant with, "There was a cleaver back inside the kitchen over in the bandit's tower. We might've sealed it away in a barrel that's locked behind their basement holding cell though..."

Perception roll aside from what Chigao notices in the formerly chained-up room: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22.

Upon noticing several cocooned form within the massed cobwebs itself plus the ostentatiously colored chitinous legs also interspersed within those webs, Chigao suddenly tenses up as she hisses out a sharp warning to the other party members whilst tightening her grip upon her openly held dagger.

"Beware! There's something lurking in the webs...!"

Much more disturbingly though to the Young Kunoichi, there was no sign of any main body attached to said black and yellowed legs, colors that ironically matches those borne of the holy wasps favored by the Goddess of the Savored Sting herself- no less, that could be visibly seen by Chigao...that was rather worrisome!

Unsure if the 20% concealment apply to low-light vision?

SURPRISE ROUND

Two large spiders crawling along the ceiling spray webbing at Xephkiel and Nathan, but fall short.

Chigao can act (standard action).

Low-light vision is still affected by the miss chance. If you have a light source, it would just double the range of the well-lit or no concealment area.

Thrown dagger attack: 1d20 + 3 - 6 ⇒ (1) + 3 - 6 = -2. 30' range penalty.

Dagger, if hits: 1d4 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 + 1 = 3. Str and Sharpened added.

Miss chance: 1d100 ⇒ 26.

As soon as the web attacks come billowing out from the ceiling area towards Xef and Nathan, Chigao falls back into her ingrained habit of letting fly with her previously held dagger. The throwing attack falls miserably short however as the Kunoichi Ninja calls out, "They're hidden somewhere up in the ceiling!" while she fumbles about in search of her recently-liberated light crossbow.

=Combat=
Black Spider
Yellow Spider

Round 1
DM: 23
Xeph: 18
Chigao: 15
Zupon: 14
Randall: 6
Nathan: 2

W: 2d5 ⇒ (4, 5) = 9
W1: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25
W2: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24

The spiders advance along the mesh of webs and sticky splat Randall and Nathan.

An entangled creature can escape with a successful Escape Artist check or burst the web with a Strength check. Both are standard actions with a DC equal to 10 + 1/2 the creature’s HD + the creature’s Con modifier. Attempts to burst a web by those caught in it take a –4 penalty.

Party is up!

Zupon looks up and scans the area for potential danger from mass fire, falling celing pieces, as well as unfortunate captives. Positioning to avoid anything obvious-the youngling gives the creatures a hard look. Sharing anything he gleams with his crew.

(Scout Sphere) Scout: Swift Action ID creature's weakness. DC 10+CR; as described in Knowledge skill (or Perc -5). Only reveals weaknesses (or lack thereof)-i.e. DR. Resistances, Vulnerabilities; no other information. 1/24hrs per creature.
Knowledge(any and all): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 20

Figuring they were at a disadvantage when it comes to range with the spiders upon the celing, scurrying so. He flings his endless flaming torch towards the webs the creatures stand on.

Throwing his Founder Flame Torch. Hoping to burn up some of the webs around one of the creatures to damage or cause them to fall: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10 Range Increment of 10. Up to GM to decide how far away.

Move action to move off to the side against the wall-ideally avoiding anything obviously able to fall on him. Drawin the torch w/ said movement. Swift too scout. Standard action to throw the torch

Zupon doesn't identify any weaknesses.

Tossing the torch, wisps of silk gather as it hurls forward until it snags short of the spiders. As it smolders, strands start to catch on fire.

Going to treat this like burning the web spell, so 5' increments per round... the red marker shows the fire.

Are folks still going to act during their initiative then? Or wait a few rounds?

If others are bailing on this round. Zupons gonna start tossing mini explosives up next~ also.. anyone who wants to can presumably pick up the torch and also throw it. Albiet they'll take penalties that Zupon does not. -4 improvised standard.

If others are bailing on this round. Zupons gonna start tossing mini explosives up next~ also.. anyone who wants to can presumably pick up the torch and also throw it. Albiet they'll take penalties that Zupon does not. -4 improvised standard.

That's a neato idea.

Randall follows the wise scholar's lead and puts roast spider on the menu, tossing the torch again.

Attack: 1d20 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (15) + 1 - 4 = 12

Thankfully a square is only AC 5.

The astral deva stands back as the scholar throws some explosives.

Since Chigao doesn't normally utilize the light crossbow, it'll most likely be unloaded when she draws it out as a move action; She'll spend another move action to also fish out a bolt from her quarrel.

When her next turn comes up, she'll load it and make a ranged attack at the nearest spider; it probably won't occur to her to toss Zupon's torch up again until after she sees Randall doing just that. ;)

Not being used to using the formerly bandit-owned ranged weapon, Chigao spends her round digging out both the crossbow and bolt for loading and firing during her next opportune moment.

After witnessing both Zupon and Sergeant Harkness do their best torch-tossing routine, the Young Kunoichi decides that retrieving and throwing the Young Scholar's enchanted torch is also a viable option once all her crossbow bolts are spent.

Lets play TIki Torch (brady bunch reference). Zupon is gonna be throwin bombs next round~

Lets play TIki Torch (brady bunch reference). Zupon is gonna be throwin bombs next round~

Do I need to find a paper bag to kill the tarantula ... ?

Sorry if it wasn't clear, but Nathan and Randall were hit by webs and entangled. That'll make it hard for Randall to pick up the torch and toss it this round. Feel free to retcon a strength or escape artist check.

Round 2
As the party waits for Zupon's incendiary, the spiders descend from the ceiling and move forward. Mandibles twitch back and forth with anticipation as venom drips off them.

Randall 1, Nathan 2: 1d2 ⇒ 1
bite@Randall: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5
bite@Zupon: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

Party up!

Yeah, I completely missed that the spiders had even acted. Thought they were still hiding.

I'll just assume that attack roll was to shank the spider near me.

Total attack would be 15 (die) + 5 (normal bonus) -2 (Entangled) for an 18 to-hit.

Ranseur damage: 2d4 + 6 ⇒ (4, 4) + 6 = 14

My next action kind of depends on whether that hits and kills a spider or not.

Randall is able to impale the black spider, the wound bending chitin inward that oozes glossy ichor onto the dusty floor.

black spider -14, still up

Gotcha.

Randall, showered by spider parts, shouts encouragement to his allies.

"All right, we're half done. Now you!"

Boasting as an Immediate to apply the Exemplar buff to everyone in the party except myself. You may reroll your next attack roll or Combat Maneuver check and take the better of the two results. In the future I'll probably just say "gain Advantage", because it's less of a mouthful.

Then Randall sets to ripping himself free of the webbing.

Str: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 18

Randall breaks free (round 2) of the webs. With the spiders on the ground, does the plan change or are folks going to delay until Zupon goes?

"ZUPON!" Xephkiel shouts over the loud skittering of arachnids. "On your mark!"
The astral deva readies his attack when given the word.

Looking at the map the spiders are not near either of each other.

Zupon hears his cohort shout and draws a small lumpy bead, striking it against a bit of metal and throwing it towards the creature on the roof. Hoping to blow it off the roof to be impailed or at least causing it strife.

[dice=Cherry bomb[1d20+2[/dice] increment 10 touch acvs the roof.
Aiming at the roof the spider is attached on as he is hoping more to blow it off the roof.
Splash Damage: 1 Bludgeoning.

Zupon scoops up his tourch from the ground as he ducks from potential debris.

Judging from DM rel20's earlier postings for Round 2, both spiders have now descended from the ceiling to bite at both Randall and Nathan melee-style. Would the miss chances still apply in melee combat too? ;)

Now that both spiders have revealed themselves by dropping down to get at both Nathan and Sergeant Harkness, Chigao unceremoniously drops her held crossbow and bolt in order to draw out her sharpened masterwork sickle while closing in upon the nearest spider- the one closest to the beefy Sergeant. Another 2 move actions for this turn; dropping both crossbow/bolt would be considered a free action in this case?

Since the floor of this room is so cluttered with various bones, junk, and detritus, the Young Kunoichi is only able to reach the closest long table [in about 15' of movement] where she attempts to clamber up upon to get to where the spiders are. If this would incur an AoO from the nearest spider, she'll take it if she's unable to avoid such an attack.

Climb check, if needed: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7. or if Acrobatic check is needed, instead: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (15) + 7 = 22. Disregard if not applicable.

PS. Took the liberty of moving a spider and adjusting Chigao's position on the map at the nearest long table but have lost the table itself on the map- unable to retrieve the table from the map but both stars on the table remain intact; my apologies for the inconvenience. :(

Randall breaks free of the webbing as Zupon unleashes his fiery concoction against the ceiling. It erupts against the stone tile, spreading stone and fire alike. Xephkiel, expecting the blast, recovers faster and dives in, striking one of the spiders that gushes viscera onto the walls.

The torch and fire will negate the low-light conditions for now, since everyone is in the vicinity. The spiders were on Zupon and Randall; the web attacks were against Randall and Nathan. Moving the other spider back... Dropping a weapon to the floor is a free action. Since I can't backtrack to see the source of movement, please let me know if this triggers the AoO based on the original position of the spider. Leaping onto the table is an acrobatics DC 12 check, but it does grant the +1 from higher ground.

Round 2
Nathan: 2

Nathan delays.

=Combat=
Black Spider -15
Yellow Spider -1

Yellow moves towards the corner, legs sprayed across both walls that it uses to propel itself with a lunge attack towards Zupon while the other attacks Randall.

bite Zupon: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 = 17
damage: 1d6 ⇒ 6
bite Randall: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 2 = 18
damage: 1d6 ⇒ 5

Both are bit for 6 and 5 damage, respectively, as the fangs pierce deep and inject their venom [Fort DC13].

Round 3
Xeph: 18
Chigao: 15
Zupon: 14
Randall: 6
Nathan: 2

Party up!

Round 3
Xephkiel focuses on the yellow bug after it's vicious attack.
Rapier: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23
Confirming: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7
Dmg.: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

Fort save!: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8

Zupon feels weak-Very aware of what typically accompanies such a bite. Its fangs? (do spiders have fangs or are they something else!? sink into Zupon, nicking something important and sending the youngling reeling nearly losing consciousness from a pain he hadn't felt in a while.....
In recountenance to Xeph's attack on the Yellow. Zupon tries to burn the creature with his torch before the poison may take him he fears.
Melee Attack; I sure wish we were lv2!: 1d20 ⇒ 131d3 + 1d6 ⇒ (1) + (6) = 7 To hit; Bashing; Fire.

Xephkiel lands a strike against the spider as Zupon succumbs to the venom, losing str: 1d2 ⇒ 2 points of str and the need to make another save next round.

=Combat=
Black Spider -15
Yellow Spider -4

Round 3 Up!
Chigao: 15
Randall: 6
Nathan: 2

@Zupon - is that an improvised light mace attack for the Founderflame Torch? Or are you just trying to make a touch attack to just burn it?

Xephkiel lands a strike against the spider as Zupon succumbs to the venom, losing ......... and the need to make another save next round.

=Combat=
Black Spider -15
Yellow Spider -4

@Zupon - is that an improvised light mace attack for the Founderflame Torch? Or are you just trying to make a touch attack to just burn it?

Nathan fires Crystal Shards at the Black Spider

and again, Nathan fires into a nearby wall ...

I took Sphere of Power options that gave me some odd weaponprofiency w/ stats. The Accupucture needles, the arm shooter for the needles, and torches are examples of that. zupon's got a special torch (via the trait for gold) but it doesn't change anything except it can't be extinguished lnog term.

Is Zupon down and out? he had 2hp, the venom did 2 str damage. Didd it also do HP damage?

fort: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 2 = 18

Seeing Xephkiel lay a vicious stab into the large yellow spider, Chigao makes her way 10' eastward upon the very top of the table (signified by the blue one on the table) that she was at, before moving on down off the table onto the very floor at 5' of movement (as signified by the blue two on the ground). Upon disembarking from the table to floor, the Young Kunoichi veers southwestwardly in another diagonal 5' move to flank with the Black Spider attacking Nate whereupon she attempts with a flanking sneak attack upon said spider with her MW sharpened sickle. Purple diamond is Chigao's previous 2nd round position.

Attack flanking the Black Spider: 1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 4 + 2 = 8.

Damage if hits: 1d6 + 1 + 1 + 1d6 ⇒ (6) + 1 + 1 + (3) = 11.

The torch and fire will negate the low-light conditions for now, since everyone is in the vicinity. The spiders were on Zupon and Randall; the web attacks were against Randall and Nathan. Moving the other spider back... Dropping a weapon to the floor is a free action.

My bad, definitely rolled a 'one' on my reading comprehension back there; figured I'll have Chigao stay up on the table since she was already up there anyways and I'll have her react to all the subsequent actions based on that. Glad that you were able to reset the map though. ;)

Is Zupon down and out? he had 2hp, the venom did 2 str damage. Didd it also do HP damage?

Think it might just be the strength damage only from the poison since the initial bite did all of the hit point damage earlier.

I could swear I made this post twice already.

Randall shanks the nearest spider.

Attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13
Damage?: 2d4 + 6 ⇒ (2, 3) + 6 = 11

If that hits I will Triumph and give everyone a +2 to damage until the end of my next turn.

The poison is just str damage. Zupon clears it with an 18.

The party skirmishes as smoke starts to accumulate below the ceiling. Randall capitalizes and lands a fatal blow to black spider.

fire: 1d8 ⇒ 2

Fire expands southwest on the ceiling above the yellow spider, which attempts to bite Xephkiel.

bite: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 = 20
damage: 1d6 ⇒ 5

The bartender is struck and needs to make a Fort DC 13 against the venom.

=Combat=
Black Spider -26
Yellow Spider -4

Round 4 Up!
Xeph: 18
Chigao: 15
Chigao: 15
Randall: 6
Nathan: 2