GM Doug's Troubles in Otari (Inactive)

Game Master Doug Hahn

"Yeah. Here we come to save th' day." grumbles Dethor. "We are jus' deliverin' the wagon, chummer."

"Who did this to you?"

You don't know? his bemusement turns to worry when Dethor makes the situation plain as day.

Farrol… Farrol… didn't… send… you? He says a quick prayer to Old Deadeye. I hope he's safe. Road 'tween here and Otari always been pretty safe. Wouldn't have sent the cook otherwise. Farrol's never been too strong or good at a brawl. But he's quick. He looks concerned about a friend who may now be missing. The men around start to mutter.

“Looks bad, anyone still needs ta be patched up?”

He turns to Baux and notices the religious iconography. Naw, just some cuts and scrapes for this lot. But Three of my crew are hurt bad, laid up in one of the spare cabins. But stable for now, far as we can tell.

"sorry, you're saved from what?"

Well, best start at the beginning like the one with the holly and mistletoe said. He nods at Nandipha, seeming to recognize her connection to nature. By the way, we plant new seedlings where we cut, and we don't clear-cut. So please don't be mad at our hurtin' trees and such. We do our best to respect the land, but we gotta make a living too. And so do our sons and daughters and theirs, and so on. So, we hope you'd still want to help us and not hurt us.

Back to Lucius: Anyway. My name's Jollibin Urphell. I'm in charge of this lumber camp.

Things been bad for a week, maybe more. At first, our prospective cutting sites were targeted. We scout a site nearby, ensure it’ll provide a good, clean harvest, and mark the trees with chalk. But someone was coming by and erasing our marks every night. Then soon enough, wasn't just the chalk marks gone, the trees we’d marked were all burned up! Good thing we’ve had a lot of rain lately, otherwise there might have been a forest fire.

“Second, animals hurt three of my eight lumberjacks. Like I said, they're laid up in the cabin now. Most of them were attacked by gigantic red-furred rats, but Torklo says she spotted a big dog that looked like it was on fire from inside its body.

Thought it was superstitious crazy talk, myself. But the last three nights, we’ve had fires right in the camp. The first two were in the storage tents, but we put them out quickly. No sign of who set them. The most recent was an attempt to set the cabin on fire — the one with the injured lumberjacks in it! Someone even had snuck in and barred the door from the outside. Like they wanted to murder a bunch of hurt people."

That's what I sent Farrol, the cook, to get us help. There's someone — or something — bad out there. First it was trying to scare us, but we don't scare easy. So now… whatever has upped the ante. It's really bad.

"You sent the cook?" say Dethor in complete astonishment. "Prob'bly the last one I would send. But, ok.

"Burnin' trees. Sounds like our asshats."

Nodding in agreement with Dethor, Baux adds "There is a good chance we know who is doin' this and where they're hiding. Not sure what the rats were, but they bin using Hell Hounds that breath fire."

"We didn't see nor hear of Farol. Hopefully he avoided the fellow along the road that tried ta prevent us from gettin' here."

"If'n we were to leave ya' here would ya be safe enough til nightfall? That would allow us ta' take the fight to the scoundrels doin' this."

"Otherwise, guess we git ta protect ya here."

Pointing to the supplies, he adds "In any case, ya cin take yer supplies. There has bin troubles along the road so Oloria paid us ta deliver 'em."

What's an assha—

The foreman's words are cut short by a gruff but calm voice: ALRIGHT. KILL 'EM ALL.

A dwarf, bearing the Archstar of Asmodeus upon his half-plate, strides calmly into camp. He carries a sacrificial dagger in one hand.

He waves his other hand as a signal and three rats, the size of small dogs, pour out from a pile of wood; worse still, a hellhound bounds over a tent! The creature spews flame across several lumberjacks, but none of them are killed outright.

Jollibin shouts: Get to it! Defend the camp! The remaining lumberjacks surround the hound, bravely trying to give as good as they got. But there simply aren't enough of them to stand against the hound, the rats, and the dwarf together.

The lumberjacks will fight the Hellhound Offstage. Neither the hound nor the lumberjacks will appear on the map.

You all rolled Perception as you were talking to the foreman. However, you would have drawn your weapons once the alarm went off.

❧ ❧ ❧

The dwarf strides in closer. Taste the power of The First, worm. He points at Biltri — perhaps he senses the Blessed One's divine connection or has noticed iconography the barbarian carries. Whatever the case, there is divine power in his words.

Basic Will save for Biltri against emotion, enchantment, fear, mental

❧ ❧ ❧

Could it be… Were You JUST in Time to Save the Camp?!

Hagrit
--
Nandipha
--
Rat 1
Rat 2
--
Lucius
Baux
--
Rat 3
--
Dethor
Biltri, Basic Will save needed

"Worm? Harsh talk for someone less evolved than the scum in a petri dish!" Nandipha says disdainfully.

Nandipha casts Magic Fang then approaches the bloated dwarf.

The rats scurry in and bite at Biltri and baux's feet! One of them draws blood from Biltri. Hit AC 21, which should connect regardless of your Fear status.

❧ ❧ ❧

Could it be… Were You JUST in Time to Save the Camp?!

Hagrit
—
Nandipha, Magic Fang
—
Rat 1
Rat 2
—
Lucius
Baux
—
Rat 3
—
Dethor
Biltri, -6 HP, DC 21 Basic Will save needed ve Fear

Baux calls out to Desna for help. “May Desna smile on our battle, destroying this dwarf who has attacked travelers on the road!”

Then he attempts to crush a rat skull with his hammer.

Cast Bless, Strike
Warhammer vs Rat #2, Bless: 1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 7 + 1 = 13
Bludgeoning: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8

Lucius can't come up with a good plan for dealing with Hagrit.

Devise a Stratagem: 1d20 ⇒ 5

But hellhounds he's more familiar with. So, he moves into a flanking position with Biltri and strikes hound #2.

Devil's Lantern: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21
Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 1

I think they are rats...the lumbercamp is dealing with the hellhound off screen.

Nandipha probably calls out she saw something sneaking behind the cabin. Was hoping the player would post again quickly, but you can read her spoiler. I assume she would tell you what she saw. If you need to retcon a turn do so.

Lucius draws first blood!

The last rat scurries in and bites Biltri's other leg! A 19 FF should hit; a 15 misses whatever feat status is.

❧ ❧ ❧

Could it be… Were You JUST in Time to Save the Camp?!

Hagrit
—
Nandipha, Magic Fang
—
Rat 1
Rat 2, -1 HP
—
Lucius
Baux, Sustaining bless
—
Rat 3
—
Dethor
Biltri, -11 HP, DC 21 Basic Will save needed vs Fear

Will: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13

Biltri grimaces under the pressure of the Asmodean's magic. His attention flits from enemy to enemy, assuming an attack that never comes until it does. "Curse your magic!" His eyes flicker like breeze-blown coals, and then he swings his meteor hammer around the fire rats (#2 then #1, but I can't be that lucky). "And why is everything made out of fire!?"

Rage, Strike, Strike

+1 Meteor Hammer, Bless, Fear 2: 1d20 + 10 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (13) + 10 + 1 - 2 = 22
Magic, B, Rage: 1d8 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 4 + 2 = 10

+1 Meteor Hammer, Bless, Fear 2: 1d20 + 10 - 5 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (19) + 10 - 5 + 1 - 2 = 23
Magic, B, Rage: 1d8 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 4 + 2 = 10

Splat, splat.

Dethor's up! Rats 2 and 1 are dead.

Dethor moves to flank with the rat, draws, and stabs
ol' stabby: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (14) + 10 = 24 P (or S) magic, striking + precision: 2d6 + 4 + 1d6 ⇒ (1, 2) + 4 + (3) = 10

Splat! Another dead rat.

The dwarf points at Nandipha's magical ganzi tail. Gyz ruv ao zmiz!! The magic fades from her tail. Dispelled Magic; magic Fang is gone.

He then stabs at the druid with his dagger — it flashes with hellfire as it slices through Nandipha’s armor!

Don't forget your spoiler above, maybe it got lost in the shuffle here.

❧ ❧ ❧

Could it be… Were You JUST in Time to Save the Camp?!

Only Nandipha is bolded for reasons.

Hagrit
—
Nandipha, -18 HP
—
Lucius
Baux, Sustaining Bless
Dethor
Biltri, -6 HP, DC 21 Basic Will save needed ve Fear

Nandipha blinks and grits her teeth. "I prepared two Magic Fang spells today. I guess we be finding out what you prepared, Hot Head!"

And a trade of his second level spell for my first be a good one!

◈◈ Magic Fang

Ganzi Tail (Brawling, Sweep) + Magic Fang: 1d20 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 8 + 1 = 13
Bludgeoning damage: 2d6 + 3 ⇒ (2, 3) + 3 = 8

Hero Point!

Ganzi Tail (Brawling, Sweep) + Magic Fang: 1d20 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 8 + 1 = 17
Bludgeoning damage: 2d6 + 3 ⇒ (6, 4) + 3 = 13

Bah. Probably still missed.

"Also, I saw a shadow moving between the tent and the back of the cabin..." Nandipha says to her friends. "May be someone better check it out!"

The Asmodean doesn't look happy about the re-upping of magic fang, but Nandipha only smashes some scrap lumber with her tail.

Thanks to Nandipha's warning Baux is on the alert; he easily spots another dwarf, this one dressed in black and wielding a rapier, slinking out from behind the cabin!

The menacing newcomer trips on a discarded piece of lumber as he tries to stab the cleric in the neck. BLAST IT!

Failed to beat your perc. DCs on Sneak; totally whiffed the attack.

❧ ❧ ❧

Could it be… Were You JUST in Time to Save the Camp?!

Only Nandipha is bolded for reasons.

Hagrit
—
Nandipha, Magic Fang, -18 HP
—
Omblin
—
Lucius
Baux, Sustaining Bless
Dethor
Biltri, -6 HP, Frightened 1

“Found ‘em!”

Baux guestures to increase the size of his blessing, raises his shield, and comes down with his hammer aiming for the new dwarfs head.
Warhammer, Bless: 1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 7 + 1 = 17
Bludgeoning: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

"Oh, good!" Nandipha calls back. "I be worried we have to waste time finding him!"

Dethor moves to flank with Hagrit. "Die you son of a beardless duergar!"

Mad enough that he doesn't care about his own defense, he attacks full on.

ol' stabby: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (2) + 10 = 12 P (or S) magic, striking + precision: 2d6 + 4 + 1d6 ⇒ (6, 3) + 4 + (5) = 18
ol' stabby: 1d20 + 10 - 4 ⇒ (4) + 10 - 4 = 10 P (or S) magic, striking + precision: 2d6 + 4 + 1d6 ⇒ (2, 3) + 4 + (1) = 10

oh... my... word...

"Got the beardless bastard?" Biltri yells at Nandipha and Dethor. "Baux and I got a problem to handle first."

He steps to the side and whirls the steel fist at the end of the chain over his head. "And this one's not made of fire!"

Flames race down the chains as he whips the anchor toward the dwarf in black.

Step, Strike, Strike

+1 Meteor Hammer, Bless: 1d20 + 10 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 10 + 1 = 28
Magic, B, +4 Fire Rage: 1d8 + 4 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 + 4 = 11

+1 Meteor Hammer, Bless: 1d20 + 10 - 5 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 10 - 5 + 1 = 20 (Backswing: +1 on prior miss)
Magic, B, +4 Fire Rage: 1d8 + 4 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 + 4 = 14

Dethor and Baux cannot seem to connect, but Biltri swiftly takes out the backstabby dwarf with a clobbering to the head Crit and then a crushing blow to the cheat! The newcomer's last moment is spent turning as if to run.

The Asmodean screams: NOO!

I'll gut these ones for you, Omblin! See you in Hell, brother!

❧ ❧ ❧

Could it be… Were You JUST in Time to Save the Camp?!

Only Nandipha is bolded for reasons.

Hagrit
—
Nandipha, -18 HP
Lucius
Baux, Sustaining Bless
Dethor
Biltri, -6 HP

Lucius sees his opportunity. He strides (twice) across the camp, triggers his potency crystal, and strikes at the braggadocious dwarf!

Devise a Stratagem: 1d20 ⇒ 20 Boom

Strategic Strike! Devil's Lantern: 20 + 8 + 1 + 1 = 30
Damage Striking: 2d6 ⇒ (2, 3) = 5
Precision Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 2

I realize now that I never officially applied a talisman to the short sword but Doug said I could retroactively apply it. Yay! Thank you!

The dwarf grunts in pain as the Devil's Lantern opens a wound in his gut.

Alphabetical order of proven-dangerous PCs: 1d2 ⇒ 2

Prostrate yourself to my brother’s, spirit as it flies to Hell, infernal one. Respect his sacrifice. He strides out of the flank and casts a spell on Lucius.

DC 21 Basic will save or drop prone, Lucius; command

❧ ❧ ❧

The Braggadocious Brother

Hagrit , -14 HP
—
Nandipha, magic fang, -18 HP
Lucius, DC 21 Will save vs Command
Baux, Sustaining Bless, Shield raised
Dethor
Biltri, -6 HP

“Omblin?”

“Still didn’t tell us yer name, ya’ Cheliaxian stooge. Betta’ spit it out along wit’ why ya call yer selves the Lardbutta Lads.”

“Kotgar neva did say.”

Baux gestures to expand the blessing further, raises shield, and moves closer to the spawn of Cheliaxian ideals.

Will Save: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (18) + 10 = 28

"I would," Lucius says with a toothy grin. "But I'm too busy looking evil."

"Thought ya was supposed ta' be the scary elf?"

Dethor moves up, and pretends to stumble as he approaches the dwarf.
Deception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26

ol' stabby: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (2) + 10 = 12 P (or S) magic, striking + precision: 2d6 + 4 + 1d6 ⇒ (2, 5) + 4 + (5) = 16

I give up...

Biltri stomps toward the Asmodean dwarf and whips the flaming steel fist toward him and snaps it back. "Stop trying to be flashy, Dethor, and just kill him!"

Stride, Strike, Strike

+1 Meteor Hammer, Bless: 1d20 + 10 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 10 + 1 = 24
Magic, B, +4 Fire Rage: 1d8 + 4 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 + 4 = 16

+1 Meteor Hammer, Bless: 1d20 + 10 - 5 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 10 - 5 + 1 = 16 (Backswing: +1 on prior miss)
Magic, B, +4 Fire Rage: 1d8 + 4 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 + 4 = 14

Lucius has a worthy rejoinder and will not bow. Dethor gats a little too fancy for his own good. Biltri takes a solid swipe at his enemy!

You killed Kotgar!?

❧ ❧ ❧

Could it be… Were You JUST in Time to Save the Camp?!

Only Nandipha is bolded for reasons.

Hagrit , -30 HP
—
Nandipha, magic fang, -18 HP
Lucius
Baux, Sustaining Bless
Dethor
Biltri, -6 HP

“Think it was more like assisted suicide. He insisted on makin’ trouble fer us and wasn’t type ta’ surrendar.”

Dethor chuckles at Bauxite’s statement. ”Yeah, ye’ wanna have us assist yer suicide now, ye’ beardless gnome?”

"Asmodeus be your faith?" Nandipha runs forward. "Say hello to him for me! Carrots, attack!"

Ganzi Tail (Brawling, Sweep) + Magic Fang: 1d20 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 8 + 1 = 29
Bludgeoning damage: 2d6 + 3 ⇒ (5, 6) + 3 = 14

◈ Stride
◈ Command Animal
◈ Strike

Finally!

"SNIRP!"

Carrots’ Jaws (finesse): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14
Piercing: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9

He grits his teeth as Nandipha clobbers him upside the head with her re-magicked tail. The First will reward those who serve well. And I… serve… well! He spits blood on the ground.

Carrots is so excited that he pecks at a disdarded axe haft, denting the handle.

❧ ❧ ❧

Busting the Leadbusters

Only Nandipha is bolded for reasons.

Hagrit , -54 HP
—
Nandipha, magic fang, -18 HP
Lucius
Baux, Sustaining Bless
Dethor
Biltri, -6 HP

Devise a Stratagem: 1d20 ⇒ 2

Lucius is out of good ideas so he decides to assist Biltri instead.

Aid Biltri’s attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22

Xe kyq py, miwzyr.

The zealot is badly hurt but remains stoic in the face of danger. He intones a prayer in infernal and his wounds knit up. He then calmly stabs his hellfire-dagger at the most hurt enemy, logically working through his problems.

❧ ❧ ❧

Busting the Leadbusters

Only Nandipha is bolded for reasons.

Hagrit , -28 HP
—
Nandipha, magic fang, -30 HP
Lucius, readied aid to Bltri
Baux, Sustaining Bless
Dethor
Biltri, -6 HP, +1 circ to Aid

"Oof. I be done with you now!" Nandipha says. "Carrots, attack!"

Ganzi Tail (Brawling, Sweep) + Magic Fang: 1d20 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 8 + 1 = 27
Bludgeoning damage: 2d6 + 3 ⇒ (3, 1) + 3 = 7

Ganzi Tail (Brawling, Sweep) + Magic Fang: 1d20 + 8 + 1 - 5 ⇒ (17) + 8 + 1 - 5 = 21
Bludgeoning damage: 2d6 + 3 ⇒ (2, 3) + 3 = 8

◈ Command Animal
◈ Strike
◈ Strike

"Snirp!"

Carrots’ Jaws (finesse): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (9) + 8 = 17
Piercing: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7

Carrots’ Talon (agile, finesse) attack 2: 1d20 + 8 - 4 ⇒ (19) + 8 - 4 = 23
Slashing: 1d6 ⇒ 3

"Had enough of you. Going to break you in half and toss you in the river if you don't back down!" Biltri roars in frustration. "Carrots, duck!" He whirls the meteor hammer in a dangerous arc toward the enemy dwarf.

Demoralize, Strike, Strike

Intimidate (demoralize): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10

+1 Meteor Hammer, Bless, Aid: 1d20 + 10 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 10 + 1 + 2 = 23 vs. Flanked, Soft Cover
Magic, B, +4 Fire Rage: 1d8 + 4 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 + 4 = 10

+1 Meteor Hammer, Bless: 1d20 + 10 - 5 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 10 - 5 + 1 = 14 vs. Flanked, Soft Cover, Backswing (+1 if previous missed)
Magic, B, +4 Fire Rage: 1d8 + 4 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 + 4 = 16

Baux gets out his wand and uses it to help Nandipha.

2 action heal: 1d10 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11

Draw wand, cast a spell. Bless stays at the size it is.

Sigh. No available flanks.

”Wait? Is that Abrogail Thrune?” asks Dethor pointing off in the distance.

Deception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (20) + 8 = 28

ol' stabby: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (1) + 10 = 11 P (or S) magic, striking + precision: 2d6 + 4 + 1d6 ⇒ (4, 5) + 4 + (4) = 17

sigh

ol' stabby: 1d20 + 10 - 4 ⇒ (11) + 10 - 4 = 17 P (or S) magic, striking + precision: 2d6 + 4 + 1d6 ⇒ (1, 1) + 4 + (2) = 8

Nandipha hits twice with the tail, and Carrots follows through snirping at the off-kilter dwarf!

Baux heals Nandipha.

Biltri hits with the hammer easily as Lucius distracts the enemy; Dethor's refusal to keep it simple fails to yield results.

❧ ❧ ❧

Busting the Leadbusters

Hagrit , -46 HP
—
Nandipha, magic fang, -19 HP
Lucius
Baux, Sustaining Bless
Dethor
Biltri, -6 HP

Taking a look at the dwarf, Lucius sees his window and moves in to strike!

Devise a Stratagem: 1d20 ⇒ 18

Devil's Lantern: 18 + 8 = 26
Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 7

And then moves out again, in case the dwarf should retaliate.

The dwarf realizes he's back to where he started after all that. -53 HP instead of -54… Clearly, healing is getting him nowhere.

He decides to go all-out. He slashes at Nandipha, dealing a potentially lethal blow that drops the druid. -19 - 18= -37.

He then turns and casts a Burning Hands over the rest of the party!

❧ ❧ ❧

Busting the Leadbusters

Hagrit , -53 HP
—
Lucius, Basic Reflex save needed
Baux, Sustaining Bless, Basic Reflex save needed
Dethor, Basic Reflex save needed
Biltri, -6 HP, Basic Reflex save needed
Nandipha, magic fang, Dying 2
> Carrots, Basic Reflex save needed

Reflex: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24 4 damage after fire resist

“Keep it up wit’ the fire.”

Having exhausted his healing, Baux stabilizes Nandipha and puts away the wand.

Reflex: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (19) + 11 = 30

Dethor moves over the fallen Nandipha in order to get a flank.
no AOO as he moved only 10’

ol' stabby: 1d20 + 10 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 10 + 1 = 21 P (or S) magic, striking + precision: 2d6 + 4 + 1d6 ⇒ (1, 5) + 4 + (4) = 14
I really hope he has AC23 or less...

ol' stabby: 1d20 + 10 - 4 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 10 - 4 + 1 = 15 P (or S) magic, striking + precision: 2d6 + 4 + 1d6 ⇒ (5, 1) + 4 + (6) = 16

Finally, Dethor stops being fancy and goes back to ol’stabby’s basics. The Asmodean’s eyes bulge as he falls.

You assist the lumberjacks in fighting off the Hellhound, which is easily dispatched with such overwhelming reinforcements.

out of combat! I don’t think any of you crit failing that save would have dropped.

The foreman wipes his brow and gestures at the dead dwarves. What in the heck is goin’ on around here?! Who’re they?

Reflex: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (11) + 8 = 19

Phew, long fight. Well done all!

Reflex: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17

"About time," Biltri grumbles as the Asmodean finally falls.