[GPT] ULTRA PLUS City of Golden Death (Inactive)

Game Master Will Huston

Just to be very clear, based on the map, your characters would realize that you could stay on the outer edge of the city and circle clockwise on the outer edge, or head north and try to circle clockwise on the inner edge.

I'll vote to go north and circle through the inner edge.

I agree.

Angela points at the map she's sketched into her notebook. "I see Dawn and Eltran have divined this already, but the fastest route (assuming no barriers) would be to head directly north and then circle around clockwise. That sound good to everyone else?"
Add a third vote for the inner circle.

"Fine by me if there aren't any tracks. Sadly that is not my area of expertise."

As the group moves north, Angela takes a keen eye and spots that at a crossroads, there are runes etched into the ground, much like the previous place where the fire ape popped up.

Its a trap.

Angela calls for a halt to the group and stares at the runes for a moment. Pointing them out, she asks, "Anyone recognize these? I realize it's a trap, however I am not certain on how to disable it."

Knowledge (arcana): 1d20 + 8 + 1d6 ⇒ (8) + 8 + (5) = 21

If she, or someone else points out a weak point and way to remove it without triggering the runes, Angela slides forwards carefully and using her smarts gingerly rubs away part of the rune.

Disable Device, Int base, Trapfinding: 1d20 + 10 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 10 + 2 = 31
A just in case inspiration roll: 1d6 ⇒ 1

"Oh no. Only one visit a day from my doctor, thank you!" Dawn stops but keeps her falchion drawn, just in case.

"Anyone recognize these? I realize it's a trap, however I am not certain on how to disable it."

"Do I recognize these?!" Golthwur asks rhetorically, as he peers at the runes etched in the ground, his voice growing louder and more indignant with each word, "Do you not know that you are travelling in the company of Golthwur Strath? Lord of Letters? Scholar of Scrawlings? Decipherer of Dashes? Maven of Markings?"

Knowledge (arcana): 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (9) + 12 = 21

Squinting his elderly eyes, he soon arrives at a conclusion, "And, yes, I agree with your conclusion. It is clearly a trap of some kind."

Okay, this section of the book, its really just a series of perception and then disable device checks. I tried to think of a better way to make this interesting to write and to play on PBP but I can't. In the spirit of having you guys at least roll the dice and then write the story from there, how about everyone gives me a set of two more perception checks, and I can work from there.

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19
Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12

Golthwur travels with his eyes open, most of the time.

Angela is more than prepared to keep an eye out for traps now that they've run into a few of them.

Perception, Trapfinding, free inspiration: 1d20 + 15 + 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 15 + (6) + 2 = 25
Perception, Trapfinding, free inspiration: 1d20 + 15 + 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 15 + (4) + 2 = 36
She keeps her eyes wide open and looks at the places most efficient to place traps.

Perception 1: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (6) + 11 = 17
Perception 2: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (19) + 11 = 30

Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 3 = 20
Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (14) + 3 = 17

perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6
perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13

Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21
Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

"Come on, no whammies!" Dawn "helps" with the investigation.

Montage, time for a montage. We see several scenes of the party coming across crossroads just like before. Knowing that the Whispering Tyrant seemed to put defenses on crossroads, the party takes their time. Some of of the crossroads have traps and the Halfling secretary dutifully wipes out the arcane sigils that power the mystical traps under the careful and disdainful watch of Golthwur.

However, she and Golthwur get confused on the last one, thinking its not trapped when it is. Another fiery ape appears.

Ape Initiative: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (17) + 9 = 26
Golthwur Intit: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16
Angela Intit: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 2 = 13
Nisha Intit: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 1 = 14
Hayden Intit: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4
Eltran Intit: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8
Dawn Intit: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7

Before anyone can react, the Ape rushes forward and tries to slam a fist on Angela. It connects and deals 10 points of bludgeoning damage

Round 1 the battle of "wait didn't we already do this?"
Fire Elemental
Golthwur
Nisha
Angela (-10, need a DC 16 Reflex save or catch on fire)
Eltran
Dawn (-9)
Hayden

Seeing the beast, Golthwur reaches for his wand of magic missiles. "Keep your stinking paws off me, you damned flaming ape!"

MM: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

”I hate these stupid fire apes!”
Stare, improved feint, strike

feint, only -2 if it isn’t a humanoid, or -4 if int 2 or less, not cumulative: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (4) + 18 = 22
Attack: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10
damage if hit: 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12
Ignoring the precision damage, but staring allows me to feint it easier, so that's why I'm doing that.

Reflex: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (15) + 9 = 24
Angela rolls with the blow of the ape and ends up five feet away and not on fire.
5 foot step mechanically

She brings her longspear up and at the ready, studying the enemy for a moment before readying to help whoever can deal the most damage to the blasted thing.

Aid Another, Studied: 1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 6 + 2 = 22

+4 to whoever can deal non-resisted damage.

Hayden took 5 points of Dawn's damage previously. He will now take 5 points of Angela's damage.

Hayden steps to the side and raises his bow, firing it at the ape.

Attack (PBS): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (11) + 8 = 19
Damage (PBS): 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

Dawn draws her falchion, kisses it and covers it in frost. She approaches the ape with a simple command:

"BONK."

Falchion: 1d20 + 9 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 9 + 1 = 22
Damage: 2d4 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (2, 2) + 4 + 1 = 9
Cold Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 5

"Go to icy jail."

Swift: Use Eldritch Pool point to get a +1 frost Falchion
Move: Stride and draw weapon
Standard: Strike

Eltran again tries to make the fire elemental laugh!

Hideous laughter, Eltran is humanoid and an outsider so it is not of another type and thus the elemental receives no bonus. DC 17 Will save.

”I know that your companion thought that I am funny! Usually, I am not but maybe my looks alone makes you laugh?!?!!“ Eltran shouts with a grin.

Golthwur's magic missile strikes true. Nisha fools the ape and leaves it unprotected, allowing her to strike it true. Sir Greyrun's arrow strikes it true. Dawn walks forward and draws a frosty sword, which then strikes true. Angela tries to help out. its DR/- so no one's dealing non-resisted damage beside golthwur? But everyone hits so we'll say you helped Dawn. Eltran tries telling the joke and the ape smiles a bit but then Eltran realizes that's a sign of aggression in great apes as it roars.

It smashes Angela twice as flames lick her. 10 points of bludgeoning and 2 reflex saves!

Round 2 the battle of "burn, halflings, burn"
Fire Elemental (-24)
Golthwur
Nisha
Angela (-15, need 2x DC 16 Reflex save or catch on fire)
Eltran
Dawn (-4)
Hayden (-10)

“Did not work?!? I’ll show you funny!!!“

Eltran again tries to make the fire elemental laugh.

Hideous laughter, Eltran is humanoid and an outsider so it is not of another type and thus the elemental receives no bonus. DC 17 Will save.

Eltran's absurd commands cause Dawn to giggle.
"So a frost giant and a fire giant walk into a bar. The bar turns into a sauna."

Falchion: 1d20 + 9 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 9 + 1 = 24
Damage: 2d4 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (2, 1) + 4 + 1 = 8
Cold Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 3

Standard: Strike

Golthwur releases another bolt of force.

MM: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Stare, improved feint, strike

feint, only -2 if it isn’t a humanoid, or -4 if int 2 or less, not cumulative: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (4) + 18 = 22
Attack: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16
damage if hit: 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8

Angela gives a growl as she has to pat out more fires on her travel jacket and pencil skirt.

reflexes, combined: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (13) + 9 = 221d20 + 9 ⇒ (17) + 9 = 26

She avoids catching on flame and instead decides to harry the ape some. She stabs forward with her ergonomic longspear, making an opening for Dawn. "Dawn, bring this burning ape of an elemental down!"

“This type of enemy has weak points here, here, aannnd here!” +1 Longspear, Aid another, studied: 1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 6 + 2 = 16

She then stabs out at it herself. "Eat spear."
Poke ( +1 Longspear), studied: 1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 6 + 2 = 18
Piercing Damage, studied: 1d6 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 + 2 = 9

She then backs up a step, trying to get out of the thing's punching range.

Hayden takes another 5 damage from Angela

The knight grunts as he feels blood begin to flow under his armor. Still, he's used to it. He raises his bow and fires at the ape again.

Attack (PBS: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (20) + 8 = 28
Damage (PBS): 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

Crit confirm: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11

The ape starts laughing, at Eltran's silly face. Dawn's cold falchion doesn't do all the damage, but the cold does cause the fire elemental to sizzle. Golthwur's magic messes a mite with the elemental. With her feint, Nisha's spear pierces the fire elemental, but somehow it doesn't start on fire. Angela's spear misses the big old gorilla. Hayden's arrow strikes true, but he fails to confirm the critical hit since the elemental doesn't have.

It stops laughing.

Round 3 the battle of "look at eltran's face"
Fire Elemental (-38)
Golthwur
Nisha
Angela (-10)
Eltran
Dawn (-4)
Hayden (-15)

Eltran throws his hands above his head and gives up.

“Seems like Dawn is the truly the only comedian of the group!!! Torture on the plane of fire makes jokes less powerful it seems. Get him then!!!“

inspire courage +1 for everyone.

The older knight grimaces as more blood flows. "Bring him down!" He fires again, sending arrows into the flame.

Attack (PBS, IC): 1d20 + 8 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 8 + 1 + 1 = 13
Damage (PBS, IC): 1d8 + 4 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 4 + 1 + 1 = 9

Another 5 points of damage transferred from Angela to Hayden.

Not much for Dawn to do besides swing that falchion.
Falchion: 1d20 + 9 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 9 + 1 = 23
Damage: 2d4 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (4, 4) + 4 + 1 = 13
Cold Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 3

And swing she will.

Standard: Strike

improved feint, strike
+1 to hit and damage from bardsong
feint, only -2 if it isn’t a humanoid, or -4 if int 2 or less, not cumulative: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (14) + 18 = 32
Attack: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (5) + 9 = 14
damage if hit: 1d8 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8

"Surely, this salvo will finish it." declares Golthwur as he activates the wand again and continues to back away from the elemental.

MM: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

Angela moves a step closer, and takes a swing at the ape again, before trying to aid Dawn again.

Poke (+1 Longspear), studied: 1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 6 + 2 = 23
Piercing Damage, studied: 1d6 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 + 2 = 5

“This type of enemy has weak points here, here, aannnd here!” +1 Longspear, Aid another, studied: 1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 6 + 2 = 13

Eltran starts his observational comedy routine. Sir Hayden misses with his arrow, but he helps keep Angela alive. Nisha hits only with the song in her heart inspired by Eltran. Golthwur's magic missile does what magic missles do and spreads a few embers from the fiery ape. Angela's spear does naught to the flames. The smiling infernape slides to its right and slams Dawn twice. Both connect for a total of 11 damage. She might catch on fire.

Round 4 the battle of "should I have had you face all the fire elementals at once"
Fire Elemental (-57)
Golthwur
Nisha
Angela (-5)
Eltran
Dawn (-16, need 2 DC 16 Reflex saves or you on fire.)
Hayden (-20)

Oof, 10 damage to Hayden. 5 from Angela and 5 from Dawn.

Hayden staggers for a moment as the weight of both Angela's and Dawn's wounds move to him. He makes a sign of the Dawnflower and requests her blessing on him. His own wounds close somewhat.

Casting CLW on himself.
CLW spell: 1d8 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15

Dropping Life Link with Angela. Keeping it with Dawn.

Reflex: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (19) + 3 = 22
Reflex: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (13) + 3 = 16

"Ooo! Hot!" Dawn swings to put out the flames, and then swings again.

Falchion: 1d20 + 9 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 9 + 1 = 21
Damage: 2d4 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (2, 1) + 4 + 1 = 8
Cold Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 6

Standard: Strike

"Now, this salvo is the final one!" declares Golthwur as he activates the wand yet again as if he could somehow will his words to become truth.

MM: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Huh, boards ate my post. Well, surprising no one, I'm gonna continue doing what I'm doing.
improved feint, strike
+1 to hit and damage from bardsong
feint, only -2 if it isn’t a humanoid, or -4 if int 2 or less, not cumulative: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (10) + 18 = 28
Attack: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (5) + 9 = 14
damage if hit: 1d8 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8

The fire elemental falls.

I'll post again in the morning.

Eltran looks at the group and claps.

”I am sorry for hating fire elementals so much! And you need to teach me some jokes Dawn!!“ he says with genuine interest to learn.

Dawn hands her potion of cure moderate wounds to Sir Greyrun. "I almost set you on fire... sorry!"

"Eltran, you are hilarious. Audible jokes when the audience doesn't understand the language- oh man, that's a hoot! Normally I like visual skits but it's hard to do when a fiery ape wants to shake your hand."

Eltran is slightly embarrassed.

“Ehh .. ok Dawn! I’ll … I’ll try to remember that! Shall we move on!?!“ he asks trying to change the subject.

Hayden pulls out his wand of healing and uses it on himself to close the many wounds he took from Dawn and Angela. He takes a deep breath and nods to Dawn and Angela. "Ok, much better." The halfling again feels her lifeforce buoyed again by the knight of Sarenrae. In that moment, she knows that while he watches over her, she simply can't die.

CLW: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9
CLW: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5
CLW: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6
CLW: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10

I think that still leaves Dawn with 1 hp of damage. Life Link back on Angela.

" Exactly as I predicted." Golthwur announces smugly as the fire ape falls.

While you guys do have a time limit, there is enough time to get a night's worth of rest. Throwing that out there. Let me know.

Eltran isn’t really empty, yet. I could continue.