GM Tarondor's One-Shot: Head Shot The Rot (Gameday 2021) (Inactive)

Game Master Tarondor

Zakzak points his spoon gun at the zombie’s face with a screech, before he starts chowing down on its leg.

Feint, Strike, Strike
Deception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26

Attack 1: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (9) + 11 = 20+2 for Feint?
Damage 1: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

Attack 2: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10+2 for Feint?
Damage 2: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

Zindarel takes aim at the zombie attacking Zakzak. She fires, then ducks back down to reload and holds her weapon up to deflect any attacks that might come her way.

Mithral Tree: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (12) + 12 = 24
Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6
If Crit, Fatal: 2d10 + 1 ⇒ (9, 4) + 1 = 14

Strike, Covered Reload, Parry

You jumped the gun (heh) by one zombie, Zindarel. Black gets to go before you.

Zakzak's spoon gun fires with an hilarious SPROING! sound and peppers Green with cutlery. The zombie's jerking prevents the goblin from getting in a good bite.

Aroused from torpor at last, the ominous green-and-purple-tinged zombie near the stage (Black) turns its head and begins to shamble your direction. Previously a well-dressed man-about-town, the walking corpse is now covered in festering boils and dribbling pustules that lend it an even more horrific countenance.

Then Zindarel blows the head off the zombie attacking Zakzak! The zombies on the stage continue to take no notice, endlessly repeating the acts of their play as weird ghostly forms dance around them.

STATUS
Zindarel -
Purple Zombie -
Orange Zombie -
Doc -
Booker - 30/38 hp
Pink Zombie - 1 damage
Zakzak - 29/36 hp
Black Zombie -

Booker and Doc, go!

Booker reloads and fires over the shoulder of the adjacent zombie at the fancy dressed zombie.

gun vs black: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (6) + 11 = 17
p damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4
1 splash as well

Booker then tries to Clear a path shoving the adjacent zombie aside as he reloads.

shove vs pink fort: 1d20 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 8 + 1 = 15

Doc reloads her dueling pistol and fires both at Pink.

dueling pistol: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (6) + 12 = 18

if hit: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6
if critical: 1d10 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4 doubled
fatal die: 1d10 ⇒ 9

Dragon Mouth Pistol: 1d20 + 11 - 5 ⇒ (1) + 11 - 5 = 7
1d6 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6 piercing +1 5' splash

Reload, Strike, Strike

Booker's shot strikes the boil-covered zombie, causing it to rocks slightly. His shove does little to move the nearby dead. A moment later, Doc's pistols flash and Pink stumbles slightly before attacking Booker again. The hideous flesh-eating creature fumbles at Booker's throat, but the big man easily fends him off.

Fist v. Booker: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 171d6 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4
Fist v. Booker: 1d20 + 7 - 5 ⇒ (1) + 7 - 5 = 31d6 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

STATUS
Zindarel -
Purple Zombie -
Orange Zombie -
Doc -
Booker - 30/38 hp
Pink Zombie - 7 damage
Zakzak - 29/36 hp
Black Zombie - 5 damage

Zakzak, go!

They were the prettiest spoons he’d ever seen. Glistening like diamonds (he’d never seen diamonds in real life, but they looked the way he’d always pictured them), they lay tucked in a velvet-lined box.

Q: Could they be magical?

”Don’t even think about it!”, warned Mrs. Rickard. ”That’s my prized collection!”

As he scooped up the other cutlery, he bumped into the breakfront, sending a cascade of dishes crashing to the floor. While she bemoaned her shattered china, he grabbed the box and bolted out.

Now, faced by what is surely some sort of…dire zombie?…he rammed the shining treasures into the ever-hungry bore.

A: Only one way to find out.

Reload, Stride, Strike at Black
Attack: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (16) + 12 = 28
Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5B
Deadly: 1d10 ⇒ 2

The gleaming flatware bursts forth in all the silvery, polished glory of Zakzak's fevered, twitchy dreams. Like a sparkly rainbow of destruction it slices into the bloated zombie, blasting dark greasy holes into it. But the creature just kept coming as thought nothing could harm or hinder it.

The creature batters Booker with it disgusting, pus-covered hands.

1d2 ⇒ 2 Booker
Fists v. Booker: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (16) + 9 = 251d8 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11

STATUS
Zindarel -
Purple Zombie -
Orange Zombie -
Doc -
Booker - 19/38 hp
Pink Zombie - 7 damage
Zakzak - 29/36 hp
Black Zombie - 17 damage

Booker, give me a DC 18 Fortitude save!

Zindarel, go!

Zindarel steps around the table to get cover from the zombies. She gets the bloated undead in her sights and fires a bullet into its head, then ducks back down to reload again.

Mithral Tree: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (18) + 12 = 30
Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7
If Crit, Fatal: 1d10 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 91d10 ⇒ 6

Step, Strike, Covered Reload

Zindarel puts a round through the bloated zombie, smashing its jaw.

At last the two figures on the stage take notice, turning towards you with jerky motions, yet they are faster than the others and regard you with malicious intelligence. You notice that each bears a ritual dagger.

STATUS
Zindarel -
Purple Zombie -
Orange Zombie -
Doc -
Booker - 19/38 hp
Pink Zombie - 7 damage
Zakzak - 29/36 hp
Black Zombie - 37 damage

Doc and Booker, go!

Doc strikes black with her stock of her Dragon Mouth Pistol and reloads her Dueling Pistol.

Reinforced stock: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (15) + 11 = 26
1d6 ⇒ 5 Bludgeoning

She then takes a step behind Booker and holsters her Dragon Mouth Pistol.

one action-reloading strike, one action-step, one action-holster

Hold on one more round Book, will Battle Medicine you next round.

fort: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (19) + 8 = 27

Booker holds his ground and menaces pink

intimidate vs Will DC: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (13) + 9 = 22
before pulling the trigger point blank.

pew: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (17) + 11 = 28
piercing: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

1 splash to black, pink, myself and Zindarel.

Booker then shoves black away as he reloads.

athletics vs black fort to shove: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14

Booker, the zombie is immune to your Intimidation.

Doc cracks the bloated zombie across the face with the butt of her rifle while Booker blasts a chunk from Pink, peppering himself and Doc with hot lead. Booker kicks the bloated zombie in the stomach, but doesn't drive it back.

1. Strike (Fist)
2. Grab Booker

Pink Fist v. Booker: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 261d6 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

Pink fumbles at Booker's coat, slamming him with iron-hard hands and seizing hold of him by the arm and coat.

STATUS
Zindarel -
Purple Zombie -
Orange Zombie -
Doc - 31/32 hp
Booker - 11/38 hp (grabbed)
Pink Zombie - 16 damage
Zakzak - 29/36 hp
Black Zombie - 38 damage

Zakzak, go!

Zakzak sees Booker getting mobbed, and faring poorly. With a ”YAAAAAAA!”, he runs up on the one that has him grabbed, and starts chomping away.

Stride, Strike, Strike
Attack 1: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (9) + 9 = 18
Damage 1: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6
Attack 2: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16
Damage 2: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

With a startling burst of savagery, Zakzak leaps onto Pink's back and tears her throat out, the gore running down his toothy jaws. The corpse is freshly dead and let's be honest... he's tasted worse.

Doc wonders briefly if chewing on the undead is entirely wise...

Black Fist v. Booker: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (19) + 9 = 281d8 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5 Plus Zombie Rot plus Grab

Then, just as Pink falls to the floor with Zakzak standing triumphantly over her, the bloated zombie smashes into Booker from the other direction with powerful arms and grabs him again.

STATUS
Zindarel -
Purple Zombie -
Orange Zombie -
Doc - 31/32 hp
Booker - 6/38 hp (Grabbed)
Zakzak - 29/36 hp
Black Zombie - 38 damage

Zindarel, go!

Zindarel fires off two rounds at the zombie grabbing Booker!

Mithral Tree: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (9) + 12 = 211d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21
Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 41d6 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

Strike, Reload, Strike

Both of Zindarel's shots, gracefully delivered in perfect succession, strike the bloated zombie, doing terrible damage to it. Moments later, the stylish lady zombie (Orange) intones a terrible spell using a defiled symbol of Pharasma. A dark cloud settles over the bloated zombie, seeming to stitch together many of its hurts. Meanwhile, the stylish gentleman (Purple) strides purposefully up to Zakzak and attacks with his shining ritual dagger, but the wily goblin scrambles under tables and kicks chairs in the way and the evil gent can't land a solid blow against him.

Orange 1&2. Cast Harm on Black.
Orange 3. Stride.

Harm v. Black: 1d8 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14

Purple 1. Stride
Purple 2. Strike
Purple 3. Strike

Ritual Dagger v. Zakzak (flatfooted): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (3) + 10 = 131d6 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7
Ritual Dagger v. Zakzak (flatfooted): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 121d6 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

STATUS
Zindarel -
Purple Zombie -
Orange Zombie -
Doc - 31/32 hp
Booker - 6/38 hp (Grabbed)
Zakzak - 29/36 hp
Black Zombie - 35 damage

Doc, Booker, Zakzak, go!

Doc gets to work patching up Booker.

battle medicine, DC 20: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (3) + 9 = 12
hero point, needs this to work
battle medicine. DC 20: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (11) + 9 = 20

healing: 2d8 + 15 ⇒ (8, 4) + 15 = 27

She then fires at Black with her dueling pistol.

dueling pistol: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (7) + 12 = 19

if hit: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5
if critical: 1d10 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6 doubled
fatal die: 1d10 ⇒ 1

She then reloads.

Battle Medicine, Strike, Reload.

Zakzak grimaces at the lady zombie, rotting gore dripping from his mouth. ”Uh-uh-UH-uh!”, he says in a sing-song voice, before he attacks her next.

Step, Strike, Strike (Orange)
Attack 1: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (7) + 9 = 16
Damage 1: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6
Attack 2: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24
Damage 2: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4
Crit!

Booker feels pretty bad, then much better.

From there he tries to break free from the zombie grabbing him.

athletics: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (19) + 8 = 27

Assuming a success

Booker then backs off and fires at black.

blam: 1d20 + 11 - 5 ⇒ (14) + 11 - 5 = 20
piercing: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4
1 splash in a 10ft radius, sorry folks.

Booker, Doc kills Black before you fire, so I'm adjusting your target to Orange.

Doc heals Booker and fires a shot directly into the bloated zombie's head, killing it instantly. Booker lunges away from the grasping undead matron and shoots her, spattering Zakzak with shot. The goblin leaps on the fancy woman's leg. She shakes him off once, but he holds on and sinks his fangs into her thigh.

STATUS
Zindarel -
Purple Zombie -
Orange Zombie - 12 damage
Doc - 31/32 hp
Booker - 33/38 hp (Grabbed)
Zakzak - 28/36 hp

Zindarel, go!

Zindarel reloads, fires at the zombie Booker shot, then ducks behind the table to reload yet again.

Mithral Tree vs Orange: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (16) + 12 = 28
Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3
If Crit, Fatal: 1d10 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 41d10 ⇒ 5

Reload, Strike, Covered Reload

ZIndarel's mithral tree hums and a round bursts through the fancy woman's torso (ORANGE). She staggers back, then keeps moving.

1. Purple Cast Harm on Orange.
2. Purple Stride.
3. Purple Strike v. Zakzak.

1. Orange Cast Harm on Orange.
2. Strike v. Zakzak.
3. Grab.

Harm v. Orange: 1d8 ⇒ 7
Harm v. Orange: 1d8 ⇒ 4

Purple Strike v. Zakzak,flatfooted: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (6) + 10 = 161d6 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9
Orange Strike v. Zakzak,flatfooted: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (11) + 10 = 211d6 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10

STATUS
Zindarel -
Purple Zombie -
Orange Zombie - 12 damage
Doc - 31/32 hp
Booker - 33/38 hp
Zakzak - 18/36 hp (Grabbed)

Everyone, go!

You better drop'em" Doc shouts as she levels her dueling pistol at orange.

dueling pistol: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (17) + 12 = 29
if hit: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3
if critical: 1d10 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5 doubled
fatal die: 1d10 ⇒ 3

She reloads and fires again.

dueling pistol: 1d20 + 12 - 5 ⇒ (15) + 12 - 5 = 22
if hit: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2
if critical: 1d10 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8 doubled
fatal die: 1d10 ⇒ 2

strike, reload, strike

Booker reloads and fires at orange before moving up.

blamerino: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (17) + 11 = 28
piercing: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10
1 splash in 10ft radius.

Is Orange still up?

Doc and Booker blow Orange to pieces. As it dies it releases a wave of necromantic energy that blasts outward, tearing at your flesh and reopening old wounds.

Necromantic Wave: 1d8 ⇒ 5
Booker, Doc and Zakzak, DC 20 Fortitude save for half.

STATUS
Zindarel -
Purple Zombie -
Doc - 31/32 hp
Booker - 32/38 hp
Zakzak - 17/36 hp

Then Zakzak and Zindarel, go!

fort: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8 Is it a basic save. If so, I take 10 damage instead.

Doc was not expecting that to happen, she takes the full force of energy.

Zindarel fires two shots at the final enemy!

Mithral Tree: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (3) + 12 = 151d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23
Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 51d6 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Strike, Reload, Strike

Fort save: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (12) + 9 = 21

Free of the lady zombie’s grasp, Zakzak ducks behind Booker, and sticks a handful of serving pieces into the mouth of his gun.

”Catch!”, he yells, before firing at their final foe.

Step, Reload, Strike Purple
Attack: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (12) + 12 = 24
Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 3S

fort: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18

The last zombie moans, gesturing with its rotted hands and all around you spirits of the dead flit half-seen through the air, screaming and moaning. Then it points at Booker and the spirits dive at the gunslinger! A moment later, the creature tries to stab him with a dagger!

Harm v. Booker (DC 18 Fort save): 1d8 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11
Ritual Knife v. Booker: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (5) + 10 = 151d6 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9

STATUS
Zindarel -
Purple Zombie - 5 damage
Doc - 27/32 hp
Booker - 27/38 hp
Zakzak - 15/36 hp

Booker, give me a DC 18 Fort save.

Then, everyone go!

more fort, more save: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13

Will get turn up later.

Zakzak screeches ”DIE DIE DIE!”, as his hands move in a frenzy. He shoves a handful of tableware into his gun, before firing it at the zombie. Then he hastily crams some more cutlery into it, and unloads that as well.

Reload, Strike, Risky Reload
Attack 1: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (9) + 12 = 21
Damage 1: 1d6 ⇒ 6B
Attack 2: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18
Damage 2: 1d6 ⇒ 2S

Booker winces and backs up again, reloading before firing again.

pew: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (18) + 11 = 29
piercing: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

10ft range 1 splash, sorry goblin buddy.

Zindarel manages another shot to the zombie before ducking back behind the table.

Mithral Tree: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (12) + 12 = 24
Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Reload, Strike, Covered Reload

Zakzak gnaws and snaps, scraping the zombie more than getting a solid bite, and Zindarel wings it with her mithral tree. But Booker puts a solid shot straight through the zombie's torso, blasting it with buckshot.

STATUS
Zindarel -
Purple Zombie - 24 damage
Doc - 27/32 hp
Booker - 18/38 hp
Zakzak - 14/36 hp

Doc, go!

Doc reloads and fires at the remaining zombie.

dueling pistol: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (8) + 12 = 20
if hit: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

if critical: 1d10 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5 doubled
fatal die: 1d10 ⇒ 8

She then reloads.

Reload, strike, reload

Doc wings the undead creature. Sensing that Zakzak is close to death, it closes in on him, wielding the spirits of the dead.

Harm v. Zakzak(DC 18 Fort save): 1d8 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14

STATUS
Zindarel -
Purple Zombie - 27 damage
Doc - 27/32 hp
Booker - 18/38 hp
Zakzak - 14/36 hp

Zakzak, give me a Fort save, please!

Then, everyone go!

unless their is something special going on with, Harm doesn't get the extra 8 points of damage. Only get that when you heal undead.

Doc goes to stand behind Zakzak.

"Stand still"

battle medicine DC 20: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (7) + 9 = 16
healing: 2d8 + 15 ⇒ (7, 2) + 15 = 24

Nope

"Damn it" Doc then pulls out one of her healing potions.

Stride, Battle Medicine, interact to draw potion

Damn, you're right. I missed that. Harm really does suck for bad guys.

Fort save: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (17) + 9 = 26

Zakzak gives the approaching zombie a twisted grin. He snaps at its leg, before boring into its abdomen.

Feint, Strike, Strike
Deception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (17) + 7 = 24

Attack 1: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (16) + 9 = 25
Damage 1: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

Attack 2: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15
Damage 2: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Zindarel fires twice more!

Mithral Tree: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (2) + 12 = 141d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18
Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 51d6 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

Strike, Reload, Strike

Needing to drop the undead as fast as possible Booker reloads and pulls the trigger on his boomstick.

boom: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (19) + 11 = 30
piercing: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5
1 splash as usual.

Booker then reloads.

With a trio of gunshots, the dapper zombie falls dead. A small burst of necromantic energy escapes it, re-opening old wounds. But the Theater is in your control at last.

In the distance, the occasional gunshot and barking command can be heard shattering the still night air. Patrons from the Powder Horn begin making their way out onto the street to survey the damage. Rickard and Maggie Thuss emerge from the gunnery, Rickard holding a heavy pistol in one hand and the leash of an old brindle dog in the other, Maggie carrying a mop, bucket, and a determined air as she surveys the gore-stained neighborhood.

As the bartender Martelle emerges from the Powder Horn and waves to the heroes, a sharp whistle pierces the night. A squad of shieldmarshals led by a woman with a closely shaved head and wearing a leather duster fall into formation along the road between the Scothwel residence and the theater house.

“Pardon me,” the woman calls out in a voice that doesn’t seem particularly concerned with whether she’s pardoned or not. “I am Sergeant Kashenvale with the shieldmarshals of Alkenstar! Can anyone tell me what happened here?”

As the eyes of the night’s survivors turn towards you, Sergeant Kashenvale follows their gaze. With a wry smile, she raises a hand in greeting.

“Seems like perhaps you’re the ones who did our job while we were otherwise occupied? Come along then, you’ll need to file a report if I’m to get you a commendation and some payment for your efforts.” As she finishes the statement, Sergeant Kashenvale begins directing her soldiers about the square, dispatching some to take statements from witnesses and others to assist in cleaning up and locating the missing.

The commendation includes free room and board at any of the city’s shieldmarshal barracks, exemption from punishment for any past (but not future) misdemeanors committed within the city limits, and a one-time bounty of 100 gold pieces for each of the heroes. With such a princely sum in hand, the heroes are free to pursue whatever interests they want within Alkenstar, or even charter an expedition into the Mana Wastes or beyond!

THE END

Zindarel smiles as she basks in the sergeant’s accolades. She turns to her friends. ”One more job well done. We’re the heroes of the night. Now, let’s celebrate!”

"Booker, I think it is time to move on once more" Doc says chuckling to herself. "Ummm, after the report I guess."

She then checks her purse, "Reward for a job well done?"

Booker nods, and counts the coins carefully to make sure nothing is missing.

"Booker, I think it is time to move on once more" Doc says chuckling to herself. "Ummm, after the report I guess."

She then checks her purse, "Reward for a job well done?"

”Not so fast, Doc!”, says Zakzak. ”We got a game to finish, remember?”