DM Carbide's CORE Overflow Archives for NostalgiaCon 2022* (Inactive)

Game Master John Woodford

On his second try, Xanko shoves the door open.

The first thing he sees is a curtain of water falling from the ceiling practically at the doorway. Beyond, mounted animal heads glower from virtually every inch of every wall. Stuffed specimens also lurk beneath the dark water, their antlers, horns, and claws breaking the surface here and there. In the eastern corner, a large gilded cage sits mostly submerged, its waters thick with embalmed birds bobbing at the surface.

There are three creatures in the room: two diminutive, white beings each holding oversized pairs of pliers flit about, and perched above the water on a stuffed gorgon's head is a green-skinned humanoid with webbed hands and feet. Its hair is the color of seaweed, and (incongruously) it smiles wide, revealing a mouth full of mismatched teeth. She snaps an imperious command in Sylvan. In response, the other creatures stoop to the attack.

Round 1:

Initiative order
Markus
Green creature
Xanko
Seebonickk
Malakar
Lybram
White creatures
Zim

Markus is up! Note that this room is also the equivalent of a deep bog, so the halfling and gnomes will have to swim unless someone taller tows them. For the humans and dwarf, each square costs four squares of movement.

Green enemy: AC ? T ? FF ? HP taken: 0
White enemies: AC ? T ? FF ? HP taken - Red: 0 Blue: 0

Seebonickk translates and looks at the deep water.

"I'll have to dry out for a week!"

"What's so special about my teeth?"

Zim mutters, "Boy, did I learn the wrong spells for today..." and looks for a place she can stand and still see in the room.

What? Teeth? Okay fine, have it your way creepy tiny lady thing. the dwarf slogs ahead eyeballing the green thing and flinging a shuriken at it as he advances.

Shuriken: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11
damage: 1d2 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

Moved two squares, I assume since the hallway isn't as deep that's enough movement, to get where I was going, otherwise, he'll stand still and throw his shuriken.

knowledge nature green: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18
knowledge nature white: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23

"What in the world..." Lybram on his turn will relay the information in the spoilers.

Has the green creature gone yet?

Not yet...long days at work yesterday and today.

Round 1 (ongoing):

Initiative order
Markus-acted
Green creature-acted
Xanko
Seebonickk
Malakar
Lybram
White creatures
Zim

Markus' shuriken misses in the falling water. The green creature unlimbers a small crossbow and shoots at the monk, with similar lack of accuracy.

Lybram, you can get more information about the creatures. Do you want offenses, defenses, or special abilities?

Everyone but Markus and Zim can act!

Green enemy: AC 18 T 16 FF 13 HP taken: 0
White enemies: AC ? T ? FF ? HP taken - Red: 0 Blue: 0

Lybram would like special attacks of white and defenses of green please.

Lybram relays to the group anything he knows about these creatures.

Seebonickk drops his backpack, grabs his crossbow and tries to swim

STR: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 1 = 10

Lybram steps into the doorway. He mumbles a prayer, "Bless us, we need your help, Erastil."

Everyone now has bless cast upon them, +1 to attacks, and saves verses fear.

This is not an ideal map. Movement is tough with the grid, I moved around a hard corner diagonally. If you want, I can just double move instead, if you would rather. I want to get everyone in the bless or hold it.

It's definitely a rough layout, and it seems kind of chintzy to orient this particular room on the diagonal. Moving around the corner like that is, unfortunately, a double move.

Lybram, the nixie has some modest degree of spell resistance, and only cold iron weapons will do full damage. The tooth fairies can use their pliers to perform dirty tricks in combat, including stealing teeth (an attack that does bleed damage and CHA damage) Their bite can paralyze, and when killed they explode into sickening dust.

It's a cool map, but diagonals are The Worst.

Xanko looks at the foe in the back and tilts his head after checking out her comeliness then gathers his senses and moves to the side struggling with the water and throws his dagger at the red outlined minion.

Dagger Thrown+Bless: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18...DMG: 1d4 ⇒ 4

Xanko, I think Lybram held the bless until next round because of how much he had to move this round. However, it doesn't matter. AFAIK, you also add your STR bonus to damage with thrown weapons, as well.

The fighter's hurled dagger is on target. It doesn't seem to have done as much damage as expected, though.

Malakar?

Roger GM.... but it was still a nice looking throw... did it impress her?

It's not clear whether she's impressed, but she gives you a look and licks her lips.

Xanko believes most women in Galorian look at him that way anyway.

Malakar rushes in to the hallway. Assuming it's okay - sounds like only the room itself is deep that Malakar has to swim, not the hallway.

The halfling lobs a glob of acid at the blue one. "Stop it now!"

Acid Splash: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9
damage: 1d3 ⇒ 3

No, the hallway is that deep, too. Malakar can get a shot at one of the tooth fairies through the doorway, though.

Round 1 (ongoing):

Initiative order
Markus-acted
Nixie-acted
Xanko-acted
Seebonickk-acted
Malakar-acted
Lybram-acted
Tooth fairies
Zim

Seebonickk swims in, Lybram wades in, and Malakar hurls a glob of acid at one of the tooth fairies but misses.

The tooth fairies swoop down and bite at Markus and Xanko. Xanko is able to dodge, but the monk takes a solid bite for 2 points nonlethal damage, plus DC 11 Fortitude save or be paralyzed for 2 rounds.

Zim can act!

Nixie: AC 18 T 16 FF 13 HP taken: 0
Tooth fairies: AC 16 T 16 FF 14 HP taken - Red: 4 Blue: 0

Did anything move?

Zim attempts to swim to get to a place with more solid footing. (ahahahahahahaha)

Swim, acp: 1d20 - 2 - 3 ⇒ (12) - 2 - 3 = 7

And again

Swim, acp: 1d20 - 2 - 3 ⇒ (17) - 2 - 3 = 12

She makes it to a bookshelf and clings there so she will have a chance of doing something eventually.

The walls are festooned with taxidermied and mounted animal heads, so there are plenty of good handholds once Zim gets into the room.

Thanks for the reminder; I updated the tooth fairies' locations.

Fortitude DC 11: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22+2 vs poison, spells, and spell-like abilities

Ow, my face, you little...

HP 25/27 2 NL

If Zim can stay out in the hallway and shoot at the Nixie at least, that would be helpful. She has a minimal chance of ever making it into the room. :D

Note to self: take off armor when swimming. Especially with a 7 Strength!

Markus' dwarven physiognomy renders him resistant to such minor toxins.

The nixie is fairly high on the wall, and has cover from Zim's current position. However, one of the humans could tow Zim in with little trouble.

Round 2:

Initiative order
Markus
Nixie
Xanko
Seebonickk
Malakar
Lybram
Tooth fairies
Zim

Markus can act!

Nixie: AC 18 T 16 FF 13 HP taken: 0
Tooth fairies: AC 16 T 16 FF 14 HP taken - Red: 4 Blue: 0

Markus slaps at the blue creature twice who hurt him, one with each hand, Aha! now I'll swat you back!

Fob, Bless: 1d20 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 4 + 1 = 21
damage 1: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5
FOB 2, Bless: 1d20 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 4 + 1 = 10
Damage 2: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

Round 2 (ongoing):

Initiative order
Markus-acted
Nixie-acted
Xanko
Seebonickk
Malakar
Lybram
Tooth fairies
Zim

Markus punches the tooth fairy facing him once, but can't land a followup against the annoyingly small and maneuverable fey. The nixie hisses and shoots him again, this time with more accuracy. Take 4 HP, Markus.

Everyone but Zim and Markus can act!

Nixie: AC 18 T 16 FF 13 HP taken: 0
Tooth fairies: AC 16 T 16 FF 14 HP taken - Red: 4 Blue: 3

Xanko attacks the red pesky bugger once more...
Rapier: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 19...DMG: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

"I'm trying Marky-Mark!" he yells out hoping to instill confidence in the dwarf fighting alongside him...

Round 2 (ongoing):

Initiative order
Markus-acted
Nixie-acted
Xanko-acted
Seebonickk
Malakar
Lybram
Tooth fairy
Zim

Xanko stabs the pesky fey facing him, and it obligingly explodes into a cloud of foul-smelling, glittery white dust. Xanko, DC 10 Fort save or sickened for the next round.

Seebonickk, Malakar, and Lybram to go!

Nixie: AC 18 T 16 FF 13 HP taken: 0
Tooth fairies: AC 16 T 16 FF 14 HP taken - Red: 4 Blue: 3

FORT: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19

"What the heck was that!? Xanko yells out...

Lybram stows his mace and casts a spell, "Bless this group, mighty Erastil." Casts bless on the party. +1 to attacks and fear saves.

"Keep moving forward, We must get into the room to maximize our numbers."

Seebonickk tries to Swim up. He doesn't make it and tries again. "Anyone got a ladder!"

Swim: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

Swim: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 1 = 20

He turns to Lybram.

"I'm trying to get up there!"

move and move? So I'm stuck I think.

bah.... little people....

Malakar does not want to risk swimming... he'll more likely drown and need rescuing. Instead, he'll fling more acid at the closest creature!

Acid Splash vs Blue: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5
damage: 1d3 ⇒ 1

Round 2 (ongoing):

Initiative order
Markus-acted
Nixie-acted
Xanko-acted
Seebonickk-acted
Malakar-acted
Lybram-acted
Tooth fairy-acted
Zim

Lybram blesses the party, but even with divine aid Malakar's cantrip fails to hit its target. Seebonickk tries to swim up.

The remaining tooth fairy tries to extract some of Markus' dentition with its large pliers, but the monk easily blocks the attempt.

Zim to go!

Sorry, website fun!

Zim takes a deep breath and calls upon the glory of Abadar. "May The Gold-Fisted bless you, Markus Stonewarden."

+2 insight bonus on attack rolls, AC, combat maneuver defense, and skill checks for 1 round

Round 3:

With that, Markus can act!

Markus, fueled with the power of Abadar, headbutts the tooth fairy, and then snaps an elbow around to catch the small critter as it reels back from his assault. Many thanks Zim! Blessings back to the Gold-Fisted.

Attck FoB, Bless, Glory?: 1d20 + 4 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 4 + 1 + 2 = 25
Headbutt damage: 1d6 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 3 + 2 = 8
Attack: 1d20 + 4 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 4 + 1 + 2 = 24
Damage: 1d6 + 4 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 4 + 1 + 2 = 10

RAAAR!!!

Zim cheers as Markus uses the blessing to good effect.

Markus' first blow finishes off the last tooth fairy, which also explodes into a burst of glittering white dust. The dwarf is unaffected by its sickly-sweet stench, though.

I'll take the second attack roll as the Fort save.

Will post the nixie's action later; I'm traveling today.

Round 3 (ongoing):

Initiative order
Markus-acted
Nixie-acted
Xanko
Seebonickk
Malakar
Lybram
Tooth fairies
Zim

Markus drops the last tooth fairy with a swift punch. The nixie smiles beguilingly at Xanko. Xanko, DC 17 Will save or charmed; since you're no longer threatened by tooth fairies, I don't think you get the +5 bonus.

Xanko, Seebonickk, Malakar, and Lybram can act!

Nixie: AC 18 T 16 FF 13 HP taken: 0
Tooth fairies: AC 16 T 16 FF 14 HP taken - Red: 4 Blue: 3

"We need some help that can swim."
Lybram begins casting a spell. "Erastil, give us a divine dolphin to help us here."
Casts summon monster I and begins summoning a celestial dolphin.

Lybram, note that the nixie is perched on a stuffed gorgon's head a good ten feet over the surface of the water. A dolphin won't be able to reach her. The other mounted animal heads on the walls look like they can be climbed fairly easily, though.

i must have missed that fact. Thought she was swimming. Can lybram chance summoning to celestial Eagle then? In truth, he won't finish casting until the begining of his next turn as summoning is a round casting time.

"Or an eagle, mightly Deadeye, as its hunting skills would be better."

Switching to a celestial eagle is fine.

Xanko sees no point in getting close to the ten foot up in the air foe so he spends his time sheathing his trusted rapier and drawing his Light Crossbow...

Xanko, you still need to make a Will save.

roger. did not see that initially

WIL: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 2 = 15

can I move and grab on the wall inside?

swim: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 1 = 16

Lybram begins a lengthy conjuration spell. Seebonickk paddles into the room and grabs onto a convenient set of peryton antlers. Xanko stares slackjawed at the nixie, all hostility erased (for the moment) by her spell.

Malakar?