[AP] Iron Gods by GM Rutseg

Game Master Balacertar



Round 1

Rhoreen moves down far enough only to see the two plants, and offer a devastating ball of fire to the two plant creatures.

"Do not presume to lay your leafy tendrils on the King in Waiting," she says, not without a smug smirk.

13d6 ⇒ (3, 5, 3, 3, 6, 6, 2, 4, 6, 6, 4, 2, 5) = 55 fire damage vs. DC22 Reflex for half

Round 1

"I don't suppose you have glow-in-the-dark or glow-in-the-monster arrows, do you Khalia?"

"Those exist? Arrows with a casting of light on them might serve, but I do not have any in my possession."

The android looks down the hole, and takes to the rope to descend as quickly as possible.

Climb v DC 15: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20
Current Base Speed is 40', so accelerated 20', double move, and hopefully Khalia is at the bottom

Zzvkgrogk pulls out Yet Another Wand of CLW halfway between completely healing Yambul and Khalia.

~~~
Zzvkgrogk delays until after Rhoreen, sighs heavily, and opts for the quickest way down.

Jump/Acro: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19
for Damage, I think: 1d6 ⇒ 3 non lethal, first 10
and Damage, I think: 1d6 ⇒ 5 Lethal, next 20 feet
and Damage, I think: 1d6 ⇒ 6 Lethal, last 10 feet

Not sure I'm reading this right. What happens on a 40ft fall if you make your Acro check?

Rūha decisively jumps down, the plants attacking her on the approach.
AoO bites: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (5) + 17 = 221d8 + 9 ⇒ (5) + 9 = 14
AoO bites: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (12) + 17 = 291d8 + 9 ⇒ (4) + 9 = 13
Fort DC 25: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (19) + 19 = 38
The plant takes the hit, but resists the stun.

Rhoreen flies down the hole, and bursts the area with fire!
Blue Ref DC 22: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (2) + 10 = 12
Red Ref DC 22: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (6) + 10 = 16
The two are put well aflame.

With the bow at her back, Khalia quickly descends the autograpnel and looks for a position down the hole.

Zzvkgrogk falls down into the mud like a cat. The soft surface makes the fall a bit less hard that he expects, but he ends prone in the mud, but quickly stands up (move action, AoO already taken by Rūha).

One of the plants attacks Yambul.
Bites: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (3) + 17 = 201d8 + 9 ⇒ (2) + 9 = 11
Bites: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (12) + 17 = 291d8 + 9 ⇒ (5) + 9 = 14
Bites: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (8) + 17 = 251d8 + 9 ⇒ (5) + 9 = 14
Bites: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (17) + 17 = 341d8 + 9 ⇒ (7) + 9 = 16
Grab: 1d20 + 24 ⇒ (9) + 24 = 33
Who again takes one hit but breaks the attempt to grab him!

The other goes for Rūha.
Bites: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (18) + 17 = 351d8 + 9 ⇒ (2) + 9 = 11
Bites: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (12) + 17 = 291d8 + 9 ⇒ (3) + 9 = 12
Bites: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (4) + 17 = 211d8 + 9 ⇒ (7) + 9 = 16
Bites: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (2) + 17 = 191d8 + 9 ⇒ (8) + 9 = 17
Who blocks attack after attack!

Blue: 65 damage, slightly wounded
Red: 55 damage, slightly wounded
Party buffs: life bubble 2 h
Khalia: (NL 45) longstrider 10 h
Yambul: 81 damage, barkskin 30 min, heroism 2 h
Rhoreen: mage armor 22 h, see invisibility 2 h, flight 10 h, heroism 2 h, filter mask
Rūha: 1 damage (NL 16), mage armor 22 h, heroism 2 h, barkskin 130 min
Zzvkgrogk: 5 damage (3 NL), see invisibility 29 min
Round 2: Plants, Khalia, Yambul, Zzvkgrogk, Rhoreen, Rūha

Blocking vines one after another, Ruha murmurs "Not as fast as a robot, I'd say." before striking precisely at the flytrap's center of mass. Even if they're robust against being stunned, a softer touch might convince them to pause (Touch of Serenity; DC23 Will or unable to attack or cast spells for 1 round)

Unarmed Strike: 1d20 + 16 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 16 + 2 = 23 Damage (B, cold iron, silver, lawful): 0 = 0

Wish I could flank but they're too jammed in there.

Yambul, happily in position, studies the other one so he has a matching set. He had delayed until after Rüha last round, so he sees what she’s trying and pounds on red instead.

Chainsaw: 1d20 + 23 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 23 + 5 = 38 (hero, studied)
damage S: 3d6 + 24 + 3 ⇒ (4, 4, 2) + 24 + 3 = 37 (studied)

Chainsaw: 1d20 + 14 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 14 + 5 = 33 (hero, studied)
damage S: 3d6 + 24 + 3 ⇒ (3, 4, 2) + 24 + 3 = 36 (studied)

Chainsaw: 1d20 + 9 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 9 + 5 = 26 (hero, studied)
damage S: 3d6 + 24 + 3 ⇒ (4, 4, 4) + 24 + 3 = 39 (studied)



Round 2

Rhoreen offers a maximized scorching ray at the most more healthy plant.

1d20 + 8 + 2 - 4 ⇒ (8) + 8 + 2 - 4 = 14 touch to hit;
maximized: 24 = 24 fire damage;

1d20 + 8 + 2 - 4 ⇒ (20) + 8 + 2 - 4 = 26 touch to hit;
maximized: 24 = 24 fire damage;

1d20 + 8 + 2 - 4 ⇒ (3) + 8 + 2 - 4 = 9 touch to hit;
maximized: 24 = 24 fire damage;

Pot Crit: 1d20 + 8 + 2 - 4 ⇒ (12) + 8 + 2 - 4 = 18 touch to hit;
maximized: 24 = 24 fire damage;

Rūha finds the plant a bit more hard than expected, as her fist does not connect.

Yambul studied eye finds the weak points on its defense, as he swings, the saw cutting vine after vine, reaching deep into the carnivorous thing.

Rhoreen puts the blue plant into fire, and though one of her rays goes wide, another one compensates burning well on the base of the roots!

Blue: 137 damage, badly wounded
Red: 167 damage, barely standing
Party buffs: life bubble 2 h
Khalia: (NL 45) longstrider 10 h
Yambul: 81 damage, barkskin 30 min, heroism 2 h
Rhoreen: mage armor 22 h, see invisibility 2 h, flight 10 h, heroism 2 h, filter mask
Rūha: 1 damage (NL 16), mage armor 22 h, heroism 2 h, barkskin 130 min
Zzvkgrogk: 5 damage (3 NL), see invisibility 29 min
Round 2: Plants, Khalia, Yambul, Zzvkgrogk, Rhoreen, Rūha

I don't think they will survive to the next round, but let's see what Zzvkgrogk and Khalia do about it!

Zzvkgrogk shakes the worst of the mud off of his scrawny body as he practically bounces to his feet. He holds his laser pistol aloft aiming for whichever carnivorous plant Khalia hits.

Laser+: 1d20 + 20 - 3 + 2 - 2 - 4 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 20 - 3 + 2 - 2 - 4 + 1 = 33 Touch, -DeadlyAim, Hero, -Semiauto, Cover, Weapon Focus
for Damage: 1d6 + 9 ⇒ (4) + 9 = 13 Fire Damage, Deadly Aim Target of Opportunity

He then and also targets the lesser wounded blasphemous plant.

Laser+: 1d20 + 20 - 3 + 2 - 2 - 4 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 20 - 3 + 2 - 2 - 4 + 1 = 22 Touch, -DeadlyAim, Hero, -Semiauto, Cover, Weapon Focus
for Damage: 1d6 + 9 ⇒ (5) + 9 = 14 Fire Damage, Deadly Aim

Laser+: 1d20 + 20 - 3 + 2 - 2 - 4 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 20 - 3 + 2 - 2 - 4 + 1 = 33 Touch, -DeadlyAim, Hero, -Semiauto, Cover, Weapon Focus
for Damage: 1d6 + 9 ⇒ (1) + 9 = 10 Fire Damage, Deadly Aim

Laser+: 1d20 + 15 - 3 + 2 - 2 - 4 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 15 - 3 + 2 - 2 - 4 + 1 = 13 [ooc]Touch, -DeadlyAim, Hero, -Semiauto, Cover, Weapon Focus
for Damage: 1d6 + 9 ⇒ (2) + 9 = 11 Fire Damage, Deadly Aim

Round 2

Khalia stablizes her frame, pulling the bow from her back, and loading a single arrow. She fires at the more wounded plant. Red

Einior...: 1d20 + 21 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (9) + 21 + 1 - 4 = 27 for 1d8 + 4 + 1 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 4 + 1 + 8 = 18 piercing, magical damage

Zzvkgrogk and Khalia work in tandem to finish off the badly wounded plants. They collapse, their vines shaking in the air in a last futile attempt to try grasp anyone of worth!

Combat is over!

Blue: 182 damage, dead
Red: 177 damage, dead
Party buffs: life bubble 2 h
Khalia: (NL 45) longstrider 10 h
Yambul: 81 damage, barkskin 30 min, heroism 2 h
Rhoreen: mage armor 22 h, see invisibility 2 h, flight 10 h, heroism 2 h, filter mask
Rūha: 1 damage (NL 16), mage armor 22 h, heroism 2 h, barkskin 130 min
Zzvkgrogk: 5 damage (3 NL), see invisibility 29 min

On the aftermath you can examine the green patch to the south. It looks to be just algae-thick water 1 foot deep.

Yambul heals up, even more anxious to sell off the goods they’ve accumulated so he can improve his armor.

He starts by quaffing a bunch of potions they picked up over time to help clear out his inventory.
CLW: 11d8 + 11 ⇒ (8, 4, 2, 1, 6, 6, 7, 2, 2, 4, 8) + 11 = 61

Then he gets help from the wand.
CLW: 4d8 + 5 ⇒ (5, 8, 1, 1) + 5 = 20

Then he keeps watch while the others muck about in the muck.

"Good work, everyone!" Zzvkgrogk chortles enthusiastically. He splats off more mud as he looks around the room.

KnowDungeonDC15: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (11) + 10 = 21

"Oh, so that's what Uncle Whiskafiss was talking about! See that hole past that area there?” he points west. ”Whiskafiss said on expedition-625 he lost some of his gang who slipped, fell and slid into a hole he described looking just like that one. He said it went down another 30 feet or so. He didn’t do any more expeditions after that.” He wrings mud off of his hands. "And that," he says pointing to the verdant stuff, "appears to be algae. Be careful. It might be carnivorous."

Rhoreen will cast Detect Magic around the dead plants, in case some other victims left some loot around that was not digested.

* * *

1d20 + 16 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 16 + 2 = 22 Know (Dungeoneering)

"My friend <*sound*>" Rhoreen makes a sound like a goblin body falling into a pit of carnivorous plankton. "...is correct. Now let me get a good look at that algae."

Rhoreen will examine the algae.

1d20 + 23 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 23 + 2 = 33 Know (Nature)

"So our only way down is another hole? That lift in the other room is certainly feeling more sensible around this time." Ruha heads back and releases her autograpnel to have it ready for another climb. "Do we continue with another descent down that westerly hole?"

"Oh! Another hole!" Yambul gets excited, "We totally need to go down this hole. Totally. C'mon - they won't expect us to come from below. We must see where this leads! We can take the lift if this doesn't work out... Please?!" he pleads with Rüha.

If they do descend, he'll wait no longer with his support spells, and passes a scroll of fly to Rhoreen asking that she cast it upon him. When everyone is ready, he'll fly down the hole at speed to make room for the party to climb down behind him.

Ruha chuckles behind her mask "Well, who can say no to that enthusiasm." She fires her autograpnel to create another strong anchor in the wall of the cave and spools out the cable to let people climb it down.

"Woo hoo!" Yambul flies down the hole when the climbers begin.

"O.K.." He turns to Rhoreen. "Calliope, before some one jumps or accidentally slides into the hole maybe you should throw down a fireball just so we can see what there is to see. Or, in the very least, make sure the place isn't going to turn into an inferno the second one of us throws down some fire."

"I do not have spare fireballs like Ruha has arms, <*sound*>" Rhoreen makes a sound like a dog eating a car bumper. "I'll toss a coin for his lordship."

Rhoreen casts Light on a coin and tosses it down, already ready to fly down after His Imperial Sweet Potato.

Rhoreen finds no magical aura on the cave, though she comes up with a few brewing receipts for the algae.

Rūha sets up the autograpnel while Yambul quests for flight.

Rhoreen's coin descends spinning down the hole. After 30 feet, it clings against the floor there.

The light is useful, down bellow you see a sort of glowing purple residue that pulses softly and irregularly, covering most of the cavern bellow.

Party buffs: life bubble 2 h
Khalia: (NL 45) longstrider 10 h
Yambul: barkskin 30 min, heroism 2 h
Rhoreen: mage armor 22 h, see invisibility 2 h, flight 10 h, heroism 2 h, filter mask
Rūha: 1 damage (NL 16), mage armor 22 h, heroism 2 h, barkskin 130 min
Zzvkgrogk: 5 damage (3 NL), see invisibility 29 min

"Is that a pulsing purple people eater?" Yambul inquires of the smartfolk. "Or just a harmless plant?"

He considers taking out his rocket launcher but figures that's probably overkill...

Zzvkgrogk heals himself. CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9

He rolls his eyes at Rhoreen. ”Here, Yamkbul. It’s a dragon pistol loaded with a flare cartridge. Since you are flying, why don't you try shooting it for the flare, but instead of shooting up, shoot down into the hole. Maybe we’ll see more.”

"It's a good plan. We'll also see if it reacts to fire and light." Any kind of skill that would help with identifying the residue?

"It's a good plan. We'll also see if it reacts to fire and light."

Rhoreen smiles at the plan.

"It's good for a ruler to have a 'flare' for the dramatic."

Yambul flies part way down into the hole, but keeps his distance in case something goes horribly wrong. From the air then, he carefully points, and slowly squeezes the trigger.
Flare Gun: 1d20 + 18 - 2 ⇒ (2) + 18 - 2 = 18 (non proficiency penalty, heroism)

Though not a fumble, I believe that a ‘2’ in my hands is still a misfire with an alchemical cartridge.

Yambul looks down at the gun, ”It’s not working Zzvkgrogk! I can’t get it to work!” He flies back up to the ratfolk and hands him back his jammed gun.

"Ugh, give it to me," Rhoreen says, trying a rapid fix of the item.

1d20 + 24 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 24 + 2 = 46 Know (Engineering)

"How hard is it to remember that is a timed flange release designed to chadmox the payload on the way to the moggblast? Just be sure to decouple the 2nd valve and prime it *before* engaging the tachyon blast through the jeffries tube and you should be fine," Rhoreen explains smugly.

She hands the weapon back.

"Here you go."

When the flare bursts on the midst of the particles, the whole cave lights up. It does not seem to interact with the residue, but the flare makes something big to react, you see shadows cast by the light, then an amorphous blob of violet energy approaches to the light and you see ripples like a globe of floating liquid.

The globe is gargantuan!

1d20 + 16 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 16 + 2 = 34 Know (Dungeoneering)

Rhoreen wonders how best to defeat that thing. DRs? Resistances?

She will explain how she thinks the party can best defeat it.

Dungeoneering: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12
"Ah, that looks unpleasant. If we can neutralize it from all the way up here, that might be safest. If it just wandered toward the light, it may not be particularly intelligent." Ruha speculates.

”"How hard is it to remember that is a timed flange release designed to chadmox the payload on the way to the moggblast? Just be sure to decouple the 2nd valve and prime it *before* engaging the tachyon blast through the jeffries tube and you should be fine,"

”Yah. In other words, release the safety.”

”Ah, that looks unpleasant.”

Zzvkgrogk listens to the description of what is in the lower level from a safe distance.

”It sounds… almost as big as this complex… Like an overgrown radioactive Gelatinous Cube… Maybe we can come back for this one after a brief respite?”

”It sounds… almost as big as this complex… Like an overgrown radioactive Gelatinous Cube… Maybe we can come back for this one after a brief respite?”

Rhoreen looks over to Yambul, hoping for a good decision. After all, it's not *her* pretty, smug face that will be experiencing severe plasma burn should the party opt to fight here and now.

Yambul peers down the hole, and makes a carefully considered maneuver (link), backing away from the hole. If the creature can’t fit through the hole, he’s happy to leave it alone. If it does, time for combat!

”Plasma. Sounds like fire. Anyone have fire protection available?”

The thing is gargantuan in size, occupying a large portion of the cave bellow. Yambul does not see how it can fit through the hole, provided it can fly to the ceiling as Rhoreen explains. She also describes the thing also is immune to all types of energy except for cold, for which it has great resistance anyway 30, and also good resistance to physical damage immune to bludgeoning and piercing damage, plus DR 15/-.

In fact, she thinks the best way to deal with it would be particular magic effects, like death effects or things that permanently deal with it, like sending it to another plane. Harm magic based in negative energy might be also a good path. laughable Will saves but ooze traits -> immune to mind-affecting, paralysis, stun, sleep, criticals, flanking, etc...

The android stands mostly towards the rear, wondering what compels Yambul to take such risks against an obviously avoidable danger. When he backs away from the hole, she's reassured that he's come to his senses.

"We might learn something in retrospect, once we gain the next level with the appropriate lift mechanism. The plants were predictive, the gun malfunction feels like another indication of imminent failure."

Khalia looks back towards the way they came, and the ascent before the next descent.

”Plasma. Sounds like fire. Anyone have fire protection available?”

Rhoreen does not at the moment. She is ready to follow Khalia back and out another way, but would return, properly outfitted, to fight the creature.

"'Plasma' sounds like fire and electricity. I can prepare extracts for resisting both for all of us tomorrow -- we already used the one I had for today."

"Shall we head for the elevator?"

Yambul heads back to the elevator. "OK, now we can take this route. Much safer..."

Still flying, he hovers over the deck and descends with the group - ready to shoot out at danger should there be a welcoming party waiting for them.

Ruha's relieved that Yambul's enthusiasm for descending down holes doesn't extend to this particular deathtrap. "Back to the elevator it is. Lets see if it'll respond favorably to our second code from the journal." She assists Zzvkgrogk in entering it.

The code and the card you got from Ozmyn work indeed like a charm. The lift starts descending and brings you to the last floor of the basement.

H2. Incinerator Room
A metal platform sits in the southern portion of this otherwise empty room. The wall to the west contains a single line of one-foot-square panels, beyond which the roaring of fires can be heard.

New second subbasement map is now available!

Yambul is expecting a battle as soon as they hit the floor, and so he’s a little shocked when there isn’t one. It takes him a moment to recover, but when he does he heads down the tunnel to the south. Is that a window to the west? If so, he’ll glance through it from the corner. If not, he’ll line up at the western door and wait for the observant folks to clear it before opening it.

He cannot make that perception check, so he loiters a bit.

Perception: 1d20 + 23 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 23 + 2 = 44 +5 on top if its visual

"It seems we're quite far underground. It makes you wonder why the League went to this extent to hide their operations. Surely they could have built upward more easily." She glances around the room and notes the passage to the northwest "Ah, a secret door. Hold on, maybe this will give us a way to bypass that ooze."

She checks the secret passage to see where it leads.

1d20 + 20 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 20 + 2 = 33 Perception

Rhoreen looks around, and then nods at her giant 4-armed friend, Ruha. She agrees, but does so smugly.

She waits to see what happens.

Perception: 1d20 + 20 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 20 + 2 + 2 = 30

Before Zzvkgrogk can speak Rūha is already headed for the secret door.

”Or, maybe that’s just a way in from the outside,” he suggests. "Might as well find out," he shrugs carrying the arc and laser pistols.

Rūha slides open the secret door to see a passage that turns to the right.

When Yambul reaches the corridor to see through the large window, she discovers an unexpected view. The window corresponds to the second floor, which oversees this corridor full of cells.

To the south, past the window, you see the cavern with the strange residue where you spot the ooze, but the residue does not seem capable to pour into the corridor, something contains it inside the cavern.

H1. Prison Guardpost
The south wall of this relatively empty room contains seventeen small glass panels that show shimmering images of similar ten-foot-square cells. Below each panel is a row of buttons. To the east, a long, thin glass window looks out over a high-ceilinged hallway.

Inside, no technic leaguer or robot, instead a group of four strange individuals with chains and piercings torturing their bloodless flesh. The greatest violations invade their faces and mouth.

One of them speaks from up, with a strong accent "Turn away. What lies beyond this post is not for your eyes"

Another one smiles "Unless you wish to surrender yourselves to the exploration of flesh and metal and volunteer as experimental stock, of course!"

1d20 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 8 + 2 = 11 Linguistics
1d20 + 23 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 23 + 3 = 43 Know (Planes) - DRs? Resistances? Special Attacks?

Rhoreen grits her teeth.

"We are the new lords here. Whomever bound here is no more, and so you can return to your home...or we can return you. Your services are no longer needed. How do we get you to leave?" Rhoreen asks.

"Yeah," Yambul doesn't know what Rhoreen knows, but he knows they're no good. You don't do that sort of thing to yourself and remain sane. Not normally anyway... "How do we get you gone."

He's on the balls of his feet, ready for action.

"You are the new lords of the Technic League? Well then, it is time you know the Sacred Truth. The Church of the Rent Flesh does not vow to wordly lords" the kytons laugh ensemble, but their laugh has something despicable, nothing fun.

Another points down the corridor doors "We have your prisoners well served. You can leave with calmed soul they will enjoy discovering the Eleven Elevations of Pain"

Somehow this people do not seem surprised the leadership of the Technic League has shifted.

Linguistics v DC 15: 15 = 15 Autosucceed
Knowledge(Planes) v DC 20: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

"Their native tongue is Infernal, though I'm unable to ascertain the nature of these outsiders." Her report gives her enough time to look the strange beings over. "They look familiar. The self-mutilation is much like that worn by Paajgat. She was a kyton, if I remember correctly."

The android considers their words. "They consider this part of the compound a church. It appears to be a symbiotic relationship with the Technic League. Do you think Zernabeth would still accept this relationship? Do we leave her to negotiate here, while we continue seeking out Ozmyn's ally?"

Khalia speaks to the kytons in their language.

Linguistics: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (17) + 13 = 30

Ruha's about to suggest taking the hidden passage when the others head the other way. She catches up to them and gets a view of the hideous monsters "working" here underground. She glances at Khalia and whispers "I hardly think Zernabeth would mind if this group was banished. And if she does, all the more reason to consider her a dangerous element."

Khalia's questions are in Infernal, which Ruha doesn't know, but she still eyes the creatures to try to read their body language and sense any falsehoods.

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 23 ⇒ (5) + 23 = 28