#7–99: Through Maelstrom Rift - GM Nowruz (Inactive)

Game Master noral

Ember backs away from the cyclone.

knowledge (arcana): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8
knowledge (history): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10
knowledge (planes): 10 + 11 = 21 (Talking 10 using lore master)
knowledge (religion): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9

The Torrent flies away from the cyclone.

"Good idea to keep your distance."

You put your heads together and you realize that this phenomenon is currently not triggering and that you can approach the cyclone at the moment without any harm.

Zephyr looks at the others and back at the cyclone.

I think it is safe for now. Let us be quick...

He flies into the structure to start inspecting the doors around the inner perimeter.

B3. Display Room

Dragon statuettes made of multicolored crystal hover in this room.

Its walls, floors, and ceiling are covered in a hovering layer of small crystal fragments.

You detect magic and realize that the miniature crystals in this room are magically attuned to the walls, never straying more than an inch from them.

Let us go step by step. The stone doors are closed. And I am using your kn rolls above.

B2. Two Meditation Rooms

The inhabitants of the palace once used these rooms for private contemplation, meditation, and worship. Their walls are decorated with complicated reliefs.

In one room, the walls depict a city made of ice and djinn bustling around a massive spherical building surrounded by dozens of similar but smaller round buildings.

In another relief, a group of mephits emerges from a cloud dragon’s breath.

The most striking scene depicts an immense being with the body of a serpent spun from storm clouds, the head of a lion with a mane of lightning, and hundreds of clawed feet. His expression is approving and content as he gazes upon the other creatures.

Ember recognizes that the lion-serpent is Ranginori, a benevolent lord of air who was trapped and exiled ages ago. In the other room, Ranginori appears again, this time wreathed in an aura of lightning with an expression of fury. Djinn, mephits, wysps, and other creatures of air fly by his side, all surrounded by a raging cyclone. Hordes of creatures made of stone rush forward, only to be sent flying as they approach the cyclone.

I'm no scholar..but each of these show an element and it's connection to air...I think... Rhyol says as she cocks her head in contemplation.

You lot are the book readers...am i wrong?

"I guess the real question is how does this help us, if at all to complete our mission?"

The water mephit stays close to the others, especially Ember who seems to be the most knowledgeable of the party.

"I don't like the image of the stone creatures being sent flying. Makes me think this place might not be to friendly toward me."

I think you are right Rhyol. Also the cyclone is an implement or symbol of Ranginori. Perhaps the recent anomalies are a result of him... them trying to break free of exile.

Zephyr scratches his chin, not quite putting all of the clues together.

I can't ascertain why that last room had a layer of crystal fragments.

He turns to Seerus. Well, you have us to help you if that happens. I'm curious how soon the cyclone will act up and, if we wait too long, does Ranginori break free? How bad do things get if that happens?

Zephyr is not trained in Arcana. Is there some other relevant check to confirm/deny his ideas about the situation?

knowledge (arcana): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 2 = 22
”I think if an electric current is passed through the display room, the dragons and crystals may do something interesting.

You are all on the right track! ;) Tell me in case you want to use some lightning or visit another room.

”I’m not sure if this helps us work out what’s going on, but by the looks of it one of the meditation rooms focuses on Ranginori and his ‘followers?‘ living their lives at piece and the other shows them at war against creatures, possibly from the plane of earth? As for the display room, I’m intrigued to know what electricity may do to it and I’m wandering if the crystals may have something to do with the stone beings in one of the meditation rooms?”

Well, can one of you shoot lightning or something like that? I can't... Rhyol says excitedly, seeing that they are on the right path. Steam shoots from under a plate as she paces back and forth.

I am able to Call Lightning. If you all stand back, I can send some into the room and see what happens.

Zephyr walks to the doorway of the room and begins the incantation. Just after it's completion he sends the first bolt streaking down vertically onto the floor, in the center of the room.

I'll see what happens, but he would be able to summon an additional bolt per round for the duration.

Does a damage roll make sense here?

Ember keeps out of the room but watches what happens.

When Zephyr's lightning strikes you suddenly see that the miniature crystals in this room are magically attuning to the walls and suddenly align into intricate mosaics.

The dragon statues also react to the electricity — they flap their wings, and rippling patterns on their surface provide the illusion of more subtle movements (such as contracting muscles and breathing).

~

Suddenly, something starts happening! The protective cyclone and the brilliant blue crystals in the room react!

As most of you examine the room, out of the corner of her eye Jamila notices the blue crystal floating in the room starts to brighten in intensity. Tiny sparks start to dance along them and a buzzing noise fills the air – small at first, but growing.

Jamila sees that the cyclone also starts acting weird and sounds of electricity are audible from all the other rooms as well!

~

Surprise Round now, so Jamila you can take a single move or standard action.

Initiative (Surprise Round)

Jamila

Something

~

Initiative Round 1

Octaris
Ember
Jamila
Ryhol
Krakos

Something

Zephyr

planes: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8

Finally...a chance to prove myself...

knowledge (planes): 10 + 11 = 21(Talking 10 using lore master)

Ember shouts out to her companions to let them know what they are facing once she notices it (see the spoiler, although I assume she wouldn’t be able to do that until after the surprise round.).

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

Quickly realizing what's about to happen, and the likely style of damage coming, Jamila pulls a potion for her bag, preparing to try to cover the others.

I believe using the volitile Vaporizer is a standard, so drawing my potion of Resist energy(Electricity). the 10 foot cloud should hit everyone but Zephyr when I use it next round.

Jamila drags out a vial of strange vaping contraption.

Suddenly, low level arcs of electricity shoot out from the cyclone and the other exposed crystals in the room you are in but you feel that something is happening in the other rooms as well! It is not hurting you yet but is building up!

Electricity flows into the air and towards the center of the tower. Worse, beams of light seem to spill out from under the closed stone doors elsewhere on the floor, again lancing towards the central cyclone.

As the electricity reaches the whirling winds, all around the tower spectral figures appear! Intangible djinni surround the cyclone and several of you, each with hands raised as they look up and seem to be invoking some supernatural power - or at least echoing a similar invocation.

~

Initiative Round 1

Octaris
Ember
Jamila
Ryhol
Krakos

Something

Zephyr

BOLD may act!

perc: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (10) + 11 = 21

Bah! I can't smash this thing...what sort of creature is it? Rhyol seethes as she realizes her attacks are useless. She stands in front of the others, hopefully buying enough time for them to figure out how to deal with their foe.

perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (19) + 10 = 29

Ember shares what she notices about the haunt with the group (see the new spoiler).

Can normal attacks damage the crystals, or does that have to be spells with the correct descriptor or a follower of Ayrzul like with the main haunt?

Realising that there isn't much she can do which will affect the haunt, Ember offers encouragement to those members of the party who can.

Ember will Inspire Courage (+2 morale bonus on saving throws against charm and fear effects and a +2 competence bonus on attack and weapon damage rolls).

Smashing the crystals would work? Sounds like a plan to me! Rhyol surges towards the closest crystal and slams it with what looks like an arm.

slam: 1d10 + 10 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 10 + 1 = 211d8 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 6 + 2 = 131d6 ⇒ 6the d6 is burn...likely won't apply..but added for full disclosure...

[dice=perception]d20+10

Ember shares what she notices about the haunt with the group (see the new spoiler).

Can normal attacks damage the crystals, or does that have to be spells with the correct descriptor or a follower of Ayrzul like with the main haunt?

Only effects with the descriptors that you identified with your planes check (Octaris is a prime actor here) and all of Krakos’ physical attacks.

"ON IT!" Krakos shouts as he rushes toward the nearest creature and slams his morningstar down on it.

+1 Morningstar +IC: 1d20 + 10 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 10 + 2 = 32
Damage: 1d8 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 8 + 2 = 14

Don't think critical hits will work on crystals. But I'll roll just incase.

Critical?: 1d20 + 10 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 10 + 2 = 22
Critical Damage: 1d8 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 8 + 2 = 15

”From what I understand, we need to attack the main haunt centred around the cyclone to properly end it. The crystals are just secondary elements of the haunt and attacking those will just weaken it a bit rather than destroy it. So I think we need to focus on the cyclone?”

Only effects with the descriptors that you identified with your planes check (Octaris is a prime actor here) and all of Krakos’ physical attacks.

How about Zephyr's call lightning? I assume he gets to finish off the duration of his spell still, with one round having passed from it? Obviously it's not his turn yet.

Oh no... did we shift to the maelstrom? I have to undo what I've started. The last statement has a guilty, solemn tone to it.

GM Nowruz wrote:

Only effects with the descriptors that you identified with your planes check (Octaris is a prime actor here) and all of Krakos’ physical attacks.

How about Zephyr's call lightning? I assume he gets to finish off the duration of his spell still, with one round having passed from it? Obviously it's not his turn yet.

Oh no... did we shift to the maelstrom? I have to undo what I've started. The last statement has a guilty, solemn tone to it.

Yes, your call lightning is of course in effect. Unfortunately, that is of no help. The cyclone has to receive damage from effects with the chaotic, earth, evil, fire, lawful, or water descriptors (1d6 points of damage per spell level), as well as from the physical attacks of Ayrzul’s faithful (such as Krakos).

”From what I understand, we need to attack the main haunt centred around the cyclone to properly end it. The crystals are just secondary elements of the haunt and attacking those will just weaken it a bit rather than destroy it. So I think we need to focus on the cyclone?”

I think that you are sharing information so I will redirect your first attack to the cyclone with a move action Krakos! ;-)

Octaris is not quite sure what to do but when in doubt blast it with water. The water mephit moves into position and unleashes a spout of water at the central haunt.

"I am on it Ember."

Water Blast, Inspire Courage: 1d20 + 14 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 14 + 2 = 28

Damage, Inspire Courage: 3d6 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (6, 5, 4) + 8 + 2 = 25

I am assuming that the central haunt is somewhere around (or is) the cyclone (near B1) but my character has plenty of movement to move around if needed.

Jamila quickly steps forward as she draws a second out of her belt pouch before placing the pill into the potion bottle, letting the potion fizz into a cloud around her before settling over all the nearby parts of the party.

5-foot
Move action - draw Volatile Vaporizer
Standard action - use Vaporizer with Resist Energy potion this should hit everyone but Krakos to give everyone Resist electricity 10 for 30 minutes.

Krakos attack has a lot of force and definitely creates an effect!!

But the moment the oread strikes, some of the crystals shatter! Krakos suffers a blowback and a series of visions assault his mind.

The visions show various images of earth triumphing over air, such as mountain rising up to swallow a tornado, and culminates when a lion-headed cloud serpent being is surrounded in a wooden cage that rapidly transforms into crystalline stone.

Krakos is stunned for 4 rounds but if he succeeds at a DC 18 Fortitude saving throw, he is stunned for only 1 round.

~

Octaris' blast of water proves to have a lot of force and some of the crystals charging the room are destroyed! Still several spectral djinni still stand invoking something although a few fade away and vanish from sight.

~

Jamila finishes drawing out a green pill and plunks it down into her open potion. A blue mist spills out from the vial, enveloping her, and all her companions and giving them a tingling sensation.

~

Ember gives everyone courage and Ryhol's attack is less effective although the fire has some effect!

~

Suddenly, the whole room charges! The buzzing hum intensifies into an overwhelming static. The ghostly djinni cry out and lightning bolts shoot out from the blue crystals towards the cyclone at the room's center - even passing straight through the closed stone doors.

This network of electricity hits the cyclone and is dispersed out over the entire floor - including right towards you! However, there do seem to be a few gaps in the lightning blasts as some of the spectral djinni have vanished.

Each of you take Electrical damage: 8d8 ⇒ (4, 4, 8, 2, 2, 4, 3, 2) = 29, with a DC 16 Reflex save to halve it and then applying Resistance 10.

The crackling, buzzing sound continues.

~

Initiative Round 1/2

Zephyr
Octaris
Ember
Jamila
Ryhol
Krakos

Something

BOLD may act!

reflex save: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (5) + 12 = 17
perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (20) + 10 = 30

Ember darts away form the worst of the lightning.

"Good work everyone, that's definitely done it a bunch of damage and that electricity resistance was timed perfectly!" she shouts.

Reflex, DC16: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10 Ouch

Zephyr grinds his teeth together as electricity courses through him. His left eye twitches for half a minute after this. He remembers the energy types that this haunt might be susceptible to, and tries Produce Flame on the cyclone.

[standard] cast Product flame
F damage: 1d6 ⇒ 2 per spell level instead of damage specified in the spell.

Fort DC 18: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17

Krakos wobbles a little bit as he vision blurs and he barely keeps himself standing.

As Krakos moves past her to attack the haunt, Ember notices that the oread is still carrying injuries from the previous encounter. Reaching into her haversack she retrieves a wand which she uses to heal her stony companion.

cure light wounds on Krakos: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

Ember will also get some healing herself from her fast healing. Lastly once everyone has done their saves she will use saving finale on one person (she has lingering performance, so inspire courage will remain for 2 more rounds).

@Zephyr - Produce Flame has a range of 0 feet (and is yet not a touch spell either) so I am not sure if it can be cast offensively in this manner. It is up to the GM. :)

The water elemental does his best to dodge the electrical attack and takes minimal damage.

Reflex vs DC 16: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (13) + 15 = 28

He then unloads with another water spout attack.

water blast, inspire courage: 1d20 + 14 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 14 + 2 = 22

damage, inspire courage: 3d6 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (5, 4, 2) + 8 + 2 = 21

Doh, good catch. But, he didn't use his move action, so if that gets him within range of the cyclone, then...

Reflex Save, DC 16: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15So, I take 19 damage then. My hawk is immune to eletric damage though.

Jamila faintly grunts as the lightning courses though the room. "I don't have anything to offer to help attack this problem other than a preparation for igniting my arrows, and I get the feeling I should save that. Any suggestions?"

Holding action - No Arcana or UMD here, so I'm sorta useless ATM.

@Zephyr: Produce flame says: Alternatively, you can hurl the flames up to 120 feet as a thrown weapon. When doing so, you attack with a ranged touch attack (with no range penalty) and deal the same damage as with the melee attack. So I think ranged works but the damage should be d6+5. Or am I missing something? Because you also did not roll a to hit? But it does not matter ... see below. ;-)

Krakos is unfortunately completely overwhelmed by the images in his mind! He can still circumvent the electricity and is healed by Ember!

Krakos reflex: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21

Jamila waits to see what happens!

Octaris blast is so strong that it bursts the hurricane and the cyclone stops! The spirits suddenly disappear and the electricity attacks stop.

What do you do now?

~

Status

Zephyr, -19
Octaris, -4
Ember, -4
Jamila, -19
Krakos, stunned 1/4

As the cyclone vanishes, a clear glimpse above of where the tower's roof once stood can finally be seen. But instead of a ceiling you see a palpitating 10-foot-diameter ring of hundreds of colors, all swirling around each other in a fascinating and beckoning display.

@GM Nowruz - The way that Produce Flame works is that it is a standard action to cast the spell and then you can use your actions on following rounds to use the flame as a weapon. So you can benefit from a high BAB and Haste to attack multiple times a round with the flame but the downside is that it cannot be used on the same round as it is cast. It is very different from most other ranged damage (or melee) spells which are touch spells and allow you a free attack on the turn you cast it. Typically as the spell has a nice duration (1 minute/level) my Druid characters will cast it before entering a dungeon and be able to use it as soon as the encounter begins. This is all moot now but I thought you might want to know anyways. :)

The water elemental shrugs.

"Well, that was something."

Ember's Saving Finale would have been used on Zephyr, so Zephyr can re-roll the reflex save vs the lightning.

"Nice shooting Octaris!"

knowledge (arcana): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 2 = 12

As the cyclone dissipates Ember looks up at the ring on the ceiling.
"Does anyone have any idea what that is? If I had to guess, I've got a horrible feeling that may be a portal into the Maelstrom!"

@Zephyr: Produce flame says: Alternatively, you can hurl the flames up to 120 feet as a thrown weapon. When doing so, you attack with a ranged touch attack (with no range penalty) and deal the same damage as with the melee attack. So I think ranged works but the damage should be d6+5. Or am I missing something? Because you also did not roll a to hit? But it does not matter ... see below. ;-)

Yeah, I screwed that up and should have had an attack role. Why d6 instead of d6+5? Because my understanding was per the rules for damaging the haunt that, aside from matching the right energy type, the damage is always 1d6 per level (vs. what the spell specifies). I may have misinterpreted though.

Ember's Saving Finale would have been used on Zephyr, so Zephyr can re-roll the reflex save vs the lightning.

Reflex: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (19) + 8 = 27

Well... we don't want to go there. We just want to shut it down. How do we do that? Zephyr asks as he retrieves his wand and gets to work on his wounds.

Cure light wounds: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9
Cure light wounds: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

After he holds it up and looks around the group.

Anyone else?

Use charges if you'd like

You still have some unexplored rooms and can give me another kn arcana or kn planes roll for the gate to the maelstrom!

"I'm ok, I just took a small amount of damage so my natural healing should take care of that." (Ember has fast healing).

"I think we should take a look around the rest of this tower, there may well be more clues about what is going on and how we can fix it."

knowledge (planes): 10 + 11 = 21(Talking 10 using lore master)

Ember takes out her note book and adds some more notes, before recounting the next bit of her story to the group. "...upon entering the tower we encountered a great cyclone around which we discovered the tower itself was rotating. Exploring the tower further we found reliefs depicting the exiled elemental lord Ranginori. As it turned out the cyclone itself also had links to the elemental lord, and when the interior of the tower was exposed to lightning this echo of his power became active and assailed us, however we were able to overcome this challenge..."

perform (oratory): 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (6) + 16 = 22