GM Otha’s The Moonscar (Inactive)

Game Master Otha

I'll keep that 17 for another save or attack roll down the road if you don't mind. The ring of the sublime's time has come I think! ;)

Flint will use the GM re-roll to save his Eyes of the Eagle.

Will save of 47 (28+19).

Thanks GM Otha. :)

GM reroll for boots of escape with planar penalty 1d20 + 11 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (19) + 11 + 2 - 2 = 30

Alie, in case you didn’t see it, you can use my re-roll to save another destroyed object

To mitigate the spell’s harshness somewhat, I’m gonna use my folio reroll that each of you can apply to one of your destroyed items, adding your character’s will mod to the total below:

GM Folio Will Save Re-roll (one item for each character) 19

That will save the

And leave these two destroyed.
- Wand of endure elements (permanent)
- Scroll of Lend Judgment (permanent)

Alie, in case you didn’t see it, you can use my re-roll to save another destroyed object

I used it in the post just before this one, GM. Thanks!

You all react quickly, and manage to land, albeit roughly on the platform, tumbling to avoid even more damage…when you have time to come to grips with the spell that zapped you, you are reasonably certain that it’ll last no longer than 20 minutes…as you slowly rise you survey the new chamber…

A five-foot-wide ledge follows the wall of this tall cylindrical room, connecting two identical iron archways. In the open arches of these passages are carved images of a heavily armored succubus of overwhelming beauty. A five-foot-wide catwalk extends from the wall into the center of the room, ending directly below a ten-foot-diame hole in the high domed ceiling. A ring of rune-etched iron is embedded in the edge of the encircling ledge, and is completely legible from the end of the catwalk.

Zaarah can clearly read the Abyssal words etched into the cold iron edge of the encircling ledge:

“In my most intimate chamber, I will bestow upon you unfathomable pleasure. In my obscene court you will sate my desires, and bring glory to the Shadow.”

…and she translates it for you…

Let me know if I missed anything on the damage and I’ll correct it…

Status:
Marta 
(-18)
Zaarah (-20; 2 negative levels)
Theodric (-23)
Flint (-20)
Alie (-20)
Agata (-15)
Sweet Mawd (-20)

Ring of Ecstasy (Slide 1)

Strongly Chaos-Aligned and Evil-Aligned: Nonevil or nonchaotic creatures take a –2 circumstance penalty on all Intelligence-, Wisdom-, and Charisma-based checks in the Moonscar. This penalty stacks with itself for creatures that fall into both categories (-4).

Impeded Magic: To cast a spell or use a spell-like ability with the good or lawful descriptor, a caster must make a concentration check (DC 20 + the level of the spell).

Using my lessons of CHALDIRA trait Reroll for a failed save of failed black blade

black blade : 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (18) + 11 = 29

Flint stands at the ready with his bow out and waits for the effect to end.

"Perhaps we should call it an early day once this magic abates?"

Marta mentioned that she wanted to stop for the day in the discussion thread.

@GM Otha - Is it still unbearably hot here underground or was that just in the jungle?

Marta feels naked without her magical layers of protection.

Alie agrees. ”I feel so helpless right now! This would be the perfect spot for something to ambush us, though,” she mutters as she glances around, worried at the thought.

"Though I have enough spells left to get my enchantments back, I would not mind waiting a day. The vampires will be back though, and I have no more scrolls to protect me from their draining attacks."

Always practical she quickly comes to a conclusion.

"Still... I think the benefits outweigh the disadvantages."

Flint keeps a watch and waits for the magical effect to end.

"Not to worry Alie. Our swords and bows work well enough for now. We will not let anything get to you."

Re the discussion about whether to pause the action and resume for a new day: Agata still has Fairy Ring Retreat available to cast whenever the group is ready. If we do take this course, she'll continue with her usual allotment of spells and long term buffs except that she'll prep a Quickened Dimension Door (level 8) in place of Stormbolts (which doesn't seem to be too useful with so many undead around).

Oddly, you think, you are not attacked while you await normalcy…the magical effects end and the casters feel they are able to cast again…your magical items that were not working are now fully functional…

What’s the plan? Another Fairy Ring Retreat via Agata?

Status:
Marta 
(-18)
Zaarah (-20; 2 negative levels)
Theodric (-23)
Flint (-20)
Alie (-20)
Agata (-15)
Sweet Mawd (-20)

Ring of Ecstasy (Slide 1)

Strongly Chaos-Aligned and Evil-Aligned: Nonevil or nonchaotic creatures take a –2 circumstance penalty on all Intelligence-, Wisdom-, and Charisma-based checks in the Moonscar. This penalty stacks with itself for creatures that fall into both categories (-4).

Impeded Magic: To cast a spell or use a spell-like ability with the good or lawful descriptor, a caster must make a concentration check (DC 20 + the level of the spell).

Retreat. I think we can take our bloody time on this, though we should get out of the traps area before we do.

If Marta wants to rest we can. It is not everyday that the party is hit with an effect like this. :)

Yep, I’d say we regroup and get ready to come back the next day.

Agata casts her Fairy Ring Retreat and you have 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep…you awake refreshed…

Status:
Marta 
(-3)
Zaarah (-4; 2 negative levels)
Theodric (-6)
Flint (-3)
Alie (-4)
Sweet Mawd (-17)

Ring of Ecstasy (Slide 1)

Strongly Chaos-Aligned and Evil-Aligned: Nonevil or nonchaotic creatures take a –2 circumstance penalty on all Intelligence-, Wisdom-, and Charisma-based checks in the Moonscar. This penalty stacks with itself for creatures that fall into both categories (-4).

Impeded Magic: To cast a spell or use a spell-like ability with the good or lawful descriptor, a caster must make a concentration check (DC 20 + the level of the spell).

Before going to bed Flint puts up Delay Poison (Extended), Deadeye Lore (Extended) and reviews his chronicle on demon-kind. He then begins to heal himself and the rest of the party (the entire party is completely healed).

Flint prepares himself in the morning for another day of adventuring (buffs are detailed below). He casts Clay Skin (Extended) on Theodric providing the warrior with some protection (DR 5/Adamantine, 45 hit points).

Flint waits until people are ready and then takes a look at the northern passage.

Cure Light Wounds,CL 9, Flint: 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7

Cure Light Wounds, CL 9 Zaarah: 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9

Cure Light Wounds, CL 9 Marta: 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6

Cure Light Wounds, CL 9 Theodric: 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7

Cure Light Wounds, CL 9 Alie: 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12

Cure Serious Wounds, CL 9 Sweet Mawd: 3d8 + 9 ⇒ (4, 7, 6) + 9 = 26

Combined with the healing from resting Marta is back at full. She does her usual enchantments before and after resting, including

Extended Delay Poison (pre-rest, 28 hours)
Extended Greater Magic Weapon on UC (pre-rest, 28 hours)
Extended Greater Magic Weapon on spear (pre-rest, 28 hours)
Extended Hunter's Blessing {evil outsider / underground (caves and dungeons), undead / desert (sand and wastelands)}, pre-rest, 28 hours)
Extended Mage Armor (pre-rest, over 24 hours)

Halo (reactivated every 10 minutes)
Extended Heroism (280 minutes)
Extended Keen Edge on Spear (280 minutes)
Extended Freedom of Movement (280 minutes)
Extended See Invisibility (300 minutes[moondew])
Ablative Barrier (5 hours, 25 HP)
Heightened Awareness (140 minutes)

Alie casts Extended Mage Armor, Flase life for 1d10 + 10 ⇒ (10) + 10 = 20 temporary hit points, and then casts Overland Flight.

OK, that’s Flint, Marta, and Alie with buffs up; anybody else before we move on?

Theodric asks if anyone has a spare protection against evil, heroism or fly spell, but otherwise appears ready.

Marta will give you heropism, Theo, the extended kind so it will last 280 minutes.

She will also transition to her protective talismans

Zaarah is annoyed but happy that Mesh survived all of this.

She casts several spells before going in.

Extended Mirror Image (30 min) # images: 1d4 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6
Defending Bone DR5/bludg for 50 points (15 hours)
Stoneskin DR10/Adamantine for 150 points (150 min)
Ablative Barrier up to 5 damage to nonlethal for 50 damage

After awakening, you buff up and then leave the Fairy Retreat to seek out the succubus that presides over this moon…

Is anyone going to cast the other two buffs on Theodric that he requested (other than the clay skin and heroism spells that Flint and Marta cast upon him)?

Scouting out the north passage from the chamber, it bends around and you come upon a door; you detect no traps upon it…

Scouting out the passage east, it also bends, winding around, leading to three vertical shafts that each descend into what appears to be three open chambers…

What do you do?

Status:
Zaarah (2 negative levels)

Ring of Ecstasy (Slide 1)

Strongly Chaos-Aligned and Evil-Aligned: Nonevil or nonchaotic creatures take a –2 circumstance penalty on all Intelligence-, Wisdom-, and Charisma-based checks in the Moonscar. This penalty stacks with itself for creatures that fall into both categories (-4).

Impeded Magic: To cast a spell or use a spell-like ability with the good or lawful descriptor, a caster must make a concentration check (DC 20 + the level of the spell).

Zaarah also takes a Soul stimulant and casts overland flight.

1 negative level gone for 12 hours. So only 1 negative level left.

As 24 hours have passed your character gets to see if the negative levels become permanent or disappear completely. So save your Soul Stimulant. :)

fort: 1d20 + 22 ⇒ (14) + 22 = 36
fort: 1d20 + 22 ⇒ (20) + 22 = 42

Alie casts the requested spells on Theodoric as the group prepares themselves.

Zaarah casts flight and overcomes the negative levels while Alie casts the requested buffs on Theodric…

Where to? North to the door or east to the three descending passages?

Ring of Ecstasy (Slide 1)

Strongly Chaos-Aligned and Evil-Aligned: Nonevil or nonchaotic creatures take a –2 circumstance penalty on all Intelligence-, Wisdom-, and Charisma-based checks in the Moonscar. This penalty stacks with itself for creatures that fall into both categories (-4).

Impeded Magic: To cast a spell or use a spell-like ability with the good or lawful descriptor, a caster must make a concentration check (DC 20 + the level of the spell).

"Somehow I'm not surprised that this place goes even deeper. Would one of you like to cast fly on me? I'm a skilled climber, but it would make things easier. But for now, how about we head north. Perhaps there are cells and we can find our quarry."

How many HP in the heroic invocation? I'd like to add it to my already too large tag one.

"I suggest that we clear out this level first before descending. Otherwise we might miss something or someone important before our final battle."

I suggest heading North first.

@Marta - Heroic Invocation grants 2d8+4 temporary hit points.

Heroic Invocation, temp hp: 2d8 + 4 ⇒ (8, 7) + 4 = 19

@Marta - Heroic Invocation grants 2d8+4 temporary hit points.

Wasn't sure it if was one roll for all participants or 1 roll for each. I guess I'll go with the assumption that we each roll.

2d8 + 4 ⇒ (4, 6) + 4 = 14

Rule of two, north it is…feel free to post your moves/actions in that direction…

Marta manifests a halo, shedding enough light to see by, and casts a shield of faith before they head north. As normal she tries to stick towards the middle of the pack.

Her eyes are darting this way and that, trying to notice everything, face frozen in a mask of seriousness, her spear tapping the ground as she goes as she listens for abnormalities.

"Someone sure put a lot of effort into this place."

Marta leads the way north; the passage bends around to the east, then south, ending in a door. She finds the door neither trapped nor locked…

I’m assuming everyone is following behind her…

Ring of Ecstasy (Slide 1)

Strongly Chaos-Aligned and Evil-Aligned: Nonevil or nonchaotic creatures take a –2 circumstance penalty on all Intelligence-, Wisdom-, and Charisma-based checks in the Moonscar. This penalty stacks with itself for creatures that fall into both categories (-4).

Impeded Magic: To cast a spell or use a spell-like ability with the good or lawful descriptor, a caster must make a concentration check (DC 20 + the level of the spell).

@GM Otha - Flint and Theodric are on the front line with Marta in the middle of the pack (as per her post about her character's positioning). She can be "directing" the party however. :)

My bad, I missed that she said middle of the pack, Flint; it just seemed to me, tapping her spear around for abnormalities is something that’d be done up front as the ones walking ahead of her would likely trigger something before she discovered it. Shouldn’t make a big difference either way right now; you can reposition the icons however you wish though…

It is a 10' spear with reach, but you are right in that it would be far more effective if she were up front though who knows, the subterranean echoes might give her some info given a 15th level character's preternatural senses. In the end, though, it was done more for poetic effect than mechanical.

Oh, no worries, Marta, it was my bad…after Flint’s note I noticed you said middle of the pack (sorry, old eyes) and then I figured it was more aesthetic or poetic as you put it…

Are y’all gonna open the door?

Flint gives the door a once over and assuming he does not believe it is trapped then he opens it.

46 Perception on a take 10 for traps.

I don't think that Marta is going to beat Flint's stone cunning for a trap placed in a stone floor but prod away with that spear. It is thematic. :)

Flint detects no traps upon the door and he easily opens it; however, just a few feet behind the door is a solid wall of rock with a profane symbol…

Without even time to mutter a single word, a blast comes forth from the symbol, it seemingly bypasses Flint, Theodric, and Zaarah, coming to rest on Marta, who attempts to withstand its lethal effect…

It’s a Symbol of Death; it only affects a total of 150 hp or less, starting with nearest PC and going down the line the first with less than that, unfortunately, is Marta. If I’m missing anything, please let me know…

@Marta: make a DC22 Fort save; if you fail, you die…so I sincerely hope there’s not a low roll here..

Ring of Ecstasy (Slide 1)

Strongly Chaos-Aligned and Evil-Aligned: Nonevil or nonchaotic creatures take a –2 circumstance penalty on all Intelligence-, Wisdom-, and Charisma-based checks in the Moonscar. This penalty stacks with itself for creatures that fall into both categories (-4).

Impeded Magic: To cast a spell or use a spell-like ability with the good or lawful descriptor, a caster must make a concentration check (DC 20 + the level of the spell).

fort ST, deathless spirit: 1d20 + 19 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 19 + 2 = 34, plus lots more from shake it off.

Marta easily weathers the wave of negative energy as her innate resistances kick into gear and she finds shelter inside the auras of the more robust allies.

I'm surprised I did not roll a 1.

"Did you feel that? A wave of death magic the likes of which I've rarely seen. Pretty ineffective though. I'm not impressed."

perception to see if the wall has anything else of interest, heroism, hunter's blessing, planar penalty: 1d20 + 29 + 2 + 2 - 4 ⇒ (14) + 29 + 2 + 2 - 4 = 43

Whew, very glad not to see a one there ;)

Marta scoffs at the symbol, easily brushing away its deadly effect. She finds nothing else of interest in checking out the wall; it appears to have been nothing except an attempt for a deadly trap that was devilishly hard to perceive…it harbors no other traps nor secret entrances…

So, off to one of the descending passages?

Ring of Ecstasy (Slide 1)

Strongly Chaos-Aligned and Evil-Aligned: Nonevil or nonchaotic creatures take a –2 circumstance penalty on all Intelligence-, Wisdom-, and Charisma-based checks in the Moonscar. This penalty stacks with itself for creatures that fall into both categories (-4).

Impeded Magic: To cast a spell or use a spell-like ability with the good or lawful descriptor, a caster must make a concentration check (DC 20 + the level of the spell).

"Clearly the ability to see through walls would be of use on this festering moon. Fortunately no one was injured."

"Now it is time to descend and perhaps take the first fork in the road (red arrow on the map)?"

It is very bad game design to make deadly traps practically impossible to find. It eliminates player agency and is another nail in the coffin for the poor rogue. :)

In the interest of keeping the game moving past a multiple choice challenge, Marta will throw her vote in with Flint.

"Hmmm. Go for it. I'm sure all the forks will be deadly and none are wiser than the other. If one of you has a magical way of scouting, however, it would be prudent to check things out in advance."

A tall vertical shaft descends before opening up into a wider chamber stretching off to the sides. Dozens of manacles hang from the sides of the cylindrical walls, from which hang as many prisoners, all crying out when they see you. A doorway on the southeastern edge of the room is level with the floor…

As you look at the prisoners, sympathy for, and then anger at, their plight come over you…but then as you notice the smallest prisoner hanging from the chains, you feel a much different emotion…JOY! For it is Janira! She opens her eyes, seeing you, cries out feebly, bit reading her lips, there can be no doubt of her words, ”Help us…”

Ring of Ecstasy (Slide 1)

Strongly Chaos-Aligned and Evil-Aligned: Nonevil or nonchaotic creatures take a –2 circumstance penalty on all Intelligence-, Wisdom-, and Charisma-based checks in the Moonscar. This penalty stacks with itself for creatures that fall into both categories (-4).

Impeded Magic: To cast a spell or use a spell-like ability with the good or lawful descriptor, a caster must make a concentration check (DC 20 + the level of the spell).

Flint scans the area for any possible traps. He is wary of any possible deception but knows that they will have to act to free the prisoners.

"Theodric, Marta cut them down but be careful. I will cover both of you with my bow."

46 Perception on a take 10 to see through any disguises and to look for traps in the room.

@GM Otha - Are we going to have to fly down the shaft to get to the fork in the road? If so I will beg a Fly spell off of Alie and if not my character will use one of his own scrolls to get down there.