DM Fang Dragon's: War for the Crown

Game Master FangDragon

K. nobility (Deristov family from Porthmos): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24

"The Deristov family from Porthmos?" echoes Lope receiving the news "Well, we need to be prudent, for we do not want those lunatics to harm Martella, but we need be swift too, and not give them time to further react"

The Aldori nods considering Triphylla proposals "This idea of looking for an entry through the sewers is intriguing..." he looks at his red vest, not as ragged and smirked from the recent combats as it might be expected "Although, we could start by approaching the area and inspecting the set up and the comings and goings of the people there..." he looks also at the other nobles in the group and smiles "Maybe it is only lightly guarded. And I would prefer to not ruin my boots if possible"

"Get me close enough and I could probably make my way inside." Cyrene says, although she only speaks up once Zalaar is gone. "Anyway, if we're going let's make this quick, I have places to be."

It's early afternoon Tryphylla. BTW this next bit happens as a consequence of making a good impression.

As you discuss what to do next you're surprised by Lady Glorianna Morilla and several of her retinue. As she approached she nodded to Triphylla and Lope before speaking quietly to Kathann for a few moments. Looking pained, she told you "I can scarcely believe Taldor has come to this. I can't do much about nightmare Stavian has plunged us into, but there is perhaps once thing I can do."

She hesitated, before coming to a decision and telling you in a rush. "This isn't something I normally discuss openly, but a few years ago I succeeded Baron Jacquo Dalsine as the head of the Taldan faction of the Pathfinder Society. Most of my agents are abroad sadly, but there's enough for us to help if you're going to try and rescue Martella."

Knowledge (Local): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20

Julia notably cringes at the possibility of traveling to the Dignified Repository via Oppara's sewers. "Not going to lie... the idea of travelling underground again doesn't sound very appealing. Especially through a sewer. That said, if it helps us find Martella, I'm in."

Thinking more about the Dignified Repository, the bard came to a realization. "If head a few blocks east or west from here we should find a manhole that will give us access to the sewer system," she tells them matter-of-factly before quickly adding, "Don't ask how I know that."

Btw, I had no foreknowledge of access by the sewers. Just seemed plausible.

K Local: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12

"I live near that area and I didn't know that! But I agree with you completely, Julia; this will be unpleasant work. And there's a good chance we'll find more than you-know-what down there." Tri[hylla considers her current attire, blood-stained from cuff to collar. "Not that a little s$%% will bother these clothes. Still..."

She's somewhat embarrassed to be addressed by Lady Gloriana looking as she does, but hides behind pride. "Thank you Lady, and... that's fantastic! We could benefit from a distraction of some sort, perhaps. Or, if that seems too dangerous, some recognizance of the area and building in question before we arrive."

Lope receives Lady Glorianna Morilla with a happy expression "The Pathfinder Society. That makes for a powerful and resourceful ally. You have your secret punches Lady Glorianna."

"In fact whatever help you can offer would be great. Could you made us inside the building without raising suspicious stares?" the Aldori requests.

If the group prefers to try the sewers idea, Lope is also happy to help investigate that approach.

Lady Morilla considered your requests before saying, "So I know a little of this place, it was one of Martella's bolt holes. Clearly it's been overrun now. I'm sure there's a sewer entrance and I'm sure it's guarded by something. I doubt we can get you in unnoticed except via the sewers, too many of my agents are away to take advantage of teleportation and under the circumstances I don't want to trust an unknown mage..."

She gave you all an appraising glance before saying, "I think your best bet is if my agents create a big distraction up top. You'll be able to sneak in. When you're ready I'll give you half an hour which should be enough time. I expect you'll be able to hear us from below so you'll know when to start."

Lope bows in front of the Lady as a sign of appreciation "Thanks for the help. This sounds as a good approach to safe Lady Martella"

K. dungeoneering DC 15: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (20) + 8 = 28
"The capital sewers are known to lodge things more dangerous than simple rats. Oozes and fungi come to mind, particularly violet fungi whose poisonous touch can rot the flesh" the Aldori advises the party "Perhaps some sort of anti-venom would be advisable"

Lope slides Diego's protection ring into his finger. If there is time, he will call for a short rest to prepare silent image on his new spell slot and buy an antidote.

With the group taking a short respite to gather themselves and resupply, Triphylla finds a fountain to sit by. She shamelessly washes her face, hair, and hands, scrubbing the dried blood off, heedless of the red stain billowing in the fountain pool.

Somewhat refreshed, she takes her small crafting kit and creates another dose of Strength mutagen for the fight ahead. Finally, she brews a Shield extract and adds it to her supply. She has a single vial of antitoxin to ward against the violet fungi, as Lope expertly pointed out. Hopefully the others in the group take his advice.

The group reconvenes as the afternoon wanes. "Into the sewers, then?"

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24

Triphylla will consumer her vial of Antitoxin as soon as the group descends into the sewers. Her total Save vs poison is then +11 for one hour.

Cyrene turns up to the sewers clad in the masterwork studded leather armor found in the safe rooms under the senate. The style may be antiquated but she wears it well enough, even if the brown hair in a sensible bun and pale skin is a terribly dramatic change from the curved horns and dusky skin of her 'other' form.

"Well, are we ready?" She asks, looking down the sewer with obvious distaste. "I don't suppose you'll lend me that dagger yet Triphylla? It's not as though you seem to need it with your claws!"

"It's not like I'm a wolf," replies Triphylla. "Yet."

She hands the dagger to Cyrene. "Keep it."

"Thank you." Cyrene replies, stroking the blade a little too lovingly. "Is that your plan in the end, transform into a wolf entirely? It can certainly be done and you're fierce enough for it."

That seems to be a compliment...

Triphylla shrugs. "I've never had the luxury of thinking that far ahead. What about you? What's your heart's desire?"

Lope's talk of oozes and fungi is all the convincing Julia needs to take the time to search for a place in all the chaos to buy some anti-venom and anti-toxin before they all headed out for the next leg of their increasingly fraught big adventure.

When she arrives back with the others at the sewer's entrance its with two vials on her waist... and a face mask to repel whatever nasty smells they will find down there. "Well then... I suppose its time I break in those elven boots with a stroll in the sewers. It will be fun!"

The obvious sarcasm in her voice is rather strong even if she is fully dedicated to continuing on for the sake of Martella.

Bought 1 antitoxin. Not sure how much collective gold we have but if I Julia's cut doesn't cover 50 gp for the antitoxin she'll just sell half her jewelry for it.

Triphylla shrugs. "I've never had the luxury of thinking that far ahead. What about you? What's your heart's desire?"

"Oh my dear, you couldn't handle my heart's desire." Cyrene replies, smiling the smile that makes all of her spectacular disguises null and void with how clearly it advertises her true nature.

"I'm going to keep carrying this." She adds to the group at large, holding up Dignity's Barb. "Things that live in sewers are so depressingly hard to stab."

On the way to the location Triphylla buys another 4 vials of Alchemist's Fire and 2 vials of Acid for 100 gp.

This will come out of her personal resources. I agree at some point we need to reconcile loot.

Once everyone is gathered together again, Lope checks the edge of his blade "Ok Julia, guide us to that place"

And when the group reaches the sewer entrance, he helps on opening the place and with a quick chant produces four dancing lights he sends down "To get something done you need to get your hands dirty they say." anyone paying attention will notice he has change the red vest he took to the Senate for a work leather clothing.

He will hold the entrance for the group to make it in, the jump down and close the lid behind.

Being in the rather specious sewers of Oppara was just about as revolting as Julia expected though she tried to keep that opinion to herself and focus on the task at hand. Navigating through the muck to the sewer to get to the Dignified Repository while avoiding whatever unpleasantness may be lurking in the poorly lit underground.

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18

Cyrene hands Dignity's Bard over to Valeria and then stays at the back with her fellow Nocticulian.

"I probably won't be able to kill anything that lives down here." She comments. "Best to stay out of the way."

A little over an hour later Triphylla has brewed an extract, taken a prophylactic dose of antitoxin and even got some shopping in. But then relying on the fruits of Julia's pursuit of knowledge unusual directions they identified what they hoped was the right manhole, pried it up and descended into the stinky environs below. There were iron rungs sunk into the stone wall, so descending was easy.

One of the party conjured a mage light which was just as well since there was no lighting in the sewers. It actually wasn't quite as bad down there as they'd initially feared, yes it stank but the water was mostly water and there where dry but narrow walkways on either side of the effluent stream. Of course some of the things floating by where quite unmistakable. There was a surprising variety in shape color and texture and some where large enough to be slightly worrying...

Map updated. You know the Dignified Repository is to the east of your current location. I'm going to give you a chance to RP your reaction to this rather unglamorous location before moving us forwards tomorrow.

Triphylla winces at the smell, like rotten cabbage pickled in urine. "I'll bet none of you have been into the Narrows. This will save you the trip."

She pulls a vial of alchemist's fire from her belt, expecting the worst.

Then she has a funny thought. "We'll be penetrating the Repository via suppository."

Lope holds his nostrils covered with his free hand while he holds the aldori sword in the other "Well then, let's hope the Repository does not decide to fart"

Renewing the dancing lights he sends them ahead of the group while holding himself out of the suspicious waters "If we are lucky we might extract Martella using this route without anyone up noticing"

Cyrene decides to simply not say anything. Her nose is much more sensitive than a human's and this entire excursion is thoroughly unpleasant. Joking will not make it any easier!

Ignoring the stretch as best you could, you work your way east along the sewers. After some time you hit the jackpot, roughly where you expect the Dignified Repository to be the worked stone walls give way to the cracked walls of a natural cavern which extends to the north. Inside the cavern a putrid rainbow of fungus covers the eastern walls.

Map updated.

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23
K Narure: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19
Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23

Perception: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (13) + 0 = 13
Perception: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (10) + 0 = 10
"So what now? We crawl through some pipe?" Lope looks at the foul waters and sighs resigned "Or we wait for some signal from Lady Morilla's men?"

With a quick sign Lope renews his magic sending forth north more dancing lights.

I started a post and didn't finish it. Weird.

By the light of Lope's magic, the glow of fungus catches Triphylla's eye. Focusing her gaze, she spots a decayed corpse, and something else.

"Hold. See that corpse there being devoured by violet fungus. It will attack if we move closer."

Along the norther wall.her keen eye spots what appears to be the impression of a secret passage. "There, a doorway hidden in the grime. Appears we'll need to negotiate that fungus to move toward our goal."

"Can we burn it or something like that?" Cyrene asks from the back.

Lope steps back alerted by Triphylla "I do not like the looks of it" the Aldori looks at Cyrene and nods "Good question"
K. dungeoneering: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26

"Does anyone have a torch we can use?" he looks forward north past the body "Maybe we can just try to skip it jumping over this section"

Unfortunately Dungeoneering doesn't help here, however Triphylla knows while bulky and slow to move, the fungus has 10' reach. So no jumping over it.

"I have bolstered myself against its toxins, and I can improve my defenses a bit more. I would run in and engage it while the rest of you rush past and head through that secret doorway. Once you are all past I'll follow. We do not need to defeat this foe and we can easily outrun it."

DM, would you indicate the location of the violet fungus on the map?

Triphylla's save vs poison is currently +11 and she can get to AC22-24. I think it gets a bunch of attacks so something could get through but it wouldn't be interesting if there was no risk.

I've placed it on the map. I'll give y'all a little more time to confer before rolling for intuative.

At hearing Triphylla's plan, Julia couldn't help but frown. "I don't like leaving you deal with that thing while we abscond to the door," Julia admitted honestly, her tone serious. "But I've seen you rip apart that foul rat mage with ease... I suppose you can try it but if things go pear-shape I'll take my own antitoxin and try to help you finish the thing off ok."

Valeria, knowing they were going to be entering the sewers, picked up a cloth covering and some perfume she could imbue it with and wrapped it around her face before they went into the sewers. Sure it wouldn't block the smell entirely but it was better than nothing. When Cyrene handed her Dignities Barb Valeria nodded in thanks and replied, "That will be helpful, thanks." She made sure the weapon was ready to fire and looked to the group to say, "So you know I won't be able to heal anyone else today. I have tapped out of my magic already so all I can do is provide fire support with this. What we have going in now is it as afar as our health so be careful." With that she was ready to descend into the sewers.

As they began to make their way through the dank stench of the sewer Valeria was really wishing she wasn't still such a do gooder that she felt the need to do this. Unfortunately she was and she did so here she was. They seemed to run into a problem right away when they discovered the violet fungus. She didn't know anything about the stuff other than you didn't want to mess with such things if you could avoid it. "I don't see any other options unless we can kill it from over here."

"Not sure I like that plan, but I would not be offended by you going there first..." Lope raises his sword in a defensive stance and looks at the fungus the others have spotted.

The Aldori let's the halfling do, but when Triphylla moves to engage the fungus, he moves after her, just walking 10' behind her.

With the "plan" ore or less settled, Triphylla stows her vials of alchemists fire and drinks her Shield extract. Then she draws her sickle and moves in to engage the fungus.

Surprise round?

Move and attack

Fighting defensively: 1d20 + 5 - 4 ⇒ (12) + 5 - 4 = 13
Damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

AC22. Triphylla can move to draw its AOO on her turn so the rest of the party can move past it.

Of course I did that wrong. Move into melee, no attack. AC20

Re leveling: House rule if you level up, all daily resources (including spell slots) are recharged as if you had slept for 8 hours.
Re a surprise round: If the party had adopted a stealthy approach that might have worked :)

The party moved into attack and the fungus reared up it it's full height with tentacles writhing in anticipation!

Despite my description, IIRC per the rules it's flat footed until it gets to act - i.e. no AOO for Triphylla unless she defers.

Environment: Normal brightness

Buffs and Debuffs:

---- Round 1 ----
Cyrene
Triphylla Shield (AC 22) (27 rounds), Anti-toxin
Julia
Purple Fungus
Lope
Valeria
---- Round 2 ----
Cyrene
Triphylla Shield (AC 22) (26 rounds), Anti-toxin
Julia
Purple Fungus
Lope
Valeria

COMBAT ORDER:
Cyrene <----- WE ARE HERE
Triphylla
Julia
Purple Fungus
Lope
Valeria

Cyrene, Triphylla and Julia are up. Triphylla feel free to change actions (but not the d20 roll) if the above information would have led you to do anything differently.

No change to Triphylla's actions.

Cyrene, seeing the opportunity, runs straight past the fungus and (hopefully) to safety on the other side!

Padding lightly, Cyrene shoots past the fungus which was too slow to react. Again before it could respond, Triphylla cautiously closed to attack (and knowing what she did about it's touch rotting flesh, who could blame her?). She made a tentative thrust but her blade skidded off the towering fungus's tough outer hide.

Botting Julia
Julia rushed past and then struck up a traditional Taldan battlesong, harking back to the heady days of the Third Army of Exploration.

The fungus was more than glad enough to pounce upon the tasty smelling halfling meal that had literally fallen into it's lap. It's many purple tentacles flailed out, deflected by Triphylla's magical warding. Still she couldn't help but wonder how badly it would hurt if she got hit, her skin would suddenly sag and discolor as the strength drained out and the rot set in...

Tentacle: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15Damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2 <--- MISS
Tentacle: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11Damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5 <--- MISS
Tentacle: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 17Damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3 <--- MISS
Tentacle: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21Damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4 <--- MISS

Fort: Triphylla DC 15: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (10) + 11 = 21 <--- PASS

Environment: Normal brightness

Buffs and Debuffs:

---- Round 1 ----
Cyrene
Triphylla Shield (AC 22) (27 rounds), Anti-toxin
Julia
Purple Fungus
Lope
Valeria
---- Round 2 ----
Cyrene
Triphylla Shield (AC 22) (26 rounds), Anti-toxin
Julia
Purple Fungus
Lope
Valeria

Damage Log:

Round: 1

Totals:

COMBAT ORDER:
Cyrene
Triphylla
Julia
Purple Fungus
Lope <----- WE ARE HERE
Valeria

Party is up.

I realize now I should have reiterated my action. Fighting defensively, Triphylla's at AC22. AC20 was for a potential surprise round with no attack.

OK then it missed.

As Julia joins Cyrene on the other side, the bard will look on towards Triphylla and hope that the halfling's distraction will pay off without her getting hurt or worse in the process. She's ready to jump in with her rapier and antitoxin if worse comes to worse.

Are you deferring Julia?

Lope follows in after Triphylla, as he sees she is attacked, he thrust in with his blade that suddenly crackles with arcane magic "You better leave away my friend legged mushroom!"
arcane pooled aldori dueling sword+IC: 1d20 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 8 + 1 = 15
Slashing/Magical damage+IC: 1d8 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 5 + 1 = 11

AC 19 TAC 18
arcane pool 4/5 (swift) 1 min

Triphylla can't help but feel a swell of courage in her heart as Lope joins her in the diversion.

"With your skill we may kill this thing yet, Lope!"

DM, can everyone see the secret door after Triphylla pointed it out or do they also need to pass the perception check?

Cyrene waits, unable to do anything of use without a ranged weapon.

Hold Action. Although I suspect I won't use it.

Everyone knows where to look, although some of the party are probably a bit busy.

AOO Tentacle: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11Damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3 <--- MISS

As Lope moved into attack, one of the fungus's tentacles whipped around towards him, but he parried this and turned the motion into a deep cut which caused the creature to emit a trilling screech!

I'll bot Valeria in the morning if needs be.

Are you deferring Julia?

I was waiting to see if Triphylla would be able to get out range of the fungi but it looks like we're fighting. I'm fine with deferring for that round though.