Ironperenti's Shattered Star AP

Game Master Ironperenti

I opened the cells, yes, you checked those. That's where you found the ring.

No one sees anything move within the range of your light and/or vision.

"A room with pillars in it? Interesting. It must have a tall ceiling, or have some other reason to need those pillars."

Continue moving in? And in case it was not clearly explained, the first group is looking for pieces of an artifact, the second is following up on the disappearances of citizens. Both have led you here. I say this just in case anyone is questioning why you would continue to endanger yourselves.

I say yes, we want to "clear" the area before we take those steps.

"Let's keep going. Let's see if we can clear the webs aside with a blade or a stick. If not, let's pull a foot or so of web off and put fire to it. That way we can see how flammable the web is before we put flame to the entire corridor."

Molasbar will offer his club for trying to push aside webs if no one wants to use one of their items.

You test some of the strands near the door. They are hackable but tough. A fire test shows that while they burn up easily enough the web melts more than blazes so they disappear where the fire touches them but do not burn very well on their own.

Cimrôdel halts, his gaze drifting upward to the spiderwebs stretched across the passageway. He raises an eyebrow, watching as Molasbar’s flames lick at the webs, only to fizzle out before clearing the hallway entirely. With a slight tilt of his head, Cimrôdel makes a quiet, dry observation.

"Ah, yes. An admirable effort, Molasbar, though it seems our clicky-legged friend has woven something more resilient than your fire cares to handle."

He glances back at the webs, his fingers brushing his chin thoughtfully.

"I suppose we will need to be a bit more creative in dealing with this obstruction. Or, perhaps, our host will make an appearance to assist?"

Try Acid? I think some of you spellcasting ones may have that available

Alternatively lure it, prestitate some rope to look white, ill put the rope on and pretend to be a damsel in distress, which, at least according to pictured books some dudes in the serpents run have in their lockers, is almost certain to lure in something, but definitly do the acid first

Aurie says with characteristic nonchalance.

Cimrôdel watches the lingering embers from Molasbar’s attempt at burning the webs. His eyes narrow in thought before he steps forward, lifting his hand with a calculated flick of his wrist.

"Let us try something a bit more... corrosive."

He murmurs the incantation, his tone calm and measured.

"Nallith’riss!"

A small orb of sizzling green acid forms at his fingertips before he directs it toward the thick webs, aiming to dissolve them where the fire could not.

Acid Splash: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 251d3 ⇒ 1 vs Touch

By descriptive actions, everyone has moved to the end of the passageway and are just outside the hall. I have moved you on the map to be just 5' from stepping into the vast hall with its pillars.

Still standing in the passage, Cimrodel fires off some acid. Like the fire, it melts the webs where it hits but otherwise the webbing is undisturbed further along the web lines. In some instances the fire and or acid melt support webs so that a web sheet collapses because its suspension has been destroyed.

Cimrôdel steps forward cautiously, his gaze fixed on the shadows that stretch beyond the pillars into the vast hall. The faint glow from his ioun stone does little to dispel the oppressive darkness ahead. He narrows his eyes, thoughtful.

"If I were a creature named Clickylegs, where would I lurk? Certainly not in the open... no, more likely hiding, waiting to catch some poor fool unaware. Perhaps in those webs or tucked away in the farthest corner of this forsaken chamber."

Molasbar will light one of his torches and hold it up to some of the webbing. He'll use it to start sweeping away some of the webs to clear the way. After clearing a little, he'll stop. He'll offer the torch to Aurie or Shathee to continue leading.

And thus the dashing redhead began the exploration of the spiderwebbed tunnels! Aurie narrates as she happily applies the torch.

Shathee follows Aurie with his sword drawn and watches for any movement from above or from crevices near them. "The best places for ambush aren't always where you can catch someone unaware. It's at least as effective to catch them in an area where you limit their ability to respond quickly." He eyes the columns in the room, noting how difficult it is to see with the torch's flickering flames through the webs.

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15

Cimrôdel cautiously follows Aurie and Shathee, his ioun stone casting a soft glow that mingles with the flickering light of the torch. As he advances, he keeps a measured distance, ensuring that the two adventurers remain between him and the unknown dangers lurking in the shadows.

"The interplay of light and darkness in these tunnels creates an unsettling atmosphere," he remarks, glancing at the webbing that clings to the walls. "Let us proceed with caution; we must remain vigilant for any signs of ambush."

Saria joins Aurie and Shatee at the front, hoping to at least wound anything that might come for them as it charges.

"I'll try to shed some light on anything that might beying in wait behind those pillars."

With a chant and a the accompanying gestures, Saria conjures four glowing balls of light near one of the pillars and tries to make them move behind each one, hoping their light reveals the shadows of anything hiding behind.

The group moves into the great hall clearing webs as they do so. It is such a large room that not even the darkvision of the lead pair can see the back wall but then Saria's light spread out into the room and the elves are able to see the far wall, everyone else can just make it out. There are numerous exits from the hall, each choked with webbing.

Shadows dance eerily around the room making everyone question if what they see is movement or flame flicker or dancing light shimmy. Then Molasbar see what they all feared. There on the ceiling are three giant spiders. Unlike the crab spiders which were the size of a medium sized dog, these monsters are as big as a man. He cries out just before he they each flex their lower abdomens and send blobs of webbing at the group. Aurie and Molasbar are hit finding themselves covered in thick webbing that are anchoring them to the floor (-2 on all attack rolls and -4 to Dexerity; escape artist DC 12 burst with STR DC 16).

Surprise round (standard action only)
Spiders
Cimrodel 18/18<<<
Shathee 19/19<<<
Saria 25/25<<<
Doc adams 28/28<<<
Aurie 20/26;<<<
Molasbar 22/22<<<

Round 1
Arodus 14, 4712
2045, 73 degrees, humid (outside)
Group mod: +2 Int/Wis rolls 5mins
Spiders<<<
Cimrodel 18/18
Shathee 19/19
Saria 25/25
Doc adams 28/28
Aurie 20/26;
Molasbar 22/22

Free action Urban bloodrage +4 Dex

escape artist: 1d20 + 11 - 2 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 11 - 2 + 2 + 2 = 14

Aurie seeks to squirrel out of the web holding her, but somehow fails!

That Escape Artist is a success, no auto fail for skills.

Aurie manages to free herself of the sticky webbing.

Surprise round (standard action only)
Spiders
Cimrodel 18/18<<<
Shathee 19/19<<<
Saria 25/25<<<
Doc adams 28/28<<<
Aurie 20/26;
Molasbar 22/22; entangled<<<

Round 1
Arodus 14, 4712
2045, 73 degrees, humid (outside)
Group mod: +2 Int/Wis rolls 5mins
Spiders uninjured/uninjured/uninjured<<<
Cimrodel 18/18
Shathee 19/19
Saria 25/25
Doc adams 28/28
Aurie 20/26;
Molasbar 22/22

Shathee steadies himself as the webbing narrowly misses him. He quickly readies his blade, awaiting the descent of the 8-legged monstrous beasts.

Reading attack vs. approach - I'll roll it to save time if it's needed. If it doesn't get provoked, we can safely ignore it.

Attack: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (9) + 8 = 17
Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Cimrôdel peers up at one of the menacing spiders clinging to the ceiling, its legs poised for an attack. He takes a deep breath, focusing his arcane energy.

"I shall show you the chill of magic, vile creature!"

With a flick of his wrist, he calls forth a ray of freezing air and ice, aiming directly at the spider, hoping to freeze it in its tracks.

Ray of Frost Attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24
Ray of Frost Damage: 1d3 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Doc peers at their enemy, trying to learn more about them, perhaps recognizing if they have any special defenses or resistances.

Knowledge (dungeoneering): 1d20 + 9 + 1d6 ⇒ (13) + 9 + (3) = 25

Unless he learns that fire is a bad choice, he'll throw a bottle of alchemist's fire at the closest of them (and the flask smells suspiciously like hard liquor!).

Ranged touch attack (splash weapon): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7
Fire damage on direct hit: 1d6 ⇒ 4
Splash damage: 1
A creature hit directly will take an additional 1d6 fire damage next turn unless it spends a full-round action putting out the flames by making a DC 15 Reflex save.

Molasbar curses as he is restrained with the sticky strands. Rather than fight them, he concentrates on a spell to help him escape. Casting grease on himself, Concentrate 1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 5 + 2 = 22. That should succeed! Gives him +10 to escape next round.

Aurie wriggles out of the webs. Doc's throw falls short and lands several feet into the hall catching some webbing on fire and creating a small hazard but you doubt it will spread. Molasbar does indeed get his spell off and Cimrodel's hits the nearest spider. Like Shathee, Saria readies an attack should one get close enough but they do not.

The spiders continue to hang about 20' off the floor and again flex their abdomens and spray the group with webbing. Aurie and shathee at the front get targeted as does Saria. The agile pair up front manage to dodge the worst of it but Saria is webbed (-2 on all attack rolls and -4 to Dexerity; escape artist DC 12 burst with STR DC 16).

Round 1
Arodus 14, 4712
2045, 73 degrees, humid (outside)
Group mod: +2 Int/Wis rolls 5mins
Spiders -1 lightly injured/uninjured/uninjured
Cimrodel 18/18<<<
Shathee 19/19<<<
Saria 25/25<<<
Doc adams 28/28<<<
Aurie 20/26;<<<
Molasbar 22/22; entangled, greased<<<

"Round 1

Cimrôdel glances at the numerous spiders crawling along the ceiling, a frown deepening on his face.

"Alas, if only I possessed a spell capable of dispatching all these arachnids at once! How tedious to face each one individually."

With a resigned sigh, he steadies himself, channeling his arcane energy once more.

"Very well, I shall make do with what I have!" He raises his hand and fires another ray of freezing air toward the injured spider.

Ray of Frost Attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16
Ray of Frost Damage: 1d3 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

Seeing the spiders keep their distance, Shathee draws his bow, sliding his shortsword back into its small scabbard.

Tried to read up on the action economy of drawing and stowing weapons and I'm still not completely positive. Seems if you have a +1 BAB, you can draw a weapon as part of move action. Since stowing a weapon is a move action, can I draw a weapon as part of that action as the bow is coming off of his shoulder? I'll include a shot, but ignore and let me know if that is two separate move actions.

Drawing back his bow and aiming up high, he lets an arrow fly towards the dimly lit horrors.

Shortbow: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13
Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 2

Doc curses under his breath and quickly draws another flask, hurling it toward the spiders again while murmuring a half-hearted Caydenite prayer.

Ranged touch attack (splash weapon): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 18
Fire damage on direct hit: 1d6 ⇒ 1
Splash damage: 1
A creature hit directly will take an additional 1d6 fire damage next turn unless it spends a full-round action putting out the flames by making a DC 15 Reflex save.

Our terrible damage rolls will be our undoing!

Cimrodel hits the spider again causing it to shudder. Shathee just narrowly misses one and Doc finally hits one causing it to catch on fire. It drops from it web line hitting the ground with legs splayed (dmg 5).

Round 1
Arodus 14, 4712
2045, 73 degrees, humid (outside)
Group mod: +2 Int/Wis rolls 5mins
Spiders -6 moderately injured/-6 moderately injured/uninjured
Cimrodel 18/18
Shathee 19/19
Saria 25/25<<<
Doc adams 28/28
Aurie 20/26;<<<
Molasbar 22/22; entangled, greased<<<

Molasbar tries to free himself from the web. Escape artist 1d20 + 3 + 10 ⇒ (15) + 3 + 10 = 28

Welcome to the dancefloor! Lets see if 8 legs dance better then 2!

Aurie moves to strike at the spider that fell

escape artist or acrobatics to move through webbed squares if needed: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (14) + 10 = 24

And likely manages to avoid any entanglements

attack: 1d20 + 5 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 5 + 2 + 1 = 27
damage: 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8

crit confirm: 1d20 + 5 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 5 + 2 + 1 = 21 Falcata is X3 so
damage: 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9
damage: 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8

Assuming this confirms

With a massive strike, Aurie reduces the number of limbs the spider has for 8 to 6, and also cuts off its mandibles while she is at it.

Escape Artist: 1d20 + 2 - 2 - 3 ⇒ (2) + 2 - 2 - 3 = -1

Saria does her best to wriggle free of the webbing, but is unable to move much at all, hindered both by the web and by her armour's bulk.

"Sorry, everyone, I don't think I can be of much help like this."

Aurie dismembers the spider that fell and leaves it lying in a pile. Molasbar, for his part, takes advantage of his earlier grease spell and slips out of the webbing; Saria is not so lucky.

The spiders continue the assault from above showing no interest in getting close for combat. Though cunning, they are not very bright and target the front two again. Shathee is hit, Aurie agains dodges. (Web: entangled, -2 on all attack rolls and -4 to Dexerity; escape artist DC 12 burst with STR DC 16)

Round 2
Arodus 14, 4712
2045, 73 degrees, humid (outside)
Group mod: +2 Int/Wis rolls 5mins
Spiders -6 moderately injured/uninjured
Cimrodel 18/18<<<
Shathee 19/19<<<
Saria 25/25 entangled<<<
Doc adams 28/28<<<
Aurie 20/26;<<<
Molasbar 22/22; greased<<<

Round 2

Cimrôdel's blue-green eyes narrowed as he focused on the injured spider clinging to the ceiling. He could not allow it to escape his wrath. Channeling the icy energy of the arcane, he extended his hand and intoned, "Fro'lanas!" The air around him shimmered with frost as a chilling ray shot forth, aimed squarely at the spider.

Ray of Frost Attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18
Ray of Frost Damage: 1d3 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

Round 2

Cimrôdel's blue-green eyes narrowed as he focused on the injured spider clinging to the ceiling. He could not allow it to escape his wrath. Channeling the icy energy of the arcane, he extended his hand and intoned, "Fro'lanas!" The air around him shimmered with frost as a chilling ray shot forth, aimed squarely at the spider.

Wow! I screwed up the formatting on that one didn't I. Ok, here it is corrected.

Escape Artist: 1d20 + 2 - 2 - 3 ⇒ (15) + 2 - 2 - 3 = 12

Saria continues to try to get herself free from the web, and it seems to go much better this time.

Doc draws another flask, attempting to use it to knock the other spider down as well.

Ranged touch attack (splash weapon): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9
Fire damage on direct hit: 1d6 ⇒ 5
Splash damage: 1
A creature hit directly will take an additional 1d6 fire damage next turn unless it spends a full-round action putting out the flames by making a DC 15 Reflex save.
Fire damage for spider hit last round: 1d6 ⇒ 6

The spider hit last round is the one that fell and was hacked to pieces by Aurie.

The hacked apart spider continues to burn giving the room a surreal look as the flames flicker and cast strange shadows. Saria manages to draw herself free of the webbing and Cimrodel hits the injured spider with another ray of frost. Doc tries to hit another spider but his throw is short and falls a little further down the hall.

Round 2
Arodus 14, 4712
2045, 73 degrees, humid (outside)
Group mod: +2 Int/Wis rolls 5mins
Spiders -6 moderately injured/uninjured
Cimrodel 18/18
Shathee 19/19<<<
Saria 25/25
Doc adams 28/28
Aurie 20/26;<<<
Molasbar 22/22; greased<<<

Shathee quickly squirms out of the webbing, eager to break free and fire at the two hanging from the ceiling again and hopeful he can dodge any future incoming attacks. As he slides out of the webs, he feels the air currents continue to flow around him once more.

Escape Artist: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (19) + 11 = 30

The last attack definitely hit, but just a reminder Shathee has a +2 racial bonus to AC against non-magical ranged attacks. So he is effectively at AC 20 / Touch 17.

Molasbar peers through the webbing, trying to identify targets as he readies his bow. Seeing a creature not far from Shathee, he nocks an arrow and looses it.

Move action to ready bow, then attack the spider near Shathee. To hit 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13, damage 1d8 + 0 ⇒ (2) + 0 = 2.

Shathee slips from the webs preparing to shoot at the spiders should the opportunity present itself. Molasbar's arrow hits the spider but at a bad angle and skips off the monsters exoskeleton. Aurie holds her action waiting for another spider to fall.

The reason unknown, after all who can fathom the thoughts of a spider, first one and then the other go back up their web and disappear behind sheets of webbing that line the ceiling.

Round 3
Arodus 14, 4712
2045, 73 degrees, humid (outside)
Group mod: +2 Int/Wis rolls 5mins
Spiders -6 moderately injured/uninjured
Cimrodel 18/18<<<
Shathee 19/19<<<
Saria 25/25<<<
Doc adams 28/28<<<
Aurie 20/26;<<<
Molasbar 22/22; greased<<<

Cimrôdel readies another blast of cold should an enemy provide him the opportunity.

"A bit hard to fight what we can't see... And I don't think we want to move in much further into those webs, right? Any ideas on how to deal with these things?"

Saria dorects the floating lights to follow the spiders up, not really confident that they will help spot them through the layers of web up above. Figuring Doc's approach is the best she can take right now, she too takes out a flask of alchemist fire and prepares to throw it if one of the spiders become visible.

The spiders, after waiting a moment seem to have lost their interest at the moment. You can wait them out, take some sort of action to get them to come out, or you could explore any of the exits from this large hall.

Can we salvage something? Silk is theoretically valuable, but I have no idea if this silk is of any possibly use to a tailor or alchemist.

Aurie offers

Craft (alchemy), tears to wine: 1d20 + 10 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 10 + 2 = 22

Doc shrugs. "Silk, huh? I don't think I could do anything with it, but that don't mean it isn't valuable. Let's keep movin'? I'm guessin' we scared those spiders away, but they might come back with reinforcements if we hang around here too long."

You can see through the open passages near you that the east side opens into a room and has another passage leading south. The western passage opens into a squarish room and has passages leading both west and south from it. The rooms and passages seem to be decorated in spiderweb.

There are other passages on the south end that the elves were able to see but I have not revealed much down there as you have not moved very far.

"Well, if we're moving further in, I agree with Doc. Better do it quickly before they come back."

If noone objects, Saria sends the dancing lights towards the eastern passage and starts cautiously moving after them.

Sounds good.