[Outpost VI] Feast of Ravenmoor (Inactive)

Game Master Redelia

Nilah is both exhausted and flustered by the explanation.

Ritual...? How often do they need to make a sacrifice like this? We should stop this from happening.

As the battle ends as quickly as it began, for Bahram in any case, the archaeologist finds himself in a strange situation indeed! This is not quite what he suspected.

"I suppose our tax collector was a sacrifice as well then?"

Xivio agrees with the others. "Sounds like we should get down to this ceremony and see what is going on and put a stop to it!"

Zubb Zubb's feathers ruffle at the entire situation.

"Brawk." is all he says, with a coldness in the caw that makes it clear he will join the battle.

Nyshka is eager to put a stop to whatever human sacrificing activities going on here.

She does support Jack in asking the girl and her parents if the tax collector met a similar fate, and also asks more about the ritual. "Who is really involved in this? Does the whole town know? Just how deep does this evil seep?"

"Yes, the previous tax collector was sacrificed last month. And no, the ordinary citizens believe the town still worships Desna, as it did at first. Our founder actually converted from the worship of Desna to the worship of Glaunder, but only a few know. They will all be present for the sacrifice in a few minutes."

The family seems grateful for your healing, and that you will save Shel. They seem to think carefully for a moment, and then tell you that you should go to the maze at the Chenowitz Place, rather than go into the house and barn. The house, the barn, and the Desna effigy in the front lawn are all just traps or where low level cult members are; the leadership and place of worship are in the maze.

I've revealed the map, but not the locations of bad guys. Let me know how you proceed.

A maze? Is it simple or can you give us clues about traversing it quickly?

She donning her mithril shirt as she asks, ready to head out.

"The maze should not be a problem."

The paladin is ready to go bust up wicked cult and save the town.

She recommends the family lay as low as possible for a while, and also asks them "What is the connection to all these damned stirges?"

"The stirges are because of Glaunder. The ordinary townsfolk don't know that, of course."

With the information from the Lupescu family, you are able to bypass the rest of the area and safely make your way to the maze.

Please put your tokens in the purple box on the map and let me know if you do anything other than walk straight into the maze. Also let me know of any buffs you put up before you enter.

Buffing:
False Life: 1d10 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8
Unseen Servant
Bless (4 minutes)

Also, Using Guidance on a Survival roll to look for tracks that show more wear on frequented paths than others. Will take Aid Anothers.

Survival: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (5) + 12 = 17

"Brawk! I say we put one hand on the right wall, and keep walking until we reach the exit. Unless someone has a better idea."

Zubb Zubb also lights a candle, hoping it will allow him to see 10' ahead, without being as obvious as a light spell. Low light vision

Mahakala will cast a spell on both himself and Taayar before they prepare to enter the maze. The druid will also activate his ioun stone so he can see as he alas cannot see in the dark.

"Follow the old rule of turning right sounds like a good idea" he says to Zubb Zubb.

Bahram will do a bit of buffing to prepare himself for any nasty surprises in the maze. He gives a noncommittal shrug at the suggestion of taking right turns.

"I'm a left turn kinda guy myself, but I don't suppose it really matters. It's all just a bit of luck, isn't it?"

Placed

Nilah approaches the maze warily. As she does, she scans the entrance with her arcane eye.

Detect magic

Nyshka is ready to go whichever way.

To keep things moving, I placed Xivio's token.

Detect magic doesn't turn up much, besides perhaps a magic weapon and a potion or so.

A swarm of hungry mosquitos moves towards you.

Bahram, Zubb Zubb, and Xivio you're up first.
Xivio, you can still let me know any buffs you want before you enter the maze.

edit: I forgot to make sure you know the red pac-man is the mosquito swarm

Before the group enters the maze, Xivio uses his wand of Mage Armor on himself and also offers it to anyone who might need it.

Spying the swarm of mosquitos, Xivio moves forward and engulfs it with a blast of flame.

spend 1 point of Arcane Reservoir to boost the Caster level by 2 to 4

Burning Hands, fire dmg: 4d4 ⇒ (1, 1, 4, 3) = 9 DC 16 Reflex for half

save roll: 1d20 ⇒ 12
Save failed; takes 1 1/2 times damage because it's a swarm.

Bahram will pull a flask from his hip sash, and toss it at the swarm.

"What's with this cult and bloodsuckers?"

Alchemist's fire: 1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 5 + 2 = 81d6 ⇒ 6

"Gah! Why is this flask wet?"

miss direction, clockwise, 1 up: 1d8 ⇒ 8

1 splash damage to the swarm.

Zubb Zubb is up.

botting Zubb Zubb to keep things moving; it's quite obvious what he should do against a swarm immune to weapon damage.

burning hands damage: 4d4 ⇒ (3, 3, 1, 1) = 8
save roll: 1d20 ⇒ 16
made the save, takes 1 1/2 times damage on the half damage.

the enemy is now at 20 damage.

It moves over the top of Xivio.
triggering an AoO, but immune to weapon damage

damage: 2d6 ⇒ (3, 2) = 5

Xivio, I need a fort save from you due to the mosquito bites.

The entire party is up.

status:
swarm -20 HP
Zubb Zubb -1 con; Mahakala -2 Con; Nilah (-2 Con); Xivio -5 HP, fort save against disease needed, bleed

Oof. Caught without any AoE options.

Nilah brandishes her scimitar but she knows it won't do any good here. She growls under her breath in frustration.

Mahakala will wave Taayar away to guard their flank knowing her jaws cannot effect the minuscule insects, and sigh realizing he had not replenished his alchemist fire from his last outing for the society. Unable to harm the annoying pests he'll retrieve his wand from his bag, this time cursing himself for not buying those spring loaded wrist sheaths he had seen in Absalom, and step down to the south.

Hopefully spreading out will help mitigate how much damage we take, and if lucky i'll be able to use this wand to fixup Xivio

Apologies for the long delay. We can pretend I had another Burning Hands memorized and I'll strike off something else. :)

Fort vs mosquito bites: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22

Will take my actual turn in a bit.

Nyshka takes a 5 foot step to get closer and draws a flask of alchemists fire - her only one.

She will wait for Xivio to get out of the swarm and then throw it.

Alchemists Fire Ranged Touch: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9 Fire Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 5
Aw come one!
miss 1 up clockwise: 1d8 ⇒ 5

The bottle crashes into the wall, dealing only a little splash to swarm.

"I don't suppose you can do that again Xivio?"

Nyshka, please use my campaign service coin giftable reroll on that attack. It has a +4 to it from my GM stars. Do not reroll the damage or miss direction.

Apologies for the long delay. We can pretend I had another Burning Hands memorized and I'll strike off something else. :)

Oops; I did not realize you were not removing spells from your list as you used them. GM error in your favor, so it stands as is; please do consider some other spell used.

The swarm continues to take damage from last round's alchemist fire

Alch fire rd. 2: 1d6 ⇒ 5

Bahram will move off to the side a bit and ready another flask.

IF no one else kills it, Bahram will throw another at it, before it has a chance to go.

Alch fire: 1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 5 + 2 = 171d6 ⇒ 2

"Sorry Xivio!"

If we still need that reroll
Reroll Alch Fire: 1d20 + 4 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 + 4 = 11
nailed it! barely

Nyshka's goddess is of luck and fortune so she sees it as divine intervention.
"Luck shines upon the righteous when even ability and planning falter!"

Bahram, there is no continuing damage, because it was only splash last turn. I'll keep that damage roll to use on your second alchemists' fire if it's needed, though... :)

With Nyshka's alchemists' fire, the swarm is at -25 HP. It's not gone yet, but looking pretty ragged.

I'm waiting to see what Xivio can do; then I'll apply Bahram's attack if needed.

True, my bad

Sorry for the delay - traveling yesterday

Xivio steps out of the swarm and then blasts it with a splash of acid.

I can't actually remember if swarms are immune to the Acid Splash cantrip - I don't *think* so - but if they are, and if this is something that Xivio would know, then he'll instead retrieve and throw an Alchemist's Fire

Acid Splash ranged touch attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23
acid dmg, acid as a Focus component: 1d3 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

Yes, Xivio would know that a swarm is immune to spells with a single target. We'll keep that attack roll; it would hit even if the bonuses were a little different.

damage: 1d6 ⇒ 4

Xivio's alchemist's fire hits the swarm, hurting it badly, and Bahram's finishes it off.

bleed on Xivio: 1d6 ⇒ 6

end of combat. Pausing a moment for reactions and any healing

status:
swarm -20 HP
Zubb Zubb -1 con; Mahakala -2 Con; Nilah (-2 Con); Xivio -11 HP, bleed

Looking at my inventory, I would have used a flask of Acid instead of Alchemist's Fire. Still does 1d6 dmg so hopefully doesn't matter.

While Xivio bleeds, he offers his wand of CLW to one of his comrades to heal him and stop the bleeding. Then he uses a pearl of power to recover his Burning Hands spell.

Mahakala will tap Xivio with their wand as many times as they request as they took the brunt of the swarm's fury.

"Hopefully that's the last of angry swarms of insects as i forgot to restock my supplies. Might i suggest we press on and try to locate the heart of this both maze and root of the towns problems?"

Yes, and hopefully any more foes we encounter have a more solid form... she remarks as she follows Mahakala's lead, pointing the way with her scimitar.

Bahram nods along with Mahakala and Nilah. "That was my last alchy fire too. Well, there's a path right here, leading to the center. Shall we?"

After everyone is healed, Bahram will begin his way north, eyes peeled for traps.

CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9
CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

Xivio scratches his quickly healing mosquito bites as the group continues on its way.

Please put yourselves either in the red box or the yellow box, whichever matches the direction you choose to go.

Nyshka votes to go right, on the theory that going away from the swarm's origin may lead to more proper evildoers and not more unhittable bugs. She also espouses to the philosophy of turning right in dungeons.

Xivio follows along to the right, confident that nothing could possibly go wrong.

Bahram and Zubb Zubb hear something sneaking up behind you and are able to turn around in time to act in the surprise round. It looks like the mayor's younger brother, but something is wrong with it.

Bahram and Zubb Zubb may take their surprise round actions.

He attacks Xivio with a sword.
attack: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (11) + 8 = 19

damage: 1d8 + 4 + 2d6 ⇒ (5) + 4 + (4, 5) = 18

"That guy again?!" Bahram's annoyance flees him as he sees the brother's sword almost drop Xivio with one vicious swipe!

Bahram rushes back to her aid, swinging down his own mighty weapon, calling on his Archaeologist's luck.

+1 great axe: 1d20 + 7 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 7 + 2 + 2 = 231d12 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 4 + 2 = 18

Archaeologist's luck: +2 attack and damage
Heroism: +2 attack

surprise round, so you can only move, Bahram, but we'll keep that attack for your first full turn

I knew that, sorry. And thanks.

Zubb Zubb steps back, out of the fray, then casts Bless.

+1 morale bonus on attack rolls and on saving throws against fear for 4 minutes

Zubb Zubb takes a moment to look at the thing.

"Brawk! Bahram, it's listing left, it's leaving it's right hip vulnerable. Brawk!"

Combat Advice give Brahman +2 competence bonus on his next attack on the brother.

lol! Zubbs did it too. Zubbs Zubbs, We can only move, or take a single action, during surprise round.

I'm going to interpret that as Zubb Zubb moving this turn, and casting bless next turn.

The bad guy hacks again at Xivio.

attack: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (20) + 8 = 28
confirm: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26

damage, crit, sneak: 2d8 + 8 + 2d6 ⇒ (2, 1) + 8 + (6, 3) = 20

Xivio is now down by 38 HP, and 38-25=13.

Xivio is at -13 HP, and has 14 Con, so he is still alive, but things are desperate.

The party is now up.