Ed's Rusthenge

Game Master fine_young_misanthrope

back to the grind in Stoneholm or somewhere else?

We seem to have what we need. We should go back to the citadel, examine the deceased, and then head out into the tunnels the evil people exited through

Kazmuk massages his sore hands forlornly in-between mugs of beer. "Ooh, me hands are sore. If only I had some potent handwraps to protect me hands and let me hit better."

He goes off to talk to the team and get them to pool their money and buy some hand wraps from the local blacksmith or magic user.

+1 hand wraps get. Kazmuk agrees with going back to the citadels, examining the deceased then down into the tunnels. He is interested in using his medical expertise to examine the rust on the bodies.

The Swashbuckler smiles at the Barbarian.
Nice wraps. Match your eyes. We ready?

The Swashbuckler smiles at the Barbarian.

Nice wraps. Match your eyes. We ready?

"The dancer is NOT wrong, wow, they really look dwarfy, that's awesome."

"Well, we paid aboot 1 Gold for fast shippin so it had bettah be woorth eet. Again, thank ye both for the wraps..." Kazmuk holds out his blank wraps, exposing the clean, unwritten bits. "Wanna sign 'em?" He asks the party.

Kazmuk is ready to go.

Back to Stoneholm! Im gonna say you take 20 and spend an hour or two completing covering the joint. Nothing else is here. Is that ok or do you want to go anywhere else?

Back to Stoneholm! Im gonna say you take 20 and spend an hour or two completing covering the joint. Nothing else is here. Is that ok or do you want to go anywhere else?

Totally okay with me. We just needed to be sure that the Elder and Captain are not among the deceased.

"Let's check another place." Thalassa suggests to the group.

Blueberry Peat frowns as they leave the bar. "The sailor who hired us said that Captain Perrios was a human woman with a tricorn hat, which does not match the description given by these sailors. Perhaps they were too far into their drink? We should do one last review of the upper levels to be sure we haven't missing anything, but the smith indicates that maybe more people were taken down into the tunnels, so maybe he just didn't see her."

Before heading into the tunnels, they mix up some of their fruits into an alchemical potion, a lesser antiplague and drink it, fortifying them against disease.

All sounds good! You do search the place from top to bottom. And quite literally the top. When you go back to the very top of the place and get a little too close for comfort to the heads on pikes on the room, you unfortunately find the captain. He is very dead, but you do have closure.

Do you want to go back and tell them?

All sounds good! You do search the place from top to bottom. And quite literally the top. When you go back to the very top of the place and get a little too close for comfort to the heads on pikes on the room, you unfortunately find the captain. He is very dead, but you do have closure.

Do you want to go back and tell them?

Without a spell like Gentle Repose, we really can't preserve the head of the captain, but we could at least take it with us. Jacen is disinclined to spend the time to inform them now though, when both the Elder and Osprey Cover are hanging in the balance.

Our druid could prepare the spell, but it would be effectively a wasted slot till we get it to the ship. Kazmuk also wants to move on.

Kazmuk looks at the head sadly. "Well, that's that huh. Let's make sure the Elder doesn't suffer the same fate."

Caine just looks down at the dead Captain. The Amurun nods at both Kazmuk and Jacen.
Tunnels?

"Yes, not to be disrespectful, but that crew can wait a bit more time," Caleb suggests. "Their captain is already dead, but the elder may still be alive."

"Yes, now, our leader needs us more than ever!"

Our druid could prepare the spell, but it would be effectively a wasted slot till we get it to the ship. Kazmuk also wants to move on.

Unfortunately, Thalassa can't prepare it because it is a level 2 spell.

Thalassa murmurs a short prayer for the soul of the captain before joining the others for the leaders.

off to the below! You head into the basement and walk into the dark. After going deeper you come upon a rusted iron door stands in the northern wall of this chamber. A series of symbols are embossed on the door, arrayed around a much larger shape that’s been gouged into the rust: a spiked horseshoe. The door emits a strange brownish-red glow and has no visible handles, latches, or hinges.
map
Does anyone speak Thassilonian?

Caine just stares at the handle-less door. The Amurun expecting a lock smith, engineer or wizard with Pass wall to show up....

off to the below! You head into the basement and walk into the dark. After going deeper you come upon a rusted iron door stands in the northern wall of this chamber. A series of symbols are embossed on the door, arrayed around a much larger shape that’s been gouged into the rust: a spiked horseshoe. The door emits a strange brownish-red glow and has no visible handles, latches, or hinges.

map
Does anyone speak Thassilonian?

Jacen does. I figured that sort of went with LORE:Thassilon so I chose that and draconic and sylvan

Thalassa stares as well and looks at anyone who might understand what the symbol means.

She finds the glowing very eerie.

Blueberry Peat considers the evidence, but trusts the others on the judgement that this person's head is Captain Perrios. Presumably it has the tricorn hat. Not being particularly familiar with the humanoid concept of gender, they don't question the fact that they were told they were looking for a female captain.

With that lead eliminated, Peat considers the evidence at hand and decides to re-orient their investigation toward Meitremar as the second lead, mentally going over all of the facts known about this merchant thus far. "It is curious, with how bloodthirsty this Ragnulf seems to be, that he would keep Meitremar alive. He must have truly nefarious purpose in mind for the merchant."

Once down in the lower levels, Peat looks at the symbols on the glowing door.

Don't speak Thasillonian, but will try a couple of checks

Recall Knowledge (Religion): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11
Decipher Writing (Society/Arcana/Occultism): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (11) + 8 = 19

fine_young_misanthrope wrote:

off to the below! You head into the basement and walk into the dark. After going deeper you come upon a rusted iron door stands in the northern wall of this chamber. A series of symbols are embossed on the door, arrayed around a much larger shape that’s been gouged into the rust: a spiked horseshoe. The door emits a strange brownish-red glow and has no visible handles, latches, or hinges.

map
Does anyone speak Thassilonian?

Jacen does. I figured that sort of went with LORE:Thassilon so I chose that and draconic and sylvan

Let me know if a LORE roll would help or if there is just something to read ...

Kazmuk has no idea what is happening and spaces out. He waits for the time when heads need to be cracked open.

Reading the door it says "Skymetal Workshop”. Your religion checks on the marks on the door are not quite there as you get something important, but not sure to who.

As you look at the door, you realize its not locks and is finely crafts. A basic push will open it.

What happens next?

Jacen shares with the group that the door is labeled SKYMETAL WORKSHOP, but he is not altogether certain what that means. He IS certain though that a great deal of cost and craftsmenship went into the door mechanism ...

Caine gives Jacen a thumbs up and pushes the door open....

Kazmuk pushes the door open with Caine...together.

You open the door and fine a wide hallway features a black marble floor and large murals on the east and west walls. Massive doors flank this hallway to the north and south.
As you open the door and step into the hall, the armors at the end begin to move!

Caine perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15
Caleb perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25
Thalassa perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14
Peat perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20
Kazmuk perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20
Jacen perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (11) + 3 = 14
armor perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15

Round 1, fight!
Caleb perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25
Peat perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20
Kazmuk perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20
armor perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15
Caine perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15
Thalassa perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14
Jacen perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (11) + 3 = 14

map updated

The Amurun wakes up, stretches, yawns and prepares to find an Elder....

Kazmuk rages!

"AAAHHH! Finally, a punching bag!" He yells with excitement.

Kazmuk Strides up to the right Statue and Strikes!

+1 Gorilla Punch: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (20) + 9 = 29

Bludgeoning: 1d10 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 4 + 2 = 8

That's a crit! Double damage to 16.

Kazmuk roars as he lands a heavy blow on the construct.

◆ Rage, ◆ Stride ◆ Strike

Blueberry Peat considers whether they know anything about this creature.

◆ Devise Strategem w/ free Identify Creature check from Know Weaknesses

I assume it's a construct, so Crafting or Arcana, both of which are +8

Devise Strategem: 1d20 ⇒ 6
Recall Knowledge: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15
Look for any weaknesses or resistances/immunities. If it's a construct, I'm assuming it has a hardnesses. My other two actions will likely depend somewhat on what I identify about it.

Blueberry Peat then realizes that probably blasting it with a hand crossbow won't do that much, and figures from this angle they won't be able to hit it.

Round 1, fight!
Caleb perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25
Peat perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20 learn!
Kazmuk perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20 smash!
armor perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15
Caine perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15
Thalassa perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14
Jacen perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (11) + 3 = 14

What you learn Peat- Hardness 9; Immunities bleed, death effects, disease, doomed, drained, fatigued, healing, mental, nonlethal attacks, paralyzed, poison, sickened, spirit, unconscious, vitality, void.

Kazmuk doesn't care and smashes hard! The creature takes the hit, but doesn't die. Aside from the sounds of cutting rusty metal and the creatures own halting grinding movements, its completely silent.

Post when you can!

Thalassa slashes her hand through the air, channeling miniature ripples of air from each finger to slice her enemies.
Slashing Gust Spell Attack: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9 vs Armor 1
Spell Damage: 2d4 ⇒ (1, 2) = 3 slashing damage

Slashing Gust Spell Attack: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13 vs Armor 1
Spell Damage: 2d4 ⇒ (3, 4) = 7 slashing damage

She then casts Guiadance for Kazmuk!

◆◆ Slashing Gust
◆ Guidance

Round 1, fight!
Caleb perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25
Peat perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20 learn!
Kazmuk perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20 smash!
armor perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15
Caine perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15
Thalassa perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14 Slash and slash!
Jacen perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (11) + 3 = 14

Thalassa moves up and starts swinging. She's a dervish, but the armors are near impenetrable impenetrable to her swings.

Caleb hangs back, "Unnatural creation! There's not much I can do about it."

Nothing in my kit against hardness 9!

Caine frowns at the sight of the Constructs, the impulsive advance of Kazmuk and the information parlayed to them by Blueberry Peat.
Retreat to draw them out, Kazmuk.The rest of you probably should take some steps back to allow for room to work in here.

The Swashbuckler then decides to Dance his way slightly into the chamber current position is fine, before Striking with his Starknife!
Performance (E) for Panache vs Will DC: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (5) + 10 = 15

Not quite satisfied with his Performance, the Amurun decides to add a bit of fancy foot work to the retinue.
Performance (E) for Panache vs Will DC: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (15) + 10 = 25

Quite satisfied at the flourish, the Swashbuckler Strikes!
Ranged(T) Star knife, Panache, flying blade: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (17) + 8 = 251d4 + 2 + 2d6 ⇒ (3) + 2 + (2, 6) = 13 Traits Agile Deadly d6 Finesse Thrown 20 ft. Versatile S x2

Battle Dancer

Peat looks dubiously at Caine, as if doubtful that the group's barbarian is in a position to heed the advice, but moves back and considers them more.

◆ Stride
◆ Recall Knowledge

Recall Knowledge: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26
Specifically would like to get a sense of their worst/best saves

Round 1, fight!
Caleb perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25 TOO HARD!
Peat perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20 learn!
Kazmuk perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20 smash!
armor perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15 move and slash!
Caine perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15 move up and cause problems!
Thalassa perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14 Slash and slash!
Jacen perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (11) + 3 = 14
'

Peat learns that worst save is reflex and best is fort.

Caleb lets out cry to tell the others about the difficulty of the creatures!

The armors move and attack the dwarf with glaive!
armors 1 attacks!: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (16) + 10 = 261d8 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6
armors 1 attacks!: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 121d8 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10
armors 1 attacks!: 1d20 ⇒ 31d8 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6
Armor 2 moves and attacks!
armors 2 attacks!: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (20) + 10 = 301d8 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6
armors 3 attacks!: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 241d8 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11

Caine gets the flank dancing in and hits hard. Not hard enough to drop the armor, but hard enough!

Post round 2!

Looks like one crit on the Dwarf! Gave you something to do healers!

Caleb casts a healing spell on doughty (but injured) dwarf!

heal: 1d8 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13

"Retreat if you can!" Thalassa advises to the dwarf. Thalassa has Battle Medicine.

She splashes Kazmuk with water for 1d4 ⇒ 1 temporary Hit Points, which last for 1 minute (fr Rousing Splash). She also casts Guidance to the dwarf.

◆◆ Rousing Splash
◆ Guidance to Kazmuk

Round 2, fight!
Caleb perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25 HEAL!
Peat perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20
Kazmuk perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20
armor perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15
Caine perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15
Thalassa perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14 Help!
Jacen perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (11) + 3 = 14

Caleb heals the dwarf! followed by Thalassa helping keep the dwarf alive as well.

Post when you can!

That's 26 damage, 21 after temp hp. After the ministrations of Caleb and Thalassa, I'm sitting at 8 wounds and 1 temp hp.

Kazmuk reels from the hits. With 1, 2, 3 swings from the rusted mechanical monstrosities, he feels himself get weaker and weaker. But with the ministrations of Thalassa and Caleb, he feels his wounds seal up. Assessing the situation, he decides to assist his cat friend by drawing attention away from him. He grins at the casters in the back and says, confidently: "Thanks! But ah got this!"

Kazmuk's punch is punctuated with an unintelligible roar of sheer monkey rage as he hammers into the right armour. I'll trip armour 2 if armour 1 is dead.

"OOH OOH OOH OOHHHHH!"

Monkey Punch, Guidance: 1d20 + 9 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 9 + 1 = 29

Bludgeoning: 1d10 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 4 + 2 = 15

He tries to make it harder for the armour to hit him by pushing it onto its rusty behind!

Trip, MAP1 (Agile by default): 1d20 + 8 - 4 ⇒ (17) + 8 - 4 = 21

Source for Athletic manuevers being agile by default

He Raises his Shield, taking cover behind it.

◆ Strike, ◆ Trip, ◆ Raise Shield

Reaction ⟳ : Call on Ancient Blood.

Round 2, fight!
Caleb perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25 HEAL!
Peat perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20
Kazmuk perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20 SMASH!
armor perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15
Caine perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15
Thalassa perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14 Help!
Jacen perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (11) + 3 = 14

Kazmuk gets mad and mashes armor to pieces and with one fluid motion trips armor 2 to the ground. On the up swing, he readies his shield for the next ones assault.

Post when you can!

The Amurun flips the lone robot the canary.
Intimidation(T) to Demoralize: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14

Caine begins Dancing to impress the lone robot.
Performance (E) for Panache vs Will DC: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (6) + 10 = 16

The Battle Dancer then takes out his other Starknife.

Round 2, fight!
Caleb perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25 HEAL!
Peat perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20
Kazmuk perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20 SMASH!
armor perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15
Caine perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15 dance!
Thalassa perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14 Help!
Jacen perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (11) + 3 = 14

Caine dances and attempts to intimidate and amaze. the construct does not care and stares with its empty eye holes.

Jacen scans the room for absolutely any indication of what might turn off the guardian ...

and I will happily roll anything that will help

Round 2, fight!
Caleb perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25 HEAL!
Peat perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20
Kazmuk perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20 SMASH!
armor perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15
Caine perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15 dance!
Thalassa perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14 Help!
Jacen perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (11) + 3 = 14 ready to help!

Jace gets ready to help, but the iron giants are near immune to damage

Post if you can If I dont see a post im going to post his attack against the cat, post your third round right away!