GM Rotation, The COREageous Crew

Game Master Pete H.

Go ahead and roll any active perception checks. I did a lot of secret rolls earlier because of a specific mechanic with the sorceress. I also usually assume most PC’s take 10 on perception at all times, unless they are making active investigations into something or have trap spotter.

Y’all can do stuff in the rooms shown above too, I just gave all the descriptions at once to speed up the basic exploration. There isn’t anything additionally hidden, but might be some interesting things to check out. Or not!

Perception check to find traps: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (17) + 12 = 29

Cortina takes her time to scan everything in every room with detect magic - especially the weapons, shields and armor(s) in the room with the skeleton (E4). She also looks if any of those are of a higher quality than the standard equipment.

In the room on the other side (E3) she wonders if that idol could be the one they were sent to recover.

But that would be too easy, wouldn't it? Hm...

Paloma helps Cortina with detecting magic just to help the chore go faster.

Cortina takes the time to thoroughly check out everything, but is quite disappointed there are no magical or even masterwork weapons or shields. Even the stupid statue is just a statue, but maybe it’s the artifact and you all can leave?

Jack looks around carefully
perception: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14

Did Paul find any traps on the hidden door?

Jack and Nal don’t find anything.

Paul also does not find any traps, though he thinks he hears the very faint distant sound of a claw scratching against stone somewhere on the other side.

The door is also clearly locked.

Noticing Paul's concentration, Paloma brings Cheeper near the locked door to sniff for dangers.

Then she assumes her usual place in line, behind Jack. "You found a key, right?" She prompts him.

"It's locked? Cashel, did the woman have a key?"

Cheeper doesn’t seem to indicate any creature smells. Perhaps the door blocking is an issue? Perhaps the creature is too far. Perhaps… it’s a ghost!

Jack blushes. I did not look m'lady. It did not seem to be the ... erm ... gentlemanly thing to do.

But I could always apply boot to door.

Cashel nods to Cortina.

"Yes, there was a key."

He then offers it to Jack.

"Do you want to give it a try?"

Jack takes the key and tentatively tries it in the lock in case something explodes.

*BOOM*

Is what Jack hears in his head as the simple padlock clicks open.

Paul readies his bow and nods to Jack, murmuring, "All set here."

No explosion means no traps .... right?

"I saw no signs of traps, but I heard something like claws scraping on stone. Be ready to fight, my friend."

Cortina wields her longspear with both hands, ready to strike.

"Let's explore further!"

The secret door opens easily onto a covered bridge forty feet across. The entire structure appears to be carved from a single red stone, but the centuries-long burial in sand has levied its toll. Long cracks line the walls and ceiling, and twenty feet along the bridge a seven-foot gash splits the floor in two, through which the dark orange stone of the valley below is visible. Spaced every ten feet on the walls are a series of massive carved heads: a pair of screaming fire elementals, a pair of humans clad in armor, and a pair of bull-headed men, each flanked by massive torches. The arch’s far end is carved into the shape of a massive leering face, with golden double doors in place of its mouth.

But more importantly than that is the leering face of a winged monster standing guard at the far door! It narrows its eyes and…

Initiative
Jack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11
Paloma: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6
Paul: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4
Nal: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11
Cashel: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5
Cortina: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 18

Enemy: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21

Flies forward to stab at Jack from a slightly elevated flying position!

Spear v FF + HG: 1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 7 + 1 = 19 for P: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

Round One: That floor is definitely an OSHA violation.
Flying monster (flying 5-ft up)
Cortina
Jack (-5 HP)
Nal
Paloma/Cheeper
Cashel
Paul

Bold may go!

If Trained, you may roll Knowledge “Planes”. With a success on your roll I will ID the creature. This ID will include basic type/subtype and one tidbit of knowledge. I will dole out the tidbits starting with signature special abilities and then working to more mechanical things like DR and other resistances. Multiple rolls from multiple players, assuming they both beat the DC, will grant additional information and not duplicate tidbits.

"Fall back and let it come to us!" Paul takes a short step away from the secret door, drawing his rapier while holding his shortbow in his other hand.

Cashel strokes his beard thoughtfully, as he tries to recall what the creature might be.

Knowledge(Planes): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26.

Not having a ranged weapon, Jack does exactly that.

Spears do not have reach, the creature is flying and attacking from above but is still adjacent. But if you wish to have them follow you all back into an ambush that’s cool.

@GM: Cortina has a longspear with reach. Can she attack the flying creature through the door from her current position?

possible AoO:
AoO cold iron longspear: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11 (+1 if bless was cast)
Piercing: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

Cashel is aware that this is a lesser host devil. A LE outsider with DR 5/good; Immune fire, poison; Resist acid 10, cold 10. It also has a sickening breath weapon but it only affects one enemy so I probably won’t waste everyone’s time using it. Yes the long spear can hit through the door.

Cortina misses with her stabbity stab.

Paloma directs Cheeper to Defend Jack, the cat slinks back next to the fighter, haunches bunched as if preparing to spring.

Handle Animal: 1d20 + 5 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 5 + 4 = 18

The druid loads her sling and looses a bullet at the flapping thing.

Sling Attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (14) + 3 = 17 Damage: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

Cheeper Bite AoO if provoked: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26 B,P&S Damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4
Cannot trip a flying creature, sadly.

Cheeper moves up and is definitely interested in catching the really big bird, but only if it attacks her best buddy Jack.

Paloma misses with her stone.

Since the enemy was in melee, Jack could retcon his step back if he wants. Or ready an attack in case the enemy moves up. Or stand pat.

Round One: That floor is definitely an OSHA violation.
Flying monster (flying 5-ft up)
Cortina
Jack (-5 HP, retcon or ready or stand pat?)
Nal
Paloma/Cheeper
Cashel
Paul

Bold may go!

Jack will ready an attack to strike at it as an Attack of Opportunity.

Cashel attempts to cover the devil's spear in bacon fat.

Grease. DC 15 Reflex save, or be unable to hold onto his weapon.

Nal would ready a strike for if the enemy moves into range I think. I won’t pre-roll it, let’s see how the grease works.

Reflex: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11

Hissing in anger as his weapon slips out of his grasp, the creature easily flaps forward (5-ft hover, no check necessary) to the wizard and attempts to rip his face off with two sets of sharp claws!

Claw 1: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25 for 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2
Claw 2: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13 for 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

And quite a bit of his face is ripped up!

Round Two: That floor is definitely an OSHA violation.
Devil (flying 5-ft up)
Cortina
Jack (-5 HP)
Nal
Paloma/Cheeper
Cashel (-7 HP)
Paul

Bold may go!

"Leave him alone!" Cortina angrily tries to stab the devil.

cold iron longspear: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24
Piercing: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10
crit? cold iron longspear: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7 No.
additional Piercing: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12

She then steps back a bit. (see map) "Ha! Gotcha! Now come and get me, if you can!"

possible AoO:
AoO cold iron longspear: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9
Piercing: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9

Since the creature is only five foot up, Jack dashes towards it and swings downwards in an attempt to knock it to the floor, hopefully in two halves.

greatsword: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15 slashing: 2d6 + 4 ⇒ (1, 2) + 4 = 7

Cheeper, having been commanded to defend the big man, follows on his heels and leaps up to snap at the flappy thing.
Acrobatics to reach it?: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (10) + 17 = 27
Cheeper Bite vs Flappy: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 8 = 23 B,P&S Damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Paloma gives the sling up for a bad job and drops it. She steps beside Cashel, draws her scimitar and slashes at the creature.
Cold Iron Scimitar attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24 Damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8
Confirm?: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18 Damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

I'll wait to see if it survived before I act.

Cheeper is small, right? She fills the exact same 5ft square as a medium creature. She doesn’t need to leap to bite. No one needs to jump or have a reach weapon to attack this enemy. For simplicity for 3D fights try to visualize your character and everyone else’s as a five foot cube. Thus while an enemy may be flying 5ft up, the bottom of their cube is adjacent to the top of everyone’s square.

The enemy survived those hits, DR reduced a lot of the damage.

His job done, Cashel Withdraws from melee.

Paul steps up into the flank with Cheeper and stabs at the creature.

Flanking rapier attack: 1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 5 + 2 = 15
Damage, if applicable, including sneak attack: 1d6 + 1 + 1d6 ⇒ (3) + 1 + (3) = 7

Nal, blocked from an easy step and flurry, still decides to move in and try a roundhouse kick into the shin of the flying foe.

IUS: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 17 for B: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Cortina stabs the devil in its side, black ichor spraying from the wound. Jack swings away… but misses. Nal drifts in and spins to kick, he hits! But does not harm. Damned enemy’s resistances.

Cheeper bolts in and attacks, landing a blow that also doesn’t hurt her foe. Her super bestest buddy follows that with a very wicked slash, spraying more of the fiend’s blood across the wall.

Cashel wisely runs away! And then Paul misses his stab.

No flanking here, the enemy has to be between you and this one is flying above you. Flight, when used like this, is very valuable.

The evil foe focuses on the wizard, flying over towards him and…

This movement provokes from EVERYONE (except Cortina, who already rolled an AoO and missed). Damage may kill the creature or change its next action, so please take your attacks of opportunity and THEN I will resolve its turn.

Round Three: That floor is definitely an OSHA violation.
Devil (-15 HP, flying 5-ft up)
Cortina
Jack (-5 HP)
Nal
Paloma/Cheeper
Cashel (-7 HP)
Paul

Bold may go!

AoO: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15
Damage, if applicable: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

Cheeper AoO Bite vs Flappy: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 21 B,P&S Damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

Cold Iron Scimitar AoO: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 19 Damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

Jack goes for the AOO

Oh no you don't

greatsword: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11 slashing: 2d6 + 4 ⇒ (6, 1) + 4 = 11

AoO Summary: Jack Misses, Cheeper Hits w/ No Damage, Paloma Hits w/ No Damage, Paul Misses. I am going to guess that even if Cashel is armed, he can’t do more than 5 damage on a hit.

_______

Nal Bot AoO, needs a Crit to get through DR.

1d20 ⇒ 14

Combat update coming soon.

Flappy Flap Flap… CLAW TO THE FACE!

Claw + HG: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 6 + 1 = 24 for that’s gonna leave a scar: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

The devil cackles.

Round Three: That floor is definitely an OSHA violation.
Devil (-15 HP, flying 5-ft up)
Cortina
Jack (-5 HP)
Nal
Paloma/Cheeper
Cashel (-9 HP)
Paul

Bold may go!

Jack has another go at it.
greatsword: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9 slashing: 2d6 + 4 ⇒ (1, 4) + 4 = 9

Once again, Cashel withdraws from the devil.

Seeing how their attacks were proving ineffective, Paloma redirects Cheeper to Defend Cashel instead and then moves up beside the cat to offer the mage healing.

Handle Animal: 1d20 + 5 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 5 + 4 = 11

CLW on Cashel: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8

"Better." She pronounces, seeing his wounds were almost fully healed. "We will try to keep it from reaching you again."

The devil sighs as the fleeing mage is saved by magical healing…

…then shrugs as Jack misses again.

Did you sheath or drop your weapon Paloma?