Gameday XIII - 'Gallows of Madness - A Foul Breed' (Inactive)

Game Master Shadow Dragon

Yeah, maybe we're not the heroes Saringallow wanted, but we are the ones that were dumb enough to take the job... were available... they need...

"Yes, and we need all the support we can get, good Father. Being a hero is very dangerous, as you can see..." Vreekka gestures to Victor.

[dice=Aid Diplomacy]1d20-2 LOL. Well, I tried...

"It is and that's why I'm so worried about Nolaria and the other missing young people. It does indeed seem they are in a situation they could not handle. Once Victor is healed you will be able to return to your investigation."

@Everyone: Please check the Discussion thread for one update and one question. Thanks!

Cannoli gives the priest a fist bump, ”Thanks boss for the magic. But now we gotta get going. Hopefully we can get to the bottom of this and maybe save some more lives.”

Cannoli gives the priest a fist bump, ”Thanks boss for the magic. But now we gotta get going. Hopefully we can get to the bottom of this and maybe save some more lives.”

Father Ruvarra gives the party the blessings of Erastil as you leave.

I'll get the next map setup tomorrow!

New Slide is up.

The rusty front doors of this large, dingy warehouse are slightly ajar, as if someone forgot to close them entirely. Sprawled across the door and the southern side of the building are thick, disgusting, purplish-black strands that pulse with malevolence.

You might have to magnify the Slide but the lighter brown areas indicate a sidewalk and the darker shades around the sidewalks are plants: bushes, landscaping, etc.

"This definitely looks like the right place." says Victor eyeing the pulsing strands.

He listens trying to determine if there is any sort of noise coming from the direction of the warehouse or other clues as to the current situation...

perception + guidance: 1d20 + 11 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 11 + 1 = 30

...and then scans the area for magic auras (with detect magic).

Cannoli pulls out her cold iron beatstick, ”Ya wants me ta smash da evil pulsing strands?”

Hmm..wait a moment...let me try something first... can Daegon simply spam Acid Splash to eliminate the strands?

Guardian manifests his shadow blade and watches to see how the team deals with the entrance. He knows it's only a matter of time before violence finds them.

Perception (anything else notable?): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22

Victor doesn't hear anything out of the ordinary and notices no magic auras.

Demon bile is, according to the text, "biological in nature" thus it doesn't register as magic.

Cannoli gets ready for violence!

Daegon contemplates if acid can cleanse the demon bile.

No it wouldn't. Your resident brainiacs revealed that positive energy of any kind (cure spells, channeling), good-aligned damage, and cold iron weapons are how it is destroyed. It's typically eliminated in 1 square but an area effect such as channeling would effect a larger area.

Guardian XI doesn't notice anything but does sense violent tendencies from Cannoli...

"D-don't worry, everyone. As a divine b-being, you're pretty much immortal, aren't you Grizzlebin?" As he speaks, Jakeric's utter faith in his agathion companion causes Grizzlebin's fur to glow with a silver radiance!

Casting celestial companion on Grizzlebin. It only lasts 1 minute, so let's clear this warehouse quick :)

"Sure kid, sure."

Cannoli raises her morningstar, ”Are you… requesting a test of his immortality? If not, I have other things to smash.”

If not told to bash Grizzlebin over the head she moves up and starts swinging at the purple goo strands covering the door.

I see two doors, put me at whichever has strands of evil. If both do, put me at whichever the group wants to enter first.

Seeing Cannoli unload on the goo strands, Guardian joins in with his shadow blade.

Daegon watches as the more martially inclined members of the party do their thing, his crossbow out and watching for any trouble.

Seeing Cannoli unload on the goo strands, Guardian joins in with his shadow blade.

Cannoli's cold iron morningstar dissolves the demon bile while Guardian XI's shadow blade doesn't. It takes a bit but Cannoli clears the door and the handles of the purple goo.

But does she have the bravery to enter?

Grizzlebin rolls his eyes as the others attack inert goo. Ignoring Jakeric's warning, the eidolon heads for the front door and shoulders it open.

Grizzlebin rolls his eyes as the others attack inert goo. Ignoring Jakeric's warning, the eidolon heads for the front door and shoulders it open.

Nothing jumps past the doors at Grizzlebin. Will he have the courage to enter the warehouse?

I wasn't sure if he was looking inside or going in the building so I haven't revealed the next part of the map.

Grizzlebin heads inside.

Cannoli certainly has both the bravery and stupidity to enter first, but usually waits for the two tanks to go first.

But she doesn’t even bat a whisker as the jerk-o-lon rips the door open and heads inside.

Victor focuses, seemingly casting a spell (he casts shield but as the shield is invisible not much appears to happen) and then follows the other party members towards the door.

"Just a bunch of boxes!" Grizzlebin calls back as he moves further into the warehouse. He wrenches the lid off one to see what's inside.

Cannoli follows the Eidolon inside.

Upon discovery of more bubbling evil slime she applies her usual treatment to it.

*Splat, Splat, Splat and... Thunk?*

"Odd, you all hear that? It was a *thunk* sound there, not a *splat* sound. Weird. Anyway, open that door someone please."

Guardian joins Grizz and Cannoli inside as a resident tank. His shadow blade is still at the ready and he begins scanning the first room for traps, hazards, or signs of the expected trouble. Aside from...

Oh, demon bile.

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25

If all seems safe at the next door, he opens it as requested by Cannoli.

Interrupting actions since Grizzlebin did something that naughty agathion! I moved Guardian XI back about half since I'm guessing he would've made it that far by the time Grizzlebin triggered something/someone other than Cannoli or the townspeople of Saringallow. ;)

As Grizzlebiin loots inspects the inventory in a crate his keen eyes spot something else. The demon bile appears to writhe and spews forth BUGS! Specifically a spider like the one found in the Vazarro house and a massive collection of teeny tiny little bugs that look like the spider...

Due to their awesome Perception checks (I rolled a 20 for Grizzlebin) Grizzlebin and Guardian XI have an action in the surprise round. Cannoli did not make the check so she'll have to wait. As a reminder PCs can take either one move or one standard in a surprise round. Grizzlebin and Guardian XI are UP!

GM Note #2: The red hourglass is very, VERY small and is actually in the same square as the larger bug.

Determined not to let Guardian XI get all the glory, Grizzlebin springs forward, claws unsheathed!

5' step and one attack on the giant spider.

Claw: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21
damage: 1d4 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7

Grizzlebin wounds the giant spider, sending ichor spilling onto the floor!

Guardian XI is UP!

Apologies for not posting lately.I had a few very time-demanding days... :-/

Earlier:

Vreekka follows the others to the entrance of the warehouse, stands next to Victor and drinks an extract (shield).

Now waiting for her turn in initiative.

The appearance of the spider stops Guardian in his tracks. He slides closer to the demon bile so that he can encroach on the creatures, and help his teammates keep the contained.

[move] 5ft

Okay! Good start Grizz! I think this time it's your turn to obliterate its head!

Daegon reacts slowly, waiting for his oppoerunity

Guardian XI and Daegon were tied but Guardian XI wins the roll off! And then I forgot Grizzlebin and HE tied with both of them. What's going on here??? Who is bewitching my die roller?!?!

Round 1 – You're bugging me!

Cannoli
Spider
Lots of tiny spiders
Victor
Jakeric
Guardian XI
Grizzlebin
Daegon
Vreekka

Cannoli can't help but think that big spider is taunting her, daring her to attack it...

Cannoli is UP!

Is the collection of tiny spiders a swarm? Or is there a knowledge check needed to identify it as a swarm? And if it is a swarm would Guardian care if he maybe got a splash of acid on him?

Guardian can deal with some splashing.

Is the collection of tiny spiders a swarm? Or is there a knowledge check needed to identify it as a swarm? And if it is a swarm would Guardian care if he maybe got a splash of acid on him?

I should've added this, yes, a Knowledge (Nature) check to determine what the collection of tiny spiders is.

UPDATE! I goofed on the size of the 'collection' of spiders; it's a 10' square. Guardian XI: Please adjust your token to a square not occupied by them. Sorry about that; I thought I made it 10x10 but realized I shrunk it down to 5x5.

"So many spiders! This has to be..."

Knowledge: Nature t: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (12) + 11 = 23

I put Guardian in a reasonable position imo, but he may still adjust that. I am chucking my acid at the green spot on the map.

Cannoli (with the understanding very likely passed on from Vreeka) steps back from the bile and door and nods at the elf, "Swarm eh? I've got something for that."

The catfolk drops her cold iron weapon to the floor with a thunk and reaches into her pack, fumbling around for as second before pulling out a flask.

"No don't worry, I'm not going to drink it. See what it says here? 'DO NOT DRINK, USE IF THERE IS A SWARM. CHUCK IT AT IT. DON'T BE IN RANGE OF THE SPLASH'."

She thinks for a moment, "You know, maybe the seller was a bit concerned about my competence. They seemed very cautious when writing that note. Anyway, bombs away!" Cannoli chucks the flask at the swarm.

Ranged Touch: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9 for Acid: 1d6 ⇒ 4

Probably a miss so here is where it lands: 1d8 ⇒ 1

I think a 1 is always straight back towards the thrower so that splashes the swarm and Cannoli for 1 acid.

As the caustic substance burns through her fur she winces and adds, "Whelp, mayhaps they were right."

Vreekka knows from her reading of 'Vermin - Not Just a Pretty Name' that the group of tiny spiders has made what is known as a swarm. She recalls that spider swarms have the ability to poison and they are immune to weapon damage.

Cannoli hurls a vial of acid at the swarm but loses her grip and the vial goes astray. Perhaps the giant spider giggling at her unnerved her?

The giant spider lashes out at the beast that clawed it:

Spider Bite: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 2 = 161d6 ⇒ 4

It sinks its fangs into Grizzlebin and injects venom!

Fort: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (19) + 3 = 22

But the agathion is made of sterner stuff!

The swarm of spiders moves to engulf Guardian XI and Grizzlebin, covering them in hordes of tiny biting spiders...

Spider Swarm Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 1

But they don't hurt much; maybe because they are so tiny?

Grizzlebin Fort - Poison: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8
Grizzlebin Fort - Distraction: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

Guardian XI Fort - Poison: 1d20 + 3 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 3 + 4 = 11
Guardian XI Fort - Distraction: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 18

While Guardian XI shrugs off the 'ick' factor (maybe he's still empty from earlier?) and the poison, Grizzlebin succumbs to both!

Str Damage: 1d2 ⇒ 1

Grizzlebin has the nauseated condition. As a reminder: "Creatures with the nauseated condition experience stomach distress. Nauseated creatures are unable to attack, cast spells, concentrate on spells, or do anything else requiring attention. The only action such a character can take is a single move action per turn."

Round 1 – You're bugging me!

Cannoli [-1]
Spider [-7]
Lots of tiny spiders [-1]
Victor
Jakeric
Guardian XI [-1]
Grizzlebin [-5, -1 Str, poisoned, nauseated]
Daegon
Vreekka

The rest of the party is UP! Let the carnage begin! :) You can either go in order or if someone who might want to bomb the swarm wants to go before the room fills up, that's up to you.

"...a spider swarm! They are immune to weapon damage and have the ability to poison! Let me try something..."

Vreekka enters the warehouse and throws a flask of acid on the ground near the swarm...

Acid flask: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20 (vs AC 5)
6 splash acid damage + 50% vs. swarms (see swarm rules below) = 9 splash acid damage in total

... carefully avoiding to hit her teammates.

A swarm takes half again as much damage (+50%) from spells or effects that affect an area, such as splash weapons and many evocation spells.

UPDATE! I goofed on the size of the 'collection' of spiders; it's a 10' square. Guardian XI: Please adjust your token to a square not occupied by them. Sorry about that; I thought I made it 10x10 but realized I shrunk it down to 5x5.

Looks like this chance has passed and his position has been acted on. Onward!

Guardian shakes off of the spiders and focuses on the big one.

[standard] attack big spider
shadow weapon attack, slashing damage: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 142d6 + 6 ⇒ (1, 5) + 6 = 12

Maybe the spiders did get to him a bit. Guardian's fans will have to wait for the next spray-show.

Vreekka tosses an alchemical bomb and blows up the swarm of tiny spiders! Spider insides fly on the outsides and cover the intrepid group of adventurers.

Developing one feeling, arachnophobia, Guardian XI winces as he swings which effects his accuracy. Instead of cutting the spider cleanly in two he merely kills it.

The huge, pulsating mass of demon bile shifts again; might it disgorge even more fiendish vermin to attack the mighty group???

What would you like to do next? There is a closed door to the south and more crates everywhere although many of them are now covered in spider guts - EWWW!

Cannoli looks at Vreeka with a huge smile, ”THAT WAS… AWESOME! It was like my little sizzle sizzle and then, KABOOM BIG SIZZLE!!! Those spiders didn’t have a freaking chance. Put ‘er there.” The catfolk offers a furred fist for the assumed fist bump.

And then she notices the pulsing ooze again, ”Oh yeah, that stuff. Aight, splat times again. Y’know, I seems ta recall a few other people purchasing cold iron weapons. Why am I the only one getting rid of this stuff?”

She picks up her CI Morningstar and heads over to start dispersing the ooze.

Because you seem rather enthusiastic about it... Daegon says with a chuckle as he helps chip away at the demon bile mass.

Jakeric limps over and peers at the scene of the recent battle. "Well . . . if G-Gellion's here, we sure made a lot of noise. We b-better find him before he can hurt Morvinaar!"

Because you seem rather enthusiastic about it... Daegon says with a chuckle as he helps chip away at the demon bile mass.

The catfolk swings her weapon with another splat result, ”Well yeah, that is really true. But I am also super enthusiastic about a ton of things! So don’t feel you are stepping on my toe beans by doing something I also am doing, ya know?”

Vreekka smiles back and fist bumps with Cannoli. "Yeah, I'm quite good at blowing things up. When I was a child, my Parents called me 'Little Firebug' for a reason, I guess... Although, my mean brother Kaervek called me 'Wrecker' most of the time..." Her smile fades. When Cannoli mentions cold iron weapons, she answers: "I have one. Let's see if it affects the demon bile, too..." She draws her cold iron dagger and helps the catfolk with dispersing the demon bile mass.

A cold iron dagger is dirt cheap (only 4 GP!) and I think every character should carry one. :-)

Cannoli, Daegon, and Vreekka use their cold iron arsenal to cleanse the demon bile. A sad little Abyssal spider that was waiting to emerge waves a couple of its legs in farewell...

Meanwhile Jakeric, Grizzlebin, Victor, and Guardian XI stand around and watch - maybe that combat tired them out?

;)

As the rest of the party clear away the demon bile Victor checks the door leading further into the warehouse for traps...

perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (1) + 11 = 12

"We should probably check the rest of the warehouse while our various magic protections are still active." he suggests.

(if it helps at all Victor can also assist with clearing the demon bile as he has a cold iron cestus)

As Victor checks the warehouse he doesn't find any traps - just more BUGS! Five of them to be exact.

Knowledge (Nature) to determine what they are but they look suspiciously similar to some centipedes your group face in Ustalav. Except these have purple icky strands all over them and you can make a Knowledge (Planes) to determine why - but you have a good guess it means they're fiendish.

Round 1 - Someone call an exterminator!

Grizzlebin
Cannoli [-1]
Daegon
Vreekka
Guardian XI [-1]
Victor
Different bugs
Jakeric

Let the slaughter begin!!! And no the module doesn't explain where/what they were hiding in; maybe crates??? Most of the party is UP! Only Jakeric, who must be napping, goes after the new bugs.

"First spiders, then bugs? Usually it's the other way around..."

Knowledge: Nature t: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (11) + 11 = 22

"First spiders, then bugs? Usually it's the other way around..."

[dice=Knowledge: Nature t]1d20+11

Vreekka confirms the newly emerged bugs are centipedes! Will she bomb away on any of them?

They're immune to mind-affecting effects, they are venomous, and they can't be tripped. The last tidbit might seem trivial except you have a tripper in the party. If you need a refresher on what the fiendish template provides, let me know.