GM TOP #0-16: To Scale the Dragon (Core) (Inactive)

Game Master Pete H.

The snow creature with a red pendant becomes simply a pile of red meat after Bella and Miriel finish with them.

Red is dead, one hit here will finish off these foes.

The Reverend attempts to prep another one of these creatures for dinner.

+1 Scythe: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (11) + 8 = 19
Slashing Damage: 2d4 + 5 ⇒ (2, 2) + 5 = 9

The final foe falls. Quiet descends upon the plateau. Only light gurgling as the beast men bleed out.

Combat over!

I think Miriel and RR took some damage, but the group fared quite well.

Khellek eyes up the cairn and the eggs. Then he turns to look at his students. "I have a healing wand in my bag" he pants. Then realising his students did a bang-up job of keeping his sorry ass in one piece adds "Well done on the practical component my students. Well done indeed. Now, who could use a tap from Mr Heal?"

Roll your own if you wish, I'll knock the charges off.

The Reverend accepts the wand, activating itself just once - figuring that not being greedy and demonstrating that he can perform healing will ingratiate himself with the team.

Cure Light Wounds: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

Down 2. Good enough.

"I'm fine, thank you,". Ezren nods curtly. "Now, if we could obly get away from these beasts... I'd be much obliged."

Miriel looks around if there are still threats, then concentrates on calming herself. After a few deep breaths, she calmly says: "Such mindless aggression always saddens me, their cunning ambush tells of intelligence, but their unwillingness to retreat less so."

"I prefer using mine, Khellek, it balances the use of resources if nothing else", she says and touches her wound with her healing wand.

Cure Light Wounds: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9

"We were expected to excavate somewhere here?" she asks and looks aruond the area.

Khellek nods toward the cairn. "Over there I think.[/]b" he wheezes.
r
"[b]Were I a mage, perhaps I could summon a sphere of fire to melt our way through, but perhaps husbanding resources in case there are more beastmen would be wise. It is time for a dig! Archeology, remember is about discovering not destroying the past. So dig with care. "

It appears there is something buried about three feet down into the clearish blue ice.

That much ice has 100 HP with hardness of 1, it can also be broken with a high enough strength check and then the pieces pulled out.

Miriel tries out the heavy pick they received on the ice, first tapping lightly chipping off a few tiny pieces of ice, then a bit more force that sinks the pick's end into the ice.

"The equipment we received is not known for finesse, but I will concentrate on keeping the essential past intact" she answers Khellek, then takes a steady stance and raises the pick high above her head. "This should be rather quick", she says and hits the ice with full force.

Miriel hits with Power Attack 1d6 + 10, two attacks per round. At maximum five rounds to get through the ice.

Khellek takes a seat on the ice, watching as his students set to work.

"Careful of the eggs." he pants.

"We don't want to risk breaking them."

Spells with round per level duration have expired, but minute per level duration or longer should remain.

Miriel starts chopping away. Her big muscles and powerful strikes make pretty quick work of the ice. As she is about to start pulling out chunks, Belladonna recognizes danger is approaching as the ground is giving off a light rumbling.

Putting two and two together, you can guess it is probably the remorhaz eggs parent. But who knows!

You have one round to prepare for whatever it is. You don’t know where it will appear.

Khellek will tell everyone what he knows about Remorhaz as he backs away from the eggs. T10s is my header spoiler, goes for immunities, resistances, vulnerability, SA,SD

"Take care my students. Cooperation is of the essence! Gather close to hear my words of wisdom!"

Start up IC and gets ready to drop a haste the moment it appears. It will only affect people up to 30' apart so make sure you are close enough!

"Oh no, it's the heat beast!" MIriel guesses from earlier analysis given by Khellek, the worry dropping the formality from her speech.

"But the creature sounded like a simple beast, not evil... Shelyn's spirit could aid? Belladonna, you said something about heat protection?" she tries to guess correct preparations. She readies her blade and calls the divine bond of her goddess: "Manô Shelyn reth Ainulindalë!

Divine bond, Keen Weapon on elven curve blade.

"If one of your weapons touches a remorhaz's body, it will could melt off," Ezren informs Miriel succinctly. "It can burrow, and is large enough to swallow someone whole." As he walks towards Khellek, he takes off a small vial out of his bag, and drinks it. His feet begin to leave the ground. "I'll take a bit of distance, Professor, if you don't mind," he says calmly, now floating above the party's heads.

Drink Potion of Fly

Now staying 30 ft above Khellek

Once again, Battle Rage for the first swing.

Bella summons Lite-Brite, then arms herself with her crossbow.

"WhheEeeEEe!!! Hewo, evEryOne!"
The little flashing creature says as it appears.

Heroism (Bella): +2 morale bonus on attack rolls, saves, and skill checks.

Red Reverend, I believe if you apply Battle Rage to yourself, it expires before you act again. Light Brite will also pop into existence right before Bella acts in round one.

Ezren zips up to a somewhat safer height. Khellek begins inspiring his class to do well on their standardized tests. Korf means ball, he reminds them. He also helps their writing speed up for a few rounds. Red Reverend prepares himself for a good bloodletting! Belladonna starts summoning a friend and Miriel’s elvish weapon seems to get even sharper.

Then, an immense centipede-like beast erupts from the snow, rows of chitinous plates on its back glowing red-hot. It seems way past the point of defending its eggs, instead looking more ready to gulp down every one of you.

Initiative
Khellek: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 1 = 11
Ezren: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 2 = 19
Bella: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20
Miriel: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14
The Red Reverend: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 1 = 12

Remorhaz: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

Round One: Oh crap that’s a big centipede!
Group Buffs: Haste 8rds, Inspire Courage +2
Lite-Brite
Bella (Flying 30ft up, heroism)
Khellek (heroism)
Red Reverend (-2 HP)
Miriel (heroism)
Ezren (Flying 30ft up)
Remorhaz

Bold May Act!

Hmm, one square too far for full attack. Anyone have a trick to push Miriel 1 square?

I think you mixed up the initiative order, GM :) From these rolls, it should be Lite Brite/Bella > Ezren > Miriel > Red Reverend > Khellek > Remorhaz

EDIT: Remember that the ongoing Haste effect gives you a +30 ft bonus to speed, Miriel!

Miriek can get there just fine with a move, but if she gets 1 square closer without using actions, she can 5ft step and attack three times, instead of just once if she takes the move.

I think you mixed up the initiative order, GM :) From these rolls, it should be Lite Brite/Bella > Ezren > Miriel > Red Reverend > Khellek > Remorhaz

EDIT: Remember that the ongoing Haste effect gives you a +30 ft bonus to speed, Miriel!

Yeah, I know. I cut and pasted from the last combat so I didn’t have to do a new tracker format. And since you all go together I didn’t care to move people around. Plus, I don’t really hold PCs in the same blocks to a strict order.

Anyway, everyone is still up!

Lite-Brite nudges Miriel to cast aid on her.
"HAve sOme HelP, liTtLe LadY!"

(+1 morale bonus on attack rolls and saves against fear effects & Temp hp: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7).
It then zips over to Red Reverend.

Bella mutters an incantation, bringing down a blast of holy light on the huge creature...
Holy Smite: 3d8 ⇒ (8, 4, 1) = 13
Creature must make a DC 18 Will save or also be blinded for 1 round.
Bella then flutters backwards about 5 feet.

Heroism (Bella): +2 morale bonus on attack rolls, saves, and skill checks.

If the Remorhaz gets within 20 ft of Lite-Brite, it must make a DC 13 Will save or take a –2 penalty on attacks, AC, and saves for 24 hours or until they successfully hit the archon that generated the aura.

"Hurry my students!" calls out the elderly scholar, the excitement providing him breath enough for the moment. "The bigger they are, the harder they fall. Strike!"

Maintains IC

With a sigh, knowing there was little he could do in the combat he calls out to the creature.

"Why did the Remorhaz break up with the glacier? Because he felt like he was always getting the cold shoulder! "

Casts hideous laugher DC 13 save only, but hey, it could roll poorly.

Remmeber, Heroism +2 to hit, IC +2 to hit and damge, Haste, +1 to hit and AC (and reflex), those affected by all get +5 to hit, +2 to damage and an extra attack if you full attack.

He then moves so he can have a clear shot with Bessie.

"Forgive me, Shelyn, but this beast is beyond redemption" Miriel says a quick prayer.

She runs to the creature and swings it with her blade. "Show's cancelled, you tap-dance club!" she taunts it.

Move: Move
Standard: Attack Remorhaz (Power Attack, Haste, Heroism, Inspire Courage): 1d20 + 8 + 1 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 8 + 1 + 2 + 2 = 28 Damage (Power Attack, Inspire Courage) (Good, Adamantine): 1d10 + 11 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 11 + 2 = 14

That's a threat with Keen. Confirming:
Crit confirm (Power Attack, Haste, Heroism, Inspire Courage): 1d20 + 8 + 1 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 8 + 1 + 2 + 2 = 25 Damage (Power Attack, Inspire Courage) (Good, Adamantine): 1d10 + 11 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 11 + 2 = 23

Red Reverend, I believe if you apply Battle Rage to yourself, it expires before you act again.

A very bubbly Archon pops into existence and suddenly the Remorhaz starts thinking about whether it is in the wrong maybe.

DC 13 Will Save: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

Then it realizes it is just protecting its eggs, like anyone would. But still, that stupid flying light is annoying.

The Belladonna smites it with holy power!!!

Neutral Will v Holy Smite - LB DC 18: 1d20 + 4 - 2 ⇒ (2) + 4 - 2 = 4

It isn’t as effective as Bella hopes, but at least a little pain was caused.

Khellek tells a very well thought out joke.

Will + not same creature type - LB DC 13: 1d20 + 4 + 4 - 2 ⇒ (18) + 4 + 4 - 2 = 24

Which does not land on his target audience.

But what does land is Miriel’s blade. Hard. It slashes through a joint in the creature’s carapace and bloody ichor sprays out into the ground.

I won’t roll for damage to a magical adamantine blade. The hardness basically negates all but max damage from the heat. Any other blades could easily be damaged though.

Round One: Oh crap that’s a big centipede!
Group Buffs: Haste 8rds, Inspire Courage +2
Lite-Brite
Bella (Flying 30ft up, heroism)
Khellek (heroism)
Miriel (+7 Temp HP, heroism)
Red Reverend (-2 HP)
Ezren (Flying 30ft up)
Remorhaz (-43 HP, -2 attacks, AC and saves until it hits lite-brite)

Bold May Act!

Ezren moves a bit closer to the beast, and blasts it with magic missiles.

Magic Missile 1: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3
Magic Missile 2: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4
Magic Missile 3: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3
Magic Missile 4: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4 Add +2 from IC to all of them if the bonus applies

The Reverend does not like the idea of his weapon being damaged, so he creates a new one.

Spiritual Weapon: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17
Force Damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

The missiles slam into the burning hot centipede monstah, peppering it's plates with small cracks (no IC on Magic Missile).

Red Reverend's nasty big weapon slices a leg off the creature, which falls to the ground wriggling for a second (IC and LB helped that hit).

But the beast isn't done yet, even though the pathfinders hit it with everything they had! It tries to chomp down on the biggest closest threat.

Bite v. Miriel - LB: 1d20 + 13 - 2 ⇒ (19) + 13 - 2 = 30 for BPS: 3d6 + 9 ⇒ (3, 4, 4) + 9 = 20

and...

Grab - LB: 1d20 + 21 - 2 ⇒ (6) + 21 - 2 = 25

And the big hitter is held tight!!!

Round Two: Bigger they are, bigger they fall!
Group Buffs: Haste 7rds, Inspire Courage +2
Lite-Brite
Bella (Flying 30ft up, heroism)
Khellek (heroism)
Miriel (GRAPPLED, -13 HP, heroism)
Ezren (Flying 30ft up)
Red Reverend (-2 HP)
Remorhaz (Grappling, -64 HP, -2 attacks, AC and saves until it hits lite-brite)

Bold May Act!

Grappled: A grappled creature is restrained by a creature, trap, or effect. Grappled creatures cannot move and take a –4 penalty to Dexterity. A grappled creature takes a –2 penalty on all attack rolls and combat maneuver checks, except those made to grapple or escape a grapple. In addition, grappled creatures can take no action that requires two hands to perform. A grappled character who attempts to cast a spell or use a spell-like ability must make a concentration check (DC 10 + grappler’s CMB + spell level, see Concentration), or lose the spell. Grappled creatures cannot make attacks of opportunity.

The phantasmal scythe swings again.

Spiritual Weapon: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15
Force Damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10

"If anyone needs to move, move to the creature's left. This might hurt otherwise. Oh, and your floating friend might want to get a head start on getting out of the way."

The Reverend positions himself to channel with a double move.

My undestanding is that you get the morale bonus of IC on your Spiritual hammers to-hit, but not damage, and oddly I think you would get the haste to-hit bonus as well as it is swung as if by you. But I am on less sure grounds about that.

The scholar gasps as he sees Miriel grappled by the horrid creature. "Hurry my Students, Miriel must be freed!"

Maintains IC

Keeping with the cold theme he thinks rapidly about the frozen north of his youth. "What type of fish to Polar bears catch at night?" he asks, before quickly answering his own question "StarFish!"

Yeah, dredging the barrel here in both combat ability and the punchlines.

Another hideous laughter, will DC 13

Haha! Starfish! That's cute, Khellek!" Bella chuckles.

Lite-Brite zips over about 4.93 feet to Bella's side and unleashes magical rays of light to harm the giant beast...
Light ray (ranged touch) & IC: 1d20 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 3 + 2 = 61d6 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5
Light ray (ranged touch) & IC: 1d20 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 3 + 2 = 241d6 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7
Hasted attack:
Light ray (ranged touch) & IC: 1d20 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 3 + 2 = 201d6 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

Bella flutters forward to get within 20 feet of the creature. She flings her returning starknife at it...
+1 returning starknife, DA, IC & pbs: 1d20 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 8 + 2 = 20
piercing, DA, IC & pbs: 1d4 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 7 + 2 = 10

Miriel touches her wound and calls the healing of her goddess: " Varyavanië", and the wound closes.

Lay on hands: 3d6 ⇒ (2, 4, 3) = 9

"Let go of me, it's not a romantic scene!" Miriel shouts at the worm. She tries to struggle free from the creature's grasp.

CMB to get free: 1d20 + 9 + 2 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 9 + 2 + 2 + 1 = 22 +2 from heroism, +2 from Inspire Courage, +1 from haste if they help. The -2 from Lite-Brite might also help here?

Free: Release one hand from weapon
Swift: Lay on hands on self
Standard: CMB to escape

Even with all the spells and all the help, Miriel can’t squirm free from the tight sharp grip of her many footed foe. She prepares a dagger for her trip down its burning gullet!

Red Reverend’s weapon slashes, Belladonna’s star knife stabs, lite brite blasts away, but the beast does not yet fall!

Lite Brite doesn’t have Haste, it was cast before they were summoned. The good news though is your foe looks… pretty bad. I will roll for Hideous Laughter if the enemy survives. Ezren is up!

The remorhaz gets hit in the face with a final salve of magic missiles.

Magic Missile 1: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2
Magic Missile 2: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3
Magic Missile 3: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3
Magic Missile 4: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

And falls to the ground, twitching!

Miriel is able to extricate herself from the body after a few moments and all seems well again.

Combat Over!

"Excellent. Well done my students. Well done indeed. Which is what Miriel would have been if she had been swallowed. Those creatures swallow anything and everything." he gushes.

"But we have a mission. And it is sitting under that cairn.."

The elderly scholar pauses for a moment, thinking, and then slowly twiggles his cold fingers.

"I wonder if there is more magic here than appears at first glance. This does not seem like a normal spot for a creature like that to lay eggs."

Checking the cairn, eggs and body for signs of magic.

"We should resume digging before another one shows up," Ezren suggests. He is now floating closer to the ground.

Miriel crawls from the mouth of the creature, dagger and sword in her hands. "That was an awful experience! I could feel the heat rising from its belly!" she says. She returns the dagger to her belt, then looks at her still glowing hot blade. "It looks straight and sharp... but I have to check closer when it has cooled down."

"My apologies, certainly, with utmost effort. Could you inspect my weapon for possible deformations while I continue the excavation?" she answers Ezren, returning to her elaborate tone as she calms after the battle.

Khellek notices the red amulet the group saw earlier on one of the beastmen is magical.

Miriel is still down 4 hp if that needs addressing.

The Paladin manages to wedge out a couple of ice chunks and then the rest are easy to grab. In the excavated hole is a large flat stone engraved with a spiraling ring of primal looking
pictographs. It appears to be the lid of some sort of container.

Perception Checks!

Miriel is just focused to get the task done and get out of this dangerous area, will heal it soon.

"This resembles a sarcophagus, our deceased mystic's remains are certainly inside", Miriel says and tries to open the lid. "Did we have a container for the remains available?" she asks.

Perception: 1d20 ⇒ 16

After removing the amulet, he offers it to Miriel. "I have no idea what this does, but magical amulets are often of most use to warriors." he concludes.

He peers at the spirals as well to see if they have any magical properties. "Perhaps the spiral of Pharasma?" he muses as he looks at the hole.

"I think we must carry the remains back to the sleds."

Appraise?: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (11) + 15 = 26

"Your blade does not appear to have melted off, which I would think is a good sign," Ezren quips, generously having a look at the adamantine sword. "Though I am no expert in such things."

Perception: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

"I certainly hope it is. It doesn't look like a sarcophagus to me."

Perception: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9

"What's that?"
Perception: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (20) + 12 = 32

Bella quickly recognizes that the bone container is (magically) trapped! Now, where is that pesky rogue the group brought along, this thing needs disabled.

Probably not much the group can do without a rogue other than just trigger it and hope for the best. Or abandon the mission and leave it. I won’t say exactly what the trap is, but it will require a save to avoid the effects.

"This is most unfortunate, who would consider such devices. In this unforgiving climate, there certainly wouldn't be graverobbers or... Oh.", Miriel starts and then realized their mission and its challenges.

She takes out her wand, and heals the minor wound she had left.

CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

"If you happen to have more protections, that would be wonderful. If not, retreat outside the explosion radius, this has the potential to become extremely unpleasant", she instructs the others and prepares to open the lid as soon as everyone else has backed up.

"Do we really need to open it here? Can't we just take it back with us and have our superiors open it?"

She backs away, just in case Miriel decides to open the box now.

"I wouldn't burden poor doggies with all that stone" Miriel thinks about Belladonna's idea.

Khellek backs off. "You have this Miriel. Just remember everything I taught you..."

Will switch over to inspire greatness. Which will give her some extra hp and +1 to fortitude saves. I'm guessing that will be more help than +1 vs fear which she is immune to, and charm. The heroism will be active for ages, and that is +2 to saves as well.

"Here, you look cold. Borrow my cloak. I really don't feel that cold that much."

Will lend +2 resistance cloak to her also. Unless anyone has anything better