'Gallows of Madness - The Festering Blot'

Game Master Shadow Dragon

Vreekka tries to stay next to Guardian. (10 ft swim speed, double move)

Cannoli stares at Jakeric for a while and as he isn’t going down she sighs, ”Fine, guard the rope.”

She easily climbs down quickly (take ten fast climb for 18) but then pauses before her feet touch the water. Finally after a few moments and with a look of absolute revulsion she just slips into the grossness.

About ready to start swimming like everyone else, her foot touches the ground and she exclaims, ”What?!? It isn’t even that deep!!! You can walk for crap’s sake, why is everyone swimming?!?”

The catfolk glares at everyone and then starts wandering through the muddy bog to the west.

So the barrels are bobbing in the water, right? To get past one we need to climb over them with acrobatics (balance), strength check to move them or… maybe swim under them?

You'll have to move his token back. With a successful Swim check you can move half your speed as a full-round action (or a quarter of your speed as a move action).

Oops, I just moved him into the room without thinking about rounds, should we be effectively sticking to rounds when we are doing the movement in here (i.e. we should have all done a single rounds worth of movement so far), or can we keep moving so long as we make skill checks? I've moved Lucinus' token back to where I think he can get to in one round from one of the starting squares. It also occurs to me that swimming and walking along the bottom are effectively the same unless you have a swim speed as they are both 1/4 movement.

Out of interest the description of the map mentioned "a secret door in the southwest corner of the cellar", I'm guessing that means up on the map isn't north?

Cannoli stares at Jakeric for a while and as he isn’t going down she sighs, ”Fine, guard the rope.”

She easily climbs down quickly (take ten fast climb for 18) but then pauses before her feet touch the water. Finally after a few moments and with a look of absolute revulsion she just slips into the grossness.

About ready to start swimming like everyone else, her foot touches the ground and she exclaims, ”What?!? It isn’t even that deep!!! You can walk for crap’s sake, why is everyone swimming?!?”

The catfolk glares at everyone and then starts wandering through the muddy bog to the west.

So the barrels are bobbing in the water, right? To get past one we need to climb over them with acrobatics (balance), strength check to move them or… maybe swim under them?

1) Yes. 2) Yes, Strength check to get the barrel to move while balancing on it, and yes. :)

GM Shadow Dragon wrote:

You'll have to move his token back. With a successful Swim check you can move half your speed as a full-round action (or a quarter of your speed as a move action).

Oops, I just moved him into the room without thinking about rounds, should we be effectively sticking to rounds when we are doing the movement in here (i.e. we should have all done a single rounds worth of movement so far), or can we keep moving so long as we make skill checks? I've moved Lucinus' token back to where I think he can get to in one round from one of the starting squares. It also occurs to me that swimming and walking along the bottom are effectively the same unless you have a swim speed as they are both 1/4 movement.

Modes of movement: The bigger (pun intended) issue is for Small-sized PCs since they cannot walk in deep bog. Since you're all Medium-sized yep it's pretty much the same.

Out of interest the description of the map mentioned "a secret door in the southwest corner of the cellar", I'm guessing that means up on the map isn't north?

#2: Which is funny because the only corner of the cellar that doesn't have an entrance at all is the southwest corner. lol

Daegon trudges through the water, regretting his decision to do such.

This is disgusting...

I'm waiting to see what Grizzlebin does. I don't think he was aware taking 10 on his Acrobatics wasn't going to be high enough to stay on the barrel.

As the group trudges through the muck or swims through the malodorous water Daegon and Cannoli wonder if there's enough prestidigitation to ever clean them...

Cue "What an incredible smell you've discovered!" ;)

funny enough Guardian gets one prestidigitation per day

funny enough Guardian gets one prestidigitation per day

No 'rust in peace' for Guardian XI then!

Cannoli slowly slogs forward, ”I’ve got a bad feeling about this.”

The alchemist is moving forward quite quickly thanks to the extract she used, but now a barrel is blocking her way. Knowing about her (lack of) strength, Vreekka sighs, takes a deep breath and dives under the barrel to get to the surface of the bog again - right next to Grizzlebin.
(10 ft swim speed, double move)

Ugh. I'm going to need a looooong bath after this...

Just to check, are we supposed to be taking another round of movement or should we be waiting? If we are getting another round's worth of movement Lucinus will continue to move northwest towards the door he spotted (moving 15 feet due to the 1/4 movement speed and taking 10 on swim checks for 15 if any swimming is needed).

Just to check, are we supposed to be taking another round of movement or should we be waiting? If we are getting another round's worth of movement Lucinus will continue to move northwest towards the door he spotted (moving 15 feet due to the 1/4 movement speed and taking 10 on swim checks for 15 if any swimming is needed).

I'm waiting on Grizzlebin since he was first into the cellar. He wrote he'd be away starting the 12th but he might have started early? Or he's just ignoring me! ;)

Finding the barrels slippery and unbalanced--and his fur already soaked--Grizzlebin decides to give up on the idea of staying dry. Instead, he embraces the dank and swims through the water under his own power.

Those Acrobatics checks aren't going to be worth the trouble, methinks (unless tentacles start grabbing!), so I'll just Take 10 on the Swim checks. Same plan--clockwise from the western wall.

Grizzlebin embraces the stinky water and paddles along!

As Grizzlein paddles he feels something in the water!

?: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 121d6 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

He believes it attempted to attack him; the game is afoot!

Round 1 - Dirty Water

Guardian XI
Grizzlebin
?
Daegon
Vreekka
Jakeric
Cannoli
Lucinus

If Grizzlein has Knowledge (Nature) he can make a check. I adjusted Grizz's token to indicate he's in the water. Guardian XI and Grizzlebin are UP!

I would think Guardian doesn't know they're in danger?

Unaware, Guardian swims after Grizz and Vreek.

Full round DC10 Swim: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 1 = 15

He swims 10ft.

"Criminy! Sumpin's under here!" Grizzlebin takes a deep breath and ducks his head under the surface of the water, swiping generally in the direction he felt something attack him.

I'm not sure what modifiers will apply here, so please adjust as necessary. I'll roll a miss % chance in case the thing has concealment/total concealment.

Claw vs Lurker: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23
damage: 1d4 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6
Miss Chance?: 1d100 ⇒ 82

Knowledge (nature) on Thing!: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (1) - 1 = 0

Grizzlebin *is* actually Trained in Knowledge (nature); just not very good at it.

"Criminy! Sumpin's under here!" Grizzlebin takes a deep breath and ducks his head under the surface of the water, swiping generally in the direction he felt something attack him.

I'm not sure what modifiers will apply here, so please adjust as necessary. I'll roll a miss % chance in case the thing has concealment/total concealment.

[dice=Claw vs Lurker]1d20+5
[dice=damage]1d4+5
[dice=Miss Chance?]1d100

[dice=Knowledge (nature) on Thing!]1d20-1

Grizzlebin *is* actually Trained in Knowledge (nature); just not very good at it.

The thing (yeah 0 won't tell Grizz anything) is adjacent to Grizzlebin so he can full attack if he wishes.

Underwater Combat Rules

I'll stick with just the one attack. With orthodox underwater combat, it looks like he has firm footing and is using a slashing weapon, so a -2 on that attack roll and half damage if it hits.

I'll stick with just the one attack. With orthodox underwater combat, it looks like he has firm footing and is using a slashing weapon, so a -2 on that attack roll and half damage if it hits.

A claw attack should be B/S: Natural Attacks But neither one is P (although his bite is) so still with half damage.

The water around Grizzlebin erupts as something surges toward the agathion:

?: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 231d6 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

Round 1 – Dirty Water

Guardian XI
Grizzlebin [-6]
? [-3]
Daegon
Vreekka
Jakeric
Cannoli
Lucinus

Although not sure what's going on everyone can see Grizzlebin struggling and the water around him is quite agitated.

Bold are UP!

Daegon sends a pair of mystical bolts at the creature.

magic missile: 2d4 + 2 ⇒ (2, 2) + 2 = 6

Daegon's eldritch energy crackles and slams into the weird creature!

It's now -9 HP.

Cannoli swims closer.

Swim - ACP: 1d20 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 - 2 = 18

Full round move is 20ft.

Cannoli swims closer.

[dice=Swim - ACP]1d20+2-2

Full round move is 20ft.

Cannoli swims like a natural. Maybe a cat-shark?

Lucinus continues to move forward, swimming if necessary to get past the barrels.

swim: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11

Lucinus does the backstroke under the barrels to move closer to the fray.

Vreekka and Jakeric are UP!

Vreekka tries to identify the creature.

The sunrod in her belt is already active. If needed, she will put her head below the water (again) to see.

Knowledge (any): 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (11) + 16 = 27 (+1 if arcana or nature)

Guardian can now tell that something violent is afoot.

What is it? What attacks us from the water?

Vreekka tries to identify the creature.

The sunrod in her belt is already active. If needed, she will put her head below the water (again) to see.

** spoiler omitted **
@GM: Please let me know if Vreekka has to spend one (or two) move action(s) to try and see the creature. The number of actions she'll have left this round depends on it. I will try to post very soon after you provide this information.

[dice=Knowledge (any)]1d20+16 (+1 if arcana or nature)

She'd need to 'peek' under the water but that would be part of a move action if she's going to make a Swim check with her Monkey Fish in effect.

Vreekka gets a gander at the critter battling Grizzlebin and identifies it as a giant leech! She knows they are immune to mind-affecting effects and are susceptible to salt. Hey wait...didn't someone find salt in the kitchen???

Hint: Why yes you did! ;)

She also knows they can attach onto creatures they bite and drain them of blood! Str and Con damage woo hoo!

"It's a giant leech! It's immune to mind-affecting effects and it can attach onto creatures it bites and drain them of blood, weakening them. It's also susceptible to salt... Wait, who grabbed the salt from the kitchen?"

I don't think that Vreekka took the salt as she already has a Strength penalty. But we definitely looted it as it has a value of 25 gold!
Very strong (Str 18) characters in this party: Lucinus and Guardian XI.

Earlier (right before she identified the leech):

Whatever it is, it's way too close! I'm not cut out for melee!

Vreekka carefully swims away (peeks while doing so) and spills information (see previous post) afterwards.
full-round action to withdraw

Drawing on his bond with Grizzlebin, Jakeric looks through the agathion's eyes to see the giant leech! "G-g-get it off!" he shouts from the trapdoor above.

Standard action to see use Bond to see through Grizzlebin's eyes, then a move action for Combat Advice to give Grizzlebin a +2 on his next attack roll.

Vreekka identifies the critter as a giant leech and then vacates to safety.

Jakeric uses his bond to see through Grizzlebin's eyes and gets an eyeful of a nightmare! He shouts encouragement to the Agathion from the safety of the ballroom.

Round 2 – Dirty Water

Guardian XI
Grizzlebin [-6]
Giant Leech (currently eating Grizzlebin) [-9]
Daegon
Vreekka
Jakeric
Cannoli
Lucinus

Guardian XI and Grizzlebin are UP!

Oh. Oh!

Guardian swims towards Griz to help (or "help"?)

Full round DC10 Swim: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

He flails in place for now.

Guardian XI flails and wishes he'd paid extra for that aquatic upgrade...

Grizzlebin will destroy the foe with his vast POWER!

I'm just a landbot in an aquabot's world.

The site is ALIVE! And Grizzlebin is UP! and he'd better finish off the leech or he might not be alive for long...

Grizzlebin thrashes in the water, shouting "Get off me!"

What kind of check is it to pull the leech off? I'm guessing a CMB/grapple check? Or maybe a Strength check? I'll roll both just in case.

Grapple to pull leech (+ combat advice): 1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 6 + 2 = 14
Strength check: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (13) + 3 = 16

Grizzlebin thrashes in the water, shouting "Get off me!"

What kind of check is it to pull the leech off? I'm guessing a CMB/grapple check? Or maybe a Strength check? I'll roll both just in case.

[dice=Grapple to pull leech (+ combat advice)]1d20+6+2
[dice=Strength check]1d20+3

A grapple check or an Acrobatics check: "If You Are Grappled: If you are grappled, you can attempt to break the grapple as a standard action by making a combat maneuver check (DC equal to your opponent’s CMD; this does not provoke an attack of opportunity) or Escape Artist check (with a DC equal to your opponent’s CMD)." Alternatively, since Grizzlebin is *NOT* pinned and is using natural weapons, he can attack the leech with a -2 penalty since he has the 'Grappled' condition.

Cool, we'll go with the Grapple check then. It may not work, but it's suitably dramatic!

Grizzlebin tries to escape the leech but fails. It decides Agathion blood tastes good...

Eat Grizzlebin?: 1d20 + 4 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 4 + 5 = 191d6 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8

and helps itself to more. Grizzlebin looks noticeably worse - and weaker.

Grizzlebin takes 8 points of physical damage and takes 1 Str and 1 Con of stat damage.

Round 2 – Dirty Water

Guardian XI
Grizzlebin [-14]
Giant Leech (Eating Grizzlebin) [-9]
Daegon
Vreekka
Jakeric
Cannoli
Lucinus

Daegon, Vreekka, Jakeric, Cannoli, and Lucinus are UP! Save Grizzlebin!

Cannoli tries to swim up next to the bloodsucking leech. And also the giant vermin.

Swim - ACP under barrel: 1d20 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 - 2 = 18

”Hey buddy, doing ok there? Looking a little pale.”

She reaches out to brush Grizzlebin with healing energy.

CLW: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

Lucinus feels the rage begin to build again and continues to swim towards the leach (if the leach is grappling Grizzlebin and unable to AoO he will move one extra square to get a flank with Cannoli)...

swim + rage: 1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 5 + 2 = 18

...upon reaching the creature he plants his feat on the cellar floor and attempts to remove the creature from Grizzlebin via the medium of sword based violence...

greatsword attack vs leach + rage: 1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 6 + 2 = 16 (not including any flank)
slashing/cold iron damage + rage: 2d6 + 6 + 3 ⇒ (6, 1) + 6 + 3 = 16

We've got to get Grizzlebin out of there now! Daegon says as he fires off another pair of force missiles.
3 first lvl spells left for the day

magic missile: 2d4 + 2 ⇒ (4, 2) + 2 = 8

Cannoli heals some of Grizzlebin's wounds while Lucinus cleaves at the giant leech with his greatsword and Daegon crafts his eldritch energy into two missiles that slam into the giant leech.

It releases Grizzlebin and sinks to the bottom of the muck having succumbed to its wounds.

Combat over! :)

And here's a flaw from prepping maps months in advance of their use: You forget what was on them! I edited out the 'S' part of the map since I couldn't remove it by copying and pasting like the added room codes. Hence the 'new' (full) map now on Slide 2:

Lucinus's recollection of the map with the secret door confirms what the keen eyes of the group has spotted: A secret door!

Because she can't fail the take 10:

While watching the barrels Vreekka notes one doesn't float quite like the others. When she inspects it it's because this barrel contains fine wine. How fine you may ask? Vreekka estimates its worth at one hundred and fifty gold Standards!

But who is going to lug a full barrel of wine around?

I! I will carry the barrel full of wine! Guardian exclaims.

"I think that's... fine." Vreekka winks.

When the pathfinders approach the secret door, Vreekka checks it for traps.

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5 LOL.

"Looks safe to me... Yep, absolutely no traps here. I'm certain!"

Vreekka proclaims the door is the safest she's ever seen and she's an old elf so who knows how many doors she has seen?