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The tiefling moves around the far side of the stacked boxes, and pops out from behind them to launch an attack at the staggered centipede, drawing a flask of acid from his belt with his surprisingly dexterous tail. Arcane power flares around him as he extends his hand and launches another gout of acid at the creature. The staggered creature is unable to avoid the acid, which finishes the work that Del's bullet started, burning through the creature's head and sizzling wickedly as it kills the giant centipede.
After dispatching the final centipede, the group collectively completes the destruction of the remainder of the Demon's Bile in the warehouse. Earll and Malochia then quickly head out to fetch Ildris Ruvarra.
Earll's thrust connects cleanly, piercing through the centipede's natural armor and inflicting a mortal wound. Malochia's scowls at the remaining centipede. His pupils glow with a demonic red light as he stretches out his right hand towards the remaining centipede. Glowing abyssal runes surround his hand as he speaks a single arcane word and releases a gout of acid from his hand before turning and retreating behind the boxes to open up a shot for Del and Dra'hir.
The acid splashes harmlessly, though, as the centipede moves aside with surprising speed at the last possible second. The centipede once again lunges at Earll, redoubling its efforts after seeing its broodmate's death, but the agile man once against masterfully parries its blow before answering with a sharp response that just barely avoids penetrating the centipede's shell.
Del moves to get a clear shot with his sling at the centipede, loading a bullet and letting it fly. His throw flies true, and his bullet crushes the remaining centipede's head, staggering it.
Round 2
Hey, in another campaign, I tried to use Acrobatics to help negate the first 10' of a fall into a pit trap. I knew better too, was just in a hurry and didn't think of it right then. :) It happens.
GM Screen:
The first centipede approaches Earll, hoping to nosh on some yummy human meat, but the quick man deflects the bite before the centipede can get a taste. The answering riposte, however, cannot quite find its target. Del shouts a warning to the group as he draws his sling. The second centipede also lunges at the swashbuckler who interposed himself between it and the wizard. Despite his extremely quick reactions, Earll cannot quite get out of the way in time, and the arthropod's jaws clamp down on his torso. The bug cannot quite pierce the swashbuckler's leather "skin," however, as his armor just barely averts the blow.
Round 1
GM Screen:
As Earll and Malochia prepare to leave to fetch the priest, a faint sound of skittering legs rings out in the warehouse. Two fiendish giant centipedes, glowing with unholy red light through cracks in their shells, make their way into the room from the northern door. Malochia, off in his own little world, does not notice them mere feet from his position; however, the rest of the group hears the clattering of their many feet and turn to see them approaching the wizard.
We'll assume that's the plan then.
So three "either way is fine"s. @Dra'hir, you seem to be the deciding vote.
I also looked into panache and nonlethal. Nonlethal is not "real" damage. pg 191 Core Rule book. Thus I would not have reduces his HP to 0 or less not regaining me a panache point @Earll - that is technically correct.* However, we're not doing Organized Play, and I don't feel the need to be slavishly beholden to RAW (rules as written). I think it was good roleplaying for Earll to be attacking Gellion nonlethally. And you knocked him unconscious. That's good enough for me. My ruling remains that you get a panache point back. -- *While technically correct, it opens up some weird corner cases. For example, if a good-aligned monk chooses to deal nonlethal damage, and the swashbuckler knocks the enemy unconscious with LETHAL damage, does this mean that the swashbuckler does not regain panache? After all, he or she did not technically reduce the enemy below 0 HP. I'd rather sidestep these issues altogether. Just don't make a fully non-lethal swashbuckler build.
Lalia: Based on that Heal check, and on the results of your investigation (how long the apprentices have been missing for), you expect that while these apprentices may be infected by the same disease as Gellion, they are most likely still very much in the very early stages of the disease. They should still be in their right minds.
That does not mean that it's a bad idea to clean up the bile or to fetch Father Ildris.
With a hopeful look in the direction of Lalia, the python disentangles herself from Gellion, slithering to the Mwangi woman's side. Lalia approaches the mad apprentice and can immediately tell that he is unconscious but stable and not in any immediate danger of dying. The Demon's Bile in the large room melts away under the fetchling's cold iron. Del begins to assist, attacking the ooze with his morning star, and between the two of them, the bodies in the southeastern corner of the room are soon free and cleared of the bile. A cursory investigation confirms that these five bodies are those of the five missing apprentices. Heal DC 5:
Each of the five bodies is still breathing but non-responsive. Heal DC 20:
The rapid pulse of each of these bodies indicates that they may be ill. Perception DC 18:
The apprentices are covered in demon's bile, and some of it is in their mouths and noses. Knowledge (Planes) DC 15: Immersion in Demon's Bile would infect these apprentices with the same disease as Gellion, though the progression of the disease is slow.
Actually, this is something we should discuss. Do we want to roll for HP at new levels? I'm also fine with using slightly above average #s. Advantages to rolling:
Disadvantages to rolling:
Advantages to taking slightly above average:
Disadvantages to taking slightly above average:
What do people think?
I'll allow it, although I feel it's ambiguous by the rules. Don't assume you get an immediate rest and no more battles before level up though. (When you level up, there will be a rest, but you don't get one QUITE yet).
The swashbuckler's final strike lands cleanly on the deranged abyssal apprentice, whose eyes roll back into his head as he falls unconscious. The mangled corpse of the dead hook fly, the tiny corpses of the dead hookfly brood, and the apprentice's unconscious form, lit by the flickering light of dim torches, create an eerie and horrifying ambiance in the warehouse. The purplish-black demon's bile covering the eastern wall and much of the room’s southeast corner continues to pulse weirdly. In the southeastern corner of the room, several human-sized shapes appear to be immersed in the bile. Fyrra, enraged by her battle with the apprentice, does not immediately release him from her coils, and glances at Lalia as if asking permission to strike a killing blow. Del looks at Lalia worriedly, quickly interjecting, "H-he was not in his right mind. Call off Fyrra!"
Thanks for your honesty. I've been fighting a nasty 48 hour flu-like virus, and then (after recovering) taking care of the rest of my family who are also sick! I totally dropped that damage.
The extra effort of attempting to deal a nonlethal blow prevents Earll from dealing a decisive blow on Gellion. The crazed lad meanwhile attempts to break the snake's grapple by main force calling forth unnatural strength and breaking free of the encircling coils.
Seeing the battle turn for the worse, the apprentice attempts to flee from the greased area (provoking attacks from Earll and Fyrra), but avoids them; however, his foot slips on the grease and he falls prone.
Fyrra, enraged at Gellion for breaking free, again attacks and in a blink bites and ensnares the prone apprentice. Del steps up and once again hurls a sling stone at the apprentice, relying on his ability to stabilize him once he is unconscious. His stone, however, flies high over the prone apprentice.
Gellion thrashes wildly in Fyrra's grip, growling as he rolls around in the grease, but leaving himself wide open to attacks. .
Dra'hir's arrow barely misses Gellion, deflecting off of the youth's chain shirt. As Malochia's spell takes effect, the apprentice looks startled to see the figure of his mother step out from behind the crates. "Mother?" he asks to no one in particular, "it's that woman again. Yes, the weak one. Feed her to the worms? No, that doesn't sound right, mother? " Distraught and confused, Gellion hesitates briefly. Fyrra seizes the chance to strike, jaws crushing the chain links down into Gellion's shoulder as she wraps him in her coils.
We'll that's just cheating. We can't have that from the arbiter of the rules. :-)
@Earll - I was a bit saddened myself to see that great die roll "wasted" on a parry. (I would of course have preferred it be used for an enemy's attack roll or saving throw). ;-) Still you made up for it this round!
Earll's blade darts once more, immediately striking home, piercing through the heavily injured fly and snuffing out its life. As the foul insect dies, its swollen abdomen ruptures, scattering dead hook flies like shrapnel in every direction. Their tiny hooks slash both Earll and Lalia, though the swashbuckler's quick reflexes allow him to avoid the worst of the blast.
Gellion slips and slides as he attempts to make his way back to his feet, and Fyrra seizes the opportunity, striking at the mad apprentice. Her jaws just miss his shoulder, as the lad moves with an unnatural strength.
He glares at his new serpentine foe, exulting, "You are STRONGER than brother! I will offer you to the demon worms and we will serve . . . " His voice rises to a fever pitch and cracks as he draws his mace. Del strides into the room, a look of mingled compassion and horror on his little face. "Gellion, s-STOP THIS!" the halfling cries out in a high tenor voice. Gellion, entranced by the snake, does not directly respond, instead muttering darkly about filthy slips interfering with his plans. Gritting his teeth,, Del lets fly another bullet from his sling, this time aiming at Gellion himself. The halfling's stone strikes the apprentice on the front of his left shoulder, and he shudders under the blow.
The heavily armored gnome takes a quick step to his right, drawing his sling. He loads it with a bullet as the sling is already in motion and looses a stone at the hook fly. Despite the frantic melee and the intervening bodies, his skillfully thrown bullet finds its mark, striking the hook fly's head.
Annoyed that her prey moved away from her, Fyrra chases Gellion, a hungry look in her eyes as she just catches up to the prone abyssal apprentice.
Gellion slips and falls prone in the grease that Malochia summons into existence. Rolling around in the grease, he screams, "Stop them, brother!" while gesturing wildly towards the hook fly. The insect seems unaffected by Gellion's pleas, though.
Dra'hir's arrow has a more concrete effect on the flying monstrosity, piercing through it's skin and lodging in its thorax.
The acid from Malochia's attack sizzles on the hook fly's skin, eating away at it. The giant hook fly for its part agilely evades Earll's attack buzzing as it flies in a strange pattern in front of him. Fyrra heads off towards Gellion as Dra'hir steps into the room firing at the hook fly. The arrow flies wide. The hook fly drops to the ground in front of Earll and lunges at him with its strange hooked proboscis, but the agile man deftly parries its attack. He responds with a quick riposte that glances off of the fly's natural armor.
Muttering to himself wildly about protecting the worms, Gellion hustles around the boxes, throwing a flask of alchemist's fire at the swashbuckler.
The range of the attack, combined with needing to avoid the hook fly, cause the alchemist's fire to miss the target, however, both Earll and the hook fly are splashed by the inflammable substance.
Round 2
The door appears to be untrapped. As the party prepares to head through the door, Dou holds up a hand. "If he's in there, he must have heard our battle. Let us prepare." He holds aloft a wooden symbol of a dung beetle, as he prays, "May the Humble Hand protect us. May he strengthen our wills. May he guide our arms."
He continues on in a quiet voice, "Master, fill me with your strength," as he again presents the holy symbol and opens his arms in invocation. . The halfling nods, and Earll opens the door. Torches in each corner of this large room shed dim flickering light between high columns of barrels and crates. Four large pillars support the ceiling. Purplish-black slime covers the eastern wall and much of the room’s southeast corner, stretching between the walls, pillars, and crates with long filaments. Countless shapes, varying greatly in size, crowd the sludge. Several of these shapes, pinned to the walls and crates or lying on the floor, appear human-sized. An enormous, horrifically bloated fly with a proboscis shaped like a serrated hook buzzes lazily about the room. Its many-faceted eyes smolder like hot coals. It sees the party and begins to buzz more frantically. A lank youth, face gaunt and eyes fevered with madness stares intently at the party. "Mother? Why are they here? I won't let them stop the demon worms!" He shouts a battle cry as he moves to attack, a small flask in his hands. He is also armed with a light crossbow and a wicked looking mace. Knowledge (Nature) DC 13:
The insect is known as a giant hook fly. It incubates its young in its bloated abdomen, developing them by draining blood from its victims. Its young have been known to burst from its abdomen in a swarm once it has drained enough blood. Given this hook fly's distended abdomen, it must be close to spawning a brood. Knowledge (Planes) DC 13:
Not too surprisingly, this is a Fiendish giant hook fly, with resistances to fire and cold. GM Screen:
@Dra'hir - I'd say you'd have about 5 rounds left on your arcane pool boost if you go through the door quickly.
Well, it's an egg and it's not really moving. It also only has 1 HP. I'm handwaving that you killed it. :)
Earll easily destroys the egg as Fyrra slithers up towards the remaining centipede. She bites at the centipede, but her jaws cannot quite pierce its chitinous shell.
The remaining centipede snaps at Del, whose armor deflects the blow.
Del for his part swings at his opponent, attempting to open up a clean attack for Fyrra. The snake with a clean opening to attack the centipede thanks to the helpful halfling, connects with a bite, crushing the arthropod's head, and killing it!
The Demon's Bile on the south of the room continues to pulse dangerously, but all of the vermin in the room have been dispatched. In addition to the Demon's Bile, the south wall of the room also houses a single door, which is currently closed.
Perception DC 19:
The sound of a creature walking comes from the next room, as well as a faint buzzing. Perception DC 24: A tenor voice mutters darkly in the next room, asking his mother how he can protect the worms.
Dra'hir, , puts an arrow right between his target's eyes, killing it. The final centipede, though, seems unfazed by the death of its brethren, and continues hissing and spitting at Earll and Del. The egg covered in demonic filth (located next to Dra'hir) begins to pulse slightly, as it begins making a quiet scratching sound. Fyrra, disquieted by the sound, hisses dangerously as she awaits instructions from Lalia.
Round 2
The first centipede lunges wildly at Earll, jaws snapping wildly; however, he deftly parries its jaws with his blade. His blade darts out, skewering the vermin and piercing its heart.
The second centipede also moves towards the swashbuckler and attacks; however, he deftly sidesteps its clumsy bite attack.
Del shouts a halfling battle cry as he enters the room, forming a line of battle with Earll and swinging a small morningstar at his enemy. His attack misses, though, his weapon clanking on the wall next to the insect.
Having vanquished the abyssal spider swarm, and with Dra'hir and Del having been patched up by Lalia, the group moves into the warehouse via the open door. Basic warehouse supplies, such as ropes, hammers, crowbars, and cargo nets, hang from the northern wall of this room. Several crates stand against the western wall. Doors stand against the east and south walls. The layout of the room, however, may be the least interesting part to the group. A large pulsating mass of purplish-black Demon's Bile lies along the floor near the southern wall between the two doors, and long filaments anchor the substance to the walls and ceiling. A large, strange egg sac lies at the center of the slime, with tiny legs visibly scrabbling beneath its surface. Three other nearby egg sacs have already burst. Three giant centipedes, seemingly hatched from the other Demon's Bile-covered eggs, and transformed into fiendish creatures by the bile, guard this room. As Earll opens the door, they hiss angrily, and move to attack. GM Screen:
Knowledge (Nature) DC 11:
Giant centipedes are vermin, and are thus immune to mind-affecting effects. The bite of a giant centipede carries a poison that damages a creature's agility. Knowledge (Planes) DC 11: These are Fiendish giant centipedes, with the associated resistances.
Earll's final throw hits the densest part of the swarm, his acid flask shattering as acid splashes over the swarm, melting spiders with a sickening sizzle. The few remaining spiders skitter off in random directions, as the swarm disperses.
Waves of nausea wash over Del, Dra'hir, and Earll, as the disgusting biting swarm creeps over them; luckily, all three are able to clench their jaws and fight on.
Lalia's and Earll's thrown weapons fail to disperse the swarm, only dealing minor damage to it. Malochia's alchemist's fire seems to have no effect. The swarm moves to the closest mass of warm bodies, creeping over Del, Earll, and Dra'hir.
Round 2! BOLD may go!
Del shouts, "Move apart! It can't get to all of us if we're not together!" as he quickly moves 30 feet to the north of the swarm ().
As Earll quickly moves back from the swarm, Dra'hir's acid splash strikes the spiders and melts a few of them; however, the uncountable number of spiders hardly seems to decrease. Seeking any source of food, the spiders surges forward, engulfing Lalia and Dra'hir. Spiders swarm up their legs, biting any exposed skin they can find. Lalia and Dra'hir both feel poison in the bite; however, Lalia's natural resistance keeps her safe. The fetchling, however, feels his arms and legs going weak as the poison courses through his veins.
Would I be able to use my Acid in this surprise round? It is equipped on the hero, not in my backpack. You need to spend the actions to draw the alchemical splash weapon and then to throw it. FAQ That's a Move and Standard Action, unless you have Quick Draw; however, if you have a BAB of +1, you can draw the weapon as part of another movement. Thus, in the surprise round, you cannot both draw and throw the weapon.
GM Screen:
Initiative!
Perception
As Earll approaches the warehouse door, the Demon's Bile writhes as in pain, and belches forth a spider swarm glowing with a sick red light onto the shocked swashbuckler. THOUSANDS of spiders swarm from the door, washing over Earll; however, he gets a step on them and can react before they begin to bite if he chooses. Dra'hir and Lalia also realize that the Demon's Bile is behaving abnormally, and are able to react, but Malochia and Del did not realize an attack was coming and are surprised. Knowledge (Arcana or Planes) DC 12:
These are Fiendish spiders, have minor spell resistance, and will resist fire and cold. Knowledge (Nature) DC 12:
This spider swarm has poison that can damage strength, and is immune to all weapon damage. 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. Surprise Round! BOLD may go! (Standard or Move Action Only)
Surprise Round Details (read this): The Surprise Round: If some but not all of the combatants are aware of their opponents, a surprise round happens before regular rounds begin. In initiative order (highest to lowest), combatants who started the battle aware of their opponents each take a standard or move action during the surprise round. You can also take free actions during the surprise round. If no one or everyone is surprised, no surprise round occurs.
Del looks a taken aback at the praise from Earll and Dra'hir, but responds hesitantly, "Th-thank you. I felt the presence of my god." The party quickly runs to Saringallow's Sundries and obtains some new and improved weaponry before returning to the warehouse. The return trip is quiet compared with the previous one -- no full-blooded demons ambush, accost, or otherwise annoy the group. The rusty front doors of the 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 of Demon's Bile that pulse with malevolence. About 50 feet to the south are a pair of strong, locked wooden doors, also covered in Demon's Bile.
The party is currently about 0.25 miles from the general store. Since you're all in good shape and unencumbered, I'd assume that you could run there in 1-2 minutes (fast walk in around 4-5 minutes if you don't want to run). Assuming you're all business, you could have 10 CI bolts, 20 CI arrows, and 1 CI rapier in ... oh minutes for a grand total of 39 gold pieces, 6 silver pieces (Lalia can pick up some cold iron [ranged] weapons if she'd like as well). Del will also pick up a cold iron morningstar (small sized) and some cold iron sling bullets (giving 20 to Lalia). Total time to get there and back let's say is between 10-15 minutes, and let's assume it happened.
Casting goodberry was totally valid. Did you roll for the number of berries, or would you like to roll 2d4 now?
Ammunition is destroyed when it strikes a target. 50% chance to recover ammo if you miss and try to recover it.
@Earll - your character sheet lists 52 gp. Is this inaccurate? A cold iron rapier would cost 36 gp at Saringallow Sundries (0.9*(2*20 gp)). Perhaps your companions could float you some funds if necessary? (Assuming the group goes to purchase new weapons, which I am not forcing you to do).
As the demon misses Del, it hisses at him again in malevolent Abyssal, "ਤੁਸੀਂ ਮਰ ਜਾਓ, ਤੁਸੀਂ ਗੰਦੇ ਨੌਕਰ!" as it spits at his face.
Abyssal:
"Die, you filthy slip!" Confronted by this malicious menace, Del blanches and moves to flee when he locks eyes with the quasit. As he stares into the demon's glowing orange eyes, he stops his motion and turns to face the demon, tears in his little blue eyes. "Master, forgive my weakness," he whispers as he regrips the oversized morningstar. He closes his eyes just for a moment and a surge of divine energy wracks his small body. He addresses the quasit in a quiet voice, "Begone, torturer," as he swings the oversized spiked metal ball at the demon
crushing the astounded monster into the ground. It lies there unconscious and helpless, its wounds continuing to knit themselves closed. Before the demon regains consciousness, however, the remainder of the group is able to finish it off as Del fixes it with a merciless stare.
Malochia:
You cannot tell if he's serious or not with his offer to work together, though you're sure he'd love for you to turn on the party. The little demon blinks into appearance as it claws wickedly at Del. The halfling, though surprised, is able to evade the little monster's attack.
Fyrra sniffs the air, but cannot catch the demon's scent. She looks around, tongue flicking in and out, alert for the foe.
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