TGZ101's page

The party limbs out of the ruins of the Beggar-King complex. His remaining men scamper off to the remaining thieves guilds or disappear into the slums. Upon recovery, the party finds Dulin back at The Silent Maid, looking as if he never left.

He is puzzled to see Galad and Hawkseer but shrugs it off.

"Must have been harder than I thought," he says, "You'll have to tell me the full story some time."

Reaching impossibly far into a pouch on his belt, he pulls out an even larger looking pouch, bulging with coins.

"There's a bonus for your fallen comrades as well, to see that they're properly taken care of. We may be thieves, but we pay our debts. Just don't ask where the gold came from," he adds, shifting forward in his seat and taking a drink from the cup in front of him.

"You seem to make a good team. Perhaps I'll have reason to call upon you again. I'm sure it would be profitable for both our parties," he finishes with a smile before getting up and excusing himself from the tavern.

With the thieves guilds back in power and uncontested, the balance is restored to the slums. While no one recognizes you directly, your party receives many sideways looks and many whisper the praises of the brave group that restored order. With such a reputation, the city is yours for the taking, as many jobs and offers begin to discreetly arrive. This is the end, but it is also the beginning.

Congratulations everyone. Thank you for the great run and may all your dice rolls be critical hits. :)

I just looked it up and Fin is correct. If you have no surges left and receive healing then you gain 1HP and are conscious again. Vandis is still likely to be in a tenuous condition though, and may at least need a crutch or something to get by.

As for future plans, let me please direct you to the Discussion Page where I've laid out the situation.

Congratulations, you have won the day, defeated the beggar-king, and unmade his dark ritual. You'll now be heroes to the less vile people of Smoke and Dúlin will have a sizeable award waiting for you. You'll also, finally, be making it to level 3.

Now the question is, who wants to continue? We've been at this for over a year and I am very grateful for everyone who stuck through this module. I know it wasn't the heaviest for roleplay but hopefully some of you at least enjoyed the challenging combats. However, I also know that I've slowed down a lot and posts are a lot more infrequent on my part.

I apologize for this as I know I've been a stickler about post frequency in the past. I'll be honest and say that's not likely to change in the near future. I still love play-by-posts, but other than this game my interest has started to wane. I have a live game I DM on Fridays, another game I play in on Sundays, plus work, school, and any other number of distractions.

I put a lot of effort into the maps and wiki at first trying to make it the best game possible but I just sort of burnt out about half way through.

That all being said, I'm still willing to continue as long as everyone is okay with the pace of play remaining the same. Some days will be better than others, some will be a lot worse. I'll still be making the maps as decent as possible but the wiki, other than tracking character changes and hit points, is done with. Being the only one updating it just started to feel too much like work. :)

If everyone is done, then no hard feelings. I was very lucky to have a group this dedicated for my first play-by-post as a DM and even if the module was low-quality, the players and characters were of the highest caliber.

Whatever is happening below you seems to have settled during the fight. I wouldn't want to invest in any real estate around here but for the moment everything seems solid enough for a short rest.

Excellent work. Out of combat.

Vandis and Hawkseer lie in critical, but stable condition.

The charnel house and the remains of the Beggar King's demesne are almost serene after the destruction of the umber drake. Beneath your feet you feel the occasional settling of heavy rock in the chambers below. Of whatever remains of the Beggar King's men, there is no sign.

The umber bats above seem to have disappeared with the death of their master, and the great waft of "smoke" is nowhere to be seen, making the rooftops safe once again.

Apologies. Halloween festivities and recovery took away most of my attention during the weekend. I hope the rest of you had a similarly good time. :)

Dannad's first strike is enough to tear a hole through the shadowy creature and it howls as the hole begins to expand outward. The shape of the umber drake twists and bulges before exploding in a small burst of negative energy, blasting everyone adjacent.
Shadow Burst; 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24 vs. Vandis' FORT for 2d6 + 5 ⇒ (3, 4) + 5 = 12 cold/necrotic damage. -12 HP to Vandis who is knocked prone, dying
1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7 vs. Dannad's FORT; -12 HP to Dannad.

The cold energy is too much for the weakened fighter, who has taken more of a beating than anyone else thus far. He falls back in much the same state as Hawkseer. Dannad manages to keep his footing but seems ready to tumble at any moment.

The umber drake was killed by Dannad's blow. Dagobert can repost his turn given the change of events. I'm staying in initiative until the dying players are resolved. I believe they've both used their second winds, yes?

Dagobert (bloodied)
Galad
Hawkseer (dying, 1 strike)
Vandis (dying, 1 strike)
Dannad (bloodied)

The party throws itself into a frenzy trying to take down the beast but the creature seems possessed of a new will to live, parrying, dodging, and keeping the party at bay.

In a last ditch effort, the creature seems to vanish in a swirl of shadows and appears between Dagobert and Galad. Eyes smoldering with vengeance, it swipes at Dagobert with teeth and tail.
Bite;26 vs. Dagobert's AC; -7 HP and ongoing 5 cold/necro save ends
Tail Slap; 17 vs. Dagobert's AC; -6 HP and knocked prone

UPDATED MAP
Party Hit Points

Vandis (bloodied, 1 strike)
Dannad
Dagobert
Galad
Hawkseer (dying, 1 strike)
Umber Drake (bloodied, oath target, marked)

Giving Galad until about 6PM EST then moving on.

Dannad and Dagobert try in vain to fell the creature, daggers and beams of light flying about the dark ruin of the charnel house. Still the beast remains on its feet.

UPDATED MAP (Vandis is, in fact, not prone anymore but Hawkseer is)
Party Hit Points

Galad
Hawkseer (who will go unconscious at the start of his turn from ongoing and is prone)

The beast stumbles from Vandis' blow and seems to be having trouble keeping its shadowy flesh from coming apart. Wisps of the drake seem to be dissolving and drifting off to nothing like a dying flame.

Dannad flanks and slashes, but the drake keeps enough of himself together to avoid the blow.

Galad brings Vandis back to consciousness, though he remains weak from his wounds. His spirit distracts the drake, but fails to do any damage.

Hawkseer, taking advantage, slashes the drake weakly but effectively.

The drake retaliates, turning and biting at Hawkseer before spinning and sending its tail at him.
Bite; 27 vs. Hawkseer's AC; -7HP to Hawkseer and 5 ongoing cold/deco
Tail; 26 vs. Hawkseer's AC; -6HP to Hawkseer and knocked prone.

UPDATED MAP
Party Hit Points

Vandis (bloodied, 1 strike)
Dannad
Dagobert (+2 def)
Galad
Hawkseer (bloodied, prone, ongoing 5 cold/necro se)
Umber Drake (bloodied, oath target)

The drake roars in agony as Dagobert's radiant powers continue to strip away it's shadowy substance. (That's 46 total damage from Dagobert this round thanks to the radiant vulnerability.)

Dannad's dagger does its part as well before returning to the halfling's hand. Vandis' natural fortitude fights off the necrosis but he remains in critical condition.

UPDATED MAP
Party Hit Points

Galad
Hawkseer
Umber Drake (bloodied, oath target)
Vandis (dying 1 strike)
Dannad
Dagobert (+2 def)

DM - Dagobert moved to K37 on his last turn.

Doh, you are correct. I even remember reading it. I'll correct it in the next post.

Hawkseer attacks the drake with vigor, and strikes a sound blow but the shadowy creature remains standing.

The drake then lashes out all around itself again, biting at Hawkseer with its terrible jaws and whipping its tail at the staggered Vandis.
15 vs. Hawkseer's AC; miss
22 vs. Vandis' AC; -7 HP to Vandis who falls prone and dying

UPDATED MAP
Party Hit Points

Vandis (dying, 5 ongoing cold/necro and blind se all)
Dannad
Dagobert
Galad
Hawkseer
Umber Drake (bloodied, oath target)

Sorry for delay. Got caught up in live games over the weekend and had my 12 hour work day yesterday. Next update will be up in 5 hours or so.

The drake roars as the combined attacks tear away more of his substance. He immediately turns and breathes purplish flames on Vandis, bathing him in the cold, necrotic substance.
Breath Weapon; 25 vs. Vandis' Reflex; -14 HP to Vandis and he takes 5 ongoing cold/necrotic and is blinded (save ends all)

UPDATED MAP
Party Hit Points

Hawkseer
Umber Drake (bloodied, oath target, marked)
Vandis (blooded, 5 ongoing cold/necro and blind se all)
Dannad
Dagobert
Galad

Sorry, no update for today. Studying for back-to-back exams at the moment and I probably won't be sleeping tonight. I'll see what I can do for tomorrow.

No flank from there, but you'll hit nonetheless.

Hawkseer slashes the creature's flank, splashing the floor with acrid, sizzling blood. In a rage, the drake bites at the already prone Vandis and whips its tail around at Hawkseer. Neither attacks hit, however, and the drake only manages to knock away more of the crumbling wall and rend several chunks from the stone floor as Vandis rolls out of the way.
15 vs. Vandis' AC; miss
9 vs. Hawkseer's AC; miss

UPDATED MAP
Party Hit Points

Vandis (prone)
Dannad
Dagobert
Galad
Hawkseer (+2 all defenses)
Umber Drake (oath target)

Dannad's dagger catches the smoking drake in the throat before returning to his hand. However, it is Dagobert's radiant attack that draws the most ire from the shadow spawn, who screeches audibly as the holy light sears the creature greater than any attack thus far.

UPDATED MAP
Party Hit Points

Hawkseer (+2 all defenses)
Vandis (prone)
Umber Drake (marked, oath target)
Dannad
Dagobert
Galad

Bump. :)

Everyone please double check their status on the Party Hit Points page and make sure its up to date.

Hawkseer gathers himself while Vandis charges boldly at the drake, scoring a hit on it's smoking flesh.

Unperturbed, it bites at Vandis and lashes at him with its tail, trailing wisps of smoke as it does so. The bite attack is lazily turned aside, but seems only to have been a feint as the tail knocks Vandis savagely to the ground.
9 vs. Vandis' AC
28 vs. Vandis' AC; -10 HP to Vandis and he is knocked prone.

UPDATED MAP
Party Hit Points

Dannad
Dagobert
Galad
Hawkseer (+2 all defenses)
Vandis (prone)
Umber Drake (marked, oath target)

The drake roars a challenge at the emerging party, black flames licking the lengths of its wings. With a malevolent gaze it waits for your response.

UPDATED MAP
Party Hit Points

Hawkseer
Vandis
Umber Drake
Dannad
Dagobert
Galad

And of course I forget the level 1 map on my other flash drive. :(

I'll have it up and ready when I get back to my home computer.

Sorry again, traveling home once more this weekend and I've been working long hours this week. Here's the initiative order and I'll get the map up tomorrow.

Hawkseer
Vandis
Umber Drake
Dannad
Dagobert
Galad

The remnants of the ruined tower shudder all around you. The air bears the hard edge of winter’s chill, freezing the breath in your lungs as tiny bits of ash drift down like falling snow.

Looking up you can see the clear night sky, framed by the rim of the ruined tower. Crouched on the tower’s lip, blotting out the moon, is an enormous dragon that seethes and flares like an ember.

Please roll new initiatives.

Vandis and Galad combine their attacks perfectly to end the beggar-king.

He collapses to the ground, slain, along with the remaining bats and cinder skeletons. The charnel furnace is instantly extinguished, plunging the chamber into darkness. Through the dim light you can see the cloud of inky shadows rushes from his corpse, escaping into the ruined tower above.

A frigid wind washes over the chamber, chilling your blood and freezing the sweat beading on your brow. An instant later, a thundering groan fills the air. Crumbling bricks, showers of sand, and falling blocks tumble from above as the dungeon around you begins to collapse.

Out of combat for the moment.

The lightly armored Beggar-King continues to get pummeled by Hawkseer and the rest of the party.

Hawkseer, your focused fury hit right on the nose. I went ahead and shifted the only other enemy adjacent to you but it moved back to attack on its own turn.

The Beggar-King snarls and emits an terrible burst of necrotic energy that washed over the entire party, nearly putting Dannad on his back.
21 vs. Dannad's Fort
18 vs. Hawkseer's Fort
14 vs. Vandis' Fort
11 vs. Dagobert's Fort
14 vs. Galad's Fort
10 necrotic damage and all undead in burst gain 10 hp. -10 HP to Hawkseer, Dannad, and Galad.

The first cinder skeleton then rises once more to its feet to attack Vandis with a charred claw.
21 vs. Vandis' AC for 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3 damage. -5 HP to Vandis and ongoing 2 fire damage se.

Refusing to be so easily cast aside, the second skeleton returns and slashes at Hawkseer.
18 vs. Hawkseer's AC for 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5 damage. -6 HP to Hawkseer and 2 ongoing fire se.

UPDATED MAP
Party Hit Points

Galad
Vandis (2 ongoing fire)
Dagobert (5 ongoing se)
Umbra Bat Swarm (Aura 1, 10 ongoing)
Dannad (bloodied)
Hawkseer (2 ongoing fire)
Beggar-King (Aura 1, bloodied, dazed, -2 attack se, 10 ongoing)
Cinder Skeleton 1 (marked)
Cinder Skeleton 2

No update today. Just got back from a long day and night of work and classes. I'll have the next round up first thing in the morning.

Yes, that was your 2nd fight today. I believe you rested, then fought the dragonborn and found Virmuth and the others after that.

Dannad's dagger strike draws a great deal of blood from the withered king but the necrotic aura surrounding the man continues to eat away at Dannad.

Hawkseer's divine power wavers slightly in the face of such evil, but the cinder skeleton feels the pain regardless.

UPDATED MAP
Party Hit Points

Hawkseer (pending action)
Beggar-King (Aura 1, bloodied, dazed, -2 attack se, 10 ongoing)
Cinder Skeleton 1 (prone, marked)
Cinder Skeleton 2
Galad
Vandis
Dagobert (5 ongoing se)
Umbra Bat Swarm (Aura 1, 10 ongoing)
Dannad (bloodied)

Galad moves about the room looking for advantage, though his attack still fails to cause any damage to the cinder skeleton.

Dagobert's burst sends the the beggar-king reeling, he shakes his head in protest as the blade smoke continues to pour through his gaping mouth. His watery, sunken eyes seem on the verge of tears.

Vandis feints with his sword before shoulder-checking the nearest skeleton.
Knockdown Assault; 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (16) + 9 = 25 vs. FORT for 4 damage and target is knocked prone.

The bat swarm takes a moment to attack the spirit companion before realizing it is not made of flesh and is immune to their biting, swarming attacks. Also, several of the bats felled by Dagobert's attack return to life and take to the air once more to join the rest of the swarm.
Bat Save vs. Ongoing: 1d20 ⇒ 5

UPDATED MAP This is a ghetto update since I can't use GIMP at the moment. The blank white squares are empty squares.
Party Hit Points

Dannad (Ongoing 2 necro/cold)
Hawkseer
Beggar-King (Aura 1, -2 attack se, 10 ongoing)
Cinder Skeleton 1 (prone, marked)
Cinder Skeleton 2
Galad
Vandis
Dagobert
Umbra Bat Swarm (Aura 1, 10 ongoing)

Welcome back Vandis. :)
Next update is tomorrow morning as I just got back from a long weekend and yet another wedding.

Reaching the Beggar-King, Hawkeer and Dannad open him up savagely to begin the melee. They pay for their proximity, however, and weaken in the Beggar-King's dark ritual.

The Beggar-King, refusing to be taken so easily, raises him arms in a violent, upward motion. Several of the charred remains on the floor shuffle and rise together, forming two crisp and jagged skeletons that move to attack Hawkseer and Dannad. At the same time, the Beggar-King's hand is ringed in purple and black flames before he strikes out at Dannad, tearing a gash through the halfling's scalp as he tries to dodge.
Shadow Bolt; 20 vs. REF for 2d4 + 4 ⇒ (1, 2) + 4 = 7 damage. -7 HP to Dannad and 2 ongoing necrotic/cold damage.

The skeletons then lash out with bony claws.
Claw vs. Hawkseer's AC; 10 vs. AC; MISS
Claw vs. Dannad's AC; 14 vs. AC; MISS

Hawkseer and Dannad take 5 necrotic damage from the beggar-king's aura.

UPDATED MAP
Party Hit Points

Galad
Vandis
Dagobert
Umbra Bat Swarm (Aura 1)
Dannad (Ongoing 2 necro/cold)
Hawkseer
Beggar-King (Aura 1, -2 attack se)
Cinder Skeleton 1
Cinder Skeleton 2

Bump.

The large bat swarm fills the air with their screeching as they come pouring out of stairs leading to the upper level.

UPDATED MAP
Party Hit Points

Dannad
Hawkseer
Beggar-King
Galad
Vandis
Dagobert
Umbra Bat Swarm

Alright, sorry again. Vacation is over and the battle will commence tonight with the map update. Steel your nerves adventurers!

Bump!

Here's the current initiative order. I'm on vacation, camping with my dad in Kentucky right now so a map update may take me awhile. All I have is my little netbook and it doesn't handle the map very well anymore as I keep adding onto it. I will do my best however.

Vandis' Intiative: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10
Galad's Initiative: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 1 = 14

Umbra Bat Swarm
Dannad
Hawkseer
Beggar-King
Galad
Vandis
Dagobert

The sound of the bats draws nearer as the Beggar-King continues to try and speak through his smoke-filled mouth.

Initiative rolls please, combat will soon be upon us. :)

Religion and/or arcane checks would be appropriate for the ritual.

Streewise or Dungeoneering will help you figure out where you are.

The dessicated figure stares wide as you enter, pain clear on the gaunt features of his shriveled face. The creature tries to speak but the results of the dark ritual prevent him from speaking.

Soon, the familiar, unwelcome sounds of dozen of bats can be heard coming from the stairs in the room.

Wow...alright. Not sure where my head was with that one.

A wave of crackling heat washes over you. Shielding your eyes, you can see a mighty oven at the back of the chamber, its oversized door glowing red with heat. Skulls, other bones and fallen bricks litter the corners of the chamber, and all is covered in soot and ash.

In the center of the chamber stands an obese man, with the desiccated skin of a dried out corpse, but somehow still alive. His head is cast back in triumph or anguish, a still cloud of inky black shadow gouting from his open maw. The frozen cloud hangs above him, rising into darkness.

Discussion thread, what discussion thread? :)

Okay then, mostly just waiting for Dannad's thievery roll or some other sufficient means of entry. If necessary I'll roll for later today as it's been several days now.

Obligatory bump. :)

Dannad swiftly and expertly picks the lock, indicated by a satisfying sound of metal tumblers falling and clicking in to place. With a twist of his tools, the door begins to open.

Bump. Need some action before proceeding.

Dannad cannot make anything out at all. He cannot even discern if it's one person or multiple people.

Dagobert can verify that it's only a single person, but the exact words are lost on him through the heavy oak.

Having heard no dissension I will continue on.

The only way out of the room, other than the way you came, is a heavy oak door on the eastern wall. Moving to open the door reveal that it is solidly locked. A single muffled voice can be heard on the other side.

Dagobert is all to familiar with the demigod known as Niramuth. Hawkseer knows the deity by its older name, Narrimunâth. No matter the name, he is the god of plagues and debilitating illness, the patron deity of wererats, those who would spread sickness, and other forms of vermin.

The domains Narrimunâth is associated with are Death, Destruction, and Evil. His favorite weapon is the sap, and his symbol is a mangy, dead, or undead rat.

Bumpity bump bump.

Also, I just realized last month was our anniversary for the game. I thought it was this month for some reason. So happy anniversary Punjarans!

UPDATED MAP
Updated Hit Points

Dannad creeps steadily closer, scanning the surrounding area for traps.

Important Note: There is, in fact, a door on the eastern wall of this chamber. I will add it for visual reference when I make my next map update.

The party leaves the coffers undisturbed for now and continues along the walkway past the river. A short ways through the slick, narrow passage another chamber is revealed.

At the far end of the natural chamber squats the loathsome statue of an enormous rat. A trio of iron braziers flanks the statue, casting a dull flickering light about the chamber. Piled between the rat’s paws is a king’s ransom in gold, silver, and jewels. The statue’s ruby eyes scintillate hungrily in crimson light.

Map update will be coming along tomorrow morning. Also, everyone let me know how many surges you spent during the short rest with the chests.

Party HP

Bump. Anyone else want to move things along or add something? If not I'll keep things going tomorrow morning.