Rise of the Runelords by DM Doctor Evil (again)

Game Master DM DoctorEvil

Luckily for the group, no traps or dangers are found on the other side of the secret door. Instead, there are a pair of passages that lead north. Looking north from the hall, it is clear that both passages lead to stairs going down.

Which passage? Cadas, I think only Kizzy took STR damage, and only 1 point at that. Could be wrong...

"I'm alright. Just feel like I could use some sleep, but no need for that just yet. Take care of yourself and we'll press on. They both go the same direction, how about we try the right?"

Yep, I think I'm the only other one with Str damage and it's only one point. That should clear up as soon as we rest, I believe.

Cadas took two damage as well. Since 1 point does not impact the player Cadas will heal herself.

Looking at the damage the shadow caused the group Cadas concludes she need to be restored more than Kizzy and casts Lesser Restoration on herself bringing her back to full strength. .

Lesser Restoration: 1d4 ⇒ 4

The righthand passage it is. Cadas says and follows the group that way.

"Down the rabbit hole we go!" Robin wondered if there would ever be a bottom floor to this complex.

"I grow tired of this place quickly. Let us finish our vork here and continue on."

Making the choice to follow the right hand passage, the heroes descend the short stairs and find a single stone door at the end of the passage. Meanwhile, Cadas casts a restorative spell on herself, removing the remnants of the icy touch of the shadows from her muscles and renewing their vigor.

No traps are found on the door, and listening only reveals the sound of sloshing water on the other side of the door.

This may have been assumed, but...

Marcellano blinks, and squints forward, muttering a few words as he gazes at the door.

Using detect magic on the door. He'll gesture to proceed if he doesn't see anything.

Unless someone says otherwise, Robin opens the door!

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The sound of sloshing water fills this room, which has almost entirely collapsed into a large tide pool. What few walls do remain intact here bear detailed and impressive carvings of incredible treasuries filled to overflowing with coins, gems, jewelry, and other items of value. To the east, the walls depict a carving of a towering mountain, its peak carved in the shape of a stern face above a great palace. Below, the side of the mountain's valley cradles an immense city of spires.

In the pool, what once must have been an incredible treasury lie in the sloshing waters. Shattered urns, crumbled stone chests, rusted bits of once-beautiful armor and weapons, and other long-ruined treasures from an ancient past lie below. Most impressive of all of them, is a large coral-encrusted helmet sized for a giant, which appears to be made of gold.

I only need an 18! :P

Knowledge (History): 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (11) + 12 = 23 Phooey.

Marcellano gasps as he advances into the room, eyes still bearing that strange, middle-distance look from his enchanted sight. "This is quite a find!" he exclaims, hastily digging out his journal and beginning to take careful notes. "Why, an intact Thassilonian treasure chamber--do you have any idea how rare that is?! Sandpoint's sitting on the archaeological find of the century!"

Narcizia takes off from his shoulder and wheels about, also searching the room.

Keeping detect magic up and taking a look around!

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6
Narcizia Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20

Robin is pretty excited as well. "Take a look at that giant helmet! Who knows what treasure could still be here?" Taking off his backpack, Robin tries very hard to search the pool for anything buried beneath the ancient debris.

Take 20 to search.

Cadas moves to the edge of the pool as well and, casting Light onto stone tosses in into the warted to illuminate the pool more fully. Toss about 20' back.

Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (16) + 10 = 26

Qetsiyah marveled at the carvings, looking a bit puzzled at the one of a mountain. "Lookit! The mountain has a face. Ha!"

She scratched her head as she looked over the helmet. "Not sure we can get that out in one piece... Shame to carve it up, though." She joined Robin in his search, being careful not to stir up the silt and cloud the water.

Aid Search-Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (14) + 8 = 22 Should give us 32 on the search.

Sorry, ended up stranded in southern Missouri yesterday (long story) and didn't get a post up. Will advance you guys tonight.

You see coins and precious stones glint and glimmer at you from under the water. Marcellano's divination reveals the presence of one faint magical aura under the water. As Cadas' lighted stone enters the pool, she sees a flash of movement, something large bolt to the shadows of the pool.

A few moments later, a large hermit crab, the size of a dog or bigger, rises from water, snapping it's claws at the intruders to its pool.

Collapsed Treasury - Round 1

19 Marcellano
19 Crab
17 Kizzy
15 Robin
11 Rogar
6 Cadas

Looks like Marcellano is up first, then the crab, followed by the rest of the party. Let's see what happens.

Marcellano, any action? I will post for you tomorrow if not.

Sorry, all! My bad--got some crazy stuff going on at work and wasn't able to check in much. Let's see...

Marcellano scowls as the crab rises out of the water, almost rolling his eyes.

"I tire of everything in this damned ruin trying to eviscerate us," he grumbles, slinging his crossbow off his back and aiming at it. "If that thing comes out of the water, I'll set it on fire."

Crossbow Attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16
Crossbow Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 2

Kizzy grins at the wizard's grumbling. "Ooh, been awhile since I've been to a real crab-bake!"

She stood ready to defend if the creature came out of the water, her stomach growling noisily in response to the mention of food.

Collapsed Treasury - Round 1 - continued

Marcellano unslings his crossbow and fires a bolt at the crab as it rises from the bottom of the pool. The bolt is well-aimed but lacks the punch to penetrate the hard shell of the arthropod, glancing off harmlessly.

The crab lurches forward, half-swimming, half-crawling until it is within reach of the two-legged invaders. Swinging its claw forward, it attacks Kizzy. The claw is foiled by the warrior's armor however, and unable to damage her.

The rest of the party is up against the giant hermit crab.

Crab Claw: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (8) + 10 = 18

Cadas, worried that the crab has tough armor pulls and uses her wand of bless to help guide the party's attacks.

Marcellano carefully backs up, opening some space behind Kizzy. "Draw it back onto the shore, Qetsiyah. I can light it up then. If we still need to," he calls, as he busily winds his crossbow. He sights down it carefully, muttering, "I'm not really that good a shot..."

5' shift south to open up a space behind Kizzy, move action to reload crossbow, and shoot!

Attack (Bless, into melee): 1d20 + 4 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 + 1 - 4 = 21
Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 6
Crit Confirm: 1d20 + 4 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 + 1 - 4 = 20
Possible Additional Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 5

"Nice shot!, Marcy! At this rate, we can save the fire for making crab cakes!" Robin takes a step back and attempts to help Kizzy's next attack! Aid Another, Bless: 1d20 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 3 + 1 = 17 Qetsiyah gets a +2 to attack

Collapsed Treasury - Round 1 - continued

Cadas takes out her wand of blessing and uses it to grant a divine boon to her fellow adventurers against the crab.

Robin steps back, still using his whip he baits the crab, leaving it exposed for an attack by Kizzy.

Still need actions from Rogar and Kizzy to end the round. Marcellano's shot comes at the beginning of next round.

Qetsiyah laughs at the crab's failed lunge at her. "Ha! You aren't the only one with a hard shell! Let's try yours now..." She swung her blade at the crustacean and then stepped back as Marcel suggested, prepared to guard if it snapped at any of her companions.

Falchion Attack-Penalty+Bless+Aid: 1d20 + 8 - 1 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 8 - 1 + 1 + 2 = 26 Damage: 2d4 + 2 ⇒ (2, 3) + 2 = 7

Aid Another(Bodyguard): 1d20 + 8 - 1 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 8 - 1 + 1 = 19 +4 to AC if it attacks anyone besides Kizzy.

Collapsed Treasury - Round 1 - concluded

Kizzy smashes her falchion into the hermit crab cracking its shell, and spill some of the soft insides out. She then returns to her defensive stance, protective of the rest of her group.

Meanwhile, Rogar rushes up to bash the beast with his shield. His movement provokes an attack from the crab, but beats it back with his shield before delivering a blow with the shield himself.

Crab AoO: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (8) + 10 = 18
Rogar Shield: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23
Shield dmg, crab: 1d4 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8

End of Round 1

Collapsed Treasury - Round 2

19 Marcellano
19 Crab (15 dmg)
17 Kizzy
15 Robin
11 Rogar
6 Cadas

Bless effect in place.

Marcellano fires his crossbow, and scores a critical hit in the eye of the beast which reacts with a screech of pain and fury.

The crab then lashes otu with both claws against Cadas, who stand there, divine wand in hand. One claw misses thanks to the defensive feint by Kizzy, but the other hits, and hits hard. Just missing a deadly wound, it still manages to hurt the priestess and then grapple and constrict her as well. All told Cadas takes 17hp dmg this round.

All the party except Marcellano are up now.

Crab Claw 1, bodyguard: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (20) + 10 = 30
Crab Claw 2, bodyguard: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (8) + 10 = 18
Claw 1 Crit confirm, bodyguard: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (14) + 10 = 24 FAIL
Claw 1 Dmg, Cadas: 1d4 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10
Grab, grapple check: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (14) + 14 = 28
Constrict dmg, Cadas: 1d4 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7

Robin gasps as the hermit crab clutches the priestess in its claws. "Don't worry, Cadas - I've got you covered. Covered in butter, that is!" Taking a bit of butter into his fingers, he calls forth magic to coat Cadas's armor in the greasy substance. +10 to escape grapple.

"Just getting a head start on preparing this meal!"

Seeing Cadas seriously hurt, her laughing mood fell away and she narrowed her dark, hooded eyes in anger. "Hey! Let her go! NOW!" She shouted, swinging her sword with all her might.
Falchion Attack-Penalty+Bless: 1d20 + 8 - 1 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 8 - 1 + 1 = 22 Damage: 2d4 + 3 ⇒ (4, 3) + 3 = 10

(Adjusted my damage too much for the STR damage, so +1 to last attack. I'm supposed to make a new AOO to aid AC for each separate attack on an ally, so here's one for each claw, I don't think the grab counts as a separate attack... +4 to AC if it attacks anyone besides Kizzy. Also if the crab lands another attack on Cadas, Qetsiyah will opt to put herself In Harm's Way and take the hit.)

Aid Another(Bodyguard): 1d20 + 8 - 1 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 8 - 1 + 1 = 21
Aid Another(Bodyguard): 1d20 + 8 - 1 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 8 - 1 + 1 = 27

At first Cadas thinks the big crustation slimed her. But once she realizes she is covered with grease she tries to wiggle free.

Escape: 1d20 + 10 - 2 ⇒ (14) + 10 - 2 = 22

MIght be in trouble here. Likely should have attacked or channeled instead but was all greasy. :)

I am not sure what happened to Rogar, but he is late posting in another game as well. I will continue him through this combat and try to see if his coming back.

Collapsed Treasury - Round 2 - concluded

Kizzy, angered at the assault on her teammate, steps forward and delivers a mighty blow to the offending crab.

Robin casts a spell that coats the grappled Cadas in slippery goo, trying to make her harder to hold and squeeze for the hungry crustacean.

Cadas, understanding the tactics, starts wriggling for all she's worth to escape the claw of the crab, and at the last moment, is just able to slip free from the pincers, landing back on the floor. Kizzy steps up and takes a protective stance over the Shoanti priestess.

Rogar tries to batter the crab back under water with his trusty shield, but the battering doesn't seem to effect the hard-shelled creature.

End of Round 2

Rogar shield bash, PA: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15

Collapsed Treasury - Round 3

19 Marcellano
19 Crab (25 dmg)
17 Kizzy (in harm's way, if applicable)
15 Robin
11 Rogar
6 Cadas (greasy)

Marcellano leads off the round for the heroes.

Wind. Load. Aim. Fire! "Now this is taking me back to my militia days," the wizard mutters as he sights down the crossbow.

Attack: 1d20 + 4 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 + 1 - 4 = 6
Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 6

"*Crawk!* Thank Nethys I wasn't around for that!"

"Shut up."

Collapsed Treasury - Round 3 - continued

Marcellano gets his crossbow reloaded and takes his time aiming and firing, but the crab jerks just as the shot is triggered, and the bolt misses again.

The crab continues pursuing the now-slippery Cadas. Striking at her again with both claws. Kizzy continues to try to impose herself in way of the attack. The first claw clangs off Cadas' armor, but the second looks to clip her. At the last moment, Kizzy interposes herself and takes the hit, pushing the cleric clear. The claw grasps the Varisian fighter, squeezing her for more damage.

Crab Claw 1, bodyguard AC: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (7) + 10 = 17
Crab Claw 2, bodyguard AC: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (20) + 10 = 30
Crit Confirm: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (7) + 10 = 17
Claw 2 dmg, Kizzy: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7
Crab Grab vs Kizzy CMD 21: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (8) + 14 = 22 GRAPPLED
Constrict Dmg, Kizzy: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9

Used In Harm's Way to substitute the hit and associated grab effect on Kizzy. She now, along with the crab, has the grappled condition. The rest of the party may now act.

Seeing the crab grappling Cadas moves back away from the creature and channels positive energy, excluding the crustacean.

Healing to all but Mr. Crab: 2d6 ⇒ (4, 6) = 10

Her teeth gritted against the pain, Kizzy tries to wrench herself free from the crab's crushing claw, but with so little room to maneuver, she is unable to get loose.
Attempt to escape grapple: 1d20 + 7 - 1 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 7 - 1 + 1 = 14
Adjusted HP for both damage and healing

Not so fast!

While Kizzy is attempting to struggle free, Robin helps butter her up as well! Grease! +10 to escape artist/break grapple!

-Posted with Wayfinder

Collapsed Treasury - Round 3 - concluded

the way the initiative counts fall, Robin's spell will come after Kizzy's break out. It doesn't help her this time, but may help next round.

Kizzy kicks and struggles, but cannot break loose of the hermit crab's great pincer. The pressure slowly squeezes the fighter.

Seeing Kizzy's predicament, Robin flicks his fingers, coating the Varisian girl in the same slippery goo that aided Cadas before.

Feeling the sharp pain of her own wounds, Cadas channels the vital force of Gozreh, god of nature, into healing energy for her friends and allies.

Rogar smashes his shield once more against the crab but cannot rattle or damage the creature through its bony exoskeleton.

End of Round 3

Rogar Shield bash, PA: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8

Collapsed Treasury - Round 4

19 Marcellano
19 Crab (25 dmg) (grappled)
17 Kizzy (grappled, greasy)
15 Robin
11 Rogar
6 Cadas (greasy)

Marcellano has the ability to lead off.

Guess I'll put Marcellano on the clock. I will run him tomorrow if we don't see a post before that.

Aw, crud. Sorry for the delays, all--one of my other games has started updating very frequently and therefore all others end up at the bottom of my "Campaigns" tab, which means I sometimes miss them. Let's see if I can't speed this along.

Marcellano scowls in irritation as the team continues to do battle with the crab. "Very well--I can boil the damn beast as well as roast it." He begins to weave complex, arcane gestures through the air in front of him. "Can't believe I'm expending a spell like this to toast a brainless creature," he mutters disdainfully. Then he barks a single word that almost blisters his friends' ears, and a gout of flame shoots up from the crab!

Using spontaneous immolation on the crab! It's a DC 16 Fortitude save for it to avoid catching on fire and halve the initial damage; otherwise it catches fire and has to make a Reflex save on my next turn or take 1d6 more.

Damage: 3d6 ⇒ (1, 3, 3) = 7 fire damage!...Kinda pathetic.

Collapsed Treasury - Round 4 - continued

Crab DC 16 Fort: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (14) + 9 = 23

The fire spouts from Marcellano's fingers, but it proves less effective against the hard-shelled enemy than the wizard first expected.

The crab, with its claws wrapped around Kizzy, tries to maintain the grapple and squeeze the Varisian fighter. Fortunately, the greasy goo covering Kizzy allows her to slip through the fingers of the crab, and she slips to the ground, now ungrappled.

Crab, maintain grapple: 1d20 + 14 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 14 + 5 = 20

The rest of the party is up against the grabby crab. Kizzy is now ungrappled and may act freely.

Not wanting to provoke from the crab Cadas uses her Storm Strike ability on it.

Range Touch: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 231d6 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5 And -2 to attacks for a round.

Qetsiyah slipped and slid on her feet for a moment, regaining her footing. "Been awhile since dinner put up this much of a fight!" She swung her sword again.
Falchion Attack-Penalty+Bless: 1d20 + 8 - 1 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 8 - 1 + 1 = 17 Damage: 2d4 + 3 ⇒ (2, 4) + 3 = 9

Aid Another(Bodyguard): 1d20 + 8 - 1 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 8 - 1 + 1 = 26
Aid Another(Bodyguard): 1d20 + 8 - 1 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 8 - 1 + 1 = 26

Robin tries to use his whip to distract the crab! Aid Another (Rogar): 1d20 + 3 - 4 ⇒ (7) + 3 - 4 = 6. But doesn't have much luck.

Collapsed Treasury - Round 4 - concluded

Kizzy, now free from the grab of the arthropod, slides to her feet then launches a fierce counterattack, but her falchion glances off the hard shell of the crab.

Robin cracks his whip once again, trying to distract the crab and allow Rogar a better blow, but the target doesn't flinch or react to the whip.

Still trying to smash the crab with his shield, Rogar brings it crashing down once again. The ranger makes a solid hit, wounding the crab deeply.

From her standpoint, Cadas calls on the might of her god Gozreh, and brings forth a thunderstorm which batters the crab, in a burst of wind and rain.

End of Round 4

Rogar shield bash: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (18) + 7 = 25
Dng: 1d4 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10

Collapsed Treasury - Round 5

19 Marcellano
19 Crab (43 dmg)
17 Kizzy (greasy)
15 Robin
11 Rogar
6 Cadas (greasy)

Marcellano up first to start round 5

Tough Crab. It is at -2 to attack this round.

Marcellano is beginning to panic now, given the crab's apparent resistance to arcane fire. "Why won't it die?!" he mutters desperately as he winds and loads his crossbow yet again.

Attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7
Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 2

Collapsed Treasury - Round 5 - continued

Switching back to his crossbow, Marcellano frowns as his bolt pings off the hard-shell of the crab ineffectively.

Hurting now, but still hungry, the crab looks to grab what morsel it can before retiring. It reaches this time for Rogar, slicing a wound on the dwarf's legs but not able to grapple him this time.

Crab Claw 1: 1d20 + 10 - 2 ⇒ (19) + 10 - 2 = 27
Crab Claw 2: 1d20 + 10 - 2 ⇒ (10) + 10 - 2 = 18
Dmg Claw 1: 1d4 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9
Grab attempt: 1d20 + 14 - 2 ⇒ (3) + 14 - 2 = 15

The rest of the party is up now against the crab, to finish the round.