Gaaah! I just occurs to me that there were several murders around town which left the victims oddly mutilated. Anyone caught with these masks is likely to swing for those murders. Gallond, you have my vote to burn the filthy things.
"Hey guys, check out my new MASK, the paladin selling them down the street assured me that it wasn't evil and that the nausea would eventually subside. Isn't it awesome!"
Ooc...I think I am just going to keep making silence of the lambs/crazy skin wearing tranny jokes till Clay hands the thing over....lol
... That is probably what we will do. How much for the halfling? ;)
One (1) Cleric. ;)
On our way to the clock tower we lost track of Morgrim. Perhaps he was bitter about our insistence that we dispose of the Skinsaw masks in a lawful manner. Fortunately Vancaskerkin presented himself as a substitute, a very fortuitous substitute as we would discover.
After the others vehemently refused my suggestion that we simply collapse the tower, we entered to find a rather broad shouldered scarecrow. Not even waiting for an attempt at parlay Vancaskerkin advanced on the incongruous figure. Gallond and Asa moved in as well quickly laying the tatterdemalion low. Removing its equipment revealed a Flesh Golem which had been augmented by a Life Spark.
After I finished tending the wounds of the party we assayed to climb the tower. Gallond removed his armor to reduce weight, stating that he could summon it at need. Asa and I ascended the stairs, taking our time as they were rather rickety. Lazurin Spider Climbed up the walls, taking a rope for Gallond and Vancaskerkin to climb as they were reluctant to trust the stairs with their weight.
The first I knew of any opposition was when a 15 foot wide brass bell knocked out the stairs I was standing on. Gallond and I caught ourselves on lower sections of the stairs, but Vancaskerkin fell half the height of the tower. Knowing that, if he still lived, his injuries could be fatal within seconds I leapt to the top of the now grounded bell. I misjudged the distance and landed poorly, but managed to get to his side, applying the healing magic of Bards. Revived by only a single Cure Moderate Wounds he began to climb the rope again, which our comrades had moved to a different corner of the tower. I took the stairs and healed him twice as he struggled up the rope. As it turned out, with the stairs out, the rope was the only way up.
Meanwhile our comrades had dispatched the quartet of Faceless Stalkers that had dropped the bell. Well done.
Achieving the pinnacle of the tower, we beheld the lair of Xanesha. And no one was home. Suspecting Invisibility I sought a scroll in my possession that had See Invisible on it. Before I could achieve my goal a monstrous figure appeared and Gallond, wroth with Holy Fury, attacked it, only for it to be revealed as an Major Illusion by a Dispel Magic cast by Lazurin. Needless to say Gallond became possessed of a much more down-to-earth fury.
The snake thing revealed herself by casting a Flesh to Stone at Vancaskerkin, perhaps a poor choice as he readily resisted the malign spell. After an initial negative energy burst we began a fairly typical high-powered monstrous-caster boss fight. Asa, Gallond and Vancaskerkin began trying to beat through the thing's defenses and I ran around staunching their wounds. Lazurin made the difference, with a truly mad number of Dispel Magics which "echoed" a second later. Much aggrieved she attempted to close with the warlock, only to find her path consistently blocked by Vancaskerkin.
With her defenses stripped and many wounds upon her she beat down Vancaskerkin, slithered quickly out of the room, then cast Invisibility. I cast See Invisible from the scroll and Lazurin did a Warlock trick. Asa ran out after her. Gallond followed and actually stumbled on the Invisible Xanesha, still squatting on the stairs. Realizing she was caught, she leapt off the tower, Feather Falling to the ground.
Having no means to follow her, I returned to Vancaskerkin's fallen form and discovered that he had been stabilized, presumably by Gallond. I began the tedious process of treating the wounds of our party. There is nothing I can do ease the wisdom drain.
Now there only remains to examine the swords of the Faceless Stalkers and to search the snake's lair for hidden loot. And to have the bells appraised; they should be worth something, if only for the metal weight.
As to the faceless Beasts...
I noticed them about half way up the tower but could not make out exactly who or what they were. I proceeded to tie the rope off at a much lower level than we intended as I was not interested in being peppered by missle fire should I endeavor closer. As my compatriots started to climb imagine my surprise as the loosed one of the giant bells from the roof on the vast majority of the party. Things at this point looked grim, so I deviseded another plan, as Asa ran to back me up we quickly resecured the rope on another landing and pushed hard to reach our attackers and provide cover for the others ascent. The Faceless ones must have lacked for missle weapons because as we closed they attempted to engage in melee with us. I spider walked along the walls creating distance and blasting away with my arcane powers, while Asa ducked dodged and otherwise evaded the monsters. Her expertise at avoiding the blows allowed her to hop from loose board to creaky stair while the beasts gave chase. I then in turn would saunter along the walls to the opposite end of the tower and burn Eldritch holes through the brutes until icor ceased to spill from them any longer.
OOC: as to Xanesha...if it werent for me happening to play a warlock and choosing that dispell invocation I am all but certain that encounter is a party wipe. Warning to any DM's who might read this as a warm up to running the encounter themselves...the rumors about this fight are a 100% true, if you party is not optimized and you do not want considerable casualties, consider some nerfing on the boss fight.
I've been planning on making Havelock a Pathfinder Chronicler, but the prerequisites say he will need to get someone to buy a written work for 50gp.
Following the Crafting rules from p.92:
1. Item needs to be 100gp to make up for the 1/2 price drop for selling, making it = 1000sp.
2. Item price puts it around the price for locks, so DC = 20.
3. 1/3 of 100gp is 34gp.
4. Havelock's Scribe skill is 12. An average roll would be 22.5, multiplied by the DC of 20 = 450sp / week. So we're looking at 3 weeks to make the book, barring fails. Easily handled by working at night with his Darkvision & Ring of Sustenance, but it looks like he'll be taking a level or two of Bard in the mean time.
Not sure what Brute thinks, but I think it would be cool if you got a little bonus on your book for maintaining the campaign journal....just a thought.
Not sure what Brute thinks, but I think it would be cool if you got a little bonus on your book for maintaining the campaign journal....just a thought.
Not worried about it. Just trying to check my math. ;)
I already built a Resto / Remove Curse bot. Unless you thing Orik would be a better choice someone else will have to pick him up.
Chapter 13. Goin' up the Country Where the Water Tastes Like ... Ogres
While we examining Xanesha's lair Morgrum turned up. We found a sheaf of papers, the uppermost was a list of the names of some of Magnimar's more prominent citizens. Several names were crossed out, a few were circled and crossed out, but one was merely circled. Haldmeer Grobaras, Lord Mayor of Magnimar. Examination the remaining papers revealed that the Skinsaw Cult, or at least Xanesha, had made a study of Grobaras' daily routine.
Gallond decided to follow the Lord Mayor on his daily rounds, intent on using him as a stalking horse to flush out any remaining cultists. Morgrum decided to go along, presumably using Gallond in much the same manor as Gallond was using Grobaras.
I thought it would best to learn more about the names on the list, but advised my companions that we should get the injuries inflicted on us by Xanesha tended to first. I, reluctantly, introduced them to my cousin, Lehna Stormwrack. Lehna decided to follow Gallond herself, whether to help or to watch the fireworks I do not know.
As I reached the conclusion that all the people on the list shared the quality of greed, Lehna arrived and reported that Gallond was getting himself into trouble with the Lord Mayor's body guards, to which I replied, "And you left them alone? Oh wait, with you that's probably a good thing."
I am uncertain of what actually occurred, but for some reason Gallond & Morgrum made contact with Grobaras and informed him of the cult's intent to target him. The Lord Mayor summoned all our group to a meeting and generously rewarded us for ending the cult's threat to Magnimar. (And himself, no doubt.)
Grobaras had a second reason for meeting with us. Magnimar sponsored a group called the Black Arrow Rangers. They have been charged with suppressing the ogres and miscellany threats to trade in the area around Turtleback Crossing. It seems that their leader, Captain Baeden has stopped sending back reports, and we were offered a commission to investigate. We accepted.
While the others were stocking up on cold weather gear, and Lehna's armor was being enchanted, I made a brief stop by Sandpoint to check on whether the thing under Foxglove Manor was destroyed. I encountered Shaleylu, the ranger who guided us to the goblin's lair. She was that she was looking to settle a score with a fellow named Jukardis, was planning on heading to Turtleback Crossing herself and offered her company on the journey. Knowing her to be a worthy companion I readily accepted.
Our slightly larger and much warmer group set out by barge and arrived without any greater incident that Lehna jumping overboard in full plate, then realizing that even with magic alleviating the weight, her armor was still clumsy enough that she couldn't run rings around the barge.
Upon arriving we took rooms at the inn, saw to our horses and went out into the town to find information about the Black Arrows. The only news was that ogres and others were raiding and destroying outlying farms. I begin to think the Black Arrows are no more.
While searching for information I noticed a man in town with a sihedron rune tattooed on his upper arm. Not wishing to be obvious I asked Morgrum follow him. The man went into the general store and made some purchases. His name turned out to be Dan, a trapper, but none of the locals could tell me anything about him. When I began asking the bartender at the tavern about sihedron runes he looked nervous, but I think I covered for it by blathering about the Runelords of Thelassmar until he got bored.
Tomorrow we set out for a fort further up river where we shall find whether the Black Arrow Rangers have fallen.
I am uncertain of what actually occurred, but for some reason Gallond & Morgrum made contact with Grobaras and informed him of the cult's intent to target him.
Describes the missing events to Havelock: Morgrum and I took it upon ourselves to track the whereabouts of Lord Mayor Grobaras on his daily routine as laid out by the itinerary we found on the Skinsaw cultists. Lehna was also with us for a short period of time, but grew weary of the rigors of our stakeout and left us to our own devices. I think Morgrum decided a nap was more in order, as I lost him in the crowd shortly after we started, but my trusty sidekick was there when I needed him wide-eyed and bushy-tailed! Perhaps I need more mid-day naps? *ponders a moment* I cleverly pretended to patronize nearby shops most of the morning, when one of the Lord Mayor's bodyguards saw through my ruse. No matter, I assured him I was merely common folk who just happend to be shopping at all the same shops and appreciated his keen senses would their be criminals lurking, ready to pounce from the darkness! At which point he went back to his duties, not the sharpest tool in the pantry.
Eventually we ended up in the tavern where it seemed everyone was eager to be friendly and wave at each other from across the room, so I partook of the festivities, obviously being a Magnimarian custom. Things were well under control when my sidekick showed up, panicked and started ripping up our evidence (parchment list) right up in front of the Lord Mayor... the jig was up and we had to come clean, the Lord Mayor was so overwhelmed with our civil service he feinted in a heap to the floor. His guards refused to give him mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, but the Lord Mayor eventually came around on his own and we then briefly wrapped-up our explanation involving the Skinsaw Cultist murders, he was greatful and requested we gather our friends and meet at his house.
And I ended up with a large assortment of wonderful Magnimarian goods of all sorts! A very nice decorative dagger, which I gave to the Lord Mayor's bodyguard for his dedication to justice! A chainmail bikini for that special someone, but the Lord Mayor was uninterested. And various other knick knacks, I may have been a bit over zealous with my ruse as I then had to borrow money from my loyal companions for cold-weather gear and the ferry trip up the river.
I cleverly pretended to patronize nearby shops most of the morning, when one of the Lord Mayor's bodyguards saw through my ruse. No matter, I assured him I was merely common folk who just happend to be shopping at all the same shops and...
You should have explained your cultural traditions. Carrying a dwarven waraxe and ranseur while wearing full plate is casual wear for your people. That is to say, paladins.
Chapter 14. Skin Art
We noticed another person with a sihedron rune. Lazurin, using a Charm Person to insure his cooperation, questioned him about it. The tattoo was a pass allowing special access to a pleasure barge. The barge is now gone, burned and sunk in Clay Bottom Lake.
We opted to move on to the fort, rather than delay our expedition for what might be a fruitless side quest. As we traveled up the river we heard a rustling in the brush off to the side of the road. Investigation revealed a clearing containing within which was bear caught in a trap. Curiously the bear seemed pleased at our arrival, sitting down and holding out its trapped paw. Again Lazurin stepped up and used his ability to Speak with Animals to question the bear while Asa worked to free it.
While I was healing the bear's injury we heard the baying of hounds. The bear informed Lazurin that it was being hunted by the people who had captured his master. Even as we moved to regroup on the road, so that we would have a clear battlefield, several large and ugly dogs burst into the clearing. Grouping up we dealt with the interlopers in a perfunctory manner.
Questioning the bear further revealed it was the companion to a Black Arrow Ranger named Jakardis, the very person Shaleylu seeks to confront. It seems as if the Black Arrows are in dire straits indeed. With the bear leading the way we approached a ramshackle farmstead, only to be confronted by a largish and hideously deformed farmer. When we refused to comply with his demands that we leave he attacked, and was defeated in short order. After Gallond flung the corpse into the woods by the road we moved up to the farmhouse.
The rickety porch was defended by some rather vicious traps. At the same time we found out the limits of Morgrum's ability to deal safely with those devices.
Crossing the threshold of the rambling structure we entered a hellish trophy room, human body parts taxidermied and hung from the walls as well as human skin used to upholster the couch.
As I approached the couch to examine it more closely I discovered that the traps were not simply exterior defenses. A ten foot wide chute filled with envenomed spiked ended in a room lined with fungus; fungus which promptly animated, grabbed me and swallowed me in one gulp. After giving the thing heartburn with a Wand of Scorching Ray I was joined by Shaleylu who just lay in the creature's acidic secretions without moving. Another burn with my wand was all I could think to do before I myself would be overcome when suddenly then thing fell apart, beaten to death by my companions who had braved the pit and poison to come to my aid.
After a few minutes to bind the worst of our wounds we decided that, since we were at the bottom, we should clean out the basement and methodically work our way up. A short hallway led to an extremely crowded junk room, the precariously stacked detritus falling as we tried to press our way through it.
Entering a short corridor we found stairs leading up, a door across from us and one at a distance to the side. Opening the latter door we found the crafter of the human skin couch. After killing him and his donkey-rats we found that many of the Black Arrow Rangers had contributed to the furnishings in the room.
I appologize for the delay in freeing you from the belly of the beast friend Havelock. It seems we may have had a short laugh at your expense before jumping, and in some cases ( for the less graceful) falling into the fray. These inbred monstrosities seem to be quite cunning despite their appearance. Our little halfling will have to be ever vigilant. I really do like our new Bear friend, nice fellow and very brave, I will be sad to see him go when we reunite him with his master.
As I approached the couch to examine it more closely I discovered that the traps were not simply exterior defenses.
Lazy bastard, serves ya right! There's no time to lounge about on strange people's creepy furniture, we have a mission to complete.
I really do like our new Bear friend, nice fellow and very brave, I will be sad to see him go when we reunite him with his master.
I see it now! What a joyous ocassion it will be... Bear, Chair. Chair, Bear. If I were to become a piece of well-crafted macabre furniture I would hope that one of you would come find me and place me prominently in your living space, but not to close to the fireplace! I would be the happiest chair EVER! OH, and some matching throw pillows, the really soft fluffy kind! ^.^
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I see it now! What a joyous ocassion it will be... Bear, Chair. Chair, Bear. If I were to become a piece of well-crafted macabre furniture I would hope that one of you would come find me and place me prominently in your living space, but not to close to the fireplace! I would be the happiest chair EVER! OH, and some matching throw pillows, the really soft fluffy kind! ^.^
Creepy Announcer NPC[Enters Stage Left]: How disturbing... [Exits via cloud of smoke]
Sorry Gallond my friend, But I am morally incapable of sitting upon the laps of dwarven paladins....now if a pretty lass wants to sit upon mine that is another question entirely.
Just want to say, love the campaign journal, and I'm running the same campaign, interesting to see what you guys did. My group is just about to fight Aldern, I actually scaled him up quite a bit, my guys (6 PCs) haven't had too much trouble with anything in the adventure yet. Anyway, I hope you guys keep posting, looking forward to reading more!
Thanks ! We enjoy the added role-play that comes with the journals as well...I highly recommend it. I think you will find that though there are some encounters that are breeze throughs in this campaign, it is balanced out pretty well by some real tough encounters along the way.
Chapter 15. Cleaning House
We continued our exploration of the Ogre-kin's... lair. This place was so vile it didn't even qualify as a house. It was like the offal pit behind an abattoir, only with a roof over it. Morgrum assured me that he acquired an adequate supply of candles.
The remaining inhabitants of the house included a pair of deformed ogre-kin in a front room, and the clan's mother in the back. Words fail me when trying to describe her degenerate characteristics. That she kept her former paramours (involuntary I can only assume) as zombies only hints at her loathsomeness. She was a spell caster, but with the exception of Gallond we suffered no injuries before we forced her to retreat via Dimension Door.
We looked through the rest of the house to be certain she hadn't doubled back, then proceeded to the barn.
Forming up in anticipation of putting an end to this detestable clan we burst in and were confronted by the sight of three more of these inbred cretins, three more zombies, and the ... woman who had escaped us earlier.
Asa and the bear suffered the greatest injuries, though we will have to lift another Curse off Gallond. All that remains unexplored is the rear section of the barn.
Next time: What's in the back of the barn?
Truely I have never seen a more vile and stomach turning group in my life, their beastly mother alone made me ever so briefly yearn for the peaceful beauty and warm tranqulity of my island home. I had no idea the depths of villiany this continent would show me when I chose to explore here.
OOC;
Is there a feat that applies a bonus to my dispell roll? I know I was rolling somewhat low, but I think I am starting to get out paced in boss fights, and that is when my dispell ability is needed most.
OOC2;
I do not know the name of the miniature that Gallond found for us to use for Mama Grawl, but really it was fantastic. Brute said it was a Heroclix mini, but I think if one of you knows we should post the name...because damn it was perfect.
OOC; Is there a feat that applies a bonus to my dispell roll? I know I was rolling somewhat low, but I think I am starting to get out paced in boss fights, and that is when my dispell ability is needed most.
OOC2; I do not know the name of the miniature that Gallond found for us to use for Mama Grawl, but really it was fantastic. Brute said it was a Heroclix mini, but I think if one of you knows we should post the name...because damn it was perfect.
Horrorclix: Hungry Bertha (LINK)
This line of clix is pretty cool, they have since done a sleu of movie specific ones.
OOC;
Many a time has a warm blanket, cozy couch and purring cat sapped all my motivation. No worries,and thanks for the info... I may just let it be as far as the dispells go, cant win them all I guess.
Also next game date is the 18th, incase you didnt hear it from Brute already, and we did infact level at the end.
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Ioun Stone +1 Caster Level
Greater Dispel (allows you to add more than 10 to your dispel magic roll)
I think there may be a Feat that adds a caster level, but if so I don't know what the name or where it is at.
There may be a trait that lets you add +1 caster level. It would probably be school specific so you would need one for Dispels Magics School.
Of course you could always use Fate Points, but that can get costly.
Reroll feats may be your best bets as the problem you were facing wasn't a high DC it was low rolls. You knocked her fly out with what a 12 or 13 on the die? it was the rolling 7 and below on all the other checks that did you in.
Oh, I forgot about the curse...Sorry Gallond you were hit with a bestow curse -4 on Attack rolls, saving throws, Ability and Skill checks.
Also next game date is the 18th, incase you didnt hear it from Brute already, and we did in fact level at the end.
Oh, I forgot about the curse...Sorry Gallond you were hit with a bestow curse -4 on Attack rolls, saving throws, Ability and Skill checks.
Chapter 16. Real Ogres? Shocking!
Opening the back of the barn, we found Jukardis and two other surviving Black Arrow Rangers, starving and dehydrated, but after a food, water and healing they cleaned up nice. Jukardis reclaimed his bow, which we had found in the house. Shaleylu and Jukardis had a whispered conference which I was unable to overhear.
Jukardis informed us that he and his band had been captured after a failed raid to retake their fort from a large band of ogres.
We decamped to Turtleback Crossing to acquire a Remove Curse spell for Gallond, but opted to get a wand as insurance against future need, then set out to retake the fort. I suggested we spend some cash to re-equip the Black Arrows, but Gallond and Lazurin were against it.
As we traveled we pressed Jukardis for more information about the fort and its new inhabitants. A bit of persuasion got them to reveal that there was a secret tunnel leading into the fort, but they hadn't gone that way because they were stupid and arrogant. Plus there were shocker lizards in a side branching. We suggested that the rangers smoke the lizards out into the courtyard to provide a painful distraction for the ogres.
The rangers agreed to the plan and estimated that it would take about an hour to effect the plan. While they went to carry it out, we amused ourselves by ambushing a patrol of ogres. I suggested I use a scroll we had found earlier to reanimate two of the ogre corpses, and use their strength to raise the portcullis and allow us easy entry into the fort. Gallond stated that animating the dead was an evil act and he would would be obliged to smash anything involved in such an act. Not knowing Gallond could distinguishing people from things I relented.
Once the sound of violent electrical discharges began we approached the fort. Asa and Lazurin scaled the wall like it was a flight of stairs, while Gallond, Lehna and I ran for the portcullis.
Lazurin charmed an ogre to open the way for us, but he was having trouble doing so as the commander of the ogres would allow him to. Asa smashed the ogres standing atop the wall, and while the commander was distracted Gallond's taunting the charmed ogre opened the portcullis - and was immediately charged by Gallond. Fortunately Lehna and I chose to risk being hit by a falling portcullis rather than leave the rest of the party trapped inside with minimal healing. As it was Lehna took a fearsome blow while trying to find a place to squeeze in.
As we were finishing off our foes three of the ogres that had fought the lizards returned looking somewhat singed. Taking a moment to mend our wounds we moved after them and found a rickety wooden barracks building with a dozen ogres inside. With Asa inside and Gallond blocking the doorway it looked like sandwich making time, until one of the ogres got impatient for his turn to be killed and smashed out through the wall. Lenha, being foolish-but-heavily-armored, moved to intercept while Lazurin and I blast the beast. With Gallond and Asa whittling down the ogres in the building and we three burning the ones who made their own exits we were cutting our way through their ranks rather quickly, until Asa fell. With nothing to entertain them inside the building the ogres who were not fighting Gallond smashed through the rest of the front wall precipitating the collapse of the building's roof. Finishing off the last of the ogres we moved to dig out our fallen comrade.
Twas a very near thing there at the end...I almost had to enter <gasp> mellee. These things obviously hit with the weight of a thousand anvils. It highlights my lack of focus on my defenses, I may have remedy that in the near future. If not for Gallond holding the line once Asa went down, we may have been lost.
Chapter 17. Ogres Don't Golf!
Moving on we crossed the courtyard to the smokehouse. The ogre that met us at the door was not wearing "Kiss the Cook" apron, so it one got right in the mouth with Gallond's axe. By the time we finished with it the shocker lizards had been either killed or driven off, leaving five smoldering ogres, of whom we made short work. While searching the courtyard for loot and finding several Black Arrow bodies being cured in the smokehouse caused Gallond to quip, "the breakfast of champions."
We entered the fortress proper, disturbing the rather disturbing residents. It was very similar to the lair of the ogre-kin we cleared out earlier, save what they lacked in variety they made up for in size. Everyone needed to be saved from certain death at least once, but a combination of firepower and the fact that ogres having difficulty aiming at objects shorter than their knees allowed us to quickly clear the main floor of opposition.
Heading upstairs we found yet more of the wrack and ruin we've come to associate with these inbreds. The first door we opened was a sort of shrine, vile in almost every way it is possible to be, barring intervention from the lower planes. The chief ogre standing in the middle of it did not detract from the wretchedness. When attacked the ogre let out a terrible roar, causing several of the party members to flee in panic. Upon making our way back we found Asa had fallen, but Gallond and Lazurin had dealt with the ogre's abominable leader.
...finding several Black Arrow bodies being cured in the smokehouse caused Gallond to quip, "the breakfast of champions."
"Whaaaat? You don't think they were champions? Why's everyone staring at me like that?!"
Chapter 18. Don't Go In The Basement Alone
There were a few more ogres upstairs. It was odd that they didn't come when the ogre in the shrine yelled, but that's ogres for you. It's just as well, as a noteworthy pair awaited us down the hall. One distinguished himself as being able to hit Gallond and send him flying. Just our luck to find the world's only golfing ogre. His partner was a spellcaster who promptly Dominated Asa and sent her to beat up Morgrum. After the second (or third?) time Gallond was knocked through the air I intervened. My Glitterdust spell blinded the the golfer, but the caster. A blind ogre is still dangerous but this one failed to make par. The caster reconsidered her position, sent Asa after Gallond, then Dimension Doored. For once Asa's weak defenses worked in our favor as we began pummeling her into unconsciousness. Lazurin exercised some mercy by Dispeling the Domination.
After a night's rest we headed to the basement. There we found a woman who called herself Lucrecia, a striking woman with amazingly red hair. We began sounding each other out on numerous topics, discoverng that it had been her pleasure barge that sank back at Turtleback Ferry, that she knew the sihedron runes were older than Thassillon, and began name dropping. I started taking notes. I offered to sell her the book on Thassillon I had been working on. She offered 50 gold pieces on credit. I graciously offered to not punch her in the mouth. She began casting a spell. Morgrum jumped up and attacked, only to be smacked by our old foe, Xanesha the snake lamia. Not remembering Xanesha's long reach I tried to cast Haste, only to get stabbed for my trouble. As we engaged the pair it came as no surprise that Lucrecia was also a lamia. We fell into the same strategy we used to drive Xanesha out of the clock tower, with Lazruin casting Dispel Magic and the rest of us trying to avoid losing too much wisdom until the debuffs. We had a greater advantage this time with Lehna's newfound ability to cast Dispel Magic. Nevertheless, it was touch and go until Xanesha fell. Lucrecia crossed the room to attack Lazurin, presumably prevent him from Dispelling any more of her defenses. The rest of the party stepped in and surrounded her.
Honestly we were very lucky against those foul Lamia. They missed many an oppportunity to bring several of us to a nasty end. The wisdom sapping abilities of the beasts really damaged both Asa and Gallond, and I was shocked that Xanesha did not come for me immediately based on our first encounter...We should praise our respective gods for our good fotune fellows!
ooc: Brute could of took us appart with these guys if he had wanted to, if he takes me out in the first round or two...which lets be honest is easy to do, we party wipe. We were no where near hitting their armor class and as always mirror image is a massive pain in the rear. I know Gallond was in low single digits on Wisdom and Asa was out on HP's even with the debuffs being rained down... me thinks that his needing to go to work saved our bacon more than our prodigious abilities as a party...lol
I couldn't say if Brute took a dive or not.
I did gloss over Lucrecia having a couple of ineffective rounds where she started to lose the hurt vs. heal game. Having two characters Evade her Lightning Bolt while the third just soaked the hp only made it worse. Then getting cracked a few times while she closed on you, only to be touched by Lehna's critical on Inflict Moderate (39 hp) before having the party collapse in on her.
Oh, and we have to pick Asa up off the floor again.
From way back in the thread...
They then moved down a hall and found a room with a bunch of torture implements and a demolished room. In there they found a magic scroll in Thasilonian. Then they moved down the hall further and found a room with 12 trap doors and another aberration, this one looked to have once been a goblin, now he had extra arms and legs. He moved to engage the party. Baedin movd to block his way, Gallond got behind Baedin with the new Ranseur. The rest of the party lined up behind, waiting a chance to get in there and hurt someone.
The icky creature spit at them, a 20-foot line of caustic acid that took Baedin down and wrecked the next few in line a bit. Gallond was now holding the line. The rest of the party dropped damage in from behind, finally putting the creature down.
So I'm wondering if these mutant ogres have been warped by the power of sihedron rune.
I realize the "rather nice master work ranseur with ivory inlaid in it" Gallond picked up in the same place is not magical, but...
So I'm wondering if these mutant ogres have been warped by the power of sihedron rune.
I realize the "rather nice master work ranseur with ivory inlaid in it" Gallond picked up in the same place is not magical, but...
So you think it's OKAY that the halfling prances about in a mask made of human flesh... You know YOU'RE human right?! But now you question a weapon I've owned and used defending my friends in combat for weeks, months? I think you might have some sort of brain fever, the cold weather can have that effect on humans, let us find you some much needed medical attention.
Havelock does indeed have a tremendous talent for persuing untamed ornithoids.
That's ok, cuz now I have THIS beauty!
Absolutely NOTHING evil about this weapon, no sassafrassion(sihedron) rune!
Chapter 19. A Tentacle Monster. It had to be a Tenticle Monster.
Patching ourselves up after dispatching Lucrecia we opened the next door - and discovered where Shaleylu and the remainder of the Black Arrows had gotten off to; alive, locked in cells, and slightly scorched.
The surviving Black Arrows disbanded, each choosing to go their separate ways, save Shaleylu and Jukardis who went off together. Our party set off for Turtleback Ferry in a driving rain. Lehna declared the rain to be unnatural, and given her affinity for water we did not doubt her.
Arriving at Turtleback we discussed the Black Arrow situation with the mayor. He was upset that the Black Arrows had chosen to abandon their duties, then offered the fort to us. As none of us had considered settling down in a fixed location we chaffered throughout dinner. I suggested we send a letter to Magnimar, though no one seemed interested in that either, so I offered to see if I could round up some people to staff the place in our stead.
When negotiations were finished we stepped out of the inn, only to discover that the town was flooded! The Inn had become and island! And no one had seen fit to alert the mayor! As we were deciding on a course of action the cries of children came through the pelting rain.
We leapt into action! I cast Haste and tried to talk the Mayor out of his stupor. Morgrum and Gallond rushed out in search of the children, finding them on one of the turtle shell rafts from which the town derives its name. The craft was snagged on the corner of a partially submerged building and was in danger of foundering! Gallond and Morgrum waded into the flood trying to secure the raft while Asa ran up the side of the building, along the peak of the roof, then leapt into the raft with the children. Lehna and Lazurin moved to assist activating their mystic powers. Lazurin threw one of his eldrich blasts and created a massive block of ice! This cut down on the current, helping to stabilize the raft. The water surged mightily and Gallond was pulled off his feet. Lehna waded into the water, babbling happily in Aquan.
After much Ogre Hook-ing, rope use, pulling and snake disposal (and porpoise imitations, Water Breathing and Slipstream on the part of the Wave Oracle) the raft was secured well enough to evacuate the children to the only high ground left - the roof of the inn.
Where they made tempting targets for a creature known as Black Magga. Taking a moment to recall what I could about such creatures I informed my associates that the Black Magga is one of a type of creature generally known as a Mother of the Void. This creature is a gargantuan outsider (aquatic and native), resistant to damage except by cold iron and magic, immune quite a number of things that would solve the problem of its presence almost instantly as well as being resistant to acid and cold and magic. I recast Haste.
Black Magga began using its long tentacles to pick people off the roof. Morgrum, Asa and one of the children were snatched up, only luck prevented a second child from joining the first!
Gallond struck the creature many solid blows, but could not prevent the loathsome beast from crushing the first child into unconsciousness and releasing its grip, allowing the small body to fall into the raging floodwaters. It was only good fortune that this child was one of those that Lehna had blessed with Breathe Water earlier. The vile fiend reached out for more victims, this time claiming Lazurin and another child. Lehna dove into the water, presumably because she did not wish to see her spell so lightly cast aside, only to have to snatch the second child as it was cast aside. Lazurin was also tossed into the turbulent waters, but one of his warlock tricks caused him to bob about on the surface.
Then the denizen of the deep reached for me. I gave it a blast from my wand of Scorching Ray, only to see the spell fizzle uselessly against the arbitrary and inexplicable magic resistance that seems to exist in our world for no other purpose than to make things "challenging" for magic users.
Suddenly he floodwaters began to recede, as quickly as they had come, taking the monster with them. We had saved all the children.
We were feted as heros, and were rewarded with renewed offers of Lordship of Fort Rannick. We averred that we should first examine the Skulls Crossing dam, for Black Magga was known to inhabit the waters of Storval Deep. Her presence and the continuing high waters in Claybottom Lake boded ill for the dam's integrity. We gathered some supplies, advised the people of Turtleback Ferry to stay well clear of the water and headed up river.
We spent the night at Fort Rannick, where I realized that I hadn't written the letter to Grobaras, the Lord Mayor of Magnimar.
The day dawned early, as days are inclined to do, and just as wet and blustery as it had been since we defeated Lucrecia. As we approached the dam it became clear that there was considerable damage to the upper portion of the structure. Gallond said that the rift was not natural, but likely the work of ogres.
Yes, more ogres.
We scouted around for a path up to the causeway and found the only reasonable access was a stairway, a stairway sized for creatures larger than men. It proved passable, and lead to a cave guarded by an solitary ettin. Asa and Morgurm made quick work of them and we followed the cave out onto the causeway. Sure enough there were ogres.
Gallond stepped forward to challenge them and began a spirited melee. We were victorious, of course, else you would not be reading this. The only casualty on our side being Asa.
There were a few more ogres upstairs. ... One distinguished himself as being able to hit Gallond and send him flying. Just our luck to find the world's only golfing ogre.
Awesome Blow (Combat)
This creature can send opponents flying.
Prerequisites: Str 25, Power Attack, Improved Bull Rush, size Large or larger.
Benefit: As a standard action, the creature may perform an awesome blow combat manuever. If the creature’s maneuver succeeds against a corporeal opponent smaller than itself, its opponent is knocked f lying 10 feet in a direction of the attacking creature’s choice and falls prone. The attacking creature can only push the opponent in a straight line, and the opponent can’t move closer to the attacking creature than the square it started in. If an obstacle prevents the completion of the opponent’s move, the opponent and the obstacle each take 1d6 points of damage, and the opponent is knocked prone in the space adjacent to the obstacle.
Push (Ex)
A creature with the push ability can choose to make a free combat maneuver check with a certain successful attack (often a slam attack). If successful, this check pushes a creature directly away as with a bull rush, but the distance moved is set by this ability. The type of attack that causes the push and the distance pushed are included in the creature’s description. This ability only works on creatures of a size equal to or smaller than the pushing creature. Creatures pushed in this way do not provoke attacks of opportunity and stop if the push would move them into a solid object or creature.
Imagine my surprise when the Black Maga was both resistant to Magic and immune to Acid! I feel a bit of shame at playing dead to free myself from its vile grasp, but I had little recorse with the sum total of my abilities usless against such a monster. Still we saved all the children and that in the end is all that matters.
Chapter 20. So you're from the Bitterleaf Clan?
Using the trench they were chopping as a launching chute, we sent the ogre corpses over the side of the dam.
Moving towards the center of the dam we came to a structure which took the prevailing skull motif to new heights. Or, perhaps, lows. Regardless, we entered in search of more ogres. We found fungus. And a door with the words “Below Dwells Wet Papa Grazuul! All Hail Wet Papa Grazuul!” scrawled on it in the extremely poor penmanship we've come to expect from our more common foes. Behind it was a stairwell leading down. And down. And down. We began to pass the time by making lewd comments about how Grazuul earned the epithet "Wet Papa." Ten flights and approximately one hundred and fifty feet. And we came to a door.
We caught our breath and examined the door. Morgrum checked for traps while I checked for magic. It was magically trapped, with a cold blast effect.
When I informed the party Lazurin moved to a more secure location, entirely out of the line of fire, while the rest of us moved back up the stairs to the landing. Lazurin's decision proved to be the wisest as Morgrum triggered the trap, and, as it was magical, it was not expended. The rest of the party moved to join Lazurin. As for Lazurin, he said he'd heard a noise coming down the stairs. We moved to ambush anything that might come down while Morgrum triggered the trap several more times.
When the sound of crackling ice subsided Morgrum came around and told us that he had disarmed the trap. Curiously enough, he was unscathed, with not even a snowflake on him.
Forcing open these doors we entered a largish room with an algae covered pool. We spread out, waiting for the appearance of the "Wet Papa." I was slightly surprised when an aquatic troll, commonly known as a scrag, emerged from the water bearing a military fork and began shouting random words in Giantish. I had been expecting more tentacles.
Lazurin did some warlock trick, Grazuul fell asleep and slipped back into the "wet." Which was just as well because four trolls came stamping down the stairs. A Grease spell kept them off balance while Gallond, Asa, Morgrum and Lehna smashed, chopped and stabbed them. Lazurin threw acid blasts and I emptied a Wand of Scorching Ray to finish them off.
As we were cleaning up I remembered Morgrum's fascination with stealing weapons and suggested that he go down into the pool and try to slip the military fork away from Grazuul. He was enthusiastic about trying. As a precaution I had Lehna cast Water Breathing on the rest of our group. Unfortunately he woke the scrag and we had to come to his rescue.
The weapon proved to be a Vicious Adamant Military Fork. Surprisingly it is sized for normal sized beings.
In Morgrum's defense we did sort of egg him on.
I continue to be astounded at how moldy the mainland is...it seems everywhere we go there are rooms and rooms over run by the stuff. I fear for my lungs !
In Morgrum's defense we did sort of egg him on.
I don't think it was a bad decision, but I won't take blame for his self-inflicted beating. I'm almost certain he could've slipped it out from under the creature without waking it.
Chapter 21. And The Hook Brings Them Back.
Having two hours and fifty nine minutes left on the Water Breathing we decided some underwater exploration was due, and swam through one of the adjoining tunnels. On the one side we found a model of the dam, and after some examination we determined that it was the control mechanisms for the sluice gates, though our experiments seemed to produce no reaction.
Following the other tunnel we entered a room with no noticeable function. More detailed examination revealed a secret door in the middle of the pool leading down. Passing through the shaft below and a second door Lehna and I entered what might have been open water. There were fish indicating that this may have been connected to Storval Deep.
Seeking more information inside what we now took to be the control area we moved a pile of skulls to gain access to a double door. Passing through we found a room containing two barred cells, each with a Magic Circle Against Evil. One circle contained a pile of scarlet dust, while the other contained what I recognized as a badly withered Pit Fiend. Despite my advice to the contrary, and the devil's demand that we release it, Lazurin stepped into the circle with the dust stating that the dam must run on Life Force.
His surmise proved correct, and he gained a Negative Level for his trouble. The Pit Fiend was destroyed. Seeing the forces in action we concluded that the dam could have been "fed" a farm animal. I collected the dusty remains of the Pit Fiends.
A further inspection of the dam proved that there were no more ogres or trolls, and the skulls which decorated the exterior were now vomiting forth lake water.
Upon our return to Turtleback Ferry we informed the mayor of our adventure. He was slightly disturbed as to the nature of the dam controls, and gratefully restored the Lazurin's loss. After some debate as to wether we could afford the two months we would need to travel to a major city to re-equip we decided that at least a probe into Hook Mountain would be necessary.
We traveled without incident until passing through the woods at the base of the mountain where we spotted a band of ogres stomping through the undergrowth. Upon my advice the others waited until I had cast Haste upon the party before stealthily taking position in their path. We allowed Gallond to step up and challenge them. Sickened by Impaler of Thorns, intimidated by his martial prowess and knifed in the back by Morgrum the bestial humanoids fell in a matter of seconds. Their gear was substantial only in encumbrance, confirming our estimate that these ogres were an overeager bunch of punks.
Arriving at an extremely large cave entrance decorated with gigantic bones we were caught flat footed by a pair of ogres guards. Lazurin threw a blast that Stunned one allowing Morgrum to execute a Dastardly Finish, while the other made the mistake of provoking the ire of Asa who turned it into an ogre-jelly. them we entered the cavern and found what at first seemed to be a gigantic statue. Studying the thing I recognized it as a Rune Giant. It was adorned with a sihedron medallion and upon removing it the magically preserved corpse turned to dust, allowing its gem studded armor to fall with a thunderous clang.
This, of course, attracted more ogres. Two advanced towards us while one blew an alarm horn. I led off with Haste. Morgrum struck one of them, killing it instantly. Gallond and Asa dealt with a second one. Lazurin stunned the bugler and Morgrum finished it off.