DM Carbide's From Shore to Sea

[DM Carbide]

Combat map is updated. The globe of water is now dark, so whatever is in there has concealment.

[Bogenschützen]

Are we able to target the tentacles? If so, I've drawn an arrow on the combat map from corner to corner indicating one possible line of sight.

I have a seeking bow and ignore concealment.

Seeking:

This special ability can only be placed on ranged weapons. A seeking weapon veers toward its target, negating any miss chances that would otherwise apply, such as from concealment. The wielder still has to aim the weapon at the right square. Arrows mistakenly shot into an empty space, for example, do not veer and hit invisible enemies, even if they are nearby. (Source: Ultimate Equipment)

The archer takes a 5-foot-step back and shoots at the tentacles through the doorway???

Not sure if that's even possible through the doorway waterfall? My character is an experienced archer, and I tried to ask questions about the doorway phrased different ways... I believe he would know whether or not this is even possible.

Manyshot: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (20) + 13 = 33, Arrow: 2d8 + 22 ⇒ (7, 8) + 22 = 37
Crit?: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (18) + 13 = 31, If confirm, additional 2d8 for the x3 crit: 2d8 + 22 ⇒ (7, 2) + 22 = 31
Etc.: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (15) + 13 = 28, Arrow: 1d8 + 11 ⇒ (4) + 11 = 15
Etc.: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16, Arrow: 1d8 + 11 ⇒ (4) + 11 = 15

[DM Carbide]

It also has improved cover, and the waterfall imposes penalties on ranged attacks through it as well. OTOH, your first roll and the crit were good enough to hit in any case.

Round 1 (ongoing):

Initiative order
Quiven-acted
Octopus-acted
Rah-acted
Maddie-
Bogenschützen-acted

Bogenschützen puts four arrows through the door into the globe of water. The first two hit, but the second pair are deflected by the barriers in their way.

Octopus: -68 HP

Bogenschützen can kill it from here, if he wants to use a lot of arrows that he might need later. Just saying.

[Bogenschützen]

Thanks. :-) Just checking, the 28 doesn't hit it?

I've deducted 4 more arrows from my inventory. I have 36 blunt arrows and 34 cold iron arrows remaining.

[Rah the Reincarnate]

If Bogen is ok with using more arrows I say we let him take it out.

[DM Carbide]

No--I may have incorrectly stacked penalties for underwater ranged attacks and cover, but when the thing's body is fairly deep in the water I can't see it being very easy to land an effective hit on.

[DM Carbide]

Also, don't forget that you have a 50% chance of recovering arrows that missed, as long as you have time to look for them.

[Bogenschützen]

Okie dokie

Any o' y'all have any big, fancy spells ta finish this thing off? My first hit looked good, but the water makes it tricky ta aim...

[Rah the Reincarnate]

Rah shakes her head. "My big fancy spells are fire-based. I doubt they will have much effect."

[Maddie Sykes]

Maddie moves up to the open door and channels destruction energy, "I may be able to kill it with negative energy, but I will have to stay close and won't be able to heal everyone as effectively for the rest of the day."

Channel Negative Energy to harm: DC 17 Will Save for half (3/7 left with Cha loss), allies excluded: 3d6 ⇒ (4, 4, 6) = 14

[Bogenschützen]

Fire spells can work underwater. Source: Core Rulebook, Page 432 (Chapter 13: Environment)

CRB:

Spells or spell-like effects with the fire descriptor are ineffective underwater unless the caster makes a caster level check (DC 20 + spell level). If the check succeeds, the spell creates a bubble of steam instead of its usual fiery effect, but otherwise the spell works as described.

With a +12 to your concentration check, you have a 50/50 shot. You have to roll an 11 or higher to succeed at a fireball spell in the aquarium. Though, I would totally understand if you prefer to safe AoE spells for groups of enemies.

If a 28 doesn't hit, it will be very difficult for me to harm the thing in the water. Is it worthwhile trying to drop a glitterdust or something on it?

[DM Carbide]

The octopus resists the worst of Maddie's negative energy burst.

Round 2:

Initiative order
Quiven-
Octopus-
Rah
Maddie
Bogenschützen

Quiven, you're up!

Dice rolls:

DC 17 Will save: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (17) + 7 = 24

Octopus: -75 HP

[DM Carbide]

It's not the concealment that gives you minuses, it's the water. If Bogenschützen didn't have the seeking bow, you'd be in even worse shape.

[Quiven Glist]

Wow, that thing seems big! Maybe we should just leave it alone?

I really don't think I'm much help here. I don't think I can reach it in the water.

[Bogenschützen]

That's cool. Rather than using manyshot and rapid shot, I'll simply take a single shot per turn.

1d20 + 15 ⇒ (9) + 15 = 24
1d20 + 15 ⇒ (2) + 15 = 17
1d20 + 15 ⇒ (5) + 15 = 20
1d20 + 15 ⇒ (19) + 15 = 34, Damage: 1d8 + 11 ⇒ (4) + 11 = 15
1d20 + 15 ⇒ (13) + 15 = 28
1d20 + 15 ⇒ (3) + 15 = 18
1d20 + 15 ⇒ (12) + 15 = 27
1d20 + 15 ⇒ (1) + 15 = 16
1d20 + 15 ⇒ (18) + 15 = 33, Damage: 1d8 + 11 ⇒ (1) + 11 = 12

That's a grand total of 13 arrows shot at it--includes previous post.

Attempts to recover arrows later (GMs choice if high or low == recovery):

1d100 ⇒ 71
1d100 ⇒ 15
1d100 ⇒ 37
1d100 ⇒ 46
1d100 ⇒ 7
1d100 ⇒ 74
1d100 ⇒ 55
1d100 ⇒ 55
1d100 ⇒ 99
1d100 ⇒ 19
1d100 ⇒ 85
1d100 ⇒ 95
1d100 ⇒ 39

For now, I've marked my inventory as if all arrows are expended.

[Rah the Reincarnate]

I suppose Rah could acid splash it to death, though it might take a few minutes.
I could also try to mage hand back a few arrows for a few more shots.

[Bogenschützen]

It already has 75 HP of damage. With at least 2 more hits, that's 102 HP. Let's see what the GM says. :-)

[Bogenschützen]

Actually, it would be hilarious if it was down to like 1 HP and Rah went in a finished it off with a 0-level spell! :-D

[DM Carbide]

Those two arrows are enough to kill the octopus. Bogenschützen, you recover seven arrows from the inside of the building. The heap on the opposite side of the Aquarium turns out to be the remains of a skum, sadly lacking in anything like a necklace. It does, however, have a magical cloak, a scroll case, and a flask in an interior pocket of the cloak. A bit of work by Rah reveals that the items are, respectively, a cloak of the manta ray, two scrolls of freedom of movement, and an elixir of swimming. (Which is kind of like a dwarf carrying a potion of darkvision...what's up with that?

[Maddie Sykes]

While Rah identifies the magical items, Maddie wordlessly removes her haversack and makes her way into the globe of water in an attempt to alleviate her now perpetual problem with skin dryness. Once satisfied, she emerges from the magical sphere with a relieved sigh.

Taking no pains to dry off, she looks over the items, "Shall we split the scrolls between Rah and I to increase our chances of using them, if it becomes necessary?"

[Rah the Reincarnate]

"No amulet..." Rah sighs after going through the skum's possessions. "Perhaps it is around here somewhere?"

Rah will don the cloak of the manta ray, cast detect magic, and dive into the water to look around.

Still need a little healing. Can Maddie help me out there first?

[Maddie Sykes]

Rah, do you mind if we use the charges off your CLW wand first? If that's ok, feel free to make the rolls for healing, with the assumption Maddie is using the wand. If you still need healing after your wand, Maddie will use her wand to max you out.

[Rah the Reincarnate]

Oh, no problem. Sorry, I keep forgetting I have that.

CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7
CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2
CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5
CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2
CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7
Full!

[DM Carbide]

Rah finds no sign of the amulet in or under the water. While waiting outside the Aquarium for the halfling to finish, Quiven wanders around a bit, looking for anything interesting. The building is near the edge of a step cliff of the sort you've seen before, and the keen-eyed burglar spies a rope tied off at the top.

[Quiven Glist]

Maybe we could see where this takes us? Quiven says, pointing out the rope. Quiven will then try to see where the end point of the rope is, if he can.

[DM Carbide]

The rope leads down to the bottom of the cliff, about forty feet. It's got knots in it for ease of climbing.

From the top of the cliff, you can hear a faint clattering sound in the distance; there's a twisted spire of a building a couple of hundred feet away from the base of the cliff that's surrounded by a cloud of white flakes of building material coming off of it and falling to the ground.

[Rah the Reincarnate]

"Let's see where it goes."

[DM Carbide]

You climb down the rope without any problems, despite a few places where the knots are still slightly damp and slimy.

[Maddie Sykes]

Maddie follows along with the others, trying to stay alert despite the water now sloshing around inside her armor.

Perception: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (12) + 14 = 26

[Rah the Reincarnate]

Rah looks around, trying to see where someone might go from the bottom of the rope.

Survival for tracking (untrained): 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (13) - 1 = 12

"Anyone good at finding tracks?"

It looks like there is a structure on the map. Maybe we should just go there?

[DM Carbide]

The structure isn't noted in the guidebook you have.

Rah, you don't notice any obvious tracks. Maddie, you think you might have seen a flash of movement inside the entrance to the twisted spire building, but it's hard to tell with the flakes of building material falling past the opening.

[Maddie Sykes]

"I believe there may be something waiting for us inside, but I'm unable to determine exactly what it is from this position. I do have something that may help, however."

Using Remote Viewing domain power to use the Clairvoyance spell as a spell-like ability to see inside the building, moving a little closer if necessary for the spell to work.

[DM Carbide]

Maddie, there is a large reptilian creature lurking just inside the doorway. You're not sure what sort of thing it is, though you're reasonably sure it's an animal as opposed to a magical beast. It's also a messy eater; there are bits of skum body all over the entry to the building.

Dice rolls:

K check: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9

[Maddie Sykes]

"There is a large reptile that has made that building it's home. It's been eating skum." Maddie informs the others after concentrating for a few seconds, "We're probably better off trying to lure it out in the open for the sake of Bogenschützen archery."

[Rah the Reincarnate]

"Let me help with that." Rah says, and casts a simple spell to create the sounds of a few creatures walking and mumbling near the entrance.

Ghost sound.

[DM Carbide]

Nothing seems to happen. Sight-hunting ambush predator, unfortunately.

[Rah the Reincarnate]

"Hmm. Let me try one more thing."

Rah flips open her spellbook and commits a new spell to memory. She then casts it, summoning a horse and sending it trotting up about 20 feet from the entrance.

Arcane point to swap enlarge person for mount.

[DM Carbide]

The pony gives Rah a look, as if to say, I thought you were going to ride me, mistress. It trots towards the door obediently, only to be intercepted some forty feet from the tower. A giant frilled lizard erupts from the doorway and leaps onto the hapless horse, nearly disemboweling it with a ferocious bite. The pony gives Rah another look of betrayal as it screams in pain, its high whinny echoing across the island.

Everyone can take shots at the lizard. I don't think we'll really need a map.

Dice rolls:

Reflex save: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21

Bite with charge: 1d20 + 9 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 9 + 2 = 28
Bite damage: 2d6 + 5 ⇒ (1, 6) + 5 = 12

ETA: AC 18/T10/FF17

[Bogenschützen]

How far away from this thing are we? I'll make rolls with the premise that we are more than 30' away--to avoid being charged by the beast.

Manyshot: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (4) + 12 = 16, Miss!
Rapid Shot: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (16) + 12 = 28, Arrow: 1d8 + 10 ⇒ (3) + 10 = 13
Iterative: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12, Miss!

Then, 5-foot-step back.

[Rah the Reincarnate]

Rah contemplates the many theories and ethics of summoned creatures, and feels a little bad about the pony, but assures herself that it wasn't a real animal. Or at least, she hopes it wasn't.

The screams sure sound real though...

Steeling herself, she raises her staff an fires two scorching rays at the lizard.

2 charges from staff of fire
Scorching Ray 1: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9
Damage: 4d6 ⇒ (4, 5, 6, 3) = 18
Scorching Ray 2: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8
Damage: 4d6 ⇒ (2, 4, 5, 2) = 13

[Maddie Sykes]

Fully expecting her allies to quickly dispatch the lizard, Maddie takes a shot from her crossbow just in case.

Light crossbow: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19
Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 8

[Quiven Glist]

Oh my word! I hope that's a fake pony! Quiven tries his best to hold his lunch as he witnesses the scene!

I'm going to assume this is 'round 1', not that I can really do much here.

[DM Carbide]

Bogenschützen, based on what Rah directed the pony to do the expectation was that it would be about twenty feet from the building when the lizard attacked, instead of the forty feet or so it actually was. So go ahead and take the PBS bonuses.

The lizard is at -2 AC due to having charged (which I forgot to include in its AC), so both scorching rays and the manyshot hit. It goes down.

Out of combat...and the pony still has 1 HP left!

[Rah the Reincarnate]

"Uhhhh.." With a guilty look on her face, Rah quickly dismisses the bloody pony. "Let's go look inside."

[Bogenschützen]

Neat trick. The archer thinks it's just a horse created from magic. He has no idea that it might possibly have been real.

[DM Carbide]

You head towards the building. The falling flakes of material, you soon realize, are actually kind of sharp. DC 12 Reflex save or take 6 HP slashing damage. Luckily for the pony, it dodged the stuff while it was close enough to the tower to be affected.

Dice rolls:

Unpleasantness: 2d4 ⇒ (4, 2) = 6

[Bogenschützen]

Reflex: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (3) + 11 = 14

Look out, y'all!

[Rah the Reincarnate]

Reflex: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19

"Yikes! This whole island is a death trap! Quick, let's search these skum for that amulet before something else bad happens!" Rah casts a spell and moves forward.

Detect magic

[DM Carbide]

Rah, there are magical auras in the tower and, interestingly enough, in the lizard.

[Quiven Glist]

Reflex: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (10) + 13 = 23

Quiven will quickly search the area and, if asked, inside the lizard.